Eighteenth Sunday of the Year:B: August 1, 2021

                       JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE

First Reading: Exodus 16: 2-4 and 12-15

Second Reading: Ephesians 6: 17 and 20-24

Gospel Reading: John 6: 24-35

   *First reading is from the book of Exodus. Israelites had to struggle through the desert for forty years while on their way to the promised land. When they were hungry they bitterly complained and murmured against Moses and the Lord God who liberated them from the slavery of Egypt. The Lord God listened to their complaints and provided them with manna and quails for their food. Moses told them that that was the bread (manna) that the Lord God had given them. Thus manna became a pre-figuration of the living bread that is the Eucharist that Jesus gives us. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul urges the Christian community at Ephesus to leave their former nature and former way of life which was corrupt and deceitful. He pleads with them to accept the new way of life in the likeness of God which is righteousness and holiness. 

You believe in Him whom God has sent                                                                                    Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. After the multiplication of loaves by Jesus and feeding the five thousand, people are very excited and happy with Jesus. They feel that He is a permanent solution for their hunger. They are in search of Him. Jesus is not very amused with this situation. He firmly tells them that they are merely looking for signs and perishable food. He takes this opportunity to teach them about the imperishable and life-giving food that will lead them to eternal life. In order to receive this eternal life, they have to believe in the one sent by God. After this discourse of Jesus people again ask for a sign from Him like what Moses did when he gave them food from heaven. Finally Jesus reveals Himself by telling them, "I am the bread of life, he who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me will never thirst." (John 6:35)                                            Often we too are like the Jews at the time of Jesus, looking for various signs and immediate benefits rather than lasting solutions - short term happiness without really looking for lasting and permanent solutions to our problems of life. 

"People don't know what they are striving for. They exhaust themselves in the senseless pursuit of material things and die without realising their spiritual greatness." - Solzhenitsyn

"It is in our emptiness that we are filled. It is in our confusions that we are guided. It is in our weakness that we are strengthened. It is in our sins that we are forgiven. It is in our hunger that we are fed."- Fr. F McCarthy. 

Seventeenth Sunday of the Year: B: July 25, 2021

 JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND

First Reading: 2 Kings 4: 42-44

Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

Gospel Reading: John 6: 1-15

   *First reading is from the second book of Kings. Prophet Elisha asked his servant to feed 100 men with 20 barley loaves. The servant was reluctant and doubtful of feeding them. But Elisha insisted that the Lord God had assured him that even after feeding  all of them there would be food left over. And so it happened as the Prophet told. The hand of the Lord God was instrumental in this miracle. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul pleads with the Ephesian community to lead a life worthy of their call. They are asked to remain in unity and peace. Paul explains to them that they are called to be part of the one body of Christ and share in the one Spirit (Holy Spirit) who is the ultimate source of everything. This trinitarian unity of purpose should be seen in the life of every Christian. 

Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them.                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. On that particular day Jesus worked a great miracle by feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. A large crowd followed Jesus and listened to His life-giving words to the extent that they forgot their own hunger. Jesus was very much concerned about their well-being. Jesus asked the disciples to find some food for the crowd. Philip, one of the disciples told Jesus that it would require a large sum of money to feed them even if food could be bought. Jesus was not discouraged by this reply. He immediately made use of the available resources: five loaves and two fish which a little boy had brought along. He instructed the disciples to make the crowd sit down on the grass. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God the Father and blessed the food and gave it to the disciples to distribute it to the hungry people. To everyone's amazement, all of them ate their fill - more than 5000 people. Later on the disciples even collected twelve baskets full of left over pieces. This miracle is a pre- figuration of the Eucharistic meal - the heavenly banquet where Jesus feeds not just 5000 people but everyone who believes in Him.                                                   The miracle of multiplication of loaves is possible even today. 1. When we are ready to share the little(five loaves) we have with others. 2. When we humbly realize our own limitations and ask God's grace and blessings. 

"There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread." - M.K. Gandhi. 

"Every miracle must be seen through the eyes of faith. The everyday miracle is when one is willing to share with others what he/she has lovingly received. It  is a miracle that is happening everyday when we share love and care for others." - C.B. Buenafe

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs but not for every man's greed." - M.K. Gandhi. 

Sixteenth Sunday of the Year: B: July 18, 2021

 JESUS THE COMPASSIONATE AND KIND SHEPHERD

First Reading: Jeremiah 23: 1-6

Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 13-18

Gospel Reading: Mark 6: 30-34

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah sternly warns the leaders of Israel regarding their unfaithfulness in their duty of taking care of the people of the Lord God. Instead of looking after them, they scattered the people. The Lord God gives the assurance that He will send a Shepherd who will take care of His flock. The promised future leader will be from the lineage of King David - an allusion to Jesus the future Messiah. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul reminds the Ephesian Christian community that Christ has brought unity of brotherhood to Jews and Gentiles. Christ has broken all types of hostility and barriers among the people and united all people as children of one Father. He has brought peace to everyone who acknowledges Him as his/her saviour and Lord. 

