The Word God Spells

Luke 8: 19-21
Ezr 6:7-8.12.14-20/Ps 122

My mother and my brothers are all those who hear the Word of God and obey it.
(Luke 8:21)

Blessed are those who hear the Word
And act on it as Jesus said.
They shall not lack for God’s reward,
His heirs they shall become instead.

Jesus’ mother and some relatives came to see Him, but they could not get inside the house where He was preaching, because of the packed crowd inside. Someone then relayed the message to Jesus that “Your mother and relatives are standing outside and wish to see you.” Then Jesus answered, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.”

Reflection

At first it might seem strange that our Lord Jesus would disregard His own mother who had come all the way from Nazareth just to see how He was. However, it does not say in Luke’s Gospel that Jesus did not go out to meet her. Our Lord merely took the occasion to emphasize His deep affinity for those “who hear the Word of God” and manifest it in their lives.

Before His mother and relatives arrived, Jesus had been preaching about the Word of God in two short allegories: the parable of the sower, and the symbolism of a lamp. In the first story, our Lord was saying that even if only a few people receive the Word of God, “like a fertile soil”, they would bear fruit abundantly. In the second allegory, He was telling His audience that the Word of God must not be hidden like a covered lamp, but must shine forth for the benefit of all men. Otherwise, from those who do not make good use of the Word of God, even the little faith that they have will be taken away from them. Indeed, many of those who followed Jesus were not able to achieve discipleship because they did not persevere in searching for the meaning of His words. Most of them listened, many understood, but only a few of them obeyed. The key then is not only in hearing or reading God’s Word, but obeying Him. The entire chapter 8 of Luke’s Gospel is about hearing and responding appropriately to God’s message.

We do not become part of Jesus’ family because we deserve it. Even the most unlikely people become members of God’s family because they hear and respond to the will of the Father. They may not be worthy, but their willingness to follow the way of Jesus makes them God’s sons and daughters.

Lord God, we thank You for making us members of Your family in our community through our adopted brotherhood with Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose Name we pray to You, our heavenly Father. Amen.

Matthew 19:3-12
Jos 24:1-13/Ps 136

What God has joined together, no human being must separate.
(Matthew 19:6)

God blessed you with a loving wife,
Give your love to her alone,
And you will have a blissful life
With Jesus for your cornerstone.

Some Pharisees came to Jesus to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Still, they asked, “Why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Reflection

Man was created in the image and likeness of God. Since we believe that our God is Trinitarian, His image is therefore a union between one man and one woman with Jesus Christ at the center. Whatever the differences a husband and wife may have, no matter if their personalities are poles apart, if they have decided to put Jesus Christ in the center of their lives, their marriage will work, and their union will most assuredly last. Divorce can never be a Christian option, because if we destroy this union, then we are actively denying the Divine Plan for man.

The union of marriage reflects God’s close relationship and love for mankind. God never divorced His wife and chose another just because mankind had sinned and was no longer pleasing to Him. He chose to forgive and reconciled His wayward people to Himself. This is the lesson that we find in the Book of Hosea – (1:2-3,8-9, 2:1-22, 3:1-5). In fact, in all the episodes and teachings in the Old Testament, we have seen that whenever God made a covenant with His people, He never broke the union — it was always His Chosen People who committed the spiritual adultery of sin.

For this reason, we can see why God never allowed divorce. Jesus said, ‘For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives’ — if only to protect the rights of women who were cast off by their husbands. But for Jesus, marriage must be for life or there must be no marriage at all. Divorce or separation is never the logical option when a marriage doesn’t seem to be working out. Working harder in making it work is. With God’s help, love will prevail.

Lord Jesus, you instituted the sacrament of marriage as a manifestation of God’s love for mankind. Grant that we whom You have blessed with its joys may be Your worthy heralds in sharing its Good News of love to other couples. Amen.

Matthew 14:22-36
Nm 12:1-13 / Ps 51

Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.
(Matthew 14:27)

We are but men of little faith
Who cannot see what life’s about;
Release us from this troubled state,
Lord, take away our fears and doubt.

