Matthew 14:22–33 സീറോ-മലബാർ IV ഞായർ കൈത്ത / Latin XIX Sunday in Ordinary Time

പ്രത്യാശയുടെ കരം: ജീവിതത്തിലെ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുകളിൽ ഈശോയിലേക്ക് കണ്ണുകൾ ഉയർത്താം ആമുഖം രാത്രിയുടെ അ യാമങ്ങളിൽ ഒരു ചെറിയ വള്ളത്തിൽ യാത്ര ചെയ്യുകയാണെന്ന് സങ്കൽപ്പിക്കുക. ചുറ്റും ഇരുട്ട്, കാറ്റ് ആഞ്ഞുവീശുന്നു, ഭയപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന തിരമാലകൾ വള്ളത്തിലേക്ക് ആഞ്ഞടിക്കുന്നു. എന്തുചെയ്യണമെന്നറിയാതെ എല്ലാവരും പരിഭ്രാന്തരായിരിക്കുന്നു. ഗലീലി കടലിൽ ശിഷ്യന്മാരും ഇതേ അവസ്ഥയിലൂടെയാണ് കടന്നുപോയത്. അതൊരു പഴയ സമുദ്രയാത്രയുടെ കഥ മാത്രമല്ല; നമ്മുടെ തന്നെ ജീവിതയാത്രയുടെ നേർക്കാഴ്ചയാണിത്. സാമ്പത്തിക പ്രയാസങ്ങൾ, കുടുംബത്തിലെ ആശങ്കകൾ, ആരോഗ്യപ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ, മാനസികമായ അനിശ്ചിതത്വങ്ങൾ എന്നിങ്ങനെ നിരവധി കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുകൾ നമ്മളും ജീവിതത്തിൽ അഭിമുഖീകരിക്കാറുണ്ട്. ഈ പ്രതിസന്ധി ഘട്ടങ്ങളിൽ ഭയപ്പെടാതെ എങ്ങനെ മുന്നോട്ടുപോകാമെന്ന് വിശുദ്ധ മത്തായിയുടെ സുവിശേഷം നമ്മെ പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ഒരു കഥ: വിശ്വാസത്തിന്റെ നങ്കൂരം കടലിലെ ശക്തമായ തിരമാലകളെ പ്രതിരോധിക്കുന്ന ഒരു പാറക്കെട്ടിനു മുകളിൽ വർഷങ്ങളോളം സേവനം ചെയ്ത ഒരു പഴയ ലൈറ്റ് ഹൗസ് കീപ്പറുടെ കഥയാണിത്. ഒരിക്കൽ, അവിടെയൊരു കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുണ്ടായ രാത്രിയിൽ, അദ്ദേഹത്തോടൊപ്പമുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ഒരു സന്ദർശകൻ ഭയത്തോടെ ചോദിച്ചു: "ഈ വലിയ തിരമാലകളിൽ ഈ ലൈറ്റ് ഹൗസ് തകർന്നുപോകുമെന്ന് നിങ്ങൾക്ക് പേടിയില്ലേ?" അദ്ദേഹം ശാന്തമായി പുഞ്ചിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു: "കാറ്റിന് എത്ര വേഗത്തിൽ വീശാം, തിരമാലകൾക്ക് എത്ര ഉയരത്തിൽ ആഞ്ഞടിക്കാം. പക്ഷേ ഈ ഗോപുരം പണിതിരിക്കുന്നത് ഉറച്ച പാറമേലാണ്. കടലിനെ ശാന്തമാക്കുകയല്ല എന്റെ ജോലി, മറിച്ച് കപ്പലുകൾക്ക് വഴിതെറ്റാതിരിക്കാൻ വെളിച്ചം എപ്പോഴും ജ്വലിപ്പിച്ചു നിർത്തുക എന്നതാണ്." ഇന്നത്തെ സുവിശേഷത്തിലും ശിഷ്യന്മാർ എതിർകാറ്റിൽ പെട്ട് ഉഴലുകയാണ്. ഈശോ അവരെ പറഞ്ഞയച്ച ശേഷം മലമുകളിൽ പ്രാർത്ഥനയിൽ ആയിരുന്നു. നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ പ്രതിസന്ധികൾ ഉണ്ടാകുമ്പോൾ നമ്മെ കൈവിട്ട് ഈശോ അകന്നുപോകുന്നില്ല. ഇരുളടഞ്ഞ യാമങ്ങളിൽ അവിടുന്ന് നമ്മുടെ അടുത്തേക്ക് വരുന്നു. ശിഷ്യന്മാരുടെ അരികിലേക്ക് ഈശോ വെള്ളത്തിന്മേൽ നടന്നു വരുന്നതു കണ്ട് പത്രോസ് വലിയൊരു വിശ്വാസത്തോടെ ചോദിക്കുന്നു: "കർത്താവേ, നീയാണെങ്കിൽ വെള്ളത്തിന്മേൽ നടന്ന് നിന്റെ അടുക്കലേക്ക് വരാൻ എന്നോട് കല്പിക്കൂ." ഈശോ "വരൂ" എന്ന് വിളിച്ചപ്പോൾ പത്രോസ് വള്ളത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഇറങ്ങി ആ അത്ഭുത കടലിലൂടെ നടന്നു. പത്രോസിന്റെ കണ്ണുകൾ പൂർണ്ണമായും ഈശോയിലായിരുന്നിടത്തോളം കാലം ആ പ്രകൃതി നിയമങ്ങളെല്ലാം അവന് കീഴടങ്ങിയിരുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ശക്തമായ കാറ്റും തിരമാലകളും കണ്ട് അവൻ ഭയന്നുപോയി. ഈശോയിൽ നിന്നും ശ്രദ്ധ തിരിച്ച് തിരമാലകളിലേക്ക് നോക്കിയ ആ നിമിഷം അവൻ വെള്ളത്തിലേക്ക് താഴ്ന്നുതുടങ്ങി. എന്നാൽ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുക, താഴ്ന്നുതുടങ്ങിയ ഉടൻ പത്രോസ് സ്വന്തം നീന്തൽ മികവുകൊണ്ടോ മറ്റു വഴികൾ തേടിയോ രക്ഷപ്പെടാൻ നോക്കിയില്ല. പകരം അവൻ വിശുദ്ധ ലിഖിതത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും ശക്തവും ചെറുതുമായ ആ പ്രാർത്ഥന ചുരുങ്ങി: "കർത്താവേ, എന്നെ രക്ഷിക്കണമേ!" ഉടൻ തന്നെ ഈശോ തന്റെ കരം നീട്ടി അവനെ പിടിച്ചുയർത്തി. നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലേക്കുള്ള സന്ദേശം പത്രോസിന്റെ അനുഭവം നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലും പലപ്പോഴും ആവർത്തിക്കപ്പെടാറില്ലേ? നമ്മൾ പുതിയ കാര്യങ്ങൾ തുടങ്ങുമ്പോഴോ വലിയ പ്രതിസന്ധികളെ നേരിടുമ്പോഴോ വലിയ ആത്മവിശ്വാസത്തോടെയാണ് തുടങ്ങുന്നത്. എന്നാൽ ഒരു ചെറിയ തിരിച്ചടി ഉണ്ടായാൽ—ഒരു മോശം മെഡിക്കൽ റിപ്പോർട്ടോ, സാമ്പത്തിക തകർച്ചയോ, കുടുംബപരമായ പ്രശ്നങ്ങളോ വരുമ്പോൾ—നമ്മുടെ കണ്ണുകൾ ഈശോയിൽ നിന്ന് അകലുന്നു. നമ്മൾ നമ്മുടെ പ്രശ്നങ്ങളുടെ "കാറ്റിലേക്കും തിരമാലകളിലേക്കും" മാത്രം നോക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങുന്നു. അങ്ങനെ നിരാശയിലേക്ക് ആണ്ടുപോകുന്നു. ഇന്നത്തെ വായനകൾ നമുക്ക് രണ്ട് പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട കാര്യങ്ങൾ ഓർമ്മിപ്പിച്ചു തരുന്നു: * ജീവിതത്തിലെ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുകൾ അർത്ഥമാക്കുന്നത് ഈശോ നമ്മെ കൈവിട്ടു എന്നല്ല. രാത്രിയുടെ അ യാമങ്ങളിൽ ശിഷ്യന്മാരുടെ അടുത്തേക്ക് അവിടുന്ന് വന്നതുപോലെ, നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും ഇരുണ്ട നിമിഷങ്ങളിലും ഈശോ നമ്മോടൊപ്പമുണ്ട്. * നമ്മൾ ഹൃദയത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വിളിച്ചപേക്ഷിക്കുമ്പോൾ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ സഹായം ഉടനടി ഉണ്ടാകും. പത്രോസ് മുങ്ങിത്താഴുമ്പോൾ ഈശോ അവനെ കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തുകയല്ല ചെയ്തത്, മറിച്ച് ഉടൻ തന്നെ തന്റെ കരം നീട്ടി പിടിക്കുകയാണ് ചെയ്തത്. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ വലിയ തിരമാലകൾ നിങ്ങളെ തളർത്താൻ നോക്കുമ്പോൾ, നിങ്ങളുടെ ശ്രദ്ധ ഈശോയിൽ നിന്ന് മാറിപ്പോകരുത്. അവിടുത്തെ നോക്കി വിശ്വസ്തയോടെ പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുക: “കർത്താവേ, എന്നെ രക്ഷിക്കണമേ!” അവിടുന്ന് എപ്പോഴും തന്റെ കരം നീട്ടി നമ്മെ താങ്ങാനും നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയത്തിന് സമാധാനം നൽകാനും കൂടെയുണ്ട്.

Mathew 14:22–33 Syro-Malabar IV Sunday of Kaitha / Latin XIX Sunday in Ordinary Time

Homily: Keeping Our Eyes on the Savior in the Midst of Life's Storms Introduction Imagine sitting in a small boat in the dead of night. The wind is howling, the waves are crashing violently against the wooden hull, and spray is blinding your eyes. Panic sets in. You feel entirely helpless. This was the terrifying reality for the disciples on the Sea of Galilee. Yet, this Gospel scene is more than just an ancient maritime story; it is a vivid portrait of our own human journey. We all face unexpected storms—financial stress, family anxieties, health crises, or moments of profound inner doubt. In these trials, the Gospel of Matthew invites us to look closely at what happens when the waves rise and how Jesus responds to our fears. The Story: The Anchor of Faith Consider the true story of a veteran lighthouse keeper who spent decades stationed on a treacherous, wave-battered rock off the coast. One stormy night, a visitor who was trapped there with him looked out at the churning, mountainous waves and asked, "Aren't you terrified that the lighthouse will be swept away?" The old keeper smiled calmly and replied, "The winds can roar and the waves can crash all they want, but this tower is built on solid bedrock. My job isn't to calm the sea; my job is to keep the light burning bright so ships don't lose their way." In our Gospel today, the disciples are tossed by a contrary wind. Jesus sends them ahead while He spends time on the mountain in prayer. Even when we feel abandoned in the middle of our struggles, Christ is interceding for us. When He finally comes to them walking on the water, Peter steps out in bold faith. As long as Peter keeps his eyes fixed firmly on Jesus, he defies nature and walks above the chaos. But the moment he glances away to look at the howling winds and the fierce waves, fear creeps into his heart, and he begins to sink. Notice what Peter does next—he doesn't try to swim harder or figure it out on his own. Instead, he utters the shortest, most powerful prayer in Scripture: "Lord, save me!" And Scripture tells us that immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him. Application for Our Daily Lives How often do we mirror Peter's experience? We start our projects, face our daily challenges, or try to live out our faith with great enthusiasm. But the moment an unexpected problem arises—a negative medical report, a sudden job loss, or a broken relationship—we take our eyes off Christ. We begin looking only at the "wind and waves" of our problems, and down we go into anxiety, despair, and doubt. Today’s readings remind us of two vital truths: * The storms of life do not mean Jesus has abandoned us. Just as He walked toward the disciples in the fourth watch of the night, He comes to us precisely when things look darkest. * God’s rescue is immediate when we call out. Jesus doesn’t lecture Peter while he is drowning; He immediately stretches out His hand. When the heavy winds of life threaten to pull you under, remember that you do not need extraordinary strength—you only need to turn your gaze back to the Lord and pray, “Lord, save me!” He is always ready to catch you by the hand, calm the chaos, and bring peace to your troubled heart.

Luke 10:38-42; സീറോ-മലബാർ III ഞായർ കൈത്ത

1.കഥ: ശതകോടീശ്വരന്റെ പോക്കറ്റ് ആഡംബരക്കപ്പലിൽ അപൂർവ്വമായി ഒരു വാരാന്ത്യ വിശ്രമ യാത്ര നടത്താൻ തീരുമാനിച്ച ഒരു ശതകോടീശ്വരനായ വ്യവസായിയെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ഒരു പ്രശസ്തമായ കഥയുണ്ട്. സൂര്യാസ്തമതം ആസ്വദിച്ച് കപ്പലിന്റെ കൈവരിയിൽ നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ, പെട്ടെന്ന് കപ്പലിന് കുറുകെ ഒരു കാറ്റടിച്ചു. അത് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പുതിയതും, വിലകൂടിയതും, വജ്രങ്ങൾ പതിച്ചതുമായ സ്വിസ് വാച്ച് തെറിച്ചു വീഴ്ത്തി. ആ വാച്ച് കൈവരിയിലൂടെ താഴേക്ക് ഊർന്നു വീണ് ആഴമേറിയ കടലിലേക്ക് വീണു. ഒരു നിമിഷം പോലും വൈകാതെ, ഒട്ടും മടിക്കാതെ, അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ ഇറ്റാലിയൻ ലെതർ ഷൂകളും വിലകൂടിയ കോട്ടും അഴിച്ചുമാറ്റി, കടലിലെ അലമാലകളിലേക്ക് നേരെ ചാടാൻ തയ്യാറെടുത്തു. അടുത്തുകൂടിയ ഒരു വിനോദസഞ്ചാരി അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ കയ്യിൽ പിടിച്ച് ഉറക്കെ വിളിച്ചു പറഞ്ഞു, "നിങ്ങൾക്ക് ഭ്രാന്താണോ?! അതൊരു വെറും വാച്ചല്ലേ? നിങ്ങൾ ഒരു ശതകോടീശ്വരനാണ്! നാളെ ഇതുപോലെയുള്ള നൂറ് വാച്ചുകൾ കൂടി നിങ്ങൾക്ക് വാങ്ങാമല്ലോ!" ശതകോടീശ്വരൻ ആ ടൂറിസ്റ്റിനെ നോക്കി കണ്ണിറുക്കി, തട്ടിമാറ്റി തിരിച്ചടിച്ചു, "നിങ്ങൾക്ക് മനസ്സിലാകുന്നില്ല! ആ വാച്ചിൽ വജ്രങ്ങൾ മാത്രമല്ല ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നത്—എന്റെ എല്ലാ താക്കോലുകളും പേഴ്സും എന്റെ ഹൃദയവും അതിനോടൊപ്പമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു! ഞാൻ ആരാണെന്നതിന്റെയെല്ലാം സർവ്വസ്വവും ആ ഒരൊറ്റ വസ്തുവിലാണ്!" അങ്ങനെ അദ്ദേഹം താഴേക്ക് ചാടി. 2.സ്വർഗ്ഗരാജ്യത്തിന്റെ തീപ്പൊരി സുവിശേഷത്തിൽ യേശു നമ്മോട് ഹൃസ്വമായ ചില ഉപമകൾ പറയുന്നു: ഒരു മനുഷ്യൻ വയലിൽ ഒളിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന നിധി കണ്ടെത്തുന്നു; ഒരു വ്യാപാരി വിലയേറിയ മുത്ത് കണ്ടെത്തുന്നു; ഒരു മീൻപിടുത്തക്കാരൻ കടലിലേക്ക് വലയെറിയുന്നു. ഈ ആദ്യത്തെ രണ്ട് ഉപമകളിലെ കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളുടെ പെട്ടെന്നുള്ളതും തീവ്രവുമായ പ്രതികരണം ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുക. നിധി കണ്ടെത്തിയ മനുഷ്യനും മുത്ത് കണ്ടെത്തിയ വ്യാപാരിയും ഒട്ടും മടിക്കുന്നില്ല. അവർ ഒരു കമ്മിറ്റി ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നില്ല. ഒരു ഫോകസ് ഗ്രൂപ്പും നടത്തുന്നില്ല. പകരം, തിരുവെഴുത്ത് നമ്മോട് പറയുന്നത് അവർ "ആഹ്ലാദത്തോടുകൂടി" പോയി തങ്ങളുടെ കൈവശമുള്ളതെല്ലാം വിറ്റുവെന്നാണ്. ഓരോ അവസാന സ്വത്തും, ഓരോ ബാക്ക്-അപ്പ് പ്ലാനും, ഓരോ സുരക്ഷാ കവചവും വിറ്റ് അവർ ആ വയലും മുത്തും സ്വന്തമാക്കുന്നു. എന്തുകൊണ്ട്? കാരണം അവർ തങ്ങളുടെ മുന്നിൽ കണ്ടത് പരമമായ വിലമതിപ്പുള്ള വസ്തുവായിരുന്നു. മറ്റെല്ലാറ്റിനെയും അപേക്ഷിച്ച് തങ്ങൾ മുറുകെപ്പിടിച്ചിരുന്ന ബാക്കിയെല്ലാം വെറും പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് കളിപ്പാട്ടങ്ങൾ മാത്രമാണെന്ന് അവർ തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞു. 3.നാം നിധി നഷ്ടപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന രണ്ട് വഴികൾ സഹോദരങ്ങളെ, സ്വർഗ്ഗരാജ്യം—അതായത് സാക്ഷാൽ യേശുക്രിസ്തുവും ദൈവവുമായുള്ള ഐക്യത്തിൽ ജീവിക്കുന്ന ജീവിതം—നമ്മുടെ ഇടയിൽ തന്നെയുണ്ട്. എന്നാൽ ശതകോടീശ്വരന്റെ കരുതിക്കൂട്ടിയ വാച്ച് പോലെ അല്ലാതെ, വിലയേറിയ മുത്ത് പോലെ നാം ഇതിനെ എത്രതവണ കാണുന്നുണ്ട്? 1. അരമനസ്സോടെയുള്ള ക്രിസ്തുജീവിതം: നമുക്ക് ദൈവത്തെ വേണം, പക്ഷേ കൂടെ ഒരു സുരക്ഷിത ഇൻഷുറൻസ് പോളിസിയും വേണം. ദൈവത്തിന് എല്ലാം നൽകിയാൽ നമുക്ക് എന്തെങ്കിലും നഷ്ടപ്പെടുമെന്ന് ഭയന്ന്, നമ്മുടെ സ്വന്തം അജണ്ടകളിലും സുഖസൗകര്യങ്ങളിലും പാപങ്ങളിലും നാം നമ്മുടെ കൈകൾ മുറുകെപ്പിടിക്കുന്നു. 2. ശീലങ്ങളുടെ മിഥ്യാധാരണ: കാലഘട്ടത്തിന്റെ അവസാനത്തിൽ വല വലിച്ചുകയറ്റുന്ന മീൻപിടുത്തക്കാരെപ്പോലെ, ശീലത്താൽ മാത്രം നാം നമ്മുടെ വിശ്വാസത്തെ യാന്ത്രികമായി കൊണ്ടുനടക്കുന്നു. പഴക്കം കൊണ്ട് കുർബാനയിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നു, കടപ്പാട് കൊണ്ട് പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുന്നു, എന്നാൽ നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയങ്ങൾ തണുത്തുറയാൻ അനുവദിക്കുന്നു. 4.ഗൃഹനാഥന്റെ കലവറ ഈ അധ്യായം യേശു ഒരു വിചിത്രവും മനോഹരവുമായ രൂപകത്തോടെയാണ് അവസാനിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. ശിഷ്യന്മാർ കാര്യങ്ങൾ മനസ്സിലാക്കിയോ എന്ന് ചോദിക്കുകയും, അവർ അതേ എന്ന് മറുപടി നൽകുമ്പോൾ, അവരെ "പുതിയതും പഴയതുമായത് തന്റെ കലവറയിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്തെടുക്കുന്ന ഗൃഹനാഥനോട്" അദ്ഭുതകരമായി ഉപമിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. കത്തോലിക്കരായ നമുക്ക് അതിമനോഹരമായ ഒരു കലവറയുണ്ട്. നമുക്ക് "പഴയ" നിധികളുണ്ട്: തിരുവെഴുത്തുകൾ, 2,000 വർഷത്തെ സഭാ പാരമ്പര്യം, വിശുദ്ധരുടെ ജ്ഞാനം, സുവിശേഷത്തിന്റെ മാറ്റമില്ലാത്ത ധാർമ്മിക സത്യങ്ങൾ. കൂടാതെ നമുക്ക് "പുതിയ" നിധികളുമുണ്ട്: നമ്മുടെ ആധുനിക ആകുലതകൾക്കും കുടുംബങ്ങൾക്കും തൊഴിലിടങ്ങൾക്കും ഇടയിൽ, ഇന്ന് 2026-ൽ, ക്രിസ്തുവിനെ പ്രകടമാക്കാൻ ദൈവം നമ്മെ എങ്ങനെയാണ് വിളിക്കുന്നത് എന്നത്. ഈ നിധികളെയെല്ലാം ഒരു ഖജനാവിൽ പൂട്ടിയിടാൻ നമുക്ക് കഴിയുകയില്ല. നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയ വാതിലുകൾ മലർക്കെ തുറന്ന്, സുവിശേഷത്തിന്റെ സന്തോഷം യാഥാർത്ഥ്യത്തിനായി ദാഹിക്കുന്ന ലോകത്തിലേക്ക് ചൊരിയേണ്ടവരാണ് നാം. 5.ഉപസംഹാരം: നിങ്ങളുടെ കൈകളിൽ എന്താണുള്ളത്? ഈ ആഴ്ച നിങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതം ഒന്ന് പരിശോധിക്കുക. നിങ്ങൾ നിക്ഷേപിക്കേണ്ട "വയൽ" എന്താണ്? അനശ്വരമായി നിലനിൽക്കുന്ന ഒരേയൊരു വസ്തുവിനെ മുറുകെപ്പിടിക്കുന്നതിനായി, യേശു നിങ്ങളോട് ഉപേക്ഷിക്കാൻ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്ന ശീലമോ ശ്രദ്ധതിരിക്കലോ ഭയമോ എന്താണ്? സ്വർഗ്ഗരാജ്യം ഒരു ഭാരമല്ല; അത് പരിശുദ്ധവും മായമില്ലാത്തതുമായ ആഹ്ലാദമാണ്. വ്യാപാരിയെയും വയലിലെ മനുഷ്യനെയും പോലെ, ഒരിക്കലും തുരുമ്പെടുക്കാത്തതോ മങ്ങിപ്പോകാത്തതോ എടുത്തുമാറ്റപ്പെടാത്തതോ ആയ ഒരേയൊരു നിധിക്കായി എല്ലാം റിസ്ക് ചെയ്യാനുള്ള ധൈര്യം നമുക്കുണ്ടാകട്ടെ.

