Restorer

    

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 June 2024

 

First Reading: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

Second Reading: 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15

Gospel: Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

During the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our parish church on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, there was a white cloth placed on the altar from the monstrance down to the steps of the sanctuary. Before bringing the Blessed Sacrament back into the tabernacle, the leader invited us to approach the altar and touch the cloth while gazing at the Blessed Sacrament. It was a powerful experience kneeling together with my family on the steps of the sanctuary. Touching the cloth “connected” us with our Eucharistic Lord. 

Such experience gave us a glimpse of what the woman in today’s Gospel experienced when she touched Jesus’ clothes. A healing experience! “If things created are so full of loveliness, how resplendent with beauty must be the One who made them”, St. Anthony of Padua once said. However, this state of loveliness became obscured “by the envy of the devil, death entered the world” (Ws 2:24). Sickness and death, then and now, show us the effect of sin. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 6:23). Restoring humanity to God’s image (Gn 1:27) cannot be done by any creature though. Only Jesus, who is both God and man, can do it. In fact, He has already achieved it.

“Dying, you destroyed our death. Rising, you restored our life”, goes an old version when we proclaim the mystery of our faith after Consecration. We can experience Jesus’ restorative action through the sacraments. As sinners, we need healing through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. Reconciled and healed, we need nourishment through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. St. John Bosco once said, “The devil is deadly afraid of fervent Communions and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.” How often have we received the sacraments? When was the last time we spent moments adoring our Lord in the tabernacle? Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are in a spiritual battle, which we can only win if Jesus is on our side. Remember, “Though he (Christ) was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we praise You for You have rescued us. Through our frequent reception of the sacraments, especially receiving Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion, and our devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, may we conquer the enemy so that we may share in Your glory. Amen.

Joyful Preparation

    

First Sunday of Lent

18 February 2024

 

First Reading: Gn 9:8-15

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: 1 Pt 3:18-22

Gospel: Mk 1:12-15

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

When Christmas is approaching, everyone gets excited counting down the days, playing Christmas songs, buying gifts, going to parties, preparing full blast for the occasion, exclaiming "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!"

But it is the exact opposite for the Lenten season. People tend to be quiet and could not wait any longer for the Holy Week to start so it will soon end.

Attending a Lenten formation this afternoon, I became more convinced that the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ which we commemorate during Holy Week is the heart of our liturgical year, the summit of our Catholic faith, the most joyful season because God gifted us the most precious present, our salvation.

Being aware of this joyful celebration that will happen on Easter Vigil, Rev. Fr. Genaro Diwa invited today's Lenten formation attendees to empty a big portion in their lives, ready for the huge gift from God.

The call to have a happy disposition this Lent is actually supported  by the Gospel Reading on Ash Wednesday saying that the Lord requests us to not look gloomy even when fasting, to not neglect our appearance just like what the hypocrites do. The three pillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving should be complied with a cheerful disposition looking forward to God's promise of salvation.

This Lent, surely, we have already decided on the sacrifices we wish to offer as a penance. But more importantly, may we be guided of St. Benedict's quote "Let each one deny himself some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing." Let us savor the Lenten journey to Easter.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the season of Lent, please accompany me in my 40-day preparation so that I may celebrate joyfully the Easter and Your Resurrection. This we ask in Your Name, Amen.

Jesus Cries

  

Fifth Sunday of Lent

26 March 2023

 

First Reading: Ez 37:12-14

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

Second Reading: Rom 8:8-11

Gospel: Jn 11:1-45

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

When was the last time you cry for the death of a loved one?

In 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, my two uncles, the brothers of my mother, have died, one after another, just two months apart, in June and August. I was so devastated that time to the point that I had to utter a prayer to the Lord begging Him to please stop and that it should be enough for that year. We were so tired emotionally and we couldn't help losing another loved one if ever. If I was so heartbroken that time, how much more my mother?

In today's Gospel, Jesus also wept at the death of his beloved friend, Lazarus. It is one of the three times He became vulnerable and cried as written in the Bible. In the continuation of the Gospel, we also heard Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead so the Jews would believe Him and the One who sent Him.

It is only three times that Jesus was recorded crying in the Bible, but I do believe that every time we sin, Jesus actually cry.

Years ago, I had a very raw conversation with a 6-year old girl while looking at the image of Jesus. She asked who is that, I told her Jesus Christ. She said, "Oh, Jesus Cry". I kept on correcting her it's Jesus Christ, but she also kept repeating Jesus Cry. Then it registered to me that the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ is rhymed with Jesus cries. I also came to realize that maybe Jesus cries when we continue to commit sin and disregard His overwhelming love for us.

Next Sunday, we will formally start the Holiest Week of the Year, we will commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that instead of going on a vacation on these declared regular Holidays, may we also give time going to Churches to participate in the church activities especially in the Easter Triduum, the heart of our faith. May this be a time for reflection and see the importance of Jesus' saving sacrifice for the world. May we realize that His Passion, Death, and Resurrection should always be enough for us to believe in Him.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for this Season of Lent. We pray that we are able to prepare ourselves for the greatest Solemnity, Your Resurrection. Help us to obey Your will and strive hard to avoid sin so as to prevent You from crying. We look forward to the day that we will see Your sweetest smile, face to face, in heaven. Amen.

Awful Things Before the End

   

  Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 November 2022 

 

First Reading: Mal 3:19-20a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:5-6, 7-8, 9

Second Reading: 2 Thes 3:7-12

Gospel: Lk 21:5-19

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

A short familiar story:

A friend is having a panic attack due to high levels of anxiety because of having a hoarse voice and a mild cough. She consulted a doctor and told her to get tested for covid-19. She asked her friend to go with her to the testing center because she’s very anxious. On their way to the center, her friend repeatedly and constantly told her, “Stop worrying. Think positive!”

Having a positive outlook in life is good. We see the beautiful things beyond the imperfections.  Oftentimes, it helps us to have a good perspective that the adversities in life are just temporary. But there are also times when positivity is misplaced. These are the times when we shallowly look at something especially if we only want to see the outside good but not the inside bad. For example, the White House and Capitol in the U.S.A. are structures with magnificent architecture and design. But considering that slaves helped built these may change how people look at such beautiful structures. Same thing when we think of the history of Manila Film Center and how the project was rushed by those on top who only wants to see the “good side”.

There are also times when we don’t want to think that something beautiful is just temporary. Maybe because we naturally don’t want beautiful things to end. We can’t even imagine how awful something can get before it perishes. For instance, people avoid talking about how they will be on their deathbed. It’s heartbreaking even thinking about what we want when that moment comes. Sometimes when we really think about it, we want to be assured of many things – that everything will not be so bad, and we even want to know some details on when and how things shall take place. We still hold on to that positive outlook more than preparing ourselves for the awful details.

Consider imagining this in prayer:

Today or yesterday, when you woke up, what were the things you did after you got out of bed? Did you go to your usual routine of having breakfast, preparing, and going to work immediately? Who did you speak to after waking up? What are the things did you talk about? Who did you meet and speak to when  you were at work or somewhere? What were the things did you share to him/her? What were the things he/she shared with you that somehow made you think deeply about? How do you feel about doing these things? You can write about your thoughts if you want.

Now, try to imagine yourself waking up in the morning, and you already know that this will be your last day on earth. How would your day go? Would you still do the things you usually do every day? Would you take the effort of seeing the people who matters most? Would you speak with them about the things you usually speak about? Would you tell them the things you were longing to tell them? How does these 

thoughts make you feel? You can dwell on your thoughts for a while and write about how you felt.

The first time I did this prayer, it made me weep. But I still wanted to make my end to be beautiful, to be grand, to be worthy of a last day of legacy by imagining doing what matters most. But it made me look past the awful things that can happen because I still wanted to be “in control” of my fate even before the end. I would imagine just focusing on waking up and knowing that I am going to depart at the end of the day but got loose on the details that it’s also possible that I might be battling a grave disease. How would I even go through my day and do the things that matters most if I cannot even get out of my bed? I realized that even before the end, I also tend to misplace positivity.

I would just dwell in my weeping and find myself losing hope if I was there when Jesus said, “Such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” I would even lose my mind hearing Him say, “Before all this happens, they will persecute you because of my Name.” Because I do not want to know about these things, I may not be able to hear His next words, “It will lead to your giving testimony.” I may not be able to understand that Jesus is telling us what to do when these things happen and that He will never leave us alone. He says that He himself shall give us wisdom that all our adversaries will be powerless. All these I may forget if I would only focus on the beautiful things in the end. I may also forget that Jesus is also saying, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” If I do not listen to the awful 

things which also have details of provision and assurance for me to stand firm. In the end of all things both awful and beautiful will happen, but we must always remember that Jesus will never abandon us before, during, and after the end.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, we thank You for being with us all the time even when we do not recognize nor acknowledge Your presence. We are heartily sorry for the times when we choose to only focus on what we want but forget to listen to Your words. May we be consoled through Your assurance that we will never go through our adversaries alone. We also pray for those who are going through sickness and pain, especially those who are dying. We pray that they may find consolation in Your words "not a hair in your head will be destroyed." We also ask the intercession of our dear Mother Mary, may she accompany and guide them as they go through the awful things before the end and eventually find peace in God's presence. In Jesus' Name, 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.

 

God's Plan

Fifth Sunday of Lent

21 March 2021 

 

First Reading:  JER 31:31-34

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15

Second Reading:  HEB 5:7-9

Gospel:  JN 12:20-33

 

Reflection

By: Emerson C. Maala

 

Once a year, my high school best friends were able to gather just to have a moment of friendship and talk about ourselves. It is just like a mini-reunion. Most of them are already professionals and have stable jobs. It was only I who was still studying because of my chosen vocation. We asked one another what was our plans and wishes after five years. In his sudden reaction, one of my best friends realized that he was turning 30 years old at that time. He said he wants to pause his age at 25 years old because he still wants to do many things and enjoy his life. Similarly, they asked me a question if I don't have any regrets that I was not able to enjoy my life outside. Excitedly, I answered them saying, "This might be God's plan for me and I love what I am doing and I enjoy things that I have right now.

 

In the Gospel, Jesus is aware that the hour has come. It is the time of His passion, death, and resurrection; the return to His Father and His glorification. However, Jesus was troubled. He knew that He will suffer from pain and anguish and He knew that this was the way. Instead of complaining, that the chalice of suffering passes Him by, Jesus prayed, "Father, glorify Your Name." And the Father's glory was manifested by Jesus in His loving disciples and all the people at the very end.

 

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that aside from our plans, there is God's plan. We might not be certain of the future or we might want to be still in our younger age or to pause our age so that we might be able to do things and enjoy our life. However, these were all just things that we want and not what God want for us. We might experience pain and suffering on our way, but Jesus would always be on our side, to fulfill God's plan for us. For what God wants for us will always be for our sake and a fruit of His love for us.

 

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to accept what Your Father planned for You. By this, we begged You to grant us the grace to have a humble heart so that we could also accept what God planned for us. Help us on our journey to fulfill Your Father's plan for us and always lead us on life. Amen.

 

 

 

Be Vigilant, Be Grateful

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

8 November 2020
First reading Wisdom 6:12-16

Resplendent and unfading is wisdom,

and she is readily perceived by those who love her,

and found by those who seek her.

She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire;

Whoever watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed,

for he shall find her sitting by his gate.

For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence,

and whoever for her sake keeps vigil

shall quickly be free from care;

because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her,

and graciously appears to them in the ways,

and meets them with all solicitude.

Second reading                                                          1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,

about those who have fallen asleep,

so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,

so too will God, through Jesus,

bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 

Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,

that we who are alive,

who are left until the coming of the Lord,

will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself, with a word of command,

with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,

will come down from heaven,

and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

Then we who are alive, who are left,

will be caught up together with them in the clouds

to meet the Lord in the air. 

Thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

Therefore, console one another with these words.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

"The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins

who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,

brought no oil with them,

but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 

Since the bridegroom was long delayed,

they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight, there was a cry,

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 

The foolish ones said to the wise,

‘Give us some of your oil,

for our lamps are going out.’

But the wise ones replied,

'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.

Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’

While they went off to buy it,

the bridegroom came

and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. 

Then the door was locked.

Afterwards the other virgins came and said,

‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’

But he said in reply,

‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Therefore, stay awake,

for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Reflection

By Art B. Reyes

In the United States, Thanksgiving is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, holidays being observed. It is an annual national holiday celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. 

As a tradition, the Filipinos living there take turns in hosting the Thanksgiving dinner for their friends and their families. There was a year when I was chosen to host the occasion for our big circle of friends. And because I love to cook, I prepared several dishes that they love. Several nights before the actual day, I listed down all the necessary items that I needed to buy and bought them the following day. And on the Thanksgiving day itself,  I finished preparing the meals well ahead of time so I would have some time to do some more house cleaning. Later on that day, when every guest was around, we excitedly started to partake the foods. There was one food missing though. The rice, I forgot to cook the rice!

On this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, teaching His disciples the importance of being prepared. Jesus talks about what it means to be prepared to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. He told His disciples to understand that the exact day and time cannot be predicted. He teaches the disciples that they must remain vigilant so that they will not be caught unprepared.

Sometimes in our life, no matter how prepared we thought we are, there is still something that is left out. No matter what we do, we can never really be prepared for surprises and eventualities. There are struggles that come our way unexpectedly, sometimes in the dark chapters of our life, when we are close to giving up. But this is where our faith comes in. Never give up! Let us do our part, to the best of our abilities! And whatever we can control, let us take care of it, and to God we leave the rest.

We all know that our “time” will eventually come. Everyone will one day face our Creator. Can we say that we are well prepared to meet Him? How do we best prepare for that time? A life well-lived! 

Let us live not only for ourselves but also for others! And let us not be driven by our ambitions alone but by godly missions. May we also prepare our hearts for the unexpected blessings that come our way! Our God is the greatest provider! His blessings are abundant and sometimes given by surprise! 

Let us be vigilant and forget not to be grateful!

Prayer

Lord, help me walk with You in holiness so that I will fulfill my destiny and the purpose of my existence. Give me the wisdom and the grace to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen.

Waiting for Salvation

Feast of All the Faithful Departed
02 November 2019

First reading                                                                  Isaiah 25:6-9
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day, ‘Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’

Gospel                                                                     Mark 15:33-39, 16:1-6

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day, the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

After sharing my reflection on God's glory last month, I had an interesting conversation with one of my colleagues in our Rosary group regarding what happens when we die. He asked me if the soul would go straight to heaven or will have a stopover in purgatory. I told him I don't know. We both agreed though that when the soul does go to purgatory, there is hope that that soul will someday go to heaven. Unfortunately, if the soul goes to hell there is no chance for it to go to heaven. Which is why we need to pray for those in purgatory so that they will soon be enjoying the presence of God. 

November is a time to remember all those who have died. There are those who made us laugh, feel loved, and inspired us. I am sure they will be on top of our list of people to pray for. However, there are those who may have hurt us, those we did not get along with, and those who rejected our love. Inspired by Jesus' forgiveness, let us also pray for them. This can oftentimes be difficult, but let's place them in the hands of God who knows what is best for us. Finally, there are those we do not know at all who may have no one to pray for them. Out of Christian charity, let's remember them too.

This month is also a time to think of our own death. Going back to the conversation I had with my colleague, I encouraged him to keep on praying for ourselves, particularly when our time is up because the Devil is doing everything it can, even in our last moment, to snatch us from God.  If he did that to Jesus (who turned him away at every instant, in the desert, in the Garden of Gethsemane, in Calvary), he will do the same thing with us who follow Christ.

Jesus passed on from death to new life. Like the people in this First Reading today, let us look forward, be glad, and rejoice in the Lord's salvation!

Prayer

Loving Father, You sent Your Son Jesus to save us from sin and death. Raise to new life all the faithful departed. Through the same Christ our Lord. 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