Maranatha! Come, O Christ! (BJMM051)

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Maranatha! Come, O Christ!

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath - Reflection in preparation for the Germany JY Lumen Conference, 2025)

“Maranatha! Come, O Christ!” 

— This ancient prayer of the Church is also the cry of our hearts today. Whenever a true Christian revival takes place — whether in a family, a community, or even a whole culture — it happens because that space has come under the loving sway of Christ.

In 1983, at Cochin, a religious sister challenged a group of professors and students: 

“Why are you afraid to bring Christ into the campus?” 

Those were turbulent days — student unrest, violence, and confusion dominated the college atmosphere. Her words sparked prayer, dialogue, and daring initiatives. From that moment, a wave of young people began opening their campuses and their lives to Jesus. What followed was the remarkable growth of Jesus Youth among students.

Scripture offers us a striking image of this moment. Jesus stands at the door and knocks (Rev 3:20). Picture Him holding a lamp, knocking on the door of a house filled with darkness, fear, and confusion. The door can only be opened from the inside. But when it is opened, everything changes — quarrelling parents become a loving couple, hungry children are fed and begin to laugh and play, and the house is filled with light and joy. There is feasting.

We live in a world still troubled by division, broken families, chaotic social changes, and conflicts across nations. It is precisely into these situations that Jesus desires to enter. He stands and knocks, eager to bring light, peace, and celebration.

Rabindranath Tagore wrote, 

“Have you not heard His silent steps? He comes, He comes, ever comes.” 

Jesus is indeed the Lord of hearts. The moment one person says “yes” and opens the door, transformation begins — in a heart, in a home, in a campus, and eventually in society.

But I cannot open anyone else’s door. The only door I truly have authority over is the door of my own heart. My heart is busy, distracted, and preoccupied with many things. Yet Christ still stands there, patiently knocking. Opening to Him is not passive — it means becoming aware of an area of darkness, making a choice, and taking a bold step forward.

The Holy Spirit will gently show us where we most need Christ’s presence — an area of confusion, resentment, or fear. Inviting Jesus into that very place becomes a moment of grace. Then, like Mary at Cana, we are invited to hear Jesus say, “Do whatever He tells you.” When we respond, the ordinary “water” of our lives is turned into “wine” — joy overflows, and the feast begins not just in our hearts but in our homes, communities, and culture.

A Jubilee is precisely this: remembering how, in the past, people opened their doors to Jesus and witnessing the lasting fruit of that decision. Today, we are called to do the same with even greater courage. As we invite Jesus anew, may we see fresh miracles of transformation — in ourselves, in our families, and in the world.

Maranatha! Come, O Christ!


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