Fourth Sunday of Easter (B)

 

Good Shepherd Sunday/World Day of Prayer for Vocations

April 25, 2021                                                                  

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 4: 8-12

Psalm 118: “The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.”

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-2

Gospel reading according to John 10: 11-18

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Homily: 

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday and World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  Let us pray for more vocations so that many will serve in the sheepfold of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ!

In the gospel for today, it tackles about the good shepherd.  A good leader is like a good shepherd.  As a leader, he guides and leads his/her subordinates to the direction of their objectives, aims and goals.  He knows each one of his members.  He knows how to encourage to work, act and participate with its members to achieve their plan.  And when a problem arises, he consults each member collectively, they solve their problem together.  He/she does not claim on its own the achievements of their projects but rather he shares their successes.  The father of a good family is also like a good shepherd who provides the needs of his wife and children.  He protects them from harm and danger.  He sees to it that there is food on their table, savings in case of emergency (sickness), he is the pillar of the house who stands strong in different problems that come to his family.  And there are many other good leaders we can mention.  These two examples suffice.   In the gospel, “Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd.  A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.  This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep’.” (John 10: 11-13).  No one claims or says that he or she is the Good Shepherd except Jesus.  As a good shepherd, Jesus brings the sheep to the green pasture after calling one by one the name of his sheep.  He walks ahead of his sheep and looks for safety and greener pasture where his sheep can eat, play and roam around within the vicinity/limits of the pastural land they are in.  He looks and guards for the safety of his sheep against wild beasts and animals (especially wolves).  And he is ready to defend his sheep when they are attacked by wild animals, and even to lay down his life for his sheep.  Jesus gave another kind of shepherd, a hired man but not truly a shepherd, he works for money and without care for the sheep because he does not own them.  He just brings the sheep in the pasture land and let them eat alone, roam around and play, and when wolves or other wild animals come, he is the first one to run for his life and leaves the sheep at the mercy of these wild beasts.  He does not protect or defend or offer his life for the sheep against the wild animals.  The reason is, he just works for money received from the owner of the sheep.    

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, for he knows his sheep and his sheep know him.  They listen to his voice because it is familiar to them.  If a stranger is calling on them, they disperse and run away.  They do not listen to the voice of the stranger.  Jesus also knows each one of them.  He calls their names and they respond.  “’I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep’.”  (John 10: 14-15).  Like the sheep who know their shepherd, God the Father knows very well Jesus Christ, his Son.  And Jesus knows his Father whom he loves and obeyed to the will of his Father, that is, to lay down his life for the sheep.

Jesus also is aware that there are other sheep who are not yet in his flock.  He wanted to find them and bring them also to his sheepfold.  “’I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd’.” (John 10: 16).  Maybe we can consider these other sheep as those who do not know Jesus and God the Father.  Maybe they belong to other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Islam and other pagan religions.  Maybe they were raised as atheists who do not know God but they do good to others.  Jesus will guide them and after they hear his voice, like the voice of the shepherd, they will follow him and join in his flock.  So that there is only one shepherd and one flock.    

Jesus as a good shepherd is ready to lay down his life for the identified and unidentified sheep.  And because of this offering of his life to save others, God the Father loves him much.  “’This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.  I have the power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.  This command I have received from my Father’.” (John 10: 17-18). There is no other reason for the love of God to his Son rather his love for all his creatures that is why He is even ready to sacrifice his only begotten Son and the Son is very willing to suffer for the sake of all creatures.  Jesus can lay his life as a ransom for many and he can also take it up for he has the power to offer or to regain his life; no one can take his life away from him or return it back to him, except himself, for this is what the Father wants for him.

Third Sunday of Easter (B)

April 18, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 3: 13-15, 17-19

Psalm 4: “Lord, let your face shine on us.”

Second Reading: 1 John 2: 1-5

Gospel reading according to Luke 24: 35-48

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Homily: 

Two of the disciples of Jesus, one of them named Cleophas from Emmaus, were returning to their home town as if nothing had happened in the past days, weeks, months and years following Jesus.  “Uwian na, wala namang nangyaring pagbabago.” As if they were saying, “Let us go back to our places, back to normal, anyway nothing happened, because our Teacher, Master and Leader Lord Jesus Christ died.  No liberation occurred through revolution supposedly to be led by Jesus.” When suddenly Jesus appeared to them and explained to them why Christ should suffer and died and on the third day rose from the dead.  At first, they did not recognize him because of the rays of the setting sun; but when they invited him to stay with one of them in his house, at table he said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to them.  And their eyes were opened but Jesus was no longer there, and they hurriedly returned to Jerusalem to tell what had happened along the way and on the table, they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.  The two disciples explained to the other disciples and Apostles at the upper room what Jesus said and did at Emmaus.  “The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (John 24: 35).  They explained to them in detail what had taken place along the way, the explanation of the whole Scriptures about the suffering Messiah, the slaughtering of the sacrificial lamb, that led the death of Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ but on the third day he rose again, and they were the witnesses of his resurrection. 

Still they were telling the affairs that had happened to them when suddenly Jesus appeared in their midst.   “While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost” (John 24: 36-37).  Jesus said with his resurrection greetings, “Peace be with you.”  But the disciples were frightened and scared as if they saw a ghost.  Like what had happened at Mount Tabor when Jesus transfigured with shining exceeding white as snow (Matthew 17:1-13; Luke 9:28-36) and his whole body was radiantly light or as he walked in the sea where the disciples as if they saw a ghost (Matthew 14: 25-26).

Even Jesus was perplexed with the reactions of the disciples.  They still could not believe or slow to believe in Jesus’ resurrection despite him already being himself for the third time alive.  “Then he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled?  And why do questions arise in your heart?  Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.  Touch and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.’  And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet” (John 24: 38-40). Jesus asked them questions for they were troubled and disbelieving as if he was a ghost.  So, he invited them to look at his hands and feet [and side].  He was allowing them to touch and see his wounds, that he has flesh and bones as compared with ghosts, like a spirit or air or wind without a material body.  “While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’  They gave a him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them” (John 24: 41-43).  To show also that he has flesh and bones, he asked them something to eat to prove that he was not a ghost. And they gave him a piece of baked fish, and in their presence, he ate it.

Then he explained the Scriptures to them, everything relating to the suffering Messiah, from the Books of Moses (the Torah), the Prophets, and the Psalms.  It must be fulfilled. “He said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.’  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.  And he said to them, ‘Thus it is written that the Christ 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.  You are witnesses of these things’.”  (John 24: 44-48).  Each one of them, he opened his/her mind to understand and learn Scripture better.  The Scripture was written to know, act and love Christ who would suffer and on the third day will rise again; in it also the calling for repentance, the forgiveness of sins, and an invitation to preach it (the Scripture) to all nations beginning from Jerusalem.  Jesus made his disciples who understood and loved the Scripture as his witnesses throughout the world. We too, as his disciples and followers, are taught about the Scripture.  We have to love it, act upon it and share it with others, then we are truly witnessing the risen Jesus Christ.

Second Sunday of Easter (B)

 

April 11, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 4: 32-35

Psalm 118 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love is everlasting.”

Second Reading: 1 John 5 1-6

Gospel reading according to John 20: 19-31

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Homily: 

On the same day, on the first day of the week, where Jesus resurrected early in the morning, while it was still dark; on that same day of the first day of the week also, on the evening, Jesus appeared to his disciples still hiding from the Jews for their lives.  For them, it was still dark/evening, as if they did not hear the good news that Jesus was resurrected from Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and John, and women companions, that early morning.  Still the disciples were in the dark of the night and did not yet recognize the light brought by the resurrection of Jesus.   “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side” (John 20: 19-20)  On that evening, Jesus appeared and stood in their midst, and to guarantee that he had no grudges against them, that it was ok now, he greeted them with the sign of peace, “Peace be with you.”  It means he has forgiven them for their lack of faith and unbelief to what he said on the rising of the dead.  “Peace be with you” means, they were still his disciples for he loved them.  There was nothing to worry about, he has forgiven them and accepted their weaknesses.  To prove his resurrection, he showed to them his hands, side [and feet] marked with nails, the signs of his suffering, passion and death on the cross.

When the disciples saw the living Christ, naturally they rejoiced and delighted.  “The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20: 20).  Some of them could not express their feelings, happiness and joy when they saw the risen Lord; some of them still could not believe that Jesus was alive and in front of them talking to them and giving peace and showing nail marks.  There were mixed emotions and fear, faith and disbelief among the disciples about the resurrection of Jesus, who was present in their midst.  There were some disciples whose eyes were prevented from recognizing him, and some of them were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

So Jesus, to guarantee his disciples that he was he, he said again for the second time his greetings of peace.  “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you’.” (John 20: 21).  After saying, “Peace be with you,” he commissioned and sent his disciples to spread “Peace” and the good news of the resurrection from the dead throughout the whole world.  That there is nothing to worry about for he conquered sin and death, that they are now free and liberated from the chains of slavery of sin and of the devil.  That the light is now shining upon the earth due to his resurrection.

To help the disciples spread the good news with courage and confidence, without fear, he gave them a lasting companion, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’.” (John 20: 22-23).  He breathed on them the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of courage and strength, the Spirit of life and truth, and the Spirit of love to God and one’s neighbor.  He added that whoever they forgive are forgiven and whoever they retain their sins are not forgiven and remain to them their sins. 

Because of the fear of the Jews, the disciples and Apostle were separated in their hiding place.  It so happened that Thomas was separated from the group.  Maybe he did it intentionally to be in a different hiding place or he did not listen to the instruction of Simon Peter, their leader, or he lost his trail, the way to the upper room.  “Thomas, called Didymus, one the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’  But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe’.” (John 20: 24-25). Thus, during the first appearance of Jesus, Thomas was not with them there in the upper room.  But with the other disciples with the courage to go out, they found Thomas and told him what had happened on the first day of the first week after the Passover.  But instead to be happy and rejoice of the news he had heard, he challenged the other disciples to produce Jesus (the risen Lord), with all the marks of the nails, and the wounds in his hands and side [and feet].  Unless he sees by his own eyes all the marks and wounds, he does not believe them.   

After the first week when Jesus appeared to his disciple; and in the second week, still the disciples were hiding but this time Thomas was with them in the upper room, when suddenly Jesus appeared and showed himself again to them.  “Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them, Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’  Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’  Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me and have believed’.” (John 20: 26-29).  The doors were locked but still Jesus was able to appear in the midst of his disciples who were still in the dark hiding for fear of their lives.  For the third time, Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you,” as if Jesus was bringing light to the darkness covering the disciples.  He was saying to them the darkness had passed and the light shines forth in the night of their lives.  Also, it so happened that Thomas was with them.  So Jesus called the attention of Thomas who until now had disbelief at what he saw, that Jesus was here in their presence alive.  Jesus said to him to look at his hands and see the nail marks, put his finger on them and bring his hand and put it on his side.  He convinced him not to be unbelieving but to believe.  He said also to Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me and have believed.”  We are blessed for we did not see Jesus but we believe in him.

To conclude his gospel, John said that many other things Jesus performed in the sight of his disciples that are not written.  “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this you may have life in his name” (John 20: 30-31).  But those signs and wonders that Jesus had made were remembered and written so that those who read and will read his gospel may believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and to have life eternal.  Amen.

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord (ABC)

 

April 4, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10: 34a, 37-43

Psalm 118 “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”

Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4

Gospel reading according to John 20: 1-9

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Homily: 

Alleluia!  Alleluia! The Lord is risen from the tomb.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

Mary of Magdala’s love for her Master and Lord Jesus Christ was beyond telling.  She could not leave Jesus on the tomb with uncompleted embalming or pouring of perfume/alabaster oil.  She really wanted a clean body of Jesus.  But she was not alone when she went in the tomb; she was not also alone in this thinking and planning of cleaning the dead body of Jesus, even her companions wanted to do this.  Then, after the Passover Feast, very early in the morning, still dark, on the very first day of the week, Mary and companions came to the tomb of Jesus.  “On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb” (John 20: 1).  “While it was still dark,” has a deep meaning and significant connotation.  The world was still covered with darkness, of sinfulness and indifferences.  Darkness belongs to the devil, to Satan and his cohorts.  Darkness is ruled by the evil one, while light is ruled by the good One.  The evil thought is still widespread in the dark world.  But the light had conquered the darkness of the evil world.  The dark world had seen the light of the new day.  The dawning of another day has come to light.  There is now a new hope, a new life, a new perspective and a new attitude in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.   As Mary and companions went to the tomb, she was full of enthusiasm, of love and confidence that nothing happened to her beloved Jesus, but nevertheless she and her companions did not expect what they had discovered and saw, a stone cover rolled open up from the tomb.   The tomb was opened.

She had already a conclusion, her instinct told her that her Master and Lord had been taken away by someone, who was very interested to the dead body of Jesus.  She thought that Jesus’ body was stolen and hid somewhere else, without coming closer and looked inside the tomb, and to see whether Jesus’ body was still there or not.  And she decided to inform Simon Peter, the known leader of the disciples and Apostles, and it also happened that John, whom Jesus loved, was there also, and so she too informed him.  Her companions might have remained in the tomb watching and waiting for the coming of the Apostles with Mary, for only Mary at that moment became apostle to the Apostles, in bringing and announcing the news.  “So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him’.” (John 20: 2).  Mary announced to Simon Peter and John the empty tomb and that someone took the dead body of Jesus and hid it in another place or cemetery or tomb, so that nobody can find it and retrieve it.

That early morning, still dark, while the disciples and Apostles were hiding from the Temple’s leaders and authorities due to fear for their lives, and some were still sleeping, Simon Peter and John with Mary ran to the tomb to see whether Mary’s report was true or not.  They lost their fear, the darkness of their hearts was enlightened by their love to their Master and Teacher.  They conquered their fear and replaced it with courage and strength, and enthusiasm and interest on the news, on the good news – of an empty tomb!  “So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.  They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in” (John 20: 3-5).  Simon Peter and John, as if on the race, ran fast, maybe to avoid seeing or encountering the Roman and the temple soldiers roaming around that night.  Since Simon Peter was a little bit old and John was still young, John ran faster than Peter, and first reached the tomb.  He just peeped in to see the inside of the tomb but did not enter into it.  He waited for the coming of Simon Peter, their recognized leader. 

Simon, at last reached the tomb.  Immediately, he entered into the tomb and saw the burial cloths and the cloths that covered the head of Jesus, though it was separated from the burial cloths.  “When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place” (John 20: 6-7).  Only the burial cloths and the covering of the head of Jesus Simon Peter were found but not of the body, for it was resurrected and transformed into a new body different from our own body.

John who came first in the tomb but did not yet enter into it, had now a chance to witness the wonderful event in his life.  “Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believe” (John 20: 8).  He entered the tomb and saw very clearly the success of what Jesus told them before, his rising from the dead – the resurrection.  John saw, witnessed and believed.

Before the resurrection, they did not understand the Scripture passage of the suffering Messiah, the sacrificial Lamb of God, and the Son of God for they did not yet experience the resurrection of the dead into life.  “For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead” (John 20: 9).  Now it is clear to them what the Scripture was telling about the rising from the dead when Jesus set as an example for all who believe in him when he experienced his own passion, crucifixion, death, and his triumph over death by resurrection, and glorification.  Amen.

Alleluia!  Alleluia! The Lord is risen from the tomb.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

Fifth Sunday of Lent (B)

 

March 21, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Jeremiah 31: 31-34

Psalm 51 “Create a clean heart in me, O God!”

Second Reading: Hebrews 5: 7-9 

Gospel reading according to John 12: 20-33

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Homily

On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we find some Greeks, representing the Gentiles, pagans and non-Jews, from Bethsaida, Galilee, who came to worship during the Passover Feast just recently ended.  Like Nicodemus (cf. the Fourth Sunday of Lent) who came to Jesus in the night to be enlightened, these Greeks came to Philip, after their worship, whom they knew for he came also from Bethsaida, they were neighbors, “magkakababayan.” What was the purpose of these Greek speaking converted Jews for coming to Jesus?  Why instead of coming directly to Jesus they passed the message through Philip in seeing Jesus?  We can guess.  Maybe because they did not speak Hebrew or maybe because they were thinking they were not worthy to come directly to Jesus for they were Gentiles. “Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee and asked him, ‘Sir, we would like to see Jesus.’  Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus” (John 12: 20-22).  The Greeks came to Philip, who also spoke Greek, and then he came to Andrew, brother of Simon Peter and together they came to Jesus, with the Greek people.  Jesus was accommodating prophet.  He did not disregard people whether Greeks, or Romans or Jews, he welcomed everyone, as God the Father welcomes us despite of our sinfulness, because He loved us.

The coming and seeing of the Gentiles (Greeks) signaling the coming hour of passion, death, resurrection and glorification of Jesus.  “Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified’” (John 12: 23). The time for Jesus to offer himself on the Tree of Life, the Cross, is already coming.  Nobody can stop this unfortunate or fortunate fate of Jesus.  Even he could not stop his coming death, because that is the will of God, his merciful and compassionate and loving Father.  “’Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just as a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.  The Father will honor whoever serves me’” (John 12: 24-26).   Jesus described himself to a seed of wheat that planted.  It dies in the ground but sooner or later a blade of leaf arrived and it grows with many grains of wheat.  He also compared himself to an unplanted seed of wheat.  He said it remains a seed that does now grow and produce more grains.  If he does not die, no growth and multiplication of believers will be produced and yield, but if he dies, the more believers will follow him.  In his death, the growth of the Church increases.  Jesus shows us the challenge of dying to one self.  As his followers, we too must die so to live an eternal life.

Now he is in trouble, not to himself or to the will of God, but to the elders and leaders, the authorities in the Temple and in the synagogues.  He becomes their enemy and are plotting to kill him.  “’I am troubled now.  Yet what should I say?  Father, saves me from this hour?  But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name.’  Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it and will glorify again’” (John 12: 27-28).  Jesus was asking himself or talking to himself due to the trouble he is about to face.  Will he ask his Father to deliver him from this hour of his forth coming death?  Should he give in to his own whim and personal desire to avoid this pending death? Will he escape and hide from the authorities to avoid his death?  He also realized that this was the purpose of his coming here on earth, to offer once and for all his life as a ransom for many adapted sons and daughters of God.  And God the Father supported him and guaranteed him that he (Jesus) will give glory to Him in his death and resurrection.

Even the crowds who were present there and listening to the discussion of Jesus, the Greek-speaking converts to the Jewish religion and with the two disciples, Philip and Andrew, heard the voice of God.  But they interpreted it in different ways.  They had their own opinions.  “The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but other said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’  Jesus answered and said, ‘This voice did not come for my sake but for yours.  Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out’.” (John 12: 29-31). Some said they heard a thunder, other said the angel of the Lord has spoken to him, etc.  Jesus gave himself his own interpretation to the voice of God spoken to him, the voice is for our sake.  This also indicated the time of judgment of the world, the ruler of this world will be driven out, and the Kingdom of God reigns. He continued his conversation with the Greeks, “’And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.’  He said this indicating the kind of death he would die” (John 12: 32-33).  Even his forthcoming death he already announced and proclaimed to them.