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After dismissing them, He went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat was already a great distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they cried out in fear. Jesus at once told them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter said, “Lord, if it is you,tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus reached out and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” And when they boarded the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14: 22-33)

Reflection

Peter’s words, “Lord, if it is you . . .” clearly indicated that he was still in doubt when he decided to brave the dark raging waters and stepped out of the boat. True to his impetuous character, he wanted to be the first to seize this opportunity of sharing in the Lord’s miracle of walking on water, but just a sudden gust of wind was enough to topple his faith and make him sink. Jesus’ words: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” tells of His desire for us to be persevering in our faith in Him in the midst of life’s trials and adversities. Peter had the courage at first when his eyes were focused on his Master. But when the waves and the wind distracted him, he began to sink.

The boat in the story can be likened to a community or a family. Without our Lord Jesus on board, it can be tossed and turned by the waves of discordant relationships, or financial reverses, the winds of change (new job, or loss of one), or the troubled waters of pride, envy, loss of respect, or even infidelity. A couple in our brotherhood shared their turbulent past before they joined the renewal, and decided to invite Jesus Christ once again into their marriage after completing the Brotherhood’s Christian Marriage Retreat. They both agreed that for the first time in their union (after so many years) Jesus’ presence in their “love boat” had finally brought their marriage to calm, peaceful waters.

Jesus comes to us with His comforting presence to bring peace and calm to the storms in our life. All He asks of us is to walk in faith with Him, and no turbulence can overwhelm us. Fear and doubt should have no place in a believer’s heart when he steps out of his comfort zone to face life’s trials and difficulties. Instead, we must steel our faith with courage, enthusiasm, and the commitment to be true to our calling as God’s protected children in all circumstances. Without these traits, the storms in our life will appear to be stronger and larger than they really are.

Lord God, grant us Your grace if we have to take that leap of faith out of the boat into a new area of ministry. Otherwise, we may miss out on seeing Your miraculous hand at work in our life. Help us to realize that You are always present to extend a helping hand, so that we may find the courage to step out of the boat. Amen.

Matthew 12: 46-50
Ex 14:21–15:1 / Ex 15:8-17

Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.
(Matthew 12:50)

To be Christ’s brother or sister,
This we must follow willingly -
God’s will: to love one another,
To be one in God’s family.

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50

Reflection

Jesus did not let the interruption that his mother and brothers had arrived to disrupt His discourse with the crowds. Instead, He used the occasion to 1) express His deep affection to His disciples, who had left everything to follow Him, and 2) to emphasize that our spiritual relationship (with His eternal Father) is more important than our intimate but temporal kinships here on earth.

Our Lord was not exaggerating on the first point. After all, how much more proof of His love can One Who died on the cross for our sins show for His followers? On the second point, the writer of Hebrews said of Him, “He who sanctifies, and those who are being sanctified all have one Father. Therefore He is not ashamed to call them ‘brothers’, saying, I will proclaim Your Name to my brothers, in the midst of the assembly I will praise You.” (Heb.2:11-12)

However, kinship with Jesus by following the will of God in our lives is never as easy as being born into a human family and being obedient to our parents. To be a member of Jesus’ family is to imbibe all the lessons He has been teaching us in the Scriptures. Following the will of God means submitting to the doctrines of our Church, against the more popular (and modern) teachings of the secular world. Developing a spiritual relationship means seeking and seeing a spiritual meaning in the ordinary day-to-day events in our life, as we are guided by the Holy Spirit. But what an enormous privilege it is to belong to Christ’s family! What blessings! What grace! “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, Abba, ‘Father!’ The Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, suffering with Him, so that we may also share in His glory. (Rom.8:14-17)

On a personal note, although I belong to a large close-knit family, it is both with sadness and joy that I feel a closer relationship with most of my brothers and sisters in our praying community than I do with one of my ten siblings, who does not share the same zeal for our Church and faith. Nevertheless, I still keep praying for him, that one day He too will join the more important, eternal family of Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Jesus, for our large, close-knit clan, for our loving mother of 84 years, for her eleven children, 35 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren (so far), and for giving us a loving community (BCBP), where brothers and sisters truly care for each other, constantly growing in Your love. Amen.

Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 or Luke 2:41-51
2 Sm 7:4-5.12-14.16 / Ps 89 / Rom 4:13.16-18.22

Joseph, the husband of Mary, and foster father of Jesus . . .
(Matthew 1:16)

St. Joseph, humble spouse of Mary,
Blessed model in our hurts and pain,
Inspire us never to grow weary
Serving God for our eternal gain.


Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with Child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary for your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took Mary as his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Reflectio

Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, traced his lineage all the way to Abraham. Although he was just a poor unlettered carpenter, he was a man of quiet dignity and strength of character. The Gospel also described him as a “just man”. Having learned that his bethrothed was pregnant, he never felt aggrieved, or succumbed tojealousy or self-pity. Instead he was more concerned about Mary’s shame and safety. Then an angel, appearing to him in a dream, assured him that Mary’s pregnancy was in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “Behold the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us’ ” (Isaiah7:14).

One of the greatest patriarchs in the Old Testament, and the closest precursor of the Messiah was Joseph, one of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel. He was known as ‘Joseph, the Dreamer,’ the earliest mystic who became the savior of Israel when he was sold as a slave to Egypt. Because of his dreams, he saved nations from the 7 years of famine that followed the 7 years of bountiful harvests. The Pharaoh of Egypt put him in charge of his whole kingdom, becoming the most powerful man in Egypt next only to the Pharaoh at the young age of thirty.

Joseph, the husband of Mary, like his Old Testament counterpart, was also begot by a man named Jacob. He was also enlightened through a dream. But unlike Joseph of Egypt, he never saved any nation in his lifetime. In fact, he never spoke or wrote a single word in the Bible. He was perhaps the meekest and humblest of all the saints. But God saw fit that this lowly carpenter would be the protector and guardian of the Redeemer of the world. Next to the Blessed Mother, he is the greatest of all saints.

St. Joseph’s feast day comes after my birthday. He is my patron saint and model. I believe I have become a good husband and father largely because of the influence of St. Joseph, although my wife insists it was her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that kept me firm in my fidelity to our marriage vows. Fittingly, St. Joseph is known as the patron saint of fathers. Most of us fathers should look up to the righteousness of St. Joseph, who is the model of all men who wish to remain sons of God.

St. Joseph, beloved foster father of our Savior, pray for us, that we may always be strong in our commitment to serve your beloved Son. Amen.

Luke 4: 24-30
2 Kgs 5:1-15 / Ps 42, 43

No prophet is accepted in his own native place.
(Luke 4:24)

We cast Jesus from His ‘native place’
Everytime we give in to sin;
If we want to imitate His ways,
Then let Christ our Lord live within.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own native place. In truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was closed for three and a half years, and a great famine spread over all the land; and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to a widow in Zarephath, in the land of Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; but none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with fury. They rose up and drove him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, that they might throw him down headlong. But passing through the midst of them Jesus went away.

Reflection

Have you noticed how friends and close relatives become uneasy when we try to bring up the subject of Jesus and His message of salvation, or talk about some topics in the Bible in relation to our daily living? Jesus talked about the same kind of rejection of Elijah and Elisha by their own people, and the consequence that their miracles were instead performed for people outside Israel. He Himself was not accepted in His own town of Nazareth, and therefore performed little miracles of healing there.

And yet, today’s Gospel message seems to be telling us that when God calls us to be His prophets, we cannot do anything but respond to that call. Having received this gift of faith, we cannot help but spread God’s Word, particularly to those who are dear to us, especially during this Lenten season. Just as the early martyrs suffered persecution as God’s beacons of salvation, we who have received the fire from the Holy Spirit must in a smaller way suffer some humiliation from our relatives and friends for the sake of the Gospel. Speaking about Christ and His Gospel values may not be hot topics in today’s modern world, but being faithful to the Word of God was never meant to be an easy mission for the true followers of Jesus.

It is easy for people to be cynical when they are familiar with us, especially when they know our sinful past. But our conversion and renewed life is precisely the kind of testimony that the Holy Spirit will employ to bring others to His fold. As long as we persevere and are consistent in our renewal, people close to us will forget or forgive our past, and will eventually listen and believe our witnessing.

Father God, we know we were also guilty of rejecting Jesus, and not accepting Him in His native place, which is our heart, when we were in the state of sin. But You have helped us remain faithful to all Your commandments, so now may He always live within. Amen.