Second Sunday,Lent,.C.March 11,01.Lk.(:28-36

2^nd Sunday of Lent, C, Mar.11, 2001

(Lk: 9:28-36)

Years ago I had a chance to visit the foothills of the Himalayas with a few priest-friends of mine. There was a particular spot at the foothills where tourists would arrive around 2.30 am to see the morning rays of the sun fall on Mount Everest. We too went over there to see that magnificent spectacle of the Mount Everest becoming radiant and resplendent in the morning rays of the sun. It is a sight of such spectacular beauty that one would have to borrow the lines of the poet Wordsworth to describe its splendor: “a presence that disturbs one with joy of elevated thoughts and a sense of something far more deeply interfused.” It was in a way a daily enactment of the nature’s transfiguration in beauty and splendor.

Today as we listen to the words of the Gospel we find how the Apostles have come face to face with a beauty whose majesty and splendor no poet could describe. It is Jesus Transfigured in the glory of his divinity, an experience no man had been ever witness to. Peter was so overcome with the beauty of that spectacular nature of the moment that he wanted to perpetuate that moment forever on earth, to capture that dream in reality, by erecting tents there for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

For Peter, John and James, the vision of the Transfiguration of Jesus would always remain etched in their memory whatever might be the suffering that would be inflicted on Jesus, whatever may be persecution they would undergo for their faith in Jesus. In their hearts they knew that it was with the Son of God that they were daily conversing and moving with. They heard a voice from the cloud that said “ this is my chosen Son; listen to him” and they would be listening to him forever in their lives and would try hard to make others to listen to Him.

The presence of Moses and Elijah indicated to the Apostles that the time of the Law and the Prophets was over and that salvation would now come only through Jesus, the Son of God. The Apostles were also at the threshold of witnessing the passing of an era in the history of salvation and of the coming of a new dispensation where salvation was offered to all, Jews and the Gentiles, to all races and nations.

What did transfiguration mean to the apostles? In their time of crisis, when Jesus was humiliated, persecuted and crucified, it gave them the courage to stick with him. To every one else the crucifixion would have been a signal of the failure of Jesus. But not to the apostles. Their experience at Tabor helped them to understand that what happened on Calvary, that suffering and death of Jesus were part of his glory and that they would result in His Resurrection . The apostles felt then and forever in their lives that Calvary and Tabor would forever be linked in a follower’s life.

The death of Jesus on the cross was the proof of his love for us and the proof of his glory the intimations of which were given on Mt. Tabor. As a spiritual writer has put: “ When we realize that God of all love is so present to us, that he loves us each personally, no matter how sinful we are…. Then all of life becomes new fresh and creative…That God loves us, personally, lavishly, unsparingly, even foolishly is what the Transfiguration of Jesus tells us.”

During this season of Lent as we prepare to grow closer to Jesus and as we mould and refashion our attitudes and perceptions, what kind of message does the Transfiguration give us?

Jesus through his love and mercy had transfigured hundreds and thousands of people. He brought them out of their sinfulness, gave them love and made them loveable. He cured the lepers, gave life back to Lazarus and widow’s son, expelled demons from the possessed. What is he asking us at this moment? He is asking us to continue the work of transfiguration. : whether we can we transfigure the lives of others through our love and compassion; whether instead of accelerating the speed of vengeance and hatred, we can try hard to create an atmosphere of love and understanding in our places of work; whether we can create a much deeper loving atmosphere at home. Can we be a little more tolerant of the weaknesses and failures of our co-workers?

We should also ask ourselves : What kind of transformation can we achieve in our own inner lives? Can we move from being a selfish person to a generous and understanding person? Can we move from being an angry and impatient person to a person of understanding and caring? From a non-caring attitude to one of helpfulness? We have to say Yes to all these questions. This is the way that we can undergo transfiguration in our lives. How do we get the courage and grace to make such a drastic change in our lives? We have to listen to the word of God: “Listen to Him, this is my Chosen son”. These are the words of God asking us to follow Jesus.

During this Lent, let us pray for the grace so that we can make this journey along with the apostles to reach the Mount Tabor to experience our own transfiguration in a smaller way.

Second Sunday Easter.C.April22,01.Jn.20:19-31

2^nd Sunday of Easter,Apr.22,C,01

Jn.20:19-31

On this Second Sunday of Easter, we are gathered here once again to experience the joy of the resurrection and to relive in our lives the wonderful experiences the apostles and the disciples went through in those post-resurrection weeks.

We find the apostles and disciples in the weeks after the crucifixion and death of Jesus, a frightened group, unable to pursue their jobs, or to mingle with their own country men. All the dreams of sharing the honor and glory with Jesus in the new kingdom have vanished; the crowds have disappeared; no more cures of sicknesses, or the dead being brought back to life. The lines of people asking for a meeting with Jesus have gone. It is into this dispirited group of people that Jesus makes his entrance in his new risen life. Jesus wants to inspire them, to strengthen them and to drive away fear from their hearts.

