Message for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We here in South show southern hospitality. I boast about my Asian Indian hospitality. Yet, the hospitality which the Father expects in the Spirit to Jesus when he sent Him to us, is totally different from our understanding of it. Hence our theme for today’s meditation is: THE BEST HOPITALITY TO JESUS. Today’s readings will help us immensely.

In the book of Genesis 18:1-10, we see the best hospitality shown by Abraham to the three strangers. Abraham’s request is, “Sir, if I may ask you this favor please do not go on past your servant.” Strangers are recognized as "men of God." The rest of the things that he did, “water to wash their feet, suggestion to rest under the tree, willingness to offer the best food available, namely bread, tender choice steer, curds and milk." The most important point is that Abraham considered that the three men were doing favor to him by accepting the best possible hospitality he could show. It is the same with Jesus too. We should always recognize Jesus and consider that Jesus is doing favor to us when we say, "only the best is good enough for my Lord."

St. Paul to Colossians 1:24-28 has an unthinkable suggestion of "rejoicing in suffering for others." If we know that every eternal soul is created according to the "image and likeness of God," then we also should know that each one of us is the part of the MYSTICAL BODY of Christ. Hence, the best hospitality that Jesus needs from us is to be happy to suffer for others "so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ."  We should consider the suffering for others as a privilege and rejoice in it.

Let us first of all admire Martha in the passage from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke 10:38-42 . She is as human as any one of us. If we suppose Jesus is physically present in our house today, will we not act exactly as Martha did? Jesus is not discouraging Martha. Jesus is only encouraging us to do what Mary did. Why did Jesus come to this world? Do you think that he needs best of drinks, best of food that we can offer? He came to tell us, "What a loving Father we have in heaven?"

How are we to know unless we sit at his feet and learn? “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Jesus is present at our house. Let us choose the ‘better part."

You need not change our SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY or I need not change my ASIAN INDIAN HOSPITALITY; rather, we all need to add the following:

1. Recognize Jesus in everyone.  
2. Rejoice in suffering for others.  
3. Choose the better part like Mary; namely, sit at the feet of Jesus and listen.

Message for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear friends,

This Sunday we will be enjoying the beautiful description of the preeminent position of Our Blessed Lord Christ Jesus. Hence, our theme will be, "We have a person to please." That person is Our Lord Jesus Christ.

We often say that Jesus is hidden in the Old Testament. Very prominently, we will see from the passage of today’s first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy 30:10-14. As the author speaks about the "Voice of the Lord your God," His commandments, statues, he is talking about The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one now who is "something near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out.” The message in this reading is that the climax of our action of love, concern and charity is in Jesus.

I would like to take up the Holy Gospel at this juncture which is according to St. Luke 10:25-37 where we have one of the most beautiful parables of Jesus, The Good Samaritan. "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus takes us through various stages in this parable.

"The first stage is when a man fell victim to robbers, maybe a fault of his for putting himself in trouble by traveling alone, yet one must help him. Secondly, though he may be a foreigner, he should be helped since now he is in need of help. Thirdly, the help must be practical and not consist merely in feeling sorry. No doubt the priest and the Levite felt a pang of pity for the wounded man, but they did nothing. Compassion, to be real, must issue in deeds." (Taken from the commentary of William Barkley.)

This brings us to the climax of the message as we see the most beautiful description of the preeminent position of Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ from the second reading from the of St. Paul to the Colossians 1:15-20. The whole description brings us to one prominent point and that is, “That in all things He (Jesus) himself might to preeminent.” As it were that in all we do we have a person to please. HE IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

A very prominent gentleman said to Mother Theresa, “Mother, even if somebody gives me millions of dollars, I would not do the work you are doing.” Mother replied, “Neither would I do it for billions, but I do it because I see my Lord in him.”

This is how we will be judged:  "For I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you covered me; sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.” Mt. 25:35-36 and in the verse 40, He says, “Amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me.”

Come on in!

Message for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

On Saturday, July 3rd, the Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle. My one word message is GOD.  Thomas is the privileged one who calls Jesus "My Lord and My God." 

This is what was a difficult thing to do for those who knew His foster father, the carpenter's son, Mary from Nazareth and His relatives. How can he be God? How can He forgive sins? But today, do we have any difficulty in accepting Jesus as our Lord and our God? One of the first things Jesus announced in his public ministry is "The Kingdom of God." This is clearly seen in Mark’s Gospel 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” The same words Jesus says in today’s Gospel. To be in the Kingdom of God is to be in peace with God, with one another and with ourselves, and able to say with Jesus, “Peace to this household."

The first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, 66:10-14 brings us to "The Lord’s power shall be known to his servants." This is the beginning of realization of the "Kingdom of God."  Only this way we can begin to enjoy our peace. The only source of lasting peace. Let us recognize the "The Lord’s Power."

The second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians 6:14-18, on the other hand, takes us to the pinnacle of spirituality to achieve the peace and to take us into the "Kingdom of God." “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” and “Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule.”

What is this rule? This is to boast in the "Cross of Christ." What does it mean to boast in the Cross of Christ? Does it not mean that we take up, we embrace our cross and suffer patiently with Christ? Don’t you think that it will give us the peace, mercy and the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ to make us enjoy the ‘Kingdom of God’ here on earth?

The holy Gospel according to Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 gives us the order to be totally dependant on God and preach the Good News. The final promise is "The laborer deserves his payment." Our payment is Peace, Mercy and Grace. In the final analysis, it is the achievement of the "Kingdom of God."

The only thing we need to do is to "Boast in the Cross of Christ," and take up our Cross and follow Jesus lovingly, faithfully and till the end, till with St. Thomas, calling Jesus with faith and love, “MY LORD AND MY GOD."