9th SUNDAY IN ORDINAR Y TIME (A)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Mt 7:21-27

COMMENTARY

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

The meaning is: It is not enough to say to me: “Lord, Lord.” There is need to do the will of my Father.”

To say: “Lord, Lord” is not bad in itself. However, one must see something concrete in one’s life.

In Matthew the expression “will of the Father” has two meanings: (1) God’s plan of salvation; and (2) All that is required in one’s daily conduct. Here the second meaning is meant.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?

On that day refers to the Day of Judgment when the glory of God will be manifested and for man the day of punishment or reward.

Here Jesus warns his disciples who perform cures and exorcisms in his name BUT lead evil lives. They will be punished.

Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

In Matthew ‘acting on the words of Jesus’ is not merely an external action NOR an interior feeling. It means the involvement of the whole person: one’s mind and heart.

The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.

In Palestine a strong rain is usually followed by a flash flood that destroys everything in its wake.

In summary, Jesus tells his disciples that (1) there must be coherence in what they say and in what they do; and that (2) they must put into practice the teachings that they have heard from Jesus.

FOR LIFE

The Bible insists on “doing”. For instance, the book after the Gospel of St. John is entitled, “Acts of the Apostles”. It relates what the Apostles did, not what they thought, not what they wanted to do.

When Jesus spoke about the Last Judgment (Mt 25), those who will be rewarded will be rewarded because of what they did. “Whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you did it to me.” And those who will be punished will be punished because of what they failed to do. “Whatever you failed to do for the least of my brothers, you failed to do for me.”

Again speaking about punishment, Jesus said: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” In other words, your actions tell what kind of person you are. And that is why actions are important. And that is why it is not enough to say good things. We also have to do good things. It is not enough to listen to the teachings of Jesus. We must also put them into practice.

But do you know that Martin Luther had a problem about doing good, about good works? And because of that he wanted to remove the Letter of St. James from the New Testament. Why? Because St. James was insisting on works while St. Paul insisted on faith and not on works. St. Paul taught that it is not works that will save you, but faith. But there is no contradiction.

St. Paul was right when he said that it is faith that saves. But St. James was also right when he said that works show that you have faith. He wrote: “So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works” (Js 2: 17-18).

Faith is like the root and works are the fruits. In other words, your good works must be the result of your faith. If your good works is not the result of your faith, it is worthless in the eyes of God. For example, someone may launch a campaign against drugs, not because of his faith in Jesus but only because he wants to get elected.

What can we do so that we are not only good at saying good things but also good at doing good things? What can we do so that we do not only listen to the teachings of Jesus but also put them into practice? I suggest two things:

(1) When you listen to the first reading or the second reading or the gospel or the homily, ask yourself three questions:
- What is that one thing I will do because of what I have heard? Or
- What is that one thing that I will stop doing because of what I have heard? Or
- What is that one thing I will continue doing because of what I have heard?

(2) Make a daily examination of conscience. At the end of the day, look at how you have behaved during the day.
- If you have behaved according to the teachings of Jesus, offer that day to him.
- If you have behaved in a way contrary to the teachings of Jesus, be sorry for it and make a resolution to do better the following day.

Ang Kristiyano ay hindi lamang magaling sa salita. Magaling din siya sa gawa. Hindi lamang siya nakikinig. Siya rin ay gumagawa.

CORPUS CHRISTI (A)

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.

Jn 6:51-58

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds…

The traditional translation would be: “Jesus said to the Jews….” It is as if Jesus and his disciples were not Jews. It would seem that when John wrote his gospel, Christians were already aware that they had an identity of their own. They were not a religious group within the Jewish religion.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

The Jewish hearers of Jesus would know that the bread that came down from heaven was manna. It was this bread that kept their ancestors alive during their wandering in the desert. Jesus asserts that he is the true manna (for he is the LIVING bread) that came down from heaven.

Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.

And just as the manna of the Old Testament kept the Israelites alive in the de-sert, so also this manna which is his flesh will give life to those who eat it. Obvi-ously, Jesus is talking here about the Eucharist.

Giving his flesh refers to his death on the cross. For the life of the world is another way of saying “saving mankind”. In other words, the death of Jesus is salvific.

Life is a favourite theme in John’s gospel. In his encounter with the Samaritan woman, he offers to give her living water. When Jesus went to see Lazarus who had died, he tells Martha that he is the way, the truth and the life.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.

The word “eat” here is literally “chew” or “masticate”. John may want to underline the fact that the Eucharist is REALLY partaking of the body and blood of Jesus.

Jesus also tells us that the Eucharist is contains within itself the promise of resurrection to those who believe.

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

Food and drink sustains life. Since the Eucharist is real food and drink, it follows that it gives life, eternal life.

Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

To live is to enter into communion with the Son and with the Father. The Eucharist is a special sign of this communion. Hence, the Eucharist when received is called Holy Communion.

GOD’S HUNGER

Is God hungry for food? Certainly not. God does not need to eat.

Does he long for money? Obviously not. He doesn’t need to buy anything.

Is he longing for companionship because he is lonely? Certainly not. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Heaven is populated by choirs of angels and saints. Obviously God can not possibly be lonely.

Is God hungry for our attention? Does he long to have some time with us? The answer is yes. Because God has decided to create us and because God has decided to establish a relationship with us, God wants some time with us. He wants some attention. How can there be a relationship without time and attention?

How do we give our time and attention to God? Through prayer as life and through prayer as exercise. Prayer as exercise means setting aside a specific time just to talk to him. Prayer as life means thinking of God now and then in the midst of our activities during the day.

God longs for our loyalty. God wants to be sure that if we have to make a choice, we will surely choose him. Temptation then becomes an opportunity to make a choice for God.

Finally, is God hungry for our love? In June 1675 during the feast of Corpus Christi, while praying before Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, Jesus revealed His Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and said: "Here is the Heart that has so loved men as to spare nothing for them, exhausting and consuming itself in order to prove its love for them; and in return I receive, from most of them, only ingratitude." It is as if the Sacred Heart of Jesus is saying: “I have loved but have not been loved in return.”

Does God long for our love? The Bible (Deuteronomy) says: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.

And how do we show our love? Jesus said: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Trinity Sunday (A)

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

Jn 3:16-18

READING

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 God did not sent his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him.

When the NT used the word God, it usually refers to God the Father.

As parents are concerned for their children’s welfare, so also God the Father is concerned with our welfare. He wants eternal life for us. St. Paul re-affirms this when he wrote: “God wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth” (1Tim 2,3).

Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

The expected response to the Son is faith. Refusal to believe risks condemnation.

Name. In the bible, “name” is not just a label to identify who you are. In the bible the name is the person himself. Hence, in the Our Father “holy be your name” is not about giving reverence to the name of God but about giving reverence to God himself.

Philippians 2,10 says: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” Here it is not just the name “Jesus” that is being reverenced. It is Jesus himself.

Mention of the Trinity

In this gospel passage from John, only Father and Son are mentioned. However, in the second reading the Holy Trinity is mentioned. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” This sentence is used as a greeting by the priest at the beginning of the Mass.

In the gospel for the Ascension, there is mention of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.'”

TALKING ABOUT THE TRINITY

The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. Yet in the end there is only one God. How do you explain that? Yet theologians have tried to explain that. And it is a valid effort because we human beings need to make sense of everything. We have the need to answer our “whys”. And to do this they have used philosophy which doesn’t really make it any easier for ordinary human b-ings to understand.

Catechists have been more successful. They have used symbols: an equilateral triangle and three intersecting circles. St. Patrick in his efforts at catechizing the Celtics of Ireland used the shamrock.

You may find this “ad hominen” argument amusing in support of the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity. An unbeliever was insulting a Catholic, “You Catholics are stupid. It’s as if you never went to school. How can you believe in this Holy Trinity? Three persons and yet one God. Didn’t you ever learn how to add? One plus one plus one equals three. How can you say one plus one plus one equals one.

“Ah,” the Catholic replied. “But you are mistaken. Since we are talking about God, you can not used an inferior mathematical operation. You have to use the superior mathematical operation. Therefore, one times one times one equals one. So you see we Catholics are correct. There is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, yet in the end there is only One!”

THE TRINITY AND US

John Donne was an Anglican priest who lived from 1572-1631. He was also a poet. He wrote a meditation entitled: No man is an island. Joan Baez may have been inspired by it when she wrote this song:

No man is an island,
No man stands alone,
Each man's joy is joy to me,
Each man's grief is my own.

We need one another,
So I will defend,
Each man as my brother,
Each man as my friend.

