Sermon thoughts – The Ascension of Our Lord – Year A

Regarding the Ascension of our Lord there are not much passages in the Holy Bible. Evangelist Luke is the main source for this event. He explains it in his two works: Lk 24,50-53 and in Acts 1, 1-11. Also the Evangelist Mark 16,19 gives a one line report on this, while the other two Evangelists are silent.
Even then this feast was celebrated in the early church in 4th century and was often defended by many early fathers, as this was very important to the eschatological teachings of the Church.

This feast underlines some facts of faith even in our present situation:
First of all it teaches us that Christ lives: death couldn’t stop his “Life”.
The various visions during the 40 days after his resurrection tell us this truth. It proves: it is the same Jesus who lived in Palestine, who was crucified and resurrected; now he returns to his origin. It is underlining the same person of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and Son of God.

The next important aspect of this feast is Christ is united with God the Father in heaven. This can work as a motivating factor to live our faith in Jesus and his teachings wholeheartedly in anticipating the Heaven and heavenly rewards. Living Jesus will take us to the union with the father in heaven.
Jesus is promising this through his ascension indirectly.

The third important fact is Christ’s Mission continues:
During the ascension Apostles heard the voice:
"Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? “

It explains not only the surprise of the apostles of Jesus, but reminds them to be in action. They should not look at the sky and stare on it. They have to be in their mission.
Action and mission of the apostles are explained in the Gospel – “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Trinity” - to live and proclaim Jesus. Now they are the living witness to the gospel of Jesus, because they are witness to his resurrection and his ascension. This experience is unique and they are now called to share/ proclaim this unique experience.
Jesus’ Ascension binds us together with the “life” and “heaven” as he did through out his life and through his teachings.
Jesus’ ascension doesn’t mean that he has no more connection with the humans here in the earth.

The connection is in three times powerful.
- through father, through Jesus and now by promised Holy spirit.

It reveals God wants ever to be one with his creation and especially the crown of his creation – the human beings.

Let us meditate more and more on this promising and ever loving relation offered by the Heavens.

Jesus is ascended but he is with us and in us through his Spirit and in his Words and sacraments.
Let us live this truth and be living missionaries of Jesus in our daily life.
May God bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts – 6th Sunday in Eastertime – A – (John 14, 15-21)

“When you love me, you will keep my commandments”. This sentence can be taken as the key note to the Gospel today.

First of all we must differentiate the words Command and Commandments, even though both of them have many aspects in common.

Commands are often imperatives given by higher persons. The subordinates have no other way to obey them. It is happening frequently out of compulsion. Often many of the subordinates should have no personal interest in them too. A violation of a command can have severe consequences.

A commandment has also a superior person and it is God. But there is no compulsion in it. There is a free choice either to opt or not to. Of course a violation or unwillingness has its consequences too. But still there is a chance of reconciliation even at the last moment.
The major aspect that distinguish a command from the commandments is but the Personal and loving factor of God. In that way we can say commandments are basically guidelines of love. Jesus is asserting to follow these guidelines in today’s Gospel Passage.

Most of us remember our parents and teachers as good persons. We remember them with great pleasure and gratitude even they were some time not friendly and caring towards our needs. Many guidelines we got in the early life, was hard and disliking at that time, but in the course of time we consider them as good corrections. We also cherish the good memories of lives too.

Jesus is just refreshing this normal human mentality of his followers.
He asks to remember him if he was beloved. By asking to keep his “laws” the same is requested from us too.

We have to consider Jesus had some superior and exceptional vision on Laws –by the term laws Jesus means more than written or unwritten exhortations of the society. His “Evangelium” is the law. It is the law of love, life and Humanity. It is certainly the law of refreshing the relationship between God to man as well as man to man.
Jesus by asking them to keep the law means to come nearer to God the father. On the same time an invitation to know closer and closer the human beings.

To believe in God means to keep his memory. Of course we have no direct experience on God. We experience our God through Jesus and his Words.

We experience this God in many ways:
through the Holy Bible, through the participation in the sacraments in the church as a believing community when we celebrate and live our faith in him.

Remembrance of each loving person cannot exclude the feeling of “gratitude”. Eucharist is one of the ways to express our gratitude to God as community. We remember him (Anamnese) in the prayers and symbols.
There we remember Jesus and his divine intervention for us humans as God and Man.

His words are reminders for us. They are guidelines to our lives.
Keeping the “guidelines” assure us many “Offers” from Jesus.

He is assuring Divine assistance, the “Paraclete”, the Holy Spirit:
He assures us that we are not left alone as orphans:
More over, he assures the full unity with God:
“And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

We, as Christians, are also reminders of the great Law (life ) of Jesus in this world. It is visible when we act according to the Gospel of Jesus.

Let us pray for the Spirit to live the call consciously.
Let us believe in him consciously.

Let us keep his commandments of Love and Humanity and be bearers and another living Gospel of Jesus. May God bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts - 5th Sunday in Eastertime A (Joh 14, 1-12)

Every one like to have a peaceful life. As far as I perceive, the main point for a peaceful life is to have a thorough and convictional “philosophy of life”. Don’t be bothered about the “philosophy” it simply means “way”.

Jesus considers his apostles even after his resurrection as normal humans. And he knew that there are and will be enough situations of rethinking and weakening on their faith and way of life. Taking in to consideration of the possible future failures, Jesus asserts the message: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.”

Jesus knew the coming days of “troubles” for his followers. Not only in from the political heads but also from other religions. He might also have realized the later troubles of his Church, even today.

Jesus is trying to console and deepen their faith. He says, Have faith in God; have faith in me. The double exhortation to be faithful to the given faith, is also the symbol of the double assurance his divine assistance.

Jesus’ teachings were also not that simple for the simple folks from Galilee.

Even the answers to Philip and Thomas are little bit confusing.

To the question on the “Way” by Thomas, Jesus answers, “I am the way and the truth and the life”. Was it more confusing to Thomas?

I think the same happens to Philip: he asks for the “Father”. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'” this reply must have totally disturbed the simple Jews. Then how it is possible to view another person, and it is GOD the FATHER, in Jesus, who is so young and human? The same confusion of many other Jews, is felt in this passage too.

Jesus knew that his teachings are confusing and not simple to be explained word by word. His messages have another level of Meaning.

Those who grows to this sphere, can understand the words and life of Jesus.

Actually that was the issue of many at that time. People heard only what is said. They looked for the meaning of the spoken words and their logic. Many were unable to ponder in to the divine deep message of Jesus’ life and words.

Now Jesus tries to give an answer to all the questions of the apostles. It is the one and only answer and solution to this world. The answer is “.Jesus”.

It is the message to the question of Thomas; and it is the same to Philip.

Jesus is the way, truth and the light: He is one with Father in Heaven. He is answer to the whole questions of the world.

He solves our doubts. His life is the solution to us.

With this “unique answer / solution” the troubles are solved.

Yes, Jesus is the answer for our world:

He is the answer for peace.

He is the solution for poverty.

He is the solution for love and humanity.

Yes, all our questions are solved in Jesus- in his life and words.

He is inviting his followers to follow his way at first- then the whole world -to this truth and to this light.

Let us recognize the ever-living message of Jesus.

Let the world recognize the solution in and of Jesus.

May God bless us all. Amen!

-

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts - 4th Sunday in Easter time -A (Joh 10, 1-10)

Many famous cities have a “Gate” in their city-centres.
Some are very magnificent, some very simple.
Most of them carry some dates or some mottos.
They point to some particular and important happenings
in that area or in the country.

These gates are with out doors.
They are always open which symbolizes the hospitality and freedom.

Jesus compares himself today as a Gate.
He is also trying to convey this aspect of freedom and hospitality
with this comparison.

The context of this comparison is connected with his parable “sheep and shepherd” which we see further in John’s Gospel. Jesus is speaking from the context of the lives of Israelites. They know what this job is and its dangers.

To be a shepherd is not an easy job even though it seems to be like that.
First of all the geographical context was challenging. The shepherds had to spend days and nights with the fold. They have to be very vigilant against the enemies and wild animals. To find food (grass) and water was also not that easy in a land like Palestine. They have to sleep near to their fold, not under some roofs or silky and soft beds.
That means to be shepherd one has to be very adventurous and flexible.

All these closeness will develop a certain “relation” between the shepherd and his sheep. They move and feed according to the gestures and sounds of their shepherd. The shepherd also understands the needs and dangers from them animals too. This special communication between the shepherd and sheep and it is more emotional and lively.

Jesus is ultimately aiming such a deep communication between his shepherd and sheep- the leaders in the church and the faithful.
But in many part of the world, we see many are leaving the Pastures, instead of entering the “Gate” of Jesus. Many Christians are unsatisfied with some matters inside the church. Many are looking for some other freedom other than the offer of Jesus. There can be so many motives and reasons.
There are different personal and collective aims. Some are even targeted and planned. Still it raises some questions:
Is it because, we, the modern shepherds are failing to recognize the needs of our sheep. Is it a sign that we cannot communicate them in their “lives”?

It may hurt some of us, when we hear comments like, many of today’s shepherds are less caring their shepherds and avoiding the “dangers” of their mission or many cannot recognize the voice of their sheep and vice versa.

Jesus clearly says he is the “Gate” through which we the church, his sheep has to enter. His disciples are the shepherd. Of course their successors share this mission. Jesus means all such closeness and vigilance from his shepherds, in his church. It is a dangerous call to us.
But he promises, entering this Jesus - gate leads one to salvation and freedom. Sheep are “going in and out” after finding Jesus.
It symbolizes the ultimate spiritual freedom of the faithful,
who have “found Jesus”, who have “entered in to his life”.

St. Peter expresses the same concept of Evangelist John in the acts (Acts 2, 36-41). He is teaching to turn to Jesus, and get baptized in Jesus. It is equal to say “to enter the Gate of Jesus”. The forgiveness of sins and gift of the Holy Spirit are the “Freedom in Jesus”.

The Scripture readings of this Sunday question all the shepherds of Jesus today. How much we transmit the psalmist’s prayer in the famous 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd”.
Am I/ are you really a good shepherd?
Can you hear and recognize the voice and needs of your people in your church? Are you for them completely? How adventurous you are in your mission? There are many who claims they are “not in need” of Jesus. How can I make Jesus available in my church?
Jesus stays as the gate of life and freedom. How can I reaffirm this life and freedom of God to my present world and present life?
Can I proclaim a living God in my words and Life?
Is my church a place of hospitality and spiritual freedom in Jesus?

Let us entrust our works and sheep to the eternal shepherd Jesus.
Let his spirit guide us in our mission. God bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts - 3. Sunday of Easter (John 21, 1-14)

Jesus had a very strong relationship with his disciples. The repeated appearances and infinite merciful approaches of Jesus after his resurrection.
prove this argument.
Today John the Evangelist narrates the third appearance of Jesus.
In this report, we see Jesus with his disciples.
He comes to them and reveals his glory again.
There are almost half of the apostles in this narration.
But Peter is coming as the center of the narration.

We heard two different statements from Peter this Sunday
- One in the Gospel and the other in the Acts.
They are two extreme ends of his faith.

In the Gospel he says: "I'm going fishing." It is a very ordinary return to the previous life. Then he was uncertain about the future. Because Jesus was dead: although he appeared to them, they had no lasting faith in him.
Because of this uncertainty comes this statement from Peter and the others follow him.

But the disciples did not have success, just like they followed Jesus.

Here, from the two activities of the disciples, we can find a connection.

The disciples are fishing in the night - the best time for this work.
But they get nothing:

They had some time with Jesus;
The best time to grow in faith and experience God specially.
But they also fail here.
Externally, they lack nothing. They have the best - settings for everything. Nevertheless, something is missing. And that's the most important.

This is the recognition of the right one:
they could not recognize Jesus.
They could not recognize their mission – as followers of Jesus.
It was the human frailty of the Apostles.

Jesus knew his disciples and surely their faith.
Therefore, the Risen Lord Jesus visited his disciples often to strengthen them in faith and in their mission.

He is more merciful than before:
He is sympathetic to his confused and anxious disciples.
He neither scolded nor criticized them - including the Peter.
He calls them but, “children” - so lovingly ...
He acts like that because he is a gracious and merciful God.

Jesus, as the Risen Lord, tries to transfer the grace of this "recognition" to his disciples. Then he knew that, without the proper recognition they are weak.

Jesus’ effort is successful.
We understand it from the first reading:
The words of Peter in the Acts proves it.
Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah.
He had earlier proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah.
But this is even stronger and deeper than before.
This "recognition" is a clear testimony of Peter and other disciples of Jesus.

Just as Jesus Peter will act: Jesus is his example in Patient and merciful love and understanding ...
Then Peter recognizes the mercy of Jesus.
He knew what "faith" and "treason" are ...
In this way, “Peter-Jesus relationship” is a model for our pastoral work today.

Resurrection of Jesus leads us to the recognition of God
and the Risen Jesus stays for God's mercy.
He is patient and waiting for our return.

Let us also act with patience and love.
May the Risen Lord Jesus to bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil