Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Joan of Arc…
These names are familiar to many.
Also their personalities are widely accepted and respected by most of us.
The reason is they were good in their duty.
They were good leaders, who lived for a noble cause.
That means to be good is always welcome in our world.
We too try to be good as we can: may be we have some other conditions for the goodness: mostly they are superficial - to have a good house, good education, good job, good family, good friends, good manners and so on.
One may not hesitate to express if one merits some goodness…
It is also a truth that for many their life is a competition to be better or to be the best.
In the Gospel today, Jesus is proclaiming himself as the good shepherd.
He is not hesitating to declare this truth. Because, Jesus was sure about his goodness and his call. He is also sure of the hardships he has to face by being good. Then the gospel tells: “A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”. Yes, the sacrifice, at the end is very important. He proves it through his life, through the sacrificial life for all the people.
All these have an explanation:
Jesus had great trust and hope in his Heavenly father,
who can rise him up from all these hardships.
Of course this is what distinguishes Jesus from other adorable leaders of the world. He spread the hope, Faith and love of enemies and lived it to his end.
He was at the same time the shepherd and the sacrificial lamb.
My dear friends,
The Gospel of good shepherd is not something just to listen and praise the greatness of Jesus. But we can see a hidden call behind this gospel.
Placing this Gospel in the Easter time,
Church has surely something to remind us;
the good shepherd and the crucified and resurrected Jesus is the same.
This gospel passage teaches us:
As Jesus was the shepherd, we too are called to follow his great example.
We too are entrusted to be good shepherds in this world.
We are called to spread good words (Good News = Gospel),
to encourage others,
to witness faith, hope, love and other human values
through our sacrificial life.
This Easter time asks us to refresh our calls.
Because, we are called to be shepherds:
We are also the sheep.
We are called to carry out our responsibilities in love and concern of others.
We are called to carry our cross in patience as Jesus did.
To be good can be painful and may need sacrifice.
But this is not the end. It is only the way.
The life of Jesus is the example and inspiration.
What we need is the trust in God; hope in his promise;
Perseverance in our call.
May the example of Jesus help us to be good shepherds in our world! Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
Repetition is an important method in the learning process.
I remember my childhood:
As we have prayed together in the family in the evenings it was then the time to learn. We had to read aloud our learning portions.
And at this time you hear only the learning children.
We read or wrote everything repeatedly, in order to remember everything so precisely. (Nowadays we mostly hear the sound of the TV at this time.)
Repetition is also very evident in the spiritual life.
Rosary is the best example to it.
By repeating one comes to meditation, to inner peace and also to better and greater understanding of the prayers. Repeated celebrations of the sacraments have the same function.
When we carefully listen to the Gospel in the Easter time,
it will be clear that there are often repetitions.
Jesus the Risen Lord appears repeatedly to his disciples;
he speaks with them, extends his peace.
He says repeatedly that he is risen from the dead so that
the writings should be fulfilled.
We will certainly think that the disciples could easily believe in Jesus.
But it was not simple as we think.
Jesus understands this weak nature of his disciples.
He knew that they need repeated teachings and signs.
Through these repetitions and patience, Jesus could slowly convince everything his disciples.
We too believe that God is in our midst.
Still often he seems to be some "Spirit" for us.
Yes, just like the disciples, we too have the problem to recognize him or to act according to his will.
Yes, we do believe that God is present in our lives, but it is still hard to live accordingly. The disciples of Jesus too had similar problems in faith-
It could be the lack of faith, or be little attention to the word of God or such other obstructions.
But, no evangelist indicates that Jesus was impatient with his disciples.
Jesus was- quite the contrary to that - very understanding.
He tried to do everything to convince them of his resurrection.
I believe and hope that God deals with us in such a way.
He tries to convince us - with his sacraments, through his love, in the community of the faithful or by some charismatic people who witness to God through their lives. He has patience with us. He gives us again chances to be his followers.
The disciples could believe in Jesus Christ in time and this faith changed their lives totally.
I also wish for us this grace – to act in time, make use of the time God gives us and to trace out God in our lives and change our lives as his will.
Let us pray that he shows his Patience to us too.
God bless us all. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
"One heart and one mind" - this expression, is familiar to us in the family life. The partners are to suppose to be one heart and soul in love.
Or some monasteries and idealistically minded communities are examples of such unity.
In the first reading we hear that the first Christian community was of one heart and one mind. They shared all their possessions with others. So there was nobody in need, says the Acts of Apostles. This is a very nice report of unity and community- which must be our dreams too.
I think the most important miracle that happened after the resurrection of Jesus, is the unity among the disciples of Jesus. Then when they were together with Jesus, they had some difficulties to understand each other;
there were also discussions about "importance and greatness" among them.
Here we see that the death and resurrection of Jesus unites the disciples.
They are of one heart and one soul. They live these very important values in the community. It happens in the love. There is a trust among them.
