There are times when God allows us to suffer in life. In
fact, we see good people afflicted with a lot of trials and burdens. We tend to
ask why bad things happen to good people. It helps to think of a grain of sand
that agitates and irritates the clam which in turn triggers the production of a
substance that can be compared to tears whenever we get something in our eyes
but in the process this tear like substance after a period of time eventually
emerges into a priceless pearl. We all have questions why things like that
happen and today's 1st reading gives us an assurance that all we have to do is
trust that God can always turn anything even the worst kind of thing into good
like a precious gem. Amen. Hallelujah!
Isaiah 53:10-11
10 The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he
gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long
life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. 11 Because of
his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his
suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.
We may have heard and seen some terrible and frightening
things in our life but we should always hold on to the truth that no matter how
horrible the things that are happening around us they don't change the fact
that our Lord is God and always in charge and in control. We should place our
trust not in men or in things but in God alone. The Lord did not promise us to
be totally problem free but He gave His assurance that He will always be our
Savior and Redeemer. Lead us Lord to the right path and decisions that we may
work toward the building of your kingdom here on earth. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 33:4-5. 18-19. 20. 22 (22)
R: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in
you.
4 Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are
trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the
earth is full. (R) 18 See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and
preserve them in spite of famine. (R) 20 Our soul waits for the LORD, who is
our help and our shield. 22 May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put
our hope in you.
God gives us valuable instructions for life that will make
it pleasing and acceptable before Him. We should be mindful of the word of God
being given to us in the scriptures and in our daily circumstances. The bible
has been described as something like a manual that teaches us, Christians to go
about with our lives. Just like any new equipment that comes with a manual in
order to operate it properly so are God's words to us. We have to discover the
joy of always consulting the word of God through the daily readings. In doing
so we may even come to a point of making a commitment to write down reflections
and share it to family and friends. It is in documenting and organizing our
thoughts or journaling that we can access, read it readily and be reminded
constantly. When God created us He intended for us to be guided and directed in
accordance to His will and that's what the word of God does for us. For nothing
else matters more than what matters to God. Jesus is 100% divine and human
except for sin. This is a Church teaching that was discussed in the bible
study. The arch of Mark's gospel which illustrates 2 opposite parts represented
by Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man is highlighted by the center of the arch
where Jesus' divinity meets His humanity in the cross as the perfect victim
(sacrificial lamb/scapegoat) of man's salvation. When things get out of hand we
have no one to blame but ourselves for Jesus the perfect sacrifice is surely
not lacking in everything that He has given us for our own welfare. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to
our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet
without sin. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive
mercy and to find grace for timely help.
Today's gospel makes it clear to us that we have to purify
our motives and intentions before we do something. Sometimes we fall into the
trap of doing something in exchange of something or we are driven to action by
the fact that there is a catch to it. These things should only come as a result
of our action but not the main driving force of our action. What should keep as
going is the truth that Jesus, the Son of God, King of all kings and Lord of
all lords came to earth to serve and became ransom for our sins. God's greatest
expression of love is a masterpiece. He suffered His only Son for our sake. Is
there anything more that God could do for us that He has not done? The least we
can do right now is to look into the life model and example that Jesus left for
us. Know everything there is to know about our God who stripped Himself of His
Kingship and Royalty to become like us. Fr. Mitch Pacwa said that what God did
for us was like that of a big tall man who knelt down on the floor so as to
look into the eye of a small baby crawling on the floor. God wanted to be able
to be with us and look at us straight into the eye while He says, "I love
you" which is directly aimed at our hearts. Once we've realized this and
done everything with the best of our efforts then there's nothing else that
could stop us from adoring and praising our One, True God who gave His all for
us. In the gospel, we find that it is the 3rd time in Mark’s that
Jesus mentioned about His prediction of His Cross. This one being the strongest
as He said, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be
handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to
death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him,
scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.” The
whole point here is that Jesus saves the world through His passion, death and
resurrection and the disciples are to share with Him in this Paschal Mystery.
This is the point that we miss, James and John are no different for they did
not understand. They wanted to be seated in the right and left or be in a
position of authority and power. We recall in Luke 9:54, When the disciples
James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down
fire from heaven to consume them?" We can see from here that they want
success and domination. Somehow we can not blame them for thinking this way.
They have been obedient servants and had witnessed the transfiguration. They
are especially close to Jesus that they had aspired for these great things.
There was a misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings. In this particular scene,
James and John only saw the glory but failed to see the Calvary .
Aren't we all guilty of the same attitude sometimes? We only want the fame,
glory and power but dismiss the hardships that go with it. When Jesus came from
heaven to earth to show the way He did not bypass or made a short cut he went
through it all, the passion, death and resurrection. We should not want Jesus
just because of our own personal agenda. The Kingdom of God Church of God
Mark 10:35-45
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said
to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 He
replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” 37 They answered him, “Grant
that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus
said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup
that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
...whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes
to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man did not come
to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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