The Word God Spells

Luke 24: 13-35
Acts 3: 1-10 / Ps 105: 1-4, 6-9

Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?
(Luke 24:32)

God’s message comes in verses read,
In parables that Jesus said,
Or even on the roads we tread,
Or in the breaking of the Bread.

Two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. While they were talking about everything that had happened, Jesus came up and walked beside them; but they did not recognize him. He asked them, “What are you discussing?” With their faces downcast, one of them named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there these past days?” “What things?” He asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed. The chief priests and our rulers sentenced Him to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They said they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself. As they neared the village where they were going, Jesus acted as if He were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening.” So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how they recognized Jesus when He broke the bread.

Reflection

All of us (hopefully) will experience our own ‘road to Emmaus’. There will come a time in our life when we will have a personal encounter with our Saviour. Right now we might still be too preoccupied with making our first million, raising a family, attending to our career, or struggling up the corporate ladder, but sooner or later, we will eventually meet up with our Lord, like Cleopas and the other disciple, or more dramatically, like St. Paul’s encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus. Jesus just bides His time, but He knows that somewhere along the way in our journey through this earthly existence, we will discover our true destination, and He will be there to offer His assistance. After all, He is the Way, all His promises are true, and in the Eucharist, He is the Source of eternal life.

Jesus taught the two disciples first about Holy Scriptures before breaking bread with them, as if He was setting the format for the future celebration of the mass. We listen to the Word of God first before partaking of His Body and Blood. That is why the celebration of the Holy Eucharist would not be complete if we arrive during or after the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel.

How foolish we are if we do not seek direction on the path we must take to arrive at our destination. How much more if the direction we need will help us reach our Ultimate Destination! The Word of God reveals to us our mission in life; without its instructions all our attempts to find our way in life will amount to nothing. By our own plans and efforts alone, we will always come up empty, puzzled and lost. That is why it is very important to read the ‘Divine Manual’ everyday. The more we read about our Lord Jesus in the Bible, the more we will understand His purpose for our life and the direction we need to take.

“It was You who created my inmost self, and put me together in my mother’s womb; for all these mysteries I thank You: for the wonder of myself, for the wonder of Your works.” (Psalms 139:13-14) Amen.

Luke 21: 12-19
Dn 5:1-6.13-14.16-17.23-28 / Dn 3:62-67

This will result in your giving testimony to them.
(Luke 21:13)

Be prepared for “persecution”
When we are called to testify
To the Good News of salvation,
By which our Lord we glorify.

“Before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your giving testimony to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.”

Reflection

God allows that we go through trials and persecutions because He knows that these will lead us to give witness to our faith. The word “witness” is translated from the Greek word marturion, from which we get our English word “martyr”. The term means “he who serves as testimony or proof.” Thus, the early Christians were called martyrs not because of their persecution, but because of the testimony of their faith, for which they were willing to give up their lives. God allowed their trials to make them worthy of Himself, “As gold in the furnace, He proved them, and as sacrificial offerings He took them to Himself.” (Wisdom 3:6) It was Tertullian who said it so well: “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.”

We are fortunate that we do not live during the age of Christian persecutions; nor in the present time when we have to prove our faith as other Christians do in places like Saudi Arabia or China, where the practice of one’s religion is strictly prohibited or regulated. But wherever we are, we are still called to give witness to our Lord Jesus, especially during times of personal turmoil, grief, or financial crisis. It is in times of extreme distress that true faith emerges.

All of us are called to give witness, or to share our life testimony about God’s miracle in our lives, especially those who are in the renewal. Many regard this as the modern version of the Christian persecution, because the greatest fear of most people is to stand at the podium in front of an audience. It will do them well to heed the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel: “I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” (Lk.21:15) Yes, as we have heard in many a sharing, it is the Holy Spirit that speaks through us; we have nothing to fear.

Father God, in times when we are put to the test on account of Your Name, grant us the grace to be bold in our ministry. Renew our spirit that we might bring glory and honor to You. We pray for all those Christians who are suffering persecution and death for the sake of the Gospel. Empower them with Your Holy Spirit to persevere in their faith. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Luke 13: 1-9
Rom 8:1-11 / Ps 24:1-6

For three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?
(Luke 13:7)

May the Lord show us how to serve
With compassion and true leadership;
With His Spirit help us to deserve
The Commission of His Stewardship.

Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ” (Luke 13:6-9)

Reflection

For three years, during our stint as Mission couple of our Brotherhood, Ollie and I gave much of our time and energies in going to our BCBP outreach in Gen. Santos city to attend the twice monthly breakfast fellowships there as well as the weekly afternoon seminars called Christian Life Programs that were held for building up the membership of the community. The CLPs ran for nine weeks, and we would normally be heading back home with the mission team on the two-hour trip when it was already dark. During those three years, we were able to hold five Christian Life Programs which ‘harvested’ a total of 100 new graduates for the outreach, half of whom are now active members of the community. As head of Mission, we were also responsible for overseeing two other older outreaches in Digos and Tagum cities.

Since the time our term in the Mission ended, we no longer go to Gen. Santos city as often as we used to, but whenever we do — to accompany a speaker or attend a special occasion — it never fails to enlighten us to see our brothers and sisters there still full of joy in their new life with the Lord.

All of us who are called to go on mission for the Lord experience a vigorous spiritual purpose in our lives. There is a strong feeling that we are at the cutting edge of what Christian renewal is all about.

Many in the community think that attending seminars, group meetings and prayer assemblies are enough to be considered active members. But these are just part of the growth and maturity of our commitment. What is the sense in raising a healthy tree if it does not bear fruits? It is better to cut it down than have it using up the fertility of the earth. If we have received a commission from the Lord, and our formation is complete, then it is time to step out and share our new life with others who are still searching for some meaning in their lives. And one does not have to go to far-flung outreaches to serve God and His community. He or she can take a cue from Bro. John, who rarely fails to invite at least one first-timer to the brotherhood’s weekly breakfasts. He doesn’t mind paying for their breakfasts either; for him it’s just part of paying his tithes. And for his efforts, the Lord has made his professional career in the insurance business bear fruits abundantly.

May we always cling to You, Lord Jesus, our True Vine, for You nourish us with Your Word and make us produce fruit that is pleasing to the Father. Amen.

Luke 10: 1-9
2 Tm 4:9-17/Ps 145

The harvest is rich, but the workers are few; so you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to His harvest.
(Luke 10: 2)

We must be bold heralds willing
To share the Good News of the Lord;
We are all called to bring healing
To where men hunger for His Word.

Jesus appointed 72 other disciples, and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He himself was about to come. He told them, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few; so you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to His harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!’ If a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Reflection

The ministry of proclaiming the Good News was never meant only for a select few. This unique aspect of our Brotherhood’s culture takes on more meaning in this month of mission. All members are urged to prepare their life testimony to be shared in breakfast meetings of our chapter or in other communities of the BCBP where one or a couple is invited. In this way we imitate the disciples of Christ who were sent to preach the Good News of salvation. Whenever we share our spiritual transformation during a breakfast, it is like conditioning our listeners for Jesus’ arrival in their lives. The task is not easy, and requires fervent prayers that our sharing may inspire the listeners to become “workers” themselves in the Lord’s vineyard.

Ollie and I prayed for courage as we boarded the small aircraft in Cebu that took us on a mission to share God’s Word in Kalibo chapter and its Boracay outreach. There was nothing to fear, after all. In fact there was every reason to be joyful, as our brothers and sisters in those communities pampered us with sumptious meals and first-class accomodations. How true our Lord’s words, “for the worker deserves his wages.” Soon after that, we were invited again to give our life testimony in far-off Surigao city, a ten-hour bus trip from Davao. This time, we went without hesitation.

God is called the Lord of the harvest because He is the one who sends out workers. He supplies all the speakers in the breakfast meetings of the various chapters and outreaches of BCBP all over the country. Members of our chapter regularly travel by pairs to the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Valencia, Tagum, Panabo, Digos, Gen. Santos, Marbel, Kidapawan, Butuan, Iligan and Surigao to share God’s Word. Many have been spiritually healed through this unique culture of our brotherhood.

Help us, Father God to travel light in spreading the Good News of Your kingdom, not to be weighed down by temporal concerns, and to take courage in Your protection even as we are sent forth like lambs among ravenous wolves. Bless our mission, that those who hear Your message may also become workers in Your vineyard. Amen.

Luke 10: 1-12
Neh 8:1-4.5-6.7-12 / Ps 19:8-11

The harvest is rich, but the workers are few; so you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to His harvest.
(Luke 10:2)

We must be bold heralds willing
To share the Good News of the Lord;
We are all called to bring healing
To where men hunger for His Word.

Jesus appointed 72 other disciples, and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He himself was about to come. He told them, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few; so you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to His harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ If a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Reflection

Today’s Gospel reading of Luke was what moved St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast we celebrate today to fall in love with “Lady Poverty” in February of 1208, while he was hearing Mass in the chapel of St. Mary of the Angels. The founder of the Franciscan Order then wrote the rule of their order “to possess neither gold nor silver, nor scrip for their journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff, and that they were to exhort sinners to repentance and announce the Kingdom of God.”

The ministry of proclaiming the Good News was never meant only for saints like St. Francis. This vital aspect of our Brotherhood’s culture, which takes on more meaning in this month of mission, urges all members to prepare their life testimony to be shared in breakfast meetings of the BCBP where one or a couple is invited. In this way we imitate all saints of Christ who were sent to preach the hope of salvation. Whenever we share our spiritual transformation during a breakfast, it is like preparing our listeners for Jesus' arrival in their lives. The task is not an easy one, and requires fervent prayers that our sharing may touch other brothers and sisters to become “workers” themselves in the Lord’s vineyard.

This coming Saturday, Ollie and I have been invited to share our life testimony in our outreach’s breakfast meeting in Gen. Santos city, a two-hour trip from Davao. We thank the Lord, our God for this blessed opportunity. God is called the Lord of the harvest because He is the one who sends out workers. He supplies all the speakers in the various chapters and outreaches of BCBP all over the country. Members of our chapter regularly travel by pairs to other cities like Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Valencia, Tagum, Panabo, Digos, Marbel, Kidapawan, Butuan, Iligan and Surigao to share God’s Word. Many have been spiritually healed through this unique culture of our brotherhood.

Help us, Father God to travel light in spreading the Good News of Your kingdom, not to be weighed down by temporal concerns, and to take courage in Your protection even as we are sent forth like lambs among ravenous wolves. Bless our mission, that those who hear Your message may also become workers in Your vineyard. Amen.

Luke 9: 57-62
Neh 2:1-8 / Ps 137

No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.
(Luke 9:62)

No ifs or buts, no fear or doubt,
This is what faith is all about.
Be resolute when we aspire
To follow Christ, this He’ll require.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)

Reflection

Today’s Gospel passage brings to mind the call of Elisha in 1Kings 19:19-21. When the prophet Elijah came upon Elisha, his chosen successor, who was plowing a field with 12 yoke of oxen, and the former threw his cloak over him, Elisha knew he was being called to serve God. There was no time to waste; not even to kiss his parents goodbye. As a sign that he was giving up everything for this new life, he slaughtered his oxen, used his plowing equipment as firewood to cook the meat, and gave a farewell feast to the people he was leaving behind.

Jesus knew what He was going to undergo in Jerusalem, the city of His destiny, but He was “resolutely determined” to undertake the mission that the Father had sent Him to accomplish. Every step that He took towards the ‘Eternal City’ brought Him closer to an excruciating torture and certain death, but “like a lamb being led to its slaughter, our Lord continued boldly on His journey.

The Gospel passage today gives us a clear idea of what it means when we are called to witness for the kingdom of God. The conditions for following our Lord Jesus are absolute, and leave no room for concessions. As St. Paul said in his letter to the Galatians, “Stand firm and never submit again to the yoke of slavery (sin)… Live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires (that go) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.” (Gal.5:1,16-17)

Keep always before me, Lord, so that I may never be shaken, for in You my heart is glad, my soul rejoices, my body dwells secure. Show me the right path (Psalm 16:9-11) that I may persevere in serving You until the end of this earthly sojourn. Amen.