14th Sunday-C "The harvest is plentiful..."
Once I was talking to someone saying how Benjamin Franklin opened the first post office in Halifax, Canada in 1753. Once he said, "In wine, there is truth; in beer, there is freedom and in water, there is bacteria. Then I said, "The only thing that duct tape can not fix is men". He said, "What about women?" . "Women can fix any man in no time".
Once a priest was so frustrated because he could not collect enough money to fix the roof, so he said, "Every one in this parish will go to hell...." And one man in the back began to laugh. The priest said it again, "If you do not change your ways, every one in the parish will go to hell..." The man at the back began to laugh lauder. So the priest looked at him and asked him, "Why?" He said, "I do not belong to this parish. I am just a visitor". We do not consider anyone being visitor here, you are all parishioners.
Dear friends in Christ, in today's gospel Christ our Lord says, 'The harvest is plentiful but the laborors are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers into His harvest".
But today we meet with two groups of people; people who are worried about the church saying, "People don't come to church anymore...The people who are coming to church are getting older". The truth is more than 95 percent of the people do believe in God. What happened to people, when 9/11 happened? So many people came back to Church and many stayed behind and are still practicing their faith. The harvest is plentiful. We don't need to be afraid of people not coming to Church.
Once in a Oklohoma church, a minister tried his best to bring people to church but week after week...the church was losing people. At one point, he put an ad in the local news paper saying, "Our Church is dead and there will be a special funerel on Sunday afternoon and all the members and others are invited". People could not believe the ad and theyd wanted to know what was going on, so they all came. After the funerel celebration for the dead church, he opened the coffin and invited all to pay their last respect. Everyone was curious to see what was in the coffin and everyone who looked inside was so shocked. Because in the coffin, he placed a big Mirror.
Once somebody said to me, "O Father, you are so nice to us..." And I said, "Yes, of course, You are so wonderful and I am so happy to see you and once you settle down, then I will make you feel guilty and miserable". Once somebody asked a woman, "Do you ever wake up grumpy?" She said, "No, I just let him sleep".
The harvest is plentiful. Today we have more than billion people experiencing the love, kindness and forgiveness of God almighty. Today more than billing people believe in Christ the only Son of God. There are so many people coming to know Christ personally and do practice their faith.
Once a priest asked John Paul the Second, "Your Holiness, what should we do to increase vocation to priesthood...we do not have many priests?" Do you know what he said? He said, "Live your own vocation joyfully..." Yes, when we celebrate our coming to Church and practicing our faith, the others may be influenced and do come to Church.
The other church where I was hundred years ago, I used to see people after Mass looking contipated... so unhappy.
Once as a man was retiring from his job, the boss said, 'you were a very good builder and you did everything well. Before your retirement, I want you to build one last house for me. The man was not happy but accepted and did not use all his skills. He used cheap materials and did not take enough time to go through things. Anyhow he finished building the house and gave the key to the boss and said, "Now let me go". The boss then said, "This key belongs to you and as an appreciation of your hard work, I would like to give you this house to you".
As we step into this Church, we all become laborers of His field. The harvest is plentiful and it is up to us to go out and gather the harvest...So everything that we do, let us do for the glory of God.
And there is another group of people who keep saying, " Why are these people coming to Church? They should not be here and so on. Once a man came to me and said, "Father, that family should not sit in the front pew." And I asked, "why?" Do you know what he said. He said, "They look always happy". We do not like humour, joy and fun in Church. Bur everytime you come... the priest says, "To celebrate the Holy Mass..." We would like to celebrate Mass but like to be sad.
Once a rich man announced saying, "If any one swims across my swimming pool which is filled with sharks and allagators, I will give you anything you want". By then a man jumped in the pool and was smimming as fast as he could avoiding the sharks and allegators and reached the otherside safely. The rich man looked at him and said, "you did well...my son. Now ask me anything you want, I will give you. I promise I will give you" The man said, "More than anything, I want to know who pushed me into the water".
Sad laborors never reap a good harvest and that is why once St. Teresa of Avila said, "A sad nun is a bad nun...I am afraid of one sad nun than a legion of devils".
