First Sunday of Advent: Year- C

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16: I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David.

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2: Coming of Jesus.

The Gospel: Luke 21:25-28. 34-36: Your liberation is near at hand.

We are starting today a New Year of Worship. We shall go 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 growth and development each moment of our lives.

The church wants us to grow, day after day, year after year and through 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 or grace filled time).

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

2.    There is no salvation apart from 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 the 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 because we neglected prayer

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

We are wrong, we commit sins and we are sinners. It is not God who abandoned us but we who abandoned God. His invitation to repent during this time of Advent is 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 Luke 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: The five wise virgins were watchful and the other five were foolish without watchfulness and preparation.

Thought: Advent means “coming”: We await the first coming of Jesus for which is continuously His saving deeds or works carried out till the end and the second coming of Christ at the end of our lives (death) for the salvation of our souls.

The presence of Jesus Christ will be found in three ways: When we are gathered as a community to pray, to listen or to hear the Word of God and put into practice and to take  part in the Eucharist believing the real presence of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.  

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LAST SUNDAY- IN ORDINARY TIME –B

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, UNIVERSAL KING

SOLEMNITY

CHRIST THE KING

Gospel: John 18:33-37: It is you who say that I am a king.

I Reading: Daniel 7:13-14: His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty.

II Reading: Apocalypse 1:5-8: Ruler of the kings of the earth…he made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God.

Today we celebrate Christ the universal king. He did not claim to be only the king of the Jews. His kingdom was not to be an exclusive one. He is the king of all who are on the side of truth and listen to his voice.

Christ, our king, belongs to our human family: In today’s first reading, the prophet Daniel tells us that “he saw one like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Dan 7:13)

Christ is a powerful king; his power will last forever: In the book of Revelation from which today’s second reading has been taken, Jesus is given the titles, and (Ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5), “King of the kings and Lord of Lords.” (Rev 19:16).

Jesus told the apostles: “All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). It will never end is the quality of Jesus’ power. The angel announced to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of the redeemer, he said her son to be: “His kingdom will have no end” (Lk 1:33). The angel confirmed the prophecy of Daniel which was to be fulfilled in Jesus: “His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed” (Dan 7:14).

The Book of Revelation says the same thing and puts on Jesus’ lips the following words: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is, who was and who is to come” (Rev 1:8). “Everything starts from me and ends up in me, I was before anything existed and I will continue to be after everything ends.”

Christ our king loves us: he died for us and shares with us whatever he possesses: on the night of his passion, Jesus said to his apostles: “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Today’s second reading reminds us “Christ loved us and has washed away our sins with his blood” (Rev 1:5).

No king was ever as generous as Jesus:

a. He shares his life with us.

b. He shares his own body and blood in the Eucharist.

c. He shares his own priesthood. Today’s second reading tells: Jesus made us priests to serve his God and Father (Rev 1:6). Since we are priests, our whole life can and should be “a holy sacrifice truly pleasing to God (Rom 12:1)

d. Jesus shares his own joy: “My own peace I give you” (Jn 14:27). “I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me” (Jn 17:24).

Hence Jesus is our true king and the king of the universe.

 

Jesus’ kingdom is described as:

·       A kingdom of truth and of life,

·       A kingdom of holiness and grace,

·       A kingdom of justice, of love and of peace.

Jesus was right when he told Pilate that his was not like the kingdoms of this world:

·       Where falsehood reigns and lives are destroyed,

·       Where sin abounds,

·       Where injustice and hatred bring in wars without number.

We must praise our king, Jesus and be grateful to him:

·       For having brought us into his kingdom and made us members of his own royal family,

·       For having loved us through his own suffering and sacrifice of life for our salvation,

·       For having given us his love, peace, joy on earth and glory in heaven.

We have good reasons to rejoice on this feast of Christ the king of the universe and we shall rejoice in heaven at seeing him as he is, so great, so powerful and so loving.

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SUNDAY- 33^st  WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Mk 13:24-32: He will gather his chosen from the four winds.

I Reading: Daniel 12:1-13: When that time comes, your own people will be spared.

II Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14. 18: By virtue of one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying.

The Coming of the Son of Man, Mk 13:24-27

The greatest event yet to happen in the history of the world will be the return of Jesus Christ. The disciples wanted to know, “When will these things happen?” (Mk 13:4), and “What will be the sign of your coming?” (Mt 24:3). Jesus began to answer the second question about His returen in this passage.

1. He returns after the distress or tribulation (v.24)

2. Event 1: There will be astronomical happenings (v.24-25)

3. Event 2: There will be the return of the Son of Man in the clouds (v.26)

4. Event 3: There will be the gathering of the elect (v.27)

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

Christ had just covered the signs of the end time and of His return. The truth is glorious but one thing is needful: people must turn their lives over to God or else they will be punished from the presence and glory of Christ forever. Jesus Christ gives six critical warnings to people.

1. The signs point 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 being immediate-right at hand

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

3. The events are a surety irrevocable (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 a believer can be caught sleeping

6. The warning is to all-watch (v.37)

Thought: Watch (gregoreo): to keep awake, to stay alert, to be watchful and sleepless, to be vigilant. It also to keep one’s attention (mind) upon a thing at all time.

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SUNDAY- 32^nd  WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

I Reading: 1 Kings 17:10-16: The widow made a little scone from her meal and brought it to Elijah.

II Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28: Christ offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself.

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44: This poor widow has put in more than all.

 

The Warning to the Crowds and Religionists:

Some Things to Guard Against, Mk 12:38-40

Jesus warns to the crowds and religionists to guard against sins, corruptions and injustice. The passage discusses six of these sins. All six have to do with pride or flaunting oneself, either by elevating oneself above others or by misusing others.

1. Dress: To draw attention (v.38)

2. Greetings and titles: To exalt man (v.38)

3. Showing self: To be seen in the market place (v.38)

4. Front seats and high places: to be seen, admired, and honoured (v.39)

5. Devouring widows: to use widow for gain (v.40)

6. Long prayers: to show piety (v.40)

Thought: People exalt one another with titles: Reverend, Doctor, Director, Executive, Chairman, President, Prime Minister, Governor, etc.-all to elevate one above the masses bellow (Mt.23:12). All are our responsibilities must be based on humility, service and total commitment to establish God’s kingdom on this earth.

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The Widow’s Offerings: Real Giving, Mk 12:41-44

This is a touching story with a powerful message often ignored. This passage shows how God’s heart reaches out to those in need reaches out in tenderness and compassion and love. It also shows how much devotion and commitment and boldness meant to Him. This shows how deeply God is moved by those who give all they are and have to Him (contrast the Rich Young Ruler, Mk 10:17-22). Finally the lesson is what real giving is.

1. Jesus observed some people giving (v.41-42)

a. Saw the wealthy give much

b. Saw a widow give little

2. Real giving is sacrificial giving  (v.42)

3. Real giving is measured by how much a person has left-not by how much a person gives (v.43)

4. Real giving seeks to have a need met (v.44)

5. Real giving is giving all a person has

Thought: We lack devotion and dedication in our commitment to God, whether commitment of life, time, gifts, or money.

We lack boldness in giving and using what we have for God and needy people.

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SUNDAY- 31^st  WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34: This is the first commandment. The second is like this.

I Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6: Listen, Israel: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.

II Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28: Because he remains forever, Christ can never lose his priesthood.

The Question about the Greatest Commandment, Mk 12:28-34

Jesus had met his third group of challengers, the Sadducees. In their minds, His threat to their security remained. He had silenced and routed them. Jesus used the occasion to teach man the greatest provision and duty of human life: love. Love will provide for every need man has; therefore love is the greatest duty of man.

1. A Teacher of the Law approached Jesus (v.28)

a. Observed Jesus’ arguments

b. Posed a test question: Which is the important commandment?

2. The greatest commandment (v.29-31)

a. The Lord our God, The Lord is one

b. The Lord our God is to be loved

c. The Lord our God demands that we love our neighbours as ourselves

3. The great vastness of the commandment (v.32-34)

a. So great it causes honest and thinking men to agree

b. So great it exceeds all offerings and sacrifices

c. So great it almost assurances salvation to those who understand it

Thought:

What is the first and important commandment? Deut 6:5- listen O Israel..

