Beyond the Clouds by Fr. Jacob Nampudakam, S.A.C. | Page 60

There are times we pick up friendly conversations with our neighbor during
long flights. Often, they start simple; the appropriate greeting depending on
the time of day, progressing into where we live.
“I am from Rome or India,” I say, perhaps garnering the response, “I was in
India last year and visited the Taj Mahal!” Just like that, the conversation
turns captivating and time flies by.
In the flight of life, we come across many such first-time friends, all leaving
behind a special trace of memory within us. Hence, it's so important to keep
our hearts and minds open to new opportunities. If we remain enclosed in our
inner world of fantasies, we will miss that chance to experience the novelty of
life and the beauty of creation.
In a very unexpected way, I happened to meet some very different passengers
today. Though they taught me something very new, above all, they touched me
most profoundly. It is the 18th of November 2018, the Second World Day of
the Poor initiated by Pope Francis. I was invited to concelebrate Holy Mass in
our parish of St. Christoph and St. James in Paris, France, during my visitation
to the French Region of the Society. At the end of the celebration, I was asked
to give a short message, and spoke about the person of Pope Francis and his
deep love for the poor. I reminded the assembly that we are all poor before
God, and that recognition in this existential truth can strengthen our
relationship with the Father, as it enables us to put our trust in Him all the
more.
300 or so people filled the Church, and it was evident they came from the 5
continents of the world, particularly Europe and Africa. In seeing the
multiculturality, I told them that being poor also meant reaching out to our
brothers and sisters in need, and welcoming those who knock on our doors for
help. That is the plight of most migrants who flee their countries to save their
own lives, or to find hope for their families at home.
I shared the story of an abandoned little girl in Rwanda, who was adopted by
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