THE END IS THE BEGINNING - By: Fr. Joel Jason

Today is the last day prior to a new liturgical year. Tomorrow is the start of the Church’s calendar, the 1st Sunday of Advent. It is the New Year’s eve in the Church calendar.

The readings of the past weeks and days have had an apocalyptic flavor. They warn of the End Times. They speak of readiness for the coming of the end.

This might be puzzling especially when we know that with the Advent season, we prepare for the beginning, the coming birth of the Messiah. The reason is this — the beginning is useless without keeping the end in mind. Our excitement and anticipation to accept Christ’s birth will mean nothing unless we are ready to accept Him as Just Judge of the End Times.

Let us remember that we celebrate Christmas not only because we will be having a cute baby to adore and cuddle. This is the role of the Advent season. Advent will prepare our hearts to realize that the “cute” baby in the manger of Jerusalem will soon become an adult that will bring “fire on the earth.” Unless we prepare ourselves to be disturbed from our complacency in sin and mediocrity, Christmas will be nothing but a sentimental and emotional holiday. 

REFLECTION QUESTION:  

As Advent approaches, where do your thoughts and desires focus on?

SHARING ALL ONE HAS - By: Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

Matthew Kelly talks about “minimalism” as one of the traits that characterize the youth of our times. Along with “individualism” and “hedonism,” he says that so many fail to see the bigger picture out there, including the beauty and simplicity of a life of holiness on account of this tendency to minimalism in all aspects of our lives.

Minimalism is to give not of one’s whole self, but of one’s puny, little self. In school, it means doing only that which satisfies the minimum requirements to pass the course. It means not making that extra push and exerting that extra effort to excel, so as to be a cut above the rest. It means being satisfied with what is little.

Today’s Gospel (John 6:1-15) passage reminds us of the opposite of minimalism. It teaches us not about pusillanimity, but of gracious magnanimity. Although the boy only had five barley loaves and two fish, he had a big heart that spoke eloquently of untrammeled generosity.

He had five loaves and two fish. That was all he had. (He sure had a huge appetite!) But levity aside, what he had, he offered. When was the last time you really gave all you had? I bet you, if you were in his place, you would at least have probably thought of keeping half a loaf and a piece of the fish for yourself! I would certainly have done so! But no, the miracle was as much a miracle of multiplication of loaves as it was a miracle of selfless generosity.

The boy had that little treasure trove, a bagful of food that occasioned a party for five thousand (not counting women). But Philip, too, had his own little share. Apparently good at Math, he knew how much he needed. But there was Andrew, too. Apparently good at spotting talents and human and material resources, he found the boy who was willing to give all he had! And he lost no time in telling the Lord. All the Lord needed was readiness and willingness for each of them to give their all.

REFLECTION QUESTION: How ready are you to give your all when the circumstances call for it?

Lord Jesus, grant me a generous heart that does not count the cost of giving but rejoices in being able to give.

THE OTHER SIDE OF A PROBLEM - BY: Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes

We are all too familiar with sob stories such as this: A wife loses a husband and decides to live as a depressed woman. She resolves not to live anymore but simply exist in total disregard of the children left to her care. Desolation gets the better of her and she fails to see that not everything is lost, and that her children are supposed to be seen as blessings left for her to nourish and care for as a shining remembrance of the husband she lost.

As a pastor, I have always been approached by people who feel like they have the whole world on their shoulders. In all those situations, my advice is almost always the same: Never let your sorrow drown whatever blessings you still have, no matter how meager they may be.

While the event in the Gospel (JOHN 20:11-18} is known to most as the “Great Recognition,” we cannot miss the fact that Mary failed considerably in recognizing the Risen Christ. Seeing Christ just in front of her, she thought He was the gardener who took away her Master’s body. She even heard Him speak but failed to recognize the tone of the voice that she has heard consistently in the past three years. So, what brought about her initial failure to recognize Him?

She looked intently on the tomb — where Jesus was, that dark corner where she saw His lifeless body. And so she had her back against the Risen Christ.

That much is true for most of us. We miss seeing the glory because of too much attention on the shame. We don’t see the blessings because we dwell much on the curse. Tears are inevitable but they should not blind us in seeing the glory before us.

FLOODING WITH GOODNESS DROWNS EVIL - By: Fr. Benny Tuazon

Pondo ng Pinoy (PnP), a movement spearheaded by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales for the Archdiocese of Manila, takes its inspiration from the Gospel for today. Its working principle is, “Whatever is good, no matter how small, if done regularly, will lead to salvation!” (“Anumang magaling, kahit maliit, basta’t malimit, ay patungong langit!”) It was meant to help the poor and to encourage the people to do good on a regular basis. In a way, it has a national and secular character vis-a-vis a spiritual goal.

The story of Lazarus and the rich man presents clarifications about our faith. First, heaven is available to everyone who does good. Second, riches do not automatically disqualify one from entering heaven, in the same way that poverty does not assure one of attaining eternal life. Third, post-earthly life is a reality. And fourth, small deeds matter a lot before God. In the Gospel (Luke 16:19-31, had the rich man shared even just the scraps of his food, it would have increased his chances of attaining eternal life. If the rich man was generous enough to give to the poor, no matter how little, he would have found favor with God. And if he did it again and again to become a habit, he would have been capable of more goodness. But the poor man maintained his dignity and goodness in spite of his poverty. He did not use it to commit a wrong deed against the rich man or anybody. He endured his suffering without inflicting the same to anyone, and he was rewarded for that.

With the pouring in of Pondo ng Pinoy cans filled with 25-centavo (or more) coins, it gives a strong sign that people are indeed lovers of goodness. Of course, goodness is not just defined by 25 centavos. We can be creative in doing good every day.

Flooding the world with goodness should drown evil. Get into the habit of doing good and do not allow yourself to give in to the seduction of evil.

REFLECTION QUESTION: What little thing can you do every day that could flood your world and the people in it with goodness?

CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING HEALED? - By: Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

I wonder what it would be like to be healed from something such as blindness. I had a brain hemorrhage when I was 17. I spent eight to 10 days in a hospital but I remember only a couple of those days. I was quite blessed because, even if my hemorrhage gave me a 50-50 chance to survive, I did not have to go through the knife. Neither did I experience significant after-effects. I look back at this experience and am very grateful for my full recovery. How much more amazing this experience would have been if it involved being debilitated and then healed.

The healing miracles of Jesus are a sign of God’s desire to heal us, not just physically but spiritually as well. Jesus demonstrates authority over sickness so we would believe that He can heal us from within through the forgiveness of our sins. It is critical that we recognize the truth of God’s love for us if we want to fully benefit from it. Nothing can stand in the way of God’s desire to redeem us except our refusal of the offer of salvation. Our tendency is to invent obstacles: “I am too much of a sinner. How can God really love little old me? I don’t deserve to be forgiven.”

Some of these excuses, if not all of them, have some basis, but Jesus tells us in the Gospel (Mark 8:22-26) that He is far bigger than any of the problems we can think of so we should not worry about them. All we have to do is open our hearts to the solution — His love — and allow Him to set about the work of salvation from within.

Jesus will not hesitate to enter our lives if we welcome Him in. Perhaps it would be good for us to be seriously sick so that we will better realize our need for His grace? No, that is not necessary! All that is necessary is that we be humble enough to invite Him in.

THE FEEDING OF THE FOUR THOUSAND - By: Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Jesus has pity on the people because they are hungry, so He miraculously feeds them. There are many stages to this event. There is the Eucharistic overtones whereby Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and then gives it to the people. This is precisely what happens at the Eucharist where we eventually feed not on the bread that was offered but the Body and Blood of Christ. The food we receive is not just physical food but the spiritual food that nourishes us for eternal life.

As we reflect on this story, it is important to keep this background in mind as we try to understand its meaning today. I doubt if we are going to see too many loaves of bread and fish multiplied to fill our hunger. However, the Church does encourage us to seek nourishment in the Eucharist every day if possible. This tells us that the spiritual reality we share in the Eucharist is one that captures the essence and heart of our faith. It is not enough to consider the Eucharist a mere ritual as it is more than that. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian lives and faith. The saints often remind us that there is little more important than celebrating the Eucharist with faith and humility.

There is also the idea that God does provide for His people. There will be times when this is literally true in a physical sense. I have personally seen food multiplied a number of times. We need to learn to trust that God provides for us. The fact that so many do not have food to eat is not because there is not enough food to go around. Rather, it is a result of the unwillingness of people to share their excess with others. The provision is there; it is sin that creates the situation where many go hungry. And so we need to see God’s provision in both a physical and spiritual sense. If we do not receive the physical food that we need, we can still trust that spiritually God is there at all times and there is nothing others can do to deprive us of that food for eternal life.

GOD’S ABIDING PRESENCE - By: Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

In today’s Gospel (Mark 6:53-56), Mark gives us an idea of the celebrity status of Jesus. “People immediately recognized him.” And more than just that, the crowds acknowledged His extraordinary healing power: “Wherever he put in an appearance, in villages, in towns, or at crossroads, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him to let them touch just the tassel of his cloak. All who touched him got well.” Such an astonishing outpouring of zeal for Jesus (on the part of the people) isn’t really surprising, especially when you consider their acute need for healing.

The First Reading (1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13), on the other hand, has a similar outpouring of enthusiasm from the Israelites, this time for the Ark of the Covenant during the solemn dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. While there was the appearance of a cloud manifesting God’s glorious presence, the dedication of the Temple represents man’s attempt to bring such a divine presence into a definite, tangible locus.

A concrete dwelling, after all, is essential — even perhaps for God. There, God’s presence abides forever. Paradoxically, such presence of God can never be confined in a box. Why, in Jesus’ case, the mere tassel of His cloak could already bring about His healing power! His appearances (in other words, His presence) in various villages, towns or at crossroads turned out to be not just crowd-drawers or traffic-stoppers. They were veritable encounters with God’s efficacious and loving presence.

JESUS ON HUMAN SUFFERING - By: Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Even from the literary point of view, the verses from the book of Job (our First Reading today - Job 7:1-4, 6-7) are hard to beat. As a meditation on the perennial riddle of human suffering, it is a remarkable attempt to come to grips with such an unfortunate reality in our world. On the other hand, however, our Gospel passage (Mark 1:29-39)also dwells on the same theme of suffering. But thanks to the new era inaugurated by Jesus Christ, this time there is a more optimistic tone.

Not that Jesus is offering any instant, feel-good solutions to suffering (as if there were such a thing!). Rather He is giving a new meaning to it all, along with His compassion and concern. To top it all, His own passion and death prove that He is no stranger to it.

Busy indeed was Jesus, with cures and healings almost one after the other. Before He knew it, already “the whole town was gathered at the door.” He didn’t shy away at all from this important aspect of His ministry: to bring healing to the sick and the suffering.

But perhaps Jesus wasn’t satisfied with the way things turned out. He noticed that maybe the people were more concerned with the physical cure, and maybe not so much with the Good News of salvation, which He really came to offer. As the Jesuit biblical scholar Nil Guillemette put it, “They were more interested in getting some divine aspirin, than in hearing His aspirations for them, His promise of future health and happiness in the land of God.”

Jesus is a healer, but also more. And consequently too, more than just the aches and pains we all have, there’s something more or beyond them. This, courtesy of the same Jesus Himself — through His own suffering and death on Calvary, gave a redemptive value to suffering.

We will never find the right words to explain the mystery of suffering — even if we seek them from the greatest literary works. Only in Jesus do we find meaning and redemption in pain and suffering.

NO TO HOMECOMINGS TURNING SOUR - By: Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

This February, we start with the Gospel from Mark 6. And what we have today is an interesting episode. It’s about Jesus’ visit to His hometown.

Homecomings are generally happy occasions, but somehow they can also open old wounds and trigger past issues. In the case of Jesus, His townmates’ initial reaction of seeming amazement turned out to be really one of derision or contempt. A barrage of questions on their part reveals insulting insinuations. Then instead of the typical Jewish tradition of being called after one’s father, they gave Him the label “Son of Mary.” Reading between the lines, they even seemed to cast doubts about Jesus’ legitimacy.

Worse still, they apparently disdained the fame of Jesus, His reputation which at that time was already spreading. Their familiar knowledge of Him worked against His favor. Truly, as the saying goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”

Now, can this also be said of us, “familiar” as we might already be with our Lord? It may be good for us to examine our relationship with Him. Could we have somewhat lost our respect for Him, treating Him as an ATM-like dispenser of graces which we can conveniently avail of just because we have problems? Or is He more just like a “buddy” for us?

What a pity that Jesus worked no miracles in Nazareth itself, apart from healing a few who were sick. The neighboring villages instead were the ones who benefitted.

Let us not be dismayed if others, who are more respectful and receptive of Jesus than we are, will be the ones to enjoy Jesus’ favor more. Let us make Jesus’ homecoming into our hearts the joy-filled event that it is meant to be.

LOOK FOR GOLD - By: Bo Sanchez

And they took offense at him. – Mark 6:3

Andrew Carnegie was the richest man in the world. If you translate his wealth using today’s values, Carnegie would be more than two times wealthier than Bill Gates and Warren Buffet combined.

And he knew about the importance of relationships. At one time, he had 43 millionaires working with him. This was the secret of his success. Because you can’t become wealthy (in the long term) if you don’t make others wealthy as well.
One day, he said something profound about relationships. Carnegie said, “Dealing with people is like digging for gold. To discover gold, you have to move a lot of dirt. But when you dig, you look for gold, not for dirt.”

Many times, we look for dirt in the people around us. No wonder we’re not happy!
Of course you’ll find dirt. The holiest saints had lots of dirt in their lives. After all, they were human beings, too. Just as we are. But if you want to be happy, you’ll have to train your eyes to look for gold. And believe me, you’ll find lots of it, too. Because every person is made in the image of God.

His Name is Legion - By: Fr. Joel Jason

Today’s Gospel (Mark 5:1-20) narrates another instance of Jesus exorcising a man possessed by the devil. Jesus asks the name of the unclean spirit. In response, it said, “Legion is my name,” for they are many. Yes, the Bible affirms the existence of the devil.

Several years ago, a random survey of 1,500 respondents conducted by a famous Philippine college revealed a contradiction that 81 percent believed in heaven but only 42 percent believed in hell or the existence of the devil. Why the contradiction? It’s probably because we all want a God who rewards but not a God who “punishes.” We all want a God who gives blessings but not a God who calls us to task and responsibility.

The devil deceives by making himself unknown. If you do not believe in him, you will not do anything to put up a fight or any form of defense against him. Satan is then able to act with much more freedom.

Here are some facts about the reality of the devil from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

391. The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: “The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing.”

392. This “fall” consists in the free choice of these created spirits, who radically and irrevocably rejected God and his reign.

393. It is the irrevocable character of their choice, and not a defect in the infinite divine mercy, that makes the angels’ sin unforgivable. “There is no repentance for the angels after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after death.”

Jesus asks the name of the unclean spirit because knowledge of the enemy is the first step to victory over that enemy. Let us know our enemy and its ways that we may always be on guard and victorious against its cunning.

COMMUNICATING THE TRUTH IN LOVE - By: Fr. Joel Jason

A family of four was in a car that was cruising on the expressway. The couple had a little argument earlier before they left home and the situation was tense. The husband was driving fast and a little carelessly. The wife notices it and fears for their safety. The wife snaps at the husband and says, “You’re such a reckless driver! You don’t even care for me and our children!” Threatened, the husband will most probably snap back in anger and say, “So you think you can drive better? Why don’t you drive yourself?”

But what if the wife says, “I know you’re upset over our argument. Is it distracting you and your driving right now? I’m just nervous and worried, especially that we have our kids with us.” Not threatened at all, the husband will most probably say, “I’m just a little distracted. It’s OK, I’ll be fine, and you and our children as well.” And he pays extra attention to his driving.

The first approach is a direct judgment on the other person and usually elicits a defensive, angry reaction. The second approach is not a judgment at all. The wife simply “reported” her own feelings over the situation, which elicited a response, not a reaction.

Today’s First Reading (2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17) is a beautiful model for conflict management. Nathan, sent by God to confront King David over his crime of murder and adultery, made David see and realize the greatness of his sin by means of a parable. In response, David was overcome by remorse and acknowledged his guilt. This led him to compose today’s responsorial psalm, traditionally called the Miserere (Latin for “Have Mercy”). Had Nathan used the first approach above, David would have made life miserable for Nathan.

It is always important to communicate the unblemished truth, even when it hurts, but just as important to convey the truth in love. Love allows the incommunicable to be communicable. This has always been the principle the Church has tried to live by. This is why She is also known as Mater et Magistra (Mother and Teacher). She is first a mother before She is a teacher. The Church in Her proclamation never imposes; She proposes.

GOD SPEAKS TO YOU - By: Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

The First Reading today (1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20) gives us a delightful story of God calling out to Samuel, the son of Hannah. We read that Samuel had not yet understood the ways of the Lord. He was assisting the old priest, Eli, in the Temple when he heard a voice calling out his name. Three times he went to Eli in response to the voice. Eli then began to realize the voice was that of Yahweh who was seeking to catch the attention of young Samuel. We must rejoice in the Elis of our life who have helped us discern the voice of God.

The author of the Book of Samuel tells us that it was rare in those days for God to speak. But we know that God desires to speak to us. He speaks to us in various ways: daily events, experiences, nature, the sacraments, Scripture, wise people, and so on. We just need to open our ears and hearts and be ready to respond to Him.
“Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.” We should follow the advice of the great old priest Eli. The Lord speaks to us “loud and clear” in the “whisper of silence.” In our prayer time, we seek the voice of the Lord. He quietly woos us in love, corrects our faults, or speaks words of comfort and mercy. God speaks to you now, even as you read and reflect on this message.

Let us pray for the gift of prophecy. This is a Charismatic gift that God wishes to give His people. It is through this gift that God uses us as His spokesperson to others. Sometimes the Lord may reveal an image, word or experience either for you or another person. This is a supernatural way in which God communicates to His people. We pray for the gift of prophetic utterance to know the mind of the Lord and to build up the Body of Christ.

The Scripture is a good way to grow in knowledge of what the Lord says to us. In the Bible, God always speaks to us since it is the revealed will of God. The Scriptures are Spirit-inspired, God-breathed, and life for our souls. Learn the Scriptures, study and pray them, for the Lord wants to speak to you.

THE MEANING OF JESUS’ BAPTISM - By: Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes

John the Baptist’s testimony about himself (John 1:19-28) presents some remarkable facts about how baptism is understood during the time of Jesus. The line of questioning in those verses reveals how the Jews understood who can only administer baptism: the Messiah, Elijah or any of the prophets. Granting that he was given the freedom to exercise such “ministry” unopposed (by the religious powers that be), why did John the Baptist baptize Jews knowing fully well that such practice was exclusively administered to “converts” (Gentiles converting to the faith)? Jews already belong to God and so they did not need to be “cleansed.” Gentiles had to be immersed in water through baptism if they are to belong to the chosen ones of God. Astounding! But what is even more remarkable is Jesus’ decision to submit Himself to this baptism.

Jesus is a Jew. As the unblemished One, He has no sins to repent of. That baptism was unnecessary as far as Jesus, the only begotten Son of God (thus, the sinless one) and Son of Mary (thus, a Jew) is concerned.

His baptism, therefore, should be understood in a different light. For Jesus it was a baptism that ushered in His public ministry. It was His commencement exercise. After that He would go full blast in attending to the affairs of His Father.
By virtue of His baptism, man is able to begin his ascent to God. And Jesus, being true man, identifies with man in this journey of turning away from sin and turning to God. His baptism introduced Him to the ones He would save. Just as His Father laid claim on Him, His real identity was revealed as the Father’s “beloved Son on whom He was well pleased.”

Because of that baptism, we now fully see how God marvellously commenced His redemptive work for man — how He, the Emmanuel, is truly with us in our journey towards the Father and how we are to accept our Lord who has been revealed to us, no less, by His and our Father.

Have a CHRISTmas Holy Day - By: Fr. Joel O. Jason

Two days before the whole Christendom celebrates the birth of Christ, our Gospel narrates to us the birth of John the Baptist. The story of His birth is not superfluous to the story of the birth of Jesus. The role of John the Baptist is clear: to prepare the way of the Lord, to point out the coming Messiah.

Just in case you don’t notice, there is in the world right now a subtle yet manifest attempt to conceal the person of Jesus; perhaps not only during Christmas but for all times.

Watch CNN and you will hear the anchors greet you, “Happy Holidays” and not “ Merry Christmas.” They do this out of political correctness. The presence of Christ in the word Christmas might offend the sensibilities of non- Christians watching their program. At the same time last year, the State of Denver prevented their students in a choral contest from singing “ White Christmas” and asked them to sing “White Holiday” instead. And when the students were sent off for vacation, they were told to enjoy not the Christmas holidays but the “winter” holidays.
Make no mistake about it, the subtle eradication of Christ from Christmas has become a blatant political hostility against anything and everything Christian.

Of John the Baptist, the people asked in today’s Gospel (Luke 1:57-66), “What will this child be?” He is to be the courageous forerunner, the bold proclaimer of Jesus and His Gospel, to the point of losing his head in martyrdom.

Today let us ask for a little of John the Baptist’s courage. Make a conscious effort to show the world that you are a Christian. Do not abbreviate “Christmas” to “Xmas” even if it means a little more ink and effort in your typing and texting. Better yet, write Christ in bold letters in your Christmas greetings so that your wishes may become not only greetings but an act of faith and proclamation as well.

Hail Mary! - By: Fr. Joel O. Jason

A Catholic priest was invited by a Christian group to speak in their Church about the Catholic devotion to Mary. Before he began his talk, the pastor reminded him firmly that they were a Bible-based community and they do not say prayers to Mary as they were not “Mary worshippers.”

As the priest began, he invited the congregation to stand and pray. “For our opening prayer, please open your Bibles to Luke 1:28 and let us read it aloud together.” They read, “Hail, O highly favored daughter, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” Then the priest invited the congregation to turn their Bibles to Luke 1:42 and asked them again to read it aloud. They read, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Then he said, “My dear friends, you have just prayed the Catholic prayer, Hail Mary.”

The Hail Mary is not a Catholic invention. It is a Scriptural prayer taken directly from Luke’s account of the Visitation which is the Gospel for today. The first part of the Hail Mary is taken from Luke 1:28, uttered by the Angel Gabriel no less. The second part is from Luke 1:42, a tribute spoken by the lips of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel honored Mary and so did Elizabeth. There’s no reason why we should not do the same. A Christian who claims to be Bible based should not feel uneasy with the Hail Mary. Ignoring the Hail Mary is not biblical.

The Hail Mary, or any prayer or doctrine attributed to Mary, is not intended for her alone. Every Catholic doctrine regarding Mary is Scriptural, i.e., from the Bible, as well as Christological, i.e., pointing to Christ. We give loving attention to Mary only insofar as she points our attention to Christ. She reminds every Christian, “Do whatever He tells you.”

In a few days, we shall celebrate the birth of our Lord. Mary is inescapably a part of the Christmas mystery and ultimately, of the Christian mystery. We look to Mary as the highest honor of the human race. We worship the fruit of her womb, Jesus the Emmanuel.

Either/Or — Why not And? By: Fr. Joel O. Jason

Which do you prefer: a complete family without love, or a broken family where there is peace and love?
Would you rather have someone you love but doesn’t love you, or someone you don’t love but loves you?
In the Gospel today, Jesus poses the same riddle. Which do you prefer? A son who says “yes” but does not do your command, or a son who says “no” but eventually does what you command.

Contrast and separation is a rabbinic style of teaching that stresses the importance of distinguishing between options. The principle we need to remember is this: We separate only for distinction, not isolation. It’s important to distinguish, but we do not have to isolate. When we distinguish, we clarify; when we isolate, we confuse or settle for less.

It doesn’t always have to be “either” or “or.” When possible it should be an “and.” Jesus in the Gospel does not teach us to say “no” to our elders and then obey afterwards. He separates only for distinction, not isolation. I’m sure Jesus still prefers that we say “yes” and then do what our elders ask us to do. When Jesus teaches somewhere else in the Gospel, “Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but only those who do the will of the Father in heaven,” He is not saying don’t call God “Lord,” but just do the will of the Father. He would still prefer that we say “Lord” and do what He requires.

“Either/or” is only the minimum. “And” is the call of perfection. Our problem sometimes is we make the minimum as the norm. People tell me, “Father, I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual.” Friend, you can be both religious and spiritual. They are not opposed to each other. Others say, “I don’t read the Bible but I talk to God.” Friend, when you read the Bible, you’ll talk better to God. Still some others say, “ I don’t go to confession, but I’m sorry for my sins.” The list can go on and on. Jesus calls us to “be perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect.” Don’t settle for the minimum.
It doesn’t have to be either/or. It can be and.

An Ode to the Aged - By: Fr. Joel O. Jason

Let me share with you some lines from a forwarded email entitled “You Know You’re Getting Old When…”

· Your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you’re barefoot.
· You’re suffering from Mallzheimer’s disease. You go to the mall and forget where you parked your car.
· When you find yourself in the middle of the stairs and you can’t remember whether you’re going up or down.
· Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either.

In today’s first reading (Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11), Sirach remembers the old figures of the former covenant, particularly Elijah. Elijah is considered to be one of the greatest prophets of old. It was said that every pious Jewish family still reserves a seat in the dinner table in case Elijah suddenly comes back. This sentiment is echoed in today’s Gospel when the disciples question Jesus as to why the people seem to equate Him with the coming of Elijah. But what I find heart-warming is the deep affection and reverence with which Sirach remembers his ancestor Elijah. The whole reading is virtually an ode of tribute to the place Elijah occupies in the hearts and collective consciousness of the Jewish people.

Do we look at the senior members of our family, community or Church with the same reverence? Admit it, most of the times, we relate to them simply with a respectful silence that is actually a masked indifference. The late Archbishop Fulton Sheen calls it “the chronological arrogance of the present times.” This is an attitude which considers everything and everyone that is old as old-fashioned, useless and irrelevant, and conversely, everything new, modern and chic as significant. But think of the wealth of knowledge that the old has and still can contribute. An old Chinese proverb reminds us aptly, “If you want to know what lies ahead up the road, ask those who are already on their way back.”

Reflection Question:
In what ways do I manifest in my attitude the “chronological arrogance” of the young?

Lord Jesus, it was the old man Simeon with Anna that recognized You even as a baby in the temple. Help me see the treasures in the Simeons and Annas in our midst. Amen.

Blessed Julia Merida, pray for us.

I AM NOT WORTHY - By: Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

A foreigner, a Gentile, approaches Jesus. He asks Jesus to cure a servant who happens to be paralyzed. Jesus is amazed at the centurion’s faith. He simply asks Jesus to issue the command and the centurion believes that it will occur.

As a man of authority himself, he understands the power there is in issuing commands. He knows that people would obey him. People are under his authority. He commands and they act! Jesus is amazed at this act of faith. The faith of the centurion opens the door for Jesus to enter the world of the Gentiles. Jesus has come to save and heal.

The response of the centurion is the same response we proclaim to the Lord at the time of Holy Communion in Mass. When the priest raises the Sacred Host in his hand and points to the Lamb of God, we say, “Lord I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” These are the very same words of humility spoken by the centurion. We participate in the Lord’s Supper, the communion of love and life, healing and salvation of the Lord. May our faith please Him as we seek Him who is our Savior.

Advent is that time we remember that salvation has dawned upon us. During this time, we remember the humility of God in becoming a small child. He is born in utter poverty out of love for humanity. In this light, we want to respond in humility. Jesus comes under our roof, into our homes, into our hearts, into our lives, into our society. Are we ready to receive Him, the Healer and Savior of the world? The Greek word salous is close to our English word saved. It is derived from the word “health.” So Jesus is Savior, the Health of the world, the Healer of the world.

PERSEVERE IN PRAYER - By: Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

One of the many titles of Luke’s Gospel is the “Gospel of prayer.” Within this Gospel, we see many accounts of prayer. The reading today (Luke 18:1-8) is one of many.

Today, we meditate on the prayer of petition. Luke makes his comment at the beginning of the parable: pray constantly and do not lose heart.

Luke describes two characters. One is the judge who has no regard for people. He is incapable of shame. On the other hand, there is the widow, an example of the poor and marginalized in the society. Luke does not tell us of the widow’s circumstances. We do know that she is persistent; she would come repeatedly. The judge, as we understand, has no care for God or man. However, because of the persistence of the widow, he gives in to her petitions. He wants to be spared from any violence; he does not want a black eye. The moral of the story is that if this corrupt judge can give in, how much more God, the righteous judge, will give in to the cry of those who call upon him?

The story is very simple, touched with Luke’s humor. We are to “storm heaven” with our prayers. Jesus tells us to call out day and night. No matter how often we pray, we are not to lose hope and heart over what may seem so impossible. St. Paul tells us that good things come to those who wait upon the Lord. The widow could have easily become discouraged. Moreover, she could have given up a long time ago. Seemingly, the judge would not budge. He would not give in. It was only to spare himself from being bothered that he gave in. One may wonder why it took the judge so long to favor the widow. It tells us just how corrupt and non-fearing he was to God and man. Taking care of the widow was one of the highest statutes of the law. This poor widow had every right to be heard and fairly dealt with. The widow gives us a fine example of persistence in prayer.

Reflection Question:
Are you persistent in prayer?

Lord, I always call upon You in my need. Help me not lose heart. Amen.

St. Machar, pray for us.