25th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.

Mt 20:1-16a

Rembrandt

EXPLANATION OF THE PASSAGE

“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard…. Going out about nine o’clock…. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock…. Going out about five o’clock….”

It was harvest time. It was necessary to gather in the grapes as soon as possible lest the weather (frost, perhaps?) destroy the harvest.

But this action of the landowner can be seen from a different perspective. Work was on a daily basis. And for some, no work meant no pay. And no pay meant no food. Therefore, for the landowner to go out throughout the day to hire laborers can also be seen as an act of kindness. He wanted the family of those men not go hungry.

After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

The daily wage was a denarius. According to Wikipedia: “The Roman cur-rency system included the denarius (plural: denarii) after 211 BC, a small silver coin, and it was the most common coin produced for circulation but was slowly debased until its replacement by the antoninianus.”

And on receiving it they (those who worked the whole day) grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’

It is understandable that those who worked the whole day would feel bad see-ing that those who worked for only an hour also were paid one denarius.

But it is also true that the owner was not being unfair to them because one de-narius was the salary for a day’s work. Furthermore it is also true that the money was his and therefore, if he wanted to give a denarius also to those worked less hours, he was perfectly free to do so.

EXPLANATION OF THE PARABLE

The parables of Jesus were meant to challenge the behaviour and beliefs of his hearers. This parable was probably addressed to the Pharisees. Jesus wanted to teach them that God’s goodness can not be reduced to mere human retribution, understood as payment that is owed, without however, reducing it to arbitrariness and setting aside of justice. He is inviting the Pharisees not to become envious in face of God’s liberality.

A REFLECTION ON WORK

After Adam’s fall, work became a curse and a punishment. “To the man he said: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree of which I had for-bidden you to eat, "Cursed be the ground because of you! In toil shall you eat its yield all the days of your life.Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you, as you eat of the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; For you are dirt, and to dirt you shall return. (Gen 3:17-19)"

But through the incarnation, that is, by taking upon himself everything that is human, Jesus redeemed and sanctified all that is human, including work. Jesus, in fact, was a carpenter’s son. He must have worked with his hands.

St. John Bosco taught the spirituality of daily life. He used to say: “Do your ordinary duties extraordinarily well.” Work is part of one’s daily life. It belongs to the category of one’s ordinary duties. And one’s ordinary duties are a concrete expression of God’s will. Doing one’s work to the best of one’s ability is doing God’s will to the best of one’s ability.

Moreover, the spirituality of daily life can be seen as a way of putting into practice St. Paul’s counsel: “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do every-thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col 3:17).”

In Pilipino, a job or work is called “hanapbuhay”, literally, seek-life. Through one’s work one seek to sustain one’s life. Through your work, you are able to pro-vide food, clothing and shelter for yourself and for your family. Christian ethics require the Christian to work to support himself. St. Paul says: “In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat (2Thess 3:10).”

But work should not just be “hanapbuhay”. It should also be “nagbibigaybuhay”, that is, life-giving. Consequently, if you are not happy with your work, ei-ther change your attitude towards your work or change your work.

Your work must also provide you with opportunities for personal and profes-sional growth. If you do not find personal and professional growth in your work, it is time to work elsewhere. St. Irenaus was a bishop of Lyons in what is now France. He wrote: “The glory of God is man fully alive.” If you find personal and professional growth in your work, would you find yourself fully alive?

Finally, work is not just about practicing one’s profession. Work is also about one’s vocation. Work is not just about earning a living or actualizing one’s poten-tials. Work is also about doing something for others. Through one’s work, one can make a contribution to humanity. Through your work you are giving yourself to a cause greater than yourself.

A teacher teaches not only to earn a living. A teacher teaches not only to practice a profession. A teacher teaches in order to shape the hearts and minds of the young, whom Rizal called the hope of the Fatherland. This is the teacher’s contribution to humanity. It is a work whose fruits go beyond the boundaries of the space and time in which he lives.

EXALTATION OF THE CROSS

For 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 3:13-17

For some it has become a fashion accessory (an earring or a necklace). The cross then becomes meaningless. Instead it should become a silent proclamation of faith. It was said that when King Ferdinand III re-conquered Cordoba from the Muslims, he ordered that at the entrance to the city, the Cross should precede the royal banner. When I was young, I would often see our neighbour make the sign of the cross whenever she leaves the house. It was as if she was entrusting herself to God to keep her safe. That is a sign of faith. When I ride the jeepney, I would sometimes see a passenger make the sign of the cross upon passing a church. That is a sign of faith.

