Fifth Sunday of Lent (B)

Unless grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies… (Jn 12:20-33)

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast

They were foreigners who accepted the Jewish faith in the one God and some of their observances. They were called Greeks because they spoke Greek. They approached Philip and Andrew who were the only two disciples who had Gentile names. These two probably spoke Greek.

Have we been like Andrew and Philip instruments to bring others closer to God?

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

The hour is the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus into heaven which in fact is the glorification of Jesus.

In the Bible hour meant decisive stages in God’s plan of saving mankind. Lent is the hour for us to accept God’s plan of saving us. Just as Jesus responded with a yes so must we. And we do so by repentance, that is, by turning away from sin in roder to turn to God once more.

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

Jesus is the grain of wheat. His death produces a rich harvest of salvation for all man and the birth of the Church.

The early church accepted this law of life. In fact, it was a common saying that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. That is, the death of the Christian is not the beginning of the end for the church but in fact will result in more people accepting the Christian faith.

The Lenten season is the time for putting to death our sinful desires. St. Paul writes to the Colossians: “Therefore, put to death what is earthly in your life, that is, immorality, impurity, inordinate passions, wicked desires and greed which is a way of worshipping idols.” The result is a new way of thinking, a new way of living, a new man created in the likeness of Christ.

I am troubled now.

The gospel of John does not related the agony of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. But what the other gospels related as happening in the garden, john relates here. Jesus feels anguish as the hour of his death approaches. He appeals to his Father. He accepts his death. And finally, he receives comfort from heaven.

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”

The Father’s voice came to give witness to Jesus at two other great moments: his baptism at the Jordan and at the Transfiguration. This moment was also important because at this point the teaching ministry of Jesus is ended and his glorification is beginning.

Conscience is called the voice of God within us. In moments of temptation this voice also speaks to us, to invite us to avoid sin and to be faithful to him.

Now the ruler of this world will be driven out.

Satan is the prince of this world. The death of Jesus overcomes the dominion of Satan over humanity.

Exorcism is a religious ceremony to drive out an evil spirit that has taken possession of the body of a person. But Satan can also take possession of the our hearts. Confession becomes the means of driving Satan from our hearts.

And when I am lifted up from the earth

Jesus will be lifted up from the earth through his crucifixion and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.

We are not meant to live forever in this world. If we are found worthy, we shall one day be lifted up to heaven to share in the glory of Jesus.

I will draw everyone to myself.

The crucified Christ is set before the eyes of the world as its Savior. But we can refuse because we are free. Let us not harden our hearts to the cal of the Lord during this Lenten season.

Fourth Sunday of Lent (B)

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert. (Jn 3:14-21)

In the book of Numbers, the people of Israel were reported to have grumbled because of lack of water and food. For this God sent snakes whose bite brought death to many. The people then went to Moses to beg him to intercede for them before God. God instructed Moses to fashion a bronze serptent and hang it on a standard. Everyone who was bitten and looked at the bronze serpent survived.

The bronze serpent was a symbol of Jesus who was hung on the standard of the cross. Those who would look at him in faith, that is, those who would believe in him, would receive eternal life.

To us the cross is important because it is a symbol of our salvation, a sign of faith and a reminder of God's love for us. For this reason we must make the sign of the cross with reverence.

To be lifted up in St. John's Gospel does not ony mean the crucifixion. It also includes the glorification of Jesus in his resurrection and asecension into heaven. Therefore, it is not only the death of Jesus that gave us eternal life, but also his resurrection and ascension.

Eternal life is often understood as being part of the life of the age to come, that is, the never-ending life that God will bring after the end of the world. This life, therefore, is something in the future.

But in John's Gospel eternal life is something that anyone can already enjoy in some measure even while on earth. Earth is like the first stage; Heaven, the final stage. Earth is like that stage where a seed is planted and grows. Heaven is that stage when the plant has become a tree and is now bearing fruit.

LESSON

If you go to the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Better Living, Paranaque, you will notice a different kind of cross at the sanctuary. It is not the crucified Christ that you will see. Instead it is the resurrected Christ. What they did is to express in religous art what St. John said in his Gospel, that the glorification of Jesus consists not only in his resurrection and ascension, but in his death as well. They are one package.

And what St. John said can also be found in the nuggets of human wisdom. For example, no pain, no gain. Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga. What wisdom do these quotations teach? Success comes at the price of sacrifice. Triumph comes with a price.

Our mistake is that we want the short-cut to success. We want to succeed without making the necessary effort. Would you believe it? Some students expect to pass the subject without having to study their lessons and pass their projects. Some people want to get rich without working for it. And I am not talking about cell phone snatchers. Some take the short-cut to riches through corruption.

This kind of mentality can also be found in the spiritual life. Here are excerpts from the prayer of someone who wants the easy way:

I asked God to take away my pride.
God said "No".
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said "No".
It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said "No".
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said "No".
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

We promise God to be good and avoid sin, but we may be unwilling to make the effort to avoid the occasions of sin. We promise God that we will change, but we may be unwilling to make the effort to exercise self-control. We promise God that we will increase our self-control but we are unwilling to fast and to make sacrifices.

It is useless for us to expect that by Easter we will have changed our ways if during this Lent we have not made any effort to avoid the occasion of sin, to exercise self-control and to fast and to make sacrifices.

No pain. No gain. Walang tiyaga. Walang nilaga.

Third Sunday of Lent (B)

Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace. ( Jn 2:13-25 )

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there.

This was the outer Court of the Gentiles. Beyond this no gentile may cross at the pain of death.

Merchants were there for the convenience of the pilgrims who could not possibly bring animals along.

The money-changers were a necessity since Jews would not use pagan money to buy the animal sacrifices.

Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.

By saying "my Father's house", Jesus shows a special relationship with the Father.

Jesus was protesting the lack of respect for the sanctity of the temple.

Zeal for your house will consume me.

This comes from Psalm 69 which was always thought of as applying to the Messiah. Jesus is, therefore, being hinted as the Messiah.

The clearing of the temple was one more reason for the hostility of the Jews towards Jesus and would bring him closer to his death.

What sign can you show us for doing this?

In the gospel of John, the Jews continuously ask for a miracle which Jesus would refuse to give. Miracles were for those who were ready to receive them.

Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.

This statement of Jesus was used against him in a twisted way when he was brought before the Sanhedrin.

This temple has been under construction for forty-six years.

The construction was begun in 20 or 19 BC. This incident, therefore, took place in 28 AD. The temple was not completed in Jesus' time. It was finished around 63 or 64 AD. And then destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD and never rebuilt to the present day.

But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

The temple was holy because it was God's dwelling place. Now with the coming of Jesus the temple is no longer needed. It has been replaced by Jesus in whom we can find God because he is truly God.

Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all.

A faith based merely on miracles and not in the one who performs them will prove unstable. In fact, the very ones who welcomed Jesus as Son of David were the ame ones to cry out: "Crucify him!"

OF CHAPELS AND CHURCHES

Our chapels and churches are sacred spaces. We dedicate them for the worship of God. That is why we call them House of God or House of Prayer. Precisely they are sacred spaces, our behavior inside them must reflect their sacred character.

When the liturgy is not being celebrated, the silence that pervades the building not only creates the climate for prayer but proclaims the praying that is going on inside.

When we enter the chapel, we make the sign of the cross (with holy water, if available). It is both a reminder and a acknowledgment that we entering a sacred space.

When the Blessed Sacrament is kept in the tabernacle, the genuflection (or in some places, a deep bow) becomes a homage and adoration to Jesus who is truly present.

Chapels and Churches are truly the House of God. But they are also the House of the People of God assembled for worship. In fact, the word church does not only refer to a building but to the body of believers. That is why going to a chapel or to a church is like going home. It is the Father's house. But it is also ours.

Second Sunday of Lent (B)

The Transfiguration (Mk 9:2-10)

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.

In the Old Testament, Moses beheld Yahweh on Mount Sinai. Now Peter, James and John beheld the transfigured Jesus on Mount Tabor.

Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.

In the old testament times God spoke to his people through chosen persons such as Moses and Elijah. Now the Father speaks through his Son. Therefore, we are to listen to Jesus.

Moses and Elijah represented the Law and the Prophets. They were also there to testify to Jesus as the Messiah.

“Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents."

Peter wanted to prolong the experience of blessedness on the mountain. But that was not to be because they had to return to the world and enter upon the path of suffering. That was why the cloud disappeared and Jesus returned to his normal appearance.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them.

When Israel was wandering in the desert, they had a Tent of Meeting. When a cloud covered that tent, it was a sign that God was there. The cloud was present at the Transfiguration as a sign of the presence of the Father.

He charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Before Jesus could enter into his glory, he had to suffer and die on the cross.

Significance of the Transfiguration

“Who do people say that I am?” The answer of the disciples was: “John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets.” “But you who do you say that I am?” Peter answered: “You are the Messiah.”

The transfiguration was a confirmation of their faith in Jesus was the Messiah. It was the occasion when the Father himself made known that Jesus was his beloved Son. And finally, it was a preview of the glory of Jesus as Lord after the resurrection and the glory of the just at the resurrection of the dead.

Our Personal Transfiguration

The transfiguration was chosen to be the gospel of the 2nd Sunday of Lent to tell us that if we want to be transfigured like Jesus we must also take the path of the cross, that is, we must put to death our sinful selves.

This is a story of the transfiguration of a person whose slavery to drugs led him to the gates of hell.

He started with amphetamines, then valium. He abandoned his wife.

Then he went for cocaine and sedatives. His mother called for him when her second husband died suddenly. He didn't care.

He introduced his 15-yr old son and his friend to cocaine. This led to his arrest but managed to delay the trial for two years.

He was soon $450,000 in debt. He was spending $2000 a week for cocaine.

One night he could no longer stand it. He reached for the drawer of his dresser and took out his gun. He got hold of the Jewish prayer cord his father had given him a long time ago. His father had told him: "If there is ever anything important you need, take this cord and pray." He fell on his knees weeping, "God, help me. I don't want to die."

To continue living he had to put to death his addicted self. He signed up for treatment. He also attended Alcoholics Anonymous.

From his old self began to emerge a new self. He began working hard again. He started paying his creditors. He also became active in Narcotics Anonymous to help others like him. Later he founded Cocaine Anonymous.

He recieved a call from his mother again. This time it was cancer. He knew what he had to do. He closed his business which was picking up and went to Fort Lauderdale to care for his mother.

Now he was truly transfigured.

The Path to Personal Transfiguration

La Pieta was one of Michaelangelo's greatest sculptures. But in the beginning it was just a big block of rough marble which had been rejected by other sculptors. One day Michaelangelo began to apply his chisel to it. Bits and pieces of marble fell to the floor until one day the block of rough marble was no more. It had become the La Pieta.

We are meant to be God's masterpieces. But for that to happen, the chisel of sacrifice and self-discipline must be used. In this way our sinful self might be chipped away little by little until we are transfigured and a new self is born.

First Sunday of Lent (B)

Jesus remained in the desert for forty days,tempted by Satan. (Mk 1:12-15)

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert.

The desert was where it was believed the evil spirits dwelt.

He remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.

Israel lived 40 years in the desert after the exodus and before they finally entered the Promised Land. Elijah walked 40 days before reaching Mt. Horeb. Moses was with Yahweh for 40 days on top of Mt. Sinai.

Satan was the accuser in front of God. He was the leader of the forces against the People of God. He tempts people to sin.

He was among wild beasts.

The peaceful coexistence of man and wild animals just like in the garden of Eden was a sign the time of the Messiah was at hand.

And the angels ministered to him.

It was an angel that brought food and drink to Elijah. According to Psalm 91, the man who trusts in God will win against evil, he will dwell in peace with wild animals and angels will serve him.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.

The fate of John the Baptist would be the fate of Jesus Christ.

Jesus left Judea because it had become dangerous for him. In Galilee Jesus found a better reception than in Judea.

The kingdom of God is at hand.

The coming of the Kingdom of God means: 1) The power of God would be manifested; 2) All men will be judged; and 3) The reign of God over all mankind.

Repent, and believe in the gospel.

Repentance in Greek is metanoia. It means a change in direction of one's life; a change of mind; a change in behavior; turning away from sin in order to fix one's eyes on God.

MESSAGE

In the desert Jesus came face to face with the devil. There the devil tried to make him sin. Jesus emerged victorious. During this lenten season, we too have to face our sins and the temptations that bedevil us.

What are our weapons? What are our strategies?

• Communion to make us strong
• Resolution to target that dominant sins that we have to weed out
• Daily examination of conscience to monitor how we are doing in the fight
  
• Prayer and the reading of God's word to keep us in touch with God
  
• Confession for healing