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
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. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 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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