Acts 13:44-52 / John 14:7-14
The Old Testament has this very strong sense of reverence for God.
In Exodus 33:18, when Moses asked God to let him see His face, God replied: I will not let you see My face, for no one can see My face and live.
Such was the awesome reverence and the awesome presence of God.
Having said that, what Jesus told Philip in the gospel was indeed an earthshaking statement - To have seen Me is to see the Father.
That was not only incredible and impossible for people at that time to accept, it may also be incredible and impossible for people of the present time to accept.
Yet among the founders of the world's religions, no one has ever said what Jesus said in today's gospel.
Jesus also said something else more earthshaking and heart-pounding.
He said that He will live in those who believe in Him and those who believe in Him will perform great and wonderful works.
So do we dare to say to others: To see me is to see God!!!
Sounds incredible and impossible, but that is precisely what we are called to be; we are called to be living and visible signs of the holy presence of God.
If there is anything we are asking from God, then let it be this: Lord, when others see me, may they also be able to see You.
That might sound incredible, but with God, that is not impossible.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Thursday, April 30, 2015
St. Joseph the Worker, Friday, 01-05-15
Genesis 1:26 - 2:3 or Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24 / Matthew 13:54-58
To say that we have "no work" may mean two things.
One may mean that we are jobless, that no one has hired us, that we are unemployed. So we want to work, but there is no one who wants to employ us and that also means we have no income.
The other meaning of "no work" is that there is no need for us to work, everything is provided for us, we have more than enough in terms of money, food and shelter and we don't have to be anxious or worried about the future.
The second meaning might sound quite appealing and maybe that is what we dream of every now and then, especially when the stress of work is overwhelming and we feel that we are losing ourselves to it.
But "no work" as in no need to work can seem to be attractive for only a while. After a time, if there is no need to work anymore, then life loses its challenge and we also lose motivation.
Because we are created in the image of God who created the mankind and the world and all creation and keeps recreating His creation.
Hence we are tasked to recreate the world so that the glory of God will be reflected in His creation.
So in whatever form our work may take - in our profession, in our service in Church and in society, in our works of mercy and charity - let us "put our heart into it as if it were for the Lord and not for men" (Col 3:23)
From the gospel passage, we know that Joseph worked as a carpenter because Jesus was known as the "carpenter's son".
Joseph worked at his profession and he also worked to bring up Jesus in faith and in stature.
May St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers, pray for us that by our work we will build up the kingdom of God and give glory to Him, and may God grant His blessings to the work of our hands
To say that we have "no work" may mean two things.
One may mean that we are jobless, that no one has hired us, that we are unemployed. So we want to work, but there is no one who wants to employ us and that also means we have no income.
The other meaning of "no work" is that there is no need for us to work, everything is provided for us, we have more than enough in terms of money, food and shelter and we don't have to be anxious or worried about the future.
The second meaning might sound quite appealing and maybe that is what we dream of every now and then, especially when the stress of work is overwhelming and we feel that we are losing ourselves to it.
But "no work" as in no need to work can seem to be attractive for only a while. After a time, if there is no need to work anymore, then life loses its challenge and we also lose motivation.
Because we are created in the image of God who created the mankind and the world and all creation and keeps recreating His creation.
Hence we are tasked to recreate the world so that the glory of God will be reflected in His creation.
So in whatever form our work may take - in our profession, in our service in Church and in society, in our works of mercy and charity - let us "put our heart into it as if it were for the Lord and not for men" (Col 3:23)
From the gospel passage, we know that Joseph worked as a carpenter because Jesus was known as the "carpenter's son".
Joseph worked at his profession and he also worked to bring up Jesus in faith and in stature.
May St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers, pray for us that by our work we will build up the kingdom of God and give glory to Him, and may God grant His blessings to the work of our hands
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
4th Week of Easter, Thursday, 30-04-15
Acts 13:13-25 / John 13:16-20
A person who is a good writer does not necessarily mean that the person is also a good presenter.
Likewise, a good presenter may not have the literary skills to be a good writer.
