The New comfort

A New Comfort

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick do.”

Vocation of Matthew

Giving comfort or consolation is a basic emotional need of human beings. 

I share here my experience of giving communion to the blind woman at San Roque every Sunday. She wants to be touched and give the blessing prayer. Then only she gets satisfied. One day it was raining. She became upset.  

People need comfort because it helps them cope with the daily routine of pain, stress, and sadness. 

In today’s Gospel, Matthew received comfort from Jesus who was passing by the custom's office. His work involved collecting customs duties from travelers, traders, and farmers, often taxing goods entering the land. To secure this position, he would have paid an advance to the Roman authorities and then collected taxes in excess to recover his payment and earn a profit. It was a despised profession.

Despite having a job, income, and Roman connections, Matthew seems inwardly empty. The people’s hatred, the burden of dishonesty, and the weariness of his soul left him comfortless. But when Jesus calls him, he responds immediately, as if he had been waiting for this very day. He rises and follows. And not only that—he throws a banquet to celebrate the call. He receives a new comfort in Jesus.

In the first reading, Isaac lost his mother, and Abraham purchases land to bury her—the first portion of the Promised Land that becomes his. Isaac grows up quickly. Abraham, now aged, commissions his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his own kin. The servant succeeds and brings Rebekah. Isaac receives her into his mother’s tent and marries her. The text simply says, “Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

How many sons of Abraham? Not only Isaac, also Ismael, but he was born not to Sarah, but Hagar. But Sarah’s death really disturbed isaac. because he was the only son. 

A deeper reading suggests that Isaac likely carried trauma after witnessing his father prepare to sacrifice him. His bond with his mother, Sarah, may have deepened after that event. Hence, her death left him inconsolable—especially in his own home, where loneliness cuts deepest. He finds that lost comfort in Rebekah.

Isaac, consoled in the midst of personal loss. Matthew, consoled in the midst of social shame. Whether through people or directly through God, true comfort always has a divine touch.

So, what sorrow or discouragement in your life today seems unbearable or unhealed?

The Lord Himself is coming toward you as your new comfort.

Our part is simple:

Be like Isaac—go out into the field and wait.

Be like Matthew—be present at your duty, and invite Jesus at your party. 

When comfort is given, share it with others.

Jesus, in turn, defines His mission: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

And then He makes this powerful statement: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

What does that mean?

Sacrifice is rooted in the past—we offer atonement for sins already committed. Mercy, however, is rooted in the present. The Good Samaritan didn’t ask how the man ended up on the road. He simply saw his present suffering and responded with compassion.

When we meet people, do we view them through the eyes of their past? Or do we look at them through the mercy of the present? To comfort someone, to see them as God sees them, is the beginning of true healing

Thomas, the Apostle

Today, with joy, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, known as the Apostle of India. (In India, all the dioceses celebrate the solemnity. You are familiar with India, the cradle of diverse cultures, languages, and ancient religions. We, Catholics, have only a history of 2,000 years. But the Rig Veda and the Sanskrit language date back before 5,000 years.  

It is actually a profound thought to consider that, through Thomas, our ancestors reached out their hands to touch the wounds of Christ, placing their fingers in His hands and their hands into His side. Saint Thomas is the living link between Jesus Christ and our Indian soil.

After Jesus’ death, the Apostles respond in three ways: Some remain behind locked doors, fearing the Jews, afraid of being punished themselves. Some return to Galilee, to their native places and former occupations, especially fishing. But Thomas chooses a third path: walking among the people, living as one with them.

3 lessons from Thomas' life:

(a) Asking Questions Is Good: In both John’s Gospel and the Gospel of Thomas, Thomas dares to ask what others might silently wonder. In apocryphal writings like the Gospel of Thomas, which is not part of the canonical Bible but offers intriguing insights, Thomas is called Didymus Judas Thomas. The name Didymus means "twin," and scholars have explored its possible etymological origins. Questioning is part of deepening our faith. It is not a lack of belief, but a hunger for truth. 

Again, after the Last Supper, during Jesus’ farewell discourse, it is Thomas who asks, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). The disciples tell Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas, however, responds without even naming Jesus—simply “unless I see the mark of the nails…” But the moment Jesus appears and says, “See My hands,” Thomas surrenders.

b) Personal Faith:  Who is the great teacher? AI or human teachers? People say we do not need any more teachers. AI can teach everything, but it does not teach by experience, emotional and contextual references. Thomas wants to experience personal faith in Christ. Without waiting, he confesses: “My Lord and my God!” This is the most personal and profound confession of faith in the Gospels.

Thomas’ journey teaches us that faith must be personal. We cannot live off others’ spiritual experiences—not even those of our founders and parents. We should cultivate our own personal experience of a relationship with Christ. Like Thomas, we must encounter Christ ourselves. And that encounter, while not always sensible or visible, is no less real.

(c) Be  God's pilgrim: Francis Xavier, who came to India, Goa, in the 15th century, narrates about the incredible challenges in the evangelization; the persecution of the emperors, inability to communicate, and even the pandemics. Thomas went to India before 15 centuries. You imagine the challenges of evangelization in India. 

According to tradition, Thomas was killed by the emperor of Mylapore; he was killed by a spear/sword to his chest, the proper place where he touched the Lord. He carried the same wounds of the Lord.    

15th Priestly Anniversary

Recently, there was a UEFA Nations League football competition. Did you watch the Final match? Portugal won against Spain, the current Champions. Before the Final match, we could see the banners and Advertisements all over social media; Competition between an old and experienced player and a young and energetic player; Cristiano Ronaldo (legend) 40 vs Yamal 17 (Superstar Player). Many criticized that Ronaldo has become old and he cannot achieve like the earlier times. You know what happened in the final? 

A universal application that considers the biological age of Ronaldo is 28. Of course! His fitness is incomparable. At the age of 40, Maradona, Roonie became fat and old, but Ronaldo is fighting with the young adolescent players. How come? 

It is all because of his mindset, his exceptional discipline, and formation that keep him a legend. He practices rigorous training, a strict diet, unwavering mental focus, and a strong work ethic. 

This June, I am turning 44 and today all the more, with 15 years of Priestly experience. How do I feel? Am I getting old? Am I tired? No. The strong training, disciplined lifestyle and joyful mission keep us young, always to compete with the modern world. Today's Priests, nuns should have a disciplined lifestyle in physical, mental and spiritual health. Here is my message;

1. Parable in Matthew 7 presents two types of men: the wise and foolish. The wise men who build their house on a rock, while those who hear and ignore are like a foolish man who builds on sand. The people who have a solid spiritual life and a peaceful fraternal relationship, and a joyful mission will be meant to have their building on rock that resists every storm in life. Invest more in yourself, for you are a great asset to God. Find out your gifts and limitations also. 
2. Your time is limited. Do not spend more time criticizing others, justifying yourselves, and having unnecessary discussions. In today's first reading, we find that Paul is not flexible, compromising with the communities of Corinth with whom he was preaching the Gospel. He is straightforward. He does not worry about protecting his relationship with them. He speaks in the name of Christ. He is contradicting because they are against the values of the Church. He is simply opening up the pure intentions of how they behave against the Gospel.
3. We need to leave out the regrets of the past. A man once told a priest that he was unable to forgive a friend who had hurt him deeply. “I’ve tried praying, I’ve tried letting go, but I can’t. The wound is too deep,” he said. The priest gently led him into the church and pointed to the crucifix. He explained, “The Forgiveness is not about forgetting the wound—it’s about not passing it on.” Risen Lord still bears His wounds. And by His wounds, we are healed. So let us leave the past, but not be the cause of new wounds in others. We often hear that “to forgive is to forget.” But the truth is: even when we cannot forget, the journey of forgiveness begins. And in that moment, we begin to reflect the very heart of God.

Happy Priestly Anniversary! 

Missionary Journeys of Paul and learnings

June 12, Thursday 

In these days, we are listening to the experience of Paul, the apostle, during his missionary journeys. 

Today’s letter to 2 Corinthians was written during Paul's third missionary journey. The missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul offer many valuable lessons for our journey of Delegation.

1. Forming disciples is the primary work of the early church: 

• First Council of Jerusalem, one of the main tasks is to form/produce the disciples. 
• Paul was convinced that to achieve the best long-term results, ministry includes training leaders and building sustainable churches. 
• Paul formed collaborators around him; never a soloist in his mission, Timothy and Titus, Barnabas, Silas, and Apollos. male and female collaborators; he preferred to call them coworkers.
• For Paul, Evangelisation is not just about conversion alone, but about forming communities of faith or individual persons.
• Paul appointed elders and revisited churches to strengthen them (Acts 14:23).
• Criteria to be his disciples; most of them were non-Jews, Timothy had a Greek father. Priscilla and Aquila from Rome: all of them should be rooted in scripture. 
• Passion for vocation promotion, the soul of our mission, the reason for our hope, 

2.   Paul’s formation is giving Training Through Suffering and Perseverance

• Paul modelled Christ-like living through his actions. Disciples learn more by watching a life well-lived by the apostle in his life and preaching. Paul prepared disciples to face hardship as part of their ministry.
• The prison doors opened during an earthquake, and all the prisoners' chains were loosed, but Paul and Silas, despite the opportunity to escape, chose to remain in the prison. Paul and Silas's stay in the prison. Teaching the disciples to learn from our sufferings
• 2 Timothy 2:3 – “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
• Pruning is vitally important for the plant to grow high and bear fruit. John 15:2, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit. We cannot think of an easy life. 

3.Disputes, disagreements and controversies are possible in our life of mission. We need to be Collaborators for the common mission.

Peter and Paul had a hot discussion on the issue of circumcision during the Council of Jerusalem. 

• Paul and Peter
• Paul and James had different theologies around the issue of salvation. Paul emphasized salvation by faith alone, while James would say faith without works is dead. 
• Paul and Barnabas on John Mark

Study: Paul did not get along with the other apostles because of his nature. 

The differences of opinions and , disagreements and controversies are all things possible among saints. The saints have not "fallen from Heaven". They are people like us, who also have complicated problems; these are things that make us human and realistic. 

What makes us holy is not the absence of fights. Holiness lies in the capacity for conversion, for repentance, for willingness to start again and, especially, for reconciliation and forgiveness.

Everyone has a different task in the field of the Lord: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.... we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building" (I Cor 3: 6-9).

We need to go out of the assembly with this spirit; one for all and all for one, common goal- common passion- Gospel- Paul and Peter, different ministers of activity, director, formator.

Feast of the Visitation of BVM

First religious Profession, Carmelite Missionary Sisters, 31 May 2025

1. Your Congregation in Spain should be familiar with the famous pilgrimage site, the Way of St. James, Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Sino sa inyo ang nakagawa nito? A long pilgrimage to the site where the tomb of St. James, the apostle of Jesus, is kept. 
2. Today’s Feast of Visitation can also be called Camino di Mamma Mary. Her Journey from Bethlehem to Ayin Karim is more than 100 km, a very long and tiresome camino by a young pregnant girl, Mary. 
3. Today, Bianca and Christine, two young and beautiful girls, are beginning a camino through this religious profession, as you incorporate yourselves into the Congregation. 

The Visitation journey marks the beginning of the mother's journey. Her journey that begins now will continue to Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Cana, and Calvary. Lifelong camino until the Stabat Mater, the feet of the cross. 

Mark in your calendar, this day of first religious profession, you are professing the evangelical counsels in the presence of the Church after a few years of temporary profession, Juniorate years, and after that, you will make life a lifelong journey of love.  

In the name of your community, priests, family and brothers, what are our wishes for your Camino?

1.     Joyful Camino of being a Carmelite in the Church:

I follow your Carmelite vocation page on Facebook, smiling faces. Some Congregations choose a beautiful sister and a handsome deacon to be the vocation promoters. Your smile makes you beautiful and makes someone hopeful. 

