17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

 

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

INTRODUCTION

Dear brothers and sisters, two significant questions arise from the readings of the day: What is invaluable and indispensable ; how to attain and sustain it. Thus, Today’s readings drive our attention to the fact that if there is anything that we should consider  invaluable and indispensable most in this life it must be God because He is that Eternal Wisdom that was revealed to Solomon;  He is the Eternal Treasure and Pearl that fills the hearts of those who encounter him with an inexplicable joy.

The readings are thus meant to help us retrace our steps and to reinvest our energies to searching for God, attain Him and to be ready to lose ourselves for Him in order to sustain Him. Because when we consider something invaluable, we spend our time and energy to pursue it no matter the amount of hurdles on the way, we face, we withstand and we achieve. So, What can we give up today as an exchange for God? This is the question particularly that requires a sincere response from each one of us.

1. The Element of Surprise:

“Ask something of Me and I will give it to you.” This was a surprise request from God to King Solomon God which the king had not expected. Even Jesus said, Ask and It will be given to you.  Thus God revealed himself as a caring father who is ready to give from his infinite riches to his children. This was in fact to fulfil the promise made to David by God. On the other hand Solomon too surprised God with the type of request he made. He requested for wisdom which he considered primary.

In the Gospel, we are presented with the parables of the buried treasure and that of the costly pearl. Jesus elsewhere said, Seek and you will find it. In the first parable  The treasure stumbled upon, it was a moment of great opportunity, while the pearl was discovered through a lengthy search, referring to the fruit of one’s hard labour; but in both instances, the farmer and the Merchant were filled with Surprise as well as joy.  Whether the opportunity comes, because of our Parents (in the case of Solomon), or unplanned opportunity or as the result of one’s effort. Life is full of surprises, we never know God can surprise us through different means.

2. The Will to Sacrifice:

When Solomon says, “Give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to distinguish right from wrong,” he does not ask for strength, nor for riches, nor for a good life for himself, nor for triumph over his enemies.  Instead, King Solomon seeks wisdom, a capable mind to be Just and understanding in order to serve the people.

The two finders in the Gospel, there was no second thought in them. They immediately perceived the incomparable value of what they found and resolved to lose everything  to acquire them. But why would Solomon not ask for riches and strength and why would farmer and merchant need to sell everything? As St. Augustine said, What counts is that one must lose something in order to have it. The scriptures tell us that when one truly comes in contact with the richness and beauty in God, he will certainly start anew by renouncing the old self and emptying whatever false treasure he had been living with; the things that are incompatible with the new life. Yes, when we discover Jesus and his vision of life, everything else becomes secondary.

This is exactly what St. Paul meant when he said: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as nothing, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). Therefore, King Solomon, the farmer and the merchant tell us one thing, that we need to be aware of what is invaluable and primary in our life and family, and be ready to lose all other secondary, unnecessary appliances that burden us.

3. The Sublime Joy:

We see dear brothers and sisters, God blessed Solomon beyond limits, with an unlimited blessing. Along with the gift of wisdom, he was blessed with riches, strength and peace in the kingdom and with other foreign kingdoms. His reign was considered a golden age and unprecedented prosperity for the nation of Israel.

The farmer and the merchant, both were filled with deep-seated joy that spurred their subsequent actions. They are overwhelmed that they have discovered what he was looking for.

Jesus is that Eternal Wisdom, Treasure and the Pearl whoever possesses him, will subsequently possess the eternal Joy and richness of blessings .

Dear Brothers and sisters,  Some of us might find God through miraculous events in our life, like the treasure stumbled upon by the farmer. There are others who have to go through nights of labour like Peter in Luke chapter 5, passing through rough experiences of life until we finally encounter him at the dawn of the day, similar to the lengthy search by the merchant.

However, we are chasing false treasures such as money, status or pleasure, and often, we are locked into regrets over the past, or focused too much on the future. As a result, the enriching present passes us by, and the treasure is never discovered. Thus, the really valuable pearl of life, family, present moment and God above all is not found. Therefore, we need to have a heart to sacrifice, but Jesus is not asking us of an extraordinary thing. No! He is only concerned with that particular thing; that false treasure we hold high esteem needs to be eliminated. Jesus tells us today that we’ve got to exchange them for God because they are the things that render us ‘scrabs’ in the net of God instead of good fish.

