Urgently wanted courageous Joseph amidst aura of 'divisiveness, hate, violence' in India

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*
Our world today (particularly, India) is broken and fragmented; divisiveness, hate and violence hold way! The people cry out for exemplars: women and men who can transcend exclusiveness, pettiness and jingoism!
Those who have the prophetic courage to be visible and vocal and who make efforts to positively impact on the lives and destinies of others. St Joseph, whose feast we celebrated on March 19, was one person we all can emulate and model our lives upon. St Joseph epitomized several essential qualities which we desperately need today; these include:
Justice:
Scripture refers to Joseph, as a ‘just man’. From the moment, Mary was betrothed to him he was confronted with making several difficult decisions. Every decision of his would impact on Mary or Jesus or both them in a profound way. But he did so with a great sense of responsibility; be it the moment he wanted to send Mary away quietly or when he finally found the child Jesus in the temple. The biblical ‘righteousness’(justice) was his forte.
Openness:
Joseph was transparent to the core. He knew it was his duty to register himself and Mary when the census was being done. He did not avoid that! A grim reminder to each one us as ‘Election Day’ draws near. He wanted the best for Mary and her child. There were however, ‘no doors’ which opened for them! Joseph was therefore open enough to opt for something better: a stable, the warmth and the adulation of the animals; to identify with those on the peripheries! He was always open to do what the Lord wanted from him!
Sincerity:
The scam of the ‘electoral bonds’ is a powerful indicator of how corrupt the ruling regime has become! Lies and half-truths, myths and fake news (‘fauvisms’) dominate today. We are plagued daily with a torrent of misinformation, coming from paid propaganda units who work for those who attempt to control our lives and destinies. Insincerity, flattery, hypocrisy, fear and ‘diplomacy’ rule the roost. Often sincere and truthful persons pay the price. Joseph was an upright man, who invites us to live lives of authenticity and sincerity.
Embracing:
Joseph never hesitated to embrace others! He began by embracing Mary and Jesus unconditionally and fearlessly! He embraced the shepherds and the Magi; he embraced the ‘Gloria’ of the angels and the tortuous flight into Egypt. His embracing life meant that he was available for others, ready to accompany them. Today we exclude and even kill the ‘other’: those of a different religion or colour, the poor and the marginalized, the refugees and the migrants. Discriminating rather than embracing, has become our way of proceeding. Just a few days ago, foreign students praying their ‘namaaz’ were attacked by ‘hindutva’ elements in a university hostel in Ahmedabad!

Protectiveness:
“Protect us” is the unceasing cry of the excluded and the exploited, the innocent and the vulnerable! Sadly, the trust that some of these “little ones” place on priests (even on some bishops), on the powerful and wealthy, of those in authority is pathetically betrayed. Horrible stories continue to be revealed, which make one to wince! Joseph, as the protector of Mary and Jesus and of the Church today, is more than a model to be imitated. He challenges each one of us, to become more like him in order to be a protector of the suffering, to heal festering wounds and painful memories, which are the lot of so many today!

Today we exclude and even kill the ‘other’: those of a different religion or colour, the poor and the marginalized, the refugees and the migrants

Humility:
It is surely not easy for a person who has been entrusted with a heavy responsibility, in which oftentimes, one does not have a decisive role. However, for Joseph, that did not matter. He encapsulated and radiated humility! Like Job, at times. he was patient and silent, waiting for God’s plan to unfold. Our world today is overwhelmed with a lust for power and unbridled arrogance. Joseph therefore comes to us as a beacon of strength and fearlessness, motivating us to become ‘meek and humble of heart’, like him, Mary and Jesus!

***

On 19 March 2024, Pope Francis completed 11 years as Pope. It was not without reason that he chose this day to begin his Pontificate. For Pope Francis, these years have truly been a Synodal Journey, of communion, participation and mission! St Joseph has always been very special in his life. He has shared with us a ‘personal secret’ saying:
“I would like to share with you something very personal. I like St Joseph very much. He is a man of strength and of silence. On my desk in my room, I have a statue of St Joseph sleeping. While sleeping he looks after the Church. Yes, he can do it! We know that. When I have a problem or a difficulty, I write on a piece of paper and I put it under his statue so he can dream about it. He now sleeps on a mattress of my notes. This means please pray to St Joseph for this problem. That is why I sleep well: it is the grace of God!”
Today we celebrate St Joseph! We also celebrate the servant-leadership and the prophetic courage of Pope Francis, who is a true Shepherd who radiates the qualities of St Joseph! We also realise that we desperately need persons who like St. Joseph are able to epitomize and radiate today, Justice, Openness, Sincerity, Embracing, Protectiveness, Humility!
Not just one, but many everywhere!
In this defining moment of our history, we certainly need to pray to St Joseph for the grace to emulate him! We also need to ask for the courage to place big posters everywhere with the slogan ‘Urgently wanted today: a ‘Joseph’ emblazoned on it!
Hopefully and very soon, someone will find that Joseph in you and me!
---
*Human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer. This reflection is a revised and updated version of an article written by the same author in 2019

Comments

Designing the edge, erasing the river: Sabarmati Riverfront and the dissonance between ecology and planning

By Mansee Bal Bhargava, Parth Patel Across India, old black-and-white images of the Sabarmati River are often juxtaposed with vibrant photos of the modern Sabarmati Riverfront. This visual contrast is frequently showcased as a model of development, with the Sabarmati Riverfront serving as a blueprint for over a hundred proposed riverfront projects nationwide. These images are used to forge an implicit public consensus on a singular idea of development—shifting from a messy, evolving relationship between land and water to a rigid, one-time design intervention. The notion of regulating the unregulated has been deeply embedded into public consciousness—especially among city makers, planners, and designers. Urban rivers across India are undergoing a dramatic transformation, not only in terms of their land-water composition but in the very way we understand and define them. Here, we focus on one critical aspect of that transformation: the river’s edge.

Top civil rights leader announces plan to lead delegation to Pakistan amidst post-war tensions

By A Representative In a significant move, well-known academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey has announced the plan to send a 22-member delegation to Pakistan to engage in dialogue with its government and civil society. The delegation proposed to go to Pakistan under the banner of Socialist Party (India) as a fact-finding mission to help seek solution to continuing tensions between the two countries over the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack.

J&K's Mallabuchan villagers symbolically cut Off pipeline in protest against ‘water injustice’

By A Representative In a striking act of peaceful protest, residents of Mallabuchan village in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district symbolically disconnected the Ahmadpora-Tangmarg water pipeline on Thursday, denouncing decades of official neglect and violation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) norms.

Few Bollywood actors possessed Sanjeev Kumar's subtle detachment and sensitivity

By Harsh Thakor On 9th July, we celebrated the 85th birthday of legendary Hindi film actor, Sanjeev Kumar., known as Haribhai Jariwala. Sanjeev Kumar penetrated zones of versatility or acting craft, almost unparalleled in Hindi cinema. He was one one the very few who touched horizons of true genius, transcending regions in acting virtually unexplored. Rarely did any artist get stuck as thickly into the skin of the character. The diversity of expressions in his moves reminded one of the different water colours of a painting. Sanjeev manifested the ventures of an artist to tap the regions unexplored. He simply defied all conventions of Bollywood, making path breaking experiments. His acting had a subtle degree detachment and sensitivity, which few Bollywood actors ever possessed. He may not have possessed the drop dead looks of a Dev Anand, Dharmendra or Sashi Kapoor or the professionalism or star charisma of an Amitabh Bachan, Rajesh Khanna or Shah Rukh Khan. However in pure acting...

Relevance of historical foot marches like Dandi and Salt march in achieving developmental goals in India

By Bharat Dogra India has a great tradition of organizing foot marches, including some which become historically very important, the most obvious example being the Dandi Salt March under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi which is a very important chapter in the freedom movement of India.

Primary sources of the underground Naxalite movement (1965–71): An analytical compilation

By Harsh Thakor* Voices from the Underground: Select Naxalite Documents (1965–71) is a compilation of documents and writings related to the Naxalite movement, spanning the period between 1965 and 1992. The collection includes materials not widely available through mainstream publishers and often considered controversial by the state. It is divided into two sections and contains eighteen documents authored by individuals associated with the movement.

A healthier model for goat-based livelihoods in remote Madhya Pradesh villages

By Bharat Dogra While buffaloes and cows often receive greater attention in animal husbandry-related government development schemes, goats remain vital for poorer households. Therefore, enhancing goat-based livelihoods is especially important for marginalized communities—particularly when such efforts reduce villagers' costs and lower goat mortality rates. One promising strategy involves training local villagers, especially women, to provide essential veterinary services. A welcome byproduct of this is that several women gain a respected source of income within their own villages.

Ecological alarm over pumped storage projects in Western Ghats: Policy analyst writes to PM

By A Representative In a detailed letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, energy and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has raised grave concerns over the escalating approval and construction of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) across India’s ecologically fragile river valleys. He has warned that these projects, if pursued unchecked, could result in irreparable damage to the country’s riverine ecology, biodiversity hotspots, and forest wealth—particularly in the Western Ghats.

Guru Dutt: The melancholy visionary who redefined Indian cinema

By Harsh Thakor* Iconic Indian director and actor Guru Dutt was just 39 years old when he died in 1964, but he left behind a cinematic legacy that continues to resonate. On July 9, the world marks the birth centenary of this cinematic wizard. Guru Dutt, whose name epitomises the golden era of Indian cinema, left an indelible mark with his talents as a director, producer, and actor. He elevated the art of filmmaking to new heights, bringing innovative storytelling to unexplored domains. Like the protagonist of "Pyaasa", true recognition came to Dutt only after his passing. Cinema enthusiasts continue to wonder what more he might have achieved had he lived longer.

Search This Blog