Eighth Sunday of the Year: C: February 27, 2022

 GOODNESS IS SEEN IN ACTIONS

First Reading: Sirach 27: 4-7

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 54-58

Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 39-45

   * First reading is from the book of Sirach. Three picturesque comparisons are made. 1. A person's faults appear when he/she speaks. 2. A person's quality is seen in his/her conversation. 3. A person's speech discloses the cultivation of his/her mind. These comparisons explain to us that a person's speech reveals what kind of a person he or she is. 

   * Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Corinth and to us that the power of death is once and for all destroyed by Christ: by His victory over sin and death. If we persevere in doing the Lord's work we need not fear death. When we die (the perishable body) then we will share in the immortality (the imperishable body) of Christ. 

A tree is known from its fruit                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus instructs us through a series of short parables/sayings. Jesus tells us how we often look at the mistakes and shortcomings of others. He invites us to have thorough introspection of ourselves in this regard. 1 A blind man cannot lead a blind man. If it happens that a blind man leads another blind man the consequences can be disastrous. 2. A disciple is not above his/her teacher. 3. Do not look for the speck in your brother's eye when you have a log in your eye. Finding fault with another person when we are also at fault is hyprocrisy. 4. No good tree produces bad fruit. And no bad tree produces good fruit. A tree is known from the fruit it produces. So also the case with a person. 5. Finally Jesus says that a good man produces good out of his good heart. Similarly an evil man produces evil out of his heart. Thus Jesus tells us that any goodness has to come from a person's heart.  the above sayings of Jesus explain to us the fact that good and evil are the product of a person's heart. 

"Never criticize your neighbour until you have walked for a mile with him." - An ancient proverb

Seventh Sunday of the Year: C: February 20, 2020

                       LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

First Reading: 1 Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13 and 22-23

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 45-49

Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 27-38

   *First reading is from the first book of Prophet Samuel. King Saul becomes jealous of David and he seeks to kill David. One night David sneaks into the camp of Saul while everyone was asleep. David has a golden opportunity to kill Saul. But he does not do it because he realizes that it is a crime to kill a person anointed by the Lord God. Here we see the forgiving attitude of David in spite of his enmity with King Saul. 

Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul makes a comparison between Adam and Christ. He explains to us that in Adam  we owe our earthly life. He was a man of dust. In Christ we owe our life in heaven. He was a man from heaven.

Jesus' call to radical discipleship                                                        Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus throws some radical challenges to His disciples and to us. He makes it very clear that revenge and retaliation has no place in His kingdom. Jesus gives the following action plan for His followers: 1. Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. 2. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you. 3. Give to everyone who asks from you. 4. Do to others as you would wish them do to you. 5. Do not judge and you will not be judged. 6. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 7. The measure you give will be the measure you get back. Hence a disciple of Jesus should have this attitude in all circumstances of life. If we follow these precepts of Jesus, the world would be a better place to live in. Jesus promises that we would truly become sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father. We see a reversal of values in the kingdom of Jesus. Instead of an eye for eye and a tooth for a tooth as told in the Old Testament, Jesus tell us that when someone strikes you on your right cheek you should offer the other too. 

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." - Martin Luther King Jr. 

Sixth Sunday of the Year: C: February 13, 2022

 THE BLESSED IN THE KINGDOM  OF GOD

First Reading: Jeremiah 17: 5-8

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 12 and 16-20

Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 17 and 20-26

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah speaks about two types of people - the first those who trust in man and the second those who trust in the Lord God. He explains to us that the life of those who trust in man is as precarious as that of a shrub growing in the desert whereas the life of those who trust in the Lord God is as sure as that of a tree growing by the waterside. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul emphatically affirms that Christ's resurrection is a symbol and a guarantee that all the faithful who have died and who will die will be raised up by God as Jesus was raised. The resurrection of Jesus hence confirms our faith and reinforces our hope of a life after our earthly life. 

Blessings and woes (curses)                                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. In the first part of this passage Jesus enumerates various blessings for those who trust in the Lord. Fourfold blessings are mentioned: 1. Blessings for those who are poor. 2. Blessings for those who are hungry. 3. Blessings for those who weep. 4. Blessings for those who are hated and despised because they are followers of the Lord. In the second part we have fourfold woes (curses): 1. Woe to those who are rich. 2. Woe to those who are full. 3. Woe to those who laugh. 4. Woe to those who are well spoken of by others. Through these blessings and woes we are made to understand the reversal of values in the kingdom of God as opposed to those who follow the values of the world. Hence the beatitudes graphically explain to us that a follower of Christ has to trust in God in all situations of life rather than trusting in worldly riches and possessions.

"The Beatitudes are terrifying when you try to live them." - Catherine Doherty

"If I had money I would trust in money, but without it I trust only in God." - Blessed Marija Petkovic 

Fifth Sunday of the Year: C: February 6, 2022

 JESUS' CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8 and 11

Gospel Reading: Luke 5: 1-11

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Details of the call of Isaiah to be a prophet are narrated. He is called by the Lord God to be a prophet. Isaiah acknowledges his own unworthiness to be a prophet of the Lord God. The Lord God purifies him and appoints him a prophet. Isaiah readily responds to the call of the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul instructs the Corinthian community regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Historically this affirmation of Paul is the earliest confession of the early Church regarding resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Further Paul acknowledges his own unworthiness to be called an Apostle. He admits that he is the least of all the Apostles because he had persecuted the Church before his conversion. 

The call of the first disciples of Jesus                                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The miraculous catch of a large number of fish by Peter and his companions is narrated. Subsequently Jesus dramatically calls His first disciples. Peter realizes that he is witnessing an extraordinary miracle - a divine intervention through the person of Jesus. This dramatic incident changes the lives of Peter and his companions. Peter, James and John realize the nearness of God: they fall on their knees just like men condemned to death pleading for their lives. Jesus assures them and tells them not to be afraid but to follow Him. Responding to Jesus' invitation they brought their boats ashore, left everything they possessed and followed Him wholeheartedly. That day they lost their livelihood but won eternal life.                                                                   Often we too are afraid to be touched by the presence of God. It is too dangerous because we are afraid to be caught up by the divine, afraid to be sent by Him. Jesus who dramatically invited the first disciples is inviting each one of us. 

"It is not good to be too near a King, except when you are called and even such a call is a bad sign." - An ancient saying

"Christ did not appoint professors but followers." - Soren Kierkegaard

"When Christ called a man, he bid him come and die." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer