HOMILY:: 15 August 2012

Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady

Independence Day of India

Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab || 1 Cor 15:20-27 || Lk 1:39-56

A. INTRODUCTION:

"Why did you go to church today," someone might ask us. "This isn't Sunday, its only Wednesday."

"It's a holy day of obligation. The feast of the Assumption," we answer.

"Oh," the person says, and might add, "What's that?"

Many Catholics might not even remember it. But you and I do. We have come to Mass to celebrate it. We are here because of our love for our Mother Mary.  We are also here to pray for our country on the 65^th anniversary of Independence Day.

B. HOMILY:

1. A Story (1): "Why do they minimize your beauty?"

A charming story is told of the nineteenth century Bernadette of Lourdes fame. Contemporary artists were anxious for her to describe the woman she had seen in the grotto. So, one after the other, they showed her the most famous pictures of Mary. The young Bernadette was shown the beautiful Madonnas done by Murillo, Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, El Greco, etc. To each she shook her head in disappointment. To their surprise, she said, "The lady looks like none of these paintings." To herself she said, "My mother, why do they minimize your beauty?"

2. Why do we honor Mary?

Mary's unique beauty is based not on physical endowments alone but on her total freedom from sin. It wasn't what she didn't do which made her sinless and, therefore, beautiful but what she did. It was the marvellous harmony of her nature which made her totally sensitive, caring and other-oriented. Her first concern, on being told she was to be the mother of God, was for her older cousin, Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist. Thirty years later, at the marriage of friends in Cana her sensitive and tactful concern for the newly-weds provoked Christ's first miracle. The woman beside the cross on Calvary is an unforgettable model of love and fidelity.

3. Story (2): Carl Jung on the Assumption:

It was in 1950, Carl Jung, the famed Swiss Lutheran psychiatrist, and an influential thinker, the founder of analytical psychology, remarked that the papal announcement of the Assumption of Mary, in 1950, was "the most important religious event since the Reformation." "It means that along with the glorified masculine body of Jesus in heaven there is also a glorified feminine body of his mother Mary. The feminine, like the masculine, demands an equally personal representation."

4. A New Salvation Story

Just as the full story of our Fall cannot be told without Eve, so also the full story of our Redemption cannot be told without Mary. There are many revealing parallels between the old Adam and Eve on the one hand and the new Adam and Eve, Jesus and Mary, on the other. Here are some of them.

1. In the old order, the woman (Eve) came from the body of the man (Adam), but in the new order the man (Jesus) comes from the body of the woman (Mary).

2. In the old order, the woman (Eve) first disobeyed God and led the man (Adam) to do the same, in the new order the woman (Mary) first said "Yes" to God (Luke 1:38) and raised her son Jesus to do likewise.

3. In the old order Adam and Eve shared immediately in the resulting consequences and punishments of the Fall. In the new order, similarly, both Jesus and Mary share immediately in the resulting consequences and blessings of the Redemption, the fullness of life with God; Jesus through the Ascension and Mary through the Assumption.

5. Assumption: Equality of man and woman before God

The Assumption is the ultimate proof of the equality of man and woman before God. It also shows the sacredness and eternal destiny of the human body, including the woman's body which is desecrated by pornography and the sex trade.

6. Body, Soul or both:

Today's feast also shows us that God values our bodies. They are not only important to him, they are sacred! There are two extremes of thought in regard to our bodies.

1. One considers the body as our number one treasure. Ads and commercials usually feature people with exceptional looks. To be successful, accepted, and loved, they tell us, depends upon how we look. We are to watch our weight, keep in shape, and smell just right. As for the importance of our soul and our spiritual life? Forget it! They consider such things nonexistent and absurd.

2. The other extreme of thought about the body is to look upon it as merely a machine for us to operate in this world. Its value is only its usefulness. To enhance it with cosmetics and perfume, to dress it up and make it look attractive, to diet, exercise, and look at it in the mirror - all that is not only a waste of time, but sinful. The soul and its spiritual condition are all that is important for us.

But God is telling us on this feast of the Assumption that to Him, both are important - our body and our soul. They are both to be valued, and they are to be given the attention and honor due them.

7. Conclusion (Joke)

God is walking around Heaven one day, and notices a number of people on the heavenly streets who shouldn't be there.  He finds St. Peter at the gate and says to him, "Peter, you've been careless in your duties.  You're letting in the wrong sort of people."

"Don't blame me, Lord," replies Peter.  "I turn them away just like you have instructed.  Then they go around to the back door and Jesus' mother lets them in."

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PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

[Prayer for India]

 

LET US PRAY:

God of Freedom,

There is no greater feeling of liberation than to experience this freedom from sin and death that you have provided for us through Jesus Christ. Today our hearts and our souls are free to praise you.

