Believing Without Seeing

John 20: 24-29
Eph 2: 19-22 / Ps 117: 1- 2

Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.
(John 20:29)

Those without faith are never sure
About the truth that they conceive;
But they have peace and feel secure
Who have not seen and yet believe.

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the marks of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Now a week later, His disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20: 24-29)

Reflection

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Thomas the apostle. Among the four Gospels written, the only other account about him was when he asked Jesus at the Last Supper, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” And Jesus’ famous answer was: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn.14:5,6). Among the apostles, his name has become synonymous with those who doubt, or who do not believe unless they have empirical evidence. But in truth, this apostle made the greatest affirmation about the divinity of Jesus when he declared, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn.20:28) St. John included this account in his Gospel to emphasize his concluding message that “these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in His Name” (Jn. 20:31).

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” To another apostle, Nathanael, Jesus had also said, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this” (Jn.1:50). Indeed, to those of us who had not seen the wonders that Jesus performed, and yet simply believed the Word of God in the Bible, greater things have been manifested before our eyes. We have seen how the Church has grown, in spite of the persecutions of Christians through the ages. We have been witness to the conversions of hardened sinners, the healing of incurable diseases, and other miracles that have happened in countless lives. We have seen many wonders that Thomas or Nathanael and the other apostles could not even imagine man was ever capable of doing, like landing on the moon, communicating with anyone anywhere in the world, or harnessing the power of the sun, or even travelling faster than the speed of sound. Who knows what else man is capable of accomplishing in the future because he believes?

Great inventors and builders are great believers. But we do not have to be geniuses or visionaries like them to succeed in the most important quest in our life. We only need to believe the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ, and practice what we believe. Thomas believed because he saw the Lord Jesus in the flesh. We believe, although we do not see Him, that we are privileged to receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. That may well be the reason why our Lord Jesus said we are more blessed.

Lord, let there be no doubt in my heart that You live within me when I receive You in the Holy Eucharist. May it sustain my faith in You all the days of my life. Amen.

Forgiveness and Healing

Matthew 9: 1-8
Gen 22:1b-19 / Psa 115

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
(Matthew 9: 6-7)

Forgiveness comes before we heal;
With sin miracles won’t happen;
Our faith can help but not until
All our sins have been forgiven.

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to His own town. Some men brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. (Matthew 9: 1-8)

Reflection

Matthew’s narrative in today’s Gospel brings to light not only the vital connection between forgiveness and healing, but the subtle way that Jesus proved that He was indeed God, (for only God could forgive sins), by commanding the paralytic to “Get up, take your mat and go home.” After all, if He could command a storm to be calm and cast out demons earlier that day, surely He must also have the authority to forgive sins.

As prophesied by Scriptures, the Messiah would come to be God’s sacrificial Lamb for the remission of sins. “He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows . . . pierced for our transgressions . . . crushed for our iniquities . . . the LORD laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:4,5,6). The Book of Isaiah says further: “Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities” (Isa 53:10,11).

In His great love for mankind, God became man in Jesus Christ in order to heal a world that had been stricken by sin. All the calamities, conflicts and contagion in the world were the effects of original sin. Now, if Jesus could heal or repair the damage caused by sin, surely He could take upon Himself sin itself by forgiving all sinners. In fact, this was His mission, according to the Father’s plan.

The wonder of it was the subtle way our Lord Jesus executed that plan. By publicly forgiving the paralytic of his sins, He gave the scribes, the teachers of the law, a “valid” reason to accuse Him of blasphemy, which would be their basis later on for his trial and execution. His eventual crucifixion and death in Calvary was the culmination of His life’s mission for the salvation of mankind from sin.

In order to be true followers of Christ, we too must learn how to forgive. When Peter asked Jesus how many times we must forgive a brother who sins against us, He answered, “I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Mt.19:22). Forgiveness lies in the crux of healing our broken relationships — with God and with our brothers and sisters. May this important lesson lead to unity, love and peace.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the lessons that You have lovingly imparted to us in today’s Gospel. Grant, O Lord, that we may follow them, to be more forgiving of the faults of others, for our own healing and justification. Amen.

Demoniacs in Gadara

Matthew 8: 28-34
Gen 21:5 8-20 / Psa 34

Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
(Matthew 8:34)

Remain faithful in Jesus’ name,
And all of Satan’s schemes will fail;
Evil can never stake a claim
Where God’s works in our life prevail.

