Sunday, July 31, 2011

18th Sunday of Ordinary Times – Multiplication of Bread (Mt 14: 13-21)

Economic Theory Proposed by Jesus

Introduction

- Poverty is a word that people are afraid about. The national leaders and politicians take it as a tool for attracting the voters. Poverty alleviation is one of the main agenda of all the ruling parties of the nations.

- There are different theories about eradication of poverty. Jesus, in the incident of the multiplication of bread proposes his theory – theory of caring, sharing and bearing.

Content

- Caring – Caring God

o Jesus was moved with compassion by seeing the crowd who was hungry.

o God provides everything for His creation.

o During the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness Jesus never performed a miracle to change the stones to bread. The miracles are performed for others, to satisfy His creation.

- Sharing – Sharing disciples

o Jesus could have performed this miracle without the help of the disciples, but Jesus depends on what they have (5 loves and 2 fish) for the multiplication of the bread. He looks forward human cooperation and participation.

o The community has needs and the individual has gifts of God.

o Sharing is not only for the rich, it is also applicable for the poor. In this incident; the disciples were poor (only 5 loves and 2 fish). Nothing is too little in the hands of God. Eg; the offering of the widow in the temple.

- Bearing – bearing witness to God’s love

o Bearing witness to ‘caring God’ through our ‘sharing’

o Use the talents and abilities for others. (ability to console, pray, smile, intellectual help etc) We are here for others.

o The problem of the world today is not the lack of resources for all, but the accumulation of the wealth in few hands. Jesus gave the bread after the multiplication to his disciples, instructing them to distribute. If they might think that it is only for their consumption, the miracles would not have happened.

o Jesus gives the resources to a few thinking that they would distribute among the poor and needy. But those who receive abundantly think that it is only for them and their family. Here the miracle of Jesus fails.

Conclusion

- We are the channels of the Holy Spirit in this world. By our actions and words the world should know that God loves his creation. Let us be true to our call to be a catholic.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Mt 13:44-52)

Kingdom - our Treasure

Introduction

- Treasure is an attracting word that has a magical power of making the people to go for it.

- The treasure discovered in the southern part of India (Kerala) worth more than 50 billion dollars surprises the people and gives a boost to the treasure hunters.

- Jesus says – the wise will find out the treasure and will acquire it at any cost. Who is a wise man? In the first reading Solomon is depicted as wise since he asked as a blessing, not wealth or long life, but the understanding. The wise man is the one who understands the reality and things beyond the material world.

Content

- Three statements that is to be emphasized in today’s gospel;

1. The Kingdom of God is at hand;

o Where is the heaven? Is it up or down…. Nobody knows. But one thing is sure; it is a life with God, fully enjoying His love and Peace. The wise man will understand it better.

o The kingdom can be achieved in this world. Jesus has established this kingdom on earth. When we begin to live in the presence of Jesus, we begin to enjoy the kingdom. Practice the love, hope and faith to enjoy the Kingdom on earth.

2. Material wealth is only a means to attain the kingdom of God.

o Do not make the means as an end – the money as the end of the life.

o The mistake happened to the rich man in the gospel is, he considered material blessings as the end in itself and began to use it so selfishly. Jesus called him “fool”.

o Material wealth is not wrong. We need that for our sustenance. Understanding the passing nature of material wealth is wisdom.

3. Sacrifice is the key to the Kingdom.

o No pain, no gain.

o The athletes train so hardly even sacrificing their friend’s gathering and other enjoyments in preparation for the forthcoming event.

o Students sacrifice so many things when the exams are near.

o Sacrifice the selfishness and all other things that is not according to the kingdom of God to achieve our ultimate aim ‘The Kingdom of God’.

Conclusion

- Be the people of wisdom by giving prime importance to the Kingdom Values in our life.

- Let us being enjoying the Kingdom in this earth and come to its fullness in the life after.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Parable of the weeds among the wheat (Mt 13: 24-43)

Good and Evil

Introduction

- Pajero issue is burning in the Philippines. Now the religious leaders are afraid of getting even a bicycle because tomorrow it will become Pajeros and attack them. In this context it is good to think the influence of evil. Is there evil and its influences in this world?

- Jesus says there is evil and its influences – weeds. There is evil in this world, in the church, and in me.

- How to deal with this ‘evil influences’? Why God allows evil influences? The answer is today’s parable.

Content

- The parable explains the cause of evil invasion – “while they were sleeping”. Sleep is a state of mind where we are not aware of what is happening around us or within us. It is a state of ignorance and lack of vigilance. The evil invades in us when we are in ‘sleep’. Sleep here can be our weakness, state of being away from God by losing the interest in the spiritual exercises, sinfulness, or laziness etc.

- Three things to be noted as a advice to deal with this situation.

1. Be alert – if I feel lazy and stay away from our prayer life and spiritual growth, it would affect badly our lives and the evil invasion would be easy. Let us be strict with our everyday spiritual exercises

2. Accept our weakness and do not be harsh on them – we sometimes get frustration and deal harshly with our weakness / problems. We may be giving over importance to the removal of evil from us. The result would be stagnation in our spiritual growth and disappointment when we discover later that the evil is still there.

3. Strengthen the good plants – Eg; when the doctors are unaware of about a particular virus that causes illness or fever they use to give vitamins and ordinary medicines to the patients. The aim is these medicines would increase the resistance capacity of the body by supporting the good cells in the body and it would eventually lead into the cure. Likewise let us strengthen our good elements in us. It can be a decision to spend more time in social word, or in some productive works, or with the family members etc. Let us remember that it is better to light a candle than cursing the darkness hundred times.

Conclusion

- Conversion is a possible way to win over the evil. Here, the conversion means decision to do more good than usual. It would eventually remove the evil in me.

- The good deed may not be so big. It can be as small as a mustard seed or yeast as it is stated in the parable. Jesus assures that there will be a greater impact even for such a small deed if the intention is good and sincere.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

15th Sunday of ordinary time - The Sower and the Land

The sower in the hi-tech world

Introduction

- What would happen if we explain the parable of the sower to the hi-tech children… A story goes like this. A catechism teacher was teaching the students about the parable of sower. After reading the text the teacher asked the children whether they have seen or done any sowing or reaping. To the surprise of the teacher many said ‘yes’. Teacher asked how. The students told that it is possible through the mouse click. They were imagining about the ‘farmville’ of the face book.

- In this techy century people know virtual farming and not the real. Jesus tells us in a symbolic language.

Content

- This parable brings forth three blocks in the growth of the word of God; such as ‘fell on the path’, ‘on rocky ground’ and ‘fell on the thorns’.

- Fell on the path:

o Those who hear and do not understand it and lose it.

o This hi-tech world is the world of ‘noises’.- information overloaded. Here there is a danger that word of God may become one among the noises/information.

o Word of God must be given the first priority since it is life giving.

- Rocky Ground

o The problem is the lack of depth.

o To have mastery over a subject we should have depth.

o The depth is attained by concentration and study.

o Study and prayers make us depth in the Word of God.

- Fell on the thorny ground

o We are busy always. Even children are busy following the talks of the elderly, though they have nothing to do actually.

o Anxiety and worries are the gifts of this busyness.

o No time to pray and no time to sit in silence and to mediate the word of God and to read.

o Jesus assures us that when we seek the kingdom of God everything will be given to us.

o Give first preference to the Word and the Kingdom.

Conclusion

- Let us be people who

o Give first preference to the Word of God among all the information

o Study and meditate the Word – to be the people of depth; and

o Faith and trust in Jesus and his world that says ‘seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; everything will be given to you with that’.