LIFE AFTER DEATH A CHRISTIAN REALITY

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Theme: Living in Hope 10-11-13 1st Reading Mac 7:1-2,7a,9-14 persecution of the Jews as a memory to the Jews’ symbolic martyrdom. 2nd Reading 2nd Thes 2:16, 3:5 Paul reminds the Thessalonians to do what is good. Gospel Luke 20:27-38 Jesus disproves the Sadducees’ misconception, ‘life after death’. We have been witnesses to scientific progress in preserving life. In creating life. In giving longevity to life. We have seen how hearts have been replaced, eyes have been replaced, cut limbs have been joined back. Destroyed features have been restored to beauty. All this is a sign of medical progress in giving man some hope in this world of ours. In doing this can we see any new dimensions in increasing hope in human need for peace, joy, love, unity, harmony and other values which are most essential for a Christian living? This is brought to real meaning only by one Person Jesus our redeemer who came from the father to reveal the reality of heaven, which is not seen by any one except him. We are nearing the end of one cycle in the liturgical year in the church’s life. As the Cycle C is coming to a close. The readings also remind the Christian believer about the end time. Our life is not just for today. It is meant for the life to come. We live in hope to be united with the creator who has not only given us life but also given us faith not because of our goodness but because of his generosity. We have read and reread the book of Maccabees. Their courage against the pagan king who wanted them to blaspheme and say evil against their only God. Their courage even to face death willingly is praise worthy for they have shown life does not end here and now but it is a continuation of God’s love even after death. In the second reading the love of Paul to Thessalonians is so great he encourages them to be faithful to a God who has been good to them. He even asks them to pray for each other’s welfare. Gospel is a reminder how the Sadducees and the leaders of the Jewish people wanted to trap Jesus Jesus is very aware of his forthcoming imminent death. The whole discourse between the Sadducees and Jesus is a reminder how they try to involve him through his death into their own legal complication. The Levirate law permitted the dead brother’s wife to marry the living one. This was the custom in the Jewish law. Here Jesus is being trapped into this legal tangle. But Jesus is cleaver. He knows the law and he tries to tell these ignorant leaders the death is like the one not according to their belief. After death the dead do not have a physical being like the one they imagine. It is a living being like that of the Angels. They were familiar with that idea even though they might have not seen an angel but the existence of angels was not disputed by them This traps them in their own argument. Sadducees were well versed in law. They could not be defeated in it’s knowledge. That is the reason they look so confident to defeat Jesus in seeking his opinion about the marriage after resurrection. Jesus is able to trap them in their own argument and defeat them in their own question. Today let us realize when people advertise the goodness of small family by saying to use so many banned versions of family planning. By encouraging people to resort to abortion to avoid unwanted pregnancy. To kill old people because they are burden on the young. Where are we heading we as Christians must be honest in living our vocation to be light way and truth. Life has lost it’s sublimity. It has become cheap, terrorists using living being to create terror and using suicidal living bombs to bring their values to reality. So many unwanted babies being murdered. Even some holy people cooperating in this evil venture. Where are we leading our life to? Can we bring some novelty to life we propose people to live? Have we the courage and confidence to do this like Jesus? In union with the divine word, Fr.Juze Vaz svd

My Life in the world

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Theme: My Life in the world 3-11-13 1st Reading Wis 11:22-12:1 God’s forbearance an opportunity to repent. 2nd Reading 2nd Thess 1:11-2:2 misunderstandings in Thessalonica are put to rest. Gospel Lk 19:1-10 Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus home. Often we have seen how we behave. When we are happy we enjoy, when sad we show our sadness. When we are curious we express it curiosity. We see today one of our feelings of curiosity expressed by the little fellow Zacchaeus. He climbed the sycamore tree to be able to relieve his curiosity about Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus in turn shows concern to a man who wanted to see him a childish way of having a glimpse of Jesus by climbing on a tree. We see how the second reading shows that we have to be ready at all time for an eventuality to be ready for our death. The first reading shows us how we have to be patient with God because he is patient with us. We have many defects, failures, sins etc which require God’s forgiveness. Jesus came to bring salvation to the human race. We are people who have experienced the Love of God. That is why we attempt to be true to our vocation as Christians. Going to mass, receiving sacraments, participating in various religious exercises. Our Christian vocation is invested with responsibility to be a sign. The signal we give everyday is the signal of a Christian who lives in hope. We have read and meditated on the readings on the Eucharist every Sunday when we are invited to be God’s people. Every time we participate in the Meal of the Lord we become shares of his glory. But it entails on a some responsibility of forgiveness which we have experienced in the life we have had lived. The first reading today reminds us how God mercifully waits for a very sinful person to return. Though this person might not belong to the people of God but because the creation is God’s action of his love for the nature. Here we have to live this wonder of his creation every day. The second reading is a reminder for each of us to be ready for the end of the world and life. Because our life is not permanent it ends at one or the other instant of the life we have. We have to be ready all the time. The Gospel is an self invitation of the master to a man who is eagerly waiting to have a glimpse of the great messiah he has so much heard of. He is so small he has to climb a sycamore tree to find a glimpse of the master and Jesus surprises him by going to the tree and invites himself to Zacchaeus house. Though God has created the whole universe and made us it’s protector. We have become so greedy for the use of the universe we try to use it to it maximum to the point of destroying it. We have to become aware of it God gives us many chances to be aware of the damage we cause to nature by its over use. The light, air, water, natural resources. How do we appreciate the world God has placed at our disposal? Our greed has multiplied to such extent we do not even know what we are doing. Some ten years a go our needs were not that complicated as today. Why are our needs are growing with leaps and bounds???? Today when the book of wisdom is warning us when God showed patience with the Egyptians though they were so bad he saved them from extinction just to give them an opportunity to repent. God never wants the created being be lost in any case. His love for us is boundless. As Zaccaeus became a new person when encountered with love he not only accepted his sinfulness but was willing to undo the wrong he cause with much compunction and repentance. What is our condition? Do we realize the need for repentance? Sorrow in our hearts is hidden so that it can emerge to gain credibility and our life by expressing it openly so it becomes a shining signal to our neighbor. Who ever it may be Christian as well as non Christian who comes in my contact may see me as a shining star in the dark night. This world is a place we come only once. We get only one chance. We can either use it profitably or loose our opportunity. This Sunday like Zacchaeus we can take some stand which might attract Jesus to us. It is always he who makes the first move to reach out to us if only we want him to reach to us. This will last permanently like the books we read from the Old Testament which show God’s abiding presence in the lives of his chosen people. With this hope let us participate in the Eucharist today and experience the presence of a living Jesus. In union with the divine word, Fr. Juze Vaz svd

humility in Prayer

30th Sunday in Ordinary time Year C Theme: humility in Prayer 27-10-13 1st Reading Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14, 16-19 Lord listens to the humble. 2nd Reading Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Paul sees his death as a sacrifice to God and the church. Gospel Luke 18:9-14 prayer of the publican. Our life is a constant struggle. When we begin our life we do not know what we will achieve. Our parents have a dream for us. When that dream is fulfilled the parents are proud of their children. We have a dream for our own future. We have many plans. We try to achieve these through various means in life. First and foremost we live in society which has it’s own rules and statutes. We try to adjust and make compromise to these values in life. We have religious community which backs our attempt to achieve our goal. We as Christians have some very demanding values. We call them virtues. Today we will try to meditate on the value of Humility. We say we have to be humble. We are instructed to practice humility. When it comes to putting it in to practice there are always hurdles which we have to surpass by prayer. Today the first reading tells us the value of humble supplication which surely reaches to the ear of the Almighty. Often when we pray our humility is not coming forth in reality. We have to really attempt to be humble of heart. This is come to light in the Gospel of today. We see two people in the temple where usual prayer takes place. Jesus locates in these men the idea of humility and pride. The Pharisee was not wrong enumerating his achievements. He was wrong while comparing himself that man behind. Do we not compare ourselves, when we come to church and hear the sermon and when it goes to our heart we say this value is not for me. For that person behind me. Yes Paul was an apostle chosen by direct intervention by Jesus for a special mission. He was accompanied by many disciples. They eventually had to leave his company. In today’s second reading we hear a cry of a person who has human feelings of abandonment by friends. But in his pain he forgets the mission God had entrusted to him. First time Paul’s human weakness is visible. We are given to understand this to be able to live our vocation with devotion to any duty God might have entrusted to us. We are in the world. To live our mission in whatever we do. As officials, as teachers, as administrators, as ordinary workers, as farmers, as officials in government office. We might be doing our ordinary duties. But when we do it with extraordinary devotion our mission becomes the mission of God’s presence. Shall we take this as our contribution to this world of ours. With much prayerful accompaniment to all of you Yours ever in the divine word, Fr. Juze vas svd

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

FAITH GIVES US LIFE 27TH SUNDAY YEAR 2013 YEAR C

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Theme: Faith gives us life 6-10-2013 1st Reading Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4 even if lawlessness prevail, the upright will live through faithfulness. 2nd Reading 2nd Timothy 1:6-8,13-14 Gifts that Timothy received, to live comfortably in faith Gospel Luke 17:5-10 Power of faith, and Humble service The veracity of our parents is never taken to question. We trust we are the children of our parents. Because they have loved us that is the reason we are in this world. This fact is the natural basis for our faith in God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit who have thought it fit to choose us to be Christians. The gift of faith in the divinely revealed religious faith is a mystery we try to understand and deepen everyday in the life we lead as Christians. In the first reading taken from one of the 12 minor prophets Habakkuk, gives us the inner dynamics of the gift of faith. It tells us Faith is the key to life. Gift is always given out of generosity and gratuitous nature of the giver is expressed in giving. The one who receives the gift has no right to choose the gift, or to make the gift as an option of his/her prerogative. Though often after a gift is given it becomes the property of the possessor, He/she may use it as he/she wants. There is where we either become aware of this tremendous gift and deepen it or loose it. In the case of Faith which is a gratuitous gift from God given to each of us. Faith becomes our possession but this possession has a mission to be shared. God wants each of us born here on this earth to be saved. God the father sent His only Son among us and saved us. Giving us the keys to the kingdom. According to Habakkuk, whatever the evils of this world the person of faith will win eventually. In the second reading the quality of faith is explained. Christ has over come death. He has shown the people who accept his redemption as a gift the way to be saved. This faith is so free and gratuitous we don’t even realize the significance of this gift as long as we do not become aware of it’s possession. That is why Paul admonishes Timothy to be firm in the teaching, “remain in faith and love that are in Jesus Christ.” This gives us our character never to be afraid of witnessing to Christ’s teachings. The Gospel we read today is a teaching by Jesus to us an exercise in understanding the power of faith. Jesus gives us a very unusual example of a mustard seed, a mountain being uprooted thrown into the sea, a sycamore tree uprooting and thrown into the sea. Rather impossible things look very difficult to achieve but Jesus has shown he could do this difficult easy. Look at the feeding of the people in the wilderness. Look at satisfying the wedding guests in the wedding feast with exceptional tasting wine. Look at the raising of Jairus daughter to life. Look at calming the sea when the disciples were afraid of drowning. Look at the man lying 36 years in the Decapolis when no one was there to put him in the pool of healing, being healed in a second. Look at the blind given sight, The lame given power to walk. Deaf the power to hear. The maimed to be whole again. The leper being cured of leprosy. Disciples catching a large catch of fish though they were fishermen still he was better than them when it came to using faith. So when Jesus admonishes us to be aware of the gift of faith he has given us, he cautions each one of us who have been chosen in a very special way as his witnesses to be his disciples. Do we have the courage to be the testimony of faith? The Greek word for faith carries the idea of firmness, certainty, and reliability. Faith is not just belief on certain truths. It is trust in a person. This is because that person is trustworthy. We trust in God because he is true and loves us dearly. Let us consider this. We have experienced Jesus love and compassion. His faith and vision to be our mission. Let it become a vibrant weapon of our witnessing this week. In union with the divine word, Fr. Juze Vaz svd

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26TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME : WEALTH WE USE

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Theme: Christian use wealth. 1st Reading Amos 6:1a,4-7 Amos warns the self-indulgent against their false sense of security. 2nd Reading 1 Tim 6:11-16 Timothy is exhorted on the sublimity of his vocation. Gospel Luke 16:19-31 Parable of Dives and Lazarus. Today the 26th Sunday gives us an opportunity to meditate on the progress we have made as human beings. We are Christians. Who live in this world. We are various types of works in the society. We are affected by developments. Natural calamities. The politics of the country makes us aware of the type of society that is formed by certain political decisions. Some times we become prey to the advertisements which are against our faith, we are in a dilemma because these are couched in honey but are sinful. We participate in the progress of the country, some times at the detriment of weaker section of the people, who are deprived of their rights by powerful by manipulation. We also see the many evils that are part and parcel of the countries progress. E.g globalization, secularization etc., Where some live in great comfort, where as some live in abject poverty. There are social activist who struggle for justice peace and righteousness. But just equality is far in coming. We see so much poverty in India. People living in sub-human situations on foot paths, on plat forms, side walks, in the open spaces where large buildings are built, where the children of the poor wallow in the mud and dirt. No one bothers. There may be some NGO or some religious congregations doing little to eliminate the poverty of these people. The poverty of poor people is an area where we Christian cannot close our eyes and move on. We are generous when there are natural tragedies. We do give generously when collections are made. We even volunteer when some one is in need. This Sunday’s readings challenge each one of us. To be aware of our mission as Christians, to care for the poor around us. In the first reading, Amos is warning the rich against their false security, he asks to open their eyes to the reality of time. Paul in the second reading forewarns Timothy of his vocation to strive to live to the call God has invited him in earnest. This may be a reminder to each of us to be honest with our Christian vocation and live it faithfully. In the Gospel we heard the oft repeated story of the poor Lazarus and the rich man. This gives us an inkling of the things that await a person does not bother about the poverty around him. We are people who live in a time where there is tremendous amount of progress in everything. We have better facilities when we compare our own lives and needs some ten years back. How do we use this progress? Do I live as committed Christian missionary? Or allowing the priests and sisters and lay missionaries to slog, only giving our bit when asked? Do we consciously come forward to do our missionary task of taking care of our neighbor? Often we Christians live compromising so many areas of our lives. Closing our eyes to the challenges of the time. How do we face the world of today? Do we realize when God has chosen us as Christians we have a responsibility to be a testimony of truth justice and love? In becoming aware of our vocation let us try to strive to live it faithfully. In union with the divine word, Fr. Juze Vaz svd