Second Sunday of Lent: B: February 28, 2021

 THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

First Reading: Genesis 22: 1-2 and 9-13 and 15-18

Second Reading: Romans 8: 31-34

Gospel Reading: Mark 9: 2-10

   * First reading is from the book of Genesis. The story of Abraham the Father of faith is narrated. In spite of his faithfulness to the Lord God, he was severely tested by the Lord God. Sara and Abraham were advanced in age when they were blessed with a son as promised by the Lord God. But unexpectedly the Lord God asked Abraham to offer Isaac  his beloved son as a sacrificial offering. Although he was totally confused and broken by this request, he did not falter but decided  to sacrifice Isaac as asked by the Lord God. When Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord God spared his son and instead Abraham was told to sacrifice a ram. Seeing his trust and total obedience to the Lord God he was greatly blessed by the Lord God. He was promised that his descendants would be as many as the stars in heaven. 

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christians in Rome and us that in Jesus we have an intermediary who will never fail us. He says if God is for us, who can ever be against us? Through these words Paul speaks to us the depth of God's love for us. God did not spare even His own son but gave Him up for us. 

Jesus on Mount Tabor                                                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. The transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor is narrated. Jesus with three of His beloved disciples climbed the Mount Tabor. On the mountain top, He was transfigured in the presence of His disciples. He was covered with  heavenly glory. The disciples were overwhelmed and were happy by this heavenly experience. The presence of Moses and Elijah - two towering figures of Old Testament- is a sign that Jesus is the fulfilment of all that has been foretold in the Old Testament. Jesus' momentary change of bodily appearance and the voice of the Father confirms that Jesus is truly sent by God the Father.                                                                The transfiguration event is both comforting and challenging for us. It is comforting because we know that our Lord and Saviour Jesus is truly the Son of God and beloved of the Father. It is challenging because the Father invites us to listen to His Son and follow His teachings and be witnesses to Him in our lives. If we are faithful to the Lord, we too will one day experience this heavenly experience. 

"At His transfiguration Christ showed His disciples the splendor of His heavenly beauty, to which He will shape and colour those who are His." - St. Thomas Aquinas. 

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First Sunday of Lent:B: February 21, 2021

 REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL

First Reading: Genesis 9: 8-15

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3: 18-22

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 12-15

   * First reading is from the book of Genesis. The floods that took place at the time of Noah are described. After the floods the Lord God made a covenant with Noah that there will never again be such a deluge. The Lord God's pact with Noah and his sons tells us about God's unfailing fidelity and benevolence towards the humankind. The rainbow was given as a sign of the covenant between the Lord God and the humankind. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Peter. The flood waters at the time of Noah and the waters of baptism are compared. Peter tells the Christian community that the waters of flood during the time of Noah symbolizes the waters of our baptism by which we are saved. As Noah and his family were saved, it is through our baptism that we are saved and we enter into a new covenant and a new relationship with God. Peter exhorts all of us to live according to the Christian faith, no matter what trials we have to endure because of it. 

The temptations of Jesus                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A brief narrative of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness is given. Jesus went through a time of serious reflection and faced challenges during those days in the desert. As we know from past experiences athletes prepare themselves for long duration before any event. Similarly professionals and artists rehearse painstakingly for long hours. So also good teachers prepare themselves meticulously. Before starting His public ministry Jesus went into the desert to prepare Himself for the divine task entrusted to Him by the heavenly Father. He had to purify His mind and cleanse His heart. The Evangelist narrates Jesus' going into the desert to combat the devil and concludes with His victorious emergence. Jesus emerged from His forty days of fasting and prayer and prepared Himself for the ultimate victory over Satanic powers. As we enter into the holy season of Lent, like Jesus we need to renew ourselves spiritually by fasting, prayer and almsgiving. In a sense, we too go into the desert with Jesus. We are urged to keep the last verse of today's Gospel throughout the Lent: "Repent and believe in the Gospel."

"Lent comes providentially to reawaken us to shake us from our lethargy." - Pope Francis. 

