Good morning everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we get closer to God Almighty through prayer and every time we come to Church, because of our sincere prayer, our appearance begin to change and we become more spiritual and begin to reflect Christ in our every day activities. Every time we come to Church, we hear God saying, “you are my beloved child and with you I am so happy”
Once a mother saw his son being bad and asked him to pray to God so that god could change him. After his prayer the mother looked at him and said, ‘did you pray to God to make you good’ the boy said, ‘no, I prayed for you so that God can give you enough strength to put up with me.
Once a rich man was building a liquor store and bar in a small town and a group of Christians from a local church were worried and thus they planned an all- night prayer meeting to ask god to intervene. Then a shocking thing happened. Lighting struck the building and destroyed it completely. The rich man sued the church saying, “because of their prayer, my building was struck by lighting” and the Christian said, ‘No, not because of our prayers”. Then the judge finally looked at them both and said, “No matter how this case is going to out, one thing is clear. The owner of the building believes in prayer and the Christians don’t”
Once some people looked at Mother Theresa and said, “Mother, when you pray what do you say to God?” Mother said, ‘I don’t say anything. I just listen”. Then they asked, ‘what does God say to you as you listen?” She again looked at them and smiled and said, “He doesn’t talk either”. He listens.
Prayer means communion, being with God. It is being one with God. It is having a holy experience.
Prayer helps to identify good from evil. It helps us to say, “no” to sin and Satan. For example, last weekend gospel, as Jesus was finishing His forty days and forty nights prayer and fasting, He was tempted by Satan. We saw how He said No to Satan and yes to the love of God. It is because of His prayer, everything happened. As we deeply enter into prayer life, we will know how to say no to temptations and evil and says to the love of God.
And in today’s gospel, Jesus goes to a mountain with His three disciples and while He was praying to His father God, another important change happened in Him and around Him. His appearance began to change. He becomes full of light and because of that change, His clothes became dazzling white. There the disciples witnessed How Moses and Elijah came to Christ and they were talking to Him. Then they hear a voice from heaven saying to them, ‘this is my beloved Son with whom I am so happy, listen to Him and him alone”.
Even today so many spiritual leaders, mystics and holy people as they entered deeply in prayer, begin to experience altered state of conciseness. It is one of the qualities of prayer. A person who spends time in prayer knows how to separate good from evil and he begins to experience the oneness of body and soul and thus his appearance will change, his surrounding will change. People who are with him will know that he is a man of prayer and though they do not spend time in prayer or doing diving things, they too experience god in their daily lives.
Conclusion: Dear friends, as we celebrate the season of lent, we are called to get closer to god, and we are called to know that we belong to God. Yes, the Lenten observances of prayer, fasting and works of charity help us to do so. So let us pray without ceasing for us and for others. Amen.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
First Sunday in Lent-C
Good morning everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for the first Sunday in Lent. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we are given a special blessing to say “No’ to our temptations and “yes” to the love and kindness of God our Father in Christ our Lord. Every time we come to Church, we hear Christ our Lord saying to us that, “We do not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” And every time we come to Church, we are called to know and serve God alone.
Yes, he asked Jesus to change the stone into bread and thus to go against God’s divine will and the devil then showed Christ the whole universe in an instant and asked him to obey him, Jesus was tempted to have authority over all people and go against others and Christ said that he came to serve only God. Yes, Christ came to serve and not to be served. Then the devil asked him to jump from the pinnacle of the temple, asked him to go against his own will but Christ our Lord said, ‘do not tempt the Lord our God”
Once there lived an old man in an island. He loved his island so much. He saw God’s loving presence in every moving and unmoving things. Then one day, as he was dying, he called his children and said, put me outside and I want to see, smell and touch the land while I die. And as he about to die, he reached down by his side and clutched some soil onto his hand and died as a happy man.
And before entering into heaven, the angel came out to welcome him saying, “You who are chosen by the father enter into the kingdom of God prepared for you”. As the angel opened the gates, the angel noticed that the old man was holding on something in his hand and asked what it was. He said, ‘I loved my island so much and I brought some soil from there”. The angel said, ‘that is wonderful but in order to enter into heaven, you have to let the soil go” But the man refused. He was left outside at the gate. He was there for ten years and then one day the angel came and asked what he decided. He said, ‘I love my island so much and I cannot let the soil go” so he was left again ten more years. Then one day the angel of the lord came and asked his decision and he said, ‘now I am a very old man and I do realize that I have to let certain things go to enter into heaven. I am strong now to say “No’ to my temptations. There he dropped the soil and entered into heaven. When he entered into heaven, the first thing he saw was his beautiful island waiting for him.
Dear friends these forty days of lent invite us to say once again “NO” to our temptations and say, “YES” to lord our God. Christ our Lord after His baptism at Jordan where every heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved son with whom I am so happy and pleased, listen to Him’ was let by the spirit in the wilderness and there in the desert Christ our Lord spent forty days and forty nights in prayer and fasting. On the fortieth day, the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, change this stone into bread and satisfy your huger’. The devil knew that He was the only Son of God and he tried to stop the salvation mission of Christ our Lord.
What is sin? Sin is what one does against God, others and oneself. And in today’s gospel, the devil was tempting Jesus to go against God, others and himself.
Dear friends, we are called these forty days to have our desert experience doing prayer, fasting and penance. These Lenten observances help to say “no” to sin and temptations and “Yes” to Christ’s love and kindness. So let us leave behind things that hinder us from loving God, others and ourselves and submit ourselves to God almighty. Amen.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
fourth advent (not completed)
4th Sunday in advent
Good morning everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Today we celebrate the fourth Sunday in Advent. This Sunday is called peace Sunday; yes the prince of peace is coming to give us eternal and spiritual peace. His peace brings life, way and truth to all. His peace brings light to the world and anyone who walks in the light of Christ will never see darkness. He will be given unending life and happiness.
Today’s gospel speaks about the visitation of our blessed Virgin to her relative Elizabeth in a Judean hill country. Before Her visitation, the annunciation of the Lord happens. The angel Gabriel comes to our Blessed Virgin Mary and announces the glad tiding saying, “Hail Mary, full of grace and the Lord is with you”. When Mary heard the angel’s greeting, she was confused and was perplexed saying to herself, ‘what sort of greeting this might be”. The confusion happened not because she did not want to become the handmaid of the Lord or carry out divine mission; it is because she was humbling herself before the Lord.
Humility is a virtue that connects us with God. Because of humility, we begin to love God more and more and we come to know that He is looking after us twenty-four seven.
When Mary was confused and was hesitating, the angel Gabriel said, ‘Do not be afraid Mary… God is with you”. She continued saying, “how is it possible, I the lowly person will become the mother of God. And I am Virgin…” The angel said, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you. By the power of God, you will become virgin mother”.
As Mary listened to the words of the Angel, she completely surrendered herself to God saying, ‘I am the handmaid of God, let it be done according to His will”.
The response of Mary reminds us of the wise man who asked Jesus, ‘Master, we have all the ten commandments and which is the best of all?” Jesus said, “The first commandment is love your God with all your hearts, with all your strengths, with all your body, mind and spirit…”
Yes, Mary loved God with all her mind, body and soul and thus God elevated her to become the mother of God.
When we love God with who we are, we will become bearers of Christ our Lord. We will become His mothers, His brothers, His sisters and we will become Christ’s messengers.
In today’s gospel, we heard the story of the visitation of Mary. As she received the good news of becoming the mother of God, Mary did not become housebound instead the gospel says, “Mary arose in those days and she hurried to the hill country of Judea where she met with her relative Elizabeth.
Here we may recall the second commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “The second commandment is love your neighbor as yourself”. Yes, Mary who experienced the love of God began to help others. She rushed all the way to Judean hill country to help Elizabeth.
Elizabeth who saw Mary recognized the presence of God and began to praise her saying, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”.
Here we understand how the first part of the Hail Mary prayer was coined or formed. The angel said, “ Hail Mary full of grace and the Lord is with thee”. Then Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”. Then the Holy Catholic Church added the second part of the prayer saying, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners…now and the hour of our death”.
