Ang Paskong Pinagdaanan

   

  The Nativity of the Lord

25 December 2022 

 

First Reading: Is 52:7-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Heb 1:1-6

Gospel: Jn 1:1-18

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko! Mapa-English o Tagalog man, inaanyayahan tayong magsaya sa pagdating ng Panginoon.

Natapos na ang countdown, ang siyam na araw ng simbang gabi, ang salo salo sa noche buena, nagsasaya na ngayon, namamasko, ngunit hindi lahat.

Sa pagdiriwang nawa natin ng Pasko, alalahanin natin ang mga taong hirap maging masaya dahil sila ay may sakit, hiniwalayan, nawalan ng mahal sa buhay, nawalan ng trabaho, walang masilungan, walang pamilya, hindi pa nabibigyan ng hustisya, hindi pa makaahon sa nananatiling pandemya. Madaling sabihin na ipagsawalang bahala ang kanilang pinagdaraanan upang maging maligaya kahit na isang araw lang, kahit sa araw na ito lang ng Pasko, subalit mali na hingin natin sa kanila ang magpanggap na masaya.

Silang mga may pinagdaraanan nga ang tunay na larawan ng Pasko. Tulad sila ng banal na pamilya na walang karamay at masilungan noon sa Betlehem. Bagaman hirap ay puno ng pag asa sa dumating na liwanag, ang hari ng sanlibutan, ang ating tagapagligtas. Hindi man masaya ngayon ang mga may bitbit na problema, siguradong ang panalangin nila ay puno ng pag asa na sawi man sila ngayon, sa pagsapit ng susunod na Pasko nawa ay hindi na. Ipanalangin natin sila.

Lampas sampung taon na ang nakalipas pero naaalala ko pa rin ang Paskong pinagdaanan namin noon, nilalagnat ang nanay at kuya ko, wala pang padalang pera ang tatay kong OFW, ilang oras na lang noche buena na, pumunta ako sa palengke, bumili ng mga sangkap para sa champorado. Niluto ko 'yun at 'yun na ang noche buena namin. Pinakasimple pero doon ko pinakanaramdaman ang Pasko, ang pagdating ni Hesus sa buhay namin, na tiyak nakisalo rin sa aming champorado.

Dumaan ang mga taon, simple pa rin naman ang Pasko namin, nagsisimba sa Midnight Mass at sa mismong araw ng Pasko, minsan nagluluto para sa noche buena, minsan take out na lang sa fast food chain, ang mahalaga naman ay hindi ang handa bagkus si Hesus na nawa ay nasa puso natin, hindi lang kapag Pasko kundi araw araw sana.

Prayer

Hesus, Emanuel namin, nawa palagi Kang maghari sa aming buhay. Makita ka nawa namin sa bawat tao na aming nakakasalamuha. Maging daluyan din nawa kami ng biyaya sa Iyong sambayanan. Amen.

CoVid Takes, Jesus Saves!

Twenty-fourth Sunday in

Ordinary Time

12 September 2021 

 

First Reading: IS 50:5-9a

Responsorial Psalm: PS 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Second Reading: JAS 2:14-18

Gospel: MK 8:27-35

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo

 

Who do people say that I am? We have been hearing this question probably once a year in the Gospel, and each year we may have different responses. In this pandemic, I was just wondering who people say Jesus is.

For the past two months, I lost two uncles and two aunts. All three siblings of my mother and her sister in law. Only my aunt, mom's only sister died of complications due to CoVid-19. She fought severe CoVid for more than a month in the hospital. Her hospital bills went to 3.2 milion where none of us have millions in the bank. And she's the last among them who died. Our house was just next to her house. So when five of them tested positive for CoVid-19, we were also positive. Three in our household, both of my parents and I. We all recovered from CoVid-19 except her.

For the past three years, I was living away from my parents. I see them twice or thrice a month. I went back here to Bulacan from Laguna to attend my uncle's funeral who died of a liver problem. Little did I know that three more deaths would follow. When we were all symptomatic, I was really worried about my parents' lives. I would wake up in the middle of the night just to check if there were still breathing. I prayed not for my healing but theirs. I have mental health problems, so dying is something I would take pleasure from. Just the thought of ending life's miseries and hopefully being with our Creator is something I really look forward to. So I asked for God's mercy and healing for my parents' and one special night I asked Jesus to heal me because no one will take care of my parents if I go ahead of them. The anxiety, the fear, the loss CoVid-19 brings to a number of families is real. No one wants that. Nobody wants to spend their last days physically alone, around strangers. It's something you wouldn't want to wish for anyone, not even for your enemy.