Luke 10:38-42; സീറോ-മലബാർ III ഞായർ കൈത്ത

1.നിധിയും വിലയേറിയ മുത്തും യേശു പറയുന്നു: സ്വർഗ്ഗരാജ്യം വയലിൽ ഒളിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന നിധിപോലെയും വിലയേറിയ മുത്തുപോലെയും ആണ്. നിധി കണ്ട മനുഷ്യൻ സന്തോഷത്തോടെ എല്ലാം വിറ്റ് വയൽ സ്വന്തമാക്കുന്നു. മുത്തു കണ്ട വ്യാപാരി തന്റെ എല്ലാം വിറ്റ് അത് സ്വന്തമാക്കുന്നു. സന്ദേശം വ്യക്തമാണ്: ദൈവരാജ്യം ലോകത്തിലെ ഏതു സമ്പത്തിലും അധികം വിലപ്പെട്ടതാണ്. 2.ജീവിതത്തിലെ വെല്ലുവിളി: നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ പലപ്പോഴും ലോകസമ്പത്തുകൾ, സ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ, സുഖങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയിൽ പിടിച്ചുനിൽക്കാൻ നമ്മൾ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നു. എന്നാൽ യേശു ഓർമ്മിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്, ദൈവരാജ്യത്തിന്റെ സന്തോഷം എല്ലാത്തിനെയും മറികടക്കുന്നു എന്നതാണ്. യഥാർത്ഥ ശിഷ്യത്വം നഷ്ടം അല്ല, മറിച്ച് ക്രിസ്തുവിൽ ലഭിക്കുന്ന മഹത്തായ നേട്ടമാണ്. 3.വലയും വിധിയും: യേശു വലയുടെ ഉപമയും പറയുന്നു. വലയിൽ എല്ലാ തരത്തിലുള്ള മീനുകളും പിടിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു, എന്നാൽ അവസാനം നല്ലവ മാത്രം സൂക്ഷിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ഇത് അന്തിമവിധിയുടെ ഓർമ്മപ്പെടുത്തലാണ്. വിശ്വസ്തമായി ജീവിക്കുന്നവർ മാത്രമേ ദൈവരാജ്യത്തിൽ നിലനിൽക്കുകയുള്ളു. 4.ഒരു ചെറിയ കഥ: ഒരു മനുഷ്യൻ വഴിയിൽ ഒരു ലോട്ടറി ടിക്കറ്റ് കണ്ടെത്തി. നമ്പറുകൾ പരിശോധിച്ചപ്പോൾ അത് കോടികൾ വിലവരുന്ന വിജയ ടിക്കറ്റാണെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കി! വീട്ടിലെത്തി സന്തോഷത്തോടെ പറഞ്ഞു. ഭാര്യ പറഞ്ഞു: “ഇത്ര ആവേശം വേണ്ട, ഇപ്പോഴും പണം കൈയിൽ വന്നിട്ടില്ലല്ലോ!” മനുഷ്യൻ മറുപടി നൽകി: “പണം കൈയിൽ ഇല്ലെങ്കിലും, ഞാൻ ഇതിനകം കോടീശ്വരനാണെന്ന് അറിയുന്നു!” 5.ഇതാണ് വിശ്വാസം. ദൈവരാജ്യത്തിന്റെ പൂർണ്ണത നമ്മൾ ഇപ്പോൾ കാണുന്നില്ലെങ്കിലും, ക്രിസ്തുവിൽ നമ്മൾ ഇതിനകം സമ്പന്നരാണ്. 6.ജീവിതത്തിൽ പ്രയോഗം: • നിങ്ങളുടെ വിശ്വാസത്തെ ഏറ്റവും വിലപ്പെട്ട നിധിയായി കരുതുക. • ദൈവത്തിലേക്കുള്ള വഴിയിൽ തടസ്സം സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്ന ബന്ധങ്ങൾ വിട്ടുകളയുക. • സന്തോഷത്തോടെ ജീവിക്കുക, കാരണം ദൈവരാജ്യം ഇതിനകം നിങ്ങളുടെതാണ്. 7.അവസാന ചിന്ത: സ്വർഗ്ഗരാജ്യം ഭാവിയിൽ മാത്രം ലഭിക്കുന്ന വാഗ്ദാനം അല്ല, മറിച്ച് ഇന്ന് തന്നെ നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ ആരംഭിക്കുന്നു. ക്രിസ്തുവിൽ നമ്മൾ കണ്ടെത്തിയ നിധി ഏറ്റവും വലിയതാണ്.

Mathew 13:44–52-Syro-Malabar-III Sunday of Kaitha

1.The Story: The Billionaire’s Pocket: There is a classic story about a multi-millionaire industrialist who decided to take a rare, relaxing weekend cruise on a luxury liner. While standing at the railing admiring the sunset, a sudden, violent gust of wind whipped across the deck. It blew off his brand-new, ultra-expensive, custom-made Swiss watch—a watch encrusted with diamonds that was worth a small fortune. The watch slipped through the railing and plunged straight into the deep, dark ocean. Without missing a beat, without a moment of hesitation, the billionaire instantly kicked off his Italian leather shoes, ripped off his expensive suit jacket, tore off his tie, and prepared to dive straight over the side of the ship into the crashing waves. A nearby tourist grabbed him by the arm, shouting, "Are you out of your mind?! It's just a watch! You're a billionaire! You can buy a hundred more just like it tomorrow!" The millionaire glared at the tourist, shook him off, and yelled back, "You don't understand! That watch didn't just have diamonds—it had all my keys, my wallet, and my heart attached to it! Everything I am is tied up in that one thing!" And down he went. 2.The Spark of the Kingdom: In this Gospel passage, Jesus gives us a string of short, punchy parables: a man finds a treasure buried in a field; a merchant finds a pearl of great price; a fisherman casts a net into the sea. Notice the immediate, radical reaction of the characters in the first two parables. The man who finds the treasure and the merchant who finds the pearl do not hesitate. They don't form a committee. They don’t hold a focus group. Instead, Scripture tells us they go out "out of joy" and sell everything they own—every last possession, every backup plan, every security blanket—to buy that field and claim that pearl. Why? Because they recognized absolute value when they saw it. They realized that compared to this treasure, everything else they were clinging to was just plastic toys. 3.The Two Ways We Miss the Treasure: Brothers and sisters, the Kingdom of Heaven—which is Jesus Christ Himself and a life lived in communion with God—is right here in our midst. But how often do we treat it like the billionaire's spare watch rather than the pearl of great price? 1. The Trap of Half-Hearted Christian life: We want God, but we also want a comfortable insurance policy on the side. We keep our hands tightly clenched around our own agendas, our own comforts, and our own sins, afraid that if we give God everything, we’ll end up short-changed. 2. The Illusion of Routine: Like the fishermen pulling up the net at the end of the age, we can sometimes coast through our faith on autopilot, attending Mass out of habit, saying prayers out of obligation, but letting our hearts grow lukewarm. 4.The Householder’s Storeroom: Jesus ends this chapter with a strange and brilliant image. He asks His disciples if they have understood these things, and when they say yes, He compares them to a householder who "brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old". As Catholics, we are blessed with a magnificent storeroom. We have the "old" treasures: Sacred Scripture, 2,000 years of Church Tradition, the wisdom of the saints, and the unchanging moral truths of the Gospel. And we have the "new" treasures: how God is calling us today, in 2026, in the middle of our modern anxieties, families, and workplaces, to make Christ known. We aren't meant to lock these treasures up in a vault. We are meant to fling open the doors of our hearts and let the joy of the Gospel spill out into a world that is desperately starving for something real. 5.Conclusion: What is in Your Hands?: Look at your life this week. What is the "field" you need to invest in? What is the habit, the distraction, or the fear that Jesus is asking you to let go of so that you can grab hold of the only thing that lasts for eternity? The Kingdom of Heaven isn't a burden; it is pure, unadulterated joy. May we have the courage, like the merchant and the man in the field, to risk everything for the only treasure that will never rust, fade, or be taken away.

Mathew 13:44–52-Syro-Malabar-III Sunday of Kaitha

1.The Treasure and the Pearl : Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field and a pearl of great price. Both men in the parables give up everything to obtain what they found. The lesson is simple yet profound: when we truly discover the value of God’s Kingdom, nothing else compares. 2.Living the Parable Today: We are often tempted to cling to possessions, status, or comfort. But the Gospel reminds us that the joy of following Christ outweighs every sacrifice. The man who sold everything was not sad, he was joyful, because he knew what he was gaining. 3.The Net and the Sorting: Jesus also speaks of the net that gathers fish of every kind. At the end of time, there will be a sorting. This is a call to live faithfully now, so that when the net is drawn, we are found among the righteous. 4.A Little Story to Reflect: A man once found a lottery ticket on the ground. He checked the numbers and realized it was the winning ticket worth millions! He rushed home, but his wife scolded him: “Why are you so excited? You haven’t even claimed it yet!” The man replied, “Even if I don’t have the money in my hand, I already know I’m rich!” 5.That’s what faith is like. Even if we don’t yet see the fullness of God’s Kingdom, we already know we are rich in Christ. The treasure is ours, and that certainty should fill us with joy. 6.Practical Takeaway: • Value your faith above all else. • Let go of attachments that keep you from God. • Live with joy, knowing the Kingdom is already yours. 7.Closing Thought The Kingdom of Heaven is not just a promise for tomorrow, but it begins today, in every choice we make. Let us seek it with all our heart, for in Christ we have found the greatest treasure of all.

Luke 10:38-42 Syro-Malabar - II Sunday of Kaitha- Homily

Luke 10:38–42, balances our deep tradition of faithful service (sevanam) with genuine prayer (prarthana). The Art of Sacred Presence: Listening First, Serving Second A Quick Story to Begin A heavily burdened mother once walked into a church, exhausted from a long week of work, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of three lively children. She knelt before the sanctuary, looked up at the crucifix, and prayed: "Lord, I know Mary chose the better part by sitting at Your feet... but if Martha hadn't stayed in the kitchen, nobody in that house would have eaten dinner! So please, give me Mary’s heart, but give my family Martha’s cooking!" We laugh because we get it. Most of us feel a lot like Martha—running around, carrying endless responsibilities, and trying our best to make sure everything gets done. Understanding Jesus’ Message When we read this Gospel, it is easy to assume Jesus is scolding Martha for cooking or praising Mary for doing nothing. But that would miss the heart of what Jesus is saying. In our Syro-Malabar tradition, hospitality (upacharam / atithisatkaram) and hard work are foundational values. We pride ourselves on opening our homes, serving tea to guests, and working tirelessly for our families and our parish communities. Jesus loved Martha’s generous heart, and He welcomed her service. So why did He say, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things"? Jesus wasn't upset with Martha's hands; He was concerned about her heart. * Martha allowed her tasks to pull her away from the person of Jesus. * She became so focused on doing things for God that she forgot to be with God. * Her busyness turned into anxiety, and her anxiety turned into resentment toward her sister. The One Thing Necessary Mary recognized the unique gift standing right in front of her. The Word made Flesh had entered their living room! She chose to pause, sit at His feet, and absorb His presence before doing anything else. In our Eastern Catholic heritage, contemplation and action—prayer and service—are never meant to be enemies. They are the two lungs of the Christian soul. * If we only pray without serving, our faith becomes lifeless. * If we only serve without praying, we burn out, become bitter, and lose our peace. We need Martha's hands, but we must guide them with Mary's heart. Taking This Into Your Week As you step out of the Qurbana today and return to your homes, jobs, and families: * Start from the Feet of Jesus: Before you jump into your daily task list or scroll through your phone, take five quiet minutes. Sit with the Holy Scriptures or in quiet prayer, letting God fill your cup before you try to pour into others. * Transform Work into Worship: When you prepare a meal, serve at parish events, or go to work, do it with Jesus beside you rather than treating Him as a distant supervisor checking your work. May the Lord give us the grace to slow down amidst our busy lives, to choose "the better part" in prayer, and then to serve our neighbor with joy and peace. Amen.

XIII Sunday in OT:2012:Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24;IICor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mk5:21-43

XIII Sunday in OT:2012:Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24;IICor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mk5:21-43

Introduction: Today’s readings speak of the gift of life, both physical and spiritual, that God has given us. They urge and challenge us to be grateful for our health in body and soul and to use God’s gifts of life and health responsibly.

Scripture lessons: The first reading from the Book of Wisdom tells us that God gave us life and health and it was the jealousy of the Satan that produced illness and death. The reading also suggests that the goal of our lives on earth is to know, to love and to serve God here with perfect health in body and soul, and to share God’s immortal life forever.

In the second reading, St. Paul asks the Corinthian Christian community to show the kindness and compassion which Jesus expressed in his healing ministry to their Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem living in poverty and sickness, by raising a fund for them.  The generosity of Jesus is the central theme here also, because Paul describes Jesus’ life, death and resurrection as “the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Today’s gospel describes two of our Lord's miracles, the healing of a woman from her chronic bleeding disease and the revival of the dead daughter of Jairus to life.   These healings teach us that Jesus willed life, and willed full life for all God’s children.  The two healings also reveal Jesus as a generous, kind and compassionate God Who wills that men should live their wholesome lives fully. They also give us further proof of the divine power and the infinite mercy of our Savior. These miracles were worked by Jesus as reward for the trusting faith of a synagogue ruler and of a woman with a hemorrhage, although the faith of the ruler may have been defective and the woman’s faith may have been a bit superstitious. But Jesus amply rewarded their defective faith by granting them health and life. 

