Homily: June 6, 2022, Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

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 According to St. John’s gospel, Jesus’ last words before He died is: “It is finished.” 

What is finished?

I did my Theology and post graduate studies in Rome, at the seminary Pontificio Collegio Internazionale Maria Mater Ecclesiae, the name means ‘Mary, Mother of the Church’. Outside the chapel, there was a beautiful mosaic image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For six years I walked in and out of that place daily, I must have seen it more than two thousand times, yet all through those years, I had never stopped to appreciate that image or to reflect deeper about it. I was oblivious to Mary’s presence in my life.

But now as I look back, I can see how she has always been there for me. Mother Mary must have been looking at me as I walked in and out of the college struggling through my studies and difficulties, waiting to comfort me. I was not aware, but she was watching out for me, all the time.

Mary, Mother of the church, like all good and loving mothers, has always been in our lives, she has always been in the life of church.

At the annunciation, Mary’s ‘yes’ to God made her the spouse of the Holy Spirit, she became the mother of God the Son. At the wedding feast in Cana, Mary requested Jesus to ‘save the day’ for the bridal couple, she was and continues to be the intercessor for all our daily needs. In today’s first reading, we see the disciples ‘devoted themselves with one accord to prayer’ in the upper room with ‘Mary the mother of Jesus’ on the day of Pentecost. 

And in the Gospel, the passage specially chosen for today’s feast, we see Mary at the foot of the cross, contemplating the mystery of the suffering and death of her divine Son, Jesus. It was at that moment, that Mary became the Mother of the Church.

“Woman, behold your son…behold your mother.”

“It is finished.”

The original phrase in Latin is Consummatum est, which means ‘it is consummated’. The marriage is consummated, completed, two has become one, the relationship between Christ and His Church is brought to fruition. Jesus’ mission on earth is accomplished, finished, upon giving His mother to His disciples, His church.

In His coming, Jesus gave the world the gift of salvation. In His leaving, He gave all who believe in Him the gift of His mother.

From the womb to the tomb, she was there with Jesus. From Jesus’ leaving till His next coming, Mary will be here with His church. Nurturing, protecting, guiding us to Jesus. She is always watching over us, are we aware?

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

Fr. Nivin Scaria 


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Homily: February 27, 2022, Eight Sunday in the Ordinary Time

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For readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022722.cfm There were two brothers who lived debauched lives engaging in terrible deeds. They were notorious yet not at all ashamed. Then one brother died. The surviving brother asked the local pastor to preach at his brother’s funeral. The pastor, aware of the brothers’ background, was reluctant to do it. The brother then promised to donate a big sum of money to the church and begged the pastor to preach with a special request. “Father, in your homily, you just have to say that my brother was a saint.” The pastor thought about it and agreed. The funeral day came. The pastor began his homily, “The man laid in the casket was a rotter; he led a horrible and debauched life. He was truly rotten to the bone. But compared to his brother, he was a saint.” Saintly life or shoddy living – Would the priest at our own funeral have to be paid to tell a lie? It all depends on what kind of fruit we produce from the way we live. Usually, we cannot
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Homily: March 13, 2022, Sunday of the second Week of Lent

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Homily: November 20, 2023, Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Hope).

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"But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than be defiled with unclean food or profane the holy covenant, and they did die.” At the beginning of the first reading, the situation of the Israelites was disappointing. There were many ‘breakers of the law’ who ‘seduced’ their fellow Jews to discard their covenant with God. Many chose to disobey and disown God, and accepted the gods and deities of the Gentiles, believing that would protect their lives. They were quick to give up their faith in the generous God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses because of some difficulties and discomfort in life. That led to the persecution of the Jews during the time of the Maccabees. But when we come to the end of the reading, the determination of some of the Jews ‘not to eat anything unclean’ shows that there were many who kept the covenant with God and were faithful even in the face of death. There is hope. Looking at
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