Peace I Leave to You

(Photo courtesy: Jean-Mark Arkalian)

Listen to my audio homily

The Gospel reading for 6th Sunday of Easter, John 14:23-29, is magnificent in its content.  Our Catholic vocabulary is rich with a number of momentous monosyllables: God, Christ, church, faith, hope love, prayer, cross, hell and so on.  They are full of meaning and full of mystery.

Today, we have another monosyllable that we meet in the Gospel: "Peace I leave to you" Jn 14:27: "Peace". 

Everybody knows what peace is.  But do we know exactly what kind of peace Jesus is talking about?  What does peace mean in the promise of Jesus?  Is peace a problem?

We live in an unpeaceful world, wars are raging, conflicts are everywhere.  From Middle East, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, to African continent, from Palestine to our own Kashmir Valley is bloody.  Refugees are fleeing from one country to another in search of better prospects and security.  Latinos are moving to United States and from Asia and Africa people are making their way into the European continent.

On 24 May 2019, our Jesuit General Arturo Sosa wrote to the Society of Jesus saying "last year the United Nations refugee agency reported that 68.5 million people had been forced from their homes, the highest number ever recorded.  25.4 million of these are refugees who fled their own countries to find safety and protection across international borders."  Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) which was founded by Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ in 1980 "now serves 640,000 people in 53 countries; 1 in every 100 forcibly displaced person in the world today is directly supported or served by JRS.

In this contest, we are almost called to spy for peace on earth.  Jesus promises peace but he warns in his peaching: "Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword" Mt 10:34. In another place Jesus speaks about "dissension", "division", "disunity" Lk 12: 51.  Scripture itself is a paradox, some would call it a flat contradiction.  In such contradictions we are called to find meaning in what Jesus says.  

Is peace really possible?  Does Shalom make any sense to us when there is so much, hatred, jealousy, war, fear, anger, discord, dislike, pride, anxiety, angst and so on.  When you see the absence of God in this world, is peace possible?  Is there a chance for peace?

The promise of peace for Jesus is different.

In the Old Testament, Biblical peace is rich with content that no English word can render it adequately.  Peace means that things are going on well with you; you are happy; you feel secure; you have friends; you have a fruitful land; eat your fill and sleep without fear, multiply your progeny and triumph over your enemies.

For Israelites peace was not simply harmony with nature, with self and with others. It meant true harmony with God, a right relationship with Yahweh, for "the Lord is peace" Judg 6:24.  It was an encounter with a living God and who is always at their side. 

In this sense peace was salvation. Ultimately it is realised in the communion with Him who gives all that is good.

Peace that Jesus announces is that of saving peace; "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" Jn 14:27. 

The sinful woman after washing the feet of Jesus with tears sent with the words "go in peace" Lk 7:50, 48, because her sins are forgiven.

With the greeting "peace to this house" Lk 10:5, the disciples offer salvation to the towns during their proclamation of Jesus' mission and where Jesus would go.  Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is marked with shouts of joy and with peace.

Peter preaches the Easter Peace to the ends of the earth. "You know the word which [God] sent to Israel, preaching the good news that is peace though Jesus Christ" Acts 10: 36-37.

The gospel is peace, peace is the gospel.  "Peace rules our hearts" exclaims Paul in Col 3:15.  Peace is the "fruit of the Holy Spirit" Gal 5:22.

God of peace is the one who saves. a heart at peace heart in communion with its God in Christ Jesus.

The peace Jesus is speaking about is that the world cannot give.  This peace is a blessing, where everything is reconciled with the Creator.  It's a redemptive peace.   It is a reconciled peace through Christ.

The paradox is that peace of Christ can coexist with war in the world, with human agony, suffering, death and various forms of dying and destruction.

Jesus gives us courage to our troubled souls. He says, "I have said this to you that in me you may find peace.  In the world you find suffering, but have courage.  I have conquered the world" Jn 16:33. 

When there is so much of anti-God, anti-peace activities going on in the world, love can stand above all this.  Because in this broken world God became human like us, lived among us, suffered, died and conquered the world.  This is the good news for us.

