WOMAN/SHAKTI/EMPOWERMENT...!

Right at the outset, I admit that I am not a staunch feminist, yet this presumption doesn’t stop me whispering the truth of my inner voice. As someone said “say the truth and run away”, I do not mean such assumption despite the fact that I, a male, writing on such a significant phenomenon woman.        

One cannot but accept the significant role of a woman in building a family or a society. Hence, we must appreciate woman’s contribution in nation building. Neither the governments, nor the civil or church laws build families. Instead, it is a woman who builds the family. If so, why there are rapes, domestic violence, and female-foeticide, divorce and unjust wages? State or religion is no exception. Hence, we must question the system, because if the system is corrupt what can we hope for? Hindu, Islam, Judeo-christian systems and the Greek, Roman, Eastern civilizations were all part of this inequality without being judgemental. Let us now get into the heart of the matter.           

        sati saha gamana, child-marriages, dowry system, devadaasi/temple prostitution, unwanted girl child culture, domestic violence, abortions, trafficking, legal-prostitution and sales/product-advertising. This reality has its deep roots in history. “War to men, what maternity is to women” said Aristotle. So much so that Greeks did not even consider women as equals, worse still not as human beings but, as objects of satisfaction and gratification. Ironically, their mythologies were full of feminine goddesses. Perhaps why Anaximander, a Greek philosopher said “the world is made up of opposites.” The Indian age old Hindu-traditions hold that women were impure and so were not allowed to enter into the sanctuaries of the temples. But they propagated temple prostitution and devadaasi systems despite, having three crore dieties. The Jewish culture and Islamic traditions were of no exception to this gender inequality. Even today the Drawpathi story of Hindu Puranas is time and again repeating in India. So much so, Delhi is now called as a rape and divorce capital city of India.

Today in this complexity of reality, plurality of faiths, multiplicity of opinions, diversity of cultures, scientific and nuclear development and yet women are objectified, ill-treated and unaccepted. This is not a new phenomenon. It has been there in India in different forms as

In this age, there are cases of teachers who abuse their students; leaders mishandle public wealth and powerful grow at the cost of the poor. The Priest, Pujari, Pandit or Peoples Representatives are no exception. There are men who desire for a beautiful wife, but reject the girl child, desire for a good mother but abuse the wives; happy to admire the latest actresses but do not even care the sick and aged mothers. There is such a terrible disparity in society due to knowledge gained without experience, insights without reflection and lectures without ethics/morals. Thus a lot of traditional values have become messy, confusing and compromising. A new culture of CCTVs, Security Guards, Policing and Scheduled day time work hours, glassed windows and open doors tell us how insecure and how threatening we are to our sisters and mothers. It is strange but true!   

As said above, if education does not educate the mind and heart of the individuals, that education is meaningless. If not that education is mere hypocrisy of the learned people. Once, Pharisees brought a prostitute woman, caught in the very act of adultery to be stoned to death. Jesus, seeing her helplessness and the darkened minds of the Pharisees, invites the one who has not sinned. There prevails a dramatic scene, as the Pharisees withdrew one by one. Jesus shuns their hard hearts, self-righteousness, arrogance, judgmental attitudes and domination. He saves the woman from shame, fear, guilt and death. This woman experienced such compassion and forgiveness of the master. Here Jesus sets himself as an example to respect the dignity of the personhood and shuns the sin. He sees the person not the sin. Hence that woman who was so frightened, timid, helpless, but after experiencing forgiveness of Jesus, picked up courage to enter into the house of a Pharisee and breaks all social taboo and anoints the feet of Jesus with the costly oil. Thus, she was liberated from the social taboo and gratefully gives to Jesus not merely the costly oil but the richness of her heart. That is the power and the generosity of a woman who was supported and accepted. Yet, there was a man who questions and doubts her act of gratitude. Here Jesus gives a clarion call telling us, what matters is the heart of gratitude. Therefore, it is not enough to study and win laurels for one’s credit but must have a large heart to love and serve.

Unfortunately the system is always a challenge, because, they are like the Statue of Liberty of America that stands for freedom, but actually was robed from Africa and gifted by France to USA. In such a world WOMEN must be like the Lotus that blooms despite dirty water. The challenge is that every woman must stand for their rights. The challenge of Jesus “to be light of the world and salt of the earth” must be made a reality. Light penetrates and conquers darkness. Salt dilutes and adds taste to the food and preserves it. In both the images there is an element of change. Everyone must be like the catalyst and agents of change. Hence, Jesus invites particularly the women to know the truth and stand for the truth and shine like the candle lit and put on the stand.     

    

Although there are struggles lurking in every corner of the society, there were women who faced difficulties and yet not succumbed. St. Mother Teresa, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Medha Patkar and all Good Mothers are outstanding examples. It is said that “if you want to protect a generation plant trees but if you want to protect thousand generations educate women.” It is very true, if the man is the head of the family, woman is the heart of the family; and we know the important role of the heart. Therefore, invariably there is a woman behind everyman’s success. From the womb to the grave...the mother is the starting point of one’s arrival. In Indian terms, woman is synonymously identified as shakti and power. They inherit such a grace that every woman is a symbol of endurance, peace, gentleness, love and patience. No wonder why mother/woman is considered as God/divine personified in human form. Every woman therefore, is intrinsically a divine extension. Why then do we talk about empowerment, emancipation or liberation of women, when they are empowerment by their very nature. In this context, feminism is not a movement fighting for the rights rather is the source of power and vision. This source must not be an agitation but is an inspiration that would bring out heroic models of women leaders in the society.      

Women are known as Aadi Shakthi; meaning they are power emanating from the divine. Therefore, they are like the lotus in the pond that blooms even in muddy water. The mud and dirt do not diminish the essence of the lotus. For, the lotus penetrates the mud and blooms. Likewise, women are immensely blessed with such charisma, potentiality and determination. As a result every good man is the fruit of every good woman who nurtured the child to man. These courage women contribute much to the nation building. For an instance, Mother Teresa the saint of the poor contributed to the least of the nation from rags to the riches. Mrs. Indhira Gandhi changed the political scenario of the nation with such power and progress. Medha Patkar committed her life to become the voice of the voice less as an NGO and a Journalist. Therefore, when we educate a woman we actually educate a generation and more. No doubt, women have an extraordinary power and responsibility in bringing up the family and the society at large.  

Today India is moving on a high pace for bullet trains, tale-communication and for Nuclear Energy. To be frank this is not the need of the hour. Instead, India must start a social revolution of respect for all. This I believe is real education, culture and civilization. However, women are the real nation builders, subtle yet profound. Yes, a woman is the heart of the nation, perhaps why our freedom fighters called our country Mother India. In India family is the best social system where a woman plays a significant role. Today India is witnessing the soft changes as women contribute in science, technology, medicine, politics, religion, education and administration. If India had such leaders like M. Gandhi, B.R Ambedkar, Tagoore and A.P.J Kalam, I believe, the credit certainly goes to their mothers, who nurtured them from cries of the cradle to the crown of glory. India had the first woman Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi and the first woman President Mrs. Pratibha Patil and today P.V. Sindu, Saina Nehwal, Mitali Raj and Deepika are new source and force of inspiration for Indian.         

It is said “where women are respected God’s make their dwelling.” In India the Earth is worship as mother, water as life and interestingly many rivers in India bare feminine names. Thus women were treated always high in Vedic and Golden Age. Unfortunately, this attitude declined during the Colonial and Moghals invasion. Thus, the need to protect women arose and today it is an urgent need like that of the freedom fight. But we must admit the fact that there are women who swam against the current and set an example for change and difference. The task of Media is to bring up such success stories of women who changed the status quo in sports, education, administration and service sectors. I am glad about the Bollywood movies of Queen, Meri Khom and MOM with a female leading role against the stereotyped stories. I wish we will have more of such courageous women stories soon. We must bring out the unsung women heroes to the front line of this male dominated territory. The truth of our nations’ economy is much contributed by the house hold savings of women in terms of wealth, gold and jewellery. Hence, it is not a surprise if we say that the Development is intrinsically linked to the empowerment and education of women. Because, they are true game changers of family, society and the nation building as power, shakti.

Let us remember the words of the St Teresa of Kolkata, “Though you think that the work that you do is just a drop in a vast ocean then remember that the ocean will be incomplete without that particular drop”.  Blessed are those women who make ripple effect in Indian sub-continent.          

  

Discernment: A Way Forward for You/th...

We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are. It is one’s attitude towards life and reality that makes the individual growing or dwindling. Today, we have examples of individuals who grew from tiny to giants and from giants to pathetic. What makes the difference is disposition/attitude/discernment. Bible is full of such examples. Young people are immensely blessed by God’s choicest blessings. Some young people become pro-active and productive in life and others become over-active and yet unproductive. The difference between the two cases is the distance and discernment. Yes the former is close to God in prayer and discernment and the latter is distanced from God and worse still no prayer and no discernment. Dear young friends in Christ, our God never abandons us; he is always there to help, provided we allow him to transform us, like the blind man who cried out “Jesus son of David have mercy on me.” Lk 18: 38.    

 

God surprises us provided we allow God to surprise us. Mary, a young Jewish girl was surprised by God’s invitation, through the angel Gabriel. She could not but believe how God surprised her. As a response, she professed her faith in God through the Magnificat, “my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.” Lk 1:47. Magnificat is the fruit of her discernment to say YES to God’s invitation. I believe she made a perfect discernment. After the election of the Pope Francis, he was asked, ‘who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?’ He was silent for a while and said “I am a Sinner.” By accepting himself as a sinner he in fact affirmed how God surprised him by electing him as the Pope. So much so that he even coined a new word from Latin root word miserando as Mercy-ing. The attitude of the Pope is certainly inspiring because, he admits himself as a sinner and trusts in the infinite mercy of Jesus Christ, who continues to surprise us, from his creation, incarnation and resurrection. I believe, Pope Francis made his discernment and accepted the invitation of Jesus to shoulder the Church in the most challenging times. Meaning to say, the effective change in life happens by spending time with the Lord allowing HIM to transform life. This is what we call Discernment. Discernment is always done in the presence of the Lord, looking at the signs listening to the things that happen, surrendering entire self before the Lord. It is not an easy task.

In discernment we do not centre our self, but Christ. Yes, Christ is the centre in our life. By centring Christ in our life, we avoid the risk of getting self absorbed and self-sufficient. Always we have got to put before us greater God. The Church exhorts us to offer the whole person and our hard work before God the universal potter. It is he who designs us and shapes our present, moulds our future and corrects our past. As a good mud, we need to dispose our entire self before the universal saviour who makes good pots out of mud. Jer 18:6. Therefore, Discernment in life is essential precisely because when we speak and express too much, we run the risk of being misunderstood or misled by our own self appealing. We can form our heart, mind and conscience only by sincere discernment; St Theresa of Avila, St Mother Theresa and St John Paul II are models before us. They did not lose the sight of Christ in life, but had Christ as the centre of their life. This requires much humility, sacrifice and courage, especially at times of humiliation and shame. At this difficult time the only way out and way forward is Prayer. In prayer and meditation one understands that it is not we choose God but it is God who is waiting to embrace and encounter, no matter what invades us down. Thus, discernment is intrinsically linked to prayer and introspection. By this practice one draws oneself to God himself. This is how God goes beyond our thinking to save us. Discernment is always a disposition by which one glorifies God’s magnanimity and gratuitousness. It is an inward attitude that drives us to be inwardly open to dialogue, to encounter and to find God. In this genuine search, one does not fear shame or defeat instead with the help of God’s grace he/she rises high above fear and shame. We have got to pray and discern for God. In prayer we enter into a dynamic of discernment that opens future before us. By this spiritual training God communicates his will through these internal movements. In this context Pope Benedict XVI is one of the best examples who heart and responded to the inner voice of God through his reflected resignation. By this he did an act of courage and humility. From where did he draw strength to make such a surprising decision? Well, the answer is prayer and discernment. It is the discernment that helped him to give way to the new leadership in the Church.