Let us always remember that Heaven, the Blessing, the love of God, the wisdom, treasure and the pearl is within the reach of all of us, as the second reading puts it   “all things work for good for those who love God.” Let us use our time and energies to go in search of that treasure and help others in their search.

 

 FR. JAYARAJU MANTHENA OCD

 

 

 

 

 

 

SISXTEENTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

Wisdom 12:13,16-19, Romans 8:26-27, Matthew 13:24-43

Br. Subhash O.C.D

 

First Reading: God has shown himself to be a God of justice and mercy.

Committing sin and mistake again and again is humanness, being merciful and forgiving is Godhood (divineness or godliness).

The first reading explains that, God is just and a merciful father, he treats every one equally. He provides all of us with the opportunity to be saved. And when some one doubts the power of God, god's power is shown to the people in different ways. God has the power or authority to condemn, but he still bears us patiently.

Vs. 19. we, see god waits for his people to repent and he forgives them. So also God desires his good people to forgive one another as he did. He desires his people live in righteous ness. He invites us to possess the qualities of God like mercy and forgiveness.

Those who do good are the children of God and those who do bad are the children of Evil.

Therefore God ask us to be his good children.

 

Responsorial Psalm:

Psalm 86:5-6,9-10,15-16 :  It is A prayer to God for mercy.

 

Second Reading : The Spirit intercedes for us with God.

By nature human beings are  fragile, weak, fall towards sin easily. Because we often fall in to the trap of sin, we fail to love our brethren, we fail to forgive others, we fail to be merciful towards the other in their need.

But st. Paul says that the spirit comes to aid and do the needful to all those are week . The spirit is within us, appealing to the Father on our behalf and enables us to call God Abba Father. Therefore Paul tells  that as humans we do struggle against the flesh, with our desires and selfish attitudes.  The spirit indeed groans within us as we pray to our Father through Jesus.  And God the Father answers us or grants us what ever we ask in prayer through Jesus Christ.

Gospel

This gospel reading is a continuation of the last Sunday’s  Jesus’ discourse to the crowds and disciples .

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks three parables to explain about the Kingdom of Heaven. He also explains why he speaks to the crowds in parables and interprets the parable of the sower for the disciples. In three parables the common concept is “the Kingdom of Heaven”. The first parable speaks that the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to the sower (God). And land is compared to the world, and the good seeds are compared to the wheat(children of God) and the  bad seeds are compared to the weeds(children of evil). the enemy is (evil).

Here, did the sower sow the weeds?

No. But an enemy has done that out of jealousy.

Did God create bad people?

No. But it is evil who tempts the people, or attracts the people, by projecting as though it is good.

Why do people tend towards evil, because

-evil is tasty

-evil tempts

-evil attracts

-evil pretends to be good.

The evil tempts human, in the form of pleasures, power, riches or wealth, etc.

However, the wheat and weeds grow together and they will not be realized till the time of collecting the crops. Same way the good people (children of God) and bad people (children of evil) live together in the world. And will not be realized what is good and evil until the final judgment.

The sower is patient enough till the end. To separate wheat and weeds. So also God is so patient he waits for bad people to become good. And on the day of judgement he separates good and the bad. The good people become the children of God, and they inherit the kingdom of heaven. And the bad people children of evil, will inherit the eternal fire.

The second parable explains to us that kingdom of God is like mustard seed, which becomes a huge tree and becomes a shelter for the birds of the air. Beginning the faith of Christianity may be  small but later it increases and many people, cultures, and nations, reflecting God’s plan for the people will realize that god’s Kingdome is something different than what we expect and imagine. In Gods kingdom full of mercy and compassion.

Purposely the enemy comes to destroy while we are in asleep and sows the weeds in the field. That means we must be awake, or be aware of the evil that is around us. As st. Peter said in his letters “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8).

So this parable teaches us to be perciver in our prayer. With out failing becaue the devil may miss guide us.

The third parable teaches us that we must be like yeast, in the families and in the societies, spreading God’s love and mercy or sharing goodness to other.We also should expand God’s kingdome on earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourteenth Ordinary Sunday

FOURTEENTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

Zechariah 9: 9-10, 

Romans 8: 9, 11-13, 

Mathew 11: 25-30

                                 Br. Subhash O.C.D

The First Reading: The Messianic Declaration: The King of Peace Comes to Reign

Babylon captured the Hebrews and took them to their home land as slaves, where the people of the Lord lived in exile. The history says that God did allow the Babylonians to invade, conquer and destroy the southern kingdom, including its capital Jerusalem (587 BC). Because people have forgotten the Lord and his great deeds, so in order to bring them back he did punish the Hebrews. And many Judahites and the Benjamites were taken to Babylon.

But eventually God in his mercy remembering his oath to David and his ancestors, he used the Medes and Persians to conquer the Babylon so that the Hebrews may return to their home (538 BC).

After this exile there was no king in both the kingdoms, although the Israelites were independent, the Mede- Persians Greece and Romans had the major powers. During this time

Prophet Zechariah proclaims the word of God. To the people of Israel.

Prophet Zechariah is contemporary to the prophet Haggai. Both of them encouraged the Israelites to rebuilt the temple.

So, the first reading is the messianic prophecy. Where prophet Zechariah announces to the despair people of Israel. And the lord promised that he would protect his people. And he is going to come or establish his kingdom among men. A spiritual kingdom a deliverance and salvation of the Jews or Hebrews which was typical redemption by Jesus Christ.

We see vs. 9. God declaring joy to the people of Zion and Jerusalem. Also, the establishment of his kingdom among men. A kingdom peace, not of authority and power. We also notice that the king comes riding on donkey. Here the donkey was thought of as a lowly beast or animal. And great and important men rode them.

 Jair, the seventh judge of Israel (1126 – 1104 B.C.), succeeded Tola, who ruled Israel for 23 years until his death. He had thirty sons who rode thirty ass colts or donkeys and controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which were called Havvoth Jair.

 Great king Solomon 1kings 1: 33,

 The sons of king David mounted their mules and fled 2 Samuel 13: 29,

 Absalom rode upon a mule, 18: 9.

Here the donkey is referred to meek and lowly. The king who come on it is the king of establishes peace on earth.

Vs 10. He will cut of the chariots; chariots symbolize the power and authority. So, cutting of chariots means destroys the power and authority.

Throw off the horses; horses’ symbol of readiness to fight or to wage war. Now God says that he would throw off the horses that means no war, the enmity is destroyed.

Battle is cut of God says; usually battle is the symbol of war and bloodshed and death and enmity. Now God says he cuts of battle, which means peace is declared, no bloodshed, no death, no enmity.

Gospel

Vs. 25-27. In this verse we see Jesus praises his Father. Which shows the relationship between the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Also, the words like “these things” (refers to the mission of Jesus), “the wise” (the Rabbis and wise men of Israel, the pharisees and Scribes, because they rejected the son of man) “little children” this does not mean that Jesus is referring to age or to new-born children. But he is referring to the meek and humble people, the simple people we accepted Jesus as the Messiah, as the son of God.

Jesus is referring to the people all who trust in God alone, who depend on God, who are simple like child, meek and humble. (blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth Mt: 5:5).

The great learned men did not welcome Jesus but the simple people welcomed and accepted him.

Jesus tells the Jews who are in power and authority, and to those who reject Christ as the son of God, they rejected the works of Jesus that he did on the sabbath day.

For what use if people may be wise as Solomon but if they have no simplicity, innocence, trust, child like heart they reject God like the Jews. Because the Jews and the Rabbis rejected Jesus. That is why Jesus is condemning their attitude and intellectual pride and power.

Vs 28-30 these words to the desperate people who trying to find God. For those people who are weary and despair in their lives. Promising rest and peace.

Jesus says “come to me I will give you rest”. It is an invitation for all who are exhausted in search of rest, peace, consolation, love, joy and etc.

 St. Augustine says; “my heart is restless until it rests in you”.

Here we need to aware that the Jews religion is full of rules and regulations according to their convenience. The authorities over burden the simple people and even they don’t put their finger to help them, such was the cruel situation of the Jews authorities.

They ask over taxes from the people, they don’t take care of the poor people, they object Jesus who gives life on the sabbath days or heals on the sabbath days. They reject good, instead of doing good.

Now Jesus invites people saying come to me I give rest, carry my yoke, my burden is light.

What does it mean the law of Jews was over burden, because of above mentioned things. The law of taking revenge, we this in Exodus 21, the concept of reciprocal justice, the social equals; “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe”.

But Jesus law is love enemy and pray for them. Jesus carried the yoke of humiliation, suffering, cross and death. This was a burden of love, which is easier for the loved ones. That is why if we love, then we don’t feel it heavy or burden.

Second Reading

We see St. Paul saying that the spirit of the Lord is in us. Therefore, we are no more slaves for sin, for flesh. But we should live by the spirit of the Lord.

Vs. 13 we see that “if you live according to the Flesh you will die, in spirit also. But if you live in spirit of Christ, though we die, we live.

Whoever does not live by the spirit of Christ, does not belong to Christ. That is St. Paul also says “we are the temple of the Lord; our bodies are the dwellings of the Spirit of the Lord.”

So, Christ lives in us. Therefore, God also lives in us. Therefore, we belong to God and we belong to Jesus Christ.

So we need to live like Christ. Sharing his love to one another.

THIRTEENTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

 

                           

THIRTEENTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

GOD’S (DIVINE) PRESENCE BRINGS BLESSINGS

2 kings 4;8-11,14-16, Rom 6:3-4, 8-11, Mathew 10: 37-42

Bro. Subhash O. C. D

First reading

In the first reading we have the account of prophet Elisha [the man of god] doing a wonder or blessing the Shunammite woman, because she welcomed the prophet of God, and payed attention to him, invited him with cheerful heart for she found in him the divine presence for she even say’s to her husband that ‘he is a holy man of God “let us make a small roof and put a bed, table, a chair and lamp”. They considered the prophet as a family member. because he used eat in that house whenever he passed the way. She fulfilled all the needs of the prophet at the end of the passage we see prophet blessing the woman that she will bear son in due time for even she did not ask for it.

       In this passage there are two important things that we need to understand.

Firstly, generous and intense hospitality towards god’s people or servant of god.

Because; -we notice from that woman

               - Invitation

               - Generous sharing

               -Hospitality

              – A quest for divine presence.

Secondly Prophet becomes a blessing or God blessed the woman for child through the prophet. Here the prophet became a grace.

Example

·                Abraham and Sarah welcomed the angels sent by god and gave hospitality and they were blessed with a child.

·                lot welcomed the angel and their family was rescued.

·                Zarephath widow well treated prophet Elijah and she also received blessings from the prophet.

 

Second reading

St. Paul tells us that Christ is grace for us. Through Christ we are welcomed as children of God.

St. Paul says Christ is Grace because we are dead in sinfulness. But through baptism we are reborn for eternity. We hear about baptism in the second reading. What happens through baptism. Through baptism we welcome the Holy Spirit, God’s presence to wash us from our sinfulness. There by God also welcomes us or embraces us to be his children. Through baptism we leave the state of sinfulness, and it is a welcome for the new life in Christ. Christ is grace for us because through his death we are dead to sin and through his resurrection we are alive to God, and a life in eternity.

We also see in Romans 8: 2 that for the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Gospel

When Jesus says these words that “who ever welcomes you, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me”.

“whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

It means whoever welcomes God, they are rewarded.

Why Jesus uses these words?

Because the some of the Jews who are proud thinking that they are God’s chosen people, theirs is the kingdom of God. They do not accept Christ as the Son of God. They reject Christ and his teachings. They are neglect and indifferent to Christ.

They only read the law but they do not practice the law. They only love God but they hate and reject and failed to the poor neighbors.

That is why Jesus is telling to the disciples that if they welcome you, they welcome me, and my father. If they treat you well, they are treating me and my father. And they are rewarded. 

Example:

·                Zacchaeus welcomed Christ, gave hospitality. And Christ blessed him and said he is saved.

·                Even the centurion welcomed Christ, just a word of Christ healed the servant of centurion.

·                Peter also welcomed Jesus for a meal. And Jesus cured peter’s mother-in-law from her sickness and she began to serve the Lord.

So, in all these cases the encounter with divine presence made difference in the lives of the people.

So also happens to us when we welcome Christ into our lives and families, he makes difference.

Another important thing we need to notice that in three readings, God’s servant becomes the mediator of Grace of God or the blessings of the Lord.

