The precious gift of my Priesthood!

A year ago, on this very day I was the centre of attraction, if put it in a very simple term, as I was being ordained. For many it was a big occasion. My parents, relatives, near and dear ones wanted to celebrate the occasion. I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.

A year after, today I asked myself, ‘am I happy as a priest? Have I made a good decision a year ago? The simple answered came to me immediately is - YES. The ‘YES’ which I said to the Society of Jesus in 2002, I continue to say till today.

One year as priest was not always ‘bed of roses.’ I vividly remember just after my ordination a young lady telling me, ‘I do not look at the priests anymore. They are all sinners.’ I did not have any answer to give her. She had her own reason to tell me that. I just smiled at her. I remember another elderly man telling me, ‘if you are not capable of doing any work just get ordained. You will enjoy to the core.’ These comments definitely made me sad.

But these moments of sadness were nothing compare to all the blessings I received as priest. The hours after hours, I spent at the confession, gave me much joy and consolation. I remember a particular gentleman, who mad confession after 16 years, was crying during confession and hugged me at the end of the confession. I remember another young boy, ‘who is known as a spoilt boy’ touched my feet and wept at the end of the confession. I remember offering four/five masses in a day and feeling exhausted at the end of the day. I remember receiving a call around midnight to visit and bless a dying man. I remember taking Holy Communion to a sick lady who waited to receive Christ for months. There were moments when people trusted me and made me feel that I am one of them. All these happened to me because I am a Priest. These were moments which I will never forget. These were moments which help me to go forward.  And I thank God, for my vocation to the Priesthood. My priesthood is the precious gift I have directly receive from God.

Just a word!

I never knew a simple word could be so powerful! I was unprepared when the whole episode was revealed to me. The other day I was working in the garden with our lay collaborators. Suddenly two elderly women entered in to our campus and walked straight to me. “Father I came to tell you something” she said with a smile on her face.

“Please tell me” was my quick reply.

“My son, who was not going for Mass for the last few years, has recently begun to go for Mass and the credit goes to you” she said in a loud voice.

 “Is it so? How?” I asked rather doubtfully.

“The other day, in the market you called my son bhai (brother) when my son greeted you. He was so taken up by the word ‘bhai’ and decided to go for Mass. He was surprised because he could never expect that a priest address to a lay person as bhai (brother).”

Though I felt little uncomfortable when she was talking to me, but it made me to think how we could reach out to many people just by our simple words. There are people around us who just need a gentle smile, polite word or a loving touch…   

Along the way!

I was aware of the sudden storm at night. The first thing I did in the morning, once I got up from the bed, was to go around the campus. I was sad to see a few trees fell down. I was trying to calculate the amount of money we must have lost. At that time, someone rang our main gate bell. I went to the gate and found our breadwalla(the man who supplies our bread) came with bread. On seeing him, I said, “Oh dada (hello brother), a few good trees have fell down because of the heavy storm of last night. I am so sad.”

“You are crying for your trees,” he smiled and said.  “My mud house was completely gone. I could not sleep last night with my family members.”

I had nothing to say. But it was a great ‘thought-provoking’ conversation for me. How often we are busy with our little world? But if we look around and thank God for all that we have, we will find this world a much better place to live!

Along the way!

The other day I was about to leave my community for a work to a distance place. As I stepped outside, a boy of aged 14/15 came to me. He came to our vicinity for work roughly a month ago and I met him already a few times. After our initial conversation, I asked him about his work. “I am not able to work for the last few days,” he said.

“Why” I asked.

“I have got terrible problem on my back and I am not able walk properly.”

“Why don't you go to Doctor?”

“I do not have money.”

“Then what will you do?”

 No answer. At that moment I did not have any other option than to open my wallet and give him some money. I had only the traveling expenses with me. I gave him some money and decided to walk half the way as I would not have enough money to take any public transport.

After saying good bye to that boy I got into a bus. In the bus I met a friend of mine with whom I studied many years ago. We began to talk, especially many of our childhood memories. While we were talking, the bus conductor (one who collects bus fare) came to us. Before I could pay my fare, my friend paid for both of us. When I asked him why he paid, he said, “You have given your life for the people. Now it is our moral responsibly to serve you. You just pray for me.”

I was stunned. As a priest, this is what I receive wherever I go. This makes me more humble and helps me to forget about my external needs and to place my trust in ‘HIM’. Perhaps this is an invitation for all of us in the New Year of 2014!