Like saints, let us discern in life through prayer and introspection by which we understand the lowliness of our self and loveliness of God. The beauty of confession makes us understand this reality of God and not the Sin but the sinner. God sees not our sin but his own Child, born in his image and likeness. Therefore, to walk like Mother Mary who said Yes to God and Mother Theresa who made her discernment well and as a result, she is called as the saint of the gutters and Pope Benedict the XVI who surprised the Church with this profound discernment and today Pope Francis who is continuing to surprise the world by his prayer and discernment in his speech and writing. In their example and inspiration let us also strive to Walk in the light of God, Build our life in Christ and Confess to Jesus the saviour of the world. This is all possible only through discernment that opens our inner eyes to God who surprises us. Rom 12:2.

In this post-modern and highly advanced culture the Church is feeling with the heart of a mother for her son or daughter. Therefore, the church decided to discuss about the young people and discernment in the 2018 synod. When the young people listen to the voice of their parents, teachers and elders for sure they will have a way forward. By this integrated way of life one shuns sinful habits and begins to grow like St Mother Theresa and St John Paul II. Thus, in light and the example of the holy family You/th begin to spread the ripples of Christian love. Therefore, Discernment is an essential element in every young and promising child of God. Thus young people grow like Child Jesus, in wisdom and stature.     

  

A Poor Teacher....

We all know a famous saying "A good teacher teaches. A better teacher exhorts and the best teacher inspires." Fortunate if you have such teachers who walk into your student life. For sure they teach, encourage and inspire you to become better and the best.
Unfortunate if you have poor and pathetic teachers who neither teach nor prepare for the class. Such teachers do come into our student life who paradoxically inspire by their despair. Strange but true. But to reach to this aptitude one requires an open mind and heart to accept the things that they cannot change but change one self instead.
However, what I want to say is that today during two hours of class we experienced such poor and pathetic performance of a professor who only talked and taught nothing. Plenty of words bla bla bla....I just had a look around the class that was packed with students but then, most of them were all like as if suffocated and some constipated and still worse few were indifferent catching the head and supporting the falling heads with their arms. Hope you the reader will never face such sad teachers who talk much and teach less. It was not a class rather a concentration camp where we were all almost suffocated by the talk, words and unwanted examples.
Dear reader in case if you are a teacher plz do your job well and teach as if teaching is your passion than profession. 

Cloth that became the Bone of Contention...

Life is thrilling when we come together and still better to work. But then you know the paradox of life is that there are always differences of opinions and view points. This is what makes life more interesting although challenging. One such moment happened yesterday and today here in the study house. Every noon all the students do some cleaning in the house. And so everyone one is on the heels working and advertising their work by noise, shouts, singing and humming. One student comes late and looks for his moping cloth and finds it missing. Then begins the show, going around hunting for the moping cloth. Looks here there and finally finds it with another student who was using the cloth not knowing  the danger of using someone's belongings. The owner comes and shouts at the other left and right and laughs and shouts and grabs the cloth and goes as if the winning warrior. But the tragedy is that he never comes on time to do his job. For sure tomorrow also he cloth will be used by someone else...for he was never on time to do the job....Thus simple, old and dirty moping cloth becomes the bone of contention almost every day....

God Particle...

Hi friendzz...

It is all about a new book that I flipped through this noon up to evening. Well something interesting is written by the author despite the God question that has been chasing the giant minds over history. Author begins introducing himself as a scientist and as an astronomer. However his Catholic faith in God was still fresh. Hence as a blend of science and faith he makes God particle rather convincing. But as Catholics, we need to be aware of certain risks that he took in the book particularly explaining God as an Energy, Intellect and Consciousness making his Love, Light and Beauty manifesting in the world. This sounds great and catholic but when he jumps over to other conclusions like God is all embracing and all accepting. Hence, as God, he cannot shun his own creation no matter what he/she does. Because there is no heaven and no hell. If so God contradicts himself; for God cannot punish his own.

However, there other interesting and significant insights that he unfolds drawing similarities from Big Bang, Evolution and Chain theories as all these were in a way progressively planned and tuned to form a new life. This he calls as God theory comprising Divine Element in every existential and physical and naturalistic activities of the world.

Let us begin to Trust God no matter what for, It is he who reveals his mysteries....May the Spirit continue to God humanity to marvel at His magnanimity and beauty of course bounty. 

Mind Mesmerizes or Messes up...!

One of the economists said that "Discovery of America and India" is the most turning points in the history of civilized economy.

Given the question what would be or what was the most fatal thing in the world? Is it the world war, is it the epidemic... 

I would say the moment we read the mind of the other. It is deadly even to think about it and how fatal it would be if others can read my mind, thoughts and intentions. If so violence will prevail over the civilization and the civilization would be left toothless, one-eyed, one-legged and one ear left for all...That is why Gandhi years ago said "If violence prevails then the society will be left only with blind people. 

How wonderful is God by making us so unique and amazing. Particularly bestowing the humanity with graces necessary for survival. Mind sens signals and thus body organs are operated and stabilized according to the stability of the environment. Perhaps why Mind is so unique that it operates the entire body. Hence, we need to develop the peace of mind. This strategy will make us live life in harmony with our neighbours and the environment. If not mind could also lead us to lunatic tendencies of obsession and imbalance of behaviors. Thus we at times loose the control of our emotions and expression which results as a Bi-polar sickness. Hence, training one's mind is a prerequisite for sound body and sound mind. Thus we lead a healthy life having a psycho-somatic balance.   

Beware of Anonymous Online Friendships...

