Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year A Scrutinies
The scripture readings on the third, fourth and fifth Sunday of Lent (especially if we are following the Year A readings) are intentionally chosen to lead those preparing for baptism (at Easter) to come the fullness of faith. The gospel readings on these three Sundays are from John. John’s entire gospel revolves around the theme “coming to believe in Jesus.” Thus, last Sunday we heard about the Samaritan woman who by the end of the story came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Next Sunday we will hear about Martha and Mary who even before the raising of Lazarus will confess Jesus as the Resurrection and Life. Similarly toward the end of today’s gospel reading when Jesus says to the blind man that he is indeed the Son of Man, the blind man confesses, “I do believe Lord.” And then he worshipped Jesus. Like in the other stories, there is a huge difference in the faith of the blind man from the beginning of the story and the end of the story. At the beginning of the story he was blind but now he sees. At the beginning of the story he did not know Jesus but by the end he worships him. At the beginning of story he was just another sinner considered blind for either his or his ancestor’s sin. By the end of the story he is liberated and saved by his faith. This is true of the Samaritan woman, and Mary and Martha. In fact, this is true of the entire gospel of John.
Third Sunday of Lent - (Year A Readings)
We have just heard the incredible story of the Samaritan woman. I am hoping to reflect on the story from three perspectives: the personal, the social and the ecclesial (church). This story is more than the Samaritan woman’s personal salvation story. Woven within it are powerful social and ecclesial themes that are very relevant to us.
Second Sunday of Lent
Do you know where most young Americans get their national and international news? Late night talk shows on Comedy Central. The likes of Steven Colbert, Jon Stewart, are not just great comedians; they are also brilliant news anchors who combine incredible humor to their news analysis. However, the downside of this genre is that serious global events, like wars, begin to be perceived rather lightly, because they are dealt within the genre of comedy. Sitcoms do the same things. Serious issues like marriage and family are treated so casually that we do not know whether sitcoms reflect life or life tries to imitate sitcoms. On the latest episode of Modern Family, I saw God being ridiculed for giving an old man a son and then demanding that he be stabbed to death (referring to the story of Abraham in today’s first reading). If talk shows and sticoms run the risk of striping global events their seriousness, do you think we too can strip faith and religion of its power? I think this often happens with Lent.
First Sunday of Lent
To the modern mind, stories like the story of Noah raise many questions as it answers them. How could destroy all of creation? Is not a compassionate God? As we ask these questions, we must remember the book of Genesis was not written as an eye-witness account. Noah’s story is being narrated for a far bigger purpose. Whereas the story is a lesson on the destructive power of sin, it is even more importantly the story of God’s first covenant with humanity. God makes a promise with all of humanity that not destruction but rather salvation that will be the final word.
I would like to draw three connections that help us see the meaning of the story of Noah and the great flood.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Just when we think we have been surprised enough by Pope Francis, he gave us yet another one. Last Sunday, before he said mass at a local parish on the outskirts of Rome, he made a surprise visit to a shanty town. Most of the people were immigrant refuges from Peru and Ecuador, Eritrea, Ukraine, Russia, and other parts of the world. His love for these ordinary folks and their affection for him – it is amazing to watch. I watched the video and felt my eyes filling up. This man is changing the meaning of the papacy, of the church, of what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. Perhaps, the Pope is teaching us to be human again.
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Just when we thought that the world cannot get any worse, we were shocked by the awfully gruesome killing of the Jordanian pilot by ISIS militants. They put him in a cage and burnt him alive. We have seen brutality, but acts like these defy our imagination. Or, take for instance, the indiscriminate killing of about two thousand men, women and children by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria. They simply invaded a village and killed them all. Besides these world tragedies, a plane went down in Taiwan killing over thirty people, last year 2.6 million children died of hunger related causes, and last week someone you know was diagnosed with cancer. There is no dearth of bad news. There is much suffering in the world.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
At every visit home, one of the greatest edification I receive is from my parent’s spirituality. First of all, they are two very genuine people. So I believe that their spiritual life is also genuine. Their hour-long morning and evening prayer, their selfless intercession for every need of the world, their participation in daily mass, their devotional practices and corporal works of mercy are truly inspirational. Not once have I felt that my priestly holiness and spirituality is superior to theirs. In fact, I have felt that the opposite is true. I know that my parent’s holiness far exceeds mine. And I know this to be true about them not only as retired people but even when I was a child. For that matter, there are many people in this congregation of whom I would say the same thing.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
I am sure I have shared the heartache I experience every time I leave home to come back to Dayton. Let me also say this. It is easier to come back when I know I am coming back to you! Of course the last day, the last hours, and the last moments are intensely emotional. Just before I leave, mom and dad always pray over me and give me their blessings. As they blessed me this time I realized how much it hurt all of us to part from each other. For some reason, my mother always surprises me with her prayers over me. She prayed something like, “Loving God, bless the people of my son’s parish whom you have called him to serve. Bless them and let them know your love through him.” This is what is surprising about my mother – she is always able to rise above the immediate situation and find the bigger meaning and purpose. She did this when I left home at 16 and she does it even now when I am 48. In her simple prayer, my mother, had lifted us all from our gloom and given meaning. We still wept as we parted but there was hope.
Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
I was watching a show on the Hadron collider, the most expensive scientific experiment ever done. The collider conducts experiments in particle physics to recreate the same condition that existed when the Big Bang occurred. How much do you think has been spent on this experiment? Thus far $ 6 billion has been spent and another 5 billion has been dedicated to it. This makes experiment controversial. Is this experiment really worth it? Should we not be spending this money on other urgent human needs? Particle physicists justify the experiment by saying that the more we discover about the origin of the world the more we can say about ourselves and build a better future. I personally think that it is important that we know about ourselves, but there is another significant question. If our experimentation is only going to tell us about the origin of the world and how the world is held together, how much should we spend for knowing the meaning of life? If we take today’s scripture seriously the most significant question about the meaning of life does not cost us money, but rather, it sets us on a life-long quest.
The Baptism of the Lord
Most of you know that I am home in India this week. When I first told my parents about my trip, my only intention was to spend time with them. But then, they had begun to make plans to visit even the pets of my relatives. I even said to my self that if my parents were not so dear to me there would be some not so nice conversations. Because my parents mean so much to me I would to do anything for them. But when I got home and I saw how proud they were of me, and when I realized why they wanted to show me off to the entire nation, I gave in. The real question I said to myself was not what my parents mean to me. The real question was what I mean to my parents. What does it mean for me to be a son? That was the real question.
The Epiphany of the Lord
“Where is God?” Perhaps you have heard this question numerous times. It is not a faithless question. It is a question that people with faith ask when life becomes extraordinarily burdensome - a child’s death, a horrible accident, devastating natural disasters, poverty and suffering. People have tried to answer the question in many ways. Fredrich Nietzsche, the famous philosopher said, “God is dead.” Others are unsure. And then there are the crazy Catholics. We say, “God is here!” We point toward a child in a manger or a mangled body on a cross and say, “God is here!”
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Since the Synod on the family convened by Pope Francis was held this October, I have to admit that the conversation about the family has changed dramatically. Not that the Synod changed our understanding of families but there is a greater acknowledgement of the challenges that families face. The greater contribution of the synod was to look at these challenges more pastorally and compassionately rather than legalistically. The work of the Synod is not over. It will meet again in Oct 2015 not only to complete its work but also to provide a cohesive teaching on the family that is acceptable to all sides in the conversation.
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
I am an idealist. I am for most part also an optimist. You see, when I was younger, I always looked at the world around me and believed that in twenty-five thirty years the world would be a far better place. I dreamt that one day there would not be wars or nuclear weapons, that there that the poor would see their lot improve, that there would be no economic and racial inequality, that we would have found a cure for cancer, and that the world will be more godly. I really did! Those twenty-five thirty years have passed. I am not sure if it is because I am approaching fifty or because I am finally coming to grip with reality, my idealism and my optimism are both waning. My hopes of seeing a more egalitarian, peaceful, prosperous, just and godly world is looking increasingly remote. Violence, religious and state sponsored terrorism, the threat of wars, racial tension, sexual discrimination, disparity between super-rich and the poor, economic injustice that hard-working middle class endure, bigotry, xenophobia and atheism are as rampant today as in the past, if not, increased.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Today’s readings present us with two stories. The first story is the story of David, only the second King of Israel. He had just given the kingdom some stability. The borders were secure and David had built himself a new palace. The Ark of the Covenant, however, was in a mere tent. David felt troubled by this fact. How can the Ark be in a tent while he lives in a palace? He decides to build a temple for God. Normally, one would admire David for his desire to do something good for God. But if we go a little deeper, does it not seem ridiculous that a mere human being could think that he could build a dwelling place for a God who created the universe? As if the most magnificent structure we build could hold the power and majesty of God! I do not want to be unfair to David because David’s intention was good and holy. But God wanted David to learn that he must live by God’s will rather than the opposite. And so God’s action is meant to put David’s thinking in line with God’s will. God tells David that God would build a house for David instead.
