Fr. Jose

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Dear family members and friends: Today’s Gospel is actually an invitation for us to discover our identity and also our value as human beings. It is also an answer to the so called disparity in the earnings of different people. One important thing we should have in mind is the value God gives us out of His generosity. As in the parable the landowner calls the labourers on his own will and plan. Each one has to recognize his role and part in the work and at the same time respect others also recognising their role and part they do. Ultimately at the end of our life we will be given the reward according to our deeds and out of God’s generosity. Amen

Fr. Jose

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Dear family members and friends: Today’s responsorial psalm reminds us, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy.” It is this nature of the Lord that urges Him to forgive. Jesus teaches us a very good lesson about our behaviour towards others, especially to those who do to us something wrong. We have to forgive them. There is no limit for forgiveness. It is an act of love. The parable of the wicked servant who did not forgive his fellow servant is a good warning to us about the need to forgive others because we have received forgiveness from the Lord several times. Let us practise this forgiveness in our family, workplace, community and also in all our relationships. Thus, we will be fulfilling the commandment of the Lord to love one another. Amen.

Fr. Jose

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Dear family members and friends: In today’s Gospel Jesus deals with a very crucial matter: how to deal with a person who does something wrong in the community of believers. There is a chance of some personal conflicts within the community. The basic attitude we should have is one of peace, healing and restoring the broken relationship. Jesus speaks about various steps. The first one is to talk privately to the person concerned. Many problems can be solved by this. If not settled, the second step is to talk in the presence of two or three witnesses. If it is not still solved, then bring the matter to the church. Church includes the presence of Jesus and it has the moral and spiritual authority to decide what is right and wrong. Jesus gives a special authority to the church to bind and lose. As part of the church let us try not to get into conflicts and if anything happens reconcile at the earliest.  Amen.

Fr. Jose

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Dear Family members and friends: In today’s Gospel, two very important message are given: 1} Jesus speaks about his passion, death and resurrection. 2} Jesus speaks about what one must do in order to follow him. Jesus very openly says what is going to happen to him. He did not want to hide anything from the disciples. Humanly speaking the leaders will all talk about gains to motivate and influence the followers. But Jesus did not want to misguide the disciples. Again, He says to all who want to follow him to take up the cross and follow him. There is no short cut to follow him, but wholehearted accept all the life experiences, with the prime importance of the soul. Let the question in our ears and hearts: “What shall a man give in return for his soul?” Amen

Fr. Jose

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Dear family members and friends:  Today’s Gospel is very important for those who believe in Jesus. Jesus asks the disciples what the people say about Him and later He asked what they themselves say about Jesus. The answer that Simon Peter gave was something extraordinary, in the sense, no one else had made such a declaration: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” The comment that Jesus makes is that it is the Father in heaven who has revealed it to him. In order to have real faith we need the revelation of the Father through the Holy Spirit. The basis of our faith is the declaration by Simon Peter and let us try to be strong in our faith. Jesus also confirms the strength of the church saying that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Let us love the church and as a door to the kingdom of heaven. Amen