THEY ARE HAPPY WHO FOLLOW GOD’S LAW

VI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Sirach 15:16-21

In our lives, we are faced with a choice, which all of us will have to make. God “has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.” It is up to each one of us to find the meaning of his life and to give a purpose to it. Nobody else will it for us. And it is unworthy of us to blame somebody else. Nowadays, a sense of victimhood is prevalent. Many people see themselves as victims and react in anger and resentment against the supposed victimisers. The ones who do so demand that the others change and compensate them for the damages suffered. If the others are the culprits of my dear situation, they must pay so that I receive what is due to me. This kind of attitude, in which I reject to be responsible for my own life, will not bring a better life since I put my own fate on the hands of others. The writer of the book of Sirach tells us that we are responsible for our own lives. The future of our lives is in our own hands:

Man has life and death before him;

whichever a man likes better will be given him.

In order to live a worthy life, the author tells us that there is a simple way: keep the commandments, since the commandments are not difficult to keep.

If you wish, you can keep the commandments,

to behave faithfully is within your power.

We must accept responsibility for our own lives. It is useless to blame others and it is pointless to blame God since God does not induce us in error:

He never commanded anyone to be godless,

he has given no one permission to sin.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches that the commandments must be accepted wholeheartedly. The evil actions come from within our hearts and we must check them when we become aware of them. Jesus gives four examples of the implications of the law:

1. The law “You must not kill” implies more than the physical killing of the body. Anything that leads to the destruction of the dignity of the other is unlawful and must be punished.
2. The law “You must not commit adultery” implies any lustful desire, demanding that quell them as we become aware of them.
3. As for the law of divorce, which allowed the husband to divorce the wife for trivial things, Jesus overturns that and makes the law very strict.
4. About the oaths, Jesus disallows them, advising not to swear at all: “All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.” (Mt 5,37).

Let us be truthful to ourselves and to others. Only truth will set us free.

YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

V SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 5:13-16

A Christian is someone who follows Jesus closely, adopting his values and accepting his rule of life. In doing that, he makes the difference. Following the wisdom of the world and being a Christian doesn’t go together. The traditional Bemba wisdom warns us saying: Uwikete fibili, afwile ku menshi (the one who grabbed two things, drowned). We cannot be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and at the same time be marked by the attitudes of the world, which promote self-centeredness, hunger for power, lust for pleasure and greediness for wealth.

According to Jesus, the Christian must be different and people must be able to tell the difference.

We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We don’t need to be many, but we must be faithful, so that, mixed with everybody else, as if lost in society, we may give good taste to the same society. Little by little, society will be shaped by Christian values, accepted as the way of life that manifests our human dignity. If we are like everybody else, then we have become like the salt which has turned tasteless and is only worthy of being “trampled underfoot by men”. 

In the same vein, we are called to be the light of the world, sharing the light of Christ and allowing it to reflect through us. We cannot hide and the eyes of people are upon us. In our modern societies, there is a concerted effort to reduce faith and the manifestations of faith to the private sphere, banning any Christian symbols from state buildings. They allow anyone who so wants to be a Christian, but nobody should know that he is a Christian. Christ tells us: “In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.”

We become the light of the world through our “good works”, mainly works of justice, of mercy and of love. The Prophet Isaiah had already written about this:

Share your bread with the hungry,

and shelter the homeless poor,

clothe the man you see to be naked

and do not turn from your own kin.

Then will your light shine like the dawn

and your wound be quickly healed over.

If you do away with the yoke,

the clenched fist, the wicked word,

if you give your bread to the hungry,

and relief to the oppressed,

your light will rise in the darkness,

and your shadows become like noon. (Isaiah 58:7-10)

And Psalm 112 speaks in the same way about the righteous person:

The just man will never waver:

  he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news;

  with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;

open-handed, he gives to the poor;

  his justice stands firm for ever.

  His head will be raised in glory.

Let us ask the Lord that he may strengthen us for us to become truly the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

COMPASSIONATE AND TRUSTWORTHY

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD - Luke 2:22-40

This Sunday, on the second of February, we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord. Joseph and Mary, being law-abiding Jews, they went to the Temple in order to fulfil the commandment of the Lord. The firstborn should be presented to the Lord and consecrated to Him. All firstborn belonged to the Lord and should be redeemed by the offering of a sacrifice. So Jesus, still a baby, was consecrated to God and he lived all his life at the service of the Father, doing his will. In the letter to the Hebrews (the second reading), Jesus is presented as the ”high priest of God’s religion”, who proved himself to be “compassionate and trustworthy”. In order to be so, he became “completely like his brothers”. He can “help others who are tempted” because he was tempted. Like all human beings, he shared “the same blood and flesh” and suffered death, “so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.” (Hb 2:14-18).

In the narrative of the presentation of the Lord, Luke presents the old Simeon coming to the Temple, guided by the Holy Spirit, in order to meet the young child and recognise him publicly as the “light to enlighten the pagans” and the salvation “for all the nations”.

Immediately after this recognition, Simeon addresses himself to Jesus’ mother and hints clearly at a time of suffering and passion, in which Mary will share in the cross of Jesus when “a sword will pierce your own soul too”. Jesus’ passion and death will stand like a sign that is rejected by many. Before his cross, we are forced to choose: either we accept him or we reject him. So “he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many”.

On this day of the Presentation of the Lord, we remember and pray for all the men and women who have consecrated themselves to God, choosing to follow Jesus closely behind. By doing so, they become as well a sign of contradiction, being many times rejected. Let us pray that they may remain always faithful to Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

BE UNITED IN YOUR BELIEF AND PRACTICE

III SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 1 Corinthians 1, 10-13.17

Immediately after the initial greetings and a prayer of thanksgiving, we are made to understand that in Corinth there were serious problems, created by factions that were tearing apart the Christian Community. Those factions were based on personalities, with people claiming to belong to Paul, Apollo, Peter ar Christ. Paul feels embarrassed and in no way wants to be part of those divisions, saying to the Corinthians, “Has Christ been parcelled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul?” And so Paul makes an appeal for unity, asking everyone to speak the same language, "remaining well united, in the same thinking and in the same action". 

Divisions in the Church are not new. They have been there since the beginning. Sometimes, they were caused by a different understanding of the doctrine; other times, they were the fruit of groups siding with different people, even without their consent. This was the case in Corinth. In today’s Church, we find people trying to promote the same kind of divisions. There are people who try to put Benedict XVI against Francis. First of all, it must be made clear that Benedict XVI is called pope emeritus, meaning that, being pope in the past, he is no more. He is a private person and his word has only the value of his knowledge. He can make research, but he cannot pronounce an authoritative word coming from the universal shepherd. These are battles brought about by people who try to muddle the situation.

It is true that the Church is going through difficult times. She is like a boat sailing through rough waters, and we get the impression that she may sink at any time, but it has been always like that. As Church, we must never forget that she is built upon Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, and she has the apostles as the foundation. The question is: do we want to transform the Church into a museum for the sake of those who desire to dwell in the past or do we do as the Church always did, that is to make an effort to be relevant for today?
Christ’s message must be proclaimed in a way that is understood. His call to repentance so that we welcome the kingdom of God must be heard again. His disciples must remain faithful in a way that is challenging to the modern world.

JOHN’S TESTIMONY ON JESUS

II SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - John 1:29-34

Immediately after his introduction to the Gospel, where Jesus is presented as the Word Incarnate, the writer of the fourth gospel presents the testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus. It is an extraordinary testimony, spoken out very clearly, and John reports on how revealing his encounter with Jesus was. Recognising Jesus, John recognised his own mission and the meaning of his life: “It was for Him to manifest Himself to Israel that I came to baptize in water”. Recognising his mission,  in all humility, John accepted his own position with its limitations. In spite fo coming after him, Jesus ranks before him because he already existed before him, that is, he existed before the times. In his encounter with Jesus, John became aware that Jesus was divine and therefore eternal. We may ask what led Joh to this conclusion. He saw the Holy Spirit coming down like a dove "and remain on him". Therefore, he recognised him as the Anointed One (Christ, Messiah), the one who comes to baptize in the Holy Spirit. And he made the conclusion: "Now, I saw and I testify that He is the Son of God". Knowing that he is the Son of God, he presented him as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". We have become so used to this title that we are not aware of its meaning. Certainly, for the Jews, the title "lamb of God" had very deep connotations, immediately bringing to mind the lamb of the Easter sacrifice. By giving Jesus the title of “lamb of God”, John announces his death, offered as a paschal sacrifice. As Paul would say. “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed” (1 Cor 5: 7). He will shed his blood for the remission of sins (Mt 26,28).

JESUS IS THE BELOVED SON OF GOD

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - Matthew 3:13-17

In the book of Isaiah, we find four passages called the Songs of the Servant of the Lord (Yahweh), which are of extraordinary beauty and depth. The Church has always understood these passages as speaking of the Messiah and applied them to Jesus Christ. Although called a servant, he has a very close relationship with God and a close connection with the people. He is presented as the beloved of God, the "chosen one in whom my soul delights". God chose him to “bring true justice to the nations”, saying to him, “I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon” (Is 42:6-7). His presence among men will be marked by humility and meekness, becoming a source of comfort and hope. “He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame." He will be steadfast and faithful to the mission given to him: "he will neither waver, nor be crushed until true justice is established on earth" Certainly in Isaiah's words we can review the figure of Jesus Christ who came to establish God's New Covenant with men, a covenant of peace and salvation.

In one of his speeches, Peter reminds his listeners of the facts they also know. John preached and baptised. Then came Jesus, anointed "with the power of the Holy Spirit" and "Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil” (Act 10:34-38). It is from these facts well known to all that Peter is led to recognise and proclaim Jesus as the "Lord of all" and that peace and salvation come through him, being offered to all.

In the account of the baptism, Matthew presents the manifestation (epiphany) of the divine dignity of Jesus. As Jesus approached to be baptised, John recognised him and refused to baptise him, saying, "I need to be baptised by You." At Jesus' insistence, John baptised him, and then a great divine revelation took place. Jesus is anointed by the “Spirit of God,” who descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of God is heard, presenting himself as the Father of Jesus, who is proclaimed as the “beloved Son,” on whom His “favour rests”. At baptism, Jesus of Nazareth is proclaimed as the Son of God, filled with the Spirit, coming into this world to carry out his mission. He comes as Prince of Peace.

We were baptised in Jesus Christ, as His Spirit came upon us, creating us anew as children of God. Being one with Christ, we are the beloved children and God’s favour rests on us.

ALL NATIONS SHALL FALL PROSTRATE BEFORE YOU, O LORD.

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - Matthew 2:1-12

The world may be going through difficult moments and we may be afraid that there is no way out of the mess we are in. Indeed, as the prophet Isaiah tells us “night covers the earth, and darkness the peoples.” The situation we live in seems to be hopeless. In spite of recognising it, Isaiah makes a proclamation full of hope, founded on God’s promise. Isaiah is never discouraged by the difficulties and sufferings that surround him. He does not allow himself to remain closed within the narrow walls of the present but always looks further into the future. Even though the world is overwhelmed with despair, he remains confident, because “for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” And he announces to Jerusalem an extraordinary time when the people will walk to this light, and “nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” “The abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.” (Is 60:1-6). The prophet Isaiah presents clearly a universalist perspective of salvation.

In his letter to the Ephesians (Ep 3:2-3,5-6), Paul gives the meaning of the promise made by God in the prophet Isaiah: God's plan of salvation includes all peoples without exception. The Gentiles - that is, all non-Jews - are the object of the same promise as the Jews: they are part of the same body and will receive the same inheritance as the Jews. God has a plan of salvation for all and he does not exclude anyone from that plan. And Paul presents himself as being called to make explicit this universal design of God.

With the story of the magi, Matthew presents graphically the same statement of God's universal plan: he calls everyone to meet Christ and find life and salvation in him. In the coming of the Magi, Matthew saw the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy, in which foreign peoples come from afar to the Light with joy. In the Magi, we see the longing that has led them to an intense search and a restless journey to meet Him who is the light of the nations. Certainly, we can appreciate their effort, persistence and courage that did not allow them to give up. In the hardest moments of their journey, when the star seemed to have disappeared, they asked for help, receiving it from those who, in suspicion and fear, would become Jesus’ enemies. They were being guided by the star of faith and hope that the Spirit of God had brought forth in their hearts. The feast of the Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, which tradition has made kings. Christ is recognised as the Saviour of all peoples, and all peoples come to Him by offering the best and the most valuable that they have. To Him belongs honour and praise and glory.