Ascension: Go and be Jesus to All

The Ascension of the Lord: Readings - Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9; Ephesians 1:17–23; Matthew 28:16–20

Ascension of Jesus, by John Singleton Copley.

On this Ascension Sunday, the Church commemorates an important event among the Easter narratives that is of Jesus being taken up into heaven. At the first instance this event tells us that the story of the empty tomb does not end with Jesus' appearances to his apostles and close friends and relatives. Jesus now meets his dear one's in a community. Secondly, Jesus is taken up when they were together and from their midst he is taken up into heaven, to the place which belongs to him permanently. He ascends to His Father and our Father. Therefore there is a community dimension to this feast of Ascension of the Lord. As someone said, that the Resurrection, like the Ascension, is into Heaven, or to put it boldly the meaning of the Ascension is to show us that the Resurrection is into Heaven. All the Easter narratives are fascinating, challenging and intriguing. Because of their nature, character and description. 

Presence of the Holy Spirit in the physical absence of Jesus

Ascension of our Lord is a precursor to the anointing by the Holy Spirit.  “In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5), says St Luke.  Without the Ascension the Holy Spirit will not come down upon the apostles and later on to us as well. One leads the other.  Two things happen here. Firstly, in order to live that divine life we must receive the Holy Spirit. Secondly, we will receive the Holy Spirit provided we are purified by the Baptism. Jesus says,  "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19).  The scriptures tell us how the Ascension took place in Jerusalem. Both St Luke in the Acts of Apostles and St Matthew in his gospel tell us. But it's very difficult to grasp what this Ascension is all about.  I would say this way: Until the ascension Jesus appeared to the disciples both human and divine form. However, after his Ascension, Jesus is no more seen as human. In other words, Jesus does not appear to anyone as a human person. Interestingly,  the Gospel discourses on Easter narratives tell us that Resurrected Jesus is there and not there. Take for example: Jesus appearing to Mary of Magdeline. She recognises him first as gardener and then Rabbouni, Teacher (John 20:11-18). For the disciples of Emmaus Jesus appears to them as fellow walking companion, then interpreter of scriptures and finally as priest, while breaking of the bread (Luke 24:13-35). Jesus appears to his disciples while fishing as a man who knew very good fishing, stranger, then as a cook and finally their master (John 21: 1-14).  Resurrected Jesus appeared also to his disciples when they were together in a room  as a ghost, then hungry man, finally as their master. (Lk 24:36-48).

Ascension of Jesus becomes all in all
Ascension of Jesus tells us very poignantly that once he is taken up, Jesus become all in all. His divinity is manifested completely, wholly and fully. Jesus is no more in human form here. During the apparitions of the resurrected Jesus the space of his manifestation was limited especially in and around Jerusalem and Galilee. Jesus' movements and presentation happens only in limited places. Between the resurrection and the Ascension, Jesus appears to specific people at specific places and times. Now, with the Ascension, Jesus becomes present to all in a profound and deeper way. With the ascension of Jesus he becomes completely accessible to everyone and anywhere. There is no more constrains of space and time. He is beyond any sort of limitations that the human mind can think of. In the words of St Paul to the Colossians, "Christ is all and in all" (Col 3:11). The Ascension reminds us of our trinitarian baptism, an acknowledgment of God above (Father), with us and by our side (Son) and within us (Holy Spirit).

Jesus goes high and becomes visible to all. 
"They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two in white were standing near them..." (Acts 1:10). The disciples were always accompanied even when their master Jesus was taken up very high. Always comfort is given when you look for it. Grace is handed down to you when you seek it.  Interestingly, until Jesus was taken up into heaven he was visible only to select number of people and territorial boundaries were restricted. However, with the ascension, we see the more Jesus goes high, he becomes visible to all by breaching the territorial boundaries. This happens that he might share in the life of God fully, and so that in him, we too could share the life of God. In our life too, the more far we are from our loved one's with physical distance often they become close to us!

Farewell brings out deepest emotions and the memory is solid and lasting.
Jesus spends precious moments with his close one's for the last moment before he would be taken up. In Acts of the Apostles, Luke mentions of Jerusalem but in gospel he mentions about Bethany, where as for Matthew on a mountain in Galilee, for Mark not on a particular place. Mountain is a place of revelation, a place of meeting God. Jesus often prayed on the mountains whether it is Mount Tabor or Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, John 6:15). In fact, Jesus calling his disciples on the mountain means he is calling us to experience something different, someone who is divine. He is calling us to go up and choose higher things. These last moments are very precious to them because they would carry his message to the ends of the earth. Even we when we bid farewell to someone who is close to us, we become emotional and sad. We remember after sometime how the person bid farewell to us. Usually, we remember the first and last memories  of meeting very vivid and become attached to us!

Go and be Jesus to all.
The event of Ascension is not an end in itself. But a new start. The risen life is not only without the misery and pain, without sickness and death but of peace, joy and truth, with a new entirety. In other words, with resurrection and ascension of Jesus tell us to start with a new beginning not just an “afterlife” but a real life, which would be greater and more intense and more joyful life than we have ever lived here on earth.  It is a new creation; a new beginning. Jesus gives a new mission of preaching the good news to all and to the ends of earth. In other words, to be Jesus to all. To imitate his words and actions not only in one's life but also in the lives of others.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
24 May 2020

Fr Adolfo Nicolás, SJ: A Man of Wit and Wisdom - A Tribute

Fr Adolfo Nicolás in Novosibirsk in 2010, photo by Don Doll, SJ

There are a few individuals who leave a mark in your life or in your institution. Fr Adolfo Nicolás, S. J., (1936-2020), is one of them. He was the 30th Superior General of the Society of Jesus from 2008 to 2016. His eight years at the helm of affairs of the Jesuit Order was marked with significant events in its history. Under Adolfo's Generalate we saw a first Jesuit Pope.  No one thought that a Jesuit would become a Pope. In its more than 480 years of history, no Jesuit had become a Pope. Unfortunately, until Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the Pope in 2013, many of our Jesuit brothers were either censored by the CDF or were under its scanner.  Adolfo handled this new situation in the Church and in the Society of Jesus very well by keeping a close contact with the Pope and welcoming him to the Jesuit curia a number of times.

The first time that I met Fr Adolfo was in Novosibirsk, Russia at our Russian Region's assembly in 2010. After the terrible killing of two of our Jesuits in Moscow in 2008, Adolfo was with us to encourage and strengthen us in our resolve to continue the work of God. I was his translator (Russian to English to Russian) for few sessions and other informal gatherings. He was very gentle and calm in every way, moreover he had a great sense of humour and wit. Few of us would spend more time with him at the breakfast table.

As translator for Fr Adolfo in Novosibirsk in 2010

I saw often  Fr Adolfo in 2015 at the Jesuit Curia and at the Canisio infirmary in Rome, while I was recovering from a serious health bout. One day at the garden party of the Canisio we were on the same table and he had a piece of advice for me on my health. He lamented that often we Jesuits do not take care of our health. Anyway, he wished me well. In fact, both of us would crisscross at the infirmary room of the Canisio as he too was undergoing some medical treatment.

I saw in Fr Adolfo a man of clarity and vision. He was a man of character, indeed. During his tenure as Superior General we saw all his letters were short and to the point. He even said that nobody likes to read long letters today. He used a lot of images and metaphors in his expressions. Perhaps his life in Asia must have had an impact on his thought processing. He said to us that we Jesuits should be like a giraffe. Fascinatingly this animal has a large heart. Because giraffe has a long neck it needs a large heart as well. Moreover, this unusual creation of God has a long neck. Thus, it can reach very high. So too we should be like.

Fr Adolfo often quoted the words of Jesus, Jn 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life". Adolfo said, Europe has the truth, Asia has a way and Africa has life. Therefore, as Jesuits we need to integrate all these three things in our faith and practice, mission and collaboration.

The often quoted words of Fr Adolfo were, we as Jesuits need to be men of prayer, depth (both spiritual and intellectual, go deep into the issues and deep into discernment ) and creativity. He repeated this idea in many of the Jesuit gatherings around the world.  He also said that there are three kinds of Jesuits, extra ordinary men, mediocre and sick Jesuits. He called us to be available and ready to go for missions. Himself being a missionary in Japan and Philippines, Fr Adolfo had grasped the sense of interculturality and interconnectedness very well. This came out when he spoke or wrote. Talking about our Jesuit life he used a beautiful imagery, when a tree falls it makes more noise than other 100 trees standing.

Fr Nicolás was a very humble man. He said among Jesuits we must address each other "tu" you (singular). The sense of equality and brotherliness that we need to practice was indeed a big step Fr Adolfo took as Superior General. Therefore, he didn't like the so called "protocols". He was very much on online education and he himself enrolled into a few courses. There was no age bar or a position to stop one from learning something new.

Fr Adlolfo believed that the Spiritual Exercises should transform us. Therefore, he called us to be in silence. He thought often we are distracted people, overloaded with too many or multiple activities.  His often quoted phrase “globalization of superficiality” should not influence us. Therefore only through silence we can enter deeper into the issues of the day and address them adequately.

Fascinatingly, this following little prayer that Fr Adolfo wrote in 2011 after an eight-day retreat with General Council summarises the kind of person he was and his spirituality. It is a prayer , which arose from the personal meditation of Father Nicolás on the miraculous catch of fish narrated by Saint John in chapter 21.

Lord Jesus,

What weaknesses did you see in us that made you decide to call us, in spite of everything, to collaborate in your mission?

We give you thanks for having called us, and we beg you not to forget your promise to be with us to the end of time.

Frequently we are invaded by the feeling of having worked all night in vain, forgetting, perhaps, that you are with us.

We ask that you make yourself present in our lives and in our work, today, tomorrow, and in the future yet to come.

Fill with your love these lives of ours, which we put at your service.

Take from our hearts the egoism of thinking about what is “ours,” what is “mine”, always excluding, lacking compassion and joy.

Enlighten our minds and our hearts, and do not forget to make us smile when things do not go as we wished.

At the end of the day, of each one of our days, make us feel more united with you and better able to perceive and discover around us greater joy and greater hope.

We ask all this from our reality. We are weak and sinful men, but we are your friends. Amen.

For more information on Fr Adolfo Nicolás please click here,

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

21 May 2020

Jesus is the Safest Way

Fifth Sunday of Easter (A) Readings: Acts 6:1–7; Psalm 33:1–2, 4–5, 18–19; 1 Peter 2:4–9;  John 14:1–12

(Heaven’s Protection by Henry John Stock, ca. 1896.)

Listen to my audio homily

The scriptural readings in today's liturgy are full of wisdom. They are timely during this time of Covid distress.

I

Fix your problems at the earliest. The first reading from the Acts of Apostles 6:1–7 speaks about how the first Christian community is making in roads in those places and people who were not part of Jewish tradition. When the Word of God enters into a new culture the differences become very vivid. We see the Christianity taking roots in the Hellenistic culture, among the Greeks.  The Greek lands accept Jesus as their saviour. The meeting between Greek and Hebrew culture leads to some sort of differences, deceptions and divisions. Greeks feel that their widows are being neglected in the daily distribution of food. Even though it might not be a big problem to such a growing and enthusiastic, vibrant and intellectual community the apostles make a note of it and take a quick decision to fix this problem. Moreover, they select "seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom" as deacons. In other words, these men would look into daily running of the services of the community, e.g. distribution of food. When a problem or an issue arises in a Christian community or in an institution, there should be a quick decision to solve it. Thus harmony and peace is established.

II

Jesus is the safest way and there are no short cuts. The Gospel reading from St John 14:1–12 is central in Jesus' preaching ministry. Jesus communicates to his disciples who have a number of questions which are close to their heart.  Jesus answers the questions of Thomas and Philip from his heart. They are very intimate and leaves them in no perplexity. In all its certainty, Jesus tells his disciples that he is "the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14.6). He is the safest way to the Father in heaven. There are no short cuts in life moreover in our spiritual life. Hence our way to God is often, a narrow way. The way is open to everyone. Are you ready to follow that way?

III

In Jesus is our true and authentic identity. Through this Gospel passage, John the Evangelist brings home the true and clear identity of Jesus. When you know things are clear then you may follow boldly. Jesus has a great confident in his disciples because they know his voice. They have travelled with him in his public ministry. They have heard him preach, pray, teach, heal, touch, raise the dead, condemn the wicked, speak for God in every moment of his life. Jesus could communicate with his disciples very personal things of him because he had a great trust in them. You cannot speak something very personal or intimate with someone who is a stranger, enemy or not trustworthy. Even in our daily life all our mundane things that we do depends on the confidence and trust in the other, including business, health care system, etc.

IV

Jesus is the answer to our existential questions. By answering the queries of his disciples, Jesus is answering some existential questions of our life. The existential questions deal with life, here and now and afterwards. As intellectual beings we cannot run away from the questions that we have. They may come to us at any moment or anytime of our life. Who am I? Where am I going? What will happen after my death? etc., all  are part of our inquisitiveness which are real questions. In other words, these questions are about our life, about truth of our life. We cannot get truth from history books or science books. We get narration or opinion from such books. If history is written by the conquerers then scientific inquiries are done by a mind which in finite, limited and incomplete beings. Therefore, a theory like geocentric to the heliocentric and now the relativity, as the years passed we have moved from one to the other. Probably even the theory of relativity will be replaced with some other better theory in the future. With Jesus no other theories on God have replaced. Because Jesus is the truth. Jesus and God the Father are one.

V

The voice of Jesus is an authentic one, a real one. We are living in a world of fake news, hoax news. Telling lies have become order of the day from the Prime Minister to a peon. To be loud means to be lying. Unfortunately, same lie is repeated in our television/radio news channels, news papers, social media, twitter, facebook, and everywhere. Aa a result we too are becoming part of this conundrum. During this time of Covid turbulence, we are called to remain intentional, truthful, graceful and hopeful. In this time of helplessness, we should be hopeful; too many myths are being created. So that people can climb the ladder of power. It may be either in political and  secular life and even in religious and ecclesial life. Looking at Jesus we need to stop belly gazing attitude in our personal and social life. Just as the scriptures call us to be the imitators of God, so too, in our life we have to become Alter Christus, Another Christ.

VI

Let not your hearts be troubled. In John 14:1, Jesus said to his disciples "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me." Heart is the center of our being. Jesus speaks corde et corde, heart to heart. In the theology of the Fathers of the Church and especially St Maximus the Confessor notes that heart is the innermost core of our being; it is the root of our existence; the place where we are most ourselves. Therefore, the human person is microcosmos. In our ordinary langauge we have many expressions connected with the heart. We often describe people in terms of their hearts; people can be cold-hearted, hard-hearted, warm-hearted, great-hearted or half-hearted, stone hearted, pig hearted, etc!

What Jesus says here about heart is not in biological or physiological sense but in symbolic sense. The heart that Jesus refers is something that is whole, that connects and combines both temporal and eternal at once once and always.  Follow your heart means follow your conscience. In the First book of Samuel, we are told that ‘Man looks on appearances, but the Lord looks to the heart.’ (1 Sam 16,7)   The penetrating gaze of God cuts through the deceitful defences that we build around us and our heart. The Book of Proverbs puts it straightaway: ‘My son give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.’ (Prov. 4:30)

During this time of different kind, we will have to develop more of God consciousness. The kind of assurance that Jesus is trying to instil in the lives of his disciples should be ours too. They were worried because their master began to speak of his departure from their midst very soon. In fact, we can learn from our Lord Jesus to fix our gaze on that right way, real truth and eternal life while we walk in turbulent waters of our fears, darkness and anxieties.  

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

10th May 2020 

Sin of Spiritualising our Woes and Illnesses

(Cross of Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ)

More than ever, there seems to be a sense of interconnectedness at the wake of Corona infection crises. No other time of history of humanity has seen such a vast impact on every individual on earth the consequences of an infection. The magnitude of the corona pandemic and the fears surrounding it are vociferous. There is an unprecedented panic in the world about the present, future and also about the past. We do not know when we would be able to get back to normal life, when our schools opened, markets are free to do business, work places are safe to work, travel is made easy because infection will not happen.

Even though, we are aware that we are all interconnected because we breath the same air, drink the same water, get blood transfusion when necessary by the same human body, rarely we are really aware this symbiosis that happens. In spite of our differences, in our colour, race, langauge, geographical location, religion and rite, yet we are all part of that common whole. We are so much interconnected biologically that human regeneration is possible with people who don't even understand each others' langauge or temperaments.

Pope Francis' ecological encyclical Laudato Si' made us aware how we are interconnected with the earth chemically. We are part of a common home. Each atom within us is connected with the universe atomically. Every cell of our being has to get adjusted to the different environments either it is for the minus 45 degree celsius of temperature of Siberia or 46 degree celsius hot temperature of Jaipur. 

However, in recent years, in spite of qualitative education there seems to be rise in ignorance. Sadly, this ignorance is stemming out of incapacity to analyse the things critically that seem to be very close to us. This happens to be in our spiritual realm. Often people do not understand what Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the great  palaeontologist and Jesuit priest said long ago “we are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” A good number of people even though still locked up yet are stuck with this virus of spiritualising things. This is what I call the sin of spiritualising. Every religion is suffering with this sickness of spiritualising. The problem of today is that we are unable to understand human problems honestly and humanly. 

The sin of spiritualising occurs when we fail to get things right. When we do not get the answers that we like to get for our queries, we find comfort and solace in spiritualising. Just because you have felt the loss of sense of self worth before the Creator, it does not mean that corona infection has come from an evil spirit. Tragedies have occurred in the past and will happen in the future. tsunamis have occurred in the past and will occur in the future too. Illnesses and accidents have happened in the past and will happen in the future too. This lokaniyama (universal rule) cannot be ceased by our human intellectual or physical capabilities. One of the greatest humanists of 19th century, the Russian literary figure Leo Tolstoy once said  “To sin is a human business, but to justify sins is a devilish business.”

There are things of the world which the mind might not comprehend adequately. The messiness of our life is complicated to fix things up even though whatever human capacities might be. Therefore no one can become the spoke person either of God or to the mystery of human existence.  The Swiss Catholic Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar put it so thoughtfully, “what you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”  You as a creation of God have every freedom and possibility to act and behave the way you like within your capacities. Becoming a gift to God is a grace which has to be nurtured and cultivated especially in these times of pandemic weariness.

The current problem of today with regard to our health is a serious one. It can be contained if all cooperate and work on it. If not it can kill us miserably. Therefore, we cannot call this killer virus corona as a punishment of God. Instead, we have to say to ourselves, we have created it and its our duty to fix it. There is no any reason to spiritualise it saying oh, God is punishing us because.... bla bla bla. The right way of addressing this issue would be not making ourselves fools or so pathetic and wretched  before God. 

I am sure God must be watching us how best we are trying to contain corona spread. He must be also looking at our fragility and nothingness. But certainly He is blessing all our sincere efforts. This is the time to show solidarity with one another, to sow the seeds of love and compassion to those whom we never dared to show. God does not want to come in between the freedom that we have. It's our duty to fix our problems within the freedom that we have. Amit Ray, in his "Meditation: Insights and Inspirations" puts it so bluntly, “it does not matter how long you are spending on the earth, how much money you have gathered or how much attention you have received. It is the amount of positive vibration you have radiated in life that matters.” More than ever, the Covid pandemic calls us to see the other person in much more humane way than unnecessarily disqualifying the beautiful word 'spiritual'.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

07 May 2020

Stay Secure in the Lord

 Fourth Sunday in Easter: Readings - Acts 2:14, 36–41; Psalm 23:1–6; 1 Peter 2:20–25; John 10:1–10

(MSJ Farm)

Listen to my audio homily (Kannada)

Olvin Veigas · Homily 4th Easter Sunday Stay Secure in the Lord

The fourth Sunday of Easter is also called as Vocation Sunday. The Word of God today chiefly deals with this theme of Good Shepherd.  We are all called to follow our Lord who keeps us safe and secure.

Peter the Apostle in the first two readings (Acts 2:14, 36–41and 1 Peter 2:20–25) exhorts people specifically, the kind of Jesus whom he is following. By following Jesus three things are assured: 1. Repentance and baptism in Christ, 2. Forgiveness of sins, 3. Showering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, your generation will be blessed. (Acts 2:38-39).

God blesses us even when we suffer especially during those times when we are just and truthful. "But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God's approval (1 Peter 2:20). This was not only an experience of Jesus but also of disciples including Peter. The words of Peter cut to the heart of people. Peter is so much filled with wisdom and courage his words have life changing effect on people. Just like his master, Peter now acts as a true shepherd guiding his people to a path of righteousness and peace.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus puts it very strongly the kind of Shepherd he is and what kind of shepherds this world needs. A true shepherd is the one who hears the voice of the sheep, knows them by name, leads them to green pastures and running streams, he goes before the sheep; they know his voice and follow him. He is also the door for the sheep. (Jn 10: 2-4, 9). Sheep are mentioned in the Bible over 500 times, more than any other animal. Jesus as a shepherd is a good shepherd, indeed.

Looking at the readings we could gather a number of things.

1.To stay secure in the Lord and in the right Church:
The world that we live in is messy in everything. Unfortunately, instead of choosing the right path of life, wrong paths lead us very quickly and make the process very smooth.  Discerning the right path is very essential for a Christian. The saint we celebrated in this week St Catherine of Sienna (1347-1380) is best example how we can stick together in times of crises in our Church. Even at her young age, just 33 when she died, knew her path very well. She demanded the then Pope Gregory XI to reform the Church. She was so daring, St Catherine called the Pope to fix the administration of the Papal States and renewed the religious life too.

The highly popularised Latin phrase from St Augustine, Ecclesia semper reformanda est ("the church must always be reformed", shortened to Ecclesia semper reformanda) is essential in all ages of Church's existence. It has to re-examine itself in order to maintain its purity of doctrine and practice, thus fresh air enters through the windows of our Church. We have to ask that question of people at  Peter’s preaching. “What are we to do?” There is a lot to do for our Church. We are called imitate our Lord radically in a new way of shepherding. By being leaders in our Churches we also participate in a very visible way in Christ's public ministry that is being true and exemplary witnesses.

2. Let no cares of this world bother us when we have the Lord. Today at the wake of Covid lockdown, there seems to be a lot of fear among us, fear about our present status and of the future. Yes, this pandemic makes us feel unsettled at best. It is sensical to have fear because we are finite, limited beings. However, when we have the Lord as our Shepherd, we should be less worried. When we do things right, take necessary precautions, keep open our ears to good advice, and follow them promptly, then why to fear? God helps those who helps themselves. We should put into our every cell those comforting words of Peter reminding us that we are loving God's beloved sons and daughters: 1 Peter 2:21

"Beloved:

If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good,

this is a grace before God.

For to this you have been called,

because Christ also suffered for you,

leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps." 

Recently Pope Francis quoted an Argentinian proverb explaining how to live through moments of crisis in the faith. “When you go on horseback and you have to cross a river, don’t change horses in the middle of the river”. Those who decided to leave Jesus, the Pope said, changed horses midstream. Instead, moments of crisis require that we persevere, remain silent, stay grounded in our convictions. “It is not the moment to make changes”, Pope Francis continued. It is the moment to remain faithful. It is the moment when God is faithful, he said. A moment of crisis is a call to conversion in which remaining faithful “may inspire changes for the better, but not to distance ourselves from the good.”

At this dark moments of our world and of the humanity we need to recite that Psalm 23 daily. By trusting in the Lord completely, we will surely be able to come out from this terrible times of our life.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3     he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

    for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me

    all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

03 April 2020

Covid Care Diary: Relief Work in Time of Lockdown

With the lockdown of Covid 19, Mount St Joseph community along with its Loyola Educational Institutions and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in the campus have been doing a wonderful work of charity. Our target group has been the daily wage earners and stranded migrant workers from various parts of Karnataka and the rest of India.

The whole Jesuit community, both young and senior members have fully immersed into this charitable work. The Loyola College building has been turned into a hub of grocery distribution centre. Students of our Degree College and IHMC parish volunteers are helping us in packing things. There are also Catholic religious Nuns and Priests in the neighbourhood who have joined us in reaching out these groceries to the needy and deserving people in our vicinity.  

I have been writing Covid Care Diary in our MSJ house blog. Have a nice reading:

7. Covid Care Diary: Farmers as our Primary Benefactors

6. Covid Care Diary: Auto Drivers as Our Trusted Collaborators

5. Covid Care Diary: Reaching out to the Right People through Documentation

4. Covid Care Diary - The Large Hearted Volunteers

3. Covid Care Diary: Catholic Religious Brothers & Sisters at Work

2. Covid Care Diary: Reaching out to the Physically Challenged

1. Covid Care Diary: Work Continues Reaching the Unreached

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
23 April 2020

Divine Mercy Sunday: Jesus - "My Lord, My God"

Divine Mercy Sunday/ 2nd Sunday of Easter: Readings - Acts 2:42–47; Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24; 1 Peter 1:3–9; John 20:19–31

(The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio 1601-1602)

Listen to my audio homily

The scriptural readings of today's liturgy are very powerful and significant. They are in tune with what we celebrate today: The Divine Mercy of Sunday, which is also Second Sunday of Easter. The first reading that we have from the Acts of the Apostles 2:42–47 is reminder that how best a good Christian community could live with a spirit of the Risen Jesus. It's community of full of mercy and compassion and have accepted Jesus as their Master and Lord. 

I

The Gospel reading from St John 20:19–31 speaks about the second apparition of the Resurrected Jesus to his disciples. This happens when all the 11 disciples were present including Thomas who was absent during Jesus' first apparition. Thomas' exclamation and confession of faith in Jesus is central one. He exclaims: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Nowhere in the Gospel, we find any other disciple or other person calling Jesus as God.   This confession also speaks about who is Jesus for Thomas, who was called the Twin. It is the same disciple who had said in the earlier time referring to his master soon after raising Lazarus from the dead, to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him [Jesus].” (John 11:16)

II

The three synoptic gospels Mark, Matthew and Luke speak of stories, parables, journeys and events in the life of Jesus.  They paint a portrait of a wandering “prophet” who is busy performing miracles, healing the sick, consoling the poor and downtrodden, comforting the lost, and lonely and raising the dead. He is an attracting figure who befriends all including women, children, strangers, samaritans and Romans. Others speak for him including his Father “This is my beloved Son…” (Matt 3:17, 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35). The experience of his kindness, faithfulness, joys, tears and sorrows are overflowing.

III

However, the gospel of John is different.  We do not see the infancy narratives of Jesus. John begins with Jesus as the “Word” of God.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…” (1:1). Throughout John’s gospel we see exposition of Jesus as divine son of God. The various “signs” of the divinity of Jesus the Christ are manifested either by his own words or by the expressions of others. Many questions are asked including the famous one: “Who do you say I am?”  John makes known Jesus is meant for all. Jesus is a man for the multitudes. Jesus is recognized as someone who is different by the first miracle at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-12). In his feast everyone is included and no one is left out. For John, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (14:6). He is the Marga! The one who shows a way to the father. He is the good shepherd (Jn 10:11). He is the vine and we are the branches (Jn 15:5). He is resurrection and life (Jn 11:25). He is a friend (Jn 15:15), etc.

IV

Interestingly, the gospel writer John places his own friend Thomas in opposition to what Jesus appears in his narration. Thomas is a person who is so human in his dealings that he is the one who will tell the entire creation who actually Jesus is: My Lord, my God. Thomas doubts at every point of resurrection episodes. “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hand and put my fingers into the nailmarks and put my hand in his side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:25).

V

Jesus says three times in today's reading, "peace be with you". In Hebrew, it is Shalom. Its root meaning is wholeness, fullness or completeness. In other words, what Jesus is referring here is the completeness or perfection of everything. There is no slightest edge for what is not peace or harmony. With the resurrection, whatever Jesus communicates to his disciples is going to be a complete, harmonious perfection of God's power which they would proclaim to others.

VI

There is an another word which is really fascinating, i.e. "breathed". Jesus "breathed on them [disciples] and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22). In Greek, it's "Enpousou" τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησεν καὶ λέγει. In the bible only two times this word is used. The first one is in Genesis 2:7 "then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being." This word ἐνεφύση is rich with meaning. Jesus is giving a new life to those terrified, depressed, disappointed, panic stricken disciples a fresh life. In other words, people who were lifeless. With Jesus' gesture they would become the messengers of the good news, Evangelium to the entire creation. Just like the first created person would guide the entire universe, the apostles would be Jesus' imitators in building a reign of God which is full of justice, peace and truth.

 VII

Today, the Church celebrates the Divine Mercy Sunday. The first thought that comes to our mind is the picture of Divine Mercy with those consoling words inscribed “Jesus, I trust in you,” The readings of today suggest very powerfully for a call to all of us to become missionaries of mercy.  Indeed, it's a worthy challenge. People should know me not by my social status, work or group that I belong to, but by the sheer sense of the kind of person I am.

(Divine Mercy, Kazimirowski Eugeniusz, 1934)

Since 2000, the second Sunday of Easter has been known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul II canonised Sister Faustina Kowalska of Poland on 30 April 2000. She had visions of the Divine Mercy. Jesus told Sr Faustina: “Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy.” Through this devotion we are called to be a ray of hope when suffering and death continue to experience here in our own cities, towns, neighbourhoods and around the world due to corona infection.  There is fear, panic, greed, hoarding, violence and death.  Thousands of people have died, millions are infected by this killer bug and many more will die. 

VIII

Strangely, there is still violence and wars being waged around many countries of the world during this time when death is at the corner by the Corona pandemic. The 20th century has seen enough and more wars, genocides, man made disasters and famine. The political leaders and decision makers seem to be busy with how to protect their supremacy and hegemony in their countries and in the world. If this Corona killer bug is causing such havoc, it's because of our own greed and lack of mercy to one another. Certainly, it could have contained long ago. What is consoling is that this corona can infect any political leader in the world; president, prime minister, minister, king, queen, CEO, poor, rich, servant, noble, aristocrat or even a dictator.  Therefore, at least now everyone should understand that only mercy can heal us, touch us and save us. 

Christ has taught us that we not only receive and experience the mercy of God, but also called to practise mercy towards others: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt 5:7). Jesus also showed us the many paths of mercy, solidarity, compassion, love and forgiveness. We should at this moment trust in that God who gave a new lease of life to his disciples. So that all the ills and anxieties that are created by this present situation may be taken away completely and the whole planet may be healed quickly.

A few questions to ponder

1.What kind picture of Jesus I can paint with my life experiences?

2. How far Jesus has been my Lord and my God during this Corona lockdown?

3. Have I ever considered myself as Thomas Apostle, who looks for authenticity and ultimately to the Lord?

4. Like Thomas do I believe only what I personally experience? 

5. Where is this God of ours during this time of Corona pandemic? 

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
Divine Mercy Sunday (19th April 2020)

A New Life with the Risen Lord: Friendship, Focus and Fellowship

Easter Day: Readings - Acts 10:34, 37–43; Psalm 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23; Colossians 3:1–4; John 20:1–9

Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre by Eugene Burnand, ca. 1898. 

John 20:3-4, capturing the emotion on Peter and John's faces. 

They have just been informed by Mary Magdelene that the tomb is empty.

Listen to my Audio Homily

Today is the Easter. Peace and joy is our song. As we meditate over the empty tomb, the desolate and desperate women who loved Jesus, they are consoled by the Risen Lord in an unexpected way. The experience of the Risen Jesus is a very powerful experience in the lives of disciples which leaves them committed to the Lord and his teachings completely. This defining moment makes a special mark in their lives being messengers of friendship, focus and fellowship. The experience of the Resurrection of their friend and teacher gives them indomitable courage and unceasing perseverance. 

I would like to reflect on three aspects that matter most in the Resurrection episodes. 

The first one is that friendship with Jesus matters a lot. It determines their future. The resurrected Jesus meets only his close acquaintances. He meets those people who were very part of him like, his friends, his disciples, his close relatives, etc. St Ignatius of Loyola would go a step further and would say in the Spiritual Exercises that the Risen Jesus must have met first his own mother (Sp. Ex 299). The Risen Jesus does not show himself to scribes or pharisees, and to those people who were looking to eliminate him from this world.  

The first reading that we have today, Acts of the Apostles 10:40–41 says "God raised him [Jesus] on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead." Jesus does not appear to people as he did before he went into passion. He was present in the streets, market squares, temples, feasts, houses, etc. The resurrected Jesus was not a dream or some sort of illusion, instead, Risen Christ could be seen, heard and touched.  He walked with the disciples on the way to Emmaus. He appeared as a gardener, worker, pilgrim and so on. He ate and drank with those to whom he appeared.

In other words, if you are ready to be part of Jesus' life, ready to partake in joys and sorrows of Jesus then you will partake also in his resurrection. 

The second aspect that matters most in the resurrection episodes is that there is a new focus and fellowship. The resurrection narratives take away those moments and events of bitterness. Jesus' passion, suffering and death on the Cross is no more an episode of vengeance, revenge or hatred towards those inflicted, those who inflicted death on Jesus but on the contrary a sheer sense of joy and peace everywhere including an invitation for fellowship with those who didn't want the mission of Jesus to continue. All are invited to take part at least now change or mend their ways. 

Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger of the  Paris Archdiocese seems to have said when there are scandals  or pressing problems, we need to concentrate on fresh areas, focus our attention on something that is life giving. This would help in being more profitable, positive and sustainable instead of simply bogged down or drowned with such issues. The concentration of the disciples soon after the Resurrection of Jesus was to preach what their teacher had done in his life. They are not spending time looking at Jesus on the Cross or the empty tomb. They are out in imitating what their friend had done and told them to do. They do not conspire against those who killed Jesus or get themselves dissolved as a group of committed and connected people. All that is old is changed into new, all that is bitter, sad and unhappy are turned into happy, joyful and peaceful pointers of people. 

Third aspect of episode of Resurrection of Jesus is that evil has its end. What remains is only the goodness, beauty and everlasting peace.  We also see a tremendous increase of creativity among the disciples. There is terrific resilience and enthusiasm among those Easter disciples to do something great for the Lord. For them Jesus does not remain neither on the cross nor in the empty tomb but among the people, in the nitty-gritty matters of life, in the messiness of this world. 

Resurrection episode is a once and for all event. It doesn't take place the second time. Death is transformed by life. Good Friday event has to be passed through. Therefore all human events are redefined and refreshed. As a Christian we are called to look at our life and things that are happening in the world with the eyes of the resurrection narratives of Jesus.  With this great event, Jesus is here; Jesus is there; and Jesus is everywhere. 

Resurrected Jesus is beyond space and time. Our human mind can't even say this is what exactly the Risen Jesus is. Death is transformed by life and that hatred is overpowered by love. The disciples once they come to realise its truth, they are totally overwhelmed by it and their lives change completely.  Interestingly, the Resurrection is a reality that is only made fully known to those who are ready to accept it and who can transcend all the limitations that the mind of this world offers or the world that thinks that it is true. Moreover, once the evil is ended, truth is prevailed, the disciples' minds are receptive to what Jesus had preached and practiced. 

Therefore at this time of Corona crisis, let Jesus be our Easter. Let this magnificent feast of our salvation might help us find deeper friendship with our Lord. Let our focus and fellowship may be strengthened and increased manifold. 

HAPPY EASTER!!!    ALLELUIA!!!!

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
Easter Sunday - 12th April 2020

Easter Joy and Courage with God Centered Life

Easter Vigil Mass: Matthew 28:1-10

(The Resurrection of Christ, Noël Coypel, c. 1700)

Listen to my Audio Homily

Grace and peace to you my dear brothers, sisters and dear children,

As you watch this live streaming of the Easter Vigil Mass in your homes or apartments, you are very much present at this liturgical service even though we cannot see you in person. As you see us, you must be thinking what is this all about during the lockdown. Perhaps some sort of fear, anxiety and grief must be in your minds with the uncertainties of our life and existence. Easter vigil Mass always fascinated me since my childhood, because this special service happened in the night, the calmness, the candles, the burning of fire, the incense, holy water, the falling of melted candle on the hands and fingers, darkness of the evening and so forth, gave a perfect reason to enjoy the solitude and beauty of this Holy Eucharist. Perhaps you may be having your own childhood experiences to complement mine. 

However, my dear friends with our changed circumstances as we are almost like under house arrest, we are trying to live that experience of Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, the close disciples of Jesus. It seems to us, passion of our Lord is long and unending, suffering of the friends and close relatives of Jesus looks like are not getting over from their lives. Tiredness of the evening and darkness of the night are frightening. Just as St John’s Gospel reads “And behold there was an earthquake” we too must be shaken up by this corona earthquake. We do not know where to run and escape? Where to hide? 

In this context, there is a strong source of strength expressed by the angel to the women, “Do not be afraid.” Yes, “do not be afraid”, should be our mantra in a very particular way. The Bible uses 365 times the words connected with “do not be afraid expression” as if every day we should carry with us the word from the bible. Prophet Isaiah Ch 41: 10 says “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.”

At Easter God insists, “Do not be afraid,” When the disciples were in the boat and the boat was struck by the storm, disciples of Jesus wake him up from his sleep. The very first words that he used was “why are you afraid. Have you no faith?” (Mk 4:40).

Therefore, first and foremost the Easter of 2020 tells us so emphatically, “Do not be afraid, but have faith.” Speaking at the extraordinary moment of prayer at the Urbi et Orbi in an empty square of St Peter’s on 27th March, Pope Francis said “We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat… are all of us.” 

At the loss of Jesus their teacher and Master, at the death of a close friend and relative, Mary Magdalene and other women did was to stay together and search for him. Gospel of St. John speaks so vibrantly about how these women and disciples were looking for Jesus even after his death. The consoling thing is that they were able to find him, they were able to get back to that courage which no one would take away from them. Not only that they would give witness to Jesus the Risen Lord by emptying themselves completely even giving their life to what they believed in him.  This is the faith that the Risen Jesus asking each of us today. 

The second aspect this Easter brings us is joy. A simple definition of a Christian is: he or she is a joyful person. A happy person, a person of consolation, a person of peace and serenity, a person of resilience and creativity, a person of magnanimity and generosity, a person who sees the joy in the other and participates as if it is his joy. In a world of hatred, jealousy, unforgiveness, envy, malice, evil, wrong doings, war, revenge, the Resurrection of Jesus calls to be people of Joy, people of solidarity.  A joy that no one can take away from us. So, let us be joyful. Joyful in Jesus.

The third aspect of this Easter brings home is that he or she is not self-centered but other centered, in other words, God centered. The destiny of each one of us not an end in ourselves but in God.  The future of the humanity is not inward looking but outward looking, looking at God the creator and Master of this world. Psalm 146, verse 2 puts it so beautifully “Don’t put trust in mortals, princes but in the Lord.” Psalm 23 says, “Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures”, and this Psalm ends by saying “surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord.” This world is passing and what remains is God’s spoken Word through the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus. He did not cling to his divinity St Paul writes to the Philippians Ch 2 versus 6-11, “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. self-emptied himself”, That is why he was raised up. 

The moment we start to look at our successes, our achievements, our own ends, we see no end in God at all. We miss the point terribly. God becomes the center of our life with the resurrection episode of Jesus. When we are with the Lord, he never allows us to loose, he never keeps us away, but keeps us in the words of prophet Isaiah in his bosom Chapter 40:11 “He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” What kept the disciples of Jesus and his friends was this, that they kept the memory of Jesus as center of their lives.

So, my dear friends, as you are in front of the screens seeing this beautiful service telecast, we pray earnestly to the Lord, that the Risen Lord fill us with his courage and strength, make us people of joy and solidarity, thus we may always be God centered. For this grace we pray at this Mass. Amen

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

Easter Vigil Mass, 11 April 2020