Confronting enemy within

(The enemy is not another person, neither is he outside; search for the enemy inside our heart.)

The words of lyrics came from my heart at a time when I was undergoing the severest test of my existence as a Catholic priest. I was then responsible for youth commission of a regional bishop’s council consisting of 12 dioceses. I also held multiple responsibilities in my diocese. All of a sudden, I was unceremoniously stripped of all responsibilities and sent to the most difficult mission in an interior village that had no facilities.

Then followed frequent transfers that unsettled me. Within two years I got six transfers to more and more difficult places. Negative propaganda and false allegations made life more miserable for me. I seriously thought of leaving priesthood to protest the bishop who was doing injustice to me.

By God’s grace, in the silent moments of contemplation my inner voice questioned me: Who is your enemy? Is your bishop who is humiliating you the enemy?

The answer was those lines. They became a melodious song after Father Paul Poovathinkal composed music for them. It has since motivated hundreds of people.

After this divine intervention I had faced many more serious crises. By that time I had developed strong conviction, ‘when crisis appears, remember God is at hand.’ I have never looked back after this self-confrontation.

If only individuals, leaders of institutions and countries would introspect sincerely they will not blame anyone for their troubles. What stops us from going forward is not what is in front of us but what is inside us.

Young people feel that their parents and teachers are stopping them from going forward. At times they even consider them their enemies; some see their companions as their enemies; Government sees the opposition as its enemy. In the prejudiced and polarized world one community considers another community as its enemy.

When people nurture enmity they become blind with hatred which would lead to violence. Countries see the other countries as their enemies. Enmity leaves no room for trust.

Sincere introspection will makes us realize that the real enemy is within oneself. Ignorance of the other, prejudice and lack of dialogue, one’s own low self-esteem fill one with fear and insecurity.

Similarly the prejudice against one community, hatred and lack of critical thinking about the information, superstition and vested interest of politicians and false godmen make people to see the other community as the enemy and responsible for all the ills in society. The truth is that by excluding the other we ourselves will be deprived of much enrichment.

Instead of blaming and acting aggressively against WHO and China Trump should introspect and explore the possibility of making use of the resources at his disposal to handle the pandemic Covid 19 and save his people. Unfortunately the leaders who hold responsible positions, communities and countries do not spend time to contemplate. In general those in leadership position do not take time to introspect.

Higher the position the leaders hold the greater is their responsibility to safe guard the present and the future of their people. They should neither act according to their whims and fancies nor behave as if the own people and resources at their disposal. They need to give up their prejudice against others and stop treating them as enemies. Persons and nations should search for the enemy first within and get rid of it.

The world may succeed in liberating from pandemic Covid 19. But the virus of enmity, hatred, communal and racial prejudice can be removed only when the humanity makes a U turn to universal solidarity of peace, love and human dignity. Without overcoming the virus of enmity and hatred no rehabilitation of human lives is possible or rebuilding of economy.