Cycle B - Year I:

5 July 2015: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

Mark 6:1-6


Listen and believe!


Sometimes, people have the tendency to put up "walls" to protect their privacy in human relationship. Because to "unveil" ourselves completely, is to face the risk of rejection.

The Gospel narrative this Sunday tells us that even Jesus was rejected too. He came to visit his hometown of Nazareth with his disciples. When the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, but they did not accept his preaching because they knew him to be just a working man, a carpenter, a mere layman.

Although the people of Nazareth have heard about the wondrous deeds performed by our Lord in other and neighboring places, Jesus faced a severe testing when he returned to his native land not simply as a carpenter's son but now as a rabbi with disciples. They couldn't see the Messiah standing right beside them, because he looked too much like one of them. As a result of the obstinacy of his own people of Nazareth, Jesus was not able to perform mighty deeds there because faith is lacking. Where there is no acceptance or faith, people can do nothing.

There is a modern term to describe the gospel incident: it may be called "crab mentality", when people would pull other people down, denigrating them rather than letting them get ahead or rejoicing at their achievement.

Today our Lord continues to face rejection by those who called themselves Christians or his followers, by openly questioning and disobeying his teachings, for example, the Church's teaching on marriage, human life, and sexuality. Also during Mass, how many listen and reflect on the priest's homily, perhaps thinking that they have heard it already many times. It is a rejection of Jesus when we do not want to listen to his word or the preaching of his priests.

Thus, the Gospel warns us to be on guard against  certain attitudes that are incompatible with the example of Jesus. Are we critical towards others, especially those close to us? It is said that the most severe critics are often people very familiar to us, a member of our family, a relative, or neighbors we rub shoulders with on regular basis.

In sum, do we take notice of the Messiah standing right beside us, all the while healing us silently of our spiritual and bodily ailments through the sacraments and the help of loving people? Or we want always to see our Lord in the spectacular events, like the "dancing sun" perhaps?

Let us listen and believe, and keep faith in Jesus. Because to reject Jesus our Lord is really to reject humanity itself.

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


Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year I:

28 June 2015: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

Mark 5:21-43


Jesus heals us!


Why is Pope Francis so popular and respected? During his visit to the Philippines in January 2015, people gathered in thousands to hear him or be blessed. They rushed to the route of his motorcade just to catch a glimpse of him. Perhaps, it is his pastoral and caring attitude that endear him to his flock, and yes, even to non-Christians.

We can trace the Pope's pastoral style to the very examples of the Master Himself in this Sunday's gospel narratives.

Jesus was always followed by big crowds wherever he went. We can say that his public ministry was

really busy and his schedule tight. Yet, he always had time for everyone, especially those who sought him. The gospel story features two women: a woman long afflicted with hemorrhages and the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue official, who was at the point of death. Jesus took time to minister to them; He heals the sick woman of her hemorrhages and brings Jairus' daughter back to life.

In both incidents, Jesus shows his personal concern for the needs of others and his readiness to heal and restore life. In Jesus we see the infinite love of God extending to each and every individual as our Lord gives freely and wholly of himself to each person he meets. Do we also find time when someone needs us? Giving time to someone in need is like giving our very self.

The second point in our reflection is the healing itself. The bleeding woman was restored to health and the dead child brought back to life through a personal encounter with Jesus. They keep faith in Jesus' healing power and allow God's gift of compassion and mercy to work in them. In the case of the sick woman, Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." For the dead child, it was her father's faith in Jesus that brought her back to life. In other words, when we pray for God's healing, it is not just a magical cure from bodily sickness that we should ask God for, but a true life in Jesus Christ that overcomes all illnesses.

Do we approach the Lord with expectant faith? In the face of trials and adversities, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ with the daring faith of Jairus and of the sick woman, confident in Jesus' power to heal us and restore us back to life eternal.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year I:

21 June 2015: Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

Mark 4:35-41


The Lord calms our life's storms!


Scientists and experts warn about devastating effects of global warming and climate change in the form of environmental catastrophes, like very powerful storms. Also in our personal lives, we encounter numerous "storms" of life -- troubles, accidents, illnesses, and other most trying moments. How do we deal with these storms?

