12th Sunday in ordinary time-C
Good morning/evening every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Our special welcome to all our parishioners, cottagers, visitors and every one here today. Dear friends, every time we come to church, we are blessed to join the apostles and say, ‘Jesus, you are the only Son of God and Savior”. Every time we come here, we praise and glorify Christ and say, “Jesus, you are the beginning and End and because of you, we live, move and have our being. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we are given enough grace to take up the cross and follow the Lord.
Once after reading this exact gospel, a bishop looked at people and said, “Now I am going to bless you all with your crosses. So please life your crosses up, thinking that they were going to lift their pain, suffering and challenges up but instead, they all lifted up their spouses”.
In today’s gospel, Jesus our Lord says, if you want to become my disciple, renounce or deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me”
Once a man who was really suffering because his cross, continued to pray to God saying, “God, please kindly take this cross away from me. you may give any cross except this one. His prayers went on for many months and then one day, God appeared to him saying, “ My child, I heard your prayer and I am going to remove your cross and I am also going to let you choose your own cross”. He then took him to a big place where he was so many crosses, big and small, heavy and light. He looked at all the crosses but he did not like anything at all. he then finally looked at a little beautiful cross in a corner and he right away grabbed that one saying, “Dear God, please let me have this one. I will be so satisfied with this little cross”. God said, “Of course my son, you can have this little cross”. As he was walking out with that beautiful little cross, God said, ’Son by the way, you should know that this is the cross, you were all along crossing”. Then God said, “I will never give you anything that you can not carry”.
That is our God. He loves us unconditionally and fills us all with more strength and courage.
And in today’s Gospel, Jesus says, If we want to become His disciples, we should deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him.
1. Becoming His disciple means, investing more time to know the invisible. It is going beyond reality. We are so limited with what we see and understand. But as disciples of Christ we are so blessed to know the invisible through visible that is Christ our Lord. He was an ordinary human person like you and me and taught us how to surpass visible things and connect ourselves with invisible and heavenly things. we should sit at His feet and listen to His divine words as Mary did. people criticized her for sitting at His feet and listening. Even her own sister came to Jesus and said, “Jesus, tell my sister to help me. she is just sitting at your feet and listening to what you are saying’. She is not active but passive. She is not productive but useless. And Christ our Lord, looked at her and said, “Martha...Martha... you are busy and anxious and you are worried about so many world things but look at your sister Mary. She has chosen the best part and that will never be taken away from her. Becoming a disciple of Christ means, just sitting at His feet and listening.
Jesus says if you want to become my disciple, deny yourself .
It means denying your human nature and hold on to your new self. As Christ died on the Cross for our sins, we became new in Christ. We are God’s children. we should let the old self go. We should replace our old angers with new acceptance; we should replace our hated with love and forgiveness. Denying oneself means having courage to let our anxiety and stress go and embrace with peace and harmony.
Jesus our Lord asks us to take up our cross and follow Him.
A disciple is the one who reflects the Master and by seeing the disciple, the world will come to know the Master. if we are to be disciples of Christ, then we have to like our Master should carry our crosses, not for our own welfare but for the sake of others and for our community. As we carry the cross, then we will begin to have a deeper spiritual experiences and join the apostles and say, “Jesus, you are the only son of God. you are the beginning and end. with you, everything becomes possible.
Therefore let us deny ourselves and carry our crosses and follow Christ our Lord. Amen.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Ascension and Mother's day
The Ascension of the Lord
Good morning every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Our special welcome to all our parishioners, cottagers, visitors and everyone. Dear friends, every time we come to church, we celebrate God our Father who has motherly love for us all, every time we come here we celebrate Christ the descendent one who ascended for us to take us with Him and every time we come to church, we celebrate life in the spirit.
once an angel of the Lord appeared to three wise men and said, “I want to conceal the most precious gift of God namely His own image from man and how can I do it?’ The first wise man said, “you may hide it on the top of the highest mountain on earth where no one can go”. But the angel refused saying man could reach it. The second wise man said, ‘hide it in the depth of the deepest sea”. The angel again refused the idea saying man could reach it and then the last wise man said, “please hide it on the far side of the moon and man can not reach it’. The angel smiled at him and said even there man could reach it. Then the angel said, “I am going to conceal the image of God where people would never think of looking. I will put it into their hearts. There it will never be discovered”.
Thus the image and likeness of God was concealed in the hearts of people and they could not find it at all. Many tried their best but they all failed. They longed for someone to descend from heaven to discover their God-given image. Then finally our Lord Jesus Christ who descended from heaven and saying that we belong to God and God alone. He gave us the courage to call God Father. By His preaching and teaching, miracles and wonders, He let the people to see the image and likeness of God in them. When people discovered their divine belonging, they began to long for God. Christ our Lord brought love, kindness and forgiveness of God almighty to all and thus they began to see the image of god in them.
Even after His resurrection, He stayed with them for forty day appearing to them and giving them peace and prosperity to grow stronger and at last on the fortieth day, in their
their presence the descended one ascended to heaven. Christ our Lord before His ascension asked His apostles, disciples and followers to go everywhere to preach the good news of salvation to all saying, therefore go everywhere and baptized them all in the name of the father, son and the holy spirit. As He ascended, He promised his disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to guide and protect them. The disciples after Pentecost went everywhere as Christ our Lord directed and began to preach the Good News of salvation to all.
Christ our Lord, after His resurrection, for forty days stayed on earth, appearing to His disciples and preparing them to send them out to preach the Good News of the gospel. Then on the fortieth day, in the presence of His disciples and of all his followers, was taken up to heaven. Yes, He who descended ascended into heaven.
1. The Ascension of the Lord tells us where the Risen Christ is now: He is now sitting at the right hand of the father, and fulfilling all our needs. The good Shepherd is looking after his sheep. The Jesus who lived, died and came back to life is still with us, every time we pray, read the bible and come to Church, we can experience his presence among us.
2. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus tells us why Christ appeared to His disciples: He appeared to them to leave behind their fears and anxieties. They were afraid of authorities and were hiding behind locked doors. Every time, Christ appeared to them, he gave them peace and hope and strengthened them to face the world with his love and kindness. He promised them saying, 'don't be afraid, I will be with you until the end of time".
3. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again on the last day. His coming will be our glory and joy. He comes to judge us and those who follow him, will have life everlasting. And we who follow him will be given new life, so let us eagerly wait for the day.
4. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that those who follow him should go out and preach the good news to all, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says we don't need to be worried of what to say and how to say, because everything will be given to us at that time. So let us celebrate his resurrection and ascension and celebrate our life in Him.
Good morning every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Our special welcome to all our parishioners, cottagers, visitors and everyone. Dear friends, every time we come to church, we celebrate God our Father who has motherly love for us all, every time we come here we celebrate Christ the descendent one who ascended for us to take us with Him and every time we come to church, we celebrate life in the spirit.
once an angel of the Lord appeared to three wise men and said, “I want to conceal the most precious gift of God namely His own image from man and how can I do it?’ The first wise man said, “you may hide it on the top of the highest mountain on earth where no one can go”. But the angel refused saying man could reach it. The second wise man said, ‘hide it in the depth of the deepest sea”. The angel again refused the idea saying man could reach it and then the last wise man said, “please hide it on the far side of the moon and man can not reach it’. The angel smiled at him and said even there man could reach it. Then the angel said, “I am going to conceal the image of God where people would never think of looking. I will put it into their hearts. There it will never be discovered”.
Thus the image and likeness of God was concealed in the hearts of people and they could not find it at all. Many tried their best but they all failed. They longed for someone to descend from heaven to discover their God-given image. Then finally our Lord Jesus Christ who descended from heaven and saying that we belong to God and God alone. He gave us the courage to call God Father. By His preaching and teaching, miracles and wonders, He let the people to see the image and likeness of God in them. When people discovered their divine belonging, they began to long for God. Christ our Lord brought love, kindness and forgiveness of God almighty to all and thus they began to see the image of god in them.
Even after His resurrection, He stayed with them for forty day appearing to them and giving them peace and prosperity to grow stronger and at last on the fortieth day, in their
their presence the descended one ascended to heaven. Christ our Lord before His ascension asked His apostles, disciples and followers to go everywhere to preach the good news of salvation to all saying, therefore go everywhere and baptized them all in the name of the father, son and the holy spirit. As He ascended, He promised his disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to guide and protect them. The disciples after Pentecost went everywhere as Christ our Lord directed and began to preach the Good News of salvation to all.
Christ our Lord, after His resurrection, for forty days stayed on earth, appearing to His disciples and preparing them to send them out to preach the Good News of the gospel. Then on the fortieth day, in the presence of His disciples and of all his followers, was taken up to heaven. Yes, He who descended ascended into heaven.
1. The Ascension of the Lord tells us where the Risen Christ is now: He is now sitting at the right hand of the father, and fulfilling all our needs. The good Shepherd is looking after his sheep. The Jesus who lived, died and came back to life is still with us, every time we pray, read the bible and come to Church, we can experience his presence among us.
2. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus tells us why Christ appeared to His disciples: He appeared to them to leave behind their fears and anxieties. They were afraid of authorities and were hiding behind locked doors. Every time, Christ appeared to them, he gave them peace and hope and strengthened them to face the world with his love and kindness. He promised them saying, 'don't be afraid, I will be with you until the end of time".
3. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again on the last day. His coming will be our glory and joy. He comes to judge us and those who follow him, will have life everlasting. And we who follow him will be given new life, so let us eagerly wait for the day.
4. The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that those who follow him should go out and preach the good news to all, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says we don't need to be worried of what to say and how to say, because everything will be given to us at that time. So let us celebrate his resurrection and ascension and celebrate our life in Him.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Divine Mercy Sunday
Good morning every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Today the Holy Catholic Church celebrates the solemn feast of the divine mercy called divine mercy Sunday. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we celebrate divine mercy, we are given divine mercy to continue our mission of preaching the Good News of our Risen Christ to all and every time we come to Church, we are called to share divine mercy with our brothers and sisters in need.
Once there was a servant who used to bring fresh fruits to the king every morning. The king enjoyed the fresh fruits and one day, the king was in a very bad mood. As the servant brought some fresh black berries, he tasted it and did not like it so he vented his anger by throwing the berries on his face. Then the servant bowed before the king and said, “God is merciful”. The king looked at him and said, ‘why do you say God is merciful?’ The servant said because this morning I thought of bringing you pineapple but I changed my mind for that I am saying that God is merciful.
Once a mother sought from King Napoleon pardon of her son. But the king said that it was the man’s second offence and justice demanded his death. She then looked at him and said, “I am here not for justice but for mercy. The king said, he does not deserve mercy. She then said it would not be mercy if he deserved it and mercy is all I ask. Then the king looked at her and said, “Then I have mercy for your son”.
Dear friends, we do not need justice from our God but mercy and compassion. Our God is full of mercy and compassion and that is why He sent His only Son Christ to us all. Today we celebrate divine mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul the second blessed the second Sunday of Easter as divine mercy Sunday. As we all know the story of Sister Faustina to whom Jesus our Lord appeared and asked her to let the world know how much he loves us and has compassion for us all. This private apparition and revelation does not reveal some thing new to the world but instead give us reassurance of God’s mercy and compassion for the world.
This divine mercy we are going to recall three importance things such as Ask trust and share. Yes, we are called to ask God for his mercy and compassion without any hesitation. Jesus promises that those who ask will receive not thirty or sixty but hundred fold of love, kindness and mercy. To those who ask the gift of the Holy Spirit is given. Let our prayer of thanksgiving and spiritual celebration becomes a form of asking God our father.
The divine mercy Sunday also invites us to trust in the mercy of god our father. Yes, every time people came to Christ for healing, all He asked them was, “ do you have faith? Or do you believe and trust and when they said, “Yes” lord we trust in you and Christ said, your faith has healed you, go in peace. Let us trust in God and celebrate as though we have received it already.
And the divine mercy Sunday invites us to share the divine mercy with others. The whole of Christianity is based on serving others. Dear friends, our loving saviour will judge us on how we served and helped others. Any thing we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to the Lord. So let us celebrate divine mercy and recall the goodness of the Lord. Amen.
Good morning every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Today the Holy Catholic Church celebrates the solemn feast of the divine mercy called divine mercy Sunday. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we celebrate divine mercy, we are given divine mercy to continue our mission of preaching the Good News of our Risen Christ to all and every time we come to Church, we are called to share divine mercy with our brothers and sisters in need.
Once there was a servant who used to bring fresh fruits to the king every morning. The king enjoyed the fresh fruits and one day, the king was in a very bad mood. As the servant brought some fresh black berries, he tasted it and did not like it so he vented his anger by throwing the berries on his face. Then the servant bowed before the king and said, “God is merciful”. The king looked at him and said, ‘why do you say God is merciful?’ The servant said because this morning I thought of bringing you pineapple but I changed my mind for that I am saying that God is merciful.
Once a mother sought from King Napoleon pardon of her son. But the king said that it was the man’s second offence and justice demanded his death. She then looked at him and said, “I am here not for justice but for mercy. The king said, he does not deserve mercy. She then said it would not be mercy if he deserved it and mercy is all I ask. Then the king looked at her and said, “Then I have mercy for your son”.
Dear friends, we do not need justice from our God but mercy and compassion. Our God is full of mercy and compassion and that is why He sent His only Son Christ to us all. Today we celebrate divine mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul the second blessed the second Sunday of Easter as divine mercy Sunday. As we all know the story of Sister Faustina to whom Jesus our Lord appeared and asked her to let the world know how much he loves us and has compassion for us all. This private apparition and revelation does not reveal some thing new to the world but instead give us reassurance of God’s mercy and compassion for the world.
This divine mercy we are going to recall three importance things such as Ask trust and share. Yes, we are called to ask God for his mercy and compassion without any hesitation. Jesus promises that those who ask will receive not thirty or sixty but hundred fold of love, kindness and mercy. To those who ask the gift of the Holy Spirit is given. Let our prayer of thanksgiving and spiritual celebration becomes a form of asking God our father.
The divine mercy Sunday also invites us to trust in the mercy of god our father. Yes, every time people came to Christ for healing, all He asked them was, “ do you have faith? Or do you believe and trust and when they said, “Yes” lord we trust in you and Christ said, your faith has healed you, go in peace. Let us trust in God and celebrate as though we have received it already.
And the divine mercy Sunday invites us to share the divine mercy with others. The whole of Christianity is based on serving others. Dear friends, our loving saviour will judge us on how we served and helped others. Any thing we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to the Lord. So let us celebrate divine mercy and recall the goodness of the Lord. Amen.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
holy Thursday
Holy Thursday…
Good evening every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Today our Holy Catholic Church celebrates Holy Thursday. It is called Maundy Thursday. The word Maundy comes from the Latin word ‘Mandatum’ which means commandment. On this day, Jesus gives a new commandment to His apostles saying, “Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another”. Yes, it’s divine love that makes the world beautiful. It is out of love, God made this world and out of love for humanity. God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to us. When we think about God, we right away think about His unending love. Today on this Holy Thursday, Jesus gives His apostles a new commandment saying love one another as I have loved you. How much did He love us? When a man asked Jesus, “Jesus how much do you love me?’ He stretched out His hands and said, this much and died on the cross for us all.
On this day we celebrate the washing of the feet. This event shows the humility of the Master. Jesus not only said that He came to serve but He put it into practice. He knelt before His disciples who called Him Master, Teacher, Lord, Messiah and Son of God and washed their feet and died them with a towel. By doing this He proved to all that He came for humanity and humanity belonged to Him. He wants His people to belong to God alone who is full of love and compassion. Their sins and wrongs doings cannot stop God from loving them.
Today we celebrate the institution of the Holy Eucharist, During last supper, Jesus our Lord took the bread and broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, “take this all of you and eat it. This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this in memory of me. In the same manner, He look the wine and gave it to His disciples and said, ‘take this all of you and drink from it. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me”.
Dear friends, every time thus we celebrate the holy Eucharist we remember the greatest event, the body and blood of Christ we eat and become like Christ our lord. Yes we receive the new commandment namely loving one another as he our master loved us.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
4 lent-C
4lent-C
Today’s gospel is all about how precious we are in the sight of God. We are human and we fall into sin, go away from God and His goodness but He never changes His love towards us. He remains the same, yesterday, today and forever. Our sins will not change the loving heart of God but as we come to church and meditate upon the graciousness and loving kindness of God our Father, then we change. We leave our old ways behind and hold on to His love and immense kindness.
Once there was a sailor whose job was capturing people from Africa and selling them to other countries. Since he did not believe in God, he never felt morally responsible for what he was doing and then one day as he was taking people to sell other countries as slaves, he encountered a huge cyclone and tsunami and he knew that he was going to die with all those people, so he finally knelt before God and prayed saying, ‘Almighty God, I never believed in you and I sinned against you. Please forgive and save me and I will dedicate my whole life for you”. Then a miraculous thing happened, the sea was calm and so was his mind. He released all the people and dedicated his life to God and God alone. He was John Newton who wrote his experience in a beautiful poem and even today we sing his poem in the Church. He wrote, ‘Amazing grace how great thou art. I was lost but now I am found and I was blind and now I see’.
He was a prodigal son and as he came back, he experienced only love. We are today asked to come back to God who is full of love and compassion. Though the son went away from his father and squandered all his property, as he came back to senses and asked for forgiveness. The father said, “my son was dead and now he is alive. He was lost and now he was found’. Then there was a celebration of love and acceptance. It is our God who loves us all without limit or any condition.
One day a woman came to her parish priest and said, ‘Father, last night I had a vision and Jesus appeared and He talked to me”. The priest did not believe her and smiled and said, ‘that is good thing, keep praying”. But she came to him every day saying the same thing, ‘O Father, Jesus appeared and talked to me’ he was kind of annoyed and said to her, ‘if Jesus appears to you the next time, Just ask Him about my private sins. Then I will know weather it is really Jesus”. The next weekend, the priest waited for her but she did not show up. Three weeks later she again came to the priest and said, ‘Jesus appeared to me and talked to me”. He then looked at her and said, ‘did you ask Jesus about my private sins”. She said, “yes, I did and He said, ‘He does not remember your sins”.
Good morning every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Every time we come to Church, we celebrate God Our Father who is full of love and compassion; we celebrate Christ who says that there is no sin that can not be forgiven by God and It’s our duty to go to Him to experience forgiveness and love and every time we come to Church, we become Christ our Lord by our love and forgiveness.
One day a teacher showed his students a crisp hundred dollar bill and asked who wanted it and every one raised their hands saying, ‘I want it… I want it”. Then he purposely soiled and rumpled the hundred-dollar bill and showed to his students and said, “Now who wants the soiled and rumpled hundred dollar bill?” Again everyone raised their hands and said, “I want it. I want it”. Then he looked at them all and said, ‘weather the hundred dollar bill is crisp or soiled it has the same value and likewise whether a person is good or bad, he is precious in the sight of God. Nothing can change the heart of God from loving His children and we are all equal in His sight”.
Today’s gospel is all about how precious we are in the sight of God. We are human and we fall into sin, go away from God and His goodness but He never changes His love towards us. He remains the same, yesterday, today and forever. Our sins will not change the loving heart of God but as we come to church and meditate upon the graciousness and loving kindness of God our Father, then we change. We leave our old ways behind and hold on to His love and immense kindness.
Once there was a sailor whose job was capturing people from Africa and selling them to other countries. Since he did not believe in God, he never felt morally responsible for what he was doing and then one day as he was taking people to sell other countries as slaves, he encountered a huge cyclone and tsunami and he knew that he was going to die with all those people, so he finally knelt before God and prayed saying, ‘Almighty God, I never believed in you and I sinned against you. Please forgive and save me and I will dedicate my whole life for you”. Then a miraculous thing happened, the sea was calm and so was his mind. He released all the people and dedicated his life to God and God alone. He was John Newton who wrote his experience in a beautiful poem and even today we sing his poem in the Church. He wrote, ‘Amazing grace how great thou art. I was lost but now I am found and I was blind and now I see’.
He was a prodigal son and as he came back, he experienced only love. We are today asked to come back to God who is full of love and compassion. Though the son went away from his father and squandered all his property, as he came back to senses and asked for forgiveness. The father said, “my son was dead and now he is alive. He was lost and now he was found’. Then there was a celebration of love and acceptance. It is our God who loves us all without limit or any condition.
One day a woman came to her parish priest and said, ‘Father, last night I had a vision and Jesus appeared and He talked to me”. The priest did not believe her and smiled and said, ‘that is good thing, keep praying”. But she came to him every day saying the same thing, ‘O Father, Jesus appeared and talked to me’ he was kind of annoyed and said to her, ‘if Jesus appears to you the next time, Just ask Him about my private sins. Then I will know weather it is really Jesus”. The next weekend, the priest waited for her but she did not show up. Three weeks later she again came to the priest and said, ‘Jesus appeared to me and talked to me”. He then looked at her and said, ‘did you ask Jesus about my private sins”. She said, “yes, I did and He said, ‘He does not remember your sins”.
That is our God who forgives all our sins and accepts as we are. When we go to Him, He never says “No” but showers upon us all His countless blessings.
Once there was a holy man who prayed to God five times and day fasted three times a week and did every thing according to the will of God and followed the commandments of God in all he was doing and then one day he met with a woman who was leading an immoral life. He condemned her saying, ‘you are living against God and He will definitely punish you. You will go to eternal punishment’. She then pleaded him to do something for her but he refused saying, ‘there is no salvation for you people’. You will die in your sins. Then one day the holy man died and went to heaven. He was celebrating everlasting life there. Two weeks later the woman also died and went to heaven. When the holy man saw the woman in heaven, he got so mad and asked god what was going on? God said, “ son, you lived your life well and good and thus you are given life everlasting and this child of mine was a prodigal one but she came back to me and she was lost but now she is alive. Join her and celebrate life”.
Conclusion: Let us thank God for He is good and His love surpasses everything. Let us not judge others but accept and pray for them. Let us see the presence of Christ our Savior in them all. Amen.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
3Lent-C
Good morning every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Dear friends, every time we come to church we come to know that Our God is slow to anger and ready to forgive, every time we come to church we come to know that we are all given blessings upon blessings to live according to our call and every time we come to church, we come to know that our divine Savior Jesus Christ continues to plead for our cause.
In today’s gospel, we hear from the people two major calamities that happened during their time and they thought that those calamities happened because of the sin of the people and thus they questioned Jesus about the punishment of God. And Christ our Lord answered them that there was no connection between the calamities and the sinfulness of people.
Even today there are many people make the connection between natural calamities and sin. God, who created us to be happy and wants u to live our life to the fullest, will not destroy us because of our human weakness and sin but on the other hand we will be given more blessings to think about the compassion and kindness of God. We will be given more blessings to think about the forgiveness and acceptance of God our Father. Yes, the divine blessing will help us to know how God is slow to anger and ready to forgive and then we will say “No” to our sinful ways and “Yes” to His gracious love.
If our God is really punishing God who brings natural calamities, He might have been completely destroyed the earth. Where Tsunami happened, where earthquake happened, though people died, the earth is still alive there and many people are still living there comfortably. Our God is not a punishing God but He loves us unconditionally giving us enough time for us to change and go to Him our Creator.
Then our Lord Jesus Christ is giving them the parable of the fig tree. The tree was standing so majestic with full of leaves. It looked so glittering and attractive but it did not do what it supposed to do. The tree didn’t bear any fruit. Though owner gave so many changes and waited three years, nothing happened with the tree. So he was disappointed. Though people achieve great things in life, their duty is to love God and others and that is why we are here and are given life. When we fail to do so, we fail God.
As Jesus who represents both the owner and gardener is pleading for our cause and giving us change upon change. It is our duty to leave behind what hinder us from loving God and do what He asks us to do namely loving God and others. So let us make use of this Lenten season to renew our baptismal promises and love God and others. Amen.
In today’s gospel, we hear from the people two major calamities that happened during their time and they thought that those calamities happened because of the sin of the people and thus they questioned Jesus about the punishment of God. And Christ our Lord answered them that there was no connection between the calamities and the sinfulness of people.
Even today there are many people make the connection between natural calamities and sin. God, who created us to be happy and wants u to live our life to the fullest, will not destroy us because of our human weakness and sin but on the other hand we will be given more blessings to think about the compassion and kindness of God. We will be given more blessings to think about the forgiveness and acceptance of God our Father. Yes, the divine blessing will help us to know how God is slow to anger and ready to forgive and then we will say “No” to our sinful ways and “Yes” to His gracious love.
If our God is really punishing God who brings natural calamities, He might have been completely destroyed the earth. Where Tsunami happened, where earthquake happened, though people died, the earth is still alive there and many people are still living there comfortably. Our God is not a punishing God but He loves us unconditionally giving us enough time for us to change and go to Him our Creator.
Then our Lord Jesus Christ is giving them the parable of the fig tree. The tree was standing so majestic with full of leaves. It looked so glittering and attractive but it did not do what it supposed to do. The tree didn’t bear any fruit. Though owner gave so many changes and waited three years, nothing happened with the tree. So he was disappointed. Though people achieve great things in life, their duty is to love God and others and that is why we are here and are given life. When we fail to do so, we fail God.
As Jesus who represents both the owner and gardener is pleading for our cause and giving us change upon change. It is our duty to leave behind what hinder us from loving God and do what He asks us to do namely loving God and others. So let us make use of this Lenten season to renew our baptismal promises and love God and others. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)