Grace before repentance

In our regular understanding and expression we most often think that repentance comes first and God's forgiveness follows.  It is as if God is responding to us.  

But I personally believe it is God who makes the first move. It is his Grace that moves us.  

In the Gospel of today we hear the incident of the prodigal son.  The son is repentant, after having lost all his possessions, and then thinks of his father.  His decision to get back to his father is not primarily because of his guilt; what precedes and supersedes that guilt is the trust that his father will take him back. Perhaps not as his son, in his earlier status, but at least as one of his hired servants... nonetheless, the son knew for certain that his father would accept him back!  

That benevolence of the father is the bedrock of our hope, our trust, our repentance. It is that same benevolence of the Father that draws us to approach the sacrament of reconciliation. Our repentance is in response to that benevolent grace; not the other way around. 

Making others feel at home

 A couple of days ago the readings of the Mass spoke of the only widow who was helped in Israel; then the only leper who was healed on the Jewish soil, and that too him being a Syrian, a non-Jew. The Gospel of the same day speaks of Mary as the chosen one to be the mother of the Messiah. 

What was special about the widow of Zarephath who was helped by Elijah?  What earned her a miraculous supply of food till the next harvest?  Her generosity towards a stranger. In spite of being hungry and well aware that sharing the only morsel of food she had, would result in the early starvation of her son and herself, she chose to offer the last morsel of food to a total stranger. She sacrificed.  She shared.  That too for a stranger. 

What was different about Naaman, the leper, that resulted in him being the only person to be healed by the Jewish prophet? He was open to the advice of everyone. He listened.  He listened to the advice of a slave girl who recommended that she visit the Jewish prophet to get rid of his leprosy.  He listened to his servants when in a rage he wanted to return from the doorstep of the prophet's house.  In spite of him being the army commander, he was open to kind words of others.  

Most importantly, even his servants felt comfortable to share with him their views.  They did not feel frightened or scared of him.  They respected him and hence wished him good.  This would have been  possible only because he was genuinely good to them!  

Song of faith

 An interesting story that I came across today: 

A group of two brothers were roaming in the forest, when they found a couple of tiny birds of the family of linnets. When the boys got the birds home, they put the linnets in a cage, opposite the canary bird, which was tied in another cage. (Canary birds are known to be “Singing Birds”) 

They explained to their mother that they hoped the linnets - being so young - would learn to imitate the singing canary. Instead of cheeping as normally birds do, they expected them to sing (like the canary) 

The next day the boys entered the room, and exclaimed: "Mother, come here, look what has happened! Our canary is cheeping like a linnet!" The mother came in and found it so! Instead of the linnets learning to sing, the canary bird forgot its ability to sing! 

Thus, the canary had to be separated from the wild birds of the wood and kept under cover for a time before regaining the singing ability. 

Such is the case with Christians who allow themselves to 'influenced and altered' by the ways of the world! We may end up losing the 'song of our Faith!'

Generosity

This story is told that one day a beggar by the roadside asked for alms from Alexander the Great, as he passed by. The man was poor and wretched and had no claim upon the ruler no right even to lift a solicitous hand. Yet the Emperor threw him several gold coins. 

A courtier was astonished at his generosity and commented: “Sir, copper coins would adequately meet a beggar’s need. Why give him gold?” 

Alexander responded in royal fashion: “Copper coins would suit the beggar’s need but gold coins suit Alexander’s giving.” 

Generosity is not just about fulfilling needs it is a reflection of our character and our inner goodness!

Christian witnessing

It is not what people eat, but what they digest that makes them strong; 

It is not what we earn, but what we save that makes us rich; 

It is not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned;

And finally, it is not just what we preach, but what we practice that makes us Christians!

Young people

Two news titles caught my attention today... both of the UK (BBC) 

End of hedonism? Why Britain is turning its back on clubbing

Wonderful teenagers helped my son on Halloween

Two specific reasons: 

Both focus on emphasising that young people are not as bad as most often people tend to think they are. There is always a great amount of goodness and kindness that young people are capable of living and sharing. 