Some helpful tips may be found in the Gospel narratives for this Sunday. Let us examine them.

St. Mark wrote that as evening approaches, Jesus embarks in a boat and asks his disciples to "cross to the other side" of the shore. But while they were in the waters, a violent storm came up and their boat was at its breaking point due to the very strong waves filling up the boat.

All this time Jesus was in the stern, soundly asleep on a cushion. The disciples woke him up and said, "Teacher, do you not care not we are perishing?"

So Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" And lo the wind and the

sea obeyed him and there was great calm. Jesus said to his disciples, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?"

Jesus' calming the storm and the sea is unmistakably a miracle, but let us look at it beyond just a mere natural physical feat, and reflect on the spiritual insights in our own encounter with Christ as we navigate the various circumstances of our lives.

Our first reflection is to realize that Jesus never promises us a life free of storm, but that he will walk with us through them. Remember that Jesus himself has his cross and suffering, so why should his followers expect a different path in following him?  In the song, or poem, "Footprints in the sand", Jesus says that during good times there are clearly two sets of footprints in the sand as he walks with us to celebrate life. But as the walk becomes more difficult and challenging there is only one set of footprints in the sand of life, because the Lord carries us through during these most trying times in our life. Trust in God's abiding presence in our lives allows us to transcend our difficulties and challenges, no matter how big and seemingly un-surmountable. It is Jesus who gives us peace in our sorrows, our problems and anxieties. His grace reigns in our hearts as our faith in the Lord increases.

The second point in our reflection is to understand that Christ may allow us, sometimes, to experience the storms of life in order to draw us into deeper faith and trust in him. He encourages us to conquer our fears and anxieties with faith in him. So that when sometimes we find ourselves in the eye of a storm, when life turns turbulent, the image of Jesus calming the storm at sea should inspire us to entrust our fate in his caring and loving hands. And believe that the Lord is never outdone by seemingly hopeless circumstances that we can encounter in this life. Therefore we must keep faith and trust that our Lord Jesus Christ stays with us and guides us safely through every storm in this life.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year I:

14 June 2015: Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

Mark 4:26-34


God's Kingdom grows within us!


After a series of solemnities, or special feasts, since the Ascension of our Lord, we are back to celebrating Ordinary Time in the Church's liturgical calendar. This Sunday is the eleventh in Ordinary Time.

Ordinary Time is the yearly cycle of 33 or 34 weeks in which no particular aspect of the mystery of Christ is celebrated, but rather the totality or fullness of the mystery of Christ itself is honored.

The gospel passage is from St. Mark, and Jesus preaches about the kingdom of God in parables.

Jesus used parables that employed elements of common life and daily living of  his time from which his hearers could learn spiritual lessons. In other words, Jesus used parables to help his new followers better understand the kingdom of God. Thus, parables bridged the gap between earthly realities and heavenly ones.

In the gospel reading, what can the parable of a mustard seed teach us about the kingdom of God.  Let us reflect on this parable.

When we plant a tiny mustard seed in good soil, it grows literally to a big tree, through the wonders

of Mother Nature, that bears abundant fruit and serves as a leafy home to birds. But we don't know exactly how Nature works to transform the tiny seed into the big tree.

Now our Lord tells us that God's kingdom works in a similar fashion. It starts from the smallest beginning in our hearts when we are receptive of God's word. It works unseen and causes transformation from within us.

Yet, we must understand that just as the mustard seed has no power to change itself until it is planted in the ground, so, too, we cannot really change our lives to be what God desires of us until God Himself gives us the power of his Holy Spirit. We must allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, because God never forces Himself on anyone. It must be our personal choice to let Him transform us to be God-like. Are we ready to let God change us by his grace and power?

In sum, Jesus is telling us in this Sunday's Gospel that this is how God's kingdom works in our lives and in the world: its beginning is rather small, but given time and our cooperation  it grows into something big that can transform us to become missionaries of joy for God's kingdom here on earth. Because when we follow and yield to our Lord Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Do we believe in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit?

In the Eucharist at Mass, let us pray: "Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit and transform me into the Christ-like holiness that You desire of me. Increase my zeal for your kingdom and instill in me a holy desire to live for your greater glory. Amen."

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!