FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-C

I Reading: Joshua 5:9-12: The people of God keep the Passover on their entry into the promised land.

II Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21: God reconciled us to himself through Christ.

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3. 11-32: your brother here was dead and has come to life.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son: The Lost Son, Lk 15:11-24

The parable of the prodigal son is the greatest and most beloved story ever told in human language. God loves and reaches out to the most prodigal of men and He runs to embrace any prodigal son who repents and returns home. God forgives his prodigal son and restores him, no matter how terrible the sin and failure of the prodigal.

1.    He said, “Give me” (v.11-13)

a.    My inheritance

b.   My independence

c.    The result: he wasted his life in wild living

2.    He met the day when he suffered and was in need (v.14-16)

a.    He suffered being destitute

b.   He suffered natural disaster

c.    He suffered humiliation

d.   He suffered hunger

e.    He suffered the loss of friends

3.    He came to his senses and snapped out of his insanity, back to reality (v.17-19)

a.    Thought of his father and his enormous provision

b.   Thought of his plight

c.    Thought of humbling himself:

i.                Of repenting

ii.              Of confessing his sin and unworthiness

4.    He got up and returned to his father (v.20-21)

a.    He repented-turned from his sinful life

b.   He was accepted even before he confessed

c.    He confessed

5.    He was accepted when he returned to the father (v.22-24)

a.    The father restored him

b.   The father fed the son and celebrated his son’s return

c.    The father proclaimed his son’s new life

 

The Parable of the Older Son: The Self-Righteous Religionist, Lk 15:25-32

The second son or the older son represents the self righteous religionist-the mortal, the just, the good-the man who has never committed gross and visible sin. He is religious and does religious works; therefore he feels and believes he is accepted to God. In this parable Jesus pointed out five faults with the self-righteous religionist (Lk 11: 37-54; 18:9-12; Rom 2:17-29).

1.    Fault 1: he was in the field away from home (v.25-27)

2.    Fault 2: he shut himself out (v.28)

3.    Fault 3: he was self-righteous (v. 29)

a.    He claimed to be religious

b.   He claimed to be moral and just

c.    He felt he deserved more, that he was not recognized enough

4.    Fault 4: he lacked compassion and understanding of sinners (v.30)

5.    Fault 5: he failed to see two critical facts (v. 31-32)

a.    He had the same blessings available

b.   His brother was truly saved

 

Thought: The father restored the prodigal son:

a.    The “robe” restored him to a position of sonship and honour. It symbolized being clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

b.   The “ring” restored him to a position of authority. The son was now to represent the father and his kingdom.

c.    The “sandals” immediately restored and elevated him above servant hood, which means he became a free man. The son was now fitted with sandals to carry the Gospel of Peace wherever he went (Eph 6: 15).

d.   The “celebration” pictures reconciliation, full acceptance, and the great joy of the occasion.

e.    The father proclaimed his son’s new life.

i.                He was dead and is alive again.

ii.               He was lost and is found.

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THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-C

I Reading: Exodus 3:1-8.13-15: I Am has sent me to you.

II Reading: 1Corinthians 10:1-6.10-12: The life of the people under Moses in the desert was written down to be a lesson for us.

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9: Unless you repent you will all perish as they did.

The truth About Suffering and Sin: The Great Need for All to Repent

Why do people suffer? Some say that people suffer because they are greater sinners. The result, too often, is that many who suffer feel this is true; consequently, they end up with all sorts of guilt and emotional problems. They think their suffering is due to some great sin they have committed and that God is punishing them because they have been such great sinners. It is this subject that is dealt with in this passage.

1. Men do not suffer because they are greater sinners than others (v.1-5)

a. Event 1: The latest news of a horrible murderous event

  1) Did not suffer because they were greater sinners

  2) All must repent or perish

b. Event 2: The latest news of a terrible tragedy

  1) Did not suffer because they were greater sinners

  2) All must repent and perish

2. Men must bear fruit or else they will perish (v.6-9)

a. The fig tree’s privilege: in the vineyard

b. The fig tree’s purpose: to bear fruit

c. The day for reaping came

  1) Found no fruit

  2) Found that the tree was using up space on the ground and producing nothing

d. The mercy of God

  1) Gave another chance

  2) Fertilized and fed

e. The judgement was based on fruit

 

Thought:

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe (Heb 1:1-2).

God himself revealed to Moses in the burning bush and He revealed His name “I AM WHO I AM” which means “I exist and I live.” The bush was burning but not consumed indicates the power of God is active and alive with full of power and strength. He cannot be destroyed or burnt down by any other powers or gods. Moses experienced the true power of God in his stick turned into snake and his leprosy hand was cured instantly and the same stick was also used to perform many miracles in different occasions. 

The other name of God is YAHWEH means “He-who-is”, or “He-who-causes-things-to-be”, gave himself this title to the Israelites: “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” This reassured Moses that he had nothing to fear. God, rather than he, would be the one to act, and would show such power as Pharaoh would not be able to resist; eventually, his people would be set free. As Moses was called for a specific mission; we too have been called for a specific purpose to repent and to bear much fruits. So let us take off our shoes like Moses took of his shoes removing or keeping away sinful natures while meeting the true, living and powerful God. The same true and living God has been revealed to us today; so let us worship Him because He is always faithful, loving, forgiving and full of compassion even if we are not faithful to Him.

Thought: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23).

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SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-C

I Reading: Genesis 15:5-12. 17-18: God enters into a Covenant, the man of faith.

II Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1: Christ will transfigure our bodies into copies of his glorious body.

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36: As Jesus prayed, the aspect of his face was changed.

The Transfiguration: A Glimpse of Heaven’s Glory, Mk 9:2-13

The purpose of the transfiguration was to reveal heaven’s glory would strengthen Jesus to bear the cross and strengthen the disciples in their belief that Jesus was God’s Messiah (Mk 9:2-13; Mt 17:1-13; Lk 9:28-36). A close study of the transfiguration will strengthen the faith of any believer in his/her Lord. A Strengthened faith will enable the believer to bear the cross of his own call.

1.    Jesus took three disciples all alone up a high mountain (v.2)

2.    The transfiguration strengthened Jesus (2-4)

a.    His transfiguration: his clothing began to shine

b.   His companions: talked with Jesus

i.                The Great Prophet

ii.              The Great of Lawgiver

3.    The transfiguration strengthened the disciples (5-7)

a.    Helped their shattered faith

b.   Gave them a taste of glory

c.    Struck them with awesome fear

d.   Made them witnesses of God’s approval

4.    The transfiguration gave a unique opportunity to discuss God’s Messiahship (8-13)

a.    Jesus charged the disciples to tell no man about the experience until after his resurrection

b.   The disciples discussed the resurrection: Why must Elijah come first?

c.    Jesus corrected the disciples

i.                Elijah was to come first

ii.              Scriptures also said that Messiah was to die

iii.               Elijah had already come: He was John the Baptist

Thought: The believer must often get alone with Christ in order to have his strength renewed. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God. Belief in Him is absolutely essential (1Jn 5:1).

1. Faith in Christ is a source of strength in our Christian life.

2. Faith in Christ is the light of our life.

3. Faith in Christ brings joy to our life.

We receive strength from God during the time of suffering, temptations, persecution and rejection when we pray daily like Jesus prayed on the mountain.

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FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-C

I Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10: The Creed of the chosen people.

II Reading: Romans 10:8-13: The creed of the Christian.

Gospel: Luke 4:1-13: Jesus was led by the Spirit through the wilderness and was tempted there.

The Temptation of Jesus: Victory Over Temptation, Lk 4:1-15

Victory over temptation is essential before we can live and minister for God. No temptation has ever confronted man that Jesus Christ has not confronted. This is seen in this passage. In Him confrontation, Jesus reveals what lies behind each temptation and how to conquer it. Once it has been conquered, we can then live a victorious life and serve God effectively.

1. Being prepared to serve God (v.1-2)

a. By being filled with the Spirit

b. By spending time along with God

c. By being tried and tested

d. By fasting and prayer and alms giving

e. By reading the Word of God

2. Tempt. 1: To meet the necessities of life by His own power (v.3-4)

a. Satan’s temptation: To misuse His power

b. Jesus’ answer: Man needs more than bread-he needs God’s life or spiritual food

3. Tempt. 2: To seek His ambition by compromise (v. 5-8)

a. Satan’s enticement: He shows the world’s possessions and glory

b. Satan’s claim: He controls world and its glory

c. Satan’s offer: He will give the world to anyone he wills

d. Satan’s condition: A person must worship and follow him

e. Jesus’ answer: He must worship and follow God alone

4. Tempt. 3: To prove himself through sensationalism (v.9-12)

a. Satan’s temptation

  1) To choose another way

  2) To misuse and twist the Scripture to suit his own ends

  3) To give people sensations-a religion of feelings

b. Jesus’ answer: God is not to be tempted-God’s way alone is to be followed

5. Conclusion: Satan left Jesus for a while (v.13-15)

a. Jesus’ great power

b. Jesus’ great fame

c. Jesus’ great ministry

Thought: Jesus overcame the three types of temptations by prayer and fasting, through the Word of God and led by the Spirit doing the will of God alone than his own will. The first parents Adam and Eve in the garden and the Israelites in the desert misused their freedom and failed to obey the will of God and became unfaithful and went away from God; whereas Jesus did not misuse his divine power but obeyed and did the will of God and became faithful to his Father always even on the cross, redeemed the humanity.

There is nothing wrong with ambition and desiring to fulfil one’s calling in life. The wrong is found in following Satan (evil) when tempted to satisfy one’s desires and ambitions instead of following God.

Thought: The armor of God is the glorious provision God provides for the believer’s victory over temptation (Eph 6:10-20).

“God does not tempt anyone” (James 1:13) but allow the devil to tempt us. Jesus said to his disciples, “pray, that you will not fall into temptation?”(Lk 22:40)

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SEASON OF LENT

ASH WEDNESDAY-YEAR-C

I Reading: Joel 2:12-18: Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn.

II Reading: 2Cor 5:20-6:2: Be reconciled to God...now is the favourable time.

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18: Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

The Right Motive for Giving, Mt 6:1-4

God expects a people to be kind and to do good in the world: to help others both through personal involvement and through giving generously and sacrificially. Above all God expects a person to have the right motive. Because a person’s eternal fate is determined by his/her motive. Because of this, Christ warns us about right and wrong motives.

1.    Acts of righteousness-doing good and giving (v.1)

a.    Warning: Do not seek recognition

b.   The reason: God will not reward

2.    The wrong motive (v.2)

a.    Giving for recognition

b.   Characteristic of hypocrites

c.    Reward: Recognition by men only

3.    The right motive (v.3-4)

a.    Giving unconsciously

b.   Giving quietly-privately-secretly

4.    The reasons (v. 4)

a.    Father sees in secret

b.   Father rewards openly

The Right Motive for Prayer, Mt 6:5-6

This passage is speaking to those who pray-people who take prayer seriously. Prayer is one of the greatest acts of the Christian believer. God desires is fellowship with man (Is 43:10). Jesus’ concern is how we pray. Christ sets out to teach us the right and wrong motives for praying.

1.    The wrong motive: Praying to be seen by people (v.5)

a.    Place: Loving to pray

i.                Only in the Synagogue

ii.              Only in the streets

b.   Reason: For recognition

c.    Reward: people’s esteem

2.    The right motive: Praying to be heard by God (v. 6)

a.    Place: in one’s private place

b.   Reason: God is in one’s secret or private place

c.    Reward: will receive open blessings from the Lord

Thought: Many pray on the run; few pray in secret.

The Right Motive for Fasting, Mt 6: 16-18

Biblical fasting means more than just abstaining from food; it means concentrate upon God and his answer to a particular matter. Biblical fasting involves prayers intense supplication before God. The benefits of fasting are enormous, but there are also dangers. We can fast for the wrong reasons. This is the point of the present passage. Christ counsels us on the wrong and the right motives for fasting. Jesus reveals what God means by fasting in today’s Gospel.

1.    The wrong way to fast (v.16)

a.    Fasting as a hypocrite

b.   Fasting for recognition

c.    Reward: to receive only human recognition and esteem

2.    The right way to fast (v.17-18)

a.    Fasting as a duty

b.   Fasting without notice

c.    Fasting to God alone

d.   Reward: God shall reward openly

Thought: A religionist fasts before people. A genuine believer fasts before God.

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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

I Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8: Here I am, send me.

II Reading: 1Corinthians 15:1-11: I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11: They left everything and followed him.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples: Steps to Calling Men, 5:1-11

Jesus Christ set out to catch people, that is, to catch them for God. He desires to catch all people, but he is unable to catch everyone by Himself. He needs help, the help of all who will follow Him. The present passage is a descriptive picture of how Jesus goes about calling people to help Him in the enormous task of reaching the world.

1. Lake Gennesaret (v.1)

2. Step 1: Seeing a vision of people who need to hear the Word of God (v.1)

3. Step 2: Seizing resources

a. Seeing the resources available

b. Seeing a man: Simon

c. Leading the man to serve

4. Step 3: Removing reluctant obedience (v.4-5)

5. Step 4: Demonstrating godly power (v.6-7)

a. A catch so great the net breaks

b. A catch so great other help is needed

c. A catch so great both boats are began to sink

6. Step 5: Stirring a deep confession (v.8-9)

a. Of sin, v.8

b. Of Christ as Lord, v.8

c. Of awe-reverence-fear

7. Step 6: Challenging men to discipleship, that is, to catch other people (v.10)

8. Step 7: Watching for the decision to forsake all (v.)

Thought: The word “catch” (zogreo) means to catch alive or to catch for life. The idea is that Peter was no longer to catch (fish) for death, but he was to catch (people) for life.

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THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

2^nd February, Feast

I Reading: Malachi 3: 1-4: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me.

II Reading: Hebrew 2:14-18:

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

 We are celebrating today an important event in the life of Jesus: his presentation to God in the Temple of Jerusalem by his parents, forty days after his birth. This is a very ancient feast, one of the oldest in the church that it was celebrated in Jerusalem less than four hundred years after the birth of Jesus Christ that we celebrate today. This feast contains a special message for all Christians. Let us try to discuss this message in the readings of today.

1.    A prophecy of Malachi: Yahweh made a solemn announcement through the prophet Malachi:

i.                He would send a messenger to prepare his way; he planned to come personally to the Temple. He would do so in the person of the Messiah.

ii.                He would cleanse priests and people of their sins so as to enable them to offer a sacrifice worthy of Yahweh. But his offering would not made in Jerusalem alone; it would be carried out “from the farthest East to the farthest West”, that is, by all nations throughout the world. (Mal 1:11)

That is to say: the Messiah would come; He would indeed be the Messenger of Yahweh to all mankind; he would cleanse them of their sins, and lead them to worship God in a worthy manner. This is the content of today’s first reading.

2.      The prophecy of Malachi was fulfilled as Jesus was presented in the Temple: it took nearly 500 years for God to fulfil what he had announced through his prophet. After the birth of the first child, presentation to the Lord, for forty days for the male child and for eighty days for the female child, the mother was permitted to attend in the public service. (Lev 12:1-8; Ex 13:12-14).

3.    What did really take place at the presentation of Jesus to God in the Temple?

·     The surrender to the Will of His Father which he had carried out at the very moment of his conception in the womb of Mary (Heb 10: 5-7).

4.    Simeon and Anne: only the Spirit of God can lead a person to discover who Jesus is and to accept him as one’s own Savior.

5.    Mary and Joseph were led to accept God’s plans to save the world (Lk 2:33-35; 1:38; Mt 1:20; Heb 2:18)

Thought: Jesus is our light of everyone (Jn 1:9). His presentation in the Temple teaches and leads us to a complete surrender to God’s plans in our lives as Mary, Joseph and Jesus did the Will of God in their lives.

Today’s feast conveys a particular message to parents, namely that, their children belong to God more than to them; they must therefore lead them not only to the Temple or Church, but to God.

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