Jesus stands before them all of sudden in that room where they gathered in seclusion, having bolted the door from the inside. Jesus offers them three times “ Peace be with you.” We know how much they wanted peace in their hearts. They wanted peace in their hearts to resume their mission, to continue in their jobs and to feel secure in their hearts that God is with them.

Peace is a dream that we too carry in our hearts. We would think that if we got a new job, if things were different, if we had gone to a different city or joined a different University or met new friends, life would be different for us and that there would be peace in our hearts. Or we may think, if we travel and see new places, or get a longer vacation or have more time to commune with Nature, we would have peace in our hearts. The more we get our soul attached to material comforts and conveniences, the more distressed we will become.

Peace can come only from one person __Jesus Christ. He offers peace unconditionally to all who put their trust in him. As Bishop Sheen points out in his book “ Peace of Soul”, “ Peace of soul cannot come from the person , any more than the person can lift himself by his own ears. Help must come from without; and it must not be merely human help, but Divine help.”

It is to Jesus that we have to open the doors of our heart to receive peace in our lives. The value-systems of the world will only plunge us deeply into darkness; it is to the values of the Gospel that we have to return to enjoy peace. The Gospel values of love, forgiveness, meekness, humility, suffering and surrender to the will of God will open new doors in our lives and help us to gain peace in our hearts. As a spiritual writer has put it(Sheen ): “The added tragedy of sin is that after we do wrong, we may not let God help us do what is right and good….we keep him at arm’s length because we refuse to be loved. We are drowning and will not clutch at his helping hand…the truth of the matter is, not that God is hard to find, but rather we are afraid of being found.”

To enjoy real peace , Jesus offers the apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive sins. They are given a powerful instrument of liberation : “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.”

The burden of guilt is taken away from the hearts of people. We are the beneficiaries of that gift of forgiveness that is now being given to us through the Church. Hence let nothing dissuade us from coming closer to Jesus and to feel the warmth of his love in our hearts. In our sicknesses, disappointments, pains and tragedies, he will be with us.

Once we experience the continuing forgiveness of Jesus in our lives, and the security of his comforting presence in our hearts, nothing can take away the sense of peace that comes to our hearts through our faith. Then, at every moment in our daily lives, whether it be of joy or pain, we an say with absolute surety and boldness as Thomas has proclaimed: My Lord and My God.”

Second Sunday ,Advent,A.Mt.3:1-12

2^nd Sunday of advent-’99

Mt.3:1-12

As we listen to the readings in today’s Scriptures, the figure that looms large in our mind’s horizon is that of John the Baptist. He is one of the towering personalities in the New Testament, fearless, commanding and willing to face any power or authority to witness to Truth, but humble enough to accept that he has only a minor role to play. The words of the prophet in all their symbolic meanings and nuances sum up the personality and character of John the Baptist.

The prophet speaks to a people who were heart-broken and confused because of their harsh experiences in exile. Conquered by Babylon, deprived of all their proud possessions, cut off from their God because of their past actions of disloyalty and faithlessness, the people of Israel were in total grief. God feels pity for them and offers them signs of hope, words of healing and the strength of his imminent protection.

God asks the prophet to comfort the people , allay their fears and strengthen their confidence: “ Give comfort to my people…Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.” Isaiah takes up the task and offers them more than they expected. He offers them the most cherished hope of their lives…the coming of a Savior who would keep them eternally in his protection, who would tend them like a shepherd and would gather them like lambs in his hands, close to his bosom. The Prophet sends through their spines the most thrilling emotion they have ever felt in their lives—an undying and powerful hope of a freedom than can never be snatched from their hands. Furthermore, the prophet predicts the arrival of a precursor for the Savior. The precursor would create an atmosphere of harmony and cooperation where differences among people would be annihilated, where the rich and the poor , the able and handicapped and the talented and non-talented will live in love and harmony and will supplement one another in their needs. “ The glory of the Lord will be revealed” in an atmosphere of love and cooperation.

How ironic are these words of the prophet for all of us who live in the present times, absorbing the values of a culture so diametrically opposed to that of the Prophet. For us, still the valleys and mountains are distinct and separate. Our education , our wealth, and our profession make us different and distinct from others who have not enjoyed the touch of fortune and the blessings of a material life. We have no time to care for the less fortunate and we don’t care to associate with them. We have our parties and our net-workings. What a sad picture we have from our lives to present to Jesus who wants to be born in the midst of people who love one another, care for one another, and who are sensitive to the feelings of others.. We try so aggressively to ascend the ladder of success that we forget the needs of our family—our children , wife or husband. We have to listen again and again to the voice of the prophet ---make straight a highway for our God and that every valley shall be filled in .”

Today’s passage from the Gospel opens with the presence of the imposing personality of John the Baptist, calling every one to repentance, for a change of heart in order to be worthy of the One who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.What John the baptist wants from us is a change of heart , a change in our attitudes and thoughts, a strong decision from the depths of our hearts to be a loving and caring people. Our Repentance should be sincere.”

This is the most appropriate moment for us to look at our lives to find out what is preventing us from growing closer to Christ. Our selfishness, our arrogance, our extravagant desire to be popular, to appear successful in the eyes of the world , our unforgiving attitudes all could be problems destroying our inner peace as well as peace in our families.How ironic it would be for each one of us who professes to be a Christian to appear to be cruel, unforgiving , insensitive and ride roughshod over the feelings of others whether they be in our families or in work places.

There are voices all around us crying for our attention:

Somewhere at this moment a child is crying –crying for love or may be simply for bread

Somewhere a young person is crying—crying for a listening ear or an understanding heart.

Somewhere a deserted wife and mother is crying—crying for the support of a husband.

Somewhere old people are crying—crying for a word from their children.

Today we shall pray to the Lord to help us to listen to these voices, but more than anything else, to listen to His voice , crying in the wilderness of our hearts.

Second Sunday,Easter A,April 7,02.Jn.20:19-31

2^nd Sund. Easter,April7,02,A

These are the days in which we hear from the Gospel readings the impact the Resurrection of our Lord produced on the apostles and the disciples.

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us a vivid account of the activities of the first community of the followers of Jesus. In a few words, the Evangelist describes the way they lived: “they devoted among themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.” It was a life of prayer, of sharing and of participation in the Eucharistic service.” From that small community, we have grown into an unbelievably large community spread through out the world, spanning over centuries. But the vision for the life for a Christian remains the same: sharing, prayers, and the participation in the Eucharist.

The reading from today’s Gospel describes vividly the transformation that has happened in the lives of the Apostles through the revelations Jesus made to them about Himself through his different appearances.

Jesus appeared at different times to strengthen them in their faith, to remove their doubts, to open their minds to a clearer understanding of the scriptures, to the reality of his glorified body. Jesus tried to remove even the last shred of doubts in the minds of the apostles.

The Apostle Thomas not present with the rest when Jesus appeared to them. He was not going to be an easy believer. In spite of the fact he was willing to die with Jesus on his way to Jerusalem and had absolute loyalty to Jesus, he was willing to wait and to see. Jesus tells Thomas. “Come. Put your finger here and see my hands and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” What a tense moment it might have been. The Apostles waited in anxiety with regard to the response of Thomas. Would he go and put his finger into the wounds of Jesus and verify the reality of the body of Jesus physically. Would he accept Jesus as real or see Him as a ghost?

The response came immediate and full throated: My Lord and My God. It is as if the whole Universe was responding in unison with Thomas. We know how the life of Thomas was changed. His faith became so powerful that he traveled to different and distant lands and traveled as far as to India to preach the faith. He was martyred in India. The community of St. Thomas Christians of India, the most vibrant Catholic community in India traces its origin to the preaching of St.Thomas.

It is very interesting to note that when Jesus came into the midst of his disciples, he repeated one word several times: Peace. In today’s Gospel, he mentions, three times: Peace be with you. In this Easter season, we become more aware of the need of peace. We have to ask ourselves what prevents us from enjoying the peace that Jesus offers. Peace comes from the presence of God in our hearts, from the presence of the Holy Spirit, from the forgiveness we receive from God and we give to others.

In the aftermath of what happened after Sept. 11, in the shadow of what is going on in the Middle East, in the pain of the traumas that millions of families go through because of marital discord, in the background of shootings and violence that happen daily in different countries, and the regions of the world, we become acutely aware of the need of having peace in our lives. this is the time to ask ourselves: Do I have this peace? What is disturbing my life, my family. Let us ask ourselves three questions based on what Jesus said and did in today’s Gospel. Is the Holy Spirit present in my life? Is my faith alive like that of Thomas? Have I accepted forgiveness of my sins from the Lord?

Peace comes when Jesus is present. When Jesus is present , all the bondage to sins will disappear. That is why Jesus offers peace. Wherever he is present, justice is present. Rights are respected. Bondage to sin, arrogance, selfishness all become loosened.

The Holy Father has said recently: “No Peace without Justice.” We have to respect the rights of others if peace has to come into our lives. Individuals, families and nations have to respect the rights of others and be sensitive to their needs.Then only Peace will reign in our hearts. May the risen Lord bless us to enjoy this peace in our lives.

Second Sunday,A.Jan.20,02.Jn.1:29-34

2^nd Sund.A,Jan.20,’02

All the readings of today continue to expand the meaning of the epiphany that we celebrated a few days ago. The words of the Prophet Isaiah as well as John the Baptist make us go deeper into the nature and role of the Messiah.

