Isaiah 53:10-11
Psalm 33
Hebrews 4:14-16
Mark 10:35-45
"Anyone who wants to rank first must serve the needs of all."
There arose a feeling of indignation among the apostles because two of their own rank, James and John, approached Jesus and requested that they be sitted one at His right, and the other at His left (when He comes into His glory). To remedy the situation, Jesus called all of them and emphasized the priority of service above positions of honor and authority. His own words and deeds attest to this teaching. Jesus Himself exemplified service as a poor, itinerant preacher going about many villages to heal the sick, to reconcile sinners back to God, and to give hope by raising many dead back to life.
A life of serving others - in family, work or community - is not an easy responsibility or commitment. It takes God's grace from the Sacraments and the daily practice of prayer and work to continue, persevere and be faithful until the end. Whenever we encounter difficulty in any of our responsibilities, we can remember what St. Paul says in his letter to the Romans as a source of encouragement or consolation:
Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5) God will provide timely help for anyone who trusts in Him in whatever responsibilities he needs to complete.
This is the wisdom that many should believe in. For those who are called to positions of authority, then the example of Jesus can help them see how they are to accomplish their work. What is important is not to fall into the temptation of wielding power and authority that causes disunity and disharmony - just as James and John did. Jesus and the example of saintly monarchs in our Catholic history can inspire and protect us from falling into this temptation. To resist the temptation to power and authority without a strong sense of responsibility and ethics calls for an attitude of valuing the common good above personal interests, valuing mercy above material motivations, and valuing God above all loves - be it persons or things.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Monday, October 08, 2012
"They are no longer two but one flesh."
Liturgical readings
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 128
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 10:2-16
"They are no longer two but one flesh."
Christ's love for the Church is the basis for the indissolubility of the sacramental bond of marriage. Just as Christ was faithful until the end, so the Church calls all married couples to root their marital life in Christ's example of fidelity. Faithfulness is not an easy virtue to practice. It is in fact a difficult virtue to practice in any state of life. But with the grace of God, it can be done. And it will not certainly be always difficult. Fidelity in marriage between man and woman is very important to any society, because it is the living cell that stabilizes relationships in any society. It is also the nursery of vocations to the Church. It is the ideal we need to uphold so that the moral standards of society will not degenerate and completely break down.
In one of her meditation recordings, Sister Joan Chittister (an American Benedictine), reflects on the meaning of fidelity and commitment. She says commitment is very costly, and there will be times when we experience only the "will to commitment, instead of the joy". There will also be doubts and times of distance, but all these are part of it. In such times, Sr. Joan counsels us not to run from difficulties but to work through problems - patiently enduring what needs to be done. We will certainly receive encouragement from family and friends, and to look at situations from fresh new angles. More than these, those whose commitments are tried and troubled need not forget to seek counsel from professionals, and most of all from the old and the wise, who have definitely seen and experienced more to life than younger generations.
Many Saints in their writings give spiritual counsel for fidelity and commitment. They teach that meditating on the life of the Lord - especially His Passion and Death on the Cross - is very helpful. Reflecting on the Lord's suffering can teach us self-denial, patience, forbearance, humility, perseverance, mercy and love - important virtues that help anyone in the commitment to marriage. It will open anyone's eyes to see how the example of the Lord's fidelity can give not only meaning, but also the strength to persevere in the commitments of married life. Though couples may experience infidelities (in its many forms), at one or more times in their marriage, God is merciful. He always gives an opportunity to renew the ties that bind. He has given us His Son (in the Sacraments) to heal the wounds caused by infidelities, and to continue once more in the vocation of marriage - a vocation rooted very much in Jesus' love for the Church.
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 128
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 10:2-16
"They are no longer two but one flesh."
Christ's love for the Church is the basis for the indissolubility of the sacramental bond of marriage. Just as Christ was faithful until the end, so the Church calls all married couples to root their marital life in Christ's example of fidelity. Faithfulness is not an easy virtue to practice. It is in fact a difficult virtue to practice in any state of life. But with the grace of God, it can be done. And it will not certainly be always difficult. Fidelity in marriage between man and woman is very important to any society, because it is the living cell that stabilizes relationships in any society. It is also the nursery of vocations to the Church. It is the ideal we need to uphold so that the moral standards of society will not degenerate and completely break down.
In one of her meditation recordings, Sister Joan Chittister (an American Benedictine), reflects on the meaning of fidelity and commitment. She says commitment is very costly, and there will be times when we experience only the "will to commitment, instead of the joy". There will also be doubts and times of distance, but all these are part of it. In such times, Sr. Joan counsels us not to run from difficulties but to work through problems - patiently enduring what needs to be done. We will certainly receive encouragement from family and friends, and to look at situations from fresh new angles. More than these, those whose commitments are tried and troubled need not forget to seek counsel from professionals, and most of all from the old and the wise, who have definitely seen and experienced more to life than younger generations.
