Servants of Charity

"The life of the Christian is an on-going tension: if you hope, you will never be disappointed."

Pope Francis

Masks are wonderfully paradoxical in this way; while they may hide the physical reality, they can show us how a person wants to be seen – Joanna Scott Masks…..Corona….. Covid-19….. Sanitizers….. Hand washing….. Quarantine…. Social distancing – These are the often heard and spoken slogans of society today at large.  More than ever we are at the crossroads of corona, a life of paradox: Gone were the times longing for holidays and spending a few more hours with the kith and kin; when should I get out of my home…Will they extend this quarantine? Where will I go for food without work? How will I pay the bills? Where is my payroll?… Everyone is counting the days of self-imposed quarantine. Handshakes and embraces have given way to bowing. Perplexed and baffled are the people: what to do next? Jobs are lost, farming is barred, offices are closed, factories are benumbed, transportation is stopped and finally people along with their children have attempted to walk on the highways at least to get back to their natives to look for some food and sustenance. While the developed nations are struggling to meet this challenge, the developing nations are gasping with fear and apprehension. Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? – the reflection of Pope Francis  in his Urbi et Orbi message redirects our withered hearts to wake up toward a strong faith in the Lord all the more. Let us reinforce our supplications to the Lord and ask for His healing intervention like the younger son I will get back to my Father (Lk 15,18), why have I to prolong in this misery, I am sure he will do something for me. We have understood more than ever in this pandemic situation that we are fragile beings, living at the mercy of the Lord; that only the Lord can save us from this storm while all our strength, science, wealth and power have failed us. We are taught once again that If one human is hurt, the whole world is hurt- in other words we are all interconnected though there are manmade boundaries and differences.   We feel united with the whole bruised humanity, we express our solidarity with the people of our communities in any possible ways within the limits prescribed by the law of the land, we continue to carry our confreres, residents, workers of our facilities all over the world, especially in Italy in our prayers and fraternity. Easter is the feast of tombstones taken away; rocks rolled aside. The Risen Lord, the Lord of Hope will remove these tombstones of discouragement, joblessness, sicknesses, poverty and bring us to a life of serenity, peace and joy. Have a hope-filled Easter!

Fr. Ronald J, SdC

Provincial Superior