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.