Homily: June 2, 2025, Monday of the seventh week of Easter (Trouble)

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 “In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Do you read horoscopes?

Growing up in India living among Hindu neighbors and friends, I was introduced to the Hindu version of astrology since young. Based on my date and time of birth, the elders in my home community told me that my birth star was Revathi, a sign which foretold that my life would be peaceful, prosperous and I would live in abundance. It sure sounded wonderful, but hard to believe.

In fact, looking at my life from young up till now, it has been quite the opposite. I lived through years watching my parents struggle to provide for our family of seven children with the bare minimum, hardly any prosperity to mention although we did have simple joys and fun amidst the hardship.

I do not believe at all in star fortune telling or horoscope reading. I believe instead in God’s will and His plans for me.

Our loving God who formed us, declares, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Our hope should be in Him, and our future is in His hands, if we let Him direct us. And will it all be smooth sailing and a bed of roses?

Not for all of us. Personally, I do believe when Jesus says, “In the world, you will have trouble.”

I don’t think there has been a single day in my life without some kind of trouble. Some troubles were created by me, especially when I was little, some troubles came from others, when they were little. And as I grew up and took on more responsibilities and ministries, I shared in the troubles of others and the community.

But the same Jesus who warned us of these troubles also reassured us that He has conquered the world. So to say that whatever trouble we face because of our faith, will soon pass and not matter anymore when Jesus comes again in full glory as King.

If we truly believe in God and follow Jesus closely, we will have challenges, inconvenience, discomfort and troubles. Our faith and ways will be questioned because the world cannot understand the way of Christ. Yet keeping to our commitment to a life in Christ will precisely make us a witness to His Truth.

Looking at us Christians and the troubles we bear joyfully, others will come to know our Lord, and we hope that they too will one day join us in following Jesus. Together, united with Christ, we will overcome the world.

Amen.


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“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you  and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” We are now in harvesting season. Many months before this, we were planting and pruning, now we see the results, the fruits, the produce. Our two readings today are also about producing and harvesting fruits. In the first reading the vineyard produced wild grapes instead of good grapes. What went wrong? If the vineyard owner had done everything right, and yet the vineyard brought forth wild grapes, then the problem must have been the soil? Yet it was a land set on the fertile hillside. There is nothing the vineyard owner could do than to let it waste and be cursed. In the Gospel, the story is not about the soil which could not produce, but the tenants who refused to give the produce back to the vineyard owner. What went wrong? The produce must have been good, and the tenants might have become greedy, and wanted to keep all the harvest to themselves and even planned to kill to take ov...
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