EASTER SUNDAY – 21 APRIL 2019-04-16

Easter also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday is the solemn commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead which occurred according to the Gospel writers on the third day after his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary. It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by forty days of Lent.

The resurrection of Jesus is not a fabricated fiction rather a historical reality. Risen Jesus was seen, heard, touched and experienced by both men and women. He appeared to his disciples and greeted them; “Greetings” (Mt 28:9); “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19). This greeting was very much needed for they were completely frightened.  Meeting the risen Jesus brought different feelings and blessings to different persons. To the disciples going to Emmaus who were discouraged and disillusioned it was a “Hearts burning experience” (Lk 24:32). Risen Christ invited his disciples to touch his body, and ate food in their presence (Luke 24:39).  He opened their eyes, and they “recognized him” and he opened their minds to understand the scriptures (Lk 24:45). 

The risen Lord also commissioned to those whom he appeared to be the witnesses of his resurrection. Thus, he said to Mary Magdalene: “Go to my brothers and say to them” (Jn 20:17) and to his disciples he said: “Go to the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15)

Mary Magdalene bore witness to the risen Lord saying: “I have seen the Lord” (Jn 20:18).The Emmaus disciples testified saying: “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon” (Lk 24:34). Bearing witness to the risen Lord was a hard mission but the experience of the risen Lord made profound impact in the lives of the disciples they courageously bore witness amidst of several life threatening obstacles from the men in power not wanting to acknowledge their share in condemning and crucifying him. John and Peter spoke boldly witnessing the resurrection of Jesus ignoring the order of the Council saying: “We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

Paul personally encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9).  This encounter of the Lord totally transformed the life of Paul and became a new creation in Jesus.  He preached the resurrection of Jesus forcefully and courageously amidst several adverse and dangerous situations. He preferred to face sufferings rather than remaining silent about his experience of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. He preached that the resurrection of Jesus is fundamental to our faith. Writing to the Church in Corinth Paul says: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain“ (I Cor. 15: 14). This is a point that today we need to hear desperately. If Christ was not raised from the dead, the Christian faith is based on a lie. If Christ was not raised from the dead, all our liturgical celebrations, the preaching and missionary service through the centuries has been for nothing and they are only rituals and activities of a social club. If Christ was not raised from the dead, we have no hope of life beyond the grave.

The risen Lord today greets each and every one of us with the gift of “peace’.  He is ready to open our hearts, eyes and minds to have his experience and thus to believe in him that our lives shall be transformed thus become a people of new and hope filled life freed from our hopelessness, fears, discouragements, and disillusions. Blessings of the Risen Lord be with you all!

By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF

arulcmf@gmail.com

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PALM SUNDAY (14th April 2019)

 1^st Reading – Is. 50:4-7

Psalm – 21:8-9,17-18a, 19-20,23,24.

2^nd Reading – Phil. 2: 6-11

Gospel – Lk 22:14-23,56 (or 23:1-49)

“They brought the donkey and colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.  A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David, Blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest”

On our Lenten pilgrimage we are at the final Sunday, known as the Palm Sunday and also Passion Sunday.  Holy Week begins with the Palm or Passion Sunday. Palm branches are widely recognized as symbol of peace and victory. On this Sunday liturgy palm is blessed at the beginning of the Holy Mass and the faithful holding the blessed palm take the presiding priest celebrant in procession singing hymns recalling the solemn entry of Jesus in Jerusalem riding on a donkey before his passion and death on the cross. The use of a donkey instead of a horse is highly symbolic, it represents the humble arrival of some in peace. According to the Jewish tradition during the feast of the “Pass Over,” nearly 25,000 lambs were sacrificed but the lamb which was sacrificed by the High Priest was taken to the Temple in a procession four days before the main feast day.  Symbolically it signified that on Palm Sunday, Jesus, the true Paschal Lamb, was also taken to the Temple in a large procession.

This Sunday serves as a preparation of our hearts for the agony of the passion and the joy of the resurrection of Jesus.  Listening to the Gospel reading of today taken from the Gospel of Luke there come across different people who shared their part in causing Jesus to suffer.  Peter denied Jesus even though he made a solemn promise to Jesus that he wouldn’t do that, Judas betrayed Jesus, Pilate acted against his conscience and condemned Jesus, Herod ridiculed Jesus, and the leaders of the people preserved their position by getting rid of Jesus. Failure to understand Jesus, love for money, pride, fear, jealousy etc., were the reasons that led Jesus to the cross.  When I point my fingers to the above said people let us ask ourselves in what way I share my part causing to suffering of Jesus?  We all have a share in the passion and death of Jesus by our sins. It is not enough today to sing and satisfied holding the palm on the hand like the crowd of Jerusalem, rather, let us know that the merciful and loving Lord wants us to repent and return to him so that we can participate in the joy of His resurrection.                                                            

By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF

arulcmf@gmail.com

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5th SUNDAY OF LENT ( 07 April 2019)

1^st Reading - Isaiah 43:16-21

Psalm - 126:1-2,2-3,4-5,6

2^nd Reading - Philippians 3:8-14

Gospel - John 8:1-11

The gospel reading of the fifth Sunday of Lent taken from John 11^th chapter presents Jesus encountering a woman brought to him by a group of scribes and the Pharisees with the accusation of adultery. They brought her to Jesus with the malicious intention of testing him and thus get some charge to bring against him. Placing the woman before Jesus the men said, “the law of Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?” If Jesus approved the law of Moses and thus allowed her to be stoned then his claim that Son of God came to call sinners will be questioned.  If he contradicted then he would be interpreted  disrespecting the law of Moses which was punishable. Knowing the conspiracy of the men brought the women Jesus did not respond to them instantly in haste, rather took time and meditated over the matter and certainly sought the guidance of his heavenly Father as it had been his normal practice before taking any important decision.

Jesus used the occasion to stir the conscience of those men who always thought to be right and law abiding with a challenging invitation, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Such an unexpected personalized invitation from the part of Jesus whom they wanted to trap shocked them and pricked their conscience and hearts.  They realized their sinful situation and must have been ashamed of their act of hypocrisy and thus, left the place in silence leaving the woman with Jesus without getting an answer from him. 

In 2016 Pope Francis on the occasion of the Jubilee of Priests in Rome, meditating on this particular gospel episode said that Jesus was in fact opening a space of "non-condemnation". He freed her from the judgement of others and neither had he judged her: “Nor do I condemn you”. The command of Jesus, "Go and sin no more", had to do with the future, to help her to make a new start and to "walk in love", the Pope said. "Such is the sensitivity of mercy: it looks with compassion on the past and offers encouragement for the future." 

The season of Lent is a season of special grace to experience the compassionate and merciful love of God. He doesn’t condemn us rather calls us to begin a new life.  He offers repeated opportunities to come out of our sinful life related to both chastity and charity like that of judging others and wanting to see and enjoy others being punished, being self-righteous like the Scribes and Pharisees looking at the dust in others eyes while ignoring the blocks in our own eyes. The liturgical readings of today give us the happy hope that our God does not condemn us rather wants us to repent and return to him for which he offers additional time and opportunity: “Nor do I condemn you,” “go and sin no more.” With a sense of gratitude to God for this act of merciful love for us sinful people let us make a new start and walk in His love.

By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF

arulcmf@gmail.com

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4th Sunday of Lent (31 March 2019 )

1^st Reading – Josh 5:9a,10-12

Psalm -33:2-3,4-5,6-7

2^nd reading – 2 Cor 5:17-21

Gospel – Lk 15:1-3,11-32

Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts." The fourth Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday and is a Sunday of joy. The entrance antiphon for the day begins with the Latin word "laetare" and the vestments worn by the celebrant are rose-colored, not violet. This Sunday is also known as "Rose Sunday" for the vestments for this day will be rose, and flowers may adorn the Altar.

The Gospel reading in the Holy Mass today is taken from Luke 15th chapter is about the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son in the parable failing to understand the love of his father didn’t want to be under his guidance and authority. He wanted to be of his own and enjoy the worldly pleasures being away from his father and thus, demanded his share of inheritance.  The father must have felt heartbroken with the attitude of his son because the normal practice was that the inheritance goes to the son only after his father’s death. However, the father being so loving yielded to the demand of his son without questioning. The parable says that he took his share of inheritance and traveled to a distant place and spent his entire inheritance in extravagant living that led him to a miserable situation. In his misery realized his situation and the merciful love of his father. Therefore, with a repented heart and hope took the steps of humility returned home. His father seeing the son returned embraced him and received him with unconditional love and forgiveness ordering for a celebration.

The elder son stayed away because he did not really understand and approve the attitude of his father towards his younger son who squandered all his wealth.  He felt hurt and complained his father for not rewarding his own life long faithfulness and obedience. The father justified the welcoming of his brother and the celebration and gently invited him to join the party.

