Life as I see...

24/7 life is at a halt.  Today the world is experiencing a kind of silence that is accompanied by hunger, thirst, loneliness, despair and disappointment.

The arrival of COVID – 19, looks like it is going to wipe human race from the face of the earth. On the one hand, millions of people have become the victims of this virus and on the other, due to lockdown, hunger, and debt, many are forced to commit suicide. Cases of depression and loneliness are on the increase. Rich somehow manage the show. It is the middle class and the poor who suffer the most. The cry of the migrants to reach their home town echoes from every nook and corner. When leaders of developed countries secure their boundaries by building walls when developing countries raise high walls to hide its poverty, when religiosity reigns over spirituality, COVID-19, has proved that no walls and boundaries can hinder its travel.

The other part of the story is of great interest. COVID-19 has pushed the science to the background. It has initiated the need to cry out to God for help. It has inculcated a genuine love for one and another.   Whatever one may call, social distancing, lockdown, quarantine…. all this is doing something good. Families find quality time to pray, to talk, to discuss, and to laugh. On the whole, it has taught people to become more generous.

Even nature is blessed by COVID- 19. Zero pollution has enabled it to regain its space and rhythm. One can easily hear the chirping of birds throughout the day. While attending college often I and my colleagues used to murmur, “We are done, we need a long break?” Now take a break…. Enjoy life…. No more complaining of wanting a break or none will say we don’t have time. Right now, we have sufficient time to reorganize ourselves. We have time to renew our spiritual life. We have time to mend our old ways. We have time to patch our relationships. We have time to put things right in our lives. We are standing at life’s uncertainties.  What’s next? Who knows?

Can this be a time for spiritual transformation? Behold, I make all things new (Rev 21:5). Or like the Psalmist prays in Psalm 104:30, "Send forth your spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth."

S. Laveena D’Souza

Tanmaya Province

The Divine Wood Works

Divine Wood Works 

St. Joseph, a descendant of King David, owned ‘Divine Wood Works’–a small carpentry workshop in Nazareth, in which he possessed a hammer, nails, a saw, a few tools, and pieces of wood. Initially, he worked alone. Later he had only one employee, Jesus–the one and only manpower for the shop.

St. Joseph is always pictured, wearing brown, and green coloured robes. Brown is the colour most poor working men wore at that time, and green personified his faithfulness to God’s call.  His workshop stood small and simple. It had just enough space to work and earn a livelihood.   

Divine Wood Works had no space for gossiping. The perfect ambience of silence pervaded the workshop. Genuine craftsmanship remained as Joseph carefully picked pieces of wood to brand windows, doors, and some home furniture. Perfection surfaced as he polished the carved wood.

Joseph proved ‘just’ while dealing with self and others. His virtue of ‘obedience’ simplified in following the will of God. Tranquility expounded his silence, and this nullified all doubts and questions.  

In a sheer example of simplicity, and great humility, God the Father could not resist but make him a perfect helper to the Mother of God, and the foster father to the God-Man.  

Grounded in the mill of human work and human relationships, Joseph placed his deep faith, courage, and trust in God. He stepped out into the future with its risks and uncertainties to carry out the plan of God.    

- Laveena CSJ