Tu es Petrus (Mt. 16:18)

 

Today’s Gospel is set in the region of Caesarea Philippi. That is in the north of Palestine in the largely pagan territory near the sources of the River Jordan in the area of what is now the Golan Heights. So Christ is away from his usual environment and he is focusing on the formation of his disciples. He questions them. ‘Who do people say that the Son of man is?’ Jesus asks. And after the disciples’ answer, more pointedly, he asks, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ And Peter replies: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

It was pure grace from God that Simon Peter knew of the true identity of Jesus. Among the many disciples, why was Peter was chosen as the disciple to found the Church? Maybe because Peter was always close to Jesus, he had that hunger to be always in his company.

Jesus founded the Church, saying, ‘you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church’ (Matthew 16:18). This is still the same Catholic Church where we belong right now. Peter was our first Pope; Pope Francis is our present pope – the 266th successor of Peter.

Jesus did not ask Peter to be a star, but rock; not brilliant, but solid; not popular, but the unwavering voice of Christ to his people. Previously Peter was known as Simon the new name of Peter meaning ‘rock’.

He said to Simon Peter: ‘You are a rock’. Jesus is saying something similar to you and to me today in this Mass, in his words that we have just heard in sacred scripture. Listen to what Jesus is saying to us, listen to who Jesus is asking you to be. Then face each day of this coming week in the midst of our very troubled world, trying to remember just who it is Jesus says we are and who he means us to be.

By Fr. Rajesh Minz, UK.

Magnificat anima (Lk. 1:46)

 

On the Solemnity of the Assumption, I want to reflect with you on the role that Mary played in Salvation History, and the role she continues to play in our lives. The Gospel of St. Luke contains the Magnificat – Mary’s own words when she met her pregnant cousin Elizabeth shortly after the Annunciation. It is a hymn of praise and speaks of the wonderful things which God did for her.

As the Church celebrates the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on this Marian feast, our hearts, are filled with gratitude for Mary’s unique role in God’s plan of salvation. The catechism teaches us that Mary, as the Mother of the Word, was preserved from the stain of original sin. And when her earthly life was over, God took Mary to himself: Body and Soul.

But why did God exalt Mary as Queen of Heaven? Again the catechism tells us that it is so that Mary will continue to watch, protect, and guide us – her spiritual children. Mary’s assumption is a sign that points to our final resting place, in God. So we have much to celebrate on this Marian Feast Day.

Mary always, always, points us to her son Jesus. That was, and is, the purpose of her life. From her immaculate conception to the glorious assumption, to the present, as our Mother, in the order of grace, Mary is never outdone, in generosity.

Let us draw near to the Mother of God, who is and wants to be our spiritual Mother, and leads us ever closer, to her Son, Jesus.

By Fr. Rajesh Minz, UK.

Habete fiduciam (Mt. 14:27)

 

We all want to walk on solid ground and be safe wherever we go. But, to grow we have to take risks, trust and learn from our failures.

When Jesus was walking on the Sea of Galilee, His disciples thought that He was a ghost so they were afraid. Peter recognized Jesus and asked him if he could also walk on the water and Jesus responded immediately by granting his request.

Peter left the rocking boat and began to walk on the waves. But the wind was so strong he became frightened and began to sink. He had taken his eyes off Jesus and was looking at the waves. He was afraid of drowning, and his fear was stronger than his trust in Jesus.

Maybe Peter’s desire to walk on the water like Jesus was impulsive; maybe he just wanted to show the other disciples that he was the greatest among them. I think Jesus wanted to test Peter’s faith to see how great it was and Peter did not pass the test, he failed. But in spite of this, Jesus reached out to him and rescued him.

Peter was very human just like we are. He shows us how he wanted to be like Jesus; but his faith faltered, and he doubted in his ability to be like Him.

Jesus was trying to teach his disciples that, no matter what adversities, challenges and struggles life brought them, the Father’s love would always be with them, but they must put their total trust in him.

We sometimes feel like we are being tossed around in our boats in the storms of our lives. Our worries and problems generate fear and disturbance in our hearts. It is at times like this that Jesus reaches out to us and rescues us.

As we continue our lives in these strange times, we are living with fear and worries, as we experience Covid 19.

Even if we are struggling with doubt, know that God’s plan for our future and the future of those around us is greater than us.

Lord, teach us to put our trust in you. Protect us when we think we are sinking. Give us the courage to go forth and offer ourselves to you in a new way every day. Amen.

By Fr. Rajesh Minz, UK.

Regnum caelorum (Mt. 4:17)

The Kingdom of God was always in the mind of Jesus. We are given three parables in our Gospel today (Mt. 13:44-52). These parables are about the hidden treasure, the pearl, and the dragnet. When we talk about parables, Biblical scholars would say that they talk about the Kingdom of God, what it is all about, and how it comes about.

In the Old Testament, the Kingdom of God refers to the provident and protective kingship of God over the chosen people. The fruit of this Kingdom is a whole moral order of peace, justice, and mercy.

In the New Testament, Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is near at hand (Mt. 4:17). So he called for conversion and repentance and for watchfulness. He also said that the Kingdom of God was for everyone.

If you ask me what my own definition of the Kingdom of God is, I would admit to you that I would refer to the teachings of the Church. It is when we accept and do God’s will  and promote the values of God’s Kingdom: truth, justice, love, and peace. If these values rule our lives, it means that God’s Kingdom is reigning in our hearts, in our community and society.

But take a look around us. Can we say that God’s Kingdom reigns in the hearts and minds of people? We can say ‘ Yes and No.’ How can we realize this Kingdom in our lives?

For me, it is very simple. I will give you some practical guidelines for a Christian: share your Time, Talent and Treasure to the needy, Love more simply, offer hospitality, support the bereaved, admonish the sinner, spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God, counsel the doubtful, comfort the lonely, bear wrongs patiently, forgive all injuries, free your heart from hatred, free your mind from worry, expect less and live simply, and pray for the living and the dead.

These are very simple and very practical things.

These deeds are not impossible to practice and let us do them joyfully.

By Fr. Rajesh Minz, UK.

Qui seminat (Mt. 13:3)

We have a saying that goes this way: “Ignorance of the law excuses no one.” That even if we don’t know this particular existing law, this does not exempt us from it because we can inquire and look for information regarding this matter. Just like in our gospel today which is the parable of the sower.

This parable and other parables of Jesus are being told and retold so that His teaching will remain forever in our minds and in our hearts. So, we have no reason to say ‘No’ to Him.

Jesus was really a great preacher and teacher because He spoke in the language of the people so that the people would understand Him. He used stories, made comparisons, and used examples, all from the everyday life of the people He was speaking to.

The seed in today’s parable is the word of God and it falls on different types of ground. The sower is God Himself. Some grounds are good. Some are too thorny and too rocky and some of the ground is the footpath. These different types of ground represent different followers in the church.

The Word of God is not like ordinary information such as the weather forecast. God’s word is like rain on the earth, or like the seed. It changes things. When it is alive; it needs, like all living things an environment that will support it. It interacts: it makes possible something new, the seed dies to its life as a seed and becomes a plant and eventually is harvested.

If we allow ourselves to be nourished by prayer and by God’s word, the result is remarkable. Normally 10% is regarded as a good return on seed sown. But here Jesus promises 30, 60 or even 100%. What commercial bank today would give such a return for the investment?

Growth and healing take place when we see ourselves as God sees us.

“Lord Jesus, we pray that the soil of our lives may be very rich so that when the seed of your word falls into it, it may bear much fruit and help to bring about your kingdom on earth. Amen”

 

By Fr. Rajesh Minz, UK.

Ex hoc pane (Jn. 6:51)

Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ, Today we celebrate the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, which we normally call Corpus Christi. Happy Feast Day to you all.

Corpus Christi is a day in honor of the Eucharist, a day for contemplative focus on the gift that Christ has given us. This is a special feast day, which the Church asks us to reflect on the fundamental mystery of our faith, the greatest of all the sacraments, which is Christ Himself, the Holy Eucharist.

We read in the first reading how the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. Were they so hard-hearted that God tested them for more than a generation?  We’re not even 40 weeks into this pandemic here and already the signs of strain are evident.  God fed the Israelites; he gave them manna and water. He provided the sustenance they needed to continue their journey.

As we celebrate today the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we reflect on how we are given the sustenance we need on our journey in Holy Communion. It is beyond doubt that the Eucharist abounds with layers of rich meaning. As we continue to go through this terrible global crisis, we are not able to be physically present at Mass; but we can still participate in the Mass and we can receive Spiritual Communion.  Thanks be to God!

We come to the table and bring ourselves; and God finds us just as we are.  Just as he changes the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, he can change us if we are humble enough, ready enough, open enough to receive him.

The Eucharist has all the power of issues that affects life and death. The Eucharist is celebrated by real people in the midst of everything that makes up our human existence.

No wonder the Eucharist is often described as the awesome mystery, the layers and layers of rich meaning are indeed precious gifts to us. The Eucharist makes us become, what we receive.

As Pope Francis so beautifully puts it, this is medicine for the sick and all of us need medicine for our journey.

May we today and everyday ‘revere the sacred mysteries of Christ’s Body and Blood’, and may these have their full effect in us and through us.

By Father Rajesh, UK.

Deus dilexit mundum (Jn. 3:16)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Today Church celebrates Trinity Sunday. It’s a great mystery. The mystery of the Holy Trinity revolves around the mystery of love between the three Persons in one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And that love is poured out to humanity, who is made in the image of God, so that we can love one another with the love of God who is Trinity.

As we heard Jesus said in the gospel: God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not be lost but may have eternal life.

There are three profound moments when the love of God entered into the world, and these are: At Bethlehem when God was with us; At Calvary when God was for us; At Pentecost when God is in us.

The Trinity is truly three Persons (as we say): Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are intimately related to Each Other. Each is one with the Other.

Why is this feast kept now, a week after Pentecost? At Christmas and Easter, it is the mission of Jesus that occupies us. At Pentecost, it is the sending of the Holy Spirit. So, each year, we are reminded of God’s self-disclosure, ‘your wondrous mystery’ as the Collect calls it. And today, in a sense, we stand back. We try to register what has truly been happening in this whole sequence of events.

God is love. There are Three Persons in the Trinity, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. Together they represent the fullness of love. The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father. The Holy Spirit is their love for each other.

We are made in the image of a triune God. God the Father, who created us, his Son who saved us, and the Holy Spirit who continues to guide us. Our lives should reflect the Trinity. We should be always creative like the Father, compassionate like his Son, and dispose our talents in the service of others like the Holy Spirit.

God bless you all and have a blessed week,

Fr Rajesh Minz, UK