Twenty Second Sunday of the Year:B: August 29, 2021

MERE LIP SERVICE TO GOD AND MEN  IS NOT SUFFICIENT

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4: 1-2 and 6-8

Second Reading: James 1: 17-18 and 21-22

Gospel Reading: Mark 7: 1-8 and 14-15 & 21-23

   *First reading is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses exhorts the people of Israel to follow the statutes and ordinances of the Lord God and keep His commandments. They are instructed not to add or deduct anything from them. As a wise and understanding people they are to observe them in letter and spirit. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. James. James reminds us that God can be loved and served only through our love for fellow humans: especially by serving the poor, the orphans, the widows and the needy.  He instructs us that we have to be doers of the word and not merely hearers. In that way we will be doing the will of God. 

You leave the commandments of God and hold fast to traditions                                              Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. Jesus confronts the Pharisees and the Scribes who accused His disciples of not keeping the traditions and practices of the Jews. This was told in the context of Jesus' disciples eating food without washing their hands as the Jewish custom was. According to their traditions, Jews were expected to wash their hands before eating any food. Jesus goes on to explain that what really makes us impure is not what we eat or drink - that which goes into the stomach- but rather what comes out of our heart: evil thoughts, desires, fornication, theft, murder and adultery. Hence Jesus is inviting us to have a close look at our set practices and observed traditions. He wants us to have a conversion of heart that will lead us to true faith and God experience. Let us not waste our precious lives in trivial matters but rather give due importance to the essential principles of life. It is not enough to do lip service to God and fellow humans but rather serve the fellow humans by concrete actions which come from our heart. (cf. James Ch. 1)

"Serving the poor is serving God." -St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta 

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi

Twenty first Sunday of the Year:B: August 22, 2021

 JESUS THE GIVER OF ETERNAL LIFE

First Reading: Joshua 24: 1-2 and 15-18

Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 25-32

Gospel Reading: John 6: 60-69

   *First reading is from the book of Joshua. Joshua asks the people of Israel to decide whether to serve the Lord their God or other gods. The chosen people  affirmed their firm faith in the Lord God who liberated them from the slavery of Egypt and who in the past did great signs and wonders in their midst. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul speaks of the mutual love and respect between husband and wife. He compares this relationship of husband and wife to Christ's love for the Church. As members of His body, we are constantly being nourished by Christ. In the same way husband and wife should nourish each other in love. 

Will you also go away?                                                                                        Today's Gospel reading is from St. John chapter 6. After the multiplication of bread, Jesus instructed the people about the Eucharistic bread. Jesus told them that unless they eat His body and drink His blood they will not have life. People took this teaching literally and they could not accept this teaching. As a result many who followed Jesus till that day gradually left Him and went away. After this negative reaction from the followers, Jesus put a very challenging question to the twelve Apostles. "Will you also go away?" Peter's response was immediate. He gave a very reassuring and important answer which reaffirmed the need to stick to Jesus and His teachings. He said, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." In our moments of doubts and confusion let us be assured that it is not the Lord who leaves us but often we who leave Him. Right from the time of Jesus till today, the teaching on the Eucharist remains a dividing force among believers. Even today many of the followers of Christ are unable to accept it and those who accept it are often unworthy to receive it. This is expressed by St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians. "The cup of blessing which we bless-is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? We who are many are one body for we all partake of the one bread."(1 Cor. 10:16-17) Now it is  our turn to tell the Lord, ' Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' Let our prayer always be, 'Draw us closer to you, O Lord, so that we may follow you in love and trust.'

Twentieth Sunday of the Year: B: August 15, 2021

 THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

First Reading: Apocalypse 11:19 and 12:1-6 and 10

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 20-27

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-56

   *First reading is from the book of Apocalypse (Revelations). The mother of the Saviour of the world, Mary was at the very centre of the struggle between the forces of evil (Satan) and the powers of good (God). Consequently God took very special care of Mary and her child so that no harm happens to both of them. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul presents Jesus Christ as the new Adam who undoes  all the harm done by the old Adam. He overcomes the powers of evil. Jesus the new Adam brings life whereas the old Adam brought death into the world. 

My soul magnifies the Lord                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Mary's song of praise is narrated where she gratefully acknowledges the greatness of God and her own lowliness. She has no doubt about the importance of the role she had been given by God the Father. However she gave all the credit and the glory to God. Just as on the feast of Ascension we celebrate the crowning of Jesus, so on the feast of Assumption we celebrate the crowning of Mary, His mother. After Jesus ascended into heaven, Mother Mary remained on earth. Disciples of Jesus were constantly in touch with her for guidance and consolation. She encouraged them in their difficult and challenging times. Having loved God more than all the Angels, after her death, the Blessed Mother was exalted above them all in the heavenly Kingdom. This feast has its origin in the fifth century AD. The universal Church accepted Mary's bodily assumption which was stated in the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. Pope Pius XII declared it as a dogma of faith in the universal Church in the year 1950. Mother Mary made a gift to God, not only of her Son Jesus but of herself. Through her God has done much marvels on earth. No wonder then that 'all generations call her blessed." Today we honour her crowning in heaven. She shares the fullness of Christ's glory. It is a day of great joy and celebration. We too are called to share in the glory of Christ. Mary our heavenly mother will help us in our moments of weakness, discouragement and failures. 

"Let us then rejoice with Mary that God has exalted her to so high a throne in heaven; let us rejoice also on our account, for in her affection she is always with us and is now better able to assist us." - St. Alphonse

"The immaculate Mother of God, ever Virgin Mary, was on completion of her earthly life, assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." -Munificetissimus Deus

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year:B: August 8, 2021

 JESUS THE LIVING BREAD FROM HEAVEN

First Reading: 1 Kings 19: 4-8

Second Reading: Ephesians 4: 30 to 5:2

Gospel Reading: John 6: 41-51

   *First reading is from the first book of Kings. Prophet Elijah was miraculously fed by an angel of the Lord God. Elijah was much depressed and dejected before his journey through the desert. However the Lord provided him food so that he was strengthened before he undertook the journey which lasted forty days and forty nights to reach the mountain at Horeb. This event is a pre-figuration of the Eucharistic meal given to us to strengthen us  by the Lord Jesus for our life's tiring journey.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul urges the Christian community at Ephesus to practice charity and love of the neighbour which is the hall mark of all true followers of Christ. He earnestly asks them to get rid of their past evil ways namely: bitterness, anger and slander. Furthermore all are urged to forgive one another. 

The bread which I shall give for the world is my flesh                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. After the miracle of the multiplication of loaves, Jesus instructs His disciples. Jesus teaches them and us about the imperishable food and eternal life. He tells them that He is indeed the bread which has come down from heaven. He/she who eats this bread-(Himself) will have eternal life. The Jewish followers who listened to these words of Jesus were disturbed and they murmured against Him. They rejected the life-giving words of Jesus. They were like those Israelites who murmured against the Lord God in the wilderness-(during their journey from Egypt). The bread of life for us today is the Body of Christ offered on the the cross as a sacrifice so that we might have eternal life. Not only the Jews of that time took offense at this teaching of Jesus regarding the Eucharist but even today many Christian denominations refuse to accept the words of Jesus and refuse to believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic bread. Let us be reminded of the life-giving words of Jesus in this context. "If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever and the bread which I shall give for the world is my flesh." John 6:51 Let us ever be thankful to the Lord Jesus for this wonderful gift of life-giving bread for us. 

"From the Eucharist comes strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others." - St. Pope John Paul II

"The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life." - St. Thomas Aquinas

" The greatest love story of all times is contained in a tiny white Host."- Archbishop Fulton J Sheen

Eighteenth Sunday of the Year:B: August 1, 2021

                       JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE

First Reading: Exodus 16: 2-4 and 12-15

Second Reading: Ephesians 6: 17 and 20-24

Gospel Reading: John 6: 24-35

   *First reading is from the book of Exodus. Israelites had to struggle through the desert for forty years while on their way to the promised land. When they were hungry they bitterly complained and murmured against Moses and the Lord God who liberated them from the slavery of Egypt. The Lord God listened to their complaints and provided them with manna and quails for their food. Moses told them that that was the bread (manna) that the Lord God had given them. Thus manna became a pre-figuration of the living bread that is the Eucharist that Jesus gives us. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul urges the Christian community at Ephesus to leave their former nature and former way of life which was corrupt and deceitful. He pleads with them to accept the new way of life in the likeness of God which is righteousness and holiness. 

You believe in Him whom God has sent                                                                                    Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. After the multiplication of loaves by Jesus and feeding the five thousand, people are very excited and happy with Jesus. They feel that He is a permanent solution for their hunger. They are in search of Him. Jesus is not very amused with this situation. He firmly tells them that they are merely looking for signs and perishable food. He takes this opportunity to teach them about the imperishable and life-giving food that will lead them to eternal life. In order to receive this eternal life, they have to believe in the one sent by God. After this discourse of Jesus people again ask for a sign from Him like what Moses did when he gave them food from heaven. Finally Jesus reveals Himself by telling them, "I am the bread of life, he who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me will never thirst." (John 6:35)                                            Often we too are like the Jews at the time of Jesus, looking for various signs and immediate benefits rather than lasting solutions - short term happiness without really looking for lasting and permanent solutions to our problems of life. 

"People don't know what they are striving for. They exhaust themselves in the senseless pursuit of material things and die without realising their spiritual greatness." - Solzhenitsyn

"It is in our emptiness that we are filled. It is in our confusions that we are guided. It is in our weakness that we are strengthened. It is in our sins that we are forgiven. It is in our hunger that we are fed."- Fr. F McCarthy. 

Seventeenth Sunday of the Year: B: July 25, 2021

 JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND

First Reading: 2 Kings 4: 42-44

Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

Gospel Reading: John 6: 1-15

   *First reading is from the second book of Kings. Prophet Elisha asked his servant to feed 100 men with 20 barley loaves. The servant was reluctant and doubtful of feeding them. But Elisha insisted that the Lord God had assured him that even after feeding  all of them there would be food left over. And so it happened as the Prophet told. The hand of the Lord God was instrumental in this miracle. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul pleads with the Ephesian community to lead a life worthy of their call. They are asked to remain in unity and peace. Paul explains to them that they are called to be part of the one body of Christ and share in the one Spirit (Holy Spirit) who is the ultimate source of everything. This trinitarian unity of purpose should be seen in the life of every Christian. 

Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them.                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. On that particular day Jesus worked a great miracle by feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. A large crowd followed Jesus and listened to His life-giving words to the extent that they forgot their own hunger. Jesus was very much concerned about their well-being. Jesus asked the disciples to find some food for the crowd. Philip, one of the disciples told Jesus that it would require a large sum of money to feed them even if food could be bought. Jesus was not discouraged by this reply. He immediately made use of the available resources: five loaves and two fish which a little boy had brought along. He instructed the disciples to make the crowd sit down on the grass. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God the Father and blessed the food and gave it to the disciples to distribute it to the hungry people. To everyone's amazement, all of them ate their fill - more than 5000 people. Later on the disciples even collected twelve baskets full of left over pieces. This miracle is a pre- figuration of the Eucharistic meal - the heavenly banquet where Jesus feeds not just 5000 people but everyone who believes in Him.                                                   The miracle of multiplication of loaves is possible even today. 1. When we are ready to share the little(five loaves) we have with others. 2. When we humbly realize our own limitations and ask God's grace and blessings. 

"There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread." - M.K. Gandhi. 

"Every miracle must be seen through the eyes of faith. The everyday miracle is when one is willing to share with others what he/she has lovingly received. It  is a miracle that is happening everyday when we share love and care for others." - C.B. Buenafe

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs but not for every man's greed." - M.K. Gandhi. 

Sixteenth Sunday of the Year: B: July 18, 2021

 JESUS THE COMPASSIONATE AND KIND SHEPHERD

First Reading: Jeremiah 23: 1-6

Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 13-18

Gospel Reading: Mark 6: 30-34

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah sternly warns the leaders of Israel regarding their unfaithfulness in their duty of taking care of the people of the Lord God. Instead of looking after them, they scattered the people. The Lord God gives the assurance that He will send a Shepherd who will take care of His flock. The promised future leader will be from the lineage of King David - an allusion to Jesus the future Messiah. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul reminds the Ephesian Christian community that Christ has brought unity of brotherhood to Jews and Gentiles. Christ has broken all types of hostility and barriers among the people and united all people as children of one Father. He has brought peace to everyone who acknowledges Him as his/her saviour and Lord. 

Jesus had compassion on them                                                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A short description about the return of the twelve Apostles after their missionary journey is given. Jesus invites them to come to a lonely place to take some rest. But this rest was rather short-lived because of the crowds coming there to listen to the precious words of Jesus and to be healed by Him. Jesus is very much moved with compassion for them and expresses it by saying,'They are like sheep without a Shepherd.' Even in our most busy days we need to take adequate rest in the presence of the Lord. It can be any place of our choice: in the quietness of a chapel where the Lord is present in the Blessed Sacrament or it can be a corner of our own room or in the garden where we can listen to the comforting and soothing words of the compassionate Shepherd. When we listen to the Lord, we will be able to discover deep within us new resources of strength and energy. As we experience the love and care of the Good Shepherd, we in turn are invited to make use of this gift to care and to be compassionate to others in need. 

"While there is always more to be done, we have to choose how  to use our time." - Biblical Resources.