Emmanuel — Opening to the Reality of God with us

Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 21, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 7:10–14; Psalm 24:1–6; Romans 1:1–7; Matthew 1:18–24

The Annunciation of Mary by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898
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What a beautiful expression about God that we have in this Advent Season: Emmanuel—God with us! He is with us even before we came into this world. He continues to accompany us in every day of our lives, both in our joys and sorrows, struggles and strengths. As we enter into the fourth Sunday of Advent, the liturgical readings invite us to experience the presence of God with us, around us and in us. God continues to surprise us with His presence in spite of our unknowability of him in its fullest reality.  What we know about God is very little, and it is through other creatures. The world cannot run automatically or preplanned. Therefore, there should be someone who is overseeing this whole creation, all that exists and all that moves. In this context, the Advent experience becomes meaningful and fruitful. 

1. The enchanting experience of God with us

As Advent draws to its quiet climax, the Gospel does not place us in a crowded stable or before singing angels, but in the interior world of one man—Joseph. The Gospel writer St Matthew 1:18–24 invites us to contemplate a faith that listens in silence, trusts without full understanding, and acts with courage. At the heart of this Gospel echoes a single name, repeated like a gentle refrain: Emmanuel—God with us.

Faith in Question - Believing in the Right Choice

Third Sunday of Advent: December 14, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 35:1–6, 10; Psalm 146:6–10; James 5:7–10; Matthew 11:2–11

Saint John the Baptist in Prison Visited by Two

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What is the factor that determines certainty? How can we be certain when someone says something that looks a bit strange or unusual? Today, fact-checking is becoming more common in the media as fake stories and narratives proliferate. There are fraudsters who often deceive those they perceive as "intelligent," "smart," and those in positions by sending links to their mobile devices via WhatsApp, SMS, or email. Many believe in these silly and most stupid things. You may not believe the person who is sitting next to you or your own colleague, but you cultivate such faith in an unknown person who is sitting somewhere else and sending fake messages, and you simply fall for that person. This issue of fact-checking is not just of today; even during the time of Jesus, people were using this element of ascertaining.  We see in the liturgical readings of today, especially in the Gospel, that John the Baptist, even while sitting in prison, wants to ensure that Jesus, who is becoming a popular figure, is the right one about whom he was preaching.

1. From doubt to certainty - Believing in the right one

In the Gospel reading of today, Matthew 11:2–11, we see John the Baptist sitting in a dark prison cell. The prophet who once stood in the desert with fire in his voice is now surrounded by silence and uncertainty. From this place of confinement, a question rises from his heart regarding the person of Jesus about whom he has been preaching for long: “Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?”  Absolutely, a striking moment. The greatest prophet, the fearless spokesperson of the Messiah, now experiences the ache of doubt. 

Advent - Finding Desert and Rivers of our Lives

Second Sunday in Advent: December 07, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 11:1–10; Psalm 72:1–2, 7–8, 12–13, 17; Romans 15:4–9; Matthew 3:1–12

St John the Baptist preaching painting by Mattia Preti

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            Prophets are the men of God who listen to the voice of God. They do not speak for themselves, but for God. They are men of courage and resilience. Nothing can stop them from doing what they are supposed to do. They speak directly and boldly. Their strength is God. The worldly authority, power, wealth, honour and prestige do not touch them, because their focus is on doing God's will in their lives. There are prophets even today, but we find it difficult to recognize or listen to them. We are ready to listen to the non-prophets who exercise power and authority. As a result, we lose sight of such precious gems in our society and world. As we enter into the Second Sunday of Advent, the liturgical readings prepare us boldly to embrace more of God and less of worldly things. Even though the Advent candle may be lit with a theme of "peace," the prophets Isaiah and St John the Baptist ask us to embrace peace with justice, thus straightening our lives.

1. Advent: Looking for spaces of renewal

In the Gospel reading of today, Matthew 3:1-12, we see John the Baptist appearing in the wilderness with a special message to the Israelites. He preaches in the desert of Judea, which also offered the solace of the river Jordan. The desert is not a lonely place. There is a voice of God. In such a place, St John is preaching and praying for the repentance of his people. In our busy schedule, when we get engrossed in too much noise and distractions, we must find solace in such places of the desert or the River Jordan. 

Be Attentive and be Awakened - God will Deliver

First Sunday of Advent: November 30, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 2:1–5; Psalm 122:1–9; Romans 13:11–14; Matthew 24:37–44

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Being attentive is part and parcel of our lives. Even though we are imperfect beings yet we want to be perfect in whatever we do. Therefore, we give so much attention to simple and small details. Sometimes, in spite of giving attention to little details, we may go wrong. We may try to correct it, perhaps the next time. When guests visit us, we give our time and attention. This shows that we have time for them and appreciate their visit. It also tells us that we love them. Having concluded the ordinary liturgical year, this Sunday we begin the great Advent. It means "coming" or "arrival." Firstly, it is remembering the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, it is awaiting the second arrival of Jesus Christ. As we enter into the Season of Advent, we reflect on this theme of "Hope." We are getting ready to welcome Jesus amongst us with the hope that we will truly be blessed and graced. The liturgical readings help us meet our saviour with such expectations, attention and hope. 

1. Advent: Gazing our eyes to the heavens

In the Gospel reading of today, Matthew 24:37–44, Jesus speaks about his second coming. His words invite his disciples to be attentive and ready for that day. Jesus speaks of the days of Noah, of ordinary people going about the ordinary rhythms of life—eating, drinking, marrying, working. Nothing dramatic, nothing sinful. Just life unfolding as usual. Yet, beneath that ordinariness, something divine was approaching, something beautiful was drawing near, and they did not recognize it.

Christ the King - Walking with a Person of Hope

Solemnity of Christ the King: November 23, 2025

Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1–3; Psalm 122:1–5; Colossians 1:12–20; Luke 23:35–43

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As most of us are born and brought up in democratic countries, the word "King" is a bit alien to us. Moreover, a good number of us may not like to have so-called "kings" on earth. Having studied history in schools and colleges, we have seen what kings did in their lives. Somebody put it so wisely: "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Most of the kings have been nasty and hypocritical, enjoying the wealth of the people. St Ignatius of Loyola gives us two well-noted meditations in his Spiritual Exercises: 1. Two Standards, 2. Kingdom Exercise comprises the earthly king and heavenly king, where he depicts the heavenly king as the most perfect one that Christians must emulate in their life. As the liturgical year draws to its close, the Church invites us to look at Jesus, our King. He reigns in a way the world could never imagine.

1. Christ the King - A man for all seasons

The scripture is full of mentions of kings. The great kings David and Solomon steal the show in the Bible. Even God is likened to a King or the King of glory. In the New Testament, we see people's desire to see in Jesus a king who would deliver them from the clutches of Roman rule. However, the Gospel does not show us a triumphant ruler surrounded by glory; it shows us a silent, wounded Jesus, whose kingship is revealed not in splendour but in surrender, not in power but in love. And perhaps this is exactly where the year must end: at the foot of the Cross, where everything is stripped away except love.

Labouring for Eternity

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: November 16, 2025

Readings: Malachi 3:19–20; Psalm 98:5–9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–12; Luke 21:5–19

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We love to see and admire great and grand things. Our fascination with such things is natural and real as we are blessed with a capacity to enjoy such beautiful things. Unfortunately, the so-called great and beautiful things are also time-bound. They do not last for eternity. There is nothing in this world that we can claim will last forever. They are short-lived, just like our lives. They are created by someone. Therefore, having an awareness of uncertainty and limitedness is good for us so that we do not land in a world of despair and unhappiness when the end comes unexpectedly. We must be ready for anything and everything that would occur in our lives. Only then will we be content to know that there is also life beyond the earthly things. As we inch closer to Advent, the liturgical readings are becoming poignantly clear that we must rely on God and God alone.

1. Built by human hands has an end!

In today’s Gospel Luke 21:5–19, Jesus stands before the grandeur of the Temple in Jerusalem — its stones gleaming in the sunlight, its beauty admired by all. It is the second temple built by the decree of King Cyrus, the king of Syria, a non-Jew, around 546 BC (cf. Ezra 1:1–4). However, the construction began later and was completed under Darius I in 515 BC (cf. Ezra 6:15). The First Temple, built by King Solomon, had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar II, the King of Babylon, in 587/586 BC during the Babylonian captivity. Thus, the Second Temple became the center of Jewish faith and identity — a visible sign that they were once again the people of Yahweh, the chosen race. Later, it was magnificently expanded and renovated by King Herod the Great beginning around 20 BC, and this is the temple Jesus refers to in today’s Gospel.

You are God’s building - Preserving Our Sacred Spaces

32nd Ordinary Sunday - The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome: November 09, 2025

Readings: Ezekiel 47:1–2, 8–9, 12; Psalms  46:2–3, 5–6, 8–9; 1 Corinthians 3:9–11, 16–17; John 2:13–22

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How wonderful it is to know that we are all God's beautiful mansions! As God's magnificent creations, we have a place for God in our lives. It is God who makes us dwell in Him. There is nothing that can separate the creator from its creation. Just like an artist makes a beautiful painting, even if someone buys that artwork, it still is the creation of the artist, and every detail in it is the imagination of that artist and not of that buyer. On this day, the Church celebrates the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, a mother Church for all the other Churches. It invites us to look beyond the stones and grandeur of any Church building to what it truly represents — the living, breathing presence of God among His people. The Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, stands as a symbol of unity, the mother and head of all churches in the world. Yet, in celebrating its dedication, we are called not only to honour a structure but to renew our awareness that we ourselves are temples of the living God. The liturgical readings on this day invite us to do just that. 

1. A Stronger Zeal for God's Work

In the Gospel John 2:13–22, Jesus enters the temple in Jerusalem and finds it turned into a market. His reaction is bewildering: He drives out the merchants, overturns tables, and commands, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” (v.16). This dramatic moment is not about anger alone — it is about zeal. Zeal for God’s house, zeal for the purity of worship, zeal for restoring what has become corrupted.

All Souls Day - In the Embrace of God in Eternity

Sunday - All Souls:  The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - November 02, 2025

Readings: Wisdom 3:1–9; Psalms 23:1–3A, 3B–4, 5, 6; Romans 5:5–11; John 6:37–40

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There is a pretty casual saying in Kannada: "ಇಲ್ಲಿರುವುದು ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ, ಮೇಲೇರುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆ." "We are here for nothing, but our real home is above." Even though it is a simple way of making ourselves lighter, the words are profound. No one is permanent on this earth. Our fragility, vulnerability and the sense of non-existence are felt at death. However, we cannot take our lives lightly. We have to learn to live our lives to the fullest. Only those lives which lived to the full have meaning. Today, on All Souls Day, the Church pauses in prayerful remembrance of all our departed brothers and sisters. We remember our loved ones who have gone before us. It is a day when love looks beyond the veil of death, when memory is touched by hope, and when faith assures us that our loved ones are not lost, but live in God. The liturgical readings of today help us to understand the significance of this day.

1. Everything has a Purpose

The Book of Wisdom 3:1–9 opens our hearts with its consoling truth: “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.” To human eyes, death appears as an end, nothingness, empty, meaninglessness, silence, absence, loss and so forth. Yet, in God’s eyes, it is a beginning. It has a meaning. It has a purpose. God never leaves his best creation purposeless. The faithful are at peace, embraced by the One who created them in love. What may look like suffering or destruction is, in fact, purification — the soul being refined like gold in fire, made radiant in God’s presence.

Mercy of God in the Face of Human Weakness

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 26, 2025

Readings: Sirach 35:12–14, 16–18; Psalm 34:2–3, 17–19, 23; 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18; Luke 18:9–14

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What makes a person great? Is it pride or humility? Wealth, honour, and pride seem to be what determine a person's position in this world. However, when we delve deeper into the mystery of the human person, what really matters to persons is that they are loved, respected, and accepted. The so-called values of the world, which seem to reward conceit, success and self-promotion, have a limited existence. But the values of the Reign of God, such as peace, justice, humility, generosity and respect, have eternal value. They determine the future of the world and not the values of the world. We are equal before God. Yet, everyone runs after having more than being more. St Ignatius of Loyola speaks about the necessity of being humble before God, to be ready for honour or dishonour, poverty or wealth, or anything else for God and finally to desire poverty, dishonour, and even be a fool for God, since Christ was. As we delve deeper into the liturgical readings on this Sunday, they invite us to follow the same Christ in humility, service and in the well-being of the greater good. 

1. Finding the mercy of God in being humble

In this Sunday’s Gospel Luke 18:9–14, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector—two men who go up to the temple to pray. Their actions during the prayer reveal the state of their hearts more than their words. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, stands tall and lists his religious achievements. The tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, stands at a distance, unable even to lift his eyes to heaven, and simply pleads, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” He prays with a humble and contrite heart (Ps 51:19). What a contrast we notice here?