And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.

 THE HOLY FAMILY - Luke 2:41-52

Immediately after Christmas, we celebrate de Holy Family, that is Jesus’ family. Here we speak of the nuclear family constituted by Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Like most families in western countries, it was a small family, with one child only. However, Jesus did not grow up alone and isolated, centred on himself, as it is the common case today. He belonged to an extended family and to a community in which he felt loved and cared for. Nowadays, in families with only one child, this child is treated like a prince or a princess. Thus, they grow in a narcissistic way, as if they are the centre of the world and everything must be at their service and fall at their feet.

Luke summarises Jesus’ growing up saying that he “increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.” Such harmonious growth is possible only with a loving family that nurtures the young person and enables him to grow in responsibility feeling at peace with oneself. We are in need of such families. And Jesus’ family is a role model which all can look at.

In these modern times, families are being hammered on all sides, as if people are intent on destroying them. A family implies a loving, committed and covenanted relationship between a man and a woman, from which new life comes forth. A child needs the love of a mother and father who love each other. Growing up, a young person is in search of his self and in a continuous effort of self-affirmation. He (she) may have a question for each we do not have answers or give answers that leave us puzzled. That happened with Jesus. His mother reproached him because he had caused unnecessary worries and then did not understand Jesus’ answer. They were looking for him and, on the third day, they found him in Jerusalem, in the Temple. Jesus’ answer: “Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” is the key for his life; it indicates the whole purpose of his life. He came to be at his Father’s service and to do his will. That is and will be the only motivation that will guide him. God’s will is paramount and everything else comes behind. To God and to God alone belongs the first place and no human claim may deviate us from doing His will. And God’s will may be different from what we expect or think. Mary had to learn that; that’s why she “stored up all these things in her heart.”

Let us pray for our families. May God protect them and strengthen their love.

MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH THE BABY JESUS' BLESSINGS

 

To all my readers and friends, I wish a Merry Christmas, as we celebrate God’s gift of life and salvation

and sing with the angels: Gloria in excelsis Deo.

THE SON OFFERS HIMSELF TO DO THE FATHER’S WILL

IV SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Hebrews 10:5-10

In the gospel of John, in the dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus told him: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16). The Father sent the Son to come and reconcile us with Him. However, in the letter to the Hebrews, we are told to look at the Son’s incarnation from a different perspective. In the passage, which is read on this last Sunday of Advent, we are told that the initiative came from the Son himself. The sacrifices of old did not purge us of our sins and did not bring about reconciliation with God.

In some of the prophets, God had already shown his displeasure with the sacrifices:

“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?

says the Lord;

I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams

and the fat of well-fed beasts;

I do not delight in the blood of bulls,

or of lambs, or of goats.” (Is 1:11)

In most cases, the sacrifices represented more an attempt at manipulating God than an effort to please Him and do his will.

The letter to the Hebrews presents Jesus making the words of the psalmist his own words:

“In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.” (Ps 40:6-8)

The Son presented himself before the Father with a plan and a request: he is ready to come into the world and live among people to offer himself as a true sacrifice, pleasing to the Father and worthy of his glory and majesty. He comes to do the Father’s will and that is the sacrifice acceptable to God, the only one that brings about the forgiveness of sin, thus reconciling us with God.

Jesus’ coming into the world is an act of love and his obedience to the Father comes from the same act of love, That is the mystery which we celebrate at Christmas: 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:14).

The gospel presents the unfolding of this mystery through the actions and the words of Mary and Elisabeth. Having received the message of the Angel about God’s will for her, without delay, Mary goes and takes the message to her relative, Elisabeth. And both of them, guided by the Holy Spirit, can recognise God’s saving plan, accepting their role in that plan. Mary is proclaimed blessed of all women because she believed and put herself at the service of God. And that is the way to blessedness and salvation.

I TRUST, I SHALL NOT FEAR

III SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Luke 3:10-18

During this special season of Advent, we are presented with the figure of John the Baptist and are called to listen to his preaching. Bold and fearless in speaking the truth, John was a man of integrity, faithful to his call, honest and outspoken, not afraid of calling a spade a spade. He paid with his life for his daring courage in denouncing Herod’s behaviour. And people from all walks of life went to him in search of answers. Touched by his message, people recognised the need for conversion and asked for his advice: “What must we do?”

