In this festive season, of Dusshera just gone by, and awaiting joyously the great festival of lights — the Deepavali, quite a bit has been said to help us reflect on the spiritual meanings of these very significant days for our personal life. It was nice to read on WhatsApp, “Let us fight the Ravana within us”, the symbol of evil power which, in smaller or greater degree, exists in us all. It is this evil within us, often hidden from our own selves, which I believe is the cause of much evil that goes around in our world. This includes people suffering in extreme poverty; devastation of our environment; jealousy which often turns into hatred towards others; the violence perpetrated, particularly against women and children. The list can go on. Are these not caused by partial presence of Ravana within us?
Soon it will be time for Deepavali — the festival celebrated to remove the darkness of evil with the light of goodness. Technically, darkness is nothing but lack of light just as evil is nothing but lack of goodness. Jesus told his disciples, “You are the light of the world”. Francis of Assisi believed, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” Would it not be worthwhile on this occasion then to ask oneself, “Which area of my personal life requires light?” or “Can I be in some way that single candle?” or “How can I bring light into dark corners of the earth?”
One way in which Christians attempted to bring “light” into dark spots of the world was by observing “World Mission Sunday”, last Sunday. Every October, this Sunday is observed as the day when in every church around the world, the faithful donate an extra bit in the basket, which eventually goes to people of a poor country, who suffer due to poverty and sickness.
The churches get young people involved in this solidarity campaign. Reminding the youth of its capacity, Pope Francis wrote in his message for World Mission Sunday, “Never think that you have nothing to offer, or that nobody needs you. Many people need you. Think about it! Each of you, think in your heart: many people need me”.
In Austria this year, the country chosen to support is Ethiopia, a country with many problems but where Christians constitute 0.7 per cent of the population. The aim is to bring a little “light” into their dark (not evil but lack of basic necessities) lives.
It is worth noting that “Langar” in Sikhism and “Zakat” in Islam, as also similar teachings in other religions, are concrete ways of lightening the lives of the deprived. May different festivals and our rich religious traditions help the world be a better and brighter place for all.