When Jesus arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. (Matthew 8: 28-34)

Reflection

After demonstrating His power over the forces of nature by calming the tempest at sea, Jesus now showed His authority over the forces of evil by driving out the evil spirits from the two demoniacs in Gadara. The paradox in today’s Gospel passage however is that while the demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God, acknowledged His power and judgment over them, and immediately obeyed Him by releasing the two demoniacs from their power, the people of Gadara, who had witnessed this victory over evil, chose to reject Jesus and His mission. The most probable explanation for this rejection could be because the influence of the evil spirits had become so pervasive in that place that the salvation Jesus wanted to preach was no longer relevant to them. The influence of Satan can be so strong that the Word of God will only fall on deaf ears due to the people’s materialism, selfishness, or false doctrines. Many people today share the same misplaced priorities in life as those natives of Gadara. They do not see how fortunate they are to be rid of evil influences in their community, like gambling and prostitution. On the other hand, there are those who welcome other forms of evil like vigilante killings as a “necessary” antidote to crime.

Actual demon possession still happens today among those who indulge in spiritism and practice the occult. They believe in channeling, and in communicating with the spirits of the dead. But as early as the time of Moses, man has always been warned about these evil influences. “There shall not be found among you any one that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” (Deut.18:10-12) But in spite of numerous testimonies in Scriptures, many still deny the existence of devils and eternal damnation, having been deceived by Satan that God in His goodness would never allow the existence of hell. These people would be well advised to heed the wisdom of C. S. Lewis, who said, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall in our thinking about devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe in their existence but to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” Believe that Satan exists, but never believe him, because he is the prince of lies. Our faith is firmly established on the Word of God, and we will never be deceived. We are so fortunate who live and believe in the Word of God, because it has become the rule of our life. No evil spirit can take possession, as long as we have subordinated ourselves to the designs of the Holy Spirit.

Father God, deliver us from the influence of evil spirits; keep us always in Your light by the power of the Holy Spirit, and by the Word of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jesus Calms All Storms

Matthew 8: 23-27
Gen 19:15-29 / Psa 26

“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
(Matthew 8:25)

Be firm of faith in Jesus Christ
Who keeps us safe from storms in life;
May confidence in Him reside
To calm all troubles, fears & strife.

Then Jesus got into a boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!” (Matthew 8:23-27)

Reflection

The disciples had seen all the wonders that Jesus had performed, and so they must have believed that the Lord sleeping soundly in the stern would keep them safe from all harm. However, the raging storm and their fear of drowning overcame their little faith, and so they went and woke Him. And before He rebuked the waves and the winds to calm down, Jesus first rebuked the disciples for their little faith.

Faith in God’s protection is a wonderful thing, especially if we believe in God’s promises that we read in the bible: “I rescue all who cling to Me; I protect whoever knows My name. All who call on Me I answer; I am with them when they are in trouble; I bring them safety and honor, and give them life long and full…” (Psa 91:14-15). But there are times when our faith in God’s love and protection can be put to the test when we are at the mercy of the unpredictable forces of nature. This happened to us when my wife, sister and I boarded a small banca with outrigger one late afternoon to cross the Davao Gulf channel from Talikud island. The swells in the middle of the channel had suddenly grown larger, and threatened to overcome our small vessel. The next fifteen minutes seemed like an hour, as our banca operator deftly negotiated the waves to reach the other side. I put up a brave face for the benefit of my sister and my wife whose fingernails must have left their marks on the boat’s spar. All the while I silently prayed the verses of Psalm 91. While the turbulence raged without, the battle of faith and doubt also raged within. Only later did I realize that my faith was still a work in progress, but had become stronger after that experience.

There are many kinds of storms that can come unavoidably in our life without warning. We just have to believe that God will never allow them to happen if they will only break our will and send us to despair. St. Paul assured us that “In all these things, we shall conquer through Him Who loved us” (Rom.8:37). Remember, God never sleeps. He is ever present in our greatest needs, and has a greater purpose for our present predicament.

For us who are spared of life’s tempests, let us not merely pray for those affected by or still struggling with them. More importantly, let their passage stir up our deepest sentiments of mercy and generosity, so that our sympathies or contributions of aid will foster love and hope, and strengthen our confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ to Whom we also run for help in times of trouble in our own lives.

Dear God, we ask for Your strength and fortitude to be given to those who are suffering from the tempests of life. We also pray for Your mercy and generosity to be given to those who have the resources to help, so that a greater good will come out of them. Amen.