Recognising the need for change in preparation for an uncertain future, all of us ask the same question: What must we do? What is the way forward? How can we find purpose and meaning in our lives? We may remember that someone went to Jesus with a similar question: What must I do to have eternal life? (Mt 9:16). Jesus’ answer was straightforward: Keep the commandments. And the commandments lead us to focus on our relationships with God and with others. Our destiny depends on that. Then, it is not surprising that John leads our attention in the same direction: We must pay attention to the needy, being compassionate and sharing with them what we have. If we are preparing for the Kingdom of God, then we must stay away from exploitation, oppression and violence. Wealth, power and glory cannot be the values that determine what we do and the way we live. In the end, we will be judged by the way we treated the poor and the suffering. We are called to be merciful as the Father is merciful (Lk 6:36).

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul reminds them that  “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord”. (Phil 4:4). Indeed, Jesus wants his disciples to find joy since he wants “that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (Jn 15:11). We are called to rejoice because the Lord is coming to bring salvation. Christians live in the hope of salvation and they look forward to the future with a joyful heart. Even if we go through difficult times, “there is no need to worry” (Phil 4:6); we may approach the Father with confidence, asking “with prayer and thanksgiving” for what we need. Then, we will find peace in our hearts, the peace that comes from God.

“Truly, God is my salvation,

  I trust, I shall not fear.

For the Lord is my strength, my song,

  he became my saviour.

With joy you will draw water

  from the wells of salvation.” (Is 12:2-3).

PREPARE A WAY FOR THE LORD

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Philippians 1:4-6,8-11

Due to his own experience, Paul was well aware that human beings are in a process of growing. Certainly, we grow old and as we grow old, we should grow wiser as well, with a deeper understanding and more profound commitment to God and the others. As Christians, we are called to look forward to a better future and, filled with the hope that comes from the Lord, we gain the strength to press forward on the road to salvation. However, time and again, we are forced to realise that we cannot do it alone.We can proceed forward only by the grace of God. It is Him who enable us to reach perfection and completion. That’s why Paul prays for the Philippians: “Every time I pray for all of you (…), certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes”. God will finished the work of salvation which was initiated in us. The work of salvation is being done in us by Jesus Christ. He is our role model, our teacher and our guide. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is our Redeemer and our Saviour. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has set us free, reconciling us with the Father and opening for us the gates of heaven. For  the fruits of salvation to be present in us, we must accept Jesus Christ and enter into a relationship of love with him. In our lives, salvation is a process, a journey that accompanies the journey of life. In this process, we must grow in love, and a love that is made manifest in  the way we live. And Paul prayed for that:

“My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best.”

And little by little, the Lord will guide us and lead us to perfection:

He, trough improving our knowledge and perception, “will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.”

STAY AWAKE, PRAYING AT ALL TIMES

I SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Luke 21:25-28,34-36

The Lord is coming. That’s why we have this time called Advent because the Lord is coming. This is a time marked by hope and expectancy because the Lord is near. At the end of the book of Revelation, we can hear the echo of the first Christians’ prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20). And with them, we go on praying: “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Through Jeremiah, the Lord God had promised a time of salvation, when his people may “dwell in confidence” because there will be “honesty and integrity in the land.” (Jr 33:14-16). Jesus will bring in that time, establishing God’s Kingdom.

In the passage of Luke’s gospel read in this first Sunday of Advent, Jesus speaks about the end of times and his second coming. Humanity will go through a time of crisis when “the powers of heaven will be shaken”. As a consequence, people will be terrorised and men will die “of fear as they await what menaces the world”. We may say that throughout the history of the universe people have gone through many catastrophes, remaining bewildered and uncertain as to their future. Nowadays, there are prophets of doom, announcing that the end of the world is at hand due to global warming, preaching that we have passed the point of no return. Meanwhile, we go on living as before. We protest and demonstrate but don’t change our way of life. Our protests are no more than noise and empty words. With his speaking about the end of times, Jesus makes a final call to repentance and conversion. According to Jesus, we should not allow ourselves to be possessed by fear, because the Son of Man is coming “with power and great glory” and he comes to complete his work of salvation. So “when these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high because your liberation is near at hand.” We must face the uncertainties of the future with hope. God is on our side. 

Jesus advises us to be prepared and the alert; otherwise, we may lose the way and be caught by surprise.  Jesus proposes two fundamental attitudes: 

1. Don’t let “your hearts be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life”;
2. “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”

If we live as children of the light, we will not be subjected to the powers of darkness and we will “make more and more progress in the kind of life that you (we) are meant to live: the life that God wants”. (1 Thes 4:1).

TO HIM BE GLORY AND POWER FOR EVER AND EVER

XXXIV SUNDAY - CHRIST THE KING - John 18:33-37

In a short time, Jesus went through two trials. Before the Sanhedrin, Jesus is accused of blasphemy for pretending to be the Son of God (Mt 26:63). Then, before Pilate, he was accused of pretending to be the King of the Jews. In both the religious and the political trials, Jesus is condemned for presenting himself as the Messiah.

According to Jewish expectations, the Messiah should be a Prophet, a Priest and a King. He should play a religious and a political role. Through him, people should find salvation and liberation. The Messiah was expected to establish the kingdom of God, bringing in a time of peace. However, the elite class considered Jesus an impostor that was putting the whole nation in danger. To them, the only way to avoid that danger was to get rid of him. Thus, before Caiaphas, he was condemned as a false prophet who deserved to die. Then, they took him to Pilate, the Roman governor, for him to sentence Jesus to death for the crime of high treason.

In the Roman courts, the accused should be questioned and had the right to defend himself. In this Sunday’s gospel, John presents the dialogue that took place between Pilate and Jesus. Without delay, Pilate went straight to the point: “Are you the kings of the Jews?” The question sounds laughable. What kind of claims did he have to be a king? A carpenter from Nazareth, who had become a travelling preacher, surrounded by a small group of unarmed people would not present any kind of threat to the Roman army or even to the Jewish authorities. And, with a great deal of freedom, Jesus hinted at that, when he answered: “Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?” Pilate distances himself from the Jewish quarrels or even from Jewish culture and traditions. He is not a Jew. Again, Pilate speaks in a straightforward manner: Your people brought you here. “What have you done?” And Jesus gave a clear answer. Indeed, he is king, but his kingdom is not of this world. He has no army or personal guard. He does not live in a palace surrounded by the noble, the rich and the powerful. He has no claim to any territory and he does not demand taxes from people to sustain his empire. Jesus is very clear: “My kingdom is not of this kind.” He is not a threat to Caesar, to Pilate himself or any kind of ruler in this world. But he is King and he comes to establish the Kingdom of God. The searchers of truth come to him since he bears witness to the truth. It is with them that he is going to set up the Kingdom of God, where there will be justice, freedom and peace. “All who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.”

Jesus Christ is “the faithful witness, the First-Born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 1:5-6)

ONLY THE FATHER KNOWS THE DAY AND THE HOUR

XXXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 13:24-32

This Sunday’s gospel invites us to reflect on the end of times and Christ’s second coming. The first Christian communities waited with eagerness for Jesus’ second coming. They thought it would happen in their life’s time. However, they had to come to terms with the delay of that event. Throughout the ages, time and again, different apocalyptic movements appeared announcing the end of the world and calling on people to prepare themselves for the incoming judgement. It will be a time of crisis, a “time of distress” when the universe seems to collapse and people experience anguish and despair.  Peace will give way to violence and war and order will give place to chaos. All kinds of prophets have appeared putting forward dates for the end of the world. In the hope of surviving the cataclysm that will take place, people build bunkers and store food.

Nowadays, in a society that rejects God and banishes him from the public sphere, we can hear the announcement of the impending end of the world, unless we change radically our attitudes towards mother earth. For the ecological movement, we are on the way to self-destruction, since we are polluting the earth and creating an atmosphere where life will degenerate and die out. The human race is guilty of the evil practices that put in danger the life of the planet. According to them, time is short and we must be radical in our approach in order to delay the catastrophe. We must use only clean energy and ban the use of fossil fuels that bring global warming, creating the greenhouse effect. 

Many times, the ecological movement sounds like a religious cult, which is at the same time an ideological movement, that cannot be questioned and must be obeyed by all. The ecological prophets announce the end of the world and demand a radical change in the policies that rule the world.

For sure, we must care for the world and stop all practices that may destroy life or make life impossible. God entrusted the world to us and we must prove to be good stewards that deserve the trust God put in us. As for the end of the world, we should not join the false prophets who speak of what they don’t know. Jesus leaves it clear that only the Father knows the day and the hour:

“But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.” (Mc 13,32)

 THE WIDOW’S OFFERING

XXXII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 12:38-44

It is always good to read attentively a passage of the gospels and allow ourselves to be questioned by it. In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus appears to be confrontational as if he is intent on provoking the scribes, that is the experts on the Scriptures and the Law of Moses. And this is not an isolated incident. Time and again, we see Jesus being harsh with scribes and the Pharisees, who were people of great influence on the people. Jesus was not afraid of denouncing attitudes that he considered false. Nowadays, in many situations, the Church tries to accommodate herself to the prevalent ideology of the times, being afraid of proclaiming the truth straightforwardly. We must always remember that we are called the light of the world and the salt of the earth. So many times we speak with all caution afraid of hurting those who stray from the way of the Lord. Even though Jesus was always ready to listen and to dialogue, he was not afraid to denounce and to question false attitudes, mainly of people who should know better.

The scribes’ attitudes denounced by Jesus can be found in the Church, especially in her leaders. We may start with a deep desire of serving the Lord and the cause of the Gospel and end up serving ourselves and making us the centre of all attentions. There is always the danger of putting the Church at our service, leading us to abuse the community we should serve. When we look for prestige, influence and power, we become entangled in our selfishness. Jesus threatens such kinds of people with punishment.

In the second part of this Sunday’s gospel, Mark presents Jesus sitting down and observing the people as they put their offerings in the box. A poor widow called his attention: she put in the box two small coins. Her contribution might be considered irrelevant, making no difference in the final accounts of the treasury. However, the amount of our contribution does not matter to God. We cannot use the money to buy our salvation or bribe God with it. For God, money is a useless thing. Thus, it is not surprising that Jesus praise the poor widow, because she gave everything she had. With her offering, she entrusted herself to the Lord. She behaved as the handmaid of the Lord who is sure of his caring love. Day by day she depended on the Lord and the Lord takes good care of his people.

Indeed, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:3).

THE FIRST OF ALL THE COMMANDMENTS

XXXI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 12:28-34

To keep all the commandments and remain faithful to God, the scribes, many of whom belonged to the Pharisees, scrutinised thoroughly the Scriptures made a list adding up to 613 norms and rules. In such a situation, many asked about the greatest or the first commandment. It was with such a question that one scribe came to Jesus. Listening to this Sunday’s gospel, we get the impression that he was well-intentioned; indeed, he was looking for confirmation of his understanding.

The first and most important commandment is recited in the Jewish daily prayer called “Shema”, which is a quotation from Deuteronomy 6:4-6:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”

Jesus answered the scribe’s question with the recitation of the Shema. Yahweh (the Lord) is the only God and we must love him with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our might. He is the reason for our living and must occupy the centre of our lives.

We are going through difficult times, in which God has been put aside as if he was dead or did not exist at all. It seems that we don’t need him, and have substituted him by ourselves and the products of our hands and minds, like science and technology. Is that the way to happiness, peace and self-fulfilment? Or “we have given birth to wind. We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth” (Is 26:18), as Isaiah wrote about a similar attitude during his time. Humanity needs to reencounter itself and that will happen only when we recognise God and are ready to be touched by his love and be guided by his word. To love God we must allow ourselves to be touched by his love and recognise his primacy in everything. 

A relationship of love with God will have a bearing on the society we live in. Being loved, we learn how to love, sharing love with others. That’s why the second commandment is the direct result of the first. If we love God, then we are directed to love others. Quoting Leviticus 19:18, Jesus said: “The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself.” To love myself is not the same as selfishness. Self-love means to accept myself and recognise my dignity as a child of God. Since God’s image shines on me, I can recognise it in others as well. Like me, they are children of God. If I have a poor self-image, I will end up hating myself because I feel worthless. Despising myself, I will despise the others as well.

When I love my neighbour, I will be happy with his happiness, feel his pain when he is going through difficult moments and I will be proud of his achievements.   In love, there is no place for envy, jealousy and hatred. Love is the only way to build a society where justice and peace reign.

Lord, may your Kingdom come.

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY: We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard.

XXX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 10:46-52

This Sunday, the 24th of October, we celebrate the World Mission Sunday, for which Pope Francis proposed the following theme: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard”.

When we speak of Jesus and invite others to encounter him and to make the experience of his redeeming love, we are not proselytising. Philip had been called by Jesus and that call changed his life. He could not keep for himself the extraordinary experience he had made. When he met his friend Nathanael, he had to give him the Good News: “We have found him”, the Messiah. Seeing that Nathanael was not convinced, Philip did not impose his newfound faith on his friend, and proposed to him a simple invitation: “Come and see”. (Jn 1:46).

