FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Joseph Lewis D’Silva
St Ignatius of Loyola repeated the words from the Gospel:"What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul"? These words had the desired effect on the life of our Goencho Saib. He dreamt great dreams and longed for international fame. He was fond of worldly pomp and glory. But these words of St Ignatius of Loyola gradually, converted St Francis Xavier from his worldly ways.
St. Ignatius of Loyola always ended his letter to Jesuits going to the mission with the expression: “Go set the world on fire.” St Francis Xavier took these words to heart and set sail towards the East. His love of God impelled him to ‘set the world on fire’ with love towards his neighbour -- the sick, prisoners and lepers.
Yes, what will it profit us if we run like a machine with our day to day routine, but do not have time to convert our physical urges into spirituality?
What will it profit us if we silently, sit under the azure blue sky, year after year and our soul is not fired up with the wish to live with selfless ambitions to be a Good Samaritan?
The poet W. H. Davies in his poem, “Leisure” the lines: “What is this life if, full of care, we have not time to stand and stare?” Teaches us not to live a poor life that is always full of worries and tensions; as it has a damaging effect on human spirit if it has no free time, to look around like sheep and cows and enjoy the beauty of nature?
Yes, what is this life if, being the “Master and the Captain of our Soul”, we allow situations to rule us instead of we controlling life’s situation?
Yes, what is this life if, we have the world under our fingertips with instant internet; modernized, westernized, mechanized, with inventions to make our lives a lot easier, still, we do not take time to understand that service to humanity is service to God?
Yes, what is this life if, we fall in selfish trap and generosity does not flow from our hearts; and we do not believe, that deeds are more important than creeds?
Yes, what is this life if, in our inner journey, we find our load of mental misery is heavy and we do not ‘carry everything to God in prayer’ who gives strength to stand with poise during storms of failures and depression and gives the very best to those who leave the choice to Him?
Yes, what is this life if, when our trust in God goes shaky and we do not understand that the Lord’s working ways are best for us?
In conclusion, I say that many of us have no time to ponder over experiences of different shades; joys and sorrows, simplicities and complexities are all temporary; as whoever enters this world comes with a fixed life to exist.
Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. And time flies swiftly without notice, leaving our shadow behind, as our history in memory of people with whom we have lived.
