FAITH, HUMILITY & LOVE

The Sacrament of Matrimony is very sacred because it reflects God's desire to be in a relationship with man. This is how we should look at marriage instead of just a union between man and woman, God should be at the center. No relationship in this world can last if God is not in the middle. We always have to put God in the center of everything. If we are to read further today's 1st reading we would find that it is written that they are naked and not ashamed. Our sexuality is much more than just our bodies. It was after sin when they felt ashamed that they were naked. Sexuality is good. We cover our bodies not because our bodies are bad but what’s changed is our attitude.  The original meaning of sexuality was restored when Jesus came to earth and delivered us from our sins. Being free of sin renders us with no egotism, no possessiveness, no desire to dominate and without any fear and shame.  Let us pray that our egotism be healed and respond to God with faith, humility and love. Amen. Hallelujah!

Genesis 2:18-25

...The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.,, The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, 23 the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh. 

One of the purposes of marriage is for procreation. When we enter into it we should be open to having children and the responsibilities that go with it. It is a very challenging task and we need to know how to really walk in God's ways in order to live a happy and favored life. There is only one thing needed and that is to follow the ways of the Lord. Whenever we come to a point in our lives when we encounter trials and difficulties and standing up firm in our faith in God seems to be an impossibility then all the more should we remain faithful and true to God. The psalm reading tells us exactly why. This fear being spoken of in today's psalm is the holy fear of the Lord and is different from other kinds of fear that we know. It's more of the kind of fear that is coupled with respect and is the beginning of wisdom as written in Proverbs 1:7. We have to be perfectly aware of this and strive to maintain it within ourselves so as not to lose sight of this aspect of God's Holiness. Over the years, the olive has been the symbol of peace, wisdom, glory, fertility, power and pureness. The olive tree and olives are mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, in both the New and Old Testaments. It is one of the first plants mentioned in the Bible, and one of the most significant. For example, it was an olive leaf that a dove brought back to Noah to demonstrate that the flood was over. The Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem is mentioned several times. Olive oil has long been considered sacred; it was used to anoint kings and athletes in ancient Greece. It was burnt in the sacred lamps of temples as well as being the "eternal flame" of the original Olympic Games. Victors in these games were crowned with its leaves. Today, it is still used in many religious ceremonies. Today's psalm mentions and compares children to olive plants. We have always been awed by such great affection a mother has for her child. We've seen a lot of things throughout time that attest to this. I am a mother myself and I have done things beyond my capacity because of how much I love my children.  This love of mothers for their brood grows into something very special which explains why they are referred to or likened to olive plants around the table. Let us hope and pray that the Lord will continue to look after our families. No matter how difficult this year is, for our families we have to be confident in God's assurance in today's Psalm reading. If we truly believe that we have an Extraordinary and Awesome God then we, too must be willing to take on the challenge of doing something out of the ordinary and really get out of our way to live out what God calls us to do. Nothing is ever wasted for it has always been proven throughout all generations that those who follow and obey the Lord will surely be blessed not only today but all the days of our lives. We really have to always start with the basics, keep it simple and really get down with the real stuff. We've got to take things one step at a time. We know for a fact that we humans have a tendency to make things complicated.  We know exactly why. It is because we want to make excuses, create our own rules and get away with it. God tries to make it as simple as possible for us but we just don't want it His way because we've got to have it our own way. That's when the problem starts. It is always easier said than done but we've got to take God's word for it. I like the writing on the shirts of my son, Jude and these young people when they attended the YFC (Youth for Christ) Youth Camp. It says, "It's not about me, it's all about God." It's right on target and what it is all about. For in the end and to top it all, it will all come down to us as a blessing and favor from God. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R: Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

1 Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! 2 For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; happy shall you be, and favored. (R) 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; your children like olive plants around your table...may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

In today's gospel we are being reminded to always keep our feet on the ground and always maintain a spirit of humility knowing that we are all sinners and if we will just come to God with this kind of attitude then God who can discern anything even those hidden in our hearts will surely grant all our heart's desires. We must be willing to accept whatever situation is pulling us down and offer it to God with all trust and confidence that He will make a way. This woman in today's gospel is pagan. Jesus didn’t want to preach in Tyre and didn't want anybody to know He was there. Jesus seems not inclined to grant the woman’s request. He says, “The children should be fed first, because it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Instead of leave, she agreed to what He said and remarked herself, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” She was full of faith, humility and love in her heart that Jesus said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. Jesus already healed many and He did so by personally and actually touching them or allowing them to touch Him. This time, Jesus performed a “remote healing.” for this woman's daughter. There is definitely and absolutely no barrier too strong, big and remote for the healing of Jesus to flow. It is in this extreme demonstration of faith coming from a pagan woman since birth that Jesus was compelled to pronounce an instant blessing. She may not be worthy to receive any blessing judging from her current status but God did not look on her sins but on her faith. In the same way that we, too are not worthy but as we profess in all the masses we attend to, only say the word and we will be healed. The gospel connects in a way to what happened to King Solomon who had all the right qualifications being the son of King David but did not live up to his legacy. This woman may have not been born from a chosen race but had definitely lived up to the expectations of true faith in God and was rewarded.  Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 7:24-30

Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. 25 Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” 28 She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” 29 Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.