Anecdote:  "This is where I found Christ." Here is a beautiful old story about Zacchaeus, the tax collector. It tells how in later years, he rose early every morning and left his house. His wife, curious, followed him one morning. At the town well he filled a bucket... and he walked until he came to a sycamore tree. There, setting down the bucket, he began to clean away the stones, the branches, and the rubbish from around the base of the tree. Having done that, he poured water on the roots and stood there in silence, gently caressing the trunk with both of his hands. When his amazed wife came out of hiding and asked what he was doing, Zacchaeus replied simply, "This is where I found Christ." I can just imagine that for the rest of their lives, that woman who touched the tassel of Jesus' robe that day on the street... and the daughter of Jairus who was raised up in that room in her home, continually brought people back to those sacred spots and said, "This is where I found Christ! This is where Christ loved me into life!" Do you have a sacred spot like that? This is the Good News of our Christian faith, isn't it? Love has the power to heal, to reconcile, and to redeem.

Joke:  One Sunday at Mass as the priest was giving his homily, a little baby in the front row suddenly started crying loudly.  The mother did her best to pacify the child but nothing worked.  So finally she got up and started to walk down the aisle to take the baby into the cry room.  The priest stopped his preaching, and very compassionately called out to the mother, "That's OK!  You don't have to leave.  The child isn't disturbing me."  The young woman turned around and said, "No, pardon me Father, but you're disturbing my child!"

Life Message: We need to continue the healing mission of the Church: As members of the Church, we are not excused from our vocation to be healers.  We do our share of Christ’s healing mission by visiting the sick, by praying for their healing, and by boosting their morale with our loving presence, words of encouragement and inspiration. Thus, we may enable them to experience the compassion of Jesus.

Introduction : XIII Sunday in Ordinary time;

Message: Because of sin, sickness and death have entered the world, but are overcome through the resurrection of Jesus.  He hears the cry of those in need, healing the sick and raising the dead to life.  He made himself poor that we might become rich.

Saints in this week: Tue-3: Saint Thomas, Apostle, Patron saint of India. Wed-4: Independence Day. Thu-5: Saint Anthony Zaccaria, priest; Saint Elizabeth of Portugal(USA). Fri-6: Saint Maria Goretti, virgin, martyr

XIII Sunday in OT:2015:Wis1:13-15;2:23-24;2 Cor8:7, 9,13-15;Mk5:21-43

XIII Sunday in OT:2015:Wis1:13-15;2:23-24;2 Cor8:7, 9,13-15;Mk5:21-43

Introduction: On this thirteenth Sunday of the church’s ordinary time we celebrate the Lord who gives life. God created us to live and, it is his desire and intention that we prosper in health of body and mind. So, “death” is totally opposed to God the author of life. This was why Christ accepted death and poverty that we ourselves might live and be rich.

Readings: The gospel passage for today describes two miracles, the healing of a woman from her chronic bleeding disease and the revival of the dead daughter of Jairus to life.   These healings teach us that Jesus willed life, and willed full life for all God’s children.  They also give us further proof of the divine power and the infinite mercy of our Savior. These miracles were worked by Jesus as reward for the trusting faith of a synagogue ruler and of a woman with a hemorrhage, although the faith of the ruler may have been defective and the woman’s faith may have been a bit superstitious. But Jesus amply rewarded their defective faith by granting them health and life. 

Exegesis: These miracles are evidences of the wish and plan of God for us his people. They also demonstrate that while Christ desires that we be freed from all forms of captivities, he equally wishes that we demonstrate a strong faith in order to step into our miracles. In both cases, we see faith in action. The woman demonstrated her living faith with her active action. She waited for twelve years, and when her chance came, she took it in faith. She was not afraid or ashamed of the crowd. Her action and the reaction of Jesus, simply teach us that coming and touching Christ must be a very deliberate action motivated by a living faith. Also, Jairus demonstrated his faith on behalf of his daughter by persistently inviting Christ. Both Jairus and the woman never gave up, instead, they waited patiently until the plan of God was fulfilled for them.

Joke:  One Sunday at Mass as the priest was giving his homily, a little baby in the front row suddenly started crying loudly.  The mother did her best to pacify the child but nothing worked.  So finally she got up and started to walk down the aisle to take the baby into the cry room.  The priest stopped his preaching, and very compassionately called out to the mother, "That's OK!  You don't have to leave.  The child isn't disturbing me."  The young woman turned around and said, "No, pardon me Father, but you're disturbing my child!"

Practical Applications: 1) We must learn that, it is the plan of God for us to prosper both in body and soul, but we must be patient and walk into this plan in faith.

2) We have a role to play in the plan of God towards others. This is why Paul tells us today: “You always have the most of everything…so we expect you to put the most into this work of mercy too.” So, while Christ seeks our welfare every day, we too must constantly seek the welfare of others.

Introduction: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: Because of sin, sickness and death have entered the world, but are overcome through the resurrection of Jesus.  He hears the cry of those in need, healing the sick and raising the dead to life.  He made himself poor that we might become rich.

Saints and Events in this Week: 29 – Twenty Ninth – Monday – Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles; 30 – Thirtieth – Tuesday – The first martyrs of the Holy Roman Church; Blessed Junipero Serra, Priest; 3 – Third of July – Friday – Saint Thomas, the Apostle; 

XII Sunday in OT:2015: Job 38:1, 8-11; II Cor 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41

XII Sunday in OT:2015: Job 38:1, 8-11; II Cor 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41

Introduction: The role of God in calming the storms of life both in the history of the Church and in the lives of Christians is the central theme.  Christ is with us even in the midst of all the storms of this life. Therefore, this is a great cause for our life safety. And today is fathers Day.

Anecdote: I have heard a series of complaints that I often hear from some of our fathers. The responsibility of fathers makes them more nervous and complaints. It will be something like this: "You know, I would just like to have a few days without turmoil. Somebody in the family is usually in trouble. This Teen missed her curfew, that child lied to us, my wife is upset over something someone said to her, and somehow, beyond my knowledge, I get blamed for part if not all of it.  There's sickness, someone is always not feeling well and that is scary particularly when it is the children. There are the bills. I am not even going to go there. And then there are the relatives. I can't figure out whose family is crazier, mine or hers, but they are running a tight race. Then there is work which so help me I wouldn't do if they didn't pay me. I turn on the news. What a break that is. I'm not sure if we are going into global warming or global freezing, but somehow it's going to be bad. Between the politicians, the economy, and world events, every day it looks like everything is even worse than the day before. The world is in turmoil.” I am sure that everyone here, not just the dads, have had similar feelings. It's probably like we all wish we were back in kindergarten where we had no concern at all. They laugh most of the day, except when they are crying, and then a quick kiss from Mom and all is right with the world again. But we are not in kindergarten any more. We are in the real world. And the real world has turmoil.

Readings: The readings for this Sunday speak about turmoil. The first is from the Book of Job. This is the conclusion to the main section of Job. In the main section of Job, from the middle of chapter 2 to the beginning of chapter 42, Job questions God. Job had lost his livelihood. He had lost his children. He was in terrible physical pain. Chapter 3 begins, "Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.  But, “Out of the storm,” God reminds Job that He is in control.  Today’s Responsorial Psalm picks up the storm theme and tells us how the Lord saves the sailors caught up in the high waves of a tempest. Paul who "rode the storm" of rejection, from his former friends also experienced storms of violent hostility from the Jews who refused to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. So he explains in the second reading that Jesus died for us to make us a “new creation.”  In order to receive this gift, we have to respond to his love by living for him in all situations of our lives.  In the Gospel, St. Mark assures the first-century believers that nothing can harm the Church as long as the risen Lord is with them. He describes how, by a single commanding word, Jesus stilled a storm on the Sea of Galilee, returned the sea to its natural order and saved his followers from drowning. 

Exegesis: World life and our life in the world is turmoil. We need to make it calm. St. Paul says, if God is with us who can be against us. It is Christ who strengthens us. Therefore keep Jesus in our life’s boat and seek his help in the storms of life.  

Joke:  Being married for 25 years and intending to make their silver anniversary a memorable one, the wife asked her husband to describe her.  He looked at her slowly, and said – You are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, ….. and I, J, K…..  The wife was puzzled and so she asked – Now what does that mean? So he said – Adorable, Beautiful, Cute, Delightful, Elegant, Foxy, Gorgeous, Hot.   The wife smiled and beamed and said – Oh you are such a sweet darling.  What about I, J, K?

He said – I’m Just Kidding!

Practical Applications:  We need to accommodate Jesus in the boat of our life.  We all experience different types of violent storms in our lives: physical storms, emotional storms, and spiritual storms.  We face storms of sorrow, doubt, anxiety, worry, temptation and passion.  Only Jesus can still these storms.

Introduction: Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: In the midst of adversity, we need to trust in the saving presence of God who triumphs over the waters of the sea.  In the midst of distress, let us turn to the Lord with faith, to him whom even the wind and the sea obey.  He died and rose for our sake that we might live and not perish.

