Fifth Sunday of Lent: C: April 3, 2022

 FORGIVENESS FOR THE ERRANT DAUGHTER

First Reading : Isaiah 43: 16-21

Second Reading : Philippians 3: 8-14

Gospel Reading : John 8: 1-11

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah assures the Jews who were exiled in Babylon that there will be a new exodus and the Lord God will bring deliverance for them. He encourages them and invites them to concentrate on the present and trust in the promises of the Lord God who is always with them and cares for them.

  *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Philippi that holiness is not something that we can achieve by our own efforts. Instead we should try to see holiness as something that comes through faith in Jesus and in the power of His resurrection. Paul came to the realization that although he led a zealous life as a Jew it had no apparent effect with regard to his eternal life. 

Neither do I condemn you, go and do not sin again                                                        Last Sunday in the Gospel reading we listened to the parable of the prodigal son which expressed God's love and mercy for the repentant sinner. In today's Gospel we have the real life story of the prodigal daughter - a woman caught in the act of adultery. Some people brought this unfortunate woman to Jesus. Practically everyone present at the scene wants her to be  condemned to death by stoning according to the law of Moses. But Jesus shows her mercy and forgives her and gives her a new life. Jesus grants her forgiveness not because what she did was not against the commandment of God but because He loves her in spite of her sinful past. Jesus forgives her and tells her to go in peace and from now on she should not be enslaved by sin. Hence Jesus the Son of God dispenses the generosity of God's forgiveness. The woman's many sins which the public condemned and others wanted to kill her for are totally and dramatically forgiven by Jesus. Jesus' generosity might upset some of us. But Jesus tells not only the sinful woman but each one of us to go in peace and not to sin again. Jesus shows us that the greatest law is the law of love and every other law should be complementary to it. During this Lent let us too respond to the forgiving love of the heavenly Father positively and decisively. 

"In the end only two persons remained representing misery and mercy and mercy won that day." - St. Augustine

Fourth Sunday of Lent:C: March 27, 2022

 THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON

First Reading: Joshua 5: 9-12

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 17-21

Gospel Reading: Luke 15: 1-3 and 11-32

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Joshua. How the Israelites were freed from the slavery of Egypt by the mighty power of the Lord God and their journey to the promised land is narrated in detail. Their first act of public worship and thanksgiving to the Lord God on entering their home land was the celebration of the Passover feast lasting seven days. Their possession of the land became a reality when they ate the produce of the land of Canaan. 

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Corinth that the whole aim of Christ's mission was to bring about reconciliation between God and humankind. The Apostle reminds us that we are ambassadors for Christ and for God.

I will arise and go to my father                                                               Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The parable of the prodigal son - one of the immortal parables of Jesus- is narrated in detail. It has been called the greatest short story ever told. It is a story about a father and his two sons. The father loves his sons very much. Yet the younger son asks for his share of the property and he spends his money in loose living. When he has spent all that he possessed, he finds himself in a very miserable situation - feeding the pigs- for a living. Desperate as he is he comes to his senses and realizes the great love of his loving father.  Finally he returns to his father's house. The loving father accepts him back unconditionally and showers love and affection on his prodigal son. The father's love for the lost son vividly explains God's unconditional forgiveness and love for the lost ones.                                             In the second part of the parable we meet the elder son who served the father faithfully. The elder son is not amused by the turn of events. He in fact revolts against the father  for his forgiving love for the younger son. His attitude is harsh and judgmental. This parable tells us about the story of our own lives. The parts played by the prodigal son and the elder son are two sides of the same coin - our own selves. Let us remind ourselves during this lent that the merciful father is always waiting for us to return to Him. Our loving God is prodigal with His forgiveness, mercy and love.

"Love never reasons, but profusely gives: it gives like a thoughtless prodigal its all, and then trembles lest it has done too little." - H. More

"Every parent is at some time the father of the un-returned prodigal with nothing to do but keep his house open to hope." - John Clardl

Third Sunday of Lent: C: March 20, 2022

                   THE CALL TO REPENTANCE

First Reading: Exodus 3: 1-8 and 13-15

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6 and 10-12

Gospel Reading: Luke 13: 1-9

   *First reading is from the book of Exodus. The call of Moses is described in detail. He was taking care of sheep on Mount Horeb  when the Lord God called him. The Lord God told Moses that the cry of His chosen people who are suffering under the task masters of Egypt has reached Him. He instructed Moses to bring them out of their misery to a land flowing with milk and honey. In response to the call, Moses told the people of Israel that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent him to liberate them.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul warns the Christian community at Corinth that those who are unfaithful to God and grumble against Him will perish - like the Israelites who grumbled against God in the wilderness. He further adds that all that happened in the past is written down so that we may take heed to God's message.

Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus emphasizes the need for repentance for everyone. He recalls two recent incidents of that time: 1. Pilate killing the Galileans. 2. Eighteen people who got killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them. Jesus warns His disciples and us that those people were killed not because they were worst sinners than others but that these are warning for us to take note of so that we may not face such disasters and calamities in our lives. In the second part of today's Gospel Jesus explains this warning through the parable of the unproductive fig tree. This fig tree did not produce any fruits for a long period of time. The master decided to cut it down. But the gardener pleaded with the master to allow him to water and manure the tree for another year. The master agreed to the request. The tree was given a final chance to produce or to perish. The message of the parable is very explicit. Unless we take heed to God's warnings and use our given opportunities to turn away from our sinful ways and turn to God, we too may face unpleasant and irrevocable consequences in our lives. Lent is the appropriate time to repent and turn away from our sinful ways. 

"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people." - Martin Luther King Jr. 

Second Sunday of Lent: C: March 13, 2022

 THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD JESUS

First Reading: Genesis 15: 5-12 and 17-18

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17 to 4:1

Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 28-36

   *First reading is from the book of Genesis. The covenant made between the Lord God and Abraham is narrated in detail. Abraham expresses his belief in the Lord God and the Lord God in return promises him descendants as many as the stars in heaven and promises that his progeny would have the land to live in. The Lord God in His covenant with Abraham takes greater obligations. He assures Abraham that He would be always faithful to the promises made. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul makes an earnest appeal to Christians in Philippi to hold fast to the faith they have received. He assures them that Lord Jesus will transform their lowly bodies to be like His glorious body and they need to stand firm in the Lord. 

This my Son, my chosen, listen to Him                                                             Today's Gospel reading from St. Luke. The transfiguration of the Lord Jesus on Mount Tabor is described in great detail. Jesus was transfigured in the presence of His beloved disciples: Peter, James and John. They witnessed His heavenly glory on the mountain. They saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah- two great prophets of the old Testament. During the transfiguration experience they were overshadowed by a cloud and a voice from heaven proclaimed, "This is my Son, my chosen, listen to Him." It is very significant that at the transfiguration scene the whole Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit- were present: The Father in the voice from heaven; the Son in the human Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the bright cloud - just like at the time of baptism of Jesus. The transfiguration experience strengthened the disciples and opened their eyes and to have a glimpse of God's abiding presence in His Son Jesus. The key to the transfiguration experience and the revelations of God is in prayer - in union with the heavenly Father. It is in those periods of deep prayer that we are most likely to witness and experience the glory of God as in the transfiguration of Jesus. Lent is the chosen time to have glimpse of the transfigured Jesus. That experience has to begin from within us with the power of God's grace. 

"The clarity which Christ assumed in His transfiguration was the clarity of glory as of its essence, but not as to its mode of being. For the clarity of the glorified body is derived from that of the soul." - St. Augustine 

First Sunday of Lent: C: March 6, 2022

             THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26: 4-10

Second Reading: Romans 10: 8-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 1-13

   * First reading is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses instructs the people of Israel how the priests should offer to the Lord God the first produce of the land as a thanksgiving. These instructions are to be observed meticulously. They are given in the context of the Lord God had liberated them from the slavery of Egypt and led them to the promised land - a land flowing with milk and honey. The chosen people are to be thankful and grateful for the many marvelous things the Lord God had done in their lives.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community at Rome that salvation is for all. Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and calls upon His name will be saved. Further he affirms that in the sight of God there is no distinction between Jews and Greeks (people from different races and nationalities). God's blessings are open to everyone, provided they call upon the name of the Lord. 

The temptations faced by Jesus in the desert                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. A detailed account of the temptations of Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry is narrated. Jesus spent forty days fasting and praying in the wilderness. After that the devil appeared and tempted Him. The temptations were of three kinds. The first temptation was to change stones into bread. A temptation that He could satisfy His hunger and the hunger of the people around Him. The devil tempted Jesus in a very subtle way and asked Jesus to be a miracle worker who will remove the hunger of the masses. But Jesus firmly rejected this temptation. He sternly told the devil: "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." The second temptation took place on a high mountain. The devil showed Jesus the glory of the kingdoms of the whole world and promised Him that he would give Him all the glory and power in the world if Jesus worshiped the devil. Jesus rejected this temptation too by telling the devil: " You shall worship the Lord your God." Thus Jesus affirmed that worship is only for God and worldly possessions, power, positions and all that belongs to the devil are not to be worshiped. In the third and final temptation, the devil asked Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the Jerusalem temple. Jesus was assured that the angels would protect Him from any harm. Jesus rejected this temptation too. It was a temptation to test the power of God. Jesus made it clear to the devil that we have no reason to put God to test in any matter. God is not the cause of man-made disasters, calamities and wars. Lent is a God given time to overcome our many temptations (weaknesses) through fasting and prayer as Jesus did in the desert. 

"Fasting from any nourishment, activity, involvement or pursuit - for any reason - sets the stage for God to appear." - D. B. Allender

"When the flesh is satisfied, it is hard to pray with cheerfulness or to devote oneself to a life of service which calls for much self renunciation." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

"You cannot stop birds flying over your head but you can prevent them from nesting in your hair." - A Chinese Proverb ( true with regard to our temptations)