THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH AND THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY

THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH AND THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY

(A biblical reflection on the Feast of THE HOLY FAMILY – Sunday,  28 December 2014) 

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:22,39-40 

First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Psalms: Psalm 105:1-6,8-9; Second Reading: Hebrews 11:8,11-12,17-19; Gospel Reading: Luke 2:22-40 (longer version) 

The Scripture Text

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. 

And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:22,39-40 RSV)

At the beginning and the end of this passage about the Holy Family, Luke mentions that Mary and Joseph were observing the Law of the Lord. Clearly, here was a family where God was number one and everything was evaluated in the light of faith. They belonged to the larger family of the Jewish religion and their faith was supported by religious customs and ritual.

After eight days every male child was circumcised in observance of the ancient covenant between God and Abraham, the father of believers. In the case of a firstborn male a sacrificial offering was rendered to God as the source of all life. Then after forty days they had the ritual of purification of the mother which restored her to participation in religious service. Through the observance of these religious traditions the faith of the people was supported and the sacredness of life was kept in the forefront. The place of God in the family was deeply respected.

In our present time when there is a great push towards the secularization of society, the Law of the Lord is disregarded by many in the debates on family morality. Secularism is a pattern of thought and behavior which seeks to set humanity on a pedestal apart from God. Echoes of the first temptation can be heard: “… and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5 RSV) … having the right to decide for themselves what is right and wrong. Where traditional Christian morality is cast aside there is an alarming increase in the number of unmarried pregnancies, with all the consequent pains and pressures of the single-parent family.

Secularization lacks the vision of God’s faithful love and cannot find the grace or courage to say “forever”. It leads to cohabitation without the permanency of marriage or to civil marriages which are often little more than contracts until further notice. Secularism fails to appreciate the sacredness of sexual intercourse as an act which is open to cooperation with God in the wonder of creating a new human being who will have an eternal future. The fact that there may be unhappy marriages and bad families does not alter the claim that a good family provides the most natural environment for the growth of a child towards full human maturity.

Luke’s portrait of the Holy Family highlights their observance of the Law of the Lord. Jesus Himself would later clarify the essence of this law: love of God and love of one’s neighbor. Out of these two precepts flow the qualities of the Christian family.

The love of God will be clearly seen as the number one value in a Christian home. There will be time and place for prayer, for discussion on the deep mysteries of life and death, and for the sort of reading which will deepen one’s understanding of the faith and inspire virtuous action. As we like to pin up pictures of our heroes, so in the Christian home one will notice the pictures of statues which express religious devotion.  Those who share the same faith will be moved towards its expression in liturgy. There is something lacking in a family where prayer is always a private affair and they never have any togetherness in liturgical participation.

The love of God inspires our love for one another in God’s family. Charity must begin at home. Home is where we are wanted: where the love is so deep that storms on the surface never threaten the relationship: where we sometimes let off steam and show our worst features but remain totally confident that we will be forgiven.

The Christian family reaches out beyond its doors to the immediate neighbors. Christian neighbors show sensitivity to the old, the lonely, the sick. They rally round in times of crisis, they anticipate needs and they stay in compassion with the broken-hearted.

It was not all sunlight and easy going for the Holy Family. They were to know emigration, searching for work, misunderstanding, and rejection. It would all be part of that sword of sorrow piercing Mary’s soul (Luke 2:35). But God was over all and that was enough for Mary’s peace. At Bethlehem the Child was swaddled in binding cloths so that His bones might grow straight and strong. In the years at Nazareth He was surrounded by an atmosphere of faith and religious observance which helped Him to mature in character and to grow in wisdom. Luke notes that God’s favor was with Him.  For the face of God always smile warmly over the family which observes the Law of the Lord.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, to us the Holy Family is a model of religious observance, in prayerfulness and fidelity to God through light and darkness, joy, and sorrow, breaking and growing. Let Your Holy Spirit keep guiding us to become good disciples of Christ, and to spread His Good News to others we meet. Amen.

Jakarta, 26 December 2014 [Feast of St. Stephen, the First Martyr] 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

PEACE ON EARTH

PEACE ON EARTH

(A biblical refection on CHRISTMAS MASS [Year B] – Thursday, 25 December 2014) 

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:1-14

First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalms: Psalm 96:1-3,11-13; Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14 

The Scripture Text

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:1-14 RSV)

Christmas carols, cards, trees and gifts are only a few of the many traditions which annually come alive with the celebration of CHRISTMAS. They are all tied together with various meanings and memories from as long ago as our childhood days. These customs, beautiful as they are, do not touch the very heart of Christmas, but are only extensions of its central meaning.

If we are looking for the real message of this great day, we should not search for it on the shopping malls, department store shelves or in one top star’s TV Christmas Special. We turn to the Church to hear why this day has such deep significance, although we have heard the story a thousand times before.

The most meaningful Christmas sermon ever heard was not preached by Archbishop  Fulton Sheen, Billy Graham, nor by any pope or saint. It was not spoken by any human but delivered in song by an anonymous choir of celebrating angels. We find their melodious words in the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased! (Luke 2:14).

“Peace on Earth” is the Lord’s mission statement set to music. We still pray and work for it, for our distraught world is filled with violence, hatred and mutual mistrust. The Lord Jesus has been born, but His golden objectives are still awaiting birth on our tiny island in space. We have not taken seriously the message of the Peacemaker.

We give glory to God when we extend ourselves to other persons and thereby create a small atmosphere of peace on earth. Our kind words naturally invite other kind words from our neighbors, and that could start a pleasant chain reaction to produce peace on earth. Selfishness breeds contempt, and hatred turns to war – but love, like a seed, germinates and grows into everlasting goodness.

In this Christmas Mass, as well as in our other liturgies throughout the year, we happily join our prayers with those of the angels. We re-echo once again the meaning of the day, the message of the Church, the mission of Jesus and the song of the angels, “Glory to God …… Peace on Earth …” 

Prayer: O Word of God, You lowered Yourself to ransom us, to fill us with wisdom, and to give us life eternal. All praise, thanks, glory, and honor be to You, our perfect God. Amen.

Jakarta, 24 December 2014  

A Christian Pilgrim

 

WILL WE TAKE THE TIME TO QUIET OURSELVES BEFORE GOD AS MARY DID?

WILL WE TAKE THE TIME TO QUIET OURSELVES BEFORE GOD AS MARY DID?

(A biblical reflection on THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, 21 December 2014) 

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38 

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16; Psalms: Psalm 89:2-5,27,29; Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27 

The Scripture Text

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father  David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38 RSV)

At the moment of creation, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2). At the moment of the incarnation, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary, and “the power of the Most High” overshadowed her (Luke 1:35). The longing of every human heart was answered as the virgin gave her consent to the angel’s words: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). At long last, God was to dwell among us.

King David once thought that human hands could build a house for God (2 Samuel 7:1-5), and God used this noble but misguided intention to deliver a double-edged lesson. First, He “rejected” David’s offer, maintaining His sovereignty in determining how He would rule Israel. Yet He also rewarded David’s gesture with a wonderful promise: “I will establish your descendants forever and build your throne for all generations” (Psalm 89:4). God’s word was fulfilled in part when Solomon built David’s temple and the glory of the Lord filled it (1 Kings 8:10-11). But the complete fulfillment came when Emmanuel (God with us) entered the world through Mary.

Mary was uniquely chosen to become the “handmaid of the Lord” (Luke 1:38), and the angel rightly greeted her as kecharitomene – the favoured one full of grace (Luke 1:28). We can share in that grace as we open our hearts to the Lord, confess our sins, and ask the Holy Spirit to bring the Gospel to life within us.

There is so much to ponder during this season of grace, so many wonderful dimensions of the mystery of God’s love for us. Yet the wonder of the incarnation comes to us in the midst of busy preparations: travelling, shopping, wrapping, cooking. Will we take the time to quiet ourselves before God as Mary did?

Let us be generous receivers of God’s grace over these next few days. It may seem difficult, even beyond our powers, but with the Lord, “nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). He is the “only wise God” who “is able to strengthen you according to … the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages, but is now disclosed” (Romans 16:25-27). The mystery is that nothing, not even sin, can separate us from the love of God which became flesh in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, by Your Holy Spirit make me willing and able to quiet myself before You as Mary did. Open my heart to Your grace, so that through the angel’s message to Mary I can learn to believe in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son. Lead me to be a faithful disciple of Christ, by always saying “yes” to Your will. Amen. 

Jakarta, 18 December 2014 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS

(A biblical reflection on THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT [Year B], 14 December 2014) 

Gospel Reading: John 1:6-8,19-28 

First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11; Psalms: Luke 1:46-50,53-54; Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:15-24 

The Scripture Text

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you a prophet?” And he answered, “No.” They said to him then, “Who are you?” Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands One whom you do not know, even He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (John 1:6-8,19-28 RSV) 

How wonderful it is that from the very beginning, God has been intimately involved in human history, constantly at work to fulfil His promises to us! From generation to generation, He has raised up servants to speak His word and form His people. These women and men, each in her or his own way, reflected something of the promised Messiah, the one through whom God would abundantly pour out His Spirit. This promised one would come to bring freedom to prisoners, good news to the poor, and consolation to the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1-2). How God’s people must have waited and longed for the fulfillment of these words!

We know that the fulfilment of all our hopes is found in the person of Jesus Christ, “the true light that enlightens everyone” (John 1:9). In Jesus’ birth, all the grace of God came to earth. In His death, He destroyed the power of sin which held us in bondage. In His ascension, He poured out the Holy Spirit on all who would believe. Now, through Jesus, everything God intended for us is within our reach. Our consciences can be cleansed; fear can be lifted; memories can be healed; bitterness and anger can be dissolved.

As much as we have experienced the power of Jesus’ cross to transform us, there is much more that God wants to do in us, and so He asks us to come to Him each day. When we turn to Jesus, we discover that He is always ready to draw us closer to Himself and bring us into the life of the Trinity. We all have a longing in our hearts for the complete fulfillment of God’s healing and restoration, and this longing – which God placed in us – is but a reflection of our Father’s desire to shower His love upon us.

As we approach the sacrament of reconciliation this Advent, let us ask the Holy Spirit to continue God’s work in our hearts. When we confess our sins, let us be confident that God will forgive us, heal us, and restore us. He began this work when we were baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection. He now continues to work as we turn our hearts to Him and allow Him to cleanse and purify us more deeply.

May the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly … He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-34).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, our good Lord God, thank You for sending us Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son, as the fulfilment of all our hopes. Thank You for Your healing and restoration through His death and resurrection. Amen. 

Jakarta, 12 December 2014 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

THE BEGINNING OF THE GOOD NEWS

THE BEGINNING OF THE GOOD NEWS 

(A biblical reflection on THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, 7 December 2014) 

Gospel Reading: Mark 1:1-8 

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalms: Psalm 85:9-14; Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14 

The Scripture Text

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, who prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:1-8 RSV)

The Good News is about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into our world and released the life-giving waters of the Holy Spirit to flow within us.

Today we read the beginning of the holy Gospel according to Mark. He will be our guide to the memory of Jesus Christ for most of the Sundays of the coming year. Hence we can call it the year of Mark. Mark seems to have been the earliest of the four evangelists. He pioneered the work of setting to paper a comprehensive composition of the Christian community’s story of how God met mankind in the life of Jesus Christ.

Mark begins with a glorious statement of his intention to tell “the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). Our older translations used the term Gospel for the Good News. Gospel is the shortened form of god-spel which in Old English meant good news. This is an attempt to translate the Greek word which Mark used, evangelion. We have to imagine a world without TV, radio or newspapers. The town-crier or the herald of the king would proclaim the great events to the people. When the event to be announced was one calling for joy and celebration it was called an evangelion. It might be news of a victory in battle or perhaps a birth in the royal family.

The Christian writers, Paul and Mark especially, took over this word evangelion and invested it with a divine depth of meaning. As the herald of the great king, Mark begins his story of Jesus Christ with the proclamation that this was an evangelion. His use of the word has remained until our own day whenever we refer to the Gospel or to the Good News.

After his initial proclamation Mark prefaces his story by relating how John the Baptist went before Jesus, as a messenger preparing the way and as a voice calling from the wilderness. Marks picks up the popular expectation that the prophet of olden times, Elijah, would come back to prepare the people for the Messiah, John appears in the primitive, non-conformist style of Elijah who had been described as “a man wearing a hair cloak and  a leather loincloth” (2 Kings 1:8).

Mark differs from the evangelist Matthew and Luke in that he does not have the Baptist preaching a coming judgment as the urgent motive for repentance. In Mark’s gospel repentance wears a happy face.

Today’s liturgy links this gospel with a great message of consolation in the first reading. “Console my people … Jerusalem’s time of services is ended … her sin is atoned for.” Isaiah continues: “Sion, here is your God.” And that is the Good News which Mark sees the Baptist preparing for … the coming of God.

The Good News of John the Baptist is twofold: it concerns the acknowledgment by people of their sins; and it offers the hope that someone is coming, someone powerful, someone who will release the life-giving waters of God’s Spirit upon the earth. Later on the preaching of Jesus will carry on this twofold message: repent and believe.

It may seem strange to suggest that the Good News is firstly about sin. But while everybody admits that there is a great deal wrong with our world, we have largely forgotten the name of the disease. When a physician diagnoses what is wrong with a patient then the anxiety of all unknown possibilities is removed. The name of society’s disease is sin. John the Baptist enabled people to accept this diagnosis and led them to the waters of renewal. Here the energy to repent comes, not so much from the fear of judgment, but from the approaching footfalls of the Messiah.

The work of John the Baptist was not to be an end in itself. He came in the style of Elijah to prepare the way for the Messiah. And so, John’s function was to hand over to the One with God’s power and worthiness, the One invested with the Holy Spirit.

This Advent, repentance comes as a message of consolations and wears a happy face. It is Good News when we acknowledge truthfully our personal responsibility for sin and place our hope in the divine power of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus released for our forgiveness and healing. The Good News began in the diagnosis of our pain, sin; and in recognizing the healing power that God sends us, the Holy Spirit.

Short Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Messiah, Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who came to the world for our eternal salvation. Amen.

Main source: Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFMCap., The Good News of Mark’s Year, Dublin, Ireland: The Columbia Press/Cathedral Books, 1990 (reprinted 1993), pages 10-12.

Jakarta, 4 December 2014 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

WATCH AND PRAY

WATCH AND PRAY

(A biblical reflection on THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT [Year B], 30 November 2014) 

Gospel Reading: Mark 13:33-37 

First Reading: Isaiah 63:16-17,19;64:1,3-8; Psalms: Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 

The Scripture Text

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Watch therefore – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning – lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.” (Mark 13:33-37 RSV) 

Once upon a time, God, the infinite, eternal and all powerful One, came down to meet us on the dusty roads of human life. In the flesh of Jesus Christ, God walked with us through our light and darkness, our joys and sorrows, our solitude and relationships. Scripture writers called it the “fullness of time”. Things would never be the same again.

In Jesus Christ, God spoke to us in the human language that we can understand. His life warmly portrays God’s love and concern for us. And yet the story is not complete. The journey stretches on until we fully share in Christ’s glorification. That will be at the completion of life’s journey. For the moment we are a people on the way.

Advent is a time of waiting and watching. It is a very special time for Christians. It opens the Church’s year by picking up the theme of our journey towards Christ who is coming back to meet us. We are not like wandering nomads who have no sure purpose or definite direction. We have the pilgrim’s destiny with God. We travel forward on a road of unknown length until Christ will come again.

The focus of the first Sunday of Advent is on the Second Coming of Christ. The parable of the doorkeeper speaks of the master who will come back to the servants. The message for the servants is twofold: “Be on your guard and stay awake” …… watch and pray.

One task of the doorkeeper’s employment is to keep out unwanted visitors and intruders. Here the parable is a moral warning not to open up our doors to the ways of sin. Each passing day we are to watch with the vigilant eye of the sentry to prevent any intrusions of the enemy.

The unexamined life is a city with no sentries on its walls. Anybody who is serious about living a spiritual life is advised to undertake a daily reflection on our situation. This means more than counting up the number of our faults. It involves an honesty about what motivates us in the things we do.

We are sometimes surprised when we recognize that some exemplary deeds are done out of very subtle, selfish motivation. We may be doing the right things only to be praised or at least recognized as virtuous, to impress others, or as part of a self-seeking bargain with God. In daily reflection we guard against the intrusions of selfishness in our motivation.

The second task to the doorkeeper is to open up promptly to all who have the right to enter. Applied to the spiritual life, this means a spirit of prayerfulness or sensitivity to God. The sensitive soul is awake with all the longing of the lover for the approaching footsteps of the beloved. But what is He line, this God-who-comes? In today’s first reading Isaiah uses three very appealing names for God … our Father, our Redeemer and the potter.

God is the Father who has created us with the potential to share in the divine life. God is the Redeemer who continues to pay the price of liberating us from slavery to incomplete forms of life. He offers us life to the full. And God is the potter who is ever crafting our lives anew. The present clay may be messy and, in our view, without meaningful form or beauty. But the divine craftsman can mould and fashion an amazing masterpiece in the twinkling of an eye.

The God who is coming back the road to meet us wants to lift us up as His children, wants to liberate us and fashion us anew.

Do not think of the Second Coming as so distant and unknown as to be irrelevant to the hurly-burly of today’s living. If we are spiritually vigilant and alert then the future will draw us forward towards God. Our hope will energize us by supporting us when we are weak and encouraging us to persevere.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we believe that our lives are on a journey towards our heavenly Father who is reaching back to us this day and every day. So, we will be on our guard lest the ways of sin enslave our thoughts. We will also watch in prayer, be vigilant and alert to the daily visitations of the Holy Spirit to our souls. Praised be the name of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jakarta, 27 November 2014 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

JESUS CHRIST: OUR SHEPHERD AND OUR KING

JESUS CHRIST: OUR SHEPHERD AND OUR KING

(A biblical reflection on the SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING – Sunday, 23 November 2014 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17; Psalms: Psalm 23:1-3,5-6; Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28 

The Scripture Text

“When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of 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, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee, or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee? And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will say to those at His left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, 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, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me,  naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to Thee? Then He will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46 RSV) 

What does a shepherd have in common with a king? Very little, it would seem. One is a poor, solitary country herdsman, and the other a powerful national ruler. These occupations come together, however, in two of the greatest figures in the Bible. First, there is David, the humble shepherd who was plucked from his sheepfold and anointed to rule as king over Israel. Then, there is Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, who called Himself “the good shepherd” (John 10:11).

Before we celebrate Jesus as the sovereign King enthroned at the right hand of the Father. We also look forward to His further glorification after the Last Judgment. At that time, people from every nation under heaven will acknowledge His sovereignty and rejoice in His power. Jesus’ Kingdom has no end! The whole world will be silent before Him and His judgments. He is the magnificent, unequivocal king of glory and ruler of all creation!

Yet even in His role as king, Jesus tends His flock as a shepherd (Matthew 25:32). This is just what God promised ages earlier: “I Myself will be the shepherd of My sheep” (Ezekiel 34:15). Jesus, our compassionate shepherd king, does not want to see His sheep left unattended or in need. He Himself wants to bind up our wounds and lead us gently to His home.

Jesus’ roles as a king ruling with great authority and a shepherd filled with gentle compassion are not contradictions or mutually exclusive. They are one and the same thing! Jesus is King precisely because He rules with compassion. It is His very compassion and mercy that make Him King and ruler of all creation. There is no other who compares to Him, and no other who deserves our worship. Given these characteristics of Christ the King, what else can we do but bow down before Him? What else can we do but let Him lead us with His rod and His staff? Let us gratefully declare  with David, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I adore You as my King! I am thankful that You protect me, care for me, and hear me when I call You. Grant me Your goodness and mercy all the days of my life. May I dwell with You in Your Kingdom forever! Amen.

Bandung,  West Java, 21 November 2014 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

WE CANNOT TAKE GOD’S GIFTS AND USE THEM ONLY FOR OUR PLEASURE

WE CANNOT TAKE GOD’S GIFTS AND USE THEM ONLY FOR OUR PLEASURE

(A biblical reflection on the 33^rd ORDINARY SUNDAY, 16 November 2014) 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:14-30 

First Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31; Psalms: Psalm 128:1-5; Second Reading: 1Thessalonians 5:1-6 

The Scripture Text

“For is will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talent made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your  talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30 RSV).

In the parable of the talents (silver pieces), Jesus warns us that we must of our own will use the gifts of God wisely, if we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In this parable, as in so many others, He insists that is God’s property we are using, and it remains God’s property. He has given a variety of talents and the good things of life to His creatures, things of greater and lesser values, to greater and lesser degrees. This the parable expresses in terms of money, over which each servant is merely the administrator. The Master strictly charges them to use his goods wisely and bear abundant fruit.

When their time is up and the Master returns, he demands an account from each. Those who have allowed God’s work to be done through them are rewarded. They shall be judges and leaders in God’s Kingdom. “Well done!” he says, “Since you were reliable in a small matter, I will put you in charge of greater affairs. Come, share your Master’s joy.”

It is a strong reminder that we cannot take God’s gifts and use them only for our pleasure. The good things of life are not merely our own, to do with as we please. They must be used well in the service of God and our neighbor. This is another parable in which Jesus warns us about the abuse of riches. Unless we develop a deep charity, a spirit of sharing, a generosity with what God has given us, we shall meet the fate of the foolish man who put his silver pieces or talents in the ground, and did not use them for the glory of God.

Only those who make a lot of room for God and their neighbor, using the good things God has given, only these will be worthy of any reward.

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for all the gifts You have given me. Help me to be aware of these gifts, that I may surrender them to You and use them cheerfully and generously to build up Your Kingdom. Amen.

Jakarta, 14 November 2014 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

DEDICATION OF ST. JOHN LATERAN

DEDICATION OF ST. JOHN LATERAN

(A biblical reflection on the FEAST OF DEDICATION OF ST. JOHN LATERAN BASILICA – Sunday, 9 November 2014

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:9-13,16-17

First Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12; Psalms: Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; Gospel Reading: John 2:13-22

The Scripture Text
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
According to the commission of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how He builds upon it. For no other foundation an any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble – each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:9-13,16-17 RSV)

In celebrating the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, we celebrate the Lord, who gathers into one all the children of God throughout the world. The Lateran basilica is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, and the Pope is its bishop. Thus, this church symbolizes not only the unity of the local church – as all cathedrals do – but also the unity of the entire Church. This is why the Basilica of St. John Lateran is considered the mother church of all cathedrals everywhere.

In the fourth century, the Emperor Constantine gave the bishop of Rome a palace on the Lateran Hill, and a basilica was dedicated to St. John the Baptist and, in the twelfth century, John became patron saint of the basilica as well. Afterward, the basilica also became affiliated with St. John the Evangelist. Hence, it became known as “St. John Lateran”. This is the Church to which we all belong – one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

The problem is, do we realize that each and every one of us is a member of the body of Christ? At baptism, each of us was adopted into God’s family. We were as orphans, neglected and deprived, but God scooped us up into His arms and held us close. He made us His children and members of His body. This is the Church – men and women who belong to God, who are empowered by His Spirit to proclaim the Gospel and do the work of the Kingdom on earth. What a privilege!

“As Christians, we all have the dignity and freedom of the sons of God”, for “in [our] hearts the Holy Spirit dwells as in a temple” (Vatican II: Lumen Gentium, 9,2). Because of our baptism, we can all be filled with the Holy Spirit and take part in the advancement of God’s Kingdom on earth. This is no small calling. We are insignificant people. We are God’s temple, and that temple is holy (see 1 Corinthians 3:17).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for adopting us and making us part of Your temple. Through Your Holy Spirit, teach us to exercise the gifts that You have given us so that we might help build Your Kingdom on earth. Lord, we want to bring glory to Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Jakarta, 7 November 2014

A Christian Pilgrim

 

TWO OUTPOURINGS OF GRACE AT ONCE

TWO OUTPOURINGS OF GRACE AT ONCE

(A biblical reflection on the COMMEMORATION OF ALL SOULS – Sunday, 2 November 2014

Gospel Reading: John 6:37-40

First Reading: 2Maccabees 12:43-46; Psalms: Psalm 130:1-8; Second Reading: 1Corinthians 15:12-34

The Scripture Text
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me; and this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me, but raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:37-40 RSV)

This is one of those special days where we get two outpourings of grace at once. Traditionally, All Souls Day is set aside to pray for those in Purgatory. Drawing from Scripture and Sacred Tradition, the Church has taught that everyone who dies in God’s grace but is not yet perfectly purified undergoes a final purification. These are the ones who “will be saved, but only as through fire” (1Corinthians 3:15; see also the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030-1032). Similarly, various figures in the Old Testament “made atonement for the dead that they might be delivered from their sin” (2Maccabees 12:42). So this is the first outpouring. Today is a day to recall and intercede for those who are on the threshold of heaven.

What’s the second outpouring? Today is also a day to celebrate the firmness of our salvation. In baptism our old life was buried with Christ, and we have risen with Him into a whole new life. God does not want Jesus to lose anyone (John 6:39). Does this mean that now that we’re baptized we can sin all we want? Of course not! God hasn’t withdrawn His commandments. Common sense should tell us, as the Scriptures do (Mark 1:4,15; 16:16), that baptism must be accompanied by belief and repentance.

Today, God wants His love to so pierce our hearts that we would never want to offend Him or hurt anyone else. As we come to understand that we were lost in sin and that Jesus offered Himself up for us, we will want to imitate Him. Jesus’ love for us will move us to purify ourselves of every vestige of sin, every attitude that resists His words and His ways. Our outlook on ourselves and on the world will change, and we will become more and more like Jesus.

Why would we even want to wait for Purgatory? God is calling us to maturity – here and now – to receive all the gifts He wants to give us. He wants to empower us to build His Kingdom and spread His Gospel. By His grace we can change the world. Let’s do it!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the bread of life that came down from heaven to bring us life. Nourish and strengthen us so that we might love as You love and in the end be welcomed into the beauty and wonder of Your Kingdom. Amen.

Jakarta, 1 November 2014 [ALL SAINTS DAY]

A Christian Pilgrim