Francis Gonsalves

I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any,” wrote Mahatma Gandhi. His words are reminiscent of the Pope John XXII (1881-1963) who, some 50 years ago, similarly said that it was time to open the doors and windows of the Church to let in some fresh air. The Church no longer has fears of entering into collaborative ventures with all peoples of goodwill. These ventures are not only limited to believers but even non-believers and agnostics.
Aggiornamento — Italian, meaning “updating” or “letting in sunlight” — was the catchword of the “Second Vatican Council” (VC II) inaugurated by Pope John XXIII on October 11, 1962. Over 2,000 bishops and representatives of all the Christian churches, worldwide, assembled in Rome to discuss the state of Christianity, to renew relationship with other religions and to enter into dialogue with the sciences that were progressing. As a result of VC II the Church began a dialogue with believers of other religions, many Christians began reading the scriptures of other religions and doing research on the Gita, the Quran, etc.
VC II is a memorable milestone in Church history since, contrary to the fears of a few conservative leaders, Pope John XXIII and his successor Paul VI had the vision and temerity not just to update antiquated beliefs but to initiate what one might call an “open door dharma” which led Catholicism to seek solutions to pressing problems faced by humankind.
The opening of church doors can be unnerving. Conservatives and fanatics fear it for they hate being challenged to change. For them, religion is a matter of lifeless laws and rigid rituals to appease some loveless God. Progressives and prophets, like theologian Sebastian Kappen who dialogued with Marxism, Vandana Mataji who began living an ashram-life in Rishikesh, Sebastian Painadath who began giving Christian retreats with insights received from the Bhagvad Gita, see doors as symbols of openness to communication, change and renewal.
Doors signify transition. Doors either open out into areas of spiritual significance or seal off sacred spaces that are accessible only to certain holy women. Pope Benedict XVI announced this “year of faith” with a document Porta Fidei (Latin), meaning, door of faith. VC II had a special document to renew relationship with other religions where it exhorted Christians “to prudently and lovingly enter into dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions” and “to acknowledge, preserve and promote the spiritual and moral found among followers of other religions”.
Jesus figuratively spoke of himself as “the door” assuring those who came to him of “abundant life” (John 10:9-10). Elsewhere, he says, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus also warned people not to showcase their piety but to “pray behind closed doors” for God sees everything (Matthew 6:6).
You and I, too, are doors. Life bids us open up, listen and learn from others. “Open door dharma” is necessary in our times when dharma sometimes divides humans and destroys our humanness. Why don’t we opt for aggiornamento — updating, and letting light in?

Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com