"I am coming, accept me and my offering"

His feet are beautiful who walks barefoot;

and not the one who walks with shoes.

His hands are beautiful who mucks in mire;

and not the one who counts the qwerty keys.

His lips are beautiful who sings the song of lament;

and not the one who sings the song of vengeance.

His eyes are beautiful who is blurred by the blurry world;

and not the one who shines with glittering eyebrows.

His back is beautiful who is bruised with marks of scourges;

and not the one who brushed in the gym.

His heart is beautiful patched by scars of thorns and marks of lance;

and not the one who wraps in the coat of gold.

It ain't a fashion parade, nor a fuller's museum.

It ain't a bundle of joys, nor a trap for prey.

It's he who tills the land, feeds the hungry.

It is he who walks miles and miles with feet uncovered. 

It is he who feeds the multitude with a grain of seed.

It is he who is bruised and broken with lashes out.

It is he who is lynched for your glory and pride;

murdered and killed for your whims and fancy.

Where's my freedom and my will?

Am I your servant to wash your dirty linen?

Am I a burden to you and all?

Have I no dignity, right, equality and sovereignty?

If not here, should I be there in the nether world?

Questions, Questions, Questions a thousands

and none to answer.

Let me be silent now, drink my tears and eat my spittle;

For I am happy in my mother's lap.

Let me look up to the sky and say, 

"I am coming, accept me and my offering."

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

I want to Study: An Inspirational Success Story

The Recent news from Rewari of Haryana shook the conscience of the education department. The news was about the Right to Education. About 80 girl students fearing harassment in travelling a long distance to attend the higher education after Matric sat for the hunger strike. On the fifth day, the education department came up with a written assurance of opening a Plus Two school for them. Well done the daughter of India. I was in goose bumps reading the news which enabled me to pen down these few lines.

Some want to educate themselves and be somebody in the society, while the others want to be where they are! It is funny and surprising that for over ten years government did not feel the need to address the situation in spite of the repeated request for the up gradation of the school, nor it heard the cry of eve teasing on the way to high school. Some raised the voice and closed their senses willingly and unwillingly. 

Who is to be blamed? Government? Education Department? Officials? Parents? Eve teasers? Village Sarpunch? Villagers? Children themselves? Should we blame our system? Each one of us is to be blamed. But some are to be blamed more and some less. 

Government officials say that they would consider the demand of the people. But the children are not satisfied with their oral recitation of assurances. This is just because, the people have lost faith in the functioning of the government. How will the people have faith? When the government gives only bold headlines in the newspapers and TV for the publicity sake and not doing anything at the ground level, funds meant for the education are diverted to the vested interest of the authorities, schools are closed for various reasons or the existing schools are used for the political publicity, the people will lose their faith in the authorities. 

Another jolt is on the minority educational institutions. For many political parties, they are money making institutions, centers of conversion and places of anti-social activities. A watchful look at the institutions where they are established will show that they actually cater the education of the last, least and lost. But the colour blind eyes of the officials find them as nuisance to the up growing elite and fanatically oriented institutions. Therefore, in order to put a check on these, government is back footing the funds, permission and needed recognition. Other kinds of harassment are uncountable. 

Consider the present education policy. School is not supposed to fail any student till the Matric, nor the teachers can give any kind of punishment for not doing the homework. What kind of psychological markup is promulgated here? “I don’t need to study, anyhow I will pass.” If we see the children of elite, majority of them are not studying in government schools. Rather they are in the highly reputed schools of the country spending thousands of rupees per day. It is Okay. But why are the ordinary people deprived of high standard education? There is a psychological reason for it. If the minority is educated and become somebody in the society, they will be a threat for the existence of the elite. Therefore, ‘it is better that they are where they are. Push them to periphery and do not allow them to reach the centre,’ is the ideology at work. 

Another reason that we have not yet become a developed country is the stigmata that we are carrying on our shoulders. It is the stigmata of “I am not able to do it”. For the centuries, we have been telling to ourselves that we are “like this only”. Our elders said the same thing, “We are fit for washing the dishes only. We are not supposed to study. Girls any way go to their in-laws house and so why to teach them? Women are for the sake of men….” We need to come out from this and boldly assert ourselves, “Yes, We Can. We Will. We are Able.” The power of positive thinking has enabled those girls from Haryana to take a revolutionary step and demand for right to education. Today their cry is heard. India needs several such daunting girls today. 

Did those children ask for something extraordinary? Did they demand gold, silver or wealth? They just asked, “We want to study without fear.” They asked for their right. Child has the right to ask for the basic necessity from its parent and it is the duty of the parent to provide what is moral and just. Government is the parent of every child. It has the duty to provide quality education and make the child grow in wisdom and knowledge. Today several children in our villages and slums are earnestly requesting the same, “provide us teachers, provide us education, provide us knowledge, provide us schools, provide us schools of higher learning, provide us opportunities to excel, provide us jobs, provide us our basic rights….” May our parents listen to us. 

For the news see, (See the news published in various national dailies, http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/may/16/haryana-girls-fearing-harassment-sit-on-hunger-strike-for-school-upgradation-1605377.html). 

Also Published in 

http://velivada.com/ on 2017/05/18 entitled "I Want to Study: An Inspirational Success Story". 

http://velivada.com/2017/05/18/want-study-inspirational-success-story/

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

The Empty Tomb: Non-existence as Existence

Do not see Me where I am Not, see me where I am. When you see me there, you will be a different person.

Easter is crossing over. It is a crossing from one state of life to another. Symbolically, it is a crossing of the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) from the land of Egypt (known to be bondage) to the land of liberty, the land flowing honey and milk, a land of prosperity, justice and peace. 

To understand this crossing over, we can consider a caterpillar eating the heavy stuff in the jungle and making its cocoon and after a period of time, comes out with a beautiful body, wings and flies around, pollinating the flowers, mesmerizing the children and assisting the plants to yield berries, drupes and fruits. The butterfly makes its presence felt. It is no more in the cocoon. The old life is a thing of the past and a new life has begun. Everyone hates the caterpillar, it is ugly, it is itchy, it is dangerous; but not the butterfly. Butterfly is a mystery revealed from the cocoon, it is a mesmerizing beauty to the poets, writers, children and the old. It is an inspiration to others to ‘become.’ 

Our past life is like a life of bondage in Egypt. It is a life of Babylonian captivity. It is a life of struggle in the desert, hungry, thirsty and tired. At times we felt, ‘God has forsaken us’ in our sojourn. We condemned our leaders who led us to the Promised Land. We doubted in our own inner beauty and strength. When we were thirsty for a drop of water, we fought wars with self and with each other. 

Then the days of life in the cocoon began. What were those forty days! The Lenten Days. Those were the days of fasting, penance, abstinence, prayer and reflection. 

One truth is learnt in these days for sure, as any motivational speakers who rightly say, “if I can today, I can tomorrow. If I can, I will. If I could in these forty days, I will in the next coming forty years.” Yes. Many of us were fasting from ill-speaking, back-biting, violence, destruction, lies, hatred, jealousy, avarice and the list goes on and on. Many were trying to overcome their addictions, addictions alcohol, drugs, sex, internet, pornography, whatsapp, facebook and what not! Many were atoning for their past sins and karmas. Many were practicing the virtues of service, benevolence, mercy and charity. For such people, Jesus has risen today. He has strengthened them for the last forty days and is continuing to strengthen now. If they have succeeded in the last forty days, they will succeed in the coming forty years as well. Change is possible. New life is possible. Resurrection is possible. Acche din possible. 

This does not mean that there will not be difficulties and problems in the future life. The fact that I have begun to live a resurrected life, is the fact that I am ready for the struggle within. But now the same struggle is with a positive approach and not with a negative, depressed and pessimism. The butterfly has to face the world. It has to face the bigger animals of which the prey it is. But now it is not afraid to face the reality. It lives till its last breath giving life to others, pollinating the flowers, cheering the children of the creation, and thus bearing a witness to the world. St. Stephan did it, St. Paul did it and many other eminent saints of the list. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhiji, Oscar Romero, Rani Maria, A.T. Thomas, Graham Stains and their children and many more such people have done it in front of our eyes. If they have done, why can’t I?