In the first reading prophet Elisha was the channel for the Grace of God, in the second reading Paul says Christ is the Grace of God in whom we have the eternal life or a new life. In the Gospel the disciples are the means of Gods grace to the people of God.

Therefore, the servants of God also must live like prophet holy and should have divinity. So that the people who witness they may also proclaim like that of Shunammite woman that she found God in prophet. Servants of God should become the channels of Grace to the people.

We in today’s Gospel in the beginning words that 37. “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me”.

Priests and consecrated men and women they sacrifice their lives for the glory of God, to spread the good news to the people. They leave their parents and family, friends, relatives, and they get trained for 14 and 15 years for a special purpose, and they are anointed by God. Just to be a Grace for the entire people of God, and to be a blessing for the nations.

Finally, the three readings tell us that “whoever receives or welcomes the servants of God with whole heart, and generous in dealing with them. God blesses them abundantly before they ask.

Therefore, my dear friends let us not neglect and be indifferent towards the consecrated men and women, who come to serve as mediators of God.

 

TWELFTH ORDINARY SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Jer 20:10-13, Rom 5: 12-15, Mt 10:26-33

Bro. Subhash O.C.D

 

The readings of the day invites us to be a testimony to the truth. Also the readingspotray to us that God never leaves his faithful servents in their struggles.

The first reading is takenfrom Jeremiah. It  is called as psalm of lamentation or poem of lametation, when he was rejected by his own people. Jeremiah was active as a prophet from the thirteenth year of Josiah, king of Judah 626 BC, until after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon’s Temple in 587 BC. This period spanned the reigns of five kings of Judah: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.

Jeremiah proclaimed the word of God to these kings of judah and the preist and the disobedient people of God. That they have forgotten the God who brought and saved them from the land of slavary, they have forgotten the God who stood by them in their struggles and misfortunes.

Jeremiah confronted them for their idolatry, unfairbusiness, for rejecting the poor and weak and for forgetting the commands  and responsibilities of the Lord.

For this reason jeremiah was rejected, persecuted by his own people. Pashur one of the priests of  the Judea tries to kill the prophet jeremiah for his heroic confrontation during the time of king Jehoiakim.

So the first reading is taken from this context, where jeremiah feels he is abandoned and the lord left him to the enimies to destroy Jeremiah. Now jeremiah makes a poem of lamentation to God that

l  7.You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. 8.Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. 9. But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,”his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. 10. I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!”All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.”

At the end Jeremiah realizes God does not leave him but rather God is with him like a warrior to take venegence against evil. He never lets down his faithful servent Jeremiah.

Jeremiah preached conversion to the people of Judah; but they did not obey or listen to the prophet then the destruction took place. The theology of the book of Jeremiah teaches us that, the obedience to God brings blessings and dissobedience brings curses and destruction

So, the first reading tells us to understand that, God never leaves his faithful servant and if obey him, we receive blessings.

Second Reading:

In the second reading Paul presents to us two figures. Adam and Jesus.

Through Adam’s dissobedience and sin the humanity inherited the sin and death.

But through Jesus (the New Adam0 and his obedience and sacrifice the  humanity inherited the newlife, an eternal life in christ and he made us children of God.

So now what do Paul wants to teach us, comparing Adam and Jesus?

He wants to tell us that, if we live like disobedient children like Adam we inherit sin and death. But if we live like like Christ and accept and believe him, we become obedient children like christ and we receive blessing of newlife in christ.

Gospel:

The Gospel is an account of Jesus instructions to his disciple, that how they must be brave and firm in faith like jesus in their ministry. Because  while they preach the kindom of God they may be rejected by men, torture or try to kill them.

In the Gospel we come across two important things. That are;

Firstly God receives who ever receives Christ. And God rejects whoever rejects Christ and Christ also rejects them.

Secondly Jesus assures them that he will not leave  them. Saying do not fear for those will kill your body but fear God has power to give you life, who has power even to kill body and soul. Do not be frightend on your mission for those persecute you, reject  you, trouble you. But never turn back, be firm in your fiath, stand for truth. For I am with you he says.

Jesus is asking his disciples to live in the light that means so far, the truth was tought in darkness and they were living in hiding, therefore, now bravely and boldly come to the light to proclaim the Good News of the Lord.

