திருவருகைக்காலம் முதல் வாரம் – சனி

பரிவு: மானுடம்மேல் படைத்தவன் கொள்ளும் பேரன்பு

எசாயா 30:19-21, 23-26. மத்தேயு 9:35-10:1, 6-8

சமீபத்தில் தீபாவளி வெளியீடாக வந்த 'பைசன்' என்ற தமிழ்த் திரைப்படத்தைப் பார்த்தேன். தென் தமிழகத்தின் ஒரு குக்கிராமத்தில் பிறந்து, ஜாதியச் சிக்கல்களிலும், கலவரங்களிலும் புதைந்து கிடந்த ஒரு இளைஞன், பல்வேறு அழுத்தங்களையும் அடக்குமுறைகளையும் தகர்த்தெறிந்து, ஜப்பானில் நடைபெறும் ஆசிய விளையாட்டு போட்டிகளில் இந்தியா சார்பாக விளையாடும் கபடி வீரனாக உயர்கிறான்.

அதில் என்னை ஆழமாகத் தொட்ட ஒரு வரி— இரு முக்கியமான ஜாதித் தலைவர்கள் அடிக்கடி கூறும் வசனம்:

“ஒருத்தன் அடிமட்டத்திலிருந்து தன்னுடைய திறமையை நம்பி மேலே எழுந்து வர்ரானா … அவனை விட்டுடு!”

இந்தப் பண்பு தலைவர்களுக்கு மட்டுமன்று, அனைத்து மனிதர்களுக்கும் அவசியமான ஒன்று. —
இரக்கக்குணம்!


இறைவனுடைய பேரிரக்கம் - இந்தப் பெரும் பிரபஞ்சத்தையே படைத்து, தந்தைபோல் அன்புடன் வழிநடத்தும் இறைவன், தனது பேரிரக்கத்தின் உச்சத்தை, கிறிஸ்துவின் பிறப்பில் மனிதருக்கு வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார்.

இன்றைய முதல் வாசகத்தில், பாபிலோனிய சிறையில் துன்பப்படும் யூதர்களை நோக்கி இறைவாக்கினர் எசாயா, மெசியாவை “உங்கள் போதகர்” என்று அறிமுகப்படுத்துகிறார். இதுவரை “உங்கள் அரசர்,” “உங்கள் குரு,” “உங்கள் இறைவாக்கினர்” என்று கேட்ட மக்களுக்கு, “போதகர்” என்ற புதிய பெயர் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. 

இந்தப் போதகர்

* மனிதர்மீது பரிவு கொள்ளும் போதகர்,

* “இதுதான் வழி… இதில் நடந்துசெல்லுங்கள்!” என்று உண்மையை காட்டும் போதகர்.

இன்றைய நற்செய்தியில், இயேசு திரண்டிருந்த மக்களைப் பார்த்து பரிவு கொள்கிறார். அவரைக் கொல்லத் திட்டமிட்டவர்கள் கூட்டத்தில் இருந்தபோதும், அவர்கள்மீதும் compassionate heart உடன் பரிவு கொள்கிறார். 

ஆண்டவரின் குரல் நம் உள்ளத்தில் ஒலிப்பதுதான் நம் வாழ்க்கையின் மிகப்பெரிய ஆறுதல். இயேசு தம் சீடர்களுக்குச் சொற்களால் முன் கற்றுக்கொடுப்பதற்கு முன், தம் பரிவினால் அவர்களுக்கு கற்றுக் கொடுக்கிறார்.
ஏனெனில், கற்றுத்தருவதின் முதல் படி—பரந்துபட்ட பரிவுள்ளம்.

அனைவரையும் அன்பு செய்யும்
,கீழிருப்பவனை உயர்த்தும்,
அனைவரையும் மன்னிக்கும்

பேரிரக்கம் நமக்கும் அருளப்பட வேண்டி மன்றாடுவோம்!

Friday of the 1st week of Advent

Isaiah 29:17–24 / Matthew 9:27–31

Jesus Gives the True and Meaningful Vision of Our Life

A few days ago, I received a heartbreaking phone call from a mother who had lost her 9-year-old daughter in an accident. The little girl was returning from school when a tragic incident occurred right near their home. She was the only child in the family. The mother called me as she was travelling back to her village with her daughter’s body. Her voice was filled with pain and darkness. She could not see any meaning or future in her life anymore. And I myself did not know how to console a mother whose whole world had collapsed in a moment. The human words are insufficient. For her, everything seemed lost. This sorrow will remain a deep wound in her heart until her death. 

Who can give her a new vision for life?

In today's first Reading: God Promises Vision to the Hopeless through the Prophet Isaiah. He spoke to a people who lost hope for their future. They are spiritually blind and discouraged. But God promises a new day: "The blind shall see, the lowly will rejoice and they shall receive understanding and wisdom" (Is 29:17–24)

This is more than physical healing—it is inner renewal, a promise that God can bring light even into the deepest darkness.

In the Gospel, two blind men cry out to Jesus for mercy. Their world was dark. No one could help them. Yet they believed that Jesus could. Jesus not only restores their physical sight but also awakens their spiritual vision, because they recognize Him through faith as the Messiah.

Their healing shows that faith can open what life has closed. There are moments in the life we feel like that of mother's pain—when death, tragedy, or evil suddenly blind us. Everything is dark. We cannot understand. We cannot see the future. At such moments, human words cannot fix our pain. But the presence of Jesus can slowly open a path where we see none.

Thank You Jesus! for the Word of God that God alone can give new vision to those who have lost all hope.

Through Jesus, we receive the vision of eternal life—a hope that suffering cannot erase.

May the Lord who opened the eyes of the blind open our hearts as well, so that even in moments of darkness, we may see His light, His way, and His promise of life. Amen!

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

Isa 26:1-6 / Mt 7:21.24-27

• வேகமாக வளர்வதை விட வேரோட்டத்துடன் வளர்வது நீடிக்கும்.
• அழகாய் வளர்வதை விட ஆரோக்கியமாய் வளர்வது நல்லது.

Today, people no longer seek modern and beautiful houses — they want strong houses. Natural disasters, such as typhoons, remind us that without a firm foundation, even the most modern buildings can collapse. Many invest so much, but are cheated by weak structures.

In the first reading, Isaiah speaks of Jerusalem, the strong city. Its strength does not come from its fine marbles, strong stones, or gigantic walls, but from the Lord who protects it. Its foundation is trust in God.

In the Gospel, Jesus gives us the image of the wise and foolish builders. The wise man builds his house on rock; the foolish builds on sand. What is this rock? It is a solid foundation — faith, formation, discipline, and commitment.

Life built on a solid rock...

A child who receives proper (strict) guidance from parents and teachers grows roots — grows strong. But a life without discipline becomes unstable and easily shaken.

This is true for every vocation:

• Young men and women who follow Christ must be rooted in formation, family values, and missionary passion.
• Students preparing for their future need training, hard work, and perseverance.

I recently watched Cristiano Ronaldo score a spectacular bicycle kick — even at 40, he remains extraordinary. That strength is the fruit of constant discipline. Greatness doesn’t happen overnight; it is built through years of formation.

Jesus expects the same from His disciples. Formation comes before mission. In the Church — and especially in our Guanellian Congregation — formation is our first mission.

Let us build a Church for the future: founded on faith, strengthened by prayer, made beautiful by love for God and the poor.

May our lives be houses built on the rock of Christ — strong, steady, and unshakable in every storm. Amen.

International Day of Persons with Disability (December 3)

இன்று புனித பிரான்சிஸ் சவேரியார் - மறைப்பணியாளர், இந்தியாவின் பாதுகாவலரின்

பெருவிழாவை கொண்டாடுகின்றோம். இதே நாள் சர்வதேச மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் தினம் ஆண்டுதோறும் டிசம்பர் மூன்றாம் தேதி கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது.  நமது சபைக்கு மிகவும் நெருக்கமான இந்த மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளை பற்றி ஒருசில சிந்தனைகள் உங்களோடு பகிர்ந்து கொள்கிறேன்...

• சமூகத்தில் ஏன் இந்த மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள்?
• கடவுள் எதற்காக இவ்வுலகில் ஊனமுற்றவர்களையும், மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளையும் படைத்தார்? 
• எதற்காக இத்தனை குறைபாடுகள், ஏனிந்த ஊனங்கள்? 

