Stand up (Cynthia Erivo)

I heard this lovely song this evening, and I first thought it was a Biblical song.  It felt exactly as if it was Moses of the Old Testament, singing this song about his task of leading the Israelites back to the Promised land.  

However, I then realised it mentions of a 'river' rather than the sea. That's when I looked it up. It turned out to be the title song of the movie 'Harriet'. The movie itself, is no less an Exodus tale: HARRIET tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

The video of the song narrates the story by itself. The song is co-written and sung by Cynthia Erivo.  She is also the lead actress of the movie!! That's some real passion and heart. 

I'll need to watch this movie... 

I been walkin' With my face turned to the sun Weight on my shoulders A bullet in my gun Oh, I got eyes in the back of my head Just in case I have to run I do what I can when I can while I can for my people While the clouds roll back and the stars fill the night That's when I'm gonna stand up Take my people with me Together we are going To a brand new home Far across the river Can you hear freedom calling? Calling me to answer Gonna keep on keepin' on I can feel it in my bones Early in the mornin' Before the sun begins to shine We're gonna start movin' Towards that separating line I'm wadin' through muddy waters You know I got a made up mind And I don't mind if I lose any blood on the way to salvation And I'll fight with the strength that I got until I die So I'm gonna stand up Take my people with me Together we are going To a brand new home Far across the river Can you hear freedom calling? Calling me to answer Gonna keep on keepin' on And I know what's around the bend Might be hard to face 'cause I'm alone And I just might fail But Lord knows I tried Sure as stars fill up the sky Stand up Take my people with me Together we are going To a brand new home Far across the river Can you hear freedom calling? Calling me to answer Gonna keep on keepin' on I'm gonna stand up Take my people with me Together we are going To a brand new home Far across the river Do you hear freedom calling? Calling me to answer Gonna keep on keepin' on I'm gonna stand up Take my people with me Together we are going To a brand new home Far across the river I hear freedom calling Calling me to answer Gonna keep on keepin' on I can feel it in my bones I go to prepare a place for you I go to prepare a place for you I go to prepare a place for you I go to prepare a place for you

Freedom

 On the day we Indians celebrate the Independence day of our nation, I'm gladly reminded of what I learnt while teaching Anthropology at Karunapuram, specifically about human freedom.  The distinction between freedom FROM and freedom FOR.  That these two are like the two sides of the same coin and that one cannot be had without the other, lest freedom loses its essence. 

If we have gained independence from the Britishers, we need to also have the aspect of independence FOR self-governance. Merely remembering the past, without contextualising it today, will only be a dead commemoration and not a living celebration. 

Thus the best expression about freedom: Freedom is not the right to do as one pleases, but it is the liberty to do as one ought to do. 

Freedom of the press

One of the aspect of the British press and in a way of the political system, I admire is the openness and freedom the press enjoys in discussing political issues.  None of its leaders, save the Queen and the Royals to some extent, are spared!  The worst attack I've come across is on the Prime Minister, Theresa May herself!  Some of the cartoons printed (and sold) are appalling.  Take for example, the following cartoon and the following article in today's The Times:

I guess that is what keeps the politicians on their toes most often.  With the press enjoying such freedom, there is little room for politicians or any public figure to make mistakes.  If discovered, they'd be skinned alive - on paper! 

To think of such a freedom in the Indian press is certainly a distant dream.  Can you imagine a similar cartoon and any article with such a brazen title appearing in any of the Indian dailies?  Even if one it did see the light of the day, one can only imagine the paper henceforth, for neither the paper, nor the author would ever be heard from/of!  Yet in democracy freedom of the press is considered most vital! 

The Lord hardened Pharoah's heart...

The first reading of the day begins with this statement:

"The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart..." (Ex. 11: 10)

Honestly if only Yahweh did not do this, there'd be no Passover, no slaughter of the Egyptians at the Red sea and no hurried exit from Egypt.  Just that one act of making Pharaoh obstinate resulted in all this following confusion.  So why did he do that?

Some would prefer to believe that he did that in order to fulfill his promises to the Israelites; or to show them his greatness.  These could be 'good reasons' but not 'valid or real reasons'.

The fact is that he didn't!  Yahweh, the almighty could inspire Moses and Aaron and lead them to guide the Israelites out the Egypt, but he could not and would not change the heart of Pharaoh.  That was something beyond his own nature... to meddle with the decisions of human beings.

