Sermon thoughts – 14th Sunday – A - Mt 11, 25-30

Jesus had flops at his home town. He did so many miracles for his people. Nevertheless, he was not taken seriously. This is the background of today's gospel.

But his words confirm that he was not affected.

We come across with 2 parts in today's Gospel.

First we see Jesus who praises and thanks God the Father in Heaven:

"I praise you, Father ..."

Because Jesus found no reason to complain God because he experienced no success in his mission; or because he had no ‘wise and prudent’ disciples.

He does everything with gratitude and praise.

He tells us, life must go on.

There may be ups and downs in our lives. But prudent is the one who leads his life courageously.

In the second part, we feel a ‘hidden invitation’. " All things have been handed over to me by my Father ".

Jesus slowly reveals the secrets of his God-relationship.

Jesus said, without saying a word, ‘come and stay with me ... and I will reveal the secrets of the Heavens...’

And here is a secret:

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.“

Jesus tried to convince the disciples

that his ways are not that difficult as they imagine.

Sure, he expects a suitable life from us.

To experience God one need certain qualifications:

Trust in God and humility are necessary for it.

Jesus had the best team with these properties.

They were ready for anything.

They were weak and humble, but strong in faith in God.

For others, his disciples were only fishermen, poor, sinners and excluded.

But he does not take into account of them.

Jesus sees everything positive.

Humility is not a weakness itself for him.

There reflects the selflessness of a person.

Because when you're weak, you need other people;

then you are in need of God.

That makes the life grow together.

In this sense, humility is strength in itself.

Therefore, these disciples, these poor fishermen are enrichment and strength to Jesus.

His ways and teachings are hard to digest for many-not only at that time,

but at present too. But those who survives, with God's help and support, it is so simple and easy.

My dear friends,

we're learning all these lessons in the community, here in the church,

but we practice it at large outside the church e.g. in the family.

Jesus tells us we can avoid many of our conflicts,

when we humbly engage and accept or listen to others.

Jesus shows us this example through his life.

He turned his ‘disadvantages’ to the ‘advantage’.

Let us trust in God in humility, recognize and thank and praise him.

In the family, in the church and everywhere ...

Life will then be successful. Then we can live happily.

May God bless us all. Amen!

-

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts – 13th Sunday JK A – (Mt 10, 37-42)

There is a saying in English:
"Virtue stands in the middle":
This tells us, Extremes are not that good.
Especially when it is related to faith in God and religious beliefs, we will stick on to this principle.

We avoid radical believers in our time.
Many have some sort of anxiety about such radical religious groups.
It is not only against Islam.
But we, especially Catholics are afraid of some Christian sects with radical arguments.
We keep often distance from these people, because these people are fanatics for us.

Many find that Christianity has almost lost its face.
There is much indifference among the faithful.
We Christians have leveled out the rough edges of our faith.
Everything, from the Christian life to the church, is strictly regulated, so you can not go wrong. God and worship are "boring" subjects for many.
Many avoid or unwilling listen to texts as we have heard in the Gospel.
Strange enough, this is most in common against God and religion.
If we need to achieve a goal in our live,
then we say that we have to work hard.
When it is concerning our faith, then we look for our comfort and amenities.
Why this difference?

I think we have some shyness towards our faith.
We are looking for compromises.
On the contrary other groups, sects or other movements try to represent their faith in strong ways.

Now I do not mean that we take the Gospel literally, and one should live up to one. What I mean is to try to understand the text, and to draw implications for our lives from our faith.

We cannot understand our faith and encounter with God as comfortable, harmless pacification of religious feelings.
Where people get involved with God happens something; happens some changes. God gives his people a new sense of life. He challenges us to renew.
Many that was important before, has a different role now, many that was previously so solid, is now in motion.
Belief in God is really not a boring time. It is only boring if we do not live it and discover it new. Seek God and find him has risks.
If we realize it our faith is adventurous, intense and exciting, sometimes painful and challenging.
It contains the cross that we have to carry daily.
But that is not in vain, it brings hope, confidence, fulfillment and joy.

Let us search and find the joy and excitement of our faith it.
God bless us all this. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts - 12th Sunday - JK A-Mt 10, 26-33

Everyone has need for protection and recognition.

And a correct recognition is often more valuable than money or anything else: Then each of us wants to hear, "You're good," or "you do it well."

Jesus behaves like someone who knows of this psychology:

“You are of more value than many sparrows." He appreciates the people above all creatures. He recognizes people.

There were many ‘Excluded’ in his acquaintance and also as disciples: fishermen, tax collectors, Pharisees, rich and poor, women and children, sick and healthy, weak and strong-people from every field were around him.

Because, Jesus came to save such people.

He was in search of sinners and the weak.

His goal was to free these people from their miserable situations.

Jesus promises three-fold protection: first by him, then through the Heavenly Father, then the protection of the Heaven.

We can experience in the church all these protections.

There are many opportunities for people to come closer to God.

To "renounce the old Man".

We are his people. This is a great recognition.

And we are part of its divine Mission.

We share all these in the sacraments and in the communion.

The truth is, few are interested in such offers.

And we cannot convince and attain many people with our actions to God and to the church.

What's wrong in our mission?

Are we not ‘speaking’ the language of the affected- The world?

Where we fail in our communication?

How we recognize our fellow man?

Can People come to us and experience this divine protection?

Are our churches and religion open for the weak and sinners?

Or is it just an exclusive community of "saints" and "hypocrites"?

So many questions are open for us in the church and in the pastoral activities.

God and religion should certainly offer protection and recognition.

But many people are least convinced and concerned of it.

Some do not need a "religious protection" and God at all.

For them the secular insurances are enough...

I think we need renewal:

We need to offer people the most important and most necessary.

Above all, our experience of God must be a lesson for others.

This is most important, in preaching Jesus.

Jesus could do it fairly, because he knew his people.

He felt their needs.

We Christians do have the same job in a new way.

We must be more and more close to people and be conscious to their needs.

We must show them that they are valuable to God.

Let us create an atmosphere that they find God’s recognition in their lives.

Let us come to our God without fear and bear witness to him.

God bless us and strengthen us all. Amen!

-

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) - JK - A

Life - you always hear about this issue.
You always have new and interesting life goals.

We humans try to prolong our lives as much as possible. Medicine, sports, holidays, healthy diet are some ways for it.

Some famous people want to live again.
Thus, they preserve their DNA and body for modern scientific studies.
We also hear a lot about stem cell researches in these days.
Yes, we often discuss about LIFE.


The speech about the life by Jesus is also interesting.
Jesus offers living bread.
Hunger and thirst is satiated; he says.
And this food is giving us a life in eternity.
Some of these statements seem to be wrong:
at least our experience confirms it so.

We know our desire for food and drink has no end. It emerges again again.

That means Jesus contradicts the rules of nature?
What does Jesus mean here?
Jesus had a perfect idea and understanding of our world.
Therefore, we consider his statements with some seriousness.

Jesus does not mean our physical hunger and thirst. This is a hunger and thirst for God - for good - for peace - for justice.

This is a hunger and thirst for love, care and humanity.

It was not only experience of the disciples and the Jews but also the woman of Samaria (John 4). Yes, God’s Life is shared for all.

Each one takes part on the Lord's Table receives, together, the same bread. Everyone is and will a part of this bread.
His bread and meal unites all people.
There is no separation such as black and white;
there are no Europeans or Asians before him;
there is no separation in dignity.
The most important thing is the faith and love in God who is Father, Son and Spirit.


We are „the pilgrim church. “
We are in the Exodus / in migration.
Our food is God-given food.
This food is the new Manna of God and it leads us to eternity.
It gives us life.
A life that doesn’t come to an end here on earth.

And for this life we need no chemical preparation.
It requires no sophisticated scientific help.
For this we need not be mummified.

Much more it needs humility, faith and trust in God.

We share everything, including our Ego in the divine Love.
Then it will multiply and will remain forever and ever:
- as Jesus is alive in and with us.
I wish all of us this experience with God. Amen!

-

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – Most Holy Trinity - A

Trinity is a difficult topic in Catholic theology.
In the church history we learn that this theological teaching had led to numerous splits.
The church had to reject a lot of misleading and heretical teachings.

