PEACE BE WITH YOU Peace be with you One sentence that we hear repeated so often in the Eastertide is, “Peace be with you.” Every time Jesus appears to his apostles he greets them, “Shalom aleichem!” Earlier, in the course of his farewell address to his apostles before his passion and death, Jesus had told […]
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THE DIVINE MERCY Happy feast of Easter! Easter is the prototype of all Christian feasts. It is such a great event that one day of celebration does not suffice. We needed eight days of liturgical celebrations. Yes, today we conclude the Octave of Easter. On this 2nd Sunday of Easter, every year, we have the
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EASTER – ITS SYMBOLS EXPLAINED It is no easy task to put into words the sheer immensity of the Resurrection, therefore it is always easier to translate the Easter mystery into signs and symbols that are better understood by everyone. The first symbol used is THE VIGIL ITSELF; to spend the night praying waiting for
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Processional Gospel – Mark 11: 1-10 or John 12: 12-16 First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7 Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11 Gospel: Mark 14:1- 15:47 This Sunday is different in several ways. Today\’s liturgy has three parts: the remembrance of Jesus\’ entrance into Jerusalem, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In
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WE WANT TO SEE JESUS LIFTED HIGH Gospel Reading: Jn 12:20-33 When I read the gospel text of the 5th Sunday in Lent (Year B), I was reminded of a popular song, written by the children’s song-writer Doug Horley, that goes: We want to see Jesus lifted high, A banner that flies across the land,
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“God loved the world so much….” (Jn 1:12-15). The Gospel of John is often considered the most difficult of the Gospels – highly symbolic in its expression and deeply theological in its content. John likes to use terms with more than one meaning and thus invite us to a deeper level of reflection. For instance,
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“In three days I will raise it up.” (Gospel Reading – Jn 2:13-25) As we may well be aware, the Liturgy of the Word for Sundays in the Catholic liturgy is laid out in a three-year cycle. During Lent, the Year A cycle uses the Gospel of John, with passages particularly relevant for those who
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Going up the mountain: Learning to pray Gospel Reading – Mk 9: 2-10 The liturgy of the word of God for Sundays in Lent is very well thought-out and appropriately laid out. On the first Sunday of Lent, in all the three cycles, the central theme is temptations of Jesus. On the second Sunday of
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“God does not provide us with a roadmap, but only a compass.” (Gospel Reading – Mark 1:12-15) We say the Season of Lent lasts forty days, as the Latin word, ‘Quadragesima” suggests. When I was a young seminarian – skeptical as I was – I took the calendar and wanted to make sure for myself
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“Of course I want to! Be cured” (Mk 1:40-45): Effect of Encounter with Jesus – holistic wellbeing Here is a one-line summary of this reflection: The result of an authentic encounter with Jesus is a holistic wellbeing! Yes, I am convinced that a deep encounter with Jesus brings about a holistic wellbeing at the personal,
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