We often sing, "where peace and charity are found, there God abides". In Christ peace and love abides.  We believe in him, we trust in him, we follow him, we love him, we also resurrect with him. 

Through a living faith, a loving faith and yes, a crucifying faith we can conquer this world.  Christ, our Saviour has shown the path. 

The paradox is when you open your heart to others you will experience the peace of Christ.  You will feel his real presence.  So do not be discouraged.  We are called to transform this world, ourselves and others. A new paradigm shift happens here.  Everyone is called to this unique mission through our baptism. 

Jesus gives his disciples the ability to abandon themselves to God.  In this abandonment, if they allow themselves, they can come to know true joy.

In a few moments from now at the Mass,  we will wish one another peace. Let's wish one another freedom from anxiety within.  Wish one another harmony and health;  pray that everyone who is here may experience peace of the Lord.  Wish everyone good things, happy things.

Thus the presence of Christ will make your "spirit spin," your "bones to quake, "your blood run thin," your "flesh to melt inside your skin," your "very pulse create a din" - aware "That Heaven is / not up, but in"!  (From a poem by Sister Mary Ignatius "Discovery").

It's this that makes

My spirit spin,

My bones to quake,

My blood run thin,

My flesh to melt

Inside my skin,

My very pulse

Create a din-

It's this that makes

My spirit spin:

That Heaven is

Not up, but in!

Olvin Veigas, SJ

26 May 2019

Risen Jesus, Fish and Flock

(Photo courtesy: Jean-Mark Arkalian)

Listen to my audio homily

The Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of the Easter, John 21: 1-19,  where Jesus appears to seven disciples and the special final conversation with Peter, the Apostle, is really fascinating and intriguing.  The experience of the disciples of the Risen Jesus has something concretely to say to us in recognising the presence of God and of Jesus in our daily lives.  To be an authentic and genuine disciple of Jesus it's not just to be "holy" or to be good but to have courage and boldness when the call comes to do uncomfortable and difficult things including ready to suffer.  Thus sharing the suffering of Jesus we also share in his glory eternal. 

Basically two things happen in the gospel narrative: Firstly, Jesus' appearance to his 7 disciples while fishing by the Sea of Tiberias.  Secondly, Jesus having an intimate talk with Peter and giving a job of leading Jesus' mission with other disciples on this earth. 

Disciples are back from Jerusalem to their native land of Galilee, from the city of God to the city of man, from the mountain of Calvary to the plateau of Galilee, from following the Rabbi Jesus to fishing in the sea.

Disciples being back in their homeland, Galilee, who loved fishing, go back to fishing, their first job, back to ordinary business.  Looks like they have forgotten their skill as nets are empty in spite of whole night's labour and waiting.  There they meet Risen Jesus in ordinary things, just like Jesus had called them for the first time, so too now, Jesus makes an appearance to them in person.  However, for the moment in a different form after three years, since he met them mending their nets.  Jesus meets them in the things they liked to do most, that is, fishing. 

But the meeting with Jesus is now different from the last time.  All the 7 disciples on the boat are frustrated, disappointed because they caught nothing.  Desolated.  depression is surrounded them after what has happened in Jerusalem.  Whole night has been spent in the boat and now terribly tiered. The weariness has led them to silence.  Hunger and thirst is eating their forlorn spirits.  Their bodies are longing for sleep and rest.  Hopelessness has surrounded in every inch of their boat, in a sense the world is closed.  A deep sense of emptiness in their hearts and minds because their nets are empty;  they are still waiting.  In this drudgery and messiness the Risen Jesus meets them.  Don’t you think it must have been such a beautiful experience to them? 

Jesus also meets us in the things that we like most. The things that we do with great faith and consolation.  Disciples had forgotten the words of Jesus: "Without me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5).  When we forget God, God remembers us and comes close to us.  All the more, Jesus is present in those things that brings good for ourselves and others

In the symbolism of the gospels, the boat and those in it represent the church, the community in Christ.  And it is this “beloved” disciple, who is particularly close to Jesus, who can recognise his presence.  We too are called to lead others, and recognise God's presence and lead many more to him. 

The second incident that takes place in that episode is Risen Jesus asking Peter a very touching question, an intimate question: "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"

Probably we do not like to hear a repeated question from our close friends or from the person whom we love most.

