FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 25

FOURTH SUNDAY LENT, 30 MARCH 2025: JOSHUA 5. 9a, 10-12, 2 COR 5. 17-21, LUKE 15. 1-3. 11-32 Focus: Repentance, return and renewal are the key ways for a changed and transformed life. Such a life is the best testimony for true faith and discipleship 1. The gospel of the day presents before us the parable of the prodigal son. This is very popular and familiar. Three figures stand out, namely, the father, the younger son and the elder son. The younger son is the central figure because of his repentance, which is the key theme of holy lent. However, the other two too are very significant. All the three teach us some fundamental life-lessons. 2. Contextually, the father in the story refers to God the Father; the younger son refers to the gentiles and all the despised and the sinners that include the Samaritans, prostitutes, and the tax collectors; the elder son refers to the Jews, the chosen people. The Jews had great contempt toward all the non-Jews and condemned them. But, Jesus elevates them over and above the Jews. 3. Practically and existentially, the parable is not just a historical story. This is a living story. It is our own story, each one’s. The father is God the Father; the elder son represents all the self-righteous, the so-called holy and religious people. The younger son represents all those who are fragile and wayward. 4. From the part of God, His loving mercy is never tired or fed up with us. He never abandons us. He always loves us and waits upon us to repent and return. He is ever ready and eager to receive us into His arms and embrace us. He does not wait to chide us or question us or penalize us. For Him, it is enough that we realize our deviations and repent and return to Him. He celebrates our return and restores us to the original dignity. 5. Most of us may resemble the prodigal son. Like him, our fragility leads us to prodigality. We want to go away from the Father and His house. We reject His love, relationship, counsels and guidance. We have a sense of false freedom, we feel suffocated and restricted. Many times, we want to be totally free to do whatever we like and prefer. 6. Like the prodigal son, we too let ourselves loose. We fall into unnecessary and unworthy interests and pleasures. We squander away our resources, money and energies on vain and harmful aberrations. We lower ourselves into undignified piggy situations. 7. While this “falling” takes place in any one’s life, what is important is that we also “rise up” like him. This needs a sincere realization and repentance, return and reconciliation. We need to be anguished over our prodigality, our faltering steps. We must rise, retreat our steps, reunite with the Father, recognize our unworthiness, reconcile with Him and thus regain our lost dignity. 8. In this context, we must consciously guard against the ‘elder son’s syndrome’. He suffers from a self-righteous attitude. He regards himself as a righteous and loyal person. And he disregards his brother as a loose immoral. He disowns his own younger brother and so distances himself. He does not even want to address him as his brother. He protests before his father, “This son of yours has devoured everything" (Note! He does not say, “this brother of mine”). His attitude and relationship with his father is also very wrong. This is evident in his grievance against his father: “all these years I have been working like a slave…” Direction: A son is not a slave. A son does duties out of love and freedom and not out of slavery or servitude. Only in repentance and renewal, we find our true belongingness to God (REFLECTION 2) 1. The story of the prodigal son is very familiar to all, and thus there is also the tendency to take it for granted. First of all, it is not a mere story of an individual, of the past. Rather, it is the story of each of us, and is a present, ongoing story. It reflects everyone in our basic human fragility, frailty and vulnerability, as well as the capacity for nobility to rise above. There is an inherent tendency to be prodigal, but also a strong drive for renewal as well. 2. Thus we can trace two movements in this whole journey of the prodigal son: a downward movement leading to ruin, and an upward movement leading to restoration. While the downward sliding is due to the human weakness that always surrounds us and waits to pounce upon us to strike us down, the upward soaring is due to the divine benevolence and strength that also super-abounds in us and shields us and is eager to lift us up. The prodigal son’s fall and rise symbolize our fallibility and conversion, and his restoration confirms God’s condescending mercy and forgiveness, and an indulgent and positively prodigal generosity of the Father, symbolized in the father in the gospel. 