Along the way…

As soon as I began my new mission in Bangladesh, I was asked (rather assigned) to conduct three days seminar on faith based on ‘LUMEN FIDEI’ to a group of nun who were preparing for the final vows. I had no other option than to say -‘Yes’ I do it. I must admit that one of boring courses I had during theological studies in Rome was on ‘faith, hope and love.’ I took up the challenge and began to prepare myself for the seminar.

In the evening of the second day of my session, I accompanied sisters to a shrine. As we were walking quietly I thought of the feast of St Ignatius which was round the corner. I remembered all the big and grand celebrations I have had for the last few years. But this year I am in a complete new situation. Though I was born here but things have changed radically over the years. Already a few times I said to myself that I need to become a Bangladeshi. Many good and sweet memories were pouring in my mind.

At one point I saw some people were crying in a house. As it was a Muslim family I did not dare to enter and ask what had happened. As I continued to walk, I heard a voice from the other side of the road was saying, “Father, please pray for my daughter who died this morning.” I went close to him and asked what had happened. He said that she was sick for sometimes and they could not provide her any treatment due to lack of money. Then he said something very precious. He said, “I know you are a Christian priest. But our God is the same. We can pray to him either from the Church or from the Mosque or from the Hindu Temple. God is present everywhere.”

I was stunned. This man has just lost his daughter and could easily blame God for the misfortune. But he placed all his trust in God and accepted everything as God’s will.

Perhaps this is what St Ignatius of Loyola wanted all along his life- to accept everything as God’s will and find Him in everything! Does it give any message to you and me on the feast day of St Ignatius?

Time has come!

There was time when I used to say I have six more months, then five more months, then four more months, and then three months…and finally I have only 24 hours to go. Tomorrow by this time I will be flying.

Fortunately my old passport helped me find the exact date of my first departure from the country. It was on June 30’ 2000, when I left my country for the first time. Have I ever thought I would spend the long 13 years before I finally return to the country? In the last 13 years there have been many up and downs in life. There are experiences to be  told, many persons to be  remembered, many mysteries to be unfolded. But today I leave them all. I begin another journey. I response to the call as time has time…

(More to follow…)

The problem of a problem!

A few days ago, I was accompanying some visitors to the rooms of St Ignatius. At the end of the visit, a curious visitor wanted to know where I was from. When I revealed my identity, she immediately told me that she had stopped buying any Bangladesh made cloths. It did not take any time for me to realize the reason behind her noble (?) decision. I looked at her and in a soft voice said, “But in the process of not buying cloths made in Bangladesh you are not helping anyone. You might in turn bring some bad news to some poor people.”

“How could you say that?” she asked rather quickly.

“There are millions of poor people; especially women have little to eat due to these garment factories in Bangladesh. A densely populated country, where natural calamities and political turmoil have become part of the daily life, the only scope to earn the daily bread is these garment factories. Perhaps you can mobilize the pressure on the owner of the factories/buyers to improve safety of the work place and look after the welfare of the workers.”

The visitor looked at me said, “You explained to me well. I never thought in this way.” Then she left.

Like this visitor, there are many of us who see the one side of the problem and try to find an immediate solution. We have a tendency of ‘let it go’ or ‘this is not my cup of tea’ or ‘he/she is capable of thinking for him/herself’ or ‘this is your choice’…the list is endless.

It is rather universal truth that every problem has got two sides. Deep down there is a hidden mystery in every problem. This mystery makes us frightened and we want to keep ourselves away. I often wonder that the world would have been a better place if we all could spend some time to look into the mystery of every problem! How do we begin?

Perhaps we can begin with our own life: problem with my own self, with my neighbours, with my friends, with my colleagues, with my enemies and ask “why” with a positive outlook!

Expecting for you and me!

It was as usual Tuesday evening. I was out for my weekly social service along with another Italian friend. We met Christian near Pantheon. Christian is a middle-aged man, with out any home or family. His drinking habits brought him to the present pathetic situation. The little money he gets from the people, he spends on drinking. We have tried many times to convince him to leave drinking habits, but our efforts seem to be abortive. He keeps on talking; hardly leaves any room for us to talk. 
But today every thing seemed to be topsy-turvey. He was rather quiet. We asked him some questions and he just replied with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We decided to leave some food for him and leave the spot. On seeing us leaving food for him, he said, “I do not need food from you. You take back.”

We were stunned. We asked him, “why not? Are you not hungry or have you eaten already?”