Third Sunday of Advent
Do you remember Bobby McFerrin? And do you remember his song “Don’t Worry, be happy?” It was the No. 1 song in 1982. The lyrics to the song go:
Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy
Don't worry, be happy now.
Every time I read Paul’s words in today’s second reading “Rejoice Always!” I am reminded of Bobby McFerrin’s song. In another letter Paul becomes even more emphatic. He says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” (Phil 4:4) The strange thing is that Paul’s had an intensely rough life after his conversion. The early Christians too were also in constant danger. Perhaps that is the reason that after asking the Thessalonians to “Rejoice always,” he also adds, “Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Is Paul’s invitation to Rejoice is the same as Bobby McFerrin’s call to “Don’t worry, be happy?”
Second Sunday of Advent
This last Tuesday, Barry and I happened to be here in church with another musician. The back of the church was very dimly lit. I saw the inside door of the church open ever so slightly and then close and then open again. And then I saw figure walk very hesitatingly into the church and slowly slip into the very last pew. Just to make sure that everything was fine, I decided to walk up to the person. Meanwhile, I saw this person walk toward me. When I could actually see more clearly I saw a young woman and she was clearly distraught. I introduced myself and asked what I could do for her. She said that her grandmother has just passed away and before she could finish the sentence she was sobbing heavily. As I hugged her, she simply broke down and cried uncontrollably. Barry will tell you that she was loud. For a moment I felt her body just go limp in my arms. After she recovered, I took her aside and spoke with her. Her name was Andrea. She told me she had gotten away from her faith and that when she heard her grandmother passed away she was hoping that some church would be open for her to come and pray. I prayed with her for her grandma, invited her to light a candle, gave her the prayer to the Holy Spirit and left her alone to pray. I am not sure how long stayed but here is the kicker. Normally, this church is never open on a Tuesday at 6:30 pm and I am never in the church at that time. I was in utter amazement as I headed back to the rectory. Now hear these words from today’s first reading: “Comfort, give comfort to my people,” says your God. “ I know that God was reaching out to Andrea and comforting her in her despair. I am not sure what this moment meant for Andrea and if I will ever see her again to know that. For me this was a God moment. I kept saying to myself under my breath, “God is real, Satish, God is real."
First Sunday of Advent
Thanksgiving is over. Perhaps many of you also used the holiday to put up your Christmas tree and get a jump start on Christmas shopping. I know some very wise people who began their Christmas shopping on the 26th of December last year. In many ways our Christmas preparations have begun. Isn’t that what Advent is all about? What are you expecting to get out of Advent? How is this Advent going to be a preparation for Jesus? This is my hope – that as we prepare for the holiday, that we are also preparing on a much deeper level; that this Christmas is a real encounter with Christ.
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Dr. Martin Salia is the latest victim of the Ebola virus in the United States. He along with his family lived in Maryland. He was flown back from Sierra Leone in a critical condition and died thirty-six hours after he was admitted to the hospital in Nebraska. So what was he doing in Sierra Leone? Dr. Salia was a native of Sierra Leone and as his friend Patricia Mustapha said, "He was back in his country, helping his people." He was only 44 years old. In many ways, this is such a tragedy. The world needs more people like Dr. Salia. On the other hand, Dr. Salia died saving lives. Our gospel reading on the feast of Christ the King celebrates people like him. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
One of the most interesting part of my ministry as a priest is being in conversations with people. Very often these conversations are with parishioners who recognize that it is time to change course in life. And I understand that. Even though I am a priest, twice in my life I have had to take a hard look at my life and seek conversion. In my conversations, my main question to the person is: “What do you think is the meaning and purpose of your life?” And then I clarify the question by asking, “If today you were standing before God, how can you look back at your life and be proud of yourself? Nine out of ten peoples answer is “I’ve never looked at it that way.” Once in a way, it is good to lift up our head out of the daily grind of life and look at our life from the big-picture perspective. It should not take a life-crisis to do this. Living our lives with our destiny in focus is a Christian virtue.
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Here is another one of these feast days that because it falls on a Sunday takes precedence over the readings for the 32nd Sunday of the Liturgical year. Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. Perhaps you are wondering what a basilica in Rome has anything to do with us. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome. It is the Pope's cathedral. It was built in the time of Constantine and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. This is the church where popes were consecrated. Because John Lateran is the Pope’s Cathedral, celebrating the dedication of this cathedral is symbolic of the unity of the Catholic Church. This is the relevance of the feast – that we believe that we here in Dayton are called to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ who chose Peter as its shepherd. To everyone who loves the church, this is the feast of the people of God.