Sermon Thoughts – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to (this) mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
Dear sisters and brothers in the Lord,
What was your though when you heard the Gospel text? What memories and feelings have come up in you?
Did this statement make us thoughtful? Is our faith, really so little, that has not even the size of a mustard seed? Are we really that much bad and inconsistent in our faith towards God?
Do we need a “faith – strengthening” as the Apostles?
Yes, maybe some of us!
We always consider faith as the possession of “the truth”, as some predefined structure, and that gives everything “the correct answer”.
Faith is but quite different. Faith doesn’t serve readymade answers; it doesn’t offer the safe soil. Faith is trust in God. Faith is to endure open-ended questions. Faith helps one, to put his questions to God: e.g. the question Why? Why suffering? Why this misery on earth?
We as human beings can not move mountains. Only God moves mountains. But we can develop a belief that encounter with people, being with people on their way of life and gives them strength and confidence. Thus we can move their hearts…change them towards God.
We can then learn with the faith that our world has much wrong; so much hunger, war and violence which do not match to our world that should be.
We can then learn with the faith that we do not fear the future and discouragement, but can develop confidence in the future because we have Our God who is with us.
We can then learn with the faith that we do not feel small before God, but have the courage to ask questions and to endure.
We can then learn with the faith that we tackle life as the servant of the Gospel.
Let us descend from the mountain of our selfishness and ask God for it.
Just as the apostles prayed:
„Lord, Increase our faith.“
That is not a shame on us, but more than that we are praying for his Presence in our lives. We are accepting His mightiness that succeeds every power of the universe.
That does not make us poor and weak, but make sharers in His richness and strength. Let us pray humbly, “Lord, Increase our Faith”.
God bless us. Amen!
- Fr Thomas Kalathil
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sermon Thoughts 24th Sunday OT C
Sermon Thoughts 24th Sunday OT C
Dear Friends,
Today we have heard all the “heart” of the Gospel of Luke. Namely, the joy of God through repentance of the sinner from the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin.
At first, the parable of the lost sheep: perhaps there was never been such a detailed picture: The shepherd goes after his astrayed and exhausted animal and takes it on his shoulders; a good image for an extraordinary reality which we believe: God brings home the lost!
He takes the initiative, he struggles and cares about every single thing!
In the lost coin, the typical Palestinian relations of that time is presented. The woman is poor; a Greek drachma is about the daily wage.
The house is small, perhaps even without windows, and because of that the woman must light a candle, to search. “And if she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbours and says:
Rejoice with me because I have found the silver coin that I had lost. “
But the image of the lost sheep we are probably the more important.
Here we can recognize ourselves. The parable gives us a happy and encouraging message. It tells us that God loves each and every one of us and it is unconditional. He comes after us when we are lost, he carries us on his shoulders when we are weak and he looks forward to our return to him.
‘Whoever open out, comes home’, this is the title of a pilgrimage book.
So if you want to come home then try to give the start!
Uncertainties and uncertainties have to be faced.
Unfortunately many people are missing these experiences, however.
They think, ‘Yes, I live properly’ and ‘have no need to return home’.
They may have everything for their lives. They may have no financial worries.
But the experience of a path to God and reconciliation are missing a lot. And thus, the experience to return home and to be happy too.
Who are the ‘sinners’ to which I can point the finger?
Whom shall I preach morals?
The story we heard in the Gospel tell us something very sharp:
we are all meant.
– I myself am meant there.
I wish that we come to us first on this knowledge can.
Then we can expect the saving hands of our God. Amen.
– Fr Thomas Kalathil
Dear Friends,
Today we have heard all the “heart” of the Gospel of Luke. Namely, the joy of God through repentance of the sinner from the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin.
At first, the parable of the lost sheep: perhaps there was never been such a detailed picture: The shepherd goes after his astrayed and exhausted animal and takes it on his shoulders; a good image for an extraordinary reality which we believe: God brings home the lost!
He takes the initiative, he struggles and cares about every single thing!
In the lost coin, the typical Palestinian relations of that time is presented. The woman is poor; a Greek drachma is about the daily wage.
The house is small, perhaps even without windows, and because of that the woman must light a candle, to search. “And if she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbours and says:
Rejoice with me because I have found the silver coin that I had lost. “
But the image of the lost sheep we are probably the more important.
Here we can recognize ourselves. The parable gives us a happy and encouraging message. It tells us that God loves each and every one of us and it is unconditional. He comes after us when we are lost, he carries us on his shoulders when we are weak and he looks forward to our return to him.
‘Whoever open out, comes home’, this is the title of a pilgrimage book.
So if you want to come home then try to give the start!
Uncertainties and uncertainties have to be faced.
Unfortunately many people are missing these experiences, however.
They think, ‘Yes, I live properly’ and ‘have no need to return home’.
They may have everything for their lives. They may have no financial worries.
But the experience of a path to God and reconciliation are missing a lot. And thus, the experience to return home and to be happy too.
Who are the ‘sinners’ to which I can point the finger?
Whom shall I preach morals?
The story we heard in the Gospel tell us something very sharp:
we are all meant.
– I myself am meant there.
I wish that we come to us first on this knowledge can.
Then we can expect the saving hands of our God. Amen.
– Fr Thomas Kalathil
Friday, September 3, 2010
Sermon Thoughts – 23rd Sunday in OT C (Lk 14, 25-33)
Sermon Thoughts – 23rd Sunday in OT C (Lk 14, 25-33)
Some of us may be shaking their heads when we hear it, „If any one 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.”
If we take this statement literally, so probably the least of us here can be “true” disciples of Jesus. Exceptions may be some hermits, monks and nuns.
How can and must we understand the words of Jesus?
First, we have to consider the background and time when Jesus gathered his disciples; and also the time of the church where the gospel was written.
Jesus called his disciples and travelled with them across the country. In order to get a fruitful result, Jesus asked for abandonment of some commitments including the separation from family.
We know, in the early church, the confession of Jesus was truly dangerous. To be a Christian means to make a life decision. The “submission” to Christ was in the early church often associated with the threat of persecution or death.
And when the Gospel words appear so had to us, it says this: The disciple must not be discouraged because of the consistent family tie ups.
In our world, especially (western world) we do not understand this so seriously. Many of us are in generally good condition – despite all the problems in the relationship, partnership, profession or health.
Persecution or discrimination against the Christians doesn’t bother us. Among the highest goals and values are not only good relations, an intact family, security, especially the material security. But in many parts of the world, many Christians suffer much because of their faith in Christ …
But, whether in India or Turkey, or here in Germany, the question is very important: How we may be disciples of Jesus Christ now? Is it enough to have the baptism or confirmation certificate or the regular service on Sundays?
I think that following Christ is even now something challenging and requires an unmoveable YES with so many consequences.
One, who wants to follow Jesus, belongs to a community: it is the space one professes his faith to pray and celebrate.
One, who wants to follow Jesus, has solidarity with the underprivileged of this world and will fight for justice and peace. (Which we do in these days especially for people in Pakistan, whom we have never seen and will never see …)
Who wants to follow Jesus, will not turn the willingness to want to own and be holy.
Holiness has nothing to do with ecstasies and miracles. Holiness is the real call of every Christian. It is the part of the personality and will therefore find expression in private life, as a father or mother, as a single, as a young or elderly person, in the cultural, economic, religious and political spheres of activity. We understand this Holiness as “love of God and Men.”
Yes, it is not always easy to follow Jesus. To follow Him includes the cross – the embracing of problems, hostility, grief and more.
Behind all that we know and trust, that there is One who goes with us and accompanies us; straightens when we are tired, helps us to carry the cross when it is difficult to us, shows us the way through this life if we are stuck.
It is Jesus himself – he who has called us to follow him.
When we rely on him, we are saved. God bless us all! Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
Some of us may be shaking their heads when we hear it, „If any one 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.”
If we take this statement literally, so probably the least of us here can be “true” disciples of Jesus. Exceptions may be some hermits, monks and nuns.
How can and must we understand the words of Jesus?
First, we have to consider the background and time when Jesus gathered his disciples; and also the time of the church where the gospel was written.
Jesus called his disciples and travelled with them across the country. In order to get a fruitful result, Jesus asked for abandonment of some commitments including the separation from family.
We know, in the early church, the confession of Jesus was truly dangerous. To be a Christian means to make a life decision. The “submission” to Christ was in the early church often associated with the threat of persecution or death.
And when the Gospel words appear so had to us, it says this: The disciple must not be discouraged because of the consistent family tie ups.
In our world, especially (western world) we do not understand this so seriously. Many of us are in generally good condition – despite all the problems in the relationship, partnership, profession or health.
Persecution or discrimination against the Christians doesn’t bother us. Among the highest goals and values are not only good relations, an intact family, security, especially the material security. But in many parts of the world, many Christians suffer much because of their faith in Christ …
But, whether in India or Turkey, or here in Germany, the question is very important: How we may be disciples of Jesus Christ now? Is it enough to have the baptism or confirmation certificate or the regular service on Sundays?
I think that following Christ is even now something challenging and requires an unmoveable YES with so many consequences.
One, who wants to follow Jesus, belongs to a community: it is the space one professes his faith to pray and celebrate.
One, who wants to follow Jesus, has solidarity with the underprivileged of this world and will fight for justice and peace. (Which we do in these days especially for people in Pakistan, whom we have never seen and will never see …)
Who wants to follow Jesus, will not turn the willingness to want to own and be holy.
Holiness has nothing to do with ecstasies and miracles. Holiness is the real call of every Christian. It is the part of the personality and will therefore find expression in private life, as a father or mother, as a single, as a young or elderly person, in the cultural, economic, religious and political spheres of activity. We understand this Holiness as “love of God and Men.”
Yes, it is not always easy to follow Jesus. To follow Him includes the cross – the embracing of problems, hostility, grief and more.
Behind all that we know and trust, that there is One who goes with us and accompanies us; straightens when we are tired, helps us to carry the cross when it is difficult to us, shows us the way through this life if we are stuck.
It is Jesus himself – he who has called us to follow him.
When we rely on him, we are saved. God bless us all! Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
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