Forgive me: but, what is it that is audacious about reverence? Look at it in this way: It is a given that there is a spark of the Divine in every human person. It is this spark that endows each and every one of us with, what we call, Dignity. Human Dignity is guaranteed to us by our very Constitution. It is not determined or limited in any way by our health, or our wealth, or our influence. It is an equal right, gifted by our Creator, in the very same measure, to every human person, irrespective of our social standing in society! The sad reality is that this truth is seldom acknowledged. It is ignored. Worse still: those who are the most vulnerable, willy-nilly, become hapless victims of our own insensitivity. As a consequence, the universal family of humankind finds itself embroiled in constant turmoil and suspicion, even as an ominous culture of exclusivity drives us to build walls and fences that can only deepen the divide. In such a climate of conflict, can one truly expect even a modicum of respect, leave alone reverence? “Yes we can”!
Yes we can! Yes we can!! Yes we can!!! Conversion comes not because we are clever but because we are humble enough to surrender. But surrender does not come cheap! Nor does humility! Indeed, our innate problem is our sense of pride. We don’t ever want to be put down or bettered by anybody at all! If we can deal with our pride, we can deal with anything in the world! Is it difficult? Depends on our attitude.
When compassion is pitted against aggression, you can be sure compassion will win hands down. No one’s pride is hurt. Indeed, respect replaces animosity. Works like magic every time! Consider this extraordinary story.
Many readers will certainly remember the story of Sr. Rani Maria who, (in 1995), paid with her life for her efforts to empower marginalised farm-workers in Madhya Pradesh. While travelling peacefully in a public bus, she was brutally attacked by a stranger who seemed to have gone berserk. He stabbed her repeatedly with a knife and got the bus to stop in a forested area. Flinging open the door, he hefted the dying body and dumped it in the bushes. Not surprisingly but very deservedly, Pope Francis recently beatified Sr. Rani Maria in the final process of sainthood. Saminder Singh is the name of the assailant who committed the heinous crime of which Sr. Rani Maria was the victim. He was arrested, charged, convicted of the crime and sentenced to a long term in prison. Saminder Singh was shattered by a sense of betrayal and hate.
This it was, that prompted her to visit Saminder Singh in prison. He was bowled over by her tenderness and humility; and he wept when she offered him an opportunity to tie a rakhi on her wrist! Thanks to the efforts of Sr. Selmi and her family, Saminder Singh was granted an early pardon and released from prison. Today, he has been embraced as a brother in the ancestral home of Sr. Selmi Paul. For me, Sr. Selmi Paul is a living saint.
