God is here: There is abundance! (Jn 2:1-11)
What I have always admired in African weddings is the spirit of abundance! There would be a lot of noise, plenty of food, and overflowing drinks. Of course, singing and dancing would not be wanting. In the first wedding I ever attended in Africa, I requested a drink – I do not remember if it was a bottle of beer or a ‘soda’! As I kept enjoying the spectacle that was going on all around us, and trying to engage in a conversation with my neighbour, I had finished my drink. At one point, as I turned round I saw a new, full, opened bottle of the same brand of drink that I had just finished. This time I slowed down my drinking pace. Meals were served. After the meal I managed also […]
Sunday Sermons
Sunday Sermons and Homilies
Sermon for Epiphany
Epiphany: God is made visible!
(Mt 2:1-12)
Watch a Video Reflection by Selvam on the Journey of the Magi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2hI1Maf8-M
In most cultures, one of the games that children play is “hide and seek”, with many variants – tag, sardines, or hidey (in Scotland). There is a lot of fun in finding hidden objects and people! God seems to play ‘hide and seek’ with human beings.
Isaiah cries out, “Oh God of Israel, you are a God who lies hidden” (Is 45:15). And the Psalmist prays, “It is your face Oh Lord that I seek, hide not your face from me” (Ps 27:8b,9). This was the situation of the old dispensation. But suddenly there is a surprise in the history of salvation. God is made visible in the form of a little babe.
Today’s feast, my dear […]
Sermon for Christmas – Homily Year A, B, C.
And the Word became flesh (Jn 1:14)
Christmas – Liturgy of the Day
The language of God
A young man was intrigued by this question: what language does God speak? He asked people around, what is the language of God? And no one was able to offer him a satisfactory answer. So the young man undertook a journey going in search of the answer to his all important question. His first stop was a village. He asked the people there: what language does God speak? None of them could answer the question. “But,” they said, “there is a holy man who lives on the hill outside our village who perhaps has the answer to your question.” So the young man went to the holy man. Holy, for sure, he was. And the man said, “Look around you. See the beauty of creation: […]
Sermon for 1st Sunday in Advent – Year C Homily
They will see the Son of Man coming (Lk 21:27)
1st of Sunday of Advent – Year C
One of the advent hymns that I like most is:
We long to see thee so!
To see Thee newly-born.
We long for Christmas morn.
The sands of time run slow.
I like this hymn because it arouses in me the nostalgia for homecoming, or actually going back home. As a young boy studying in boarding school this song reminded me of the joyful time of going back home for Christmas. I remember how the sands of time ran so slow, especially just before Christmas. In the past years, especially as a priest being busy during Christmas, and as I unwrap the celebration of Christmas of its nostalgic feelings I have also begun to appreciate its spiritual depth. I am not in anyway playing down the importance […]
Sermon for 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Homily: The End!
The Last Days of Hope
33rd Sunday – Year B (Mk 13:24-32)
Everything comes to an end
We are moving towards the end of the liturgical year. Next Sunday will be the feast of Christ the King. And the following Sunday will be the first Sunday in Advent – the new year in the liturgical calendar. The Liturgy of the Word today takes advantage of this time of the year to remind us of a difficult theme, namely, the end of times!
The theme of ‘the end of times’ or ‘the end of the world’ is indeed a difficult one. So are the readings of today. Similar passages from the Gospels, together with the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelations, are the most misinterpreted texts in the Bible. I personally found the preparation of this reflection quite difficult. For sure, these texts […]