Saints and Events in this Week: 21 – Today – Fathers Day; 22 – Twenty Second – Monday – Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop; Saints John Fisher, Bishop and Thomas More, Martyrs; 24 – Twenty Fourth – The Nativity of John the Baptist; 27 – Twenty Seventh – Saturday – Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Doctor of the Church;

XII Sunday in OT:[2012]: Jer 1:4-10; 1Pet 1:8-12; Lk 1:5-17

XII Sunday in OT :2012: Jer 1:4-10; 1Pet 1:8-12; Lk 1:5-17

Introduction: We celebrate the feast of John the Baptist's birth (June 24), in place of the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time today because of his prominent role in the history of salvation as the forerunner of the Messiah.  It was he who prepared Israel to receive their long-awaited Messiah by preaching repentance.

Scripture lessons: Since John was the forerunner of Jesus who prepared Israel for their Messiah, the “Servant” Messianic prophecy of Isaiah is given as the first reading. The passage expresses important aspects of John’s career as a prophet to God’s people and a light to the nations who was named and sanctified from his mother’s womb. The second reading describes the mission of John the Baptist. It tells us how John the Baptist in all humility publicly acknowledged his role as being only the Messiah’s herald. His role was to prepare Israel to receive the Messiah by inviting the people to receive the baptism of repentance. Today’s gospel describes the birth of John the Baptist and his circumcision and naming ceremony on the eighth day. In the presence of friends and relatives, Zechariah miraculously regained his power speech after declaring in writing, “John is his name.” The name John means “God is gracious.” The remaining part of the chapter 1 in St. Luke’s gospel describes records Zechariah’s prophecy of the role his son is to take in the history of salvation.

Exegesis: 1)Two exceptional birthday celebrations: Ordinarily the Church observes the day of a saint's death as his feast, because that day marks his entrance into heaven. To this rule there are two notable exceptions, the birthdays of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of St. John the Baptist. All other persons were stained with original sin at birth, and hence, were displeasing to God. But Mary, was, from the moment of her conception, free from original sin (for which reason even her very conception is commemorated by a special feast). John was cleansed of original sin in the womb of his mother. When Mary visited Elizabeth , John recognized the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb and leaped for joy (Luke 1:41). This is the dogmatic justification for today's feast.

2)Parallels and contrast between John and Jesus in St. Luke’s infant narratives: Both births are miraculous. John was born of his aged parents and Jesus from a virgin. The births of both were announced by the angel: John’s in the Holy of Holies in the Temple and Jesus’ in a village house. The mission of John was to be the forerunner of the Messiah and the mission of Jesus was to be the saving Messiah. Luke highlights the greatness of Jesus and the subsidiary position of John as the precursor of the Messiah and the herald of God’s coming kingdom.

Joke:  Here is the story of two rival medieval French monasteries. Each claimed that it possessed the head of St. John the Baptist. The monks of the big monastery used to explain this uncomfortable fact to the critics saying that the big skull they had belonged to St. John as a man whereas the smaller skull kept by the other monastery belonged to St. John as a boy!

Anecdote: Be the finger of John the Baptist: Karl Barth the great 20^th century Calvinist theologian would wake up early in the morning, read the newspaper, and stare at a painting by Grunewald called Crucifixion. Jesus is hanging from the cross, apparently dead, while Mary and others morn. John the Baptist, holding the Scriptures and leaning away from Christ, is pointing to Jesus on the Cross. Before he would teach theology or write in his famous work Church Dogmatics, Karl Barth would meditate on this painting, particularly on John the Baptist. He said that, as a Christian (whether a theologian, pastor, teacher, mother, doctor, storekeeper, etc.), our job is to be the finger (and only the finger), of John the Baptist. The only thing we should do – indeed, the only thing we can do – is simply point to Jesus on the cross. This scene painted by Grunewald is the sum of all history, from Creation in the past to eternity. And we are that finger, and within that finger rest the weight of salvation.

Life messages:  1) We need to pray for our parents and be thankful to them for the gift of life, the training they have given us and the love and affection they have lavished on us.  Let us ask God’s pardon if we are, or were, ungrateful to them, do/did not take proper care of them in their illness or old age or ever inflicted pain on them.

2) We need to remember and pray for our godparents who, by baptism, brought us to the Church to be made children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, heirs of heaven and members of the Church. 

3) We need to have the courage of our Christian convictions as John the Baptist did, and we should become heralds of Christ as John was, by our transparent Christian lives.

Introduction : XII Sunday in Ordinary Time; The nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Message: Called from birth by the Lord, John matured in the Spirit and heralded the advent of the Messiah.

Saints in this week: 27 Wed: Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, doctor of the church; 28 Thu: Saint Irenaeus, bishop, martyr; 29 Fri: Saints Peter and Paul; 30 Sat: First martyrs of the Holy Roman Church

XI Sunday in OT:2015: Ez 17: 22-24; II Cor 5: 6-10; Mk 4: 26-34

XI Sunday in OT:2015: Ez 17: 22-24; II Cor 5: 6-10; Mk 4: 26-34

Introduction: Today’s readings are about the birth and growth of the reign or rule of the Kingdom of God, in human lives and about the gigantic growth of the Church from very humble beginnings.  The Gospel account has two brief parables, both about tiny things – little seeds. The first is apparently about wheat and the second about mustard seeds, the smallest of all seeds. Both growths are slow and mysterious, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Exegesis: In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches the meaning of the reign or kingdom of God by way of two parables. In the first comparison, the reign of God is like seeds that a man plants in the soil. It is not the man, however, but the soil that makes the seeds sprout and grow in a way the man does not understand. In the second comparison, the reign of God is like the smallest of all seeds. Yet, once it has completed its growth, it is so large that birds can build nests in its shade. Mark mentions that Jesus further explained the meaning of parables to his disciples.

A man walked into a store. He found Christ behind the counter. He asked, "What do you sell here?" Christ replied, "You name it." "I want food for all, good health for kids, adequate housing for everyone, and abortion to cease." Gently Jesus answered, "Friend, I do not sell finished products here, only seeds. You must plant them and water them. I will do the rest." When Jesus told this parable of the smallest seed in the world, His disciples were in a disappointment. They had worked so hard and so little had happened. Jesus teaches them that we have to be like farmers. Farmers have to depend upon nature. They have to be patient. Farmers also have to recognize that they really can't do things themselves.

In the comparison of the Kingdom of God to smallest seed we are hearing a warning, a warning that tells us that we ought not to confuse size with importance. Bigger is sometimes not better. Events attracting large crowds are not necessarily good events. Crowds have often been quite wrong. Public opinion polls are not necessarily gauges of what is right or what is wrong as the media seems to suggest. For example, at one time slavery was practiced by a majority of people in our American democracy. They were dreadfully wrong.  In spite of appearances, in spite of what a secularized world wants us to believe, God has not abandoned His world. God is at work in ways we cannot directly see. The way things look is not necessarily the way things are. There is a phrase used throughout the Middle East that we should pay some attention to: “Things are never as they appear.”

Joke:  The 98 year old Grandfather from Ireland was dying. His children and grand-children gathered around his bed trying to make him last journey comfortable. They gave him some warm milk to drink but he refused. Then one of his children took the glass back to the kitchen. Remembering a bottle of Irish whiskey received as a gift the previous Christmas, he opened and poured a generous amount into the warm milk. Back at Grandpa’s bed, he held the glass to his lips. Grandpa drank a little, then a little more and before they knew it, he had drunk the whole glass down to the last drop. "Grandpa," the children asked with earnest, "please give us some wisdom before you die."

He raised himself up in bed and with a pious look on his face said, "Don't sell that cow.

Practical Applications:  1) The Kingdom of God is the growth of God’s rule in human hearts that occurs when man does the will of God and surrenders his life to God. We need to cooperate in the growth of God’s kingdom.  The seed of faith lies dormant within each of us. When we permit the Holy Spirit to nurture it with tender loving care, it grows miraculously into gigantic proportions. The growth is slow in the beginning. But the seed grows by using the power of the Holy Spirit.

2) Since the acceptance God’s rule by human beings is a very slow process, there is the danger of discouragement and hopelessness among preachers, evangelizers and believers. We need not get discouraged.  The conviction that growth of the kingdom of God is the work of the Holy Spirit with our humble co-operation should make us optimistic in continuing our work of witnessing. We should continue sowing tiny seeds in the form of words of love, acts of encouragement, and deeds of charity.

Introduction: Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which springs up and becomes the largest of plants, like a tender shoot from the cedar which will bear fruit and become a majestic cedar.  So shall the just one flourish, like a cedar. As we walk by faith and not by sight, may our lives bear fruit in abundance.

Saints and Events in this Week: 19 – Nineteenth – Friday – Saint Romuald, Abbot;

XI Sunday in OT :[2012]: Eze 17:22-24, 2Cori 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34

XI Sunday in OT : Eze 17:22-24, 2Cori 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34

Do you know what happened to the tiny seed Rita Rizzo planted? You probably don't recognize the name, Rita Antoinette Rizzo. Rita was born on April 20, 1923. She had a rough childhood which she spent mostly in poverty. When she was a young woman Rita decided to become a nun. At 21 she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, a Franciscan religious order for women. She believed that God was calling her into television ministry. At the time she didn't know anything about television except how to turn one on. But she prayed about it and decided to go ahead with the project, believing that everything would fall into place. With only two hundred dollars and a handful of other sisters, she became the only woman in religious broadcasting to own a network. She went on to found a new house for the order in 1962 in Irondale, Alabama, where the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), is headquartered. In 1996 she initiated the building of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of the Angels monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. Today this sister, Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, is seen by millions of people on her prerecorded twice weekly program, "Mother Angelica Live." Her network, EWTN, is available 24 hours a day everywhere in the world. Whoever would have thought that from such a tiny seed would develop such a large shrub? That is the way the kingdom of God works.

