MARY, A NEW ISRAEL

MARY, A NEW ISRAEL

             I am glad to share with you some of the reflections on the theme “Mary a new Israel.” Before I begin, allow me to acknowledge Fulton J. Sheen whose reflection I am going to share from the theological point of view.

            Dear friends, not one of us has the power to make our own mothers as we wish. If we had this power, I am sure that we would make our mothers most beautiful and most perfect. I made this statement, because Jesus preexisted Mary and so He could make mother perfect and pure. Thus, the concept of the Immaculate Conception pre-exist in the mind of God. He thought of her before she was born.

            When the first Paradise was lost by the sin of our first parents God thought that He would remake paradise which was defiled but not destroyed. So, in the Old Testament we see Israel as a loose woman loved by God. Therefore, God told Moses to make the tabernacle so that He could dwell with his people. The cloud overshadowed the temple of the Lord at day and the Pillar of the Lord at night.  

            In the N.T we see Mary as the new Israel from whom the Lord comes forth. The angel Gabriel asked Mary to become the Mother of God. Mary knowing the consequence of the law replied ‘I’m a virgin, I know not a man. The angel replied “the Holy Spirit will over shadow you.” He will be born of you and shall be called the ‘Son of God.’ As a result the word was made flesh as the tabernacle within her. Mary professed her faith singing the magnificent song “my soul proclaims the Lord and my spirit rejoices in the Lord my Saviour”, as gratitude of His love for her. Later she carried Jesus within her (the body, the blood, the soul and the divinity) to her cousin Elizabeth.

            Thus the womb of Mary was the first tabernacle of God’s presence on the face of the earth. The Eucharist within her is made one with the church and all its members and all humanity. Thus the Church includes Mary as a faithful woman along with this new Israel. As a result we do share the resurrection of the Lord as Mary did.

            She was full of grace, because of which she was able to stand even at the foot of the cross. She is honoured by God as she shares the divinity with her son in her holy conception, passion, assumption and coronation. The church honors her by garlanding her with the four dogmatic mysteries of her life.

            Now what we can take home is very simple. I wish that Her prayers and intercessions make us more aware of the blessings that we are given. As a response let us live our life happily bearing witness to Jesus. Thus may we become like Mary a new Israel to the youth, to friends and more especially to ourselves. May our life and action be a hymn of praise to God like the Magnificat of Mary. 

Thank you

SUFFERING IS A MYSTERY

SUFFERING IS A MYSTERY

           

            Today in the class I am captured by the word pain and suffering. Suffering has been playing a drastic role in the human lives at different levels at different times of one’s life. Therefore, I feel enthused to ponder on this issue which is ever relevant in human existence as a whole. Suffering empirically speaking, it has immediate unpleasant implications on a situation of a person. But if I see at it critically basing on the lives of Don Bosco and Victor Frankl who have gone beyond suffering and endured it gracefully and even became radical producers of positive affirmation in life.

            Down through the ages the human species have been battling with the question which has been a thorn in the flesh. Now what it is that thorn in the flesh? Well, it is the complexity of suffering in human life. I say the complexity of suffering precisely because; there are the degrees and various elements of suffering. Suffering can be caused by the self itself or can be caused by none at befalls on the self. I think among these two the positive attitude is very much needed to a person and it has to be predominant in one’s life.

            To compare and contrast the suffering in the lives of the two great men is they have undergone and experienced the suffering both mental and physical suffering due to the circumstances. The important thing here is how they have endured and came with the innovative experience out of the mess of suffering. They have won laurels in this regard. I am deeply captivated by their life and contribution. I wish that I do live and endure the nitty-gritty pain and suffering befalls in my life. May the positive approach and attitude play a predominant role in one’s life which is the key element in life to endure the pain and suffering with more dignified manner. 

“FEAR AS INEXITRICABLE PHENOMENON OF LIFE”

            I am deeply captured by the common phenomena of our life namely ‘Fear’. Well, to begin with what exactly is fear? Many of us think that fear has always a negative connotation but, if we are sharp enough and examine this phenomena, has very positive outlook as well. You might wonder what I am talking all about. According to French political philosopher there are two principles which govern the human life namely LOVE and FEAR. Of the two, Fear is more pervasive factor in human life. Now my premise is to tap this factor like sap in the sandal wood tree. Because, fear is often taken for granted from our comfort zones and not looking the other factors which are involved with it. I am sure down the centuries neither prophet nor sage gave a solution to do away with fear. Even Buddha and Christ the greatest teachers that the world has ever encounter have given any medicine to elude this from life.

            “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, we are not to be, we are born to make manifest the glory of God within us and as we let our own light shine we constantly give the other people permission to do the same.” Are the words extracted from the educational movie ‘Akhila and the Bee’ which inspired me and captured me.

            Now you all with me to accept the fact that fear is as an inextricable aspect of life. Be it Religion, Society, Education or Property all have emerged into institutions in order to tackle the fear better in quotidian. So, in a way these social institutions are the products of human fear of life or fear of life to come. In other words the more you have the more you are prone to be frightened. Man in the primitive stage of the social contract theory began to live together in order to have better safety in the company of the others. Thus, fear has been faced not as a new commodity but is as old as our human existence. Henceforth, to draw a conclusion fear is within us and not elsewhere. Very often we think that the fear caused from the others. But in terms of Buddha fear is to travel deep within in to one self. If one is able make it he or she is an enlightened person on the face of the earth.    

To understand this concept from the Biblical sense, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” It this fear is about the death and final judgement? Is this about final punishment? At this point one certainly needs the spirit of prudence and discretion to strike a balance in understanding.

“FEAR AS INEXITRICABLE PHENOMENON OF LIFE”

“FEAR AS INEXITRICABLE PHENOMENON OF LIFE”

            I am deeply captured by the common phenomena of our life namely ‘Fear’. Well, to begin with what exactly is fear? Many of us think that fear has always a negative connotation but, if we are sharp enough and examine this phenomena, has very positive outlook as well. You might wonder what I am talking all about. According to French political philosopher there are two principles which govern the human life namely LOVE and FEAR. Of the two, Fear is more pervasive factor in human life. Now my premise is to tap this factor like sap in the sandal wood tree. Because, fear is often taken for granted from our comfort zones and not looking the other factors which are involved with it. I am sure down the centuries neither prophet nor sage gave a solution to do away with fear. Even Buddha and Christ the greatest teachers that the world has ever encounter have given any medicine to elude this from life.

           

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, we are not to be, we are born to make manifest the glory of God within us and as we let our own light shine we constantly give the other people permission to do the same.” Are the words extracted from the educational movie ‘Akhila and the Bee’ which inspired me and captured me.

            Now you all with me to accept the fact that fear is as an inextricable aspect of life. Be it Religion, Society, Education or Property all have emerged into institutions in order to tackle the fear better in quotidian. So, in a way these social institutions are the products of human fear of life or fear of life to come. In other words the more you have the more you are prone to be frightened. Man in the primitive stage of the social contract theory began to live together in order to have better safety in the company of the others. Thus, fear has been faced not as a new commodity but is as old as our human existence. Henceforth, to draw a conclusion fear is within us and not elsewhere. Very often we think that the fear caused from the others. But in terms of Buddha fear is to travel deep within in to one self. If one is able make it he or she is an enlightened person on the face of the earth.    

To understand this concept from the Biblical sense, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” It this fear is about the death and final judgement? Is this about final punishment? At this point one certainly needs the spirit of prudence and discretion to strike a balance in understanding.

SAINTLY INFLUENCES ON DON BOSCO

                                 (Predominately of his Loving Mother)

            I am glad to be captured by the idea that in life wheatear we like it or not everybody is influenced by the contemporary, cultural and linguistic expressions by responding to them accordingly. Besides there will be some personages who make an impact in our life through their life or ideologies. Be it be positive or not pessimistic this process is inevitable in our life. None of us can evade this inherent process of growth.

            Now I am trying my best to examine the way Don Bosco has incorporated and appropriated the ideologies and methodology of his admirable saints and sages of his contemporary and old. Likewise there are few who contributed in his life for his way of work and method of pedagogy. To mention few, his mother Mamma Margaret, Don Cafasso, Archbishop Fransoni Francis De Sales and Teresa have influenced him extensively. There are many maxims that he has appropriated from the others into his life. The tradition of goodnight, ‘God sees you’ etc are some of the famous ones.

            I am captivated by the role played by his mother in his life, is very outstanding. The reason, religion and loving kindness are though not his original but he made very radical and relevant for his charism very dynamically. Thus many have instilled in his life all virtues and attributes of life and spirituality. Though they have not directly influenced him but he made his life such a way that they have a special role and impact in his life. 

Destiny Through Inevitable Action

DESTINY THROUGH INEVITABLE ACTION

            Well, I am captivated by the second day class when this point emerged from the class in the spontaneous sharing of our experiences. Now I am trying to make this point more crystal clear in my own way of understand the phrase. Although I believe very firmly that each one is framed by certain inevitable cultural differences and linguistic expressions but there is another level where one can transform this level of understating of a person.

            Now what is my stand? It is very clear that the force and the vita can be enhanced through one’s persistent action. Thus the prefixed destiny will be shattered into pieces by our effective action. Many of us think that the destiny is ever fixed and is can ever be changed. But here my premise is that we can change this conventional view of our life. Now this action is a prerequisite of our clear and crystal aim of life which eventually has to be backed up by the true education, hard work and perseverance. I am sure if this is the focus then there will be the sky as the limit to life. Another prerequisite for the success of life is the faith in destiny. Faith is an internal force which moves our impulse toward the goal.

            Many of us in life specially the youth get sullen and fall in meritocracy having no internal faith and positive molecules moving one to success. At this point I wish for me and for the others as well that we all may believe in our esteem and self confidence. For, I believe firmly that even god cannot help the one who does not know how to help him or herself. 

To Know Don Bosco in line with Schleiermacher

TO KNOW DON BOSCO COMPREHENSIVELY ACCORDING TO SCHLEIERMACHER

          

            Can we know a person purely? is the question that perplexed my mind I am still with the same question to get the better answer. I think it is not so easy to know the person purely. But according to some philosophers like Schleiermacher who says that ‘if we begin to start to understanding a person first bit by bit and eventually we can bring a person to comprehensive outlook. Thus we can understand a person in parts and then eventually as a whole. Likewise we can come back to refine our understanding of the parts to whole.

            For me to know and learn Don Bosco is important precisely because by knowing him I can enhance my life in his foot prints as I am aspiring to be his true son. Although the times, linguistic expressions and the cultural differences were different if compare to the current but his outstanding thoughts have a lot to contribute to our times, for which we have to look up to. In this context I can quote Schleiermacher who says that ‘we can understand Don Bosco better than or more than he understood himself. In this regard we cannot apply scientific method but rather it is an art of understanding. Meaning to say that in understanding the person we need to go beyond and transcend the person.

            Scheleirmacher, the father of Modern Hermeneutics exhorts us to develop this mind frame which is very inevitable aptitude for any person to make a good life even out of a mess like Don Bosco. Which means the apriori knowledge or the mere hypothesis has to take root in action. Hence I once again assert that the art of knowing or understating is not prefixed nor structured by any frame of reference but rather it is like an art. As art evolves eventually by the artist so the understating of a person is to a better conception.