Friday, January 29, 2010

Any Place is the Best Place to Find Love

At the end of everything what matters is love. Age gives way, beauty melts, wealth only glitters, power keeps sinking and it stinks.
Love is something that keeps you thinking. It reminds you to remember. It has no sense of time. It keeps you nagging to the point of irritation when you are distracted.
It’s not the number of years - to wait and weight love. A passing comment, an acknowledgement of recognition or an attentive look can make a lasting impression. August gatherings are not august occasions. Where you encounter love is what counts, better if it was and is across the table over a cup of tea.
Never forget to remember what matters is love. It has no age, no time bound and any place is the best place to find love.
A song like this can remind us to remember.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

In the face of Tragedy

In utter hopelessness I heard him pray in despair: “God, are you there when people need you? Did you die for these people? Or you eliminated them because they are too poor to be around? Did you also die for him? What was his crime? Was he too good to be around? Are you jealous and afraid to lose him? You have no answer. Are you saying you also died for her? Why did you take on her then? Why did you allow her to perish in guilt? Why do you come up with such mask and give false hope? Are you a just God or a compassionate God? Don’t tell me you are both. But if you are a just God, fine go ahead, but don’t border me anymore and expect me to be around. I can take care of myself. You don’t need to save me. I am already doomed. I make a big mistake believing you all along.”
I keep hearing these screaming souls all over – tragedies after tragedies. I hear souls crying out in despair, in anguish and grief, lonely and depressed passing through the darkness of no hope. And I’ve got no answer. I only have one + sign - the cross. Go beneath the rugged cross. You got to have an answer. Yes, you got to be there and no sermons for God’s sake.
NB: The earth that shook part of Haiti on 12th January 2010 left 1000s buried beneath the debris, 200 seminarians in record, priests (number not ascertain) and an Archbishop. Did God make a mistake?

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A Tangkhul Naga Among the Magi to Arrived at the Vatican Crib

Today is 6th January, Epiphany of our Blessed Lord and after returning back from the parish ministry I passed by St. Peter’s Square, Vatican. And what I saw was more than a surprise. I thought of the wise men from the east but certainly not one from the region of Northeast India, least to say Manipur hills. My joy was obvious when I saw a lady clad in Tangkhul Chongkhom (traditional shawl) found herself right behind our lady at the Vatican crib.
I thought to myself, after all Rome is not too far from Manipur, I mean the Church is one. And if Rome is the mother Church, she cannot be far from any others. In fact, she is closed to every member. She is the symbol of unity. She always gathers. The presence of this little piece of shawl is only symbolic of her actual presence in our land and culture.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Another Feather to Your Life

A year gone and another comes in. Some people think it is cyclic and are too optimistic - others fear it is passing by and forget to appreciate what life is all about. We celebrate life one day at a time.
Definitely there is a bit of confusion with feasts and celebrations over the past one week. It looked sort of like jumbled up toys. Too rich a liturgy for a distracted sort of me – the birthday (JESUS) to Martyrdom of Stephen, of St. John, the Holy Family to Mother of God and NEW YEAR. Anyway I am not questioning the wisdom of the Church.
My own movements were a bit of over exaggeration. Back from North Italy (Piemonte) on 28th Dec. and out to Marche - S. Severino on 29th and to Marcerata the next day or to Civitanova the following day. In fact, I did spend in these three places for the NEW YEAR 2010 – the eve, the day, and the night fall. What a nice way to bit farewell and welcome.
A NEW YEAR 2010 FOR ALL - LIVE TO LOVE ANOTHER YEAR