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. 

Misplaced glorification

In the Acts of the apostles we read Paul and Barnabas carrying out their ministry in Lystra. While there they engage in preaching the Gospel, and working miracles by healing the crippled.  Witnessing the miracles performed by them the citizens of Lyconia glorify them and name them as Zeus and Hermes (Greek gods). 

This glorification of humans by other humans is not something uncommon. Often some of us  religious and priests too find ourselves on such an exalted pedestal. A cursory reading of the text or any such situation can be interpreted as the esteem and respect attributed by the beneficiaries to those offering the help. 

Nonetheless they are could also be somewhere within our own efforts at proclaiming the Gospel, a subtle aspiration to be glorified ourselves, rather than letting Christ take centre stage. A worse scenario is where Christ never was and is the focus. He is only an excuse. In His name, we blow our own trumpet. 

It need not always be the admiration or misinterpretation of the listeners. Perhaps, in exalting the preacher, the listeners have rightly understood who the 'hero' is. Hence the glorification of the preacher. 

I know not if Paul and Barnabas sensed this 'failure' of theirs to reflect Christ, and in despair tore their garments, but even if not, at least they had the courage to correct the people's misplaced trust. Either way, it is a good lesson for us priests and religious to get our act and priorities right. 

Insanity

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!

 This quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein.  Whoever may be the actual one who first decided to define insanity in such terms, is to be appreciated. 

Translating the word 'insanity' into the local telugu language sounds more powerful and apt! And there are quite a few Salesians who excel in this art of insanity.  But what qualifies some of us, more as perfectly insane is the stubbornness with which we justify doing the same.  Not even are we open to considering alternatives or possibilities or even an evaluation of the same. 

If Einstein were to have known some of these typical Salesians he would certainly have added another like to the same definition of insanity: Doling out money over and over again, without as much as a plan or effort, and expecting miracles to happen... that's a higher stage of insanity! 

St Joseph, the worker

And though they son were God indeed 

over that home no Angels sang 

but still through years of toil and need 

hammer and mallet bravely rang 

and surely t'was a gracious thing 

when standing at his father's knee 

the world's great craftsman and its king 

not king but craftsman learned to be. 

The Lord himself learned to be a carpenter under your care,help us too to appreciate the beauty of hard work and to recognise the dignity of every labourer.

Telling the laity what a priest should do!

 The paradox of this evening's Mass on the occasion of Maundy Thursday was the sermon!  The Priest spent 90% of the time speaking about how a priest should be! What should be a priest's attitude? How should a priest carry out his pastoral ministry? What a priest should do and not do? ... on and on he went! 

And whom was he preaching to? Over 2000 lay people, mostly families with small children.  If at all he were to have preached his one hour sermon turning around facing the four priests who were on the altar, it would have made some sense.  No!! He gave us, non-priests, a full dose on how a priest should be!  

That's called brains! It is akin to berating those present in the Church about those absent! And still we religious want people to attend Church services and pay attention!