It is really a paradox: then it is all about the unity;
but this theological dispute caused many splits among the faithful.
Really a sad epoch in the Church History...

God was in the beginning- terrifying and symbol of unquestionable power.
He was often very far away from people or People had such an image of God.
We see that at least in the Old Testament and in other religious traditions.
There were some exceptions:
Very few people like Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jacob, Gideon, David could experience God so near and specially.

In the New Testament, the image will loosen up a bit.
Through the incarnation of Jesus, God gets a human face.
The gift of the Holy Spirit –after the resurrection of Jesus - is a sign that God wants to accompany His people forever.
This was a new era in the religious life of the people:
God reveals himself again and this revelation is a pact of his humanity.
He expresses his unceasing love and longing to humans.

That is, a progressive image of God - gradually experienced by the faithful:
This is a growth of humanity in relationship with God:
This growing presence of God is seen in the Trinity.
This God unites us. He understands us closer as humans.
I can approach him without fear.
I find acceptance by God. Because I am a child of God.


About this love we heard in the Gospel:
"God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
And this Son has come to save us and not to judge us .

Trinity is, as a whole, the expression of this love of God.
First, it is the unity of God in love:
Unity of the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit.
Then there is also a love for our humanity:
God shows His eternal presence among us - as Father, Son and Spirit.

There are similar “Trinitarian images” in other religions:
Jupiter, Luno and Minerva in Roman mythology:
Osris, Isis and Horus in Egyptian mythology:
Brahma, Vihnu and Shiva in Hinduism.
But the Christian Trinity is unique in that they are in love one.
You find peace there: you see life in them.

Like some modern theologians think the Trinitarian community is model for a perfect society and the church.

Yes, Trinity is a part of our life and faith. It must be influence our lives.

We hear about the Trinity: we pray often - sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously to this trinity:
in the sign of the cross:
“In the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit".
Also in the celebration of Mass we hear the welcome greeting:
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all”.
Yet many of our prayers are “Trinitarian”.
Here we feel no theological problems.
Then we are taken by the faith.
We are sure about God's triple protection.

May the simplicity and security – be with us in our faith.
The triune God bless us all abundantly. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts –Pentecost –A- (Joh 20, 19-23)

In today’s readings we hear two various descriptions on the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Apostles received the Holy Spirit directly from Jesus.
We hear that in the Gospel passage of John.

John describes the Pentecostal experience in this way.
It happens during one of his apparitions after the resurrection.

John says “he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.” And the disciples receive the Spirit.

We see a corresponding act in the first chapters of the Holy Bible.
“And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and breathed into his face the breath of life; and man became a living soul.“ (Gen 2, 7)

John is connecting Pentecost as a new creation: it is happening with Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. And the disciples are newly born in the spirit.

They will also proclaim this life– especially through the forgiving of sins.

Even then, the dramatic description in the first reading – in the Acts of Apostles has a meaningful interpretation too. It also symbolizes the depth of the Spirit, which is lacking in the narration of today’s Gospel of John.

Here we have some dramatic narrations and symbols:

Words such as „suddenly”, “noise like a strong driving wind”, “entire house”, “tongues as of fire”, “rest on each one of them”, “began to speak in different tongues”, “ large crowd”, “each one heard them speaking in his own language” are to an extend a style of narration – some theologians are representing this opinion.

- Fire-Tongues show the intensive nature of the Holy Spirit. He works as a fire. He transforms the receiver. It burns the receiver in the Love of God.

- We see that the Fire -Tongue remains on every one.
There is no speciality to Peter or to Mary or to John.

Each one is equal before the Spirit. All are equally “inspired” / “blessed” / “gifted”. But they may bring different fruits according to their nature and skills. The second reading is supporting it.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.“ (1 Cor 12, 4-6)

- Speaking strange languages can be understood as the anticipation of their mission. It is the anticipation of taking challenges. It is the anticipation of confronting strange and adventurous situations.
But the Spirit of God completes and transforms their work in to positive results.

