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Sunday, February 9, 2020

God will Shine on You and Make You Bright

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time: - Readings: Isaiah 58:7–10; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5; Matthew 5:13–16

The readings of today make us to reflect over who we are in this world. They also remind us that our faith can never be a private affair, something we can hide as if under a basket.

Taking the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we see that God has a special place for each one of us.  We are never alone. In general, the running theme in today's reading clarifies our identity and vocation as Christians. We are someone before the Lord when we feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked and heal the sick. Because God is merciful, generous, and just. His arms are open, he gives without counting. God does not know our mathematics, our measures. He is unlimited in love. Hence, He invites us to be so.

The power of God is beyond telling, look at Paul, a person alien to our faith but turned completely upside down with his change of life’s direction. A man given himself completely to the ideology of his religion, opens up to the Spirit of the Lord. Once his life is offered to Jesus there is no looking back. He becomes the founder of many Christian communities. This Paul brought faith to more people than anyone else and helped to shape what we now call Christianity. People listen to him, non-Jews listen to him. He feels humbled by the power of God and how it is working in the lives of people and in his own life. Paul feels deep within that it is not his talent, intelligence that led the people to form communities in Christ but the power of the crucified Christ. He recounts his initial fear when he visited Corinth to proclaim Christ; he came with "fear and trembling". But with the power of God, he could bring so much fruit to the Corinthian community. Therefore, before the power of God human wisdom has no standing.

Paul doesn’t try to draw people by strength, confidence or even certainty. But instead shows who he really is to them – and so who Christ really is. To be Christian is to choose a God who became human, a God who chose to be vulnerable – a God who draws us to each other through our vulnerability. We are called to find ourselves- to be whole- to be as vulnerable as we are- and, in this vulnerability, this humanity, to find God. We could ask ourselves how we take our own vulnerability, limitedness before the pressures of this world. Often we are surrounded by a pressure to be strong and independent...as if to be weak is to be broken. How do you experience this pressure? Do you feel comfortable with it... or is it a strain?

Living in God is living in vulnerability. St Paul recognises that, in speaking to the Corinthians, he was weak and fearful yet he continues this great task of demonstrating power in faith. Think of those times and ways in which you have felt weak and fearful...perhaps times when you have been under pressure to perform – how did this feel? How did you deal with this? Did the pressure overcome you or did you overcome it?

To be Christian is to choose a God who chose to be vulnerable. God is almighty yet he chooses to be with us in our weakness...how does it feel to choose a vulnerable God? Ours is a relationship of vulnerability. As people who choose this God of vulnerability we, like St. Paul, are drawn to follow Him in becoming fully human...becoming open, vulnerable and real. Pope John XXIII said that “Tenderness is strength at its fullest”.

In today's Gospel Jesus puts so beautifully how we should be: ‘You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world’ he says. Salt and light are metaphors about the world. Salt gives taste whereas light takes away the darkness. With these metaphors of salt and light, we might firmly affirm that we should be Christians whose life matter. We should affect others. We cannot be like a stagnate water but flowing fresh river water. There must be a transparent quality to our lives. Our friends and family, our neighbors and fellow citizens, should see reflected in us the light of Christ and through us be attracted to the saving truths of the Gospel. If we live for Christ, we will glow like light. Thus we can be a beacon of hope for others.


- Olvin Veigas, SJ

09th February 2020


Sunday, February 2, 2020

God has His Say in Everything

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Readings: Malachi 3:1–4; Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 2:22–40
(The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Fra Angelico, 1440-1442)


Today’s feast marks the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, forty days after he was born. As the firstborn, he belonged to God. According to the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph were required to take him to the Temple and “redeem” him by paying five shekels or a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. At the same time, the Law required the child’s mother to offer sacrifice in order to overcome the ritual impurity brought about by childbirth.

I
What is fascinating and prominently make their presence felt in this Scripture passage are two elderly people, Simeon and prophetess Anna. Both came to the temple where Jesus would be presented because of the promptings of the Holy Sprit. Interestingly, both were looking for something extraordinary in their peak of life or in their ripe age.  Finally they meet whom for so long they had prayed, read in the prophetic writings and heard from their Rabbis.

The senior Simeon astonishes both the parents of Jesus, especially the mother, Mary. She would be coming to know here first sorrow among the seven sorrows mentioned in the Gospels.  This will be a source of deep pain for the Mother, something she will not realize fully until she sees him die in agony before her eyes.  Simeon's words must have been very puzzling and even alarming to Mary and Joseph. I suppose no mother would like to hear such bad futuristic thoughts about their child.

Every parent would like to know the future of the child, what this child would become; what it would accomplish, etc.?  Parents have dreams for their children. It is rightly to have dreams for one's offsprings.

II
Simeon also gives us a very challenging prayer, which we do everyday Compline, Night Prayer, in other words, whenever we recite "Nunc dimittis" from  the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 29 through 32, meaning "Now you dismiss".
"Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel."

Both these elderly persons of the Lucan Gospel, Simeon and Anna remind us that God has His say in everything, even at the last moments of our life. It could be even when we have gone through rough sea's of life; in things which must have been really difficult and disappointing. Still we could give a chance to God to do his job for us. He will have his say and that would be the right one, promising one, and which we must have been waiting for so long.

III
The presence of Jesus must have been such an astonishing event in their long lives of Simeon and Anna. All the pain of being a widow, childless that she must must have been carrying on for more than 60 years of life must have vanished with that wink of seeing Jesus, the little baby in the arms his mother, Mary.

The presence of Jesus is must for every Christian where ever they are. The liturgy invites us to be the presence of Jesus in the world around us and to be able to recognize Jesus as revealed or made present by others.
Saint Teresa of Avila puts it so beautifully how and what it means to be the presence of Jesus in the world:
God of love, help us to remember 
That Christ has no body now on earth but ours 
No hands but ours, No feet but ours 
Ours are the eyes to see the needs of the world. 
Ours are the hands with which to bless everyone now. 
Ours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good.
And, to recognize Jesus made present by others, we perhaps need to, as Simeon and Anna did, rely on God’s grace.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

02nd February 2020

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Failures have a Future

(Photo courtesy: Jean-Mark Arkalian)
Although none of us like to encounter failures, unfortunately they are part and parcel of our lives. The more we run away from them, more they haunt us. Failures are facts of life. None of us can escape from failures either big or small, seldom or continuous.

A matured leaf has to ripen, dry and fall on the ground. Only then a new leaf would make its place and the branch would grow. Every failure is a pillar of success. Failures come and go and but we remain there.

As I read through the book of Samuel, especially the story of the rise and fall of Saul, the first king of the Jews in the 11th century BCE (1 Sam 9) the facts on failures become very vivid.  With his kingship, the Jews made a definite move from tribal society to a statehood. Things fail, human person fails, even God fails. This could be seen in the life of King Saul. In spite of the resistance of prophet Samuel, Yahweh wants to fulfil the desire of Israelites. Samuel tries to persuade the Jews not to look for a king by giving them various reasons and how the king would exploit and enslave its citizens. However, Yahweh has different plans. God asks Samuel to listen to the people. Vox populi est vox Dei, the voice of people is the voice of God. Finally, Samuel anoints the best person among Jewish male: "There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above everyone else" (1 Sam 9:2). 

Unfortunately, the story of king Saul does not end here with success but in utter failure personally and collectively. Saul follows his own ways instead of the book of the covenant, thus leading to an admonition from the prophet Samuel who had anointed him as the king (1 Sam 15).  Saul is rejected as a king and David was anointed in his place. The question that troubles us is this: How is that God who had chosen such a formidable man lost favour in the sight of God so quickly? Didn't God think well about Saul before making such an important milestone in the history of Israel by providing them first Jewish king? Why didn't God give enough wisdom to Saul to do the right and appropriate things?

God failed in the person of Saul. But the story has a colourful continuation. God raises another man more handsome and more courageous and talented in David. For God nothing is impossible. Perhaps we make things impossible when God wants us to be successful. He prepares us to beat the failures. There are always alternative routes to make our failures into success. Moreover, we should take different approaches. With our little failures we think that is the end of the story. In fact, it is the beginning of a new story with more scintillating and courageous one. Because every failure will be redeemed in order to be more successful. God is the future. Hence, failures have a bright and shiny future.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

28th January 2020

Sunday, January 5, 2020

God Reveals And Works Amidst Us

The Feast of Epiphany -Readings: Isaiah 60:1–6; Ephesians 3:2–3, 5–6; Matthew 2:1–12
(Adoration of the Magi, Jan Boeckhorst, 1652)

The feast of Epiphany, in other words, the manifestation of our Lord, is an important event in the liturgical calendar. This feast brings us to the end of season that we started with First Sunday of Advent. While reading the narrative of those three wise men in search of baby Jesus sets us to think three important factors, in light of revelation of God and His work amidst us.

1. Confusion and clarity
2. Protection and proclamation
3. Mystery has a indilutable meaning.
I
Firstly, confusion and clarity: The Gospel of Matthew says, "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him" (Mt 2:3). God works through confusion. There was a reason for King Herod and his palace to get disturbed and confused. Our God is a God of light and not of darkness. When God's light enters into the reign of darkness then there is confusion, commotion and terrific disturbance. This is happens for a good reason. The clarity does not come out just like that, without a whisk or leaving its deep traces. Clarity has its costs. 

God empowers those who are ready to hear and listen to him. The three wise men belong to this group of people who believed when one door closes another opens. God opens the door to these non-Jews and non-Romans. In fact, God had bigger, brighter and better plans. God brings clarity about His sovereignty to those who do not know him yet. The kingdom of God belongs to everyone even to those who are not within the purview of those "first called". Sometimes God can bring out good out of those evil people like Herod, at least, in pointing out the right direction even though they may not follow. Which evil man or woman wants to follow the right path even when the way to heaven is clear? The men in the Herod's palace were able to guide the magi in their search for the source eternal life, Jesus Christ. However, once the magi's task is accomplished God gives them different direction, a right sight to see in everything indomitable clarity and follow that path. Therefore, they need no more the star that they saw earlier. Thus they follow the vision or the path shown by God to reach their destiny. 

II
Secondly, protection and proclamation: God's work continues uninterrupted. Even when there is opposition or insecurity, still God knows how to protect His good work. The rescue and the evacuation of baby Jesus, and the parents, Joseph and Mary happens in a unique but in a bold way. God wants his work to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Therefore He chooses a person of his own. When there is threat at the very initial stages of its operation, God counters it very boldly with magnificent attitude of self-worth. The very protection of baby Jesus becomes a sign of proclamation. God makes known His presence and His work to His people through signs and wonders. This is what the feast of Epiphany is all about. God's work cannot be destroyed. God cannot be challenged. Instead, God can only be encountered. Am I ready for this task?

III
Thirdly, mystery has a definite meaning. Often, we find difficult to find meaning in the mystery of Incarnation of God in the world.  St Paul writing to the Ephesians emphasises that God through His grace has revealed to us the mystery of God's coming into this world. So, the new era of salvation belongs to all. God continues to shape us and fashion us in that mystery. No one has seen God but through Jesus we know God. God empowers us to know the mystery of God's life. God does not hide from us but opens himself to us provided we are ready to listen to him and work accordingly. God sends his people to proclaim Him. The wise men from the East are those who did this first job of proclaiming the mystery of Incarnation to the world. 

Through the gifts the magi bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh, God reveals himself that those who are baptised in Christ are just like him embodied with kingship, priesthood and prophetic role. In other words, we become partakers in His mission; moreover, "become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1: 4).

Olvin Veigas, SJ

The Feast of Epiphany (05.01.2020)

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Joseph's Dream and Child's Cry

The Feast of Holy Innocent Martyrs - Readings: 1 John 1:5—2:2; Matthew 2:13-18
The Killing of the Innocents by Herod (detail), Leon Cogniet ca.1824.

Listen to my Audio family (Preached in Jebel Ali Parish, Dubai)


- Olvin Veigas, SJ
28th December 2019 (13th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood)

Friday, December 27, 2019

God is Born among Us

Readings: Isaiah 52:7–10; Hebrews 1:1–6;  John 1:1–18
(The Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard von Honthorst, 15th Century)



A very happy Christmas to you all!

Today, we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus. The great awaited day has come after a fruitful preparation of 'Advent'.   Saviour is born to all.  Jesus is amidst us, one among the humanity, shedding radiant light of heavenly presence here on earth. What a joy! What a peace! God's love is manifested very poignantly and permanently. 

This great feast of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity teaches us three things today.

Firstly, Christmas is a celebration of a historical but defining event in the history of the world. The darkness has gone out of our lives through the radiant light of the heavenly Son. We celebrate every year the same event but always with unique and eloquently loving fervour. By His coming, Jesus sanctified us, brought salvation to his forlorn and directionless humanity. May be the Jesus' birth was a simple event in a complex of world of his times, but the little baby in a Bethlehem created uproars  and tumult in the palace of Herod, awe among the shepherds who were keeping a close watch over their herds on the mountains and hills, brightness on the faces of magi of the East. For many still the brith of Jesus may be 'no' event at all, but in reality, this event still shakes up the powers of our rulers, riches of the haves and pride of the mighty. God shakes them up through His prophets and people.

Secondly, Christmas is the keeping the memory alive of that event of Christ's Incarnation in the world. The Son of God's entry into the messy world of human history opens up a new chapter for humanity. This calls us to keep this memory alive by meditating, reflecting and practicing what he preached. It's a call to follow him who was, who is and who will be.

Thirdly, Jesus is reborn in our hearts, homes, families, parishes and in the world today in concrete situations and particular places. Often, we are lost in the messy, complex and evil acts of this world, which threaten us to see Jesus alive and active; moreover, being born amidst us again and again.  There is too much strife, war, evil acts in the world leaving no room for God's mercy, compassion, tenderness, forgiveness, love, justice and peace. We are called to create a world of God here on earth by practicing God's mercy, tenderness, compassion, love, forgiveness, justice and peace. It is not the peace and justice that the world gives but that of God.  There is no peace without justice and no justice without love and forgiveness.  Perhaps we might be able to do our little mite as Christians, as brothers and sisters and as "friends of the Lord."

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

Christmas Day 2019

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!

Christmas Wishes
(Art by Mark Rupnik, SJ)
With Christmas the long-awaited event has become real in the person of Jesus Christ, our saviour. He came and made his home among us. This happy news changed everything, including how we view our life and how best we can make of it. With Christmas the grandeur of God is manifested profoundly and poignantly. God’s coming into the world made a fresh start in the life of humanity. The carols and hymns that we sing during this time remind us again and again that we need not be afraid. All kinds of fear, anxiety, frustration, angst and discouragement is transformed into courage, strength and power because of Jesus’ arrival amidst us. This is a momentous time for all of us to start fresh and new in and with the Lord. 

Jesus came to sow peace. Perhaps, this peace is not the way we think about. Because His ways are not our ways. We do not think like God. However, Jesus asked his disciples to continue this project of peace, justice and truth against all odds. The Child of Bethlehem still attracts attention today by the gentleness and simplicity it embodies and bears testimony to. Probably, the vision of God for us and the entire humanity might be brightened one day wholly and completely. 

The sad and agonising part of today is that we see so much injustice, violence, and brokenness in our world, in our church, in our communities, and in our own hearts. At times, we might feel engulfed and overwhelmed by it all, unable to see, feel or react anything else, unable to envision any other reality. But God sees them all with His own eyes. God sees the possibility of transformation already present in our broken world and in our broken selves. God is present and at work here, now, inviting us to see and participate. Conversion and transformation is a response to God's call of love. This change happens when conversion and interior transformation take place. Through this process of a pilgrimage, we move closer to God. 

The story of Christmas is our story.  Christmas is the feast of God's love for us. It is a story of the celebration of life and life in abundance. So, let us celebrate life.  With Christ’s birth amidst us, we are called to celebrate life in everyday and every way. This happens by change in  our attitudes which show growth in our convictions and principles. St John Henry Newman said, "to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often."  Life of holiness and sanctification is ushered by Jesus and there is no looking back. We walk with Christ and Christ will show us the way, truth and life. This life which is unique and essential in the sight of God will give us a new meaning and moment.  

A Christmas Prayer
Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth, may we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart. May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving. Amen.

Merry Christmas; Happy and grace-filled New Year 2020!

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

24th December 2019

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Christian Hashtag of God is with Us

4th Sunday of Advent - Readings:Isaiah 7:10–14; Romans 1:1–7; Matthew 1:18–24
(CG Christmas Program 2019)


From our conception to resurrection and our life in God in eternity, we the Christians carry a hashtag called "God-is-with-us." All the three readings of today bring us closer to Christmas. The readings also remind us that how much God loves us. He has not left us alone but accompanies us always. The symbol of his love for us is shown through His coming into the world in the person of Jesus. This great historical and salvific event changed the whole world and we can put it as the second most important event since the creation. 

There are three things which are incredibly significant for us with this Christian hashtag of God is with us.
I
Firstly, God comes to us in a mysterious but particular way. "God is with us" communique comes to us from God's people or His angels. In today's reading it is Angel Gabriel. Joseph is awakened in a dream by the messenger of God and tells him that he cannot leave Mary, his betrothed wife because she has conceived already by the Holy Spirit. Joseph has a terrifying dream but a promising plan in that moment of great desolation, disappointment and frustration. Dreams are very important. A person without a dream and a nation without a vision is doomed to perish. God comes to us in our unexpected times. God gives strength in those trying and confusing and complex moments of Joseph, because God knows how best to help the person in such moments. God is present in his desolation, in his disappointments, and in his discouragement.

In our Christian living, we become part of God's life through our baptism. This mark of our baptismal sacrament unites us with God with a very special bond. We accept Jesus as our saviour and Lord. Through the fount of baptism, we begin to receive other sacraments in our life as a symbol that God is with us. This allows us to move, live and have our being in God.

II
Secondly, Mary's openness to God is total and complete. Mary is a woman of the present; a woman of the moment. She is not bothered about the past or the future. Past is gone, future is uncertain but what is available now is present. But she is ready now. God comes to her in her readiness. "Let thy will be done." Mary takes up the challenge. In her openness, in her readiness, God comes to her. Thus  the sense of "God is with us" becomes totally true in her life. She is blessed with the child of God, Immanuel, God-is-with-us. In other words, God comes to us in our readiness, in our present moment. In whatever work we do let our mantra be like Mary, the Theotokosfiat voluntas tua, - "let Thy will be done".

III
Thirdly, call to holiness. St Paul, in his letter to the Romans tells us that our God is holy. Through our life of holiness we encounter God. We see that God is with us. Through his power of the Holy Spirit, he is proclaimed in holiness. All of us receive that grace of faith and holiness because we carry with us Jesus, the name of Immanuel each and every moment of our life. However, we need to live that life of holiness everyday and each and every moment of our life in faith and practice. Only then, God becomes truly present, i.e. God-is-with-us.

Happy Advent!

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

22nd December 2019

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Historicity and Immanence in the Coming of Jesus Christ

Nativity, by Brian Kershisnik, modern.

The historicity surrounding the coming of Jesus Christ into this world is immense and fascinating. The Bible speaks about coming of Jesus into the human world through the writings of Prophets from Isaiah to Malachi, from Daniel to John the Baptist and Gospels. Interestingly, the mystery surrounding God coming in the human form is foretold through visions, dreams, prophesies, imaginary explanations with artistic descriptions, and colourful explanations.
I
Firstly, what makes Christ and his coming into the world as a human person is that once the fulfilment of these prophesies did historically take place in the person of Jesus Christ all the prophesies cease in Israel. No more prophets after John the Baptist speak about the harbinger of the Good News from above. Everything ends with Christ. All the prophesies of the Old Testament end in and with Christ.

II
Secondly, what makes the Jesus' entry into the world strikingly noticeable and unique is that it is a historical fact. Even the secular history and literature took note of this event. In other words, non-Jewish literature made mention of it. How is it possible? For a human mind many things are possible!

Tacitus speaking for the ancient Romans, says, "People were generally persuaded in the faith of the ancient prophecies, that the East was to prevail, and that from Judea was to come the Master and Ruler of the world."

Suetonius in his account of the life of Vespasian, recounts the Roman tradition thus, "It was an old and constant belief throughout the East, that by indubitably certain prophecies, the Jews were to attain the highest power."

China, then called as the Celestial Empire in its Annals described that the great Wise Man would be born in the West. "In the 24th year of Tchao-Wang of the dynasty of the Tcheou, on the 8th day of the 4th moon, a light appeared in the South-west which illumined the king's palace. The monarch, struck by its splendour, interrogated the sages. They showed him books in which this prodigy signified the appearance of the great Saint of the West whose religion was to be introduced into their country." 

The Greek Aeschylus in his Prometheus six centuries before Christ's coming wrote: "Look not for any end, moreover, to this curse until God appears, to accept upon His Head the pangs of thy own sins vicarious."

Probably, the prophesies of Daniel must have made a good publicity during those times. Because of their fascinating imaginations and illuminating insights and wisdom. Often oracles and visions kept afloat the hopes of people in trying times especially in times of wars, diseases and natural disasters. 

The well-known Roman literary figure Cicero citing Sibyls and other ancient oracles and sayings notes that of a "King whom we must recognise to be saved," asks with expectation, "To what man and to what period of time do these predications point?"

The Fourth Eclogue of Virgil prefigures above tradition and speaks about a "chaste woman, smiling on her infant boy, with whom the iron age would pass away." 

There were rumours at that time and Romans were deeply fearful and worried about the possible coming of a king who would rule the world. And Suetonius quotes a contemporary author to this effect. Therefore, the Romans ordered all children born that year to be killed - an order that was not fulfilled, except by Herod.

If Jews were expecting birth of a Messiah, Great King like David, a Wise man and a Saviour, the Greek philosophers, Socrates and Plato spoke of the Logos and of the Universal Wise Man "yet to come." Confucius spoke of "the Saint"; the Sibyls, of a "Universal King"; the Greek dramatist, of a saviour and redeemer to unloose man from the "primal eldest curse." Even the Gentiles,  the non-Jews had a longing for a deliverer and redeemer. This very fact distinguishes Jesus from all other religious leaders and founders.

III
Thirdly, once Jesus makes an entry into the world the secular history is split into two; dividing it into two periods: one, before His coming - BC, the other, after it - AD (Anno Domini - "In the year of our Lord").  No other world religious leader or founder did not do this.

IV
Fourthly, Christ's life and death set a new meaning and understanding. The story of every human life begins with birth and ends with death. In the Person of Christ, however, it was His death that was first and His life that was last. Christ's death spoke stronger than life. Every other religious leader or founder came into this world came into it to live but Christ came into it to die. Death interrupted teachings of Socrates. But in Jesus, all his actions, teachings are intelligible only with reference to his death. Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity has its fulfilment and meaning only in His Resurrection which happens only after death - death on the cross. (Source: Fulton J Sheen, Life of Christ, 17-21)

The synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Luke give us the genealogy of Jesus, which is full of flesh and blood, power and glory. Luke recounts very vividly the times of Jesus with historical figures who ruled his territory. Perhaps, the historicity surrounding the birth of Jesus is not only astoundingly meaningful but also powerful because Jesus lives in history, in the history of humanity, in the lives of men and women of this world, now and forever inasmuch as he is Emmanuel: God-is-with-us.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

19th December 2019