25th Sunday of Ordinary Times – Our Expectation on God (Mt 20:1-16)

"God Must Be ........." – Our Expectation on God

Introduction

- Our reality is shaped by our expectations. We have expectations about all most everything. For example we have expectation about our president, our parents, our brothers and sisters……

- Once in the pre marriage course the animator told the participants to write down their expectation about their partners. Each one took time and wrote their expectation about their future partner. After the reading each one’s expectations the animator told sarcastically, “I think no one in this group will get married, because they will never find a person of their expectation”.

- Today Jesus invites us to think of our expectations about “God”.

Content

- Different expectations about God

o The workers expected from their master a person who is ‘just’ – God who is just, paying each one according to his merit. Therefore, if I have done more I should receive more in comparison with others

o Some may expect God to be ‘destroyer’, as one man prayer – God destroy all my enemies and safeguard me always.

o Some may expect God to be an intermediate. (Lk 12: 13) – “Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”.

o Some may expect God to a miracle worker or healer as the king Herod (Lk 23:5-12). Also in the temptation of Jesus.

o What is our expectation on God? It is personal to each one of us.

- But God reminds in the first reading (Isaiah 55:6-9) – ‘for my thoughts are not your thoughts, not are your ways my ways’.

- We are incapable of comprehending God since we are earthlings (belong to earth), timelings (belong to time) and spacelings (belong to space).

Conclusion

- Correct our expectation of God who is beyond all our expectations, who is beyond time, space and earth.

- It calls us to experience God more than defining God. Experience him like the air, like breeze, and like the day light.

- This experience would lead us to a complete surrender like Mary – to say “let thy will be done unto me”, because He arranges everything for our good.

- Also let us not forget our duty to be faithful to God in our lives.

Third Sunday of Advent – Are you the one? (Mt 11:2-11)

Third Sunday of Advent – Are you the one? (Mt 11:2-11)

Introduction

- Today is Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of gladness and rejoicing because of Christmas is near.

- Today our reflection point is the question of John the Baptist “Are you the one who is to come?”

- The background of that question is, their expectation was not a simple man, but a super power king.

- The story of two friends went to see mother Theresa. They were expecting a big figure as we see in the television, but saw a humble and simple person.

Content

- What is our expectation about Jesus?

o Is it a Ruler? Yes, he is a ruler but a servant king.

§ He taught us, “those who want to be your leader must the servant of all”

§ He gave us example by washing the feet of the disciples.

o Is it a destroyer of our enemies? Yes, he destroys our enemies. But it is not by weapons but by love and forgiveness.

§ It is a method to eliminate the enemies forever.

§ The best model would be Jesus’ prayer on the Cross.

o Is it a Miracle worker? Yes, But he never worked miracle to come down from the cross and prayed “Thy will be done”.

§ He was accepting the will of Father always in his life.

o Is it a Healer? Yes, he is the true healer who took up his cross and never abandoned it.

§ He taught us “Those who would like to follow me must take up his cross and follow”.

o Is it a Provider of all the things? Yes, but a simple who did not have anything to say as his own.

§ He taught us “your heavenly father knows what is best for you”.

Conclusion

- It is the time to think of our expectation on Jesus Christ.

- He is the King, Miracle worker, Healer and Provider. At the same he was a simple servant of God who always obeyed his Father.

- Christ comes to our lives in simple way. Let us recognize him as St. John the Baptist.

- What is the sign of the coming of Christ?

o Blind see – Clear vision

o Lame walk – Inner strength to stand for the truth.

o Leper cleansed – Cleaning from our sins.

o Dead raise – New life and enthusiasm.

o Good news to poor – a mentality to share with the poor.