Feast of Nativity of Our Lady, Monthi Fest

Traditional Monthi Fest (Nativity of Our Lady) was celebrated in Ranchi by Mangaloreans, Goans, East Indians, Marathi speaking people and Kannada Speaking people. Agnel Ashrams run by Pilar Fathers in Dibadhi (near Doranda) hosted this gathering. The gathering started with Holy Eucharist at 10 O’Clock in the morning.  Fr. Maxim Pinto, Professor of Philosophy in Jalandhar Seminary (Punjab) was the Main Celebrant. He is from Hospet Parish in Mangalore, belongs to Delhi Arch Diocese. Along with him fifteen other priests concelebrated. Fr. Joseph Prasad Pinto OFM Cap, Fr. Raju Felix Crasta, Fr. Deepak Tauro, Fr. John Crasta (all four from St. Albert’s College Ranchi), Fr. Vijay Kamath S.J., Fr. Sebastian, Fr. Gabriel were some of the prominent priests present.

Fr. Maxim Pinto Offering Eucharist

Concelebrants

Fr. Maxim Pinto in his homily explained the historic significance of the fest. The word Monthi has come from Portugees word called Monte which means mountain. There are two traditions how the feast came to be. According to one, the origin of this feast can be traced to Montemarianno, the Capuchin’s place in Frangipet, Mangalore. Fr. Joachim Miranda started this devotion which became famous as Monthi fest.  According to second tradition, the origin is traced to St. Mary’s Church, Bandra, where Portuguese along with Goans started this devotion. Traditional gumta songs narrate these incidents.

Today, monthi fest is associated with sugar cane and new corns (harvest). Actually, in Maharashtra region, when Ganeshotsav was celebrated people were offering sugarcane and flowers to the deity. Christians found these meaningful gestures to inculturate in to the devotion. Thus, over the years it became part and parcel of the tradition. Secondly, Konkani speaking people were not sugar-cane cultivating people, however, they were agriculturists.

Eating new-rice (nove) also has a rich meaning. When Christians were being persecuted by anti-Christian elements, they got dispersed from one place to another. Some went south Canara and some to southern Goa and elsewhere. But wherever they went, once-a-year, they remembered everyone as a family. It was fitting gesture to remember them on the day of the birthday of Mother Mary where, Marian Nine days of devotion (Novena) had actually become famous. It helped the people to re-live new life by eating new-corn on this day by remembering all near and dear ones.

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta, Master of Ceremony

Dance

Mr. Peter D'Costa, President of Konkani Association

Mr. Rodericks and his group singing Mando

Delicious dishes

Ready to Eat

Ready for group games

Mr. Stephen enjoying a game

group game

The gathering was meaningfully arranged by Mr. Peter D’Costa, Dr. Helga Chen and Sr. Bernard OSU. Fr. Raju Felix Crasta was the Master of Ceremony. Pilar Fathers and sisters of Bethany Convent conducted meaningful Choir. Dr. Helga introduced everyone by means of an ice-breaker. Pilar Fathers sang traditional Mando. They were supported by ‘Good Shephered Club’ headed by Mr. Rodericks and his group.

Delicious food, prepared by different houses and convents was the chief attraction of the gathering.

At the end, Mr. Peter D'Costa, the president of Konkani Association thanked all. 

Also see, report in Daijiworld

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=187951

Coloured Glasses

"Life, like a dome of many-colored glass, stains the white radiance of eternity"

P. B. Shelley

Decorating ancient buildings with coloured glasses is an art, and is also a delicacy to the eyes. Picturesque paintings and arrangement of glasses in the ancient Churches, Synagogues, theaters and worship places is a symbol of divine. They allow light in different colours to pass through which give a heavenly atmosphere. There is a long history for the genesis of coloured glasses and glass art which I do not want to comment on. What brings a wonder for me is the phenomenology of the coloured glass!

Glass is a surface, be it on a window panel or in any other shape, allows the ray of light to pass in and out. When the light passes through, it reflects the colour which the glass possesses. Deeper the colour of the glass, deeper is the colour of the light. If the glass surface is full of art and design, ditto will be the colour. Darker and opaque the glass, vague will be the light; thinner and transparent the glass, clearer and brighter the light.