Jesus remains to be my healer and savior. In Him, I find rest. Truly, as we read the Psalms this Sunday, He has freed my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk in the land of the living. Grief takes many aftershocks and having that number of deaths in the family in a matter of two months brings desolation, differences, and drought in Spirit. Maybe this is where Jesus' invitation comes in. To take up His cross and still follow Him.

But Jesus is God. Yes, He may share with us human experiences but definitely He is a way more stronger than we are. I can just recall how much He suffered on His way to the cross. Accepting that death in itself is a part of life makes coping a bit easier. When I see my aunt suffer in the hospital, procedure after procedure. She cannot talk. She cannot say where it hurts. We all surrendered to God's ways because we are hurting seeing her suffer, not being able to do anything to alleviate her pain. Believing in God's mercy and Jesus' promise of afterlife, makes letting go easier.

Jesus teaches us that if we want to save our lives, we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. What attachments do we hold dearly that hinders us from having a deep and loving relationship with Him? Are we obsessed with life that we take for granted to actually live? How do we respond to detachments and losses in life?

Listen to Jesus. What is He telling you today?

 

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, make my heart the same as Yours. Help me to value events, people, and things the way You do. Teach me to follow You especially when it entails making a personal sacrifice and discomfort for me. Give me grace to see You in all things, the courage to say yes and continue, and the strength to carry my cross. Amen.

 

Peace Be With You

Third Sunday of Easter

18 April 2021 

 

First Reading:  ACTS 3:13-15, 17-19

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

Second Reading:  1 JN 2:1-5a

Gospel:  LK 24:35-48

 

Reflection

By: Fely C. Santiago

 

"Why are you troubled?"

 

God knows what we really need this time of Easter. It's amazing how words in the scriptures capture our attention. Even the disciples were still frightened themselves. Imagine losing their Lord and Teacher to death. They could not grasped why it had to happen. They did not yet understand that Jesus has to suffer, die, and will rise again. And in the midst of their anxiety, confusion, and doubts, God greets them. He also greets us "Peace be with you." I often feel like God really knows just what I need to hear and when. I don't know about you, but I'm yearning for more peace during this Easter season.

In this season of CoVid-19 pandemic (sorry if I have been reflecting on the pandemic again) especially here in the Philippines where positive cases continue to rise, our hospitals are filled to the capacity, our health workers are just so exhausted, we just need the greetings of God "Peace be with you." We really can't help but be afraid especially we see people already close to us getting afflicted and suffering from CoVid-19. This is for real.

Today, we really do not understand why it is happening. But just like Jesus who said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."  Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And He said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead  on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness  of sins, would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

 

Our mission continues to share the good news of Christ no matter where we are, what we are experiencing right now. We must continue to spread the good news of God's love. That He is present in our suffering because He suffered Himself.

Let me share the lyrics of this beautiful song because there are also words from the Lord that He will be ever with us.

I Am Ever With You

Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ

Do not let your hearts be troubled

Do not stay afraid

It is really I whom you see

I offer you now my peace

I have waited for this moment

To be with you again

In my heart you'll remain

In your heart I'll stay

I am with you, till the end of your days

I am in you, have faith

That I hold you

Even when you let go

And I love you,

You must know. I am here. I am ever with you.

 

Do not let your hearts be troubled

Do not stay afraid

I'm beyond all anguish all death

I'm risen to life anew.

 

When you feel that you've been emptied

And can give no more

Know that I am your breath and I fill your soul.

I am with you, till the end of your days

I am in you, have faith

That I hold you

Even when you let go

And I love you.

You must know I am here. I am ever with you.

