Second Sunday of Lent (B)

 

February 28, 2021

                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Genesis 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

Psalm 116 “I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.”

Second Reading: Romans 8: 31b-34

Gospel reading according to Mark 9: 2-10

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Homily:

In this Second Sunday of Lent, we reflect the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ at Mount Tabor, where two important personalities of the Old Testament appeared and conversed with him about his forthcoming passion, death, and resurrection.  Jesus is prepared to his coming fate for this is the plan of God the Father for him.  Also, Jesus is with his three disciples, Simon Peter, James, and John as his witnesses of his transfiguration.  Are we also prepared for the fate that God our Father has planned for us?  Are we ready to accept and fulfill this plan of God for us?

Jesus usually goes to silence alone in the mountains, hills, knolls, forest, desert, etc. to pray to God his Father when he is facing difficulties in life and in making big decisions.  He does not bring with him a companion or disciple when he prays in the hidden places in the middle of the night.  But, in this time of greatest moment in his life, Jesus has brought with him three chosen and trusted disciples who can keep his secret. He brought with him three of the first disciples/apostles to accompany him in praying and in encountering God on the top of the mountain called Mount Tabor, as the tradition says.  There was something in Jesus that he cannot tell immediately to his companions.  There was a moment of surprise coming from Jesus who is installed and fitted to these three disciples. “Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves” (Mark 9: 2).  The names of the companions of Jesus who were with him on the top of the mountain were Peter, James, and his brother John.  These are the first disciples whom Jesus called to follow him and to become fishers of men (and women).  These three disciples were unique and have their own distinct characteristics, like for example Peter.  He was aggressive yet kind and loving.  He was “padalus-dalos” or quick in making decisions without thinking many times.  John was a little bit quiet but sure in his decision and in making any actions, while James was serious and good leader as well. He consulted his actions to the community.  These and many reasons why Jesus have chosen these three men to accompany him in the mountain.  “And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them” (Mark 9: 2-3).  Jesus shown and revealed to his chosen disciples his transfiguration.  Who really Jesus was?  The disciples became his witnesses who he was, is and will become.  He changed his appearance in front of these three disciples.  A shining and dazzling white light came from within Jesus.  As in the resurrection, Jesus passed through the cloths that wrapped him, the same with the dazzling light that came out from within.

“Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus” (Mark 9: 4).  Not only Jesus was present there in the mountain.  Elijah and Moses were there.  Elijah, representing all the prophets; Prophets are persons who speak for God or a god, or are persons who tell what will happen in the future.  The Old Testament, the two greatest prophets who were the voices of the Lord God to the people Israelites, who foretold the coming of the Messiah (Kristus) met the New Testament Messiah, the Son of God, and the fulfillment of their prophecy -Jesus Christ our Savior.  In the Book of Malachi prophesies Elijah's return “before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord,” making him a forerunner of the Messiah and of the eschaton in various faiths that revere the Hebrew Bible (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah). Meanwhile, Moses the Lawgiver, according to the Hebrew Bible, he was adopted by an Egyptian princess, and later in life became the leader of the Israelites and lawgiver, to whom the authorship of the Torah, or acquisition of the Torah from Heaven is traditionally attributed. He is the most important prophet in Judaism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#cite_note-5).  “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1: 17).  The two prophets were discussing with Jesus his forthcoming passion, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem.  Peter interrupted the conversation of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah for he was surprised to see the transfiguration of Jesus and the simultaneous appearances of the two great men of old.  “Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, ‘Rabbi, it is good that we are here!  Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’  He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified” (Mark 9: 5-6).  Peter was struck awe, that’s why he was not able to speak for a few moments, much less with James and John.  Nevertheless, Peter experienced security and peace.  He wanted to stay on the top of the mountain, that’s why he said, “It is good to be (to live/stay) here.” “Hayahay dinhi, masarap dito.”  Peter and the rest of his companions also experienced heaven on earth.  No more worries, no more problems, no more sufferings but all fullness of joy, all of happiness, all of blissful life.

“Then a cloud came, casting shadow over them;” (Mark 9: 7).  Peter, who was excited with what’s going on yet still confused, was not able to finish what he was going to say to Jesus when suddenly a cloud came down and overshadowed them.  The area was totally covered with cloud, as if they were covered all around with smoke.  The more terrified Peter, James and John were “then from cloud came a voice, ‘This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him’.” (Mark 9: 7).  The cloud represents the presence of God.  As what had happened after the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, “And coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him; and there came a voice from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’.” (Mark 1:10-11).  God revealed who Jesus was to the disciples and commanded them “to listen to him” intently and attentively. Jesus is the beloved Son of God the Father and Jesus as obedient Son does the will of his Father, the almighty God.  Now, the disciples knew who this Jesus was after the transfiguration and revelation of God himself, and confirmed by the two greatest prophets, Elijah and Moses. 

“Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them” (Mark 9: 8).  As if they were transported into another dimension, into another world and then coming back, or as if they were awakened from a very deep sleep and wonderful dreams.  They did not see any longer Elijah and Moses even the cloud that cast its shadow over them, except Jesus, their Master and Teacher alone whom from then on they will listen to and act on whatever he will tell them to do. Jesus was telling them to come down on the mountain and face the realities of life on the ground and not as planned by Peter to build tents/houses on the top of the mountain and stayed there, far from the people’s real-life situations, where true belligerent (fighting) happens.  We should not stay long on the clouds on the top of the mountain but rather we must go down and be grounded in the true realities of life, where actions too happen.  “As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9: 9).  So, they kept their mouth closed, shut, and secured.  Can we keep secret of others?  They did not tell the other apostles/disciples about their discoveries on the mountain top as what Jesus told them.  He was not wrong when he chose these three men whom he trusted very well.  “So, the disciples kept the matter to themselves, [but] questioning what rising from the dead meant” (Mark 9: 10).

First Sunday of Lent (B)

February 21, 2021                                                 

Readings:

First Reading: Genesis 9: 8-15

Psalm 25 “Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.”

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3: 18-22

Gospel reading according to Mark 1: 12-15

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Homily:

After Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist, as “an act which began with a personal confession of sins, thus, to go down into the river and be washed was a gesture of humility, a humble prayer for pardon and grace.  In other words that descending is a symbolic dying of the old life to obtain the grace of a new life.  If Jesus, […] without sin, joins the file of sinners lining up for the [baptism], if with the public gesture he makes himself one with sinners, receiving the sacrament of sinners, at that moment begins his hour, the hour of the Cross.  Jesus becomes our representative and carries the yoke with us” (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Journey towards Easter, 1987, p. 13); then the Holy Spirit descended upon him and afterwards God the Father recognized him as his beloved Son, then the Holy Spirit brought him into the desert to test his Sonship and fidelity to God.  “The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan” (Mark 1: 12-13).  The Holy Spirit, who was with him from then on until the end of time, led him in to the desert to be tempted by Satan.   He allowed him to be tested by the devil with regards to the power of God to feed the hungry with bread “alone,” the economic, the material things, (stone into bread) food that satisfy the hunger of many peoples.  But Jesus debarred the thought of the devil when he turned to him and said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4: 4; Lk 4: 4).  And the other temptations Satan gave to Jesus to defeat him, and instead of obeying God he wanted to be obeyed by Jesus, the Son of God, Lamb of God, the Messiah, but Satan did not convince Jesus and win in tempting him, for Jesus was firm in his faith, obedience and fidelity to his Father, the Creator of all things.

To understand the term desert where Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit, and to experience life in the desert, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger helps us in his reflection on the meaning by “the desert.”  He said, “The desert is the place of silence, of solitude; it is the absence of the exchanges of life, its noise and its superficiality.  The desert is the place of absolute, the place of freedom, which sets us before the ultimate demands.  In putting aside all preoccupations we encounter our Creator.    The desert is also the place of death: there is no water there, the basic element for life.  And so the place, with its burning light, appears to be the extreme opposite of life, a dangerous threatening waste.  Next the desert is not only the region which threatens biological life, it is also the place where the power of the devil manifested, the “murderer from the beginning” (Jn 8: 44), (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Journey towards Easter, 1987, p. 14).  He continued, “Entering into the desert, Jesus exposes himself to this power, opposes himself to this power, continues the action of baptism, the action of the Incarnation, descending not only into the depths of the waters of the Jordan, but descending moreover into the depths of human misery – as far as the region of the broken love, of destroyed relationship, in that solitude to be found throughout the world marked by sin” (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Journey towards Easter, 1987, p. 14-15). In our case, how do we define desert in our lives?  Have we experienced desert life?  What kind of desert did we experience (if we were involved in the desert experience before)?

The desert is not only the place of silence or of solitude, the place of absolute, the place of freedom, the place we encounter our Creator, is also the place of death, it is also the place where the power of the devil manifested, but also the place of wild beasts. “He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him” (Mark 1: 13).  The desert is truly a dangerous place for those who are weak, duwag, fearful, abysmal and terrified, but for those who are brave, courageous, fearless, matapang at buo ang loob, it is a place of encountering God and his angels.  After Jesus won over Satan and his temptations, the angels of the Lord God served him.

After forty days in the wilderness, he learned that John the Baptist was arrested by the soldiers of King Herod and put him into prison.  Instead of going back to his native town, Nazareth, he proceeded to Galilee, where nobody knows him, for he was not yet calling his future Apostles and disciples.  “After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God, ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe in the Gospel’.” (Mark 1: 14-15).  He was alone proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God, teaching repentance and the Gospel of God.  Jesus was free to preach the Good News.  Only few listened to this new prophet in town, and nobody arrested him for Galilee is a free town to all religions, beliefs or unbelief, cultures, Jews and non-Jews (pagans and gentiles) were living harmoniously.  A place for ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue.  Here, in Galilee, Jesus will start his mission: to bring all peoples to one flock, one family of God, One God Father of all and to bring salvation to all.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

 

February 14, 2021

                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Leviticus 13: 1-2, 44-46

Psalm 32 “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you will fill me with the joy of salvation.”

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 31-11: 1

Gospel reading according to Mark 1: 40-45

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Homily:

Leaving Capernaum, they landed on a shore of another town, which the Evangelist Mark did not tell where they arrived.  Upon embarking, they hurriedly met a man with leprosy.  When you hear or see a man (or woman) with leprosy, you know he (or she) is stench, with foul odor, with lots of sores in his (or her) body, decapitated limbs, a living dead.  As William Barclay said, “The fate of the leper was truly hard” (William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, 1985, p. 43).  He continued, “There were many lepers in Palestine in the time of Jesus.   From the description in Leviticus 13 it is quite clear that in New Testament times the term leprosy (the Hebrew word is tsaraath) was also used to cover other skin diseases.  It seems to have been used to include psoriasis, a disease which covers the body with white scales.  Very naturally, with medical knowledge in an extremely primitive state, diagnosis did not distinguish between the different kinds of skin disease and included both the deadly and incurable and the non–fatal and comparatively harmless under the one inclusive title.  Any such disease rendered the sufferer unclean.   He was banished from the fellowship of men; he must dwell alone outside the camp; he must go with rent clothes, bared head, a covering upon his upper lip, and as he went he must give warning of his polluted presence with the cry, ‵Unclean, unclean′!”  (William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, 1985, p. 44-45).  Again he said, “We see the same thing in the Middle Ages, which merely applied the Mosaic Law.  The priest, wearing his stole and carrying a crucifix, led the leper into the church, and read the burial service over him.  The leper had not only to bear the physical pain of his disease; he had to bear the mental anguish and the heartbreak of being completely banished from [his family and relatives], from human society and totally shunned [from the synagogue and Temple]” (William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, 1985, p. 45).   “A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, If you wish, you can make me clean.” (Mark 1: 40).  Maybe this leprous man heard about Jesus healing different sicknesses and possessions by demons, and he learned that Jesus and companions were roaming around the towns and villages along the Sea of Galilee.  So he came out where he was hiding early in the morning and waited for their arrival.  He positioned himself alone in front of the shorelines to be the first client of Jesus to receive his healing.  So, when Jesus and his disciples arrived, the leper did not think twice to consider those “don’ts” regarding the law of leprosy, still he came closer to Jesus, knelt down and begged, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”  Jesus did not react nor rejected the leper approaching.  He did not keep distance away from the leper, he did not show a bad reaction by covering his nose, nor avoided the leper.  What is or are our reactions when we see or hear that there is leper in our community?  Do we accept him (or her) as a human person and not a living dead na pandidirihan at iiwasan and cover our nose due to stench and foul odor? Do we drive him away for we are afraid to be contaminated by him (her)?  Although now-a-days Hansen Disease or Leprosy is curable. Before his conversion, St. Francis of Assisi was avoiding and did not like to see a leper.  But during his conversion, one day he met a leper while riding on a horse.  He stopped, dismounted from his horse and came to the leprous man.  Before he gave him alms he kissed him on his wounded and bloody lips (maybe with pus).  When he left the leper he felt the bitter for the sweet and when he looked back he did not see or find the leper (Thomas of Celano, The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul, Book I, Ch. 5, No. 9; Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Vol. II, p. 249).   

