(Edited) Reflections (from) 4th Sunday of Lent (B), March 18, 2012
Liturgical readings
2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
Psalm 137
Ephesians 2:4-10
John 3:14-21
"That the world might be saved through Christ."
It is by sinfulness that humanity can be condemned and judged by God. But God in His faithfulness and mercy, does not want humanity to suffer this final fate. Instead, He sent His Son Jesus, His only begotten, to lead all humanity to the Truth, the Way, and the Life Jesus teaches. Jesus is the true Source of healing and salvation from sin and eternal death. Whoever believes in God in Jesus, and approaches Him with a contrite heart in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, will be saved. What is needed is to make daily steps to reform his life, to resolve not to repeat past offenses against God, and not to commit again the past sins that can lead him to die in iniquity and perdition. If man roots all his life and work in God, he will share in the eternal life that is meant for all.
The Lord entered human history not to rule as the world's kings do, but to serve, to bring light to all minds and hearts, and to show the path that leads to His Kingdom. In His kingdom, His throne is not of gold nor of silver, but a Cross that lifted Him up on Golgotha. This cross of the Saviour is part of the path and journey to His kingdom. It is a path strewn with sacrifices, humility, mortification and life-giving work. God sent His Son Jesus to call us to His Kingdom. And there is no need to leave one's present state of life and work. Anyone can find Jesus, and the path to His Kingdom wherever he already is. Continuous conversion and a daily turning of one's heart to God is the key to His Kingdom.
Following Christ's call to conversion and to journey to His Kingdom needs hearts purified from values in modern culture that oppose what Christ teaches. Jesus espouses the value of the Cross but sharing in the Cross of Christ does not mean performing extraordinary feats of mortification; it can simply mean carrying one another's burdens in life with the spirit of His charity. This is exactly why the Father sent His Son: that all may learn to listen to Him well, and believe. Listening is difficult, but can be made easy with discipline. The discipline can be learned. To learn to listen to God in His Word and Sacrament will always help anyone "put off the old man, be dressed anew (Ephesians 4:22-24), abandon sin, and then remove everything that presents an obstacle to the love of God" (from St. Francis de Sales). And this spiritual direction produces a hope for all humanity "that the world might be saved through Christ."
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Sunday, March 03, 2024
3rd Sunday of Lent (B)
(Edited) Reflections (from) 3rd Sunday of Lent (B), March 11, 2012
Liturgical readings
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
John 2:13-25
"He was talking about the temple of His Body."
There is a DVD on "The Gospel of John". What makes the film very good is its focus on the gospel story and not the actors. No famous names nor multi-awarded actors nor actresses are mentioned. This was done for the viewers' attention; that they may not be distracted from the storyline of John's gospel. In the film, when the scene that refers to the story of Jesus' Cleansing of the Temple is shown, Jesus' zeal and indignation at the moneychangers in the Temple was forcefully represented. Even when the many details of the scene are already added interpretations of the film's producers, the viewers will still understand well the value of respect for sacred things, places and all that pertains to worshipping Yahweh.
That film's scene on the Cleansing of the Temple is this Sunday's gospel. The gospel refers to Jesus presenting His Body as a temple. He prophesied that when His enemies would destroy the temple of His Body, God will bring it back to Life. Jesus' hearers and followers did not understand this at first. So did the all the Jewish people of His time. They always knew the temple as the temple King Solomon built for them (which took many years to build). Only when the events of the crucifixion, death and resurrection happened, did Christ's followers begin to understand more what Jesus was teaching regarding the temple of His Body. It was that Temple that was brought to life again after three days.
From the Scriptures John wrote, to the film's scene on the Cleansing on the Temple, we are now called to understand what it means today. We live in a very modern and secularized environment. In this secularized world one can learn to respect sacred realities and things as it was in the olden days. All the monks, desert fathers and saints of Eastern and Western Christianity give a very good example of piety and fear of God. They and the Church today know well the danger of impiety, irreverence and disrespect against all sacred matters. Modern man can live among many man-made things but need not be too attached to it. Too much attachment can produce arrogance and pride in the soul.
So this Sunday's gospel reminds all of us to place God above all - especially when in His Temple. It makes all realize that man-made things are simply means, and not ends in themselves. Christ teaches all the faithful to have a healthy detachment and indifference to all matters that pertain to world.
Liturgical readings
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
John 2:13-25
"He was talking about the temple of His Body."
There is a DVD on "The Gospel of John". What makes the film very good is its focus on the gospel story and not the actors. No famous names nor multi-awarded actors nor actresses are mentioned. This was done for the viewers' attention; that they may not be distracted from the storyline of John's gospel. In the film, when the scene that refers to the story of Jesus' Cleansing of the Temple is shown, Jesus' zeal and indignation at the moneychangers in the Temple was forcefully represented. Even when the many details of the scene are already added interpretations of the film's producers, the viewers will still understand well the value of respect for sacred things, places and all that pertains to worshipping Yahweh.
That film's scene on the Cleansing of the Temple is this Sunday's gospel. The gospel refers to Jesus presenting His Body as a temple. He prophesied that when His enemies would destroy the temple of His Body, God will bring it back to Life. Jesus' hearers and followers did not understand this at first. So did the all the Jewish people of His time. They always knew the temple as the temple King Solomon built for them (which took many years to build). Only when the events of the crucifixion, death and resurrection happened, did Christ's followers begin to understand more what Jesus was teaching regarding the temple of His Body. It was that Temple that was brought to life again after three days.
From the Scriptures John wrote, to the film's scene on the Cleansing on the Temple, we are now called to understand what it means today. We live in a very modern and secularized environment. In this secularized world one can learn to respect sacred realities and things as it was in the olden days. All the monks, desert fathers and saints of Eastern and Western Christianity give a very good example of piety and fear of God. They and the Church today know well the danger of impiety, irreverence and disrespect against all sacred matters. Modern man can live among many man-made things but need not be too attached to it. Too much attachment can produce arrogance and pride in the soul.
So this Sunday's gospel reminds all of us to place God above all - especially when in His Temple. It makes all realize that man-made things are simply means, and not ends in themselves. Christ teaches all the faithful to have a healthy detachment and indifference to all matters that pertain to world.
Sunday, February 25, 2024
2nd Sunday of Lent (B)
(Edited) Reflections (from) 2nd Sunday of Lent (B), March 4,2012
Liturgical readings
Genesis 22:1-2a, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Psalm 116
Romans 8:31b-34
Mark 9:2-10
"Listen to Him."
Some bible scholars would interpret the mystery of Christ's transfiguration as a prefigurement of His resurrection - a glimpse of what that future mystery would be. Since Jesus had been telling his apostles of His impending death (Mark 9:31-33), the vision of the Transfiguration was meant to encourage Peter, James and John - to encourage them through the Crucifixion events until His resurrection. The discouraging events of the crucifixion was truly a test of faith for all of Christ's apostles. All the faithful today know what happened: Peter suffered from his denial of Jesus; James probably fled and hid together with the others; and John accompanied Mary to the foot of the Cross where they witnessed the agony and passion of Christ on the Cross.
So the Transfiguration was a mystery revealed to two leaders of the apostles (Peter for the entire Church, and James for the local community of Jerusalem) and to an evangelist (the apostle John). In that event that happened on a mountain, a voice from heaven called out: "Listen to Him". The apostles with Jesus heard the voice, but they did not understand entirely what it meant. Like the other apostles and followers of Jesus, they clung to traditional Jewish understanding which believes the Messiah would be a political leader - one who would liberate Israel from foreign powers. Jesus however made it clear that His kingdom is not of this world. His mission was to free humanity from sin and death. Only when the events of His passion took place, did all the followers fully understand the Truth of God in Jesus. It took time for the apostles, and also for us today, to learn to listen well.
Listening. To listen. It seems coincidental that the letters in the word "listen" are also the same letters in the word "silent". Silence is the key to understand and know who Jesus is for each and everyone. The liturgical season of Lent is a time to listen very well to Jesus and His words in the Eucharist. If one puts aside some time for silence and prayer, then understanding the meaning of the faith will reveal why we are where we are, and what we should do where we are. The apostles' vision of Christ's Transfiguration is a vision of faith we all need to understand also for ourselves. It is a mystery not only meant for the apostles, but also for all the faithful. It is a gift for the Church so that all may be encouraged in times where faith in Jesus needs the strength of discipline.
Liturgical readings
Genesis 22:1-2a, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Psalm 116
Romans 8:31b-34
Mark 9:2-10
"Listen to Him."
Some bible scholars would interpret the mystery of Christ's transfiguration as a prefigurement of His resurrection - a glimpse of what that future mystery would be. Since Jesus had been telling his apostles of His impending death (Mark 9:31-33), the vision of the Transfiguration was meant to encourage Peter, James and John - to encourage them through the Crucifixion events until His resurrection. The discouraging events of the crucifixion was truly a test of faith for all of Christ's apostles. All the faithful today know what happened: Peter suffered from his denial of Jesus; James probably fled and hid together with the others; and John accompanied Mary to the foot of the Cross where they witnessed the agony and passion of Christ on the Cross.
So the Transfiguration was a mystery revealed to two leaders of the apostles (Peter for the entire Church, and James for the local community of Jerusalem) and to an evangelist (the apostle John). In that event that happened on a mountain, a voice from heaven called out: "Listen to Him". The apostles with Jesus heard the voice, but they did not understand entirely what it meant. Like the other apostles and followers of Jesus, they clung to traditional Jewish understanding which believes the Messiah would be a political leader - one who would liberate Israel from foreign powers. Jesus however made it clear that His kingdom is not of this world. His mission was to free humanity from sin and death. Only when the events of His passion took place, did all the followers fully understand the Truth of God in Jesus. It took time for the apostles, and also for us today, to learn to listen well.
Listening. To listen. It seems coincidental that the letters in the word "listen" are also the same letters in the word "silent". Silence is the key to understand and know who Jesus is for each and everyone. The liturgical season of Lent is a time to listen very well to Jesus and His words in the Eucharist. If one puts aside some time for silence and prayer, then understanding the meaning of the faith will reveal why we are where we are, and what we should do where we are. The apostles' vision of Christ's Transfiguration is a vision of faith we all need to understand also for ourselves. It is a mystery not only meant for the apostles, but also for all the faithful. It is a gift for the Church so that all may be encouraged in times where faith in Jesus needs the strength of discipline.
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