Happy Easter
may the Risen Lord bless you with his Mercy and peace. Happy Easter.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJFfuYFAOv4
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Our Lord is Risen! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen, indeed!
Happy Easter My dear brothers and sisters in the Risen Christ,
A butterfly, of course, is simply a transformed caterpillar. But for those who believe in the resurrected life, it is an image that can speak powerfully of what happens to them through death and resurrection. Caterpillars appear to have a fairly pleasant life.
One day the caterpillar begins to spin a series of threads around itself. When it finishes the spinning, it is enclosed in a cocoon, a structure that almost seems to resemble a miniature tomb. Initially, as it experiences the darkness, the former caterpillar might ask itself, ‘Is this all there is?’ After a pleasant life of eating and basking in the sunshine, is this all that remains – nothingness and darkness? But slowly a change begins to take place, and one day the tomb-like cocoon opens to reveal a creature that has been totally transformed, something that has been made quite beautiful. If this newly-transformed butterfly could think as humans do, it might say something like this: “I look so different. Everything around me looks so different. I can see plants and flowers that I never saw before. This is tremendous and gorgeous!” The butterfly moves its two shiny wings and immediately it soars into the air. Where the caterpillar noticed only the surfaces of leaves, the butterfly sees the entire garden. Where the caterpillar chewed on plants, the butterfly unfolds its proboscis and feasts on nectar. Its way of being is completely transformed. And yet if you forget about the wings and look closely at the butterfly’s body, you can see a faint vestige of the caterpillar.
The word Resurrection does not mean a restoration to One’s previous life, as happened to Lazarus, the widow of Nain, and Jairus’s daughter. It is not resuscitation. It is something infinitely more. The word resurrection designates a quantum leap forward into a totally new life. It is something no human being had yet experienced. In other words, the body of Jesus that rose on Easter Sunday was radically different from the body that was buried on Good Friday.
It is first of all a change, change in one’s attitude towards life, towards acceptance and towards the material things of this world. Tomb is not going to be something permanent for Christians. It is just a time of transformation into glory.
When we study the Easter accounts in the Bible, we see not only that Jesus was remarkably transformed on Easter, but also that His disciples were transformed.
Easter transformed them from a band of despairing people into a brigade of daring people into a brigade of daring missionaries. At the command of Jesus they set out to carry the message of Easter to the four corners of the earth.
And everywhere they preached the good news; the power of Easter began to work in people’s lives, just as it had in their own lives.
Beautiful things began to happen. Despair began to give way to hope; darkness began to give way to light; hatred began to give way to love; sorrow began to give way to joy. In short, everywhere the disciples preached, the power of Easter began to work miracles in people’s lives. And those miracles haven’t stopped yet. They continue to happen in our time and in us. That’s the good news of the Easter. This is the good news; our Risen Christ is alive and right now he is with us. Our Lord and Master is not dead; He is alive. Alleluia.
I know some of you are still have doubt in the Resurrection. If you are struggling with your faith, I ask you to peer into the empty tomb and to ask yourself what this means. And pray for the gift of faith. Let’s look at some of the evidence.
Jesus’ Body Was Missing. If the Jews could have found it, they could have stilled the preaching of Jesus’ resurrection that filled Jerusalem. But they could not.
The Body Wasn’t Stolen. The Romans had no motive. The Jews had no motive. Ah-ha, you say, the disciples stole it. There is the matter of the Roman guards and the disciples’ initial disbelief when the women brought them the news early that Easter morning. This brings me to my third point. If the disciples had stolen the body, you wouldn’t expect them to risk their lives. People don’t die for what they know is not true. But the disciples put their lives on the line, and nearly all were eventually martyred for their faith. They certainly believed it. The church mushroomed size in Jerusalem, the very place he was crucified. Followers of Jesus in the city of Jerusalem grew from a few dozen to thousands upon thousands soon after Jesus’ resurrection. They believed it was true.
Contemporary Documents Refer to the Event. Jewish historian Josephus writes about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
Jesus’ resurrection means that death is not the end. That though my body may lie moldering in the ground, Jesus, whom the Father raised from the dead, gives me eternal life. Ultimately, we Christians believe, our bodies, too, will be raised from the dead. And since Jesus is not dead, people can encounter him today. He’s alive; That’s what Easter is all about! Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The story is told of a child who began to read the Gospels. Like billions before her. She quickly became charmed by Jesus. Suddenly, she ran out of her room crying hysterically. She ran into the arms of her alarmed mother. She cried: "They killed him. They killed him." Her mother comforted her and then whispered to her, "now go back and finish the story."
Unlike that child, we know the rest of the story. "Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here."
If you have not seen the Risen Lord then we might have allowed a stone to prevent us from meeting the risen Jesus? Let me put before you an imaginary illustration. There are no true characters involved. I am a true patriotic person I like to hear only my language in my own style. God forbid, suppose I am an unknown racist I don’t like to see anyone other than me. I became annoyed and went out of the church. Then I see a person coming inside, I try to open the door for him saying are you going to the church! Oh! Gosh! I just came out from the church, I cannot handle that thing. That person was coming to the church after a long period of time. He turned back to me and said. Thank you and he went away. I am happy and I raised my placard saying I have done it. I am a catholic but annoyed one. The best solution is to kill that person whom I don’t like but I know I will be end up in Jail so I did everything to kill his spirit and his enthusiasm. But I am still a catholic, you know, “annoyed catholic”. Tell me my brothers and sisters; am I covering me from seeing the risen Lord with a big stone? Am I helping others to see Jesus? Remove that pride of Stone and see the risen Lord in your lives.
Yes dear Brothers and sisters, we need to live a resurrected life. We are people of Easter. How should we live as Easter people? By living the life of Cross. By taking the cross as our model; a symbol. It takes two pieces of wood to make a cross. That is important for us today, as we celebrate Easter. The vertical stick could represent God’s love for us. God so loved the world that he sent his only son to die for us. And we need to love that God from our Part. The horizontal stick represents God’s call for us to love one another. It is our response to God’s love in Jesus, and completes the cross. There are two horizontal arms to the cross, and two ways that we can love one another. The first way is through relationships. How important - indeed, essential it is that we learn to love, forgive and accept one another. The second arm of the cross is service. God’s message through the cross is that we must serve one another. Jesus spoke clearly about that when he said that if anyone wants to be his disciple, they must take up their cross and follow him. It is not easy to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others, but that is what the cross means. Jesus showed us what it means by accepting to die on the cross for us. The bottom line of following Jesus is that we must let go of our hunger for power, control and glory, and learn to serve one another, to wash each other’s feet each day as we did on Holy Thursday.
After the Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus stands before God. God says, “So, how do you think it went?” Jesus says, “I don’t know.” God says, “Well, what if they didn’t get it? What if the message wasn’t understood?” Jesus says, “I have no other plan.”
Happy Easter My dear brothers and sisters in the Risen Christ,
A butterfly, of course, is simply a transformed caterpillar. But for those who believe in the resurrected life, it is an image that can speak powerfully of what happens to them through death and resurrection. Caterpillars appear to have a fairly pleasant life.
One day the caterpillar begins to spin a series of threads around itself. When it finishes the spinning, it is enclosed in a cocoon, a structure that almost seems to resemble a miniature tomb. Initially, as it experiences the darkness, the former caterpillar might ask itself, ‘Is this all there is?’ After a pleasant life of eating and basking in the sunshine, is this all that remains – nothingness and darkness? But slowly a change begins to take place, and one day the tomb-like cocoon opens to reveal a creature that has been totally transformed, something that has been made quite beautiful. If this newly-transformed butterfly could think as humans do, it might say something like this: “I look so different. Everything around me looks so different. I can see plants and flowers that I never saw before. This is tremendous and gorgeous!” The butterfly moves its two shiny wings and immediately it soars into the air. Where the caterpillar noticed only the surfaces of leaves, the butterfly sees the entire garden. Where the caterpillar chewed on plants, the butterfly unfolds its proboscis and feasts on nectar. Its way of being is completely transformed. And yet if you forget about the wings and look closely at the butterfly’s body, you can see a faint vestige of the caterpillar.
The word Resurrection does not mean a restoration to One’s previous life, as happened to Lazarus, the widow of Nain, and Jairus’s daughter. It is not resuscitation. It is something infinitely more. The word resurrection designates a quantum leap forward into a totally new life. It is something no human being had yet experienced. In other words, the body of Jesus that rose on Easter Sunday was radically different from the body that was buried on Good Friday.
It is first of all a change, change in one’s attitude towards life, towards acceptance and towards the material things of this world. Tomb is not going to be something permanent for Christians. It is just a time of transformation into glory.
When we study the Easter accounts in the Bible, we see not only that Jesus was remarkably transformed on Easter, but also that His disciples were transformed.
Easter transformed them from a band of despairing people into a brigade of daring people into a brigade of daring missionaries. At the command of Jesus they set out to carry the message of Easter to the four corners of the earth.
And everywhere they preached the good news; the power of Easter began to work in people’s lives, just as it had in their own lives.
Beautiful things began to happen. Despair began to give way to hope; darkness began to give way to light; hatred began to give way to love; sorrow began to give way to joy. In short, everywhere the disciples preached, the power of Easter began to work miracles in people’s lives. And those miracles haven’t stopped yet. They continue to happen in our time and in us. That’s the good news of the Easter. This is the good news; our Risen Christ is alive and right now he is with us. Our Lord and Master is not dead; He is alive. Alleluia.
I know some of you are still have doubt in the Resurrection. If you are struggling with your faith, I ask you to peer into the empty tomb and to ask yourself what this means. And pray for the gift of faith. Let’s look at some of the evidence.
Jesus’ Body Was Missing. If the Jews could have found it, they could have stilled the preaching of Jesus’ resurrection that filled Jerusalem. But they could not.
The Body Wasn’t Stolen. The Romans had no motive. The Jews had no motive. Ah-ha, you say, the disciples stole it. There is the matter of the Roman guards and the disciples’ initial disbelief when the women brought them the news early that Easter morning. This brings me to my third point. If the disciples had stolen the body, you wouldn’t expect them to risk their lives. People don’t die for what they know is not true. But the disciples put their lives on the line, and nearly all were eventually martyred for their faith. They certainly believed it. The church mushroomed size in Jerusalem, the very place he was crucified. Followers of Jesus in the city of Jerusalem grew from a few dozen to thousands upon thousands soon after Jesus’ resurrection. They believed it was true.
Contemporary Documents Refer to the Event. Jewish historian Josephus writes about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
Jesus’ resurrection means that death is not the end. That though my body may lie moldering in the ground, Jesus, whom the Father raised from the dead, gives me eternal life. Ultimately, we Christians believe, our bodies, too, will be raised from the dead. And since Jesus is not dead, people can encounter him today. He’s alive; That’s what Easter is all about! Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The story is told of a child who began to read the Gospels. Like billions before her. She quickly became charmed by Jesus. Suddenly, she ran out of her room crying hysterically. She ran into the arms of her alarmed mother. She cried: "They killed him. They killed him." Her mother comforted her and then whispered to her, "now go back and finish the story."
Unlike that child, we know the rest of the story. "Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here."
If you have not seen the Risen Lord then we might have allowed a stone to prevent us from meeting the risen Jesus? Let me put before you an imaginary illustration. There are no true characters involved. I am a true patriotic person I like to hear only my language in my own style. God forbid, suppose I am an unknown racist I don’t like to see anyone other than me. I became annoyed and went out of the church. Then I see a person coming inside, I try to open the door for him saying are you going to the church! Oh! Gosh! I just came out from the church, I cannot handle that thing. That person was coming to the church after a long period of time. He turned back to me and said. Thank you and he went away. I am happy and I raised my placard saying I have done it. I am a catholic but annoyed one. The best solution is to kill that person whom I don’t like but I know I will be end up in Jail so I did everything to kill his spirit and his enthusiasm. But I am still a catholic, you know, “annoyed catholic”. Tell me my brothers and sisters; am I covering me from seeing the risen Lord with a big stone? Am I helping others to see Jesus? Remove that pride of Stone and see the risen Lord in your lives.
Yes dear Brothers and sisters, we need to live a resurrected life. We are people of Easter. How should we live as Easter people? By living the life of Cross. By taking the cross as our model; a symbol. It takes two pieces of wood to make a cross. That is important for us today, as we celebrate Easter. The vertical stick could represent God’s love for us. God so loved the world that he sent his only son to die for us. And we need to love that God from our Part. The horizontal stick represents God’s call for us to love one another. It is our response to God’s love in Jesus, and completes the cross. There are two horizontal arms to the cross, and two ways that we can love one another. The first way is through relationships. How important - indeed, essential it is that we learn to love, forgive and accept one another. The second arm of the cross is service. God’s message through the cross is that we must serve one another. Jesus spoke clearly about that when he said that if anyone wants to be his disciple, they must take up their cross and follow him. It is not easy to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others, but that is what the cross means. Jesus showed us what it means by accepting to die on the cross for us. The bottom line of following Jesus is that we must let go of our hunger for power, control and glory, and learn to serve one another, to wash each other’s feet each day as we did on Holy Thursday.
After the Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus stands before God. God says, “So, how do you think it went?” Jesus says, “I don’t know.” God says, “Well, what if they didn’t get it? What if the message wasn’t understood?” Jesus says, “I have no other plan.”
God,s LOVE shown in the Cross
Good Friday of Our Lord’s Passion
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
The Legends of Hasidic Judaism include the story of a precious gift. Having driven Adam and Eve from Eden, God is moved to pity at their plight. He gives them one of Heaven’s most precious pearls- a tear. “When grief overtakes you and your hearts ache so that you are not able to endure it and great anguish grips your soul,” then there will fall from your eyes this tiny tear. Your burdens will grow lighter then”.
Only memories release tears. Today we remember what we constantly forget: God’s dream of peace and unity, his longing to heal our wounds and restore our innocence. Today God has taken upon himself in Jesus the pain of innocent suffering, the agony of all who have fallen victim to failed human love. We remember, and we weep.
Jesus of Nazareth is dead, and the sign he has left us is the rough wood of his saving cross. A symbol of His love for us. To make us beautiful he took our wounds and drawbacks.
Let me tell you a true Story:"Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was marred. When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother's arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks.
He blurted out the tragedy. "A boy, a big boy...called me a freak." He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. "But you might mingle with other young people," his mother reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart.
The boy's father had a session with the family physician. Could nothing be done? "I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be procured" the doctor decided. Whereupon the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. Then, "You are going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret" said the father.
The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. "But I must know!" He urged his father. "Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him."
"I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement was that you are not to know...not yet." The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come… one of the darkest days that ever pass through a son.
He stood with his father over his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal . . . that the mother had no outer ears.
"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," he whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they"?
Yes dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Disfigured to make us Beautiful. Jesus said, I call your friends and not servants. Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what that cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what that is done but not known. Jesus like a good friend lays down his life. “There is no greater love than laying down one’s life for his friends”. Words of Jesus proved to be totally true in his death on the cross.
Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, “He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Fr Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan priest who was arrested by Nazis in February of 1941 for publishing unapproved literature. They sentenced him to hard labor at the Auschwitz concentration camp. In August of that same year a prisoner escaped. When he was not recaptured the Nazis took a reprisal. They lined up the other prisoners and picked out ten to die in the starvation bunker. One of the men selected was a farmer named Franciszek Gajowniczek. He was in Auschwitz only because he was Jew. When Franciszek was selected, he cried out, "My wife, my children!"
Hearing that cry Fr. Kolbe stepped forward. He said to the guard, "I am a Catholic priest. I have no family like this man. Allow me to take his place." The guard hesitated, then agreed. Maximilian Kolbe, along with the nine others, was placed in the starvation bunker for a slow and agonizing death. After fourteen days, four were still alive and only one was fully conscious--Fr. Kolbe himself. The Nazis needed the starvation bunker for other prisoners so they injected Fr. Kolbe and the three others with carbolic acid.
Pope Paul VI solemnly declared Fr. Kolbe who had died only thirty years before as Blessed Maximilian Kolbe. After the applause died down, the Holy Father had a surprise which sent a thrill through the whole congregation. He introduced the man seated next to him ; Franciszek Gajowniczek. He survived the concentration camp and has devoted his life to telling others what Fr. Kolbe did for him.
If Franciszek Gajowniczek has that much gratitude to Fr. Kolbe, how much should we have this evening to Jesus? What Maximilian Kolbe did for that Jewish prisoner, Jesus has done for each one of us. He died in our place.
It is the moment, I believe, to hear again the admonishment of Dante Alighieri:Christians, be serious in taking action: Do not be like a feather to every wind,Nor think that every water cleanses you. You have the New and the Old TestamentAnd the Shepherd of the Church to guide you; Let this be all you need for your salvation …
Through his death on a cross God proved that God is love! It has been said that, if all the Bibles of the world were to be destroyed by some cataclysm(disaster) or iconoclastic rage and only one copy remained; and if this copy was also so damaged that only one page was still whole, and likewise if this page was so wrinkled that only one line could still be read: if that line was the line of the First Letter of John where it is written that "God is love!" the whole Bible would have been saved, because the whole content is there. God is love, and the cross of Christ is the supreme proof, the historical demonstration.
The great news is that Good Friday affirms that we are not alone in the tomb. Jesus is there. In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author says, "We have not a God that is incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are." (Heb 4:14-16)
One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise.
Ah the beauty of God’s creation is beyond description.
As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work.
As I sat there, I felt the Lord’s presence with me.
He asked me,
“Do you love me?”
I answered,
“Of course, God! You are my Lord and Savior!”
Then He asked,
“If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?”
I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn’t be able to do, the things that I took for granted.
And I answered, “It would be tough Lord, but I would still loveYou.”
Then the Lord said,
“If you were blind, would you still love my creation?”
How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation.
So I answered, “It’s hard to think of it, but I would still love you.”
The Lord then asked me,
“If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?”
How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood.
Listening to God’s Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered,
“It would be tough, but I would still listen to your word.”
The Lord then asked,
“If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?”
How could I praise without a voice?
Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered,
“Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.
And the Lord asked,
“Do you really love Me?”
With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly,
“Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!”
I thought I had answered well, but God asked,
“THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?”
I answered, “Because I am only human. I am not perfect.”
“THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST?
WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?”
No answers. Only tears.
The Lord continued:
“Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?”
The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.
“Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?”
I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.
“You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.”
“DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?”
I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When the tears had flowed, I said, “ Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child.”
The Lord answered,
“ That is My Grace, My child.”
I asked, “ Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?”
The Lord answered,
“ Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you.
When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you.
When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.
When you are down, I will encourage you.
When you fall, I will raise you up.
When you are tired, I will carry you.
I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever.”
Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God,
“How much do You love me?”
The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands.
I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior.
And for the first time, I truly prayed.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
The Legends of Hasidic Judaism include the story of a precious gift. Having driven Adam and Eve from Eden, God is moved to pity at their plight. He gives them one of Heaven’s most precious pearls- a tear. “When grief overtakes you and your hearts ache so that you are not able to endure it and great anguish grips your soul,” then there will fall from your eyes this tiny tear. Your burdens will grow lighter then”.
Only memories release tears. Today we remember what we constantly forget: God’s dream of peace and unity, his longing to heal our wounds and restore our innocence. Today God has taken upon himself in Jesus the pain of innocent suffering, the agony of all who have fallen victim to failed human love. We remember, and we weep.
Jesus of Nazareth is dead, and the sign he has left us is the rough wood of his saving cross. A symbol of His love for us. To make us beautiful he took our wounds and drawbacks.
Let me tell you a true Story:"Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was marred. When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother's arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks.
He blurted out the tragedy. "A boy, a big boy...called me a freak." He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. "But you might mingle with other young people," his mother reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart.
The boy's father had a session with the family physician. Could nothing be done? "I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be procured" the doctor decided. Whereupon the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. Then, "You are going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret" said the father.
The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. "But I must know!" He urged his father. "Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him."
"I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement was that you are not to know...not yet." The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come… one of the darkest days that ever pass through a son.
He stood with his father over his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal . . . that the mother had no outer ears.
"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," he whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they"?
Yes dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Disfigured to make us Beautiful. Jesus said, I call your friends and not servants. Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what that cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what that is done but not known. Jesus like a good friend lays down his life. “There is no greater love than laying down one’s life for his friends”. Words of Jesus proved to be totally true in his death on the cross.
Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, “He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Fr Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan priest who was arrested by Nazis in February of 1941 for publishing unapproved literature. They sentenced him to hard labor at the Auschwitz concentration camp. In August of that same year a prisoner escaped. When he was not recaptured the Nazis took a reprisal. They lined up the other prisoners and picked out ten to die in the starvation bunker. One of the men selected was a farmer named Franciszek Gajowniczek. He was in Auschwitz only because he was Jew. When Franciszek was selected, he cried out, "My wife, my children!"
Hearing that cry Fr. Kolbe stepped forward. He said to the guard, "I am a Catholic priest. I have no family like this man. Allow me to take his place." The guard hesitated, then agreed. Maximilian Kolbe, along with the nine others, was placed in the starvation bunker for a slow and agonizing death. After fourteen days, four were still alive and only one was fully conscious--Fr. Kolbe himself. The Nazis needed the starvation bunker for other prisoners so they injected Fr. Kolbe and the three others with carbolic acid.
Pope Paul VI solemnly declared Fr. Kolbe who had died only thirty years before as Blessed Maximilian Kolbe. After the applause died down, the Holy Father had a surprise which sent a thrill through the whole congregation. He introduced the man seated next to him ; Franciszek Gajowniczek. He survived the concentration camp and has devoted his life to telling others what Fr. Kolbe did for him.
If Franciszek Gajowniczek has that much gratitude to Fr. Kolbe, how much should we have this evening to Jesus? What Maximilian Kolbe did for that Jewish prisoner, Jesus has done for each one of us. He died in our place.
It is the moment, I believe, to hear again the admonishment of Dante Alighieri:Christians, be serious in taking action: Do not be like a feather to every wind,Nor think that every water cleanses you. You have the New and the Old TestamentAnd the Shepherd of the Church to guide you; Let this be all you need for your salvation …
Through his death on a cross God proved that God is love! It has been said that, if all the Bibles of the world were to be destroyed by some cataclysm(disaster) or iconoclastic rage and only one copy remained; and if this copy was also so damaged that only one page was still whole, and likewise if this page was so wrinkled that only one line could still be read: if that line was the line of the First Letter of John where it is written that "God is love!" the whole Bible would have been saved, because the whole content is there. God is love, and the cross of Christ is the supreme proof, the historical demonstration.
The great news is that Good Friday affirms that we are not alone in the tomb. Jesus is there. In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author says, "We have not a God that is incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are." (Heb 4:14-16)
One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise.
Ah the beauty of God’s creation is beyond description.
As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work.
As I sat there, I felt the Lord’s presence with me.
He asked me,
“Do you love me?”
I answered,
“Of course, God! You are my Lord and Savior!”
Then He asked,
“If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?”
I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn’t be able to do, the things that I took for granted.
And I answered, “It would be tough Lord, but I would still loveYou.”
Then the Lord said,
“If you were blind, would you still love my creation?”
How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation.
So I answered, “It’s hard to think of it, but I would still love you.”
The Lord then asked me,
“If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?”
How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood.
Listening to God’s Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered,
“It would be tough, but I would still listen to your word.”
The Lord then asked,
“If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?”
How could I praise without a voice?
Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered,
“Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.
And the Lord asked,
“Do you really love Me?”
With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly,
“Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!”
I thought I had answered well, but God asked,
“THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?”
I answered, “Because I am only human. I am not perfect.”
“THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST?
WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?”
No answers. Only tears.
The Lord continued:
“Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?”
The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.
“Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?”
I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.
“You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.”
“DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?”
I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When the tears had flowed, I said, “ Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child.”
The Lord answered,
“ That is My Grace, My child.”
I asked, “ Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?”
The Lord answered,
“ Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you.
When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you.
When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.
When you are down, I will encourage you.
When you fall, I will raise you up.
When you are tired, I will carry you.
I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever.”
Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God,
“How much do You love me?”
The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands.
I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior.
And for the first time, I truly prayed.
Anointing of the Sick
Everybody’s pain is different. We thought over and over why does God allow suffering? God allows suffering because He always brings some greater good out of it. Always.
The Bible is full of stories of good coming out of difficult or hopeless situations.
King Hezekiah said of such an experience: “Lord... Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.” (Isaiah 38:16-17). And King David said, “It was good for me to be afflicted... You are good, O Lord, and what You do is good.” (Psalm 119:68,71).
Now here’s a famous true story that illustrates this very well. See if you can identify these characters before I tell their names. There was once a teenager who was a total brat. His mother, who was trying to raise him alone, couldn’t control him at all. She wanted to raise him to be a good Christian, but he was just a hellion. Whenever she asked him to do something, he did the opposite. They fought all the time. One time she even paid for a boat trip to Italy for both of them since she thought that a nice pleasant vacation would be a bonding experience. But when they disembarked in Italy, the young man told his mother, “Wait here, I’ll be right back” and then unbeknownst to her he got right back on the boat and sailed home, leaving her alone in Italy. She was deeply hurt, but she didn’t stop loving her son. He even went so far as to shack up with his girlfriend and have a child without getting married, which greatly upset the young man’s mother, but instead of disowning him, she invited him to move into her house, with his girlfriend and their child! You see, she realized that her anguish had a purpose. Most ordinary people would never have known, but she was no ordinary person. She was a saint. Matter of fact, today is her feast day: Saint Monica, the famous mother of that famous wayward son who later converted and changed his ways and became another famous saint: Saint Augustine.
The bad times did not deter Saint Monica from doing what she knew ought to be done Why do bad times happen? Because God loves us.: tirelessly striving to bring her son to know God. Remember St Paul’s words: “Do not disdain the discipline of the Lord, nor lose heart when he reproves you. For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines.” short fable entitled, ‘Feeding the Beast. one fine morning the residents of a small village woke to find a very big but not unfriendly beast well settled in the centre of their small town and ordinary lives. Being by nature trusting and kind, the people repressed fear and welcomed the beast. In spite of its enormous height and girth, and the mass of its settled flesh, the beast posed no threats. All he did, in the most matter-of-fact way, was say, “Feed me.” The villagers complied. Upon devouring what he had been fed, he simply repeated his demand, without inflection, “Feed me.” Eventually, without vote or complaint, feeding the beast came to be what the village was about.
King Hezekiah was going to die. Notice the imagery Isaiah paints of this man at this moment:
"Hezekiah turned away from Isaiah, and facing the wall, prayed to God."
- in humility, he faces his God and prays.
And what is his prayer:
- he begs of his God for more time.
- he reminds his God of how he has lived
"faithful in your presence and lived out of a heart that was totally yours."
‘A heart that was totally yours’ - Philip reminded us on our first day that our heart cannot be totally God’s if the space in our heart has become filled with all sorts of other things and people, leaving little or no room for God.
Would we, in our prayers, be able to say to God that we have lived out of a heart that was totally God’s?
And then Isaiah tells us that the king wept as he prayed - he wept painful tears. And we have heard some pain, and possibly felt the pain of these past two weeks.
If these past two weeks have been lived as an intellectual exercise, we haven’t touched the heart of being brother yet!
And God heard Hezekiah’s prayer: "Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll add 15 years to your life." 15 years! Not life forever for your kingdom, just 15 years. But God was giving him a new beginning.
We have been given a window of opportunity like Hezekiah - to move forward in North America. Today’s Gospel tells us that the law - our restructuring process and our declaration of intent that we have committed ourselves to - was made for us. We are not subject to things written in stone. We have the freedom. We are the ones who will create a new and common future for mission that transforms our hearts and minds - if we want to. There is a quote from TS Eliot that expresses the challenge for us. "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."
Hezekiah’s story continues in today’s response, also from Isaiah 38:
"this body I inhabit is taken down and packed away like a camper’s tent. Like a weaver, I’ve rolled up the carpet of my life as God cuts me free of the loom."
But there is still hope, there is hope of new life, of resurrection.
"Yes, in these very conditions my spirit is still alive - fully recovered with a fresh infusion of life."
A fresh infusion of life! Something that we can hope for.
Dear brothers and sisters never give up our hope. Our trust in Jesus. Our God had raised Lazarus after four days after his death. He our loving God who cares about us. Never give up. Hold on to him.
Isaiah 49:15, 16 asking us “can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. See upon my palms of my hands I have written your name.”
