Pallikkoodasa 1st S,Nov.1,09
(Mt.16:13-19)
Today we celebrate the All Saints Day, a day set apart by the Church to remember all those who have found favor with God .The day reminds each one of us to follow the examples of holiness, devotion and attachment to the Lord shown by the saints, in our earthly pilgrimage to heaven.
In today’s Gospel, St. Matthew presents before us a very important moment in the lives of the Apostles. Jesus calls them together and asks what the people say about Him. They reply by giving the opinions of the people saying that Jesus is one of the prophets of the past who has come alive. Jesus now asks them what they think of Him. Peter responds to this question on behalf of all the Apostles by saying that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. There is no hesitation, no doubt no wavering in his response. It just comes spontaneously to his lips. He says confidently and boldly that the person standing before him is the Son of God.
Jesus understands the full meaning of that statement and knows fully well that it has not come to Peter through any human endeavor but by the revelation of God. Jesus realizes that Peter’s faith has made him totally open to God and that he is the recipient of a great revelation from God , the Father. Right there itself, Jesus makes him the foundation of the community he is going to gather. Peter is the Rock and upon this Rock, Jesus will build His church.
This is an appropriate moment for all of us to reflect on the implications of this statement and understand the true meaning of the church. We are the flock of Christ, the people of God, the community of believers in Christ who are firmly established on Peter and his successors. This is the uniqueness of the Catholic Church and makes it different from other denominations. Many a time, people try to water down the importance of this statement and make it appear that all denominations have equal validity. The foundation on the Rock of Peter is the most distinctive characteristic of the true community of believers.
It is also a good time for us to reflect on our commitment to Christ. Jesus is asking each one of us what we think of Him. Do we really believe that he is the Son of God? If we really believe that He is the Son of God, then, all of our ideas and attitudes on life will definitely undergo great changes. Tue followers of Christ can never be selfish, arrogant, boastful and hateful. There should be a great desire to forgive, to reach out and to come to the aid of the poor.
As Mother Teresa has said , alone we can do nothing, but with Jesus , we can do a lot of things. Today , we shall join with all our fellow brethren in faith and walk along the path of holiness, offering the Gospel of love and forgiveness and of compassion and mercy to all around us.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Elia-Sleeva,8thS.Oct.25,09
Elia-Sleeva,8th S,Oct.25,09
(Mt.8:23-34)
The reading form today’s Gospel presents before us two miracles which assert the power and authority of Jesus over the world of nature as well as those of Spirits. In unmistakable terms, these miracles prove to the disciples and to the people listening to Him that he is not just a great teacher, or a prophet but the Son of God.
The calming of the storm, undoubtedly, is a powerful assertion of the dominion of Jesus over the forces of nature. The disciples, in spite of their awareness of the divine power of Jesus through the various miracles they witnessed in their association with Jesus, were not fully conscious of the reach and depth of the authority of Jesus. Hence, when they thought that lives were in danger they cried out to the Lord for His intervention. Their cry “ Save us, Lord” provoked Jesus to calm the stormy turbulence of the sea .We can just imagine the joy and the surprise that the disciples felt when the sea was made calm. Their surprise was shown in the words they expressed: “ The winds and the sea obey him”
The second miracle happens in the territory of Gadara which is part of the gentile city of Decapolis. The two men who were afflicted by the power of Satan asked Jesus to save them from the possession. At His word, the devils left the men and escaped into the herd of swine which rushed into the sea and perished in it. The men became free of the possession and were free to resume their normal lives.
These two miracles affirm the authority of Jesus as well as His willingness to come to the aid of people who are suffering. The mercy and compassion of Jesus are also reflected in these miracles.
These two miracles were again a call to his listeners to accept Him as the Son of God and as the Savior of their lives. They were invited to forego their former lives and surrender themselves to Jesus to experience the freedom of the children of God.
What do they tell us? It is a call to each one of us not to feel diffident in life in the face of difficulties and hardships and submit ourselves to Him. His protection will always be there for us. When our hearts become turbulent because of fear, sickness, failures, tragedies, Jesus will be there to drive out those forces and calm the turbulent waters of our hearts. How consoling it is to know that the Lord will come to our help when our lives are in danger. He is the Light who will lead us when the night is dark and lonely and our steps ahead are
(Mt.8:23-34)
The reading form today’s Gospel presents before us two miracles which assert the power and authority of Jesus over the world of nature as well as those of Spirits. In unmistakable terms, these miracles prove to the disciples and to the people listening to Him that he is not just a great teacher, or a prophet but the Son of God.
The calming of the storm, undoubtedly, is a powerful assertion of the dominion of Jesus over the forces of nature. The disciples, in spite of their awareness of the divine power of Jesus through the various miracles they witnessed in their association with Jesus, were not fully conscious of the reach and depth of the authority of Jesus. Hence, when they thought that lives were in danger they cried out to the Lord for His intervention. Their cry “ Save us, Lord” provoked Jesus to calm the stormy turbulence of the sea .We can just imagine the joy and the surprise that the disciples felt when the sea was made calm. Their surprise was shown in the words they expressed: “ The winds and the sea obey him”
The second miracle happens in the territory of Gadara which is part of the gentile city of Decapolis. The two men who were afflicted by the power of Satan asked Jesus to save them from the possession. At His word, the devils left the men and escaped into the herd of swine which rushed into the sea and perished in it. The men became free of the possession and were free to resume their normal lives.
These two miracles affirm the authority of Jesus as well as His willingness to come to the aid of people who are suffering. The mercy and compassion of Jesus are also reflected in these miracles.
These two miracles were again a call to his listeners to accept Him as the Son of God and as the Savior of their lives. They were invited to forego their former lives and surrender themselves to Jesus to experience the freedom of the children of God.
What do they tell us? It is a call to each one of us not to feel diffident in life in the face of difficulties and hardships and submit ourselves to Him. His protection will always be there for us. When our hearts become turbulent because of fear, sickness, failures, tragedies, Jesus will be there to drive out those forces and calm the turbulent waters of our hearts. How consoling it is to know that the Lord will come to our help when our lives are in danger. He is the Light who will lead us when the night is dark and lonely and our steps ahead are
Friday, October 16, 2009
Elia-Sleeva,7thSu.Oct.16,09
Elia-Moosa 7th S.,09
(Mt.28:16-20)
Today we celebrate the Mission Sunday and the reading form the Gospel reminds each one of us about our mission as the followers of Christ.
Jesus just before His Ascension to heaven gathers together the apostles and gives them a commission that becomes their only task in life: to spread the Gospel and to bring every one into the flock of Christ. He gives them the authority to preach in His name and to baptize every one in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. He offers his abiding protection for them, telling them that He would be with them until the end of the world.
He does not use any parable or figurative language to convey this message. It is direct and specific. It is obligatory on the part of every disciple of Christ to become an evangelizer, a bearer of the Gospel, an announcer of the Good News.
How do we become evangelizers? First of all, we have to be believers in Jesus. Just as Peter confessed, “You a re the Christ, the Son of God”, we too have to acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our lives. If we don’t believe in the depths of our hearts that Jesus is the Lord of our lives, our Protector, the source of our lives, then, we cannot make Him known to others.
The Gospel has to become part of our lives. Our families should become first the centers of Christian love, of forgiveness, of deep and abiding faith in Jesus. It is through our lives that we have to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, what we say just become meaningless words and we become the laughing stocks of our neighbors.
Albert Schweitzer was a great missionary in Africa. There was a great reception arranged for him on one of his return trips to Chicago. People were at the train station to receive him as he got down from the train. But when he got down, he saw an elderly black lady struggling to get down and to get her suitcase from the compartment. Instead of greeting the people who came to receive him, he walked over to the elderly lady and helped her to get down. He also helped her to take the suitcase from the compartment. Can anyone doubt the sincerity of his faith? He was preaching the Gospel through his noble action. It is though our lives that the Gospel has to be preached first.
The Holy Father in his message for the Mission Sunday asks every one to transform the world “with the Gospel of love” and to “infect” every one with hope.” This Transformation has to happen first in our own personal lives. Our hearts should be devoid of all ill-feelings, revenge, hatred etc. We should carry this spirit of love and forgiveness to our places of work and living---to our schools and work-places. Let the people who interact with us know that we live by different standards.