God gives each one of us a personal invitation to return to him. He is waiting to receive us with unconditional love and forgiveness and to celebrate our return to a new repented life. We need to come to our senses and realize our situation, attachments and addictions, priorities and preferences that keep us away from the love of God and from his presence.  We need to have hope in the mercy of God, humility and courage to leave behind and go to him acknowledging our situation and ask for his forgiving love and mercy. In Jesus God reveals that he welcomes the sinners: We known that the “Pharisees and scribes began to complain, this man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Let us get up and go back to our father in heaven for he welcomes us sinners.

By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF

arulcmf@gmail.com

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Third Sunday of Lent (March 24. 03. 2019)

1^st Reading  - Ex. 3:1-8a,13-15

Psalm – 103:1-2,3-4,6-7,8,11

2^nd Reading – 1Cor 10:1-6,10-12

Gospel – LK 13 – 1-9

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Ps 145.8)

Season of Lent gives us the good news that our heavenly Father is waiting for our return to Him with repentance and renewed life for He doesn’t want any of His children remain in a state of sin, for sin leads to enslavement and death.  Jesus began his public ministry with the invitation to “repent and believe in good news” (Mk 1:15). He rejoices over our conversion with the change of heart. “I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lk 15:10)

The liturgical readings of this Sunday speak of God’s mercy and compassion.  At the same time there are indications of disciplining with occasional punishment by God for those stay in repeated sins with stubborn and heard heart ignoring the invitation of God. 

The responsorial psalm speaks of God’s mercy: "He pardons all your iniquities; He heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction; He crowns you with kindness and compassion…. “ (Ps.130). While the Lord is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love, the psalmist says he is slow to anger. (Ps 145.8). God is merciful also he is just and demanding.

Paul found the Christian community of Corinth with the sins of sexual perversion and idolatry and thus, reminds them that the Israelites were punished for not being to faithful and pleasing God.   Jesus wanted that the disasters were the signs inviting for change of life.  Through the parable of barren fig tree he also warns that the merciful God will not put up with us indefinitely.  He says: "… unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

Lent is a favourable time to repent without procrastinating and return to the Lord with the contrite heart and renewed fruit bearing life and thus avoid the anger of God upon us.

At this point let us take to heart what Pope Francis said in his homily on 28^th February 2019, “we are not eternal, we cannot think of doing whatever we like, trusting in the infinite mercy of God. Don't say: "God's compassion is great, he'll forgive me my many sins", and so I continue doing what I want.   "Don’t wait to convert yourself to the Lord, don’t postpone it from day to day because the anger of the Lord will suddenly burst forth."

 By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF

arulcmf@gmail.com

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SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (MARCH 17, 2019 ).

1^st Reading – Gen. 15:5-12, 17-18

Ps – 27:1, 7-8a, 8b-9, 13-14

2^nd Reading – Phil. 3:17-4:1

Gospel – Lk 9:28b- 36

One of the suggested scriptural ways to journey during the season of lent is to enter into the sanctuary of the Lord through prayer.   Prayer has been a privileged and effective means of communion for Jesus with his heavenly Father and thus, he gave priority to prayer in his life.  As a preparation to his public ministry Jesus chose to be in communion with his Father in silence and solitude for forty days in a desert withdrawing from the noise of the world.  Once he began his mission entrusted by his Father he was busy preaching and caring the needs of the people so much so he even didn’t have time to eat and rest.  However, he was faithful to his prayer and thus he always set aside time for it.  In prayer Jesus understood the will of his Father and received the grace of standing firm amidst the adverse situations that challenged him during his mission.   

Today’s gospel reading taken from Lk 9:28-36 speaks of Jesus being in prayer and his transfiguration. It was in prayer transfiguration takes place. This was an important moment and event in the life of Jesus for it was here that his true identity was manifested to his companions who would be his messengers and witnesses.  It was also an occasion to have true understanding of their own vocation and the implications of following Jesus for they were in a disturbed mind because of his teachings about the cross and the conditions he laid for his followers.  This experience of Jesus’ transfiguration transformed the lives of those disciples so much so that later on they were able to pass on this experience saying:“we have seen his glory” (Jn 1:14), “we declare to you what we have seen and heard” (1Jn 1:3).

