Easter Sunday: B: March 31, 2024

               THE LORD IS RISEN ! ALLELUIA

First Reading: Acts 10: 34 and 37- 43

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4

Gospel Reading: John 20: 1-9

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Peter and other Apostles give a powerful and convincing testimony regarding the life of Jesus: His death on the cross on that tragic Friday and His resurrection from the dead on the third day, Easter Sunday. The Apostles had the unique privilege of meeting the Risen and glorified Lord personally; sharing meals with Him and experiencing His re-assuring and life-giving presence. He assures them that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians. Paul explains to the Colossian Christian community  and all of us that through our baptism we share in the life of the Risen Lord. Hence we have to set our minds on heavenly things and not on earthly matters. Paul assures us that all who believe in the Lord will share in the glory of the Risen Lord. 

The discovery of the empty tomb and its significance in the resurrection of Jesus                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. A detailed description of the happenings on Easter Sunday morning is given. The first visitor to the tomb of Jesus is Mary Magdalene. She finds that the tomb of Jesus is empty. She thinks that the body of Jesus is taken away by someone. She hurriedly goes and reports the matter to the Apostles. Peter and John, two of the Apostles go to the tomb and find it to be empty. The truth of what the scriptures had foretold gradually begin to dawns upon them that Jesus would rise from the dead. The empty tomb by itself is not a proof of the resurrection of Jesus. But it gives a very strong indication that Jesus is not to be found among the dead. Later on, many of the disciples experience the presence of the Risen Lord as He appears to them on various occasions. Their faith is strengthened by those comforting and life-giving experiences. They finally realize that Jesus is truly risen from the dead. In our case too, although we have the testimony of the Apostles and other disciples that Jesus is risen, we need to experience the comforting presence of the Risen Lord personally and be strengthened in our faith.

MAY THE RISEN LORD BLESS YOU AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH.                              WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY EASTER!

"The resurrection of Jesus changes the face of death for all His people. Death is no longer a prison but a passage into God's presence. Easter says, you can put truth in a grave but it won't stay there." - C. W. Hall

"The tomb of Christ is famous because of what it DOES NOT CONTAIN" - S. Morris

"Christ the Lord is risen today. Sons of men and angels say: Raise you joys and triumphs high! Sing ye heavens and earth reply." - C. Wesley 

Palm Sunday: B: March 24, 2024

HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID (The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem)

Processional Gospel: Mark 11: 1-10

First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7

Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11

Gospel Reading: Mark 14: 1 to 15: 41

   *With Palm Sunday, we begin the Holy week celebrations. Today we recall to mind Jesus' entry into the city of Jerusalem to accomplish the Pascal mystery. The memorial of that historical event is celebrated during the holy Mass with the blessing of palms followed by procession. Gospel from St. Mark gives us a glimpse of the events of that day when Jesus entered Jerusalem before the Pascal Feast. Thousands of people are in the city. Jesus begins His journey from the village of Bethsaida. He sits on a colt and enters the city with people shouting : "Hosanna to the Son of David". Jesus openly acknowledges  that He is indeed a humble King and the long-awaited Messiah (the anointed one). By His triumphant entry, Jesus invites us to acknowledge Him as our King and Messiah.  

   *First reading is from the book of Isaiah. Prophet Isaiah speaks of the suffering servant of the Lord God, the one who in spite of sufferings and rejection, carries out his mission. He totally trusts in the providence and the guidance of the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians. Paul firmly asserts that Jesus was indeed in the form of God. But He becomes human and He humbles Himself and becomes obedient unto death so that we all might be saved. Jesus accepts death on the cross but the Father has made Him Lord of heaven and earth. Paul reminds us that humiliation, sufferings and death are necessary pre-condition to enter into heavenly glory. 

The Passion narrative                                                                   Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark's narration of the passion and death of Jesus. In the first part of today's Gospel, we have the scene from the Last Supper where Jesus institutes the Eucharist and gives Himself to His beloved disciples in the form of bread and wine. In the second part, Jesus prays at the garden of Gethsemane where He is deeply disturbed and troubled. In the garden, Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot and later Peter denies Him three times. In the third and final part, Jesus is condemned to die on the cross by the Roman Governor Pilate who was pressurized by the Jewish authorities. When Jesus hangs on the cross, He is derided and ridiculed. At the point of death of Jesus, a Roman soldier makes a profession of faith in the crucified Son of God. The happenings of the Holy week give us an opportunity to look at our own lives. We must accept our many sins and failures. Let us stop blaming circumstances and other people. What shines out from this dark week is the bright light of Christ's love for us. LET THE PASSION STORY INSPIRE US TO TRY IN OUR OWN WAY TO IMITATE THE CHRIST CRUCIFIED. 

"Palm Sunday tells us that... it is the cross that is the true tree of life." - Pope Benedict XVI

"Ride on... ride on in majesty. In lowly pomp ride on to die. O Christ, thy triumph now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin." - Henry H Millman

 

Fifth Sunday of Lent: B: March 17, 2024

THE GRAIN OF WHEAT MUST DIE TO BEAR FRUIT

First Reading: Jeremiah 31: 31-34

Second Reading: Hebrews 5: 7-9

Gospel Reading: John 12: 20-23

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah assures the people of Israel that the Lord God will not forsake them. He tells them that the Lord God will make a new covenant with Israel. The knowledge of the Lord God and His unconditional forgiveness will be the hallmark of the new covenant. The new covenant will be written in their hearts and the Lord God will not remember their sins anymore. This is the wonderful assurance given by the Lord for everyone of us. 

   *Second reading is from the book of Hebrews. A detailed account of the passion and the anguish which Jesus had to undergo is given. He prays with loud cries in moments of His painful sufferings especially during His passion. In this way, He not only gives us an example but also because of us, Jesus becomes the source of eternal life. By His sufferings, Jesus atones for the disobedience of humankind. 

Gaining and losing life                                                                             Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The imminent death of Jesus is predicted. Jesus knows that He has to suffer and die. He must face the loss of His freedom, the loss of His friends, the loss of support from the heavenly Father and finally the loss of His own life. He knows that His pain and losses cannot be avoided if the Father's name is to be glorified. Jesus' radical act of self-giving stands at the center of our lives. Jesus compares Himself to a grain of wheat that dies in order to bear much fruit. The great loss of Jesus' life has become the very ground of our hope. Often, we too are at a loss to explain our own losses: Our sufferings, pains and rejections.  Dying to one's own self would mean sacrificing ourselves for the sake of others. Dying to self is a gradual process. It can be expressed in the following words: "Every act of love involves dying to selfishness. Every act of kindness involves dying to meanness. Every act of courage involves dying to cowardice. Every act of forgiveness involves dying to bitterness." -F. MaCarthy

(Please note: "Sunday Homilies with Fr. Joy Joseph svd"  is available on YouTube. The link is : Fifth Sunday of Lent: B)

Fourth Sunday of Lent: B: March 10, 2024

 THE UNENDING LOVE OF GOD FOR HUMANKIND

First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36: 14-16 and 19-23

Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 4-10

Gospel Reading: John 3: 14-21

   *First reading is from the second book of Chronicles. Details of the conquest of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon is described. Jerusalem temple is totally destroyed by the invading army. The people of Israel are taken to Babylon as captives. They suffer much for over sixty years under Babylon. The Lord God shows mercy and kindness on His chosen people and kindles their hope of liberation when Cyrus becomes the King of Babylon. Through an edict, Cyrus frees them from their slavery and shame.  

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Ephesus and us that God has shown great love and mercy to us. He emphasizes the gratuitousness of the gift of faith we have received. He cautions us not to take our salvation as the fruit of our works but as a result of God's grace working in us. 

God sent His Son Jesus                                                                        Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The wonderful and great love of God for humankind is expressed by John. The primary meaning of the passage speaks about our life after death. It gives us an assurance of a continuation of our life after death: That is eternal life. The secondary meaning of this passage tells us about our eternal life even now with the coming of Jesus, the Son of God. God sent His beloved Son to be with us every moment of our lives. If we believe in Jesus, we will live with Him. Through our life united with Jesus, we receive the assurance and the strength to overcome everyone of our crisis and problems. Lent is the chosen time to experience the great love of God through His Son Jesus. 

"When one loves, one does not calculate." - St. Theresa of Lisieux

" Love begins at home and it is not how much we do but how much love we put in that action." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"No reason needed for loving>" - Paulo Coelho

(Please note: "Sunday Homilies with Fr. Joy Joseph svd"  is available on YouTube for the Fourth Sunday of Lent: B)