Matthre 7: 7-12 Reflection

Matthew 7:7-12
7 "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good  things to those who ask him! 12 So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

Reflection

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” This Golden Rule is the most basic ethical rule that exists in almost all religions, philosophies, and cultures. It teaches about “reciprocity” or “mutuality” – how we should treat others as we would have wanted others treat us. This Golden Rule is in active form such that the means is always to “do” and not to “omit” or miss. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus uses the analogy of a father who even in his sinfulness still capable of giving what is good to his children. If a human father can do that, how much will the Father in heaven show His generosity to those who ask and come to Him? Isn’t this a great assurance? Jesus tells us that the Father will give everything to us, our needs and prayers and intentions that we may also do the same to others especially to those who are in dire need.

This season of Lent, may we learn how to give to those who asks for us for love, patience, compassion, understanding, love, care, prayer, trust, faith, and even life.

Luke 11: 29-32 Reflection

Gospel Lk 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus 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

Among the many provoking words of Jesus, this passage from the Bible is one which cast insult to the crowd and his followers. It might be hard to appreciate the story but everyone can understand the instruction of Jesus.  When He accuses the people belonging to an “evil generation,” he draws the surprise of everyone. Jesus uses this attention to show everyone that he is the meat of the SIGN they are waiting for to which they are to repent and believe. In fact, the words of Jesus do more than shakes the beliefs and pride of the people; recounting the faith of the supposedly faithless queen of the south, the repentance of the Ninevites, and the consequent condemnation, challenges us to acknowledge our own frailties and sinfulness.

Matthew 6: 7-15 Reflection

Gospel Mt 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

"If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Reflection

Prayer can mean only two things: “Help me Lord” and “Thank you Lord.” When we are having a hard time in life because of family or personal problems, mistakes and failures  in the past, our “dis-eases,” and other factors what makes us too weak and needy, we usually pray “Help me Lord.” But when life seems too light and happy because of the presence of our loving family and friends, our work achievements, our financial stability, etc. then our prayer becomes “Thank you Lord.” And in most instances, we pray both because of the intertwining good and not-so good experiences.

But what most people overlook at times is that prayer is NOT simply a noun or a verb. In a deeper reflection, prayer should be “persons.” Some spiritual writers would describe this as “PRAY-ers.”Meaning, by our life, we should reflect to others as the living prayers. In that sense, prayer is not anymore separate from us but it becomes you, me, us. Because the whole point of prayer is not simply to help us understand God, or help us in our needs but to make us like God and one day be ONE with Him.

Matthew 25: 31-46 Reflection

Gospel Mt 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
Then they will answer and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?'
He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.'
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life."

Reflection

I remember a common adage which says “What are left in the graves are the words left unsaid and the deeds left undone.” It is true. We live our life according to what we believe is essential. But if try to look back in our own “life story,” we can see how much we’ve lost and failed in many instances where we could have made a difference.

Human words and deeds are sort of “power.” They can either make or break us. In our gospel today, Jesus invites us to use our power for those who are “powerless” – those who are left with no words and deeds in their lives. Because laying down our powers for our own sake -indifferent to others’ needs – will ultimately create a power that will lead us into our decay.

The words of “Spider Man” would remind us that “with great power comes great responsibility.” Yes, there is power in us that can make a difference to the world. And Jesus invites us to use this power not only for our own benefit but for all of us. Every day is a new day. It is always an opportunity to make our words like a song that can enrich others and our deeds like a hand that can raise the weak and the lowly.

Mark 1: 12-15 Reflection

Gospel Mk 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Reflection

Today is the first Sunday of Lent. This Sunday, the gospel reminds us of the 40 days of Jesus’ struggle in the desert. This experience of Jesus gives us an imprint of truth about fulfilment – that every achievement or triumph one can attain always has its underlying ‘rupture’ behind. The 40 days in the wilderness of Jesus is his experience of abandonment or rupture. It were days of tests, temptations, loneliness, an internal “annihilation.”

 Imaginably, we too experience such ‘ruptures” in life in its various ‘palms and faces.’ They are present even among and within our families and society – sufferings, poverty, hunger, injustice – even if they dawn on others as mere ‘human reality” where only disgust and mediocrity remain its viable responses. But what does it bring to us? What is the purpose of the ‘wilderness’ in our life?

Along this line of thought, in Jesus’ perspective, the wilderness is the time and space where things became crystal clear – his priorities, his mission – the love of the Father far beyond imagining. It was the source of his inspiration, firm dedication and unwavering commitment. In the same manner, our own share of ‘wilderness’ should also aid us in “moving on” in our life. It is not a reason for us to be immobile; on the contrary, is should rather transform us and make us “active” in fulfilling our role in the lives of others and in Kingdom of God – make people “repent and believe the Gospel.”