The Redemptive role of Jesus is very powerfully brought out in the words of John the Baptist. Declining any special role for himself, John the Baptist points to Jesus as “ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

The Lamb of God is an image replete with several meanings for the audience of John the Baptist. In the Genesis, we find Abel offering a lamb as a sacrifice for sins. Later Isaac asks Abraham:” where is the lamb?” Abraham answers;” God will provide himself with a young beast for a sacrifice, my son.” In the Book of Leviticus, there is the mention of a scapegoat that carries the sins of the people into the desert. According to the Leviticus, Aaron after placing both hands on the goat’s head confesses all the sinful faults and transgressions of the Israelites and sends it to a desolated place. It is all these images that crowd into the minds of the people when John the Baptist calls him as the Lamb of God.

The opposition between Jesus and the world is highlighted when John the Baptist points out that the Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world. What John is saying is this:

Jesus will be a victim, will suffer, will undergo the same treatment as all the lambs that are offered as victims. But his death will not be in vain. He will carry the sin of the world. By his death he will redeem the world and will give the world a new direction and vision.

All these powerful symbols in Jewish history charged with many layers of meanings, acquired through the centuries of Jewish salvation history get unraveled when John the Baptist points to Jesus, saying “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World”.

As John the Baptist has indicated, the world will always be in opposition to the message of Jesus. When Jesus preaches love for one another, the world preaches a different message: the world would say, others mean nothing, make as much profit as possible, increase your power, wealth and live for yourself.

When Jesus wants us to share our wealth, to give our coat to the one who asks for it, the world encourages us to try to accumulate as much as possible. When Jesus asks us to be reconciled with one another and not to harbor hatred, the world encourages us to think that our protection consists in the use of arms, or the possession of weapons.

When Jesus asks us to live chastely and follow the commandments of the Lord, the world makes it appear that everything is all right so long as it is convenient to us. The sacred laws concerning the unity of marriage are thrown aside for our convenience. Divorces, pre-marital sex and all kinds of sexual deviations are accepted as norms by a society which has traded its soul for transient moments of pleasure.

The moral laws based on the commandments of the Lord are ignored because we think they cause us inconvenience, restrict our freedom and because the violation of these laws does not bring about any serious physical harm or injury as the violation of the physical laws of gravity.

When people march for life, for the protection of the unborn and the defenseless, the world would deride them and make fun of them as enemies of freedom.

May the moral laws written in our heart and nourished by the blood of the Lamb help us to make the right choices in life and to walk beside Jesus, the Light of the Nations.

2nd S.Ordinary, Jan.16,2000

1Sm.3:3-10; Jn.1:35-42


St.Augustine in his Confessions speaks of the some of the most agonizing moments in his life when he felt very restless and heart-broken not knowing where to turn for strength and comfort. He cries out “How long, how long Lord, wilt Thou be angry with me”. All of a sudden he hears this voice: “ Take up and read: Take up and read.” He took the Bible and read it and Augustine says: “All of a sudden, a light pervaded my soul and all the darkness of doubt vanished away.”

All the readings in today’s Scriptures describe to us the changes that happened in the lives of the prophets of the past because of the call they have received from God. In the first reading, we find Samuel, hearing the voice of God calling him to a special vocation, to be a prophet. He hears the voice and runs to his prophet-master, saying,”Here I am”. But later, he realizes that it was not the prophet who called him, but it was God who was calling him. He responds to God: “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

In our own lives, we have to learn to respond to God with the same attitude that was shown by the young prophet Samuel: “ Here I am Lord, speak to me, I am listening.” Even in the darkest moments and the most tragic events of our lives, God is speaking to us. We have to listen to Him with a heart full of faith, willing to follow the ways he leads us on.

All of us pass through very trying moments at different times in our lives: Loss of jobs, break-up of the family, indifference or hostility from loved ones or colleagues, shattering of dreams and aspirations, loss of beloved ones. Life brings all kinds of arrows and slings of misfortune. But through them all, the Father who loves us with an infinite love is sending us a message. Instead of rebelling and running away from Him, let us listen to him. May be he is asking us to change the direction in our lives, or to forgive or to accept the limitations. But peace and joy will be the result of our trust and dependence.

That is why in today’s Gospel, Jesus invites the disciples of John the Baptist to stay with Him and to experience the life lived by him by asking them: Come and see.” They came out of curiosity to find whether the new prophet is better or holier than their master, John the Baptist. But their stay with Jesus changed them dramatically and they are no more spectators on the sidelines or curious on lookers but have become active participants in the drama of redemption, the most admired disciples of Jesus, the apostles to the world, and the founders of the People of God. Because they came and saw, St.John the Apostle could write: “ What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have touched- we proclaim to you.”

