Sermon thoughts – Maundy Thursday – Year A

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Thomas Kalathil

We remember the great incident – Passover in today’s liturgy:

it was the great work of Yahweh for his people – who were undergoing the Egyptian Slavery and cruelties.

We know Passover with out the great leader-figure of Moses is incomplete and impossible. It is he who gathered and guided those scattered people – according to the commands of God- together to the Promised Land.

Passover is not only this certain day of freedom. But it is enclosed with the various mighty works and wonders of Yahweh for the liberation of his people.

Yes, it is the celebration of the powerful victory of God: A victory not only over his “enemies” and “gentiles” but also on his own people. The great wonders were also somehow occasions to convince the wavering tribes of Israel.

The next figure close to Moses we see today, in the readings, is Jesus. We can say he is simply contrary to all the great wonders in the Old Testament. He is doing no great miracles to seize the audience. His works are simple and humble.

Washing of the foot was actually not a great service at all. It was the duty of a “slave” at that time.

Presiding over the table was also not something great in this context. Then Jesus had nothing to claim there. The meeting hall belongs to some one. We don’t know how they arranged the food. Any way we cannot expect a big financial support from Jesus for the same.

And to supply the bread and chalice was normally the duty of the eldest one in the family or in the group (if is a Passover-Meal). May be Jesus breaks the rule again for the last time?

There is in any matter nothing great to be claimed. But Jesus and his actions are commemorated at large than that of Moses or any other Old Testament figures. Why?

There is only one answer for it. Jesus did it with great love…

There is no God Figure who was so close to the man as Jesus was.

There is no God who was so down to earth to serve his fellow beings.

Yes, what he did was simple things, but the great streams of love towards his heavenly father and for the needy men and women surrounding him, made his works great. All his deeds were divinely sealed and they became lively and living to the generations. This power of love gave life to the dead, sight to the blind, strength to the weak and crippled, food for the hungry….

Passover of Jesus becomes great in this factor.

There are several theological and historical discussions regarding the day of the celebration, whether it was a Thursday or Wednesday, whether it was a normal gathering at table before the Passover feast or it was the Passover meal…

My dear friends, I would say, there is nothing serious at all.

It is not the day or the historical correctness that makes Jesus important in this world. It is his Mission and Vision.

His life and living message is important than any minor or major details and theological correctness.

Jesus is important for me and you, only because he loved the world so much as nobody loved. He loved not only his contemporary but his love leads to me and to you. It goes back to the history too. Then he was before “Abraham”. Yes, his love will go beyond time and space and cultures and languages.

Then his message is love and life.

He gives the message, that god is active and living. He is not a visitor on a Passover day. He is more than that a living experience in my life. He is living through my actions and words. The service of Jesus – washing of the foot and breaking the bread – to the disciples becomes a sign and symbol for my daily life. I am partaking in his Passover with my humble service to the humans- by opening the opportunities of caring and life-giving love.

Let us not miss the great chances of our life. They may be so simple and humble works. But let us do them with great love and dedication.

Let it change my life, my family, my community and my world:

That is the message of Jesus for me and you in this Passover.

Let the Angel of God pass over our lives.

Let him annihilate what is unnecessary in my life.

Let him replace a loving and caring heart and a God-trusting faith.

Let us not seek the special and extraordinary works, but fulfil our simple missions in love. May God bless us all with his love. Amen!

–

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – Palm Sunday – A

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Thomas Kalathil

We are entering in to the Holy Week. The seven days starting and ending in Celebrations and joy. “Hossana in the highest” – the crowd welcomed Jesus in Jerusalem with such expectation and pleasure.

Jesus is also enjoying the celebrations, not because he likes it; but he knows he is around his aim. He was like a pilgrim who, after a tiresome journey, comes to his end station.

We too experience this once in a while in our lives.

It can be the nearing of an expected holiday, or a pleasure trip, or some visits, or even the results of some exams….

Yes, one who is well prepared for it has no fear at all…

Jesus seems to be – no he was – well prepared. These days in Jerusalem and the Hossana and Crowd was not pleasure-giving one for Jesus, but his feeling, that the days are so near;

the days to show his great love and dedication for human –

even in their resignation and denials and betrays….

He was well prepared for the various experiences that are to come…

And the great achievement behind these days was his motivation.

These are days, actually, to rejoice in the Lord.

We should not be carried by emotions and feelings of Jesus death and sufferings. It is all there, but it only a part of his glory.

If we are remaining under the crosses and pains, it shows,

our lent is not yet fruitful at all.

Then the Holy week ends not in the crucifixion and grave.

But it leads to the resurrection.

Here in this Palm Sunday we are entering in to the mysteries of Jesus deeply.

It is guiding us from Joy to Joy through the sufferings.

It teaches the great natural truth: there is no joy without pain.

Let us praise Jesus not only with our lips but also with our hearts.

May these days lead us to the real joy in God. Amen!

Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – 5th Sunday in Lent (Jn. 11, 1-45)

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Thomas Kalathil

”There is no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends” –
We read in John 15, 13 and that was the life-conviction of Jesus.
From this conviction, Jesus speaks today, come “let us go to Judea.”
Jesus did anticipate more than his disciples, that the Jews wanted to stone him. He knew the expected risk in Judea.
But the friendship, the love for Lazarus and in particular the urge to complete his mission was stronger. He also knew he could not change his end.

Lazarus of Bethany was a good friend of Jesus. His illness and death is at first a personal worry for him then another instance to show the faith in God.
We see a certain repetition of the message that we have heard on the last Sunday too: Disease and death is no cause to complain against God or lose faith in Him, but are ways to glorify God. Such repeated activities of Jesus had only one goal. To male People especially his disciples vigilant on His mission and objectives!

We see faith – at least not on the side of Lazarus, but by his sisters. We can discuss whether their faith in Jesus, really strong or not strong was. Any how they had some trust in Jesus. Now Jesus accepts their trust and acknowledges them with his presence and then through his miracle.

My friends,
we experience every day different situations of trails and sorrows.
Some can separate us from God: some can bring us in doubt.
Today’s Gospel is surely a help for us, for such people who can no longer trust in God. It can help us to carry our heavy loads.

We need simply a trust or a deep friendly relationship with Him.
Our faith should be at least “as large” as a small mustard seed.
This can work wonderfully as the sisters of Lazarus enjoyed the fruits of their faith. Jesus surely recognizes that trust.

One sentence in this Gospel is important:
”Take away the stone” that is the only command of Jesus.
Yes, there are many stones in front of our relationship with God.
These hinder our faith.

Are we ready to discard them,
and then we come in contact with God.
Then we can listen His words.
Then we can come to His light and life.

”Lazarus miracle” has to happen in all people, in me and in you.

It is simply the friendly and lively meeting of God’s love and faith.
Such encounters of God will lead us to life.

If we confess Jesus as our guardian and guide and friend,
then we say that we are immortal … we are strong, we got the power.

Let us experience God closer and friendlier in this time of Lent.
God bless us all. Amen!
–
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – 4th Sunday in Lent – A – (John 9, 1 – 41)

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Thomas Kalathil

In the healing of the blind we hear the question: Who sinned?
To be sick by birth was a sign of God’s punishment in Judaism or generally in the eastern religions. Not only disease, but some unexpected “disasters” are also counted among them. And many believe that still.

Recently I have read, some Christians explaining the events in Japan – the tsunami and the nuclear disaster – or war and unrest in some countries in this manner. The suffering of many people is interpreted as God’s punishment and as a sign of the end of the world. Many are still looking for a cause – “who has sinned.”

Can it really be so? It is clear that mankind is doing much against the order of nature created by God. But is every disaster really coming from God? In know it’s certainly a complicated question.

One thing we can understand from today’s Gospel:
Jesus takes distance from such theories.
He is not going in search of the “cause”.
He teaches us to think and act – differently today.
For Jesus, disease or suffering is not an opportunity to separate people from God. But he understands their needs (especially the comfort of God, when people are denying it) and uses it as an occasion for the glorification of God.
God is not the cause of certain disease. But he can really heal them.
This is the teaching of Jesus.

Why are we looking again and again a “Scapegoat”?
The Jews celebrates a ritual every year- the Day of Atonement.
„And putting both hands upon his (goat’s) head, let him (Aaron) confess all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their offences and sins: and praying that they may light on his (goat’s) head, he (Aaron) shall turn him (goat) out, by a man ready for it, into the desert. “ So we read in book of Leviticus 16, 21.

Many are fashioned like this. I think here in the gospel, we see this mentality. Not only then but even today we often seek a “scapegoat”.
But the most important task is forgotten, that is shown by Jesus. Namely, we should help each other. They refused to do good. They refuse even a good action by Jesus. The neighbours and the Pharisees in the Gospel represent a certain kind of people, our world.

Jesus will bring the Good News.
The opposing opinions and criticism do not make him tired.
He seeks and finds God’s will.
Here it is the healing of blind man.
Therefore Jesus was a prophet for the healed Man, as Jesus was courageous. His logic is sound and correct, because he experienced Jesus and his salvation personally.

Jesus brings before us so many questions, especially during this Lent.

What do we do? What do we prevent?
Are our activities and thoughts positive and encouraging?
Do we strive to help people in need?
Or do we seek a “cause” for their suffering and we explain it as punishment from God – punishment for their lives?
Are we avoiding these people?

Lent is an invitation to be more and more human.
This is the Good News of Jesus for us.
In humanity, we recognize not only people but also our God, closer and deeper … as merciful Father … as the healer and Saviour.

Let’s try to be positive and helping in our thoughts and actions.
That should be our special goal in this 4th Week of Lent (Laetare).
This should give us the real “joy”.
May God the Father of Mercy bless us all and be close to us. Amen.
–
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon thoughts – 3rd Sunday in Lent – A – Joh 4, 4-42

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Thomas Kalathil

Jews and Samaritans had a common origin.

But they have hated each other.

Then, the biblical land Samaria is the result of the elimination of the 10 northern tribes of Israel by King David in 926 BC.

Omri, the king of the northern kingdom,

built the city of Samaria as the capital of the northern kingdom.

The Samaritans rejected the exclusive cult of the temple in Jerusalem and built their own places of sacrifice on Mount Gerizim.

We know from history:

Political problems can be solved in time

but religious rivalries remain unhealed and often fiery.

The Jews hated the Samaritans, like all other gentiles.

The following saying is clear evidence to it:

”The blood of the swine is cleaner than the water in Samaria”.

Jesus speaks with a woman in / from this city: that what is not quite normal: either for a Jew or for a Samaritan woman.

There are several theological reflections on this Samaritan woman.

It says she went to the well in an unusual time. The people in that territory remain normally at home because as it is so hot during the midday.

But this woman is out there: then she wanted not to be noted.

She was probably unpopular or expendable to the society?

Jesus comes to the conversation with her:

And he asks water from her too.

This early mentioned “dirty” water from the pagan source?

Now, what tells us this passage in this Lent?

Jesus was weary. But he is willing to help others.

This conversation with the Samaritan woman proves his human love and concern. Jesus knew she had “five husbands” – but in reality not much considered according the number. Jesus takes her situation seriously.

He promised her the “living water”.

The woman, at first sees in the beginning nothing special in Jesus.

Only a deep conversation moves her to faith.

She takes Jesus as some one “sent” as a prophet and then confesses as the “Anointed One” – the Messiah.

Then she announces this conviction in her city.

She herself is now the “ambassador” and the “disciple” of Jesus.

One who avoided the public has no more complexes and fears at all.

Then it is God who healed her.

Dear friends,

Lent asks us exactly this mind-setting and growth in us.

Jesus teaches that those who have a lot in their life, and thereby loses the most important thing, live not real life at all.

We see this growth in Jesus- especially along with the Sunday Gospels in the Lent time.

Then in the first Sunday we have seen, Jesus overcomes the temptations in the desert.

On the second Sunday, he overcomes one more “temptation”;

he avoids the glory and security up there on Mount Tabor.

He gets down from the mountain and faces his life.

He’s on the move. On the way Jesus meets the Samaritan woman:

Yes, my dear: Lent invites us all to action.

It invites us to come closer to God: come in to conversation with God.

In this relationship we can experience the “glory of God”.

There we recognize him as the Messenger and the Messiah of God.

This helps us to proclaim Him with our lives.

The Samaritan Woman enjoyed this special gift and she was blessed.

May God bless us too in the same way! Amen!

Fr Thomas Kalathil