Before that we should remember that Mathew  writtes this Gospel to the Jewish people, because the Jewes reject Jesus so also they may reject his disciples and torture them to death.

Prov 9:10 says, fear of the lord is the beggininng of the wisdome.

Psalm 130:2 says, for fear and devotion to you saves us from your wrath.

Jesus also says to his disciples “do not fear” for several times, like, when the disciples were tossed by the waves, when the disciples were scared to preach about Jesus after the death of jesus, they feared that they would die but Jesus says to them fear not  for I am with you.

When we analyse the readings of the day, we understand that,

Jeremiah stood for truth, he was targeted, Jesus came to proclaim the truth, but his own people rejected him and crusified him. Example like John the baptist confronted the evil done by king Herod and his head was taken away from his neck. Like wise apostles and the holy men and women were thretend and even some died for truth.

So also in the journy of our family life or in our ministry, religious life, or consecrated life, in any feiled we also enocouter the same kind of faith  tests or struggles but we should not lose our faith like prophet Jeremiah like Jesus.

Resurrection of the Lord

Resurrection of the Lord

Acts of the Apostles 10: 34,37-43

Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

John 20:1-9

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Resurrection is the greatest feast of our faith because our christian life is formed on the basis of Resurrection and our faith is deeply rooted and finds its meaning in the Resurrection. Resurrection is important because:

1. Resurrection is the basis of our faith: because in the beginning the only teaching of Apostles was the Resurrection. That's why St. Paul says if Christ is not risen, our preaching and faith is in vain. The resurrection proves that Jesus is God. Jesus is the lord, he is risen.
2. Resurrection is a victory

• It is victory over death, because death could not contain Jesus, death has no authority over Jesus
• It is a victory over Sins, because sins could not separate him from God the Father and washed away all the sins away through his blood and death.
• It is a victory over satan, because through obedience Jesus defeated the satan tricks and the disobedience of man.

1. Resurrection is a Fact : it is a historical and faith event. In the Gospel, we have proof of an empty tomb and the disciples’s experience as a sign of the Resurrection of Jesus. They saw, they understood and they believed. Until then, they failed to understand his words and the scriptures but now everything is clear to them.
2. Resurrection is a moment of total change : In The first reading we see Peter proclaiming and sharing his individual relationship and experience of knowing Jesus. The disciples, who once feared, lied and scattered, suddenly became courageous and now filled with joy, with conviction began to bear witness to Jesus who died on the Cross and is now alive, risen from the dead. In the second Reading also, St. Paul who persecuted Christians had an experience of Risen Jesus, this experience brought about a total change in St. Paul’s life. It gave him a new life and a new mission. We see he becomes a great apostle using all his time and energy to share and help others to know, love and follow Jesus the Risen Lord. Resurrection filled them with Joy and Courage in their lives.
3. Resurrection guarantees an everlasting hope and resurrection : Jesus defeated death and rose victoriously, and he already said I am the resurrection and the Life, this way Jesus assures us that all our worries, pains, sorrows and fears will vanish one day because we will also be resurrection to be in his presence.

Dear brothers and sisters, Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and St. Paul all have seen, understood, believed and began to proclaim that “I have seen the Lord”. This is what evangelisation is all about, sharing the experience of having seen the lord and inviting them to have the same experience. Today, we have a mission to share our joy of resurrection, the real presence of Jesus, to bring hope and encouragement to the world, to bring change and transformation in the lives of the people. And to prepare everyone teaching the path of Jesus for that day of our reunion with our almighty God.

Fr. Jayaraju Manthena OCD

 

ఏడవ పదం

"అది ఇంచుమించు మధ్యాహ్న సమయము. సూర్యుడు అదృస్యుడాయెను. మూడు గంటల వరకు దేశమంతటా చీకటి క్రమమును. దేవాలయపు తేరా నడిమికి చినిగెను. అపుడు యేసు బిగ్గరగా, "తండ్రీ! నా ఆత్మను నీ చేతికి అప్పగించుచున్నాను. అని పలికి ప్రాణము విడిచెను." (లూకా 23:44-46)