Hiraclitas a Greek Philosopher said "World is in a state of flux". Gautama Buddha said "We are in a world of Temperance, for, nothing is permanent". Besides, Hinduism has a notion "The power of Maya/illusion." 

Today's Enadu (Telugu News Paper) covered an Issue of a young girl named Alicia a thirteen years old who spends lot of time surfing Internet. She spends time in the Social Networks chatting an unknown friend since 2003. Once he called her out and she found him fat like pig and tried to escape from him. But he caught her and took her to an unknown place, bounded her in chains and molested her for two months. He uploaded the  videos in the internet. She did not listen to her parents neither to her friends...but was an internet freak. The result of her addictions and irrationality was that she ended her life miserably. Today she is in her thirties under parents observation. What went wrong with her?????

1. Listen to Parents

2. Report to Parents about unanimous friendships

3. Do not engage in such illicit and inauthentic relationships

4. Spent time for learning and growing that use internet for entertainment lavishly

5. Parents must not provide children with all that they want than they need. 

if not things will soon be messed up even before we could realize... 

Today we are witness of all those viewpoints of the past concerning their beliefs of the time. Sadly, it is true indeed of the current times. Today anything and everything is permissible provide you are not caught. What a situation to thing. Just to mention, World of Media where Telecom Companies compete to provide Fastest Internet, Fastest Downloading, Fast Food, Things in seconds...etc.

How about your online friendships and relationships in the social networks....

bewared of fake, anonymous and inauthentic friendships 

DON’T KILL ME/US... plz

“Save wildlife, you save the planet: The importance of wildlife in the eco-system”

Earth is the common home for all of us. If we don’t take care of it, the future generation will curse us. The freedom and prosperity will be ours if development and sustainability of our planet go hand in hand. We need to take responsibility to make earth green. Therefore, UNO announced 2015 as the international year of “Green Earth.” Pope Francis in his encyclical Letter Laudato Si, says that “If we destroy creation, creation will destroy us.” He says human greed is the cause of the loss of biodiversity. By our short-sighted behavior he says “thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their existence, nor convey their message to us.” He ends saying that we have no such right to manipulate and put an end to those innocent animal world. Therefore let me give some information about how we are the cause of this environmental imbalance.    

   

1. Do not Kill Me: This is the voice of all the animals today. They are, along with mother earth groaning in pain pleading us not to kill them. But our ears are deaf and our eyes are blinded to their plea. Today for sure, hundreds of species have become extinct due to human over activities. Extinction may occur due to natural causes. However the actions of people have created a threat to the wildlife. Thus we have taken the ecosystem for granted. We are blind and deaf to the signs of the groaning mother earth. Despite the fact that the mother earth is groaning yet some people ask: “Why save endangered species? Why should we spend money and effort to conserve them?” To this question, the preamble to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 answers saying that, the endangered and threatened species are the nation’s pride as they enrich the wild life of the nation. I believe wildlife is a gift of God to the nations. (Genesis: God created them all and made Adam as the crown of creation). Unfortunately, we humans have become their predators and perpetual enemies causing them threat and uncertainty. Therefore, scientific evidence strongly indicates that the current rate of extinction is much higher than the natural due to human predators. Unfortunately they cannot speak for their survival, neither they can escape nor defend themselves. Like in the classic movie Animal Farm, if only we can hear their heart beat I am sure they are pleading us to spare their life from trade, business and killing. Let me share few alarming realities concerning the wild life due to human greed, passion, luxury, comfort and business.  

2. Stop Illegal Wild Trade

We, human predators cause wild life far more trouble than they do us. We have been invading thousands of acres of their territories and destroying their homes. Habitat destruction by human activity is mainly for the purpose of harvesting natural resources for industry production and urbanization. Clearing habitats for agriculture is the principal cause of habitat destruction and currently it ranked as the primary cause of species extinction worldwide. The consequence of this is beyond words: Once numbering in millions, the continent-wide population in Africa is now estimated to be just under 600,000 elephants. As the global demand for ivory increased in the latter part of the twentieth century, the wild herds of African elephants were being decimated at an amazing rate. Besides,

Chimpanzees are more closely related to humans than they are to gorillas. Chimpanzees and humans share 99 percent of their genetic composition; they are highly intelligent. Fewer than 250,000 chimpanzees still exist in western and central Africa. Chimpanzees now occupy only a fraction of their former territory. Chimpanzees are caught and used in circuses. Research: Chimpanzees have been used in brain and skull research and in social deprivation studies. Chimpanzees are now popular subjects for AIDS research, although their immune system does not succumb to the virus. Chimpanzees are also used in painful cancer, hepatitis and psychological tests, as well as for research into artificial insemination and birth control methods, blood diseases, organ transplants and experimental surgery. Skins: The European fashion for leopard skins may have diminished since the 1970s, but leopards are still killed for their skins. In April 2003, 109 leopard skins were seized by Nepalese police. Unfortunately, these crimes are often overlooked by the authority.

  

Zoos: It is illegal to take leopards from the wild to put in zoos. Game Hunting: For just $3400, you can track and kill a leopard on a Big Game Hunting Trip in European Safari tourism, where you are allowed to hunt and kill them. Medicine: The bones of the leopard are used in traditional Asian medicine and are sometimes prescribed as a substitute for tiger bones in the treatment of rheumatic diseases and aching joints and muscles. Ironically, the success in controlling the trade in tiger parts may actually have led to greater risk for other cats. Bears: There are eight types of bear in the world: polar bears, brown (or grizzly) bears, American black bears, Asiatic black bears, sun bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and giant panda bears. Some are on the verge of extinction, but all face threats. Circuses: Bears are still used in circuses around the world. Polar bears and brown bears are made to perform tricks like ‘dancing.’ Sharks, Seals and Dolphins are at Risk: Some dolphin species face an uncertain future. Pandas are first in the list of animals that are almost extinct. If the situation is so serious what is (my) our responsibility?  