The Keys to the Kingdom

Feast of Sts. Peter & Paul

Matthew 16:13-19
Acts 12:1-11 / Ps 34 / 2 Tm 4:6-8.17-18

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(Matthew 16:19)

Thank God for the opportunity
Of being stewards for His kingdom;
The Word of God as our ministry,
With His authority and wisdom.

Jesus entrusted to St. Peter the “keys to the kingdom of heaven” as the symbol of the Church’s authority and wisdom. All authority and wisdom come from God. They are the fruit of faith. God has given them for a divine purpose. The few who are called to serve are given the tools for the harvest. God never leaves them on their own. His Spirit always abides in all their undertakings for His kingdom. That is why they can speak with authority because He imbues them with His wisdom.

It is a sacred privilege to share in the work of the Lord’s ministers, our bishops and priests, whose authority emanates directly from God. “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.” This passage is a strong admonition for them to safeguard all the spiritual graces that Jesus has entrusted to them in the ministry of the sacraments. How fortunate we are to have the Lord’s ministers to provide us what we need for our spiritual benefit – practically for free. It should only be natural for us to accord the reverence due them as God’s holy ministers.

Reflection

We never lose anything when we serve in the Lord’s vineyard, whether as speaker, discussion leader, prayer intercessor, or servant. In fact, we gain more. In preparing a talk, personal testimony, or writing these Gospel reflections, the Holy Spirit gives insights which I consider gifts of wisdom, revealed by Divine Providence Himself! In a small way, I feel like St. Peter, so privileged to receive the “keys of heaven.” And when the article is finished or the talk delivered, I feel like St. Paul who “has fought the good fight and finished the race.” (2 Tim.4:7) “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed.” (2Tim.4:17)

To everyone involved in the ministry of the Word, the work is the reward itself because the manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s gifts are such precious influences. We believe our Lord’s words that “flesh and blood has not revealed (these to us), but (our) heavenly Father.” (Mt.16:17) What a joy it is to know that like the disciples of Jesus, we too are being sent by the Lord in spreading the Good News of salvation.

Thank You, Lord for the assurance of Your kingdom that we receive through our pope, bishops and priests; and for the precious opportunity of sharing in their work. Amen.

Faith of the Centurion

Matthew 8: 5-17
Gen 18:1-15 / Lk 1:46-55

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.
(Matthew 8:8)

By submitting to Christ’s dominion
We shall win a place of honor;
Just as Jesus praised the Centurion
Whose faith and love were his armor.

As Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached Him, and appealed to Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” And He said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,’ and he goes, and to another, `Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. Jesus entered Peter’s house, and saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever; He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Matthew 8: 5-17)

Reflection

After He had healed a leper, a Roman Centurion next came up to Jesus to appeal for the healing of his slave. While the leper was treated with contempt by the Jewish community, the Centurion was accorded their highest honor and respect, because “he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us” (according to the version of Luke, 7:5). The leper was a Jew, and the Centurion was a heathen. But Jesus never made any distinction on whoever came to Him for help. And just as He was willing to touch the leper who was considered “unclean”, He was just as ready to be “defiled” by entering the house of a pagan. What put both men in the same good graces with our Lord was their strong faith in His power.

Jesus was immediately won over by the Roman centurion, not by his power and authority, but by his humility and his compassion for his servant. His approach was one of surrender, begging for the life of his slave. But more than these, Jesus was impressed by the soldier’s strong faith. “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

It is a rare quality in a man who wields political or military power to humble himself before anyone under his authority or jurisdiction. The centurion was a Roman officer in charge of a hundred soldiers. Centurions were known to be fierce soldiers, and were thus respected and feared by the people Rome had subjugated. But this Centurion who sought the help of Jesus was different, because his life was ruled by love- love for the Jewish nation, and love for his slave. Love defined the strength of his character, matched only by his great faith in Jesus.

The example of the Centurion in today’s Gospel teaches us that to win the hearts of others, we must first conquer what is within. The world is not the battlefield; it is our mind and heart. And the prize at stake is our soul. The virtues of compassion, humility, respect and faith will serve us well if we first submit ourselves to God’s authority and His discipline.

Help us, Father God to develop humility in our strength, compassion for our enemies, and faith in times of trouble, so that like the Centurion in today’s Gospel, we also may win the praise of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.