IV Sunday of Easter:[A]:Acts 2:14,36-41,1Ptr 2:20-25, Jn 10:1-10

IV Sunday of Easter:[A]:Acts 2:14,36-41,1Ptr 2:20-25, Jn 10:1-10

Introduction:  The 4th Sunday of Easter has come to be known as Good Shepherd Sunday because during all three years of the liturgical cycle, the gospel is taken from this tenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel. This image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is central to our understanding of Jesus’ great love for each one of us. By his great sacrifice in his death on the cross and the glory of his resurrection from the dead, Jesus shows us that he really is the Good Shepherd.

Exegesis: One of the ways that we have to get closer to Christ is the consideration of the figure of the Good Shepherd.  Specifically speaking, the sentence I am the good shepherd comes in verse 14.  In today’s gospel verses one to ten deals with the idea that “Amen, Amen, I am the gate for the sheep”. Both the idea of good shepherd and the gate of the sheep goes hand in hand.

At night when all the sheep entered in the secluded area for the sheep, the shepherd will sleep at the only entrance of the seclusion.  Entering and going out of seclusion will catch the attention or make shepherd awake. So whoever enters through climbing over the fence not through the only gate are thieves and robbers.  Here the comparison is with the robbers.  But in verse 14 where Jesus compares with like “I am the good shepherd”, Jesus compares the owner of the sheep and the hired man. “A shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”V.11.  In both cases Jesus, the shepherd and Jesus, the gate, protects our life as owner of the sheep. Like a shepherd, Jesus is concerned with the welfare and the care of His sheep.

Anecdote:  "Two men were called on, in a large classroom, to recite the Twenty-third Psalm. One was a published orator trained in speech technique and drama. He repeated the psalm in a powerful way. When he finished, the audience cheered and even asked for an encore that they might hear his wonderful voice again. "Then the other man, who was much older, repeated the same words--'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...' But when he finished, no sound came from the large class. Instead, people sat in a deep mood of devotion and prayer.

"Then the first man, the orator, stood to his feet. 'I have a confession to make,' he said. 'The difference between what you have just heard from my old friend, and what you heard from me is this: I know the Psalm, my friend knows the Shepherd.'"

Joke:  A flock of sheep are grazing in a field, happily going "baa baa" to

each other and discussing life as usual when suddenly they hear a "moo

mooooooooooooooooooo!"

They look around and see only sheep. They carry on grazing as before.  "Moooooo  mooooooooooo  mmmoo!"

One sheep can hear it all too clearly next to him.

He shuffles away a little from his friend, a worried look on his face and then asks "George, why are you mooing.  You're a sheep.  Sheep go baa! baa!"

His friend replys gladly, "I know, I thought I would learn a foreign

language!"

Practical: In his speech he mentions some of the characteristics of a Good Shepherd: He has a good knowledge of his own: “I know my own and my own know me” He knows who to listen and how to talk to them: “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name” He walks ahead of them, he leads them: “He goes before them, and the sheep follow him” Finally, he is willing to give his life for them: “A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” So also sheep hear his voice as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. We should have a personal relationship with Jesus just as we could recognize his real voice through others. Easter is a season to renew our faith and especially to increase our dealings with Jesus Christ who is risen. I want you to ask yourself this question, "Do I really know the Shepherd?"

Introduction: Fourth Sunday of Easter

Message: God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah. Through his wounds, we have been healed and have returned to our shepherd.  Let us listen for his voice and follow him.

Saints and Events in this week: Today has been designated as “World Day of prayer and Vocations”; 12-Twelfth-Monday-Saints Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs; Saint Pancras, martyr; 13-Thirteenth-Tuesday-Our Lady of Fathima; 14-Fourteenth-Wednesday-Saint Matthias, Apostle; 15-Fifteenth-Thursday-Saint Isidore; 

III Sunday of Easter:[A]: Acts 2:14, 22-33,1 Pt 1:17-21,Lk 24:13-35

III Sunday of Easter:[A]: Acts 2:14, 22-33,1 Pt 1:17-21,Lk 24:13-35

Introduction: The Christ event is the central event of mankind. All meaningful history before it pointed to this event. All history after it takes its meaning from this event. Jesus Christ is the center of history. He is our center. We are part of His Life, and He is our life.

Event: Last weekend was amazing. The world’s attention was focused on the canonizations of Pope St. John XXIII and Pope St. John Paul II. Hundreds of thousands attended the celebration. Millions more watched it on television. Its true significance was not the canonizations themselves. Its significance is that they pointed to the central event in the history of mankind. They pointed to the Christ event, the coming of the Eternal Word of God as one of us, as man; His proclamation of the new spiritual Kingdom of God; His destruction of evil and death through the sacrificial love of the cross; His giving His Life to us at the Resurrection and at our personal acceptance of this Life, our Baptism; and the continuation of His power and presence through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: Those disciples on the road to Emmaus in today’s Gospel reading did not understand the significance of Jesus Christ as they walked down that road. They were upset over what had happened in Jerusalem that weekend. They had been followers of Jesus of Nazareth, and had thought that he would be the one who would redeem Israel. To them, that meant freeing Israel from the Romans. But, Jesus was killed the Friday before. Then there was a strange report that He had risen from the dead. They had to take a step out of the everyday affairs of human history and a step into the infinite. Jesus walked with them on that road. They did not recognize him because they were looking at him with physical eyes.

Empowerment: He would establish a spiritual relationship with them. Then they would know who He was. He explained the Word of God, Scripture to them. The One that Israel longed for was the One the entire world longed for. Scripture said that death could not have a hold on Him. Furthermore, those who followed him would also share in His Eternal Life. They invited Him into their home and He broke bread and gave it to them. Then they realized that their hearts were burning as He explained scripture. And they recognized Him in the breaking of bread, the Eucharist. He had led them into the spiritual. 

Joke: Up at the head table in the cafeteria, one of the nuns had placed a big bowl of bright red, fresh, juicy apples.  Beside the bowl, she placed a note which read, "Take only one.  Remember, Jesus is watching." At the other end of the table was a bowl full of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, still warm from the oven.  Beside the bowl was a little note scrawled in a child's handwriting which read, "Take all you want.  Jesus is watching the apples!"

Practical: In the first reading for this Sunday, Peter stands with the other apostles and tells the Jewish people that he and the others were witnesses to the resurrection of the Lord and recipients of the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. We also are called to continue this witness, this apostolic witness in the world.  There are many who are searching for the Lord without even knowing why they feel emptiness in their lives. They need us to fill them with Christ. We can do this. Actually, God can do this through us. There are many times that we also feel empty. But then we are given the grace to return to our core, our center, return to Jesus Christ and embrace His Life and Love. We must be committed to Christ. 

Introduction: Third Sunday of Easter

Message: Through the blood of Jesus we have been delivered from the power of sin.  We recognize him in the breaking of the bread, the one whom God raised from the dead and who now sits at his right hand forever.

Saints and Events in this Week:  10-Tenth-Saturday-Saint Damien de Veuster, priest. 

II Sunday Easter:[A]:Divine Mercy: Acts2:42-47,I Peter1:3-9, Jn 20:19-3

II Sunday Easter:[A]:Divine Mercy: Acts2:42-47,I Peter1:3-9, Jn 20:19-3

Introduction:  The Sunday after Easter always presents the event that took place in the Upper Room one week after Jesus rose from the dead. Pope John Paul II also designated this Sunday as Divine Mercy Sunday. And today the world celebrated the Canonization of this pope whom so many refer to as John Paul the Great.

Exegesis:   There are times that we have doubts in our faith. The Gospel tells the story of someone who doubted Jesus, the story of doubting Thomas. I am sure that he doubted Peter and the others who had said that they had seen the Lord. These are the same guys who only a few months earlier were squabbling with each other over who would be the most powerful in the Kingdom of God. Jesus had told them that they would be tested, but with the exception of John, they had all deserted the Lord, including Thomas, who in his own daring had said earlier, let’s go and die with him. The fact the Thomas was nowhere to be found at the crucifixion must have left him with some pretty negative feelings about himself. And what was probably most devastating to Thomas is that for the first time, he questioned his belief in Jesus. So Thomas was vocal in his doubts. He doubted the other disciples. He doubted himself. And he doubted the Lord. This obviously changed when he saw the Lord.

Pictures will often show Thomas putting his hands in the marks of the nails on Jesus’ hands and touching the Lord’s side, but actually Jesus only invites Thomas to do this. Thomas’ response to Jesus was “My Lord and My God”.  Jesus’ next comment was meant for us. “You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen yet believed”.

         

We have doubts in our faith. That is part of being a human being. Faith asks us to take a step, a leap actually, away from all that we can see, hear and sense, a step away from the limits of our rational capabilities and a step into mystery.  And God, in His Mercy, sees us for whom we are, human beings with doubts, but also people who have experienced His Love and want more of it. We might feel bad about ourselves for having doubts, but His Mercy, His Divine Mercy, is so great that He sees us not as people with doubts, but as people who are searching for Him. Thus Divine Mercy Sunday fits so perfectly with the gospel of doubting Thomas, ordinary people like you and I called to have extraordinary faith. 

Joke:   A priest was forced by a police officer to pull over for speeding.  As the officer was about to write the ticket, the priest said to him, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."  The police officer handed the priest the ticket, and said, "Go, and sin no more." ………

At another time a police officer stopped me and came to me, looked at me and said, “Father…., Slow down, slow down, You can’t afford a ticket.”   

Practical Applications:: 1) Ardent faith in Jesus, who will not exclude me from his visibility and mercy, is the key that leads St. Thomas to doubt. Doubt may not be in the resurrection of Jesus, but on saying that he is excluded.  Such an ardent faith is what we needed.

2) One way the Church celebrates God’s mercy throughout the year is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Finding time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is another good way to receive and give thanks for Divine Mercy.  It is mainly through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that we practice mercy in our daily lives and become eligible for God’s merciful judgment. 

3)  Living faith enables us to see the risen Lord in everyone and gives us the willingness to render to each one our loving service.  Let us ask God for the Faith that culminates in self-surrender to God and leads us to serve those we encounter with love. 

Introduction: Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday

Message: Thomas believed because he saw the risen Jesus. Although we have never seen him, we believe in him.  We give thanks to the Lord for this gift of faith, especially when we gather for the breaking of the bread and the prayers.

Saints and Events in this Week: 28-Twenty Eighth- Monday - St. Peter Chanel, priest, martyr; Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, priest; 29-Twenty Nine-Tuesday-Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin, doctor of the Church; 30-Thirtyieth-Wednesday-Saint Pius V, pope; May First-Thursday-Saint Joseph the Worker; 2-Second-Friday-Saint Athanasius, bishop, doctor of the Church; 3-Third-Saturday-Saints Philips and James, Apostles;

Easter Greetings Homily

Happy Easter

When the tomb of one of the Ancient Egyptian Kings was opened and the archaeologists went in they discovered a number of sealed pots containing votive offerings. One of these pots was full of grain, wheat grains. The pot of grain had in there undisturbed for 2,500 years. Among the many other things that were of great scientific interest in the tomb, this pot of grain was particularly interesting to agriculturalists. One of them wondered what would happen if, after 2,500 years the grain was planted. He duly planted and watered the grain. And behold after all this time it produced green shots and after the normal period sent forth years containing new grains of wheat.

You couldn't call this a miracle, but to those agriculturalists it seemed like a miracle. They were certainly full of wonder and awe. 2,500 years in the tomb and the wheat grains were still capable of generating new life.  New life always surprises us, it always delights us, it inevitably fills us with hope.

Jesus Christ was in the tomb three days. Three days of desolation and fear for his disciples. Three days of silence, three days being enough time for it to fully sink home that he was dead and that they hadn't imagined those horrific events.

Then reports came in from the women at the tomb, it was empty. Then word of sightings. It gradually began to sink home that he had risen from the dead. And then he appears to them face to face, and all their hopes are realised. A new era has begun for the world. Nothing would ever be the same again.

We are the spiritual sons and daughters of those disciples. We are their spiritual heirs. We are the bearers of the Good News that Christ is risen. But, of course, in order to be believable we need to have encountered the Risen Lord.

In a real way we need to have been where the disciples have been before us. We need to have experienced death and desolation in order to experience the power of the resurrection. We need to have been known those three days in order to fully realise just what Christ has achieved.  There are in all our lives times of desolation and vulnerability. In order to rise with him we need to have been in the tomb with him.

This is what the Church teaches us each year when it takes us by the hand through the events of the Pascal Mystery; the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethesemani, the trial, the judgement, the journey to Golgotha, the death on the cross, the laying in the tomb and the long wait for the resurrection. We do it this way because we are human beings and we only begin to understand something when we have experienced it.

Joke:   Easter is approaching. Father O'Maley checks estimates for the flower decoration of the altar. 

The catholic florist - $ 300. "Too expensive" moans the priest. 

The protestant florist - $ 250, "No, it would not be right to buy at another Christian believer, especially as the price difference is rather small."

But lo! Solly Goldberg - $ 75!!! Religion or economics?

After much consideration, Solly obtains the contract. 

On Easter Sunday morning, Goldberg's men deliver the flowers: wonderful roses, azaleas, camellias, tulips and carnations. O'Maley's last reservations are discarded.
When the parishioners arrive in the church, they see the magnificent flower arrangement and a ribbon with the inscription: "Jesus has risen! But the prices of Goldberg always stay the same."

Conclusion:  We experience today the joy of the resurrection, the birth of new hope for the world. We experience the certainty that death has been destroyed once and for all and that for us death is now the gateway to everlasting life. Because we have been led by faith to this discovery we live differently to those who have no hope. We live a new life in Christ. We have been baptised and inserted into this mystery and we live it out in our lives each day.

May God bless each and every one of you, may he fill your lives with Easter joy and bring you in due time to his everlasting banquet in heaven.

Once again Happy Easter to you all.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday:

The story of the Last Supper between Jesus and his disciples is told very differently in John's Gospel and in the other three Gospels. Whereas the other Gospels pay great attention to the Eucharistic words of Jesus "Take and eat, this is my body,... Take and drink, this is my blood,... Do this in memory of me," John's gospel focuses rather on the symbolic action of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. In our Holy Thursday celebration we recall the two events: Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and Jesus instituting the Eucharist. We also celebrate the institution of the priesthood because by commissioning his apostles to do this in memory of him, Jesus grants them the power to celebrate the Eucharist.

Old Testament people gathered in the temple and they sing and dance around the Arc of the Covenant, for they experience the presence of God in the Arc of the Covenant. Feast of tent was instituted with the symbolic sense of residing with God.  In the New Testament Jesus instituting Holy Eucharist that which is kept in the centre of the parish church we experience the presence of God. People living around the church in our own houses/tents mean living in tents around the Holy Eucharist, around the holy presence of Jesus. Christian life is a living together with Jesus.

Christian life is a humble life living in servicing others. Servicing others means servicing God.  Let us live a Eucharistic life, by being always with Him.

VI Sunday-Lent-Palm:[A]: Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Mt: 21: 1-11 & 27:11-66

VI Sunday-Lent-Palm:[A]: Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Mt: 21: 1-11 & 27:11-66

Introduction: Today is Palm Sunday. This day marks the actual beginning of the Paschal Mystery, the journey of our salvation. It is the final journey that brings our Lord to the climax of his ordeal and costly sacrifice for the redemption of humanity. Hence, the Church celebrates Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem in order to accomplish his Paschal Mystery for our sake. Today Ignorant of what await Christ many proclaim him king and shout hosanna in the usual crowd mentality and fashion.

