Grace and Grit: The Apostolic Fire of Saints Peter and Paul

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles: June 29, 2025

Readings: Acts 12:1-11; Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19

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Today, the Church invites us to celebrate two giants of our faith, two pillars of the Church, two very different men, called and united by one Lord—Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It is rare and beautiful that these two apostles are remembered together on one solemn feast. And this year, the celebration is all the more special—falling on a Sunday—when the Church gathers in her fullest form to honour them. Let us begin by falling in love with these saints—not just admiring their heroism from a distance, but allowing them to speak into our lives.

1. Saint Peter: The Rock who Fell, then Rose

Peter, the fisherman from Galilee, was impulsive, emotional, often confused, but deeply faithful. When Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered with a boldness that shook the heavens: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). And yet, this same Peter denied Jesus three times. He wept bitterly. But his story did not end in failure. The risen Christ looked at Peter not with condemnation, but with love, and entrusted him again: “Feed my sheep.”

We love Peter because he is so much like us—frail, fearful, but full of yearning. His story reminds us that grace builds on weakness, that mercy is stronger than denial, and that our past failures cannot cancel God's future plans for us.  Peter teaches us that even when we stumble, we are still loved. And love—divine love—can transform a fisherman into a shepherd, a denier into a martyr, a weak man into a rock.

2. Saint Paul: The Firebrand Turned Evangelist

Then there is Paul—scholar, Pharisee, persecutor of Christians. His hands were stained with the blood of Stephen, the first martyr. But on the road to Damascus, he was thrown down—not just to the ground, but into a new life. He heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And everything changed. Paul’s conversion is dramatic, but not just about a moment. It was a lifelong race of preaching, suffering, writing, and loving. He travelled the ancient world, planted churches, endured prisons, beatings, shipwrecks, and ultimately martyrdom—all for Jesus Christ.

We love Paul because his passion is contagious. He shows us that no past is beyond redemption, no sinner is too far gone, and no one is so lost that Christ cannot find them. Paul turned every suffering into song, every prison into a pulpit. His 13 letters still echo with fire and faith: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

3. Two Saints, One Church

Peter and Paul were very different—Peter walked with Jesus, Paul encountered the Risen One. Peter represented stability; Paul symbolized mission. Peter was the rock; Paul was the voice. And yet, both poured out their lives in Rome, both died as martyrs, and together they remind us that the Church is built not on perfection, but on faith and surrender. We must confess our faith in Christ not only with our tongues but with our lives.

Their lives tell us: Christ calls us not because we are perfect, but because He is. What unites Peter and Paul is not their strength, but their surrender. Not their flawless records, but their undying love. Perhaps it is a great lesson for us that God never let's us down in spite of our failures or frailties instead, he lifts us up because we never give him up. Let us not just venerate Peter and Paul—let us walk with them. Let their courage fill our weakness. Let their love spark our hearts. Let their stories remind us that the same Spirit that moved them moves in us today. Let this be our takeaway today.

Questions for self-reflection

1. Are we willing, like Peter, to get up again after we fall?
2. Are we ready, like Paul, to let Christ turn our lives upside down?
3. Are we open, like them, to be used—fragile, ordinary, broken as we are—for God's extraordinary plan?

Concluding prayer:

Lord God, we thank You for the gift of Saints Peter and Paul— for their witness, their courage, and their undying love for You. May their lives inspire us to follow You more faithfully, to rise after every fall like Peter, and to run the race with passion like Paul.

Strengthen our faith, ignite our hearts, and make us fearless in proclaiming Your truth. Through their intercession, may we become living stones in the Church they helped to build. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul, pray for us!

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

June 27, 2025

Corpus Christi: God's Love Made Visible and Tangible

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi): June 22, 2025

Readings: Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 110:1–4; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Luke 9:11–17

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Friendship matters. Without love and care, our life here on earth would be boring. We are not material objects but human beings with flesh and blood. We connect with each other because of our emotions and other personality traits. Friendship is one of the most beautiful and meaningful relationships we can experience. At its heart, friendship is a bond of mutual trust, love, respect, and support between two or more people. It is a relationship that goes beyond obligation — it is freely chosen and joyfully nurtured. After the three great solemnities, the Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost, and the Most Holy Trinity, on this Sunday, we celebrate Corpus Christi Sunday, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It is a day to remember Christ's friendship with us. Christ left behind us something very tangible, concrete and special of his friendship with us. We will not be carrying a picture of Jesus, but the power of his remembrance of his Last Supper, the body and blood.

1. Corpus Christi: "Do this in memory of me!"

What a magnificent feast we celebrate today! On this solemn feast of Corpus Christi, the Church pauses to gaze upon the profound mystery at the heart of our faith — the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. It is a day to rediscover the sacred gift given to us not as a symbol, but as Christ Himself, truly present: Body, Blood, and Divinity. Corpus Christi is more than a celebration of a sacrament. It is a call to live Eucharistically. That means: To center our lives around the Mass — not as a weekly duty, but as the source and summit of our faith. To become what we receive — to be broken open in love for the world, especially for the hungry, lonely, and forgotten.

Trinity: Drawn into the Dance of Divine Love

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday: June 15, 2025

Readings: Proverbs 8:22–31; Psalms 8:4–9; Romans 5:1–5; John 16:12–15

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Working together builds and strengthens. It also talks about continuity, communication, and cooperation. Even though it is difficult to understand exactly the inner workings within the Holy Trinity, with our faith and inner eyes, and from our human experience, we can say that it is like various parts of the body working together. Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It invites us not to get into abstract theological speculations, but try to understand the mystery of the relationship of love that overflows. God is not a solitary being, but a communion of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This mystery, revealed through Jesus Christ, is not something to be solved, but to be entered and lived.

1. The Trinity in Us: Peace, Hope, and Love

St. Augustine, writing in his book "De Trinitate," tells us that the "Father is the one who begets, the Son is the one who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit is the bond of love between them.” There is a deep inner working within the Holy Trinity. It is the bond of love that unites them. One God but three persons has always intrigued the generations of Christians. With our human intelligence, we might find it a bit strange, still, we see the logic of God is perfect. The scripture supports this claim. 

Empowered for Mission: The Spirit of Pentecost

Pentecost Sunday: June 08, 2025

Readings: Acts 2:1–11; Psalm 104:1, 24, 29–31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3–7, 12–13; John 20:19–23

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Today, we celebrate this great feast of Pentecost/ the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. In fact, we are invited to open our hearts to the same Spirit. What happened in the Upper Room is meant to happen in us. Pentecost is not merely the Church’s birthday—it is the explosion of divine life into human history. It is the moment when frightened disciples became courageous witnesses, when the closed doors of fear were shattered by a rush of wind, and when human speech, once divided by confusion at Babel, was united again by the Spirit in the language of love. As we celebrate this liturgy of Pentecost, let us feel that same warmth and divine explosion within our hearts and communities. 

1. Holy Spirit: Divine explosion in the midst of fear

In Acts 2:1–11, the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles in tongues of fire. The image is powerful—fire that purifies, empowers, and lights the way. The disciples, who once locked themselves away in fear, are now energized to proclaim the Gospel to people from every nation. They are ready to move out of their comfort zones and take up dangerous and courageous missions. The Spirit does not give them safety or ease, but strength and clarity. The miracle is not only in the speaking, but also in the hearing—people from diverse backgrounds hear the Good News in their own language. 

Lifted to Live: Following the Ascended Christ on Earth

Ascension of the Lord: June 01, 2025

Readings: Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9; Ephesians 1:17–23; Luke 24:46–53 

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Today, we celebrate the great feast of the Ascension—Jesus’ return to the Father after completing His earthly mission. It is a moment filled with awe and mystery, but also with challenge and commissioning. The Ascension is not a farewell; it is an invitation to deeper faith, bolder witness, and wholehearted discipleship. This Sunday's liturgical readings invite us to enter deeper into the mystery of Christ's ascension into heaven. A Christian with enlightened eyes sees the world with hope, lives without fear, and embraces every task as sacred. Christ’s Lordship over all things gives meaning to our life of hope.

1. Christ Entrusts Us with His Mission 

Before He ascends, Jesus opens the minds of His disciples to understand the Scriptures. He reminds them that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and rise, and now “repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in His name to all nations.” Then He declares, “You are witnesses of these things.” In other words, they are not supposed to think about the empty tomb and sit idle.

Peace I Leave with You: The Promise of Abiding Love

06th Sunday of Easter: May 25, 2025

Readings: Acts 15:1–2, 22–29; Psalm 67:2–3, 5–6, 8; Revelation 21:10–14, 22–23; John 14:23–29

What is it that belief makes it believable? What is it that believing Jesus the Son of God makes it believable? It is Jesus Christ himself. It is Jesus who makes himself believable through his words and deeds. As we almost conclude the Easter Season, Jesus continues to fascinate us. In him we find everything, the words of eternal life. Because he is the Word sent by God to be revealed in the human form. The liturgical readings on this Sunday especially the Gospel passage, convince us that Jesus is the person whom we must believe.

1. God’s Presence in Absence

Chapter 14 of the Gospel of John speaks about the intimacy that Father and Son enjoy. Whatever the Son does, it’s because of the Father. Both Father and Son are one. Jesus acknowledges that the Father is greater than the Son. In fact, it’s the Father who will send the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the helper to be with the disciples once Jesus leaves them. 

Strengthened for the Journey: Called to Love with Courage

05th Sunday of Easter: May 18, 2025

Readings: Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-13: Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35

What is our life if we live it for ourselves? With a capacity for intelligence and rational thinking, we are called to be someone different and make others' lives beautiful as we do for ourselves. This requires a certain amount of grace, in fact, divine wisdom. Even though human beings tend to be selfish and egoistic, there is a spark within each one to help others. As a result, we see wickedness has not prospered and good continues to grow. As we enter into the liturgy of the fifth Sunday of Easter, the biblical readings invite us to be embraced by the grace of God. The first Christians experienced the tremendous power of Easter and radiated through their life of service, veneration and love.

1. Strength in Perseverance

The Easter season continues to call us to new life—not merely in the joy of the Resurrection, but in the concrete and sometimes difficult journey of discipleship. Today’s readings remind us that the Christian path is not always easy, but it is deeply meaningful and gloriously rewarded. In Acts, we witness Paul and Barnabas returning to the very cities where they had faced rejection and persecution. Instead of retreating in fear, they go back to strengthen the disciples and encourage them with a bold truth: “It is through many hardships that we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Listening to the Shepherd’s Voice: Living Christian Spirituality Today

04th Sunday of Easter: May 11, 2025

Readings: Acts 13:14, 43–52; Psalm 100:1–3, 5; Revelation 7:9, 14–17; John 10:27–30

Spirituality is the search for and experience of the sacred, the transcendent, or the deeper meaning of life. It involves a personal journey that often includes a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, such as God, the universe, nature, or the inner self, and is expressed through beliefs, practices, values, and ways of living. In other words, it is simply a way of life with a higher purpose. It tries to answer life's big questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose? What gives my life meaning? The liturgical readings of this 4th Sunday of Easter deliberate on the kind of new life the early Christians want to embrace. The new style of being is called "The Way." St Paul, the new entrant to the nascent Christian community of believers, makes a huge contribution with his unique style and gifts.

1. Living in God's embrace and in His Certainty

In today’s Gospel, John 10:27–30 Jesus offers one of the most intimate and assuring lines in all of Scripture: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). In a noisy world, saturated with competing voices — of consumerism, conflict, fear, and ego — what does it mean to hear and follow the voice of the Shepherd? The task is enormous. God asks us to walk in the Spirituality of the Risen Lord, always embracing joy and peace in our hearts, whatever things come into our lives. 

Restored to Lead: Peter and the Power of Grace

03rd Sunday of Easter: May 04, 2025

Readings: Acts 5:27–32, 40–41; Psalm 30:2, 4–6, 11–13; Revelation 5:11–14; John 21:1–19

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There is always a tussle between good and bad in our lives. It is a challenge of human weakness and divine grace. Our human nature is tossed by different pulls and powers. Ultimately, God is the referee. He knows the best in us. He delivers what is good for us. From a quick reactionary temperament of Peter, he turns out to be a leader of the rest of the group. The blessings of Jesus continue to empower him as a strong leader in the early church. However, the encounter of Peter with the Risen Jesus at the Sea of Tiberias defines the future of the Church.  Such encounters in our lives, too, turn out to be moments of emptiness to moments of grace. In fact, the Risen Christ calls us by name, feeds us, forgives us, and sends us forth.

1. From Failure to Fulfillment

Today’s Gospel, taken from John 21, is one of the most tender and transformative resurrection appearances of Jesus. It is a story not just of a miraculous catch of fish, but of healing, restoration, and a renewed call to discipleship. The disciples, led by Peter, have returned to what they know best—fishing after the death of Jesus on Calvary. But they catch nothing all night. This echoes the futility we often experience when we try to move ahead with our lives without the guidance of the Lord. We strive, we labour, we try to manage things on our own—and we come up empty.

Easter Experience: Seeing and Believing

02nd Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday: April 27, 2025

Readings: Acts 5:12–16; Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24; Revelation 1:9–13, 17–19; John 20:19–31

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We are in the Easter Season. A Season to rejoice and be glad because Jesus is Risen! The Easter joy continues to permeate our lives as we enter deeper into the mystery of Christ's resurrection. Without death, there is no resurrection and without resurrection, there is no joy. Easter joy is the answer to our suffering lives. New vigour and enthusiasm filled the early Christians, and the experience of the Risen Jesus continued to enthrall them, which must be ours as well. Even though we might not have witnessed the apparition of our Lord, we firmly believe from the lens of faith that Jesus is alive and active today and every day of our lives. Faith is a journey, and doubt is part of it. The liturgical readings of this day are a witness to this experience of the disciples of Jesus. The Resurrection of Jesus is not just an event of the past, but a living reality that continues to shape our faith and our response to life.

1. Locked Doors and Opened Hearts

The Gospel of John 20:19-31 is rich with meaning and emotion. It narrates the first encounters of the disciples with the Risen Christ. These are not merely stories of supernatural appearances; they are transformative moments that changed frightened, doubting, and disillusioned followers into courageous witnesses who shaped the early Church.  The disciples were locked in, paralyzed by fear and confusion. However, Christ meets them in their fear and confusion.

Easter: The Triumph of Life Over Death

Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord: 20 April 2025

Readings: Acts 10:34, 37–43; Psalm 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23; Colossians 3:1–4; John 20:1–9

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Today, we celebrate in the joy of the Resurrection. Easter is the summit of the Christian faith, the day when we declare with deep conviction: "Christ is Risen!" This proclamation is not just the retelling of an ancient event but the heartbeat of Christian hope and identity. The Resurrection of Jesus is the definitive moment where God, in His boundless love, rewrites the destiny of creation. It is an event that sets a new era in the history of humanity as well. From the disciples, we learn that seeing and believing is a powerful model of faith.  The Resurrection gave a hope-filled assurance and new meaning to the lives of Mary Magdalene, Peter, John and others. We, too, are invited to deepen our encounter with the Risen Lord in our daily lives—through prayer, moments of grace, or through time spent with loved ones. 

1. The Meaning of the Resurrection

Resurrection according to the scriptures (Bible) refers to the belief that Jesus Christ, after his crucifixion and death, rose bodily from the dead on the third day. This event is the cornerstone of Christian faith, symbolizing victory over sin and death, and the promise of eternal life for believers. The New Testament presents the resurrection as a spiritual experience and a historical, transformative event witnessed by Jesus’ disciples. The Gospels narrate the empty tomb and post-resurrection appearances (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5-7; John 20:1-18), a change in the behaviour of the fear-stricken apostles and the founding of the Church and its perpetual continuity, as well as the continuation of Jesus' mission even today. 

Good Friday: The Silent Triumph of Truth

 Good Friday of the Lord's Passion: 18 April 2025

Readings: Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Philippians 2:8-9; John 18:1—19:42

Today, the Church stands still at the foot of the Cross. The wood that bore the body of a man executed like a criminal two thousand years ago still stirs hearts, challenges minds, and unsettles the world's fragile certainties. Good Friday is not just a memorial of Jesus' death; it is an unveiling of the human condition and the quiet, enduring power of truth. This day presents a paradox like no other in the Church year.  The power of profound injustice stemming from blind authority, in which a good and innocent man – indeed, the God-Man – is sentenced to crucifixion by a Roman governor named Pontius Pilate, who suppressed the truth.  It is a day of brutality, cruelty, and suffering.  Raw power is deployed in a way that is almost unthinkable, except we know that such power is still at work in this world.  And yet we call this day Good.

With the following words, we adore the suffering servant of Yaweh.

Behold, behold, the wood of the cross

On which is hung our salvation

O come, let us adore.

1. Power Speaks but not for Salvation and Truth

The liturgical readings for this day lay bare the paradox: the Just One, the Innocent One, is condemned, not for his guilt, but for the discomfort his truth caused. Isaiah’s prophecy (52:13—53:12) tells of the Suffering Servant, one who "had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him," yet he carried the weight of the world’s brokenness on his shoulders. The world’s ego, its addiction to control, and the schemes of jealous hearts could not tolerate such a man.

Maundy Thursday: The Eucharist and the Mystery of Love

Maundy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper: April 17, 2025

Readings: Exodus 12:1-8,11-14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13: 1-15

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On Maundy Thursday, the Church invites us to enter deeply into two profound gestures of Jesus: the washing of His disciples' feet and the institution of the Eucharist. Both moments, while distinct, reveal the same mystery at the heart of Christian life: self-giving love. On this day, we gather around the altar to solemnly commemorate the Lord’s Last Supper — the night before His Passion, when Christ gave Himself to us in the mystery of the Eucharist. The readings for this liturgy draw us into the heart of the Christian mystery: the covenant of love sealed by sacrifice, the call to remembrance, and the profound gesture of service. To receive the Eucharist is to receive the very life of Christ into ourselves. But to share that life authentically means imitating Christ’s posture: the willingness to wash the feet of others, to serve, to lower oneself in love.

1. Eucharist Makes the Chruch, and Church makes the Eucharist

This night draws us deep into the Eucharistic mystery, and few theologians have expressed its significance as beautifully as Henri de Lubac. In his profound reflection on the Eucharist, de Lubac emphasized that the Eucharist is not merely something the Church celebrates; it is what the Church becomes. He writes, “The Church makes the Eucharist, and the Eucharist makes the Church.”

From Palms to Passion: Walking with the Suffering Servant

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion: April 13, 2025

Readings: Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24.; Philippians 2:6-11; Philippians 2:8-9; Luke 22:14—23:56

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What would be your situation if your are praised to the sky for the person you are and then you were seen as wicked and people plotted to kill you? Often, the human tendency is to look at the exterior and follow the crowd without critical thinking.  Palm Sunday is a day of profound contrasts. The liturgy begins with jubilation as Jesus enters Jerusalem, hailed as a king by the crowds waving palms. Yet, it soon shifts into the solemn narrative of His suffering and death. This is no ordinary procession. This is a journey into the heart of God’s redeeming love — a love that does not cling to glory but empties itself for the sake of the world.

1. A Paradoxical Kingship

Palm Sunday sets the precedent for the days ahead. It invites us to walk closely with Jesus through the upper room, the garden of Gethsemane, the trials, the cross, and ultimately, the empty tomb. It asks us: What kind of king are we following? What kind of kingdom are we seeking? As we enter Holy Week, let us not merely observe the Passion from a distance but participate in it by embracing our own crosses, our own paths of surrender and love. Let our Hosannas echo not just in words but in lives that reflect the self-giving love of Christ, who humbled Himself to lift us up.  

Jesus the Face of Mercy and Compassion: Living Our Faith with Passion and Holiness

05th Sunday of Lent: April 06, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 43:16–21; Psalm 126:1–6; Philippians 3:8–14; John 8:1–11

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Who is perfect? Who is sinless? Often, people know more about us than we do ourselves! They have their own versions of us. They wear coloured glasses and see us. Despite knowing that a human person is such a complex being, people underestimate the person. Each one has his or her own inadequacies and vulnerabilities. However, people live with prejudice, malice, wickedness, and evil tendencies. It fills their stomachs. As a result, they might not see any good in others. Unfortunately, they are incapable of self-reflection. In this context, we have beautiful liturgical readings on this Sunday, especially the Gospel reading. Jesus saves a woman from being stoned to death. His simple questions put the would-be murderers into shame and regret. Moreover, the woman becomes an ardent disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1. Jesus, the Face of Mercy

As we journey deeper into Lent, the Gospel of John 8:1–11 presents a powerful invitation to experience God’s mercy and renewal. This passage is not merely about the woman caught in sin—it is about all of us, sinners standing before a merciful Savior. It is about encountering Jesus in our brokenness and walking away transformed.  The scribes and Pharisees bring the woman before Jesus, eager to condemn her according to the Law of Moses. Yet, their real motive is not justice but to trap Jesus. If He spares her, they could accuse Him of disregarding the Law; if He condemns her, He would contradict His own message of mercy.

Embracing Father's Mercy

04th Sunday of Lent: March 30, 2025

Readings: Joshua 5:9–12: Psalm 34:2–7; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Luke 15:1–3, 11–32

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What do we do in moments of despair? Each one knows how to cope with such situations based on one's education and upbringing. Sometimes, such moments can be very painful and distressing. However, deep down God has blessed His creation with the ability to navigate such complexities and confusion. The Gospel reading on the fourth Sunday of Lent tells us how the Prodigal Son dealt with such a difficult situation. He had the consciousness to go back to his roots, back to his Father. He opted for the option of being embraced by his father. He knew his father more than anyone else. That's how he was solemnly received by his father because of his humility and simplicity.

1. Returning to the Father: A Call to Repentance

Today, we reflect upon the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:1–3, 11–32. It is a story of a profound revelation of God’s mercy and love. It is not merely a story about two brothers but an invitation to examine our relationship with the Father. The younger son, lured by worldly desires, seeks independence but soon finds himself in misery. His return is marked by a humble confession: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you" (Luke 15:18). This Lenten season calls us to recognize the ways we have strayed—through selfishness, pride, or neglect of God. True repentance is not merely feeling sorry but turning back with trust in God’s mercy.

Encountering the Living God in the Ordinary : A Call to Trust

03rd Sunday of Lent: March 23, 2025

Readings: Exodus 3:1–8, 13–15; Psalm 103:1–4, 6–8, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:1–6, 10–12; Luke 13:1–9

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Death and destruction are part of our lives. Often we find it difficult to understand the suffering, death and loss that occur in our lives. Sadly, they do not allow us to live in peace. We find no meaning in such incidences which are so painful and seldom they happen successively, one after the other. Due to such unbearable experiences, we might lose hope in God and ourselves as well. The history of humanity has been a tale of such happenings and experiences. We find it difficult to harness and learn from experiences until they happen to us and we are part of this unhappy phenomenon. The liturgical readings on this Third Sunday of Lent give us experiences that occurred in the lives of Israelites. Jesus' explanations to the crowd leave them more confused as their thinking is limited.

1. A Call to Repentance and Fruitfulness

In today’s Gospel, Luke 13:1–9 Jesus responds to two tragic events: The slaughter of Galileans by Pilate and the collapse of a tower in Siloam. The people assume that those who suffered from these tragedies were worse sinners than others. But Jesus challenges this mindset. Rather than focusing on why bad things happen, He turns the question toward personal conversion: “Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” Jesus’ words today are not meant to instill fear but to wake us from spiritual sluggishness or laziness. God’s patience is a gift, but it is not to be taken for granted. We are called to respond, to repent, and to bear fruit—not tomorrow, but today.

Transfigured in Christ: A Journey of Authentic Discipleship

02 Sunday of Lent: March 16, 2025

Readings: Genesis 15:5–12, 17–18; Psalm 27:1, 7–9, 13–14; Philippians 3:17–4:1; Luke 9:28–36

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Deep and poignant experiences leave an indelible mark in life. They make us who we are, reveal our identity and the purpose of our lives, and are defining moments that clear the path of the future. No one can steal such experiences from our lives. They add value to our lives and are pathways to the future. We feel such experiences are very essential. They broaden our horizons and look for a future with hope. Jesus had a similar experience with his disciples during the transfiguration on Mount Tabor. The whole episode changed the perspectives of Jesus and his three disciples forever. They were never the same again. It captivated their attention and made them clear the role of their master Jesus in their lives. This Sunday's liturgical readings help us live this Lent with utmost faith, hope and charity.

1. Climbing the Mountain: Seeking God's Presence

The Gospel for this Sunday Luke 9:28–36 invites us to contemplate the Transfiguration of Jesus—a moment of divine revelation that strengthens the disciples for the journey ahead. As we reflect on this very fascinating passage, it invites us to recognize that authentic Christian discipleship requires us to be transformed in Christ, listening to Him, and courageously following Him through both moments of glory and the path of the Cross. Therefore, we must have passion for God and the determination to follow him only then we can fulfil the ambition of God for us.

More Than Bread: Encountering God in Our Weakness

First Sunday of Lent 2025: March 09, 2025

Readings: Deuteronomy 26:4–10; Psalm 91:1–2, 10–15; Romans 10:8–13; Luke 4:1–13

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/3dH8oGvqFfQ

Who does not get tempted? Our human nature is such that we cannot be perfect. Vulnerability, finiteness, limitedness, and mortality are part of our lives. Our human nature craves for things more than it is necessary to satisfy one's basic needs. Our desires are unlimited and uncontainable. There is no end for dissatisfaction. Rarely, we might utter, it's enough. More the merrier is the only thing that drives us. In this context, we have very fascinating readings from the Bible, which are nothing but a contradiction to who we are. Jesus is indeed our model in this scenario to discern not only our thoughts and feelings but also our desires. 

1. Victory over temptation is possible

The first Sunday of Lent places us at the threshold of the desert with Jesus, where He is led by the Spirit and tested by the devil as we read in Luke 4:1–13. This Gospel passage is not just an episode in Jesus’ life but a revelation of His identity and mission. It invites us to walk with Him into the wilderness of our own hearts, where we confront our struggles and rediscover the path to true life in God. Jesus, the Son of God, faces temptations that echo the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Where the first Adam failed by succumbing to the devil’s lies, Jesus—the new Adam—remains steadfast. The devil tempts Him with three things that still challenge us today: physical needs (bread), power (worldly kingdoms), and pride (testing God). Yet, Jesus resists, not through sheer willpower but through His deep trust in the Father.

Living in God’s Light: Building Relationships Rooted in Faith

08th Sunday in Ordinary Time: March 02, 2025

Readings: Sirach 27:4–7; Psalm 92:2–3, 13–16; 1 Corinthians 15:54–58; Luke 6:39–45

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/UQ0yoRojzYA

Three things are very important in life to make it meaningful: Trust, mercy and forgiveness. Trust builds our relationships, mercy brings people together, and forgiveness creates peace among people.  This week we have been reading very poignant readings from the book of Sirach (wisdom literature of the Bible). What matters most in our life is living our earthly life in line with the precepts of God. It means allowing God to be God. Being born with limitedness and vulnerability, none of us are perfect. Especially when we live in families or religious communities, we need more and more power to make adjustments in order to build trust, mercy and forgiveness. The liturgical readings of this Sunday tell us that to be good means to be embraced by the compassion of our God.

1. Building our lives with God as true light

In this passage of Luke 6:39–45, Jesus speaks in parables, offering wisdom about guidance, self-awareness, and the fruitfulness of a good heart. His words challenge us to examine ourselves, to seek true wisdom, and to bear fruit that reflects God’s presence within us. "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?" (Luke 6:39).  Jesus warns against the danger of being led by those who lack true spiritual sight.