Sermon thoughts – Christ the King – B (Jn 18, 33b-37)

“When you are a King, what will you do?” If we ask this question to some people we may get different answers. If it is asked to some children, then they may say; “I will make this world so beautiful; will supply sweets and such foods to all for free; will give every one some presents; …” Some teenagers will be answering differently: They can be; “I will give freedom to all, possibilities for free travels and enjoyments will close all the schools and tough teachers…” Some elderly and matured people may have other answers: “I will give job to every one. There will be none without a home. I will distribute enough money and living materials for all. I will peace on the earth”… Yes, to be a King means to keep all such things and more under control. Some one who cannot do that will not be accepted as a good / great Ruler.read more...
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – B (Lk 13, 24-32, Dan 12, 1-3)

The number 13 is not a lucky number at least in some countries. Some avoid this number even in their Hotel rooms. So there will be room number 12 and the next will be 14. There is also a Phobia called “Triskaidekaphobia“ – the fear of number 13. The 13th chapter in Mark is not a good one in comparison with other chapters. It is all about the end of the world, the final Judgement and so on. But it is not a bad chapter completely. We will see the reasons later on. Now when we analyse the readings, the first and third readings have something in common. It is all about the final days. Of course as humans we have certain fear and curiosity regarding the end of the world and end of life. The many science fiction films on apocalypse and end of the world show our varied imagination of this. ...Read more...

Sermon Thoughts – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary time – B (Mk 12, 38-44)

We see Jesus mentions two kinds of people in the Gospel today. At first it is the scribes. Now, who were these scribes? They were learned people. They were the professional interpreters of the Law – that is given in the Torah - in the Jewish synagogues even at the time of Jesus. They were considered as the so considered to the ‘upper class Jews’ just as Priests or some Pharisees and Sadducees. So they were respected and accepted by the public. They had an accepted dress code too- their special long coats. But what is wrong in these? Jesus has his clarification for the accusations against them. It is not because of these external matters. But it is because they used all these status and intellectual capacities and abilities only for their own praise and glory. For Jesus this was not according to their call. Their used their long clothes for public attention. They aimed their self advance, loved and fond of applause; they expected salutations in the marketplaces, and presidential seats in the synagogues, and special places during feasts; they loved all these vain fancies and counted them as their popularity. read more...--
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time - B - (Mk 12, 28b-34)

Are all Indians computer experts? No… Are all Germans Nazis? No… Are all Muslims, terrorists? No… All Jews are bad people? No… We cannot judge people, in the light of some particular incident. Today's Gospel passage gives us this message. Normally, the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes had no friendship with Jesus. But there are still exceptions just as in the Gospel we see a Scribe, who was friendly and understanding. The Gospel gives him these attributes. In order to understand it we need to have a look at the previous passage of today’s gospelread more...-- Fr Thomas Kalathil