Jesus, the leper and me

The gospel reading of tomorrow is that of Jesus healing the leper (Mark 1: 40-45).  In fact the theme running through all the readings of the day is that of healing by touch. 

As I prepared for a meditation for the university students on this particular gospel passage, I tried to get involved in this particular event by viewing it from the perspective of one individual present in the narration.  So I chose to be one of the spectators watching the leper cry out to Jesus and the latter healing him.  In a way I felt jealous of this leper because he got what he wanted.  There were many things I could have asked the Lord but I just stood there waiting for something to happen to think, to act.  This leper really needed something and he did not feel ashamed or embarrassed to beg Jesus for the same.  Perhaps my needs were not really needs but merely wants! 

Another insight that one of the youngsters shared was that he felt irritated that the leper, after being healed did the opposite of what Jesus had asked him to do.  Instead of appearing before the priest quietly, he went about the whole town shouting about his cure!  How disrespectful of him to do so!  Disobey the explicit command of the one who granted him his only request!  But then he said, perhaps I too am the same: doing what I want to do rather than what Jesus asks me to do, especially after I've been blessed with something!  

Touch

Today I came across a short video about a group of ladies, young mothers, standing in a queue.  One by one a child, belonging to one of those women was brought in, blindfolded and led from one woman to the other.  The child would feel the hands of the woman, and the face.  The children were of different age groups ranging from 14 to 4.  Each of those children identified their own mother quite instantly.  Most often, the first touch was enough to identify.  Of these some did not even wait to take off their blindfold to confirm, they flung themselves at once at their own mother.  Just a touch was enough to confirm.

Purpose of Philosophy

Yesterday in class we had an interesting discussion.  I finally got off my chest one question which has been nagging me for quite some time now. Not that I got any satisfactory answers but I now have some clarity for myself about what's been troubling me.

Reading Edmund Husserl, I came across the introductory part of his book The Crisis wherein he states that philosophers somewhere got muddled up with the process of philosophy and lost the very purpose of philosophy as envisaged by the ancient Greeks. So I was curious to know what according to him was the purpose of philosophy.  To my relief I found it the same as I always thought it to be: enhance the quality of life and living, through self-knowledge.  Of course, Husserl would put it as 'gain self-knowledge through the theoretical attitude, to find out what the best way to lead a life is'.

So at last it hit me that perhaps philosophers have so immersed themselves in this attainment of 'self-knowledge' that they've forgotten about living the best way.  Or atleast cross checking that knowledge with real living - rather than cross checking with another thought.  So much so, made philosophy totally bereft of life, literally and metaphorically!

I know I'm still to get my head around this issue, but one thing I'm sure of: If my study of philosophy does not make me a better person, then I might as well be grazing cows! During my meditation this morning, it struck me that going by the original purpose of philosophy, a philosopher is supposed to be the ideal or model of authentic living!

Being human - even as religious

The most vivid memory of Sr Modesta that I have is the time a few of us in the Provincial house felicitated her on her Jubilee.  It was immediately after her Jubilee celebrations in her Provincial house at the province/community level. She had then come to visit Fr Noel after a day or two. The Provincial house community was with Fr Noel in his office for a meeting when we were informed by Maria the receptionist that Sr Modesta was here. (She had a NP - national permit.  She did not need any appointment to meet anyone, anywhere, anytime!) By the time she reached the Provincial's office, we pulled out a shawl, and a small card.

As soon as she entered the office, we all sang a song, spoke a few words of appreciation, offered her the card and the shawl. It was all so natural and affectionate. She was thrilled!  And then the best part: In her usual inimitable style she hugged everyone.  Literally all of us had to bend low to embrace her, given her size and her aged hump.  It was truly so cordial and spontaneous. The drama began when one of the confreres did not want to embrace. He only wanted to shake hands!!  We all found it so very very odd, yet he didn't.  It was a scene to behold: a senior, good natured and noble lady extending her arms reaching out for a warm embrace and the confrere seeking only her right hand!! 

That's Life (Nicholas Winton)

Two days ago, The Hindu (May 22, 2014) carried an article titled, A Mission of Mercy about a man named Nicholas Winton who saved nearly 669 children just before the Nazi invasion and the extermination of Jews began at the hands of Hitler.  On the occasion of his 105th birthday, these 'Nicky's Children' or their descendants gathered around him to thank and honour this noble man for his foresight, courage and goodwill.  To him, they owed their lives and their living present!

It is said that this noble deed was kept a total secret, so much so that even his wife did not know of it.  Perhaps then it was prudence but to have kept it still a secret all along is truly a matter of great humility. Read more about this noble soul here. Here's a website dedicated to him and his deeds.

Here's a short touching video about Nicholas Winton:


Here are a couple of others who saved hundreds of children from certain death during those dreadful times:

• Chiune Sugihara (a Japanese diplomat who in 1940 wrote travel visas that allowed more than 6,000 Jewish refugees to escape from Lithuania)
• Irena Sendlr (a Polish nurse/social worker who smuggled some 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto)
• Aristides de Sousa Mendes (a Portugese diplomat issued visas to thousands of refugees fleeing Bordeaux, France)
• Walter Suskind (a Dutch factory manager who helped about 600 Jewish children escape the Holocaust)

[courtesy: Wikipedia]

He touched him

1 Sm 4: 1-11/ Ps 44: 10-11. 14-15. 24-25/ Mk 1: 40-45

Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him (Mk 1: 41).

An orphanage with several babies was facing a problem. Most of these babies, abandoned by their parents, never cried. The staff realized that they had reached this point because early in life, they were left to cry for hours long, without anyone ever coming to their aid. They then tried an experiment. They invited the aged from the neighbouring 'Home for the Aged' to daily hold and rock these babies. Very soon, these babies began to cry. And the elderly longed to hold these children. Physical touch made the difference.

I am Sam

This afternoon I watched the movie, I am Sam. I found it very touching, splendid performance by Sean Penn as a mentally challenged father, greatly in love with his small daughter and fighting for her custody. Moving reflections and images of what parenting and family is all about. It is very disturbing to see yourself torn between the love of father and the concern for the future of the child. But as they always say, love triumphs!

What I like best in the movie was the way Sam is able to touch the lives of others, Rita (his lawyer), his four friends, Annie (his next door neighbour), Randy (the lady who wishes to adopt his daughter, Lucy) and above all else, Lucy (his daughter). It tells me that we 'normal' people often think we got it all sorted out. That we know best! But here is someone who is not so. In his 'deficiency' Sam is gifted with a special grace. He sees the inner and deeper need to love and be loved. His values and ideas are simple and truthful. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear, nothing to withhold.

Much to learn from children and those differently-abled.

Living rather than dying

Living for others is a far greater challenge than dying for others. This was the point I was trying to drive home this morning with the second year students. Of course, I could not go too far!! However, they simply would not believe an iota of what I was saying. For them death meant the greatest and the most important of all sacrifices... and here I was telling them that it is not!! That living is more demanding than dying.

Lunch with God

Here's a nice anecdote I received from Cheryl today:

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with cupcakes, several cans of root beer and started on his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he saw an elderly woman. She was sitting on a park bench watching the pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed the lady looked hungry so he offered her a cupcake. She gratefully accepted and smiled at him.

Her smile was so wonderful that he wanted to see it again, so he offered a root beer as well. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling without saying a word.

As it began to grow dark, the boy realized how tired he was and wanted to go home. He got up to leave but before he had gone no more than a few steps, he turned around and ran back to the old woman, giving her a big hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy arrived home his Mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked, "What has made you so happy today?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." Before his mother could respond he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile in the whole world!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face. He asked, "Mother, what has made you so happy today?" She replied, "I ate cupcakes in the park with God." And before her son could reply, she added, "You know, he is much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

Take no one for granted and embrace all equally with joy!