October 27, 2013

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Sirach 35:12-14,16-18

  The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. He is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint; He who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, Nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right. 

தமிழ்

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

   Beloved, I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading: Luke 18:9-14

   Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity-- greedy, dishonest, adulterous-- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G Selvam

  In the gospel text of today, Jesus invites us to examine our inner attitude in prayer. The Pharisee, in the story, “stands there” reminding God that he fasts twice a week. He seems to imply that he does not need to beg the mercy of God. He has done enough to automatically merit it. Instead of his fast being an act of ‘self-humiliation’, it becomes a reason for his pride. Yes, the Pharisee scores very high on practices of piety and good works. But his spiritual ‘activities’ could become the source of his fall. They deceive him. The Pharisee is not able to listen to the God who invites him.
   Pride is an attitude of living in an illusion about ourselves. Pride is a false belief that I don’t need God. The word ‘humility’, on the other hand, is related to the Latin word ‘humus’, which means, ‘earth’. So humility could mean lowering ourselves to the ground. That is what the Tax Collector does: “he stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven…” (Lk 18:13). Humility also reminds us that we need God, as much as we need the earth to stand on. Am I willing to BE in the presence of God, or am I busy DOING many things for God – even in prayer?

October 20, 2013

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Exodus 17:8-13

   In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, "Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses' hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

தமிழ்

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-4: 2

   Beloved, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, 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; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

Gospel Reading: Luke 18:1-8

   Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G Selvam

   In the gospel text of today we have a reminder on making frequent calls to God.  Jesus is still on his way to Jerusalem, and is nearly reaching his final destination.  Meanwhile he begins to tell us two stories about prayer. One, (in Lk 18:1-8) about constancy in prayer; and another, (in Lk 18:9-14) about our attitude in prayer. This Sunday we take up the first story, about the woman who went knocking at the door of the agnostic judge. The parable is about praying as long as we are on the face of the earth. It is about prayer in our daily life.
   Though the woman in the parable of today is seeking the help of the judge because she is in need, we should not lose sight of the context of the story. Luke tells us that Jesus “told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1, RSV). And the story ends with the statement from the mouth of Jesus, “When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8). Therfore whatever be the method, to pray continually! God needs to be the most frequently dialled number in our daily lives.

October 13, 2013

28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17

  Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. He returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant." "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it," Elisha replied; and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused. Naaman said: "If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD.

தமிழ்

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13

   Beloved, remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Gospel Reading: Luke 17:11-19

   As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met (him). They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G Selvam

   Jesus is on his final journey towards Jerusalem. In his journey from Galilee towards the south he has to pass through the Samaritan territory. It is at the borders that lepers were forced to live (Lev 13:45-46; Num 5:2). Jesus is about to enter a village, when this group of lepers – Jews and Samaritans – take courage to meet him. The lepers call Jesus by name. They were really requesting a cure: ‘Take pity on us.” Jesus wants to reinstate them in the society (Lev 14:2-3): “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” The lepers have ‘faith’ in the power of Jesus. So they obey Him. And they are cleansed.
   While the nine men really obey Jesus to the letter and continue their journey, just one man thinks it better to re-establish his relationship with God first. He wants to have a personal encounter with Jesus. This would not have been natural for a leper, if he had been constantly reminded by his society that he was cursed by God. Yet this man does so. Perhaps because he was a Samaritan, he thinks outside the box. He does two things that facilitate his salvation. He is grateful to God: he “turned back praising God at the top of his voice” (Lk 17:15). Secondly, he worships Jesus in an act of self-surrender: he “threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him” (Lk 17:16).

October 6, 2013

27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Habakkuk 1:2-3,2:2-4

  How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision Clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash man has no integrity; but the just man, because of his faith, shall live.

தமிழ்

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14

   Beloved, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Gospel Reading: Luke 17:5-10

   The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G Selvam

   The gospel text of today begins with the request of the apostles to Jesus: “Increase our faith.” And Jesus replies, “If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’, and it would obey you” (Lk 17:5-6). Often people quote these lines implying that if you had enough faith you could perform a show of miracles. This could well be the case. However, in the lines that follow (Lk 17:7-10) Jesus seems to imply something else. He talks about the fulfilment of duties.
   So, is Jesus saying, if we had faith like a mustard seed our ordinary activities of daily life could become extraordinary? I tend to think so. So then, here we have the first clue on how we can move towards holiness: add a little bit of faith to the fulfilment of our daily duties. Jesus says, “When you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty” (Lk 17:10). When we add faith to our daily work, we begin to participate in the creative and redemptive work of God.