COME HOLY SPIRIT!

Come Holy Spirit and fill me with your wisdom to discern what is God’s plan for me. Open my eyes to see God’s image in every human being and God’s hand in every event of my life. Enlighten my mind to understand the ultimate purpose and meaning of my life. Arrest my ignorance that I may know what is true, good and right. Inspire me to make good decisions and choices. Motivate me to work for God’s glory.  Steady my steps in my turbulence and anxiety. Instill in me courage to confront the challenges of life. In my confusion show me the path I must follow.  Imbue me with strength to live in the present and confidence to welcome the future. Grant me fortitude to endure whatever may come. Fill my heart with boundless joy. Permeate my whole being with your abundant love!

CELEBRATING EASTER SEASON DURING A PANDEMIC

The celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in the middle of ferocious pandemic of coronavirus is very surreal. The coronavirus pandemic is a global disaster of monumental proportions. Usually during Easter celebrations, Christians all over the world rush to their places of worship with hearts filled with joy and thanksgiving. In the churches, the Word of God is shared, prayers are offered, beautiful songs are rendered, and dance steps pound the floor. There is an atmosphere of joy, thanksgiving and gratitude. The Lord is risen! The grave cannot hold the Lord its prisoner no longer. Let Christians rejoice! We are the Easter people and Halleluia is our song!

But the Easter celebration of this year is eerily quiet. Many churches are closed; most people are in unforgiving lockdown. Some Christians follow their religious services online, the mood is sombre, songs are muted, dance steps are rare.  As if the risen Lord quietly left the gloomy grave unnoticed. The Lord is risen! But we do not hear any bang! Coronavirus is uppermost in people’s minds. History will not forget in hurry the muted, subdued Easter celebration of the year 2020 – a year of forlorn hope and shattered expectations. It appears we are in this crisis for a long haul.

The coronavirus pandemic compels us to rethink the drama of human suffering and misery in the light of the suffering/death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The pain of infection of the virus, the sheer helplessness of medical staff, the cold separation from  loved ones, lonely deaths, impossibility of  final goodbye, hurried (Sometimes undignified) burial, hunger, job loss, social and economic collapse , all these point to the mystery of human suffering understood only in the light of the suffering of Christ.

The present crisis brought the best out of some and the worst out of others. From the heroism of medical staff, diligence of scientific research community, courage of workers providing essential services, uncommon philanthropy of the rich, generous Christian charity of the poor, we can affirm that humanity’s high level of consciousness is amply demonstrated. Humanity can rise above any challenge with unity, cooperation and collaboration.

The pandemic has brought to the fore myriad of endemic problems. Increased rate of human trafficking, domestic violence, cybercrimes, fraud, misinformation, economic exploitation, racketeering, artificial inflation, armed robbery are telltale signs of depravity of human beings and broken society.

 Easter celebration during coronavirus pandemic may be what the world needs to revive again esprit de corps, deepen love of God and neighbor, accept sovereignty of God over sovereignty of self. Hopefully the pains of this pandemic will rid us of rapacious greed, malignant individualism, unbridled capitalism, and unregulated globalization. The lessons of this pandemic must never be lost.

THEY RECOGNISED THEM AS COMPANIONS OF CHRIST

Peter and John healed a cripple and boldly proclaimed the gospel to the amazement and edification of the people. The people recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). Their miracle and virtues constituted incontrovertible evidence that they had been with Jesus. Some of the Pharisees and the elders must have seen Peter and John with Jesus; walking with Jesus; working with Jesus. The miracle and the virtues of these apostles became demonstrative proof that, indeed, they had been with Jesus; they were disciples of Jesus.

Christians baptized in the name of Christ; washed in the blood of the Lamb; enlightened by the Word of God; abundantly nourished by the Sacraments and strengthened by grace are recognizable as those who have been with Christ. By their choice of words, conduct, life style, virtues, works of mercy and charity, they are recognized as companions of Christ. Jesus says: by their fruits you will know them (Matt 7:20). Christians are clearly recognizable by the fruits of the Holy Spirits abundantly radiant in their lives. They are recognizable when they live up to their billings.

Perhaps one of the daunting challenges Christianity is facing today is that the world is unable to recognize Christians as those who have been with Christ. Some Christians are indistinguishable from the rest of the people. When Christians are not recognized because of lack of evidence of intimacy with Christ, they may be held in contempt. To be recognized as being with Christ, our light must shine for all to see. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven (Matt 5:16).

Before a Christian is recognized, he has to recognize Jesus in the Word of God, in the breaking of bread, in the poor and vulnerable and in the events of life. Andrew recognized Jesus under the tree, Zaccheus recognized Jesus on top of a tree, the two disciples recognized Jesus at the breaking of the bread, and Peter recognized the risen Lord at the sea of Tiberias. A Christian must recognize Jesus before he can be recognized as being with Jesus. To be recognized, a Christian must possess fundamental and irreducible core virtue of intimacy with Jesus in silent prayer.