Today's readings are about the birth and growth of the reign or rule of God (Kingdom of God), in human lives and about the gigantic growth of the Church from very humble beginnings. Both growths are slow and mysterious, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The first reading, taken from Ezekiel 17:22-24, is a messianic prophecy. The prophet tells us how the Lord God of Israel will allow a descendant of King David to become the Messiah and savior of the world.  In contrast with the parable of tiny the mustard   seed   in   today's   gospel,   Ezekiel   sees   the   Messiah    originating in a royal family (lofty Cedar, David). In the second reading, St. Paul teaches the Corinthian Christians that they are to please God by doing His will (thus advancing the growth of God's kingdom and His rule in their lives), so that they may be amply rewarded in the final judgment. In today's gospel, Jesus compares the growth of the kingdom of God to the germination of a wheat seed and that of a tiny mustard seed. Both have very small beginnings. The wheat seeds, by gradual but steady growth help the farmer to get a bumper crop. In the same way, the life principle in a tiny mustard seed enables it to grow into a large bush. The reign of God in human hearts and the growth of the Church in the world also have small beginnings. But the Source of all life, God the Holy Spirit, gives to both a steady, persistent and gigantic growth. Jesus' use of a mustard plant instead of a great cedar continues the image of humble beginnings for the great power that is to come.  Mark’s community would have recognized the mustard plant as appropriate for Jesus' own earthly ministry.   The Messiah came as an itinerant teacher/rabbi who gathered a few ordinary people to be his disciples. Jesus' incarnational presence was like that of a mustard plant, not an imposing cedar. He was not a Messiah of towering strength with great political, financial and military power.  Yet the  divinely ordained growth of that small beginning resulted in the same kind of exponential growth and presence — inviting all the "birds of the air" to make their nests within its branches.

The Kingdom of God is the growth of God's rule in human hearts that occurs when man does the will of God and surrenders his life to God. The seed of faith lies dormant within each of us. When we permit the Holy Spirit to nurture it, it grows miraculously into gigantic proportions. The growth is slow and microscopic in the beginning. But this seed grows by using the power of the Holy Spirit, given to us through the word of God, the Mass, the sacraments and prayers. As we learn God's will from His words and try to put these words into practice, we participate in the growth of God's kingdom on earth which will be completed in our heavenly life.

We can all plant tiny seeds in the form of words of love and encouragement,   acts of charity,   mercy and forgiveness.  The Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of the recipients of these seeds sown by us and will effect growth of the kingdom in their souls and lives. As the apostle Paul once said of his ministry, "Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only god who gives the growth” (Corinthians 3:7).

One morning Johnny told his mother "Mom, I am not happy in this house, Dad never smiles, I can't make him happy. He seems like a monster to me. The only thing that is important to him are rules and duties. I don't know how you have put up with him all these years? Rita being a loving woman of faith was sad to hear these words from her son. In the evening as Johnny entered the house he heard his parents talking, his mother Rita said "Johnny is very angry with you. He is afraid of you. I am worried about what he might do?” Bobby replied “My sweet darling, I love my son more than you can even imagine. I have tried to provide for him in the best way I know how; I have saved money for his studies; and plan to buy him a car soon, I have been working to find him the best University to attend. You give him love and I give him discipline for life. He needs both to survive and so that our son will be his best. What Johnny could do was weeping of love towards his father. Dear children, mothers – Understand the strain of fathers.

Dear Fathers in Christ, let us remember “Great things are not done on impulse, but by a series of small steps taken over a period of time.  Our lives are made up of little tings-little deeds, little happenings, and so on.  If there is something which we want to do, let us not hesitate and think too much.  Let us make a start, however small.  Let us take one step.  Let us plant one seed. “Happy Fathers Day!”

X Sunday in OT:2015: Ex 24: 3-8, Heb 9: 11-15, Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

X Sunday in OT:2015: Ex 24: 3-8, Heb 9: 11-15, Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

Introduction: Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ popularly known as Corpus Christi. It was introduced in the late 13th century to encourage the faithful to give special honor to the Holy Eucharist. It was extended to the entire Latin Church by Urban IV in 1264 and, became a mandatory feast of the Church in 1312. Officially, the solemnity is celebrated on Thursday after Trinity Sunday. However, where it is not a day of obligation, it is celebrated on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday.

Exegesis: As we celebrate Corpus Christi today, both our first and second reading talks about covenant, sacrifice, and blood. According to the first reading, the old covenant was sealed with the blood of animal sacrifice which Moses sprinkled on the people. On the contrary, the second reading reminds us that the new covenant was sealed with the blood of Christ. This is what makes the functional difference. While the first covenant never guaranteed eternal life, the new does because it was sealed with a costly blood through a perfect sacrifice offered once and for all. In the gospel, Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist. Here he was both the priest and the victim. This is another difference between the new and the old covenant. Christ as the priest offered himself to God for our salvation. In order words, it is important to note here that whenever we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, Christ is fully present both as the priest and as the victim. He accomplishes his priesthood through the actions of the human priest who as Alter Christus (another Christ) and acts “in persona Christi (in the person of Christ).” On the other hand, he accomplishes his role as a victim in the form of bread and wine. All these put together is what we refer to as an “action of grace.”

The concept of “covenants” has been at the core of both Jewish and Christian faiths from very early on in history. Such covenants are usually seen as agreements between God and the covenanted party. The first covenant was made with Adam and Eve which was broken when they ate of the fruit of the tree, and yet there was a promise of God that the serpent would be crushed.  The second covenant was with Noah and its conditions involved blood. God said he would never destroy the world again by flood, and they we’re never to drink the blood of animals or shed human blood. As a sign he sent the rainbow for them to remember the covenant. A third covenant was made with Abram in which God promised land and posterity. The condition of this promise was that they be circumcised – blood again was involved.  Following this was the Mosaic covenant where God promised that the Israelites would be God’s chosen ones with a Promised land as long as they kept God’s laws and the Ten commandments. The sign of this was the Passover which again involved blood. The blood of the Passover lamb was spread on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not visit their homes. Afterwards, as we read today, Moses took the blood from the offerings and splashed the altar, and then splashed it on the people as a sign of the blood covenant they had made with God. The fifth covenant with the Jews was made with King David who promised David that he would become a Father to the Jewish people, but a father who would use the rod on his children to discipline them if necessary – again, some blood involvement. The last of the Old Testament covenants was made to the prophet Jeremiah when God promises that his Law would not just be on stone but would be written on the hearts of his people, and all who believed in their hearts would become the new chosen.

In the New Testament we see this last covenant fulfilled in the life of God’s son, Jesus. That we have become the new chosen who believe in Jesus and who carry Christ’s law in our hearts. As part of this covenant there is also blood as we see in the Gospel today when Jesus says “This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” The sign of this covenant is the Eucharist which we celebrate today.

Joke: A man and a friend are playing golf one day at their local golf course. One of the guys is about to chip onto the green when he sees a long funeral procession on the road next to the course. He stops in mid-swing, takes off his golf cap, closes his eyes, and bows down in prayer. 

His friend says: “Wow, that is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. You truly are a kind man.” 

The man then replies: “Yeah, well we were married 35 years.”  

Marriage is a covenant. Only those who are faithful to the marriage covenant be eligible to be partakers of the Eucharistic covenant.

Practical Applications: 1) Let us appreciate the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, by receiving him with true repentance for our sins, due preparation and reverence.  2) Let us be Christ-bearers and conveyers: By receiving Holy Communion, we become Christ-bearers as Mary was, with the duty of conveying Christ to others at home and in the workplace, through love, mercy, forgiveness and humble and sacrificial service.  3) Let us offer our lives on the altar along with Jesus’ sacrifice, asking pardon for our sins, expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received and presenting our needs and petitions on the altar.

Introduction : X Sunday in Ordinary Time – Corpus Christi

Message: Moses ratifies the covenant by offering a thanksgiving sacrifice and by sprinkling blood over the people. The new covenant, the law’s oblation, is ratified in the blood of Christ, the unblemished offering poured out for us.

Saints and Events in this Week:  9 – Ninth – Tuesday – Saint Ephrem, Deacon, Doctor of the Church; 11 – Eleventh – Thursday – Saint Barnabas, Apostle; 12 – Twelfth – Friday – The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; 13 – Thirteenth – Saturday – The immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest, Doctor of the church

Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ:[2012]

Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

History tells that, in an earlier age before Israel became a nation, men would create a special bond, becoming “blood brothers,” and the bond was ratified by drinking each other’s blood. Later on, substitutes for this “bonding ritual” were created, such as eating a sacrificial meal or sprinkling the blood of a sacrificed animal on the parties to the ritual. In our recent history, we see traces of other substitutes, such as in the frontier days of cowboys and Indians (two men would make an incision on their arms, then clasp them together, becoming “blood brothers”).

