Homily, June 1, 2022, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

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 “And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated”. This is Jesus’ prayer for His disciples, and His prayer for us who believe in Him.

What does it mean to be consecrated?

It means to be set aside for holiness, to be anointed for God’s purpose, to be devoted totally to God.

Jesus consecrated Himself for the disciples and for us. And by that, we too may be consecrated to God, to be set aside for God’s purpose of salvation, mercy and love.

In the book of Genesis chapter 28, Jacob anointed a stone with oil, dedicated that place to God and named it Bethel. Thus, Bethel became part of salvation history. Samuel anointed David and the little shepherd boy became the king of Israel. Jesus consecrated His disciples, anointed them with the Holy Spirit and these simple fishermen became powerful fishers of men.

Consecration empowers and transforms. It gives new purpose, new identity, new mission to the consecrated.

Once, I attended a Cistercian ordination rite. The newly ordained monk turned to four directions: north, south, west and east, to say goodbye to the world. The symbolism is deep and meaningful. He no longer belonged to the world, and the world no longer belonged to him. His being ordained set him aside totally for God’s purpose. From then on, he will live for God only.

We too, were anointed with the sacred chrism oil on the day of our baptism. We became adopted sons and daughters of God, set us aside from the world to live for God. We no longer belong to the world. We belong to Jesus, for His mission, for our salvation and the salvation of all.

Are we conscious of this beautiful truth? Do we think about this purpose of our being? Do we let the world influence us into materialistic, anxious, selfish people or do we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into completed image and likeness of God?

St. Paul also prayed for the Ephesian Church, “And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated”.

May we too receive the same inheritance prepared for the consecrated people of God. Amen.

Fr. Nivin Scaria 


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Homily: November 16, 2024 Saturday of the Thirty Second week in Ordinary time (Find Faith)

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Homily:August 18, 2024, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Wisdom)

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 “Let whoever is simple turn in here; To the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!” This generous invitation in today’s first reading is from Lady Wisdom. This reading is taken from Chapter 9 of the Book of Proverbs which portrays two women: Lady Wisdom and Dame Folly. Our first reading presents only the invitation of Lady Wisdom. She invites us, ‘whoever is simple’, to her home to enjoy the real good life, one of understanding and food good for our body and soul, while Dame Folly attracts people to destruction. Many people seek wisdom, sometimes for unwise reasons, often in the wrong places, and in the wrong ways. Wisdom is unlike knowledge and intellect, it is not something we can gain through studying or hard work, it does not come automatically with age or experience; it is ultimately a gift from the Holy Spirit. In Proverbs 2:6, it says ‘For the Lord gives wisdom…” I am very blessed to have met many wise people who in ...
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