First Sunday of Lent: B: February 18, 2024

      JESUS' CALL TO REPENTANCE

First Reading: Genesis 9: 8-15

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3: 18-22

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 12-15

   *First reading is from the book of Genesis. A description of the floods that took place at the time of Noah is given. After the floods, the Lord God makes a covenant with Noah and promises that there will never again be such a deluge. The Lord God's pact with Noah and his sons tells us about His unfailing fidelity and benevolence towards humankind. The appearance of the rainbow is mentioned as sign of the covenant between the Lord God and humankind. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Peter. The flood waters at the time of Noah and the waters of baptism are compared. St. Peter tells us that the waters of flood during the time of Noah symbolizes the waters of our baptism by which we are saved. As Noah and his family were saved, it is through our baptism that we are saved and we enter into a new covenant and a new relationship with God. Peter exhorts all of us to live according to the Christian faith, no matter what trials we have to endure because of it. 

The temptations of Jesus                                                                   Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A brief narration of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness is given. Jesus goes through a time of serious reflections and faces many challenges during those days in the desert before starting His public life. We know from past experiences that athletes prepare themselves for long duration before an important event. Similarly, professionals and artists rehearse painstakingly for long hours. Before starting His public ministry, Jesus goes to the desert to prepare Himself for the task entrusted to Him by the heavenly Father.  St. Mark narrates Jesus' going into the desert to combat the devil and concludes the narrative with His victorious emergence. Jesus emerges from His forty days of fasting and prayer and prepares Himself for the ultimate victory over Satan and evil powers. As we enter the holy season of Lent, like Jesus, we need to renew ourselves spiritually by fasting, prayer and almsgiving. In a sense, we too go into the desert with Jesus. We are urged to keep in mind the last verse of today's Gospel throughout Lent: "Repent and believe in the Gospel." -Mark 1:15

"Lent comes providentially to reawaken us to shake us from our lethargy." - Pope Francis

"As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst... Repent and believe... Jesus tells us." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

" Lent is a time to renew wherever we are in that process, that I call divine therapy." - Thomas Keating

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

Sixth Sunday of the Year: B: February 11, 2024

                 JESUS HEALS A LEPER

First Reading: Leviticus 13: 1-2 and 44-48

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 31 to 11: 1

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 40-45

   *First reading is from the book of Leviticus. The wretched and inhuman conditions of the lepers in the Old Testament times are described in detail. During those days, leprosy was considered incurable and made a person physically, mentally and socially an outcast from the society. He/she faced excommunication from the community. As long as the disease lasted,  lepers were forced to stay out of their homes and live in  secluded places. Ritually also, lepers were considered unclean and they were forced to live far away from any human habitations. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul urges Christians in Corinth not to offend anyone but to do good to everyone at all times. He reminds the Christian community at Corinth and all of us that in whatever we do we have to give glory to God the Father. He gives his own example and reminds us that he gives glory to God by being a perfect imitator of Jesus Christ and does everything for the good of others. 

"I will; be clean."                                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. It narrates the dramatic way Jesus heals a leper. This man implores Jesus to heal him of his leprosy. Immediately, Jesus stretches out his hand, touches him and heals him. The leprosy mentioned in the Gospel symbolizes all the external and internal illnesses that we suffer from. While healing the leper, Jesus does the unthinkable for a Jew of that time to do. He reaches out and touches this suffering man. Jesus could very well heal the man without touching him. But by this action, Jesus gives him dignity and shows that this leper too is very precious in the eyes of God. By His touch and consoling words, Jesus not only heals the wounds and pains of leprosy but also the wounds caused by rejection and alienation which are inflicted on him by the community. St. Damien of Molokai is a prime example of a person who tried to emulate Jesus by his love, compassion, concern and care for lepers. After working several years for the well-being of lepers, he too contracted leprosy and died of leprosy. The following words are written on his tomb: "Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:8

"The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of being unwanted." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

 

Fifth Sunday of the Year: B: February 4, 2024

        THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS

First Reading: Job 7: 1-4 and 6-7

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19 and 22-23

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 29-39

   *First reading is from the book of Job. A graphic description of how Job, a just man, comes to grip with the problem of sufferings during his life is given. Job is severely tested by Satan. The Lord God allows Job to be tested by the adversary. He loses his beloved children and all his vast possessions. He is afflicted by pain and sickness. He feels that there is only misery and sufferings in this world. For all his deliberations about the cause of his sufferings, He is unable to find a convincing answer. Some time or other, we too may face the problem of sufferings in our lives without any reasonable explanations. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Corinth and to us the compulsions of preaching the Gospel. To that end, he has become all things to all: Even to the weak and those who suffer. He has no choice but to preach the Gospel because he is commissioned to do so by the Lord Jesus. 

He healed many who were sick                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. During His public ministry, Jesus expresses His love and compassion for the sick and those suffering from various diseases. He visits Simon Peter's mother-in-law who was bedridden with fever. He stretches out His hands and heals her. In the same way, Jesus heals many who were sick and those possessed by evil spirits. Jesus gives us no answers about the question of sufferings in this world. Nor does He try to explain why people have to suffer. However, through His healing ministry, He shows us the importance of transforming our sufferings and other's sufferings and pain to divine experiences. By identifying Himself with the sick and the dying and His death on the cross, He teaches us how to face sufferings in our lives. Jesus reveals to us that sufferings are part of  the mysterious plan of God. It all depends on us how to shoulder our cross; for by uniting our trials with Jesus, we too can become victorious and lead meaningful lives. Like Jesus, we His followers are invited to bring healing and solace to someone: May be by a word of sympathy or by a kind and loving gesture or by a silent prayer. That is what Jesus wants us to do when we meet people who suffer. In the second part of the Gospel, we see that after His healing ministry, Jesus goes to a lonely place to pray. In spite of His busy day, Jesus finds time to be in communion with the heavenly Father. All our busy life and activities should be constantly nourished by prayer. 

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ears! It sooths his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear." - John Newton

"Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will bring healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." - Proverbs 3: 7-8

Fourth Sunday of the Year: B: January 28, 2024

                     THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 21-28

   *First reading is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses instructs the people of Israel that the Lord God will send and outstanding Prophet who will proclaim His message and lead them to the Lord God. The Lord God will put words into the mouth of the Prophet and he will speak with authority. This prophecy of Moses finds its fulfilment in Lord Jesus. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul reminds the Christian community at Corinth and us that whether married or unmarried, we are called to holiness of life and to live with an undivided devotion to God. He urges those who are celibate to give their undivided attention to the Lord. He wishes that all of us be free from all worries so as to give total attention to Lord Jesus and His message. 

With authority He commands                                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. We have a specific example of how Jesus speaks with great authority during His public life. Only a genuine person can speak with authority. At that time, there were many teachers of the law: The Scribes and the Pharisees. But none of them could speak with authority. Jesus speaks with authority because he had the approval of the heavenly Father and He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He is convinced of what He says and He speaks what He believes in. In the second part of today's Gospel, we have some examples of how Jesus exercised His authority. A person possessed by an evil spirit is brought to the Lord. Jesus commands and the evil spirit leaves that person and he is totally freed from the power of evil. Today, we are living in a world where many people are possessed by various evils. They are the people who are haunted by fear, worries, anxieties, suicidal tendencies, various addictions and many other evil habits. Jesus' authority and power is necessary to heal these unfortunate people. Hence, Jesus exercises His authority to liberate people and to heal them. He brings them closer to the love of the heavenly Father. The prophecy of Moses regarding the coming of a great Prophet finds its fulfilment in Jesus. More than ever, today we are faced with scepticism about many people in authority both in the secular sphere and in the religious sphere. Unlike them, Jesus speaks with authority because He speaks the truth and He backs up His words with His deeds. 

"All authority in heaven and earth is given to me." - Matthew 28:18

"Authority exercised with humility and obedience accepted with delight are the very lines along which our spirits live." - C. S. Lewis

Third Sunday of the Year: B: January 21, 2024

                        THE CALL TO REPENTANCE

First Reading: Jonah 3: 1-5 and 10

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31

Gospel Reading:  Mark 1: 14-20

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Jonah. A description of how the Lord God sent Prophet Jonah to Nineveh is given. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria - the bitter enemy of Israel. Jonah wants the city and its inhabitants to be destroyed. But the Lord God instructs Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach His Word. The Lord God wants the Ninevites to repent and renounce their sinful ways. Jonah is very reluctant to go there and he gives many excuses for not going to Nineveh. When Jonah preaches, the people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, repent and do penance. The Lord God spares the city from impending punishment and destruction.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul exhorts the Christian community at the port city of Corinth to abandon their old sinful ways to follow the teaching of the Lord Jesus. He encourages them to consider the values of the Kingdom of God  above everything else. He instructs them and us that after experiencing the love of Christ, an attitude of detachment to worldly pleasures is a must. 

The Kingdom of God is at hand                                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A description of the beginning of Jesus' ministry with the announcement of the Good News is given: "The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Good News" is the keynote. Through this announcement, Jesus tells us the following: 1. Repentance means experiencing conversion - a new way of life. It is a turning away from sin and turning to God's ways. The call to repentance is inclusive of everyone. 2. The good news is that forgiveness is available and recovery is possible. One can find one's true self even after the most disheartening fall or series of falls. We can come back to the Father's love where not judgement but welcome awaits us. In spite of our many failures and sins, we are very much loved unconditionally by God our loving Father. His love, His mercy and His forgiveness are available to us through His beloved Son Jesus. All we need to do is to recognize our need and seek His help with humility and sincerity. For Jesus invites us to repentance and to the good news of the Kingdom. 

"Deep sorrow does not come because one has violated a law, but only if one knows he has broken off the relationship with Divine Love. But there is yet another element required for regeneration, the element of repentance and reparation." -Arch Bishop Fulton J Sheen

Second Sunday of the Year: B: January 14, 2024

                         THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: 1 Samuel 3: 3-10 and 19

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 6: 13-15 and 17-20

Gospel Reading: John 1: 35-42

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Samuel. An account of the call of young Samuel by the Lord God is given. Samuel responds to the call of the Lord God whole-heartedly and unconditionally. He totally submits to the Lord God. He says, "Speak, for thy servant hears". It is through the Prophet Samuel that the Lord God guided the chosen people to become a great nation. The call of Samuel is an example of the mysterious and hidden ways in which the Lord God acts. By listening and obeying the Lord God, Samuel became the liberator of the people of God. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul writes this letter to Christians in Corinth, a port city where people were living in sexual immorality. Paul instructs them and us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and hence, we must not indulge in sinful ways but use our bodies for the glory of God. Because of our call to be holy, we have to live up to the image of God and be a source of blessings to our brothers and sisters. 

The call of the first disciples                                                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. John narrates the call of the first disciples of Jesus. Andrew and his brother Peter have their first encounter with Jesus near the sea of Galilee. It is not a mere casual meeting but rather a meeting of hearts. Sometimes when people meet it can be a mere formality. But in an encounter, people open their hearts to one another and share their innermost ideas and concerns. This encounter between Jesus and His first disciples changes their lives. For the next three years they would really know who Jesus is and they would experience His constant companionship. Jesus invites His first disciple with the words, "Come and see". He is inviting us too in the same way. If we accept His invitation, He will reveal His real self to us and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Most of us can recall from past some encounters with another person/persons that had a lasting influence or changed our lives or made a firm impression in our lives. The question is: "Are we prepared to accept the invitation of the Lord Jesus?"

"Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Discipleship is crucial to our ultimate destiny, but its cost is total commitment." - David Jeremiah

The Feast of Epiphany :B: January 7, 2023

 THE THREE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST VISIT CHILD JESUS

First Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6

Second Reading: Ephesians 3: 2-3 and 5-6

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. A reference to the joyful return of the Jewish people from exile to the holy city of Jerusalem is mentioned in the first part of the passage. They find their beloved Jerusalem in total ruins. Isaiah encourages them and cheers them up with a vision of the future restored city. In the second part, the final pilgrimage of the people of God to the heavenly Jerusalem is mentioned. This prophecy of Isaiah has some echoes in today's feast of Epiphany.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Ephesus that God invites the Jews and Gentiles (all people) to share on an equal footing the salvation brought by Christ. The feast of Epiphany reminds us of God's invitation to all people to be part of the salvific event without any distinction of social standing or place of origin. The Church is complete only when everyone - Jews and Gentiles- live in harmony as members of the body of Christ. 

The Epiphany: The manifestation of the Lord to the whole world                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. An account of how the three wise men from the east came to Bethlehem to pay homage to infant Jesus is given. They pay homage and offer their precious gifts to the divine child. Jewish leaders ignore or reject the infant in the manger and some even plot to kill Him. But the three wise men left their home-lands and comfort zones in search of the divine child. The story of the wise men is the story of all genuine seekers of faith. They leave everything precious to them and are guided by a star. They diligently search for the child Jesus. When they find Him, they worship Him. Hence the Gospel story gives us three important messages: 1. It speaks of the journey of the three wise men from the east to Bethlehem. Their journey is a symbol of the search for truth by genuine seekers of God. 2. The meeting between the wise men and King Herod reminds us that people in authority and power try to suppress and even try to destroy God's messengers for their own selfish reasons. 3. The wise men paying homage to child Jesus is a touching story of all moments of grace and they totally surrender themselves to the Almighty.