Firstly, that is emotional, and carries a sense of suspicion and apprehension. Moreover, this puts the person in awkward position. 

Secondly, Jesus is asking a very serous question of following him; checks Peter's faithfulness.  It is a reminder to Peter that he may not fail again.  He was reluctant when Jesus wanted to wash his feet.  He had denied Jesus  already 3 times when he was caught by the elders and chief priests.  Peter had already said to Jesus that even his other 11 disciples disowned him yet he would not.   He would give his life to his master. Jesus also knows the earlier episodes of catching fish and when he recognised  Jesus he had jumped into the sea, tried to imitate Jesus by walking on the water but failed miserably and was sinking and Jesus had saved him (Matthew: 14:30).  

The first call of Peter at the Sea of Galilee while casting the net along with his brother Andrew becomes a reality now with those words of Jesus "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." (Mt 4:18-19).  And now he has to "Feed my lambs" (John 21: 15-19). Peter's call turns into transforming leader giving a spirited leadership to his discouraged brothers and frustrated followers of Jesus of Nazareth.

The Easter experiences make the disciples bold, strong and faithful. There is nothing that can deter them or destroy their new found enthusiasm.

1. Is Jesus present in our endeavours?
2. Has the Lord’s presence made a difference in our lives?
3. Am I ready to long for Jesus and embrace him in my frustrations, desolations, disappointments, emptiness, weariness, sleepiness, hopelessness, depression, tiredness, loneliness, hunger and thirst, waiting and fatigue? 

A prayer to live by

Perhaps we could finish with the words of a prayer of Cardinal John Henry Newman (slightly adapted), which beautifully expresses what we have been considering:

Dear Jesus,

help me to spread your fragrance everywhere I go.

Flood my soul with your spirit and life.

Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly

that all my life may be only a radiance of Yours.

Shine through me and be so in me

that every person I come in contact with

will feel your presence in me.

Let them look up and see,

not only me, but also Jesus.”

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

06 May 2019

Easter Homecoming

I wish you a happy Easter!

We are the Easter People. Alleluia is our song. Easter brings us peace individually and joy as a community. Having walked for forty days with the Lord and having accompanied him in his passion, suffering and death in the Holy Week, now we are participating in the joy of the Resurrection of Our Lord. 

"The earth itself is our home" wrote Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner. "In his death the Risen Christ has become the heart of this earthly world, the divine heart in the innermost heart of the world… we do not need to leave her, for the life of God dwells in her. When we want both the God of infinity and our beloved earth – when we want both for our eternally free home, there is but the one path." It is this, in coming home to ourselves we come home to our world. 

That is the meaning of the Easter homecoming – it is a coming home to the divinity in ourselves in an earth that is now established as our true home, because it is the home of God. Our homeland is not in a faraway heaven any more: it is to be found at our own neighbourhood. 

The journey of Easter is a journey of salvation. This happens here and now. We are part of this bigger picture of God's rising from the world which he created. The Incarnation meets its fullness in the Resurrection of Our Lord. The man who walked length and breath of of Israel continues to walk in the entire cosmos taking the whole creation unto himself. So that the creation could see the glory of God. Being the image and likeness of God we are led into that glory we can attain once again the likeness of God because the treachery of sin and power of evil have been destroyed once and for all. Now, we can see God of light, truth and life face to face along with heavenly beings of angels and seraphim's. 

This Easter has made us once and for all the partakers of divine nature. Let this Easter Season help us to discover the divine goodness that carry with us here on earth and spread the fragrance of it to each and every person around us. My Easter prayer for you comes from the Jesuit poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins: “Let Him Easter in us, be a dayspring to the dimness of us, be a crimson-cresseted east.”

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

23rd April 2019

The Power and Significance of Condolence Messages

Often, everything that happens to you is an experience in itself.  In recent years, I’ve been becoming aware about the things that are happening within me and around me.  In other words, I have become sensitive to things, situations, actions, events and incidents.  Probably my own health crises must have added to my already existing nature of being quick to recognise or give words or expressions to such feelings, emotions and movements of the heart. 

