31. III SAT of Epiphany

Jn 8: 39-47: Jews are boasting of their descent from Abraham who proved himself to be a true believer of God, even though they are not imitating him in this belief.  Jesus, whose origin is from beyond human history, will enable us to enter into the world beyond, if only we believe in him by living according to his teaching. 

30. III FRI of Epiphany

Mt. 23: 34-39: God wanted to protect, love and care the people of Jerusalem. But they refused the prophets, Christ and first Christians who came in the name of God and spoke His Word. But they were killed and rejected. Destruction of Jerusalem was a punishment of its crimes. God’s plan and way cannot be objected, blocked by any one. 

29. III THU of Epiphany

Jn. 1: 35-42: Jesus asked the first disciples ‘what are you looking for?” – wealth, fame or power? All these will perish. If one wants the imperishable and everlasting happiness, one should desire to submit oneself fully to Jesus, who can give this to him. As they stayed with Jesus, they progressed in the knowledge of Jesus. 

28. III WED of Epiphany

Mt. 6: 1-4 The Jews regarded almsgiving equal to righteousness. Jews regarded also that when the recipient does not know from whom he gets it and the giver does not know to whom he gives it are these people greater than Moses. So Jesus continued preaching that almsgiving must be an instinctive outflow of the loving heart, we must give to others as Jesus Christ gave himself to us. 

27. III TUE of Epiphany

Lk. 18: 9-14: The servant church is entrusted with gifts of faith and the compassion of Jesus. It is to b e used creatively to increase when the king (Jesus) comes and not to remain with the communities and church in a static form. The faith of the people must grow in scope and in richness. 

26. III MON of Epiphany

Mt. 18: 23-35: Readiness to forgive those who injured us is demanded for a Christian living. Jesus not only urges us to forgive without limit (v.21-22) but shows us how our forgiveness is always related to God’s forgiveness (v.23-34)

25. III SUN of Epiphany

Jn. 1: 29-34: Jesus is being introduced by John the Baptist to his disciples. Jesus came to be our Savior and our Sacrifice of sin. He is God’s own Son. He brings us forgiveness. God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus to come as a prophet, priest and king of Israel and all nations. Jesus came to be the Lamb of God as sacrifice for sin.

24. II SAT of Epiphany

Mt. 20: 1-16: The late workers were paid as much as the early workers here in this passage. The message of the parable is to show that God rewards not according to the time of work but according to one’s entry to God’s call. Applying to ourselves it means that God does not compare us with known or popular saints. The Lord looks at what we have done with what we have. He examines how we have used the opportunities and skills we have been given. We fashion our own spiritual life or death. 

23. II FRI of Epiphany

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. 

22. II THU of Epiphany

Mk. 10:17-22: The passage is more demanding in Mark than that of Mt. 19: 21. It teaches us that all candidates for discipleship must give up everything which hinders them from taking Jesus seriously. It is only by God’s grace that a person can do this as seen in v. 24 & 27.

21. II WED of Epiphany

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. 

20. II TUE of Epiphany

Jn. 17: 6-11: It is part of the ‘priestly prayer’ of Jesus. He prays for his own glorification, of the apostles and all Faithfull. By knowing God and his Christ the apostles and faithful are being consecrated in the truth and one is being united with Christ who in turn uplifts them to God in the prayer –just as the priests do. He asks God, the Father to have this unity.

19. II MON of Epiphany

Jn. 17: 20-26: Jesus prays for all his followers. He prays for unity among them as he experiences the unity with the Father. This unity that he has with the Father and reflected among his followers will always remain a ‘challenge’ to this divided world. This unity which is established on love and understanding will be the conscience of the world. This must be the thrust and endeavor of the church always.

18. II SUN of Epiphany

Jn. 1: 14-18: Jesus whom the disciple and apostles had personal experiences is truly the word became (flesh) incarnate. In Jesus there is the fullness of God’s presence and loving kindness. Responding to that fullness, we receive from Jesus the same loving kindness which is grace in abundance, without any measure. 

17. I SAT of Epiphany

Mk. 1: 21-28: The evil spirit in the synagogue recognizes Jesus. It is not a confession of faith but a ritual means to get power over Jesus. Jesus proves that his Word is mightier than the power of the evil one. Wherever the Word is heard and read, his power is there to heal people from evil forces, which disrupt their lives. The message and life of Jesus is ‘Good News’ indeed. 

16. I FRI of Epiphany- Sts. Peter and Paul

Mt. 16: 13-19: The foundation of the church is faith in Jesus, the Christ and Son of God. The above text points to the primacy of Peter among all the apostles. The church always needs a visible head. This we believe is the successor of Peter, the Pope.

15. I THU of Epiphany

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. 

14. I WED of Epiphany

Jn 21:15-19: Authority in the church is to be assigned in proportion to one’s love for Jesus, even to the point of dying for the Master and for his flock. Peter here defines authority in relation to love in front of his Master. He is asked to be a good shepherd with total concern for and dedication to the community(1 Pet 5: 1-4) the good shepherd must be like Jesus who guided, taught, went after the stray sheep, healed, loved and gave his life for his flock.

13. I TUE of Epiphany

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. 

12. I MON of Epiphany

Jn. 14: 1-6: If we have true faith in God the Father and in Jesus Christ we will be liberated from all our sufferings. The ‘rooms’ show the intimate communion, sharing the very life of God, reaches it’s culmination in the life with God after our death. It starts with the present life in which Jesus is the Way, the truth and the life.

11. I SUN of Epiphany

Lk 4: 16-22a: By referring Isaiah 61:1-2 and its fulfillment in him, Jesus presents himself as a prophet. The content that he reads makes him a liberator. As prophets are not accepted by people, in general, Jesus too finds himself rejected by his own people as indicated by Simeon at his presentation at the temple. As liberator he presents his preferential option for the poor. Liberation of oneself leads him to salvations.

10. II SAT of Nativity

Jn 10:31-39: Jesus affirms his unique divine sonship by pointing to the works he did. He has an intense awareness that he is in the Father and the Father in him. Those who believe this would say like St. Peter  who said ‘you are Christ , the son of the  living God’(Mt. 16:16) . But the Pharisees said’ while you are a man you are making yourself God’ (Jn. 10:33). Do we believe in him? 

9. II FRI of Nativity- John the Baptist

Mk 6: 14-29: The literary arrangement of keeping  the incident of Beheading of John the Baptist between the departure for mission (6:7-13) and return from the mission (6:30) means that anyone involved in the mission of Jesus must meet with difficulties, perhaps even martyrdom.  It also gives the message that humankind cannot advance unless people are committed to a life of integrity and self-sacrificing love, rather than becoming slaves to their passions.

8. II THU of Nativity

Lk. 7: 11-17: ‘The dead man sat up and began to speak and Jesus gave him to his mother’. Jesus comes to forgive sins-to give life to the dead in sin. This life which Jesus gives, is to be used to glorify God and to be shared with other. The one who received this life must be of use to the church, the mother of faith.

7. II WED of Nativity

Jn. 2: 13-17: Jesus purifies the temple and brings it to its original content and for the purpose for which it stands – ie. to worship God the Yahweh. No compromise is shown in this regard unlike the high priest Caiaphas, who allowed it to be a market place. Jesus teaches us that unless there is a connection between our piety and our everyday living, our devotions and liturgical services are pure hypocrisy. 

6. II TUE of Nativity – Feast of Epiphany

Mt 3:13-17: John the Baptist identifies himself with the sinful Israel just like the earlier prophets when they are called by God. ‘Heaven opened’ and ‘Spirit of God in the form of dove’ are symbolical of Jesus’ communication with God. We are reminded that our baptism is a joining of the kingdom of God and this communication possible. 

5. II MON of Nativity

Mt  6: 16-21: All religions know fasting and do fast. But God wants that fasting if done to obtain human approval is useless. The Christian spirit of fasting should be a way to please God alone. Jesus, who is born poor, joins with the poor in fasting and prayer in his public ministry. 

4. II SUN of Nativity

Lk 2:21-35: The parents of Jesus show fidelity to Mosaic Law and their openness to the revelations by Simeon and Anna. Simeon indicates to the universal salvation not limiting Jesus’ mission to Jews only. He reveals that his own people will reject him and Mary would be a partner in the salvific acts of Jesus.

3. I SAT of Nativity – St. Kuriakose Chavara

Mt 5: 1-12: The blessing is related to the people or right attitudes, namely people who have dependence on God, longing for justice, sincerity, mercy and peacableness like the Greek Fathers whose feast we celebrate today. The happiness promised to them is the total liberation of humankind. Though this begins here and now, will reach its fullness in the hereafter. 

2. I FRI of Nativity-Divine Motherhood of Mary

Lk 1:39-45: Mary goes to share her joy with her cousin Elizabeth. The meeting of the two mothers indicates and orients us to share every divine intervention in our life. The more we share such divine interventions in our life the more it is multiplied and doubled in our life and bring joy to our hearts.

1. I Thu of Nativity- Holy Name of Jesus

Mt 1:18-25 + Lk 2: 21: The historical and popular account of the birth and infancy of Jesus is given in today’s Gospel is to invoke our faith in him. Jesus being the son of God by conception and son of David by adoption indicates and direct us that every action oof our life has an orientation to god and must lead us to God.