To be a saint

Yesterday the Catholic world rejoiced. For, two new saints were canonisized. Among them was a teen of 15 years. Carlos Acquitis. Born in 1991 in London, he used technology to serve God. In this day and age media play a major role in making, or breaking, perceptions and beliefs. It serves only two purposes. To inform and to act. While the former is passive, the latter is active.

Carlos chose to do both. Himself being a devout Catholoc (though the BBC quotes, for some "he did not appear to be especially devout"), he wanted to share the abundance of the Eucharist. As they call him, he was a "God's Influencer". 

He died in 2006.

No one likes to be a saint. What do you mean by "to be a saint" ? Are you somehow inferior to others? Or are you bestowed by supernatural powers? Carlos, on the other hand, was a "saint next door".  You could relate to him. If he were alive, he would be the same age as my sister. 

But yes once you are under God's protection or blessing, you can suffer a bit more, take more of that life's uncertainties and vagaries. Jesus himself asked God to take away the pain if He is willingn(Luke 22:42). Yet Jesus did die a painful death. 

Maybe Carlos's canonization is an invitation to be a saint in our own little ways. Even if we can't be, we can at least die trying. 

Onam 2025

I can't imagine how it would be if I were not a Keralite. The social cohesion is much stronger than elsewhere. No matter your religion or views, the general consensus is to accept each other devoid of judgement and bias.

Onam is one such occasion to celebrate this unity. And here's me wishing you all a happy Onam. 

Just as different hues of yellow, white and red make a flower mat, let this Onam remind us that difference among us is whats keep us together. 

മഞ്ഞയും വെള്ളയും ചുവപ്പും നിറങ്ങളിലുള്ള വ്യത്യസ്ത വർണ്ണങ്ങൾ പൂക്കളം തീർക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, ഈ ഓണം നമ്മെ ഓർമ്മിപ്പിക്കട്ടെ, നമ്മൾ തമ്മിലുള്ള വ്യത്യാസമാണ് നമ്മെ ഒരുമിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്.