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.

Disturbance in our Hearts; Authentic Desire

Third Sunday of Lent

07 March 2021 

 

First Reading:  EX 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Second Reading:  1 COR 1:22-25

Gospel:  JN 2:13-25

 

Reflection

By: Emerson C. Maala

 

While we were having breakfast, our Spiritual Director took our attention to remind us of too many left-over foods. He made us realize the lavish lifestyle of some of our brothers. He explained to us about the expenses and instead of that we were saving, we were wasting the generosity of the people and the grace of God being poured upon us. Then he left us a question, "Is that your authentic desire?" The question resonated in my ears. I was disturbed by what our community has done about these things. We talked about it for us to come up with resolutions so that we would be able to save and use all our resources properly.

How would I become an effective pastor if my heart has inauthentic desires? If I was just thinking about myself and not the others? How would I be able to do service if I was selfish? With that disturbance, I was able to go back to my orientation. I realized  that this was not my authentic desire. It only gives me temporary joy.

In the Gospel, Jesus shows Himself in a strong prospect. Grudgingly, He drove away all the people making. His Father's temple like a market. Jesus knew the corrupt desire of each one present there, even the temple authority who only thinks for themselves. What Jesus show was not just cleansing but a replacement. He replaced the rotten hearts of the people full of inauthentic desires with a heart full of authenticity. "Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up."

In this time of Lent, Jesus reminded us about our authentic desire. Authentic means lasting that can bring us and lead us closer to Him. For us to see our authentic desire, sometimes we need a disturbance in our hearts so that we might purify our motivations to reveal what our desire authentically. For it is only through authentic desires that will bring us closer to God and with a pure heart to see Him.

 

Prayer

 

God our Father, make us see what our authentic desires is, that gives us permanent joy. Help us to desire what is pleasing to you and not what is pleasing for ourselves, in order for us to serve You and others. We ask this through Your Son Jesus Christ, who lives in our hearts forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

Single-Heartedness

Solemnity Of St. Joseph: Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
19 March 2010



Let us praise Christ the Lord on the solemnity of Saint Joseph.

First reading 2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16
The word of the Lord came to Nathan:
‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: “When your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 88:2-5,27,29

Second reading Romans 4:13,16-18,22
The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.

Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’

Gospel Matthew 1:16,18-21,24
Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.


Reflection
By Fely Santiago

“When Joseph awoke he did as the angel of the Lord had directed him”

The way Jesus did the will of the Father; He must have gotten it from St Joseph, too.

In today’s Gospel we saw how Joseph was entirely dedicated to the will of God even when it was an absolute contradiction to everything he knew and believed. He was single-hearted in following God’s will. That’s purity of heart, the simplicity of his heart.

Today we are given opportunity to focus on St Joseph and appreciate the role he played as the foster father of Jesus. Joseph was a very humble man and was content to play a supporting role. Very far from what most people want today – power, honor and authority. We don’t read much about him in the Bible. But how he molded Jesus in the last 30 years prior to His ministry is a reflection of how good a man and father St Joseph is.

In our world today with all its challenges, trials and sufferings we often experience dark moments, confusion, misunderstanding. It will be easy to get caught in self-pity and focus too much on ourselves trying to rationalize everything. We are full of fear and doubts because we want to be in control.

May we learn to be like St Joseph who walked in faith and have confidence in God above all else. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him have no fear. He did as the Lord directed him to do. So let us be single-hearted and pure in heart – “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” In faith St Joseph saw God on the face of Jesus Christ and in their family life.

Let us spend more time in prayer during this season of Lent and do what the Lord directs us to do. Have no FEAR. Trust HIM today!

Dear Lord, give me the purity of heart of St Joseph. Amidst all the challenges, confusion and sufferings in this life, help me to be single-hearted in seeking and following Your will in my life. Take control Lord and direct me to right paths; remove my doubts and fears. Amen.

Next week on God-speak
New Creation