WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG

XIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 6:1-6

The prophet speaks of his calling, in the first reading (Ezekiel 2:2-5) of this Sunday’s liturgy. He is filled with the Spirit who makes him stand up to be sent. A prophet is always called and sent. He is given a mission, which he must carry out among his fellow human beings. He is not called for his sake or his well-being. The prophet is a man for others. He has to be ready to leave his family and his country. Even among his people, he will be seen as a stranger who brings something different: a different way of seeing the world and a different behaviour. His actions are guided by the Spirit and motivated by the mission entrusted to him. He is not at liberty to do as he pleases because he is being sent: “Son of man, I am sending you”. However, the only difference about him is the mission he was entrusted with. In everything else, he is a human being like all the others. That’s why he is addressed as “son of man”. Being human, a prophet is subjected to the same hardships all humans have to endure. The important about him is that he becomes a sign among the people: “Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them.” The “defiant and obstinate” people cannot say that they were not warned about their crooked ways.

In the second reading (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), Paul writes about his weaknesses and shortcomings, giving the impression that they are very uncomfortable to him. Humanly thinking, he would like to be freed of that suffering for his preaching to become more assertive. However, God makes him realise that “my power is at its best in weakness.” Whenever we seem to be at a loss, overburdened by our weaknesses, then whatever good we do is done by God’s grace.

In the gospel, Jesus’ mission appears to be a failure. He is despised and rejected in his village. Thinking to know everything about him, they know nothing and have become unable to believe. The first reading may be applied to Jesus: “Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them.” And it may be applied as well to all the disciples of Jesus sent in a mission to proclaim the Gospel.

THE CHILD IS NOT DEAD, BUT ASLEEP

XIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 5:21-43

We are faced daily with the reality of death, being forced to accept our mortality. Since the moment of conception, we walk on a path that will take us to death. That is the reality of life. It is as if life and death are two sides of the same coin. Despite that, deep down in our hearts, we refuse to accept death as our final destination. We live nurturing a strong desire for immortality and repeating the unanswerable question: Why do we have to die?

Time and again, many people blame God. If He is loving, why does He allow us to suffer and die? Or is He our enemy? Is He jealous of us? Does He need to squash our most profound desire to affirm Himself? The first reading, taken from the Book of Wisdom, gives a clear answer: “Death was not God’s doing, he takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living.” Being created in the image of God, man has in him the seeds of immortality. Death does not come from God but from the Devil: “It was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world” (Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24). Death should be the experience of being born to live in God and that passage from earthly life to heavenly life would be welcomed with joy and happiness. However, human sin bred revolt and sowed chaos destroying the harmonious relationship between God, humanity and nature. St. Francis of Assisi welcomed death as his sister who came to take him to God.

In the gospel, we have two situations of suffering and death. In both of them, Jesus shows compassion for those who suffer. From what we see, we know that anyone who experiences sickness and suffering tries all possible means to recover and be sound again. Like a loving father, hearing about Jesus, Jairus looked for him, presenting his daughter’s situation: “My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.” And Jesus went without delay. The little girl died before Jesus’ arrival. Before death, Jesus gave hope to the grieving father with reassuring words: “Do not be afraid; only have faith.” And comparing death to sleep, Jesus ordered the little girl to get up.

In the second situation, we have a woman “who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years”. She had spent all her money on doctors, without any improvement in her condition. In a way, she was desperate but, after hearing about Jesus, her hope was rekindled. Then, she approached Jesus with discretion. She suffered physically and emotionally because she lived in a state of impunity, being forced to stay away from people. Jesus healed her body and saved her soul. She could be reintegrated into society and lead a normal life.

With Jesus, we must learn a compassion that makes us actively present in the lives of those who suffer.

The Lord listened and had pity.

  The Lord came to my help.

For me you have changed my mourning into dancing:

  O Lord my God, I will thank you for ever.

(Psalm 30)

WHY ARE YOU SO FRIGHTENED?

XII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 4:35-41

‘Why are you so frightened?”

Today, Jesus asks the same question to each one of us. We are frightened. The future is very uncertain. There are dark clouds on the horizon. The two big powers are at loggerheads with each other and their conflict can easily become a nuclear war that might destroy the world. The Church - especially the Catholic Church - shares in the uncertainty. It seems that she is descending into confusion as if she is lost. And we are filled with doubts. Is the Lord with us or is he asleep, abandoning us to our fate? 

This Sunday’s gospel presents us with a gloomy picture: The night was falling. It was dark and the disciples were crossing over to the other side, that is to the unknown, into a pagan world that accepts other values and follows other paths. There, on the other side, they might despise and reject us; they may even persecute us. The disciples experienced the turmoil of going through a violent storm with strong winds and high waves, threatening to drown them. This is the world we live in. And Jesus, even asleep, is in control. He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. That’s why he reproached his disciples: “Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?” Indeed, we would not be afraid if we just believed that Jesus is the Lord. He is in the boat, meaning that he is in the Church and will not allow her to go down. He is steering the Church through rough waters towards a secure port.

In the second reading, after experiencing Jesus’ love, Paul writes: “The love of Christ overwhelms us”. In his overwhelming love, Jesus died for all of us. That’s why “living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for them.” (2 Co 5:14-15).

WE ARE FULL OF CONFIDENCE

XI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 4:26-34

When speaking to people, Jesus used simple language, that was easy to understand: “he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it.” This was the main reason for him to use parables. We are presented with two very simple parables in this Sunday’s gospel. The kingdom of God is like throwing a seed on the ground. And the parable stresses two moments: the sowing and the growing. The role of the sower is paramount. Nothing will take place without the action of casting the seed. The preacher must preach the Gospel “in season and out of season” (2 Tm 4:2). Then, leave it to God, According to the parable, the seed will sprout and grow until “the full grain in the ear”. At that point, the harvest will be ordered and the grain will be collected.

In the second parable, the Kingdom of God is compared to a mustard seed, a small seed that grows to become a tree “so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade”. The beginning is humble but the results are extraordinary, due to the power of God. We get discouraged many times as if we are working in vain. However, we should do our part and leave the rest to God.

In the second reading, Paul advises us to be confident, and put our trust in God. Here, on earth, we live in exile and feel the hardships this world brings. While here on earth, we should strive to please Him until the day we will stand before Him to receive the promised reward.

The just will flourish like the palm tree

  and grow like a Lebanon cedar.

Planted in the house of the Lord

  they will flourish in the courts of our God,

still bearing fruit when they are old,

  still full of sap, still green,

to proclaim that the Lord is just.

  In him, my rock, there is no wrong.

Psalm 92

 CAN WE HIDE FROM GOD?

X SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Genesis 3:9-15

Countless times, the first chapters of Genesis have been read and understood literally, as if they represent a historical narrative that describes facts as they took place. However, that understanding reduces the scope of interpretation and possible application to our lives. Through these texts resounds the word of God challenging us to face ourselves in the presence of God and reflect upon our relationship with Him.

In this Sunday’s first reading, taken from the book of Genesis, we hear the dialogue between God and the humans after they had eaten of the tree. They ignored God’s command, which they had seen as oppressive, in an attempt at independence and self-affirmation. Their disobedience had been an act of revolt and an effort to be the masters of their lives. They had been promised to have their eyes open and become gods. However, when their eyes were opened, they discovered their nakedness and went into hiding in shame, afraid of God.

God came to confront them, like a judge who calls to account the one who misbehaved. Indeed, we are answerable for what we do. And God asked: “Where are you?” As if he did not know where they were. With this simple question, God wanted them to become aware of However, they did not confess their sin and God had to confront them a second time. Unable to deny it, they looked for excuses. It was not their fault. The man blamed the woman and blamed Go as well, who had given him, in the woman, a poisoned gift. And the woman blamed the snake that had seduced her. 

Adam and Eve represent us - and like them, we are in a deer situation. We try to hide, as if ashamed of ourselves, afraid that others may see us for what we are. This wrecked situation we are in is caused by external forces and by our own choices. The external forces, which are forces of evil, are symbolised by the serpent. But we must recognise the contribution we make with our bad choices to this world dominated by lust, pride and selfishness. Why blame others instead of accepting responsibility for our actions?

Then, God addressed the serpent, that is the power of evil or the prince of evil, Satan, cursing it. God did not curse humanity, but he cursed the serpent, meaning that it is before God for judgment and condemnation. And God announces a continuous struggle between the prince of evil and humanity. The serpent will try to bite its heel, but the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head, coming out victorious.

With the responsorial psalm, let us pray to the Lord, full of confidence in his mercy.

If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt,

  Lord, who would survive?

But with you is found forgiveness:

  for this we revere you.

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. (Psalm 130)

THIS IS MY BODY

 THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST - 

Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

The Church calls upon us to direct our minds and our hearts to the Eucharist in which Jesus Christ offers himself to us as the bread of life.

In the Acts of the Apostles (Act 2:42), we read that “the breaking of bread” was one of the marks of the early Church, being the earliest known name of the Eucharistic celebration. The name brings to mind what Jesus did when he sat with the Apostles at the table. On the first day of the week, they gathered together to break the bread in memory of Jesus, doing what he had commanded them to do. It was a fellowship meal in which they shared the bread in obedience to Jesus with the certainty of faith that they were sharing the body and blood of Christ. This communion with Jesus implied communion with one another. Paul says as much in his first letter to the Corinthians: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” (1 Co 10:16-17).

At the breaking of the bread, the first Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper, being sure of the privilege of sitting at the table of the Lord. Indeed, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Rev 19:9). In the Lord’s Supper, we repeat Jesus’ words and gestures in the Last Supper.

A common name for the Lord’s Supper, mostly used nowadays, is the Eucharist, a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”. The word reminds us of Jesus’s prayer over the bread and the cup of wine: He gave thanks (Lk 22:19).  We must give thanks to God for all his blessings. This is an essential attitude towards God. It is not surprising that Paul advises us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Ts 5:18). Jesus offered his life as a peace or fellowship offering (Lev 3).

The Eucharistic celebration is called also Holy Sacrifice since is the memorial of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  It is the sacrifice of the New Covenant and a sacrifice for the remission of sins. In the Last Supper, Jesus interprets his death as a sacrifice. The blood he sheds on the cross is the blood of the covenant, poured out for many.

In the second reading, the letter to the Hebrews presents Jesus as the High Priest, “who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to God”, thus bringing a new covenant. By his death, he cancelled our sins (Hb 9:11-15).

The solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is a solemn profession of faith in the real presence of Jesus Christ. When we approach the table of the Lord, we go prepared to receive the body and blood of the Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit, that bread and cup of wine became for us the body and blood of Christ. When we go for communion, we must do it professing our faith. If we do not believe what the Church always believed, we must be careful. Paul warns us on that respect: 

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1 Co 11:27-29).

WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD

SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY TRINITY - Romans 8:14-17

This Sunday, we celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity. It must be affirmed very clearly that Christians do not believe in three gods. Every Sunday, we say very clearly in the first statement of the creed: I believe in one God.  It sounds so simple. And we would like God to be a reality that can be easily grasped by our mind's power. Being faced with God as a very complex being, we try to exclude Him from reality’s realm.

The first reading, taken from Deuteronomy (Dt 4:32-34, 39-40) advises the people of Israel to remember the history of God’s intervention in their lives. It is in the concrete history of our communities and our nations that we make the experience of God. We can enter God’s mystery when we perceive his presence and action in our lives. And God reveals himself to us. There is a Bemba proverb that speaks about the interaction with others saying: Munda ya mubiyo tamwingilwa (you don’t enter into the inner self of your friend). If that is true in human relationships, then what can we say about our relationship with God?

God, the one God, has revealed himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our God is relationship and communion. According to John, God is love (Jn 4:8). And he invites us to accept his love and learn from him how to love. We were baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in the name of God who is love , instilling love into our hearts. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote that we are not before God as slaves but as children. The Holy Spirit gives witness that we are children and “makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’”. Being children, we are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ”. And we must share in “his sufferings so as to share his glory”.

We are called to live as God’s children, making God’s love present in the world.