Cycle (A) New Year

Num 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today it is January 1^st. Another day and another year has begun. 2019 had its challenges and achievements. The rise and fall of great personalities. Great leap in Physics, Medicine and Space Science. In our personal life too many of our dreams are met and some

Cycle (A) The Holy Family

Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Col 3:12-21;   Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

Exile, deportation and seeking asylum in other countries have been common in our history.  Wars and civil strife have torn apart many families, and separated parents and children, brothers and sisters, or husbands and wives for many years, and, often, perpetually. 

Cycle (A ) Christmas

Is 9:2-4, 6-7; Tit. 2:11-14; Lk. 2:1-16

Thousands of years ago, God gave a promise to his people that a great Light would be seen. For those who were walking in the darkness, a Light would shine on them. About 2000 years ago this promise was realized, and a great

Cycle (A) Advent 4th Sunday

Is 7:10-14; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24

During today's First Reading (Is. 7:10-14), the Lord God spoke through the great prophet Isaiah. The Lord said to Ahaz, the son of Jotham who succeeded the eleventh king of Israel around 735 B.C., "Ask for a sign of

Cycle (A) Advent 3rd Sunday

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

Cycle (A) Advent 2nd Sunday

Is 11:1-10; Rm 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

Alexander is one of the most fascinating personalities in human history. Although he was the son of a king and inherited an empire that included most of the Greek city-states, he set out to conquer an empire for himself. From 335 B.C. to 324 B.C., in 11 years, Alexander and his

Cycle (A) Advent 01st Sunday

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

On a mountain of Northern Vietnam, there is a rock that appears like the image of woman bearing a child in her arms looking toward the horizon like waiting for someone. This image is especially striking at sunset and sunrise, bringing about indescribable emotions

Year C Christ the King

2 Sam. 5:1-3; Col. 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43

At Hong Kong on the morning of 19th December 1941 a Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers to which Company Sergeant-Major Osborn belonged became divided during an attack on Mount Butler, a hill rising steeply

Year C 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mal 4:1-2; 2 Thess. 3:7-12; Lk. 21:5-19

Today’s readings speak to us about the need for endurance. During the First Reading, we heard of the necessity to endure in righteousness. In the Second Reading, we heard of the necessity to endure in our imitation of the

Year C 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

During today's First Reading from 2 Maccabees, [2 Mac. 7:1-2, 9-14] we heard of the martyrdom of the mother and her seven sons. All of them were willing to die for the Law of Moses because they believed that at the last trumpet, the King of the universe would raise them

Year 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

Year C 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sir. 35:15-17, 20-22; 2 Tim. 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk 18:9-14

Today's First Reading from the Book of Sirach draws our confidence in the Lord so we may rely upon Him in all our undertakings. The reading states that, the prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and it will not rest until it reaches its goal; it will not desist

Year C 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Tim 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

Year C 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Today's First Reading [2 Kgs. 5:14-17] from the Second Book of Kings describes the healing of Naaman, a foreigner in the land of Israel. Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favour with his master, because by him the Lord had given

Year 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 Assyrian empire that had rushed the Jewish nation crashed, it brought relief for

Year C 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Today's First Reading from the Book of Amos is the last of three woes that the Lord God promised to inflict upon Judah and Israel because of their evil deeds. These nations had rulers who were idle, insensitive to the need of the poor and lived in luxury. Accordingly, God said that they would be taken into exile.

Year C 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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.

Retreat on Prayer

A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car. She didn’t know what to do,

Year 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

Do Good or Avoid Evil

Many are happy with avoiding certain evil in life. Jesus is asking the opinion to do good or to do evil (Lk 6:9). Let us ask the question, "choose to do good or to avoid evil." Jesus is ready to bless us in spite of any restrictions. 

Year C 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Wis. 9:13-18; Phlm.9b-10, 12-17; LK. 14:25-33

It can take years and years of hard work, along with millions of dollars, to complete a monument. Despite all that effort, sometimes, they are left unfinished. The reasons can include lack of manpower, lack of funds, lack of proper planning or even the deaths

Year C 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sir. 3:17-20, 28-29; Heb. 12:18-19, 22-24a; Lk. 14:1, 7-14

We live in a competitive world where we are all trying to find success and security, social media is constantly telling us to broadcast the highlights of our lives, and we receive praise from our parents and friends for an

Sacrament of Holy Orders

One of the witnesses at the Martyrdom of Stephen, the first martyr was a young man. He was not satisfied with the death of Stephen. After that young man made havoc of the church, "entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison" (Acts 8:3).