Sociology defines man as a social animal. It is his nature to be with others. In the book of Genesis we read God saying: “It is not good for man to be alone.” In that same book, man is said to be created in the image and likeness of God. In other words, we can not be alone because God can not be alone. Therefore, we are not surprised that although God is one, God is not alone. God is Trinity--Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And maybe that is why God also created the universe. He wants to be with others.

This Trinity Sunday invites us to reflect on how can we be more like the Trinity.

St. Thomas Aquinas describes the Trinity in terms of relationships. He says that the Father from all eternity is thinking of the Son and the love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit. This description reminds me of a family.

Let us therefore, focus our attention on the family. How can our family become more like the Holy Trinity?

Once I saw written on a sidewalk: Roberta, ti voglio bene. I learned that it means: Roberta, I love you. However, it literally means, I wish you well. But is it not true that when you love someone, you wish him well? But love does not stop at wishing someone well. You have to act on that desire. You have to do something to make that desire a reality. That is why someone observed that love is not just a noun. It is a verb. Why do some parents make the difficult choice of work-ing aboard away from their children? Because they want to give their children a bright tomorrow. And so they work abroad to make that desire a reality.

Do you love one another in your family? That is a good question. But the better question is: What have you done so that your family feels that you love them?

Love is not always about good feelings. Sometimes love requires us to do something difficult. A teen-age mother gave up her baby for adoption to an Italian couple because she believed her baby would have no future with her. In her letter to her baby, she explained why she had to give him up for adoption. She ended by asking her baby to try to understand why she had to give him away. She asked him not hate her for it.

Love is not always about good feelings. Sometimes love requires us to do something difficult as when parents have to punish their children. One time the eldest daughter returned home very, very late, way, way beyond her curfew time. She was in the company of her cousins. But returning home that late was a big transgression. So her parents grounded her for a week. She can only go to school. For that week she can not go out with her friends and cousins.

Love in the family means valuing one another, not taking each other for granted. Parents and children need to use the following words more often: Please, thank you, I’m sorry. Sometimes we vent our anger on our spouse or our children. Would it not be a good thing to say: “Honey, I had a bad day. I’m sorry for taking it out on you.”

And when an apology is extended, let us accept it. Understanding the other person makes it easier to forgive. Children, sometimes your parents are irritable at the end of the day. For a little thing they shout at you. But think: “Maybe Papa is extra-tired today.” Understanding why your father acted that way makes it easier for you to be patient and forgiving.

And finally, a word on “bonding”. A family is not just a collection of people. A family is a group of people who are bonded together. Blood ties and love bind a family together. How do you strengthen those ties that bind the family? I suggest two things. The first is faith that is expressed. Prayer and Sunday Mass are expressions of faith. Father Peyton said: “A family that prays together stays together.”

The second is a common activity. What you do is not as important as that you do it together. Eating together, cleaning the house together, going out to the mall together, going on an outing in summer—these strengthen family ties.

CONCLUSION

Trinity Sunday is a good opportunity for families to work on their family life. I made the following suggestions:
(1) Love must be expressed so that each member of the family feels loved.
(2) Sometimes love means making a difficult decision (such as giving up a baby for adoption) or doing something unpleasant (such as punishing a child).
(3) Saying “Thank you, please and I’m sorry” does wonders for our family re-lationships.
(4) It is easier to forgive and to be patient when we make an effort to under-stand the other.
(5) Doing something together like going to Mass together or going to the mall together help in strengthening family ties.

I asked myself this question: “If ever I find myself at the lowest point in my life, where can I turn to?” Without hesitation, my answer was: my family. I’m sure your answer will be the same. Our families are important. Therefore, let us take care of them.

Pentecost (A)

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

Acts 2:1-11

The Feast of Pentecost

Pentecost was first a Jewish feast. Only later did it also become a Christian feast.

The Jews celebrated Pentecost 50 days after celebrating Passover. On this feast, they remember the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai and becoming the People of God.

By coincidence the sending of the Holy Spirit took place when the Jews were celebrating Pentecost. Hence, we also celebrate Pentecost. But what we remember are not the events at Mt. Sinai but the coming of the Holy Spirit.

But there is one point of similarity with the Jewish feast of Pentecost. On Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit, we became the New People of God just as the Jews remember their becoming God’s People on Mt. Sinai.

One more thing. The Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of John have two different dates for the coming of the Holy Spirit. As was said earlier, the Acts of the Apostles date the coming of the Holy Spirit during the Jewish feast of Pentecost. In John’s Gospel, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to his apostles on the evening of Easter Sunday, which is the day when Jesus rose from the dead.

Manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

In the Acts of the Apostles, during the time when he appeared to his disciples after his resurrection Jesus told his disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. When the Holy Spirit descended upon them, the first manifestation was a strong wind and then fire. These are manifestations of power.

What does power mean? It means the ability to do something. In the case of the disciples, it was the power or ability to carry out the mission entrusted to them by Jesus before he ascended into heaven: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations.” That was why they were given the gift of speaking in different languages. With that gift they will be able to make themselves understood by all nations.

In St. John’s account we read: “He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Here the Holy Spirit is given through a breath. Breath gives us the idea of gentleness and meekness. Perhaps Jesus wants to tell us that through confession we would experience the gentleness of God.

If we were divide the history of salvation using the Bible, we can say that in the Old Testament time the leading figure is God, the Father; in the time described in the Gospels the leading figure is God, the Son; and the time after the ascension of Jesus till the end of the world, the leading figure is the Holy Spirit.

Where do we see the Holy Spirit at work?

We see him at work in the sacraments. He makes the sacraments effective. In Baptism we are baptized with water and the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is our personal Pentecost. During the consecration at Mass, the priest lays his hands over the bread and wine. He calls the Holy Spirit so that they may become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

We see the Holy Spirit at work in the religious congregations of men and women. If there are the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, it is because the Holy Spirit has inspired and guided St. John Bosco to found these two religious congregations.

We see the Holy Spirit at work in religious groups or covenant communities founded by lay people. Marriage Encounter and Couples for Christ are examples.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said to his disciples, “The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” The Holy Spirit helps the Church through its shepherds to find answers to moral and doctrinal questions that come because of new situations. For example, the church speaks clearly against capital punishment and war.

But the Holy Spirit is also at work in us, as individuals.

What is God’s will for me? Does he want me to change jobs? Does he want me to marry this person? I should ask the Holy Spirit to help me discern God’s will.

I want to stop smoking but I can’t. The Holy Spirit is the power that can help us overcome our addictions.

I am angry and hurt because my son has made his girlfriend pregnant. The Holy Spirit is comforter. He comforts us in our afflictions.

I want to pray but I don’t know what to say or I don’t know what to do. I can ask the Holy Spirit to help me lift up my mind and heart to God. St. Paul in his letter to the Romans writes: "The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” Sometimes the Holy Spirit leads us to pray not with our lips (that is, not with words) but with our hearts.

Conclusion

Jesus said: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” We celebrate the solemnity of Pentecost as a reminder that Jesus, as always, has fulfilled his promise. We are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with us.

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.

Mt 28:16-20

THE ASCENSION ACCORDING TO ACTS

The ascension took place 40 days after the Resurrection. During that time Jesus through his appearances proved that he was alive. He instructed his apostles about the Kingdom and told them to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. When he comes, they will become his witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then in Palestine, and finally to the ends of the earth. Even after instructing them for 40 days, they still did not understand Jesus and his mission. For if they understood, they would not ask: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Until now they were still thinking of Jesus and the Kingdom in terms of earthly power.
The ascension is described as Jesus rising towards heaven and then being hidden by the clouds. Two men in white garments (angels) tell the disciples that the Parousia (return of Jesus) will happen in the same way.

In the Acts of the Apostles it seems that the ascension took place somewhere in the vicinity of Jerusalem.

THE ASCENSION ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

At the appearance of Jesus, the Eleven worshipped him. They were no longer Twelve because of the defection of Judas Iscariot. Although they worshipped him, they still “doubted”. In Matthew the Greek word that was translated as “doubt” means little faith. In other words, Matthew is saying that even at that point the faith of the disciples was not as strong as it should be. They may have to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit to strengthen that faith.

It is on this occasion that Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples: to make disciples of all nations, to baptize them and to instruct them to obey his commandments and not the commandments of Moses. Jesus ends by assuring them of his presence. He will be with them as they carry out the Great Commission.

It is to be noted that Matthew does not say anything about Jesus ascending into heaven at after this.

WE’RE BORN FOR GREATER THINGS

Sapagkat ako’y tao lamang. Yes, we’re weak. We’re prone to fall. In fact, due to original sin we carry within ourselves this weakness towards sin. But we’re not doomed to follow our baser instincts. In fact, we were born for greater things. And as the Solemnity of the Ascension reminds us: our destiny is up there where we belong.

IN PROCESS