The other fact is that young people are an energetic lot. They are not usually satisfied doing the minimum.  With the right ambience and support, young people tend to achieve far more than what they themselves set out to achieve. 

Crunching numbers

Today was another hectic day... mostly crunching numbers trying to sort out some accounts and payments across different platforms, communities ... about our ongoing construction project at Vizag. 

Not-withstanding the pain of sorting entries, cross-checking the dates, verifying the formulas, and all that stuff, the joy of seeing the totals tally up and match, is something different! That final result makes all the effort worthwhile! 

 

Silence and trust

St Joseph, among the many things he teaches, shows us the importance of silence. Because, in silence, one is open to listen... listen to His voice. 

And then have the humility and the TRUST that He will take care of things! 

Perfect combination than perfect individuals

The time of the year is coming round when transfers come into effect. Usually my prayers in the month of April are for the Provincial, who will have to have this headache of finalising the community confreres. 

Nonetheless, I'm more and more beginning to get to the point of believing that one individual does not really matter in the community.  What one needs to look at is the whole composition, the complete team.  Not that individuals are not worth or play no role in building the community. But that looking for a 'good rector', a 'strong administrator', a 'devout parish priest' for every community is absolutely impossible.  

Perhaps we need to be focusing on making sure that as a team the community is perfect; best possible. I suppose it is also the same tactic used by efficient sports team managers and coaches. 

Bata

I always thought that Bata, the footwear company, was an Indian brand.  Only recently I stumbled upon the fact that it is not of Indian origin at all!  

Fact:

The T. & A. Baťa Shoe Company was founded on 21 September 1894 in the Moravian town of Zlín, Austria-Hungary (today in the Czech Republic), by Tomáš Baťa, his brother Antonín and his sister Anna, whose family had been cobblers for generations. (From the wiki)

Their USP: 

They localise themselves in the place where they open their stores, to such an extent that every place, wherever in the world it may be, appears 'local'! 

Phone calls and responsibility

Two years ago, I only needed to recharge my cell phone once a day. Now a days I have to recharge it nearly thrice on most days. Of course, the phone battery itself is not getting any younger or better, but certainly the number of phone calls have increased. 

I am quite sure that this is not an indicator of my importance or status!! Far from it. If the increase in phone calls is an indicator it is of my inefficiency in making people and confreres independent.  The more the calls, the greater their reliance on me, rather than on themselves. I understand and appreciate those calls which are more for keeping me updated; but if for any other reason, then rather than forming the confreres to be self-reliant and interdependent (primarily on their own community confreres), they are becoming dependent on me. Which isn't a good sign for growth and maturity. 

So I constantly keep pushing the ball back in their court. Getting them to take primary responsibility and only assuring my support; not me taking on their responsibilities. 

Sacrifice and purpose

Sacrifice or detachment without a purpose is like going to the beach and returning without even getting ones feet wet in the sea! Good, but not noble enough.  Having a purpose and higher motive ennobles the already good act of giving up something. Good to sacrifice, but let's not sacrifice the purpose! 

Giving up meals or meat or something favourite for the season of Lent, could be a health benefit but if one wishes to make it a Lenten special, it has to be linked to Jesus.  

The ocean and a drop

Mother Teresa once compared her own charitable works to a drop in the ocean; nonetheless qualified it as important by concluding that if she were not to do that work, the ocean would be less by a drop! 

Lessons: 

1. We do not see drops of water in the ocean; we merely see the ocean. If each drop were to seek a distinct identity and not be seen as in union with the other, there would only be drops but no ocean. Unity in diversity is the key; not the latter alone! 
2. Only the ocean survives the summer heat, not individuated water drops or small water bodies. Our vision should outlast our life and work. 
3. Strive for quality; not rest on the laurels of some minor achievements. Aim small, achieve small. Aim big, achieve big!
   
   
   

Epitaph

I know what I want my epitaph to read... if at all I have one! 

"He lies a good man!"

But ironically, I do not want this to be written, because I said so, but because people by themselves genuinely feel so.