Year A: Mary, the Mother of God

[Numb. 6:22-27; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 2:16-21]

 After the Earthquake had subsided, when the rescuers reached the ruins of a young woman's house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. But her pose was somehow strange that she knelt on her knees like a person was worshiping; her body was leaning forward and her

Year A: Christmas Vigil

[Is. 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-7, 22-5; Mt. 1:1-25]

Paul Harvey tells the story about a family on Christmas Eve. Mother and children went to the Christmas Eve service, and the Father stayed home. Suddenly, he heard tapping on the window. It was a bird flying against the glass of his window trying to get out of the snow into the warmth

Year A 4th Sunday in Advent

Is 7:10-14; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:1-25

Roger Chillingworth is a character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter. He is an old and lonely scholar in England dehumanized by a life of abstruse studying. He married a young wife and sent her, to the Puritan colony of Massachusetts, with instructions to live quietly

Advent

Advent is a time to make us more perfect than yesterday.

In 1993 a statue of Bl. Theophane was made and placed at Ponnurunni, Kochi, Kerala, India, near his tomb. It was the  first statue of him. It was noticed that it did not look like him. The colour was

YEAR A 3rd Sunday of Advent

Is 35:1-6,10; Ja 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11

Sometime during the sixteenth century, in Velankanni, India, our Lady with her infant son appeared to a Hindu boy carrying milk to a customer’s home. Our Lady asked for milk for her Son and the boy gave her some. On reaching the customer’s home, the boy related the incident that occurred on his way and

Carry Pains and Problems to Jesus

Human beings are always with different problems; tensions, disappointments, failures, disagreements, etc. They are problems of day today life. What we do with our problems and pains. Some cry, some get angry with others and some compensate with drinks, shopping,

YEAR A - First Sunday of Advent

Is. 2:1-5; Rom. 13:11-14; Mt. 24:37-44

The Bible is full of stories of people having to wait on God, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel, and countless others.

God promised to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. But when the promise was first given (Genesis 12:1-3) Abraham and his wife Sarah did not have any children. God continued

Cycle C Christ the King

2 Samuel 5: 1-3; Colossians 1: 12-20; Luke 23:35 – 43.

In the year 200AD Jingo, the Empress of Japan, invaded Korea. Following the defeat, the Korean king placed valuable treasures before the empress and promised to pay “homage and send tribute until the sun no longer rises in the East, but comes from the West; until the courses of the

Cycle C 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mal. 3:19-20; 2 Thess. 3:7-12; Lk. 21:5-19

 

The Liturgical year of the church is coming to an end. Next Sunday, we shall celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, and the Sunday after, we shall start the New Liturgical Year.

 

Today's readings direct our attention to the End of the World, otherwise known as the Last Things,

Cycle C 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 Mac 7:1-2, 9-14; 2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Lk 20:27-38

Life after death has been a burning problem for many in every century. So, the legends, folklore and fiction are full of stories of man’s attempt to gain immortality.

There is a story about Alexander’s quest for immortality. Alexander, the great, came to understand that in the mountain of Kaf there was a great cave, very black and dark, wherein ran the water

Cycle C 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wis. 11:22-12:2; 2 Thess. 1:11-2:2; Lk. 19:1-10

Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq who succeeded Ghazi was one of the most interesting, and colourful rulers of India. He ruled Delhi from 1325 to 1351. Mohammad Bin Tughlaq shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, located in the Deccan region of India. He did this in order to administer

Cycle C 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sir 35:12-14, 16-19; 2Tim 4:6-8,16-18; Lk 18:9-14

In the 10th century BC, after King David captured the city of Jerusalem and made it the capital of the Israelites, he chose a high place as the site of a great temple to house the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 24:18-25). But the construction of the project was completed by King Solomon in

Cycle C 29th Sunday in the Ordinary Time

Exodus 17:8-13; 2Tim 3:14-4:2; Lk 18:1-8

Once a person was driving his cart through a rain drenched road. As he moved forward the wheels began to sink in mud. The muddy roads held the wheels tight, and he could not drive forward. He yelled at the horses, He beat the horses, but there was no change. His cart remained stuck in

Cycle C 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 Kgs. 5:14-17; 2 Tim. 2:8-13; Luke. 17:11-19

There is an interesting story about two Angels who were sent to the Earth.  The    cries and petitions of the people reach the door steps of heaven constantly. So once God decided that he should send the angels to the Earth to collect them directly from the people. Thus two angels

Cycle C 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hb 1:2-3,2:2-4;  2 Tim 1:6-9,13-14; Luke 17:5-10

In the readings of today we find prophet Habakkuk, Timothy and the Apostles facing the problem that put to severe test their faith threatened to crumble.