On this Independence Day we are reminded of all those who have sacrificed for our freedom. May we not take our freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May we always remember that our freedom was purchased with a very high price. Our freedom cost others their very lives.

Lord, today, bless those who have served and continue to give their lives for our freedom. With favor and bounty meet their needs and watch over their families.

Help us to live our lives in a way that glorifies you. Give us the strength to be a blessing in someone else's life today, and grant us the opportunity to lead others into the freedom that can be found in knowing Christ.

We make this prayer through the intercession of Mother Mary, in the name Jesus Our Lord.

 

 Happy Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady

and

Happy Independence Day

to one and all!

 

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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HOMILY:: Tuesday, 26 Jun 2012 :: 12th Ordinary Week B

 2 Kgs 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36; Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Introduction:

Having overcome the Northern Kingdom, the Assyrians now turn their attention to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem. All other countries have fallen before the Assyrian power; why should Judah be the exception?

King Hezekiah of Judah has only one option – to pray to his God for help. At this point Isaiah, the prophet, intervenes with a long (vv.21-31) oracular message from God (and, except for its final verse, not included in today's reading): "out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant". Isaiah interprets this as saying that Sennacherib will not reach Jerusalem.

And that very night, 185,000 of the Assyrian army were mysteriously struck down and Sennacherib had no option but to return to his capital at Niniveh. What seems to have happened is that the Assyrian army was struck down by some virulent infection or plague which swept through it like a forest fire.

Here, we see that things do not happen by accident. The destruction of the Assyrian army may be attributed to purely natural causes but the eyes of faith see there God's protecting hand for his people and especially for the city of David to which he had made so many promises.

Let us, too, see the hand of God operating in all the details of our lives – both the joyful and painful – and discern what he is trying to tell us.

For the times we have failed to trust in the Lord in times of difficulty let us ask his pardon and peace.

HOMILY:"from impulse to reason to faith"

Today's Gospel passage contains three apparently unrelated teachings of Jesus. Sermon on the Mount is a highly edited collection of sayings on the general theme of the qualities to be found in a true disciple of Jesus.

Jesus uses the language of the people in His time when He admonishes them not to give what is holy to dogs or toss out pearls before pigs. Remember, for Jews, both dogs and pigs are unclean animals (Nagas and Mangys may not agree!).

The dogs and the swine represent those who live with a materialistic attitude, those poisoned by greed. When we are greedy, we are like swine and dogs, ready to tear others to pieces to get our own way.

The second saying is the famous 'Golden Rule', which is not exclusive to Christianity or the Gospel. What might be emphasised here is its being expressed in positive terms.

The third saying is a contrast between the narrow gate and the wide road.

Puzzled over three sayings Jesus gives us in the gospel reading, I found it helpful to organize these as the ways of animals, the ways of people and the ways of God.

Animals follow their survival instincts. People, on the other hand, need to follow the golden rule, or some of sort of a traffic jam could result in their interactions. Jesus as the Way invites us to follow Him taking up the difficult path – with full trust in him that he will deliver us.

Somehow, we are invited to move from impulse to reason to faith.

For Hezekiah the king, impulse would have been to run away to save himself, reason would have been to surrender, but by faith he trusted in the Lord. Let us ask for the grace to choose the road less travelled with complete trust in the Lord.

Sources:

http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O2123R/

http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O2123G/

http://justmehomely.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/tuesday-of-the-12th-week-of-the-year-2/

http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/06/june-26-tuesday-of-week-twelve/

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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HOMILY:: Wednesday, 30 May 2012 :: 8th Ordinary Week B

1 Peter 1:18-25;  Mark 10:32-45

HOMILY:"Authority - not to control but to empower!"

We now come to the third and final foretelling of his passion, death and resurrection by Jesus. We are now going to see what discipleship of Jesus really means.

The disciples have not quite reached this stage of discipleship yet. As Jesus steps out firmly on the road to Jerusalem, his disciples straggle behind. As far as they were concerned, Jesus was out of his mind. To go to Jerusalem at this time was asking for trouble, serious trouble. Everyone knew the Jewish leadership was out to get Jesus. Jerusalem was the last place to go.

Nevertheless, some might have thought he is going there to reveal himself as the Messiah, the Saviour-King of Israel. Perhaps it was in that frame of mind that Jesus is approached by two of his closest disciples, James and John: "Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory."

And by "glory" they are almost certainly thinking in worldly terms of Jesus as an earthly, victorious, all conquering king. The kind of person they expected the Messiah to be.

Not surprisingly, the other ten were highly indignant when they found out what James and John had done behind their back. They wanted exactly the same things themselves.

Jesus patiently gives them another lesson on what real greatness in his Kingdom consists of. In Jesus' world those are really great who put themselves and their unique gifts to promote the well-being of brothers and sisters, especially those in most need.

'Authority' is not to control but to empower. And it is the role of anyone in authority to generate ideas, energy, creativity in those for whom one is responsible. In other words to serve those who have been entrusted to one's authority.  After 2,000 years of Christianity it is a lesson practically all of us have yet to learn.

Source:

http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O1084G/

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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HOMILY :: Tuesday, 29 May 2012 :: 8th Ordinary Week B

1 Pet 1:10-16; Mk 10:28-31

HOMILY:"Everyone Serves, Everyone is Served"

After the initial shock at what Jesus had to say about the danger of wealth as a serious obstacle to being a follower of Jesus, the disciples reflect on their relative poverty: "What about us?" asks the ever-irrepressible Peter. "We have left everything and followed you."

Jesus answers them that they will be repaid hundred times over in this present age, and of course with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come!

This sounds like a pie-in-the-sky promise! Will we really get hundred houses or families for giving up one?

The "hundredfold now in this age" will presumably have to be taken in the sense of spiritual joy in doing worthwhile work, rather than as a promise of material wealth in this present life. It is the spiritual joy you enjoy in serving and sharing in the community.

Perhaps this can be illustrated by a story:

A rich man was concerned about his future salvation, would he 'go to heaven' or not. In order to motivate him, he asked God to be given a preview of heaven and hell. God agreed. God said that they would first pay a visit to hell. When they got there the man was greatly surprised. He was brought into a sumptuous dining room of a large Chinese restaurant all decorated in red and gold. In the centre was a large round table and on it were the most exotic and delicious dishes one could imagine. Around the table were seated the diners. They were the most miserable-looking group one could imagine, all sitting there motionless and in silence just looking at the beautiful food in front of them. The reason for their glumness was that they had been given chopsticks which were three feet long! There was no way they could get any of the food into their mouths. And they were going to sit there like that for eternity. That was hell!

God then brought the man to heaven. Again he was amazed. Because they were in an identical Chinese banqueting room, with the same kind of table and the same wonderful food. But everybody was in the highest spirits. The sound of laughter rang out everywhere. They were really enjoying themselves and the meal. Was this because they had the normal length of chopsticks? No! They also had three-foot chopsticks but here everyone was reaching out food to people on the opposite side of the table. And that was heaven.

It is a very good illustration of today's Gospel. When everyone serves, everyone is served. When everyone gives, everyone gets. It is a lesson even we Christians seem to find difficult to learn.

 

Reference:

http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O1083G/

http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/05/tuesday-may-29-2012/

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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Homily:: Monday, 28 May 2012

8^th Ordinary Week,
1 Pet 1:3-9; Mk 10:17-27

HOMILY: "Loosing to Gain"

In the Gospel passage Jesus expresses the no pain, no gain philosophy. There is a need to voluntarily loose in order to gain something else.

Today we have the story of a rich man who believed that in his material wealth was his happiness. The Jewish tradition believed that wealth was a clear sign of God's blessings; poverty was a curse from God.

Why is it so difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God? The man in the story said that he kept the commandments. One should notice that, except for one, all are expressed negatively. The man could observe several of them by doing nothing! Jesus was asking him to do something very positive, namely, to share his prosperity with his brothers and sisters in need. That he was not prepared to do.

When Jesus uses the word 'rich' he means a person who has more, a lot more, while many of those around him do not have enough for their basic needs. The sin is refusal to share our surplus wealth.

What about us? We may think that, in our society, by no possible measure we can be called rich, and so the story does not apply to us. But we can cling to other things besides money. It may be profitable to ask myself, is there anything at all in my life that I find very difficult to give up if God asked me. It may be a relationship, as status, a position or it might be good health…

If I want to be a disciple of Jesus, he asks us today to follow him unconditionally, without any strings, ready to let go of anything and everything (although he may not actually ask me to do so). It is the readiness that counts. The man in the story did not even seem to have that. Let ask for the grace to be free of attachments.

Reference:

http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O1082G/

http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/05/monday-may-28-2012/

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Vally Mendonca, SJ

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HOMILY:: Pentecost Sunday : 27 May 2012,

Pentecost Sunday
[Acts 2:1–11; 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23]

INTRO:

The Jewish Pentecost:

Both the Jews and the Christians celebrate Pentecost.  The word Pentecost is Greek for pentecostes which means "fiftieth." The feast received this name because it was celebrated fifty days after the Feast of the Passover. It was originally a day of thanksgiving celebrated seven weeks after the beginning of the harvesting for the completion of the harvest.

The Christian Pentecost:

For Christians, Pentecost marks the end and the goal of the Easter season.  It is a memorial of the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and the Virgin Mary in the form of fiery tongues, an event that took place fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus.  The feast also commemorates the official inauguration of the Christian Church by St. Peter's apostolic preaching, which resulted in the conversion of 3000 Jews to the Christian faith.  Pentecost is thus the official birthday of the Church. So, let me wish you all, "Happy Birthday!"

Today's three readings make reference to the arrival of the Holy Spirit, being baptized in the Spirit and being sent forth to proclaim the Word of God.

The First Reading [Acts 2:1-11] tells us, "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages." St. Paul affirms in the Second Reading [1 Cor. 12:3b-7, 12- 13], "In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." And Jesus gives us a mission in the Gospel Reading [Jn. 20:19-23], "As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

HOMILY: "Come Holy Spirit! Fill our Hearts!"

1. Story: "Well, Chippie doesn't sing much anymore."

A woman was cleaning the bottom of the cage of her parrot Chippie with the canister vacuum cleaner. She was not using an attachment on the tube. When the telephone rang, she turned her head to pick it up, continuing to vacuum the cage as she said, "Hello," into the phone. Then she heard the horrible noise of Chippie being sucked into the vacuum. Immediately she put down the phone, ripped open the vacuum bag, and found Chippie in there, stunned but still alive. Since the bird was covered with dust and dirt, she grabbed it, ran it into the bathroom, turned on the tap, and held the bird under the water to clean it off. When she finished that, she saw the hair dryer on the bathroom shelf. She turned it on and held the bird in front of the blast of hot air to dry him off. A few weeks later, a reporter from the newspaper that originally published the story went out to the house to ask the woman, "How's Chippie doing now?" She said, "Well, Chippie doesn't sing much anymore. He just sort of sits and stares."

Today's gospel tells us that it was what happened to the apostles. They all were traumatized by the arrest and crucifixion of their master and bewildered by his post-resurrection appearances and his command to prepare for the coming of his Holy Spirit.  

2. Full of symbols

Most of us are more familiar with the account given in the Acts of the Apostles which is the First Reading of today's Mass. What follows is a scene filled with scriptural symbols.  First, there is the sound of a mighty wind from heaven filling the whole house.  The word in Greek for 'spirit' and 'wind' is the same, so the wind clearly indicates the Spirit of God.

Then there appeared tongues of fire which rested on the head of each one present.  Again we have a symbol of God's presence.  We remember Moses speaking to God out of the bush which was on fire.  We remember that, as the Israelites wandered through the desert, they were accompanied during the night by a pillar of fire – God was with them.  All present are then filled with the Spirit. The sign of this presence is their ability to speak in different languages.

3. A message for all

Immediately, the apostles go out and begin to speak to the crowds of people. These people are amazed to hear these men, who are clearly relatively unlettered people from the province of Galilee, speaking to them in so many languages.

The meaning is clear.  What the apostles are preaching is a message destined for the whole world and not just for one people.  A long time ago, as described in the book of Genesis, men tried to build a tower right up to heaven – means trying to reach God.  For such arrogance they were punished by having to speak in a myriad of languages unintelligible to others.  Humanity became deeply divided.

Today, Babel is reversed.  It is not babbling of unintelligible sounds! All are speaking and hearing the message with full understanding. People are being brought together in unity under God.

4. Receiving a mission

The Gospel today has a quite different account of the coming of the Spirit on the disciples.  It is the evening of Easter Sunday and the disciples are in a room, with the doors firmly locked. All of a sudden, Jesus is there in their midst.  "Shalom, Peace with you" is his greeting. A peace they could not get anywhere else and a peace that no one and nothing could take away from them. Then he breathes on them.  Breath symbolises life. 

And then he gives their mission: "As the Father sent me, so am I sending you."  Their mission is the same as his; they are to continue doing what he did.

5. My Mission

On this feast of Pentecost, we also need to reflect on the particular role that God has for me, to reflect on the particular contribution that I can make to the mission of the Church.

Many of us can identify with Chippie and the apostles. Life has sucked us up, thrown cold water on us, and blown us away. Somewhere in the trauma, we have lost our song. Hence, we, too, need the daily anointing of the Holy Spirit to keep us singing songs of Christian witnessing through agape love.

How will the Holy Spirit work in us? Do we need to wait for the wind to gush in through the windows and doors and fire descend on us?

