January 1

January 1, 2006. It's New Year according to the civil western calendar. But is this the reason why Catholics go to Mass? Is it to thank God for the year that was and to ask for his blessing for the year that is to be?

No.

January 1 is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This solemnity is a reiteration of what took place on Christmas. It asserts the fact that the baby who was born in a stable is not only a man. He is also God.

No. She did not give the divinity to Jesus. She is only human. You can not give what you do not have. She can only give to Jesus her humanity.

How then can she be Mother of God? (We have to make use of philsophy here.)

Mothers do not carry human natures in their womb. What they carry in their womb are persons.

Mary did not carry in her womb a human nature. She carried a person. And this person is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. In St John's language, the Logos (Word). Hence, in the Angelus we pray: "And the Word was made flesh (human being) and dwelt among us."

It is important to note that the articles of faith about the Blessed Virgin and the celebrations in her honor are always in connection with Jesus Christ. True Marian devotion is Christo-centric.

To conclude, what does our faith tell us about Jesus Christ and Mary?

• That in Jesus, there is one Person, a divine Person, with two natures, human and divine.
• That Mary is the mother of God because she gave birth to the person Jesus who is God.

The Family

The Holy Family is not celebrated on a Sunday this year. It is celebrated on a weekday (December 30).

Here are some of thoughts about family and family life.

There are about 8 million Overseas Filipino Workers today. The upside of this phenomenon are: it keeps the economy afloat; a strong peso; and money for the family. But the downside is the weakening and even the breaking up of the family. Hence, the situation where one or both of the parents work abroad and the children are left behind under the care of one parent or of a relative should not persist for a long period of time.

My brother who works in the US has made it a priority to get his wife and children with him. He will be able to fulfill this priority by the first quarter of next year. He misses them. But more than that he realizes that his children are growing up and he must be part of their growing up years.

A young man shared with me this sad reality. Whenever his Dad returns from work abroad for vacation, he realizes that he can't carry on a conversation with him. Not because he doesn't want to, but because they do not know enough of each other to have a common topic to talk about.

Even when the child understands why the his parents have to be away, the emotional pain remains. Another young man said that his father is a captain of a ship. He was not there during significant moments in his life. He understands that he can't be present because of the nature of his job. But still, he says, I missed him in those moments.

Being acquainted with the school context, I have seen many instances where students with disciplinary or academic problems also have one or both parents working outside of the country. The correlation can not be ignored. Of course, these same students may still have these problems even with both parents around, but the difference is that the parents are here to deal with the situation in loving and firm manner.

The presence of parents then is important. But mere physical presence is not enough. If a parent is emotionally distant, he or she becomes an absent presence. Many fathers are an absent presence. But there are indications that this is changing as fathers become more involved in the raising of their children. They are no longer just providers. Even TV advertisements are becoming aware of this. An ad about diapers have fathers, not mothers, in it.

No matter how hard parents try, they are bound to fail in some way. They are, after all, imperfect. They can not hope to do it right all the time. But if after having done their best and their children do not turn out the way they hoped for, they shouldn't blame themselves saying, "Where did I go wrong?" Perhaps, they did not do anything wrong. Perhaps, it is their children who finally decided to take that path that is wrong.

Love. Peace. Joy.

What was the Christmas song that Michael Jackson popularized when he was younger? Give Love on Christmas Day. I remember our class singing that song for the Christmas program in school.

What is the most popular Christmas carol? It was first sung in German but has been translated into many languages. It was first sung at midnight Mass of Christmas and was accompanied by a guitar. The carol is Silent Night.

What Christmas carol invited people to rejoice? Joy to the World.

Love. Peace. Joy. They make up the spirit of Christmas.

Love

For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son so that those who believe in him may not perish but have everlasting life.

For parents and those who take care of young people, St. John Bosco said that it is not enough that you love them. They must feel that you love them. And for young people, the spelling of love would be t-i-m-e.

Christmas is an eminently family celebration. Without love that is hear-felt, the noche buena would be merely a sumptuous meal rather than a family feast.

Love has become a cliché. But love can find many expressions within the confines of the home. Opening one’s eyes would reveal endless possibilities. Bringing a pasalubong (gift given upon arriving home) to one’s kid brother or sister says “I love you enough to remember you”.

Peace

Isaiah calls Jesus the Prince of Peace. The angels sang: Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth. Christ Jesus came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father.

Peace is not merely the absence of noise or violence. It is present when there is good will and harmony.

We may need to control our temper. We may need to exercise patience. We may have to keep watch over our tongues. More often than not, we use our tongues to hurt one another. We use our tongues in heated exchanges and quarrels.

Joy

The angel said to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy. Today the Messiah is born for you in Bethlehem.”

Be joyful. Be glad. How? Many times making other people happy makes us happy, too. A small act of kindness for another human being is all it takes. I remember one Christmas day, a mother was boarding a jeepney (mode of public transport in the Philippines), perhaps to bring her three children to their ninongs and ninangs (godparents). She obviously needed help. She boarded the jeepney first and I helped her two children board after her. A small thing. But the smile of gratitude on her face made me feel good. It made me happy.

May the Baby Jesus bless you with love, peace and joy not only for this Christmas, but for always.

Happy Christmas.

Christmas Gift-giving

When I was young, I remember my Mom reminding me to hang a sock (my father’s sock) because Santa would be putting goodies there. In the morning I would run to where the sock hung. It was heavy with an apple, an orange, and chocolates (Pom poms, Baby Ruth, M&M’s, golden coins and candies (Life Savers). It was probably why I love chocolates even today.

Christmas was for me the time when I would receive lots and lots of gifts and goodies. I didn’t know it then but the giving of gifts was a continuation of the gift-giving that happened on that first Christmas. For God so loved the world that he gave us the greatest gift that he could possibly gift—his only Son.

We show our appreciation for the gifts we receive by putting them in a place of honor. A woman mounted an unfinished cross-stitch in the sala. It was her mother’s gift to her as she lay dying of cancer.

There is no other place of honor for Jesus, God’s gift to us, than in our hearts. When St. Dominic Savio resolved that Jesus and Mary will be his best friends, that was another way of saying that he was letting Jesus and Mary into his heart.

The Belen depicts the three kings offering their gifts to the Baby Jesus. The Drummer Boy was concerned about the gift that he would be bringing to the Savior. What gift would we bring to Jesus? Perhaps, more attention. Some watches would chime on the hour, every hour. Perhaps we could use that to stop a few seconds and turn our thoughts to Jesus.

A carol says that Love came down on Christmas day. Let Jesus be born again in our families. And the proof of Jesus’ presence is the love and caring that should be expressed and felt in our families. When you give your gift to your parents and to you brothers and sisters, why not do it while saying: “I love you, Mom.” “I love you, Dad.” “I love you, Louie.” “I love you, Erika.”

Christmas is a time of gift-giving. Another word for gift is ‘present’. While a present might be very appreciated, our presence would surely be more appreciated. But our presence should not be merely ‘being there’. It should above all be a loving presence.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B)

THE ANNUNCIATION (Lk 1:26-38)

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth
Sixth month. 6th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
Gabriel. He was sent first to Zechariah and now to Mary.

To a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.
Virgin. Girl who has reached the age for marriage
Betrothed. Engaged. In the Jewish custom, an engaged couple was already considered married, but they would live together only after a year.
David. Through Joseph, Jesus would be of the house of David. This would fulfill the promise that the Messiah would come from David’s line.

And coming to her, he (Gabriel) said,“Hail, full of grace!”
Hail. Also translated a rejoice. Indeed, there is reason for rejoicing because the promise of the Messiah would finally be fulfilled.
Full of grace. Or Favored One. Mary’s new name is “Favored One”.

But she was greatly troubled.
Mary could not understand why and how she was so favored by God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
Jesus means Yahweh saves or Yahweh is my salvation.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age.
The pregnancy of Elizabeth is proof that the message of the angel was true.

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
With humility Mary accepted the invitation of God. She knew that her Son would be God but she probably did not understand that fully. Hence, her acceptance (fiat) was an act of faith.

REFLECTION

Mary carried Jesus in her womb nine months. It is a unique grace and privilege. But to all of us, God can give the grace of carrying Jesus in our hearts, in our minds, in our eyes, in our ears and in our hands.

• Jesus in my heart. The grace of truly loving Jesus.
• Jesus in my mind. The grace of not forgetting Jesus.
• Jesus in my eyes. The grace of getting to know Jesus and of imitating his example.
• Jesus in my ears. The grace of listening to the teachings of Jesus in order to live them.
• Jesus in my hands. The grace of serving Jesus, of doing what Jesus wants and of doing all for Jesus.

Christmas in the Philippines: The Star Lantern

I took this article from a newspaper. I do not remember which newspaper and who the author was.

We have many old Christmas symbols. Probably the oldest is the Nativity scene, known by its Spanish name belen, or Bethlelem. This is a tradition that is believed to have originated way back in 1223 when St. Francis celebrated Christmas by depicting the Nativity scene complete with live donkey, sheep and ox. By the 17th century, the custom reached Spain, and a century later it was introduced in Mexico from where it was brought to the Philippines. Originally, the only human figures in the belen were the Holy Couple and the Holy Infant. The Three Kings were added during the Epiphany. Today, even the presence of the Three Kings is questionable for on May 9, 1969, the Vatican announced that 33 saints were being officially removed from the Calendarum Romanum. Among them were the Three Kings and St. Nicholas, the prototype of Santa Claus. Originally, gifts were exchanged on December 6, feast day of Saint Nicholas. The Dutch pronounced his name Sinter Klass and that is how St. Nicholas became Santa Claus.

In the Philippines, Santa Claus became the central figure of the Christmas celebration. Gifts were originally exchanged during the Feast of the Three Kings. This was to commemorate the homage that the wise men from the East paid to the Holy Infant that consisted of three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Today, gifts are exchanged on Christmas day and they are supposed to be presents, not from the Three Kings, but from Santa Claus.

But the truly indigenous Philippine Christmas symbol is neither the belen nor the Santa Claus. It is the star lantern, and that is a story in itself. The star lantern was the Filipino adaptation of the Mexican luminaria which was basically a clay jar with a star shaped hole. The luminaria was actually a clay lamp. When a candle was placed inside, a star representing that of Bethlehem glowed in the dark. This was placed outside every home as a sign that the Holy Couple who was in search of an inn was perfectly welcomed.

In the Philippines, for very practical reasons, the Mexican clay luminaria was transformed into a star lantern. It is so Filipino that of all the Christmas symbols, it is only the star lantern that has evolved into gigantic Christmas displays. In the Pampanga town of San Fernando, the Christmas lantern is not only gigantic in proportion, but more important is that it represents the collective work of the entire community. Men prepare the wooden frame; Women assess the costs and purchase the materials and children prepare the paper patterns. The only work by professionals is the complicated generator-powered lighting complex that will turn the lantern into a modern kaleidoscopic display. These colossal lanterns are placed in trucks and paraded around the town plaza before the Misa de Gallo. In San Fernando, some lanterns have a thousand live bulbs.

But in the ultimate analysis, it is still the simple star-shaped candle-lit lantern that is the true measure of any Philippine Christmas celebration. In his writings, Jose Rizal depicted a sad Christmas saying, "It was Christmas Eve but the town was sad. Not one paper lantern hung from the windows..." We hope this Christmas will not be that sad.

The Aguinaldo Masses in the Philippines

AGUINALDO MASSES (PHILIPPINES)

The nine-day (novena) Masses in preparation for Christmas begins on December 16. They are called Aguinaldo Masses or Misa de Gallo. Misa de Gallo is Spanish for Mass of the Rooster. The name is apt because the mass take place at dawn (4:30am is the common time) when roosters begin to crow. Aguinaldo is Spanish for gift. It calls to mind the gift of the magi, but above all Jesus who is the gift of God to his people.

For those who can not rise early, there is an alternative, the Simbang Gabi (Mass at night) which often takes place at 8pm. The Simbang Gabi Masses begin in the evening of December 15.

The liturgical color is white, in honor of the Blessed Virgin. The intention of these Masses is the perseverance of the nation in faith. The Glory to God in the Highest is sung as if in anticipation of Christmas.

DECEMBER 17-24

The liturgical readings are more directly concerned with the immediate preparation for Christmas. The message is the mystery of God’s love. The principal personages are John the Baptist, our Lady and St. Joseph.

Immaculate Conception

On Dec. 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX in the Bull "Ineffabilis Deus" proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception: "The Most Holy Virgin Mary was in the first moment of her conception by the unique gift of grace and privilege of the Almighty god, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind, preserved free from all stain of original sin."

Four years later in 1858, as if to confirm the dogma, our Blessed Mother made known herself to St. Bernadette in Lourdes as the Immaculate Conception.

400 years before the dogma was defined, Duns Scotus, a Franciscan Theologian, defended the reasonability of the dogma by saying: "God could do it; he ought to do it; therefore, he did it."

The dogma, while directly about the Blessed Mother, is not only about her. It is a privilege and grace granted her because of her unique vocation of Mother of God. Hence, everything about Mary is because of Jesus.

3rd Sunday of Advent

A MAN NAMED JOHN WAS SENT FROM GOD
(Jn 1:6-8, 19-28)

A man named John was sent from God.
John means "God has given grace". God gave a great grace to Zechariah and Elizabeth, John.

He came to testify to the light.
John would bring others to believe in Jesus. The first two disciples of Jesus were John's disciples. John would say: "Look, there is the Lamb of God!"

He (John) was not the light.
True, yet according to Jesus, John was a burning and shining lamp.

When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?”
The Jews here refer to the Jewish religious leaders hostile to Jesus.

He (John) admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
The Hebrew for Christ is messiah. He is the expected Savior. Hence, Jesus Christ means "Jesus the Savior".

So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
Because of the prophet Malachi, the Jews believed that Elijah would come back and prepare the Messiah's coming. They identified John the Baptists as Elijah because his clothing and his character was similar to Elijah's.

“Are you the Prophet?”
Based on Deuteronomy, the Jews also expected the Messiah to be another Moses. And Moses was considered to be THE prophet. Hence, the Messiah was to be the Prophet who woul repeat on a greater scale the wonders of the exodus.

He (John) said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord."
The Jews were exiled in Babylon. The prophet tells the people that as in the time of the Exodus when he led his people from Egypt through the desert to the Promised Land, God will now lead them from Babylon through the desert back to the Jerusalem.

John is now the voice preparing God's people for a new Exodus--from slavery to sin to freedom as children of God through the leadership of Jesus, the new Moses.

But there is one among you whom you do not recognize.
The Jews were spiritually blind. Hence, they do not recognize the Messiah.

Whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.
Jewish servants do not do this. Only slaves. Hence, the humility of John the Baptist. Later he would say: He (Jesus) must increase. But I must decrease."

MESSAGE

“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.'"

How do we prepare for Christmas? John the Baptist tells us how. Let us put our lives in order. Let us set things aright. Let us turn away from sin and turn to God. Let us return to the right path.

2nd Sunday of Advent

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD (Mk 1:1-8)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Gospel is God-spell in old English. It means good news.
Son of God. At the beginning of the Gospel, Jesus is proclaimed Son of God. At the end of the Gospel, Jesus is again proclaimed Son of God by the Centurion as Jesus hung on the Cross.

I am sending my messenger ahead of you.
We are being told that in order to understand the life of Christ, we have to know the Old Testament for Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made by God in the Old Testament.

John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
This baptism is not the sacrament of Baptism. In those days, the use of baptism was in common use in religious groups. For example, the community at Qumran.
John the Baptist thought that the judgment of God was near. In fact, the call to repentance that he was preaching would save people from this judgment.

John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.
John's clothing was similar to that worn by Elijah. Accordding to Jewish belief Elijah would come as the Messiah's precursor. John, therefore, is being presented as Elijah and Jesus as the promised Messiah.

One mightier than I is coming after me.
Some of the first disciples of Jesus were disciples of John the Baptist. This passage was addressed to those disciples of John the Baptist who refuse to accept Jesus as the Messiah.

PREPARING THE WAY OF THE LORD: THE PROCESS OF CONVERSION

1. Awareness of sin. "I have sinned."

2. Taking responsibility for sin. "It is my fault."

3. Confession of sin. The Gospel states: " People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins."

4. Giving and receiving forgiveness. "Your sins are forgiven you."

5. Change in the mind that shows itself in change in behavior. "From now on avoid this sin."

Peace on Earth

PEACE ON EARTH TO MEN OF GOOD WILL

Alfred Anderson died last November 21, 2005. He was 109 years old and at the time the oldest man in Scotland. But that is not all. He was also the last surviving soldier who experienced the spontaneous Christmas truce of World War I. That was December 25, 1914.

"I remember the silence, the eerie sound of silence," said Ander-son. "All I'd heard for two months in the trenches was the hissing, cracking and whining of bullets in flight, machine-gun fire and distant German voices. But there was a dead silence that morning, right across the land as far as you could see. We shouted 'Merry Christmas,' even though nobody felt merry.”

British and German troops cautiously emerged from the trenches that Christmas Day in 1914. The enemies swapped cigarettes and tunic buttons, sang carols and even played soccer amid the mud, barbed wire and shell-holes of no man's land.

Why did this happen? Because the message of Christmas is peace. Christ is called the Prince of Peace. And on that first Christmas night, the choirs of angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest. And peace to his people on earth.”

What do we mean by peace? At home, is there peace if people shout at each other and hurt each other? In school, is there peace, if there is someone you avoid? In other words, there is peace when there is a good relationship.

Make your Christmas a happy one by establishing peace. First make peace with God by making a good confession. Second, make peace with people at home, in your community and in your workplace. Third, if you are already at peace with everyone, then become a channel of peace between enemies. Become an agent of reconciliation.

First Sunday of Advent

BE WATCHFUL! BE ALERT! (Mk 13:33-37)

Happy New Year!

Yes, it's only November 27. And yes, it's also new year. The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Liturgical Year in the Catholic Church.

Liturgical Year
The two high points of the Liturgical Year is Christmas (Birth of the Redeemer) and Easter (Resurrection of the Savior). They are so important that the are preceded by a period of preparation and followed by a period of continuing celebration.

Christmas is preceded by Advent and followed by the Christmas season. Easter is preceded by Lent and followed by the Easter Season..

Violet
The color for Advent and Lent is violet. However, the spirit of lent is penitential while that of Advent is joyful.

Gloria
During Advent and Lent, the Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest) is neither sung nor recited. The Gloria is reserved for Christmas when the angels sang it for the first time. However, in the Philippines it is sung during the Simbang Gabi and the Misa de Gallo.

Meaning
Advent means coming. From the first Sunday of Advent till Dec. 16, we are reminded of the Parousia (the second coming of Jesus at the end of time). From Dec. 17 onwards, the focus is the first coming of Jesus when he was born in Bethlehem.

The Advent Wreath
The liturgical symbol for advent is the advent wreath. It serves to focus our attention on the preparation for Christmas.

The wreath (circle) reminds us of eternity. No beginning. No end. God is eternal. His love for us is eternal. Someday we shall join God in eternity.

Green is the color of life. God wants life for us and not death. That is why he sent is only Son that those who believe in him may not perish but have everlasting life.

Candles. Christ is the light of the world. There are four candles representing the four Sundays of Advent. Three candles are violet. One candle is pink which stands for the Laetare Sunday, or Sunday of Joy (third Sunday of Advent).

THIS YEAR WILL CHRISTMAS BE A SEASON OF JOY?

Many are saying that Christmas this year will be sad because of the economic difficulties. (I have heard this for many years now.) But they say this year it will really be gloomy. In fact, the Christmas decorations are so sparse.

When they say that it will be a gloomy Christmas, what they mean is that we shall not be able to buy more Christmas decorations. There will less food at noche buena. No new clothes. Cheap gifts.

But Christmas is not about food. It is not about clothes nor decorations nor gifts.

Christmas is about Christ.

For this reason, there is no reason for this season not to be a joyful one. And precisely because of this, I prefer the greeting "Happy Christmas" to "Merry Christmas".

Christ the King

CHRIST THE KING (Mt 25:31-46)

EXEGESIS

The scene is the Last Judgment at the end of the world. Jesus appears as a glorious King.

In the Jewish judgment stories, gentiles seldom appear. And when they do, it is to be punished. But in this case, gentiles like Jews are to be judged fairly.

In Palestine, goats and sheep are mixed. But at night they are separated because goats need to be kept warn.

Sheep are often used to symbolize christians.

Those who are on the right are welcomed into the kingdom because of works of fraternal charity ( corporal works of mercy).

The ones on the left are condemned--not for any evil they did, but for the good that they did not do. We sin not only when we do wrong, but when we also fail to do good.

REFLECTION

God sees you. St. John Bosco used to put these words on poster for his boys to see. Why? To keep them from sinning.

We can never hide from God. We can never keep secrets from God. Criminals may get away with it. Crimes may remain unpunished. But with God those who deserve punishment will be punished.

But as God sses us when we do wrong in thought, word or deed, so also God sees us when we do right in thought, word or deed. And these will not go unrewarded.

Sometimes we are misinterpreted or judged unfairly. It is because people can not read into our thoughts. But God can. He will see the good intentions and the good will in our hears. Therefore, God will judge us mercifully.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS (Mt 25:14-30)

EXEGESIS

A man going on a journey....
The ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven.

...called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one....
Talent may be: (a) a measure of weight, (b) a coin worth 30 kg of precious metal, (c) 6,000 denarii, and (d) in this case, abilities given by God to each one of us.

After a long timethe master of those servants came back ....
Delay in the second coming of Jesus (pariousia)

...and settled accounts with them.
Last judgment

See, I have made five more.
Did he make converts for the church?

Come, share your master's joy.
The reward is an intimate association with the Lord. This is reserved for those who have used their talents for the Kingdom.

...so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
This was a common practice in Palestine. Cf the Parable of the Buried Treasure

And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Hell is for those who have not used their talents for the kingdom.

REFLECTION

What are the talents or gifts do I have which I can offer at the service of the Kingdom? (I use Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences as framework.)

• Am I good with words (Linguistic intelligence or"word smart")?
• Am I good with numbers and with reasonning (Logical-mathematical intelligence or "number/reasoning smart")?
• Am I good in the creative use of space (Spatial intelligence or "picture smart")?
• Am I good in the use of my body (Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence or "body smart")?
• Am I good in music (Musical intelligence or "music smart")?
• Am I good at relating with others (Interpersonal intelligence or "people smart")?
• Am I good at getting in touch with my inner self (Intrapersonal intelligence or "self smart")?
• Do I flourish in the midst of nature (Naturalist intelligence or "nature smart")?

All of us have these intelligences. Although we may not possess any of them at the level of a genius, Howard Gardner affirms that with effort and with the guidance of a good teacher, we can develop them to a satisfactory level.

Consequently, no one can truthfully say that he is good for nothing and that he has nothing to offer for the kingdom and for his fellowmen.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13)

Wedding custom
Friends will meet the bridegroom at his house. They then fetch the bride. They return to the bridegroom's house where the wedding will take place. The wedding took place at night. They carried torches and lamps for the procession.

Delay
This is not surprising as people of the East rule their time and not time ruling them.

In the early church, Jesus was expected to come soon. But he did not.

Oil
Symbol of repentance

I do not know you.
I will have nothing to do with you.

The point of the parable

The secondcoming of Jesus is uncertain. We have to be alert. Otherwise, we might find ourselves not ready and therefore, excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven.

REFLECTION

The Lord will come at the end of time. But he will also come to us at the moment of death. But he also comes to us everyday. I will focus on prayer as that sacred moment and sacred space when we come to the Lord and the Lord comes to us.

Someone asked: where do you hide God so that man will not find him?

In outer space? But man will build a space ship to reach him.

At the bottom of the ocean? But man has submarines to reac him.

At the ends of the earth? But man has vehicles to reach him there, too.

Where will you hide him then? In the heart of man. Why there? Because man has forgotten to pray.

What is prayer then? It is going into the inner recesses of one's heart to meet God who is already there.

JESUS TAKES TO TASK THE PHARISEES (Mt 23:1-12)

Monday, October 17, 2005

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" Mt 22:34-40

BACKGROUND

The question posed on Jesus is meant to divide the multitudes for or against Jesus. There are 613 commandments of the Talmud. By choosing one among the 613, there will surely be those who will disagree and, therefore, go against Jesus.

But Jesus did not choose from any of them. Jesus went beyond the commandments of the Talmud. He pointed to the Commandment of Love as the commandment that covers all other commandments and that provides the motivation for obeying them. Indeed, love is what makes obedience to God's commandments life-giving.

Come to think of it. The answer of Jesus is not surprising. For as John's letter said: God is love.

STORY
Love in Action

I came across this story in Reader's Digest. The writer claims it is a true-to-life story. It happened during the Vietnam war.

One day the medics brought a badly injured boy to the field hospital. His young friends accompanied him.

The injured boy needed blood transfusion. The doctors and nurses did not know how to speak vietnamese. But they had to tell the young friends that their injured boy needed blood and if they would volunteer to donate.

As they tried to explain in sign language, fear registered in the eyes of the young friends. Finally one boy raised his hand.

They had him lied down and the procedure started. After a while the boy started to speak. He was crying as he did so. The nurses came to him to comfort him.

A translator happened to pass by the field hospital. He was called to the boy's side. They spoke. Then the translator began to laugh as he talked to the boy. The doctors and nurses asked the translator what happened.

He told them that the young friends thought that the doctors were asking them for a volunteer to give all his blood to the injured friend. And the boy who volunteered was crying because he wanted to know if his end was near.

CONCLUSION

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is love. He also said that there is no greater love than this than to lay down one's life for one's friend.

PS
By the way love is not a noun. It is a verb.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? (Mt 22:15-21)

Herodians
They were supporters of Herod the Great and his family. They favored collaboration with the romans. If Jesus took the position of not paying taxes, they would report him to the Romans.

Pharisees
They were against Roman occupation, but opted for peaceful means. The zealots on the other hand, opted for violent means. Simon the zealot became an apostle of Jesus. People in general resented Roman occupation. If he took the position of paying taxes, he would antagonize them. Either way Jesus answered, he would be a loser.

Denarius
This was the coin used to pay the census tax. It bore the portrait of Tiberus and bore the inscription: Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus. By possessing the denarius, the Herodians and the disciples of the Pharisees accepted the fact of Roman occupation, though grudgingly, and its benefits and thus, also the duty of taxation. But they are also to give to God what belongs to God, something which they have failed to do, as the two previous parables have shown (parable of the vineyard and parable of the wedding feast).

REFLECTION

Justice

It is the virtue by which we give to everyone what is due to him (what he has a right to).

Duties to self

Preserving one's health, developing our minds, our character, our talents. We do not only have the duty of earning a living but also making our life worth living. We have the highest duty of saving our souls.

Duties to others.

Spouses have the duties of fidelity, support, companionship, forgiveness and understanding.

Parents have the duty of providing their children food, clothing, shelter, love, education and training.

For citizens, JFK said it so beautifully: Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.

We have the duty to know, love and serve God. Sunday Mass is something we owe him. Obedience to his commandments is another.

Final thought

Everyone seems to be conscious of their rights. But how many are as aware and as concerned about his duties. Perhaps our country would be in better shape if we were more conscientious about fulfilling our duties.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING FEAST (22:1-14)

The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
The king is God. The king's son is the messiah.

He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast.
The servants are the prophets and the apostles. The guests are the Jews.

The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
The destruction of Jeruslem is meant here.

Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.
The new guests from the streets are the sinners and the gentiles.

He saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The wedding garment was clean and white clothing.

Notes

Last Sunday's parable and this Sunday's parable are to be understood in the same way. God chose Israel first but the Jews did not respond with obedience and faith. The Jews were punished and God's choice passes on to others.

The parable of the wedding garment teaches that it is not enough to be a member of the church. One must be clothed with faith and good works.

REFLECTION

Sunday Mass - God's Feast for His Children

A grandmother died at 81. At 78 she had a stroke. After recovering, relatives told his grandson, "She doesn't have to go to Mass anymore." Overhearing them, the old woman remarked: "I never went to church because I HAD to."

When will the time come when everyone will join Sunday Mass not because they have to, but becasue they want to?

Only when we have learned to love God from the heart.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD (Mt 21:33-43)

There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
The landowner is God. The vineyard is Israel. The hedge is a wall of stone to protect the vineyard from animals and from flash floods. The grapes were pressed at the winepress and stored in vats for fermentation. The tower is for the guards.

Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
The tenants were the leaders of Israel. Absentee landlords were common in Israel.

He sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
The servants were the prophets. In the bible the Early Prophets were from Joshua to 2 Kings; the Later Prophets were from Isaiah to Malachi.

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
The son is Jesus. If the owner has no other heir, when he dies the estate will really go to the tenants.

They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
Jesus was crucified in Calvary outside Jerusalem.

He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.
In 70AD Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. The other tenants are the Christians who now form the new Israel.

REFLECTION

Many years ago a softdrink snatched a significant share of the market from a leading brand. This second placer came up with the idea of marketing a family size product. I heard that the leading brand fired a top executive because he failed to meet expectations. Someone replaced him. The mission: bring back its market share.

God replaced Israel because it failed to give the fruits expected of it by God.

We who belong to the New Israel can not be complacent. Having good intentions is the first step. But it is not enough. We need to bear good fruits. As someone said: "The road that leads to hell is paved with good intentions.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Parable of the Two Sons (Mt 21:28-32)

Commentary taken from The Jerome Biblical Commentary

This parable is the first of three parables of judgment. The other two parables are the Parable of the Vineyard and the Wicked Tenants and the Parable of the Marriage Feast. All three are addressed to the chief priests and elders.

A man had two sons.
The two sons do not stand for Jews and Gentiles. Rather they stand for two kinds of Jews: the faithless leaders and the faithful outcasts (public sinners). Where do the Gentile Christians stand? Among the believing sinners.

Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.
The vineyard is a symbol for Israel.

He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go.
No one will emerge triumphant from the last judgment on the basis of right words. Only a life of love and justice will count.

Which of the two did his father's will?
Obedient faith is always the final test for Matthew.

Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
Tax collectors and prostitutes are Jewish outcasts. Yet it is they who will enter the Kingdom of God ahead of the others. Why? Because they knew they needed to repent whereas the leaders considered themselves righteous and felt no need for repentance.

REFLECTION

The religious leaders thought highly of themselves. After all they scrupulously obeyed the Law. They had something to rely on. But sinners could not rely on what they did. Therefore, they relied on what was left to rely on, Jesus. They were fortunate because entry into the Kingdom is only through Jesus.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard (Mt 20:116).

A landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard…
Laborers assemble as early as 6am in public places to make deals for their services.

After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage…
The denarius was a workman’s daily wage.

Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
They were gossiping.

He went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around…
These last must probably too lazy to work.

When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers….
The Greek word used for owner is kyrios (lord). It is often used for God.

Take what is yours and go.
The denarius given to the first group is their wage; to the second, as the owner’s gift. Because the owner is the master of his property, he can do as he pleases.

LESSON:

The owner of the vineyard goes on into the evening hiring workers. Yet he gives all the same full day’s wage of one denarius. With the first group, he acts justly. With the second group, he acts generously.

The Jews were chosen first. But the Gentiles (we) who were called later are also treated in the same way.

Peter was called first. Paul came later. Yet God gave Paul an important mission (Apostle of the Gentiles), as he gave to Peter the important mission of Apostles to the Jews.

God is the Master and Lord of the Universe. He can act as he pleases. He can give his gifts as he wills. But God never acts arbitrarily. He is guided only by his love and goodness. We should, therefore, trust god and let him act the way he does.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" (Matthew 18:21-35)

Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times."

Rabbis taught that forgiveness may be given 3 times. Or at most 4 times. Therefore, Peter thought that 7 was generous enough. But Jesus taught that there is no limit to forgiveness.

A debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount (10,000 talents).

The servant was an official. Someone computed the amount to be US$60 billion.

His master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.

The amount to be realized in selling them would not even cover a fraction of the US$ 60B. Selling them was, therefore, a punishment.

Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.

This was clearly impossible.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount (100 denarii).

This was equivalent to US$200. Compare how little the fellow servant owed to what he owed to the king. Compare how the king treated him and how he treated his fellow servant.

Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers...

It might be that the official was hiding part of the US$60B. The king wanted to get it back.

Until he should pay back the whole debt.

He can never hope to raise the amount. Therefore, his torment would be unending.

Lessons

1. We must forgive one another because their offenses are small compared to our offenses against God.
2. We must forgive one another because refusal to do so would mean not being forgiven by God.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.

Commentary taken from the New American Bible, unless stated otherwise.

If your brother sins against you....

This passage is how they are to deal with one who sins and yet remains within the community. First there is to be private correction; if this is unsuccessful, further correction before two or three witnesses; if this fails, the matter is to be brought before the assembled community (mine: the church; in Greek the assembly of the faithful is ekklesia), and if the sinner refuses to attend to the correction of the church, he is to be expelled (mine: excommunicated).

Your brother....
A fellow disciple.

Against you....
Some manuscripts do not have the words "against you". In this case it would read, "if your brother sins" and thus, broadens the type of sin in question.

If he refuses to listen even to the church,then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
In the Jewish community, gentiles and tax collectors were not welcome.

Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven....
The church's judgment will be ratified in heaven, i.e., by God. It would seem that in this verse the power given previously to Peter of binding and loosing is now also given to the church. But this is not so. Here only the power of excommunication is intended.

If two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray....
The section ends with a saying about the favorable response of God to prayer, even to that of a very small number, for Jesus is in the midst of any gathering of his disciples, however small.

This saying is similar to one attributed to a rabbi executed in A.D. 135 at the time of the second Jewish revolt: ". . . When two sit and there are between them the words of the Torah, the divine presence (Shekinah) rests upon them".

My reflection on prayer:

Personal/individual prayer is good. In fact, Jesus prayed alone. He instructed his disciples to pray in secret, that is, in one's room. But this has to be balanced by rpayer with the community. The Acts of the Apostles mentioned the community praying together int he temple and Breaking Bread in their homes.

We pray together in community when we come to church, when we join a prayer meeting, when we start a meeting with a prayer, when we pray for the dead together.

While we should continue asking individuals to pray for us or for our intentions, we should also ask groups to pray for us or for our intentions.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me. (Mt 16:21-27)

... That he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly ... and be killed and on the third day be raised.

New American Bible (NAB) commentary:

• This first prediction of the passion serves as a corrective to an understanding of Jesus' messiahship as solely one of glory and triumph. By his addition of "from that time on" Matthew has emphasized that Jesus' revelation of his coming suffering and death marks a new phase of the gospel. Neither this nor the two later passion predictions can be taken as sayings that, as they stand, go back to Jesus himself. However, it is probable that he foresaw that his mission would entail suffering and perhaps death, but was confident that he would ultimately be vindicated by God.

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.."

NAB commentary:

• Peter's refusal to accept Jesus' predicted suffering and death is seen as a satanic attempt to deflect Jesus from his God-appointed course, and the disciple is addressed in terms that recall Jesus' dismissal of the devil in the temptation account ("Get away, Satan!"). Peter's satanic purpose is emphasized by Matthew's addition to the Marcan source of the words "You are an obstacle to me".

My reflection:

Just a while ago Jesus addressed him as the rock on which he will build his church (cf. last Sunday's gospel reading). Now Jesus calls him Satan. How come?

It's the temptation in the wilderness all over again. After his baptism by John at the Jordan, the Spirit led him to the wilderness. And there for 40 days and 40 nights Satan tempted him. What was the temptation?

It was the mission of Jesus to save the world through the way of the cross. That was the Father's will. But Satan wanted Jesus to be savior through another way, through popularity, through power and through incredible deeds. Jesus chose the way laid out by his Father.

That wilderness experience ended with the words: "When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time."

Now the devil returned and through Peter was tempting Jesus to abandon the way of the cross. But Jesus was firm. He was not to be dissuaded from doing the Father's will.

"You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

An anecdote: Two high school classmates, A and E, had a quarrel. Afterwards, A said: "I'd like to forgive E, but my other classmates may say that it is because I am afraid of him." If E was thinking the way God thinks, perhaps his attitude would have been different.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

NAB commentary:

• A readiness to follow Jesus even to giving up one's life for him is the condition for true discipleship; this will be repaid by him at the final judgment

• Deny himself: to deny someone is to disown him and to deny oneself is to disown oneself as the center of one's existence.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

This is a pun on Peter's name. In Greek it would be Petros (Peter), petra (rock). In Aramaic it would be both kepa. The Church that Jesus would build would remain steadfast. It would find its footing on the faith proclaimed by Peter.

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus gives to Peter the leadership over his Church.

Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

God shall bind and loose what Peter binds and looses. In the language of the rabbis this would mean binding the devil in exorcism, juridical acts of excommunication and definitive decision making. This verse thus gives enormous authority to Peter.

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE CANAANITE WOMAN (Matthew 15:21-28)

Tyre and Sidon
It is situated north of Israel. It still exists in modern-day Lebanon. This is the only time in Matthew when Jesus brings his ministry into Gentile territory.

Canaanite Woman
Instead of using the contemporary "Syrophoenician" as Mark does, Matthew uses the ancient term Canaanite. Is it an allusion to Rahab mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus? Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the King (Mt 1:5-6). Rahab was the Canaanite woman who hid the spies sent by Joshua.

Son of David
Why is the woman who seeks healing from Jesus address him as Son of David? In the Judaism of NT times, Solomon was regarded as a healer, too. And Solomon was a son of David.

But Jesus did not say a word to her.
The mission of the historical Jesus is to gather Israel for the end-time events. Nevertheless, the healing of the Centurion's slave and the healing of this woman's daughter were glimpses of the later opening up of the mission to all nations. At his ascension Jesus gave this great commission to his disciples: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of ALL nations."

"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."
Jesus ignores her but she doesn't give up. Her love for her child will not make her give up.

"It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."
The children were the Jews. Dogs and pigs were the Jewish terms of contempt for Gentiles (non-Jews). Jesus must have these words with a smile on his lips. In other words, there was no insult intended.

"Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters."
Touche. The woman was not only persistent. She was also witty. She uses Jesus own words to her advantage, to gain healing for her daughter.

"O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish."
In Matthew she was the only one about whom Jesus remarked as having great faith. But even in the healing of the Centurion's slave, Jesus marvelled at the faith shown by the man ("In no one in Israel have I found such faith.") It is significant that neither the woman nor the Centurion was a Jew. Both were Gentiles.

THOUGHTS ON PRAYER

No. 1.

God always hears our prayers. Sometimes his answer is "yes". At other times his answer is "no". Still at other times his answer is "wait".

No. 2
If I answer your prayer at once
it is because I'm testing your faith

If I answer your prayer later
it is because I'm testing your patience

If I don't answer your prayer
it is because I have something better planned for you.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?"

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat...

The better Greek translation would be: "Jesus compelled his disciples to get into a boat..." Why would he do that?

John's Gospel says that having seen the miracle, the people wanted to forcibly make him king. The people's idea of the messiah was a political and earthly one. But Jesus was not that kind of Messiah.

The disciples were perhaps thinking along the same line. They had to be shielded from this misconception. It is noteworthy that even after the Resurrection some of the disciples still held onto the hope of an earthly kingdom. They asked when he would re-establish the kingdom of David.

Jesus went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

Jesus was tired. He had his hands full that day. Yet he prayed. He communed with his Father. He was able to pray because he found the time to pray. And he made sure he had the time to pray because being alone with his Father was important to him.

During the fourth watch of the night...

In ancient time the night was divided into four watched: from 6pm-9pm, 9pm-12am, 12am-3am and 3am-6am. The time was around 3am.

"Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

Someone said that you can find the phrase "do not be afraid" 365 times in the bible. It is as if God is re-assuring us everyday of the year.

"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

That Peter could ask for such a thing meant great faith. It is enough for Jesus to give him permission to walk on the water for him to be able to walk on the water. In fact, he was able to walk on the water until...

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink...

As long as he had his eyes fixed on Jesus, everything was alright. But when he took his gaze away from Jesus, fear took over and he began to sink.

"Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter.

In the midst of the vicissitudes of life we can always cry out, "Lord, save me." Knowing that the Lord is there gives us courage and confidence.

"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

I think the Lord was not angry with Peter. I think he was disappointed or even sorry for Peter. Peter started out with great faith but "lost" it in just a few seconds. Later Peter would tell Jesus that even if everyone would desert him, he would never desert him. Feeling sorry for Peter, Jesus had to tell him that before the cock crows he would have denied him three time.

After they got into the boat, the wind died down.

Jesus does not take away our problems. He doesn't protect us from the trials of life. But he does give us peace of heart and mind even in the midst of the problems and the trials that come our way.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

MULTIPLICATION OF FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH

THE MOSAIC

Christians of the early Byzantine period built monasteries, churches and shrines in Galilee and on the shores of the Sea of Galilee to commemorate the ministry of Jesus and the miracles ascribed to him. Tabgha – an Arabic corruption of the Greek name Heptapegon (Seven Springs) – is the traditional site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes (Matt 14: 13-21). It is situated in a narrow, fertile valley on the northern shore of the lake, watered by several springs.

