Temples are being constructed for Godse. The assumption behind this ‘pseudo-religious project’seems to be that murders are safe in temples! Such reasoning by his followers confirms that he murdered a man who claimed that non-violence is divine. By murdering the divine, one becomes divine! Hundreds are being killed in the name of religion. Religion seems to be the biggest enemy of God! We have come full circle of a sickening cycle.
Dissent is not allowed; ‘India’s Daughter’ is to be banned; ‘gharwapasi’ is to be imposed; land is to be portioned off to patriarchy; media is to be owned by the corporates; change of faith is not allowed without DSP’s permission; churches can exist only with police protection; judges can be bought; thousands can be murdered and no ‘court’ evidence is available. There is only one voice: majoritarianism – name it Hindutva; only one space: 56 inch chest. All this inIndia! India is NOT a fascist country, mind you: Refer the Constitutions!
The Holy Week began with a dissent voice against the religious majoritarianism of the time; against the political space of the time. The lone voice of Calvary found itself in the space of the wood of the cross - with the connivance of the religious and the political powers of that time.
Be the dissenting voice and occupy the space of the cross, with the certainty that the lone voice will be audible to all, and the space of the tomb is everywhere – the Lord is risen! Malalas and India’s Daughters are the messengers that the Lord is risen! Godses and majoritarianismsshould not last more than five years and traverse more than 56 inches. That is the challenge of the empty tomb!
We Jesuits are especially mandated to be on the frontiers! Where are the frontiers today? Let us leave aside the security ofour establishments if need be, search for the frontier people among immigrants, refugees, war torn and terrorist controlled peoples, among the so called terrorists and anti-nationals, among the dissenting voices, among the ones who are struggling to eke out a living, the sinful, the infidels, the disabled of all kinds- the crucifiedof this world are looking for a voice and space through us. Let us rejoice in the privilege of belonging to a minority with them!
The enemy is within; the sinner abides in me. Every time I create and demonize the other, I am manufacturing a terrorist. Instead, the logic of the paschal way is to embrace the other, to the point of conflict-ridden self-dissolution, knowing fully well that it is the genuine way to self-transcendence and flourishing of oneself. The tomb is empty; that our God is everywhere. Our task is to discover the everywhere-God in all things and in everyone. Easter means God for all and everywhere!
Fr. George Pattery SJ
POSA