Blessing people

While the Rector Major was at Chertsey, he was at the Salesian school, Guildford site on Thursday, in the afternoon.  He was asked to bless the renovated school hall.  All the staff was assembled in the hall, but just a couple of students were in.  The school had wound up earlier. 

There was a short prayer and when called upon to bless, the Rector Major spoke a few words but concluded saying, "I will bless first, you, the people, then the walls!" Not only me, but some others too found that very meaningful.  Blessing people, rather than structures. 

Even at Battersea, during the concluding Mass of his visit to England, several small children who had come for the Mass along with their parents were asked to come forward with the offertory procession.  So after the bread and wine, there was a small motley 'crowd' of 7-9 year olds walking up to the altar and getting behind the altar.  And before blessing the bread and wine, the Rector Major very kindly and taking his own time, blessed those children.  For the children themselves, it must have not meant much.  But for their parents, it was huge!  I think it is such small but very very homely and touching gestures that makes the Battersea parish a very vibrant and active one.  For a child to be specially blessed, by a special visitor, that too during Mass at the altar, means much for a family.  Not sure how the English families felt about it, but the look on the faces of the Asian, African and Latin American families said how blessed they truly felt!  

A blessing lost

Today during Mass - during Communion, to be precise - I witnessed a scene that made me feel sad.  It made me say those words that young John Bosco said of the priests who never replied to a simple greeting: "If I were a priest, I would not do that!" 

The scene was of a small boy (J), aged 6 or 7, approach the priest distributing communion, along with his mother.  I've seen and interacted with this boy and for him his small toy, Teddy, is the best thing in the world.  So every Sunday he brings it along with him to Mass.  Today he surprisingly brought in another toy - appeared like a tiger or a honey bee.  But what he does every time he approaches the priest for a blessing, instead of the Communion, is that he stands there holding his toy high up, for the priest to give it also a blessing!!  I guess his logic is, if I can be blessed, why not bless Teddy too! 

Unfortunately none of the priests so far have obliged him!  And every time his mother has to drag him off the line!  My simple question: What does one lose by giving that toy a gentle tap?  You don't even have to utter a blessing.  Just smile and tap the toy!  J does not want anything else!  He's not asking for his Teddy to be baptised as per the ritual.  Just a blessing!  And even if a priest did bless the toy, will the latter then become the body of Christ?  Or will his priestly power diminish? 

If blessing a toy is going to brighten the day of a little 6-year old, and with him that of his whole family, I'd gladly do it every day! In fact, it is not the boy who lost out on a blessing today, it is we grown ups, especially the clergy, and the Church as a whole, who've lost out on the blessing of a happy child!  

Favourite people?

I've often heard priests preach on the main theme of today's reading from the Acts of the apostles, where we see Peter telling, "God has no favourites."  Really?  But the whole history of the world and recorded testaments of religious show that God does have favourites: he chose Israel over other nations, did all those wonders and miracles for them, restored them their land, guided them and led them through the centuries, then when he wanted to send his son, he again chose the same Israelites.  Not only that even among them he had the tribe of Judah as the favourite.  When Jesus came on earth, he chose the twelve as apostles, and among them John was cited 'as beloved' of the Master. 

However, that can be said to be one side of the story.  Viewed from God's side (if we may), I think God loves all.  That's it.  He isn't loving one more than the other.  But those who experience his love and are moved by that, feel privileged.  Those who feel that 'others' are privileged, often fail to see how blessed they themselves are! But we always calculate our blessings on the basis of what we do not have rather than what we have!  Or worse, on the basis of what other have and I do not! 

The danger is when those who feel 'privileged' or are seen by others as 'privileged' start to act differently.  Those who honestly experience God's love, will not differentiate or discriminate, least of all, look down on others.  They'd prefer to share that privilege in their own way with others, joyfully. 

So it is right to say that God has no favourites? Perhaps the better way to say it is that God loves us and I am his favourite!  

Another day in paradise

Another day in Paradise (Phil Collins) 

She calls out to the man on the street 

'Sir, can you help me? 

It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep, 

Is there somewhere you can tell me?' 

He walks on, doesn't look back 

He pretends he can't hear her 

Starts to whistle as he crosses the street 

Seems embarrassed to be there 

Oh think twice, it's another day for you and me in paradise 

Oh think twice, 'cause it's just another day for you, 

You and me in paradise, think about it 

She calls out to the man on the street 

He can see she's been crying 

She's got blisters on the soles of her feet 

She can't walk but she's trying 

Oh think twice, 'cause it's another day for you and me in paradise 

Oh think twice, it's just another day for you, 

You and me in paradise, think about it

Language blues

While at UPS (our Salesian Pontifical University), I met several Indian Salesian confreres whom I knew or met over the past years... some of them almost 14 years ago.  There were others too who had heard my name but never met me (that was a great feeling!).

Am told that among the various departments operational at UPS, the psychology and communications departments are the most popular with the most number of students.  The other departments being mostly of a religious nature had many priests and religious as students.  However one common thing most of those whom I met (atleast the Indians) felt uncomfortable with was the Italian language.  That they had to learn and then almost instantly (within 3 months) start taking lessons of their specific courses in Italian was something they did not appreciate.  Some even jokingly expressed their jealously of me having "escaped" this by going to London!

From my side, I envied their 'ambiance' - the study environment with almost 2000 students in the university and about 150 priests and deacons living on the campus in 6 different communities.  Seeing others study - at least someone - is a motivation that challenges me to study too.  Apart from that, I truly feel blessed and grateful for every other "luxury" while in Chertsey!  I only prayed that I make the most of this mega-opportunity and blessing. 

More than watching

Reflection for April 8, 2017

“Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.”

Apparently the episode of raising Lazarus from the dead was quite an event. As is always the case, some of those who witness miracles draw up lessons for themselves and try to live accordingly. Some view it and then the effect of its grandeur weakens over time. There are always some who are not satisfied to keep it to themselves; they have to tell all and sundry about it. Most often such people do not really let the message sink in themselves. However, there will always be some who will 'report' it to those who they know will not approve of it. Their basic interest is only to watch interesting events from a safe distance. Their only joy and job is to ensure that such 'thrilling events' are witnessed so that they can be gossiped about later.

Everytime we celebrate the Holy Mass is nothing short of a miracle: the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus. What is our response to being part of such a memorial event? Do we draw personal lessons for life and attempt to live better? Or are we only satisfied to grumble about the length of the sermon, or the out of tune choir?

A year of the Lord's favour

The following passage (Is. 61: 1-2) has been a recurring text during this season of Advent, especially in the Christmas tide.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour...

Every time I read this passage, especially the last line, (...to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour...), I end up meditating on the numerous obstacles that were in the way and in spite of which today I find myself here in the UK! Not my personal objections alone which I gave up in the beginning of the year, but mostly the circumstantial ones which even delayed my reaching here.  I know for sure there are very many who would die to get here, in my place! And I'm not talking only of refugees or immigrants!  Yet, it is I who am here having this luxury of reading, study and that too in a reputed institution.

If I were a Hindu, I would have said with great certitude, that I had done 'very very many' good deeds in my previous birth to enjoy all the privileges and graces that I am blessed with. And this grace period of study, is but one of the many innumerable ones.

Blessings come as opportunities

That God does not offer ready-made packages of wisdom or talent or anything for that matter is something that I learnt from a movie: Evan almighty! It is there that I began to realize that when I pray for courage, God does not swell my chest or strengthen my muscles; rather He offers me possibilities, occasions to be courageous. When I pray for love, He does not send some nice goody-goody feeling into my heart; rather He brings people into my life whom I can love and receive love from.

I told the boarders last night the same. God or Mother Mary is pleased with our fervent prayers, especially the ones we are offer privately at their feet in all earnestness. However, do not expect God or Mother Mary to do what you are supposed to do. They offer us chances, possibilities, opportunities to bring to fruition what we ask for. Asking God to help me study is not going to be answered if I squander all the many opportunities that come my way by way of study material, time for study, luxury of facilities for learning... Similarly Mother Mary is not going to score a goal in the football match on my behalf and make my team win... however hard I pray. She rather offers me the chances to learn football all along and the possibility of shooting goals during the game. To ask for help and then totally act indifferent to the opportunities that flood by is an act of foolishness.

Judas' sin

It did not strike me before but today during the Mass in the morning, it struck me that Judas' did repent for his crime of handing over Jesus to the Jews.  Frankly speaking, being the political clout that the Jewish religious leaders wielded they could have just barged their way into Jesus' company and arrested him.  That they needed someone to 'sell' Jesus to them was merely a sham.

Anyway, coming to the point, I realized that Judas was indeed sad for what he did and wished to undo it.  He therefore goes back to the elders and even offers them the money he received for 'betraying' Jesus. I suppose if he had more money, he'd have willingly given that too just to get things back to as it were before his 'handing' Jesus over.  But then why is it that Judas always is portrayed in the negative.  For that matter, Peter also betrayed Jesus when he denounced him not once but thrice!  Going by that count, there are more heinous ways that we have 'betrayed' the Lord than Judas did!

His sin, I guess, is to believe that God would not forgive him!  Neither did he forgive himself!  These two facts coupled together saw him hang himself.  Certainly the society then - and now - would always have blacklisted Judas, had he lived on.  But he would have lived with that scar and through his life transformed it into a blessing for himself and others.  However, he was too miserly in his outlook of God... he never brought himself to believe that his crime would be forgiven - not by God and not even by himself!  

Liberating God from the docks

As part of my Theodicy class, I was differentiating for them that the idea of God from God himself. One of the students stated that a blind man could be wayward all his life and then at a certain point undergo a change of heart and after a period of fervent prayer be blessed with eyesight.  His point was to challenge my earlier statement that most often it is not God who changes (no guarantees of anything here), but our idea of God that undergoes transformation.  So he wanted to know if God changed his own plan for that blind person, because of his 'conversion'.

I replied him with another question, "Would that guarantee, that if another blind man just like the one in your example, gain his eyesight after a period of loose living, conversion and prayer?" His answer: No.  Then what is the difference? Why this partiality on God's part?

Another wanted to clarify and say that it is because of his change of heart and life of prayer that he was blessed with the eyesight.  I asked him, if he truly believed that God did the 'miracle' only after his change of heart?  Would not have God granted him his eyesight even otherwise, without that change of heart?  Did his God become so stingy and calculative so as to not be generous and selfless, irrespective of human response or even lack of it? 

Hurrah!

I always wanted to do this, but never really did it till this day.  Yes! I did it... I didn't check my e-mails for the past one week!!! The only hick is that I did it without intending it!  It was not that I was away, just that I was too caught up with things to be done and I never really found time to check out the mails!  As simple and plain as that... Whew!

I am still wondering how I can got this far (it is just the beginning of the year!)... juggling renovation work of the dormitories, preparing lists and schedules of and for the Brothers, getting the place ready for their arrival, the various initial programmes upon their arrival and to top it all, my own MA exams. Just couldn't ask for more!

Thank God for the graces and gift of everything that you've blessed me with! Couldn't ask for more!

Grace and prayer

One thing of grace and prayer was evident today - not that I did not know it earlier, it only became more clearer!  With grace we believe all things are possible and that prayer can bring about anything, anything at all.  Well, certainly no!  Grace only adds on what you already have.  Grace does not go against nature but builds on it.  It helps the person make the most of our nature. It is just like manuring a coconut tree and expecting it to yield jackfruit!  A well manured coconut tree will yield good fruit, yes but coconuts and not any other fruit.  It will make the tree strong, sturdy and produce better yield but certainly not make it into baniyan tree!

To be vs to live

Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy. 

Abraham Joshua Heschel

Thank you God

Being a special day, I did spent some moments in silence, thanking God especially having received this particular quote from some well-wisher:

Don't think of the few things that you didn't get from God after praying. Think of all those countless beautiful things He gave you without asking.

Frankly speaking I found it difficult to really reach this state, for my list of 'known' blessings itself is so long, that it would really take a long long time to finish merely compiling it in some sensible order. Anyway, couldn't think of anything better than this prayer: Thank you, God!

A snake for bread

Most often when we ask God for something we expect it to be delivered as a a 'ready-to-use' package. We ask God to give us bread and we expect it good, fresh, sliced and tasty. But God is not so cheap a baker. He is God!! He gives us, each according to what He has already blessed us with, the necessary things in order to get bread. For some He may give a lump of dough, others wheat, some He may give the required money. I won't be shocked if God gives someone a snake (just as in the readings of today, Mt 7: 7-12). Perhaps God has already blessed him with the skill of being a snake-charmer and he uses his skill and the snake to earn money, so that he gets his bread!

