God, who Gives life to all Things

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 28 September 2025

Readings: Amos 6:1, 4–7; Psalm 146:7–10; 1 Timothy 6:11–16; Luke 16:19–31

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/GrbVYZhl710

We live in a world of contrasts, those who have and have-nots. The rich man and Lazarus are found everywhere. The world of today needs more listening and acting, opening one's eyes and reacting. In recent months, we have been hearing that a new world order is being put in place. Instead of working with great world institutions like the United Nations, individual countries are determining the fate of the smaller and economically weaker countries. The strongest, the bulliest, and the proudest are the ones who seem to be winning the race for power, supremacy and influence. The smaller, weaker and silent countries seem to be just watching the game. In this context, we have this wonderful parable of the rich man and Lazarus. 

1. Visibility of contrast between the rich man and Lazarus

In the Gospel of Luke 16:19–31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is one of Jesus’ most unsettling stories, not because it is mysterious or difficult to understand, but because it is painfully clear. We encounter two characters: one who “dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted magnificently every day,” and another, Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores, longing for scraps. The scandal here is not merely the contrast in wealth, but the extent of indifference between them. Their differences are stark and strangely disgusting as well. 

Impossibility of Serving both God and Mammon!

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 21, 2025

Readings: Amos 8:4–7; Psalm 113:1–2, 4–6, 7–8; 1 Timothy 2:1–8; Luke 16:1–13

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/l_ZJC5FUmNo

Having seen many frauds, bankruptcies, financial irregularities, illegal activities, and dishonest managers in the business world, often, business ethics emphasizes that it is better to have people of integrity and sincerity as CEO's and CFO's than brilliant, well-educated individuals in top-most business schools of the world, but who are dishonest and people of duplicity. The world needs people of integrity and honesty. Businesses are built on trust and loyalty. Relationships are established and furthered through sincerity and honesty. The liturgical readings of this Sunday, especially the Gospel reading, speaks about trust, honesty and loyalty. Jesus gives a parable to his disciples and invites them to be trustworthy and ethical in whatever they do.

1. Living with Purpose and Clarity

This Sunday’s Gospel from Luke 16:1–13 unsettles us, leaves us wondering what exactly Jesus is hinting at or what is bothering Jesus with regard to his relationship with the disciples. Jesus is straightforward in communicating to his disciples what he thinks about certain values and convictions that the disciples must embody. Perhaps Jesus must have witnessed something that was not to his taste among his disciples, especially with regard to their loyalty towards him.  Jesus tells the story of a dishonest steward who, when faced with losing his job, cleverly reduces the debts of his master’s clients in order to secure his future. At first glance, it seems like Jesus is praising dishonesty. But he isn’t commending the steward’s corruption—He is praising his shrewdness, his ability to act decisively in a moment of crisis.

The Cross: A Paradox of Glory

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 14, 2025

Readings: Numbers 21:4b-9; Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17

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

Who among us desires crosses in life? None of us. A cross is usually understood as suffering, and suffering, in itself, is painful and unwanted. Yet, when it is embraced with faith, suffering takes on a new meaning and dimension. It becomes purposeful. We suffer for many reasons: an illness that weakens the body, the burden of age that no longer allows us the energy of youth, the indifference or unkindness of colleagues at work, the loneliness of a partner who does not share our thoughts and feelings, or the disappointment of unfulfilled desires. We suffer when faced with social evils like corruption, nepotism, jealousy, inequality, injustice and favouritism. We suffer when we feel utterly alone, with no one to listen or to walk with us. These are the daily crosses we carry.

But Jesus carried not just a symbol of suffering, but a real Cross—up the hill of Calvary—upon which he gave his very life. That Cross was not freely chosen but forced upon him through betrayal and conspiracy. Yet, by accepting it in love and obedience to the Father, he transformed it into the very source of our salvation. As we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we are invited to do the same: to see our daily crosses not as meaningless burdens, but as paths to grace, redemption, and deeper union with Christ.

1. The Cross: A cause for greatness

Even before Jesus took up his Cross, thousands of people must have died on the cross during the Roman rule. Dying on the cross was the most shameful and heinous death a person could go through. However, with Jesus taking up the Cross, it becomes a symbol of salvation. The Cross, once a symbol of humiliation and death, becomes the very sign of life and victory. As Jesus says in John’s Gospel: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (Jn 3:14). On the Cross, the Son of God is lifted up not in defeat, but in triumph, bringing eternal life to all who believe. What the world saw as failure, God revealed as the supreme act of love: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (Jn 3:16).

Spiritual Awakening When Things are Left on God

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 07, 2025

Readings: Wisdom 9:13–18; Psalm 90:3–6, 12–17; Philemon 1:9–10, 12–17; Luke 14:25–33

God has blessed us with human intelligence. It is to make the best use of it for our growth, development, joy and happiness. However, God has created us as unique and special beings in this world. We distinguish ourselves by the way we make use of our intelligence. The ultimate purpose of our intelligence is to make this world and our life beautiful. Through our intelligence, we are called to be co-creators with God. In other words, we are invited to be part of God's vision. The realization of God's vision is that the human person is fully alive and active in this world. The liturgical readings, especially the Gospel passage for this Sunday, invite us to make the best use of our intelligence. That's why Jesus suggests a few practical tips, perhaps business tips on how to build a house, how to defend or win over an enemy and finally how to be a true disciple of our Lord. 

1. True discipleship costs personal ambitions

In today’s Gospel Luke 14:25–33, Jesus speaks words that can sound hard to our ears: “Whoever does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even life itself, cannot be my disciple… Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” These words are not a rejection of family or of life itself, but a reminder that following Jesus requires total freedom of heart and complete commitment. It is to make a good judgment about one's life. Following the Lord is a commitment which might sometimes have to go against one's close family circles as well.