Today Jesus addresses us with the same words that he spoke to the Apostles: Come and See.” Sometimes, it will be difficult for us when we are caught in the maelstrom of our problems and difficulties to focus our eyes on Jesus. Our hearts may be troubled with several nagging doubts and questions: could Jesus give me peace, Can he remove these problems from my life, will it be possible for me to ride out this storm in my personal life? How about my job? How about my family? Who can end this hostility that I experience in my work place? Hundreds are the questions that pop in our minds. That is why Jesus asks us today “ Come and See… Live with me.” Along with the prophet Samuel, we shall respond: “ Here I am Lord, Speak to me.” We shall pray to the Lord with the following words: “Lord, Be our companion on the road of life. Do not go ahead of us, we may not follow. Do not follow us, we may not lead; just walk beside us and be our friend.”

First S. of Advent,Nov.28,10

Advent, 1 St S,Nov.28,10

(Lk.1:5-25)


Today marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Advent. The readings that we heard just now from the Scriptures prepare us for this beautiful period of expectations and waiting. The waiting is for the celebration of Christmas, for the birth of Jesus, for a day stamped in our memory with great feelings of joy and peace, of forgiveness and reconciliation, and of goodness and generosity. The period of Advent offers us an opportunity to reflect on the unbounded love of God , our Father, who has loved us so much as to send His son to die for us and to reclaim for us the right to be called the children of God.

The reading from the Gospel describes the events that make this period of Advent significant and glorious. There is no other better preparation for Christmas than to reflect on the life and teachings of the John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, our Savior. John the Baptist stands at the door of the season of Advent inviting us to a new life through our repentance. Through his own personal life, through his teachings and penance, he shows a way of life that is open to God though the conversion of our hearts. As the angel Gabriel tells Zechariah, he will bring people back to God.

Zechariah and Elizabeth belonged to the priestly family of Aaron. They were both devout observers of the law. Zechariah was privileged to offer prayers and incense at the evening prayer time in the Temple. It was a great privilege , usually happening once in a life time in the lives of the priests of the time. It was in such a pious and august moment that Zechariah received the announcement that his wife would give birth to a son and that the son should be named John.

The angel, Gabriel, spoke to him about the role John would play in the great story of the human salvation that would later unfold. He would be a forerunner of the Messiah, would bring about conversion in the hearts of people and would be filled with the presence of the Lord.

All these great words of the Angle were more than enough for Zechariah. He prayer for a son to become blessed in the eyes of the Lord as well as in those of the people. He got more than what he desired. His son would forever be associated with the life of the Savior. He was filled with fear. His faith faltered. He doubted the possibility of such great things happening in his life. He was made speechless for his doubt. He had to start again, learning the way of humility and coming closer to God. What would John would preach later in his life, the path of repentance, has begun in the life of Zechariah right there in the Temple.

The qualifications and the role of the John the Baptist would serve as a great reminder for spiritual reawakening in our personal journey of faith. What is required in this period of Advent as we wait for the Spirit of Christmas to pervade us in this season is to prepare ourselves for a life of conversion , avoiding the paths of sin and selfishness.

This period of Advent, hence, is a time to focus on our values of life and perceptions. The voice that resounded in the hills and valleys of Palestine, calling the people to repentance should be heard in our hearts too. We have to question the values and mindsets that are controlling our lives. Our selfishness and arrogance have often separated us from God as well as our neighbors. We need to go back to the basics. What does it mean to be a Christian? Does it just consist in the external observance of certain rituals and traditions or does it involve a way of life that is steeped in love and forgiveness?

In the heart of many Christian families, there is no peace. Where is the conversion that should happen because the presence of the Lord in our lives? Do people who see us recognize that we are different because of our faith in the Lord?

We are invited in this season to wear the mantle of the prophet, John the Baptist, and invite our fellow brethren to a new way of life through the changes that are happening in our lives. We have to become more mellow and compassionate .We have to show that our greatness consists not in dominating over the lives of others but in serving and helping them to become greater in their lives. John the Baptist has very powerfully indicated that his role is not to sideline Jesus, but to allow Him to grow. If we in our public and private lives allow Jesus to grow and shine in our neighbors and members of the family, the changes that will take place in our lives will be dramatic and significant. .

Advent,Second Sun.C.,Dec.2000

Addressing the Bishops of the United States, the late Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Bernardin once said: “Catholics cannot evangelize the eighty million unchurched in the United states when so many Catholics themselves have yet to experience conversion.” Often we think of ourselves as good Christians, but when we examine our lives we find that we are far, far away from the way of life Jesus wants us to follow. Our arrogance, our selfishness, our uncharitable attitudes etc make us unchristian and often in human. Can we remain in that state of mind and call ourselves Christians? No, we cannot. Our vocation as Christians demands an ongoing conversion in our lives, a turning towards Jesus, and a turning away from the path of selfishness and sins.