விவிலியத்தின் தொடக்க நூலின் அனைத்து மக்களும் கடவுளின் சாயலில் படைக்கப்பட்ட உள்ளார்கள் என்று வாசிக்க காண்கிறோம் (தொ.நூ 1:27) 

அன்றைய காலத்தில் ‘ஊனம்’ என்பது கடவுளின் தண்டனை அல்லது சாபம் என்று மக்கள் நம்பினர். ஆனால் விவிலியம் “கடவுளின் செயல்கள் ஊனம் மூலம் வெளிப்படுத்தப்படலாம்” என்று கூறுகிறது. "கடவுளின் செயல்கள் அவரில் வெளிப்படும் பொருட்டு இது நடந்தது." - (யோ 9:3) ஊனம் என்பது ஒரு குறைபாடு அல்ல. கடவுள் அவர்களின் மூலமும் தனது மகிமையை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார்.

19ஆம் நூற்றாண்டில் வாழ்ந்த புனிதர் லூயிஸ் குவனெல்லா “மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் கடவுளின் பரிசுகள்” என்று கூறினார். அவர்கள் விண்ணகத்திலிருந்து அனுப்பப்பட்ட கடவுளின் தேவதூதர்கள்.  மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளை “செல்ல குழந்தைகள்” என்றழைத்தார். 

ஒரு அப்பாவுக்கு மூன்று குழந்தைகள் பிறந்தன. மூத்தவன் வளர்ந்து மருத்துவராகி சாதிக்கத் துவங்கி விட்டான். இளையவன் இன்ஜினியராகி இல்லத்தில் இனிதே நுழைந்து விட்டான். மூன்றாவது மகனோ, இரண்டு கால்களையும் இளம்பிள்ளை வாதத்தால் இழந்து, வாழ்க்கையை வருந்தி வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருந்தார். 

இந்த மூவரில் அப்பாவின் பாசத்துக்குரிய செல்ல மகன் யார்? சந்தேகமே இல்லாமல் ஊனத்தோடு பிறந்த மூன்றாவது மகனே தந்தையின் பார்வையில் செல்ல குழந்தையாய் தெரிகிறான். 

கடவுளைத் தந்தையாக பாவித்த அவருக்கு "செல்லக் குழந்தையாக" தெரிகிறார்கள், இந்த உலகின் கடை எல்லை வரை ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகள். போலிகளைப் படைத்து வெறுத்து போன இறைவன் ஒரு மாற்றத்திற்காக உண்மை உயிரை, முழுமையற்ற உடலுக்குள் வைத்து படைத்தார். அவர்கள் தான் கடவுளின் பிரதிநிதிகள். இந்தப் புரிதலினாலே மிகவும் நெருக்கமாக தான் அன்பு செய்த, உடல் நலம் குன்றிய குழந்தைகளை தான் தோற்றுவித்த சபைகளின் முதன்மைப் பணியாக செய்தார்.

ஒருமுறை கோமோ நகர ஆயர் அவர்கள் அந்நகரத்தில் குவனெல்லா தோற்றுவித்த இல்லமான இறைபராமரிப்பு இல்லத்தின் கதவுகளைத் தட்டி தான் குவனெல்லாவைக் காண வந்திருப்பதாகக் கூறினார். அந்த இல்லத்து பணியாளர் ஒருவர், "தந்தை குவனெல்லா, தனது இல்லத்தில் செல்லக் குழந்தைகளோடு சீட்டு விளையான்டு கொண்டிருப்பதைக் கூறினார்". இதைக் கேட்டவுடன் சிறிது அப்சட்டான ஆயர், “மனநிலை பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்களோடு அதிக நேரம் விளையாட வாய்ப்பில்லை. புனிதரை விரைவில் அழைத்து வாருங்கள்” என்றார். அந்த பணியாளரோ, "ஆம் ஆயர் அவர்களே! செல்லக் குழந்தைகளை உயர்ந்தவர்களாக மதிக்கும் வரை அவர்களுக்கு விளையாட்டுகள் புரியப் போவதில்லை” என்றார். பிறகு என்ன! ஆயர் நீண்ட நேரம் விளையாட்டு முடியும் வரை இருந்து குவனெல்லாவை சந்தித்து தான் சென்றார். செல்லக் குழந்தைகள் தான் அவரது நிறுவனத்தின் முதலாளிகள். அவர்களின் நிமிடத் துளிகளை மகிழ்ச்சியாக செலவிடுவதற்கு, தன்னுடைய மணித்துளிகளையும் செலவிட தயங்கவில்லை.

அன்பின் பணியாளர் சபையைத் துவங்கிய நேரங்களில் தனது சபையில் சேர விரும்பும் மாணவர்களையும், இளைஞர்களையும் அழைத்திட ஒவ்வொரு மறைமாவட்ட பங்குகளிலும் சென்று இறையழைத்தல் கூட்டம் ஏற்பாடு செய்தார். அவர் எப்போது வெளியே சென்றாலும் தன்னோடு ஐந்தாறு செல்ல குழந்தைகளையும் கூட்டிச் செல்வார்கள். ஒருமுறை கோமா நகரத்து பங்கு இளைஞர்களை சந்தித்தபோது குவனெல்லாவோடு வந்திருக்கிற செல்லக் குழந்தைகளை பார்த்து அவர்கள் கிண்டல் செய்தனர். அதற்கு தந்தை குவனெல்லா, “இந்த சிறப்பு குழந்தைகளிடம் உங்களிடமும், என்னிடமும் இல்லாத ஆற்றல் ஒன்று உள்ளது. ஏனெனில் அவர்கள் கடவுளின் சிறப்பு அருள் பெற்றவர்கள் (Innocence and angelic grace).  

செல்லக் குழந்தைகளை எந்த வித நிபந்தனையும் இன்றி ஏற்றுக் கொண்டு கிறிஸ்துவை பின்பற்ற விரும்புபவர்கள் அன்பின் பணியாளர் சபையில் சேரலாம். பட்டப்படிப்புகளும், நூலகங்களும் தர முடியாத அனுபவங்களை இவர்களின் அருகாமையில் அறிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

இன்று நாம் வாழக்கூடிய உலகம் அறிவியலின் பயனை அனுபவிக்கும் உலகம். இங்கு அறிவு தான் அனைத்தையும் அளக்கும் அளவுகோல்! தோற்றம்தான் அனைத்தையும் தீர்மானிக்கும் கருவி! அழகை கண்டு கொள்வதும் அன்பு செய்வதும் மனிதருக்கு மிக எளிது. ஆனால் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு மறைந்து கிடக்கும் திறன்களையும் அறிந்த அன்பு செய்வது என்பது மிக அரிது.

இன்றைய தினத்தில் நமது இல்லங்களில், சமூகத்தில், குடும்பத்தில் இருக்கும் அனைத்து இருக்கும் அனைத்து மாற்று திறனாளிகளும் அன்பு, அரவணைப்பு மற்றும் கண்ணியம் பெற்று பல்லாண்டு வாழ வாழ்த்தி ஜெபிக்கும் குவனெல்லிய இல்லங்கள். 

Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent

Is 11:1-10; Lk 10:21-24

Brothers and Sisters! Do you feel you are cut down by failures, relationship problems, financial crisis, depression, or anxiety?

When everything seems broken or lost, God still creates new beginnings. The coming of the Messiah, the Son of David, is the sign of hope for our lives.

Today’s first reading opens with the prophecy: “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.” (Is 11:1)

Who is the father of King David? Jesse.

In the time of Isaiah, the people thought the Kingdom of Israel would be cut down, just like a dead stump. Exile, sin, and defeat made it seem as though the story of God’s people would end. But the prophet announces something astonishing: God can bring life from what looks like nothing.

• He can grow greatness from your brokenness.
• He can restore hope when the world sees only ruins.
• This is the power of our God — life through the Messiah.

The Spirit of the Lord rests upon Him: wisdom, understanding, counsel, and strength.

What once was dead will bear fruit again. Do not feel tired, wounded and ended. Life would begin at any time.

In the Gospel, Jesus rejoices in the Spirit and tells us that this revelation is not given to the proud, the powerful, or the worldly wise, but to the humble—to those with the heart of a child. God’s kingdom is accessed not through intellect or status, but through trust, simplicity, and openness.

As we prepare our hearts in this Advent season, let us welcome Christ with childlike faith. When we kneel before Him as children of the Kingdom, we discover that no stump in our life is truly dead—because where Jesus enters, new life begins.

34th Sunday Ordinary time,

ஆண்டின் பொதுக்காலம் 34-ஆம் வாரம், திங்கள்

தானியேல் 1:1-6, 8-20. லூக்கா 21:1-4

(Thanks: Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi, blogger)

கண்ணீரும் காசும்

‘இந்தியக் கைம்பெண்களின் உளவியல், மற்றும் சமூக நிலை’ என்ற ஓர் ஆய்வுக்கட்டுரையை இரு நாள்களுக்கு முன்னர் வாசித்தேன். ‘கைம்பெண்கள் மறுவாழ்வு அல்லது மீள்வாழ்வு அல்லது மறுமணம்’ என்பது அதிகரித்து வந்தாலும், மனைவியை இழந்த ஆண்கள் மறுமணம் செய்கின்ற அளவுக்கு, கணவரை இழந்த ஆண்கள் மறுமணம் செய்துகொள்வதில்லை என்றும் ஆய்வு சொன்னது. தன் கணவரை இழந்ததால் உள்ளத்தில் சோகமும், தன் பிள்ளைகளின் கைகளை நம்பி நிற்பதால் உடல்நோயையும் பொறுத்துக்கொண்டும் பலர் இருப்பதாகவும், கைம்பெண்கள் சமூகத்திலும் பல துன்பங்களுக்கும் ஆளாவதாகவும் கட்டுரை சொன்னது. இன்னொரு பக்கம், தாங்கள் தங்கள் கணவரை இழந்ததால், இனி தனக்கே அனைத்துப் பொறுப்பும் என்று தங்கள் குடும்பத்தை மேலே உயர்த்திய பல பெண்களைப் பற்றியும் கட்டுரை கூறுகிறது.

இயேசுவின் சமகாலத்தில் கைம்பெண்கள் நிலை சமய நிலையிலும் பின்தங்கி இருந்தது. ஏனெனில், கணவர் இறத்தல் என்பது மனைவியின் பாவத்தின் விளைவு என்றும் சிலர் எண்ணினர். இன்றைய நற்செய்தி வாசகத்தில், ‘வறுமையில் வாடிய கைம்பெண் ஒருவரின் காணிக்கை’ நிகழ்வை லூக்கா பதிவு செய்கின்றார். மற்ற நற்செய்தியாளர்கள், இவரை ‘கைம்பெண்’ என அழைக்க, லூக்கா மட்டும், ‘அவர் வறுமையில் வாடியவர்’ என்று பொருளாதார நிலையையும் குறிப்பிடுகின்றார். இயேசுவின் சமகாலத்தில் எல்லா யூதர்களும் எருசலேம் ஆலயத்திற்கு வரி கட்ட வேண்டும் என்ற கட்டாயம் இருந்தது. வரி பெரும்பாலும் கீழிருப்பவர்களைக் கருத்தில் கொள்வதில்லை. எடுத்துக்காட்டாக, நம் ஆலயங்களில் திருவிழாவுக்கென்று வரி, ரூ 1000 விதிக்கப்படுகிறது என வைத்துக்கொள்வோம். பங்கில் உள்ள வசதியானவர்களுக்கு அது பெரிய சுமையாக இருக்காது. ஆனால், சில குடும்பங்களுக்கு அந்த 1,000 என்பது அவர்களுடைய ஒரு மாத வருமானமும், செலவினமுமாகவும் இருக்கும். இயேசுவின் சமகாலத்திலும் அனைவரும் அரை ஷெக்கேல் கொடுக்க வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் இருந்தது. நம் நிகழ்வில் வருகின்ற கைம்பெண்ணிடம் அரை ஷெக்கேலில் ஆறில் ஒரு பகுதிதான் இருந்தது. ஆனால், அவர் அதையும் காணிக்கையாகப் போடுகின்றார்.

நிகழ்வில் வரும் கைம்பெண்ணைப் பற்றி மூன்று குறிப்புகளைத் தருகின்றார் இயேசு:

(அ) தமக்குப் பற்றாக்குறை இருந்தும்

‘பற்றாக்குறை’ என்பது தேவைக்கும் குறைவான நிலை. ஆனால், அந்தக் கைம்பெண் தன் பற்றாக்குறையை பெரிதுபடுத்தவில்லை. தன் வாழ்வில் நிறைய பற்றாக்குறைகளை அனுபவித்த அவர் இந்தப் பற்றாக்குறையையும் கண்டுகொள்ளவில்லை.

(ஆ) தம் பிழைப்புக்காக அவற்றை வைத்திருந்தார்

அதாவது, அவர் இட்ட காணிக்கை அவருடைய ஒரு நாள் செலவினம். தன் வாழ்வைத் தக்கவைக்க அவர் செலவழிக்க வேண்டிய பணம். ஆக, மருத்துவம், முதுமை போன்ற எந்த எதிர்கால வசதிகளையும் கூட எண்ணிப்பார்க்காத நிலையில் இருந்த அவர், தன் நிகழ்காலத் தேவையையும் தள்ளி வைக்கின்றார்.

(இ) எல்லாவற்றையும் போட்டுவிட்டார்

வெறுங்கையராக நிற்கின்றார் கைம்பெண். ஆலயத்தை விட்டு வெளியே சென்றால் அவர் தன் வாழ்வை எப்படி எதிர்கொள்வார்? என்ற கேள்வி நம்மில் எழுகிறது.

லூக்கா நற்செய்தியின் பின்புலத்தில் இந்நிகழ்வைப் பார்த்தால், பணம் என்பது சீடத்துவத்துக்கான தடை. ஆக, தனக்குள்ள அனைத்தையும் அவர் இழக்கத் தலைப்பட்டதால் சீடத்துவத்துக்கான முன்மாதிரியாக விளங்குகின்றார். மேலும், ‘மானிட மகனுக்குத் தலைசாய்க்கவும் இடமில்லை’ என்று இயேசு பற்றற்ற நிலையில் இருந்தது போல, இப்பெண்ணும் அதே நிலையை ஏற்கின்றார். மலைப்பொழிவில் இயேசு சொல்வது போல, ‘அன்றைய நாளைப் பற்றிக் கூட’ அவர் கவலைப்படவில்லை. இயேசுவின் போதனையை அறிந்து செயல்படுத்துபவராக இருக்கின்றார்.

நிற்க.

இப்படியாக நாம் அந்த இளவலின் செயலைப் புகழ்ந்து கொண்டாடினாலும், அவருடைய வறுமை என்னவோ நம்மை நெருடவே செய்கிறது. ‘கடவுள் அவரைப் பார்த்துக்கொள்வார். கடவுள் நம் உள்ளத்தைப் பார்க்கிறார். அவர் நம்மைப் பாராட்டுகிறார்’ என்னும் சொற்கள் நமக்கு ஆறுதல் தரவில்லை. எல்லாவற்றையும் இழந்து நிற்கும் அவருடைய கைகளில் பாராட்டுப் பத்திரம் கொடுத்தால் அவர் பசியாறுவாரா?

கைம்பெண்களின் கடைசிக் காசைப் பெற்றுத்தான் ஆலயமும் ஆலயத்தின் குருக்களும் வாழ வேண்டுமெனில் அத்தகைய அமைப்புகள் தேவையா? அமைப்பை உடைப்பதை விடுத்து அமைப்புக்குள் மக்கள் தங்களையே தகவமைத்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்பதுபோல இருக்கிறது இயேசுவின் செயல்பாடு. இன்றும் சில நேரங்களில் சில இடங்களில், ‘ஏழைக் கைம்பெண் போல அனைத்தையும் காணிக்கை போடுங்கள்’ என்று அருள்பணியாளர்கள் மக்களிடம் சொல்கிறார்கள். நாம் வானளவாகக் கோவில் கட்டவும், ஊர் பாராட்ட சப்பரம் இழுப்பதற்கும் இன்றும் ஏழைகளும் கைம்பெண்களும் தங்கள் கடைசிக் காசுகளைப் போட்டுக்கொண்டே இருக்கிறார்கள்.

அவர்களுடைய கண்ணீரும் நம் ஆசையும் ஒருபோதும் குறைவதில்லை!

ஆலயம் கடவுளின் வீடு! எளியோரின் கூடு !

ஞாயிறு, 9 நவம்பர் ’25

ஆலயம் கடவுளின் வீடு! எளியோரின் கூடு !  

இலாத்தரன் பேராலய நேர்ந்தளிப்பு விழா; எசே 47:1-2, 8-9, 12. 1 கொரி 3:9-11, 16-17. யோ 2:13-22

லாதெரன் பேராலய நேர்ந்தலிப்பு விழா! ஒரு ஆலயத்திற்கு இவ்வளவு பெரிய விழாவா! ஆம்! இது ஒரு பசிலிக்கா, பேராலயம்! திருத்தந்தையர்கள் அனைவரும் பாரம்பரியமாக வசித்து வந்த ஆலயம். 

இவை எல்லாவற்றையும் விட ஆலயம் என்பது கிறிஸ்துவின் மேல் எழுப்பப்பட்ட ஒரு சமூகம்! புதிய ஜோராபூர் ஆலயம்! ஒவ்வொரு ஆலயமும் அதைச் சார்ந்த கிறிஸ்தவர்களின் நம்பிக்கை பிரதிபலிக்கிறது. ஆலயமணி , தேர்த்திருவிழா, சப்பரம், எங்க ஊரு கோயிலில் மானப்பிரச்சனை, 

இப்படிப்பட்ட பாரம்பரியம் கொண்ட, சாலமோன் அரசர் கட்டிய அந்த எருசலேம் தேவாலயத்தில் இயேசுவின் செயல் அனைவரையும் ஆச்சரியப்படுத்தியது. அன்பே உருவான இயேசு, இரக்கமே உருவான இயேசு, கயிறுகளால் ஒரு சாட்டை பின்னி, கோவிலிலிருந்து துரத்தினார்;

ஒரு சாமானியனின் கோபம் "கோபம் மூக்குக்கு மேல வருகிறது" 

விவிலிய பின்னணி: எருசலேம் நகரத்தின் பாஷ்கா விழா, 19 வயது நிரம்பிய ஒவ்வொரு யூதனும் தங்களுடைய வாழ்வில் ஒரு முறையாவது கண்டிப்பாக எப்படி ஆவது எருசலேம் ஆலயத்திற்கு சென்றிருக்க வேண்டும். அப்படி செல்லும்போது இந்த காரியங்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும். 

1. அவர்கள் வரி கட்ட வேண்டும். கோவில் வரி கட்ட வேண்டும் இந்த கோவில் வரி மிக அதிகமான வரி காரணம். எருசலேமுக்கு அருகில் உள்ளவர்கள் அடிக்கடி செல்வார்கள், ஆனால் புரவினத்தார்கசல். என்றாவது ஒருவர்கள் அதிகமாக வரி கட்ட வேண்டும்.

2. காணிக்கை பலி செலுத்த வேண்டும். சந்தையில் ஆடு மாடுகள், புறாக்கள், பறவைகள் மற்றும் பலவிதமான மிருகங்கள் கடவுளுக்கு பலியிடுவதற்காக விலங்குகளை விற்க ஆரம்பித்தனர். ஏனெனில் பணக்காரர்கள் பெரிய விலங்குகளை வாங்குவார்கள். ஏழைகள் மாடப்புறாக்களை .

3. புரவினத்தாரின் நாணயங்கள் கோவிலில் நாணயங்களாக மாற்றப்பட்ட பின்னரே வரி கட்ட முடியும், ஆறில் ஒரு பகுதியை பெற்றுக் கொள்வர். ஏழைகள் அநியாய வட்டிக்கு நாணயம் செலுத்தினார்கள். இதன் காரணத்தினாலே  திருப்பதி வேளாங்கண்ணி இந்த திருத்தலங்களை விட அதிகமான பன்மடங்கு அதிகமான காணிக்கை எருசலேம்.

யேசுவின் கோபத்திற்கு இதுவே காரணம்!  இறைவனுக்கு முதலிடத்தை கொடுக்க மறந்த மக்கள்! கடவுளின் பெயரால் ஏழைகலுக்கு நடக்கும் சமூக அநீதி! கடவுளுக்கு பலியிட தொலைவிலிருந்து கோவிலுக்கு வருகின்றார். ஏழை மக்கள் துன்பப்படுகின்றார். Courtyard is the unique place for the gentiles, for the high-priests, Pharisees and other people have their own space in the Temple of Jerusalem. The unique place for the poor is being encroached for the business purpose.  அவர்கள் வழிபடும் இடங்களில் சந்தைகள் மட்டும் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டன, எப்போதும் கூச்சல் இறைச்சல். 

இயேசுவின் உண்மையான கோபம் அவர் கடவுள் மீதும் ஏழைகள் மீதும் வைத்திருந்த எல்லையற்ற அன்பு வெளிப்படுத்தியது. 

1. ஆலயத்தில் கடவுளுக்கு முதலிடம்: "என்னுடைய இல்லத்தை கள்வர் குகையாக மாற்றaதீர்கல்". லூக் இiறவேண்டலின் வீடு! உடல் வழியாக, உல்லம் வழியாக வனக்கம் செய்ய வேண்டும். நறகருனை ஆராதனை.  ஆலயம் கடவுல் வசிக்கும் இடம், அவர் எஙகும் இருக்கிரார், ஆனால் கோவிலில் வசிக்கிறரர். 

நம்மை முன்னிறுத்துவதில் பயன் கிடையாது. மாராக, கடவுளுக்கே முன்னுரிமை! அதனாலே நற்கருநையே பேழை ஆலயத்தின் மையத்தில் வைத்திருக்கிறார்கள். காரணம் இயேசுவே-நற்கருநையே மையம், பல நேரங்களில் நாம் ஆலயங்களை நம் பல்வேறு சொந்த பணிக்கு உபயோகப்படுத்துகிரோம். எப்பொதும் இரைச்சல், ஆட்டம், பாட்டம்! Fashion show, திறமைகளை வெளிப்படுத்தும் மேடை அல்ல! மாறாக கடவுளுக்கு முதலிடம்! ஒருவர் கடவுளின் கோவிலை அழித்தால் கடவுள் அவரை அழித்துவிடுவார். ஏனெனில், கடவுளின் கோவில் தூயது; (1 கொரி 3:17)

2. அமைதி சுத்தம், ஜெபம்: உங்கள் உடல் நீங்கள் கடவுளிடமிருந்து பெற்றுக்கொண்ட தூய ஆவி தங்கும் ஆலயம். (கொரி 6:19) கடவுள் விரும்பியது காணிக்கவில்லை அல்ல மாறாக நொறுங்கொண்டு இதயத்தை. 

ஒவ்வொரு பங்கின் இலக்கு! மக்களை அவர்களுடைய ஆன்மாவை இறைவனிடத்தில் வந்து சேர்க்க வேண்டுமே! தவிர உள்ளத்தில் உணர உதவியாக இருக்க வேண்டும். பெயருக்காகவும், நம்முடைய விசுவாசமும், இறை பக்தியும் மற்றவர்களை கவர்ந்து அவர்களையும் இறைவனிடம் கொண்டு வந்து சேர்க்கும். 

Solemnity of Assumption - August 15

Dear brothers and sisters, dear young Seminarians,

Today we celebrate our Blessed Mother Mary, who was assumed into heaven, body and soul. This great feast reminds us that our bodies are not just containers or temporary shells. We are created as whole persons — body, mind, and spirit — and God cares about every part of us.

Some people today think only physical fitness matters. But a wise person said, “A truly good life is like a three-legged stool — it stands strong only when physical, mental, and spiritual fitness are in balance.”

So, dear young priests and religious in formation, how is your spiritual fitness? Your religious fitness?

Let me take an example from sports: We admire Cristiano Ronaldo. At nearly 40 years old, he is still running with the best. While many former stars slow down, Rooney and Maradona were fat and with bellies. But Ronaldo continues to shine. How come?

It is because of self-discipline and constant formation — his training, diet, lifestyle, and mental strength. He never stops preparing.

In the Church and in our Guanellian Congregation, formation is our primary mission. We invest time, resources, and love to shape hearts for God. Even our Ratio dedicates many pages to formation stages — because we care about your future, and about the people you will serve.

1. Priority of Formation

Jesus Himself formed His disciples for three years —

• Spiritual formation: He taught them to pray
• Human formation: He taught the Beatitudes — to be humble, compassionate
• Pastoral formation: He sent them out two by two to serve and proclaim

In Matthew 7, Jesus calls us to build our house on a rock — a strong foundation that survives storms. This is not only for priests or preachers — every Christian needs formation.

So, do not compromise yourself.

• ➡ Give yourself fully to formation
• ➡ Learn the ways of prayer
• ➡ Grow in knowledge of the Church and the Congregation
• ➡ Avoid mediocrity — choose creativity, discipline, and holiness

Mary teaches us the same interior strength. In the Magnificat she says: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” (Lk 1:46) Mary doesn’t start with, “My mouth praises karaoke” or “My body dances zumba,” but with “My soul.” Praise begins from her soul, from the heart. Let God form your heart — so His Word can take root there. As our Ratio says: “By the Ways of the Heart.” We follow rules not out of force — but out of love and goodness.

Formation in the Guanellian family is life-long — not just initial training for priests, but also for collaborators, staff, and all our ministries.

2. Transmission of Charism & Mission

Grandparents pass on culture to children so that the family does not forget its identity. Without this transmission, we become rootless.

In the same way, we have received a precious charism from St. Louis Guanella —

• 💙 the family spirit
• 🙏 trust in Providence
• 🤝 care for the poor with a preventive and loving approach

This is not just history — this is our DNA. It is now our turn to preserve, live, and pass it on with joy and conviction.

