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Mar 7, 2010 - "Have You Accepted Jesus as Your Personal Lord and Savior?" |
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Third Sunday of Lent
Today's Scripture
“Have you accepted Jesus as you personal Lord and Savior?” It is not uncommon that either at work, or a stranger at the door, or at a grocery store has asked you that question. Catholics often scoff at evangelical Christians who ask that most celebrated question, “Is Jesus Christ your personal Lord and savior?” “Well, Yeah!” any Catholic will proudly answer. And yet, ask any Catholic to explain their personal relationship with God – they are at a loss. An evangelical Christian, on the other hand, you could not stop them talking about their personal Lord and Savior. It is not that Catholics do not have their strengths. What defines Catholics is the sense of community – the sacraments, particularly Sunday mass. The difference between evangelicals and Catholics is that Catholics do not think of themselves as lone individuals on a personal journey toward salvation. Catholics think of themselves as part of a mass of humanity moving together toward God. But I wonder if Catholics should also focus deeply on their personal relationship even as they live that faith in a community.
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Feb 28, 2010 - God on Human Grounds... |
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Second Sunday of Lent
Today's Scripture
One of my preoccupations these days has been personal conversations with people who seek spiritual direction. It is not unusual that I meet with eight to ten people each week. Most people come because they would like another perspective on an issue or a vexing situation. But most people come because they would like to find God in the midst of their daily life. Take for example, Jane and Larry Walling, who lost their son in a car accident. They were at the healing mass last Wednesday. They sobbed and wept as we prayed for them. Their most important concern is to know that God is there for their son. They want to know that God is there for them. They want to feel God’s presence in the midst of their pain. The most comforting thing for people and for me is to discover that God is with us; that God understands us; that God still makes sense to us; that God is alive for us.
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Feb 21, 2010- Face Your Temptations |
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First Sunday of Lent
Today's Scripture
I was listening to an interview with Sandra Bullock about her movie The Blind Side. She is nominated for the best actress award at the upcoming Oscar. Because she is so well acclaimed as an actress, the interviewer asked her what it meant for her to be in such control of her life and career. I thought her answer was insightful. Sandra said, “I am not in control of anything. It takes many people to make a film. They are in control. The only thing we are in control of,” she said “is the power to say “NO.”” The comment is debatable but I sure think that our power to say “NO” can reveal much about us. Think about it this way. Imagine if the first man and woman would have said "NO" to the Devil. Imagine that Christ did not say "NO" to the Devil. Imagine that greedy bankers said "NO" to unbridled profit…
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Feb 14, 2010 - One of the Crowd or A Disciple? |
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Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Scripture
I come from a predominantly Hindu nation. 83% of the population in India is Hindu. Christians form merely 2.5% of the population. Since its independence in 1947 India has been the largest democracy in the world. Its culture, its traditions and its emphasis on education make me very proud. It is also a spiritual land – a land that gave the world Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. But I am most proud of my country because it gave the modern world an understanding of the concept of “non-violence.” Mahatma Gandhi taught India and the world that even the most powerful enemy can be defeated through the power of non-violence. He introduced the concept “Satyagraha,” or “truth-struggle.” Martin Luther King Junior in America and Nelson Mandela in South Africa adopted Gandhi’s strategies and brought freedom and justice to their own people. Most people, however, do not know that one of the major influences in Gandhi’s life and was Christ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, particularly the Beatitudes. My own opposition to wars and violence in general stem from my understanding of Christ and Gandhi’s practical application of Christ’s teaching a political situation.
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Feb 7, 2010 - "Here I Am" |
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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Scripture
The one, single, most significant question the each person must grapple with is, “What is the purpose of my life?” At some point in life - for me it was at a younger age, for some it is at retirement, for others when they have survived an accident, for others at a serendipitous moment – they are confronted with the question of the deeper meaning of life. Today, the scriptures pose the same question to us. But fortunately, scripture does not leave us without some answers. It is my hope in this homily to explore both this question and provide some answers from the biblical perspective.
As an introduction, let me say a few words about today’s readings. All the three readings are, what we term, “call narratives or stories of people being called by God for achieving specific purposes). There are many call narratives in the Bible and three of them are in today’s readings - Isaiah in the first reading, Paul in the second reading, and Peter in the gospel. I would like to explore the common characteristics of these narratives and draw some practical implications for them.
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