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Gospel Reflection for Sunday October 5, 2008

A reflection of the Scripture readings for Sunday, October 5, 2005. The symbolism in the readings and Psalm for this Sunday is very apparent. In the first reading Israel is compared to a vineyard and God is the owner. Despite doing everything right for the vineyard, putting it in fertile land, spading it, removing stones, building a watch tower, etc., the vineyard did not produce good fruits. God abandoned the vineyard and allowed it to be overrun by invaders.

In the Gospel reading Jesus is also comparing the people of Israel to a vineyard. They had not learned anything yet and had killed servants (prophets) sent previously by the owner. Jesus even says that their final outrage will be to kill the owner's son outside the vineyard's walls. This vineyard will be taken way and given to new tenants who will finally produce good fruit.

I used to have a large vegetable garden and I learned that the best way to grow healthy plants was not to focus on the plants themselves, but on their environment. They needed to have rich soil, with the right alkaline levels and moisture. Fertilizer was to feed the soil, allowing micro-organisms to thrive and feed the plants. Instead of spraying the plants with insecticide I planted other plants near them that repelled bugs.

Likewise, the best way for us to produce great fruit for the Lord is to surround ourselves with people and situations that will help us focus on God's love and help us live good Christian lives. To have a good theological foundation for our lives and to seek good role models and teachers. To avoid situations that could tempt us into hurting God and others. God has given us everything we need to produce great spiritual fruits. We must now act, moved by love, and produce it.

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Gospel Reflection for Sunday, September 7, 2008

A reflection on the Scripture readings for Sunday, September 7, 2008. In this Gospel reading Jesus is explaining how the community should deal with someone that is sinning against a member or the community as a whole. First, we approach the person in private. If that works we have "won over your brother." Some versions say you have "gained your brother," which is a technical rabbinic term for missionary conversion. If this stage doesn't work, we bring one or two witnesses so that we can more easily get to the facts. If unsuccessful we escalated it "to the church", which could mean the community or a group representing the community. If the person still refuses to accept and correct the sin, then Jesus recommends a drastic measure: "then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector." This means to exclude the person from the community, probably to protect the community from the impact of this person's actions and future actions.

What I found most challenging in today's readings is that it's not enough to empathize with a sinner, or to "forgive those who trespass against us." Jesus challenges us to be proactive and take the person aside to confront them with their sin and see what we or the members of the community can do for the person. Why? The answer is in the second reading, love, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Moved by love, we would go out of our way to help the sinner, but also to protect future victims of whatever the sin may be. Impact? We find this in the first reading, "If I tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely die, ”and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death." We are partly responsible for not speaking out.

Tough challenge, compelling reason, and a significant impact of ignoring our responsibility. Well, I have a few people to call today, for which I have been praying, but not confronting 1:1.

God bless!

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Gospel Reflection for August 31, 2008

A reflection on the Scripture Readings for August 31, 2008.  We live in such a paradox.   Many of us spend so much time worrying about our future and acting in self-preserving ways.  Working to make more money (and it's never enough), buying bigger houses, seeking experiences that would give us pleasure, comfort, and instant joy.  We are acting from such a powerful instinct.  Yet, facts tell us that those most secured financially, those that have acquired the most fame or pleasures, are not necessaily any happier than the rest.  Actually, they are at times misserable.

Studies by researchers (without a faith-based inclination) have found that after considering many variables, the happiest people are those that are moved to serve others inspired by a purpose greater than themselves.  Their research proved what Jesus told us many years ago: 

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Intellectually, I get it.  But it's so difficult as we struggle with the selfless acts that bring us true happiness and the near term acts that gives us "safety" and short-term happiness.

I think the answer is in the phrase "to lose his life."  I can read this as to no longer have my life, but I can also read this as to no longer try to control my life.  To give God full reign over me and guide me.  To surrender. In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah was strugling to control his life and not speak God's words because of the rejection and burden they were causing him.  At the end, he couldn't.  "But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it."

I think this is the key.  To find life, we need to lose ours and all our selfish ambitions.  That is too difficult, unless we surrender and allow the Holy Spirit to transform our heart so it burns with love for God and others.  We won't be able to hold that love in.  Like Jeremy, we won't be able to endure not speaking God's words, and not taking our cross.

God bless everyone!   

Gospel Reflection for Sunday, August 17, 2008

A reflection on the Scripture readings for Sunday, August 17, 2008 (my sister's birthday!). I struggled a bit with today's Gospel reading. A Canaanite woman goes to Jesus and begs that He heal her daughter. Most of the times I visualize Jesus as the perfect divine being He was, the Son of God. A being in a constant state of peace and wisdom, incapable of showing anything but the most amazing acceptance and compassion to all people. Thankfully, he was also Jesus the man. The man who wept when he learned a close friend died. The man who expressed anger with the vendors at the temple. The man who showed doubt and apprehension at the garden of Gethsemane.

