Surrender Your Control to Jesus' Will

Twenty-fifth Sunday in

Ordinary Time

19 September 2021 

 

First Reading: WIS 2:12, 17-20

Responsorial Psalm: PS 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8

Second Reading: JAS 3:16-4:3

Gospel: MK 9:30-37

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo

 

Imagine that you are one with the disciples following Jesus and you hear from Him how He would suffer yet you see calmness as he laid out all the negative things that will happen to Him in this journey, wouldn't we be exactly like the disciples questioning a lot of things? In your heart, there's a belief that you are actually following a man who performed wondrous miracles. Will you express your doubts? I felt the hesitations from these disciples in controlling themselves to ask questions to Jesus. They cannot understand why the Son of God, all powerful that He is, would accept suffering and even death on the cross.

Maybe just like the disciples, we also fail to really listen to Jesus. We only focus ourselves on suffering and death where in fact He also speaks about His resurrection. Sometimes we think that asking questions would make us stupid and uninformed. We are too proud of ourselves to acknowledge vulnerability. We seek answers but are reluctant to do things that will give clarity to our confusion by simply asking a question.

The good news we have today is that in many moments of our lives, we are like the child Jesus carried. Most of the time, we do not understand or do not know many things happening around us. Jesus holding a child, the ultimate symbol of not knowing, not understanding, immature and underdeveloped but one who would completely trust and believe his caregiver. And that I think is the invitation, no matter how big or small our questions in this life. It is only in the eyes of a child that we see wonder. It is only through wonder that we can feel the glory and greatness of the Father. We need not to fear because we are in the presence of our Savior. A quote would say, "perfect love casts out all fear."

Forget our selfish ego. Forget pride. Forget being in control. Arise each day. If some things in your life are difficult, just breathe. Breathe in the Holy Spirit's air that someone is taking care of you. Be aware of the many you can be thankful for in the day, but ultimately leave it to God to make it happen. This spiritual struggle of being in control and letting go is a tug-of-war with our own ego. All our stories are coming true, and that for me is the Good News. I once told my mentees, do not get distracted by focusing on getting it right all the time. Step back, come back and continue your journey, your story. Be humble. Allow Jesus to come into our lives. Continue self-emptying, by giving to others, so later on, God can fill us up with His glory and power. Are you ready to humble yourself and serve as Jesus did?

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, by Your cross You have revealed Your glory and triumph over the sin and death. May I never fail to see Your glory and victory in the cross. Help me to lessen my need for control and surrender my life to Your will so I can follow in Your way of holiness. Amen.

 

Dehins Pwedeng Paghiwalayin!

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

07 October 2018

First reading                                                                  Genesis 2:18-24
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner.
So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.”
Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Second reading                                                     Hebrews 2:9-11

We see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

Gospel                                                                     Mark 10:2-12

Some Pharisees came to Jesus, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery too.”

Reflection

By Nats Vibiesca

Sinimulan ang Ebanghelyo sa kayabangan ng mga Pariseo, gusto kasi nilang masilo si Jesus, pero sila ang napahiya, kaya’ t sa dulo ng Magandang Balita ay palalapitin ni Jesus ang mga bata na pinipigilan sana ng mga alagad Niya na makalapit. Malinaw na ang kababaan ng loob ang  paraan upang makalapit tayo sa Diyos tulad ng natural na taglay na kababaang loob ng mga bata; taliwas ito sa gustong patunayan ng mga Pariseo na pagmamataas sa kanilang sarili.

Kapag nilapitan ka nga ng mga bata at nakinig sa kanilang “wisdom", napapahiya tayong mga matatanda. Ang inosente at malinis na konsiyensiyang sangkap ng kababaan ng loob ng mga  bata ang naglalantad ng katigasan ng ulo at kahambugan nating  mga matatanda.

Ang pinag-uusapang diskurso ukol sa kayabangan ng mga Pariseo ay ang bitag nilang paghihiwalay ng mag-asawa ayon sa batas o ang pagkakalooban ng diborsiyo ng mag-asawa. Diretso  naman ang sagot ni Jesus, walang paliguy-ligoy, madaling unawain, kaya’t sila ang lumabas na kahiyahiya; kung batang millenials pa nga ang nagsabi sa kanila sa panahon natin at wika  nila ang gagamitin ay parang ganito: “Nakaka-stress kayo, ha! Pinagsama na nga ang dalawa, hindi na two, beh! One na sila. Gets?  Di pa rin? Slow, ha! Dehins pwedeng paghiwalayin ang petmalung mag-asawa, dahil ang loding Diyos na natin ang gumawa na pagsamahin sila.”

Baka lalong mawindang ang mga Pariseo kung mga batang  millenials mismo ang nagsabi sa kanila. Pero sa totoo lang, maraming batas na nga ang pinatutupad sa iba’t ibang bansa na  pinahihintulutan ang diborsiyo. Kaya’t kaliwa’t kanan ang banat sa Simbahan ngayon dahil mahigpit na tinututulan ito alinsunod  sa Ebanghelyo. Maging sa Pilipinas ay may mga gusto na ring isulong ang diborsiyo. Pero bago pa man ang isyu sa diborsyo, maraming sitwasyon na ang madalas na sumisilo ng relasyon ng mag-asawa upang paghiwalayin sila at tuluyang wasakin ang kanilang pamilya.