Love with heart, soul, mind and strength or might

Listen the word of God with heart, soul, mind and strength

How many love and listen to the word of God today?

Today’s world many do not love God and do not listen to the word of God and do not obey God’s command. They wonder and live in emptiness, dryness in spiritual life

Our love is vertical and horizontal love. Eg the cross has both vertical and horizontal. They are inseparable and united always. So loving God and loving our neighbour is inseparable and united always as one family. We love neighbour because God loves all and we are the children of the same God.

The creation is the love of God so must love him, serve him, worship him and glorify him is the purpose of our life on this earth to steward the earth and people.

Who can listen?

Those who are humble not the proud or self-righteous people

Those who do the will of God with obedience and dependency and surrendering

The first sin was the sin of disobedience- the first parents did not listen to God

Who is my neighbour? Lev 19:18- love your neighbour as you love yourself

4 kinds of love according to Greek:

Eros = erotic bond or love

Philia = relation bond

Storge = empathy or familiar bond

Agape = unconditional, unlimited, sacrificial and highest love

Jn 3:16- God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to save us..

Jn 15:13- The greatest love is that one who lays down his life for his friend

1Cor 13:8ff- love is patient, kind, no jealousy, no evil or does not hurt, no revenge, forgives, does good ..

Rom 8: - love fulfils the law

James 2:4ff- prayer without good work is dead or futile

I came not to be served but to serve. I lay down my life for my sheep. As I have loved you so you love one another so that they will know that you are my disciples.

People are to love God supremely and love their neighbours selflessly without any discrimination because all are the children of one God.

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 All the Faithful Departed, 2^snd November

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

I Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9

II Reading: Romans 6:3-9

The Parable of the Sheep and Goats:

The Final Judgement of Nations, Mt 25:31-46

Jesus taught about the final judgement of nations (all nations of people) which will be the judgement of the world through the parable of the sheep and Goats. He judges two types of beings, sheep and goats, not same type of being. The sheep are faithful whereas goats are not faithful and don’t serve Christ.

The only faith that God knows and accepts is the faith that servers Christ by ministering to people. A man who says he has faith and does not ministering to people is only professing faith in Christ. Scripture says, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (Jas 2:18). God knows no faith apart from good works, that is, apart from ministering to the needs of the people.

1. The Son of Man is coming to judge (v.31-33)

a. coming in glory

b. coming with angels

c. coming to be enthroned

d. coming to gather all nations

e. coming to separate the nations, both sheep and goats

          1) sheep- favoured seat

          2) goats- unfavoured seat

2. The judgement of sheep will occur (v.34-40)

a. the judge: the king

b. the invitation: come

c. the reward: the kingdom

d. the basis of judgement: ministering to Christ

e. the ministry defined

          1) a humble, instinctive ministry: no thought of reward, only of helping people in need

          2) a ministry to the Lord’s brothers and sisters

3. The judgement of goats will occur (v.41-45)

a. the judgement

          1) cut off from God

          2) eternal fire

b. the basis of judgement

          1) a failure to minister

          2) a selfish life

          3) a spiritual blindness

4. The judgement is for eternity (v.46)

Thought: Selfishness, indulgence, extravagance, hoarding-all that leads to and indicates the neglect of others-will visibly condemn a person when he or she stands before Christ (Mt 19:16-22, 23-24,27-30).

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All Saints Day

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12:

I Reading: Revelation 7:2-4,9-14:

II Reading: 1John 3:1-3:

 

In the year, 609, Pope Boniface IV cleared out the statues of gods and goddesses from the Pantheon (“the house of all the gods) which was propagated by the Roman empire and turned the building into a church which he dedicated to God in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all saints. This church is still standing.

Famous martyrs and saints were venerated in the church on various dates throughout the world. Today we have millions of saints who are known and unknown to mankind, but well known to God. The number of saints and martyrs goes on increasing day after day, this led the church to establish a feast in their honour on 1^st November around 800 A.D. In this feast we praise God for having accomplished his salvation in so many people.

The Holy Spirit moved the church to establish this feast for a double purpose:

1) To praise God for having completed his salvation in so many of our Christian brothers and sisters throughout world.

2) To encourage those still living on earth to persevere faithful to Christ inspite of human weakness, temptation and persecution.

Their message from heaven today is:

Do not lose discourage; remember that we were just what you are, weak, and sinful people. Yet we were saved by God’s power and love. Keep up the struggle; we are here to lend you a helping hand with our prayer to God. There is a fabulous reward ready for you too here.

1. Every Christian is a saint in the making.

Paul does not hesitate to call his Christians “saints”:

From Paul…to you all, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints.” (Rom 1, 1.7; 1Cor 1,1.2; 2Cor 13,12).

In today’s second reading, John points out why Christians may rightly be called “saints” while still on earth, inspite of human weakness:

a. We, Christians are truly God’s children at Baptism (1Jn 3:1).

b. We are destined to be with God forever and to be like him (1Jn 3:2-3).

We Christians ought to consider ourselves at all times, “saints in the making” that is, people striving to become holy.

2. Neither human weakness nor suffering nor persecution should discourage Christians from striving after holiness:

The Book of Revelation teaches us about the sacrificial life and witnessing life of the people having faith in Jesus.

a) The first reason why we should not get discouraged is that we have already been chosen to be saved: Ex 39:30- Consecrated to Yahweh. Ez 9:4-T=Greek “Tau”, resemble a cross.

b) Ours is a numerous family; it runs into millions; we should pluck up courage at the thought that so many of our brothers and sisters are ready to give us a helping hand:

The Book of Revelation speaks of 144,000 people assigned by the angel, that is 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

We all form part of the new people of Israel; those who will, shall be saved (Rom 11:30-32).

c) Suffering, persecution, difficulties should spur us on to greater faithfulness, not discourage us:

In the first reading of John’s vision- saw a large crowd dressed in white tunics bearing palms in their hands, a symbol of victory during the time of Nero the Roman emperor. The second Baptism is the shedding of his/her blood for Christ which cleanses a person from all sin.

d) The great reward ready for us in heaven ought to encourage us to be faithful to Christ: Revelation, the last verses of the first reading 7: 15, 17 have been left out. They beautifully show what our reward in heaven will be like:

3. Christians are lucky people: Because the kingdom of God belongs to them by their faith and by their witnessing life for Christ and for his church.

Hence our weakness stand in the way of our becoming saints, yet we have very reason to be optimistic that we shall succeed. Suffering, temptation and persecution should not a hindrance to our salvation. All we have to do, is to walk on earth with our eyes fixed on the fabulous reward God has in store for us in heaven.

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The True Disciple: Who He is and His Reward (The Beatitudes), Mt 5:1-12

The Beatitudes of our Lord are powerful, holding before the world a descriptive picture of the true disciple of God. Seldom people have been spoken with so much meaning in the history of the world.

The Beatitudes cover the glorious hope and reward the believer can expect, now as well as in eternity.

1. Jesus saw crowds (v.1-2)

a. Setting: Mountain

b. Posture: Set-Ready

c. Audience: Disciples

d. Purpose: To teach and prepare

e. Blessed

2. The poor in spirit: Given the kingdom of Heaven (v.3)

3. Those who mourn: Comforted

4. The meek: Inherit the earth (v.5)

5. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Filled (v.6)

6. The merciful: Obtain mercy (v.7)

7. The pure in heart: See God (v. 8)

8. The peacemakers: Called the children of God (v.9)

9. The persecuted: Given the kingdom of Heaven (v.10-12)

a. The persecution

          1) Reviled and insulted

          2) Slandered and lied against

          3) Persecuted and hurt

b. The behaviour expected: Joy

c. The reason for joy

          1) Great reward

          2) Great examples: The prophets

Thought: Being filled means “to be filled with the Spirit” or “to be led by the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…”(Gal 5:22-23).

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