Thirteenth Sunday of the Year:A:28th June 2020

     GOD REWARDS A GRACEFUL GIVER

First Reading: 2 Kings 4: 8-11 and 14-16
Second Reading: Romans 6: 3-4 and 8-11
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10: 37-42

   *First reading is from the second book of the Kings. This passage describes the hospitality of a woman of Shunem. When Prophet Elisha passed through Shunem this woman recognized him as a man of God and showed hospitality by giving him food and drink. Further she made arrangements for his comfortable stay in her home during his visits. God was pleased by her actions and rewarded her generosity with the promise of a son whom she was waiting for.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. In this passage Paul explains to the Christian community in Rome about the meaning of baptism in the name of Lord Jesus. To be baptized means that through the grace and power of the risen Lord we are dead to sin and live in holiness.

"He who receives you receives me"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The first part of the Gospel passage speaks about the necessity of following Jesus even to the point of death. And the second part of the Gospel speaks about the virtue of hospitality in the life of a follower of the Lord.
Jesus' demands from his would-be followers is rather harsh. He demands threefold renunciation from them.
1. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.
2. He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
3. He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Certainly we need to love our parents, children and near and dear ones. But Jesus makes it absolutely clear that this love of others and of oneself should not be at the cost of loving God. Love of God should take precedence over all our other priorities.
Jesus also promises His disciples that hospitality shown to them by anyone will be suitably rewarded - even if that be a glass of cold water.  
"God loves a cheerful giver."- 2 Corinthians 9:7
"For the measure you use, it will be measured to you ."- Luke 6:38
"Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conducts their affairs with justice."-Psalm 112:5

Twelveth Sunday of the Year:A: June 21, 2020

FEARLESS AND COURAGEOUS DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 10-13
Second Reading: Romans 5: 12-15
Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10: 26-33

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. In this passage Jeremiah expresses his anguish and pain. Even when surrounded by enemies and faced with terror from every side Jeremiah places his total trust in the Lord God. He is convinced that the Lord God is on his side.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. In this passage Paul explains to the Christians in Rome that sin and death came through Adam the first man. However freedom and life came through Jesus Christ the second Adam.

"Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In this passage Jesus invites His disciples to be fearless and courageous in the face of rejection and opposition.
The following points are mentioned:
1. Message of Jesus is not to be hidden but to be proclaimed openly - on the house tops.
2. Disciples should not be afraid of those who kill the body but be afraid of the one who can kill the soul.
3. Even a tiny sparrow is taken care of  by God. We are of more value than many sparrows. If so, we should realize that God is in control of our lives and nothing happens without His knowledge.
4. Those who acknowledge Jesus and His message openly will be acknowledged by the heavenly Father. Hence fearless witnessing to Christ will make us worthy to receive eternal reward.
In order to respond wholeheartedly to Jesus's invitation needs great faith, courage and radical commitment. But He does not want His disciples to be members of a cowardly Church or a faithless community. He wants us to stand up and be counted for our faith.
" My job seems to be to go around picking up insults and corpses" - Bl. Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador.
"I really fear that most of those who call themselves Christians would go on almost as they do, if they believed Christianity to be nothing more than a fable" - Bl. Cardinal Newman.
"Keeping silent in the face of injustice is as DEADLY as the violence itself." - Jimmy Carter (Former President of USA)

Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy : April 19, 2020

"DOUBTING THOMAS AND THE MERCIFUL LORD"

First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1: 3-9
Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-21

   * First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. This passage gives us a glimpse of the life of the early Christian community. After experiencing the presence of the risen Lord in a very powerful way the Christian community lived like people one in heart and mind. Their life attracted many non-believers to faith and brought healing to the wounded and broken hearts of many. The community's faith in the risen Lord led to a joyful fellowship in the worship and of the unity of mind and heart. Hence the first Christians showed the depth of their faith by the fruits they produced in their lives.

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Peter. In this passage Apostle Peter praises and glorifies the loving God for His great mercy in giving us a new birth in Jesus Christ. He thanks the merciful God for the blessings of faith, love and joy in the Lord. He instructs us that "hope helps us to bear patiently the trials of this life".

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. This passage gives us a detailed account of the way the risen Lord met Thomas the Apostle. Thomas was one of the twelve, chosen by Jesus. He was present during the public life of Jesus. He was a witness to the rejection, sufferings, cruel crucifixion and shameful death of Jesus on the cross. Like most of the other disciples, he too lost hope and went away disheartened and disoriented. But when he came back on Easter day other disciples told him about the most exciting events of that morning. Specifically he was told that Jesus appeared to Peter and the other disciples. In his disappointment and confusion Thomas told them that "unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and place my fingers in the mark of the nails and place my hands in His side, I will not believe".
That evening the risen Lord took up the challenge of Thomas and confronted him along with the other disciples. Jesus showed His hand and legs and the wounded side and asked Thomas to be believing. Realizing his folly Thomas immediately expressed his regret by saying "my Lord and my God".
The story of Thomas is for all those people who were not present when the risen Lord appeared - that includes all of us - on the Easter Sunday and did not see the risen Lord physically. Hence Thomas became a key link between the age of the Apostles who saw the risen Lord with their own eyes and all the future disciples who would never see Jesus in this life and yet believe in Him.
"To believe with certainty we must begin with doubting." -St. Stanislaus.
" It is by doubting that we come to investigate and by investigating that we recognize the truth."- P. Abelard.
"It may be that Thomas' critical mind compelled Jesus to explain the teachings more deeply to him than to the other credulous disciples." - G.A. Tyrrell. 

Seventh Sunday of the Year :A: February 23, 2020

                    "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES"

First Reading: Leviticus 19: 1-2,17-18
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3: 16-22
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 38-48

   * First reading is from the book of Leviticus. In this passage the Lord God asks Moses to instruct the people of Israel regarding their way of life. They are told to be holy like the Lord God Himself. To be holy would mean - not to hate one's neighbour or to take vengeance on anyone . This teaching of the Lord God finds its echoes in the teachings of Jesus.

   * Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. In this passage Paul reminds the Corinthian Christian community that Holy Spirit dwells among them. They are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Hence they should be holy. Further he says that the wisdom of the world is folly and worthless. Paul requests them to respect one another forgetting their differences whatever that may be.

"You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. This passage contains one of the most difficult and revolutionary teachings of Lord Jesus. To love those who love us is easy and not challenging. But Jesus tells His disciples and us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Such a teaching is never heard of.
Jesus gives us the example of the heavenly Father who is good to everyone - both to the good and to the bad. Jesus goes beyond the teachings of Leviticus where love was restricted to the neighbour. Jesus makes it clear that revenge and retaliation is not for His disciples. The Old Testament teaching of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is not to be practiced by His disciples. Because revenge and retaliation eventually destroy a person and the society. Jesus asks His disciples to be better than the gentiles/ordinary folk in their behaviour.
Jesus' teaching is very sensible if we look at the world today. Hate never solves any problems. Rather when we hate another person we give him/her tremendous power over us and he/she robs us of our peace of mind and capacity to love. Let us turn our enemies into friends.
"Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends". - Abraham Lincon.
"Love is the only force capable of transforming any enemy into a friend." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"Overcome the angry by non-anger: overcome the wicked by goodness"- The Buddha.
"To error is human but to forgive is divine"- Proverb.

CHRISTMAS : A: December 25, 2019

     "BIRTH OF JESUS OUR SAVIOR"

First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7
Second Reading: Titus 2: 11-14
Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 1-14

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. In this passage Isaiah speaks about the messianic hope of a Savior who will rescue the chosen people of God from their bondage and slavery. He assures the people that the child to be born will be a wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of peace. In Jesus this prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled and He is the Lord and Savior of all humankind.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Titus. In this passage Paul reminds Titus and all of us that Christ has been revealed as God's living and loving grace and salvation of all. He encourages us to live sober and righteous lives because God in Christ has brought about salvation.