Instead to avoiding and driving away, he had mercy and compassion over the leper.  He had pity with the leprous.  “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, I do will it.  Be made clean.   The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean” (Mark 1: 41-42).  What Jesus did was unusual and unlawful and taboo in the eyes of the Jews and all the authorities in the Temple.  But in that incident, the Pharisees and the scribes, etc. were silent or absent in that scene. There were no violent reactions from the authorities we heard from the Evangelist Mark (maybe because it was still early morning and they were still sleeping).  What Jesus did, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper and said, “I do will it.  Be made clean.”  He reached out the leper and touched him without “pandidiri, pangingilabot, pagsusuka” and other adverse reactions.  The same manner to what he did to the mother-in-law of Simon Peter.  In just mere touch the leprosy left him, as well as the fever left her, immediately.  Now he was clean; but not yet, he must undergo the ritual of cleansing and receiving the certificate from the priest that officially telling he is totally cleansed and may come back to his family and join in the fellowship of his society and participate in the activities in the synagogue and offering of sacrifices to the Temple.

Jesus, in his humility and simplicity, did not want to publicize what he did to the new and cleansed man from leprosy, he warned him.  He told him not to tell anyone what he did to him, but instead show himself to the priest and offer the required sacrifices.  “Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.  He said to him, See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them” (Mark 1: 43-44).  William Barclay, our consultant, said that, “If ever a leper was cured . . . he had to undergo a complicated ceremony of restoration which is described in Leviticus 14.  He was examined by the priest“(William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, 1985, p. 45).  He continued.  “Two birds were taken and one was killed over running water.  In addition there was taken cedar, scarlet and hyssop.  These things and the living bird were dipped in the blood of the dead bird and then the live bird was allowed to go free.  The man washed himself and his clothes and shaved himself.  Seven days then elapsed and he was re-examined.  He had then to shave his hair, his head, his eye brows” (William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, 1985, p. 45).  He added, “Certain sacrifices were made – two male lambs without blemish and one ewe lamb; three tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil and one log of oil.  The amounts were less for the poor.  The restored sufferer was touched on the tip of the right ear, right thumb and the right great toe with blood and oil.  He was given final examination and, if clear of the disease, he was allowed to go with a certificate that he was clean” (William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, 1985, p. 45).  We can understand the reaction of the new and cleansed man with leprosy.  With such a complicated list of requirements, it will be difficult for the new headed leper to do all such things because of his condition.

Because he was liberated and freed from the grip of leprosy, and full of joy for the healing he received from Jesus, he forgot what he was told.  “The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.  He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.  He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere” (Mark 1: 45).  Instead of showing himself to the priest in the Temple and do the elaborate ceremony and ritual of purification, he went out and announced to the whole town where he came from what Jesus did to him.  Maybe the unnamed man who was cured by Jesus from leprosy was so excited that he may now see and live again with his family and maybe did not want to undergo such elaborate ceremony, and maybe he was poor that he cannot afford to procure all the required supplements and animals, but the easiest way to show that he was already healed from leprosy is to announce and publicize what Jesus did to him.  And because of this, Jesus became like a leper for us. Like a leper, it became impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly, and he remained outside in deserted places.   Nevertheless, still the poor, the sick, the lepers, all sinners were looking for him, People kept coming to him from everywhere seeking also his healing and curing of their sicknesses and leprosy.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

 

February 7, 2021

Readings:

First Reading: Job 7: 1-4, 6-7

Psalm 147 “Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.”

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19, 22-23

Gospel reading according to Mark 1: 29-39

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Homily:

After the service of preaching and healing in the synagogue in Capernaum, with his four new recruit disciples, he left the synagogue and most probably he was invited by Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, for they are living nearby the synagogue, to stay for a while in their home of which Jesus accepted.  “On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John” (Mark 1: 29).  So Jesus and his four companions left the synagogue and came to the house of Simon and Andrew.  As described by the archeologists, the house of Simon and Andrew was made of stones and hard wood, for they were not ordinary fishermen. In this house also lived Simon′s wife and children, and his mother-in-law, and his brother Andrew.  It was not clear whether or not Andrew had family of his own (was married with children).  It was silent also whether they have or have no other brothers and sisters, and relatives living in that house (extended family members).

When Jesus entered the house of the two brothers, the mother-in-law of Simon was sick, she had a fever.  “Simon mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.  They immediately told him about her.  He approached her, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever let her and she waited on them” (Mark 1: 30-31).  Maybe Simon will introduce his wife and children, and his mother-in-law to Jesus, but he found out that his mother-in-law was sick with fever in bed.  So, immediately they told him that he cannot see his mother-in-law for she laid down in bed sick.  And so, as a good healer and compassionate Lord, he was moved with pity for the old woman for she cannot perform her usual works, i.e., cooking, tending her grandchildren and cleaning the house.  Jesus entered the room of the sick woman, introduced himself, and with gentle touch he approached her, grasped her hand and helped her to stand up from her bed of sickness.  And she was cured instantly.  What she did after gaining her health, she cooked food and served Jesus like a loving mother.  Maybe Jesus remembered Mary whom he left in Nazareth; how is she doing?  Is she well without sick?  How about you, us, do you remember your / our parents?  Are you / we sending them financial support for their monthly check-up and medicine? Do you pray for their safety, good health, malayo sa sakuna at aksidente, at karamdaman? Malayo sa covid-19 at variant?

What had happened in the synagogue that morning, the curing of the possessed demon, became known to the whole town of Capernaum.  So many sick parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends and neighbors, almost all peoples in the town went to the house of Simon and Andrew thinking their loved ones will be cured also by Jesus.  “When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door.  He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him” (Mark 1: 32-34).  Jesus is likened to the doctor in the barrio except he has power and authority to heal and expel evil spirits by the power of his word.  He is like a doctor or heath worker in the frontline which is supposedly done by the priests ⁄ chief priests and ⁄ or high priests in the Temple. And they did not go wrong, for almost all sick were cured by Jesus and brought back to their good conditions and health, even those possessed by demons were cured.  Truly the Reign-Kingdom of God is in their midst.

It is the nature of Jesus to wake up early before dawn to pray to his Father, the God of all good things.  “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed” (Mark 1: 35).  He communed and connected to his Father with thanksgiving and praises for the past day and as if he was reporting  to what had happened before, the many sick people he cured and the possessed by demons he expelled. He also consulted his Father for the next day activity he will perform and do.  How about us, do we wake up early in the morning to pray, to give thanks and praises for the many gifts we received He has given to us?  Do we tell Him about what we did yesterday?  Do we also present to Him our plan for tomorrow?  What is important is our constant communication and connection to our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.   

Simon and Andrew, James and John woke up early as the fishermen do, they wake up early to prepare their nets and boats and paddle for fishing.  When they woke up they found that Jesus was not in his bed.  There were other people outside the house some were still sleeping while others were already awoke, for some of them were fishermen.  They remained in the vicinity of the house of Simon and Andrew thinking they will become also Jesus′ disciples and followers.  “Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him he said, ‵Everyone is looking for you.′  He told them, ‵Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.  For this purpose have I come′.” (Mark 1: 36-38).  Simon and his companions looked for Jesus, and accompanied by others who were already awoke, until they found him.  And when they found him, they said that others were looking for him to receive cure from sickness and possession of demons at that such time as early before sunrise.  But Jesus revealed to them his plan that he consulted to his Father, that is, “For this purpose I have come, to go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.”

After saying this, they left Capernaum.  They journeyed on the boat of Simon and Andrew, while others to the boat of James and John. “So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole Galilee” (Mark 1: 39).  Jesus entered and continued preaching into their synagogues the Reign-Kingdom of God throughout the whole region of Galilee and healing the sicknesses and driving out demons of many Galileans.