Followers of Jesus above all need to follow the prayer life of Jesus.  A constant and committed prayer life alone can transform the lives of those who are called to follow him in a special way. For this reason the Claretian Constitutions say: “Daily prayer, faithfully made, is a primary need for both the community and the individual missionary; therefore, it should be given priority in our life.” (CC.37)

 By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF

arulcmf@gmail.com

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FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (March 10, 2019)

First Reading : Deut. 26:4-10

Ps. 91:1-2,10-11,12-13,14-15

Second Reading : Rom 10:8-13

Gospel:  Lk 4:1-13

Temptations are intimately associated with our day to day life. No human being is exempted from being tempted.  The creation account in the Book of Genesis exposes the temptation to which our first parents yielded in the Garden of Eden and its consequences.  The list of temptations can be exhaustive and endless.    Temptation for forbidden food and drinks that can cause even health problems;  temptation for bodily pleasures, temptation for gossiping; temptation to cover up the faults and failures;  temptation to seek after and postings and positions that will bring power and prestige while avoiding  hardships and sufferings;  temptations to associate with the rich and the powerful; temptation to go after things that can grant instant gratification; temptation to be always connected with social media; temptation to disobey etc., etc...

 Gospel reading of today in the Holy Mass taken from Luke 4: 1-13 speaks of the three temptations that Jesus undergone in the desert after 40 days of prayer and fasting as the preparation for his public ministry entrusted to him by his heavenly Father that he is going to carry out according to His plan and the will.  The devil uses this occasion to trap Jesus to his side proposing sneaky ways and easy methods whereby Jesus could easily access to food, power and prestige.  Jesus defeated the devil and his proposals with the power that he gained from his forty days of intimacy with his Father and set a model to us not to go after easily available ways and means that can provide with instant gratification going against the will of God. To withstand and overcome the temptations coming from our enemy the devil in our daily life intimacy with the Lord and the Word of God are the sure means.  Peter says, “Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prows around, looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8) and Paul admonishes to “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Put on the whole armour of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:10-11).  Let this season of Lent be a time of intimacy with the Lord and thus we can know and do the will of God in our lives defeating the trap of the devil.

By - Fr. Maria Arul CMF
arulcmf@gmail.com

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ASH WEDNESDAY – 6 March 2019

 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. This year Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 6 March, and will conclude on Holy Saturday, 20 April, the day before Easter.  On the Ash Wednesday the priest places the blessed ashes on the foreheads of believers participating in the liturgical celebration with the dictum "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 

This season of lent reminds the faithful the need of genuine repentance and return to the Lord with the practices of prayer, fasting and alms giving.  The Gospel of today Mathew 6:1-6, 16-18 lays down certain norms and cautions in exercising above said values.  Jesus cautions not to do the acts of charity to the poor, praying and fasting in order to draw public attention and appreciation but rather with the right motivation which alone will bring promised results of blessings and divine rewards.  During this season of Lent let us put into action what Pope Francis has asked the members of the Church.  He said, “Let us leave behind our selfishness and self-absorption, and turn to Jesus’ Pasch.  Let us stand beside our brothers and sisters in need, sharing our spiritual and material goods with them.

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THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

Baptism …….The beginning ……. To do his Mission

Is 40: 1-5, 9-11

Tit 2: 11-14, 3:4-7

Lk 3: 15-16, 21-22

This is the last Sunday of the beautiful season of Christmas, therefore we shall re-live the happiness and joy of Christmas in this day.

Baptism is the sacrament of entrance and the beginning of Christian life. And thus we become the children of God. Jesus’ baptism is well known and clear evidence for the sacrament of baptism in the Holy Scripture. We may tempted to ask then; who invented the baptism? Is it John the Baptist? Or Jesus? Neither John nor Jesus invented the baptism. It had been practiced for centuries among the Jews as a ritual equivalent to our confession until the fall of the Temple in 70A.D, it was common for Jewish people to use a special pool called a MIKVEH – literally “a collection of water” – as a means of spiritual cleansing, to remove spiritual impurity and sin. Men took this bath weekly on the eve of Sabbath; and the women, monthly. Converts were also expected to take this bath before entering Judaism. The orthodox Jews still retain the rite. John the Baptist went furthermore, to make use of this same ritual for the real preparation for the coming of messiah. And Jesus gave true meaning to the baptism by his own baptism in the river Jordan.

This day, as we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord Jesus, is giving us concrete understanding of Christian sacrament of baptism. John the Baptist preached that ‘… a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins’ (Lk 3:3) then why Jesus wanted to be baptized?  A sinless and even son of God. Why we can say that Jesus wanted to give true meaning to the baptism? Even though he need not Baptism; in order to unite himself with people and to save them from their ignorance he gave a good example. And also that was a prefiguration of his suffering and death for his people.