When the apostles were forbidden by the religious leaders to announce Jesus as the Son of God and Saviour, they answered: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20). This has been the experience of countless people throughout the centuries: feeling loved and redeemed by Christ, they cannot but speak about that love. Jesus said: “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!” (Lk 12:49). When we are set on fire by Jesus’ love, we cannot hide it. All the ones who come close to us are warmed and enlightened by that fire.

In this Sunday’s gospel, Mark reports the healing of a blind beggar called Bartimaeus. The main purpose of Mark is not to present a historically accurate narrative but to give a lesson of catechesis.

Like Bartimaeus, we are in darkness, living by the side of the road, being ignored and despised by those who think highly of themselves. All pass through that plight and all are in need of seeing the light and being saved. Bartimaeus’ cry is our cry: “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” Recognising our sinfulness, we entreat Jesus to heal and save us. It is good to pray continuously as many Christians have done during generations: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me (us), a sinner.” No obstacle should deter us from calling on Jesus to have mercy on us. Hearing our cry, Jesus will call us to him as he did to Bartimaeus. Jesus wants to hear from our lips our request: “What do you want me to do for you?” The answer came clear: “Master, let me see again.” Let me have the light of faith to illumine my path and guide me to you. Jesus’ answer is reassuring: “Go; your faith has saved you.”. And the blind beggar became a disciple of Jesus, following “him along the road.”.

We cannot deny the light to all those who cry out to Jesus asking for the gift of faith. Indeed, “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard”.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR

XXIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 10:35-45

During his journey to Jerusalem, the two brothers James and John approach Jesus with a request, sounding very arrogant, as if they could impose their demands on Jesus: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Showing patience with them, Jesus asked: “What is it you want me to do for you?”

And they were bold enough to put forward their proposal: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” It is very clear what they were looking for: power, glory (status) and wealth. They wanted to guarantee their wellbeing with a high position, answerable only to Christ himself. They had realised that on their own they would never be able to get there. All politicians know that to get and keep power, they need to be propped up by somebody. Despite presenting themselves as strong and decisive, they are well aware that they depend on others to keep their power base. Maybe James and John were just trying their luck, seizing the opportunity or even trying to bribe Jesus. Power corrupts and, in the two brothers, we can already discover the fruits of corruption.

In his answer, Jesus makes it immediately clear that he cannot be deceived: “You don’t know what you are asking for.” So many times we ask for the wrong things because we have the wrong priorities and choose the wrong path. Power, fame and wealth don’t bring happiness. Instead of peace, they cast the seeds of violence and war. And that becomes clear, when, following the request of the two brothers, the apostles started quarrelling among themselves. All wanted the same and all were ready to fight to get power, fame and wealth.

To James and John and then to the others as well, Jesus presents himself as the role model. His way is the only way that leads us to happiness, peace and fulfilment. He “did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” And he asks James and John if they are ready to walk along his way: “Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised?” If they do that, their request about the first seats will become meaningless, since they will realize that service is the only way to make life meaningful.

WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?

XXVIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 10:17-30

Many times, I heard this question being asked: Are you saved? Such a question is an echo of the question put to Jesus by a wealthy man: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10:17) The question reveals a felt need of being assured of salvation. Following Paul’s teaching that we are justified by faith (Ro 3:28), many people give the standard answer: Believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord. However, apparently, Jesus gave a different answer: “You know the commandments”. Jesus implies that we must keep the commandments to “inherit eternal life”, that is, God will look at our behaviour to grant us salvation. We may not inherit eternal life (be saved) if we ignore and trample upon the commandments. Saint James said something similar when we wrote: “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18).

In the conversation between Jesus and the rich man who was worried about his salvation, Jesus makes us understand that the keeping of the commandments must be accompanied by the right attitude, in which God alone becomes the centre and the reason for our living. Then, we must be ready to put aside anything that may take God’s place. Only God is God, and nothing else can have our complete trust, obedience and submission. In the end, the man “went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.” In the sermon on the mountain, Jesus taught: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:3). If our hearts are so attached to riches that we become totally dependent on them, then God cannot find a door to come him and make his dwelling in us. That’s why it is so difficult for the rich to be saved: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Taking Jesus’ words to the letter, it is impossible for a rich man to be saved. However, God is powerful enough to knock down the walls of our hearts to establish there his throne. That’s why Jesus told the apostles: “For men, it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.”

To be saved, we need an open and docile heart, ready to listen to God’s word and be guided by his wisdom. In the first reading, we hear that wisdom is the greatest gift that comes from God.

“I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones;

compared with her, I held riches as nothing.

I reckoned no priceless stone to be her peer,

for compared with her, all gold is a pinch of sand,

and beside her silver ranks as mud.

I loved her more than health or beauty,

preferred her to the light,

since her radiance never sleeps.

In her company all good things came to me,

at her hands riches not to be numbered.” (Wisdom 7:7-11)

Let’s ask the gift of wisdom and God will grant us his Spirit of wisdom and love. With him showing us the way, we will remain faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

WHAT GOD HAS UNITED, MAN MUST NOT DIVIDE

XXVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 10:2-16

When I was young, in my village, divorce was rare or non-existent. Then, in a few years, the culture changed beyond recognition and divorce became a common practice. It became quite easy to get a divorce and many prefer to follow the easy way out. Marriage implies a relationship between two different people. For such a relationship to succeed, both of them must be committed and ready to work together to improve it. This is not possible without humility and self-denial. True love is not just a feeling or a passion; it is a decision that must be renewed every day. Nowadays, many follow the mutual attraction and are ready to live together as long as that attraction lasts. As time passes, the thrill of being together disappears, with disillusion and tiredness setting in. Everybody dreams of happiness and expects to receive it, as if it was a right, while in reality, it is something hardly attainable. I demand that my spouse makes me happy, without realising that my expectations may be too high. To achieve happiness, I must work for it and do everything possible to make my spouse happy. I will receive according to what I give. Happiness is not the absence of difficulties, hardships and pain. Here on earth, there is no life without those things. Happiness can be experienced when we feel at peace with ourselves because we are at peace with others and with God. There is happiness when we have a feeling of well-being because we make sense of our lives. Despite the struggles of life, we don’t regret it because they made our life word living.

In Zambia, I worked a lot with married couples in the parish and the movement Marriage Encounter. And I learned as well with the traditional understanding of marriage and the traditional instructions for marriage. In the tradition, marriage is understood as a journey of two people together through which they should become more and more committed to each other. This journey must be recognised and accompanied by the family and the community. The well-being of the community depends on the well-being of the couple and vice-versa. Even though the sexual relationship in marriage is of great importance and the young couples receive instructions on what is expected of each one of them, the purpose of marriage and its dignity goes beyond the search for self-satisfaction. However, many marriages end in divorce. When that happens, the children suffer a big trauma that will affect them for a long time.

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus is very clear about divorce: it is against God’s plan and God’s will. In marriage, through love, man and woman must become one, and “what God has united, man must not divide.” The teaching is very clear and it does not admit exceptions. 

Both the Catholic and the Orthodox churches, the two twin churches that come from the Apostles, affirm the dignity and the importance of marriage and propose God’s ideal as the true ideal for marriage. It is a commitment of love for life. Thus, in both churches, divorce is seen as a failure to accept God’s plan. The break of trust between the husband and wife, which leads to divorce, is seen as a break of trust with God. Then, how to deal with divorcees? In this respect, the pastoral practice of the two churches has been different. The Catholic Church, considering the marriage before God as an indissoluble bond, has excluded the divorcees from the sacraments and considers a second marriage as being out of the question. In the Orthodox Church, the approach has been different. The breakage of the marriage bond is seen as sinful. However, this sin is not viewed as unforgivable. Thus, in the Orthodox Church, a second marriage may be recognised.

In the Catholic Church, the situation of those who divorced and remarried constitutes an issue for a big debate. Any possible opening in the Church discipline about that is seen with many misgivings and brings the threat of division within the Church. Maybe we should ask ourselves if we cannot learn something from our twin brothers, the Orthodox.

ALL YOUR GOLD AND YOUR SILVER ARE CORRODING AWAY.

XXVI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - James 5:1-6

More than ever before, the value of things is measured by their profit. The bigger the profit, the bigger the value. Once they lose value, they are put aside and even completely discarded. The survival of many industries depends on their profitability. And big companies rise and fall according to the profit they bring to the shareholders. We have created a market economy driven solely by profit. In the past, the big landowners had enough wealth to lead an enjoyable life, like the rich man in the parable of the poor Lazarus, “who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day”. (Lk 16:19). Nowadays, the rich of the earth are those who can get huge profits from their investment. With wealth comes power and influence, being able to create new standards and new rules, and change the world. And the common people look to them as role models, trying to be like them in the pursuit of wealth, power and prestige. It is not surprising that money has become more than ever before the all-powerful god who dominates the world and is worshipped by many. On this subject, Jesus gave a stern warning, when he said: “You cannot serve God and money.” (Mt 6:24).

We need money to satisfy our basic needs and it is impossible to establish a society without money, as a means of exchange and as a means of rewarding the work done and bringing development and progress. However, when we pursue a profit at all costs, we become slaves of money and are ready to oppress and exploit others. Striving to become rich at all costs, we become blind to the reality of poverty and suffering around us. There is a need of creating wealth to overcome poverty, bring development and establish a fair society; but that will not happen unless we check our greed and lay down for a fair share of the wealth.

In his letter, following Jesus’ teaching, James stays on the side of the poor, point out the duties and responsibilities of the rich. 

In any given society, there will always be people who are not able to cope with the demands of life, due to many different reasons. We have created the welfare state to share with them and enable them to lead a life with dignity. However, we must be careful not to create dependency, making it possible for abled people to live on handouts instead of taking responsibility for their own lives.

James leaves a warning for the rich: 

“Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body.”

TO BECOME THE SERVANT OF ALL

XXV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 9:30-37

On his “way through Galilee”, Jesus concentrated on instructing his disciples. And what was the instruction about? Jesus is intent on preparing the disciples for his passion and death. After Peter’s profession of faith, recognising Jesus as the Messiah (Mk 8:29), he made the first announcement of his impending death. Then, Peter could not believe his ears and remonstrated with Jesus, telling him that such an outcome was not fitting for the Messiah. Jesus had to put Peter in his place, using harsh words to rebuke him. 

In this Sunday’s passage, Mark tells us the Jesus kept time to be alone with his disciples and, for a second time, he speaks about his passion. This time, the disciples kept quiet. They were puzzled, since they could not accept such an outcome and did not dare to put any objection to Jesus’ premonition; so they kept quiet. Their ideals and their expectations were on the other side of the spectrum. In their wildest dreams, they imagined themselves in high positions, with power to rule and wealth to enjoy. So they quarrelled among themselves about “which of them was the greatest”. The dream of greatness was embedded in their hearts and in the hearts of the people of Israel. The Messiah was expected to come with power, wealth and glory. He would be the King of Israel ruling over the nations of the world, and the disciples would have a share in that. So Jesus “sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.” The only way to be the first is to become the servant of all. A life spent at the service of others is the only life worthy of living. Then Jesus “took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me.”

A child is weak and fragile and depends on the others who have to care for him/ her. The parents, the family or the community must pay attention to the needs of a child. Left alone, a child will not survive. She cannot contribute to the welfare of the community; in fact, she is at the mercy of the community, and she may be ignored and abandoned. The disciples must be at the service of the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the sick and the suffering. Whenever we do that, we welcome Jesus. and we welcome the Father who sent Jesus to save us.

ANYONE WHO LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE, WILL SAVE IT

XXIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 8:27-35

Before Jesus, we are faced with God’s mystery and confronted with a simple question: “But you, who do you say I am?” Jesus demands an answer from which one of us. Peter gave the answer that became the standard answer: “You are the Christ.” The word Christ is not a personal name and is not either Jesus’ surname. Christ is the Greek word that translates Messiah, meaning the Anointed One, that is the one sent by God to fulfil his promises and bring salvation to his people and the world.

If Jesus is the Messiah, how is he going to bring about salvation? The people of Israel lived in the hope and expectation of the coming of the Messiah. He would usher in a time of peace, freedom and justice. The Messiah would defeat all the enemies and conquer all the nations to establish the rule of God. With him on the throne, there would not be any kind of oppression and exploitation. The understanding was that the people of Israel, as the chosen people of God, would be the first fruits and the standard-bearer of the new world established by the Messiah. These expectations were so deeply entrenched that the apostles could not understand otherwise. Being companions of Jesus, they were sure of sharing in the glory, power and wealth that will be the result of this new age, the age of the Messiah. However, Jesus is going to turn everything upside down. He had no political ambitions and considered money to be a false god, which cannot be served.

When Peter answered: “You are the Christ.”, Jesus “gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.” Once announced and proclaimed as the Messiah, he would become the head of a political movement, which would lead to a cry for independence, and then to war against the Roman oppressor. Jesus did not want any misunderstandings and made it clear that the way to salvation would lead him to suffering and death. Peter couldn’t stand it and “started to remonstrate with him.” Then, Jesus was harsh with Peter, calling him Satan, “because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.” The way to salvation passes through suffering. It implies taking up our cross and being ready to lose our life.

We are not different from Peter and the other apostles. We fear suffering and death. The society which we live in puts forward a life without suffering as an ideal. We try to insulate ourselves and our children from adversity and suffering. As a result, we have young men and women who are not resilient and who despair of life at the slightest difficulty. The children of today are brought up as princes, whose whims are satisfied and to whom everything is given. As they grow up, they think that everything is theirs to grab. However, in society, life is hard and we need to be prepared to put up with difficulties and hardships. In difficult times, that’s when we can prove our worthiness. 

“Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it”. (Mk 8:35).

GOD IS COMING TO SAVE US

XXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Isaiah 35:4-7

There are times when our hearts faint and we become hopeless. Life may become an unbearable load that seems that oppresses us from all sides and ends crushing us. The Qohelet recognises that in the end “all is vanity” (Qohelet 1:2). In the Scriptures, we find the people of Israel losing heart on so many occasions, sometimes due to their unfaithfulness and other times due to the situation around them. They experienced slavery in Egypt and many years later the exile in Babylonia. In the journey of life, there are moments of joy and moments of sadness, as the Qohelet says: 

“a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance”. (Qohelet 3:4). 

In times of mourning, we have a feeling of going through darkness so thick that there is no glimpse of light. It is then that we need an encouraging word and a smiling face that may bring a bit of respite which will help us to go through the tunnel and find the light again. The prophet Isaiah is told by God to do just that:

“Courage! Do not be afraid.

Look, your God is coming”.

God has not abandoned us, even if we accuse him of doing that. When we mostly feel his absence, that’s when he is coming to our rescue, taking us by the hand and pulling us out of the deep. God himself will fight by our side and we will fight for us to annihilate the powers of evil which oppress us. God is coming to save us. That’s why we should not be afraid.

In Isaiah, God promises a time of reconciliation that will bring harmony, peace and plenitude. There will be a deep and real sense of well-being since all shortcomings and all kinds of handicaps will end. It will be a time for rejoicing because the Lord has listened to our plight and has set us free.

In the gospel, Mark presents Jesus fulfilling the promise made through the prophet Isaiah. Jesus healed a man “who had an impediment in his speech” (Mk 7:32). The people reacted with joy and praise, saying:

“He has done all things well,’ they said ‘he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.” (Mk 7:37).

“It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,

  who raises up those who are bowed down.

It is the Lord who loves the just,

  the Lord, who protects the stranger.

The Lord upholds the widow and orphan

  but thwarts the path of the wicked.” (Psalm 146).

 Let us ask for the Lord’s protection and guidance for all those who go through difficult times. May they find joy and peace.

ACCEPT AND SUBMIT TO THE WORD

XXII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

Many passages of the Scriptures function like a mirror in which we can look at ourselves. They lead to self-examination, forcing us to recognise our shortcomings. Like the Pharisees, we hide our evil and corrupt intentions under a mask of holiness. We are very strict in judging and condemning others. Guided by fundamentalism, we become radical and puritanical, ready to denounce and exclude all those who do not comply with our (false) righteousness. 

The demand for politically correct speech and attitudes permeates society at all levels. Nobody can speak, teach or behave differently; those who do are banished from the public arena. If someone is accused of racism, homophobia, islamophobia and other kinds of phobia, then he/she is ostracised and stopped from intervening in society. A cancel culture has been created as “a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancel_culture)

Gender ideology is being imposed in schools and is taught to young children, creating the false notion that they can choose whatever gender they wish since gender is not binary and does not depend on the biological reality of the body. 

Some groups consider themselves as victims, being exploited and oppressed. Being victims they have the right to be compensated and to receive privileges to redress the injustice which they suffered. Despite beings minorities, they want to establish the rules which they impose on the majority, trying to create in them a complex of guilt and lead them into submission.

Today’s readings speak of the commandments that come from God. They were not given to oppress us, but to helps us achieve what is good and perfect. St. James writes: 

“Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. But you must do what the word tells you, and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves.” (James 1:21-22).

Since we will be judged by God’s commandments, we must keep them faithfully and wholeheartedly with a good conscience. What makes us unclean comes from within our hearts. When we allow evil to take possession of our hearts, everything else - our thoughts, our desires, our plans and our projects - becomes tainted and contaminated.

Let us pray that the Lord may grant us his Spirit to guide and strengthen us to be His faithful servants.