Fourteenth Sunday of the Year: C: July 3, 2022

               THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL

First Reading: Isaiah 66: 10-14

Second Reading: Galatians 6: 14-18

Gospel Reading: Luke 10: 1-12 and 17-20

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. During the Babylonian exile, the people of Israel had to suffer much. Isaiah consoles them in their innumerable sufferings and hardships. He encourages the returned exiles to rebuild the holy city of Jerusalem. Isaiah compares Jerusalem to a mother who nurses her children at her breast - a moving imagery of peace, contentment and love.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Galatians. Paul insists that the Christian life is a new existence: that is, becoming Christ-like in everything. Paul explains to the Christian community at Galatia that though he had to suffer much illness, flogging and stoning, he bears the marks of Christ's passion on his body. For Paul, nothing else matters but to keep Christ crucified ever in mind.

The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few                                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus sends his seventy disciples on a mission journey. He instructs them regarding the tough task ahead of them and the tremendous opposition they will face. He also asks them to lead a radical way of life like that of a wandering preacher - one who faces persecutions, homelessness and renunciation of family ties and loss of all material things. They are not to be encumbered with extra luggage of any sort. They are not to spend time on the wayside for the so-called chitchats and small talks. They are not to look for comfortable places of stay. They are to be content with whatever is available and provided by the people. Hence  single-minded devotion to the entrusted task is the hallmark of a disciple of Jesus. Like those disciples, Jesus sends each one of us with the command, 'Be on your way, go into your neighbourhoods, schools and offices, proclaim my peace, heal in my name and make my presence felt wherever you are'. It is up to us to respond wholeheartedly to the call of the Lord. 

"Preach the Gospel everyday, if necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assissi

Thirteenth Sunday of the Year: C: June 26, 2022

            THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: 1 Kings 19: 16 and 19-21

Second Reading: Galatians 5: 1 and 13-18

Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 51-62

   * First reading is from the first book of Kings. The call of Elisha to be a prophet of the Lord God is narrated in detail. Prophet Elijah was instructed by the Lord God to appoint Elisha to succeed him. When called, Elisha responds immediately with great enthusiasm. Elisha bids farewell to his father and mother. Then he slaughters the oxen he was ploughing with and cooks a meal with the yoke and eats the flesh. Elisha leaves everything he has - all that holds him back from being a disciple of Elijah - and follows the prophet of the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Galatians. The Apostle Paul instructs the Galatians about Christian freedom. He explains to them and us that Christian freedom is not for self indulgence but a total self-surrender to the love of God. The Apostle warns them that despite their union with Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit which they received in the past, they have to constantly struggle against the flesh - earthly temptations - which will do its utmost to lead them to sin and slavery.

The cost of discipleship                                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. In spite of the many challenges involved, Jesus resolutely takes the road to Jerusalem. A shameful death awaits Him there. He demands the same type of commitment from His disciples. On His way to Jerusalem, three persons meet Him. To the first one who wants to follow Him, Jesus warns him that there is hardly any place of rest for him, if he wishes to follow Him. The second person is called by Jesus. But he expresses his inability to follow Jesus because of his religious duty of burying his father who is dead. But Jesus sharply tells him, "let the dead bury their own dead" - implying that Jesus extends the boundaries of religion beyond dead traditions. A third person wants to follow Jesus but before that he wants to bid farewell to his family members. He too is found wanting because of his attachment to his family. Hence following Jesus is of such importance that there is no room for any excuses, compromises or for any kind of half-hearted responses.   

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Christianity without Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

Feast of Corpus Christi : Sunday: C: June 19, 2022

 FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

First Reading: Genesis 14: 18-20

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 11-17

   *First reading is from the book of Genesis. A description about Melchizedek's- the king of Salem- meeting with Abraham is given. Melchizedek offered bread and wine to Abraham and he made a profession of faith in one true God. In Christian tradition, the symbol of bread and wine is a pre-figuration of the Eucharist: the body and blood of Christ. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul instructs the Christians in Corinth regarding the first Eucharistic celebration at the last supper. Paul explains to them and to us that when we celebrate the Eucharist we are not merely making Christ's body and blood present but in fact we are re-enacting His death by which Jesus brought salvation to the humankind. 

The miracle of loaves                                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The details of the multiplication of five loaves and two fish by Jesus in the desert is narrated. On that day Jesus fed more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. He worked this miracle in the desert out of compassion for the people so that those who followed Him may not die due to hunger on their return journey home. At the last supper Jesus shared His own body and blood for us so that we might have eternal life by participating in the Eucharist. There are mainly four reasons why we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi. 1. First of all, this feast is celebrated to reaffirm our faith that Jesus is truly and really present in the Eucharistic bread and wine. The bread and wine we partake in the Eucharist are transformed into the precious body and blood of Christ. 2. Secondly, this feast is celebrated as a reparation for all the blasphemy, irreverence and dishonour done to the Eucharistic Lord. 3. Thirdly, this feast is celebrated to give thanks for all the graces and blessings we have received through the presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. 4. Fourthly, this feast is celebrated in order to make us aware of the great gift of the Eucharist and the need to receive the Holy Communion frequently to obtain spiritual nourishment for our daily tasks. May the Body and Blood of Christ give us eternal life!

