Sri Lanka, April 9 -- This tribute was written on the Good Friday of 2021, a day that is significant for all Christians and especially for us who have been bereaved by the passing away of our dear friend and colleague Rayappu Joseph, the true and undoubtedly genuine disciple of Jesus Christ.

As we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, my mind goes back to what Jesus quoted from the Hebrew Scriptures, before he began his public ministry. From the book of the Prophet Isaiah he read, which is well known as the Nazareth Manifesto of Jesus Christ,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let t...