The cross has been a subject of art. At the Plaza Santa Cruz in Sevilla, Spain, we find a fine iron filigree cross. It was crafted by an expert iron smith as a reminder that a church once stood there but now is no more because Napoleon’s army destroyed it. Salvador Dali has painted a unique crucified Christ. He is suspended in space and is looking down on Lake Galilee. These representations are pleasant to look at. They are beautiful to behold. Unfortunately, they tend to hide the gruesome reality of the crucifixion. Christ crucified on Calvary was a shocking sight. We may need to watch The Passion of the Christ in order to wake us up to the fact that Good Friday was all blood, gore and excruciating pain. Calvary was not a walk in the park.

What does the cross tell us? Some theologians say that the cross tells us that sin must be such a terrible thing that it can and did put the Son of God to a terrible death. Others say that the cross teaches us that the disobedience of Adam was set right by the obedience of Jesus Christ. The obedience of the beloved Son cancelled out the disobedience of the first man.

In the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Paranaque (Philippines), you will see a cross painted on the wall of the main altar. But instead of a crucified Christ, we will see a glorious risen Christ. This representation reminds us that calvary was not the end of the story. The story of Jesus did not end with the cross. The story of Jesus ended with his resurrection and ascension. This is in keeping with John’s gospel. Whenever he speaks of the glorification of Jesus, it was about his suffering, death, resurrection and ascension.

What has this got to do with us?

1. We are asked to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. But that is not the entire Christian life. There is also the resurrection and the ascension. Yes, there must be sacrifice. But there is also joy and celebration in the Christian life.

2. All’s well that ends well. The story of Jesus ended with his resurrection and ascension. It’s comparable to the ending of fairy tales-and they lived happily ever after. That is also the ending of the Christian life. Heaven waits for us.

3. After Good Friday comes Easter Sunday. After night comes day. After the storm comes the sun. Suffering and problems are a part of life. Whether you are a believer or an unbeliever, you will have your share of life’s troubles. But you must hold on. You must not give up. You must keep faith. For this too will pass.

21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.

Mt 16:13-20

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church...."

Our faith rests on the faith that has come down to us from the apostles. That faith is secure and certain (rock).

Apostolicity is one of the signs of the true Church. We trace our origin to Jesus and his apostles. It is worth noting that the books were accepted into the New Testament because of the apostolic authority behind those books.

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

Peter has authority in the Church. This authority comes from above, not from below. That is, the origin is from God, not from the church members. He is not like a President of a country whose mandate comes from the citizens who elected him.

The keys are seen in the Vatican flag and in most sculptures and paintings portraying Peter .

Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

The people thought that the Messiah was a political Messiah who, like David and Solomon, will restore the glory of the Kingdom of Israel and drive out the time the Romans who were ruling over Palestine. But Jesus was not this kind of Messiah and so he did not want his mission to be confused with what the common people thought.

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is? But who do you say that I am?”

The conclusion of the story of the Woman at the Well in the gospel of John is worth recalling. "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world."

We know many things about God and about Jesus. These were taught to us or we´ve read about them. But there comes a time when Jesus confronts us with this personal question: "Who do you say that I am?"

He doesn´t expect us to look for the answers from books we´ve read or sermon´s we´ve heard. But from our experience. "What can you say about me from experience?"

Spiritual writers say that sometimes God makes himself known to a person in a direct way, through a special spiritual experience. This is probably the way St. Paul got to know Jesus Christ.

More often than not we get to know God by means of life experiences. (A word of caution, though. Negative life experiences do have a way of negatively affecting our way of seeing God.) St. John Bosco as a child learned from his mother´s lips that God was good. But he also learned it in the midst of life´s adversities. There was a time that they had to go through a terrible famine. People died eating grass in the fields. But they survived that famine. Mama Margaret (his mother) would encourage the family to have faith in God (by then she was a widow).

Books are good. Homilies and conferences are good. But there´s nothing better than getting to know God through one´s life.

20th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”

Mt 15:21-28

Since I am away from my homebase till mid-September, God´s Word on a Sunday Morning might not come out regularly.

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

Tyre; usually Tyre and Sidon in the N.T. A seaport and commercial cernter on the east coast of the Mediterannean Sea (in general history known as a Phoenician city). In O.T. times it was a city-state with its own king. From Tyre, ships went all over the Mediterranean world to trade and to establish colonies. One of the chief products of Tyre was a dye known as Tyrian purple, made from shellfish.

Sidon. A city on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, about twenty-five miles north of Tyre, with which it is often named in both the O.T. and the N.T. Sidon was an old city before the time of the Israelites. LikeTyre, it was a commercial city and port for fleet of trading ships that went to all parts of the world of that time. It reached the height of its prosperity about the time of Solomon. Today the city is called. Saida.

Young People's Bible Dictionary
by Barbara Smith (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1965)

And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!

The Canaanite woman was a gentile or pagan. By addressing Jesus as Son of David, she was actually publicly recognizing Jesus as the messiah promised in the Old Testament.

My daughter is tormented by a demon.

In those days various illnesses were attributed to demonic activity.

But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.

Jesus did not want to have anything to do with her because he “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This was the same rule that Jesus gave to the twelve when he sent them out to proclaim the good news: "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

But, as we shall see, Jesus did finally grant her request because of her faith. It was also on account of his faith that Jesus granted the centurion´s request on behalf of his servant.

“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”

The woman wouldn´t take no for an answer. She was persistent. And her persistence is not only that she believed Jesus could heal but that he would heal her daughter. Her persistence reminds us of two parables of Jesus: the parable of the widow and the unjust judge and the parable of the persistent friend.

The parable of the widow and the unjust judge ends this way: "Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?"

On the other hand, the parable of the persistent friend ends with this teaching of Jesus: "I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”

Jews despised gentiles and called them dogs and pigs.

She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

The seeming insult of Jesus did not discourage the woman. On the contrary she used it to her advantage by responding the way she did.

Jesus responded by recognizing her great faith. What did she believe? I think this was what she believed in: "Yes, the people of Israel might be the chosen people. But God does not love only them. We, too, are loved by God. We, too, receive blessings from him."

19th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

But when Peter saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Mt 14:22-33

Sunday reflections will be irregular till sometime mid-September as I am away from my home base.

After doing so, he (Jesus) went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.

We can pray anywhere because God is everywhere. We can pray anytime because God is always present to us. Yet there are some occasions when we need to find a time and a place where we can meet God in a more intense and intimate manner. For Jesus he had to be alone and it had to be either in the evening or early in morning. A college student I knew woke up earlier than everyone else in the house so that he could pray.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

Rowing the boat against the waves and the wind. This is the image that comes to my mind of someone who feels that everything seems to be against him. St. John Bosco felt called to the priesthood as a young boy. At the time it seemed an impossible dream. The odds were stacked against him. Not only was his stepbrother against his getting an education. He also belonged to a poor peasant family.

During the fourth watch of the night, he (Jesus) came toward them walking on the sea.... At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Panday was a metalsmith whose name was Flavio. One night, a meteor (bulalakaw) fell from the sky. He used the metal from the meteor to fashion a dagger and a churchbell. The dagger would magically grow to become a sword when he raised it up and pointed it to the sky. He used this to battle the Sombra Oscura, the minions of evil, who repeatedly beset the town, eventually slaying their leader, Lizardo, the "Son of the Devil".

Superheroes like Panday come to the rescue of those who are in danger. That´s why they are so popular and well-loved. And that´s why movies of superheroes are box-office hits. But they are fiction.

Jesus is not fiction. He is not a superhero. He is savior. He does not only save us from our sins. He also comes to our aid. It is well to keep in mind the reassuring words of Jesus, "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid."

Bravery does not mean knowing no fear. It means not allowing oneself to be mastered by fear. It is the presence of Jesus that enables us to act in spite of the fear that we feel.

An OFW I got to know in Italy said that her first stint as an OFW was in Saudi Arabia. She said that when she left the Philippines for the first time she felt fear. But she placed herself in God´s hands.

When fear threatens to overpower us, let us remember the words of Jesus, "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid."

But when he (Peter) saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

I have an acquaintance who is afraid of heights. He joined a hike to Mt. Batulao. At a certain portion of the hike, they had to make a steep climb. He admitted that he was afraid of heights. So he was told not to look down but to look up as he made the climb. He did as he was told and was rewarded with a marvelous view on top of the mountain.

Someone observed that Peter got frightened because instead of keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus he turned his gaze on the waves.

Sometimes the going gets tough. Sometimes people and events come that instills fear in us. Keep you eyes fixed on Jesus. Keep Jesus in mind. And when fear takes hold of us, let us cry out as Peter cried out, "Lord, save me!"

18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven...

Mt 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.

John the Baptist was beheaded on orders of King Herod. Did Jesus withdraw to keep himself safe from King Herod? His time had not yet come and therefore, he had to be careful.

But it was also possible that the reasons for going to a deserted place were (1) to pray and (2) to teach his disciples.

The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.

To follow Jesus to an out-of-the way place was an inconvenient thing to do. Why did such a huge crowd go through the trouble? Jesus taught in a way that touched his hearers. The crowds wanted to hear Jesus. But Jesus was also known as a wonder-worker. Maybe they wanted to see him work miracles or perhaps they themselves wanted to be cured.

Matthew probably had something else in mind when he related that the crowds followed Jesus to a deserted place. He might be thinking of the Exodus when the Hebrews left Egypt and journeyed through the desert. And this was purposeful on the part of Matthew because he was setting the stage for the miracle of the multiplication of the bread as a repetition of the miracle of the manna at the time of the Exodus.

The miracle of the multiplication of the bread is the only miracle that all four evangelists relate. This miracle must, therefore, be important. Not the miracle itself but the meaning of the miracle. As we shall see, the miracle points to the gift of the Eucharist.

“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”

An indication that the concern of Matthew was the Eucharist was the fact that having said that there were five loaves and two fish, only the loaves continue to be mentioned. At the end of the story nothing is said about fish left-overs.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples.

Another indication of the Eucharistic allusion are the verbs used to relate the multiplication of the bread: Taking, looking up to heaven, said the blessing, broke and gave. These are the same verbs one finds in the words of consecration in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).

They picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full.

The detail of twelve wicker baskets is no accident. They allude to the twelve tribes of Israel, another indication of Matthew´s intent to point to the Exodus and the gift of manna in the desert. The relationship between the Eucharist and the Exodus-manna is developed in John 6.

The greek word used for the left-over bread is ´klasmata´, a greek word which was used to refer to the Eucharistic bread in the early church. Another indication of the Eucharistic intent of the miracle.

Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

According to a commentator, there must have been somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 persons whom Jesus fed. This gives us the impression of an abundance of food, so abundant that there were twelve baskets full of left-over bread.

What we have here is an image of a banquet (eating) where food is abundant. This image is precisely the image of the messianic banquet. In other words, Matthew is pointing to Jesus as the Messiah. This did not escape the notice of the crowd in John 6. In fact they wanted to declare Jesus as king, even by force--which prompted Jesus to escape.

...and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.

One last detail. Jesus did not distribute the bread to the crowds. It was the disciples who did this. From the practical point of view, this was the best thing to do. But Matthew goes beyond the practical level. He wants to drive home a point--the intermediary role of the disciples in the church.

17th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

Mt 13:44-52

There are three parables about the reign of God in this Sunday's gospel.

* The parable of the buried treasure
* The parable of the pearl
* The parable of the net

The parables of the buried treasure and the pearl challenge the hearers of Jesus to accept God's reign even at the cost of giving up certain things in life because of its surpassing value. This giving up (sacrifice) is done with joy precisely because God's reign is worth it.

The parable of the net is similar to the parable of the wheat and the weeds. It poses two challenges. The first challenge is directed at a particular belief about the reign of God. Some christians believe that church members should all have achieved holiness. That sinners have no place there. But Jesus realistically asserts that not all who accept God's reign has achieved holiness. Some are still struggling. Some are still on the way. These have a place in God's reign.

The second challenge is directed at members of the Christian community who are not taking to heart the commitment of metanoia (change of heart leading to a change in life). God wants all men to be saved. But there is also such a thing as judgment. The good will be rewarded. The unrepentant will be punished.

16th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

The kingdom of heaven is like yeast.

Mt 13:24-43

There are three parables in today's gospel:

* The parable of the wheat and weeds
* The parable of the mustard seed
* The parable of the yeast

Jesus explains the meaning of the parable of the wheat and the weeds to his disciples. But parables are not explained. Moreover the details found in them are not meant to have a meaning. That is why this is not a parable. It is an allegory. It is probable that it was the early church that transformed the parable into an allegory. That is, it was the early church that gave the meaning of the details.

Parables seek to challenge the beliefs or behavior of the hearers.

The parable the wheat and weeds challenged the belief that the Christian community is composed only of holy people. In fact, both saints and sinners are found in it. And sinners are given all the time by God to repent and be converted. However, they should expect punishment should they fail to take advantage of the time given by God.

The first members of the early Church were mainly Jewish converts. It was true that the offer of the Kingdom was first given to the Chosen People. The parable of the mustard seed challenged these Jewish Christians to accept the fact that God's kingdom is open to everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike. The birds resting on the mustard shrub alludes to this. In fact, the church grew because of the gentiles coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

In the beginning the Christians were thought of as a small sect within Judaism comparable to the Pharisees, the Zealots and the Essenes. In fact, they still worshipped in the Temple. The parable of the yeast challenged not to think that they are insignificant. They have responsibility that is world-wide in scope. They are supposed to change the world. They are supposed to be a force for good.

A FORCE FOR GOOD

An acknowledged leader observed that the alumni of his school were harmless but useless. What he meant was that the alumni had the reputation of generally being honest citizens and good christians--and no more. They were useless in the sense that after so many years they didn't seem to make a mark in society. They were afraid of stepping forward and of being counted. They seem to prefer to be in the shadows. This leader says that must change.

His point was not that the alumnus must grab the limelight. He did not say that the alumnus must have his every move publicized. What he did mean was that every alumnus must understand that being a good citizen is not just about obeying the laws of the land. Being a good citizen means helping build up the society in which he lives.

Grounded in Christian values and inspired by the example of Jesus Christ, the Christian of today must become a yeast that will build up society. He must become a force for good.

15th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

I am away and am not sure if I can regularly upload my reflections for the Sunday. By September I hope to upload my reflections more regularly.

Mt 13:1-23

Parables are stories. And because they are stories, they catch the attention of listeners. But Jesus used parables not so much because they capture the interest of his audience but because parables challenge the beliefs or behavior of his audience. For example, Jesus used the parable of the Prodigal Son to challenge the unwelcoming attitude towards sinners of the Scribes and Pharisees. Obviously, the parable of the Seed and the Sower forces us to ask ourselves what kind of soil we are.

Jesus does not explain his parables. They are not meant to be explained in the first place. Each hearer will have to unlock for himself the meaning which the parable has for him.

Why then do we find Jesus explaining the parable to his disciples? Bible scholars say that the explanation is really how the early church understood the parable and which it then put in the mouth of Jesus.

How do I understand the parable?

1. The Path

Our parents, our teachers, our priests may have led us along the path of Christian life in our youth. But as we grew older we forgot what they taught us. We took a different road.

2. The Rocky Ground

Lack of roots. It is easy to pull plants that do not have roots. It is easy to give up Christian values that have been accepted superficially. This is the case when Christian values are based merely on emotions or on conformity. After a retreat one feels good and is inspired to be good. One is on fire. But after a week everything goes back to normal (balik sa dating ugali). It is easy to be sober in an environment where people do not drink in order to get drunk. But it is a different story when one's friends drink till they get drunk.

3. Thorns

Thorns (weeds) absorb the nutrients from the soil faster than the "good" seed. Consequently, the "good plant" grows but is stunted and produces small (inferior) fruits. Sometimes we allow other concerns to grab all our attention and all our energy so that almost nothing remains for our Christian life.

I remember watching the movie, "Oh, God! 2" In that movie, God helped a struggling singer to make it big. When he became successful, he forgot God and led a loose life. His attention and energy was absorbed by his profession and his dissolute living. Little or nothing was left for God.

4. Good Soil

The seed that fell on good soil gave an incredible yield, a hundredfold, sixtyfold, thirtyfold. The proof of a good soil is the fruit. As Jesus already said, "By their fruits you shall know them." Ingrid Betancourt was rescued from the FARC rebels. She never lost her faith. How do we know? She never gave up on prayer.

If God's word has taken root in your heart, what should we see? If God has taken possession of your soul, what do we expect to observe?

14th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

Mt 11:25-30

STRUCTURE OF GOSPEL

The first part speaks about the learned and the intelligent vis-à-vis children:
I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.

Then Jesus talks about his relationship with the Father:
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son.

Finally, Jesus invites those who are burdened with the difficulties of life to come to him:
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

COMMENTARY OF THE GOSPEL

You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned.

This reminds us of what happened in the Book of Daniel (2:3-13). While the wise men could not interpret the dream of Nabucodonosor, the meaning of the dream was revealed to Daniel who was a mere youth.

You have revealed them to little ones.

In Matthew’s gospel, the little ones are the disciples.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father.

“All things” refer to the Kingdom of God and its secrets.

No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son.

Here Jesus affirms in an indirect way his unique relationship with the Father.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

In Judaism, the Law of God (both written and oral) is referred to as a yoke (Sir 51:26). In this context, the yoke is not thought of as heavy nor painful. In fact the yoke of the Law is spoken of as the joy of the yoke.

Jesus places his liberating interpretation of the Law in opposition to the legal-istic interpretation of Judaism. In other words, Jesus announces to men together with the renewed Law the joy of the Kingdom.

ST. PETER & ST. PAUL

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

Mt 16:13-19

COMMENTARY

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

John was a prophet just like Elijah and Jeremiah. People considered Jesus as one of them. And they were wrong.

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Christ is the Greek form of “Anointed”. Messiah is the Hebrew form. Peter got it right. He was able to discover who Jesus really was because the Father gave him the faith (or the “eyes”) to perceive the truth about Jesus.

In the OT the title son of God was given to angels, to faithful Israelites, to Israel itself and to the Messiah. It implied a special election from God and a special mission for the chosen one. When Christians called Jesus “Son of God”, they are declaring the Jesus is Son without equal and has a mission of saving mankind without equal.

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

Now it is the turn of Jesus to tell Simon, son of Jonah, about his new responsibility. He would be the rock upon which Jesus would build his church. That is why he is to be called “Peter” or Cephas”.

The image of the rock is significant. Jesus said that a man who puts into prac-tice his teachings is a like a man who built his house on rock. When the flood came and the wind blew, the house remained standing. So also the Church will remain firm against the attacks of the powers of hell. Of course, it is not because of Peter but because of the strength given by Jesus Christ to Peter and the Church.

This passage is a recognition of the pre-eminent position of Peter in the primi-tive Church which according to Catholic tradition passed on to his successors, the Popes.

And the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

Netherworld is Hades or in Hebrew, Sheol, the dwelling place of the dead. Jesus declares that Sheol cannot keep in death the members of his community.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

To be able to carry out his responsibility over the Church, Jesus gives author-ity over the Church to Peter. This is signified by the symbol of the keys. This is why the Vatican flag has the image of the keys. The statue of St. Peter often has Peter holding a set of keys.

The power of the keys means: (1) the power to permit or to prohibit, (2) the power to admit or exclude from the community of faith and kingdom of God, (3) the forgiveness of sins.

12th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Mt 10:26-33

COMMENTARY

Paraphrase of the Gospel

Do not be afraid. Proclaim the Kingdom of God.

Do not allow fear of those who can only kill the body deter you from proclaiming God’s kingdom. If you have to be afraid of anyone, be afraid of God who can not only take away your life but send you to hell as well.

But you don’t have to be afraid of God because if he takes care of sparrows that are of little value, how much more will he take care of you, you who have greater value than a flock of sparrows.

Do not be afraid of publicly professing your faith in me. If you deny that you know me, I will also deny knowing you.

Explanations

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?

The small coin referred to is one of the smallest Roman coin used. It is called an “as”. With an as, you can buy 8 sparrows.

Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.

There are two possible meanings. First, God is not absent when a disciple dies. A second possible meaning is: Disciples do not die for the Gospel without God permitting it. Their death is not just an incident but an event of great value.

Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.

What is spoken of here is the disciple witnessing to Jesus even at cost of shedding his blood. When this happens, he is sharing in the same lot as his Master, Jesus Christ.
The witnessing is in the form of proclaiming publicly and with one’s actions that he is solidly for Jesus Christ.

But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.

We are reminded of the betrayal of Peter: As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean. Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away." At that he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a cock crowed. (Mt 26: 71-74).
But after the Resurrection, Jesus pardoned Peter.

FOR LIFE

Fear is our emotional response to a powerful threat to one’s safety.

That emotional response triggers a behavioural response: either we flee or we are paralyzed by fear.

When I was studying theology at UST, I saw a college student running away. There was fear in his eyes. Now and then he looked back to see if anyone was following him. He was fleeing from danger.

When I was still a Brother, we went to Tagkawayan, Quezon for summer camp. While hiking along rice fields that have been harvested, a snake suddenly reared its head. It was a big one. We ran away as fast as we could. We fled from danger.

A teacher once mentioned this story. During the Japanese time, people were evacuating because of the advancing Japanese soldiers. His mother said: “Let’s just stay here together and die together.” His mother was paralyzed by fear.

A boy got a girl pregnant. He could not tell his parents what happened. He was paralyzed by fear.

Sometimes there is nothing to fear. But we scare ourselves to death. One of our priests who is a therapist related this exercise they had when he was still studying. Their professor hypnotized them. Under hypnosis, their professor told them to enter the room in their imagination and discover inside what they were afraid of. Do you know what they found inside the room of their imagination? Nothing. In other words, there was really nothing to be afraid of. But why were they afraid? Because they create monsters in their imagination.

I just recently finished two examinations. One was oral, the other written. I was anxious and afraid. In my mind, I was thinking: “What if I forget the answer to the questions? What if I was asked about something I was not able to study?” In other words, before the exams I was thinking about what could go wrong. And yet during the exams, I was able to answer all the questions pretty well. What was I doing before the exams? I was scaring myself. What I should have done was to shut out those thoughts that made me afraid.

But at other times, there is really reason to be afraid. But fear is able to overcome us because our faith is weak. If our faith is strong enough, fear will not be able to overpower us. In other words, we will be able to face and overcome our fears.

When God told Abraham to leave his father and his native land to go to a faraway land, he must have felt some fear. It is natural to fear the unknown. But because he believed that God was going with him to that faraway land, he was able to overcome that fear.

We read in Psalm 27: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid?

We are told that the words “Do not be afraid” can be found 365 times in the Bible, It is as if every day of the year God keeps on reminding us not to be afraid. And why should we not be afraid? Because Jesus tells us: “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Because Jesus reassures us: “And know that I am with you always till the end of the world.”

11th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus...‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Mt 9:36—10:8

COMMENTARY

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

The shepherd is a favourite image in the Bible. Jesus applies to himself the image of the Good Shepherd. When the Magi inquired where the Messiah was, the chief priests quoted from the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel”.

The image of the shepherd was also applied to the kings of Israel. In 1 Chron 11:2 we read: “Then all Israel gathered about David in Hebron, and they said: "Surely, we are of the same bone and flesh as you. Even formerly, when Saul was still the king, it was you who led Israel in all its battles. And now the LORD, your God, has said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel and be ruler over them.'"

In the Church, the bishops are the primary shepherds. That is why they carry a staff.

Nevertheless, we can say that anyone who is in authority should take the attitude of a good shepherd. The good shepherd takes care of his sheep. The leader looks after the welfare of those under him. May pagmamalasakit ang pastol para sa kanyang tupa. Pagmamalasakit is not just about making sacrifices for those under his care. It is also doing difficult things for them. And one of the things that is difficult to do is correcting them in a constructive way. Those who drink to get drunk is certainly doing wrong. How do you correct in a constructive way? It’s not easy.

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Priests and religious are called to do pastoral work. There are not enough priests and religious to take care of the pastoral needs of Filipino Catholics not only in the Philippines but all over the world. We are, therefore, asked to pray for vocations. Why pray? Because to become a priest or religious is to follow the call of one’s heart. Only God can touch people’s hearts.

Can you do more? We can be more forgiving and understanding. We can be more appreciative. When you feel appreciated, you feel like going on.

Continue loving your priests. One Indian priest who studied at the East Asian Pastoral Institute said that he was impressed because he saw how Filipinos loved their priests. When a priest feels unloved, it is easy for him to be tempted to look for love somewhere else.

You can sense when something wrong is going on with your priest. Work with the elders of the community or the parish in discerning how you can help your priest. He might be going through a midlife crisis. He might be experiencing problems of the heart. His family might be going through some crisis and he is affected.

Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.

In St. John’s gospel, the miracles of Jesus are called signs. This is because his miracles are meant to convey a message. In the mind of the people in those days, the ability to perform extraordinary deeds of power meant that the apostles had the approval of God.

But there is more to miracles than that. The more important message is that Jesus is the promised Savior who has come to defeat sin and evil in the world and in each individual.

A Baptist relative once asked me: “Are you saved?” I was taken aback be-cause it is not a question we Catholics ask. But it is a good question to ask ourselves. And the answer is something worth reflecting on. The answers are: (1) Yes, Jesus saved me a long time ago. He has already paid the price of my redemp-tion. (2) But Jesus continues to save me because as long as I live there will be a continuing battle between good and evil in my heart. (3) And one day I hope to be definitely saved by Jesus when he welcomes me into his kingdom.

The names of the twelve apostles are these….

This is the first and only time that Matthew calls the twelve disciples, “apostles”. Apostle means someone who is sent. The name is appropriate because the reading ends this way, “Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, ‘Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town….”

FOR LIFE

What do we observe about the choice of Jesus? What we know is that Peter and Andrew and James and John are fishermen. Matthew is a tax collector. Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus. Judas Iscariot was a thief and the betrayer of Jesus. Externally we do not see them fit for the great responsibility of being apostles. Why did Jesus choose them?

I heard this story some time ago. They said that in Angola the children used to play with rocks and crystals along the river banks. But when the Europeans came, the Angolans were surprised to see these Europeans collecting these crystals. Later they realized that they were valuable diamonds. Of course, these diamond crystals had to be sent to Europe where they were cut and polished.

In the same way I think that Jesus saw in these twelve apostles diamonds in the rough. That is, they had potential. For three years he would develop their inner qualities until they became polished diamonds, that is, men ready to undertake the responsibility of proclaiming the good news to the ends of the earth.

The first lesson I would like to point out is this: Developing the qualities or abilities of others is a noble work. And this is the work of parents, teachers and leaders.

Hellen Keller was 19 months old when she got sick of an unknown disease. It left her blind and deaf. But when she grew up, she found a great teacher, Anne Sullivan. Anne did not only help her finish college, write books and give lectures but also become a fine woman. Anne helped Hellen Keller become a valuable diamond.

If you are a parent, teacher or leader, become God’s instrument in polishing your children, you students, those under your care into valuable diamonds.

There’s one more thing.

Why is it important for you to know what your potentials are? Why is it important for you to develop your abilities and talents? Because God gave you those talents and abilities so that you may fulfill the mission he has entrusted you to do in this world.

Why is it important to carry out that mission? It is in carrying out that mission that we achieve self-fulfilment. And with self-fulfilment comes great happiness.

When a parent says: “I can die now. My children are all settled in life”, it means he or she has achieved self-fulfilment. And he or she is happy.

When a student writes a note to his priest-friend: “Thank you for being there for me when I had problems.” the priest feels self-fulfilled in his vocation. He feels great happiness.

All of us were born for a reason, for a mission. By developing our talents and abilities we shall be able to carry out that mission well. And by fulfilling our mission in life, we shall experience self-fulfilment and happiness.

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

Mt 9:9-13

Call of Matthew by Caravaggio

COMMENTARY

He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.”

Previously Jesus had already called four fishermen to follow him, Peter, Andrew, James and John. Now he calls a tax collector. Is it not intriguing why Jesus did not call anyone from a more “respectable” profession? Perhaps Jesus saw through their outward appearance. He saw in them the potential for apostolic work. And it would be the work of Jesus in their three years together to develop that potential.

Is this not the work of a teacher? Is this not the mission of a parent? To bring out the best that is already in the student, that is already in their child.

In Mark’s gospel, Matthew is called Levi, son of Alphaeus. In Luke he is merely called Levi. Matthew’s name is found in the list of the apostles. But early on there has been doubt about the identification of this Matthew with Levi. There is also doubt about this Matthew being the Matthew of the first gospel.

And he got up and followed him.

Why did Matthew leave behind a very comfortable life in order to be a disciple of Jesus? Jesus had already warned those who wanted to follow him: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” (Lk 9:58). Had Matthew gone mad?
We make decisions based on the values that we have. And sometimes those decisions seem foolish.

Take for instance, a janitor at the airport. He returned a bag containing a couple of thousand dollars. To him it was the natural thing to do. Yet some of his relatives who do not share the value of uprightness told him: “Are you so stupid to return that money? You could have used it for your family.”

St. Paul said to the Corinthians: “We are fools for Christ’s sake” (1Cor 4:10). Sometimes our Christian values make us do certain things which seem foolish in the eyes of the world.

While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.

Why were tax collectors lumped together with sinners? In the Roman Empire the office of tax collector was given to the highest bidder who then worked as an agent of the Roman government. As long as the tax collector met his quota, he could keep whatever profit he made. It is easy to imagine how tax collector en-riched themselves by squeezing whatever they can from the people. It is no won-der that the Pharisees branded them as the worst of sinners together with thieves and prostitutes.

Birds of the same feather flock together. Is it surprising to find fellow tax collectors and sinners invited to dinner by Matthew?

Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are. If you want to develop a positive outlook in life, keep the company of positive people.

Parents need to get to know the friends of their children. It is enough to have only one bad companion for your child to go wrong.

The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

According to the teachings of the rabbis, one should not accept the invitation of a sinner. In this case what made matters worse was that Jesus was in the com-pany of not just one but many sinners. This scandalized the Pharisees.

But it was normal for Jesus to behave in ways that scandalized the religious leaders. For instance, Jesus healed on the Sabbath, something that rabbis forbade. In fact, when he healed a woman who could not stand erect for 18 years, the leader of the synagogue told the people: “There are six days in which work is to be done. Come on those days to be healed and not on the Sabbath.”

Why did Jesus behave differently? Because his beliefs are different. Regarding the Sabbath, Jesus believed that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.

What does this mean for us? If we want to know why we behave in certain ways, we have to find out what are the beliefs behind those behaviors. For instance, I work here and every month I send money back to the Philippines. Some of those to whom I send money do not work. Yet every month I continue sending money. Why? What is my belief that makes me send money every month? Is my belief correct?

Here is another simple example. A third year HS student said that he doesn’t go to confession because priests are also sinners. What is his belief that makes him to not go to confession? Is that belief correct?

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

Joseph wanted to divorce Mary quietly but an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Right from the very beginning the mission of Jesus was made clear. He came for sinners. And at the end of his life, one of the last words of Jesus was for sinners: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Jesus had a soft heart for sinners. He even sought them out as what happened to Zacchaeus. He was on a tree, curious to see who Jesus was. And what did Jesus do? He purposely stopped in front of the tree, looked up to Zacchaeus invited himself and his disciples to his house that day. Zacchaeus was no ordinary tax collector. He was the chief tax collector. And when he expressed the desire to change his ways, Jesus happily announced: “Today salvation has come to this house. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost” (Lk 19:10).

Did Jesus come for you? If you don’t need to be saved from your sins, then Jesus did not come for you.

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