Approaches to the Cross of Christ

Good Friday of the Lord's Passion: March 29, 2024

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

Please listen to the audio recording of the homily preached in a parish: https://youtu.be/DmcuUc09akg

"Behold the wood of the Cross, on which the Salvation of the World, come, let us adore." With these very emotional words, we venerate the Cross of our Lord today.  When we think about the Cross, very quickly to our imagination comes the Cross in our Church altars, homes and in our own threads that we wear around our necks. Jesus never looked for the Cross in his life, but it came on his way. Jesus never longed for Cross but it was imposed upon him by the secular rulers of this world. So why then the Cross of our Lord has become such an awe-inspiring, symbol of our salvation in Christian religion.

1. Early symbols of Christianity 

To get deeper into the meaning and significance of the Cross, we must turn the annals of the history of Christianity. Other than the robust understanding of the importance of the Cross of our Lord Jesus in the writings of St Paul, we do not find anything much in the early years of Christianity. The early Christians who lived in fear and trembling, persecution and death even that of the Cross under Roman rule, did not use the symbol of the Cross. The early Christians used the symbol of fish or lamb as some sort of indicator for Christians. We can see them in the catacombs of Rome or in the oldest Churches like in Aquilea in Northern Italy. 

Jesus Did it All for us with His Body and Blood

Holy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper: March 28, 2024

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

Today, Holy Mother Church fondly celebrates three significant events which took place 2024 years ago. First: The institution of the Eucharist. Second: The gift of priesthood. Third: Love and Service Commandment.  

1. The Institution of the Eucharist: In the Old Testament, as a remembrance of the liberation from the shackles of Egyptian slavery, the Israelites ate the Passover meal. This pascal meal was an invitation given by God for a new life. This meal was a sign and symbol of forgoing the old self of slavery in Egypt and starting a fresh synodal journey, which called for embracing a new lifestyle in the promised land of Israel. So, each year, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast” (Exodus 12:14). 

Participating in Jesus' Theo-Drama

Passion Sunday/Palm Sunday: March 24, 2024

Readings: Mk 11:1-10; Isaiah 50:4–7; Psalm 22:8–9, 17–20, 23–24; Philippians 2:6–11; Mark 14:1–15:47

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

The passion of our Lord is the passion for the world and its humanity. We are at the threshold of the Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. We begin a very intense spiritual journey with the celebration of this Palm Sunday. We are also commemorating a very historical event that took place in the life of Jesus. By recalling and re-enacting this event which is so powerful and poignant, we are invited to walk with Jesus in this moment of great expectation of salvation. The ultimate sacrifice of our Lord happens on Good Friday, where everything that was planned by God gets accomplished and fulfilled. The liturgical readings of today, take us to that memory of which is still preserved by the Church.

1. Attentiveness to God's voice

On this Palm Sunday, the theo-drama (drama of God) begins and gets enacted in Jerusalem and Jesus is the protagonist. The entire event revolves around the God-Man, Jesus. The passage from Isaiah 50:4–7 offers profound insights into obedience, suffering, and steadfastness in the face of adversity. Hundreds of years ago, Prophet Isaiah spoke about Jesus and how his end is going to be.  Isaiah speaks, "The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary." This verse is a beautiful reminder that spiritual wisdom and the ability to comfort others are gifts from God. It challenges us to ask ourselves how we are using our words. Are we using the right words? Are we speaking life into others, offering comfort and wisdom when they are weary? This verse calls us to be mindful of our speech, recognizing that the ability to uplift others is a divine gift that should be nurtured and cherished.

Time of Judgement of this World!

05th Sunday of Lent: March 17, 2024

Readings: Jeremiah 31:31–34; Psalm 51:3–4, 12–13, 14–15; Hebrews 5:7–9; John 12:20–33

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/c8TF4_VC_yo

The judgement comes at the end. However, there is a preparation and time for judgment. All that starts well not necessarily must end well. Often a bad starting will have a bad ending. Still, a bad end is not a real end in terms of the life of Jesus. As we inch closer to the final days of Lent where we recount the journey of Jesus namely his passion, death and resurrection, on this fifth Sunday of Lent, the Church invites us to look at the reality of life in its wholeness. What is that making our life meaningful? Where is the ultimate prize for our earthly life? These are the questions, the liturgical readings of this Sunday evoke in us.

1. The desire to see Jesus and the paradox of Christian discipleship

The passage from the Gospel of John 12:20–33 presents a rich ground for spiritual and contextual reflections. The Word of God captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, namely sacrifice, service, glory, and the paradox of life through death. The passage begins with some Greeks, representing the Gentile world, expressing their desire to see Jesus. There is certainly universal appeal of Jesus' message and his popularity has grown even beyond the Jewish community.  Even the Greeks are longing for something spiritual, to connect with the divine, to find meaning and purpose in life. Jesus seems to be their answer.

Long Loving Look at the Cross in Our Lives

 This homily is preached at the Jesuit Priest's gathering 10 March 2024. Click to listen (audio only).

Cross of Christ: A Way to Salvation

04th Sunday of Lent: March 10, 2024

Readings: 2 Chronicles 36:14–16, 19–23; Psalms 137:1–6; Ephesians 2:4–10; John 3:14–21

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/jzB1eZn2CjM

When there is so much good in the world often people seem to be choosing not-so-good things. Darkness seems to be more desired than light. You want to choose good but land up taking up things that are unholy and bad. Everyone knows peace, harmony and reconciliation give life and prosperity but often people and nations choose the path of anger and jealousy and end up fighting and waging wars leading to only destruction and death. Even though human history and experience tell us that certain moral and ethical paradigms have been set up for a better and happier life, yet when circumstances arise people forget such things and end up in destructive things. The liturgical readings for this Sunday invite us to choose the right path in place of destruction and death. Moreover, they tell us to learn from history and lead a life that is pleasing to God.

1. Long, loving look at Christ on the Cross

The passage from John 3:14–21 contains some of the most profound teachings of the Christian faith, highlighting themes of salvation, judgment, and the nature of belief. Jesus speaks about how salvation is brought to the humanity. "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up." A reference to the Old Testament story (Numbers 21:4–9) where Israelites looked upon the bronze serpent to be healed. Similary, Christians too must look to Christ on the cross for their salvation. The long and loving look at Christ on the Cross in fact his sacrifice will lead for the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of our relationship with God.

Following the Lord and His Mission!

03rd Sunday of Lent: March 03, 2024

Readings: Exodus 20:1–17; Psalm 19:8–11; 1 Corinthians 1:22–25; John 2:13–25

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/rXzpgfePe_0

Howard Thuman famously said, "Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Living in a digital world surrounded by the euphoria of AI, ChatGpt, and Machine Learning (ML), we are in the midst of a transition. The change has been very quick and fast evolving. Those who embrace the race will not be the losers. However, we are invited to be part of it because it is our invention. It depends on us whether we would like to control technology or allow technology to control us. Unless we come alive, the world will be dormant, marginalized, and impoverished. The people of Jesus' time never realized the Messiah amidst them instead they saw in him a disturbance, a threat to their corrupt practices. On this Third Sunday of Lent, the liturgical readings invite us to accept the precepts of God wholeheartedly so that we come alive fully to carry on in this world. 

1. Necessity of Blessed Rage for the House of God

The passage from John 2:13–25 recounts the incident where Jesus cleanses the Temple in Jerusalem, an event that is significant both to Messianic work as well as the Jewish community as a whole. Jesus' actions in the Temple demonstrate his deep passion and reverence for the house of God. His zeal is not merely for the physical structure but for what it represents: a place of worship, prayer, and connection with the Divine. Therefore, our faith must move beyond witnessing miracles or signs but more of a personal relationship with God that is rooted in trust, love and commitment. 

If God is for us, who can be against us?

 2nd Sunday of Lent: February 25, 2024

Readings: Genesis 22:1–2, 9–13, 15–18; Psalm 116:10, 15–19; Romans 8:31–34; Mark 9:2–10

The sacrifice of Issac

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

The absence of imagination in the world of intelligence then knowledge is poor. Both imagination and intelligence must go hand in hand. When intelligence stops, imagination must take its course. The world that we live in lacks both. We know the tree by its fruits. The results the world provides to us are not so optimistic and hopeful. There is so much violence and wickedness because humanity is taking the world as it is. The lack of futuristic thinking is affecting us. The life of tomorrow can be guaranteed by wise decisions and actions of today. The mistakes or blunders of today can cost us tomorrow dearly. The small and bigger wars are going on inside the country and between the countries. The dominance of right-wing politics without a philosophy of a better future, harmony, and consensus is causing more harm than good. In this context, we must read the liturgical readings of the Second Sunday of Lent. The imagination of Abraham, Jesus and Paul are uncontainable in fulfilling the will of God. They are models for our earthly life.

1. Transfigured nature of Jesus - Human to divine

The passage of Mark 9:2–10 describes the Transfiguration of Jesus, an event where Jesus reveals His divine glory before three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John, on a high mountain. The Transfiguration reveals Jesus in His divine glory, affirming His identity as the Son of God. This event not only confirms the divinity of Christ to His disciples but also to us as readers, inviting us to recognize and honor Jesus as both fully God and fully man. It challenges us to deepen our understanding of who Jesus is and to appreciate the mystery of the Incarnation. During the Transfiguration, a voice from heaven says, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." It underscores that listening to Jesus must be a paramount urge within us.  For a Christian, true wisdom and direction come from Christ, and we are called to listen, discern, and follow His words in our daily lives.

Never Abandoned and Eternal Promises of God

First Sunday of Lent: February 18, 2024

Readings: Genesis 9:8–15; Psalm 25:4–9; 1 Peter 3:18–22; Mark 1:12–15

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/g5KXVohNn8U?si=fOwUgJocjGijWOJu

We are, already, in the Season of Lent. Every liturgical season like Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, and Easter brings something unique to us so that we can delve deeper into the mystery of Christian life. This enables us to meditate, contemplate, and rethink about ourselves and the significance of the person of Jesus Christ to each one of us. Every spiritual aspect that we delve into has a significant meaning to our faith life. It might give us some insight into where we are and where we are going. It might also help us to choose the path that we want to take. As we delve deeper into the mystery of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, during this season of Lent, perhaps we can make a commitment that enables us to be a better human person. Thus the humanity within us really opens itself for the good of all. Let us see now how the liturgical readings for this Sunday open to us. 

1. Ultimate promise of God and our stewardship

Genesis 9:8–15 recounts the covenant that God established with Noah and all living creatures after the flood. The covenant in this passage underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His creation. Despite the chaos and destruction of the flood, God remains committed to His people and the entire Earth. This serves as a powerful reminder that even in the midst of life's storms, God's faithfulness endures. It prompts us to reflect on the constancy of God's love and promises in our own lives, instilling a sense of trust and reliance on the Divine.