Diplomacy in the apostolate?

 In today's reading we find Paul before the Sanhedrin, making a very shrewd move.  Indeed he shows glimpses of this 'Saul' personality.  Put on trial for preaching Christ, he cleverly incites one group (Pharisees) against the other (Sadducees), without letting them even get wind of his clever move. He merely puts out himself as one among the Pharisees, being accused of believing in the resurrection! The Pharisees fall for it and then the debate is all a fight between the two groups.  Paul, in the meantime, walks out with a sly smile (that's my addition!). 

And just when I thought that was it, there comes the message from Jesus: You bore witness to me in Jerusalem, now be my witness in Rome as well.  

One can be like the crowd, easily swayed by someone's clever distraction, missing out the core argument and point.  We end up, fighting and arguing, without even realising that we long stopped reasoning and focusing.  We can be like Paul, playing a diplomat or a politician, rather than being an apostle. Or could be that Paul was only being wise not wanting to waste his time 'preaching' to the group; hence he merely lets them get entangled with one another, while he gets back to investing his time and energy into positive outcomes and possibilities. 

Getting back to the scene played out at the Sanhedrin, the feedback of Jesus can be interpreted as an endorsement of the ploy that Paul played. Or it could be read as a chastisement.  I prefer to side with the latter.  For in Christianity, honesty is more valuable than diplomacy.  Paul was called to be an apostle, not a diplomat, and certainly not a politician!  

Honest prayers

Talking with Mummy this evening, she was speaking about the prayers my nephew and niece say before they go to school every morning.  I remember Mummy used to make us also say prayers everyday before going to school.  However, now my Chris and Anet seemed to have a more free hand at the prayers.  So I gather that they add their own intentions too, after the 'routine' prayers. 

Roshni seems to have been hard on Chris one day while following up his homework and so the next day morning, here was Chris' prayer:

Jesus, make Mamma a kind woman!  

Anet, I'm told, has her fervent prayer almost everyday:

Jesus, don't go anywhere.  Stay with me!  

Talking of innocent and honest prayers, am reminded of Hubard, a brother from Guwahati province who was studying at Karunapuram a few years ago.  He was a very simple and joyful youngster.  He also had a very innocent outlook towards life.  Hence at times when we had spontaneous prayers during the night prayer, he would thank or pray for something so 'trivial' that very many of us would smile or laugh ("Thank you for the good chutney we had for supper!" or "Please Lord, send us some rain and I'm finding it hard to concentrate and study in this heat and my vegetable garden is drying up").  But he was serious about his prayer.  And all of us knew him well to know that he was not making fun or being sarcastic.  He was genuinely praying about something close to his heart. 

Wish we all retain that simplicity and honesty in prayer.  

Community honesty

Among the many good things that I've experienced and come to appreciate in this country, Great Britain, is the community virtue of honesty.  I say a 'community virtue' because it is something that is prevalent among almost all. I suppose I cannot categorically state that everyone is honest.  There always will be exceptions but mostly, everyone tends to be honest about their public transactions.

One distinct example that comes to my mind is the unmanned service stations everywhere in this country.  At no place have I seen petrol pump assistants.  Each driver has to fill the fuel tanks of his or her vehicle by oneself.  And then go in to make the payment!  Now I wonder how many take off without paying.  It's very easy, because there is enough time to flee, even before anyone in the shop realises that someone has fled without paying.  But I've never ever seen anyone leave without going in and making the payment.

Sincerity, redefined

Read this article on sincerity and politics, the other day on Aeon.

The main argument is about the notion of sincerity being the hallmark of modern politics and what was quite surprising for me was that it had nothing to do with truth!  So one could be sincere even if one did not base oneself on truth, or if the belief about which one is sincere is shallow or even without reasons.  It has nothing to do with correctness, good or right, integrity...

Somewhere halfway through the author makes a distinction between authenticity and sincerity.

According to Trilling, in the 19th century, authenticity superseded sincerity as the system to signal the alignment of outer life and inner belief. Authenticity, he claimed, destroyed sincerity’s logic of conformity and coherence between inside and outside, the self and the world. Instead, authenticity privileged the way in which such factors as love, hate, fear or contempt, which really shaped human beings, broke through the artifice of everyday life and transformed it. In other words, rather than sincerity’s task of matching practices with beliefs, authenticity was about acknowledging deep and primal forces, even allowing them on occasion to destroy social norms, so as to create altogether new ones.

Today, sincerity is no longer defined by conformity. Sincerity rather presupposes the elimination of an inner life, the same inner life required for generating either authenticity or conformity. With the disappearance of inner life, one of the traditional hiding places of truth has also ceased to exist.

