One Year Anniversary

Would you believe it? It has been more than a year since I started blogging. I hope that those who have read my blog found it spiritually enriching and nourishing.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,would be preached in his name to all the nations (Lk 24:35-48)

Setting
The two disciples had just arrived in Jerusalem from Emmaus in order to bring to the disciples the news that Jesus had appeared to them.

Peace
Shalom is a typical greeting. But in this instance it meant something different. Jesus was giving to his disciples the fruits of his passion and death.

They were startled and terrified.
The sudden and unexpected appearance of Jesus startled the disciples. This turned to terror when he whom they knew to be dead was there in front of them.

Touch me and see.
Although the body of Jesus has been glorified, it remained solid and bore the wounds of the crucifixion.

They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.
In front of them may mean before their eyes. But it could also be translated as at their table. In other words, the action of Jesus was not only to show that he was not a ghost but was an act of fellowship.

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
The period covering his resurrection until his ascension (40 days in Acts) was spent in preparing his disciples for the task of calling people to faith in him. Their preaching would carry great weight for they were witnesses of what they were preaching.

STORY

Graham Greene wrote the story of Monsignor Quixote's bad dream. In that dream he saw Jesus crucified on the cross while the Jews were making fun of him. They challenged him to come down from the cross.

Suddenly Jesus gave a loud cry. He called on the angels. And they came. They removed the nails and brought him down from the cross.

The Romans knelt before him. The Pharisees worshipped him as well as the elders, the Sadducees, the priests and all of Jerusalem.

His disciples arrived one by one and they acclaimed him. In triumph they entered Jerusalem once more.

LESSON

Why was this a bad dream?

If Jesus came down from the cross he would have chosen a path different from the path that the Father willed for him. "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer."

A Japanese karate instructor volunteered his services in Don Bosco Tondo. He was a Shintoist. He was toured around the area on the first day. When he passed by the chapel, he saw the cross and asked about it. The guide explained who Jesus was and the significance of his death. But the instructor couldn't understand why Jesus had to die on the cross.

Perhaps the death of Christ on the cross is something that we take as a matter of course. But it is the cross that comes to us that we may have difficulty in understanding. Why? Why? Why?

Yet it is something that should not come as a surprise to us. For did not Jesus tell us: "If you want to be my disciple, carry your cross everyday and follow me."

Second Sunday of Easter (B)

On the evening of that first day of the week...Jesus came and stood in their midst. (Jn 20:19-31)

When did this event take place?
The time of this event was on the evening of the day when Jesus rose from the dead.

Why were they together?
The reason for being together in the upper room was fear for their lives.

Why did John mention the detail of the room being locked?
To show that the body of Jesus has been transformed by the resurrection and being so, can no longer be hindered by matter. He can now therefore pass through walls.

Why did Jesus show his wounds?
The Resurrection somehow changed the appearance of Jesus. Mary Magdalene when she first saw him thought he was the gardener. The wounds would identify him as truly Jesus.

Why were the apostles so happy?
Wouldn't you also be filled with joy if someone you love died but later was revived?

Why did Jesus breathe on his disciples?
In Hebrew the word for spirit is also the word for breath. His action affirmed his words: Receive the Holy Spirit.

Why did Jesus give them the Holy Spirit?
In order to give them the power to forgive the sins of their fellowmen.

Take note that in St. John Pentecost did not take place 50 days after the Passion but on the same day as Easter. So did the Ascension. That was why Jesus can now send the Holy Spirit from the Father. And with the sending of the Holy Spirit believers can now become children of God through Baptism.

Furthermore the Apostles to whom Jesus gave the Spirit for the forgiveness of sins were unfaithful to Jesus. They abandoned Jesus in his darkest hour. Yet Jesus gave them this power. Therefore, the objection of "why confess to priests when they are also sinners" do not hold water.

Why was the forgiveness of sins the first gift of the Risen Lord to his Church?
Because the reason why Jesus died was to save humanity from their sins. In the sacrament of confession, Jesus again and again grants to us the forgiveness of our sins.

Why did John tell the story of the doubt of Thomas?
First, in order to show that the Resurrection was not an invention of the apostles.

Second, in order to let Christians of the future hear the words of Jesus which was so appropriate for them: Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe.

EASTER (B)

You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. (Mk 16:1-7)

If I were to choose a movie that would somehow illustrate the Paschal Mystery, it whould be The Chronicles of Narnia. The movie is obviously an allegory of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t take much of an imagination to identify Aslan, the Lion, with Jesus Christ and the White Witch with Satan.

I selected three sequences from the movie which I felt were closely related to the Paschal Mystery.

First Sequence

The first sequence is when the White Witch entered the camp of Aslan and demanded the surrender of Edmund. He was to be executed because he betrayed his brother and sisters. Then Aslan and the White Witch went to the tent for a conference. The conference ended with Aslan taking the place of Edmund. The innocent lion taking the place of the guilty Edmund. It is the innocent Jesus taking the place of sinful human beings.

Second Sequence

The second sequence is the execution and resurrection. Aslan willingly met his death at the hands of the White Witch on the Stone Table. While the White Witch engaged the followers of Aslan in battle, Lucy and Susan weep over Aslan. But lo and behold, Aslan disappears and then re-appears alive again.

Satan can not keep Jesus dead. Jesus is all-powerful. Nothing is impossible with Jesus. And so what is Jesus telling us at his resurrection? He assures us: “Fear not!” Why? Because Jesus is powerful, he can protect you, defend you, and help you.

“Fear not!” Why? Because Jesus is resurrected, he can be with you all the time and any place you go! The Resurrected Jesus assures us: “Fear not! For I am with you!”

Third Sequence

The third sequence is the battle sequence. When did the tide turn against the White Witch? When the resurrected Aslan entered the fray.

There is a battle going on inside us—the battle between good and evil. The battle ground is our heart. If we allow the Risen Lord to join us in this battle, we know for sure what will be the outcome—final victory for us.

But how do we get the Risen Lord to join us in this battle against evil?

First, through confession. How’s that? You see, going to confession is not just saying: “I have sinned. I am sorry. I repent.” Going to confession is also giving to God control over our lives. In other words, we are telling the Risen Jesus who battled and won against evil: “Please take command.”

Second, communion. Remember Elijah? He was running for his life. Jezebel was after his head. He was fed with bread by the angel of God. Having done that, he was able to walk 40 days and 40 nights until he reached the safety of the mountain of God. Biblical scholars say that the bread fed to Elijah is a foreshadowing of the Eu-charistic Bread.

The battle going in our hearts is a protracted battle. It will continue until the end of our lives. Where do we get the strength to continue fighting and never to give up? Communion. St. John Bosco used to say: “Communion is the bread that makes us strong.”

RECOMMENDATIONS

My Easter recommendations are:

• Get hold of the DVD of The Chronicles of Narnia. Watch it and nourish your soul.
  
• Do you need Jesus to re-assure you that he will always be there for you to protect you, or to help you or to comfort you? Make a poster or bookmarks with the words: “Fear not! For I am with you!”
  
• And finally, develop the sacramental spirituality of confession and communion. Hand over to God control over your life in confession and in communion let God give you the endurance and strength to battle sin and evil in your heart until the end of your life.

Palm Sunday (B)

Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. (Mk 15:1-39)

This Sunday is called Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. Two Gospels are read.

The first is read before the Mass proper. It relates the story of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The gospel story is re-enacted with the blessing of the palms and the procession into the church. Later the blessed palms are brought home. Some people put them on their doors or windows. Others put them on the wall. The ashes used on Ash Wednesday come the ashes that remain after these dried palms are burned.

The passion of Jesus is read as the gospel of the Sunday. (It is, therefore, fitting that the liturgical color is red.) Because it is long, the passion narrative is sometimes divided among different readers. The part of Jesus is read by the priest, of course. There is a repeat of the passion reading on Good Friday. The narrative is always taken from the Gospel of John. In some places the passion narrative is sung in Gregorian chant.

LESSONS

The cross is the icon of the passion. Contemplating on the cross, we can arrive at two conclusions. The first is that sins of humanity must be so grave. The second is that God must love us so much.

We are sinful.

The principle of proportionality demands that the gravity of the crime must dictate the severity of the punishment. At the time of Noah, the cumulative wickedness of men brought the deluge that almost wiped out life on earth. The wickedness of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah condemned them and their cities to a fiery end. The sins of all men must be so enormous so that it was not enough for a mere man to suffer the cruel death of crucifixion. It had to be God. It might be a good idea to watch The Passion of the Christ in order to get a feel of the gravity of our sins.

Smile. God loves you.

St. Paul said that with some difficulty you might be able to find someone who would be willing to die for a good man. But to die for a wicked man? Yet Jesus did just that. And that proves how much he loved us. While we were still God's enemies, he gave his life as a ransom for us.

Through the cross God tells us, "I do love you." I am reminded of a valentine card. There was a cuddly teddy bear in front. And there was the question: "Do you know how much I love you?" When you open the card, the teddy bear opens its arms. And there is the declaration, "This much." On the cross Jesus asks us: "Do you know how much I love you?" And with arms nailed on the cross, says: "This much!"