Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Homily                                                                                             Date 22:02:2021

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Reflection by Fr. Gulsan Ekka

Today we celebrate the feast of the Chair of  St. Peter. It is the feast of  authority rather than the feast of wooden chair.  Jesus asked his disciple who do people say that I am? His disciples answered; some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, some say Jeremiah or  one of the prophets.  He asked to Peter, Peter who do you say I am, He answered You are the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus replied to Peter; flesh and blood has not revealed it to you but my Father in heaven. You are rock and on this rock I will build my Church. By uttering these words he blessed him and put him in his place as a prince of the apostles.   

St. Peter was the first one to preach after the Pentecost. He preached and defended Christ's teaching.

Today the Pope Francis represents St. Peter. Therefore we should follow his teaching. Today he invites us to built new society based on loving neighbors like good Samaritan.

In the first reading we are reminded of our responsibilities and duties.  St Paul urges us to do our responsibility not by compulsion but cheerfully be the example for the flock we are assigned to look after.

We feel sorry for those time when we misused our authority or neglected our responsibilities. We ask pardon from the Lord when we failed to set good example for others.

God is merciful, He forgives our every sin.  I confess to almighty God...

Compassion of God (Gn 3:9-24, Mk 8: 1-10)

Gn 3:9-24, Mk 8: 1-10

Both the readings speak about the compassion of God. 

When we sin we feel ashamed and afraid as felt by Adam and Eve. Even if we disobey His commandments and sin, He neither punishes nor leaves us alone. Instead he shows compassion when we acknowledge our sins. Instead of blaming one another, God teaches them to accept and take up the responsibility of their own mistake. At the end part of the reading we heard, God made for them garment of skin to cover up their shamefulness caused by sin. So also he forgives us and gives us new life, gives us opportunity to live the life a new, meaningfully. God is compassionate.

In the Gospel Jesus shows his compassion for the people who came to listen to him. He says they are with me since three days and have no food, if I send them away they will faint on the way. A compassionate heart can feel the pain of others.

From both the readings we are invited today to be compassionate like God.

Today we reflect upon;  Am I compassionate towards those who commit mistakes?

May God help us to be compassionate. Amen

FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH

vkt dFkfyd dfylh;k lar ;kslsQ dk ioZ eukrh gSA lar tkslsQ ,d /kehZ] deZB vkSj b'Okj HkDr FksA os ekrk ejh;e ds irh vkSj ;slq ds ikyd firk FksA vkb, bl ifo= ;Kesa ;ksX; fjrh ls Hkkx ysus ds yh, vius fd, gqos ikiks ds yh, iLPrki djsA

igyk vkSj nqljk ikB esa bZ'oj ds izfrKkvksa ds cjs ge lquus ik;sA bczfge ls bZ'oj izfrKk dh, Fks fd muds oa'k i`Foh ds mRrjkf/kdkjh gksaxsA bZ'oj vius izfrKkvksa dks iqjk djrs gSaA

igyk ikB esa ukrku dks ,d egRo iq.kZ ckr crkrs gSaA os dgrs gSa] rwEgkjk iq= esjs vknj esa ,d efUnj cuok;sxk vkSj eSa rqEgkjs jkT; dks lnk ds fy, lqn`<+ cuk nwaxkA eSa mldk firk gksmaxk vkSj og esjk iq= gksxkA ;kfn og cqjkb djsxk rks eSa mls n.M nqaxkA bl rjkg rqEgjk oa'k vkSj rqEgjk jkT; esjs lkeus cuk jgsxkA

tc ge cqjkbZ djrs gS rks bZ'oj gesa Hkh n.Mhr djrs gSa D;ksadh cqjkbZ gesa uLV djrh gSaA thou ds nq%[k] dLV] lE'k,sa vkSj fcekjh;k gessa bZ'oj ls nqj ugha oydh gejs fjLrks dks nq<+ cukfr gSA

lqlekpkj esa ;qlqQ ds fo'k; esa cr;k x; gsA ;qlqQ vius drZO;vksa dks HkfyHkkarh iqjk fd,A os /kehZ Fks blfy,s os ej;ke dks cnuke ugha fd,sA vius ftEesankjh dk;ksZ dks iqjk djus ds fy, os vkiuk nw%[k vkSj lq[k nksuks dks R;x nsrs gSaA

ge lHkh /kehZd thou fcrkrs gSa vkSj lcksadks lekt ds fgr ds fy, dqN ftEesnjh fn xbZgsA

;kgka miLFkhr lHkh dksbZ flD{d ds :i esa d;Zjr gSaA flD{d gksuk ,d cfM thesankjh gsA vkbZ, ge lar tkslsQ ds e/;kLRkrk ls izFkuk djs dh ge Hkh vius dRkO;ksa dks fuLoFkZ Hkko ls iqjk dj ldsA  vesuA

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Reflection
Genesis 3: 1-8
Mk 7: 31-37

Today's readings remained us of our relationship with God. By disobedience we are separated from Him. To be like God is not a sin. Jesus said be holy as my heavenly father is Holy. Our ultimate goal is to be like God in everything. Following the commandments of God we can become like Him.

Most of the time we disobey, we sin and feel guilty about it as Adam and Eve. But in psalm 32 we are assured that God forgives our sins when we acknowledge. Therefore we should not be afraid of Him.

In the gospel Jesus heals a man who is deaf and mute.

Pope Benedict XVI said "Since humanity is inwardly deaf and mute as a result of sin, God became man in the person of Christ so that we become able to hear the voice of God, Voice of love speaking to our heart, and learn to speak in the language of love.

Jesus Christ is the bridge between God and us. Lets come to him be saved.

Today we spend time to know our own weaknesses which separate us from God.

As we have heard the words of God, May the Lord enable us to hear and proclaim His word. Amen

Sin is like wave in the well

Sin is like wave in the well. When we through a stone in it a small wave is created and the small wave creates bigger and bigger wave at it reaches to the edge of the well. In the gospel we heard about the beheading of St. John the Baptist, caused by the revengeful attitude of Herodias. John the Baptist was a truthful man who stood for the truth and opposed the evil in the society. We are also call to stand for the truth and work for which we are called for.

In the first reading we are assured of God's care. Therefore lets be content with what we have. Let's not be greedy for money and other thing which diverts our mind and heart from the Lord.

Lets also be aware of little and small sins we commit everyday because small sins causes bigger sin up to killing of people.

May God bless us to be aware of our sins and get rid of it.

The Feast of Guardian Angels

 

Exo. 23: 20-23

Mt 18: 1-5,10

Today we celebrate the feast of Guardian angels. The word Angel comes from Greek word aggelos which means messenger. We have been taught from our child hood that everyone has a guardian angel.  They are appointed by God to  protect us and guide us for eternal life. As we celebrate the feast of Guardian angels we pray to God that we feel their presence in our lives...there are times when we were protected by our guardian angels but never acknowledged. Yesterday I was telling you that we are the messenger of peace. Today the messenger is the angel. Can we be guardian angel to each other. The angel brings good news, protects and guides one to attain eternal life.

To participate worthily in Holy Eucharist, we ask pardon form God.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The first reading is all about the angel. The first reading ends with : if you listen to what  he says and fulfill what I say to you, I will be enemy of your enemies. ...and so on...this is the assurance God gives us that he is always with us but he never forces... it is our free choice whether to be with Him or without Him.

In the Gospel Jesus speaks about a little child. A child is vulnerable. Those who are innocent, weak in the society physically and economically  are like a child who are  taken for a ride. Jesus warns us today not to despise one of these little ones.

Let's ask to oneself ; Have I ever neglected the vulnerable around me?

May God bless us with his words.

Saint Therese of Child Jesus

Today we  celebrates the feast of St. Therese of Child Jesus. She was born on 2nd January 1873 in a devout family. At the age of 15 she was admitted in Convent. She was favored by signal grace/ extraordinary grace, and advanced rapidly  and constantly in Holiness, so that at the age of 22 she was appointed novice mistress.

o   A child like simplicity

o   utter humility

o   constant self sacrifice

o   And a boundless love of God and trust in him were some of her most outstanding virtues.

She died young at the age 24, she neither had much education nor stepped outside her convent, yet, she is honored by the church as a doctor of the church, as one who understood the great mysteries of God and taught them to the world.

She is known for her little way,  which means doing even the smallest things with great love.

As we remember and celebrate  her feast we ask through her intercession that we may imbibe some of her good qualities and do our assigned works with great love for God.

To partake in today's Holy banquet worthily we cleanse ourselves by asking pardon from God for the sins committed.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today's reading reminds us that We all of us are messenger of peace.

Am I peaceful within to share peace with others. We visit families, friends and relatives, do I greet them with peace or before I leave their home do I pray for God's blessings on them.

I can give you only what I have.

Jesus is the King of peace we ask the blessings from him in this holy Eucharist that we will be a channel of peace in the world. May God bless us with his words.