His arm from the onset was made manifest
And I took nothing for granted of the experience
I still remain baffled regarding the zeal of those who have fully cooperated with His grace
And I wonder that if such stony heart as mine would melt
By such an experience towards which my heart is full of gratitude
So, why shouldn't God.
How many should I tell of?
The dauntless spirits of those who missed flight:
Bouncing back and making the journey at all cost?
Or that whom amidst cranky crazy schedules
Compromised all for this privilege
Even of those who would spend double from foreign trips and
Counted not the cost to make it to Rome
Deciphering the meaning of this experience is a mystery
Left to the positivity of His mercy
An how lovely it is for brethren to dwell in unity
Amidst our petty bickering and personal idiosyncrasies
What triumphed was the supremacy
Of friendship, solidarity, communality and commonality.
And the joy of having the kids share in such languorous but epic moments.
Sparkling highlights at the four Basilicas
Attending Masses spoken in tongues
Sistine Chapel, ‘Vatican Celebrity’ and Missing Mercy!
These would remain in my memory for ages to come.
And I wouldn’t forget too soon the numerous endurance treks
Be it of finding transport tickets at great energy
Or of walking the whole length of Lateran and Mary Major.
The exodus within and without; to and fro the Vatican Museum
Was little compared with the flimsy journey in search of ‘junk food’
Trespassing the length of a nation in the process.
Seeming meaningless trips loaded with reason and filled with meaning in His sight.
One primary lesson which becomes very apparent
Is that amidst the ‘wheat’ of mercy there is no space for any ‘tare’ of sin
Such that the distractions and faults within this whole experience
And the lures of tourism over pilgrimage that manifested
Is actually one gargantuan ‘O happy fault!’ within His mercy.
And all are positive in the purification of the head.
So much that I worry little over one who assumes that works and faith are personal
And him that is lost in the moment, oblivious of knitting the past with the future
Or the emotional drachma that often lets go of etiquette and decorum
Neither does it matter in mercy, whether you are capitalist or communist
You may even snub the addict when you are conscious of mercy
And it doesn’t matter if you are not ‘wowed’ by much from the scenery
Neither would you be punished for repeating same errors a thousand times!
At the end what matters is mercy and thanksgiving
The aim is achieved, the purpose is fulfilled
But the positive feedback is in Mystery’s hands.
An admonition is that at any news of ‘freedom’
Be it far and near, yours or others
Affirm this solidarity with a simple prayer:
1 Pater, Ave and Gloria suffices
And our communal liberation would be fostered.
Amen.