That is why at the beginning of the Advent season, as we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Church presents before us the august figure of John the Baptist, the last Prophet of the Old testament and the first prophet of the New Testament.

The message of the John the Baptist was simple and direct. He proclaimed the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist knew what was wrong with man and how that can be rectified. Our repentance enables us to be forgiven. Once our sins are forgiven, our hearts become free of burdens and we enjoy deep peace and joy. As Bishop Sheen points out:“ Unless souls are saved, nothing is saved; there can be no world peace unless there is soul peace.”

How did John accomplish his ministry? How did he bring about the conversion of human hearts? His way of life, his attachment to God and his fearless preaching have brought to many an awareness of their sins and the need to be reconciled with God.. He was the harbinger of justice and he spoke fearlessly against the path of sin whether it existed among the kings or the poor. Hence the evangelist finds the words of the prophet Isaiah truly fulfilled in him: about the wonderful changes happening in the hearts of people, the humble being raised high and the arrogant and the proud being brought down.

Today as we prepare ourselves for a spiritual rebirth,let us also undergo this spiritual conversion through a sincere repentance of our sins. The sacrament of reconciliation offers us the chance to accept forgiveness and mercy from our Lord. It is not our sins that matter most, but our humble and contrite heart. Jesus is the one who searches for the lost sheep.

We have created valleys in our lives, when we have not helped others, when we have not spoken kind words to our neighbors or when we have withheld help to others. These are the valleys in our lives that are to be filled in. What are the mountains in our lives that are to be leveled: our arrogance, pride, domineering attitudes, and our all-knowing behavior. What are the winding roads to be made straight? They are the deceptions, manipulations, and conniving ways that characterize our dealings with others. There are hundreds of ways in which we have to make improvements in our lives. Let this advent season be another occasion for us to follow in the footsteps of John the Baptist in order to follow our Lord more closely in our lives.

Advent,SecondSun.A,,Dec.9,01

During this season of Advent, as we prepare to renew in our memory the birth of our Savior, we know we are in the midst of a painful period of our time when thousands of our people are in grief because of what has happened to them in the recent tragedies. As wars still continue, and as lives are being lost, mourning and weeping continue in our land and in other places.

It is in the midst of these feelings of grief and shock that we hear one of the great of prophets speaking to us about a time when the whole universe is dancing with joy because of the arrival of a new kingdom, of a new leader. Isaiah was speaking at a time when the people of his time were experiencing great shock and fear because of the invading forces of the Assyrian emperor who came to the borders of Israel.

We know those words of the prophet were a telescopic vision of the times that would come with Jesus.

Jesus offered that vision thousands of years later to the people of Israel and to the whole world: “Blessed are those who are poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn and weep and they will be consoled and blessed are the peacemakers they will be called the sons of God.”

It is a vision and a way of life that comes not with territorial expansion, with conquest, nor from an aggressive pursuit of riches, glory or power but from a change of heart, from a deep rooted conversion in the depths of one’s being. It is when we look at people around us and see them not as rivals or as subjects to be to exploited ,or subjugated but as brothers and sisters, children of the same family , of the same father in heaven that the vision becomes realized.

That call to repentance is very powerfully given by John the Baptist in today’s Gospel. He knows the hypocrisy that is in the heart of people. He doesn’t hesitate to reveal their hidden motives, their cruelty, their vengeance and their ways of deception. He calls them even as they come to him for baptism : “ You brood of vipers…Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance….Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” He urges them to repent and to be ready to receive the kingdom of heaven that is at hand.”

John did not receive any of their possessions or their gifts. He wore the gifts of nature—camel’s hair and his food was locusts and honey. It is from the pulpit of this total detachment , of poverty , of self-denial that this great prophet speaks to his people. No desire for glory, no ambition in life… only desire is to prepare the way, to make people happy and to draw them out of their smugness, their selfishness and to inflame them with the fire of love .

Even as we experience sorrow, suffering, grief in our lives, John the Baptist is asking us to rise from the stupor of disillusionment or of indifference and to walk towards Jesus Our Lord whose radiance will illuminate the dark recesses of our hearts and dry away every tear from our lives.

Today we can make those initial, faltering steps towards that full vision by repenting of our sins, avoiding those occasions that lead us away from him. We shall look at our own hearts and see what is hindering us from a close union with Jesus and the people around us.

If it is our selfishness, arrogance, our inordinate desires that creates this hindrance to full union, this is the time for us to make a change in our attitudes, thoughts and feelings. It is only when we come close to John the Baptist, to his pulpit of detachment, of self-renunciation, that we can experience the presence of Jesus in our lives. May this Advent help us to come closer to Jesus through our repentance, forgiveness, love and caring.

