In defining this term, I am not pointing back to the 16th century Protestant reformers who brought about changes in the clerical understanding of the Bible andChurch. Here, I want to define it in a sense of changing the society or for that matter religious aspect into a better stateor form; improve by alteration, substitution, abolition and theimprovementoramendmentofwhatiswrong,corrupt,unsatisfactory,etc.
It’s almost annoying to hear the word “corruption” since it has been tampered exhaustively in our vocabularies explaining about our state of affair. With the decay of moral accountability and social apathy, the cry for reformation rings louder. But reformation can only happen in the presence of a reformer!
In almost every generation, reformers who have made priceless contributions to the world came about with a true love for humanity. Without the love for humans, the passion for reformation will be snuff out in cold winds. A Macedonian teenage girl was driven by love that she left her comfortable home to devote her whole life for the poor, orphans, downtrodden, lepers, HIV patients and the likes in India. St. Teresa confessed, “Of free choice, my God, and out of love for you, I desire to remain and do whatever be your Holy will in my regard. I did not let a single tear come." A commitment to the Divine will in carrying out his holy will in serving the outcast and broken was purely out of supreme love to God and compassion for humanity. Even after her 20th death anniversary, her dedication to reforming the world speaks to the world.
Let me therefore define who a reformer is… A reformer is one who works to change and improve a society, government, etc. A reformer is not passive about all the happenings around him. A reformer is not asleep from noticing a burning house that is about to crumble down. A reformer is a hero but one who lives ordinarily among ordinary people. A reformer is not a velvet-mouth preacher who does not resonate with the deep hurts of the listeners. A reformer is not blind to the open-secret of corrupt practices and lies. A reformer shouts from the roof-top of what is going wrong within the house. A reformer perceives the looming parasites and searches for remedy before it arrives. A reformer discerns that there’s more to than meets the eye. A reformer points out fault yet never without a tear in the eye. A reformer loves too much to stay quiet and complacent. A reformer is willing to pay his/her dear life for a noble cause. A reformer is not afraid to stand against corrupt officers and face them head-on. A reformer who lives to see justice done to the poor and who shows no partiality in his/her dealing. A reformer is freed of-isms. A reformer forgives and paves a noble path for the future better relations of their posterity.A reformer speaking and standing for truth and is willing to suffer losses on that undying conviction of heart. A reformer with the commitment to serve unnoticed for the welfare and good of the people… Can we find but one among us?
