December 30, 2012

Feast of Holy Family

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1: 20-22,24-28

   In those days Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him. The next time her husband Elkanah was going up with the rest of his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows, Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband, "Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the LORD and to remain there forever; I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite." Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD." Hannah left Samuel there.

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Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-2,21-24

   Beloved, see what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:41-52

   Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus

   Family is the place where one should grow to maturity. Every child should remain with parents. Only when the child is grown and became mature (And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.) then only that person becomes independent and ready for public life. Until then that person grows to maturity in the presence of the parents. He is even removed from the temple to the family.
   In the family, the parents long for the child and want the good of the child and want the child to remain with them and they are even ready to face any sacrifice to bring the child back to the family. So child is the centre of the care, concern and even the life of the family. If there in no child then there is no family and that is the reason for the parents to go and search for the child. Family is incomplete without the child. The response of the child is one of obedience to the parents and grow to be mature in the sight of men and God.

December 23, 2012

4th Sunday of Advent

First Reading: Micah 5:2-5

   Thus says the LORD: You, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.

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Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10

   Brothers and sisters, when he came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in. Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.'" First he says, "Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in." These are offered according to the law. Then he says, "Behold, I come to do your will." He takes away the first to establish the second. By this "will," we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45

   Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus

   When God enters into the world and when God begins to act man is only a recipient. Man’s response to God will be one of wonder, gratitude and submission. In this man recognizes God’s greatness and accepts his own limitations in humility. Man, on his own, cannot do anything. Whenever God enters into history it is like a new creation.
   Mary finds herself to be in a similar situation. She knows the situation of the society and her own situation as well. The transformation that is taking place in the society or in the world or in the history or in her own life is not through any human intervention but purely of the action of God. It is a new creation. She accepts in humility and rejoices at God’s action. That is the faith of Mary.

December 16, 2012

3rd Sunday of Advent

First Reading: Zephania 3:14-18

   Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.

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Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7

   Brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading: Luke 3:10-18

   The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What then should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages." Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus

   People believed in John the Baptist. He was preaching repentance. He was also baptizing them with water. People thought that he was the expected messiah. So each one as an individual or as a representative of a group went to meet him and asked him "What then should we do?”. People wanted to be in right (correct) relationship with God.  
   John the Baptist answered each one according to his life style or according to his job that one was doing. His reply centered on sharing with the poor; being just in dealing with the others; and not demanding more than one deserves as wages. He was telling them about integrity, justice and sharing. He clearly said that he was not the messiah.

December 9, 2012

2nd Sunday of Advent

First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9

   Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: Wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship. Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children Gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, And that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God's command; For God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.

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Second Reading: Philippians 1:4-6,8-11

   Brothers and sisters, I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Reading: Luke 3:1-6

   In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. He went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus

   Biblical God works in history and through historical persons and God is referred to in relation to historical person. God’s action is definite and real because God acts in historical, sociological and religious contexts. It is not addressed in a vacuum rather it is addressed to a historical person and he becomes the transmitter of the word of God to the others.
   John son of Zechariah was made use by God to do this work of communicating the word of God to the people. God makes use of human persons to communicate himself to the world. This communication is to reveal the salvation of God to people and it is a call for repentance. Divine gifts are through human means.

December 2, 2012

1st Sunday of Advent

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

   The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: "The LORD our justice."

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Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

   Brothers and sisters, may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God-- and as you are conducting yourselves-- you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Gospel Reading: Luke 21:25-28,34-36

    Jesus said to his disciples: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus

   "But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." (Luke 21:28) Christian readers are puzzled over this passage. What did this passage tell the readers of the first century and what does it say to us the people of the twenty first century. For them it was speaking about the destruction of Jerusalem and the vindication of the followers of Jesus.
   Roman Empire joined hand with the leaders of Jerusalem and destroyed Jesus (the Son of Man) but now they are overthrown. The kingdom of God has come.  The present world must realize this and if the reject God’s invitations then they are heading for destruction. The followers of Jesus should practice patience at this time.

November 25, 2012

Solemnity of Christ the King

First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14

   As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

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Second Reading: Revelation 1:5-8

   Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."

Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37

   Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G. Selvam

   In the gospel text of today (Jn 18:33) Pilate asks Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?".  Later John would tell us  (in Jn 19:14) that the placard that was affixed to the cross to point out to the crime of Jesus read: “This is the King of the Jews.” And All the four gospels are agreed on this interesting detail (Mt 27:37; Mk 15:18; Lk 23:38; Jn 19:14). If we look at the temptations of Jesus that appear early in the synoptic gospels (Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 4:1-13), and more spread out during his public ministry in the gospel of John (Jn 6:15; 6:30-31; 7:3), we see Jesus making a discernment about his kingdom and what type of a king he is going to be.
   Jesus has the possibility to be ‘the king of spade’ – using his power to overthrow his enemies.  He does not choose this way.  He has the option to be ‘the king of diamond’ – using the possibility to possess the whole world and to buy people.  He does not give into this.  He has the opportunity to be ‘the king of club’– to use his power to perform miracles to preserve himself.  He sees this as a temptation.  Jesus discerns that the will of his father is that he be ‘the king of hearts.’ He will have to usher in the Kingdom of God through love, by appealing to the hearts of people – a kingdom that will not be brought through revolution, but through the evolution from within through the conversion of hearts. Now, this is going to take time.  It will be a slow process. It entails pain and even death.  He opts to be the “Suffering Servant.” And that is why, as the gospels describe, he ends up as a King who hangs on the cross.

November 18, 2012

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Daniel 12:1-3

   In those days, I Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever."

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Second Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14,18

   Brothers and sisters, every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

Gospel Reading: Mark 13:24-32

   Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. "Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   Man is worried about the last days and he is even frightened of the last days. Created beings had a beginning and they will have an end. It is natural law that material thing decay and get destroyed. Anyone who believes in creation will necessarily accept the last days. Man cannot be eternal on earth (creation stories of the Bible explain these).
   But when these things will happen is the question that man is faced with. Many false prophets have prophesied about the last days (they even fixed the dates and the hour) but they are gone (died) and the created world continues. Jesus has beautifully answered that only the Father knows the day and the hour. Earth quakes, Tsunami, Cyclones are only telling us that the created world is constantly facing the destruction and this is also a continuous process. We need to believe in the creator.

November 11, 2012

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: 1 Kings 17:10-16

   In those days, Elijah left and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread." "As the LORD, your God, lives," she answered, "I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die." "Do not be afraid," Elijah said to her. "Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

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Second Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28

   Brothers and sisters, Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Gospel Reading: Mark 13:24-32

   In the course of his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   In this passage Jesus condemns the persons of religious practices and the rich. The people of religious practices (Pharisees) do a lot of religious activities. They distinguish themselves in the way they dress and the way they go about among other people. They also say lengthy prayers but their behavior is far from being human. They are condemned by their own actions.
   The rich people also go about doing a lot of contribution to the temple and the temple upkeep. Like the religious practices, temple maintenance is also important. People need to contribute for the same. But the attitude with which one does has to be seen. Contributing the surplus money has no merit. Surplus money does not affect the donor. Contribution should pinch the donor.

November 4, 2012

31st Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6

   Moses spoke to the people, saying: "Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey. "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."

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Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28

   Brothers and sisters, the levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:28-34

   One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 'He is One and there is no other than he.' And 'to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   This is an interesting dialogue between Jesus and a Scribe. Jesus has answered the questions of many people. Many had raised questions on issues like Sabbath rule, purification rule, and many other religious pious behavioural rules. Jesus always answered them or challenged them to get answer from them. He is one final question and probably the only question that is to be answered rightly.
   Jesus answered rightly. He quotes the scriptures to answer (Deut 6:4 and Lev 19:18). The scribe moving further from here added that loving neighbour is more than all sacrifices. His interpretation is also right. This is where Jesus comes forward to say that he is not far from the kingdom. Kingdom is not only the right knowledge of the religion (commandments, rules etc); not only the right interpretation of the rules but correct living of the love of God and the neighbour. Only Jesus has done it rightly.

October 28, 2012

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9

   Thus says the LORD: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The LORD has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, The mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng. They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born.

தமிழ்

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-6

   Brothers and sisters, every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you"; just as he says in another place: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:46-52

   As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, he is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   When Jesus asked Bartimaeus, the blind man, ‘What you want me to do for you?’ he meant to ask him whether he was ready to give up his begging. He was asking him whether he was ready for a different way of life. He was asking him whether he was ready to earn his living (working and not sitting on the road side begging). Bartimaeus was challenged to change his way of life.
   Bartimaeus was ready for that and that was the reason that he threw his cloak. Cloak was used to spread on the ground to gather his begging. Jericho was not a cold place which needed a cloak to put on and that too during the day. Bartimaeus accepted the challenge even before he got the sight. He was not only ready for a new way of life but he was also ready to choose the best way of life- to follow Jesus.

October 21, 2012

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11

   The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

தமிழ்

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16

   Brothers and sisters, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:35-45

   James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   Jesus clearly and openly declared his vision and mission. Two of his close followers also openly declared their wish. Their wish did not correspond to the vision of Jesus. They were longing for posts and position. One wanted to be on the right = place of honour. Another wanted to be on the left = place of the beloved. These disciples had been with him for quite a long time and yet did not understand the mind of Jesus.
   They were reaching Jerusalem. They were in the last stage. Jesus has already completed most of his mission (he has completed his personal mission in Galilee and now on his way to Jerusalem and he had to heal only one more blind person, Bartimaeus). Jesus was sure of what was going to happen to him. As he began his ministry so he entered into the last stage as well. No temptation (from Satan or from his followers or from the people of politics or religion) could deter him from his stand.

October 14, 2012

28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Wisdom 7:7-11

   I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands.

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Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13

   Brothers and sisters, indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:17-30

  As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.'" He replied and said to him, "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   Jesus came into the world to reveal God and to establish God’s kingdom on the earth. In revealing God he has said, in today’s passage, two things. ‘No one is good but God alone’. Again he has said that ‘all things are possible for God’. God is good and God can do only good and everything that is done by God is good. At creation God found everything very good.
   God is all powerful and everything is possible for God. Salvation is not possible by humans. Salvation is a gift from God and it totally the work of God. Discipleship is acknowledging and accepting these qualities of God and living the life in gratitude to God. Leaving everything earthly and following Jesus on earth is also acknowledging God and God’s kingdom.