This Sermon is prepared by

Rev.Fr.Peter Jayakanthan sss
Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
Corpus Christi Catholic Church,
Houston, Texas, US



ஞாயிறு மறையுரைகள்

மதிப்பிற்குரிய அருட்பணியாளர்களே, துறவிகளே, அருட் கன்னியரே, உங்கள் ஞாயிறு மறையுரைகளை எமது இணையத்தளத்தின் ஆன்மீக வலத்தில் பிரசுரித்து, ஆண்டவர் இயேசுவின் நற்செய்தியை எல்லோருக்கும் அறிவிக்க விரும்பினால், info@tamilcatholicnews.com என்ற எமது மின்னஞ்சலுக்கு உங்களுடைய ஆக்கங்களை அனுப்பிவைக்கவும். உங்கள் மறையுரைகள் உலகெங்கும் இருக்கும் அனைத்து தமிழ் உள்ளங்களையும் சென்றடையும்.



இதோ! ஓநாய்களிடையே ஆடுகளை அனுப்புவதைப்போல நான் உங்களை அனுப்புகிறேன். எனவே பாம்புகளைப்போல முன்மதி உடையவர்களாகவும் புறாக்களைப்போலக் கபடு அற்றவர்களாகவும் இருங்கள்.
(மத்தேயு 10:16)

நீங்கள் போய் எல்லா மக்களினத்தாரையும் சீடராக்குங்கள்; தந்தை, மகன், தூய ஆவியார் பெயரால் திருமுழுக்குக் கொடுங்கள். நான் உங்களுக்குக் கட்டளையிட்ட யாவையும் அவர்களும் கடைப்பிடிக்கும்படி கற்பியுங்கள். இதோ! உலக முடிவுவரை எந்நாளும் நான் உங்களுடன் இருக்கிறேன்
(மத்தேயு 28:19-20)

நீ அவற்றை உன் பிள்ளைகளின் உள்ளத்தில் பதியுமாறு சொல். உன் வீட்டில் இருக்கும்போதும், உன் வழிப்பயணத்தின் போதும், நீ படுக்கும்போது, எழும்போதும் அவற்றைப் பற்றிப் பேசு.
(இணைச்சட்டம் 6:7)








16th Sunday of Ordinary Year

Restoring: The Shattered….The Scattered!

Jer 23:1-6, Eph 2:13-18, Mk 6:30-34

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, I welcome you all to today’s Eucharistic Celebration. The Eucharistic altar brings us, gathers us and restores us from our scattered and shattered life events. Every Sunday is the invitation offered to us to experience this restoration and renew our leadership responsibilities within our family, community and society. Pope Francis continuous to be a great example as a shepherd by restoring peace and unity among nations, religions and groups. We shall renew our call to be people of restoring goodness, hope and forgiveness, by holding our Good Shepherd Jesus; He is our way, our light and our hope.

Once Blessed Mother Teresa visited a well-run nursing home, where good food, medical care and other facilities that were offered to the elderly. As she moved among the senior people, she noticed that none of them smiled unless she touched them and smiled at them first. She also noticed that many of them kept glancing expectantly towards the door while listening to her. When she asked one of the nurses why this was so, she was told: “They are looking for a visit from someone related to them. But, except for an occasional visit, birthday gift or a get-well card, this never happens.” They were sheep without a shepherd.

The homeless children also give a similar answer to their situation, that ‘they are sheep without the shepherd.’ When any team without leadership faces regular defeat, they say that they are a struggling ship without the captain.

Why do you have less participation in your parish? Because people are scattered…..
How come your family is absent for your graduation? They are shattered and without family spirit…
What is the reason for the lack of justice and equality in government? It is due to voiceless......
The reason for the shattered condition of the family, community and country is due to poor and selfish leadership. The community and people should be our primary concern and focus.

How can a broken and divided relationship be restored?
How it is possible for a shattered community to become united?
What can be done for the members of an organization or institution?
The restoration and rebuilding among people is possible only by being available for them and with them. The readings today challenge us to be available leaders who will restore the broken and wounded persons.

The first reading explains the shattering condition of one kingdom, the rulers, the false prophets and the people. What was shattered? The Sinai Covenant was shattered. The promise was broken. The love of Yahweh was forgotten. Who were scattered? And how? The chosen People of Israel were scattered. The kings who followed Saul, David and Solomon were not true shepherds. Their selfish rule brought the division of Southern and Northern Kingdom. Each had unfaithful temple priests and false prophets. Here, the Prophet Jeremiah who was sent by Yahweh confronted the three rulers of Judah, Jehoakaz, Jehoiakim and Jecohiah, for their selfish attitude and approach of oppression and division. This caused confusion and chaos within the political, economic, social and spiritual situation of the country and people. Here in the 6th Century BC, Judah was captured by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. He appointed Zedekiah as king, to rule the Southern Kingdom of Judah when he was just 21years. But Zedekiah failed to listen to Jeremiah’s warning and began seeking alliance from the rulers of Egypt to overthrow the dominance of the Babylonian king. Jeremiah compelled him to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, but the stubborn Zedekiah ignored him which cost the life of the Jewish people. Their hopes were lost and life became scattered. Here, the Prophet Jeremiah offered the hope-filled words of Yahweh, that their broken, shattered and lost life, community and nation, will be restored by the Messiah, who will be available with them and for them against all types of evil. The false ruler, leader and shepherd will be replaced by a new and authentic Shepherd.

In today’s Gospel, Mark gives the message of possible restoration to the disciples and the gathered crowd who are the new Israel. Jesus knew the disciples’ journey of ups and downs, so, He made himself available to them to be the Shepherd by restoring their zeal and enthusiasm. He observed and recognized the scattered crowd under the threat of Roman rule, assuring that their life will be restored and rebuilt. His availability draws people to Himself. <

Being available to the broken, the sick, the lonely and the troubled is the call to be a shepherd in our times and always.
Who needs my availability?
Who needs my compassionate presence?
Who looks for my encouraging presence?
Is it the lost son or daughter in my family?
Is it the forgotten person in my community?
Is it a rejected person in my parish group?
Is it a lonely person in my working place?
There is going to be an Olympics for the intellectually challenged children in Los Angeles from July 22nd to August 02, 2015. 7000 children from 177 countries will participate in this special Olymics. Among the 331 athletes from India, 12 are from Tamilnadu. Vinnarasi shares that she was moving from one school to another; as an intellectually challenged girl, she finally found an institution where the teachers made themselves available for her to grow and exhibit her talent. She said, “They are true shepherds who made me feel worthwhile to perform myself.”

Enlivening our desire to follow Our Lord Jesus beckons us to look out into the world around us, to see with eyes of compassion those who are hurting, and to be the voice for restoring peace and love in a world divided by injustice. The Lord hears the cry of the poor, hastening to dwell in their midst. Jesus, Our Eucharistic love, draws us into Himself in greatest charity, gifting us with the responsibility to be the arms of love for others, as disciple-shepherds of the way, the light and hope of Jesus. Who has known injury and need of restoration pardon or hope? Hold onto Jesus our Good Shepherd, Who gave us His life of love and peace of forgiveness. Hold the sacred Eucharistic moments within your heart all day, and ask for the inner vision to know: Who needs my presence and availability; there I am a shepherd-Amen