A very recently, when my mom passed away I understood the significance of messages of condolence. To accept the passing away of my mom was extremely difficult because we were very intimately connected.  Every second day she would call me over the mobile in the last two years and we would speak for quite a few minutes.  In fact, I learnt the skill of killing the time over the phone through my mom. A great teacher, indeed!

Each condolence message brought a unique message and received with a particular feeling.  It also depended on my relationship with the person, my friendship, acquaintances, etc. 

One thing was common in all, that is, every message brought me consolation and a sense of belonging to a human family where pain is shared by all.  I also found that those who called me over the telephone were brief, cordial, and included a touch of spiritual warmth.  Most of the messages  by e-mail, WhatsApp consisted a sense of prayerful wishes of comfort and support. 

Fr George Griener, SJ, who was my academic guide, mentor and friend while I was pursuing my studies in Berkeley, CA, US  sent me something from Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner,  a part of prayer  which had helped in his own life.  This made me ponder and meditate over the mystery of life. 

"Prayer to the God of the Living" By Karl Rahner

I should like to remember my dead to you, O Lord, all those who once belonged to me and have now left me.  There are many of them, far too many to be taken in with one glance.  If I am to pay my sad greeting to them all, I must rather travel back in memory over the entire route of my life’s journey….

…The true procession of my life however consists only of those bound together by real love, and this column grows shorter and more quiet, until one day I myself will have to break off from the line of march and leave without a word or wave of farewell, never more to return.

That’s why my heart is now with them, with my loved ones who have taken their leave of me.  There is no substitute for them, there are no others who can fill the vacancy when one of those whom I have really loved suddenly and unexpectedly departs and is with me no more.  In true love, no one can replace another, for true love loves the other into that depth where is he uniquely and irreplaceably himself.

Therefore when death has trudged through my life, each of those who have departed has taken something of my heart with them, indeed often my whole heart.  Anyone who has really loved and still loves finds life changed, even before death, into a living with the dead.  For could the one who loves forget his or her dead?  And if someone has really loved, then his ‘forgetting’ and ‘having exhausted his tears’ is not the sign of being comforted again, but of the ultimacy of his mourning, the sign that a piece of his own heart has really died with the dead person and now is living dead, and therefore can no longer weep…..”

Karl Rahner, Prayers for a Lifetime¸ included from his earlier collection, Words Spoken into the Silence, composed when he was 34 years old.

- Olvin Veigas

31 March 2019

4th Sunday of Lent

Mother and Her Absence

One of the things that I noticed in my own life quite recently is that how the passing away of your dear one affects your life without its many expressions.  When my mom left this world on the 7th of February 2019, I was with her holding her.  Even though, her passing was so quiet, peaceful and graceful, she had come to that stage with a lot of pain and suffering, leaving her with many questions which she did not hesitate to share.  One of such questions was, “why God is not taking me from here?”  

The serenity with which my mom breathed her last left in me, too, a grace, a sense of thankfulness and peace.  I said to myself, mom has done everything she had to do in this world as God’s beautiful creation, moreover, she has taught me what I am.  Through her suffering I too learnt what that suffering is.  Offering oneself to God was the only way out in all the suffering.  Nothing else.

(With mom on my Ordination day 28 Dec 2008) 

I experienced the great pain of my mom’s passing after 30 hours; the day of her funeral.  I could not control myself the grief and inner sorrow.  The very thing that came to my mind again and again was, now on I will not see mom and will not hear her voice again.  I will not have her phone calls which I did every alternate day.  I will not have her presence henceforth to make me comfortable at home whenever I reach my native place. 

At a fairly young age, I left my country because of the kind of life I chose, that is to be a Jesuit and to be "sent".  On my rare home visits from abroad to my family home were full of joy.  Mom prepared the dishes that I would not get elsewhere.  She made a special point to ask. She prepared pickle for me so that I could carry to Russia and have sometimes at my meals; this was also appreciated by my fellow Jesuits in Moscow.  Probably, in the life of a priest and the kind of life he lives as a consecrated person and single either his mother or sister become very dear and near to him.  Certainly, I am not immune to that mystery of life.  Perhaps the attachment that I have towards my mom will be part of my life let I take any vow of renunciation.  Nevertheless, I should turn to a Church Father to whom his mother meant a lot in his life, not only bringing him forth into this life temporal but also praying for him so that he too becomes part of her faith and life of salvation.

