LOHO Day: 27Feb2020
Readings: 1 Cor 12:12-27, Jn 15:1-10
In nature we see the symphony of variety making a melody of unison. I remember a small experiment in my middle school: You pass the sunlight through a prism and you get the rainbow colours coming out of the prism. And later, in my high school we had another experiment: A disc is painted with all the colours of rainbow. When you rotate the disc fast, you are not able to distinguish the various colours but you see a white disc revolving. This is the meaning of seeking unity in diversity. And you have chosen the right theme for this year’s hostel day, namely ‘Amalgam 2020’.
LOHO is, in a true sense, an Amalgam of religions, cultures, languages, and even nations. We make one family: We all stay in LOHO. Though we do different academic subjects we live and move around in one great Loyola Campus.
In the Gospel today, Jesus is talking about the Vine: Vine is made of roots, main branches, smaller twigs, flowers, finally the grapes. They are different parts and their functions are different but what unifies them is the sap, the watery solution that circulates through a plant’s vascular system as the life giving energy. If the life giving and life sustaining sap is reduced or cut off, then the leaves wither. In cold countries, as the Winter approaches, when the inflow of sap is reduced in trees, their leaves wither and dry out and fall down. We call it the Autumn. Trees stand desolate without even a single leaf all through the Winter. But when the Spring season begins, new life comes up. Snow melts, water is available in plenty, new and tender leaves see the light of the day – Life becomes lively again. A spirit of joy surges within.
In the allegory of vine (in today’s Gospel), all the grapes are crushed and made into grape juice or wine but the taste is one and the same – There is no distinction of each grape because they get amalgamated into one tasty wine. Here, in our hostel life, our spirit is the same, and our vision is the same. As Paul wrote to the Romans (Rom 10:12), there is no distinction of Greek or Hebrew in Christ since the spirit of service is the same. Wine tasters are those who rate the quality of wine. They would decipher the place of grapes, year of harvest, climatic condition etc. By our value system people should recognize us as LOHO inmates or as Loyola students. We are the Amalgamated Loyolites or LOHO-Inmates.
In our hostel life, though we are many we have the same goal – to excel in our studies, to become later leaders with social responsibility. Our subjects are different, our economic backgrounds might be varied, but here we are to form ourselves to become men for others. We build up a team of LOHO inmates. In a football or cricket team, each position is different but there is one team. It is not one individual who wins or loses but the entire team wins or loses. As we celebrate LOHO Day we are filled with love that transcends nationality, caste, culture, religion etc. We create unity in diversity and live out social and religious harmony.
In any teamwork, whether sports or games or administrative work, there is no important and unimportant person. What is more important in an automobile? – The brake or accelerator or steering wheel or fuel or headlight? Each one is important. Would we say brake is more important than accelerator? At the same time, we cannot have brakes or headlights all over the automobiles. In the same way, one cannot be everything and everything cannot be one. Each one has a role to play – What is important is that each one should play his role well.
Sometimes what we consider small could do great things or do havoc as well. Take for example, the tongue. James says: The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark (Jam 3:5). Tongue, though a small organ, it can make a person or break a person. We can appreciate a person or we could criticize the person. We need not feel insignificant in a crowd or group. We each have something specific to do in the world – That is why God has chosen each one of us and has brought us into the world. Each one of us is unique and we need to know what is our role to play in this world. What we are, is not important, but what we do is very important and how we live is utmost important.
One thing we take home from here when we leave this hostel or college is gratitude. Ingratitude is the greatest sin. Let us be thankful to all those who have been instrumental in our formation. Our teachers are ladders for our going up and high in social status – Here the Director, Asst Directors, all the coworkers who take care of our food, shelter and our environment do a great job to make our lives comfortable and meaningful. Let us be thankful to them. And while we are here in the hostel let us earn as many friends as possible now, and later let us have quality time for them. It is friends who make our lives worth living. Let us enjoy the hostel day in thanking each other for all the gifts that God has showered with – friends, facilities, administrators etc.
Let us believe that the Lord who called us into the world would accomplish what He wanted to do in and through us. Let us walk in His light of peace and joy and let our light of happiness shine to the world around us. Happy Hostel Day.
Francis P Xavier SJ
27 Feb 2020