Then the notions of hypocrisy, doubt, post-truth, inner life (as contrasted to public life), objectivity, reality... too are discussed but strangely in a totally different sense.

The article attributes Donald Trump's popularity to his sincerity.  For me it appeared to mean that he had no filters.  That's what people like about him.  That he changes his mind, he has no basis, certainty about facts or figures, is not important, but that he is frank and open.  Even if he has to say exactly the opposite of what he said the previous day, is fine, as long as he is clear about it now.

Strange notion of sincerity! 

To be prophets...

It is not only good to have prophets but essential for any and every group.  Or else when everyone thinks alike and not one attempts to see other possibilities or repercussions of the groups decisions from a larger perspective, we become lopsided and parochial in our initiatives. Therefore someone offering a different perspective, or even a contrary opinion, is far more beneficial for it facilitates the sorting out of priorities and purifying motivations.  The prophet and his prophecy forces us not to grow complacent or develop a stagnant attitude.  They rattle our comfort zones, challenging us to strive for truth, more than success; for integrity above glory; for meaning rather than continuity.

In all of this enterprise, owe to the prophet!  Not only has he or she to constantly check one's own integrity but also be battered by everyone around.

Not stealing...!

Yesterday we had an interesting conversation during lunch. It bordered very much on seriousness but was shared in a lighter vein.  But all present were very much aware of the seriousness of the issue.

There was a time when confreres were given pocket money. Today confreres pocket money!  

Another confrere quoted this incident. A Salesian sometime ago had come from a particular community to the Provincial house for a meeting.  This confrere was a bit caught in the middle of a peculiar situation where in the community resources were bleak but not the confreres!  Being the administrator and not having really experienced such a tricky situation earlier, he innocently exclaimed:

Confreres are certainly not stealing... 

and everyone hearing him was appreciative of his optimism and trust in the honesty of his fellow confreres, but were quite taken aback by how he concluded:

...they're looting!  

Being prophets

Being prophets is a risky gamble.  Jeremiah was almost killed for prophesying against the house of Judah. However he is protected by Ahikam (it is the first time that I am coming across that name!).  John the Baptist lost his head, literally for speaking out the truth.  The Jews (and Romans) ultimately got the better of Jesus, after several failed attempts.

Even today none wishes to speak the truth openly.  Those who polish it, or trim it neatly to fit in the regular flow of thought are appreciated. Even those who malign and distort truth are felicitated.  But those who spell it out in all honesty are hounded.

Times have changed but not the mindset.  The strategies employed to silence those who speak the truth have certainly become more systemic and oppressive.  Prophets are not seduced by power and those in power cleverly scheme and eliminate the prophets.

Growing in reality... genuinely

Had a long sitting for the Salesian Social Forum the whole day.  Honestly it was not what I really expected it to be.  Today's whole day was dedicated to discussion on the statutes and code of ethical practices.  We hardly discussed anything else.

I joined the SSF last year, when Fr TD John had briefed me about the same during one of his visits to Karunapuram. At that point I already had a strong feeling that the formation process I was involved in was far removed from reality and honestly needed an overhaul.  For that I personally needed an overhaul!!  Therefore I volunteered to widen my own horizons, grow more grounded and genuine before I assist others in their formation process. I was honestly exploring.

However, there was one thing that Fr George Kollashany stated sometime in the beginning of the discussions, right in the morning which kept ringing in my ears all day long.  He was trying to "define" our spontaneous group of SSF.  He basically asked if I was afraid to venture out, take initiatives on my own for something I deeply feel is truthful, but lack support? He cited this group as the support bank that one could fall back upon. But basically it was a personal challenge:  Am I questioning myself with regard to the radicality of the gospel?  Am I willing to have my whole inner world topple?  In turn am I ready to shake the existing structures, more out of my conviction, than my convenience, and that too for a truly noble cause?

Search for God

Here's a beautiful reflection from the Pope himself in reply to 'Search for God'...

When a person searches for his or herself, they find God. Maybe, they don’t succeed in finding him but they are going along the path of honesty, searching for the truth, for a road of goodness and a road of beauty… they’re on the right road and it’s certain they’ll find God! Sooner or later, they will find him. But the road is a long one and some people don’t find him in their lives. They don’t find him consciously. But they are very true and honest with themselves, very good and lovers of beauty, so that in the end they have a very mature personality, capable of an encounter with God, which is always a grace. Because an encounter with God is a grace.

Coming from Pope Francis, means a lot.  Note: He does not speak of some high end Theology or dole out a list of Biblical verses.  He speaks of humanity, of truth, of goodness... How I wish we, clergy and religious, learn this basic fact and truth of religion and God, before we cause more harm in society, in the name of the one who lived in contrast to our understanding.

