As we welcome the month of March, we witness the beauty and resilience of nature, and also welcome the transition from winter to spring. This is a time when nature comes to life, and we can enjoy longer days, beautiful flowers around and the fragrance of the summer blossoms beginning to be felt. Across different cultures and religions, March holds special significance with celebrations such as Holi in India and St. Patrick’s Day in various countries. As a teenager, I recall celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with great enthusiasm as a member of St. Patrick’s Parish. The stories of how St. Patrick saved people from snakes inspired me to offer my love and protection to others.
March is also recognized internationally as Women’s History Month, which gives us the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. It is a time to honor the women who have made a significant impact on our lives and the world, and to remember the struggles that they have encountered, faced and overcome.
For us, this month is also special because we enter the season of Lent, a time of reflection and renewal of our commitment to our faith. Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2023 centers on the Transfiguration of Jesus, an extraordinary moment in his life when he received deep affirmation from the Father. In the Markan narrative of the transfiguration, we get the impression that it was not only an extraordinary moment, but also a defining moment when he decided to fully and totally offer himself. In Mark 9:9 Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone about this ‘until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’ A sign that this experience of the transfiguration brought in Jesus a total surrender to the will of the Father. His decision to offer his life on the Cross is complete.
Lent is a time to become more positive and joyful individuals, living our ordinary lives with an element of extraordinary joy. Interestingly, the transfiguration experience is also a reminder that the ordinary moments of life are significant and should be lived with a special experience of divinity. This is where the celebration of women’s contributions becomes important. Women have a unique ability to make the ordinary extraordinary, and Women’s History Month reminds us of this fact. The mention of Women’s Day serves as a reminder of our mothers, sisters, fore-mothers of our faith, and our leaders and mentors for the powerful impact they have had on our lives.
This issue of Magnet has significant contributions from men and women, both religious and lay, on pertinent issues of concern to our lives as humans and as Church. In all of their reflections, narrations and involvements we see how ordinary moments become wellsprings of divine life.
Encountering the divine in and through the ordinary events of everyday life is a profound experience that can transform our understanding of the world and ourselves. Most of our spiritual traditions believe that the divine is present in all things and that we can connect with this presence through our daily activities. St Joseph, the saint of the ordinary, whose feast we celebrate in March, developed the practice of finding God in all things, encouraging each of us to look for God’s presence in the ordinary moments of our lives. This practice invites us to pay attention to our surroundings and to seek out the sacred in the seemingly mundane. Through this lens, daily activities can become opportunities for encountering the divine. A simple act of kindness, a moment of connection with a loved one, or even a peaceful walk in nature can reveal the presence of the divine. Recognizing the divine in these everyday moments can deepen our sense of gratitude and purpose, and help us to cultivate a deeper sense of spirituality in our lives. By engaging with the world around us and seeking out the divine in all things, we can open ourselves up to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world we inhabit.
March is a month of transition, celebration, and reflection. As we welcome the warmer temperatures and the renewal of life in nature, let us also take the time to honor the women who have made a difference in our lives and to reflect on our faith and commitment to a life of positivity, joy and newness.
A reminder – Both the movies reviewed in this issue are remarkable. Please don’t forget to watch them.
Pushpa Joseph
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