The Feast of Ascension of Jesus: C: June 1, 2025

              JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN

Introduction: Today we celebrate the Feast of Ascension of Jesus - the glorification of the Lord. He wants us to share in His glory when our earthly journey is ended. For the disciples who were present there, it must have been a very difficult and challenging day. A sad one too. But Jesus tells them to be glad. Because, 'If I don't go, the Holy Spirit will never come to you. Now I am sending you.' This is the day the Church invites us to celebrate the Ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the heavenly Father. It is a day of great joy. When the Apostles realize the great transformation of Jesus, they are filled with joy. We too are invited to share in the same joy. 

First Reading: Acts 1: 1to 11

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17 to 23

Gospel Reading: Luke 24: 46 to 53

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. A vivid description about Jesus' final instructions to His beloved disciples and His glorious Ascension to heaven are given. Jesus promises His disciples that they will receive the Holy Spirit - the power from above. He commands them to be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem and throughout the whole world.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul explains to the Ephesian Christian community and us the theological meaning and the significance of the Ascension of Jesus. He says, "God has glorified Jesus by raising Him above all earthly powers and making Him head of the Church and the Lord of creation."

Jesus is taken up to heaven                                                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. On the day of His Ascension, the risen Lord sums up for His disciples the meaning of His death and resurrection. Jesus then commissions them to preach the good news to all nations. Before they begin their mission journeys, they are instructed to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit who will be their teacher and guide. Jesus blesses them and departs to heaven as they are watching. Apostles are filled with great joy and enthusiasm when they realize what has happened to the Lord and Master. They realize that not only Jesus is risen from the dead but that He is now in heavenly glory seated at the right hand of God the Father. Although Jesus has ascended into heaven, we must not look upon Him as being far away from us. He wants everyone of us to witness to His presence in the world. With His ascension, Jesus withdraws His physical presence from His disciples and from the world. But physical absence does not always mean absence of presence. People can be very close to one another even though they are separated by thousands of kilometers. Hence, ascension of the Lord is not the termination of His redemptive activity. Rather, His glorification is an extension of it among His followers. The time of Christ's saving work on earth in its visible and incarnational dimension is finished. But the time for His saving work in heaven in its invisible and sacramental dimension begins. The time for His own personal preaching has come to an end. But the time for the power of the Holy Spirit to become operative in the Church has come. The time for His physical presence in our midst is completed. But the time for His continued presence in the world happens in the following ways: 1. His presence in prayer. 2. His presence in the Eucharist. 3. His presence in the Sacraments. 4. His presence in the community: 'Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am present in their midst.' In this context, J. Calvin says: "When Christ returned to heaven, he withdrew His physical presence from our sight. He didn't stop being with disciples but by the ascension fulfilled his promise to be with us to the end of the world. As his body was raised to heaven, so his power and reign have spread to the utmost parts." On this occasion of the ascension of the Lord, let our prayer be: "God our Father, make us joyful in the Ascension of your Son Jesus Christ. May we always follow Him into the new creation, for His Ascension is our glory and our hope." May the Lord Jesus who ascended into heaven, in the presence of His disciples, bless you abundantly and lead you to eternal glory. 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, June 1, 2025." Thanks.)

Sixth Sunday of Easter :C: May 25,2025

 JESUS PROMISES PEACE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

Introduction: Everyone of us has our share of troubles and anxieties which rob us of that priceless gift - inner peace. When a person is not at peace with himself/herself, he or she can't have peace with others. Some people search for peace in material possessions, pleasures of the world or even drinks and drugs. Today, Jesus offers His peace to His disciples and us. He says: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Peace I leave with you; my  own peace I give you."

First Reading: Acts 15: 1 to 2 and 22 to 29

Second Reading: Apocalypse 21: 10 to 14 and 22 to 23

Gospel Reading: John 14: 23 to 29

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. The early Christian community faces many challenges regarding their faith in the Lord and the Jewish customs they have to accommodate with. The Apostles with the guidance of the Holy Spirit resolve them. Many Gentiles (non-Jews) accept the Lord Jesus as a result of the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. But they face a difficult question: How  much of the Mosaic law is applicable to the new converts? The first council of the Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit gives a far-reaching decision. The early Church decides that it is not the external circumcision that matters but rather, the internal disposition of the heart that really matters. 

   *Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. A description of the new Jerusalem - the heavenly Church - in all its glory, where God's kingdom reigns in all its majesty and power is given. The imagery of the holy city of Jerusalem as the bride of the Lamb points to the heavenly origin of the Church. 

Jesus expresses His love for His disciples and promises them peace and the Holy Spirit                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. This is the final part of the farewell discourse of Jesus at the last supper. At the onset of the discourse, Jesus expresses His deep and abiding love for His beloved disciples. In turn they are asked to love Him by keeping His commandments. Then Jesus promises them the counsellor- the Holy Spirit - who will be sent by the Father. Jesus assures them that the Holy Spirit will teach them all things and bring them to remembrance all that He Himself taught them during His earthly life. Finally, Jesus promises them His peace. He firmly assures them that they are not to be afraid of anything or to be worried about anything because He going to the Father. Jesus' unshakeable faith in the Father is the basis and source of the promised peace. Jesus offers the same peace to everyone who follows Him. The peace of the risen Lord should strengthen us to face all challenges and opposition we face in this world. The peace that Jesus offers us is not the peace of escape from reality. It is the peace of a person who has overcome the unsettling realities of life. The peace Jesus offers is independent of outer circumstances. We cannot give this peace to others or have it with others, if we do not have it ourselves. Our inner state determines how we relate with the outside world and other persons. The risen Christ is the healer, the one who comes to bring us life and help us to clam our fears and heal our anguish and hatred. He can only bring us true peace. In this context Thomas Merton the great spiritual writer says: "If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world." M.K. Gandhi says: "When you find peace within yourself you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others." St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."  May the risen Lord bless you with His peace that He alone can grant and may He send His Holy Spirit upon you to guide you  in this challenging world. 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, May 25, 2025." Thanks.) 

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter: C: May 18, 2025

     JESUS' COMMANDMENT OF LOVE

Introduction: Jesus tells His disciples: "Love one another as I have loved you." It is the greatest of all commandments that Jesus gave us. It sums up all the others. In a sense the only failure in the life of a Christian is his/her failure to love. 

First Reading: Acts 14: 21 to 27

Second Reading: Apocalypse 21: 1 to 5

Gospel Reading: John 12: 31 to 35

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Various missionary journeys of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas are narrated. During their journeys they retrace their steps, encourage the small communities of Christians which they lovingly founded and nurtured. The new members are encouraged to persevere in faith in the Lord Jesus in order to face persecutions and sufferings in future. They establish a principle for achieving Christian greatness: "We have to experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of God."

   *Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. St. John narrates the vision about the new creation and the final union of all the faithful with Lord Jesus. It is taken from the final part of the book of Apocalypse. The new and glorious world order that awaits us offers us peace and happiness in the company of the victorious Lord. 

'Love one another as I have loved you.'                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Jesus commands His disciples and all of us to love other humans as He loves us: That is to love unconditionally and unselfishly. To love someone unconditionally  is to put the other person first. The parable of the Good Samaritan graphically explains this teaching of Jesus. It is a very simple act and at the same time frightening in its implications. How many of us could do it in reality? Often we are happy with a few kind words or gestures, a commitment or two and we have a good conscience. True love like genuine friendship is more difficult and demanding. It calls  for an effort and it can cause pain and disappointments. It is not enough to say, 'I love you' or say, 'I care for you' and do nothing about it. The deepest hurt comes when our love is not returned or ignored by the person we love. Then it is very hard to go on loving such a person. Often we flatly refuse to love those whom we consider for some reason or other not worthy of our love. Interestingly, Jesus started to talk about the new commandment when Judas had left from the last supper. Then He opens His heart to the others. Judas' act of betrayal perhaps leaves a deep wound in Him. When on some occasion, we meet with a lack of response, we might take some consolation from the fact that even the Master failed to touch some in His earthly life. But as true followers of Jesus, we are singled out and are identified by our love for others. In this context St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: "Hungry for love, He looks at you. Thirsty for kindness, He begs you. Naked for loyalty, He hopes in you. Homeless for shelter in your heart, He asks you. Will you be that one to Him?"   "I asked Jesus, 'How much do you love me?' and Jesus said, 'This much.' Then He stretched out His arms and died." says Anon.  Dostoyevsky the Russian writer says: "Learning to love is hard and we pay dearly for it." May the Lord Jesus, who loves everyone unconditionally and gives us a wonderful example of love, bless you and give you a generous heart that loves others. 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, May 18, 2025." Thanks.) 

Fourth Sunday of Easter: C: May 11, 2025

           JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Introduction: Today we celebrate the Good Shepherd Sunday. I am sure many of you have seen pictures of the Good Shepherd in some Churches or in some homes: Jesus carrying a little lamb on His shoulders. It gives a great message of God's love and protection given to everyone of us through His Son Jesus. It is an iconic picture which conveys the caring love of God. This Sunday we shall remember and pray for all those who care for others: The care givers; teachers, nurses, doctors and all those people working in the hospitality sector. Today let us encourage and pray for all such persons who imitate Jesus the Good Shepherd. 

First Reading: Acts 13: 14 and 43 to 52

Second Reading: Apocalypse 7: 9 and 14 to 17

Gospel Reading: John 10: 27 to 30

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Missionary journeys of Sts. Paul and Barnabas are narrated. Paul and Barnabas go to Antioch and preach the Gospel in a synagogue there. Initially, the people of the town are receptive to the Word and they respond with lot of enthusiasm. Later, some Jews conspire against them and the people become hostile to them. Due to the opposition they met with, Paul and Barnabas go to the Gentile community (non-Jews) in the town and preach the Word of God in their midst. Many of the Gentiles become believers in the Lord Jesus and His message. But some of the Jews incite the people against Paul and Barnabas and eventually they are driven out of the city. Hence, the early Church faces many rejections and persecutions due to Jesus and His message.

   *Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. A heavenly vision of St. John is narrated. A great multitude of people from all nations and races who underwent persecutions and sufferings for the sake of Lord Jesus are rewarded and they are received in glory to experience the presence of  God Almighty. They owe their victory to the care and protection of Christ their Good Shepherd.

My sheep hear my voice                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Various qualities of Jesus the Good Shepherd are mentioned. Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice." To be sheep of Christ's flock would mean that we are always ready to listen to the Good Shepherd. There are three important ways by which Jesus the Good Shepherd speaks to us: 1. Through the Holy Bible. It is the word of God. Everyone who wants to follow Jesus should listen to the Word of God and put it into practice in daily life. 2. Through our conscience. Our conscience constantly reminds us to walk in the right ways. 3. Through the teachings of the Church. It is through the teachings of the Church that we constantly grow in faith. Jesus says: "I know them." To know the sheep means to recognize each one of them and to take care of them in challenging situations in the world. Jesus knows each of His sheep personally. In the book of Isaiah it is written, "I knew you before you were born, I knew you from your mother's womb." Hence, Jesus the Good Shepherd protects the sheep and takes care of them always. The sheep follow the Good Shepherd. The sheep do not follow a stranger but always the one who takes care of them. Hence, we are expected to follow Jesus the Good Shepherd in all circumstances of life. Jesus invites all of us to be Good Shepherds to those who are marginalized and helpless. If Jesus is truly the Good Shepherd for us, if we experience His love and care, surely we will be happy to radiate some of this love to others. Wherever we are, if we truly follow the Good Shepherd, we will find an outlet for our love for fellow humans. In this context William Blake says: "For he hears the lambs' innocent call,/ And hears the ewes' tender reply,/ He is watchful while they are in peace,/ For they know when their Shepherd is nigh." Ken Blanchard says: "Too many leaders act as if the sheep (their people) are there for the benefit of the Shepherd, not that the Shepherd has responsibility for the sheep." May the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, bless you and protect you from every evil and lead you always to green pastures where there is peace and joy. 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 May 11, 2025. Thanks.)