8 th SEPTEMBER : MOTHER MARY'S BIRTHDAY

08 SEPTEMBER 2025: BIRTHDAY OF MARY, MIC 5. 2-4; MATT 1. 18-23 Focus: Birthday is a reminder that birth is a gift of God gratuitously and generously donated by God. So our life must always carry this divine touch 1. 08 September is a great holy and happy day for all the Catholics as they celebrate their mother Mary's birthday. Which son, which daughter does not rejoice over her mother's birthday? Today, in the first place, let us greet her with a happy birthday with all the affection in our hearts. Let us kiss her, embrace her and tell her that we simply love her so much. Let us thank God for giving birth to her because if she was not born, we will not be born as her children. 2. In the Telugu language, there is an old birthday song that says, "birthday is a feast for all but how many really know why there are born?" The beauty, the meaning, and the value of birth is when one lives the gifted life meaningfully and purposefully. 3. In this sense, Mary certainly lived her gift of life as a gift to God and to others. We can mark two phases in her life: one, before the Annunciation and the other, after the Annunciation. This distinction is made because as we know, Annunciation marks a decisive and definitive moment in her life when the purpose and mission, and destiny of her life were disclosed to her. The Angel announces that she would be the mother of the incarnate savior and thus becomes a pivotal collaborator in God's plan of salvation. From then on, her life was lived in an intense consciousness of her vocation. 4. However, even before this disclosure of the purpose of her life, even before the annunciation, still her life was no less purposeful. Her life has always been a continuous act of faith and faithfulness. This comprises a profound spirit of humility, docility, and surrender. Concretely, these manifest themselves in a life of devotion and benevolence. 5. Now, we can further reflect on her birth in the light of 1 John 2. 29 and 3.9, 10. The Word speaks of those born of God. This very much fits our Sweetest, Mother Mary. She was born not only of a human womb but much more she was born of God. She is born of God because she commits no sin, she does what is right and she loves others. These are three distinguishing marks of those born of God. 6. After all this simple reflection, what is the birthday message for us? Like Mary, live a life of faith and faithfulness, in humility, docility, and surrender through the daily practice of devotion and benevolence. Live like her, like those who are born of God. This means that we resist committing sin. We do what is right. Love others as sisters and brothers. Direction: A fitting birthday gift to the Mother is our own filial affection and devotion to her, which eventually leads to emulation of her example

23 SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 25

23rd SUNDAY: 07 SEPTEMBER 2025: WIS 9. 13-18, PHILEMON 9-10, 12-17, LUKE 14. 25-33 Thrust: To be a disciple is to be disciplined Indicative: Today, we have many disciples who even forget that they are disciples and not the master. They behave like masters and so fail to be true disciples 1. Once again, Jesus clarifies who a true disciple is and how to become one. The highest priority to God is the fundamental and indispensable identity mark of a true disciple. God is the highest concern and no one and nothing else. Not even one’s own family members, like father, mother, brothers, and sisters, can become more important than God. 2. See how Jesus declares: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Let us get straight into the mind of Jesus behind this statement. 3. Jesus is quite aware of the challenge of following him and the possible hindrances that come in the way of following him. Therefore, he proposes some radical conditions that go directly contrary to these hindrances. 4. Among these hindrances comes primarily one’s excessive attachment to one’s family. It is not wrong to love them, to feel concerned for them, and to have a deep bonding with them. But the point is: at no point, the love for family comes in the way of love for God. At no point, the concern for the family deviates from the concerns of God. 5. At no point, attachment to the family reduces our attachment to God. And at no point, the bonding with the natural family diminishes our bonding and duty toward the spiritual family. It is in this sense that our love for God must be profound, unequivocal, and undivided. We must be ready even to hate the family if it endangers our love for God. 6. Another serious obstacle in following Jesus is the self. Jesus demands, “Hate even one’s own self”. This is a clear summon to get rid of our false self, the ego. When life becomes egoistic, self-centred, self-interested, self-seeking, and self-serving, God is no longer the priority. 7. For God is dethroned and the self is enthroned. In the light of the first reading from Wisdom, it is nothing but the situation where “the perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthly tent burdens the mind full of thoughts”. 8. Another condition to follow Jesus as a good disciple is “to bear one’s own cross”. In one sense, it may refer to our own fragilities and imperfections. In reference to the first reading, it is to be aware that the “reasoning of the mortals is worthless, and our designs are likely to fail”. This awareness and admission are very important. Otherwise, one can easily slip into a sense of self-sufficiency, self-complacency, and self-righteousness. 9. Another essential aspect of ‘bearing the cross' is to pursue and persevere in the path of the values, bearing the subsequent sufferings and adversities. A true follower of Christ is bound to face opposition and problems. The simplest reason is that his life will be a contrast to that of the world. But he shall not fear or be deterred from his path. 10. A third aspect of ‘bearing the cross’ is the spirit of patience and forbearance to accept the sufferings in life. We come across many situations in life that are unpleasant and unfavourable, like death, separation, misunderstanding, strife, loss, failure, and defeat. And many times, we may wonder why these things happen to us. We may question, is this the reward for our fidelity? In such times of cross, persevere. 11. A further condition for discipleship is discernment that is clear about the cost of discipleship and perseveres to the end. Jesus conveys this through two metaphors, namely building a tower and going to a battle. Obviously, they indicate a spirit of prudence; in social or pastoral terms, it is to know the context, become familiar with the situations, and be well-prepared and well-equipped. 12. All these factors may be okay. But, more than all these, what these two metaphors denote is to be aware that discipleship is not an easy task. Therefore, be wise and diligent to face any situation and keep focused on our target, be it a battle situation or a building situation. Imperative: Let us learn humility and wisdom, so that we are unattached, persevering, totally focused, and committed to being true disciples

22 SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 25

22nd SUNDAY: HUMILITY 31 AUGUST 2025, SIRACH 3. 17-18, 20, 28-29; HEB 12. 18-19, 22-24; LUKE 14. 1, 7-14 Thrust: Humble yourself! Indicative: In a world that is neck-deep in self-pride and rides on destructive self-glory, humility is the greatest healing and restoring balm 1. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” is the central teaching of Jesus in today’s gospel. This is highly relevant and exigent for our present society. 2. The world suffers so much from the lack of humility. There is a boisterous ego that shows itself in unbridled arrogance, false dignity, and cheap popularity. This leads to hurtful and harmful resentments, hatred, conflicts, violence, and eventual destruction. 3. Therefore, it is worthwhile to reflect a little deeper on humility. Humility is not so much feeling or saying, I am despicable, True humility does not despise or reduce one’s worth or dignity, because it is God’s valuable gift. Humility neither trumpets nor rejects the positive in one’s own self. 4. Humility is not seen in a bent head or bent position, but in a bent heart and bent disposition. Humility is not just repeating every time that ‘I am good for nothing', but constantly realising that ‘nothing can be good without God’, ‘nothing good we can do without God’ and discreetly trying to ‘do everything good’. 5. Humility guards one against all self-complacency, self-righteousness, and self-glory. Specifically, humility guards against undue craving for honours and titles, against excessive seeking powers and positions. It is because they can easily puff up one’s spirit, and lead one to pride, arrogance, and self-glory. 6. An excessive craving for them and attachment to them easily make one behave bigger than one’s own real self, contrary to his real self and identity. Thus, they can degenerate into hypocrisy and duplicity, trying to act and pretend. 7. Contrary to the above-mentioned pride, self-seeking, and false humility, True humility constantly realises the fallibility of the self and thus never relies on one’s own ego. True humility readily feels the deep sense of inadequacy and the vanity of self-complacency. 8. True humility sincerely realises how small, restricted, confined and ‘congested’ it is in its own space, and so willingly and reverently makes ‘space’ for God. The more we consciously reduce our ego, the more we grow in humility. True humility manifests itself in deep respect, an unoffensive approach, and a patient listening and understanding of the other 9. True humility readily clings to the Lord, overwhelmed by His tender love and abundant mercy, despite our recurrent imperfections. True humility hastens its steps to embrace the Lord with its weak and tiny hands, making a total surrender of the whole self. 10. If only we have a little ounce of humility, how many problems can be avoided, how many needless arguments, disputes, and conflicts can be resolved, how much beauty and joy can increase in our lives, how much love and fraternity can abound in our relationships, how much authentic and effective we can become in our mission and ministries! Imperative: Blessed is that humility which keeps a correct image of the self, regards the other with esteem, and surrenders to God in simple love!

21 st SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 25

21st SUNDAY, 24 AUGUST 2025, IS 66. 18-21; HEB 12. 5-7, 11-13; LUKE 13. 22-30 Focus: Our destiny is to enter the reign of God, to be in eternal communion with Him, to celebrate life with Him. But how to enter there? What will qualify us to enter the reign of God? 1. Hear what the Lord says in the gospel: “Many will say, ‘we ate and drank with you, we listened to you teaching us’. But I will respond, ‘I never knew you, depart from me, you evildoers”. 2. Really Shocking and frightening words of Jesus in the gospel. The God who said, “I knew you even before you were formed in your mother’s womb” (Jer 5. 1); He who said, “I know you by your name” (Is 43. 1); He who said, “I have written your names in the palm of my hands” (Is 49. 16). The same Lord says to us now, “I do not know you”. What does this mean? 3. In the first place, just celebrating some occasions of eating and drinking together, or some occasions of listening to the teachings of the Lord, will not merit anyone to enter the kingdom. These are good but not enough. 4. These may be matters of convenience, which do not demand much. But what the Lord expects is sacrifice and commitment. In other words, this is entering through the narrow door. 5. Many times many try to enter through the broad door, and not through the narrow door. That is, many prefer to do what is convenient, what does not demand much from them, and not what is difficult and committing. We can examine some simple details: 6. It may be convenient to eat and drink together in partying, but is more difficult to participate in the Eucharistic meal. It may be convenient to listen to the Lord’s teachings but is more difficult to put them into practice. It is convenient to participate in a function that is organized but is more difficult to work towards organizing it. 7. It is convenient to spend time happily in a shallow chatting and yapping, but is more difficult to allot some time to speak about God and good things. It is convenient to divert oneself to worthless things but is more difficult to concentrate on worthwhile things. 8. It is convenient to take a dog for a daily walk or go to the gym or shopping mall but is more difficult to walk to God’s place even once a week. It is convenient to find space and time for some relaxation and diversion but is more difficult to find even a little moment for a little reflection. 9. It is convenient to spend money on what is for pleasure but is difficult to give away a little money for what is good for others. It is convenient to participate in some holy activities but is difficult to become holy. It is convenient to run here and there, day and night even for family obligations or work demands but is difficult to care for the duties toward God and good. 10. It is convenient to do some charity once in a while but is difficult to be charitable in everyday life. It is convenient to sing beautifully God’s praises but is difficult to restrain criticism and slander. It is still convenient to attend holy mass as a holy tradition but is difficult to live daily that spirit of the holy mass in unity, humility, sacrifice, and love. 11. What to do then? Enter through the narrow door. What does it mean? Do not seek shortcuts or easy means. Do not seek convenience or compromise. Understand the love of the Lord. Understand the value and role of discipline in our life. 12. Understand that God disciplines His children whom He loves. Allow God to discipline us. Be enduring even though for the moment all discipline seems painful and unpleasant. Be sure that it yields later the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 13. Therefore, as the Lord exhorts us, “Lift your drooping hands. Strengthen your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet. And heal what is lame and dislocated”. Imperative: We shall be clear that we cannot please God merely with our wonderful celebrations or spiritual activities. They should lead us to be workers of good

20th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

20th SUNDAY, 17 AUGUST 2025: JER 38. 4-6, 8-10; HEB 12. 1-4; LUKE 12. 49-53 Thrust: Fire that divides! Indicative: In a world that is often lukewarm and indifferent with regard to God and good, we need to be persons ablaze with fire 1. In today’s gospel, Jesus states shockingly: I came to bring division and not peace”. This really disturbs and upsets anyone and everyone because we believe that he is the prince of peace. 2. We pray to him for peace amidst all our troubles and disturbances. But, he openly states that he came not to bring peace but to disturb it. 3. Further, in a world that is torn by dissensions and divisions, we always pray for unity. But strangely Jesus declares that he has come to bring division. 4. This requires then to understand what exactly Jesus means by this division caused and the peace disturbed. 5. Clearly, the division that is caused by Jesus is not the negative, unhealthy and harmful division that is caused by narrow-mindedness, prejudices, and self-vested interests, in the name of factors like race, nation, religion, language, culture, caste, rite, et cetera. Such a division is a manifestation of a shrunken and narrowed world. 6. Also, the peace that is disturbed by Jesus’ coming is only the false peace that is built on comfort, convenience, compromise, indifference, lack of involvement, concern, and non-committal attitude. 7. It is thus a peace that shelters itself in self-demarcations and self-confinements. It does not allow anyone to enter into one’s self-made territories. 8. These divisions and disturbances are created because of the fire that Jesus has spread. What is this fire? It is the fire of passion, conviction, authenticity, vigour, and commitment. 9. Therefore, one who is passionate for God, convinced, authentic, vigorous, and committed will surely experience division and disturbance. 10. The reason is quite clear. It is because of the “contrast”. Such persons are on “fire”, that is, burning for God and His values are in contrast to the rest of the people of the world. 11. Their passion is in contrast to the tepidity of many others. Their conviction is in contrast to the compromise of many others. Their authenticity is in contrast to the duplicity of many others. Their vigour is in contrast to the passivity of many others. And their commitment is in contrast to the mediocrity and non-committal attitude of many others. 12. There is certainly difference and division between the true and false, between commitment and convenience, responsibility and escapism, between conviction and compromise, between firmness and instability, between sensitivity and indifference, between fervor and lethargy, between passion and mediocrity, between fidelity and defection, between honesty and deception, between authenticity and duplicity, between surrender and self-indulgence, between love and hatred, between altruism and egoism, between patience and aggression, between sentiment and resentment, between forgiveness and retaliation, between generosity and greed, between benevolence and malice, between magnanimity and jealousy, between sharing and grabbing. 13. Therefore such contrast automatically leads to resentment, opposition, division, aggression, and persecution. But then what should be our approach and response? 14. The word of God always provides some basic answers. Be focused, be surrendered, and be enduring. Jeremiah in the first reading and Jesus himself in the second reading stand before us as the models for this focus, surrender, and endurance. Imperative: The fire of many followers of Christ is either dwindling or almost extinguishing. We need to re-ignite it and make it again burning brightly and steadily

18 SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

18th SUNDAY, 03 AUGUST 2025: QOHELETH 1. 2, 2. 22-23; COL 3. 1-5, 9-11; LUKE 12. 13-21 Thrust: Vanity of vanities! Indicative: Intelligence, knowledge, competence, wealth, position, and fame are no guarantees of wisdom. They can often lead one to vanity and shallowness 1. In the gospel, Jesus narrates a parable of a rich fool. The parable of the rich fool is not just one story among many, narrated by Jesus. But it is a live story because there are many such fools today, and none of us is exempt from such foolishness to some degree or other. 2. It is not a soft lesson but a serious warning! It is not only the fate of the rich man in the parable but the fate of each present fool. Jesus is evident and stern: "It is the fate of those who are rich in the sight of the world, but not in the sight of God". 3. Just imagine the miserable fate of the rich fool: He toiled so hard but could not enjoy the fruits of his labor; he made fantastic plans but did not have the future to implement them; he had abundance for generations but had no life to enjoy it; he had the intelligence to acquire for the passing world but failed to procure for the eternal life; he thought all for himself to possess and enjoy but had to leave to others to own and enjoy. 4. How similar is the life and fate of many in our times! So many are slaves to money and pleasure. So many spend their whole time and energies with the least concern for family and good human relationships. So many scorn the right values for the sake of profit and self-interest. So many defraud and cheat to amass wealth and to maintain shallow and false status and dignity. So many are much bothered about the temporary and temporal, but neglect the spiritual and eternal. Are these not traces of folly? 5. How to eliminate such signs of folly? Grow wise. First and foremost, realise that the worth and beauty of life do not consist in greedy accumulation or material abundance, or economic affluence. Rather, life is beautiful and meaningful in the richness of heart, in the abundance of goodness, in the growth in virtues, in the orientation toward heaven and eternity. Not goods but good, not greed but the need for good, should be the motto of life. 6. St Paul reminds us clearly, "The Kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but peace and righteousness" (Rom 14. 17). Jesus too challenges us squarely: "What does it profit a person to gain the whole world but lose the soul" (Mt 16. 26), for, nothing can be equal to the well-being and saving of the soul. 7. Now, how to grow wise? The answer, too, is given in the parable: "Become rich in God's sight". Become acceptable and pleasing to God. It is better to obey and surrender to God rather than succumb to evil. The answer is quite straightforward in the Wisdom spirituality: "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 1. 7). So the more one has a loving reverence towards God, the more one becomes wise. The more devotion increases, the more wisdom increases. The more spirituality, the less temporality. 8. Therefore, the crucial reason for the misery of today's society is very clear: on one hand, the increase of greed and materialism; and the decrease of God and altruism, on the other hand. Let us not evade the issue or find temporary solutions or shallow remedies in worldliness. The only solution, remedy, and antidote is God and good! Imperative: Those who set their hearts on higher things will also live higher lives. To be practical and to be concerned about the present life does not mean to be earth-bound and to be guided by lesser motives

15 SUNDAY/ GOOD SAMARITAN SUNDAY

15TH SUNDAY, 13 JULY 2025: DEUT 30. 10-14; COL 1. 15-20; LUKE 10. 25-37: GOOD SAMARITAN Thrust: Faith without charity! Indicative: True faith can never be separated from concrete charity. To be truly faithful is to be concretely charitable. A faith without charity is dubious and spurious. 1. In today’s gospel, we have the famous parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable dwells on the crucial question, “Who is my neighbour?” This is very crucial and relevant especially in our own times and in our society. There is a very narrow notion of a neighbour. The neighbourhood is demarcated by the boundaries and affinities like country, race, lineage, caste, region, language, culture, religion, rite, and occupation. Or, it is controlled by the concerns like profit, gratification, convenience, etc. 2. Accordingly we find different kinds of neighbours: those who are totally indifferent and unconcerned toward others, being totally self-interested and self-serving. There are those who harm others for their gain. There are those who help others but with ulterior motives, expecting a return or good impression. There are those who are selectively and conveniently good, only to some or only in some matters or situations. And there are also some who are selflessly other-oriented. What kind of neighbours are we? 3. Today we are reminded and challenged to rise beyond our narrow demarcations. A neighbour is anyone in need, who is in difficulty. The neighbourhood is a matter of assistance and service to attend to the need. It is not a choice but a duty. It is not an option but an obligation. It is not a favour but a mandate. It is not a possibility but a priority. 4. Always and everywhere, one should seek to be a good neighbour to the other. We should not look for good neighbours who can help us and fulfil our needs. Rather, we should strive to be good neighbours to others in need. Fraternity is our identity, sensitivity is our quality and charity is our priority – this in simple is the essence of being a good neighbour. 5. The fault of the priest and the Levite in the gospel is that they failed in their primary identity of being brothers and sisters. They failed in the quality of being sensitive to the victim’s needs. They failed in giving priority to charity. They might even be a good priest and a good Levite. They might be doing well in their duty and profession. They might have their own reasons to avoid helping the victim and to go away in haste. But nothing of these can justify their failure in fraternity, sensitivity, and charity. On the other hand, the Good Samaritan had no botheration about his convenience or gain or schedule or work or time or money. 6. Real charity demands not to “pass by on the other side” like the priest and the Levite, but to “see aside and turn around our attention by the roadside”, to “stop and create space” from one’s busy schedule, to “take the trouble and be humble to get down” from one’s riding on self and self-interests, to “take courage to go out of one’s way”, to “take time to move” to those in need, to “care the wounds of others”, to “accompany them in a process of healing and recovery of strength”. 7. There is also a spiritual side to this story of Good Samaritan, along with the fraternal side. God is the Supreme Good Samaritan because He always keeps close to us in our needs and suffering. He is sensitive and benevolent to us always and everywhere, even without any merit or return on our part. He cares for our wounds inflicted by sin and the troubles of life. He cleans us, heals us and makes us sane again, with his own blood. 8. This is the same mission of Christ of “reconciling all things and everyone to Himself through Christ” as the second reading affirms. So, whenever we become good Samaritans to others, we are only sharing in the very identity and mission of God. In the words of the first reading, it is to “turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”. It is to “have the word very near you… in your mouth and in your heart so that you can do it”. Imperative: How many of us are Good Samaritans, genuinely and selflessly? How much are we aware of the boundless compassion of God, the supreme Good Samaritan? How much are we grateful and appreciative of numerous Good Samaritans?