Martin Jumbam

Catholic Meditation: 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C

By Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, September 29, 2013, as the 26^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray:  “O Lord, you had just cause to judge men as you did: because we sinned against you and disobeyed your will. But now show us your greatness of heart, and treat us with your unbounded kindness. Amen.”  

The false sense of security that wealth often brings is the theme of this day’s Eucharist. This comes out clearly in the first reading and in the Gospel. In the first reading, Amos, the ‘social reformer’ prophet, warns those who live in affluence that they should hate evil, love good and maintain social justice, a warning that falls on deaf ears as the rich priestly and princely ruling class is too self-complacent to listen. The result is that when the invading armies come into Israel from the north, it is the same ruling class that is shipped off into exile first. In the Gospel, Jesus warns the religious leaders of his day, in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, that if they deprive the poor of their birthright in God’s land the consequences will be disastrous for them. The rich must share because they have duties and responsibilities towards their less fortunate brothers and sisters. In his final exhortation, Saint Paul, in the second reading, reminds his assistant Timothy that his baptism and ordination as God’s minister should give him [Timothy] courage to be faithful to the task before him — which is living a saintly life, showing firmness and sincerity in preaching the Gospel to the poor and the rich alike. In the course of this Eucharist, let us pray for the grace of generosity, especially towards the poor and the marginalized who are outside our door.

 

Catholic Meditation - 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

By Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates the 22nd day of September 2013 as the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “I am the Saviour of all people, says the Lord. Whatever their troubles, I will answer their cry, and I will always be their Lord. Amen.”  

Social justice, as recounted in the prophecy of Amos, in the first reading, is the theme of this day’s holy Mass. It is also a burning reality in the Church of our own day.  The prophet makes a vigorous call for social justice and strongly condemns the wealthy and the privileged of his society, who have gained their position of authority through enslaving and cheating the poor. Religion loses its meaning if it is not rooted in social justice and morality. In the second reading, from Saint Paul’s first letter to Timothy, Paul gives us instructions on Christian worship, asking that we all pray for our civil and religious authorities so that they may govern us with the fear of God. In the Gospel, from Saint Luke, Jesus gives us the strange parable of the dishonest servant who, knowing that he is to be dismissed from his post, takes steps to ensure that after his dismissal he will not be without a job. Jesus is not praising the man’s dishonesty; rather, he praises his cleverness and commitment to his future, and wants us Christians too to approach our Christian life with a similar dedication and commitment. Let us pray for the grace to promote social justice in our Church and society as a whole. Amen.  

 

Catholic Medittion: 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C

By Martin Jumbam

Mother Church celebrates Sunday September 15, 2013 as the 24^th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “Give peace, Lord, to those who wait for you and your prophets will proclaim you as you deserve. Hear the prayers of your servants and of your people Israel.”   This day’s liturgy brings to our consideration the limitless mercy of our God. In the first reading, from Exodus, the infidelity of the Jewish people is seen when they build a golden calf for false worship. God then decides to punish them but thanks to Moses’ intervention, he relents and does not inflict the punishment he has planned on the headstrong people of Israel. Our God is not a stern, demanding and unforgiving father who is always ready to whip his people. He is a God of compassion and understanding who is willing to listen to our prayers and supplications and forgive us our shortcomings. In the second reading, Saint Paul tells his assistant, Timothy, that Christ came to call sinners, to save them from their sins. Saint Paul experienced Christ’s mercy in his own life and thanks the Lord for his grace poured out in overflowing measure. In the Gospel, Saint Luke tells us the most famous story of forgiveness in the Bible, the story of the prodigal son, which clearly shows us that our God is a God of love and compassion and forgiveness. In it, Christ challenges us this day to be people of love, compassion and forgiveness, to be like the father, who is all forgiving, not like the elder son, who refuses to welcome his brother and to forgive him. In the course of this holy Eucharist, let us therefore pray for the grace to forgive our brothers and sinners who might have wronged us because we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Amen.  

Catholic Meditation - 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C

 By Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, September 08, 2013 as the 23^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “Lord, you are just, and the judgements you make are right. Show mercy when you judge me, your servant."

 In the first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, the wise man says that wisdom can only be obtained from God. Even though it is not easy to understand God’s plans, the wisdom we receive from him always helps us to discover what he wants from us. It also enables us to grasp our limitations. We must therefore pray to him for wisdom in whatever we do for he is always willing and ready to grant the wishes of whoever runs to him, as he did to Solomon, the wise king.  In the second reading, from the Letter to Philemon, Saint Paul approaches the question of slavery. Without condemning a social structure he could not change, he wants to abolish slavery by changing men’s hearts and winning them over to Christ. In this way, there would no longer be slaves or freemen, but rather all would be one in Christ Jesus, the Lord. So we have to welcome one another in Christ, Jesus.  In the Gospel, Saint Luke shows us Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, telling his disciples what it takes to be his follower. He calls for total detachment from all earthly possessions and surrender of all human ties and even  life itself. Christ’s demand is radical for he calls on us to renounce all that is most precious to us, take our cross and follow him. We can only follow him when we invest our time and resources wisely in projects he approves of, especially in acts of charity and love for the poor and the marginalized in our society. Let us therefore pray in the course of this holy Mass for the courage to carry our individual crosses behind our Lord no matter the problems we may face on the way. 

Catholic Meditation - 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C

 By Martin Jumbam

The Universal Church celebrates Sunday, September 08, 2013 as the 23^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C. In the entrance antiphon we pray: “Lord, you are just, and the judgements you make are right. Show mercy when you judge me, your servant."

 In the first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, the wise man says that wisdom can only be obtained from God. Even though it is not easy to understand God’s plans, the wisdom we receive from him always helps us to discover what he wants from us. It also enables us to grasp our limitations. We must therefore pray to him for wisdom in whatever we do for he is always willing and ready to grant the wishes of whoever runs to him, as he did to Solomon, the wise king.  In the second reading, from the Letter to Philemon, Saint Paul approaches the question of slavery. Without condemning a social structure he could not change, he wants to abolish slavery by changing men’s hearts and winning them over to Christ. In this way, there would no longer be slaves or freemen, but rather all would be one in Christ Jesus, the Lord. So we have to welcome one another in Christ, Jesus.  In the Gospel, Saint Luke shows us Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, telling his disciples what it takes to be his follower. He calls for total detachment from all earthly possessions and surrender of all human ties and even  life itself. Christ’s demand is radical for he calls on us to renounce all that is most precious to us, take our cross and follow him. We can only follow him when we invest our time and resources wisely in projects he approves of, especially in acts of charity and love for the poor and the marginalized in our society. Let us therefore pray in the course of this holy Mass for the courage to carry our individual crosses behind our Lord no matter the problems we may face on the way.