Saturday, February 22, 2014

February 23, 2014

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18
   The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy. You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."
Responsorial Psalm: 103:1-2.3-4.8,10.12-13
Response: The Lord is kind and merciful.
  Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Response)
   He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion.
(Response)
   Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (Response)
   As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
   Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: "He catches the wise in their own ruses," and again: "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Kephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:38-48
   Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   ‘Offer no resistance to one who is evil’. This statement of Jesus makes any reader to reflect. But this is not a passive resistance. He is not telling his listener to be inactive. Jesus’ proposal to the listener is something different. He is telling them to be proactive. Jesus is telling them to be positive. His followers should do only good. Whatever be the evil done by the opponent, the followers of Jesus do only good. The actions of the followers should make the opponents to feel ashamed. They should be made to reflect.
   They should not be even considered as enemies and persecutors. (Love your enemies and pray for those…) So treat every equal (not even the distinction of friends and enemies) and do only good. St. Paul summarized this beautifully in Rom 12:21 saying overcome evil by doing good. It is this attitude that makes one a perfect man. ‘So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect’ is Matthew’s way of saying to his church to do only good and to treat everyone equally through prayers and blessings.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

February 16, 2014

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Sirach 15:15-20
   If you choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will. There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed. No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies.
Responsorial Psalm: 119:1-2.4-5.17-18.33-34
Response: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
  Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. (Response)
   You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!
(Response)
   Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words. Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law. (Response)
   Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
   Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him," this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:17-37
   Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.' But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife unless the marriage is unlawful causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.' But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Jesus says that he has come to fulfill the law and the prophets. He clearly explains this by saying it is not the external practices that matters rather it is the attitude of the person towards the law and the practice of it. He gives examples for this. It is not the killing or committing adultery or divorce or taking an oath that is bad (though they will in the end). But the anger that slowly turns one to be a murderer and the lustful look that leads one to sin etc are to be considered seriously.
   Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one. This is a strong statement from the mouth of Jesus. By saying this Jesus tells his listeners to mean what they say. Any statements of compromise or hazy statements should not be found among his followers. His followers are asked to be clear about not letting the evil one to play between what they say and what they mean.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

February 9, 2014

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10
   Thus says the LORD: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.
Responsorial Psalm: 112:4-5.6-7.8-9
Response: The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
  Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. (Response)
   He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
(Response) 
  His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear. Lavishly he gives to the poor; His justice shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
   When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16
   Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G Selvam
   The gospel reading of today, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the World” (Mt 5:13-14). What does that mean? Your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. Salt reminds us of taste and food. In the Scriptures, salt was also used in temple offering (Ezra 6:9), because the sacrifice that people offered was a reminder of the covenant with the God.
   Taken together, then, we are called to be light of the world by being the salt of the earth. We are called to radiate an invitation to the world to be part of the reign of God, by being faithful to our own intimacy with God. And in the context of the Word of God today, we are reminded to be intimately rooted in God so that we may continue to shine in the world. Remember the salt of the covenant with God, and be the light of the world.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

February 2, 2014

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
   Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in days of old, as in years gone by.
Responsorial Psalm: 24:7.8.9.10
Response: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
   Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (Response)
   Who is this king of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. (Response)
   Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (Response)
   Who is this king of glory? The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory. (Response)

Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
   Since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:22-40
   When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   God approaches man through revelation. Man has access to God through offerings, sacrifices, prayers etc. Man’s response is through offerings. This is so in every religion, culture and society. Even an atheist, who does not believe in a professed religion, has his appeal and approach to higher beings.
   Parents of Jesus fulfill the requirements of the religion of Moses. Not only they fulfill the law of their religion, but they also do it for Jesus about whom both of them received in revelation as Son of God. Even son of God is obliged to fulfill the law for the sake of the people. While he was being offered both Simeon and Anna received in revelation that he was the one to come and yet they received the offering.