October 26, 2014

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26

   Thus says the LORD: "You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword; then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans. "If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him. If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in? If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate."

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 96:1,3.4-5.7-8.9-10
Response: I love you, Lord, my strength.
   I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. (Response)
   My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies. (Response)
   The LORD lives and blessed be my rock! Extolled be God my savior. You who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10

   Brothers and sisters: You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the holy Spirit, so that you became a model for all the believers inMacedonia and in Achaia. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves openly declare about us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:34-40

   When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and Priests were controlling the society on religious, economical, cultural and legal areas. People could not move out of their clutches. Jesus himself was under their control and they were trying to pin him down. When the lawyer asked him which was the greatest of all the commandments, Jesus answered him saying the first commandment, implying that there are other important commandments.
   If Jesus had answered saying the first commandment only, then the lawyers would say that he had no human concern. If he had said the other way about then they would say he had no religious concern. They tried to trap him. The whole religion is rooted on two commandments: love of God and love of neighbour. Everyone one who wanted to be a follower of Jesus had to keep these two in mind: God and persons.

October 19, 2014

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 45:1,4-6

  Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, Subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, Opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred: For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun men may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other.

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 96:1,3.4-5.7-8.9-10
Response: Give the Lord glory and honor.
   Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. (Response)
  For great is the LORD and highly to be praised; awesome is he, beyond all gods. For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens. (Response)
   Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts, and enter his courts. (Response)
  Worship the LORD, in holy attire; tremble before him, all the earth; say among the nations: The LORD is king, he governs the peoples with equity. (Response)

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

   Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the holy Spirit and with much conviction.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:15-21

   The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Paying tax to Rome would imply that he has taken side with the social force and acknowledged the Roman Empire. The Pharisees totally opposed Romans so also there were groups who opposed the presence of Romans in Israel and they were fighting against them. Since Jesus had not said anything about Romans they thought that he was on their side and hence they wanted him to answer openly and thus trap him.
   Jesus’ answer pulled the carpet from under their feet. They did not expect this answer from. They were trying to find fault with him. Jesus strongly rooted in God and for him God meant everything. Living in the society one cannot deny the society and the social and civil duties. That is why Jesus when prays for the Disciples in the Gospel of John, he would say that they (disciples) are in the world but do not belong to the world.

October 12, 2014

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10

  On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 23:1-3.3-4.5.6
Response: I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
   The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. (Response)
   He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (Response)
  You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Response)
  Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. (Response)

Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14,19-20

   Brothers and sisters:  I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. My God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:1-14

   Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   Kingdom of heaven is like a wedding feast. Those who were invited were not worthy, not because they have not done anything rather they did not join in the celebration. Their moral status was not discussed rather their presence was the most precious thing at the celebration. All what they have done (ill treat the servants etc.) were only signs of their refusal of the invitation.
   The celebration needed people because the time for the celebration was at hand. Everything for the celebration was ready except the invitees. He gathered the people from all over. Anyone and everyone are taken in. Because the celebration should go on. The servants were asked to gather the good and the bad. Only thing is that they have to be worthy for the celebration.

October 5, 2014

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7

  Let me now sing of my friend, my friend's song concerning his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; He spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; Within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes. Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard: What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? Now, I will let you know what I mean to do to my vineyard: Take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! Yes, I will make it a ruin: it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it. The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his cherished plant; He looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!

தமிழ்

Responsorial Psalm: 80:9,12.13-14.15-16.19-20
Response: The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
   A vine from Egypt you transplanted; you drove away the nations and planted it. It put forth its foliage to the Sea, its shoots as far as the River. (Response)
   Why have you broken down its walls, so that every passer-by plucks its fruit, The boar from the forest lays it waste, and the beasts of the field feed upon it? (Response)
  Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see; take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong. (Response)
   Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name. O LORD, God of hosts, restore us; if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved. (Response)

Second Reading: Philippians 4:6-9

   Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:33-43

   Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes'? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
   This parable of the Matthew’s gospel speaks about the tenants of the vineyard. Psalm 80 and Isaiah chapter five spoke very clearly about the vineyard and the vineyard was the people of Israel. God was the owner of the vineyard. These tenants were the leaders of the people of Israel. These leaders did not bother about their duty to the vineyard and to the owner. The leaders ill-treated the servants of the owner. Probably the tenants wanted to possess the vineyard for themselves.
   Or they thought that the owner would not come back to take possession of the vineyard. Leaders played against the owner. The owner sent his own son to the tenants. The tenants treated him also very badly and killed him. Owner would come to take severe action against the tenants. They would be put to death. The tenants (leaders) are the centre of today’s parable. Leaders have not been faithful to their duty and also they have behaved wrongly in dealing with the servants and the son.