July 27, 2014

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: 1 Kings 3:5,7-12

   The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." Solomon answered: "O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?" The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: "Because you have asked for this-- not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right-- I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you."

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 119:57,72.76-77.127-128.129-130
Response: Lord, I love your commands.
   I have said, O LORD, that my part is to keep your words. The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (Response)
   Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. (Response)
   For I love your command more than gold, however fine. For in all your precepts I go forward; every false way I hate. (Response)
   Wonderful are your decrees; therefore I observe them. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple. (Response)

Second Reading: Romans 8:28-30

   Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:44-52

   Jesus said to his disciples: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. "Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes." And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   The truths about the kingdom of heaven are mysteries. They are revealed through parables. A truth about the kingdom is that it is like a treasure. Treasures are always hidden and they are buried. They are not easily visible and available. Anyone who wants to possess this treasure will not make it known to everyone until he buys it. He will be ready to sacrifice everything to possess the kingdom. Kingdom is a treasure that demands sacrifice.
   Yet another truth about the kingdom is that it is like a fishing net that hauls all sorts of fish. There are varieties of fish and there are also good ones and bad ones. Good fish and bad fish live together and they are hauled in to the same net (kingdom). It is at the end of times that they are separated. No net hauls only good fish. Kingdom is not the place of only good people. Kingdom will also have evil ones. But it is at the end of times that they are separated.

July 20, 2014

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Wisdom 12:13,16-19

   There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned; For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity. But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; And you gave your sons good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 86:5-6.9-10.15-16
Response: Lord, you are good and forgiving.
   You, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. (Response)
   All the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O LORD, and glorify your name. For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds; you alone are God. (Response)
   You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity. Turn toward me, and have pity on me; give your strength to your servant. (Response)

Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27

   Brothers and sisters: The Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:24-43

   Jesus proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'" He spoke to them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world." Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Jesus used parables to reveal the secrets (the truths) of the kingdom. One of the secrets of the kingdom is that the kingdom contained in itself both good and the bad. God intended only the good but the evil is present among them. But the labourers of the kingdom are not to be bothered about removing the evil but they should only continue to work and work so that the good may reach their completion.
   Probably what St. Paul says in Romans 12:21 (overcome evil by doing good) is the result of this revelation. Second and the third revelations about the kingdom are: 1) the kingdom is so small and insignificant that it may go unnoticed. However it will be a place of rest and abode for many; 2) the way the kingdom functions is so unnoticed that only at the end one realizes that the kingdom has taken over the whole society.

July 13, 2014

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11

   Thus says the LORD: "Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 65:10.11.12-13.14
Response: The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.
   You have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it. God’s watercourses are filled; you have prepared the grain. (Response)
   Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, Softening it with showers, blessing its yield. (Response) 
   You have crowned the year with your bounty, and your paths overflow with a rich harvest; The untilled meadows overflow with it, and rejoicing clothes the hills. (Response)
   The fields are garmented with flocks and the valleys blanketed with grain. They shout and sing for joy. (Response)

Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23

   Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:1-23

   On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear." The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.' Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 'You shall indeed hear but not understand you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.' But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. "Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Jesus said the parable of a Sower. The parable clearly speaks about a particular activity. The work of the sower is to sow the seed. He does not choose the field. The field is available to him. The soil could be rocky, could a pathway, could be a place of thorny bush. However the vast are of the field is cultivable and disposed to sowing.
   File is talked about only with respect to yielding. At the time of yielding the pathway, the rocky places and the thorny places have not regard. Only the real cultivated land has a message. The message is this: whatever be the lose (on the pathway, rocky ground and thorny bush) there will always be a harvest and that is the kingdom and work in the kingdom.

July 6, 2014

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Zachariah 9:9-10

   Thus says the LORD: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, Meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; The warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 145:1-2.8-9.10-11.13-14
Response: I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God. (or) Alleluia!
   I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. (Response)
   The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. (Response) 
   Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (Response)
   The LORD is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. The LORD lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (Response)

Second Reading: Romans 8:9,11-13

   Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:25-30

   At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Wise and the learned do search for truth. They search after hidden truths. Most of the times they do not arrive at the truth. They reach somewhere and think that they have arrived. Truth about God and godly things are revealed. They are not arrived at by knowledge and search rather they are totally given in revelation. God has desired it that way. And that is his will.
   God has revealed these things to them to the childlike people. Revelation is not given to the wise and the learned but to the childlike. This is the way that God works. The best of revelation that God has given is the revelation about his own son Jesus (anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him). God communicates with the people only through revelation.