The Feast of the Holy Family: B: December 31, 2023

 THE HOLY FAMILY: A MODEL FAMILY

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 3: 2-6 and 12-14

Second Reading: Colossians 3: 12-21

Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 22-40

   *First reading is from the book of Ecclesiastes. A brief description regarding the obligations of children towards their parents is narrated. Honouring  parents brings great blessings to the offspring. Children are instructed to take care of their parents in their old age with understanding and forbearance. Hence, the commandment of honouring one's father and mother is not merely restricted to obeying them when one is young but also by taking care of them in their old age.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians. Paul gives some practical advices and guidance for an ideal Christian family life. He mentions those great virtues like compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience. Above all these, he says, put on love which is the perfect binding force for the family to be united. He advises husbands not to be harsh with their wives and children. He asks everyone in the family to have mutual respect and genuine concern for one another. These guidelines of Paul are very much applicable even in the twenty-first century. 

Child Jesus is presented in the Jerusalem temple                                               Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. A detailed account of the presentation of Child Jesus in the Jerusalem temple is narrated. We are reminded that the parents of Jesus followed everything that the law commanded them to do. The presence of two benevolent and elderly people is also mentioned: Prophet Simeon and Prophetess Anna get the opportunity to meet the divine Child in the temple. They had lived prayerful lives of faith and hope. They had waited in eager expectation for the Messiah. Being wise and guided by the Holy Spirit, they recognize the moment of grace: The coming of the divine Child in the temple. They are greatly privileged  to hold the divine Child in their arms and give praise and thanks to God for the great blessings they have received as well as for the many blessings for the whole world through this Child. After the purification ceremony, the Holy Family returns to Nazareth to continue their lives in a simple and humble way. The Holy Family is a model for all families in adhering to the will of God in all circumstances of life.

Christmas: B: December 25, 2023

 THE BIRTH OF LORD JESUS, THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

First Reading: Isaiah 9: 1-7

Second Reading: Titus 2: 11-14

Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 1-14

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah speaks about the messianic hope of a saviour who will rescue the people of the Lord God from their bondage. He prophesies that the Child to born will be  a wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of peace. This prophecy of Isaiah finds its fulfilment at the birth of Jesus, the Lord and Saviour of the world. 

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Titus. Paul reminds Titus and us that Christ has been revealed as God's living and loving grace and the salvation of the whole humankind. He encourages us to live sober and righteous lives because God in Christ has brought about salvation for us. 

Silent night, Holy night ........A Saviour is born                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. It gives us a beautiful and touching description about the birth of our Lord Jesus on that holy night at Bethlehem of Judea. It is a story of beautiful Angels, shepherds taking care of their flock, Mother Mary and Child Jesus in the manger. The Christmas story unlike many other stories, is based on a historical event that took place more than 2000 years ago. It is the story about the birth of Jesus in space and time. God's unending love for humankind is deeply and personally expressed in the birth of Jesus the Son of God. His love is inviting all of us to the manger. The Shepherds joyfully respond to the invitation at the first Christmas night. The humble Shepherds are able to meet the Lord and receive His blessings. They pay theirs respects to the divine Child. The Child Jesus in the manger is inviting everyone of us. That night the Angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest! Peace to men of goodwill". 

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

May the divine Child at Bethlehem Bless everyone. 

Fourth Sunday of Advent: B: December 24, 2023

 CHEERFULLY ACCEPTING THE WILL OF GOD

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-6 and 8-16

Second Reading: Romans 16: 25-27

Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 26-28

   *First reading is from the second book of Prophet Samuel. The Lord God reveals His plans regarding King David and his dynasty to Prophet Nathan. David wants to build a house for the Lord God and he consults Prophet Nathan regarding the matter. That night, the Lord God tells Nathan that it will be the Lord God who will build a house for David that lasts forever. By sending His only begotten Son Jesus to be born in David's lineage, the promise of the Lord God finds its fulfillment. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community at Rome and us that God's plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles has come to its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. It is up to us to proclaim that good news to all nations. 

Behold the handmaid of the Lord                                                              Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The annunciation of the birth of Lord Jesus is narrated in detail. The meeting of Mary and Angel Gabriel is an illustration of the living faith of Mary. She unconditionally gives her consent to be the mother of the redeemer though she hardly understood the depth of her 'Yes'. Hence, Mary becomes a special instrument in the hand of God. Mary has a very unique and specific role to play in the salvation history. Mary is asked to put her freedom and her whole person at the service of God and His plans. The difference between Mary and us is not that Mary is chosen while we are not: But rather, it is that she fully consents to be chosen for her role while we remain hesitant and half-hearted in our responses to God. Like Mary, God invites each one of us during this holy season of Advent and addresses us, 'Rejoice, highly favoured for I have chosen you to live a holy and loving life'. Let us positively respond to this invitation of God as we prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus at Christmas. 

"Mary, full of grace, conceived Jesus in her heart before she conceived Him in her womb. She was so attuned to the spiritual that the spiritual readily became physical within her." - St. Augustine

Third Sunday of Advent: B: December 17, 2023

 REJOICE! THE LORD IS COMING

First Reading: Isaiah 61: 1-2 and 10-11

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24

Gospel Reading: John 1: 6-8 and 19-28

   *First reading is from the book of  Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah announces that he has been anointed by the Lord God and he is being sent to bring good news to the poor. He conveys a message of great hope to all those who live in despair and hopelessness. It is the Spirit of God who is present in us that enables us to carry the message of salvation to the poor. At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus quotes this passage from Isaiah to announce the programme of His ministry.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians. Paul urges the Christian community at Thessalonika and all of us that we should always rejoice and pray constantly. We should show our gratitude to God for all the gifts and blessings we have received from Him. We should never despise the spiritual gifts but be earnest in doing good and avoiding evil. In this way we ought to live as we wait for the second coming of the Lord. 

John the Baptist: A witness to the Light                                                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. We meet John the Baptist who makes it abundantly clear that he is not the Messiah. John bore witness to the Light. That Light is Jesus Christ. But what a wonderful witness John is. He witnesses not only with his words but especially through his deeds and a life of total renunciation. When the Light finally appears, John is quite content to fade away from the scene and allows Jesus to take over. This indeed is a wonderful way of witnessing. Today for many people, Christ has become a very dim and distant figure. He is being constantly overshadowed by the powerful electronic media, man's greed and a world constantly projecting itself and slowly making God some kind of an appendix. The words of John the Baptist are very much true today. "There stands one among you whom you don't know." Prophet Isaiah had told long ago, "The Lord has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and to open the prison to those who are bound". This prophecy of Isaiah can become  a reality only when  we become effective witnesses of Christ the Light. Hence, the third week of Advent invites us to be witnesses of Christ the Lord. 

"The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes can see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent;  life is recognizing the coming of the Lord." - Henri Nouwen

Second Sunday of Advent: B: December 10, 2023

AN INVITATION TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD 

First Reading: Isaiah 40: 1-5 and 9-11

Second Reading: 2 Peter 3: 8-14

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 1-8

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah elaborates the great blessings that the Lord God is going to bestow in the lives of His chosen people when they return from their captivity in Babylon. They are urged to prepare the way of the Lord God and make His paths straight. They are to make a highway for the Lord God by leveling the mountains and hills and all uneven grounds. This theme of preparing the way of the Lord is explained and expanded in today's Gospel. 

