‘Give and it shall be given unto you’ (Matthew 22:15-21)

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Is 45:1,4-6; 1 Thes 1:1-5b; Mt 22:15-21 

October 22, 2023

‘Give and it shall be given unto you’

In today’s Gospel Jesus and the religious leaders in Jerusalem continue their tense exchange of questions and challenges. At this point the disciples of the Pharisees, together with the Herodians, try to entrap Jesus by their question about the payment of taxes.  The matter of taxes was a real problem in the actual ministry of Jesus and the early Church too.

This question of tax-paying was not of merely historical interest. Matthew was writing between A.D. 80 and 90. The Temple had been destroyed in A.D. 70. So long as it stood, every Jew had been bound to pay the half-shekel Temple tax. After the destruction of the Temple, the Roman government demanded that tax should be paid to the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in Rome. It is obvious how bitter a regulation that was for a Jew to stomach. 

But Jesus was wise. He asked to see a denarius, which was stamped with the Emperor’s head. In the ancient days coinage was the sign of kingship. Every king struck his own coinage. Jesus asked whose image was on the coin. The answer was that Caesar’s head was on it. Jesus said, “give it back to Caesar, it is his, and give to God what belongs to him.” With his unique wisdom Jesus never laid down rules and regulations. That is why his teaching is timeless and never goes out of date. He always lays down principles. 

Every Christian has a double citizenship. Christian is a citizen of the country in which he lives. He owes the safety against lawless men which only settled government can give. He owes all public services. To take a simple example, few men are wealthy enough to have a lighting system or a cleansing system or a water system of their own. These are public services. In a welfare state the citizen owes still more to the state--education, medical services, provision for unemployment and old age. This places him under a debt of obligation. The Christian has a duty to the government in return for the privileges that the government brings.

But the Christian is also a citizen of heaven. There are matters of religion and of principle in which the responsibility of the Christian is to God. It may well be that the two citizenships will never clash. But when the Christian is convinced that it is God’s will that something should be done, it must be done. Or if he is convinced that something is against the will of God, he must resist it and take no part in it. A real Christian is at one and the same time a good citizen of his country and a good citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Peter says, “Fear God. Honor the emperor ( 1 Peter 2:17). Malachi 3: 10 Saya, “Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the LORD of Armies. “See if I won't open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings.

Wedding Garment of Righteousness (Matthew 22:1-14)

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Is 25 : 6-10a; Phil 4:12-14,19-20; Mt 22:1-14

October 15, 2023

WEDDING GARMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

After criticizing the religious leaders through the parable of the tenants in last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus proceeds to tell another parable, again directed at the religious leaders. In the parable of the wedding feast, Jesus offers an image of the kingdom of heaven using the symbol of a wedding banquet. In today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah and in today’s psalm, the Lord’s goodness is evident in the symbol of a feast of good food and wine. The image of a wedding feast is a symbol for God’s salvation. 

But it appears that accepting the king’s invitation brings certain obligations. The guest who failed to dress in the appropriate wedding attire is cast out of the feast. We are reminded that while many are invited to the kingdom of heaven, not all are able to meet its requirements. God invites us to his feast, giving us his salvation. Yet he asks us to repent for our sins.

If we go to visit in a friend’s house, we do not go in the clothes we wear in the shipyard or the garden. We know very well that it is not the clothes which matter to the friend. It is not that we want to put on a show. It is simply a matter of respect that we should present ourselves in our friend’s house as neatly as we can. The fact that we prepare ourselves to go there is the way in which we outwardly show our affection and our esteem for our friend. So it is with God’s house. 

This parable has nothing to do with the clothes in which we go to church; it has everything to do with the spirit in which we go to God’s house. It is profoundly true that church-going must never be a fashion parade. But there are garments of the mind and of the heart and of the soul—the garment of expectation, the garment of humble penitence, the garment of faith, the garment of reverence, the garment of righteousness—and these are the garments without which we cannot approach God. 

Very often we go to God’s house with no preparation at all; if every man and woman in our congregations came to church prepared to worship, after a little prayer, a little thought, and a little self-examination, then worship would be worship indeed—the worship in which and through which things happen in men’s souls and in the life of the Church and in the affairs of the world.

Jesus’ message in the parable cautions against exclusive beliefs about the kingdom of heaven. The parable also teaches about humility. Those who assume that they are the invited guests may find that they have refused the invitation, and so others are invited in their place. To accept the invitation is also to accept its obligations. God wants our full conversion in complete acceptance of his mercy.

A Call To Audit The Gifts Received (Matthew 21:33-43)

 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Is 5:1-7: Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43

October 8, 2023

A CALL TO AUDIT THE GIFTS RECEIVED

Today's Gospel follows directly the last Sunday's Gospel about the two sons. Through the parable of two sons he addressed the wickedness of the elders and chief priests of the temple. Jesus once again speaks to the priests and elders with another parable. He urges them to listen him and believe that he is the only begotten son of God and that he comes from God. In today’s parable we have some questions like, who is the landowner? What is the vineyard? Who are the tenants? Who are the servants to collect the portion of the harvest? Finally, who is the son of the landowner to collect his rent? 

In telling this parable, Jesus is clearly drawing upon Isaiah 5:1-7, which is today's first reading. Jesus doesn't, therefore, have to explain the symbolism of the parable. The vineyard represents faithful or the kingdom of God, the landowner represents God himself, the servants represent the prophets, and the bad tenants represent the religious leaders. Yet Jesus nonetheless explains the meaning of the parable for his audience. The Kingdom of God will be taken away from the unbelieving chief priests and elders because they did not believe in Jesus as the only son of God and Messiah. That’s why it is given to the faithful who sincerely believe in Jesus as the only begotten son of God. 

Clearly this Gospel shows the tension that was mounting between Jesus and his audience like the religious leaders and unbelieving pharisees. Because they thought that no one could claim to be the son of God. that’s why Jesus’ message was dangerous and bringing conflicts and tensions in the temple.

We are born of God and became adopted sons and daughter of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus taught us to call God Abba Father! Do we really believe in this? This Gospel reminds us of the importance of listening to Jesus’ word First. Secondly, We become tenants or custodians of many things in our Baptismal life. We have taken so many gifts from God like that of family, children, office responsibilities. God through his Son Jesus asks all of us to audit and submit the account. We need to be ready. Today he demands for the submission of the account of the gifts we received from him. He demands all of us through the Holy Mother Church and her custodians. Are we ready to audit our transparency in Christian Baptismal life? 

If we are able to do it be thankful to God. If not, let us not mask ourselves. Come closer to him. He will ease our burden and bless us to be more useful and trustworthy tenant or custodian in his vineyard, the kingdom of God.

A Bible Quote on: 'Priests For God'

Priests For God

(Hos 4:7-9)

7. "The more priests there were,

the more they sinned against me;

they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful.

8. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. 

And it will be: Like people, like priests.

9. I will punish both of them for their ways 

and repay them for their deeds"

A Poem on "Invest in Your Rights"

Invest in Your Rights

"Say, if your "right" is worth 1 rupee 

and acquiring it costs 300 rupees "today" – 

convince "now" even at the penalty of losing that 300 rupees –

tomorrow that will be a five-fold gain of your "right" –

there is no loss in achieving your legislation."

An Article On: 'Physical Health through Prayer'

Physical Health Through Prayer

 

In this first part I wish to insist on the bodily dimension of health. I am aware that the state of well-being, which the word health suggests, is like a diamond with different luminous faces. The physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual ones stand out.

 

Health, therefore, is a personal matter. It includes all facets or dimensions of the human person. I don't really mean to link them all with prayer. I would like to concentrate above all on the corporal and emotional aspects.

 

I begin with some fundamental considerations that belong to the level of beliefs. Since the time of Jesus it has been known that faith is a determining factor in the health and healing process. For this, in the first chapter I will highlight a fundamental religious belief God wants the health of the human being. His will is for the sick to recover and for the healthy to take care of his health.

 

In the second chapter I will try to explain, in practical terms, how to pray. Therefore, in the following chapters, I will propose some ways of praying that normally also benefit the health of the body.

 

1. Gods plan: The healthy man

 

God, according to the biblical narrative, created man and woman healthy and decidedly health-oriented. It is no exaggeration to state that obviously God's will is the health of every human being. It is therefore right that you go on repeating throughout your life and, during the day if you need to: "God wants me to be healthy".

 

This and similar statements, I insist, are prompted by God's revelation of Himself in Scripture. In this we find, in fact, that God creates both man and woman in his image. Jesus reveals his identity as the Messiah, as well as in other ways, through the direct healing of the sick. God also endowed us with a team of cells to give us the ability to keep our immune systems healthy. Medicine itself, traditional, scientific and alternative medicine, thus gives us a glimpse of the divine will that we preserve or recover health. Finally, the Church too pronounces and assumes this point of view in favor of health, encouraging us to obtain it by all possible means...............

'బాల ఏసు జననం - ఒక మార్గదర్శక కిరణం' కవిత్వము

బాల ఏసు జననం - ఒక మార్గదర్శక కిరణం

(Birth of Jesus is a Light to my Path)

 

"నజరేతులో వెలసిన దైవం

బెత్లేహేములో విరసిన దివ్య రూపం

పశుల పాకలో మెరసిన అత్మీయ  వరం

బాల ఏసు జన్మం మన గమ్యం

విశ్వ సృష్టి రూపు కర్త

జీవానికి జీవం పోసిన జీవన ధాత

సోయగాలను సొగస్సులను వదలి

మంచు చలిలో పొత్తి గుడ్డల్లో ఒదిగిన

బాల ఏసు రమ్యం మన రక్షణం

లివ్ లెట్ లివ్ అన్న బోధనం

కడుపులో ఎదిగే పసికందును తుంచే

తల్లుల మైకాన్నిభయాన్ని చూచి

పశుల  మధ్య కెవ్వు మన్న బాల ఏసు రోదనం

అధికార దాహాన్ని తుంచే నిశిరాత్రి వెలుగుల ఏసయ్య

మోస వ్యాపారాల హద్దు తుంచే బాల్య ఖడ్గం

స్వార్ధ కబ్జాల చేతులను అడ్డే  ఏసు కమల గుణం

కుల మత ప్రాంత హద్దులనుచెరిచే సత్య కిరణం

అదే నవ సూర్య కిరణ ఉదయం ఏసు జననం

అవినీతి ఊబిని  పూడ్చే నీతిసూర్య వెలుగు

ఓర్వలేని ఓర్పులేని మనవ లోపాన్నినింపే కరుణ వెలుగు

బ్రతుకులేని గూడులేని అభాగ్యులకు సేదనిచ్చే జీవ జలం

హారం కోరక ఆహారమిచ్చే జివాహరపు జన్మం  

బాల ఏసు జన్మం మన గమ్యం

రండి రారండోయ్ న్యాయం తెచ్చే చేతులను పూజిద్దాం

పదండి పదండోయ్ సత్యాన్ని చూపే రారాజును ఆరాదిద్దాం

చూడండి చూడండోయ్ భారాన్ని తొలగించే ముఖాన్ని

పాడండి పాడండోయ్ లాలి లాలి ..జోలాలని పాడండి" 

WISH YOU HAPPY CHRISTMAS