What more we can ask from God my dear brothers and sisters, He is promising that He will be always there for us. In Isaiah 41:10 we read “Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice.”
In Psalm 147:3 HEA SAYS THAT “He heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds.”
"He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two.... They anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them" (see Mark 6:7-13). Our mission as Church is to do what Jesus did. And on nearly every page of the Gospels we read of Jesus' concern for the sick. Healing was essential to the mission of the disciples. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Church continued to be a sacrament of healing: "Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven" (James 5: 14-15).
If I asked you to close your eyes and picture the Sacrament of Anointing, what image would come to your mind? I think many Catholics would picture a priest standing at a hospital bedside. The Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament by which Christ comforts and strengthens those who are dangerously ill due to sickness, injury, or old age. (1499, 1511, 1520)
Don’t think of "sickness" exclusively in terms of bodily illness. There might be serious illnesses whose principal causes or manifestations were not physical. We should realize the holistic unity of body, soul and spirit. Today we are all aware that tensions, fear and anxiety about the future affect not only our mind but our body as well. These illnesses can be serious. They can move us to ask for the healing touch of Christ in the Sacrament of Anointing.
Sacraments are acts of faith; they grace the whole person—body, soul and spirit. The blessing over the oil for anointing asks God to "send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious oil. Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul and in spirit, and deliver them from every affliction" (Pastoral Care of the Sick, #123).
Does it work? And I always answer by saying yes. In my experience with this sacrament as a priest, healing always takes place. That healing, of course, is not restricted to mere physical healing.
When our attention is directed toward physical illness, it is natural to think of the effects of the sacrament in terms of physical healing. Sacraments, however, are celebrations of faith, expressions of who we are before God. This understanding of sacrament, together with the realization that we are more than our physical body, has led us to look again at the effects of the Sacrament of Anointing.
The Second Vatican Council has reminded us: "The purpose of the sacraments is to make people holy, to build up the Body of Christ and finally to give worship to God" (Liturgy, #59). The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick accomplishes this by helping us gain insight into the religious meaning of human suffering.
As the Catechism says, "Christ invites his disciples to follow him by taking up their cross in their turn. By following him they acquire a new outlook on illness and the sick" (#1506).
What does this new outlook involve? It helps us understand what St. Paul meant when he said: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church..." (Col 1:24).
It also sheds light on what St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians: " '[P]ower is made perfect in weakness.' I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me" (12:9). In the sacrament, the sick come to see that "Jesus associates them with his own life of poverty and service. He makes them share in his ministry of compassion and healing" (Catechism, #1506).
In the sacrament we pray that the sick be healed in body, in soul and in spirit. God alone knows what kind of healing the sick need most: that a wound be healed; that a fear turn to confidence; that loneliness be embraced by the support of a praying community; that confusion in the face of all the whys—why me, why suffering, why now—turn to insight.
The Sacrament of Anointing does not remove the mystery of human suffering. Yet its celebration gives us a window into the mystery of a loving God. Our loving God raises up the crucified Son to display his victorious wounds, sitting triumphant at the Father's right hand.
Introductory Rite
Minister:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
R. Amen.
Sprinkling with Holy Water
Minister:
The Lord is our shepherd and leads us to streams of living water.
Instruction
My dear friends, we are gathered here in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is present among us. As the gospels relate, the sick came to him for healing; moreover, he loves us so much that he died for our sake. Through the apostle James, he commanded us: "Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them."Let us therefore commend our sick brothers/sisters to the grace and power of Christ, that he may save them and raise them up.
Penitential Rite
My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves for this holy anointing, let us call to mind our sins.
After a brief period of silence, the penitential rite continues, using one of the following:
Lord Jesus, you healed the sick:
Lord have mercy.
R. Lord have mercy
Lord Jesus, you forgave sinners:
Christ have mercy.
R. Christ have mercy
Lord Jesus, you give us yourself to heal us and bring us strength:
Lord have mercy.
R. Lord have mercy
Liturgy of the Word
Mark 2:1-12
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Reflection:- Man’s deepest need is not for fairness, but for forgiveness. Forgiveness is the power to liberate from past sin and restore to an individual a sense of self-worth. Forgiveness is the power to deal with justifiable guilt, not by ignoring it, but by eliminating it. Forgiveness is a cool drink of water to a dry and parched tongue. It is the medicine which heals us at the deepest level of our being. We all need forgiveness.
While we have the power to forgive others, we need to be forgiven ourselves. And we need to be forgiven by one who has the authority to forgive. Good friends who mean well may say, "Don’t worry about it," but our sin is not against them. The Bible teaches that sin is against God. When David had sinned by taking Bathsheba and having her husband killed, he cried out, in Psalm 51, "Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned." (v. 4a) Though we may sin against people, sin ultimately is against God. And while we need the forgiveness of people, we ultimately need the forgiveness of God. Only God has the authority to forgive sins.
Many say that they love the Lord. But if we have a commitment to Christ, it would show by what we do visibly. Many folks write their own rules about commitment. They say they love the Lord. They say in their heart they love Jesus. Yet, they are not faithful to His Church, but they still claim to love Him. They hold ill feelings in their heart towards people, but they say they love Him. They don’t tithe, but they say they really love the Lord and everything they have is His. I don’t believe it – not for one minute. It’s just simply a lie. You’re deceiving yourself. If you really love Jesus, you will be faithful to His Church. If you really love Jesus, you will forgive your brother and sister. If you really love Jesus, you’ll tithe. If you love Jesus, you’ll do right. If you love Jesus, you’ll live by His Word. It’s high time we spoke the truth to one another. The world looks at the Church and sees so-called Christians professing to love the Lord, yet not living for Him. And they call that kind of person a hypocrite. Do you know they are right? It’s time we told the truth. If we say we love God and don’t follow Him, we are hypocrites. If we love Jesus, it will show in the way we live our lives. True discipleship is our love being manifested in the visible commitments we have to Christ.
Liturgy of Anointing
Litany
My brothers and sisters, in our prayer of faith let us appeal to God for all of us.
Come and strengthen him/her through this holy anointing: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Free him/her from all harm: Lord, have mercy
R. Lord, have mercy
Free him/her from sin and all temptation: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Relieve the sufferings of all sick [here present]: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Assist all those dedicated to the care of the sick: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Give life and health to our brothers/sisters on whom we lay our hands in your name: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy
Laying on of Hands
In silence, the priest lays hands on the head of the sick person
Prayer over the Oils
Praise to you, God, the almighty Father.
You sent your Son to live among us
and to bring us salvation.
R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.
Praise to you, God, the only-begotten Son. You humbled yourself to share in our humanity and you heal our infirmities.
R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.
Praise to you, God, the Holy Spirit, the Consoler.
Your unfailing power give us strength in our body weakness.
R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.
God of mercy,
ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servant N.,
whom the Church anoints with this holy oil.
We ask this through Christ our Lord
R. Amen
Anointing
First he anoints the forehead saying:
Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen
Then he anoints the hands, saying:
May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.
R. Amen
The Lord's Prayer
Now let us pray to God as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us:
All: Our Father ...
Prayer after Anointing
Father in heaven. through this holy anointing grant them comfort in their suffering When they is afraid, give them courage, when afflicted, give them patience, when dejected, afford them hope, and when alone, assure them of the support of your holy people. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Benediction
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
“Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.”
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Today with this Palm Sunday of our Lord’s Passion we begin the Holy week. General feeling is that a person’s last few days and death is very special to those who love him/her, and the deeper the love the more precious his/her life and death are to their loved ones left behind.
It is this same general feeling that explains to us why this week is so special — so unique — to the followers of Jesus Christ, for in this week, we recall the last days, the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ.
"The holiest week of the year begins today. But the world does not stop. Everything goes on — the regular TV programs, the regular work schedule, income tax … So, if I want this to be a ‘holy week,’ what do I do? I decide. It’s all up to us."
The man on the cross is not there to scare little boys but to show them how much he loves us. He is not there to show them what would happen to them if they misbehaved; he is there to show them that he has already paid the penalty for our sins. He is not dying on the cross for what he has done but for what you and I have done; because he loves us. He died for us.
You know the story of little Johnny who was failing all his exams in the public school until his parents decided to send him to a Catholic school. At the end of the year Johnny came out on top of the class. When his parents asked him what made him change so dramatically Johnny replied, “You see, the moment I walked into that new school and saw that guy hanging on the cross, I knew that the people here were damn serious; so I decided not to take any chances.”
Today in our Gospel we see our Lord traveling on a donkey. Max Lucado reminds us that each of us has got a donkey that the Lord needs. Here is his reflection on using our donkey for the service of the Lord: Sometimes I get the impression that God wants me to give him something and sometimes I don't give it because I don't know for sure, and then I feel bad because I've missed my chance. Other times I know he wants something but I don't give it because I'm too selfish. And other times, too few times, I hear him and I obey him and feel honored that a gift of mine would be used to carry Jesus to another place. All of us have a donkey.
No matter how unknown a person is, he or she can still play a crucial role in the unfolding of God's plan. The Lord needs each one of us as he needed the unnamed owner of the donkey in the reading. Each of us has got a donkey that the Lord needs. But don’t boast after giving your donkey to Jesus. It’s not ours it belongs to Him who gave us.
There is a story told of a donkey, which took a majestic walk on the streets of Jerusalem just after the Palm Sunday. The donkey expected that the people would bow before him, spread cloths on the way and shout aloud ‘Hosanna o the king…’ But to its surprise no one turned, instead they started throwing stones at the donkey which made unnecessary appearance on the streets. Then, it seems after some time, after running away from the people, the donkey sat in a lonely place and thought people respected me yesterday not because of my worth, but because Jesus was mounting on me, it is respect to Jesus not to me, or when I am with Jesus I may gain importance, away from Him I am actually nothing.