We know, Love and Trust are very important in human life.
When these are violated, then the relations are destroyed;
then the people go in despair.
Today we hear in the gospel, that Jesus appears to his disciples.
One can see two parts here:
At first we hear about the appearance of Jesus to the disciples. Jesus talked to them, showed his hands and his side. The disciples saw him; they were happy and were very excited about Jesus. As the climax, he gives them the Holy Spirit and power to forgive Sins.
In the second part we see the story about Apostle Thomas. He is very disappointed with the events happened in his absence. Because he was called "Didymus”- “Twins". That means, there was some special bond between Jesus and Thomas. Now Jesus, one of the twins appears in his absence, and Thomas become a loser - no vision of Jesus,
no gift of the Spirit and no power of forgiveness.
That makes him blind and he was so sticking on his conditions.
He goes further - he not only wanted to see Jesus but also to touch his body and wounds. It means he wanted to feel Jesus better and closer.
That does not doubt the divinity of Jesus and his power. One can find out his frustration in these words. This despair is simply out of frustration, because he loved Jesus so extreme.
The Gospel - John 11, 16 - gives us an example of his love of Jesus.
" Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him’ ". He says this as all the other disciples were afraid of Jews. That means Thomas was basically a deeply religious man.
This deep faith of Thomas, we see at the end of the Gospel:
His confession is unique: "My Lord and My God".
John uses the word "Theos". It is not just ‘a god’, but Jesus is the personal Lord and God of Thomas. This is the total submission. I think after the resurrection of Jesus there was not such a strong testimony from any other disciples.
The Apostle Thomas is the symbol for all of us who values love and union but sometimes gets hurted and disappointed. Apostle Thomas had the fortune to preserve his inner faith even in the midst of despair and disappointments. He could see and touch Jesus as he wished.
This made him from disbelieving disciple to a strong Apostle of Jesus.
Similar experiences were there for almost all the apostles, especially after the resurrection of Jesus. As they experienced the love and acceptance of Jesus in his words and appearances, they lived this in the early church – and could lead others to be one heart and one soul.
Let us ask God for His grace and mercy – on this Divine Mercy Sunday - as the Apostle Thomas, as the other disciples of Jesus, to preserve us in faith and to proclaim him, in and through our lives even unexpected disappointments and questions are confronted there.
May God bless us all, through the Apostle Thomas. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
Dear friends,
First of all I would like to wish you a Happy and blessed Easter.
God is alive - this is the core message of the resurrection of Jesus.
He is Lord over life and death, the liturgy of the day confirms it.
But my special interest is around the last sentence of the Gospel of Mark 16, 7: "He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you "
The DESCRIPTION OF PLACE in Mark is very important:
Then, Jesus suffered and rose again in Jerusalem;
It is the place of worship and place of the ONLY temple -
the most important place for Israelites.
But Jesus goes to Galilee, where he lived and worked most of his life time.
Also the disciples had to go to Galilee as Jesus said.
Yes, as he is alive, Jesus wants them back again fully in their lives.
These disciples are engaging in their jobs in Galilee, where they had to meet Jesus again.
This is somewhat challenging!
Then in the temple and prayers, one has the chance to feel God easier than,
to find God in the midst of life and its pursuits.
Even then, the disciples followed Jesus;
they are back in their activities, in the hope of the reunion with Jesus and to recognize their master.
Dear friends,
Easter is a wonderful celebration, but it also has a difficult task for us.
Like the disciples of Jesus, we will soon leave the church and engage in the duties of our lives and other works.
Can we follow and feel God and his Presence for us in our life?
This is very important to recognize and follow God’s words in everyday life.
The second important aspect of the day is:
God keeps his Promise.
Yes, through the resurrection, he shows that he is credible.
Then whoever keeps his word is credible:
From our everyday life we experience this.
God appears here as a trust worthy person.
Then his word becomes true and they are the Truth.
He overcomes the power of death; He is God of the living.
The Divine Truth can not be suppressed.
Easter means the truth lives.
My beloved friends,
Easter is a sign for all people who suffer (innocently), trusting in God.
The life of Jesus had the specific target that was heaven.
No cross and grave can prevent him from it.
Each person, whose life is faced towards Jesus,
can certainly have this Easter experience.
If problems arise, then we have an example before us-
A God who has suffered, but Resurrected after 3 days.
There is an Easter-day of resurrection waiting for every one who suffers for the truth and justice.
Jesus Christ, the risen God is our hope, our example.
He may strengthen us, our families, our faith, our politics and society with his living presence and bring us his hope. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
Today, on Good Friday, our thoughts are with Jesus on the cross and his suffering. We think it's so awful and painful that the good God suffers.
For Jesus, the pain of his soul should have been bigger than his physical pain. Then, almost all of his friends left him and he stood there in this time of his trail alone.
