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