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Peter. Peter explains to the Christian community about the second coming of Lord Jesus. At His coming, Christ will establish a new heaven and a new earth. For that, we His followers should prepare ourselves by living our lives in holiness and godliness. The Apostle warns us that, if the Lord appears to be slow in coming, it is for the purpose that all people may have a  chance to repent and be ready to meet Him when He comes. 

John the Baptist: The voice of the one crying in the desert                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from  St. Mark. The mission and the life of John the Baptist is introduced and elaborated. John announces the imminent coming of the Saviour. All people are invited to prepare for His coming. Then John introduces Jesus to the people as one sent by God. John works no miracles, holds no office of repute. He is not part of any influential groups of that time. Yet, his importance to Jesus  is very unique. He is the only religious leader whom Jesus sought and spoke with great affection and admiration. He is described as a voice crying in the wilderness. John introduces Jesus as someone who is more powerful than he. John understands that his importance is precisely because of the greatness of Jesus. During this advent John is challenging all of us to prepare the way of the Lord and to foster greatness in others without feeling threatened about our own importance and greatness. John's was a voice crying in the wilderness, a lonely voice that many chose to ignore. In today's world too there are many lonely voices which go unheeded. 

"When you journey through Advent to Christmas, you begin to see Jesus more fully. You recognize that His incarnation was the beginning of the redemption," - Glenn. P

"It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope." -  Pope Benedict XVI

 

First Sunday of Advent: B: December 3, 2023

 WATCH AND PRAY (Preparing for the coming of the Lord)

First Reading: Isaiah 63:16-17 and 64: 1 and 3-8

Second Reading: 1Corinthians 1: 3-9

Gospel Reading: Mark 13: 33-37

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah laments over the sad state of the chosen people of God who had returned from the Babylonian exile. He recalls the past goodness of the Lord God to His people. The Prophet fervently prays that the heavens may rend open and the saviour may soon come among His people. This prayer of Isaiah finds its echo in the liturgy of the holy season of Advent.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul thanks God for all the graces and blessings the Christian community at Corinth received in the past. He earnestly urges them to remain faithful and sinless as they await the return of  Lord Jesus. Paul assures them and all of us that as they/we await the coming of the Lord in glory, the Holy Spirit keeps them/us steadfast in bearing witness to Him.

Stay awake                                                                      Advent marks the beginning of our journey of a new liturgical year. It calls us to wake up and look at our relationship with Jesus our saviour and other humans. We are His servants in whom He has placed His trust.                                                                   Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. We have a short little parable for our reflection. It is about a householder who goes on a long journey. Before departure, he calls his servants and gives each one a job to do. He urges them to be responsible and not to fall asleep. He singles out the doorkeeper and tells him, "When I return, I want to find you awake". Christ's story ends there with that warning ringing in our ears. Let us take this story a little further, concentrating only on the doorkeeper. Perhaps, the greatest danger facing him is not so much that he may fall asleep on the job but rather, it will become just another job and nothing more. A person can get used to anything and complacency follows. It may happen in our lives too. Hence the need  to 'stay awake'. Advent invites us to wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

"Mark the season of Advent by loving  and serving the others with God's own love and concern." -St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"Into this world, this demented inn in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ comes uninvited." -Thomas Merton  

Thirty-fourth Sunday of the Year: A: Feast of Christ the King: November 26, 2023

 JESUS CHRIST, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE

First Reading: Ezekiel 34: 11-12 and 15-17Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26 and 28

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25: 31-46

   *First Reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel portrays the Lord God as a shepherd who cares for the chosen people of God. The Lord God assures the people and us that He seeks the lost and takes care of the injured and the weak in the community. He is their protector and takes care of them from all types of dangers. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Corinth regarding the resurrection of Christ Jesus. He assures them and us that Christ is the conqueror of every authority and power in the world. At the end of times, He will hand-over the Kingdom to the Heavenly Father after destroying the last enemy, that is death. Paul affirms that Christ's resurrection is the proof and the guarantee of our own resurrection from the dead. 

Christ the universal King                                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The last judgement scene is described in great detail. On the judgement day, Jesus comes as a judge and separates the good and the evil. He tells those on His right hand -those who are blessed- 'as you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me'. Those admitted to His kingdom are not people who have done anything special or spectacular in the eyes of the world. The requirements to be part of His Kingdom are very simple and do not go beyond the capacity of any ordinary person. For Christ, the simple human graciousness and charity are ground enough to be joyfully welcomed into the fullness of the Kingdom. Jesus looks upon every kindness done to a person in need, however lowly,  as a kindness done to Himself. Those who are excluded from His Kingdom - those cursed- have brought doom and misery upon themselves because they failed to respond to simple human needs. They stand eternally condemned not because of any violent and heinous crimes but because of their failure to act on the simple human needs of the poor and the needy. Hence, in order to honour our King and Lord, we have to stand with the least and the lost of His brothers and sisters and attend to their needs. 

"The biggest disease in the world today is not leprosy, TB or AIDS but the feeling of being unwanted and uncared for. The greatest evil in the world is lack of love, the terrible indifference towards one's neighbour. What the poor need even more than food, cloths and shelter is to be wanted." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. 

                                       

Thirty-third Sunday of the Year: A: November 19, 2023

 BEING FAITHFUL AND  INDUSTRIOUS IN ONE'S DUTY

First Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20 and 30-31

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25: 14-30

   *First reading is from the book of Proverbs. An ideal wife's qualities are narrated. She is hard-working, a support to the husband and she is always charitable to the poor and the needy. Hence, such a person is more precious and valuable than any jewels that can be acquired. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. Paul exhorts the Christian community at Thessalonica to be always ready for the second coming of the Lord Jesus. It will be unexpected and sudden like that of the coming of a thief at night. He invites the Christians at Thessalonica and all of us that as children of the light, we are to keep awake for the coming of Jesus our Lord and Master. 

The parable of the talents                                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the talents is narrated and explained. In the parable, there are three servants and their Master. The Master gives certain amount of money -'talents'- to all three servants and he goes on a long journey. The first and the second servants are industrious and hard-working. However, the third servant is lazy and a man of excuses. On his return, the Master calls all three servants and asks for an account of the money he had entrusted to them. All of them told the Master how they utilized the money given to them. The Master praises the first and the second servant for their hard work and shrewdness as they multiplied their 'talents' and added returns to their Master. But the third servant is severely chastised for his laziness and lack of resourcefulness as he simply buried the 'talent' given to him and did not let it be productive. Jesus tells this parable to explain to us how we are to make use of our God-given abilities and talents in our daily lives. The parable is certainly not about making money or about accumulating wealth at any cost. Through this parable Jesus is explaining to us about using our precious time and God-given gifts and grow as children of God and as useful members of the society. It is by living that we discover our talents and it is by using them that we grow. In spite of some negative aspects, the parable has a lot of positive and encouraging aspects. Two out of the three servants heard those magic words from the Master: "Well done." To all who are doing their best- to live good lives- the Lord is speaking those same words of encouragement: "Well done, good and faithful servant". Hence, the parable reveals the trust, the confidence and the generosity of God towards each one of us. All of us are invited to respond to it whole-heartedly.

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

Thirty-second Sunday of the Year: A: November 12, 2023

                     BEING WISE AND PRUDENT                                                            (To be part of the Kingdom of God)

First Reading : Wisdom 6: 12-16

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25: 1-19

   *First reading is from the book of Wisdom. Wisdom is personified and praised. The Lord God instructs us that  Wisdom can be found by all those who seek her sincerely. And she is discerned by those who love her. Further, those who are worthy of  Wisdom will find her. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians. Paul consoles the Christian community at Thessalonica who were worried about the fate of their loved ones who died. He assures them and us that God will raise them up as He raised up Jesus Christ. Paul speaks about the second coming of the Lord which will be sudden and unexpected. Only those who have been eagerly waiting for Him and are preparing themselves to meet Him will have the joy of His presence. 

The parable of the ten virgins                                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the ten virgins is narrated and explained to us by Jesus for our reflection and action. A wedding celebration takes place where ten virgins(brides-maids) go to meet the bridegroom with their lamps (as was the custom of the Palestine at that time because the wedding takes place after sunset). Out of the ten, five are foolish who do not take extra oil for their lamps. However, the other five are wise and they take extra oil for their lamps. The bridegroom and party arrive late at night. When the bridegroom arrives, the foolish virgins could not light their lamps because they have no oil with them. As result, they are unable to join the wedding. On the other hand, the wise virgins light up the lamps with the oil they have carried along and they join the celebrations. 1.The parable warns us that there are certain things in the world which cannot be obtained at the last minute as it happened in the case of the foolish virgins.  2. It tells us that we should keep awake and be ready when the Lord comes into our lives - it may be at an unexpected hour. 3. The parable reminds us that there are certain things in life that we cannot borrow. The foolish virgins found it impossible to borrow oil when they needed it most. A person cannot borrow a relationship with God. A person cannot borrow a character. He or she must be clothed with it. Hence, the oil for our heavenly journey has to be acquired by each one. 

"A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool." - William Shakespeare

"Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it." - Harper Lee

"Do not be wise in words, be wise in deeds." - A Jewish Proverb

                                                          

Thirty-first Sunday of the Year: November 5, 2023

              THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY

First Reading: Malachi 1: 14 to 2: 2 and 8-10

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2: 7-9 and 13

Gospel Reading: Matthew 23: 1-12

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Malachi. Malachi severely warns the priests of the land of Israel. He says that the Lord God intends to humble and punish the proud priests for their empty piety, for straying from the true path and for spreading false doctrines. They have turned away from the Lord God and made void the covenant of the Lord God. They stand condemned for their favouritism and for causing divisions and distinctions among the people. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians. Paul reminds the Christian community at Thessalonica of his great love and care for them. He tells them how hard he worked to bring good news to them. He thanks God for their openness to his preaching and instructions. 

Whoever humbles himself will be exalted                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus criticizes the religious leaders: The Pharisees and the Scribes. He accuses them of double standards in their lives. They are pretending to be good but in reality they are far from it. They parade themselves in public; dressed in fancy robes to get the attention of the gullible people. They say long prayers and keep many man-made rules and precepts but fail in love and justice. They are hollow and empty inside. They take every effort to show off their importance and false piety. Jesus sees beneath the appearances and sees the real person as he/she is. A genuine person like Nathaniel is praised by Jesus. But he expresses his dislike for all falsehood and pretensions in people. The words Jesus speaks against the Scribes and the Pharisees are  a warning to us too. The moment we try to be what we are not, we become unreal persons and pretenders. A humble person never tries to be a pretender. That is why Jesus says, "Whoever humbles himself will be exalted".

"Humility is the beginning of wisdom" -Proverb

"If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise or disgrace, because you know what you are." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility." - M. K. Gandhi

"The Lord called me by the way of simplicity and humility." - St. Francis of Assisi

Thirtieth Sunday of the Year: A: October 29, 2023

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

First Reading: Exodus 22: 20-26

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1: 5-10

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 34-40

   *First reading is from the book of Exodus. The Lord God instructs the people of Israel that there should not be any exploitation and discrimination of the weak and the marginalized in the community. The Lord God seriously warns them of the consequences of ignoring His instruction -punishments, even death- if they do injustice to the weaker members of the community.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians. Paul expresses his deep appreciation for the exemplary and praise-worthy behaviour of the Christian community at Thessalonica. They have accepted the word of God in pain and in affliction. But they are great examples for all other Christian communities by always serving the living and true God. 

The love of God and the love of one's neighbour                                               Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The two great commandments of God: The love of God and the love of neighbour are discussed in detail. These two commandments are inseparable as explained by Jesus to a lawyer and all of us. When we love God, it should be seen in our daily lives through our love for our fellow humans. This message of Jesus is beautifully expressed by St. John in his letter. "Anyone who says 'I love God' and hates his brother is a liar". (1Jn. 4:20) Hence, our love for others must flow from the divine fountain: That is, God's love for us. We are enabled to love others because it is God who loves us first and make us capable of loving others. Jesus gives us the following messages: 1. We are asked not just to believe in God but to love God. 2. We are asked not merely to respect our neighbour but to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. Once our life is governed and guided by the love of God and the love of our neighbour, all other laws and precepts become unnecessary and irrelevant. 

"I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds, yet I willingly cure him for the love of God."-St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"If we want to live a life of love of God, we must not fail in our love towards our neighbour." - St. Theresa of Child Jesus

"I am just a little pencil in the hand of God sending a love letter to the world." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta 

Twenty-ninth Sunday of the Year: A: October 22, 2023

           GIVE TO GOD AND TO CAESAR

First Reading: Isaiah 45: 1 and 4-5

Second Reading: Thessalonians 1: 1-5

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 15-23

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Cyrus, the King of Persia, liberated the people of Israel from their exile in Babylon. Isaiah envisages the return of the chosen people from their exile not merely as a sign of the Lord God's love for His people but also as a sign of His lordship over all nations.

    *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians. In his opening lines to the Christian community at Thessalonica, Paul expresses his deep love and concern for them. He acknowledges and praises the Holy Spirit  for all the success he has in His preaching ministry. 

Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's                                                    Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The Pharisees put a tricky question to Jesus: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Jesus cleverly answers this question by showing them a Roman coin and asking them about the image and the inscription on the coin. By His answer, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" , Jesus clarifies to us the need to recognize the two-fold authority: The secular authority and the authority of God. Jesus makes a fine distinction between the two. In most of the countries in the world, there is a complete separation between the religious domain and that of the State. For us Christians, how to live in the world without having conflict between 'Caesar and God' is the question we have to face. There are also so many little 'Caesars' we have to deal with in our daily lives. There is the party, the company, the local community and the personal groups all vying for our loyalty and support. In all these situations, we have to acknowledge and respect the legitimate secular authority at the same time, keeping God's authority in its rightful place. 

"The main problem of the twentieth century: Is it permissible to commit one's conscience to someone else's keeping?" - Solzhenitsyn (a Russian writer)

Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year: A: October 15, 2023

 AN INVITATION TO THE BANQUET OF THE LORD

First Reading: Isaiah 25: 6-10

Second Reading: Philippians 4: 12-14 and 19-20 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 1-14

  *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah speaks of a great banquet prepared for the people by the Lord God on the mountain of the Lord. The imagery of the banquet is used to describe the great and wonderful blessings that the Lord God has in store for the people of Israel and for all nations. It pre-figures the many blessings that will be brought about by the messianic kingdom through Jesus Christ. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul describes his own contentment in all situations in life. While thanking the Christian community at Philippi for supporting him in various ways, Paul expresses his total and unquestionable trust in the Lord Jesus who always strengthens him. 