Being joyful, there should be a reason. You have it. “I am no longer belong to myself, but I am yours”. 

Joy of being a Carmelite. You are professing in the presence of the Church, where there are a variety of charisms and vocations in the Church. You are beginning a Camino as a Carmelite. Joy of having this specific Carmelite vocation, you are not a generic, Christian vocation; all are, other people want to walk with Pope Leo. You are walking as the missionary Carmel. 

Creative fidelity to your roots and tradition: knowing both of you, use your creativity and fidelity to your spiritual heritage to enrich your identity, do not compromise with your inner life. Mary kept her heart pure, it is a heavy work. Take care of your prayer life. My Novice master suggested two books for the initial journey: The Little Way of Teresa of the Child Jesus and Interior Castle. 

You are intelligent, creative and adventurous nuns, how can you be more prayerful and contemplative? The solid foundation of prayer life will make your camino interesting and hindi na pagod. Contemplative attitude is a gift to the Church. Embrace the asceticism which is the fundamental nature of your life, moved by the Spirit every day by the Word of God and the Eucharist. 

Mary does not pass by the house of Elizabeth. “She remained with Elizabeth for about three months; then she returned home”. Every journey must end; everyone must return home. Jesus said, John 15:4 “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you”. Visitation insists you the aspect of staying inside your home, being nailed in your chapels of the community, blessed Sacrament. 

If an egg is broken by outside force, Life ends. The same is broken by inner force, the life begins. The great things begin from the inside. The years of temporary profession you needed to mature your inner life; be generous with your prayer life, Eucharistic devotion, the gospel and Marian piety.   

Mary was the first one who make the Eucharistic procession. She carries the blessed sacrament to the world. Maybe Mary would become more tired and sad if she was not pregnant. The person inside her is the reason for joy and success for Camino. Do not go empty. Outer beauty attracts, the inner beauty captivates. Inner beauty develops when your inner life is strong in prayer. 

2. Synodal Camino: 

You are professing in the Jubilee Year. You have a new Pope. The New Pope is giving some clues about how he is going to guide the Church. He prefers to continue the synodal initiatives his predecessor has begun. His Papal emphasis is on the unity of the Church; he believes strongly in collegiality and synodality. Your camino with others gives more meaning to your consecration.

Mary does not remain isolated in her personal grace; she reaches out to share, support, and journey with another. This is the model of todays Church, Pope Leo is proposing to your age, the Church’s mission to accompany other vocations, especially the suffering members of the body of Christ; marginalized and vulnerable.

The Visitation challenges a self-centered spirituality. Mary’s journey is a model for a Church that listens, walks with others, and bears Christ in action. We listened, she went in haste, she hurried down. 

The Philippines constitution states that even the foetus has life. The gospel goes a step further and asserts that the child in the womb also has emotions and feelings. John in the womb rejoiced, leapt in the womb with joy. This is a reminder that the life should be protected, whom the congregation entrusts you, may be sick people, children in the ministry for education, the elderly and children, especially giving preference ot the suffering members of the body of Christ. consider them like brothers and sisters. 

3. Camino of dialogue and discernment: 

The sudden decline in the number of religious in the Church, not only in the West but also in Asian countries. 

Discernment is essentially important in the lives of today’s youth because they are in a critical stage of growth, identity formation, and are exposed to today’s world, where there are many challenges. Dear sisters, You are 2k kids, not like all of us, Some of us are born even before Vatican II, but you are of this world, you can understand today’s church and mission in a better way than others. But remember also you have many challenges and distractions. 

We need to help each other: the age difference between Mary and Elizabeth is interpreted as a model for intergenerational dialogue in faith. Mary respects the wisdom, remains with her and give her service.  Elizabeth, an elder, encourages, affirms and blesses Mary’s youthful faith. 

• Do not be overconfident and risk walking alone. Needed the journey of dialogue and discernment. 
• Pain, misunderstanding, and fatigue are part of the Camino. The Gospel does not talk more about the challenges of the visitation of Mary. The Jewish women were not that much free to walk alone, courageously. 
• The Gospel of visitation and the Church invites us to foster faith-filled dialogue across ages, respecting wisdom and encouraging youthful vision.

We help you and have hope in you, the youthful vision of the Congregation and you also accept us. 

Camino keeps you to respect their wisdom and another encouraging youth vision. 

Wish you all the best for a joyful, fraternal and challenging camino.

Saturday of the Fifth week Lent

As we prepare to enter Holy Week, today’s Gospel (John 11:45–57) marks a turning point: the debates disappear, and now they are ready to kill Him.

The high priest Caiaphas makes a chilling statement: “It is better for you that one man should die for the people than that the whole nation should perish.” John says this was spoken not just as a political opinion but as a prophetic word.

It disturbs but is true. Life seems to work this way: the majority enjoys the sacrifice of the individual. Caiaphas “individual may be sacrificed for the common good.

It is called Utilitarianism; the greatest good for the greatest number, might be justified. Sacrificing one to save many is morally right - or even necessary. 

• A small chick may be sacrificed for the sins of a great man.

• “To save a family, one may sacrifice an individual.

• To save a village, one may sacrifice a family. To save a nation, one may sacrifice a village. To save a soul, one may sacrifice the whole world.” (Mahabharata II.55.10)

This idea—that the small must suffer for the sake of the great—has been written into our cultural and moral logic. Jesus willingly becomes the one who suffers for all.

Is this ethical right? Scriptures often affirm: “What is needed is what is righteous.”

From the moment it is said, “Better for one man to die than the whole nation,” Jesus begins to withdraw. He no longer walks openly.

God is uniting but humans divide themselves; divine will transcends borders, races, languages, and ideologies, calling humanity to unity. 

But then, as you said, humans divide themselves—by race, religion, nationality, politics, class, even petty disagreements. But here’s the catch: diversity is not the same as division. It’s okay for people to have different cultures, beliefs, and ways of life—as long as they respect and value each other. those differences become walls instead of bridges. question is: How can we embrace our differences without letting them divide us?

Today’s readings challenge us: We may be the ones who are sacrificed—the small ones suffering for the sake of the big. 

Mark 12:28-34

With understanding

There was an article in the Newspaper about why people believe in fake news. because 

In the parable of the prodigal son, the phrase “he came to his senses” marks the story's turning point. It is the moment of clarity for the younger son who went away from his father. In contrast, though physically close to the father, the elder son acts without understanding.

Today’s First and Gospel Readings affirm that conversion or turning to God is not merely an emotional reaction, but a free choice of decision, taken out of reason/understanding.

How?

We act in life on two levels: emotional and rational. On the emotional level, we are often driven and tossed by our feelings. But on the rational level, we discern what is good and true, and act accordingly. 

In the First Reading (cf. Hosea 14:1–9), the prophet describes how the Israelites, swayed by emotion, turned to foreign gods, made alliances with Assyrians, and trusted in horses and Egypt. Yet the Lord says: “Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is discerning recognize them.”

What must the people of Israel discern? God’s compassion.

Though they were led astray by emotions, the Lord still showed mercy. When they understand this mercy, they begin to act with integrity.

In the Gospel, when a scribe asks Jesus, “Which is the first commandment?”, Jesus presents love of God and love of neighbour as the two greatest commandments. The scribe, making Jesus’ answer his own, says that these two commandments are greater than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Jesus says, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God,” because: The scribe recognizes the wisdom and insight behind the commandments. He realizes that love is not just a feeling, but a deliberate, sacrificial action.

Thus, today’s liturgy calls us to move from an emotional level to a level of understanding. In our relationship with God, when we act emotionally, we often fear, lose faith, feel disheartened, or fail in perseverance.

Moving from the emotional to the rational level is possible. What we need is a little silence. A moment of calm allows our emotions to settle down. 

Only the one with understanding can truly love— Because love is not merely a feeling; it is a choice. Love is a decision, not a feeling,