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