Good Friday - Accomplishing the Final Act with Love

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion: April 03, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16,5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

Crucifixion of Jesus

What a day! And it is called Good Friday!! The death of God-man on the Cross, and still we call this day Good Friday!!! The poignant moment of the death of the Messiah makes us stand still and listen to the inner voice of our being. What is this all about? Why must an innocent man die on a Cross? The most brutal, terribly painful and awkwardly humiliating death a person could go through in the Roman Empire was crucifixion.  It was such a heinous death that no one dared to undergo. But here we have on this day, we commemorate that brutal death of our Saviour and Master year after year. The same death, the same event, the same humiliating expressions, and yet we try to find meaning for our lives through devotion and faith. 

1. Pushing the evil away and not reconciling

As we stand at the foot of the Cross of our Saviour and kiss it with a sense of reverence, it brings to our mind the stark reality of evil, wickedness, jealousy, envy, animosity, grudges, scorn, and hostility in this world and in the lives of people. As we scroll through the Word of God in the Holy Bible, what becomes certain that evil can take over good and has a say for some time. Perhaps, evil might not win continuously or eternally, but it has its say that could be detrimental to the life of the person.  The Word of God tells us emphatically that Jesus "went on doing good." Then what went wrong in the life of Jesus to carry the Cross to Calvary?

Good Friday stands before us in solemn silence, inviting us not merely to observe, but to enter into the mystery of a love that suffers, endures, and redeems. The readings draw us into the depths of this mystery—not as distant spectators, but as those whose lives are intimately bound to the Cross. The prophet Isaiah presents the figure of the Suffering Servant—one who is “despised and rejected,” a man of sorrows, bearing pain not his own.  His innocence, his wounds, and his pathetic condition are all for our salvation. It is a meaningful source of healing and restoration for humanity. It finds expression in divine mercy. 

2. Jesus, a bridge between humanity and God

The Letter to the Hebrews deepens this understanding by showing us Christ not only as the victim, but as the High Priest—one who enters fully into the human condition. He does not stand apart from our struggles; He knows them from within. He has cried out in anguish, wrestled with suffering, and learned obedience through what He endured. And so, He becomes the bridge between humanity and God, inviting us to approach the throne of grace with confidence, even in our weakness. Good Friday reminds us that no suffering of ours is foreign to Him.

God continues to look down upon humanity through the person of Jesus. His gaze from the Cross at the wretchedness of humanity points to us that there is a lot to be accomplished for humanity. Not everything is perfect and holy, peaceful and redeemed. It needs mercy and compassion, reconciliation and forgiveness. It is a way of communicating the desire of God to humanity in this complex and barbaric act of crucifixion. It is accomplished when it touches every heart of the person which stands beneath the cross. 

3. God's Plan has a Purpose and Freedom

In the Passion according to the Gospel writer St John, we encounter a striking portrayal of Jesus—one who is not overpowered by events, but who freely gives Himself. Even in His arrest, His trial, and His crucifixion, there is a quiet authority. He carries the Cross not as a victim of fate, but as one who embraces His mission in love. From the garden to Golgotha, every step is a deliberate act of self-giving. Good Friday confronts us with a question that is both simple and demanding: how do we respond to such love?

The Cross, then, is not merely an instrument of death; it is the fullest revelation of love. Here, love is stripped of all sentimentality. It is faithful in betrayal, silent before accusation, forgiving in the face of cruelty. “It is finished,” Jesus declares—not as a cry of defeat, but as the completion of a love that has held nothing back. It is easy to venerate the Cross from a distance, but harder to carry it in our own lives. The invitation is not only to gaze upon Christ crucified, but to recognize Him in the suffering around us—in the wounded, the rejected, the forgotten—and to respond with compassion.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, as we stand before Your Cross, we behold the depth of Your love poured out for us. In Your suffering, teach us to trust; in Your silence, teach us to surrender; and in Your self-giving, teach us to love without reserve. Stay with us in our weakness, and shape our lives into an offering united with Yours. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net

Blog: Celebrate Faith

Video: YouTube

31 March 2026

Lord's Supper: A Call to Live the Eucharist

Maundy/Holy Thursday - The Lord’s Supper: April 02, 2026 

Readings: Exodus 12:1-8,11-14; Psalm 115(116):12-13,15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

