Art/ Heritage

THE BOMBAY SEMINARY: A Sermon in Stone – 10 Features of the Goregaon Seminary

 For decades the Bombay Seminary is suitably called ‘A Sermon in Stone’. But apart from the innumerable homilies researched, studied, written, and delivered within its walls, what are the structural legacies that distinguish this monumental institution? Read on to discover.

  • As discussed earlier, the Goregaon property covers an approximate area of 30 acres. It is not symmetrical though it is roughly rectangular. Situated on an elevation, the building façade faces the west. An entrance porch leads up from the campus to its imposing portals.

  • The building was designed with due regard to its function. This is witnessed in its massive character and restrained grandeur. Its architectural style was meant to be conducive to the physical, cultural, and spiritual wellbeing of the students with due provision for the future.

  • The Bird’s eye view of the Seminary building easily outlines its construction. It is shaped, more or less, in the form of the letter E. The Central Block forms the main stem of the E-shaped pattern. The three perpendicular strokes are the side wings and the middle part of the building.

  • The Auditorium or Hall rests on the ground floor of the Middle Wing and is accessible from the main entrance. The Hall has a seating capacity for 625 persons and a stage measuring 42 feet by 48 feet. It is equipped with green rooms, lavatory, and store-rooms.

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Faith

Prayer; not a duty but a privilege – Saturday, 32nd week in Ordinary Time – Luke 18:1-8

This pericope has been tied to Luke 17:20 -37 by 17:8. Luke 17:20 and following are a collection of teachings by Jesus on the end times and the need to be in a constant state of readiness and unencumbered by baggage. Jesus is so close to entering Jerusalem (Luke 19:27) and it is here that he will lay down his life, hence he has to teach his disciples the need to faithful and faith filled. Verse eight of our pericope ties these two passages together with the reference to the Son of Man ‘who will come back’. Hence this is an eschatological or end time parable.

Now that we know the context of the parable let us understand its purpose and that has been given to us in verse one. This parable was meant to be words of encouragement to Luke’s beleaguered community. The lesson was clear; God would not abandon them but they in turn must remain faithful and therefore steadfast in prayer until Jesus comes.

St Luke tells us that Jesus told them this parable about their need to pray. Clearly prayer is not an option, there is a need to pray. Sadly, many translate the need to pray as a burden and look at it as a duty; prayer is a privilege. Yet as we will see in verse eight, merely ‘continual prayer’ is not what is meant by Jesus but rather a prayer that increases faith (verse 8). Fidelity to God and Jesus must be the engine of prayer.

The parable speaks of a widow. In a patriarchal world widows had little standing and most of their rights would have been stripped away. Quite clearly the widow represents much more for Luke. In Luke and Acts, St Luke employs the imagery of widows to stand for all that is seen as powerless. (Luke/Acts 7:11-17, 20:45-21:4)

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Faith

Businessman stranding next to a trap

Entrapment -Trinkets or Jewels? Friday, 32nd week in ordinary time – Luke 17:26-37

The text of Luke 17:20- 18:8 calls the disciples to fidelity while waiting for the coming of the son of man. However, this larger pericope takes several twists and turns as Luke, from several eschatological materials available to him (matters dealing with the ed times), creates a series of exhortations for the disciples who are walking to Jerusalem with Jesus. In short, this large pericope is a series of teachings grouped together to form a set of instructions under one heading; the end times.

So far, Jesus has told his disciples that the kingdom of God has already been ushered yet there are those who distract themselves and distract others seeking visible signs of a divine reality. Verse 26 changes the focus from the suddenness of Jesus’ coming to the need for the disciples to be prepared (JBC). To this end Jesus offers two examples; Noah and Lot.

It is common for people to see those references and quickly think they were unusually evil. There is no question about the utter evil of both the days of Noah and the days of Lot to which Jesus refers, but Jesus does not mention any of those things. Instead, He points out the common events of everyday life. People were living with little to no thought about the consequences of the evil among them, and that was despite whatever Noah or Lot said.

That is what makes this passage so disturbing. While these two examples were times of extreme wickedness, it is not the sin to which Jesus points, but the indifference to God in just living out their lives doing the common things of life as they desired. It is at that point that judgment came upon them suddenly. Though they had plenty of warning, they were completely unprepared.

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Faith

Delay does not mean denied – Thursday, 32nd week in ordinary time – Luke 17:20-25

Jesus never defined the kingdom of God; he always compared it to something. To define it would be to limit the kingdom of God; for the kingdom of God is this and yet much more. The Gospels present the parables of the kingdom of God unfolding as one of three realities. The kingdom is a future reality, a present reality (already but not yet) or is reality that has overtaken us.

Luke 17:20-18:8, which is the larger text of today’s pericope highlights fidelity while waiting for the son of man. These are exhortations put together by Luke regarding the end times or what is called the ‘eschatological material’. When days are cherry and bright, one does not think of the Lord but should that dark cloud of persecution hang over (Luke 17:25,33) then one looks for the Lord seeking him anywhere one might suggest. But this larger text is not all doom and gloom for we are told that while God may seem to be delayed, his people won’t be denied for the righteous will be vindicated (18: 1-8)

The text of today is preceded by the healing of the ten lepers. Jesus has just healed ten lepers 17:11- 19 and the cleansing of lepers was one of the messianic signs of the inauguration of the kingdom of God. Yet these narrow minded Pharisees, who for Luke’s community could also be the Pharisees who have now become followers of Christ, are unable to see and comprehend God’s kingdom; this in spite of a great miracle unfolding before their eyes.

The Pharisees’ question presumes that the kingdom of God is yet to come, and will be visible (like an earthly kingdom). For them, the kingdom of God is a matter of sight rather than insight. For Jesus, there will be no external signs to foretell its coming because it is already here but is invisible. Jesus says, “the kingdom of God is among you” or as some translations read, “the kingdom of God is within you” (entos humen) literally, in your midst or among you. The greatest sign is the person of Jesus himself who at the beginning of his public ministry announced its arrival.

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Food

Imagine an ingredient that captures all your senses. One that is considered not only nutritious but deadly, alien yet immensely beautiful. Welcome to the enormous kingdom of Mushrooms otherwise known as fungi, that are connected to almost ninety percent of all vegetation on earth.

As enormous and tiny as they might appear, mushrooms are vital to all life on earth. They are part of our forest woodlands, gardens and even present in our supermarkets. Have you ever picked up blue cheese, a fizzy drink like champagne, soy sauce, bread, or detergents? Well, all of these and more have fungi present in them.

Deadly or Delicious?

Fungi evolved around one and a half billion years ago and to me, they are the most fascinating things on earth. I love to draw and paint them as much as I love to eat them. But as most of you might know picking or eating the wrong mushroom might just put you on the fast track to heaven. There are those varieties that are well known to most like the Button mushrooms, Shitake, Oyster, and the Ceps also known as Penny buns or Porcini mushrooms. Those are not so well known like the Ear, Coral, Yellow brain, or Beefsteak mushrooms. And those that are mildly or deadly poisonous like the Sickner, Poison pie, and the Death cap mushroom.

Breaking down this beauty.

Have you ever read Peter Rabbit? 

Beatrix Potter who wrote Peter Rabbit was one of the leading mushroom biologists of her time and it is said that she was amazed by the beauty and scientific importance of mushrooms. I am as fascinated as she is though mine is more a visual and taste bud driven fascination .As deadly or delicious as mushrooms might be we could all agree that mushrooms are beautiful. So if you ever do forage for mushrooms in nearby forests, or buy them at your local supermarket let’s get to know them better.

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