Love serves in every way!

Holy Week 2026: MAUNDY THURSDAY

April 2: Exodus 12:1-8,11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

Love is basically a willingness to submit oneself to a way of life that wishes the good of the other. Knowing the needs of the other, without having heard from him or her is a sign of love. Committing myself for the good of the other, without ever thinking of what I would gain, is an attitude of love. Being ready to lay down one's life for the good of the other is the ultimate act of love. There can be no love better that one being ready to lay down one's life for the other and it all begins in being at the service of, the other and the good of the other. The world has grown so callous to 'the other', all that matters to one is oneself and one's own - where is love here? and where would service be here at all!

Maundy Thursday is the day on which the Lord gave us the famous mandate, the mandate of love: love one another as I have loved you; love in action - wash each other's feet; love to be identified as belonging to Christ. The day is filled with so many things to thank the Lord for. 

First of all, the Eucharist instituted today is a loving service in action, by the Son of God who gives himself up for our good. Love serves by making itself the food for the other, by destroying oneself that the other may live!

Priesthood that is initiated today is a service, a ministry of bringing the Lord to the people. It is an offering of love that persons chosen and called make for the Lord, to the Lord's people, for the Lord's mission towards the Reign of God. 

Then comes the commandment of love - the spoken words of Jesus, that would be lived out in his action of serving the disciples, washing their feet and waiting on them at the table! A love in concrete action. 

In every one of these, that which stands out is love. Love is our identity, love is our mission and love is our meaning. Love is seen in service, true and selfless service

Let us learn to love until it hurts

Holy Week 2026: THE SPY WEDNESDAY 

April 1: Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Matthew 26: 14-25

Starting Monday, we have been hearing the three songs of the suffering servant from the book of Isaiah... a set of songs that expresses the sufferings that a servant of God or the prophet of God undergoes. It becomes a prefigurement of Christ's suffering. A servant of God, even the Son of God, finds all around him, those who plot his downfall, those who want him to fail, to be destroyed: how prepared are we to face such people and still go about with dedication and commitment to the Will of God. 

Do you think it will be possible to go on loving even at these moments? It is simple to remain with the Lord and say 'I love', when things go on well; but when things do not go the way we want them? That is what led to the fall of Judas! But look at Jesus... it hurt him to have loved these people - the one who betrayed, the one who denied and those who abandoned him... but he never ceased loving them, much less react. Yes, true love hurts! But it goes on and on. 

"From that time on, he looked for an opportunity to hand him over" ...says the Gospel today. The plot thickens and the tempo builds towards the climax. There are eyes that keep watching out for the right moment to lay hands on Jesus...and the most unfortunate fact is that it is led by one from the innermost circle of Jesus' collaborators! Yes, love hurts, but the one who truly loves, never retorts!

It is a divine quality to love, even when that love is not reciprocated, much more when it is repaid with indifference or hurt! But if we believe we take after the Lord, that we are created in God's image, that we are brothers and sisters of Christ, then as Mother Teresa would often say, we have to love until it hurts.

Let us learn never to give up on God!

Holy Week 2026: THE PREACHING TUESDAY

March 31: Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33, 36-38

"Though I thought I toiled in vain... yet my reward is with the Lord", this feeling expressed by Isaiah in the first reading fits perfectly the state of Jesus' mind, as he bids a bitter farewell to his disciples today. Arriving at the fag end of his ministry, Jesus knows what is in store and prepares himself for it. Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial... he foresees everything and forewarns them too, but everything in vain. However, he knows that in everything God works for the good of those who love God (cf. Rom 8:28). 

Just after the cleansing of the Temple and the controversy created by it, Jesus is found preaching at the Temple, for the last time. The Jews, the high priests and the scribes, have always challenged Jesus regarding the authority with which he is doing all that he does! Jesus does not care to prove his authority, not because he could not but because it was so obvious. His words were accompanied with signs, his teachings were authenticated with his living and no one needed any proof for Jesus' authority. The problem was that they were not ready see the obvious truth. But Jesus' love does not let him lose heart...he goes on. That is true love - it never gives up. 

These days, experiencing a totally strange holy week, a holy week in quarantine, there could be anxieties, helplessness, doubts and fears in the minds of all...but let us remember, Love never gives up. God has never given up on us and we shall never give up on God, if we truly love God. Let us learn to see and believe the presence of God amidst whatever the situation be.

Believing involves repentance! Believing comes from a conviction, from an experience. Repent and believe - that was the invitation with which the Lent began! 

How far have we progressed in it?

Let us cleanse our love for each other...

Holy Week 2026: THE CLEANSING MONDAY

March 30: Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11

The flame burns more vigorously as it is about to quench itself, they say. The perfume spreads itself more vivaciously when it is about to vanquish itself. The love for his father and the passion for his mission, burns ever brighter as Jesus nears the cross. Jesus is about to enter into his last few days, and more and more begin to believe in him and come to him. Even while these happen, the stubborn heart of Judas does not give way, the plotting spirit of the high priest and scribes does not change!

This day within the Holy week is called the Cleansing Monday, as we see Jesus after entering Jerusalem, paying a visit to the Temple and cleansing it! Don't make my Father's house a den of robbers, he cries. As the scripture says, the zeal for his house consumes him, the love for his father consumes him, the love for his mission consumes him.

All the good that Jesus did, all the signs that marked his mission did not manage to convert that one section of the people, because they had their hearts hardened and their eyes blinded. May we hear today the yearning cry of the Lord to true conversion. May we make up our mind to truly break away from some act or tendency that we habitually fall in. As Jesus cleanses that temple, the invitation to us is clear: our body is the temple of the Lord, is it maintained as the Lord's dwelling place or has it turned into a robber's den. Isn't it time for us to take note of it and cleanse it for all its impurities. Our love for the Father, for the Lord and for being the dwelling of the Spirit, should consume ourselves!

True love consumes oneself, true wish for the wellbeing of the other shall lead a person to consume oneself. That is what is happening with the Lord - and are we ready continuously cleanse our love for each other, for the whole humanity, for God, so true as we are prepared even to be consumed ourselves!

FIND YOURSELF IN THE CROWD

Beginning a journey with the Lord

March 29, 2026 - Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of a journey with the Lord, that is why the procession at the beginning of this celebration takes on an added meaning…to symbolise the journey we take on: along with a crowd of people, a crowd of people with so many varied mindsets...

Let us just have a look…

    - there were those, who were wondering whether he would come or not, for the festival;

    - there were those, who were there to find some fault with him, in order that they may arrest him;

    - there were those, who were there just curious to see some spectacle or signs;

    - there were those, who were there to see if what they heard about this man called Jesus was really true;

    - there were those, who did not have even a clue as to what was happening, they were carried away by the crowd;

    - there were those, who were there enjoying the fun of the crowd, in the spirit of a carnival, and having a great time of festivity;

    - there were those, who had made it from far places, merely to see if they can catch a glimpse of Jesus whom they heard so much of;

    - there were those, who had followed him right from Galilee, who were unable to leave his side because of the personality that he was;

    - there were those, who were so involved in his teachings, who found his words too precious to be missed;

    - there were those, who were an integral part of his life, they shared his everyday and shared his every dream;

    - there were those, who were there who were concerned about him, aware of the impending danger, but still wanted to be there for him...

How many different mindsets!

Now... just pause a while… and let us take a look within us… where do I find myself in this crowd today?

What is my mindset today... curiosity, boredom? monotony? Blind excitement? Let us remember that the week-long journey with the Lord is going to be a trying journey, a journey of sorts, a journey which is going to be a real challenge!

Among the crowd that we find around Jesus today, where do I find myself?

Life-giving death: new life, life to the full, eternal life!

Conversion – from death to life

THE WORD IN LENT 2026 – SATURDAY FIFTH WEEK

March 28 – Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11: 45-56

Our Lenten journey of Listening and Fasting, as a time of Conversion, has practically reached its end… because from tomorrow we begin the Holy Week with the Passion Sunday. In fact, it is towards this week we have been preparing ourselves these past five weeks… the immediate objective of which is to contemplate the passion and death of the Lord. We would begin that with the solemn celebration of tomorrow…the palm Sunday, which is rightly also called the Passion Sunday.

What was the purpose of the passion…what did it achieve? Let us begin with that question: the first reading today answers that without hesitation – to bring everyone home and make them One People, the people of God. The discourse of the Shepherd returns, with Christ who offers himself to be that Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep, that no one of them shall be lost.

God never forgets the covenant made – I shall be your God and you shall be my people! And hence, even when we the people distanced ourselves from God and turned our backs, God’s response was to send God’s only Son, who comes as the Shepherd who gathers the flock into one. How does he do it – through his death. That is why that was a life-giving death.

A death that gives new life, new life as people of God, the redeemed of God, the flock gathered unto God; a death that brings life to the full, a life in abundance, in spite of the shortcomings and fragilities that we face; a death that takes us to eternal life, a life in communion with the Lord of life who is eternal, thus making us eternal too!

We see this prophesied today in the Word – not by Ezekiel whom we listen to in the first reading, but the high priest who despised Jesus. It is he who declares that Jesus would be the “one man to die for the people”; that Jesus was to die to gather together in unity the scattered children of God. It is this death that has given us life – new life, fullness of life and eternal life… life-giving death.

We enter into a holy season tomorrow… as we walk towards that death, the death on the Cross, that life-giving death, that leads to eternal life; the death that makes us people of God, people of life!

Life... the Word, Spirit and Truth

Conversion – from death to life

THE WORD IN LENT 2026 – FRIDAY FIFTH WEEK

March 27 – Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10: 31-42

Our journey from death to life, is obviously as the term itself says, a life long journey, a life-journey in fact. And this is what Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman – the Lord worshipped in spirit and truth! Our reflection on Listening and Fasting… has to remind us of this life-journey as journey of conversion!

“Terror from every side!” – that is how Jeremiah explains his situation… just as it was for Jesus too, as the elders and the scribes were out to catch him for a word or a gesture that they can accuse him of. It would be so for anyone who belongs to God – the generations that we spoke of yesterday, the sons and daughters of Abraham, that is persons of faith. The reason is, the persons of faith, persons with God, are persons who stand by truth!

Be it Jeremiah or any other prophet, or be it Jesus, the problem was that they were speaking the truth, they were saying what God wanted them too. Yesterday we came across in the Gospel the controversy that they accused Jesus of speaking about himself as someone equal to Abraham – and the discussion continues today. Jesus does not evade the question, he deepens the controversy – the Father is in me and I am in the Father. For those who were scandalised that Jesus was equating himself to Abraham, to hear him speak in these terms about the Father and himself, was indeed a breaking point!  But Jesus does not mind – because he was speaking the truth.

In Jesus’ vision, this truth is the light – it makes one understand oneself and see oneself in the right light; this truth is liberty – it makes one fearlessly genuine and authentic; this truth is life – life in the Father, life in the Spirit, life eternal. It does not matter that there is terror all around, there are persons plotting against me, there are those who consider me a threat and look forward to my death – because the Spirit, the truth makes me shift my gaze from that death that surrounds to the life that is promised me! 

This has to be seen in our concrete choices, in our works, as Jesus teaches us today in the Gospel. Our works need to testify to the fact that we are from the Father, that we are daughters and sons of that merciful Father, that loving generation of God’s own. Our Life, the Word today wishes to point to us, as a watershed has to orient our entire existence, and not just ours but of every single person who encounters Christ – taking us towards life, towards Spirit and truth

Life... living to be a generation!

Conversion – from death to life

THE WORD IN LENT 2026 – THURSDAY FIFTH WEEK

March 26 – Genesis 17: 3-9; John 8: 21-30

Our reflection on Listening and Fasting… as a way to Conversion had lead us to this consideration of our journey from death to life, and we are nearing the close of this reflection! The Word today takes us back to the origins posing a fundamental question: why should we undertake this journey? Because we are called to, by the very identity that we are given with, as people of God, as people of life!

Abraham is presented to us as a reminder of our origins, when we were made the people of God, the multitude of nations who were promised to Abraham – his generations! Generations... that is indeed the crux of the message that the Word has for us. And it is nothing new to us, as an argument. We are all much attuned to this discussion of the generations… be it the custom of the surnames that we hold close to our hearts (as if it is something benign, vis-à-vis), or the idea of the clan and tribe that we identify ourselves with (which of course appears to be a bit pejorative at times with its variations like caste and other considerations!)

What is the Christ-ian sense of Generation – the roots or the identity that we would like to refer ourselves to? Jesus today speaks of this when he refers to Abraham, to a people who pride in being sons and daughters of Abraham. But in his discourse Jesus deconstructs this concept of “generation” in terms of both time and space, with his statement: your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad. Isn’t that drastically deconstructive?

Jesus is establishing a paradigm where time or space does not define generations – neither the chronological link in the chain of birth and ancestors, not the spatio-geographical link of socio-genetics. Jesus seems to say that the real sense of “generation” comes in those who know the Father and listen to the Word (Jesus himself) of the Father and live their lives in accordance. That is generation and that is true “life” that Jesus gives- that life which will never end, the eternal life.

Listening is a way we receive that Word and be regenerated; Fasting is the way we discipline ourselves in reflecting on that Word and making it our life… and it is in converting to this we become the sons and daughters of Abraha, the people of the Covenant, the children of God, the generations in God

The Maiden and the Salvation Plan

Instrument, Ideal and Icon!

March 25, 2026: Solemnity of Annunciation of the Lord
Isaiah 7: 10-14, 8:10; Hebrews 10: 4-10; Luke 1: 26-36 

Annunciation is the second exception given us in this lenten journey to celebrate, because this is a key commemoration in relation to the eternal plan of Salvation. To the question whether this is a Solemnity of the Lord or of Mary - we should say "both"! Though it is in fact a solemnity of the Lord (the annunciation of the birth of the Lord), it can well be an invitation to look at our Blessed Mother in the light of the Salvation Plan that the Lord had made for us from all eternity.

Mary as an Instrument of Salvation - In her wholehearted and trusting 'yes', Mary entered into the special category of collaborators with the Lord in the plan of salvation for the entire humanity. To the extent that some theologians for ages have been claiming the title 'co-mediatrix', the role of Mary in the climax of the Salvific Plan of God, is unforgetable. She is chosen by the Father, as the Mother of God, a singular privilege that none can deny or negate! The invitation is that we give her the due recognition and love her with an immense gratitude for her obedient surrender to the Salvific plan of God.

Mary as the Ideal of Salvation - In her distinctive and characteristic relationship with her Son, Mary has become a model, an ideal of those who are saved by the Son of God. Mary is certainly the first fruit of the Salvation that Jesus the Christ brought to us human beings. In her assumption we see a great model that she sets, the ideal that she presents, as to what salvation does to us - the rising to incorruptibility! She has been our forerunner in obtaining the fruits of the salvation, in and through Jesus Christ, and passing it on to us, his brothers and sisters. The invitation therefore is to imitate her, in following her Son, as she herself became the most ardent disciple and apostle of her Son.

Mary as the Icon of the Saved humankind - In her total submission to the Holy Spirit, our Blessed Mother has played to precision her role, not only as the biological mother of the Saviour, but also as someone who heard the Word, beheld the Word within her and lived the Word in her daily life. She not only brought forth the Word into the world, but also lived by the Word all the time that she was in the world. She is given to us in the Holy Spirit, as our intercessor, who can teach us to pray and take our prayers to the presence of the Lord! She is the handmaiden of the Spirit and remains an icon for the entire humankind, assuring every one the salvation that was brought to the world by her Son.

Let our prayer today be: Mary our Mother, in your humble submission to the Will of God, you brought us Salvation; grant that we may dare to submit to God's will that we be enjoy our salvation, and be instruments of that salvation to all those around us, and to the entire world. Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Look up and live!

Conversion – from death to life

THE WORD IN LENT 2026 – TUESDAY FIFTH WEEK

March 24 – Number 21:4-9; John 8: 21-30

Our journey from death to life is possible only with the One who gives us life… we are surrounded by the experiences of death, the culture of death. Just as the people of Israel for whom God did so much, but still forgot readily all the good and gave into lamentations and murmur, so do we tend to choose what is death-inducing instead of life-giving – as we reflected yesterday.

If we wish to ensure that we live, and live to the full, we need to concretely make a choice for the One who fills us with life – the Word says today: look up to Him and live. We need to look up to the Lord if we wish to really live.

Jesus describes and interprets in the Gospel of today, the experience we read about in the first reading, where the people are asked to look up at the bronze serpent and receive life. It is a symbolic prefiguring of the Saviour who would be raised too on the salvific wood, as the bronze serpent was raised on a staff.

Looking up… is the reference here that weaves the Word into one theme today, and this looking up can gives us at least three messages to reflect on:

Firstly, looking up is to surrender to the Lord above, knowing well that God alone is in control of everything. When the people were dying of the brunt of the serpents and they did not know what to day, the only recourse that could redefine their experiences was the Lord above…looking up was giving themselves into the hands of God and living our lives in mercy and grace.

A second significance of that looking up is to receive the light that can offer sense to our lives. Looking so much at our treacherous circumstances, the wars and violence, the arrogance and animosity, the avarice and egocentric tendencies, the unforgiveness and inhumanity around, we could be lost in a sense of meaninglessness in life. It is the Cross that can give us the true sense, giving us the message, that God’s love and mercies never cease. We have a reminder of that love, of that forgiveness, of that never-failing mercy in the Cross.

The third is a reminder that when we look up, we not only surrender and ask for the light of the Lord, but we behold a lesson – the only way to live, is to empty oneself. Jesus on the Cross, every time we look up, gives us a powerful message – the message of self-emptying: he emptied himself, becoming a slave and accepting death on the cross, the greatest of all life-giving acts. In a world which teaches us to seek our own well being and survival, the Lord from the Cross teaches us to empty ourselves and find life, life that is whole, life that is eternal. The Word invites us to look up and live, live to the full