Tomorrow is the feast of Venerable Simon Srugi (Salesian Coadjutor). He was born at Nazareth of Galilee on 27th June 1877. He spent his entire life as Salesian at Bietgamal agricultural school. He was simple and humble and earned God's gift of healing. He had the ability to care and nurse the sick especially the poor and those who had serious sicknesses and could not afford the services of a doctor. He was a man "standing erect" to the Muslim community. They lauded him for the comfort, hope, joy and peace he offered to the poor who were sick. Blessed Michael Rua visiting the Salesian confreres called him a 'saint'. The epitaph on his tomb sums up his life in these words: Fellow citizen of Christ, who to copy in himself the humble and meek figure of Good Samaritan, gave himself everywhere, to everyone in everything.
Now that's some mettle!
26 November 2008
23 November 2008
Live life than fear
Anna asks Fynn: What's the difference between two and three? And what's the difference between three and two?
Well, it may apparantly seem that the answer to both the questions is the same. But not necessarily.
Thinking about this during the sermon today, another similar thought arose in my mind which clarified things a bit for me. For an instance, 'love of life' and 'fear of death' may mean the same. But they characteristically mark out the basic attitude by which one lives one's life. For one who fears death, he'd die every moment. What a pitiable life he'd have to survive.
But for one who loves life, he'd never fear death. He'd rather live life than live fear!
Well, it may apparantly seem that the answer to both the questions is the same. But not necessarily.
Thinking about this during the sermon today, another similar thought arose in my mind which clarified things a bit for me. For an instance, 'love of life' and 'fear of death' may mean the same. But they characteristically mark out the basic attitude by which one lives one's life. For one who fears death, he'd die every moment. What a pitiable life he'd have to survive.
But for one who loves life, he'd never fear death. He'd rather live life than live fear!
22 November 2008
Something amiss...
After writing that bit about my interaction with a youngster from the Parish, I had this nagging feeling that something is amiss... I got it right only this evening while listening to my mother scolding me for not taking the herbal prescription that she has been prescribing for my cold since one week!
It then struck me, that my whole interaction was more than just a 'friend catching up with another on the latest happenings'. Neither was it about 'being a friend or preaching'. It was purely the mother's genuine concern for her son, that drove me to talk with the youngster for so long and with such focus.
Knowing that lady's struggle over the years, I really feel she deserves better at this age. And what struck me most was her agony - not at her pain of having to work and foot the bills herself but that her son was not happy and contented. Her pain was that her son was not at ease and that something was troubling him and she couldn't helplessly stand and watch him throw his life away.
Truly, only a mother knows best!
It then struck me, that my whole interaction was more than just a 'friend catching up with another on the latest happenings'. Neither was it about 'being a friend or preaching'. It was purely the mother's genuine concern for her son, that drove me to talk with the youngster for so long and with such focus.
Knowing that lady's struggle over the years, I really feel she deserves better at this age. And what struck me most was her agony - not at her pain of having to work and foot the bills herself but that her son was not happy and contented. Her pain was that her son was not at ease and that something was troubling him and she couldn't helplessly stand and watch him throw his life away.
Truly, only a mother knows best!
Mister God... is empty
Here's one analogy from Mister God that I need time to digest and live.
(p. 43) ... God is empty... (discussion preceding this conversation is that of object getting their colour - by absorbing all the colours except the one that we see it as its own colour - but that is exactly the colour which is not its own!)
A flower that didn't want the yellow light was called yellow by us because that is what we saw. You shouldn't say the same thing about Mister God. Mister God wanted everything, so he didn't reflect anything back! Now if Mister God didn't reflect anything back, we couldn't possibly see him, could we? So as far as we are concerned,so far as we were able to understand what Mister god was, we simply had to admit that Mister god was quite empty. Not empty because there was truly nothing there, but empty because he accepted everything, because he wanted everything and did not reflect anything back!
...
This is what we were being asked to do, throw away our pieces of colored glass and see clearly.
(p. 43) ... God is empty... (discussion preceding this conversation is that of object getting their colour - by absorbing all the colours except the one that we see it as its own colour - but that is exactly the colour which is not its own!)
A flower that didn't want the yellow light was called yellow by us because that is what we saw. You shouldn't say the same thing about Mister God. Mister God wanted everything, so he didn't reflect anything back! Now if Mister God didn't reflect anything back, we couldn't possibly see him, could we? So as far as we are concerned,so far as we were able to understand what Mister god was, we simply had to admit that Mister god was quite empty. Not empty because there was truly nothing there, but empty because he accepted everything, because he wanted everything and did not reflect anything back!
...
This is what we were being asked to do, throw away our pieces of colored glass and see clearly.
Mister God... rhyme and rhythm
Some interesting reflection on the Church and liturgy from today's reading of Mister God...
"He," she said indignantly, pointing an accusing finger, "told me to get off the grass." Anna said (during their walk in the garden).
"Yes," I replied, "you're not supposed to be on this bit of grass."
"But it's the best bit," she said. ...
"Them words that say keep off the grass - them words are like that church we went to this morning."
...
Inside a church Anna danced; it was the best bit. Church services, therefore like the Keep Off the Grass notices, did not allow her to have the best bit.
While rhyme and rhythm are necessary sometimes they do throttle the spontaneity of a lively spirit. Even in religious circles how often we want all our confreres to toe the line (in formation houses especially - I'm sure if my student, Ratna is reading this bit he'd be smiling now!) But it is exactly these 'lose spirits' that bring life and fresh breath to living!
"He," she said indignantly, pointing an accusing finger, "told me to get off the grass." Anna said (during their walk in the garden).
"Yes," I replied, "you're not supposed to be on this bit of grass."
"But it's the best bit," she said. ...
"Them words that say keep off the grass - them words are like that church we went to this morning."
...
Inside a church Anna danced; it was the best bit. Church services, therefore like the Keep Off the Grass notices, did not allow her to have the best bit.
While rhyme and rhythm are necessary sometimes they do throttle the spontaneity of a lively spirit. Even in religious circles how often we want all our confreres to toe the line (in formation houses especially - I'm sure if my student, Ratna is reading this bit he'd be smiling now!) But it is exactly these 'lose spirits' that bring life and fresh breath to living!
Catching up with old friends...
Had a glimpse into the life of one of our staff members this afternoon as the cook shared her burden of sorrows with me. I've known her son since many years now. I once conducted a summer camp for the children of this Parish and he was one of the participants. He still has great respect for me and does meet me often.
The mother was moaning the fact that instead of helping her in this old age of hers, he is sitting idle at home waiting for the ideal job to start working. Luckily I met him soon afterwards and had a small 'talk' with him. Of course, it was no big counselling. Just two old friends catching up with the latest happenings. But I did make a mention of this point and as a friend encouraged him to make efforts to see that his mother does not have to suffer in this age.
At one moment talking to him, in front of the house as people - known people - passed and greeted us, I thought he would feel shy about 'listening'/talking to me. But there we were, talking and chatting away just like friends and even those who heard us would also say they were just talking. He asked about my brother, my sister-in-law and I inquired about his sister and her family abroad.
Young people want friends, not preachers!
The mother was moaning the fact that instead of helping her in this old age of hers, he is sitting idle at home waiting for the ideal job to start working. Luckily I met him soon afterwards and had a small 'talk' with him. Of course, it was no big counselling. Just two old friends catching up with the latest happenings. But I did make a mention of this point and as a friend encouraged him to make efforts to see that his mother does not have to suffer in this age.
At one moment talking to him, in front of the house as people - known people - passed and greeted us, I thought he would feel shy about 'listening'/talking to me. But there we were, talking and chatting away just like friends and even those who heard us would also say they were just talking. He asked about my brother, my sister-in-law and I inquired about his sister and her family abroad.
Young people want friends, not preachers!
21 November 2008
Mister God...
Something to think about as I hit bed for the night... from the book Mister God, this is Anna:
..."Dear Mister God, this is Anna talking," and she went on in such a familiar way of talking to Mister God that I had the creepy feeling that if I dared look behind me he would be standing there.
For her, churchgoing and 'Mister God' talks had no necessary connection. For her, the whole thing was transparently simple. you wen to church to get the message when you were very little. Once you had got it, you went out and did something about it. Keeping on going to church was because you hadn't got the message or didn't understand it or it was 'just for swank'.
Mister God can know things and people from the inside, too. we only know them from the outside. So you see, Fynn, people can't talk about Mister God from the outside; you can only talk about Mister God from the inside of him.
..."Dear Mister God, this is Anna talking," and she went on in such a familiar way of talking to Mister God that I had the creepy feeling that if I dared look behind me he would be standing there.
For her, churchgoing and 'Mister God' talks had no necessary connection. For her, the whole thing was transparently simple. you wen to church to get the message when you were very little. Once you had got it, you went out and did something about it. Keeping on going to church was because you hadn't got the message or didn't understand it or it was 'just for swank'.
Mister God can know things and people from the inside, too. we only know them from the outside. So you see, Fynn, people can't talk about Mister God from the outside; you can only talk about Mister God from the inside of him.
Prevention than curing
These days the Somali pirates are occupying front page news in Indian newspapers! All because the Somalis have turned pirates and hijacking Indians or Indian ships! For all those reading about this for the first time, it would be an attack on Indian sovereignty - or whatever. But if one had been reading and knowing about the plight of Somalia over the years, this would not surprise anyone.
Deprived of basic amenities of life, food, water, house, dignity and when survival is the one and only goal of life, these innocent people turning to looting and hijacking is no big deal. At least this way they get to live! Hope those captured pirates are deported... so that they get something to eat at least, even though in prison!
This whole episode shows our human behaviour. We jump up and scamper about when there is a breach of law or rule. But when circumstances leading to this are on the rise, we hardly take notice! Good to follow the preventive system of Don Bosco - prevent than cure.
Deprived of basic amenities of life, food, water, house, dignity and when survival is the one and only goal of life, these innocent people turning to looting and hijacking is no big deal. At least this way they get to live! Hope those captured pirates are deported... so that they get something to eat at least, even though in prison!
This whole episode shows our human behaviour. We jump up and scamper about when there is a breach of law or rule. But when circumstances leading to this are on the rise, we hardly take notice! Good to follow the preventive system of Don Bosco - prevent than cure.
20 November 2008
Talents and books
The Gospel of yesterday was about the talents and the judgement of the Master. I couldn’t but recall the sms Rabbi sent me just a day ago: Talents in you should be like the spider’s web. They may not be strong enough to hold this whole universe, but they will hold oneself to rule one’s kingdom.
There was also this dialogue I heard in passing today (concerning books): Sometimes it is not we who pick up books but they choose us!
Quite a statement – true and frightening (especially for guys like me who am itching to lay my hands on some book). However, am glad, I at last began reading Mister God this is Anna. Lovely and inspiring!! Very engrossing too.
There was also this dialogue I heard in passing today (concerning books): Sometimes it is not we who pick up books but they choose us!
Quite a statement – true and frightening (especially for guys like me who am itching to lay my hands on some book). However, am glad, I at last began reading Mister God this is Anna. Lovely and inspiring!! Very engrossing too.
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