Abundance of Grace over the Weakness of Satan

 1st Sunday of Lent: February 26, 2023

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

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/ioP4T1JVDUg

We have just begun the Holy Season of Lent. This 40 days long of preparation for the commemoration of Christ's passion, death and resurrection is, indeed, a spiritual experience of renewal, reconnecting, and retransformation. It is our choice whether to make that story of our Lord as our story. It is a time to recognize our finiteness, our brokenness, and our sinfulness. Thus realize that God is the foundation of our lives. The liturgical readings on this First Sunday of Lent invite us to be part of God's story of salvation which embraces both suffering and salvation. 

1. Temptations around but grace abounds

Matthew 4:1–11 tells the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. As we begin our journey through Lent, this story offers us important and practical lessons.

Be Holy, for I, the LORD, Your God, am Holy

 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 19, 2023

Readings: Leviticus 19:1–2, 17–18; Psalm 103:1–4, 8, 10, 12–13; 1 Corinthians 3:16–23; Matthew 5:38–48

(Photo courtesy: Jean-Marc Arkelian)

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/rsbOidv2x3I

As we move closer to the Lenten Season, the liturgical readings on this Sunday invite us to ponder over a number of things, namely, forgiveness and reconciliation, love and mercy, holiness and steadfastness in the love of God. The Word of God emphasizes how essenential for us Christians to strive for holiness and imitate the example of Christ in our daily lives, particularly in our relationships with others.

Spirit Scrutinizes Everything, even the Depths of God

 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 12, 2023

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/gOcRmVfs7-o

We realize the need for God or the higher form of Order in our lives because of our understanding that we are finite and imperfect beings. We strive to become better versions of ourselves by assimilating the virtues in our lives or those things which we consider holy and extraordinary. The sixth Sunday in ordinary time invites us to reflect in our daily lives on the importance of forgiveness, humility, compassion, and those things which are dear to God.  

1. People in communion with God and others

As spiritual beings, deep within us, there is a longing in our hearts to see God and to be part of God's life. Even though none of us have seen God yet we have some idea of God because of our religious upbringing and reasoning capacity. In spite of our limitedness, we have the capacity to know God. A week ago, Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamon (1931-2023), one of the finest Greek Orthodox theologians of this century died. His celebrated work, "Being as Communion: Studies in Personhood and the Church" had a profound impact on our understanding of God and the Church.  He reflected upon the communal nature of God. He believed that God is not an isolated individual, but a communion of persons who exist in relationship with each other in the form of Trinity. He also thought that Church is not just an organization, but a community of persons who share in the life of God through the Holy Spirit. Hence all of us belong to a  community of persons who are united in their shared relationship with God.

The Enduring Power of God

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 05, 2023

Readings: Isaiah 58:7–10; Psalm 112:4–9; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5; Matthew 5:13–16

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/F-55lDPeHiE

As we reflect upon our spiritual journey and seek a deeper connection with God during this ordinary time of the year, the liturgical readings of this Sunday invite us to trust in the enduring power of God. This is possible when we become the salt of the earth and light of the world.

1. Our commitment to the call of our Lord

On the 2nd of February, the Church celebrated the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, a day specially dedicated for all the consecrated people.  It's a day when we recalled how precious and significant our call is especially being called to be the partakers of the mission of the Lord. Just like Jesus called the first disciples and their immediate response to leave everything and follow him, we too are in his team. This reminds us of the importance of putting our faith in action and being willing to let go of our old ways and commitments in order to follow Jesus more fully. In the First Reading of today, we hear about the prophet Isaiah being called by God to be a light to the nations. This is a reminder of our own call to share the light of the gospel and bring hope and comfort to those around us.

Called to be Holy

 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 29, 2023

Readings: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; Psalm 146:6-10; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus preaches the "Sermon on the Mount"

We are living in an ever-changing world.  In recent years, we have been noticing this change happening in a very fast and rapid space. This is both positive and negative. With the arrival of Covid -19, a lot of things have changed in our lifestyle and well-being. Even though constant change has been a permanent feature of our life in this world, yet it is challenging to adapt to such sudden changes. In the midst of such dramatic changes, there are certain things like values, and ideals that are permanent and eternal. They have a future with a sense of universal applications. On the Fourth Sunday of the Ordinary Time, the readings focus on certain such values which we must imbibe and integrate in our lives particularly, humility, mercy, kindness, righteousness, blessedness, peace and purity of heart. 

1. Called to be blessed at all times

The Gospel writer St Matthew (5:1-12a,) gives us Jesus' well-known "Sermon on the Mount." This rich sermon of Jesus speaks about the importance of humility, meekness, peacemaking, righteousness, mourning, mercy, purity, and perseverance in the face of persecution as the path towards spiritual fulfillment. These teachings, known as the "Beatitudes," are considered by many to be a cornerstone of Christian spiritual reflection and practice. "Blessed" means spiritually fortunate and prosperous, blissful, delighted, and content.  In verse 3, Jesus teaches that the spiritually poor, or those who recognize their spiritual poverty and recognize their own limitations, rely completely on God.  In verse 4, those who mourn, or who grieve over their sins and the sins of the world, will be comforted by God.

Transformative Experience of the Call of Jesus

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 22, 2023

Readings: Isaiah 8:23–9:3; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13–14; 1 Corinthians 1:10–13, 17; Matthew 4:12–23

The purpose of our Christian living is to grow spiritually and build a deeper relationship with God. It is, indeed, a great challenge today when we read the newspapers, WhatsApp messages, and listen to the television news. We see so much evil and hear only bad news. The sense of God is slowly disappearing from the public eye. Might seems to be right. Therefore, our personal faith journey must be strong and vibrant, resilient and encouraging in order to face the negative trends and hopeless situations which take us away from what we consciously strive to achieve, which is our relationship with God. 

1. Call with a purpose

On this Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, we have beautiful readings from the Bible. Matthew 4:12-23 tells the story of Jesus beginning his ministry in Galilee after the courageous ministry of repentance of St John the Baptist. In fact, Jesus begins his preaching and healing ministry, when John the Baptist had to stop abruptly when he was put into prison by King Herod. His message “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” sent shock waves to thrones of power.  Jesus sees a great need of gathering a band of disciples to accompany him in his mission of preaching the Reign of God. Hence, four brothers from two families are chosen Simon and Andrew, James and John. They would follow him and become "fishers of men."

Called to be the Light to the Nations

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 15, 2023

Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5–6; Psalm 40:2, 4, 7–10; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3; John 1:29–34

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Autonomy seems to be what is selling today! It means that we are particular about our knowledge, freedom, desires, wants, wishes, and such other things. That must be the reason why so many would like to live independently in their homes and houses often alone. Living in a larger family or in a religious community is becoming cumbersome and difficult. However, the liturgical readings of today tell us something contrary to what we hold dear to our modern-day lifestyle. As we make our journey of life into the ordinary days of the year, the Church invites us to imitate our Lord who valued family and community life. He made himself available to others and their well-being. Lord Jesus calls us to be his followers, to love and serve others in his name.

1. Called to be the light to the nations 

Prophet Isaiah 49:3-6 speaks of a servant of God who will be a light to the nations and bring salvation to the ends of the earth. In Christian theology, this servant is understood to be Jesus. He is often referred to as the "Light of the World" in the New Testament, and is said to have come to bring salvation and enlightenment to all people, regardless of their race or ethnicity. The idea of Jesus as the light to the nations suggests that through faith in him, people can find spiritual guidance and direction, and that his message has the power to transform lives and bring people closer to God. This concept is often reflected in Christian teachings and practices, such as the sacraments, prayer, and acts of mercy and service to others.

Celebrating the Manifestation of Jesus as Salvation

The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, Jesus Christ: January 8, 2023

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

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/bdCM2SZZjxM

In our world today, anything new either a product or service that comes into the market is viewed with skepticism. However, the business houses look at such products or services as either a threat or an opportunity. In a competitive market economy, there is a place for everything including new ideas and new possibilities. When we apply the same principle to our society, anything new is seen either with cynicism or a threat to the already existing ethos, norms, or value system. We find it difficult to adjust and nurture something new and good for our own benefit. Similarly, 2000 years ago, the birth of Jesus also brought fear and uneasiness into the royal palaces and thrones of power. However, in other quarters of faith and reason, the birth of Jesus opened a new chapter in the history of humanity. The feast of the Epiphany is, indeed, such an event, which would change completely the face of the religious scenario for the rest of world history. 

1. Revelation of Baby Jesus as the Saviour of humanity

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Manifestation of Jesus Christ, also known as the Feast of Epiphany. It celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God and the savior of the world. It is typically celebrated on January 6th, when the Eastern (Orthodox) Churches celebrate it as Christmas. The word "epiphany" comes from the Greek word "epiphaneia," which means "revelation" or "manifestation" or "appearance." The Feast of Epiphany commemorates the three Wise Men, or Magi, who visited Jesus after his birth and brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It is also associated with the story of Jesus' baptism, when he was revealed to be the Son of God.

Following in the Footsteps of Mary, the Mother of God

 The Octave Day of Christmas: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God: January 01, 2023

Mass Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/92Z8JYVUmwI

Today is the 1st day of the year 2023! On this special day of the year, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. It is a Catholic feast day that is celebrated on January 1st. This feast day honors Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her role as the mother of God. Mary is a central figure in Christianity and is revered as a woman of very special significance by Catholics and many other Christian denominations. The celebration of this feast day dates back to the 4th century and was established by Pope Julius I as a way to reaffirm the belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ. The celebration of this feast day is a way for Catholics to honor Mary and recognize her important role in the life and ministry of Jesus. It is also a time to reflect on Mary's own faith and devotion to God, and to draw inspiration from her example.

1. Role of Mother Mary in the public ministry of Jesus

Mary played a powerful role in the public ministry of Jesus, although the accounts of her involvement in the Gospels are limited. According to the New Testament, Mary was present at the beginning of Jesus' ministry and present at the wedding in Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle. After this, there is little mention of Mary in the Gospels in relation to Jesus' public ministry. However, it is likely that Mary was an important source of support and encouragement for Jesus as he carried out his ministry and preached throughout Galilee and Judea. Mary was also present at the Crucifixion of Jesus, standing by his side as he died on the cross.