30. Jn. 14: 1-14

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).

29. Lk. 24: 36-43

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.

28. Mk. 4: 1-9

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.

27. Mt. 15: 21-28

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.

26. Mk. 7: 31-37

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.

25. Mk. 16: 15-20

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. Lk. 24: 28-35

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.

23. Jn. 20: 19-29

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.

22. Mk. 16: 1-8

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.

21. Mt. 10: 26-33

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.

20. Mt. 10: 1-15

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.

19. Jn. 15: 1-10

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.

18. Lk. 24: 13-27

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.

17. Jn. 14: 18-28

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.

16. Easter Sunday & First Sunday of Resurrection

Easter Sunday

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 lives Jesus (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

First Sunday of Resurrection

Jn. 20: 1-18 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

15. Great Saturday

Great Saturday

Mt. 28: 1-20:

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:

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

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

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

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

e.       The resurrection of Jesus energized the people to be great missionaries. Christian communities proclaimed the power of the resurrection to the world around.

14. Passion Friday

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 + Jn. 19: 23-30:

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.

13. Pesaha Thursday Jn. 13: 1-14 + Mt. 26: 26-30

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. 

12. Jn. 12: 27-33

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.

11. Jn 12: 20-26

Jn 12: 20-26: Jesus will die and the universal church will be born. Jesus allows his lifeless body to be laid in the earth; on rising from the tomb, his same body, now glorified, will also embrace the believers united to him. The life that is now his will be communicated to all the children of God. 

10. Jn. 11: 47-57

Jn. 11: 47-57: Caiaphas prophesies that Jesus would die for the salvation of all and that Jesus’ death would mean to gather together into one body, his church and Jesus would attract everyone from all corners into his church (v. 12:32) and this church would be universal and catholic uniting all races and cultures. However this visible church is only the beginning and sign of that which is atoned at the end times.

9. Mt. 21: 1-17: Palm Sunday

Mt. 21: 1-17: Palm Sunday

a.     Jesus is the king of peace: custom of the time to travel on a donkey, on a colt (Zechariah 9:9) on peace times.

b.    Jesus is recognized as the one who saves: the people request Jesus to save them and to give them success.

c.     Jesus is the one who sanctifies: he succeeds in cleansing the temple again as was done in 2 Maccabees 10: 7.

d.    Jesus physically cleanse the temple (v.12 -13) from the market atmosphere and other defilement.

Jesus exhorts the people to be like children:  to the request of the priests to stop the children from shouting “hosanna to the Son of David” jesus’ reply was by quoting Psalm 21: 16.

8. Jn. 12: 1-8

Jn. 12: 1-8: The anointing of Mary at Bethany is a prophetic action symbolizing the death and burial of Jesus. Mary loves Jesus wholeheartedly with self-effacing love. This love transforms her to accept Jesus as Savior and God. Only those who have true devotion to God and his Christ will have genuine and respectful love towards the poor.

7. Jn. 11: 38-45

Jn. 11: 38-45: By giving physical life to Lazarus, Jesus manifests his glory through his seventh and last sign of God’s power of giving spiritual life. It also anticipates the glorious resurrection of Jesus the Lord and the bystanders are made to believe that Jesus is the Resurrection and Life.

6. Lk. 3: 8-11:

Lk. 3: 8-11: John the Baptist demands a personal commitment to justice from every one. He exhorts them to share and care; and not to swindle or bully others. His call for personal conversion is also a call for the renewal of society such community and society will be known by their fruit – a change of heart and the action taken will speak louder for a social change.

5. Mt. 18: 15-20

Mt. 18: 15-20: V.15 to 18 put together gives the message that coming together in prayer is an assurance of the presence of Jesus, which both guarantees the efficacy of our prayers and strengthens the bonds which bind us together. The family, the community, or the church which prays together, stays together. Christ is encountered in the community. Division brings crisis and problems.

4. Lk. 13: 31-35

Lk. 13: 31-35: Jesus, knowing the political power of Galilee,  is not afraid of his mission. His mission compels him to go to Jerusalem as planned by his Father in heaven. The metaphor of the mother-hen gathering her chicks brings out the loving concern of God for his people. The political power is against it and all these were foreseen by Jesus.

3. Jn. 12: 44-50

Jn. 12: 44-50: Jesus warns the people that what they have heard from Jesus would judge them. It is the truth of life. One cannot excuse them that he or she never heard them. But one who heard and never practiced would incur more punishment. So every wise things we heard, and every opportunity we had to know the truth, will in the end be a witness against us.

2. Jn. 10: 11-18

Jn. 10: 11-18: Jesus is the model shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep as seen in Psalm 23. Having such a shepherd one should live confidently with trusting faith.  Jews being failed in recognizing Jesus as the savior, their place is being taken by the new followers i.e. the gentiles

1. Mk. 10: 1-12

Mk. 10: 1-12: Love and fidelity are the norms in matrimony for husband and wife V.2:24 and 10:8. The conjugal union binds them in an indestructible bond. Though Jesus does not directly condemn the divorced but he denies authority to those who placates the conscience of the divorcees as if God does not demand anything more of them.