Cycle C - Year II:

3 July 2016: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Sharing the Good News!

Having just elected our new leaders, we now look forward to how they will actually lead us in the next six years of our collective journey as a nation.

As a post-election reflection, perhaps it is useful to validate our basis for choosing our new leaders. It goes back to our very basic understanding of what it takes to be a leader.

For example, are leaders really born, or they are trained and developed over time, sometimes by special circumstances in their lives? It depends on our own human experience of leadership.

In the corporate world one effective way of developing future leaders is through an on-the-job training of those with leadership potentials (and credentials) where their leadership skills may be harnessed through hands-on experience.

There is a similar training program in formative years of those aspiring to be religious missionaries. It is called "regency" where seminarians interrupt their academic formation and sent on the field to have an actual experience of various mission works undertaken by the congregation they belong.

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was the formator of the first Apostles. Thus far, from the day they were recruited the twelve Apostles have been following our Lord from place to place, witnessing the miracles He performed and listening and learning from His preaching. But they were just followers, and not yet missionaries themselves.

In the Gospel narrative this Sunday, Jesus will now give them the "hands-on" training to prepare them for missionary work. Jesus tells them to go out on their own and work their own miracles in His name. And like Jesus, they are to give up their families and lead itinerant lifestyle, traveling from place to place to preach and share the Good News of the kingdom of God and work wonders in Jesus' name. Thus, Jesus gives His Apostles both the power and authority to speak and act in His name.

What is the impact of the Gospel reading for us today? The following points for personal reflection may be useful.

The mission of the twelve Apostle is carried on today by their successors: the bishops and all ordained ministers, religious men and women, and even lay people like us. Because by virtue of our baptism, we lay people are also sent to bear witness to Christ in word and deed.

In doing our own missionary work as lay people, and also for ordained ministers, let us heed the reflect on Jesus' advice and instructions to the first Apostles.

First, Jesus tells His Apostles to "travel light", meaning with little or no provision at all. Because "poverty of spirit" frees us from greed and preoccupation with material possessions and thus makes ample room for God's provision instead. In other words, we must trust and depend on God rather than on ourselves.

Second, the Lord gives us the power and authority to work wonders in His name. But also He wants us to use this power and authority with love and humility, and always for the good of others. Remember always that it is the Lord we preach, not ourselves.

And last (but not least), Jesus entrusts us with His gifts and talents to continue His saving works in our times. Are we ready and eager to place ourselves at God's service, to do whatever He tells us to do, to witness His truth and saving power to whomever our Lord sends us?

In the Eucharist at Holy Mass, let us pray: Lord, make me a channel of Your grace and healing love that others may find life and freedom in You. Free me from all attachments that I may pursue the things of heaven without distraction. May I truly witness the joy of the Gospel, both in my word and in my deed. Amen.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle C - Year II:

26 June 2016: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Luke 9:51-62

Following in our Lord's journey!

The United Nations is alarmed about recent pronouncements that seem to justify or encourage extra-judicial killings. For indeed, if we subscribe to the "law of retaliation" that is "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" very soon we will become a blind and toothless society.

The challenge of our Christian faith is to keep calm in the midst of storm, to keep our peace even in turbulent times. Because we believe that our life on earth is but a journey, in preparation for our final destiny in the heavenly home.

The Gospel this Sunday presents Jesus determined to journey toward the final stage of his mission which must happen in Jerusalem. For it is in Jerusalem that He will reveal the whole purpose of His life on earth, namely, to die out of love for others.

The travel narrative begins with the brief encounter where Jesus is rejected in Samaria. But Jesus rebukes His disciples who wanted to repay the hostility of the Samaritans with fiery destruction.

The rest of the Gospel story entails admonition from our Lord about detachment from all worldly security when we decide to accompany Him in this "journey".

What are life implications of the Gospel for us today?

The first lesson for those who would travel with Jesus is to put aside all initiatives prompted by anger, violence, and prejudice. In the Gospel, Jesus Himself rebukes the disciples James and John who wanted to "call fire from heaven to consume" the hostile Samaritans.

This wisdom teaches Christians to put aside anger and violence as ways to solve problems. Jesus reminds us that to "call fire down from heaven" is not the Christian way to deal with difficult people.

The second lesson is that those who follow Jesus must be willing to let go of all previous attachments. Because half-hearted discipleship simply will not be acceptable.

And this is the challenge for those who want to follow our Lord Jesus Christ in His journey to Jerusalem. The Lord expects the same kind of decisiveness from His followers. It is not going to be easy, that is why we need to pray persistently and consistently for grace to be able to respond to the challenge. Our Blessed Mother is our very model in complete submission to God's will.

Because when we really begin to trust more the wisdom of Jesus, we will gladly let go of unworthy attachments as we trust more and more the promises of God and begin to run joyfully toward the future, which is our heavenly destiny.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle C - Year II:

19 June 2016: Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Luke 9:18-24

A challenge of faith!

Because it is the start of a new school year, let us begin our Sunday reflection with a typical classroom incident.

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

One student answered: "None teacher!" Astonished, the teacher asked back, "Why is that so, if only one was shot?"

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

Often, oral exam is tricky and hard, 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 disciples. Our Lord Jesus was praying in solitude and the disciples were with Him. Jesus tests His disciples with a question: "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They answered Him: for some John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the ancient prophets.

After hearing the opinion of others about Him, our Lord asks the apostles the pivotal question: "But who do you say that I am?"

Always quick to react, Peter answers by professing that Jesus is truly "the Christ of God." Peter

recognizes that Jesus is the one whom the people are waiting for, and that He comes to fulfill the promise of old. Now no mortal being could have revealed this truth to Peter but only God Himself. It was through faith that Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. Thus, Peter has the distinction as the first apostle to publicly recognize Jesus as the Anointed One (meaning, Messiah or Christ). And "Christ" is the Greek translation for the Hebrew word "Messiah". So, Peter was able to pass his practical exam on our Lord's identity, through the gift of faith.

The second part of this "exam" is the requirements or demands for believing in the Messiah. Jesus Himself explained that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die in order that God's work of redemption be accomplished. How startled the disciples were when they heard this part.

And Jesus makes it clearer about the second part of their "exam". He told them, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up the cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."

What do we make of the Gospel narrative in practical life?

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

Like Peter we can be as quick to respond that "Jesus is the Christ of God!", that we believe that Jesus is our personal Messiah. Professing our faith in Jesus is the easier part of discipleship.

But Jesus challenges us to go deeper into the very roots of our faith. If we want to share in Christ's victory then we must deny ourselves in love, take up our cross in sacrifice, and follow Him in service.

In other words, who do we say or profess Jesus is in our personal lives is not simply by words alone but by our deeds and lifestyle as practicing Christians. This is the real challenge and it is not going to be easy, when there is the tendency, and the temptation, for some Catholics to be selective on Church's teaching that is convenient to them. But that is why the term is "practicing Christians" because we keep practicing and living our faith until we perfect it.

Do we take up the challenge of our profession of faith in the Lord Jesus?

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Cycle C - Year II:

12 June 2016: Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Luke 7:36--8:3

God's unconditional love!

The vulgar attack on the Church as "hypocritical institution" hurts the whole Church, because it is not true. For we know that the Church, as the People of God, never regards itself as sinless, but worships God in humility and contrition, fully aware of its own sinfulness yet always trusting in God's love and mercy.

In Holy Mass, for example, we always begin our celebration with the Penitential Act to ask God's forgiveness for our sins before proceeding with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Church is best described not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners. And so calling a sinner who goes to Church a "hypocrite" is like criticizing a sick man who visits a doctor.

Nonetheless, the Church survives because of the countless many who are committed to the teaching of its Founder, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, as well as the many martyrs who protect the Church with their own lives and blood.

Fulton Sheen has said: "Judge the Catholic Church not by those who barely live by its spirit, but by the example of those who live closest to it". Well said, indeed.

The many who strive to be truthful and committed to the teaching of the Church, in words and deeds, find the strength and courage to do so because of God's unconditional love to a repentant sinner.

This Sunday's liturgy will make us realize that salvation is really God's free gift. For God looks at us as His children needing love and forgiveness.

The Gospel story: A Pharisee by the name of Simon invited Jesus to his house to dine with him. As our

Lord entered Simon's house and reclined at table, a "sinful woman" bathed the feet of Jesus with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and finally anointed Him with an ointment.

This incident did not sit well with the host. He was thinking to himself that if Jesus "were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner."

Jesus could read Simon's thought, and in His customary fashion our Lord never lost opportunity to draw a lesson from such an incident. So He told the parable of two debtors before His "learned host". The two debtors who were unable to pay back their debts were forgiven by their creditors. Then Jesus asked Simon, "Which of them will love him (creditor) more?" Simon replied, "The one, I suppose, whose large debt was forgiven." And he answered rightly.

In sum, anyone can be saved because God loves us unconditionally. He continues to love us in spite of our unworthiness. We are not "hypocrites" when we approach the Lord with contrite hearts asking forgiveness for our sins.

And Jesus Himself makes it clear that great love springs from a heart forgiven and cleansed.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!