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.

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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.

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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.

October 7, 2012

27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Genesis 2:18-24

   The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.

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Second Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11

   Brothers and sisters, "He for a little while" was made "lower than the angels," that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them "brothers."

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:2-16

   The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." In the house the disciples again questioned him about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus 

   Pharisees are bringing in a question to trap Jesus. They see Jesus as progressive or as a man who does not fall in line with the normal understanding. The Pharisees think that they are right because they follow the tradition of Moses. Jesus falls back to God and not just to Moses. Moses’ understanding and interpretations are good because they help the people at a particular situation and at a particular time. But God’s understanding is good for all times and for all situations.
   Jesus wanted the children to come to him and he wanted to be with them. Kingdom of God belongs to people who are like little children. Being among the children, Jesus experienced the kingdom. Where children are (people who are like children) there the kingdom of God is.