September 28, 2014

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28

   Thus says the LORD: You say, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 25:4-5.8-9.10,14
Response: Remember your mercies, O Lord.
   Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. (Response)
  Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your love are from of old. The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD. (Response)
   Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way. (Response)

Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

   Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:28-32

   Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yetn even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   This gospel story talks about the kingdom as a family. Family had a father and sons and the relationship between them is one of dependence, responsibility, duty, rights, and service etc. The father of the family has the right to expect from his sons the service required in the family or for the family. The way the sons respond to him depends upon their sense of belonging to the family.
   The first one responded negatively but later changed his mind and went to do the work. The second one affirmed his going but did not go. Their verbal answer did not show who they were or their sense of belonging. Their response in action was what mattered in this story. Belonging to the family depended on their response in deeds. The first son, though reacted negatively but repented.

September 21, 2014

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9

   Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; Let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 145:2-3.8-9.17-18
Response: The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
   Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. (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)
   The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (Response)

Second Reading: Philippians 1:20-24,27

   Brothers and sisters: Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

   Jesus said to his disciples: "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Kingdom of heaven is not a place of rest. It is a place where one goes to work. The owner invites people to work. It is not a work for nothing. The work brings reward. Interesting factors are that one can be called to come for work at anytime. The kingdom is not controlled by time or talent. It is open to anyone. It is an inclusive place. It includes everyone and entry is free and at anytime.
   In the kingdom also we find grumblers. People come in with secular (social) mind. Their thinking is controlled by social values and social systems. They expect social stratifications. But the attitude of the owner is important. He does the things that are not in a society. The owner is a generous person and he is a good person. His goodness causes envy among people. He continues to be what he is.

September 14, 2014

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9

   With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!" In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Then the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, "Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered.

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 78:1-2.34-35.36-37.38
Response: Do not forget the works of the Lord!
   Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old. (Response)
   While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again, Remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer. (Response)
  But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant.(Response)
   But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused. (Response)

Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11

   Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Reading: John 3:13-17

   Jesus said to Nicodemus: "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G Selvam

   “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). The Cross shows the Love of the God that Heals and Changes me. Often the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross would fall on weekdays. This year it happens to fall on a Sunday, and because it is a Feast of the Lord it takes precedence over the Ordinary Sunday of the Year.
   It commemorates the legend of the finding of the ‘true cross’ by St Helena in 326 AD, and the subsequent dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 335.  In any case, the feast offers us an opportunity once again to contemplate the mystery of the cross. The cross – “a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1Cor 1:23) – is the central symbol of our Christian faith. Let us focus on three possible meanings of the cross.

September 7, 2014

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9

  You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked one that he shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death. But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself.

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 95:1-2.6-7.8-9
Response: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
   Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him. (Response)
   Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. (Response)
   Oh, that today you would hear his voice: “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, Where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” (Response)

Second Reading: Romans 13:8-10

   Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:15-20

   Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Jesus gives the sequences of procedure for reconciliation. First go and see the person one on one. That needs courage, prayer and humility. Second step is to take someone (two or three) with you. They are to pass judgment on who is really wrong. This is to pass judgment on your own judgment. Again there is a journey of humility and introspection. Finally to the community which probably means a small group. If the brother refuses, then there is no reconciliation because the problem is not faced.
   Today’s passage gives us an idea that reconciliation should be taken seriously. Reconciliation is becoming a serious problem in relationship; among brothers, in a family, in a community, in a society, in a country, among nations, within a church and among churches. Reconciliation or forgiveness is that you are really going to tackle the issue. In this struggle for reconciliation the presence of God is with us. And at the end of it you are really going to love and accept the other without any conditions.