The person, people as the Church

 The readings of the day, led me to a surprising twist at the end... much like a thriller movie with a very unexpected and unprepared twist to conclude with.  

The first and the second readings speak of the structure of the temple. The second one speaks of the waters from the sanctuary, flowing left, around, this way and that way... emphasising the life it spreads wherever it flows.  

The gospel of the day begins with Jesus in the temple; his rage at the commercialisation of the sacred space and his eventual chasing out of all the vendors. However, the concluding line of the gospel is a total surprise: He was talking of his body!  Rebuilding of the temple again! 

With all the emphasis all along on the structure of the temple, the building, the sanctuary, the edifice... the best is kept for the last - the person!  

The church as a person, the people!  While the physical structure of the church is part of the understanding, tradition and need of the living out of our faith, the highest form and integral part of the understanding, tradition and need of living out the same faith, is the person!! 

Personally for me, especially in my present role, this concept of the emphasis on the living person, much more than the physical infrastructure and all the amenities and functionality, is an endorsement of where our investment should most be!  

Of course, I don't think Jesus would differ in my subtle deviation when I say that the building up should be of the people of God, not myself!  I am not the temple - atleast not the most important or the best decorated or guarded.  Shouldn't.  

Working hard vs Working with a purpose

Jesus' mission of sending out the 72 disciples to the places he himself intended to visit, with the clear instructions as to what to do, and not to do, in practically each and every possible situation has a strange twist to it at the end of that passage.  This is the gospel of the coming Sunday (Luke 10; early verses).  

He sends out the disciples with clear instructions; a specific list of do's and don'ts - a perfect SEPP, with lines of action (as said by Sarath).  However, when they return and recall the great things they were able to achieve, (the evaluation of the same SEPP!!), Jesus states something he has not said a word about earlier! What they have achieved, and for which he congratulates them, is something he never spoke to them about!! 

Jesus tells them not to rejoice because they were able to work miracles, see Satan fall from heaven, heal the sick, cure diseases and what not; rather he tells them to be happy because their names are written in heaven!  Now that's not something he told them about before their departure.  

I take it as a lesson not to get lost in the immediate results or achievements; the petty victories or even the activities we so meticulously plan, implement and are proud of carrying out. The real progress and achievement is in setting in motion a PROCESS; a deep rooted change or IMPACT that works as a ripple effect, well after any of us has stopped working or even left the place altogether.  

The disciples being with Jesus learnt that he was not just DOING good things; there was something deeper and greater he was working at.  When following his steps, they subconsciously fulfilled what he had in mind; now he was calling their attention to becoming conscious of that purpose, while continuing doing the good things! 

Jesus' team today

 If Jesus were to walk on this earth today and were to pick and choose his team of apostles from those living here and now, whom would he choose?  

I guess his criteria would be the same: common folk from everyday life... construction workers, teachers, journalists, nhs staff, delivery guys, social media users and so on. 

Surely there would be non-Christians as well.  Women, most certainly.  Members of the LGBT+ group. Among these would already be someone who has been or is a migrant or with a criminal record.  A politician, maybe (if not for any good reason, at least to replicate Judas!).  

Am sure that his choice would startle and shock quite a few Christians of today.  Even if he did choose any christians, he'd have to bear listening to them as to whom he should choose and why!  Given our fickle and narrow minds, Jesus' choice rather than open our minds to His Word and mindset, would lead us to question the authenticity and 'christian values' of Jesus himself!  

Wonder if he'd need the same number (12)?  Given the fact that women can bear witness more convincingly than men, and that there is the presence and use of social media... these would certainly cut down the work force needed.  But one never knows.  

All said and done, I don't think what one does and is capable of is of little value to Jesus here.  What matters is one's openness to the Kingdom.  

Heaven and misconceived riches

Each of us has a different view of what heaven is.  Our basic catechism gives us an impression of it as a place, up above, where God lives.  Most often the idea is that is a place where all suffering ends and we enjoy unbounded peace.  Somehow as we imbibe the teachings of the Church, the 'carrot-stick' instructions of our parents and teachers, the fantasy of stories and movies, we come to think of heaven as a sort of magic land.  Once there, everything is possible and one need not slog anymore.  It is basically in total contrast to what we find around ourselves, here on earth. 

Take for instance the antiphon of today's prayers, on the occasion of memorial of St Martin of Tours:

Martin once poor and lowly, enters heaven with riches. 

It is as if Martin who had nothing, on reaching heaven gains everything that he lacked here on earth.  That somehow as he crossed the arch of heaven, all that he was denied here on earth, he is now blessed with.  Now that's quite an illusion.  Makes people live dual lives or be split in time - one totally different from the other; the latter making up all that we give up here on earth!  Martin gave up wealth here on earth.  Does that mean he had a thick purse or a fat bank account when he entered heaven?  Would he wanted that? Even if he did get it, would he have thought big about it? 

We don't enter heaven rich.  We are already rich.  Martin did not become rich when he reached heaven.  He was already rich in virtue of peace, joy and thanksgiving here on earth.  He had little but that he shared and what he did he did joyfully.  So he was happy here itself.  Heaven is not a place where one gains what one has given up; it is a state when one becomes conscious of and cherishes what one already is blessed with!  

The Kingdom of God

Both the first and the third reading of the day have plants and growth as their central theme.  It is all about seeds and plants and a detailed description of life/growth. 

One thing for sure about seeds and growth: they take their time to grow.  There is no rushing.  When the time is right, the seeds will sprout and it will take its own time to grow.  There is nothing called instant growth.  One can at the most speed up the growth by supplying the plant with all the required nutrients and water.  But even then there is nothing called, 'instant growth', like 'instant coffee' or fast food!

Secondly all of this growth is invisible to the naked eye.  Right since the germination, which usually takes place beneath the ground till the very end of the plant, it is slow and invisible process... nonetheless real and apparent. 

Two typical characteristics of the Kingdom of God: slow and invisible but sure and full of life!  

Jonah is 'religiously' upset

Jonah goes and preaches to the people of Nineveh and he does a great job.  He delivers God's message to the best of his ability.  He understands what it means and communicates it effectively to all the people.

Unfortunately he appropriates the job and the message as his own!  It is a familiar scenario.  When one gets so involved in a task, even though it is not of one's own responsibility, one is likely to treat the task and everything involved in it personally.  So naturally when God changes his mind and does not bring about the destruction he has promised, Jonah is upset.  Perhaps if I were in his place, I too would have felt the same.

Take the unlikely scenario of God carrying out what he initially planned to do to Nineveh.  Destroy it.  Then naturally Jonah would go about saying, "See, I told them so!"  He would have happily taken the credit. That's how we humans normally work: quick to take credit for success but reluctant to acknowledge failure.

What Jonah suffers from is a typical sickness of religious and priests.  Taking God's work as one's own, leaving nothing to God!  The former part of the process is good, not the latter.  We need to realise that God is incharge.  It is primarily his work that we are upto.  

Places in heaven

Preparations for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation have already been underway since long here in the UK.  Not only Protestant but also all the Churches are trying to get involved in some way or the other in reflecting on not just the event but its aftermath as well.  Hardliners always swing to the extreme and call for greater clarity between one's own Church and other denominations, falling back on the founder's distinctive characteristic.  Like the Orange Order (Ireland) calling on Protestants to refrain from using "RIP" for the dead as they deem it is a prayer for the dead - something they find superstitious and bad.  After all, as per their belief all that one is to earn, of course by faith alone, is here on earth.  Nothing more can be achieved after death.

Anyway, that was what I was distracted with during Mass when I heard the words of the Gospel wherein Jesus tells Salomi, the mother of James and John that the places on either side of him in heaven are for those the Father has allotted.  Is it that they have been earmarked for someone and no matter what or how good one strives to be, one can never ever secure those?  Well, I don't think so.  That they have been allotted does not mean the one's who will occupy them has been finalised down to the particular individual.  But basically the characteristics and virtues of those who get to sit there have been made clear.  It is like the reserved compartments in trains wherein those who have planned their journey, bought the tickets in due time and have paid the required amount are eligible to occupy. Those passengers do not own those seats but are worthy to use them for having fulfilled the requirements.

