Gratitude is the attitude of the heart. Gratitude swells out of the abundance of thankfulness. A grateful heart is joyful, blissful and faithful. Thanksgiving is a beautiful expression of our joy in having received some help or service. That's why everyone loves to hear the word "thanks." Unfortunately, it often remains just lip service. We must be thankful for what we have received. If we received some benefit or help, or assistance from someone, then we must return it more than what we have received. Only a grateful heart is a happy heart. Cultivating such a heart takes energy and effort. The liturgical readings on this 28th Sunday in Ordinary time invite us to be like that Namaan, a Syrian, a non-Jew, a Commander of the Army or that Samaritan leper who thanked God for all the healing they received. They made not only an extra effort to thank the person who healed them, but also continued to proclaim the mighty works of a God whom they did not believe earlier.

Faith is the greatest force in the world. Even that which looks completely impossible becomes possible, if it is approached with faith. Often, we are worried for no reason! A senior person may worry because his or her children being away for the moment, and the person feels lonely. Or the worry about one's senior years may trouble him or her. A young person may worry about one's grades in studies, finding the right job and getting settled down, even though the person may be on the way to completing studies, has applied for a job or has plans to settle down in life. Things are going to happen and they are on the way for the best of our abilities and time, yet we worry about those things which have not left us in delusion. Getting worried about things, even though they might not have any consequences immediately, seems to be a natural phenomenon that all of us go through. In this context, we have powerful readings on this Sunday's liturgy. Jesus says have faith and that will settle hey you.

We live in a world of contrasts, those who have and have-nots. The rich man and Lazarus are found everywhere. The world of today needs more listening and acting, opening one's eyes and reacting. In recent months, we have been hearing that a new world order is being put in place. Instead of working with great world institutions like the United Nations, individual countries are determining the fate of the smaller and economically weaker countries. The strongest, the bulliest, and the proudest are the ones who seem to be winning the race for power, supremacy and influence. The smaller, weaker and silent countries seem to be just watching the game. In this context, we have this wonderful parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

25 Sept 2025Celebrating the Founding of the First Native Religious Congregation by St Joseph Vaz on September 25, 1685 at St Joseph's Chapel Hassan, Bangalore. Praying for all our native missionaries, nuns and priests and laity on behalf of Joseph Naik Vaz Institute, California 25th September 2025For more click here: https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/1408 Get in touch with Joseph Naik Vaz Institute, California, US: https://josephnaikvaz.org/

The talk was given on 21 July 2025 for the first-year students on the inaugural day of the New Academic Year 2025-2026

The talk was given to the students of BBA, BCOM, BCA, for GALA 2025 at St Joseph's College Hassan.

https://www.sjchassan.edu.in/

Having seen many frauds, bankruptcies, financial irregularities, illegal activities, and dishonest managers in the business world, often, business ethics emphasizes that it is better to have people of integrity and sincerity as CEO's and CFO's than brilliant, well-educated individuals in top-most business schools of the world, but who are dishonest and people of duplicity. The world needs people of integrity and honesty. Businesses are built on trust and loyalty. Relationships are established and furthered through sincerity and honesty. The liturgical readings of this Sunday, especially the Gospel reading, speaks about trust, honesty and loyalty. Jesus gives a parable to his disciples and invites them to be trustworthy and ethical in whatever they do.

Who among us desires crosses in life? None of us. A cross is usually understood as suffering, and suffering, in itself, is painful and unwanted. Yet, when it is embraced with faith, suffering takes on a new meaning and dimension. It becomes purposeful. We suffer for many reasons: an illness that weakens the body, the burden of age that no longer allows us the energy of youth, the indifference or unkindness of colleagues at work, the loneliness of a partner who does not share our thoughts and feelings, or the disappointment of unfulfilled desires. We suffer when faced with social evils like corruption, nepotism, jealousy, inequality, injustice and favouritism. We suffer when we feel utterly alone, with no one to listen or to walk with us. These are the daily crosses we carry.

But Jesus carried not just a symbol of suffering, but a real Cross—up the hill of Calvary—upon which he gave his very life. That Cross was not freely chosen but forced upon him through betrayal and conspiracy. Yet, by accepting it in love and obedience to the Father, he transformed it into the very source of our salvation. As we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we are invited to do the same: to see our daily crosses not as meaningless burdens, but as paths to grace, redemption, and deeper union with Christ.