Often in the glass cases we read the inscription, “Glass wares, handle with care!”  Glass wares are delicate and can break easily. At the same time, they are very precious. If broken, difficult to put it in order, unless, they are processed again. However, if one processes, the original attire seldom can be attained.

Every human being is like a coloured glass. They are precious, valuable and unique. The values double when they reflect the colour which they possess. More opaque, darker is the colour; transparent the glass, clearer is the vision. Deeper the colour, harder the reflection; more transparency, better transparency is in the personality.

We human beings are multi-coloured glasses. We reflect coloured shades. Rather than reflecting back, we need to allow the light to enter in. While allowing the light to enter in, we need to allow the light to fall into different hues of our glassy personality. Then, the incoming shade will be more colourful. Once we allow different colours to enter in, the reality appearing within will be far more beautiful than otherwise.

Should we allow every light to enter in? I feel, no. We need to filter the light we are receiving. There are hundreds and thousands of rays we are bombarded at every moment. It is up to us, to allow which one is better for me and others to see and experience. There are glasses which block ultra-violet rays and glasses which block infrared and radio waves. Similarly, in our bodies too, there should be areas where such glasses are to be fitted to block such carcinogenic rays. For the healthy culture to shine within the theater of our selves healthy, well decorated, artistic and colourful glasses are essential. Only then, the picture exhibited within will be glorious.

There is an English idiom which goes like this, “Rose-coloured glasses” or “Rose-coloured spectacles” which means, “if someone thinks about or looks at something with rose-coloured glasses, they think it is more pleasant than it really is.” The farther meadow is always greener. It is nothing but masked personality. The reality in fact is fresh and beautiful, but the masked person is not able to perceive in its pristine clear state. The reality is attained only when one experiences it in one’s life.  It is the case with most of the ‘white-collared people,’ who often make rules and regulations for others and they themselves do not have any realistic idea of it. The people wearing rose-coloured glasses often use flowery language, idiomatic expressions and claim to know things better than others. I call this kind of people, ‘over-enthusiasts.’

Some people artificially paint attractive colours on their self-glasses. And some people regret not being painted. What is more important to note here is, the frustration of not being the original paint.  It is by divine providence that each and every individual is given with ample colours in life (say for example, the talents).  However, they are not satisfied with these and therefore, try to paint artificial colours and end up with gloomy pictures. As the proverb goes, “face is the index of the mind,” they exhibit themselves their real inner picture.  On the other hand, there are people who act what actually they are, but remain skeptic about their own beauty. And at times they shut their theater door so as not to allow anyone to enjoy the art. Are both extremes healthy? Nay. One should note that ‘to be authentic is to be natural.’ But at times, there may be some cracking and leaking areas which need immediate attention to.

There is a tendency in some people to ‘weep over the broken glass.’ Will the broken glass recover itself? Can any glue fix it to bring its originality? Remember, we are living in the real world and neither in an imaginary world nor in the magical world.  A broken glass is a broken glass, is a broken glass and is a broken glass. It is a perfect past. Now be in the present perfect and look toward the future perfect. Ask yourself, ‘how shall I regain my lost colour and shape?’ It is perfect to have a broken glass. But the broken glass should be a lesson to build a perfect amphitheater where you entertain several broken glasses and thus lead them to their realization. It is nothing but ‘buying a new glass.’

The transparent natural glass allows the light to pass in without any difficulty. Natural glass is a “colourless” glass (Is there a glass called colourless?! Is the ‘colour’ my imagination? After all, does colour exist at all? Let me not gossip here). It allows one to see what is in and out without any trouble. In other words, transparent glass ‘reveals my nakedness.’ I am stripped off to my nakedness in front of the other. When Adam and Eve sinned they felt this ‘nakedness.’ I am revealed to the other what I am. Now the poets can see the beauty and can compose lyrics; beloved can taste and wonder; journalists can click pictures and report it in the daily mails; scientists can question and experiment; philosophers can philosophize, theologians can theologize, politicians can create polity. Amn’t I a butt of all the jokes to others?

Opaque glass is still an ‘artificial-natural’ glass. It is natural, because I am born with these colours. It is artificial because, I can paint the paint I would like to be. It is said, “humans are made and not born.”  We are made humans by our qualities and potentialities. The opaqueness does not allow or reflect the light completely. It arrests and keeps within itself the portion which should not be exposed. I am safe here for my nakedness is not exposed. No poets can compose, no sociologists, philosophers, theologians and scientists can reveal my inner self. But is this kind of life worth living?

I am in a troubled now. At one hand, coloured glass exposes my glory; on the other, colourless glass reveals my nakedness, making me feel shy. I feel I need to be transparent that I may be what I am. But, looking at the exposure of my nakedness, I feel I should be opaque and dark. Should I be, by the by have any colour at all? Colourfulness and colourlessness is my giveness. It is my actual life. Let me be that, and be fuller in life. What a chimera is this life!?

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Image url:

http://esguk.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/coloured-glass1.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:William_Holland_stained_glass.jpg

http://www.tatra-glass.co.uk/glass_project_gallery/lakenheath/stained_glass_photos/stained_glass1.jpg

St. John Mary Vianney – A Beacon of Christian Living

St. John Mary Vianney

Which Catholic has not heard the name of St. John Mary Vianney who transformed immoral Ars into a Heaven of Grace and Blessing? Who is unaware of his simplicity, penance and unbroken hours of dedicated confessional assistance and hours of benediction at the Blessed Sacrament and thus has melted the hardest hearts of Ars? It is this person who failed and failed in academic studies, jeered by companions and neglected by superiors; but excelled to that height where no religious of his time could reach in the practice of what has been taught within the four walls of the Seminary.

For me, Vianney is a perfect example for a “True Christian.” He lived what he preached. St. James clearly says, ‘Faith without deeds is dead’ (Jas 2:26). Vianney’s is a perfect embodiment of faith. “His faith was working together with his deeds like that of Abraham” (Jas 2:22).

1. Life of Prayer

This is a first pillar on which the life of Vianney is based. Mere four hours of sleep; hardly any time given for cooking and eating and spent most of his time either kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament or sitting in the Confessional. He may not be a good orator, but what he preached is through his life of prayer. Once a person asked  Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen about the receptivity of his sermons and this was his reply, “the people must listen, because it is prepared in front of the Blessed Sacrament.”

This is what the saint says, “Prayer never leaves us without sweetness. It is honey that flows into the souls and makes all things sweet. When we pray properly, sorrows disappear like snow before the sun. Some men immerse themselves as deeply in prayer as fish in water, because they give themselves totally to God. O, how I love these noble souls!” If the Saint were to stir the conscience of the people of Ars it is nothing but this conviction, “my words will not return back unless they produce effect.”

For the saint, prayer does not merly mean adoration and sitting in the confessional. It is an act of holiness. Every Sacramental life is an act of Holiness. Eucharist was centre of his life. Besides this, Vianney had special devotion for Sacramentals, such as devotion to Mother Mary, Novena’s to various saints etc. Lectio Divina is another area he enjoyed, “it was sweet like honey.” 

Vianney challenges us here. It is very difficult for us to spend few minutes in prayer. We feel that the daily Eucharist, ‘the shorter the better.’ For most of the priests, the Eucharist is time-bound, “weekday Mass should not exceed 25 minutes.” In most of the religious houses where there are schools, the religious teachers who attend the Mass depart as soon as receiving Holy Communion, if the mass exceeds 20 minutes. In some places specific requests are made, “Father, you should finish mass within 25 minutes.”

Personal prayer, Spiritual reading, daily meditations, Prayer of the Church have become need in the formation houses. Novenas and devotion to Mother Mary have become the devotions of the elderly people. Once the person gets ordained or profess final vows, these practices become ‘old-fashioned,’ and not the need of the person as if the person is ‘perfect.’ We need to change these attitudes and live a devout Christian life. 

2. Simplicity in life

It is evident from the actions of present Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis. He did not like the golden embossed mitre, luxurious looking “Peter’s Chair” nor golden Cross. But opted for a simpler one. Further, exhorted the pastors of the Church to live a simpler life and not to go for luxurious cars.

Vianney’s life was simpler. Only boiled Potatoes were his food. Slept not in luxurious palace, rather lived in a poor presbytery in the village parish. Had time for all kinds of people at any time. Today’s clergy is diametrically opposed to this. If a visitor goes around 2 O’clock noon, the priest has no time even to attend the visitor, because it is his ‘siesta time.’ If any dying person needs some urgent attention to, the priest says, “I am in the School office and I have no time.” If one wants to see the latest models of Cars, can be seen with priests. Bination or trination of Masses has become common practice. Pope Francis says, “To become a priest or a religious is not primarily our choice; it is our answer to a calling, a calling of Love.” God has called us, and it is our duty to live that call as faithfully as possible. Authentic call is in living the life of Christ.

