Dear Family!

Reflection: Saint Pope John Paul II in meditating on the distance between God’s perspective of things and ours dedicated a whole encyclical in teaching us,“The desire for knowledge is so great and it works in such a way that the human heart, despite its experience of insurmountable limitation, yearns for the infinite riches which lie beyond, knowing that there is to be found the satisfying answer to every question as yet unanswered.” (Fides et Ratio, 16, Pope John Paul II)

Dear Family!

Reflection: From the 18th Sunday on we have been closely reflecting on the personality of Peter in the Gospel Readings: Peter played a huge role in the multiplication of loaves (18th), walks on the water (19th) intercedes for the Canaanite woman (20th), declares his confession and conviction that Jesus is the Son of God (21st), learns from Jesus to take up and carry the cross (22nd), learns about community building (23rd) and learns the secrets of happiness and peace to be shared with the community in the readings for this this Sunday (24th).

Dear Family!

Reflection: In the Lord’s Prayer we pray, ‘Forgive us our trespasses’, that forgiveness is prayed for after food which is life’s necessity. Saint Ambrose taught us, “For when the Lord forgave all sins, He made an exception of none.” Yes, God forgives everyone without exceptions. Forgiveness indeed brings blessings from God. As Saint Faustina once said, “He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the Cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.”

Dear Family!

Reflection: Happy Labor Day to you! When Saint Augustine said, “You are my Lord, because You have no need of my goodness” we understand a little about the vastness of God, but it doesn’t empty us of our responsibility of the command of Jesus, “Be holy as your Father is Holy.” Certainly, as Scott Hahn puts it, ‘God disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.” How would a Christian react to our tough situation? How would a leader, a prophet, the Church respond to the suffering, pain and misery that threaten our holiness? When we face underserved suffering, it is wise to approach it as a test that requires great faith.

Dear Family!

Reflection: Peter’s whole life is a symbol of the church in itself. Peter was to encounter Jesus with the persuasion of his brother Andrew. He was to make known the revelation which has been given from above, that Jesus was the Christ. He was to get himself in a difficult and opposing position with Jesus on account of being very earthly in heart and mind. He was given the commission to lead the group of the apostles and gets his name and the meaning of his life changed by Jesus. Peter was set to betray Jesus and was to weep and repent later on to be encouraged by Jesus to tend His sheep.

Dear Family!

Reflection: The theme of the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time reveals to us the universal call to salvation. Jesus commissioned His Apostles to spread the Gospel “to the ends of the earth”. God’s plan was always to invite all people. In the first reading, through the voice of Isaiah we hear that the Jerusalem Temple “Shall be called a house of prayer for all people”. God will extend the gift of salvation to all nations (Isaiah 56:1- 12). Saint Paul also reiterates this universal call of God: Jews and Gentiles can have confidence in God’s call to salvation because the “gifts and call of God are irrevocable.”

Reflection: I thank all of you for all your love and support all through the year; it has been one year since my appointment as your pastor. I am grateful to God for His graciousness in leading me and guiding me so that I can serve you well! There will always be uncertainties in life as you probably felt at times in your lives. The personalities we meet in the readings are all and nothing but personalities who have faced uncertainties all their lives. Elijah’s uncertainty is all about his prophetic role. In the Gospel, the Apostles unwillingly agree to get into the boat as they were enjoying the privilege of Jesus’s friendship - they got special recognition from the people. For Jesus ‘special recognition’ is given to you when you are found worthy at the time of challenge, trial, tribulation.

Dear Family!

Reflection: Every pope has a Papal Motto that highlights the pope’s focus or his pastoral concern over the church. Pope Francis’ motto on his coat of arms, “miserando atque eligendo” is taken from a homily by Saint Bede, which could be translated as “having mercy, Jesus called him.” Pope Benedict XVI’s Papal Motto was “Cooperatores Veritatis” (Cooperators of the Truth taken from 3rd Letter of John, which has only one chapter, 8th verse). Pope John Paul II’s motto is “Totus Tuus” which means ‘Totally Yours’ or ‘I am all yours, and all I have is yours’ is inspired by the teaching of St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort.

Dear Family!

Reflection: Saint Thomas Aquinas in Summa Theologica wrote, “There are many sciences dealing with different areas of reality, but only one wisdom. Structurally wisdom is itself a science, drawing conclusions from premises; but what is peculiar to wisdom is its power to judge about everything including its own premises. So, it is a more perfect virtue than science.” In our Abrahamic Family of religions, ‘Shalom’ (Solomon) or ‘Peace’ is always associated with Wisdom. We are blessed to be showered with God’s wisdom that longs for true peace.

Dear Family!

Reflection: The ‘Old’ and ‘New’ Testaments have different views on the ‘Reign of God.’ The Old Testament concept of a ‘reign of God’ that was imminent, terrestrial, political and centered on ‘Israel’ and in ‘Jerusalem,’ but the New Testament as a whole brings about the radical change, where the idea of a heavenly, eternal kingdom makes its appearance. (Pontifical Biblical Commission document).

Dear Family!

Reflection:Speaking of Life and the fullness of life, it is the mind of the Church and expressed in all the documents that teach about the Word of God that the Church is nourished by the Word of God. Pope Benedict in Verbum Domini taught us that the Church is built upon the word of God; she is born from and lives by that word. This word that goes forth from God’s mouth is presented in our first reading as the rain and snow to water to the earth for life and growth.

Dear Family!

Reflection: The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents us Christ’s whole life is as a mystery (CCC 414-521). In CCC 517 we read, “Christ’s whole life is a mystery of redemption. Redemption comes to us above all through the blood of his cross, but this mystery is at work throughout Christ's entire life:

Dear Family!

Happy Independence Day to all of you!

Reflection: As the readings remind us of total acceptance of God in our hearts, our witnessing to God’s love and mercy is indispensable to our redemption. The Church exists to evangelize. Through the evangelizing efforts we bring joy, peace and life to people who long to have an encounter with God. The Shunemite woman in the first reading is promised what she ardently longed for in her life - the gift of a child. The Church that is open to being evangelized, is ever ready to tirelessly evangelize the world. This level of maturity happens in us only when Jesus is our number one priority in life.