As we meditate upon the annunciation and the visitation of our Blessed Mary, the one person who comes into our mind is Blessed Mother Theresa. (continued)
Good morning everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Today we celebrate the fourth Sunday in Advent. This Sunday is called peace Sunday; yes the prince of peace is coming to give us eternal and spiritual peace. His peace brings life, way and truth to all. His peace brings light to the world and anyone who walks in the light of Christ will never see darkness. He will be given unending life and happiness.
Today’s gospel speaks about the visitation of our blessed Virgin to her relative Elizabeth in a Judean hill country. Before Her visitation, the annunciation of the Lord happens. The angel Gabriel comes to our Blessed Virgin Mary and announces the glad tiding saying, “Hail Mary, full of grace and the Lord is with you”. When Mary heard the angel’s greeting, she was confused and was perplexed saying to herself, ‘what sort of greeting this might be”. The confusion happened not because she did not want to become the handmaid of the Lord or carry out divine mission; it is because she was humbling herself before the Lord.
Humility is a virtue that connects us with God. Because of humility, we begin to love God more and more and we come to know that He is looking after us twenty-four seven.
When Mary was confused and was hesitating, the angel Gabriel said, ‘Do not be afraid Mary… God is with you”. She continued saying, “how is it possible, I the lowly person will become the mother of God. And I am Virgin…” The angel said, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you. By the power of God, you will become virgin mother”.
As Mary listened to the words of the Angel, she completely surrendered herself to God saying, ‘I am the handmaid of God, let it be done according to His will”.
The response of Mary reminds us of the wise man who asked Jesus, ‘Master, we have all the ten commandments and which is the best of all?” Jesus said, “The first commandment is love your God with all your hearts, with all your strengths, with all your body, mind and spirit…”
Yes, Mary loved God with all her mind, body and soul and thus God elevated her to become the mother of God.
When we love God with who we are, we will become bearers of Christ our Lord. We will become His mothers, His brothers, His sisters and we will become Christ’s messengers.
In today’s gospel, we heard the story of the visitation of Mary. As she received the good news of becoming the mother of God, Mary did not become housebound instead the gospel says, “Mary arose in those days and she hurried to the hill country of Judea where she met with her relative Elizabeth.
Here we may recall the second commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “The second commandment is love your neighbor as yourself”. Yes, Mary who experienced the love of God began to help others. She rushed all the way to Judean hill country to help Elizabeth.
Elizabeth who saw Mary recognized the presence of God and began to praise her saying, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”.
Here we understand how the first part of the Hail Mary prayer was coined or formed. The angel said, “ Hail Mary full of grace and the Lord is with thee”. Then Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”. Then the Holy Catholic Church added the second part of the prayer saying, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners…now and the hour of our death”.
As we meditate upon the annunciation and the visitation of our Blessed Mary, the one person who comes into our mind is Blessed Mother Theresa. (continued)
HOly Family
Holy Family
Good morning everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we celebrate Christ our Lord who is the source of every human family, every time we come to church, we celebrate Christ who increases peace and serenity; happiness and joy in every family and every time we come to church we celebrate Christ who instituted human family by the sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
Once on the feast of the Holy family, a priest invited one of his parishioners called Paul in front of the whole congregation and looked at the people and said, ‘In two weeks, Paul is going to celebrate his fiftieth wedding anniversary. These days people are struggling to be with each other and hold on to their commitment but this man for fifty years, living a committed married life”. Then he looked at Paul and asked, “Paul by the way what did you do for your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary?” Paul was so happy and looked at the people and the priest and said, “I took my wife to France and thus she had a chance to visit her parents and siblings”. The priest and the people clapped their hands and then the priest looked at Paul and asked, “What you are going to do for your fiftieth wedding anniversary?” Paul was so happy and proud and looked at the people and the priest and said, ‘I am going back to France to pick my wife up”.
Today the Holy Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In this family, we first meet with Mary and Joseph who were spiritual people. They both strongly believed in the love and kindness of God and they practiced their faith. They both were blessed to have an angle come to them. They often had ultra spiritual experience.
They both were community-oriented people. Yes, because of their faith in God, they extended themselves in helping others. For example, Blessed Virgin Mary went all the way from Nazareth to Judea to help Elizabeth. When Jesus came to His hometown with His apostles for the first time, people began to say to each other, “We know His Father Joseph and we know His mother Mary…” Every body knew Joseph and Mary in the community. They were known for their faith in God and their generosity towards others.
And the both were good parents. Though they knew Jesus was the Son of the Father, the divine son, God, they did their duty as parents. For example, when Jesus disappeared at the temple, they did not hesitate to question Jesus. Mary looked at Jesus and asked, “Son, why did you do this to us?”
At Cana, when people did not have enough wine, Mary asked Jesus to help them. And Jesus our Lord listened to His parents and thus grew in wisdom and knowledge.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy family is called the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph not Joseph, Mary and Jesus. We put Jesus as the head of the family then only a family becomes Holy. When Jesus is in the center of the family, then it becomes holy. When everything in a family revolves around Jesus, then the family becomes holy. Nothing can exist and can give meaning without Jesus. Jesus is the maker of every family. Today let us renew our faith and keep Christ in our families. Let us renew ourselves in the presence of God and keep Christ as the only head of the family. Amen.
Good morning everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we celebrate Christ our Lord who is the source of every human family, every time we come to church, we celebrate Christ who increases peace and serenity; happiness and joy in every family and every time we come to church we celebrate Christ who instituted human family by the sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
Once on the feast of the Holy family, a priest invited one of his parishioners called Paul in front of the whole congregation and looked at the people and said, ‘In two weeks, Paul is going to celebrate his fiftieth wedding anniversary. These days people are struggling to be with each other and hold on to their commitment but this man for fifty years, living a committed married life”. Then he looked at Paul and asked, “Paul by the way what did you do for your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary?” Paul was so happy and looked at the people and the priest and said, “I took my wife to France and thus she had a chance to visit her parents and siblings”. The priest and the people clapped their hands and then the priest looked at Paul and asked, “What you are going to do for your fiftieth wedding anniversary?” Paul was so happy and proud and looked at the people and the priest and said, ‘I am going back to France to pick my wife up”.
Today the Holy Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In this family, we first meet with Mary and Joseph who were spiritual people. They both strongly believed in the love and kindness of God and they practiced their faith. They both were blessed to have an angle come to them. They often had ultra spiritual experience.
They both were community-oriented people. Yes, because of their faith in God, they extended themselves in helping others. For example, Blessed Virgin Mary went all the way from Nazareth to Judea to help Elizabeth. When Jesus came to His hometown with His apostles for the first time, people began to say to each other, “We know His Father Joseph and we know His mother Mary…” Every body knew Joseph and Mary in the community. They were known for their faith in God and their generosity towards others.
And the both were good parents. Though they knew Jesus was the Son of the Father, the divine son, God, they did their duty as parents. For example, when Jesus disappeared at the temple, they did not hesitate to question Jesus. Mary looked at Jesus and asked, “Son, why did you do this to us?”
At Cana, when people did not have enough wine, Mary asked Jesus to help them. And Jesus our Lord listened to His parents and thus grew in wisdom and knowledge.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy family is called the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph not Joseph, Mary and Jesus. We put Jesus as the head of the family then only a family becomes Holy. When Jesus is in the center of the family, then it becomes holy. When everything in a family revolves around Jesus, then the family becomes holy. Nothing can exist and can give meaning without Jesus. Jesus is the maker of every family. Today let us renew our faith and keep Christ in our families. Let us renew ourselves in the presence of God and keep Christ as the only head of the family. Amen.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Good evening every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Christmas Eve Mass celebration. Today we celebrate the biggest event that ever happened in human history, the unimaginable thing; yes God the Creator, the Source of all became human and lived among us like you and me. Today’s celebration of the glorious event of the birth of Christ the Only Son of God tells us that God never abandons His people and He will not leave anyone alone. His love surpasses everything.
When His own chosen people whom He loved without condition went away from Him, when His own people faced with pain and difficulties; when His own people began to worship false gods and rejected His mercy and compassion, God the Father did not abandon them. He knew people’s condition. He knew people were weak and fragile and He knew that they would come back to Him. And in order to bring them back to Him, He sent His kings, prophets, Holy men and women to them. Then at last, as the expression of His unconditional love, God sent His Only Son Jesus Christ Our Lord through whom everything came to exist and for whom everything was created. Yes, God sent His Son the Redeemer Jesus our Lord.
