16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B
“The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught…” (Mk 6:30)
Ministry to young people forms part of the identity of the religious order I belong to. Much of our formation as Salesians is carried out by means of hands-on experience. For instance, right from the phase of junior seminary up until the final months before our ordination to priesthood, on Sunday afternoons we would be sent out in groups of two or three to various locations situated around the formation house. We call this ministry, “Sunday Oratories”. The “brothers” would go to the location – which would often be a playground or an open field – blow the whistle, gather the young people of the […]
Author: selvam
Sermon for 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Homily
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B
“This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary…” (Mk 6:3)
I am a great fan of the documentaries produced by David Attenborough. I have watched almost all of his productions, right from his Life On Earth (1979). To some of my listeners, his brother may be better known. Richard Attenborough – David’s younger brother – directed the movie, Gandhi (1982). David Attenborough was the controller of BBC Two when it became the first British channel to broadcast in colour in 1967. In 1972, he refused the opportunity to be the Director General of the BBC in order to be able to dedicate himself full time to production of programmes. He took advantage of the possibility of the colour television to produce well researched documentaries […]
Sermon for 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Homily
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B
“Talitha, Kum!” (Mk 5:41)
Here is a story of a young girl I knew, who died before time. When I was a young priest in a rural parish in Tanzania, I started a ministry to people who were sick and home-bound. Every Friday a lady-catechist would go to the district hospital, prepare a list of people who would wish to see a priest, and add their names to the list of those provided by the Small Christian Communities. We would then visit these people and minister to them according to their need.
One of those days, we came across a young lady at her home; she might have been 18 years old. Let us call her Neema! Neema was bed-ridden and spoke very faintly, but mentally […]
Sermon for 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Homily
“Quiet now! Be calm!” (Mk 4:39)
I have often wondered why in the churches we ring bells. For instance, in most Catholic churches we ring the bell at the beginning of mass and several times during the Eucharistic prayer. In some churches the altar servers have their own entertainment ringing the bells. Before the 2ndVatican council when the priest was standing between the people and the altar, and saying his prayers in Latin, it was important to alert the people to what was going on at the altar. Today, it is still used to mark the important moments – the high points – of the Eucharistic celebration; but perhaps it is also meant to wake up people who are asleep.
Many Hindu temples have bells at the entrance, and devotees would ring a bell as […]
Sermon for 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Homily
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
The Kingdom of God is like… (Mk 4:26)
Some years back, while still in campus, walking between two blocks, I happened to run into the Principal. I introduced myself as a priest and a current research student. The Principal’s next question was, “So what are you working on?” “My project is on spirituality and addictive behaviour,” I said. The Principal, a Jesuit theologian himself, was obviously in a hurry, as Principals usually are! He offered me a quick quip. It came in the form of a question: “Don’t you think almost all our spiritual and moral struggles are basically centred around addiction and idolatry?” And off he went. But his rhetorical question lingered on in my mind for days. Addiction and idolatry! I […]