First Sunday of Advent: C: November 28, 2021

 THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12 to 4: 2

Gospel Reading: Luke 21:25-28 and 34-36

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. The Prophet speaks about a future Messiah who will fulfill the promises of the Lord God that He made to the people of Israel. Jeremiah assures the people and all of us that the Messiah when He comes will bring justice and righteousness. The prophecy of Jeremiah finds its fulfillment with the birth of Jesus in the lineage of King David. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. Paul explains some of the qualities we should have as we wait for the coming of the Lord. He says that we should be blameless before God the Father. He urges everyone to have love for one another so that we will be prepared for the second coming of the Lord. 

Your redemption is drawing near.                                                              We begin the liturgical year with the first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent has two-fold characteristics. First of all, it is a preparation for celebrating the birth of Christ. Secondly it reminds us of His second coming in glory at the end of times.                                                                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The prophecy concerning the end of the world is described. It warns us to be prepared for that final day of reckoning. There will be dreadful portents in the universe and cosmic disturbances will take place. After all that, the second coming of the Lord will take place. Jesus will come in glory and power. We should not be found wanting on that day because that day will come without any warning. Hence we are urged to watch and pray and be ready to meet the Lord whenever He comes. The coming of the Lord will also signify the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus the Messiah will rule in God's name. Thus the season of Advent gives us an opportunity to look at our past life and also to look at the future with hope. It is a time to deepen our relationship with God and His beloved Son Jesus. 

"Advent is a clarion call to renew once more our engagements with  Good News, in a conscious and personal fashion." - Biblical resources. 

"Advent is the spiritual season of hope par excellence and in this season the whole Church is called to be hope for itself and for the world." - Pope Benedict XVI

"May this Advent season be a time of bringing hope, transformation and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives." - Edward Heys

Thirty Fourth Sunday of the Year: B: The Feast of Christ the King: November 21, 2021

 CHRIST : THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE

First Reading: Daniel 7: 13-14

Second Reading: Apocalypse 1: 5-8

Gospel Reading: John 18: 33-37

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Daniel. Daniel describes his vision regarding the 'Son of Man' (Christ) being presented to the heavenly Father. He is given dominion and glory and kingship. All people and nations are under His everlasting power.

   *Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. Faithfulness of Christ who is the ruler of the whole world and kingdoms is narrated. By His shedding of blood, Christ has freed us from sin and made us part of His kingdom. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega : the beginning and the end of everything. 

The Kingship of Jesus                                                                                    Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Pilate asked Jesus about His kingdom. Jesus' answer was that His kingdom is not of this world. But He said, "I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Hence the hallmark of Jesus' kingship is testifying to the truth. Pope Benedict XVI says, "Jesus' whole existence reveals that God is love. This is therefore the truth of which He gave full testimony with the sacrifice of His own life on Calvary. The cross is the 'throne' from which He manifested the sublime royalty of God - Love." Hence Jesus' kingship did not end with His death on the cross: on the contrary, His kingdom continues forever in eternal glory and splendor as He testified that His kingdom does not belong to this world. May we have the courage and the perseverance to remain true to our King and Lord. We need to give witness to His rule by belonging to the side of truth and continue to listen to the voice of Christ the King of the universe. The following inscription was found beneath the picture of Christ: " Jesus also known as Christ wanted on charges of sedition, criminal anarchy, vagrancy and conspiring to overthrow the established government. Dresses poorly, uses carpentry as a cover, has visionary ideas. Associates with common working people, unemployed and winos. Has variety of aliases: Prince of peace, Son of Man, Light of the world etc. Full beard and scars on hands and feet the result of injuries inflicted by angry mob led by respectable citizens and local authorities." - James Gilooley

Note: Church's liturgical year concludes with the celebration of the Feast of Christ the King.

Thirty Third Sunday of the Year: B: November 14, 2021

 THE END TIMES: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW WORLD ORDER

First Reading : Daniel 12: 1-3

Second Reading: Hebrews 10: 11-14 and 18

Gospel Reading: Mark 13: 24-32

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Daniel. A detailed description of the various revelations of Daniel regarding the end of times (end of the world) are given. It foretells about the great upheavals and disasters which will happen at the end. But these signs will be followed by a new and everlasting existence. Thus the passage points to a belief in the resurrection of the dead and  the life thereafter. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Hebrews. The priests of the old Testament offered sacrifices which could not take away sins. On the other hand, the supreme sacrifice offered by Christ is superior to all the other sacrifices performed in the old Testament. Because Christ through a single sacrifice has taken away all our sins. 

The final days to come                                                             Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. Some signs and indications regarding the end of the present world are narrated. Jesus speaks of a time of destruction, terror, troubles and persecutions. People will be betrayed and handed over to authorities. There will be wars, earthquakes and famines. There will be cosmic upheavals too. The sun, the moon and the stars will lose their normal courses and appearances. After those series of disasters finally there will be good news. Jesus looks beyond the time of distresses to a final time when the Son of Man will gather the elect. He sees beyond the sufferings and persecutions to a future of peace with God. To explain His future vision, Jesus uses the imagery of the fig tree which sheds its leaves annually. At that time its stark spiky twigs make it look  dead until the life comes in autumn. Jesus uses this imagery to explain the new life that will be manifested when He comes in glory. We need to have deep faith and courage to face times of distress, sufferings and pain and to look forward to a new life in the Lord. These are the signs given by Jesus to indicate the end of the world as given in St. Mathew's Gospel: 1. False prophets: Matthew 24:5   2) Wars: Matthew 24: 7   3)Famines: Matthew 24:7  4) Earthquakes: Matthew 24:7   5) Tribulations: Matthew 24: 8-9   6) Gospel being preached throughout the world: Matthew 24:14

Thirty Second Sunday of the Year: B: November 7, 2021

            THE JOY OF GIVING 

First Reading: 1 Kings 17: 10-16

Second Reading: Hebrews 9: 24-28

Gospel Reading: Mark 12: 38-44

   *First reading is from the first book of Kings. The total self-giving of  a poor widow from Zarephath is narrated. During the famine in the land, she generously provided food to Prophet Elijah from the little she had. She had very little food at her disposal for her son and herself. Yet at the request of Elijah she cooked what little she had and offered it to him. God rewarded her generosity. She and her household had food till the famine was over.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Hebrews. Jesus the High Priest offered His own blood to save humankind. A perfect distinction between the sacrifices offered by the high priests of Old Testament and the non-repeatable and perfect self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ is explained. Christ our High Priest offered Himself in sacrifice once and for all and His sacrifice is of infinite value. Moreover He will appear again to save those who are waiting for Him. 

The generosity of a poor widow                                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. Jesus gives us a specific example of generosity in action. Jesus and His disciples were at the Jerusalem temple. He was sitting near the temple treasury and watching many rich people putting money into the treasury. He observed a poor widow putting two copper coins (which had very little value) into the treasury. Observing this Jesus praises the poor widow who, He says, "has put in everything she had, her whole living." This is a lesson for all of us that we should be generous in all situations. It was once told by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, "Give until it hurts, until you feel the pain." And Jesus Himself said, "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be put into your lap." - Luke 6: 38. Hence today's first reading from the first book of Kings and the Gospel passage give us powerful messages regarding the need for generosity to God and to our fellow humans. Generosity does not go unrewarded when it is done out of love and concern. The widow of Zarephath and the widow at the Jerusalem temple are great models of generosity. Today Jesus invites us to be generous givers. 

"The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving." - Albert Einstein

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Sir Winston Churchill

"God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9: 7