“I do not need your food. You people did not wish me on my birthday. Last week was my birthday. Previously I had already told you about my birthday. But you people forgot me. In this world, no one loves me. I celebrated my birthday only with my dog.”

We realized that we completely forgot about his birthday. We had already promised him that we would celebrate his birthday. We asked sorry and assured him that the following week we would celebrate his birthday. He was silent. His eyes were filled with tears.

While coming back to my home, I remembered Christian again and again. How painfully he said that no one in this earth loves him except his dog. It would have taken just a few minutes to reach out to him on his birthday. This would have given him a great joy!

There are so many people in this earth who wait for little love and care. There are many who do not want any money or gift. Probably just a little smile or few gentile words will bring lots of joy in their life. Do we see them along the way?

The light of the darkness!

It was a lovely night. I spent the entire night on walking, without any single moment of sleep. Every now and then I paused for a while, looking at the sky. The beacon of the dark night was clear- an invitation to experience the light of the day. I walked from one corner to another of Rome city, visiting churches and Holy places.

Have I visited churches to meet God? My answer is YES and NO.  It was more to meet with myself. The recent tragedies in my country made me sad, angry and frustrated. Many of the mysteries of life made me to ask, ‘why?’ Then certain ‘topsy-turvy’ created many questions.

But these ten hours of walk brought me to a new realization. It brought me to my nakedness. It whispered to me about a new world- a new world which  Henri J. M. Nouwen would say, “ It is this new world that fills our dreams, guides our actions, and makes us go on, at great risk, with the increasing conviction that one day we will finally be free- free to love” (cfr. The wounded Healer, 26). 

Ma (mother), I love you!

(a recent photo with my mother)

This morning after the breakfast I went to wish ‘happy Mother’s day’ to two of our co-workers, both women. They had forgotten that today was the mother’s day. I wished them, exchanged a few words and then returned to my room. As I was climbing up to my room, for a moment I remembered my mother. Like all other mothers, she is also very special to me. I felt she was walking with me, talking to me holding my hand…

When I was growing, the financial situation of my family was not very good. My mother had to be very cautious about spending money. With the limited salary of my father, she had to manage the entire family- our food, dress, medicine, education... Everyday she would serve food for all of us. She would eat only when we were all fed well. Often I would notice that she would take puffed-rice (a typical home made food, people would eat whenever one cannot effort to have rice) with rice. Many a times I had asked her, why she preferred to take puffed rice, in seated of taking rice? She would reply that puffed-rice increase the taste of the meal. It was much later one day I discovered that whenever there was less rice she would take puffed-rice. She would always feed us well and then she would eat very less…

When I was in the novitiate, my novice director came to visit my family. The first question, my mother asked him was: “does Ripon listen to you?” My novice director was surprised. He came and narrated to all of us only Ripon’s mother asked, “Does Ripon listen to you”, while other asked, “How is my son? How is his health?”

Some times we do not notice sacrifices our mothers make. Often they are unnoticed. Perhaps ‘mother’s day’ is a good occasion to be aware of their sacrifices and tell to them, “Ma, we love you!”

I too have a heart!

I knew him from my association with the community of San’Egido in Rome. Once a week I spend sometime with this community to reach out to most needy and poor people in Rome, who stay on the streets. We talk to them and distribute necessary material things. By now I became friendly with some of them and talk to them whenever I meet them. Georgo (named changed) is one of them.  Whenever I meet him, he narrates to me some interesting stories of his profession. He goes around Rome, often in the crowded public bus and steals things from others.

The other day I had to go to Vatican. As soon as got into the bus I saw Georgo. We saw each other and exchanged a smile. I knew he was on his mission and tried to follow his movements. But it was quite obvious that my presence was a hindrance for him. He remained at one corner of the bus and in fact was looking at me again and again. When I got down from the bus, he too followed me. I wished him ‘good luck’ for his work and asked him not to steal from the poor and old people. To my great surprise he told me, “I never steal anything from Asian or African people. They are poor people come here to earn some money. And even if I get any documents or certificates I send them to the owners. I too have a heart.”

The last sentence of Georgo touched me. I looked at face. There was sadness on his face. Perhaps for the first time, I saw something very special on his face. A face that speaks his innocence! A face that shows that he is also son of God! I discovered a new Georgo. I gave a smile and left him.

In life we often judge people based on their profession, external out-look, social statues etc. But do we really see anyone before judging. Do we see the hidden heart- a heart full of love!