Posts

Homilies

Homily: April 1, 2025, Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Lent ()

-
 “When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be well?’” I have to be honest, I really didn’t like the man who was healed, when I first read the event in today’s Gospel text. Jesus asked him a simple and direct question: “Do you want to be well?” All he needed to do was to answer yes or no. I would expect him to be enthusiastic and respond yes! But he didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he complained. He blamed it on the fact that there was no one to help him get to the pool, and that someone else would always get in before he did. Again, after he was healed, when the authorities told him off for carrying his own mat on a sabbath, he blamed it on Jesus, for telling him to pick up his mat, and caused Jesus to be persecuted. Wasn’t he grateful for being healed? Did he want to be healed at all? It seems to me that he was a complainer, someone who doesn’t own up and puts the blame on others. But I paused and re...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 30, 2025, Fourth Sunday in Lent (Second Scrutiny of Elect, Year A readings )

-
 “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Today, we celebrate the second scrutiny of our 17 elect who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. Dear elect, you are here today because God has chosen you, to have faith Jesus Christ. Who is He, that you may believe in Him? He is Son of God, the Father. We believe because we have the gift of faith. As I reflect on this moment, I can’t help but be in awe of God’s way of working. Look at ourselves. I’m from India, your catechist Priscilla is from Kenya, and among you are brothers and sisters from Burma, South Sudan, and Mexico. And yet, here we all are, at St. Ambrose, because God chose us, every one of us. By our own ability, or choice, or plan, we would not have created such a beautiful union of diversity, all at the same time, in the same place, for the same reason – to respond to God’s call for us to be His people of faith. Who would have known? In today’s first r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 29, 2025, Saturday of theThird Week in Lent (Rain)

-
 “He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” Do you like the rain? I have always enjoyed rain, not just watching it from my window, but walking or playing in the rain. Rain is refreshing, especially on hot days. When I was little, growing up in India, we always looked forward to the summer rain. It wasn’t until I came to Iowa that I experienced spring rain, which is gentle, joyful and uplifting. During summer in India, the scorching heat would dry up everything; water in the creeks and ponds would vanish, grass and plants would wither. In those days before there was tap water, people would walk long distances in the summer heat to collect water then carry it home in huge plastic pots. The intense heat, the lack of oxygen and the loss of liveliness in the environment also dulled everybody’s mood. Then after some months, the rain would come. Sometimes suddenly, sometimes in thunderstorms, but we would always know it was coming. The hornbill birds would...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 26, 2025, Wednesday of the third week in Lent (Commandments).

-
 (Holy family school Mass )"But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."  I grew up in a country where Christians are a minority. First, do you know which country I grew up in? Yes, India. Do you know how many percent of the Indian population are Christians? Who says 50%? 30%? 10%? 2%? Yes, it is a little over 2%, and Catholics make up only 1.6%. But amazingly, although Catholics are a small small minority, most of the schools in India are run by the Catholic Church. So, I had many Muslim and Hindu friends, because we all attended the Catholic schools together, and we will learn about each religion’s practices. I often envied my Hindu friends because they didn’t have to go to their temple weekly, they didn’t have to attend religion classes and they could play cricket every Sunday while I had to wake up early, walk to church, attend Sunday Mass and catechism classes. They seemed to have more fun as Hindus while Catholics s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 25, 2025, Solemnity of the Annunciation ()

-
 "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us!'"  One book I read during my school days was titled: ‘The God of Small Things’. The book has nothing to do with God or religion, but I like the title because it reminds me that our God is also a God of small things. He appreciates and takes pleasure even when we offer Him the littlest effort or prayer or joy of our day. And He too often shows Himself in simple, silent humble signs. In today’s first reading, King Ahaz was given the opportunity to ask for a great sign from God, but he rejected, claiming to not want to test the Lord. Still, God chose to give him a sign anyway - not in a big way, but something simple yet powerful: "A virgin shall conceive and bear a son." This sign is simple yet powerful because while it is normal for a woman to bear a child, it is impossible for a virgin to do so. Only ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 24, 2025, Monday of the Third week in Lent (Flesh and Mind - Child )

-
 "His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."  A child’s flesh and skin are supple, smooth and soft. Don’t we all wish our aged, wrinkled skin is restored to child-like freshness again? Today’s first reading is a powerful story of healing, restoration and transformation. Leprosy was a terrible disease in ancient times especially since there was no cure, was seen as a curse and was contagious. Thus, more than just physical, it was also a social disease which led to isolation and shame. Naaman was a great military commander, dignified in his powerful position but leprosy threatened to take away everything he had. He desperately wanted healing. The gifts he brought to Israel clearly showed how much he valued his health and status, and how far he was willing to go to be cured. Yet, despite his desperation, pride held him back and almost made him lose the miraculous healing he badly needed. He had expected a grand and elaborate healing process, fitt...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 23,2025, Third Sunday of Lent (First Scrutiny of the elect)

-
 "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14) On the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent, we celebrate the Rites of Scrutiny with our elects - those preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, to enter the Catholic Church, as part of the period of ‘Purification and Enlightenment. The purification process is God's way of helping to remove the stain and dirt from the souls of the Elect, so to see the true good and beauty of each soul. God does not scrutinize to find the wrongs but to celebrate the real identity of each child of His, revealing the value within each of us and rejoicing in the light of Christ reflecting from us. Each of these Sundays has a powerful theme: Water, Light and Life. These themes are presented through the Gospel texts of various encounters with Jesus Christ: the wom...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 22. 2025, Second Saturday in Lent (Bashan and Gilead)

-
 "Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old."  I have always been curious about Bashan and Gilead. My curiosity increased when I heard an old but well-known hymn, ‘There is a Balm in Gilead’ just a few years ago. The song was so beautiful that I searched for more information about Gilead and found many fascinating references in Scripture. Gilead is mentioned throughout the Bible as a place of refuge and healing. When Jacob fled from his father-in-law, Laban, he found shelter in Gilead. Later, when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, they handed him over to Ishmaelites who came from Gilead on their way to Egypt, their camels were loaded with gum, balm, and resin for trading. The balm of Gilead was famous in the ancient world for its healing properties. As for Bashan, Deuteronomy describes it as a land of fertile soil, abundant livestock, and prosperity, known for its fat bulls and strong cattle. If you attend our weekly Holy Hour, you may notice that in th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 17, 2025, Second Monday in Lent (Measure).

-
"For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." This is one of the more practical teachings of Jesus, and from our own life experiences, we know it to be true. When we show love, people often respond with love. When we are compassionate, we usually receive compassion in return. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” God’s mercy is constant, consistent, unconditional. We deserve death and punishment, but God waives it off, taking on our death and punishment on Himself. That is mercy. And He tells us to do the same, not on our own strength, but we can imitate, reflect and emulate how God does it. God is merciful, because He loves truly and is generous. Love and generosity are painful virtues. Often, love may not be accepted, it can be rejected. Often generosity may not be appreciated, it can be taken for granted. That is how the world has treated God’s love and generosity, but He remains faithful and co...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 15, 2025, Saturday of the First Sunday in Lent (Perfect Love)

-
 "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."  I was very privileged to have done my seminary studies and formation at Santa Croce University (Holy Cross), in Rome which is run by the Opus Dei order. Their founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá, was a visionary and a great saint. One of the core principles of living and spirituality he laid down for Opus Dei members was this: “strive for excellence in everything”. Because of this, the university was marked by excellence in every way - excellent professors, an outstanding library, state-of-the-art classrooms, and advanced technology. To be a student at such an institution meant that they, too, were expected to strive for excellence in attitude and effort. To maintain this high standard, there were many strict rules for the students to follow. By following conscientiously, students would grow and develop to their full potential with remarkable outcomes, all through into the future. In the first reading, Moses tells the Isr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 11, 2025, Tuesday of the first week in Ordinary Time (God Knows )

-
 "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him" Recently, I started listening to Scott Hahn’s Lenten reflections on the Seven Last Words of Jesus. In his introductory talk, he reflects on the significance of the number seven in both the Bible and Christian tradition. He also draws a connection between the seven last words of Jesus and the seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer. The Our Father is the most beautiful prayer in Christian tradition because Christ Himself taught  us this prayer. Dr. Hahn explains that the Seven Last Words are especially significant because they were spoken in the midst of unimaginable suffering. Crucified individuals could barely breathe, let alone speak, due to the sheer physical strain. Yet, Jesus spoke seven profound statements from the cross—words that reveal His heart and mission. When it comes to the Our Father, I believe the same is true. Jesus could have given us a much longer prayer, but He chose to include only seven essential petitio...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: Monday of the first week in Lent (Love)

-
 "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."  Yesterday, one of our youths gave an inspiring testimony at all our Sunday Masses, sharing her experience from the Youth 2000 retreat. She shared that she has been comfortable in her relationship with Jesus and that gave her the impression that her faith in the Lord was good enough. But from the retreat, she realized something profound: That if you are in a comfort zone in your love for God, then your relationship with Him is not growing. God is infinite love, the supreme good. He can never be outdone in generosity; He can never be outdone in love. That means, the more we love Him, the more we will receive His love, and the more we will be transformed. Her sharing made me reflect deeper. So, how then should my love for God be? I do believe that I can do more for God, we can never love Him enough, there is always room for better, stronger, greater, deeper love for this great big God of ours. And one of the most beaut...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 8, 2025, Satruday after the Ash Wednesday (Call of Levi)

-
 He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.  Have you watched the TV series about Jesus, The Chosen? Which is your favorite character? I personally love the character of Matthew. With poetic imagination, they beautifully presented this scene when Jesus called out to Matthew and how he responded spontaneously to the call. I remember watching Jesus walk past Matthew’s tax collection booth, and they both locked eyes, just before Jesus called out to him. It was exciting to see the way Matthew looking shocked at first and then disregarding even the Roman guard’s attempts to stop him, Matthew just went out of his booth and left his high-paying job forever, without looking back. It almost seems as if Matthew had been waiting, and waiting for someone to reach out to him, someone to invite him, call him and give him a good reason to change his life. As a tax collector, Matthew was trapped between two worlds. His own Jewish people rejected h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: March 4, 2025, Tuesday of the Eight week in Ordinary time (Empty Handed)

-
 "Appear not before the LORD empty-handed, for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts."  One of our parish volunteers who gives rides to refugee families to bring them for Sunday Mass shared an incident with me. One day, she arrived at a house to pick up a family as usual, but they were reluctant to go to church. When she asked them why, the children responded, “We have no money to put in the collection basket.” Oh, my heart ached to hear that. The church needs money, but God does not. Yet the refugee families in our parish, who have barely enough for themselves, would refuse to come before the Lord empty-handed. They are so eager to give. Our parish is special, our Sunday collections always receive hundreds of one-dollar bills. I presume these are small offerings given with great love. Just like the poor widow who gave two small coins, she won Jesus’ praise for giving her all. Our Lord does not count the dollars, He weighs the sincerity. The first reading tells...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 1, 2025: First Holy Communion Homily: St. Joseph's Catholic Church Seffner, Florida

-
Did you listen attentively to the Gospel reading? Yes? Let me test you… What did Jesus say? Did He say, “Whoever eats my bread and drinks my wine?”  No! He said, “Whoever eats my FLESH and drinks my BLOOD remains in me and I in him.” Yes, when you receive Holy Communion, you are receiving the real flesh and blood of Jesus. I am sure Fr. Roy, your catechists, parents and the whole parish community have prepared you well for this day, so you know what you are receiving today. But what I want to focus on now is the last part where Jesus says, ‘remains in me and I in him’. 29 years ago in 1996, I received my First Holy Communion. I was eight years old, but I still remember that day vividly. I remember the preparations, my First Reconciliation, and the excitement I felt when I lined up to receive Jesus for the very first time. I remember seeing the priest dipping the Precious Body into the Precious Blood, and then that precious moment – Jesus’ body and blood rested on my tongue. So swee...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 25, 2025, Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (Undisappointed Hope)

-
 “Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed?”  I have read this passage many times before, but it struck me differently this time. The message of hope resonates so deeply with me since this year is the Jubilee Year of Hope.  Romans 5:5: “Hope does not disappoint us.” We are pilgrims of hope, our pilgrimage is a journey of hope, and we are assured that when we place our hope in the Lord, we will not be disappointed. Have you ever been disappointed? Probably yes. And that could be because we were hoping the Lord will meet our expectations. We placed our desires in your own ambitions, and hoped the Lord would satisfy us and please us, He probably did or didn’t. Well, that is not the hope of faith we are talking about here. The answer becomes clear when we study the generations that came before us. If I think about my own parents and grandparents, they lived devout and pious lives. Their only hope was in the Lord and Hi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 24, 2025, Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (Faith)

-
 “Everything is possible to one who has faith.” There’s a story about a small town which endured a severe drought for many years. The whole town had not seen a drop of rain in years. Finally, in desperation, the townspeople asked their priest to lead a day of prayer for rain. On the appointed day, everyone gathered in the town square to pray. Hundreds of people came, but only one man brought an umbrella. We pray and we plead with God, but do we have faith in our prayer? Or do we not have faith in God? Jesus lamented in today’s Gospel text, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?”  We can feel Jesus’ frustration, disappointment, and sadness. His disciples could not cast out a demonic spirit because they lacked faith, they lacked prayer, they were not connected with God. “He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”” So, the disciples did not pray, they did not call on the Lord’s name, they acted independently. In the G...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 23, 2025 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Love enemies)

-
 “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28) Love and hate are two very powerful human emotions that can heal or kill. Love can heal deep wounds and great divisions, while hatred can drive one to destroy lives and shatter peace. With love we can forgive, through hate we create fear. In the first reading, we see David and Abishai entering the camp of Saul’s 3,000 strong army, crept into where the king was sleeping soundly. David had good reason to hate Saul and the perfect opportunity to kill him, but he chose not to. David chose to love and honor God who anointed Saul.  26 years ago, Graham Staines, an Australian Christian missionary who took care of lepers in North India, was burnt alive by extremists, along with his two young sons. The attackers were fueled by hatred. Yet, just days after the deadly attack, Graham’s widow, Gladys Staines, publicly forgave the murderers, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 22, 2025 Feast of the chair of St. Peter.

-
 “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”  Our Lord founded the Church and handed over its growth and development into the future, to Peter. Note that the disciple is Simon, but the pope is Peter. Thus, this appointment to build the church, an appointment so solid like a rock, will be so strong and firm that not even hell could ever overcome it. Simon Peter was not perfect; he had his human weaknesses. It is written that he had cowardly denied Jesus three times, and at one point, Jesus even rebuked him, “Get behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:23). Christian Tradition also tells that during the time of persecution in Rome, he had tried to escape and flee from Rome. The story continued that on his way along the road outside the city, he met our Lord Jesus where he asked, “Quo vadis, Domine?” - “Where are you going Lord?” To which our Lord replied, “Romam eo iterum crucifigī” – “I a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 18, 2025, Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (Leaven)

-
 Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” What is ‘the leaven of the Pharisees’ and ‘the leaven of Herod’? In this passage, Jesus must have been trying to teach His disciples something very important, but they were all thinking about food, specifically about bread, such that they didn’t understand what He was teaching. Who can blame them? Like all of us, they too had practical concerns, they were worried about the lack of food on the journey. But Jesus was trying to warn them of something more worrying, something which will not just keep them hungry, but will also destroy life. Recently, during my vacation with my sister, I listened to a Bible podcast she was following. Coincidentally, that episode was discussing the significance of the unleavened bread in the Old Testament. Why did God command the Israelites in Egypt to eat unleavened bread for their Passover feast? 1. Because they had to eat in haste, to finish their m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 17, 2025 Monday of the sixth week in Ordinary time (genration of sin)

-
"Where is your brother Abel?" We are now in the fourth chapter of Genesis. Before this, we read about the first sin of mankind – disobedience - when Adam and Eve did what they were told not to do. They lived in a perfect world and had dominance over everything, but they were discontented and were tempted by greed. Sin did not stop there; it was passed on to the next generation. In this chapter, we see Cain committing a grave sin - he killed his brother Abel. He was discontented with God’s favor on Abel and was tempted by pride. As we continue through Genesis, we see sin perpetuating and spreading through humanity. The Lord had warned Cain that “sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.” Eve, Adam, Cain and every one of us are tempted by sin, yet we can be its master. The moment we let it enter our heart, and leave it unchecked, it will deepen its hold on us and enslave us. Jesus says, “Everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” (John 8:...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 15, Saturday of the Fifth week in Ordinary time (Refuge)

-
 “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.” Today's responsorial psalm is deeply moving if we take the time to meditate on the words and meaning. God is our refuge, our hiding place, our safe haven. When I was little, every time my siblings and I made our mommy angry, we would always run into my grandpa’s room to escape from mommy. Because grandpa would always protect us, and mommy would not beat us in his presence. He was our best protection, our safest shield from punishment. But of course, when mommy cools down, grandpa would advise us to apologize to her and remind us not to upset her again. Our God is like that. He is the One who can protect us from all danger to our souls and shield us from evil. But we must run to Him. In the first reading, we hear about the moment when Adam and Eve sinned. For the first time in their life, they experienced shame, guilt, darkness, failure, sadness, and brokenness. Instead of taking refuge in God, they tried to hide from Him in shame. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 11, 2025, Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time (Multiply)

-
 God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it." What do you think? Does God’s command to multiple and fill the earth with humans and more humans logical? Is the world’s resources sufficient for all to consume and enjoy? Honestly, I take pride that I come from India, it is the most populous country in the world. Its current population is four times the USA. The Western world has, in the past, often ridiculed India for its massive and growing population, considering such population a burden and its continued growth a crisis. International organizations have invested heavily in promoting products and schemes to help reduce India’s population. Government clinics and hospitals have pressured women to exercise birth control. Among indigenous and poor communities, sterilizations were often performed without the women’s consent. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has even spent millions to promote such practices, primarily targeting poorer ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 10, 2025 Monday of the Fifth week in Ordinary time (Good)

-
 "God Saw How Good It Was." I love to read the story of creation, to visualize how it all started, the see our origin, the source of our being. God, in His infinite love, created the world to express His goodness, and made humanity the crown of His creation, to reflect His perfection. His expression was good. His reflection was good. Everything He created was good because each of His creation had a purpose for existence, a place in the world, a special relationship with Him. There was unique beauty in each, and harmony as a whole. His grace was in everything. He could see it. It was truly good. We know that as the story continued, the beauty and perfection were shattered soon after, by the sin of man, God’s masterpiece of all His created beings. Superficially, we see that God’s creation was destroyed. However, if we look around the world today, we can still see glimpses of the original goodness. A newborn baby. A full bloom flower. A bright rising sun. We can see how good it ...
1 comment
Read more

Homily: February 9, 2025, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Effective Grace)

-
 "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective." St. Paul, the great apostle of Christ, speaks these words with profound humility, giving all credit and glory to God for the great work he is doing. His humility also expressed his full obedience which allowed God’s grace to work effectively through him. Yet if we look at St. Paul’s life, especially after he took up the apostolic ministry for Christ, it was full of hardships and sufferings. His life took a drastic turn from a powerful persecutor of Christians to a passionate preacher for Christ after Christ called him. He endured terrible persecutions and merciless torture thereafter. Through this painful fire in the furnace, God molded him into His most effective instrument of mercy and love, not only during his lifetime but for generations ahead. The church today is the beneficiary of God’s grace through St. Paul’s labor. Do you also encounter struggles and challenges in your work for G...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: February 1, 2025 Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Faith of Abraham)

-
 "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go." When I first read this passage, I became curious about the person and life of Abraham. Who is he? Why was he so faithful to a God whom he had never seen? I opened my Bible and read Genesis 12, titled ‘The call of Abraham’. It was how the history of salvation began. Abram’s life, before he was renamed Abraham, was stable and comfortable. He probably had all that he needed and could just relax and enjoy his life into old age. But when he heard the call of God to leave his comfortable home, he trusted, packed up and left. The amazing fact is that he did not even know where he was to go. Thereafter, his life was full of challenges, yet he remained faithful to God. He heard God’s voice deep within his heart, lived with full confidence in God, trusting in His constant presence in his life. Faith is just that - a consistent and fir...
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily: January 28, 2025, Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Do your will)

-
 “Then I said, As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.” When I was little and growing up on the farm, I didn’t know much about the world beyond my village and parish. I had imaginations about my future, but my dreams were simple and centered around my little village. I wanted to be a farmer, a successful one, to earn lots of money from my bountiful crops, I will buy more land, build a nice house, own a car, get married and live happily ever after. Yes, it was a fairy tale dream. It made me happy and hopeful every time I imagined this perfect life of my future. But one day, all my dreams were broken. God has another plan for me, He called, and I said yes. So no land, no farm, no house, no married life. But I believe this vocation will lead me to a happily-ever-after life after all. My vocation has taken me far away from the village and country where I thought I would live for the whole of my life. I’ve worked in and visited over 23 countries, taken ...
Post a Comment
Read more