New Year

1st January

Solemnity of Mary,

Mother of God

I. Reading: Numbers 6:22-27: They are to call down my name on the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.

II. Reading: Galatians 4:4-7: God sent His Son, born of a woman.

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21: They found Mary and Joseph and the babe...When the eighth day came, they gave him the name Jesus.

 

On this first day of the New Year, we gather as one family to celebrate the feast and solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God who is also the mother of the Church and of all. There are three main reasons to celebrate today:

i.                To honour Mary, for having been chosen to be the Mother of God.

ii.              To ask for God’s blessings throughout the year that starts today.

iii.            To pray to God for peace in the world.

We see words of blessings in the first reading. God has been blessing us so we need to bless our children and people in the name of God. 

In the second reading, God has blessed us by giving his own Son Jesus in the appointed time (kairos=fullness of time/grace-filled time/appointed time) to set free humankind from the slavery of sins, death and all corruptions.  Mary gave us Jesus and Jesus gave us Mary to be our Mother, as Jesus taught “the Our Father...” he also taught us “Our Mother.” So let us call and honour Mary our Heavenly Mother who gave birth to the redeemer. 

The Gospel is proclaiming the Good News of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem who is the king of Peace to save the world. The shepherds went in haste to find the newborn king and prince of peace and returned adoring him, praising him, thanking him, proclaiming the Good News to others and glorifying God. 

What is the priority in our work? Who is the center of our life today?

This New Year is God’s precious gift to us who invites us to work for peace throughout the world in this present violence and conflicts. Let us bear in mind that peace too is the gift of Jesus to us: “Peace I give you, my own peace I give you” (Jn 14:27). Only by keeping Christ’s peace in our hearts shall become the peacemakers in the world. Peace within us and peace around us should be our program throughout the New Year.

 

Wishing you a Happy New Year & God’s Peace & Joy!

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

Feast-B

1^st Reading: Genesis 15:1-6;21:1-3: God promised Abraham that he would have a son and countless descendants. Although it seemed unlikely, Abraham trusted in God’s word.

2^nd Reading: Hebrews 11:8.11-: From the beginning of the human face, we have examples of people who remained faithful to God in good times and in bad.

Gospel: Luke 2: 22-40: Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to present him to God.

It is called the holy family because God himself made the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph holy and they did the will of God according to God’s plan. They never disobeyed God’s command but loved Him with obedience and humility and walked always in His direction.

God established the first human family of Adam and Eve in His own image and likeness and gave them knowledge, wisdom and freedom to live as a holy family but they disobeyed Him; whereas the holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph always obeyed Him and loved Him.

Today our families are in danger of falling apart; divorce, separation, violence, murder, abuse, abortion, injustice, inequality, gay marriage, etc are signs of destruction of family, society and the church. Society or the church will never grow if the true meaning of family values is ruined. Unity and indisobility are the main fundamental characteristics of married life. Rights, respect, obedience, support and kindness are needed to foster a stable and fruitful family life.

The holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is a great example for us today to live according to God’s plan and obedience to God’s command. The holy family played a vital role in the salvation history and continued the work of God. God loved us so much and He has been always faithful to us; so let us love, serve and glorify Him and be faithful to Him at all time.

As God’s chosen race and his saints let us try to live as the body of Jesus Christ and a family of true love, peace, joy, compassion, kindness, generosity, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness. We are all the children of one God in His beautiful creation to live joyfully and give life to others as Jesus did.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

  

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Feast of Christmas, Mass at Dawn

1^st Reading: Isaiah 62:11-12: Look your Saviour comes.

2^nd Reading: Titus 3: 4-7: It was for no reason except his own compassion that He saved us.

Gospel: Luke 2: 15-20: The Shepherd found Mary, Joseph and the baby.

The Messiah had been foretold since the world began in Genesis. The prophecy given by Jacob back in Genesis was now being fulfilled. The birth of Jesus is in the very beginning of Genesis itself to save humankind from sin and death which shows God’s faithful love, mercy and forgiveness to humankind in the world.

1.    God invites Jerusalem to rejoice:

In the first reading of Isaiah, God invites Jerusalem to rejoice with extraordinary joy. It is obvious that when Scripture speaks of Jerusalem as a Daughter of Zion or a woman or to a mother refers not so much to the city itself but to the people living in it, nay to the whole people of Israel. Yahweh invites Jerusalem to rejoice for two reasons:

i.                First, because her Saviour was about to come to free the people of Israel in exile who had been for years in exile. So that Yahweh would purify their sins and they would be called “the redeemed ones”, “the people made holy.”

ii.              The second reason for rejoicing would be the extraordinary love that Yahweh would henceforth bestow on Jerusalem. From now on Jerusalem would be called “the one her husband for”, the beloved of Yahweh and they would no longer be called “the abandoned one”, “the one cast away.” This is the language Scripture often uses to express God’s deep love for the people of Israel.

What has all this to do with the Feast of Christmas we are celebrating?

It has much to do. God was announcing the two-fold event in Isaiah. Firstly, His coming to free his people from exile and take them back home and secondly, His coming in the person of the Messiah, become man to free humankind from the slavery of sin and death and take us all home with Him.

In fact, we are now the “the new people of new Israel”, and the Church, our Mother, “the new Jerusalem.” This is the reason why God invites us to rejoice at Christmas and at all times rejoice wholeheartedly, now we are “the redeemed ones” at the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem (Beth=house, Lehem=bread)=house of bread). Jesus truly becomes our food or bread or life and gives us salvation, the eternal life. So we are the privileged people to rejoice always.

2.    Paul explains the great change that the coming of Jesus brought to us all:

In the second reading, Paul writes to his disciple Titus who had been appointed to lead the Church of an island called Crete. He explains God’s love, forgiveness and freedom for humankind although we are unworthy or sinners. So the church invites the Christians today to rejoice since at Christmas Jesus repeats his coming into our lives at all times.

3.    Why did Jesus become a man? Do we deserve his coming into this world?

Paul would give the answer to these questions in his letter to Titus. There was nothing in human beings that made him/her deserve to be saved by God. Only God’s unconditional love and kindness brought Jesus to save us.

Looking at the Babe Jesus in the manger, with the eyes of faith, we should discover God’s goodness reflected in him. Paul tells us that Jesus is “God’s perfect copy” (Heb 1: 3). Jesus is “the living image of his Father.” He revealed his Father’s love for humankind in his own unique love for us which he showed his love through his death on the cross.

4.    How to respond to God’s love today? Is there any way to respond to it?

In today’s Gospel, the shepherds and Mary show us the way to respond to God’s love:

a.    The shepherds: The second reading could tell us that the shepherds did not deserve people to receive the first good news of Jesus’ birth who were known as the despites and thieves in the society. Jesus started his work of salvation with them precisely because they were the ones who needed him most. The shepherds discovered God’s and responded immediately in a wonderful way:

i.                They believed what the angel said and hurried up to see Jesus.

ii.              They praised God for His love for them, and the Redeemer was born.

iii.            They made known to others what had been revealed to them.

b.    Mary: Like says of her: “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She kept a precious treasure of what she learned about her Son: she did not give up the Word of God when the Angel announced. She pondered over it time and again, always trying to discover the depth of God’s love shown to her to save the world by Jesus.

On this feast of Christmas, both the shepherds and Mary invite us to discover the precious gifts our Saviour has brought for us. Let us try to discover and experience God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness in our lives believe in the power of Jesus praise Him always for his salvation and proclaim the Good News of Jesus to all the people in the world as the shepherds did.

 

Thought: How many missed the first coming of Jesus Christ? How many will miss the second coming of Jesus Christ?

 

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

May the PEACE & JOY of the Newborn Jesus Christ be with you always!

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

Christmas Vigil Mass

1^st Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5: The Lord takes delight in you.

2^nd Reading: Acts 13:16-17.22-25: Paul’s witness to Christ, the Son of David.

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25: The ancestry of Jesus Christ, the Son of David.

Jesus’ Divine Birth: Unusual Events (Mt 1:18-25):

The coming of God’s Son into the world was one of the most phenomenal events in all of history. It necessitated and caused some very unusual events.

1.    His birth was of the Spirit.

2.    His birth created a predicament.

a.    Joseph’s predicament: Mary was pregnant before marriage.

b.    Joseph’s character and solution.

i.                Character: A righteous man

ii.              Solution: Not to expose Mary

3.    His birth necessitated a special revelation.

a.    To give assurance

i.                He was chosen

ii.              He was not to be feared

b.    To guide: In taking Mary to be his wife

c.     To explain: the child is of the Spirit

d.    To reveal the child’s destiny

i.                His name Jesus

ii.              His mission to save

4.    His birth was a fulfilment of prophecy

a.    Predicting his virgin birth (Cf. Is 7:14)

b.    Predicting his name: Immanuel

5.    His birth brought about great obedience.

 

Thought:

Jesus (iesous): Saviour; He will save. The Hebrew form is Joshua (yasha), meaning, Jehovah is salvation; He is the Saviour. The idea is that of deliverance, of being saved from some terrible disaster that leads to perishing (Jn 3:16; Rom 8:3; Gal 1:4; Heb 2:14-18; 7:25).

Jesus is Immanuel: God is with us, God revealed in human flesh (Is 1:26; 9:6; Jn 1:1, 14; 2Cor 5:19; 1Jn 1:2).

Thought: Joseph acted as God would have a man to act.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

 

 3^rd Sunday of Advent: Year- B

Gaudete Sunday

1^st Reading: Is. 61: 1-2. 10-11: I exult for joy in the Lord.

2^nd Reading: 1 Thess: 5: 16-24: May you all be kept safe, spirit, soul, and body, for the coming of the Lord.

Gospel: John: 1: 6-8. 19-28: There stand among you unknown to you one who is coming after me.

Jesus the Light of the World: The Special Witness of John the Baptist:

John the Baptist’s sole purpose on earth was to witness and bear testimony to Christ, the Light of the world. His purpose stands as a dynamic example for every believer to bear witness to Christ as John the Baptist did with humility and obedience to the Will of God.

1.    The enquiry of the delegation and the replies given by John the Baptist:

An official delegation sent by the religious authorities of Jerusalem did not come with a good intention. The crowd followed John because of his preaching and baptism at the river John. The Jewish leaders were worried and angry on him seeing the religious movement without taking them into account. So they asked him three questions:

a.    First question: Are you the Christ? He denied emphatically, “I am not the Christ.” Christ means “the anointed one” or “the Messiah”.

b.    Second question: Are you Elijah? He said, “I am not Elijah.”

c.     Third question: Are you the prophet? He replied, “No.” Moses announced in Deut. 18: 15: about the “the Prophet” or “the Messiah” would become a king as their leader in Israel. They had just repeated their first question in another form. John expressed exactly “who he was” and “what he had come to do.”

Now they asked a real question: “Then why are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah and not the prophet?” (Jn 1: 25). John gave the inspiring answer which was moving. “I baptize with water...he is standing among you...I am not fit to undo his sandal strap (Jon 1: 26-27).” Here we see his total humility and witness to Christ. So he allowed his disciples to follow Christ, Andrew and John followed Christ (Jn 1: 35-39).

 

2.    The replies John gave to the Jewish leaders reveal to us the kind of person that he was:

a.    He was a profoundly humble person: At the sight of Jesus, John realized not just his littleness but his nothingness. Whereas we try to appear more than what we are.

b.    John had understood his vocation well: He learned God’s plan for him through his prayer and fast in the desert and was determined to carry out those plans with his discernment.

c.     John had a tremendous respect and love for Jesus: “He must grow greater, I must grow smaller” (Jn 3: 30).  He realized, that being the eldest one, no jealousy and no pride in his life.

 

3.    Our vocation as Christians is similar to that of John the Baptist:

What would be our answers to the Jewish leaders if we were in the place of John? The questions are put for us today and we try to give the possible answers:

a.    Who are you?

b.    What are you? What is the purpose of your life?

c.     What do I think of myself? What do people think that I am? What does God think about me?

The answer is very simple: “I am a Christian; the purpose of my life is to follow Christ faithfully and to lead people to him. I am his messenger as John the Baptist and other disciples of Jesus.”

In the second reading, Paul invites us to carry out our tasks joyfully as Christians, since we can count at all times on God’s help who will not fail us:  “Be happy at all times, pray constantly, give thanks to God for all things...! God has called and He will not fail you (1 Thess. 5: 18. 23).

 

Thought: The servant and messenger of God is not sent forth by people, but by God, and is a man of high calling and mission of enormous responsibility and accountability. The servant’s primary purpose is: to lead people to believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Light of the world.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

Second Sunday of Advent: Year- B

1^st Reading: Is. 40: 1-5. 9-11: Prepare a Way for the Lord

2^nd Reading: 2 Pet. 3: 8-14: We are waiting for the New Heavens & New Earth.

Gospel: Mk. 1: 1-8: Make His Paths Straight.

Jesus Christ and John the Baptist:

The Good News & the Messenger of God:

Mark begins his writing with “The beginning of the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Genesis 1: 1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...” John 1: 1 “In the beginning was the Word...”The birth of the Son of God is from the very beginning of the creation story. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Rev 22: 13).

Mark wastes no time in sharing the Good News about the coming of God’s Son into human history. He jumps right to the subject of God’s messenger whom God sent to prepare the way for His Son. 

In today’s reading we find three messengers telling three different communities to prepare the way for the Lord who is about to come.

The first, prophet Isaiah was sent to the people of Israel still in exile.

The second, John the Baptist to the people of Palestine.

The third, the apostle Peter to a group of Christian communities living some forty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

 

1. The message conveyed by the prophet Isaiah.

The prophet was not speaking of a material but of a spiritual road to be built in the hearts of the Jews, which is at the time of looked like a desert indeed, most of them having abandoned the law of Yahweh. The advice of the prophet to his people was:

a. Level the mountain of your pride.

b.Fill the valleys, that is, start observing the Law of Yahweh which you have abandoned.

But it took another five hundred years for this prophecy to be fully realized, as it will be made clear in the explanation of the Gospel which follows.

2. The message conveyed by John the Baptist.

The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when John the Baptist started his preaching as a messenger of Jesus. In fact, the messenger of John the Baptist repeats that of Isaiah.

3. We must enable Jesus to save us; only the humble of heart will be saved.

Not everyone is going to welcome Jesus because of pride, self-sufficiency and disobedience. The humble ones such as sinners, gentiles, out castes and simple ones welcome Jesus.

4. A message of Peter for his Christians and for us all.

His message coincides with that of Isaiah and of John the Baptist.

a. Peter tells his Christians that the Lord is coming.

b.Peter explains to them the reason for the Lord’s delay.

God wants everyone saved; he gives people ample time for repentance. God is never in a hurry: for him a thousand years are like a day and he can accomplish in a single day the work that would take people a thousand years to carry out. God is patient because he is both powerful and compassionate.

c.  But Christians on their part, says Peter, should put every moment in their lives to the best use, as they wait for Christ to come.

That is, keep on waiting for the Lord who will certainly come; but let your waiting be an active one, doing his will joyfully at all times like the five wise virgins waiting for the bridegroom with lamps filled with oil of faith, hope, love, obedience and humility.

Thought: John knew that life was more than food, clothing and housing. He knew that he must not allow anything to distract him or the people from God…

·     Not living in extravagant luxury.

·     Not being dressed in the latest and most expensive fashion.

·     Not eating the most tasty dainties.

 Therefore he denied himself and practised self-denial. What a lesson for all believers, preachers and laypeople alike! (Rom 14:17)

The mission of God’s messenger is to prepare the way of the Lord, to baptise and to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins.

The Old Testament & the New Testament point toward “The Gospel” about Jesus Christ.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

 

First Sunday of Advent: Year- B

 

First Reading: Is. 63. 16-17; 64, 1. 3-8: Lord, that you would tear the heavens open and come down.

Second Reading: 1 Cor. 1. 3-9: We are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

The Gospel: Mk. 13: 33-37: Stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming.

 

The End Time and Its Warning to Believers, Mk 13:28-37

Jesus had just covered the signs of the end time and His return. It stirs hope and gives a picture of the future glory that can be human’s. But one thing is needful: human must turn his/her life over to God or else he/she will be banished from the presence and glory of Christ forever. Jesus gives six critical warning to a person.

1. The signs points to the end- are discernable (v.28-29)

          a. Even as a fig tree

          b. Even as a cause has its effect

          c. Even to the point of becoming immediate-right at hand cf.v.32

2. The events occur rapidly-in one generation (v. 30)

3. The events are surety-irrevocable (v.31)

4. The exact time is unknown-the day and hour (v.32)

5. The need is to be on guard: stay alert (v.33-36)

          a. Because time is unknown

          b. Because believers are assigned specific responsibilities and work

          c. Because Christ is returning unexpectedly-suddenly

          d. Because believers can be caught sleeping

6. The warning is to all-watch (v.37): No one is exempt: no believer, no unbeliever. Every person is to be on guard! Be alert (v.33), is to keep watch (v.34), is to therefore keep watch (v.35), is not to be caught sleeping (v.36), is to hear the warning: “What I say to you I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (v.37).

Thought: Four tragic things can happen to a believer while he is waiting for the Lord to return.

1. A believer may fail to wait long enough.

2. A believer may delay or postpone or slack up in his work for the Lord.

3. A believer may think he can go ahead and do what he wishes and cover it with the Lord later.

4. A believer may begin to think like the world.

 

We are starting today a New Year of Worship. We shall go again through the various times of the Year of the Church:

Advent

Christmas

Lent

Easter

Pentecost

Ordinary time of the Year.

 

We do not notice the growth of our children, plants, flowers, trees etc every day. Yet there is a growth and development each moment of our lives.

The church wants us to grow, day after day, year after year and through the various times in the Year of Worship.

We don’t grow by just remembering in the Year of the Church, we can grow spiritually:

By re-living them within us year after year

By really getting ready for the coming of Christ at Advent time

By really having Christ born in our souls at Christmas

By really suffering and dying to sin with Christ during Lent time

By really rising to a new life with the Risen Jesus at Easter

By really receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

By actively and joyfully waiting for the final coming of Christ during the ordinary time of the year.

 

In a way, Christians ought to live these various times of the year of Worship at one and the same time throughout their life.

We should always be ready to welcome Christ since Christ keeps on coming to us in various ways day after day.

So we must live with Christ, walk with Christ, suffer with Christ, die with Christ and rise with Christ on the last day and every day of our life.

 

1.    The time of Advent:

There are two types of time in Greek: 1. Chronos (calendar time) 2. kairos (the fullness, appointed or grace filled time).

The word “Advent” means “coming” –who is coming? Not the historical Jesus as body but the transformed Christ at the last day for judgement.

 

2.    There is salvation for all by Jesus Christ:

We can see God and reach God through Jesus Christ the mediator between God and the people. Jesus saved us by his just living life, dying to sin, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.

 

At the beginning of this season of Advent, we should make our prayer which the Prophet puts in the lips of the people of Israel in today’s first reading:

a.    We must acknowledge our own sinfulness

b.    We must get convinced that sin is at the root of all our miseries

c.     There is nothing in us to make us deserve salvation

d.    The sad state to which our sins have reduced us came about because we neglected prayer

e.     Fallen as we find ourselves, we are tempted, like the Jews to complain to God

We are wrong. It is not God who abandoned us but we who abandoned God. His invitation to repent during this time of Advent is a fresh proof of his concern for us.

 

3.    Having acknowledged our sins, we should take a second step: confidently ask our redeemer to come to our rescue:

 

There is no way for a person to go back to God by himself or herself. So we must implore him to come and save us.  Isaiah expresses this beautifully when speaking to God on behalf of his people.

Is. 64, 8- “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands.”

Is. 63, 16- “You, O Lord, our Father; our Redeemer is your ancient name.”

Is. 63, 17- “Return for the sake of your servant, the tribes of your inheritance.”

Is. 64, 1- “Oh that you would tear the heavens open and come down.”

 

4.    While waiting for Jesus’ coming, we must praise him for all that he has already done to save us:

 

5.    We must never grow discouraged in our waiting for Christ’s coming:

Paul gives us the reason why: Because God will never fail us. (1 Cor. 1, 8).

 

6.    In our waiting for Christ, we must keep both: Watchful and Active:

This is the message of Mark in the passage of the Gospel we have read. In carrying out our task, Jesus warns us to be watchful, since the devil is at all times trying to convince us that there is yet ample time left in life to prepare for Jesus’ coming. Eg. The parable of the ten virgins.

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