Philipose Mar ChrysostomPhilipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan shepherded his flock with a hearty laugh.
The centenarian bishop of the Malankara Mar Thoma Church relied on humor to get the message across. His model was none other than his mentor, Jesus Christ himself. If Jesus spread God’s word through parables, Chrysostom chose the funny way to hearts and minds.
The bishop ended up charming the entire society in the process. Behind Chrysostom’s humorous quips lay deep insights into life.
Chrysostom inherited a Church which frowned upon literature, arts and cinema. Music was limited to the monotonous verses recited in churches and the only read appreciated was the bible. Chrysostom retained the serenity of liturgy and made religious practice more appealing by bringing the common man to the center stage.
Chrysostom’s satire was ushering in a silent transformation within the Church. He cast away the gloomy ambience of the church with spells of uncontrollable laughter. He had no targeted audience. He communicated with everyone.
Humor was ingrained in the bishop’s mind. His jokes were sometimes vehicles for his insights into the mysteries of life and articles of faith. People lapped up the jokes and the messages they carried.
Chrysostom relinquished his duties as the head of the Mar Thoma Church in 2007 but he was bestowed with the loving title of ‘Valiya Metropolitan’. He continued to be the darling of the masses.
His column in Malayala Manorama titled ‘Vellithalam’ widened his audience to the entire Kerala. Chrysostom was more than just a bishop.
Chrysostom shook us from our complacency with his sharp jokes. We looked up to him for directions.
He had a special gift to take note of the sights and sounds that went unseen and unheard by most of us. He interpreted the Holy Book in accordance with modern times, incorporating contemporary events and characters into the narrative.
Nobody can disown an entertainer. Chrysostom was one despite his solemn position. He was always amid the ordinary folk. His humor sense and simplicity allowed him to bless anyone and any establishment, be it a corner shop or a church.
His mirthful dialogues contained the fingerprints of a life lived to the fullest. He transformed the stoic experiences granted by long hours of meditation into simple words.
He stood the prevailing wisdom of an eternal unchanging god on its head and spoke about a “changing god in an unchanging world”.
He was the biggest votary of the need for unity among various churches.
He taught us to see divinity everywhere. The supper served by your mother should have sacramental sacredness, he told us.
He stood for earth. He lashed out against the mode of development that “led us towards an irreversible exploitation of earth’s resources and the pollution of earth.”
“The loot of earth’s resources is endangering future generations. The riches are concentrated in the hands of a few. Its real owners are turned refugees in their own land. The tribal community is being expelled from their natural habitats. The silent majority is asked to sacrifice everything for the rich to lead a comfortable life,” he wrote.
His humility could be summed up in the words he once wrote: “At least a few of you address bishops as the supreme head of the church. But the supreme head of the church is the Christ. Even the church representatives cannot claim that position.”