- Strangers understanding the speech: It is the anticipation of the acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus to strange cultures and nations. Yes, a new creation is starting: Israel, the chosen people of God is no more a specific territory in a particular continent. The new Israel is all over the world. It is transcending. And it is the Holy Spirit who works for it. It is the Holy Spirit who helps the disciples to proclaim and propagate the life and message of Jesus.

Through that people are called to unity. Holy Spirit has power to unite cultures and nations and tongues in the name of Jesus, just as it happened in Jerusalem.

- As we heard in the readings Holy Spirit needs space -“the disciples were gathered together“. As Apostles and Mary remained together in the Upper room – where the Passover Meal – the Eucharist happened- we too need an “Upper room”. “Remaining together” is also important to receive the Spirit of God. It is upper room of prayers and unity. It is taking distance from the matters that may disturb our relation to God;
as the disciples took distance from the past events that happened to their master Jesus. In this upper room of unity and prayers, they put their hope again in the words of Jesus. There is no more fear and uncertainty.

My dear friends,

Our each gathering in the name of Jesus is a call to Pentecost. We are in this “upper room” in this church – together with our community and prayers.

Here we the experience Pentecost of new life. Here we are reborn.
Here we are united as the Children of God. Here we are poured out with the gifts and blessings of Power and Strength in God.

Let us receive the transforming power with open heart –the inbuilt space for God in us. Let it burn us in the Love of God.

Let us speak and act in the Spirit of God.

God bless us all. Amen!

-

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts – 7th Sunday in Eastertime – Joh 17, 1-11a

We pray often when we are in a special situation where we require some external help.

In the bible we see Jesus many times praying. But this passage is very special. Here he prays for his followers intently. we can say it was a very special situation for Jesus and for his disciples.

Pastor in German can be translated to “Seelsorger“.

“Seele” is soul and “Sorge” is care / concern, worry.

A Pastor is some one who has concern about the souls.

From this point of view, Jesus is really a Pastor.

He shows his concern on his disciples in this passage especially in the last part. Jesus prays for his disciples and it is so ardent.

During my seminary formation I used to visit an old priest and I remember what he told me once:

“a priest who prays for all his faithful will not fail in his service to the Lord and Human.” The example he gave was that of St John Maria Vianney, who spent hours and hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament often alone, praying for his Parishnors. This was asserting: A Pastor needs the Concern and care very much.

We will see here, Jesus is very positive minded in his concern.

He is sure of his almost fulfilled duty.

Jesus could say that he revealed and glorified God to the People.

He did it by proclaiming the Kingdom of God in a new way, inviting weak and sinners to repentance and baptism in the Spirit.

So he can pray; “Glorify your son so that the son may glorify you”.

He is absolute sure that his disciples have accepted him as the Saviour and are following his teachings. He also believes that they will continue his work. We know it was a blind belief of Jesus in his followers. He knew they were not that powerful at this time. But he was sure of their eventual growth in the faith. Jesus’ concern is again visible in these words.

So he prays:

“I pray for them … keep them in your name that you have given me”.

He is concerned as “they are in the world”.

It is such a beautiful moment.

Jesus assures his prayers for his disciples.

It shows another face of this Gospel:

He says pastors too need prayer helps.

Because they are in the world; they are in need.

Prayer is not something reserved for priests and ordained.

Some still think that it is their “business”- But it is not so.

On the contrary they also need the prayer helps;

especially in the modern world.

Jesus prayer is two sided. It is a prayer for the pastors. It is also a prayer for the disciples.

Here with affirms Jesus that, we have to pray each other:

Jesus calls us to be pastors.

We are all uplifted to this spiritual level through our Prayers,

when we are concerned about others.

It shows our real concern about a person or about an intention.

Prayer makes us better people. It says that we need the help and protection of each other as we need God’s Care and Concern.

A community that prays for each other will be the heaven on earth.

Let us enjoy the hours we are together as his community.

Let us pray each other.

Through that we can help others.

It may help us to understand others better.

It may help us to forgive each other.

Let us grow to this heavenly brotherhood in prayers.

Let the Concern of Jesus empower us. Amen!

-

Fr Thomas Kalathil