So then, is the Scripture wrong in making that statement.  Well, can consider it one of the many anthropological modes of expressing an experience of God.  

Mass cards

During Don Bosco's time, there were prevalent the custom of Mass cards: something boys or people would use to keep track of their participation in Mass, by getting the priest to endorse the card after the Mass. Don Bosco, somehow never introduced those in the oratory or among his boys. He certainly was far ahead of his times, in recognising that Mass is something you attend out of one's own personal desire to meet the Lord rather than fulfill an obligation. As a boy he was eager to participate in Mass, receive communion, even at the expense of foregoing breakfast. He encouraged the boys to Communion, not by routine clockwork but out of a personal experience of the Eucharistic Lord.

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.

Mortification

Words of St Ignatius, referred to by Pope Francis on mortification:

... to follow the Lord, mortification in all possible things helps.  If something helps you, do it.  But only if it helps you to be more free, not if it serves to show yourself how strong you are. 

Mother Mary's choice

We celebrate today the feast of the Immaculate Conception.  A very difficult feast to explain to young people of our modern times.  I suppose so is the virgin birth and the assumption and practically so every feast of Our Lady.  Most defy logic and rational thinking.  However, if one is to view her life comprehensively and not in bits and pieces, each event makes complete sense.

Coincidentally reading Markings, I could not but relate the following quote of Dag Hammarskjold with this idea that Mother Mary's life was one about choice.  More than God choosing her it is about she choosing God, at every turn of her life. That point I suppose every youngster will comprehend.

The opportunity was given you anew -- as a privilege and a burden. The question is not: why did it so happen; or, where is it leading; or, what is the price? It is only: how do you make use of it? And about that only one can judge.

Education ... freedom and authenticity

A quote from the presentation of Mr Kurian during one of the Strategic Planning sessions.

Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Paulo Freire) and Deschooling Society (Ivan Illich) have discussed at length the politics of education.  True formation must decolonize the mind. There is nothing more damning than the illusion of a unique, singular, uncritical and choiceless identity.  "If traditionalism were proper, the prophets would merely have followed their own leaders and not come with new messages" (Akbar and his India). 

Along with Oscar Wilde, we could remember from time to time, that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.  Provided, of course, the freedom to think is at the service of the freedom to authenticity. 

The blame game

Initially everyone cribs about how there is no freedom and no possibility of free thinking, leave alone doing things creatively.  Sooner or later a time comes when even if one has the freedom to perform a task as per one's discretion, one does not exercise it, leaving the decision making to someone else, merely to avoid any responsibility and the added thrill of blaming someone else. Add to that the 'right' to continue grumbling about the lack of freedom!

Let be free!

Just a while ago, I received a strange request asking to sign a petition against separating two chimpanzees who have been together since 20 years in a Lucknow zoo.  Well, after having read the petition and the reasons, I was happy to sign it... although it seems to be closed for now.

Well what struck me was, why at all should these animals be in captivity?  Of course, the fact that watching them live is a great learning experience for children to come to know about wild animals. But with the vast growth of the internet and the information laid bare therein, perhaps it is time this cruelty to animals is given a serious thought and done away with.

Let them live free in their own habitat! 

Baptism

Another imagery of the Baptism that comes to my mind is that of a caged animal or a wild animal in the zoo.  Somehow once caged, the animal still retains its wild character but is never itself.  A pet animal rather is one which is free but never leaves the master.  It has the liberty of taking off and never returning.  But it stays because it has savoured the love of its master.

If baptism truly is an initiation into the Kingdom of God, then no one ought to feel bound or compelled to be or live as a Catholic.  True to its nature it frees us from the state of original sin, rather than bind us to the rules and regulations of the structure of the church.  Viewed from this perspective, it is truly grace.  Or else it is a shackle one cannot but has to live with.

Free but must!

Quite a few of the Brothers find the recitation of the Breviary very routine and boring.  At every opportunity they get to skip it, they'd gladly replace it with something as fickle as an extempore bhajan service - every week!  This bhajan service at times is so extempore that nobody knows who is going to do what!  Very many of the same Brothers do not feel bored of the game they choose to play everyday.  Given an opportunity they'd play football every day... the same game, the same court, the same rules, the same position... but this is not boring or tiring.

What then distinguishes something as boring and irrelevant  from something else that is interesting and meaningful?

Baruch Spinoza while speaking of God states that he must necessarily emanate while still holding that God is free.  He explains that God's choice to emanate is not decided by someone else.  There is no compulsion from anyone external to him to emanate. Yet, he does emanate. It is his choice to do so.

Explaining this in class, I presented the following analogy:  A young boy is very fond of prayer and he does pray every day especially early in the morning. He perseveres in this choice and is happy about it.  He later decides to join a seminary.  At the seminary there is every morning a bell to rise and later for meditation and morning prayers.  Now in this present situation he 'must' pray!  Is he free now to pray?  Most of the students got the point.  Bell and the timetable does not in any way hinder this young man from praying.  If at all, they serve as an 'additional' help.  But even without them, he will continue to pray - primarily because it is his choice.  The rest of the crowd, who drag themselves to the church to pray, have to make sense of what we are doing once there!  It is often the bell that prays and not me!  

So is the bell and schedule really helpful?  To a certain extent, yes! For those who have not had the facility to fall in love with prayer, these offer an ambiance.  But very often they are seen more as deterrents than aids.

Grace vs Freedom/Wisdom

I've heard many a preacher state that God gives us the grace! It is not our choice to get one. It is solely God's gratuitous gift. Well, I'm not talking about the puritanic bent of this concept but the usual and the normal "balanced" perception of 'grace'.

Frankly, I try hard to recollect my theology classes on 'grace' but am yet to succeed!  However, I have a slightly different take on this idea.  I really don't think, God gives me graces! No, not ready-made packages of virtues or gifts.  Certainly not my God!  I believe and love my God who in turn gives me not such gifts but rather gives me the possibility of receiving such graces.... the ability to understand the grace and the skill to cherish it.  In short, He gifts me with freedom to make my own choices... with knowledge to sift the choices and the loving support to cherish the choices I make and the wisdom to know the wrong choices I make.

Mandela

In class today, while speaking of freedom, as part of my class on Anthropology, I spoke about Nelson Mandela and today was also his 95th b'day.

There is no such thing as part freedom.

Truly, an inspirational icon of our era... and as someone greeted him on this occasion, "Thanks for making this world a better place!"

I came across a couple of his inspirational words here.
And given my present state of mind, the one that really caught my eye (and heart) is this one:

Lead from the back and let others believe they are in front.

And this one too...

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. 

Lot and his set of choices

Fr Michael, the Salesian Provincial of New Delhi, shared an very insightful message during his homily this morning, during Mass. The first reading was about Lot fleeing from Sodom.

Lot, in comparison to his uncle Abraham, was always given preference by Abraham.  When asked, Lot choose for himself, the better looking part of the place for himself and his livestock, leaving Abraham with the 'not-so-appealing' scenery.  He could have very well let his uncle, Abraham make the preferential choice.

When asked by the Lord to flee from the impending danger to the mountains (symbolically representing, the presence of God), Lot bargains for the little town of Zor.

Lot consistently made choices to be away from God, totally on his own and always from his own and selfish perspective.  Abraham on the other hand, mostly discerned what was good for everyone concerned, including God.  Perhaps that's the reason, Abraham is remembered with much great reverence and respect than Lot. 

Motivation to Priesthood

In my years of experience in the formation houses, I've seen umpteen number of youngsters hell bent on becoming priests... however only a handful of them are intent also on being a priest. For clarity's sake I'll mark the second individual (being a priest) as 'A' and the other (becoming a priest) as  'B'.

While 'A' is out to understand the spirit of the formation period and imbibe the same, 'B' wants nothing to do with the spirit of the whole process. He is concerned mostly with the letter of the text.  There also are guys who are concerned neither with the spirit nor the letter.  Their only concern is to 'stay out of danger'!  ... danger of being 'knocked off the list'!

[In this context I remember a Priest asking me why one of the students of the seminary was not promoted and asked to leave.  His argument ended with this statement, "He didn't do anything (wrong)." I replied, "That's exactly the reason. He didn't do anything! He merely was present here; with no intent of doing or being!"]

'A' strives for Priesthood, not for the title or fame but for the grace called 'priesthood'.  'B' strives merely for the title 'Fr' before his name that will ensure him everything a businessman aspires (sans hard work) ... like social security, economic prospects, privileges, 'above-the-ordinary-feel', an invisible license to do anything under the garb of the cassock...