God promises 'good things' to all humanity; not ready-made or ready-to-use things!

God, His gifts, Job and me!

Perhaps the reason, besides the many offered by Theologians and Bible commentaries, Job chose to 'bless' God in spite of the many trials and tribulations that come his way, is that every time he received something from God, his focus was not on the thing in itself. He saw that merely as a by product of God's continued assurance that He was on his side. So rather than take pride in the 'by product' Job's eyes were set on God the real gift. Hence when all these so-called 'gifts' were taken away from him, he was never really perturbed. His assurance was firm: God was with him (perhaps more than him being with God). Suppose God Himself were to have questioned his fidelity and love, that would have been the end of Job... but that was not to be.

Most of us, on the other hand, want more. We ask for something and when God assures us that what we already have is plenty, we do not listen. When out of His generosity, He grants us something, we say a casual 'thanks' and before long, ask for more. Like the camel and the Sheikh who were travelling in the desert. At night when it started raining, the Sheikh was in the tent and the camel outside. The camel asked the Sheikh to let it just put its head inside. The tent was a small one, but the Sheikh agreed. Soon the camel asked permission to put in its neck too. The Sheikh consented. Then it was the hump and a while later, the camel was in the tent and the Sheikh outside in the rain!!

We are so full of God's bounty but without God; not because He wants to be away, but because we put Him aside (or outside) and keep His gifts near at hand... who knows which of the gifts we need at what time!

Those who have more, want more

Another lesson that I'm beginning to learn and understand slowly:
Those who grumble most are those who have been blest most!! It is only those to whom much has been given, will want more. Those who have something or little will go about life in a contented way. You give them little more and they'll treasure it. You give them something more again and again, then they will start grumbling about it sooner or later.

That's another of the lesson of the Parents' day!

Grace to carry on...

The Gospel of this morning - Jesus' stern reminder that to those who are blessed with much, much will be expected - is quite 'frightening'. Not so for those who really don't feel blessed but for people like me, who feel 'burdened' by the numerous graces He constantly blesses me with, it is quite a note. But I suppose He also gives the bonus grace of carrying on, rather than spending time brooding 'what if, I fail?' So I carry on giving my best, assured that He will take care of the rest. I only ask for that regular supply of wisdom to be prudent enough to make the right use of the varied graces at the right time and in the right proportion.

Counting my innumerable blessings

After communion this morning I was just counting the number of blessings that I am enjoying since the past two days... numerous!! I couldn't complete remembering even at the moment of the final blessing... !

• Greatest of them all has been the news that Willy and Roshni have a child (baby boy).
• the Salesiana course
• the experience of convincingly talking to the participants of the salesiana course
• Chinnappa's ordination
  
• for Cheryl and Anbu (their b'days)
• the safe journey up and down, B'lore
• the numerous mails and congratulatory notes for various reasons
• rest at DBRC, B'lore
• interactions with Fr Joe Mannath and Fr PO Jose

and many many many more !!! Thank You Lord!!

I, me and myself!?

Today became conscious of my own blessings... especially by way of health. While Br Gabriel went down fighting sugar and bp, I've neither. No physical ailments or pains or obstacles that keeps me from doing all that I wish to. Nothing mental that distracts me from the work at hand - other than other work, on the 'other hand'!! Loving family that is always there to understand and support me rather than be a constant worry as to 'now what?'. Compared to so many around me who struggle with these basic things, I'm truly and very much blessed - in abundance! Thank you Lord! But I also see another side of the same 'blessedness': I really don't understand their pain and anxiety. Do I? When a good friend of mine shares with me his family woes, I listen but then what? I really don't understand his situation because I haven't gone through that hell. When someone comes to me complaining of a constant migrane or backache, I wonder why doesn't he get on with his work rather than all the while talk of aches and pains! Am I really able to see beyond myself, my gifts and comfort zones to be able to really sympathize and empathize with others? Lord please help me grow with your blessings rather than be self-content with myself. .... and thank you for myself too!