3. What You Can Do? Yes it is high time to make space for animals and plants, trees and bushes. We need to reduce, reuse and recycle our daily use products; turn off lights, radios, TV’s, Computers when not in use. Reuse paper and plastic bags. Don’t allow water to run while you brush your teeth. Use water-saving devices in the public places. Recycle items you no longer use by donating them to charity. Plant trees, grow gardens; If possible, plant native plants instead of non-native varieties in your yard. Speak out for animals; tell everyone you know about threatened species and what they can do to make a difference in our life. Write letters and articles about endangered species to local newspapers. Do not buy bones, skulls, teeth, trophies or feathers of wild animals. If not you are encouraging wild trade. Avoid drawing pleasure by hunting and killing wild animals as a sport. Do not poison the rivers, lakes for fishing illegally. Do not engage in keeping wild animals as pets. Avoid buying products made out of animal skins and organs.  

In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught. Bring a friend to a wildlife Center and learn more about wild life conservation. Thus we can create awareness and make people knowledgeable about the burning issue. She needs to be cared and protected if not sooner or later all of us have to pay the price for our negligence. Hence, we should take extra steps to save our mother earth, save the animals wild and mild. For they keep the environment balanced and sustain global atmosphere. There is not much time, for the earth and nature are already fragile and we need to act immediately. It is time for the authorities and government officials and educational institutes and media management to make the issue their object of discussion and communication. Let us all one in spirit act for a common mission, to save our mother earth. The words of late pop singer Michael Jackson “Make it a better place for you and for me and for the entire world,” become a reality. For this we need to invest our hands, minds and wills to act, to speak for the animal world. Thus we fight against the illegal trade by which we become the agents of change in the society. Thus we make people aware of how important the wildlife in the eco-system is. Thus they too find a home to live safe and sound. For earth is not the monopoly of the humankind, instead we along with our animal world co-exist and co-habit in our common home Mother Earth.                                                           Br Naresh Neelam   

Better than the Birthday...

      Many great people are born and died. Few are forgotten and few are remembered and few are living as legends. This reminds us that life is all about relationship and memory. When living people are forgotten they are almost dead and when dead people are still remembered they still living. 

       It is wonderful to think about one's date of birth. It is still wonderful to think of friend's birthday. That is why many friends of us time and again remind us about the upcoming birthday. They love us more than the birthday itself, however there are moments when we feel how some friends who sincerely care us. It is all the more wonderful to think of such God-given friendz. They make not the birthday special but our life special. I thank God for such friends who walk into my life and make life splendid indeed. 

Address to Fr P.V. JOSEPH (Director of DBCIC)

“It is not how long we lived but how well we did” says Martin Luther King the Junior. Of late the Provincial of Shillong Province said that the contribution of Fr P.V to bring up the DBCIC is beyond words. Therefore, with a heart of appreciation and hope of admiration we offer him a token of gratitude on behalf of the SHTC family. Because what he has achieved as DBCIC director is great indeed.             

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37.  When God is with us, be sure, we are destined to do great things; beyond the borders and across the rivers. This is exactly what Fr P.V has achieved in last seventeen years. “Great things happen when God mixes with us, great and beautiful, wonderful things...great things happen when God mixes with us.” As we think of Fr P.V. this is exactly the hymn that flashes through my mind at the moment.    

  

He loves green, prefers green and goes green. Perhaps that is why, he is ever green with an enchanting smile on his face. Thus he invites good will peace with his smile no matter who meets him or whom he meets; for sure they leave him with a smile on their face. That is why Fr P. V is ever green among the leaders of the Church and the State alike.          

Remando Panikkar a Christian philosopher said this about Missionaries, “We are sitting on the shoulders of the giants.” It is true that what Fr P.V has done to develop the DBCIC, from a seedling to a mighty and giant tree. It is an outstanding example of the Christian Mission and Witness. Don Bosco Museum is a window to the North East mosaic of cultures. It is now reaping fruits hundred fold, drawing numerous visitors from all over the world. Thus you made DBCIC as a light house of North East India. As a hub of knowledge and a treasure house of cultural heritage DBCIC is waving the flag of Christian Mission as high as the Sky walk and higher. As an instrument of God you transformed the Museum into a Neo-Museo-Evangelical Centre that radiates God’s love creatively and innovatively. It definitely entails a lot of planning, hard work, conceptualising and above all remarkable vision and dedication. Thus you raised the tent of DBCIC to International Standards.   

  

“We dont’s see things as they are. We see things as we are.” Hence, there is no doubt to say that DBCIC, is a perfect reflection of the mind and the vision of the Director. As a true son of Don Boco you have achieved a herculean task. In the Community you went about as a good friend of all. Your deep thoughts and reflections are no less than our class room lesions. Through good night talks, you inspired us to work professionally; through homilies you enlightened us to focus on God alone; as a dear Friend you have left a rich legacy, touching our lives with your gentle smiles coupled with wit and wisdom. If Don Bosco were to be here, I am sure he would be the happiest person to see DBCIC and he would have invited you to Rome to Build another Museum over there.              

“The glory of God is man/woman who is fully alive” says St Iraneus. Dear Fr P.V in all that you did, you did for the glory of God. Hence we thank you for teaching us that ‘holiness simply means to do one’s duties well.’ It is our joy to assure you of our prayers. We offer you over best wishes for your new ministry.  May God add more life to your days and more days to your life, to continue to Glorify Him in all that you do. It is not how much we do rather how much love we put into what we do.        

   

Thank You once again...

Keep Smiling...

  SHTC Family

Mawlai 

Class Room Comic...