In effect, we are talking about creating a “community of life,” whether of individuals or a nation. The Mosaic Covenant was the creation of a new community of life, a bond between the Israelites and the Life-Giver, Yahweh. This bonding ritual was ratified by sprinkling the blood of sacrificed animals on the people. Our ancestors understood this ritual, which was a part of their culture, so it would not have been an unpleasant experience for them.

But Jesus gave us a New Covenant at the Last Supper (Mark 14:22-24). This ritual also created a “community of life” and it was ratified when Jesus sacrificed his own body and shed his own blood for our redemption. Those who believe in the Real Presence recognize and understand by faith that in this new way, Jesus is giving us new life. It looks like bread and wine to our senses, but it is truly the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in sacramental form.

Especially on Sundays we are invited to renew our bonding ritual, the New Covenant, by receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus and uniting ourselves to him at this sacrificial meal (CCC #1331). By celebrating this Eucharist, we give thanks to God for his works of creation, redemption, and sanctification (CCC #1328). 

Trinity Sunday: IX in OT:2015:Dt4:32-34,39-40;Rom8:14-17;Mt28:16-20

Trinity Sunday: IX in OT:2015:Dt4:32-34,39-40;Rom8:14-17;Mt28:16-20

Introduction: We believe in the Mystery of Trinity because Jesus who is God taught it clearly, the Evangelists recorded it, the Fathers of the Church tried to explain it and the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople defined it as a dogma of Christian Faith.

Exegesis:  Today’s Gospel describes Jesus’ final apparition to his apostles just before his Ascension into Heaven. Jesus commissioned them to make disciples of all nations and commanded them to baptize those who came to believe, “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. “ Here is the Trinitarian apostolic blessing of St. Paul, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). These words are the same words that the ministers of God use when blessing people and objects or when administering the Sacraments. From this evidence and other Biblical passages that are found in the Holy Bible, it is very clear that there are Three Divine Presences in the Holy Trinity. Yet, there is One God.

Event-1: A couple received by mail two tickets for a first class New York City Broadway show. They did not understand who sent them, but they thankfully went. They returned home and found their home stripped of cash, paintings, and jewels. On their table, they found a note which read, "NOW YOU UNDERSTAND."  It was a mystery. May be we will not understand in the beginning but later. After all, why does God have to tell us everything?. We experience light and also its absence darkness.  We experience heat and its absence cold. We experience the reality of God and we worship.

Event-2: A killing time struck up in a conversation.  "Father, I believe only what I can understand. So, I can't buy your Trinity. Perhaps you can explain it to me." The priest reluctantly put down The news paper. "Do you see the sun out there?" "Yup." "OK, it's 80 million miles away from us right now. The rays coming through the window," said the priest, "are coming from the sun. The delightful heat we are enjoying on our bodies right now come from a combination of the sun and its rays. Do you understand that?" The fellow answered, "Sure, padre." "The Trinity," the priest went on, "is like that. God the Father is that blazing sun. The Son is the rays He sends down to us. Then both combine to send us the Holy Spirit who is the heat. If you understand the workings of the sun, its rays, and heat, why do you have difficulty believing the Trinity?" 

Joke: Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.”

The second boy says, “That’s nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100.”

The third boy says, “I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon. And it takes eight people to collect all the money!”

Practical Applications: 1) We need to respect ourselves and respect others.  Being ‘temples of the Holy spirit’ we should behave well in his holy presence and lead purer and holier lives.

2) The awareness and conviction of the presence of God within us, gives us the strength to face the manifold problems of life with Christian courage.  

4) We are called to become more like the Triune God through all our relationships.  Praying for others means, making our relation with others uniting with God. When Husband and wife live a Christian married life, they relate their family with God. All our activities and relations should be in the presence of Christ if we are Christians. 

Introduction : Trinity Sunday-IX Week in Ordinary Time

Message: The Lord God is one, there is no other.  We have been chosen as his own, and, through the Spirit, are able to call God Abba.  Through baptism all nations are called to share in the life of the Son and acknowledge the triune God.

Saints and Events in this Week:  1 – First – Monday – Saint Justin, Martyr; 2 – Second – Tuesday – Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs; 3 – Third – Wednesday – Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs; 5 – Fifth – Friday – Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr; 6 – Sixth – Saturday – Saint Norbert, Bishop; 

Trinity Sunday:[2012]:Dt 4:32-34,39-40;Rom 8:14-17;Mt 28:16-20

Trinity Sunday:[2012]:Dt4:32-34,39-40;Rom8:14-17;Mt28:16-20

The doctrine of the “Holy Trinity” is very hard to understand. Is there a quick way to learn about this belief? You are not alone, because we are once again in the area of “mystery.” As you can see, these “mysteries” all seem to loom large right after Easter, the greatest mystery of all. It is our faith in that mystery of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that enables us to walk once again in the sheer faith of our spiritual journey. So in rapid fashion after the Easter season, we celebrate the mysteries of Pentecost, the Most Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ), and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The early Christians had a difficult “doctrinal transition” to make: from believing in the One God, to believing in this same One God as enfleshed in Jesus the Christ. So they developed “Trinitarian language” to preserve both of those truths, as well as a third truth: that the Spirit of Jesus kept the presence of God constantly in our midst. In fact, it is this Spirit of God who dwells within the believer through baptism.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus articulates this truth, when he commands his disciples to baptize and teach “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:16-20). The early Church Fathers enshrined this dogmatic belief in “One God but Three Divine Persons in that One Godhead,” by encasing that belief in a dogmatic Creed. It still remains a “mystery,” and the poverty of our human understanding shows the gap between the Human and the Divine. So the answer to your question is “No, there is no quick way” to absorb this concept, except the way of faith.

What an incredible gift is the theological virtue of faith, the free assent of the believer to the whole truth that God has revealed (CCC #126, 142)! The mystery of the Trinity in itself is inaccessible to the human mind and is the object of faith only because it was revealed by Jesus Christ, the divine Son of the eternal Father. The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity (CCC #232, 237).

Pentecost Sunday:2015:Acts2:1-11;ICor12:3-7,12-13;Jn20:19-23

Pentecost Sunday:2015:Acts2:1-11;ICor12:3-7,12-13;Jn20:19-23

Introduction:  Today is Pentecost Sunday, the great day of a fulfilled promise. The Greek word "pentecostes" means "fiftieth." After a period of fifty days of the resurrection of Christ, we have come to the definitive end of Easter Season. The Jewish Pentecost originally came to be associated with the giving of the Torah, the Law, to Moses, a post-harvest thanksgiving feast. Later, since the days of apostles and descend of the Holy Ghost, the implications have changed. It is often called ‘White Sunday’ from the practice of giving solemn Baptism on that day in early centuries, the candidates being attired in white baptismal robes." Pentecost is a feast which occupies a very important and prominent position in the Church’s history and liturgical calendar. This is because a great number of scholars have suggested that Pentecost marks the actual beginning of the church and, her missionary endeavors.

Exegesis:    Today’s Gospel relates how the risen Jesus gave his apostles a foretaste of Pentecost on the evening of Easter Sunday by appearing to them and inviting them  to carry on the mission given him by his Heavenly Father.  He then empowered them to do so by breathing upon them and saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  On the day of Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled his promise to send the Advocate or Paraclete. The gift of the Spirit would enable them to fulfill Jesus’ commission to preach the Gospel to all nations as well.  Today’s Gospel passage also tells us how Jesus gave to the Apostles the power and authority to forgive sins.  “Receive the Holy Spirit.  For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”  These wonderful words which bind together inseparably the presence of the Holy Spirit and the gift of forgiveness are referred to directly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  But they have a much wider meaning.  Those words indicate the power we are all given of being the agents of forgiveness in the world of today, which is often fiercely judgmental and vengeful.  

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are enumerated in Isaiah 11:2-3. They are present in their fullness in Jesus Christ but are found in all Christians who are in a state of grace. We receive them when we are infused with sanctifying grace, the life of God within us—as, for example, when we receive a sacrament worthily. As the current Catechism of the Catholic Church (para. 1831) notes, "They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them." Infused with His gifts, we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as if by instinct, the way Christ Himself would. The seven gifts are 1. Wisdom 2.Understanding 3. Counsel 4. Fortitude 5. Knowledge 6. Piety 7. Fear of the Lord.

Joke:  There is an old joke about a man who asked his pastor whether it was okay to smoke while he prayed. His pastor said, “Absolutely not! When you pray you should be completely devoted to prayer.” So the man went to another priest, but he changed his question, “Would it be okay to pray while I smoke?” “Yes, of course” was the answer.

Practical Applications: 1) Let the Holy Spirit take control of our lives. How do we do that? Pray for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so that we may fight against our temptations and control our evil tendencies, evil habits and addictions. 2) Remembering His holy presence will help us to practice love, mercy and forgiveness. And thus we become holy.

Introduction: Pentacost Sunday

Message:  All of us have been baptized into one and the same Spirit; let us live, then, by the Spirit!  That same Spirit, the Advocate, who “renews the face of the earth”, was given as gift to the disciples to strengthen them to go forth in the name of the Lord, and to obtain forgiveness of sins.

Saints and events in this Week:  25 – Twenty fifth – Monday – Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest, Doctor of the Church; Saint Gregory VII, Pope; Saint Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi, virgin; 26 – Twenty Sixth – Tuesday – Saint Philip Neri, Priest; 27 – Twenty Seventh – Wednesday – Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop;