Radical Love: A Freedom to Man's pride.

   

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 

23 February 2025

 

First Reading: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians, 15:45-49

Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

 

Reflection

By: Bro. Emerson C. Maala

 

Love your enemies. This is the fundamental command of Jesus in today's Gospel. This sounds beautiful and good but when we face real-life situations of betrayal, insult, or injustice, our hearts often resist. Forgiveness is difficult because of our ego. When someone wrongs us, our pride is hurt. We feel disrespected, taken for granted, or even humiliated. Some of us would have said, “I will never forget what they did to me.” Or “I will forgive, but I won’t talk to them anymore.” Some even say, “I’ll forgive… if they apologize first.”  However, all these things make us bitter, restless, and heavy inside. It imprisons our hearts that makes us numb and empty. 

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us to free ourselves from the imprisonment of hatred through Mercy and Love. It is a radical movement within us when our empty heart were filled with the Mercy and Love of God. The word for love used here is agapē, meaning unconditional love. This isn’t about emotions; it’s a decision to will the good of the other person. 

It is God who loves us first. Even in our sinfulness, God forgives us. He forgives us even when we don’t deserve it. He asks us to do the same. And if we hold on to grudges, we close ourselves off from God’s grace. But if we give mercy, we receive mercy.

God’s mercy is not just an idea—it’s an invitation to freedom. The more we let go of resentment, the lighter our hearts become. Jesus does not ask us to forgive because it’s easy. He asks us because it is the path to true peace. 

And so, let us ask ourselves: Are we holding onto grudges? Are we still carrying past hurts? May we have the courage to let go, to trust in God’s justice, and to love as Christ loves. Amen.

Prayer

God our loving Father,

You gave us knowledge and wisdom

To know the truth.

Grant us the grace of Mercy and Love

For us to love each other even those who have wronged us

That we may also become an instrument of your love and mercy to others.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Do You Hear His Call?

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Jan 26
First reading Isaiah 8:23-9:3

In days past the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the Sea on the far side of Jordan, province of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness

has seen a great light;

on those who live in a land of deep shadow

a light has shone.

You have made their gladness greater,

you have made their joy increase;

they rejoice in your presence

as men rejoice at harvest time,

as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him,

the bar across his shoulders,

the rod of his oppressor –

these you break as on the day of Midian.

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 26:1,4,13-14
Second reading                                                          1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17

I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice. From what Chloe’s people have been telling me, my dear brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. What I mean are all these slogans that you have, like: ‘I am for Paul’, ‘I am for Apollos’, ‘I am for Cephas’, ‘I am for Christ.’ Has Christ been parcelled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul?

  For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.

Gospel                                                                         Matthew 4:12-23

Hearing that John had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!

Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,

Galilee of the nations!

The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light;

on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death

a light has dawned.’

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

  As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

  He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.

Reflection by Grace Madrinan

Since we moved to a new home last year, I have not found a new community to share my faith. Slowly, it felt like the fire within me starts to waver. I did not want to rush into joining a new one just for the sake of having one. This year I decided to start attending Makati Feast, which is one of the “branches” of the overall Kerygma Feast, a festive Catholic prayer meeting of the Light of Jesus Community.

On the night that I planned to attend the Makati Feast for the first time, something came up. No, there were no urgent meetings or overtime work of sort. I just got lazy. So at 6pm, I decided to go home early instead. But when I arrived at the van terminal, the queue was unusually long.  As if reminding me of my original plan, my phone alarmed. I remember setting up my calendar “in case I forgot”. It was 7pm and yet the line has not moved.  I took it as a sign and proceeded to the Makati Feast. And everything that follows after are not coincidental, but more of God’s plan in action. To date, three of my friends have already joined me in attending the Feast and another three will be joining me next week. All it takes was just following His call and the rest just falls into place.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus called 4 fishermen from the sea. From how the Gospel was written, Jesus did not elaborate what “fishers of men” clearly means, yet Simon, Andrew, James and John heeded His call and followed Him. We should do the same. When we hear or feel God is calling us to do something for His ministry, we should heed it immediately. And be amazed on how God works wonders in our lives and the lives around us.

Prayer

God our Father, often we run away, delay to heed Your call. May our love and desire to follow You persevere instead, so that we can inspire more people to follow You. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Listen

Second Sunday of Lent20 March 2011
Come, today, and listen to his voice: do not harden your hearts.

First reading Genesis 12:1-4
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.
‘I will bless those who bless you:
I will curse those who slight you.
All the tribes of the earth
shall bless themselves by you.’
So Abram went as the Lord told him.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 32:4-5,18-20,22

Second reading 2 Timothy 1:8-10
With me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy – not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace. This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News.

Gospel Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’

Reflection
By Pam Manzano

“Listen to the song here in my heart, a melody I’ve start and I will complete...” This is how the popular song, Listen, goes like. How well do we really listen?

Listening is a part of our intrapersonal communication skills. If we do not know how to listen, chances are, we will have difficulty in communicating with the people around us. Reality wise, people only listen to the things they want to hear. They almost always prefer to selectively listen than to actively listen and understand. When we only hear what seems appealing to us, we are losing the chance to know the whole story and the truth, thereby resulting to miscommunication and misunderstanding, which then further results to gaps, quarrels and sometimes, an end to what used to be a harmonious relationship.

Listening is twice as hard as talking. We have a drawer full of alibis whenever asked why we did not listen or failed to prove that we did. If everyone only knew how to listen well and effectively, this world would be a better place.

Through today’s Gospel, God reminds us to listen. In these times wherein chaos is just around the corner, responding to God’s reminder is an effective tool in combating violence and all the other things that resulted from simple miscommunication and misunderstanding.

God is calling us to be the salt and light of the world. He is calling every one of us to do great things in His name. Are we hearing His voice or are we spiritually deaf that we cannot hear even the slightest whisper from Him? Pray. Read. Devote. These are the best ways we can start communicating with God. If we can stand long hours listening and communicating with others, there is no way for us to say that we have no time to talk with and listen to the Greatest Friend we all have.

Remember, communication is a two-way road. It is not all about the talking and expressing how you feel. Most of the time, listening effectively does the job and puts us back in the right track. An effective communicator talks less and listens more.

Father, teach us how to listen to You with all our hearts. Help us spread Your love and mercy by keeping our ears open for Your word, our hearts burning with compassion and our minds seeking to understand. In Jesus' name, Amen.


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