As I stand today in India to participate in the commemoration of the blessed memory of the late Mor Baselios Paulose II, I am deeply moved by the mystery of our communion in Christ. Though oceans and continents separate us, the Church remains one Body, united by the Spirit of the Living God. The words of St. Paul come alive before me: “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).
The late Mor Baselios Paulose II, of blessed memory, is remembered not only as a leader, but as a shepherd who poured out his life in service to Christ and His flock. His witness reminds us of the Good Shepherd Himself, who said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Today, as we honor his memory, we are not merely looking back at history; we are proclaiming a living testimony that those who die in Christ continue to live in Him.
Being here among the faithful in India makes me realize more profoundly the beauty of the Church as the Body of Christ. St. Paul tells us: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). This communion is not limited by geography, language, or culture; it is the fruit of the Spirit, who gathers us as one people in the Lord.
The memory of our beloved Catholicos is therefore not only a memorial of the past, but a challenge for the present. It is a call for us to live with the same faithfulness, humility, and courage that he lived. It is a reminder that the Church is built not by power or prestige, but by love, sacrifice, and prayer. As the Lord Himself said: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43).
Today, in honoring his life, we are also confronted with the reality of our own lives. How do we spend the time God has given us? Do we live only for ourselves, or do we live for Christ and His Kingdom? Life is short, but what is done in love endures forever. As our Lord promised: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys” (Matthew 6:20).
This memorial, therefore, is not an ending but a continuation. For we believe, as the Creed proclaims, in “the communion of saints.” The late Mor Baselios Paulose II now intercedes for us in the presence of Christ, and his life encourages us to persevere in faith until we, too, are gathered into the fullness of God’s Kingdom.
Let us then take this occasion as a holy invitation to renew our commitment to Christ, to strengthen the bonds of unity among us, and to carry the torch of faith with courage and love. For in the end, it is Christ who unites us all, “things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:10), and in Him we find both our strength and our eternal hope.