The parable of the wedding feast                                                             Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the wedding feast is narrated in great details. It is a strange story about a great wedding feast given by a King. The King invites all types of people for his son's wedding. Unfortunately all those invited are not very happy to respond to the King's invitation. We meet four different types of people in the parable. 1. Those people who make light of King's invitation and do not go to the banquet due to various pretexts. They have their own matters to be busy with and eventually, they do not respond to the invitation of the King. 2. There are those who treat the King's servants shamefully and even kill some of them. They are the evil forces who do not accept and recognize God's reign. They try to do away with it at all cost. 3. There are those who are called from the street corners and from the by-lanes. These are the ones who represent all nations and are willing to accept God's kingdom. God is willing to accept everyone to His kingdom without looking at his/her antecedents. 4. There are those who refuse to wear the wedding garment at the banquet. These are the people who after accepting the invitation of God, are unwilling to be part of the privilege they received. They express their unrepentant way of life. The wedding feast symbolizes the heavenly banquet prepared by God for everyone. Not surprisingly, we meet all these types of people in the world today. God is extremely generous in inviting all of us to His banquet. Maybe, we have different reasons to make light of it, totally reject it, or to accept it with an open heart. When we accept God's invitation wholeheartedly and unconditionally, we can receive abundant blessings that only the Almighty can dispense with. 

"I say to you that many will come from east and west and recline at the table with Abraham, Issac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew 8: 11-12

Twenty-seventh Sunday of the Year: A: October 8, 2023

GOD'S PUNISHMENT FOR THE WICKED AND THE UNFAITHFUL

First Reading: Isaiah 5: 1-7

Second Reading: Philippians 4: 6-9

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21: 33-44

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah compares Israel to a vineyard which fails to produce the desired fruits in spite of the vineyard owner's (the Lord God) much care and attention given to it. Sadly, it is destined to become wilderness. Like this vineyard, the Lord God takes much care of His chosen people with utmost diligence. Unfortunately, they produce evil fruits and as a consequence, the Lord God rejects them.

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Philippians. Paul gives examples of the fruits we should produce in the vineyard of the Lord. To enjoy the peace that God has promised in every situation in life, we need to turn to God in prayer of thanksgiving and petitions. 

The parable of the wicked tenants                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The unfaithfulness and the wickedness of the chosen people of God -Israel- is vividly described. The Jews not only rejected the commandments of God but they had the audacity of rejecting Jesus the Son of God. The vineyard owner entrusts his vineyard after equipping the vineyard with every available facilities- hedge, winepress and a tower - everything that would make their task easy and light. After handing over the vineyard to the tenants, the owner goes on a long journey. On his return, the season for the fruits arrives. The owner sends his servants to get his share of the produce. But the wicked men ill-treat them and send them back empty-handed. Finally he sends his beloved son, hoping that those men would respect him and send his share of produce. Instead, those wicked men kill the son and take possession of the vineyard. Finally, the owner of the vineyard has no option other than to drive those wicked men out of his vineyard and he gives the vineyard to other tenants. Although this parable is told about the unfaithfulness of Israel, it has deep significance in our lives too. In spite of God's great love and concern for each one of us, we have been often unfaithful and wicked in our relationship with God and with other humans. The following messages are implied in this parable. 1. The destructive effects of greed and resultant violence against the rights of other humans. 2. The vineyard is the image of God's people. The question we have to ask ourselves is: Are we good tenants or bad ones? 3. Everyone without exception is finally answerable to the owner(Heavenly Father). 

Twenty-sixth Sunday of the Year: A: October 1, 2023

DOING THE WILL OF GOD: NOT IN WORDS BUT IN DEEDS

First Reading: Ezekiel 18: 25-28

Second Reading: Philippians 2: 1-11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21: 28-32

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel instructs the people of Israel and us that  we are responsible for our actions and that the Lord God rewards everyone according to his/her actions. The Lord God is always just. He punishes us if we do evil and rewards us when we turn away from evil and do good. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul instructs the Christian community at Philippi that Jesus humbled Himself and became human and died on the cross for the humankind. Like Jesus every follower of the Lord should do everything with humility and look for the good of others rather than that of one's own. He reminds us that self-seeking actions and rivalry have no place in the life of a Christian. Christ gave us an example of humility and we must imitate Him in our lives. 

The Parable of the two sons                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. It is the story of a father and his two sons. The context of this parable is that the chosen people of God at first said 'Yes' to the Covenant of God. But later, they turn away from following God and reject His commandments. They refuse to accept that Jesus comes from God the Father. Whereas, those who are not among the chosen race - the gentiles and sinners - accept Jesus as the Son of God. In the parable, the father asks both his sons - the elder and the younger- to go and work in the vineyard. The elder son initially says 'No' to the father but he later goes and does the work in the vineyard. The younger son initially says 'Yes" to the father but does not go and do the work in the vineyard. After narrating the parable, Jesus puts a question to His disciples. "Which of these two sons did the father's will?" The answer is obvious. The elder son. Hence Jesus explains to us the need to do the will of the heavenly Father not merely in words but it should be seen in our actions. This parable in some way has overtones about our own lives. We often make promises to God but forget to fulfill them and fail to do the will of God. It is interesting to observe that in the parable, the owner of the vineyard has some work to be done. He does not ask his servants or his hired workers to do that work. He personally asks his sons to do the work in the vineyard. So too, the heavenly Father invites each one of us, His sons and daughters to work in his vineyard. It is up to us to respond to His invitation.

"Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"The basic purpose of prayer is not to bend God's will to mine, but to mold my will into His." - Timothy Keller   

Twenty-fifth Sunday of the Year: A: September 24, 2023

           THE VIRTUE OF GENEROSITY

First Reading: Isaiah 55: 6-9

Second Reading: Philippians 1: 20 and 24-27

Gospel Reading: Matthew 20: 1-16

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah urges the people of Israel to turn away from their evil and sinful ways and return to  the Lord God. He tells them and us that the Lord God's ways are not our ways. The Lord God in His infinite wisdom has His own way of dealing with us that may not be always to our liking. Often we try to shape the ways of the Lord God according to human understanding. It may not correspond to the way of the Lord God who deals with us in various ways.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul expresses his deep conviction that to live for Christ or to die for Christ is the same for him. His only ambition is to proclaim and glorify Christ at all times and be united with Him always. This conviction of Paul should rule the hearts of all who follow the Lord.

The last will be first and the first last                     (Reversal of values in the Kingdom of God)                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the vineyard owner and his generosity to the workers is narrated in detail. The owner of the vineyard gives a day's wages (one denarius) for everyone who worked in his vineyard that day, no matter whether the person worked just one hour (the one who came last) or the person who worked the whole day (one who came first). The owner's generosity makes those who worked the entire day dissatisfied and angry. The question put by the vineyard owner to the disgruntled workers is very relevant: "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?" The parable may seem quite strange and unjust for many of us. Some may even think that the vineyard owner is not understanding the feelings of those who toiled all day in the harsh sun. According to one Biblical scholar, the parable doesn't depict reckless, arbitrary action of the owner, rather, it shows the behaviour of a large-hearted man who is very compassionate, kind and full of sympathy for the poor and the deprived. It is out of pity for their poverty that the owner decided to give them a full day's wages. If not, their families would be starving that day. Through the parable, Jesus is expressing the unlimited goodness, compassion and graciousness of a kind and loving God and not about labour relationships. Often we grudge others who are in some way more favoured by God. Sometimes we are not willing to accept God's unlimited generosity and kindness. Hence, through the parable, Jesus gives us a lesson that it does not matter when we come to the Kingdom of God; early, middle or at the last hour. All that matters is that we are part of His Kingdom. 

