Seeing those who saw Don Rua

Only today did I know that Fr Brendan McGuiness, the senior most confrere of the Province and presently resident at Farnborough, aged 90 (and very much still active!) has seen Don Rua in person. During lunch today he said how hard he tried - in vain - to get the attention of historians to record the fact that Don Rua visited Farnborough twice!  He feels bad that nowhere is the visit of Don Rua to Farnborough recorded.  And after his death the only witness to this historic event and this fact too will die!

He narrated how on one occasion in preparation for the centenary of the birth of Don Bosco, there was a video team which came to Farnborough.  Seeing this as a good opportunity, Fr Brendan ran to his room managed to find a picture of Don Rua, pulled out a photo frame from his collection, mounted the picture in it, printed two lines on his computer "Don Rua, first successor of Don Bosco, visited Farnborough twice!" - in bold! - and then ran back to the school chapel and mounted it right at the entrance.

The video team went around the whole campus but did not come to the Chapel!!!

Simple Jubilee

Today was the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Ordination of Fr Peter Burns at Farnborough.  I thought it would be a rather pompous event with many in attendance.  It turned out to be a simple ordinary Mass and lunch.  Among the guests there was the Provincial, the former provincial and a couple of confreres from Bolton.  There were only three ladies for Mass: the two cooks of the house and another lady whom I did not know.  There were no natural flowers on the altar, no flexis printed or notice board or backdrops.  No gloria or solemn blessing at the end.  The Mass was in the school chapel.  In all we would have been about 25 of us in all.  Not even one each for the number of years he has been ordained!  I found it quite odd.  I really thought there'd be many many people.  Perhaps they were not invited!

More interesting was the person of Fr Peter himself.  Neither did he preside over the Mass, nor did he preach the sermon.  He was at one end of the altar as the rector of the community presided and preached during the Mass.  The Provincial was just another con-celebrant.

No pomp or glamour. But every bit of the Mass was well prepared.  A booklet for each participant with the readings, hymns and some photos of his.  The Missal was marked and ready.  Fr Pat accompanied the music with a box guitar.  The prayer of the faithful was printed out.  No grand felicitation or talks about Fr Peter.  After lunch the Rector handed him an envelope (with the 'Queens' picture, I guess!) and Fr Gerry too handed an envelope and said a few words.

Br Michael Delmer with his crutches listening to Fr Peter

Fr Peter broke into a jig when they sang as he cut the cake!

Fr Gerry spoke a few words...

Most hilarious was Fr Peter's "speech" - lasted no more than 3 minutes.  He concluded: "Do unto others, before they do to you!" 

Rooted in Him

For the last few days I have found a particular phrase quite often from the first readings:

I will give to you and your descendants this land... 

Besides this there are a few other phrases like, 'I will bless you...', 'I will keep you safe...', 'I will make you ...'.  At first I thought of Yahweh bribing Abraham and Isaac into believing Him to be their God.  However, there are also subtle and sometimes blunt commands, from Yahweh, not just to accept him as Lord and God but to be rooted in Him.  No matter what happens to them, where they go, what they own or not, He is to be their ultimate dependence.   That without Him the rest would not really last long.  It is not a threat or a warning but a challenge and a generous invitation to experience.

Analogically speaking just like a tree that is sometimes praised for is girth and strength; its flowers appreciated for their fragrance and beauty, the fruit tasty and sweet, its leaves green and healthy, its branches strong and useful... however the tree is not to invest itself into any of these as much as it should in its roots.  The same roots which are never noticed by anyone. But without them being and doing their work, none of the aforementioned would be appreciated and admired.

Yahweh invites Abraham and Isaac then, and me today, to root ourselves in Him.  He may also entice us with great blessings, victories, possessions, name and fame but these are only to remind ourselves all the more of the need to be rooted in Him.  Just like the tree that does not have to do only one thing - it can simultaneously grow above and beneath the ground - but learn to prioritize (strengthening its roots), we too are called to do the same... and the rest will take be taken care of (both by God and me).

On an island!

Happened to come across this comment posted on a youtube video of the UK police catching a thief who was trying to get away on a bicycle...

Don't know sh**

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on a plane and once the flight took off, started a conversation with the girl.  On asking if she would like to have the conversation about how there is no God, or heaven or hell, the little girl agreed. But she said she has a question.  "How is it that a horse, a cow and a deer eat the same green grass but the deer excretes little pellets, while the cow turns out a flat patty and the horse produces clumps?"  The atheist was quite baffled by this and replied, "I have no idea."  To which the little girl replied, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss God, heaven, hell or afterlife when you don't know shit!" 

Recycling good goods

Yesterday and today I made trips to the Community Recycling Centre near the Lyne farm, about 5 miles from my place.  Went there to dump all the branches and garden waste that has been piling up.  Since the garden bin is collected only once in two weeks, I had to always minimize my "clearing"!  Anyway, finally decided to drive down there and dump what has been cut so far.  (Fr John, pulling my leg, tells me to next take down the huge tree that is right infront of the house!).

Anyway, driving to this recycling centre, there are different sections and places where different things are to be deposited.  Besides dumping construction material, all other things are 'free'.  If only our Indian bhangar walas (the scrap dealers) were to come here, they'd mint loads of money overnight!!  Looking at all the things that people dump there is a bit heart breaking.  Honestly, two-thirds of things there is good stuff, just not wanted by the owners.  I did not really look at everything there, for fear that I may get back more stuff back home than what I took to discard! But it is saddening to see all the good things that just get 'wasted'.  

Black Cherry Fair

This morning I was at the Abbey field helping out at a stall put up by all the three churches of Chertsey.  It was part of the Black Cherry Fair of Chertsey.  Am glad I volunteered.  I basically helped transport water and milk to the cafe they were running at the field from St Peter's Church.  When not 'rolling' water, I was helping kids hook the fish (a game meant for kids).

An interesting innovation to transport water (40 lts) without carrying it! 

Was really pleasantly amazed at the number of children!  Wow! Never knew that there existed so many children in Chertsey!!  It was really a sight.  I could have spent the whole day watching the children and their amusing ways.  Also got to meet a couple of families whom I had earlier met in the Church during the days of the preparation for the first Holy Communion.

Of course, there were several other things going on: band, vintage car rally, about 101 stalls, march pasts, competitions, games and all that... but I was happy watching the tiny tots. 

Joseph and his amazing dream coat

I was thrilled to watch once again the amazing musical 'Joseph and his amazing multi-colour dreamcoat' this time put up by the school and staff of the Salesian school.  The added thrill was that Fr Marco was playing the role of Pharoah.

I first was part of this great piece of art while studying philosophy at The Divyadaan, Nashik.  I was part of the technical team and hence was thorough with every bit of the musical.  Watching it again after 18 years flooded my mind with all the memories associated with all the rehearsals and characters played back then by the Brothers!  Branco as Joseph, Emma as the narrator, Blany directing the whole play, Cletus Pats as Potipher's wife, Claudius choreographing and guiding me with the technical tricks, Chris as Jacob, Bastin as the baker, Parish youth dancing the calypso and jive, the "zone B" problem with the amplifier being operated by Wyman, Shanker and James Kariuki at the spot lights, ... !!

The performance today was quick and beautiful.  The children were truly amazing. All the actors, except Pharaoh, were students. Only the musical accompaniment had some staff members.  The casting and choreography was slightly different from the one I still remember of Nashik but the same lyrics, same thrill, same excitement.  The experience was different though... this time as a spectator.  But every now and then I found my eyes welling up remembering my Nashik days!

And of all the songs, the best one, then and now, is the one titled 'Any dream will do...'

Isaac's trust

Abraham is acclaimed as the father of faith, especially for his act of willingness to sacrifice his only son, at God's command.  It all seems very convincing and courageous.  However, the episode of him going to Moriah with Isaac and his servants, especially the last bit of climb up the hill, alone with his son, all the more when Isaac asks about the sacrificial lamb is quite poignant.

From the eyes of a reader or a listener it creates a sense of wonder or amazement or even repugnance (depends on one's perspective).  However, I wonder what this event meant for Isaac.  To see his own father getting ready to kill him would no doubt scare the life of any child. What kind of relationship would Isaac have with his father henceforth?  Most importantly, would he trust his father ever again?  Furthermore if his relationship with his own father was strained how could he trust in Yahweh who initially demanded for his sacrifice?  Was he then a mere pawn in His plans?  After all Isaac is still a child.  If he were a teenager or an adult, he could have reasoned and seen the "faith" of his father and thereby rationalise his actions, but he is still a child!

The narration extols the faith of Abraham but speaks nothing of the state of Isaac.  

Truth as social construct?

The whole notion of 'truth' as constructed by social understanding and practice came to my mind as I read the first reading of the day.  It is from the book of Genesis wherein Abraham sends away Hagar and her child to fend for themselves, at the explicit demand of Sarah.  Hagar and her child is then rescued by God.

That the whole passage is rife with core human emotions is undeniable: jealousy, helplessness, fear, anxiety, anger, distrust, joy...  But then the questions it leaves behind are quite taunting.  How can God permit such partiality, in letting Sarah and her offspring be called the 'chosen' one?  Or is it that they declared themselves to be the 'chosen' one?  God did not tell Sarah or Abraham to disown Hagar and her child.  In fact, God rescues Hagar and the wailing child.  He shows them the well from which Hagar offers her thirsty child water.

More complex is the question when Muslim claim inheritance from Abraham and as God's favoured ones when they claim to be descendants of Hagar's child.  So whom did God prefer?  Isaac or Ishmail?  Well, I believe God does not make pre-fixed preferential choices.  He is with those in need, those marginalised and the poor.  Every historical intervention in the Scriptures shows that. Even this one!  But humanly speaking, where does truth lie? (can't find an interesting article I read a few days ago about truth, alternative facts, lies ... and several references to Rorty).

Perhaps in those days the slaves and their offspring were totally dispensable.  That was the culture.  Today we can say that is totally inhuman to treat any human being like that. But we cannot be sitting in the armchair of 2017 and pass judgement on an event which happened in BC!  So that act done in those circumstances was right. Justifiable.  Or was it?  This is where the dilemma kicks in, that of truth as a social construct.