Reflections

Deacon Kestutis Kevalas

A Beginning

Deacon Kęstutis Kevalas has been studying to be a priest in a Baltimore for the last few years. His investiture ceremonies are scheduled for June in Vilnius, Lithuania.

During the tenth anniversary celebrations of Lithuania's re-established independence, Mass was held at the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. There, Monsignor George Šarauskas presided, while Deacon Kęstutis Kevalas read the homily. Here, follows an excerpt from the homily.

Often just before some big event in life, such as a new beginning, there is temptation, trial or discouragement just to forget everything and give up. On the other hand, a beginning is marked with new dedication and energy to live life, the life you always wanted to live, the life, in which you believe. The scene of the temptation is changed immediately into the scene of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus leaves the desert to proclaim the “good news.” The news is good because God’s “reign” is at hand.

Mark does not tell us immediately just what God’s reign involves. Only by following the way of Jesus through the Gospel, hearing his word, and adopting his values, can a person understand more deeply the mystery of God’s reign (Mk. 4:10). The beginning of this journey through the Gospel and through Lent calls for metanoia — which means a change, a repentance or a second look at life – and belief, an act of trust in the God who guides the unfolding journey.

Today, as Lithuanians, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our nation’s re-establishing its independence. What was February 16 of 1918 in the beginning of century, at the end of the century became March 11 of 1990.

From 1987 to 1990, the events of liberation were rapidly developing: there was the first meeting in Vilnius, August 23 of '87 for the commemoration of the Molotov-Ribentrop declaration; by June of '88 the movement SAJŪDIS was established; and on the 23rd of August of '89, all Baltic countries formed a joint action of protest against the Soviet occupation.

In that one event two million people stood in a continuous line holding hands. Today we celebrate ten years from the day when Lithuanians made a definite choice. After the long waiting and weakening hopes, there was the decision to leave the “slavery of Egypt” and go to the Promised Land of freedom. The freedom which Lithuanians had experienced for twenty years early in the beginning of the century; now, at the end of the century, [it] was back.

I remember that day. It was a sunny, clear day of early spring. Though the air was cool, the political atmosphere was hot and filled with tension. The Soviet Government in Moscow was working on the development of a new kind of confederation, which all countries of the USSR would be invited to join.

The Seimas in Vilnius needed to make a decision – to trust the “benefits” of the new Soviet Confederation or to proclaim a declaration of independence, which was politically risky and to some extent dangerous. [But it] was the only chance to become what so many people dreamed; those in the wild forest of Siberia and those forced to be refugees overseas. It was Sunday, and the Seimas worked in extraordinary session.

My family and I followed the direct transmission from the Parliament in Vilnius. The anxiety, waiting and also joy marked that day. For me, [at age] 18, that time was similar to the kind of anxiety [felt] when we followed the basketball games between the Lithuanian team and the United Soviet Army teams for gold medals. For the elders, what was happening in Parliament provoked tears of both anxiety and joy. We felt that history stood still that evening.

Not everybody who sat by the TV screens or even not everybody who sat in the Parliament realized that the evening of Sunday, March 1st, [would] mark a new era in Lithuanian history. That day was joyful, and at the same time that day was dangerous.

Today we celebrate that day as the day when Lithuania as a nation brought itself into new being. By saying “Yes” to freedom, it opened the doors to a new kind of existence. The choice, that was made that day defined us as a nation and went beyond old limits, making something exist that did not exist [a] long time. That day lead us to miracles and trials.

In one of the meetings of SAJŪDIS, the meetings of hundreds of thousands, the chairman of Seimas, Vytautas Landsbergis, asked the people standing in the crowd as one family: “Will we endure?” And people, with enthusiasm and with one voice, responded “YES.” But at that time not everybody realized that [this was to be the] preparation for the desert experience.

The desert is the place where God chose to speak to his elected nation. We were witnesses of his wonderful deeds and graces. I remember when I was looking at the moving trains packed with Soviet military equipment I asked myself, what power moves it from our country, where the only “military equipment” were the words of truth and prayer.

We were not alone. The crowds, guarding the Parliament and praying the Rosary, felt it. But as our experience shows now, it became also the desert where many became tired and responded with murmurings to their initial ideals. Yes, it was both new enthusiasm and new drama, which continued all these ten years.

Despite all the trials that were endured, Lithuania economically and politically has had enormous progress as it works toward full integration as an independent nation on the world’s map. Today, nobody says, will Lithuania become a member of European Union or NATO? Today everybody wonders when it will happen.

The morning of March 12th, 1990 was the beginning of a new day not only on a political map of Lithuania, but also a new beginning of self consciousness of its people.

To be independent means always to choose not to be in slavery. In the first and second readings we heard about God’s covenant to be with his people. It is also an invitation to us as individuals and as a nation to be with him, not to be in slavery, but to follow the creator and the author of our freedom.

Jesus, before turning to us, before inviting others, fought and overcame himself – the indolence, the immobility, he wants us to overcome. That is what he had learned in the desert, that is what we must learn, too. That is why he came out of it — changed himself — to shout to us: “The time is ripe, the days are fulfilled, I overcame what holds you down, I could do it, you can do it, change and believe this good news."

So, today we came to celebrate the beginning, not the end. Let these past ten years be an introduction to the great future of the Lithuanian nation. Let these years serve as the preparation of the coming decades where [our ancestors', our, and our children's dreams] will be fulfilled. And, I think, the dreams of God for our nation. But most importantly, the will of God for our nation.