The Word God Spells

John 17: 20-26
Acts 22: 30; 23: 6-11 / Ps 16: 1-2, 5, 7-11

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
(John 17:20)

Diffrences in forms of worship,
Won’t be resolved by long debate;
But we find in Jesus’ kingship
Lies the unity of our faith.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17: 20-26)

Reflection

When we consider the hundreds, or maybe thousands of Christian denominations all over the world divided by doctrinal differences, it makes us wonder if the prayer of Jesus nearly 2000 years ago has ever been answered. Jesus prayed, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” How can the world believe that Jesus was sent by the Father to unify all His followers if the Christian world remains fragmented?

But wait. Don’t we all constitute the Mystical Body of Christ? Recall what Jesus did at the Last Supper which the Church memorializes everyday in the celebration of the Eucharist: Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is my body’ (Mt.26:26). We are His body, broken in order to be shared! When the schism in the Catholic Church happened in 16th century Europe during the so-called Age of Reformation, this did not mean victory for the evil forces. It actually unleashed a wave of evangelization throughout the world, as Catholic and Protestant missionaries competed in converting nations to the Christian faith.

We might be diverse in doctrines and forms of worship, but all Christians are one in faith. Through our faith men of all colors continue to receive the commission that Jesus bestowed on His apostles, and handed down to generations of Christians throughout the millennia of Church history. Whatever church we belong to, as long as we believe in Jesus Christ as our risen Lord, God and Savior, and is One God with the Father and the Holy Spirit, then we are one body, all children of God, united in the truth of His covenant.

Jesus’ prayer had long been answered in all Christian denominations who live and profess God’s Word in their lives. The world comes to believe in Jesus Christ as it sees His Gospel values and ideals being manifested in our life. Through our individual missions, witnessing to the glory of God, Christ continues to make Himself known to others, and in this apostolate God’s love will grow abundantly in our lives.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us how much You love those who are faithful to You by praying to the Father to include them in Your glory. May we be worthy of Your great love as we try to imitate You in carrying our own crosses in life, thanking God for the privilege of being one with You. Amen.

Luke 16: 9-15
Rom 16:3-9.16.22-27 / Ps 145

If then you have not been trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
(Luke 16:11)

To win the confidence of friends
We take the path of integrity;
But the greatest reward depends
On our prudence and fidelity.

“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. So he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Reflection

The message in today’s Gospel is quite difficult to comprehend, especially coming after Jesus related His parable of the dishonest steward, where He even commended the steward’s craftiness. Was he condoning the desperate schemes of the steward who cheated on his master for the benefit of his master’s debtors, so that when he got fired from his job he could be “welcome in their homes?” Our Lord’s stand only becomes clearer when He said: “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of Light.” (Lk.16:8)

More likely, what our Lord meant when he said “make friends with dishonest wealth” was for His followers to imitate Him in mingling with “tax collectors and sinners”, to evangelize the marketplace. And that “when it fails” (our material pursuits, worldly business ventures), we will in fact have a better chance of going to heaven than when it prospers. Most people turn away from God when they become rich. Failure with mammon may therefore lead to success with God. This reminds me of a friend who never came to establish a personal relationship with Jesus until his business went bankrupt, his house and lot were foreclosed, and his wife had left him. In the darkest period of his life, he finally learned how to pray. It had to take a series of crises to make him realize how important God is in his life. Happier now, he said he is grateful for his losses, because through them he has found true riches.

You made us see, Lord, that prudence and fidelity are more important than craftiness and business acumen. Remind us always to be honest not only in large matters but in small ones as well, because great sins develop from little indiscretions. Help us, dear Saviour in these times of economic difficulties to be more honest in our work, to be models of true service and integrity. For it is only by such good examples that we can give glory to Your kingdom here on earth. Amen.

Luke 12: 35-38
Rom 5:12.15.17-19.20-21 / Ps 40

Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
(Luke 12:35-36)

Vigilance means being ready
To serve the Lord God with gladness,
To seize the opportunity
And always strive for righteousness.

Jesus said, “Gird your loins (be ready for action) and light your lamps; be like those who are waiting for their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them prepared, blessed are those servants.”

Some of us thought we were prudent when we prepared for the future by diligently building up our businesses or careers, securing educational plans for our children, getting insurance protection, and setting aside money for emergencies. However, in the process of accumulating such ‘financial and material buffers’, unfortunately many of us neglected our health conditions, or worse, our family relationships, especially our marriage. Now in our ‘golden years’ we come to realize that being prepared financially is not enough if we have neglected fitness, family, and most of all, faith.

Reflection

The most important thing in life is to be vigilant spiritually. How do we know that we are spiritually prepared? When we make prayers a constant habit: upon waking up, before meals, the noon hour, the 3 o’clock Divine Mercy minute, the Angelus at 6, before bed. By making God’s Word (the Bible) a daily routine. By receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist of the Mass not only during Sundays. By associating with like-minded, Spirit-led Christians who also put a premium on being spiritually prepared.

Be Prepared all the time. To lend a helping hand, rather than be turned off by other people’s problems. To respond with gentle words, rather than let our emotions make worse an already bad situation. To be humble in victory, and maintain composure in defeat. To steer clear when temptations come along, but resolutely strive onward when the good is at stake. To evangelize anytime, anywhere, ‘anything that moves’.

Our Lord reminds us in today’s Gospel that we do not know the time or the hour when our time will come to leave this life. That’s why we must always be ready to go – bags packed, all our affairs in order. Anytime . . . you never know.

When the final hour in my life arrives, may I be prepared to meet You, Lord. Amen.

Luke 10: 38-42
Jon 3:1-10 / Ps 130

You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.
(Luke 10:42)

In all the things we say and do
Lead us to ‘choose the better part’,
Grant us Lord the grace to serve You
With Martha’s hands and Mary’s heart.

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the prepara-tions that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”

For sure, Jesus appreciated the efforts of Martha in making their stay as comfortable and satisfying as possible. It was only when Martha started to complain to Him that He questioned the necessity of her labors, and praised the decision of Mary instead.

Reflection

What is the “better part” that our Lord is telling the Marthas among us in this Gospel passage? It is what most of us have been neglecting in our obsessively driven culture of working hard to be ahead in our chosen career, or the common excuse of insuring our children’s future. We forget that “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Mat.4:4) The “better part” is simply the Word of God. If Martha’s main concern was to provide nourishment for Jesus and His apostles, her sister Mary’s sole concern was to be nourished by Jesus’ teaching, which was more important than anything else in the world.

Quite often, we get so worked up with our responsibilities as parents, providers, team leaders, husbands (or wives), civic or civil servants, (the list goes on), that we forget to ‘re-charge our batteries’ by setting aside a time for contemplation with God and His Word. Eventually, we experience ‘burn-out’ and wonder why our pursuits in life no longer seem to be as meaningful as before. Every once in a while, we need to “sit at the feet of Jesus”, and allow His words in Scriptures to envigorate our soul. When we are “worried and upset about many things”, the soothing words of our Lord can lift our burdens (Mt.11:28-30), and lead us to green pastures (Ps. 23). It is our intimate relationship with Jesus that can put all our activities into proper perspective.

Lord, may we be like Martha, serving You faithfully through others in need; but may we be more like Mary, meditating on Your Word to grow deeper spiritually. Amen.

Luke 9: 18-22
Hg 1:15–2:9 / Ps 43

Who do the people say that I am?
(Luke 9:18)

What Christ means in my life matters
More than what I want my life to be;
What I am and do for others
Show how real my Jesus is to me.

Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, “Who do the people say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist; but others say, Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen.” And he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9:18-22)

Reflection

In yesterday’s Gospel passage (Lk.9:7-9), we read about King Herod asking the very same question: “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” The writer of St. Luke’s Gospel seems to present a contrast between a powerul and corrupt tetrarch who was blind and ignorant about salvation, and a simple fisherman, who was given wisdom by God for his humility. Peter became the leader of the apostles and the first head of Christ’s church because he was the first among them to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. God gave Peter wisdom and discernment because he loved and followed Jesus more intensely than any of His followers. He was always present in all the activities of his Master.

It is to develop a personal relationship with Him that Jesus is offering each one of us. One of the great mysteries in life is that we can never get to know ourselves fully until we come to know our Lord Jesus Christ in a deeply personal way. Unless we establish a profound relationship with Him, we will never discover the real purpose of our existence. By getting to know Jesus intimately, we will experience true faith. Consequently, how real Jesus is to us will show in how real we are to others.

When we have come to know Jesus fully as our Lord, Saviour and Friend, we will want to cultivate fellowship with Him more and more. And when we have come to know Him, love Him, and establish a personal relationship with Him, then we will experience the abundant life that He promised when He said, “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

This is what most of us in the renewal have experienced. Since the time we acknowledged Jesus as the Way to the Father, the Truth in our faith, and the Love of our life, committing ourselves to serve Him in our community, His Holy Spirit has revealed many things once unknown to us. God wants us to bring this bit of Good News to others too, so that they also may come to know who Jesus Christ is. Have we introduced Him to somebody lately?

Forgive me, Jesus, if I have been keeping our relationship all to myself. Grant me the opportunity to bring others to Your fellowship too. Amen.

Luke 6: 20-26
Col 3:1-11 / Ps 145:2-3,10-13

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
(Luke 6:23)

We hunger for peace and justice,
We weep for poverty all around,
Trust in the hope of God’s promise
That His love and mercy will abound.

“Fortunate are you who are poor, the kingdom of God is yours.” These words are addressed both as hope to those who are materially poor, and to those who are not poor, but “have the spirit of the poor” (Mt.5:3) in their hearts. “Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.” Jesus here could be saying that there is a food that is more important than bread. It is a spiritual food that satisfies the soul. As He said in John’s Gospel, “He who feeds on this bread will live forever” (Jn.6:58). But “woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry,” meaning even the little faith that the materially well-off have now will be taken away from them; since they are famished in the Word of God. “Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Those who weep for the injustices in this world caused by the rich and powerful will have the last laugh. For God’s justice will in the end prevail. And finally, “Fortunate are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject you, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”

Reflection

We cannot be followers of Christ unless we are willing to follow the ‘hard and narrow road that leads to life’. Bro. Hansel, our Programs & Services director, my wife Ollie and I took a short break last Sunday and followed Cleofe, our Dev. officer to one Eco-reach site in the slums of Bangkal to meet 23 ‘nanays’, beneficiaries of the BCBP’s credit for small livelihood projects. Destitution is a polite word to describe the sight, scent, and social stigma that greeted us as we picked our way through the muddy pathways. The poverty shamed us, and convicted us to the very core.

The nanays were very grateful not only for the opportunity of improving their lot in life, however small, but for the hope of human kindness and Christ’s love that we cited as the reason for our coming. But we came away saddened and embittered by the seeming neglect of our society for the least of God’s children. We realized how poor we are in caring for the poor; how hungry and empty we felt in the little help that we could give; and how we can only weep for the misery of so many of our countrymen who wallow in the muck of abject poverty.

One does not have to be a prophet to realize that this Sunday experience was a call to a deeper kind of evangelization. We thank all the brothers and sisters in our community for their contributions to the Eco-reach program. But so much more is needed to make a dent in the battle against poverty. We now feel that we are part of those being sent to appeal to more generous hearts. Help the Lord’s little ones, and you will certainly be greatly rewarded.

Lead us, Lord, to Your generous children, for it is through their kind hearts that Your kingdom will be realized here on earth for their impoverished brethren. Amen.