Nature . . . Person of the Holy Trinity

Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

Year C, Year of Faith

May 26, 2013

First Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31

Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5

Gospel Reading: John 16:12-15

Many great theologians wanted to define it or describe Trinity with no success, like for example of St. Augustine of Hippo, he tried but he was not successful to define it.  As what a little boy, who appeared to him in one of the legends of his life, said that it is impossible to put all the waters of the sea to the small hole dug in the sand at the seashore.  The theologians gave only some indications and/or vestiges of the Holy Trinity.  The English word "Trinity" is derived from Latin "Trinitas," meaning "the number three, a triad."  This abstract noun is formed from the adjective "trinus" (three each, threefold, triple), as the word "unitas" is the abstract noun formed from "unus" (one).  The corresponding word in Greek is "Τριάς," meaning "a set of three" or "the number three."   

The first recorded use of this word Trinity in Christian theology (though not about the Divine Trinity) was by Theophilus of Antioch, a Greek theologian, in about 170.  Tertullian, a Latin theologian who wrote in the early 3rd century, is credited as being the first to use the Latin words "Trinity," "person" and "substance" to explain that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are "one in essence—not one in Person."  It was in the 4th century AD that the Church Fathers in the Council of Nicene, after long discussions about the nature and person of the Trinity finally settled about the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God in Three Persons, which we now professed in the Nicene Creed.

Even some biblical scholars who were trying to capture the images of the Holy Trinity in the Old and New Testaments did not find the word about the Holy Trinity and even its exact meaning except of some hints about it.  For, even in our gospel reading for this Sunday Mass, it was not mentioned the Holy Spirit but the Spirit of truth.  In the first and second readings, the Holy Spirit was not mentioned except the Spirit.  They just systematized the biblical texts in the following sequence:

1.      There is only one God (Rom 3:30)

2.      The Father is God (1 Cor 8:6)

3.      Jesus is God (John 1:1)

4.      The Holy Spirit is God (1 Cor 6:19)

5.      Jesus is not the Father (John 1:1, Luke 3:21-22)

6.      Jesus is not the Spirit (Luke 3:21-22)

7.      The Father is not the Spirit (Luke 3:21-22)

Only in the recent times, the Trinity was defined and described, though in a limited sense of its understanding and meaning, for, how can you define and describe the mystery of God?

Our Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches us that God as three divine persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit; is “one God in three divine persons.” The three persons are distinct, yet are one "substance, essence or nature"(Fourth Lateran Council quoted in Catechism of the Catholic Church, 253).  A nature of God refers to what one is, while a divine person of God refers to who one is.

The Trinity is considered to be a mystery of Christian faith.  According to this doctrine, there is only one God in three divine persons. Each person is God, whole and entire. They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: as the Fourth Lateran Council declared, “it is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds.” While distinct in their relations with one another, they are one in all else. The whole work of creation and grace is a single operation common to all three divine persons, who at the same time operate according to their unique properties, so that all things are from the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. The three persons are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Dogma of the Holy Trinity.  See also Wikipedia, on the Trinity).

In any case, for me as what I believe, what is important is what Jesus (God the Son), is leaving behind us, his Spirit of truth (God the Holy Spirit), sent by God (God the Father).  Jesus has many things to say and teach to us, “I have much more to tell you, . . .” (John 16:12), but his time is very limited and short here on earth.  He is going back to his Father in Heaven very soon.  Besides, we, his disciples, cannot fathom and grasp totally the wisdom, knowledge, the heights and depths, widths and lengths of the love of Jesus for us all, in this very short time “. . . but you cannot bear it now” (John 16:12).  As what he was always saying and constantly promised to us that he is leaving us, but not abandoning us like orphans, and forgetting us.  He was always saying that, “But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth” (John 16:13).  The Spirit of truth, the Advocate (Paraclete), will be the one who will make them known everything that Jesus taught and deed. He will not say things different or concerning other truths that are not explained by Jesus, or contradicts Jesus’ words and deeds. The function of the Spirit will be to illuminate the words of Jesus, which he said to his disciples. Jesus being absent bodily, his Spirit remains in our midst, and accompanies us.  The Spirit of truth will be recalling and clarifying the meaning of his teachings.  The Spirit will therefore become the teacher who teaches in the hearts of the disciples all that came out of the teaching of Christ, and will always make them see more clearly the hope in the future.  The Spirit will help you discover the glory of Jesus by discerning all that Jesus said.

The Spirit of truth “will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.  He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.  Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-15).

Question(s) for Reflection:

1.  If you were asked to define the Doctrine or the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, how would you define it?  

2.  How would you describe it understandable to all people of different faiths?  

3.  How can you define and describe the mystery of God?

On Pentecost - The Holy Spirit, Our Advocate and Guide to Love Jesus Christ

Pentecost/The Descend of the Holy Spirit

May 19, 2013

Year of Faith

First Reading: Acts 2: 1-11

Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: Romans 8: 8-17

Gospel Reading: John 14:15-16, 23-26

Jesus, before ascending to the Father in heaven, as St. John the Evangelist wrote in his gospel, said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always . . . ; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.  I have told you this while I am with you.  The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”(John 14:15-16, 24-26).  

This inspiration was re-echoed once more by St. Luke the Evangelist in his second book, the Acts of the Apostles, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, . . .” (Acts 2:1). The disciples  of Jesus were still following the Jewish tradition of the Passover in remembrance of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt until they reached Mount Sinai where God gave them the Ten Commandments to be followed when they arrived in the Promised Land as free people and nation, on the day of Pentecost.   Pentecost is one of the Jewish important festivals.  They called it, Shavuot.

Pentecost or Shavuot  (in Hebrew: שבועות‎, lit. "Weeks"), or the Feast of Weeks, is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June).  

Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai, although the association between the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah) and Shavuot is not explicit in the Biblical text. The holiday is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer. (Counting of the Omer (Hebrew: ספירת העומר, Sefirat HaOmer, sometimes abbreviated as Sefira or the Omer) is a verbal counting of each of the forty-nine days between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot as stated in the Hebrew Bible: Leviticus 23:15-16.)

The date of Shavuot is directly linked to that of Passover. The Torah mandates the seven-week Counting of the Omer, beginning on the second day of Passover and immediately followed by Shavuot. This counting of days and weeks is understood to express anticipation and desire for the Giving of the Torah. On Passover, the people of Israel were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot they were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God. 

The word Shavuot means weeks, and the festival of Shavuot marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot.

In Hasidic thought, the word Shavuot "Weeks" is interpreted as also an acronym for Shavuot, Bikkurim, Atzeret, Torah.

 

Shavuot is one of the lesser known Jewish holidays among secular Jews in the Jewish diaspora, while those in Israel are more aware of it. 

According to Jewish law, Shavuot is celebrated in Israel for one day and in the Diaspora (outside of Israel) for two days. Reform Judaism celebrates only one day, even in the Diaspora. [Source: Shavuot, Wikipedia]

St. Luke continued and described what was happening inside the house, in the upper room where the Last Supper with Jesus took place, to the Apostles and disciples, “. . . they were all in one place together.  And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.  Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim” (Acts 2:1-4).  There were praising and singing, praying and rejoicing, prophesying, and common wisdom and understanding inside the house.

Pentecost (in Ancient Greek: Πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], Pentēkostē [hēmera], "the Fiftieth [day]") is the Greek name for the Feast of Weeks, a prominent feast in the calendar of ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai. This feast is still celebrated as Shavuot. Later, in the Christian liturgical year, it is also a feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the twelve Apostles of Christ Among Christians, Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Twelve Apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1–31. For this reason, Pentecost is sometimes described by some Christians today as the "Birthday of the Church."

The biblical narrative of Pentecost, where the 11 Disciples of Christ (Acts 1:13, 26), along with about 109 other individuals (Acts 1:15), including many women, among whom was Mary the mother of Jesus (Acts 1:14), received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, is given in the second chapter of the Book of Acts. As recounted in Acts 2:1–6. [Source: Pentecost, Wikipedia]

But something also was happening outside the house; for an event different from the rest of Pentecost or other Shavuot the Jewish people and converted to Judaism had never experienced, heard or seen before.  Luke described it.  “Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.  At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.  They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, ‘Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?  Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?  We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God’.”(Acts 2:5-11).  There were confusions in the large, international crowd, because of what they have heard – the loud noise and wind from the sky; of what they have seen – bright light and fire filled the entire house; of what people inside the house were speaking in tongues – of all the languages of the peoples on earth were spoken.  Everybody, outside the house, understood what this small group of Jesus’ followers was speaking about – the mighty acts of God. 

There is confusion and mesmerizing when we are not keeping what the Lord God commanded us to do and to be.  And, there is oneness and unity when we are captivated by common love in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Second Reading, we can explain the commandment of Jesus, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23), as Saint Paul enlightened the Romans, most probably in two opposing descriptions.  First, those who are in the Spirit of God:

“But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Romans 8:9).  “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:10-11).  “. . .but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:13-14).  “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"  The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:15-17).

And secondly, those who do not have the Spirit of God.  As Jesus said, “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words” (John 14:24).  It simply means, as Saint Paul described it,

“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8).  “Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Romans 8:9).  “Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, . . .” (Romans 8:12-13).

The Holy Spirit, which comes from God the Father in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, which the Apostles and disciples received during Pentecost, is sending also upon us to guide us and to strengthen us in our resolve – that is to live in Jesus’ love, truth and fidelity, with the power of the Holy Spirit to move our hearts and minds; also it will become easy for us, with the help of the Holy Spirit to obey His commandments since God the Father and the Son live in our heart when we confess our love for Jesus Christ, who loved us first before we knew it.

This sending of the Holy Spirit did not happen only in the upper room in Jerusalem after the Pentecost.  Even during our Baptism, the Holy Spirit is sent upon us, and remains in us until now. As in our Lord Jesus Christ when he was baptized by John in the Jordan River and afterwards the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon him and a voice was heard, “Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22).  He was also driven by the Spirit of the Lord in the desert to be tempted by Satan.  Until then, the Holy Spirit did not abandon Jesus, but He was always in Him until His death in the Calvary.

We can find also many topics about the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.  For example, to name but a few, the Holy Spirit is described as wind (ruah) hovering on the surface of the sea (Genesis 1:2), and rain (Genesis 2:5) during the creation of the entire universe.  It is like the breath of God.  When God created man and woman, He gave them his spirit/breath in their nostrils and they became alive. (Genesis 2:7).  Later on, when there were many people, God gave His people many talents.  People received talents given by the Spirit of God “with the ability and intelligence, with knowledge and craftsmanship and the gift of prophesy” (Numbers 11:25-26).  The Holy Spirit also delivered from the enemy his chosen people (Isaiah 63:7-14).  He also guided the leaders of the people (Judges 3:9, 6:34, 11:29), and chosen kings to serve the people’s needs (1 Samuel 10:10; 11:5; 16:14).  To give justice to his people (Micah 3:8); and filled them with power, with the Spirit of the Lord with justice and might.  Therefore, they can wait for the great prophet to come who could say, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to announce deliverance to those who are held captive and recovery of the sight to the blind, to set free those who are bruised” (Isaiah 61:1-2).  The Holy spirit also gives life to the dried bones (Ezekiel 37:1-10) by calling the Spirit to breathe life so that they may live – the lifeless bones became a great army ready for action.   The Spirit of the Lord is like sprinkle cleaned water to remove all filthiness upon us.  “I cleansed you.  A new heart I will give you and a new Spirit I will put in you.  I will take away the stony heart from you and will give you fleshy heart” (Ezekiel 36:25-27).  Also, an abundance of harvest will be given to us as His blessings.  “I will call for the corn and increase it.  I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field” (Ezekiel 36:29-30), “because of the abundance of rain poured upon you” (Joel 2: 18-19).

And, in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is seen powerful and full of strength.  In particular, from the Acts of the Apostles, when the Apostles and disciples together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, were in the upper room in Jerusalem, a strong rush of wind as if tongue of fire descended upon them.  All of them received the Holy Spirit of God.  They were overshadowed by the power from on high.  On this Pentecost day, when they were overshadowed by the same Holy Spirit, they spoke the Word of God and proclaimed the news good to all peoples from Jerusalem to Rome, far and wide. (See the first reading).

This experience on Pentecost Day was first to happen in the little town of Bethlehem, in Galilee; to a virgin whose name was Mary, after the annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel to her.  (Luke 1:26-39). Mary conceived Jesus after overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God was with her; but, she remained virgin, for nothing was destroyed on her yet she remained pure in body and in spirit.

There are still many indications of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, but the most intriguing one is that when Jesus was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub.  In Mark 3:22, the Pharisees accuse Jesus of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub, prince of demons, the name also appearing in the expanded version in Matthew 12:24,27 and Luke 11:15,18-19. The name also occurs in Matthew 10:25.  “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house” (Matthew 12:25-29).  We are also warned by Jesus who said that whoever sinned against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever sin against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.  “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:30-32).  

With all these surveys about the Holy Spirit, from the Old Testament to the descending of the Father in the name of Jesus on Pentecost day in the New Testament, we can be sure of the many gifts, (e.g., wisdom, knowledge, understanding, fear of the Lord, piety, fortitude and council, etc. [see 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11]) and fruits (e.g., love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, etc, [see Galatians 5:22]) of the Holy Spirit as our Advocate, Paraclete, etc., that can be served as our guide and reminder in our journey in this life.

Ascension of the Lord into Heaven

Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven

Seventh Sunday of Easter-Year C

May 12, 2013

Year of Faith

First Reading: Acts 1: 1-11

Psalm 47: 2-3, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17-23

Gospel Reading: Luke 24: 46-53

Luke, the author of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, continued telling the story, to his friend and benefactor, Theophilus (cf. Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1ff), meaning a lover of God, about the things Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up into heaven.  In that meeting place, Luke said, where he was about to be taken up, he was with his apostles and disciples and telling them “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1: 4-5). “And (behold) I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).  But, the apostles did not understand what Jesus said, for their minds and hearts were looking for the liberation of Israel, their country, from the hands of their foreign conqueror – Rome, and for the restoration of their kingdom, a political kingdom like that of King David in the old times, and that the Israelis were in full control of their country.  As what they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”(Acts 1:7).  He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1: 8-9).   

For Jesus, his departure to God his Father in heaven is to send the Holy Spirit upon them and us, and to give witness to all peoples to the ends of the earth about his love, his teachings and preaching and his deeds of forgiveness and new life.  He likewise, strengthens them for their future ministries and apostolates.  Luke continued, “When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight” (Acts 1:10).  “Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.  As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven” (Luke 24:49-51).

Now, that Jesus is gone yet temporarily, with the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen the apostles and disciples, and we as well to become his hands, his legs, his mouth, his heart, his whole being, his body – the Church, to continue in bringing his message of love, peace, justice and reconciliation to all humankind, and for the integrity of creation, as we are all brothers and sisters in the one family of God his almighty Father and ours – a good news for all humanity and other created beings.  Jesus said in the gospel, “You are witnesses of these things.  Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24: 48, 47).   As his Body, the Church, here on earth, since Jesus Christ left his disciples and us, yet he asked us to do what he wanted from us, that is to continue spreading his words and works.  We have to be his lips in giving blessing, his feet in comforting, his hands in forgiving and sharing, his heart in loving and serving others.  Jesus started the mission of his Father, and we have to complete it, so that the Reign-Kingdom of God will be realized here on earth and in heaven.  Therefore, it is not enough that we are just looking up and staring at the sky doing nothing, and waiting for the coming of the Lord, but to go and announce the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and sight to the blind, give freedom to the oppressed, respect for the dignity of women and for children’s rights, of the integrity of creation, and proclaim the mercy and grace of the Lord.  Also, we have to heal the wounds and needs of the land. The Lord commanded us to go where there is need, where there is injustice, where there is crying, where there is loneliness, etc.   These all things can be done with the help of the Holy Spirit to be sent by God the Father in Jesus’ name, and descended upon the apostles and disciples, and also upon us, in just few days to come. 

Last May 6, 2013, in the Romereports.com, Pope Francis, during the Monday morning's Mass at Casa Santa Marta, was celebrated for employees of the St. Peter's Basilica complex, which are tasked with caring for the works at the Vatican, said: “We should get into the habit of asking ourselves, before the end of the day: What did Holy Spirit do in me? What witness did he give me? Because he is a divine presence that helps us moving forward in our lives as Christians.” The Pope explained that “the Holy Spirit is always there to protect and support each person, and that, without this presence, our Christian lives cannot be understood.”

Prayer and blessing:

May Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, bless us, too, “as he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.  They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24: 51-53).  “While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.  They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11).  So too, with that reminder, we may continue his words and deeds to the ends of the earth and until the end of time, until he returns again in glory.

Question(s) for Reflection:

1.  What do you understand about the significance and/or importance of the Ascension of the Lord into heaven?

2.  How do you prepare yourself when the time comes to be left alone by your loved one? 

3.  How do we accept the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Instrumento ng Pakikipag-ugnayan sa Espiritu Santo

Mabuting kaisipan
malalim na pagmumuni-muni
meditasyon
pananahimik at pakikinig
pagmamasid ayon sa kakanyahan
pag-oobserba na walang konklusyon 
o panghuhusga
tiyak na mapag-kukunan ng impormasyon
pananalanging matibay at magaling
bukas na kamulatan
makatwiran
pagsasakripisyo at paghihirap
na may pagtitiis
pag-aayuno na may pagsisisi
pag-aalay ng sarili

Ang Simula ng Espirituwal na Buhay

 
Napagtanto ko at pumasok na pagninilay . . .
sa bawa't iniisip, sa bawa't sinasabi
at sa bawa't ginagawang kabutihan
ito'y nangangahulugan ng maka-espirituwal
at maka-langit na bagay
na galing sa Mabuting Espiritu at maka-Diyos!

Gayon din naman, alalaong-baga
na sa bawa't iniisip o pumapasok na kaisipan
sa lumalabas sa bibig na galing sa puso
at sa ginagawa ng kamay
na pawang masasama
ito'y lumalabas na galing sa masasamang espiritu
at sa kumakalaban sa Diyos.

Do you love me? . . . Do I love you?

Sixth Sunday of Easter-Year C

May 5, 2013

Year of Faith

First Reading: Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29

Psalm: 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23

Gospel Reading: John 14: 23-29

Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will be true to my word . . .” (John. 14:23).  We love Jesus if we do what he said and commanded to us; that is why, we have to keep in our hearts everything he said.  Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, she kept all things that happened to her Son Jesus in her Immaculate Heart, for she loved Jesus.  Also, we always are remembering those words of Him to keep them alive every day in our lives. Whenever we reflect and meditate daily the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, while we are doing our works in the house, in the office and anywhere we are, we call to mind Him.  In doing this, Jesus lives in us and we live in Him.  We keep his word alive, when in the morning, for example, we make a sign of the cross and say a little prayer that we are still alive; we thank Him for the food we are about to receive in the breakfast, lunch and dinner aside from the snacks or merienda in between these meals; we praise Him when we reach our destination – safely, for the works we have and the materials things we received that support our basic needs; we rejoice for the family, relatives, friends and other acquaintances He shared to us to be our companions in life – to make our lives colorful and full of joy.  For, if we do this, truly we know and feel the presence and love of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ dwelling in us.  No one can love Jesus if he or she does not take his word seriously, as what He said: “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words” (John 14:24).  Jesus occupies our heart, our life, our being, when we keep His word!

To give you an example, we can say in human language, this word of Jesus.  When you love somebody, you do everything to please him/her and even the smallest detail in him/her life you try to find, know and understand to learn how to show how much important he/she is in your life.  You do some extra-efforts to discover the totality of your loved one.  Although there is always room for him/her to grow and not to suffocate him/her of your so-called “love” – either an eros or agape kind of love.  You become crazy if you do not see him/her.  Right?  But, if you do not love him/her, you are not interested to know anything about him/her; you do not care and mind him/her either; as if he/she does not exist.  Above all, you do not want to see his/her face; you vomit and detest him/her all the days of your life.  Therefore, there is no space for him/her in your heart.  Thus, if we love Jesus, He has all the spaces occupy in our heart; and He can save us, for He can change us.

Nevertheless, how can we keep Jesus’ word in every day of our lives?  In us and by us alone we cannot do it nor to keep it as our promise; and, Jesus knows this.  That is why, God the Father is going to send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, to constantly teach us and to let us know, and live, and keep everything Jesus taught and said and preached.  Also, the Holy Spirit will constantly remind us when we forget what Jesus told us to do.  “I have told you this while I am with you.  The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you” (John 14: 25-26).   

Another thing for sure, Jesus makes his disciples and us comfortable and worry-free.  He guarantees them and us not to fear or be afraid and feel guilty when they and us forget to keep his word when He leaves them and us, for He said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you . . .  Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).  Jesus knows us, for He loves us and He keeps his promise to us.  He knows our limitations, our fears and anxieties, our weaknesses, and sinfulness, that is why He is giving us a gift of peace in order not to worry when something happens and we forget all the things we learned – all will lost because of too much worries.  So, therefore, Jesus knows the remedy – the Peace that the world cannot give.  What we need only is to repent, believe in Him and in His word, and believe to the One who sent Him – God the almighty Father.

Question(s) for reflection:

Look at the Holy Face of Jesus, look at His eyes, and ask yourself:

1.  Do you love me? (as if Jesus is asking us), and

2.  Do I love you? (asking ourselves, in front of this Holy Face, if we love Jesus).

Repeat these questions many times and alternate.