The Word God Spells

Mark 10: 46-52
1 Pt 2: 2-5. 9-12 / Ps 100: 2-5

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
(Mark 10:52)

Grant us the grace to see, O Lord
What once was hidden deep within,
The wisdom to discern Your Word,
And will to break away from sin.

They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus, the Son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10: 46-52)

Reflection

The crowd of people who tried to silence Bartimaeus were more blind than this beggar. Though he was blind to many things, he “saw” the opportunity for the restoration of his sight passing by, and mustered all his strength to cry out for help. The people following Jesus, however, were all blind to the need of this suffering man, because in their minds he counted for nothing. It was only when the Lord stopped and took notice of Bartimaeus that they encouraged him to get up and made way for him to reach Jesus.

We ourselves were once blind to the things of the spirit until we joined a community of renewed Christians and became followers of Jesus Christ. We began to see many things by the grace of God and by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and by the words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. We learned that when we ask God in prayer for discernment and wisdom, He will not refuse our request. “Lord, I want to see.” And in time we began to understand many of life’s mysteries which were once hidden because of our sins.

In our group’s bible sharing last night, a former politician shared that he had decided to give up his law practice “for God’s sake”, and for the first time in his life found true peace. Another brother in Christ shared that ever since he surrendered his will to the Lord, he has never failed to receive what his family needed, always “in the nick of time”. We all agreed that it was God’s gift of faith that restored our vision of living in the right direction. Like Bartimaeus, all it needed was for us to cry out to God for help, and He immediately gave us what we needed in order to follow Him.

Like the conversion of St. Paul in Damascus, “things like scales fell from (our) eyes, and (we) regained (our) sight” (Acts 9:18). And in the words of St. Peter (in the first reading), now we have seen that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own, so that we may announce the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

We praise and thank You, Father God, for making us see that it is the things of this world that blind us and keep us from following Your will, and it is in complete faith and trust in Your plans that our proper perspective has been restored. 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)

God has provided all we need,
So be not anxious, rejoice instead;
On His Word do we daily feed,
And in the Eucharist’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 our prayers and supplications.

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. God will give us what we need, and even in excess, if only to show us that our temporal needs are nothing compared to His great generosity. 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.

John 4: 43-54
Is 65: 17-21 / Ps 30: 2, 4-6, 11-13

And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him, and started on his way.
(John 4:50)

All it takes is for us to believe,
Don’t let doubt be an obstacle;
Those who ask God in faith will receive
The power of His miracle.

When the two days were over, He went from that place to Galilee (for Jesus Himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country). When He came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him, since they had seen all that Jesus had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival. Then He came again toJesus Heals an Official’s Son Cana in Galilee where He had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.’ The official said to Him, ‘Sir, come down before my little boy dies.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ And the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, ‘Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.’ The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee. (John 4: 43-54)

Reflection

Instead of demonstrating His miraculous healing power to the nobleman by going with him, Jesus did something even better: He invited the father to believe in His word by saying, “Go; your son will live.” And as the narrative goes, “The man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him, and started on his way” (Jn.4:50). Then, when his servants informed him that his son had recovered, it was not due to any doubt that he inquired about the time this happened, but because he wanted to exult in the instant fulfillment of the Lord’s promise. “I will show them My saving power.” (Psalm 91:16) This led to the pagan nobleman’s immediate conversion.

Today’s Gospel reading shows us that the spoken Word of Jesus was more powerful than His actions, because not only was the son healed, but his father and the entire household of the nobleman was converted as well. After all, “The Lord’s word is true; all His works are trustworthy. . . By the Lord’s word the heavens were made. . . He spoke, and it came to be, commanded, and it stood in place” (Psalm 33: 4,6,9). This is how miracles in our lives happen. It is simply a matter of taking God at His word. And His Word can live in our hearts if we meditate on them and if possible, even memorize them. There are many promises of God in the Bible that can put our anxieties to rest if we but believe them. Read Psa. 91 for protection; Mt.6:25-34 for God’s provisions; Lk.11:9 for assurance of prayers answered; Prov.5:15-23 for guidance against adultery; and many more. It’s a virtual treasure trove of wisdom.

During this Lenten season, let us spend more time reading the Bible, that we may fully understand that God wants to heal our soul more than our physical ailments. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13).

Thank You, Lord for making us see that it is not miracles that can change our hearts, but the truth of who Jesus is, and why He came, as we read them in the Bible. Amen.

Matthew 11:20-24
Ex 2:1-15 / Ps 69

. . . if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
(Matthew 11: 23)

Let us heed the words of Jesus:
The worse will come without remorse;
We know that there is no excuse,
Repentance is our sole recourse.

Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which He had done many of His miracles, because they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!” (Matthew 11:20-24)

Reflection

Along the shores of the Sea of Galilee were once found the four beautiful ancient towns of Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Tiberias. Only the city of Tiberias is still existing in the present day. What happened to the other three? In today’s Gospel passage of Matthew, Jesus made the prophecy that a greater tragedy would befall Chorazin and Bethsaida than what happened to Tyre and Sidon, and that Capernaum would suffer a worse fate than the city of Sodom. History records that in AD 400, a massive earthquake destroyed the three cities. Only the city of Tiberias was spared. Our Lord’s prophecy against Capernaum and the two unrepentant cities was thus fulfilled. Significantly, Jesus never uttered a word of judgment against the city of Tiberias. It is still standing today, and flourishing, after nearly two thousand years.

Capernaum once enjoyed the honor of being the special place of Jesus’ ministry. He recruited many of His apostles there, like Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew. He performed many of His miracles in His adopted town, such as: the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Mt.8:14-15), the centurion’s servant (Mt.8:5-7), the paralytic (Mt.9:2,7), and the casting out of demons (Mk.1:23-27). It was also near this town that the miraculous feeding of the four thousand occurred (Mk.8:6-9). And yet, in spite of all the signs that Jesus performed in Capernaum, the people there remained impassive and unrepentant, and like what happened in Nazareth, they eventually began to resent and oppose Him. They saw the many great miracles, and heard Jesus’ words of truth and wisdom, but they refused to repent and believe. Thus, the people of Capernaum sealed their own fate, and like Sodom before it, as our Lord had predicted, it disappeared into the dustbin of history.

The fate of Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida serve as a historical lesson that the way of impenitence can only lead to physical and spiritual destruction. Even those that enjoy a special place in God’s heart will never last if they persist in their sins.

Thank You, dear God for making us realize the damnation we would face without repentance. May the most precious blood of Jesus wash away all our sins. Amen.

Matthew 9: 18-26
Gen 28:10-22 / Ps 91

She said to herself, ‘If only I can touch his cloak, I will be healed.’
(Matthew 9:21)

I only touched Your cloak, my Lord,
And from my sins You’ve set me free;
My health and vigor You’ve restored,
Now I shall serve You faithfully.

While Jesus was teaching, a ruler came and knelt before Him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and went with him with his disciples. On their way, a woman who had been suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I can only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment. When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, He said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region. (Matthew 9:18-26)

Reflection

A person of weaker character would have despaired. But to a person of faith, there is no such thing as a hopeless situation. The ruler whose daughter had died, and the woman who had been stricken with hemorrhage for twelve years shared the same unyielding faith in Jesus’ healing power, and they were not disappointed.

Such a woman of strength I found in Beth, a mother of five and once submissive wife of a businessman whose thriving business had floundered. With a daughter in college, two in highschool, and another daughter and youngest son in gradeschool (all in exclusive schools in Manila), and their house mortgaged with a bank, her husband had suffered a mild heart attack due to his heavy smoking and inability to cope with stress. But Beth believed in the power of prayer, and asked God’s help that their children’s education would not have to be sacrificed when they resorted to belt-tightening.

Her two sisters provided the answer to Beth’s prayer. They found a good business opportunity in the clubhouse of the subdivision where they were living, and when they won the bidding, asked Beth to be a managing partner. With no experience in catering management, but only a good housewife’s kitchen sense and discipline, Beth buckled down to work. With so many mouths to feed (her husband’s two sisters were also staying with them), Beth did not have to worry about leftovers. Not long after, one of her sisters gave up her share in the business to Beth, and the other also decided to sell out when other opportunities beckoned for her time. Beth soon discovered that she possessed the keen mind of an entrepreneur with a thriving cafeteria business. She decided to apply for the canteen services of a big private college. Her decision to stick it out with her bright daughters’ education has paid off, as they are now well on the way to pursuing their individual successful careers.

Looking back, Beth realized that it was actually her trials that had led her to find her niche as an astute businesswoman. She thanks God that in her weakened state, He had given her the strength of faith. She believed that God would not test her beyond her strength, but would provide a way out of them (1Cor.10:13). In fact, her trials produced the perseverance and enterprising spirit that led to her success (Jam.1:3).

In times of trials and difficulties, embolden us to rise above our failures, Lord God, and reach out to You in prayer and supplication, holding fast to Your mercy. Amen.

John 6: 52- 59
Acts 9:1-20 / Ps 117

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
(John 6:53)

Nothing nourishes more than Jesus,
And as precious as His Word we’re fed.
In Scriptures we receive His Good News,
In the Eucharist our Daily Bread.

The Jews disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Reflection

Jesus had just performed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish, which was not only an expression of His compassion for the hungry multitude that followed Him, but more importantly, to prefigure God’s gift of the Holy Eucharist to future generations of Christians. Unfortunately, many of His disciples, inspite of the signs that He showed, left Him because they could not understand His words (6:66). The same can be said today of the Protestants who have chosen to leave the Catholic Church because they could not accept the doctrine of transubstantiation, wherein we believe the Bread of Life truly initiated in the Last Supper when He commanded, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19).

In the Mass, the mystery of the Eucharist is relived every hour and everyday all over the world without losing its essence and meaning. The Word of God, which is also part of the liturgy of the Mass, is likewise read and heard everyday, throughout our lives, delivering God’s message to us in many different ways. A day will never be the same without receiving the Bread of Life and the Word of God. His Bread and His Word give us life, nourishing our spirits. We can never last long without them. Jesus is inviting us to take His Flesh and Blood and His Word into the very essence of our being. The life that He offers is the very life of God Himself. Like the multitudes in Jesus’ time, our spirits always hunger for the Bread of Life.

We praise you, Lord God eternal. Your Flesh and Blood and Your Word will nourish us all the days of our lives, until the end of time. Amen.