The Last Supper of Jesus

We celebrate on this Maundy Thursday, a definite, enduring and continuous presence of our Lord Jesus Christ amongst us. The event of the establishment of the Holy Eucharist, which took place 2000 years ago in an obscure upper room in one of the houses in Jerusalem, still continues to be celebrated today as a mark of our Lord's intimate presence amongst us. The scene of this enactment of the Lord's Supper continues to draw inspiration and accept the challenges and sufferings this world brings to us. By participating in this mystery of the Eucharist, we are prepared to face any challenges with joy and courage. Moreover, it enables us to carry forward the memory and mission of our Lord to the ends of this earth.  

1. Holy Eucharist: Partaking in His Divine Nature

Maundy Thursday draws us into the quiet, intimate heart of the Gospel—into an upper room where love takes visible form. Jesus makes a particular mark in human history through this act of sharing the Passover meal with his disciples. St. Paul, in recalling the tradition he himself received, brings us face-to-face with the mystery of the Eucharist. “This is my body… this is my blood.” These are not merely words spoken once in history; they are a living memorial, a presence that endures. 

In the Eucharist, Christ does not simply remind us of His love—He gives Himself. Again and again, He becomes our nourishment, entering the ordinary elements of bread and wine so that our ordinary lives may be transformed into vessels of grace. By receiving him as our Lord and Master through this Eucharist, we become partakers of his divine nature. Through devotion and desiring this great sacrament of our God, we embody our Lord's presence through mercy and compassion. 

2. Holy Eucharist: A Call to Live the Eucharist in Love and Service

The Eucharist teaches us something very important and significant. At its core, Eucharist is an act of self-giving love. Jesus is giving himself wholeheartedly to us. Jesus comes to us in simplicity and vulnerability, and not in grandeur or power. We approach the altar of the Lord with a sense of profound mystery—not as spectators, but as participants. We receive Him with faith and reverence. Thus, we try to become like Him: broken and given for others. In other words, when we celebrate the Eucharist, we are called to become the Eucharist we live.

St John, the Gospel writer who witnessed Jesus' public ministry, sums up the person of Jesus with a strikingly different yet deeply connected image. That is service. The act of the Last Supper begins with the washing of the feet of the disciples. Perhaps it might have been tough for the disciples of Jesus to comprehend this great act. But the lesson that Jesus taught always remains visible. As Eucharist is celebrated in a community, our service to the community is a must. It is not the authority that governs, but the service.

3. Holy Eucharist: Involving ourselves in the Mission of Jesus

The proven track of Jesus' love for humanity and his sense of humility in service is remarkable. Often, we want our God to remain above us and not to disturb us by immersing himself in us. We see this case when Peter refuses to let his feet to Jesus to be washed. For Peter, learning something very practical from his Master becomes very difficult. If we want God to intervene in our lives, we must allow ourselves to be completely taken over by our Creator. This will enable us to be moulded by Him. We must disarm ourselves from the unnecessary protective gear that we wear. 

The Eucharist and the washing of feet are not two separate realities; they are one continuous movement of love. They teach us to kneel before others—to serve, to forgive, to care, especially when it is inconvenient or unnoticed. More importantly, when we are disliked precisely because we do such unconventional things. Maundy Thursday, therefore, is not only a remembrance; it is a commissioning. It is a call to live eucharistically: to be attentive to the needs of others, to choose humility over pride, to offer ourselves in quiet acts of love. In other words, the Altar must always inspire us. 

Questions for self-reflection:
As we linger in the silence of this sacred evening, we are invited to examine our own hearts. 

1. Do we approach the Eucharist as a routine or as an encounter that transforms us?
2. Are we willing to take up the towel, to enter into the hidden and humble work of love?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, on this sacred day, You give Yourself to us in love and humility. As we receive You in the Eucharist, transform our hearts, that we too may become a gift for others. Teach us to serve with humility, to love without counting the cost, and to live what we celebrate. Remain with us, Lord, and make us signs of Your presence in the world. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net

Blog: Celebrate Faith

Video: YouTube

31 March 2026

The Passion of our Lord, the Passion of the Humanity

Passion/Palm Sunday: March 29, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 50:4–7; Psalm 22:8–9, 17–20, 23–24; Philippians 2:6–11; Matthew 26:14–27:66

Jesus enters Jerusalem on a mule
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/xDEUz4r7yZc 

What is it like entering into the lives of others? What is it that makes us be compassionate and show our empathy to the person who is suffering?  It is our attitudes, feelings, values, convictions and readiness to embrace the other as our brother or sister. As we enter into the mystery of Christ's Passion, suffering, death, and resurrection, we are invited to enter more intensely into the life of our Lord Jesus, lovingly, passionately, and with a heart full of tenderness and love. Today, we read in our Churches the passion narrative of our Lord, so that it enables us to enter into the drama of Jesus' passion. 

1. Passion of our Lord, the Passion of the Humanity

Today, the Church celebrates Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. It is a beautiful day when we realize that what matters most in our lives is giving time to others. The liturgy of today in our Churches and parishes unfolds with a profound and almost unsettling beauty. It begins in jubilation—palms raised, voices lifted, hope awakened. Yet, as the narrative deepens, the tone shifts. The hymns of praise give way to the solemn cadence of the Passion. Glory and suffering stand side by side, not as opposites, but as inseparable companions in the mystery of Christ.

Palm Sunday is not merely a remembrance; it is an invitation to enter into this paradox—to behold a King whose throne is the Cross, and whose crown is woven not of gold, but of thorns. It is to enter into the gentleness of our Lord Jesus. Christ chooses the quiet dignity of a donkey and not a limousine over the spectacle of power. His authority is not imposed; it is offered. He reigns not by command, but by love that stoops low. To follow Him, then, is to learn the eloquence of humility—to discover that the deepest strength is often hidden in gentleness.

2. The Turning of the Human Heart at the Passion of our Lord

This day marks the beginning of the great week that we are going to embrace and celebrate: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday with the culmination of Easter Vigil. We will celebrate the Holy Priesthood of our Lord with the institution of the Holy Eucharist on Holy Thursday. We mark the beginning of a new era of worship and remembrance of God's theodrama. The Gospel reading of the passion of our Lord reminds us again and again that everything has its time. In the divine plan, everyone is included: Roman officials, Jewish authorities, disciples of Jesus, women followers of Jesus in Jerusalem and Mother Mary, soldiers, strangers, betrayers, helpers, guards, passersby, Pharisees, and Sadducees, Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and Caiaphas. 

God handles everything beautifully. The whole process of the passion of our Lord does not end in the middle or is discontinued. It continues until the Calvary; everything ends on the Cross for human eyes. But for God it is in the Resurrection of our Lord. The whole theo-drama, as Swiss Catholic Theologian Hans-Urs von Balthasar put it so beautifully, has its own essence and purpose in bringing redemption and salvation to all. By the blood of our Lord, the innocent lamb is being slain for the greater good of humanity. Nothing goes unwasted; nothing goes unnoticed. In the divine plan of God, there is a purpose in the eternity of God.  

3. The Noise of the Passion Ends in the Silence of God

As we scroll through the passion narrative of our Lord, there is so much noise, denial, crying, beatings, and all that city life brings. But Jesus takes everything in silence. He suffers silently from the violence that is inflicted upon him. In such moments, he has words of comfort, support and healing. The authentic human self is the way one endures human suffering and pain. In one's moment of distress, Jesus brings solace to others. That is the stemina of Jesus. To accept and carry forward the mission that is entrusted to him with clarity and due diligence. Ultimately, holiness is often found not in the extraordinary but in the unnoticed acts of faithfulness that shape a life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, in your gentle entry we glimpse the humility of God, and in your passion we behold the depth of divine love. Grant us the grace to walk with you not only in moments of praise and light, but also in the quiet endurance of the Cross. May our lives become a silent “Hosanna,” faithful and steadfast, remaining true through every trial, until at last we come to share in the fullness of your Resurrection. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net
Blog: Celebrate Faith
Video: YouTube
29 March 2026

Lent: Finding the Fullness of Life through Trust and Hope

Fifth Sunday of Lent: March 22, 2026

Readings: Ezekiel 37:12–14; Psalm 130:1–8; Romans 8:8–11; John 11:1–45

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/yiJ7fYq2sUM 

Bringing solace and hope to those who are mourning or hopeless is a beautiful thing. It is an act of mercy. We need people who can comfort us when we are in sorrow or suffering. We need people who can put their shoulders on us and listen to us. In a world of competition and the rat race, very few have the time and willingness to do that. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see this aspect of readiness and willingness to comfort those who are mourning, despite a busy schedule or being far from home. Jesus touches the lives of his good friends, Martha and Mary. He reaches out to them at the very toughest time of their lives, when they have buried their beloved brother. At that moment, Jesus does an unimaginable thing: he raises Lazarus from the tomb and gives them back their loving brother, alive. This is what true friendship means: reaching out to those who trust us and love us at the right time with the right act of love.

1. Lent: Waiting for God in Patience

The Gospel of John 11:1–45, the raising of Lazarus, stands as one of the most profound revelations of who Jesus is—not merely a healer, but the Lord of life itself. Yet, before it becomes a story of resurrection, it is deeply a story of waiting, sorrow, confusion, and faith stretched to its limits. Jesus hears that Lazarus is ill, and surprisingly, He delays. This delay is unsettling. It challenges our instinctive belief that God must act immediately when we pray. 

Lent - Encountering the Healing Touch of God

Fourth Sunday of Lent: March 15, 2026

Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6–7, 10–13; Psalm 23:1–6; Ephesians 5:8–14; John 9:1–41

Jesus is healing a blind man
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/aniupZZbVe8

Often, it is difficult to see the good in others. Human nature tends to react with jealousy, anxiety, and many questions when something good happens in another person’s life. It may seem strange, yet it is often true. Unfortunately, the prosperity of one person sometimes becomes the cause of heartburn for another. There are people who try to malign the name of someone who is good and sincerely striving to make a difference in his own life and in the lives of others. Wickedness and evil, in subtle ways, seem to be part of the human condition. While we strive to do good, there is often a contrary impulse within us that pulls us in the opposite direction. This week, the Church celebrates Laetare Sunday, which falls on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. As we reach the middle of our Lenten journey, the Church invites us to rejoice. Christ comes as the Light of the world, entering the darkness of human life to restore sight. The healing of the man born blind by Jesus becomes a subject of intense dispute, especially among the Pharisees, who were unable to recognize the goodness present before them.

1. Healing: A journey of encounter

The Gospel of John 9:1–41, presents the powerful story of the healing of the man born blind. At one level, it is a miracle story, but at a deeper level, it is a revelation about spiritual sight and spiritual blindness. The physical healing becomes a sign pointing to a deeper transformation that Jesus desires for every human person.

Lent: Transforming our Lives through Dialogue with God

Third Sunday of Lent: March 8, 2026

Readings: Exodus 17:3–7; Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9; Romans 5:1–2, 5–8; John 4:5–15, 19–26, 39–42

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/SUy6xBCiNVA

Where can we look for the best things in life? Is there something extraordinary that can be attainable and could give us complete meaning for our lives? Will we find something that will explain everything and give us the fullness of life? Man's search for meaning has been continuous and unceasing. In spite of a great history of knowledge, epistemology (the study of knowledge) and hermeneutics (the study of interpretation), we are still making sense of this world. There is no ultimate truth that a person has found. Even though for us Christians, Jesus is the ultimate truth. However, we still doubt. As a result, we do not follow his teachings in word and deed. In this context, we have fantastic liturgical readings on this Third Sunday in Lent to encourage us to strive to follow the same Lord who enlightened the Samaritan Woman two thousand years ago.

1. God initiates dialogue with us

The Gospel of the Third Sunday of Lent (John 4:5–15, 19–26, 39–42) presents the profound encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. It is a story of thirst—human thirst and divine thirst—meeting at the same place. Jesus begins the conversation with a simple request: “Give me a drink.” The Son of God appears tired, thirsty, and dependent on a stranger. In this moment, God reveals something essential about Himself: He approaches us in vulnerability. 