Situation in Jerusalem was very bad at the time of Prophet Habakkuk. When the powerful

Cycle C 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Amos 6:1, 4-7; 1 Tim. 6:11-16; Luke. 16:16, 19-31.

 

In 701 BC, a rebellion backed by Egypt and Babylonia broke out in Judah, led by King Hezekiah. In response Sennacherib sacked a number of cities in Judah. The Account of Sennacherib’s invasions gives details of the things carried away by Sennacherib.

Cycle 25th Sunday in OrdinaryTime

Amos 8:4-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-7; Lk. 16:1-13

On 22 August 1485, in marshy fields near the village of Sutton Cheney in Leicestershire, Richard III led the last charge of knights in English history. A circlet of gold around his helmet, his banners flying, he threw his destiny into the hands of the god of battles.

Cycle C 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exo  32:7-11,13-14; 1 Tim 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-32

Napoleon Bonapart, the French Emperor, decided to campaign against Russia, in 1812. Napoleon was pushing on with preparations for war on a colossal scale. By the summer of 1812 he had about 750,000 men under arms of whom 450,000 were destined for the actual invasion. On 28 May

Cycle C 23rd Sunday in the Ordinary Time

Wis 9:13-18; Phlm 9-10,12-17; Lk 14:25-33

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed earnestly to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but no one seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect

Fire of Love

In the family people move with fire. Why do we like our family? Is it because it is a heaven? There is a kind of fire in me for my family. That is the reason I like my family. Like a youngster who is mad with love for his/her beloved.

Cycle C 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sir. 3:17-20, 28-9; Heb. 12:18-9, 22-24; Lk. 14:1, 7-14

Once Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was travelling to a village for one of his regular speeches. At his station a young officer got down from the train with a suitcase.

The young officer shouted for a coolie. Vidyasagar went to him and said, "Why do you need a coolie to carry this small suitcase? Can’t you carry it yourself and save the money?"

Cycle C 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 66:18-21; Hb 12:5-7,11-13; Lk 13:22-30

In ancient times, towns were surrounded by walls and had one or more gates to which one reached through a narrow wooden passage. The great palace of the Chinese emperors, popularly called, “The Forbidden City” is also characterized by narrow gates. When there was any sign of

Cycle C 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 38:4-6, 8-10; Hb 12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53

In today’s Gospel Jesus said to his disciples: “I came to bring fire to the earth.” It is a very strong statement for the listeners of Jesus. The contemporaries of Jesus expected that the Messiah would bring peace to the troubled nation, that the Messiah would establish political stability in the

Become Like a Child

A child is dependent on parents in Jewish culture. Jesus tells us to become like a child. In Kerala culture also a child depends on parents.

Cycle C 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 18: 6–9; Hebrews 11: 1–2; 8–19; Luke 12: 32–48

22 May 2010, The Air India Express took off from Dubai and headed towards Mangalore (India), with 160 passengers and 6 crew members. The original reservation chart had the names of 169 people. In that nine people cancelled the trip. One of the passengers had just returned

Cycle C 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Eccl 1:2,2:21-23; Col 3:1-5,9-11; Lk 12:13-21

 

Charles Dickens in his play “The Christmas Carol” gives the picture of a selfish man, Mr Scrooge, whose sole aim in life was acquiring as much wealth as possible at any cost. He considered Christmas celebrations as humbug, and hated charity. He weighed human relationship

Old People in Our Family

Old people in the family are like Abraham in the Book of Genesis. (Gen 18:20-22). Abraham pleaded to God for mercy against his punishment to the People of Sodom and Gomorrah for their wrong doings. God agreed to save them if there is at least 10 just people.

Cycle C 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gen. 18:20-1, 23-32; Col. 2:6-14; Lk. 11:1-13

Leo Tolstoy’s “God Sees the Truth, But Waits” is a parable of forgiveness.

Ivan Demetrievich Aksenov was a merchant living in the town of Vladimir. One day he planned to go to a fair as a business venture, but his wife pleaded for him not to go

Family

Man can show more love than plants.

Many say for fun sometimes even seriously that plants are better option than human being. "It would have been better to plant a tree than gave birth to children."

Cycle C 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gen 18:1-10; Col 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42

Hospitality is a great virtue hailed in all the world civilizations. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, hospitality was a divine right. In the Biblical tradition hospitality is an obligation. The most extreme example is provided in Genesis (19:8), Lot provided

Cycle C 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Deut 30:10-14; Colo 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37

The Epic poem   “Paradise Lost “of John Milton gives a vivid description of the fall of Angels from “Heaven”. The Satan decided that he was equal to God, and he was powerful enough to challenge God. So, a war broke out in heaven. Satan and his followers

Family

One must take care of the relationships that one has. My family is a choice from God. I must take care of it otherwise it can become a lost one.

Cycle C 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is. 66:10-4; Gal. 6:14-18; Lk. 10:1-12, 17-20

John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” is one the greatest works that describe the journey of human soul towards its destination.

Christian begins his journey from his home town the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City.” On his way he had to face numerous challenges. Finally he reached the “wicked Gate” which

Cycle C 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kgs. 19:16b, 19-21; Gal. 5:1, 13-18; Lk. 9:51-62

The Indian Epics narrate many amazing stories about the dedication of the disciples to their masters. The story of Ekalavya in Mahabharata is such an amazing one.  Ekalavya is introduced as a young prince. He lived near the ashram of Drona, where

Cycle C 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Zech 12:10-11; Gal 3:26-29; Lk 9:18-24

Oscar Wilde’s “The Happy Prince” is a beautiful story.

In Autumn Swallows migrate to the warm climate of Egypt. On the way a Swallow took asylum at the foot of a golden statue, ‘The Happy Prince’. As he was preparing to sleep, a drop of water fell on him. He looked up but there was no sign of rain. Again came a drop

Cycle C 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 Sam 12:7-10; Gal 2:16, 19-21; Lk 7:36-8:3

Aesop's Fables have been around since 620 B.C.  Millions of people have enjoyed hearing them and learning from them for centuries. The story of the lion and the mouse conveys a great message.

Cycle C 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kgs 17:17-21, 22-24; Gal. 1:11-19; Lk. 7:11-17

The First Reading from the First Book of Kings [1 Kgs 17:17-21, 22-24] took place in the days of the great drought that was long remembered and even recorded in the Tyrian annals. When Elijah visited the widow's house, she felt that Elijah had been sent by God to make sure that she knew why her son had died. According to the mentality that prevailed in the

Cycle C The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Gen 14:18-20; I Cor 11:23-26; Lk 9:11-17

The Pelican is excessively dedicated to its young one. The pelican collects small fish and stores in the pouch at its neck. In the process of feeding them the bird presses the pouch against its neck. There is a reddish tinge at its breast plumage and redness at the tip of its beak.

Cycle C The Most Holy Trinity

Proverbs 8:22-31; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

One day St Augustine of Hippo was walking along the sea shore and reflecting on the doctrine of the Trinity. He suddenly saw a little child all alone on the shore. The child made a hole in the sand, ran to the sea with a little cup, filled her cup, came and poured it into the hole she had made in the

Cycle C Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-11; I cor 12:3-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23

One of the popular plays of William Shakespeare   is “The Merchant of Venice.” Antonio, a successful merchant of Venice got into trouble because of his generosity. His friend Bassano requested him to lend him some money. Antonio agreed, but, as all of his assets were tied up

Cycle C The Ascension of the Lord

Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Lk 24:46-53

There is an interesting Zen story.

Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was drowning. One monk immediately scooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung. He went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in. The monk saved the scorpion and

Cycle C 6th Sunday of Easter

Acts 15:1-2,22-29 ; Ap 21:10-14,22-23: Jn 14:23-29.

In 403 BC, Han, one of the Seven Warring States of China, asked the rulers of Wei to dispatch troops to assist it in attacking the state of Zhao. Marquis Wen of Wei declined the request and said: "Because Wei and Zhao are brotherly states, we have signed a pact of mutual

Cycle C 5th Sunday of Easter

Acts 14:21-27; Ap 21:1-5; Jn 13:31-35

In 1336 BC Alexander the great began his conquest of the world. It was his dream to conquer India, the land of legends. With his army he marched towards India and reached the city of Multan. Alexander saw that the city was well fortified. He was not ready to give up. He led the assault

Cycle C 4th Sunday of Easter

Acts 13:14, 43-52; Ap7:9, 14-17: Jn 10:27-30

9^th December 1971 was the saddest day in the history of Indian Navy. Indian Navy deployed INS KHUKRI off the coast of Diu, in the Arabian Sea, for a submarine hunt. While in operation, the ship was struck by a salvo of three torpedoes. The ship sank in minutes. When everyone was trying

Cycle C 3rd Sunday of Easter

Acts 5:27-32, 40-41. Rev 5:11-14; John 21:1-19

In 1748 during the battle of Nile aboard the French Ship Orient, there took place a great and heroic event of trust. Commander Louse de Casabianca asked his young son Giocante to wait for his order to leave the deck. The boy stood on the deck waiting for his father’s orders. The ship caught

Cycle C 2nd Sunday in Easter

Acts 5:12-16; Ap 1:9-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31

After the death of Jesus, for fear of the Jews the Apostles confined themselves to a closed room. They received the news of the resurrection of Jesus from many sources.  He was seen by the women who visited the tomb. Peter saw the empty tomb. He appeared to the apostles themselves.

