Sermon Thoughts OT A - Mt 6, 24-34

"No man can serve two masters”, hearing this statement perhaps many of us, especially the young people will laugh at it.
Our youth may say so:
"My God (or rather dear Father), we live in a time of „multitasking".
Right now we can perform several tasks simultaneously.
Not only our electronic equipments, but we too are able for that.”

So, Jesus is wrong? I think not.
Because, Jesus relates here not about our technical capabilities.
Jesus asserts you cannot simultaneously serve God and Mammon.
Well just fitting to our present use of language, we can say:
“one can not simultaneously follow two totally different goals.”
One must follow either good or bad.

But we know people who live “divided”.
And in the end they show the correct position of their lives.
An example from the literature:
"You too, Brutus?" A well-known verse by the famous Shakespeare. This question occurs during Caesar's assassination directed at Marcus Brutus. The question has another variation "Even you, my child?" then after a rumour, Brutus was Caesar's son. Brutus lived like a son of the emperor, but in fact he was not trustworthy.

"The path itself is the goal," said Confucius. Our way leads us to the destination. When it is good, then we reach to a good goal.

If Jesus reminds us of service at 2 different Lords, he asks us to trust in God, in the good. A permanent trust, that remains God as our goal.

Apostle Paul says the same in the 2nd Reading to the Corinthians.
“Thus should one regard us : as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”
Yes we are Stewards, of divine secrets. This is the firm call to us. No matter what happens, one should not leave God.

This is somewhat difficult for us since we are humans and are not perfect in being.
There are chances for good and evil in us.

Still then, God himself is a good example of this trust.
He says, “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.”
We have heard the first reading.

Yes, Jesus gives us this trust of God.

Of course there is always the key question:
Whom can I trust?
What should I look for?
Then, many people in the world are unsure of their life.

There 2 options for us, says Jesus.
You can search for everything of that body needs:
Food and drink, fine clothes and jewellery and more...

Or follow the inner desires for spiritual good.
Live for remaining values or passing things.

Is Jesus demonizing the world and its possibilities?
Earlier we used to think and teach so.
But Jesus is only against people, who place the secular way more than God. Jesus will be happy only if we use the opportunities of the world for the good: for the sake of man and God.
“Seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”
Our path should lead to God. His kingdom is our goal.
Let us act in his love.
Let us use our skills and all the gifts of the earth for the Glory of God.
May God help us. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sathyamam Althara - A Song on Priestly Dedication

Who is a priest? What is his Life? What should be his life?

The Song "Sathyamam Althara" is a simple Composition with deep meaning of dedication.

It is applicable in the first level to priests, but also can be meditated for every dedicated human being.

The message of this song may guide us through this week

Sermon thoughts - 7th Sunday (Mt 5, 38-48)

Sermon thoughts - 7th Sunday (Mt 5, 38-48)


Avoid resisting, but have enough patience in life:
We can so shorten the Gospel passage of this Sunday.
Resistance, particularly at the present, is not a strange term for us.
We are experiencing resistance in politics;
particularly in Egypt and Tunisia and some Arab countries.
This is a political face.

We can define resistance as a force that prevents or inhibits the movement of a body or a system.
In psychology, there are several explanations for resistance.
Sigmund Freud says: “Whatever interferes in the continuation of a work is, resistance.”
Even in normal life we have enough of that.
Then the resistance is a common phenomenon in everyday life.
If something is inappropriate to our taste, or is not up to our level, then we, yes, many of us, will resist:
It can be against the parents, or school, or against friends, against a political system or even against some settings of the church.
This takes place often as a word and deed.

Today's readings too assert this human side.
However, it doesn’t support them but instruct us to avoid this.

The Book of Leviticus - the third book in the Pentateuch - is designed as a history and guideline to liturgical services and is closely related to the other four books of Moses, the Torah: But it never says that one should hate his enemy. There is no such reference in the original rules of the Jews.
On the contrary, as we heard in the first reading, it teaches to love others as themselves, or literally, “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart” (Lev. 19, 17)
But how does Jesus comes to the statement in the Gospel:
“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” (Mt 5, 43)

Many Bible experts believe that it as a later addition of some learned Jews.

But many experience say: the revenge can makes someone your enemy, but he triumphs over him with patience. It is clear, if we use our time to criticize others, then we may have no time to love them.

“An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind.” says Mahatma Gandhi.

Therefore, our way should be that of forgiving and forgetting.

We must have Patience:
with others, of course;
but to have patience with oneself is most important.

We know it is certainly not an easy way to live. Patience requires a lot of strength in life. It is a fight “against me” and of course against the “customs of the world” or “my environment”.
But the in the end we may feel patience is much better and more valuable than the revenge and resistance.

This does not mean that we should respond at all, even if it appears wrong. No, sometimes we have to grant it. Even Jesus didn’t show his other cheek to his persecutors. It is important that it should not be against a “person”.

We believe: Jesus will set us free. He freed us by his gospel, his heartfelt message to people. He wants us to be perfect;
be perfect as his Heavenly Father.

We know our Heavenly Father is patient with us. We too should be so and live in patience and love with fellow human beings, we show that are the children of God.
“Patience is power, with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes silk." This is a Chinese proverb.
May God the Father give us a heart that forgives and loves. Amen!

-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – 6th Sunday in OT A (Mt 5, 17-37)

Sermon Thoughts – 6th Sunday in OT A (Mt 5, 17-37)

"You have heard" so begins Jesus. His speech was something challenging.

Then he speaks about the rules of Moses.

He corrects them or adding to it some of his visions.

Thus, Jesus gives a different meaning for the violence.

Violence - This stands for „be strong“, „rule“.

This is a form of aggression.

We hear every day about the violence.

Then we consume it in very large in-

as news, in films, computer games or as books ...

Its roots lie in the Latin word "vis" and

have positive and negative meanings:

- Positive in the sense of power, strength, courage and bravery and in the political sphere of power and effectiveness

- Negative as for attack, oppression, violence, in short, the injury of another person or creature

When Jesus talks about violence, it is not necessarily physical violence.

It's more about the attitude.

Jesus respected people:

He wants to free people from the influence of violence.

Through his mingling with the people he knew it;

- Many problems arise in communication, in the use of language.

The Holy Bible calls tongue as the worst weapon.

“A deceitful tongue loveth not truth:

and a slippery mouth worketh ruin. “(Prov. 26, 28)

Many of our relationships are affected because our communications go wrong. Therefore, violence in the language is a topic of research for psychologists, especially in modern time.

There is a movement called "Nonviolent Communication" - a concept that was developed by Marshall B. Rosenberg.

It aims to enable people, treat each other,

to improve the flow of communication between them.

Empathy is according to Rosenberg very important

prerequisite of successful a communication.

It is interesting that the giraffe is used as a symbol of positive communication, because it has a very big heart and a long neck (farsightedness).

When we listen to today's Gospel, we imagine that Jesus is exaggerating a bit. His formulations are very hard and extremely difficult.

But he had in his heart that we people deal peacefully.

"Be Giraffes - have great heart and vision!"

Then, His kingdom is a kingdom of life and peace.

His speciality is Mercy, not sacrifice.

If someone lives with rage and anger, it's impossible for him to love God. That is why Jesus demands from us the way of reconciliation.

So let us pray with the Psalmist (Ps 34.14)

God of Peace,

"Keep my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile"

For this we need to control our hearts and tongue.

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speakes”

writes Luke (6:45).

For this we need Divine help. God bless us all. Amen!

--

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – A- Mt 5, 13-16

Sermon Thoughts – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – A- Mt 5, 13-16

Today we have heard about light and salt.

These are two beautiful and important elements we need for our lives.

Light is special.

I remember with great pleasure that day, our house got electricity and the first electric bulb lit.

Salt: We know that salt gives flavor.

I have read that for baptism once it was a ceremony, to sprinkle a small pinch of salt to on the tongue the child. The message was clear: "You are the salt of the earth."

Jesus speaks very carefully in the Gospel. He's not listing what we can or should not do.

Jesus acts as a good teacher. He encourages with his words.

He does not say you shall be the salt of the earth.

He says: "You are the salt of the earth!

He does not say you shall be the light of day.

He says: "You are the light of day.

We Christians are called to be the light and salt in this life.

And where Christians are lacking these elements and lives without Jesus, they are surely trampled by the people and the of course at present in media.

In Europe Salt has a very special use. Salt brings ice to melt. This keeps our roads and paths better to travel.

If Jesus compares us with light and salt,

he expects us to help others to bring the light of life and hope:

to melt the ice of mistrust and doubt:

Light of the world and salt of the earth – it is for we are called:

to bring light and life to the world, to melt the ice in our relations and hearts!

This happens only when one is ready to sacrifice.

Jesus invites us to such a courageous life.

Let us pray for the Grace. Amen.

---

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts - Presentation of Child Jesus in the Temple

Sermon thoughts - Presentation of Child Jesus in the Temple

Today is the last day of the classical Christmas Time.
Jesus was presented in the Temple 40 days after his birth.
This feast has got several titles:

It is celebrated as the day of the Purification of Mother Mary.
On that day Mary too comes to temple to be purified.
Under the Mosaic Law, a woman was ritually “unclean” for 40 days after childbirth. She had to present herself to the priests and offer sacrifice in order to be “purified.”

But this feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple more than Mary’s purification.
It was also the tradition of Jews to Present and dedicate the first born Male members to Yahweh. This was the commemoration of the freedom from Egyptian Slavery (cfr Ex 13, 1ff).

In the Eastern traditions, this day is considered as the day of “Meeting”.
It can be: Jesus meets Yahweh in the Jerusalem Temple.
Or the old prophet Simeon meets the “Christ” in Jesus.


At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas.
All these instances are attributing to the words of Jesus:
I am the light of the world”.
Jesus is often mentioned in connection with the “light”.
He heals many blinds. He teaches his followers that they are light (Mt 5, 14) and warns to keep their sight clean and proper (Mt 6, 22f). There are many passages that connects Jesus with light.
His birth had to do with light – a star.
When he dies on cross, it was darkness in the whole land.
Jesus is light
He is the one who purifies us.
He is the one who brings us to God.
Mary and Joseph lived closer to God in the presence of Jesus
Many other lived and experienced God nearer than ever in Jesus.
Through his words and concern they experienced more light in their lives.
As Pp Paul VI says:
“The candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure, straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exhausts itself in silent sacrifice”

Let us try to bring some light in our presence.
Let us bring people near to God. Amen.

--
Fr Thomas Kalathil