ADVENT FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 24

4TH SUNDAY ADVENT, 22 DECEMBER 20241: MICAH 5. 2-5a; HEB 10. 5-10; LUKE 1. 39-45 Focus: The mystery of Christmas reminds us that God saves us not through mere sacrifices and offerings but through personal self-offering in the incarnation of Christ 1. We are at the threshold of the holy Christmas. In this last stretch of our Advent journey in preparing ourselves fittingly, we are presented with the figure of Mary in the scene of her visit to Elizabeth. Indeed an Image and an episode, so pregnant, indicative, and significant! 2. She stands for the self-sacrifice and self-offering of God Himself. She symbolizes the very purpose of Jesus’ incarnation. This is very clear in the words of the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews: “Behold, I have come to do your will, o God!” 3. This Visit of Mary was not a mere courtesy visit. It is indeed a "Visitation". In the Bible, in the light of the Old Testament, Visitation of God is always an occasion, an encounter, an experience of God's intervention, especially in times of struggle or disgrace or a special plan of God. 4. God's visitation assures His accompaniment, His guidance, His support, direction, and accomplishment. It may be to remove that particular difficulty or to realize the special purpose. 5. God "visited" Elizabeth. Thereby He removed her disgrace of sterility, and graced her with a son, even in her old age. Further, this visitation was also perfectly oriented to God's salvation plan; because, this son, John the Baptist, was predestined as the Precursor of the Messiah, chosen to prepare the way of the Lord. 6. God "visited" Mary at a young age. Apparently, this invited her to the "disgrace" and challenge of motherhood, even without marriage. But this visitation is perfectly in tune with God's plan of the Saviour in the womb of Mary. Son of God as the son of Mary, without human intervention, is totally the sign and fruit of God's intervention in human history. 7. Thus Mary, being "visited" - graced and made a partner in God's plan of salvation, in turn, sets herself on visitation to Elizabeth. What a simple and powerful lesson: One who is graced by God, cannot remain stagnant. One who is visited by God's grace, cannot but visit others. Grace is always positively "contagious". 8. In other words, Faith manifests in Mary's total docility and surrender, at the annunciation of the angel, and filled her with the Holy Spirit, moves her to Elizabeth. Yes. True faith is never static, but ever dynamic and mobile. Faith moves to others on the wings of charity. 9. Seen in this divine and spiritual perspective, charity is not merely something human, purely psychological or emotional. It is not only a positive human action and interaction but much more a spiritual divine intervention. True Charity is God's own face turned towards the humans, a portion of God's own benevolence. 10. Perhaps, we can delve a little deeper into the richness of true charity, in the light of Mary's spirit of Charity, so as to check upon our own frequent practices of a shallow charity. 1) There is "sensitivity", - feeling for the other, being empathetic toward others in their plight and struggle, sensing others' needs, even without being asked. Elizabeth was in need of Mary's assistance, and Mary anticipates it. 2) There is "magnanimity" - Mary's spacious heart makes space for Elizabeth, and so moves beyond space, cuts across distances, and visits Elizabeth. 3) There is "nobility" of character - she is not puffed up, she does not put on airs, feeling great that she is the mother of the Savior. Neither does she think low of Elizabeth as a "poor old woman". Rather in her nobility, she treats Elizabeth with respect, dignity, and concern. 4) There is "availability" - Mary is not concerned only with herself, not centered on her own needs and interests. Rather, she sets aside her time and energies. She is not closed on herself. She is open and disposed to others. 5) There is "generosity" - that which is willing, prompt, and happy to give to others, that which does not count the cost in doing good to others, that which wants to do abundant and maximum good to others. 6) There is "serviceability" - the benevolence of heart, nobility of spirit, and generosity of relation, concretely become service in action. Mary puts herself totally at the service of Elizabeth. 11. Now, let us dwell directly on the scene of visitation. Mary meets Elizabeth and greets her. At that instance, two things happen: Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the babe in her womb, leaps with joy. This is the Beauty of Faith and charity. 12. At the presence of Mary, who embodies faith and charity, Holy Spirit and Joy are transmitted. In other words, Mary gives Spirit and Joy to others and moves others with the same. But this giving, this transmission of Holy Spirit and Joy was possible because Mary had Jesus within her. When we have Jesus in us, we will give others Holy Spirit and Joy. Direction: In fact, this is the simplest and the most fundamental duty and mission of each one of us: Bear Jesus and share Jesus to others, in giving Holy Spirit and Joy. The simplest question: What do I transmit to others - Holy Spirit or evil spirit? Joy or sadness?

ADVENT THIRD WEEK 24

3rd SUNDAY ADVENT, 15 DECEMBER 2024: ZEPH 3. 14-18a; PHIL 4. 4-7; LUKE 3. 10-18 Focus: Life is never free from fears and anxieties. There will be always something to worry and disturb us. But there is nothing to lose heart or be dissipated. The Lord is at hand. He will intervene 1. The recurrent theme of the holy Advent is, the Lord is coming; the Lord is at hand; the Lord is in your midst. 2. We hear in the first reading from Zephaniah 3. 14-18: The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst. O Zion, the Lord, your God, is in your midst. The second reading from Philippians 4. 4-7 too assures us that the Lord is at hand. In the gospel too, John the Baptist preaches, saying, he who is mightier than I is coming. 3. But what does he do with his coming? What will happen if he comes? This question is very significant because many come into our lives and many go away from our life. And not all make a difference. 4. But, the Lord’s coming is crucial, because he makes a vital difference in our life. In the light of the word of God today in all the three readings, we get a clear picture of what the Lord does with his coming. 5. The Lord takes away the judgments against you, casts out your enemies. He is a warrior who gives victory. He will renew you in his love. The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 6. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He will also call for a strict reckoning and judgment, for “winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire”. 7. If this is what happens with the Lord’s coming and his presence, then what shall we do? What should be our response toward his coming? This is the question that was posed by the people to John the Baptist in response to his preaching: “What then shall we do?” and the fundamental response that is expected is Repentance. 8. But what is this repentance? How does it manifest itself? What are its ingredients and implications? We can gather some of them again from the readings. A few of these are made clear from John the Baptist’s answers. 9. Accordingly, these components comprise a spirit of sharing generously, rising above accumulation and greed; secondly, a spirit of fairness against extortion and deception; third, a spirit of equity and truthfulness against all violence, domination, or manipulation. 10. Still further, how to repent? How to change the course of life? Do not fear; fear evil no more; let not your hands grow weak. Rejoice and exult with all your heart; rejoice in the Lord always, in all the situations. 11. Persevere and let all know your forbearance. Have no anxiety about anything. But in everything pray and supplicate to God with thanksgiving and deep-rooted trust. 12. Besides these explicit ingredients and implications of a repentant heart and changed life, we can also draw two, three features from the example of John the Baptist himself. 13. His clarity about his identity: some were already beginning to believe that he was the awaited messiah, and he could easily project himself so and win popularity, but he knew that he was only the precursor of the Messiah; he had absolutely no over-ambition to rob off messiah’s role for his self-glory. What a contrast from our bundles of ego-projections and ego-promotions! 14. Another component is the utter humility of John the Baptist: I am not worthy even to untie thongs of his (messiah’s) sandals. Again what a contrast from many who get easily puffed up even by simple roles and ranks! 15. Another feature that characterizes him is his focused and undaunted commitment to his cause. No temptations for false identity or no pressures for self-glory would swerve him from his focus and loyalty. Direction: If we truly take to heart the coming of the Lord that he will stand by us, vindicate our cause and also give a just judgment and recompense, then there is nothing to fear. Let us then rejoice!

ADVENT SECOND SUNDAY 24

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT, 08 DECEMBER 2024 (Baruch 5.1-9; Phil. 1.3-11; Luke 3.1-6) Focus: What a powerfully comforting message of Advent it is! He is coming. Therefore, “Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, and put on the beauty of the glory from God”. 1. Our God is a God of joy, God of glory, and not of sadness or misery. He is a God of fidelity, a God of hope, and not of infidelity or hopelessness. 2. Therefore He assures and promises us joy and glory, putting off sorrow and pain, darkness and confusion. 3. In fact, the very purpose and destiny of life are joy, beauty, and glory. God wants our life to be beautiful and glorious. 4. Life can be beautiful, only when it is joyful. And life can be glorious, only when it is joyful and beautiful. 5. In fact, this is the real salvation, which God comes to give us, by coming as one of us and to be with us. The real salvation is this, that our life is a thing of joy, beauty, and glory, and not of misery and darkness. The choice is ours – to make our life a beauty or misery. 6. If this is salvation, if this is the aim and meaning of life, then how to achieve this aim? How to make our life such? 7. The Word of God offers us a clear program of life. We know that to achieve or accomplish anything in life, to gain any success, there is always some program of doing, some dynamics, some mechanisms, some requirements, some equipment. 8. For example, to reduce obesity, cut down the fat, regulate the diet, work on exercise; to make oneself fit and healthy, keep active and keep mentally free; to make oneself efficient and effective, get skilled, enhance the talents and nurture aptitudes. 9. In the same way, to attain that eternal joy, beauty, and glory with the Lord, we also need to do some work-outs, some controlling, some regulating, some restraining, some training. 10. Some of the concrete details of this journey of life are put before us from all three readings. There are: 11. Be converted, i.e. repent, do not continue without any reflection and realization; pause a while and take stock of the direction and the quality of life; make a positive turn in life. 12. Be dedicated, i.e. prepare the way of the Lord, and not the way of the world; do not block the way of the Lord, but make the things conducive to that way. 13. Be straight, i.e. make straight what is crooked. 14. Be smooth, i.e. make smooth what is rough; apply the gentle balm amidst what is rude and blunt. 15. Be humble, i.e. make low the high mountains and hills of pride and arrogance. 16. Be mature, i.e. fill up the valleys of weaknesses and defects. 17. Be balanced, i.e. level what is uneven, of disorder and disharmony. 18. Be educated really of heart, i.e. be with insight and divine knowledge. 19. Be wise and guided, i.e. decide and follow what is best. 20. Be loving, i.e. let love overflow more and more. 21. Be just, i.e. produce a harvest of goodness and fairness. 22. Be steady, i.e. walk in the light of the Lord. 23. Be holy, i.e. stand before God pure and blameless. Direction: Let us know the Way – walk the Way – show the Way. Let us constantly liberate ourselves from the clutches of sin and evil, and experience the “saving” grace of salvation. Let us beautify and glorify our life, with real conversion and thus “enjoy” life!

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 2024

09 DECEMBER 2024: GEN 3. 9-15, 20; EPHES 1. 3-6. 11-12; LUKE 1. 26-38, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Thrust: Stainless and spotless! Indicative: God in His benevolence kept Mary immaculate. It is quite valid because she was to be the abode of His incarnate Son and so it would be a worthy and sinless abode 1. On 08th December every year, we celebrate the immaculate conception of our sweetest Mother Mary and as her beloved children, we rejoice. It is a key dogma that we hold fast to. Thereby we believe that Mary was conceived immaculately and she remained sinless till the end of her life. 2. The immaculate conception of Mary is not a momentary happening, a one-time event limited only to that moment. It refers not only to the moment of conception in her mother’s womb. Rather it extends and embraces her whole life, from womb to tomb. Mary’s whole life was an unceasing act of immaculate conception. 3. She was already conceived immaculately in the eternal plan of God, and that continued at her birth and till her death. Mary’s immaculate conception points to God’s eternal plan of salvation. Things do not happen by chance. Everything has a place and purpose in God’s eternal will and designs. He destined Mary to be the Mother of His incarnate Son. 4. Mary’s immaculate conception blends God’s gift and human acceptance, God’s offer and human cooperation, privilege and responsibility, grace and duty. No doubt that it was God’s unique choice and gift. However, she was not a passive receiver or indifferent spectator to the divine show. 5. For her part, she actively cooperated with God’s gift. She offered no resistance to the fulfillment of God’s plan in and through her. She surrendered her whole life in unreserved commitment. What she received gratuitously, she strove to merit by her humility and fidelity. 6. Her immaculate conception was the starting point of an enormous duty. It was great to be conceived immaculately without the stain of sin. But that was no guarantee or shield against the attacks of sin. It did not exempt her from the perils of evil. She had to wage the battle for life. She had to work hard every moment to preserve and foster the grace of her immaculate conception. 7. Her immaculate conception points to Mary’s purity of heart. She was immaculate, pure, and guileless. No malice or evil could find a place in her. Like a lotus amid dirty water, she kept herself immaculate amid all the dirty and stained world. 8. She could be immaculate because her intentions and heart were totally free from any stain of egoism and self-seeking interests. She allowed no selfish motive to stain her heart or divert her focus. Her whole attention and orientation were doing God’s holy will. Her whole concern and striving was to cooperate with God’s plans and fulfill the sacred role entrusted to her. Imperative: Mary’s immaculate conception points to the secret of her life. In surrender to God, with purity of heart, be committed to cooperating with God’s plan and accomplishing it