I just offered the Sunday liturgy with my parishioners in Christ the Kingh Church, Akhnoor (Jammu). The first reading of today's liturgy surges up new horizons of peace in ever-burning Jammu & Kashmir. For the Lord says, "I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations;" (Zech 9:10). Peace has always been elusive at least for the past 20 years when the state has been experiencing cross-border terrorism, insurgency and violence sponsored by vicious, ill-meaning states. Kashmir is known as paradise on the earth. Divisive forces have tirelessly been trying hard to convert into a hell. All kinds of development have effectively been blocked. Violation of human rights is glaring, indeed. Yet the divisive forces are still on...
Of late, you may have heard, the opportunists and separatists have polarised the populace evoking their religious sentiments over an allotment of land to a minority shrine. Violence is everywhere; curfew is imposed; non-availability of essential commodities and injuring and murdering of innocent people are norms of life. The reality is tension, violence and distrust everywhere due to communal polarisation.
Lord Jesus rightly calls us through today's liturgy, "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mt 11:28). We need your prayers. The entire region of Jammu & Kashmir and its unfortunate people are in need of Christ's rest and peace. Please pray to God that the people of Jammu & Kashmir may come, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother, to Jesus, Her Son, so that they experience lasting peace of the Prince of Peace.
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