Today, when I see him as a crucified, I ask myself:
Did Jesus loved his cross? Whether he wanted to suffer necessarily?
We hear Jesus praying in Gethsemane:
"Father, if you are willing take this cup from me ..."
That means, Jesus as a human had some problems with the cross and suffering. Please do not understand me wrong.
That mean, he did not wanted to inflict or add crosses by himself/ his own will.
We know a lot on some strict Monks who used to torture and scourge themselves. They wanted to suffer with God and they had done it by adding pains to their own bodies.
Jesus was a healthy person - in body and soul.
He has accepted his cross and pains positive.
He understood the meaning of his suffering, which enabled him to "love" his sufferings. He even cured or sanctified them.
People do not want sufferings and cross.
But have a close look at our lives;
everyone has his cross, his pain in life.
And it is natural that no one today goes for some "extra cross".
But what Jesus teaches us is definitely helpful for our life:
He teaches us to understand how to love crosses, and how it can be changed positively; how can it be turned to healing one as Jesus did ...
- through better understanding of the meaning of suffering...
- with the right attitude toward suffering.
What many people are unfortunately lacking this positive approach and understanding!
Our faith and communion are of great help here.
Jesus carried his cross because he had great Faith in his Father in Heaven.
He also had people who stood with him and that made him stronger ...
Unfortunately, the most important ones - his disciples – were not there.
They were weak as they could not understand his suffering and it value.
But we see them later, returning to him with more power and intensity, as they understood the meaning of his suffering.
Then they had had no more fear on their crosses ...
To have cross means to live consequently.
We had had a living example before our eyes, that was the blessed Pope John Paul II - He was sick and suffering...
Still he did not want to hide his suffering from the world.
He has shown the world, suffering is also part of human life;
a Pope can suffer just like every other person in the world.
He had an answer for the world’s hesitation to the suffering...
My dear friends,
Pain and suffering are no reasons to get out of discipleship;
they are no reasons from to get rid of the obligations of life!
As Jesus and many saints did,
we too can transform our crosses and lives to the sign of salvation.
All our sacrifices and fasting during Lent is useful
when we experience God's power from the cross;
if we can draw positive energy from His / Our sufferings.
That is my wish for all of us, especially on today's Good Friday!
May God, who was strong also on his cross, strengthen us. Amen!
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
The reading from Exodus narrates a celebration - the celebration of the deliverance of Israel from the slavery and hardships in Egypt. People of Israel experience great miracles of their God – YHWH - in Egypt.
It is a celebration. Nevertheless, it is not quite solemn. Because they are not completely free. But they hope to start their journey to Canaan, the land of promise.
In addition to it they have to celebrate this festival in a hurry. It is not the time to celebrate long as they have so little time. They had to eat the food, as reinforcement or as a backup for the journey. They had no time to prepare it properly. Moreover they are in fear, because they can feel the death outside their doors.
Bitter herbs and unleavened bread ... These represent the bitterness of her life, the scarcity of time ... This Passover is a celebration of togetherness and the Israelites celebrate it as God had wished.
From this table from the Old Testament times, we come to another table.
As we see Jesus and his disciples are gathered around this table.
Outside - in Jerusalem, people are celebrating the great holiday - Passover.
Jesus and his friends are gathered here to celebrate it.
The festival hall and food are available.
But even here the mood is not so solemn ...
The disciples do not understand it – what is happening or what may happen - completely. A shade of sadness and farewell covers the heart and the celebration.
We see, Jesus assumes the Main role, even if he is not the oldest in the group. But as the Master, he has the right to preside the celebration.
He is not talking about the traditional History of Passover lead by Moses and Aaron. He gives his disciples a new story ...
They should carry on this for further life... it is their new celebration ... It is the food for the body and soul.
They get a new job ... a new ceremony to remember...
They need not to kill a lamb ... For He is the perfect Lamb, became victim once and for all.
He is a sign. It is a sign ...
Jesus does not think on the hard times to come. But he makes his farewell something eternal. He remains joyful to the end of his life.
Yes, he was really a strong, a brave man!
Maundy Thursday:
We too celebrate a feast on this day.
Then the Holy Eucharist was instituted for us on this day...
Jesus and his presence is the specialty of this sign.
We receive Him in Holy Communion. His power gives us courage.
His positive and courageous outlook on life, is transformed to us though the communion.
Beloved sisters and brothers,
Holy Thursday is telling us:
Our life is – even if there are many painful times - a celebration.
Bitter herbs unleavened bread stands for the pain and uncertainty and parting and all such negative feelings in our life.
However, we have a reason to be happy - as God wishes, to perceive, to respect our life worthy.
This day reminds us.
Our lives should have this celebration ... a celebration with God and man should be there.
Let us truly take our lives positive and uplifting.
His table will bless the pains and all negative experiences of our life and will empower us to live with them in peace.
God bless us and give us a strong and jouyous heart. Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil
