In Sermons: showing 1-10 of 10

End Times

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Nov 17, 2010

Jesus talks about the end of the world. But the focus is not on fear and trembling; but on faith and trust in him, and preparing for it through right living now.

End times I was ordained on a November day six years ago. The ordination was at my home parish, and prior to that I was still finishing my study of Theology in another city in India. Of course the ordination was a huge celebration, and needed a lot of preparation. Since I was away, most of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19

Denomination: Catholic

Belief In The Resurrection Of The Dead

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Nov 6, 2010

The Sadducees try to ridicule Jesus with a stupid question about what happens in heaven. The answer of Jesus is not about the how but they why. If we don't believe in a life after death, we will have no purpose for our life on earth.

People sometimes ask stupid questions. They know it is stupid; but they ask them anyway. When somebody asks a stupid question, we can assume that either they are too naïve, or they are sarcastic. And most of the time they are not naïve; they are trying to make us look foolish trying to answer ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-38

Denomination: Catholic

What Changed Zaccheus?

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Oct 30, 2010

Jesus doesn't preach to Zaccheus. No moralising, no ridiculing. Just unconditional acceptance. That's all it took change him radically.

A popular story recounts a meeting that may have taken place at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago in 1923. There is debate whether the meeting in fact occurred, but what is not in question is the actual rise and fall of the men featured in the story, who were nine of the richest men in the world ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

Is Your Prayer Good Enough?

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Oct 25, 2010

The Pharisee made a show of his prayer with his arrogance. But the tax collector understood that the heart of prayer must be humility. We have something to learn before we kneel down to pray.

There was a little boy who was kneeling by his bed with his mom to say his nighttime prayers. He began to shout to the top of his lungs, “Dear God, I’ve been real good this year so please let me get a new bicycle for my birthday.” His mom said, “Johny, God is not deaf; you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Catholic

Dare To Hope

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Oct 22, 2010

There are no hopeless situations. Jesus asks us to trust and to keep praying. If we don't give up, miracles can happen in our lives.

Last week I went to visit an elderly nun in her retirement residence. She was very happy to meet me and we spent some time chatting. While looking around in her room, I noticed a small table in a corner of the room and three small statues facing the corner. One looked like the statue of our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Are We Grateful To God?

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Oct 10, 2010

Before we criticize the nine lepers who were not grateful for their cure, we should ask ourselves if we are grateful for the good things that we have received from God.

I’m sure you have all heard of Rudyard Kipling. He is the author of famous books like The Jungle Book and Captain Courageous. His writings not only made him famous but also brought him a fortune. A newspaper reporter came up to him once and said, "Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Catholic

The Eucharist And Personal Transformation

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Apr 12, 2006

When we receive the body and blood of Christ, we are pledging to commit ourselves to alleviate the hunger in the world.

I watched the Oscar winning movie, “Gandhi” years ago when I was a school student. But one scene remains vivid in my memory. After Gandhiji returned from South Africa and started getting involved in the struggle of Independence of India, he made a journey all over the country to see and live ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-29

Denomination: Catholic

Carrying The Cross With Jesus

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Apr 9, 2006

Jesus gave a new meaning to human suffering. Now a suffering person can look at the cross of Jesus and find comfort.

She was a Hindu; but all the same, an active member of the Students’ Christian Movement. Then the shocking news came that she was diagnosed with cancer. She was admitted in a hospital. When we went to see her, I expected her to be very bitter. At such a young age to get such a sickness! But ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Celebrating Christmas

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Dec 23, 2005

The meaning of Christmas is when we go beyond the celebration to share with the hungry and the needy.

At Christmas time, in many places children act out the Christmas story. In the parish where I work, it is like a street theatre. If you are travelling by the road, you may see Joseph and Mary walking on the road in search of an inn. Years ago in one place, there was a Christmas play like this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Denomination: Catholic

Pulling Down Walls Of Discrimination

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Dec 17, 2005

An advent sermon, learning to beat discrimination, learning from the geneology of Jesus

In one of the parishes where I worked, there were two families who were fighting over a property dispute. Both the families were rich and influential. Both tried to get the support of the local church in their favour. So they wrote to the parish council expressing their views and claims. One of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Catholic