Sermon Thoughts – Baptism of Jesus-Ordinary Time -A

Sermon Thoughts – Baptism of Jesus- Ordinary Time - A

Today we celebrate the baptism of Jesus.
Jesus is coming like a normal person to John to be baptized.
John resists at first and was reluctant to allow it.
But Jesus wants the justice to be done.
He makes him equal to other people:
to the sick, the poor people who gathered before John.

Many theologians understand this passage as the “Call” or “rebirth” of Jesus –
It is the fulfilment of the prophet Isaiah:
“I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations.
To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness“
It is from the first reading.
Yes, Jesus is then available or the people who needed him.
As a healer, a comforter, as a teacher, he lives with them.

Jesus is changing or is revealing at his baptism:
He comes in human form and returns from the water as the Son of God, confirmed by God.
He says “yes” to his “Call”:
The call, to proclaim the kingdom of God.
The call to show justice and mercy of God
He becomes one among them and shows his solidarity with the poor, the sick and sinners.

A few days ago we celebrated his “Epiphany” and have announced that Jesus came as God and man to us.
In his baptism, we believe in his revelation as the Son of God.

My dear friends,
this is not only the “call to Jesus.”
It is also our “true call and destiny”
The call to be transformed as the Children of God.


How can we become children of God?

Our participation and commitment is needed for that.
This can start in the Church and in Prayers.
That grows in the family.
Then it will be “reaching” the people in form of Charity.

The baptism in the Jordan means change.
God strengthened and renewed Jesus with his Holy Spirit.
It reveals him as his beloved son.

Encouraged by this experience, Jesus begins his public ministry.
His words and his deeds were proclaiming the people, from the love of God.
Everything he does get “the Seal of God”, his blessings.
He works in the “name of God.”

Also, we too received this love of God in our heart: in our Baptism and Confirmation. No baptized Christian stands alone.
Every human being is divinely assisted.
God is with us and he shows us his love in his Sacrament.

As receivers, we must learn to give that love to others,
which we received from God.

Then, after the baptism of Jesus went to the people,
who were in need to help them.

Let’s celebrate today in this church that God’s love for his people,
by listening to his word and receiving him in Sacrament.

God bless us all! Amen.

-
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – Epiphany – Year A

Sermon Thoughts – Epiphany – Year A

How the Magi come to the manger?.
If you remember the Gospel:
we see only a king in mentioned there, and it is Herod.
But he did not go to worship Jesus.

Moreover, we call them “kings” but Gospel says, “Magi”, probably meant to wise men, come from distant lands.
They do not belong to the chosen people of Israel.
Obviously, they understood it,
to interpret the signs of the times.

How many were there, is also not mentioned.
Whether it was three or more?
And that they came to Bethlehem can be not that correct at all, then they needed a long time for their journey. The star stood not above the stable, but on a house says Gospel.
So the wise men could have visited, Mary and Joseph in Nazareth and not in Bethlehem.
Then, how come our three wise men to the manger? Something seems wrong.

Well, I don’t want you get confused? And the details are not the issue at all.. For the intention of Evangelist Matthew, the only one who tells this story,
was not to tell an historical event. Matthew is a theologian.
He tells something important for the faith, namely this:
The Messiah was indeed expected from the chosen people of Israel, but when he was there, he was rejected by his own people.
In nutshell: wisdom and power of this world should give priority to God.

Did God come at an “inconvenient” time? It seems so: his presence disturbed Herod and brought him anxiety. Also for the chief priests and scribes, he remained a troublesome rebel.

God is stranger to many people; he is not welcome in our highly technologically advanced time. Many people of our age cannot tolerate His morals and teachings, because they can be an obstacle in their “business”.


God becomes man, that’s Christmas.
Now he “appears” to the people. He is visible.
The world recognizes in Jesus the Son of God.

In the Old Testament, it would be equal to death as no one was meant to look at God.
Now everything is different.
God shows himself and that as a child.
Even then people continue to “live”.
They are not dead..
No, he came to give life…in its fullness…in his fullness.
And with his coming, some learned to live cheerful and lively than before.
Epiphany of the Lord invites us all to the divine life.


Epiphany is not just a celebration in Christmastime.
It should prompt us to ask ourselves every day whether we recognize our God in the people, in their needs, in our prayers, in our churches, in our families …
where ever we are…

And this knowledge should move us to Him. As the magi did.
On that way we can meet him, adore him…
And forget not;
“Herod, the forces against God”, is still waiting for us …
But they must not stop us! Let us pray for that grace! Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil