Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

Feast-Cycle-C

1^st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-28: Samuel is made over to the Lord for the whole of his life.

2^nd Reading: 1 John 3:1-2.21-24: We are called God’s children, and that is what we are.

Gospel: Luke 2: 41-52: Jesus is found by his parents sitting among the doctors.

It is called the holy family because God himself made the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 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 directions.

God established the first human family of Adam and Eve in His own image and likeness and he shared his divine life and gave them 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 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 are ruined. Unity and indissolubility are the main fundamental character of a married life. Rights, respect, obedience, support and kindness are needed to be 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 the 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.

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The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Saviour of the World

25 December, Mass During the Day

1^st Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10

2^nd Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6

Gospel: John 1:1-18: Christ is presented as the Word

Jesus the Living word: The First Witness of John the Apostle, Jn 1:1-5

This passage is one of the summits of Scripture. The highest of human thought that reaches the highest of human concepts. It is this: Jesus is Christ , the Son of God is

·     The Word of God

·     The Creator of Life

·     The Very Being and Essence of Life

These three truths have to be deeply thought about to understand their meaning. However, the importance of the truth lie at the very foundation of life.

If Jesus Christ is the Word of God, then people must hear and understand that Word of God or else be lost forever in ignorance of God Himself.

1. Christ is eternal (v.1-2)

a. Pre-existent

b. Co-existent

c. Self-existent

2. Christ is the Creator (v.3)

a. Positive statement

b. Absolute statement

3. Christ is life (v.4-5)

a. The source of light

b. The answer to darkness

  1) shines in darkness

  2) conquers darkness

Jesus the Light of the World: The Special Witness of John the Baptist, 1:6-8

The sole purpose of John the Baptist on earth was to witness and to bear testimony to the Light of the World and stands as a dynamic example for every believer. The purpose of every believer is to be bear the same witness as John: Jesus Christ is the Light of the World

1. A man sent from God (v.6)

2. A man with a mission (v.7)

a. To bear witness

b. that men might believe

3. A man who was great, but was not the Light (v.8)

Jesus the Light of Men: The Second Witness of John the Apostle, 1:9-13

This passage deals about the world is in desperate straits. It is full of darkness-the darkness of sin and despair, of sickness and death, of corruption and hell. The darkness looms over the whole world. There is hope in Jesus Christ, for Christ is the True Light, and Light dispels darkness.

1. Christ was the Light (v.9)

a. The true Light

b. His mission: To give light to people

2. Christ was tragically rejected by the world (v.10-11)

a. He was in the world, but He was rejected

b. He came to His own people, but they rejected Him

3. Christ was wonderfully received by some (v.12-13)

a. How: By believing

b. Result: Became sons of God

c. The source of becoming a child of God: A new birth

  1) was not of man

  2) was of God

Jesus the Word Made Flesh: The Third Witness of John the Apostle, 1:14-18

“The Word became flesh”-God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, was made flesh and blood; He became a man. No greater message could ever be proclaimed to man.

1. Christ became flesh (v.14)

2. Proof 1: Christ dwelt visibly among us (v.14)

a. His glory was seen

b. Full of grace and truth

3. Proof 2: John the Baptist bore witness of superiority of Christ (v.15)

4. Proof 3: Men have received the fullness and grace of Christ (v.16-17)

a. Not by law

b. By Jesus Christ

5. Proof 4: God’s Son alone has seen God (v.18)

Thought: The message is a given message. The servant of God is not left on his own to think up a message; he is not dependent upon his own reason, thoughts, and idea. His message is Christ, the Light of the world.

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The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Saviour of the World

25 December, 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 the Genesis was now being fulfilled. The birth of Jesus is in the very beginning of Genesis itself to save the humankind from sin and death which shows God’s faithful love, mercy and forgiveness to the humankind in the world.

1.    God invites Jerusalem to rejoice:

In the first reading of Isaiah, God invites Jerusalem to rejoice with an 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 exiles. 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. 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 folds 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 time rejoice whole heartedly , 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 the salvation, the eternal life to all of us. 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 in 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 make him/her deserve being 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 God’s love:

a.    The shepherds: The second reading could tell us that the shepherds were not deserved people to receive the first good news of Jesus’ birth who were known as the despites and thieves in the society. Jesus stared his work of salvation with them precisely because they were the ones who needed him most. The shepherds discovered God’s love 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, the Redeemer is 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 what she leant 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 and believe in the power of Jesus and 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 all “A Merry Christmas!”

May the precious gifts of the new born Jesus be with you forever.

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Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

 The Saviour of the World

Christmas Midnight Mass

1^st Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7: The birth of the Messiah who will inaugurate a new era.

2^nd Reading: Titus 2:11-14: God did for us in sending His Son into the world and what obligations it imposes on us.

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14:

Jesus’ Birth: Its Unusual Events, Lk 2:1-24

The prophecy given by Jacob back in Genesis was now being fulfilled (Gen 49:10: The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he (Messiah) comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his). The messiah had been foretold since the world began. He was the seed of the woman crushed the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15). The birth of Jesus was in the very beginning of the Genesis to save the humankind as God’s steadfast love, mercy and promise.

The Messiah waged the war against the enemies i.e. sin, death, condemnation, corruption, injustice,  inequality and persecution. God showed mercy and delivered humankind through faith in Christ that humankind might serve Him without any fear from death, sin and other gods  and that humankind might live righteously and serve God forever.

1. The miraculous taxation (v.1-6): God controls through..

a. An event of the world used by God to fulfil His plan

b. An event that forced Joseph to Bethlehem (house of bread=beth+lehem)

  1) from Galilee

  2) out of Nazareth

  3) to the city of David, Bethlehem

c. An event that led to the fulfilment of Scripture despite man’s plans

2. The shocking place of birth (v.7): manger, stable, Bethlehem- a tiny village

3. The unbelievable appearance of a real angel to shepherds (v.8-12): Vs. Emperors, governors, kings, priests, politicians and leaders

a. His appearance: shone in the glory of the Lord

b. His appearance: Reassured-Good News

  1) A proclamation: The Messiah’s birth

  2) A charge: Visit the Child

  3) A sign: The location and dress

4. The spectacular appearance of the heavenly host (v.13-14): Glory to God…on earth peace to His people.

Thought: The crying need of the hour for believers is to live in the Lord and to grow strong in the spirit of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world.

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Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

 The Saviour of the World

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 fear

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 a 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.

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4^th Sunday of Advent: Year C

1^st Reading: Mica 5:1-4: Ruler of Israel

2^nd Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10: I will do your Will

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45: Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

Elizabeth’s Supernatural Proclamation: A Very Unusual Testimony

Whatever confession was borne about the Baby conceived in Mary was critical importance. Because the baby was...

·     Jesus.

·     The Son of the Most High.

·     The Son of David.

·     The Ruler over the House of Jacob forever.

·     The Ruler whose kingdom will never end.

·     The One born of the Holy Spirit.

·     The Son of God the Most High.

In this passage a supernatural confession is proclaimed and this is the very first testimony ever given by human lips about Jesus.

1.    Mary visited Elizabeth and her visit was memorable (v. 39-42):

a.    Went in a hurry (spoudes) which means speed, diligence, care, earnestness, zeal.

b.   Went to the town of Judah.

c.    Entered Elizabeth’s home and greeted her.

d.   Was welcomed by Elizabeth’s proclaimation:

i.                Heard Mary’s greeting

ii.               Felt the baby leap

iii.            Was instantly filled with the Spirit

iv.            Spoke loudly

2.    She proclaimed uniqueness about Mary and her child (v.42): Three unusual things happened immediately.

i.                The baby leaped in Elizabeth’s womb.

ii.              She was instantly filled with the Holy Spirit.

iii.            She was full of joy and exaltation for the Messiah and spoke in a loud voice.

3.    She proclaimed that Mary’s child was her Lord (v. 43-44):

a.    The great confession

b.   The clear sign

4.    She proclaimed that Mary’s faith would receive the promise (v.45):

There are two reasons why Mary has been blessed by believers of every generation.

i.                Mary believed in the Word of God sent to her (Lk 1:38). Contrast her belief with Zachariah’s unbelief (Lk 1:20).

ii.              Mary was related to Christ in a very special way.

Thought: If we wish to be blessed by God, we must believe the Word of God sent to us. Elizabeth’s confession to her Lord was a personal thing.

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 SUNDAY-3^rd Week of Advent:Year- C

First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18: The Lord will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.

Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7: The Lord is very near.

Gospel: Luke 3:10-18: What must we do?

The Plain Message of John the Baptist: A Message for All Ages, Lk 3:7-20

The message of John the Baptist was powerful, a message for all ages.

1. He preached condemnation (v.7)

2. He preached repentance (v.8)

3. He preached against pride (v.8)

4. He preached judgement (v.9)

5. He preached social justice (v.10-14)

a. The people: were to love and care enough to share their material possessions

b. The tax collectors: were to love and care enough to stop exerting their authority and cheating people

c. The soldiers: were to love and care enough to provide security and service to the nation

6. He preached the Messiah’s coming (v.15-17)

a. The Messiah’s person

b. The Messiah’s baptism

c. The Messiah’s judgement

7. He preached many other things (v.18)

8. He preached against sin in high places (v.19-20)

a. He preached against the governor’s sin

b. The result: he was arrested

Thought: Most people are prideful. They feel they are special enough to be acceptable to God, that God would never reject them. They feel acceptable because they have godly parents, have been baptized, are not bad, are good enough, religious, members of the church and regular worshippers etc.

What is most important is to walk in the way of the Lord and to establish God’s kingdom on earth.

We the Christians are happy and joyful people the fact that we have already been forgiven, the Lord is already in our midst, the Lord is very near (Phil 4:5) and through prayer, we can obtain whatever we need (Phil 4:6).

The way to salvation is open to everyone; repentance and love for neighbour are the only conditions required to be saved.

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DECEMBER 8

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

1^st Reading: Genesis 3: 9-15.20

2^nd  Reading: Eph 1: 3- 6.11- 12

Gospel: Luke 1: 26- 38: Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Submission to God’s Will.

Today we are celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Luke’s account of the Annunciation inspires us to compare Mary with Eve.

Mary obediently received the Word of the Angel Gabriel, whereas Eve accepted the word of the Serpent. Mary gave birth to the living salvation of all through Jesus Christ, whereas Eve gave birth to disobedience and death.

The first reading talks about the first parents Adam and Eve on account of their disobedience as a result they were deprived of the life in the spirit of God.

The second reading brings joyful news for us all. God has loved us and chosen us right from the very beginning of the world to become His children through sharing His own life and to live holy lives so as to get ready to share God’s life and joy on earth and in heaven.

1.    God’s plans of love for human:

God created the first parents Adam and Eve out of His love and not because He had to. Adam and Eve came God’s hands in his own image and likeness: perfect in body and soul and they were placed in a garden who were completely happy.  But they lost their “grace-life” or “life in the Spirit” or “the wonderful gift of God” because of their disobedience to the command of God as St. Paul explains the word “grace” means “gift”, “baksheesh” in the second reading.

2.    Adam and Eve wrecked God’ plans of love for them:

God does not force his gifts to anyone. He created Adam and Eve free. The greatest gift of freedom was given to them but they broke God’s command and lost their treasure of Grace-Life, the life in the Spirit to share it in heaven. Being the children of God they turned into slaves of the devil and experienced the miseries and death in life.

3.    God’s plans of love for humankind were not to be defeated:

St. Paul tells us that God laid down his plans of love for humankind “from the beginning”, “before the world was made” (Eph 1: 4). This tells us how deep his love for human despite of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, God succeeded his plan through his Son Jesus Christ born of virgin Mary (Gal 4: 4) to make available to everyone the gift of “Grace-Life”, “The life in the Spirit” which Adam and Eve had lost by their disobedience. We have “Grace” “in Christ”, “In the Beloved”, “through Jesus Christ”. (Eph 1: 4.5.6).

4.    The Mother of Jesus:

The Son of God, the Messiah was born of a woman (Gal 4: 4) was Mary from Nazareth. Mary would give to Jesus human life and Jesus would give to Mary Life Divine.

5.    God communicated the Life in the Spirit to Mary from the very beginning of her existence: Great  help for non-catholic brethren’s  Mary’s existence

Adam and Eve lost Grace-Life, the life in the Spirit, not only for themselves, but also for all their children. Deprived of this gift, every human person is born inclined to sin, and sooner or later everyone falls a victim to it. But a single person Mary, the Mother of Jesus was preserved from the original sin from the very beginning (Gen 3: 15-“I will make you enemies of each other...your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head...” a comparison study of Esther 5: 13; John the Baptist also received the life in the Spirit in visitation of Mary, in the womb of Elizabeth; Lk 1: 29-the greeting of the angel Gabriel at the annunciation-“Rejoice, you so highly favoured; the Lord is with you.”) was special privilege or favour granted to her is the purpose of day’s feast.

6.    The holiness of Jesus demands that his Mother should receive the Life in the Spirit right from the moment she was conceived:

God filled her with Grace-Life from the very beginning and at no moment the devil touch her soul. She did the Will of God with humility and obedience to the command of God always.

7.    From earliest time, Christians have firmly believed that Mary the Mother of Jesus possessed the Life in the Spirit form the first moment of her existence:

The Holy Spirit was given to the apostles on Pentecost day. As promised by the Lord Jesus, he has been with the Church down the centuries in the person of those whom Jesus appointed to guide his Church, the apostles and their successors. So the Spirit of the Lord not only guides the leaders of the church but every individuals and the community as well.

8.    In 1854, the Church announced officially what Christians had believed down the centuries:

The feast we celebrate today which has been celebrated throughout the Church long before. It is surprised to hear that England was the one of the first countries to celebrate it, together with Ireland and other local Churches.

On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX, surrounded by many bishops from all over the world and thousands Christians at Rome declared this feast “That by a special favour from God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin, from the very moment she was conceived.”

9.    At Lourdes, Mary Confirmed the Faith of her Children:

Four years after the Holy Father’s solemn proclamation, she appeared several times to a girl called Bernadette, at a place called Lourdes, France. Hundreds of miraculous cures can’t be explained by the laws of nature proved by the doctors. Definitely, Mary has hand in that discovery.

In one of the apparitions Bernadette asked the Lady who appeared to her to tell her who she was. The Lady replied: “I am the one conceived without sin.”

Mary the Mother of Jesus has been also appeared in many other places all over the world that she intercedes for us to her Son Jesus Christ always like acting at the wedding feast at Cana and lots of miracles taking place in the lives of the believers today.

 

Thought: Mary was encouraged to believe: “For nothing is impossible with God.” God expects us to believe in His Power. Surrender to God is an absolute essential for our salvation.

 

Second Sunday of Advent:Year- C

First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9: God means to show your splendor to every nation.

Second Reading: Philippians 1:3-6. 8-11: Be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6: All mankind shall see the salvation of God.

The Forerunner, John the Baptist: The Pivotal Point of History

The coming of Jesus Christ was the pivotal point of human history. When he came to earth, earth saw the Son of God Himself (1Jn 1-3). Jesus is the King of kings, the Lord of lords and the God of very God, the Messiah. The Messiah needed a forerunner (John the Baptist) who would prepare for His coming.

1. He was a man who launched the most pivotal point of history (v.1)

2. He was a man called out of the wilderness (v.2)

3. He was a man who preached repentance and forgiveness of sin (v.3)

4. He was a man who cried out apocalyptically: Prepare, make the paths of God straight (v.4-6)

a. Humbled shall be exalted

b. Proud shall be made low

c. Crooked shall be straightened out

d. Rough shall be smoothed

e. God’s salvation shall be seen

Thought: John the Baptist’s preaching aroused thousands and changed the lives of multitudes and stirred them to prepare and to look for the Messiah. How shall we prepare and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ today?

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