Easter 5th Sunday

BEARING FRUIT

Christian life is centred on Jesus, and it is he who makes this life possible. The resurrection of Jesus has in it a pivotal role to play. Jesus who called disciples, taught them, and who healed the people of their infirmities has now become the living Lord. The living Lord is inviting us to abide in him as a branch is attached to the tree in order to bear fruit. Only a branch that is attached to the plant has any chance of bearing fruit. In the same way we who believe in the Lord Jesus has life only when we remain attached to him otherwise, we become like dead branches that will be cut away and discarded. The branches that remain attached to the tree draw nourishment from the tree, and the tree will continuously provide nourishment to the branch. In the same way Jesus will provide everything needed for our spiritual life. Otherwise, we will become useless. In the First Reading Paul speaks about the obstacles that he faced after his conversion. But Paul turned from a persecutor to be a fruit-bearing person. In the Second Reading Saint John instructs his community to love one another for such a quality comes from God.

Liturgical materials for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18C-DZdJLjr90G40wXnE8N6fMUrOnHZTg?usp=sharing

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

Easter 4th Sunday

PASTORS WHO CARE FOR PEOPLE

The parable of the Good Shepherd teaches us many important lessons. First of all, Jesus is our Good Shepherd. Giving protection for the sheep is the duty of a shepherd and the good shepherd will even give up his life to save his sheep compared to a hireling who will flee when he sees danger coming. Jesus has laid down his life for his people; his death and resurrection has already occurred. We have experienced all this and it is our duty to proclaim the message in which we have found life and salvation. We have the responsibility to take this message forward. The First Reading records a speech by Peter. In this speech Peter boldly affirms that the Name of Jesus is the only one Name by which human beings are saved. In the Second Reading St John writes that because God loves us, He has made us His Children.

Liturgical materials for the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UZoQv9hf1kRpMvXboitTnv622r0jjnmE?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/fcumrdejmc8

Easter 3rd Sunday

EMPOWERED WITH TRUST

As Peter addresses the people after he had cured the lame man, he accuses the Jewish people who are responsible for the death of Jesus. The intensity of their resolve to kill is seen from their actions. Pilate before whom they have accused Jesus actually has the intention to release Jesus having become aware of his innocence. What is baffling in their behaviour is that they ask for a murderer to be released in the place of Jesus who is innocent. Peter says that all these have happened but still suggests a way out for them. By repenting of their actions they can actually win God’s favour. The lesson for us is that God is willing to forgive all that we do to offend Him provided we repent. Repentance is something we should always give a thought to. In the gospel of today we have an appearance of Jesus to his disciples. When he appears the first thing he does is removing fear and anxiety from his disciples and making them comfortable, and speaking about the necessity for Christ to suffer and rise. He then sends them into the world to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins.

Liturgical materials for the Third Sunday of Easter.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RMNttF3fAtc3GV3OIn8QxhVTnQ-QNapI?usp=sharing

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

Easter 2nd Sunday

UNLOCKING OUR DOORS

We have two appearances of Jesus to his disciples given in one long passage from the Gospel of John. Jesus does several things: Jesus stands in the midst of the disciples who are utterly frightened and wishes them peace. He then shows them his hands and side where they can see the marks left by the nails and the spear. He wishes them peace a second time and breathes on them the Holy Spirit and sets them on their mission. The second appearance takes place eight days later because on his first appearance Thomas was not with them and he expressed his doubts about the Lord’s resurrection. The second appearance is to remove the doubts of Thomas. Thomas is overwhelmed by this act of Jesus and he expresses his faith in him. He no more doubts but believes which is a quality required of all of us. The First Reading describes the strong faith and the strong communion among the early Christians. In the Second Reading we have Saint John telling us that God’s commandments are not burdensome for those who love Him.

Liturgical materials for the Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1il88UC49JzvOGtQhbmAw5CdPNdQPtV4B?usp=sharing

Easter Song of St. Thomas - https://youtu.be/lPU2IaQvSxs

Easter Sunday

REJOICE AND BE GLAD

Dear brothers and sisters today is Easter Sunday, the Sunday on which Jesus rose from the dead. The extreme suffering inflicted on Jesus culminated in his crucifixion. By dying Jesus does not remain as one more person to die and be forgotten, but he rises back to a glorious life. In all these Jesus has his Father by his side. The news of the resurrection breaks forth when Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb on Sunday morning with the hope of anointing the body with spices. She encounters an empty tomb. Her reaction is to run to announce the good news to the other disciples. She embodies in herself the reaction of a person who is a witness to the resurrection. She wants to communicate the message to others as quickly as possible. She becomes the messenger of the resurrection. What Mary Magdalene has discovered in the darkness of early morning on Easter Sunday is the most sublime truth of all. The Lord is Risen! As we live our lives in the firm hope of being raised by God, let us today rejoice because Christ has been raised.

Easter Sunday - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TIKVwAwiUPkZCZOOwzsotlEjq8sArzFT?usp=sharing

Paschal Triduum

UNITY OF CHRIST'S PASCHAL MYSTERY

The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum. The Paschal Triduum is a single liturgical celebration that spans three days. It begins on the Thursday before Easter and ends the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery.

Another unique element about the Paschal Triduum is that a single liturgy encompasses all three days. It is not three separate liturgies. This is best seen when all three days are celebrated physically in the same church. At the end of the Mass on Holy Thursday, you’ll notice there is no final blessing or dismissal. People are invited to pray quietly before the Blessed Sacrament and then leave when they are ready. The liturgy doesn’t formally conclude; it simply pauses.

It picks up again on Good Friday with the Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. You’ll notice that this solemn liturgy doesn’t have the usual, formal beginning we are used to: the entrance procession or greeting by the priest. Rather, the priest and ministers enter the sanctuary when they are ready and, after prostrating before the altar, they simply pick up where they left off the evening before. Like Holy Thursday, the Good Friday liturgy doesn’t have a formal dismissal; rather, the priest simply says a prayer over the people before departing. Another pause.

And although the Easter Vigil begins with the sign of the cross, it begins in a different location — outside, around a fire without an opening song or procession. We pick up our prayer from where we left off the day before. And it is only at the end of the Easter Vigil Mass we hear the formal dismissal of the assembly, “Mass is ended,” with the double alleluia. The Easter Vigil, which always is to begin after sunset on Saturday, takes place on the third day of the Triduum, so the vigil is considered the Easter Mass. Subsequent Masses are celebrated on Sunday for those unable to attend the vigil.

Paschal Triduum Liturgy -

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T_nYpoBd5fFJSZ7t0kQZliFhNOgKg1I2?usp=sharing

Palm Sunday

A WEEK OF DECISIONS

The Church celebrates this sixth Sunday of Lent as both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. This is the time of year we stop to remember and relive the events which brought about our redemption and salvation. What we commemorate and relive during this week is not just Jesus’ dying and rising, but our own dying and rising in Jesus, which will result in our healing, reconciliation, and redemption. Attentive participation in the Holy Week liturgy will deepen our relationship with God, increase our Faith, and strengthen our lives as disciples of Jesus. Today’s liturgy combines contrasting moments, one of glory, the other of suffering: the royal welcome of Jesus in Jerusalem, and the drama of the trial, culminating in crucifixion, death and burial for the Christ.

Palm Sunday Liturgy - 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1d5Zj487dlWiFxATXlUEEe9Ps7ZkiDY6a?usp=sharing

Tamil Response Hymn - https://youtu.be/_Ow_r8XlWDw