Read the whole interview of the Pope with a group of young people from Belgium (Note the number of times he laughs! A beautiful living example of how living one's humanity joyfully radiates divinity!)

The shrewd manager

The sermon this morning during Mass was very refreshing and insightful.  After speaking of our human tendency to crave for darkness, for the shady business deals over the light and sincere transactions (something which the Prophet Amos decries in the first reading), the Parish Priest spoke of the Gospel in continuation.  When asked if the shrewd servant in Luke 16, incurred loss for his master before his laying down office, everyone in the Church replied, 'yes'. He then went on to show how, the servant/manager did not incur any loss to his master.  Rather the only one to suffer the monetary loss was himself!

What the manager cancels for all the debtors is not what was due to the Master, but to himself.  In the absence of the master, the manager lent out provisions or money.  The interest rates were not levied by the master.  To the master's account what needed to be shown was the product and if at all any thing was lent, the basic interest accrued by it.  The manager was in fact, gathering more interest for himself.  So when on the verge of losing his job, he realises that now needs to build relationships, build trust and bonds with people rather than money.  To this end, he does all that 're-calculation'.  For this Jesus praises him.

May be that the manager learnt the hard way that what is important is relationship and trust not money or wealth.  Perhaps this change of attitude is what Jesus praises him for.  Seen from this angle, the parable and all the didactic messages that follow makes sense.  

Religious polls?

During the Mass that I attended in a Parish today, the Parish Priest, towards the end of the Mass, during the announcements, very warmly exhorted his parishioners to consider voting for only the Catholics who are contesting the Panchayat elections in their respective villages.  His line of argument: we need to have 'our' people in key places and those who will help 'us' in times of need.

I was not sure if I'd issue the same statement if I were in his place.  I'd certainly exhort my people to vote for the most honest and dedicated person contesting the polls, no matter who or where he or she comes from!  Nothing less, nothing more!  

No slips?!

On my first day of my MA exams, it was a real experience.  I was the only one in the hall of 39 of us who was not busy juggling slips of paper and books, brought in illegally to copy!  Practically everyone, including the ladies and the elderly gentlemen (they were the worst for this), had brought in bits of paper, some handwritten, others micro-xeroxed (this seems to be the profit making business of exam seasons with the photocopiers!), some blatantly opening the resource books themselves! The height of this drama unfolding around me, was when the invigilator approached me about half an hour before closing time and in a soft voice asked me, "Didn't you bring any slips?" I merely smiled and said, I didn't want to.  He was quite surprised.  So much for honesty!

And you might ask how come I knew about all the others in the hall... well, I was not at all prepared for the exam myself.  Of the five questions I was supposed to answer, I knew the answers only for two of them (but that didn't prevent me from attempting the rest!).  Looks like I wrote more sensible stuff here in this post than for a couple of the answers in the answer sheet that day. 

Truth and courage

What connects honesty and truth?  Merely that saying the truth is honesty?  No, not completely. There's something else that links honesty and truth.  I think it is courage.  And that what often delinks the former two.  Very many of us are honest about most things in life.  But not always true.  Why is that? If saying the truth is honesty, it should be as easy as opening one's mouth.  However, life and daily living proves that we 'dare' not be truthful... basically because we are afraid.  We do not have the courage, perhaps, can be termed also as the will, to say the truth and stand by it.  That's why we camouflage it, go round it, dodge it, avoid it, do everything just to put it behind us and get on in life.

I was watching the movie, 16 Blocks, again, after a long time.  The story is about a police officer whose duty is to take a prisoner to court. As simple as that. However, the whole process is complicated when the prisoner is wanted dead by the whole department of police because he was to appear in court and testify against a couple of high ranking officials. What stands between the young prisoner and death is this police officer, who later confesses that he too is one among those against whom he was to testify.  Yet, he protects him and safely escorts him at the risk of his own life.

However, another twist awaits at the end. Rather than take the prisoner to court, the police officer himself goes to court to confess and indict his fellow corrupt police officers.  As he parts from the young prisoner, he says, "I am sorry I used you.  I used you to do something that I should have done myself.  I should have confessed six years ago when I did those bad things."  Now to say that and live up to it is what courage is all about.  So you see, knowledge and truth, may be related but not necessarily equated! 

Pimp in the mirror

Speaking of leadership, here's an excerpt from The Week, "Follow the Spirit" by Sudhir Kakar (February 3, 2013; p. 60-61)...

... Then comes personal identity. A leader must determine which lines he or she will, or will not, cross. A good way of clarifying this is the mirror test: "How do I feel about myself while looking at the mirror?"
It comes from the story of a German ambassador in London who, as part of a celebration he had to host in honour of King Edward, was asked to hire prostitutes. He resigned. Asked why, he said, "I refused to see a pimp in the mirror in the morning, when I shave."

What triggers what?

An IPS officer was crushed to death in Madhya Pradesh today. All he did was his duty. The reward: loss of life. Well I suppose he did not see it coming. However, there are brave men like Narendra Kumar who are willing to take a stand (and pay the price). What interested me more than this truth, which is good on feelings and emotions but does not work with those who have neither heart nor head (read that as the real brains and gains behind the illegal works) is the fact how different people react. A cursory glance at the list of comments that has kept increasing in the past couple of hours is quite revealing. Some people connect what to not, others nothing to nothing, a few merely express their sympathy, others blame (all sort of names and persons can be found herein) and quite a few use this as a lever to gain "supremacy" over someone else (who may be equally corrupt or sincerely honest). How one tragic event can cause an avalanche of ideas and thoughts.

Whatever it be, may this tribe of brave and honest persons, like Narendra Kumar, increase.

Tough talk

Last night the Provincial was stern in his reminders about some points concerning religious discipline, especially pertaining to finance and administration. While what he said was not something unknown, but certainly something that is purposely forgotten! What I appreciated most was his guts to state it plain and clear. Though he did fumble for the right expressions, his intention to call a spade a spade is praiseworthy. I guess it his moral certitude, as a person, that makes him stand and state these principles, which not very many, especially these days are willing to even discuss.

The Song of Sparrows

I watched a lovely movie today... The Song of the Sparrows. It is a Persian movie directed by the acclaimed Majid Majidi. I loved it very much for its content and humanistic presentation of life. Reminded me very much of Papa.

It basically is about a down-on-luck family man whose values and life-style are challenged when he loses his job in the country side and finds a lucrative one in the city. Though tempted to give in to the pressure and opportunities to be what he is not, he stays true to himself. Values of honesty, hard work, love for family are what he holds in great esteem. The accident that he meets helps him see things a bit closely and the way the family rallies around him when bed-ridden is very touching. The elder daughter promises him that she can hear (with a repaired hearing aid) when she actually cannot. His son starts to work and earn for the family. His wife too chips in. The anguish of a father to see his children take on his role and responsibilities is very touching.

Thanks Papa for the years you've slogged day in and day out, in the sun and in the rain, in health and in the worst of health... all so that we, your beloved will have a brighter future!

Authority from within

Yesterday's gospel was interesting. The Pharisees wanting to know under whose authority was Jesus saying and doing all that He was upto. Jesus put a question back to them, as to under whose authority was John the Baptist functioning? The Pharisees, to save their skin, feign ignorance. The answer is crystal clear. John the Baptist was truly functioning from a dual authority. He was commissioned by God for a specific task and secondly he lived an integral life. Thus he derived his authority from God and from himself.

There can never be any greater authority that this deadly combination: God and within. To be convinced of what one is and is upto, and to live in conformity with one's thoughts, words and deeds is a great source of power, strength and authority. Such figures are always a big challenge to the rest of the world who find no crack or point of leverage to bring down people.

A few good men

There was a time I avoided watching some movies, not because they were 'bad' but I thought they had nothing to offer. One of them was 'A few good men'... I realised how wrong I was when I ultimately watched it, of course as ever in bits and pieces!! It is a very powerful movie which inspires where to draw the line between duty and responsibility, between doing good and being good. A splendid movie indeed... with messages galore.

I liked the way the actors play their role... great performances by all the leading actors, Tom Cruise, Jack Nickolson (the best as ever!) and Demi Moore. It is a story of how two American soldiers (given all their ranks and titles) are accused of murder of one of their own fellow soldier in Cuba. The fact: they were ordered to, by their highest commanding officer! The story is all about how the young inexperienced lawyer gets the commanding officer to admit this fact, when there are no proofs or witnesses to support the soldiers. At the end, the court passes judgment that the two soldiers are not guilty of murder or attempt to murder but guilty of 'behaviour unbecoming of a soldier' - hence dismissed from being Marines. One of the two reacts saying, that they were just following orders. The other responds, "We did wrong. We were meant to protect the weak and fight for them. We were supposed to fight for Willy (the one they murdered)." The closing scene is that of the lawyer appreciating the latter saying, "You do not need to wear a patch on your shoulder to have honour."

How I wish we too learn the message: we do not need the cassock or the badge of being a religious to have 'honour'. Honour and courage are virtues far above anyone's personal property. They are associated with the inner being of our selves rather than what we wear or what we say.

Quote about honesty

Quote of the day (not very Christian but certainly very practical!):
"A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are victimized first."