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.

Dear Family!

The central theme of 22nd Sunday in the Ordinary Time revolves around ‘Humility’. Sirach highlights ‘humility’, a key virtue that puts us into God’s favor. We see Jesus, John the Baptist and Mary in the words ‘Humble yourself, the greater you are.’ Jesus preached and lived these words. Jesus asked us to follow him in the path of humility to walk humbly with God.

Dear Family!

The readings speak to us of God’s salvation being open to the whole world. Many of the world’s believers such as Christians, Muslims, Hindus and others want a guarantee from their respective religion that their future is absolutely secure. Fr. Leonard Feeney was condemned by the Holy See for denying salvation to non-Christians because we have a long history and a common belief that ‘outside the Church there is no salvation.’

Dear Family!

This week ended with a high note as we honor our Blessed Mother in her glorious assumption. We thank God as we ponder the words of Pope Pius XII’s words in Munificentissimus Deus 41, “the dogma of the Assumption of Mary is based on Sacred Scripture and deeply embedded in the minds of the faithful; it has received the approval of liturgical worship from the earliest times; it is perfectly in keeping with the rest of revealed truth and has been lucidly developed and explained by the studies, the knowledge and wisdom of theologians.”

Dear Family!

The Book of Wisdom could be understood in two parts: In the first chapters 1-9, Solomon guides the people who rule, to embrace righteousness and follow his example. In the second chapters 10-18, Solomon reveals the close connection between righteousness and wisdom in the history of the chosen people of God especially chapter 10 devoted to Creation and the rest is to Exodus.

Dear Family!

Gaudium et Spes (Vatican II, 1965): “God has intended the earth and all that it contains for the use of all people. Hence justice, accompanied by charity, must regulate the distribution of created goods that they are actually available to all in an equitable measure. […] Therefore, in using them everyone should consider legitimate possessions not only as their own but also as common property, in the sense that they should be able to profit not only themselves but other people as well. Moreover, all have the right to possess a share of earthly goods sufficient for themselves and their families.”

Dear Family!

The Greatest command as taught by Jesus is found in Mark 12:28-34. Loving God and loving our neighbor are seen as one command and the greatest command that Jesus taught us. ‘Our Father’ is referred to as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ expressing to us the same sentiments of the Greatest command of the Lord of loving God and loving neighbor. Every time we pray the Lord’s prayer we initiate our love for God and neighbor in a profound way. In a way we can say that prayer initiates love of God and neighbor.

Dear Family!

In 2021 the Vatican Dicastery of Worship taught us through Pope Francis, “…Therefore, the Supreme Pontiff Pope Francis, considering the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to him attentively, in believing that he is the resurrection and the life, and accepting the proposal of this Dicastery, has decreed that the 29 of July be designated in the General Roman Calendar as the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus.” (July 29th has been the Memorial of only Martha until last year).

Dear Family!

The context is important in reading and reflecting the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus was cornered to a trap on the basic understanding of God. Jesus encourages the scribe to get the answer from the Word of God - Jesus is the Word of God. ’Torah’ (The Law) could be understood as the correct teaching that points you to the right direction.

Dear Family!

“Almighty GOD; we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States of America at large.