I Thirst

Dear brothers and sisters,

I woke up on the 4 March to learn about two tragedies, namely, Al Jazeera news portal reported that 4 nuns of the missionary of Charity have been gunned down along with other 11 person in Yemen. Guyana local news reported that 17 prisoners are burnt alive in the prison in Camp Street. A red letter day when blood was spilled in Yemen and in Guyana. I was deeply saddened with the news. God created human beings in his image and likeness, that image has been gunned down and burnt alive in fire. This means it is obvious that the perpetrators don't see the image of God in their victims. Then there is a clear sign of breakdown of the society. The intention of God for man to love Him and each other has been distorted openly and boldly by perpetrators. 

On the 3 March, I was still trying to grapple with the disheartening news of the prison fire and Sister superior called me to ask whether I have any information about the sisters killed in Yemen. I said I read passingly on the news about the nuns being killed but not sure whether they belong to the Missionary Charity. I assured her that God is with them. I went to check the news again and that is where I realized the heinous crime has been the cause of the four missionary sisters and other people. 

Yemen, and largely most of the Middle East has been in civil war for a longest while. But misery increased when evil groups like ISIS, ISIL and so on took advantage of the civil fight in the nam of the religion and targeted other tribes, Christians, and so on. There have been about 6000 persons killed in Yemen alone. This should be major cause of concern for the nation of Yemen and the world. Pope Francis, upon hearing the news of the nuns being killed said, 'globalization of indifference has caused these nuns to lay down their lives.' 'They are the modern martyrs.' 

Pope is speaking about the indifference of the world towards these war torn nations. How many of the news agencies carry the news about these people being killed in thousands, it does not really hit the headlines in our news papers because of the indifference. It does not concern the world because our public security is good, and even if it does concern it just makes it as a sub-news. This is what Pope Francis calls it a 'globalization of indifference.' The prison fire claimed 17 lives, it became news for couple of days and every one got on with their, probably some even said, they are prisoners so why bother. That is what I call 'globalization of indifference.'

On October 7, 1950, the new congregation of the Missionaries of Charity was officially established upon single inspiration that Mother Teresa received whilst traveling on a train. This way the aim and mission she would give to her new institute: "to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the cross for love and souls" by "labouring at the salvation and sanctification of the poorest of the poor."

Sisters, whenever I celebrate Mass for you in your chapel, the words beside the Crucifix, "I thirst" makes me think one thing, that is, you see Christ in these women and the poor, hence, you care for their needs and this way you quench the thirst of Christ. I would like to go a little further in saying, don't remain at the Cross because your reward is resurrected Christ. The four sisters, have quenched the thirst of the poor and the needy by hard labor and commitment. They have gone to the extreme of spilling their own blood for the poor and the needy. Their reward is Christ. 

The Catholic Church prepares for the Canonization of Bl Mother Teresa of Calcutta on September 4, 2016. Let St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta be our inspiration and model to love the poorest of the poor in this nation. 

In our gospel today Jesus is talking about his father by saying I do nothing of myself rather I teach what Father has taught me. I always do what pleases him. These sisters did the exactly the same as Jesus. They did what Christ taught them to do that is to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Christ teaches us to love and in turn we love each other. This love is comforting but at times this loves costs us our including our lives.