Be not engrossed in the world (1Cor 7:31)
Note: This reflection is based on the second reading of this Sunday. If you wish to have a sermon on the gospel reading of today, click here.
The Word of God during Sunday liturgies, particularly during the Ordinary Time, has a pattern. This year being Cycle B (divide the year 2015 by 3, the remainder is 2, hence Cycle B) we continue to listen to the Gospel of Mark. The first reading of the Sunday liturgy is usually chosen from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) to match the theme of the gospel text. The second reading is normally sequential. For now we continue to listen to the First Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians.
The second reading of today may seem a little bit weird (1Cor […]
Sunday Sermons
Sunday Sermons and Homilies
Sermon for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B – Your Body is the Temple of the HS
Your Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19)
Note: This reflection is based on the second reading of this Sunday. If you wish to have a sermon on the gospel reading of today, click here.
If you were to take a stroll along a typical high street in a modern city, you notice the exaggerated importance given to the care of the human body. One could have the same impression if they surveyed the shelves in a typical supermarket. Besides food and medicine, we have a vast variety of products for the care of beauty and wellness of almost every part of the body, from toe-nails to the hair on our head. Products meant for care of skin, nail and hair themselves amount to a huge market. In brief, we spend far more resources (including time) to care for our […]
3rd Sunday of Advent – Special Sermons
3rd Sunday of Advent – Special Sermons
The Role of Joseph in the Mystery of Incarnation
As I had said at the beginning of the Season of Advent, this year, I am sharing reflections on four persons related to the first Christmas. This, I thought, would avoid certain repetition of themes during Advent year after year. In this series, we have already reflected on Zachariah and John the Baptist. Today our reflection is on Joseph.
We are all aware of the annunciation of angel Gabriel to Mary. When we think of annunciation, we only think of the annunciation to Mary (Lk 1:26-38). It is interesting to note that there are at least two other annunciation stories in the gospels, prior to the birth of Jesus. These two stories are actually about annunciation to two men. The first is in the Gospel of […]
Sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent – Year B Homily
1st Sunday in Advent
Zachariah, the reluctant collaborator
My four sermons for this year (2014) will focus on four personages who were part of the first advent! (CLICK HERE if you would like to see other sermons for Advent). These individuals somehow contributed to the first Christmas. And the four people that I would like us to focus on, this year, are:
1st Sunday of Advent, 2014: Zachariah, the reluctant collaborator
2nd Sunday of Advent 2014: John the Baptist, the one who knew his space
3rd Sunday of Advent, 2014: Joseph, the man of honour
4th Sunday of Advent, 2014: Mary, who waited in contemplation
How can I know this?
The Gospel according to Luke begins with the annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Zachariah (Lk 1:4-23). Interestingly, the scene of this annunciation is the temple itself. For Zachariah, this […]
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
9 November 2014
Rarely do we have a feast such as the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica replacing the Sunday celebration. The liturgical tradition of the Church places a lot of importance on dedication of churches. For instance, when it is the anniversary of the dedication of a Cathedral church (the principal church of the diocese which has the chair of the Bishop), it can be celebrated as a solemnity on a Sunday. The Basilica of St John Lateran is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome – the mother of all churches. Why do we celebrate the dedication of a church? In the Catholic tradition, the church building is not just a hall for fellowship. It is a sacred space. It […]