Second Sunday of Lent
There are two spectacular events in today’s scripture readings – the miraculous fiery consummation of Abrahams sacrifice and the transfiguration of Jesus. I reflected upon these passages both from God’s perspective and from the perspective of the characters in the story. And I found great contrasts in these perspectives. For the God who created the entire universe what does it take to get a flaming torch pass through Abraham’s sacrifice? I think it was child’s play for God. For that matter, what does it take God to have Abraham and Sarah have a baby in their old age? For the God who created the universe it really was not a big deal. On the contrary, for Abraham and Sarah this was a BIG DEAL. Similarly, in the transfiguration event, what does it take God to create that divine experience for the disciples? Not much! God merely revealed who God really is! But for Peter, James and John this was a BIG DEAL. They wanted to stay there forever.
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last December we had a very special parish council meeting. We invited three people who left the Catholic Church and three people who joined the Catholic Church to share their experience. We wanted to know why people make the decisions they make about belonging to a particular faith tradition. I soon realized that discussion like these are complex as well. I received two letters apart from the people who were present at the meeting; one from a young lesbian who feels unwelcomed in a Catholic environment and the other from a young mother who recently became Catholic but then could not reconcile her conscience with the church’s teaching on contraception. Those who were present at the meeting also shared their stories. Later when the parish council reflected on all their stories there were common strands we could identify. For one, we realized that those who had left the Catholic Church and those who joined her, were all very sincere people. Their choice was made out of a genuine conviction. But then, there is one trend that I found directly related to the three scripture readings today – a powerful experience of God. The Catholics who left the church did so because the Church could not give them what they were searching for – a God who was close and real. They found the church too rigid and ritualistic. On the other hand, each one of those people who joined the church did so because it was in the Church, particularly in the Eucharist, that they experienced God in a tangible way.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Monday was the presidential inauguration. In these divided times, there were those who were thrilled and others who were completely disillusioned. Over the years, the elected leader lays out his vision for the nation at the inauguration. I read the significance of the inauguration from a different perspective. Here was a white chief justice John Roberts administering the oath of office to an African-American president and a Latino woman chief justice Sonia Sotomayor administering the oath of office to a white vice-president. All this on Martin Luther King Day. America has come a long way since the “I have a dream,” speech of Aug 28, 1963. Ironically, the day after the inauguration was observed by the Church as the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It just goes to show that the dream has not yet reached everybody. This week the church has prayed that it will. Also, as the Catholic Bishop’s website says, January is also “poverty awareness month.” Yes, the American dream is still only a dream for many people.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel reading is from the gospel of John. It is important for us to know that John does not have an infancy narrative or the genealogy of Jesus. Instead, John begins his story with the real origin of Jesus – “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God.” John’s Christmas is described in the simple words, “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.” Since John does not have an infancy narrative, he does not have the traditional story of the epiphany with the three magi. Today’s gospel reading of the miracle of turning water into wine is John’s epiphany story. That is why this gospel account ends with the words, “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.”
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
How about I begin my homily with some Trivia Questions?
Jesus did not baptize anyone – True or False?
Jesus’ disciples did not baptize before Jesus resurrection – True or False?
Jesus was baptized because before his ministry he needed his sins forgiven – True or False?
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Those who were here for the Christmas Eve mass saw a spectacle unfold during the preparation of gifts. A middle-aged man we have never seen before came to the ushers and insisted that he be allowed to come up the altar and give a gift to Jesus. I am very grateful that our ushers were very accommodative and then one of them accompanied him to the altar. Honestly, with the shootings in in Connecticut so fresh in the mind, I was a little scared. He came up with an object wrapped in a piece of angry-birds wrapping paper. Again, he insisted that I open the gift right then and there. I did. It was his brother’s picture. Tears flowing down his cheeks, he told me that his brother had died and that he wanted to give this picture as a gift to Jesus. I merely gave him a hug, may be even two, and soon he was gone. I put the picture at the foot of the altar and continued with the mass, relieved that everybody was safe. I did not see him later at that mass or have not seen him since.
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Today is the feast of the Holy family. Since we are commemorating the year of being church at home and home and church, it is crucial for us to reflect deeply upon both the Holy Family and our own families.
We have just celebrated Christmas. When we think of God’s plan and all the ways in which God could have come to us, is it not truly amazing that Christ came into a home? Just as Christ’s coming as a human person gives dignity to the human race, God’s coming into a home bring dignity to every family. A family in itself is a holy thing but by God coming into our home makes a home a sacrament. In other words, the home is a place where we can encounter God in a deep way. I am sure that marriage, the birth of a child, anniversaries, birthdays and even death are already sacred moments for us. But we are also being invited to reflect upon our day-to-day living and make it an opportunity for encounters with God.
