Eighth Sunday of the Year : C : March 3, 2019

       "GOODNESS IS SEEN IN ACTIONS"

First Reading : Sirach 27: 4-7
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 54-58
Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 39-45

   * First reading is from the book of Sirach. This passage has three picturesque comparisons. These comparisons explain to us that a person's speech reveals the kind of person he or she is. 

   * Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. In this passage Paul explains to the Christian community in Corinth and to us that the power of death is once and for all removed by Christ: by His victory over sin and death. If we persevere in doing the Lord's work we need not fear of death. When we die (the perishable) we will share in His immortality (the imperishable).

"A tree is known from its own fruit"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. This passage gives us the teachings of Jesus through a series of short parables/ sayings. Jesus tells us how we should look at the mistakes and shortcomings of others. He invites us to have a thorough introspection of ourselves in this matter.
1. A blind man cannot lead a blind man. If it happens that a blind man lead another blind man the consequences can be disastrous.
2. A disciple is not above his teacher.
3. Do not look for the speck in your brother's eye when you have a log in your eye. Finding fault with another person when we are also at fault is hypocrisy.
4. No good tree produces bad fruit. And no bad tree produces good fruit. A tree is known  from the fruit it produces. So also the case with a person.
5. Finally Jesus says a good man produces good out of his good heart . Similarly an evil man produces evil out of his heart. Thus Jesus tells us that any goodness has to come from one's heart.
All the above sayings of Jesus explain to us the fact that good and evil are the product of a person's heart.
"Never criticize your neighbour until you have walked for a mile with him". - An ancient proverb. 

Seventh Sunday of the Year: C: February 24, 2019

                  "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES"

First Reading: 1 Samuel 26: 2,7-9,12-13,22-23
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 45-49
Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 27-38

   * First reading is from the first book of Prophet Samuel. This passage tells us about King Saul who was jealous of David and he was seeking to kill David. One night David sneaked into the camp of Saul while everyone was asleep. David had a golden  opportunity to kill King Saul. But he did not do it because he realized that it would be a crime in the eyes of the Lord God to kill a person anointed by the Lord God. We see here the forgiving attitude of David in spite of his enmity with Saul.

   * Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. In this passage Paul makes a comparison between Adam and Christ. He explains to us that in Adam we owe our earthly life. He was a man of the dust. In Christ we owe our life in heaven. He was a man from heaven. 

" A call to radical discipleship"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. In this passage Jesus makes some radical challenges to His disciples. He makes it very clear that revenge and retaliation has no place in His Kingdom. 
Jesus gives the following action plan for His followers:
1. Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.
2. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you.
3. Give to everyone who asks from you.
4. Do to others as you would wish them do to you.
5. Do not judge and you will not be judged.
6. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
7. The measure you give will be the measure you get back.
A disciple should have this attitude of Jesus in word and deed. If we follow these precepts of Jesus, the world would be a better place to live in. We would truly become sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father. 
In this passage we see a reversal of values in Jesus' Kingdom. Instead of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth as told in the Old Testament  Jesus tells us that when someone strikes you on your cheek you are asked to offer the other also.
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend" - Martin Luther King Jr. 

Sixth Sunday of the Year :C: February 17, 2019

"THE BLESSED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD"

First Reading : Jeremiah 17: 5-8
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 12, 16-20
Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 17, 20-26

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. In this passage Jeremiah speaks about two types of people : those who trust in man and those who trust in the Lord God. He explains to us that the life of those who trust in man is as precarious as that of a shrub growing in the desert whereas the life of those who trust in the Lord God is as sure as that of a tree growing by the waterside. Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord God.

   * Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. In this passage Paul emphatically affirms that Christ's resurrection is a symbol, a guarantee that all the faithful who have died and who will die will be raised up by God as Jesus was raised. The resurrection of Jesus hence confirms our faith and reinforces our hope of life after our earthly life.

"Blessings and woes (curses)"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. In the first part of this passage Jesus enumerates the blessings for those who trust in the Lord.
Four fold blessings are mentioned:
1. Blessings for those who are poor.
2. Blessings for those who are hungry.
3. Blessings for those who weep.
4. Blessings for those who are hated and despised because they are followers of Christ.
In the second part of the passage we have four fold woes (curses):
1. Woe to those who are rich.
2. Woe to those who are full.
3. Woe to those who laugh.
4. Woe to those who are well spoken of by others.
Through these blessings and woes we are made to understand the reversal of values in the Kingdom of God as opposed to those who follow the values of the world. Hence the beatitudes explain to us graphically that a follower of Christ has to trust in God in all situations in life rather than trusting in worldly riches and possessions.
"The Beatitudes are terrifying when you try to live them" - Catherine Doherty.
" If I had money, I would trust in money, but without it I trust only in God" - Bl. Marija Petkovic

Fifth Sunday of the Year :C: February 10, 2019

        "THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP"

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8&11
Gospel Reading: Luke 5: 1-11

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. This passage gives some details of Isaiah's call to be a prophet. He was called by the Lord God to be a prophet. But Isaiah acknowledged his own unworthiness to be a prophet of the Lord God. The Lord God then purified him from his sins and appointed him to be His prophet. Isaiah immediately responded to the call of the Lord God.

   * Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. In this passage Paul instructs the Corinthian community regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. He emphatically affirmes that Jesus is risen from the dead. Historically this affirmation of Paul is the earliest confession of the early Church regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Further Paul acknowledges his own unworthiness to be called an Apostle. He says that he is the least of all the Apostles unfit to be called an Apostle because he had persecuted the Church before his conversion.

"The call of the first disciples"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. This passage narrates the miraculous catch of a large number of fish by Peter and his companions. Subsequently Jesus dramatically called His first disciples. After the miraculous catch of fish Peter realized that he has witnessed an extraordinary miracle, an intervention of God through the person of Jesus. Peter immediately acknowledged his own unworthiness and fell at the feet of Jesus. 
This dramatic incident changed the life of Peter and his companions. When Peter and his companions  James and John realized the nearness of God, they fell on their knees just like men condemned to death pleading for their lives. Jesus assured them and told them not to be afraid but to follow Him. Responding to Jesus invitation: they brought their boats ashore, left everything they possessed and followed Him wholeheartedly. That day they lost their livelihood but won eternal life.
Often we too are afraid to be touched by the presence of God. It is too dangerous because we are afraid to be caught up by the divine, afraid to be sent by Him. Jesus who dramatically encountered the first disciples Peter , John and James is inviting us too.
"It is not good to be too near a King, except when you are called and even such a call is a bad sign" - An ancient saying.
"Christ did not appoint professors but followers" - Soren Kierkegaard.
"When Christ called a man, he bid him come and die" - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.