Twenty Second Sunday of the Year:A: August 30, 2020

           THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 7-9

Second Reading: Romans 12: 1-2

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 23-27

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah complains bitterly about his painful situation that he is faced with: fierce opposition, insults, reproach and derision from the people. He is despised by everyone because he is speaking for the Lord God. He brings his griefs and pains to the Lord God. Trusting in the power of the Lord God he pleads that with the help of the almighty he be able to continue his mission entrusted to him without fail. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans. Paul urges the Christian community in Rome not to be influenced by the worldly ways of people around them. He pleads with them to live their lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. 

Gaining life and losing life

Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In the first part of the Gospel  Jesus explains to His disciples His impending rejection at Jerusalem and His death on the cross. It was a shock for the disciples and they could hardly accept such a situation. As a result Peter and other Apostles protested and tried to persuade the Lord and insisted that such an event should never happen to Him. Jesus' reaction was very sharp. He told Peter, "Get behind me Satan.". Jesus told him not to be a stumbling block to the plan of God. It is rather surprising that Peter who was praised by the Lord and was assured that he would become the rock on which the Church would be built (Matt. 16:18) turned out to be a stumbling block. What a turn of events! 

In the second part of today's Gospel Jesus tells the disciples the paradox of being His disciples. To be a disciple is to take up one's cross and follow the Lord in all circumstances of life. He further adds that those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for His sake will find it. This is the paradox that Jesus puts before us everyday of our lives. If we put ourselves at the center of our lives we will fail. But if we put Jesus at the center of our lives we will succeed. This is an important insight that the Lord puts before us to be authentic and genuine disciples. 

Twenty First Sunday of the Year:A: August 23, 2020

THE TRUE IDENTITY OF JESUS

First Reading: Isaiah 22: 19-23

Second Reading: Romans 11: 36-37

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 13-20

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah assures the people of Israel that the Lord God will remove the corrupt official Shebna who did not take care of the chosen people of God. In his place the Lord God will appoint Eliakim who will take fatherly care of the people of Jerusalem and of Judah. He will rule the people with fairness and justice. Thus the Lord God will bring justice to His chosen people. 

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul tells the Christian community in Rome and all of us about the inscrutable mystery of God - that He is the creator and the Lord of all that exists. We humans with all our wisdom and human understanding are very much limited. We cannot comprehend or understand the wisdom of God. 

"Who  do you say that I am?"

Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus reveals His true identity during His conversation with His disciples. Jesus puts two questions to His disciples. The first question was, "Who do men say that I am?" He was interested to know from His disciples the various opinions  people had about Him. The answers as expressed by the disciples consist the following: They said, "Some say you are John the Baptist (who has come back to life) or Prophet Elijah or Prophet Jeremiah or one the prophets of old. Hence the perception of the people were limited to the understanding of Jesus as a prophet or as a man of God. Then Jesus puts a second question, a very personal one to His disciples. "Who do you say that I am?" It is a very searching question. Peter immediately speaks up and confesses. "You are the Christ, the Son God." Impressed by this answer Jesus praises Peter and tells him then and there that this confession of faith is something extraordinary and it is a revelation from the heavenly Father. Jesus further adds that Peter will be made the head of the future Church and he is the rock on which He will build His Church. Today Jesus puts the same question to each one of us: "Who do you say that I am?" As He converses with us we could think of the faith journeys we had in our lives. Perhaps the image of Jesus in our early stages in life have undergone tremendous transformation. Perhaps as the years have gone by, our faith experiences of Jesus have deepened and strengthened. Maybe we could also share our faith experiences with others as the Apostles did. They transmitted their faith experiences to the future generations.

"There are so many religions and each one has its different ways of following God. I follow Christ: Jesus is my God." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

"I see Jesus in every human being." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

 

Feast of Transfiguration: A: August 6, 2020

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

First Reading: Daniel 7: 9-10 and 13-14

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1: 15-19

Gospel Reading : Matthew 17: 1-9

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Daniel. This passage has description about the various visions of Daniel. It speaks about the throne of God where one like the Son of man is being presented to God the Father - the ancient of days. All  authority in heaven and earth is given to Him. This vision gives a glimpse about the transfigured Christ.

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Peter. In this passage Peter speaks about his own experience of transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. He was an eye witness to the fact that God the Father bestowed on Jesus the title 'My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'. On the holy mountain Peter had that wonderful experience of being a witness to the heavenly glory of the Lord Jesus.

"My beloved Son. Listen to Him"

Today's Gospel reading is from st. Matthew. In this passage the transfiguration of Jesus on mount Tabor is described in great details. No doubt transfiguration of Jesus was the high point of the public ministry of Jesus. In front of three of His beloved disciples - Peter, James and John - He was transfigured. Moses and Elijah two great prophets of the Old testament were also present. Heavenly Father publicly and unequivocally proclaimed that Jesus is His beloved Son. The three disciples cherished those privileged and wonderful moments of glory of Jesus on the mountain. They were so spell bound that they could not adequately understand the depth of the experience or explain it in words.

Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain was to strengthen the faith of the disciples for the impending crucifixion and death of Jesus. Jesus did not remain in those glorious moments of the mountain but came down from the mountain to go to Jerusalem to be rejected and to die.

The transfiguration experience is narrated in the Gospel so that we too may experience it to a limited extent and our faith too may be strengthened in the Lord Jesus.

"It is indeed good to be here as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever." - Bishop Anastasius of Sinai.