Sexualization of women.

What is Sexualization? For me it simply means objectifying a human being. Well the topic that I'm dealing is on the Sexualization of women. Just walk on the road, and look at the advertisement posters around and to your surprise you will find that the girls or women are majority on the posters. As a kid, when I watched television or when I brought a soap from the shop or when I travelled by bus and saw the many posters by the road side never made sense to me as to why girls and women are in a majority on many of the sold items or on the posters. For example, on the product of Lux soap there’s always girl on it. It made me think that the Lux soap was only for the females, but that’s not the case I realized that even men do use this soap. This set the ball rolling, soap can be used by anyone but it’s the girl that made the difference. Girls and women are looked down in the society of India if they are seen by male friends. Another example, the advertisement of Axe deodorant, the boy sprays the deodorant on himself and suddenly all girls come running towards him. Our society on such behavior will call these girls as sluts or whores or bitches. Another example, the advertisement of Lux where Katrina Kaif is bating in the tub and then she moves for a party and one fully suited guy follows her as if he is seduced by the fragrance of the soap again this behavior is seen as bad in the society. Whatever it is it ends up pushing the girl to the wall. Another thing that I've realized is you see a girl on a magazine or on a poster fully naked, semi-naked or in style all eyes will go on her. Boys might say ‘Kya mal hai.’ Ladies might say with their ego hurt or some conservative Indians might say ‘see look at that how scantily she’s dressed’ and many other comments too will be passed. Do girls really earn up their dignity by shooting up for an advertisement, or appearing on the front cover of a magazine? I really don't know the answer. But I think all depends on the society how they look at it and pass comments. Another example, the Chromosome underwear for gents, on the top of the box is a boy and a girl where the girl has nothing connected to the underwear but still she’s there. The girls while portrayed in some advertisement, products, etc., sometimes seems to be very seductive, maybe it’s the director of the advertisement or the product who tells them to act in such a manner. This speaks really bad about females, it seems like they are in this world as seductive objects. The clothes worn by girls or women for the cover page of a magazine or for an advertisement doesn’t seem to be respectable, they are mostly showing off their cleavages, some sitting in a seductive posture and some barely covering their essentials. The understanding is now slowly changing some are accepting these things where as some don't. Sexualization leads to Sexualization. Today’s girls look at the actresses in the movies or advertisements and they too want to want to dress, put up make-up, etc. In fact now even the small girls who have not even hit their puberty have stated to appear on the cover page of magazines that too with short clothes and even semi-naked. Sexualization has not stopped because of our society itself. It’s the same society that says that Sexualization is wrong and yet they continue it with their actions by acting the same as the actresses do in movies and advertisements. In objectifying of the women it’s not how much beautiful the girl is looking rather how much of her skin is she showing. Now people are not interested how much skin one shows but they are more interested in whats that is hidden behind the covers. In porn videos the women or the girl is objectified. In many porn videos the man’s face is censored but not of the girl. This is a very big injustice done to the females in this world. By this I don't mean only women’s or girls are objectified but even males are. Sexualization leads to fanaticizing. So if objectification of women is stopped, it will in turn show its decrease in the crimes committed against the women's.

                                        

I pads, tablets, smartphones…… and the forgotten pen…...

One Sunday I went to teach the 10^th standard students. And as I was to teach them something similar to this was their lesson. I just then, that it clicked in my mind that the world that we are in, is evolving at a rapid pace. One day we are to reach this stage where there won’t be any more pens, pencils, etc. Nowadays most of the people are found with their smartphones. All want to roam with their mobiles. The technology is taking over and I don't think it’s ever gonna stop. When I was in my 12^th standard commerce, my friends never cared to Xerox notes but they would use the camera of their mobiles to click a snap and then they would study it from it. Now even in many schools, projectors are being installed where the teaching will now be computerized. Teaching too now will become more competent. The teacher will not only require having teaching skills but also should be well versed in using technology. I met one teacher in a school she said ‘now after installing these projectors I think so I have to learn the basics of computer.’ Yes! This shows how fast everything is changing. Even the children I schools are very happy to move to an audio-visual hall then to sit in their classroom to study. It’s not far that that all blackboards, pens, pencils, chalks, etc., will be one a gone by memory. The latest technology seems to be promising and effective. But in another way it’s also our world. For the technology to survive it requires power and this power is used from the resources of the world. I would say that technology is good with all its bad too. Well the question that we humans need to ask is, where are we heading? Are we heading in the correct direction or are we as Rousseau said ‘everything that humans touch ends corrupt’ are we here to end this world that we are living in. are we here to live only for our own selfish desires? I believe that humans are naturally good but it’s their actions that make them bad. I'm not condemning for technology as it is. It is good but overusing it makes things worse. Technology is created for humans to make things simple for humans. So we humans too should understand that we should not take advantage of others for our own good. One day after many years I may say to my friends when we were in school we used to write with pens, pencils….., but see now many things are made so simple for the students they need not carry heavy bags with books filled in it. The children will have only one laptop or a tab in their bag on which they will write or download their matter from. With this change too we too will have to change. And with this change pens and pencils will be no more used. And if at all we try to use the pen or pencil after many years I guess our writing will not be the same. It will be good for one to decipher what s/he has written. I believe that technology will not be wiped from the face of the earth it may be cut down but it will be required to keep a balance so that we not fully destroy the earth and also not forget the great inventions of humanity.