After the baptism Jesus went to the desert and he began his ministry, the work of redemption and that the baptism was an entrance or to say through which he got affirmation of the father to do his mission with authority. This is the challenge of each and every one of us today; do we really do the mission of Christ? Since we received our baptism, and have an eligible certificate to do his mission; not only as priests and nuns, also as true Christian faithful. This is the invitation today that the lord gives us to reflect and to live.

Therefore as we received our sacrament of baptism freely, we too are invited to live the life that pleasing to God and our neighbors as Jesus did. And thus the new life through Baptism will flourished when we practice the Christian moral values such; love, kindness, forgiveness and peace. And to living these we too can hear the voice of God saying, ‘this is my beloved…’.

By: Br. J. Donal Christy CMF

donalchristy@gmail.com

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Reflection - 28th Sunday in Ordinary time

Today’s readings are inviting us to reflect on Detachment from worldly inheritances. We are so much attached to the worldly wealth. First reading tells us to obtain the wealth of wisdom instead of the wealth of this world. The 2^nd reading tells us that the Word of God is alive and active, even sharper than a two- edged sword. 

In the Gospel passage, we see the words which came from Jesus’ mouth pierces the heart of the Young man who wants to inherit the eternal life. He says to Jesus, “Good master, what must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus replies that no one is good but God alone. For human beings it is impossible but not for God. God alone is perfect and he is infinite and eternal and he is the highest Good and we the human beings are sharing his Goodness. So Jesus tell us that his father alone can be called as Good. The young man might have thought that by following the Commandments alone he can inherit eternal life, but it is not right. Jesus invites the young man to detach from all what he owned. The sad part of the story is that the young man could not.  The words came from Jesus’ mouth disappointed him.

The same invitation given to all of us today.  All of us are too eager to possess the eternal life.  But we are also blocked into some worldly wealth. We hardly want to share our wealth with poor. We prefer to hold onto our possessions. My dear friends, if we want to inherit the eternal life, leave all the wealth which could get decayed within one day, but inherit the wealth of wisdom which can lead us to eternal life. When we leave all these for the sake of Kingdom of God, we will receive them in hundred times in the presence of God.

By - Ithayaraj

ithayarajcmf@gmail.com

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2nd Sunday of Advent

1^st Reading – Is 11: 1 - 10

2^nd Reading – Rom 15: 4 - 5

Gospel – Mt 3: 1 - 12

Prepare a way for the Lord: make his paths straight!!

In this second week Sunday of Advent, the liturgical readings are calling us to prepare a way for the Lord: make his paths straight. It means two important challenges: social justice and ecological justice.

The Emmanuel (God with us) always accompanies his whole creation, but human beings sometimes we get far away from him, because our immaturity (cf. Lk 15:11-32; Gn 3:1-19). The consequences of this been away from God are the social and ecological injustice, that makes the life so hard for millions of the poor and excluded people, because the ego of human being accumulate the world resources in the hands of very few privileged people, it is scandalous to know that 1 % of the richest in the world has 50 % annual resources of the whole world[1]. This inequality is not just in the economics system but also in the religious structure, where small privileged group decides over all others.

The social injustice goes together with ecological destruction because everything is interconnected (cf. LS 2). The interrelation of human being and the nature affects each other, which is very obvious. Unfortunately it got worsen strongly these last three centuries, and mostly this last thirty years where the humanity intensified its overexploitation against nature with the most sophisticated technology. That is why Pope Francis calls to whole humanity to transform the technocratic and anthropocentric paradigm, which are the human roots of the ecological crisis (cf. LS 106.115).

So to make straight the paths of the Lord means to face seriously these big challenges, for such purpose we need to overcome:

*        Our immature anthropocentrism and androcentrism and rediscover our original identity as part of this creational community, as result of ecological conversion,

*        It is to born again from the Spirit (Jn 3:6, Is 11:1-2) and to have the belt of righteousness and faithfulness (Is 11:5); let the risen Christ recreates us! (Jn 20:21-23).

The lifestyle of John Baptist (Mt 3:1-4) and the prophetic dream of Isaiah are the beautiful ways to come back to our common home as new humanity, where every creature shares its life in harmony (Is 11:6-9).

This ideal must reflect our Christmas crib, isn’t it?

         

By - Efrain Vasquez Mamani, cmf

zhengyuanyu66@yahoo.com

                                                                                      03/12/2016

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[1] To see in Ladislau Dowbor (2016) Corporate Governance: the chaotic power of financial giants (March 7)

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