3. Love for Mission

When Vianney was assigned to the obscure little village of Ars near Lyons the Vicar-general of the diocese told him, “There is not much love of God in that parish, you may enkindle it.” Vianney loved his appointment as the will of God. It seems that his aim is to change the ‘loveless Ars’ into a ‘love-filled Ars.’ He offered himself to the mission, he loved the mission and people both Christian and non-Christians. He constantly sought the will of God in everything he did. He says, “Anything we do without offering it to God is wasted.”

There is greater enthusiasm during the formation time to become priests and religious. So much so, when a seminarian is asked about their purpose in life the cliché answer is, “I want to serve the poor and needy.” But once he is an ordained priest, the very next day removes the mask of ‘love and piety’ and covers himself with the veil of selfishness and greed. This is very vivid among many clergy and religious. Bishops and superiors have enough trouble in appointing and transferring certain people in certain places. Such people are neither moved by ‘love of mission’ nor answering one’s “Divine Call.” We need to avoid being in two boats. In the words of Vianney, “You either belong wholly to the world or wholly to God.”  It is here Vianney becomes a beacon of Christian living for all of us. He believed in the providence of God, loved and lived that conviction.

Prayer, simplicity and love for mission are three pillars the life of Vianney is based on. If we have these three things in our life, no doubt we can be another ‘Vianney’ in this contemporary time. Today the world needs ‘saints,’ saints like John Mary Vianney. World needs people who can forgo luxurious cars and forgo well decorated palaces like presbyteries. World needs people who can go the people, speak to them, love them, hear their cries, pray with them, spend time with them, guide them and above all preach the Word of God in Word and Deed. Thus, we are called to build our parishes and institutions from "loveless Ars" to "Love-filled Ars."

My favorite quote

My little children, reflect on these words: the Christian's treasure is not on earth but in heaven. Our thoughts, then, ought to be directed to where our treasure is. This is the glorious duty of man: to pray and to love. If you pray and love, that is where a man's happiness lies.


Fr. Raju  Felix  Crasta

GURU DEVO BHAVAḤ: THE TEACHER IS GOD INDEED

A famous s̕loka on the salutation of the teacher goes like this: “Gurur Brahmā Gurur Vis̕ṇu, Gurur Devo Mahes̕waraḥ, Gurur Sākṣāt pararbrahmā, Tasmai S̕rī Gurave Namaḥ.” This means: Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vis̕ṇu, Guru is S̕iva, Guru is Supreme Brahman Itself, Unto that Guru I prostate. Kabir Das speaks of the greatness of guru in his poem, “Guru Gobind dono khaḍe, kāke lago pāñy?’ Balihāri guru āpne Gobind diyo batāy.” This means: Guru and God both are here to whom should I first bow? All glory to the guru who bestowed the path. The greatness of a teacher can be thus spoken loudly. However, these glorious stanzas will be futile, if the student does not live that greatness in one’s life. It is the guru who teaches the way, shows the way and gives the way. Living the path of Guru is a real gurudakṣiṇā, a student can offer to the teacher. 

Giving gurudakṣiṇā doesn’t mean that a student should cut one’s thumb like Ekalavya. I remember five-fold characteristics upon cultivating in one’s life, a student can offer gurudakṣiṇa to the teacher. It goes like this: “kāgaceṣṭa, bakodhyānam, s̕vānanidrā tathaiva ca; alpāhāri, gṛhatyāgi, vidyārthi pañca lakṣaṇam." This literally means: The perseverance of a crow, Contemplation of a crane, sleep of a dog, limited food and abandoning house are five-fold characteristics of a student. This obviously needs some explanation. 

Kāgaceṣ̕ṭa literally means the perseverance of a crow. Here we need to remember the story of the ‘crow and pitcher’. The crow in the story thinks and makes a deliberate effort to drop pebbles into the pitcher in order to quench its thirst. In other words, the student should do repeated efforts to achieve the success. At the time of high school and college results, several organizations come up with counselling centres to assist the students (and even to the parents) to overcome the fear of failure. The fear of failure is so much that even the government has changed the marking system in the matriculation exam. There is nothing called ‘shame’ if one fails in one’s exam. When Thomas Alva Edison failed several times, he only said, “I haven’t failed. I’ve found 10000 ways that don’t work.” Therefore, the student should realize that ‘failure is the stepping stone to success.’ Add to this, God has created each one differently. One may be good in one field, while the other is best in another field. Realizing one’s weaknesses and working hard to overcome them is the beginning of success. 

Bakodhyāna means the contemplation of a crane. Often in the streams, rivers and ponds, we see cranes standing in one-pointed devotion and concentration (ekāgracitta) waiting eagerly to catch a fish. The slightest disturbance in the concentration will fail in attaining the purpose. The study is nothing but ‘one-pointed devotion’ (ekāgra-bhakti). It is likely to get disturbed in the modern technological world. The electronic gadgets, technological innovations, socializing websites, vehicular pollution create a ruckus atmosphere for the student. But a student should learn to ‘bracket out’ these disturbances and have an ekāgra dhyāna in one’s business. 

The third characteristic is the sleep of a dog (s̕vānanidrā). One of the biggest challenges for a thief to enter a house is the wakeful state of the dog. At times it seems to us that dog is sleeping. But, the slightest sound, a pin-drop sound would be enough for a dog to bark and alert the owner. A student needs to be like this. At every time and moment, we are bombarded by a plethora of information. A responsible student should get awakened from one’s slumber, pick up the issues from here and begin to develop new skills. One can remember Archimedes’ famous dictum, “Eureka”–“I have found it.” Opportunities and ideas do not come every time. At a certain time, they appear and soon disappear. An alert student identifies them, picks them up and runs away shouting “Eureka, Eureka.” 

The fourth characteristic is the alpāhāra, eating limited food. Often it is said, that students should eat good and enough food. It is the time to eat. I do not wish to contradict this, rather I affirm that sufficient nutritious food is essential at the time of studentship. But what is meant by alpāhāra is, that one should be careful about the diet one takes in. Today, in society overeating, obesity and cholesterol problems are increasing which causes lethargy and slothfulness. On the other hand, alpāhāra can also mean the quality of ‘concern for others.’ It means we eat more than what we actually need. Our saving and not wasting food can alleviate the hunger of someone in society. This ditto applies to the financial position of the student as well. If every student thinks that ‘keeping what is actually needed for oneself is that one is entitled to have and keeping what is not needed for oneself is greed, and therefore, the surplus needs to be distributed to others,’ then the world would have been different by now. 

The fifth characteristic is gṛhatyāga, the sacrifice of the house. Originally this meant for the gurukula system where the student would leave one’s home and make the teacher’s home as one’s second home. The word kula in gurukula means, the ‘extended family’ or ‘domain.’ However, in the present system, it could mean a ‘hostel life.’ But the meaning I prefer goes beyond this. Gṛhatyāga could mean the ‘freedom from bondage and boundaries of home.’ There is a ready-made atmosphere or spoon-feeding inclination in every home. Students at times beep upon the success of their parents. However, a passionate student should stand on one’s own feet without building one’s life on their parent’s success, making the best use of the education received and thus be ‘self-confident’ to face the world. This would be the real gṛhatyāga. 

Another important aspect to be pointed out here is the seriousness of one’s ‘studentship.’ It is an important period, a divine call. Therefore, I call it a ‘vocation to be a student.’ If one realizes this divine element in the studentship, one would be really a ‘serious student’ like ‘Arjuna’ for Droṇācārya. If not, the student will become a ‘spoiled brat’ running to the parties, flirting with opposite-sex friends, boozing, taking pleasure in erotic gadgets, becoming a slave to narcotics, goondaism and the like behaviour. This not only diverts their studies but also defames their real home and parents. In the Bhagavadgīta Kṛs̕ṇa says, “s̕raddhāvāml labhate jñānam tatparaḥ samyatendriayaḥ; jñānam labdhvā parām s̕āntim acireṇā’dhigacchati” (Gīta 4:39). It means, “The one who has faith and devotion and has mastery over the senses, gains the knowledge. Having gained this, one at once attains the supreme peace.” One who has control of one’s senses can really attain wisdom and achieve the goal in life. 

To summarize what has been said - perseverance, concentration, hard-work, alertness, concern for others, sharing attitude, self-confidence, etc., are the divine qualities make student, an ideal student. It is these qualities, a guru is interested in. Having known that the s̕iṣya has inculcated these in one’s life, the teacher's life becomes meaningful (sārthaka). This is the real gurudakṣiṇā.

Some quotable quotes 

• “We need no spiritual masters, we need spiritually evoked souls, who don’t teach and preach.” Jalaluddin Rumi
• “First of all stop calling yourself a benighted soul and after that, stop calling me a guru. I’m not a guru and no one’s my follower.” Jiddu Krishnamurti
• “Make no one your guru and you’ll never be disenchanted or duped.” An Uzbeki saying
• Make your own idol carved out of your inner Self and genuflect before that. Why should you have the encumbrances of god, shrines and scriptures? The truly realized are never interested in becoming gurus.” Sumit Paul in The Speaking Tree
• “To be a spiritual master is to be doomed.” Rene Descartes
• “Guru is forever a disciple.” Ramana Maharshi
• “A real spiritual master has an aura and you immediately recognize him with that sparkling glow. He doesn’t have to blow his own trumpet.” Fariduddin Attar, a Persian poet
• “A real master has no followers, no home, no property and no social accessories. His own life is a lesson in spirituality. He’s a living enlightenment.” Jean Paul Sartre
• "Guru is forever a disciple." Ramana Maharshi

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

BEGINNING OF A NEW INNINGS : AS A PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Hai friends,

After the gap for about four months, I thought of updating my blog. I am appointed as Professor of Philosophy at St. Albert's College, Ranchi, Jharkhand state.

I have begun my teaching career by conducting orientation for the Philosophers. This year we have 22 Philosophers in the first year. Including the day-scholars and the resident students, the total number of philosophers here are, 72.

Conducting Orientation for the Philosophers

On 9th of July we had our Academic Year 2013-14 open. His Excellency Bishop Chareles Soreng S.J., the Bishop emeritus of Hazaribagh Diocese was the Chief Guest. In the Morning we had a concelebrated High Mass, Bishop as the Chief Celebrant. This was followed by the Inaugural Function in which the Master and Bachelor degrees were conferred. I delivered the Schola Brevis on the topic, "Lokasangraha: the welfare of the worlds. It was my MPh Thesis.

His Excellency Bishop Chareles Soreng S.J. delivering his Sermon

Bishop Awarding the BTh Degree

Me, Lighting the Lamp for the Inauguration

Me, Delivering the Schola Brevis

Me, Delivering the Schola Brevis

Thus, the academic year is kicked off. Now the classes are in full swing. 

This year our Seminary, Albert's college, is celebrating its centenary Year. Various programmes have been arranged. Our Centenary Seminar on "Mission" will be held in Tarunoday on 20th of August. Eminent Scholars - Dr. Felix Wilfred and Archbishop Thomas Menaparambil will share their views and present papers on this day. 

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

The Feminine Face of Discipleship

 

Human being whether male of female, is essentially divine. Often God is understood as male because of patriarchal nature of the society, and forget the feminine aspect, which is equally important than the former. In Christian literature also God is portrayed in the feminine qualities such as generative, sacrificial, loving, compassionate, tender, nurturing, service minded, dedicated and so on. These are also the explicit qualities of the balanced person. Jesus is no doubt a balanced person in all the aspects, who respected and upheld the human dignity at his time in the male dominated society. These are also the qualities Jesus imposes on the person who would like to be called his ‘Disciple’.

In the society we see women subjugated in various aspects. They bear the torture, undergo pain and become subjects of harassment. There are also women, amidst all these problems, bear the pain and ‘stand up’ in the situation. Women are also the ‘masterminds’ to uproot the societal evils. A true disciple of Jesus needs to know and learn these qualities so that he can be ‘another Christ’ for himself and for others and thus to bring the good News of liberation to all.

This is a small effort made to know the qualities of a disciple. It is noteworthy to find out that these qualities are also the qualities every woman possesses specially the women disciples of Jesus. A synthetic approach is being made in the conclusion to inculcate these qualities in the ministry entrusted to us.

1 The Discipleship

1.1 The Qualities of Discipleship

The call for a discipleship involves several aspects. They include, God calls and we accept the call. Once we accept unconditionally, involves our fuller commitment to our ‘yes’ to Him. Finally once when we say unconditional ‘yes’, comes the test, ‘to be identified with the master’.

1.2 A Call to follow

            Whatever we are, wherever we are, God loves us unconditionally, because he wants ‘everyone to be saved’ (1 Tim 2:4) and he ‘doesn’t want any one to be ‘lost’. With this motive, Jesus calls us to follow him. It is a call first and foremost to save my soul and secondly to save souls of the other. His call is a gratuitous call.

1.3 ‘Follow’ – a complete Commitment

God the Father gave the relay baton of salvation to his Only Son Jesus. He won this race through His utmost sincerity and commitment and now the same baton is passed on to me. As a true disciple I must be a person of total commitment and sincerity. For Jesus himself said, “once you put the hand in the plough and look back is not worthy to be my disciple”.

I had a dream of becoming an Engineer but that dream was shattered by the call of Christ. In my following Christ, some time in the middle I was shattered by the attraction towards opposite sex, but I was not shattered. Instead, she by knowing my real intention encouraged me with support and courage.

1.4  The Joy of Discipleship

The story of the Tax collector in Mt. 9:9-17 is a model for Jesus’ gratuitous call of those ostensibly unworthy of discipleship. It is a radical grace enfleshed in the radical demand to follow, a demand which is immediately obeyed. Even though unworthy at the call, after receiving it, the person becomes worthy. The person is spiritually healed, in the very act of physical healing. The inner peace resulting from such grace is noteworthy.

Jesus shows mercy, which is the essence of his messianic mission. He came to call sinners, which imply the recipient’s unworthiness to be called. Jesus shows mercy to Mary Magdalene and latter she becomes the ardent lover and follower of Christ’s mission and thus a role model to be followed by many.

1.5 The Total Renunciation – A Self Denial

The sending of the Twelve among the lost sheep (Mt 10:5-15), incorporates the traditional missionary charge as a sense of reverence and testimony. The rejection of Jesus in his own people and land shows the stringent situation where one needs to work. One is forced to provide new leaders for the shepherdless sheep of Israel.

Missionary needs only basic food and lodging that must be provided as the right by the ones they serve. Wherever they go, are not to seek out better lodging later. The worth of the host is no doubt to be judged by the acceptance of both messenger (hospitality) and the message (faith). Both of them go together.

1.6 Persecution, the Identification with the Master

     The cost of discipleship is the persecution and persecution is the identification of the disciple with the Master. ‘The disciple is no superior to his master. If they’ve called the master the house of Beelzebub, what will they not say his house-hold?” (Mt. 9:34, 12:24).

During the persecution one must not be fearful for He says. “Fear not for I am with you” (Jer 1:7-8). Dispite imprisonment, the persecution cannot keep the Gospel message hidden. It will be out in the light.

2. The Feminine Face of the Discipleship

2.1  Christ’s feminine face to follow

Christ is Son of God and Son of Man and yet He is both male and female. Isn’t this a paradox? Yes, it looks like a paradox. Carl Gustav Jung speaks of ‘self’ as ‘Androgyny’ which refers to the presence of both masculine and feminine qualities in an individual and the ability to realize both potentialities. Thus a human being is both masculine and feminine consisting of anima-animus, personal-shadow, body-mind and conscious-unconscious (Theories of personality by Barbara Engler). A balanced person knows to harmonize these qualities well in one’s life. All the qualities said earlier like mercy, sacrifice, self-denial, persecution, joy can be applied to a woman. She is an embodiment of all these characters. Jesus incorporated all these qualities in his public life, in his existential dealing with the reality, with both men and women.

2.2 The Feminine Qualities

2.2. 1 Courage

To follow someone breaking the boundaries of tradition and culture in the society amidst all the ups and downs needs courage and boldness. Some of the women have shown it like Martha, Mary Magdalene and Mother Mary herself (Mk 15:40-41, 16:1-7).

2.2.2 Self-Denial

‘If you want to follow Christ, leave everything, take up my Cross and follow me”. These words were very much true in the case of Mary Magdalene, the Samaritan woman etc. Once they knew Him, surrendered totally to Jesus. Samaritan woman goes a step ahead, ‘leaves everything’ and announces about Jesus in her village, Martha, forgets everything and chooses the right spot, ‘to listen’ at the feet of Jesus (Lk 10: 38-42).

