26th Ordinary Sunday

SETTING AN EXAMPLE

The liturgy of the Word of today strengthens the biblical maxim: do good and shun evil. In the First Reading Moses does not forbid Eldad and Medad from prophesying. Their only fault is that they are not joining others in the tent but doing their work from the camp. Though Moses is exhorted to stop them Moses does not do it but is happy about their work. In the Gospel Jesus does not want to stop a man from casting out demons in his name. Jesus says that if the man wants to do the good let him do it. Both these leaders want the good done on their behalf to be continued. Jesus even promises a reward for any good action done in his name. On the other hand, when it is a question of causing scandal and misleading the innocent, Jesus is uncompromising. He condemns with the strongest terms scandal-mongering, for he says if the eye causes one to sin it is better to pluck it out, similarly with the hand and the feet. In the Second Reading Saint James dramatizes the futility of the rich living in luxury while withholding the wages of the poor labourers. He writes that the judgement against the unjust has already begun.

Liturgy for Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time -

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mpnWKGUozOIF2h0Mh9I3LJq8wGNmzspz?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/hbETTS2a-AY

25th Ordinary Sunday

HUMILITY AND SERVICE

The Caesarea Philippi episode which is of crucial important to Jesus seems not to have affected the disciples. Jesus has spoken about his suffering, death and resurrection on the mountain side and on their way back he again instructs them on his impending passion and death. Also in this second instance they do not seem to understand the situation of Jesus. For they are discussing who is the greatest among them. Then he teaches them a lesson of service, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” He also gives them the example of a child and requires of them a child- like quality for being a disciple. In the First Reading the author writes that the godless are against the just because the just reproaches them for their sins. The godless decide to test and torture the just to see how they react. In the Second Reading Saint James contrasts the wisdom from below with the wisdom from above. The wisdom from above is gentle, open to reason and full of mercy.

Liturgical materials for the Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PnDo5RzcRb4vhJXerSAIHj6H2Zw6U05b?usp=sharing

Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15)

GRIEF DIVINE

Devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady has its roots in Sacred Scripture and in Christian piety, which always associates the Blessed Mother with her suffering Son. Today's feast was introduced by the Servites to intensify devotion to Our Lady's Sorrows. In 1817 Pius VII - suffering grievously in exile but finally liberated by Mary's intercession - extended the feast to the universal Church.

This feast dates to the 12th century. It was especially promoted by the Cistercians and the Servites, so much so that in the 14th and 15th centuries it was widely celebrated throughout the Catholic Church. In 1482 the feast was added to the Missal under the title of "Our Lady of Compassion." Pope Benedict XIII added it to the Roman Calendar in 1727 on the Friday before Palm Sunday. In 1913, Pope Pius X fixed the date on September 15. The title "Our Lady of Sorrows" focuses on Mary's intense suffering during the passion and death of Christ. "The Seven Dolors," the title by which it was celebrated in the 17th century, referred to the seven swords that pierced the Heart of Mary.

This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, Mother of God, and her compassion with the sufferings of her Divine Son, Jesus. In her suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the tremendous evil of sin and shows us the way of true repentance. This feast commemorates the seven great sorrows which Mary lived in relation to Her Son, as they are recorded in the Gospels or through Tradition. Today we are invited to reflect on Mary's deep suffering:

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)

2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)

3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)

4. Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)

5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)

6. The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (John 19:31-37)

7. The burial of Jesus (Mark 15:40-47)

Liturgy for the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15) -

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Rm_NGYLlfH664UAGxpzPALoufK5QAv-2?usp=sharing

24th Ordinary Sunday

SACRIFICIAL LOVE

Jesus is the Christ and Christ means Messiah. That the people say that he is John the Baptist come back to life, or Elijah or any of the prophets clearly indicates that they have still not understood the real identity of Jesus. Peter knows and answers correctly when Jesus questions him regarding his identity. But when Jesus speaks about his suffering, death and resurrection Peter shows his ignorance about these realities that are part of the Messianic life. Isaiah and other prophets have spoken about it as today’s First Reading clearly reveals. Peter’s ignorance turns into a kind of obstacle on the way of Jesus when Peter takes Jesus aside and advises him not to choose the way of suffering. Peter tries to turn Jesus away but Peter gets a severe scolding. Here is the lesson that we have to follow on our life’s path which involves suffering and pain. That is the only way to go forward. We have to carry our own crosses as we journey ahead. In the Second Reading Saint James speaks about faith and works. He says that a faith that does not lead to good works is not worthy of a Christian.

Liturgical materials for the Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NuYRpuHjFAi7VMZKz5QThQqW2AK9e4P6?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/-N41iGUa0zw

Exaltation of the Cross (Sept. 14)

THE CROSS OF GLORY AND TRIUMPH

This feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mt. Calvary by St. Helena and preserved in Jerusalem, but then had fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heralius in 629.

The liturgy of the Cross is a triumphant liturgy. When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent over the people, it was a foreshadowing of the salvation through Jesus when He was lifted up on the Cross. Our Mother Church sings of the triumph of the Cross, the instrument of our redemption. To follow Christ, we must take up His cross, follow Him and become obedient until death, even if it means death on the cross. We identify with Christ on the Cross and become co-redeemers, sharing in His cross.

We made the Sign of the Cross before prayer which helps to fix our minds and hearts to God. After prayer we make the Sign of the Cross to keep close to God. During trials and temptations our strength and protection is the Sign of the Cross. At Baptism we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, signifying the fullness of redemption and that we belong to Christ. Let us look to the cross frequently and realize that when we make the Sign of the Cross we give our entire self to God - mind, soul, heart, body, will and thoughts. “O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory. Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.”

Liturgical materials - 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1r6Pry6qdX5dPdNACgM26GrFWwoln93l6?usp=sharing

23rd Ordinary Sunday

GOD'S LOVE IN ACTION

Prophet Isaiah says that when God comes to save His people the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf shall be opened and the mute shall sing for joy. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God who has come to save his people. Therefore, he is also our Saviour. Jesus curing a man with a speech impediment is a fitting demonstration of Jesus as the Saviour. Jesus cures the deaf and dumb man brought to him by his friends for a cure with his divine power. Jesus also deals with the man with much humanity: he does the cure privately and away from onlookers. Putting his fingers in the man’s ear and touching his tongue are gestures which we normally hesitate to do, but Jesus shows that he cares for the man and shows concern for him. In the Second Reading St James strongly condemns a trend that is commonly seen, that is, favouring the rich adorned with jewellery and wearing fine clothes but belittling the poor in shabby clothing. Showing such partiality is not fitting for the disciples of Christ.

Liturgical materials for the Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11N28V03SksvVeq63LzJBLMPTV_8dhKPY?usp=sharing

Nativity of Mary (Sept. 8)

CHOSEN FRUIT OF LOVE

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.” (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.

Liturgy for the Feast of Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary -

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_MwDjiLqQCE51Zqzpu1-G1tup-fmRYfD?usp=sharing

Mother Teresa (Sept. 5)

STRONG IN FAITH AND LOVE

The Church celebrates on September 5 the feast of Mother Teresa, a universal symbol of God's merciful and preferential love for the poor and forgotten. Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910, in Macedonia, the youngest of three children. She attended a youth group called Sodality, run by a Jesuit priest at her parish, and her involvement opened her to the call of service as a missionary nun. She joined the Sisters of Loretto at age 17 and was sent to Calcutta where she taught at a high school. She contracted Tuberculosis and was sent to rest in Darjeeling. It was on the train to Darjeeling that she received her calling - what she called "an order" from God to leave the convent and work and live among the poor. She started working in the slums, teaching poor children, and treating the sick in their homes. She was joined a year later by some of her former students and together they took in men, women, and children who were dying in the gutters along the streets and cared for them.

She often said that the poorest of the poor were those who had no one to care for them and no one who knew them. And she often remarked with sadness and desolation of millions of souls in the developed world whose spiritual poverty and loneliness was such an immense cause of suffering. Mother Teresa once said, "give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness." As we celebrate her feast, let us implore God’s blessings on us that with the inspiration of Mother Teresa’s example of outreach and love for all human beings, we strive each day to grow, “Strong in Faith and Love”.

Liturgy for the Feast of Mother Teresa (Sept.5) -

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

Mother Teresa Song - https://youtu.be/XZhwYgAPVyM

Teachers Day (Sept. 5)

TEACHERS, YOU ARE A BLESSING

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was one of the most distinguished diplomat, scholar, and teacher, apart from being the President of India from May 1962 to May 1967. Asa tribute to this great teacher, his birthday is observed as Teacher's Day. As a matter of fact, when his students and friends asked him for the permission to celebrate his birthday, he asked them to celebrate the day as Teacher’s Day. We need to praise God and pray for all the teachers who are rightly referred as ‘second parent’. It is through their constant educative and friendly presence that school is also a ‘second home’ for students to nurture and become all that God has meant them to be.

Liturgy for Teachers Day (Sept. 5) -

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dXoMhk0W66jp__jQOAF1qWqSc9woqzaG?usp=sharing