However, let me also add that I don't think, for those people who really 'deserve to be at the right and at the left of the Lord' in heaven, it really matters where they sit, as long as they are in the presence of the Lord! It is a strange paradox: for those whom it matters, don't deserve; and for those who deserve, it does not matter!

Perpetual profession at Battersea

Today was the perpetual profession of Cl. Gregory and Cl. Joseph Tran at Sacred Heart Parish, Battersea.  It was for the first time that I drove up to London with the aid of google maps.

Fr Basanes, the Councillor for Missions, was the main celebrant at the Mass.  He began his sermon referring to the "confusion" some could have of the occasion and the people involved: Cl. Greg from Nigeria, Cl. Joe from Vietnam, himself from Argentine, but working in Africa but now coming from Rome!  Moreover from the photos of the event/Mass no one would be able to identify that the place is London... all because of the wide mixture of people in the Church from across the globe.  There were quite a few from Africa, Vietnam, some of use Indians, Britishers and all sorts!  Fr Basanes concluded saying this exactly is how the Kingdom of God would be like.  All in one place, as a family celebrating God and His creation.  There'd be no strangers or foreigners.  Everyone would be part of the family.

Significantly just before the final blessing he invited the two clerics to come with him to the statue of Mary Help of Christians to seek her intercession to grow in their vocation.  He also requested a hymn to Our Lady be sung for the concluding hymn was something else.  It was later during the day that it struck me that today back in India we would commence the Marian month in most of our Salesian houses.

Fr Basanes, Joe and Fr Gerry 

A 'photo bomber', Fr Basanes, Greg and Fr Gerry

Chrysostom on the Eucharist and the other

Two significant quotes of John Chrysostom that I heard today:

Would you like to honor the body of Christ you receive in the Eucharist? Do not despise the poor when you see him clothed in rags... He who said 'this is my body', has said also 'You have seen me hungry and you did not give me to eat! Whatever you have refused to do for any of these little ones, you have refused it to me also!

What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices when your brother is dying of hunger. Start by satisfying his hunger and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well.

Eucharist and ourselves

Fr Hugh offered some reasons why we only have a small piece of bread and only a sip of bread, rather than a whole loaf of bread and a cup full of wine.  He gave two reasons:

1. That we are called to play a small role in the building of the Kingdom of God.  It is not that we are the sole builders or the total responsibility rests on our shoulders.  But in our capacity we do our bit.  The little that we partake of the bread and wine during the Eucharist is a symbol of that 'bit'. 
2. This Eucharistic meal is only a foretaste of the heavenly 'real' banquet awaiting us in heaven. 

Was all the time thinking, what if the Church had adopted the 'open field' Eucharist rather than the 'upper room' Eucharist?  Would these reasons still hold? 

The Holy Mass

Reflection for April 30 (Emmaus experience)

Wearied by our daily work, responsibilities, anxieties and tension, the Eucharist offers us an 'Emmaus experience'. In the Eucharist we hear His word and share His Bread. Just like the two disciples who forget all their sorrow and distress, we too are energized when we celebrate the Eucharist, irrespective of our vocation.

Reading and listening to the Gospel and choosing to partake in the Holy Eucharist are ways of saying to the Lord “Stay with us!” The act of sharing our faith with our brethren, like the two disciples, is what builds up the community, where we strengthen one another and build the Kingdom of God. The Mass thus becomes a personal spiritual revitaliser, a fellowship with others and an act of building God's Kingdom. The Mass thereby offers us a holistic revival package: spiritual, psychological, relational (personal and communitarian).

Go fishing

Reflection for April 21

After all that happened, the crucifixion, death and even the resurrection, the apostles go fishing! It really seems odd. But that is exactly how each of us live. We prefer to get back to what we are accustomed to, to that what we are comfortable with. However great an event or tragic a loss, the regularity we are used to offers a soothing balm. But imagine a scenario where the apostles had resumed their professional works, what they were used to three years prior, and never took up another mode of functioning…!

Yet the Lord once again challenges them. Calls them forth to carry on, without His physical presence, what they together did for three years. To be His witnesses. This is something the apostles are yet to fully learn. There is uncertainty and anxiety as to how it would unfold. Fishing is safer. Predictable. 

However, the apostles make that shift. They opt to move out of their comfort zones and preach the risen Christ. The first reading where Peter boldly asserts the source of healing the cripple goes on to show their full fledged immersion in the task of being witnesses. They are still fishing… but it is not fish they are after.

Even today, the Lord constantly challenges us to move out of our comfort zones. To explore more ways of being His witnesses than what we are routinely used to; feel contented with.

Of martyrdom

Regarding martyrdom and crusades...

A religious community, a church, can exhort a member to die for his belief and become a martyr, but only for the salvation of his own soul, not for the religious community in its quality as an earthly power; otherwise it assumes a political dimension. Its holy wars and crusades are actions which presuppose an enemy decision, just as do other wars (p. 48) [Schmitt, C. (2007) The concept of the political Chicago: The university of Chicago press.] 

Am not very sure if in the process of canonization, especially those considered martyrs, this element of distinguishing between dying for faith and dying for the Church is taken note of.  And I wonder if the latter is worth dying for.  For a person, a principle, yes! For a structure? Possible, but wouldn't that be political rather than spiritual?

This distinction between the political aspect and the spiritual aspect is good to understand the difference between the Church and the Kingdom of God.  That both these need not be the same, especially when the Church is understood with all its administrative and "political" tassels.

The truth will set you free

Reflection for April 5, 2017: If God were your father...

Freedom is a tricky issue. Most of us are convinced that if I am able to do anything, then I'm free. If not, then I'm not free. True freedom is not about doing anything. It is about doing what one ought to do. That what we claim we are, we choose to do accordingly – freedom lies in that choice to strive and be fully who we are. Jesus proves this clearly when he says, “If you claim to be descendants of Abraham, you will act accordingly… If God were your Father, you would love Him...” The trio of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew exactly what they believed in. They did not need Yahweh to save them in order for their belief to be confirmed. “Our God… may he save us. But even if not, know O king, that we will not worship your god or anything else.” Nothing ever binds such freedom.

The Father's commandment

Reflection for April 4, 2017: I say and do only what the Father has told me to

All of us seek name and fame, in our own subtle ways. That is human tendency. There is nothing evil about it. However, as humans we really do not need all of it! We often forget that we are not called to be the sun, giving out light to the world. We are rather called to be reflectors of the sun spreading light to the dark corners of the world and peoples lives. Jesus Himself shows us the way when he openly admits that He is merely following the Father's commandment. All His words and actions that drew attention to Himself, He used it all to build the Kingdom. In this Kingdom, the light already exists; one is merely called to be reflectors of that light or atleast transparent enough for that light to shine through us.

Thinking as pigeons

Received this interesting message on whatsapp today...
In an ancient temple, a number of pigeons lived happily on the roof. When the renovation of the temple began for the feast, the pigeons relocated themselves to a Church nearby.  The existing pigeons in the church accommodated the new comers very well.

Christmas was nearing and the church needed a face lift.  All the pigeons then had to look for another place. They found one in the mosque at the other end of the town.  The pigeons in the mosque had no complaints and welcomed the others happily.  A while later, the mosque was being rebuilt and the pigeons now moved back to the temple.

One day the pigeons saw some communal clashes in the market and a baby pigeon asked the mother pigeon, "Who are these creatures?" "They are human beings," replied the mother. "And why are they fighting?"asked the little one.  The mother replied, "These human beings going to the temple are called 'hindus' and those going to the church, called 'christians' and the people going to the mosque are called 'muslims'.

The baby pigeon was surprised. "Why is it so? When we were in the temple we were called pigeons, and so were we when we moved to the church and then the mosque.  Similarly they should be called 'human beings' wherever they go." The mother replied, " You and me and all our pigeon friends have experienced God and that's why we live here in this elevated place, peacefully. These human beings are yet to experience God.  Hence they keep fighting and killing one another."

At the manger

While at Mass today, it struck me that at the Manger you have the richest (3 kings) and the poorest (shepherds) under one roof - if that manger did have one! Bringing them together was this child, Jesus.

Secondly, the kings had brought in gifts. The shepherds didn't. Know not what to make of it. But I guess, the shepherds were not really prepared to what they were witnessing.  The kings on the other hand, were informed early and had come prepared with gifts, having made a long journey.

Perhaps the simplest lesson to draw from this scene: Everyone is invited/welcome into His presence! 

God's will

The Gospel of the day is about the father and his two sons (Mt 21: 28-32). The eldest son is requested to go to the fields and he refuses. But later changes his mind and does go. The younger son who is approached next by the father agrees to go, but does not actually do so.  So who does the will of the father?

Well, it struck me today that this is a great lesson in understanding better the whole concept of 'God's will'.  There is often the clash between doing God's will and following our own free will.  How does one really reconcile both these?

The father, in the parable, merely asks his elder son to go to the fields.  He does not tell him which route to take, by what vehicle to reach the place, what exactly is to be done there, whom to meet, what to do and what not to do. The father trusts his son to know what is to be done and how best to do it. That part of it he leaves it to his discretion.  Moreover, when the son initially declines to go, the father does not impose his will on him.  Furthermore, once the son decides to go to the fields, there is only so much to be done, as is to be in a field!  He certainly will not be able to run a discotheque there!  Nor will he be betting on horse-racing.

Similarly when God invites us to a certain task, He does not specify each and every bit of it. That He trusts us to figure out, using the qualities of the head and heart we have developed.  He did not create us as robots with each and every step completely programmed.  He made us with His own breath to be creative, different, special - even commit faults and run into error. 

... of the Kingdom; not of a king

For n number of times I've witnessed Priests struggle to give a sermon on the feast of Christ the King.  In the process of justifying or exalting the 'kingship' of Christ in a modern world, they end up offering some pious thoughts which neither moves nor convinces anyone in the congregation, least of all the Priest himself (one might ask, which sermon ever does that!). Even in UK, which has the monarchic tradition, there seems to be the same difficulty. Strange!

However, it struck me during the Mass today that we are really missing the point.  My basic premise is that Jesus never claimed to be a King! He always preached about the Kingdom but never claimed to be the king of it.  And 'his' Kingdom was one where everyone had an equal place.  The need for a 'king' figure is that of us mortals.  The first reading clearly tells us that it was the people who anointed David king.  Biblical history tells us, Yahweh did not appoint the king, it was the people who was adamant to have one.

The gospel too affirms the focus on the Kingdom when Jesus' last words to the thief states: "You shall be in paradise with me."  He never said, "You shall be in my paradise." Jesus never exalted and made himself King, rather made himself as one among (with) all.  A sensible understanding of the second reading reiterates this fact. Jesus always preached the Kingdom, but not himself as the king.  This feast really calls our attention to the Kingdom.

The Kingdom

The gospel of tomorrow's Mass, on the solemnity of Christ the King, speaks of the conversation between the three crucified on Calvary.  The content of their conversation offers one a glimpse into their life and character.  The gospel describes them as 'thieves' and perhaps they indeed were. However, I have an inkling that the former was indeed a vagabond, a seasoned criminal who had no remorse whatsoever for the things he had done.  All that he wanted was an escape route to continue, perhaps the wayward but luxurious life he was living.

The other was perhaps a good man who had fallen on bad times.  He must have been a thief but not one who chose to be a thief for its luxury or selfish benefits.  His heart was still tender and understanding.

What makes me say so?  Death is a great leveller.  However, great or wealthy or famous a person may be, it weakens the knees and the very thought of it makes one uncomfortable.  Much worse is for those on deathbed.  At that point, one cannot but be true to oneself.  However, competent an actor, at that threshold, what one is really made up of, is revealed.  For the second thief to hold back from passing judgement on Jesus or on the other thief, and acknowledge one's own mistake and view the present as a just consequence of that, is no easy task.... unless one has been practicing this art of genuine self-assessment.

Jesus too does not condemn the thief - neither of them.  He merely assures the latter a place with him in His Kingdom.  This certainly offers us an insight into the Kingdom itself: a place where no one judges the other but everyone is eager to see goodness in the other and place the other before oneself.