26th Ordinary Sunday

OBEY THE LORD

Obedience is one of the unpopular words in our modern culture but it is a non-negotiable of Christian life. The dominant theme of today’s Scripture Readings is to live a life by being obedient to the will of God. Obedience to God proves our love for Him, demonstrates our faithfulness to Him and opens avenues of blessings for us. According to St Thomas Aquinas, “Obedience unites us so closely to God that it transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His.” Being Christians we cannot settle for selective obedience. Rather, we are to obey all the commandments of God, not merely the convenient ones, and our obedience should be manifested both in words and actions. As we prepare to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, let us quietly listen to God with the desire of knowing His will for us and translate it into our life through loving obedience. For the times we have failed to discern His will and adhere to it let us ask His pardon and mercy.

Liturgical materials for 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uVmPlOzLKpU5qc-3bxpiXvP6V_Sv8ksi?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/qLtcMv2fS-c

25th Ordinary Sunday

GOD'S GENEROSITY

We all agree that we do not think or act as God thinks and acts for God’s ways are superior. The fact of the matter is that the higher ways and thoughts of God are not meant to subdue human beings or to gain superiority over them and control them. From what we read in today’s Readings it becomes clear that when God wants the wicked people to get away from their wicked and unrighteous ways, it is to help these people to repent and to turn away from their bad ways. When they do these forgiveness and pardon will follow them. When the owner of the vineyard representing God wishes to pay to the last worker as much as the one who worked the whole day, it shows the generosity of God who cares for the last worker as much as he cares for the first. The last man too needs a denarius to feed his family. What we need to learn is that we have a God whom we can trust, for He works for our benefit. Are we willing to change our outlook towards God who cares for us?

Liturgical materials for 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oYPtlZXwlL8fFdOin3YOyufcpU1iPEOv?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/1PcUmYZgi0Q

24th Ordinary Sunday

UNLIMITED FORGIVENESS

The liturgy of the Word deals with the theme of forgiveness. The First Reading states that anger and wrath are abominations; the measure in which we forgive others will be the measure that we experience the forgiveness of the Lord. Experience of healing in our lives too will depend upon our willingness to let go of the various hurts in our lives. The Second Reading reminds us to do everything including forgiveness by being conscious of the fact that we belong to the Lord. In answering the question asked by Peter in the Gospel, Jesus reiterates the need to forgive without conditions. Humans as we are, we have experienced hurt. We also have hurt others. Experience of forgiveness helps us to live our Christian life more meaningfully. When we forgive, we experience forgiveness from God and others. Let us feel sorry for the revenge and ill-feelings that we have nurtured in our hearts.

Liturgical materials for the 24th Ordinary Sunday.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/119tueHrR4ytGEOLrA987m4G3n-hqcWyF?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/lb59Ij1rlgo

23rd Ordinary Sunday

PRAY TOGETHER

Today’s liturgical Readings teach us that we are children of God, bound together in love. We are mutually responsible for the good of each other. The commandments of God are meant not only to help us live a harmonious social life but also to help and support one another in the bond of love. That is why all the commandments can be summarised into just one: love of God and love of neighbour. “Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law,” says St Paul. Mutual love, help and support also should include mutual and brotherly/sisterly correction. If a member of our community goes astray, the entire community is responsible because each one of us is a ‘watchman of the house of God’. On the contrary, if a member of our community does good and grows in holiness, the entire community is to have the credit. Let today’s Eucharistic celebration reinforce our sense of community and increase our responsibility towards one another.

Liturgical materials for the 23rd Ordinary Sunday.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19zrXvLfJEt5YRivzPm_zf2HqYQxgfhnA?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/ReDnrH4N1sY

Nativity of Mother Mary

CHOSEN BY GOD

The liturgy today commemorates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast, very important to popular piety, leads us to admire in Mary the Child, the purest dawn of the Redemption. We are contemplating a little girl like every other, yet at the same time the only one who was "blessed among women" (Lk 1: 42). Mary was the immaculate "Daughter of Zion", destined to become the Mother of the Messiah.” (St. Pope John Paul II)

To celebrate the Nativity of Mary is, in a very human way, to celebrate her birthday. And we all like to celebrate the anniversary of those we hold dear! ... Mary was born like all of us: she is the fruit of love between a man and a woman. She lived with her family and like every young girl of her time, she dreamed of marrying one day and form her own family. It would have been a completely normal life, anonymous, if she had not fully and freely accepted the will of her Lord. Mary - chosen by God to be the mother of His Son, incarnated for the salvation of mankind - welcomes His proposal, but not before questioning - what is proper to human nature - while being profoundly open to the path that the Father would show her.

Therefore, to celebrate the Nativity of Mary is to celebrate a fundamental mark in the History of Salvation. Essential element of this story, Mary is the link of connection between the Trinity and the humanity. Through her body, prepared by God without sin, Jesus comes into the world and fulfils His saving mystery.

May the Feast of the Nativity of Mary make us aware of this story so special, with grateful eyes to those who accepted to say YES and, thus, became the mother not only of Jesus, but of all mankind.

Sept. 8 - Nativity of BVM -

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/190xSqX9njSloY4XxRv5g7V8uPE6bXz2r?usp=sharing

Our Lady of Velankanni Song - https://youtu.be/-FMxZ5u_SEI

22nd Ordinary Sunday

FOLLOWING THROUGH SUFFERING

Prophet Jeremiah was a true patriot who loved his people and his country dearly and no one could doubt his loyalty. The prophet felt that God had not been fair to him and called him to be a prophet against his wishes. When he faithfully announced God’s message, the people mocked and cursed him and even his friends turned against him. In fact, Jeremiah was tempted to give up his work as a prophet but deep within himself, he felt a strong force urging him to go on with his work and felt Yahweh was by his side, like a mighty hero, giving him strength. The suffering of the Messiah and his death could not enter the mind of Peter or any Jew of his time. For them, the Messiah had to be victorious, always living and reigning. Jesus made known to his apostles three times that he would suffer and die and each time he took good care to add that he would rise again from the dead. Peter was shocked to hear his Master speaking about his own suffering and death, and he felt that it could not happen, and he was there to see to it that it would never take place. Only after the resurrection did the apostles understand the meaning of Jesus’ passion and death. Are we able to accept our daily suffering?

Liturgical materials for 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OvUvR9VSDo55TaLsYsdQvCsfLODghmP-?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/5a3j1hJTpfE