రక్షకుని వేదన మరియు బాధలు అంతం అవుతున్నాయి, అతను ఘోరమైన శారీరక, మానసిక బాధలను భరించాడు, అతను క్షమించమని ప్రార్థించాడు, స్వర్గపు గొప్ప అనుగ్రహాన్ని ప్రసాదించాడు, మనకు తన స్వంత తల్లిని ఇచ్చాడు, మన ఆత్మల కోసం దాహంతో, తండ్రీ దేవుని ఎడబాటుని అనుభవించి, సమాప్తమైంది అని ప్రశాంతంగా ప్రకటించి, చివరకు, యేసు మహిమాన్వితంగా తల వంచి తన ఆత్మను తండ్రికి అప్పగించారు. ఇది మనందరికీ ఉజ్వల భవిష్యత్తును తెరిచేందుకు  అద్భుతమైన మరియు ఆశీర్వాద క్షణం. ఇది త్రిత్వైక సర్వేశ్వరుని  ఐక్యత వైపు చూపుతుంది మరియు ఆ ఐక్యతలో మనము కూడా బాగస్తులం అనే ఆశను, అవకాశాన్ని తెలియచేస్తుంది.

 

దేవాలయపు తెర చినుగుట

ఈ సందర్భంలో దాని అర్థం మరియు ప్రాముఖ్యత ఏమిటి:

●     క్రీస్తు యొక్క వెలుగు ద్వారా చీకటి శక్తులు ఓడిపోయాయి అని

●     క్రీస్తు యొక్క విజయం ద్వారా మరణపు శక్తి ఓడిపోయింది అని

●     క్రీస్తు యొక్క దైవత్వం ద్వారా దుష్ట శక్తులు ఓడిపోయాయి అని సూచిస్తుంది.

క్రీస్తు విమోచన ద్వారా దేవుడు మరియు ప్రజల మధ్య సంపూర్ణ మార్గం తెరవబడింది మరియు ఇది అన్ని దేశాల ప్రజలందరికీ దేవుని దయ ప్రవాహం ప్రసరిస్తుంది.

 

ఈ పదాలు కీర్తన 31:5 నుండి మెస్సయా గూర్చి ఉన్న ప్రవచనం, ఇది తండ్రికి ఆత్మవిశ్వాసంతో లొంగిపోవడాన్ని తెలియజేస్తుంది.

1. సంతోషకరమైన బాంధవ్యము

అన్నింటిలో మొదటిది, ఈ పదం తండ్రి అయిన దేవునితో గల  సంబంధం యొక్క ఆనందాన్ని వ్యక్తపరుస్తుంది. పాపం మరియు బాధల బరువు కోసం యేసునీ  ఒక క్షణం విడిపోయినప్పటికీ, ఇప్పుడు ఆ సమయం ముగిసింది. తండ్రి ఎప్పుడూ తనతో ఉంటాడని యేసుకు తెలుసు. మన పరిస్థితి ఎలా ఉన్నా దేవుడు మనకు ప్రత్యక్షంగా ఉన్నాడు. ఈ మాట ద్వారా యేసు వ్యక్తం చేసిన సంతోషం ఇదే.

2. విశ్వాసం మరియు నమ్మకం వ్యక్తపరిచే  పదం

రెండవది, "నేను అప్పగిస్తున్నాను" అని యేసు చెప్పినప్పుడు, ఎవరికైనా అప్పగించడం అంటే ఒకరి సంరక్షణ, రక్షణ మరియు శ్రేయస్సు మరొకరి చేతిలో ఉంచబడిందని సూచిస్తుంది. మరొక వ్యక్తిపై నమ్మకం ఉన్నప్పుడు ఇది జరుగుతుంది. కాబట్టి యేసు తన ఆత్మను అప్పగించడం ద్వారా తన తండ్రిపై తనకున్న నమ్మకాన్ని మరియు తండ్రి యొక్క శాశ్వతమైన ప్రేమాస్తాలకు  తన విధిని తెలియజేస్తాడు.

3. పునఃకలయిక(సమర్పణ, మరల కలుసుకొనుట)

చివరగా, యేసు త్రిత్వంలో భాగమైనప్పటికీ, శాశ్వతమైన  ప్రేమపూర్వక సంబంధాన్ని కలిగి ఉన్నపటికీ, అయితే అతను తనను తాను తగ్గించుకొని, తన మహిమను పక్కనపెట్టి మరియు తన చివరి శ్వాస వరకు కట్టుబడి, ఇప్పుడు తండ్రి చిత్తానికి పూర్తిగా కట్టుబడి మరియు నమ్మకంగా ఉండి, అతని చిత్తాన్ని పూర్తి చేసి, క్షమాపణ మరియు మోక్షాన్ని ప్రసాదించాడు. , యేసు తన ఆత్మను తన తండ్రి చేతికి అప్పగించి నమ్మకంగా తన ప్రాణ త్యాగమర్పణ చేస్తున్నారు. దీని ద్వారా మరల ఆ త్రిత్వంలో ఏకమౌతున్నారు.

 

మన జీవిత సాయంకాలం:

యేసు ఈ మాటలను నమ్మకంగా ప్రార్థించడం ద్వారా మరియు తన జీవితపు చివరి ప్రకటనగా తండ్రి అయిన దేవునిపై వీరోచిత విశ్వాసానికి గొప్ప నమూనాగా మిగిలిపోయాడు.

మరణానికి మించిన జీవితం తండ్రితో ఉందని అతనికి తెలుసు, కాబట్టి తండ్రితో జీవితాన్ని స్వీకరించడానికి ఈ మానవ జీవితాన్ని వదిలివేద్దాం.

మరణాన్ని ఎదుర్కొన్నప్పటికీ, యేసు స్వచ్ఛందంగా తన జీవితాన్ని విడిచిపెట్టాడు మరియు తండ్రితో సంబంధం కలిగి ఉన్న ఆనందాన్ని చూశాడు, తన ఆత్మను తండ్రికి అప్పగించాడు.

 

మనము యేసుతో ప్రార్థిద్దాం "తండ్రీ, నీ చేతికి నా ఆత్మను అప్పగించుచున్నాను"

 

 

The Seventh Word

" It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,  for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last." (Luke 23:44-46)

 

The agony and the sufferings of the Savior are coming to and end, he has endured physical, emotional sufferings beyond one can bear, he prayed for forgiveness,  granted a great privilege of heaven, gave us His own Mother, thirsted for our souls, experienced even separation from God the Father, having calmly declared the fulfilment of the will and finally, Jesus gloriously bows his head and hands over His spirit to the Father. This was a glorious and blessed moment because it opened a bright future for all of us. This points towards the unity of the Trinity and calls for union with the Trinity as the Crucifixion renders Hope to all.

Temple Curtain Torn

What is the meaning and significance of it in this context:

●     The power of darkness is defeated by Christ’s Light

●     The power of death defeated by Christ’s Victory

●     The power evil is defeated by Christ’s Divinity

An absolute pathway is opened between God and People through Christ’s redemption and also it signifies the outpouring of God’s mercy to all the people of all the nations.

 

These words are prophetic statements from  Psalm 31:5 which expresses the confident surrendering of oneself to the Father.

1. A Word of Joy of relationship

First of all the word expresses the joy of relationship with God the Father. Although Jesus for a moment experienced a separation for the weight of sin and suffering, now the time is over. Jesus knows that Father is always with him, no matter how the situation is, God is present to us.  This is the Joy expressed by Jesus through this word. 

2. A Word of Confidence and Trust

Secondly, when Jesus says “ I commend”, it means to entrust to someone signifies that the care, protection and well being of someone is kept in the hands of another. This can take place when there is trust in another person. So by commending His Spirit Jesus expresses His trust in his Father and his destiny to the Father's everlasting arms.

 

3. A Word of Surrender and Reunion

Finally, Jesus is part of the Trinity having a loving relationship for eternity however He humbled himself, set aside his glory and obeyed till his final breath and now having remained fully committed and faithful to Father’s will and completed His will,  granting forgiveness and salvation thus, Jesus dies confidently entrusting his spirit into the hands of his Father and is reuniting with the Father and The Spirit.  

At the evening of our life:

●     Jesus by praying these words confidently and as a final declaration of his life remains a great model of heroic faith in God the Father.

●     He is aware that there is life with the Father beyond death, so let’s go of this human life to embrace Life with Father.

●     Even in the face of death, Jesus voluntarily relinquished his life and witnessed the joy of relating with Father, entrusting his spirit to the Father.

Let us pray with Jesus "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit"

 

 FR. JAYARAJU MANTHENA OCD