From the letters written by St. Paul in the New Testament, we know that he is a good writer.
In those letters, he teaches, admonishes, persuades, argues, and he always has something to impart to the early Christian communities.
But in the 1st reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear St. Paul preaching to the congregation in the synagogue.
It is difficult to say if St. Paul was a good presenter but it must be said that he is a good preacher because what he preached about was the saving work of God and about Jesus the Saviour.
It is here that St. Paul laid the foundations of good preaching. It is not about how well it is presented but about what was presented.
As Jesus said in the gospel - No servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.
When we look at what was preached by the great preachers of the Bible, people is John the Baptist, St. Peter and St. Paul, then we will know why they are great preachers.
They preached about repentance and the forgiveness of sins and about Jesus the Saviour.
Let us pray for those who preach the Word of God that from them we will hear the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins and may we in turn be witnesses of the Good News of salvation.
A person who is a good writer does not necessarily mean that the person is also a good presenter.
Likewise, a good presenter may not have the literary skills to be a good writer.
From the letters written by St. Paul in the New Testament, we know that he is a good writer.
In those letters, he teaches, admonishes, persuades, argues, and he always has something to impart to the early Christian communities.
But in the 1st reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear St. Paul preaching to the congregation in the synagogue.
It is difficult to say if St. Paul was a good presenter but it must be said that he is a good preacher because what he preached about was the saving work of God and about Jesus the Saviour.
It is here that St. Paul laid the foundations of good preaching. It is not about how well it is presented but about what was presented.
As Jesus said in the gospel - No servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.
When we look at what was preached by the great preachers of the Bible, people is John the Baptist, St. Peter and St. Paul, then we will know why they are great preachers.
They preached about repentance and the forgiveness of sins and about Jesus the Saviour.
Let us pray for those who preach the Word of God that from them we will hear the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins and may we in turn be witnesses of the Good News of salvation.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
4th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 29-04-15
Acts 12:24 - 13:5 / John 12:44-50
Courage is called upon in many various scenarios and situations.
One would be at the battlefield when faced with explosions and gunfire - it would take a lot of raw courage to advance despite the casualties.
On a less dramatic scenario, it would also take a lot of courage to stand for what is right and just. It is not easy to say that something is wrong, even if everybody is doing it, and to do what is right and just even if nobody is doing it.
But whether it is a battlefield scenario or a moral question, the courage of the human spirit is put to the test, and those who take up the call of courage will stand out from the rest.
But when the Spirit of God stirs up the human spirit, then courage as well as faith will be needed to answer the call.
In the 1st reading, when the Spirit chose Barnabas and Paul for the mission, the whole community had to respond with courage and faith.
Because Barnabas and Paul would have to go to uncharted and maybe hostile territories. It would mean leaving loved ones and friends and the comfort and security.
But the Spirit of God that stirs up the human spirit will give courage and strength to do the work of God.
The Spirit of God that stirs up the human spirit will also grant faith to believe in Jesus so that the light of Jesus will guide us through the darkness of falsehood and walk the way of truth.
May we open our hearts to the light of Jesus and gain courage to do what is right and just.
Courage is called upon in many various scenarios and situations.
One would be at the battlefield when faced with explosions and gunfire - it would take a lot of raw courage to advance despite the casualties.
On a less dramatic scenario, it would also take a lot of courage to stand for what is right and just. It is not easy to say that something is wrong, even if everybody is doing it, and to do what is right and just even if nobody is doing it.
But whether it is a battlefield scenario or a moral question, the courage of the human spirit is put to the test, and those who take up the call of courage will stand out from the rest.
But when the Spirit of God stirs up the human spirit, then courage as well as faith will be needed to answer the call.
In the 1st reading, when the Spirit chose Barnabas and Paul for the mission, the whole community had to respond with courage and faith.
Because Barnabas and Paul would have to go to uncharted and maybe hostile territories. It would mean leaving loved ones and friends and the comfort and security.
But the Spirit of God that stirs up the human spirit will give courage and strength to do the work of God.
The Spirit of God that stirs up the human spirit will also grant faith to believe in Jesus so that the light of Jesus will guide us through the darkness of falsehood and walk the way of truth.
May we open our hearts to the light of Jesus and gain courage to do what is right and just.
Monday, April 27, 2015
4th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 28-04-15
Acts 11:19-26 / John 10:22-30
Psalm 23 is also popularly known as the "Good Shepherd psalm" and many hymns have been composed using that psalm.
It is a popular psalm because it offers a soothing consolation in a time of distress and danger.
For example, when it says "If I should ever walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear, you are there to show the way"
Certainly it is very encouraging and we feel that no darkness is too powerful when the Lord, our Good Shepherd is leading us.
The first two lines of the first stanza says this: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
That is a very profound starting to the psalm and that sets the tone for the encouragement and consolation that the rest of the psalm expresses.
But we can only experience that encouragement and consolation when we truly listen to what the Lord, our Good Shepherd, is telling us in the psalm.
As Jesus said in the gospel, the sheep that belong to Him listen to His voice; He knows them and they follow Him.
So even in a time of persecution as we heard in the 1st reading, the early Church walked through that valley of darkness with her Good Shepherd leading her to continue her mission and the Church even grew in that time of persecution.
Let us listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him so that from the valleys of darkness, we will be lead to the pastures of consolation and grow in encouragement.
Psalm 23 is also popularly known as the "Good Shepherd psalm" and many hymns have been composed using that psalm.
It is a popular psalm because it offers a soothing consolation in a time of distress and danger.
For example, when it says "If I should ever walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear, you are there to show the way"
Certainly it is very encouraging and we feel that no darkness is too powerful when the Lord, our Good Shepherd is leading us.
The first two lines of the first stanza says this: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
That is a very profound starting to the psalm and that sets the tone for the encouragement and consolation that the rest of the psalm expresses.
But we can only experience that encouragement and consolation when we truly listen to what the Lord, our Good Shepherd, is telling us in the psalm.
As Jesus said in the gospel, the sheep that belong to Him listen to His voice; He knows them and they follow Him.
So even in a time of persecution as we heard in the 1st reading, the early Church walked through that valley of darkness with her Good Shepherd leading her to continue her mission and the Church even grew in that time of persecution.
Let us listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him so that from the valleys of darkness, we will be lead to the pastures of consolation and grow in encouragement.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
4th Week of Easter, Monday, 27-04-15
Acts 11:1-18 / John 10:1-10
If seeing is believing , then what does hearing lead to? All too often, the emphasis is on the visual and what can be seen.
In the Bible, seeing may lead to believing, just as the disciples saw the Risen Christ and believed in Him.
But seeing is just one aspect of the faith experience. The other equally important is the hearing aspect.
If seeing leads to believing, then hearing may lead to understanding.
In the 1st reading, Peter saw a vision. But he also heard a voice telling him what the vision means.
And when Peter related the account, he couldn't show the vision but he described the vision and more importantly, he repeated what the voice told him.
Peter recognized the voice that told him the meaning of the vision and the direction he should be taking.
In the gospel, Jesus also talked about the sheep listening and knowing the voice of the shepherd.
The sheep do not recognize the voice of strangers; in fact they run away from strangers, and we can imagine that they are frightened by an unfamiliar voice and they run away.
Everyday we hear many voices. Most are real voices that we hear from those around us and those we come into contact with.
What they say affects us and influences us. May we pray and discern what is from the Lord and what is not, so that we will recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him.
If seeing is believing , then what does hearing lead to? All too often, the emphasis is on the visual and what can be seen.
In the Bible, seeing may lead to believing, just as the disciples saw the Risen Christ and believed in Him.
But seeing is just one aspect of the faith experience. The other equally important is the hearing aspect.
If seeing leads to believing, then hearing may lead to understanding.
In the 1st reading, Peter saw a vision. But he also heard a voice telling him what the vision means.
And when Peter related the account, he couldn't show the vision but he described the vision and more importantly, he repeated what the voice told him.
Peter recognized the voice that told him the meaning of the vision and the direction he should be taking.
In the gospel, Jesus also talked about the sheep listening and knowing the voice of the shepherd.
The sheep do not recognize the voice of strangers; in fact they run away from strangers, and we can imagine that they are frightened by an unfamiliar voice and they run away.
Everyday we hear many voices. Most are real voices that we hear from those around us and those we come into contact with.
What they say affects us and influences us. May we pray and discern what is from the Lord and what is not, so that we will recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
4th Sunday of Easter, Year B, 26.04.2015
Acts 4:8-12 / 1 John 3:1-2 / John 10:11-18
One of the most prominent Church figures in the 20th century is Pope John XXIII. He was canonized on the 27th April 2014.
Besides the fact that it was he who got Vatican II Council started when nobody expected a 78 year-old Pope to do so, he was also prominent because of his figure.
Before he was elected Pope in 1958, one of his appointments was being papal nuncio to France. It was then that one of the French diplomats described him as “a sack of potatoes”. And if we look at photos of John XXIII, we will somewhat agree.
But one of the prominent characteristics of John XXIII was his sense of humour. Once he went to a school and there he asked the boys what they would want to become when they grew up, and one of them said that he would want to be a pope.
The pope smiled and said: Oh anyone can be a pope. Look at me! If I can become a pope, anyone can become a pope.
Such was the humour of John XXIII. But jokes aside, he knows that not anyone can be a pope, just as not anyone can be a priest.
This Sunday, the Church also celebrates Vocation Sunday and the Church is called to pray for more vocations to the priesthood.
We are called to reflect upon Jesus as the Good Shepherd, and the reflection is focused on the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep.
The reflection goes further for those whom Jesus is calling to be His priests and to follow Him to lay down their lives for His sheep.
It is often said that God will provide. And so it can also be said that God will provide priests for His Church.
But the crisis that the Church is facing is the falling numbers in vocations to the priesthood, and at present there are only 10 seminarians in the Major Seminary, and that is already ringing the alarm bells for the future.
Added to that are the scandals that have rocked the Church and smeared the dignity of the priesthood.
With all those factors weighing in heavily on the Church, the resultant is that there is a growing skepticism and cynicism about the priesthood.
This skepticism and cynicism is reflected in this so-called poem and the title is none other than “No one wants to be a priest” and it goes like this.
It goes like this:
And the Church must also pray for those who have responded to the call to be good shepherds who will lay down their lives for the sheep.
As for myself, having been a priest for 17 years, when I was appointed parish priest of this parish, I knew that the sacrifice will have to go one notch higher.
And this sacrifice is best expressed in the Eucharist where I lead the community into prayer with the sign of the cross at the beginning and call upon God’s blessings on the community at the end of the Eucharistic celebration.
In between, I pray that we will be delivered from every evil and that we will have peace and be safe from all distress.
The fundamental task of a priest, as the 2nd reading would put it, is to form his people to be God’s children and to be like Him.
And if his people do not behave like God’s children, then the priest is called to do penance and pray for them because he is accountable for their souls and their salvation.
So I am accountable for your soul and your salvation. And do I want to be held accountable?
I can only firmly say “Yes” because I am doing this for God who has lavished His love on us by calling us His children.
And God wants all of us His children to be with Him in heaven. And it is my mission as the priest and the spiritual father of this parish community to do that.
Pope John XXIII died on the 3rd June 1963 and his last words were these: "I had the great grace to be born into a Christian family, modest and poor, but with the fear of the Lord. My time on earth is drawing to a close. But Christ lives on and continues his work in the Church. Souls, souls, may they all be one.”
I had the great grace to be a priest serving in this parish community. I also hope to teach you the fear of the Lord and to love Him.
May you pray for us priests that we continue the saving work of the Lord so that we will all be one in Christ … on earth, and in heaven.
One of the most prominent Church figures in the 20th century is Pope John XXIII. He was canonized on the 27th April 2014.
Besides the fact that it was he who got Vatican II Council started when nobody expected a 78 year-old Pope to do so, he was also prominent because of his figure.
Before he was elected Pope in 1958, one of his appointments was being papal nuncio to France. It was then that one of the French diplomats described him as “a sack of potatoes”. And if we look at photos of John XXIII, we will somewhat agree.
But one of the prominent characteristics of John XXIII was his sense of humour. Once he went to a school and there he asked the boys what they would want to become when they grew up, and one of them said that he would want to be a pope.
The pope smiled and said: Oh anyone can be a pope. Look at me! If I can become a pope, anyone can become a pope.
Such was the humour of John XXIII. But jokes aside, he knows that not anyone can be a pope, just as not anyone can be a priest.
This Sunday, the Church also celebrates Vocation Sunday and the Church is called to pray for more vocations to the priesthood.
We are called to reflect upon Jesus as the Good Shepherd, and the reflection is focused on the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep.
The reflection goes further for those whom Jesus is calling to be His priests and to follow Him to lay down their lives for His sheep.
It is often said that God will provide. And so it can also be said that God will provide priests for His Church.
But the crisis that the Church is facing is the falling numbers in vocations to the priesthood, and at present there are only 10 seminarians in the Major Seminary, and that is already ringing the alarm bells for the future.
Added to that are the scandals that have rocked the Church and smeared the dignity of the priesthood.
With all those factors weighing in heavily on the Church, the resultant is that there is a growing skepticism and cynicism about the priesthood.
This skepticism and cynicism is reflected in this so-called poem and the title is none other than “No one wants to be a priest” and it goes like this.
It goes like this:
No one wants to be a priest because …If he begins Mass on time, his watch is fast;If he begins a minute later, he keeps people waiting.If he preaches too long, he makes people get bored;If his homily is too short, he is unprepared.If his voice is strong when preaching, he is shouting;If his voice is normal,people do not understand what he is preaching about;If he goes to visit families, he is always out:If he does not, he does not care for them.If he asks for donations, he is a money-face;If he does not do it, he is too proud and lazy.If he takes time in the confessional, he is too slow;If he makes it too fast, he has no time for his penitents.If he renovates the church, he throws away money;If he does not do it, he allows everything to rot away.If he is with the youth, he forgets the old.If he warms up to old aunties, he must be missing his mummy.If he keeps distance from all of them, he has a heart of stone.If he is young, he has no experience;If he is old, he should retire.As long as he lives, there are always people who are better than him;BUT IF THE PRIEST DIES....THERE IS NOBODY TO TAKE HIS PLACE!Because no one wants to be a priest!!!But God will provide and the Church must keep praying that those who are called will respond.
And the Church must also pray for those who have responded to the call to be good shepherds who will lay down their lives for the sheep.
As for myself, having been a priest for 17 years, when I was appointed parish priest of this parish, I knew that the sacrifice will have to go one notch higher.
And this sacrifice is best expressed in the Eucharist where I lead the community into prayer with the sign of the cross at the beginning and call upon God’s blessings on the community at the end of the Eucharistic celebration.
In between, I pray that we will be delivered from every evil and that we will have peace and be safe from all distress.
The fundamental task of a priest, as the 2nd reading would put it, is to form his people to be God’s children and to be like Him.
And if his people do not behave like God’s children, then the priest is called to do penance and pray for them because he is accountable for their souls and their salvation.
So I am accountable for your soul and your salvation. And do I want to be held accountable?
I can only firmly say “Yes” because I am doing this for God who has lavished His love on us by calling us His children.
And God wants all of us His children to be with Him in heaven. And it is my mission as the priest and the spiritual father of this parish community to do that.
Pope John XXIII died on the 3rd June 1963 and his last words were these: "I had the great grace to be born into a Christian family, modest and poor, but with the fear of the Lord. My time on earth is drawing to a close. But Christ lives on and continues his work in the Church. Souls, souls, may they all be one.”
I had the great grace to be a priest serving in this parish community. I also hope to teach you the fear of the Lord and to love Him.
May you pray for us priests that we continue the saving work of the Lord so that we will all be one in Christ … on earth, and in heaven.
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