Cycle B - Year I:

4 October 2015: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Mark 10:2-16


From the beginning of creation....

My generation grew up and struggled with the concept of "colonial mentality". Have you ever heard, or remembered, such a term? It is the belief that foreigners and everything associated with them were far superior than the locals.

Shades of "colonial mentality" still persist today when developing nations tend to follow anything that developed nations do and say.

For example, the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court legalizing same sex "marriage" is making a stir locally to pressure the Philippine Congress and Senate to follow suit including a divorce law.

But it is a fallacy to believe that developing countries must always follow in the footsteps of developed nations in the name of "progress". In the issues of divorce and same sex "marriage", it is a tragic error that harms the common good.

Our Lord Jesus reminds us in this Sunday's Gospel what is God's plan for the human race from the beginning of creation in dealing with the issue of divorce.

"But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall

leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." (Mk 10:6-9)

What did Jesus mean when He said that a husband and wife are to be "one flesh"? He intended it to mean more than just a mere partnership for establishing a family or intimate relationship between two individuals. Because in fact marriage involves a partnership of not just two persons of husband and wife, but a third as well. For it is God Himself who joins with a husband and wife when they become "one flesh" in the Sacrament of Marriage.

St. Paul the Apostle used marriage as an analogy for Christ and the Church, His bride. (Eph 5;32) God wants an unbreakable union between Himself and His people, which is possible only through the gift of the Holy Spirit who purifies us and makes us one in Christ.

As followers of Christ, let us steadfastly proclaim the goodness, and bear witness to the truth and beauty of marriage, and protect our families in the face of unceasing and well-funded efforts by some sectors of our society to destroy marriage and the family and our beautiful Filipino values.

The persistent but deceiving argument that we are the only remaining nation without divorce law, it is a blessing rather than a curse. For we bear witness, and live by, the truth..... from the very beginning of God's creation.

In the Eucharist at Mass, let us pray for our Filipino families:  Heavenly Father, please bless our families with Your love and protect us from harm. Give us Your grace to forgive, strength to overcome the difficulties we face, and keep us together when the world tries to pull us apart. In Jesus's name. Amen."

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


Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year I:

27 September 2015: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48


Performing mighty deeds, in Jesus' name!

The beauty of the Catholic Church is that it embraces all human beings and the rest of God's creation. Because its core teaching is based on LOVE -- love for God and his creation.

The Catholic Church sees itself as one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself. But it does not close its door to those of other faith. Thus, it persistently works through ecumenism to reach out to other faith.

Ecumenism takes its starting point that Christ founded just one Church, not many churches; hence, the Catholic Church has as its ultimate hope and objective that through prayer, study, and dialogue, the historically separated bodies may come again to be reunited with it.

The narrative in this Sunday's Gospel reinforces the foundation for the Catholic Church's efforts on ecumenism.

"At that time, John said to Jesus, 'Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.'" (Mk 9:40)

But Jesus tells John and other disciples not to prevent people from doing good works in His name. For Jesus said that "whoever is not against us is for us." (Mk 9:40) Because as people were learning about Jesus, they wanted to follow our Lord Jesus, and to share His message and to help others.

As Christians in our time, you and I are also called to follow Jesus  and to do "mighty deeds" in Jesus' name. We must keep in mind that even a small act of love, sacrifice, or giving, when we do that in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, they can be "mighty" as well.

The second point in our reflection for this Sunday's Gospel is a warning from Jesus to his followers to avoid things that may lead us into sin. Why is it that sometimes, or often times perhaps, it is so tempting to do things that we know are wrong and sinful? We fall into sin because we give way to these temptations. So Jesus warns us to be always on guard about things that lead us to make these bad choices, and to eliminate them from our lives.

My late professor in Moral Theology gave us a helpful tip to avoid being tempted: at the very first sign of temptation, it is always prudent to just run away than allow your moral strength to be tested. For no one can really claim to be strong enough against the cunning of the evil one.

In this regard, Jesus also warns us about the reality of hell for those who do not want to heed His teaching. He said to his disciples, "It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna(meaning hell in the New Testament)." (Mk 9:45)

In other words, the fear of hell should urge us to lead a good life, because absolutely nothing here on earth is worth even a moment in hell.

The Church also celebrates this Sunday the 20th National Seafarers Day, coinciding with the Feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. He is the first Filipino saint and Patron of Filipino migrant workers. Let us pray that the Lord bless and protect our Filipino seafarers and their families.

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


Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year I:

20 September 2015: Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Mark 9:30-37


The greatest in God's kingdom

It is election year in the Philippines in 2016. As early as now the election fever is on, which is not surprising in a country where politics seems to be one of the most rewarding and sought-after "profession". We can hear prospective candidates go on media blitz proclaiming their "greatness" to impress voters or at least test their chances.

What then is the measure of greatness?

Let us hear form our Lord Jesus Himself as He speaks about "greatness" in the eyes of God in this Sunday's gospel narrative.

Jesus and His disciples left for Capernaum through Galilee. On the way Jesus is actually giving the disciples lesson on what leadership and greatness is all about by explaining to them what will happen to Him down the road. Jesus is prophesying his betrayal and crucifixion. He will be delivered into the hands of enemies and will be put to death. Jesus is really teaching the disciples that his kingship does not consist of power and dominion, but of humility and service.

The disciples failed to understand Him because they were busy discussing and arguing among themselves who was the greatest. Thus, the Lord's revelation of a suffering Messiah does not make sense and did not fit their understanding and expectation of what the Messiah came to do.

Perhaps, the disciples do not really want Jesus to talk about suffering for some reasons. First, they do genuinely care for Jesus and so do not want Him to suffer at all. Second, Jesus' plan does not really make sense to them at that time. In their human thinking, they want to believe that Jesus can do much more good for the Father if He just keeps healing people, preaching great sermons, performing miracles and attracting large crowds. Third, the disciples do not like this message of a suffering Messiah because it also means that they too might have to suffer as well, if they want to remain His disciples.

Aren't we like the disciples in this sense? Our concept of greatness is worldly dominion, wealth and power, and the desire for praise of others.

So, Jesus sits down with the disciples and patiently explains a lesson on greatness through humility and service. To begin with, He explains that "if anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." For in His kingdom, greatness is equated with exhibiting a heart for serving one's neighbor.

He explains further by placing a little child in their midst to explain His point. What can a child
possibly teach us about greatness?

Well, Jesus tells His disciples that in God's kingdom, whoever has the heart of a child, meaning to say, whoever humbles himself and serves the "little ones" --the poor, neglected, those with neither power or voice in society-- will be considered great.

Thus, the image of a child in the example of Jesus challenges us to rethink our notion of leadership and greatness. Jesus Himself is our model. He came not to be served but to serve. Our Lord lowered himself and took on our lowly nature that He might raise us up and clothe us in His divine nature.

In sum, to follow our Lord Jesus Christ entails a radical change in our early notion of power that dominates, and instead follow in His footsteps of humble and truthful service to the poor and to those in need.

May we follow the example of Jesus' humble service as we strive to become great leaders of our family, our workplace, in society, and our nation. Amen.

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


Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle B - Year I

13 September 2015: Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Mark 8:27-38


How deep is our faith?

Here is a story of a teacher and her math students. The teacher gave this surprise quiz: "There are five birds resting in a tree branch. You shoot one, how many are left?"

The students answer: "None, Teacher!" Astonished, the teacher asks back, "Why is that so, only one was shot?"

"Well, Mam, birds are not stupid. When one was shot, the rest flew away of course." End of the story.

Often, oral exam is very hard and tricky, because it gives little time to think for the right answer. But also it can elicit the smartest answer.

The Gospel narrative for this Sunday is like an oral exam for the followers of Jesus. On the way to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus tests his disciples  with a crucial question: "Who do people say that I am, and who do you say that I am?"

Always quick to react, Peter answers by professing that Jesus is truly the Christ. No mortal being

could have revealed this truth to Peter, but only God. It was through faith that Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. Thus, Peter has the distinction as the first apostle to recognize Jesus as the Anointed One (meaning, Messiah or Christ). "Christ" is the Greek word for the Hebrew word "Messiah". So, Peter "passed" easily his practical exam on our Lord's identity, through the gift of his faith.

The second part of the "exam" is the requirements or demands for following Jesus. It is here where Peter's profession of faith about the the identity of Jesus is sorely tested.

When Jesus explained that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die in order that God's work of redemption may be accomplished, Peter reacted negatively. Peter could not accept that and would not allow Jesus to suffer. While he readily accepts Jesus as the Messiah, Peter does not want a suffering Messiah.

Jesus rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan!". Now, "satan" here is also a Hebrew word which means "accuser", the one who leads others away from the way of God. By calling Peter "Satan", our Lord does not allow anyone to lead Him away from His mission of saving mankind through the cross. In other words, Peter and the rest of the disciples must follow Jesus in His way, and not the other way around. And Jesus' way is through the Cross to Resurrection.

What do we make of the Gospel narrative for this Sunday?

The Lord Jesus tests each one of us personally today with the same question in our practical exam, "Who do you say that I am?"

We can be as quick as Peter in answering that Jesus is our Lord and Messiah. That is the easier part of discipleship.

But Jesus challenges us to go deeper into the very roots of our faith through personal commitment in our faith. That means, we must witness with our life situations our profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. This means accepting and following His way of suffering as our own way of life. Only then can we truly prove ourselves to be his disciples, and so merit to share as well in our Lord's resurrection at the appointed time.

As we reflect on the Gospel message this Sunday, what prevents us today from recognizing and following the Messiah in Jesus?

Let us pray: "Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are my Lord and Savior. Make my faith strong and help me to live in the victory of the cross by rejecting sin and by accepting Your will for me. Amen."

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


Ad Jesum per Mariam!