Dearly Beloved,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
May 11, 2025, Third Sunday after Easter
Scriptural Readings:
OT: Exodus 40:1-16, Joshua 2:1-6, Hosea 8:1-8, Isaiah 65:1-7
NT: Acts 4:8-21, Hebrews 3:1-13, Holy Evangelion St Mark 2:13-22
Holy Gospel: St Mark 2:13-22
13 He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
15 And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of[a] the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat[b] with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins.”[c]
Reflections:
Jesus is the Lord of small things! He transformed the world with his simple talks and genuine acts of care. He came to win through love not by war. He did ordinary things which were extraordinary for leaders and authorities. He won the minds of people by joining people in their space – at dining for either banquets or simple meals, at a well, in the boat, in homes, and so on. It was viewed by religious authorities as a violation of commands, and it was more revolutionary than mass armed movements. Jesus’ interactions were experienced more in-person which was more effective than giving orders and making laws. Inviting someone for a cup of tea or coffee could open new windows of relationship and revelations as we could see in the life of Christ. Many movements or projects were initiated in small dining spaces. A daily newspaper and a cup of tea were the keys to our days in the past, even now for many.
Jesus was inclusive in his approach. Through dining with people from all strata of life, He disclosed that the salvation program was open to all without any discrimination. We live in a world which is divided by color of skin, gender, shallow faith and political interests. We do not recognise this divide while we pray ‘Our Father, who art in Heaven…’ or while chanting the mantra, ‘Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu…(let the whole inhabitants of the world be well…). Religious authorities in the time of Jesus were so particular about keeping away those who were not in line with their agenda. But Jesus had only one goal, to save the whole creation from falling to sin and consequential death.
For Jesus, alienation from God – the source of life – was death. All kinds of divisions furthered such alienation. When we are unable to see each other as siblings, being the children of one single Almighty God, we are alienated from Him. Sacraments are for us the provisions given by the Lord to enjoy sharing and feeling equals. We should be careful that there could be dangers of wrong thoughts and ideas which could make sacraments tools for discrimination. Faith communities need to find provisions to dine together. It is not to fill our stomach but to whet our spiritual appetite through sharing and feeling a sense of equality where we share the same faith. Interfaith, inter-community, international fellowship meals are highly relevant for bringing unity, concord and integration.
Jesus called His disciples from all kinds of categories. He wanted every kind of person to be there as in the ark of Noah. Calling Levi, the tax collector was a bold move in this regard. He wanted people to work together for the common good and to think against all divisive perceptions. Hence, we have the church as His Body which is free from all discriminatory ideas and possibilities. We have only one Altar, one sacrifice, one body and blood to share. It is revolutionary to think and feel that our veins have the same blood, and we are of the same flesh. As Adam said, by looking at each other, my bone of bone, my flesh of flesh, is how we should feel. And we also assure to be of the same mind, the mind of Christ. May the Holy Spirit give us the proper understanding of each other.
FEASTS AND REMEMBRANCES:
- May 08, St John
- May 08, Marthoma V, 260th anniversary, entombed at Niranom Valiyapally
- May 10, St Simon the Zealot
- Condolence : We offer our sincere prayers and express our deepest condolences on the passing away of Mr. Paulose Cherian, the beloved elder brother of Gracy Mathew and brother-in-law of Mathew Planthara (Dir Ref M 07) on Tuesday May 06th 2025 in India. The funeral service will be conducted on Thursday May 08 at their home parish St Thomas Orthodox Church, Vanniyampara.
We keep the departed soul and family in prayer. May the Lord comfort the departed soul and give strength and hope to everyone in grief.
FROM OUR LAST UPDATE:
Pray for Peace among nations
We pray for all the victims, for all the agencies working towards reestablishing peace. May the true love of God be experienced and practiced everywhere.
There will be prayer for world peace at church during the Holy Liturgy. Please join.
- St Joseph’s Elders Forum – Date changed to May 27, Tuesday
- Our next lunch will be on May 27, Tuesday. Please assure our participation.
. Welcome Newborn
We have the great joy in announcing the birth of baby girl Jazlyn Jesho Alex, firstborn to Jesho Alex and Rini Varghese (Dir Ref J 34), born on May 07th at 12:56pm. Hearty congrats to the blessed parents and grand parents! Many praises to God for all His Graces and Mercies. Welcome Jazlyn to SGOCT!
. New Pope: The conclave chose American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to be the next pope. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Leo is the first pope to have been born in the United States. He is also a citizen of Peru, where he has spent much of his life. He was a confidant of Pope Francis, a man who always stood for the poor and needy and took bold steps to voice for the voiceless. The name Leo has been chosen by the new pope for his liking for Leo who was the companion of St Francis of Assisi. Those who have witnessed the joint ministry of Pope Francis and Cardinal Robert Francis would sense the significance of choosing the name Leo. We keep praying for the Catholic church and for the new Pope as the world expects the new leadership to bring more love and healing to the broken world. May the Holy Spirit work through the newly elect in further expanding of the Kingdom of God.
.UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS: Please note in your calendar
- May 11, Sunday, Mothers’ Day
It is the day for honoring all mothers and grandmothers for their contributions towards families and societies. Motherhood is what we see in God who is ready to protect and comfort his children under his wings. By honouring mothers and women, we are God and his parenthood. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…” (Isaiah 66:13). We respect womanhood and motherhood in every feminine individual.
2. May 11, Sunday, MMVS Bake Sale
3. May 29, Thursday, Feast of Ascension
4. May 30-June 07: Days of Waiting (Kaathiruppu), Preparation days for Pentecost
5. June 08, Sunday: Feast of Pentecost
6. June 16- June 30: Lent of the Apostles, June 29- Feast of St Peter & St Paul, June 30- Feast of the 12 Apostles
AREA PRAYER MEETINGS:
Details of upcoming meetings shall be announced later.
FOR OUR ATTENTION & TO NOTE:
Children, please occupy front benches during our Liturgical Services
Kindly avoid crowding at the back of the church. A few concerns.
- Due to safety concerns and for assuring an undistracted worship space, we request all our members to proceed to the front rows except those that are reserved for children when we enter the temple. It would be a bit difficult for our volunteers to suggest moving to the front during the service as it would cause distraction and noise. We need to avoid crowding at the entrance and stair areas as this has raised safety concerns.
- Please be considerate to our senior members to help them find seats or while they try to access the washroom. A slip or a hit should be avoided in any circumstance.
- Please be watchful at the shoe rack area which is also the entrance to both washrooms.
- We request our parents to attend our children not to pull the alarm lever at the back wall.
Hand Waving Machine & Common Absolution Prayer for all communicants
The hand waving machine has been installed at the church entrance for taking count of the communicants. Whoever wishes to take Holy Communion, upon entering the temple, please wave your hand once at the machine. Please be aware that after the Nicene Creed, the machine shall be disabled. Absolution shall be done during the morning prayer.
WEEKLY IN-PERSON MEETINGS:
May 11, Sunday – Bake Sale.
Please join and support, enjoy the taste, feel the fellowship
LIVE streaming has been reactivated: All services ‘Live Streaming is now available.
Holy Liturgical Text for this Sunday
We will be using the Taksa of St John the Evangelist this Sunday
May the Gracious Lord keep us from all harm and heal the entire world.
Next Week
May 18, Fourth Sunday after Easter
Scriptural Readings:
OT: Exodus 34:4-12, 1 Kings 20:28-30, Micah 4:1-7, Zachariah 8:4-9, Isaiah 37:8-17
NT: 1 John 4:19-5:15, Hebrews 11:3-6, Holy Evangelion St John 4:31-38
Yours in Christ
Thomas John Achen
Email ID: fr.thomaspjohn@gmail.com
Mobile: (416) 570 5610