4th Sunday in Lent – A- Jn 9, 1-41

We do often criticize others. That is a fact.
Some people are very direct here, others come through, 'back doors'.
Criticism is of great importance in a modern and democratic world.
Certain things comes to light through it -
that displeases or that needs to be improved.
A critique can help, but it can also destroy.
Therefore criticizing is an art which needs learning and practice. This should be done at the right moment. It should be accurate, clear, positive, honest and benevolent.

It is also not easy to live with constant criticism as it can insecure a person. Therefore, modern science tells, that the children should not always and constantly criticized. It will disturb their natural development when they are exposed to constant pressure. Of course, one can deny this and can discuss about it for hours...

But let's get down to our Gospel.
Jesus faces criticisms many times during his earthly life.
The Gospel of this Sunday is one of many examples.
Jesus heals a blind man and the opinions about it are divided.
We find here people with different view points.

At first, this healing was cause for celebration.
But immediately after wards they searched for the reason of the blindness of this man and ask: Why is the man became blind?
If his sins or the sins of his parents made him blind?
Their search is really childish.
Even among such questions Jesus does not stop doing good.
He sees only the positive things and goes for it:
For him this disease is an occasion to reveal God's Glory.

The Pharisees accuse Jesus, that he healed the blind man on the Sabbath.
But at the same time they scold the blind man as he praises Jesus.
Is using such unholy words on the Sabbath holy and allowed? If it is a sin to help and heal a person? Here we see the bigotry of the Pharisees.

Jesus neither scolds nor defends himself.
He only says: These people see the truth and yet do not recognize this.
He warns them and all others: “Therefore your sin remains.”

St Paul draws a counter-image in his letter to Ephesians:
He writes about people who have given up the darkness and came to Christ to receive the light. He teaches: “Live as children of light.”
Yes, Christ brings light into our lives and in our views.
In and with Him we see the world better, even from a different angle,
but above all, with the eyes of mercy and kindness.
Christ does not spread hostility towards life,
for he himself directs our vision towards the people and the world .
As Paul writes, this 'Light' (Christ) brings goodness, righteousness and truth.

And in the book of Samuel we read that “the Lord looks at the heart” and not the external matters.

My dear ones,
these words are a relief for all those who are in Light & good in Heart.
The opinions of others may differ.
But all these opinions are irrelevant and wrong when we live in the Light of Christ and love others in the love of Jesus.
Yes, Christ teaches us today that we should use our words and our criticism positively and constructively. We must practice it over and over again-
in the family, in the work area and / or in the church.
He also tells us to do it with heart and love.
Let our words and our criticism bring light and life.
For Christ himself is light and life and THE WORD to the world.

Let us use our words & thoughts responsible.
May God bless us all - especially in this time of Lent. Amen !

--Thomas Kalathil4th Sunday in Lent – A- Jn 9, 1-41

3rd Sunday in Lent -A- Jn 4, 5-42

Many people ask me if I can work happily in a foreign country with an unfamiliar culture, language and weather and life situations.
I always answer them with pleasure that I feel very well here.
For I have found many people who like meand accept me, as I am.
And I know that this is not of course and certain experience for all and for that I am grateful.

To be foreign and still be recognized -
today's Gospel can give some insights on this matter.
What Jesus is doing is totally unacceptable to a traditional orthodox Jew.
For a Jew it was forbidden to talk to a woman in public.
Jesus, a Jew speaks with a woman and she is a Samaritan too.
That's even worse, because Jews and Samaritans hated each other,
so they lived in hostility.

Jesus asked this woman for water because he was thirsty.
But in fact the conversation was not only about the water.
Jesus begins a new chapter.
It is new chapter in the history of the Samaritan woman as well as in the history of the love of enemies.

The Samaritan woman was certainly not a ' good' woman. Because she had 5 men and now she lives with the 6th one, which may also be changed soon.
But Jesus speaks with her without any prejudice.
He finds that this woman has 'thirst' for life.
She does not feel accepted and recognized.
She lacks the real love.
Thus she hovers between relationships which are not quenching her thirst.

Jesus recognizes her 'need'.
Jesus sees a suffering, lonely and helpless woman before him,
while others watch her as a sinner.
This shows Jesus was a good pastor.


It is very much interesting that he does not condemn her.
He also does not say that she is a sinner.
No, he only talks about their thirst.
He talks about the 'Source' that can quench every thirst.
And slowly Jesus turns the subject from 'water' and to 'worship'.
He talks about a 'new' method of worship (also unacceptable to Jews) -
in spirit and in truth and awakens the interest in this woman.

We listen here a long conversation (perhaps the longest conversation of Jesus with a single person in the Gospel). A woman who avoided Jesus at the beginning, is now talking about her personal life and more.
She recognizes in Jesus a special Rabbi, who knows even the secrets her life.
So she listens to him and slowly opens her heart.
And Jesus speaks to 'her heart'.

The Gospel ends positively, because the woman spread the word about the new prophet in her place.
Yes, Jesus can transform a 'sinner' to the 'Messenger' of God.
And even a Gentile or a woman can Proclaim God...
The people who came to Jesus believes in him,
“for we have heard for ourselves” and they proclaim,
“this is truly the savior of the world“.

We see in the Gospel, how a brief conversation, a bit willingness of acceptance and a gesture of mercy gives new hope for the people;
how the barriers of hostility can be broken;
how the Gospel can make friends out of enemies.
Yes, this openness of Jesus brings new life to the Samaritan woman
and for many others in Samaria. The Good News can now grow here.

My dear ones,
Lent is the time to review our dealings with others. Do I show openness for my fellow man? Or I see them as sinners and untouchables? Do I show mercy and give them time, attention and a little care?
Yes, with these - Time, love, acceptance and compassion, we can change our world. May the merciful God bless us all in this lenten time. Amen !

--Thomas Kalathil3rd Sunday in Lent -A- Jn 4, 5-42

2nd Sunday in Lent – A – Mt 17, 1- 9

'Mountain' has a special role in the Holy Bible. It is a place of intensive God experience. We see in old testament Abraham, Moses, Joshua and many other specially called persons experiencing this special nearness of God on various Mountains. In Psalm 48, 1-2 we read,
„Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.“

Geographically, a mount is higher place. It has the history of years.
Those who are on its top, will have better air and another view of the nature. The first word, most of the people utter on the mountain will be
“It is so beautiful”.

....
-- Thomas Kalathil2nd Sunday in Lent – A – Mt 17, 1- 9

1st Sunday in Lent – A – Mt 6, 1-11_ Gen 2, 7-9; 3, 1-7

What leads a man to wrong deeds? Why people commit crimes even though they are aware of its consequences? Some may say, it is the situation of the person that leads to such wrong doings. Based on this argument, many psychiatrists and sociologists tell us to avoid the situations first to get rid of problems.

The first reading of this Sunday may be supporting this thought. We see that Adam and Eva are committing sin because the serpent tempts them. The fruit was “pleasing to the eyes”.

But when we understand the Gospel we may have to correct our opinion.
We see in the Gospel that, Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted.
After the long fasting of 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus had hunger.
That was simply a normal need of the physical body and that's why I am not sure to call it a temptation at all.
But the temptation comes when the desire to do something unusual and unnatural. The temptation of Jesus at that stage was not only to work a wonder - to make bread out of the stones but also to prove himself as the Son of God. We are sure, Jesus was totally alone in that desert. May be some wild animals lived in that desert. If Jesus does a wonder here, it is only for himself.
More over he does it to prove (or to test) his own divine power and authority.

If the first temptation was based on the need of the body, the other two temptations- to throw himself down from the temple tower and to worship the tempter- are clear from the matter. They concentrate on the power and authority of Heavens and Earth.

If the first argument– situation leads to sins- is true, then Jesus had to undergo the temptation. He had a very supporting context in the desert for that. After the strict fasting and silence he was hungry and had a desire of both body and spirit. The conversation of the tempter was also “pleasing”.
But Jesus overcomes them.
That proves, situation alone cannot lead us to sins and problems.
Yes, the two temptations from old and new testament tell us that.

See, Adam and Eve were living in Paradise, in the presence of God.
They talked and walked with God.
They had all their freedom, except one prohibition.
Even though they committed sin and disobeyed the word of God.
The context and the tempter's “appealing” words or the beauty of the fruit were not the prime issue. They were not powerful at their will. That was the main reason for their disobedience.

We see Jesus, on the other hand, weak and really in need of food in the desert. He was in need of acceptance of people to begin his Proclamation.
But he proves he has the power of God. He proves that, one can overcome any temptation with this Divine Power.

Dear Friends,
we are in the first week of Lent.
What should we attain in this period, in this world of temptations?

