LIFE; RELATIONSHIPS

Today life is on the rat race. What I mean by saying this is very simple. Life is noting but of relationship. This presupposes that life is all about relationships. That's might be the reasons why Philosophers have that we are social animals.What ever be the reason in our relationships there are three levels. Relationship with oneself (intra), relationship with the other (inter) and relationship with God (spiritual). So, now we know that life is not a single commodity but a series of relationships. Primarily of all these three, Intra relationship is primordial. Because this is where one is in touch with oneself. In this process one comes to know the depth of person hood. In this process of knowing one's relationship with oneself, one also comes to about the quality and quantity of his/her contribution to the other.

One can give something to the other only if one has something inside. For example, I can only what I have, either ignorance or wisdom. If I have ignorance I share ignorance, if I have wisdom I share wisdom. 
So, it is always an ideal thought that one require to build up not only external personality also internal depth and integrity of character and person hood.

Path Breaking Problems

            Dear Friendz, I am staying in Hyderabad during this summer 2012-2013 for my holidayz. Over here I got an opportunity to address young people of our Campus and around. Well they are about 35 of them, of which the boys were in minority. I just wish to pen down the sum and substance of my interaction with those youngsters.

            It is always interesting to have an interaction with the young people of current generation. One of the reasons could be their multiple dimension of mindset and varied interests of habits and what not. Therefore without much thinking I  agreed to interact with them.

            Today, young  people are in a way like moving machines and magics. Because they think that they can move all, on speed and instant. As a result they also wish and desire to have things immediately and move things instantly. This tells us that they (youngsters) have no time to waste in thinking and reflecting. We can see this mindset even in the market terminology 'Instant Coffee',  'Fast Foods', 'Fast Track' and etc. 

            I am reminded of the person who goes to the church for a favor from God. He asks God, "Dear please give me the gift of patience but immediately." This exactly the attitude to the current generation. May be may not be.  But what is my concern is to make the (youth) to  think about what they are thinking about their attitude. So, we must focus on our attitude and mind set in all our decisions and the circumstances. If not we may also end up our life just like the person  who asked God for the gift of patience but on condition of immediacy.

The Secret Word of FR. AURELIUS MASCHIO

Aurelius Maschio was born on 12^th February 1909, in the village of Vazzola in Italy. His father Giuseppe was a firm, hardworking and kind business man who was noted for his devotion for God. Aurelius’ mother Orsolina Dalla Cia was known for her prudence and qualities of heart. She attended to all her children’s needs with utmost love, of which Aurelius was the sixth of the twelve. Thus with her nature and grace she won the affection and friendship of the other mothers around the village. In spite of a big family, twelve children, nine brothers and three sisters they were yet a happy family. That highlights the saying ‘a family that prays together lives together.’

Once his elementary school master said: “He is an intelligent and diligent student endowed with strong good will.” So, his parents chose Genoa, a long way from home, about two hundred miles over the plains of Lombardy to reach the Salesian school at Sampierdarena. There came a time where he revealed to his parents about his desire to become a priest, to which his parents gave a smile and agreed to join him to a minor seminary. Then before joining in the Apostolic School at Penango in Piedmont, he got clarity about God’s call and told his parents about it. His parents supported him saying ‘If God calls; we cannot but say ‘yes.’’ On 5^th October, 1924 at a grand and moving ceremony in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, he received the missionary Cross along with other 18 Salesians as missionaries.

It was on 17^th November, 1924 that he first stepped into Indian sub continent where God would work wonders through him. He was sent to North-East India. What a change from sunny Italy, the land of olives trees and wine to the humid and green plains of Assam known for its forests and wild life. Yet the energetic youngster was a hero of the context with his passion for Christ; professed in Shillong on Christmas night 1925. On completion of his philosophical studies in Shillong he worked at St. Anthony’s High School as a teacher. After which it seemed as if heaven was in a great hurry to make him a priest, so after completing his hard study from 1930–1933 by kerosene and candle light, at the age of twenty four, the most joyous day of his life dawned. It was on 29^th April 1933 he was ordained as a priest by Mgr. Perrier, Archbishop of Calcutta. Then he was assigned as an assistant parish priest to Fr. Mlekus at Cherrapunjee for six months. His pastoral love, commitment and dedication found no barriers, neither of language nor of culture and habits of people. What a thrill he must have had being an Italian, in learning and writing Khasi. He made used the language of the locality to enter into the lives of the poor. To his credit he mastered the language so well that he wrote two books in Khasi of which, the Government of Assam used as the text books for the Khasi Schools.

This speaks how much was rooted in Assam, mastered language, culture and habits. Suddenly when he received his new assignment to leave for Bombay he felt as if he was being uprooted from the North East India. It was like a thunderbolt not only in his heart but also in the hearts of the people whom he administered tirelessly with the pastoral love of the Good Shepherd. However, he took it up with complete trust in God and obediently moved to Bombay as his new mission field. It was in 1936 at the age of twenty seven, still in the freshness of his youth, he reached Bombay with a spontaneous smile on his lips, hoping for the best to come. His openness to learn another culture and another language was something to be appreciated. This was how he transformed the practical challenges into profound opportunities to draw more people to God.

As soon as Fr Maschio arrived in Bombay he resolved that the number increase ten times over, where he was assigned to care 500 boys at Don Bosco School at Tardeo. There he started putting into action some ambitious plans and began looking for a dream-plot for his dream-school to another hired bungalow at Cumballa Hill. In 1939 he acquired a plot for a school at Matunga which was a muddy mosquito-infested piece of land in the middle of nowhere. At that time there were many comments, one of many was “Could he not find a better place?” Who knows what might come, for, God’s ways are not our ways. Don Bosco High School today is considered a ‘premier’ institution thanks to his vision. All these will solemnly proclaim that he was a man of great vision. He opened a Technical Institute of St Joseph’s which today houses the prestigious BIT (Bosco Institute of Technology.) Then for orphans and boys from unstable homes, he opened Dominic Savio Boys Home at Andheri…and many other institutions in and around the city.

Here a building was completed but elsewhere a foundation had already been laid shows that the cement never dried upon his ongoing visions. Yet, it was not a multiplicity of schools but a mosaic of institutions tailored to suit the needs of the youth. To make the youth good Christians and honest citizens he opened an orphanage, a seminary, a technical workshop. Today, for instance, at the headquarters at Matunga, Mumbai, there is a Skills Training Centre that equips young, bright and less fortunate youngsters from the bastis–slums around, to improve their communication skills, with the basics of conversational English and a smattering of computers to work and live well in the society. It was the city of Bombay that was destined to witness be the magic of touch of Fr. Maschio while he transformed a barren muddy wasteland into the imposing complex of buildings that is today Don Bosco High School, Matunga, Provincial Headquarters, Shrine office and the grand richly-decorated shrine in honour of Mary Help of Christians and the vast playgrounds. Through his monthly “Don Bosco’s Madonna”, eagerly awaited in thousands of homes, he still continues to bring the message of Christ, the example of His Blessed Mother and the teachings of the Saints to innumerable souls all over the country and abroad. He had a great heart for the poor and the deprived of society while he used to provide food for hundreds of poor people. Even today this yeoman service is continued giving bread and alms to the in the poor in the surroundings of the shrine.

Every magician has a secret word, a word from which one would obtain strength. It was the same with Fr. Maschio who had been reputed to have had the golden touch that came from his secret word. He kept it in his heart, loved it and cherished it from the days of his youth, throughout his life in India. The magic word that kept Fr Maschio was the dearest prayer of our Father and Founder St John Bosco that echoes everyday in the heart of every Salesian as “MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS.” This word was his key strength to accomplish all his efforts and endeavors as a dynamic Salesian, visionary and a Pioneer. He is exceptionally an icon of inspiration for all of us as we aspire to imitate the same charism of Don Bosco.  

WHY EVER SEXUAL ASSAULTS & VIOLENCE?

Before I begin to write my reflections I wish to share about how I spent time struggling to frame the title. Sincerely speaking, there were many thoughts going crossing my mind, for example, off late sex in the nation, values taken for granted, Sex violence in India and etc. What I want to tell you is that, the sex violence has become so common that, any title is accepted for the issue to speak on the indecent situation widely prevalent in the country. Especially those are hidden under the carpet.  

Today sex is a well known phenomenon in the society and much more about the current generation. Why all this? However I wish to leave this to your reflection. But I want to bring to your notice something which is shocking indeed. If I ask someone about Indian culture and tradition and value system I am dam sure that the entire nation will roar saying India as the hub of cultures and values. Yes it is all true only in the history of the country, in the books and religions. It is all an external show of which we speak great values. Internally at praxis level it is all a great question mark. This reminds me of the Pharisees and seduces about whom Christ spoke as white washed tombs.

I feel the same with our Indian cultures and tradition in which the vice lies underneath. For example, Indian movies especially, the value systems, culture, comedy and violence projected by the Bollywood, Tollywood, and Kollywood have to be blamed for what is happening in the country today. Some Indian movies like, Dirty Picture, Agneepath, Daisy Boys, Thupaki, 22 Female Kottyam, Magadheera and Chatrapati etc. I am sure all these Indian moves irrespective of their region, language, culture and customs have projected a lot of violence, sensation, doubt and immoral values into the minds of the youth and the people. The fights, item songs, lyrics, songs, rape scenes and scenes showing man power, women’s weakness and as attractive, are to be questioned about the intentions that filmmakers, producers and the sponsors have in mind. Do they concern about the youth, children, young men and the students who can very easily carried away by them. I think in the stories that are of stereotype are mostly projecting immorality, vice and what not. I cannot but feel sorry for what is happening. I feel like doing something for the people who are ill treated, deprived and plundered by the strong. Why this? Why this? Whom to blame? Whom to ask?

I think in this regard we need to conscientize the people about the dignity of their life as humans. Because this is the need of the hour in India where women are treated not as co traveller but as an object, as a thing, as a product to be consumed and used. This is very clear when the girl child is not accepted as grace to the family. Girls are not treated equally, in the family father beating the mother, daughters are deprived of the privileges, benefits and education, uncles and nephews abusing the kith and kin. Therefore, we need to question our frame of mind, our mind set, and our belief systems and value system that our mother land stands as an icon to the world at large. Shall we contribute to the growth of the humanity or shall we crucify the women with our muscular power and strength? There are people who are like wolfs in the human skin. Values are at the bottom of everything we do. They determine a lot of what we attempt and accomplish in our lives.

If we give weight and importance to something we will give it time and energy. But can values really be taught, or are they passed on from one generation to another through inspiration and perspiration! Yes I would say. In today’s context this is what missing as the tech and science are advancing with surprise and innovation. As a result we are carried away by the virtual world than our real world. Because of which relationships, friendships, families and life have become suspicious about each other.  

Mystery / Myth of CHRISTMAS?

On the Fourth Advent Sunday, Fr Tony (the Confessor) celebrated the mass in the Parish. During the Homily he told us about the celebrations of Christmas from a different perspective. I personally liked the way the homily was put across to us, and so I feel like sharing it. Christmas celebration has been changing from time to time and from generation to generation.

Christmas is the feast for the entire humanity. It is the feast where God himself chose to be born as human to redeem the humanity. So it has been our great joy to celebrate the feast in great pomp and sound. Unfortunately this celebration has become today as merely a commercial event and a date to get together and to make merry. As a result the baby Jesus is given less priority and much less about our personal reflection on life.  

Gradually we have lost the mystery of Christmas where God becoming man and we only preoccupied with the myth of the Christmas. Well, what is this myth of Christmas? A good question to be asked. It is all about our concern about the events and things of Christmas. Especially of St Nicholas (Santa clause), crib, cards, cakes, clothes, carols and etc. Thus, we have made the Christmas celebration as if it is only of external preparation. Thus we are not preparing our hearts for the baby Jesus to enter into our hearts. In stead we are carried away by the myth of Christmas saying no to baby Jesus to enter into our hearts. This reflects the words of those inn keepers who told Joseph ‘There is no place in the inn.’

So les us think about the mystery of Christmas (incarnation) and celebrate Christmas accompanied by the myth of Christmas. Thus we make our Christmas more meaningful saying Come Lord Jesus and Dwell in my Heart.

Conditions of Prayer

We all know that prayer is an essential aspect in Life. Prayer is in a way very much part of our life. This is the same case in the life of Mother Mary, who in spite of the danger yet she completely trusted God and kept all her faith in God. She will teach us that Humility is the condition of Prayer. In all her humility she accepted the will of God not just blindly but trusting the grace and mercy of God.




Can we think of the condition of Prayer? I would say 'Yes' like MARY to God.

Prayer without feeling is mere impression and pleasing

Prayer without humility is pretense

Prayer without forgiveness is a show

Humbly acceptance of correction is a prayer.
When you are sensitive to the needs of the other is a prayer
To be humane (thank you, please and sorry) is an attitude of prayer.
Prayer need not always be of ceremonies and loud utterance of prayer
But, Prayer is about meaning and feeling for the other.

Mary the Crux of Covenant

The world today is in deep turmoil due to the communal violence and many other social and ethical ills. Today the human being in the world is preoccupied with the rat race of power, prestige and possession. As a result societies and states are losing the sense of values, morality and God. Thus, God has become a rare phenomenon in life, reduced to a concept in the modern and technological world. God is a concept, thought of only in times of need, danger, ill health, favors, jobs and rituals. Otherwise God is kept in the back seat as if he is a stranger to life. 

And to add fuel to the fire and to make things worse, the technology, scientism, new age thinkers, materialism, consumerism, individualism have crept into societies crumpling down the edifices of human values, social relations and the dignity of the families. This is seen very much when the youth and the students isolate themselves while using the latest technologies and social networks. It is no wonder that relationships have become very suspicious and inauthentic. Some so to the extent of making their identity with fake identities and some are threatened to reveal their real identity presuming danger. We can see this drastic change in societies as people are going away from Mandirs to Malls, Families to Restaurants, Class Rooms to Cafes, Priests to Celebrities, Masjid to Markets and Temples to trade  centers, etc. Therefore, the words of Kant are very true “the shallowness of the present age and of the decay of profound science; the doubt, security, indifference and criticism are the thoughts of this age. To this age of criticism everything is subjected, the sacredness of religion and authority of legislation become the subjects of suspicion.”

Today life in the cities, the sky scrapers, posh hotels like, esteemed restaurants, Glittering theatres, spacious Malls and luxurious mansions etc. are the common residence of the rich. The poor people are compartmentalized to the railway tracks, railway stations, fly-overs, road dividers, temples, slums and to the streets. All this reflects how God, Religion and values are eclipsed by the Google world as they have become irrelevant, insipid and dull to modern people. Therefore, at this crucial time the apostolic letter of the Holy Father Porta Fidei insists that the world is drastically in need of people of faith and witnesses who are enlightened in mind and heart by the word of God.  

Down the history we see philosophy at three levels: Egoistic Philosophy, Covenantal Philosophy (Catholics) and Anonymous Philosophy. All these philosophical quarries tried their best to explain what exactly the truth is. Western philosophy was more of egological, where ‘I think: I am and I think it is.’ The world is what I make of it. Hence, it is very ego-centric. The life in the cities is lived enclosed from the other and indulging in comfort zones and cocoons of individualism and consumerism. Thus life in this new age is changed as if we are indifferent to God. To put it simply we have reached even to the extent of living as if there is no God or as if God doesn’t exist.

The covenantal philosophy says that, God is not our choice as we think. It is not we electing and affirming God. In Judaism and Christianity God is seen as He is in search of man and our duty is to respond to his invitation. So it is God who takes the initiative in creation, sustaining and in salvation. With this initiative, He continues to seek humankind, asking us to turn to Him. He seeks us although we are busy like Eve and Adam satisfying ourselves and indulging with the apple of egoism, power, prestige and possession. Yet, God takes initiative to ask us, as he asked Eve and Adam Where are you? Gen 3: 9. He asks us, as he asked Cain Where is your brother? Gen 4:9.

We remember that, His initiative is greater than the human response. He is ever faithful to us, in spite of our unfaithfulness. Therefore his salvific plan is covenant that differs from the Contract. In this covenantal project we see 1 John 4: 10, “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he has first loved us.”

The covenantal notion of God’s salvific plan entails a new horizon of the truth and reality. Jesus showed a new horizon by offering another cheek. This is the notion of responding to open the new horizons of which the other is ignorant. This way of opening a new horizon is not so easy to live and practice because it is not normal but it is very noble. It is noble because it is not a slave response but an extraordinary way of seeing the truth from the other dimension, like, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and John Paul II who lived such life. So, our task is not to see whether God is with us or not but whether we are with GOD.

Why am I saying all this? Because, it is the same case with the young girl Mary, which God had chosen as His mother. We must be clear that it was not Mary who chose God and Jesus to be conceived in her womb. Instead it was the will of God the Father. Now we are clear that it is God who takes initiative and we only respond. Therefore we see Mary responding to God completely, in the words “I am the hand maid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your will.”

How did Mary become the crux of the covenant? Mary is the crux of the covenant because, it is through her response and through her Yes, she opened the doors of salvation, which were closed by our first parents. Mary is not at all an extraordinary woman. She is a normal woman. But what distinguishes her from other women is her qualities and the values of heart, her humility, simplicity, charity and prayer life. Her life will teach us that humility is the condition of a prayerful life. With this attitude of humility Mary went to assist her cousin Elizabeth in need. With her sensitivity she realized the need at the wedding at Cana.

Her qualities of heart like humility, charity, sensitivity, gratitude are admirable. She is therefore honored by her devotees with numerous titles like, star of the sea, seat of wisdom and the queen of heaven etc. Mary though very young, had an extraordinary faith. She knew well that if Joseph came to know of her pregnancy and if he handed her over for adultery she would be stoned to death according to the law. If Joseph, on the contrary, did not offer her, but only divorced her, she would be thrown out of the house as no parent would keep their daughter who has committed such a crime in the house. Humanly speaking she had only one alternative. But she trusted in Yahweh and accepted the offer. Thus, she used her prudence in the extraordinary call of God.  In Mary’s case, her faith in God enabled her to accept God’s will in spite of great danger.  Thus, she teaches us that to have faith doesn’t mean to avoid problems and troubles but to encounter them and cope with the reality.

What is my life of faith as a Christian? Am I ready to accept God’s will in my regard, no matter what the future life in this world will bring for me?

Today Mary asks us to begin counting the blessings of God. Because, Mary, as the crux of the covenant realized that it is His Mercy and Love which brought her Immaculate Conception and glorious coronation.

I would like to bring to your notice of the Questions of our covenantal God to our First Parents and Cain. Where are you? & Where is your brother?                        Thank You - Naresh Neelam.