"As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst... Repent and believe... Jesus tells us." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. 

"Lent is a time to renew whenever we are in that process, that I call divine therapy." - Thomas Keating

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Sixth Sunday of the Year: B: February 14, 2021

                    JESUS HEALS A LEPER

First Reading: Leviticus 13: 1-2 and 45-46

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 31 to 11:1

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 40-45

   *First reading is from the book of Leviticus. The wretched condition of lepers in Old Testament times is described in detail. During those days leprosy made a person physically, spiritually and socially an outcast. He/she was unwanted in the society. As long as the disease lasted, a leper was forced to stay out of his/her home in some secluded place. Lepers were considered ritually unclean and they were compelled to live far away from any human habitations. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul urges Christians in Corinth not to offend anyone but to do good  to everyone at all times. He reminds them and all of us that in whatever we do we have to give glory to God the Father. He gives his own example and tells us that he gives glory to God by being a perfect imitator of Jesus Christ and does everything for the good of others. 

I will; be clean.                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. It narrates the dramatic way Jesus healed a leper. This man implored Jesus to heal him from leprosy. Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and healed him. The leprosy mentioned in the Gospel symbolizes all the external and internal illness that we suffer from. While healing this leper Jesus did the unthinkable for a Jew of that time to do. He reached out and touched this suffering man. Jesus could have very well healed the man without touching him. By this action, Jesus gave him dignity and showed that this man too is very precious in the eyes of God. By His touch and consoling words Jesus not only healed the wounds and pains of leprosy but also the wounds caused by rejection which was inflicted on him by the society.                                                              St. Damien of Molokai is a prime example of a person who tried to emulate Jesus by his love, concern and care for lepers. After working for the wellbeing of lepers for many years, he too contracted leprosy and died of leprosy. The following words are written on his tomb. "Love never fails." - 1Corinthians 13:8. During these days of Covid-19, we too are faced with social distancing, loneliness and isolation. Jesus who healed the leper may heal  all who suffer due to the effects of this pandemic. 

"The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of being unwanted." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. 

Fifth Sunday of the Year: B: February 7, 2021

 THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS

First Reading: Job 7: 1-4 and 6-7

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19 and 22-23

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 29-39

   *First reading is from the book of Job. It graphically explains how Job a just man comes to grip with the problem of sufferings in his life. Job was severely tested by Satan. The Lord God allowed Job to be tested by the adversary. He lost his beloved children and all his possessions. He was afflicted by pain and sickness. He felt that there is only misery and sufferings in this world. For all his deliberations about the cause of his sufferings, he was not able to come up with a convincing answer. Some time or other we too may have faced the problem of sufferings in our lives without any reasonable explanations.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to us the compulsions of preaching the Gospel. To that end he has become all things to all: even to the weak and those who suffer. He has no choice but to preach the Gospel because he is commissioned to do so.

He healed many who were sick                                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. Jesus expresses His love and compassion for the sick and the suffering. He visited Simon Peter's mother-in-law who was sick and was bedridden with fever. He stretched out His hands and healed her. In the same way Jesus healed many who were sick and those who were possessed by evil spirits.                 Jesus gives us no answers about  the question of sufferings in this world nor does He try to explain why people have to suffer. However through His healing ministry He showed us the importance of turning our sufferings and pain to God experiences. By identifying Himself with the sick and the dying and by His death on the cross He teaches us how to face sufferings in our lives. He reveals to us that sufferings are part of God's mysterious plan. It all depends on us how to shoulder our cross; for by uniting our trials with Jesus we too can become victorious and lead meaningful lives. Like Jesus we too are invited to bring healing and solace to someone: maybe by a word of sympathy or by a kind and loving gesture or by a silent prayer. That is what is expected of us when we meet people who suffer.                               In the second part of the Gospel we see that after His healing ministry  Jesus went to a lonely place to pray. In spite of His busy day, Jesus found time to be in communion with the Heavenly Father. All our busy life and activities should be nourished by prayer. 

" How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear." - John Newton

"Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." - Proverbs 3: 7-8