Story2: "Lower your bucket-- taste and see":

More than a century ago, a great sailing ship was stranded off the coast of South America.  Week after week the ship lay there in the still waters with not a hint of a breeze.  The captain was desperate; the crew was dying of thirst.  And then, on the far horizon, a steamship appeared, heading directly toward them.  As it drew near, the captain called out, "We need water!  Give us water!"  The steamship replied, "Lower your buckets where you are."  The captain was furious at this cavalier response but called out again, "Please, give us water." But the steamer gave the same reply, "Lower your buckets where you are!"  And with that they sailed away!  The captain was beside himself with anger and despair, and he went below.  But a little later, when no one was looking, a yeoman lowered a bucket into the sea and then tasted what he brought up: It was perfectly sweet, fresh water!  For you see, the ship was just out of sight of the mouth of the Amazon.  And for all those weeks they had been sitting right on top of all the fresh water they needed! 

What we are really seeking is already inside us, waiting to be discovered, waiting to be embraced: the Holy Spirit of God who has been living within us from the first moment of our life.  The Holy Spirit is saying to us at this very moment, "Lower your buckets where you are.  Taste and see!" Let us be aware of that Spirit within us and say from the depth of our hearts:  "Come, Holy Spirit!  Fill our hearts, and set us on fire!"  Amen.

Reference:

http://www.catholicdoors.com/homilies/2012/120527.htm

http://www.biblestudyresources.com/devotionals/jesus/he_keeps_me_singing.htm

http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/EB081/

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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HOMILY:: 7th Week of Easter : Saturday, 26 May 2012

Readings: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Jn 21:20-25

INTRO:

Today we complete the readings for the Easter season. The readings for this day are drawn from the final verses of Acts and of John's gospel. If the first book of St. Luke, Gospel of Luke is the "journey narrative" of Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, the second book, Acts of the Apostles is the "journey narrative" of Paul from Jerusalem to Rome.

As Pentecost brings an end to the Easter season we read the final sentences in the Acts and the fourth Gospel, both endings that open up a life-giving future for those who trust in Jesus. We are asked to focus on our commitment to love him. For the times we have failed to focus on our commitment to love him let us ask his forgiveness.

HOMILY: "Focus on your Commitment"

Peter has been given his mandate to shepherd the Lord's flock and been fully rehabilitated after his sad betrayal earlier on. Jesus had told Peter to feed His sheep and to follow Him and even indicated what kind of future Peter will have to face.

But it is still the same old, impetuous Peter.  Well after knowing what is in store for him, Peter would certainly like to know what the rest would face, especially the disciple Jesus loved, whether it is out of concern or out of curiosity. Frankly speaking, he is told to mind his own business; it is no concern of his.

If any of you here is a teacher, you would agree with me, when you distribute answer papers, students are more curious or worried how much others have scored that looking at one's own score. Even the one who has scored highest is anxious to know how much behind others are than me!

We adults are worse! Half of our tension and stress is because we are anxious and worried about what others are eating, what others are wearing, what others are driving or what type of house others are staying. Moreover, we are more worried about others' weaknesses than our own sinfulness!

Jesus had to bring Peter back to focus on his commitment to love and the mission that he had received.

"What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me."

Though, of course, we need to be responsible for the wellbeing of our brothers and sisters, our main concern is to focus on where God is calling us and not be too worried about what he expects from others.

And as we prepare for the renewal and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, let us focus on our commitment to love and our mission to love.

Reference:

http://frstephenyim-weekdays.blogspot.in/

http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/05/26th-may-saturday-of-the-7th-week-of-easter/

http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/E1077G/

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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HOMILY: Wednesday, 23 May 2012 - 7th Week of Easter

[Acts 20:28–38; Jn 17:11-19]

INTRO:

First Reading: Paul's final call to church leaders: Shepherd the church of God.

Gospel: Before leaving them, he prays to the Father, "Sanctify them in the truth."

HOMILY: "Living in Truth in the world"

Just to remind ourselves – we are still with Paul on his Third Missionary Journey.  And today we have the second part of his farewell speech to the elders of the church at Ephesus. Paul reminds the elders of their responsibility as 'elders'. Paul cautions them of the "wolves attacking the flock". He gives his own example of taking care of the needy in the community.

In the Gospel, Jesus continues his prayer for his disciples.  Jesus makes it very clear that he is not asking that they be removed from the world's environment, only that they be protected from its evil influences.  It is only by being in the world that they will be able to communicate the Gospel message, as he said elsewhere, to be "the salt of the earth" and the "yeast in the dough".

Jesus prays that they be consecrated in truth, the truth of God himself. This truth does not consist of a set of dogmas. But it is living our lives in integrity as true human beings in this world; as men and women in the image and likeness of God. That is to say, we are called to live in perfect harmony with the will of God.