3. Best Preparation for Mission

To serve the Guanellian mission in today’s world, we need:

• ✔ Pastoral professionalism
• ✔ Cultural awareness
• ✔ Skills suitable for our mission
• ✔ Formation that prepares us for practical charity

The world is waiting for men and women who are: spiritually strong, disciplined like athletes, compassionate like Mary and be rooted in charism and mission

On this feast of the Assumption, 

• Mary reminds us of our destination — heaven. 
• Formation reminds us of our journey — discipleship. 
• Charism reminds us of our identity — the Guanellian family.

Mary, assumed into heaven — pray for us!

St. Louis Guanella — pray for us!

Moses and Peter are fallible leaders, but invited to remain faithful in the Lord

We make most of our decisions under the influence of human thinking and emotions; most of the time, it is done unconsciously, rather than according to God’s plan. 

Both readings reveal a powerful truth: even those closest to God—Moses and Peter—can fail to obey His will when they rely on human understanding instead of divine trust.

1. Any Leadership is fallible and towards the path of conversion until death:

• Moses disobeyed by striking the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded. God commanded him to speak to the rock; instead, Moses struck out of human emotions like anger and impatience. Moses did not follow God's precise instructions. 
• Peter, a future leader of the Church, to whom the keys are handed over, is not able to think according to the mind of God. He tried to prevent Jesus from fulfilling His mission of suffering and death. 

Both are called, chosen and appointed by God as leaders. But they failed to see the deeper wisdom of God's plan. It is possible for any popular leaders, for the leaders are always learners. We can understand in a sense that Peter was still a disciple, not sent on a mission, so he was impatient to speak according to the mind of human beings. But Moses, just towards the end of his life, promised the land; he was supposed to be a mature leader, but he failed. We are learning until death. God is the teacher who sends his servants on his own mission.

2. Human Thinking or acting out of emotions is common/natural for leaders

Moses and Peter are doing good and well-intended actions. They did not plan and commit the errors.

• Moses thought striking the rock (as he had done before) would be sufficient. Peter thought avoiding the cross was the right thing because he wanted to care the Lord.
• Human thinking or emotion is dangerous; Moses' action reveals pride rather than humility or compassion. He spoke as if he and Aaron were the ones performing the miracle, not God.

God's ways are not our ways. Human wisdom can never replace divine instruction. Even good-intentioned actions, if not aligned with God's will, can lead us astray. Necessities for our time of silence, recollection, 

3. God's Call for Humble Obedience

Leaders like Moses and Peter show us that failure is part of the journey, but so is growth. God’s interference is not a punishment, but a correction; it is not rejection—it is an invitation to deeper trust. Holiness requires obedience, even when we don't understand. Peter, after his rebuke, would go on to become the rock of the Church. Moses, though denied entry into the Promised Land, remained God's faithful servant to the end.

Personal Reflection:

Leaders are fallible, meaning they are capable of making mistakes. This is a natural part of being human, but the Lord is inviting them to a lifelong journey of discipleship that demands humility, obedience, and faith.

Everything Is a Gift – So Live as a Giver

14th Week in Ordinary Time – Thursday

Genesis 44:18 21. Matthew 10:7, 15

Everything Is a Gift – So Live as a Giver

• Life is not something we control or possess.
• Life is a gift.
• And gifts are meant to be shared.

Jesus sends out the apostles with authority to heal and to proclaim the Kingdom. But He reminds them first: “Freely you have received; freely give.”

The mission, the message, even the joy they carry—none of it is their own.

It is all grace. So the only fitting response is generosity.

In the First Reading, Joseph could have chosen revenge. He had been betrayed, abandoned, falsely accused. Yet when he stands before the very brothers who sold him, he sees not his pain, but God’s purpose:

“God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.”

• Joseph does not cling to the past.
• He does not say, I was sold.
• He says, I was sent.

One word changes everything. Faith transforms suffering into mission. Gifted people become giving people.

So, what do we see when we look at our own lives? If everything looks like a burden, we become victims.

• If everything looks like a gift, we become blessings.
• If time is a gift, we give it freely.
• If talents are a gift, we use them joyfully.
• If ministry is a gift, we serve humbly.

Let us pray to see with Joseph’s eyes and love with Christ’s heart— because everything we have is a gift, and the most beautiful way to keep a gift is to give it away with love.

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, 

Perpetual Profession

(Fr. David Anbu SdC, the delegate Superior, in his homily on Perpetual profession)

My dear friends in Christ, today is a day of great joy! We gather to witness a profound act of faith and love as our dear Brother Harry is going to make his perpetual profession. This is not just a personal achievement — it’s a gift of God’s grace, a sign of His faithfulness, and a brave 'yes' to His call."

In a world where many seek success, wealth, and comfort, power and titles. Our brother has chosen a different path—a radical one. He is saying “yes” to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. To some, this may seem like a waste or foolish. But in the eyes of faith, it is the greatest wisdom.

1. "Sayang" or Sagrado?

Filipinos often say, "Sayang naman!" (What a waste!) when a bright young man enters religious life. “He could have been a doctor, an engineer, a businessman.” But is it truly a waste?

What is truly sayang — a life chasing only Personal success alone, or a life offered to serve God and others? The world measures success by titles, wealth, and achievements. But God measures it by love, sacrifice, and faithfulness. A life given to God, a life lived for others, is never wasted. It is Sagrado — sacred.

Brother Harry, the world may say "Sayang," but today, heaven says "Salamat!" Thank you for giving your life to God. Your vocation is not a loss; it is a sacred gift.

A Life Built on Love

Filipinos are known for utang na loob—a deep sense of gratitude and loyalty. We feel indebted to those who love us. Brother Harry has experienced the overwhelming love of God, and this is his way of responding. He is giving his whole life as an act of utang na loob—not out of obligation, but out of love.

The Vows: A Radical Witness

Dear Bro. N, The vows you are about to make are countercultural, meaning they go against the values of the world. They challenge societal norms and serve as a powerful witness to a different way of living. By embracing them, you become a sign of contradiction-choosing faith over comfort, service over self-interest, and commitment over temporary satisfaction. Your vows are not just personal promises; they are a prophetic message to the world, proclaiming that true fulfillment comes from God, not from material success or fleeting pleasures."

By the vow of poverty, you tell us that God is my treasure. In a materialistic and consumeristic world, you show us that real wealth is not found in money or possessions, but in God alone.

By the vow of chastity, you tell us that God is my deepest love. In a world confused about the meaning of love, you show us that true love is more than romance — it is a total gift of self to God and others.

By the vow of obedience, you tell us that God’s will is my will. In a culture that values personal freedom above all, you show us that real freedom comes from trusting and surrendering to God's loving plan.

That’s a great theme! "Let us be open to God's version and not stick to our own version when God calls us for a ministry."When God calls, He often rewrites our plans. 

1. Peter: From Fisherman to Shepherd of the Church

• Peter’s version: A simple fisherman, casting his nets daily, providing for his family.
• God’s version: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)
• Reality check: Peter had to leave behind his trade, face persecution, and even walk on water in faith (Matthew 14:29). Despite his failures, Christ made him the rock of the Church.

Matthew: From Tax Collector to Gospel Writer

• Matthew’s version: A tax collector, earning wealth, possibly disliked by many but financially secure.
• God’s version: "Follow me." (Matthew 9:9)
• Matthew misused his skill with the pen by making false accounts to gain wealth as a tax collector. However, when he was open to God's plan, he used the same skill to write the Gospel."

Moses: From Shepherd to Leader of a Nation

• Moses’ version: A quiet life in Midian, tending sheep after fleeing Egypt.
• God’s version: "Go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt." (Exodus 3:10)
• Reality check: Moses argued with God ("I am not eloquent!" – Exodus 4:10), but in the end, he led an entire nation to freedom and spoke with God face to face (Exodus 33:11).

Jonah: From Running Away to Preaching Repentance

• Jonah’s version: Serve God, but not in Nineveh!
• God’s version: "Go to Nineveh and preach against it." (Jonah 1:2)
• Reality check: He tried to escape, ended up in a whale’s belly, and eventually obeyed—leading an entire city to repentance!

Mary: From Humble Servant to Mother of God

• Mary’s version: A simple, quiet life in Nazareth.
• God’s version: "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus." (Luke 1:31)
• Reality check: She risked scandal, hardship, and sorrow, but her "Yes" changed history and eternity.