"Generosity is giving more than what you can." - Khalil Gibran

"For it is in giving that we receive." _ St. Francis of Assisi

"Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone's day." - R.E. Goodrich

Twenty-fourth Sunday of the Year: A: September 17, 2023

         THE VIRTUE OF FORGIVENESS

First Reading: Sirach 27: 30 to 28: 7

Second Reading: Romans 14: 7-9

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 21-35

   *First reading is from the book of Sirach (Ecclesiastes). Our desire for revenge and vengeance is a human tendency. But our refusal to forgive those who do harm to us and hurt us is unacceptable in the eyes of the Lord God. Such an attitude makes us unworthy of the Lord God's forgiveness and mercy. We can experience the forgiveness  of the Lord God only to the extent we forgive those who do wrong to us. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community in Rome and to us that we live in union with the Lord Jesus so that we become precious in the eyes of God. Our living and our dying as Christians is for the Lord and for others. 

Not seven times but seventy times seven                                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus graphically explains to St. Peter and to all of us the need to forgive un-conditionally. Peter is of the opinion that forgiving his offending brother seven times is being very generous and noble. But Jesus corrects him and tells him that he should forgive not merely seven times but seventy times seven - which means (that he has) to forgive innumerable times. Jesus explains this teaching through the parable of two debtors. It is about a Master and his two servants. The first one owed the Master ten thousand talents. He is asked to pay back the entire amount immediately. Unable to pay such a huge sum, the man pleads for mercy from the Master and the Master out of pity forgives all his debt. A little later, the same man meets a fellow servant who owed him a mere hundred denari. He asks his fellow servant to pay back the entire amount immediately. This man too pleads with him to have mercy and asks pardon. But the first servant does not relent and puts his fellow servant in prison till he paid the entire debt. When the Master comes to know about the un-forgiving attitude of the servant who is a recipient of his mercy, he is extremely upset and angry. Although this servant received forgiveness and mercy from the Master, the same mercy is not shown to his fellow servant. As a result, the Master deals with him very harshly till he paid the whole debt. Hence, forgiving those who have done wrong to us is the pre-condition for us to receive forgiveness and mercy from God. Thus the only obstacle that we can put in the way of God's forgiveness for our sins is our refusal to forgive the sins of other humans. 

"To err is human but to forgive is divine." - Proverb

"Father, forgive them: for they do not know what they are doing." - Luke 23: 24

Twenty-third Sunday of the Year: A: September 10, 2023

 NEED FOR FRATERNAL CORRECTIONS AND RECONCILIATION

First Reading: Ezekiel 33: 7-9

Second Reading: Romans 13: 8-10

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 15-20

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel is asked by the Lord God to be a watchman for the house of Israel. He is given the duty to warn all the wicked people in the land. The instructions given to Ezekiel  by the Lord God are applicable to all the leaders who are chosen to play a prophetic role in the community. He/ she has to speak out against all forms of evil in the community and correct the erring members. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul reminds the Christian community at Rome and us about the pre-eminence of the law of love in all situations in life. He instructs us that the practice of Christian love fulfills all other commandments and prevents a person from doing wrong.  

Healing broken relationships                                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus gives us some important and relevant guidelines regarding the duty of a Christian and the Christian community in correcting an erring member of the community in a gentle and delicate manner. The instructions of Jesus in this context are simple and straight forward. The offended person - not the offending one - should be the first one to seek reconciliation. The Christian community should resolve internal conflicts with one another privately and in a personal manner. The purpose of this open personal meeting is not to humiliate the offending person but to be reconciled with him/her. Hence, this kind of action is to regain the brother or the sister who had a break in relationship. It is solely for restoring the broken relationship and not for denouncing or to put blame on one another. That is why Jesus tells us, "If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." (Matt. 18: 15) In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus assures us His divine and continued presence wherever two or three are gathered in His name. These words of Jesus should encourage us and strengthen us to be part of a caring, forgiving and praying community. 

"The fruits of charity are joy, peace and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction." - St. Augustine

"Today we have to learn all over again that love for the sinner and love for the person who has been harmed are correctly balanced." - Pope Benedict XVI

Twenty-second Sunday of the Year: A: September 3, 2023

                     THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 7-9

Second Reading: Romans 12: 1-2

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 21-27

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah bitterly complains about the painful situation that he is facing: fierce opposition, insults, reproach and derision from the people. He is despised by everyone because he is speaking for the Lord God. Trusting in the power of the Lord God, he pleads that with the help of the Almighty, he be able to continue his mission entrusted to him. 

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul urges the Christian community at Rome and us not to be influenced by the worldly ways of people around them. He pleads with them to live their lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. 

Gaining life and losing life                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In the first part of today's Gospel, Jesus explains to His disciples His impending rejection at Jerusalem and His death on the cross. This revelation shocks the disciples and they cannot accept such a situation. Consequently, Peter and other Apostles protest and try to persuade the Lord: That such an event should never happen to the Lord. Jesus immediately tells Peter, "Get behind me Satan." Jesus tells him not to be a stumbling block to the plan of God. It is surprising that Peter who was earlier praised by the Lord and was assured that he would become the rock on which the Church would be built (Matthew 16:18) turned out to be a stumbling block. What a turn of events! It is a clear warning from the Lord for everyone, especially those who exercise authority in the Church. In the second part of today's Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples the paradox of being His disciples. To be a disciple would imply that he/she should take up one's cross and follow the Lord in the most difficult situations of life. He further instructs that those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for His sake will find it. This is the challenge that Jesus puts before us everyday of our lives. If we put ourselves at the center of our lives, we will fail. But if we put Jesus at the center of our lives we will surely succeed. This is the message that the Lord puts before us to be His authentic and genuine disciples. 

Twenty-first Sunday of the Year: A: August 27, 2023

               THE REAL IDENTITY OF JESUS

First Reading: Isaiah 22: 19-23

Second Reading: Romans 11: 33-37

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 13-20

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah assures the people of Israel that the Lord God will remove the corrupt official Shebna who does not take care of the chosen people. In his place, the Lord God will appoint Eliakim who will take fatherly care of the people of Jerusalem and of Judah. He will rule the people with fairness and justice. Thus the Lord God will bring justice to His chosen people. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community in Rome and us about the inscrutable mystery of God: That He is the creator and the Lord of all that exists. We humans with all our wisdom and human way of understanding are very much limited. We cannot truly comprehend or understand the infinite wisdom of God. 

Who do you say that I am?                                                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus reveals His true identity during His conversation with His disciples. Jesus puts two questions to His disciples. The first question is, "Who do men say that I am?" He is interested to know what the people of that time thought about Him. The answers as expressed by the disciples consist of the following: 'Some say, you are John the Baptist (who has come back to life) or  Prophet Elijah or Prophet Jeremiah or one of the prophets of old.' Hence, the perception of the people in general are limited to the understanding of Jesus as a prophet or as a man of God. Then Jesus puts a second question, a personal one to His disciples. 'Who do you say that I am?' It is a very searching question. Peter immediately speaks up and confesses: 'You are the Christ, the Son of God.' Impressed by this great answer from Peter, Jesus praises him and tells Peter then and there that this confession of faith expressed by him is something extraordinary and it is a revelation from the heavenly Father. Jesus further confirms that Peter will be made the head of the future Church and that he is the rock on which He will build His Church. Today, Jesus puts the same question to each one of us: 'Who do you say that I am?' As He converses with us we could recall some of the faith journeys we had in our lives. Perhaps the image of Jesus in our early stages in life have undergone tremendous transformation. Perhaps as the years have gone by, our faith experiences of Jesus have deepened and strengthened. May be we could also share some of our faith experiences with others as the Apostles did during their lifetime. They faithfully transmitted their faith experiences to the future generations. 

