To Change the World, Change Ourselves First!

Speech by Fr Jose Chennattussery, CMI, Vice Principal of Christ Junior College, on February 8, 2004 at Resurrection Church, Indiranagar, Bangalore

Author: Jobi Varghese   Date: March 6, 2004

Be it an article, presentation, or speech, notable quotes and meaningful sayings make significant difference. They help in getting the message clearer and easier. This is why most priests use quotes and proverbs during their speeches.

During his homily between the Holy Mass at the Resurrection Church, Indiranagar, Bangalore on 8th February, 2004, Fr Jose Chennattussery recollected the words of our President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Dr Kalam once told an audience: "If there is virtue in the heart of each one of us, there will be peace in our families. If there is peace and harmony in our families, there will be agreement and peace in society. If our societies maintain goodwill, there will be unity and accord in the nation. If the nations of the world uphold integrity and composure, there will be peace, harmony, and amity in the world."

When we contemplate on the above quote, we might think that there is nothing new in it; that each one of us is well aware of the fact that if there is love and unity among people of different societies and nations, there will be peace and harmony in the world. However, when a major inference from the above quote -- that most of the disorder and bloodshed in the world can be rightly put down to just one individual person -- dawns on us, it is enough to make us spare a few thoughts on the above sentences. Start with our daily life, and we can find that many of the differences are thanks to the adamant and inflexible nature of just one person. If that very individual had been a bit accommodating, the conflicts could have been considerably diluted. And likewise, whenever we see compromise around us, we see the compromising nature and conciliatory efforts of, typically, one individual. The minor frictions build up into major conflicts and surpass the boundaries of societies and nations.

Thus, be it compromises and negotiations, or be it discord and infighting, each individual's role is important; each of us can make a difference. It is only that Fr Jose quoted our president's words to get this simple message across.