Today we have heard the passion narrative. What is the first letter of God's alphabet?" "It is the cross." Our Holy Father stated that when he addressed some fifty thousand young people in Rome. "The Cross is the first letter of God's alphabet and it is written in the life of each person." God’s love is total and absolute. He lived, He suffered and He died for us. He rose up to new life which He now offers to share with us.
After hearing this Passion narratives there arises a question- a tremendous question. Why did Jesus allow himself to suffer death by crucifixion?
Let us try to answer that question with three main answers.
First, Jesus wanted his death to be a sign. He wanted it to say, in a dramatic way, what he told his disciples so often during His life: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”(john 15:13)
Second, Jesus wanted his death to be an invitation. He wanted to invite us to do what he told his Disciples to do so often during His life: “Love one another as I love you.”(John 15:12)
Finally, Jesus wanted his death to be a revelation. Again, he wanted to tell us what he told his Disciples so often during His life, that love entails suffering:”Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me”.(Mark 8:34)
And so the crucifixion of Jesus makes three important statements. First, it is a sign of Jesus’ love for us. Second, it’s an invitation for us to love as Jesus loved. And finally, it’s a revelation that love entails suffering.
So my dear brothers and sisters let us end our reflection by paraphrasing a familiar prayer. Pray along with me in silence:
“Lord, teach us to love. Teach us to love others as you love us. “Teach us to love and not to keep score; teach us to love and not to heed the pain; teach us to love and not to insist on an equal return; teach us to love and not to ask for any special reward, except to know that we are doing your will.”
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Today with this Palm Sunday of our Lord’s Passion we begin the Holy week. General feeling is that a person’s last few days and death is very special to those who love him/her, and the deeper the love the more precious his/her life and death are to their loved ones left behind.
It is this same general feeling that explains to us why this week is so special — so unique — to the followers of Jesus Christ, for in this week, we recall the last days, the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ.
"The holiest week of the year begins today. But the world does not stop. Everything goes on — the regular TV programs, the regular work schedule, income tax … So, if I want this to be a ‘holy week,’ what do I do? I decide. It’s all up to us."
The man on the cross is not there to scare little boys but to show them how much he loves us. He is not there to show them what would happen to them if they misbehaved; he is there to show them that he has already paid the penalty for our sins. He is not dying on the cross for what he has done but for what you and I have done; because he loves us. He died for us.
You know the story of little Johnny who was failing all his exams in the public school until his parents decided to send him to a Catholic school. At the end of the year Johnny came out on top of the class. When his parents asked him what made him change so dramatically Johnny replied, “You see, the moment I walked into that new school and saw that guy hanging on the cross, I knew that the people here were damn serious; so I decided not to take any chances.”
Today in our Gospel we see our Lord traveling on a donkey. Max Lucado reminds us that each of us has got a donkey that the Lord needs. Here is his reflection on using our donkey for the service of the Lord: Sometimes I get the impression that God wants me to give him something and sometimes I don't give it because I don't know for sure, and then I feel bad because I've missed my chance. Other times I know he wants something but I don't give it because I'm too selfish. And other times, too few times, I hear him and I obey him and feel honored that a gift of mine would be used to carry Jesus to another place. All of us have a donkey.
No matter how unknown a person is, he or she can still play a crucial role in the unfolding of God's plan. The Lord needs each one of us as he needed the unnamed owner of the donkey in the reading. Each of us has got a donkey that the Lord needs. But don’t boast after giving your donkey to Jesus. It’s not ours it belongs to Him who gave us.
There is a story told of a donkey, which took a majestic walk on the streets of Jerusalem just after the Palm Sunday. The donkey expected that the people would bow before him, spread cloths on the way and shout aloud ‘Hosanna o the king…’ But to its surprise no one turned, instead they started throwing stones at the donkey which made unnecessary appearance on the streets. Then, it seems after some time, after running away from the people, the donkey sat in a lonely place and thought people respected me yesterday not because of my worth, but because Jesus was mounting on me, it is respect to Jesus not to me, or when I am with Jesus I may gain importance, away from Him I am actually nothing.
Today we have heard the passion narrative. What is the first letter of God's alphabet?" "It is the cross." Our Holy Father stated that when he addressed some fifty thousand young people in Rome. "The Cross is the first letter of God's alphabet and it is written in the life of each person." God’s love is total and absolute. He lived, He suffered and He died for us. He rose up to new life which He now offers to share with us.
After hearing this Passion narratives there arises a question- a tremendous question. Why did Jesus allow himself to suffer death by crucifixion?
Let us try to answer that question with three main answers.
First, Jesus wanted his death to be a sign. He wanted it to say, in a dramatic way, what he told his disciples so often during His life: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”(john 15:13)
Second, Jesus wanted his death to be an invitation. He wanted to invite us to do what he told his Disciples to do so often during His life: “Love one another as I love you.”(John 15:12)
Finally, Jesus wanted his death to be a revelation. Again, he wanted to tell us what he told his Disciples so often during His life, that love entails suffering:”Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me”.(Mark 8:34)
And so the crucifixion of Jesus makes three important statements. First, it is a sign of Jesus’ love for us. Second, it’s an invitation for us to love as Jesus loved. And finally, it’s a revelation that love entails suffering.
So my dear brothers and sisters let us end our reflection by paraphrasing a familiar prayer. Pray along with me in silence:
“Lord, teach us to love. Teach us to love others as you love us. “Teach us to love and not to keep score; teach us to love and not to heed the pain; teach us to love and not to insist on an equal return; teach us to love and not to ask for any special reward, except to know that we are doing your will.”
Happy St Patrick Day
St Patrick Day
Many have noted parallels and similarities between Saint Paul the great Apostle of the Gentile people, and Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish. Saint Patrick of course drew much of his inspiration from Saint Paul and his writings and, whether he was conscious of it or not, he modeled himself and his missionary efforts on those of Saint Paul.
Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the Christian idea of the holy trinity to the pagan and Druid Irish, A native of Scotland, Patrick was captured by an Irish raiding party as a teen and brought to Ireland as a slave around the year 400.
The future saint later escaped after hearing from God in a dream. He then studied for the priesthood in Britain and France and was eventually ordained a bishop.
In about 433, the Pope sent Patrick to Ireland to spread the Gospel. He had learned the Irish language and customs while a slave, and he put it to use converting the Irish people to Christianity.
instead of trying to destroy the traditions of the Irish, Patrick worked to incorporate them into the faith. He didn't ridicule the Irish for worshipping the sun - he taught them that it was created by God .
St. Patrick died in about 461. He has been recognized as a saint for centuries, but he was never canonized.
Saint Paul speaks of his constant "Concern for all the Churches". Patrick loved his adopted people and worries constantly for them and not just for their spiritual, but also for their physical welfare. He may have been the first in the history of the world to speak out unequivocally against slavery. Late in his life he could claim "The Gospel has been preached to the point beyond which there is no-one" - no-one but the ocean.
Why was he so successful in his missionary efforts? Yes, his own totally authentic faith, his deep love of God and of the people he served, carried their own conviction. Somehow he engaged the very spirit of the people. He spoke to their deepest hungers, desires, and aspirations and so the Gospel message flowed into and transformed the very genius of the Irish without destroying or binding its energy.
The story of Saint Patrick assures us that nothing is impossible to God. He himself would encourage us to go forward as he did without fear:
May we do so with his prayer on our lips.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,Christ when I arise,Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that ear that hears me.
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone is Irish. There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story.Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote: "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was raised, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message. Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.Why a shamrock? Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.In His Footsteps: Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.
Many have noted parallels and similarities between Saint Paul the great Apostle of the Gentile people, and Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish. Saint Patrick of course drew much of his inspiration from Saint Paul and his writings and, whether he was conscious of it or not, he modeled himself and his missionary efforts on those of Saint Paul.
Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the Christian idea of the holy trinity to the pagan and Druid Irish, A native of Scotland, Patrick was captured by an Irish raiding party as a teen and brought to Ireland as a slave around the year 400.
The future saint later escaped after hearing from God in a dream. He then studied for the priesthood in Britain and France and was eventually ordained a bishop.
In about 433, the Pope sent Patrick to Ireland to spread the Gospel. He had learned the Irish language and customs while a slave, and he put it to use converting the Irish people to Christianity.
instead of trying to destroy the traditions of the Irish, Patrick worked to incorporate them into the faith. He didn't ridicule the Irish for worshipping the sun - he taught them that it was created by God .
St. Patrick died in about 461. He has been recognized as a saint for centuries, but he was never canonized.
Saint Paul speaks of his constant "Concern for all the Churches". Patrick loved his adopted people and worries constantly for them and not just for their spiritual, but also for their physical welfare. He may have been the first in the history of the world to speak out unequivocally against slavery. Late in his life he could claim "The Gospel has been preached to the point beyond which there is no-one" - no-one but the ocean.
Why was he so successful in his missionary efforts? Yes, his own totally authentic faith, his deep love of God and of the people he served, carried their own conviction. Somehow he engaged the very spirit of the people. He spoke to their deepest hungers, desires, and aspirations and so the Gospel message flowed into and transformed the very genius of the Irish without destroying or binding its energy.
The story of Saint Patrick assures us that nothing is impossible to God. He himself would encourage us to go forward as he did without fear:
May we do so with his prayer on our lips.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,Christ when I arise,Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that ear that hears me.
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone is Irish. There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story.Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote: "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was raised, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message. Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.Why a shamrock? Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.In His Footsteps: Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.
Death of My Priest friend from Trinidad Fr Moses
Hebrews 7:17 For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
There is a beautiful writing titled “Thou Art a Priest Forever” by Fr. Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire,OP(1802-1861).
To live in the midst of the world with no desire for its pleasure...To be a member of every family yet belonging to none...To share all sufferings; to penetrate all secrets; to heal all wounds...To daily go from men to God to offer Him their petitions...To return from God to men to offer them His hope...To have a heart of fire for charity and a heart of bronze for chastity...To bless and be blest forever.O God, what a life, and it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ!
2 Samuel 12:
15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
18 On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate."
19 David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead."
20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!"
22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
I know I am not able to put myself into your shoe. Only God, who knows the secrets of the heart, is truly capable of fathoming such grief, and of providing comfort.
Indeed, the human capacity for being consoled is hardly explicable. They say that time heals all wounds. But it's not true. Some people never recover from their loss. The biblical patriarch Jacob mourned over his son Joseph for 22 years, mistakenly believing that he had been killed by a wild animal. Jacob only stopped mourning when he discovered that Joseph was alive and well in Egypt. Until then, he could not forget his "dead" son.
That is because it is only by Divine decree that the pain of bereavement eases, and that only goes into effect when the person is really dead. The decree did not take effect for Jacob because his son was not dead.
Consolation is not a natural process. Neither the passage of time, nor the awkward, well-meaning gestures of others can remove the memory or wipe away the pain. That is why we ask God to comfort -- because we cannot.
Just as his life was a part of God's plan, so too is his passing from this world to another yet more real world.
In the spiritual reality, nothing is lost: Not the beloved one's purpose, nor their goodness, and nor even their real existence. The soul continues to exist eternally. At the end of life, every soul returns to its unique "place" in the "world."
If you could see The Place where the deceased now dwells, you'd be comforted.
For those who have placed their faith in Christ. We know they are safe in heaven, free from pain, sin, temptation, enjoying the Presence of the Lord, and we know we will see them again. And that is a comfort, it really is. It is for those reasons alone we would not wish them back when our own grief longs for them.
But when we say we’ve lost them, we don’t mean it in the same sense that we lost our car keys or puppy dog. We’ve lost their presence, the ability to be with them, share with them, talk with them, experience life with them. It’s a very real loss and there’s nothing wrong with grieving over it. As far as I can recall, there was only one person in Scripture who was told not to grieve (Ezekiel 24), and that was a one-time object lesson to the children of Israel. The fact that he was told not to grieve indicates that grieving over the loss of his wife would have been the normal course of action. Paul said that he would have had “sorrow upon sorrow” if Epaphroditus had died of his illness (Phil. 2:25-30).
We do sorrow, but not as those who have no hope (“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” I Thess. 4:13-14.
God wanted us to cling to Psalm 89:1-2:
I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness Known through all generations. I will declare that Your love stands firm forever, That You established Your faithfulness in heaven itself.
Just like Job, we need to come to the point where we could say, Just like Job, I was to come to the point where I could say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him"."Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him".
These are the tears of wisdom. At the least, you have learned the pain of losing a loved one. Now, when others are feeling the same sorrow, You have the capacity to help, and understand their pain.
Do not blame yourself...Every survivor feels a great burden and restlessness because they continue to live although their loved one died. And, it is not rare that this feeling turns to unwarranted guilt. The truth is, many people continue to blame themselves for even the smallest things they did or did not do immediately before the death of their loved one.However, the reasons are almost always subjective. Surely, if they really had been wrong, they would be receiving a just punishment from society. They are thinking too little about that person and too much about their own failure. Only unless you live like a saint can you live without regrets.Please, do not blame yourself.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes And death shall be no more, Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, For the former things are passed away.
Footprints on our Hearts:"Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same".
What a wonderful time we had with him; O priest of God what a wonderful life!
May He rest in peace.
With love.
Fr Sunny John O.Carm. (Fr Vincent Pazhukkakulam O.Carm.)
March 12, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Lent-5 Sunday Year A
Lazarus is raised from Dead
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
If we focus our attention on Martha’s words and actions in today’s Gospel, we can learn something about prayer, faith and life.
Prayer is not saying a lot of words to persuade God, or to control God, or to change God. Prayer, rather, is an expression of our relationship to God, an expression of loving trust and mature dependence upon the One we call "Father." Prayer, then, is conversation or dialogue with God. Martha teaches us something about prayer – she shows us that prayer flows from ordinary events in life, the nitty-gritty of life, and is expressed in our words and feelings. Her brother Lazarus is sick; along with Mary her sister, she sends a message to Jesus in simple words: "the one you love is ill." Then, when she meets Jesus, four days after Lazarus has died, her words again are direct and simple: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Notice there is nothing fancy, elaborate or elegant in her words, just the thoughts of her heart being expressed to one she knew would understand.
What is faith? Is it only the mind saying "yes" to doctrines? Or, rather, is it the total person – total you, total I – saying "yes" to God as He shows Himself to us in Christ? Faith is the loving obedient surrender of ourselves to the Father in whom we hope and trust. Our lives are constantly driven by hope in some form or another. If prayer is an expression of our relationship to God, then prayer is also an expression of our faith. And Martha teaches us something about faith. She believed that the Lord would help her brother – so, she sent a simple message: "the one you love is ill." And, even after her brother died, she continued to believe and to trust: "even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." She understood that faith is a process of believing: "I have come to believe…." And all this, before she had seen Jesus raise her brother to life again.
Prayer and faith are realities that are lived in this life and that lead us to fullness of life. Martha teaches us something about life. She understood what so many of us, centuries later, fail to understand: that life is not ended by human death – "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." She understood that somehow and in some way, Jesus was and is connected with life in all its fullness. Her intuition was confirmed by the words Jesus spoke to her: "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."
When Martha objects to the opening of the tomb she is expressing the common view that this is now a hopeless situation. G.K. Chesterton once said, “Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all.” In traditional Jewish mentality bringing back to life a person who is already four days dead and decaying is as unthinkable.
This miracle is a challenge to never give up hope even in the hopeless situations in which we found ourselves as individuals, as a church or as a nation. It is never too late for God to revive and revitalize a person, a church or a nation. But first we must learn to cooperate with God. Let God be in control.
If we allow our God to do His will He will do it great. Martha and Mary let everything in His Hands. Doing God's will is a lot like dancing. I know for sure most of you except me are good dancers.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
Let us take the word Guidance. It starts with G. let’s put G for God and the following syllables are U and I. 'God, 'U and 'I dance.' Then it becomes Guidance. God, you, and I dance. Let God Lead our life our movements. Put your trust in Jesus and let him in control. And He will give us Guidance.
Let me ask one more question! How can we cooperate with God so as to experience God’s resurrection power in our lives and in our world? Well, everyone knows the answer already: faith. But that is not the point that John makes in this story. In fact there is no one in the story, not even Mary or Martha, who believed that Jesus could bring Lazarus back to life after four days dead. No one expected him to do it, so expectant faith is not the emphasis here. Rather the emphasis in the story on how we cooperate with a miracle-working God is placed on practical obedience and doing God’s will. Remember the word GUIDANCE. God U and I dance.
To effect the miracle, Jesus issues three commands and all of them are obeyed to the letter. That is how the miracle happens. Let’s us go back to the story. First, “Jesus said, ‘Roll away the stone.’ … So they rolled away the stone” (verses 39-41). Did the people understand why they should do this heavy work of rolling away the tombstone to expose a stinking corpse? You bet they didn’t. But it was their faith in Jesus expressing itself not through intellectual agreement with Jesus but through practical agreement with him, through obedience. Why didn’t Jesus command the stone to roll away all by itself, without bothering the people? We don’t quite know. All we know is that divine power seems always to be activated by human cooperation and stifled by non-cooperation. As C.S. Lewis said, “God seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possibly delegate to His creatures.” God will not do by a miracle what we can do by obedience.
The second command Jesus gives is directed to the dead man: “‘Lazarus, come out!’ and the dead man came out” (verses 43-44). We do not know the details of what transpired in the tomb. All we know is that Jesus’ word of command is followed by immediate obedience. Lazarus gropes his way out of the dark tomb even with his hands and feet tied up in bandages, and his face all wrapped up. Even a man rotting away in the tomb can still do something to help himself.
The third command again is addressed to the people, “Unbind him, and let him go” (verse 44). Even though Lazarus could stumble himself out of the tomb, there was no way he could unbind himself. He needs the community to do that for him. By unbinding Lazarus and setting him free from the death bands the community is accepting Lazarus back as one of them.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, Many catholic individuals and communities today have fallen victim to the death of sin. Many are already in the tomb of hopelessness and decay, in the bondage of sinful habits and attitudes. Nothing short of a miracle can bring us back to life in Christ. Jesus is ready for the miracle. He himself said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Are we ready to cooperate with him for the miracle? Are we ready to roll away the stone that stands between us and the light of Christ’s face? Are we ready to take the first step to come out of the place of death? Are we ready to unbind (i.e. forgive) one another and let them go free? Are we ready to dance with our God?
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
If we focus our attention on Martha’s words and actions in today’s Gospel, we can learn something about prayer, faith and life.
Prayer is not saying a lot of words to persuade God, or to control God, or to change God. Prayer, rather, is an expression of our relationship to God, an expression of loving trust and mature dependence upon the One we call "Father." Prayer, then, is conversation or dialogue with God. Martha teaches us something about prayer – she shows us that prayer flows from ordinary events in life, the nitty-gritty of life, and is expressed in our words and feelings. Her brother Lazarus is sick; along with Mary her sister, she sends a message to Jesus in simple words: "the one you love is ill." Then, when she meets Jesus, four days after Lazarus has died, her words again are direct and simple: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Notice there is nothing fancy, elaborate or elegant in her words, just the thoughts of her heart being expressed to one she knew would understand.
What is faith? Is it only the mind saying "yes" to doctrines? Or, rather, is it the total person – total you, total I – saying "yes" to God as He shows Himself to us in Christ? Faith is the loving obedient surrender of ourselves to the Father in whom we hope and trust. Our lives are constantly driven by hope in some form or another. If prayer is an expression of our relationship to God, then prayer is also an expression of our faith. And Martha teaches us something about faith. She believed that the Lord would help her brother – so, she sent a simple message: "the one you love is ill." And, even after her brother died, she continued to believe and to trust: "even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." She understood that faith is a process of believing: "I have come to believe…." And all this, before she had seen Jesus raise her brother to life again.
Prayer and faith are realities that are lived in this life and that lead us to fullness of life. Martha teaches us something about life. She understood what so many of us, centuries later, fail to understand: that life is not ended by human death – "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." She understood that somehow and in some way, Jesus was and is connected with life in all its fullness. Her intuition was confirmed by the words Jesus spoke to her: "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."
When Martha objects to the opening of the tomb she is expressing the common view that this is now a hopeless situation. G.K. Chesterton once said, “Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all.” In traditional Jewish mentality bringing back to life a person who is already four days dead and decaying is as unthinkable.
This miracle is a challenge to never give up hope even in the hopeless situations in which we found ourselves as individuals, as a church or as a nation. It is never too late for God to revive and revitalize a person, a church or a nation. But first we must learn to cooperate with God. Let God be in control.
If we allow our God to do His will He will do it great. Martha and Mary let everything in His Hands. Doing God's will is a lot like dancing. I know for sure most of you except me are good dancers.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
Let us take the word Guidance. It starts with G. let’s put G for God and the following syllables are U and I. 'God, 'U and 'I dance.' Then it becomes Guidance. God, you, and I dance. Let God Lead our life our movements. Put your trust in Jesus and let him in control. And He will give us Guidance.
Let me ask one more question! How can we cooperate with God so as to experience God’s resurrection power in our lives and in our world? Well, everyone knows the answer already: faith. But that is not the point that John makes in this story. In fact there is no one in the story, not even Mary or Martha, who believed that Jesus could bring Lazarus back to life after four days dead. No one expected him to do it, so expectant faith is not the emphasis here. Rather the emphasis in the story on how we cooperate with a miracle-working God is placed on practical obedience and doing God’s will. Remember the word GUIDANCE. God U and I dance.
To effect the miracle, Jesus issues three commands and all of them are obeyed to the letter. That is how the miracle happens. Let’s us go back to the story. First, “Jesus said, ‘Roll away the stone.’ … So they rolled away the stone” (verses 39-41). Did the people understand why they should do this heavy work of rolling away the tombstone to expose a stinking corpse? You bet they didn’t. But it was their faith in Jesus expressing itself not through intellectual agreement with Jesus but through practical agreement with him, through obedience. Why didn’t Jesus command the stone to roll away all by itself, without bothering the people? We don’t quite know. All we know is that divine power seems always to be activated by human cooperation and stifled by non-cooperation. As C.S. Lewis said, “God seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possibly delegate to His creatures.” God will not do by a miracle what we can do by obedience.
The second command Jesus gives is directed to the dead man: “‘Lazarus, come out!’ and the dead man came out” (verses 43-44). We do not know the details of what transpired in the tomb. All we know is that Jesus’ word of command is followed by immediate obedience. Lazarus gropes his way out of the dark tomb even with his hands and feet tied up in bandages, and his face all wrapped up. Even a man rotting away in the tomb can still do something to help himself.
The third command again is addressed to the people, “Unbind him, and let him go” (verse 44). Even though Lazarus could stumble himself out of the tomb, there was no way he could unbind himself. He needs the community to do that for him. By unbinding Lazarus and setting him free from the death bands the community is accepting Lazarus back as one of them.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, Many catholic individuals and communities today have fallen victim to the death of sin. Many are already in the tomb of hopelessness and decay, in the bondage of sinful habits and attitudes. Nothing short of a miracle can bring us back to life in Christ. Jesus is ready for the miracle. He himself said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Are we ready to cooperate with him for the miracle? Are we ready to roll away the stone that stands between us and the light of Christ’s face? Are we ready to take the first step to come out of the place of death? Are we ready to unbind (i.e. forgive) one another and let them go free? Are we ready to dance with our God?
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our God is indeed an Awesome God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZHjy_u_aCM to watch the first part of Orchid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3n2mLdLYew second part of the Orchid show 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Monday Holy hour Reflection
Suffering –Part 2Welcome to the second part of our reflection on Suffering.
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed to God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?," asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. Yes dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives.... even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground; it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
Have you ever asked whether we Can Overcome Suffering?
A lot of our suffering is due to our own unwise choices.
For the Christian, suffering helps us to keep our eyes on things of eternal value, to have compassion on others, to develop patience, to prove our love and loyalty towards God, and to prove to men the genuineness of our convictions and our love.
Don't just think of your own suffering, but consider the suffering of God Himself. Jesus Christ was no stranger to suffering. As God in the flesh, He was certainly willing to take some of his own medicine. He lived, suffered rejection and died a frightening death of agony - and it was for you and me.
Richard Rose once said: "There are basically two kinds of people in the world: Sufferers, and Learners."
If we open the book of Job in the Old Testament, we are faced with another question: “Why do good people suffer?” The book had no answer. It just said: “We don’t know why good people suffer. We just have to keep trusting in God.” God will not lead you where his grace cannot keep you. St. Paul who was suffering from a painful illness was told by God: “My grace is enough for you.” We just have to keep on trusting in God.
Are we doomed to just suffer, and live as "sufferers," or is there any way we can "learn" what to do about it?
Perhaps the best example in the Bible of such a struggle is found in the Book of Job. Job suffers the loss of possessions and family, and is afflicted with a terrible disease. Three friends hear of his plight and come to console him. After Job’s cry of pain (Ch. 3), the discussion begins.
Why is Job suffering? One easy answer that surfaces right away is that Job deserves it, that he is suffering because of his sins (see 4:7-19; 11:4-6). When Job rejects this explanation, his friends counter, in effect, “Don’t give us that! All humans are rotten sinners!” For them, there is no such thing as an innocent sufferer. All suffering is somehow a punishment for sin. Sad to say, Job’s friends have vocal descendants down to our present day. While it is true that our sinful actions can and do have consequences, as an all-purpose explanation, this one is far too simplistic.
Even within the Book of Job, the situation is more complicated. We, the readers, know right from the start that the friends are wrong here. Job is righteous, and his suffering is allowed by God in order to test his virtue (Ch. 1-2). Other answers also appear in the book. Like any good ancient Near Eastern father, God disciplines us through suffering to make us better (5:17-18; 36:15; see also Proverbs 3:11-12). Or, suffering is mysterious, and who are we to understand God’s ways? (11:7-10; 15:8-9).
In fact, maybe the problem with suffering is that ultimately it is not really a “problem” at all. It is, rather, a mystery.
What is the difference? A problem is something “out there.” We can see all the pieces; we can survey all its dimensions. The question is how do we put it together? How do we “solve” it? Problems are solved on the intellectual level. A mystery, on the other hand, is quite different. It is a situation in which I, as a unique human being, am so immersed, am so surrounded, that I can never get far enough away to see it all “out there.” Love is a mystery; so is death. And so is suffering.
We will never “solve” the meaning of suffering any more than we will “solve” the meaning of love.
Nowhere in Scripture do we read, “Have faith in me, and you will understand all things, including [or, especially] suffering!” But we do read, whatever the suffering, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” We do not suffer alone. Together, we will survive all suffering, even death itself!
Let us heed the words of Tennessee Williams who said, don’t look forward to the day you stop suffering, because when it comes you'll know you're dead.
The real secret to getting off the cross is in helping others off of their crosses. We are not resurrected bodily from an empty tomb. We are resurrected in spirit when we grasp the hand of another in need. We cannot be transformed alone. We are transformed only with another.
There is a story of a man who once stood before God, his heart breaking from the pain and injustice in the world. Dear God, he cried out, look at all the suffering, the anguish, and distress in your world. Why don’t you send help? God responded, I did send help. I sent you.
It is up to us to not only getting ourselves off the cross but to help others to rise to hope and liberation.
The Bible tells us in Revelation 21:4 that there is coming a time when all sorrow, tears, pain and death will pass away. There's coming a wonderful day when God will wipe away all tears from the eyes of His children, and our sorrow will end forever.
Have you ever thought from where This Suffering and Sorrow came?-There was a time on this earth when suffering and sorrow did not exist. When God first created man upon the earth, everything was perfect. There was no sickness, no pain, and no sorrow of any kind. It was God's plan for man to live in peace and harmony never having to experience sorrow. According to Genesis chapter three, it wasn't until man chose the way of Satan, rather than the way of God, that sorrow entered the world. Man sins against God in Genesis 3:6-7, and God reveals to Adam and Eve the consequences of sin in Genesis 3:16-19. God told Adam and Eve that they would now experience SORROW and DEATH. Therefore, the suffering and sorrow that you and I face today is not the work of an unjust God; it's the consequences of sin. We suffer because we are sinners. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
We suffer and die because of SIN. You say, "I didn't do anything wrong. Why am I a sinner?" We are all born with a sin nature. We inherited our fallen sin nature from Adam and Eve. Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" We read in Romans 3:23 that ALL HAVE SINNED and come short of the glory of God. Why do we suffer? We suffer because we are sinners by nature.
Some People Suffer for the Salvation of Lost Souls.
Perhaps you are thinking, "Well, what's the point? What does God accomplish by allowing us to suffer?" Very simple: He's trying to tell us something. By allowing people to suffer, God is showing us that SOMETHING IS WRONG. If everything were alright between man and God, then there would be no sorrow and death, because in the beginning there was none. God is showing you every day of your life that man has been SEPARATED from Him because of sin, and that man is destined to an eternity in Hell Fire unless he comes to God for help. The fact that God allows suffering and agony today proves that He will allow it in eternity as well.
As someone has said, "Some people won't look up to God until He puts them on their back." This is sad, but true. There are many people who would still be lost in their sins if God had not brought some tragedy into their life to get their attention.
Do you suppose the leper of Matthew 8:2 would have came to Jesus if he'd been in perfect health? What about the blind man of Luke 18:35? II Kings chapter five tells the story of Naman, the Syrian captain who had leprosy. Had this man not had leprosy, he would never have turned to God. The Bible is filled with cases where God reaches people through suffering. Nebuchadnezzar didn't fear God until God humbled him by making his spend seven years of his life on his hands and knees like an animal (Dan. 4:30-37).
Sometimes He will even use the tragedy of one to bring OTHERS to Christ. Such is the case with Lazarus in John chapter eleven. Lazarus was very sick, but before he ever died Jesus said that his sickness was "for the glory of God" (Jn. 11:2-4). Later, in John 11:45, we read that ". . . . many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him." We also read in John 12:11 that many believed on the Lord Jesus Christ BECAUSE OF LAZARUS.
I Peter 2:19-21 tells us that it is our duty to follow our Lord's example in suffering, and I Peter 4:12-16 tells us to be happy when we suffer for Christ, and it tells us not to be ashamed.
Romans 8:18 says, "For I recon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." We read in I Peter 5:10 that our suffering in this present world is only for "a while."
Why does God allow them to suffer? There are many reasons.
One reason is humility. The Apostle Paul didn't live in sin and he didn't lack faith in God, but he DID have to suffer. Why? He tells us why in II Corinthians 12:7: "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." Whatever this thorn in the flesh was, verses eight and nine tell us that God chose NOT to take it from Paul. Instead, He chose to give Paul the GRACE to bear the burden. God used this problem in Paul's life to help keep him humble, to keep him from being exalted above measure.
Sometimes God sees the need to put us through some things for the purpose of making us stronger. Paul tells us in II Timothy 2:3 to, ". . . . endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." You know, many times a drill sergeant will put a soldier through some things just to make him tough, just to see how much he's willing to take--how dedicated he is. There may not seem to be any logical reason for the trouble that we often face, but God always has a reason. Sometimes He's just trying to make us tougher.
God will also use suffering to teach us patience. Romans 5:3 tells us that, ". . . . Tribulation worked patience. . . “Remember Job? God allowed Satan to take Job's oxen, his asses, his sheep, his camels, his servants, his children, and even his health. Yet, the Bible says, ". . . . In all this did not Job sin with his lips?" (Job 2:10) In the latter end God restored to Job TWICE as much as he originally had (Job 42:10).
Some people suffer so that they will be better equipped to comfort others in their suffering (II Cor. 1:3-4). It's always a blessing to know someone who has gone through the same troubles that you are going through, for they usually have some helpful words of comfort and wisdom. Are you going through some pretty tough times? Maybe the Lord is giving you the experience that you'll need to help someone else later. When some of our good parishioners knew that I am going through some difficulty with my lungs and thyroid, each time when they see me they use to ask me “father did you have your biopsy? What is the result? Because I know that they had gone through the same cases. God may give us some suffering:-
To Make Us Realize that We Are Totally Dependent on God: To Cause Us to Call Upon God in the Day of Trouble: To Make Us Realize that We Need Each Other: To Remind Us That Life Is Short: To Sort Out Our Priorities: To Remind Us of the Curse of Sin: To Show God’s Power to Restore:
He always knows what is best, and He never makes a mistake. David said, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." (Psa. 119:71) The Apostle Paul, one who suffered greatly, said these words in Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." He also said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philip. 4:13)
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.
Lent 4th Sunday Year A
Photo by Fr sunny John from Metropolitan Museum
Physical and spiritual Blindness
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
In a certain home, a father once called for a meeting with his twelve-year-old son. Father wanted to talk about fairness in the home! “Son,” began the father, “when you look at the way responsibilities are shared in this home, don’t you think you and I are unfair to your mother and two sisters in that they do most of the work in the home?” When we wake up in the morning, the house is swept, breakfast prepared and afterwards all the dishes cleaned. And when you come home from school, you find lunch already prepared. After lunch the dishes are cleaned and preparations for supper begin. Water is fetched and so is firewood. Then supper is ready, you and I are invited to the table and afterwards the dishes are cleaned. Who does all this?” “My mum and two sisters,” replied the son. “Son, don’t you think we treat your mother and sisters unfairly in the way we share tasks in this home?” Slowly, the boy answered, “DAD, I do see clearly now that we treat them unfairly. But please, Dad, don’t tell them!”
This is the problem with some of us, we know the truth but we don’t want to admit it. They fear to lose certain privileges that they enjoy when they stay in the dark! Those who stand to gain from the ignorance of others will always fight to prolong such a situation. Accepting Jesus into our lives means having the courage to look at ourselves as we really are.
To learn from Jesus we must first admit our ignorance, to be healed we must first acknowledge our blindness, to be forgiven we must confess our sins. The I'm-OK-you're-OK mentality so prevalent today may in fact not be too far from the mentality of the Pharisees. The great archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said that in the past Catholics believed Our Lady was immaculately conceived but now we believe we are all immaculately conceived and, therefore, sinless. Another way of asking that question is “Are we blind to our sinfulness and our need of God’s mercy?”
There are two main teachings in today's gospel story. 1) Baptism. Just as the blind man went down into the waters of Siloam and came up whole, so also believers who are immersed into the waters of baptism come up spiritually whole, totally healed of the blindness with which we are born.
Secondly, it teaches what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus. It is, in fact, a story of how a blind man who used to sit and beg became a disciple who went about witnessing to Jesus. As in last week's story of the conversion of the Samaritan woman by Jacob's well, this story of the healing of the blind man shows that the one thing you need to qualify to bear witness to Jesus is not doing a certain kind of studies but having a certain kind of experience. The crisis of faith in our time is not very different from the crisis of faith of the Pharisees, namely, thinking that true piety means knowing and following the Book. But Christianity has a lot more to do with knowing and following the Person, the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith experience comes before theology. That is why the blind man arrived at the true faith in Jesus before the learned Pharisees. Let us today admit our spiritual blindness and pray with St Augustine of Hippo: "Lord that we may see." The Lord will give us light and spiritual insight.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
N:B:- Sorry for the short homily due to cardinal appeal's Commitment day.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
In a certain home, a father once called for a meeting with his twelve-year-old son. Father wanted to talk about fairness in the home! “Son,” began the father, “when you look at the way responsibilities are shared in this home, don’t you think you and I are unfair to your mother and two sisters in that they do most of the work in the home?” When we wake up in the morning, the house is swept, breakfast prepared and afterwards all the dishes cleaned. And when you come home from school, you find lunch already prepared. After lunch the dishes are cleaned and preparations for supper begin. Water is fetched and so is firewood. Then supper is ready, you and I are invited to the table and afterwards the dishes are cleaned. Who does all this?” “My mum and two sisters,” replied the son. “Son, don’t you think we treat your mother and sisters unfairly in the way we share tasks in this home?” Slowly, the boy answered, “DAD, I do see clearly now that we treat them unfairly. But please, Dad, don’t tell them!”
This is the problem with some of us, we know the truth but we don’t want to admit it. They fear to lose certain privileges that they enjoy when they stay in the dark! Those who stand to gain from the ignorance of others will always fight to prolong such a situation. Accepting Jesus into our lives means having the courage to look at ourselves as we really are.
To learn from Jesus we must first admit our ignorance, to be healed we must first acknowledge our blindness, to be forgiven we must confess our sins. The I'm-OK-you're-OK mentality so prevalent today may in fact not be too far from the mentality of the Pharisees. The great archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said that in the past Catholics believed Our Lady was immaculately conceived but now we believe we are all immaculately conceived and, therefore, sinless. Another way of asking that question is “Are we blind to our sinfulness and our need of God’s mercy?”
There are two main teachings in today's gospel story. 1) Baptism. Just as the blind man went down into the waters of Siloam and came up whole, so also believers who are immersed into the waters of baptism come up spiritually whole, totally healed of the blindness with which we are born.
Secondly, it teaches what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus. It is, in fact, a story of how a blind man who used to sit and beg became a disciple who went about witnessing to Jesus. As in last week's story of the conversion of the Samaritan woman by Jacob's well, this story of the healing of the blind man shows that the one thing you need to qualify to bear witness to Jesus is not doing a certain kind of studies but having a certain kind of experience. The crisis of faith in our time is not very different from the crisis of faith of the Pharisees, namely, thinking that true piety means knowing and following the Book. But Christianity has a lot more to do with knowing and following the Person, the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith experience comes before theology. That is why the blind man arrived at the true faith in Jesus before the learned Pharisees. Let us today admit our spiritual blindness and pray with St Augustine of Hippo: "Lord that we may see." The Lord will give us light and spiritual insight.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
N:B:- Sorry for the short homily due to cardinal appeal's Commitment day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
