Blooming

Second Sunday of Lent 17 March 2019
First reading Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

The Lord God took Abram outside and said, 
"Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
Just so," he added, "shall your descendants be."
Abram put his faith in the LORD, 
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

He then said to him, 
"I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans 
to give you this land as a possession."
"O Lord GOD," he asked, 
"how am I to know that I shall possess it?"
He answered him, 
"Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, 
a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."
Abram brought him all these, split them in two, 
and placed each half opposite the other; 
but the birds he did not cut up.
Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, 
but Abram stayed with them.
As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, 
and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.

When the sun had set and it was dark, 
there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, 
which passed between those pieces.
It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram,
saying: "To your descendants I give this land, 
from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates."

Second reading                                                         Philippians 3:17-4:1

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, 
and observe those who thus conduct themselves 
according to the model you have in us.
For many, as I have often told you 
and now tell you even in tears, 
conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction.
Their God is their stomach; 
their glory is in their "shame."
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, 
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified body 
by the power that enables him also 
to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, 
in this way stand firm in the Lord.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 9:28B-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James 
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance 
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, 
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus 
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, 
but becoming fully awake, 
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, 
"Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking, 
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, 
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 
"This is my chosen Son; listen to him."
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time 
tell anyone what they had seen.

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

One Monday morning, Marie woke up early with a smile on her face. Not knowing why but she's feeling very positive for that day. She was singing all through out as she prepares for work. Her smile did not fade even in the midst of the chaotic commute from her house to her office. As she arrived at the office, she greeted everyone she passes by with her contagious smile. She was about to sit at her place when her supervisor approached her and said, "Blooming ka. Anong meron?" (You look blooming. What's up?) while leaving a pile of paperwork complete with a long checklist of additional requests from their boss that she needs to work on for the day. She then whispered to herself, "Monday nga pala ngayon" (Oh, it's Monday.).

Oftentimes, we are like Marie. In fact, everyday we receive graces to be grateful for especially the grace of waking up and being given the opportunity to bless as we are blessed. If we can immediately recognize such grace from God, and let it sustain our smile through the day, it can be a significant change in how we look at everyday. Especially how it can help transform other's perspective through our positive outlook. Reminding ourselves that God transforms us into something good everyday is also reminding others that they too have received the same grace to console them in whatever it is they are going through, or just simply be reminded how good life is. In our story above, what do you think happened after Marie reminded herself that it is the start of the week? Imagine you are Marie. How would the rest of the day turn out if you keep telling yourself the same thing? Maybe it depends on what else will happen next. But what if you remind yourself how you felt positive at the moment you woke up? How would you react to someone telling you how good (or beautiful) you look today, in spite of having loads of work to do? 

Another story: 
Mon: "Paano ba magpakilig ng babae?" (How would you impress girls and win their hearts?)
Gon: (bragging) "Alam mo, gamitan mo lang ng mga pick up lines, sure yan!" (Use pick up lines, that would do the trick!)

Suddenly, Gon's crush approached them and greeted them. Gon was stunned and got lost as his confidence crumbled in front of the girl he really likes. 

Mon: (whispering to Gon) "Ayan sakto. Pakiligin mo nga sya." (Now's your chance. Impress her.)
Gon, struggling to speak while staring at his crush for a minute, uttered just two words "Knock knock…?" 

I got that story from an advertisement. It made me think that there are times when we are not sure of what to say and sometimes during moments of amazement, we do not really know what we’re saying because we were captured by the stunning beautiful image in front of us. Suddenly in a brief moment, it makes us feel all the good things we want in life, but cannot find the right words to explain it. 

The disciples experienced something like this during the Transfiguration of Jesus. Even before that moment, they were able to experience a lot of signs that made their faith grow deeper. The Transfiguration of Jesus is another reminder to them that they are in good hands. This was also affirmed when the voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 

Just as Jesus’ image was transformed, God also continues to transform us and reflects His image as a reminder to others that everything that comes from the Lord is good. We can be assured that God will also transform our broken selves and mould with Christ’s body to start everyday full of hope, with a reminder to look at everything through heaven’s eyes, and reflect to others a beautiful image to help them go through the day. 

Prayer

Dearest Lord, we thank You for reminding us that everyday is a new opportunity to receive Your blessings and to be a blessing to others as well. We ask for the grace of a grateful heart to look at things through heaven’s eyes, and let ourselves find You in all these. We seek Your face in the midst of all our struggles to remind us of the beautiful future You planned for us, as You transform us everyday to reflect Your goodness. With our dear mother Mary, we pray that we recognize You more in each other as we share the joy of receiving Your graces even in our difficulties. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

A Good Start in Transforming the Self

First Sunday of Lent Mar 9
First reading Genesis 2:7-9,3:1-7
The Lord God fashioned man of dust from the soil. Then he breathed into his nostrils a breath of life, and thus man became a living being.
The Lord God planted a garden in Eden which is in the east, and there he put the man he had fashioned. The Lord God caused to spring up from the soil every kind of tree, enticing to look at and good to eat, with the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden.
Now the serpent was the most subtle of all the wild beasts that the Lord God had made. It asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?’ The woman answered the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden. But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, “You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death.” ‘ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘No! You will not die! God knows in fact that on the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.’ The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye, and that it was desirable for the knowledge that it could give. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. She gave some also to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realised that they were naked. So they sewed fig-leaves together to make themselves loin-cloths.

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 50:3-6,12-14,17

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

  In your compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my guilt

  and cleanse me from my sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

My offences truly I know them;

  my sin is always before me

Against you, you alone, have I sinned;

  what is evil in your sight I have done.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A pure heart create for me, O God,

  put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

  nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me again the joy of your help;

  with a spirit of fervour sustain me,

O Lord, open my lips

  and my mouth shall declare your praise.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Second reading                                                        Romans 5:12-19

Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned. Sin existed in the world long before the Law was given. There was no law and so no one could be accused of the sin of ‘law-breaking’, yet death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even though their sin, unlike that of Adam, was not a matter of breaking a law.

  Adam prefigured the One to come, but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift. The results of the gift also outweigh the results of one man’s sin: for after one single fall came judgement with a verdict of condemnation, now after many falls comes grace with its verdict of acquittal. If it is certain that death reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous. Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Gospel                                                                        Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, ‘Scripture says:

Man does not live on bread alone

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

The devil then took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God’ he said ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says:

He will put you in his angels’ charge,

and they will support you on their hands

in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’

Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says:

You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘I will give you all these’ he said, ‘if you fall at my feet and worship me.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Be off, Satan! For scripture says:

You must worship the Lord your God,

and serve him alone.’

Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.

Reflection by Mark Vertido

In the following Sundays of Lent, we shall read accounts on the transformation of life that God wants us to have. But I will not spoil yet the other Sunday readings and focus first on the readings of this Sunday.

The context of the Gospel reading this Sunday happened actually after Jesus was baptized by His own cousin, John the Baptist, in the Jordan River. After being baptized, he went on a deserted place to “put to the test by the devil.” After forty days and nights of fasting and prayer, it is expected that Jesus is already famished and weak in body for He is human also, aside from being divine.

And so the devil came and tempted Him three times by testing His divinity to turn stones into bread; by teasing Him to throw Himself from the peak of the Temple that angels may come and rescue Him; and by promising Him to Lord over all the nations if He bows down to the devil. If the Son of God Himself could be tempted, are humans more vulnerable to be tempted and commit sin? And we have seen many instances of temptation in our lives and our society from the cheating during examinations to get a high grade into stealing public funds for selfishness.

In the first reading, it is clearly seen how Eve and Adam was tempted by the serpent. But we can also see in the account that the temptation by the serpent just uncovered the actual desires of Adam and Eve. Indeed, we are tempted not only because the devil wants it so but also because in the deepest corners of our hearts we desire such things and a stimulus is only needed so that the response is activated.

The temptation of Jesus in the desert happens also before He has started His public ministry and His work of Salvation that sinners may receive the grace of God. Thus, it reminds us of the importance of recollections and retreats before venturing into the changes that will happen in our lives. Before continuing our plans and goals, we need to prepare ourselves by looking into our Self and being aware of it because the Self may become the very temptation that we need to overcome. It is actually a time for a prayerful discernment like Jesus to eliminate our false beliefs and motives in doing a certain step in our journey. And this was done by many Christians throughout history.

Just recently, I was again in a time for discernment for the things I need to do in my life so I needed to go for a weekend with the Lord for there were questions that I needed to answer before I agree to continue what I need to do. And so with the help of prayers and God, I was able to come to a very important decision for my life. There were many temptations came but through the grace of God, I have seen my intentions because of the openness of my heart to listen to the Lord and receive the grace of God.

So in the changes that will come to our life, from the old to a transformed one, let us always ask God to give us an open and discerning heart. Let us give some time for silence and space for God to fix things for us and to set straight what He truly wants of us for in the end He will also send us His “angels to serve us.” And the Lenten Season is always a good time for us to transform ourselves!

Prayer

As we continue reflecting and transforming ourselves, let us be reminded by the plea of the Psalmist to God to wash him first from all sin.

 https://soundcloud.com/marky-vertido/have-mercy-on-me-god-arnel-dc 

Transformation and Sacrifice

First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever:

Wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship. Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children Gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God.

Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, And that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God's command; For God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

Second Reading: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

Praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,  the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

Reflection
By Nats Vibiesca

As a student of educational management program, the art of transformational leadership is a common discussion in our classroom. Transformation is simply translated to “changing for the better”. On the other hand, leadership is like the North Star in the sky. It is located directly above the North Pole that stays at a fixed point, unlike other stars, change position during the night. The North Star is the sailors’ point of reference when they navigate the sea. Thus, following this star would mean life and death for sailors. Good thing GPS technology was developed to guide sailors of this generation.

Likewise, St. John the Baptist is our North Star leading us to Jesus and proclaims His coming. But the requirement before meeting Jesus is for us to be transformed. We need to change to become better. In fact, we have to keep changing if we want to stay alive. Otherwise, we become fossilized. But changing is often difficult.

Transformation is easy in fairy tales, just like in some of the stories that I have written. People become animated animals and vice-versa. There’s no mystery attached to transformation in fairy tales. Unlike in the challenge of St. John, transformation involves self-sacrifice. Only if I pay the price of sacrifices will keep me abreast of change. It will never be true change if it doesn’t cost me anything.

In our generation, the term sacrifice is kept away as far as possible from our consciousness. We often yell: Yes to comfort! No to sacrifice! The term sacrifice consists of two words: the first is “sacrum” or holy and the other is “facere” or to make. The term sacrifice means therefore to “make holy”. Our daily sacrifices like waiting on line to pay the bills, waiting for a jeepney or being delayed by traffic, bad moments during school or work are all “making holy” as our sacrifice for change.

May this second Sunday of Advent transform our lives through sacrifices and to become better Christians as we welcome Jesus, the Word of God.

Prayer

Lord, it’s hard to make sacrifices for change but I trust You that I will overcome the pain attached to each sacrifice. No matter how I suffer, I know that You will strengthen me and I thank You for Your comfort. Amen.