 

Prayer

 

Dear Jesus, many people are suffering, confused, afraid, worried, anxious right now,. Where are You Lord? Lord, we know that You are here with us in our suffering and pain. Please continue to strengthen us. Give us the grace of complete trust and confidence in You. Increase our hope that one day, all shall be well. All these I pray in the mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

 

 

Our Persecution and Jesus in our Homes

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

28 March 2021 

 

At the Procession of Palms - Gospel: MK 11:1-10

First Reading:  IS 50:4-7

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Second Reading:  PHIL 2:6-11

Gospel:  MK 15:1-39

 

Reflection

By: Emerson C. Maala

 

Holy Week observance is one of the solemnly celebrated Christian traditions observed by Filipino Catholics. It starts with the celebration of Jesus' entry into the City of Jerusalem which is popularly called Palm Sunday. Filipino Catholics bring some coconut fronds or "palaspas" and wave them as a sign of their faith acclaiming Jesus. However, due to the CoVid-19 pandemic, for two years now, Filipinos were and will not be able to wave their "palaspas"  in the Churches due to the restrictions by the government's community quarantine.

Jesus' glorious entry to the city of Jerusalem was the start that He was to suffer from passion and death. People acclaim Him as a messiah shouting "Hosanna!", which means "Save us!". On the contrary, this cry alarmed the Jewish High Priest of the danger that Jesus would create an uprising with the people. However, Jesus enters the City as a meek and humble person not creating violence but peace.

In our current situations, we may not be given the chance to celebrate in the Churches to acclaim Jesus with our "palaspas". But in this way, this may be a cross to accept. We may experience suffering given the restriction to celebrate in the Churches to acclaim Jesus. Nevertheless, it is our chance that maybe, we let Jesus enter our Homes just like how Jesus enters the City of Jerusalem by accepting every opportunity to give charity to the members of the family or the others. And in this way, that amid our suffering, we may experience the meek and humble heart of Jesus.

 

Prayer

 

Jesus, Thank You for entering into Jerusalem to bring salvation to us. May we always welcome You in our homes and in our hearts each day. We pray for courage to carry our cross passionately as we reflect in Your loving sacrifice forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

Invisible

Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday

19 April 2020

First reading                                                                        Acts 2:42-47
[The community of believers] devoted themselves to the apostles” teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Second reading                                                        1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith-being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel                                                                     John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection

By Grace B. Madriñan

“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” – John 20:29

We are still in extended community quarantine as I am writing this reflection.  I have no qualms of staying at home.  It is basically business as usual for me since our company allowed working from home.  Not much has changed, until I got sick with amoebiasis and acid reflux.  The sharp pain and round the clock medications kept me up all night while I cried for God’s mercy and compassion.  As I am on my way to recovery, I reflected on what the illness is teaching me. 

It taught me to be more compassionate and grateful.  I am only suffering stomachache; how much more painful can it be for COVID patients?  I am being treated at the comforts of my home, while those patients are generally alone.  There is still a lot of things to be grateful for. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus appeared to the apostles several times after His resurrection. But on the earlier appearances, Thomas was not there.  He refused to believe until he sees Jesus in the flesh. So, when Jesus finally met him, He made sure to show Thomas His hands and wounds on the side. That is only when Thomas believed. 

I think I am like Thomas in a way.  I knew what is happening outside, I knew the dangers, the suffering. But it only became more real when I suffered myself.  I remember the scare of having to go to Emergency Room for laboratory tests, the anxiety of waiting for the results. It took an invisible bacteria to make me believe I am at God’s mercy. 

On my path to recovery, I am more conscious of God’s providence from the moment I wake up until I rest in the evening.  As they say, tomorrow is never promised.  Every day is grace. 

Prayer

Father God, we believe. Help our unbelief. Be with us, Father as we continue to thrive in this fallen world. In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

The King is Among Us

Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe   26 November 2017

First reading

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17

Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will fed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats:

                

Second reading

1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.

Gospel

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Reflection

by Art B. Reyes

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ, the King of the universe. In today’s Gospel, it is told that the Son of Man will come at the end of time. The final judgment will come upon us, where the good will be rewarded and the bad will be punished. Our true identity will be exposed, stripped of our worldly possessions and obsessions.

The final judgment will be based on what we did or did not do for the Lord, and on the other hand is also based on what we did or did not do for the least of our brothers and sisters.  Let us pray that the Lord grant us wisdom to feel His presence in everyone, be rich or poor, powerful or weak. May the final judgment give us hope and not fear. May we rely not on our self understanding but on God’s mercy.

A king, as we know, is someone who is rich, lavish, and luxurious. But here is Jesus, the King of kings, who associates Himself with the leper, the sick, the lowest of the low, and the outcast. Here is the king who died in a violent death, like a criminal. And here is the king who taught us about taking care of homeless, unfortunate, thirsty, and hungry.

Jesus is King, but not the kind of king we might have imagined or expected. His kingship is hidden to some of us, but those who have faith are able to see and recognize Jesus as King. Why would a king choose to live in the hearts and souls of the poor, oppressed, and those who cry out in suffering? Because Jesus identifies Himself in them. Because He stands by their side. Our King is among the poor and the suffering.

Today's Gospel invites us to make our own judgment. May we, with eyes of faith, recognize that Jesus, the crucified One, is indeed the King and Savior of all.

Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ the King, reign supremely in my heart and in my life. Help us see and recognize You in the poorest among us. Help us to be Your voice speaking out love and acceptance. Help us to be Your feet walking beside those in need, to be Your ears to listen to their cries. Help us to be Your hands to clothe, feed and shelter them.

And when our time comes, may we welcome You not with fear, but with hope. Amen.

Life, Hope, Resurrection

First Reading: Ez 37:12-14

Thus says the Lord GOD:

O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Second Reading: Rom 8:8-11

Brothers and sisters:

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.

Verse Before the Gospel: Jn 11:25a, 26

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die.

Gospel: Jn 11:1-45

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him saying, "Master, the one you love is ill." then Jesus heard this he said, "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." He said this, and then told them, "Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him." So the disciples said to him, "Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved." But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, "Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him." So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go to die with him."

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day."

Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world."

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, "The teacher is here and is asking for you." As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Sir, come and see." And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him." But some of them said, "Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?" So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.

Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the dead man's sister, said to him, "Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me." And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

Reflection
By Carlo Alexis Malaluan

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

These are the consoling and comforting words of Jesus to Martha who was engulfed in grief and sadness upon the death of her brother, Lazarus. The Lord heard the cry of the bereaved, the Lord saw the pain in their eyes, the longing in their hearts, He had compassion for them.

The gospel today is the story of an encounter between the God of compassion and the human person in pain, between the author of Life and the victim of death. Martha asked for the help of the Lord and our Lord answered her call, deeply moved by the suffering of His friend. Jesus shared in her sorrow; he lifted up the heavy cross weighing on her shoulders.

We all have our moments of pain. Life has its twists and turns, ups and downs, bright spots and dark side. Whatever we do, whoever we are, we shall all stumble upon the cross. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has pictured a moving yet real scene of what pain is. “In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations, and his finitude”. The fragility of human life and the experience of our own weakness lead us to a full communion with God.

It is not easy to describe the feeling of pain and of sorrow, but we all know what it feels like. In sorrow we are in communion and God partakes in this human experience - the Divine shares in the experience of mere mortals.

This human experience of pain and suffering draws our attention to God. Like Martha, we are hopeless. We cry in anguish, in bitterness, in pessimism. Our vision of hope is obscure. We are fainthearted people. You yourself perhaps heave sighs of despair in the face of what appears an enormous tragedy in your life. But the gospel is a most powerful tool to restore our confidence in God amidst our hopelessness. Yes! Christ’s miracle of resurrecting Lazarus is a call for us to be happy and optimistic! Despite of the anguish, of desperation and of confusion ever present in the world today, we need to firm up our hope because Jesus stands by everyone who trusts in Him.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, hope is defined as the virtue that "responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man". And our hope is rooted in Christ! Why do we continue to hope? Because we are assured by Christ Himself. There is this constant voice that keeps on telling us not to fear but to be in His power. This is what keeps us moving forward. We are assured that in the face of pain and suffering, Christ is with us – carrying the cross, our burden, with us.

Suffering and pain are indeed inevitable parts of our human experience, but it is also true that the Lord of Life is with us – in Him, there is life! In Him, there is hope! In Him, there is resurrection!

Prayer


Lord Jesus, our life, our hope, and our resurrection, we praise and thank You for defeating sin and death. Strengthen us in our suffering and pain so that we too may proclaim Your compassion to "those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death". To You be glory and honor forever and ever. Amen