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows

As I entered my institute my sight caught hold of a paper printed in blue on the notice-board. I went close to the notice-board and read it. After reading I went to my classroom sat in my place and got ready for class. During the break I found myself standing near the window of my classroom and that set the ball rolling. It reminded me of the paper on the notice-board where anyone could participate in writing as article on the topic: ‘The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.’

This sentence by Sydney J. Harris is quite profound. The opinion that I can give on this sentence is that, he prefers to see a change; he does not want students to move on blindly; and just wait for the destiny to play for oneself. He in fact wants us to write our own destiny. The mirror is like an inward seeing whereas the window is like an outward seeing.

The first thing that struck me about the mirror and window was its similarity i.e. they have a glass in common and they are attached to something and from which we get a view for example the glass of the mirror attached to the wall and the glass of the window attached to the window pane. What I want to convey through this is both require a support system. Linking this support system to our topic, we see that education has given knowledge to people and which has been expanded over a period of decades after decades. No doubt education has evolved from slates to books and now from books to computers, tabs and laptops. Whereas some are still lagging behind or which are yet to evolve. The mirror view and window view can be seen as two kinds of perspective that a human can have in ones role of education. Into the mirror one can only see one’s reflection whereas from the windows one can see things beyond oneself. Looking into the mirror is oneself and his limited surroundings whereas looking from a window is an expanded view of ones unlimited surrounding. Now what do I mean by unlimited surrounding? Unlimited surrounding for example from a window you see the outside nature which is spread far beyond and wide which even your eyesight fails to see because at a certain point your sight can reach but later on it stops due to some blockage. Connecting this to the topic, some parents who are doctors, engineers, etc, would like their children to follow them. Not only this but some parents who are not engineers and doctors, etc, already have pre-planned careers for their children. This is what I will call a mirror view where parents fail to see the possibilities in their children. Heidegaar says “Humans are not a set of fixed properties but a set of possibilities” so finally the child can choose whether to pursue his/her parents dream or not. Some might see through the window perspective and see across many possibilities they have and they might grab one which suits them most.

Thinking outside of the box was a phrase that I had heard a long time back in my school and has been repeated quite often. This phrase has a lot to teach us. According to me the three things that stand out in this phrase are creativity, initiatives and innovation. Creativity is something we all humans can come up with. It’s like when we do some work and then suddenly comes a bright idea and we try to do things differently this is also same about innovation where someone takes a step and goes on. Initiative is a step with responsibility which one takes up having in mind to fulfill the given or taken up tasks. These things are quite vivid in education as it has changed over the years. Earlier times in schools the teacher would teach on a black board and children would write on a slate whereas now there are e-classes, online classes and now even in schools teachers don’t use the board much but most of the lessons are taught with the help of a projector and in this way lessons are taught to the children. Now schools are introduced to e-boards which is something new for me as I’ve not experience it. It seems complicated but people get used to it. These new innovations which are seen in schools and institutes are like mind grabbers. They attract children towards such things. As our world is moving at a very rapid pace with the advancement of science and technology that we see so many new innovations and today’s generation are very much close to these technologies whereas the older generations are not. In some places where the education is evolving with new advancements the children automatically get attracted towards these new advancements and this also can be seen in their progress. The advancement talks about the initiatives of some people have tried to make things simple. May be it was just an experiment started by someone to teach with a projector and see the change that has taken place; many schools have got an audio/visual hall but now this also has changed as now a few schools have projectors in the classroom itself which makes things even more simpler. This is another example of the window perspective. A mirror perspective would be people saying we learnt on a black board with books, pen and pencil. Why do we have to waste money on projectors? Our children can still study.

