To BE rather than BECOME

Most of the disciples of Christ choose to be with Jesus, not become apostles or own possessions.  They chose Jesus, because they were enamoured by who he was, what he did and how he went about living his life. They chose to BE with him, rather than BECOME someone or something. 

Michael Rua and John Cagliero decided to stay with Don Bosco, not because they wanted to be his successors or bishops or leaders of the Salesian congregation.  They merely felt at home with Don Bosco and wanted to BE like him.  They had no personal agenda, rather they aligned their own aspirations with that of Don Bosco.  

Good to pay attention to this! These individuals who made an impact on the world, chose to BE with their models. Those who decided to stay with the models in order to become something, became politicians or businessmen, not leaders, not models themselves - at least not for the better! 

What am I full of?

 A lady good at teaching Maths is bound to be approached by the students for clarifications and assistance.  Certainly the number of students approaching her for tuition in Maths speaks of her capacity and talent. To such a lady no one is going to ask her to pack a kilo of pickle for travel abroad! (Unless she does that as well - in which case, sooner or later, the number of people approaching her for either tuitions or pickle will indicate what she is excelling at).  

Point of the story: what one is good at, or perceived to be good at, is that people approach one for.  

So the question: what am I good at as a religious, as a Salesian?  If young people don't find me good for anything, then why would they approach me?  Does anyone approach me asking for prayers, after all, I'm a man of the cloth and spirituality is supposed to be my specialty. So if no one asks me for prayers, they don't perceive me to be good at it. 

One thing I know that most people approach us Salesians, for: funds and financial aid!  That says something!  We have projected ourselves (can't squarely blame people for perceiving us all by themselves) as rich.  The distinction/clarification I wish to make is between people approaching us for funds for education or for education?  Do they see in me a teacher, an educator, or merely an ATM, albeit for education - for which they approach someone else. 

Substitution

 Today we commemorate the feast of a man who wasn't the firsthand choice of Jesus as one among the 12 apostles. 

Mathias was a substitute or replacement of Judas. He was filling in the shoes of someone who had betrayed the very Master. Not a pleasant or exciting offer. 

He knew well what apostolate meant. Nor was he a first timer or random passerby who got dragged into the inner circle of the early apostles. I'm sure he was around when Jesus went about his mission. So when the slot fell vacant, the choice of Mathias was not surprising to those around. 

Being a substitute he could have acted as a spare wheel, rather than take on the full responsibility. But I'm sure that wasn't the case. In fact I'm almost certain, he would have continued being who he was and doing exactly what he was doing earlier. Even if he were not to have been chosen, he would still been the same and done the same amount of good. I guess the same is true of Barsabas, the alternative option who was considered for the substitution.

That's virtue. That's integrity. Valuing who I am and doing what I truly believe is good no matter the circumstances around me or the existence or non-existence of power, position and responsibility.

Religious dichotomy

 In the movie The Shawshank Redemption, Andy in one of his conversations with Red, makes this powerful statement, which once in a while I recollect. 

The context which reminds me of this statement is the kind of life some of us religious live.  Most often, our parents and siblings live a much holier life than us who profess to God and His people to live a life of poverty, obedience and chastity.  It is not a comparison that I am most concerned with. Rather it is the life we choose to live vs the life we profess to live.  The widening gap is often so wide that everyone except the one living it sees the incongruency. 

And this decline does not happen all of a sudden.  The foundation for religious life is often laid in the novitiate.  However, some never bother to lay that foundation, even after ordination. These drifters, even if guided by human values - leave alone divine or spiritual values - will still do good. However, often the case is that such anchorless persons only make use of everything - even God - for their own private agenda.  

Dubious signage

My instant (and irrational) interpretation of the following signage above the lift, at Cochin airport... 

Go up a man and come down as a woman!

Tourism around the rice fields

Yesterday evening the family members of TD John took me out to show me a few places around Thrissur. Although I was not keen that they be my tour guides, given that in the morning there was a funeral in the house, they were keen to show me around, this being my maiden visit to Thrissur. 

We drove around the ship-model Church, Church of St Thomas, the cross and campus at St Aloysius College and a couple of their family homes. A trending tourist attraction they took us through was the rice fields, irrigated through Kole farming!! There is this vast zigzag area where there is the water canal and the rice fields on either side of it. Half the year these rice fields, I'm told, are lakes. In the summer when the water level goes down, the land is used to cultivate paddy. Makes sense! 

However, with the growing popularity of reels and youngsters posting videos on social media, this rather laborious work place is now a tourist destination! I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of the actual farmers have also set up stalls along the narrow banks because sale of snacks and tea at such places is more lucrative and income fetching than farming. 

As one of the family members stated, in another couple of months, these 'photographers' will find another place, making it viral and this place will be forgotten. 

Tourism around rice fields! Sounds weird, but if it raises some awareness and conscientization about traditional farming, nothing to complaint. Also if it is to understand the science and history behind the technique of utilising natural resources in a most creative and efficient manner, then it's really worth it. 

At the Syro-Malabar Mass

 This morning I attended a Syro-Malabar Mass. Yesterday was the funeral of the eldest brother of TD John and today they had the Mass.

This is perhaps the fourth or fifth Mass that I'm attending of this Oriental rite. Although fairly awake of the differences between the Oriental and Latin rite celebration of the Eucharist, what I noticed today is that the prayer of the faithful does not begin with the intention for the Pope, Bishop and clergy. Rather it is one of the last intention. In a rite that's highly hierarchical, it is surprising to see this order of intentions. But I'm certainly not complaining!!!

Then there are the altar servers. I think that role is only for the boys - and I wish I am wrong. But, oh boy, unlike the Catholic Mass, the altar servers have to be attentive all through. They serve in a much more involved manner than the Latin rite Mass. In fact, they have more practical roles and responsibilities during Mass than a Catholic deacon at the altar.

The Church (old and new) at the monastery at Elthuruth, Thrissur

A life of witness

 An excerpt from a reflection I received today...

Indeed, 'some of the loudest sermons are whispered by the lives of the quietly courageous.' 

That’s the kind of faith we are called to have: 

Not a faith that looks fashionable; 

but that’s faithful. 

Not a faith that always roars; 

but that refuses to retreat. 

Not a faith that is just worn on the neck; 

but that's clutched in the heart.

Basically, a life of witness, lived joyfully and generously, because one is rooted in God and his values/Gospel. 

Fiasco in the making

 Most of the time we fail to plan. We are severely allergic to planning.  Even if and when we do, we do it so shoddily that we achieve nothing. By luck, (and by the hard work of some passionate lunatic) even if we do achieve something, for lack of a long-term vision, the little results fizzle out and we return to ground zero, sooner than later.  

The worse part of such an unplanned enterprise is that the whole endeavour not only does not cause any positive ripples (leave alone, impact) it also destroys all that has been built up or invested in, over the years. 

And the comedy of the whole process is that we, priests and religious, come out of it unscathed!! This whole failure does not pinch us a bit!! 

One of the root causes of it all is our allergy to planning.  Even when we attempt to do so, it barely has teeth. Most often it is wishful thinking, not a concrete SMART plan. And once prepared, the only thing the earns is dust.  That plan is never looked at, leave alone implemented or evaluated.  

Unwanted pregnancy?

 I've come across the phrase 'unwanted pregnancies' many a time and perhaps it is standard term in vocabulary and linguistics. Nonetheless I prefer we rather use the phrase 'unprepared pregnancy' to refer to the same meaning. Or even 'unintended pregnancy'.

One can't 'want' to have sex and be 'unwant' about one of the natural outcomes of the same. Most importantly, I prefer the proposed change of vocabulary since the former phrase appears derogatory in its reference to a child, who has had no say whatsoever in its own existence.