The Byzantine mosaic above was found in the ruins of the basilica, now restored.

(Jewish Virtual Library)

COMMENTARY

New American Bible

The taking, saying the blessing, breaking, and giving to the disciples correspond to the actions of Jesus over the bread at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26). Since they were usual at any Jewish meal, that correspondence does not necessarily indicate a eucharistic reference here. Matthew's silence about Jesus' dividing the fish among the people (Mark 6:41) is perhaps more significant in that regard.

The fragments left over: as in Elisha's miracle, food was left over after all had been fed. The word fragments (Greek klasmata) is used, in the singular, of the broken bread of the Eucharist in Didache 9:3-4.

William Barclay

He says that you may explain the miracle in three ways:

First, it really was a miracle which meant the suspension of the laws of nature.

Second, it was a sacramental experience. The people received a morsel of food but through which they experienced spiritual strengthening.

Third, Jesus by sharing the bread he received inspired others to do the same, that is, to share the bread which they were keeping only for themselves.

DON BOSCO

Do miracles similar to this happen?

We read in the life of Don Bosco (St. John Bosco) several instances of him multiplying not only bread but chestnuts and even Eucharistic bread.

A boy at the Oratory had decided to leave the boarding school and return home. That morning at breakfast he noticed that the bread delivered was not enough for everyone. He saw Don Bosco take the basket and begin distributing bread. To his amazement there was bread enough for all. When his mother arrived to take him home, he changed his mind. He later became a Salesian.

SAYING GRACE

Jewish Sabbath

Hamotzi or blessing over the bread: Beginning with the father each person in turn repeats the blessing over the challah (bread): "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth."

Christian Grace before meals

"Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty through Christ, our Lord. Amen."

The Gospel says that before the bread was distributed for the eating, Jesus first said the blessing. To me saying grace before eating is a recognition of God's providence. God is good to me. The food that I eat comes from his goodness and I thank him for that.

In the life of St. Dominic Savio (He was barely fifteen when he died. He was a teenage saint, almost fifteen when he died.) we read that when he was a young boy, a man came to eat with them. But the man did not say grace. He quietly left the table. When his parents asked him privately why he left, he said that he didn't want to eat in the company of a man who behaved like an animal. Animals do not say grace before meals.

Saying grace in public then becomes a public expression of our faith in the providence in God.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

PARABLES OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE AND PRICELESS PEARL

BACKGROUND TO THE PARABLES

American Bible Commentary

These two parables have the same point. The person who finds a buried treasure and the merchant who finds a pearl of great price sell all that they have to acquire these finds; similarly, the one who understands the supreme value of the kingdom gives up whatever he must to obtain it. The joy with which this is done is made explicit in the first parable, but it may be presumed in the second also.

In the unsettled conditions of Palestine in Jesus' time, it was not unusual to guard valuables by burying them in the ground.

Gary DeLashmutt Commentary

The first man is probably a farm laborer who stumbles upon a treasure buried in his boss's field. In ancient times, people didn't have safe-deposit boxes. During war, they often buried their wealth on their property. If they died or were exiled, the treasure was lost. In this story, the farm laborer probably kept the information from the landowner and scraped together everything he had to buy the field so the treasure would be legally his (Jesus is not teaching business ethics here!).

The second man is a wholesale pearl dealer who probably pays a small fee to examine a huge pile of oysters. He finds among the pile the mother of all pearls, and then liquidates all his assets (including his other pearls) to buy the whole pile and get legal title to the mother of all pearls.

A DISCERNING HEART

The first reading is so chosen because it is related to the Gospel reading. For this Sunday the first reading is about the request of Solomon for a discerning heart. He says that he is young and in order to rule his people well, he needed to be able to discern what is good and what is bad. God was pleased with his request and declared that there will never be anyone in Israel to equal Solomon's wisdom.

How does this related to the Gospel?

A normal person can see how valuable a treasure or pearl. But not everyone will be able to see how valuable the Kingdom of Heaven is. In order to give importance to the things of God, one needs to have a discerning heart. One needs wisdom.

To see as God sees, one needs wisdom. To obtain that wisdom, one needs to pray for it.

APPLICATION

A man went to his doctor asking how he can live to a ripe old age.

The doctor asked him, "Do you smoke?" "No."

"Do you drink." "No."

"Do you romantic liaisons?" "No."

Exasperated, the doctor blurted, "Then why on earth do you want to live long?"

The doctor did not have the wisdom to see what it is that makes life worth living. He did not have the discerning heart of Solomon.

How about you?

Mary Magdalene July 22

Mary Magdalen was so called either from Magdala near Tiberias, on the west shore of Galilee, or possibly from a Talmudic expression meaning "curling women's hair," which the Talmud explains as of an adulteress.

In the New Testament she is mentioned among the women who accompanied Christ and ministered to Him (Luke 8:2-3), where it is also said that seven devils had been cast out of her (Mark 16:9). She is next named as standing at the foot of the cross (Mark 15:40; Matthew 27:56; John 19:25; Luke 23:49). She saw Christ laid in the tomb, and she was the first recorded witness of the Resurrection.

The Greek Fathers, as a whole, distinguish the three persons:

* the "sinner" of Luke 7:36-50;
* the sister of Martha and Lazarus, Luke 10:38-42 and John 11; and
* Mary Magdalen.

Subsequent history of St. Mary Magdalen

The Greek Church maintains that the saint retired to Ephesus with the Blessed Virgin and there died, that her relics were transferred to Constantinople in 886 and are there preserved. Gregory of Tours (De miraculis, I, xxx) supports the statement that she went to Ephesus. However, according to a French tradition, Mary, Lazarus, and some companions came to Marseilles and converted the whole of Provence. Magdalen is said to have retired to a hill, La Sainte-Baume, near by, where she gave herself up to a life of penance for thirty years. When the time of her death arrived she was carried by angels to Aix and into the oratory of St. Maximinus, where she received the viaticum; her body was then laid in an oratory constructed by St. Maximinus at Villa Lata, afterwards called St. Maximin.

(Catholic Encyclopedia)