The Feast of Epiphany: B: January 3, 2021

 THE VISIT OF THE THREE WISE MEN 

First Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6

Second Reading: Ephesians 3: 2-3 and 5-6

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. This passage refers to the joyful return of the people in exile to the holy city of Jerusalem. They find their beloved Jerusalem in ruins. Isaiah encourages them and cheers them up with a vision of a future restored city. The second part of the passage is about the final pilgrimage of the people of God to the heavenly Jerusalem. This prophecy of Isaiah has some echoes in today's feast of Epiphany. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. In this passage Paul explains to the Christian community in Ephesus that God invites the Jews and Gentiles to share on an equal footing the salvation brought by Christ. The feast of Epiphany reminds us of God's invitation to all people to be part of the salvific event without any distinction of social standing or place of origin. The Church is complete only when both Jews and gentiles live in harmony as members of the body of Christ. 

Epiphany : The manifestation of the Lord.                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. This passage gives us an account of how the three wise men from the east came to pay homage to infant Jesus at Bethlehem. They paid homage and offered their precious gifts to the divine child. Jewish leaders ignored or rejected the infant in the manger and some of them even plotted to kill him. These three men left their homeland in search of the child. This story of the three wise men is a story of all genuine faith seekers. They left  everything precious to them and were guided by a star. They diligently searched for the child Jesus till they found the child and His mother. When they found Him they worshipped Him. Thus the Gospel story gives us three important messages: 1. It speaks of the journey of the three wise men from the east to Jerusalem. This journey of theirs is a symbol of search for truth by genuine seekers of God. 2. The meeting between the wise men and King Herod tells us that people in authority and power try to suppress and even destroy God's messengers for their own selfish reasons. 3. The wise men paying homage to child Jesus is a touching story of all moments of grace and their total surrender to the Almighty.

  

Feast of Holy Family : B: December 27, 2020

 HOLY FAMILY : A MODEL FAMILY

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 3: 2-6 and 12-14

Second Reading: Colossians 3: 12-21

Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 22-40

   * First reading is from the book of Ecclesiastes. A brief description regarding the obligations of children towards their parents is narrated. Honouring of parents brings great blessings to the offspring. Children are instructed to take care of their parents in their old age with understanding and forbearance. Hence the commandment of honouring one's father and mother is not merely restricted to obeying them when one is young but also caring for them in their old age. 

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians. Paul gives some advices and guidance  for an ideal Christian family life. He mentions those great virtues like compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience. Above all these he says, put on love which is the perfect binding force for the family. He advises husbands not to be harsh with their wives and children. These advises and guideline are very much applicable even in the twenty first century. 

Child Jesus presented in the Jerusalem temple                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. A detailed account of the presentation of child Jesus in the Jerusalem temple is narrated. We are reminded that parents of Jesus followed everything that the law commanded them to do. The presence of two benevolent old people is also mentioned. Prophet Simeon and prophetess Anna were present at that time. They had lived prayerful lives of faith and hope. They waited in eager expectation of the Messiah. Being wise and guided by the Holy Spirit they recognized the moment of grace: the coming of the divine child in the temple. They were greatly privileged to hold the divine child in their arms and give praise and thanks to God for the great blessings they have received as well as for the blessings for the whole world through this child.                                              It is also mentioned that after the purification ceremony Holy Family returned to Nazareth to continue their lives in a simple and humble way. 

Holy Family is a model for all families in adhering to the will of God. 

Christmas :B: December 25, 2020

 THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST THE SAVIOUR

First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7 

Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14

Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 1-14

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah speaks about the messianic hope of a saviour who will  rescue the people of God from their bondage. He prophecies that this child will be a wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father and prince of peace. This hope of the Prophet finds its fulfilment at the birth of Jesus the Lord and Saviour. 

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Titus. Paul reminds Titus and us that Christ has been revealed as God's living and loving grace and salvation of humankind. He encourages us to live sober and righteous lives because God in Christ has brought about salvation for us. 

Silent night, Holy night......A Saviour is born.                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. It gives us a beautiful and touching description about the birth of our Lord Jesus on that holy night at Bethlehem. It is the story of beautiful Angels, shepherds taking care of their flocks , mother Mary and child Jesus in the manger. The Christmas story unlike other stories is based on a historical event: the birth of Jesus in space and time. God's unending love for humankind is deeply and personally expressed in the birth of Jesus. His love is inviting all of us to the manger. The shepherds responded to the invitation at the first Christmas night. When Jesus was born in the manger the humble Shepherds were able to meet Him and receive His blessings. The child Jesus in the manger is inviting every one of us. The Angels sang :"Glory tp God in the highest! Peace to men of goodwill".

Merry Christmas!

May the Divine Child Bless You.

Fourth Sunday of Advent: B: December 20, 2020

      ACCEPTING THE WILL OF GOD

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-6, 8-12 and 14-16

Second Reading : Romans 16: 25-27

Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 26-28

   * First reading is from the second book of Prophet Samuel. God' reveals to Prophet Nathan His plan regarding King David and his dynasty. King David wanted to build a house for the Lord God and he consulted Prophet Nathan regarding his wish. That night the Lord God revealed His plan to Nathan that it will be the Lord God who will build a house for David forever. By sending His only Son Jesus to be born in David's lineage the Lord God fulfilled His promise to the King that his kingdom would be forever.

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community in Rome and us that God's plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles has come to fulfillment in Christ. It is up to us to proclaim that good news to all nations. 

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord."                                                                   Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The annunciation of the birth of the Lord Jesus is narrated in detail. The meeting of Mary and the Angel Gabriel is an illustration of the living faith of Mary. She gives her consent to become the mother of the redeemer though she hardly understood the significance and the depth of her 'Yes". Hence Mary became a special instrument in the hands of God. Mary has a unique role to play in the salvation history. But Mary was asked to put her freedom and her whole person at the service of the plan to God. The difference between Mary and us is not that Mary was chosen while we are not: rather it is that she fully consented to be chosen for her role while we remain hesitant and half-hearted in our responses to God.                                               Like Mary, God invites each one of us during this season of Advent and tells us 'Rejoice, highly favoured for I have chosen you to live a holy and loving life.'  Let us positively respond to this invitation of God as we  are preparing for the coming of the Lord Jesus at Christmas. 

"Mary, full of Grace, conceived Jesus in her heart before she conceived Him in her womb. She was so attuned to the spiritual that the spiritual readily became physical within her." - St. Augustine.

Third Sunday of Advent: B: December 13, 2020

 REJOICE! THE LORD IS COMING.

 First Reading: Isaiah 61: 1-2 and 10-11

Second   Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24

Gospel Reading: John 1: 6-8 and 19-28

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah announces that he had been anointed by the Lord God and sent to bring good news to the poor. He conveys a message of great hope to all those who live in hopelessness and despair. It is the Spirit of God present in us that enables us to carry the message of salvation to the poor. Later Jesus also quotes this passage from Isaiah to announce the programme of His ministry. 

   * Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians. Paul urges the Christian community of Thessalonika and all of us that we should rejoice always and pray constantly and show our gratitude to God for all the gifts and blessings we have received from Him. We should not despise the spiritual gifts but be earnest in doing good and avoiding evil. In this way we ought to live as we wait for the second coming of the Lord. 

John the Baptist a witness to the light                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. We meet John the Baptist who makes it abundantly clear that he is not the Messiah. John bore witness to the Light. That Light was Jesus Christ. But what a wonderful witness John was! He witnessed not only with his words but especially through his deeds and a life of total renunciation. When the Light finally appeared, John was quite content to fade away from the scene and let Christ take over. This indeed was a wonderful way of witnessing.                                            Today for many people Christ has become a very dim and distant figure. He is being constantly overshadowed by the powerful electronic media, man's greed and a world constantly projecting itself and slowly making God some kind of an appendix. The words of John the Baptist are very much true today. "There stands one among you whom you don't know."  Prophet Isaiah had told long ago, "The Lord has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and to open the prison to those who are bound." This prophecy of Isaiah can become a reality only when we become effective witnesses to Christ the Light. Hence the third week of Advent invites us to be witnesses of Christ the Lord. 

"Sunday Homilies with Fr. Joy Joseph SVD" is available on YouTube . Kindly subscribe to it. The link for the 3rd Sunday of Advent :B is given below:  

Video reflection for 3rd Sunday of advent                   

Second Sunday of Advent: B: December 6,2020

 PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

First Reading: Isaiah 40: 1-5 and 9-11

Second  Reading: 2 Peter 3: 8-14

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 1-8

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah speaks about the great blessings the Lord God is going to bring in the lives of His chosen people when they return from Babylonian captivity. They are urged to prepare the way of the Lord and make straight a highway for the Lord by leveling the mountains and hills and all uneven grounds. This theme of how to prepare the way of the Lord is explained and expanded in today's Gospel reading. 

   * Second reading is from the second letter of St. Peter. Peter speaks about the second coming of the Lord Jesus. At His coming Christ will establish a new heaven and a new earth. For that we should prepare ourselves by living our lives in holiness and godliness. The Apostle warns us that if the Lord appears to be slow in coming, it is only for all people to have a chance to repent and be ready to meet Him when He comes. 

John the Baptist : The voice of the one crying in the desert.                                            Today's Gospel reading is from the first chapter of St. Mark. It introduces and elaborates the mission and life of John the Baptist. John announces the imminent coming of the Saviour and all people are invited to prepare for His coming. Later he introduces Jesus to the people. John worked no miracles; held no office of repute. He did not belong to any influential group of that time. Yet his importance to Jesus was very unique. He is the only religious leader whom Jesus sought and spoke with affection and admiration. He is described as a voice crying in the wilderness. John introduces Jesus as someone who is more powerful than he. John understands that his importance is precisely because of the greatness of Jesus.                                                                             John is challenging all of us during this advent to prepare the way of the Lord and to foster greatness in others without feeling threatened about our own importance. John was a voice crying in the wilderness, a lonely voice that many chose to ignore. Today also there are many lonely voices in this world that go unheeded.

"Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God's own love and concern." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

"When you journey through Advent to Christmas, you begin to see Jesus more fully. You recognize that His incarnation was the beginning of the redemption." - Glenn P.

"Sunday Homilies with Fr. Joy Joseph SVD" is available on YouTube . Kindly subscribe to it. Given below is the link for 2nd Sunday of Advent :B. Thanks. 

Video Reflection for 2nd Sunday of Advent.