Resurrection is Jesus becoming alive. He is truly resurrected. He will die no more. His presence cannot be reduced to the pages of the Bible or a statue in a church, or limited to the tabernacle in the church, institutions and building. He is no more confined to the limited space of our selfish desires. He is a living reality. We can encounter and discover him in the midst of our lives through the eyes of faith - in all our problems, struggles, crises, challenges, worries, dilemmas, difficulties, calamities, trials, risks, struggles, joys and sorrows, disappointments and frustrations. Because he lives, we can experience his peace in the midst of our disturbed and anxious minds, his providence in our deprivation, his support in our weakness and his outstretched arms in our faults, falls and failures.

Today the resurrected Jesus has to be seen not in the tomb where He was laid to rest. He is to be seen in the living people. He is that same Jesus in the farmer tilling the land in the remote village with the seeds of hope. He is seen amongst the slum dwellers who struggle for an inch of land and morsel of bread. He is seen in every mother struggling to feed her young one. 

He is seen in the hospitals in the nurses and doctors giving life to the patients. He is the same Jesus who is carrying the discarded foetus from our backyards and dustbins and nurture them with motherly care. He is the same resurrected Jesus in the old-age homes taking care of the chased out fathers and mothers from their homes. He is the same resurrected Jesus in the schools and colleges holding the hands of the tiny tots and teaching them the values of life. 

Jesus has Risen. I have seen him. I have witnessed his acts. I have seen his empty tomb. I also have seen his glory on the earth. Therefore, I have made a firm resolution in life that I will carry and witness this resurrected Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life to people around. 

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Youth Leadership Seminar, Chandil

"Indian Democracy gives us opportunity to become leaders. Durga Oraon, made use of this opportunity under the banner,"PIL" to make a corruption free Jharkhand. In order to make our country free of corruption, we need not pick up weapons, need not become lawyers, need not become IPS officers. I need to become aware of my rights. I need to acquire knowledge. Then I become a leader to myself. Once I become a leader to myself, I become a leader to my family, my village, my state and my nation. Everybody cannot become PM, CM, professor or priest. This does not mean that we cannot live a secure and honourable life. Only those people can live an honourable life who honour the law and order. We need to wear helmet while riding motor bike not because the police fine you, but you need to wear for your own safety." These words were said by Mr. Indrajit Mahanta, the Superintendent of Police (SP)Saraikela-Kharaswan district. He was addressing in a "youth Leadership and community building seminar" at Chandil Parish in Jamshedpur diocese, on Sunday, 15th September 2013.  

Fr. Raphael Monteiro Welcoming Mr. Indrajit Mahanta IPS

Mr. Indrajit Mahanta IPS delivering Leadership tips

I was the main resource person for the one-day seminar. Theme of the seminar was, "Youth Leadership and Community Building." The key leadership qualities addressed during the seminar were: Honesty, communication, confidence, commitment, positive attitude, creativity, ability to inspire, character, courage, competence, focus, generosity, service, responsibility, Vision, self-discipline and relationship. 

The programme started with the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by me and con-celebrated by the parish priest, Fr. Raphael Monteiro. 

Me, preaching the sermon during the mass

Me, conducting the session

Leadership and community building seminar was delivered by means of various action songs, games, and group activities. Br. Nathanael Moochahari of Tejpur diocese and Br. Anuranjan Tigga of Ambikapur diocese were assisting resource persons. 

Br. Anuranjan Tigga and Nathanael Mochahari

Br. Nathanael Mochahari conducting group session

There were about hundred youth participants. Each and everyone contributed for the success of the seminar. At the end of the seminar a well thought out action plan was prepared. 

group task

group activities

action song

group discussion

action song

 Fr. Dileep Marandi, the diocesan youth director was present on the occasion. At the end of the seminar, addressing the youth, he reiterated to have regular meetings, strategies and concrete action plans. He promised all the possible help to the youth group. 

Welcoming the Diocesan youth Director, Fr. Dileep Marandi

Fr. Raphael Monteiro, the parish priest organized the whole programme. President of the youth group proposed vote of thanks. 

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta