Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (B)

November 25, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Daniel 7: 13-14

Psalm: 93

Second Reading: Revelation 1: 5-8

Gospel reading according to John 18: 33b-37

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Homily:

The kingship of Jesus is not of this world, but in different dimension and sphere. 

The tribulation of Jesus has come.  Now the glory and power and majesty of Jesus are revealed.  “Pilate said to Jesus, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?” (Jn. 18:33b).  Jesus, the Son of Man and the Son of God, will be known throughout the whole world as King and Lord of all, not only of the Jews.  “Are you he King of the Jews,” asked Pontius Pilate, the Roman Procurator, which Jesus did not answer directly.  But instead he threw back this question to Pilate by asking him if it is his own understanding, discovery and as well as his imminent faith and belief in Jesus the Christ.  “Jesus answered, ‘Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” (Jn. 18: 34), or others his cohorts, the elders in the Temple, the scribes and Pharisees, and even the Sanhedrin told him about Jesus.  These groups, though indifferent to one another became friends due to one common enemy – Jesus, they brought the fake and false news about Jesus to Pontius Pilate, about his teaching, disregarding the miracles he performed, and even accusing rebellious plot against the Roman Empire.

Though as a Roman, he was not easy to sway and influence by the news brought to him by the leaders and elders of the Temple.  He just wanted to find out what is right and order in his territory. “Pilate answered, ‘I am not a Jew, am I?  Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” (Jn. 18: 35).  Pilate as a Roman did not claim himself as Jew or with leaning and inclination with the Jews.  Yet, Pilate told Jesus that his own people and his elders and leaders of the Temple were the ones who brought and accused him to him.  He has no personal knowledge about Jesus, just hearsay.  Pilate wanted to know and hear directly from Jesus this accusation against him, that he was called King of the Jews.

Then, Jesus told him the truth about himself.  He is now claiming his kingship, but not of this world.  “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here” (Jn. 18: 36).  It is logical and rightly said that if his kingdom belongs to this earth, his soldiers are coming to save him from the hands of those against him and maybe they are fighting to rescue him and bringing him back to his throne in his kingdom. But, he revealed that his Kingdom is not here on earth but in another dimension and realm in another place.

Pilate understood very well what and who Jesus was.  He then concluded by saying, “So Pilate said to him, ‘Then you are a king?” (Jn. 18: 37).  Pilate realized that Jesus is a King!  He recognized the Kingship of Jesus.

To deepen the understanding of Pilate in the Kingship of Jesus and about the truth of his being King, “Jesus answered, ‘You say I am a king.  For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (Jn. 18: 37).  Jesus holds the truth, he has the truth, and he is the truth; and anyone who believes his truth listens to him.  For in truth, Jesus “received dominion, glory and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed” (Dn. 7: 14).   Therefore, let us say: “The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty” (Ps 9).

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

November 18, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Daniel 12: 1-3

Psalm: 16

Second Reading: Hebrew 10: 11-14, 18

Gospel reading according to Mark 13: 24-32

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Homily:

Jesus saw already what will happen in the future. “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken’.” (Mk. 13: 24-25).  First, there will be tribulation, pain, and suffering.  These refer to his passion, suffering, crucifixion and death on the cross, but on the third day he resurrect from the dead.  Secondly, what will happen in those days, such as, in the morning of that day there is darkness for the sun will be hiding in the dark clouds; and then, in the evening there will be no light from the moon for it will be covered by the thick clouds, next, while the stars in the sky will be as if falling down to the earth, and even heavenly bodies, the galaxies, lastly, will be shaken to its foundation. There will be total eclipse in the sky.  There will be chaos throughout the whole world.  There will be total darkness in the sky and in the heavenly bodies during that day or in those days, as Jesus foretold and revealed. 

After total darkness in the sky and on earth, a shining, too brightly, “nakakasilaw na liwanag,” and glorious light from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be seen by all creatures on earth.  “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky” (Mk. 13: 26-27). Like the transfiguration in Mount Tabor, the brilliant and dazzling light will be shown not only to three persons or disciples, but of thousands and millions of people throughout the whole world, from the smallest islands to continents.  The Son of Man and the Son of God will be coming from heaven - where he came from, where he returned, and where he will be back from where he came.  So great and powerful in appearance and full of glorious light and supremacy, Jesus the Christ, the King of Heaven and earth is coming amidst the clouds.  His angels will be with him and gather all the elected followers and disciples who are faithful until the end from the four corners of the winds – from the north to the south, from east to west, and even those creatures living beyond the galaxies and the heavenly bodies, e.g., aliens, extraterrestrial, creatures from outer space, intelligent life form – “to the end of the sky.”  All creatures, within the earth, the galaxies and beyond, will see the glory and power of Jesus Christ when he comes.

These things happening in the sky and/or heavenly bodies or beyond the galaxies can be observed also here on earth.  Jesus gave an example of the lesson from the fig tree.  “Learn a lesson from the fig tree.  When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.  In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates” (Mk. 13: 28-29).  When summer comes, the fig trees become soft and tender and the leaves are coming out from their branches.  Jesus was telling his disciples and us, that when the sun in the morning will become dark, the moon will not shower its light in the evening, the stars will be falling down and the heavens (heavenly bodies, galaxies) will be shaken after the tribulation, these mean, these indicate the imminent coming of Jesus, his return to earth, will be near. 

Everything that Jesus said will happen.  He guaranteed his hearers that those things he described will happen sooner or later.  “Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mk. 13: 30-31).  In his time and in his disciples, followers and hearers’ time – this generation will be the witnesses of what he foretold and revealed, especially the tribulation, the first thing first to happen before the chaos in the sky will happen.  Heaven and earth will pass away but his words will not pass away.  He was not telling a lie, everything he said will come to occur. 

Despite Jesus saw the future and what will happen in those days, he did not know or he never knew the exact date and time all these things befall.  “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son of Man, but only the Father” (Mk. 13: 32).  This is again one of the many things God the Father did not reveal to Jesus when he, Jesus, became human being, a man.  And even the angels of God, who serve God all throughout the day and night, were not able to find out when these all things will happen.  Only God knows.

Vatican Releases 2018 Christmas Stamps

Designed by Inmate of Opera Prison in Milan

November 10, 2018 21:56Jim FairPope & Holy See

 

Those who are in prison are often abandoned and given less consideration, but they have always been close to the heart of Pope Francis who has spoken numerous times about their situation. And this year on inmate has received the opportunity to literally makes his mark on Christmas.

The theme of prison inmates is important also for the Philatelic Office of Vatican City, especially in recent years, through its participation in philatelic initiatives taking place at the Opera prison in Milan, Italy. A participant in that initiative, inmate Marcello D’Agata, designed this year’s series of Vatican commemorative postage stamps for Christmas.

“The inmates are serving a sentence, a sentence for a mistake they have made,” Pope Francis said. “But let us not forget that for punishment to be fruitful there must be a horizon of hope; otherwise it remains closed in on itself and is simply an instrument of torture; it is not fruitful. Punishment with hope, so it is fruitful.”

During his homily for Midnight Mass last December 24, Pope Francis spoke again about them: “In the Child of Bethlehem, God comes to meet us and make us active sharers in the life around us. He offers himself to us so that we can take him into our arms, lift him and embrace him. So that in him we will not be afraid to take into our arms, raise up and embrace the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned (cf. Mt 25:35-36)”.

November 10, 2018 21:56Pope & Holy See

Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

November 11, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: 1 Kings 17: 10-16

Psalm: 146

Second Reading: Hebrew 9: 24-28

Gospel reading according to Mark 12: 38-44 (or 12: 41-44)

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Homily:

The scribes, experts of the Law of Moses and the prophets’ teachings, as distinguished professionals who would exercise functions in the synagogues and in the Temple, though noble yet become abusive to the illiterate and the poor, especially the vulnerable widows.  Despite their knowledge and familiarity of the whole Scriptures, they did not apply them properly so that the unlearned, no read no write Jewish people may know and understand better their religion, their relationship with God and the way they should live with their neighbors.  Rather they used their knowledge of Scripture to manipulate the unlettered and unread ordinary people for their own benefits.  Jesus observed very well these attitudes of the scribes. “In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets’.” (Mk. 12: 38-39).  The scribes, as what Jesus taught the crowds to become aware, “Beware,” a warning, for their hypocrisy.  They loved to wear long robes as a sign of their status in the society, their learnings, of what they have and who they are, roaming around the streets so that their presence and importance might be felt and the people should greeted them so that they might feel and receive importance and highest honor.  Because of these conditions they preferred also to seat where they can easily be seen and noticed their presence especially in the synagogues and in the banquets so that they established honors.    

Jesus continued his teachings, “. . . ’They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers.  They will receive a very severe condemnation’.” (Mk. 12: 40).  Jesus saw how these scribes robbed and deprived the widows on their property rights by their false teachings. They corrupted the minds and hearts of the poor widows to get their little wealth. The scribes were the ones consuming the properties of the widows who are vulnerable and easy prey, afterwards, in their alleged reason that they needed long prayers for them.  Sometimes they used lengthy prayers as an excuse not to extend their hands in helping the needy and the poor widows and orphans but as an escape.  But, Jesus said that they will receive severe condemnation and punishment for what they were doing against the Law, of God and of their neighbors.    

To prove his accusations to the scribes, he sat down near the treasury of the Temple and observed the mannerism of the rich scribes.  Then he called his disciples. “He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.  Many rich people put in large sums.  A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.  Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood’.”     (Mk. 12: 41-44).  All the people, rich and poor alike, put their support and donations in the Temple’s treasury.  There is no limit in giving alms by the many rich, they almost pour out up, “itaktak ang laman ng kanilang bag,” to the bottom of their wallets and bags as their contributions.  But, these are just excesses of their over flowing moneys that they do not need anymore.  Still they have more moneys in their coffers, in their banks, and in their houses.  While the poor widow, she has only two small coins in her pocket, and that is all she has for a living.  Nevertheless, she gave all these two cents in the treasury box as her total support in the Temple.  Despite of her poverty, she gave all what she has for she trusts in the Lord God, the Giver of all good things.  She did not mind what she is going to eat after this generosity, of her nothingness.  She put everything in the hands of God, and she believed that God will reward her for her total surrender, generosity and kindness toward Him.  The widow is also teaching us to become generous to God and to our neighbors, without limit, and no reservation, for God is also generous to us in giving what we need.  The widow’s mite is an example of the kindness and generosity of God in us. For as “the jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth” (1 Kgs. 17: 14). We have to trust in God all the days of our life.

Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

November 4, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Deuteronomy 6: 2-6

Psalm: 18

Second Reading: Hebrew 7: 23-28

Gospel reading according to Mark 12: 28b-34

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Homily:

As early as the 11th century BCE, scribes in Ancient Israel, were distinguished professionals who would exercise functions which today could be associated with lawyers, journalists, government ministers, judges, or financiers. Some scribes also copied documents, but this was not necessarily part of their job (en.wikipedia.org).  The scribes studied the Law of Moses; called the Torah or the Five Books of Moses, the history of Israel and the books of the prophets. That is why they are familiar with the Books of Moses, especially on the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  “One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’” (Mk. 12: 28).  This scribe wanted to test Jesus if he was familiar and knowledgeable with the Ten Commandments and the 636 other Jewish laws that surround the Ten Commandments.  Or he has other intention why he was asking Jesus about the greatest commandment, for he did not understand very well this Law and he wanted to be sure that what he knew about it was right.  He wanted to be enlightened by Jesus, whom he called teacher.

Jesus who was so open-minded answered the question of that scribe with fervent love and understanding.  He gave instead of one but two greatest commandments that cannot separated the one from the other, as if they are one coin with two faces.  “The Great Commandment (or Greatest Commandment) is a name used in the New Testament to describe the first of two commandments cited by Jesus (in Mark 12:28–34). These two commandments are paraphrases taken from the Old Testament and are commonly seen as important to Jewish and Christian ethics.  “Jesus replied, ‘The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’.” (Mk. 12: 29-30; cf. Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13-21, Numbers 15:37–41), before also referring to a second commandment, "The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these’.” (Mk. 12: 31; cf. Leviticus 19:18).  Most Christian denominations consider these two commandments to be the core of correct Christian lifestyle (en.wikipedia.org/wiki).

Now, after what Jesus taught him, the scribe learned from Jesus the true meaning of the first and greatest commandment.  “The scribe said to him, ‘Well said, teacher.  You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he.  And to love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices’.” (Mk. 12: 32-33). It made it clear to him the importance of that commandment to be lived in and only by copying or uttering by mere words. 

Jesus saw also the sincerity of this scribe. “And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’  And no one dared to ask any more questions” (Mk. 12: 34).