Basic Parenting of Mary and Joseph

 

Gospel

Lk 2:41-51

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,

and when he was twelve years old,

they went up according to festival custom.

After they had completed its days, as they were returning,

the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,

but his parents did not know it.

Thinking that he was in the caravan,

they journeyed for a day

and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,

but not finding him,

they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple,

sitting in the midst of the teachers,

listening to them and asking them questions,

and all who heard him were astounded

at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him,

they were astonished,

and his mother said to him,

“Son, why have you done this to us?

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

And he said to them,

“Why were you looking for me?

Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

But they did not understand what he said to them.

He went down with them and came to Nazareth,

and was obedient to them;

and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 

Reflection:

Mary reaction towards Jesus really manifest her love for her son. It is but normal for us to look for our children when we could'nt see them, especially, that they are not in their place. Jesus, at his young age, manifest His wisdom about teachings. He can even questions other people that are not expected to be ask by a boy of tender age. This gospel tells us that we should do parenting just like Mary and Joseph. We should watch our children and understand them.

Women during the last hour of Jesus

 Gospel text (Jn 19:25-34): Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your Mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

Reflection:

We must treat women with great respect. The Gospel today portrays that during the toughest situation of Jesus, women are there to be with Him until His last breath.

"No slave is greater than his master"

 Gospel text (Jn 15:18-21): Jesus said to his disciples; “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.”

Reflection:

The Gospel is clear that "No slave is greater than his master" which means that if you are a slave by God, then you will receive whatever God's blessing. Though, we carry our crosses, but in the end, you will be triumphant. 

Receive Jesus First

 Gospel text (Jn 13:16-20): When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, the one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Reflection:

The Gospel today is the same as the saying of Jesus "No one comes to the father except through me". We need to receive Jesus first before we receive the Father in heaven. Anyone who receives Jesus will also receive the father.

Jesus as the Manna of our lives.

 Gospel text (Jn 6:44-51): Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

Reflection:

Sometimes we don't think where that blessings come from. It is come from God by providing us the manna for our life. However, if we just take this for granted and not recognizing Jesus as the manna of our lives, then, we might die. Jesus is the manna of our life. We must take Jesus as our savior. He comes from heaven and lived as if human. Jesus said. no one comes to the Father except through Me. Therefore, we must take Jesus as always our divine Manna so that we will live forever.

The food for the soul

 Gospel text (Jn 6:22-29): After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea. The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

Reflection:

It is very hard to understand what Jesus wanted to convey about working for food. As humans, we are working everyday for our daily food. Jesus himself even tought us how to pray and he included to "Give us this day, Our daily bread". However, the food that Jesus wanted us to understand is the food for the soul. The Bread that will bring us to everlasting life.

How to see the kingdom of God?

 Gospel text (Jn 3:1-8): Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Reflection:

In this Gospel, Jesus explained why we need to be born again in order to see the kingdom of God. It is explained that we need to renew ourselves in Spirit. It does'nt mean that we need to be biologically born but in spirit instead. 

Come and have breakfast

 Gospel text (Jn 21:1-14): Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.

When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

Reflection:

The Eucharist always commemorate the last supper of Jesus. The last supper is given importance more than this gospel. This gospel is all about the last breakfast of Jesus with the desciples. The last breakfast happens after the death of Jesus. It means if we celebrate the last breakfast everyday this will commemorate the presence of Jesus in us. This will also manifest that everytime we have breakfast we can make this with the presence of Christ.

Jesus is unrecognizable

 Gospel text (Lk 24:13-35): That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.

As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

reflection:

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, we only found few written of what happenned. One of this is this Gospel today. This gospel happens after the resurrection of Jesus. This is one of the few. This gospel implies that Jesus can be found anywhere. He is not recognizable. Even the disciples haven't recognize Jesus. This also happens to us, we could not recognize the presence of Jesus. So, we must do good always to others because Jesus might be in the presence of the people that surrounds us.

The News about the risen Lord

 Gospel text (Jn 20:11-18): Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

Reflection:

If you were chosen by God to announce to the whole world about the risen Lord, it could be anyone. We know who is Mary Magdalen and yet she was chosen by God to announce to the whole world that Jesus is risen. If we reflect this in our lives, we could be chosen also by God to do something to the whole world. That is why we need to do something for our faith because God has something for us to do.

The plan to kill Jesus

 Today's Gospel (Jn 11:45-56) Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him.

So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast? ” For the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should inform them, so that they might arrest him.

Reflection:

The gospel clearly says that Jesus is about to be killed. Jesus life is a reflection to each one of us. In life there is always somebody who does not like us. They want us not to prosper or they even want us to live in difficulties. Jesus is not an exemption. He was being mocked and disbelieved by leaders during His time. He was prosecuted and crucified. 

Do Good because God praises you for doing it.

 Gospel text (Jn 5:31-47): Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Reflection:

In this Gospel, Jesus emphasize that a testimony about us should be from different person and not you yourself. If you do a testimony about yourself you will surely give what is favorable to you. You will surely make it more convincing and even add some descriptive words that can exagerate. In short, bias. So, we must allow other people to testify for us. On the other hand, Jesus emphasize also that we only accept praise from God. How can you get the praises from God? By doing good deeds. Everytime you do something good, God always praises you.

Solemnity of St. Joseph

 Gospel text (Mt 1:16.18-21.24a): Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Reflection:

Todays Gospel is about the solemnity of St. Joseph as husband of Mother Mary. We know that this kind of conception through the Holy Spirit is no longer to happen. This is the only conception through the Holy Spirit - The conception of Jesus, the son of God. However, this is somewhat like a responsibility given to guided by the Holy Spirit. A responsibility that sometime we coudn't believe it is true. A responsibility that is given to us that we coudn't believe we can do. We even wanted to let it go but the Holy Spirit will always there to let you take the responsibility and accept it. So, never worry to accept anything that is given to us by God because He is there to help us through the Holy Spirit.

If you are not with me, you are against me

 Gospel text (Lk 11:14-23): Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.

But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Reflection:

The Gospel is really clear as regards to take side with Jesus. He said that If a person is not with Jesus is against him. This applies to everyday life. The people who are not with us are against us. So, we must be careful in keeping neutral because whoever is not with God is against God. Jesus who is the son of God tells us this. We must stand for God in what whatever situation.

Forgive Seventy Seven Times

 Gospel text (Mt 18:21-35): Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Reflection:

The Gospel today says we must forgive seventy seven times. The emphasis of this Jesus in this Gospel we must forgive one another. It is very hard to forgive a person who keeps on doing wrong against us. As human, we could hardly forgive the second time around because we extended already the first time the person done wrong against us. If the person commits wrong against us for the second time around, it means his or her remorse is not serious. We can only forgive a person if that person is truly remorseful of what he/she had done wrong against us.

"No prophet is accepted in his own native place"

 Gospel text (Lk 4:24-30): Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Reflection:

"No prophet is accepted in his own native place." In this Gospel, it is clear that Jesus himself manifests that we cannot be accepted in our native place. That is why some if not all leaders for a place usually came from the outside of the place. However, there are some who is also accepted but may be a place who really wanted to have leaders who grows in the place as the person really familiar and knows the problems to be solved in that particular place. But we will no longer wonder what is the reason why certain person cannot be accepted in that place. He may be a native that is not acceptable in his own land. 

'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'

 Gospel text (Mt 21:33-43.45-46): Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”

They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

Reflection:

In this Gospel, Jesus threw again a parable about the tenant who rejected their landlord. This reflects us being we rejected Jesus. As the son of God, He had a perfect life in Heaven and yet He went to the earth just to rescue us from sinfulness. What Jesus did was really a sacrifice just to join us in this earth and experience being human. Our Father in heaven gives us all the blessings, however, we abused it and never give back to Him. When the Father, sent His son to us we never treated Jesus as the messiah and the son of God. We even mocked and crucified Him. So, whatever blessings Jesus gives to us, we must return it to God. For the kingdom of God is for those who return the fruits we bear back to heaven.

Be a servant first before you'll be Great

 Gospel text (Mt 20:17-28): As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve [disciples] aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left [, this] is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection:

Some of us wanted to be great. We have innate desire to lead and be great. However, this ambition of ours may or may not come true. In the gospel, the mother of the two brothers personally asked Jesus that whenever Jesus will be at the kingdom, the mother wanted them to sit beside Jesus. This means that our future is not ours to decide. It is God's. God alone can determine our future. But, in the last paragraph of the Gospel it says, "Whoever wishes to be great shall be a servant, whoever wishes to first among you shall be your slave." We must serve one another in order to come to the Kingdom of God.

Humble Yourself

 Gospel text (Mt 23:1-12): Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’

As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflection:

In todays Gospel, we have heard that Jesus discourage anyone to be called "Father" because we have only one Father in heaven. Almost all of us wants honor and fame. We even wanted to be called the father of all. If anyone call us the father we must live the responsibilities that attached to it. Until now, we still called anyone the father even if Jesus discourage it thousands of years ago. And that is nowadays we call anyone "Father", aside from being father of the family because of we have done greatness in contribution to humanity. In order to achieve greatness we must humble ourselves.

Jesus Changes the Commandment

 Gospel text (Mt 5:20-26): Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny”.

Reflection:

In this Gospel, the command of Jesus is very hard. In the old commandment saying "Thou shall not kill" is very easy to follow because killing by nature is bad. We have our moral values not to kill and that is innate in every human being. While getting angry to people that commits something bad to us is also normal in humans. But Jesus is changing "Thou shall not kill into by just merely getting angry to others. Getting angry to others is not easy to hold. It is very easy not killing a person who stole a mobile phone from us but surely you get angry with him/her. We should pray always to extend a patience to everyone that surrounded us.

Ask, Seek, & Knock (A.S.K.)

 Gospel text (Mt 7:7-12): Jesus said to his disciples; “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

Reflection:

In this Gospel, Jesus specify that whatever you need ask, seek, and knock. With these three words God will provide. Jesus promise these three so we need to claim it so that whatever you ask in prayer it will given to you. Just pray continuously.

Do we need signs from God?

 Gospel text (Lk 11:29-32): While still more people gathered in the crowd, he said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here”.

Reflection:

As I reflect on the Gospel, I found out that signs are evil. I ask why? Why is it an evil one? As I was thinking, asking for signs is lack of faith. You don't have to ask for signs if you truly believe in God. If you truly believe that what you're asking will be given to you. We don't need signs if we have complete trust and strong faith in God. 

Temptation of Jesus

 Gospel text (Mt 4:1-11): At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Reflection:

We really believed that Jesus is our Lord. Despite that He is the Son of God, He was tempted by Satan while fasting and praying. This implies, that temptation and prayer are of no exemption. Satan has guts to tempt Jesus despite he knew that Jesus is the Son of God. How much more to us. As human being, we have to pray always and fast so that we could resist temptation. 

Hyprocrisy

 Gospel text (Mt 6:1-6.16-18): Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Reflection:

Most of us wanted to do good just to be seen by others as a good man. However, deep inside us we are bad. We are hyprocrites. We just wanted to do something good just to impress others. We wanted to be seen and percieved by others as a good man. If someone will say that we are good, we are generose, of maybe a person who is a hero to others, but unfortunately, we are just scheming others so we do perceived by others as man of dignity. We will always put in our mind that God is watching us and knows the intentions of our hearts. We must act as a good man because really impress God and not to other humans.

"What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life."

 Gospel text (Mk 8:34-9,1): Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power.”

Reflection:

The Gospel talks about the great teaching of Jesus. It is good to reflect that material things on earth do not matter in the Kingdom of God. It is not good to acquire material things on earth by doing it against the will of God. "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life." This particular message of Christ is very powerful. Some of us would like to become rich at the expense of others. Or some of us got envy of the wealth of others despite that the acquisition of that wealth come from illegal means. Never get envy for those rich whose wealth is from illegal source. We must work hard and get that material wealth so we may enjoy them with clear conscience.

Let the Blindman see

 Gospel text (Mk 8:22-26): When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”

Reflection:

In this Gospel, Jesus again perform a miracle by letting the blindman see. It is so difficult for a man to see without any medical intervention, especially during the time of Jesus. During their time technologies are not yet in the vocabulary of mankind and yet He let the blindman see by just touching the eyes. This really implicates that Jesus can perform miracle as long as we ask Him to, and have a strong faith in God. Never worry of all your problems. Let God perform miracle by believing in Jesus strongly.

Deep Thoughts of Jesus

 Gospel text (Mk 8:14-21): The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Reflection:

The questions of Jesus in this Gospel are quite deep. It seems even the disciples could not comprehend Jesus about his questions. As I reflect on the Gospel, I was also confused of the questions ask by Jesus. The questions are:

• Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?
• Do you not understand or comprehend?
• Are your hearts hardened?
• Do you have eyes and not to see, ears and not hear?
• Do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?
• When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousands, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?

Those questions of Jesus are quite deep. In order to understand those questions, we really need to focus and have strong faith in God. God will always guide us in everything we do despite the work of God in us is so mysterious.

Signs from Heaven

 Gospel text (Mk 8:11-13): The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

Reflection:

This Gospel emphasizes the meaning of a person who seek for a sign from heaven. We know that this act shows lack of faith in God. If you really believe in God, no need for you to have a sign from heaven. But human as we are, we keep on asking God for a sign. If you ask God for something, no need for you to ask for a sign. Just believe that it will given to you and surely you will receive it.

The multiplication of loaves

Gospel text (Mk 8:1-10): In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied.

He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed them and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Reflection:

In this Gospel, Jesus perform a miracle that manifest His great mercy. He is truly a merciful LORD. His mercy to people who has nothing. He can always perform a miracle for us who has nothing to eat. When you ask Jesus to give us food to eat, do it with strong faith. God will always provide for us who has nothing. He will give you what ask and even give you more. So, do not loose hope when asking. God will provide.

He has done all things well

 Gospel text (Mk 7:31-37): Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)

And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Reflection:

This Gospel talks again the miracle of Jesus. Another man who has healed from being deafmute through the miracle of Jesus. Jesus really showed here his being God. And that, the deaf and mute was able to speak. The Gospel also showed to us that Jesus can heal any sickness and disorder. It is showed here He healed a person who has speech disorder. But the greatest effect of the miracle of Jesus is that our faith in God is always our tool to make our sickness healed and problems solved. Always have faith in God to make our life more meaningful and at peace.

Tradition vs. Belief in God

 Gospel text (Mk 7:1-13): When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

Reflection:

In this Gospel, Jesus explains that you can always disregard tradition as long as your faith in God is real. As Filipino, we have a lot of traditions in the Philippines that we disregard our faith in God. We keep on celebrating this tradition despite that our belief in God is compromised. We must not be hyprocrites, showing that we have strong faith in God but we still practice traditional beliefs. 

This happens only because we feel we are oblige to do it because it is a tradition. We might be isolated with out relatives because we disregard traditon. We must think and choose the right thing to do in every situation.

Touching the cloak of Jesus

 Gospel text (Mk 6:53-56): After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

Reflection:

In my entire life as a Christian, this is my first time I knew that there were a lot people who benefited from healing through touching the cloak of Jesus. This Gospel manifests that the miracle of Jesus can be experienced by everyone as long as you have strong faith. So, never loose hope. If you are weary and laden then come to Jesus with strong faith and He will surely give you His miracle.

Rest or Continue working?

 Gospel text (Mk 6:30-34): The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Reflection:

In this Gospel, Jesus implies that we need to rest. As a busy person, especially in our daily endeavors in life, as a businessman or as a working man, Jesus requires us to rest for a while. However, when work is absolutely necessary, especially during the time of preaching we must continue to guide others just like what Jesus did.

The two miracles perform by Jesus

Gospel text (Mk 5:21-43): When Jesus had crossed again [in the boat] to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.”

He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. [At that] they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

Reflection:

In this Gospel, there are two miracles of Jesus that is presented. The touching of his cloak that made the sick woman cured from her sickness. And the other miracle, is that making the little girl alive while she was dead. The two miracles illustrate how powerful Jesus is. Jesus can perform miracles as long as we have strong faith with Him. Imagine, by just simple touch to His cloak the miracle really happened. On the other hand, the Gospel presented also a miracle of Jesus by making the dead child alive. The gospel presented as subject is a child because a child is innocent. The gospel implies that when we are innocent (illustrated by the woman) and have strong faith (illustrated by the child) Jesus can perform miracles for us.

Be of Strong faith

 Gospel text (Mk 4:35-41): On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Reflection:

This Gospel talks about faith. Several times, as humans, we tend to loose faith in God especially during our darkest moments. Even the desciples of Jesus, also manifests small faith despite that they are with Jesus. Losing of faith is but normal. However, we need to trust God and make our faith stronger because we know how powerful God is. Jesus can command the seawaves and the wind, so, Jesus can also give us light during our darkest moments. He can always solve our problem by making our faith in God stronger. We must do our part and everything will be fine.

 Gospel text (Mk Mk 4:26-34): Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Reflection:

Don't be afraid of what we have. Even how small it is. It is a promise by God that the same is like a mustard seed. A mustard seed is so small but if you will plant that seed it will give a large tree with great branches for the birds to dwell. So, we will not be afraid of our small faith to God, if we will ask God to help and try our best to nurture it, that small faith will grow big. The same with the our resources and responsibility, if God will give us great responsibility with small resources, don't be afraid of it. Just do your best and God will do the rest.

Discover the purpose of your life.

 Gospel text (Mk 4:21-25): 

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”

He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Reflection:

There are two ideas in this Gospel. First, you must act according to your purpose here on earth. That is why, a lamp should be placed on a lampstand so that this will give light to all. If you have talent, you have to use it accordingly. We are created by God with purpose and you are responsible to discover what is your puspose in life. Second, this is quite unfair. Why? Those who has, more will be given and those who has not even what he has will be taken away. This thought is quite not understandable but if we think and analyze, we need to work hard so that we can receive more blessings in our life. If you are lazy then you have nothing and what you have will be taken away.