"Silent Night, Holy Night .......Savior is Born"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. In this passage Luke gives us a beautiful and most touching description of the night when Jesus our Savior and Lord was born. It is the story of heavenly Angels, about shepherds taking care of their sheep and Mother Mary with Child Jesus in the manger. The Christmas story unlike other stories is based on a historical event which took place more than 2000 years ago in little village called Bethlehem. That is the story of the birth of Jesus the Lord. God's unending love for humankind is expressed through the birth of Jesus. His love is inviting everyone to the manger like those shepherds at the first Christmas night.
Christmas brings us peace and joy. That is why that night the angels sang "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will". Yes to receive the peace of the Lord we need to be persons of good will. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger humble simple shepherds were invited to meet Him and receive the blessings of the new born babe. Child Jesus is inviting each one of us too to the manger..
           MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fourth Sunday of Advent : A: 22nd December 2019

"THE MYSTERY OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH"

First Reading : Isaiah 7: 10-14
Second Reading: Romans 1: 1-7
Gospel Reading: Matthew 1: 18-24

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. In this passage Isaiah foretells the birth of a very special child. He would be called Emmanuel. Ahaz  the King of Judah was in a great crisis. The Prophet encouraged him to have faith in the Lord God. Isaiah's constant message to the King was to trust in the Lord God. Further Isaiah invited Ahaz to ask for a sign from the Lord God. The King refused to ask for a sign however the Prophet told him that he would be given a sign by the Lord God : a son whose name will be Emmanuel - GOD WITH US.

   * Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Romans. This passage contains the opening lines from Paul to Christians in Rome. Paul refers to the human and the divine 'roots' of Jesus. He describes Jesus as a descendant of David and Son of God who is the fulfillment of all the prophecies of the past. 

"Emmanuel - God with us "
Today's Gospel passage is from St. Matthew. This passage mentions the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus is seen as the royal child of the house of David, born of a virgin. In Jesus the dynasty of David continues. He is not only the son of David but also the Son of God and Jesus was born of a virgin mother Mary. Mary's virginity points to the truth that Jesus was conceived without the intervention of a human father. A virgin mother has no precedent in any religious traditions. As we approach Christmas the prophecy of Isaiah and the interpretation of it by Matthew is brought for a specific purpose. This is to remind us that even in our most distressing situations, difficulties and problems God is with us. It is in those painful times that we realize the immense power and the greatness of God.
"Christmas is not a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill. to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas".- C. Coolidge.
" Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone" - C.M. Schulz.
          "MERRY CHRISTMAS"
"MAY THE EMMANUEL BORN IN BETHLEHEM BLESS EVERYONE"

Third Sunday of Advent: A: December 15, 2019

  "IMMINENT COMING OF THE LORD"

First Reading: Isaiah 35: 1-6a and 10
Second Reading: James 5: 7-10
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11: 1-11

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. In this passage Isiah foretells the return of the people of Israel from the Babylonian captivity as the Lord God will come to their rescue. Isaiah tells us too that we should look beyond our sorrows and disappointments of the present with great hope in God's love and His saving actions in our lives. The Prophet encourages to cheer up and not be afraid because the Lord God will save us.

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. James. In this passage the Apostle stresses the quality which all of us find it  hard - patience. He urges us to be loving and patient with one another and be patient regarding the Lord's final coming. He gives us the example of prophets who underwent sufferings but went about patiently.

"Are you the one who is to come?"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. This passage describes the predicament of John the Baptist regarding Jesus. All of us have some unfulfilled hopes and unanswered prayers and John too faced a problem with the identity of Jesus. "Are you the one or shall we look for another ?" was the question put by John. Hopes of John the Baptist regarding Jesus as the promised Messiah was not entirely fulfilled. John was imprisoned by Herod. In the prison he was confused about Jesus. The question put by John is raised by many even today. Jesus' answer to messengers of John was to observe what was happening around them and tell John concerning their experience of Jesus: sight for the blind, lame walking, dead are raised to life and the good news being preached to the poor. Is there any such experiences in our lives that would make us say,'Yes'  to Jesus.?.
Today Jesus gives us the same message - to look around and see the presence of God and His benevolent power around us. Look around and see God's mighty manifestations of love and power around us. When our hopes are broken and our dreams are shattered let us not get disappointed and disheartened but rather place our trust in the Lord.
"A prison cell is which one awaits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the  door to freedom has to be opened from outside, is not a bad picture of advent", - Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 
"Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies and do unto others as you would have done unto you" - S. Maraboli.