Cycle A - Year II:

6 April 2014: Fifth Sunday of Lent

(Liturgical color: Violet)

John 11:1-45

A new life in Christ!

There was a story of two golf buddies who went out to play their game one day. As they were deep into the game, a funeral procession passed by. Immediately the first guy stopped to play his game, turned facing the procession and reverently bowed his head in silence. After the funeral had passed by, the second guy commended his golf buddy for his admirable respect for the dead. But the first guy answered him, "Well, that was my wife's funeral."

In today's Gospel, we hear about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary who were friends of Jesus. The sisters had sent word to Jesus that their brother was seriously ill. But instead of rushing to heal Lazarus, Jesus took his time and might have allowed Lazarus to die, so "that the Son of God may be gloried through it."

So when Jesus came to Judea, to the house of Martha and Mary, their brother Lazarus was dead and already buried four days.

But Jesus orders the stone at Lazarus' tomb to be taken away, prays to the

Father, and then calls out: "Lazarus, come out!" And immediately Lazarus came back to life again. It is a miracle that baffles the mind.

In practical life, what is the significance of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead?

It is more than a miraculous event. It is a "sign" of God's promise to raise up all who died in Christ to everlasting life with Him in the heavenly kingdom. Through the raising of Lazarus Jesus showed the disciples and the world that He has power over death.

Yet this miracle of a dead man raised to life again is nothing compared to our Lord's Resurrection. Lazarus came back to the same life with hardships and pain, and eventually, he died again.

But our Lord Jesus Christ rose to a glorious, new and everlasting life completely free from suffering.

We, too, will be raised to a glorious, new and everlasting life free from suffering through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

For Jesus said to Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,  and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (Jn 11:25-26)

This is our faith. And we profess this belief every time we pray "The Creed".

A blessed Sunday to us all, and thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle A - Year II: 

30 March 2014: 4th Sunday of Lent

(Liturgical color: Rose or Violet)

John 9:1-41 (or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38)

To see in the light of Christ!

Perhaps, we all woke up this morning to behold the magnificent beauty of God's creation, and to celebrate life anew. Sometimes, though, we get so used to seeing the morning sun that there is the tendency to make a routine out of it. That means we may take things for granted. But what if we woke up one day in total darkness, because we lost the sense of sight? It would be unspeakable and horrible.

This Sunday we hear the story of Jesus and a man born blind. Our Lord heals the blind man and he is able to see. This is one of the most remarkable miracles of Jesus, which reveals the power and glory of God. But the Pharisees were critical of Jesus for performing the healing of the blind man during the Sabbath. The Jews kept the Sabbath holy.

Thus, this story on the healing of the blind man may also be said as the story of the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. Because while the blind man saw Jesus pretty clearly as a divine healer, the Pharisees were totally blind of who Jesus is.

In practical life, what is the message of Jesus' healing the man born blind to us today?

We ask ourselves, what is really worse: physical blindness or moral and spiritual blindness? There is moral and spiritual blindness when sin clouds the mind in darkness and closes the heart to God's love and truth. So that we deliberately choose to disobey God's laws over the sensual pleasures of humanity.

The Good News is that Jesus is ever ready to heal us and free us from the darkness of sin and deception by the evil one. The Lord offers us freedom from spiritual blindness due to sin and He restores us to wholeness of body, mind, soul and heart. For only in the light of God's truth can we see sin for what it really is, which is a rejection of God and opposition to His will.

The fourth Sunday of Lent is also called "Laetare" Sunday which means "Rejoice". This is similar to "Gaudete" Sunday of Advent. That is why the liturgical color is either rose or violet.

Let us end our reflection with this prayer: 

Lord Jesus, in your name the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead are raised to life. 

Come into our lives, especially during these most trying times in our worldly journey, and heal the wounds of our broken hearts. 

Give us the eyes of faith to see your glory and heart of courage to bring your glory in all we say and do. Amen.

A blessed Sunday to us all, and thank you for a moment with God. 

Ad Jesum per Mariam!