Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
How many of you think that you are perfect? How many of you think you are holy? This question is for couples. Do you think that your spouse or partner is holy? This is for children. How many of you think that your parents are holy (not perfect, but holy? What makes somebody holy? If you had to name someone who is holy and is alive today, who would that be?
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A headline grabbed my attention enroute my flight from India. It said, “An 85-year Harvard study found the No. 1 thing that makes us happy in life: It helps us live longer.” The fact that it is an 85-year-old study and that it was about human happiness and longevity intrigued me. The article reads: “In 1938, Harvard researchers embarked on a decades-long study to find out: What makes us happy in life? The researchers gathered health records from 724 participants from all over the world and asked detailed questions about their lives at two-year intervals. Contrary to what you might think, it's not career achievement, money, exercise, or a healthy diet. The most consistent finding we've learned through 85 years of study is: Positive relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer. Period.” As I read the article, I said to myself, “Well Jesus could have told you that!”
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
I am in India as I write this homily. I am in the state of Kerala, which is the center of the Eastern Rite Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The Syro-Malabar Church traces its origins all the way back to the Apostle Thomas. Currently, there is huge controversy in the Syro-Malabar Church which mirrors a similar controversy in the Roman Church – ad orientem – the direction the priest faces as he offers Mass. Only here in Kerala, the controversy has spilled into the streets. Priests have taken to public protests, picketing in front of churches, and making public statements against the local leadership which proposes having one posture for priests across all the dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church. A similar controversy is also at play in the Roman Church in the West. The division between the pro and anti-Vatican II factions of the Church have become so intense that Pope Francis had to issue a Motu Propio, titled, Traditiones Custodes to regulate the celebration of the Latin Mass. The main reason was that the Latin Mass was being used to stoke further division in the Church.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Sunday, on the Feast of Epiphany, I reflected on the star that led the magi to the manger. I remember saying that whereas the star was an external sign, the magi were also following a star within them – that their conviction that their destiny lay in Christ. I also remember asking the question, “What is your star?” “Where is your star leading you?” “Who lies at the end of your star?” Liturgically, now that the Christmas season behind us and we enter ‘Ordinary Time’, I would like to continue from where we left off. But I would like to continue the reflection using the theme of ‘holiness’. Perhaps, the Christmas star is leading us to holiness.
The Epiphany of the Lord
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, I preached a homily titled, “Advent Stories: Ahaz, Mary, Joseph, and You!” In that homily, I recounted the role that the main characters played in the Christmas story. Today, we continue that story looking at other characters – King Herod and the Magi.
The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
This advent, I facilitated a parish retreat titled, “My soul magnifies the Lord!” As you recognize, those are the very first words of Mary’s Magnificat. I used those words as a launch pad to introduce and invite the participants to a more contemplative lifestyle. My focus on contemplation, however, was derived from the words in today’s gospel reading, “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). From the news of Jesus conception in her womb, to the birth of Jesus in a stable, to the fleeing to Egypt to protect her infant child, to standing at the foot of the cross, “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” The gospel portrays Mary as a contemplative – not the cloistered kind of contemplative – but the active kind of contemplative, like you and me. We too can be like Mary, living active lives but living it contemplatively, “keeping all these things and reflecting on them in our hearts!”
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Next Sunday this time it will be Christmas. Today’s liturgy provides us the final inspiration for our final week of Advent preparation. Today’s scripture readings tell us stories. These stories and the characters in them are a great vantage point from which to approach the greatest story of all – the coming of the Lord. These stories also have lessons for the story of our own lives.
In my three points today, I would to reflect on these stories and their protagonists as we discern and play our own part in the story of human salvation.
Third Sunday of Advent
I spent Thanksgiving week at home my mom in India. It was an unplanned visit. I went because some of mom’s needs could not wait till my usual vacation in January. The consoling thing about leaving home this time was that both mom and I knew that I would be back home in just over a month.
Second Sunday of Advent
A few years back, I read an article in the New York Times titled “Want to Get into the Christmas Spirit? Face the Darkness.” It was written an Anglican priest, Tish Harrison. I would like to begin my homily with a quote from her article. Contrasting the mood outside versus the Church’s more subdued Advent sentiments, she says, “I think Advent offers wisdom to the wider world. It reminds us that joy is trivialized if we do not first intentionally acknowledge the pain and wreckage of the world.” She continues, “… inside many church buildings, this time of year looks different. There, we find a countercultural sparseness. The altar is covered in purple, the color of both royalty and repentance. There’s a slowing down, a silent stillness. The music turns to minor keys and becomes contemplative, even mournful. The Scripture readings are apocalyptic and trippy, strikingly short on sweet tales of babies, little lambs and Christmas stars. In this small space, Christmas season has not yet begun. The church waits in Advent.”
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Today is the feast of Christ the Universal King. I find it fascinating that one of the most vulnerable moments of Jesus’ life is proclaimed on the Solemnity of Christ the Universal King. What purpose is served by reading the passage of leaders sneering at Jesus and soldiers jeering Jesus? Included in today gospel reading is also a passage unique to the gospel of Luke. It’s story of the two criminals crucified next to Jesus. One criminal reviles Jesus whereas the other is welcomed into paradise by Jesus.
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
These are the last weeks of the liturgical year, and we know that apocalyptic scripture readings – like the ones we have today – have both liturgical and existential meaning. I am not going to spend time on introductory material today. Here are my three practical implications.
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture Readings
I was having a difficult day the other day. And in pure desperation I said to myself, “Church is hard! There better be a heaven!” And really, some days are like that, isn’t it? It is not only desperation, frustration, and impatience with situations, but there are times in our lives when we feel that life is closing in on us. And sometimes it really does. We have all experienced death and dying of someone we love. At that moment, in those times, we say, “There better be a heaven!” Fortunately, there is!
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
In 1985 I was a seminarian. I wanted to be a priest who celebrated the Mass reverently and preached the gospel meaningfully, but there was more. I wanted to change the world. I wanted to end hunger, work for world peace, and see all humanity as one. And I am still that way. I am an idealist.
It was at the peak of my seminary life in 1991 that I heard a song that spelt out my idealism. It was written and composed by Julie Gold in 1985 and first sung by Nancy Griffith on the David Letterman Show. In 1991, sung by Bette Midler, it won the Grammy. You have probably guessed it by now – its “From a Distance.” Even today, when the I hear the words…
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel we have yet another short but brilliant piece of storytelling from Luke – the parable of the Pharisee and tax-collector who came the temple to pray (Lk 18:9-14). If we reflect on the parable by itself, then the main theme seems to be, humility. The parable even concludes by saying, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (Lk 18:14). However, if we reflect on the parable along with last week’s parable about the persistent widow and the uncaring judge (Lk 18:1-8), then the parable seems to be a continuation of Jesus’ teaching on prayer.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In 2019, preaching my homily on the same scripture readings we have today, I began by saying, “I would like to take 2019 and just throw it somewhere.” Dad had passed away in January 2019; in June 2019, Dayton was hit by tornadoes; in September 2019 Dayton experienced the Oregon District Mass Shootings; in the same month Fr. Dave passed away; and around the same time several people dear to me, including a three-month-old baby, were teetering between life and death. I had grown weary of 2019.
In January 2020, I headed to India for my usual visit home. It seemed like 2020 was going to be better. How wrong I was! That January when I travelled back from India wearing a N-95 mask. I had never heard of an N-95 mask. A global pandemic was in full swing. Suddenly, 2020 and 2021 made 2019 look like child’s play.
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
There are two very powerful stories in today’s scripture readings. The first story is the healing of Naaman the Syrian (2 Kgs 5:14-17), and the other is Jesus healing the ten lepers (Lk 17:11-19). As powerful as these stories are in themselves, I would like to reflect on them from the perspective of a sentence from today’s second reading. Paul writes to Timothy, “But the word of God is not chained” (2 Tim 2:9).
Let me provide the context for these words from Paul before I draw three practical implications for today.
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
There is something that I have preached about in passing which today I want to make the theme of my homily. “Don’t live a good and holy life because you want to be saved; live a good and holy life because you ARE saved!” The theme is inspired by today’s gospel reading where Jesus says, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do'" (Lk 17:10).
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Monday, Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest. After a seventy-year-reign that began in 1952, she died at the age of 96. The world watched. Of course, the British did not fail. For two weeks they put up the best show on royal life, royal customs, and royal pageantries that the world has even seen. Finally, on Monday, Queen Elizabeth II was buried. 5.1 billion people have said to have watched the burial.
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
At a Labor Day Mass one year, I offered a reflection on the Church’s teaching on human labor. I remember that that homily was about meaningful work, just wages, and the dignity of human labor. A visitor into town was present at Mass and came up to me after Mass said, “Father, I came this morning to attend Mass not for a talk on Communism. You should stick to religion and not bring up politics at Mass.” I understand this concern. When people come to Church, they come to worship God, to celebrate the Eucharist, receive Communion, and be spiritually strengthened. But there is a misunderstanding.