"There are so many religions and each one has its different ways of following God. I follow Christ: Jesus is my God." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"I see Jesus in every human being." -St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Twentieth Sunday of the Year: A: August 20, 2023

 THE PROMISE OF UNIVERSAL SALVATION

First Reading: Isaiah 56: 1 and 6-7

Second Reading: Romans 11: 13-15

Gospel Reading: Matthew 15: 21-28

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah looks beyond the Chosen people and looks to the salvation of all nations and races. He  affirms that the Lord God's salvation is inclusive of all people (everyone) and it is not limited to one's nationality, race or religion. It is open to all who worship the Lord God with sincerity of heart, no matter where they come from. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community at Rome and us that God never ever takes back His call and His gifts. He affirms that in order to receive the gifts of God and to live His call, we need to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. We receive mercy from God by turning away from our sinful ways and by returning to the love of God. 

Jesus heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman                                                   Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. A Canaanite woman approaches Jesus and pleads with Him to heal her daughter from an evil possession. At that time, Jews and Canaanites had a hostile relationship. At first Jesus does not respond to her desperate cries. The disciples plead with Jesus to grand her request because she had become a real headache to them. Jesus then cites the reason for His inaction. His ministry is limited to the Jews. It is not reasonable that the bread of the children is given to the house dogs. He has come to bring back the lost sheep of Israel. However, this woman does not take Jesus' no for an answer. She persists with her request. She humbly accepts her unworthiness to receive such a gift. Her persistent and continuous prayer finally makes Jesus to grant her wish and her daughter is healed. This miracle story illustrates to us the following: 1. We need to be persistent in our prayer even when our prayers are not immediately answered. 2. No one is to be denied of God's love, mercy and healing touch because he or she does not belong to a particular community or a particular religious tradition. 

"God's dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness and for compassion." - Bishop Desmond Tutu

"The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings which are part of one another and all involved in one another." - Thomas Merton

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year: A: August 13, 2023

 CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES: 'IT IS I, DO NOT BE AFRAID'

First Reading: 1 Kings 19: 9 and 11-13

Second Reading: Romans 9: 1-5

Gospel Reading: Matthew 14: 22-33

   *First reading is from the first book of Kings. The sorry plight of Prophet Elijah is described in detail. He is fleeing for his life because his enemies are trying to kill him. When everything seems to be lost, suddenly he hears the voice of the Lord God. The voice of the Lord God comes to him not in a mighty wind or in a powerful earthquake. It comes to him in the gentle breeze. Prophet Elijah's experience of the Lord God should remind us that the Lord God often comes to us in our lives not with powerful and awesome signs but He comes to us in silence and in gentle whispers. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul narrates to the Christian community at Rome and to us about his own sorrows and anguish. His sufferings are due to the fact that his fellow Jews refuse to accept the Lord Jesus as their Messiah. He expresses his willingness to forgo everything he has for the sake of the Jews who are not ready to become sons of God through the mediation of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus walks on the sea                                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. A detailed account of how Jesus miraculously walks on the sea and comes to the disciples who were frightened by the rough sea and the wind is given. Whole day long Jesus had been breaking the Word of God and healing many who were sick and possessed by evil powers. His disciples had gone in a boat to the sea of Galilee. At day break, when it was still dark, Jesus comes to them walking on the sea. The disciples are terrified because they thought they saw a ghost. Jesus immediately assures them, 'Take heart, it is I ; do not be afraid.' In the same way, Jesus assures each one of us who are worried and frightened by the many challenging situations in life, the many visible and the invisible ghosts of this world. When we recognize the Lord and put our trust in Him, we too will become confident and courageous to face many challenging situations in life. In the later part of the Gospel, Peter wants to walk on the water as Jesus does. On his request, the Lord grants him that privilege. However, when he starts to walk on the sea, seeing the rough sea and the waves, he is frightened and begins to sink. He cries for help. Jesus saves him and reproaches him for his lack of faith. Yes, we too can sink to the bottom if we do not focus our lives on Jesus and lose our faith. Jesus' assurance to the disciples is for all of us. He is  ever ready to help us in times of uncertainty and turmoil. 

"Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you." - St. John Paul II (Pope)

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it." - Late Nelson Mandela 

Eighteenth Sunday of the Year: A: The Feast of Transfiguration: August 6, 2023

 TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD JESUS

First Reading: Daniel 7: 9-10 and 13-14

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1: 16-19

Gospel Reading: Matthew 17: 1-9

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Daniel. The (prophetic) vision of Daniel is narrated. In the vision, Daniel sees the Son of man in great glory and power. The Lord God (Ancient of days) gives Him dominion, glory and power over all peoples and kingdoms. This vision is a pre-figuration of the glory of Jesus the Son of God at His transfiguration on Mount Tabor in the presence of His beloved disciples. 

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Peter. Peter affirms that he is an eyewitness to the honour and glory given to Jesus by God the Father. This is confirmed by the voice from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." This eyewitness account of St. Peter is for all of us who were not part of the transfiguration event at that time. But now we are invited to be part of that glorious event which took place on mount Tabor.

This is my beloved Son                                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The transfiguration of Jesus, which took place on a mountain is narrated in detail. Jesus takes three of His disciples: Peter, James and John on a high mountain and there He is transfigured. As a result, Jesus' face shines like the Sun and His clothes become white as light - indicating that something extra-ordinary and heavenly is happening to Jesus. At the time of transfiguration, Moses and Elijah - two of the towering personalities of Old Testament - appear and converse with Jesus. This signifies that Jesus' mission has the approval of those two great men of old. As He speaks with Moses and Elijah, they are overshadowed by a bright cloud. A voice from the cloud proclaims, "This my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." The presence of the cloud and the voice signifies the presence of the Heavenly Father, approving the mission of Jesus. Subsequently, the disciples are terrified and fall on their faces - indicating that they are in the presence of the divine. Finally, Jesus reassures the disciples and tells them, "Rise and have no fear." This is much like the assurance given to the disciples by the risen Lord at the resurrection experiences. This heavenly experience is granted to the disciples in order to strengthen their faith in Lord and meet various challenges in their future mission. The feast of transfiguration is celebrated by the Church to strengthen our faith in the Lord especially in times of doubts and challenges in our lives. The messages of Transfiguration of the Lord: 1. Jesus is not merely human. He is indeed the Son of God. 2. The heavenly Father blesses and approves His mission in the world. 3. Like the three disciples, we too can experience the transfiguration experience if we are united with the Lord.

"It is indeed good to be here, as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever. What greater happiness or higher honour could we have than to be with God and to be made like him and to live in his light." - Bishop Anastasius of Sinai (on transfiguration of the Lord)

Seventeenth Sunday of the Year: A; July 30, 2023

 THE HIDDEN TREASURES : THE DISCOVERY OF FAITH

First Reading: 1 Kings 3: 5 and 7-12

Second Reading: Romans 8: 28-30

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13: 44-52

   *First reading is from the first book of Kings. A detailed narration about the Wisdom of the Lord God is given. The Lord God is pleased with King Solomon. He is ready to grant any favour that the King asks for. King Solomon humbles himself before the Lord God. He requests the Lord God to give him wisdom that he may know what is right and wrong. The King makes the right choice by asking for discernment so that he is able to make right judgement to rule his people. He realizes the relative values of the things of this world. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul gives the Christian community at Rome and us the comforting message that for Christians all things in life - the painful and the difficult ones as well as the happy ones - work for our good. He encourages us that God enables us to love Him wholeheartedly and when we thus become God's beloved, He will protect us and bless us in all things in life. 

