Joy Poonoly Sermons

4th Sunday December 19 2010 -- God is with us!

2010-12-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

4th Sunday Advent, December 19 2010
God is with us!
One boy was about to go on his first date, and was nervous about what to talk about. He asked his father for advice.
The father replied: "My son, there are three subjects that always work. These are food, family, and philosophy."
The boy picked up his date and they went for Ice cream. As they were enjoying ice cream, they stared at each other for a long time, as the boy's nervousness built.
He remembered his father's advice, and chose the first topic.
He asked the girl: "Do you like spinach?" She said "No," and the silence returned.
After a few more uncomfortable minutes, the boy thought of his father's suggestion and turned to the second item on the list. He asked, "Do you have a brother?" Again, the girl said "No" and there is silence once again.
The boy then played his last card. He thought of his father's advice and asked the girl the following question: "If you had a brother, would he like spinach?"
This is story not about how to date but of nervousness, fear and anxiety. When we go through such difficulties God says that He is with us. How? Let us understand.
Today’s readings express the same sentiment.
Go was with the people of Israel, God is with Paul when he was on his missionary journeys. God was with Mary and Joseph at the great crisis time.
To Judah, a nation in crisis, Isaiah promises that God would come to them as “Emmanuel.” In the gospel reading today, that prophecy was fulfilled. At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son just as had been promised by Isaiah, and that his name would be “Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
On this the fourth Sunday in Advent there are three ways in which God is with us.
1. God is with us in one another. The Christmas tree was put up in the church with names tags. There were around 200 names tags. All were taken by you to send some gifts to people who cannot make the ends meet and who have no means of giving gifts to children or of celebrating Christmas. In your generosity “Emmanuel - God is with us” was for those people.
By becoming human, Jesus made human beings a sacrament of God’s presence. God reaches out to us in and through one another. Not just during the Christmas season, but every day and every night we are called to be “Emmanuel” even as we find God in those who come as “Emmanuel” in our life.
2. God is with us in the Eucharist. John, in his gospel, gives no account of the nativity of Jesus. He talks about the incarnation by saying, “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” If we look at the literal translation from Hebrew, “flesh” would mean, the “whole person of the divinity” and “made his dwelling” would mean, “pitched his tent or tabernacle” among us. In the Old Testament, God was with the people of Israel in and through the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was initially kept in a tent and the glory/presence of the Lord would cover the tent. This was the tabernacle of the Old Testament. A cloud would cover the tent as a sign of God’s presence. Later the Temple of Jerusalem became the dwelling of God. The Temple was first destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC and then again in 70 AD by the Romans. However, these earthly dwellings have been replaced by a new temple, a new tent, a new tabernacle – the tabernacle of the real presence of God in and through Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. If there is one thing that we Catholics take for granted – it is the presence of the all holy God in the Blessed Sacrament. “Emmanuel, God is with us” here in this tabernacle. The next time you want to be in the presence of God either in a time of crisis of otherwise, spend time in the presence of the Eucharist.

3. God is with us through life. God’s greatest gift to us is the new life God promises us in Jesus. “I have come that they may have life, life in abundance” (Jn 10:10). Emmanuel, God is with us.” God carries us from this life to the next. In embracing the fullness of our humanity it has been made possible for us to embrace the fullness of divinity. This advent, spend time reflecting on what that means for us personally.

We gather every Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, we reach the climax of God’s presence with us. Here, God is with us a) in one another b) through God’s real presence in the Eucharist, and c) God allows us to participate in God’s life in the bread and wine. Today, again, here is Emmanuel. In this Eucharist, “God is with us.” Amen.

3rd Sunday December 12 2010- We are called to experience joy and hope!

2010-12-18T07:22:00.000-08:00

3rd Sunday Advent --We are called to experience joy and hope!
The Reverend Billy Graham tells of a time early in his ministry when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy had told him, Dr. Graham thanked him and said, "If you'll come to the Church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to Heaven."
"I don't think I'll be there," the boy said. "You don't even know your way to the post office."
Do you want to go to heaven or want experience heaven?
Now we look at the readings again, there is tremendous hope and joy promised. So for example, in the first reading this is what the Prophet Isaiah has to say:
“Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong and do not fear!
Here is your God, he comes with vindication,
With divine recompense he comes to save you.”

The community to which Isaiah was writing lived in rather dark times. Hezekiah was the king of Judah at the time and Sennacherib the Assyrian king had laid siege to its capital, Jerusalem. The entire nation was in the danger of being wiped out. The famous inscription of Sennacherib said, “I shut up Hezekiah like a bird in his cage.” But as is promised in today’s readings, God says, “Be strong and do not fear!
Here is your God; He comes with vindication, with divine recompense he comes to save you.”
God did deliver the city just as he had promised. As Christians we find this prophecy fulfilled in an even better way. God came to us in Jesus and brought the most hopeful and joyful thing that could ever bring to humanity: our salvation. Our lives are not easy, but today just now, our God comes to save us. When John’s disciples came to ask Jesus if he was indeed the Christ, he pointed to the signs of the kingdom right there in their midst:“The blind regain their sight, The lame walk, The lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, And the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” When does it happen? The second reading tells us about the need to be patient and avoid grumbling just as a farmer who has to be patient for the crop to grow.

There are three things I suggest we do for the rest of the two weeks before Christmas. These are my three practical implications for this week.

1. Make our hopes and joys realized and shared! Can the hope and joy promised in the scriptures be ours this Christmas? Some of us have children, close relatives, and friends in Iraq; I personally know friends in the congregation that have lost jobs; I know people that are sad because of broken marriages and depressed because relationships did not materialize. I know people whose immediate family members are hurting because of illness. I know children and young people in this congregation who are hurting because their parents are going apart. Where is the hope? To those whose days are dark and to those whose days are bright, my suggestion is, make the prophecy of Isaiah your own. Take this reading home, read it again and again and claim the promise God is making. In other words, do we want Isaiah’s prophecy to come true for us? If we do, then, let us invite God into the situation that we are in: Is it Unemployment? Illness? Relationship? Happiness? Contentment? Peace? Anxiety? Hurt? It does not matter what situation we are in. Let us open our lives for Jesus to enter in. Isaiah’s words are a prophecy and it has to come true for us now as it did for the Israelites. Let us believe that this prophecy is for us: “Here is your God, he comes with vindication, With divine recompense he comes to save you.”
2. “Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” I also want to draw our attention to what St. James is saying to his community in the second reading “Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” Even as we make God’s prophecy our own, let us fulfill our own obligations so that today’s prophecy can come true for us. Let us make peace if there is peace to be made; let us root out sin in our lives since it becomes an obstacle between God and us; let us share with those in need the things God has shared with us; let us be kind and gentle with people of all nations, cultures, and races, embracing them as our brothers and sisters; let us refrain from judgment so that God may spare us. Let us “make our hearts firm because the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

3) We need to open our hearts and let God transform our lives: Today’s readings remind us that our lives can also be transformed if we are patient and place our trust in God. The message of Advent is that God is present among us, in our everyday lives. We must prepare our hearts to recognize and welcome Him by allowing a metánoia (a change of thinking about God, ourselves, and the world) in us during Advent.
Today, today, just now, Jesus comes to us. In this Eucharist, Christ comes to us in the here and now. His words to us are the same that God spoke through Isaiah:
“Be strong and do not fear! Here is your God; he comes with vindication, with divine recompense he comes to save you.”

2nd week Advent December 5 2010 -- We are called to be hopeful in hopeless situations!

2010-12-02T19:15:00.001-08:00

2nd Week of Advent – December 5th 2010 – We are called to be hopeful in hopeless situations! A priest walked into a barber shop in Washington, D.C. After he got his haircut, he asked how much it would be. The barber said, "No charge. I consider it a service to the Lord."
The next morning, the barber came to work and there were 12 rosaries and a thank you note from the priest in front of the door.
Later that day, a police officer came in and got his hair cut. He then asked how much it was. The barber said, "No charge. I consider it a service to the community."
The next morning, he came to work and there were a dozen donuts and a thank you note from the police officer.
Then, a Senator came in and got a haircut. When he was done he asked how much it was. The barber said, "No charge. I consider it a service to the country."
The next morning, the barber came to work and there were 12 Senators in front of the door for a free haircut. Very smart and selfish senators! This story raises two questions. What are we and where are we?
Despite the holiday mood, most people I have had conversations with seem to be a little grim about the state of affairs. The facts are the same: housing loan crisis, high gas prices, signs of recession in the economy, the rise of conflicts, climate change, global warming, unemployment, nuclear proliferation, the threat of terrorism, the falling dollar, the sky-rocketing cost of health care, the widening gap between the rich and the poor. The list seems unending. Surprisingly, the stock market seems to be doing rather well in spite of it all, which in one sense makes people wonder what is really going on. I am by no means a pessimist nor do I court doomsday, but there is a hint of a crisis-situation in the world today. But the most frightening part of this scenario that no one, not one nation has a viable, sound solution to these problem. The leaders of the world cannot even agree on a strategy to address the problem that encounters all of humanity. I want to offer a theological reflection on the state of the world and some direction that today readings offer to us both for the world and for us personally. The readings offer hope in our hopeless situations!
The context within which today’s first reading was written was not any different from today. Isaiah’s prophecy in today’s first reading comes in the context of an impending crisis. He prophesied during the reign of king Ahaz. He was a bad king because he did not trust god’s promise of protection to the people of Israel. The Assyrians were becoming stronger in the Middle East while both the Jewish kingdoms Israel and Judah were getting weaker as they blatantly violated their Covenant with Yahweh. Isaiah refers to the Israel as an “impious nation” (Is 10:6), and warns Judah that unless she made some radical changes in her society she would be destroyed as well. But God also offers a hope filled promise. A messiah-like figure filled with wisdom, and understanding, counsel and strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord would appear. He would bring about justice and faithfulness and restore the people of the “impious nation.” Christians identify this messiah-like figure to be Jesus.
This brings us to the gospel reading. John the Baptist began his ministry by proclaiming exactly what he was sent for: to “Prepare the way of the Lord” (Mt 3:2). However, his solution for the restoration of the nation rested on two things: a) making straight the path for Christ; and b) producing good fruit as evidence of your repentance. In other words, the restoration of Israel would be the result of Israel resisting the temptation to walk in its own ways (repentance) and looking to the way of Jesus (prepare the way of the Lord).
Let me offer three practical implications of today’s readings.
1. We are called to walk in the ways of God – justice and faithfulness. We began this homily by pointing to the world in the verge of a crisis. If today’s readings are telling us anything it is this – that if the world must sustain itself, it must be based on the sound principles of justice and faithfulness. The present situation stems from the basic lack of justice in our dealings with each other and the tendency of human being to prepare not a way for the Lord but for profit, easy money, quest for power. In other words, human beings are preparing the way not of the Lord but for themselves. A safe and happy world is not magic; it will only be the result of walking in the ways of God – justice and faithfulness. It is only then that:
“The wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain.” (Is 11:3-9)
2. Today’s readings offer a personal promise and a challenge – the promise is Jesus; the challenge is repentance. Our lives can mirror what is happening in the world today. So many individual lives could find happiness, contentment, and peace if only we would pause during this season and took time to prepare the way for Jesus. The invitation of John the Baptist to “Prepare the way of the Lord,” is a personal invitation to each person here today. Surely, each one of us can look at our lives and find areas where we can bring Jesus in. Let our preparation for Christmas not be a time to prepare a way for our own selves, but rather, a time to prepare the way for Jesus. It is only by the wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord that Jesus offers to us that we can save ourselves from destruction.
3. We are called to produce good fruits! John the Baptist calls the Pharisees brood of vipers and tells them produce good fruits as evidence of their repentance! There is a simple, direct message. “Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” - (Mt 3:10). We have two more weeks left for before Christmas. Let us isolate those acts that bear bad fruit (repent) and let us prepare the way for Jesus (thus producing good fruit).

This Eucharist is yet another opportunity to keep our eyes focused on Jesus as we prepare for Christmas. Let us “prepare the way” for him as he come to us in the Eucharist. Amen.

Advent 1 Nov. 28 2010 - We are called to walk in the light!

2010-11-27T12:40:00.000-08:00

Advent 1 We are called to walk in the light!

It is a story about good news and bad news!

Doctor: I have some good news and I have some bad news.
Patient: What's the good news?
Doctor: The good news is that the tests you took showed that you have 24 hours to live.
Patient: That's the good news? What's the bad news?
Doctor: The bad news is that I forgot to call you yesterday! So you are going to die now.
Let us understand the good news and bad news! I would like to raise two simple questions. How much do you think the world military spending is? According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Yearbook, in 2006 the world spent $ 1,204 billion in military expenditures. My second question: How much would it take each year to end world hunger? It would take 13 billion dollars a year to end hunger for the world’s starving. We could end world hunger ninety times over if as Isaiah says in today’s first reading,
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again. (Is 2: 4). On the first Sunday in Advent the scriptures offer us an invitation: “Come let us walk in the light of the Lord.” A similar invitation comes to us in the second reading. Paul invites us to “…throw away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…” (Rom 13:12). The theme of “light and darkness” is a perfect way to guide us through this holy season. The event of the birth of Christ was covered in light. The glory of the Lord “shone” (Lk 2:8) for the shepherds; the light of the star led the magi to the manger (Mt 2:2). Even though John does not give an account of the nativity, he begins the gospel by saying, “The light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world” (Jn 1:9).
Thus, on this first Sunday in Advent, let us take the invitation to “walk in the light of the Lord” very seriously. For this Advent, I am going to propose that we walk in the light of the Lord in three ways.

1. The birth of Jesus was a global event. God’s vision for the entire human race is a vision of peace. Swords (military spending) must be beaten into ploughshares (farming). Spears (weapons) must be turned into pruning hooks (gathering equipment). Some poor countries just in the last year raised its military budget by 28.6% ($ 3 billion) while it has three hundred million poor people living below the poverty line. The military budget of the United States is $ 364.24 billion while it has ten million people that face the prospect of hunger. My own resolution is to refrain from the politics of violence. My resolution is to reject the culture of hate and division. Whether it is other races, castes, cultures, religions or nationalities, my resolution is to beat the sword into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks in my own life.

2. Second, let us end darkness in our own lives. Paul suggests to the Romans in today’s second reading: “Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy.” The second resolution is to let God shed God’s light in those areas of my life where I am afraid to let God’s light shine; perhaps there is a relationship, an addiction, a prejudice, some resentment, a little self-centeredness, a little pride. Let us “throw away the darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12).

3. The “light” that we hear about in the readings is not an impersonal thing like the lights we put for decoration outside. The “light” is Jesus. The best way to stay in the light is to “be” in the light. Let our real preparation for Christmas revolve around Jesus. Take the readings each day this advent and spend a few moments in prayer. Let us be obedient to the word of God each day. That is the best way to “be” in the light. If we do this, then all our other activities, like the tree, gifts, food, and friendships will a special meaning.

Let this Eucharist be our “Yes” to God’s invitation to walk in the light. God gives us Jesus himself to accompany us on this journey. Let us receive Jesus and walk in the “light.” Amen.

33rd Week Nove. 14 2010, Today we have the good news and bad news!

2010-11-11T13:35:00.001-08:00

33rd Week Nov. 14 2010, Today we have the good news and bad news1
During a Papal audience, a business man approached the Pope and made this offer: Change the last line of the Lord's Prayer from "give us this day our daily bread" to "give us this day our daily chicken." and KFC will donate 10 million dollars to Catholic charities. The Pope declined.
2 weeks later the man approached the Pope again and this time with a 50 million dollar offer. Again the Pope declined.
A month later the man offers 100 million, this time the Pope accepts. At a meeting of the Cardinals, The Pope announces his decision: Today I have good news and bad news for you.
The good news is... that we have 100 million dollars for charities.
The bad news is that we lost the Wonder Bread account! Today’s readings are about good news and bad news! First bad news! Today’s readings give us some stark warnings. These warnings come at a particular time in the liturgical year. Today is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The end of calendar year too is fast approaching. As Christmas draws near, and as the church uses the feast of the first coming of the messiah to reflect on the second coming of Jesus, the readings remind us of the end times. Thus all the three readings today draw attention to the impending apocalypse.
Apocalyptic prophecies are a feature both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Thus in the first reading from the Prophet Malachi there is a reference to the coming of the Messiah and the “rising of the sun of justice with its healing rays” (Mal 3:20a). And we know that the Messiah did come. Paul, in his letters often expresses his belief not only in the certainty of the second coming of Christ but also how and when Christ would come. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul talks about Jesus coming in the clouds with a trumpet blast (1Thess 4:16). As to when Christ would come, he was sure that it would be imminent. He wanted his community to stay prepared since the Lord would certainly come before their life time. Today’s second reading comes from the misuse of the Pauline idea of the second coming. Some people at that time used the belief in the immanent coming of Christ as an excuse for laziness. Their argument was if Christ’s was coming soon then any labor is futile. Idleness led them to interfere in other people’s affairs. Thus in today’s second reading Paul urges all Christians to go about their normal lives, fulfilling their individual, family, social, and Christian responsibilities precisely because the end was near.
The gospel reading continues the theme of the end times. The gospel gives us a vivid description of what is to happen at the end time. Wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, persecutions, and betrayals will characterize the end times. This scene can be very frightening. But these things do happen. If you read the time magazine cover story on the California fires, people were mortally scared when the fires actually hit them. But the consoling part of Jesus’ message is: “Not a hair on your head will be destroyed” (Lk 21:19). Christ has invited us into his eternal kingdom and even every bit of our life us secure with him. If this is the bad news, then what is the good news?
I want to draw three practical implications from the readings as good news!
1. Focus our mind on right things: The first implication comes from the Gospel reading. Is the reading meant to frighten us? Is it meant to put the fear of God into our hearts? No! In fact, just the opposite! It is meant to help us focus on things that are really important. There is a possibility that as we live our lives we may lose our focus and vision from what is really important to the mundane things of our human existence. We can get caught up in making more and more money, in legal battles, in petty family quarrels, and in accumulating things. We can be so caught up with ourselves that we can forget others; we can even forget God. The important thing is not when the world will end, or even how it will end. The important question is if the world does end today, will we have our minds focused on what is really important: on God, on love and peace, fidelity and justice, faith and hope; things that really matter. If we do have things that are really important in focus, then the message is not that frightening after all. On the contrary we will be more taken up with the message. “Do not be terrified. When all these things happen not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives” (Lk 21:19).
2. Conduct ourselves in an orderly manner: The second practical implication comes from the second reading where Paul urges the Thessalonians to conduct themselves in an orderly manner (1 Thess. 3:11). St. Gerard Majella, our patron saint, whose main responsibility in the monastery was baking bread for the entire community, was once asked what he would do if Christ was to come at the moment he was baking bread. He replied, “I will continue to bake bread.” In fact, fulfilling one’s responsibility is the best way to prepare for the second coming of Christ. That is why Paul urges all Christians to go about their normal lives, fulfilling their individual, family, social and Christian responsibilities precisely because the end was near. I hope when Christ comes or when our end comes we are caught doing what we are supposed to be doing.
3. The participation in the Eucharist is an experience of God: In the book of the Apocalypse, Jesus is unveiled as a lamb, though slain. This points us to the Eucharist. At every Eucharist, there is a coming of Jesus; every Eucharist there is an unveiling of His presence. Just as Jesus unveiled himself to his disciples on the road to Emmaus in the breaking of the bread he unveils himself at every breaking of the bread (Lk 24:13-35). The Eucharist is one of the best ways for us to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming, since it is both a foretaste of that final second coming, and also the very presence of Jesus Himself.
For instance, whether we believe in global warming or whether we believe that the erratic weather conditions are only a sign of climate change, we live in a time of stark warnings. Scientists are telling us that something is wrong with our life style. Our level of consumption and its effects are unsustainable. They are telling us that if we continue to live the way we do, one day our fragile eco-system will collapse. They are telling us that the earth in on the verge of a catastrophe. But it is in our human psyche to think that disaster is far away. Because if we accept that it is near then we have to make real changes. If we continue to believe that we have plenty of time, then we do not have to change our life-style. However, Scientists are urging us to make some hard decisions so that we are not caught unprepared. The message is the same as the scientist’s – let us not be caught unprepared.
Let us remember that Christ who will come on the last day or Christ we will meet at our own end is the very Christ we will meet in this Eucharist. Think about this as a real possibility - we might be only as prepared to meet Jesus then as we are prepared today to receive Jesus in this Eucharist. Is that a reason for us to be afraid or does that make us confident to meet him? Only we know the answer to that question.

33rd Week Nove. 14 2010, Today we have the good news and bad news!

2010-11-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

32nd week Nov. 7, 2010, God is one not of the dead but of the living!

2010-11-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

32nd week Nov. 7, 2010
Oh my God, who are you? – God is not one of the dead but of the living!
Four Catholic ladies are having coffee together. The first one tells her friends, “My son is a priest. When he walks into a room, everyone calls him ‘Father’.”
The second Catholic woman chirps, “My son is a Bishop. Whenever he walks into a room, people say, ‘Your Grace’.”
The third Catholic woman says smugly, “My son is a Cardinal. Whenever he walks into a room, people say, ‘Your Eminence’.”
The fourth Catholic woman sips her coffee in silence. The first three women give her this subtle “Well…...”
She replies, “My son is a gorgeous, 6′2″, he weighs 400 pounds. When he walks into a room, people say, ‘Oh my God…’.”
Oh my God, who are you or how do I understand? Clearly, the theme of today’s readings is life and death. Intertwined within those themes are the words of Jesus, “He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Lk 20:38).
The manners in which these themes occur in the readings seem to suggest the fact that belief in life after death was not necessarily a universal Jewish belief. This is obvious in the gospel reading. The Sadducees (a Jewish sect) came up to Jesus with the hypothetical case of a woman who married seven brothers as each of them successively died. The Sadducees accepted the teachings of only the first five books of the Old Testament and in these books belief in the afterlife is not specifically mentioned. But by the time of the Maccabees, about one hundred and fifty years before the coming of Christ, belief in the resurrection of the dead was clearly established. For example, in today’s first reading, when the seven brothers and their mother were being put to death for refusing to accept Greek practices unacceptable to the Jews, one of the brothers says to the Antiochus Epiphanes, their persecutor, “You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever” (2 Mac 7:9). By the time of Jesus, the resurrection from the dead was accepted as an article of Jewish faith, except for the Sadducees. In fact, Jesus claimed that he was the resurrection and the life (John 11: 25).

The case created by the Sadducees was meant to impress upon others the futility of belief in the afterlife. Jesus begins his answer to the Sadducees by pointing it out to them that the belief in life after death is actually found in the Pentateuch. That is why he declared at the end of today’s gospel reading, “That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called out ‘Lord,’ that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead but of the living, for to him all are alive” (Lk 20:37-38). The last statement of today gospel reading becomes the most hopeful statement in all of scripture. The God we believe in, is a “God of the living and not of the dead and to him all are alive.”
Three practical implications!
1. The first implication of the readings is the tremendous consolation and the hope they offer to those of us who have experienced the death of a dear one. The greatest gift God had given us is a participation in the life of God. Christ opened the door for us to participate in the God’s very life. Christ, then, eliminates death. We move from life to life.

2. The abuse of the belief in the life after death was one of the reasons that Karl Marx called religion the “opium of the poor.’ Belief in the next life was offered as a consolation to the poor so that they may not claim their human rights. In other words, the poor were told not to let their misery trouble them because God would reward them in the next. Such opinions come from a totally skewed understanding of this life and the next. Rather, belief in the next life makes this present life even more important for how we choose to live on earth has an eternal implication. Look at the miseries and difficulties of people, they have believed when it was most difficult to believe, hoped when they were confronted with hopelessness, and were grateful to God when it was the most difficult to do so.

3. This Eucharist is very important from the perspective of life here on earth and life with God. As Catholics we believe in the communion of saints. This means that at every Eucharist we gather not only as this community but we worship God with all the angels, saints, our ancestors and all those who are with God. Our God is the God not of the dead but of the living. This Eucharist, then, is our real time connection with the God of the living in whose presence all those who have died constantly worship God. This Eucharist is a celebration of life. That is why Jesus said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life (Jn 6:54). Let us celebrate the God of the living who offers us eternal life.

As we continue to celebrate the Eucharist, let us allow the life of Christ to bring us from despair to hope, from darkness to light, and from death into life. Amen

31st Sunday- October 30, 2010 -- Encounter with God leads us to change!

2010-10-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

31 Sunday – 30, October, 2010
Encounter with God should lead to change and transformation

There was one Irish Redemptorist, who on the first night of the parish mission, would dramatically look into the eyes of the congregation and softly say, “Everyone from this parish is going to die.” This would always get the attention of the people. However, one time, when our missionary began this way, a little fellow in back of the Church smiled a bit. The smile irritated our Irish Redemptorist and so he spoke to the crowd again, with a louder voice, “I say everyone in this parish is going to die.” Now, our little man in the back has a smile on his face from ear to ear. Our missionary is growing upset since he has never experienced such a reaction before in all of his days as a mission preacher. So, he shouts in a booming voice, “Everyone from this parish is going to die!” The fellow in back begins to laugh. Our missionary can’t take it anymore and he asks the man, “What are you laughing about?” The fellow smiles and says, “I am not from this parish.” There is an encounter between Irish Redemptorist priest and the poor guy. Priest could not change him and challenge him. Today in the gospel we see another encounter, the encounter between Jesus and Zachaeus. It is one of the most intriguing episodes in the gospel of Luke. There are multiple levels on which we can analyze this encounter. Zachaeus was a tax collector – considered by their contemporaries to have betrayed the nation, for by their tax collection they supported the Roman invaders. Tax collectors were as hated for their ruthless and uncompassionate extortion of wealth from the poor as they were for their ingenuity. Zachaeus was a wealthy man. So, why did he not come up to Jesus and meet him face to face? Did his stature destroy his self-image and his self-confidence? Of all the things a person could do to meet another or get a glimpse of another person, why on earth would Zachaeus climb a tree? To answer these questions we must return to the parable that we heard last week about the Pharisee and the Publican. Between that parable and the story of Zachaeus, there are two other stories that give us a clue to interpreting Zachaeus encounter with Jesus. Immediately after the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, an official came to Jesus and asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life? When Jesus told him that he must sell all and give to poor and then come and follow Jesus, “he became quite sad for he was very rich” (Lk 18:23). He did not follow Jesus. The next passage is the story of the blind beggar Bartimeus, who was penniless, but at the end of the story, unlike the rich official, he “followed Him” (Luke 18:43). Zachaeus story is a good mix between the two earlier stories. Zachaeus was a rich man who gave half his wealth to the poor, repaid those whose money he had extorted (Luke 19:8), and experienced God’s salvation (Lk 19:9).

In other words, last week parable comes alive in the story of Zachaeus. The rich official came up to Jesus like the Pharisee in the parable. He boasted before Jesus that he had followed all the commandments from his youth (Lk 18:21). The blind beggar Bartimeus, like the tax collector, could only shout out the prayer from a distance, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” (Lk 18:38). This prayer is similar to the one that the tax collector has made in the temple, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk 18:13). Like the tax-collector in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Zachaeus would not come up to Jesus. He stood at a distance, up on the tree where you would not expect anyone to be. He had only one thing in his favor - he desired to see Jesus.

That brings us to the first reading from the book of Wisdom. In the light of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector, the story of the rich official, the blind man Bartimeus and, Zachaeus, let us read the first reading again and see how much sense it makes. In other words, Jesus is the God described in the book of Wisdom. Jesus is the one who has mercy on all (Wisdom 11:23); Jesus is the one who is the “lover of souls” (Wisdom 11:26); Jesus is the one, who little by little leads people to “abandon their wickedness and believe in God (Wisdom 12:2). When Jesus declares at Zachaeus house, “Today, salvation has come to this house,” (Lk 19:9) it was Jesus himself who had come to Zachaeus.

What are the readings teaching us? I want to take Christ’s words “Today salvation has come to this house,” (Lk 19:9) as the reference point for our practical implications from today’s scripture. Zachaeus salvation involved a three step process:

1. Sincere Desire - The starting point for salvation is sincere desire. We have seen examples of sincere desire the last few weeks in the prayer of the tax collector, in cry the blind man Bartimeus, and in Zachaeus climbing the tree. Such desire never goes unrewarded as the first reading teaches us. When human beings come in sincere desire for God, God meets them with love and mercy. People like Zachaeus unnerve me because they challenge me to go to the very core of my faith. And as we uncover the core of our faith I hope we only find sincere desire for God.

2. Genuine practice of the Faith. If our desire for God is sincere it must show itself in two parallel ways – love of God and right relationship with the neighbor. Zachaeus opened his life to Jesus but the result of Zachaeus allowing the message Of Jesus to dictate his life was the way he went about making it right with his neighbor. The moment Zachaeus made that public confession, “Behold half my possessions Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have extorted from anyone I will repay it four times over,” Jesus declared, “Today, salvation has come to this house….” Zachaeus unnerves me because he turns my attention from hypocrisy to the true practice of the faith.

3. Total Trust. The most dramatic part of the Zachaeus story is the total vulnerability to which he submits. By his conversion, he risked his partners in crime, his reputation, his social status, his family’s security, his political clout and perhaps even his job for the sake of salvation. Zachaeus let his life into the hands of God – totally. Zachaeus teaches me total trust in God. Zachaeus unnerves us because he personifies what I have only intellectually believed thus far – do what God demands of you and leave the consequences to God.

As we are here to celebrate this Eucharist, let us come with the same attitude of Zachaeus. Let not our sin keep us away from the Lord, for the Lord is a "lover of souls." Rather, as we come with a sincere desire and in total trust, let the Lord himself say to us, "Today salvation has come to this house." Amen

There was one Irish Redemptorist, who on the first night of the parish mission, would dramatically look into the eyes of the congregation and softly say, “Everyone from this parish is going to die.” This would always get the attention of the people. However, one time, when our missionary began this way, a little fellow in back of the Church smiled a bit. The smile irritated our Irish Redemptorist and so he spoke to the crowd again, with a louder voice, “I say everyone in this parish is going to die.” Now, our little man in the back has a smile on his face from ear to ear. Our missionary is growing upset since he has never experienced such a reaction before in all of his days as a mission preacher. So, he shouts in a booming voice, “Everyone from this parish is going to die!” The fellow in back begins to laugh. Our missionary can’t take it anymore and he asks the man, “What are you laughing about?” The fellow smiles and says, “I am not from this parish.” There is an encounter between Irish Redemptorist priest and the poor guy. Priest could not change him and challenge him. Today in the gospel we see another encounter, the encounter between Jesus and Zachaeus. It is one of the most intriguing episodes in the gospel of Luke. There are multiple levels on which we can analyze this encounter. Zachaeus was a tax collector – considered by their contemporaries to have betrayed the nation, for by their tax collection they supported the Roman invaders. Tax collectors were as hated for their ruthless and uncompassionate extortion of wealth from the poor as they were for their ingenuity. Zachaeus was a wealthy man. So, why did he not come up to Jesus and meet him face to face? Did his stature destroy his self-image and his self-confidence? Of all the things a person could do to meet another or get a glimpse of another person, why on earth would Zachaeus climb a tree? To answer these questions we must return to the parable that we heard last week about the Pharisee and the Publican. Between that parable and the story of Zachaeus, there are two other stories that give us a clue to interpreting Zachaeus encounter with Jesus. Immediately after the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, an official came to Jesus and asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life? When Jesus told him that he must sell all and give to poor and then come and follow Jesus, “he became quite sad for he was very rich” (Lk 18:23). He did not follow Jesus. The next passage is the story of the blind beggar Bartimeus, who was penniless, but at the end of the story, unlike the rich official, he “followed Him” (Luke 18:43). Zachaeus story is a good mix between the two earlier stories. Zachaeus was a rich man who gave half his wealth to the poor, repaid those whose money he had extorted (Luke 19:8), and experienced God’s salvation (Lk 19:9).

In other words, last week parable comes alive in the story of Zachaeus. The rich official came up to Jesus like the Pharisee in the parable. He boasted before Jesus that he had followed all the commandments from his youth (Lk 18:21). The blind beggar Bartimeus, like the tax collector, could only shout out the prayer from a distance, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” (Lk 18:38). This prayer is similar to the one that the tax collector has made in the temple, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk 18:13). Like the tax-collector in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Zachaeus would not come up to Jesus. He stood at a distance, up on the tree where you would not expect anyone to be. He had only one thing in his favor - he desired to see Jesus.

That brings us to the first reading from the book of Wisdom. In the light of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector, the story of the rich official, the blind man Bartimeus and, Zachaeus, let us read the first reading again and see how much sense it makes. In other words, Jesus is the God described in the book of Wisdom. Jesus is the one who has mercy on all (Wisdom 11:23); Jesus is the one who is the “lover of souls” (Wisdom 11:26); Jesus is the one, who little by little leads people to “abandon their wickedness and believe in God (Wisdom 12:2). When Jesus declares at Zachaeus house, “Today, salvation has come to this house,” (Lk 19:9) it was Jesus himself who had come to Zachaeus.

What are the readings teaching us? I want to take Christ’s words “Today salvation has come to this house,” (Lk 19:9) as the reference point for our practical implications from today’s scripture. Zachaeus salvation involved a three step process:

1. Sincere Desire - The starting point for salvation is sincere desire. We have seen examples of sincere desire the last few weeks in the prayer of the tax collector, in cry the blind man Bartimeus, and in Zachaeus climbing the tree. Such desire never goes unrewarded as the first reading teaches us. When human beings come in sincere desire for God, God meets them with love and mercy. People like Zachaeus unnerve me because they challenge me to go to the very core of my faith. And as we uncover the core of our faith I hope we only find sincere desire for God.

2. Genuine practice of the Faith. If our desire for God is sincere it must show itself in two parallel ways – love of God and right relationship with the neighbor. Zachaeus opened his life to Jesus but the result of Zachaeus allowing the message Of Jesus to dictate his life was the way he went about making it right with his neighbor. The moment Zachaeus made that public confession, “Behold half my possessions Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have extorted from anyone I will repay it four times over,” Jesus declared, “Today, salvation has come to this house….” Zachaeus unnerves me because he turns my attention from hypocrisy to the true practice of the faith.

3. Total Trust. The most dramatic part of the Zachaeus story is the total vulnerability to which he submits. By his conversion, he risked his partners in crime, his reputation, his social status, his family’s security, his political clout and perhaps even his job for the sake of salvation. Zachaeus let his life into the hands of God – totally. Zachaeus teaches me total trust in God. Zachaeus unnerves us because he personifies what I have only intellectually believed thus far – do what God demands of you and leave the consequences to God.

As we are here to celebrate this Eucharist, let us come with the same attitude of Zachaeus. Let not our sin keep us away from the Lord, for the Lord is a "lover of souls." Rather, as we come with a sincere desire and in total trust, let the Lord himself say to us, "Today salvation has come to this house." Amen

October 24, 2010 - An attitude of humility and dependencyon God!

2010-10-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

An attitude of humility and dependency on God! A little boy wanted $100 badly and prayed for two weeks but nothing happened. Then he decided to write a letter to the Lord requesting for the $100. When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to the Lord, USA, they decided to send it to then President. The President was so impressed, touched, and amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5.00 bill, as this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy. The little boy was delighted with the $5.00, and sat down to write a thank-you note to the Lord. It said: Dear Lord, Thank you very much for sending me the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you had to send it through Washington, DC and as usual, those jerks, politicians deducted $95. I am not going to speak to you about politicians and the corruptions but an attitude of gratitude in prayer. What is our attitude to God and prayer?
For me prayer is an intimacy or closeness with God and an expression of my relationship with God. Today’s readings talk about the attitudes that one must have when in prayer. Let us look at the first and the gospel readings which present two contrasting scenarios. In the first reading we are told, “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds” (Sirach 35:16). In the gospel reading, the Pharisee’s prayer did not achieve its purpose because he came to prayer to exalt himself rather than to be humble before God. Thus, today we are going reflect on how to come before God and how not to come before God.
Three practical implications for us today!
1. Jesus invites us to come before God as a community and never as a solitary person. In all of scripture, there is an integral relationship between prayer and community. The Old Testament context of prayer is always the community. The most well known example in the New Testament that comes to my mind is Jesus teaching his disciples that when they come to the altar they remember that another person has something against them, they must first reconcile before they can offer their gifts (Mt 5:23-24). Jesus also taught us that the forgiveness of our own sins depends on our own forgiveness of other people’s sins (Mt 6:15). The problem with the Pharisee in today’s gospel reading is that he expressed before God how he was unlike the rest of humanity. He said, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity…” The Pharisee was bent on emphasizing his independence from the community, his ability to stand on his own. If on the contrary he had identified with community, he would have found himself carrying the burden of his community. Even when we come for personal prayer, in our heart we bring before God not just our own self but rather the whole world, every person in it, indeed all of creation. In our being we feel the sins of other, the pains they carry, and the joys they experience. Prayer can never become a tool for spiritual pride when we pray as a community.

2. Jesus invites us to come before the Lord in poverty and not in our pride. In the scriptures, the virtue of being poor or poverty is often extolled. Mind it, I am not saying misery is extolled in the scriptures, but rather poverty. Jesus, for example, embraced poverty. Poverty can embrace many dimensions of human life. In the scriptures poverty is not limited to economic poverty but also includes the poverty of the human condition. Poverty means becoming lowly and humble-minded. From this perspective, we can better appreciate the first reading where Sirach says, “The prayer of the lowly pierces the cloud” (Sirach 35:16). Poverty refers to an intellectual insight that tells us that the human condition is one of spiritual depravity. It is the realization of the fact that as human beings we are inherently weak and that we need God. The tax-collector, in today’s gospel reading, was not a poor man economically. Tax-collectors made relatively good money in Jesus’ times. But his poverty is shown in his prayer, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk 18:13). The opposite of poverty is seen in the prayer of the Pharisee. His prayer was hardly a prayer; it was an example of pride, arrogance and self-indulgence.
3. The humility and dependency on God! The Pharisee defines himself by what he is not and then by what he does (fast and pray). God justifies the tax collector because he is humble to believe that he can be forgiven what are likely very real sins. The humility and dependency on God is found on the cross. The greatest example of prayer is the Cross. On the Cross Jesus said to the Father, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” But he prayed that prayer, as he brought all of humanity before the Father. He prayed that prayer, embracing and taking upon himself the depravity of the entire human race. He prayed that prayer, after forgiving the very people who put him on the cross. There was no pride, no arrogance, no self-indulgence but rather only the cry of a lowly soul. And because of that prayer, not only did Jesus stand justified before God (Lk 18:14), but his prayer justified all of us before God. In very practical terms, to pray is to transform ourselves into the image of Jesus on the Cross.
Every Eucharist is a commemoration of the perfect prayer of Jesus on the cross. Here at the altar we join ourselves with the prayer of Jesus. This is the greatest prayer!

29th Sunday, October 17, 2010 – Persistence and perseverance in prayer!

2010-10-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

29th Sunday, October 17, 2010 – Persistence and perseverance in prayer!
There were these two boys who lived with their Grandma. They were about to go to bed but before they slept they prayed. The older son started to pray. He prayed about the day he had and about everything he had done. The younger son then started to pray, he prayed much louder than his elder brother, he prayed for bikes and toys, and when he finished the older brother asked him "Why are you praying so loud? God is not deaf" and the younger son responded and said " Yea, but Grandma is deaf."
A priest gets into a taxi cab and the driver turns out to be a terror on the road. He swerves between traffic, runs red lights and speeds down narrow streets.

The inevitable accident happens and both the priest and the taxi cab driver are killed. When they arrive at Heaven, Saint Peter gives the taxicab driver silken robes, big white wings and a golden harp. Saint Peter give the priest polyester robes, two hand held fans and a kazoo. The priest notices the difference and asks Saint Peter why there was such poor equipment for him after he had been a priest for 50 years.

Saint Peter replies; "We are using a new results based system. When you gave a sermon, everyone fell asleep. When the taxi driver was on the road, everyone prayed with a passion." I hope that I will not put you into sleep during my sermon but I am going to teach you about perseverance and persistence in prayer.

When I was in India the first five years of my ministry there involved working with the healing ministry. I remember a young man who had failed kidneys and he was brought to me so that I could lay my hands on him. With all the faith in my heart I prayed for “total healing” for this man. I got news that week that this young man had died. In one sense, God had heard my prayer. God gave this man total healing, because, in the Christian context, death is total healing. Since then, I have been very careful of what I pray for. I certainly have not prayed for total healing for anyone ever again. But I do the visiting of the hospitals and nursing homes. I have prayed for the people. Most of all, my hospital ministry took my spiritual life to a different plain. Believe me; I have a different perspective when I celebrate the Eucharist. I have never felt closer to God.

For me, this closeness that I feel toward God… is what I call prayer.
The theme of the readings today is prayer. They teach us about persistence and perseverance in prayer.

Let us identify the common strands between the first reading and the Gospel reading. Each of the readings shows us the connection between three things: God, the human being and the situation confronting the human being. Thus, in the first reading there is God, there is Moses and there is the battle against Amalek. In the Gospel reading, there is the judge who cared about nothing and nobody, there is the widow, and there is situation where the widow faced an adversary. In each of these situations, the human person is looking for help from a more powerful person for facing the enemy. What are the readings really saying to us today?

I think the scriptures offer three points for reflection.

First of all, prayer is indispensable in facing the battles of life. Both Joshua and the widow faced an external enemy. They do meet the challenge offered by these adversaries, but they do so in prayer. The readings suggest that because they did so and did it with persistence, they were successful. Jesus himself prayed when in challenging situations; before he chose his apostles, before his suffering and death. We are no exceptions today. It is challenging to bring up good kids; it is challenging to keep a marriage meaningful; to love without reservation; to be a forgiving person; to be just and honest and truthful; to be an honest follower of Christ. But if we desire to face any of these things, we need prayer. Like Moses, who kept his hands up in prayer, who kept his eyes focused on Jesus; like the woman who kept her petition with the judge alive, we need the power of prayer. Will that make a difference?

Second, prayer is not only about changing the situation. Prayer changes us. I find the first reading a little comical. The Israelites had the better of the battle against Amalek, as long as Moses had his hands lifted up. As soon as he began to lower it, they began to lose. When Moses’ hand went down the Israelites began losing the battle. When the widow persisted in her petitions, she was heard. The question we ask is; what changed? Moses and the widow wanted the situation to change in their favor. But we realize that it was Moses and woman who changed first. Moses had to learn to keep his eyes focused on God. The woman learned perseverance and persistence. The only unchanging factor is God. Even in my own life, I know how many times I have wanted things to change without allowing for change in my life. Prayer does not always change things, but it certainly does change us. So for example, we cannot remain in serious sin and expect change. We cannot continue to hold grudges in our hearts and expect change. We cannot be lazy and casual about our relationship with God and expect change. Prayer changes us before it can change the situation. And that is the key to changing the situation or the challenge we face.

Third, the judge in the Gospel reading “neither feared God nor respected any human being.” The surprise element in the reading today is not that that Moses won the battle or the woman over her adversary. The surprise element lies in contrast that we can draw between the judge and God. God is not like the judge. Unlike the judge, God cares for his people. In fact, he is eager to give us what is good for us. There may be a difference in what we consider good for us and what God considers good for us. But then we know that from experience. There is a difference between what parents consider good for their children and what children consider good for themselves. How do you define a good parent? Is a good parent the one who gives his or her child whatever the child asks for? That will spoil the child. Is a good parent the one who removes even the smallest problem that the child faces? That will make the child incapable of being strong and self-reliant. Is a good parent the one who does the child’s homework? That would make the child dumb. Is a good parent one who never disciplines or corrects the child? That would make the child a criminal. A good parent is one who as the child grows up, gives the child what the parent knows from experience, from the larger picture, is good for the child. A good parent is one who makes the child develop a good character so that the child may make wise choices. The child does not understand that as much as we do not understand why my only child should have cancer, or why my child is handicapped, or why my spouse is unfaithful, or why God does not just win a million dollar lottery for me.

The point is this: Even without asking, God has already fulfilled the deepest longing of human hearts. What we want most is that we have eternal life; that we are forever in peace with no pain and sorrow; where we shall not want anymore; this longing for eternity, for salvation is already fulfilled. God gave us his only Son to fulfill that need. So when we persist in prayer, we are approaching a God who is all love, who cares about us and in his eagerness to see us happy, has fulfilled our deepest need.
I end with the words of St. Paul: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, and who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient.”

28th Sunday - October 10 2010, Renew ourselves in Christ

2010-10-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

28th Sunday – Renew ourselves in Christ!
A pig and a chicken were walking by a church where a big charity event was taking place. Getting caught up in the spirit, the pig suggested to the chicken that they each make a contribution.
"Great idea!" the chicken cried. "Let's offer them ham and eggs?"
"Not so fast," said the pig. "For you, that's a contribution. For me, it's a total commitment." You lay eggs that do not matter to you but I lay down my life for others, People have to catch me and kill me for ham. For me it is a total commitment. Commitment is the theme of today’s readings.
In the first reading, through the prophet Elisha, God cures Naaman, a Syrian who was the military commander of the King of Aram. The healing led him to conversion and conversion led him to commitment. “Plunged”,” seven times” and “little child” help to create a sense of amazing miracle. The physical healing sets the stage for the conversion. He focus on the reading is less on gratitude on the miracle than on the gratitude of the foreigner whose cure leads to conversion of faith. When this foreign dignitary returns home he will be duty bound to regularly appear in the temple of is nation’s God, yet remarkably he proclaims that the only God is god of Israel. If Israel’s God can only be worshipped in Israel, Naaman needs to bring home Israel’s soil so he can set up upon it an altar to Israel’s God. Another bold and risky commitment!
In the gospel reading, Jesus heals ten lepers. He did not care to find out who was a Jew and who wasn’t. We do know this – there was among the ten lepers a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans were as bitter enemies as Americans and the Taliban. The fact that Jesus healed ten lepers is not the point of the story. The point is that only the foreigner came to thank Jesus and that Jesus praised him – a Samaritan, a bitter enemy of his people – for his gratitude. Why did he come back? The healing led to conversion to accept Jesus Christ as the master of his life and thus led him to a commitment, not for receiving miracles but God made a great difference in his life. He becomes a great follower.

A Christian is called to be a follower of Christ and a child of God and our participation in the Eucharist should make us more committed to the person of Christ. How is it possible? I suggest three ways.
1. Believe in the universality of God! Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are very universal in their teaching. While they support the belief that God chose the Israelites as God’s own people, the Bible contains enough passages to support that view the God’s love is universal. Thus, in the Old Testament, King Cyrus of Persia is used by God to bring liberty to the exiled Israelites. In the New Testament, the Roman centurion, the Syro-Phoenician woman, the Samaritan woman, the Good Samaritan are all presented as models of faith and godly conduct. This biblical message of the universality of God's love is very important in our times. The famous social theorist Marshall McLuhan had once said the world is becoming a “global village.”
2. Be a witness! God loves the whole world and our attitude must be a witness to that. Only then will the world come to recognize Jesus as Lord. If we read the entire story of the healing of Naaman it tells us that the king of Israel almost ruined his healing. When Naaman came to the king of Israel, saying, that he was sent by Aram so that he might be healed, the king tore his garments. He was ready to pick a fight. It was the prophet Elisha who calmed the king down and led Naaman to the river. As a result Naaman began to believe in the God of Israel. He said, “…I will not offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except the Lord” (2 Kings 5:17). If the king had had his way there would have been a war. Rather, each of us is called to be a prophet…. between races and people, between nations and cultures let us bear witness to the universal love of God so that people who meet us may also say, “…I will not offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except the Lord.”

3. Remain deeply rooted in Christ! While we proclaim the universal love of God, the scriptures call us to remain deeply rooted in Christ. “If we die with Christ we shall also live with Christ; if we persevere we shall also reign with Christ” (2 Tim 2:11-12), says St. Paul. A Christian who believes in the universal love of God does not have to either dilute his/her own faith in Christ. In fact, we cannot be anything but Christian. As far as I am concerned, my faith in Christ is my most precious possession. My faith is not subject to any compromise. My dying and my rising to eternal life will be with Christ and him alone.
Through the Eucharist, Christ is universally present in the world in a real way. As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us make the universal love of Christ present in and through our lives. Let the Eucharist and our lives bring healing to the nations.

27th Sunday October 3rd, we are called to stir into flame the gift of God!

2010-10-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

27th Sunday October 3rd, we are called to stir into flame the gift of God!
A little boy wanted $100 badly and prayed for two weeks but nothing happened. Then he decided to write a letter to the Lord requesting the $100. When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to the Lord, USA, they decided to send it to then President. The President was so impressed, touched, and amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5.00 bill, as this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy. The little boy was delighted with the $5.00, and sat down to write a thank-you note to the Lord. It said: Dear Lord, Thank you very much for sending me the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you had to send it through Washington, DC and as usual, those jerks deducted $95.
This Story interestingly speaks of the state and attitudes of people. What is the state of politicians? What is the state of our life in America and what is the state Catholicism in America?
The state of the Catholic Church in America is a mixed bag. On the one hand, we have been hit by a scandal of unprecedented magnitude. Some parishes have been closed not merely because of the shortage of priests but also because some dioceses and archdioceses have been run bankrupt in paying damages to the victims of abuse. More and more people are unsatisfied with the education they get from the pulpit and sometimes the authoritarian nature of the clergy leads people away from the church. On the other hand, men and women continue to be gripped by God’s call and make the ultimate commitment. The Catholic Church is the only religious institution that is prophetic in the stand it takes. Its stand on war and violence, its unflinching support of life from the moment of conception to its natural end, its efforts to hold fast the sanctity of marriage, and its actions in favor of the poor and oppressed are not popular positions to take in today’s world. The church in America today is truly a counter-cultural institution. When we add to these things the soundness of its doctrines, the unity its represents, its contribution to human civilization over the centuries, its uninterrupted apostolic tradition and its inimitable organizational structure, one cannot but admit that this has got to be the work of God.
Our faith is at crossroads. We are very generous with ourselves. The church cannot forget the voluntarism of the Catholic community. In some quarters there is even an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Many of us take our beliefs very seriously and are returning back to what faith meant to us when we were children. But we are also caught in the battle between liberalism and conservatism and sometimes our political and economic outlook become more important than our religious faith. Sometimes our passion for the nation and sports is not matched by our passion for religion. More importantly, while people are received into the Church in large numbers each year through RCIA, more and more Catholics do not think, it is necessary to attend Church every Sunday, more and more Catholics do not believe the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, more and more Catholics do not think that the sacrament of reconciliation is necessary and Catholic’s financial support to the church is on the decline.

It is in this context that I believe that today’s Scripture is important. Let me offer three ways that I believe God is putting before us here in America.

1. The first challenge before the Church in America is what St. Paul said to Timothy in today’s first reading: “…stir into flame the gift of God that you have…” (2 Tim 1:6). Paul asks Timothy and his community to be on fire. The secret behind the growth of the church in the early Christian times was that the persecution kept these Christians from being complacent. Instead, they were on fire. Come hell, fire, or the Roman Empire, as Paul says to Timothy, they “…did not give into the spirit of cowardice but rather to the power of love…” (2 Tim 1:7). They lived their faith with the “help of the Holy Spirit that dwelt within them” (2 Tim 1:14). In an environment where we are totally secure and there are no challenges to our faith, it is easy to get complacent or lukewarm. Today, God is calling each of us to “stir into flame the gift of God…”(2 Tim 1:6), to be on fire. In simple words, this is what “stir into flame the gift of God” would mean: that we take Christ’s teaching seriously, that we live it unceasingly, and that we let our lives becomes a witness to Christ’s life within us.

2. The second challenge to the church in America comes from the first reading. The prophet Habakkuk says, “The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith shall live” (Habakkuk 2:4). In the gospel reading, the disciples come to Jesus and request him, “Lord, increase our faith” (Lk 17:5). I do not want to approach faith in the same way and talk about faith in God. Each of us is here because we have faith in God. But the real challenge for us is to take that faith and grow in it. The challenge is to take scripture and devour it. The challenge is to find ways to connect what we celebrate here to our daily practical living. For example, how can we take the commitment that Jesus shows to us in the Eucharist and express that in our daily life? Or, how can we take the forgiveness that we experience here and make it real in our world? Or, how can we relive the self-giving of Christ in our families? Let us remember, “…the just one, because of his faith shall live” (Habakkuk 2:4).

3. The third challenge to the church in America concerns all those who are in some way associated with positions of leadership, work for the church or assume voluntary positions. To us Jesus says, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do’” (Lk 17:5-10). At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the following was the advertisement for priests who would work in the new world. It read, ""We offer you: No salary; No recompense; No holidays; No pension. But: Much hard work; A poor dwelling; Few consolations; Many disappointments; Frequent sickness; A violent or lonely death; An unknown grave." Our leaders and all who work in the church are trained to be good stewards and good administrators. I would suggest that all of us who either work or volunteer at the church learn more about being “servant disciples.” Jesus had “No salary; No recompense; No holidays; No pension. But: Much hard work; A poor dwelling; Few consolations; Many disappointments; A violent or lonely death; An unknown grave." This is our only model when it comes to serving the people of God.

As we celebrate the Eucharist, let us ask Christ “to stir into flame the gift that God has given us.” Amen.

26th Sunday, September 26, 2010 -Clarify our Christian Character!

2010-09-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

26th Sunday, September 26, 2010 -Clarify our Christian Character!
As Mr. Bill was approaching mid-life, not only was he going bald, but he also had a large pot belly. The last straw came when he asked a woman co-worker out on a date, and she all but laughed at him. Determined to change his life, he joined a gym, started eating right, and got an expensive hair transplant and new clothes. Six months later he asked his female co-worker out, and this time she accepted.
All dressed up for the date, looking better than he ever had. He stood poised to ring the woman’s doorbell, when a bolt of lightning struck him and knocked him off his feet. As he lay there dying, he turned his eyes towards the heavens and said, “Why, God, why now? After all I’ve been through, how could you do this to me?”
From up above, there came a voice, “Bill? Is that you? I didn’t recognize you.”
Mr. Bill was trying to be different in dress and style, God did not recognize him, but God wants us to be different in our deeds, attitude and heart. That is called the Christian character. The readings explain how can we posses christen character?
What is the Christian character?
In the second reading, Paul writes to Timothy, “But you, man of God pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness” (1 Tim 6:11). In other words, St. Paul is encouraging Timothy and his community to be a certain kind of people. St. Paul is urging them to strive at developing a Christian character. And for sure, a person with a Christian character is unlike the people in the time of the prophet Amos who, “…lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortable on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall!” (Amos 6:4). Amos criticizes the rich of his times because these unrighteous people were consuming the lambs kept for sacrifice. A person with Christian character is also not like the rich man in today’s gospel reading, who “dined sumptuously each day,” (Luke 16:19) and did not even think of giving the poor man at his gates the scraps from the table (Luke 16:2—21).

So let us talk about Christian Character. What is a Christian supposed to look like? A Christian strives for righteousness (righteousness means right relationship with God, with others, and with himself/herself), devotion (translated as fidelity to God, to our relationships), faith (above all in God), love (for God and the poor), patience (allowing God to work in God’s time), and gentleness (treating the world and all in it with care).

How does one go about developing this Christian character?
The answer to that question forms the three practical challenges for us.
1. Our first resource, St. Paul says, is “the noble confession that Christ made before Pilate” (1 Tim 6:13). Jesus stood before Pilate and confessed that his life will be in accordance with the will of his Father. In the confession that Christ made before Pilate we see Christ’s character. In that confession we see righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.
a) Righteousness – Jesus stood before Pilate and bore witness to the truth. He did that so that human beings might be made right before God and we live rightly with each other.
b) Devotion – Jesus bore witness to the truth in fidelity to God and to humanity.
c) Faith – Jesus made his confession knowing that it would lead him to his death. But in faith he abandoned himself into the hands of his Father.
d) Love – Jesus made that confession because “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son… (John 3:16).
e) Patience – Jesus made that confession in patience, waiting upon God to accomplish his plan through him. His patience led to the resurrection.
f) Gentleness – Jesus made his confession in gentleness, meekness and humility. And that is why he was able to forgive his enemies from the cross even when they did not seek forgiveness.
The first way to develop a Christian character, then, is to identify ourselves with that “noble confession” of Christ.

2. If we know to count on God, we know how to count. It's interesting to note that our gospels for last week and this week talk about the impact that our possessions have on our eternal life in heaven and that we all need to wake up before we die. We need money, wealth and possessions. Everything we have has come from God. God even gave us our ability to earn it all. Now manage what you have; share some of what you have. It's a divine art to help others; to help others to live, to work, and to have dignity. Why? Because everything we have has come from God and really doesn't belong to any single person. It all belongs to God.
The rich man thought he was a good guy until he was faced with eternal damnation, because he had built a chasm between himself and others, "They can manage on their own," the rich man said. But God had asked him to help manage for others too.
Lazarus is a name which means "God is my help." There was no help given by the rich man to Lazarus. Lazarus was the most abject of men who simply stood in need of help. None was given. Only God was his help. Hence his name; "God is my help”.

3. We need to be just and sensitive. Both the first reading and the Gospel talk about complacency and the consequences of being both unjust and insensitive to the needs of the poor. The first reading says, “Woe to the complacent in Zion.” When I prepare a homily, I generally read what lies before and after the reading for the day. It is amazing that this part was not included in the reading for today. For this is what St. Paul says to Timothy: “For the love of money is the root of all evils and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains” (1 Tim 6:10). And then he continues, “But you man of God, avoid all this. Instead pursue righteousness…” (1 Tim 6:11). Now the story of the rich man in the Gospel reading becomes even clearer. It was his love for money that blinded him to the poor man, Lazarus. He did not see the poor man; he did not see the dog lick his wounds; he did not see the need for righteousness, fidelity, faith, love, patience and, gentleness for he could only see money.

My dear friends, people do not have to drop dead right in front of us to be a Christian in this world. And money need not be only thing that makes us complacent. In the world today,
820 million people are undernourished
1 billion people live on less than a $1/day
146 million children under age 5 are underweight
10 million children under age 5 die every year, over half of hunger-related causes
1 in 6 people is hungry
1 in 6 people lacks safe drinking water. (Data from Catholic Relief Services)
What makes us complacent? What stops us from acting? What does it mean for us to be a Christian? What is the meaning of this Eucharist? What is our “noble confession?” What is the character of a Christian?
As we participate in the Eucharist we will assume the heart and mind of Jesus to live as a good Christian. Amen

25th Sunday, Cycle C, September 18 2010 - Do we serve God or mammon?

2010-09-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

25th Sunday – Do we serve God or mammon or both God and mammon?
Three friends decided to go deer hunting together. One was a lawyer one a doctor, and the other a pastor.
As they were walking, along came a big buck. The three of them shot simultaneously. Immediately the buck dropped to the ground and all three rushed up to see how big it actually was.
Upon reaching it they found out that it was dead but had only one bullet hole. Thus a debate followed concerning whose buck it was.
A few minutes later a game officer came by and asked what the problem was. The doctor told him their reason for the debate. The officer told them, he would take a look and tell them who shot it.
Within a few seconds the game officer said with much confidence, “The pastor shot the buck!”
They all wondered how he knew that so quickly.
The officer said, “Easy. The bullet went in one ear and out the other
The pastor preaches every Sunday but the Word does not remain with them, enters through one ear and gets out through the other ear. The prophets always preached to the people of Israel but their preaching have not borne good fruits.
Do we understand what God says to us today? Or does it enter through one year and pass through the other ear? Let us understand the implication!
I am going to use Christ’s statement “You cannot serve both God and mammon,” as the theme for my homily. Mammon here is translated as riches or material wealth. We must be practical as we reflect on this topic. We need money, we need wealth, and we need resources. That is how the world economy is set. So I am not preaching about money. I would like to examine our attitude towards wealth as Christians. What is attitude our attitude towards wealth? I see three possibilities: attachment, indifference or detachment.

1. Attachment makes our wants look un-proportionally more urgent than other people’s basic needs. Attachment to wealth makes our want for profit and luxury seems more important than other people’s need for a living wage and human respect. The consequence of attachment to wealth is well described in the first reading from the book of Amos. Amos was a prophet when Israel was very prosperous under the reign of the king Jeroboam II (786-746 BC). They owed this prosperity to lack of any foreign threat to them, and to successive agricultural successes. Many of the leading Israelites were growing rich by exploiting the poor. Then Amos strong words address two serious sins greed and hypocrisy. The works of such people are described in these words:

“… they sell the just man for silver, and the
poor for a pair of sandals. They trample the
heads of the weak into the dust of the
earth and force the lowly out of the way.” (Amos 2:6-7)

The reading ends with God saying to those who oppress the poor, “Never will I forget a thing they have done” (Amos 8:7). To the same people God declares in another passage, book of Amos, God says, “I hate, I spurn your feasts. I take no pleasure in your solemnities; your cereal offerings I will not accept, nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings, away with your noisy songs! I will not listen to the melodies of your harps. But if you would offer me sacrifices, then let justice flow like a river and goodness, like an unfailing stream”. (Amos 5:21-24) In other words God rejects the sacrifice of a person who does wrong to others in his/her attachment to wealth and who is greedy and hypocrite. That is why Jesus says to us in the gospel reading, “You cannot both serve god and mammon.”

2. The second attitude toward wealth is indifference. For this group of people wealth is not a big attraction. They know that money only makes life easier and not necessarily happier. While this is good, they are not proactive when it comes to justice. Social issues such as unjust wages, exploitation of immigrant labor, global warming, the lack of insurance for children do not concern them. They perhaps will give some money for charity but not at the cost of sacrificing something they could live without. In other words, their charity comes from having extra, not from a genuine concern for others. The danger of such an attitude toward wealth is that it has an effect on their spiritual life. Growing in our spiritual life or growing in our relationship with God requires that we sacrifice time, energy, and resources to put into spiritual activities. Unwillingness to sacrifice will make our relation with God and others stagnant.

3. And then there is the third attitude - detachment. This group of people is detached from wealth and material things but what separates them from the rest is that they are proactive about what God commands them to do. They love God passionately, and their love for God translates into genuine concern for others, especially the poor. They strive for ways to make their own interactions just. Not only does their charity come from a sense of sacrifice but they also care about the victims of injustice. They contribute to correcting the situation of exploitation. Thus, there are Catholics today, who buy only Fair Trade coffee, or shop at stores that pay a just wage to their employees, and care about how they use energy because global warming is the direct cause of the floods that is hitting different places right now.

The gospel reading has an insight for us in this regard. Why does Jesus commend the dishonest steward? He was not commended because he was dishonest. He was commended because he was prudent. This man served mammon. As a mammon server he had his priorities clear. In managing worldly resources this man was prudent. Just as the “prudent steward” was proactive in serving mammon, so also the children of light have to be proactive in serving the cause of justice. When this happens, we are serving God and not mammon.

As we move forward to celebration this Eucharist, let us not forget that our attitude towards wealth and our relationship with God and other people are in accordance with God’s plan and social justice. Then this sacrifice will be acceptable to God. Amen

Cycle C - 24th Sunday – September 12 2010, We are called to be prodigal parents and not prodigal children

2010-09-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

Cycle C - 24th Sunday – September 12 2010 The theme: We are called to be prodigal parents and not prodigal children!
There is a story about five year old son and mother! As a five-year-old son and mother were heading to McDonald’s one day, they passed a car accident. Usually when they see something terrible like that, they say a prayer for whoever might be hurt, so mother pointed and said to her son, “We should pray.”
From the back seat, mother heard her son’s earnest voice: “Dear God, please don’t let those cars block the entrance to McDonald’s.”
Mother is very prodigal – very generous or lavish in remembering the person who is hurt in the accident but the son is selfish in just thinking about McDonald’s food.
As we reflect on the three parables that we have in today’ gospel reading (the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7), the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10(, and the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24), it is important that we keep the context of these parables in mind. And the context is given in the very first verse of Luke chapter fifteen. “Tax-collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:1). The Pharisees and the Scribes were scandalized by Jesus’ behavior. And rightly so! As I shall say repeatedly in this homily, God is prodigal and his love is scandalizing!

Today’s three readings emphasize two things: the scandal of human sinfulness and the scandal of God’s love. In the first reading, from the book of Exodus, God, by his mighty works had just freed Israel from slavery. The memory should have been still fresh in their minds. And yet the people abandon their God and begin to worship the golden calf. God wants to destroy these people but then he has compassion (Ex 32:14). The emphasis here is not on Moses’ pleading but God’s steadfastness, his faithfulness, his prodigal and scandalizing love. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, calls himself “a blasphemer, a persecutor and an arrogant man” (1 Tim 1:13) but considers himself “treated with mercy…” by God (1 Tim 1:13). And he concludes, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim 1:15b) All the three parables in the Gospel reading are about a God who goes out in search of sinners. What the Pharisees and the scribes did not understand was that these parables were being lived out in their own sight.

Let us ask ourselves this question. Whose parable is this? Some call this parable the parable of the prodigal son, while others call it the parable of the prodigal father. Well, I say it is the story of two prodigal characters. But it is in way that they are prodigal that makes the difference. The prodigal son is prodigal in his demanding his freedom from his Father. The Father, on the contrary, is prodigal in the freedom he offers. Whereas the prodigal son is prodigal in his sin, the Father is prodigal in longing for his son’s return. Whereas the son is prodigal in the realization of his sin, the Father is prodigal in his forgiveness. And then the celebration begins.
Let me offer three practical implications of the readings today.
1. First, it raises on question. What is sin? We must be aware that sin is serious business. We must ourselves and teach our children to take sin seriously. Sin affects our relationship with God and some sins can even seriously damage our relationship with God. Sin also breaks our relationship with one another. Most of all, sin ruptures our relationship with our own selves. We become who we are not… we become strangers to our own selves. We must keep the consequences of sin constantly before our eyes. One look at the crucifix and we know how painful sin is.

2. Second, Are we prodigal children or parents? Most of the time, this parable is preached, we are told that we are the prodigal sons/daughters and God is the forgiving Father. And this picture is true. At heart, we are all sinners in need of repentance. The truth of the matter, though, is that each of us has a dual role – that of the prodigal son and that of the prodigal father. There are times when we as sinners stand in need of forgiveness like the prodigal son. There are other times when people seek forgiveness from us and we need to forgive like the prodigal father. The key is this - there should not be a dichotomy between the two roles. In the same manner that we expect to be forgiven, we must forgive. Any contradiction here is hypocrisy. Thus, today I suggest that we learn not only to be like the prodigal son but also the prodigal father.

3. The losers in the parable are the Pharisees and the scribes symbolized by the older son. They considered themselves righteous. They consider themselves saved. They stood outside and looked at sinners and were glad that they were not like them. These are the most pathetic people. They have no compassion for others do not understand the love of God. But in the process something sad happens. They become incapable of sharing in God’s joy. No matter what happens, let us never become like them. We only exclude ourselves from the Kingdom. The most visible expression of the parable is the sacrament of reconciliation. It is called a sacrament for a reason. The confessional is the place where the prodigal son/daughter and the prodigal father meet.

As we come to celebrate this Eucharist, let us remember that this Eucharist is a celebration of the scandalizing love of God. The cross is the scandal of God’s love and this Eucharist commemorates that celebration. Let us come to the God of scandalizing love like the prodigal son and say, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I wanted to be your son/daughter again.” Amen.

Cycle C- 23rd Sunday – September 5, 2010- A call to be the Good News for today!

2010-09-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Cycle C- 23rd Sunday – September 5, 2010- A call to be a Good News for others!
Mr. Joe was opening a new business and one of his friends decided to send flowers for the occasion. The flowers arrived and Joe read the card. It said, “Rest in Peace.” Joe, enraged, called the florist to complain. The florist replied, “Sir, I’m really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry, you should imagine this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying, “Congratulations on your new location.”
Congratulation on your new location here means congratulations on your new identity, new name, new nationality and new personality. What is it? God has given us Christian names. We are the children of God; we are the disciples of Jesus. We are called to be the people of good news today. How? Let us look at the readings. The invitation from Scripture is to rely on the wisdom of God according to the first reading, the friendship of Jesus according to the second reading and the gospel tell us, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple,”
How? Let us understand this.
1. What is the wisdom of God? The first reading stresses the need to be freed of the burdens of earthly concerns to know God’s will. The wisdom of God and the power of the Spirit are the sources of truth that will keep us from stumbling block. Knowing and living the will of God makes us the good news today.
2. When God is given the top most priority in life people became the good news for one another. From the name of the passage we know that it was not written to a community rather to a person named Philemon. Though it is a personal letter it contains an apostolic exhortation. The apostolic exhortation is that Paul though aging servant of the Gospel meets Philemon’s runaway slave of Onesimus in prison. Paul not only converts him with the good news of Christ and wants to share his experience of Good news with others. Paul however sends him back to his master with a letter in his hand pleading be received not as a slave but as a brother in need. By challenging Philemon to freely love and respect Onesimus and treat him as a brother, Paul transforms the relationship between master and slave, and in that culture that was a revolutionary challenge indeed.
3. God needs to be the top most priority in life. In using the word “hate,” of course, Jesus is using a hyperbole – an exaggerated statement not to be taken literally. In other words, Jesus is saying that unless a person loves God more than… much, much more than his “father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life,” such a person does not understand the implications of discipleship. Perhaps Jesus was more aptly understood in his times than he is understood today. Unlike our society, ancient societies like the Jewish society revolved around the Law and the Temple. In fact, this model of social living continued up until the Enlightenment and the French revolution. At the center of every village or town was the sanctuary. Social events revolved around the liturgical calendar. Society was set up in such a way that human life naturally revolved around religious concerns. But with the Enlightenment, society began to break away from the hub that held everything together. Human rational capabilities and their accomplishments became the new altar and the human person became the new god. Human being built new altars: Wall Street has become the altar of the world; the television and movie screen, sports, the quest for power, and even one’s nation vie for the ultimate human commitment. In other words, Jesus’ call of commitment is more difficult today than it ever was because of other competing powers. So the question arises in our mind again how can I become the Good News for others by knowing and doing the will of God, sharing our experience of God like Paul, Philemon and Onesimus and god becoming the first priority in life.
At that first Eucharist, Jesus sat with his disciples and he broke the bread. Soon he would break himself on the cross. He loved his Father more than his own life and offered it up for our salvation. This Jesus invites us to love God the way he did. In this Eucharist let us pray for the courage to be like Jesus. Amen.

22nd Sunday – August 29 2010,"Those Who Humble themselves will be Exalted"

2010-08-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

22nd Sunday – August 29 2010
Cycle -C "Those Who Humble themselves will be Exalted"
A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each Other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, He would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.
Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, 'Please wake me at 5:00 AM.' He left it where he knew she would find it.
The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and See why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.' If the husband was humble enough, he would not have missed his flight.
Perhaps, men are not equipped for this kind of contest.
We have the stories of many people who have humbled themselves and were exalted by God. For example, Mother Teresa always struggled against pride; not because she was proud, but because she was afraid that her popularity would take her away from being a humble servant. So she constantly fought against it. May be it was her answer to her prayers, but the way I understand it, her sense of abandonment was the key to her humility just as her humility was the key to her work. In my opinion, she was closest to God in her abandonment and God exalted her to a favored person.
Christ’s message is full paradoxes. If one does not understand this, one can miss the entire message of Christianity. If one wants to be a genuine Christian one has to live the Christian paradox. The Webster dictionary defines paradox as “a seemingly contradictory or absurd statement that expresses a possible truth,” or again, “an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion.” There are many paradoxical statements in Christ’s teachings. For example, “If you save your life you will lose it; if you lose your life for the sake of the kingdom you will find it.” This statement of Christ goes against common sense and it goes against everything we are taught. In fact, it goes against our very instinct for survival. Today’s gospel reading presents yet another paradox: “The one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Mother Teresa’s story is a testimony to her understanding the paradox of Christ’s life.
Let me offer three practical implications for today:
1. People do many things to exalt themselves. From wearing branded clothes, to owning particular types of cars, from eating at particular restaurants to consuming certain types of wines, from living in certain neighborhoods to becoming members of a certain parish, the choices we have to climb the social ladder are many. Now don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong in these acts by themselves. But I think Christ is warning us that if our self-image, our dignity, our relationship with God and with others is determined by these things, and then we have not understood the Christian paradox. Because, “one who exalts himself will be humbled….” Such a person has placed his or her security in things other than God. And that is the opposite of humility. That is pride. Humility, on the other hand comes from the realization that our basic dignity comes from God. In the story the pride of the man did not permit to request his wife to wake him up.
2. How can we know if we are humble people or not? Jesus offers a clue for us in today’s gospel reading. He says, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors…. Rather, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and blind.” Mother Teresa made a definite choice in her life. She decided to step outside her comfort zone and associate with the poor, the crippled, the lame and blind. Jesus made a definite choice in his life. He stepped out of his comfort zone and decided to associate with the sinner, the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Who do we associate with? This is a true test of humility. Do we have sensitivity and sensibility to see what others need?
3. The first reading today says to us, “My child… Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” Jesus took that advice to heart and lived it. As the letter to the Philippians tells us, “He humbled himself, taking the form of a slave…” and again, “… humbled himself becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” I do not know if we get it or not but our redemption depended on Christ’s humble obedience. The saving experience of millions of poor and less fortunate people depended on the humble obedience of Mother Teresa. A humble person understands the paradox that in his humility he or she saves others. In saving others, he or she finds her own salvation. The proud and arrogant person, on the other hand, destroys others and in the process, destroys himself.
In this Eucharist, Christ the humble servant of God shared with us his body and blood. Let us humbly ask God to bless us so that we can share in his humility.

21st Sunday – Cycle C August 22, 2010 - How can I be saved?

2010-08-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

21st Sunday – Cycle C August 22, 2010 A man wanted to be buried with his money. On his death bed, he called his pastor, his doctor and his lawyer to his bedside. “Here’s $30,000to be held by each of you. I trust you to put this in my coffin when I die so I can take all my money with me.”
At the funeral, each man put an envelope in the coffin. While riding back, the pastor suddenly broke into tears and confessed, “I put only $20,000 into the envelope because I needed $10,000 to repair the roof of the church.”
“Well, since we’re confiding in each other,” said the doctor, “I put only $10,000 in the envelope because we needed a new CAT scan machine for the pediatric ward at the hospital, and we were $20,000 short.” The lawyer was aghast. “I’m ashamed of both of you,” he exclaimed. “I want it known that when I put my envelope in that coffin, I enclosed a check for the full $30,000.” Thus I saved thirty thousand dollars for myself. I am not going to talk to you about how to save money but saving our lives. In the gospel passage, the disciples asked Jesus, “Will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23) That is a good question. Who will be saved? Jesus gives no direct answer to this question. The Bible itself has no one single answer. In Matthew 25: 31-46, acceptance into the Kingdom or rejection from it depends on the “feeding, clothing, or caring for the least.” Those who cared about the least will be welcomed into the kingdom. The rest will go off to eternal punishment. In the beatitudes, the poor in spirit, the meek, the peacemakers, the ones who mourn, the persecuted are the ones to whom the Kingdom is promised (Mt 5: 1-12). In both these places there is no indication those who are saved have to be believers. On the other hand, there are other scripture passages, which seem to suggest that the only way to be saved is to have explicit faith in Jesus. For example, in the gospel of John, Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In the letter to Romans, St Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). In the Act of the apostles it is even easier. Acts 2:21 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” While scriptures seem to give various answers to the question about who will be saved, it is very clear in its message that not everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. This is amply clear on today’s gospel passage. Jesus suggests that not everyone who simply believes in the Lord will enter the kingdom; that even some of them who ate and drank with the Lord, will not be saved. In another place he says, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers’” (Matt 7:21-23).

This is the bottom line. There is no indication is the Bible that all will be saved. On the contrary, there is ample indication that not all will be saved and that includes some to who called on the name of the Lord and thought that they surely would be saved.

We come back, then, to original question of the disciples, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” Who will be saved? Are you and I going to be part of those who will be saved? My three practical implications today are an answer to this question. The answer is taken directly from today’s readings.

First, We are called to strive. we must understand the metaphor of the “two ways,” or the “two gates” – the narrow gate and the wide gate. The “two ways” metaphor was common in pagan religions as well as in the Old Testament. The choice in the Old Testament was clear: God said to the people of Israel, “Here, then, I set before your life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God… loving him and walking in his ways… you will live…. If however, you turn away… I tell you now that you will certainly perish” (Deut 30:15-18). That is why, the first word that come from Jesus’ mouth in answer to the question, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” is “Strive….” In other words, no one is just going to laze into the kingdom or even walk in to the kingdom. People will only “strive” into the kingdom. There are choices to be made. There are decisions to be taken. So, are you finding forgiveness difficult? Are you finding being clean of heart difficult? Are you finding keeping the peace difficult? Are you finding keeping the faith difficult? But more importantly, are you “striving?” As long as we are striving, we are on the narrow road. And that is the key!

Second, Jesus’ answer to the question, “Will only a few be saved?” was “Strive to enter through the narrow gate…” What is the “narrow gate?” Who are the people who enter through the “narrow gate?” Luke imagines the door of a house. This door is narrow. The narrow door is entered by those who hear the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and do them; the wide door is entered by those who hear those words and do not do them.
To enter the narrow gate involves making the choice to be poor/poor in spirit, to be peacemakers, persecuted, etc; it means being salt of the earth and light to the world consistently; it means following Jesus’ radical teaching about murder/anger, adultery/lust, divorce, truth-telling, mercy over revenge, loving enemies. And it involves doing good deeds for the right reasons; it involves pursuing the kingdom and God’s justice instead of fortunes and fame; and it involves not damning the others and trusting that God is good. That is the “narrow gate.” As I said earlier, there are choices to be made. There are decisions to be taken.

Third is discipline - how do we get to the “narrow gate?” The second reading, taken from the letter to the Hebrews is a continuation of last Sunday’s reading. It had said last Sunday, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood” (Heb 12:4). And then in continuation today’s reading says, “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him, for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines.” And those of you who are parents will surely understand this: “for what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline.” Well, who, then, will be saved? The answer is: those who accept the discipline of the Lord. Jesus’ teachings and his values is his discipline. If we discipline ourselves based ourselves on the word of God, we will be saved. I conclude with the words from the letter to the Hebrews. “So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet… Amen.

20th Sunday Cycle C – August 15, 2010 -Assumption is a gift from God to Mary

2010-08-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

20th Sunday – August 15, 2010
Assumption is a special gift from God to Mary for her extra –ordinary faith and fidelity!
One day two priests and an Atheist go on a fishing trip together. They are in the boat and one priest says," Oh! no! I left the paddles on the shore!" So he proceeds to get out of the boat and walk on the water to the shore to get them. Once he had got back into the boat, the second priest says," Oh! No! I left the bait on shore too!" And like the first one the priest exits the boat and walks on the water to get the bait. When he climbs back into the boat the atheist yells," Well if you guys can do it so can I!!!" and proceeds to climb out of the boat, but he falls into the water. At this point the first priest says to the second priest," Do you think we should have told him where the rocks are?" because they walked on the rocks in the water. Those priests are ordinary people but with extra ordinary activities!
The year I969 will always remain marked in the history of mankind the year of the greatest achievement. For on the 1969, mankind for the first time put his foot on the moon. When Neil Armstrong and his companion returned back to the earth after their expedition to the moon, a big reception was organized for them. As they reached the stage to receive the accolades, the people kept shouting, “We hail you, supermen!” When time came for them to speak, they said, “We are not supermen. If we were supermen, then our achievement would have no significance. But it is because we are ordinary men, that small step is a giant leap for mankind.”
As we celebrate today the feast of the Assumption, as we pray before pictures of Mary accompanied by the angels being taken up to heaven, the temptation for us is to title her a super-woman. The temptation is to deify her so much that she almost looks super human. But if she was another super woman, then the feast we celebrate today would have no meaning. It is precisely because she was an ordinary woman that her small ‘yes’ became the giant leap in salvation of mankind. Let’s take our eyes today of those pictures of Mary that portray her as an aristocratic woman. Let’s take our eyes today of those portrayals of Mary that give us the impression that angels were at her beck and call, that make her look like a delicate darling. She believed in what was promised to her. ‘Blessed is she who believed that all the Lord promised her would be fulfilled.’
This is the sentence in the Gospel passage that caught my attention as I sat reflecting. When Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth made a beautiful statement: ‘Blessed is she who believed that all the Lord promised her would be fulfilled.’ And there lies the greatness of Mary. Mary’s greatness does not lie in her assumption, but her greatness lies in her believing that the promise the Lord made her would be fulfilled. I’m inclined to think that the only good thing that happened to her was the message from the angel, “Your will conceive and bear a Son...” From then on everything that happened was difficult to believe.

Think of Mary the teenager, confused as to how she would give birth to a child without physical relationship. Think of the heart of an engaged girl whose fiancé could leave her for the same reason. Think of the Mary who had to explain her strange pregnancy to her parents. Would they believe this unbelievable story? Can you imagine the emotional struggle of Mary?
And then think of the Mary, nine months pregnant sitting on a donkey. Think of her in labor pain desperately looking for some privacy and not getting it. And then of all places she gave birth to the supposedly Prince of peace, Son of the Most High, in a stable. And to her shock, people were after his blood. She had to flee to save her child. The angel didn’t tell her all this. This is not how it is supposed to be. What happened to the words of the angel?
And then there was the Mary searching for her beloved son in the crowd. And when she did find him, instead of her son expressing joy almost gave her a cold shoulder. ‘You should have known I was with my father’s business.’ Think of reports reaching Mary that her son was mad. That’s what his own relatives said. What must have crossed Mary’s mind? He was supposed to be responsible for the rise and fall of many. And she sees him fall in self esteem. She sees resentment and opposition grow against her son. She sees him opposing the leaders of the nation. They even called him possessed by Beelzebul. Where is all this going to lead him?
But I guess the most trying moments for Mary must have been the suffering and the death of Jesus. She must have followed the trial of Jesus very closely. Every moment of it she must have wished that her son be freed. Imagine a mother’s agony to see her son being condemned to death. She saw him being pushed around, spat upon, carrying the cross, falling and then getting up. She saw him being stripped naked in front of a mocking crowd. And then the nails, her son’s piercing cry. And yet she has no complaints.
There she stood under the cross. Her son looked at her and their eyes met. Not a word is spoken. And when Jesus hands her over to his beloved disciple, she knows he will indeed die. But even now its not too late. God could still save him, fulfill his promise. But No! Even Jesus feels God had abandoned him. ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’ And he dies. Scripture does not say, Mary swooned at the foot of the cross. It does not say that Mary fainted. It says Mary stood at the foot of the cross. Even in the face of death, even in the most difficult situation, she “believed the promises made her by the Lord would be fulfilled."

The assumption is gift of God to Mary for her faith, her belief, her fidelity. The angel had told her at the annunciation that nothing is impossible with God. Mary believed in the God of the impossible. And so when the impossible happened, when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, Mary had to be part of it. Mary who was associated with Jesus from the womb to the tomb, is allowed by God to take part even in his resurrection and ascension, for she believed all that the Lord promised her would be fulfilled. The promise made to her was fulfilled in the most extraordinary of ways, but blessed is she for she believed.

What is this feast going to mean for all of us? Just like Mary we are no super humans. We like her are, ordinary people. Among us may be people, searching for jobs, as she searched for a room. And then the tension of bringing children up... the anxiety when they come home late... the pain of building up dreams for them and see it crumble. And then, there’s the pressure at work... people to grab my place, opposition and resentment with colleagues, the back biting. Sometimes all this looks so meaningless. Life itself seems to have no purpose. Broken marriages strained relationships, sickness and death. All these are our share of burdens as much as they were Mary’s.

What awaited Mary, awaits all of us. God has promised us nothing less than his Kingdom, his love, his presence, heaven itself. His promise may be fulfilled in the most bizarre ways, but nevertheless they are. All we have to do is... believe. This feast then is a feast of all of us. Its a feast of all those people who believe all that Lord promised us will be fulfilled. It is the feast of all those people who like Mary believe in the God of the impossible. It is the feast of all those who put their faith in him... totally.

19th Sunday Cycle C, August 8, 2010, Called to be a vigilant and prudent steward!

2010-08-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

19th Sunday Cycle C, August 8, 2010
Called to be a Faithful and Prudent Steward
Two pastors were riding very fast on a motorcycle. They were promptly stopped by a policeman who said, “What do you think you are doing? What if you have an accident?”

The pastor driving said, “Don’t worry, Jesus is with us.

“In that case,” the policeman said, “I have to book you. Three people are not allowed to ride on a motorcycle.

Don’t worry Jesus is with us, don’t worry, God is with us. A person who believes in God and a person who is a faithful and prudent steward can say “Don’t worry, God is with us”
Today’s readings pose a challenge to us. They challenge us to live lives certain way as good stewards. They challenge us to live life with a specific perspective. They provide no room for ambiguity. A Christian life is got to be essentially Christian and living faithful and prudent life today. Let us begin with the first reading from the book of Wisdom. It is really strange that the book of wisdom should have something to say about the Exodus event. The main message of the book of Wisdom, especially, beginning with Chapter 18, is that the misfortunes of the Egyptians during Exodus should be not interpreted as God’s favoritism for people of Israel, but rather, as lessons in life. It suggests that, by the defeat of Egypt, Israel should learn virtue and its responsibilities that emerged from its election by God. The Exodus event was meant to educate Israel in the lessons of life. The Exodus event teaches the people of Israel that don’t worry, God is with them. The Exodus event was really Israel’s class room. Because of the Exodus event, Israel was meant to live with a divine perspective and foundation. It means that they should have faithfulness to God, prudence and need to become stewards of God.
Today’s three practical implications!
The second reading from the letter to the Hebrews and the gospel reading from Luke give us three perspectives of how one can say, don’t worry, God is with us. Let us call this the Christian perspectives from which a Christian must live his or her life.
First, Like Abraham, Christian life must be lived in faith. By faith, the author of the letter to the Hebrews is not referring to the diluted meaning of faith i.e., mere belief in a higher being. Faith is defined as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Faith is living life from the divine perspective. Faith is living human life from God’s point of view. Chapter 11 of Hebrews contains an extensive listing of heroes and heroines of faith. These ancestors are remarkable in faith because they believed without seeing. Abraham is the best example: he left his home, lived in foreign land, and trusted that God make him and Sarah parents at their old age. The most extra-ordinary example of faith is that if Abraham sacrificed his son, God will still fulfill the promise of making Abraham a great nation. That is amazing faith. A Christian perspective specifically means that we live life with God’s vision, like Abraham.

Second, in the first half of the gospel reading, God calls us to be vigilant. There is a metaphor that G. K Chesterton has used. Chesterton writes about a group of little boys playing soccer on a small field. At the edge of this field on all four sides is a cliff. The boys play but they play rather unsafely. Now imagine that someone puts a fence on all four sides in such a way that no one can fall off the cliff. That would make the boys safer, the game more enjoyable and life a little more secure. In the same way that fences provided safety, in the Scriptures and in the teaching of the church we have safety nets. To step outside these fences is to step on a slippery slope. And once we step on the slippery slope, it is going to cause trouble. When Jesus asks us to be vigilant, he is asking us to refrain from being casual libertarians. God has made his will known and to live life within the boundary of God’s will is to live life with the assurance of salvation.

Third, through the parable of the faithful and prudent servant in the second half of the gospel, Jesus tells his followers that we must live prudent lives. In the Catholic tradition, along with fortitude, justice and temperance, prudence is one of the cardinal virtues. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines prudence as the virtue that “disposes practical reason to discern our true good in very circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it.” It says “the prudent person looks where he is going” (CCC 1806). According to Jesus, a prudent person is one “who the master will on arrival find doing” what the Master has willed him to do. This is the crucial difference between the prudent person and an imprudent person. The prudent person does not allow life to happen to him/her; a prudent person makes life happen. A prudent person has a vision, a goal in life that leads him/her to the Master’s table. What are we doing with our talents, our wealth, and our life? A faithful, vigilant and prudent person is the best steward and will say to the other, don’t worry God is with us. Abraham and Sarah said the same thing and prudent and Vigilant would say don’t worry God is with us. Our Eucharist every Sunday is an encounter of God and sharing his life with us. May God say to us, “Well done, my faithful and prudent steward.” Amen

Self - Realization and longing for God -- July 30 2010

2010-07-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

Cycle C- 18th Sunday – July 31st 2010
The new pastor stood at the church door greeting the members as they left the Sunday morning service. Most of the people were very generous telling the new pastor how much they liked his message, except for one man who said, "Today was a very dull and boring sermon, pastor."
A few minutes later, the same man again appeared in line and said, "I don't think you did much preparation for your message."
Once again, the man appeared, this time muttering, "You really blew it. You didn't have a thing to say, pastor."
Finally, the minister could stand it no longer. He went to one of the deacons and inquired about the man.
"Oh, don't let that guy bother you," said the deacon. "He's a little slow. All he does is to go around repeating whatever he hears other people saying.
Coming to one’s own senses and realization is very important! A person who does not have his sense or realization is in vanity and is a fool. He is not down to earth.
The author of today’s first reading would call such feelings vanity. The very first verse of today’s first reading from the book of Ecclesiastes says:

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! (Eccl 1:2)
For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
with which he has labored under the sun?
All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;
even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity. (Eccl 2:23)

Who among us has not at some point or the other pondered on the futility of it all. In fact, Qoheleth would suggest that “the futility of it all” is the best realization that a wise person can come to. The opposite is the human desire for wealth and earthly security and its accompanying anxiety, grief, and sleeplessness is what Qoheleth calls, vanity. And Jesus would agree. That is why Jesus, in today’s gospel reading, called the rich man who found comfort and security a “fool.” “Take care,” Jesus says, “to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich one’s life does not consists of possessions.” Therefore Paul proposes in the second reading three steps for us to make sure we can avoid vanity to have self- realization and reach our final destination – our Creator.

Three practical implications:
Paul was a very educated man. He studied under the then famous Rabbi Gamaliel. Knowing how self-motivated Paul was, being aware of his zeal for Christ and the single-minded devotion, his ability to focus on the task at hand, and recognizing his capacity for deep thoughts, we can conclude that Paul could have written a number of “how to do it” books. In fact, today’s second reading is not much different from modern day motivational literature.
1. First, Paul says, “Think” of what is above, not of what is on earth. It was Buddha who said, “What we think, we become.” In other words, Paul suggests that the secret to living wisely begins in the mind. How do we think of ourselves, primarily? Do we define ourselves by the roles we play or the professions we practice or do we primarily think of ourselves as pilgrims on the way to eternity? Paul would advise us to let our final destiny define us. It our calling as children of God that should determine what roles we play and how we fulfill them. It is our identity as belonging to Christ that should determine our profession and how we carry out our social responsibilities. This is the first practical implication then: Let our divine eternity determine our earthly mortality. In this is wisdom. To do otherwise is vanity. It is foolishness. That would be an eternal suicide.

2. Second, Paul suggests, “Put to death the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and the greed that is idolatry.” Once we determine that our eternity determines our mortality, the next step is the conscious effort to root out those elements from our lives that tie us to our earthly mortality. In the gospels this process is called conversion. In today’s reading Paul identifies six things we must root out from our lives: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed (which he calls idolatry), and lying. The second practical implication, then, is: let our eternity dictate our mortality.

3. Third, Paul pleads, “…Put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.” The third step, Paul would suggest, is to make conscious positive changes in our life. Wisdom lies not only in eliminating earthly values but inculcating those values that will lead us to our Creator. Paul calls this, “putting on the new self.” If we take the readings seriously, we must “put on” integrity where we find immorality, purity where there is impurity, self-control where there is passion, holiness where there is evil desire, generosity where there is greed and truth where there is lie. The third, practical implication, then, is: let us put on Christ.

As we offer our worship this Sunday through the Eucharist, let us ask Christ the wisdom to focus our minds on who we are and our eternity.

Ministry of Intercession July 24, 2010

2010-07-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Cycle C- 17th Sunday July 24th 2010
Standing between the Gap! – Ministry of intercession
I heard an evangelical preacher once preach on the topic, “standing between the gap.” He was referring to a special group of people who feel called to stand between God, on the one hand, and his people on the other, and intercede. That’s all they do in their spiritual life. They do not pray for themselves or for their own needs. They “stand between the gap.” This is a special calling, a special ministry. I am talking about “standing between the gap,” because as Catholics we are perhaps not as aware of the power of the ministry of intercession. Throughout Scripture, however, we find special people who bring tremendous blessings to other people through intercession on their behalf. No one should forget Esther who saved the fortunes of an entire nation by her earnest intercession (Esther 14:1-19). In today’s first reading, we see Abraham “standing between the gap” (between God and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah) and pleading with God to save them. As far as the Abraham’s intercession is concerned, his ministry was extremely fruitful; God did agree to save the cities, only if there were ten righteous people there in (Gen 18:20-32). In the book of Exodus, Moses interceded on behalf of the people who had sinned against god by creating the golden calf. He was himself willing to be destroyed so that the people might be saved (Ex 32:11-14). All these people “stood between the gap.”

The greatest intercessor is Jesus himself. On the cross he “stood between the gap.” It cost him his life, but we are the ones who have experienced the fruit of his intercession. That is why, in the letter to the Hebrews, the author says of Jesus, “Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God… Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need” (Heb 4:14 &16).

Three practical implications
Today's gospel reading is a teaching on prayer and intercession. From Jesus' teaching I would like to draw three practical implications:
First, it is a calling toward a deep and loving relationship with God.

Jesus’ message on prayer and intercession begins with the only prayer he ever taught his disciples. This prayer begins not with a petition, nor with praise, but rather, with a relationship. The petitioner first expresses his or her relationship with God. “Abba,” “Father!” Later in the reading God is referred to as a friend. The first point today is this: intercession is first and foremost about a deep relationship with God. In other words, intercessory ministry is not an activity that people engage in when they are in need. Rather, it is a calling toward a deep and loving relationship with God.

Second, Our salvation was dependent on his righteousness with God and others.

Intercessory ministry demands that those called live a righteous life. The Our Father teaches us to pray first for “forgiveness from God.” Intercessors must be sensitive to anything that can come between themselves, God and the people they are praying for; and sin is a major factor. The second part of the petition for forgiveness suggests that forgiveness is not an activity that is limited to God and the sinner. It involves the community. Our own forgiveness is dependent on our forgiveness of those who sin against us. In other words, intercession is a ministry of sacrifice, of humility, of servanthood. It demands that the intercessor put their own needs behind the needs of others. It demands that they be willing to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of those they pray for. Now we can, perhaps, understand why it was important for Jesus to forgive those who had sinned against him before his sacrifice on the cross could become an intercession before the father. Our salvation was dependent on his righteousness with God and others.

Third, Intercession is a ministry of deep faith and confidence in God.
“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks the door will be opened.” An intercessor must have absolute confidence that God, the Good Heavenly Father (unlike earthly wicked fathers) is eager to give good gifts to his children. Getting good things from the Father is not like pulling tooth. Having done that, we must leave the rest to the eternal wisdom and knowledge of the Father. Our confidence must include the faith that God will answer our petition in our best interest. I did pray that my travel back be timely and safe. If that prayer was answered the first time, I would not be there for my father when he had his heart attack. My travel plans were disrupted but only for a greater good. Intercession is a ministry of faith in the goodness of God.

To discern the call to be an intercessor is to be in league with Moses, Abraham and Jesus himself. It is a special call. I hope some of you at least will feel called. I hope small communities of intercessors can emerge. In fact, I strongly urge you to pray this week and discern if this might be a ministry you might want to serve in.

As we celebrate this Eucharist let us approach the throne of grace with confidence so that Jesus the greatest intercessor can provide for the needs of the world. Amen.

16th Sunday July 18,2010-Hospitality and welcoming mentality

2010-07-16T13:23:00.000-07:00

C Cycle -16th Sunday - July 18, 2010
Hospitality and welcoming mentality!

There is a story of a good wife who apologized to her unexpected guests for serving the apple pie without cheese. Then Tony, the little boy of the family slipped quietly away from the table for a moment, and returned with a cube of cheese, which he laid on the guest's plate. The visitor smiled in recognition of the
lad's thoughtfulness, popped the cheese into his mouth, and then
remarked: "Tony you must have sharper eyes and a better heart than your mother. Where did you find the cube cheese?"

The boy replied with a flush of pride: "It was in the rat-trap."
Sharper eyes and bigger heart – Good eyes and a generous heart
Good eyes to see and generous heart to give!
Hospitality is the theme for today’s reflection! A person who is very hospitable will have a better eye sight to see and bigger heart to give.
Hospes venit christus venit! Guest comes, Christ comes.
There is no better place to begin the explanation about hospitality than today’s first and gospel readings. The First Reading from the book of Genesis is part of the story about Abraham happily welcoming the heavenly visitors. Even though the reader knows that it was Lord who appeared to Abraham that day, Abraham himself did not know that fact, when three strangers passed by his tent. Abraham rose to the occasion and offered them extraordinary hospitality. Such hospitality was typical of the Bedouin nomads of the Middle East. The three unidentified men arrive in front of Abraham’s tent at the hottest time of the day. Immediately on seeing them, Abraham rushes forward to greet the strangers, bows before them, addresses them as “Lord” and, invites them to partake of his hospitality. He gives them water, washes their feet and let them rest in the shade while he offers to prepare a substantial meal for them to eat. What Abraham does is just a normal expression of hospitality to guests observed during his time. The visitors accept his invitation. Meanwhile Abraham rushes in to look for Sarah, his wife, and tells her to prepare a generous amount of food for these strangers, now their guests. He brings it to them and attends on them as their host. The heavenly visitors then ask for Sarah and they knew her name, and Abraham tells them that she is in the tent. As they take leave they promise to return in a year and by that time they foretell that Sarah will be the mother of a son. This is all the more surprising as Sarah, at this time, was far beyond the child bearing age. But this was the reward for their hospitality granted to them by God himself. It also indicates that for Abraham his faith in the divine word should be as apparent as his hospitality.
In the Gospel passage, we see another example of the same kind of hospitality where Jesus is the guest. The house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus seems to have been a place where Jesus was always welcome and where he could find shelter when things were getting too hot in nearby Jerusalem. Luke indicates that Jesus was welcome there as he was a constant visitor and the presence of Lazarus is not mentioned. The incident described concerns the two sisters only. The story tells us that there were certain customs regulating the activities of men and women while showing hospitality to guests. Generally it was not permitted for a woman of the household to sit with the male visitor or engage him in conversation. They would just extend a greeting and stay discretely away when the male guest was present. Martha is upset that her sister has broken the boundary by sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to his words. This was equivalent to Mary assuming the role of the man in the house, certainly not an acceptable situation. Martha does her best by requesting Jesus to send her into the kitchen for the preparation of the food and also follow the custom. The shock comes when Jesus indicates that he is well aware of what Mary has done. Not only does it not bother him, he applauds her for it. He clearly says that she has chosen the better thing. The shock of Jesus’ response cannot be overstated. He tells Martha that both the things, namely service and listening are important and both of them manifest service and they are equally praiseworthy.
This story concerning Martha and Mary has often been used by spiritual writers to prove the superiority of the contemplative life over the active, pastoral form of life. That there is need and necessity for some members of Christ’s body, the church, to dedicate their lives solely and entirely to meditation and prayer needs no proof. Each member of the body can and must help the other members. Most Christians cannot give much time for prayer and contemplation of God. There are members who are set apart for this purpose. With the material needs provided for by other members they can act in the name of the whole body. It is God himself who has given them a special calling for the contemplative life. But the correct lesson which the story of Martha and Mary gives us is that we must not let the affairs of this life, innocent they might be in themselves, prevent us from attending primarily to the one affair that really matters, namely our future life. The emphasis is on Martha and not on Mary. In her anxiety to be an excellent host she spreads out all her energies to prepare an excellent meal. She had no time to listen to the master’s words of divine wisdom. Her work was excellent and praiseworthy yet she should not have excluded from listening to Jesus while doing the good work at the same time. The anxiety of a person may lead to overlook what is more important in life.
1. We need to be hospitable.
2. We need to be in the presence of God. Mother Mary had the presence of God; she went in haste to do the service for the people.
3. What worries and anxieties do I have? Anxieties and worries do not lengthen our life. Burt we know that it will have a lot of repercussions on our life.
Let our participation in the Eucharist this week; bring us to the realization that we become more hospitable and generous towards one another and be a part of the “body of Christ,” as St. Paul mentions in the second reading. May we treat each person of the body of Christ with respect and love. Amen.

2010-07-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

15th Sunday July 11, 2010--How can one be happy?

2010-07-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

C cycle -15th Sunday July 11 2010
I am going to begin with Jeopardy today! I am asking you one question.
Married life is very interesting, exciting, enriching, or frustrating. What is your answer? Think for yourselves! In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen. It is about relationship and friendship which could be exciting, interesting, frustrating or enriching.
One of the characteristic of human life is relationship. There are contractual relationships, familial relationships, relationships with friends and obligatory relationships such as our relationships within society. But unlike our society today, the people of Israel lived in a society in which their relationship with God the Father was the most primary relationship. Their personal, political, economic, social and foreign relationships were determined by their Covenant relationship with God. Moreover, they knew that only a genuine relationship with God could guarantee them peaceful living within their family, their neighbors and other nations around them. If we are to take today’s first reading seriously then the lesson is this: that the basis for sound relationships is first and foremost a genuine relationship with God. And that is why the book of Deuteronomy says, “If only you would heed the voice of the Lord, your God… with all your heart and your soul.” There are two parts to this injunction. First, “If only you would heed the voice of the Lord, your God….” In other words, take a person whose relationships are in shambles. Most often one will find in him or her a broken relationship with God. On the other hand if a person’s relationship with God is genuine his other relationships will for most part be sound. Second, the injunction requires us to heed the voice of God “…with all your heart and your soul.” In other words, our relationship with God needs to be a genuine, heartfelt relationship for it to affect all our other relationships positively.

The gospel reading gives us an example of a person who fulfilled the first part of the injunction but lacked in the latter part of it. We must commend him for being the kind of person who asked the right questions. Thus in today’s gospel reading he asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” As a devout Jew, Jesus led him to the Law. Moreover, the scholar knew the law. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, with your entire mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Jesus commended him for his knowledge. But the scholar exposed his weakness when he asked Jesus a further question: “And who is my neighbor?” My interpretation of this question is that he knew the Law but lacked in the “genuine” practice of it. Intellectually he knew the Law but he lacked in “genuine” love of God. By giving the sermon of the Good Samaritan, Jesus was merely taking the scholar to a deeper understanding of the Law and love of God.

Let me offer three practical implications from today’s reflection.
1. In response to the scholar’s second question Jesus delivered what is commonly known as the ‘parable of the Good Samaritan.’ The point to remember is that this parable is unlike other parables. It is not an allegory, neither is it an analogy. It does not require extraordinary interpretations. The message is plain and simple. The question is not; “who is my neighbor?” rather, the real question is “Who isn’t my neighbor?” As far as Jesus is concerned then, the lesson for us is plain; if our relation with God is genuine, if we do love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, then, it must show into our relationship with others, especially those who are helpless. Without this our faith is God is hypocritical.
2. Today’s readings lead us to evaluate our other relationships. Relationships are delicate things. Whether, it is the relationship with your spouse, or parents or children or relatives and friends, they need to be handled carefully. Not all our relationships can be equally good. If our relationship with those who matter to us is strained, the first relationship to evaluate is our relationship with God. It is often ingenuity in our relationship with God that creates ingenuity in our relationship with others. If we love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our strength, then as Jesus suggest, it will help our relationship with others as well.

3. Relationships are no mean things; they are the key to eternal life. When the scholar asked Jesus the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answer, was “Love.” Love God and love our neighbor – that is the key to eternal life. In other words, the key to enter eternal life is right relationships – with God, others, and self. The readings then encourage us to take our relationships very seriously. It does not mean that we do not have differences of opinions or disagree about issues. It does mean that we do give every human relationship its true human dignity. The parable of the Good Samaritan covers sins such as slander, malice, revenge, hatred, prejudice and jealously. The parable of the Good Samaritan is not just about doing good; it is also about avoiding the harm we can do to others, both sins of omission and commission.

There is a reason why we wish peace to our neighbors during the Eucharist. On the one hand only a right relationship with God can ensure right relationships with others. On the other, only right relationships with others can ensure a right relationship with God. Let symbolic peace today be our sincere resolve to be Good Samaritans. This mass is a celebration of God’s love which enables us to love one another we shall continue to pray to God for the grace. Amen.

C Cycle 14th Sunday – July 4th 2010

2010-07-09T10:21:00.001-07:00

C Cycle 14th Sunday – July 4th 2010
The New York Times Bestseller for 2004 was the book by Rick Warren entitled, ‘The Purpose Driven Life.’ The book sold over 10 million copies and sales are still soaring.
The book answers the basic question, “What on earth am I here for?” And really think about it; what on earth are we here for? If the sales of the book are any indication, more that 10 million people are asking the same question. A senior citizen, who is 85 years old, is asking this question. She wishes her life was with God now. She is all the more distressed because her daughter who is merely 55 years old is on the verge of death because of cancer. My Aunt is also asking the question, ‘What on earth am I here for?’ I met a young 36 year old mother of two in St. Louis last week. Her healthy husband died while jogging in a park? She is asking the same question; ‘What on earth am I here for?’ I know a friend of mine who find no meaning in her marriage but is merely continuing it for the sake of her two children. She is asking the question, ‘What on earth am I here for?’ Many people in the United States are asking the same question. Especially in the context of the war they are asking, ‘What on earth are we here for?’ And there are serious debates about this issue. In light of the priests abuse scandal there are lot of bishops and priests who are asking the question, ‘What on earth are we here for?’ Not just people in crisis but ordinary people, especially the young, ask this question often. I have often asked this question myself.

First, Jesus gives us a sense of purpose. The twelve apostles of Jesus, the seventy-two disciples we hear of, in today’s gospel and letter of St Paul were all people like us who had a career, a means of livelihood, and some of them even a family. By the very fact that Jesus calls them and says, “follow me,” gives them a new purpose. “What on earth am I here for?’ is an easy question for them. St. Paul would say, I bear the mark of Christ on my body. While our calling may not be as dramatic as the calling of the disciples, by our baptism, we have a new purpose too. ‘What on earth am I here for?’ The simple answer is, “For Jesus.” Yes you may be an engineer, a teacher, a lawyer, a student or working at home. But none of these is our real purpose. Our real purpose is to belong to Christ, to be his followers, to be his disciples. To go through my life, with Jesus as my master and Lord, Savior and friend, then that is what I am on earth for.

Second Jesus gives us a mission.
Jesus takes his disciples even further. He not merely gives them a purpose but a mission. HE sends them out two-by-two. And where are they sent? He sends them before him to towns and villages, where he would visit.. They are to prepare the town or village for him. We too are sent by Jesus with a mission. We too prepare the towns and places we go for Jesus. Thank about your work place as the place which Jesus would visit. How many years have you worked there? How have you prepared the place? Think about your family as the place Jesus would visit. Think about the friends your visit during your free time as a place Jesus would visit. Think about the hair dresser, your car service place a place Jesus would visit. Think about your class room as a place Jesus would visit. To prepare the place for Jesus, that is our mission.
Third, Jesus gives us a message.
Jesus not merely gives us purpose and a mission; he also gives us a message. The message that Jesus told his disciples to talk about is “Peace be with you.” In fact the disciples came back rejoicing saying, that “Even demons are subject to us.” ‘What on earth am I here for?’ To spread the message of peace! I am here to defeat the demons of violence and war, the demons of revenge and unforgiveness, the demons of poverty and injustice. The demon of selfish, for example, destroys homes and families. The demon of irresponsible behavior destroys careers. The demon of prejudice destroys society. The demon of infidelity destroys marriage and friendship. Yes! Go out like Jesus says, and let us prepare the way of peace of Jesus.

If we reflect on these things, we have the answer to the question, ‘What on earth am I here for?’ Let our sense of purpose stem from this Eucharist. Amen.

13th Sunday Cycle C, June 27, 2010 -- Never give up in life and on people!

2010-06-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

13th Sunday Cycle –C, June 27 2010 Theme Never give up in life and on people A very old but thought provoking story, Chinese grandmother had two beautiful water jars. The two heavy containers were balanced on either side of a long, strong wooden pole which rested on her shoulders. But as the years went on, one of the great water jars developed a crack and water dripped from the jar as she walked each day from the farm house, to the mountain stream for the water, and back to the house. As can only happen in stories, the grandmother and the jars would talk to each other. The good water jar derided the cracked on. Finally, the bad jar talked to the grandmother and apologized for being cracked and if needed the old cracked water jar would retire. "No, you will not retire," said the grandmother. The grandmother explained that she knew there was a crack in the jar, but she had planted flower seeds on the side of the path where the water dripped from the crack of the water jar. "So you see," said the grandmother, "I made good use of the crack in your jar and there are beautiful flowers all along the one side of the path, from the mountain stream all the way to the house, where the water dribbled out and onto the earth; and I still had plenty of water for the house; I know what I am doing," said the grandmother. As the grandmother quietly made her way back from the mountain stream to the farm house, sure enough the cracked jar noticed all the beautiful flowers all along the path. Then the grandmother said something important. Just because you are old, with a crack, does not diminish your worth or usefulness. I'll always have a reason to keep you," said the grandmother.
The final words of the grandmother parallel the final words of the gospel reading. St. Luke communicates the words of Jesus, "No one who sets a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." The grandmother never gave up, never turned a disparaging shoulder and dropped the cracked jar. On the other hand many people do turn a cold shoulder, drop their friends and turn away from their commitments at the first sign of trouble.
There are three instances of Jesus calling. All three of them are pretty strange. In each of these calls there is a radical dimension that we cannot in today’s context understand. I mean there is nothing illegitimate in a person wanting to bury one’s father, as much as there is in saying farewell to one’s family. In fact these are signs of responsibility and love. But we need to look beyond these concerns to get the message of Jesus. There are obstacles and obligations involved but never give up. Look at Jesus’ life! In other words, because the task is enormous, because the mission is extraordinary, Jesus requires a kind of commitment that is extraordinary. He is not looking for extraordinary people. He is looking for ordinary people with extraordinary commitment. We see that kind of commitment in Jesus himself. In Today’s gospel passage Luke says, Jesus set out towards resolutely determined. Jesus knew that there would be opposition. But dialoguing and arguing with the authorities, boldly pointing to the ills of the society of his time and society, inviting even the weakest individual into communion, breaking inhuman structures, Jesus totally focusing on his mission to create an world of love, went right up to the cross. That was his commitment. That was his obedience to the Father who entrusted him a mission. There were times he found the mission overwhelming. He even knelt down and prayed, “Father, take this cup away from me.” But he never gave up in life.
Never give up on people! Interestingly St. Paul's letter to the Galatians captures a sense of commitment for our fellow human beings. "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "do not go on biting and devouring one another . . . or you will be consumed." If I might interpret St. Paul's words in conjunction with the gospel and our Chinese story we have a friendly warning: "don't give up on each other, don't fight each other, instead of being consumed by differences and turning the other way, stay the course, hold to the plough, find the good in each other."

Even Elijah, in the Book of Kings, is declaring support for Elisha, "Have I done anything to you?" Elijah is asking that Elisha not notice any cracks in Elijah, but to keep on going in the work of the Lord. Never give up in life! For personal reflection!
The clamoring call of Jesus is still heard. We call ourselves followers of Christ. The greatest danger that we can fall into today is to reduce our following Jesus to a mere religion that revolves around obligatory Sunday Masses and prayers. A real participation in the mission and following of Jesus would mean more. It means that we understand the mission of Jesus. It means that we understand deeply the call to love. It means that we personalize and internalize the mission of Jesus. It means that understand the demands and the kind of commitment and radicalism that participation in the mission of Jesus demands. It means that I try to live the message of love at the cost of my personal comfort. It means a life of selflessness and sacrifice. It would mean for example that as in every Eucharist Christ breaks his body and sheds his blood, we too break our bodies in love even we feel like calling fire from heaven. It means that in a situation where my personal preference clashes with the teachings of Jesus, I choose that which furthers the mission and teaching of Jesus. That does not require us to let the dead bury the dead or to bid farewell to the family; it requires that we have the attitude and commitment of a person who could do that.
In the eucharist let us continue to pray for the grace of pereseverance!

12 th sunday June 20 2010, Have the mind and heart of God

2010-06-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

12th Sunday June 20 2010
Have the mind and heart of God! Father’s day Celebration!
Once a father was trying to teach his young son the evils of alcohol!
He put one worm in a glass of water and another worm in a glass of whiskey. The worm in the water lived, while the one in the whiskey curled up and died.
"All right, son," asked the father, "what does that show you?"
"Well, Dad, it shows that if you drink alcohol, you will not have worms in your stomach."
Interesting answer! Father was trying to teach the child a good lesson but the child took a wrong message.
How can I as a father be a good message? How can I save my life?
There are three things one must do to be a message and to save his/her life:
The famous singer Madonna has never failed to surprise or even shock her audience. On June 18th 2004, she offered a fabulous interview with back. Her last world tour was called, “Reinvention.” When asked what she was doing right now this is what Madonna said, ‘Just liberating myself from my ego.” She even renamed herself in the process of liberating herself. She went through all the names in the Bible and chose Esther, because Esther risked her life to save the Jewish people from annihilation. As she said, she was tired of drawing attention to herself by taking off clothes and doing out of the way acts. Now at 45, it was time to liberate herself from her own ego. She regrets turning the apple cart because at the end of it all, all people see in the turned apple cart. She said she did not offer any alternative so that at the end of it all she only succeeded in creating confusion. She wants to change all that. The solution is to liberate herself from her ego. This is the self-named ‘rebel’ who did rebellious things like taking off her clothes for the sake of doing it. Her family life with Guy Ritchie and her two children is so contrary to the rebel image she revelled in that at 45 it seems that Madonna is indeed getting ‘smarter.’ At least that is what she said. Compare Madonna’s words with that of Jesus: “If any one wishes to come after me, he must deny himself take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

There are two things at play in the words of Jesus and in the interview with the now ‘smarter’ Madonna: the self and the other. For Jesus this other is God and other people. In Madonna’s case it is not clear who the other is but she sure knows that the way to liberation is freedom from the self.
1. Know yourself! Confess Christ!
Let me begin with the most important question that a human being can be asked. The most important question that one can be asked in not ‘Will you marry me?’ or … “Is this your final answer?’ The most important question that one is asked comes from Jesus and the question is the same question that Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” That is the question Christ is asking us today. And we must answer that question in prayer. Some people call themselves Christian but there is nothing Christian about their lives. Other people call themselves Christian and they even come to church every Sunday. But once they leave church relegate Christ to their private life and live as any other unbeliever. Their language, their activities, their entertainment and their priorities do not reflect their faith. And then there are those who do not have to strive, but in the choices they make and the life-style, in the way they treat people especially their enemies and the poor confess their faith in Christ. So Jesus asks, Who do you say that I am? We do need to give that answer.

2. Deny oneself
Jesus says to us today, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” The moment Peter confesses Christ, Jesus beings to reveal to them about his identity as the suffering messiah. It is the route to self-denial. Look at the fruit of that self-denial-our salvation. If only Christ is did not deny himself, he would be another life that just lived and died. It was also his self-denial that made the resurrection possible. Without his self-denial he would be another life that lived and died. And so will we be if we do not deny self. If at 45 Madonna is talking about liberating herself from her ego. In this age where we are encouraged to pamper ourselves, perhaps Madonna has finally understood the paradox of life.

3. Follow me
Jesus says to us today, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Follow me can mean two things. One meaning is to believe in Christ and his teachings. Or follow me can mean do what Christ did. I want to take the second meaning. But let me take the inspiration from today’s second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians. St He says, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Look at what our clothes do to us. It hides our nakedness. It hides us. What people see is our face and our clothes. So when St. Paul says, “Clothe yourself in Christ,” and when Jesus says “follow me,” it means that we follow in such a way so that when people see us they do not see us, but like our clothes, they see Jesus. Let our actions be our clothes; let our relationships and the way we treat people be our clothes; let our prayer be out clothes; let our commitment to this community be our clothes.

This Eucharist is made possible by the self-denial of Christ. This is the sacrament of our salvation. Let us confess our faith in Christ and attain our own redemption.

11th Sunday, June 13 2010, Have the mind and heart of God

2010-06-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

11th Sunday, June 13 2010
Have the mind and heart of God!
Father’s day Celebration!
Once a father was trying to teach his young son the evils of alcohol!
He put one worm in a glass of water and another worm in a glass of whiskey. The worm in the water lived, while the one in the whiskey curled up and died.
"All right, son," asked the father, "what does that show you?"
"Well, Dad, it shows that if you drink alcohol, you will not have worms in your stomach."
Interesting answer! Father was trying to teach the child a good lesson but the child took a wrong message.
The child fails to understand the mind and heart of father.
We have the stories of people in today’s first and the gospel passages who fail to comprehend the mind and heart of God.
Let us look at the first reading; here we have King David chosen by God to be the King of Israel and his representative before the people. However, David sins against God by committing adultery and to cover up this sin he commits murder. God sees all the sin and weakness and send the Prophet who tells David of the divine anger for the sin he has committed. He refers to the many favors God had done to him and yet the king had failed to understand the mind and heart of God. He tells him that he will be punished for the sins committed by him. At this juncture David realizes his fault and confesses that he has sinned against God. Even though he shows his weakness he also shows his faith and God forgives him. The prophet informs him that his life will be spared and God will not punish him and we learn about the infinite mercy of God and the weakness of human nature even of a person who has a high status in society and God has placed him over his people. At the same time we learn that if an individual sincerely repents of his sins, God can and will forgive him of all his sins. God always seeks to call us back to faithfulness and fidelity to Him. Such is manifested by the grace of God. Without it, we could never repent and reconcile with God when we sin. By seeking forgiveness of and confessing sins led him to take on the mind and hear of god. One thing very striking in the Gospel of today is that Jesus neither judged, nor rebuked the woman as the Pharisee expected. Instead, He welcomed her. This approach goes against the ways of the world; we are asked to model love instead of judging, to welcome instead of rejecting. Those who come in contact with Jesus, they manifest one of two behaviors; they are either attracted to Him or repelled by Him. If they are like Simon, they appear to be doing good deeds in order to gain respect, honor, fame or wealth. These persons shun the company of sinners like prisoners, beggars, prostitutes, etc… By doing so, they neglect to give sinners the help that they need to find healing and wholeness. We see the opposing attitudes of Simon and the woman clearly shows that we can either accept or reject the mercy of God. Simon viewed himself as an upright Pharisee, displaying an attitude of having no need for love or mercy. His self-sufficiency prevented him from acknowledging his need for the grace of God.
Simon the host of the meal is shocked by all this and concludes that certainly Jesus could not be a prophet to allow such behavior to go unchecked. While Simon silently condemns Jesus the Master proves Himself to be a prophet by reading the secret thoughts of Simon. Jesus cleverly tells a riddle that actually describes what had just happened at the meal but no one catches on. He presents the parable of the two unequal debtors to Simon before the entire audience, asking him, who is master’s beloved when both are forgiven. Simon answers correctly indicating the higher value of the exemption. Then Jesus turns the table by pointing out how Simon had failed in the common gesture of hospitality while the woman carried them out perfectly. There comes the greatest shock of all. Jesus proclaims that the woman’s sins are already forgiven even before she had come in. Jesus says: “Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven as she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” The verse “She has shown great love” has been a classic text for showing that perfect charity has the power of forgiving sins. Jesus shows that in our life, love and forgiveness is closely associated. The woman loved Jesus because her sins were forgiven, not that “she was forgiven because she loved Jesus.” Jesus makes it clear that great love springs from a heart that is forgiven and cleansed. The woman took on the mind and heart of God but the Pharisees and Simon who hosted the meal for Jesus fail to appreciate and understand mind of God.
Three reflections! 1. Be an example for others, never cause a scandal, you actions speak louder than words.
2. Be a person of having the mind and heart of God
3. Seek forgiveness from God for our sins for this is a hindrance for God’s grace.
During this mass let us continue to pray for the mind and heart of God. Amen

Feast of The Eucharist -- June 6th 2010

2010-06-11T08:18:00.001-07:00

Man: God?
God: Yes?
Man: Can I ask you something?
God: Of course!
Man: What is for you a million years?
God: A second.
Man: And a million dollars?
God: A penny.
Man: God, Can you give me a penny?
God: Sure. Wait a second

Recently I went for a graduation party. While I was talking to some people there and one asked me whether I was a priest by any chance. I replied to him that I am priest not by chance but by the grace of God and my decision. We continued the conversation. He asked me again about how long I take for mass. I said, “half an hour week days and one hour on Sundays”. He said that is too long. He likes very short mass, taking 10 or 15 minutes. I said that I don’t believe in fast food because it gives slow digestion. To which church do you go for mass? I go to St. Mattress church. I know that there are four churches in Lima but not heard about St. Mattress church. He said that it is in the second floor of his house. He never goes for mass on Sundays rather spends his time on the mattress.
Why do you go to Church? Why do we participate in the Church?
The answer is found in today’s feast, the feast of Corpus Christy. At the end of the words of consecration, we are told to do this in memory of, to become Christ’s memorial today.
Today’s homily is a catechesis on the Eucharist. I want to take three central concepts in the Eucharist and discuss it, so that we have a deeper understanding of our gathering each Sunday. The three important concepts are “epiclesis,” “transubstantiation,” and “anamnesis.” a. Epiclesis
Epiclesis, literally means to call out, to invoke. It means to invoke or call out to the Father that he may send the Holy Spirit, or invoke the Holy Spirit that he may come. We invoke the Holy Spirit or invoke the Father to send the Holy Spirit to accomplish an action that is beyond our capacity. In the Eucharist, the priest who is the minister of God invokes the Father to send the Spirit, so that the bread and wine may be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The Epiclesis in the second Eucharist prayer reads: “Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy so that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In the third Eucharist prayer it reads: “And so Father we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them holy by the power of your Spirit, so that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ at whose command we celebrate this Eucharist.” This action is possible not with human hand but with the intervention of the Holy Spirit, because it is the Spirit that gives life. (Ezek 37:1-10). What we are asking, then, that our gifts may cease to be ordinary bread and wine and begin to be a holy reality, the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also important to note that there is a Trinitarian dimension in the invocation. Father, send... Spirit upon... may become the Body and Blood of Jesus.
This is not the only Epiclesis in the Eucharist Prayer. There is also an invocation for the people. In the second Eucharistic Prayer, the invocation goes this way: “May all of us who share in the Body and Blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit.” In the third Eucharistic Prayer, it reads: “Grant that we who are nourished by his Body and Blood may be filled with his Holy Spirit and become one body, one spirit in Christ.” Once again, we are asking God to accomplish something that we as human beings cannot do by ourselves. Only the Spirit of God can make us the “body of Christ”, a community, one in mind and heart.

b. Anamnesis
The Greek word Anamnesis (from which comes the English word amnesia), means memory. It is that part of the Eucharist where we relive the memory, reenact what Christ did on the day of the Last Supper. This is what St. Paul says the Lord asks us to remember. “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in memory of me” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes (1 Cor 11:23-26).
The question in focus here is the word remembrance or memory. What do these words mean? As in normal English language, memory in Hebrew or Aramaic did not mean merely a recalling to memory. In fact, this is how the Catholic tradition differs from some other Christian traditions, for whom ‘communion service’ is merely a memory.
Let’s take a peep into the OT to get the Catholic understanding of ‘memory.’ Exodus 12:14, in reference to the Passover event, prescribed for the Israelites, “This day shall be a memorial feast for you… as a perpetual institution.” In the OT, the event that was recalled/remembered/called to memory was the Exodus event, particularly the Passover event. After the original event, each year as families got together to recall the event, it was not just an event recalled to memory but it was a reliving of that event. It was an actualization of that event. So, even after many years of the original event, the event was recalled in the present (Ex 12:27). When Christ used the words “Do this in memory”, he meant that we should relive, not just recall to mind, the new Passover - his passion, death, and resurrection. “For as often as we do this we proclaim the death of the Lord till he comes” (2 Cor 11:26). So when we celebrate the Eucharist and specially recall the Last Supper, we are actually reliving what Christ achieved for us on the Cross. It is as if the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord is being reenacted in our midst all over again. You might ask but why should the once and for all death of Christ be enacted again? Because as St. Paul says, “…as often as you do this, you proclaim his death until he comes again” (2 Cor 11:26).

c. Trans-substantiation
This word is not a foreign word, but a difficult English term. It is simple if we break the word. Trans would mean change, and we identify the word substance in the word substantiation. The word simply then means change of substance. How this applies to the Eucharist needs some explanation. We are referring here to the change of the substance of the bread and wine into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ. Anything tangible has two things: substance and its qualities. Let me give you an example. Take a piece of paper. The paper is the substance i.e. the thing the paper is made of. The paper could be white, or red, or pink, and the shape could be round or square, and it could be rough or smooth, and it could be thick or thin. The color, the shape, the quality and the thickness of the paper are its qualities. I can change the qualities of paper but not the substance. If I did, it would not paper any more. In the Eucharist the opposite happens as a work of the Holy Spirit. When the priest prays for the Spirit to come (Epiclesis), the substance of the bread and wine changes into the substance of the Body and blood of Christ, without changing the qualities. That is why the change is not visible. So the bread is no more bread and the wine is no more wine but the Body and Blood of Christ, although the shape and color (qualities) remains the same. This principle is called trans-substantiation, because the substance has changed.
Conclusion
The words of the doxology i.e., “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all Glory and honor is yours almighty Father, forever and ever,” reveal the entire meaning of the Eucharist. This is the summit or the climax of our worship. This is perfect worship. This worship is not lacking in anything. This is so because we offer worship to the Father, through, with and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Only Christ could have in his lifetime offered perfect worship to the Father. We unite ourselves through, with and in Him, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit to offer perfect worship. This perfect worship is made possible for us because of Christ. Any other form of worship is also worship but they lack the perfection that the Eucharist, (Christ) offers.

Let us then proceed to the table to "relive" the memory of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus in and through this Eucharist. Let this be our perfect worship. Amen.

9th Sunday C – Holy Trinity, May 30 2010

2010-05-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

9th Sunday – Holy Trinity

The mystery of Holy Trinity- Three persons and one God

A boy is writing a paper on childbirth and asks his parents, "How was I born?"

His mother awkwardly answers, "The stork brought you."

"Oh," says the boy. "Well, how were you and Daddy born?"

"Oh, the stork brought us, too, and Grandpa and Grandma."

The boy begins his paper, "This report has been very difficult to write due to the fact that there hasn't been a natural childbirth in my family for three generations. It is a mystery to me.”

Many have responded to me Holy Trinity as a Mystery.
Is it just a mystery beyond our comprehension? How do we understand the dogma about the Trinity?
Today, as we celebrate the feast of the Trinity – God as three persons yet one God.
I guess one of the most inspiring and interesting stories of the Trinity comes from St. Patrick, when in front of the pagan high priests and the Irish people he explained the Trinity by example of the Shamrock. "One little stem, three leaves. The three leaves are intricately connected to the stem and the stem to the three leaves." You cannot have a Shamrock without the three leaves and one stem. We cannot have Trinity without the three persons in one God.
Importance in Christian life: 1) All prayers in the Church begin in the name of the Holy Trinity and end glorifying the Trinity.
2) All sacraments are administered (we are baptized, confirmed, anointed) in the Holy Trinity’s Name.
3) Church bells ring thrice inviting us to remember and pray to the Holy Trinity.
4) We bless ourselves and the priest blesses us in the name of the Holy Trinity.

How do we understand the trinity – three persons and one God! This is difficult for us to comprehend. However, I will make three observations points in this regard.

First, human beings cannot fully comprehend God. In fact, the more we think we know God the deeper the divine mystery becomes. All we can do is use analogies to understand the mystery that God is. For example, C.S. Lewis used the analogy of a three dimensional picture to explain the Trinity. If we draw a line on a piece of paper it becomes a one-dimensional picture. You can make that line a square if you add length and breadth to it. Now, it is a two dimensional picture but the same square. Make the square into a cube, by adding two more lines in such a way that now there is depth in the picture, which is the third dimension. So now there is one image but three dimensions. Trinity, according to C.S. Lewis is like that - three persons yet one God. The feast of the Trinity is an invitation to enter into the depths of God. We see an example of that in today’s first reading. The wisdom of God speaks to the author and reveals God to him. He becomes aware of the richness and depths of spiritual realities. He becomes aware of Gods’ wisdom in creation. Awareness of such realities happen in prayer. And what I mean by prayer is not merely saying our morning and night prayers, but sitting in silence and discovering the Triune God who is within us. By prayer I mean developing a deep personal relationship with God, deeper than any human relationship. And as we do that, God takes us deeper and deeper into the mystery of his being. God invites us today to enter into his very life.

Second, the things we do know about God is known not because of human ingenuity but God’s revelation. We know that God has created us and revealed himself to us. Thus, we know God as our creator, our redeemer, and our destiny. Thus, we know God as Trinity because Jesus revealed that to us, as we heard in the gospel reading. If as the first reading tells us, God is our Creator then, then we can only know ourselves if we know God. This happened to me. I still remember my growing up years when I was trying to find myself. I did not like myself, I thought I was useless, not good enough to be loved; I was not talented, and could hardly say two sentences without stammering. And then I discovered a God who loved me unconditionally. It was this discovery that changed my life. The more I got to know God, the more I got to know myself. The more I discovered God the more I found myself. My vocation stems from this knowledge of God. I am a priest today not because of who I am but because of who God is. As St. Paul says in today’s second reading, hope can only come when we know that the love of God has been poured into our hearts. We can only know the meaning of our lives, our destiny, and our purpose if we know God.

Third, one day we shall see God face to face. And then we shall know God.
The practical implication of the feast of the Trinity is that God has revealed himself to us as community – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The relationship between the community of persons is a model for our relationships. Relationships break to the extent that either of the partners in a relation fails to genuinely respect, love, honor, commit oneself to the relationship. In the work of our redemption, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit had their own roles to play and they did so in fidelity, love, and obedience. The feast of the Trinity should lead us to recommit ourselves to our relationships. Let us pray for the difficult relationships in our lives.

Life messages:
1) Let us respect ourselves and others because every one is the temple of the Holy Spirit where all the three Persons of the Holy Trinity abide.

2) Let us have the firm conviction that the Trinitarian God abides in us and He is the source of our hope, courage and strength and our final destination.

3) Let us practice the Trinitarian relationship of love and unity in the family relationships of father, mother and children because by baptism we become children of God and members of God’s Trinitarian family.

4) Let us practice the I–God–my neighbor vertical and horizontal Trinitarian relationship in society by loving God living in others.

The climax of every Eucharist is the doxology. “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours almighty Father, forever and ever Amen. It is a Trinitarian prayer of praise. In fact, every Eucharist is a celebration of the Trinity – Jesus offering his sacrifice to the Father made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us today, lose ourselves in this mystery. Amen.

8th Sunday The Pentecost Sunday , May 23, 2010

2010-05-25T07:08:00.001-07:00

There is a Story of a taxi driver and a pastor. Both died and were standing before the gate of heaven for St. Peter to enter heaven. St. Peter came and first welcomed the taxi driver. He checked his good deeds and allowed him to enter the Heaven. Then he welcomed the priest and did permit him to enter the heaven. The pastor was furious and angry and asked St. Peter why he permitted the taxi driver and me. This is partiality and injustice. For many year as a pastor I was doing God’s work but St. Peter did not allow him and said “St. Peter, this is not fair to do this kind of nonsense in heaven.”
St. Peter, “When you preached, people slept. When Andrew drove the cab, people prayed.”
What causes a change? Preaching and driving changed people. One led to sleeping and another led to praying.
My own conversion from being a nominal Catholic to Catholic with a purpose took place at a Pentecost retreat. I can’t imagine my priesthood being what means to me today without the anointing I received then. My fear of God changed into a passion for God; my faith became a living thing; from ever having barely touched the Bible, I began devouring God’s word; the Eucharist became a lived experience of God; I truly believe that the bread and wine is the body and blood of Jesus; my trust in God increased; my priorities changed as radically as it did for the disciples.
Today’s readings give us a good insight into the crucial the role the Holy Spirit played in the lives of the disciples. Let me begin with the Gospel passage. It is not mere coincidence that that Jesus “breathes” on the disciples and says to them “Receive the Holy Spirit.” That image right back to the book of Genesis. You will remember that when God created human beings, he made them out of clay. When he had formed them in his own image and likeness he “breathed” into their nostrils, and the images came to life. We are alive because the spirit was breathed into us. Now, Jesus repeats that primal action. He breathed the Spirit on the disciples and transformed them into a new creation. And it happened - From being a fearful group they became bold witness of Christ; their timidity gave way to courage; from being a purposeless group, they set out their task with a new focus; Jesus became more alive to them than when he was with them; and the ones that had previously fled when Christ was arrested were prepared to give up their lives for him.
Three points on what the Holy Spirit does for us. First, the Holy Spirit brings us into an intimate relationship with God. “For those who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God.” For those led by the Spirit, God is not just an impersonal being; God is “Abba, Father.” That is what Jesus called God. Only those who allow themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit have a love and passion for God. The rest will find solace in two-minute noodles.
My dear friends, I believe that at some point of our lives our faith has to become a personal experience. It should not what our parents taught us, it should not be what we learnt in catechism classes, it should not be habits we developed a kids, but rather, it needs to become a personal experience of a personal God. That can only happen with and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Second, the Holy Spirit brings us peace. Twice in today’s gospel reading Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be with you.” Ironically, Jesus said these words to them when “the doors were locked … for fear….” How could the disciples experience peace in the midst of fear? Let me share with you the key to peace. My dear friends, the key to peace is doing God’s will as we know it in the scriptures. Do that and leave the consequence to God. That is the one key to peace. When the Christians were martyred in the early centuries, they went to their death smiling. It drove the Romans nuts. But the martyrs were in peace because they knew they were bearing witness to Christ in obedience to God, immaterial of the consequences. Peace does not mean the absence of strife. It means the fullness of God even in the midst of strife.
Third, the Holy Spirit makes “real” the presence of God. The “tongues of fire” that rested on each disciple is one way of saying that the disciples felt the presence of God in a real and tangible way. But that is what the Holy Spirit accomplishes for us – makes God real. Catholics believe in the real presence of God because the Holy Spirit comes and transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus. This is not new. The Holy Spirit came into Mary’s womb and the Word became flesh. Jesus said to the disciples in today’s gospel reading, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Those whose sins you forgive are forgiven.” The real forgiveness of God comes to us in the Sacrament of reconciliation because of the Holy Spirit. The word in Scripture has come to us inspired by the Holy Spirit. Every Sacrament is the real presence of God.
On this the feast of the Pentecost, let us be as expectant as the disciples. Just as they experienced the real presence of God let us prepare to experience the real presence of God in the Eucharist. Amen.

7th Sunday Easter, May 16th 2010

2010-05-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

7th Sunday of Easter, the Feast of Ascension! The editor of a small weekly newspaper, annoyed at legislation that had
recently been passed, ran a scathing editorial under the headline: HALF OF OUR LEGISLATORS ARE CROOKS. Many prominent local politicians were outraged, and tremendous pressure was exerted on him to retract the statement.
He finally succumbed to the pressure and ran an apology with the headline:
HALF OF OUR LEGISLATORS ARE NOT CROOKS ! It could be a joke with a poke. It speaks about the character and nature of a politician who can be either bad or good. Both the statements are right and communicate the message. They discover themselves! Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. I raise two questions. What significance does the ascension of Jesus hold for us Christians? What can it mean for us today? I think the salvation, power to be witnesses, discovering our real selves; these are the themes that emerge from today’s readings. The first reading speaks about the work of the spirit and power of the spirit that enabled people to experience the risen lord and spread the message of peace. The second reading is the jubilant hymn of praise which begins as a praise as a greeting and continues as a prayer for wisdom and understanding. The gospel speaks the mission and purpose of his life namely suffering which led to resurrection and the proclamation of the good news for the forgiveness of sin. So here are three points that makes sense to me about the ascension.
a) First, the ascension of Jesus reveals our destiny. The ascension of Jesus is important because it completes the redemption story. Jesus not only came from God but also returned back to God. If human life is to be modeled around the life of Jesus, then ascension becomes the final link in the chain of redemption. For us, that means that we now know not only where we come from but also where we are going. The implication from this is that we know our destiny. That leaves us with the time between our coming and our going. In this context, our life on earth assumes so much significance. The choices we make assume so much significance. Our model for making those choices is Jesus. That is the ideal Jesus set for us. To strive to get the closest we can to these ideals is to prepare ourselves for our destiny – our life with God.

b) Second, ascension gives us hope. Let me read for you the prayer that St. Paul makes for the Ephesians in today’s second reading. “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him? May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened that you may know what the hope that belongs to his call…is.” St. Paul is asking for two things for the Ephesians: the knowledge of God and the hope of his call. I was talking to a patient yesterday. He has been a little spiritually a discouraged lately because he has been praying for his speedy recovery and there seems to be no progress. His wife immediately took exception and said, “Never give up hope. There is nothing God can’t do even till the last moment.” I am a priest for 17 years perhaps I have not got such tremendous hope. I know it is her intimacy with God – her “knowledge of God.” She has the wisdom that comes from her knowledge of God. The eyes of her heart are open. This is Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and for all of us. The ascension of Jesus and his being at the right hand of God is what gives us that hope.
c) Third, ascension gives us a new dignity. The scene at the end of today’s gospel reading is rather amusing. Jesus has slowly disappeared into the sky. The disciples are standing there… gaping. The angels come and tell them, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky? They are not meant to be gaping stupid people any more. Thus far the disciples were learners –weak, groping, learners. That changed with the ascension. Jesus gave them a new dignity and purpose, “You are witnesses to these things,” he said to them. Now they must be to others what he was to them. Through baptism they would bring God to the masses. They have become partners in the redeeming work of Christ. Human beings have a new dignity. We are earthen vessels, carrying in our bodies the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection.
The gospel reading ends with the words, “They did him homage.” That is exactly where ascension should lead us… to worship. At this Eucharist, let us not stand gaping. Rather, let us move into the most profound and true worship human beings can offer God. Through this Eucharist let us “do him homage.”

May 2 2010, The theme that dominates the readings of today is love and service,

2010-05-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

5th Sunday of Easter, May 2, 2010
The theme that dominates the readings of today is love and service.
Where is God? Where there is love, there is God.
A couple had two little boys, aged 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that, if any mischief occurred in the school, their sons were probably involved.
They boys' mother heard that a pastor in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The pastor agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old son first in the morning to see the pastor.
The pastor, a huge man with a big voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?".
They boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the pastor repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!!?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the pastor raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and yelled, "WHERE IS GOD!?"

The boy screamed and ran directly home and went in to the room, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him, he asked, "What happened?"
The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, “We are in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing - and they think WE did it!"
God is missing. Is God missing in our life? If so why and how is God missing?
1. The readings answer the question. In the First Reading, from the Acts of the Apostles tells us about the early missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas. They went through all hardships and misunderstandings while communicating the message and vision of Jesus to all. It shows the life and commitment of the apostles who had deep and personal experience of Christ are willing to suffer for the love of him. That was Paul and Barnabas’ way of living the love commandment and the signs of presence of God. The people saw their lifestyle and commented, “See how they love one another.” God was in their midst.
2. The Second Reading from the Book of Revelation helps us to understand the purpose of the progressive development of the spiritual wonders of God within the Church. In his vision John sees the picture of the end time, indicated in a new heaven and a new earth. It is the glorious arrival of the long awaited “salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah.” It is a picture of new heaven and new earth.
3. On a very personal level there is one question we can ask. Who are the people who most need to feel love from us these days? To us Jesus says, I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Today’s Gospel in the next step towards our spiritual growth as we are called to reflect on our service of love in the Lord Jesus. Here we have the new commandment of Jesus, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” To this he adds, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” By shining in love towards one another, all will come to know that we Christians are the disciples of Jesus. These Words of Jesus remind us of the First Letter of John: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Again John says “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”
He reminds the disciples that “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from Jesus is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
God is missing if we forget to love and be his disciples. If we forget to love and serve others, God will be missing.
This Eucharist is a celebration of love. It is a feast of love.

April 25 2010 --The Good shepherd invites us to establish a relationship

2010-04-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

The Good shepherd invites us to establish a relationship.
A priest and a rabbi are in a car crash and it's a bad one. Both of their cars are destroyed but amazingly neither one of them is hurt. After they crawl out of their cars, the rabbi says, "So you're a priest. That's interesting; I'm a rabbi. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should meet and be friends and live together in peace."
The priest replies, "Oh, yes, I agree. It's a miracle that we survived and are here together."
"And here's another miracle," says priest. "My car is destroyed but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink the wine and celebrate our good fortune," he says, handing the bottle to the Rabbi.
The Rabbi nods in agreement, opens the wine, drinks half of it, and hands it back to the priest.
The priest takes it and puts the cap back on.
"Aren't you going to drink the wine? asks the Rabbi.
"Not right now," says the priest. "I think I'll wait until after the police make their report."
The focus of the story is to establish a relationship. The Rabbi and priest established a relationship. They could talk, laugh and share the bottle of wine.
Establishing the relationship is the theme that runs through all three readings. In the modern world relationship is very important. There is a rat race for money name, fame etc. We forget people and relationship.
In the first reading Paul and Barnabas established a relationship for the sake of spreading the gospel. However, divisions continued to exist in the early Christian community. The Jewish-Gentile divide threatened to endanger the life of the early Christian community. Paul and Barnabas’ challenge was to take the focus off the divide and turn people’s attention on the gospel that unites all people. But there were some Jews who refused to find unity in the gospel. The prospect of sharing faith with the gentiles frightened them. But as the Lord said to Paul, “I have made you a light to the Gentiles that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.” The Second Reading taken from the Book of Revelation, tells us of another vision of John in which he sees a countless number of saints who have earned heaven through martyrdom and are now serving God’s throne adoring him and rejoicing. They have established a relationship with God the father. They will not suffer and grieve again as they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Those persons who wear the white garments represent all the Christians who have been chosen by God; those who wear the white garments, they are the living saints who form the fullness of the mystical Body of Christ.
In the gospels Jesus often ministered to people other than the Jews. And in speaking to the Samaritan woman and in setting up the Good Samaritan as a model of Christian love, Jesus tried to bridge the division that existed between people. Jesus has established a relationship. During today’s Gospel Reading Jesus uses the image of the Shepherd and the sheep. The relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is so intimate that it is an extension of the relationship between the Heavenly Father and the Son. We heard the words of Jesus: “My sheep hear my voice and follow me.” In this particular passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus was speaking of His Divine title as the Good Shepherd. The sheep listen to and recognize the voice of their shepherd and that is why they continue to follow him rather than another. It is important for us also to recognize the voice of Jesus as it comes to us in our daily life. Earlier in the same Chapter, Jesus had said, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Since Jesus is the Good Shepherd and not a hired hand, he does not run away when the wolf comes, instead he is ready to give his life for his sheep. On the other hand the hired person runs away when the wolf comes, leaving the sheep in danger. Jesus is the Good Shepherd shepherded to the point of giving his life for his sheep, dying on the cross for the sake of humanity.
On this day we are especially asked:
1. First of all to pray that the Church may be provided with the leaders needed to do its work of spreading the Gospel. We know that at the present time there is a critical shortage of such leaders, at least in the traditional sense – priests and religious. But, while we may earnestly pray that our Church is supplied with the leaders it needs, not merely as priests and religious but lay persons who would lead people to God. At the same time we must be clear of the term vocation.
2. We have for too long given a much too narrow meaning to the word ‘vocation’. We tend to limit it to a calling to be a priest or a member of a religious institute. But, in fact, every single one of us has a vocation, as we are being called by God to be spouses, parents, teachers, doctors, and civil servants, running a business, salespersons… or whatever. That is the calling which demands fidelity to God and to the task personally chosen. God is calling every single one of us to work for the Gospel.
3. “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” These three verbs, “Hear, Know and Follow” imply a deep relationship. We are those who have heard his voice. We belong to Christ. We follow him. Our relationship with Christ should motivate us toward our mission. Our mission is to bring those who do not belong to Christ to the fold. We cannot accomplish this by rejection of people. The only way we will accomplish this is through openness and acceptance. Let us strive to become a community of Love. Let this altar be the place where people of every nation, race, people and tongue will worship the Lord.
As we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, let us pray to the Lord that we may be His good sheep, listening attentively to His voice, and follow His example of self-giving love. Let us also pray for all our shepherds, especially our religious and political leaders. May they follow the example of Jesus who was willing to serve and lay down His life for His sheep? Jesus our Shepherd is the Way, Truth and Life. He is the one who goes after the lost sheep leaving the ninety-nine to bring it back to the fold. Today let us pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, that many will be inspired to show true love, to the point of sacrificing many other attractive options to become priests of Jesus, to follow him in religious life.
In a few moments, we will receive our Good Shepherd in communion. Let us commit ourselves to him and to his mission. Amen

3rd Sunday Of Easter April 18 2010--Loyalty and fidelity to the Risen Lord

2010-04-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

3rd Sunday of Easter- April 18th 2010
Loyalty and fidelity to the Risen Lord
Once a woman named Mary invited some people to a dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter Stephanie and asked, “Do you love me” Then Stephanie said “Mom you know that I love you and I am very obedient to you!” Then mother said "Honey, why don’t you say the blessing before the meals?" "I wouldn't know what to say Mummy," Stephanie replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," Mary answered. The Stephanie bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people for dinner?"
Mary liked to invite people and used to grumble about it. The child hears such grumbling and thinks that it is a prayer. The child really loves the mother and very loyal to her mother and has the fidelity to what she says. Loyalty and fidelity are tow word that express our sincerity and commitment. Today where we are we are called to have these tow qualities
All the three readings of today focus on the necessity of our loyalty to God and our fidelity to Jesus. Let us look at the three readings. Today’s First Reading narrates fact of preaching by the disciples of Jesus in the Temple. Indeed the Temple became an attractive place for them to preach the good news. While they were teaching the captain and the Temple police move to the place to arrest the disciples. They were taken before the Council and were accused for continuing to preach in the Name of Jesus even after the warnings they received. As leader of the group, Peter speaks on behalf of the disciples before the council. He courageously tells them: “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Toe reasons are given for this fidelity and commitment –
a. The Resurrection of Jesus and the presence of the Spirit
b. The disciples are commissioned by Jesus to “Go into the entire world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”
In the second reading we have the reference about the loyalty and fidelity of the four creatures and the elders. The four creatures and elders mean that whole creation and the church are involved in adoring and thanking Christ under the image of a lamb that is slain for all the people.
In the second part of the Gospel we have the scene where Jesus is asking Peter on three times the question, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And three times, Peter affirmed his loyalty to Jesus, promising to serve Him, even to death. Each time Jesus gives him the mission to care for his sheep. He is given the call to leadership and to continue his mission. Jesus demanded a threefold profession of love from Peter was in response to Peter’s threefold denial prior to the passion. Undoubtedly, Peter knew that he was being reminded that on three past occasions, he had denied his knowing the Lord Jesus. When Peter is asked the third time, it hurts him and finally he says: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Knowing the transformation and conversion that has taken place in the heart of Peter, Jesus accepts his word and places His authority and leadership on him. He was commissioning Peter to be the shepherd of his newly founded church. Simon Peter would be the new shepherd and he would take the place of Christ. He would provide protection and pasturage for the Christian flock, the people of God.
Today Jesus is calling each one of us by name and asking the same question. Do you love me? What is our response?
1. I need to examine my relationship with God? Is God the master of life?
2. How loyal am I to God who created me in his own image and likeness?
3. I am commissioned to live my Christian life here and today.
Today when we receive the Holy Eucharist, let us publicly show our loyalty to Jesus. Through the reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, we are professing our faith in the Divine Presence of Jesus manifested in the Living Bread. By our presence here today, we are saying to Jesus, “My Lord, all authority is yours! You are my Lord and my God! Guide me! I humbly obey your commission!”

Be a christian -- April 11 2010

2010-04-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

A country preacher decided to skip services one Sunday to spend the day hiking in the wilderness. Rounding a sharp bend in the trail, he collided with a tiger and was sent tumbling down a steep valley. He landed on a rock and broke his legs.
With the ferocious tiger charging at him from a distance, the preacher prayed, "O Lord, I'm so sorry for skipping services today. Please forgive me and grant me just one wish—make a Christian out of that tiger that's coming at me!"
At that very instant, the tiger skidded to a halt, fell to his knees, clasped his paws together, and began to pray aloud at the preacher's feet: "Dear God, please bless this food I am about to receive from your bounty."
Becoming a Christian and a follower of Christ is the challenge of today’s readings. Priest prayed for the tiger to become a Christian. For this purpose we need to understand the Christianity and the risen Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very heart of Christianity.
The believers gathered together and many wonders were worked, but though others were impressed, they did not want to join, perhaps because of the sudden-death event they had witnessed. They also might have not wanted to sell everything and invest in the common good.
First Reading of today tells us of the healing ministry of the Apostles. Immediately after the resurrection of Jesus, they became persons totally transformed. Jesus worked many signs and miracles through them. People in Jerusalem too once they saw their work held them in high esteem. The result of their work was that the community increased in numbers. People also believed in the power of the Apostles and brought the sick and infirm so that they could touch them or even their shadow fall on them. While several were healed many more joined them in the community. As the sick were healed by the power of the Holy Spirit, many others did come to follow the Way of Jesus through the preaching of the Good News. The early Church grew even though there was and would be persecution, suspicion and rejection and other scandals throughout its history.
Today’s Gospel continues with the second part that contains the second apparition of Jesus which is equally important for us. On the first day when Jesus had come to them, one of the apostles, Thomas was missing from among them. When his companions tell him that they had seen the Lord and had eaten with him, he would not believe. He needed the real proof of the wounds nails on his hands and feet and the wound in Jesus’ side. The disciples knowing Thomas leave him alone. During next appearance, Jesus calls Thomas forward and shows himself. The reaction of Thomas is the word of Faith which we repeat so often, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas is called to believe in Jesus. Ironically, too, it is an act of faith not merely for Thomas but for all. It was not Thomas who was doubtful and without faith. In fact he was the man of faith and not the rest of them. He only said if Jesus is raised and is alive, then why are you hiding? You should go out to the main streets and proclaim. The way you are hiding does not make me believe that he is alive.
Three things are focused today
1. Just like the disciples in the first reading we are called to become solace to the people around us. Today we are focusing on the feast of Divine Mercy. More people are added to the community. Is our life attractive to people today?
2. The suffering of the people has an answer today as mentioned in the second reading. Jesus has suffered now is now raised from the dead as he had promised. God can comfort us. Do I believe this?
3. The apostle Thomas becomes a model for us to reflect on our christen commitment profession of faith. We know that he was insistent on encountering Christ. God comes and gives peace to the troubled hearty.
We are called to renew our commitment as Christians who live on the resurrection experience and be merciful to the others. The mass enables us to enlighten and strengthen us to be another Christ today.

Happy Easter - April 4 2010

2010-04-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday
A few minutes before the services started, the townspeople were sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, Satan, devil appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from evil incarnate.
Soon everyone had exited the church except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, seeming oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy was in his presence. So Satan walked up to the old man and said, "Don't you know who I am?"
The man replied, "Yep, sure do."
"Aren't you afraid of me?" Satan asked.
"Nope, sure ain't," said the man.
"Don't you realize I can kill you with a word?" asked Satan.
"Don't doubt it for a minute," returned the old man, in an even tone.
"Did you know that I could cause you profound, horrifying, physical AGONY... for all eternity?" persisted Satan.
"Yep," was the calm reply.
"And you're still not afraid?" asked Satan.
"Nope."
More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, "Well, why aren't you afraid of me?"
The man calmly replied, "Been married to your sister for the last 48 years."
Don’t be afraid for Jesus is Risen!
The feast of Easter is the confirmation of our faith. Our faith is deeply rooted and finds its real meaning in the resurrection of Jesus. St Paul says that, if Christ is not raised, then all our believing is in vain. Hence our faith tells us that Good Friday and the death of Jesus is not the climax of Holy Week. It is only a path in the achievement of the final resurrection. The cross was the high point of Jesus’ gift of himself to the father for our sakes and the Father returns the gift of resurrected Jesus to us. Accordingly today’s mass invites us with the invitation to proclaim the good news and be witnesses to the risen lord.
We find a similar theme in both of the Second Readings and the Gospel. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul tells us that if we have been raised with Christ, we must seek the things that are from above where Christ dwells in Heaven. We should set our minds on spiritual things, not on worldly things.
The cover of the April 8, 1966 issue of The Time did not have pictures of any personalities or world events. It had only three words printed on it: Is God Dead? As early as the Oct 22, 1965 issue, Time had printed an article on the “death-of-God theologians.” Among them was Thomas J.J Altizer, an associate professor of religion at Atlanta’s Emory University who wrote, “We must recognize that the death of God is a historical event: God has died in our time, in our history, in our existence.” What compounded the issue was the discovery in December 1945 of fifty-two Coptic extra Biblical texts at Nag Hammadi in Egypt. These documents were translated into English by 1970. These texts presented the life, death and resurrection of Jesus rather differently than the traditional gospels. The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Peter, The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, The Gospel of Judas and other extra-biblical literature do not take the resurrection of Jesus for granted. Fictional accounts of Jesus’ life like the Da Vinci Code, and the more recent documentary on the tomb of Jesus by Hollywood director James Cameron only add fuel to the fire. If what the above scholars, archaeologists, and film-makers propose is true, then this morning we are wasting our time; my homily is empty rhetoric and this Eucharist an empty ritual. I too have paused at times and asked myself the question, “What if Jesus did not rise from the dead?” But when I weigh the evidence, my doubts vanish. Because, even after 2000 years, in the city of Lima, a community has come together this morning precisely because they believe that Jesus is risen. I do not need an evidence of the resurrection. We are the evidence of the resurrection. Moreover, the faith of this community is supported by those who have laid down their lives to witness to the truth of the resurrection. Tens of thousands of people over the centuries have made heroic sacrifices, and have chosen asceticism, missionary work, suffering, foreign lands, persecution, suffering and even death to bear witness to Christ. People do not do such things for a lie – not for 2000 years. The fact that the Church has not only survived through dark times and leaders, but that it has produced holy men and women like Perpetua, Felicity, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, self-sacrificing heroes like Thomas Moore, Maxmillian Kolbe, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Sister Dorothy Stang and Mother Teresa, is a witness to the power of the resurrection. In faith, then, with two billion Christians all over the world, this Easter morning we recall the resurrection of Jesus.

The scripture readings recount to us the many appearances of Jesus after his resurrection. And there are common strands in each of these readings. For example, first, Before the actual encounter with the risen Jesus, there is such hopelessness in their lives. The three women who came early to the tomb early and their primary question was, “who will roll back the stone?” Mary Magdalene in the gospel according to John is in despair because she cannot find the body of Jesus. The disciples on the road to Emmaus looked downcast. This is where most of the extra-biblical literature end. How tragic! But in the gospels, that is only part of the story. After pain, suffering and death comes the “good news.” Jesus is Risen! Gloom gives way to excitement, despair to hope, death to life. He is alive! Alleluia! Second, some disciples greeted the news about the resurrection of Jesus with some scepticism. In the gospel of Mark, the risen Jesus rebukes the disciples for their unbelief. Thomas refused to believe till he touched Jesus. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus had to eat a piece of baked fish to prove that he was not just a ghost. The initial scepticism gave way to undaunted faith. Once the disciples believed they became powerful witnesses of Jesus.

Three things for us to think about

1. One of my students in religion class expressed his difficulty with the resurrection. He said, “How can a dead person come back to life?” And I said, because human beings cannot kill God. They killed God’s human form. In the 19th century the philosopher Nietchze said, “God is Dead.” But God is eternal. The followers of the “death- of-God” philosophers and theologians are like spoilt children throwing pebbles on the Sun hoping to douse its flames. Human beings cannot kill the source and fountain of life.

2. By trying to kill God, human beings tried to make God a part of our story. We wanted to drag God into the muck of sin and misery. But Easter is a celebration of a God who makes us part of God’s story. We celebrate the fact that we do have to look forward to death. We look forward to life. If we really understood the implication of the resurrection of Jesus, we would go on our knees and worship the risen Jesus. This Eucharist provides us with that opportunity. Through this Eucharist we thank God for making us a part of God’s eternal life.

3. But the implication of Easter is not merely in the future. God calls us to live our present life not as if Christ was betrayed, or dead. Like the disciples, we are called to live with the conviction that God is alive. We are, then, an Alleluia people! We set aside the culture of death and embrace the culture of life. We fly the banner of love, peace, justice, compassion, forgiveness, fidelity and hope. This is best way to bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus.
Today on Easter Day let us thank God for the gift of the risen Jesus given once again to us. The Resurrected Jesus gives his message of peace to all the disciples every time he meets them and begins to teach them. This same message is given to us today as we celebrate his rising from the dead. We pray that this peace will remain in our hearts always to make us his messengers in the world of today.

Palm sunday 28 March, 2010

2010-03-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

Palm Sunday – 28, March 2010

A young woman went to her doctor complaining of pain.
"Where are you hurting?" asked the doctor.
"You have to help me, I hurt all over", said the woman.
"What do you mean, all over?" asked the doctor, "be a little more specific."

The woman touched her right knee with her index finger and yelled, "Ow, that hurts." Then she touched her left cheek and again yelled, "Ouch! That hurts, too." Then she touched her right earlobe, "Ow, even THAT hurts", she cried.

The doctor checked her thoughtfully for a moment and told her his diagnosis, "You have a broken finger." She had suffering but we know that it is imaginative.
We have sufferings, pain and difficulties
We know from the media that the political climate in the country is very charged right now. Republicans and Democrats have been trading charges as each other over a number of issues. A growing number of people are expressing disgust at the low standards of the political establishment. Some people say this is the lowest it has ever gotten. In the midst of all this, we remember that two high profile members from opposite political parties made significant announcements. John Edwards announced that his wife’s cancer had returned t. A week later, Tony Snow, the White House spokesperson announced that his colon cancer had returned. God, goodness, heroism, evil, cancer, sickness, pain and death, do not differentiate a Democrat from a Republican, or for that matter an Indian from an American. We are all human beings and subject to the same human condition. Human beings have strived for centuries, to avoid the exigencies of the human condition. They have sought to avoid suffering and become immortal. However, we also know that enormous amount of wealth cannot prevent physical and emotional pain from tormenting us; the best anti-aging creams cannot stop us from aging; and even our foremost medical technology cannot stop us from ultimate death. No wonder, then, that when it comes to matters of life and death, like the Edwards and the Snows, we all turn to the same God. As we enter Holy Week, we are entering into a week that dramatizes the stark realities of the human condition. Within the Jesus story we find intrigue, malice, prejudice, hatred, betrayal, bribery, corruption, and bloody murder. Intertwined in this sad story is the life of a man who took the consequences of human sin upon himself and transformed it into love, forgiveness, peace and eternal life. He did so by becoming the “suffering servant” of God – a concept introduced to us both in the first and second readings. By becoming the “suffering servant,” Jesus changed the very meaning of human life. Human quest for permanent happiness and eternal life can only be fulfilled in Jesus.

Both the first reading and second reading talk about the “suffering servant.” There are four “servant songs” in the book of Isaiah that talk about the ideal servant leader:
(a) Is 42:1-7; (b) 49: 1-6; (c) 50: 4-9; and (d) 52:13 – 53:12). The servant leader is specially chosen by God to bring God’s saving grace to his people. The suffering servant accomplishes this mission by taking upon himself the suffering of the very people he comes to redeem. Today’s first reading is taken from the third of these “servant songs.” Thus, in Isaiah 50:4, the Servant accepts God’s call to be the suffering servant when he says, “The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, I have not turned back.” But then in the very next verse (50:5), the servant talks about his own persecution at the hands of the very people he is serving: “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.” In spite of this irony, the servant puts his trust in God. Thus in 50:6, the servant confesses his trust in the Lord in these words: “The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.”

We identify Jesus as the “suffering servant” par excellence. In the second reading from the letter to the Philippians Jesus is presented as the suffering servant who “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2: 7-8). Because of this, Jesus has now become the salvation of all those who bend their knees at the name of Jesus (Phil 2:10).

I would like to draw three practical implications from today’s scripture.

1. The life of the suffering servant has much to teach us. We learn that evil is a part of the human condition. In some way, we all experience the consequences of the sinful human condition. We too experience the pain of betrayal, illness, age and death. But we also learn that there are things over which evil has no hold – the capacity within us to take all the evil we experience and smother it within us with the power of God. Like Christ, we have the choice to take in the evil in the world and transform it into good. Over that power, evil has no control. We do not have to return evil with evil. Instead, we can turn hate into love, resentment into forgiveness, betrayal into loyalty, death into life. This is the most powerful way of being Christ like in the world – taking all the pain we encounter and making it an opportunity for salvation.

2. Holy Week takes us to the climax of the story of Jesus. The story of Jesus is the story of the human redemption. Because of this, the story of every person must now be told in the light of the story of Jesus. There were many people who were part of the story of Jesus. On the one side there are those who choose evil. Those who deliberately conspired to kill an “innocent man” were evil. And then there were those who chose good. Joseph of Arimathea, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his friends who stood by Jesus. There were also those who stood in the middle – playing the political game: Pilate is a classical example. The stories of all these people are told differently, depending on how each one chose to relate to Christ. At the end of our life, our story too will only have meaning depending on how we fit into the story of Jesus. What does that story look like at the moment? The most cursed position to be is in the middle – like Pilate swaying in the wind. Holy week is a time to take a stand with Christ and live up to our baptismal commitment to Christ. In this is our salvation.

3. This coming week unravels the mystery of the sinful human condition. But it also unravels the mystery of our salvation. This week is unlike any other week. My hope is that each one of us will fully enter into the depths of these mysteries. Salvation is not like fast food – it comes at a price. We cannot get to Easter without Holy Week. If we do, Easter will taste like fast food. Rather, reflect on the readings for each day of the Holy Week and spend time in prayer. Through penance we must unite ourselves with the suffering of Jesus. Please participate in the celebration of the Last Supper on Thursday; personalize the redeeming death of Jesus, the suffering servant, on Good Friday and keep Holy Saturday as a day of mourning and hopeful expectation. I am concerned that if our children do not live this story, then the story of Jesus will lose its hold over us. And once that happens, human life becomes hopeless.

Let our participation in this Eucharist be the beginning of our solemn participation in the life of Jesus. When in the Eucharist Jesus invites us to eat his body and drink his blood, he is inviting us into his story. And when we say, “Amen” we are inviting him into ours. Let Christ’s life and ours become one, especially during Holy Week. Amen.

5th Sunday of lent, March, 21 2010

2010-03-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

The theme that pervades through the readings is that God makes all things new
A church had a man in the choir who couldn't sing.
Several people hinted to him that he could serve in other places, but he continued to come to the choir.
The choir director became desperate and went to the pastor.
"You've got to get that man out of the choir," he said. "If you don't, I'm going to resign. The choir members are going to quit too. Please do something."
So the pastor went to the man and suggested, "Perhaps you should leave the choir."
"Why should I get out of the choir?" he asked.
"Well, five or six people have told me you can't sing."
That's nothing," the man snorted. "Fifty people have told me that you can't preach!"
Stubbornness of people
Look at the stubborn attitudes of Pharisees and scribes!
The scribes and Pharisees had no regard for the woman caught in adultery and brought her to the master. They were only interested in using her to try to trap Jesus. They had no regard for the fact that she may not have initiated the sin; she may have been led into it by their own men. But Jesus is full of compassion. Jesus handles delicately this serious offence. He challenges both the accused and the accusers: he calls on both to look deep into their hearts and examine them. Jesus has his final words to the woman “go away and don’t sin any more” and these words will never be forgotten till the end of times. Jesus transforms her into a new person. Jesus places a bigger challenge before the accusers. He asks them to consider their own actions and their own shortcomings. He tells them to look into themselves before passing any judgment on others. He bends down and writes into the mud or sand. No one knows what Jesus wrote on the ground but some people suspect Jesus wrote the sins of the scribes and Pharisees. Notice also that it was the eldest who went away first. Perhaps the eldest had committed more sins; the persons who had lived longer had more to be sorry about in their own lives. Although Jesus has forgiven the woman her sin he expects her to live from now on a life of grace and union with God by not sinning any more. Jesus doesn’t say that sin does not matter because sin does matter and damages our relationship with God. He only tells her not to sin anymore and to change her life completely. He restores the woman again, in two ways. He restores her spiritually by forgiving her, telling her he did not condemn her, while also insisting that she not sin again, and he restores her to society by saving her life and grants her forgiveness. In this story, the Scribes and Pharisees are presented as sinners, perhaps worse sinners than the woman. Not in their own eyes, of course, but in the eyes of Jesus and his Gospel they are totally lacking in the virtue of compassion. Their intention was to trap Jesus and put him to shame and ultimately it is they who go away in shame. The Pharisees and the Scribes were persons proud and arrogant, and they sat in judgment on others. They had no idea how to love, how to forgive but only how to observe the Law externally. They do not love the people that God loves. However, there is another element in the story which is not explicitly mentioned but is strongly implied. The woman has been dragged before Jesus as a pawn in a game. They wanted to find fault with Jesus on the observance of the law and his application to human kindness. They tell him that Moses had ordered in the Law to condemn such women to death by stoning. What is the response of Jesus? They hoped to put the rabbi who ate and drank with sinners, on a collision course with the sacred traditions coming from Moses. They hoped to condemn him from his own mouth. But, if he agreed with Moses, he belied his own teaching and behavior with sinners; but, if he rejected the Law of Moses, he could be denounced and labeled as no man of God. Further, the Jews had no authority to pass death sentence on any one. If they did they were punishable before the Roman law and Jesus would be accused as a person breaking the law. Jesus knew the trap too well and refused to give them any answer. But his knowledge surpasses all human knowledge that tells of love and forgiveness and the nameless woman is the beneficiary. Once Jesus challenged them regarding their own sinfulness, they move away one by one and St John says very clearly, beginning with the eldest. They knew too well that they had to be honest regarding their sinfulness and they could not publicly accuse a person while they were sinful. Only person who could have thrown the stone at the woman was Jesus himself and being a kind person he would rather give forgiveness. Now only Jesus and the woman are left. Her accusers were all gone and the one person remaining is not going to accuse her. “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go away and do not sin anymore.” Unlike the Pharisees and Scribes, upholders of the Law, Jesus refuses to condemn her. Instead he gives her an opportunity to repent, to convert and change her ways. Jesus shows that he has come not to condemn but to save, to rehabilitate and to give new and enduring life. Now let us look at Jesus in this scene. First of all, Jesus does not deny the woman’s sin and before the law this was a grievous sin. Adultery involved an intimate sexual liaison between two people, at least one of whom is already married. It is a serious breach of trust in the marriage relationship and a serious act of injustice to the innocent partner in the marriage. The seriousness is really in this breach of trust and the injustice to one’s partner rather than the sexual activities, which, in this case, are secondary. The story does not tell us whether the woman was married or not. What is admitted by all – by Jesus, the Pharisees and the woman herself – is that she sinned. He is the one who forgives her and gives her a new life. In his wisdom, Jesus acts to restore every person in the story their sacred dignity. First of all, he claims his own dignity. He refuses to become a pawn in their hand or their plotting and scheming. Secondly, he restores the dignity of his enemies. Instead of allowing them to taint their hands with blood, he leads them to introspection. Not a single person threw a single stone. Jesus keeps the possibility of conversion open for them. Thirdly, he takes this violated, abused and battered woman and restores her to God given dignity. “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and do not sin again.” Here was God, restoring a weak, sinful, abused woman her human dignity. And then he encourages her to value her own sense of worth by not sinning again. The Eucharist is an expression and experience of God’s mercy and love.

4th Week of lent, March 14, 2010 - Theme is sin and reconciliation

2010-03-12T07:45:00.000-08:00

An Irish priest, newly arrived in New York City, decided to visit the section known as the Bowery, haven for homeless alcoholics and addicts. As he walked along one of the Bowery’s streets one dark night he suddenly felt a gun at his back. A raspy voice said, “All right mister, give me all you money.” Quickly he reached for his wallet and, as he did, the holdup man noticed his clerical collar. The thief was overcome with shame. “Forgive me, father,” he said, “I didn’t know you were a priest.” To which the victim replied, “That’s all right man, just repent of your sin. Here have one of my cigars.” “Oh, no thank you, father,” said the thief, “I don’t smoke during Lent.”
The girl knelt in the confessional and said, "Bless me, Father,
for I have sinned."
"What is it, child?"
"Father, I have committed the sin of vanity. Twice a day I gaze at
myself in the mirror and tell myself how beautiful I am."
The priest turned, took a good look at the girl, and said, "My
dear, I have good news. That isn't a sin... it's simply a mistake."
The question arises here. What is the difference between sin and a mistake?
Sin is a deliberate act. This is an act with will and knowledge.
Mistake is something that just happens may be because of negligence and carelessness. . It is not a deliberate and willful act.
The story of the prodigal son is a wonderful explanation of what is sin and reconciliation. Let us take good look at the whole thing.

Sin –Seven stages of Sin
1. Self-will---v.11-- 'Father, give me my share of the estate.'
2. Selfishness—v. 13-- the younger son got together all he had,
3. Separation– v. 13.b - set off for a distant country
4. Sensuality– v. 13.c -- there squandered his wealth in wild living.
5. Starvation– v. 14 -- After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need
6. Surrendering one’ own dignity- v.15, -- So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
7. Slavery—v. 16-- He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything
Reconciliation -- seven stages of reconciliation
1. Re-sensing—v. 17 -back to one’s own sense-- When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death
2. Resolution– v. 18—I will set out and go back to my father and say to him:
3. Repentance—v. 18b-- Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you
4. Return------ v. 20-- So he got up and went to his father.
5. Re-union– v.20b -- But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him
6. Re-clothing--- v. 22-- 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet
7. Rejoice– v. 23-24, -- Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate
In a confession we have the encounter of ourselves and God’s forgiveness. The most beautiful line in the parable is what the father says to the elder son, “all I have is yours”. Our heavenly Father says also to us, “All I have is yours”. This is a most beautiful promise and stunning invitation. We are not told at the end of the parable whether or not the elder son went in to the party. After reading this parable we also have a choice to make, whether to stay outside or to go in to enjoy the Father’s party. But the best offer of happiness is from God our Father, “all I have is yours”. The Eucharist is a great sign of sharing God’s life with us and god’s forgiveness.

3rd Sunday of Lent, Becoming a new person through repentence

2010-03-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

3rd Sunday of Lent,

Exodus 3:1-8a,13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,1-12; Luke 13:1-9
Two Irish potatoes were sitting on a chopping board.
"I’m about to change my nationality" one said to the other
"How?" the other potato asked
"By becoming French fries!"
John D. Rockefeller built the great Standard Oil Empire. Not surprisingly, Rockefeller was a man who demanded high performance from his executives. One day, one of those executives made a two million dollar mistake. Word of the man’s enormous error quickly spread and all were scared to meet the boss. One man didn’t have any choice, however, since he had an appointment with the boss. So he straightened his shoulders and walked into Rockefeller’s office. As he approached Rockefeller’s desk, he looked up from the piece of paper on which he was writing. “I guess you’ve heard about the two million dollar mistake our friend made,” he said abruptly. “Yes,” the executive said, expecting Rockefeller to explode. “Well, I’ve been sitting here listing all of our friend’s good qualities, and I’ve discovered that in the past he has made us many more times the amount he lost for us today by his one mistake. His good points far outweigh this one human error. So I think we ought to forgive him, don’t you?”
Picture of becoming new and forgiving God
On this third Sunday of Lent, the church invites us to reflect on the urgency of repentance in an attempt to enhance our Christian lives. During this time of Lent there is great emphasis on examining our lives and changing for the better through repentance. There is an insistence on the necessity of a change or transformation of the heart. One of the recurrent themes throughout the Lenten season is the compassion and mercy of our God. It is something that we constantly need to be reminded about. Repentance entails the recognition of areas of unfaithfulness in our lives and being ready to make reparations. Repentance demands that we become honest to ourselves and recognize our unfruitfulness. Once we have accepted this change in our lives God has a ready mission for us. He wants us to fulfill his mission on earth. Thus today’s readings are directing us to take a good look at ourselves. In the parable in the Gospel of today, Jesus speaks of the tree which is alive but it bears no fruit. There is a demand that it should be cut down. The man responsible for the tree asks the owner to give it one more year to fulfill its purpose. If after that, there is still no fruit, it should be cut down. Moses in the Book of Exodus is told to forget his weaknesses and fright and go and perform the task of freeing people from slavery. Paul in the second reading tells us that we are all God’s people chosen ones and called upon to live purified lives for Christ.
While reflecting on today’s First Reading taken from the Book of Exodus, we hear of the concern of God towards his people in Egypt. He sees the headships of his chosen people and observes their misery. He had heard their cries on account of their taskmasters and takes initiative to liberate them from the Egyptian masters. At the same time the passage narrates the wonderful experience of Moses at the Burning Bush. When Moses encountered God in the burning bush he was just an ordinary shepherd caring his father in law’s sheep. He had run away from Egypt and he was very conscious of his own shortcomings. He had no great gift to talk about God or any one for he had a speech defect. Moses had his own way of life, plans, preferences and ideas that determined his course of action. But once he confronted God he never hesitated to respond to his call. God places before him the fresh situation of Egypt and that He is fully aware of the untold suffering of His people. God wants him to go and now being touched by God Moses is more than ready to help them. God revealed to Moses in the burning bush as he reveals to us even today. He told him to go to his people whom he cares so much. God already shows him his power in the fire, fire that burns and not consumes. Fire is the image of God and expresses his divine presence. Our “burning bushes” could be the poor needing our help, the sick and prisoners needing our visitation. This is how God makes use of his instruments to prepare them for their mission.
The Second Reading taken from the First Letter to the Corinthians provides us with more information about God’s people; we learn that God did free His people from slavery. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food in the desert. They all drank the same spiritual drink which God gave them. But, even though they were God’s people, he was not pleased with most of them for their behavior. He struck them down in the wilderness, tested them and they remained there for forty years. These things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. And we should not complain about this righteousness of God. Those who complained in the days of Moses, they were destroyed by the Destroyer. As St. Paul said, these things happened to serve as a lesson. And they were written down to instruct us. So he admonishes them, if we think we are standing, we better watch out that we do not fall.
In today’s Gospel, some people approach Jesus and tell him of how some Galileans had been killed by Roman soldiers in the Temple sanctuary. It was said that Pilate had built the much needed aqueducts in Jerusalem using the Temple money. The Galileans were angry at this and they protested. Pilate sent the soldiers to mingle among them during the festival and had them killed for their revolt. Jesus seems to be aware of the tragedy. History, of course, says nothing of Pilate’s act here mentioned. Pilate’s rule was marked by cruelty toward Jews, and contempt for their religious views and rites. Now Jesus responds by taking another track altogether. Instead, he mentions another incident, apparently a pure accident when a building fell on some purely innocent people and killed many. Jesus asks his questioners whether it is their sin that brought the innocent people to death. He indeed wants us to think of the many accidents that take place daily. He wants to clear the common belief that such events are acts of punishment by God. Perhaps even more frequently one meets people who ask why a loving God does not prevent such things happening.
The response of Jesus is built around the event, where people are taken away by sudden death. Of this instance, namely the tower of Siloam also, there is no other historic mention. It too was a small incident among the accidents of the day. Towers that are built for safety often prove to be men’s destruction. Jesus cautioned his hearers not to blame great sufferers, as if they were therefore to be considered great sinners. When on earth no place or employment can be considered secure from the stroke of death, we should consider the sudden removal of others as warnings to ourselves. On these accounts Christ founded a call to repentance. The same Jesus bids us to repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; or again he bids us repent, for otherwise we shall perish. This also brings to our mind the problem of suffering why God allows people to suffer. Jesus answers: “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” He calls on them to be always ready to face God and face the eventualities of life. The point is clear. Tragedies occur, whether intentionally by oppressive governors such as Pilate or accidentally by imperfections in the kind of world we live in. In neither case must one conclude that tragedies are necessarily an indication of divine judgment against sinners. Rather, in view of the uncertainty of life and the unpredictability of the future one must be warned to examine one’s own life and repent in order to be perfect before the Lord.
The Gospel Reading mentions of parable of Jesus about the fig tree. This parable immediately follows after Jesus explained that sin is offensive to God, that it deserves severe punishment. Sin is understood as missing the mark and a negation of his presence. In the parable that Jesus told, a man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. When the man went to look at it for a fruit, he found none on it. The tree had now been without fruit for three consecutive years. Finally, tired of that useless tree, the man told the gardener to cut it down. Upon hearing this, the gardener asked the owner to patiently wait another year during which time he would dig around the tree and put manure on it in the hope that it would bear fruit. If that helps after one year and there are fruits on it, good; if not, then it should be cut down. The fig tree was a favorite tree of the Jews. It was a tree of peace where a happy Jew sat for his regular prayers. Here is the fig tree that had taken so much of nourishment from the soil. At the same time there is not much arable land in Israel. So the fig tree had to justify its existence.
In the parable the master had already waited for three years and the gardener asks for another year where it would receive extra care. The fig tree reminds us of two kinds of human persons, those who give and those who take. Those who give symbolize the sacrifice they make and fulfill the purpose of their existence. They give what they have without holding back anything for themselves and this is in generosity. Those who only take have to justify their existence. They have to fulfill their purpose of existence. To accept Christ’s message is to be open for conversion and change of heart. It invites the person to bear fruit and fulfill the purpose for which it has been created, namely to give. Repentance or Conversion means to respond to God’s care for us, to devote ourselves to a life of vigilance day in and day out and constantly renew our cooperation with God’s grace. In cooperating we must be confident as to what we ought to do and how generously we have to perform. The unpredictability of the end and the urgent need for preparedness is a theme of today’s Gospel. Jesus’ reply would have shocked all. One would expect that Jesus would at least lash out against Pilate and call down curses on such a cruel man. But no such venomous vindictiveness is pronounced against Pilate. Instead he tells the reporters: “unless you repent, you will all perish.” They themselves are in need of repentance, implying that Jesus is more concerned about the renewal of the hatred and a vengeful attitude.
During this season of lent we ask the grace to live in a continual spirit of renewal and repentance. Repentance demands that we become honest to ourselves and recognize our unfruitfulness and change ourselves to bear the right fruit for God. Moses was asked to change his view and do his mission. Each fig tree is expected to bear fruit that represent the good works and virtues of those who help to build the Body of Christ. Each must answer his calling according to where he has been sent by God. The fig tree is called upon to be generous in the fulfillment of the mission. We have to recognize our nothingness before God and be ready to receive him during this season of lent. It is only after such a serious reflection that we shall have that remorse for our failures. Let us ask ourselves, whether God is using this Lenten Season to shower his abundant graces upon us through Jesus Christ so we will repent and transform our lives.

Discovery and revelation of who Jesus and the disciples are, Second Sunday in lent – February 28, 2010

2010-02-26T07:27:00.000-08:00

Second Sunday in lent – February 28, 2010
Discovery and revelation of who Jesus and the disciples are.

A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, "Boys and girls, what do we know about God?" A hand shot up in the air. "He is an artist!" said the kindergarten boy. "Really? How do you know?" the teacher asked. "You know - Our Father, who does art in Heaven...

Yes, it is a discovery and revelation for the child and teacher! A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and worked east from there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign which read: "$5,000 a minute." Seeking out the Pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The Pastor answered that the golden phone was, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he paid the price he could talk directly to God. The man thanked the Pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, San Diego, Greensboro, Tampa, Chicago and all around the United States, he found more phones with the same sign with the same answer from each Pastor. Finally, he arrived in Texas. Upon entering a church in Dallas, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read: "Calls: 50 cents." Fascinated, he asked to talk to the Pastor. "Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone. I have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but, in the other churches the cost was $5,000 a minute. Your sign reads 35 cents. Why?" The Pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son, you're in Texas now . . . it's a local call." The Heaven and God are here! It is a discovery and revelation.

The Hollywood film-maker James Cameron claims that archaeologists have discovered the tomb of Jesus. According to the documentary to be aired on Discovery channel, Jesus had a son named Judas and was buried alongside Mary Magdalene. Hollywood just cannot think beyond boy meets girl plots. Can it? One of my friends told me, she had met a man, who has lost his “faith” because of the discovery. If a Hollywood documentary can destroy someone’s faith, then I think that there was not much “faith” there in the first place.

A discovery and a revelation!

On this the second Sunday, in lent we reflect on the transfiguration of Jesus. For the disciples the transfiguration was a discovery and revelation too. It was a discovery that revealed to them, first, who Jesus was, and second, who they were.

From a human perspective, although the transfiguration seems like a super natural experience it really exposes the human existence of Jesus. For example, the small detail that “Jesus took Peter, James and John and went up the mountain to pray,” is a very important piece of information. We can speculate, then, that Jesus had no idea about what was going to happen on the mountain. “While he was praying,” Luke says again, Jesus was transfigured. We get a glimpse of the human Jesus spending time in intense prayer.

There are other details that are important. Among all the holy people of the Old Testament, it was Moses and Elijah who appeared to Jesus. Luke even gives us details of the conversation – it was about “the exodus he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” Just like Moses led the exodus of his people from slavery to freedom, and just like the blood of the lamb saved them from death, Jesus would lead his people from eternal death to eternal life. The only difference was that Jesus himself would be the sacrificial lamb. And that is why, immediately after the transfiguration Jesus predicts his death to his disciples.

Toward the end, from the clouds came a voice that said, “This is my beloved son…” As human beings we know that a little bit of love can work miracles. The task ahead for Jesus was in some ways inhuman and in other ways superhuman. The sin of the whole world since time began was going to be laid on His shoulders. Only His Father’s love could carry him through; “This is my “beloved” Son…”

These details, once again, reveal the human side of Jesus. Like any other human person who takes life seriously or wants to live life meaningfully, Jesus spends time in prayer seeking God’s will. And it was in prayer that Jesus’ mission was revealed to him. In the confirmation from the Father, Jesus finds the strength to “accomplish” his mission. “Accomplish” in this context meant the death and resurrection. On the cross Jesus would say, “It is accomplished.”

The transfiguration is also important from the perspective of the Peter, James, and John. These three would later become the pillars of the church in Jerusalem. The fate that awaited Jesus, awaited them as well. It was important for them to see the human Jesus’ divine identity. The voice asked them to “listen to him.” Listening is more than a function of the ear; it implies a close following of Jesus, his words and his life example.

All in all, the intensity of Jesus’ experience at the transfiguration is proportional to the intensity of the task ahead.

Three practical implications:

1. Our one time existence on the earth is a very fragile experience. The most delicate task we must “accomplish” is to discover the purpose of our life. The lesson that Jesus teaches us is that we can only discover the purpose of our life in our relationship with God – in prayer. If Jesus needed to pray, how much more do you and I need to pray. Lent is a time set aside for this purpose. If we have not discovered that prayer is the most important thing in our life – today, God is inviting us into a deep relationship with him.

2. At the end of the transfiguration, the disciples who are mere human beings want to stay up on the top of the mountain; Jesus, who is divine, on the other hand, resolves to go down. Our prayer must be lived in the world not on the top of a mountain. The world is where the rubber hits the road. The world is where our faith is tested, lived, strengthened.

3. The transfiguration of Jesus helped the disciples to fix their vision on eternity. The crucial question for us is this – On the day that we die, like Christ, can we say to God, “It is accomplished!” And on the day that we die, will God say to us, “This is my beloved son/daughter.” I personally believe that if I cannot hear God say that to me, then I have wasted my entire life.

My dear friends, every Eucharist is a transfiguration experience. At every Eucharist, bread and wine is transformed into the body and blood of Jesus. Let us allow the transfigured Jesus to transform us. Amen.

21 February 2010, First week of Lent

2010-02-25T07:01:00.000-08:00

A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. Then he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 10 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. Forgive us our trespasses."
When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note "I've circled this block for 10 years. If I don't give you a ticket I'll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation."
Three temptations
1. Wealth
2. Name and fame
3. Power and glory

How can we overcome?

1. By prayer
2. By the word of God
3. Self -Realization

A father was approached by his small son who told him proudly, "I know what the Bible means!" His father smiled and replied , "What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means? " The son replied, "I do know!" "Okay," said his father. "So, Son, what does the Bible mean?" "That's easy, Daddy. It stands for 'Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.'"

Our Lives in Order" First Sunday in Lent

A priest and a rabbi were traveling on a plane. After a while the priest turned to the rabbi and asked, 'Is it still a requirement of your faith that you not eat pork?'

The rabbi responded, 'Yes, that is still one of our beliefs'. The priest then asked, 'Have you ever eaten pork?' To which the rabbi replied, 'Yes, on one occasion I did succumb and tasted pork.'

The priest nodded in understanding and went back to his reading. After a while the rabbi asked the priest, 'Father is it still a requirement of your faith that you remain celibate?'

The priest replied, 'Yes that is still very much a part of our faith.'

The rabbi then asked him, 'Father, have you ever fallen to the temptation of the flesh?'

The priest replied, 'Yes, rabbi, on one occasion I was weak and broke with my faith.'

The rabbi nodded understandingly for a moment and then said, 'A lot better than pork isn't it?'

4. By prayer
5. By the word of God
6. Self -Realization

I heard a rather amusing news clip on national public radio months back. The news clip talked about appropriate ways of addressing a dog. For example, the newsreader suggested that a dog should not be called a dog but rather an American canine. She also suggested a dog cannot be called a pet, but rather, an American canine companion. Moreover, if you happen to own a dog, you cannot call yourself a dog owner, but rather, a guardian. I admit that a dog is a very noble animal. However, history is the witness to situations when dogs were and are treated like human beings and human beings were and are treated like animals. Without offence to animal lovers, I believe that something is wrong with that picture. I have used this example of the dog to really try and comprehend St. Augustine’s understanding of the human person. His ideas will help us understand today’s readings better. For Augustine, the human person is created in the image of God. For Augustine, image of God did not mean the persons’ external appearance, but rather, his/her rationality. As rational beings, made in the image and likeness of God, human beings are to value and desire things in a certain ascending order: at the lowest rung are inanimate objects, then animals, then human beings, then angels and above all of these is God. Destroying this order leads to the destruction of the image of God in which a human person is created.

In many ways, this is what God is saying to us in the first reading. Moses instructs the people of the manner in which they are to celebrate the “Feast of the first fruits.” The Israelites are to remember their suffering in Egypt, God’s intervention on their behalf, and then offer the first fruits of the harvest to God. The first fruits, the best is to go to God. And why? Because human beings are to value and desire things in a certain order. They cannot eat the first fruit because that would mean they have changed the order and loved themselves more than God. They cannot feed the first fruits to the animals because then they would have changed the order and loved animals more than God and themselves. Changing of the order in which a human being loves things can have debilitating spiritual and psychological effects. A human person loses the image of God.

Considered in this way, the gospel reading makes so much sense. Jesus is the Son of God. He knows the order in which to desire and value things. However, Satan’s tempts Jesus to change the order in which Jesus values and desires things. As Jesus spend the forty days in prayer and fasting, in his weakest moment Satan tempts Jesus to change a stone into bread. If Jesus gave in it would mean that he would have loved an inanimate thing more than God. And so Jesus says, “One does not live on bread alone.” Satan tries harder. He shows the entire creation to Jesus and says that it would his if he worshipped the devil. Once again, Jesus does not give in. If he did he would have loved the creature above the Creator. So he says, “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” Satan offers Jesus the greatest temptation – to love himself above God. “Throw yourself down”, he says, “for God’s angels will protect you.” If Jesus did give in, it would mean that he would be testing God, and putting himself above God.” The reading says, “The devil departed for him for the time,” only to return at the Garden of Gethsemane. But Jesus says, ‘Father YOUR will be done, not mine.” The devil returned again at the crucifixion. He said, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” And Jesus said, “Father in YOUR hand I commend my spirit.” If Jesus has given into any one of temptations, he would have changed the order in which to value and desire things. And that would be the end of our salvation.

Let me offer three practical implications for today

1. Today’s readings make us look at the various ‘isms’ in a new light. Materialism and consumerism are human desires out of order. Things become more important than God and people, especially, the poor. Individualism is human desire that loves the self more than God and others. Atheism is human desire throwing God out of the order. One simple example of is what some of my children tell me class; that they could not go to Church because dad said that he was too busy. When is it that human beings work so much that they do not even have time to worship God one hour on a Sunday? Is that a question of being busy or has the person got their order in which to desire things mixed up?

2. Living our lives in the order that God wants us to live is not merely about rejecting evil things like lies, gossip, hatred, grudge, jealous feelings, marital infidelity, pornography, covetousness, selfishness, greed, etc. All these things indicate the destruction of the order in which God wants us to desire and value things. But if we follow Jesus’ example, we have to replace them with things that are holy. Jesus confronted Satan with the Scriptures. Jesus was able to resist Satan’s temptations because he had replaced his human capacity to sin with godly things. This Lent, don't just give up things but also give in. Give up sin and give into virtue. For example, this Lent I have decided to replace the resentment I have against some people and replace it with prayer on their behalf.

3. For the longest time, Augustine lived a life where the order in which he loved and desired things was all messed up. He sought peace in everything but God, and found it in nothing but God. When he did get things right he would say, “Our hearts are restless O God, until they rest in thee.” This is because, unless the heart of a human person loves God above all things, he/she can never be in peace. Lent is here and I wonder if you have thought how you are going to make this lent meaningful. I hope we don’t caught up in childish things, like giving up chocolates and coffee and carbohydrates or ice cream. Moses asks his people of offer the first fruits. Jesus teaches the right order win which to values and desire things. And I hope we will really focus on ordering our lives.

Christ, whom we worship in this Eucharist, gave up his life in order to keep his life in God’s order. Love of his Father, love for each of us, the need to save us, made him break his body and pour out his blood. This Eucharist is the celebration of our victory because of Christ. May we follow his example in our lives! Amen.

2010-02-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

Roger, who was 19 years old, was buying an expensive bracelet, to surprise his girlfriend on Valentine's Day, at a very smart Jeweler’s shop.
The jeweler inquired, 'Would you like your girlfriend's name engraved on it?'
Roger thought for a moment, then answered, 'No, instead engrave "To my one and only love".'
The jeweller smiled and said, 'Yes, sir; how very romantic of you.'
Roger retorted with a glint in his eye, 'Not exactly romantic, but very practical. This way, if we break up, I can use it again.'In the first reading we encounter Prophet Jeremiah in his difficult times. Prophet Jeremiah served God as a prophet during the troubling final years of the kingdom. He was persistent in presenting the word of God to the people and to the royal household and was constantly rebuffed. The outcome of it is seen in the writing where the Babylon has won its victory and the royal persons are imprisoned. Jeremiah makes sufficient effort to motivate people in the right direction as we heard in today’s passage. This was the time when many believed that the best chance for survival they have is build a fresh alliance with Egypt. The prophet discourages this move and warns them that trusting in human persons is disastrous to the kingdom itself. He compares this bad policy to the barren bush in the desert. It is surrounded by salt and emptiness. The nations outside can never be a help. On the other hand trusting in God is something beneficial to them. The prophet compares this outcome to that of a tree that exists beside the steady water supply. Even in harsh conditions it will survive. Below the surface its root goes deep below into the source of water. That is what happens when one trusts in God.
Jeremiah contrasts the blighted state of those who trust in human devices with the blessed state of those who trust in the Lord. For the Israelites the images of running water, lush greenery and abundance of fruits express the blessings from God as they experienced it in the desert. The words of Jesus show how startling the Gospel message can be. In fact it is just the opposite of the wisdom pervading our consumer society. Woe, says Jesus to the rich, the satisfied, those financially secure and blessing to those poor, suffering and the hungry. How can this be real? On reflection we see that material satisfaction can isolate us but a lack of it can take us beyond ourselves. Our poverty, hunger sorrow can lead us to greater riches as it takes us close to the divine.
Here is the way of life Jesus proposes –
a) Love your enemies.
b) Do good to those who hate you.
c) Bless those who curse you.
d) Pray for those who mistreat you.
e) Give to everyone who asks.
f) Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
g) Lend without expecting anything back .
h) Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.
i) Stop judging.
j) Stop condemning.
k) Forgive and you will be forgiven.
l) Give and gifts will be given back to you.

32nd Sunday. November 8 2009- Commitment and toal self-giving

2009-11-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

32nd Sunday – November 8th 2009:- Commitment and total self- giving
A pig and a chicken were walking by a church where a gala charity event was taking place. Getting caught up in the spirit, the pig suggested to the chicken that they each make a contribution.
"Great idea!" the chicken cried. "Let's offer them ham and eggs?"
"Not so fast," said the pig. "For you, that's a contribution. For me, it's a total commitment."It is a sacrifice; I need to lay down my life for them.
Commitment is the theme for today’s reflection. We see people committed for various tasks. In today’s readings we have examples of commitment to God and sharing the whole life with God and others.
The First Reading taken from the First Book of Kings narrates a touching story of a widow during the time of Israel’s famine and she places her trust in God and the prophet. She has her son who depends on her and trusts her. Reduced to absolute poverty, she is on her way to get firewood to cook a last meal for them both from a little meal and oil. She sees nothing but death before them. Then Elijah, the prophet, himself hungry, comes and asks her for water and bread. When she tells him her situation, he still asks her to make a small cake for him. In a generous act of sharing, she does so and she is rewarded by their being enough for all three of them and the jar of meal and the jug of oil does not empty until the drought is over. The message from the first reading for us is very clear that whenever we give to the other generously we get back more than we give. It tells us of the power of God who takes care of the weakest and those who place their trust in him.
Today’s Second Reading tells us that Jesus died once for all time and for all people when He made His perfect sacrifice to remove sin. In his sacrifice Jesus sheds his blood for the salvation of the world. When Jesus comes in his glory he will bring salvation to all those who wait for him that they may live fully in him. The living is those who shine as lights in the world, those who shine in love towards God and their brothers and sisters. It is a great sign of Jesus’ commitment to us and to God. There is a total self giving in his great act of sacrifice on the cross.
In the Gospel Jesus praised the poor widow who dropped two small coins in the treasury box of the Temple because she gave all she had. An interesting point we ought to note is that the treasury was actually called a trumpet. This is because it was constructed in the form of a trumpet as if to blow the horn. When the coins were dropped it made a loud noise and all came to know of the contribution a person had made to the Temple. God loves a cheerful giver, the one who is willing to part with things without any hesitation. Compassion and care for others surely prompt our own giving. The point made by Jesus is that the value of a gift is not necessarily assessed by its quantity. What is important is the heart of the giver which is self sacrificing. The widow gives out of her poverty and not out of her wealth. Perhaps like the scribes our giving may sometimes be tinged with a need for recognition or affirmation. Contributing to charitable works is important, but we can also be generous in sharing ourselves in a simple way. We reach out to those in need and giving the little we can share with others.
God always rewards those who persevere in their living faith. No one goes by unnoticed. If a person is proud, he will be noticed; if he is humble, he will also be noticed. If a person is humble like the poor widow whose name no one knows, God will notice him and raise him and reward him according to his sacrifice. The Lord Jesus, when He sacrificed Himself on the Holy Cross for our sins, He knew the will of God. All three, two widows and Jesus the high priest embraced a spiritual mind and did what was good, acceptable and perfect in the eyes of God.
Three practical applications:
1. God blesses and rewards the cheerful givers as we see in the first story of the first reading.
2. Our participation in the life of the high priest, Jesus through baptism need to remind us of the great love of God.
3. Jesus appreciates the real value of a gift not in terms of its quantity but with what an attitude and heart we give.
This Eucharist is an encounter and participation in the sacrifice of Jesus. May we be strengthened to continue the mission of Christ!

31st Sunday November 1st 2009 : beatitudes

2009-10-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

Beatitudes: Recently I was reading a book in which I came across the 9th beatitude, “Blessed are those who dream for they will be the creators of the kingdom of God today. I was very happy when I read this because I dream a lot. Instances of some dreams for any people
I continued reading then I understood that it is not just dreams but dream about God and His love, for they will become the creators of heaven.
In today’s gospel Jesus focuses on the qualities, he wishes to see in his disciples, qualities that are exemplified in the lives of the saints. A glance at the beatitudes shows that they are a complete reversal of conventional values and standards.
1. The worldly wisdom says “Blessed are the rich for they can have everything they want.” But Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” By ‘poor in spirit’ Jesus means blessed are those who put their trust in God rather than in money.
2. The world says, “Blessed are those who live it up” But Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” It is only those who are capable of loving who are capable of true mourning. To open one’s heart is to begin to live.
3. The world says, “Blessed are those who are tough.” But Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are gentle.” Gentleness is not weakness as many think, but a form of true strength.
4. The world says “Blessed are those who hunger for power, status and fame.” But Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger for justice and what is right.” To live rightly is what life is all about.
5. The world says, “Blessed are those who show no mercy and give no quarter.” But Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful.” Happy are we who make allowances for the weaknesses of others, and whose greatness is in their ability to forgive.
6. The world says, “Happy are those who have clean fingernails, clean teeth and clean skin!” But Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have clean hearts.” If the heart is clean then all that flows from it will be clean.
7. The world says, blessed are the fighters and the bullies.” But Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Happy are those who spread understanding and bring reconciliation where there is conflict, they are true children of God.
8. The world says, “Blessed are those who lie and cheat and get away with it.” But Jesus says, “Blessed are those who make a stand for what is right, no matter what the cost.” The wounds they bear will be honorable wounds.
Conclusion: The beatitudes then are the mark of a true disciple of Jesus; they are the standards by which we measure holiness. The beatitudes are ultimately the attitudes of Christ and the saints which all of are meant to have in our daily life
a. The first beatitude: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.
b. The second beatitude: Blessed are they who Mourn
c. The third beatitude: Blessed are the Meek.
d. The fourth beatitude: Blessed are they who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
e. The fifth beatitude: Blessed the Merciful for they will obtain Mercy.
f. The sixth beatitude: Blessed are the Clean of Heart
g. The seventh beatitude: Blessed are the Peacemakers
h. The eighth beatitude: Blessed are They who are Persecuted

30th Sunday October 25 2009-- Master, let me see again

2009-10-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

30th Sunday, October 25 2009- Master, Let me see again
One day, a blind man and his dog are walking down a street; they come to a busy intersection, and the dog, ignoring the high volume of traffic zooming by on the street, leads the blind man out into the thick of traffic. This is followed by the screech of tires and horns blaring as panicked drivers try desperately not to run the pair down.

The blind man and his dog finally reach the safety of the sidewalk on the other side of the street, and the blind man pulls a cookie out of his coat pocket, and offers it to the dog.
A passerby, having observed the near fatal incident, can't control his amazement and says to the blind man, "Why on earth are you rewarding your dog with a cookie? He nearly got you killed!" The blind man replies to him, "To find out where his head is, so I can give a kick on his ass." The blind man has a desire to teach the dog a lesson.
We see in today’s gospel another story of a blind man crying for help and thirsting for receiving sight.
It is actually the last miracle story recorded in Mark. It comes at the end of a long section where Jesus is forming his disciples. Jesus was already instructing them on the nature of the discipleship and his own identity. Throughout these narratives the disciples appear to be blind to who Jesus really was and what it means to accept the demands he makes of them.
Jesus indeed points out to the necessary abilities of the Christian disciple: to hear and understand the Word of God and to share the message with others. There is the two-stage healing of a blind man. This story clearly indicates the gradual opening of the disciples’ eyes as to the true identity and mission of Jesus. And the whole section ends with the healing of the blind man which is not merely coincidence. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. This has great significance for the miracle story to follow.
This miracle speaks of the discipleship and the meaning of spiritual blindness that was present in the disciples and the followers of Jesus. Let us look at the miracle story once more.
1. Story of Barthemeus Mk 10 / 46-52

a. detailed information
b. Very active role
c. Discipleship story
2. Look at what happens to Barthemeus before and after meeting Jesus
Before encountering Jesus -- After encountering Jesus
a. He was blind ------ He received sight
b. He was sitting ------ He followed Jesus
C. By the roadside ------- On the road
d. He was a beggar ------ He is a disciple
3. Today we have heard the persistent cry of the blind man of Jericho who said to Jesus, “My Teacher, let me see again.” This episode is a summary of the Christian’s life and pilgrimage. We need to examine what sort of blindness do I have? There are five types of blindness can affect us.
a. Physical Blindness- Caused by short sight, long sight or head ache or any other reason. There is a solution to this that one needs to wear the glasses or the spectacles or take medicine. This is not a big issue.
b. Social Blindness: To Put on blindness in our perception of others. Due to biases or prejudices we have distorted the images of others – we cannot see their good points – we exaggerate their faults, we generalise, brand, label, despise, discriminate – we make rash judgements, false assumptions, class prejudice, caste, ethnic groups, regional, linguistic groups, sectarian tendencies, cliques and clans.
c. Psychological blindness: Wrong perception of ourselves, poor self image, wrong ideas about our qualities – inferiority complexes, we despise ourselves- we do not like ourselves – feeling of guilt, insecurity, anxieties – or we have an inflated idea of ourselves.
d. Moral blindness: Blind to moral values – to good and evil, to our virtues and vices, bad habits and inclinations, to our besetting sins, and wrong attachments, rationalising evil actions, injustice towards others, vindictiveness, exploitative capacities, egotism, lack of sense of sin – scruples, presumptions.
e. Spiritual bilndness: In our perception of God. In our relationships with him in prayer--- to his goodness and love, fear of God, lack of faith and trust in him, superstitions, lax conscience, unconfessed resentments against God, neglect of prayer life.
Let us pray that today’s Word of God will touch the heart of those who have been spiritually blind so they will find the strength in Christ to walk away from what destroys the faith. Let us also pray this week for the grace of God to shine on those in need so their eyes may be opened and remain opened to faith and love of Jesus the master, let me see again.

29th Sunday Ordinary time: Service and suffering, October 18, 2009

2009-10-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

29th Sunday Ordinary time: Service and suffering, October 18, 2009
Once there was a discussion among three people, a doctor, an engineer and a politician about who is doing the greatest service to the society. Doctor said; “we the doctors are doing the greatest service to the society because we heal people and restore life. Thus we participate in the healing ministry of God”. Then the engineer said “we are doing the greatest service to the society because we drew beautiful plans and sketches for the building and we build beautiful building. Thus we participate in the creative act of God. Then it was the turn of the politician. He said” we the politicians are doing the greatest service to the society. You know that God created everything out of Chaos. We create the Chaos in the society. Thus we are doing the greatest service to the society.
Who is the greatest before God? Who can do the greatest things for the people?
It is a desire of many people to be great before the world. It is a good desire! Nothing is wrong with it. But Greatness consists not in what we have, or in what we can get from others but in what we can give of ourselves to others. This ideal is important for us as we celebrate the mission Sunday today. World Mission Sunday highlights our responsibility to help and spread the message found in the scriptures. In our own time, I suppose Mother Teresa was an outstanding example. Her greatness was in the giving of her whole self to the very lowest, treating them as brothers and sisters and living close to them and like them. And the world recognized that. Her greatness was not in her fame or even in her reputation for holiness but because of her spirit of service to those most neglected and to those in need and suffered with them. Mother Teresa was a great missionary bringing the Gospel message of service to the very poorest. She and her sisters went on missionary work to different parts of the world. Like James and John and the other disciples, like Mother Teresa and many others, we are all called to be missionaries. To be good missionaries we have to hear Jesus’ words about where real greatness lies. It is a message that is not always easy to hear in a society like ours. We are all called to be not only disciples and followers but also apostles and missionaries and to be of service to our brothers and sisters.
All the three readings of today touch the theme of service and suffering. Prophet Isaiah in the first reading speaks of the sufferings endured by the servant- suffering servant. The first reading is taken from the closing verses of the servant song in Isaiah where the poem begins and ends with the testimony from God about accomplishments of the servant. His self reflects on his life telling us how generously and submissively he gave himself up. Amazingly God is pleased with him because by his suffering and death the servant won the forgiveness and healing for the world.
The same theme of suffering and service continues in the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews. It tells us that we have Jesus the high priest who has gone through sufferings and will be the source of comfort and grace. That is the service he renders for the people.
In the Gospel Jesus speaks about his own sufferings and tells the disciples about his passion and suffering leading ultimately to his final glory. When John and James become very ambitious in their life with a great desire to be seated at the right and the left side of Jesus, Jesus asks them: “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism with which I will be baptized?” They respond to him without any further understanding that it is possible for them to drink the chalice of Jesus
As we continue the Gospel Reading, we see how the other disciples are upset when the brothers asked Jesus for the honor of sitting at the right and left side of His heavenly Throne. Understandably, when the other ten heard of their ambition they were very angry. It was not because they disagreed but because they felt cheated. Perhaps they too wanted such a position. These two had gone behind their backs and pulled a fast one. They too had totally missed the point. So now Jesus brings them all together and tells them his view of greatness and success in life. There is only one way to greatness and it is his way. Teaching them to be spiritually minded, Jesus told the disciples, to become great, they be as servants; to be first, they must be a slave to all. Jesus Himself did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. His example of perfect love is our example. Thus Jesus makes his point clear through his corrective teaching about true greatness not being centered in authoritarian ruling but in service and servant hood. For them the model is Jesus whose true authority was rooted in service towards all.
We are all called to follow Christ with an attitude of suffering and service towards others. As many in our society strive for success, fame and wealth, followers of Christ are called upon to look for opportunities to suffer with and to serve others. On August 14, 1941, Saint Maximilian Kolbe died of starvation in the place of a young father so that he may live. We view this act of self-sacrifice as extremely beautiful Christian love. What Jesus has done for each and every one of us far surpasses what St. Maximilian has done for the young man. Thus to be a disciple of Jesus we must accept our call to serve others as he served. At the Last Supper he gave the example and washed the feet of his disciples and told them that they too ought to do likewise. At certain times the disciples of Jesus had the basic misunderstanding of his mission and message. While Jesus was preaching on the Gospel of suffering, death and service, they were looking for power, fame and glory. In our society the word service has many meanings; but today as we celebrate the Mission Sunday it includes the efforts of men, women and children who work to spread the Gospel and offer Christ’s healing and forgiveness to those who have never encountered him. Hence service is an essential component of Christianity. The true mark of our faith is how we treat others in life. Our celebration of this Eucharist is an acknowledgement of our dependence on God and each other and our willingness to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

2009-10-10T07:14:00.001-07:00

28th Sunday –October 11 2009
I am very happy to see many couples in the church. You sit together; you chat, travel and fool each other. It is a good sign of your love and appreciation. I remember a story of a couple.
On day a husband said to his wife, "I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time." The wife responded, "Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me and God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!"
It could be a joke with a poke. But it contains wisdom. Wisdom speaks for itself. Wisdom means an experience and understanding. It is not just something that is bookish or up in the air, but what is in the book which is understood and experienced. Wisdom means prudence and the basis of making intelligent decisions.
The book of Wisdom or Wisdom of Solomon makes this passage as part of the speech appears in the first kings 3: 5-15. The Author tells us that his prayer was answered by the spirit of Wisdom coming to him. Solomon preferred the spirit of Wisdom more than the riches.
The second reading from the letter to the Hebrews contains wisdom about the word of God which is considered as living and effective, and a comparison made with a two edged sword penetrating the life of people. A person who reads the word of God understands what God speaks to him, see God and his activities and in the process he is challenged to change oneself. The Word becomes flesh in his life. In the Gospel, we see a man searching of wisdom that is an understanding and experience. For which he raises a question what must I do to inherit eternal life? This person has one aim in life to inherit the eternal life. By the very encounter we come to know him as a morally good person. For him, religion and therefore holiness consisted in being a morally good person in the eyes of God. He openly tells Jesus that he kept all the commandments and has lived a good and in our terms a religious life. He had not harmed any one and had observed what the law expected him to do. But all the emphasis was on himself and his own individual perfection and never went beyond that norm. This rich young man was good; Jesus wanted him to be even better. So he tells him what he has to do for his perfection: “There is one thing lacking. Sell all you have and give to the poor, and then you will have real treasure. After that, come and be with me.” It was an invitation to see God in the needy and the poor. It was an unconditional sacrifice he is called upon to make to be with Jesus. In fact, it had never occurred to him that his wealth was anything but a sign of God’s blessing. He walked slowly and sadly away totally dejected person. To be totally a disciple of Jesus is not to give up something valuable; on the contrary it is to find the secret of real happiness and wealth. What does wisdom say today?
1. Like Solomon pray for wisdom. It means to pray for happiness, peace and serenity at home and society.
2. Take the Word of God, read reflect and live by it which is like a double edged sword. Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.
3. The real happiness consists in the keeping the commandments of God and Sharing our lot, our prosperity with all especially with the less fortunate people. The Eucharist we celebrate is an experience and expression of sharing his life with us. As we participate, let us pray that God will help us to respond very positively to the god news of today.

27th sunday --october 4 2009

2009-10-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

27th Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Creation of Wives
At Sunday school they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, "Johnny, what is the matter?"
Little Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."
One woman says to another, "Isn't your wedding ring on the wrong finger?" The other woman replies, "Why, yes, it is. I married the wrong man"!
A woman was telling her friend, "It is I who made my husband a millionaire." "And what was he before you married him?" asked the friend. The woman replied "A billionaire."
I never married because there was no need. I have 3 pets at home which answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot which swears all afternoon and a cat that comes home late at night.
In the beginning, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone. So the Lord took one of the ribs of Adam and he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.’ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife and they become one flesh.” In marriage, the man and the woman become one. They belong to each other. The union between a man and a woman in the Sacrament of Marriage is compared to the union between Christ and the Church. Marriage, from where this priest watches, is the mutual commitment to assist God in the on-going creation of each other. Divorce is the un-creating of this sacred design. God’s continuing creation is a sacred labor and divorce is the acceptance that somehow the sacredness was put aside. Human beings get married to reveal their love for each other. God blesses that marriage to reveal God’s love for us all. May no one divide!
Today’s Gospel, quoting from the Creation story in Genesis, says that a married couple are no longer two persons but “one body”. To develop that kind of two-becomes-one relationship requires a lot of work. It also require a lot of guidance from experienced people… other married couples and counselors. Probably a major cause of breakdown today is that so many so-called ‘nuclear’ families live without any real outside support from the wider family or community. When things get rough, there can be a terrible loneliness with no one to turn to. In our Christian parish communities we could do a lot to be sensitive to strains in families we know and see that such families do have sympathetic and understanding people to turn to. Jesus' reply underlines two important points.
First point, Jesus treats the woman as a person. Some earlier Jewish tradition regarded the woman more or less as property of the man to be disposed of at will. In fact, here for the first time in Jewish literature we hear not just of the man divorcing the woman but also of the woman taking the initiative to divorce the man (verse 12). Jesus treats the woman as a legal person of equal standing with the man. Second point, Jesus is interested in teaching not legal statements but moral principles. They asked him whether divorce was permissible, his reply was that the mind of God is for husband and wife never to divorce. The asked him about what was lawful, he told them what was best for them. They asked him about a legal position and he told them the divine provision. They asked what was possible and he told them what the ideal was. They asked what they could do or not do and he told them they should always aim at. They asked about what was lawful and he taught them what was best for them. For in Christ "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up" (1 Corinthians 10:23).
Jesus stresses the importance of marriage because in marriage, man and woman become one. They belong to each other. The union between a man and a woman in the Sacrament of Marriage is compared to the union between Christ and the Church.
”Husbands must love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of the body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
Today Jesus presents man and woman as having equal rights. He also presents marriage as essentially a permanent relationship: “The two shall become one body… What God has united, man must not divide.
” This implies total unity, equality and a permanent mutuality of giving.
Divorce was permitted by Jewish law and it could be had simply by a husband delivering a certificate declaring his intention to divorce his wife, giving freedom to both to remarry. Among Catholics, one of the most sensitive and often-avoided topics is the stinging reality of divorce and its consequences. While there must be a pastoral response to assist those parties who seek counseling when their failed marriage ends in divorce, one must never compromise the truth of Christ’s teachings for the sake of the pastoral response. The words and teachings of Jesus Christ on divorce are clear, and it is the responsibility of the Church and its pastors to safeguard, proclaim, and defend them. We therefore, turn our attention to the words of Christ Himself recorded in the Gospel of Matthew when the Pharisees ask him the question: “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He tells them that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one”. So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.’ This is how Jesus speaks of the unity in the family as it is the creative plan of God and no one can break this plan of his.

26th Sunday – September 27,2009

2009-09-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

We are called to be disciples with practical senses. The story is told of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson on a camping trip. As they lay sleeping one night, Holmes woke Watson and said, "Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see." Watson said, "I see millions of stars." Holmes asked, "And what does that tell you?" Watson replied, "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. And what does it tell you?" Holmes answered, "Someone stole our tent."
Some people are great at speculative knowledge but when it comes to its implication for practical living they score zero. We see people lacking real sense. Look at the attitudes of Joshua in the first reading and the disciples John and James in the Gospel.
In the story of the Chosen people, God tells Moses to bring together seventy of the elders of the people to share the burden of the people along with him and Moses would not bear it by himself. They would share the responsibility with him. They would be God’s representative on earth and certainly assist in the ministry of leading the people to the promised land. Secondly, the reading tells us that among the seventy who were registered, Eldad and Medad stayed behind in the camp and prophesied. When Joshua, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, saw this, he reported it to Moses. Moses responds to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? How I wish all God's people were prophets and that God would put his Spirit on them all!" (Numbers 11:29). Wouldn't that make the job a bit lighter? He says not to be jealous for his sake and he wished that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit in them. The point of importance is that two persons remained in the tent and they continued to do the work of the Lord.
The Gospel of today starts with the complaint against a person who was not a disciple and yet could work miracles in the name of Jesus. John who belonged to the inner circle tells Jesus how they tried to stop him and point out to him that they alone are the chosen ones and not he. Jesus also had sent the disciples on a mission where they had worked the miracles and had healed the people and cast out devils. They had received the praises for their good work. Not only did enjoy some reflected glory in being disciples of Jesus but, through his authority, they themselves were doing some of the very same things. They would have been growing in popularity and public exposure and it looked very much that they were slowly getting into a streak of vanity and arrogance. They could feel that their privileged position is no more secure. That person who was not of their group “casting out devils”. And not just driving out evil spirits but doing so in the name of Jesus. So they tried to put a stop to him. Here we carefully listen to the reply of Jesus: “You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is not likely to speak evil of me” The man in question was clearly not only using the name of Jesus, he was also producing results. He was successful in his exorcisms and people were being made free.
At this juncture Jesus explains to them who can be his disciple. There can be a silent disciple and also an active disciple, indicating that salvation is always universal. It belongs to everyone and we must take note of it: “Anyone who is not against us is for us.” God can and does use anyone to do his work. The Church has no monopoly on God’s work or on God’s truth or on God’s love or on God’s power to heal and reconcile. The work of the Kingdom is not confined only to the baptized, although it is certainly their special work. Outside of the Catholic Church there are thousands who are doing the work of God in a spirit of total sincerity and commitment.
The challenge god puts before is as follows
1. Understand the mind of God and become a disciple and the apostle today.
2. According to the second reading, who is the master of life is, it wealth or God? Remember – one who knows to count on God knows hot count.
3. The last part of the Gospel tells us be aware of how we can become a stumbling block to ourselves: Let our hands, feet and eyes not be guilty of the terrible abuses, the truly scandalous behavior. “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut if off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell.” We all know our human weaknesses and tendencies. Knowing them, by the grace of God we should apply our spiritual minds to overcome such weaknesses and tendencies. We should avoid what causes us to sin. We should run away from those opportunities that seek to destroy our souls. It is the sin of being judgmental that ruins us. Let us reflect upon our position towards the Lord Jesus and His Church that He has instituted on earth. We seek with all our souls, our minds, our bodies and our strength to humbly serve and obey the Lord Jesus in the Body of Christ by shining as a light in the world, and enjoy the hope that leads to eternal joy and peace in the Kingdom of God.

25th Sunday Wo is the greatst?

2009-09-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday night I was torn between two television shows – The Jay Leno Show and Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. Leno was hosting Michael Moore with his new movie, Capitalism: A Love Story and Andrew Zimmern was with a hunting tribe in the Kalahari desert, Botswana, Southern Africa. I kept changing channels to get the best of both shows, and the contrast moved me that night. On the one hand, Michael Moore was trying to expose one of the stark realities of America – that 5% of the American population controls 95 % of the wealth. I checked this information for accuracy. A University of Southern California study suggests that in the United States, wealth is highly concentrated in a relatively few hands. As of 2004, the top 1% of households (the upper class) owned 34.3% of all privately held wealth, and the next 19% (the managerial, professional, and small business stratum) had 50.3%, which means that just 20% of the people owned a remarkable 85%, leaving only 15% of the wealth for the bottom 80% (wage and salary workers). This reality is also true globally. In the Kalahari desert, on the other hand, was a dozen indigenous hunters and three television crew who for a whole day had gone without a single prey. Finally, they were able to trap was a Red Hornbill which altogether weighed 5 ounces. They cooked this bird over open fire, and sitting on the ground around the fire shared this 5 ounce bird among 15 people. Each one got only a tiny piece of meat. But they sat there contented, un-anxious, nibbling on the bones and making the most of what came their way. I have to tell you – I have never seen people so contented with so little. The contrast became even more intense when I suddenly became aware of myself. Here I was, watching two shows on a 42” digital screen, in a comfortable living room sitting on a leather chair.

In last week’s gospel, Jesus had asked his disciples who they thought he was. After Peter’s revealing confession, in today’s gospel reading Jesus begins to talk about his impending suffering and death at the hands of people with vested interests. Shockingly though, the disciples are busy with a totally unrelated issue – “Who is the greatest?” In similar vein, today’s first reading narrates the instance of a few powerful and privileged people planning the destruction of the poor, innocent and underprivileged of Israelite society. So, here is my question. What is it about human beings that we have this inner urge to dominate others, to have more than others, to control others, to be better than others, and all this many times at the cost of others? What made the disciples so insensitive to the impending suffering of another human being? And what makes us fashion a world that thrives on inequality. And yes, who is the greatest?

