Reflections for the Holy Week

(First click on “Continue Reading”. Then click on links)
 
Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)
Sermon 1: The mystery of suffering and resurrection
Sermon 2: The day of contradictions
 
Maundy Thursday
1. The Sacrificial Meal
2. The Mystery of the Eucharist
 
Good Friday
Commentary for the Liturgy of Good Friday
Homily1. Why did Jesus have to die?
Homily 2. The Mystery of Suffering
 
VIA CRUCIS by Selvam
 
Easter Sunday
Commentary on the Liturgy of Easter Vigil
1. Easter: an Event or an Experience
2. The Resurrection – a meditation
3. Resurrection – Selvam’s Video Reflection
 
Via Lucis
Like the Way of the Cross, there is a devotion approved by the Church for use during Eastertide. See the links below for three versions of the Via Lucis.
1. Via Lucis 1 – with hymns and readings
2. Via Lucis 2 – with short reflections
3. Via Lucis 3 – with Scripture Reading 

Continue reading


Sermon for 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C Homily

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C
When it comes to conversion, it is I first!
In one of his daily sermons (on 19 May 2017), Pope Francis said, some people “use rigidness to cover weaknesses, sins, personality flaws, and they use rigidness to rank themselves above others.” The Pope suggested that people who are rigid about their faith tend to live double lives. On another occasion, the Pope said, concealed by rigidity there is always something else! That’s why Jesus uses the word ‘hypocrites!’ “They appear good because they follow the Law; but behind there is something that does not make them good. Either they’re bad, hypocrites or they are sick. They suffer!” he said.
In this context, someone recently drew my attention to the results of a research carried out by the Harvard B-School (Business […]

Continue reading


Sermon for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C Homily

How Happy Are You… (Lk 6:17-26)
6th Sunday in Ordinary
A few years ago, on a Saturday in February I was travelling from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam.  My companion on this 1000 kilometre journey was a priest.  Both of us had sermons to preach the next day.  At one point during the journey, the priest friend asked me, “Selvam, have you by chance looked up at the gospel text for tomorrow?”  “Oh yes, it is the Beatitudes from Luke,” I said.  And he seemed to be sure of himself as he said, “Oh… the Sermon on the Mount!”  My immediate reply was, “No, not really!  In fact, it is a sermon from the plains!”
Often when we look at Gospel texts we easily say: oh yes, I know it. For instance, […]

Continue reading


Sermon for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C Homily


I say, “Leave me, Lord!” God says, “Do not be afraid!” Lk 5
5th Sunday in ordinary time – year C
There is this musical called, ‘The Witness’ by Jimmy & Carol Owens. It is a musical which narrates the life and ministry of Jesus as witnessed by the apostle Peter. Early in the narration Peter sings:
 Nothin’ ever happens here in Galilee,
You just follow in the footsteps of your family.
Be a fisherman like people say you’re meant to be,
Go down to the boat| Throw your net in the sea|
Take your turn at the car| Hoist the sail|
Mend the net| Clean the fish|
cut the bait|Ya da dum|  Da da dee|
Oh|  Nothin’ ever happens to me|
Then Jesus came and all of our lives were changed.
A few years back, in an attempt to define prayer, I said, “Prayer is becoming aware of who I am in […]

Continue reading


Sermon for 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C Homily

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Lk 4:21-30)
The Rejection of God
Have you ever been rejected by a group of people?  If you are a teacher – and a capable one, you might have an experience of being rejected by a class.  If you are a preacher – and an effective one at that, you might have an experience of being rejected by a congregation.  If you are a speaker or a performer you might have an experience of being rejected by an audience.  If you have attempted to love some people in your life, perhaps you may have experienced being rejected by another person.
In the gospel story of today – a sequel to the gospel passage of last Sunday – Jesus experiences rejection.  He is rejected by the people […]

Continue reading