Rev. Dr. M.J. Joseph – A Friend and Guru
I am glad that Rev. Dr. M.J. Joseph is completing 50 years in the ordained ministry of the Church on June 26, 2015. I praise God for his ministry and wish him more of God’s blessings to continue to manifest God’s glory and be a source of blessing and inspiration to all people.
There are so many things which one can learn from M.J. Joseph (MJJ) Achen as we look back to his 50 years of ministry. I mention only three here.
1. A Good Teacher
From the time I remember MJJ Achen, I knew him as a guru at the Theological Seminary, Kottayam. As a New Testament Scholar, he has taught so many students who are now ordained ministers of the Church. As a seminary professor, he lived in the campus with his family and proved to be a mentor to all the students who studied during his tenure. The Mar Thoma Church sent him for his doctoral studies in New Testament. His convocation was at the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam, organized by the Serampore University and was well attended by the representatives from the Church and Kottayam public. Subsequently, he became the Principal of the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary.
Rev. Dr. MJJ is a scholar, particularly in New Testament studies. He had several research scholars working under his supervision and all those who studied with him witness his scholarship in the Biblical subject. To be a guide, a trained Christian theologian, to research scholars means to re-look into the field of study with competence and enter into a systematic and progressive study of the Holy Bible along with the students. This has enabled MJJ to continue his studies, searching again and again with the students to bring out the truths that were to be unraveled from the Bible.
Theological colleges are conducted as centers where pastors and other church professionals are trained to preserve and propagate Christian truths held as dear by the particular denominational community. The Theological College of the Mar Thoma Church is also a seminary. The purpose of a seminary is not only to impart academic excellence to students but also to mold the character of the students by practicing the ethical norms. Campus life becomes meaningful when the seminary community live in the campus according to a schedule set for a disciplined life. Encouraging personal devotion of the students, having morning and evening prayers in the hostel for the student community, chapel services, sermon preparation, strengthening the relationship with all members in the campus, discipline in the hostel, campus library, and classrooms, all go along the way of molding and training the students for an exemplary life in the Church and outside. As a teacher and principal, MJJ had a great role in imparting seminary life to the students who came there for studies from time to time.
Mar Thoma Theological Seminary which started with Licentiate in Theology (LTh) courses, became a theological college where graduates and post graduate studies became possible, and the seminary maintained a good academic standard all through, in the university level. While MJJ was the principal, he explored the possibilities and started a federated faculty with the help of the staff from Theological Colleges of Orthodox Church, Church of South India, and Mar Thoma Church, and offered postgraduate courses for the research students of all Christian denominations. This effective and ecumenical ministry is continued even now.
The Theological Seminary, Kottayam always had a good and harmonious relationship with the people and parishes in state of Kerala. The teachers and students attend the worship services of the worshiping communities with a schedule, lead conferences, and seminars, and take time for prayer and Bible Studies in small prayer groups. MJJ strengthened this relationship and ministry by believing that theological colleges are meant to educate the entire people of God for an authentic Christ-centered community living. It also enabled the Churches to be contextual, responding to the challenges of the day. The meaning of a seminary in a wider context is to equip each believer to be an agent of the mission of God through witness, service, and teaching.
2. A Good Pastor
After he completed the term as the principal of the seminary, following the policy of the Church, MJJ joined the Mar Thoma Church, Madras as the vicar. I had close association with him from that time onwards, as I was also ministering in that diocese. We had our regular clergy conferences on the diocesan level as well as on the regional level. One of the things that we did at that time was to publish a book entitled Gleanings with studies meant for the First Communicants of the Church. MJJ was the editor, and other members of the regional clergy contributed valid articles in English. It was well-received by the members of the Church, and the second edition of the book was published without delay. That remains a valid book even today in the Church in taking classes for the First Communicants and preparing them to participate in the sacrament of the Holy Communion.
Rev. Dr. M.A. Thomas, the Founder and Director of the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore was also in that diocese. Thomas Achen was a member of the Mar Thoma Church, Bangalore East, and he wanted the sacrament of “Anointing the Sick” to be done in the parish for him when he knew that he was sick, and the time had come for him to leave his mortal body. All the clergy got together on a Saturday morning for the service. M.A. Thomas Achen mingled with the clergy after the service, and we had a very lovely breakfast fellowship. To everyone’s surprise, Thomas Achen passed away the same evening by 4 PM. The funeral was conducted on the following Monday, and MJJ gave a very fitting tribute to the Late Rev. Dr. M.A. Thomas before his body was laid to rest in the ECC Campus with special permission. For MJJ, Thomas Achen was his mentor, a friend, and a person with lots of innovative thoughts. The poems and thoughts which MJJ has written in his life reveal how much Rev. Dr. M.A. Thomas has influenced his life and reflections.
3. A Lover of Nature
MJJ succeeded Dr. Augustine Mithra as the Director of ECC. He served two terms as the Director and brought the Centre up in carrying out its mission. Knowing the Founding Director, MJJ tried to implement his vision. MJJ made fresh attempts to explore new ways of interfaith relations, interreligious, and interdisciplinary consultations, and studies for bringing people together to Ecumenical Christian Centre in Bangalore for relevant education and initiating meaningful steps towards community living in the world. He made ECC Campus, Vasudaiva Kudumbakam by bringing people from all walks of life, worldwide. He not only made that campus ecofriendly, but also brought awareness to the eco-mission of the Church. I have had several occasions to be in the ECC Campus while Achen was the Director, and I remember taking several walks in the campus with him, seeing the grass, fruit trees, plants, birds, and animals. He planted a grape garden with the help of international ecumenical friends who came to the campus for a consultation. In one of the strides I made with MJJ, in the campus, Achen was pointing to a wooden bench that was made near the lake by nailing the wood to the nearby live trees. It was meant for the people to sit and meditate on the beauty of God’s creation. Seeing the nails driven through the trunk of the trees, MJJ said that it is a wrong act, as it pains the live trees and hurts its growth. Hence it is a sin. That was a thought-provoking new lesson for me.
I always read Achen’s articles and biblical meditations with interest. He is a well-read person, capable of reflecting on the social issues in the context of the Holy Bible, bringing out the theological thoughts and enabling one to think deeper. He will not call a person “useless,” as it is not Biblical, but will go on telling that the person may be “less-used.” He always had a concern for the last, least, and the lost. He always strengthened the relationship and stood against all sorts of walls that separate persons and communities. He would rather ask the question, what is it that you wall-in and wall-out? Walls can only separate and therefore Christian ministry is to remove all walls of separation.
I pray that the Almighty God will continue to bless Achen and bless him for further spiritual contributions. May Achen’s spiritual pilgrimage through his life enable all the people to experience Jesus Christ in history who transforms all creation and leads all to the Kingdom of God.
God bless the readers and our dear M.J. Joseph Achen.
Mar Theodosius+