Year C 21st Sunday in Ordinary time

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

Dear brothers and sisters

Someone asked a difficult question to Jesus, "Lord, are those who are to be saved few in number?" (Lk 13:23).

Based on God's unique relationship with the people of Israel as presented in

Sacrament of Marriage

There is a legend about androgens. Originally men and women were combined into one body. One side was man and the other side was woman.  Each person had two faces, four arms and four legs and two sets of genitals.

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Once a young lady approached the parish priest and requested him to visit her home to give the last rites to the mother-in-law. When the priest reached home he noticed that the person was not very sick and she did not require to be given the sacrament.

Year C 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer.38:8-10; Heb.12:1-4; Lk.12:49-53

Maria Teresa Goretti was born to a farming family, in Italy in 1890. Her father died when she was nine, and they had to share a house with another family, the Serenellis. Maria took over household duties while her mother, brothers, and sister worked in the fields.

Year C : The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Rev. 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; 1 Cor. 15:20-26; Lk. 1:39-56

When King Ahasuerus of Persia was looking for a new queen, he asked that all the fair young women of the kingdom come to the palace. Mordecai, a Jew who served in the palace, brought his niece, Esther. She was beautiful,

Sacrament of Reconciliation

One day a short man walked into the place of King, David. None of the guards dared to stop him. When he reached the presence of the King he said, “O King I have to tell you a story and you should grand me time to listen to it. He said, “There were two men in a certain town,

Sacrament of Eucharist

One day, a heretic told St. Anthony of Padua that he would believe that Christ was truly present in the Eucharist only if his mule bowed down to it.

They established that the test should take place in three days.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Sacrament of Confirmation

Confirmation is the sacrament by which Catholics receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Through Confirmation, the Holy Spirit gives them the increased ability to practice their Catholic faith in every aspect of

Year C 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Wis. 18:6-9; Heb.11:1-2, 8-19; LK 12:32-48

Columbia, on mission STS-107, left Earth on Jan. 16, 2003, with 7 crew members. The seven-members  were Rick Husband, commander; Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, William McCool

Sacrament of Baptism

Retreat

In Genesis we read the Account of creation. There was perfect harmony in nature; and man lived in the company of God.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Year C 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Today's Reading from the Gospel of Luke teaches us that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. A rich and meaningful life cannot be drawn out of it.

At the same time, we cannot deny that possessions, although they are transient, have a strange influence on the human mind.

My Daily Reflection

My Daily Reflections are posted in YouTube.
It is in Malayalam (Indian Language)

Click to read

https://youtu.be/Mm664LkKT80

or

Click here

Year C 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Gen. 18:20-32; Col. 2:12-14; Lk. 11:1-13

Dear brothers and sisters

Gahlaur is a remote and backward village in Bihar. In 1960s caste system prevailed there. People belonging to backward castes were ill-treated. 'Development' seemed to be an alien term for them. Poor villagers had to

Year C 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Gen. 18:1-10a; Col. 1:24-8; Lk. 10:38-42

In every corner of the earth, Special Olympics are changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

In Los Angeles Special Olympics participants prepared for the 50 meters running race. The starter’s gun fired and off the contestants raced. As they rushed toward the finish line

Year C 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time

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

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a prize.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting

Year C 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

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

There is a story about a brave young man, Corky, an expert swordsman, and he dreamed of becoming the best fighter in the world. In the whole army there wasn't a single soldier who could beat him. He hoped to become the head of the army one day. The King liked Corky,

Parental Love

There were three children in a family. The middle one or the second always felt, "I am not loved." They all were girls. Eldest one was entrusted with many things. The youngest one was always given the affection and special consideration.

