Father's Weekly Message
Fr. Shaji Joseph Pazhukkathara
June 2021
6/24/2021 0 Comments
Restoration of Life.
Last Sunday we meditated on storms in life, and we were reminded God is with us. This Sunday readings invite us to meditate on life: suffering, healing, and death. The first reading begins with “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.” Then the question comes ‘where does death come from?’ We read in the book of Genesis, “The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die (2:16&17).” When they ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, God said to them, “By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust, you shall return Genesis 3:19.” In Romans 5:12, we read, “Just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, in as much as all sinned.” God created a life for immortality, but the devil brought death into the world. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus came to restore the creation.
We have the Gospel of Mark 5:21-43 about the healing of the Jairus’ daughter, and the woman who was afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. Both miracles show Jesus’ power over physical sickness. These both accounts are linked by figures of twelve. Jairus’ daughter was twelve years old, and the woman was sick for twelve years. Both needed healing.
Jairus requested to lay Jesus’ hand on her daughter and heal. Laying hands is an act of healing in the Bible. We read in the Acts of the Apostles 9:17&18, “So, Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized.” There are many other passages that show the laying of hands leads to healing. When Jairus got the message about the death of her daughter, Jesus encourages him to have faith. Jesus’ mercy touches the distressed and brought the little girl to life.
The woman who was suffering for twelve years from hemorrhages receiving healing by touching Jesus' garments secretly. Why did she touch him secretly? Book of Leviticus 15:25-30 explains the law a woman who has a flow of blood she should follow, should follow. The book of Leviticus says, “Anyone who touches them becomes unclean; that person shall wash his garments, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening (15:27).” Based on this law, made Jesus unclean. Instead of scolding her for her action, Jesus praises her faith.
In the second reading, St. Paul teaches Corinthians the self-emptying example of Jesus. Jesus embraces poverty to make us rich. Then Paul invites Corinthians and now us to share with others who are in need of our blessings. The charitable service Paul is promoting is seen briefly and in passing within the perspective of Paul’s theology of the charisms.
The readings invite us to reflect on our own faith journey. Jesus came to restore the creation, humanity. He did though heal the sick, raising the dead, liberating the imprisoned, and so on. Ultimately, he restored humanity through his passion, death, and resurrection. Through baptism, Jesus entrusts his ministry to us. It is not an easy one, but through Sacraments and especially thorough Eucharist, Jesus gives us nourishment to continue his ministry in our daily life. Let us come and celebrate the Eucharist as a community, then let us take with us the gift he shares, and share with one another in our daily life.
6/17/2021 0 Comments
Once I read a conversation between dad and son. It goes like this:
"Daddy, Daddy, can I have another glass of water please?"
"But I've given you 10 glasses of water already!"
"Yes, but the bedroom is still on fire!"
Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers! It is time to pause a moment, to pray for, and to reflect on our fathers whom we honor. On this Father's Day, let us remember our dads – living or dead – in a special way and offer on the altar of God during this Holy Mass, invoking our heavenly Father’s blessings on them. Today we celebrate, congratulate, and pray for the men who continue to reflect the divine qualities of fatherhood. Fathers are a blessing and we thank them for blessing us with lives of dedication, endurance, and love. Happy Father’s Day!!
This weekend reading reminds us that life can face some stormy moments, but God is with us, and with him everything is possible. God is the calming of the storm. The first reading is from the book of Job. The entire book addresses the problem of human suffering. We see Job deals with the agony of undeserved suffering. In this weekend reading, God address Job and questioning his right to challenge God, the Creator, and the Lord of the Sea. God speaks about the creation and confining of the sea. We read in the Book of Genesis 1:9, “Then God said: Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear. And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared.” The first reading emphasizes that only God can control the sea and storm.
We have the Gospel from Mark and he wrote to the Romans. They were going through persecution and Mark writes all kinds of miracles and shows the power of Jesus. The Gospel from March 4:35-41, talks about Jesus calms a storm on the sea. Mark prior to this passage talk about the mustard seed, its maturity, and comparison to the Kingdom of God, which is mostly connected to the internal world, then Mark describes the power of Jesus, in the external world, over wind and storm. The disciples are seasoned fishermen; normally they know what to do in those moments of storm. They might have tried, but they couldn’t succeed, so they wake Jesus up and asked for help. Jesus woke up, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” When Jesus cured the demoniac (Mark 1:25) said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit came out of the man with a loud cry. Jesus manifests his divinity by excessing authority over nature. Several Old Testament passages state that only God has the power to subdue the raging seas. We read in Psalm 89:9, “LORD, God of hosts, who is like you? Mighty LORD, your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule the raging sea; you still its swelling waves.”
The disciples were familiar with Old Testament passages and when they saw the wind obeyed Jesus’s order, they asked, “Who then is this whom even wind and the sea obey?” When Jesus cured the demoniac, all were amazed and said, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. (Mark 1:27)”
In the first reading God challenges Job, whether he can control the sea as God does. Job struggled in his suffering, the disciples terrified during the storm, but God’s presence gave hope and strength in both situations. At some point in life, do we all ask the question like disciples, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” There are so many writers who try to explain suffering, or tried to find answers for suffering. Only God can give us the right answer and give us hope. The book of Exodus 3:7 onwards describes the desire of God and his action to rescue his people from Egypt. The LORD said: “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry against their taskmasters, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them up from that land into a good and spacious land… (Exodus 3:7&8)” Jesus calms the storm and saved the disciples. But ultimately, he saved humanity through his crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus asked the disciples, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Today, he repeats to us the same question. Let us trust in his love.
6/11/2021 0 Comments
Happy Feast of St. Anthony
First of all, I wish you all a happy Feast of St. Anthony! One of our parishes is St. Anthony and every year we celebrated patron saint day. Unfortunately last year we didn’t get a chance to celebrate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year we were not sure, but we are celebrating in a simple way. Please come and join at 9:30 Mass. June 13 is the actual Feast day of St. Anthony and this year it falls on Sunday.
I don't know if you paid attention to the statue of St. Anthony. The statue of St. Anthony in Park Falls has lilies, Child Jesus, and a book. The lily is meant to remind us of St. Anthony’s purity and our own need to pray for the grace of purity in times of temptation. There is a book in his hand. According to the story, he had a hand-printed book of Psalms which was very important to him. He had notes and components to teach the students. He lost this book and St. Anthony prayed and the person who stole the book brought it back. That is where the tradition of praying to St. Anthony for the stolen items began. There are many versions of St. Anthony cradling the Christ child. The popular one is St. Anthony had traveled to a local hermitage to spend time in prayer. One night, while deep in prayer, Jesus appeared to him as a child. The room filled with light and laughter as St. Anthony held the Christ child in his arms. The owner of the hermitage was curious about seeing the light, came to investigate, but was surprised to see St. Anthony and the Christ child. When the vision ended, St. Anthony found the honor of the house on his knees at the door. St. Anthony begged him not to share the story until after Anthony’s death. Let us ask the intercession of St. Anthony for each one of us, our families, and the cluster Community.
Let us look at the reading for this Sunday. This weekends reading tells us about the birth and growth of the Kingdom of God. The first reading from Ezekiel tells us the Lord will plant the topmost branches of cedar on the mountain of Israel, that will become a tree where there will dwell all beasts and birds. Ezekiel wrote this passage during the Babylonian exile. The oracle of Ezekiel talks about the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom which sheds light on the parable of the mustard seed in today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:26-34). The shoot refers to the descendants of the David Kingdom which we read in Isaiah 11:1 “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus, from the house of David, talks about the Kingdom of heaven.
We read two parables for this Sunday. Jesus takes the natural growth of a seed to explain the growth of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God visibly matures like a grain. In the first parable, the maturing of the grain signifies our increase in faith and virtue. The second parable of the mustard seed leads us to look at the smallest seed which brings the great shrub and gives the home for the birds of the sky. The imagery Jesus brings here is drawn from the Old Testament, the oracle that describes the dominion of Babylon (Daniel 4:10-12), Egypt (Ezekiel 31:1-6), and Israel (Ezekiel 17:22-24) which is our first reading.
Jews were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Most of them expected a political Messiah who is going to liberate Israel from the Romans. For the Pharisees, the Kingdom of God is the absolute observance of the Mosaic Law. Jesus’ Kingdom of God starts in human hearts here on earth and is completed in heaven, where we experience its fullness. The Word of God is a seed that needs to be planted in our hearts, gives nourishment that will bring a great harvest.
The second reading, from the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (5:6-10) gives us a summary of all three readings. St. Paul instructs the Corinthians that while we are here on earth the scripture and sacraments will give the presence of Christ, but in eternity we have the opportunity to see him face-to-face. At every Mass let us offer ourselves to God and ask Him to bless us, and the Kingdom of God will grow in us and bring a great harvest.
30 Mass. June 13 is the actual Feast day of St. Anthony and this year it falls on Sunday.
I don't know if you paid attention to the statue of St. Anthony. The statue of St. Anthony in Park Falls has lilies, Child Jesus, and a book. The lily is meant to remind us of St. Anthony’s purity and our own need to pray for the grace of purity in times of temptation. There is a book in his hand. According to the story, he had a hand-printed book of Psalms which was very important to him. He had notes and components to teach the students. He lost this book and St. Anthony prayed and the person who stole the book brought it back. That is where the tradition of praying to St. Anthony for the stolen items began. There are many versions of St. Anthony cradling the Christ child. The popular one is St. Anthony had traveled to a local hermitage to spend time in prayer. One night, while deep in prayer, Jesus appeared to him as a child. The room filled with light and laughter as St. Anthony held the Christ child in his arms. The owner of the hermitage was curious about seeing the light, came to investigate, but was surprised to see St. Anthony and the Christ child. When the vision ended, St. Anthony found the honor of the house on his knees at the door. St. Anthony begged him not to share the story until after Anthony’s death. Let us ask the intercession of St. Anthony for each one of us, our families, and the cluster Community.
Let us look at the reading for this Sunday. This weekends reading tells us about the birth and growth of the Kingdom of God. The first reading from Ezekiel tells us the Lord will plant the topmost branches of cedar on the mountain of Israel, that will become a tree where there will dwell all beasts and birds. Ezekiel wrote this passage during the Babylonian exile. The oracle of Ezekiel talks about the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom which sheds light on the parable of the mustard seed in today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:26-34). The shoot refers to the descendants of the David Kingdom which we read in Isaiah 11:1 “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus, from the house of David, talks about the Kingdom of heaven.
We read two parables for this Sunday. Jesus takes the natural growth of a seed to explain the growth of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God visibly matures like a grain. In the first parable, the maturing of the grain signifies our increase in faith and virtue. The second parable of the mustard seed leads us to look at the smallest seed which brings the great shrub and gives the home for the birds of the sky. The imagery Jesus brings here is drawn from the Old Testament, the oracle that describes the dominion of Babylon (Daniel 4:10-12), Egypt (Ezekiel 31:1-6), and Israel (Ezekiel 17:22-24) which is our first reading.
Jews were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Most of them expected a political Messiah who is going to liberate Israel from the Romans. For the Pharisees, the Kingdom of God is the absolute observance of the Mosaic Law. Jesus’ Kingdom of God starts in human hearts here on earth and is completed in heaven, where we experience its fullness. The Word of God is a seed that needs to be planted in our hearts, gives nourishment that will bring a great harvest.
The second reading, from the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (5:6-10) gives us a summary of all three readings. St. Paul instructs the Corinthians that while we are here on earth the scripture and sacraments will give the presence of Christ, but in eternity we have the opportunity to see him face-to-face. At every Mass let us offer ourselves to God and ask Him to bless us, and the Kingdom of God will grow in us and bring a great harvest.
6/4/2021 0 Comments
The famous theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar (the most important Roman Catholic theologian of the 20th century) says it this way: "When receiving the Eucharist each person must remember that he is falling into the arms of God like someone dying of hunger in the wilderness of this life."
Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ! Corpus Christi Sunday! This feast is the heart of our church and the heart of the lives of each one of us. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322 says “The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." Most of the Sacraments take place in the Sacrament of Eucharist.
The first reading from the book of Exodus gives us solemn enactment of the Covenant with Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses reads the “book of the Covenant” to the people and they say, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us Exodus (24:3).” This covenant sealed with a sacrifice, as Moses proclaims, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words (24:8).” The Sinai ritual is a prototype of the Eucharistic covenant. We see this passage in Hebrews 9:18-20. Jesus uses the same words at the Last Supper, offering himself as a sacrifice that seals the new covenant. Today, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many (Mark 14:24).” The letter to Hebrews uses the Greek term ‘diatheke’ means covenant. Jesus came to establish the new covenant. In the first Corinthians 11:25, Paul quotes Jesus words and say, “After supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””
We read the second reading from the letter to Hebrews. It was written for the Jews who were kicked out of the synagogues for accepting Jesus. The reading for today compares the sacrifice offered by the High Priest in the Temple and the true and infant sacrifice Jesus offered. Jesus is the Priest and sacrificial victim. In the book of Leviticus tells the animals offered in sacrifice had to be without any defects. “If a person’s offering is a burnt offering from the herd, the offering must be a male without blemish. The individual shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to find favor with the LORD… (Leviticus 1:3)” Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice, so there was no need of any more animal sacrifices.
In the Old Covenant between God and Israel was sealed through the sacrificial blood at Mount Sinai, the New Covenant between Christ and the Church is sealed through the blood of Christ. Lumen Gentium 11, says, “Taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life, they offer the Divine Victim to God, and offer themselves along with it.”
During Jesus public life, he preached healed, fed people, but he didn’t lose anything, but at the Last Supper when he said “this is My Body” and “this is My Blood,” he was looking at the Cross and that eternal sacrifice. The culmination of the new covenant is on Calvary and offered his life. He has to sacrifice everything to give us the “Bread of Life.”
Every time we gather together to celebrate Mass, we bring ourselves as we are to offer to God; with our joy and sorrows, strength and weakness: our total life. We become one with Christ’s sacrifice. Then we are sent out to continue the mission of Christ, to break and share our lives with one another like Jesus. It is not easy, it is painful. Jesus’ Body and Blood give us strength.
St. Ignatius called Eucharist “the medicine of immortality.”
St. Gregory of Nyssa says, “The bread of life is the antidote for having eaten the forbidden fruit”.
Happy Corpus Christi Sunday!