26 SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 25

26th SUNDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2022: AMOS 6. 1a, 4-7; 1TIMOTHY 6. 11- 16; LUKE 16. 19-31: “Rich man and poor Lazarus” Thrust: Sensitive to sense! Indicative: Not only doing the wrong is wrong but also not doing the right when possible and needed, is also a big wrong (which is often called the sin of omission, in contrast to the sin of commission) 1. The parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus in the gospel is a typical indicator of the situation of today’s society. There is a steep social and economic inequality, a sharp contrast between the rich and the poor, the clearest dividing line between the haves and have nots. 2. There are those who “get fattened” with affluence and surplus and those who are “forced to starve”. There are those who “feast every day”, affording to let plenty of “scraps to fall down” from their tables and those who wait desperately to collect and swallow those fallen scraps. There are those who “dress in purple” in extravagance and those who “cover themselves with sores”. There are those who enjoy the “company of the high-class people” and those who “keep company with the dogs”. 3. Such an abominable and unjustifiable injustice is the offshoot of indifference and negligence This is again due to a lack of fraternal responsibility. This, in turn, is caused by lack of sensitivity. Finally, all this is rooted in a heightened individualism. 4. This is the greatest malaise of our human life, wherein others do not count at all. There is neither respect nor concern for others’ difficulties. There is no basic human feeling toward others. Sadly there is not even a little prick of conscience. Human sensitivity has become so blunt that no tear or pain of others would touch and move many. 5. Just reflect on the height of indifference and insensitivity of many: While many go about in rags and worn outs, they can dress in purple and lavish waste. While many struggle for a potful of potable water, they can booze themselves in the hallucination of liquor bottles. While many crawl into huts and slums, they can stroll leisurely in spacious multi-floored buildings. While for many, three meals a day is a luxury, they can throw huge amounts on wasteful parties. While many sweat their blood to get a good education and find a moderate job, these can pour money like water to buy elite education and sweatless jobs. Is this not a blatant contradiction and heartless injustice? 6. The point here is not implicit jealousy against the rich. It is not an intolerant resentment against all those who have better comfort than others. In fact, the fault of the rich man in the gospel is nothing direct. Directly he did no harm or injustice to the poor Lazarus. 7. But his greatest fault was his total insensitivity, lack of fraternal responsibility toward the other. He had no attention at all on the poor man because his attention was fully on his own comfort and satisfaction. He would have done better if he were to share a little of his material prosperity with the less fortunate and alleviate their misery. 8. The story also drives home very forcefully the truth that those who fail in charity and generosity toward others will receive a fateful destiny, while those who suffer in good faith here on earth will obtain plentitude and eternal joy. They are really foolish, who are caught up with passing pleasures and enjoyments and lose sight of the heavenly glory and eternal joy. They are destined to eternal misery, those who neglect their fundamental fraternal responsibility for the wellbeing of others, even being capable to reduce their plight. One may close conveniently one’s eyes and heart to the struggle of others but cannot close God’s eyes to see our injustice! Direction: The value and joy of life is not in self-interest and self-gain but in being benevolent and beneficial to others

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