"God dwells in our midst in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar." - St. Maximilian Kolbe

"In each of our lives Jesus comes as Bread of life - to be eaten, to be consumed by us. This is how He loves us." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"If Christ did not want to dismiss the Jews without food in the desert for fear that they would collapse on the way, it was to teach us that it is dangerous to try to get to heaven without the Bread of Heaven." - St. Jerome

The Feast of Holy Trinity: C: June 12, 2022

 THE MOST HOLY TRINITY: ONE GOD AND THREE PERSONS

First Reading: Proverbs 8: 22-31

Second Reading: Romans 5: 1-5

Gospel Reading: John 16: 12-15

   *First reading is from the book of Proverbs. The Wisdom of God which came into existence before the whole of creation - the earth and all that it contains and the heavens and everything in it - is described. The idea of Wisdom is a pre-figuration of the revelations of the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Wisdom stands for the Son of God - the eternal Word- who exists from the very beginning. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. The trinitarian aspect of God is explained by St. Paul. Paul tells us that we experience peace with God through Jesus. This gives us the hope which sustains us even in times of suffering and pain. Further he adds that the love of God is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is the Holy Spirit who helps us to recognize the Father's love for us. 

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit                                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to His disciples. The Lord explains to us that the work of the Holy Spirit is manifold: to guide us into all truth and to give us guidance for future. Holy Spirit also glorifies Jesus. The feast of the Holy Trinity reminds us that there is only one God but has three persons each living in harmony and in perfect unity. The mystery of the Holy Trinity is not something to argue about or even to study. It is more of something to pray, meditate and to live. The Christian lives in the world of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We need to realize that God is our Father and that we are His children. God loves us even though we are unworthy of His love. Christ the Son of God is our brother. He died and brought salvation to all humankind. Through Him all humans are brothers and sisters. The Holy Spirit is the bond of love between the Father and the Son and the humankind. Let our prayer to the Holy Spirit be that we too may experience the same love and unity which is present in the most Holy Trinity. 

"Given that God the Father is both personal and supremely good, it is proper to think of Him as loving a person from eternity. This other person is the Son and the love between them is the Holy Spirit." - St. Thomas Aquinas on Trinity.

"The only way to engage God is to meet one of the three in time. We meet the Father as creator, the Son as redeemer and the Holy Spirit as the dispenser of God's grace." - T. Wilson

The Feast of Pentecost: C: June 5, 2022

 THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE APOSTLES

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7 and 12-13

Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-23

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. A detailed account of the happenings on the first Pentecost is given. The Apostles were gathered in a particular place in Jerusalem. Suddenly the Holy Spirit descends on them and rests on them as tongues of fire. Filled with the Holy Spirit the Apostles speak in different  tongues. People who came to Jerusalem from various countries are able to listen to the Apostles in their own native languages. Hence at the first Pentecost the Holy Spirit removes all barriers and divisions among the humankind due to languages, races and cultures, and unites them in the one body of the risen Lord. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul speaks of the various gifts given by the Holy Spirit to the believers. He exhorts the Christians in Corinth and all of us to use these gifts for the good of all without exception. Although we are different from each other, we form one body of the risen Lord. We belong to each other in our common bond with the Lord Jesus. 

Receive the Holy Spirit                                                                             Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The context is that the risen Lord meets the disciples who were fear-stricken and were hiding from the Jewish authorities. The Lord appears to them and wishes them peace and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then He sends them on His mission. The effects of receiving the Holy Spirit are manifested on Pentecost day. They are no more afraid of the Jews or afraid of anyone for that matter. They openly and fearlessly preach in Jerusalem about the terrible death and the glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Hence from that day the disciples begin to speak as the Holy Spirit prompts them. Until that day the Apostles stayed behind closed doors but from that day they are ready to launch out into the open with boldness and courage. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit has an immediate effect on the early Christian community as a whole. After the tragic death of Jesus, the disciples were in total disarray. But now they find new strength in their oneness. They are united in mind and heart. Let us also open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so that He may transform our lives and we become committed to the Lord.

"Breath in me, O Holy Spirit/ that my thoughts may all be holy.          Act in me O Holy Spirit/ that my work too may be holy.                  Draw my heart O Holy Spirit/ that I love but what is holy.           Strengthen me O Holy Spirit/ to defend all that is holy.        Guard me then O Holy Spirit/ that I always may be holy.                          - St. Augustine's prayer to the Holy Spirit