This education that we talk about, for whom is it? Is it only for the rich and for people of the higher class? In my opinion many places in India this mirror perspective is still prevalent. The people of high class who have educated themselves want only their children to come up and the lower class children are not allowed to educate themselves. And even if they are allowed they are treated badly in school. It’s the fear of the upper class people that they may fall out of power. Here the upper class people have a very small mirror perspective. They don’t see the wider window perspective. Education should not only make the minds of children wider but also inculcate some perspectives in them to make this world a better place. Many people in the past have fought for the lower class, for their right to education. These people might have probably seen the wider picture that India will not grow until and unless all people educate themselves.

For this change from mirrors to windows to happen, firstly people especially teachers must change and shape themselves and be abreast with the times. So I would like to write a few points where our education in India can shape its education to change mirrors into windows.

In many schools in India there is this great limitation of spoon feeding children and after all this feeding all that these children have to do is come for exam and vomit to the teacher what the teacher had taught them in the class. As this business of spoon feeding goes on, the students can only be book worms and by hearting parrots. What is given by the teacher is given in varying quantity and quality. When such kind of study takes place, the children fail to see and think outside the box. There is no creativity and initiatives by the students. What is the use, if children only by heart lessons for the sake of studying and not apply it practically? Education has to help us grow and make this place a better place to live in. For me education must help us and make us more practical to apply our knowledge and get things done in the best way. I am not totally against spoon feeding because a teacher must do it for a period of time and when necessary. A student must also be trained in a practical way. As to how education can be applied in our day to day living. The teacher in the class also need to have a window perspective that she / he is not the only person who has knowledge but that even the children have knowledge  of something that the teachers do not have. The teacher must be open to children and also be able with the entry of the internet; the children seem to know much more of today’s world. The teacher needs to be humble and open to understand the student’s development. They too in the bargain will learn things from their students. Our teachers must help students in reflective thinking so that the students come up with their own views and opinion’s which helps the student to grow well.

My entry into philosophy has made a great change in me. Even though I consider philosophy is simple things made difficult and difficult things made simple, have a lot to teach us. I remember my first class the professor told us to be open and to ask questions. From then on the journey through education has not been the same any more. From then on I tried to ask as many questions as I can (sometimes my question seemed silly but it always had a purpose behind it). Being open has always been the difficult task for me because here comes the mirror and window perspective, it’s not easy to take someone else’s view on some issue when you have totally a different view about that particular issue. Asking questions goes back to the Socratic age where it was Socrates who would gather around him his students and would ask them questions. This was called the mautic or circular method. Socrates’ view was that of a window perspective. He was not a teacher who would ingrain in them the knowledge that he had. But he held that we all have knowledge which is forgotten and it’s only by questioning that we can gain bock our knowledge. Getting into this circle of asking questions has made me even more sharp and attentive to gain more and more knowledge.

In my journey of education I have encountered teachers who teach just for the sake of teaching and most importantly only to finish their portion. It does not matter to them whether the student studies or understands what they are teaching them. The only thing that matters to them is that their portion is over and their tension is over. Many a times a student makes efforts to ask questions but they are not considered. In fact I feel that when someone asks a question or a difficulty it is a great help to the whole class, but if the teacher is in a hurry to finish her/his portion all these questions and difficulties are pushed aside. When a student asks questions it shows that a student is interested in the following topic but if his questions are not considered than it is like telling the student, sit down and keep your mouth shut. You need to listen to me don’t try to act too smart. Well, this is really a sorry state in India but it does happen.

It is time we make our study more practical while not belittling theory which is also required. Theory itself does not suffice but practical example with theory helps. Personally for me education should help us to grow in our everyday life. Educators should not only be happy by finishing their part of the portion. In fact they should take a step forward and find out the difficulty that the students face. Educators should also help students in making their study easy and simple for example, they can make students write different points in different colors pens, or draw some small art in the side that will make their answers easy to understand etc. This will not only show that the educator is concerned of her/his students but the student will feel loved by their educator and in turn the students also will reciprocate. This is what I feel that one moves from his mirror perspective to the window perspective which is towards others.

If today’s educators do not fulfill their obligation towards their students there’s no future because tomorrow the same students will turn to educators and will teach the next generation. Education is not only what is taught to us in schools and colleges but also what is taught to us in our homes. Educators do not only include teachers but also our parents, friends and people around, because it is also from the people around that we educate ourselves. On the part of the student it is also his/her duty to pick up the essentials that she/he will pass on to the next generation. Education is not only in schools but everywhere. All are meant to be educators. It all depends on how much one can give to the others.

As mentioned earlier that one should pick up the essentials for her/his life  and it also means that she/he should not pick up things blindly as sometimes we might do. Our Indian culture is a very parent respecting culture. For us it is whatever the parents say that is important because we consider it as God’s word and we try to fulfill whatever they say. Until one day they realize that whatever they are doing in accordance with their parents’ wishes is is not their cup of tea. And once they realize it’s too late. And if it results into failure they blame their parents. Whereas some parents are open to their children as to whatever they want to pursue. Here the person chooses whatever is best for him/her. Here he/she is responsible for his/her faults; he/she can’t blame it to anyone.

As I conclude, the education system is not purely bad but it falters because of the people who function in it, as all are not perfect. But our education system looks through the all-round development of the students. For example the sports quota that is put forth helps students participating in sports and it also helps students in their physical development. The test conducted by teachers is a concern for the students as to where they stand in their studies. The assignment and projects prepared by students always have brought out the creativity in them.

It is only when the educator sees himself/herself in the mirror and has an inward look which consists of what all she/he has learnt and he/she looks outside the window and passes on his/her knowledge to the others which is not in the old knowledge that he/she had but also the updated knowledge which he has studied. Updating ones knowledge is very important in this advancing world. Educators need to be in sync with the times and take steps to convey through education the essential and important values of life. There are so many other points which are needed to be taken care off in education system but these are the few where we need to grow to change the mirrors into windows.

PHILOSOPHY OF MY LIFE

Introduction.

This is the second time I'm giving a thought to this topic ‘Philosophy of My Life.’ The first time I gave a thought to this topic was when I was in my first year of philosophy. I believe what I had written then have now been changed. Once a while giving a thought to such topics bring back to mind one’s own convictions. ‘Slow and steady wins the race’ is one of my convictions. In life I have realized that moving too much in a hurry causes many mistakes, problems, etc. Happiness is the core thing that a human searches all the time. Love makes a difference in one’s life. The values that I value the most are love, peace, trust, faithfulness, generosity and kindness.

My idea of God.

I being born in a Christian family believe firmly in a God who is real. This being that we call God is a mysterious being. My idea of God boils down to Jesus. How much ever a person tries to convince me that there’s no God, I don’t think that I will be ever convinced by that person. I may have doubts about God but I don’t think I will ever let the idea of God down. At least three fourth of the world believes that God exists. Good keeps this world going. It’s my mother who has taught me about God, and I don’t think so that whatever she has taught me she won’t teach me wrong it’s her conviction but I’m convinced by it. I believe that God is everywhere and he knows everything. I believe that I don’t need more proofs to prove to me that God exists. These proofs of God are just like extra knowledge for me, just to put an argument forward to a person who doesn’t believe in God. I personally am convinced that God exists. I believe that whenever I'm in trouble and I don’t see a way out I ask God to help me and he does help me out.  It’s he who has created me in love and sent me into a loving family. He is the one sustaining me with all the necessities of life. I was very much touched by the words of God that ‘Even if your mother forgets you I will never forget you.’ I reflected a lot on this sentence and I realized that yes, my mother never watches over me all the time but god who has the power to be everywhere is always looking over me. I have many doubts about God but when I ask people these doubts of mine I don’t feel convinced of what they are telling me but I prefer to ask them to God when I meet him. I'm against the idea that God punishes as how a God who is so good can punish his own people. The idea of ‘hell’ sounds Greek to me as how a God who has created us will allow his children to burn in eternal fire. Even though I’ve never seen God, my inner voice tells me that there is a higher thing than us which keeps the whole of things going and that’s God. The only proof on god that I believe even though it speaks on heaven and hell is that of Blaise Pascal’s Wager.

My idea of the World.

This world is bad, we are thrown in this world, and this world is a misery… these words do not belong to me but some earlier people who have said this. But for me this world is the best gift from the almighty. Now that I'm twenty years old now, I've realized that this world has served me faithfully for twenty years. I also admit that I being in this world for twenty years has threatened it more than I've cared for it. The world has groomed itself for the past millions of years says the big bang theory but I'm not totally satisfied with this theory. If this is the case than, what is it that God did? But now a day’s scientific theory proves of many theories which I can’t just close my eyes to it. So as I believe many things in faith I also believe that some scientific theories are also true. All that’s in this world makes my life beautiful and colourful. I admit that I don’t know all things in this world. I always believed that the whole world is only matter it’s quite late that I realized that there’s also the spiritual part in it. E.g. we humans are incarnate beings i.e. we are both material and spiritual. 

My idea of Man.

My opinion about humans it that they are naturally good. This is because God created them, and God is good. Its only human’s actions that make them bad. I believe that I'm created in the likeness of God. I admit that evolution has a part to play in human life. Humans are the most intelligent species on the face of the Earth. Most of the difference that’s done on this earth is done by the humans. Humans extend themselves in human relationships. Human relationships are the most important thing for the humans. Humans won’t last for long if a person is left alone. Being alone is the worse punishment that one can get. Humans are always in search of happiness. Human experiences comprises of ups and downs, one needs to take it well. Sadness in my life has taught me that all of life is not a bed of roses and from sadness comes happiness. If I didn’t knew what sadness meant than I would have not known what happiness meant. The value as a human I treasure the most is ‘Love.’ I believe all human relationships are built on love, faith and trust. Humans are a bundle of emotions. All humans know how to express their emotions well but many suppress it only lately to erupt it out like a volcano which I myself do it at times. All humans are unique and different. So it’s of no use forcing another person to be like you. Even humans are mysteries and can’t be known fully.

Purpose of my life.

Many have asked me this question ‘What’s the purpose of my life.’ Once when someone had asked me this question I answered saying ‘Take life as it comes.’ I didn’t know why is said it. Later I reflected on it and I realized what I said made sense but all I had to add is take life as it comes and live it happily. I believe that the purpose of my life is to be happy in life and also make others life happy.

The meaning of my life.

Firstly human life has meaning in this life. All that one has to do is find ones meaning in life. I don’t think I'm simply alive in this world. Just as people come in my life to make a difference and to add meaning to my life I too am in this world to participate in the lives of different people. They say everything happens for a reason and so I think that I'm born for a reason. I have always found difficult to find an ultimate meaning in my life. But I believe that I need to find meaning in whatever I do in day to day living. 

Conclusion.  

 After writing on this topic the Philosophy of my life, I have come to the conclusion is that this life I'm gifted me is the best gift ever. And I need to make the best of it. My life that I've is the one and only chance that I got. I wish not to waste it. But I've also realized that even though I know about this I tend to be too lazy, lethargic and not live up to 100% of my life. I would like to end this topic by the words of Socrates who said ‘An unexamined life is not worth living.’ I guess he had a point in saying this because if today this is my philosophy of life maybe tomorrow it may change so examining of life is important. It shows where you stand.                                     

Saints…….

Who are saints? Are they some beings with extra ordinary powers? Or are they just like us? Many questions arise in our minds. When we think of saints our mind which is like a jumping monkey takes us for a ride of all the ideas of saints we have in our mind. We see saints with halo, some saints raised above the ground in ecstasy, some saints martyred, some saints with people around them and so on. I remember my mother one telling me it’s easy to talk of saints but living a life like a saint is like walking on thorny bushes. We fail to recognize in saints their ordinary life lived in extra ordinary way. We are fascinated by all the miracles done by them but we forget to recognize their simplicity of life and the one who provides the grace to do such works. We fail to see the struggles, the sorrows borne by them. Many peoples after reading the lives of saints only stay fascination level whereas some move ahead in imitating them. Most of the saints have focus on the figure of Jesus Christ. Inspired by His example many saints dated to tread the less traveled road in which some gained the crown of martyrdom too. They were so taken up by Jesus that nothing mattered them, it was all done for the sake and love of Jesus Christ. Early Christians who embraced martyrdom were a great example to other early Christian’s faithful to hold on to the faith even if it meant to be martyred. No one has become a saint by following a rule book but it’s by one’s own personal convictions and one’s own determination which lead them to the path of holiness. Saints are people who were not only pious but also held a deep and strong relationship with Jesus. Saints knew their imperfections, they knew they sinned, they were aware and they tried to change it over by the grace of God. Trying to live a saintly life is no child’s play as it takes a lot of brushing, polishing, mending, bending, shaping, etc. many Christians follow the tradition of giving a saints name to a new born baby on the day of Baptism. This is a great help for the child. The child feels proud to have the name of a saint, this also leads the child to know more about the saint and finally the child might even try to imitate the saint. Our faith teaches us that we are called to be saints and after our death to be united with God. This calls us to be holy, live a life of holiness. It’s in holiness do we find ourselves in harmony with the Lord. We learn from saints that even form our human weaknesses and imperfections we can still achieve lot. Being a saint is difficult but it’s not impossible. It’s not only the dead and gone but also the living that live by the will of God. Saints are not only people who are been titled as saints but also those who have attained eternal reward.

I would describe saints as people who are:-

S – Servants of the church

A – Aware of themselves

I – Intercessors

N- Nature lovers

T – Teachers

S - Struggled in life

Servants of the church – all saints have some way or the other has helped the church in a small or a big way. It may be by their example of life. Helping people in their need may be materially or spiritually. Many saints have opened congregations which look after the orphans, aged, sick patients, etc. which are still in service of people.

Aware of themselves – saints as living their lives have come to one point in their lies where they have realized that they have gone the wrong path and they have made a U-turn somewhere down in their life. It was only that they became aware of themselves could they do so many things and also be a model of awareness to us. Even after their conversion they knew that they would fall and when they fell they realized that they have fallen and rose again.

Intercessors – down the ages and even now people have a great trust in saints. At times some people have believed more in saints than in Jesus. Saints too have heard the prayers and interceded to the Father to grant the wishes of the people.

Nature Lovers – the saints that comes to mind when I think as a nature lover is St. Francis of Assisi. He was such a nature lover that he used to talk to birds and animals also. We now as humans may not be in the position to do what St. Francis of Assisi could do but we can at least now take care of the nature that’s deteriorating rapidly.

Teachers – Saints by their lives have taught us how to live accordingly to Gods will. Some saints also have taught us as to how we can live our Christian lives. A few great saints who are the Doctors of the Church have framed the Catechism and canons of the Church.

Struggled in Life – life is difficult. For them too life was difficult as they were humans like us. Many saints have fallen down deep in the muck of sin but they tried to get up and wash themselves which was not easy and was a great struggle for them.

In search of Saints

As I lay sitting by the river side

My heart asked me ‘can I ask you something’

I said ‘surely why not?’

Do you know who saints are?

Whoa! That’s a tough one huh?

My mind went back to all I knew of saints.

Just before I could say something

The heart said ‘any living saint?’

But I had never encountered any I said

It just said ‘search and you’ll find’

Walking by the road a blind man caught my sight struggling to cross the road.

Go and help said my heart and I did

Walking at my own pace I found myself in front of the library

On the door inscribed ‘search and you will find it’

This rang a bell in my mind

This reminded me what my heart had said

So I hopped in and browsed to the section of saints

Picked up a few books

Reading each leaf from side to side

But the bookish knowledge didn’t satisfy my heart.

Lost and defeated I entered home

I could hear my mother cook

As my dad saw me enter he hallowed and handed me a glass of water

Which I gulped down in no time

After few minutes my mother spread the dinner on the table

I ravished the food prepared by my mother

I helped in clearing the dishes

Then both my mom and dad started washing the dishes

So I left for my room

As I sat on my bed tired

I reflected on the day passed

Suddenly after a long time

My heart spoke up ‘so did you find the answer?’

I just fumbled ‘no’

But you have already got the answer; all you gotta do is, think of today

As I thought, there came the answer

It was my father, mother and I who were living saints

All had done some good to each other

My heart leapt in joy and so was I happy

This left a smile on my face as I lay on my bed.  

Pentecost

.

One Sunday morning, during the Eucharist, just before the people could recite the Creed, the parish priest stopped them and said: “Most of the time we rattle off the I Believe, but we forget  to say it meaningfully. So let’s recite it slowly and clearly this time.” As I recited the Creed, my mind went back to a Christian Doctrine class I had attended. Our teacher told us that the Creed has three main sections, focused on (a) the Father who is the Creator, (b) the Son who is the Redeemer, and (c) the Holy Spirit who is the Sanctifier.

The Holy Spirit reminds me of the day of Pentecost. It was on this day that the Church was born. For the past two thousand years the Holy Spirit has been at work in the Church. My memory takes me back to the scene of the descent of the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles. The disciples were waiting for the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that He would not leave them alone but would send His Spirit on them. And so it happened that when the apostles were together in the upper room, there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting and there appeared tongues as of fire which came and rested on the head of each of them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Holy Spirit gave them power to express themselves. (Acts. 2:1-4).  With the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles were no more frightened but turned into courageous preachers. As people heard what the apostles preached, they were cut to the heart and on that day three thousand people were baptized. From that day till today, the Church still stands strong.

After mentioning the Holy Spirit, the Creed immediately takes us to the reality of the Spirit’s work of sanctification by mentioning the Church. The Church has 4 qualities: It is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.  These 4 qualities are inseparable.

One:  Just as there is only One Christ, there can be only one body of Christ, only one bride of Christ, and therefore only one Church of Jesus Christ. He is the head and the Church is His body.

Holy: The Church is holy, not because all her members are supposedly holy, but rather because God is holy and is at work in her. All the members of the Church are sanctified by baptism. She is consecrated and dedicated to God.

Catholic: The word ‘catholic’ means universal. Thus, the Church embraces people of all ethnic backgrounds. The Church is catholic in a double sense: (a) The Church is Catholic because the risen Christ is present in her, and the risen Christ is universal. (b) The Church is Catholic because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole human race, so that all may be gathered together as one family under Christ the head, in the unity of His Spirit.

Apostolic:  The Church is called apostolic because she was founded by the apostles, holds fast to their teachings and is governed by their successors who continue the mission entrusted to them.

These 4 qualities are very much the fruits of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of human beings to create unity, holiness and a sense of universality.

We are in the New Era which is marked by the Holy Spirit. In the Church, Christ manifests and communicates His work of salvation through the liturgy until the parousia. In this age of the Church, Christ now lives and acts with His Church in a new way that is appropriate to the times. The communion of the Holy Spirit in the Church restores to the baptized the divine likeness lost through sin. The great St. Basil says:  “Through the Holy Spirit we are restored to paradise, led back to the kingdom of heaven and adopted as children, given confidence to call God “Father” and to share Christ’s grace, called children of light and given a share in eternal glory.”

All these qualities are present since the day of Pentecost. The vast diversity of languages reveals the Catholicity of the Church; the fact that all hear the Gospel reveals its unity; the life of grace is the outcome of the Church’s holiness. And the apostles clearly stand out as the foundation of the Church which continues to flourish till today.

 The solemnity of Pentecost highlights the important role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and in the life of each individual. Pentecost can be called as the birthday of the Church. The diverse gifts and talents in the individual members of the Church are all given by the Holy Spirit for the good of the entire Church. Through the Holy Spirit, we are not to judge the right and wrong actions of humanity, but by our just and loving actions in the Year of Mercy, we are called to communicate the unconditional love of the Father to all 

Ask and Receive.

In our day to day life we are faced by many problems where some problems seem too difficult to be tackled and solution seems impossible. At that point of time do we seek Gods help or do we with our human power try to overcome the problem? At times we do so and when the problem goes out of hand we blame God and say hes the cause of it.

Today's scripture(16 march 2016) tells us of Gods promise to save us from all our tribulations when we call out to Him in faith. In the first reading Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego are saved from the furnace of fire as they asked Gods help and God did protect them. In the Gospel Jesus tells that He is the one who will free them from sin. From this we see we have a loving God who is every ready to help and save us from all harm and evil.

From confusion to boldness

The death of Jesus came as a blow hard on the faces of His disciples. They did not know what to do. They were like sheep without a shepherd. With such an event they thought that death was final. It hadn’t dawned in their minds that He had once told them, that He would rise again. The disciples going to Emmaus didn’t recognize Jesus but at the breaking of the bread opened their eyes and minds and everything that He had told them earlier made sense to them and they returned back to the other disciples.

 Then finally it dawned on them that He had truly risen as in fulfillment of His words that He had told them. And from then on they could boldly witness to Jesus’ resurrection and could proclaim to all that, He had “RISEN”