Are we really free!

There were many topics bubbling up in my mind. I thought of writing on different issues, different incidents or on my experiences. But then the words of my General, Fr. Adolf Nikolas have changed my plan.

Today he came to our community for his official visitation. The sermon he preached, during the Holy Mass was very touching. ‘Our interior freedom’ was one of the many topics he touched upon. He gave examples of how we are attached to certain things.

Interestingly it was just two weeks before I had an opportunity to listen to a sermon on freedom. The celebrant gave the examples of our attachments to certain things. But at the end he said one thing that we were free to love God as well as people around us. There is no one who can interfere us in this regard!

As I go to bed, I ask myself am I free? How many times I say, I, my, me…

RIP: Fr Jacob Srampickal SJ

I paused for a while. I was in the middle of composing a mail. I left it unfinished. How could it possible! I was just planning to have a meal with him. Last month he invited me to his community. We had a lovely meal with lots of sharing. He was planning to go back to India to take up his new assignment. We decided that after Easter we would meet again. But he is gone!

My companion Benedict came and broke the news to me. He picked up the news from the facebook and then confirmed with his friends. He was Benedict’s professor. Then he came and told me. He knew that we were good friends.

On the first gathering of the South Asian Jesuits I met him here in Rome. We spoke for a while. Then he invited me to his community. I went to his community with another Sri Lankan Jesuit. We spoke a lot. He mentioned to us about the importance of companionship and friendship. He asked us to have always time for our companions. We three of us formed a group. Then over the year we met several times. Sometimes he would come to our community; sometimes we would go to his community. He was a professor and we were students in the same university. But he always made us feel at home in his presence. While talking to us he would be very down to earth.
Today he is no more with us. His memories are still vivid. He was a true Jesuit companion to me.

Dear Father Srampickal, you have touched my life with your presence. We have walked for a while together. Though I miss you, but I am sure we will meet again. We are friends in the Lord!

Bengoli New Year: promising of joy!

Rather quietly I passed Bangla New Year. I have just exchanged wishes with some people back in Bangladesh as well as in Calcutta. In the morning I thought profoundly that ‘DAY LIKE THIS I MISS BANGLADESH.’ I was a bit sad- just missing my dear ones. In the middle of the day I went for the Holy Mass. I must admit that I was not fully present in the liturgical celebration. At the beginning of the homily the celebrant said, we should not be sad. Sadness is the mother of many problems, doubts and mistakes. He also said that Jesus Christ with his resurrection overcame the sadness and brought happiness and joy for all of us. I came out from the Church with a smiling face! There was joy within me!

Easter Sunday: New Hope, New life!

One of the inspiriting homilies I have ever heard was when I was in Calcutta, doing college studies. It was the time when I was having some difficulties with regard to my admission. I had by then completed two years and was remaining just one more year to finish my graduation. Just before writing my final exams of two years, I was told by the university authority that my admission was not accepted due to year gap. After completing class XII, I joined the Jesuits and spent four years in different formation houses. This gap led me to this difficulty. It was a complete chaotic situation. My Jesuit Superior came with me to the university and he was told my admission would not be accepted. My Superior asked me to wait; meanwhile he was trying to do something!

It was just after Easter. A visiting Jesuit priest from a rural mission station was staying with us just for a few days. One day he was asked to offer Mass for us. He began his homily by saying that we were Easter people. Jesus gave us new life with his resurrection. Why should we be worried about our life! Jesus is our life. Then he shared his life story, how his life experience has taught him. As he was speaking I could feel that he was convinced of what he was preaching. He did not utter any theological jargon. By the end of the Mass I was already feeling a sense of peace and serenity. That was the first time I was convinced that we are Easter people.

Every year around Easter, I remember this inspiring sermon. Another Easter is at our door. For the last couple hours I have been receiving Easter greetings. To my great surprise, I noticed that most of the messages are with a simple of message of ‘New Hope and New life!’

Wishing you all a blessed Easter and of course New Hope and New life…

Good Friday and…!

And then another Good Friday is at our door! That means ‘Jesus is dead!’ The simple question which kept on lingering with me for the last few days is- Jesus why did you die! The Holy Bible says, he died for our salvation and to fulfil the plan of his Father. Many great theologians, spiritual gurus say that he did so that we have a new life.

I tried to answer this question. There were many responses! Many thoughts! But the only answer which convinced me is that he died for each one of us. He died for me. He did so because he loved us all. He still loves us… He does not remain a dead man when we are aware of this love. He himself becomes a love. We are all invited to partake in this love. This is the message that Good Friday brings to us…

When everything is dark!

When someone asked me yesterday how I was, I responded, “I’m a bit down these days.’’ “Come on man, you cannot be. You are all time smiling and going around with your usual activities.” I knew he did not believe me. So I turned a twist and said, “Oh I am just kidding you!” And then we moved to other topics. Time and again I do ask others, ‘how are you’, but often I am not serious. I just ask for sake of asking!

I love you always!

I must confess that I was not supposed to read that particular email. It was a sheer accident. I was in a studio of the Vatican Radio along with some of my companions. Someone was explaining to us different techniques of the radio. At one point my eyes fixed on a computer. Someone must have opened email and forgot to signout. The bolded letters short message reads “ ti voglio sempre bene anche con la tosse.” The English translation would be, I always love you even with your cough. This message clicked me. I looked again. And again!