The Transfiguration of our Lord: A Glimpse of Glory to Sustain

02 Sunday of Lent: March 01, 2026

Readings: Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33:4-5,18-20, 22; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/e8Nh7KSZ5t0

Faith and trust are very important components of our lives. We do our business dealings based on faith and trust. The so-called disruptive technologies, which have made our lives easier today, like Ola, Uber, Rapido, Zomato, Swiggy, AirBNB, etc., are all built on trust. Interestingly, trust is a two-way communication, which is dynamic and proactive. We would not be agile and active if we didn't trust someone or didn't have faith in someone. The whole health sector is built on the caring nature of doctors, surgeons, nurses and medicines. So too, our spiritual life is built on faith and trust, even though we do not see God with our eyes or we have not experienced someone returning from God to say hello to us. In this context, we have beautiful readings on this Second Sunday in Lent. Abraham just listened to the voice of God and followed, including leaving behind his family and birthplace. Jesus communicates with his Father, and the glory of God is shown to the three disciples of Jesus. All these are possible because of the incredible faith and trust.

1. Consolations before the suffering and pain

The Gospel of Matthew 17:1-9 narrates the mysterious and luminous event of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. There, before their eyes, He is transfigured—His face shines like the sun and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, conversing with Him. A bright cloud overshadows them, and the voice of the Father declares: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” The disciples fall to the ground in fear, but Jesus touches them and says, “Rise, and do not be afraid.”  Beneath struggles, confusion, and fatigue, God is at work. 

Lenten Journey - Finding Enormous Fidelity of God

First Sunday of Lent: February 22, 2026

Readings: Genesis 2:7–9; 3:1–7; Psalm 51:3–6; 12–14, 17; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11

The Temptation on the Mount by Duccio
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/jwZlUpPKSB8 

The sense of unworthiness before the immensity of God's providence is natural if we look at it with a sense of awe, faith and reverence. The abundance of the mighty creation in which we live is absolutely stunning. When we stand on the seashore and just gaze at the miles and miles of water or raise our eyes to the sky in the night with a bright moon and glittering stars, we quickly realize our smallness and imperfection. What we have around us is nature, forests, waters, rivers, seas, birds, animals, plants and trees, and so many other uncountable things, always enabling us to see the immensity and largeness of God the Creator. In this context, the sense of sin and sinfulness comes into the picture as we begin 40 days of Lenten journey. God continues to shower us with His mercy and compassion, love and forgiveness.

1. Lent begins not with activity, but with solitude.

The Gospel of Matthew 4:1–11 places us at the threshold of Lent, in the silence of the desert. Before Jesus begins His public ministry, He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The First Sunday of Lent invites us to enter that same space—not as spectators, but as pilgrims. The Spirit leads Jesus into the desert. It is striking that temptation is not outside God’s providence. The desert is not a mistake; it is a necessary passage.

Following in the Footsteps of God our Lord in Word and Deed

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 15, 2026

Readings: Sirach 15:15–20; Psalm 119:1–2, 4–5, 17–18, 33–34; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10; Matthew 5:17–37

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/rOc7Ve0JuC0

Can we solve the problems of this world by rules and regulations, laws and judiciary, police or army? Absolutely not. We can solve the problems in our society through good, value based educaton. Even the value-based education might not be the perfect answer. Probably, having the right mind and good value-based nurturing of men and women of this world might, to a great extent, help to take evil out of this world. There are so many men and women of great integrity who have shown the path of righteousness, truth, equality and justice. Jesus, being one of them, confronts his Jewish community to follow the right path. So that peace and harmony are established.  

1. Jesus disturbs our moral apathy

In today’s Gospel Matthew 5:17–37, Jesus stands before us not as one who abolishes the Law, but as one who brings it to fulfillment. He does not weaken moral demands; He deepens them. He does not settle for external compliance; He calls for interior transformation. “You have heard it said… but I say to you.” With these words, Jesus moves the conversation from behaviour to the heart. It is not enough that we avoid murder; we must uproot anger. It is not enough that we avoid adultery; we must purify desire. It is not enough that we speak truth under oath; our very word must be truthful. Jesus is not merely reforming rules—He is reshaping the human person.