Sermon thoughts- New Year -B - 2012

If you build a new house or buy a new appliance, you will deal with so much attention.


New Year is a gift. It has many features.
Therefore, we are very optimistic.
We have many expectations in this year.
We have to achieve certain goals in our life, in this year.
So we go with our new time in the new year carefully.


It is right choice that we begin this year with God-God's help.
His blessing and protection are important to us to make use of the good time.


The Blessings from the Book of Numbers (6, 22-27) - the first reading in this day - is well known to us.
It is a three-fold blessing.
The wish is the Omnipresent God, who protects and encircles our lives.
This is a complete trust in God.


Mary, the Mother of Christ, is another picture for this trust in God.


Her character is strange to our world.
She could cheer so great, because she was the chosen Mother of God, which was a unique state. She could have earned the respect and honor of others. However, she remains quiet. She keeps everything in her heart.


Mary is an extraordinary person.
At the beginning of the year, she remains a role model for us.


In the new year we will be witnessing a new era;
we will be receiving a lot of new experiences from the people and from God -
in several ways.
They can affect our dignity. They can make us Pride.


Mary teaches us, not to stumble into everything;
especially not in pride and intolerance.


She teaches us to keep the serenity.
Consider everything as the gift of God.


Let us begin the new era, this new beginning with Mary.
God bless us all ... Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts - B - 2011 - Christmas

A familiar story - that's Christmas for us. The Evangelists Matthew and Luke portray the birth of Jesus Christ in their Gospels. The only change is in the narration method. But the meaning and the message are the same:
Joy and peace and God's arrival among his people.


"Then I bring you news of great joy ...."
This is the message of the angel to the shepherds first, then to the world.


Yes, Christmas is a festival of joy;
fulfilment of a great expectation of time.
Therefore, it is special than all other feasts in the church.
This feast gives us hope, a stronghold and substantial hope in God.


This hope was not only for the shepherds or for the other people in Judea.
Not only were these people in need or in search of a saviour.
Many of us are also in need; in search of hope - hope that is lasting.
We rarely experience this permanent hope in our human relationships as they can change at any time. The trust between people can break at any time.
But the hope and strengthening of God abides with us for ever.
It is because God is faithful in his promises;
Yes, my dears, that's Christmas.
Christmas is the answer of this great Promise.




Christmas brings us closer to God. He is a man-has become God.
Now we can communicate with him.
These days, many gifts are distributed.
However, this is the greatest gift of all time.




Another message we hear today, is
"Glory to God in the Highest".
It relates with the joy and peace. Then he who seeks honour and glory,
may remain as seeker for ever. It has no end at all.


Those who give God an important place and honour in their lives,
will find peace and joy in life.
They will accept everything as gift from God;
everything comes from God and goes back to him.


God is after such people for his kingdom - we hear this in the scripture.
God seeks those who will honour God.


That is why God chooses an angel or a man to carry on his good news.
He shares with us some of his responsibilities and role in salvation history - and that is the honour that we get. This is a great acknowledgment to us.


My friends,
Christmas means diverse experience. There we find God's greatness in a child; we experience God's recognition towards his people;
we experience His peace and joy that are prepared for us.


Let us take this invitation sincerely. Let us fulfil the mission of God in us.
We are the angels of God in our world. Like Mary and Joseph, let us witness God's peace, joy and hope through our life. This is the greatest gift we can offer to our God.
God bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts - 4th Sunday in Advent - B (Lk 1, 26-38)

When we analyse the reading in Advent Sundays, we will be able to trace out the fact that, most of them contains some questions to God.


In the first Sunday, the Prophet Isaiah was asking questions to Yahweh.


On last Sunday, we heard some other questions. They were from the reporters to question the authority of John the Baptist appointed by Pharisees.


On this Sunday, Mary is asking questions to the Angel Gabriel.


In the first and last instances, they were willing to accept the answers.
Both of them are consciously placed and promoted in the Holy Bible by the Church, to correct some wrong beliefs among the faithful.
Because many consider God cannot be questioned;
For Jews it was a suicidal attempt.


But God comes to men and is willing to be in conversation.
God is not an autocrat. God is not taking our freedom at all.
We are respected by God a lot, in taking decisions.
Isaiah and Mary are examples to this arguments.


Mary is very special for this argument in the advent season. Because she is coming to a conversation to clear her doubts. It is not some act of unfaith or suspicion in the Plan of God. We can consider her questions as a way to know her mission entrusted by God.
After these questions and answer session, she is accepting the plan of God.
She places no conditions at all.
Because she is completely sure of the presence of God in her life;
She is feeling the Divine Plan in her life.


Yes, Mary is the best example for us to prepare the Christmas through this advent season. She is teaching us to be in contact with God; be in conversation with God; to know the Plan of God in your life; to know the will of God.
She is inviting us to come near to God. Not only in this Advent - Christmas time, but through out our life.


Let us prepare ourselves for this great gift. May these few days help us to grow more in this conversation with God.
That can present us a meaningful Christmas and a meaningful faith.


