Palm Sunday: A: March 29, 2026

 JESUS' TRIUMPHANT ENTRY TO JERUSALEM

Introduction: Today we commemorate the Lord's triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem. He comes to fulfill God's plan of salvation, culminating in the suffering and death on the cross. In the first part of today's liturgy, we have the Gospel reading from St. Matthew. Jesus goes to the city not as a conquering king but as a gentle and humble bearer of the good news. He travels on a donkey symbolizing the simplicity of His mission. People of the city welcome Him enthusiastically and joyfully singing: 'Hosanna to the Son of God.'

Gospel for procession: Matthew 21: 1 to 11

First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4 to 7

Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6 to 11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 26: 14 to 27: 66

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah narrates his own sufferings. In spite of his numerous sufferings, he is sustained by the firm belief that the Lord God will not abandon him. Sufferings of Isaiah are a pre-figuration of the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul says that although Jesus is God, He takes on Himself human condition and accepts death on the cross. So God the Father raises Him up and makes Him the Lord of heaven and earth. 

The passion and sufferings of Jesus our Saviour and Lord                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. A detailed account of the passion and sufferings of the Lord Jesus is given. How the prophecies of the Scriptures are fulfilled in Jesus is emphasized. It is amazing to observe that perfectly religious and sane people are capable of siding with the evil or doing the evil things in certain situations. This is very much evident from the happenings on Good Friday when the people who are apparently righteous put Jesus to death or collude with the people who do the heinous crime. We meet the following people in the Gospel: 1. The Pharisees: These are austere and religious men who have good knowledge of the law. Their assurance of righteousness leads them to evil. 2. Caiaphas: A man who upholds religious orthodoxy and does not want anyone to oppose it. 3. Pilate: He fully knows that Jesus is innocent. Yet he condemns Him because he is afraid of the Jewish authorities. 4. Judas: A deeply disappointed and disillusioned man. He thinks it is not wrong to betray His master. 5. Peter: A weak and cowardly man. He is ready to disown his master to protect himself. In this context Pope Benedict XIV says, "Palm Sunday tells us that it is the Cross that is the true tree of life."

Conclusion: Holy week is the time to look at ourselves and find out where we stand in this drama of the Passion of the Lord. It is always easy to condemn others and throw stones at Judas, Peter, Caiaphas, Pilate and Pharisees. 

May the Lord Jesus, who triumphantly went to Jerusalem to face rejection and death, bless you and strengthen you in times of rejection and sufferings in your life. Amen. 

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Fifth Sunday of Lent: A: March 22, 2026

 TRANSFORMATION FROM DEATH TO LIFE

Introduction: The central theme of today's liturgy is the resurrection of the dead. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and brings him back to life. This miracle is the seventh and the most spectacular of the signs performed by Jesus which includes: The wedding feast at Cana of Galilee, the Samaritan woman at the well, the healing of the royal official's son, the miracle of five loaves, walking on water, healing of the blind man and finally raising of Lazarus from the dead. 

First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 12 to 14

Second Reading: Romans 8: 8 to 11

Gospel Reading: John 11: 1 to 45

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel assures the people of Israel who are under the slavery of Babylon that the Lord God will liberate them from their slavery and misery. He compares their captivity to death and their liberation to resurrection and spiritual renewal. He promises them that they will know and experience the Lord God as their Lord and Saviour. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul warns the Christian community of Rome that those who live according to the flesh live in accordance with their natural inclinations. But we, as followers of the Lord, live by the Holy Spirit and hence belong to Christ. Paul assures us that it was the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. The same Spirit of God will give life to our mortal bodies. 

I am the resurrection and the life                                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. A vivid account of the death of Lazarus and subsequent events is narrated. The death of Lazarus leaves a large absence in the lives of those who loved him. By the time Jesus arrives at Bethany, Lazarus was truly dead and buried for many days. Martha voices her regret that if Jesus had come early, things would have been different. But Jesus' absence is very essential to the whole story. Jesus explains that through the death of Lazarus, "The Son of Man will be glorified." Death of Lazarus and subsequent raising him from the dead show that Jesus is the Life-giver. The name Lazarus means helpless. He is dead, lifeless in the tomb with a stone in front and the smell of decay inside. This is the state of Lazarus before being raised to life. When Martha tells Jesus that she knows her brother will rise again at the resurrection, Jesus assures her, "I am the resurrection and the life." Lazarus stands for all of us - helpless, frustrated, bound up, decaying, blind, deaf, full of worms and totally dead. Seeing the miserable situation of His friend Lazarus, Jesus told, "Roll that stone away," and called out "Lazarus come out." The dead man came out and started to live again. Jesus wants each one of us to do the same, to come out of our tombs and live again. When Jesus becomes the mainstay of our lives, we can experience resurrection here and now. Jesus is the Lord of life. If we believe in Him, death is something that only affects our physical bodies. We will still live even after our physical lives are over. In this context F.W. Roberts says, "He alone can believe in immortality who feels the resurrection in him already." A. Schopenhauer, a great philosopher, says, "Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every coming together again a foretaste of the resurrection." 

Conclusion: Jesus' raising Lazarus from the dead reassures us that death is not the end. It should help us overcome our pains and frustrations just like Martha and Mary when Lazarus died and was buried but later brought back to life by Jesus that day. Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. We too face this great mystery of death of our own and that of those whom we love. We need faith in the Lord to overcome death and experience the resurrection. 

May the Lord Jesus, who raised Lazarus from the dead and promised that 'I am the resurrection and the life', bless you and grant you life eternal. Amen. 

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Fourth Sunday of Lent: A: March 15, 2026

    GAINING VISION AND LOSING SIGHT

Introduction: The Gospel today narrates how Jesus healed a man born blind.  We all suffer from different forms of blindness. All of us have some blind spots. But Jesus gives us hope to be healed of our blindness if we are ready to admit our lack of sight. 

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16: 1,  6 to 7 and 10 to 13

Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 8 to 14

Gospel Reading: John 9: 1 to 41

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Samuel. The Lord God asks prophet Samuel to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be the King of Israel. David, the youngest of the sons of Jesse is chosen although he seems to be the weakest of them all. The Lord God chooses the weak, makes them strong and works through them to manifest His power and glory. When we humans look at the external appearances of a person, the Lord God looks at the heart of a person and makes His choice. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul reminds the Christian community at Ephesus that although once they were in darkness, now they are in the light of the Lord. Hence, as children of light, they should bear fruits of the light and they should not take part in the unfruitful works of darkness. 

Jesus heals a man born blind                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The healing of a man born blind is described. This man approaches many physicians and healers to be healed of his blindness. But none of them could heal him. Finally, he approaches Jesus to heal him. Jesus listens to him, makes a paste and applies to his eyes and asks the blind man to wash his eyes in the the pool of Siloam. The man does as instructed by the Lord and eventually he regains his sight. As the story unfolds, the blind man receives physical vision followed by a deeper vision of Jesus. When questioned by Pharisees regarding his gaining sight, the man explains to them the healing process. Gradually, his own vision of Jesus becomes more and more vivid. At first he says, 'A man called Jesus healed me." When further questioned he says, "He is a prophet." When they try to intimidate him, he says, "Unless this man comes from God, he would not be able to do such a miracle." When Jesus meets him later and asks, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' He declares, "Lord, I believe" and kneels before Him and worships Him. The man born blind undergoes a radical transformation after experiencing the healing touch of Jesus. Whereas the Pharisees, although they have physical vision, becomes more and more blind and lose their true vision. In this context St. Gregory of Palamas says, "While light is being given to this man (the man born blind) by the Light of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Pharisees show their own blindness and darkness in which they live by attacking this miracle. 

Conclusion: The story of the blind beggar has deep significance in our lives too. It symbolizes our faith journey: Our own personal story. We too like the man born blind are brought to faith. At first we see the Lord merely as a man called Jesus. Then we realize that He is a prophet. Then the realization comes that He has come from God. Finally we too need to recognize that He is the Saviour of our lives, the Son of God. 

May the Lord Jesus, who opened the eyes of the man born blind, bless you and open your eyes too to see the divine and experience His presence. Amen. 

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Third Sunday of Lent: A: March 8, 2026

 JESUS OFFERS LIFE-GIVING WATER

Introduction: We are in the third week of Lent. Today's liturgy focuses our attention on eternal life and the 'life-giving' water given by the Lord. First reading is from the book of Exodus. Israelites become agitated over the shortage of water during their long journey to the promised land. They speak against Moses and the Lord God. Hearing their cry, the Lord God commands Moses to strike a rock. On doing so, water gushes forth and they quench their thirst. The Lord God shows great mercy and kindness for the well-being of the people in spite of their rebellion. In the Gospel today, we have an unexpected scene: Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the Jacob's well and asks for water from her. She is confused and surprised by Jesus' request because Jews and Samaritans had a hostile relationship at that time. In their subsequent conversation, Jesus makes her realize that she is thirsting for transitory and worldly pleasures which are not going to satisfy her thirst. He promises her another type of water: The water that becomes a fountain from within so that a person experiences eternal life. During Lent Jesus wants each one of us to leave aside our transitory thirst and drink the water which gives eternal life. 

First Reading: Exodus 17: 3 to 7

Second Reading: Romans 5: 1 to 2 and 5 to 8

Gospel Reading: John 4: 5 to 42

   *First reading is from the book of Exodus. The journey of the chosen people of God from Egypt to the promised land is narrated. The journey is very tiring and tedious. On their way, they become agitated and angry with Moses because they have no water to drink for themselves and their cattle. They openly revolt and speak against Moses and the Lord God who brought them out of the slavery of Egypt. Seeing their desperation, the Lord God commands Moses to strike a rock with his walking stick. Moses does as told and immediately, water gushes out of the rock. All of them drink their fill of water. The Lord God shows His care and concern for the needs of His chosen people in spite of their ungrateful and rebellious behaviour. 

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to the Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community at Rome that God has proved His extraordinary love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we are still sinners. God's love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. So God's grace as flowing water is poured down upon each one of us. 

Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the Jacob's well                                          Today's Gospel is from St. John. Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well is described in detail. In a most dramatic move, Jesus meets the woman and asks for some water to drink. The Samaritans and the Jews had a hostile relationship at that time. Jesus a Jew asking for water from a Samaritan woman is rather unusual. Yet, the woman after some initial hesitation gives water to Him. Jesus' encounter with the woman gradually changes her attitude to life situations. She shares with Him her sad story: Her confused and sinful past life. Gradually and gently, Jesus makes her realize what she has been running away from. Till now, she is addicted to transitory and worldly pleasures. Jesus tells her about another kind of water that becomes a fountain from within us leading to eternal life. Similarly, Jesus comes into our lives like a weary, thirsty traveller asking for some water. He makes in-roads into our lives as one who is helpless and who stands in need of us. What Jesus wants from us is more than water. He thirsts for our hearts. Like the Samaritan woman who brought many to Jesus,  we too ought to go to the surroundings and bring many to the promises of the Lord. In this context St. Gregory Palomas says, "The account of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well proves unexpectedly daily occurrences bring about lasting changes in life when Christ is the center of the experience." St. John Chrysostom says, "She ( the Samaritan woman) exhibited the actions of an Apostle, preaching the Gospel to all and calling them to Jesus and drawing a whole city forth to Him."

Conclusion: Without exception, all of us are looking for happiness and meaning in life. Often we are not able to reach the true life-giving water but rather, are happy with stagnant water. We go to the fountain of drinks, drugs, sex, material possessions and power to control others. We dream of five husbands (Samaritan woman in the Gospel) or five wives, five houses, five cars or five of whatever will satisfy our thirst for fulfillment. Unfortunately, none of these can satisfy us. True happiness can be ours only when we meet the Lord and experience His loving presence: The freedom that comes from following Him or the joy that comes from serving the least of His brothers and sisters. When we drink from the life-giving water that Jesus gives-the water of His Word in the Bible, the water of His Spirit in the sacraments, the water of His presence in prayer-we will never be thirsty. That day, the Samaritan woman went about bringing everyone in the city to Jesus. It is our turn to do the same. 

May the Lord Jesus, who liberated the Samaritan woman and blessed her by providing her life-giving water, bless you and grant you His Holy Spirit. Amen. 

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Second Sunday of Lent: A: March 1, 2026

 THE GLORIOUS TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

Introduction: We are in the second week of Lent. Today's liturgy brings to our attention the transformation in the life of two biblical figures. In the first reading the transformation in the life of Abraham is in focus. The Lord God brings about a great transformation in Abraham: From a non-believer to one who believes in the one true God. The Lord God makes a covenant with Abraham and rewards him for his obedience. In the Gospel we have the beautiful details about the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor. During this heavenly experience, God the Father proclaims Jesus as His beloved Son. We too are invited to experience this transformation in our lives and be called sons and daughters of the Father. 

First Reading: Genesis 12: 1 to 4

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1: 8 to 10

Gospel Reading: Matthew 17: 1 to 9

   *First reading is from the book of Genesis. The life of Abraham, the Father of Faith, is described. A very dramatic and personal event happens in the life of Abraham. The Lord God asks Abraham to leave his familiar world: His father's house, his clan, his country as well and go to a distant and unfamiliar land. All through his tiring journey, Abraham is convinced that the promises of the Lord God will find its fulfilment. In spite of many hardships and challenges, he totally trusts in the Lord God. He earnestly believes that the Lord God will make him a great nation and that He will bless him and he in turn will be a blessing to others. By his trust in the Lord God, Abraham becomes a blessing to many.

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy and asks him not to be ashamed of testifying to the Lord Jesus. He instructs Timothy/us to share the holiness and the glory of Jesus. That enables us to face sufferings and hardships, which faithfulness to the Gospel brings. 

The Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus on Mount Tabor                                             Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. A graphic description about the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor is given. Jesus with three of His beloved disciples climbs the mountain and on the top of the mountain, He is transfigured. He is covered with the heavenly glory. The disciples are awe-struck and overwhelmed by this glorious heavenly experience. The presence of Moses and Elijah, two towering figures of Old Testament at the transfiguration scene, is a sign that Jesus is the fulfilment of all that has been foretold by the Prophets of old. Jesus' momentary change of bodily appearance and the voice from heaven: 'This is my beloved Son, listen to Him', confirms that Jesus is truly the chosen one, the Son of God. The transfiguration event is both comforting and challenging to us. It is comforting because we know that our Lord and Saviour Jesus is truly the Son of God and beloved of the Father. It is challenging because the Father invites us to follow the teachings of His Son and be witnesses to Him in our lives. If we faithfully follow Him, one day, we too will experience His heavenly glory. In this context, St. Thomas Aquinas, the great theologian says: "At His transfiguration Christ showed His disciples the splendour of His beauty, to which He will shape and colour those who are His."

Conclusion: In our earthly life, very often, we catch a glimpse of the 'something more' that God has in store for us. These fleeting experiences are moments to be treasured. The morning dew, the beautiful butterflies we see in the garden, chirping of birds, the beautiful rainbow on a rainy day, the smile of a little child are part of such God-experiences to be cherished in our lives. Such experiences can help us to approach the transfiguration. Like all transcendent experiences, it is fleeting and yet it etches a memory and leaves a longing. We cannot be always on the mountain top and yet what happens on the heights can help us on the rocky terrain down below. Our memory of transfiguration experience transmitted to us through the disciples should empower us to carry our crosses and follow the Lord. We can move along in confidence because the Lord says to us as He told His disciples: "Get up, do not be afraid, let us go to Jerusalem together."

May the Lord Jesus, who was transfigured on Mount Tabor and blessed His beloved disciples, bless you and lead you to that transfiguration experience which the disciples experienced. Amen.

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First Sunday of Lent: A: February 22, 2026

 THE SEASON OF LENT: A TIME OF REPENTANCE AND PENANCE

Introduction: We are in the first week of the holy season of Lent. During the forty days of Lent, we are invited to pray, fast and do acts of charity. We are encouraged to renew and restore three important relationships: With oneself, with God and with our neighbour. In today's liturgy, we are presented with the perils of temptations: Temptations faced by the first parents Adam and Eve and the temptations faced by Jesus before the beginning of His public life. We are given the choice of resisting temptations and overcoming them like Jesus did or fall into the temptations like our first parents and suffer the consequences. Lent is a time of renewal of life and relationships with Jesus our Lord and Master. It is time to let go of those desires and deviations which are enslaving us and to express the joy and the freedom in the Lord. 

First Reading: Genesis 2: 7 to 9 and 3: 1 to 7

Second Reading: Romans 5: 12 to 18

Gospel Reading: Matthew 4: 1 to 11

   *First reading is from the book of Genesis. The Lord God creates humankind out of love. The first parents Adam and Eve are given every facility for their well-being and growth in the garden of Eden. However, they disobey the Lord God and succumb to the temptations of the devil. As a consequence, sin and death enter the world and a rift between the Lord God and humankind begins. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community at Rome how sin and death came into the world through the disobedience of one man: Adam. Jesus Christ through His obedience to God the Father frees humankind from sin and death. We receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ. 

Jesus defeats Satan's temptations                                                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus' experience in the desert where He spends time in fasting and praying is narrated. In the second part, temptations faced by Jesus in the desert are described in detail. The devil tempts Jesus in three different ways. The first temptation is to turn stones into bread and satisfy His hunger as well as to feed the hungry masses. It is the temptation to be a popular Messiah among the hungry people and get instant name and fame without really doing any work. Jesus firmly says 'No' to the devil and tells the devil, "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." The second temptation is to perform a spectacular feat so that Jesus will be acclaimed by the people around Him. The devil tells Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the Jerusalem temple because God will send the angels to protect Him. Jesus firmly says 'No' and tells the devil, "Do not put the Lord your God to test." In the third and final temptation, the devil takes a chance and asks Jesus to worship the devil and obtain all the glory and power in the world. Jesus firmly rejects it and tells the devil: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him." Jesus overcomes all three temptations of the devil by fasting and prayer. We too face many temptations in our day-to-day lives. Lent is the grace-filled time when all of us are invited to renew our lives through fasting and prayer. All of us need to take a break and go to the 'desert' with Jesus to overcome the powers of evil and our inclinations to sin. In this context Pope Francis said: "Lent comes providentially to reawaken us to shake us from our lethargy." Thomas Keating says, "Lent is a time to renew wherever we are, in that process that I call divine therapy." 

Conclusion: As Jesus underwent various temptations in His earthly life, we too face many temptations in our lives. Every one of us is tempted to seek sinful pleasures, easy wealth, power, authority and to use unjust and sinful ways to achieve worldly goals. If we succumb to such temptations, we will be like our first parents and many others in the past, hiding from God and hiding from one another. In order to overcome the various temptations, we need to do the following: 1. Take Jesus as our model who overcame temptations of the devil through prayer, penance and fasting. 2. Use the sacrament of reconciliation or confession so that we may recognize our sins and failures and be reconciled with God and with one another so that we will not be a target of the devil's deceit. 

May the Lord Jesus, who overcame the temptations of the devil through fasting and prayer in the desert, bless you so that you too can be victorious over the evil powers and various temptations in life. Amen. 

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Sixth Sunday of the year: A: February 15, 2026

 FULFILLING THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD

Introduction: Today's liturgy challenges us to choose freely and wisely and observe the laws and commandments of a loving and caring God. He reveals His laws to His chosen people through His prophet Moses and other prophets of old. Through His Son Jesus, He clarifies and reveals His laws and precepts. These are not merely a set of laws but instructions to teach us holiness and wholeness from our living and loving God. 

First Reading: Sirach 15: 15 to 20

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2: 6 to 10

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 17 to 37

   *First reading is from the book of Sirach. The Lord God is always good to us. He gives us the freedom to choose between good and evil. But the Lord God desires that we should always use our freedom with a sense of responsibility.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul tells the Christian community at Corinth that salvation through the cross of Christ is God's marvelous plan for the world. He gives us a future vision too: What no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. 

The true meaning of the Law: The Letter of the Law and the Spirit of the Law                              Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus re-interprets the ten commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. Jesus, the new Moses, gives us a new vision and a new understanding of those commandments. Jesus affirms the law in its condemnation of killing. He then goes a step further in condemning the motivation that leads to such a crime: That is anger. He instructs us that reconciliation is far more important than offering sacrifices. The duty of making peace with the offended person is more urgent than the duty of giving worship to God. Jesus affirms the law that adultery is a sin. He then goes deeper by teaching us that a person looking lustfully at another person has already sinned in his/her heart. A person's sinful intentions, thoughts and dubious attitudes are equally sinful as the sin itself. Jesus gives us a distinct teaching on divorce too. The law of Moses permitted a husband to divorce his legally wedded wife. He clarifies it by saying that divorce on any such grounds is unacceptable in the eyes of the Creator, except on the ground of unchastity. The expectations of Jesus from His followers are very demanding and challenging. We have to humbly accept that on our own, we cannot measure up to His standards. But be assured, that with the grace of God, we can certainly measure up to the standards set by Jesus. 

Conclusion: In today's liturgy we listened to the ten commandments and Jesus' re-interpretation of them. We need to understand and appreciate the laws and commandments given by God. These are based on two basic principles: The principle of giving reverence to God and the principle of respecting other humans. In the first four commandments we give reverence to God: Reverence to His holy name, reverence to His holy day and reverence to our father and mother. The next set of commandments instructs us to respect life, one's personal integrity and a person's good name, a person's property and a person's life partner. Our obedience to these laws must be prompted by our love of God and the love of our fellow humans. Finally, to be true followers of the Lord, we need to forgive and forget and move forward with reconciliation in all aspects of our lives. 

May the Lord Jesus, who leads us to have a deeper understanding of the commandments of God, bless you and strengthen you to keep His commandments in letter and spirit. Amen. 

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