Today we had a Seminar Class on the Letter to the Collossians. One of the students was presenting his paper, the class was rather serious. After the presentation of the theme there was time for discussion, debate and clarification. The class was rather hot and debatable. Many students questioned the person concerned and clarified a lot of doubts. As usual there were a couple of students who acted smart and kept quite and looked wise. Noticing this the teacher asked them if any question two can ask. One of them raised voice and dared to ask. Other students were lost as if another serious doubt would be asked. But to our surprise that so called smart student said, "a small correction, that there are two capital letters in word. It is good if there is only one capital letter." I could bot but laugh hearing this mystical doubt or a question....difficult to term. But to my surprise the other students were equally in the clouds lost in the heat of the day. After the class, I pointed out the Joke of the Day...Then everyone in the class began show their teeth....smiling and giggling as if there were hearing for the first time....

Hoping to see such comic in the coming classes.....

OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF HISTORY...

Introduction 

God is the power and wisdom manifested in the human history and the world created. Thus God is revealed in the salvation history significantly by the prophets and through the prophets. This wisdom and the power is understood and comprehended by the human beings in the given situation. Thus God has plan for human beings even before we were born. The purpose behind this plan and power is that we find his plan and obey his will. Perhaps this is what we call discovering the divine vocation. God’s love and message for us humans is that he never abandons us despite human predicament. This is called in Latin Mysterium Iniquitas meaning the mystery of evil. In this context freedom is God’s choicest blessing to us by which we have the capacity to transcend that evil by God’s grace, help and mercy. Thus God’s presence is pervading everywhere in the form of wisdom, power and love. Thus one of the patriarchal promises of Yahweh is still continuing up to date.

Here we need to remember that despite God’s forewarnings through the prophets and by the scriptures yet human weakness and rebellion against God is not changed. Although the prophets prophesied the truth and the message of God but the human seed did not heed to them. Thus the sin of first Adam still bears false fruit in us. But God did not want his creation to dissuade from him therefore he sent his only son to restore the relationship that was disconnected by the sin of human beings. Humanity although was unfaithful to Yahweh like Gomer to Hosea the prophet yet God did not lose his patience with us. God’s love therefore compels us to love him and serve him no matter sickness or death strike us. His conditional love will never dissert us for, he accepts us despite our fall provided we turn our hearts to him in contrition and sincerity. Thus our pardon precedes confession. Because God’s justice and judgement is always to bring us/Isreal back to himself. In this context God does not ask accounts of our fall instead his love and mercy will embrace us and turn our hearts unto him alone. Our soul longs only for him and for him alone. God’s unconditional love has certainly has an impact on us. Thus his love compels us and instils in us the growth in us from within. 

Wisdom Manifested

God is wisdom manifested and power acted in every moving object of this world. However here in greek Sophia, Latin Sapinta and Hebrew Hakme means wisdom. Prophets also address God has wisdom and the power. Here let us delve over this theme having a reference from Ole Testament and the prophets understanding of God/Yahweh.

Old Testament gives us references to prophets or men of God who addressed a word from Yahweh to the people of their day, often to men of importance like kings. Despite Baal’s prophets who served a false religion (1 Kings 18:19). But Yahweh’s prophets were quite specifically the spokesmen of Yahweh to his people.[1] These prophets have functioned as intercessors, teaching and they considered it as a divine vocation as they mainly addressed people in terms of salvation and judgement while challenging the authority and admonishing and instruction the people of God.[2]

It was against the background of a long prophetic tradition that Jeremiah[3] was called to preach. Like his predecessors he had a profound sense of divine vocation, of being called even before his birth. He felt the divine hand upon his life knew that the divine word had been placed in his mouth. When he spoke he could say, “This is what Yahweh has said,” or he even spoke in Yahweh’s name using the first person “I”. He was deeply aware of the demands of the covenant and the dangers that lay in the breach of covenant law. For him there was no God but Yahweh. Any kind of syncretism was intolerable and fraught with great peril, the peril of divine judgement. He rejected every glib attitude, every wanton disregard of the divine law, every false and immoral trust in a cult or a temple (7: 1-15; 25: 1-29). He took up much of symbolism of Hosea.[4]

The prophets were not merely religious teachers or philosophers in the abstract, but saw themselves as the messengers of God commissioned to convey to the people of their own day the world that God had given them. They had a specific message to a specific people at a specific point in history. It was a message which would interpret the events through which their people were passing, or would pass, in the light of the demands and promises which God had given to their people. Clearly the dimension of a prophet’s ministry cannot be understood unless the historical background of his times is known.

The book of Jeremiah makes contact with historical events at many points. In many cases precise dates and otherwise known events are referred to. It was Jeremiah’s responsibility to proclaim a message about nations and kingdoms, “to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (1:10). It was an age of crises. At the collapse of Assyria Egypt, and then Babylon, the kingdom of the Medes stood waiting to pick the spoils of war.

Divine Judgement upon Judah and Jerusalem

In chapter one Jeremiah was called and commissioned to preach to rebellious Judah. 2 opens with Jeremiah’s preaching in Jerusalem in response to the divine call. The whole chapter is a powerful indictment of the nation’s rebellion, delivered with some passion. Holy men of god spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.[5] Therefore, the vivid expression cry in the ears of Jerusalem is not unknown elsewhere in Jeremiah and in the OT. It was Yahweh’s intention that his word should be heard, for there had developed a sad contrast between what had obtained long ago, in the days of Israel’s first....

The mind of Yahweh went back in memory to the days of Israel’s youth when she first entered into a covenant with him. He intended that Israel too remember (zakar). Her great religious festivals, Passover, the feasts of the Tabernacles and First fruits, etc., were designed to keep alive the memory. Many of her cult celebrations were centered around the recollection of the mighty acts of Yahweh on her behalf and of the covenant into which she had entered and the salvation she enjoyed. In the present context Yahweh recalled the loyalty (unfailing devotion, hesed) of Israel in her honeymoon period in the desert following upon her acceptance of his covenant. The Hebrew word hesed has a rich connotation in the OT and is used in reference both to God and to man. It describes the manner of response to a covenantal relationship which goes beyond mere legal requirements. It is a particularly powerful term in reference to the hesed of Yahweh which can overlap Israel’s gross neglect of the covenant, love them despite everything, and plan for their restoration to fellowship with himself. (kononia). His hesed surpasses immeasurably any quality of hesed shown by a man to Yahweh, or one man to another, although at high points to which hesed will reach.

The wicked neighbours would include all those who at some time spoiled the land that Yahweh had given to his people. Among these were the Egyptians, Assyrians, Edomites, Moabites, Amorites, Arameans and Babylonians.[6] 

The Linen Waistcloth: A Symbolic Act (13: 1-11)

The rejection of Yahweh’s sovereignty whether by Israel or by any other nation could only end in disaster. Not even the Israel the beloved, could escape that possibility.

The Parable of the Wine Jars (13: 12-14)

And you will repeat this saying to the: “This is the word of Yahweh the God of Israel. Every wine jar is to be filled with wine.” They will reply to you, Don’t we know quite well that every wine jar should be filled with wine!”[7]

Laments in a time of drought and national defeat (14:1-15:9) and the Divine response in a time of drought. “your words were found, and I ate them.” (15: 16) Founding of the book of the Law in the temple 2 kin 22: 8, 13; 23: 3).

Importance:

The judgement of God for Judah’s and Israel’s apostasy, the depiction of the people suing the image of an unfaithful over and bride, the unwillingness of the people to be corrected, the endemic presence of lying in every aspect of the people’s lives,  and the terrible devastation of the military defeat that lies ahead. The prophet calls the people to repent and to amend their ways, a dimension of his his preaching that falls away. The sin of the people exists not only in their worship but also in their social life and their relationships with one another.

1:4-10: The call begins with the revelation, or reception of the divine word. We see divine initiative (Moses for example encounters the burning bush without being consumed and is told that he is on holy ground as the Lord speaks to Him, calling him to leadership of the people (ex 3:1-6)

The angel of the Lord comes to Gideon while he is in the field beation wheat (Judges 6:11-12)

Isaiah has an overwhelming vision of the Lord enthroned on high in the midst of the heavenly assembly (Is: 6:1-5)

The appearance of the Lord to Ezekiel, calling him to bear the prophetic word, is so powerful and complex that it takes whole chapter. For Jeremiah, the visionary dimension of the call comes at the end and does not involve a revelation of the deity’s presence. “The word of the Lord come to me” repeats and thus echoes the superscription.

 The language about Yahweh had to shift often in order to accommodate continuity of faith in a God who remained faithful. We can thus peak of Yahweh as kinsman, overlord, spouse, king, warrior, international ruler, farmer, father and mother.

 There are some images which bear up through many changes. One might point to Yahweh as warrior. This is not a very popular image of the ancient Israelites much of their hope for the future was grounded in their experience of God as warrior, who continues to lead the battle against the forces of uncreation, chaos and injustice. Being a God who fights for his people against others, Yahweh at times declares war on Israel who has spurred the covenant obligations. But god will also lead Israel in to the battle of the eschatological times.

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[1] The etymology of the noun nabi, prophet and the verb hitnabbe, “to prophesy,” is not certain. Many have argued for a connection with Akk. Nabu. To call, announce,” and think of the noun as active, “caller, announcer,” or passive, “one who is called,”.

[2] For example we have Nathan who rebuked David (2 Sam 12: 1-14), (Elijah challenged Ahab time and again and Elisha and his associates were implicated in the Juhu revolution (2 Kings 9-10) and Ahijah was outraged by Solomon’s tyrannical practices and religious laxity and announced to Jeroboam the destruction of his kingdom. (1 K. 11:26-40).

[3] The date of Jeremiah’s birth and hence the date at which his ministry began is disputed, but most scholars accept 627 B.C. as the date when he commenced his ministry. 

[4] He (Hosea) depicted the relationship between Yahweh and Israel as a marriage relationship (2:2; 3:6-14) and called Yahweh’s sons (3: 19; 22; 4: 22)). Like Hosea he traced this relationship back to the Exodus and the deliverance from Egypt (2:6); and he limited the period of unclouded fellowship between Israel and Yahweh to the days of Moses and the desert period (7:22). 

[5] 2 pet 1: 21.

[6] Page 360.

[7] 366.

"Death Rather than Sin..."St Dominic Savio

He was committed to his motto “Death Rather than Sin” and made a pledge of faith “Jesus and Mary shall be my friends.” In this light of faith and grace he was guided by Don Bosco another spiritual giant of the times. Thus Dominic Savio proved the world that sanctity is not monopoly of the sages and monks. Sanctity and holiness can be achieved by anybody provided we are guided by the Holy Spirit and assisted by the enlightened elders. Be it teenagers, youngsters or children all can reach to the heights of holiness and sanctity, for which Dominic Savio is a perfect example of such holy living.  

Dominic Savio, a 14 year old lad manifested holiness in his short span of life. All his virtuous life is rooted in his upbringing in a devout family. In such conducive family atmosphere and accompanied by devout parents - the result of this holy family is a saint among us today. He was brought up in a Family that was cradle of love and charity. He was abundantly blessed to live among the Parents who feared God and the family that trusted God’s providential care and the atmosphere where God’s love pervaded. Thus his parents left a lasting legacy of virtues in his childhood and later in the Oratory he was astounded by the holiness of Don Bosco. Thus from being sown in a fertile soil of a devout family, sprouted in the Oratory of Don Bosco and today he is bearing fruit in the Garden of the Mother Church as a saint leaving a legacy of “Death Rather than sin” and the pledge that “Jesus and Mary shall be my friends.”

He is an example of young people, how even amidst social problems, poverty stricken family and a humble background yet one can change one’s life and transform into sainthood. Such was holiness; he fainted when he heard bad words and departed from evil and embraced penance and thus he liked to mortify himself to be holy. But then by the providence of he entered Oratory of Don Bsco where he was told that “Don Bosco was a tailor who makes garments for God in a unique way. Perhaps that was the moment when the two saints had encounter with each other and began to appreciate and admire mutually. Don Bosco knew that Dominic Savio was a treasure and so he guided him with a new method of sanctity i.e., doing small things in a big way. Thus Dominic Savio learnt to do small things in an extraordinary way marking cheerfulness in all that he did. Thus the cheerfulness as an eleventh commandment of the Salesians became popular.

Dominic Savio hence was an example of Don Bosco’s mind. He in a way personified the holiness of Don Bosco himself who tailored him and made a beautiful garment for God. Don Bocso became a channel and an instrument in making a young lad into a saint.

For the youth of today who are prone to every form of evil in the society in the form of drugs, alcoholism, peer-pressure and discouragement and failure in life etc., Dominic Savio is an example to imitate and learn from him to face life believing in God’s grace and will despite, sickness, failure, poverty and misunderstanding. Above all we imitate his methods of friendship with God, willingness to obey God’s will and openness to spiritual direction which were the guiding steps that led him to the road of sainthood.   

Hial St DOMINIC SAVIO...& hail St JOHNY BOSCO...

You did small things cheerfully in an extraordinary way...

SALT OF THE EARTH AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD:Matthew 5: 13-16

 Down the history we heard about many ideologies, theories, philosophies and religious traditions but no one has ever claimed as “the way, the truth and the Life,” (John 14:6) except Jesus Christ, the living God, who said “Whoever finds their life will lose and whoever loses it for my sake will find it,” (Matthew 10:39) for “I have come to give you life and life in all its fullness” (John 10”10). Therefore, he is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).   

In life, there are certain essentials that guide us and lead us to the Father in Heaven. Hence, Jesus begins his public ministry with Beatitudes (Sermon on Mount) which are the measure of our earthly life. By these beatitudes Jesus once again sets the importance of the Ten Commandments that were given by God the Father. By this teaching and preaching he sets the tone for us to live to the full.  

However, there are many young people today, who live life anyhow and somehow as if there is no God. This in fact is a common phenomenon in today’s trend setting societies; where identity is in a flux, character is of a person is least bothered and values are devalued due to pop-culture, techno-culture and mob-mindset. Unfortunately such attitudes are growing in number. As a result of this young people end up miserably in life. Thus they lead a wrong path and lose the salt and the light of their life and end up in dissipation and disappointment and make their life a mess. Such individuals seek signs and miracles to come to God or to believe in God. Since, God is given least priority in life, the devil takes refuge in such hearts and minds. They lose the vigour of their life and become victims of every evil force and get addicted to evil habits, for there is no place for God in such lives. 

On the contrary, we have saints who believed God as their way, truth and life. St Alphonsa, St Mother Teresa, St John Paul II and Bl. Rani Maria stand tall as icons of inspiration and perspiration to be the light and to bear the light. Even in the midst of trails and temptations, they believed and relied on God’s grace. That was an act of their faith in God who never abandoned them. For, ‘He loved them (us) with an everlasting love.’ They lived their life as salt of the earth and light of the world despite trials and tribulations in life. 

Jesus after preaching the beatitudes he told them the parable of the Salt and Light. We know how useful salt and light are. Like the salt and light we all have a vocation for the world. If salt be insipid: i.e, useless. Strictly speaking, salt cannot lose its flavour and remain salt, but it can become unclean and need to be thrown out. Salt is both a spice and a preservative. Pure salt by its very nature does not lose its taste, but salt that is impure can lose its saltiness and consequently have no value whatever. So when disciples are told “you are the salt of the earth” they are to be that permanent living people of the covenant who would draw other people into a relationship with God. Jesus by saying you are ‘the salt of the earth and light of the world,’ he acknowledged their vocation that disposes them to lead oneself to God and thus become the channels of God’s love and mercy to others. Like Peter and Paul having been strengthened in Christ to strengthen my brothers and sister in Christ alone (young people). Thus we live the words of St Iraneus “Man/woman who is fully alive is the glory of God.”

    

In the Old Testament light imagery is applied to God who led Israel out of Egyptian by day as pillar of cloud and by night as pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21). In the New Testament it is applied to Jesus as light who guides our feet into peace and gives life in our darkness (Luke 1:79, Eph 5: 8). Therefore, Jesus the true light invites his disciples to be like a city set on a mountain (Jerusalem) to stand steadfast in the world mission. Just like the candle that consumes itself but gives light for others, so too the true disciples live life not for themselves but for others. (Cor 4:7). Thus we let our light shine to all who are at our service.  

St John Paul II says that “Humanity is a bridge to Christ’s divinity.” Being human is the only we to reach God in maturity of heart and mind. Hence, human formation is a matured way to express authentic love for God and neighbor. Therefore, each one of us is blessed with numerous gifts, talents, abilities and strengths to grow in Christ’s humanity (he was a good teacher, carpenter, good shepherd and a good friend of all children and young people of his times. The Bible says that “as a boy he grew in wisdom and age.” Thus boy Jesus grew as a matured man and succeeded Joseph his foster father to support the family as the bread winner. Jesus lived his life as the salt of the earth light of the world and manifested God’s love. He was at his best in everything that he did for mission. Thus Jesus himself sets a new platform for us to be the best at every activity be it, work, study, music, dance, sports etc. The challenge before us is to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. In this way we give glory to the heavenly Father. Thus in our new life of being salt of the earth and light of the world we manifest God’s glory to the world. That is why Jesus addressed God as the Father who is the source of all our life, energy and good will. Our life flows from God’s immense goodness and love. And we know the saying love begets love. Therefore, being rooted in God we bear God’s love as fruits from our labor. Jesus is one example par excellence who manifested God’s love and life. 

Did any one of us hear someone gifted to bring the dead to life? No.

Did any one of us hear that someone who says that he/she gives life for you? No.

Did any one of us hear that someone who said that I am the way to the Father? No.

Did any one of us come back to life after death and lived for 40 days and said that, he will come again to save us?

And who said I AM THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD?