Mission of peace in Manipur continues
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 04 2015: In a humble step to bring peace in the State through prayers under the motto 'Mission of Peace in Manipur', United Christian Women Manipur (UCWM) as part of their month-long 'peace prayer' campaign conducted a peace prayer session today at Life Word Mission Church, Imphal.

A significant number of Manipuri Christian women converged at the Church for the peace prayer session.

Peace is the crying need of the hour and people all over the world are yearning for peace stated president of UCWM, Vermini Sanasam at the session.

There is very little harmony among communities, Nations and religions today, she said and added that peace is not possible without love and unity.

Members of UCMW at the peace prayer session

She said, "True love is forgiving, enduring and self-sacrificing.

This is the nature of the divine love that God showers upon mankind through His son Jesus Christ, the Lord of love and Prince of peace.

A civilization of love and a culture of peace in the world can be built only by this strong 'cornerstone' that God in His great love has laid down in human history" .

She said that true peace consists of three important dimensions - personal, social and environmental.

It encompasses the economic, social, religious, cultural and political aspects of life.

Peace is an all inclusive phenomenon and is not mere absence of war and violence.

At the personal level, it demands repentance and forgiveness.

Socially, it requires justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

Environmentally, it needs eco-friendly technologies, renewable energy sources, organic farming and a simple lifestyle, she said.

Vermini Sanasam further said that peace implies both in sustainable development and freedom from corruption.

The consumeristic culture and materialistic philosophy are destructive to mankind and his environment.

A true activist of peace has to first of all, overcome the temptations of consumerism and materialism, she stated.

Vermini further said that he/she also has to struggle for justice, liberty, equality and fraternity in the society.

"We, the disciples of Christ are called to be instruments of peace in our respective areas of work and part of the world, following the path of our divine master", she said.

Vermini said, "This is the challenging life mission entrusted to mankind by God.

Our part of the world is Manipur, India and urged people to work selflessly, fearlessly and tirelessly for peace in Manipur.

So the Bible says - For where envy and self-interests exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceful, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" .

"The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace - James 3:16,17,18", she quoted.

This will mean united effort and joint action for sustainable development and freedom from corruption.

Peace is impossible without sustainable development and sustainable development is impossible without justice.

In a society of widespread corruption, justice is impossible. It is in a struggle for freedom from corruption that people can give a practical expression to their commitment to justice and peace.

In such a struggle, the non-violent method of suffering love of Lord Jesus Christ is the path of liberation, she said.

She added that Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated to the world how to apply the path of Christ for the political freedom of India.

Now people have to use this methodology once again, but in a more powerful way for liberating the society from its slavery of corruption.

This is the challenge of the era.

She said, "We need a concerted and united effort to liberate the Manipuri society from injustice, corruption and violence.

This has to begin with peace and justice in our personal lives.

We also need to launch a Nation-wide struggle in the form of a Gandhian liberative campaign for corruption-free Government and clean public life in Manipur" .

The National Regeneration Movement (NRM) is now being transformed into a second freedom struggle for the economic, social and moral freedom of India as envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi.

Peace and value education and a corruption-free India are important objectives of National Regeneration Movement, she said.

Today, the whole world is going through a deep crisis of values.

Violence and terrorism are on the rise, she said.

Vermini said, "We, the disciples of Christ are called to be at our best when the world is at its worst.

We need to be effective instruments of God for healing, reconciliation and peace.

In order to respond effectively to this call, we the members of different Christian churches need to be united in Christ" .

She stated that Lord Jesus Christ is the centre of Christian unity for the mission of peace.

His path of the cross is the common path in this mission.

The vision of the 'Kingdom of God' - love, unity and peace presented to humanity by Him is an inclusive vision.

Every person, saint and sinner, man and woman, rich and poor, married and single, old and young, 'Jews and Gentiles'- all alike, are included in the vision of the Kingdom of God presented by Lord Jesus Christ, she said.

The sermon on the Mount that greatly inspired Mahatma Gandhi contains within it an integral spirituality for the reign of God on earth.

The vision, spirituality and the path of realization of that vision presented by Lord Jesus Christ, together constitute the basis of true and lasting peace in the world, she said.

What is urgently needed today is a 'special task force' of disciples who are prepared to dedicate their lives for the mission of peace following the path of their divine master.

She urged everyone to join hands and work together for promoting a culture of peace in the world based on ecumenical unity and co-operative action.

"We the United Christian Women Manipur (UCWM) is not part of any particular church.

It accepts and respects all denominational churches as part of the 'one body of Christ'.

It aims at Christian unity and harmony.

United Christian Women Manipur is spiritually affiliated to our precious Lord Jesus Christ", she added.

Further she said that UCWM promotes a deep and abiding communion with Lord Jesus Christ and among the members through Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace and Son of God.