1. Advent Sunday - Year A - Sermon thoughts

1. Advent Sunday - Year A - Sermon thoughts




"Year after year ..." Yes, now it begins again, the Christmas season.
Are you looking forward to it joyfully, or having a bad feeling?

Of course, for many people, Christmas is a joyous event.
Besides the cold, many people like this season.

But the Gospel of the Sunday is just like a thorn in the flesh.
Now, in the time, in which we all want to share in the joyous image of the "sweet boy with curly hair";
but the Gospel of Matthew speaks from a flood.
They also carry off our joy at once.

Because of this, many of us might consider the liturgy as a joy killer.

But the Gospel of this Sunday instructs me,
to play the game of our lives properly.

To understand it in such a way, we need to think peacefully:

What is the goal of the time and what's important?

The answer is simple:
We cannot set the target (of our spiritual life) ourselves, it's given to us.

And it is not just any goal:
the Lord Himself, the Son of Man is coming.
The dark images, the bad message,
must not hide our view;
should not derive us from our target.

We expect nothing but salvation.
God will be coming to us as a human being.
We will welcome him into our midst, and in to our lives.
But for that we require to be vigil:
"Watch therefore: for ye know not at what hour your Lord comes."
This is not a matter of a special vigilance in hours of prayer,
within the church building or during a meditation,
but it must shape our lives:

Even in the daily "business":
in the family, at work, at school, in a community, in the Church, in the field etc

The gospel calls us to be attentive. This should be a daily job.
Just here comes the Lord, because he feels welcome there. We can meet him there.
At the same time there is a hidden danger:
in many preparations and crowds, we can easily miss him very much, even to the core.

The Gospel, the Good News, contains some pictures heavy to mind:
many are certainly difficult to understand.
They should not really frighten us, on the contrary, are set to lead us inevitably to a fundamental question of our faith:

What is the role of God in my life?
Does the goal to which I approach, brings me and the world the salvation. Am I expecting of it?

The gospel message is clear:
"be prepared".
This call starts today very specially at this Christmas season.

Let us practice it in this period:
...as a community of God;
... as the children of God.
May God give us all a blessed Advent. Amen.

-

Fr Thomas Kalathil

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Christ the King Sunday – OT C – Sermon thoughts

Christ the King Sunday – OT C – Sermon thoughts
King – who is a king?
We definitely have some ideas who can be a king.
But from today’s readings we get some biblical pictures about a King.
In the first reading we hear about David – a real king.
He was not a man without his weakness.
But he was popular because he loved his people much.
Perhaps, the most popular King of the Jews of all time.
But can be a king, a “self-rescuer”?
Or want / can the people accept such a king? In fact, not …
I do not think a king who battles for his own protection and let his people down, is not a good King. He will not be a beloved and accepted one.
A king has to fight, and may be until the end of his life.
And when he does that for his people, this is a great king.
But in the Gospel we hear that many laugh at and mock Jesus.
They demand from him to “save himself…”:
yes, they repeat it three times.
Jesus remains silent to their mockery.
But the life and post crucifixion proves definitely that Jesus is the best king.
He fought for life, not for his own or earthly, but for eternal life.
To this end he takes suffering and sacrifices.
He was a special king…
He possessed no weapons:
his weapon was love.
A strange king, who spent his time with sinners and excluded;
He shared his life as bread.
His goal was to provide life: Not a life that of the world.
But a life, that proceeds from God the Father, the designer of life.
Therefore, Jesus promises the “paradise”” for the thief on the cross.
He used this word with the original thought…
A Paradise, where divine life meets the human as in the beginning.
Jesus will restore this lost God-Men relationship.
As a special King…
Jesus is a question for our contemporary faith:
If he is our king?
He is not a ruler with power. He used no violence.
He wants to unite and lead us, as the shepherd …
He is Lord of your heart ..
A strange king … the unique King of Hearts…
Let us keep our hearts open and ready for him..
also our families, our church communities …
May his love be with us …
May his life be in us …
His peace be with us … Amen!
-
Thomas Kalathil

33rd Sunday in OT C – Sermon Thoughts (LK 21, 5-19)

33rd Sunday in OT C – Sermon Thoughts (LK 21, 5-19)

Is the gospel “the good news”?
The horror scenarios which Jesus lists:
wars, riots, the fall of the Temple, earthquakes, plagues, famines, arrests, prosecutions … – In short all are “terrible things.
They are in no way something to be cheerful…
Is Jesus the prophet of destruction? Or he brings life and hope?
After hearing the Gospel, many of us may think so.
We know that every life is temporary.
The gospel makes us all aware about it today.
Especially those who live without faith in Jesus, has longer “life”.
We are warned to be vigilant:
“Keep … get ready because the Son of man coming at an hour where you do not expect it.”
…Fear … To be ready …we know these feelings …
Who’s afraid of an Exam?
Someone who is well prepared for it has certainly no fear or less …
and he, who is not well prepared, must fear it.
Also, in the belief, Jesus asks us all exactly this kind of willingness.
Even if Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple, it is not against Jews or Judaism in the first place, I think.
Everything built by human hands, has an end.
Not only the temple but also our human body are subject to decay and destroy.
Perhaps more than this, these buildings symbolize the pride and power of the Jews. They symbolize their special call as “the chosen people of God”.
If they think this particular vocation alone gives them eternal salvation,
then Jesus says a big “no”.
Only those who stand firm and live the faith are saved.
It is valid not only for Jews but also for us.
Baptism alone saves us never…
Faith alone does not save us…
Bible alone does not save us …
We need baptism, communion, faith, God’s word and a coherent life.
Then we have the hope to be saved.
God is not only to judge us, but also to give his life. It is his prime mission.
Talk about the punishment is not to spread fear, but to move and inspire to faith, trust, God’s love and mercy.
Because so tells us the gospel:
“…but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
It is not to frighten us, but to guide us to make something special out of life. Life is a unique and precious gift that you can not just waste.
If we trust in God’s forgiveness and mercy, let us “be merciful as the heavenly Father is!”
Our compassion may be a deposit to get forgiveness!
In the Beatitudes we are promised,
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
God is righteous in his mercy.
Let us follow him to life. Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

32 Sunday in OT C – Sermon Thoughts (LK 20, 27-38)

32 Sunday in OT C – Sermon Thoughts (LK 20, 27-38)
In the New Testament we often see that the Pharisees argue with Jesus.
Today we see another group, the Sadducees-
a privileged and aristocratic group at the then Palestine:
They defended the right and the strict orthodoxy.
Except the first 5 books of Moses, they did not believe other traditions, esp. the Oral traditions of the Pharisees.
They have adopted no new ideas.
Their teachings were particularly “strict” to the normal people.
Contrary to the faith of the Pharisees,
they were against the resurrection, angels and spirit.
Now here comes a Man
He had no training as a wealthy and aristocratic Sadducee.
But his words are accepted warmly.
A large number of people gathered together to listen to him.
He was not like their other leaders…He is so near to them…
they can touch him … they can talk to him …
They may eat and pray with him …
Yes, Jesus brought new teachings and new life in to their lives.
He perceived the rituals and rules with a different angle.
He raised his voice for men.
To this end, he motivated others too.
He interpreted everything in love- love of God and neighbor.
‘The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath”
(MK 2, 27) or
”Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mt 22, 21)
Such teachings were intolerable for them.
Therefore, they start a dispute with the son of a carpenter.
They assumed they were clever. If Jesus is supporting the Resurrection, it is against their belief. If he withdraws his teachings now, he is not a credible person at all. He is t the same time an enemy of the Pharisees.
Jesus understands and solves this problem as a wise rabbi.
His arguments, particularly the reference to the call of Moses at the burning bush was accurate.
But did that help them? Whether Jesus could convince them?
Sure, they no longer dared to ask him tricky questions.
And even some scribes confessed recognizing:
“Master, you have responded well.” (Lk 20, 39)
But that sounds more like recognition for a scholar whose arguments are appreciated. But it was not a conversion at all.
Jesus too expects something like that…
Jesus came not to win with arguments.
He wanted to win people – for the kingdom of God.
His message was not with the brain, but came from his heart.
His God is the God of the living, not the dead.
Whoever believes in him shall rise again …
that was certainly the view of Jesus.
There are many people ask the critical questions.
I do not know if all do really deserve a response.
Rather, they want to express their dissatisfaction;
some to destroy their opponents.
‘Anyone who has a dissenting opinion must die. But not forever.’
The message we get from the book of Maccabees is such..
Jesus had to sacrifice his life because he had some counter-opinions.
He died for justice and compassion for people, for the Kingdom of God.
But it was not forever. He lives on according to his truly credible words.
And the Sadducees who placed their laws above the men, vanished without trace from history (after AD 70).
Yes, Jesus is risen, he lives on. His teachings are life giving.
As his followers, let us live credibly;
Let us accept God and Men in divine love.
May the living God bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil