Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
It is a powerful story - the story of Saul and David we heard in today’s first reading (1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23). Even though Saul, the first ever king of Israel anointed by God, he was also soon rejected by God. When David was chosen by God to be Saul’s successor, Saul sought to eliminate him. It so happened that, one night, David found Saul in the most vulnerable position, disarmed and asleep. One thrust of the spear and Saul would be done. But David refused to take advantage of Saul’s vulnerability and spared his life.
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Over the last couple of months, I have been accompanying a very dear friend of mine through his terminal illness. I would describe this friend as “a good man.” He is a really good man - married, faithful to his wife, children and family, God-fearing, and genuinely good to everybody. In more ways than one, he is a model for me. As the end of his life approaches, he shared some of his fears with me. Prominent among them is his fear of standing before God. As a pastor and friend, I know that he has nothing to fear. His life has been right and just. Yet, he says that he is afraid. I have not reached a conclusion whether his fear rises from the religious formation he received as a child, or it is the “Fear of the Lord,” which we know as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps it is the latter. This latter gift is also called “awe of God.” It means a healthy fear of God.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
There are passages in scripture that carry an element of solemnity that are more intense that other passages. One of such passage today’s gospel passage. In the synagogue, the solemnity with which the scroll is handed to Jesus, the description of Jesus unrolling he scroll, him reading the passage from Isaiah, the eyes of all in the synagogue looking intently at him, and Jesus announcing, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing," all point to a solemn and momentous event. Especially the words from Isaiah ending with the words “to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Lk 2:20) has a very specific meaning.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel reading is from the gospel of John. We know that John does not have an infancy narrative or the genealogy of Jesus. Luke and Matthew have these. But that does not mean that John is not interested in the origins of Jesus. Rather, instead of beginning with the earthly beginning of, John begins his story with the eternal existence of Jesus – “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). John’s Christmas is described in the simple words, “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us” (Jn 1:14).
The Baptism of the Lord
We bring the Christmas season to an end with the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Especially since Jesus was baptized as an adult, the celebration of the baptism of Jesus within the Christmas season is at best, superficial. More intriguing is the very question of Jesus’ baptism. Why would the sinless and incarnate Son of God need baptism?
The Epiphany of the Lord
There is a small Christian population in south-eastern Turkey who speak the same language that Jesus spoke – Aramaic. Thirty years back, there were about 50,000 Christians in this area. Today, there are merely 2,500 of them. The Christians of this tradition say that, instead of three there were twelve kings. They are not alone in claiming that there were more than three kings. St. Jacob and Michael the Syrian (aka St. Michael the Great) also claim that there were either 11 or 12 kings. The tradition of the three kings comes from reference to the three gifts. In his gospel, Matthew does not mention the number of the kings brought these three gifts. In fact, he does not even call them kings but simply magi. Magi refers to members of a priestly class. Neither Matthew nor any of the above traditions name the kings as Melchior, Balthasar and Caspar. These names belong a later 8th century tradition. No matter which tradition we ultimately go with – the feast of the Epiphany has implications for us.
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
(This homily was preached 3 years ago and is being reposted).
We have just celebrated Christmas. When we think of God’s plan and all the ways in which God could have come to us, is it not truly amazing that Christ came into a home? I find it fascinating that Christ was born into a family. The implication of this reality is immense. Just as Christ’s incarnation gave new dignity to the human race, Christ’s birth into a family brought new dignity to the human family, to the home.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
There is a word I have come to love – availability. It has been part of my contemplation in reading today’s scripture and preparing this homily. I like how the word sounds. It has a ring of positivity, of hope, and of optimism. It is a happy word. Availability has meaning for me because, as pastor of five parishes, I have been very conscious and conscientious about my availability to people. I have strived to not let the administrative demands of multiple parishes and schools overtake my role as a priest, friend, intercessor, and counselor. People come to me and say, “I know you are very busy. I didn’t want to bother you.” And that bothers me. I do not want people to think that I am too busy to pray for them, too busy for their concerns, their journey, their thoughts.
Third Sunday of Advent
Last weekend, on the Second Sunday of Advent, I reflected on the theme of “Biblical Joy”. One of the premises of my homily last week was this: “Joy is an attitude God’s people adopt, not because of happy circumstances, but because of their hope in God’s love and promise.”
Today is “Gaudete Sunday,” or “Rejoice Sunday” and I would like to continue reflecting on theme of Christian joy.
Second Sunday of Advent
Yesterday, I facilitated an Advent retreat. The retreat was titled, “The Seven Joys of Mary.” The inspiration for that title comes from one of the titles for Mary in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary – “Cause of our joy.” The church addresses Mary as the cause of human joy.
I am picking up the theme of joy again today because Advent scripture readings and prophecies anticipate the joy of the coming of the Messiah. For example, the prophet, Baruch says on today first reading: “…for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company” (Bar 5:9).
Here then is a brief reflection on the theme of biblical joy.
First Sunday of Advent
The liturgical cycle has brought us once again to the season of Advent. The Advent season is unique in the sense that it anticipates something we have already experienced. The Christ-child whose birth we celebrate at Christmas is the same Christ we anticipate at his second coming. One part of the celebration looks to the past while the other anticipates the future. This makes us an ‘in-between people’.
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. Each liturgical year, we have a different set of gospel readings. For year B, which we have today, the word “king” and “kingdom” three times each. Also in this reading, the word “nation” appears. Pilate said to Jesus, “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" (Jn 18:35). Often, we completely de-politicize the gospel. However, think about it. Jesus was brought before the political establishment of the time, by the religious establishment of the time, to be judged, condemned, and finally crucified. Jesus’ condemnation and death as much a political event as it was a religious event.
Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Last week I administered the Sacraments for the last time to Mary Cronin. She has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She has been given only a few more days. I gathered with the whole family - her husband, siblings, children, and grandchildren to pray. There were about 20 people in the room, including three-month-old baby Jules. Mary was very aware and responsive to the power of the sacraments. But something else drew my attention. The entire time it took to administer the Sacraments and pronounce the words of Christian farewell, baby Jules was making the cutest baby sounds. The paradox of the moment was stupendous. The cycle of birth and death being played out in the room was so apparent. We Catholics call this the Paschal Mystery.
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
We have two stories in the first and gospel readings today, and they are both stories of poor widows. In the Biblical times, widows occupied the lowest rung of society. They were counted among the aliens, the gypsies, the poor and the orphans. Generally, they were objects of other people’s charity. For this reason, the Law provided for their sustenance, allowed them special privileges, and cursed everyone who exploited them (Deut 24:17–27:26).
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Something is happening within Catholicism in the United States. On the one hand, over the past few decades, many people have disaffiliated themselves from organized religion, and Catholicism has been particularly affected. On the other hand, there is a movement from a section of Catholics who find new energy in the more traditional Catholicism characterized by the Latin Mass, mantillas, Communion rails, Communion on the tongue, a heightened emphasis on doctrine, rituals, vestments, incense etc. People who think this way are convinced that Catholics disaffiliated themselves from Catholicism because of the loss of Catholic identity and the dilution of Catholic rituals and doctrines since Vatican II.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Can the blind lead the blind? If we go by today’s gospel reading, perhaps, the answer is yes. Was Bartimaeus blind? Sure, he was. Are we blind? It depends. Mark has a unique way of understanding blindness. His definition of blindness depends not on what people can see with their eyes but on their relationship with Jesus, the Christ.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Where could you go and say, “I want you to do for us whatever I ask of you?” Tell me one place where life works like that. Yet, that is exactly what James and John said to Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you" (Mk 10:
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
After a gap of a few years, I am now back to facilitating the Confirmation program for our teens. I am in need respite from all the administrative stuff. At the first meeting with the candidates last Tuesday, I gave them a questionnaire. One of the questions that I asked the teens was, “If you could ask God one question, what would it be?” There are some truly spectacular answers. I am not sharing them because I don’t have the permission. But today, I am going to ask you the same question. “If you could ask God one question, what would it be?”
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
I am the least qualified to preach about today’s scripture. I am not married. I do not have children, and I have never experienced divorce. I am not going to pretend to know either. Hence, this homily is a theological reflection on the human person, on human relationships, particularly marriage.
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Everybody needs money. We have all heard that money may not make us happy but it certainly makes life a little easy. Money will not buy us salvation but does get us groceries. There is money, there are riches, and there is wealth. All of us have some money, some are wealthy, some are rich, and there are those few who are scandalously rich. Money, riches, and wealth comes with its share of challenges. Because of the uncertainty of life and our lifespan, for example, it is difficult to know how much money is enough. Contentment is hard when it comes to money, riches, and wealth. But we also know that greed and exploitation is rampant and has created staggering global economic inequalities.