The Word God Spells

Matthew 6: 1-6,16-18
2 Cor 9:6-11 / Ps 31

When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret.
(Matthew 6:3-4)

The righteousness of every act
Comes from the grace of God above;
In all good things we shall not lack,
As we share humbly in His love.

Jesus said in today’s Gospel, “Take care not to perform righteous deeds before people, otherwise you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you, as hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.” (Mt.6:1-2)

Reflection

Like the pharisees in Jesus’ time, some of our politicians are inclined to trumpet their accomplishments, or proposed projects in billboards along the sites (especially when election time draws near). Their purpose is not to inform the public, but to banner their accomplishments. Which, after all, is to be expected of them.

Some say it is difficult to be humble because the penchant for recognition is really just human nature. Just as we praise others for their good deeds or noble traits, we also want others to know what we see as commendable in ourselves. But it is the man who has grown in wisdom through God’s grace who does not seek the praise of men. Knowing that his good deeds are pleasing in the eyes of God is enough for him. The good that he does is the consequence of his gratitude to Divine Providence because he has already received his reward. As St. Paul wrote in the first reading, “God Who provides the sower with seed will also provide him with the bread he eats. He will multiply the seed for you and also increase the interests of your good works. Become rich in every way, and give abundantly.” (2Cor.9:10-11)

Those who seek human praise will become addicted to such adulation because they are feeding the voracious appetites of vanity and pride. They will never be satisfied, and will always be under the stress of craving for more attention and recognition to sustain their equilibrium. The humble man is content to do his best and nothing more, because he knows God will do the rest. He who does not seek the praises of men is happy and contented in silently doing God’s will for him, knowing that in the end he will receive his reward when he hears the Father tell him, “Well done, good and faithful servant, come and enjoy the fruits of your labor in My kingdom.”

As You have given us the precious things in this life, and even humbled Yourself on the cross that we may be saved, so may we also humbly share with others. Amen.

John 15: 1-8
Acts 15:1-6 / Ps 122:1-5

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit because without me you can do nothing.
(John 15:5)

Your work in my life I want to trust,
Because You know what’s best for us;
Lord, grant me the grace to understand
The prunings of Your loving hand.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit because without me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Reflection

Jesus mentions the word “remain” eight times in today’s Gospel. This is significant in light of the many Christian denominations today that have “branched out” of the Catholic Church. Most of these churches do not really abide by the true teachings of Christ, and the fruitfulness of their works can only be deemed questionable. For instance, where do their members get spiritual sustenance if they do not have the sacraments, which were instituted by Jesus Christ to be the life-giving sap that the branches derive from the Vine?

Many have left the true Vine (Jesus and His Church) in search of more meaningful forms of worship, or of a church that conforms to their idea of what religion should be. But perhaps it is because of their own inability to bear fruit that they have been “cut off from the Vine”. And how could they bear fruit if they did not remain or abide in Him? Jesus may well be talking to them when He said, “You do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the One Whom He has sent.” (John 5:38) He who lacks faith does not have God’s Word living in him.

God is the Gardener of our life. He planted us in this life, and supplies what we need. We did not have to work hard to attain His gift of faith. In fact, at the start, we didn’t have to work at it at all. All that He requires of us is to remain faithful to His Word (Christ) and to His Church. It is very much like our own children- they are God’s gift to us. We did not acquire them through hard labor. They are products of love and intimate pleasure. But we do need to take good care of them, just as we need to take good care of our faith by prayers and receiving the sacraments regularly.

Father God, we acknowledge You as our Divine Provider, and praise and thank You for all the blessings in our life. You have cut away all our inequities, and pruned us with trials to make us strong and productive. Let your Holy Spirit continue to empower and guide us to abide in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

John 6: 1-15
Acts 5:34-42 / Ps 27:1,4,13-14

Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.
(John 6:12)

The miracle of the loaves was when
Thousands on a mountainside were fed.
Today miracles still happen
When we receive God’s Living Bread.

Jesus had crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee, but a great crowd of people kept following Him because of the miraculous healings he had performed. He went up on a mountainside and sat down with His disciples. Looking up, He saw a great crowd coming toward Him, and said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do. Philip answered, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” A little boy had five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far would that go? Then Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When everyone had eaten, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five loaves left over. When the people saw the miracle that Jesus did, He knew that they intended to make Him king by force, so He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

Reflection

Like Philip, we are often so overwhelmed by the size of a problem before us that we tend to overlook the simplicity of the solution that is at hand. As one of the closest disciples of Jesus, Philip had surely witnessed the miraculous healings of the sick, and the changing of water into wine in the wedding at Cana. In the company of their “Wonder Worker”, the answer had to come from the faith of a little child, who offered his meager meal of five loaves and two fish. In the child’s innocence, the magnitude of the need did not matter, but only the little that he could offer. And the Master did the rest. Every now and then, we encounter grave problems or trials that test our faith, and we ask, ‘Where can we find the amount we need to pay this bill?’ Or ‘How can we find a solution to such a problem?’ When all along the only thing needed was to turn to our Savior Who is always there in prayer and supplication.

The Responsorial Psalm in today’s liturgy expresses what every faith-full follower of Christ should feel: “I believe I shall enjoy the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord.” (Psa. 27:13-14) With faith in God’s providence, there is no cause to be anxious or impatient. As Jesus assured us, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Mt. 6:33). Then, in the final days, our Lord will give that same instruction to His angels: “Gather all the fragments so that nothing will be wasted.” Only the faithless chaff will be left to be thrown into the fire. The faithful will be one in the banquet of the Lord.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom am I afraid? May I dwell in Your house all the days of my life. Amen.

Matthew 16: 13-19
1 Pt 5:1-4 / Ps 23

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 16:19)

May the Lord grant us the wisdom
To ensure our soul’s salvation --
To use the keys of His kingdom
For love and reconciliation.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ (Mt.16:13-19)

Reflection

St. Peter’s declaration of the messiahship and divinity of Jesus was the defining moment of his own destiny as the first head of the Church. But as Jesus pointed out to all present, it was God the Father Himself Who revealed this to Peter, thus appointing him as the “Rock” of His Church, and the icon of the faith. This divine appointment and grave responsibility to “carry Christ’s Church” as its foundation was emphasized when Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter, in the same way that God anointed Abraham (from Abram) and Israel (from Jacob) when they were sent out in God’s mission. After assuring him that the Church would always stand firm against “the gates of Hades”, Jesus promised to give him the “keys of heaven” – the power and privilege to bind or loosen – whatever needed to be bound by God’s laws, or released from man-made ones. The first time St. Peter used these “keys” was after Pentecost, when he stood up to speak about Jesus and repentance, and about three thousand Jews were converted and baptized (Acts 2:41).

Through the centuries, the legacy of St. Peter has been handed down to successions of Bishops of Rome, and the keys of the kingdom have opened heaven’s door of salvation to countless millions all over the world. And yet they had also closed the door on those who opposed the Church of Rome on matters of doctrine. We are all bound by God’s laws to obey the teachings of our Church according to our conscience. During this time of Lent, let us reflect on how we can participate in the Church’s mission of spreading the faith by practicing the Gospel values taught by our Lord. We can share in this divine appointment by acts of charity, especially almsgiving to those who are in dire straits; by proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel to the lukewarm of faith; by forgiving those who have done us some wrong; and by receiving the sacraments more than once a week during this period of Lent. We too can use St. Peter’s keys to unlock the door of love and reconciliation to others.

During this time of Lent, help us, Lord Jesus, to be more patient, tolerant, forgiving, understanding, generous and kind, as our way of atoning for past sins. Amen.

Mark 6: 30-34
Heb 13:15-17.20-21 / Ps 23

Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.
(Mark 6:31)

When work has reached a heavy pace,
With pressures you can ill afford,
Come away to a quiet place,
Unload your burdens to the Lord.

The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Reflection

The joke in our renewal community is, the more successful you are in ministry, the more you are rewarded with more work. This is true, and in fact many of us would like to take a vacation from our ministry “and rest for a while.” However, the multitude of activities that clamor for our attention cannot be ignored.

A brother already had his hands full building up the Charismatic groups in the barangay where his farm was located, so when he was appointed Chapter Head of the brotherhood, he knew the sacrifices involved in tending another flock at the expense of quality time with his family. “It’s only for three years,” he assured his son. But just a few months before his term as chapter head ended, the national president asked him if he could be the Regional Council Director covering five provinces. This meant liaisoning and guiding so many chapters and outreaches in a vast area of responsibility. A heavier challenge for another three years. To his surprise, his wife and children were proud and encouraging, because they knew he was happiest in the service of the Lord.

No matter how committed we are in our service to church or community, we all need space and time to retreat from our hectic activities and commune with our God. Even our Lord Jesus made sure that He could allocate a period of time to pray in between His busy schedule. Burn-out is a reality that we can avoid by spending moments of meditation and relaxation every so often with the Lord. Try it, and be reinvigorated.

Come away by yourselves with Me to a deserted place and rest for awhile.” How sweet those words are to this troubled heart. How practical and necessary it really is to take time out from the hustle and bustle of the marketplace, so that we can commune with You, our loving Shepherd, in Your sanctuary. Grant us the grace, to know the importance of taking time out an hour a day, a day in a week, or a week-end in a year to give to You. Prepare us, dear God for that day when we must also take the challenge to be sent out, as You had sent out your apostles to preach Your Good News of salvation. And when that day comes, let Your Holy Spirit sanctify this mission that we offer for the Father’s glory. Amen.