Fourth Sunday of the Year: C: January 30, 2022

BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN YOUR MOTHER'S WOMB, I KNEW YOU

First Reading: Jeremiah 1: 4-5 and 17-19

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 31 to 13: 1-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 21-30

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah is assured by the Lord God that He will protect him and care for him in all his difficulties and challenges. He is told that even before he was formed in his mother's womb, the Lord God knew him and appointed him a prophet. In the latter part of the passage, the Lord God reassures Jeremiah that those who are against him will not succeed in their sinister plans and evil designs because the Lord God is there to deliver him from such people. This assurance of the Lord God is not only for Prophet Jeremiah but for everyone who is unjustly persecuted. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul makes a fine distinction between different gifts from God. He says that the gifts- prophecy, speaking in tongues, knowledge, faith and hope - are all important in the life of a Christian. But the greatest gift of God is LOVE. Paul speaks eloquently in describing the excellence and permanence of love. According to him love is the answer to all problems of life. Where there is love, problems disappear but where there is no love problems multiply.

The rejection of Jesus at Nazareth                                                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The events that led to the rejection of Jesus at His home town Nazareth is narrated. Jesus was certainly disturbed and grieved by the rejection of His own townsfolk. He knew that it was only the beginning of a series of rejections and denials. Their attempt to kill Him was only an indication of what was yet to come. Jesus knew very well the great risk that He was facing. He pointed out to them two instances in scriptures where prophets did not find favour with the people of Israel - that of prophet Elijah and that of prophet Elisha. It was very hurtful and humiliating to be rejected by one's own kith and kin. Jesus was certainly saddened by what happened to Him at Nazareth. But this painful rejection did not stop Him from continuing His prophetic mission. Jesus invites all of us  to continue His prophetic mission in spite of discouragements and rejections from people who are dear to us and familiar to us. 

"Familiarity breeds contempt." - Proverb

"Like the prophets, people who plunge headlong into denunciations of the present in order to inspire commitment to the future, risk their neck." - Carlos Christo.

Third Sunday of the Year: C: January 23, 2022

 FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISES OF GOD IN JESUS

First Reading: Nehemiah 8: 2-4, 5-6 and 8-10

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-30

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:1-4 and 4: 14-21

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Nehemiah.  The happenings after the return of the Jews from their exile in Babylon is narrated. The nation had to be rebuilt. Ezra the priest took the task of re-establishing the Jewish religion. He read the book of the law of Moses to the people. Then he made them to renew the Covenant with the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. Paul explains to the community in Corinth how the human body is united and functions as a single unit. Though the human body is made of many parts, all of them work together for the benefit of the whole body. The Apostle affirms that so it is with the Church. Though it is composed of many members coming from various cultures, different backgrounds and are empowered with various gifts, they all form a unity in Christ Jesus. He stresses how each one of us must co-operate with others for each one is a necessary member of the Body of Christ Jesus. 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me                                                                        Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. It has two parts. In the first part Luke gives a description about how and why he undertook the task of writing an account of the life and teachings of Jesus. In the second part we have a description about the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. Jesus began His public ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth. There He opened the book of the Prophet Isaiah and read the passage relating to His future ministry: to preach the good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed. Jesus then went on to announce that this prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled on that very day. Thus in the Gospel we have an announcement that God's promises are fulfilled in Jesus His beloved Son. The long awaited Messiah, the anointed one has come. That Jesus is in fact the one promised by God. This message of the Gospel first preached in Galilee has to find its fulfillment in and through us. Hence we need to do the following: 1. We need to acknowledge that God's power is necessary for accomplishing the mission of Jesus. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and preached the good news and liberated people from the bondage of sin. 2. At baptism we too received the Holy Spirit. Again at confirmation we were anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God constantly empowers us to continue the mission of Jesus. Thus Lord Jesus invites each one of us to grow in faith and become effective witnesses of His good news.

Second Sunday of the Year: C: January 16, 2022

              THE WEDDING AT CANA

First Reading: Isaiah 62: 1-5

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11

Gospel Reading: John 2: 1-12

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah promises the Lord God's protection for the people of Israel. He assures them that they shall experience happiness and joy because the Lord God has taken delight in them. He says that like a bridegroom rejoices over the bride so shall the Lord God rejoice over Israel. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Corinthian community that different gifts received by individual members have come from the same Spirit. They are to be used for the common good. Gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy and the gift of tongues-all these are inspired by the same Spirit of the Lord so that the whole community may benefit from them. 

Water is turned into wine                                                                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The wedding feast at Cana of Galilee is narrated in detail. It was a typical marriage celebration of Palestine. Everyone ate and drank and at half way stage of the celebrations wine ran short and the organizers were in great distress. The bridegroom's family was facing deep embarrassment. Mother Mary came to know about their predicament and she interceded with Jesus to help them out of their dire need. In spite of some initial hesitation from Jesus, Mary was so sure of her Son that she told the persons in charge of the event to do just as Jesus tells them to do. What resulted was a great miracle. Twelve stone jars full of water is turned into excellent wine and everyone continued to celebrate without a worry. This was the first miracle performed by Jesus. This miracle gives us some significant lessons. 1. If we want miracles to take place in our lives, we have to invite Jesus into our lives. 2. When in trouble, we must take our burdens to the Lord. Blaming each other for the failures and lapses is not a solution. 3. When Jesus inspires us in difficult situations we must put our faith in the Lord and follow His promptings. 4. We should allow the grace of God to intervene in our lives. 5. Any miracle in our lives should be an occasion for rejoicing and should lead us to a deeper trust in the Lord. Finally the miracle of Cana affirms that in times of great distress and difficulties we should not lose heart but turn to Mother Mary to intercede for us and she will definitely help us.                                                              Let us take our crisis times as challenges and opportunities because Jesus can truly turn 'water into wine' in our lives too. 

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus: January 9, 2022

 JESUS THE BELOVED SON

First Reading: Isaiah 42: 1-4 and 6-7 

Second Reading: Acts 10: 34-38

Gospel Reading: Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah speaks about a servant of God who will be an instrument of justice and peace to the people of God. Jesus is the promised servant of God who opens the eyes of the blind and liberates all those who are in prison and in darkness. 

   *Second reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. St. Peter testifies that Jesus was sent by God to preach the good news of peace to people in Galilee and in Judea. After being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to do works of healing and to free those oppressed by evil powers. 

Baptism with Holy Spirit and with fire                                                                             Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. An account of John the Baptist's testimony regarding the mission of Jesus is given. The baptism of Jesus by John at the river Jordan is highlighted. During the baptism Holy Spirit came down on Jesus. A voice from heaven was heard which announced 'Thou art my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.'                                                                Hence the voice from heaven affirmed that Jesus was the Son sent by God the Father who always did what was pleasing to the heavenly Father. The baptism of Jesus gives us the following messages. 1. Jesus identified Himself with the sinful humanity although He was sinless. 2. Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the heavenly Father. 3. God the Father approved the ministry of Jesus by empowering Him with the power of the Holy Spirit.            Our baptism is very much related to the baptism of Jesus. For us baptism is a door and once we go through this door, our lives are never the same. Most of us were baptized when we were infants and did not really understand its meaning and significance. By our baptism we became members of God's community. Hence by baptism we are choosing a life like that of Jesus.  Like Jesus by our baptism we too become sons and daughters of the heavenly Father. At baptism we too were anointed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was baptized to fulfil the will of God. We too are invited to do the same by living our baptismal promises. Let us take our baptismal promises seriously from now on. May the heavenly Father bless each one of us and announce that 'This is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased."