Palm Sunday :A: April 2, 2023

THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM

Gospel for procession: Matthew 21: 1-11

First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7

Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 26: 14 to 27: 66

Today we commemorate the Lord's triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem. Jesus enters the city to fulfill God's plan of salvation culminating in His suffering and death on the cross.

   *Gospel for procession: A detailed narration of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem is given. Jesus goes to the city not as a conquering King but as a gentle and humble bearer of the good news, traveling on a donkey. People in the city enthusiastically welcome Him with much gladness and gaiety. They joyfully sing 'Hosanna to the Son of God'. 

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah speaks of his own sufferings in order to carry out the mission entrusted to him by the Lord God. In spite of his numerous sufferings Isaiah is sustained by the firm belief that the Lord God would not abandon him. Sufferings of Isaiah are a pre-figuration of the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul tells us that although Jesus is God, He takes on Himself human condition and accepts death on the cross. So God the Father raises Him up and makes Him the Lord of heaven and earth.

The passion and sufferings of Jesus                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. A detailed account of the passion and sufferings of the Lord Jesus is given. How the prophecies of the scriptures are fulfilled in Jesus is emphasized. It is amazing to observe that perfectly religious and sane people are capable of siding with the evil or doing evil in certain situations. This is very much evident from the happenings on Good Friday, when the people who are apparently righteous put Jesus to death or collude with the people who do the heinous crime. We meet the following people in the Gospel today. 1. The Pharisees: These are austere and religious men who devote all their energy for religion and have a good knowledge of the law. They are very sure of their righteousness which leads them to evil. 2. Caiaphas: A man who upholds religious orthodoxy and does not want anyone to oppose it. 3. Pilate: A man who only thinks about his own chair. He fully knows that Jesus is innocent. Yet he condemns Him because he is afraid of the Jewish authorities. 4. Judas: A disappointed and disillusioned man who thinks it is not wrong to betray his master. 5. Peter: A weak and cowardly man. To protect his skin, he is ready to disown his master.                                                                          Holy week is the time to look at ourselves and find out where we stand in this drama of the passion of the Lord. It is always easy to condemn others and throw stones at Judas, Peter, Caiaphas, Pilate and the Pharisees. 

"Palm Sunday tells us that it is the Cross that is the true tree of life." - Late Pope Benedict XIV

"Palm Sunday is like a glimpse of Easter. It is a little bit joyful after being somber during Lent." - L. Gele

"It is Palm Sunday and so begins our journey with Jesus from Jerusalem's gate to Golgotha's Cross to Easter's triumph." - Anon

Fifth Sunday of Lent: A: March 26, 2023

                      FROM DEATH TO LIFE

First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 12-14

Second Reading: Romans 8: 8-11

Gospel Reading: John 11: 1-45

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel assures the people of Israel who are under the slavery of Babylon that the Lord God will restore them from their slavery and misery. He compares their captivity in terms of death and that of their liberation and return home, in terms of resurrection and spiritual renewal. He promises them that they will know and experience Yahweh as their Lord and Saviour. 

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Romans. Paul reminds the Christian community in Rome and all of us that those who live according to the flesh live in accordance with their natural inclinations. But we are in the Holy Spirit and hence belong to Christ. Paul further assures us that it was the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. The same Spirit lives in us. So the Spirit of God will give life to our mortal bodies. 

I am the resurrection and the life                                                                        Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. A vivid account of the death of Lazarus and subsequently how Jesus raises him from the dead is given. This miracle is the seventh and the most spectacular of the signs performed by Jesus, which includes: the wedding feast at Caana, woman at the well, the healing of the royal official's son, the miracle of five loaves, walking on the water, healing of the blind man and finally, raising of Lazarus (from the dead). By the time Jesus arrives at Bethany, Lazarus was truly dead and buried for many days. Martha voices her regret that if Jesus had come early, things would have been different. But Jesus' absence is very essential to the whole story. Jesus explains that through the death of Lazarus, "the Son of Man will be glorified". Death of Lazarus serves to show that Jesus is the life giver. The name Lazarus means helpless. He is dead, lifeless in the tomb with a stone in front and the smell of decay inside. This is the state of Lazarus before being raised to life. Jesus wants us to step out of our tombs. When Martha tells Jesus that she knows her brother will rise again at the resurrection, Jesus assures her, "I am the resurrection and the life". When Jesus becomes the mainstay of our lives, we can experience resurrection here and now. Jesus is the Lord of life. If we believe in Him, death is something that only affects our physical bodies. We will still live even after our physical lives are over. For the last three years we are experiencing death culture due to covid-19 infections and consequent deaths all over the world. Today's Gospel reassures us that death is not the end. It should help us to overcome our pains and frustrations just like Martha and Mary when Lazarus died and was buried but subsequently brought  back to life by Jesus that day. 

"While the resurrection promises us a new and perfect life in the future, God loves us too much to leave us alone to contend with the pain, guilt and loneliness of our present life." - J. Macdowell

"He alone can believe in immortality who feels the resurrection in him already." - F.W. Roberts

"Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every coming together again a foretaste of the resurrection." - A. Schopenhauer

Fourth Sunday of Lent: A: March 19, 2023

                    THE TRUE VISION

First Reading : 1 Samuel 16: 1 and 6-7 and 10-13

Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 8-14

Gospel Reading: John 9: 1-41

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Samuel. The Lord God asks Prophet Samuel to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be the King of Israel. The Lord God chooses David, the youngest of the sons of Jesse to be the King, although Samuel thinks better of the other sons of Jesse. It is a fact that the Lord God chooses the weak, makes them strong and works through them to manifest His power and glory. When we humans look at appearances, the Lord God looks at the very heart of a person and makes His choice. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul reminds the Christian community at Ephesus that although once they were in darkness but now, they are in the light of the Lord. Hence as children of light, they should bear fruits of the light and they should not take part in the unfruitful works of darkness. 

Gaining vision and losing vision                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The healing of a man born blind is narrated in great details. This man approached many doctors and healers of that time to be healed. But none of them could heal him. Finally, he approaches Jesus to be healed of his blindness. Jesus, knowing his desperate condition, makes a paste and applies it to his eyes and asks the blind man to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam.  He does as told by Jesus and eventually he is able to see everything. The  blind man receives physical vision which is followed by a deeper vision of Jesus, as the story unfolds. The healing takes place on a Sabbath. When the Pharisees question the man born blind regarding his gaining sight, he explains to them the healing process. Gradually, his own vision of Jesus becomes more and more clear. At first he says, 'A man called Jesus healed me'. When further questioned, he says, 'He is a prophet'. When they try to intimidate him, he says to the Pharisees, ' Unless this man came from God, he would not be able to do such a miracle'. Later when Jesus asks him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?", he declares, "Lord I believe", and kneels before Him and worships Him. The man born blind has a radical transformation regarding Jesus whereas the Pharisees, although has physical vision become more and more blind and lose their true vision. The story of the man born blind has a deep significance for us too. At first we meet the  Lord 'as a man called Jesus'. Then the realization comes to us that 'he has come from God'. Finally we accept and acknowledge that 'He is the Saviour and Lord of our lives'. Lent is the time for us to have a deeper experience of the Lord Jesus and to get in touch with the divine. 

"While light is being given to this man (man born blind) by the light of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Pharisees show their own blindness and darkness in which they live by attacking this miracle of Christ." - St. Gregory Palamas

Third Sunday of Lent: A: March 12, 2023

 JESUS THE GIVER OF LIFE-GIVING WATER

First Reading: Exodus 17: 3-7

Second Reading: Romans 5: 1-2 and 5-8

Gospel Reading: John 4: 5-42

   *First reading is from the book of Exodus. The journey of the chosen people of God from Egypt to the promised land is described. On their way, the people become agitated and angry because they have no water to drink. They revolt and speak against Moses and against the Lord God who has brought them out of the slavery of Egypt. The Lord God commands Moses to strike a rock. Moses does as  told and immediately water gushes out of the rock. They have plenty of water to drink. The Lord God shows His care and concern for His chosen people in spite of their ungratefulness and rebellion. 

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to the Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community in Rome and us that God has proved His extraordinary love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we are still sinners. God's love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. So God's grace as flowing water is poured down upon each one of us. 

Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Jesus' meeting with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well is described. In a most dramatic move, Jesus asks this woman for some water to drink. Samaritans and Jews had a rather hostile relationship at that time. Jesus a Jew, asking for water from a Samaritan woman is rather unusual in this context. Yet, the woman after some initial hesitation gives water to Him. Jesus' encounter with the woman gradually changes her attitude to life situations. She shares with Him her sad story - her confused and sinful life. Gradually and gently Jesus makes her realize what she has been running away from. Till now, she is thirsting for transitory and worldly pleasures. Jesus tells her about another kind of water that becomes a fountain from within us leading to eternal life. Similarly, Jesus comes into our lives like a weary, thirsty traveler asking for some water. He makes in-roads into our lives as one who is helpless and who stands in need of us. What Jesus wants from us is more than water. He thirsts for our hearts. Like the Samaritan woman who brought many people to Jesus, let us too go out to the surroundings and bring many to the presence of the Lord. 

"The account of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well proves unexpected daily occurrences bring about lasting changes in life when Christ is the center of the experience. - St. Gregory Palamas

"She (Samaritan woman) exhibited the actions of an Apostle, preaching the Gospel to all and calling them to Jesus and drawing a whole city forth to Him." - St. John Chrysostom

Second Sunday of Lent: A: March 5, 2023

 THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD JESUS

First Reading: Genesis 12: 1-4

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1: 8-10

Gospel Reading: Matthew 17: 1-9

   *Today's first reading is from the book of Genesis. The life of Abraham, the father of faith is described. Something dramatic and very personal happens in the life of Abraham. He is asked by the Lord God to leave his familiar world: his father's house, his clan , his country as well and go to a distant land. All through his journey Abraham is convinced that the promises of the Lord God will find its fulfillment. In spite of many hardships and challenges, he totally trusts in the Lord God. He earnestly believes that the Lord God will make him a great nation and He will bless him and he in turn, would be a blessing to others. By his trust in the Lord God, Abraham becomes a blessing to many. 

   *Today's second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy and asks him not to be ashamed of testifying to the Lord Jesus. He instructs Timothy and us to share the holiness and the glory of Jesus. That enables us to face sufferings which the faithfulness to the Gospel brings. 

The transfiguration of the Lord Jesus on Mount Tabor                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. A graphic description about the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor is given. Jesus with three of His beloved disciples climbs the mountain and on top of the mountain, He is transfigured. He is covered with heavenly glory. The disciples are awe-struck and overwhelmed by this heavenly experience. The presence of Moses and Elijah - two towering figures of the Old Testament - is a sign that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that has been foretold in the past. Jesus' momentary change of bodily appearance and the voice from heaven confirms that Jesus is truly the chosen one, the Son of God. The transfiguration event is both comforting and challenging to us. It is comforting because we know that our Lord and Savior Jesus is truly the Son of God and beloved of the heavenly Father. It is challenging because the Father invites us to His Son and  asks us to follow His teachings and be witnesses to Him in our lives. If we faithfully follow Him, we too will one day experience His heavenly glory. 

"At His transfiguration Christ showed His disciples the splendor of His beauty, to which He will shape and colour those who are His." - St. Thomas Aquinas