Many Saints in their writings give spiritual counsel for fidelity and commitment. They teach that meditating on the life of the Lord - especially His Passion and Death on the Cross - is very helpful. Reflecting on the Lord's suffering can teach us self-denial, patience, forbearance, humility, perseverance, mercy and love - important virtues that help anyone in the commitment to marriage. It will open anyone's eyes to see how the example of the Lord's fidelity can give not only meaning, but also the strength to persevere in the commitments of married life. Though couples may experience infidelities (in its many forms), at one or more times in their marriage, God is merciful. He always gives an opportunity to renew the ties that bind. He has given us His Son (in the Sacraments) to heal the wounds caused by infidelities, and to continue once more in the vocation of marriage - a vocation rooted very much in Jesus' love for the Church.
Monday, October 01, 2012
"Anyone who is not against us is with us."
Liturgical readings
Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm 19
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
"Anyone who is not against us is with us."
In the Jerusalem Bible, Mark's gospel passage is divided into three parts. Each of the three parts have the following paragraph headings: "On using the name of Jesus" (Mk 9:38-40), "Charity shown to Christ's disciples (Mk 9:41), and "On leading others astray" (Mk 9:42-48). One common theme running through all these three paragraph headings and sections is the theme of Christian discipleship. The Lord taught His disciples what is important in Christian discipleship: to work for the common good of the faith; to make their ministry bear fruit in charity; and to avoid occasions of sin - especially what can be scandalous in the eyes of other believers.
Working for the common good of the faith. In the gospel passage, when the apostle John saw someone who was not of their company use the name of the Lord to expel demons, he reported it at once to Jesus. John reported to Jesus a situation he understood on the level of appearances and human associations. But Jesus led John to go beyond just his political way of understanding. Jesus led John to see it from the perspective of the Kingdom's ultimate purpose: to heal the sick, expel demons, and reconcile as many people back to God. For Jesus, what was more important than viewing it only at the level of political associations, is to see everything and everyone working for the common good of the Kingdom. Everything done in the Lord's name (the common good) is for the Kingdom.
If we in our present generation follow this teaching of Jesus, we will realize an important responsibility: working for what unites towards the common ground, rather than be in adversarial relationship to one another due to our differences. It is not an easy counsel to follow, because we will need to forget our differences and cultivate a spirit that works along common grounds. Cultivation of this spirit needs more prayer, and a sincere desire to work in harmony with others. If we cannot convince or convert others to be Catholics, nor let them see the truth in what we believe, then we are called to respect whatever they believe in, and work along lines where universal values are commonly agreed upon. These universal values are what humanity generally agree upon: values like peace, universal human rights, and non-violent actions. But the ultimate goal and mission of the Church is to bring as many people to be baptized and receive the sacramental benefits all Catholics receive.
Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm 19
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
"Anyone who is not against us is with us."
In the Jerusalem Bible, Mark's gospel passage is divided into three parts. Each of the three parts have the following paragraph headings: "On using the name of Jesus" (Mk 9:38-40), "Charity shown to Christ's disciples (Mk 9:41), and "On leading others astray" (Mk 9:42-48). One common theme running through all these three paragraph headings and sections is the theme of Christian discipleship. The Lord taught His disciples what is important in Christian discipleship: to work for the common good of the faith; to make their ministry bear fruit in charity; and to avoid occasions of sin - especially what can be scandalous in the eyes of other believers.
Working for the common good of the faith. In the gospel passage, when the apostle John saw someone who was not of their company use the name of the Lord to expel demons, he reported it at once to Jesus. John reported to Jesus a situation he understood on the level of appearances and human associations. But Jesus led John to go beyond just his political way of understanding. Jesus led John to see it from the perspective of the Kingdom's ultimate purpose: to heal the sick, expel demons, and reconcile as many people back to God. For Jesus, what was more important than viewing it only at the level of political associations, is to see everything and everyone working for the common good of the Kingdom. Everything done in the Lord's name (the common good) is for the Kingdom.
If we in our present generation follow this teaching of Jesus, we will realize an important responsibility: working for what unites towards the common ground, rather than be in adversarial relationship to one another due to our differences. It is not an easy counsel to follow, because we will need to forget our differences and cultivate a spirit that works along common grounds. Cultivation of this spirit needs more prayer, and a sincere desire to work in harmony with others. If we cannot convince or convert others to be Catholics, nor let them see the truth in what we believe, then we are called to respect whatever they believe in, and work along lines where universal values are commonly agreed upon. These universal values are what humanity generally agree upon: values like peace, universal human rights, and non-violent actions. But the ultimate goal and mission of the Church is to bring as many people to be baptized and receive the sacramental benefits all Catholics receive.
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