Minsan, pinagawa ko ng creative non-fiction ang mga estudiyante ko, malikhaing pagkukuwento ito tungkol sa totoong sarili nilang karanasan kaugnay sa mga isyu sa kanilang  pamilya. Nadurog talaga ang puso ko nang mabasa ang mga  karanasan nila ukol sa paghihirap ng kanilang mga magulang  maisalba lamang ang kanilang pagsasama at manatiling buo ang  pamilya. Tulad ng isang estudiyante kong umiyak pa sa harap ko  dahil hindi na raw niya malaman kung ano pang gagawin sa nagkahiwalay na mga magulang niya.  Nagtatago raw sa probinsiya ang tatay niya dahil itotokhang na raw sa Maynila at hindi nila malaman kung saan na napunta. Ang isa nama’y ginugupo ng sakit na kanser ang ina habang nasa ibang bansa ang kanyang ama dahil naghahanapbuhay bilang OFW.  Nagkahiwalay na nga’t lahat dahil sa paghahanap ng  magandang ikabubuhay pero hindi pa rin pala sapat ang kinikita para lamang madugtungan ang buhay ng kanyang ina. Sa loob-loob ko’y kung fiction lamang sana ang lahat ng kanilang kuwento’y kaydaling masosolusyunan ang mga paghihiwalay ng mga mag-asawa. Sa fiction, ay kaya kong baguhin ang lahat ng kontradiksiyon sa buhay ng mag-asawa. Mapapaganda ko ang  takbo ng kuwento ng kanilang pamilya. Laging happy ending.Sana. Sana’y fiction na nga lang. 

Pero sa totoong buhay, samu’t sari na nga ang dahilan ng hiwalayan ng mga mag-asawa kahit labag sa kalooban nila ito o dala lamang ng mga sitwasyon na hindi rin nila ginusto.  Ano  nga naman ang laban ng mag-asawa kung mananatiling  magkasamang pisikal ngunit wala namang makitang magandang oportunidad para maitaguyod nang marangal ang pamilya? Makikipagsapalaran na nga lang sa ibayong dagat at pipiliting  kahit magkalayo’y magkalapit pa rin ang puso. Subali’t hindi lahat ay pinapalad at nauuwi nga sa wala o masaklap natuluyang paghihiwalay ng mag-asawa at pagkakawatak ng pamilya. Malaon na nga itong suliranin pero wala pa ring malinaw na kasagutan o kongkretong kilos ng pagbabago maging sa pamahalaan man o sa ating mga kababayan na nakaaangat na sa buhay.  Kaya’t siguradong papalalain pa ito ng mga panukalang batas na nagpapahintulot ng diborsiyo at sa dulo ay mauuwi sa pagkasira ng pamilya. 

Muli, balikan natin ang malinaw na solusyon ni Jesus sa lahat ng ito: hindi dapat paghiwalayin ng sinumang tao ang pinag-isa ng  Diyos; magpakumbaba tayong lumapit sa Kanya, tulad ng mga bata, ilatag natin sa Kanya ang matagal na nating pinoproblema sa pamilya, buong pagpapakumbabang idulog natin ang mga  pasanin natin sa buhay mag-asawa, at hayaan nating ang Diyos ang magpuno ng anumang kakulangan sa pamamalakad natin sa  ating pamilya. 

Prayer

Panginoong Ama sa langit, hiling namin ay manahan Ka sa aming pamilya. Patuloy Mo kaming bugkusin sa Iyong pagmamahal, pagpapakumbaba, pang-unawa, pagpapatawad, pagmamalasakit, at grasya. Sa ngalan ni Jesus. Amen.

Strong in Humility

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;

and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

First Reading: 1 Wisdom 2:12, 17-20

The wicked say:

Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our  doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.

 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8

Second Reading:  2 Jamns 3:16—4:3

Beloved:

Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?  Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?  You covet but do not possess.  You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war.  You do not possess because you do not ask.  You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Gospel:  Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.  He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”  But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”  But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.  Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”  Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Reflection
by Art Reyes

In today's Gospel, Jesus talks and predicts about His passion, death, and resurrection to His disciples. Jesus also asked His disciples a question that they have difficulty answering. Maybe because to their shame, they were discussing who the greatest is among themselves. To the surprise of everyone, Jesus calls forward a child and teaches the Twelve that to receive a child in Jesus' name is to receive Jesus and the One who sent Him.

  

"If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." This is a very striking message because it talks about power and humility. How could be the last be the first? And how could a child innocent, playful and all be the key to receiving our Lord? The Word of God is very profound, isn't it? It is mysterious and yet the message is simple if we only open our hearts.

  

I have a friend who is an avid hiker who told me that it is harder to go down than go up the hill. I was surprised by that statement and did not believe him so I tried it myself and was proven wrong. It is indeed more difficult to go down than to hike up. So too in life, I realized when reading the Gospel as it talks about humility. How easy is it to go up and become proud and arrogant, and how difficult it is to become humble?

Maybe some of us who have amassed wealth and power through our hard work and determination, have a tendency to become proud. I think there is nothing wrong with feeling deep pleasure over our own achievements as it is normal to human. However, when we rely on our own success and resources instead of relying on God’s grace, we become arrogant, shallow, and uncaring. It is believed that pride is the evil's greatest instrument for our perdition so he makes use of it. The evil utilizes it so effectively that we do not realize that we are already into it. It does not happen overnight, it slowly eats the goodness in our heart.

Humility is not a giving up, but rather, a giving in. We do not give up our achievements to be humble but we can humble ourselves to the Lord by sharing our talents and resources to the least of our brothers. Humility is the truest form of honesty because it sees our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and it allows God to transform our weaknesses into strengths. 

We are nothing, God is everything. But, in our nothingness, God gives us everything.

Prayer

Jesus, grant us the virtue of true humility that we may never by our pride offend You, but rather by our meekness receive the riches of Your grace. Show us how to be humble of heart. Amen.