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Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comBlogger1236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-8018778209641171442026-03-07T15:33:00.005+05:302026-03-08T06:12:29.501+05:303rd Sunday of Lent (A) Ex. 17:3-7; Rom. 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn. 4:5-42Jesus comes to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near Jacob’s well. This detail matters. The well is linked to the patriarch Jacob, reminding us of God’s long history with Israel. In the Old Testament, wells are places of encounter and revelation. Isaac’s servants found water after struggle (Genesis 26), Moses met Zipporah at a well before his mission Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-54540033199529546352026-02-28T21:37:00.008+05:302026-02-28T21:49:21.390+05:302nd Sunday of Lent (A) Gen 12: 1-4; Tim 1: 8-10; Mt 17: 1-9 There is an ancient story told about a young apprentice who worked in the workshop of a master sculptor. Day after day the boy watched the master strike a rough block of stone, chipping away patiently. One day the apprentice asked, “Master, how do you know what is inside this stone?” The sculptor smiled and replied, “I do not put anything into the Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-42207416168840605162026-02-20T15:40:00.003+05:302026-02-20T21:27:37.891+05:301st Sunday of Lent (A) Gen. 2:7-9; 16-18, 25, 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19; Mt. 4:1-11The Gospel places before us one of the most profound and revealing moments in the life of Jesus: his forty days in the wilderness, led not by accident but by the Spirit, into a place of hunger, silence, struggle, and decision. Before Jesus heals the sick, proclaims the kingdom, or confronts injustice, he first enters the desert. The Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-73114813836087120862026-02-17T08:05:00.004+05:302026-02-17T15:10:27.759+05:30Ash Wednesday (A)Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18On a cold winter morning, a young executive stood in front of the mirror adjusting his expensive suit. His calendar was full, his phone constantly buzzing, his life seemingly successful. That same evening, he received a call that his father had suddenly passed away. Standing at the cremation ground, watching ashes return to ashes, he whispered through Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-10682572854442241782026-02-13T20:14:00.005+05:302026-02-13T20:20:52.314+05:306th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Sir. 15:15-20; 1 Cor. 2:6-10; Mt. 5:17-37A wise old story from the East tells of a king who placed two paths before his people. One was wide, smooth, and well-lit; the other narrow and steep. At the entrance of both paths stood a sign: “You are free to choose.” Many took the easy road. But those who chose the harder path discovered that it led to peace, wisdom, and life.Today’s first Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-34398872465703215882026-02-06T07:44:00.006+05:302026-02-06T07:50:53.045+05:305th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Is. 58:6-10; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; Mt. 5:13-16From the earliest days of human history, light has held a sacred place in our traditions, stories, and collective memory. Ancient peoples gathered around fire not only for warmth but for safety, for community, and for hope against the darkness of night. In many cultures, a lamp was lit at sunset as a sign that life continues, that the home is alive, andFr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-32622663483664262832026-01-31T18:33:00.001+05:302026-01-31T21:48:24.734+05:304th Sunday in Ordinary Time Zeph. 2:3; 3:12-13; 1 Cor. 1:26-31; Mt. 5:1-12Every human heart long for happiness. From the earliest civilizations to the modern digital age, people have searched for happiness in wealth, power, success, relationships, pleasure, and security. Advertisements promise happiness if we buy the right product. Social media suggests happiness lies in popularity and recognition. Society tells us: “Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-4906069320135517202026-01-22T23:28:00.007+05:302026-01-22T23:37:15.569+05:303rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Is. 9:1-4; 1 Cor. 1:10-13, 17-18; Mt. 4:12-23On a cold evening during the Second World War, a small village lay in darkness under a strict blackout. Inside a modest home, a frightened child noticed a single lamp glowing in the distance. “Why would someone risk lighting a lamp now?” he asked. His mother replied softly, “Because someone else needed hope more than safety.” That solitary light Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-78276713253161958532026-01-16T22:10:00.005+05:302026-01-16T22:14:21.727+05:302nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Is. 49:3, 5-6; 1 Cor. 1:1-3; Jn. 1:29-34One evening, a young boy was walking home from school when he noticed smoke rising from a nearby house. Without thinking twice, he ran toward the fire and shouted for help. Neighbors rushed out, and together they managed to rescue an elderly woman trapped inside. When reporters later asked the boy why he ran toward danger instead of away from it, he Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-23037531514898036092026-01-10T05:39:00.005+05:302026-01-10T06:00:03.269+05:30The Baptism of the Lord (A)Is. 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Mt. 3:13-17In one of Leo Tolstoy’s short stories, on a cold winter night a poor shoemaker named Martin Avdeitch sits alone in his basement room, reading the Gospel by the light of a small lamp. He is weary with grief and disappointment, yet as he reads the words of Jesus, a quiet hope stirs in his heart. That night he dreams that Christ will come to visit him the Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-14844274189526876302026-01-03T16:49:00.007+05:302026-01-03T16:52:31.378+05:30The Epiphany of the Lord (A) Is. 60:1-6; Eph. 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt. 2:1-12Today, we are celebrating Epiphany Sunday. The purpose of the Feast of Epiphany, which had its beginning in the Eastern Church during the 3rd century, was to commemorate how the glory of Christ was revealed to the Gentiles. The revelation of Jesus took place in many ways: in the visitation of the Magi; in the Baptism of Jesus; in the Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-6606429215560960642025-12-31T15:17:00.007+05:302025-12-31T15:21:00.909+05:30Mary, the Holy Mother of GodMary, the Holy Mother of GodNum. 6:22-27; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 2:16-21As we stand at the threshold of a brand-new year, it is with heartfelt joy and anticipation that I extend my warmest wishes to you. The turning of the calendar is not merely a mark of time but a canvas awaiting the brushstrokes of our dreams, aspirations, and shared experiences.Once upon a time, in a quaint village nestled between Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-34097019935699973832025-12-27T17:32:00.004+05:302025-12-27T17:40:01.316+05:30The Holy Family (A) Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Col 3:12-21; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23Exile, deportation and seeking asylum in other countries have been common in our history. Wars and civil strife have torn apart many families, and separated parents and children, brothers and sisters, or husbands and wives for many years, and, often, perpetually. The story of Boris and Anna Kozlov&Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-24000409823945899122025-12-23T11:51:00.003+05:302025-12-23T11:55:07.159+05:30Christmas (A) DawnIsaiah 62:11–12; Titus 3:4–7; Luke 2:15–20There is a beloved story told in many cultures about a poor young girl who longed to bring a gift to the newborn King. In one version, she has nothing—no gold, no silver, no fine clothes, no precious spices. As she watches others go to visit the Christ Child, her heart aches. She sits alone by the roadside feeling the cold morning dew. Suddenly, she sees Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-65705133877398336342025-12-23T11:46:00.006+05:302025-12-23T12:01:46.585+05:30Christmas (A)Is. 9:2-4, 6-7; Tit. 2:11-14; Lk. 2:1-16There is a touching story from the First World War that has been retold in many books and films, because it captures what people call the “Christmas spirit.” It was the Christmas of 1914, and the war was only a few months old, but Europe had already become a battlefield of fear and death. On Christmas Eve, in the trenches of northern France, soldiers from Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-75606426042697586512025-12-20T15:50:00.008+05:302025-12-20T15:59:09.244+05:304th Sunday of Advent (A) Is. 7:10-14; Rom. 1:1-7; Mt. 1:18-24As we gather on this final Sunday of Advent—standing just at the threshold of Christmas—our hearts feel the nearness of the mystery we have been waiting for: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God-with-us.” That line alone would have shaken any ancient listener. Virgins do not conceive; God does not Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-6666212114499428452025-12-13T15:21:00.001+05:302025-12-13T15:22:58.530+05:30Third Sunday of Advent (A)Is. 35:1-6a, 10; Jas. 5:7-10; Mt. 11:2-11The First Reading from the Book of Isaiah [Is. 35:1-6a, 10] echoed the anticipation of God's chosen people. In their perception of the coming of the promised Messiah, the people visualized a transformation of the physical world where the entire creation would rejoice. They envisioned blooming deserts that would manifest the glory of the Lord."The blind Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-72809807591286923232025-12-05T12:47:00.011+05:302025-12-06T07:14:51.327+05:30Second Sunday of Advent (A)Is. 11:1-10; Rom. 15:4-9; Mt. 3:1-12Today's First Reading from the Book of Isaiah [Is. 11:1-10] consisted of a descriptive prophecy related to the coming of the ideal king from David's line. It began by proclaiming that "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots." [Is. 11:1] Jesse was the father of king David, from whom the Judean kings Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-61241479044957414662025-11-28T23:47:00.007+05:302025-12-13T07:07:34.802+05:30First Sunday of Advent (A) Isaiah 2: 1-5; Romans 13: 11-14; Matthew 24: 37-44History often reminds us that great moments come only to those who prepare for them. In the winter of 1914, during the “Christmas Truce” of the First World War, British and German soldiers who were only hours earlier shooting at each other suddenly laid down their weapons, stepped out of their trenches, and began exchanging small gifts, Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-69900800912494405412025-11-22T06:10:00.005+05:302025-11-22T19:34:00.930+05:30Christ the King (C) 2 Sam. 5:1-3; Col. 1:12-20; Lk. 23:35-43.There is a story told about King Edward VII of England. One cold winter night, King Edward was traveling in disguise, as he sometimes did, to understand how his people lived. As he walked the streets of London, he noticed a small crowd gathered outside a poor tenement building. A fire had broken out, and people were crying because a little boy was Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-73586139649571380432025-11-14T10:51:00.006+05:302025-11-14T10:55:00.202+05:3033rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)Mal. 4:1-2; 2 Thess. 3:7-12; Lk. 21:5-19In the ruins of the great city of Pompeii, archaeologists once uncovered the remains of a small Christian chapel buried beneath the ashes of Mount Vesuvius. The eruption had destroyed everything in an instant — homes, temples, streets, and markets. Yet on the wall of that tiny chapel, preserved by the heat and ash, was scratched a simple Latin phrase: “Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-40615999930182095632025-11-09T07:20:00.007+05:302025-11-09T07:24:36.960+05:30Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (C)Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Psalms 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 3:9C-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome—a feast that may, on the surface, appear to be about a building in a distant land. Yet, the Church invites the whole world to celebrate this feast because it is not simply about stone, bricks, and architecture, but about Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-32211931289689212972025-11-08T13:51:00.004+05:302025-11-08T18:35:56.486+05:3032nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) Genesis 28:11-18 Psalms 84:3, 4, 5-6, 8, 11, I Cor 3:9-13,16-17, Luke 19:1-10.There is a small and captivating story told about a young boy who lived near a busy railway line. Every day, he watched the station master who would stand at the platform when the trains arrived. The master did not do anything grand. He simply greeted every passenger who got off the train with a smile, helpedFr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-87058370486967330882025-11-01T06:04:00.007+05:302025-11-01T06:08:43.401+05:30All Souls (C) 2 Mac 12:42-45; Phil 3:20-21; Lk 7:11-17My dear brothers and sisters, On this sacred day as we commemorate All Souls, our hearts are drawn to the mystery that has accompanied humanity from the beginning of time—the longing for life beyond death. The search for immortality is as old as humanity itself. Allow me to begin with a story that reflects this deep desire.Many centuries ago, in Fr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453654594126410432.post-77513597801409076792025-10-25T05:19:00.007+05:302025-10-25T07:26:59.276+05:3030th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)Sir. 35:15-17, 20-22; 2 Tim. 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk. 18:9-14The Gospel of Luke tells us of two men who went up to the temple to pray: one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. At first glance, the story seems simple, almost familiar, but within it lies one of the most profound teachings of Jesus on the nature of the human heart. The Pharisee stands tall, confident in his own righteousness, listingFr. Lawrence K G Capuchinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12983099845834017319noreply@blogger.com