It’s a problem or difficulty!

It’s a problem or difficulty!


This morning I had gone to the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II at the St Peter’s Square. It was a special moment for me as he would be the first blessed of the Catholic Church whom I saw. I had seen him as a young boy of six, when he came to visit my country. I always cherish that moment. If I begin to write on the impression he had left in me, I may pen a few pages, which I do not intend to do right now. Rather I would pen a simple thought which has been haunting me since morning.

Silently doing the God’s will

Silently doing the God’s will

For a day the festivity was all around our house. It was the occasion of the Diaconal Ordination of the third year. There were many guests, many unfamiliar faces. From my room I could hear the crying of children and laughing of women in our corridor. Later I heard from one of my companions that he got up from bed early in the morning as I heard the crying of a child. Initially he was not sure either he was dreaming.

At Easter: my thought…

At Easter: my thought…


Years ago, sometimes immediately after Easter, when I was doing my college studies in Calcutta, a Jesuit priest offered Holy Mass in our community. He was a pastor working among the tribal people. The simple but profound homily he preached for us touched my heart. The few sentences he spoke would be as follows: ‘I experience Risen Christ among the people with whom I work. They are poor, illiterate and in our modern sense uncivilized. They do not have many needs. They work hard, spend all the earnings in eating and drinking, respect each other and faithfully follow all the Church’s teachings. When they have any problem they come to me and ask for solution. Often I do not have any solution to their problems. Sometimes I take them to the Church, show them the Crucifixion and tell them that Jesus died for us because He loved us. But his life story is not ended with his death. He overcame the death to give us new life. If we believe in his resurrection we will have new life and he will look after all our needs. Theses simple often believe my words. They surrender their problems at the feet of Jesus. Some of them do come back to me after few days to thank me for the blessing and prayer.

I found the words very profound and up-lifting. Many years have gone by since I heard those words. But surprisingly every year at the time of Easter I remember these words. In my own life, when things are not in order, when I do not find the solution of many problems I remember those words of the holy priest. I look at the Risen Lord and draw inspiration for him.

What about you?

As I turn 30…thinking of all the surprises!

As I turn 30…thinking of all the surprises!
Have I ever given a thought of how to celebrate my 30th birthday? My 20th birthday was grand so as 25th. I must admit that I am not very fussy about celebrating birthday with lot of external celebrations. I have tried to avoid celebrating my birthday, but often I have failed. Often in the past, some of my close friends made sure that I ‘celebrate’ it.

If only we knew!

If only we knew!
Often I wonder! I look at the people and think what they must be thinking or going through in their lives. Sometimes I feel like asking some people, what are you thinking. But I cannot. Once I had an opportunity to attend a conference on suicide. We spoke many different aspects of suicide. I remember making a resolution to take interest of knowing people around me. But often I failed!
Years back I was staying in a hostel while doing my college studies. One day I noticed one of my class-mates was very sad. He was the most handsome and intelligent in our group. I hardly had any interaction with him. I would always consider him very ‘moody’. That day I went near to him and began to talk. As we continued our conversation he revealed something, which I never expected. He told me that he came from a very poor family and he was finding very difficult to meet all his needs. Even he did not buy the text-books though exams were approaching soon. At one point I asked him, then how could remain so happy all the time? ‘’This is just to hide my sorrow’’ his immediate reply. Thereafter we shared our books and became good friends.
Today after many years I remember my friend. I do not know where he is. May be I have to search him among the unknown faces…!

I pray

I pray...
Last few days I have been deeply thinking about the problems of Libya and Japan. The problem of Libya could be easily termed as men made, while the problem in Japan is a natural disaster. There are some underlined factors involved for this natural disaster, and I have no intention to discuss about the cause of havoc. What pain me are the sufferings of the innocent of people. Though I was never directly affected by the natural disaster but I have seen the endless sufferings of the people.
These days as I read and discuss that we are the ‘children of God’ I often wonder if God is our loving Father why does he permits the suffering of the people. Why cannot he save us? I have no answer!
But I see the face of God in the faces of suffering people. I see our Lord is suffering with the victims. He takes the side of the ‘voiceless’.
I pray for the victims. I pray for the peace. I pray that all may see the face of our Lord, especially those who are responsible for the problems, in the midst of victims.

If only!

She is one of the recent ones! Finally (!) she left the religious order. Though I was sad to receive the news but I was not surprised. I knew for quite sometimes that she was going through inner struggles. She indirectly gave me hints that she was planning to leave convent.