14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B
“This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary…” (Mk 6:3)
I am a great fan of the documentaries produced by David Attenborough. I have watched almost all of his productions, right from his Life On Earth (1979). To some of my listeners, his brother may be better known. Richard Attenborough – David’s younger brother – directed the movie, Gandhi (1982). David Attenborough was the controller of BBC Two when it became the first British channel to broadcast in colour in 1967. In 1972, he refused the opportunity to be the Director General of the BBC in order to be able to dedicate himself full time to production of programmes. He took advantage of the possibility of the colour television to produce well researched documentaries on […]
Year B
Year B Sunday Sermons
Sermon for 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Homily
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B
“Talitha, Kum!” (Mk 5:41)
Here is a story of a young girl I knew, who died before time. When I was a young priest in a rural parish in Tanzania, I started a ministry to people who were sick and home-bound. Every Friday a lady-catechist would go to the district hospital, prepare a list of people who would wish to see a priest, and add their names to the list of those provided by the Small Christian Communities. We would then visit these people and minister to them according to their need.
One of those days, we came across a young lady at her home; she might have been 18 years old. Let us call her Neema! Neema was bed-ridden and spoke very faintly, but mentally quite alert. […]
Sermon for 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Homily
“Quiet now! Be calm!” (Mk 4:39)
I have often wondered why in the churches we ring bells. For instance, in most Catholic churches we ring the bell at the beginning of mass and several times during the Eucharistic prayer. In some churches the altar servers have their own entertainment ringing the bells. Before the 2ndVatican council when the priest was standing between the people and the altar, and saying his prayers in Latin, it was important to alert the people to what was going on at the altar. Today, it is still used to mark the important moments – the high points – of the Eucharistic celebration; but perhaps it is also meant to wake up people who are asleep.
Many Hindu temples have bells at the entrance, and devotees would ring a bell as […]
Sermon for 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Homily
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
The Kingdom of God is like… (Mk 4:26)
Some years back, while still in campus, walking between two blocks, I happened to run into the Principal. I introduced myself as a priest and a current research student. The Principal’s next question was, “So what are you working on?” “My project is on spirituality and addictive behaviour,” I said. The Principal, a Jesuit theologian himself, was obviously in a hurry, as Principals usually are! He offered me a quick quip. It came in the form of a question: “Don’t you think almost all our spiritual and moral struggles are basically centred around addiction and idolatry?” And off he went. But his rhetorical question lingered on in my mind for days. Addiction and idolatry! I do […]
Sermon for Corpus Christi: Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord – Cycle B
Feast of the Precious Body & Blood of Jesus – Cycle B
“This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many” (Mk 14: 24)
There are two feasts in the liturgical calendar that invite us to meditate on the mystery of the Eucharist: Maundy Thursday and the Feast of the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus, that is, today. The celebration of the Maundy Thursday reminds us that the Eucharist is a sacrificial meal. The altar is not only the place of sacrifice but also the table where a meal is being served. The Eucharistic-food offers us the possibility “to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” When we receive the Eucharistic bread we commune with God.
Related to the theme of the sacrificial meal, the Liturgy of the Word today […]