In Matthew’s version of the same gospel episode, Jesus answers, “This shall not be among you.” (Mt 23:11). So what shall be among the followers of Jesus? “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” (Mk 9:35). I would like to explore what Jesus meant by the above words. In the following three practical implications I would like to propose a way to live by the Jesus ethic.

a) “This shall not be so among you.” Nowhere in the gospel do we hear as clearly as here Jesus call to his followers to be different. In these words Jesus proposes a different ethic for those who follow him. Disciples of Jesus must follow a different kind of world order. The basis of such a world order comes from the very life and teachings of Jesus. So imagine that every parish in Dayton, every Christian home is a pocket that lives radically the message and life of Jesus. What would that community or family look like?

b) Here is s question that is designed to create self-awareness. What is our primary pursuit at this point of time? For example, the primary pursuit of the wicked in the first reading was exploitation of the weak. The primary pursuit of the disciples in the gospel reading was power and influence. What about us? In other words, what occupies our minds when we are alone and quiet for a moment? It could range from preoccupations about retirement, financial planning, health issues, family, relationships or even sports. If I had to say, let us connect our primary pursuit with the life and message of Jesus, would we be able to find a connection? Spend some time this week figuring out the answer to this question.

c) The letter of St. James gives us some very practical ways to live more closely to the ethic Jesus proposes. He says, “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.” (James 3:16) So, I guess the scriptures are telling us that our pursuits should be pure, peaceable, gentle, complaint, full of mercy, produce good fruits, and sincere. Perhaps we should evaluate our lives with these standards.

The Christ who said, “This shall not be so among you,” sat at table, broke bread, gave the cup and said, “Take this!” Then in total self surrender to God and to the world he gave his own body and blood and let his life become a ransom for the world. What do you think Christ’s pursuit was? What do we think Christ is saying and we break his body and share the cup today? May our participation in the body and blood of Christ help us to share intensely the message and life of Christ. Amen.

24th Sunday September 12, 2009

2009-09-17T06:17:00.000-07:00

Theme—Who is Jesus for us?
The story is told of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson on a camping trip. As they lay sleeping one night, Holmes woke Watson and said, "Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see." Watson said, "I see millions of stars." Holmes asked, "And what does that tell you?" Watson replied, "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. And what does it tell you?" Holmes answered, "Someone stole our tent." Some people are great at speculative knowledge but when it comes to its implication for practical living they score zero. Such is Peter in today's gospel.
A little girl went to the catechism class for the first time. After the class her father asked her, “ Amy, how did you like catechism class today?” The little girl said, “I did not like it at all’. Her mother said, “ it was your first time, just wait a few weeks. You will come to like it.”
Three weeks later the little girl came home from catechism class with big tears in her eyes. “What is the matter?” Her mother asked. ‘It is the catechism class”, the little girl said. ‘Must I keep going?” ‘ Why’ asked her mother ‘ what is wrong?’
‘Well’, said the little girl, ‘Everybody talks about somebody, gossiping about someone named Jesus. And I don’t know who he is. I have never even heard of and met him. Who is he?

Recently I went for a seminar for a group of adults. The topic was-- who is Jesus for us? After the preliminaries I started a chit chat with the participants.
Who is Jesus for you? One young man got up and said. Jesus for me is a Superstar. I said to him I don’t understand what you said. He said father my hobby is watching films. In the films we have many superstars for e.g. Jackie Chan an action hero or Arnold another action hero! In the films we see these superstars coming on a stylish bike and the adversaries, opponents are attacked and destroyed. At the end these super starts take their bike and just move off. So for me Jesus is a superstar like them.
Another girl got up said Jesus is not a super for me but Jesus is a historical figure. Jesus is a person who divided history into two. Ad and BC—Before Christ and after Christ. I just study about him in the history classes.
Yet another person answered, Jesus for me is a revolutionary. He said, we read in the gospel that one day Jesus came to the temple of God, he saw people engaged in selling and buying there. He was angry with them. He drove them out. He overturned the tables of money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. Only a revolutionary can do this. Another girl got up said for me Jesus is not a superstar, not a revolutionary or not a historical figure but I go to church every day, I participate in the family prayer, I attend parish retreat and I go for Novenas, For me Jesus is a miracle worker.
Jesus asks us the same question today. Who is Jesus for us today? Have we experienced him?
Let us look at the passage to understand the question in better way. Jesus is asking the question ‘what do people say?’ The answer is given but Jesus asks again a personal question to them. What do you say about me?
Let us go understand the passage. Jesus asks the question in a place called Caesarea Philippi. What is the special about this place? It is a place named after Caesar and Philip. t is a place where they are known and famous. It is a place of their achievements and success. Another characteristic of this place is that there is plenty of wealth, prosperity and worshipping false gods. In the context of these people forgot about faith and moral living. There he asks the question.
Peter replies that you are the son of living god.
Christ asks us the same question today in the context of wealth, prosperity and worshipping false gods. Who is Jesus for me? In a charismatic prayer meeting participants are sharing their god experience. One said Jesus is a friend for me. Another said Jesus is for a healer etc. At the end one got up said that Jesus is my son in-law.

Who is Jesus for me and how can I encounter Jesus today?

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time --September 6 2009

2009-09-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

One of the complaints I have received about my celebration of the Mass is that I take too long. They say I am slow with my prayers and that I preach too long. There are those of you who can appreciate this and there are others who shop for the forty-minute-mass in town. Someone said to me the other day: “You want your church to fill up - how about a mass with no singing and no preaching?” I am sorry but no matter how hard I try, I cannot serve a “fast-mass” like people serve “fast-food.” People wish salvation was a forty-minute-affair, but then, salvation would taste like fast food. Salvation is a process, it is a comprehensive event.

I would like to pay special attention to the gospel reading today. If we read deeper into the passage we will realize that this is not a simple account of the healing of a deaf and mute man. First of all, this passage is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy in today’s first reading. “Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.” (Is 35:4) The reference to God here is a reference to Jesus. And as Isaiah continues, “Then the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.” (Is 35:5-6) Mark, in this way presents Jesus as the prophesied Messiah.

Second, my interest is heightened by Jesus’ actions even as the man is healed. First Jesus “took him (the deaf and mute) off by himself” (Mk 7:33), “put his finger into the man's ears” (33), “spitting, touched his tongue” (33), “looked up to heaven” (34), “groaned” (34), “and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (34). I would like to focus on three acts of Jesus within this event: a) Jesus took the man by himself; b) put his finger in his ears and touched his tongue and c) Jesus groaned. By doing this I am proposing that we cannot talk about this healing as a “single isolated act” of Jesus. Nor is this healing like “fast food.” This event showcases the entire process of healing and salvation of the deaf and mute man. In other words, what is happening in this event shows us the steps involved in the salvation and restoration of all of humanity. Here are the three acts of Jesus and the practical implications for us:

a) Jesus took the deaf and mute by himself. I find this action of Jesus intriguing. If this was indeed going to be a dramatic miracle, it would be in Jesus’ interest to work this miracle in public. But Jesus does the opposite. Jesus action is symbolic of God drawing all of humanity toward God’s own self. This is indeed the case throughout the Bible. After the exodus from Egypt, for example, God took the people into the secluded desert. In the desert Israel would know its God; in the desert Israel would know God’s will; alone with God they will learn the lessons of salvation; closely dependent on God they will learn to obey God; alone in the desert with God they will fall in love with their God. Even more revealing is the book of Hosea where God says to a sin struck Israel, “1I, the LORD, will lure you into the desert and speak gently to you.” (Hos 2:14). In the New Testament, Jesus spent forty days in the desert alone with God. It is in the desert, when he is alone with God, that he learns to resist the power of evil and succumb to the power of God. Now Jesus takes the make aside not merely to heal him but also to bring him close to God.
Practical implication: Today, God would like to take us aside. Find some time each day this week to be alone with God. Let us allow God to speak tenderly to us. Let us become aware of the potential for sin in our lives even as we become aware of the power of God in us.

b) The second act of Jesus is that he put his finger in the man’s ears and spitting, touched his tongue. God does not just draw us close but draws us into intimacy. Human life began in intimacy with God when God breathed into the nostrils the breath of life. At the annunciation the Holy Spirit came into Mary inner most being – her womb. The “WORD” became “FLESH.” During his life time, Jesus physically touched the sick, the sinners and the lonely. At the Last Supper Jesus gave us his body to eat. In other words, healing and salvation are acts of intimacy.
Practical Implication: This week reflection on the many ways in which God becomes intimate with us. Think about the sacraments as points of getting in touch with God. Salvation is not just about believing in God, having faith in God, or even being close to God. Salvation comes from our intimacy with God.

c) The third act is that Jesus, looking up toward heaven, groans. We may recall that in a similar way Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb and then looked up toward heaven. Also, on the cross Jesus looked up to heaven and cried out in a loud voice before he gave up his spirit. Why does Jesus weep, groan and cry out as he looked toward heaven? I think he did so because he could see both heaven and earth at the same time. On the one hand Jesus knew the real destiny of every human person. On the other hand, in the deaf and mute man, in the death of Lazarus, and in his own crucifixion, Jesus confronted the terrible effects of sin. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus because he was saddened by the effect of sin. Jesus groaned because he could see God’s eternal plan for humanity but he also saw sin robbing humanity of their destiny. He groaned because he knew he would have to endure pain, suffering and death to redeem humanity from the effect of sin. He cried out from the cross because he endured in his mind, body, and soul the total impact of sin. He cried out from the cross that his own suffering and death might become in God’s eyes, the price of human redemption.
Practical Implication: Often we too groan under the pain of illness, pain, and death and we long for God to heal us and restore us. For complete healing, restoration and salvation, though, we too, like Jesus, must groan against sin and the effects of sin. Salvation and total healing, in the final analysis, is freedom from sin.

In conclusion, let me focus on the fourth action of Jesus. He said, “Be opened.” Jesus takes us aside today in this Eucharist; he speaks to us in the Scriptures and in intimacy gives us his body and blood. Let us desire to not merely be healed but let us desire the entire process of salvation to be played out in us. May we allow God to “open” our lives to God’s saving power.
Amen

22nd Sunday -- 2009

2009-08-31T17:32:00.001-07:00

Salman Rushdie, is a controversial Islamic author His most controversial book was The Satanic Verses. Radical Muslims leaders have passed the fatwa (death sentence) against him for blasphemy. At the beginning of the new millennium, Rushdie wrote a letter to the ‘sixth billionth person’ to be born into the world. One of the many advices he offers the baby, one of them has to do with religion. Rushdie highlights the follies of religion. He enumerates all the wars and divisions caused in the name of God. He also mentions the frightening image of God many people have. He concludes by saying that religion has done more harm than good. He persuades the baby to abandon any religious inclinations. Instead, Rushdie exhorts the baby to trust in its own humanity, its ability to think for itself, its own natural ability to grow and live in a world of freedom in a place of shared social life and conversation. He even quotes John Lennon’s famous song “Imagine there is no heaven, its easy of you try. No hell below is, above us only sky.”

I do not agree with Rushdie but he certainly makes me think. It is true! Much harm has been done in the name of religion. But one cannot ignore the good that faith in God has been accomplished when religion becomes the true expression of faith in God. Think of Mother Teresa, for example. This is the theme of today’s Gospel reading – to identify the core of human religiosity and to distinguish it from mere human misconceptions. Mark brings this conflict out through the Jesus–Pharisee conflict. In the Gospel of Mark, right from the beginning the Pharisees begin to accuse Jesus of breaking the Mosaic Laws. They object to him eating with tax collectors and sinners (2:6); They object to his disciples not fasting (2:18-22); they complained about his disciples breaking the Sabbath by picking the heads of grain (2:23-28); they accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath by healing a sick man (3:1-6); and in today’s gospel they accuse him of ignoring the rites of cleansing.

I am inclined to react angrily at the accusations that the Pharisees were making against Jesus, because they were hampering Jesus’ efforts to take people beyond the layers of human misconceptions and reveal the true spirit of Mosaic Law and its observance as the Book of Deuteronomy demands. As I look back at history I am also inclined to react angrily at other religious conflicts. For example, the inquisition makes me angry; the crusades make me angry; the thirty year religious war in Europe make me angry; the holocaust makes me angry; seeing the Iraq war as a religious war makes me angry; the Hindu-Muslim riots makes me angry; The Muslim-Jewish conflict makes me angry. One does not have to look hard to discover the futility and the meaninglessness of religious conflicts. The words of Isaiah that Jesus repeats in the Gospel seem true, “This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition.” (Is 29:13)

Today Jesus invites his followers today to go back to the basics, to look at the core of religion. What do the life and words of Jesus tell us about the core of religion. Let me bring it down to three points:

1. Jesus teaches us that at the core of religion is an intimate relationship with a personal God. On the contrary, at the core of the Pharisees’ faith is a set of laws. Jesus calls this personal God “Abba.” In return, twice - at his baptism and transfiguration the Father confesses Jesus as his “beloved Son.” This intimacy with God became the driving force for his ministry just as it became the source and summit of his prayer. His intimacy would lead him to say, “My food is to do the will of the Father.” (Jn 4:34) Like Jesus, our Baptism too is the beginning of a relationship with the Father – the beginning of our being sons and daughters of God. Each of the Sacrament – from Baptism to Anointing of the sick, from birth until death – is an invitation to this personal God to invade every aspect of our lives. Today Christ is challenging us to look at the core of our relationship with God. If at the core of our faith and of the practice of our religion there is anything else other than an intimate relationship with a personal God then it is possible that our faith is shallow, our religion is legalistic, and our rituals are empty of meaning. This week, let us think deeply about the core of our spiritual and religious life.

2. Jesus teaches us that at the core of religion is love. On the contrary, at the core of the Pharisees faith was blind observance of the Law. Jesus personalised the core of OT spirituality – steadfast love and fidelity. Jesus’ teachings give us ample examples of love. “Love your enemies…” (Lk 5:43-48) “If someone asks for a cloak, give the tunic as well…” 9Mt 5:42) “Walk the extra mile…” (Mt 5:41) Pray and do good to those who do harm to you…” (Mt 5:44) If you do not forgive, you cannot be forgiven…” (Mt 6:14) “Love one another as I have loved you…” (Jn 15:12) “No greater love can one have but to lay down ones life for ones friends…” (Jn 15:13) As Christians, we celebrate that love and fidelity each week in the Eucharist, when we relive Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of love and fidelity on the cross. If we are here today for any other reason our intimate love and fidelity to our God, then we are no different than the Pharisees in today’s gospel. This week, think deeply about faith as love.

3. At the core of religion is our neighbour (neighbour as Christ explains in the parable of the Good Samaritan). On the contrary, at the core of the Pharisees’ religiosity is following the law even at the cost of human life. Hear the words of St James in today’s second reading, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James understood well Jesus’ understanding of faith and religion. the meaning of Jesus breaking the Sabbath to heal a dying man. At the core of Jesus’ practice of his faith was the neighbour. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, in his offering faith the Samaritan woman, in his healing the Centurion’s son, in the healing the Syro-Phoenecian woman, in forgiving and justifying the soldiers who crucified him, in inviting the tax-collectors, prostitutes and sinners to his table, in each of the healings he performed, he let his Father’s love flow out to those around him. If love of neighbour is not the core expression of our spirituality and faith, then perhaps we need to redefine the core of our faith. This week, let us think deeply about how our faith finds its expression.

May our Eucharist today lead us to true practice of our faith. Amen.

21st sunday -- August 2009

2009-08-31T17:31:00.001-07:00

21st Sunday – 22nd August2009

If not once, I have said it ten times this week, “It is hard.” I am tired, I feel over worked, and I feel out of touch with friends; I have forgotten birthdays of people I would otherwise never forget and when I pray I am thinking of the day ahead. Between meetings, faith formation, baptisms, weddings, funerals, hospital visits and spiritual direction I feel that I am getting out of touch with myself. In one sense, I am happy that all this is happening because the parish is growing. The staff feels the same way I do. And how many of you feel the same way? With school reopening there is strong chance that your feelings are not very different - life is hard.

“This saying is hard; who can accept it?” (Jn 6:60). This is the reaction of some of Jesus’ disciples at the end of the “Bread of Life” discourse. Let me quickly refresh our mind about where we are in the story of Jesus. Three weeks back we read about the multiplication of loaves. The crowds then followed Jesus for more signs and Jesus began to teach them about the bread of life. When Jesus began to identify himself as being the true bread the people began question Jesus further. That was two weeks back. Last week we heard Jesus saying that the bread of life was his flesh and blood. He went on to say that his flesh and blood was true food and true drink and without eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking his blood people have no life in them. This leads some disciples to walk away. They murmured, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” At this, Jesus came to the disciples and asked them, “Do you also want to leave?” (Jn 6:67)

Now what happens next is one of the most emotional yet powerful expressions of faith. Peter’s response has been preserved for people like us. Peter says to Jesus, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68). This response is precious. There were people around him leaving the company of Jesus. It is hard to stay when everyone else is quitting. Moreover, Jesus was saying hard and difficult to believe things. But some people do not quit when times get hard. Peter and the apostles did not quit. I am not going to quit because I am tired. The staff will not quit because they are tired. And I hope you will not quit when times are hard. The best thing to say when times are hard is exactly what Peter said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68).

Today, I want to take Peter’s response and make it our own. However, I also want to ask the question – “What does it mean for me to make the same profession of faith? What does it mean for me to say. “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68). Taking our clue from the first reading, the second reading, and the gospel, I am suggesting that it means three things. My profession of faith must have an implication for the church, an implications for my family and an implication as an individual disciple of Christ.

1) Implication for the Church. Today’s first reading offers another poignant story. Joshua gathers all the tribes of the people of Israel and offers them a choice. “If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve… As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Josh 24:15). The people, together as a community, as a people, as a nation make their choice. They say, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods…. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." (Josh 24:17-18). Would it not be great if this parish together said what the people of Israel said and what Peter said. That is why, I want to point your attention to our parish retreat on Sept 12. All people in ministry have already received letters about it. I urge every Eucharistic minister, every lector, every teacher in school and parish, every RCIA member, every festival worker, every server and their family, education, finance, PTO commission members, all organizations and group members, youth and choir members to be part of this day. I am asking every parishioner to be part of this day if you can. Together we are going to discover what it means to be a radical disciple of Jesus. Together we are going to discover what it means to say to Jesus, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68).

2) The second implication comes from our second reading and the implication is for our families. Hear what Paul has to say to the Ephesians: “Live in love, as Christ loved us. Husbands and wives love each other, even as Christ loved the church.” (Eph 5:25). I am not going to spend too much time on this but husbands and wives and those preparing for marriage - if both of you together could often challenge each other to say, “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD,” (Josh 24:15), if you can love each other as Christ loved the church, then even when times get hard your family will never quit. God needs holy families. God needs faith filled families. God needs loving families – because holy, faithful, and loving families bear witness to Christ himself.

3) The third implication is on the individual Christian level. When people around Jesus were moving away, Peter moved closer to Jesus. He called Jesus Master – not because he saw himself as a servant, but rather he saw himself as a disciple. This is the exact place in the gospel of John that Peter’s discipleship will begin. He will try and fail, try and fail but never doubting that his master, Jesus, has the words of eternal life. There is not better person in scripture that I can identify with than Peter. I see myself on a journey. I try and fall, try and fall but each time knowing even more the God who puts me on the journey to eternity. Even as I preach, each of us will find ourselves at different places on the discipleship journey. Some of us are deeply conscious as disciples, others are trying to live as radical disciples, and still others are yet to think of themselves as disciples. I hope we can be at least where Peter was on that day. “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68).

So at the end of the Bread of Life discourse two things happened. Some left following the Jesus, the Bread of Life while others made an even firmer committment. Each day we are presented with the option of being disciples or not. Today, we stand once again in the presence of Jesus, our Master. Like Peter, we too say, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Amen.

20th Sunday 2009

2009-08-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

20th Sunday August 17 2009
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 7, Tom 5. 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.'" Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
You be Jesus! We are called to be Jesus. How?
--Last week, as part of the series of talks on the Eucharist, we reflected on the “Bread of Life discourse and the OT.” And I had suggested three themes that connected the bread of life discourse with the OT: The murmuring of the Jews in the Gospel of John is linked to the murmuring of the Israelites against Moses; The manna that Moses gave is contrasted with the Manna that Jesus gave; and the question and answer format during the Jewish Passover meal is the structure in which John formats the bread of life discourse.

Today we move forward to examine the history of the controversy of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The controversy as old as the gospels themselves. The crowds quarrelled, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (Jn 6:52) Jesus’ answer to that question stresses two things: First, “The bread that I will give is my flesh,” (Jn 6:51) and second, “My (his) flesh is real food and my (his) blood is real drink” (Jn 6: 55). And the controversy continues today. In a survey done, only 30% of the Catholics believed that the bread and wine they received at Eucharist was indeed the body and blood of Jesus. I bet you the 70% who do not believe do not read the scriptures and have certainly not read the John’s bread of life discourse.

Once again, let me give you the context in which John is emphasising the reality of the flesh of the Son of God. The gospel of John is written over a span of 50 years. While the other three gospels and the New Testament letters were completed by 75 AD at the latest, John was not completed till 95 AD. When John’s gospel was being composed, groups such as the Docetics and the Gnostics were inclined to emphasise the spirit in opposition to the flesh. As a result there were believers who were beginning to question the incarnation of Christ. Now we know why John begins his gospel with “… In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (Jn 1: 1-14). Similarly, some people were beginning to doubt the reality of the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist, which, by now had a well-established ritual in the early Christian communities. Once again John makes the effort to counter the Docetic and Gnostic heresies by emphasising the reality of the bread and wine being the flesh and blood of the Son of Man. Thus Jesus is today’s gospel reading says, “For My flesh in true food and my blood is true drink.” (Jn 6:55)

Like John, most of the Church Fathers (people who were the immediate successors to the apostles), stressed the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. However, we must keep one thing in mind. The Eucharist or the Mass as we have it today is the result of much historical development. In the beginning the Eucharist was a very simple domestic celebration. But once Christianity became the state religion under the Emperor Constantine in 380 AD, the Eucharist became an elaborate celebration and developed a definite structure, much like the imperial celebrations of the imperial courts. Even at this point, however, in the writings of Ignatius of Antioch, Justin the Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Ambrose and other Church Fathers, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is taken for granted. Problems began to arise in the way later theologians began to interpret the writings of St Augustine. Augustine himself clearly wrote, “The bread which you see on the altar, once it is sanctified by the word of God is the body of Christ. And that chalice, or rather what the chalice contains, once it is sanctified by the word of God is the blood of Christ. [Serm. 227] However, Augustine used the word sacrament in relation to the Eucharist – a word so far not used to refer to the Eucharist. A sacrament is a sign. Taking on the cue, some theologians began to interpret the Eucharist as merely a sign or a symbol of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. The most prominent of these theologians was a person by the name of Berengar of Tours who in the 11th Century represented those over the centuries who questioned the real presence. Berengar’s reasoning was very simple. According to him, the mind saw things just as they are – in their very essence and therefore what was seen was the very essence of things. Thus, if what is seen on the altar is bread then it is bread. Thus even after consecration since the bread looked like bread, it must be bread and not the body of Christ and wine must be wine and not the blood of Christ. Taking the clue from Augustine, he called the bread and wine “the sign of a sacred thing.” Thus for him the bread and wine and indeed the entire Eucharist became a symbolic celebration.

It was not until Thomas Aquinas in the 12th century that the word “transubstantiation” was coined to counter Berengar and suggests how the bread and wine, even if it looked like bread and wine, were indeed the body and blood of Jesus. During the Reformation, both the real presence and sacrificial nature of the Mass was denied. For the Reformers, a person is saved by “Faith alone, Grace alone, Scripture alone!” Not even the Church that Christ himself founded could be an intermediary in the work of salvation. Luther however, unlike Swiss and French reformers, insisted in the real presence of in the Eucharist but only at the moment of consecration and the moment of communion. The presence of Christ does not endure beyond these moments. In opposition to the reformers the Council of Trent in the mid 16th Century crystallized the Catholic position on the Eucharist, in which the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist was firmly asserted and it did so in continuation of the teaching of Christ in the gospels, in the letters of Paul, and the teaching of the Church Fathers.

Some practical implications:

1. Most evangelical Churches interpret John’s bread of life discourse as Jesus giving himself not in his flesh and blood but his word. So for them, flesh is the word of God. Even if that is true (and such interpretation can be reached scripturally argued for), the fullness of the Catholic Eucharistic celebration does not exclude the word. Catholics do not exclude the word for the Eucharist or the Eucharist for the word. The Eucharist contains both these elements. Vatican II called the Eucharist “The summit of all our worship.” It is the perfect worship that a Christian offers to the Father – and it contains both the word and the flesh and blood. Remember what Jesus said in last week’s gospel passage? “…Whoever believes has eternal life…”

2. We have something to learn from Luther as far his faith in the real presence and scripture is concerned. When it came to the real presence, Luther believed that in comparison to everything else that everyone else was saying, he would rather take the words of the gospel seriously. And so, taking the realism of John’s gospel – “My flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink,” – seriously, Luther continued to believe in the real presence. The word of God led him to the sacrament. As Catholics we need to immerse ourselves even more deeply in God’s word. God’s word leads us to the sacrament and the sacrament leads us to the Word.

3. The most serious implication of the words of Jesus in the bread of life discourse is this, “Unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” From a Christian perspective there is life and then there is life. Both of these are a gift from God. We have one life to live on the earth… just one… and each of us knows how precious and dear that life is. However, God offers us the opportunity to take that life beyond this earthly life. In many ways our journey toward that life begins in baptism in name of the God of life. But as Jesus says in today’s gospel reading “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. Let us then, chose life.

19th Sunday -- Ordinary time- Augusut 9, 2006

2009-08-11T18:59:00.000-07:00

The passage that we have as the gospel reading for today’s Eucharist is part of a larger section called the “bread of life” discourse in the gospel of John. The discourse begins with John 6:25 and ends with 6:71. For the next three weeks the gospel reading will be taken from the bread of life discourse. I wish to make the sermons during the next three weeks a series on the Bread of Life discourse. Today we will deal with the “The OT and the bread of life.” Next Sunday we will deal with the “History of the controversy of the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine.” The third week we will deal with “The Eucharist and daily life.”

First, let me provide a little context for today’s topic for reflection. The bread of life discourse follows the miracle of the multiplication of loaves. The crowds continue to follow Jesus after the miracle. Having fed them with physical bread, Jesus begins to talk about a different kind of bread – the bread of life. But in doing so, he stirs up a controversy. First, Jesus identifies himself as the as “bread from heaven.” Secondly, he claims that bread that he gives as superior to the bread the Moses provided in every way – the most significant difference being that the ones who ate the bread that Moses gave died but that those who ate the bread that he would give would never die. The people get very upset over Jesus’ claim.

Thus, today’s gospel reading begins with the Jews murmuring. John has the Israelites murmuring for a very specific reason. John wanted to connect the bread of life discourse to certain OT themes. The first of them is the murmuring: In Exodus 16:1-3, the Israelites grumbled against Moses because there was no food. God then rained down “bread from heaven.” Along with this bread which the Israelites called ‘manna’ (Ex 16:31), God also gave them flesh or meat in for form of quails. Later, the Israelites grumble not against the lack of food but the quality of food (Num 11:1-6). They were fed up with the quails and manna which they called “wretched food” (Num 21:5) and they desired to eat cucumber, melons, leeks, onions and garlic (Num 11:4-7). In Exodus 17:1-3 the Israelites grumble against Moses because there was no water to drink. God then brought forth water from the rock to quench their thirst (Ex 6-7). John in today’s gospel has the Israelites continuing to murmur. They murmur because this man whose father and mother they knew was claiming to be “bread from heaven.” When will the grumbling stop?

The second theme that John uses to connect to the OT is manna. It was the crowds that had asked Jesus to give them a sign – a sign similar to the manna that their ancestors ate in the dessert. The people introduced the manna theme because they believed that in the final days God would once again provide manna. They believed in a second Exodus like we believe in the second coming of Christ. With all of Palestine and Israel under Roman rule, people were hoping that the Messiah would come and initiate this second Exodus. If Jesus was this messiah then Jesus should be able to provide manna the way Moses did. There was one stumbling block. From the Jewish perspective, Jesus, whose origins and family they knew could hardly be that Messiah. From Jesus’ perspective, those final days had already arrived. He himself was the manna – the bread of life.

The third these theme is the theme of a meal or a banquet. When the Jewish family gathers for the Passover meal, the children ask questions about the event that is being enacted and the head of the house would narrate the whole Exodus story as an answer to their questions. In this passage too the Jews ask questions and Jesus answers questions. However, since the questions are asked within the context of the Passover, the meal or the banquet theme becomes significant. Once again, the Jews expected that in the last days there would be a messianic banquet in which the people of Israel would sit for an intimate banquet with Yahweh or with the messiah. Through the multiplication of loaves and by calling himself the bread of life, Jesus in the gospel of John suggests that the messianic banquet is at hand. Jesus is the bread of life for those who are faithful to Yahweh and believe in the One that Yahweh has sent.

Jesus said three things to the murmuring people. First, he said, “Stop murmuring.” (Jn 6:43) Second, he insisted that they “listen and learn from the Father.” (Jn 6:45) And third, he asks, “to simply believe so that they have eternal life.” (Jn 6:47) There is a certain simplicity in the answer. Isn’t this the advice that we often give to our children? Stop whining! Just listen! and Watch this! This week let us do these three things. If our basic spirituality is a spirituality of constant asking and murmuring, if our spirituality does not include listening to God in prayer, if we are lacking in simple faith, then it is time to take the advice of Jesus seriously. Stop whining! Just listen! Simply believe!

18th Sunday -- Agust 3rd 2009

2009-08-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

18th Sunday B–ordinary time – We are called to discover ourselves
Exodus 16:2-4,12-15; Ephesians 4:17,20-24; John 6:24-35
The story of the young associate pastor:
He was scared to preach on a Sunday. He went to the pastor asked for advice, Pastor, “Take a drink before you go to preach, and you will be alright. You will do well.” So he listened to the advice, he took a drink, preached beautifully. Very powerful sermon, parishners said “a spirit-filled preacher, Wrong spirit, anyway”.
After his preaching he asked the Pastor, “How was it?” “Superb. But in your excitement three mistakes:
1. Instead of saying, Jesus died on the cross, you said, Jesus was shot dead.
2. Instead of saying, Jesus died on Calvary, you said, Jesus died on Calgary. But that is OK. But the third mistake was little too obvious.
3. After the sermon, instead of saying Amen, you lifted your right hand and said cheers.
What we eat and drink makes us. We are called for the spiritual renewal, namely, the necessity to clothe ourselves with the new self, the new life that has been created in the likeness of God.

Today’s First Reading from the Book of Exodus tells us about the bread from Heaven given to the Israelites by God when they were in the desert. Manna was the gift that had come from God for them. The manna was a honeydew excretion produced by two species of scale insect that infested the tamarisk thickets of the area, which, in fact, have gained the technical name tamarix mannifera. It had the tendency to melt with heat and had to be collected very early in the morning. In the Gospel of John, the manna was symbolic of what was to come namely, Jesus the Bread of Life. Consequently, the manna was a type of the Eucharist itself. The quail is a small game bird that resembles the partridge. They fly South annually from their northern European and Scandinavian quarters in September and October to winter in African warmth. Then in May and June they take up their homeward journey. Their long flights over water causes them to land exhausted on the Sinai Peninsula where they may be captured easily. All this was in response to the complaints that people made against God and Moses. God took care of them and gave them physical food as well as the spiritual food.
The Second Reading Paul tells the Ephesians of the absolute condition that is required for spiritual renewal, namely, the necessity to clothe ourselves with the new self, the new life that has been created in the likeness of God. Paul states “put away your former life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts,” meaning the human nature as sons of Adam. Such a life is filled with human weaknesses. To put away one’s former life and to clothe oneself with the new self belongs to the baptismal liturgy. In the early days of the Church, the candidates would remove their old clothes, plunge into the water and then put on new white clothing. This external sign signified an inner change, that the convert had put aside his former life, to accept Christ through faith, and was now, in Christ, beginning a new life. The “new self” refers to incorporation into Christ Himself, the new Adam, the Head of a renewed humanity. It suggests the attainment of all that man was intended to be when God first created him according to His image.
When Jesus says he is the Bread of Life, we generally think of the Eucharist. But what Jesus is saying is much more than mere Eucharist. With the words, Jesus is the Bread of Life, we primarily mean that Jesus is the source of a full life. If we follow him, we will know the experience of a life which is full of truth, of love, of compassion, of friendship, of justice, of freedom, of peace. We will become people who are “fully human, fully alive”. We will become not just persons but intra-persons, inter-persons, and meta-persons. In other words, we will have good relations with ourselves, with the people around us, with people everywhere. We become fully one with Jesus. At the same time we must realize that the Word of God is real food. St Jerome tells us that not to know the Scripture is not to know Jesus. Secondly the community with Jesus the head is the bread of life. Further his presence in the day to events is nourishing us too. His glory is available in the universe.
The Gospel tells us that the people are pursuing Jesus because he gave them bread to eat. Jesus now challenges them to work for the bread that will last. The Lord here directs us to discover for ourselves the moments wherein we are able to discover God and his place in our lives. These are the moments that are unique and beyond the ordinary chores of life and that involve some amount of segregation from the routine and earthly situations. It is important to have our spirits replenished. These moments replenish our spirits and make us to come into contact with our innermost and deep desires. When we attend our relationship with God our minds become clearer, our values become truer, our decisions simpler and more just, and we ourselves become complete and happier human beings.
Immediately after the miracle of the multiplication of loaves the Gospel tells us that Jesus escaped to the mountains to avoid people from making him their king. But Jesus did not want to be a political king. Nor did He want the disciples to be influenced by the ideas of the crowd. Hence he forces his disciples to cross the sea by boat. The next morning, it did not take long for the crowd to realize that Jesus had disappeared. The crowd then goes looking Jesus. As such, they set out to Capernaum where Jesus and His disciples were known to resort. When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” The first time they had gone looking for him he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Now the welcome is different. He tells them directly that it is not out of love or devotion that they had come to him. “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” They do not understand the meaning of what Jesus is doing. Perhaps they do not even want to understand; they are just seeking their own immediate benefit. Jesus, through his humanity, represents the presence of God in the world. And God is the source of all our needs: material needs social needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs… The abundant feeding with the bread and fish was a sign of much deeper nourishment that comes from God.
Jesus tells them that they are not to work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give them. Those Words of Jesus taken from Prophet Isaiah were a call to work for eternal life. While one is called to work for earthly bread, he is also called to work for eternal life. He admonishes them that the earthly bread, shall pass but the eternal life, shall be forever. They find it difficult to understand and they ask what they must do to perform the works of God. The reply of Jesus is simple, that they have to believe in Him Whom the heavenly Father had sent. Jesus in fact calls them to faith and trust in him and his works. As Jesus tried to enlighten the crowd regarding His life giving Divinity, the crowd argued among themselves that Jesus had only multiplied earthly bread. Yet, through Moses, God had given His people “bread from heaven.” The people failed to realize the prophetic nature of the manna, the bread from Heaven. Still they ask him for the divine bread. They could not grasp that Jesus was speaking of a non-physical bread and that He could give this heavenly Bread, they had not yet understood that Jesus had identified Himself as the Bread. But they had heard wrongly and they were still thinking of material food. They were still seeing the multiplication of the loaves and fish in a purely literal way. It is like the Samaritan woman at the well who wanted the “living” water that Jesus said he could give her. She wanted an unending supply so that she would not have to go to the well again.
When Jesus said to the crowd, “I am the Bread of Life,” he used the words “I am” for the first time during His ministry on earth. In those days, when those two words were spoken together in that particular order, they implied that God was speaking. Those two words were so Sacred that no one dared to say them. It was forbidden to say them because they implied that one was God or His equal. When Jesus used those words during His arrest in the garden, Judas, the police from the chief priests and the Pharisees stepped back and fell to the ground. Yet, Jesus used the words when He said, “I am the Bread of Life.” He was telling the people that He was God, the Giver of Life.” Jesus concluded His discourse by saying that “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” He is now the consoler, the God who cares and the one who looks after the hungry.
Eucharist and the Holy Mass for us the sign of the presence of Jesus and he invites us to share in him and his life. As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us thank the Lord for His gift of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life. The Lord

17th Sunday – July 26 – The good news and bad news

2009-07-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

17th Sunday – July 26 – The good news and bad news!
2 Kings 4:42-44; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15
There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."
Today we have the good news and bad news from the readings.
First the bad news --- In today’s First Reading, we heard that a man, perhaps a farmer, brought food from the first fruits to Elisha, the man of God. This generosity was in obedience to the word of God to His people through Moses. God’s people and trusting in the Lord, Elisha commanded that the food be given to the people. Hearing this, the servant questioned how a hundred persons could be fed with so little food. That is the attitude of the servant and he did not think of who Elisha is. God news is that both the man who brought the food, was generous and obedient and trusting the Lord. Keeping in mind the providential care of God, Elisha repeated his command, “Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” The servant obeyed and the people had enough to eat and there was plenty left over. Again we see the role of Prophet Elisha who shared the fruits with those in needs, and the servant who distributed the food to the one hundred persons who ate it, indicates the holy nature of God in the unity of the Spirit of the Lord. Through these actions, we perceive that the people knew and obeyed the will of God. Through these actions, we perceive spiritual love, God’s people taking care of one another as one people. We perceive the joy of giving and the joy of receiving, all for the benefit of the one people of God.
There is good news and bad news in the Gospel passage which describes first the bad news, attitude of the disciples “Two hundred days wages worth of food would not be enough”. The good news is that the source of the food is the little boy that gave up his food for Jesus to share it with the others. This incident reminds us of the miracle of the multiplication of food, where with five barley loaves and two fish Jesus fed five thousand persons and they had twelve baskets of leftovers. This may seem humanly impossible, but when God is pleased with His children, nothing is impossible for him. We also heard that the disciples obeyed Jesus. They asked the people to sit down and while they were seated, they were fed. These people are those who were united in the Spirit in obedience and ate as much as they wanted. This miracle serves as an introduction for a long discourse on Jesus as the Bread of Life. John begins by telling us that Jesus crossed over to the opposite shore of the Lake of Galilee and that he was followed by a large crowd. They had walked a long distance to see Jesus. John says it was because “they saw the signs that Jesus was doing for the sick”. This is likely an expression of the deep hunger and longing of people for healing and wholeness in their lives. At the same time, it could also be interpreted in a purely selfish and curious sense, the way people will flock in crowds after hearing about some “miraculous” event. John does not speak about his teaching ministry as the Synoptic Gospels do.
1. Humility – humble before the Lord and the people –Shred with God others.
2. Trust – God Can work miracles for nothing is impossible for God
3. 3. Obedience to what God tells us

2009-07-18T15:18:00.001-07:00

16th week Ordinary time—July 19 2009
When Jesus calls himself a Good Shepherd, we find difficult to grasp the full meaning of the role of a Shepherd. This is more so when we are not accustomed to rearing the sheep. A shepherd has an important task of caring for the sheep, protecting them, taking them to green pastures, and loving them with affection. It is a job that needs total commitment from his part; provide steady energy to care for them and the shepherd normally will have little rest. The sheep needs constant and steady watch over his sheep. When one sheep goes astray, others easily follow blindly and often the entire herd is placed in dangerous situation. Once gone astray, the sheep will have little sense to get out of it till the shepherd positively helps them. During the time of Jesus the Shepherd were considered as outcasts of society for their uncultured manners and often being away from the society and yet the society needed them to care their sheep and provide wool meat and milk for them. It was a lowly and humble job and at the same time they carried a responsibility of protecting the herd under their care. It is easy to see Jesus as a shepherd. He gathers the people around him. He protects them, takes care of them, prepares a meal for all and restores the soul to normalcy. By accepting the role of a Shepherd Jesus had to sacrifice a lot and accept the responsibility of caring for the many. We know him as our Shepherd and as the psalm says, with him around us nothing we shall want. One has to listen to his voice and follow him closely. As a shepherd he gave up his life for us and even now he gives us the Eucharist as our food. We all need to listen to his voice and follow him.
Prophet Jeremiah today in the First Reading has strong words for shepherds who are irresponsible and who let their flocks be scattered and destroyed. He was speaking to the religious leaders of his own time. It is a total contrast to the kind of shepherd that Jesus shows himself to be. We also heard the promise of God the Father to gather the remnant of His flock out of all the lands and to raise shepherds over them to protect them. In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, disappointed with the priestly branch of the Levites who were called to be the shepherds, God promised with the words: “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold.” As our living faith teaches us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, came into the world and laid down His life for the sheep. Through the ministry of the common priesthood, as we reflect during the current year dedicated to priests, we see the fulfillment of the role of a Shepherd in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, as a fulfillment of this Divine prophecy. Through the prophets God had also promised that he would raise a righteous Branch, He who would reign as King and deal wisely, and he would execute justice and righteousness in the land. Through Him who will be called our righteousness, the people from every nation would qualify to be saved.
The same theme continues in the second reading of being a good shepherd caring for the sheep. It is necessary that in the church there are Good shepherds, good pastors, all for the unity of the community. They are to remove all discord and division in communities. The Second Reading from Ephesians speaks of how Jesus brought Jews and Gentiles together in one family. He broke down the barrier that divided them, a barrier symbolized by a wall in the Temple. In fact, the Temple was a building of many walls, each one marking off limits beyond which certain people could not go. There was a wall for Gentiles, beyond that a wall for women, a wall for men, and a wall for priests. And even a barrier into the Holy of Holies into which only the High Priest could go once a year. By his dying on the cross, Jesus broke down hatred and divisiveness and created a New Person and a new family not based on blood, race, nationality, gender, or class. He demolished the barriers that divide one group of people from another. Jesus’ teaching was for all and he had no distinction of any sort. He invited them all to belong to one family, his family, with just one Father, where all are truly brothers and sisters. This is the demon which we, as active disciples, most need to liberate people from – the demon of division. This is the healing which we most need to bring – to break down the walls of prejudice and help all to become one family.
In today’s Gospel Mark tells us that the disciples had just returned from a missionary journey. They had been doing the same work as Jesus: they had gone to proclaim the kingdom; they were calling on people to change their lives and prepare to enter the Kingdom; they were liberating people from evil powers which control and enslave them; they were anointing people and healing all kinds of sicknesses. They did with authority of their master, what Jesus had been doing over the past two years. Now, obviously with some pride, they report back to Jesus all they had done. They would have told him all their activities, the miracles they worked, healing they did and the message they had taught. Here, we see their accountability, where the apostles render complete account to Jesus who had sent them with trust. They were happy and probably at the same time tired and Jesus recognises this easily. Jesus and the disciples were surrounded by crowds of people so that they did not even have time to eat. The Master then suggests that they all go off to a quiet place to be by themselves alone. Jesus would have done this withdrawal purposely, to give them some quiet time to reflect and pray on what they had experienced. It is something we all need from time to time. They had worked hard and they deserved total rest to re-energize them. Jesus certainly felt they needed to be separated for a while to reflect on what they were really doing and where their ‘power’ really came from. People however refused to leave them alone; they follow them. Maybe the disciples were highly disappointed as their day of rest had disappeared due to the crowds and Jesus now consoles them. Perhaps Jesus, too, was disappointed as it was he who brought the disciples out. After all, the idea of getting away was his. But, seeing the huge crowd, he was filled with compassion for them.
When in the Scriptures we see Jesus often surrounded by crowds, we are not fully surprised as he was always a crowd puller, a person so attractive. Yet we are surprised when he tells disciples come and rest. He is so protective of them and so caring for them. No one had more important and urgent mission than Jesus. Yet he knew that important things cannot be accomplished without peace of mind. He himself used to spend his time in quiet. The Gospels tell us that early mornings he went to pray and sometimes he spent the whole night in prayers. He wanted his friends also to have the same. Yet when Jesus saw the crowds as sheep without a shepherd, people without direction, without guidance, hungry for words of light and meaning in their lives. They had no one to take care of them or protect them. Even though he was tired, Jesus immediately sat down and began to teach them. He was not worried of his personal welfare but cared more for the people. People were eager to listen to him. He spoke to them with an intensity and power that they had never before experienced.
We need to pray that our Church has today truly effective, responsible and compassionate pastors. But we need also to pray for other kinds of leaders, including parents and teachers of all kinds – in a way all of us who are in any way responsible for influencing others. The Lord is out Good Shepherd who wishes to lead us in right paths. To follow the Lord we have to be able to listen to him. From time to time at least we have to deliberately, sift the noise and distractions from our life and listen to the voice of the shepherd. Then we have no fear in our life in the face of any danger. We ask the Good Shepherd to care for us and ask for the grace that we may be his shepherds to carry out his mission.

MY dentist’s office is full of very expensive and sophisticated equipment. The high-tech gadgetry helps him to monitor possible problems with my teeth and treat whatever problems may arise with greater precision and less pain for me. But there’s one dental-health issue that all the fancy equipment can’t address: the results of not flossing daily. Standing in the middle of all that equipment, my dentist told me, “There’s no substitute for running that piece of floss between your teeth.” It’s hard to believe that an action so simple can have such great effect. Sometimes in the pursuit of good spiritual health, we try to substitute complicated and advanced methods for the simple ones we have readily at hand. We may go to conferences or seminars to deepen our spirituality but neglect daily meditation and Bible study. There’s no substitute for flossing, and there’s no substitute for praying and reading scripture daily. Dear God, help us do the things that will bring us closer to you. Amen.

Week 15 ordinary time -- July 12 2009

2009-07-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

I saw a movie at Grant last week. It is called Whatever Works. It is a Woody Allen film and the central character is Boris Yelnikoff, an eccentric in his seventies who believes that life happens by chance. I mean, what are the chances that one would jump out of the window of a New York high rise and still survive? What are the chances that a pretty twenty-two year old runaway from Mississippi would land up at his door and finally end up marrying him? What are the chances that the mother of this girl would land up at the same apartment and make it big in New York even though it meant happily sleeping between two men? What are the chances that the girl’s father would land up at the same apartment in search of his daughter and wife and finally meet the man of his dreams to live happily ever after. The girl finally realizes that marrying a younger man would make her happier and what are the chances that a hopeless Boris would jump out of the window a second time, only to land on his future wife. The movie ends with all the characters happily sharing a drink. Boris’ lesson to the audience at the end of it all is simple. Life is a game of chance. Take any happiness you get along the way in whatever way it comes. “Whatever works.”

I have to admit, the “whatever works” philosophy is very attractive. It certainly seems easier, than undertaking the arduous task of defining a goal and purpose for life. I wish at birth attached to all of us is small fortune cookie that would have life all worked out for us. But it does not work that way. And so we struggle not only trying to make life but also to make meaning out of it. Wealth, occupation, gender, are no barriers to asking the question, “What is the purpose of my life?” Some of us struggle more than others but in reality we know that “whatever works” does not work.
Listen to these words from today’s second reading. It has something to say about the purpose of human life. Paul says, “In him (Christ) we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory….” (Eph 1:11-12). In other words, it is possible for human beings to find the meaning and purpose of life by aligning themselves with God’s will and purpose. Scripture calls people who are “chosen and destined according to the purpose of God,” prophets. Amos in today’s first reading is a classic example of this. Amos was a shepherd under the reign of King Jeroboam II. While there was tremendous prosperity during his reign there was also terrible injustice and idolatry. Amos is called aside by God for God’s purpose – to call an entire people to fidelity and justice. Amos so personalizes this call that even when he is threatened by Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, he continues to prophesy at the cost of his life. He had found his purpose in God’s purpose. In the gospel reading Jesus calls the twelve and sent them out to preach repentance. Through the healing, the cure and their preaching they bring God’s presence to people. But ever more, in Jesus mission they find their own purpose and meaning.

Let me offer three practical implications from today’s readings.

a) The concept of “being chosen by God for God’s purpose” is a very radical concept in Christianity. By radical I mean that there is the concept of being chosen from the womb, or being chosen, as Paul says in today’s second reading, “before the foundation of the world.” (Eph 1:4) Thus each of us has a very holy and sacred task assigned to us. Our task is to discover beyond our occupation and our earthly pursuits, the eternal significance of our lives. This week spend immense amount of time in prayer and reflection on this one question: “What is the eternal significance of my life; as I see it; as God sees it?”

b) At some point we must realize that the eternal significance of every person has social implications. Amos’ prophetic calling is integrally related to the renewal of a nation. I am most touched by Amos “truth-telling” as his prophetic act. Not only does he defend his prophetic calling in the face of threats but if we read the book of Amos, he spoke the truth against the prevalent injustice and infidelity. Against kings, priests, false prophets and those in authority, he would only proclaim the truth. Our nation and the world is in the economic and violent turmoil it is today because people in political and economic powers engaged in deception. Think of the child abuse crisis in the church – if only there was more truth and honesty so many lives would be unharmed. It is not uncommon for us to engage in small untruths to escape meeting people, not go to work, to avoid embarrassment, to avoid change, to avoid taxes. Like Amos, I would like for us to think about truth-telling as prophetic act. Truth telling is of eternal significance.

c) A third practical implication being prophetic involves what I call the prophetic vision. One of the most serious threats to being authentically prophetic is to lose God’s purpose and will by aligning ourselves with political ideologies. The goal of politics is power. The goal of a prophet, on the other hand, is eternity. Neither Rush Limbaugh or Michael Moore, neither Republicans or Democrats, neither Conservatives or Liberals, neither Progressive or Traditionalists present the entire truth. From my ordinary conversations with people I know how easy it is to confuse political ideologies with religious truths. In the midst of all these extremes, what does it mean to be “destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of God’s will, so that we might exist for the praise of God’s glory…” To be able to truly be the voice of God in our broken, divided, violent, and oppressive world is to be a prophet. This is an eternal calling.

Just for a moment let us turn our focus to the altar, to the Eucharist and to the eternal sacrifice it makes present. Let us become aware that moral human beings that we are will soon become one with the Eternal God. This is the God who calls us, has destined us according to God’s eternal will. Let us allow our mortal human will to mingle with the Eternal will of God. For this is our eternal purpose, in this is our eternity. Amen.

Fr. Joy Poonoly C.Ss.R.

14th week - July 5th 2009

2009-07-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

14th Week – July 5th, Theme: Focus on Christian virtues of obedience, servitude and humility of Lord Jesus visualized by today’s readings.
You are familiar with the word prejudice. We are against at times people, things and system. We also have sociological prejudice, social prejudice or religious prejudice. From the perspective of prejudice we tend to judge, evaluate and respond to people and situation. We know that once we have prejudice we will not be able to see thing in its perspective. How can I overcome prejudices?
In today’s gospel we see people prejudiced against Jesus.
Today’s three readings from the Holy Scriptures echo the Christian virtues of obedience, servitude and humility that should be the part of every Christian life as they are visualized in Lord Jesus, the prophet Ezekiel and St. Paul. All three, subjected to a greater authority, submitted themselves to the Divine Will of the Lord God. All of them had a mission to fulfil send by the divine providence and they showed their fidelity to this mission. In the First Reading from the Book of Ezekiel, we heard that the Spirit entered into Ezekiel, stood him on his feet and commissioned him to go to the people of Israel and to preach to them. During his commission, Ezekiel was warned that there was a possibility that the people would reject the message that he was delivering from God. He has been called to proclaim God’s message to his people. God does not promise him an easy time. But, whether they hear or refuse to hear, they shall know that there has been a prophet among them. Ezekiel obeyed the Lord God and served him. He went to the people with the message from God, preached to them, and the Word of God was rejected by many. Yet he remained faithful to God and continued his work. God’s call is gratuitous and we see him as on who is good and generous, giving to us freely all that we have and all that we are. At the same time He too expects us to give something to Him in return. Our gift to God is our person, our existence, our life and our words and our actions.
In the second Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians tells of the real danger even in serving God where the virtue of obedience can make a person proud. This is much the pharisaic attitude. As we mature in Christ, by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, we gain greater understanding and knowledge of the spiritual mysteries of Christ and His mystical Body. While we qualify to teach, be it as a priest, a brother, a sister or a catechist, we are called always to remain humble in our obedience and servitude to the Lord Jesus. We are called to always remember that if our spiritual work shines in inspirations because we have the gift of teaching, it is because it IS a gift of teaching. It is NOT because of anything that we can or have achieved on our own. All praise and glory should always be given to the Lord God for His spiritual work that is manifested through us as humble servants. During the same reading, we heard St. Paul speaking about a thorn in the flesh, a messenger so to say, to torment him, to keep him from being too elated. We are not going to speculate as to what was the thorn because it is not revealed in the Holy Bible. The lesson that is important to learn from this is that sometimes the Lord will allow the evil one to torment us with a human weakness in order to keep us humble. As long as we have a weakness, it will discourage us from judging others who have a weakness of their own. Our hearts will tell us that we too are weak in the human nature and we should refrain from judging others. There are times when we may be afraid, or when we feel incompetent or inadequate. We can take encouragement from Paul in the Second Reading today. He had some very painful handicap which he felt prevented him from preaching the Gospel effectively. He begged God to take away this affliction.
The Gospel of Mark tells us how Jesus took his missionary task seriously and served God the Father in obedience and humility. The letter to the Hebrews tells us how Christ was obedient to the Father as he said “Here I am ready to your will.” Jesus came on earth to do the Divine Will of His Father and obeyed to the end, even when he died on the cross. St Paul tells us that “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.” Scriptures tell us that He came into the world in all humility and emptiness and showed himself as a humble servant in human flesh. Sometimes it looked as if his mission was a failure. He comes to his people with the message from God but they shut him out. Once during his public life he is in his hometown Nazareth accompanied by his disciples and he goes forward to teach in the synagogues. As was the right of any devout Jew, he gave the explanation in the synagogue on a Sabbath. The townspeople were amazed. They were astonished at the wisdom with which he spoke, and the power of the miracles they had heard he was performing. They are even more amazed because they know who Jesus was. They grew up with him. Only a few believed in Him and others were not willing to accept him as they knew him too well. They personally knew Him as the Son Mary and Joseph, with whom they were very familiar and they also knew him as the relative of James, Jose, Judas and Simon they could not easily take his teaching. They knew very well that he was a simple, ordinary carpenter. They do not hear the message because they are blinded by the familiarity of the person. A perfect example of the saying that familiarity breeds contempt, not just boredom but contempt. Their familiarity with him was indeed a block to their faith, and they could not see the divine presence in Jesus. Naturally therefore very few were healed. They see the outward person but they do not listen to the words. They had made up their minds about him long ago.
So many people in our society even today have made up their minds about Jesus and presume that what they know is the whole story about him. And what they reject is often not the real Jesus, the Jesus of the Gospels, but some distortion that has found its way into their thinking. Even though we easily blame the people of Nazareth, We are not much different from them. The same thing can happen and does happen to us all the time. God is constantly speaking to us through the people we know, through things that happen to us, through situations in which we find ourselves. Again and again we do not recognise his voice or his message because he is speaking through someone we know very well, or someone we do not like, or someone who is a total stranger or a foreigner. We see the person and not the God who speaks through the instrument of the person. Jesus now makes a sad comment on his townspeople. “A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” It is an experience all prophets must be ready for. While people in other places greeted Jesus with enthusiasm and hung on his words, his own townspeople, his own family wrote him off, treated him with cynicism.
It is strange that messages urging truth, love, justice, freedom and peace arouse such opposition, hostility, hatred and violence. But it is happening all the time. Because, in many parts of the world, words like ‘truth’, ‘justice’, ‘freedom’ are seen as dangerous and threatening. Strange as it may seem, there are people who do not want to hear them. Today’s readings call us to awaken our hearts so we may see the Divine truth beyond the human appearance of those we know. Obeying and serving the Lord to whom we are indebted for our salvation, we should humbly believe in the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit that is manifested through our brothers and sisters in the Holy Name of Jesus. When we will have attained that elevation of spiritual knowledge and understanding, our faith will bring us to the realization that God is manifesting Himself all around us, in ways that we have never seen before. It is something each of us need to remember. Everyone of us, simply because of our baptism, has been called to be a prophet. We have all been called to spread the message of the Gospel in our families, in our working places, among our friends, in our society. “That is why,” says Paul, “I am content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.” That is the voice of a true prophet.

13th Sunday - ordinary time june 27, God wants us to use ordinary means to experience him.

2009-06-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

One spring a terrible flood engulfed a rural area. It stranded one woman in her house. As the woman stood at her kitchen window, a boat appeared. As the driver said “climb aboard and save yourself”. “No thanks” said the woman, “I trust the Lord and he will save me”. The driver shook his head and drove off. The next day the flood rose to the second floor of the house. As the woman stood at a second floor window watching the water, another boat appeared. The driver said “Climb aboard and save yourself”. “No thanks” said the woman, “I trust the Lord and the Lord will save me”. The drive r shook his head and drove off.
The following day, the water rose to the roof of the house. As the woman was sitting on the roof of the house watching the water, a helicopter appeared. The Pilot called down over a loud speaker, “I will drop a rope ladder to you, climb and save yourself. “No thanks” said the woman, “I trust the Lord and he will save me”. The pilot shook his head and flew off. The next day the flood engulfed the house and the old woman drowned. When she got to heaven, she said to St. Peter, “before I go inside I want to register a complaint. I trusted the Lord would save me from the flood but he let me down”. Then St. Peter gave the woman a puzzled look and said “I don’t know what more the Lord could have done for you. He sent you two boats and one helicopter. But you did not make use of those opportunities.
The old woman should have read today’s gospel more closely. It shows two people in need of help as she was. Both people trusted God as she did. But there is one big difference between their trust and hers.
Let us see what it is. Jesus is approached by an official of the synagogue, called Jairus. His daughter is seriously ill and he wants Jesus to come and lay his hands on her “my daughter is at the point of death. Please come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live”. Jairus trusted, went to Jesus and pleaded. It was something unusual that a leader should ask this favor when much opposition was brooding around him. But Jesus, who always seeks to do good, sets out for Jairus’ house and is followed by a huge crowd of jostling people. Thus reaching out to the synagogue leader who had faith in Him, Jesus raised his twelve year old daughter back to life.
In the second story a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years went to Jesus trusting and touched the clothes of the Lord Jesus. Then she was healed of twelve years of hemorrhages, simply by touching. So both the people do more than trusting in the Lord. They go a step further. They make an attempt, they go to Jesus trusting and they were healed. They make use of the ordinary means God gave them to obtain the healing they need.
This is where the woman in the flood made their mistake. She forgot that God normally acts in our lives through ordinary means. She forgot that we must do our part and co-operate with God by using the normal and ordinary means he gives us. In other words we cannot sit idly and expect God to work some miracles for us. We must use all the ordinary means God gives us to help ourselves.
In the first reading, the author says that God is person of understanding and compassion. “God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living. For he created all things so that they might exist; the generative forces of the world are wholesome, and there is no destructive poison in them, and the dominion of Hades is not on earth. For righteousness is immortal.” Further we all know that the kind God takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living. He loves them all.
In the second reading, Paul tells us Jesus becomes a model of self emptying. The Corinthians should share whatever they can spare for their poorer brothers in other churches. Interestingly, he says that in sharing with others we are not expected to give away what we genuinely need ourselves but only from our surplus. And, when I share my surplus today with someone in greater need, I myself can hope to be treated in the same way in my own hour of need. Three reading focus on the following ideas.
1. Trust the Lord and use and ordinary means to experience God in life.
2. We need to know that God loves us for he created us in his own image and likeness.
3. We are called to share our goodness and god experience with others.
God does not treat us like puppets. He treats us like partners. God gives us all the ordinary resources we need for ordinary living.

12th Sunday -- God as the protector-- June 21

2009-06-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

12th Sunday – Ordinary time, God as the protector
Amazing Grace
John Newton was the son of an English sea Captain. When John was ten, his mother died and he went to the sea with his father. The boy learnt the sea backward and forward. At 17 he rebelled against his father, left the ship and began living a wild and loose life. Eventually John took a job on a cargo ship that carried slaves from Africa to America. He was promoted rapidly and soon became captain of the ship. Newton never worried about whether the slave trade was right or wrong. He just did it because he wanted to make money. Then something happened to change all that.
One night a violent storm blew up at Sea. The waves grew to the size of mountains. They picked up Newton’s ship and threw it around like a toy. Everyone on board was filled with panic. Then Newton did something he had not done since leaving his father’s ship. He prayed shouting at the top of his voice he said “God if you will only save us I promise to be your slave forever”. God heard his prayer and the violent storm stopped and the ship survived.
When Newton reached land, he kept his promise and quit the slave trade. Later he studied for the ministry and was ordained pastor of a small church in Olney, England. There he won fame as a preacher and a composer of hymns. One of the most moving hymns Newton wrote is the one that praises God for his conversion. The Words read “Amazing grace how sweet the sound”
The Story of John Newton bears a striking resemblance to today’s gospel Like Newton the apostles cried out “save us lord”. God becomes the protector.
1. In the first reading this theme of Divine power is manifested from the book of Job. God speaks to Job out of storm and communicated that God has the power to still the storms of life. This book raises several questions concerning the problem of evil in the world. We are often concerned of the suffering of the innocent in the world. Job, the innocent person, suffers and is accused of guilt by his “friends,” and yet remains content with his total trust in God. God proclaims His superiority over the seas and all powers and the final victory is His. Then Job has no reason whatsoever to experience doubts. At the same time God indicated to Job that He is in full control of creation. He explains to him of the origin of the earth, the seas and the light. He tells him of his sovereignty and Job has no doubts. He tells him of the nature and Consequently, God reveals Himself to Job and Job to himself.” As human beings it is as it is to make false assumptions. We easily judge God as we frequently tend to judge others human persons, without knowing all the particulars of a situation. Man’s faith should be in God, the Divine Providence that never fails. Realizing the Lord’s power we like Job can return to a deeper faith and a sense of our own humble role in the course. God protected him from his suffering.
2. In today’s Second Reading taken from the Second Letter to the Corinthians we are called to live for Christ who died for us. There is no greater love than the love of one who dies for someone else. Jesus himself tells us of such love in his Final Discourse as given in the Gospel of John Chapter 15. The love of Christ is shown above all to us that He died for us. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice, giving His precious life for each and every one of us so that we may live. Paul was deeply moved by this love of Christ. This special love kept Paul from living for himself. It led him to do great things for Christ and His people. Here we may ask what “the love of Christ?” is. Is it the love Christ has for us or the love that we have for Him? That answer is found in the actions of Saint Paul. The love that Jesus had for Paul is what made the apostle serve such tireless and unselfish way. The only reason that we love Jesus is that He first loved us. It is the love of Christ that moves us to keep going in the service of God. Christ does not love us just for the sake of loving us. He suffered and died for us because we are his own, made in his own image and likeness.
3. Let us also turn to a third point. Let us see how the storm at sea contains a beautiful and practical message for families on this father’s day. When john Newton left his father’s ship his father was heartsick. We can imagine his father standing on the deck that night praying to God in words like this.
“Lord why did this have to happen? Why does not John see that I love him? Why can’t he see that you love him, Lord even though he has gone away from us protect him”.
Jesus became a protector and supporter of the situations and storm and difficulties.

The feast of the The Body and Blood of Christ-- June 14th 2009

2009-06-18T07:07:00.001-07:00

The Feast of the body and blood of Christ
Here is a letter that I received recently from Anne Albright. She writes:", "I recently received a card from someone regarding my attendance at the healing mass in October, 2008, and would like to express my gratitude.

I have attended two healing masses on behalf of my son at St.Gerard Church. A year ago he was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. The doctors said that they could treat him, but did not hold out much hope. Chemo was started and in November he had a surgery and the doctors removed what they could from his abdomen. Steve began to surprise the medical people with better-than-expected blood work and other tests. The protocol for this type of cancer is to do a second surgery six months later after the first, with more scraping and cutting. (At the first surgery they found that the cancer had not invaded any of his organs- it was all on the outside). All the test scars currently show no sign of cancer, and the doctors hope to just “have a look around” laproscopically instead of opening his abdomen again. My heartfelt thanks to you for our prayers because I know that prayer is what has created a better prognosis. Steve has three year old and 19 month old children and his wish is for them to know him. Please continue to remember him in your prayers. My thanks to all,” - Anne Albright "
It is talking about the power of Eucharist. Today’s homily is a catechesis on the Eucharist. I want to take three central concepts in the Eucharist and discuss it, so that we have a deeper understanding of our gathering each Sunday. The three important concepts are “epiclesis,” “transubstantiation,” and “anamnesis.”

a. Epiclesis
Epiclesis, literally means to call out, to invoke. It means to invoke or call out to the Father that he may send the Holy Spirit, or invoke the Holy Spirit that he may come. We invoke the Holy Spirit or invoke the Father to send the Holy Spirit to accomplish an action that is beyond our capacity. In the Eucharist, the priest who is the minister of God invokes the Father to send the Spirit, so that the bread and wine may be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The Epiclesis in the second Eucharist prayer reads: “Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy so that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In the third Eucharist prayer it reads: “And so Father we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them holy by the power of your Spirit, so that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ at whose command we celebrate this Eucharist.” This action is possible not with human hand but with the intervention of the Holy Spirit, because it is the Spirit that gives life. (Ezek 37:1-10). What we are asking, then, that our gifts may cease to be ordinary bread and wine and begin to be a holy reality, the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also important to note that there is a Trinitarian dimension in the invocation. Father, send... Spirit upon... may become the Body and Blood of Jesus.
This is not the only Epiclesis in the Eucharist Prayer. There is also an invocation for the people. In the second Eucharistic Prayer, the invocation goes this way: “May all of us who share in the Body and Blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit.” In the third Eucharistic Prayer, it reads: “Grant that we who are nourished by his Body and Blood may be filled with his Holy Spirit and become one body, one spirit in Christ.” Once again, we are asking God to accomplish something that we as human beings cannot do by ourselves. Only the Spirit of God can make us the “body of Christ”, a community, one in mind and heart.

b. Anamnesis
The Greek word Anamnesis (from which comes the English word amnesia), means memory. It is that part of the Eucharist where we relive the memory, reenact what Christ did on the day of the Last Supper. This is what St. Paul says the Lord asks us to remember. “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in memory of me” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes (1 Cor 11:23-26).
The question in focus here is the word remembrance or memory. What do these words mean? As in normal English language, memory in Hebrew or Aramaic did not mean merely a recalling to memory. In fact, this is how the Catholic tradition differs from some other Christian traditions, for whom ‘communion service’ is merely a memory.
Let’s take a peep into the OT to get the Catholic understanding of ‘memory.’ Exodus 12:14, in reference to the Passover event, prescribed for the Israelites, “This day shall be a memorial feast for you… as a perpetual institution.” In the OT, the event that was recalled/remembered/called to memory was the Exodus event, particularly the Passover event. After the original event, each year as families got together to recall the event, it was not just an event recalled to memory but it was a reliving of that event. It was an actualization of that event. So, even after many years of the original event, the event was recalled in the present (Ex 12:27). When Christ used the words “Do this in memory”, he meant that we should relive, not just recall to mind, the new Passover - his passion, death, and resurrection. “For as often as we do this we proclaim the death of the Lord till he comes” (2 Cor 11:26). So when we celebrate the Eucharist and specially recall the Last Supper, we are actually reliving what Christ achieved for us on the Cross. It is as if the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord is being reenacted in our midst all over again. You might ask but why should the once and for all death of Christ be enacted again? Because as St. Paul says, “…as often as you do this, you proclaim his death until he comes again” (2 Cor 11:26).

c. Trans-substantiation
This word is not a foreign word, but a difficult English term. It is simple if we break the word. Trans would mean change, and we identify the word substance in the word substantiation. The word simply then means change of substance. How this applies to the Eucharist needs some explanation. We are referring here to the change of the substance of the bread and wine into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ. Anything tangible has two things: substance and its qualities. Let me give you an example. Take a piece of paper. The paper is the substance i.e. the thing the paper is made of. The paper could be white, or red, or pink, and the shape could be round or square, and it could be rough or smooth, and it could be thick or thin. The color, the shape, the quality and the thickness of the paper are its qualities. I can change the qualities of paper but not the substance. If I did, it would not paper any more. In the Eucharist the opposite happens as a work of the Holy Spirit. When the priest prays for the Spirit to come (Epiclesis), the substance of the bread and wine changes into the substance of the Body and blood of Christ, without changing the qualities. That is why the change is not visible. So the bread is no more bread and the wine is no more wine but the Body and Blood of Christ, although the shape and color (qualities) remains the same. This principle is called trans-substantiation, because the substance has changed.
Conclusion
The words of the doxology i.e., “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all Glory and honor is yours almighty Father, forever and ever,” reveal the entire meaning of the Eucharist. This is the summit or the climax of our worship. This is perfect worship. This worship is not lacking in anything. This is so because we offer worship to the Father, through, with and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Only Christ could have in his lifetime offered perfect worship to the Father. We unite ourselves through, with and in Him, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit to offer perfect worship. This perfect worship is made possible for us because of Christ. Any other form of worship is also worship but they lack the perfection that the Eucharist, (Christ) offers.

Let us then proceed to the table to "relive" the memory of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus in and through this Eucharist. Let this be our perfect worship.

The Holy Trinity- June 7th @009

2009-06-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

For four consecutive weeks, hardcore fictional movies have broken all records at the box office: Spiderman III, Shrek III, and Pirates III. That completely fictional movies would be this successful is really fascinating. After all, we don’t find people spinning webs and flying around in real life. We don’t find ourselves magically transported in space and time in real life. And “up” is not “down” in real life. Why have these movies captured the imagination of the general public? Mystery – perhaps, that is the answer. From my perspective, these movies transport us from the real world into a mysterious world and it fascinates human imagination. In fact, as human beings, a sense of mystery is ingrained in each one of us. And that is why the outer space and the ocean bed intrigue us.

However, human capacity for the mysterious is not limited to the physical world. Karl Rahner, the famous theologian said that human beings are born with this sense of mystery and thus human beings constantly strive toward the transcendent. The highest point of this transcendence is God.

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Trinity – God as three persons yet one God. This is difficult for human beings to comprehend.It is a mystery. However, let me make three observations points in this regard. First, human beings cannot fully comprehend God. In fact, the more we think we know God the deeper the divine mystery becomes. All we can do is use analogies to understand the mystery that God is. For example, C.S. Lewis used the analogy of a three dimensional picture to explain the Trinity. If we draw a line on a piece of paper it becomes a one-dimensional picture. You can make that line a square if you add length and breadth to it. Now, it is a two dimensional picture but the same square. Make the square into a cube, by adding two more lines in such a way that now there is depth in the picture, which is the third dimension. So now there is one image but three dimensions. Trinity, according to C.S. Lewis is like that - three persons yet one God. Second, the things we do know about God who is known not because of human ingenuity but God’s revelation. We know that God has created us and revealed himself to us. Thus, we know God as our creator, our redeemer, and our destiny. Thus, we know God as Trinity because Jesus revealed that to us, as we heard in the gospel reading. Third, one day we shall see God face to face. And then we shall know God as God really is.

I want to take each of these points and draw practical implications for us.

First, the feast of the Trinity is an invitation to enter into the depths of God. We see an example of that in today’s first reading. God speaks to the author and reveals God to him. He becomes aware of the richness and depths of spiritual realities. He becomes aware of Gods’ wisdom in creation. Awareness of such realities happen in prayer. And what I mean by prayer is not merely saying our morning and night prayers, but sitting in silence and discovering the Triune God who is within us. By prayer I mean developing a deep personal relationship with God, deeper than any human relationship. And as we do that, God takes us deeper and deeper into the mystery of his being. God invites us today to enter into his very life.

Secondly, if as the first reading tells us, God is our Creator then, then we can only know ourselves if we know God. This happened to me. I still remember my growing up years when I was trying to find myself. I did not like myself, I thought I was useless, not good enough to be loved; I was not talented, and could hardly say two sentences without stammering. And then I discovered a God who loved me unconditionally. It was this discovery that changed my life. The more I got to know God, the more I got to know myself. The more I discovered God the more I found myself. My vocation stems from this knowledge of God. I am a priest today not because of who I am but because of who God is. As St. Paul says in today’s second reading, hope can only come when we know that the love of God has been poured into our hearts. We can only know the meaning of our lives, our destiny, and our purpose if we know God.

The third practical implication of the feast of the Trinity is that God has revealed himself to us as community – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The relationship between the community of persons is a model for our relationships. Relationships break to the extent that either of the partners in a relation fails to genuinely respect, love, honor, commit oneself to the relationship. In the work of our redemption, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit had their own roles to play and they did so in fidelity, love, and obedience. The feast of the Trinity should lead us to recommit ourselves to our relationships. Let us pray for the difficult relationships in our lives.

The climax of every Eucharist is the doxology. “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours almighty Father, forever and ever Amen. It is a Trinitarian prayer of praise. In fact, every Eucharist is a celebration of the Trinity – Jesus offering his sacrifice to the Father made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us today, lose ourselves in this mystery.