Eighth Sunday of the Year: C: March 2, 2025

 GOODNESS OF A PERSON IS SEEN IN HIS ACTIONS

First Reading: Ecclesisticus  27: 4 to 7

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 54 to 58

Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 39 to 45

   *First reading is from the book of Ecclesisticus. Three picturesque comparisons are given. 1. A person's faults appear when he/she speaks. 2. A person's quality is seen in his/her conversation. 3. A person's speech discloses the cultivation of his/her mind. These comparisons graphically explain to us that a person's speech reveals what kind of person he/she is. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul elaborates to the Christian community at Corinth and to us that the power of death is once and for all destroyed by Christ: By His victory over sin and death. If we persevere in doing the Lord's work, we need not fear death. When we die, we leave the body (the perishable body), and then we will share in the immortality ( the imperishable body) of Christ the Lord. 

A tree is known by its fruit                                                                   Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus instructs His disciples and us through a series of short parables/sayings. Jesus reminds us how often we look at the mistakes and wrongs of others often ignoring our own mistakes. Many people want to reform the world. Many of them try to reform others instead of reforming themselves. It is a known fact that nothing so blinds us to our own faults as a preoccupation with the faults of others. It has been said that the faults and mistakes which we find most repugnant in the other are precisely the ones that plague our own lives. Today Jesus invites us to have a thorough introspection of ourselves in this regard. 1. A blind man cannot lead a blind man. If such a thing happens, that is, a blind man leads another blind man, the consequences can be disastrous and tragic. So we must be able to see clearly before correcting others or leading others. 2. A disciple is not above his/her teacher. So also, a disciple should not think or act in a way that goes against the one who teaches. 3. Do not look for the speck in your brother's eye when you have a log in your eye. Hence, finding fault with another person when we are also at fault is hypocrisy. 4. No good tree produces bad fruit. And no bad tree produces good fruit. A tree is known by the fruit it produces. So is also the case with a person. 5. Finally Jesus says that a good man produces good out of his good heart. Similarly, an evil man produces evil out of his heart. Thus Jesus instructs us that any goodness has to come from a person's heart. These sayings of Jesus explain to us the reality that good and evil are the product of a person's heart. There is no point in blaming others for it. Thus today Jesus invites us to strive to become good persons with a goodness that is real and authentic. It means that we have to put on the mind of Christ: denouncing hypocrisy in the name of truth; crying out for justice in the face of oppression; challenging indifference in the midst of complacency. It means that we have to feel with the Lord's heart: reaching out to the downtrodden, forgiving the wayward; sharing with the poor. It means that we have to pray the way Jesus did: praising the Heavenly Father for His goodness and love; thanking Him for His numerous gifts; trusting in Him for His constant help and protection. As we become good people in the image of Christ, we become more transparent, genuine and joyful in our lives. In this context, an ancient proverb says: "Never criticize your neighbour until you have walked for a mile with him." Thoreau says: "The fault-finders will find faults even in paradise." May the Lord Jesus who sees the hearts of everyone bless you that you may be like a good tree producing good fruits and be a blessing for everyone. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, March 2, 2025." Thanks.)

Seventh Sunday of the Year: C: February 23, 2025

 LOVE YOUR ENEMIES                               Jesus' call to a radical discipleship

First Reading: 1 Samuel 26: 2 and 7 to 9 and 12 to 13 and 22 to 23

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 45 to 49

Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 27 to 38

   *First reading is from the first book of Prophet Samuel. King Saul becomes jealous and angry with David. He seeks to kill David but does not succeed. One night David sneaks into Saul's camp while everyone is asleep. David has a golden opportunity to kill Saul and take revenge. But he does not do it because he does not want to kill a person anointed by the Lord God. We see the forgiving attitude of David in spite of the fact that king Saul is seeking to kill him.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul compares Adam and Christ. To Adam we owe the life of earth. He was a man of dust. To Christ we owe the life of heaven. He is a man from heaven. 

Jesus' invitation to a radical discipleship                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. 'Treat others as you would like them to treat you.' These are the words of Jesus in the Gospel today. We know exactly how we like others to treat us. We like them to be forgiving, merciful, generous and loving towards us. Jesus throws some radical challenges to His disciples and all of us. He makes it absolutely clear that revenge and retaliation have no place in His kingdom. Jesus gives the following action plan for His disciples and followers: 1. Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. 2. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you. 3. Give to everyone who asks from you. 4. Do to others as you would wish them to do to you. 5. Do not judge and you will not be judged. 6. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 7. The measure you give will be the measure you get back. What a lot of sense the teaching of Christ makes, even on a purely human level! Revenge and retaliation only add darkness to darkness. Besides, when we hate our enemy we give him/her tremendous power over us. Further more, we use up an awful lot of energy in hating, energy that we should put into loving and caring. Hence every disciple of Jesus should have this attitude in all circumstances of life. If we follow these precepts of Jesus in our daily lives, the world would be a far better place to live in. By following these teachings of Jesus, we would become true sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father. Hence we see a reversal of values in the kingdom of God. Instead of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth as told in the Old Testament, Jesus tells us that when someone strikes you on the right cheek you should offer the other too. Jesus tells us, 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.' In the case of Jesus, this is not only a question of words. He prayed for His executioners while dying. He healed the ear of the one who came to arrest Him, when Peter in a rage chopped the ear of that person. In this context Martin Luther King Jr. says: "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." Helder Camara once said: "To use violence without love is like trying to put out a fire with a blazing torch." May the Lord Jesus who forgives all those who persecute Him, insult Him and spread false narratives about Him, bless you and inspire you to forgive your enemies and do good to those who persecute you. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/ Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, February 23, 2025." Thanks.)                        

Sixth Sunday of the Year: C: February 16, 2025

 THE BLESSED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

First Reading: Jeremiah 17: 5 to 8

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 12 and 16 to 20

Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 17 and 20 to 26

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah speaks about two types of people: The first type are those who trust in humans. The second type are those who trust in the Lord God. He explains to us that the life of the one who trusts in humans is as precarious and uncertain as that of a shrub growing in the desert. However the life of the one who trusts in the Lord God is sure as that of a tree growing by the waterside. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord God. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul emphatically affirms that Christ's resurrection is a symbol and a guarantee that all the faithful who died and who will die will be raised up by God as Jesus was raised from the dead. Hence, the resurrection of Jesus confirms our faith and reinforces our hope of a life after our earthly life. 

Blessings and woes (curses)                                                                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. In the Gospel Jesus invites us to understand the meaning and the depth of true happiness in the Kingdom of God. In it we discover the values Christ held up before His disciples. He offers His disciples a whole new set of goals and values. These are the exact opposite of those coveted by the world. In the first part of today's Gospel Jesus enumerates various blessings for those who trust in the Lord. Fourfold blessings are mentioned: 1. Blessings for those who are poor. 2. Blessings for those who are hungry. 3. Blessings for those who weep. 4. Blessings for those who are hated and despised because they are followers of the Lord. In the second part of the Gospel, we have fourfold woes (curses): 1. Woe to those who are rich. 2. Woe to those who are full. 3. Woe to those who laugh. 4. Woe to those who are well spoken of by others. In these words Jesus expresses a revolutionary agenda for finding happiness and blessings and vice versa . They represent a complete and total reversal of worldly values and ideas. People in the world look for prosperity, comfort, fun and popularity. Jesus totally rejects all such ideas of happiness but He also attaches woes to them. The beatitudes in other words declare that happiness and blessings do not come from what we have but from what we are - God's chosen people who are precious in His sight. Happiness and blessings do not derive from what we achieve but from what we receive- God's gift of Himself. Through the beatitudes, Jesus gives us the secret  of finding happiness regardless of our state of life. Hence, through these blessings and woes Jesus is amply making clear the reversal of values in the Kingdom of God as opposed to those who follow the values of the world. The beatitudes graphically explain to us that a follower of Christ has to trust in God in all situations of life rather than trusting in worldly riches and possessions and power. In this context Catherine Doherty says: "The Beatitudes are terrifying when you try to live them." Blessed Marija Petkovic says: "If I had money I would trust in money, but without it I trust only in God." May the Lord Jesus bless you with the blessings He has promised to those who follow His teachings and live accordingly. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, February 16, 2025." Thanks.)

Fifth Sunday of the Year: C: February 9, 2025

 JESUS' CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: Isaiah 6: 1 to 8

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 3 to 11

Gospel Reading: Luke 5: 1 to 11

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. The call of Isaiah to be a prophet of the Lord God is narrated. When the Lord God calls him to be a prophet, Isaiah is afraid and acknowledges his own unworthiness and limitations. However, the Lord God purifies him and appoints him to be a prophet. Isaiah readily responds to the call of the Lord God and accepts the mission entrusted to him. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul instructs the Christian community at Corinth regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Historically, this affirmation of Paul is the earliest recorded confession of the early Church regarding the resurrection of the Lord. Further, Paul acknowledges his own unworthiness to be called an Apostle. He admits that he is the least of all the Apostles because he had persecuted the Church before his encounter with the risen Lord and subsequent conversion. 

The call of the first disciples of Jesus                                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Peter and his companions have a miraculous catch of a large number of fish when they put their  nets as instructed by the Lord even though they had a very disappointing night of fishing. Subsequently, Jesus dramatically calls His first disciples. Peter realizes that he is witnessing an extraordinary miracle - a divine intervention through the person of Jesus. This dramatic incident totally changes the lives of Peter and his companions. They are totally overwhelmed by the turn of events. Peter, James and John realize the nearness and the power of the divine. They fall on their knees just like men condemned to death, pleading for their lives. Jesus assures them: "Do not be afraid, now onwards you will be fishers of men." Then He asks them to follow Him. Responding to Jesus' invitation, they bring their boats ashore, leave everything they possessed, their friends and follow Him wholeheartedly. That day, they lose their livelihood but gain eternal life. In today's readings we meet three men who did many great things for God: Isaiah, Paul and Peter. All of them are unwilling to be touched by the presence and the demands of God. They accept the call of God very reluctantly and feel unworthy of such a call and its added responsibilities. Often we too are afraid and reluctant to be touched by the powerful presence of the divine. It is too dangerous because we are afraid to be caught by the divine, afraid to be sent by Him. Jesus, who dramatically and decisively invited the first disciples, is inviting each one of us to be a follower of the Lord. Although we feel unworthy and reluctant, we should not be afraid because the Lord promises to be with us. Trusting in the promises of the Lord, we should move forward in the face of opposition and numerous challenges. In this context, an ancient saying goes like this: "It is not good to be too near a King, except when you are called, and even such a call is a bad sign." Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard says: "Christ did not appoint professors but followers." The great theologian Dietrick Bonhoeffer says: "When Christ called a man, he bid him come and die." May the Lord Jesus who called His first disciples to follow Him bless you and inspire you to follow Him wholeheartedly. Amen.  

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, February 9, 2025")