DNC Times March 2016 - Suffering

Knowing the suffering that is to come, Jesus stood still in

faith and went beyond His suffering to save the human

race of its bondage. Life therefore must have a bigger

vision to look at suffering positively. Sant Ramdass

(American spiritual teacher) says, “Suffering is the

sandpaper of our incarnation that does its work of

shaping us in life.”

“Suffering, Can we go beyond?” called to mind

our writers to pen down their ideas beautifully

highlighting various aspects of suffering in a different

perspective. Fr. Zacheus SJ helps us learn the art of

dealing with the suffering. He

further explains that suffering

exists therefore everyone has to

face it and need to learn from the

creator how to handle it e.g. out

of love; the creator has

conquered all the suffering in this

world.

“You have to be very

strong especially during the

worst days”, says Lata Amolik.

In her interview, she expresses the real facts of life that

she underwent which made her to go beyond her

suffering and to face it in life. Sr. Melly through the

examples of happening reality of suffering on women has

opened our eyes to see the development in women.

On the other hand we have an experience based

article of three Brothers from DNC who stayed at the

Kalyaninagar slum for a month. It is not an easy task.

These brothers went beyond the suffering to help out the

children, people who are residing over there for many

years. Suffering is like the sea waves. There is no sea

without the waves so I wish you dear reader a happy

reading and to reflect on your own suffering to grow into

a better person. Let us learn to love and accept the

suffering in our lives.

rd(Oscar is a 2 yr Philosopher at JDV )

othing grows without suffering, yet suffering

is not the ultimate aim of life. Life goes beyond Nsuffering. The articles in this edition do give us

the idea of going beyond it. Life in reality is million times

stronger than suffering. Still suffering is something

which makes our repetitive life alive and active. Without

suffering life can be boring. It is innate therefore one

cannot run away from it. It enables us to shape our life

and leaves behind a lasting impact of experience in one's

life. Suffering plays the role of a mediator. It stands

between us and our achievements, goals and success,

creating a bridge between the two

always. Looking at suffering in

isolation makes us narrow-

minded but looking beyond one's

suffering makes us broad-

minded. Like a giraffe’s, our

sight must be far sighted than

being short sighted.

E v e r y t h i n g h a s a

particular way of doing it and

does face suffering at some stage

in life. Therefore, can we stop doing things in life? No,

we have to find a way out and move beyond it. We must

not feel victimized by sufferings but as humans must

look beyond it. Very often we get stuck with suffering

and remain in it. We need to think out of the box and

allow it to push us higher like the sea waves. In life

majority of us see suffering as a destructive agent when it

is suppose to be a constructive agent in our life.

Pope Francis has rightly said that we need to

leave our suffering aside and get involved in helping

others out from their suffering. This will help us find a

way for ourselves too. The best way is to stop worrying

about suffering and have courage to face it. As we

arenearing the Passion Week, it is an apt time for us to

reflect on this theme “Suffering, can we go beyond?

Answering this, Jesus remains the best model.

02 March 2016March 2016

EditorialEditorial

Oscar Daniel SJ

do not know what they are doing.”The question thus

raised is, 'Is Suffering good in itself?' Suffering is not

good in itself. What is good in suffering is our submission

to the will of God. Suffering leads us to the depth of

understanding God. In suffering we are invited to go

beyond because the pain and suffering that we bear

purifies our human perceptions of reality.

How must we go beyond suffering?

Every individual needs to take a positive

approach towards suffering. Suffering is not an obstacle

in life but when taken into one's strides can become a

pathway to God. To allow this to happen in life, one has to

be open to life even in suffering because it leads us to a

deeper understanding of life. It is not by avoiding but by

experiencing and acknowledging it that we grow.

Every human being has to learn the art of dealing

with suffering. One must not get stuck with it but accept

the reality and live with it.

The reality is important.

There is suffering in the

world we live. This is the

truth, as Buddha taught. How

shall we deal with it then? If

the world is in the midst of

suffering then every creature

has to learn to stay with

suffering looking at Jesus how he faced it all in good

strides. It is the love that enabled him to go through it all.

The best in him came out through his suffering. Thus as a

response to life we are called to go through the suffering

of life. Only when one has experienced suffering that s/he

will be touched seeing it in the world around us. The heart

never asks why only feels and experiences. It is the mind

that seeks answers to all the why's of life, thus we must

use our heart when in suffering, than the mind to know it.

Everyone must face his/her suffering than

running away from it. Running away will give a

uffering is an integral part of life. It touches

every human heart. One cannot deny suffering. SIt is a reality of life from which none of us can

run away trying to escape its grip. A person can make

suffering a life giving experience or can resist it and

become bitter in life. Suffering, when seen positively,

can bring the best in us. We see this in Jesus. He was

affected by suffering, yet in pain, he was compassionate,

gentle, and forgiving. How is it that he overcame it all? It

is by being faithful and trusting God who had sent Him.

He healed those who were suffering and wept at the death

of Lazarus. He healed Malchus, his enemy, too, and

accepted the repented sinners. This shows us the way to

go beyond suffering.

Suffering is a mystery. It cannot be fully grasped.

Not everything of life could be explained from the human

point of view. It is an on-going process through which we

learn to live in times of

suffering. If we run away

from it perhaps we will never

touch the depth, and live a

very superficial life. Even

though suffering is intrinsic

to life it is not a proof that we

are living an authentic life. In

suffering we may be cursing

God. Thus the fact remains that our life depends on how

we understand suffering. What makes us to suffer

then…..?

God does not send suffering. Our God has

revealed himself as a loving God. He does not want us to

suffer. We must not hold anyone responsible for our

suffering. Even Jesus does not hold the Father

responsible for his suffering. While in pain Jesus prayed

to the Father, “Father if it's your will, Let this cup of

suffering pass away from me, if not let your will be

done.” Later, on the cross, seeing those inflicting

suffering upon Him, he said, “Father forgive them, they


Suffering: Can we go beyond it?Suffering: Can we go beyond it?

Fr. Zacheus SJ

Article

ministering Jesus, i.e. being present with him in the

suffering humanity. Thus in our ministry we may not be

able to do great things for others but we can be there

present for them in their sufferings. Therefore friends

let's stay with Jesus seeking for the grace as he said, “Pray

that in this time of suffering you may not come into trial,

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

(Fr. Zacheus Dungdung SJ is the superior of the

Philosophers at DNC)

momentary satisfaction but the problem still persists to

live within us. When one denies it then one denies

growth. One must not suppress suffering lest we become

immune and insensitive to the suffering of others. We

must not seek suffering for the sake of suffering.

Suffering for the sake of suffering is sickness. Instead we

need to open ourselves to love. When we open ourselves

to love we embrace suffering. Thus what we need is

freedom in suffering and not freedom from suffering.

When in suffering we ought not to dump our pain

on somebody else. Each person's pain is unique. No one

can suffer in our place, not even God. We have to carry

our own cross. Cross means our response to life, our

response to the inevitable reality of suffering. To live life

means to be open to the sufferings of the realities; not

only to suffering, the sickness, calamities, etc. but also to

the suffering that touches the human heart. We must not

stop loving because when we stop loving we start dying.

Suffering results from love. Other forms of sufferings,

both manmade and natural calamities are part of the

living process. The suffering of loving is the deepest

form of touching life. All of us are touched by suffering.

No one is exempted, not even God.

Suffering with a suffering person is a grace. It is

not easy to stay with someone who suffers. We cannot

enter into the heart of a suffering person by force. Often

our experience is lost when we try to enter into the heart

of the suffering person by force. Suffering person starts

opening up slowly. Therefore, there is no short cut into

the heart of a suffering person. We wait to be taken, to be

invited, to be selected just as Jesus took only three

persons to the garden of Gethsemane. Therefore we must

stay first, and then start doing. Jesus stayed thirty

years.with us before he started doing. Guilt doesn't want

to stay It looks for quick fix solution. It is done for self-

centered reason. In our own lives we are called not to be

successful but to be present and faithful with the

suffering. Our presence with the suffering people

transforms our work into ministry. Ministry is


Cry for LibertyCry for Liberty

O Lord, help me to see

Your people's misery.

I fail to see them as you would.

Remove the dust of my eyes O Lord,

Listen to what I pray.

O Lord, help me to hear

Your people's agony.

I fail to hear, grant me the hearing aid.

Take my ears closer to yours Lord,

Bless my ears to hear your way.

O Lord, help me to speak

Your people's plea.

I fail to raise my tongue against the misdeeds.

Bolden my voice O Lord,

Guide me in what I say.

O Lord, help me to work for

Your people's liberty.

I fail to lend my hands in time of need.

Stretch out my hands O Lord,

Mould me, I'm your clay.

O Lord, help me to walk in

Your people's journey.

I fail to measure my steps O Lord,

Connect my feet with yours O Lord,

That I be found worthy before you on judgment day.

st(Sudhir is a 1 yr Theologian at JDV)

This brings redemption to their fellow humans. Jesus

himself is the best example for this. At other times, it may

turn us around and redirect our lives into a better course

as in the case of St Paul. They suffered for LOVE – love

for God and love for others.

In today's world, characterized by profit-centered

business, religious intolerance, gender inequality,

ideological dictations, etc. anyone who suffers while

working for justice, peace and unity is suffering for the

kingdom. And such suffering will definitely bring

redemption. When we suffer for others out of love, it

brings a certain kind of acceptance, calmness, serenity

and joy in us. In the words of Jesus, “Blessed are you

when people persecute you…... Rejoice and be glad

…..…” (Mt 5: 11-12).

There are also people who suffer because of

hunger, injustice, violence, war, etc. due to the greed and

selfishness of certain classes of society. Being the

'anavim,' they are the special people of God and their

suffering too will bear fruit in the eyes of God.

Pain and suffering come as part of life, and the

cross is an essential part of Christian life. Suffering is to

be endured and rejoiced in when it comes from the

persecution by evil human actions or from the fatigue of

apostolic labors. Suffering is to be endured for the sake of

the kingdom and its values and not for its own sake. If we

suffer in love or for the sake of love it will definitely bring

us redemption.

rd(Jobin is a 3 yr Theologian at JDV)

uffering is a mystery that all of us have to wrestle

with in some form or the other. It could come to Sus in various forms caused either by one's

limitations or some other reason. It can also be the result

of adhering to God's will. One could suffer for one's own

sake or for the sake of others.

Suffering can be redemptive. But are all kinds of

sufferings redemptive? Before we see what suffering is,

let's see what redemption is. In a broader sense,

redemption is deliverance of individuals from troubles

and bondages of various kinds and becoming one with

the Divine. Does suffering help us reach this end? Is

suffering necessary to be saved? Not necessarily. The

truth is that God does not want us to suffer. He wants us to

live our life to its fullness. And that's why Jesus, the

ultimate redeemer, was ever busy removing suffering by

caring for people, working miracles, curing them from

various illnesses, etc. He never allowed them to suffer

saying that suffering is redemptive. Sufferings that are

under our control should be got rid of by taking proper

measures. In case of sicknesses, we must take medical

help because God also works through those in the

medical field – doctors, nurses, pharmacists,

psychiatrists, counselors, etc.

However, human beings cannot get rid of all the

sufferings. By the very fact of being humans we are

fragile and prone to experience suffering in various

forms. It is very much part of our everyday life.

Endurance and acceptance of it would help us imitate

Jesus who suffered on the cross for us. Jesus was forced

to bear the shame of the cross though he never deserved

it. As an individual He had no control over it. Jesus'

endurance of such suffering brought redemption to the

human race.

There are some people who accept suffering

willingly and offer it for a finer purpose, as in the case of

St Alphonsa, St Maximillian Kolbe and many others.


