There are times when we expect God to reveal Himself to us
through spectacular and heart rending events that we miss the point. We
sometimes associate God and good luck to a certain extent that we fail to know
the difference. In all of these things that are happening in our lives we have
to realize what's most important is that we get God's message. In today's 1st
reading God reminds us that He is always with us through thick and thin, even
when we hardly hear or feel Him or seems like He is absent and doesn't care at
all. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13
...A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and
crushing
rocks before the LORD — but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the
wind there was an earthquake — but the LORD was not in the
earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was fire — but the
LORD was
not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering
sound. 13 When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and
stood at the entrance of the cave...
What a wonderful world this place that we live in could be
if only we listen to the instructions constantly being given to us in the
scriptures. We have an awesome God who always speaks to us in a very timely and
specific manner. His messages are fitted to the situation we are presently
experiencing right now. We should remain confident that God will make a way.
There is really nothing more that God can do for us that He has not done. God
is never short of blessings to shower on us. He has made it all available to us
through His Son. All that is needed is for us to make our move. Let us open
ourselves to God's presence in our lives and know that there is never a moment
in our life when He is away from us. It is always the other way around for we
are the ones turning away from Him and placing blocks and hindrances between us
whenever we can't find Him.
We are constantly being faced by challenges to our faith
especially at this present time. It is easier to be firm in our faith when
times are easy but when tough times come that is when we are put to the test.
No matter how difficult things may seem we should never give in to the pressure
and remain steadfast. We can always choose to do the right thing if we
safeguard in our hearts the truth about God knowing that it is always for the
best. We need not be afraid of anything although this is something that we all
find very difficult to do. They say faith and reason do not work together just
like science and religion. This is not a fact but a fallacy. These things in
fact compliment each other because one supports the other. There is no faith
without reason and vice versa. We can not just have one and lack the other.
This has to be very clear in our heads. We should always try to condition
ourselves in the atmosphere of God's presence. We should gear ourselves toward
that direction so that we place ourselves within His reach, it's not that God
can not reach us but we hinder God from reaching out to us. When we do not
respond to His call and shut off our ears although we are within hearing range,
we fail to get the message. Which reminds me of Bernadette's ear, when we went
to her doctor she underwent a procedure (ear lavage) in order to unclog her
left ear but prior to that she was already instilling ear meds for 4 days. The
nurse explained to her that it can be painful and can cause her to feel dizzy
and asked her if she still wants it done and she agreed. Sometimes we have to resort
to very uncomfortable measures in order to be cured in the same way we should
maintain such condition spiritually so that we can always keep our ears open to
God's word. Wherever God is, there is always peace and prosperity. It is only
natural that we have longings and desires because God Himself planted it in our
hearts. We all long for the good things in life and God Himself can provide for
all these things. It is just sad that we reach out for other things that we
thought are good for us. We do not realize that we have to seek first the Kingdom of God
Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14R: Lord, let us see your
kindness, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD-for he proclaims
peace. To his people, 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear
him, glory dwelling in our land.
...12 [13] The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land
shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and prepare
the way of his steps.
Last night we attended the Bible Study in San
Lorenzo and it was the last of the series of talks about the Book
of Mark. It focused on the 4th and last pillar of Mark's gospel which is the
Markan Community (Communal/Sod) It is like any other community, human, broken
and shared. A story of failed discipleship which can be found in Peter who
denied Jesus 3x, Judas, the betrayer, James and John who were so ambitious and
insensitive and so many others that can be found in the bible. A community of
all and not dictated by race whether Jew or Gentile. The community gives
special attention to the weak and helpless. There is strength in the community
in spite of its brokenness. It tells us that the apostasy of Peter was
committed when he was alone which tells us that it is not good for man to be
alone. I guess we can learn from these famous lines, "I am at my best when
I'm in a relationship." "Suffering is the best teacher."
"Big mistakes make big impressions in the heart of men." Faith is the
center of the community. Faith birth miracle not the other way around. Faith
itself that remains steadfast and continues to believe despite the
disappointments encountered in life is the miracle. It is a community in a
hurry because discipleship can not wait. If there's brokenness we have to immediately
restore the relationship. The selected reading was about the blind Bartimaeus
(Mk 10:46-52) and was compared to another blind man who was also cured (Mk
8:22-26) Bartimaeus has a strong spirituality because it is written that he
immediately followed Jesus despite Jesus' words, "Go your way" but he
didn't go his own way but followed Jesus. He was healed by word and in an
instant the moment Jesus spoke. During that time, the cloak signifies who you
are. He is a beggar and his cloak stands for everything he is and owns since he
uses it to place the money he gets from begging. Bartimaeus even left his cloak
and rushed to Jesus like he did not care about anything anymore for he found in
Jesus everything. Another similar story that was cited was from Jn. 4:4 of a
Samaritan woman fetching water but when she learned about the life giving water
which Jesus spoke of she immediately left her jar of water when she realized
who Jesus is. She left behind her old life and follow the way of Jesus. On the
other hand there's this story of another unnamed blind man in Bethsaida , he was not healed instantly rather
slowly and gradually. He was healed by touch with a spittle and was sent home.
Mark recognizes the differences in spirituality of the members of the
community. He knows that there are people that are quick in understanding
things concerning matters of the faith and there are those who are slow. But
this doesn't mean that we kick them out of the community. Mark sees the
community as all sinners because ours is a flawed community and it is for this
reason that Jesus came. Peter whom we thought was the first person who got it
all right about Jesus as the Messiah denied Jesus 3x but he was not thrown out
of the community. He proved himself true to his faith by his succeeding actions
which led to his dying on the cross upside down but eventually earned him the
honor of becoming the 1st pope of the Church. Just like Peter we have to
experience everything in order to fully understand what the Markan secret is
all about. For in the end, the Markan community mirrors the suffering, death
and resurrection of Christ, the Paschal Mystery which is the Markan secret.
Today's 2nd reading conveys the same message of communal love that a Markan
community fosters. St. Paul
conveys his great love for his people to the point of even wanting to be
accursed for their sake. He knows the great privilege and benefit of being
joined to Christ and he wanted very much for the Israelites to realize what
they are missing by not accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. We too, should be
able to process this truth in our heart, mind and soul. Amen. Hallelujah!
Romans 9:1-5
1 Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do
not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2 that
I have great sorrow and constant anguish
in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from
Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They
are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of
the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them,
according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever.
Amen.
There are times in our life when we consider all positive
things happening to us as the only reason to continue to love, serve and praise
God. We should do all these in all circumstances even when we don't feel like
it. In today's gospel Peter was able to walk on water but when he was
confronted with the strong winds and waves he started to sink. We have our
hopes up when we see things turning into our favor but we suddenly lose our
ground the moment things don't go our way. We become fair weather
followers/friends of Jesus. Can we still honestly profess with conviction our
faith in God in the midst of trials?
I have come to develop a special attachment to every gospel
story that speaks of the Sea of Galilee . This
started way back in the Philippines
before I finally decided to come here. The Sea of Galilee has taken on a deeper
meaning in my life way back in 2007 when I decided to come here to the US . In
Mt. 4: 18 the Sea of Galilee is where Jesus'
call to the first disciples took place. It is good to recall and look back
where our own Galilees are. I can still remember very well my own sea of
Galilee and should always keep in mind and never forget. As we gather all our
strength and courage we, too like the disciples should never turn back and go
forth to our own Galilees. I could still recall the bible story in Luke 5
entitled, "The call of Simon (later on named Peter) the Fisherman."
It was way back in Feb. 4, 2007, during those times when I was discerning and
weighing my decision to come here to the US with my friend Joy. This gospel
reading from Luke specifically caught my attention, confirmed and gave me
confidence in what I was planning to do and eventually did. Just like Peter who
was skeptical at that time I was also feeling so unsure about my decisions then
and this phrase really had a great impact on me back then coupled with the
priest's homily that went with it. That was like more than 7 years ago now. I
feel like God is reminding me again of that scene at the Sea of Galilee (also
known as the Sea
of Gennesaret Sea
of Galilee is the place where Jesus chose His Apostles and also
where the apostles immediately left everything and followed Him. (Luke
5:10-11). Which reminds me too of that song entitled, "Lord, you have
come" The background setting of this song is biblically based on the
gospel stories of the call of Jesus to Peter and the apostles at the Sea of Galilee . It
held a special and deep meaning that touched my heart in an unexplainable way
owing to the occasions and incidences that were connected and related to it.