For 'A' ordination is but a mere ceremony. It adds nothing more to him than an official social and ecclesial seal... he is already a Priest long since!  For 'B' ordination is the greatest day of his life.  That's when he gets the tag 'Fr' and marks the end of a long agonizing period called formation. He is now free!

All along the time offered as preparation for priesthood, 'A' seeks opportunities to enhance his skills and talents knowing well that it is for the Kingdom that he is preparing (for God and His people); 'B' too is grabbing every opportunity that comes his way but it is all for him alone, his motivation begins and ends with himself!

'A' loves his vocation and knows that priesthood is a means to spiritual perfection, that God has chosen for him (just like married life was something chosen by God for his parents). And therefore will cherish this path (not destination) and strive for perfection (meaning, virtues of the Kingdom).  So if under any unfortunate turn of events, he is stripped of his title and habit  he will still be a priest (not theologically but in reality). 'B' too loves his vocation and will go to any length to safeguard it. However he is only safeguarding the title and the habit   Nothing else matters!  But mind you, he'll do anything, really anything, he'll go to any extreme, to safeguard it. And if by any chance (luckily!) he is stripped of them both, he most probably will never ever be seen in any Church or be part of any charity. His priesthood never began, so I can't say that it ended on that lucky day!

In a moment of crisis when one has to choose between continuing in the seminary as a mute spectator/ with Herod's attitude or quitting the seminary, because values are at stake, 'A' will ultimately (because he will prudently work first to restore the value at stake and only when he has exhausted the possibilities and is expected to work against the value) choose the latter; while for 'B' the latter possibility (especially, the value) does not exist in his list of options.

(May be a repetition in different words) For 'A' priesthood is a way of life, a life-style, definitely not the goal of life; for 'B' priesthood is the goal for another kind of life, a life other than the one he is forced to live now because of the seminary setting.  Hence after ordination he does not know what to do! 'A' is driven by the vision he has set for himself for which priesthood offers an ideal path; 'B' is driven only by the desire to be a priest, nothing more and nothing less! 

Jesus' freedom

Having read the passage from the book of Richard Rohr, I spent my adoration time this evening trying to figure out what was the freedom Jesus' enjoyed during this lifetime here on earth.  He constantly referred to God as the one whose commands and wishes he was fulfilling.  He never once claimed to be doing things on his own accord, much less in conflict with the Father.  Was he then a mere puppet in the hands of the Father?

Certainly not!  He would have been a puppet if he did everything he did merely because the Father wanted it.  He truly and fully exercised his freedom in choosing to do the will of the Father. For him that was the best way he could utilise and live his freedom.  He choose to do what his father wanted him to do.  And that made all the difference.

Apparently seems paradoxical, that surrender should be the greatest means of living out one's freedom but sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, I couldn't but believe it.

Need working space and liberties?

Whenever we embark on a new initiative we always make sure that it will not die an instant death.  We would ensure that there are sufficient resources, facilities, personnel and whatever it takes to makes sure that we do not fail.  Add to that the fact that we would like to do things our way.  We expect the superiors to be kind to us (since we are on a pioneering mission), understand us and have an extra soft corner for us.

Contrast this with the working style of Jesus:

Our notion of freedom as options and movement is a pleasant luxury, but not what Jesus is seeking when he goes into the desert, when he seems to limit himself in terms of family, marriage and a place to “lay his head”, when he even accepts the limitations of a short ministry among uneducated people at a low period of religion in a country occupied by a foreign oppressor! That is not much freedom by our definition, but more than enough for him to say “the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17: 21). 

[Richard Rohr Jesus' Plan for a New World: The Sermon on the Mount (Mumbai: St Pauls, 2009) 28.]

Asking questions AND...

One of the distractions of today was the chat I had with a confrere I know since I was a kid. The main point of his sharing was his concern about the growing sense of carelessness among the younger confreres in the name of freedom. He strongly felt (and I do agree) that the young Salesians (even newly professed) think and behave as if everything is fine with them and there is nothing that they need to know or worse, improve or grow in. Reflecting about this in my personal time, it struck me that I always thought of relevant questions as the key to mature living. I now would like to add a further dimension to the same. Perhaps, given the context, asking questions is not the final stage of philosophizing. It is but the beginning. One needs to make a sincere and valiant effort to seek relevant answers for those questions. While most of the students of philosophy (especially my Seminarians) do not arrive at the former stage itself, to remain stagnant at the questioning level itself is even more dangerous.