God bless us all through Mary, the blessed Virgin. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts - 3rd Sunday in Advent - B- 2011 - Jn 1,6-8.19-28

There are so many talents given to human. But among them the talent of questioning is very special one. Without this there is no philosophy, there is no discoveries and inventions, there is no life at all...


We see this questioning not only in matured one, but even in children. They are very special in forming their questions too. Some times it is very interesting too. It comes out of their curiosity.


We hear 3 times such a question in the gospel.
who are you? the question is repeated thrice to John the Baptist.
Each time the question gets more additions too.


At first I found it very delighting and positive, because they seemed to be very interested in the proclamation of John the Baptist. But the later sentences prove that their questions were not for any creative/ faith-winning- purpose at all. They were there to report on John and his activities. They were simply informants. Or Undercover Informants.


Then, it was such a powerful proclamation done by John; but these people weren't willing to accept the good news as their hearts were closed - or it was mainly busy with their reporting function.
They remained just informants and reporters while others were "transformed" and "receivers".


Of course we are in doubt and in need of answers in our faith practise.
We need some explanation to some happenings in our life.
And these questions get answered if we are open to the truth.
If we are willing to hear and perceive the divine happenings in and around us.


The first reading of the Sunday which is from Prophet Isaiah 61 gives a picture on John. According to the life style of the people in Palestine, the message was not new to them at that time. Then they lived in expecting the coming of the Messiah- their Saviour. At least the scribes and the Priests should have associated the words and works of John together with the Messianic prophecy. They were afraid of the Messiah. So they sent reporters to John the Baptist.


Messiah was not someone to be feared.
Because he is the saviour.
The Prophet Isaiah underlines it. He brings justice and happiness to all.


Of course, the happiness of some may bring fear and losing wealth and status in others; this is reflected in the reactions of different groups in Judea in connection with the coming of the Messiah.
The ordinary folk were welcoming him as the rich and governing groups rejected.


John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light.
Normally we have witness for the past events. We need them to prove something happened earlier.


John the Baptist becomes a special witness: because he is witnessing not some past events, but he gives testimony of that is to happen. He becomes the divine-sign and witness of some thing to come.




This 3rd Sunday enriches us with the thought, to be joyful, even in doubts; even if our lives are surrounded with thousand questions.
We cannot find a matching answers for all our questions in life. Happy is the one who finds answers to his questions.


But we can remain still open and trusting in God, in Divine mediation.
God has an answer and a reason for all our questions.
We can achieve this happiness and Joy only with open hearts.


Our Blessed Virgin Mary too asked questions; but she remained open to the will of God, which gifted her with the unique present - the status of the Mother of God.


Let us learn this grace: to ask questions to God and be open towards his will.
Let us live our advent- expecting the salvation- in Joy and Happiness.
May God bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

2. Sunday of Advent - B - 2011 - (Mk 1, 1-8)

In today's readings we heard about the comfort, joy and power of God.

Is there any one who do not actually want to be comforted?

Is there anyone without the desire for peace and tranquility?

I think the answer will be a big "NO".

Even the terrorists and rebels seeking for "peace and tranquility" from their own method and idealism, which is often against humanity.

Today's readings are risen in the context of the political and spiritual life of the Israelites. They were a people who sought comfort and peace, which were rare experience. They were often slaves, and have served others.

It was actually a paradox - a contradiction;

because they were the chosen people of God.

Nevertheless, they had to suffer a lot because of there deeds...

There is a proverb in Judea:

"It is easy to get Israel out of exile, than to get the exile from Israel."

Then this unrest and misery and desolation touched their lives from Generation to Generation. They often lived in the memories of their bad experiences. Even some religious ceremonies, e.g.: Passover, served for it.

They sat in a deep abysses of dissatisfaction and helplessness.

Because their life was not in the "plane" but it was full of "hills" and "valleys".

We know those who goes through such a hills and valleys will be tired.

He finds his comfort when he comes to the plane surface - if he can breathe easily.

The Israelites were having such a life.

John the Baptist and his baptism was received quickly, mainly because of this life struggles; because they were yearning for peace.

Gospel tells us; whole Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem came to him and received baptism of John.

Because they put their hope in him.

They could feel the divine proximity and power that is coming to their lives.

They could feel the beginning of divine peace and consolation.

John now becomes the messenger of peace - the messenger of God.

He says, "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.

I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit."

For sure, that was a joyous message for Israel.

They have found their hope for peace and solace again.

In this second Week of Advent we Christians have 2 fold tasks:

1. we are invited to rise up from the depths of our discontent. Because a savior is promised for us. He is more powerful than all the rulers of the world. In Christ, we experience this peace.

2.We are called to be messengers of peace. There are countless people in our midst, seeking simply a word of consolation and gratitude. Charity does not always mean some financial aid; No, it can be a good word or be an encouragement.

Are we ready to take these two tasks,

then we are in Advent - God is near to us:

then we are on the way to Christmas.

May God bless us all. Amen!

-

Fr Thomas Kalathil