Let us then pray today,

- that we may realize that, if we want to give witness to the Gospel, we must be fully inserted into the world by which we are surrounded.  To be 'holy' is not to escape and distance ourselves physically from that world, which is what many are tempted to do or even think is the right thing to do.

- that we may be people of complete integrity, that we may be filled with truth and sincerity so that what people see in us is what we truly are and wish to be: disciples of Jesus.

References:

http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/05/23rd-may-wednesday-of-the-7th-week-of-easter/

http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/E1074G/

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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Bookmarkers: Fr. John Guidera, SJ

 

HOMILY: Saturday, 21 April 2012

2^nd Week of Easter

Acts 6:1-7; Jn 6:16-21

A. INTRODUCTION

First Reading: The Apostles solve a problem of the ethnic conflict among the early Christians.

Gospel: The Disciples are sailing on a boat and Jesus is not with them. There is a storm and the disciples are struggling. Lo and behold they see Jesus walking on the water. They are afraid thinking it is a ghost! Jesus tells them, "It is I"!

B. HOMILY : Learning from Early christians

In the Acts we see how the apostles healed a major division in the Christian community by a wise compromise and common sense.

The issue in today's reading is that the Greek-speaking Jewish members began complaining that their needs were being neglected by the Hebrew-speaking Palestinian members.At this stage of its development, the Church was still entirely Jewish in its membership.  However, they were divided into two distinct groups:

- There were the Hebraic Jews, who spoke the Aramaic and/or Hebrew languages of Palestine and kept strictly to Jewish culture and customs.

- The Greek speakers (or Hellenists) were "overseas Jews", scattered over the Mediterranean lands and had often largely become culturally and linguistically Greek.

The Greek speakers were to some extent looked down on by Aramaic/Hebrew speakers. 

It is like, in the past, the Goans looking down upon the Mangaloreans though both speak Konkani.

Even at this early stage in the life of the Church, we can see the ugly head of ethnic-cultural divisions surfacing.

From its very beginnings, the Church is consisted of flawed human beings. It should never cause us any surprise and it does not weaken the central message of the Good News.

I think there is an important message for us today from the early Christian Community. When there is a conflict in the Church we need to look for solution as a community – look for a solution within, not break away from the community.  It is a sad thing happening today. Whenever, there is a conflict the Church is breaking apart. Before coming to Chennai, I was working in Kandhamal, Orissa. In that one district, I am told, there are 40 denominations of Christianity. Indeed a bad message!

We need to, in all humility, accept that the Church has not been open to correction and changes over the centuries… The procedure in the early Church suggests much that is relevant for today's tensions in our Church.

Today the Church is going through difficult times in India and different parts of the world. The sea is rough and the wind is blowing against the boat! We need Jesus to walk towards us to calm the sea! Or may be Jesus is walking with us and we are not able to recognize him! Let ask the Lord to open our eyes to his presence.

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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Reference:

-- http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/E1027R/

-- http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/04/april-21st-saturday-of-2nd-week-of-easter/

HOMILY: Sunday, 15 April 2012

EASTER SUNDAY - 2
Acts 4:32-35; 1 Jn 5:1-6; Jn 20:19-31

Introduction:

Today we celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy and so we usually call today Divine Mercy Sunday. St. Faustina was privileged to receive apparitions from Jesus emphasizing his mercy, and especially his mercy today.

How do we celebrate the Feast of Mercy

It was clarified by the words of Our Lord to Saint Faustina:

1. We are to prepare with a novena of chaplets starting on Good Friday.

2. We are to be purified by the "Tribunal of mercy," the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

3. We are to venerate the sacred image of the merciful Savior by gazing upon it as a reminder to trust Jesus and be merciful.

4. We are to perform some works of mercy to others.

5. We are to seal and ratify the covenant of mercy by receiving Holy Communion!

This day we cry out with St. Thomas: "My Lord and My God" (Jn 20:28).

How are we to remember the message of Mercy? By the ABC's.

A. Ask for His mercy. 

B. Be merciful. 

C. Completely trust in Jesus.

HOMILY:

1. Story

An elderly pastor looks over his large congregation on Easter morning and startles them with this announcement: "My friends, realizing that I will not see many of you until next Easter, may I take this opportunity to wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!" The difference in the size of the congregation on Easter Sunday and on the other Sundays of the year is very noticeable. Many of our Christians, as far as church attendance is concerned, have indeed become Holy Week Christians: you see them in church only during the Holy Week.

Like a certain man who was criticizing his pastor. "I have attended this church for three years," he says, "and each time the homily is always on the same topic. Doesn't he have something else to talk about?" Yes, this man has been attending the church for three years alright; but he only attends on Easter Sunday and he always hears a homily on the resurrection of Christ.

2. Crisis in Faith?

Why are many well-meaning Christians so uncommited to attending regular, Sunday church services? The answer can be given in one word: doubt or crisis of faith. People today, like people of all times, do have a hunger for God. They are in search for the meaning of life. But they doubt whether the answer to these existential questions can be found within the four walls of the church.

Today's gospel gives us an example of a man who felt exactly like that. His name is Thomas.

All the disciples are gathered for Sunday service and what do we notice. Thomas is not there. Where is Thomas? You can see that Thomas is like one of these modern-day Christians who do not go to church regularly on Sundays.

As a result he misses something. The experience of the Lord. But Thomas wants to believe. So he is demanding for proofs. He wants to believe by rational proofs.

3. Faith Crisis – after study of Philosophy

I hope none of you (specially second years) have lost your faith after two years of studies in philosophy. Two of my companions left the Society after Philosophy, because they said they had lost their faith. Because they said they doubted the existence of God. (Don't get scandalized. Later I came to know the issue was something else. After philosophy their head was full and heart was empty – probably experience of the Lord was missing – which was filled in by somebody else!)

4. Basis for faith – not reason alone but experience.

Do we all believe because we have well established reasons to believe? Brothers will agree with me, all the proofs for God's existence we have studied are actually no proofs at all. They are only popinters. Moreover, these proofs make sense only to those who already believe.

Is then our faith irrational, without any reasons? Of course many times our faith becomes superficial, if it is not confirmed or supported by experience.

5. Pedro Arrupe – Conversion thru experience

Our previous General Fr. Arrupe was studying medicine. He went to France – to Lourdes – to study the cases that claim miraculous healing. He saw a healing taking place. But that did not convert him. It is not proofs that changed Arrupe. It is the experience that he felt within him when he was at Lourdes that changed Arrupe.

6. Experience in a Community

And where or how do we get this religious experience? It is only in a community. Thomas was not with the community, not with the other ten. And he missed this experience. Jesus did not meet Thomas alone to confirm his faith. He met him in a community.

Today's first reading is the example of that community experiencing the Lord. The experience of the Lord in the community was so deep that they did not want anything else. And the experience they got was in sharing and caring for each other.

Christian Faith is neither one-way nor two-way. It is three-way or three dimensional (3D).  I-God-neighbour!

Let us ask for that experience. To experience the Lord in serving the community – serving my neighbor!

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References

1. http://www.munachi.com/b/easterb2.htm

2. http://www.frtommylane.com/homilies/years_abc/divine_mercy_sunday.htm

3. http://www.divinemercysunday.com/homily_starter.htm

 

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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Homily: 5th Sunday of Lent

25 March 2012, Satya Nilayam

Jer 31:31-34; Heb 5:7-9; Jn 12:20-33

A. INTRODUCTION

We are just one week away from Holy Week and our celebration of God's love for us in his passion, death and resurrection. Today we look at the meaning of what Jesus did for us.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 — A promise of a new covenant, a 'new deal' between God and all people, built on love and forgiveness.    

Hebrews 5:7-9 — Jesus is the perfect model for us to imitate, because he shows us what obedience is all about.  

John 12:20-30 — Jesus explains that he does God's will always, even by dying. But in his death, his glory is seen.

B. HOMILY: Keeping by Loosing

1. The Greeks and Jesus

The Greek philosopher Socrates is regarded as one of the wisest men of all time. This man who lived between 470 and 399 BC devoted his life to exposing ignorance, hypocrisy and conceit among his fellow Athenians and calling them to a radical re-examination of life.

He challenged popular opinions regarding religion and politics as he sought to bring people to a better understanding of virtue, justice, piety and right conduct. He attracted many followers, especially among the youth. But those in power arrested him, tried him and sentenced him to death. He was given a choice to run away into exile, but he chose to face death.

Subsequent generations of Greeks came to regard Socrates as a martyr for truth. They resolved never again to persecute anyone on account of their beliefs.

By the time of Jesus the Greeks had become among the most broad-minded people in the world. Various religious and philosophical traditions flourished among them.

We see in today's gospel that among the huge crowds that had come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast were some Greeks.

But why did they wish to see Jesus? What did they have to do with Jesus? And why is Jesus talking about "grain of wheat" parable when they wish to see him?

It did not take these Greeks long to see that all was not well in Jerusalem. It is more probable that they came to alert Jesus to the seriousness of the danger surrounding him and to suggest to him to flee with them to Greece, the land of freedom. The response that Jesus gives to their request shows that it has to do with his impending death and that he has chosen to stay and face it rather than seek a way to escape it.

2. Martin Luther King: Let go

Martin Luther King once wrote about a time when he knelt down in prayer at the kitchen table in his home in Alabama. A hail of stones had just come through the window because of his advocacy of civil rights for black people. His wife and children were in danger. He had already become a qualified academic by then, and a promising career lay ahead. In prayer he found himself asking, "Do I really need this additional worry and danger?" It was in that moment that he decided to put the will of God and the welfare of his own Negro people before his own security and that of his family. He chose to let go of an easier path in order to serve God by standing with those who were most oppressed. In a sense, he chose to die so that others might have life. His fate is a striking example of the image that Jesus uses in the gospel reading, the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies, and in dying yields a rich harvest.

3. Jesus' Struggle to let go

Are we afraid to let everything go? Is Jesus asking too much? Let us have no doubt, Jesus himself was afraid, deeply afraid. "Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: 'Father, save me from this hour?'" Should I run away to Greece?

The Letter to the Hebrews (Second Reading) puts it graphically: "During his life on earth, Christ offered up prayer and supplication, aloud and in silent tears, to the One who had the power to save him from death…" Letting go did not come any more easily to Jesus than it does to us. But, after his prayer, when he sweat blood in fear and trembling, he was able to say, YES. And this YES was confirmed by the Father. Jesus let go of everything, including his own life, in order to bring life to himself and many others.

4. Clinging to life is losing it

"Anyone who clings to his life, will lose it; the one who is willing to let go will find a much richer and enriching life."

Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American businessman, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, and director. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world. Howard Hughes, the billionaire, died a fear-filled, psychologically ill, lonely recluse death because he did not share his wealth with others, he did not let go things – but he let go people from his life! He died of an obsessive compulsive disorder.

5. Live by Letting go

Most of us are afraid to die. Because of this fear of death, we forget to live our lives. The one who is not afraid of death, lives his/her life fully, however short it may be in terms of years! And like Bp. Oscar Romero, Rev. Martin Luther King, Fr. A.T. Thomas or Sr. Rani Maria – continue to live even after death!

Those who cling to their life lose it in themselves, but those who let go their life for the sake of others, those who live for others, double their life because not only they live in themselves but begin to live in the life of other also.

May God give us the grace to die to ourselves to live for others!

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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Homily: 4th Week of Lent, Saturday

24 March 2012, Satya Nilayam

Jer 11:18-20; Jn 7:40-53

A. INTRODUCTION

First Reading: Jeremiah, as a prophet of God, is the target of vicious conspiracies which want to wipe him out. Ultimately God is Jeremiah's only protection against his enemies.

Gospel: Pharisees have a fixed and closed idea about the Messiah. Since Jesus does not fit into their idea, they reject him.

B. HOMILY : Ideology or Weltanschauung?

In our course on Philosophy of Liberation, there is a chapter called "epistemological presuppositions for a philosophy of liberation". First year brothers may remember, (I hope they do!) we discussed two terms: Ideology and Weltanschauung (world view).

Ideology is a bad word. It is an already-worked out, and once and for all fixed, set of inter-related ideas. And for many people when they find that reality occasionally refuses to fit the mould, they simply force it to do so or discard such noncompliant data; the system is what counts for them. This is an oppressive epistemological standpoint.

On the other hand, a liberative approach is open to an ongoing dialogue with the world with reality. Weltanschauung or worldview is a dynamic and progressive vision of reality. If one discovers a new nuance or dimension of reality that had not been taken into consideration while formulating ones vision of reality, then one modifies the existing vision, integrating this new perspective.

In the Gospel reading today we see that the Pharisees have a fixed ideology that Christ must be born in Bethlehem in David's family. When Jesus comes he does not fit into their ideology because he, they think, is from Galilee. So they discard him.

We need to remember we are not reading this passage simply to condemn the Jewish religious leaders or the Pharisees but to reflect on our own prejudices and short-sightedness. How do we see Jesus, the Gospel message, the whole Bible, the Church? Is our understanding once and for all fixed one? Jesus is the fullness of revelation, no doubt about it. But have we grasped that revelation fully – once and for all?

Are we not like the Pharisees when we have a prejudiced idea about our family members, friends, neighbours, teachers, students, other ethnic groups or castes – when we condemn them once and for all without even trying to know why they are that way?

If we are honest, there is something of the Pharisees in every one of us.

"Let him or her who is totally without prejudice or who has never passed judgement on another cast the first stone."

Let us pray for an open mind to accept the ever revealing the message of Jesus. And also be very open about the many and surprising ways in which Jesus can speak to us.

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Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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