Here we have a woman and a foreigner wanting something from Jesus. Jesus brushes her off twice with what seem like prejudicial statements "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” He reflected the strong feelings Israel had at the time of any foreigner, often comparing them to dogs. Was he testing her faith? Perhaps from a salvation plan there was a sense of priority and order. Perhaps it was more important to begin the conversion from within, to first extend the House of Prayer from within the walls of the temple and throughout all the people in Israel and then the world. "To the Jews first and then to the Greeks" Rom 1:16. I don't have an answer. I suppose the important thing is that He did show compassion, He did recognize her persistency and her faith, and healed her daughter.

For my personal growth I wonder, how many times I may express or think prejudicial statements towards other people that are different than me in some way? I also pray that moved by faith I would be as persistent as she was in seeking closeness with God and fighting for what is fair and just.

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Gospel Reflection for Sunday, August 10, 2008

What a lovely first reading for this Sunday.

"Reading 1
1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a

At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave."

How do we recognize the presence of God in our lives? How many times are we surprised that a smile from a stranger, a hug at the sign of peace during mass, and witnessing a small act of kindness stir in our hearts the loving presence of God? The God who created strong winds, earthquakes, and fire, is also the God who created butterfly wings, the smell of a rose, and the warm feeling of a caress. God's presence is manifested in so many ways, few as powerful as the power of a word and the power of The Word.

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Gospel Reflection for Sunday, April 1, 2007

A reflection on the Scripture readings for Sunday, April 1, 2007, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. This Sunday's readings, as well as those for the rest of Holy week are packed with meaning and rich with wisdom. As I meditated on the readings for this Sunday, my heart concentrated on a "side story," that of Peter denying Jesus three times.

“This man too was with him.” But he denied it saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.” About an hour later, still another insisted, “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”

What do you think about when you read this? Poor Peter, lacking courage. That won't happen to me... What would we do if we were in that situation? Would we have the faith and courage to admit we know Jesus? Well, we don't have too work so hard at imagining. How do we react when we face injustices at work, in our community, and in the world? How do we react when others are attacked and injured emotionally? How do we react in the face of poverty, war, sickness, and loneliness? Do we act as if we know Jesus? Or do we act as if saying woman, I don't know what you are talking about." I find this humbling, because I do deny I know Jesus many times a month, not so much by what I do, but by what I fail to do.

It is a long journey. I'm glad God is merciful and that he continues to strengthen us as we journey in our path. Some day most people will be able to say, "He must know Jesus, he must be one of them." We will be recognized by our words and our actions.

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Gospel Reflection for Sunday, March 4, 2007

Scripture reflection on the readings for Sunday, March 4, 2007, second Sunday of Lent. In Luke we read about Jesus going up the mountain with Peter, John, and James. While he was praying, Jesus was transfigured. His faced changed and his clothes became dazzling white. Seeing Jesus in his glory made an impact on them. This is a preview or a tiny taste of what it will be like in heaven. Then, all of us would be transfigured and united. I imagine that the radiant light emanating from all of us out of immense love will all come together as one intensely radiant light. The light of love, the love of God.

Can you imagine experiencing this bit of heaven on Earth? I think some saints and mystics have received a taste of this in their meditations and prayers. An that is exactly the means..., prayer. Last Wednesday we had the penance service in our church and went to confession. What is the answer to sinning less? Living in a life of constant prayer. Living in loving and intense prayer will not only help us sin less, but also radiate the light of Christ to others, and experience the light of Christ in our hearts.

Does it feel overwhelming to live a life or prayer and holiness? We only need to do it for this day..., just for this moment.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation.” Ps. 27, 1

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Gospel Reflection for Sunday January 21, 2007

Scriptural reflection on the scripture readings for Sunday, January 21, 2007. These readings are so interesting today. We have two men reading from a scroll, thousand of years apart. One man, Ezra, reads as the people celebrate a new beginning. After many years in exile, a group of devout Jews are set free and able to return to their land for the difficult task of rebuilding their city and their community. Another man, Jesus, also reads from a scroll. A new life and a new beginning emerging. One where captives will be set free, and the blind will see, a life where the oppressed will go free and the poor will receive good tidings. Many of these actions were ones associated with God. So here you have Jesus the man, in his hometown, proclaiming, in so many words, that he is also the Son of God. Through him, all these divine actions will take place. And once again, the people will be set free, from a spiritual exile.

Thousands of years later, we too read these words. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, in Him and through Him, we are also children of God. Through us, the divine hand of God could also work, to heal, to bring good tidings to the poor, and to free the oppress. May we open our hearts and our soul to God working through us. We will continue to fulfill the scriptures and will be creating many years acceptable to the Lord.

