Reflection/Homily: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14 2014)

Reflection/Homily: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14 2014)

Theme: Salvation through the Cross

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates three historic events: the finding of the True Cross by St. Helena, the dedication of the Church built over the Holy Sepulchre and on Mount Calvary by Emperor Constantine and the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius II. According to traditions, St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine travelled to Jerusalem in 326 on a pilgrimage with the intention of finding the True Cross. Along with some aides, she carried out some excavations around the Holy Sepulchre and discovered the True Cross on which Christ was crucified. This discovery was confirmed by some miracles and in honour of this great discovery, her son, Emperor Constantine built Churches at the site of the Holy Sepulchre and on Mount Calvary which were dedicated on September 13 and 14, 335. The anniversaries of this dedication came to be celebrated as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Three centuries later, the Persians conquered Jerusalem and their king, Khosrau II captured the True Cross and took it to Persia. In 629, Emperor Heraclius II defeated Khosrau II, regained the Cross and restored it to Jerusalem and ever since then, this restoration of the True Cross became part of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Reflection/Homily: Good Friday (April 6 2012)

Theme: The Sacrifice of the Cross: A Paradigm of Christian Sacrifice

Since the fall of Adam, humanity has known no peace. Suffering and death has been the lot of man so much so that life is nothing but misery. This death was not restricted to physical death but included spiritual death. Man’s soul lost the hope of paradise.

In this miserable condition, God did not abandon His people because of the great love He bears for them. He initiated plans to save them. This plan began with making the people conscious of their evil ways and directing them in the right direction. He made covenants with them and gave them regulations through the patriarchs and prophets.

At His appointed time, He sent His Son for the culmination of man’s redemption through the great sacrifice he offered. Though the Israelites had previously offered sacrifices for sins, their sacrifices were incapable of cleansing them because they were made with blood of animals. There was need for a higher victim, so Jesus became the victim and the oblation.

In the first reading (Is. 52:13-53, 12), we see a picture of the suffering servant, a pre-figure of Jesus who through his suffering and death will cleanse and save the world. This suffering servant is the sacrifice offered for the forgiveness of sins. In the passion narrative (Jn. 18: 1-19:42), we see the manner and form in which this sacrifice was offered.

The story line of Jesus’ passion and death is an old and familiar story. Every action is significant and points towards our redemption and salvation. This evening, we shall reflect on the significance of Simon of Cyrene in the passion narrative and on the significance of the burial of Jesus.

The Significance of Simon of Cyrene in the Passion Narrative: The gospel records that on his journey to Golgotha, fearing that Jesus would die before reaching there because he could scarcely walk, the soldiers mandated Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross behind our Lord. Simon of Cyrene is a reflection of an ideal Christian life – that of carrying the Cross. It is not only christian to carry one’s cross but more christian to carry one another’s cross. 

It is because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that we are saved and he wants us to reciprocate by sacrificing 

Reflection/Homily: Fifth (5th) Sunday of Lent Year B (March 25 2012)

                                Theme: The Christian Cross as a Gateway to Heaven

           

            In our lives we really desire good things but sometimes, we are not able to pass through crucibles in other to get them. Most students dream of graduating with first class certificates but only a few are really burning extra candles. Every achievement must be attained through hard work. That is why in today’s gospel (John 12:20-33), Jesus reiterates this principle that nothing good comes easy. We must work it out under difficult situations. Jesus uses the analogy of the sown wheat to demonstrate that to redeem man, he must die and for us to gain eternal life, we must also die just as a sown wheat must die in the ground before it yields a rich harvest. The problem is that most of us are reluctant to work hard. This reluctance is found in our physical and spiritual lives. Sometimes, we want this or that from God but we can’t kneel in prayer to get them. We want to go to heaven but we can’t do good and avoid evil. We want to be exceptionally spiritually gifted but we can’t work hard to develop these spiritual gifts, etc.

            Today, Jesus invites us to learn from him how to boldly accept unpleasant situations for a pleasant result. The gospel began by narrating how some Greeks who came for worship at Jerusalem requested to see Jesus through the Apostles Philip and Andrew. Though John did not tell us whether 

Reflection/Homily: Fourth (4th) Sunday of Lent Year B (March 18 2012)

Theme: God’s Immeasurable Love for Humanity

          

  In today’s readings, we are challenged to reflect on God’s immeasurable love for humanity and its implications for us. The concept “love of God” could mean either God’s love for us or our love for God but in this period of lent, we consider God’s love for us first because it will inspire our love for God which will also be translated in our love for our neighbours.

           

In the first reading (2 Chr. 36:14-16, 19-23), the Israelites with their political and religious leaders all rebelled against God and defiled God’s dwelling place. Out of love for them, God constantly sent messengers to direct and teach them but their messages were treated with scorn. God did not abandon them but kept on watching them as they neglected His Love and wallowed in sin. Being vulnerable for being outside of God’s love, they were attacked and taken into captivity by the Babylonians. When they suffered and learnt their lessons, God had to intervene because of the love He has for them by raising up a king who will proclaim their liberty, offer them treasures and help them rebuild the Temple as we see in Ezra chapter 1.

          

The second reading (Eph 2:4-10), also confirms this love of God not just for the Israelites alone but for