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Easter Homily: “The Empty Tomb is Full of H.O.P.E.”

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On this radiant Easter Sunday, I’m reminded of a personal moment — a time I was standing in a long queue in Jerusalem, waiting to enter the tomb of Jesus. I struck up a conversation with an Indian family in the line. They had come as tourists to Israel and had unknowingly joined the queue out of curiosity. After a long 40-minute wait, they stepped out of the tomb. The daughter, a little confused, exclaimed, “We waited all this time… just to enter an empty tomb?!” She was probably expecting to see Jesus' body still there! 😄 That innocent reaction made me smile. Yes, dear friends, that’s exactly the point of Easter. Today’s Gospel from Luke 24:1–12 presents to us not a sealed tomb — but an empty one. And that empty tomb is not meaningless… it is full — full of H.O.P.E. This hope isn’t abstract or sentimental. It’s solid. Real. Life-giving. It’s a hope that changes how we live every single day. Let me share with you what this H.O.P.E. means — drawn from the Resurrect...
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Bend, Break, Bear: The Way Jesus Loved (Maundy Thursday Homily)

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"Love One Another as I Have Loved You" (John 13:34) Dear friends, We live in a world where the phrase “I love you” is said so often. It's perhaps the most used, misused, and misunderstood expression among us. Think about it: When was the last time you said, heard, or read “I love you”? It’s estimated that this phrase is spoken over 3 million times a day across the world — in messages, phone calls, songs, movies, and more. Some even tattoo it on their skin… sometimes with names that later change! On social media, we say: “I love Jesus,” “I love pizza,” “I love that video,” “I love your dress,” “I love CSK,” “I love Thala,” “I love Thalapathy.” Yes, love is everywhere. And yet, we’re often starved for real love . Because love is what we all long for. We’re not truly alive where we reside, but where we are loved . Love: Not Just a Feeling, But a Command In our Christian faith, love isn’t just a feeling . It’s more than an emotion or an Instagram caption...
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God is good, people are not! True?

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In our journey of faith, we often encounter the stark contrast between the goodness of God and the flawed nature of humanity. This truth is echoed throughout Scripture and witnessed in our everyday lives. Let's delve into this profound theme with some real-life examples and scriptural citations. The Goodness of God 1. God's Creation: From the beginning, God's goodness is evident in His creation. Genesis 1:31 says, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." The beauty of nature, the complexity of the human body, and the order of the universe all testify to a good Creator. 2. God's Love and Mercy: God's goodness is most powerfully displayed in His love and mercy. John 3:16 reminds us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This sacrificial love is unparalleled and exemplifies God's heart for humanity. 3. God's Faithfulness: Despite human...
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A GOD WHO IS MAD AFTER MERCY

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            Nothing is easier in all the world than attaining forgiveness from God. This is the biggest truth that we got to believe. God is more eager to give forgiveness than we to receive it. Many refuse to believe this. They constantly brood over how miserable and wretched they have been, wishing they had never sinned, wishing they had always kept a clean sheet.             For Jesus, even though to sin is the greatest evil, to be a sinner is a value. Hate sin with all your heart and avoid it. But if you have sinned and repented, then you have reasons to rejoice, because there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Lk. 15:7) Who can understand this kind of madness? That’s the crazy God we have.             Then we may ask: Why not sin deliberate...
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GOD PREFERS ‘I LOVE YOU’ TO I’M SORRY

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          Have you noticed that no where in the New Testament (Bible) does Jesus explicitly tell us that in order to receive forgiveness for our sins, we must be sorry? Whereas we have made such a fuss about contrition. So many are worried whether they have sufficient contrition or not, whether their contrition was perfect or imperfect, and such questions which are irrelevant as far as forgiveness is concerned.             Jesus did not demand these things. What he explicitly and insistently demanded was this: He said, “If you want forgiveness from my heavenly Father, then you must forgive your brother/sister.”(Mt.6:14) There’s another thing that Jesus demanded of us if we would have the sins forgiven: Love. As simple as that.             Come to me and say you love me and your sins will be forgiven. Observe that scene with a sinful wom...
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TO FEAR GOD OR TO LOVE GOD

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            Today a vast number of Christians are full of fear of God. We are still trapped within a religion of rules (law) which Jesus abolished twenty centuries ago. He preached a God who was love itself and a liberation from the burden of the law. Sometimes our dealings with God are characterized by one big round of duties. This is the fear that brought and still brings many Catholics to mass on Sundays. I sometimes get an irrational feeling that if there were no commandments. I would be a saint. I’d feel so free and liberated – and I know I would keep every commandment spontaneously. One day a seminarian found himself saying to this God whom he was serving with all his heart and soul, “God, I really hate you. You are a kill-joy. I just cannot enjoy life while you are around, You won’t allow me to be as I am, You won’t leave me free.” Here, with whom lies the problem. The problem is certainly not with God but with us. ...
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A MARVEL THAT IS MY MOTHER

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“If you want to be remembered forever, write something worth reading, or do something worth writing about.” I can say that mom will be cherished forever because what she has been and done are worth writing about. It has been my long time desire to put my pen to paper about the extraordinary personality of my mother to whom I owe my existence. So here comes a treatise from a simple son about his splendid mother. Growth of the Giant Heart             Born in a simple family of two daughters, she grew with virtue and responsibility. God fashioned her unique character with much gifts and talents. Her younger days were filled with artistic adventure and other creative capabilities. Her tender heart knew no deceit and despair. The way she went about with all her human qualities made people around her feel so good and warm. Caring for others, being responsible and sincere, taking lot of initiatives etc. were her typical traits....
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