In Loving Memory of Fr. Arun de Souza, SJ, My Sociology Professor at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai...

From my college days, fond memories remain,

Fr. Arun de Souza, SJ, what an exemplary Jesuit was he.

Through education, he forged his aim,

To touch the poor and fight the injustices that plagued society’s frame.

His passion for teaching burned ardent and bright,

With disciplines absolute and a drive for what’s right.

In his classroom, equality was the golden thread,

As he paid each student an attention impossible not to dread.

Stern in the look and voice low and deep,

Yet fair and kind, and in his watch, no student could sleep.

Behind that face, his wit would often arise,

And his uncanny smile indeed softened the hardest of eyes.

With a depth that made complex thoughts clear,

He taught with simplicity, earning respect and cheer.

His decorum was a model, his life a guide,

A fashion of virtue, difficult to hide.

Today, as the news of his death hits, I recall with a tear,

“Fr. Arun”, as he was popularly known, our professor dear.

His signature moustache, shirt tucked with pride, 

Saddle slippers on feet, and the cotton Jola by his side.

At St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, our paths first aligned,

Later learning him to be the College’s Rector made me satisfied.

From there he was made the BOM Jesuit Provincial, a rare story told,

With a gentle glow, I am certain, he led the Jesuit legacy bold.

It was then he wrote: “Rashmi, for meetings, to your city I’ll fly,

In Feb, I hope, our paths might cross by.”

How I wish our meeting had come to pass,

As I now wait to see him after this journey of life at last.

A Birth to Celebrate God’s Intervention, Faithfulness, and Human Audacity: A Thought for the Day

Fernando, R. (2024, June 24). Daily Reflection of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Online Ministries: Creighton University. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/062424.html

 Reading 1, Isaiah 49:1-6

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15

Gospel, Luke 1:57-66, 80

Reading 2, Acts 13:22-26

A Birth to Celebrate God’s Intervention, Faithfulness, and Human Audacity

Today we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The gospel text of the day recounts a remarkable event interwoven with several themes: divine intervention, God’s faithfulness, and human audacity to challenge tradition for the sake of God. 

John’s birth is a moment of divine intervention because Elizabeth, once barren, is now a recipient of God’s lavish love. This event signifies not only a long-awaited birth of a child. But it also marks a profound shift in the divine narrative, setting the stage for the arrival of Jesus Christ. John’s life in the desert and the growth in spirit until his public appearance to Israel foreshadow his role as the forerunner of Christ, preparing the way for the Lord. This narrative invites us to reflect on our own potential and how God’s hand guides our paths, often preparing us for greater purposes.

Attached to the divine intervention is the dramatic demonstration of God’s faithfulness. Zechariah’s first words after regaining his speech are full of praises to God—an outpouring of gratitude and acknowledgment of God’s faithfulness. Zechariah’s journey from doubt to faith, and from silence to proclamation, symbolizes the transformative power of God’s promises fulfilled. Likewise, the communal celebration of John’s birth, as narrated in the gospel, underscores the collective acknowledgment of God’s continued faithfulness to humanity. It reminds us of the power of shared joy and the crucial role of community in recognizing and celebrating God’s faithfulness in our lives. It encourages us to trust in God’s plans and timing, even when they silence our doubts or are beyond our understanding. It challenges us to embrace the unexpected and to see God’s hand in both the miraculous and the mundane aspects of our lives.

Coupled with divine intervention and faithfulness is the audacity of human beings to challenge their own constructs. Elizabeth's declaration, "He is to be called John," disrupted the traditional expectations. The family and neighbors seem to have expected the child to be named after the father, following the patriarchal tradition of the time. However, Elizabeth’s insistence and Zechariah's affirmation upon naming the child against the tradition are significant. This moment not only marks the beginning of John’s distinct identity and mission. But it also highlights the immateriality of human constructs before the divine purpose. It teaches us the importance of discerning God’s direction, even when it goes against our conventional wisdom and societal expectations.

As we celebrate the feast of the birth of the ‘Desert’s Voice’, let us take some time today to recall the moments of God’s intervention and His unfathomable faithfulness in our lives. Let us also reflect on our audacity to challenge our own constructs, definitions, expectations, norms, rules, and traditions—not for the sake of being rebels in society, but as a way of witnessing God’s radical faithfulness, especially towards the poor, lowly, barren, outcast, and downtrodden in life.