Pointless Obedience

    

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

01 September 2024

 

First Reading: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5

Second Reading: Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27

Gospel: Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

A well-off man organized an outreach event on a weekend with his friends to help the people in the slum area of the city. During the outreach, an elder woman asked the organizer why he is doing it. The man answered, “It is what our private association has been doing every year. We give donations to the poor because we have been blessed with more than we deserve.” The woman asks the man again about his own reason why he does it aside from the association’s yearly event. The man arrogantly answered, “Why do you question the one who is helping you? Can you just accept what we are giving? Maybe that is why you poor can never be successful in life. You always complain even if it is for your own good!”

A young lady is having her driving exam along with her friend. The instructor then asked a question to test her, “Two people are crossing the street. One is walking slow because he is old. The other is a young kid who is running ahead. What do you hit first?” The young lady smiled and winked at her friend to assure her of a correct answer. She then confidently said to the instructor, “Well, the old person already had a long life, but the kid still has a long life ahead. So, I would hit the old one.” The instructor and her friend could not believe what she said. When the instructor walked away shaking her head, her friend said, “That’s not and will never be the right answer! You should have answered ‘you hit the brakes!’ Why would you even think of hitting a person?” The young lady replied, “Shimenet (She may not) like the content of my answer, but I am answering.”

There are many times when we are too confident, and even proud, that we are not doing anything wrong. We oftentimes think that we are above others who do not follow rules. How many of us have been devoted to offering tithes and services in our community thinking that we are doing more than enough to help the ministries? How many of us feel proud joining an outreach for the poor on a Sunday, only to loathe the commuters who are waiting for a bus on a busy highway because they are blocking the driving lane where we are in? Are we even aware of how we “obey” the rules thinking that we are doing good, but forget how we should build our relationship with God?

Jesus rebuked the people who are so rooted in tradition but are not mindful of how God wants His people to obey His commandments in a loving way. We may eat a meal after carefully washing our hands, but if we waste food or even indulge more than we need to, we are missing the point of valuing food as grace. When we donate hard earned money to the church but despise the poor for not paying taxes, we fail to realize the true meaning of giving. Even if I go to mass every day, or receive the sacrament of reconciliation frequently, if I keep on looking down on people who does not follow rules or laws, this may hinder me in building a better relationship with God.

Everything that is good came from God. Saint Paul said that every perfect gift is from the Father, who planted the word of truth in us. He wants to be doers of the word, not just hearers. This is where we need to be aware of our freedom to choose what is good and loving. Jesus said, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” We are all created by God to be good and loving. It is what we do that makes us good or not. If I see injustice in our society but not speak against it, I am choosing to be unjust and letting the goodness that God planted on me decrease. As we become aware of the good nature within us, may we be reminded how Jesus leads us to have a better relationship with God, for us to understand more and obey His commandments in a loving way.

Prayer

Loving Father, we come to You in our unclean state to ask for Your mercy and compassion. Grant us the grace of awareness of the good in us so that we may choose more of the loving way that Jesus taught us. Help us to find Jesus in every person that we meet and let them guide us in building a better relationship with ou. This we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN.

Ascension Sunday

Solemnity of the Ascension of

Our Lord Jesus Christ

16 May 2021 

 

First Reading:  ACTS 1:1-11

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading:  EPH 1:17-23

Gospel:  MK 16:15-20

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

"Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved..." "These signs will accompany those who believe: they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Today is the Ascension Sunday. The Second Glorious Mystery in the Holy Rosary. The commemoration of the lifting up of our Lord Jesus Christ, Body and Soul into heaven.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus is giving His disciples instructions "habilin"  to spread the gospel of LOVE to all "creatures", and to "baptize" those who believe. Again with a promise for those who will drive out demons, speak new languages... and heal the sick.

The Lord is telling  us that believing in Him means not just in words and prayers but in ACTIONS. True believers are known to DO what He has done. We are being commissioned as true believers to proclaim the Gospel of love to everyone, and every creature.

The disciples heeded the command of Jesus to "go into the world" as evidenced by the fact that the word of God spread out to the entire globe. They had faced so much trials and difficulties but they persisted. In fact all of them had been martyred (except John) for proclaiming that Jesus is God!

The task is not yet completed. There are still a lot of non-believers. Thus, as believers, we in turn are called to continue to spread the good news through words and actions in our own family, in our workplace, our community, in our own country, and the whole world!

Can it be done? With technology that we have, it definitely is possible. Bro. Bo, The Feast, Magis Deo Community, Joel Osteen, Brian Houston are just a few of personalities and communities that use the internet space to spread the good news. The Catholic Church up to Pope Francis maximize the use of the internet to bring the good news out to the whole world. In my own small way, I also do my best to proclaim the Kingdom of God by posting His Word in my Facebook account.

But I believe it is just half of what the Lord commissioned us to do. I believe God wants us to move to action. We must spread LOVE in our actions. As Jesus said, there must be accompanying signs of our belief. And with the pandemic that remained unchecked, the call to "heal the sick" to you and I as believers is an urgent call. May you and I act in whatever way possible to help those who are sick and dying.

 

Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for our continuing good health of mind, body, and spirit in the midst of this pandemic. Continue to empower us with your Holy Spirit that we may all continue to proclaim and spread Your LOVE through our words and actions to all the people we can reach out to. In Jesus' Name, we pray. AMEN.

 

 

 

Empathy in Action

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

14 February 2021 

 

First Reading:  LV 13:1-2, 44-46

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 32:1-2, 5, 11

Second Reading:  1 COR 10:31—11:1

Gospel:  MK 1:40-45

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

 

"Moved with pity." In stories of Jesus' healing, most of what we hear is how Jesus can restore people to pristine condition even with the people doing things little in appearance but are actually great displays of faith. Not much attention is given to the feeling that made Jesus deem it necessary to heal. And also this is where we focus on today: "pity."

The "pity" we examine here is not that which is synonymous with "patronization" or "condescension." For the pity of Christian quality is not that which is infested with an "I am better than thou"  mentality, but one which understands, communes with, and bears affection for another who is suffering. The closest pity to the Christian character is that we call empathy: the ability to put oneself in another's shoes.

 

The pity most commendable is that which moves us to positive action. We can see someone suffering and we can look wistfully  at them and say: "I pity", but unless and until there is  action to better other's experience, pity stays as it is: a feeling...a feeling that is soon to stagnate when left on its own.

 

The direction pity takes us is another to consider. Towards which action—positive or negative this pity moves us, we should be wary of, for we can think that we are only "looking out for another", but in our haste and disregard for the other's pace and feelings, little do we know, we could be spreading salt on the wounds he or she has long been struggling with.

It is not enough to pity. To pity is static if it ends in itself but bears good if it directs us towards positive action. Further, even if we may be "well-meaning" to another, we must be caring of his or her situation and disposition. We must think about how he or she is feeling, and how fast or slow, how accepting or resistant he or she is about the actions we recommend to him or her out of pity, for to deal with another in disregard can be dehumanizing, undignified,  and unchristian. Such disregard can lead to falling outs that can happen even in the mundanity of the dinner's table.

The pity, or should we say empathy we should espouse is that of Jesus, who looks lovingly at His sheep and in His wistfulness at their predicament, is moved to healing. Our healing, while not miraculous, may come even in simple words, in humble but steady and warm company, as long as we have and nurture the love Jesus had for others and set it ever ablaze within ourselves.

Lastly, as we talk about pity, another important point must be made. We commonly extend pity to those who have less, but do we realize that we should be extending the same loving pity towards those who give us so many and so much but go without being thanked? Our Gospel for today is that of a leper being healed, and in another story, as we recall, God healed another ten, but only one came back to offer his thanks. May we ever be grateful for the kindness God extends us. If we only knew how many and much He gave and still continues to give, the number of our days would never be commensurate avenues for thanksgiving. So it is our words, as limited as they are, in which we can thank the Lord, but more so, in our deeds the—kindness we "pay forward" to others.

Prayer

 

Jesus, as we adopt in our lives the kind of pity You were inspired by, may we be moved to positive action and so better others' lives, not to be content doing nothing with their plight.

May our pity bring healing to others and not damage them through condescension. May we empathize with them and love them so we turn into You and show Your loving face to alleviate them of their suffering.

In the same vein, in Your righteous and loving pity towards us, may Your miraculous healings to us and others develop in us the natural proclivity and ultimately the will to  thank You back as did the one leper You healed and went back to You to give his thanks, and to extend to others the same kindness You graced us with.

All these in Your most holy Name, o Jesus, Amen.

 

 

 

Reality Bites

First Reading: GN 12:1-4A

The LORD said to Abram:  "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.

"I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."

Abram went as the LORD directed him.

Responsorial Psalm: PS 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

Second Reading: 2 TM 1:8B-10

Beloved:

Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest  through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Verse Before The Gospel: CF. MT 17:5

From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, hear him.

Gospel: MT 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun  and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.

"Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,  then from the cloud came a voice that said,  "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes,  they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone  until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Reflection 
By Grace B. Madrinan

"Lord, it is good that we are here.  If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."  - Mark 17:4  

I can understand Peter’s excitement.  Imagine seeing all your mentors right before your eyes. He may be awestruck, dumbfounded, overwhelmed by the glorious sight in front of him.  Peter, James, and John had a glimpse of the promised paradise and they wanted to stay there, if possible, forever.

But it is not Jesus’ plan. He was not there to go on vacation and “socialize” with the disciples.  He was sent for a greater mission.

I myself had some shares of transfiguration-like moments while attending the Feast (a non-traditional Catholic prayer meeting of the Light of Jesus community).  I have been an attendee for several years and I was satisfied. I came in weary and I come out of the session renewed. That was the cycle every week until I decided to serve as part of the ministry.

Being part of the ministry was fulfilling. You get to see the behind-the-scenes, how everything is visualized from ground up. You get to see first how God is at work in the lives of our attendees. I knew my routine and it was great…until they assigned me as the ministry head.

And the reality of the service hits me. I was not new to serving in the community since I have been a part of the Parish choir for more than 10 years. Being a servant is one thing, but leading a dynamic ministry is something else. You have to deal with erring members and contain your frustrations over plans that did not come to fruition. Service is hard work, and the struggle is real.

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." – Mark 17:5

Like the disciples in today’s Gospel, I have to be reminded of my purpose, and that is to listen and abide to the very Reason for my service. That I did not just come to the Feast to enjoy the moment and be drowned in the Holy Spirit. I have to put back the passion into an active service. And though the road may not be as rosy as I expected, I hope that the image of Christ on the cross would give me the strength to carry on.

Prayer

Father, we are often drawn to the beauty of worship that we tend to cling to the moment. May we be filled by the Holy Spirit and move into action to serve the purpose You have set before us.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.