Thirteenth Sunday of the Year :B: June 27, 2021

 THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS:                                         'Your faith has made you well'     

First Reading: Wisdom 1: 13-15 and 2: 23-24

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 8: 7-9 and 13-15

Gospel Reading: Mark 5: 21-43

   *First reading is from the book of Wisdom. The author instructs us that the Lord God created everything good. He is not the author of death. Humans too were created for incorruptibility and consequently destined to live eternally. But the Devil(evil one) brought death into the world. To overcome death and to gain immortality we must obey the Lord God who is the creator of everything that is existing. 

   *Second reading is from the Second letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul urges the Christian community at Corinth and us to be generous towards the less fortunate(poor) in Jerusalem. Paul gives us the example of Christ who although was rich in everything became poor for our sake. Those who have abundance need to take care of those in need. 

'Little girl, I say to you, arise!'                                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. Two miracle stories are narrated. The first one is the healing of a woman. In the  second miracle, Jairus' daughter who died was brought back to life. In the first miracle a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve long years was healed instantly by merely touching the garment of Jesus. Realizing that the healing took place Jesus inquired who touched Him. The woman, although initially reluctant and shocked, later openly acknowledged that she was healed by touching the garment of Jesus. Jesus commended  her faith and told her: 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.'                                                                      The second miracle took place when Jairus, a synagogue official requested Jesus to heal his daughter who was at the point of death. Jesus firmly told him, 'Do not fear, only believe'. Later Jesus went to the house of Jairus and brought the girl back to life.                                                     Through these two miracles Jesus is inviting us to have faith in Him so that we too may experience His healing touch and we in turn may continue the healing ministry of Jesus especially in these pandemic times. These miracles remind us that every follower of Christ ought to be a channel of blessings to others and dispense the healing power of the Lord. Every act of caring and sharing would cost us something. But if we keep ourselves in touch with the Lord , then the power of Jesus will empower us and constantly restore us to His fullness. 

Twelfth Sunday of the Year: B: June 20, 2021

 THE MYSTERIOUS AND INSCRUTABLE WAYS OF GOD

First Reading: Job 38: 1 and 8-11

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17

Gospel Reading: Mark 4: 35-41

   *First reading is from the book of Job. Numerous sufferings faced by Job are described in detail. The Lord God reveals to Job that His ways are mysterious and incomprehensible to humans. Job was asked by the Lord God regarding the various mysteries of the universe. He was unable to answer satisfactorily to any of the questions put by the Lord God regarding the universe and its complexities. Finally Job accepted the Lord God's mysterious plans and totally subjected himself to all that the Lord God wanted him to do. 

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community in Corinth and to us that Christ's redeeming love has saved us. To be part of Christ is to be part of the new creation that Christ died for. Paul invites everyone of us to live a Christ-centered life and not a self-centered one. 

Peace, be still: Jesus' command over the powers of nature.                                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A detailed account of how Jesus calmed the rough sea and the wind is given. Jesus and His disciples were travelling across the sea in a boat after a tiring day's work. Being tired and exhausted, Jesus soon slept in the stern of the boat. While traveling, a great storm arose and the boat was on the point of sinking due to the rough sea and the wind. The disciples were totally frightened and lost all hope. They begged Jesus to save them from the life-threatening situation. Jesus then got up and commanded the sea and the wind. There was a great calm after that. The question Jesus put to the disciples is very relevant. "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?" Jesus did allow the storm to trouble the faith of His disciples. But He was in their midst  helping them to come through it. When we are faced with storms in our daily lives, we too will definitely hear the gentle voice of the Lord calming us. "Fear not, for I am with you." Then the waves of fear will subside and the rays of hope will shine on us too. Today Jesus asks each one of us to do what He did for the disciples. That is to make ourselves available to persons who have lost hope, who are caught up in the middle of storms of life especially in these pandemic times. Now it is our turn to give courage and strength and help such persons to come through it. 