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Ezek. 34:11-16; Rom. 5:5b-11; Lk. 15:3-7

My dear brothers and sisters

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Devotion to the heart pierced on Calvary is nearly as old as Christianity, but it has undergone many changes over the centuries. Patristic writers saw in the blood and water issuing from the

Year C 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

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

Since the beginning of Christianity, there have been countless stories shared of martyrdom and costly discipleship. Thousands of men and women have embraced martyrdom for the cause of Christ. Many people knew the cost to follow Jesus and

Year C Corpus Christi

Gen. 14:18-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Lk. 9:11b-17

Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. This special Feast is celebrated in remembrance of Jesus who gave His life for our salvation. It is a Feast in remembrance of Jesus' command to us to celebrate the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Speak and Listen

Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.

Year 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

Year C Pentecost

Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor. 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn. 20:19-23.

Welcome my brothers and sisters on the Feast of Pentecost. With today’s feast, we conclude the period of Easter Time.

Originally, Pentecost was a Jewish Feast. The word “Pentecost” means “fiftieth”. For the Jews the 50th day after their Passover, and for Christians the 50th day after Easter.

Year C The Ascension of the Lord

Acts 1:1-11; Ephes. 1:17-23 Lk. 24:44-53

Ascension stories were fairly common around the time of Jesus and the gospel-authors, signifying the deification of a noteworthy person (usually a Roman Emperor), and in Judaism as an indication of divine approval. The Jews were familiar with the ascension story of

Year C 6th Sunday of Easter

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

There once lived a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture depicting peace. Many artists tried. Two pictures caught his attention of the king.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture

Year C 5th Sunday of Easter

Acts 14:21b-27; Rev. 21:1-5a; Jn. 13:1, 31-33a, 34-35

A few years ago a Newspapers reported a touching incident.

While on vacation in Florida, Gareth Griffith, decided to try sky diving. He was jumping in tandem with Michael Costello, an experienced instructor. Something went wrong.

Year C 4th Sunday of Easter

Acts 13:14, 43-52; Rev. 7:9, 14b-17; Jn. 10:27-30

Church has established the Fourth Sunday in Easter time as “Good Shepherd Sunday” – a day for us to reflect on the absolute need for good shepherds in the Christian community, pray for our priests and religious, and foster vocations from our community.

Year C 3rd Sunday of Easter

Acts 5:28-32, 40b-41; Rev. 5:11-14; Jn. 21:1-19

Great difference is seen in the lives of people when they are with God and when they are without God. Old Testament has many examples to put before us. One great example is that of Samson. The bible says the early years of Samson are passed over quickly by the sacred

May 1st International day for workers

Acts 5:17-26; Jn. 3:16-21

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and “International Workers' Day."

In reality, May Day was born as a workers' holiday not to celebrate military power, but to honour the struggle of the U.S. labour movement for the eight-hour day. The effort to win

Year C Divine Mercy Sunday

Acts 5:12-16; Rev. 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; Jn. 20:19-31

Today we celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy. This feast was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 2000. The feast arises out of a series of apparitions which a Polish nun, Sr Faustina received. In 1931 Sister Faustina saw Jesus dressed in a white garment. He held one hand raised

Year C Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34, 37-43; Col. 3:1-4; Jn. 20:1-18

The pastor’s family was invited for Easter dinner at the Wilson home. Mrs Wilson was widely known for her amazing contributions to church potlucks. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. As usual, it was a feast for the eyes, the nose, and the palate.

Year C Easter Vigil

First Reading: Gen. 1:1-2:2; Second Reading: Gen. 22:1-18; Third Reading: Ex. 14:15-31, 15:20-21; Fourth Reading: Is. 54:5-14; Fifth Reading: Is. 55:1-11; Sixth Reading: Bar. 3:9-15, 3:32-4:4; Seventh Reading: Ez. 36:16-17, 18-28; Eighth Reading: Rom. 6:3-11; Gospel: Lk. 24:1-12.

One Easter a priest and a taxi driver both died and went to heaven. St. Peter was at the Pearly gates waiting for them.

'Come with me,' said St. Peter to the taxi driver.

Year C Good Friday

Is. 52:13-53:12; Heb. 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn. 18:1-19:42

Alfred Vanderbilt set off from New York aboard the Lusitania in May 1915 to attend a meeting of the International Horse Breeders’ Association in Britain. Even though the waters of the Atlantic were teeming with German U-boats, most passengers on the huge vessel assumed

Year C Maundy Thursday

Ex. 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Jn. 13:1-15

We are celebrating Holy Thursday. This Feast solemnly commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the sacrament of holy orders. But what remains vivid in the mind of the Christians and non-Christians is Jesus washing of the feet of his disciples.

Year C Palm Sunday

[Lk. 19:28-40; Is. 50:4-7; Phil. 2:6-11; Lk. 22:14-23:56]

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday - The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The contemporaries of Jesus were well aware of the traditions of the royal entry. Triumph, was a ritual procession that was the highest honour bestowed upon a victorious general in the

Year 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

Year C 4th Sunday of Lent

Jos. 5:9a, 10-12; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Lk. 15:1-3, 11-32

Dear brothers and sisters

It is amazing how Jesus imparted life's most crucial lessons to us through these wonderful stories, stories that were easy to associate with, not only then, but even today, 2,000 years after they were told. One such story is that of the Prodigal Son. This parable is also

Year C 3rd Sunday of Lent

Ex. 3:1-8a, 13-15; 1 Cor. 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk. 13:1-9

At the age of 13, a peasant girl who lived France began to hear voices, which she determined had been sent by God to give her a mission of overwhelming importance. She cropped her hair and dressed in men's clothes and travelled 11 days across enemy

Year C 2nd Sunday of Lent

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

My dear brothers and sisters

In the Second Week of Lent, the Church calls us to elevate our minds towards a higher level of spiritual holiness.

During today's Gospel Reading, we heard that Jesus went up the mountain to pray with

Year C 1st Sunday in Lent

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

The temptation of Jesus presents a deep study of human nature. Maslow is one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century who is well known for his Theory of hierarchy of needs. The temptation of Jesus can be compared to three tier model of human needs.

Year C Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor. 5:20-6:2; Mt.  6:1-6, 16-18

My dear brothers and sisters,

Today we are entering a new Season, one of penance and sacrifices. On this special occasion, we are called to be reconciled to God. Through the sacramental of ashes that is symbolic of penance, we are reminded that we are dust and ashes. [Gen. 18:27]

Year C 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sir. 27:4-7; 1 Cor. 15:54-58; Lk. 6:39-45

"A man working in the produce department was asked by a lady if she could buy half a head of lettuce. He replied, "Half a head? Are you serious? God grows these in whole heads and that's how we sell them!"

Year C 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Sam. 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 Cor. 15:45-49; Lk. 6:27-38

Dear bother and sisters

Once Chhatrapati Shivaji (who was a famous King in India during the reign of Aurangzeb), was riding in his horse in the forest for hunting. While he was going, suddenly a big stone

Year C 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 17:5-8; I Cor 15,12.16-20; Luke 6:17.20-26

Leo Tolstoy’s story “How much land does a man need,” tells about man’s insatiable greed for wealth.

Pahom is a poor man who proclaims to himself that if he had enough land he would not even fear the Devil. The Devil, of course, hears this and decides to give him

The Grace of God

In the forest there are ponds with water. It doesn’t mean all the animals in the forest are not thirsty. The water is there. Unless they go there and drink their quench for water will remain. 

Year 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 the

Youngest Child

Love and Care can bring a lot of changes in a person. The youngest of the every family commonly more cared and loved by parents and others as well. The

Year 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,

Year C 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Neh 8:2-6, 8-10; I Cor 12:12-30; Lk 1:1-4, 2:14-21

“The stranger” is a famous novel of a French Novelist Albert Camus. Meursault, a young man commits a murder. The dramatic prosecutor theatrically denounces Meursault to the point that he claims Mersault must be a soulless monster, incapable of remorse

New Wine in Old Wine Skin

We often change our mobile phones. New mobiles have new features and apps. But as we are used to old apps we want old apps in our new phones. It makes us using of mobile very difficult. Some time we are not able to use it.

Year 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.

As with all of the miracles and parables of Jesus, this story is rich in revelation and

Year C The 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.

Year C The 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.

Once twenty hikers gathered early in the morning at the trail