Hello.
I hope this little epistle finds you well.
We live in a historical moment when the prime mover of our times is neither the economy nor any social malaise, but rather an infinitesimally minuscule viral agent called coronavirus. It questions who we are — “Who am I?” — as also makes us rethink our priorities: “What is more important for me?”
In the past few weeks that I have read news about the ongoing pandemic and have called family and friends — though I hardly love to use the phone — I have perceived a growing sense of anxiety, even fear. How will this situation unfold for us all? Restrictions, closures and lockdowns have not been our familiar buzzwords. And stepping outside our own comfort zones, we see how our deeply embedded social disparities have now come to the fore. Worse still, we cannot possibly imagine how this situation will unfold for the poor and the marginalised.
Yet, I strongly believe that there is hope.
I believe and hope that we will come out stronger as humanity. I believe that our faith in God and each other will help us see our common bonds. I believe it will bring us closer as family and friends. I believe that we will see ourselves as humans and reach out to those less fortunate. Yes, there is already news of subtle xenophobia. Yes, there is news of the poor being further dispossessed. But I do believe we will learn to love — love even those who live outside of ourselves.
Ever since I have come to cherish and grow in the Jesuit tradition and spirituality that has shaped me, three values have stood out: faith, hope and love. Over these years, I have come to believe that faith, hope and love enable us to confront ourselves and our priorities in a more meaningful manner. In the midst of this pandemic and its afterlife, it is faith, hope and love that can enable us to lead fulfilling lives.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor 13:13
Grateful to my own spiritual heritage, I now wish to share it with you in the form of a weekly newsletter — Faith, Hope and Love in the Time of Corona. The newsletter will contain three readings shaped around the optics of faith, hope and love.
FAITH
presents a text that reflects on our spiritual moorings. While these readings would primarily be drawn from a Christian tradition, they would occasionally also incorporate diverse faith traditions that inform our humanity.
HOPE
brings social analysis mainly from the fields of humanities and social sciences. An analysis of our situation is imperative to our hope for change.
LOVE
presents a human-interest story that demonstrates ways in which people live out their commitment to love in the midst of a crisis. We believe that love is the triumph of our humanity.
You will probably notice that the Jesuit approach to faith is also accompanied by reason, here presented through the optic of hope. The dialectic of faith and reason are at the core of Jesuit engagement with the world. Moreover, I find this dialectic of faith and reason so vital in making sense of the world we live in. At a time when our anxieties and fears are fed by an irrational drive by news information — sometimes even fake — how do we stay grounded? Amidst our anxieties, how do we find meaning in our lives and in this moment?
I do not promise to make meaning for your lives. That you will discover for yourselves in your very own personal capacity. Faith, hope and love will be a starting point. Faith and reason will help you see it. I invite you to share in our spiritual heritage and discover yourself and the world.
As I get ready to dispatch the first edition of Faith, Hope and Love in the Time of Corona on Sunday, 22 March 2020, I invite you to subscribe to the newsletter with your email.
How long will this newsletter continue? In its present form, I intend to publish it till we are through this pandemic, or at least till we manage to flatten the curve. Yes, I believe we will get through this, together. After that, I plan to transition it to reflect on its contemporary contexts. I will keep you informed when that happens. To know more about the newsletter, I would encourage you to read about it.
I look forward to accompany you along this journey.
Thank you for being here.
Wishing you faith, hope and love,
Rinald D’Souza SJ
HISTORIA DOMUS
Are you going through a struggle?
There is someone willing to listen to you. You are not alone.