Today’s liturgy combines many contrasting moments -- one of glory and one of suffering -  the royal welcome of Jesus in Jerusalem and the drama of His trial culminating in His crucifixion, death and burial. Passion reading today reminds us the death. Death is transformed by Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, also himself suffered the death that is part of the human condition. Yet, despite his anguish as he faced death, he accepted it in an act of complete and free submission to his Father's will. (Cf. Mk 14:33-34; Heb 5:7-8) The obedience of Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing. (Cf. Rom 5:19-21)

The King on a Donkey’s Back: Jesus is on his final journey to Jerusalem.  It is going to be a solemn entry, almost as a King is about to enter to take possession of his capital. And the procession begins at the Mount of Olives – the mount that is be the stage for the ultimate Day of the Lord (according to Zechariah 14:3-4), the day of judgement.  Perhaps the people have some insight into what is happening.  They throw their cloaks on the road as a sign of their surrender to the king.  And they sing in acclamation.  The lines they sing are partly borrowed from Psalm 118 (verse 26) that celebrates the kingship of the Lord.

But here is a contradiction that the Lord rides on a donkey, and not on a horse.  The horse could indicate a military, violent entry.  So he has purposefully chosen a donkey, he makes a humble entry.  As the prophet Zechariah once again reminds us, “Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem! Look, your king is approaching, he is vindicated and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).  

The hosanna singers:  It is the same hosanna singers became the shouters of “crucify him….crucify him” It is the same people who said “We have no king but Caesar”.

Joke:  A pastor’s wife was preparing pancakes for her young sons. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their Mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, "Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait." The oldest boy turned to his younger brother and said, "You be Jesus."

Exegesis: Today’s celebration is full of symbols. Some of these include: The palm branches and cloths laid on the way for Jesus. The green palm branch as we know is a sign of peace, freshness, royalty, and of course restoration; the crowd symbolizes both praise and denial because, it is this same people who today shout hosanna that will latter on shout crucify him!; Jerusalem of this time is a symbol of crown, glory and the cross because, it is in it that Jesus was crowned king and it is also in it that He will be crucified, and also it is in it that he will resurrect. Finally, the donkey or the colt which is a beast of burden on which Christ rode is highly symbolic and significant of Christ’s own humility in fulfillment of the prophecy: “…he is humble; he rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” Christ’s humility here is quite contrary to the flamboyant and reckless display of wealth, power and firm by our rulers and leaders today. In spite of the fact that he is God, he condescended so low as to ride on the poorest of beasts. He did not need to block all the roads and cause untold hardship to his people because he was passing by. He did not violate traffic rules because he is Lord; he needed no soldiers and heavily armed security officers or bullet proof equipments to intimidate his people because he was passing by and there was no need of sirens in order to clear the road for him alone to pass through it. Instead, he simply mounted a colt and made his royal, courageous and brave entry into Jerusalem. Of course, he knew it was time to accomplish his mission on earth and so there was nothing to be afraid of. He displayed the true quality of a self-sacrificing king.

Practical applications:  1)Let us live through these paradoxes during the coming week, together with Jesus.  It is in living through the paradoxes of our life is our own salvation. Let us feel as he felt. Let us think as-he thought.  Let us pray as he prayed.  It is in being united with him in his suffering, death, and resurrection is our own victory.

2)  Let us be not the same hosanna singers who shouted to crucify him.  Be on a stand to hold a good opinion to help each other and encourage them.

Introduction: Sixth Sunday in Lent / Palm Sunday

Message: Jesus humbling himself out of love for us, did not shield his face from buffets and spitting, but offered his life on the cross.  He relied on his Father’s love.

V SUNDAY : Ez 37: 12-14; Rom 8: 8-11: Jn 11:1-45

V SUNDAY : Ez 37: 12-14; Rom 8: 8-11: Jn 11:1-45

Introduction : Death with resurrection hope is the central theme of the Scripture readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent.  In his vision, Ezekiel, in the first reading, bears witness to the reanimation of the dead Israel in preparation for their return to the Promised Land. He assures his people that nothing, not even death will stop God from carrying out His promise. St. Paul, in the second reading, assures the early Roman Christians who were facing death by persecution, and us who are surrounded by a culture of death, that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and who dwells within us will give life to our mortal bodies. He considers the resurrection of Jesus as the basis for our hope of sharing in Jesus’ resurrection.

This story of the raising of Lazarus is unique to John's gospel and comes just prior to Jesus' Palm Sunday entrance to Jerusalem. John uses this story, which probably has some roots in the collections of stories about Jesus, to show that Jesus is the Messiah. This event is the prelude to Jesus' own death and resurrection. Describing this great miracle, the Church assures us that we, too, will be raised into eternal life after our battle with sin and death in this world. Thus resurrection hope is the central theme of the Scripture readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent. The readings assure us that our faith in Jesus, who is “the resurrection and the life,” promises our participation in resurrection and new life.

The story is filled with significant occurrences. Jesus does not rush to Judea to keep Lazarus from dying. Rather, Lazarus must die so Jesus can show his mastery over death. The disciples are fearful of what will happen to Jesus if he returns to Judea where the authorities are upset with him. When this doesn't trouble Jesus, Thomas encourages the other to go with Jesus in spite of the consequences, a model of discipleship. Many Jewish people are in Bethany when Jesus arrives, so there will be witnesses to this miracle. Jesus' response to Martha's belief in resurrection on the last day gives John the opportunity to have her acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah. Lazarus is not merely sleeping, he has been dead four days and there will be a great stench if they open the tomb. As of result of Lazarus exit from the tomb, many of the Jews believed in Jesus. John presents this as the final insult to the religious leaders which leads them to plot to put Jesus to death.

Joke :1) A funeral director called a man for further instructions about his mother-in-law’s body. “Do you want her embalmed, cremated or buried?” “All the three!’ the man answered promptly. “Don’t take any chances.”

To effect the miracle, Jesus issues three commands and all of them are obeyed to the letter. That is how the miracle happens. First, “Jesus said, ‘Roll away the stone.’ … So they rolled away the stone” (verses 39-41). All we know is that divine power seems always to be activated by human cooperation and stifled by non-cooperation. The second command Jesus gives is directed to the dead man: “‘Lazarus, come out!’ and the dead man came out” (verses 43-44). All we know is that Jesus’ word of command is followed by immediate obedience. Lazarus gropes his way out of the dark tomb even with his hands and feet tied up in bandages, and his face all wrapped up. Even a man rotting away in the tomb can still do something to help himself.  The third command again is addressed to the people, “Unbind him, and let him go” (verse 44). Even though Lazarus could stumble himself out of the tomb, there was no way he could unbind himself. He needs the community to do that for him. By unbinding Lazarus and setting him free from the death bands the community is accepting Lazarus back as one of them.

Joke :2) The pastor was visiting a terminally sick parishioner in the hospital. As he started consoling the patient the sick man said: “Don’t worry about where I am heading to, Father. I have friends in both places.”

Practical Applications: Many Christian individuals and communities today have fallen victim to the death of sin. Many are already in the tomb of hopelessness and decay, in the bondage of sinful habits and attitudes. Nothing short of a miracle can bring us back to life in Christ. Jesus is ready for the miracle. He himself said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Are we ready to cooperate with him for the miracle? Are we ready to roll away the stone that stands between us and the light of Christ’s face? Are we ready to take the first step to come out of the place of death? Are we ready to unbind (i.e. forgive) one another and let them go free? These are the various ways we cooperate with God in the miracle of bringing us back to life and reviving us as individuals, as a church, and a nation.  

Introduction:  Fifth Sunday in Lent

Message: Jesus is our resurrection and our life.  Because he has given us of the Spirit, we are no longer dead because of sin, but alive.  In Jesus is the fullness of redemption.

Saints and Events in this week:  7-Seventh-Monday-Saint John Baptist de la Salle, priest; 11-Eleventh-Friday-Saint Stanislaus, bishop, martyr;