Sermon thoughts 22nd Sunday in Ordinary time – A - Matthew 16, 21-27

How should we conduct.

Should we be kind to people or faithful to the will of God?

Regarding this there is always a dilemma in the pastoral activity:

Then we teach God is a human-friendly God. He is the saviour of his people. Sometimes, however, these two aspects confront head to head and the human side loses often against God's will.

In today's Gospel, Jesus talks about His expected suffering in Jerusalem.

Jesus knew that his life is incomplete without this suffering and death. His Gospel includes this suffering; then only through this suffering, the resurrection is possible.

Peter, however, understands Jesus’ words are not so good.

He can not accept it, that Jesus is going to die like that;

then he was special among Jesus' disciples.

Yes, a loving person can listen this only with a heavy heart.

Peter makes allegations, because he loved Jesus so much.

And in this love he sees only the earthly matters.

Remember the gospel of the last Sunday:

Peter declares, Jesus as “the Messiah”. Peter and other disciples have no full understanding of "the Messiah". They had, like all Jews, a purely secular and political expectation about the Messiah. Jesus therefore bans, to spread this news.

Jesus - the Messiah - had to suffer - not some Roman rulers or political leaders but his own people, even the priests and scribes are his persecutors.

Maybe it is too hard for Peter and friends. May be a shock for a Jew.

Jesus confirms that he has a target – a specific target.

No man can contradict him. Then he follows the will of God.

And for Jesus, anyone who repulses him from this target is the Tempter - the

Satan. It is not against the person of Peter, but against his disabled / disabling attitudes and understanding. Although Peter is his vey special disciple, Jesus corrected him that he is completely wrong with this attitude and is an obstacle to his target.

The Evil – the Satan may not appear in startling / frightening form.

But he may often speak to us as a "friend" as a "Guide".

Many of us fail to distinguish this.

The gospel urges us today to consider such voices in and around our life and to compare whether it is the will / voice of God or the voice of the tempter.

It tells us to have the correct target before us.

Then some "human actions" can contradict the will of God.

We need mental strength for that.

We learn it through our faith.

That's what we learn as praying community.

The teachings of the Church and the Word of God can guide us.

Let us check our ways and goals.

God bless us all with his power to discard the evil – tempter from their lives. Amen!

--

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts – 21st Sunday in Ordinary time Year A - Mat 16, 13-20

God is a mystery. We have learned it so in our childhood.
Even though we are grown up, God is still a mystery to us.
And it will be so.

As God is a mystery, his ways are often mysterious. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans:
“How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!”.
St Paul had understood God much and still speaks precisely of the inscrutability of God.

If we consider the behavior of Jesus in the Gospel today, we can not help but think, God's ways are mysterious.

Then it is interesting:
Jesus first asks about the opinion of the people.
These people have not many possibilities to know Jesus.
They saw his many miracles and were astonished about his words and courage. They immediately reminded a prophetical nature in Jesus.
Thus they believed Jesus was a prophet.

The disciples, however, have better experience with Jesus and therefore a better opinion too. Peter is here, representing their faith and say it boldly,
"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!"

Actually, Jesus is supposed to be happy that his disciples have understood him correctly. He could possibly ask for, that they should continue declaring this because they have learned the most important lesson.
But Jesus says quietly to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

Yes, his behavior is at unbelievable and because of this style Jesus differs from the others.
Jesus had other reasons to this secrecy.
Then Jesus already knew that their faith is not perfect at this time.

He knew that Peter will soon think differently.
He knew that his disciples seek some better places in his "kingdom".
He knew some of them think that his kingdom is like any other kingdoms.
Jesus knew that they need more time to learn about the “Messiah” closer.

Yet Jesus had great faith in them – in this trust he leaves the “keys” to Peter.
That was certainly not a transfer of power but a handover of service.
He and his friends are called to live this service of concern, patience, love and mercy that Jesus lived.

Not only Peter, but there are many chosen to carry these “keys”.
In the first reading we heard about Eliakim. His name means “God raises”.
God has done so: he was raised as the master of the house of David.

It happens again and again. God seeks people again and again to hand over his “keys of service and love”. Like Peter, God needs people to work for his kingdom. He needs you and me.

The disciples have proclaimed him as the savior, even to the end of the world. In that manner they remained faithful to their proclamation / faith in the Messiah.

Now we are in the place of the disciples.
He gives us despite our weakness, His infinite and eternal grace and faith.
Do we dare like Peter to proclaim Jesus power in our words and deeds?
May God bless us to live our faith deliberately. Amen!
---
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts – 20th Sunday in Ordinary time A- Mt 15, 21-28

Everyone has a “claim” on God.
Everyone can pray to God. There is no special restriction of religion, culture or colour. The unmovable faith is important. The Gospel in this Sunday is explaining this through the life experience of Jesus and the gentile Canaanite woman.

Jesus’ reaction appears to be “provoking” in the first time.
Normally we don’t hear such usages from Jesus.
He is compassionate and healing and meek.
Especially to women, because they were true followers till his end on the cross. And some of them had not such a ”good” background at all.
Still he was good to them. But the reaction towards this woman is completely “anormal”.

Jesus provokes deliberately by using the terms ‘Dog’ or “only to…the house of Israel”. Jesus may be watching her reaction or her faith -whether it is superficial or a real one.
He may be testing her words/ proclamation, ‘Son of David’; to know if it was a genuine proclamation of her Heart / faith or only a “verbal” influence to get some help.

Then it is good to remember Jesus’ words.
“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Mt, 7, 21)
Eternity is not assured through some external practises only.
It needs the basic support of real faith.

To be born as Jew or baptised as Christian is not 100% surety to the eternal life. It is only a starting requirement to enter in to the bliss with God.
Religious ways must shape our complete life.

Salvation is not some thing automatically achieved.
May be there were such thoughts among Jews at the time of Jesus and later in among some Christians in the time of Mathews work on the Gospel.


Even today some believe that “practicing faith” alone helps to be in the kingdom of God.
The “Sola fide” dispute between Luther and the Catholic Church is an example to it.

Vatican II says: “The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself “(Nostra Aetate 2).

Yes, finding this ‘Source of the Great Light’ is important. And we believe that it is complete in Jesus the incarnated Son of David.

Our faith practices in the Church are help to come to the sources of divinity.

The controversial notion of Anonymous Christian introduced by the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner declares that people who have never heard the Gospel or even rejected it might be saved through Christ. Non-Christians could have "in [their] basic orientation and fundamental decision," Rahner wrote, "accepted the salvific grace of God, through Christ, although [they] may never have heard of the Christian revelation…
Yes, Jesus emphasizes it: God is not someone reserved for a particular religion – to Jew or to Christian. The wonder granted to the Canaanite woman is its approval. Faith can move not only mountains but God’s ‘decisions’ too.

Jesus provokes not only the woman. It is also a question on our various religious practises.
Are we taken by the belief that we are saved or we can influence God with some ‘tricks’ or ‘faithless-praises’ alone?
Then it is time to correct our ways and practises.
May God give us enough power to concentrate on important spiritual matters than external matters! Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts – 19th Sunday in Ordinary time – A - Matthew 14, 22-33

It is a rare picture that we see today in the Gospel.
Often it is so: if Jesus prays "alone" the disciples too remain in its vicinity. But tonight, Jesus is alone, completely alone.
And the disciples are on the way to the other shore.

Usually Peter expresses something in such situations. Today he remains still – in the first Part of the gospel.

Actually this is not a "problem" for Jesus, then he is in prayer and he is keeping better. He feels stronger.
On the other side, the disciples, who have benefited from the miracle and want to rest, are in danger.
Their boat was tossed about by the waves.
The darkness around them, the wind: these were actually nothing new for these experienced fishermen from Galilee. Nevertheless, they are frightened.
During the fourth Watch of the Night- which is between 3 and 6 O’ clock in the morning - the disciples had to fight with the sea.
It's interesting: the disciples who longed for the rest in the night could not come to rest ...
They were worried about losing: their night rest and the 12 baskets full of bread in the boat - which is actually in excess.
We can find such lost and frightened people around our lives.
This is something we have learned before few weeks - in the last days in July: the famous singer Amy Winehouse (27 years) was found dead in her apartment. Cause of death is unclear. It is speculated that the use of excess dose of drugs and alcohol destroyed her life. She was so successful and famous in a short time. But that brought her no happiness.

There are certain similarities between the disciples (first part of the Gospel) and people like the singer Amy Winehouse. Then they claim they have everything - so even in abundance - but the life boat is still circling in the lake of our distress and dissatisfaction, anxiety and so on ...

The disciples are inside the chaos: they do not even think about Jesus.
Even then Jesus comes to them. Jesus sees their need.
That is the beauty of our God: that is the comfort we gain from our faith:
A God who comes to us to solve our issues- he is the Good Shepherd.
The disciples are confused. They perceive Jesus as a ghost.
Yes, fear and bitterness in our eyes can prevent our sight. Or it can give a totally wrong picture. Many may lose their faith in God - and trust between human. We doubt, if the help is a real one for me or it is a trap.

Jesus says: "Have faith" - Jesus strengthen them always with this thought – have confidence- don’t fear- he repeats this even after his resurrection. Presence of God is not something to be feared.
Trust in God and trust in people will help one to overcome fear and weakness. Those who act out of fear, is bound and not free.
Jesus wants to free his disciples.

Peter tries to restore the losing faith / confidence in his way, even if he does not quite manage it well.
Or he wanted to examine whether it was really Jesus?
Or he wanted to be equal to the "wonderful" Jesus?
In any case, Jesus criticized their loss of faith and called Peter - "You, of little faith." This qualification applies to everyone.

History repeats in our lives with different properties.
We are often on the way: the boat - our life - is often crowded and accumulated. Often we are tired and weary. The happy moments may darken our eyes and view.
The most important one- God - remains distant - alone on the mountain - in our churches - and in our prayer rooms. Many forget to thank God.
The wind of helplessness reminds us that we need help.

Jesus tells us it is still not too late. He expects “only one word of SOS”.
Each time he will come to save us.
We just need the confidence, faith in him.

The Gospel ends with wonder and praise.
The disciples find their faith again - their Son of God;
they give Jesus his rightful place.

Well, what we have in our life-boat? - Excess earnings and concerns?
Or the All-Regulating presence of God?
Let us pray for his constant companionship. God bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil