Thirty-first Sunday of the Year:C: October 30, 2022

       THE INFINITE LOVE OF GOD

First Reading: Wisdom 11: 22 to 12: 2

Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-22

Gospel Reading: Luke 19: 1-10

   *First reading is from the book of Wisdom. The greatness and love of the Lord God towards the whole creation is narrated. It was out of love that the Lord God created the world and everything in it. Therefore He does not desire the destruction of the world or the death of humankind. The Lord God is always ready to pardon the sins of those who repent and return to Him. 

   *Second reading is from the Second letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians. Paul urges the Christians in Thessalonica to be worthy of their call. He assures them that God will help them to be true to it. Paul explains to them that their salvation would be glory both for them and for Jesus Christ. At the same time, he asks them not to be too anxious about the second coming of the Lord. He pleads with them to continue to live a good Christian life everyday allowing God to work in their lives.

Jesus meets Zacchaeus the tax collector                                                                    Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. A graphic description about Jesus meeting Zacchaeus the tax collector of Jericho is narrated. After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus responds to the invitation of Jesus in a wholehearted way. That day in Jericho, there are large crowds. On inquiry Zacchaeus comes to know that Jesus of Nazareth the miracle worker is passing by. He desires to see Jesus just once - it is a chance of a life time. Since he is short in stature, he climbs a sycamore tree on the road side and sits on one of the branches. Jesus along with His disciples comes that way. The most unexpected and amazing thing happens in the life of this little rich man. Jesus looks up and says, "Zacchaeus, come down, for I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus is very thrilled but he is also confused. So he comes down from the tree and takes Jesus to his house. Till that meeting with Jesus, Zacchaeus only desired for money and more of it. But that chance encounter with the Lord changes everything in his life. He knows very well that all the riches he has amassed are done dishonestly. So he gives half of what he owns to the poor and declares that he would repay fourfold anyone he cheated. Jesus' presence totally and irrevocably changes this man. No wonder Jesus told him, "Today salvation has come to this house." Today the Lord is passing by and inviting each one of us to come down from the tree (we sit on). Let nothing stand between us and Jesus. 

"The first step in a person's salvation is knowledge of his sin." - L.A. Seneca

"Human salvation demands the divine disclosure of truths surpassing reason." - St. Thomas Aquinas

Thirtieth Sunday of the Year: C: Mission Sunday: October 23, 2022

                                 THE MISSION

The celebration of the Mission Sunday is a reminder for all of us regarding our duty to live our faith and to share it with others.

First Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6

Second Reading: Romans 10: 9-18

Gospel Reading: Matthew 28: 16-20

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah speaks about the light that has come to Israel when the whole world is in darkness. Nations and Kings will come to Israel to see this light. The prophecy of Isaiah finds its fulfillment in Jesus the true light.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul emphatically states that believing in Jesus and professing that He is the Lord is necessary for our salvation. Others can come to faith in Jesus only if there are people to preach the message of Christ to them. Paul reminds all Christians to preach the message of Jesus to non-believers so that everyone can be saved. 

Preach the Gospel to all nations                                                                               Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The mission command of Jesus to His disciples is narrated. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gives His mission command to the disciples. They are asked to go to all nations:To preach and to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes it imperative for all His disciples to preach to all nations. Hence by this command the Lord removes all obstacles and distinction between Jews and people of other nations so that everyone can be part of His heavenly Kingdom. The Lord thus commands His disciples to go to a distance in order to spread the good news in every part of the world. Thus the prophecy of Isaiah (49:6) 'I shall make you a light to all nations so that my salvation may reach the remotest corners of earth' comes to fulfillment. Hence it is the duty of every Christian to continue the mission entrusted to the disciples by the Lord Jesus. On this Mission Sunday, the Church reminds all members about this sacred duty so that everyone will come to know that Jesus is indeed the saviour of the world. In the final section to today's Gospel Jesus promises His abiding presence with His disciples till the end of times. 

"The Church by its very nature is missionary." - Vatican II (AD2)

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." - St. Francis Assisi

"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." - M.K. Gandhi

Twenty Nineth Sunday of the Year: C: October 16, 2022

           PERSEVERANCE  IN PRAYER

First Reading: Exodus 17: 8-13

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3: 14 to 14:2

Gospel Reading: Luke 18: 1-8

   * First reading is from the book of Exodus. This is a description about the first battle fought by Israelites after their deliverance from Egypt. Joshua and the men of Israel are at war with Amalek. During the time of the war Moses, Aron and Hur prays for the victory of Israel. Moses prays to the Lord God with outstretched hands. Aaron and Hur support Moses to pray with persistence and eventually Joshua wins the war with Amalek. Hence Moses' prayer plays a key role in giving the Israelites their victory. 

   *Second reading is from the Second letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Paul instructs Timothy that all Scripture is inspired by God and to be used profitably for teaching, reproof, for correction and for training. He urges Timothy to preach the Word of God in season and out of season and to be zealous in preaching the message of Jesus always. 

The persistence of a widow                                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus explains to His disciples the need to be persevering in our prayers. He teaches them through a parable: The parable of the unjust Judge and a poor widow. This woman approaches the Judge on several occasions for justice against her adversary. The Judge refused to listen to her and to do anything about her complaints. But due to her persistence, the Judge finally decides to give her justice. Using this parable, Jesus teaches His disciples and us that we are not to lose heart when we pray to God and do not receive what we ask for. We have to be persistent in our plea to God. He assures us that God will certainly give justice to His elect who cry to Him day and night. We should try to end all our prayers with the perfect prayer: 'Thy will be done.' Let us continue to pray but leave the result to God. 

"Prayer is the oil that keeps the lamp of faith burning brightly." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"Prayer helped me through every crisis. But I had to purify my prayer and remove from it all elements of self-seeking. I learned even to pray for my interrogators." -Walter Ciszek SJ (A Jesuit priest who spent 23 years in a concentration camp in Siberia)

Twenty Eighth Sunday of the Year: C: October 9, 2022

                THE VIRTUE OF GRATITUDE

First Reading: 2 Kings 5: 14-17

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2: 8-13

Gospel Reading: Luke 17: 11-19

   *First reading is from the second book of Kings. We have the story of Naaman the commander of the Syrian Army who was a leper. He comes to know from his servant girl that there is a great prophet in Israel who can heal him from his leprosy. He comes to Prophet Elisha to be healed from his ailment. Elisha instructs him to wash himself seven times in the river Jordan. After much hesitation and persuasion from his servants, he washes himself in Jordan and is healed from his leprosy by the mighty power of the Lord God of Israel. As a result, Naaman expresses his faith in the Lord God. He is full of gratitude to Elisha and the Lord God. Through this miracle, the Lord God extends His healing touch to the people of other religious and cultural traditions. 

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Paul exhorts Timothy to carry on the mission entrusted to him for the sake of the Gospel and for Jesus Christ. Timothy is reminded that preaching the Gospel will not be easy. It will bring much hardships, opposition and persecution.

Gratitude of the Samaritan leper                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The healing of ten lepers by Jesus is narrated in detail. After being healed by the Lord, only one man, a Samaritan returns to thank Him. Jesus is surprised by their response. So He asks the one who came back, "Were not ten healed? Where are the other nine?". In fact, all the ten are healed by the Lord. But except this Samaritan, none of the others returns to thank Him. Their skin is healed but for the rest, it all remains the same. We do not know the reason why the other nine fail to show their gratitude to the Lord. This incident should help us to look into our own lives and ask why we are often found wanting to thank the Lord for the many blessings we have received and our failure to thank someone who did a favour to us in the past. Expressing gratitude and being thankful is a great virtue and should be practiced consciously. Whatever may be the reasons for our lack of gratitude, it diminishes us and those who help us. As someone said,"Ingratitude makes the bill for helping people hard to pick up." THANK YOU LORD, FOR ALL YOUR BOUNDLESS BLESSINGS. A prayer of thanks: "Thank you Lord that I can see, so many are blind. Thank you Lord that I can hear, so many are deaf. Thank you Lord that I can walk, so many are crippled. Thank you Lord that I have food, so many are hungry. Thank you Lord that I have shelter, so many are homeless. Thank you Lord for the friendship, so many are lonely. Help me Lord always to be grateful."

"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." - G.K. Chesterton

"Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all virtues." - M.T. Cicero

"In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer