A message of peace and harmony
This Christmas, let's ponder upon the powerful words delivered by Pope Francis during his recent visit to Bangladesh
This year, while Christmas celebrations take place as usual, there is an opportunity for the people of Bangladesh, especially the Christian community here, to look at Christmas from a different perspective following the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Bangladesh.
The Supreme Pontiff Pope Francis visited Bangladesh from November 30 to December 2, 2017. His visit has had a number of aspects that have significant implications for all to take into cognisance.
The Pope met with the highest authorities of the land: the president, the prime minister, dignitaries, and various other groups. The highest point of his visit, from the perspective of the Catholic community in Bangladesh, was being the main celebrant at the Holy Eucharist at Suhrawardy Udyan, where more than 100,000 Catholics were present and where he ordained 16 young men to priesthood. He also had audiences with the leaders of the Catholic and other denominations of the Church and leaders of other religions, a number of Rohingya refugees, the youth, Catholic clergies, and sections of disadvantaged groups.
Apart from what he talked about with government officials, let me highlight some of his words and thoughts that he shared with people of different religions, the youth, the Rohingyas and the disadvantaged groups. His message to these people can evoke some reflections relevant to the celebration of Christmas this year.
In an inter-religious gathering of people of different faiths, the pontiff said that his visit "marked a further step toward respect and dialogue between Christianity and Islam."
His Holiness Pope Francis, on his return to the Vatican on December 6 during his general audience said, "In the faces of those young people, full of joy, I saw the future of Asia: a future that doesn't belong to those who build weapons, but to those who sow brotherhood."
With regard to the Rohingya refugees, he "praised the country's care for religious liberty and its welcoming of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar," and observed, "I wanted to express my solidarity with Bangladesh in their commitment to aid the Rohingya refugees flowing en masse in their territory, where population density is among the highest in the world."
Listening to the stories of 16 Rohingya refugees at this Inter-faith religious gathering, he talked to each of the refugees and said, "In the name of everyone, of those who have persecuted you, hurt you, above all, for the indifference of the world, I ask for your forgiveness. I'm sorry. It is imperative that the international community take decisive measures to address this grave crisis."
Referring to the religious leaders, especially the Buddhists by quoting Buddha, the pontiff also added: "Overcome the angry with non-anger; overcome the wicked with goodness; overcome the greedy by generosity; overcome the liar by truth. May that wisdom continue to inspire every effort to foster patience and understanding, and heal the wounds of conflict that through the years have divided people of different cultures, ethnicities and religious convictions."
At the gathering of the clergies in Tejgaon Holy Rosary Church, the Supreme Pontiff, highlighted, among other things, an important quality for them to be attentive to. He said, "Attentiveness to the Lord allows us to see the world through his eyes and thus to become more sensitive to the needs of those whom we serve."
One of the speakers at this gathering was the Ashram Guru of Mariam Ashram, Brother Lawrence Dias, a Holy Cross Brother. Reacting to Br Lawrence's address, the Pope said, "When you spoke of your ashram, you helped us to see the importance of assisting people to satisfy their spiritual thirst. May all of you, in the great variety of your apostolates, be a source of spiritual refreshment and inspiration to those you serve, and enable them to share their gifts ever more fully with one another in advancing the mission of the Church."
When the Pope visited the Nirmal Hriday Home of Compassion, where Missionaries of Charity (Sisters of St Mother Teresa of Kolkata) Sisters take care of the orphans and people with disabilities, he commended the Sisters by saying, "Sisters who pray together, who serve the suffering continuously with a smile. It is a beautiful witness. I thank these little sisters so much."
In the various gatherings that the Pope addressed during his visit to Bangladesh, the following messages were loud and clear: (i) respect and dialogue between Christianity and Islam, or for that matter, among all religions; (ii) a future not to build weapons, but to sow brotherhood; (iii) commitment to assist Rohingya refugees and to be sorry and seek their forgiveness for the persecution, the hurt, the indifference of the world; (iv) attentiveness to the Lord to be more sensitive to the people being served; and (v) to serve the suffering people continuously with a smile.
Do we as people of Bangladesh, as members of the Christian Churches, as followers of different religious convictions, as clergy and religious, and as the youth, embrace the sentiments of the Pope expressed through his messages? Is Christmas this year going to make a difference in our lives, as we ponder upon these powerful words of the Pope?
Let us dive deep down into our hearts' depths and make this Christmas something more significant and meaningful by loving all and sowing brotherhood, be sorry and seek forgiveness for our wrongdoings, be attentive to the inner voice, and avail every opportunity to serve others with a smile on our lips.
Br Harold Bijoy Rodrigues is Provincial Superior of the Holy Cross Brothers in Bangladesh.