May 13
seen from Mexico
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Venezuela
seen from China
seen from Algeria
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Spain
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Tajikistan
seen from Russia
seen from Germany
seen from Japan
seen from France
seen from Netherlands
https://youtu.be/ueod9D5Uqas?si=hRum86MZANVACckX
From Patna Shuklla to Man Born Blind | Seeing Truth in Christ | 4th Sund...
Homily for the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila October 15 – Feast of St. Teresa of Avila
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, today we honor St. Teresa of Avila, a practical mystic whose life shows us how deep interior prayer and bold social engagement go hand in hand. From the moment she knelt before God, Teresa grasped that true spirituality is friendship with Christ, open to every believer. She offers us three simple steps: Vocal Prayer: Speak with Jesus honestly, laying bare your hopes and struggles. Recollection: Pause during the day to rest in Christ’s presence, even for a minute. Union: Persevere until your heart abides in God’s love, bearing fruit in compassion and service. This is no ivory-tower mysticism. As Teresa reminds us, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours,” so every prayerful moment must propel us outward: to feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, and seek justice for the marginalized. Her own reform of the Carmelite order welcomed both rich and poor, nobility and conversos alike, teaching us that true community is built on equality and mercy. Yet she warns against hollow activism. Examine your motives: do you serve for praise or out of genuine love for Christ? Do you pray from duty or to deepen your reliance on God alone? In a world quick to judge, Teresa’s rebuke of Pharisaic attitudes calls us to empathy over condemnation. When gossip tempts us or when we judge another’s piety, we return to the vine—Jesus—and ask for a purer heart. Her beloved bookmark prayer guides us still: “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things pass away. God alone never changes. Patience gains all things. If you have God, you want for nothing. God alone suffices.” This is active resistance against despair. Rooted in God, we find the courage to challenge injustice, as Teresa did before powerful leaders and even the Inquisition. A Saint’s Transverberation One day, while praying before the Blessed Sacrament, Teresa experienced her “Transverberation.” An angel pierced her heart with a golden arrow, filling her soul with divine love so intense she “lived on the earth as if already in heaven.” Teresa later exhorted, “Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.” Let this image remind us that every small act—every vocal prayer, every brief recollection—pours God’s fire into our hearts and sends us forth in service. A Modern Story of Practical Mysticism In the slums of Manila, a young social worker named Marisol felt overwhelmed by poverty and despair. Inspired by St. Teresa, she began each day with five minutes of silent prayer, offering her fears and hopes to Christ as a trusted friend. During one such recollection, she heard an inner call: “Visit the abandoned children in the back alleys.” Though daunting, she obeyed. Weekly visits with snacks, schooling, and her full presence gradually transformed lives. When asked how she endured, Marisol replied, “My prayer isn’t an escape—it’s the breath that fuels my work. Teresa of Avila taught me that even a few minutes with Jesus can set the world on fire.” Determined Determination in Ministry As we gather at this Eucharist, let us ask for Teresa’s “determined determination.” May every act of worship—from a whispered prayer to shared almsgiving—draw us closer to Christ and open our hearts to his mission. In our homes, workplaces, and parishes, let us practice brief recollections, turning daily tasks into acts of love. And never lose her humor in suffering. When Teresa fell from her donkey into the mud, she quipped, “If this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you don’t have many.” May we, too, trust in God’s mercy when life’s path grows muddy, knowing that laughter and tears alike deepen our friendship with Christ. May St. Teresa of Avila teach us to pray with simplicity, to serve with boldness, and to live with joy. God alone suffices. Amen.
Homily for World Mission Sunday 2025
“Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples”
October 19, 2025 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate more than a date on the Church’s calendar. On this World Mission Sunday, we are invited to renew the very heartbeat of our faith — the call to bring Christ to all nations. But we must ask ourselves honestly: has the fire of evangelization grown dim within us? Do we still hear the cry of a world in desperate need of the Gospel’s hope, or have we grown too comfortable in our routines and pews?
Jesus commands us: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” This is not a suggestion or an optional extra; it is the essence of who we are as Christians. To believe in Christ is to be sent by Him — to proclaim, to serve, and to bring hope where there is despair.
In our first reading from Exodus, we see Moses standing on the hilltop with his hands raised in prayer while Israel battles the Amalekites. As long as Moses kept his arms lifted, Israel prevailed, but when he grew weary, Aaron and Hur stood beside him, holding up his hands until sunset. What a powerful image of mission! It shows us that mission requires both perseverance in prayer and the strength of community. No missionary stands alone. Like Aaron and Hur, we are called to support those who bear the Gospel through our prayers, our encouragement, and our solidarity.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us about the persistent widow who never stopped seeking justice from an unjust judge. Her faith was tested, but she never lost hope. Jesus ends with a question that pierces every age: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Missionaries around the world face hardship, persecution, and indifference, yet they continue with the faith of this widow, trusting in God’s promise. That same question comes to us: will the Lord find in us the faith that perseveres and the hope that refuses to die?
But we must face a hard truth: at times the Church risks becoming too comfortable, a safe club rather than a daring outpost of the Gospel. Our culture prizes comfort over conviction; relativism dulls truth; indifference pushes faith to the sidelines. Yet Christ calls us to step out of comfort into courage, out of routine into mission. Every baptized Christian is a missionary. Mission is not the privilege of clergy or religious; it is the vocation of all who bear Christ’s name.
Recently, in Kochi, St. Rita’s School in Paluruthi was forced to close after a dispute over a student’s right to wear the hijab. The incident stirred protests and tension between policy and religious freedom. This event challenges us to ask: are we becoming defensive fortresses, or open doors of dialogue? Jesus told His disciples to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” We must uphold our convictions while showing pastoral compassion, seeking understanding rather than division.
When schools or institutions become battlegrounds over identity, we risk turning sacred spaces into fortresses. Yet Jesus calls us to wisdom and gentleness — to hold fast to truth while listening to the hearts of those who struggle. Pastoral compassion means listening first: to the student’s dignity, to the family’s longing for expression, and to our Muslim neighbors’ fears of exclusion. In doing so, we can transform conflict into communion.
Each Good Friday, the Church prays for all who suffer for their faith — Christians, Muslims, Jews, and all believers. If we stand at the foot of the Cross praying for every wounded soul, how can we close our hearts when such a moment arises among us? Our faith calls us to listen, to heal, to accompany, and to seek peace rooted in truth.
Centuries ago, St. Francis of Assisi offered us a living model of such courage and compassion. During the Fifth Crusade, he crossed battle lines to meet Sultan al-Kamil in Egypt. Francis did not compromise his faith, yet he approached the Sultan with humility and love. In that encounter, two men of conviction met as brothers. Francis showed that true missionary witness unites unshakable faith with deep respect — an invitation to build bridges without abandoning truth.
Our own history in India offers a similar witness. Emperor Akbar, known for his openness, invited Jesuit missionaries to his court at Fatehpur Sikri. Fathers António de Monserrate, Rodolfo Acquaviva, and Francisco Acquaviva engaged in dialogue with Hindu scholars, Muslim theologians, Jains, and Zoroastrians. They translated Gospel passages into Persian, shared Christian art and worship, and demonstrated that faith and dialogue are not enemies. Though they eventually returned home, their mission turned a royal court into a place where light and truth could meet. They remind us that every forum — from classrooms to living rooms — can become a space where Christ’s light shines.
To live our missionary calling, we must begin with prayer and formation. Seek Christ’s face in the Eucharist. Encounter His mercy in Confession. Let Scripture shape your heart through the example of missionary saints like Francis Xavier and Teresa of Calcutta. Then let your prayer overflow into action.
Pray the World Mission Rosary — green for Africa, yellow for Asia, red for the Americas, blue for Oceania, and white for Europe — a reminder that the Church’s heart beats for the whole world. Support the Mission Sunday collection, which sustains more than a thousand mission territories. Form parish mission groups to pray, share faith, and connect with communities abroad. And in your own homes, ask each day: who around us needs the Good News today?
Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray, therefore, to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His field.” The world does not need more programs — it needs witnesses. God does not call us because we are perfect, but because we are willing. Saint John Paul II reminded us: “We are called to bring Christ into the arena of public life.” And Saint Paul urged Timothy: “Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” Our age of distraction and doubt demands not timidity but faithfulness, not comfort but courage.
Today, as we renew our baptismal promises, let us also renew our missionary call. Hope is not optimism — it is trust that God’s light can pierce any darkness. Let that hope radiate in your families, your workplaces, your neighborhoods, and your world.
May the Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization, guide us. May Saint Paul inspire us. May our risen Lord walk beside us as we go forth in His name.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, in this Jubilee Year of Hope, rekindle in us the fire of missionary zeal. Make us true missionaries of hope among all peoples. Grant us the persistence of the widow, the prayerful strength of Moses, and the supportive love of Aaron and Hur. Like Isaiah, may we say, “Here I am! Send me!” May our words and deeds bring Your light to every corner of the world. Amen.
And so, as we leave this place, may we each answer Christ’s question with conviction: Yes, Lord — You will find faith on earth, because we will keep it alive through our missionary witness. Amen.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s Word invites us to look beyond the surface of our faith, and into the deepest places of our hearts.
Saint Paul reminds us that “the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” This is not merely a call to external observance, but to a life transformed from within — a faith that radiates from a renewed heart.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their concern with outward rituals of washing. Though they appeared devout, He exposed the truth: “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.”
Jesus challenges them — and us — to seek true holiness that begins within. It’s all too easy to look holy on the outside: to attend Mass, say prayers, post devout words, while hiding pride, resentment, or selfishness within.
Saint Paul warns us that religion divorced from love, mercy, and justice can even become an idol. We risk exchanging the truth for a lie, and allowing our “foolish hearts to be darkened.” True faith, therefore, is not a mask but a mirror — reflecting the mercy of God that has touched our hearts.
Jesus’ command to the Pharisee is both radical and practical. He doesn’t simply tell him to stop being greedy — He commands the very opposite of greed: generosity and mercy. “But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.”
In this single line, Jesus prescribes the essential medicine for a sinful heart. Almsgiving, when it flows from within, is not about money or performance — it is the outpouring of a heart that has first received mercy.
When we give from within — out of gratitude, compassion, and love — we allow God’s grace to reach even the hidden corners of our souls, where no ritual or rule can go.
The Psalmist reminds us: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” God’s law is not about outer perfection but inner renewal. It humbles pride, exposes hidden idols, and nurtures compassion.
As I reflect on Jesus’ call, I am deeply moved by examples from our own community.
Last Saturday, I celebrated the golden jubilee of marriage for Victoria and Denis Desousza — a couple whose life together bears abundant fruit. Many years ago, moved by the Holy Spirit, they pledged not only their love to one another, but also their lives to the mission of Christ. In the year 2000, they donated twenty-five lakh rupees to build a church in Kolkata — a gift of immense grace and sacrifice. They planned, they saved, and they fulfilled this promise with faith and joy. Their generosity extended beyond brick and mortar — they adopted children, supported the poor, and turned their faith into a living legacy of love.
Another inspiring example is Sanjoy, now living in Japan, who gave his house in India to support the work of an NGO. His decision was not mere charity, but an act of deep self-giving — a pouring out of the heart for others.
These are not distant saints, but disciples among us — people who listened to the Spirit’s whisper and transformed their faith into action.
Today, we also honor Saint Callistus the First, once a slave and later a pope. Having experienced both failure and forgiveness, he became a champion of mercy — welcoming those who had fallen, and offering them new beginnings. His life reminds us that the Church shines brightest when its doors and hearts are open wide, echoing the boundless mercy of God.
Saint Callistus teaches us that holiness is not measured by perfection, but by compassion. The Church is most faithful when it imitates the heart of Christ — a heart that forgives, restores, and welcomes.
So how do we give alms “from within” in our daily lives? Let’s stop looking only at the “outside of the cup,” and ask ourselves honestly: What hidden resentment, pride, or hoarded wealth lies inside my heart today?
Each evening, take a moment to examine your heart. Is there resentment toward anyone? Is envy or pride lurking within? Have I withheld forgiveness or compassion?
Name these before the Lord, and ask Him to cleanse them with His mercy.
Seek to give quietly — offering patience, forgiving in secret, visiting the lonely, sharing your time or resources — not for praise, but as a response to Christ’s love.
Our Lord does not ask for spotless vessels polished for display, but for humble hearts that pour out mercy. When we give alms from within — when generosity springs from love rather than obligation — everything within us becomes clean.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus calls us not to outer perfection, but to inner renewal.
Like Saint Callistus, and like Victoria, Denis, and Sanjoy in their witness, let us open our hearts wide to the Spirit’s prompting. When we give from within — from hearts cleansed by mercy and moved by love — we become living signs of the Gospel.
May our generosity, humility, and compassion make everything clean within us, so that through us, the world may glimpse the glory of God.
Amen.
Monday October 13, 2025
Reading 1, Romans 1:1-7
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Gospel, Luke 11:29-32
Brothers and sisters in Christ, imagine standing near the Sea of Galilee. The sky is dark, the waves are strong, and you feel afraid. You want a sign from God to show that He is near you. But Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke: “This generation is an evil generation. It looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”
Jesus tells us that we do not need big miracles to believe. He wants our hearts to change. The true sign of God’s love is when His grace changes our hearts every day.
Many people want to see something amazing, but they do not want to change their lives. They want proof, but they do not want to forgive, to love, or to help the poor. Jesus calls us to repent—to turn away from sin and to turn back to God. Conversion is not just one time; it is a journey that continues every day.
Jonah’s story teaches us this. Jonah ran away from God. He was afraid. But inside the big fish, he prayed. God saved him, and he obeyed. When Jonah went to Nineveh, the people believed, repented, and God forgave them. This is the true sign—the change of heart that comes from repentance.
In Charlie Chaplin’s old film The Tramp, his character walks down a lonely road, tired and sad. Then he stands tall, fixes his hat, and keeps walking with hope. That is like our journey of faith. Even when life is hard, we get up again and trust that God is walking with us.
There are also real people who became signs of God’s mercy. St. Maria Goretti was only eleven when she forgave the man who attacked her. Later, that man repented and became a changed person. Her forgiveness brought new life to his soul.
Blessed Bartolo Longo once followed Satanism and lived in darkness. But through praying the Rosary, he found peace and built a shrine to Our Lady in Pompeii.
Dorothy Day once lived far from God. But when she became a mother, her heart changed. She turned to the Church, helped the poor, and lived a life of mercy.
There was also a woman named Sarah. She worked in a busy office and often missed Sunday Mass. One day her train was delayed. She helped an old man with heavy bags. As they talked, she felt God’s presence and love. That small act changed her heart.
All these people show us that the real sign of God is a changed life.
St. Augustine said, “Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new.” Thomas Merton said, “We are not converted only once, but many times.” And Dorothy Day said, “Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
We often do not see God because we look for big signs. But God is with us in small things—the sunrise, a kind word, a smile, a small act of love. Everything is grace.
We can grow closer to God by doing simple things every day: Each night, think about your day. Ask God to forgive you and help you do better. Go to Confession often. It brings peace and strength. Show mercy to others. Help the poor, visit the sick, forgive those who hurt you. Read the Bible. Let Jesus’ words fill your heart and guide your actions.
We all stand at a crossroads. Will we be people who always look for signs, or people who find Jesus in our daily life—in our homes, our work, and our small moments? The greatest sign is a heart that loves and forgives.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, forgive our blindness. Open our eyes to see You in the people and events of each day. Help us to love, to forgive, and to bring Your presence to others. Amen.
This week, before every meal, take one moment to remember one way you saw Jesus since your last meal. You will see how your ordinary days become full of God’s grace.