Lent,First Sun.C.Marc.2001

In the Consistory of Cardinals held in Rome last week , the Holy Father elevated 44 people, Bishops, Archbishops, and priests to the college of Cardinals. Of these, one Cardinal remains singularly noteworthy: He is Cardinal Francis Xavier of Vietnam who now heads the Pontifical council for Justice and Peace. He was appointed the Bishop of Saigon in 1975 shortly before the city fell to communist forces. In his book “The Testimony of Hope”, the Cardinal describes the harrowing experiences of pain and agony he suffered for 13 years in prison, of which nine were in solitary confinement. As he was arrested and taken to the prison, he heard the voice of Jesus asking him “ Simon , who do you say that I am.” He didn’t waver, he didn’t doubt ,he didn’t yield. He remained firm in his faith until the moment he was released from prison in 1988. It was not a lent of forty days of small fasts and abstinence that he had; it was 13 years of fasting from everything that was associated with human life.

Who did give him the courage to withstand the forces of oppression and keep his mind focussed on hope? Who gave him the power to overcome the temptation to yield and obey an unjust authority? It was undoubtedly the victory that Our Lord achieved over the power of temptations after his forty days’ fast in the desert that gave him the courage and hope to withstand the power of the vicious communist regime.

What was Jesus doing in the desert? Why was he fasting and praying? To have time alone with God, to accept of the will of the Heavenly Father, to have the Spirit of God within himself, to prepare for the great task ahead, the path of pain and suffering to bring Redemption for mankind .

He was tired, hungry and weak in his human person. The Temptations came in attractive ways. The evil spirit presented very attractive suggestions which were planned to subvert the will of God. The first suggestion was why should Jesus feel hungry and famished? Why could not he perform a miracle changing stones into bread, and manifest his divine power? Jesus’ reply to the evil spirit was that there are greater values in life than the ones suggested by him: “ Man shall not live by bread alone.”

Again the temptation of power and glory was presented. Jesus was urged to use power and glory and live by them . They would make him the most powerful person in the world and the whole world would bow in adoration. Jesus rejected that path saying that there is only one power in the world and it is One’s God and he is the One to be adored and served.

Instead of choosing the path of pains and agony Jesus could choose a dazzling spectacle to convince the world of his mission. If he falls from the pinnacle of the temple, the angels will support him and people would applaud the event and he could live on that esteem. Jesus knew the emptiness of such popularity. He dismissed the evil spirit by telling him not to put the Lord , his God to the test. He tells the spirit that the one who stands before him is His God and he should worship him instead of putting him to the test.

Referring to the Temptations of Jesus, St.John Maria Vianney says: “How fortunate we are, how lucky we are to have a God as a model. Are we poor? We have a God who is born in a stable, who lies in a manger…Are we tempted? We have our Redeemer who was tempted by the demon…Hence no matter what sufferings, pain or temptations we are experiencing, we always have our God leading the way for us, assuring us of victory.”

The victory Jesus achieved over his Temptations is an assurance for each one of us that however powerful our temptations may be, with Jesus on our side, we can overcome them. The temptations of Jesus correspond to the three basic needs of the human person: need for security, for power and control, and for affection and esteem from people around us.

These same needs come in different forms to deflect us from our path towards Jesus. For more money, for more a more glamorous way of living, we are tempted to sacrifice our faith. We become so concerned about our image and reputation among our colleagues that we are afraid to speak about our faith, or to witness to Jesus Christ. Sometimes our Sunday obligations are ignored for the enjoyment of a party or for other similar social functions. Temptations come in so many ways and when our spiritual strength is weak, we become susceptible to them.

In the exercise of power and authority too we often fail, by exercising too much power over the people whose lives or jobs are entrusted to us. In our families, we may be domineering parents, in our workplaces, we may be task masters.. We carry on in different ways these false and trivial masks of authority, creating more pain and agony in the lives of people we work with.

Similarly, there are also the various ways in which we try to become more popular and appealing by distorting truths and by denigrating others. We project a good impression of ourselves as hard working and honest people while putting down others, damaging their reputation and hurting their feelings. Jesus shows how ephemeral are these values for which we crave all throughout our lives.

We have seen how Jesus has conquered these temptations and driven the Satan out of his sight. His presence in our lives offers us the spiritual strength to overcome them. But we have to grow closer to God as Jesus did through those forty days spent in the desert.

As we try to begin this journey of Lent , let us take some time during these days to be alone with God and set in order the priorities of our lives and strengthen our waning spiritual strength.

Lent,First Sun.B.Mar.12

As we begin our Lent on this First Sunday, let us prepare ourselves for a deep conversion in our hearts in order to come closer to God and to feel deeply His presence and His love in our hearts. Speaking of Lent, St.Augustine says: “We should also make a cross for ourselves out of the curbing of the pleasures of life….this cross …is not just meant for forty days , but for the whole of this life.”

Today all the readings in the Scriptures call us to this conversion of our hearts, to a change of our attitudes, and perceptions. In the reading from the Old Testament, we are reminded of the covenant God has established with humanity. God’s faithfulness remains firm and steadfast even if man turns out to be unfaithful.

Faithfulness of God to humanity is seen in the infinite love He has shown in the redemption accomplished through Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has promised that He would be with us until the end of the world.

In the context of the faithfulness of God, we have to examine our lives to find we how sincere we are in our faithfulness to God. We have entered into a covenant with Him at different times in our lives—at our Baptisms, at the time of marriages and at all important stages in our lives. But how sincere and committed are we in our faithfulness? Instances are plenty in our lives when we have failed God and our neighbors in our faithfulness.

But our weaknesses and fragility should not create feelings of despair in us. We are not alone in this journey: Jesus walks with us, offers us His support and strength. The words of Jesus at the beginning of His ministry after the forty days of fasting, inner struggles and temptations in the desert should offer us strength and confidence. His words extend to us chances for a new start in our lives. “ Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

Instead of finding excuses or devising new reasons to justify our sinful actions, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Jesus offers us this forgiveness all the time in our lives to make a new start, to turn a new life in our lives. Only thing is that we should have the humility to say “ Lord I have sinned against you.”

These days of Lent are very opportune moments for us to make a deep change in our lives…time to forget and to forgive. If there is any one with whom we have been estranged or some one who has hurt us deeply, we shall ask the Lord to give us the grace to forgive that person or persons. If there is some situation or event in our lives, that prevents us from coming closer to God, this is the moment for us to free ourselves from those situations and events.

Let our prayer be the following: “ Lord, each spring, you renew the face of the earth. May you also renew each of us, so that we may be able to celebrate Easter in newness of mind and heart.”

Adv.First Sunday,C,Dec.3,2000

It was in 1970 that along with a few priest friends of mine that I went to Calcutta to meet Mother Teresa and her sisters. Unfortunately Mother Teresa was not there, but we had a chance to visit the places of her work and the sisters who were working with her at that time. Later, when I was working at St. Matthew’s Cathedral here in Washington D.C. one of the priests at the rectory told me that Mother Teresa would be coming to the Cathedral along with the Cardinal for a short prayer. It was with real joy that I received the news and looked forward to greeting her and talking to her. A moment like this is an unforgettable event in our life, because of the waiting and expectations given for it.

We can then imagine how unbelievably great is the expectation that the humanity had in its waiting for the Redeemer. This season of Advent gives us an opportunity to renew and strengthen once again in our personal lives the expectation and the hope of the humanity for the Redeemer.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives dire predictions about the end of the world—total chaos and confusion. The disturbances in the planetary system will unleash feelings of fear in the minds of people. But it is not to fear and helplessness that He draws us, but to hope and confidence. For, he tells us: “Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” It is to our redemption, to our desire of enjoying unalloyed happiness that Jesus is drawing our attention. But he asks us to be vigilant at all times and not to allow ourselves to be subjugated by our selfishness and wanton pleasures of life.

These words of Jesus are very relevant to us as we begin to prepare ourselves during this advent season for the liturgical celebration of the birth of Christ. During this season we realize once again the ineffable magnificence of God who sent His son to forgive our sins, offered us the gift of His own life—the Holy spirit and made us call Him “ Abba.”

Advent is the time of hope in our lives. We have failed in the past, and have not been faithful to the Lord on many occasions. But today Jesus gives us another opportunity to start again, to renew our lives, to become more open and generous. Reflecting on the birth of Christ and what He has done for us gives an opportunity for a fresh start in our lives.

We have beautiful churches and Cathedrals, we have beautiful liturgies, we have solemn feasts and we feel happy about all these. But the saddest fact is that there is a lot of unhappiness in the world because half the world lives in extreme situations of poverty. We find the problems of poverty and crime in our neighborhoods, our families become disrupted through divorce, violence or abuse. Our hearts are sometimes very cold and unforgiving. Political ideologies and economic philosophies keep people apart. We also know the hundred of times we have harbored uncharitable thoughts about others and even some times have acted on them.

So what we are experiencing is a confusion in the inner planetary system of our lives. Our hearts and minds that should become blazing suns and moons because of the presence of our Redeemer are still in darkness. This Advent is the time for us to ask the Lord for the grace of conversion, of inner change to become people of love and forgiveness. All of us can improve—How? We can spend more time with the Lord daily, help some person in need, offer our services for the neighbor, control our selfishness, create a loving environment at home, and become friendly and helpful in our work places. That is the way this Advent is to be celebrated. As each candle is lighted on this wreath, so too the lights of love, forgiveness, compassion and helpfulness should be lighted in our hearts.

Then our hearts will be “blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones” as St. Paul reminds in his epistle that we have heard just now.