Jesus who was born in Bethlehem lived with poor, outcaste and rejected people and at the age of twelve, He manifested divine love at the temple in Jerusalem telling all the teachers, wise men and Pharisees and Sadducees that God loves everyone and everyone belongs to the kingdom of God.
At the age of thirty while He was baptized, the heavens opened and there came a voice saying to all, “this is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him alone”. Then Christ our Lord with His disciples went everywhere preaching the Good News of Salvation to all. Jesus again and again says in the gospels that anyone who follows Him will have life everlasting and they will be with God Father forever.
Dear friends, every time we celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus our Lord, we celebrate our birth, we celebrate our joy and happiness. Jesus is our Lord and Saviour. Today we celebrate our new life in Child Jesus. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we celebrate Christ’s birth, every time we receive anyone of the churches sacraments, we celebrate His life and every time we come here, we become like Christ our Lord, yes we become the God we worship. Today, what is our gift to child Jesus? Since everything what we see and have belongs to Him and what can we possibly give Him? We can give ourselves. Yes, we are the precious gift for Him. Let us give ourselves to child Jesus and join the angels and the shepherd and sing, “Glory to God in the Highest and peace to people of good will”. Amen.
Good evening every one, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Christmas Eve Mass celebration. Today we celebrate the biggest event that ever happened in human history, the unimaginable thing; yes God the Creator, the Source of all became human and lived among us like you and me. Today’s celebration of the glorious event of the birth of Christ the Only Son of God tells us that God never abandons His people and He will not leave anyone alone. His love surpasses everything.
When His own chosen people whom He loved without condition went away from Him, when His own people faced with pain and difficulties; when His own people began to worship false gods and rejected His mercy and compassion, God the Father did not abandon them. He knew people’s condition. He knew people were weak and fragile and He knew that they would come back to Him. And in order to bring them back to Him, He sent His kings, prophets, Holy men and women to them. Then at last, as the expression of His unconditional love, God sent His Only Son Jesus Christ Our Lord through whom everything came to exist and for whom everything was created. Yes, God sent His Son the Redeemer Jesus our Lord.
Jesus who was born in Bethlehem lived with poor, outcaste and rejected people and at the age of twelve, He manifested divine love at the temple in Jerusalem telling all the teachers, wise men and Pharisees and Sadducees that God loves everyone and everyone belongs to the kingdom of God.
At the age of thirty while He was baptized, the heavens opened and there came a voice saying to all, “this is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him alone”. Then Christ our Lord with His disciples went everywhere preaching the Good News of Salvation to all. Jesus again and again says in the gospels that anyone who follows Him will have life everlasting and they will be with God Father forever.
Dear friends, every time we celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus our Lord, we celebrate our birth, we celebrate our joy and happiness. Jesus is our Lord and Saviour. Today we celebrate our new life in Child Jesus. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we celebrate Christ’s birth, every time we receive anyone of the churches sacraments, we celebrate His life and every time we come here, we become like Christ our Lord, yes we become the God we worship. Today, what is our gift to child Jesus? Since everything what we see and have belongs to Him and what can we possibly give Him? We can give ourselves. Yes, we are the precious gift for Him. Let us give ourselves to child Jesus and join the angels and the shepherd and sing, “Glory to God in the Highest and peace to people of good will”. Amen.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Third sunday in Advent
The third Sunday in Advent-C
Dear friends in Christ, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Today we celebrate the third Sunday in Advent. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we recognize the presence of Christ our Lord in the sacraments that He instituted for our spiritual development and we recognized Him in our brothers and sisters in need and every time we come to Church, we recognize Christ our Lord in our prayers and spiritual intentions.
Today we celebrate the third Sunday called “joyful Sunday”. It is called joyful Sunday because Christ the Light of the world is coming to give us unending life and joy. The gospel says that Mary arose in those days and went with haste to the hill country of Judea to be with Elizabeth her relative. As she was filled with the Holy Spirit, Mary recognized the importance of being with others and extended her help to people in need. The very presence of God motivated her to leave behind certain things and go to distant land to help Elizabeth. When Elizabeth recognized the presence of God with Mary, the child in her womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth who was filled with the power of the Spirit acclaimed with a loud voice saying, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”.
As we come to Church, we recognize the presence of Christ our Lord in the sacraments. The very recognition of the presence of Christ helps us to leave behind certain things and hold on to Him who is full of love and kindness. Yes, the sacraments teach us that we are here only temporarily. This is not our home and we belong to the eternal home called heaven where we shall see our God face to face and celebrate life without end. The very recognition of Christ in the sacrament helps us to leave behind certain things namely the things that hinder us from going to Him, they can be physical or emotional challenges. They can be material or world things. As we leave behind like Mary we too get up and go to others in need.
The result of recognizing Christ in the sacrament leads us to others, because we find the image and likeness of God our father in each and every one of human being. As we help others, we find more of Christ’s love and kindness; His compassion and forgiveness overflowing everywhere. There will be a mutual recognition of Christ in us. As Mary went to Elizabeth; Elizabeth also found Christ in Mary. Thus we all begin to celebrate God in us.
As we help others, we then begin to pray more and do more spiritual practices. We begin to recognize our spiritual side and begin to thank God for everything. Yes, this third Sunday invites us to know that we belong to God alone. So as we are going to receive a special anointing for healing and reconciliation, let us thank God for sending His only Son Christ among us and let us thank Him for helping us to deepen our faith in Him each and every day in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Dear friends in Christ, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Today we celebrate the third Sunday in Advent. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we recognize the presence of Christ our Lord in the sacraments that He instituted for our spiritual development and we recognized Him in our brothers and sisters in need and every time we come to Church, we recognize Christ our Lord in our prayers and spiritual intentions.
Today we celebrate the third Sunday called “joyful Sunday”. It is called joyful Sunday because Christ the Light of the world is coming to give us unending life and joy. The gospel says that Mary arose in those days and went with haste to the hill country of Judea to be with Elizabeth her relative. As she was filled with the Holy Spirit, Mary recognized the importance of being with others and extended her help to people in need. The very presence of God motivated her to leave behind certain things and go to distant land to help Elizabeth. When Elizabeth recognized the presence of God with Mary, the child in her womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth who was filled with the power of the Spirit acclaimed with a loud voice saying, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”.
As we come to Church, we recognize the presence of Christ our Lord in the sacraments. The very recognition of the presence of Christ helps us to leave behind certain things and hold on to Him who is full of love and kindness. Yes, the sacraments teach us that we are here only temporarily. This is not our home and we belong to the eternal home called heaven where we shall see our God face to face and celebrate life without end. The very recognition of Christ in the sacrament helps us to leave behind certain things namely the things that hinder us from going to Him, they can be physical or emotional challenges. They can be material or world things. As we leave behind like Mary we too get up and go to others in need.
The result of recognizing Christ in the sacrament leads us to others, because we find the image and likeness of God our father in each and every one of human being. As we help others, we find more of Christ’s love and kindness; His compassion and forgiveness overflowing everywhere. There will be a mutual recognition of Christ in us. As Mary went to Elizabeth; Elizabeth also found Christ in Mary. Thus we all begin to celebrate God in us.
As we help others, we then begin to pray more and do more spiritual practices. We begin to recognize our spiritual side and begin to thank God for everything. Yes, this third Sunday invites us to know that we belong to God alone. So as we are going to receive a special anointing for healing and reconciliation, let us thank God for sending His only Son Christ among us and let us thank Him for helping us to deepen our faith in Him each and every day in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Second Advent-C
Second Sunday in Advent-B
Good morning everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we welcome the Lord our God in our hearts, we welcome Him to change our society a better place to live and every time we come to church we ask His blessing to help others to welcome the Lord into their lives.
Today’s Sunday is called John the Baptist Sunday, a Sunday of hope. It is not that easy to understand John the Baptist today. Even some two thousand years ago, people could not fully understand John. But few people comprehended what John meant when he said, “prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight”. Fewer people could even understand him when he said, “I am unworthy to untie his sandals” Thus John the Baptist invited people to repentance and baptism.
The question today is what was John about? And why did he do what he did?
John the Baptist is the very voice of Advent- the voice of the coming of the Lord to intervene in the relationship between God and ourselves. What he said was not merely a word about Jesus, it was the gospel, and it was the beginning of the Good News for the world.
The words of John still inspires those who want to walk with Jesus, who want to find their way out of the wilderness and into the promised land.
There is an old Chinese proverb tells us that a journey of a thousand miles must begin with one step. John came to point out what that step must be. He pointed out that the way of the Lord must be prepared, and that way is not simply a highway in the desert but rather it is a highway in our hearts.
There is a story about a man who went to a spiritual Master and said, “Master, I want to find happiness. In search of happiness, I studied the scriptures and visited all the holy places and did everything according to the commandment of God. But I could not find happiness, what should I do?” At this point, the master began to serve him tea. He poured the man’s cup full and then kept on pouring and pouring. Since the cup was full, tea began to run on the floor. The man then stopped the master and said, “My cup is full. Please stop pouring”. Then the master looked at him and said, “Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions and speculations. And how can I show the way unless you first empty your cup?’
How can we welcome Christ, how can we enter the Promised Land with Him, if we have no place in our hearts for Him?
John the Baptist came to prepare the place for Jesus the Lord.
The message of John the Baptist was, “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins”. Repent: What does the word repent mean? Repent means to turn around, to change direction. It means to face a new way and have the courage to leave behind the old way.
And be baptized for the forgiveness of sins
Conclusion: As we celebrate the second Sunday in Advent, we are called to become John the Baptist, we are called to prepare the way of the lord helping others to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. It is our duty to help them to know the love and kindness of god and it is our duty to help them to know the real meaning of divine forgiveness. So as we celebrate advent, let us prepare the way to welcome Christ our saviour in our hearts. Amen.
Good morning everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for today’s Holy Mass. Dear friends, every time we come to Church, we welcome the Lord our God in our hearts, we welcome Him to change our society a better place to live and every time we come to church we ask His blessing to help others to welcome the Lord into their lives.
Today’s Sunday is called John the Baptist Sunday, a Sunday of hope. It is not that easy to understand John the Baptist today. Even some two thousand years ago, people could not fully understand John. But few people comprehended what John meant when he said, “prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight”. Fewer people could even understand him when he said, “I am unworthy to untie his sandals” Thus John the Baptist invited people to repentance and baptism.
The question today is what was John about? And why did he do what he did?
John the Baptist is the very voice of Advent- the voice of the coming of the Lord to intervene in the relationship between God and ourselves. What he said was not merely a word about Jesus, it was the gospel, and it was the beginning of the Good News for the world.
The words of John still inspires those who want to walk with Jesus, who want to find their way out of the wilderness and into the promised land.
There is an old Chinese proverb tells us that a journey of a thousand miles must begin with one step. John came to point out what that step must be. He pointed out that the way of the Lord must be prepared, and that way is not simply a highway in the desert but rather it is a highway in our hearts.
There is a story about a man who went to a spiritual Master and said, “Master, I want to find happiness. In search of happiness, I studied the scriptures and visited all the holy places and did everything according to the commandment of God. But I could not find happiness, what should I do?” At this point, the master began to serve him tea. He poured the man’s cup full and then kept on pouring and pouring. Since the cup was full, tea began to run on the floor. The man then stopped the master and said, “My cup is full. Please stop pouring”. Then the master looked at him and said, “Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions and speculations. And how can I show the way unless you first empty your cup?’
How can we welcome Christ, how can we enter the Promised Land with Him, if we have no place in our hearts for Him?
John the Baptist came to prepare the place for Jesus the Lord.
The message of John the Baptist was, “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins”. Repent: What does the word repent mean? Repent means to turn around, to change direction. It means to face a new way and have the courage to leave behind the old way.
And be baptized for the forgiveness of sins
Conclusion: As we celebrate the second Sunday in Advent, we are called to become John the Baptist, we are called to prepare the way of the lord helping others to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. It is our duty to help them to know the love and kindness of god and it is our duty to help them to know the real meaning of divine forgiveness. So as we celebrate advent, let us prepare the way to welcome Christ our saviour in our hearts. Amen.
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