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!

We are friends in the Lord!

(Remembering a companion, who is suffering in the hospital bed and the doctors are reportedly have said that his days are counted...)

I am quite sure that this short piece will never reach to you. You must be in your hospital bed, when I type this. You must be silently suffering. There may be someone with you. Your mother must be sitting very close to you. She must be praying to God a hundred times for your speedy recovery. She must be remembering your childhood days. The things you did – perhaps something funny! Her suffering reminds me the suffering of our dear Mother Mary. She saw terrible sufferings of her dear Son Jesus. Your brother might be silently asking God, ‘why?’ He must be also recalling all the moments you both have spent together. They might include little fights at the dining table or at the play ground.

Life changes!

Yesterday while having dinner alone, it clicked me that how my life has changed during the course of time. There were times when I would have hated to have meal alone. I would always expect others company. Now sometime I do take meal alone and most of the time I did not notice even! As a child I would always dine with my near and dear ones. Later on, while staying in the student’s hostel or initial stages of formation I would dine always in the company of others. Still I remember the most difficult time I passed once during my first year of regency. I had to be all alone in the house just for three days. It was not that I was frightened! But I felt terrible. I missed the presence of others. Then again I had to be along during my second year of regency in Dublin for a few days. As we were all busy with different activities at one point everyone had to be out except me. When my Superior noticed it, though he himself was away, asked me if I could stay alone. Though I said yes but it was also difficult. Now I am quite comfortable having meal alone!!!
Perhaps this is what we could call changing faces of life. I clearly see the difference of way I see things now, the way I judge, the way I deal with others... I will not term it as a positive sign or as a negative sign. But they make me wonder! They make me to reflect. Sometimes I ask myself, is life changing too fast! Perhaps this is what we would call, life changes!!!