Very interestingly St Monica, the mother of St Augustine, talked to her son at her deathbed on the island of Ostia regarding her funeral: “Lay this body anywhere, let not the care for it trouble you at all. This only I ask, that you will remember me at the Lord's altar, wherever you be.” (Confessions IX, 11).

This is what St. Augustine writes about his mother after many years of her death in his book “Confessions”:  “And when we were at the Tiberine Ostia my mother died.  Much I omit, having much to hasten.  Receive my confessions and thanksgivings, O my God, for innumerable things concerning which I am silent.  But I will not omit anything that my soul has brought forth as to that Your handmaid who brought me forth—in her flesh, that I might be born to this temporal light, and in her heart, that I might be born to life eternal.  I will speak not of her gifts, but Yours in her; for she neither made herself nor educated herself.  You created her, nor did her father nor her mother know what a being was to proceed from them.” (Confessions IX, 8)

Furthermore, the good son, Augustine enumerates the virtues of his holy mother: “She had been the wife of one man, had requited her parents, had guided her house piously, was well-reported of for good works, had brought up children, as often travailing in birth of them (cf. Galatians 4:19) as she saw them swerving from You.  Lastly, to all of us, O Lord (since of Your favour Thou sufferest Your servants to speak), who, before her sleeping in You, (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:14) lived associated together, having received the grace of Your baptism, did she devote, care such as she might if she had been mother of us all; served us as if she had been child of all.” (Confessions IX, 9).

There is nothing more to add. St. Augustine speaks for us all.

- Olvin Veigas

25th March 2019

The Feast of Annunciation

Empowerment of Women and Their Protection - Speech in Kannada

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My untiring, ever smiling mom- Lethisia Veigas

Mom on her golden marriage day

My mom Lethisia (Rodrigues) Veigas (1944-2019), aged 75, passed away in our family home in Kalyaradda of Badyar Parish after having lived 56 years of married life with my dad Athus Veigas on 07 February 2019.  She leaves behind her husband Athus Veigas and half a dozen children, Raphael, Marcel, Philip, Fr Jerome SJ, Sr Irene BS and Fr Olvin SJ. 

My mom was a person of simplicity and amicability.  With a broad smile she won the hearts of all our Hindu neighbors, Muslim customers in our shops, Christian faithful in our parish and a large band of relatives.  Mom was very active in the parish life of Badyar Church.  Bring a member of the “Sodality of Our Lady of Sorrows” and the “Third Order of Franciscans”, she was actively involved in its activities either in the parish level or deanery level along with her husband, Athus.  She was so much attached to the Church and its community life. When she had to forgo going to Mass on Sundays to a parish because she had to be with me in an apartment in Ernaculam/Kochi taking care of her sick priest son, she felt something missing, even though her son did private Masses for her.  For her relationship meant a lot.  It had to be lived actively in a practical way.  Sunday’s was the day she looked forward as she could meet her contemporaries and others.  She would often express her dissatisfaction of being unable to be with her parishioners especially when her health deteriorated in the last few months.

Mom’s end came in a very powerful way symbolising how her deep faith in Christ and devotion to Rosary could bring such a happy death.  I had reached home around 6.30 in the evening of 07th February 2019 from Bangalore.  After spending an hour and half with mom, we decided to say the family Rosary. Just as mom was so well disposed to evening prayer in everyday of her life, on this day  she ended her earthly life during the evening prayer at 8.30 PM. 

Mom was a woman of great faith and prayer.  She was the one who taught us all the first Christian prayers and prepared for first communion.  She had a beautiful voice.  Her voice could be heard so well in every prayer meetings and other liturgies of the Church.  I have recorded some of the old Christian hymns and other folkloric songs while planting the paddy and could be found on YouTube.

Mom loved to have friendship with all.  She made no difference whether a person is rich or poor, Hindu or Muslim. She kept up the friendship by meeting them or inquiring about them often.  The number of our neighbors or acquaintances of our family came to visit her in the last two months while she is bedridden is simply amazing.  Practically everyday we had visitors to her in spite of our house being far away from the town. 

Mom was a learner, in fact an active learner.  In 1979, we got our first 5 HP Cooper diesel motor pump to irrigate our land and with that dad established a small rice mill.  She learnt the skill of turning on the wheels of this heavy machine in starting it and then working on the “Huller” (rice mill).  In one hour, the Huller would prepare 120 kilos of rice. The speed at which the things had to be worked out during that process is simply treacherous and would put the person’s stamina, energy and patience into check.  Mom would do this work singlehandedly as all of us her six children were in the school and our senior grand parents at home.  Mom had the amazing capacity and curiosity to learn.  Even though, she had finished only the 5th grade schooling in her village school in 1956, she  learnt quickly to manage the digital mobile system which is purely in English. 

Mom & dad on their golden marriage day in 2013

Mom was a generous person. Just like the saying in the Bible that it is in giving that one finds more joy and not in receiving, so too, Mom, experienced true joy in giving.  Dad being a bit disciplinarian, for anything and everything all of us went to mom for permissions or things that we wanted from dad.  Whoever came to our home seeking some material assistance or saw someone needed her help, she was always ready to listen and help.

I always learnt something new from my mom as well as my other four brothers and one sister.  We felt always happy to say something about her.  We enjoyed her good company as she got older and sicknesses made their home in her.  Whenever, we three religious, (Fr Jerome, Sr Irene and I) came home on home visit we had our dinners together in our ancestral home, then we would sit in our front portico of our home and enjoy the fun.  Henceforth, we will be missing this very greatly. 

Mom was a charming lady.  When I got terribly sick and had to receive treatment in almost solitary confinement so that I don’t get infection, mom stayed with me for 7 months.  These were the months I came to know really who the mom was, what a mother can do to a half alive son to rejuvenate.  Even though, mom knew nothing of Malayalam she would converse in Kannada with the neighbors of our apartment where we were staying. They understood her Kannada and my mom neighbour’s Malayalam.  Many said to me that even though they were staying there for quite many years, they did not know each other but mom within a short span of time had won their hearts with her enthusiasm and simplicity.  Within no time they had become her friends.  This is what baffled me so much. 

One of the most enticing thing that I saw in mom and admired for, is her ability and patience to suffer.  She suffered greatly as her health deteriorated over the years and the symptoms kept on increasing and multiplying. She bore everything in patience and forbearance.  She offered everything to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Surely, mother was a humble, distinct and unique person and now I’ll have to relive those wonderful moments that I spent with her. 

Dear  mai, goodbye for the moment,  but you will be always my mai and forever! (Mai=Mother in Konkani)

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

08 February 2019

Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita 

St Joseph Vaz: Man of God, man of people and man of the Church

In the context of public ministry of Jesus, “he went on doing good” as the scripture says, we could ask this question. Where did Jesus get so much energy and passion to preach the Word of God, to heal the sick, lame, and blind and go about teaching people from one place to another without much rest and leisure? One thing is prominent in the life of Jesus is that he was chosen to be the saviour of the world, he was conscious about his mission. Therefore, Jesus was clear about who he was. Hence he spoke for God, he meditated God in his life, he worked for God. Jesus lived in the spirit of God.  

Here we are in this shrine of St Joseph Vaz in Mudipu. A man committed to the Gospel, committed to God. Once a person gives himself to God then he has to live for God, he has to speak for God, he has to bring people to God. This is what Joseph Vaz did in his life.  I would like to place before you three aspects, which I believe are very prominent in the life of Fr Joseph Vaz.

The first one is: Joseph Vaz was a man of God. He came from a simple family in Goa. His parents gave him the faith in Jesus Christ. He was nurtured in that faith. And this faith made him to offer himself to God. In other words, he experienced God in his life. He could not contain this experience of God to himself. He wanted to share this faith with others.  To do so, he thinks that becoming a priest is an ideal way. Therefore he applies to the newly arrived Jesuits. Unfortunately, they do not receive him in their order. Finally, he joins the Oratorians order and becomes a priest. His heart was bigger than himself. His love for Christ and to share that faith he begins his intense pastoral life. He comes down to Gangolli, Kundapur, Mudipu in the Coastal Karnataka in order to preach the Gospel and to strengthen the already existing Christians here. He sees the problem in the Church. There were no priests or apostolic vicars in the coastal belt. He recommends the Church authorities in Goa to send the pastors to these places.  Christians were returning to their previous religion as there were none to guide them. There were problems in the Church of 17^th century in India especially the hierarchical politics of Pedro Vado and Propoganda Fide and colonialism. This does not disturb him but makes it a point to save the faith of Christians. Because, Joseph Vaz was a man of God.  While he was in the Canara he hears how the Christians in Sri Lanka are suffering under the Dutch, under persecutions. He did not remain silent or mute. He begins his journey. He hears the God’s voice that he should go to Sri Lanka and save the people of God.

The second point is: Joseph Vaz was a man of people. He lived in a society in which castism was part and parcel of it. There were class structures. There were people who were part of the ruling class.  There were people belonging to various religions either in Canara or Sri Lanka like, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, etc. But he was a pastor of all. He never made any distinctions among the people. He was close to the King of Kandy. He even translated the book of herbal medicine from Portuguese into Sinhala, which would serve the people in Sri Lanka. He won the favours from the king in Kandy for his good deeds for all the people. People from other religions revered him; they protected him from Dutch who were persecuting the Catholics. Joseph Vaz was truly a man of people. He was people’s pastor. He nursed the sick and poor. He took care of people who were fallen to small pox.  He started hospices and clinics for people. In this context he showed through his life that we are supposed to unite people and not divide.      

The third point is: Joseph Vaz was a man of the Church. Why? He loved the Church so much, being a native of our land, India he understood that natives will do a better job in preaching Christ. He understood clearly the existing Church problem of not taking the natives into the religious order, and allowing the natives to become priests. Strangely, Church said it does not need them. But Christ needed them. So, he founded an Indian version of Oratorians. Through which he prepared men for the Church. He wanted to serve the Church better. This was a radical shift in the way he thought and worked for the Church. This in fact, is a revolutionary idea from his part.  In spite of the problems in the Church, he said that he needed a strong lay Church. In fact, Church needed him badly. Sadly, Church is still not a lay Church, lay oriented Church but a priestly centered Church, a clerical Church. He wanted people’s Church. Only when we become people oriented Church we can serve the Lord better and boldly. Certainly, Joseph Vaz was a man of the Church. He loved the Church more than any other.

Christ critiqued his religion, Judaism. He condemned the bogus practices of its priestly class and religious leaders like scribes and Pharisees. However, Jesus did not leave his religion. Until his death on the cross, he was a pure Jew. He worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He read the Tora. He did what a normal Jew would do. He had his strong foundations, roots in the Jewish religion. Joseph Vaz followed this Jesus as his model and faith in his pastoral and missionary life.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

16 Jan 2019 

Feast of St Joseph Vaz

What is Christmas?

Christmas Message 2018

1. Christmas is an event that we Christians commemorate to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago in an obscure village called Bethlehem, of Palestine, under the Roman rule.

2. Jesus Christ is a focal point of our faith, and existence, moreover, gives us reason to celebrate that he is our Saviour and Master.  Jesus said, those who have seen me have seen the Father. 

3. The event of Jesus' coming into the world is to take us out of darkness and lead us to light, from untruth to truth and from death to life, in other words, as Jesus himself said, that he is the way, the truth and life. It’s the moment to start imitating.

4. Jesus' coming into the world is considered as a historical true event which happens in our own human history. Such an event is God becoming human to be part of our lives so that we become like him. It’s a story of our salvation. Christmas reminds us that we need to take seriously our life in this world as this would lead us to God once and for all. 

5. Christmas is a feast of life. It’s a festival of joy, peace, consolation, contentment, excitement, happiness, gladness. We are called to be partakers in this great event human story. Only God can give us the joy of living waters.

Happy Christmas!!!

- Olvin Veigas, S.J. 

22 Dec 2018