MM Thomas - Life, Legacy and Theology

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THEOLOGY OF MADATHILPARAMPIL MAMMEN THOMAS The issue of forgiveness in the context of hierarchical caste hegemony remains a significant concern for Dalit theologians, an issue to be addressed in subsequent chapters. Significantly, Thomas does not seek to shy away from the reality of division in India. Indeed, it is precisely within the context of divisiveness that he considers the Cross essential: “It is here that the experience of human solidarity in sin and forgiving grace at the foot of the Cross of Christ becomes asource of a vision of a new humanity transcending diverse communities but also of a reconciling power breaking down or lowering the walls of partition between them.” 152 3.3. The Resurrection of Christ M.M. Thomas writes that the Cross of Jesus Christ without the resurrection is nothing but a grim tragedy. 153 The reality of resurrection provides the believer with a sense of security and a “conviction that God is ultimately in control and his purposes for us are good and eternal.” 154 Significantly, Thomas stresses the importance of the bodily resurrection of Christ: “If Christ rose in the body, the redemption he wrought was not merely of my spirit or soul, but one of the whole of me, body, mind and soul, and of the whole relationship to nature and men.” 155 Redemption in Christ could not, for Thomas, be interpreted merely as a message of human spirituality, but must be concerned with the wholeness of the human being, humanity and creation. The bodily resurrection of Jesus emphasises, in line with Pauline theology, that the body is a vital element of human personhood to be redeemed. 156 Thus the body, and the material existence of everyday life, are essential components of redeemed personality. M.M. Thomas essentially opposes a ‘lopsided’ Christian understanding of salvation perceived in purely spiritual and individualistic terms. Quoting from a study of village Christians in Andhra, South India, which highlighted an exclusive spiritualistic interpretation of salvation, Thomas notes that Christians “worship Jesus 195
THEOLOGY OF MADATHILPARAMPIL MAMMEN THOMAS for the salvation of their souls while they worship village deities for harvest, health and well-being.” 157 By acknowledging God as Lord of all creation, with a concern for the welfare of humanity and the created order, Thomas theologically posits thatliberation cannot but include the concern for health, economic welfare and social justice. 158 He writes: “God is concerned, not merely with saving souls for heaven but with saving the whole human being – including his/her life in the body, life in society, life of relation with the world of nature, the earth and the sun, the forests, mountains and oceans – that is human beings in their totality as bodily, social and spiritual persons.” 159 Redemption is not limited to the future when Christ comes again, but is realised in part within history. In the resurrection of Christ the power of the Kingdom of God moves “into the history of mankind taking control of the powers of this world and bringing men to righteousness of God in which the New Age has arrived.” 160 Thomas writes: His empty tomb shows that the Kingdom of God has already come and broken into this world of sin. Death is already conquered as the last enemy. God has vindicated His Son, His only Son. Creator assumed creaturehood but returns to sharing the glory of the Father. He ascends to His Father and yet He says He is always with us. He has broken the barriers of space and time and the material world. Mary recognises the Lord when he calls her. Each one of us is named and He calls us by our name, to be partakers of His victory, members of His Kingdom, here and now and for ever more! 161 Thomas confesses the difficulty in grasping this concept: “The inter-relation of the resurrection faith, the heavenly hope and the dynamism for the renewal of life now is always difficult to grasp and more difficult to stay with.” 162 Yet it is within this 196
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Dr. M.M.Ninan 5708 Rudy Dr. San Jos
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THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MADATHILPARA
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MM Thomas - Life, Legacy and Theology

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