But I believe God in His awesome and almighty wisdom, intelligence and
knowledge reveals things in stages for the benefit of our limited capacities
and understanding. The series of events and daily readings became an eye opener
and has given me a better understanding of all the things that have happened
since. I realized it is always good to look back, recall and never forget those
times in our lives when Jesus was calling us for a certain task and decided to
follow and obey. As I develop in myself a broader understanding of the Call at
the Sea of Galilee I also realized the need to
go across it and experience a higher level of union with God. In the gospel of Luke back then, the
situation was different since the Sea of Galilee in that given bible passage
was very reassuring since it gave an impression of peace and calm which was
very conformed to my situation back in the Philippines before I left for the
US. When I finally arrived here in the US and experience life away from my
loved ones and encountering the challenges I now face I was able to relate to
that gospel in Mark 4:35-41 also at the Sea of Galilee when the disciples were
faced by a violent squall and big waves filling up the boat to the brink of
causing it to sink. Very much unlike the gospel in Luke when Peter having
obeyed and followed to put out into the deep water was rewarded with a miracle,
Lk. 5:6-8 “... when they caught a great number of fish and their nets were
tearing... and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.”
Immediately upon arriving the US I was also greeted with a lot of pleasant
surprises like passing the NCLEX-RN, getting a hospital petitioner, being able
to travel to the East Coast (New York, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Chicago, Washington DC) for free and winning the grand prize in the
Nurse Expo. All these experiences of the disciples in the Sea
of Galilee I have noticed that I can personally relate to
especially in the manner of the sequence I have encountered them. In both
occasions, the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus in both gospels of
Luke and Mark came to this scenario or condition of their boats both in danger
of sinking. Although both happened in the Sea of Galilee, as I look at my own
life the gospel in Luke which I encountered before I left the Philippines
reflected the positive and confirming things that were happening back then just as the disciples having
followed and obeyed Jesus' specifically the bible passages at the Sea of Galilee
in Luke 5:4-6 "Jesus said to Peter, "Put out into deep water and
lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master we have
worked hard all night and caught nothing
but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this
they caught a great number of fish their nets were tearing." On the other
hand the gospel in Mark which I have encountered now that I am already here in
the US reflects the trials and difficulties which I can relate to the disciples
response to the bidding of Jesus to cross to the other side were greeted by a
not so pleasant surprise with a violent squall to the point where the boat was
already filled up with water and in the brink of sinking. After having made
those decisions in 2007 which eventually brought me to my present situation
here in the US ,
I must say I can somehow relate to how the disciples felt back then. It made me
realize that I have also come to a point in my sailing with Jesus in my very
personal Sea of Galilee when I have also witnessed violent squalls in my life
here in the US and been brought to situations to the point of sinking but have
been constantly assured of God's tremendous power. I have witnessed Him pacify
the turbulent winds in my life which have left me with a great calm in the
midst of the storm. In today's gospel it is cited that Jesus came toward them
walking on the sea and his invitation to Peter to get out of the boat and go to
Him on the water which reflects the need to go beyond this call of Jesus at the
seashore of Galilee . In the same way we are
called to respond in our own personal way to Jesus by carefully looking at our
own lives as we go through a series of stages and discover the various
experiences we had which led us to accepting His call at our own Sea of
Galilee, sail with Him across it, not be afraid of the storm that assail us,
and even get out of our boats and start walking on water. It may sound impossible but that is exactly
what God expects us to do. We can not just remain in the security of our boats
all the time we've got to gather all our courage to step out of our boats and
believe that we are able to overcome anything with Jesus on our side. If we
have faith and do not doubt then we are able to overcome the impossible in our
lives. If we are in a middle of a very scary situation there is no reason for
us to doubt that God can rescue us even though our problems are insurmountable.
God wants us to continue believing and trusting in Him even in the middle of a
storm in our life. If we hold on to God then nothing can shake us. There is no
reason for us to be afraid. We can walk on water. Jesus is Lord and is over and
above all our fears, troubles and anxieties. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 14:22-23
22 Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede
him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds...During the fourth watch
of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples
saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and
they cried out in fear. 27 At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I;
do not be afraid.” 28 Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command
me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat
and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw how strong the
wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord,
save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said
to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ...
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