Called to Unity for a Greater Cause

 The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C): January 23, 2022

Readings: Nehemiah 8:2–6, 10; Psalms 19:8–10, 15; 1 Corinthians 12:12–30; Luke 1:1–4, 4:14–21

Jesus is reading the scroll of Isaiah in the Synagogue of Nazareth 

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By the time we celebrate the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, we have prayed a weeklong prayer for Christian unity. Perhaps, in a Catholic-dominated country like India where the Orthodox and the Protestant brothers and sisters make comparatively a smaller number, the urgency for Christian Unity has not taken deep roots. This argument is based on the number of articles that are published in the theological and popular Catholic journals of India. Even if I search with a floodlight, sadly but hardly any article on ecumenism could be found in our journals today! Having myself lived in the heart of the robust and influential with an almost State Religion status of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow for many years, brushing aside any sort of ecumenical fervour in spirit and action would cost dearly your apostolic endeavours as a priest. In this context, the liturgical readings of this Sunday remind us very powerfully that we are all called to be part of the one body, one book and one mission, in fact, called to be ecumenical in every way. 

1. Lack of unity is self-destruction 

Let's start with the book of Nehemiah which speaks about the sad state of affairs of the Israelites (Nehemiah 8:2–6, 10). Priest Ezra and the captive Israelites return from exile in Babylon, the infamous Babylonian captivity which took place in 586 BC.  Foreign and non-Jewish king Cyrus of Persia not only sends back the Jews to their own Fatherland but also rebuilds their ruined temple in 538 BC. Then Ezra and Nehemia having rebuilt the ruined city and its walls come together with the Israelites to celebrate their unity by reading the book of Thora, the scriptures. Both Ezra and Nehemiah are contemporaries. They are given the task of rebuilding the Israelites, their temple, their land, and their nation. People quickly understand that if there was such a destruction of their national culture, tradition, religion, freedom and prosperity and very sense of nation, it is due to the Babylonian captivity, it is because of their discord with God and one another. If the people had to live in bondage first with Babylonians and then with Persians it's because of their lack of unity among themselves. They had forgotten the God of their ancestors. They had neglected their covenant with the Lord and His commandments. Moreover, they had gone behind the pagan Gods, both king and his people. Now, a new stage was set for the renewal of the covenant and the re-establishment of the Law of Moses as the people’s rule of life. 

Participating in the Joy of Others

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C): January 16, 2022

Readings: Isaiah 62:1–5; Psalm 96:1–3, 7–10; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; John 2:1–12

Jesus performs a miracle in Cana from water into wine

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During this Christmas Season, I witnessed a number of weddings. I attended a few of them either presiding over the Eucharist or as a preacher. In fact, I had done hardly before. In my 10 years as a priest abroad, (i.e., until 2016, in the US, UK and Russia), I blessed or attended no Church weddings at all! The recent weddings in my native place gave me a glimpse into how India has changed in its way of celebrating love and life together. The sanity and sanctity of wedding celebrations have been taken over immensely by the external pomp and glamour so much so that the reality of life, its context and content has little meaning. I also wondered in such external celebrity hype and over-commercialization of the weddings, does the question of suffering and sin, anger and frustration, loneliness and stubbornness in a couple's life could be transformed into harmony and peace, joy and laughter, fellowship and togetherness in the long run. In contrast to this, we have a wedding feast at Cana attended by Jesus and his beloved mother Mary. 

1. Large heartedness of Mary 

On the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, we have a Gospel passage from St John enumerating a beautiful episode of the wedding celebration in Cana (John 2:1–12).  In fact, St John the Evangelist gives us the first miracle of Jesus ever performed in his Gospel and that too happens to be at the marriage feast. As the passage suggests to us, it is a social celebration where everyone seems to have been invited, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the disciples. There seems to be a close family bond between the marriage party and the family of Jesus. What is fascinating is the initiative of Mary in proposing to Jesus to do something for the marriage host to save his self-respect. Mary had absolute faith in her son and would respond immediately. Jesus' quick intervention was utterly necessary to save the skin of the host. It was a question of lack of wine at the wedding party. The scarcity of a traditional drink would spoil the whole celebration itself.

Called to be the Beloved Forever

 The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - Cycle C: January 9, 2022

Readings: Isaiah 42:1–4, 6–7; Psalm 29:1–4, 9–10; Acts 10:34–38; Luke 3:15–16, 21–22

A mosaic on the Baptism of the Lord by Fr Marko Rupnik SJ

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Most of the cultures or traditions have definite ways of educating their people. For example, in ancient India, there were sages or gurus who had mastered a certain kind of ability to give spiritual depth to the seekers. They anointed their disciples and continued the legacy of their masters. Russian Christian tradition and history speaks about Starets (Старец) or elders who were spiritual masters in their own capacity, and common men and women would run to them seeking advice on spiritual and other matters of life. The imagery that comes to our mind as we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord is that of an elder, John the Baptist leading young Jesus into a ministry of faith and service in building the Kingdom of God. There is someone who is an experienced wise man initiating or laying a strong foundation towards the future work of a person of God.

1. God's way of leading is wholesome

Fyodor Dostoevsky, the author of the classical novel Brothers of Karamazov takes Starets Zosima as a spiritual guru in educating his son Aloysia. The role of persons like elder Zosima is to show a path of morality, righteousness and truth to people. We need to have virtuous and upright people who already walked that path for a long time. Such leaders and teachers are like signposts or like educating a child to walk. Today in the liturgical readings, we heard the names of prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist, both in different times of the history of humanity guided their people in their cosmic and acosmic quest for truth.

God's Revelation at an Opportune Time

 The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (Cycle C): January 02, 2021

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

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As we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, we are on the threshold of a new year. Perhaps, our hearts and minds are full of dreams and aspirations, plans and projects for the New Year 2022.  We might be having a number of commitments and resolutions, ideas and pledges for the year which is ahead of us. We make plans and God blesses them. We work towards the implementation of tasks ahead of us while God realizes them silently. We have said goodbye to the year 2021 which was in many ways not so kind to us with the second wave of Corona pandemic taking away many of our near and dear ones and making many orphans and jobless.  We hope that the New Year 2022 truly becomes a year of grace and blessings, peace and prosperity.  I wish all my readers greetings of the New Year.

1. What belongs to God is known widely and urgently

Today we commemorate the familiar account of the visit of the Three Wise Men also called as Magi to the little baby Jesus. The word Epiphany literally means "a showing," "a revelation," "making known," which emphasizes the revelation of Jesus to the world. In fact, these three wise men are travellers from the East belonging to a certain category of people in society who exercised certain power or authority. Unlike the Shepherds who are simple and always on their feet, the Magi are learned and come to know the birth of Jesus through the books and knowledge of the celestial signs namely astrology and come from the East. From the East sun rises and makes the world bright and beautiful. So too the Magi reveal to the world, who the baby Jesus is all about, through the symbolic gifts they offer to baby Jesus namely, gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

Christmas: God's Special Intervention in the World

 Christmas Day: December 25, 2021

Readings (of Midnight Mass): Isaiah 9:1-7 | Titus 2:11-14 | Luke 2:1-14

(Crib at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore 2021)
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  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” With these beautiful words of Angels, we begin this great festivity of Christmas. As the global Christian community enters into this great mystery of God becoming human, we are invited to contemplate this mystery and draw some profit for our spiritual well-being. 

1. Christmas: From Ordinary to Extraordinary 

On this Christmas, we are commemorating a very ordinary and extraordinary event in human history that is the birth of God amongst us as a human baby. Let’s take the ordinary first: Can we imagine that seen of Mary, Joseph and little baby in an unknown city of Bethlehem in a cowshed and the baby is just born. This family from Nazareth could not get a place because people were not generous enough to say “yes” to what they were asking for, a place to stay. And now the baby is laid on a manger while cows or goats and their donkey are watching this scene. We can see the vulnerability of Joseph, the husband of Mary for having failed to give a modest place and privacy to his wife so that she could give birth to a child in a normal, anxiety-free place. 

Never Alone When God Accompanies

 Fourth Sunday of Advent (Cycle C): December 19, 2021

Readings: Micah 5:1–4; Psalm 80:2–3, 15–16, 18–19; Hebrews 5:5–10; Luke 1:39–45

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As the season of Advent comes to a close, with barely a week to go to celebrate Christmas, we are invited by the liturgical readings on this fourth Sunday of Advent with a call to follow both Mary and Elizabeth. The role of these two women in the salvation history of humanity is very important. They speak about the good news that both are carrying within them. Their sons are going to bring a big change in Jewish society in particular and in the world at large in general. 

1. God accompanies in odd circumstances

The events of the conception in Elizabeth and Mary are extraordinary and surprising to both of them: If Elizabeth conceived at her senior (old age) years, Mary at her young age, even before she could be married formally to Joseph. The news of their pregnancies and becoming mothers for the first time baffled their families. If Zacharia, the husband of Elizabeth refused to believe such a thing could happen to his wife, Joseph on the other hand thought of leaving Mary quietly from getting married. Even though it might appear joyful news, it was also challenging. Such happenings in the life of these Jewish women was difficult to handle. Moreover, it was something odd that had happened to these God-fearing ladies in their unexpected time. However, God's ways are different. He knows to make the best out of this situation. Probably, that must be the reason why both Mary and Elizabeth happen to be relatives. If these two odd things happen to two distinct unrelated persons then it would have been much more difficult for the families to handle them well.

Manifesting God’s Plan in our Lives

 Third Sunday of Advent (Cycle C): December 12, 2021

Readings:  Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

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As we delve deeper into the Advent Season, we begin to realise the plentiful blessings this particular season bring to us. Moreover, it gives us a rare opportunity to see God’s plan of salvation with the eyes of faith, hope and love.  The season also brings to our mind the beautiful memories of Christmas. Perhaps, we can think about three-fold task this Christmas gives us prominently, namely, refreshing memories of Christmas, nurturing our faith in God’s presence among us today in sacraments and liturgical life of the church and finally, to nurture within us a faith in the glorious Second Coming of our Lord.

1. Reclaiming the season of Advent with hope

Perhaps our carefree life has been smeared by the ravages of global health crises. In the midst of hopelessness, anxiety and fear, we lost good amount of time and celebrations of our faith. It’s a high time for us to reclaim the Season of Advent and welcome its message of hope and expectation. If we are to dare to hope and brace even the fears of new Corona variant Omicron, certainly we would reap abundant lessons and graces to overcome any storm or tribulation. Pope Benedict XVI, in his encyclical “saved by hope” put it beautifully: “Man’s great, true hope which holds firm in spite of all disappointments can only be God - God who has loved us and who continues to love us ‘to the end,’ until all is accomplished.”

Preparing the Way for our Saviour Courageously

Second Sunday of Advent (Cycle C): December 05, 2021

Readings: Baruch 5:1–9; Psalm 126:1–6; Philippians 1:4–6, 8–11; Luke 3:1–6

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In order to celebrate any event, we prepare ourselves well. In fact, adequate preparations go into before a successful function. Holy Advent is a time for preparation with reflection, eagerness, excitement and hopefulness. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, which means a coming, approach, or arrival. In the Church, it refers to the period encompassing the four Sundays prior to Christmas. We see this not only how the liturgical readings are chosen from the Scriptures but also other various things that get prepared during this season in order to put us into the mood of welcoming Christ at Christmas. They are advent wreaths, nativity scenes also called cribs, Christmas trees, keeping an advent calendar, etc. If these are external things that help us to get into the mood of the Advent season, then there are many spiritual things like attending the Rorate Caeli Mass, reading the Word of God daily, spending time in prayer, doing penance, a way to turn away from sin, thus we joyfully prepare for the coming of the Saviour. Ultimately, Advent is a time to grow in our knowledge of God’s love for us in Christ and in our response to this love in our daily choices.

1. Christ comes into our midst here and now

What makes Advent so special for Christians? It is the recognition that Christmas is not just remembering “the birthday of Jesus,” but a celebration of his coming into our world today, here and now, in the midst of joys and sorrows, hopes and tribulations.   How does Jesus come into the world today? Jesus is “born”—becomes physically tangible—through the celebration of the sacraments. It is by participating in the Eucharist, washing in the waters of Baptism, being anointed with the oil of Confirmation and so on. Jesus becomes part and parcel of our life as a friend by becoming part of the living Body of Christ which is the Church in the world today. For Catholics, then, every celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments is like a little Christmas.

God's Dreams for us

 First Sunday of Advent (Cycle C): November 28, 2021

Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

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Who does not like to make promises? But the question must be who keeps the promises diligently. The liturgical readings of this Sunday tell us very boldly that God is the one who makes promises moreover keeps them as well. Both the Old and the New Testaments give us a number of assurances and promises and God who fulfils them adequately and fully. As we enter into the Season of Advent, where we prepare to greet the birth of Jesus at Christmas, the promises and the hopes that surround our Lord's coming into our midst become very solid and valid for us. We are in the great season of expectant waiting. Today's Gospel reminds us, we are all waiting in hope for the day when Jesus comes again. Perhaps, we can ask ourselves straightaway what are we especially hoping for in these coming weeks. 

1. Cosmic changes are a sign that God is in control of us. 

When those unusual changes take place in the cosmos like chaos and instability, turmoil in the skies, roaring seas, distress among the nations and terrified people, Jesus says to his disciples "look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). In the midst of confusion and anxiety, God is present. What is that redemption, Jesus is talking about? Jesus is speaking about the redemption of humanity from the clutches of sin, suffering, destruction and evil. In the saving act of humanity, even the cosmos will be reacting in an extraordinary way. In other words, the whole of God's creation is in action in the process of granting salvation to humanity because God is coming down upon the earth with all His glory and power. Therefore, in everything - human, animal and plant world - the cosmic forces will be acting out their role in welcoming and giving a sign that the saviour is coming in glory.