30. IV THU of Resurrection

Mt. 15: 1-9: The tradition of the elders is not the law. Jesus respected and followed the law ie the ‘Thora’ but Jesus often spoke against some of its interpretation of the law by the Rubies. The disciples disobeyed an unimportant interpreted law but Jesus accused the Jews that they disobey the very important Law of Moses. 

29. IV WED of Resurrection- St. Catherine of Sienna

Jn. 5: 30-38: Jesus speaks of the 3 testimonies that are accredited to him – his works and miracles, John the Baptist’s testimony in pointing him out as the savior and the words of scripture that refer to him. To gain direction in life one has to be guided by the testimony of others- the words, attitude and personal qualities are those factors that motivate people. So we go to Jesus for guidance. 

28. IV TUE of Resurrection

Mt. 19: 23-30: Riches are an obstacle to entering the kingdom, if it cannot be overcome by human power. The impossibility of the phrase ‘the eye of a needle’ indicates the renunciation of wealth and God helps one to share with the needy so that one becomes free from the world to enter the kingdom like that of the disciples, who left everything. 

27. IV MON of Resurrection

Lk. 20: 9-16: The people of God are that vineyard which God planted and nurtured. To look after them God sends time and again leaders (Isaiah 5: 1-7; Jeremiah 2: 21). Jesus is killed outside of the city of Jerusalem (here the vineyard) what the Jews rejected (Jesus) became the corner stone of the new church. 

26. IV SUN of Resurrection

Jn. 16: 16-24: After living with Jesus for 3 years, the disciples were sad to hear about the death of Jesus. But their sadness will be changed into happiness when he is raised to life. This happiness will remain forever. So the sadness is only momentary while the happiness is everlasting. But how to celebrate this happiness? We sing in the prayer ‘onissadiraase’ in the holy Mass of this season that we should celebrate this like ‘the bride in her bridal attire and like the other who is happy when her children are with her’. It the ‘peseha’ feast is to have meaning in our life we must participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

25. III SAT of Resurrection – St. Mark the Evangelist

Mk. 16: 15-20: It is an additional ending of Mark’s gospel in which Jesus gives the missionary command v. 15-18. The resurrection of Jesus is the universal mission of the church. Witnessing to Jesus, risen from the dead and now with God, remains the very special task and mission of the church. When we hold back from fear (v.8) or by doubt (v. 24) the Risen Lord challenges us to go forward. 

24. III FRI of Resurrection- St. George

Mt. 10: 37-42:  The dependency to the family members hampers the spiritual and human growth. It is not that we must not love our families and be concerned about them. This is a duty which Jesus insists upon in 15: 4-7. But we are to avoid excessive attachments or inordinate affections which restrict our freedom to do God’s work. His belonging to the Family of God is primary. 

23. III THU of Resurrection

Mk 4: 35-41: God is at work of destroying evil of every kind, whether it is of nature. God has power over (in calming the storm in the sea) nature. Human heart has to open by itself i.e.  by faith to experience God’s power. This faith must be based on the authority of Jesus and on his God-given identity. 

22. III WED of Resurrection

Mt. 8: 1-4: Lepers (in those times all who had skin diseases were considered lepers) are out caste in Jesus’ times.  By curing such a one is a conspicuous and significant feature of the ministry of Jesus. Jesus brings back the lost dignity of man into the warmth of human communion.

21. III TUE of Resurrection

Mk. 4: 13-20:  It is the interpretation of Jesus for the parable of the sower that we see in this passage. If more importance is given to the sower and the seed in the parable of the sower, in the explanation of the parable Jesus give more importance to the soil were the seeds have fallen. There are many enemies to the seed- the Satan 4:15 suffering 4: 16-17 anxieties of the world 4: 18-19. The real disciple of the word gives hundred fold fruit 4: 20.

20. III MON of Resurrection

Mt 25: 1-13: The parable of the ten virgins –five wise and five foolish teaches us that we Christians are not expected to behave like idle spectators, just waiting for the coming of the Lord; we have to work for it; we have to persevere and persist. We have at all times to be always ready, living the word of God, bearing the torch of Christ. 

19. III SUN of Resurrection

Jn. 14: 1-14: Jesus is the way to the Father in heaven. This message is blurred even in the minds of apostles. So Jesus says “Don’t let your hearts be troubled”v.1a. By trusting in God and in Jesus (1b) one hopes to reach n heaven. He is both the aim and the way of one’s life. He has sown this by his very life. By living in this way one will finally realize that Jesus is God (10:30).

18. II SAT of Resurrection

Lk. 24: 36-43: Jesus appears to the eleven apostles, who later become important witnesses of the risen Christ. The real presence of Jesus is felt by the disciples. The risen Jesus offers them gifts – the gift of peace(v.36), the wholeness of mind, soul and body which Jesus wanted the disciples to experience and to be witnesses later to the people.

17. II FRI of Resurrection

Mk 4: 1-9: The kingdom of God is compared to the seed that fell on ground in this parable of the sower. The seed that fell on the roadside is not even allowed to sprout up. Those on rocks sprouted up but did not grow. Those on thistles sprouted up, grew but were not allowed to give fruit. Only those fell on good soil fulfilled the intention of the sower and the fruit and harvest overwhelms that of those were lost. The kingdom of God is likewise. 

16. II THU of Resurrection

Mt. 15: 21-28: The Canaanite woman is ‘low caste’ in two ways. By birth she belongs to another religion. Being a woman she is oppressed under men. But she has the humility to accept what she is and thereby Jesus acknowledges her faith though she belongs to a different religion. So Jesus teaches us to appreciate the goodness in others whether they belong to different caste, religion or status. 

15. II WED of Resurrection

Mk. 7: 31-37: The people, who brought a deaf-mute man to lay Jesus’ hand upon him to be cured, did not have the faith needed and remained in their deafness, so he sighed. Faith must be cultivated upon the Word of God rather than on the miracles, which can only make us aware of the presence of God. So Jesus warned them not to tell anyone of the miracles.  

14. II TUE of Resurrection

Jn 5: 41-47: Though the Jews studied the law and ready to die in faithfulness to Yahweh, Jesus says they don’t have the love of God in them? They are ready to accept anyone else in another name and are looking to look good in the eyes of one another, but they are not seeking the praise of God. However Jesus is not their accuser but Moses, their Law giver. 

13. II MON of Resurrection

Lk. 24: 28-35: The disciples who were going to Emmaus saw Jesus breaking the bread and recognized his hands that were being crucified. He is not only the host in his church; he is the guest also in every home. The disciples are seen sharing their joy of finding Jesus resurrected. They travelled back 7 miles to Jerusalem because they could not keep the good news to themselves. So must be a Christian, who shares the Good News. 

12. II SUN of Resurrection

Jn. 20: 19-29: The disciples are seen bundling in a secret place for fear of Jews. The ‘Jews’ here means the hostile powers that work against Jesus. To these fearful disciples Jesus brings transformation, leading the disciples from the darkness of fear, unbelief and distress into the lights of peace, joy of the risen Lord and the Spirit. He breathes on them as if he is making them of a new creation, new humanity from the fearful apostles. Jesus does so again and again even today. 

11. I SAT of Resurrection

Mk. 16: 1-8: The women who came to the tomb were told that they will see the risen Lord in Galilee. Galilee here is more a symbol than a place. It points to the breakdown of the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, transcends the human made distinctions of caste, color, language, profession and social status. Galilee is the mission of the followers of Christ. The mission entrusted to the women is to be completed by his disciples.

10. I FRI of Resurrection- the feast of Martyrs

Mt. 10: 26-33:  If we lose God, we lose that which alone can give meaning and joy to our lives.  Jesus exhorts his disciples in his missionary preaching that what they hear from him must be preached without fear. Material loss is to be preferred to spiritual loss. Our relationship with God the Father is mediated through him. God’s attitude towards us will correspond to our attitude toward Jesus. Our acknowledgement or rejection of Jesus will be the norm for our own acknowledgment or rejection by God.

9. I THU of Resurrection

Mt. 10: 1-15: The disciples representing the 12 tribes of Israel are sent on their mission by Jesus with instructions. Mission means ‘sending’.  The Father is the one who sends messengers to the world to gather those who believe in his love and promises. 

8. I WED o Resurrection

Jn. 15: 1-10: The image of vine and branches are taken to explain the inner reality of the new people formed by Jesus. Jesus is the vine and we, the branches. Hence, each one of us has to consider how we are joined with Jesus through faith, prayer, and by keeping his word. Otherwise we will be cut off from him. Those who remain with him will be ‘pruned’ with suffering to grow in a life of union with Christ to produce more fruits of the Spirit. 

7. I TUE of Resurrection

Lk. 24: 13-27: Every ‘breaking of the word’ leads one finally to the Eucharist ie. ‘Breaking of the bread’ where one finds and acknowledges Jesus , as we see in the journey of two disciples to Emmaus. This is the way every Christian to discover Jesus, who is the way to life. They go away from Jerusalem. Jesus meets them on their way and puts them back on track.

6. I MON of Resurrection

Jn 14:18-28: Jesus consoles his troubled apostles by promising them that he will be preset in the person of the Holy Spirit (Paraclete) The holy spirit makes us to understand and remember the teaching; of Jesus (v. 26). He makes us pray properly (Rom 8:26) He again is the gift of both the Father (14:26) and the Son (15:26). He imparts peace which is an inner reality which cannot be disturbed by any kind of suffering of this world.

5. SUN Easter Sunday (Resurrction of our Lord)

Mt. 28: 1-6: We celebrate the resurrection of jesus Christ today. It is called Easter. We see an empty tomb. If it was not empty, our life would have been empty. So

a.       Jesus lives in us today. We have died in sin and lives in Christ for God (Rom 6:10) Those  who live in Christ is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)

b.      Jesus lives in the word of God (Jn. 1: 1; 1: 14) and this life if lost what gains (Lk. 9:25).

c.       Jesus lives in the bread. Whenever the bread is broken and given there Jesus lives (Lk. 24: 13-35)

d.      Jesus lives in the poor, oppressed, workers and so on (Mt. 25: 31-40)

e.       Jesus lives in a community. Love each other and there jesus lives (Jn. 13: 35) He live in Eucharist (Acts 2: 44-47) Loving brother means loving God (1 Jn. 4: 7; 3:14; 4: 16)

f.        Jesus lives in the Church

Jn. 20: 1-18 First Sunday of Resurrection

On hearing about the empty tomb, Peter and the beloved disciple goes to the tomb. By seeing the empty tomb they believe – the absence of the body, the wrapped clothes – they believe that their master is raised from the dead. Through faith and love he detects the signs of the risen presence of Jesus. It is an invitation to become beloveds of Christ and once we are his beloveds then Christ is present to them. He lives. 

4. SAT Great Saturday

Mt. 28: 1-20

a.       The risen Christ cannot be seen unless he allows himself to be seen. The soldiers didn’t see him raising from the tomb while they never looked him but the women saw him because they looked for him. Though Mathew differs from Luke and John in narrating about the risen Christ, the fact is that:

b.      Jesus appeared several times in different places after his death on the cross.

c.       Jesus appeared  often  to the community ( 1 Cor. 15: 1-8)

d.      God communicates with whosoever he wishes giving prophetic messages to simple people women and me alike.

e.       The resurrection of Christ is the pivotal point of the Gospels

f.       The resurrection of jesus, energized the people to be great missionaries. Christian communities proclaimed the power of the resurrection to the world around.

3. FRI PASSION FRIDAY

Part I

Lk. 22: 63 – 23: 12 + Mt. 27: 19 + Lk. 23: 13-23 + Mt. 27: 24-25 + Lk. 23: 24-45 + Mt. 27: 51-54

Part II Jn. 19: 23-42 

This day means:

a.       For our sake and loving us Jesus suffered and died on the cross  Jn. 10:18

b.      There is no greater love than this that one gives one’s life for one’s friends Jn. 15: 13

c.       To have life for us Jn. 10:10 jesus died 2 Cor. 5:15

d.      To make us rich , he accepted poverty 2 Cor. 8:9

e.       To lift us to the divinity he came down to humanity Phil. 2: 6-7

f.       To lighten the weight on our shoulder, he took all our weights Isaiah 53: 4 and Mt. 11: 28

g.      To give us salvation, he accepted the punishment that is given to the sinners Is. 53:5; 2 cor.5:21

h.      He emptied himself taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness Phil. 2:7.

i.        All these he suffered for the sake of his love for us Jn. 15: 12-13

j.        Suffering is the measuring rod of love.

2. THU Pesaha Thursday

Jn. 13: 1-14 + Mt. 26: 26-30:If Jesus is allowed to wash the feet of the disciples, the disciples especially St. Peter thought the he too would be doing so in their life…….. So he thought a plan … to discourage their master doing it…. But Jesus said if you don’t allow me to wash, then we will have no relationship… so by serving others or being servant to others that relationships are established with Jesus and with our fellow beings (phil. 2: 3-4).

Today we commemorate the day as Jesus establishing the Eucharist in the form of bread and wine. Those who do the Eucharist he proclaims the death and resurrection of Jesus till the end of age (1 cor. 11: 23-26) “Do this in memory of me” It gives us the following messages:

a. Eucharist is for ‘doing’. Just as Jesus ’broke’ the ‘bread’ and ‘gave to his disciples’, we are asked to do the same. Our time, energy, resources, talents are our bread. It is to be used for others and shared with others, just as Jesus shared his energy and time in washing the feet of the disciples, his life given up on the cross.

b. Just as we are reminded of the Passover of the Israelites, so also it must remind ourselves that Jesus pass over by his suffering and death upon the cross (Ex. 12:12). It must be enlivened in our thoughts, responses, thankfulness, and character in worship, prayers and our spiritual life.

c. It also remind us the ‘Paschal Lamb’ in Christ Jesus (Jn. 19:36; Ex. 12: 46). The Brocken Body of Christ is changed into spiritual food and drink for our salvation in place of the paschal lamb of Old Testament. 

1. WED of Holy Week

Jn. 12: 27-33: What God did for Jesus, He does for every man. He sends us with direction and guidance with a task to be accomplished and that too with the help of God. But the Prince of Love on the Cross is a king who has his throne forever in the hearts of man. The only secure foundation for the kingdom is Sacrificial Love.