Then our witness to the Gospel becomes really genuine and sincere. The commandment that Jesus has given us becomes part of our lives. We can ask ourselves at the end of every day: “ How did I proclaim Jesus today in my life?”
We also have to help the Church in its mission of evangelization by our personal contribution of time, talent and financial resources.
(Mt.28:16-20)
Today we celebrate the Mission Sunday and the reading form the Gospel reminds each one of us about our mission as the followers of Christ.
Jesus just before His Ascension to heaven gathers together the apostles and gives them a commission that becomes their only task in life: to spread the Gospel and to bring every one into the flock of Christ. He gives them the authority to preach in His name and to baptize every one in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. He offers his abiding protection for them, telling them that He would be with them until the end of the world.
He does not use any parable or figurative language to convey this message. It is direct and specific. It is obligatory on the part of every disciple of Christ to become an evangelizer, a bearer of the Gospel, an announcer of the Good News.
How do we become evangelizers? First of all, we have to be believers in Jesus. Just as Peter confessed, “You a re the Christ, the Son of God”, we too have to acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our lives. If we don’t believe in the depths of our hearts that Jesus is the Lord of our lives, our Protector, the source of our lives, then, we cannot make Him known to others.
The Gospel has to become part of our lives. Our families should become first the centers of Christian love, of forgiveness, of deep and abiding faith in Jesus. It is through our lives that we have to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, what we say just become meaningless words and we become the laughing stocks of our neighbors.
Albert Schweitzer was a great missionary in Africa. There was a great reception arranged for him on one of his return trips to Chicago. People were at the train station to receive him as he got down from the train. But when he got down, he saw an elderly black lady struggling to get down and to get her suitcase from the compartment. Instead of greeting the people who came to receive him, he walked over to the elderly lady and helped her to get down. He also helped her to take the suitcase from the compartment. Can anyone doubt the sincerity of his faith? He was preaching the Gospel through his noble action. It is though our lives that the Gospel has to be preached first.
The Holy Father in his message for the Mission Sunday asks every one to transform the world “with the Gospel of love” and to “infect” every one with hope.” This Transformation has to happen first in our own personal lives. Our hearts should be devoid of all ill-feelings, revenge, hatred etc. We should carry this spirit of love and forgiveness to our places of work and living---to our schools and work-places. Let the people who interact with us know that we live by different standards.
Then our witness to the Gospel becomes really genuine and sincere. The commandment that Jesus has given us becomes part of our lives. We can ask ourselves at the end of every day: “ How did I proclaim Jesus today in my life?”
We also have to help the Church in its mission of evangelization by our personal contribution of time, talent and financial resources.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Elia-Sleeva6t.S,09
Elia-Moosa,6th S.,09
(Mt.20:1-16)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is giving his listeners a new perspective on God’s kingdom and salvation. Until the teaching of Jesus, the Kingdom of God was seen as a birthright of Israel and was exclusively confined to the Israelites. Salvation was seen not only as belonging to a particular race but also as something to be attained by one’s own effort by observing the rituals of tradition. Through the parable of the laborers of the vineyard, Jesus is correcting the perception of the Israelites on Salvation.
The parable of the laborers highlights the current notions prevalent in Israel on salvation and God’s kingdom. The earlier laborers hired for work in the vineyard represent the Chosen people of Israel. They are given the privilege of the call to be part of the kingdom of God. But Jesus points out to them that they are not the only people called to Kingdom .The gentiles are also entitled to the grace of God and hence, the call goes out to them also to join the kingdom of heaven.
What Jesus tries to make his listeners understand is that God’s offer of salvation is not limited to one particular race or nation. It is open to all. It is also not confined to those who are righteous but also to sinners. No one is excluded from the call of God. It is a free gift. Salvation is not attained by human effort but given as a pure gift of God.
The early laborers complain that they have worked all day and get the same wage as the laborers who come in the evening. Jesus makes it clear that in the kingdom of God, human considerations like these have no place. There, one experiences the peace and joy that God gives. The more one is aligned with God, the more one experiences the abundance and generosity of God, love. Envy, competition, jealousy, superiority or inferiority has no place in a world that is permeated with love, peace and joy. These are the benefits that God gives to one who comes to Him. These experiences are similar to the love the children experience when they are with their parents. The older and the younger children experience the same kind of love. The oldest is happy because he gets a longer time to experience it and the enjoyment of the love is not considered as a burden.
So too , when one becomes part of the kingdom of heaven, one does not feel burdened by earthly values of being the first or the last. Those considerations disappear in the vast ocean of love and happiness that one enjoys in heaven. The fist and the last are on the same footing.
How consoling it is to know that at any time in one’s life one can come back to the Lord and experience the joy of salvation. Even in the evening of one’s life, at death bed, one can experience the grace of God.
The parable of the laborers in the vineyard, hence, is a call to all to come to him and to experience the joy of salvation.
Notes:
The parable highlights God’s generosity. This is not about rewards but about salvation .The Jews divided the whole day into eight parts, four night parts(called “watches”) and four day parts(called” hours”).
(Mt.20:1-16)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is giving his listeners a new perspective on God’s kingdom and salvation. Until the teaching of Jesus, the Kingdom of God was seen as a birthright of Israel and was exclusively confined to the Israelites. Salvation was seen not only as belonging to a particular race but also as something to be attained by one’s own effort by observing the rituals of tradition. Through the parable of the laborers of the vineyard, Jesus is correcting the perception of the Israelites on Salvation.
The parable of the laborers highlights the current notions prevalent in Israel on salvation and God’s kingdom. The earlier laborers hired for work in the vineyard represent the Chosen people of Israel. They are given the privilege of the call to be part of the kingdom of God. But Jesus points out to them that they are not the only people called to Kingdom .The gentiles are also entitled to the grace of God and hence, the call goes out to them also to join the kingdom of heaven.
What Jesus tries to make his listeners understand is that God’s offer of salvation is not limited to one particular race or nation. It is open to all. It is also not confined to those who are righteous but also to sinners. No one is excluded from the call of God. It is a free gift. Salvation is not attained by human effort but given as a pure gift of God.
The early laborers complain that they have worked all day and get the same wage as the laborers who come in the evening. Jesus makes it clear that in the kingdom of God, human considerations like these have no place. There, one experiences the peace and joy that God gives. The more one is aligned with God, the more one experiences the abundance and generosity of God, love. Envy, competition, jealousy, superiority or inferiority has no place in a world that is permeated with love, peace and joy. These are the benefits that God gives to one who comes to Him. These experiences are similar to the love the children experience when they are with their parents. The older and the younger children experience the same kind of love. The oldest is happy because he gets a longer time to experience it and the enjoyment of the love is not considered as a burden.
So too , when one becomes part of the kingdom of heaven, one does not feel burdened by earthly values of being the first or the last. Those considerations disappear in the vast ocean of love and happiness that one enjoys in heaven. The fist and the last are on the same footing.
How consoling it is to know that at any time in one’s life one can come back to the Lord and experience the joy of salvation. Even in the evening of one’s life, at death bed, one can experience the grace of God.
The parable of the laborers in the vineyard, hence, is a call to all to come to him and to experience the joy of salvation.
Notes:
The parable highlights God’s generosity. This is not about rewards but about salvation .The Jews divided the whole day into eight parts, four night parts(called “watches”) and four day parts(called” hours”).
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Syro-Malabar Catholic Sermon,Elia-Sleeva,5thSun.
Elia-Sleeva,5thS.,09
• Today’s Gospel presents before us a very interesting dialogue on faith and prayer between Jesus and the Canaanite Woman.
• She is called a Canaanite woman because she comes from Sidon which is named after the first-born son of Canaan (Gen.10.13).Jesus is in the gentile territory of Tyre and Sidon and hence the woman gets a chance to ask Him for mercy and compassion.
• Through several denials and questionings, Jesus tests the woman’s faith and each denial makes her more forceful in her request. She gives out a heart-wrenching cry: “Lord, Son of David, have pity on me.” Any one’s heart would melt at the pain and sadness expressed through her request.
• Jesus, ironically, does not grant her request right away. He keeps her waiting and she continues with much more forceful pleadings. She is not offended by the words of denial as she was sure she was standing before the Son of God. Deep beneath her persistent request is her strong faith in the power of the Lord. She has already acknowledged him as the Messiah, by calling Him the Son of David. The delay in the granting of the request gives her a greater opportunity to affirm her faith more powerfully. Finally Jesus accedes to her request, praising her great faith: “Woman, You have great faith.”
• This event opens our eyes to the nature of faith and prayer. The persistency and constancy in her prayer exemplify for each one of us the characteristics that are needed in a prayer. Perseverance, humility and trust are required in our prayer- life. Like the Canaanite woman, we can approach the Lord at any time in our life, on any occasion; the only thing that is required of us is that our hearts should be open to the will of God and that we should trust Him completely and totally.
• The Canaanite woman represents every one of us in need of God’s grace and mercy .Whatever may be our situation, when we approach Him in true humility and total dependence, He will grant our requests. His mercy is without limits. Just as He has reached out to the gentile woman, he will reach out to us, irrespective of the conditions in which we find ourselves. Obstacles, hardships and sicknesses should not deter us from approaching him. Like the woman we should be persistent in our requests to Him.
• According to St. John Chrysostom, the Canaanite woman represents every repentant sinner. Her plea resembles the plea of all of us who are sinful, frail and weak. As the Lord has healed the woman’s daughter, He would definitely heal us and remove all hardships from our lives. Today’s Gospel thus offers us tremendous comfort and hope, letting us know that the Lord will never abandon us when we approach Him in total faith and humility.
• Notes:
• Tyre and Sidon—gentile cities in Phoenicia(modern Lebanon)
• Dog: a term the Jews applied to the gentiles. Jesus is not degrading the woman but is reflecting the Jew’s attitude to the gentiles. She does not contest the use of the term: instead, agrees to be considered a gentile –a dog—as long as she could receive God’s blessings.
• Today’s Gospel presents before us a very interesting dialogue on faith and prayer between Jesus and the Canaanite Woman.
• She is called a Canaanite woman because she comes from Sidon which is named after the first-born son of Canaan (Gen.10.13).Jesus is in the gentile territory of Tyre and Sidon and hence the woman gets a chance to ask Him for mercy and compassion.
• Through several denials and questionings, Jesus tests the woman’s faith and each denial makes her more forceful in her request. She gives out a heart-wrenching cry: “Lord, Son of David, have pity on me.” Any one’s heart would melt at the pain and sadness expressed through her request.
• Jesus, ironically, does not grant her request right away. He keeps her waiting and she continues with much more forceful pleadings. She is not offended by the words of denial as she was sure she was standing before the Son of God. Deep beneath her persistent request is her strong faith in the power of the Lord. She has already acknowledged him as the Messiah, by calling Him the Son of David. The delay in the granting of the request gives her a greater opportunity to affirm her faith more powerfully. Finally Jesus accedes to her request, praising her great faith: “Woman, You have great faith.”
• This event opens our eyes to the nature of faith and prayer. The persistency and constancy in her prayer exemplify for each one of us the characteristics that are needed in a prayer. Perseverance, humility and trust are required in our prayer- life. Like the Canaanite woman, we can approach the Lord at any time in our life, on any occasion; the only thing that is required of us is that our hearts should be open to the will of God and that we should trust Him completely and totally.
• The Canaanite woman represents every one of us in need of God’s grace and mercy .Whatever may be our situation, when we approach Him in true humility and total dependence, He will grant our requests. His mercy is without limits. Just as He has reached out to the gentile woman, he will reach out to us, irrespective of the conditions in which we find ourselves. Obstacles, hardships and sicknesses should not deter us from approaching him. Like the woman we should be persistent in our requests to Him.
• According to St. John Chrysostom, the Canaanite woman represents every repentant sinner. Her plea resembles the plea of all of us who are sinful, frail and weak. As the Lord has healed the woman’s daughter, He would definitely heal us and remove all hardships from our lives. Today’s Gospel thus offers us tremendous comfort and hope, letting us know that the Lord will never abandon us when we approach Him in total faith and humility.
• Notes:
• Tyre and Sidon—gentile cities in Phoenicia(modern Lebanon)
• Dog: a term the Jews applied to the gentiles. Jesus is not degrading the woman but is reflecting the Jew’s attitude to the gentiles. She does not contest the use of the term: instead, agrees to be considered a gentile –a dog—as long as she could receive God’s blessings.
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