Jobin SJ

Suffering in & for LoveSuffering in & for LoveArticle

manifests this idea in his letter to the Romans: “If we

suffer with him we may also be glorified with him. I

consider that the sufferings of this present time are not

worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to

us” (Rom 8 17-18). This is the beauty of the Christian

understanding of suffering. No suffering goes in vain

because every suffering has the redeeming value when

kept attached with the suffering of Christ. Paul further

writes to the Corinthians, “This slight momentary

affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory

beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be

seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is

temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal” (2 Cor.

4:17-18).

We Christians hope in the final victory over

suffering and death. As from the decaying of the wheat a

new life is sprouted up we will all once be raised up from

the sufferings and death into a new life. As gold in the

furnace we will all be made pure through our sufferings

and iniquities. St. Therese of child Jesus writes in her

autobiography, “My soul is matured in the furnace of

both internal and external iniquities. Now I stand strong

and upright like a little flower which survived the furious

storm. Sufferings always strengthen and ennoble our

lives. There is a saying, “Is it possible that what had been

prepared in fire be dried up in the sunshine?”

nd(Arun is a 2 yr Theologian at JDV)

Suffering is a God given gift to humanity. I do

know that suffering is something that I can't run away

from yet when it comes I want to run. In such a situation I

pray, “God please take this suffering away from me for I

can't bear it like you.” This gives me the strength to go

through it. Yes it does break me but at the same time

makes me think of my sinfulness and wrong doing for

which I might have got it.

(Mr. Patrick is a care taker of Fr. Ted in DNC)

Opinion

nless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and

dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, Uit bears much fruit.” (Jn. 12:24). Suffering has

a great value in the lives of Christians because they are

the followers of one who has suffered unto death on the

cross to redeem the humanity. Jesus transformed the

cross, an instrument of shame and torture, into a sign of

redemption and a living symbol of Christian

discipleship. Jesus invites his followers to take up their

daily sufferings whole heartedly and follow him. “If

anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him deny

himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk.

9: 23). Each Christian is called to share in the redemptive

suffering of Christ.

The point about suffering is not that we suffer, but

how we suffer. Only the suffering with selfless love

becomes redemptive. To quote the words of Pope John

Paul II: “Love is more important than suffering; it gives it

meaning and makes it acceptable. It is possible to have

love without suffering. However suffering without love

has no meaning; with love- accepted as Christ and the

saints accepted it – it acquires an inestimable value.” We

must honestly surrender all our sufferings to the wisdom

of the cross of Christ. St. Paul reminds us that because

Jesus had died for us we must live for him. And it is

through carrying in our bodies the death of Jesus that the

life of Jesus will be revealed in our bodies. Paul realized

that those who share in the sufferings of Christ are called

to share in His glory through their own sufferings. He


Suffering EnnoblesSuffering Ennobles

Arun CST

Article

Thus the slums house over 40% of the city's population.

The study also found that the 477 slum pockets in the city

lie on just about 2.34 per cent of the total land area of the

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

The facts speak for themselves. People being

forced to leave their homes is now both a local and global

issue. Numbers of factors, mostly man-made, like

development, war, conflict, unpredictable variations of

weather, unemployment, etc. have contributed to the

problem. It is not just a

socio-political issue. It is

also a theological issue.

Humans today have lost

the sense of sacred and are

in a mad pursuit of wealth

to fill up the inner void.

Th i s ha s l ed t o an

unprecedented unrest and

exploitation of fellow

human beings.

The Pope has declared this

year as 'Year of Mercy'. It is not enough to feel pity and

dole out few things to these people. They deserve more

than this. They deserve their due. They deserve justice

and equal opportunities. They have the right to live in

their native places peacefully.

How are we to respond? I really do not have readymade

solutions to the problems. But interacting with slum

dwellers has transformed my consciousness. Now I feel

the pain of being uprooted from one's land, home and

environment. Will Kaveri be able to see her native land?

The question remains to be answered.

rd(Bala Kiran is a 3 yr Theologian at JDV )

averi came to Kalyaninagar slum as a new

born child. Her parents migrated from KKarnataka in search of a job. They are now

employed as construction workers. Kaveri has never

seen her native place in Karanataka. She longs to go back

one day. Will she ever return to her home? This is not just

the story of Kaveri. It is the story of millions of people

who have been displaced today in the world.

The year 2015 was the 'year of migration and

displacement.' 20 million

refugees crossed the

borders in 2014. 40

million people have been

displaced in their own

country. One in every 122

people on the planet has

been forced to leave one’s

home due to various

reasons like war, conflict

and development projects

etc. Crossing borders may

be a banal routine for the rich elite but for the poor

refugees it continues to be a death-embracing journey.

We have witnessed the heart wrenching photograph of a

Syrian child washed ashore after the boat by which they

were traveling, capsized while trying to cross the border.

India also has its share in the number of refugees and

migrants. India was home to 1,98,665 refugees as of June

2014 and had 4,718 pending cases of asylum seekers,

bringing the total population of concern to 2,03,383.

Pune is a large city in Western Maharashtra.

According to the National Census, 2011, the population

of Pune city was about 3.5 million and it is projected to

reach nearly 6 million by 2021. According to the

Municipal Corporation's estimates, 7,50,000people live

in Pune's slum settlements. This is a conservative

estimate; the census project so far enables us to estimate a

current slum population of at least one million.


The Hard Reality of Migration and RefugeesThe Hard Reality of Migration and Refugees

Bala Kiran SJ

Article

When you learn how to suffer,

you suffer much less

(Compilation from J. R. Miller, 1905 and Fr.

Moreau's Meditation and Circular letter)

upon a human need, suffering or sorrow in any form,

there is an opportunity for us to manifest the works of

God by showing kindness, giving comfort, helping in

whatever way it may be in our power to help. Trials are

like a divine seal which stamps all the works of God. Did

not persecution greet the infant God when He came into

the world which He was to save by dying on the cross

covered with disgrace? Did not His apostles, too, drink of

the bitter chalice of His passion?

Another mission of suffering is for the honor of

God. A popular figure in the bible is Job who was left in

the hands of the adversary to disprove

this charge that his sufferings were not

because of sins but that the reality of his

religion might be proved. We are

witnesses for God in our sufferings,

and, if we are not to fail Him we must

show in ourselves the power of divine

grace to keep the song singing in our

hearts through pain or sorrow.

We realize that suffering is very

real in our world and that many of those

we serve experience heavy crosses each

day. Sometimes we are in a position to

alleviate this suffering and sometimes

we are not. What we always have to offer, however, is

hope. Mary is the perfect model of this hope. Even in the

midst of her sorrows, she never despaired. Her faith

endured through this suffering and she shared in her

Son's victory over death. As Blessed Moreau, would say,

“we learn that the cross can be borne in our lives as source

of order, and meaning because we are people with hope to

bring.”

(Compilation from J. R. Miller, 1905 and Fr.

Moreau's Meditation and Circular letter)

year Philosopher at JDV)nd(Jeyaraj is a 2

he mystery of suffering has ever been elusive

and many among us would have cried out in the Tdarkness, asking, “Why this pain, this suffering,

this trouble?” The ‘why’ of suffering is the most acute of

problems in our lives. Although there is not an accurate

answer to this ‘why’ of suffering but there are a great

band of men like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi,

Mother Teresa and living model Nick Vujicic, who

valiantly marched against the path of suffering to give us

hope in return.

Suffering in its essence has potential to make

someone a creator and also a thing to be

created. As Alexis Carrel would say,

“Man cannot remake himself without

suffering, for he is both the marble and

the sculptor.” The most successful

people are those who suffered for the

sake of others and for the honor of God.

This presupposes that we would never

reach our best possibilities without pain

and struggle.

Winston Churchill would say,

“We shall draw from the heart of

suffering itself the means of inspiration

and survival.” The process of

metamorphosis of flies and animals is a befitting

example for inspiration and survival through suffering.

One tells the experience of visiting a pottery shop, and

seeing a vessel whose pattern was blurred and marred,

the design not brought out clearly. He asked why was it,

and was told that it had not been burned enough. It would

have been well worth for the whole vessel to have had

hotter fires and to have stayed longer in the furnace-in

order to have the pattern wrought out in greater clearness

and distinctness.

Sometimes we are called to suffer for the sake of

others that they may be made better. Every time we come


The Mystery of SufferingThe Mystery of Suffering

Anthony Jeyaraj CSC

Article

reported every 20 minutes in India. In 2006, the case of

Imrana, a Muslim rape victim, was highlighted by the

media. She was raped by her father-in-law. The

pronouncement of some Muslim clerics, that she should

marry her father-in-law, led to widespread protests, and

finally he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. The

verdict was welcomed by many women's groups and the

All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Daily,

newspapers carry stories of infant girls killed. Recently it

was reported that a woman threw her new born daughter

from the hospital toilet

window into the garbage

dump. The mutilated body

bitten by rats was found by the

garbage collector. Another

case is of Nidhi Gupta, a

practicing CA and a lecturer in

a college. Unable to bear the

inhuman torture of her

husband and in-laws she

committed suicide after

throwing her 6yr old son and

3yr old daughter from the terrace of her building. Added

to these, authorities in India have a tendency to blame the

victims in cases of sexual assault, criticizing the

immodesty of their dress or the impropriety of their

behavior. For a woman, there is no secure place to run

away to because wherever she goes she is in a male

dominated culture and surrounded by men.

Yet women have progressed in India working

against all odds to be at par with men. It is not an

impossible task but surely a difficult one. A lot of men too

have been instrumental in helping women in this

endeavor. Education is the key to changing mind sets. We

hope and pray for a time when women and men can walk

shoulder to shoulder and smile at having an equal status.

(Sr Melly is doing her Certificate Course at JDV)

ndia is a country where males are greatly revered.

Although India's constitution gives equal rights to Iwomen and men, in many places women are

considered inferior. The situation began changing when

many national figures started a struggle for India's

freedom. Mahatma Gandhi openly invited women to

help. Among many women who joined the freedom

struggle were Sarojini Naidu, , Aruna

Asaf Ali and others. Post independence, India saw a

number of women rise up the social order. Mrs. Indira

Gandhi became the Prime

Minister and Mrs. Prathiba

Patil became the President of

India. Many women occupy

prestigious positions in the

country proving that women

a r e no t i n f e r i o r. The

government has made all

effor ts to abol ish the

inequality between men and

women. It has laid special

emphasis on girl's education.

In many places, competitive exam results show that

women have performed better than men.

stHowever even as India moves ahead in the 21

century with many women excelling, the picture is not

that rosy all over India. Many women face harsh

brutalities, some of which are dowry harassments, bride

burning, rape, forced prostitution, unequal wages and

sexual harassment at the work place. Though there are

enough laws to prevent such crimes, enforcement is poor

especially due to the lack of reporting. Most cases are

never reported, for that brings in another type of social

stigma. Even if a woman has not experienced these

things herself, she probably knows someone who has,

and dreads going through it herself.

According to an oft-cited statistic, a rape is

Vijaylaxmi Pandit


Sr. Melly RJM

Women In IndiaWomen In IndiaArticle

theory to experience in life. They ask, “What have I done

to deserve this...? Why is God punishing me for?” They

often feel that God punishes them when they go wrong,

but the reality is that God is merciful and loving, He

forgives. He can use our suffering to make people realise

that what He plans no human can understand, e.g. life of

Job in the Bible. When we have total faith and surrender

to His will, we will understand the mystery of life, for it's

a cycle that follows: suffering-victory-suffering-victory

and death. When suffering comes, at times people feel

life is over – the end, and give up in life. It is here that

one's life gets reduced. What we Christians have to feel is

pride to have an opportunity in life to suffer a bit like our

master Jesus and to go through it with joy and smile as it

brings us closer to God.

Finally, St. Paul's words to Timothy, “There is a

Judge like this. He is the Man who suffered and overcame

it. This Man is Jesus Christ,” should give us courage and

hope to suffer willingly knowing that God's plan is at

work in it. Paul’s assurance to Timothy, “We are never

without a Helper,” is true for God has promised us the

Holy Spirit who is guiding us at all times. Suffering

makes meaning in life when seen from the glasses of

Faith, for God chooses us to fulfil His salvific plan for

whole of creation. Thus, we remember that suffering is

the sign of victory.

st(Anthony is a 3 yr Theologian at JDV)

hen we look at the world at large, we see

people suffering for various reasons. Some Wsuffer without any fault of their own or

reason, which makes it difficult to understand suffering.

It is like the maze runner seeking for the pathway. It

brings pain and despair depending on one's attitude

towards it. It is complicated and part of one's life. People

often speak of it as one that is the root of all evils.

Have you anytime tried to know what suffering

is? In fact, when we suffer we don't know the reality of it,

nor do we know the facts of suffering. Therefore in such

situation it is always ideal to wait with patience and

understand it with faith in God. Things that we cannot

understand affect us, but if we wait we learn that there is

something more hidden in the truth of suffering that is

mysterious to human knowledge.

Many things happen in one's life; not all that

happens is comprehendible by the grasp of our mind. Yet,

we live with hope to know it in the fullness of time. Rm

8:28 says, “They are all part of God's great and perfect

plan.” In the OT we see Joseph was treated cruelly and

plotted to be killed, yet God had a salvific plan to bring

redemption to Israel. In the NT, God's ‘Master Plan’ is

revealed through the suffering and death of Jesus on the

Cross. Thus Jesus shows the pathway to victory –

conquering death and evil through his death, giving life

to all humankind and asking us to follow the same.

In life there are many things that are important

for human living, but not all things go through the rosy

bed of life, there are thorns, broken glass pieces and no

road at times, yet one is asked to carry on his/her life.

Everything that happens has a purpose in life. Some

amount of darkness is needed for a tree to grow; some

sort of burning and melting in fire is needed for the gold

to shine. Similarly some suffering is essential for victory

in life.

Very often people use the 'cause and effect'


Suffering: A Pathway To VictorySuffering: A Pathway To Victory

Anthony SJ

Article

became dominant. Lent, then, lost the connection to the

preparation of catechumens. Today the church calls us to

transform ourselves and to renew our relationship with

God, others and creation.

I also mentioned above that Lent is a time of

preparation to celebrate the Pascal mystery in a worthy

manner. Do we mourn or put a long face when we prepare

our house to host our guests? Certainly not. We prepare it

with happiness, excitements and cheerfulness. Similarly,

this inward journey should be full of happiness and joy.

Our acts of fasting, alms giving and penance must have a

purpose which will give meaning to our lives. Our

intention should be pure and clear. It should help us come

closer to God and also to our fellow brethren. Pope

Francis says, “No act of virtue can be great if it is not

followed by advantage for others.” So no matter how

much time we spend on fasting, no matter how much we

sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh, if we do no

good to others, we do nothing great.

Most of us normally think that fasting, praying,

alms giving, reconciling, etc. are practised only in the

Lenten season. The above mentioned attitudes are

Christian virtues. We, Christians, are expected to follow

them all through our lives. Then the forty days are given

to us to reflect on ways we can improve on our baptismal

promises and to lead a better human life. I don't mean that

fasting and penance are meaningless. I just want to say

that these are useful and meaningful when we change

internally (permanently). This internal change will give

us happiness. Thus I say that this Lent is a season of joy

and preparation and a sacred pilgrimage into the depth of

our hearts to be a better human.

I wish this Lent will be a time for self-journey,

self-correction, self-transformation, self- denial,

sacrificing, extra prayer, fasting and penance. So let us

have a fruitful Lent – a joyous preparation to be a better

human.

year Philosopher at JDV)rd(John Paul is a 3

he season of Lent begins with the Ash

Wednesday. On that day, our foreheads are Tsmeared by the ash as the priest says, “Born out

of dust and to dust you shall return.” This statement

makes us feel that Lenten season is season of sombre,

sour, giving up, etc. It can be partially true, but our

Catholic Church expects us to be joyful in this joyous

season.

The preface of the Eucharistic prayer of Lent in

the lectionary runs like this, “Father………. Each year

you give us this joyful season of Lent…” If we read this

preface further, the church itself will explain why it calls

Lent as joyful season. It says, “We prepare to celebrate

the Pascal mystery with mind and heart renewed…” The

Church's vision for its faithful is not to mourn or be sad

during Lent but to feel the need for internal purification.

In other words, it is a “coming back home” experience. It

is the time we enter into the depth of ourselves and try to

examine our own conscience.

Originally, Lent was the time of intense spiritual

preparation for the catechumens before their baptism on

the eve of Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday. Later in the

fourth century when Christianity was legalized, it gained

a different significance. Monks of the early Church

altered the activities of the season of Lent by enforcing

their practices of fasting and repentance on the ordinary

people. Thus fasting, alms giving and repentance


Lent- A Joyous PreparationLent- A Joyous Preparation

John Paul SJ

Article

makes us realize the pain of others and helps us to feel

one with those suffering. It develops our perseverance to

do something for those in need and pain. Once suffered

the character undergoes a change towards good or at

times, can be destroyed if has been hurt badly in life. It

gives us endurance and steadfastness. It rejuvenates our

life by helping us realize our drawbacks and weaknesses,

motivating us to reshape our being. When we realize that

it is not possible for us to get back on our own, we turn to

God and r emember God ' s

providence in our life. In our

suffering the trust towards God

increases and we become stronger

in our faith like the prodigal son.

Knowing that God is all knowing,

loving and forgiving we turn to him

with a changed heart of a

rejuvenated spirit of love.

As we are in the season of Lent it

is the best time for all of us to peek

into our being and to be cleansed of

our thoughts whenever we have

suffered and cursed God. We need

to take inspiration from Christ to be

in union with God and to go through our suffering

knowing that we are doing His will. The passion, death

and suffering of Christ gives us strength to let go our

pains and burden. It produces perseverance, endurance,

hope and new life. Every person in suffering gazes into

the eyes of God looking up to heavens relying on God for

the energy of rejuvenation. Christ is the hope of

suffering, for he suffered for our sake and has taken the

burden away from us. Thus suffering rejuvenates us with

new life, new ways of going about with hope and courage

becoming God's children again.

nd(Abraham is a 2 yr Philosopher at JDV)L. Marand

n fact suffering is a typical misery of us, which

makes us to turn towards God and seek the grace to Ibe able to bear it. It is difficult to define suffering as

it is like a drop from the ocean. Yet when this drop comes

into the life of any individual it creates a volcanic

eruption in the normal routine of one's existence. It has

various implications according to different context or

situations of life. Suffering is not only emotional and

physical but also psychological and spiritual, based on

the exposition of humans to various

situations and trends. Sometimes

suffering becomes unbearable and

unexplainable when one does not

know why it has occurred in an

individual's life. At times, suffering

blocks the further development of

our personality. It can be a

dangerous entity harming every bit

of our being. Suffering creates

tension and tension at times can

paralyse the entire being from any

further development in life. It is

only when struck with suffering

that we turn to God or else we go on

enjoying life as it comes. When in a joyful period, we

tend to become smarter and proud of ourselves. This

gives us the pride of being superior and walk away from

God. The distance created does bring us back when

suffering knocks at our doors.

Suffering has a great impact on an individual's

life. When suffering does strike a person then the

individual begins to rethink of his past and if in greater

pain, decides to amend one's ways to the path of

righteousness and truth. Thus one can say that suffering

leads us to the path of righteousness. It gives a person the

inner boost and reinforces the lost hope and strength in

one's life. Suffering builds our human character for it


Suffering rejuvenates us Suffering rejuvenates us

Abraham SJ

Article

attitudes, indifferences and our greed and selfishness that

cause people's suffering and agony.

We humans also possess the inbuilt power to

eradicate such dark spots from the face of the earth. What

is the power that is inbuilt? It is compassion that God has

given to us, hidden but a powerful tool to heal our broken

world. The compassion of the bystander in the above

mentioned incident had smoothened and consoled the

child. Mother Teresa on the streets of Calcutta, moved by

compassion has taken care of so

many abandoned people. Sr. Lucy

Kurian SCC (Maher) moved with

compassion became mother, Didi

(elder sister in Hindi), and

instrument of love for many

abandoned people in many parts of

India. It is the compassion of Jesus

that healed many suffering. At the

end he gave up his life on the cross

for us in love and compassion. It is

compassion that can heal the world. Deep down in our

hearts we all invariably have the potentiality to care, love

and share. We need to unlearn all our attitudes of greed,

selfishness, division, indifference, etc. Our lives are

broken by our greed that grabs, selfishness that isolates,

division that breaks, and indifference that kills. We need

to heal our society through our compassion and emphatic

love. Lets us all unite and passionately commit ourselves

to be compassionate to the needy, the suffering and

especially those at the margins of the society. Be the

change that you dream for!

st(Maria Anand is a 1 yr Theologian at JDV.)

teacher once narrated this incident. In

Bangalore, a city filled with busy citizens Amoving with different motives, aims, goals

and aspirations a tiny pale boy moved himself with an

empty stomach searching for something to eat. He

happened to see a rich man purchasing a birthday cake

with a delighting look which mesmerized the little boy.

He ran closer to the shop and put out his hands to the man.

The shop keeper took an iron rod and hit the boy's hand.

The small boy broke into tears with

inconsolable suffering and pain.

Little later a bystander took the

boy and consoled him.

Our world is in some way

rolling down with tears in the face

of sufferings. Every moment is

filled with some sort of pain and

misery either accidental or

imposed. We know that we can not

have control over accidental

suffering such as natural calamities, accidents, death,

etc. But, he/she who is reading this article has an inbuilt

power to eradicate imposed suffering from the face of the

earth.

What do I mean by imposed suffering in this

article? Imposed suffering means we human beings

impose heavy burdens on the less privileged and those at

the margins of the society. Heavy burdens are poverty,

hunger, war, terrorism, caste, racism, etc. We are

sometimes unaware that we are also partakers in

imposing such burdens on our fellow humans. What is

the cause for such sufferings? Are we really capable of

eradicating such sufferings? We need to reflect on the

true incident mentioned above. Who is the cause of

misery and suffering in the life of the little boy? What is

our attitude when we pass through a slum, or see the

needy or even our neighbour suffering? It is our


Compassion

The Power to eradicate Suffering

Compassion

The Power to eradicate Suffering

Maria Anand MSFS

Article

Without suffering there

will be no Compassion

towards suffering? How can we respond to it? Jesus' way

is the way of sacrifice and suffering. We cannot follow

Jesus without embracing His Cross. We are called to live

under the banner of the Cross in the context of today's

world. "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we

know that suffering produces perseverance;

perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans

5:3-4)

We join in the work of salvation of the world by

embracing the Cross and the

sufferings that come with it. This kind

of suffering would be endless but not

meaningless.

Suffering for the right cause is

always noble and praiseworthy. Are

we responsible for our sufferings or

for the sufferings of others? Jesus

suffered so we may have life in full.

Lent invites us to experience the love

of Christ. We suffer as much as we

love. In the words of St. John of the cross “Love consists

not in feeling great things but having great detachment

and in suffering for the beloved”.

nd(Sunil is a 2 yr Philosopher at JDV)

Suffering is a tsunami that comes and creates

havoc in one's life. I have been suffering from an acute

sickness of some sort and that has left me saddened. I

want to enjoy life like others and live a real college life,

yet thank God for having given me this sort of Life

knowing that he has suffered more than me dying on the

cross for me. I take this as a gift from God to go through

this suffering with Joy.

(Macklin Rodrigues is a student who is studying through distance education at Mumbai University)

Opinion

f God sends you many sufferings, it is a sign that He

has great plans for you and certainly wants to make Iyou a saint,” said St. Ignatius of Loyola. Suffering is

a part of human nature and it plays a significant role in

human life. Some suffer out of love and some in hatred;

some in poverty and some because of riches. Suffering

has many dimensions in life. No one is a stranger to

suffering. Some people find it a curse and some accept it

as a truth of life. Some go beyond suffering and let it

make their lives beautiful and

meaningful. Others get drowned in the

bitterness of suffering and find no

meaning in it.

Endless suffering may have

meaning in it but meaningless

suffering may have no end. It is up to

us, how we look at suffering.

Suffering exists from the beginning of

our existence. A mother struggles at

the pain of giving birth but soon

rejoices in the most meaningful truth of her suffering.

Many saints in the Christian tradition have longed for

suffering in order to identify themselves with the

suffering Christ. For St. Ignatius of Loyola, suffering was

an honor. He would say, “true, I am in love with suffering,

but I do not know I deserve the honor.”

“God had one Son on earth without sin but never

one without suffering.” said St. Augustine. What was the

cost of salvation that Jesus paid for all of us? Was it not

His suffering and death on the Cross? His suffering was

as great as His love. It justified God's unceasing love for

His Creation. Suffering is the most powerful tool to bring

about transformation in our lives and make it

meaningful. Suffering makes people wise and prepares

them to enjoy life under all circumstances.

As a follower of Jesus what should be our attitude


Endless Suffering or Meaningless SufferingEndless Suffering or Meaningless Suffering

Sunil SJ

Article

nations. Daniel having been in the lion's den and

Jeremiah being tossed into slimy pit both saw the power

of God. St. Paul being shipwrecked drew closer to God.

Finally Jesus having undergone suffering on the cross

redeemed us of our sins, showing us to accept it with a

smile and not grumbling. Yet many interpret Christian

living to be a life full of roses. If Jesus underwent

suffering we too are called to go through it with joy and

obedience in God seeing it as gift of God.

Eckhart Tolle in his book “Stillness-Speaks” says

that suffering and unhappiness arise when we take each

thought as truth. Situations can cause physical pain, but

not make us unhappy. Our thoughts, interpretations,

connections and past experiences make us unhappy.

Suffering begins when you name or label a situation as

undesirable or bad.

Archbishop Anthony Bloom says, “From a

biblical, from a Christian point of view, the root of pain

and suffering, lies in our severance from God. It is

Godlessness, the loss of God. It is the wrong way in

which we are related to him that is at the root of suffering

and pain. Everyone suffers from the loss of God in his

own peculiar way.” We suffer because we don't see the

righteousness of God; He reveals many things through

suffering and pain for he has a different plan, to fulfill in

and through His beloved creation. Therefore let us

surrender in suffering to do His will and like St. Paul,

“Thank God for all things”.

st(Felix is a 3 yr Theologian at JDV)

f there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a

meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable Ipart of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering

and death human life cannot be complete.” -Victor

Frankl

Suffering is part and parcel of human existence

from the time of conception. In spite of all the

developments in science and technology human

suffering cannot be eliminated. Suffering has evolved

with human beings and is seen at very corner of life. We

cannot run away from it. Our response to suffering can be

positive or negative. It can make us bitter or better.

When you are glad, you can't be sad, and when

you are sad, you can't be glad. Yet, to suffer is to die to the

old self and get purified like gold that is tested in fire. The

contemporary society of ours has well ghettoized sorrow,

pain and sadness as they are the opposites of gladness,

happiness and joy. Jesus contrasts from this idea of

opposites and gives us a new ideology i.e. the true joy of

life is hidden in the midst of our sorrow. He says, “Unless

the grain of wheat dies, it cannot bear fruit, and unless we

lose our lives, we cannot find them.” A new way is

revealed. It is the way in which pain can be embraced, not

out of a desire to suffer, but in the knowledge that

something new will be born from it.

Why do we suffer at all? The book of Genesis

says that in the beginning God made us all and made us

humans have dominion over all the earth and heavens. It

was only when humans disobeyed the words of God

and broke the promised laid by Him that they were

asked to live by the sweat of their brow. The

understanding of suffering comes from here, the moment

Humans were asked to till the ground, and women

began to bear Children that pain and suffering became

part of us. But the best part of suffering is its fruits, for

there is something new that is born within every being.

Abraham suffered and thus became the father of all


The ‘Why’ Of SufferingThe ‘Why’ Of Suffering

Felix SJ

Suffering

Article

reality of the slum and deep cordial love of the poor

people. We have been really challenged by people's

hospitality and sensitivity. They have little yet they are

happy to share it with us.

We are there as students of theology. Our main

task is to theologize our experience. In this regard our

stay there in the slum, our interactions with the children,

youth, men and women have provided rich experiences

for our theological reflections. The weekly Bhajan

session by men, the faithful and strict observance of fast

by women have challenged our spirituality and

commitment.

We have not done anything great. All that we

could do was to expose ourselves to the hard reality of the

slum and allow ourselves to be affected deeply by it. We

return back deeply challenged by the poor yet intensely

enriched by their love.

(Brs. Bala Kiran, Felix and Sushil are 3rd year

Theologians at JDV)

he Kalyaninagar slum ministry has been

actively involved with the Kalyaninagar slum

dwellers for many years. Our involvement has Tbeen at various level; regular tuition classes,

motivational and life skill programmes for the youth,

regular house visits, participation in their festivals,

Balamela, Christmas celebration with the children,

independence day celebration and other such

programmes. Having done all these we realize that we

can be more effective and take our involvement to

another level. 'How do we do it?' was our constant

question. In the process a proposal of staying in the slum

emerged. Three of us brothers from DNC along with

Fr.Vincent Crasta SJ volunteered to take it up as a pilot

project.

It has been three weeks and our experience has

been deeply disturbing and yet thoroughly enriching. We

were well prepared for all the inconveniences and

hardships we would face. But we were notprepared

enough to encounter and experience the hard


Experience

Stay in Kalyaninagar SlumStay in Kalyaninagar Slum

4. How did you shape your life?

I felt that I must do something for my children so

that they do not always remain dependent on others. My

grandparents too felt I must move on now and so

requested my aunt Mrs. Veronica who lives in Pune to

help me find some job in Pune. She knew that in the

village there was no scope for me and my children. She

was working in an NGO called HOPE. She spoke to Sr.

Noelline, the Director of HOPE to find a job for me.

Sister allowed me to stay in the outhouse and provided

me with basic amenities like cooking vessels, clothing,

bed, stove etc.

5. What were the motivating factor and the

discouraging factor?

In order to raise my children I faced lot of

hardships as life moved on. But I was ready to face any

number of difficulties and challenges for my children's

sake. Pune was very different from the village but my

stay in Shrirampur had taught me a little of town life. It

took me time to settle in this life but I was motivated by

the urge to do something for my children. I did not want

my children to struggle in their life. I wanted to see them

happy and settled in their life. Many times I felt lonely

and worried about them. Fortunately, I was well accepted

by the HOPE management and the staff. My family too

was very supportive.

6. How did you survive in Pune?

Since I had not studied, I could not do any office

work but I gladly accepted to do the cleaning work at

HOPE center. I am very grateful to sister for allowing me

to work with them. She tried to train me to do other things

like tailoring, making paper bags, etc but I was not

capable of it. By nature I am a very shy person. I feel

scared to stand in front of a crowd. I know my capacity

and so did not want to embarrass sister. I worked very

hard and paid the fees. Sister also gave me a place to stay

1. Can you tell me something about you and your

life?

My name is Lata Amolik from Songaon, district

Ahmednager. As a child I lived with my parents, grand

Parents, two aunts and four uncles. My father died when I

was just two and half year old. My younger sister was one

year old and my mother was carrying my little brother in ththe womb. I studied till 7 std in Songaon Mission school.

Not being able to cope with studies I left school and did a

one year tailoring course at St. Mary's, Sangamner. I felt I

gained very little and so I quit that too. Later I remained at

home and helped in the house work.

2. When did you marry and how did your

husband die?

I married Ravidra Madhev Amolik in Bhoker,

Shrirampur Taluka, Amednagar at the age of 20. It was an

arranged marriage and we lived in my husband's house.

My husband was working in a company at Shrirampur. I

did not know of my husband's drinking habit when we

got married. Soon I realized he was a heavy drinker. He

spent most of his earnings on drinking. He would beat me

mercilessly after drinking. Within some years it got

worse and he became an alcoholic. His liver got affected

and soon his end came. What hit me the most was that my

father died when I was young and now my children have

no father. What was written in my fate…. I don't know.

3. What happened to you after your husband's

death?

After my husband died I had no one except my

two children Abhijeet and Akshay. I was not working and

so could not earn a living. My grandfather decided to

bring me back to Songaon along with my children.

Abhijeet was just 8 years and Akshay was 4. I was not

able adjust in a joint family now. Also I felt I was a

burden to my grandparents.


Life Without A Husband….Life Without A Husband….Interview

Lata Amolik

2013 HOPE provided me accommodation at Hope center

in the annex building. I had to pay very little but this room

was much better and comfortable. Abhijeet joined me

after completing his studies in June 2014. After several

years all three of us are living together as a family. I

would like to see my children married and settled in life. I

have done my job. Both are doing well and by God's

grace their future is bright.

10. What message do you have for others who go

through such suffering?

Be strong during your worst days and keep faith

in God. Always hope for a better tomorrow. God will

send people to help you in your lives. You have to trust

God. I had so many people who came to my help. In my

life Sr. Noelline was the angel who not only helped me

but also guided me in my struggle and difficulties. Also

you have to work hard to stand on your own feet. Don't be

dependent on others or you will never be independent.

Today my children are standing on their own feet and I

am very happy and proud of them.

Suffering is a companion of human beings that

can be seen in two ways. If one looks at the suffering in

life in a positive way then one grows and finds meaning

in life's situation. On the contrary if one takes it

negatively then one's life is a hell. Life's suffering has

made me feel bad. Often I question myself as to why is

suffering not leaving me and so attached to me for it

comes one after the other. Why is God testing me so

much? Why does other have a comfortable life when I'm

suffering so much? This at times makes me give up my

faith in God, thinking He has left me alone in this

suffering and to put an end to it.

(Esperance D'Silva is the librarian at DNC)

(Lata Amolik works at the HOPE Center, Pune)

at the center. It was a great help. For years I worked and

saved money to educate my children. I did not want them

to have such a hard life like me.

7. Could you tell me something about your

children? What are they doing now?

My aunt got my elder son admitted in Bal Bhavan th(Agnel's Ashram) in Pune. He was admitted in 4 class

and he did very well in his studies. Afterwards he was

shifted to Vashi branch, Mumbai. He struggled to

mingle with the city children in the beginning. At the

Vashi branch, I visited him once a month and would

provide him with soap, oil and little pocket money. By

the grace of God he studied well. He has an Electronics

Degree and since the past one year he is working with

Vodafone as a technical Engineer. He takes good care of

us and looks after the house expenses. Sister helped

admit Aksay in the local school in Vadgaonsheri. So he

stayed with me. She also helped Akshay with educational

materials and with scholarship for some time. He too

studied well and now is doing his II year B.Com. They

both are my life. I am very proud of them. They care for

me, love me and they do most of the work in the house.

Knowing my situation they never demand things which

are beyond my capacity.

8. What were the reactions of your children after

your husband's death?

Both of them were very small. Abhijeet was just

8 years old and Akshay was 4 years old. They did not

know anything. But I went through depression. At times

they would ask me where their papa was. I had no answer

and sometimes tears would roll down my cheeks. It was

hard to explain to them that they had no father.

9. How do you see the future?

After several years of struggle, I see my future a

bit peaceful and well settled with my children. From May


Interview

Opinion



Spiritual

DNC Times March 2016 - Suffering