Of course we cannot completely change our world and the contexts we live.
We cannot avoid every aspects and moments of temptations in our life.
But we can achieve the Power to fight against them.
We can say 'YES' or 'NO' to certain things in our life.
We need a clear and pure conscience for this.
More over we need the Power of Prayer for that.
We need the Power of Charity for that.

Let us make use of the time.
Let us not follow our own will and “appealing words” from others,
but follow God and his Will.
Let us try to seek the Will of God even in our doubts and temptations.
Let us prove that we are strong with our God.
May this Lenten Season help us all to achieve this aim – Power in God.
God Bless us all. Amen!

--Thomas Kalathil1st Sunday in Lent – A – Mt 6, 1-11_ Gen 2, 7-9; 3, 1-7

Ash Wednesday – 2014 – A

We Christians are entering in to a very holy period of living our faith, as we are drawing a cross on our head and meditating on the passion of our Lord in this Lent.

This pretty long time of prayer and self evaluation begins with the Ash Wednesday liturgy.
Why do we use Ash for this ceremony? What does it tell us? What does it mean for us? It will be better to think on the meaning of this ceremony and do it with deep conviction.

In the old testament, we come across with the parts, where people like Job (16, 15), Daniel (9, 3) are going through this symbolic act. It was a sign of sorrow and repentance.

The classical example of this act we find in the book of Jonah, where the people of Nineveh repented and put on sack cloths and sat in ashes. They also had 'forty days' to repent. (Jonah 3, 4).

Ash is a symbol- a powerful symbol. It represents not only the sorrow and repentance, but also the power to clean and need to be clean.

Before the present dish washing fluids were common, our mothers in India used to clean dishes with ashes from the oven. This was a by product of cooking process and was 'free' of charge. Actually this was a waste, but many of our people used them to clean the dishes and even used as manure for plants, to get rid of insects. Some sort of ashes (rest of burned wood, or burned outer husks of grains) were used as natural tooth cleaning agents.

Along with these so many positive sides, ashes are having their negative parts too. Because, it can make our clothes and bodies unclean and dusty. Even if it is a 'cleaner', we won't use it on our bodies. It is not a cosmetic agent for our face and skin. For that purpose we use other body & face creams.


That means, the use of ashes on this day(s) have some other meaning:

Yes, by putting ashes on our heads we are realizing, that we are unclean.
When ashes are on our body (on our head) we feel uneasy and need to wash it and become clean.

The external dust is removable, with a proper wash.
But the ritual of 'celebration of ashes' tells us we need some more cleaning.
We need some internal purity.

This ashes which is put on our heads in the form of the cross is a call.
It tells, it is time to go for some changes.
As the people of Nineveh, we too have got forty days.
Let us come to the awareness, that we need some changes and purification of our daily life.
May the sign of the cross, the ashes help us to go deeper to this awareness.
May the prayers and good deeds in these days help us to get cleaner and closer to our God, who is Holy.
Let us begin this Great time of Grace with humility and deep faith.
God Bless us all through out this Lenten Season!

--Thomas KalathilAsh Wednesday – 2014 – A

Sermon thoughts- 8th Sunday in Ordinary time- A – Mt 6, 24-34

The following joke is known for many of us.
A man comes to the Pastor with the wish to baptize his dog.
The Pastor replied: “That's impossible.”
Then the man said: “Pastor, my dog is like a family member and he makes a bow (of reverence) when he pass the church. In addition, I also put 10,000 euros for the sunday collection.”
The Pastor thought for a moment and said:
“Well, if the dog is so devout and a “christian”, then it's okay:
But please keep it as secret.”
The dog was baptized, but the man must of course tell this everyone.
The Bishop also learns this news and rang the Pastor:
“Brother, are you mad, to baptize a dog?”
The Pastor explained everything with calmness and said:
“His Excellency,
the dog is so devout. He makes a bow to the most holy sacrament, when he pass the church. In addition to that, the man has given 10000 Euro for the sunday collection”.
Immediately came the question from the Bishop:
“And when is the Confirmation?”...

It is just a peace of humor and has got no personal reference:
But I wanted to say that we humans have certain inclination towards money. Of course, some bishops, priests and nuns have this tendency - they are also human beings.
But they are not an exception; there are also politicians, businessmen and many others who have this weakness...

Money is not bad in itself. We need it for our life. We need it to support others. We need it for our well-being.
If wealth is so good, why Jesus says, “You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Mammon means money and has Aramaic, Latin and Greek origin.)
For this reason, many of us may wonder and ask:
Is Jesus warning us against the money and wealth?


--Thomas Kalathil
Sermon thoughts- 8th Sunday in Ordinary time- A – Mt 6, 24-34

7th Sunday in Ordinarytime A – Mt 5, 38-48_Lev 19, 1-2.17-18

“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” We know this saying not only from the Bible but also in our school days, in history class. In the East there was a set of rules, called the Code of Hammurabi. This collection goes to (18th Century BC) Hammurabi who was the sixth king of the first Babylonian Dynasty. Rules such as “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” originates from this collection. But such rules were there even in ancient Rome (450BC): In the 'Twelve Tables laws' we read: “If a person has maimed another's limb, let there be retaliation in kind, unless he agrees to make compensation with him." (Lex talionis) (VIII, 2) (http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/12tables.html )
That was the 'justice' at that time. Today we have a different opinion. Justice is not only “to repay the same with the same” for us. It also has to observer the laws on human rights too.

With this background, we call the old laws brutal now....

--Thomas Kalathil7th Sunday in Ordinarytime A – Mt 5, 38-48_Lev 19, 1-2.17-18

6th Sunday in ordinary Time -A – Mt 5, 17-37

I think many of us have heard the following story:
It is about a criminal who was sentenced to death
but was set free by a mistake in the punctuation.
The story goes so: Finding the man a criminal, the judge gave the verdict, “Hang him, not leave him.”
But the staff typed the judgement thus:
“Hang him not. Leave him.”
Thus the criminal was set free.
See, a small misplace of a comma can change things radically.
The story tells us that.

In the Gospel we hear a sentence from Jesus.:
“Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will ....

--Thomas Kalathil6th Sunday in ordinary Time -A – Mt 5, 17-37

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time- A – Mt 5, 13-16, Jes 58, 7-10

“Habit makes the mistakes beautiful...”
This line is from a German poem ('Das Land der Hinkenden', 1769) by a German poet Christian Fuerchtegott Gellert (1715-1769).
And I think many of our experiences may admit it.

But experts say:
Habit can not make wrong things better or correct.
But becomes bearable with time.

Therefore: Almost any body can do anything wrong.
...

--Thomas Kalathil
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time- A – Mt 5, 13-16, Jes 58, 7-10

2nd February – Presentation of the Lord – A

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a feast full of theological themes such as, Purification of Mary, the poor sacrifice at temple, Jesus as a sacrifice and Light, Way and Messiah ...

Much more this reminds us on the Christmas events.
Then once again we see Jesus as a child in the hands of Mary and Joseph.
Yes, this celebration reminds us of Christmas and tells us
God keeps a certain line (mode) in his revelation.

--Thomas Kalathil
2nd February – Presentation of the Lord – A

3rd Sunday in ordinarytime – A – Mt 4, 12-23

Jesus begins his preaching only after John the Baptist was captured .
Today's Gospel tells about the beginning of Jesus' ministry in this way.
This may not be a great interesting detail,
but it is important and has the following reasons.

For although the two - John and Jesus, had the same goal, they had completely different methods of preaching.
John was a strict Prophet; Jesus was closer to people and a social type.
Had John and Jesus began to preach at the same time,
then they would put up the successors in confusion.

--Thomas Kalathil
3rd Sunday in ordinarytime – A – Mt 4, 12-23

Sermon thoughts – 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time–A– Is 49. 3.5-6_Joh 1, 29-34

We have (in India) a saying:
“Every Mountain has a valley.” This is a natural law.
But that can not be only reduced to a natural law but it also affects our faith. The readings of the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time tells it.

“You are my servant , Israel.” These words in Isaiah 49, 3 is a clear call that was known to the prophet. But as a servant he has no inferior feelings.
Because God follows that “he will show his glory thorugh” him.
It is a vocation of hope. This hope encourages the prophet to work further even if he found it “vain and useless”.


-- Thomas Kalathil
Sermon thoughts – 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time–A– Is 49. 3.5-6_Joh 1, 29-34

ആണ്ടുവട്ടത്തിലെ 2-)o ഞായര്‍ – Jes 49, 3.5-6, Joh 1, 29-34

നമ്മുടെ വിളിയെ സ്നേഹിച്ചു മഹത്വീകരിക്കാം...

ഏതൊരു കുന്നിനും ഒരു താഴ്വരയുണ്ടെന്നും ,
ഏതൊരു കയറ്റത്തിനും ഒരു ഇറക്കവുമുണ്ടെന്നും ,
അതൊരു പ്രകൃതിനിയമമാണെന്നും നമുക്ക്‌ അറിയാം.
ഇത് മനുഷ്യജീവിതത്തിനു മാത്രമല്ല അവന്റെ വിശ്വാസത്തിനും ബാധകമാണെന്നും ഇന്നത്തെ വായനകള്‍ , വിശേഷിച്ചു
ഒന്നാം വായനയും സുവിശേഷവും നമ്മെ അനുസ്മരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു .

“ഇസ്രായേലേ, നീ എന്റെ ദാസനാണ് " (ഏശയ്യ 49, 3) എന്ന സുവ്യക്തമായ
കര്‍ ത്താവിന്റെ വിളി പ്രവാചകന്‍ മനസ്സിലാക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. എന്നാല്‍ ദാസനെന്ന അവസ്ഥ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ തെല്ലും അലോസരപ്പെടുത്തുന്നില്ല .
കാരണം "നിന്നില്‍ ഞാന്‍ മഹത്വം പ്രാപിക്കും" എന്ന ദൈവീകവെളിപാട്‌ പ്രവാചകന്‍റെ പ്രത്യാശയായിരുന്നു.
ഈ പ്രത്യാശയുടെ ശക്തിയാകണം തന്‍റെ അധ്വാനം "വ്യര്‍ ത്ഥവും നിഷ്ഫലവുമായി " (49, 4) തോന്നിയിട്ടും അദ്ദേഹത്തെ തന്‍റെ വിളിയില്‍ ഉറപ്പിച്ചു നിറുത്തിയത്.
പ്രവാചകന്‍റെ ഈ നിലനില്‍ പ്പിന് ദൈവം അര്‍ ഹമായ പ്രതിഫലം നല്‍കുന്നുവെന്ന് തുടര്‍ ന്നുവരുന്ന വചനങ്ങള്‍ (49, 6) സാക് ഷ്യമാകുന്നു.

---തോമസ്‌ കളത്തില്‍



ആണ്ടുവട്ടത്തിലെ 2-)o ഞായര്‍ – Jes 49, 3.5-6, Joh 1, 29-34

Sermon thoughts – Baptism of the Lord – A

“By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?“: this was the question of the High Priest to Jesus as he taught in the temple. ( Mt 21: 23)

Had Jesus any authority ? What was his power?
These questions were and are up to date.
The readings on the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus may enlighten us a lot.

Of course Jesus, as a carpenter had no special authority to the people. But he was not only a poor craftsman. He had his deep knowledge in the Holy Scriptures and traditions and teachings of his people. He could prove it in his young age: “After three days they (Mary & Joseph) found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.“ ( Lk 2 , 46)

That was just an example to his intellectual power.
But Jesus had a spiritual power. For he was the Son of God.
“This is my beloved Son,with whom I am well pleased “ (Mt 3, 17).
Yes indeed, Jesus the Son of God inherited the power of God. He believed in it. His Baptism is a confirmation of this Divine Authority.

-- Thomas Kalathil
Sermon thoughts – Baptism of the Lord – A

Epiphany – 2014

We mostly call the 3 “gentlemen” in Matthew 2 as Kings. But the Holy Bible calls them as “Wise Men”. This comes from the Greek root >> MÁGOI < < and this corresponds to a group who were members of the Persian Priests. They were specialists in Astrology and Stars. I too prefer for the word “Wise Men” and I have some reasons for that belief. Some one who looks for Knowledge will be basically a seeker. Their hunger and thirst for the new information cannot be unquenched.
-- Thomas Kalathil
Epiphany – 2014

Sermon Thoughts- 2nd Sunday after Christmas-A- Sir 24, 1-2.8-12_Eph 1, 3-6.15-18_Joh 1, 1-18

Ask any priest, nun and other pastor what their
Life's mission is, many will answer: “We need to make God visible”.

Many of us have heard today's Gospel from John at least 3 times in this week.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

--Thomas Kalathil
Sermon Thoughts- 2nd Sunday after Christmas-A- Sir 24, 1-2.8-12_Eph 1, 3-6.15-18_Joh 1, 1-18