Conclusion: God's Version is Always Greater

• When God calls us, He often asks us to let go of our plans and trust His greater purpose. And when you feel unworthy or uncertain, remember: God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. when you are open to God's plan in your life, he will bless you more than what you could ever imagine.
• Dear bro. Harry, ask yourself this question:Am I willing to trust His plan, even when it challenges my expectations?

4. Be a Blessing Wherever You Are Sent

You may be sent to another country as a missionary or asked to serve here in the Philippines. You may be assigned to work in a big or small community. You may be asked to serve the elderly, special children, or become a formator for seminarians. No matter where God places you, be a blessing.

There will be days when you feel abandoned, when your prayers seem unheard, and when it will be difficult to live out your vows. But remember: your vows were not made in comfort — they were made at the foot of the Cross. You are not going to make your vows in a resto-bar, beach resort, Manila Resort World, or a five-star hotel.

I am reminded of my Jesuit retreat preacher, Fr. Selvaraj, who facilitated our retreat before our perpetual profession. I was the one who asked him a simple question: "What is your greatest joy in religious life?" He immediately replied, "I did not leave."

Religious life is not always easy. The struggles are real — loneliness, misunderstanding, spiritual dryness, and even moments of doubt. You may experience slander, calumny, betrayal, humiliation, and pain. But hold firm, my brother. Remember, the Cross is not a sign of defeat; it is the road to glory.

Brother, today, you say "Yes" to God forever. Let it be a "Yes" that endures — in joy and sorrow, in strength and weakness, in certainty and doubt.

The World Needs Another Christ

• The World Needs Kindness, Not Just Habits
• The world today doesn't need more religious men who just wear a habit on the outside.

It needs men whose hearts are on fire with love for Christ — men who are ready to serve, to love, and to get their hands dirty for others.

• The Good Samaritan: What the World Needs

In the story of the Good Samaritan, the man left beaten on the road did not need:

• Someone to preach to him about God,
• Someone to argue about doctrine,
• Someone to tell him what's right or wrong.

He needed:

• Someone to clean his wounds (even if it was messy!),
• Someone to carry him to safety,
• Someone to pay for his care.

He didn’t need a priest./ He didn’t need a preacher./ He needed a kind person. A servant.

And that’s what the wounded world needs today.

Be Clothed with Compassion

The Bible says:

"You are the people of God; He loved you and chose you for His own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." (Colossians 3:12)

Because this is how the world will see Jesus — through our love and kindness.

Jesus Walked Among the Broken

Jesus didn’t stay inside the synagogue or in comfortable places.

• He walked among sinners,
• He healed the sick,
• He forgave the lost,
• He served the broken.

Your vocation — whether as a priest, a brother, a sister, or a layperson — is not to escape the world,

but to bring Jesus into the world.

6. A Challenge for All of Us

Brother [Name] is giving his life completely to God. But what about us? Are we willing to give God even a part of our lives?

• Parents, do you support your children if they feel called to religious life?
• Young people, do you have the courage to ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Conclusion: The Greatest Yes

Brother [Name], today, you say your final “yes” to God. This yes is forever. It is a yes that will have struggles, but also deep joy. It is a yes that will demand sacrifice, but will also bring fulfillment.

May your life be a witness to all of us—that nothing is wasted when given to God.

The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)

In all cultures, the tower represents all the historical landmarks. Eiffel Tower. 

1st reading talks about the powerful symbol of the Israelites: the Tower. This popular historical event, a myth, is known for three things;

1. It was a beautiful symbol of Unity. They spoke one language, unity of purpose 

2. Brick-making technology: Is people were highly talented people who contributed many architectural works and were competitive with the Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures. 

3. They are known for trade. They were good at trade and migration. diaspora trade, exported to other cultures. olive, wine.

What is wrong? The sin is here; the Sin of Pride & competing with God. “We will make a name for ourselves”. The people of Babel sought to “make a name for themselves” without acknowledging God. They wanted to compete with God. Their unity was based on human ambition, not divine purpose. True unity must be centered on God, not on personal pride or selfish goals.

• Adam and Eve, Cain, wicked people at Noah, models of unfaithfulness… 
• Abraham changed the world? A person of faith and Abraham shows his faithfulness. 

 Earlier in Gen 11:4, the people at Babel were saying, “Let us make a name for ourselves”. But now God is telling a person, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

When we try to make our name great, often, that becomes a failure. Let us make God’s name greater; It is God who does, denying yourself is not an option; demand,  

Cain and Abel (Genesis 4):

The usual question of the students; Adam and Eve had only two Sons; Cain and Abel. Abel was killed. How come the generation grew with the only presence of Cain?. It does not mean that there was only one society living after their exit from the Garden. God would send providence every time according to the need. 

The theme of the Fourth chapter of Genesis is the first murder takes place in humanity, Abel was killed by his own brother, and he gave the reason it was God. He was pleased with the offering of Abel, not Cain. Cain becomes jealous. Jealousy leads to anger, and anger leads to murder. 

In the time the book of Genesis was written, there were two traditions, agricultural and shepherd traditions, that were living nearby, and they had tension among them. Cain was working on the land, and Abel was taking care of the sheep. Even the priestly tradition was part of the Shepherdic tradition because the Priestly/Leviticus tradition believed that blood offerings were pleased to God, 

God is warning Cain, that sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master» You can control the demon.

Cain killed Abel in the field, in his land, supposed to be his agricultural land, leaving his blood on the land. 

God says, «What have you done! Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil! Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 

In Hebrew damim means, blood in the plural, the bloods of your brother, whenever you take away a life, you become responsible for all the blood of humanity, because You are insulting the one who gave his breath, created life, 

In all the ethnic traditions, murder is the gravest sin. 

Sin alienates us—from God, from others, and ourselves.

The most violent year was the time of Jesus, the war between Jews and Romans many poor people were killed. 

Time of Herod, many children’s blood was thrown down, and women were killed, according to historians, 

Jesus says no sign will be given to the generation that wage a war. 

Yet, God does not abandon him. Instead, He places a sign on Cain—not as a punishment, but as a mark of protection. This shows that even after sin, God’s mercy remains.

If you don’t end the war, the war will end us, In war, there is no winner, we are all losers. 

Blessed Clare Bosatta

HOMILY ON THE FEAST OF BLESSED CHIARA

It is certain that Don Guanella considered Sister Chiara as an extraordinary grace from God for his nascent Work. In following her spiritually he had the sensation and wonder of being before a great mystery of the Lord, who traces a personal path of holiness for each person.

This is how Don Guanella defines this special journey: “God led her along the path of strong souls, a harsh and dangerous path for itself, but he guided her so that she would not set foot in a trap. And she did not fall; for she surrendered with absolute docility to her guiding hand."

In recent days, re-reading the personal recollections and notes on Sister Chiara's interior life, written by Don Guanella, entitled 'So will Sister Chiara never come back among us?', I too was enthusiastic about some of the remarks Don Guanella before such a heroic sanctity which in essence corresponded to his thoughts and his heart.

Don Guanella appreciates Sister Chiara's simplicity and external transparency while realizing the inner complexity of her soul.

When Don Guanella learned that Sister Chiara, before the judge of Dongo who had called her for some rumors about the Pianello Hospice, had resolved the matter favorably, he exclaimed: "How much honesty in the little soul !- adding - it was like those spring clouds that threaten frightening hurricanes and then drop sprays of water that restore the earth from its drought”.

Prayer in Clara: Another essential quality that Don Guanella sees shining in Sister Chiara, but also in all of his first Sisters, is assiduous, trusting prayer, certain of the intervention of Providence.

"What were these daughters doing?, - Don Guanella asks himself and replies - They prayed and Sister Chiara, who was like their life, arranged that from morning to evening in the House it was like a continuous prayer". “They were moved by prayer and so throughout the Hospice they spread a flood of prayer and a very sweet comfort to the spirit of the patients”.

Don Guanella visibly experienced the efficacy of this prayer. For example, he attributes to it the favorable possibility of buying the land of his first house here in Como…

Another inner secret that Sister Chiara's Founder reveals to us is her costly and difficult obedience to following God's will through his spiritual guidance. This is probably one of the essential points in his life that explains how a certainly not easy character could arrive at such elevated spiritual experiences. Don Guanella also seems convinced that Sister Chiara was able to correspond totally to the grace of the Lord, because she "learned, by obeying, what sacrifice means".

Obedience: Don Guanella writes about it: "Now that I think of it, I regret having given her such crude obedience, but it consoles me that dying she said: “The hardest obedience was going to Dongo, but after that, God began in me all those favors that I feel”.

Through obedience, also renouncing what she could feel more in line with her feelings and her desire for a more hidden and contemplative life, she was able to admirably integrate continuous prayer with works of charity, as both Don Coppini and Don Guanella, both convinced that Sister Chiara would become the pillar and foundation of their Work.

Don Guanella comments: "Sister Chiara listened and was silent, until one day when she insisted again she was defeated and concluded: “Well I won't talk any more about leaving /from Pianello/ and God's will be done' and she burst into tears. And it was great luck for me, says the Founder, because here you did great good among us. God helped her and the dying of her confessed that the sacrifice of that obedience of hers greatly benefited her in the presence of God and her own conscience. Thus the sacrifice of her heart was largely compensated ”.

We all know what this reward was: the Mystic of suffering and the perfection of charity.

It is beautiful to remember the same words of Don Guanella: “She had given everything to God and the Lord rewarded her richly. Sister Chiara's intellect began to be illuminated with a brighter light. One would have said that the flash of internal light was reflected externally in her face... She wanted God: she would have liked to embrace him sensitively and see him face to face and, unable to do so, she embraced the creatures"... who best represented God on this earth, the poor . And Don Guanella exclaims: "How admirable is the heart of God that works in the heart of his wonderful servants who are so admirable!". Later he stated: “Sister Chiara was a contemplative, she was a dove and almost an eagle, few of her ascended up to her...” The perfect charity of Sister Chiara. Just a few phrases from Don Guanella that reveal Sister Chiara's heart full of charity: "He showed her pleasure in expressing her needs immediately and she would bring them and she listened and answered a few words but so well-adjusted that the others were fully satisfied. It was like a taking and giving of the bread of life" (admirable definition of true and experienced charity!)

“Sister Chiara… everyone's life was in the House; the wheel of the building that moved many others…. It leapt like a nozzle from branch to branch; little strength but slim; a nun full of spirit and strength of agility… What a sweet show!” (Don Guanella was truly admired by it.)

The source of this charity, as we know, was her contemplative spirit and prayer. In the "praying and suffering" proposed as an ideal of spirituality by the Founder, she was able to find the nourishment and strength for her unconditional dedication to the poor, in the form that everyone recognized as an educational charity. She who had so much wanted to be an educator and teacher, was able to truly be so, not by teaching in a normal school, but by taking on the difficult task of mother and spiritual sister for her sisters and a passionate witness to the goodness of God's heart with the orphan girls.

Some phrases of Don Guanella highlight the concreteness of his educative ability, in the style of God. looking at certain defects, either of character or of incompatibility, burned with live anger, but he hid everything in his heart. And when she was (ne) in charge of talking about it, she talked (ne) with the such ardor of heart, strength and sweetness... that immediately the sisters surrendered everything to her discretion; although the youngest in age and service she dominated overall and entirely….” – And with regard to the girls – “she earned herself with a smile…. They wanted Sister Chiara... they ran to meet her... she was like Don Bosco: a smile, a little word, a service, here is our little angel. With the orphan girls, she was all of all ”. “At school, she was the mother, the teacher, the guardian angel…”

Her mystical suffering: Finally, a mention of her "suffering for her", lived in an extraordinary mystical way, which made Don Guanella himself difficulty in guiding her spiritually. In fact, he had to exclaim: “Poor thing is the soul that is so agitated. The less spiritual people would go astray...” and then he refers to the experience of the mystic saints with St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila to understand at least a little what God was working in that soul". In the end Don Guanella intuits, "No wood is more capable of lighting the fire of God's charity in the heart than the wood of the Cross". Then he adds as if to say that he feels powerless in the face of such a sublime mystery: "And here we take stock and console ourselves that Sister Chiara, virgin and martyr, or rather martyr and therefore virgin, leaves a precious legacy of virtues".

So let us too reflect a little on this precious heritage that was given to us by God in Sister Chiara. Perhaps none of us are called by God to walk this extraordinary path of holiness, in the way she did. But all of us Guanellians know that we could not fully live the Founder's charism without this fundamental mandate "to pray and suffer". Prayer and suffering are inseparable from charity. Everyone will have different forms both for praying and for suffering, but the spirit that sustains and makes our charism visible must be unique. Which would become simple social activity without prayer and suffering.

In the history of spirituality that starts from the Founder and passes through Monsignor Aurelio Bacciarini and many of our sisters and brothers, Sister Chiara finds an eminent place, to whom the words of Job could be particularly applied, who experienced so strongly the mystery of pain and of suffering: "Before I knew you by hearsay, now my eyes see you". Courageous eyes therefore also those of Sister Chiara who, in her youth was not only capable of admiring the lilies of the field or the birds of the air, but was also able to discover in her daily cross, in trials and in concrete dedication to the poor, the face of God and the Providence of the Father.

So I conclude with the invitation to give an answer today to that question of the Founder: So will Sister Chiara never come back among us? ‘Non ritornerà più dunque Suor Chiara tra noi?’

The best response seems to me to commit ourselves to vitally assimilating the meaning that her path to holiness can have for us today, so as not to leave her forgotten in the heaven of her mystical bliss. Certainly we must personalize this path of holiness in response to the particular graces that the Lord offers to each of us, adapting it to the current theological vision of the Church, but not watering it down by conforming to the mentality of the world. On the contrary, in a climate of efficiency it is even more necessary to rediscover the great efficacy of prayer; in a climate of pursuit of physical well-being at all costs, we are also called to value pain and our human limitations, above all to find meaning and serenity in our conformity to Christ and also to be capable of true love for the suffering, because love, in God's pedagogy, can only be lived fully on the Cross.

In this sense, Sister Chiara is still present among us: that is, in those who invoke her protection and follow her example.

I don't know if I'm wrong, but I think we have somewhat forgotten their profound charismatic message, perhaps because it is a little difficult to understand or to live…

The consequence of our difficulty in vitally expressing their spirit and charisma perhaps affects the loss of proactive strength in spreading their devotion among the people.

We would soon like to see them recognized as saints by the Church and perhaps we are waiting a little too passively for a miracle.

The first and most beautiful miracle is certainly that of making us holier, and this does not depend only on God, but also on our collaboration. Then even more people around us will join in sharing our spirituality

Particularly today we ask our Blessed Chiara at least for the grace of a greater spirit of prayer and sacrifice.

Feast of Blessed Clare, April 20, 2023

Sister Chiara received extraordinary grace from God. God traces a personal path of holiness for each person. It is up to human beings how they respond to the Call. She got an opportunity to be a mystic and remain a model for the institutes. The mystery lies in the personal choice of Chiara, which made her clear, for very few years she lived, gave his life and soul, before it reached the branches she had to give her life. She put her mind and soul into and worked for sanctity. 

The vocation of Clare: They tell Vocation is a surprise and a mystery. It is not in the mind of God. How the human minds take time to recognize that vocation/divine call. In the life of prophets, Though God calls once, he continuously calls in mysterious ways. 

Clare also had a vocation to the simple life that she wanted to offer her life for consecrated life (from the age of 13, 1871). But to recognize this, it takes a long time, they call it the hour of mercy. Clare also took time, Canossians say No, the door is closed, another door is opened.  

We had many motivations when we choose to join the religious life. Make sure that you orient all your motivations to direct only one person that is God; Vocation is only one from God. We change our minds to recognize the vocation which is gradually being revealed. Changes: the Consecrated life in the recent past years, changes of rules in the Vatican, People changing congregation/choosing another way of life even after many years?

But For each person, the vocation to love takes concrete form in everyday life through a series of choices.  Her vocation demonstrates that Christ's love has no boundaries. For a vocation to be beautiful, one has to think about others. “call within a call” means a vocation within her vocation to religious life.  

Be strong, in caring/maturing your soul: 

In our community of Servants, who has more body weight? Who is stronger?  In Daughters of St. Mary of Providence? 

Which is heavier? Muscle or fat? 

Lean persons are also stronger, they run fast. 

From the beginning, he was known for her physical frailty. After spending nearly six years with the Canossian sisters (1871-1879), She entered the community of the Canossian sisters in Gravedona. She spent actually eight years, out of sixteen of her early life (from 13 till 20), with the Canossian sisters. She was told she is unfit for religious life for two reasons; her withdrawn personality, and physical weakness. 

One cannot accept easily the rejection, refusal of admission, No. I want to prove that I am fit. 

Every life, even the most humble and weakest is always a gift. She was on constant research, she did not doubt. Guanella mentioned this “delicacy of her soul” The strength of the soul is like a lion”. How her heart accepted the plan of God. She showed a strong eagerness and attraction toward religious life. Clare’s desire for religious life was clear with the Canossians. It will be helpful for us to understand her attraction to religious vocation even though she had a weak personality. 

Focusing on spiritual health: she had a strong spirit and vibrant soul. Nobody can harm or destroy. 

How Clare lived the suffering makes her different from everyone: She lived the sickness and love, simplicity and transparency.  She was weak in health, but never wanted the community to serve her. She was able to give more love. She was doing it with love. She told them not to enter her room, because of the contagious disease. She became concerned about the community and others, and many episodes in Como. She knew the singular names of beneficiaries including children. 

Simplicity and submission. Submission was very common for women in that century. She was like water, a crystal. I see in her more transparency also. To tell “I don’t know, I am not able, I cannot, I don’t know why, how happens to me” expressions of the highest form of humility, Part of Fiat of Mary. Lord help me to understand the mystery. 

In fact, don Guanella had to exclaim: “Poor thing is the soul that is so agitated. The less spiritual people would go astray...” and then he refers to the experience of the mystic saints with St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila to understand at least a little what God was working in that soul". Because she was transparent not keeping a single drop of pride. 

Homily 

Sino ang mas malakas dito? Who is stronger here? Who develops Fisic? Macho? Pogi, handsome? You think thin people are soft, weak and sick. But lean people are stronger.

The body is tangible — you can see strength grow with training. But the will power is invisible, yet it governs everything: persistence, discipline, resilience.

In a way, developing the body is easier — it’s about consistent action. Developing the will is harder, the good soul may have a healthy body, but always healthy body does not keep a healthy soul. 

Woman of weak body, but a strong soul: 

From the beginning, he was known for her physical weakness. After spending nearly 8 years (13-20 age) with the Canossian sisters (1871-1879), She was told she is unfit for religious life for two reasons; her withdrawn personality, and physical weakness. One cannot accept easily the rejection, refusal of admission, No. I want to prove that I am fit. 

Every life, even the most humble and weakest is always a gift. Guanella mentioned this “delicacy of her soul” The strength of the soul is like a lion”. How her heart accepted the plan of God. She showed a strong eagerness and attraction toward religious life. Focusing on spiritual health: she had a strong spirit and vibrant soul. Nobody can harm or destroy. 

1. Prayer in Clara: Another essential quality is assiduous, trusting and surrendering prayer.

"What were these daughters doing?, - Don Guanella replies - They prayed and Sister Chiara, who was like their life, arranged that from morning to evening in the House it was like a continuous prayer".  Don Guanella visibly experienced the efficacy of this prayer. For example, he attributes to it the favorable possibility of buying the land of his first house here in Como… obedience is the extension of prayer. Don Guanella also seems convinced that Sister Chiara was able to correspond totally to the grace of the Lord, because she "learned, by obeying, what sacrifice means".

Our Founder refers to the experience of the mystic saints with St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila to understand at least a little what God was working in that soul". 

Suffering: Founder's charism without this fundamental mandate "to pray and suffer". Prayer and suffering are inseparable from charity. Everyone will have different forms both for praying and for suffering, but the spirit that sustains and makes our charism visible must be unique. Which would become simple social activity without prayer and suffering.

How Clare lived the suffering makes her different from everyone: She lived the sickness and love, simplicity and transparency.  She was weak in health, but never wanted the community to serve her. She was able to give more love. She was doing it with love. She told them not to enter her room, because of the contagious disease. She became concerned about the community and others, and many episodes in Como. She knew the singular names of beneficiaries including children. 

Simplicity and submission. Submission was very common for women in that century. She was like water, a crystal. I see more transparency in her also. To tell “I don’t know, I am not able, I cannot, I don’t know why, how happens to me” expressions of the highest form of humility, Part of Fiat of Mary. Lord help me to understand the mystery. 

Jesus calms the storm (Mark 4: 35-41

Mark 4: 35-41

In today’s Gospel passage, we read about Jesus calming the storm. When we look at the Gospel passage in the context of Mark’s Gospel, the section of parables ends and here begins the section of miracles (signs or wonders). 

There are three types of miracles (healing miracles, exorcism miracles and miracles over nature). This extraordinary miracle and mighty act indicates that Jesus had power over nature. 

Moreover, this passage can also be taken as a parable. Jesus sleeps here. This is the only place where it is mentioned Jesus slept, another place, Jesus rested for a while. In this case, Jesus sleeps with a pillow. Natutulog si Hesus na may u’nan. ‘Sleep’ refers to ‘death’ or ‘absence’. After Jesus’ death or ascension, Mark’s community faces many problems. Their boat ride was not pleasant. They felt the absence of God. Through this incident, Mark encourages his community. Sino sa inyo ang nakasakay sa bangka? Jesus still cares for us even when he has left us (and has fallen asleep). We can face any adversity in His presence (and absence).

A) Continue to travel, not to stop: At the beginning of the Gospel passage, sinabi ni Jesus sa mga alagad, “Tumawid tayo sa ibayo.” “Let us go across to the other side.” Jesus invites the disciples to be always in movement. With care, he leads them there. When we become frozen by life’s events, Jesus invites us to “go across to the other side.” We must get up often and go to the other side. Keep moving forward, successful people do not have time to worry,  

The first reading gives an example of not worrying, but putting faith in God, the best model is Abraham. Isaac is questioning the father, “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. Let us continue to travel, God will provide on his part, he will not abandon us, Keep moving forward, successful people do not have time to worry,  

b. In their fear, the disciples cry out: ‘Teacher, we are about to die!’ what should we do? the young man in the Gospel was asking different in Mark 10:17, ‘Lord, we are going to live! What should I do?’ both are life but different levels, There is no place for death in God’s presence. PUSJ members, Lord help us to prepare for death, Mark says that there was a great storm and brings before us two situations: one, the peaceful situation. In that situation, Jesus is sleeping with a pillow in the boat. The second is the opposite, fear situation. The disciples are terrified and frightened. “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” They see Jesus as just a teacher (Rabbi). Here we see the concern of Jesus. First, he makes the storm calm. Then he gives hope to his disciples. First, he removes their painful situation. 

Jesus gets up and rebukes the sea. ‘Peace, be still!” is the formula for exorcism rebuke. Jesus calms the sea with the same words. Because, for the Jewish people, the sea was considered a place of demons. Jesus continues to rebuke his disciples: ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still not believe?’ Jesus rebukes them for their lack of faith. That is, they refused to believe that they could not die when Jesus was with them. This is their lack of trust. These questions were not asked just by looking at the disciples. Each of us who reads this text is asked. You and I must answer these two questions individually. The answer to the question, “Who sleeps in a boat and rebukes the wind?” depends on the answer we give.

Mark 1:29-39

Continuous temptation!

We think Jesus was tempted only in the desert. After healing Simon’s mother-in-law and many others, Simon and the others interrupt His prayer with an urgent plea: “Everyone is looking for you!” They invite Him to stay where He is, among those who already appreciate His presence and miracles. This scenario highlights a subtle but powerful temptation: to remain in the comfort of the familiar.

1. The temptation to stay in the familiar:

“Everyone is looking for you!” – the disciples’ words sound both flattering and reassuring. It’s always tempting to remain in places where people already know us, congratulate us, love us, and applaud what we do—be with like-minded people. I did regency in GH, mabait sila, I want to remain with them, But Jesus discerns that this can become a snare, keeping Him from His larger mission.

Jesus responds, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns (Tyre and Sidon, synogogues), so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” His answer shows He refuses to settle for popularity or comfort. Instead, He looks to the larger horizon of God’s will.

Avoid risks: In economics, there’s a principle called the “loss aversion fallacy.” We naturally avoid risks because losing something we have feels worse than the joy of gaining something new. Spiritually, this manifests when we fear stepping into the unknown or giving up our comfortable routines—even if doing so could bring greater fruit or deeper union with God.

We see this “loss aversion” in the parable of the talents (cf. Mt 25:14–30). The third servant buries his talent rather than risking it. He clings to the security of keeping what he has—yet he ends up losing it anyway. In our own lives, how often do we bury our gifts and remain in spiritual comfort zones simply because we are afraid of what lies beyond?

3. Jesus the High Priest: merciful and faithful

The first reading (cf. Heb 2:14–18) reminds us that Jesus, our High Priest, was like us “in every respect,” tempted as we are, yet without sin. He was merciful to the people He served and faithful to God’s plan. That faithful obedience required constant discernment—choosing the Father’s will over human praise or personal comfort.

Summing up, Jesus knew the subtle temptation of settling in a place where people cheered for Him. He overcame it by choosing the Father’s mission over personal comfort. As our merciful and faithful High Priest, He understands our own struggles with fear and complacency. Today, let us ask for the grace to follow Him into the unknown—beyond our routines, beyond our fears—trusting that God’s plans far surpass any temporary comfort we might cling to. Then, like Jesus, we will fulfil our true calling and experience the joy of doing the Father’s will.