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Gospel Reflection for Sunday, January 7, 2007

This meditation is loosely inspired by the Scripture readings for Sunday, January 7, 2007, Solemnity of the Epiphany.

Dear Lord, I have been traveling for so long to see the Divine light in my heart. It seems that my whole life has been a journey. I traveled through the scorching heat of the day, and the bitter cold of night. I traveled through ups and downs, through moments of closeness, as well as those of loneliness and dryness. I heard the calling in my heart. I was so young I can’t tell you when. I saw the light, the beautiful star in the distance, and I could do nothing other than walk and travel to pay homage to the God that will be born in my heart, to adore him.

Sometimes, I feel far from him. Sometimes the burden is too heavy and my journey so tiresome. Would you…? Could I surrender this heavy box of gold? May I give it to you? This treasure of gold is a gift fit for a king like you. It symbolizes power, kingship, purity, and incorruptibility. Would you like this beautiful gift? You see, for me it also symbolizes my hunger for power, my desire for success, my worries about wealth. I can’t carry this box and seek the Divine light. Would you take it?

I’m so excited to journey to see the Divine light! Liberation from killings, death, and war. Liberation from poverty and sickness. I seek immeasurable joy during the day and peace at night. I want to bask in Divine brightness, I want to revel in God’s glory. But, Jesus, I’m tired and I’m weak. Can I give you a gift? May I surrender this heavy box? It contains Frankincense. This is a gift fit for a Priest like you. The pure white smoke, the holy incense, loved by our God, carries our prayers and supplications to heaven. Would you take this heavy burden from me, Son of God, so I may continue my journey toward the shinning star? You see, Frankincense also represents my appearances, my pressures to be Church, my obligations, my bitter fights to protect my definition of faith. It gets heavy over time. I give this to you. So I may continue my journey…

Thanks for easing my burden, I can see the beautiful star shinning brighter than ever! I can feel the warmth in my soul stronger than before. I will persevere, I know. Sometimes the gifts I carry don’t let me see the light as well, and I stumble and fall. I look forward to adoring the God of light and peace, to offering him all of my gifts, to dwell in his presence for eternity. He reveals an all encompassing love to all nations. But dear Lord, the journey has been so long. I do have one more gift for you, because I no longer have the energy to carry so much. Would you take this heavy box of myrrh? May I surrender this heavy burden? Myrrh is a precious ointment used for healing, a medicinal balm to ease pain and suffering. You are the perfect healer, the savior and healer of our souls. What better gift for you, the Messiah? Please know myrrh is also used for embalming in case of death, which frightens me. You don’t suppose that you Christ Savior would have a need for this? Would you face suffering and death? I do thank you.

The light is bright and more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I have arrived. I am here to adore thee, my God, my King, my Priest, my Savior. I’m here to be liberated from sin, injustices, and misery. I am here to pay homage to my beloved. My eyes are filled with tears. I’m so honored to bring you these gifts, dear God.. Oh no…, I had to give my gifts along the way in order to make it to you. Now I have nothing else to give you. Except me, all of me. I hope it suffices… I can do nothing but prostrate myself for you and completely surrender the one thing I have left…, would you accept me?

“They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.”

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Gospel Reflection for Sunday, October 29, 2006

Scripture reflection for the readings for Sunday, October 29, 2006. In today's Gospel reading from Mark, a blind man keeps calling out to Jesus and asking him to have pity on him and heal him. Others nearby just ask him to be silent. Then Jesus hears him and calls him. People then said to him, "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you." He then ran to Jesus, who asks him "what do you want me to do?" The man says he wants to see and Jesus says, "go on your way, your faith has saved you."

You can reflect on this reading in many different ways. An obvious one is that the blind recognized and believed in Jesus while those with sight doubted. But my mind went elsewhere. Last night I read in Jules' blog "Mazed with Grace" the following quote from Marianne Williamsom, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." That got me thinking. To what degree are we blind to our strengths, to our talents, and to the wonderful divine potential within us? With God's gifts we are powerful beyond measure, can face anything, and can make such an amazing impact on people. But we are blind to it, and to some degree we are afraid to not be blind. Once we know, we will have an obligation to do something with it. When we timidly ask, others tell us to be silent.

Jesus is calling us. Calling us to get up and run to him. Calling us to see who we truly are and to see how we can be God's hands and God's voice here on earth. We may need a friend to nudge us like someone nudged the blind man. "Take courage, get up, Jesus is calling you!" When we run to him, he will heal us of our blindness, we will experience the joy of authenticity, and the ecstasy of living as channels of God's grace.

Jesus, have pity on me, and heal me from my blindness! God bless!

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