Jesus had compassion on them                                                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A short description about the return of the twelve Apostles after their missionary journey is given. Jesus invites them to come to a lonely place to take some rest. But this rest was rather short-lived because of the crowds coming there to listen to the precious words of Jesus and to be healed by Him. Jesus is very much moved with compassion for them and expresses it by saying,'They are like sheep without a Shepherd.' Even in our most busy days we need to take adequate rest in the presence of the Lord. It can be any place of our choice: in the quietness of a chapel where the Lord is present in the Blessed Sacrament or it can be a corner of our own room or in the garden where we can listen to the comforting and soothing words of the compassionate Shepherd. When we listen to the Lord, we will be able to discover deep within us new resources of strength and energy. As we experience the love and care of the Good Shepherd, we in turn are invited to make use of this gift to care and to be compassionate to others in need. 

"While there is always more to be done, we have to choose how  to use our time." - Biblical Resources. 

Fifteenth Sunday of the Year:B: July 11, 2021

 JESUS SENDS APOSTLES ON A MISSION

First Reading: Amos 7: 12-15

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-14

Gospel Reading: Mark 6: 6-13

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Amos. The plight of Amos is described in detail. He was sent by the Lord God to King Amaziah. The King was very unhappy with Amos. He was warned not to prophesy in Bethel where the King resided. Later Amos was expelled from the Kingdom. In spite of all these problems Amos was not discouraged but firmly told Amaziah that the Lord God has commanded him to go to the people of Israel and prophesy. Although there were many hardships and opposition Amos was always faithful to the task given to him by the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians. The Christians in Ephesus were brought to faith by Paul. Paul encourages them to be faithful to the teachings he had handed over to them. He instructs them that God's will is the source of our Christian vocation and of our holiness. Paul expresses his thankfulness to God for the great spiritual gifts received through Lord Jesus. 

Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two                                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. The instructions given by Jesus to His twelve Apostles before their mission journey is described. They were told to preach and to do the works that He Himself had done so far. Their threefold duties were : 1. To announce that the Kingdom of God has come. 2. To heal the sick. 3. To cast out demons. He instructed them that they were to take nothing for their journey- no money, no extra clothing, not even a staff which was ordinarily carried by travelers to protect themselves from attacks of thieves and wild animals. Disciples of Jesus are to depend entirely on God alone during their mission journeys. What we notice is that Jesus did not hesitate to involve the Apostles in His work in spite of the fact that most of them were illiterate fishermen with little experience in preaching. Jesus is inviting everyone of us to continue His mission in the world around us. In spite of our inexperience and lack of expertise He wants us to do our part, however small that may be. The mission of Christ is very simple. As St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said."We can do no great things. Only little things with great love. You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do something beautiful for God." All of us without exception are invited to continue the mission of Jesus and to hand over our faith to others as the Apostles did. 

Fourteenth Sunday of the Year:B: July 4, 2021

 REJECTION OF THE PROPHETS OF GOD

First Reading: Ezekiel 2:2-5

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10

Gospel Reading: Mark 6: 1-6

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. The Lord God sent several prophets to Israel but they rebelled against them and did not obey the Lord God. Prophet Ezekiel was instructed by the Lord God to speak to the people in His name and see whether they would listen to him or not. Ezekiel had to face persecution,  rejection and scorn from the chosen people of God. 

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul admits that he too has weaknesses in spite of receiving many revelations and blessings from God. However Paul is not discouraged or disillusioned because the Lord assured him that, 'My grace is sufficient for you.' This is an assurance for all of us who are troubled by our many weaknesses, failures and problems that disturb us and hurt us. Paul assures us that when we trust in the grace of God, our weaknesses become a source of strength because we are no more trusting in ourselves but in the powerful grace of God. 

Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. Jesus came to Nazareth, His home town, after His preaching, teaching and healing in many towns and villages in Judea, Samaria and Galilee. He came to Nazareth where he was brought up and where His kith and kin lived. Although he had a great reputation as a prophet all over Palestine, His own people failed to recognize Him and acclaim Him. Instead of admiration and acceptance He faced scorn and ridicule. Their attitude was : after all He is a carpenter's son. We know His family background. They could not accept the fact that God is in their midst and He communicates through Jesus the carpenter's son. Jesus was totally disappointed and disillusioned by their scornful attitude. Hence He said, 'No prophet is acceptable in his own country, in his own relations and in his own house'.                                                   There are several occasions in the past when we have rejected God and His chosen messengers. It may also happen that we may have faced rejections from our own family or our community. Jesus has shown us the way. He did not stop His ministry because the people of Nazareth rejected Him. He did not blame others or God for His failures and lack of acceptance. Nazareth was certainly a learning experience in the life of Jesus. 

"Familiarity breeds contempt." - Proverb