13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

2Kgs 4:8-11,14-16

Rom. 6:3-4,8-11

Matt. 10:37-42

THE CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY 

Barbara De Angelis once said: “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them; and they bless you, the giver.” Thus, Jesus’ teaching that anyone who welcomes a prophet, a just man or a disciple will not go unrewarded is illustrated by the hospitality offered to the prophet Elisha by the Shunemite woman and its consequent reward. Indeed, anyone who shows love, care and concern to another, does so to Jesus himself (cf. Matt. 25:40). And God will not be so unjust as to forget the good deed done.

It is important therefore to reconsider how we live our lives as Christians. For through baptism, we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In him we live for God (second reading). And this newness of life has its own requirements. It demands service to others, taking up one's cross and letting go everything, including one's family relations and oneself, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. In other words, commitment to Christ takes precedence over everything else, as we are told in today's gospel reading.

Equally important is the way we accept or relate with those who preach the Word of God to us. For instance, the way we relate to our priests. Do we see them as men of God? Do we accept them as we would accept Jesus himself since they are his representatives among us? What about those who do us good, or sacrifice their time, talents, resources and energy in various ways to lead us in prayer, instruct us in the faith? Do we appreciate our catechists, our leaders or our pastors? Do we strive to make things easier for them like the Shunemite woman or we try to make life more difficult for them?

Moreover, as priests and leaders, how do we treat our catechists, Mass servers, choir masters, and all those who help us in diverse ways? Do we often take them for granted and take advantage of them or we show concern for their wellbeing? Do we often show them appreciation and gratefulness? Let us all remember, any good deed done with a good heart will not go unnoticed by God. As John Holmes said “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” May our heavenly Father help us to have generous heart towards others just as he has generous heart towards us. Amen.

12TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME , YEAR A

Jeremiah 20:10-13

Romans 5:12-15

Matthew 10:26-33

“FEAR NO ONE  !”

Today’s readings speak about the right attitude which a missionary must have in the face of suffering and persecution. According to St Paul in the second reading, God’s grace in Christ Jesus overflows and outweighs human transgressions. In the gospel, Jesus gives instructions to his disciples for the mission entrusted to them. He invites them to have the audacity to proclaim the truth despite everything, because the truth itself is irresistible. He encourages them to overcome their fears and anxieties, and to place their trust in God who watches over every sparrow and protects his own.

The first reading is one of "the confessions of Jeremiah" which express the depth of Jeremiah’s sufferings on account of his prophetic mission. Considered as the prophet of doom, Jeremiah’s proclamation was bitter and disturbing to his contemporaries. He never ceased to say the truth and to denounce their evil ways, calling them to conversion. For this reason, the people and their kings never liked him. They persecuted him, and plotted various evils against him. This notwithstanding, Jeremiah remained faithful, fearless and resilient in his mission. He trusted in God who would not let him down.

The story of the prophet Jeremiah is still relevant today. In our churches, communities, homes and work places, the people who always stand for the truth and justice are often victims of hatred and slander, unjustified criticisms and unfounded accusations, persecutions and other evil machinations. But this should not be the ground for fear or discouragement. If we trust in God and remain faithful doing good and bearing witness to the truth, a great reward awaits us in heaven. Thus, we should never compromise the gospel values in order to save our image, or achieve some personal gain.

Moreover, if we give up because we want to please men, we will lose all. Or if we ourselves persecute others and plot evil against them because of their truthfulness and righteousness, then we must know that unforgettable shame and confusion will be our portion. For God always rescues the life of the poor and the righteous from the power of the wicked!

May God protect us and grant us the grace to remain faithful till the end. Amen

Happy Fathers’ Day to all fathers !!!

SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, YEAR A

Deuteronomy 8:2-3.14-16
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-52

THE EUCHARIST: A TABLE OF COMMUNION AND FRIENDSHIP

We celebrate today the solemnity of Corpus Christi, the solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the mystery of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the species of bread and wine. In the gospel reading, Jesus declares to the Jews that he is the bread that came down from heaven for the life of the world. Unless we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we have no life in us, for his flesh is real food and his blood is real drink. Again, “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him,” he says. In other words, any time we receive the Holy Communion, we receive Jesus himself and we enter into a life-giving relationship with him, a relationship that extends to all those we share in the Eucharist with.

According to St Paul in the second reading, the cup of blessing that we bless is the participation in the Blood of Christ; the bread that we break is the communion in the Body of Christ. Many though we are, we form one body because we partake in the same one Bread, which is the Body of Christ. Though each of us partakes in the Eucharist with his or her own personality and story, we become one in Christ. We are united with him and with one another.

This is the mystery we celebrate at every Mass. As we come together to celebrate the Eucharist, the bond that unites us with the Lord and with one another is strengthened. Like the people of Israel in their journey through the wilderness, our journey of faith with all its trials, affliction, thirst and hunger, becomes a shared experience; and in the Eucharist, the Lord comes to nourish and strengthen us for this journey.

Today’s feast reminds us therefore of the fellowship, warmth and solidarity that must characterize our Christian communities. For sometimes we participate in the Eucharist and go back home with hearts full of hatred, resentments, bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness and evil thoughts towards others. As St Augustine exhorts us, let us “become what we celebrate”; and what we celebrate is the Body and Blood of Christ, the One who gave himself for us. This way, we will become signs of his presence in the world. May he bless and keep all of us. Amen

Happy Feast to you all !!!

TRINITY SUNDAY, YEAR A

Exodus 34:4-6.8-9
2 Co. 13:11-13
John 3:16-18

HOLY TRINITY: THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S LOVE

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” We are undoubtedly familiar with these words of St Paul, which express unequivocally the mystery that we are celebrating today: the Holy Trinity. It is one of the foundational mysteries of our Christian faith, for we believe in One God who exists in Three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Thus, without pretending to make us understand fully this mystery, today’s readings reveal that the Triune God is a God of Love.

In the first reading, God reveals himself to Moses as “the LORD, a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness.” This story may be surprising, given that it occurred right after the story of the golden calf. In effect, few days after the covenant on Mount Sinai, the people of Israel turned from the Lord making a golden calf and worshipping it. And yet, instead of abandoning or destroying this stiff-necked people, God forgave them and decided to continue the journey with them, thanks to the intercession of Moses.

This revelation of God shows that God is Love. As the gospel reading tells us, the fullness of this merciful love of God is revealed to us in Jesus Christ. For out of love God gave his only Begotten Son to the world, so that anyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. “For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.” Thus, God’s love and mercy are greater than our sins and unfaithfulness. He did not only send us his Son but also poured out into our hearts his love through the Holy Spirit that has been given us.

Therefore, by celebrating the Holy Trinity, we are invited to enter into the story of this love of God and radiate it around us. In this perspective, St Paul exhorts us saying: “Brethren, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you…”

 May the Lord help us transform our parish communities, our families and our workplaces into communities of love so as to experience his unfailing presence in our lives. Amen