3. The repentance and conversion of the prodigal son was made possible, certainly due to the deep awareness of the misery of his fallen condition, but also due to a profoundly piercing and anguishing consciousness of the surpassing love of the father. This makes to us very clear that a true repentance is possible, deep and durable, only when there is an authentic anguish at causing immense pain to the Father. Awareness, acceptance and encounter of human fragility and divine nobility will result in human repentance, divine forgiveness, and regain of the lost human dignity 4. Now coming on to both the movements, the whole story can be presented in a series of alphabet R: the downward comprises Resent, Refuse, Reject and Ruin, and the Upward comprises Reflect, Remind, Recall, Realise, Repent, Resolve, Rise, Return, Rekindle, Reconcile, Reunite, Regain and Rejoice 5. In the downward movement, we see that the prodigal son resents any good, any advice, admonition and guidance that is proposed to him, refuses to take heed and to make amends, and thus rejects all the dignity, the freedom, the closeness of being the son to the father in the house, and opts to ruin himself, by dissociating and distancing himself from the house and the father. This ruinous condition can be amply clarified in reflecting a little in detail on his “piggy” situation: in his pathetic and deplorable condition of misery, he is not only among the pigs, not only works with and for them, but also becomes one of them; he becomes like them, and no different from them 6. It is worthwhile for us to see how this piggy situation prevails over us as well, in so far as we too embody the same qualities of a pig: dirty, smelly, noisy, lazy, does not realize the value of what is valuable, is led by the mob mentality, stubborn, aggressive and reactionary, quarrelsome and fighting, always stoops down, unsteady running after any pig, and swallowing anything indiscriminately. How often do we dirty and soil ourselves, by unclean thoughts, words and actions? How often do we spread around foul smell through our ill-placed words and deviated motivations? How much do we resent silence and interiorisation, eager to be noisy, and also intimidate and bulldoze others by big mouths and damaging speech? How often are we so slothful, and thereby neglect our duties, and also obligations and promptings of charity? How often are we negligent and indifferent toward what is sacred and precious? How often do we become so impulsive and indecisive, easily misled and carried away by the mob mentality? How often are we adamant and obstinate, sticking to our own ideas and opinions, refusing to be flexible and accommodative? How often are we resentful and violent in our attitude and approach? How eager are we often to react and get into conflict? How often do we stoop down so low and below, remaining earth-bound, succumbing to lesser urges and interests? How much we can be so unstable and unfaithful in our relationships and friendships, being flirting and frivolous? How often do we willingly devour so indiscriminately and unwisely, any rubbish and harmful that is present and presented to us? Is this not the “pig” nature in us? 7. The story of the prodigal son becomes a worthwhile and memorable one, because he does not stop with the downward movement, but sets upon the upward movement. He reflects on his piggy situation. He reminds himself of his past good times. He recalls the past glory in contrast to the present misery, the past abundance in contrast to the present scarcity, the past freedom in contrast to the present slavery, the past dignity in contrast to the ignominy, the past closeness with the father in contrast to the present distance. He clearly realizes that he has made the greatest blunder. He deeply repents, being pierced in the deepest recesses of his heart, that he “broke his father’s heart”, “sinned against his father and the heavens”, and that he is “no longer worthy to be the father’s son”, and so deserves “only to be counted among the father’s many servants”. He resolves to make repairs. He rises, not only physically but also from his fallen condition. He returns to the father, retracing his steps to where he came from, and being directed back to the father. He meanwhile rekindles within, that lost fire of love for the father. He gets reconciled with the father. He is reunited with him concretely and directly. He is restored to his original dignity and relationship and thus he regains what was lost. All this results in a true rejoicing and celebration. Can we too make this upward journey? How long do we want to be content with the ruinous downward journey, stooping to sin and steeped into it? Can we raise ourselves and rise up and regain our lost dignity and communion?

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 25

THIRD SUNDAY LENT, 23 MARCH 2025: HOLY MASS REFLECTION EXODUS 3. 1-8a, 13-15; 1 COR 10. 1-6, 10-12; LUKE 13. 1-9 Focus: Repentance is the soul of the holy lent. It is both the condition and the sign of the true following of the Lord. It also becomes the criterion for God’s judgment 1. “Unless you repent, you will perish”, warns Jesus in today’s gospel. He repeats this twice, in reference to those Galileans killed by Pilate and those killed under the tower in Siloam. Thereby, he makes it clear that all those who commit sin and do not repent will meet a similar fate. Lack of repentance will expose us to God’s judgment. 2. Here the point is not that God judges and punishes us; rather that we must repent and change our lives. So the focus is not punishment and destruction but repentance and saving life. In fact, there is no true discipleship without repentance. 3. Jesus begins his public ministry with the call to “Repent”: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4. 17); “The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel” (Mk 1. 15). 4. The call for repentance forms the crux of Jesus’ redemptive mission: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Lk 5. 32). And there are several strong calls for repentance all through Jesus’ teachings (cf. Lk 11. 32; Lk 10.13; Lk 17. 3-4; Acts 20.21). And today’s warning fits into this context. 5. But what is this repentance? The basic sense is “being sorry, or grieved” for something that has been done. Both the Hebrew term, naham, and the Greek term, metanoia, contain this sense of “feeling sorry” and “regretting”. 6. But it is not just that, and goes further. True repentance is not a mere passing feeling sorry for the wrong. It is not a disturbing sense of remorse. Repentance is not a depressing sense of guilt. Guilt and remorse are negative while true repentance is something positive. 7. True repentance is elevating, relieving, and assuring. True repentance is deep anguish and pain, over a life of inadequacy, offense, and deviation, against God and others. It is a deep stirring within, being touched to the core, and struck with deep anguish over one’s own sinfulness. 8. Repentance is an about-turn of a whole way of living, in determination and dedication. Repentance opens up a radical change of life, both in spirit and in action. Therefore, sincere repentance would mean a “change of mind, change of ways, change of life”. This concretely implies both “turning away from evil” and “turning to God”. 9. This turning to God implies a profound encounter with God as Moses had at a burning bush in Exodus. It is personally experiencing the living God who reveals Himself as “I am who I am”. Our God lives not only because He has existence as His very essence. 10. But He lives in the lives of His people. He intervenes in their lives. He makes them live because He lives. How He is present and acts in the lives of His people is conveyed by some strong and personal verbs that God utters. 11. God declares: I have seen their affliction; I have heard their cry; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them and to lead them to the Promised Land. Therefore, true repentance makes one personally experience this intervening and liberating, and restoring love of God. 12. This personal experience of God forms the foundation for repentance. And a converted life becomes the test and testimony of repentance. In the light of the gospel, this effect is nothing but a fruit-bearing life. If we are truly repentant, then we must become productive and bear abundant fruits. Repentance without fruits will be a contradiction! Direction: Awareness of God’s love, one’s own sinfulness, and a changed fruitful life are the ways and signs of a true repentance

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

SECOND SUNDAY LENT, 16 MARCH 2025: TRANSFIGURATION Focus: Glory is our destiny and transfiguration is the way. Misery is not a resident fact but only a temporary ‘parking lot’ 1. Jesus is transfigured on Mount Tabor in the presence of three of his disciples. His face and clothes glow so bright and radiant. This indicates that his glory is total, both interior and exterior. The experience of divine glory is so relishing, as Peter exclaims: “it is nice to be here; let us make three tents”. 2. The event of Jesus' transfiguration is a manifestation of his original divinity, identity, and glory. But it is not to display his glory, not to impress his greatness upon the three disciples. It is not self-directed, seeking self-glory. Rather, it serves as a fount of hope that prepares and strengthens the disciples, who will face the disgrace of the cross and death of their master in near future. 3. The transfigured glory of Jesus illuminates and assures the disciples that Jesus who meets the fate of the cross, is not a helpless failure, forced to such a miserable end; rather he is the glorious Son of God, who willingly and freely accepts the cross as God's will for salvation. It is not a fate of misery and damnation but a destiny of glory and salvation. 4. Thereby when faced with the ignominy of cross, let them not be shaken or shocked; let them not be dissipated or frustrated. Let them not be stuck with cross and death, but rather let their focus go beyond to the glory and eternity. Behind and beyond the disfigured crucified, one should see the transfigured resurrected Lord, re-vested with the original heavenly glory. 5. Thus that simple Jesus, who is walking along with them as an ordinary man, that suffering Jesus, who will be subjected to the humiliation of the cross, is not a disgraced and defeated man. Instead, he is the glorious "beloved Son of the Father", attested so by the Father Himself from heaven. So do not lose faith in him, when things go contrary, but continue to keep trust and hope in him. 6. Jesus’ transfiguration points to our own transfiguration, being adorned with divine glory. It is an indicator, a forecast, and foretaste of our own resurrection and the glory of the resurrection. It is a prefiguration of our own future glory. The frequent disfiguration of life, with all the vicissitudes and adversities, is not the final or permanent reality. Misery is not an absolute fate. 7. Glory is our eternal destiny. Transfiguration is the ultimate and definitive experience. The transfiguring experience must trigger us to direct our focus, beyond the temporary upsets of the cross, to the eternal upheaval of resurrection. 8. This is possible only through a constant integral transformation of our both interior and exterior. In other words, it is a call for a constant REINVIGORATION of our original identity of being God's image and likeness. 9. This in turn is possible through a faithful CONFIGURATION with Jesus. The more we are tuned and communed to him, the more we live and grow like him, the more we adhere to him in "attentive listening to him", the more we shall experience and share the same transfiguring glory. 10. Sin disfigures us, depriving us of our original beauty and dignity of being God's images. But, grace through Jesus transfigures us, restoring to us that lost light and radiance. The more we are enlightened, breaking off the sheaths and layers of darkness that often block and blur our radiance, the more we re-discover our real identity and radiate the light of that true image. 11. Thus real transfiguration lies in a daily process of brightening up our lives. Light up the life, daily on the "mountain" - of the vicinity, proximity, and intimacy with God, in a spirit and ambience of solitude and serenity, in the heights of our spirits, in the focused moments of prayer, in a personal encounter with Moses and Elijah, signifying the Law and Prophets, i.e. the entire Scripture and Tradition. 12. Transform and glorify life, wholly and fully. Change the interior, indicated by the change of face, which is the index of the interior. Change the exterior, indicated by the change in clothes. Let our every day be a continuous journey of removing the shades of darkness that reduce our glow. Let it be a vibrant march of regaining our lost radiance. Let the light of Christ make our heart, our life, brighter, with more hope and more renewal. Direction: When frightened by the adversities of life, let us not lose heart or hope. Let us turn to the transfigured Lord and strengthen our faith. Let us be confirmed about our own transfiguration and thus deepen our hope

Women's day 25

08 March 2025 - BLESSED WOMEN'S DAY! "Angels walk on that land where women are respected". Thus our sacred Scriptures teach us. The quality and greatness of a culture can be measured on the basis of the value and progress of women in that society. Women are part of shaping the world and even our lives. God gave the first man, Adam, a woman named Eve, to walk beside him as his equal partner. From the beginning of our lives, it is a woman who carries us in the womb for months and then spends decades of her life taking care of us. Yes, this must be a day of reawakening and rededicating. We must bow our heads in deep veneration for a woman for her incomparable greatness, her role and her value in our lives, families and society. A mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a guide, a mentor, a philosopher, a companion, a teacher, a motivator, a mobiliser – oh, what all roles she plays! Is there any role that is left out? Let us celebrate their achievements and contributions to the society. Many women created history as the first women in various areas of life. It may be the first space lady, the first queen, the first woman prime minister, or the first truck driver. It is an opportunity for us to honour and recognize the tireless efforts and selfless services that they render to society. They bring glory and laurels to whichever sphere they are in and whichever task they take up. A woman’s touch always adds a “touch of grace” to whatever she lays her hand on. Thanks to God and some dedicated souls, we are certainly moving away from a culture of violence and discrimination against women. Let us continue to march ahead in promoting more dignity and opportunities for women. The true liberty of a woman is when a woman becomes the "wow" of man, the "awe" for man, the wonder factor, blessing for society, and not the "woe" for man or society. Being a woman is not womanism or feminism or liberalism in undue modernism or exhibitionism. It is a matter of "feminality", where tenderness, patience, care and joyful self-giving reign supreme. Let us salute our hallowed women. Let us seek pardon for our sacrileges in violating their godly dignity. Let us rededicate ourselves to journey together as genuine men and women. A true celebration of women's day is that we gratefully recognize, devotedly respect, heartfully appreciate, humbly venerate, ardently promote and committedly emulate the nobility of "feminality", the inviolable and irreplaceable role and value of a woman. Today let us remember all women and salute them with love and veneration, for being beautiful women to us. . May God bless us all! Happy Women's Day!

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 25

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, 09 MARCH 2025: DEUTERONOMY 26. 4-10; ROMANS 10. 8-13; LUKE 4. 1-13 Focus: The greatness of Christian life is not to have temptations at all but to face them, to fight them and overcome them In today’s gospel, we have the episode of the temptations of Jesus. They are three. They take place in the wilderness. They happen after forty days of fasting and prayer. And soon after them, Jesus begins his public ministry. We can pick up different indicators from this temptations narrative. One indicator: Temptations are willed or allowed by God. They form part of human life and divine mission. For we are told that Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted. Therefore, temptations are quite real in everyone’s life. No one is exempted. One need not feel guilty or ashamed of them. In the light of St Francis de Sales’ teaching, what makes one blameworthy is not having or getting temptations but entertaining, indulging in them and consenting to them. Second indicator: Jesus is in full solidarity with our human struggle. The fact that even Jesus himself was tempted shows that God partakes in the struggle of human fragility. He became one like us in everything except sin. Jesus is sinless and remains so. Yet this does not exempt him from the struggle to remain sinless. As divine, he is sinless. But as a human, he had to confront the assaults of the tempter. This is what makes him praiseworthy: he remains sinless even amidst a sinful situation. This makes both his divinity and humanity more convincing. His divinity shines amidst humanity and his humanity shines amidst divinity. Third indicator: the temptations of Jesus are summary temptations. This would mean, they are not necessarily literally happened temptations. We are not sure whether Jesus was factually tempted to change stones into bread, to worship Satan to gain the whole world or to jump down from a height. Rather, they summarize the whole life struggle of Jesus. There were always temptations to use his divine power for self-interest, to test God and to seek worldly riches and powers. Fourth indicator: the temptations of Jesus are allusive to Israel in the OT (cf. Deut 8.3; 6. 13, 16). The first temptation about food alludes to Israel in the desert, how they grumble and complain about food and drink. The second temptation alludes to how Israel was allured by the world, the material possessions and false gods time and again. The third temptation alludes to how Israel adamantly tests God in spite of all his numerous mighty works. Fifth indicator: the temptations of Jesus are suggestive and indicative of our own temptations. In a simple way, the temptations of Jesus can be categorized as physical, material and social. The temptation to change stones into bread, eat and thus satisfy the hunger indicates our frequent temptation for the physical things, like food and drink, physical pleasures, and easy and temporary gratifications. The temptation to worship Satan and gain the world, its powers and riches indicates the temptation for the material things and powers, the constant allurement for money, possessions and domination. The temptation to jump down from the height and remain unharmed indicates our temptation for name, fame, and popularity through shortcuts. Sixth indicator: the crux of temptations is self-seeking and self-glory. In each of the three temptations, there is seeking self-interests and self-glory. It is in terms of physical satisfaction, material accumulation and social recognition and domination. So often we are assaulted by these temptations. Just one glance is enough. We can easily see how these three temptations are ruling high. Flesh, power, money and cheap glory dominate today’s world and the church is no exception. What then are the remedies? Follow the way of Jesus. Let the spiritual sublimate the physical: “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”. Let loyalty to God surpass worldly allurements: “You shall worship the Lord your God alone”. Let the trust in God overpower the tendency to test God: “Do not put God to test”. Direction: In a life that is constantly attacked and even inflicted by temptations, let us arm ourselves with the weapons of prayer, fasting and charity. They help us to cling to God, to be self-restrained and unselfishly self-giving (REFLECTION 2 ON TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS) 1. The question of temptation is not centred on the number, sequence or time of temptations. What is most important is that Jesus also was subjected to temptation and hence, the temptation is a human reality, part of human life and fragility. To be tempted in itself is not wrong, and we need not feel uneasy or ashamed of being tempted, as some do. But what to do? How to face? This is what matters. 2. According to St Francis de Sales there are three phases in every temptation; proposal, entertainment and consent (yielding to). The temptations of Jesus would be the model/sample of temptations. The devil knows how to play with human psychology (the ego). He provokes the false self-pride, challenging, "If you are Son of God". The three temptations are rather surface level with more basic underlying inclinations First Temptation Two underlying temptations: 1) Using God-given power /gifts for lesser motives, self-interests, mere material/physical 2) Giving priority to the material/physical over the spiritual Our task is to confront and overcome the temptations as Jesus did: 1) Refuse to use the God-given talents for lesser gains. Jesus does not use his divine power to satisfy his hunger, to bring out physical satisfaction. He is hungry, and it appears perfectly legitimate to use his power to alleviate his hunger. But Jesus makes discernment among the priorities. He discerns that it is not worth using his higher power for something lower. 2) Give priority to the spiritual (Word of God) - man does not live by bread alone. What nourishes a person is not the material but the spiritual. How often and how easily we use our God-given talents, capacities and resources, for self-interests or wrong ends or lower motives or shallow profits! How many times we readily give more importance to the physical and material concerns, over and above the spiritual! Second Temptation Underlying temptations: 1) The temptation here is to dethrone God from one’s heart, from the centre of life 2) To be disloyal to God (defection) 3) Pressure/attraction of material/worldly riches, power, position 4) Short-cuts (Jesus was to win/save the world by the way of the cross) How Jesus overcomes these temptations: 1) He ever enthrones God, only God at the centre: Nothing can be on the throne, can be at the centre, nothing can replace God on the throne of heart; Only God is the master and Lord. All worship and all serving/surrender to him alone 2) No being dominated or carried away by the worldly allurements and enticements 3) No disloyalty and no defection; never failing, ever faithful to God, come what may 4) No short-cuts for achieving the goal of salvation, but only through the loyal way, the way of the cross As disciples, we also pass through the same road when we are tempted to dethrone God or to take shortcuts for achieving some good. But in the face of some difficulty or adversity, some testing and trying time for the sake of faith or good, how easily we fail in our patience and perseverance! In the face of some worldly gain and immediate advantage, that is clearly contrary to our loyalty to God and Christian values, how fast we succumb to defection, without a prick of conscience or justifying our infidelity in the name of human frailty? When assaulted by some self-gratifying temptations, how easily do we yield and indulge in them? In our family life or work life or personal life or social life, in our plans, decisions and actions, how often do we deny God the central and primary place, but make money or worldly concerns very central? How often do we compromise on God's ways and values, for the sake of some momentary or monetary gains! Third Temptation The underlying temptations: 1) Test God, 2) Show/display power, 3) Craving for recognition/cheap popularity; seeking self-glory Jesus confronted these temptations and overcame them: 1) Trust God 2) No making show/display of power 3) No craving for recognition but humility; only seeking God’s glory Very often we want and pressure God to act quickly in our favour, to grant us favours. We want Him to work wonders and miracles. We want Him to intervene immediately and spectacularly. If not, we easily become impatient, dissipated and also shaken our faith. It is not sure, when people pray, whether it is asking Him to do our own will and plans, or surrendering to His holy will. How many of our intercessions and petitions are directed mostly to temporary, temporal and material benefits and worldly gains? How many of us really pray for growth in holiness and goodness, in virtues and values? How often do we use even the spiritual occasions for self-projection and self-promotion?

EIGHTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C

EIGHTH SUNDAY: 02 MARCH 2025: SIRACH 27. 4-7; 1 COR 15. 54-58; LUKE 6. 39-45 Focus: The life of a follower of Christ is a life that must be different from the life of the world. It is a difference in the quality of character and in the way of living. Today’s Word of God presents us with a series of contrast pairs. In this way, we are directed on how to live a life worthy of a disciple. These contrast pairs are perishable – imperishable, mortal – immortal, death – life, defeat – victory, blindness – sight, trunk – grain, bad tree – good tree, bad fruit – good fruit, evil person – good person. The message is simple and direct: follow the positive and correct set of contrasts and you will live well and obtain victory and reward. First, focus on the imperishable: We are destined for the imperishable. Therefore, amidst all the perishable that surrounds and misleads us, we must keep our attention on the imperishable. We must always be clear and not confused, discerning wisely and not erring recklessly, well-oriented and not disoriented. In a transitory world, everything that belongs to the earth is perishable. Only God and His grace manifested in faithfulness and goodness are imperishable. Be guided by immortality: While the contrasting pair, perishable - imperishable can refer to the earth and the world in general, the contrasting pair mortal - immortal refers specifically to our human reality. As human beings, we are mortal. This body is subject to death and decay. But we are destined for immortality. This reminds us of our immortal spiritual existence. It is not a dichotomy between the mortal body and the immortal soul. Rather, it is an invitation to create a harmonious blend. It is a blend in which the spiritual sublimates, regulates and ennobles the merely physical. We are "spiritual" and destined for immortality. Strive for Victory and Life: Focusing on the imperishable and immortal, we fight against all the forces of death. We will be determined to defeat the enemy and achieve victory. The enemy is strong. The forces of death manifest themselves relentlessly in the forms of hatred, aggression and violence. But nothing will hinder our march for life in eternity! Purify and magnify your perspective: God hates judgment but blesses understanding and empathy. Many suffer from double standards, one for themselves and one for others. They are so eager to blame others for the dot in their eye, while ignoring the big log in their own eye. Be good and share good: We are called to be good people and not bad. This implies that we grow as good trees that bear good fruit and not bad trees that bear bad fruit. A good tree must bear good fruit! Be a discerning guide! We are called to lead others in the way of the Lord. But for this, first of all, we must know the way ourselves, see the way and walk the way. Otherwise we will be like guides who lead the blind. Direction: Faithfulness and fruitfulness make us worthy disciples. And these are the ways to become like the master, to resemble him. He who does not follow the master, cannot resemble him!

GOLDEN AND SILVER JUBILEE MASS INTRODUCTION

GOLDEN AND SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATION (22.02.25) “Praise to You, O Lord, for our 25/50 Years of Pilgrimage in Faith, Hope, and Love” A very good morning to you, Your Grace, Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto, the main celebrant of today’s Holy Eucharist, our Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Periyanayagam, all our concelebrating priests from various dioceses, all the religious brothers and sisters, esteemed family members and friends of our Jubilarians, and all the faithful gathered here. On behalf of our Provincial Superior, Rev. Sr. Matilda George, I extend a heartfelt and joyous welcome to each one of you! Today, we the cfmss family of St. Francis Province, Delhi, stand in awe of God's abundant grace, as we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sr. Ancy Parayankarayil and Sr. Lydia Joseph and the Silver Jubilee of Sr. Anice Nadumparambil, Sr. Mercy Attarackal, Sr. Shalini D’Souza, Sr. Rani Anthony Samy, Sr. Vineeta Pachapathickal, Sr. Chitra Michael and Sr. Amala Francis. Their journey of 50 and 25 years have been a sacred pilgrimage—a walk of faith, a testament of hope, and an offering of love. To embrace a vocation is to say ‘yes’ not just once, but every single day. A ‘yes’ that is whispered in moments of joy, and in silent nights of prayer. A ‘yes’ that surrenders to God’s will, through sunshine and storm, through certainty and unknown. And today, dear Sisters, your lives speak louder than words—proclaiming that He who calls is faithful. Jubilee is not just about looking back—it is about looking within. It is about recognizing the unseen hands that have lifted, the unseen grace that has strengthened, and the unseen voice that has whispered, “Fear not, I am with you.” Every step you have taken has been guided by this divine assurance, and today, we rejoice in the fruits of your unwavering trust. "A lamp does not speak, but it shines; A candle does not preach, but it gives light; A flower does not teach, but it spreads fragrance." And so too, dear Jubilarians, your lives have been a silent yet powerful witness— A flame that has not flickered, a light that has not dimmed. Through your years of dedication, you have brought Christ to the world—in the classroom and in the convent, in the joys of community and in the solitude of prayer. You have stood before the Eucharistic Lord, offering every joy and pain as an oblation, knowing that true strength is found not in holding on, but in surrendering all. Pope Francis reminds us, “Hope is bold; it knows how to look beyond personal comforts and security.” You, dear Jubilarians, have lived this boldness. You have left behind the familiar, walked the unknown paths, and become bearers of hope to all whom you serve. As we now enter into this Eucharistic celebration, let our hearts be lifted in gratitude. May this day be a renewal of your call dear Jubilarians, a rekindling of the fire that first burned in your hearts, and a foretaste of the eternal joy that awaits those who remain faithful to the Lord. May He bless you with strength for the journey ahead, joy in your mission, and peace in His presence, filling your heart with renewed zeal and boundless grace as you continue to walk in faith and love! May the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi inspire you to live in simplicity and profound trust in God's providence. May the wisdom and light of St. Clare fill your hearts, that you may continue to shine as beacons of faith and humility. And may the zeal of our beloved Foundress, Mother Seraphina, strengthen you, guiding your every step as you continue to radiate God’s love through a life of joyful service. With this sentiments, let us now unite in prayer, as we offer this Eucharist in thanksgiving for the precious gift of the lives of our Jubilarians.