The open square of Old Church of Our Lady of Health, Rua Escravo de Maria, Sancoale, Goa, flashed my mind when I saw the sea of people in the pandal during the novena mass of St Joseph Vaz and it was an emotional joy filled moment because the faithful had reflected through virtual platform for the last two years.
On January 16, Goa celebrates the feast of St Joseph Vaz, the Apostle of Sri Lanka, and Patron of Goa, the true follower of Jesus Christ. No doubt, the deadly disease of Covid -19, kept the faithful glued to the online novena masses in 2021 while 2022 was yet another plight where only hundred people were allowed in the vast pandal and some area had to be undone of the seating arrangements due to the strict protocol from the government at the last moment.
This year once again the place reverberated with echoes of glory, glorifying and thanking God for favours received with thanksgiving masses. Certainly, it was no longer the empty square as day by day, the number of people increased to pay their gratitude to the man who truly followed Jesus being another Christ.
Each year, a theme runs through for reflection and assimilation for pilgrims to emulate the virtues he lived with during his life on this earth as a human being enduring ordeals, trials, tribulations and challenges. A life of witness is what people look out for. That is what St Joseph Vaz became for all. Joseph Vaz fulfilled what Jesus told his disciples in Lk 10: 1-10: “do not carry purse nor sandals…”
For, St Joseph Vaz, following Jesus was being a living witness after the maxims of Jesus as Jesus exhorts in Mt 16: 24-26, those who wish to follow Him: “if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me…”
There are ample of examples and episodes in the life of St Joseph Vaz, who practiced the Word of God by his very life – to strike out, the Plague in Kandy, who against all odds borne witness to Jesus. To follow Jesus is being His witness as ‘You are my witnesses’ runs through the whole Bible, and prophet Isaiah emphasises it in chapter 43: 11 – 12, “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no saviour. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses, says the Lord”.
St Joseph Vaz, truly lived his life as a faithful follower. Certainly, the spirit of St Joseph Vaz, remains relevant for us as a model to be followed to continue spreading the love of God, being His true followers by especially following the Great Criterion where Jesus Himself speaks in the gospel of St Mathew in 25: 31-45, “I was hungry and you gave me to eat…”
