Question & answer

 I am suddenly reminded of the time when we attended the Bible Study in San Lorenzo and it was the last of the series of talks about the Book of Mark. It focused on the 4th and last pillar of Mark's gospel which is the Markan Community (Communal/Sod) It is like any other community, human, broken and shared. A story of failed discipleship which can be found in Peter who denied Jesus 3x, Judas, the betrayer, James and John who were so ambitious and insensitive and so many others that can be found in the bible. A community of all and not dictated by race whether Jew or Gentile. The community gives special attention to the weak and helpless. There is strength in the community in spite of its brokenness. It tells us that the apostasy of Peter was committed when he was alone which tells us that it is not good for man to be alone. I guess we can learn from these famous lines, "I am at my best when I'm in a relationship." "Suffering is the best teacher." "Big mistakes make big impressions in the heart of men." Faith is the center of the community. Faith birth miracle not the other way around. Faith itself that remains steadfast and continues to believe despite the disappointments encountered in life is the miracle. It is a community in a hurry because discipleship can not wait. If there's brokenness we have to immediately restore the relationship. The selected reading was about the blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52) and was compared to another blind man who was also cured (Mk 8:22-26) Bartimaeus has a strong spirituality because it is written that he immediately followed Jesus despite Jesus' words, "Go your way" but he didn't go his own way but followed Jesus. He was healed by word and in an instant the moment Jesus spoke. During that time, the cloak signifies who you are. He is a beggar and his cloak stands for everything he is and owns since he uses it to place the money he gets from begging. Bartimaeus even left his cloak and rushed to Jesus like he did not care about anything anymore for he found in Jesus everything. Another similar story that was cited was from Jn. 4:4 of a Samaritan woman fetching water but when she learned about the life giving water which Jesus spoke of she immediately left her jar of water when she realized who Jesus is. She left behind her old life and follow the way of Jesus. On the other hand there's this story of another unnamed blind man in Bethsaida, he was not healed instantly rather slowly and gradually. He was healed by touch with a spittle and was sent home. Mark recognizes the differences in spirituality of the members of the community. He knows that there are people that are quick in understanding things concerning matters of the faith and there are those who are slow. But this doesn't mean that we kick them out of the community. Mark sees the community as all sinners because ours is a flawed community and it is for this reason that Jesus came. Peter whom we thought was the first person who got it all right about Jesus as the Messiah denied Jesus 3x but he was not thrown out of the community. He proved himself true to his faith by his succeeding actions which led to his dying on the cross upside down but eventually earned him the honor of becoming the 1st pope of the Church. Just like Peter we have to experience everything in order to fully understand what the Markan secret is all about. For in the end, the Markan community mirrors the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, the Paschal Mystery which is the Markan secret. Today's 1st reading conveys the same message of communal love that a Markan community fosters. St. Paul conveys his great love for his people to the point of even wanting to be accursed for their sake. He knows the great privilege and benefit of being joined to Christ and he wanted very much for the Israelites to realize what they are missing by not accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. We too, should be able to process this truth in our heart, mind and soul. Amen. Hallelujah!

Romans 9:1-5

1 Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2 that I have great  sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

No matter what we're going through we can always rely on God to uphold and defend our cause. If we claim to be true followers and believers of our Lord Jesus Christ then we can put a claim on these same blessings and privileges bestowed on the chosen people of God. His covenant with His people is everlasting. There is a big difference between a covenant and contract. A contract is an agreement which is all about an exchange of goods while the covenant is an exchange of relationships. God wants to have a relationship with us first and foremost and through it everything else will follow. No poet, writer or artist can ever describe in words or paint in canvass the love of God. For the immensity of its beauty and glory is immeasurable and beyond understanding.  The readings for today point to the fact that we have a responsibility in our hands if we truly claim that we are a people of God. We have to follow and obey God at all times which can only be done and fulfilled if we have full knowledge of what God wants us to do. We’ve got to realize the most essential and important things in life that we sometimes lose sight of and tend to neglect. Let us not be dissuaded nor distracted by the allurement of this world and end up losing what really matters most. Our God is Perfect but we are still part of this imperfect world thus we are bound to experience the daily struggles of life. This reminds me of this incident when this lady who was already very careful in her movements still ended up scraped in her arm. She didn't even figure out how it could have happened. When we bump into something we usually develop a bruise but we would sometimes find one without knowing how it came to be. We sometimes get wounded and bruised even before we know it. Take the example of those people who are taking medications (anticoagulants) that predispose them to bruise easily. Well, things happen even if we do not want or expect it but we can always draw strength and inspiration from today's psalm knowing that God is our Mighty Healer and Savior. There are times when we are in a hurry to work things out on our own and forget to peacefully surrender all our concerns to God. That's when we end up tired and beaten because we've used up all the energy of our mind, body and soul. It's what usually happens to most of us when we are confronted with dilemmas.  If we have learned how to truly wait for the Lord then we are not far from that place of peace where God is leading us. If we look back at what we've been through especially our trials and difficulties, then we can only feel so blessed and find gratitude in our hearts for all the things that lead to now. It will always be good to undergo trials and hardships in life and remain steadfast in the Lord for everything will pay off in the end. Not a single thing that we've been through for the glory of God will ever be in vain. Victory is indeed for those who acknowledge the Son Of God, Jesus Christ. It is only right that we give all glory, honor and praise to God. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M 

Psalm 147:12-13. 14-15. 19-20

R: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

12 Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. 13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. (R) 14 Brought peace to your borders, and filled you with finest wheat. The LORD sends a command to earth; his word runs swiftly!...  (R) 19 He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them.

I am reminded of a time when a friend lost her dog. It had been almost a day but still no news about the lost dog. She said that she posted flyers already with a picture of the dog and her contact information. At that time she called and asked for our prayers so I assured her before we hang up that we would include it in our prayers and we did. I found out after, that just as we were finishing our prayers, she immediately got a call from the woman who found her dog. She was told that her dog was on the verge of crossing the very busy street when this lady decided to pick up the dog and just bring it home. It was really for the best since she thought that it would be almost impossible or difficult to find the dog if it had crossed the road. This lady who rescued her dog could have decided to do otherwise but she did the right thing. She could have just walked away and not mind the dog. Her actions lead to one good thing to another and it goes on and on. Sometimes we are confronted with something that we could not decide what to do or which way to go. Today's gospel remains a big question for some people most especially with regards to work on Sundays. The bible may have the answers to our questions but it could also happen that our questions could lead to even more questions. Just like the scholars of the law and Pharisees who were unable to answer the question of Jesus, we may also find ourselves groping for answers to a lot of questions if we will not sincerely seek for the right answer which can only be found in hearts where true and genuine love resides. Today's gospel challenges us to always place our best foot forward and never hesitate to do good. In doing so we need to have great respect for the law/rules/guidelines and observe them so that we can benefit from them fully and not be robbed of our eligible rights and privileges as children of God. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Luke 14:1-6

...“Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.