2.2.3  Persecution

    Mother’s love to the child is unconditional. Likewise, Mother Mary loved her son unconditionally. From the conception till the death of Jesus, in all her sons’ good and tough situations, she was there to assist his son. As Simeon prophesized a ‘sword was piercing’ Mary’s heart at every moment of Christ’s hardship. This is nothing but the authentic example of true discipleship. Jesus moving with compassion for the trouble the women took, feels sorry for them and says at the way to Calvary, “Do not cry.”

2.2.4 Dignity of person

Society looks women down upon. This was true even to the time of Jesus. Knowing this reality, Jesus upheld the right of women. This is clear from the incident where Jesus raised the widow’s son to life (Lk 7:11-17), the story of Mary Magdalene (Lk 7:36-50), the healing of crippled woman on the Sabbath day Lk 13:10-17), woman searching for the lost coin which symbolize the search of lost humanity (Lk 15:8-10), and the widow demanding justice (Lk 18:10-18) etc.

2.2.5 Joy

‘Assurance’ of discipleship can be said to be fulfilled when the person receives inner peace. Because of the tremendous love and concern for the women and their dignity, Jesus blesses them and makes them as the first ‘Apostles’. It is none but the once sinner Mary Magdalene was sent as ‘apostle’ to proclaim good news to his brothers, and not the 12 who were always with him. It was when Mother Mary was present, the promised Holy Spirit descended upon them.

Thus Jesus had a balanced outlook of personality. By being male He had the characters of female. The qualities said to be feminine such as sensitivity, love, service, self sacrifice, or self-denial, hard work, tenderness, commitment were synonymous with his personality. Jesus demands these same qualities from His would be follower.

3. The Synthetic Approach to Follow Christ

The characters said to be feminine are also the characters needed to be a good disciple of Jesus. What Jesus did at His time in society is also demanded of today. Today’s society is mainly male dominated one, except for a few which see women as equal to men. But there is hardly any culture which see women as superior to man, they are always the weaker sex. Today the task given as St. Paul rightly pointed out is ‘to become another Christ.’ Therefore to become another Christ I need to inculcate a balanced personality within. I must have a balanced approach towards everyone.

3.1 Integration into the ministry

     If I go to people with my patriarchal personality, I will be a failure and if I go with the feminine personality I will be of no value. To keep the boat safe and keep going, I must first and foremost have a balanced approach.

There is always a growing tendency to get alienated from the opposite sex. My experience has taught me that ‘women can change’ the society more than the men. Therefore to bring a positive development in the society our main weapons are the women. Therefore to have a good rapport in the workplace, in the social sectors, I need to cultivate the qualities of love, service, sensitivity, joy, peace, perseverance, hard work, self-sacrifice etc which would enable me to be a better disciple of Jesus.

Discipleship is a deep experience or a deep relationship between the master and the disciple. A true disciple is one who follows the footprint of his master. A Christian discipleship is the ever-deeper growing life of faith in Christ or the experience of Christ, and its highest stage is to remain in faith and love with Christ. Thus a Christian disciple is the one who hears, follows, seeks, finds, comes, sees, and remains with him. The women disciples of Jesus in this sense were the true disciples. This fact challenges me to be an authentic person to like those women disciples.

Raju Felix Crasta

A MEDITATION ON HANDS

I am sharing with you a beautiful story which I received a few days ago. It really challenged me and my actions. Hope the readers will appreciate it. The author of this story is anonymous to me. 

A MEDITATION on HANDS

An old man, probably some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the park bench. He didn’t move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands. When I sat down beside him he didn’t acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if he was okay.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked him if he was all right. He raised his head and looked at me and smiled.

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you for asking,” he said in a clear strong voice.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you, sir, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were okay,” I explained to him.

“Have you ever looked at your hands?” he asked. “I mean really looked at your hands?”

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making.

Then he smiled and related this story:

Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. My hands put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They dried the tears of my children and caressed the love of my life.

My hands held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. My hands wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle. Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and lifted a plow off of my best friends foot. They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn’t understand.

My hands have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These hands are the mark of where I’ve been and the ruggedness of my life.

But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And He won’t care about where these hands have been or what they have done. What He will care about is to whom these hands belong and how much He loves these hands. And with these hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.

No doubt I will never look at my hands the same again. I never saw the old man again after I left the park that day but I will never forget him and the words he spoke.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and wife I think of the man in the park. I have a feeling he has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel his hands upon my face.

Thank you, Father God, for hands.