Category Archives: YEAR C

Year C

Year C – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

CHRIST THE KING It was to challenge some unkind kings that (one of the reasons) the feast of today was introduced by Pope Pius XI in 1925. It was a warning against the totalitarian governments of the 20th century. It … Continue reading

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Year C – Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Day of the Lord (Lk 21:5-19) I was rushing to catch a bus to college. Two young men accosted me in a rather friendly manner. I was almost near the bus stop, so I stopped by to listen to … Continue reading

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Year C – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A FRUITFUL PRAYER LIFE Introduction: Spirituality does not consist in following some rituals or doing some spiritual exercises such as vocal prayers, novenas, pilgrimages etc. Limiting oneself to these things will lead to religiosity. Today’s readings invite us to begin … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Perseverance in Prayer (Luke 18: 1-8) In life we look at the quality of perseverance in different ways in like. If a young child is persistent we say the child is bold, if politicians are persistent we say they are … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

He threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him (Lk 17:11-19) A few years back, while back in India for holidays, I was once traveling by train. It was past the lunch time and I was anxiously waiting … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

“We have done no more than our duty” (Lk 17:5-10) The Spirituality of Daily life In the late 1990’s, CNN, the American news channel, ran an ad in the print media that made a deep impression on me: not necessarily … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Responsibility Towards Others! Readings: Amos 6: 1, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6: 11-16 Luke 16: 19-31; There are times when we look at ourselves and honestly feel that we are living good lives because we are not doing anything wrong to … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Use Money to Win You Friends (Lk 16:1-16) A clear message in the gospels: Renunciation The gospel of this Sunday, this is one of the repeated themes in the gospels: · In the Beatitudes, Jesus begins with a counter-cultural statement, … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Lost Son (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) Today is one of those days when I feel a homily might steal the gospel reading of its depth. The parable that we heard read is a much-quoted story and we are all too … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Remember, you are following a martyr! (Lk 14:25-33) Our world today has too many celebrities and very few heroes. Our contemporary culture focuses so much on celebrities. The media hypes up stars in sports, entertainment, and popular culture. Often these … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Virtue of Humility Humility, the forgotten virtue? There is an online test for these character strengths, also referred to as “Values in Action” (https://www.viacharacter.org/www/ ). This survey would point out to you your most developed and least developed character … Continue reading

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Year C – Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Narrow Door (Lk13:22-30) When you were in school, did you prefer easy-going teachers to demanding ones? In the gospel reading of today, Luke presents Jesus as a demanding teacher. This portrayal of Jesus is very unlike Luke. For instance, … Continue reading

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Year C – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Disturb me, Lord…! When I read the gospel reading of today, a phrase kept coming back to me very spontaneously. It was the first line of a prayer that I had heard before. I googled and came across this poem-prayer, … Continue reading

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Year C – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Spiritual Capital: Treasures in Heaven (Lk 12:32-48) During the course of the past week, I happened to chance upon a former student of mine, thanks to the Facebook. We had a brief chat. I was intrigued by what he was … Continue reading

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Year C – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seek the Things that are in Heaven (Lk 12:13-21) “What stone?” asked the sage. “Last night I was told in a dream that if I went to the outskirts of the village at dusk, a sage would give me a … Continue reading

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Year C – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ask, Seek, Knock (Lk 11:1-13 Let me begin with a story from Tony de Mello – shortened here: The village priest was a holy man so each time the people were in trouble they had recourse to him. He would … Continue reading

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Year C – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mary sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. (Lk 10:38-42) One of the realities that we notice in urban life today, across the globe, is speed. I feel sucked into speed. I get into a car … Continue reading

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Year C – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Moved with pity… he went up and bandaged his wounds (Lk 10:25-37) There are many parables that are unique to the Gospel of Luke. The parable of the lost son (Lk 15:11-32), the parable of Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31), the parable … Continue reading

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Year C – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SHARE THE GOOD NEWS Start off now, I am sending you out… A few years ago, a priest wrote a short reflection in the Diocesan Newsletter of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya. The reflection was entitled, “Away with Motorcars and … Continue reading

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Year C – Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Are we ready to follow Jesus! There are several films on Jesus. Each movie has its own take on the life and message of Jesus as narrated by the Gospels and, sometimes also, using extra-biblical sources. One of my own … Continue reading

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Year C – Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

CORPUS CHRISTI The blood transfusion Shortly after undergoing major surgery, a woman decided to put her thoughts in writing. She wrote: ‘When someone said that when Jesus referred to the Passover wine as his blood, and then shared it with … Continue reading

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Year C – Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Three Persons in One: The God of Relationship Social scientists these days are pointing out the increase of spirituality in the contemporary world, a spirituality that is not only distinct but often separate from institutional religion. According to one author, … Continue reading

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Year C – Pentecost Sunday

Receive the Holy Spirit In the recent years I have been travelling and living in different cultural contexts. The question, “Where do you come from,” has become so difficult for me to answer. I am sure, these days many people … Continue reading

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Year C – The Ascension of the Lord

Eyes Fixed on Heaven and Feet Firm on the Earth Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:3) that Jesus was seen in his risen form for forty days. After those forty days, Jesus was no more … Continue reading

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Year C – Sixth Sunday of Easter

I am going away, and shall return John 14:23-29 Have you ever felt that Jesus was absent in your life? Have you ever felt that God was far away? Sometime back I was talking to a young friend of mine … Continue reading

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Year C – Fifth Sunday of Easter

Love one another, just as I have loved you From the Golden Rule to a Programme of Life Many Diocesan Catechisms, after listing the Ten Commandments would immediately add, “And these can be summarised in two Commandments: –‘You must love … Continue reading

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Year C – Fourth Sunday of Easter

I am known to the Shepherd (Jn 10:27-30) With the increasing urban life, young people of today might think, oranges are just churned out of factories. The only fruits that they may be familiar with are: Apple products, Black-berries and … Continue reading

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Year C – Third Sunday of Easter

Peter’s Mentor: The Beloved Disciple (Jn 21:1-19) In the liturgy, since the beginning of the Easter Triduum (the three days before Easter), through the Eastertide we hear so much from the Gospel of John. In the passion narrative and in … Continue reading

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Year C – Divine Mercy Sunday

In Jesus, I trust. One day a nurse at a hospital heard cries of ‘Help! Help!” coming from the room of a 96 year old woman who had broken her hip. They rushed in to find that she was just … Continue reading

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Year C – EASTER – The Resurrection of the Lord

WITNESS IS ONE WHO “SAW” THE LORD The words with which John begins his first letter are moving: “What we have heard and have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at, and touched with our hands, I … Continue reading

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Year C – Easter Vigil

DO NOT LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD We Christian are convinced we are custodians of an excellent project of humanity and society. We are proud if the noble and elevated moral proposal that we preach is recognized. We … Continue reading

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Year C – Good Friday

WE CONTEMPLATED A LOVE STRONGER THAN DEATH The dramatic agony on the cross has often led the preachers of the past to insist excessively on the gory aspects of Jesus’ passion. From this preaching, images, popular representations, and some devotions, … Continue reading

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Year C – Maundy Thursday

JESUS: BROKEN BREAD, OFFERED AS NOURISHMENT Among the many names by which the Eucharist was called, the one that best expresses the meaning and richness of the sacrament is the breaking of the bread. The disciples of Emmaus recognized the … Continue reading

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Year C – Palm Sunday

The King on a Pony en route to Die Lk 19:28-40 (Before the Procession) Today we begin the week of weeks in the liturgical calendar: the Holy Week. Today we begin the commemoration of the high points in the history … Continue reading

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Year C – Fifth Sunday of Lent

The Man Caught In Adultery! Jesus was teaching in the temple in the midst of his disciples, when some Pharisees and the Scribes brought to him a man who was caught in the very act of adultery. “Master, this man … Continue reading

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Year C – Fourth Sunday of Lent

The Good Boy and the Bad Boy (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) SToday is one of those days, when I feel, a homily might steal the gospel reading of its depth. The parable that we heard read is a much-quoted story and … Continue reading

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Year C – Third Sunday of Lent

The God Who Offers Me A Second Chance (Lk 13:1-9) Is the God you believe in, a coach or a referee? What does a coach do, for instance, in the context of football? He trains his team before the match. … Continue reading

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Year C – Second Sunday of Lent

Our Families and Transfiguration Climbing the mountain, we normally have those who pitch their tents at the base and enjoy what life gives them; campers as we would call them. The others are like the hikers who climb the mountain; … Continue reading

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Year C – First Sunday of Lent

The Journey through the Wilderness Pleasure, Possessions, Power It is this journey that the Season of Lent reminds us of! It is the nature of this journey that the gospel reading of today narrates to us from the life of … Continue reading

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Year C – Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When it Comes to Conversion, it is I First! In one of his daily sermons (on 19 May 2017), Pope Francis said, some people “use rigidness to cover weaknesses, sins, personality flaws, and they use rigidness to rank themselves above … Continue reading

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Year C – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Compassion is Christian Perfection We continue to listen to the Sermon on the Plains from the Gospel of Luke (6:12-49). Last Sunday we reflected on the Lukan version of the Beatitudes. What we come across in Luke is a briefer … Continue reading

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Year C – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

People of the Beatitudes! Readings: Jer 17: 5-8; 1 Cor 15: 12, 16-20; Luke 6: 17, 20-26; If anyone said to us, “You are blest because you are poor, hungry, sad and rejected”, we would think that person was crazy. … Continue reading

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Year C – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I say, “Leave me, Lord!” God says, “Do not be afraid!” Lk 5 There is this musical called, ‘The Witness’ by Jimmy & Carol Owens. It is a musical which narrates the life and ministry of Jesus as witnessed by … Continue reading

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Year C – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Lk 4:21-30) The Rejection of God Have you ever been rejected by a group of people? If you are a teacher – and a capable one, you might have an experience of being rejected by a class. If you are … Continue reading

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Year C – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR (Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21) One of the popular books that have inspired me a great deal is The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Supposedly, the book has sold more than 15 million … Continue reading

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Year C – Solemnity of Our Lady of Arabia

(Celebrated on 14, 15 & 16 January 2022) The central message of the song is clear: the marginalized as well as the oppressed of society are central figures in God’s sight; God does His best work with powerless people; God’s … Continue reading

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Year C – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

God is here: There is abundance! (Jn 2:1-11) Today we begin the Sundays in Ordinary Time of the liturgical year. This year, generally we would listen to the gospel readings from the Gospel of Luke. However, this Sunday we read … Continue reading

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Year C – The Baptism of the Lord

Called to be Active Participants Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. With this feast we conclude the Christmastide. What could this feast mean for us? To answer this question, first we need to ask ourselves … Continue reading

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Year C – The Epiphany of the Lord

ENCOUNTERING JESUS The Gifts Gold, frankincense and myrrh may be thought of as prophesying Jesus’ future. Gold was a gift for kings; frankincense (an ancient air purifier and perfume) was offered to God in Temple worship (Ex. 30:37); and myrrh … Continue reading

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Year C – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

MARY MOTHER OF GOD Let us as we begin this Eucharist that is, THANKSGIVING, by bringing to our mind the many things we would like to thank the Good Lord that we received in 2021. To prepare ourselves to enter … Continue reading

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Year C – CHRISTMAS – The Nativity of the Lord

GOD IS WITH US Introduction: We have come today to celebrate “God is with us” (Emmanuel). For the past four weeks we have been preparing ourselves spiritually to welcome Jesus in our lives, just as God from all eternity has … Continue reading

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Year C – Fourth Sunday of Advent

THE LORD IS NEAR We have arrived at the final Sunday of Advent. As it is always, some of us have come to this day prepared and ready; some of us have come in disarray and a near state of … Continue reading

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Year C – Third Sunday of Advent

JOYFUL WAITING INTRODUCTION We are at the half way mark in our preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is good to look into our lives and check out what has been our progress and preparation to receive … Continue reading

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Year C – Second Sunday of Advent

Prepare the Way of the Lord! Bar 5:1-9; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6 As we enter deeper into Advent the call is to keep hoping in the Lord and believing that God will come and change our lives. What prevents … Continue reading

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Year C – First Sunday of Advent

TAKE HEED AND BE PREPARED! Jer 33:14-16; 1 Thes 3:12–4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36; As the year comes to an end we are beginning a new season, the season of Advent. Advent is a season of hope, a season of renewal. … Continue reading

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