We could easily feel low thinking that the harvest is plentiful and what can I do by myself. Today the great sin of the church is the sin of silence. We have to share our faith-story with one another. If we make a small change in one person's life, that will bring life in many like that little boy who was throwing a star fish into the ocean and when he was asked what he was doing he said, "I am making a difference". People laoughed at him saying, "there are so many starfish on the shore and how can you make a difference. For that he took a small starfish throwing into the sea said, "I make a difference for this small one..." we should always remember that only a little drop of water makes a mighty ocean.
We are here to share the joy of the gospel with one another. We are His laborors. Intead of saying that the church is getting old and dying, instead of saying, these people and those people should not come to church, let us focus on Christ the Messiaha who says that the Harvest is plentiful, therefore let us go into the field and spread the good news of salvation. Amen.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Friday, June 24, 2016
Graduation Mass
GRADUATION
GRADUATION MASS
Now I am going to tell you a story about a boy who was very ordinary and simple but He was holding on to something very important. Because of the very thing, He attracted so many people. Even masters and leaders came to listen to him. When they asked for what he was holding on to, he gave them all freely. some of them could touch it and others could only smell it and some others could only feel it and every one according to his or her way of approach. But they all experienced it.
The boy name is Jesus. At the age of twelve, when He was found in the temple of Jerusalem sitting among all the wise and smart people and all those rich and spirit filled people, He gave them all more than a thing called "Faith". Yes, He gave them all faith.
you were all given through the sacrament of baptism. people who are committed to the love of God can taste it, experience it and even see it. During these eight years at St. Paul's school, you have been given faith again and again in many ways. every time you went to school, every time you spent time with your friends and every time you came to church to celebrate Christ, you received faith and now you are going away from the school not leaving your faith behind but taking your faith with you.
when you keep your faith alive, you will grow and multiply as thirty, sixty and hundredfold. keep your faith alive and you will be stronger in everything and today's gospel invites you to deepen your faith in Christ our Lord. So let us keep your faith and multiply. Amen.
GRADUATION MASS
Now I am going to tell you a story about a boy who was very ordinary and simple but He was holding on to something very important. Because of the very thing, He attracted so many people. Even masters and leaders came to listen to him. When they asked for what he was holding on to, he gave them all freely. some of them could touch it and others could only smell it and some others could only feel it and every one according to his or her way of approach. But they all experienced it.
The boy name is Jesus. At the age of twelve, when He was found in the temple of Jerusalem sitting among all the wise and smart people and all those rich and spirit filled people, He gave them all more than a thing called "Faith". Yes, He gave them all faith.
you were all given through the sacrament of baptism. people who are committed to the love of God can taste it, experience it and even see it. During these eight years at St. Paul's school, you have been given faith again and again in many ways. every time you went to school, every time you spent time with your friends and every time you came to church to celebrate Christ, you received faith and now you are going away from the school not leaving your faith behind but taking your faith with you.
when you keep your faith alive, you will grow and multiply as thirty, sixty and hundredfold. keep your faith alive and you will be stronger in everything and today's gospel invites you to deepen your faith in Christ our Lord. So let us keep your faith and multiply. Amen.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
13th Sunday-C
Following Christ Jesus-13th Sunday "C"
Good morning/evening every one, I am happy to welcome all our summer parishioners, visitors, parishioners and every one here today. Christ Jesus called us all in a special way to follow Him. So let us prepare ourselves to celebrate His Sacred mistery called to mind our shortcomings and sins.
Once a man as he walked with his friends said, "Look at new my dog. This is a very special one and now you will understand how..." Then he threw a piece of wood out in the water and his dog right away ran on the top of the water and picked it up and brought it back to him. The dog was so amazing walking on the water. The man said, "What do you think about my special dog.." His friend looked at him and the dog and said, "How come your dog doesn't know swimming".
Today's gospel invites us to reflect on and know that Christ Jesus is constantly calling us to follow Him but the call is not like any other ordinary invitation but a special and extraordinary Call.
As Christ our Lord is going along the road with all of His apostles, followers and others, a scribe comes to Him and says, "I will follow you wherever you go..." In other words, "I am ready to sacrifice my phiscal comfort to be with you". Christ who knows the inner thoughts of all... does not advice him to follow instead He talks about the physical discomfort he is going to face saying, "Foxes and birds have shelters. Creatures have their basic comfort and the son of man (Ben Adam) does not have even a place to lay His head.
Once a non-Catholic said, "What is going on in your church. People stand, sit, kneeldown, bow, walk and again repeat the same. It's so exhausting". Our rituals may look exhausting for others but the physical discipline helps us to unite our body and mind and be one with God. The very word 'Disciple' comes from discipline. Discipline demands giving up something to achieve something greater. But by complaining, nothing is going to be achieved.
Once a priest had a parishioner who never stopped complaining for each and everything. One day he, in order to make her happpy, said, "Every one says that your potetoes are the best, you are growing every healthy potetoes.... that is wonderful". She replied saying, they are true but I am not happy because, if I don't have bad ones how will I feed the pigs".
Physical discipline helps us to lot to improve our self-confidence. For example, setting goal to lose weight or getting up at certain time or doing physical exercise and so on.
There are two kinds of people. Morning people and people who want to shoot morning people.
To the second person, Jesus says, "Follow me". He responds saying, "Let me go and bury my father..." It's about emotional challenge.
Once a man prayed to God saying, "God, please help me, I am suffering..." and God appeared to him and said, " I am going to help you and before that, get me a glass of water from that house..." He went into the house and thirty five years later, because he fell in love with the woman in that house and had two children, called the Lord again saying, "Lord, help me, I am suffering". God looked at him and said, "Where is my water".
How is our emotional attachment with others? does it help to say, "yes" to the Lord or stop us from loving him wiht all our heart, mind, body and soul. Any human connection should help us to find God each and every day and thus grow spiritually and have deeper inner peace. They say, "One non-church goer can easily influence negatively and stop others from going to church and it takes at least four church goers to influence one non-church goer to bring back to church.
The thir person also says to Christ, " Let me go and kiss good bye to my momy and daddy."
Many of you have seen Mormon missionaries riding their bicks, wearing dark pants, white shirts and ties. Let me tell you more about their life-style. They do not see their families during the two years of their mission service. They are allowed to call home only on Christmas and Mother's day. Their day begins at 6.30 in the morning with Bible study and prayer. Then they work until 9.30pm. This becomes their routine for six days a week. No Tv, No movies or dates for two years. Though we have some serious theological issues with mormons, we can not deny their mission commitment. Commitment is the key and that is why they are growing so rapidly in Canada today.
Conclusion:
Are we like the apostles saying, "Yes.." to the Lord when He calls us and follow Him or like these three people who had different challenges and went away from the Lord. Christ needs committed, dedicated disciples like you and me and keep saying, "Yes, Lord I will follow you by my words and needs". So let us follow the Lord who is our way, the truth and life.... Amen.
Good morning/evening every one, I am happy to welcome all our summer parishioners, visitors, parishioners and every one here today. Christ Jesus called us all in a special way to follow Him. So let us prepare ourselves to celebrate His Sacred mistery called to mind our shortcomings and sins.
Once a man as he walked with his friends said, "Look at new my dog. This is a very special one and now you will understand how..." Then he threw a piece of wood out in the water and his dog right away ran on the top of the water and picked it up and brought it back to him. The dog was so amazing walking on the water. The man said, "What do you think about my special dog.." His friend looked at him and the dog and said, "How come your dog doesn't know swimming".
Today's gospel invites us to reflect on and know that Christ Jesus is constantly calling us to follow Him but the call is not like any other ordinary invitation but a special and extraordinary Call.
As Christ our Lord is going along the road with all of His apostles, followers and others, a scribe comes to Him and says, "I will follow you wherever you go..." In other words, "I am ready to sacrifice my phiscal comfort to be with you". Christ who knows the inner thoughts of all... does not advice him to follow instead He talks about the physical discomfort he is going to face saying, "Foxes and birds have shelters. Creatures have their basic comfort and the son of man (Ben Adam) does not have even a place to lay His head.
Once a non-Catholic said, "What is going on in your church. People stand, sit, kneeldown, bow, walk and again repeat the same. It's so exhausting". Our rituals may look exhausting for others but the physical discipline helps us to unite our body and mind and be one with God. The very word 'Disciple' comes from discipline. Discipline demands giving up something to achieve something greater. But by complaining, nothing is going to be achieved.
Once a priest had a parishioner who never stopped complaining for each and everything. One day he, in order to make her happpy, said, "Every one says that your potetoes are the best, you are growing every healthy potetoes.... that is wonderful". She replied saying, they are true but I am not happy because, if I don't have bad ones how will I feed the pigs".
Physical discipline helps us to lot to improve our self-confidence. For example, setting goal to lose weight or getting up at certain time or doing physical exercise and so on.
There are two kinds of people. Morning people and people who want to shoot morning people.
To the second person, Jesus says, "Follow me". He responds saying, "Let me go and bury my father..." It's about emotional challenge.
Once a man prayed to God saying, "God, please help me, I am suffering..." and God appeared to him and said, " I am going to help you and before that, get me a glass of water from that house..." He went into the house and thirty five years later, because he fell in love with the woman in that house and had two children, called the Lord again saying, "Lord, help me, I am suffering". God looked at him and said, "Where is my water".
How is our emotional attachment with others? does it help to say, "yes" to the Lord or stop us from loving him wiht all our heart, mind, body and soul. Any human connection should help us to find God each and every day and thus grow spiritually and have deeper inner peace. They say, "One non-church goer can easily influence negatively and stop others from going to church and it takes at least four church goers to influence one non-church goer to bring back to church.
The thir person also says to Christ, " Let me go and kiss good bye to my momy and daddy."
Many of you have seen Mormon missionaries riding their bicks, wearing dark pants, white shirts and ties. Let me tell you more about their life-style. They do not see their families during the two years of their mission service. They are allowed to call home only on Christmas and Mother's day. Their day begins at 6.30 in the morning with Bible study and prayer. Then they work until 9.30pm. This becomes their routine for six days a week. No Tv, No movies or dates for two years. Though we have some serious theological issues with mormons, we can not deny their mission commitment. Commitment is the key and that is why they are growing so rapidly in Canada today.
Conclusion:
Are we like the apostles saying, "Yes.." to the Lord when He calls us and follow Him or like these three people who had different challenges and went away from the Lord. Christ needs committed, dedicated disciples like you and me and keep saying, "Yes, Lord I will follow you by my words and needs". So let us follow the Lord who is our way, the truth and life.... Amen.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Father's day
Father's day celebration and Mass
Good morning/evening every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today's Holy Mass and our special welcome to all our summer parishioners, visitors, parishioners and every one here today. As we thank God for all our fathers here today as we are celebrating Father's day, let us ask our God Father to forgive our sins and thus prepare ourselves to celebrate His Sacred mistery.
Good morning every one, we are so happy to welcome all our visitors in a special way today. Once a man called his brother and said, "Our dad is dying and please come home and before the brother came home, the dad passed way, so he asked his brother, "What was our father's last word? What did he say?" the brother said, "Our dad did not have a last word?" What and how come. He did not have any last word at all because our mother was with him till the end.
Once a little boy looked at his dad and said, "Dady, are you the boss of the house?' The dad said, "Yes...of course..." then the boy continued and said, "it's because mom put you in charge right?"
Once a man was telling his friend, "it's late and I have to go home?" The friend said, "why are you afraid of your wife? are you a man or a mouce? the man said, "One thing I know that I am not a mouse becasue my wife is afraid of mice"
A small boy came up to his dad and meekly said "Daddy, Daddy, can I have another glass of water please?" The dad replied "But I've given you 10 glasses of water already son!" The little boy then said, "Oh yes daddy, but the bedroom is still on fire!".
I got my Dad a GPS for Father’s Day. Now someone other than my mom can tell him where to go.
Today we celebrate fathers who dedicate their lives for the well-being of their family. We celebrate fathers who promote justice and peace in our society. A father makes his family stronger and united. He is an essential figure in a christian family and he plays a vital role to bring faith in every member of the family.
One day a dad who was getting ready to go to his work saw one of his sons using his electric shaver and trying to shave his head. He got mad and said, ‘what are you doing? Do not you have better things to do? Do not make me mad. The son looked at him and said, “If you get mad at me then go and look at Charlie. He went and saw Charlie who already shaved his head. The dad was so mad and said to them, ‘why are you doing like this?” what are you trying to prove? They look at their dad and said, “Dad, we want to be like you.”
Children imitate their parents especially their dads. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was like His earthly Father Joseph. He continued his dad’s trade of being a carpenter. The bible says only one word about Joseph that is Joseph was a just man. It means he kept all the commandments of God our father and fulfilled the duty of looking after Mary and Jesus. Because of his dedication and faithfulness, angels appeared in his dreams and guided him to do great things for his family and society. When parents practice their faith, children will also imitate. Yes, from fullness only fullness will come out.
One day, a dad saw his son trying to move a heavy rock. He said to his son, “Son, are you using all your energy to move the rock?’ the son who was so exhausted said, ‘yes, dad of course”. Then he looked at his son and said, “No son you are not. You did not ask my help’
Fathers make a big difference in children’s lives. They by their examples and words make them stronger and bigger. So as we celebrate Father’s day let us pray to our triune God to shower upon them His countless Blessings.
Once a group of children went to see an ocean for the first time and when
they came back to school the next day, they were all sharing their
experience with others and said, 'no one can swim across the ocean'. And
then one of them who never saw an ocean said, "don't say that no one can
swim across the ocean.My dad can do anything". Fathers are role models and guide. They build and shape their children's
future. So let us thank God for all the fathers today who nourished us physically
and spiritually. Let us thank God for them because they make our world
more beautiful and more meaningful.
Today's gospel, the disciples are confessing that Christ is the Messiah, the living god, the Christ and let us join them to thank Jesus for showing us the Father who blessed us with our earthly fathers. Amen
Good morning/evening every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today's Holy Mass and our special welcome to all our summer parishioners, visitors, parishioners and every one here today. As we thank God for all our fathers here today as we are celebrating Father's day, let us ask our God Father to forgive our sins and thus prepare ourselves to celebrate His Sacred mistery.
Good morning every one, we are so happy to welcome all our visitors in a special way today. Once a man called his brother and said, "Our dad is dying and please come home and before the brother came home, the dad passed way, so he asked his brother, "What was our father's last word? What did he say?" the brother said, "Our dad did not have a last word?" What and how come. He did not have any last word at all because our mother was with him till the end.
Once a little boy looked at his dad and said, "Dady, are you the boss of the house?' The dad said, "Yes...of course..." then the boy continued and said, "it's because mom put you in charge right?"
Once a man was telling his friend, "it's late and I have to go home?" The friend said, "why are you afraid of your wife? are you a man or a mouce? the man said, "One thing I know that I am not a mouse becasue my wife is afraid of mice"
A small boy came up to his dad and meekly said "Daddy, Daddy, can I have another glass of water please?" The dad replied "But I've given you 10 glasses of water already son!" The little boy then said, "Oh yes daddy, but the bedroom is still on fire!".
I got my Dad a GPS for Father’s Day. Now someone other than my mom can tell him where to go.
Today we celebrate fathers who dedicate their lives for the well-being of their family. We celebrate fathers who promote justice and peace in our society. A father makes his family stronger and united. He is an essential figure in a christian family and he plays a vital role to bring faith in every member of the family.
One day a dad who was getting ready to go to his work saw one of his sons using his electric shaver and trying to shave his head. He got mad and said, ‘what are you doing? Do not you have better things to do? Do not make me mad. The son looked at him and said, “If you get mad at me then go and look at Charlie. He went and saw Charlie who already shaved his head. The dad was so mad and said to them, ‘why are you doing like this?” what are you trying to prove? They look at their dad and said, “Dad, we want to be like you.”
Children imitate their parents especially their dads. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was like His earthly Father Joseph. He continued his dad’s trade of being a carpenter. The bible says only one word about Joseph that is Joseph was a just man. It means he kept all the commandments of God our father and fulfilled the duty of looking after Mary and Jesus. Because of his dedication and faithfulness, angels appeared in his dreams and guided him to do great things for his family and society. When parents practice their faith, children will also imitate. Yes, from fullness only fullness will come out.
One day, a dad saw his son trying to move a heavy rock. He said to his son, “Son, are you using all your energy to move the rock?’ the son who was so exhausted said, ‘yes, dad of course”. Then he looked at his son and said, “No son you are not. You did not ask my help’
Fathers make a big difference in children’s lives. They by their examples and words make them stronger and bigger. So as we celebrate Father’s day let us pray to our triune God to shower upon them His countless Blessings.
Once a group of children went to see an ocean for the first time and when
they came back to school the next day, they were all sharing their
experience with others and said, 'no one can swim across the ocean'. And
then one of them who never saw an ocean said, "don't say that no one can
swim across the ocean.My dad can do anything". Fathers are role models and guide. They build and shape their children's
future. So let us thank God for all the fathers today who nourished us physically
and spiritually. Let us thank God for them because they make our world
more beautiful and more meaningful.
Today's gospel, the disciples are confessing that Christ is the Messiah, the living god, the Christ and let us join them to thank Jesus for showing us the Father who blessed us with our earthly fathers. Amen
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