Hoodosh Eetho Sermon 2025 | Fr. Anish Mathew

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We have stepped into the second Sunday of the new liturgical year of our Holy Church. This Sunday is called Hoodosh Eetho – the Sunday of the Renewal and Dedication of the Church. Last Sunday was Koodosh Eetho – the Sanctification of the Church.

These two Sundays are extremely important for every one of us. Last Sunday was the Sunday that purifies us; today is the Sunday on which we dedicate ourselves – we consciously consecrate ourselves anew to the Lord.

All of you have received the holy sacrament of Baptism. In the very centre of that sacred mystery, the priest places a promise upon you: “I renounce Satan… and I accept the Messiah.” For little children, the parents or godparents stand and say, “I renounce Satan… I accept the Messiah,” and at that moment the child is dedicated to Christ.

Only after this dedication do the rest of the rites take place – the anointing with holy muron, the baptism in water, and the Creed that we all recite together on behalf of the child.

I mention this because when we say “Dedication of the Church,” we are not speaking only about this building; we mean every believer in this parish consciously consecrating himself or herself to God in faith.

Yes, we all have a relationship with God. We all have faith. But if somewhere that faith has grown weak, if some soot has settled upon it, today we must set it ablaze again.

Human life is exactly like charcoal: once it burns bright and then cools down, you have to light it again and again and again.

We are living in a terribly materialistic world. Ask yourself honestly: How much real priority does spirituality get in the housing society you live in, among the doctors and professionals you work with, in your workplace, or even among your neighbours?

If you observe carefully, you will realise that most of the time the atmosphere around us is simply not conducive to spiritual growth.

So where do we find true nourishment for the soul?

1. Here in the temple – the church.
2. In family prayer at home.
3. In your personal prayer.

These three alone lead us to genuine spiritual nourishment.

Therefore, to dedicate ourselves to God means to keep confessing our faith in the Lord again and again, and to keep strengthening it. That is the whole meaning of today’s feast – Hoodosh Eetho.

The Gospel we heard today is from St John 10:22–42.

A group of Jews come to Jesus and say, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly!”

Jesus answers, “I have performed so many miracles in my Father’s name, yet you still do not understand me.”

This is a huge problem – a problem every priest faces, and every sincere believer faces.

No matter how openly and sincerely we try to show others the love and power of God, some hearts remain closed. Some eyes see only the tiniest faults and completely miss the mountain of grace standing right in front of them.

When a priest is sent to a new parish, a good majority serve with complete sincerity. Yet you only see the “Fr Anish” who comes on Sunday morning to lead Morning Prayer or to celebrate the Holy Qurbana.

You do not see the 365 days a year that he carries every single one of you in his heart – praying at dawn, praying at dusk: “Lord, let no lack touch my people… Let no scandal wound them… Let no sorrow come near them.”

That prayer never stops – in his private room, in every Mass he offers, in every sacrament he administers.

Yet if even one careless word slips from a priest’s mouth, many find it impossible to forgive. Fingers point immediately at his face. Sometimes not even the respect due to the priestly office is shown.

This is exactly what happened to Jesus. He did countless works in his Father’s name, yet people still demanded, “Tell us plainly!”

We cannot force anyone to believe. Who I am must shine only through what I do.

Then Jesus gives us the unforgettable image of the Good Shepherd: “My sheep hear my voice… None of the sheep my Father has given me will perish… No one can snatch them out of my hand.”

A priest’s greatest desire is that his sheep stay close to him. Every word he speaks, every guidance he gives, is never to lead you astray, but to walk with you on the straight path.

Tragically, sometimes the faithful forget this truth.

The very word purohithan (priest) means “the one who stands in front and leads”.

In Egypt, Jordan, and the Holy Land you still see real shepherds walking ahead of the flock, staff in hand. The sheep follow because they trust: “He knows where the green pasture is.”

Dear parish family, please pray every single day that this sacred bond between shepherd and sheep, between priest and people, remains strong and unbroken.

One final word about faith.

You may say, “I am a Christian, born in a Christian family, finished Sunday School, read the Bible many times, pray daily as a family…”

Yet if deep in your heart there is not even a tiny grain of living faith, none of it has any meaning.

If you cannot confess Jesus Christ as your Lord with your whole heart, every outward act ends only in sorrow and pain.

Some will say, “Father, I do have faith, but my life is still full of suffering.”

Two possibilities:

1. Somewhere our faith is weak and needs strengthening, or
2. God is allowing trials to make our faith more precious than gold refined in fire.

I once knew a doctor – a very sweet family, two boys. The elder son, while on vacation from studies, took his own life one morning.

Months later the father told me: “Father, my God took my son. I think it was because my faith was weak. Perhaps God took him to test me, to strengthen me. Today I have no complaint against God – I only love Him more and understand Him better.”

That testimony shook me to the core.

Beloved, whenever sorrow comes, see it as God’s loving hand pressing the charcoal of your faith so that it may burn brighter than ever.

Today, on this great feast of Hoodosh Eetho – the Renewal and Dedication of the Church – let us pray together:

“Lord, help me and help our vicar to consecrate ourselves anew in living, burning faith.”

May the same Holy Spirit who renewed the Church on Pentecost renew each one of us today, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Amen.