The parables of the Kingdom                                                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Through three parables, Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of God. 1. Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a treasure hidden in a field. By chance, a person finds it and he goes and sells all that he has and purchases that field. This parable instructs us that possessing the Kingdom of God is of more value than anything we have in the world and we must make every effort to possess it. 2. Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a merchant in search of very precious pearls. After much search, finally he finds one of great value. He sells all that he has and buys that precious pearl. As above, Jesus suggests that the Kingdom of God is the finest and the most valuable of all possessions in the world. Hence, we must make every effort to posses it. 3. Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a net cast into the sea.Both good and bad fish are caught in the net. When the net is brought ashore, useful ones are collected in baskets. However, the useless ones are thrown back into the sea. Jesus warns us that it will be so at the end of times. The good and the bad will be separated. The Lord allows everyone to come into His presence (net) but those who do not follow His teachings (useless ones) will be left out of His Kingdom. These three parables graphically explain to us the different ways of discovering faith: By chance, by diligent search and by careful discernment. Hence, the discovery of faith is a wonderful experience like finding a treasure in a field, searching for a precious pearl or even like casting a net into the sea.

"The Kingdom of heaven is worth infinitely more than the cost of discipleship and those who know where the treasurer lies joyfully abandon everything else to secure it." - D.A. Carson

Sixteenth Sunday of the Year: A: July 23, 2023

 THE GOD OF PATIENCE AND OF TOLERANCE

First Reading: Wisdom 12: 13 and 16-19

Second Reading: Romans 8: 26-27

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13: 24-42

   *First reading is from the book of Wisdom. The Lord God is the only one who has both knowledge and the power to root out evil as He desires. The Lord God's punishments are not to be seen as a weakness but rather, He wants to bring the godless and the evil people into repentance. We need to learn from the Lord God who always judges with  great patience. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul expresses the fact that when we pray, sometimes we are unable to express ourselves with appropriate words. He assures us that although we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us and intercedes for us to find the will of God. He instructs us that the Holy Spirit enables us to transcend our human nature. 

The parable of the wheat and the weeds (co-existence of good and evil in the world)                                                              Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the wheat and the darnel (weeds) is narrated in great details. Jesus speaks of a real life situation in the world. We know from our past experiences that good and evil co-exist in the world. The question often asked by many people is, how is that God allows good and evil to co-exist and grow in world ? Jesus explains to His disciples and us that it is similar to a field in which the wheat and the weeds grow side by side. Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a farmer who has a difficult problem to deal with. Although he sowed wheat during the sowing season, the field is filled with both wheat and poisonous weeds (darnel) which cannot be distinguished from the wheat at the initial stages of growth. Only when the plants grow to a certain stage, they can be identified. The servants of the farmer are very eager to weed out the darnel. But the farmer disagrees with them and refuses their request. He is concerned that while uprooting the weeds, wheat plants too may get damaged or destroyed. So he allows both of them to grow till the harvest time. It is a fact that we too live in a mix of good and evil - the wheat and the weeds, light and darkness,  grace and sin. God in His great providence is tolerant and patient with us and allows us to grow in the world. If we turn out to be wheat, we will be part of God's loving plan. But if we turn out to be weeds, then violent uprooting and destruction can take place. 

"Even in these high seats, there is both wheat and weeds. Let the good tolerate the bad but the bad change themselves and imitate the good." - St. Augustine

"The Church should let dissent grow with orthodoxy until the Lord comes to separate and judge them." - Bishop Wazzo of Liege

Fifteenth Sunday of the Year: A: July 16, 2023

 FRUITFULNESS OF THE WORD OF GOD

First Reading: Isaiah 55: 10-11

Second Reading: Romans 8: 18-23

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13: 1-23

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah tells the people of Israel and us that the Lord God cares for the earth by sending rains in due season to make it fruitful. In the same manner, He sends His Word so that it may bring forth fruits in our lives. Isaiah assures us that the Word of God will not be empty but will surely accomplish its desired purpose. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community at Rome and all of us that the glory which awaits us in the next life far outweighs all the sufferings and the pains we endure at the present times. Further, he assures us that the whole of creation is eagerly waiting for the liberation and glory which will be accomplished through Christ. In Christ all of us have become adopted sons and daughters and hence we will receive redemption of our mortal bodies. 

The parable of the Sower                                                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus gives a very powerful message about the fruitfulness of the Word of God through the parable of the Sower. Jesus compares the Word of God to the seeds that are sown in a field. In the first instance, some seeds fall on the pathways. In the second instance, some seeds fall on rocky ground. And in the third instance, some seeds fall on thorny bushes. In all the three situations, the seeds fail to produce the desired results due to various reasons. But in the final instance, some seeds fall on good soil and they produce fruits : Some thirty, some sixty and some hundred fold. Jesus narrates this parable to His listeners and us to instruct them/us how the Word of God affects different types of people in the world. In the later part of the Gospel, Jesus explains this parable to His disciples. He highlights four different responses to the Word. As for those who hear the Word of God and do not understand it and the evil one comes and destroys it: They are like those seeds that fall on the roadside. There are people who hear the Word of God and receive it with joy but when trials and difficulties come their way, they give up following the Word: They are like those seeds that fall on rocky ground and fail to produce the desired results. There are also people who listen to the Word of God but cares of the world choke them and they too fail to produce the desired results : They are like the seeds that fall among thorny bushes. Finally, there are people who hear the Word of God, they accept it and gladly put it into practice in their daily lives: They are like seeds that fall on good soil eventually producing the desired results. The theme of Jesus' parable has its echoes in the first reading from the book of Prophet Isaiah that the Word of God is fruitful and will accomplish its purpose. In this context, it is worth noting that many great and beautiful works had very humble beginnings like the tiny seeds that fall on soil.

"It is not always granted to the Sower to live to see the harvest. All work that is worth anything is done in faith." - Albert Schweitzer

Fourteenth Sunday of the Year: A: July 9, 2023

 AN INVITATION OF JESUS TO REST A WHILE

First Reading: Zechariah 9: 9-10

Second Reading: Romans 8: 9 and 11-13

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11: 25-30

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Zechariah. Zechariah urges the people of Israel to rejoice because their promised leader - the Messiah - is coming. The Messiah is not coming as a proud warrior but he is full of humility. He is victorious but peace-loving. He is triumphant yet very humble. This prophecy of Zechariah finds its fulfillment in the person Jesus. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community at Rome and all of us that we have Holy Spirit living in us. He further clarifies that authentic and genuine Christian life is lived in union with the Spirit of Christ and it results in the fullness of life. He warns us that a sinful and sensual life is a living death and results in the destruction of the divine life in us. 

Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus lovingly invites everyone who is humble, gentle and are overburdened to have rest in His caring presence. All of us in some way are burdened due to various life situations and worries. Jesus is the embodiment of the heavenly Father's goodness. All those who follow Him finds true rest and reassurance that He alone can dispense with. 'Come to me'  is a great invitation of Jesus which is totally open to everyone of us-in various age groups and all classes of people in the society. It is an invitation to all people: Those working, the struggling, the oppressed and the persecuted. It is an invitation to those who do manual works or intellectual works. Jesus offers true rest to everyone no matter who we are  or what we do. We all get weakened, tired and enfeebled. Rest is a universal need: We need physical, mental and spiritual rest for our true growth. Jesus is always ready to give us that rest. 

"Lord, you have made our hearts for you and they are restless until they rest in you." - St. Augustine

"We find rest in those we love and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those who love us." - St. Bernard Clairaux

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Thirteenth Sunday of the Year: A: July 2, 2023

 GOD REWARDS A GRACEFUL GIVER

 First Reading: 2 Kings 4: 8-11 and 14-16

Second Reading: Romans 6: 3-4 and 8-11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10: 37-42

  *First reading is from the second book of Kings. The hospitality of a  woman of Shunem is described. When Prophet Elisha passes through the countryside of Shunem, a woman recognizes him as a man of God. She shows great hospitality by giving him food and drink. Later, she makes arrangements for his comfortable stay in her home during his visits. The Lord God is pleased by her generosity and promised her a son whom she had awaited for many years. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community at Rome and us about the meaning of baptism and its significance in the life of a Christian. To be baptized in the name of Jesus means that through the grace and power of the risen Lord, we are dead to sin and we live in holiness with Him. 

He who receives  you receives me                                                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The first part of the Gospel passage speaks about the necessity of following Jesus even to the point of death. In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the great virtue of hospitality in the life of a follower of the Lord. Jesus' demands from His would be followers are rather harsh. He demands threefold renunciation from them. 1. He who loves father or mother more than Him is not worthy of Him. 2. He who loves son or daughter more than Him is not worthy to follow Him. 4. He who does not take up his cross and follow Him is not worthy of Him. Certainly we need to love our parents and our near and dear ones. But Jesus makes it absolutely clear that this love of others and of oneself should never be at the cost of loving God. Love of God should take precedence over all our other priorities. Jesus promises His would-be followers that the hospitality and the generosity shown to them by anyone will be suitably rewarded - even if that be a glass of water (to His disciples). 

"God loves a cheerful giver." - 1 Corinthians 9:7

"For the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6: 38

"God will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conducts their affairs with justice". - Psalm 112: 5 

Twelfth Sunday of the Year: A: June 25, 2023

 THE CALL TO FEARLESS AND COURAGEOUS DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 10-13

Second Reading: Romans 5: 12-15

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10: 26-33

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah expresses his anguish and pain to the Lord God. When surrounded by enemies and faced with terror from every side, he places his total trust in the Lord God. He is convinced that the Lord God is always on his side. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community at Rome and us that sin and death came through Adam the first man. However, freedom and life come through Jesus the second Adam. 

Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus assures His protection and asks His disciples to be fearless and courageous when faced with rejection and opposition. Jesus clarifies some important matters to His disciples: 1. The message of Jesus is not to be hidden but to be proclaimed publicly - 'on house tops'. 2. The disciples are not to be afraid of those who kill the body but rather be cautious of those who can kill the soul. 3. Even a tiny sparrow is under the protection of God. We are of more value than many sparrows. If so, we should realize that God is in control of our lives and nothing happens to us without His knowledge. 4. Those who openly acknowledge Jesus and His message will be acknowledged by the heavenly Father. Hence, fearless witnessing to Christ and His message makes us worthy of eternal reward. To respond to Jesus' invitation wholeheartedly needs great faith and confidence in the Lord. Jesus does not want His disciples to be members of a cowardly Church or a faithless community. He wants each one of us His followers to stand up and be counted for our faith in Him. 

"My job seems to be to go around picking up insults and corpses." - St. Oscar Romero, late Archbishop of El Salvador

"I really fear that most of those who call themselves Christians would go on almost as they do, if they believed Christianity to be nothing more than a fable." - Bl. Cardinal Newman

"Keeping silent in the face of injustice is as DEADLY as the violence itself." - Jimmy Carter, Former President of USA

Eleventh Sunday of the Year: A: June 18, 2023

 THE COMPASSIONATE AND CARING JESUS

First Reading: Exodus 19: 2-6

Second Reading: Romans 5: 6-11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 9: 36 to 10: 8

   *First reading is from the Book of Exodus. Moses meets the Lord God on a mountain. The Lord God reminds the people of Israel how He protected them from the Egyptians and brought them out of the slavery of Egypt. He asks them to keep the Covenant and obey the voice of the Lord God at all times to live as a people pleasing to the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community at Rome and us that the death of Jesus is a sign of God's great love for us. God's love manifests itself in power in order to overcome human weakness, sin and godlessness. Now we are all reconciled to God by the death of His beloved Son Jesus Christ and are saved by Him. 

The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus sees the great crowds and He has deep compassion for them. He notices that they are helpless and lack purpose in life - 'like sheep without a shepherd'. He realizes the need for labourers to reap the harvest - bringing the lost and broken people to His fold. In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus summons His twelve Apostles and gives them authority over unclean spirits, to cure every disease and every sickness. The names of the twelve are mentioned. Finally, Jesus instructs the twelve and sends them out to preach, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cleanse the lepers and to cast out demons. They are asked to limit their missionary activities to the lost sheep of Israel: The time will come when they can go to others. Jesus makes it very clear that their mission of preaching and healing is not for any profit motives: 'You received without pay, give without pay'. Everyone of us - His followers- is called to be part of this great mission of Jesus without looking for financial gains and other favours in return. 

The Feast of Corpus Christi : A: June 11, 2023

 JESUS, THE LIVING BREAD FROM HEAVEN

First Reading: Deuteronomy 8: 2-3 and 14-16

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17

Gospel Reading: John 6: 51-58

   *First reading is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses reminds the people of Israel to acknowledge the Lord God's saving power which accompanied them throughout their journey to the promised land. He exhorts them to remember that they are Lord God's own people and they need to nourish themselves on His Word. However the Lord God tests them in the wilderness. He makes them hungry for food so that they may realize that the Word of God is more important and nourishing than mere perishable food. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Corinth and to us how the participation in the Eucharistic celebration can become a source of strength to Christian solidarity and oneness. As food and drink nourish the body, so the body and blood of Christ nourish us spiritually. As a result of receiving the body and blood of Jesus through the Holy Communion, an intimate union between Christ and the recipient takes place. 

Life-giving presence of Jesus in the Eucharist                                                        Today's Gospel reading is from St. John Chapter 6, which has elaborate descriptions of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Jesus explains to His disciples and other Jews that to be a part of Him, it is essential that they eat His body and drink His blood. He affirms that He is the living bread that has come down from heaven which alone gives eternal life. Listening to this strange teaching of Jesus, many of the Jews who were His followers till that time take offence and no longer follow Him. Because, for a Jew to eat the body and drink the blood of another person is totally unacceptable and unthinkable. Yet, Jesus firmly affirms this teaching on Eucharist. Later at the last supper, Jesus ratifies His teaching on Eucharist by offering His body and His blood as food and drink to His disciples. The feast of Corpus Christi recalls to our mind all that Jesus did to give His own life for us, especially by sharing His body and blood. It signifies the totality of His self-gift to all His followers. The Eucharistic celebration implies serious challenges and obligations for everyone of us Christians. More than mere participation, it demands a Christ-like life from His followers. 

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

"And just as He appeared before the holy Apostles in true flesh, so now he has us see Him in the sacred bread." - St. Francis of Assisi

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