"Peace begins with a smile." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

"First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others." - Thomas A Kempis

Eleventh Sunday of the Year: B: June 13,2021

 PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

First Reading: Ezekiel 17: 22-34

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10

Gospel Reading: Mark 4: 26-34

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. The Prophet speaks about the downfall of Jerusalem. He compares the King and the people of Judah to a small cutting of a tall tree which God will take and plant on Mount Zion. Thus Ezekiel gives hope of restoration of the Kingdom that will be brought about by a member of the chosen race. He also mentions that in future Messiah (the anointed one) will set up a universal Kingdom.

   * Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul exhorts the Christians in Corinth to be courageous in the face of death. He tells them and us that his priority at all times is to please the Lord. Hence he has no fears of appearing before the Lord. He exhorts them and us to lead a life pleasing to the Lord at all times so that they/we can expect the reward at the end of their/our lives.

The Kingdom of God .......is like a grain of mustard seed.                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God through two parables related to agriculture. In the first parable Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a seed sown by a farmer. Once the seed is sown the farmer waits patiently for the harvest time. The cycle of growth follows. The farmer does not know how it takes place. Apparently nothing seems to be happening. Yet the miracle of growth takes place. Just as the harvest comes in its own time, so the Kingdom will reach its completion in God's appointed time. It is God's Kingdom, not of our own making. In the second parable Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed which is very small in size but grows into a large shrub which gives shelter to various birds of the air. In the parable Jesus makes a contrast between the smallness of the seed and the luxurious growth of the plant. It reminds us that small beginnings can make for mighty achievements. Littleness is no index of importance in God's Kingdom. Saints like St. Theresa of Child Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi are prime examples of that. The small mustard seed grows to become a shelter for the birds. So also the Kingdom of God grows slowly to envelop the whole world. In the same way no matter how small our efforts may be- as small as a mustard seed to promote the values of Jesus - God will multiply them with His hidden power to bring about wonderful and unimaginable results. All we nee to do is to trust in the power of God. We may not necessarily see those results immediately. But Jesus assures us through these parables that they will happen in our own times. 

As the saying goes:                                                                                         "Where will tomorrow's trees come from? From the shoots we plant today. Where will tomorrow's justice and peace get their start? From the seeds we sow with our hearts today."                                          Let the grain of mustard seed grow to shelter the birds of the air!

"I never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself." - Florence Nightingale

The Feast of Corpus Christi:B; June 6, 2021

 THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

First Reading: Exodus 2: 3-8

Second Reading: Hebrews 9: 11-15

Gospel Reading: Mark 14: 12-16 and 22-26

   *First reading is from the book of Exodus. A detailed description of the covenant that  Lord God made with Moses on behalf of the people of Israel is given. This covenant was sealed with the blood of animals. The covenant made between the Lord God and Moses was a pre-figuration of the new covenant that Jesus made and sealed with His own precious blood on Calvary. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St, Paul to Hebrews. Jesus is portrayed as the High Priest who offers His own blood for the redemption and salvation of all humankind. He is the mediator between God and humankind. He brings eternal redemption to everyone who believes in Him. 

Take: This is my body... This is my blood.                                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. We have a detailed description of the events of the Last Supper of Jesus with His Apostles. At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the Eucharist and gave His body as food for us and His blood as the life-giving drink for all eternity. Unlike the old covenant which was sealed by the blood of  animals, the new covenant is sealed with the blood of Jesus the Son of God. In the Eucharist we are sharing in the very life of Christ in totality. Hence the feast of the body and blood of Christ gives us an opportunity to be thankful for the most precious gift of the Eucharist and for the abiding and real presence of the Lord Jesus in our midst. This feast should help us in the following ways: 1. By the reception of the Eucharist we are intimately united with the Lord and we become part of Jesus. Hence our life has to be transformed so as to become more like that of Jesus. 2. This is a day of humble acceptance of God's gift and it challenges us to live up to the expectations of the Lord who is always abiding in us. 

"At the time of communion not only we receive Jesus but Jesus also receives us as the member of His body." - St. Pope John Paul II

"If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." - St. Maximillian Kolbe