Advent - Waiting with Renewed Vigour for the Lord to Come

First Sunday of Advent - 29 November 2020

Readings: Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

 (Image courtesy: Jean-Marc Arakelian)

Listen to my Audio Reflections by clicking here

I 

Our Creator Shepherds us

It is Advent. We sing ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel.’ Today, the first Sunday of Advent, marks the beginning of the Church’s annual cycle of prayer. With this we start the countdown to Christmas. On this day we undertake our liturgical journey towards Bethlehem where Christ was born 2000 years ago. It's the time to prepare to celebrate Christ's birth. When we prepare something for the future, we await with hope and expectation and here, it is for the Christ who is to come. God visits us in the person of Jesus Christ. “Oh that you would tear open the heavens and come down,” the prophet Isaiah (64:1) exults in today’s First Reading. God is looking down upon the humanity from the heavens because He has heard the anguished voice of Israel. Therefore God is coming down to us, to our level to save and shepherd His people. 

Christ the King - the King of Our Hearts

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (22 November 2020)

Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5, 6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46

Icon of Christ the King - Pantokrator- in Eastern Churches means Christ the Almighty 

My Audio Homily

I 

Jesus: A king with a difference

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. The kingship of Christ. Today's feast is a unique one. The Church titles it "Christ the King." Was Jesus really a King? Can we title Jesus as king of the universe?  Even though we may have reservations regarding the use of the tittle "King" in our ordinary langauge because we have done away with the kings in our countries, we must understand Christ the King from a different perspective. However, Christ as king is not embroiled with the connotations of power, force, violence, dominion, domination, despotism, pomp, throne, and so on. King is not a title Jesus liked very much; todays's Gospel suggests strongly that he would rather dispense with it.  When Pilate asks Jesus, "are you the king of Jews?" the answer perplexed Pilate and expected an answer "no". But Jesus did claim absolute authority before sending his disciples on a mission: "All authority [absolute power] in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Mt 28:18). And Paul told the Christians of Corinth that at the end of time Christ will "deliver the kingdom to God the Father...For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet... For God has put all things in subjection under his feet" (1 Cor 15: 24-27). 

Never Tired to be Attentive and Vigilant to Carry God with Us

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 08 November 2020

Readings - Wisdom 6:12–16; Psalm 63:2–8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; Matthew 25:1–13 

 (Image courtesy: Jean Marc Arkelian)
Hear my reflections - Audio- 

I

From nothingness to worth of life

Even though, we started this month of November by remembering all the Saints in heaven our focus has been, however, praying for those who died in our families, communities and our friends' circle. We not only prayed for them but also recommended our God to show mercy upon them through Mass intentions, prayers and devotions which the Church encourages. This has made us to pause for a moment and think about the mystery of our life. More than the mystery of life, death seems to be affecting us very deeply. Death never leaves anyone. In our earthly pilgrimage called life, we carry death on our back. The very word "death" brings shiver down our spine. Often it is very difficult to get over this notion of death from our minds. You may study so well, possess all the possible knowledge of this world, might have read thousands of books and articles, built so many buildings, earned tons of money but when death strikes you what remains here is just a lifeless body, that too just for a short period. In this context, the readings of this Sunday put us in a better perspective and look at life with its worth than its nothingness.