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
When news leaked that Kate Middleton was pregnant the media went wild. Only the news of an alien landing in Times Square could have been more sensational. BBC called this child the ‘global’ child. Of course, this child is destined to be ‘royal’ in every sense of the word. The child will be born in a palace, in the safest place ever, and with the best care possible. The world will love this child, the media adore this child and celebrities worldwide will come to bestow lavish gifts upon this child. This child will be a phenomenon.
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
My kids here at Immaculate Conception school are truly an amazing bunch. In the last few weeks I have shared their notes with you. And here is another one. This kid writes, “Thank you Mary for having Jesus in your tummy. XoXoXo.” Today, I want to join in that sentiment. Just a day before Christmas I would like to thank Mary. In reality I should be talking about Mary and Joseph. I figured I will do that for the feast of the Holy Family. Today, I want to dedicate to Mary.
Third Sunday of Advent
Today is Gaudate Sunday, or Rejoice Sunday! The focus of every third Sunday of advent is joy. This Sunday however is different than any other Sunday in the history of our country. This weekend we sadly remember the 20 children killed in the mass shooting in Connecticut. This was the seventh mass shooting of the year. What is happening to our society? It seems to we do not need wars or terrorists to kill us. We can do this to ourselves. As I wrote this homily, I could not but keep these mass killings in mind. I think the readings do have a message for us.
Second Sunday of Advent
I had just finished my grocery shopping at Kroger’s and as I was driving away from the parking lot I realized that my care rear door had just flung open. Obviously, I had not shut it tight. Meanwhile another car had just pulled up next to me to let me know that I was driving with my door open. I thanked this person for caring and then, lo and behold, as if this was a scene from Hollywood, this amazingly trendy, gorgeous, young woman steps out and hands me this little booklet. And she tells me (Hollywood style) how in this season when everybody is rushing, how patience can help. I told her I was the pastor at Immaculate and I think her face dropped a little bit. But then we said goodbye and unlike Hollywood style, parted ways. I came back home and glanced over the little booklet and it was obvious that Marissa was a Mormon. I knew then that her face had dropped, perhaps, because she knew I was Catholic. Nevertheless, the message she gave me was well taken. She was asking me to slow down and be centered just when life becomes hectic. Without talking about Christ she was proposing Christ to me as the answer.
First Sunday of Advent
Since Thanksgiving is over and since black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday are barely behind us, to talk about the end times again as the gospel reading does, is very difficult. Moreover, since we are at the beginning of the new liturgical year it is difficult for us to focus on the end times. In fact, I experienced ‘apocalyptical fatigue’ as reflected on today’s readings. The mood of the readings also contradicts the jovial, frolicking, almost playful tone that the secular world associates with Christmas. For a serious Christian too, advent is about a joyful expectation. So what shall we do about these readings that talk about being ready for the unexpected arrival of Christ?
First, the readings are not as misplaced as we think it might be. Even the very popular holiday song “Santa Claus is coming to town” has a warning attached to it. It says, “You better watch out!” This secular song reminds us that in the midst of all fun and frolic there is an ethical demand made on all of us. The song ends by asking us to “be good” even it is only for“goodness sake!”
The Solemnity of Christ the King
We are celebrating the Feast of Christ the King under the shadows a very violent two weeks in the Holy Land. In two weeks more than two-hundred people have been killed in the latest fighting between Israel and Palestinian forces. This is a political conflict but this is also a religious conflict. Jesus was not immune from the very same kind of conflict and violence. As a child he had to flee into Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. When he returned to Nazareth he grew up under the shadow of the conflict between the Romans invaders and the Jewish zealots. There were insurrections and the brutal suppression of any effort at Israelite independence. It is truly intriguing that in spite of the violence around him, Jesus became the kind of person that he was – non-violent, non-resistant, teaching love of enemies and finally forgiving his murderers from the cross. But that does not mean that he was weak. He was king and Messiah but his message was a message of humility, service and love. Two thousand years after Jesus death we know that no other man influenced the course of human history like he did.
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Three years back when I reflected on the reading we have today, the movie 2012 was just released. Based on the Mayan calendar, people were beginning to predict the end of the world on the winter solstice Dec 21, 2012. The movie was a blockbuster. Since we are only a few weeks away from the deadline, I decided to search the internet about the latest news about the prediction. Nevertheless to say, the website December212012.com still exists and it still has a clock counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds. Surprisingly enough, on the same website you can also find a 72 hour survival kit. I am not sure why if the world is going to end I would need a survival kit but that is beside the point, right? For those who want hard core evidence about the end of the world, the NASA website also has something to say about the end of world. It states categorically that the world will not end on Dec 21st because there just enough any evidence to think otherwise. I really think that Jesus was smarter than both the doomsayers and NASA put together. He simply stayed away from predicting whether the world will or will not end or a particular day. I must agree with Jesus. I too, simply do not know. In fact, to focus on prediction of the end of the world is to simply miss the point of today’s readings.
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
This election, both the presidential candidates together spent close to two billion dollars on their election campaigns. This is just the spending on the presidential election. Closer to home Sherrod Brown and Josh Mandel spent $ 60 million on their campaigns. I find it difficult to imagine what $ 2 million looks like or for that matter what 60 million would look like. All that money was spent to assume an elected office! Let me change the scene. School kids often write to me when they give their tithe envelops. One kid wrote: “Dear Father, you may not have heard m in Church today because my voice is hoarse because I am sick. (I had to go to school today because my mom and dad are at work, I am glad I did so I could go to church). But I did try to sing loud today Could you hear me? Probably not. At least you know now that I tried, right?” Another letter was a prayer. This kid started writing the ‘Our Father,’ went all the way up to “as we forgive….” And then she writes, “I can’t go on. God knows what I mean.”
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
These are very crucial times. Numerous things stare us in the face. First the super storm, ‘Sandy. I am sure that most of you like me are immensely saddened by the devastation. Second, two days from today is the presidential elections and we find ourselves to be an increasingly divided nation. Some have proposed that we are now two nations within a nation. And third, we have the readings for today. Perhaps we are not impressed by the radicalness of gospel reading because we are so far away from what Christ did. Christ radically transformed the meaning of the Torah when he brought the 613 laws of the Jewish tradition under two seemingly similar commandments – Love God and love your neighbor.
These are crucial times. If God’s word is alive and active, we have got to interpret these words as a people of faith.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Right after I was ordained in 1994, India’s corporate sector was introduced to a very influential and effective thinker, Stephen Covey. Many of us as priests also read his very popular book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This book sold more than 20 million copies in fourty languages. In 1996, Dr. Covey was recognized as one of Time magazine's 25 Most Influential Americans and in 2002, Forbes named The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People one of the 10 most influential management books ever written.Stephen Covey died last July but continues to influence the management world. I for one was a Stephen Covey’s fan. One reason for this was that he gave new insights into my own following of Jesus. Here is one statement that influenced my discipleship: “There is no involvement without commitment.” For example, my priesthood require both commitment and involvement. What would my priesthood look like it I was not committed? What would the celebration of this Eucharist look like if I was not involved? Whether it is marriage, friendship, work or sports or the following of Christ, there is no involvement without commitment and there is not commitment without involvement.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Most of you and I have enough of the rhetoric surrounding the presidential elections. The manipulation of data, the misinformation, the political opportunism, the verbal attacks on one another… I can’t wait for it to be all over. Today’s reading could not have come at a better time.
Today’s readings approach the theme of discipleship from a very different angle than last week. The first and second readings combined with the very last statement in the gospel, “for the Son of Man came not to be served but serve and to give his life as a ransom for many,” encourage us to draw lessons for discipleship through the concept of “atonement.” The first reading from Isaiah which is also read on Good Friday, talks about the suffering servant who “gives his life as an offering for sin,” and who “through his suffering shall justify many.” The second reading from Hebrews is also read on Good Friday and once again the context is atonement. It is because of Jesus’ atonement that we can “approach the throne of grace and receive mercy and find grace for timely help.” Jesus, in today’s gospel reading says to his disciples that they must view their life in the context of Jesus who came to give his life as a “ransom” for many. We cannot ignore this call to discipleship in the context of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This gospel story of the rich young man needs to be understood well before we can interpret it for our personal and community life today. If we begin with the premise that the only way we can individually and collectively follow Jesus is by selling everything and giving it to the poor, then we are making it impossible for us to follow Jesus. Let us then look at this passage realistically. First, this rich young man’s refusal to follow Jesus comes from his unwillingness to adopt the simple and itinerant life-style that Jesus lived. Jesus invitation to this rich young man to be an itinerant disciple like the rest Jesus disciples is very different than the invitation that Jesus gives to us. Society and the way social life is conducted these days leaves very little option for people like us to adopt an itinerant life-style. Second, the economic setting within which Jesus functioned is very different than manner in which our economic affairs are conducted. To compromise health and its insurance, safety and security of our loved ones and not paying for the utilities and services provided for us would at best be irresponsible. Having presented these two caveats, there is something important we should know. The entire gospel of Mark is written from the perspective of discipleship. This is not my personal opinion but scripture scholars tell us that Mark’s primary purpose apart from telling us the story of Jesus is to give the readers a lesson in discipleship. Mark wants his audience to know that discipleship involves throwing one’s entire weight behind Jesus. The fact that we cannot be itinerant followers of Jesus and that our economic life-style differs from Jesus’ times does not take away the radicalness and urgency of the call to being disciples.