Twenty Second Sunday of the Year: C: August 28, 2022

 HUMILITY, THE MOTHER OF ALL VIRTUES

First Reading: Sirach 3: 17-20 and 28-29

Second Reading: Hebrews 12: 18-19 and 22-29

Gospel Reading: Luke 14: 1 and 7-14

   *First reading is from the book of Sirach. A description about the great virtue of humility is given. It tells us that a humble person is open to the promptings of the Lord God and never rejects wisdom, no matter where it comes from. Humility is the sign of true greatness. The greater a person is, the more humble he/she should be. The message is: be humble and you will find favour with the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Hebrews. A comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion is given. It elaborates that, Sinai is the place where the old Covenant was made whereas Zion stands for the heavenly Jerusalem which is the goal of Christian pilgrimage. It is in this heavenly city where many angels, saints and Jesus Himself will be present.

Whoever humbles himself will be exalted                                                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus and His disciples are invited to a Pharisee's house for dinner. Many prominent people from the town are invited too. Most of them are eager to take the best available seats because each of them considers himself to be more important than all others. Observing this, Jesus teaches His disciples a lesson in humility. He instructs them the following: When you are invited to a function, do not occupy places of honour. Because in case a person more worthy than you is invited, the host may come and request you to give the honourable place to that person. Consequently you will be put in an embarrassing and humiliating situation. However, if you are occupying a less honourable place and the host requests you to occupy a more honourable place, you will be honoured in the presence of everyone present. Hence the virtue of humility is of great importance in the life of a follower of Christ. It ranks right up there with the great Gospel values. Thus for Jesus, to lose one's life is to find it. The last shall be the first and the humble shall be exalted. 

"Do you wish to raise yourself: Begin by humbling yourself." - St. Augustine

"We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility." - Rabindranath Tagore

"It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Twenty First Sunday of the Year:C: August 21, 2022

                   UNIVERSAL SALVATION !

First Reading: Isaiah 66: 18-21

Second Reading: Hebrews 12: 5-7 and 11-12

Gospel Reading: Luke 13: 22-30

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah speaks about a time of universal salvation. He elaborates that the Lord God is going to gather all nations and language groups into one fold. The Lord God in His goodness, love and mercy wants to gather the dispersed people and bring reconciliation to everyone. Further, the Prophet assures us that people will come to Jerusalem from all nations and they will bring offerings to the Lord God. For priestly duties too, persons will be selected from every nation. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Hebrews. The Apostle explains that every father disciplines his son/daughter. If we are disciplined and chastised by God, it is a sure sign that God treats us as His own children. God trains us, His children through many sufferings  so that we may grow to maturity and reach our goal. Hence discipline, training and perseverance are essential prerequisites of the final glory that we will experience in the future. 

Men will come from east and west.                                                                    Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. One of the listeners questions Jesus regarding the number of people who will be eventually saved. He is obviously anxious to know about his own salvation and the salvation of others. In His reply Jesus exhorts everyone to enter by the narrow door. Then He narrates the parable of a house owner (God) who closed the door (at night) and many desire to enter through that door. They give many reasons so that they could gain admittance: eating and drinking with him, living in his neighbourhood etc. But the Master of that house is not convinced and dismisses them from his presence. Further, Jesus adds that many people from east and west, north and south (universal salvation) will enter the kingdom of God. It is our personal choice whether to enter through the narrow door (difficult life) which leads us to eternal life or to enter through the wide door (easy life) which leads us to eternal damnation. Hence the message is that entering the kingdom of God is not restricted to just a few people but people from every nationality and various communities. The path of Jesus (the narrow door) gives access to the kingdom of God. 

"In our times a lot of Catholics only profess to believe but their deeds are opposed to their belief." - Catherine  H Doherty

"Jesus came to bring integral salvation, one which embraces the whole person and all mankind." - St. John Paul II (Pope)

Twentieth Sunday of the Year: C: August 14, 2022

THE PROPHETIC MISSION OF THE DISCIPLES

First Reading: Jeremiah 38: 4-6 and 8-10

Second Reading: Hebrews 12: 1-4

Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 49-53

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. A detailed description of the persecutions and the many sufferings Jeremiah underwent is given. He is accused of treason by his bitter enemies. They want to destroy him. They put him in a well deep down, covered in mud and water upto his knees. They torture him because he speaks against the injustice, evil and sins committed by the chosen people of God. However the Lord God protects him from all harm. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Hebrews. The Apostle exhorts all Christians to persevere in their faith regardless of the cost. He also encourages them to resist all temptations to sin till the last drop of their blood. 

I came to cast fire on earth.                                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus warns His disciples and all of us that following Him is a very difficult task. It brings division in the life of a believer. So they are called to declare their loyalties and get their priorities right. Discipleship brings division within the family and in the community. Jesus speaks about a divided house: three against two. There will be divisions between father and son, mother and daughter and so on. When we stand for the values of Christ, family ties may get broken and relationships may get strained. Hence a true follower of Christ is a threat - a source of division, a light that shows up in the darkness. Such a person will be opposed by those who want to remain in darkness. Through today's Gospel Jesus exhorts us that as Christians we have to stand up against all evil - all that leads us away from genuine love of God and of neighbour. Jesus demands such a prophetic mission from His disciples. 

"When I give bread to the poor, they call me a saint. But when I ask why the poor have no bread, they call me a communist." - Helder Camera

"If they kill all your priests and bishops, each one of you should become God's microphones, each one of you should become a prophet; I do not believe in death without resurrection." - Blessed Oscar Romero (Martyred Arch Bishop of El Salvadore) 

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year: C: August 7, 2022

     TO HAVE FAITH AND TO BE FAITHFUL

First Reading: Wisdom 18: 6-9

Second Reading: Hebrews 11: 1-2 and 8-19

Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 32-48

  *First reading is from the book of Wisdom. It reminds the people of Israel how the Lord God rescued their ancestors from the slavery of Egypt. The message is one of hope. The author promises that those who put their trust in the Lord God will not be disappointed. The chosen people of God are encouraged to persevere in their faith. Just as the Lord God rescued the people of Israel in the past, He will save those who put their trust in Him. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Hebrews. The Apostle recalls the great and unshakable faith of Abraham. Because of his deep faith in the Lord, Abraham is rightly called the father of faith. The faith of Abraham led him to set out without knowing where he was going. He totally trusted in the providence of  God and looked forward to a city built by God. Hence in the life of Abraham, we have a marvelous and shining example of living faith and total faithfulness to God. 

Many blessings to the faithful servant                                                        Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. In the first part, Jesus tell His disciples and us about the heavenly treasure which cannot be stolen or destroyed. And in the second part, Jesus narrates the parable of the faithful servant who is always found to be watchful whatever may be the time of his Master's return. The Master unexpectedly and without warning comes like a thief who comes at any time of the night. The element of surprise is his weapon. So also the (second) coming of the Lord will happen at a time we least expect. We must be prepared to welcome the Lord whenever he chooses to come. Such a faithful servant will be greatly rewarded by the Master. The Master will put him in charge of all the Master's possessions. But if the servant is found wanting and unfaithful in his attitude, he will receive very severe punishment. Jesus exhorts all of us to take our life seriously and to do our duties faithfully. 

"It is more important to be faithful than to be successful." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

"Only the person who has faith in himself is able to be faithful to others." - Erich Fromm

"Faithfulness is not doing something right once but doing something right, over and over and over and over." - Joyce Meyer