Sunday, March 27, 2011

3rd Sunday of Lent – Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (Jn 4:5-15)

Call to Unity and Inclusiveness

Introduction

- Whenever the stranger meets me they ask are you a foreigner, what country you belong to, what is your religion ….. Every question is an inquiry to the difference that makes what I am.

Content

- We build our identity by exploring the differences – for example our place of origin in comparison with others, our color, our physical features, the language we speak, financial position, etc.

- Therefore we concentrate what are the differences that make us unique.

- Samaritan woman was also one like us who concentrates on the differences. It is evident from her remarks

o Gender – you are male asking water from a female.

o Ethnicity – You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan.

o Religious tradition – Your worship in Jerusalem and we in the mount of Gerizim.

o Social difference is evident in her conversation – as Jews as high class.

- It is trend of exclusiveness and building barriers. But Jesus’ approach is different. His approach is inclusiveness and breaking barriers.

- Inclusiveness is seen in this passage as;

o Give me water – breaking the social barrier

o Jesus is the Messiah of all – not only of the ‘chosen people’

o The concept of living water that has no limits

o Worship in spirit and in truth

Conclusion

- The duty of disciple is to follow the example to overcome the differences and be inclusive.

- We have our differences and barriers and we create new every day. It can be inside a family (e.g.: side of mother and side of the father) in the working place, in the society and in the nation (Mindanao vs. the main land).

- To break the barriers we should remember that we all are the children of Heavenly Father and therefore we all are brothers and sisters. If so, the wealth that I am enjoying (which is of my father) has to be shared with my brethren since he also has equal right for that. Here, helping others is not a charity but an obligation.

- I should feel others pain and sufferings since he is my brother or sister.

- Eucharist is a feast of inclusiveness. Here there is no difference. Everybody are equal.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

1st Sunday of the Lent – The Temptations of Jesus (Mt 4: 1-11)

1st Sunday of the Lent – The Temptations of Jesus (Mt 4: 1-11)

Introduction

- Some Corrections

o What is the theme of today’s Gospel passage? Is it temptation of Jesus? No, it is the victory of Jesus over the Temptations. The emphasis is on the Victory.

o What are temptations? Is it ‘the occasions that invites us to sin’? No, it is the occasion to show our trust and faith in Jesus and His Words.

o The first two ways of looking at may be of the Old Testament while the other two is of the New Testament. – Story of Adam and Eve, David, Solomon, Israelites. They all fell in the temptation. But Jesus became victorious.

o We are the New Testament people therefore participating in the victory of Jesus over temptations.

Content

- Why these three temptations? Old Testament background…

o Jesus’ entire life was in essence a reliving of the history of Israel in the Old Testament. After escaping the bondage of Egypt, the children of Israel, during their 40 years in the wilderness, failed at three major temptations. Their first failure was refusing to trust God for their daily bread. They grumbled and blamed Moses for bringing them out from the “comfort” of their bondage in Egypt (Exodus 16). Their second failing involved their lack of trust to provide water for them (Exodus 17), and lastly the children of Israel broke their faith in God with the worship of the golden calf (Exodus 32).

o First temptation – of food – basic necessity of life. It is similar to the first temptation of Israel who refused to trust to God for their daily bread.

o Second temptation – on the trust in God. Israel did not trust in God for what they needed. Jesus was told to jump to prove this trust that he will be guarded by angels.

o Third temptation – Israelites worshiped the Golden Calf – devil told to Jesus to adore him.

- Temptations increase with the new technologies

o Eg: study shows that use of facebook make the people less faithful to their partners.

o Temptations through internet, television, etc…

o What ever reduces the presence of God in us is a temptation – ego, over attachment towards something or someone, lust, gluttony, etc…

Conclusion

- Let us go back to the first two corrections / statements

- More than a temptation of Jesus it is the victory of Jesus over the Temptations. The emphasis is on the Victory. How Jesus became victories?

o Word of God

§ One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

§ You shall not put the Lord, your God, to test.

§ The lord, your God, shall you worship/and him alone shall you serve.

o Lent is a time get strengthened by the Word of God

o Jesus fasted 40 days

§ 1. Fast from anger and hatred

§ 2. Fast from judging others

§ 3. Fast from discouragement

§ 4. Fast from complaining

§ 5. Fast from resentment or bitterness

§ 6. Fast from spending too much money

- Let us try to be victorious over the temptations by the power of Word and Fasting, and be part of the New Testament.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

9th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Mt 7:21-27)

Success according to Human and God

Introduction

- What is the criterion of the world to evaluate the performance (fruits)? The key work in the evaluation is “success”.

- Does Jesus give much importance to success? Jesus’ criterion to measure someone is not “success” but “faithfulness”.

Content

- If success is the key term in evaluation of any performance, what are its implications?

o Meeting the target at any cost. The problem with today’s job market is this. If you fail to meet the target you are not worthy.

o Jesus himself was considered as a failure when the people at the time of Jesus evaluated him since “he died on the cross”.

o If God measures us with the criterion of success according to the talents given to us, we all will be in trouble. We never use the talents and abilities given to us at its maximum.

o Concerned about the external appearance “goals and performance”.

- If faithfulness is the key term for evaluation of any performance, how it will be?

o It is more concentrated on the process, “how do we do?”

o Our sincerity and efforts are more important than the result as such.

o It is concerned with internal dimension “connectedness and faithfulness”.

- The example of a branch of a vine. The primary duty of a branch is not to produce fruit, but be faithfully attached to the vine. The rest will follow.

- The parable of houses mentions the same. The house built on the rock was praise worthy not because it was beautiful in its external appearance, but in its base.

- Jesus tells to those who did many things in the name of Jesus, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evil doers”.

- A student who gets suma cum laude may be equal to a student who gets just passing grade. Because God looks into the effort that each individual puts into or faithfulness to the intellect (talent) that is given to the student.

- Who is a good parent? Is it the one who build mansions for the next generation (external) or the one who loves and cares the children and bring them up in good catholic faith?

Conclusion

- Jesus is never against success. In the parable of Talents he looks for the fruits. But the most important element is our sincere efforts by attaching ourselves to Jesus.

- “Listen to the word of mine and acts on them will be a wise man” at the sight of Jesus.