Cycle C Easter

Alexander the great went to Corinth, to see the great philosopher, Diogenes of Sinope. Alexander was thrilled to meet him. He wished to do him some favour. But Diogenes replied, “Give me a little of immortality.”

Cycle C Good Friday

Is 52:13 – 53:12; Ps 31:2.6, 12-13, 15-16, 17-25; Heb 4:14-16, 5:7-9, John 18:1-19:42

Evil can never be conquered by evil; but only by goodness, violence by non-violence; and hatred by love for the enemy. That is the message of Good Friday.

Cycle C Holy Thursday

Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; I Cor 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

Many people desired to leave behind them a concrete symbol for the posterity to remember them. The Pharaohs of Egypt had thus built the great pyramids of Egypt. It stands high, embraced by the heavenly clouds, still bearing witness to the memories of Pharaohnic rule. Former President

Cycle C Palm Sunday

Is 50:4-7; Phil 2: 6-11; Luke 23:1-49

The royal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem echoes many details from the life of the ancient kings of Israel and contemporary history.

The crowd around Jesus was aware of King Solomon’s royal procession on David’s royal mule as he was taken to be anointed as king.

Motherly Care

Kongo is a local town in Ghana, West Africa.  Catholic Mission is a big area with lot of trees. So people let their animals here free. One day as I was walking, a new born goat was found left alone. Immediately I took the goat

Cycle C 5th Sunday in Lent

Is 43:16-21; Phil 3:8-14; John 8:1-11

Oscar Wilde’s story “The selfish Giant” has a great message.

Every afternoon, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden.

It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into

A Priest is a Father to Many

Let me tell you something.

You see these priests, they are not correct.

You, married people, you lose your sleep because of your family problems.

Cycle C 4th Sunday in Lent

Jos 5:9-12;2 Cor 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3,11-32

 St Luke gives three parables of Jesus in the 15^th chapter of his Gospel. All the three deal with the message of God’s mercy.

Cycle C 3rd Sunday in Lent

Ex 3:1-8,13-15; 1 Cor 10:1-6,10-12; Luke 13:1-9

 

Deadliest Natural calamities and manmade disasters have been part of human existence. Blizzards, diseases, famines, floods, volcanic eruptions and wild fires have consumed the life of millions.

Cycle C 2nd Sunday in Lent

Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28-36.

The world is full of manifestations of God’s glory. Every morning, from the depth of darkness rises the sun, transforming the sleeping, inactive and dull earth into a vibrant planet teaming with life and activity. The light and warmth emitted from the rays of the sun

Cycle C 1st Sunday in Lent

Deut 26:4-10; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13

One of the strangest monuments in the world is “The boot Monument” at Saratoga in America. It shows a boot with the inscription, "In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental army, who was desperately wounded on this spot, winning for his countrymen

Cycle C 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 6:1-8; I Cor 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

A large imperial court.  Servants waited at the king for his command. They proclaimed the praise of the one seated on the throne. Holiness hovered over the court like a cloud. There at the corner of the court stood a poor wretched, unclean, frail man. His eyes fell on

Cycle C 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 1:4-5,17-19; I Cor 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-30

On a fine morning with the rising of the sun the streets of Jerusalem were filled with the echo of a determined footstep. They saw a man walk straight into the presence of the King of Judah. He stopped before the throne and proclaimed boldly, O King of Judah,

Cycle C 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jon. 3:1-5, 10; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mk. 1:14-20

The story of Jonah and the Whale is one of the oddest accounts in the Bible. God commanded Jonah to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh.

Cycle C 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 62:1-5; I Cor 12:4-11; John 2:1-12

Changing of water into wine is the first miracle that Jesus performed at a wedding in Cana when they ran out of wine Jesus turned water into wine.

Cycle C Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22)

During the Second World War there was a man who went about doing good to the people. He provided shelter to refugees from Greater Poland, including 2,000 Jews whom he hid from Nazi persecution in his friary in Niepokalanów.

Epiphany of the Lord.

Is. 60:1-6; Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6; Mt. 2:1-12

Today, we are celebrating Epiphany Sunday. The word ‘epiphany’ means 'manifestation' or 'showing'. This special Feast commemorates the revealing of Jesus to the Gentiles.