Dear Family!

The greatest treasure of Advent is Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! As the new Church Year begins, I urge you to take along the ‘Green’ (Treasures of the Season of Ordinary Time) to the ‘Purple’ (The Season of Advent)”. Yes we are back to the days of purple as the season shares certain qualities of another purple season - Lent.

Dear Family!

Reflecting on the Gospel this Sunday, St. Ambrose wrote, “The superscription is written and placed above, not below the cross, because the government is upon his shoulders. What is this government if not his eternal power and Godhead? When asked, “Who are you?” he replied, “The beginning, who also speaks to you.” Let us read this superscription. “Jesus of Nazareth,” it says, “The King of the Jews.”

Dear Family!

This Sunday is the second last Sunday of the church year. The following Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. The readings logically speak about the ‘last things’ (Eschatology) - The Coming Day of the Lord, the Divine Judge. For us Catholic Christians, the end of the world is not God losing control of the earth, rather God bringing things to a triumphant end.

Dear Family!

“The most holy Church of the Lateran, the mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world!” These words, in Latin, greet every pilgrim entering through the front door of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome and clearly proclaim the Lateran’s significance in Christianity.

Dear Family!

The readings focus on ‘justice’. Our human understanding of ‘justice’ results from logic - you worked for a month, and you get your pay; you did this and you get that. To be fair there is a balance between an act and a result (reward or punishment). ‘Justice’ in God’s language is rooted in love. God’s love is present while we are still sinners (St. Paul). To be just, to be fair in God’s language is to be in love. The First Reading reminds us that God’s almighty power includes his strength to be merciful.

Dear Family!

We are drawing near to the end of the Cycle C (Gospel of Luke). The theme continues to focus on prayer. The 1st reading opens our minds and hearts to the reality that ‘the humble man’s prayer pierces the clouds’ is fulfilled in the tax-collector in the Gospel. I was drawn to the conclusion that Jesus makes here - ‘the latter went home justified’.

Dear Family!

On October 9th, Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Exhortation was released. An Apostolic Exhortation by a Pope often aims to encourage us in a particular virtue or activity developing a social teaching as its main theme. Pope named it Dilexi Te (I have loved you) which resembles Pope Francis’ encyclical on Sacred Heart (Dilexit Nos which means ‘He loved us”). Pope Leo look the words from Revelation 3:9 and his Exhortation is addressed to all Christians on the love of the Poor.

Dear Family!

It was wonderful to see all the pets you brought in for a blessing last Sunday. We thank Father Pat for preparing the prayers for the Blessing of Animals. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) will begin on Sunday, October 19th, and it is our responsibility to journey with them and pray for them. The Faith Formation classes have started, and our children depend on our prayers especially the children who are preparing for Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Dear Family! Focusing on the readings of this Sunday, I thought about a quote that made me stop and think, “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” (JRR Tolkien). Prophet Habakkuk in the first reading, amidst the cloud of Babylonian exile of the people of God, not to give up on God especially when the road darkens, sure enough that was the darkest road they have ever seen! What is required in these circumstances in our life? Faith - a persevering trust that God will eventually intervene.

Dear Family!

The Gospel is better proclaimed when loving God and loving neighbor taken together. ”The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she 'groans in travail' (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air, and we receive life and refreshment from her waters." --Pope Francis

Dear Family!

“As this world (Earth) is not for those who are without wealth, so that world (Heaven) is not for those who are without kindness” (Thirukkural 247 written in my mother tongue around Jesus’ time). This is the focal point of this week’s liturgy. We continue to take great care on our financial security; we work hard at it. Do we take enough care on our spiritual security? This paves way to reflect about an important social evil of our time - Financial Slavery.

Dear Family!

Our Pope Leo XIV celebrates his 70th Birthday on September 14th. People throughout the world wish our Pope ‘Happy Birthday’ in numerous creative ways. Let us join as well to wish our Pope ‘Happy Birthday’ and pray for his intentions. OSV is gathering a host of prayers into a very special “spiritual birthday bouquet” for our Pope. Everyone can participate. Visit: www.osvnews.com

Dear Family!

In the Gospel, Jesus’ words could have caused havoc to the people who read the Bible in English when he said, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

God’s Word, Jesus takes root in us from the beginning to the end of our life on earth to bring us life and that life in fullness.