FAITH SO FREE

“You are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you.” – John 8:37

       In my masteral studies at the Loyola School of Theology, I have classmates who are priests from Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Africa, etc. A lot of them share how difficult it is to practice and share their faith in their homeland because of religious persecution. Thus, they have to keep their ministry underground for fear of death.
      In the Philippines, Christianity is widely accepted with about 85 percent of the population believing in Jesus. So we’re blessed to exercise our faith freely. But don’t get fooled by that 85 percent and the religious freedom we enjoy. Because many of that 85 percent no longer go to church and many are choosing atheism. There are many people today who are broken and hurting, who are far away from God.
         So, for us who believe and enjoy this privilege of faith, let’s gratefully work to reach the lost, least and last. Let’s take part in advancing the Gospel and building the Church.
       I believe the best way to share our faith is to love people through mercy and kindness, just as Jesus did. Mike Viñas (mikemichaelfcv@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Ask God to lead you to someone who needs to hear the Gospel according to you.

Jesus, thank You for the gift of faith that I get to enjoy and share. Amen.

St. Vincent Ferrer, priest, pray for us.


1ST READING

Let us trust God to vindicate us. Many will become martyrs for trusting in the Lord. Our earthly life may be limited but we must always focus on eternal life. This helps us see our life experiences in the right perspective. Only then can we make the right decisions.

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
14 King Nebuchadnezzar said: “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my god, or worship the golden statue that I set up? 15 Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments; otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace; and who is the God that can deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! 18 But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up.” 19 King Nebuchadnezzar’s face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual 20 and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace. 24 [91] Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” “Assuredly, O king,” they answered. 25 [92] “But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.” 28 [95] Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”

P S A L M

Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R: Glory and praise forever!
52 “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.” (R) 53 “Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.” (R) 54 “Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” (R) 55 “Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” (R) 56 “Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.” (R)

GOSPEL

We have to respect the Law of God or we will be left with chaos and anarchy. Relativism is fast becoming a trend. It teaches us that we should do whatever we think is right. If we want to build a just society, we need to have rules and structures to follow.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

John 8:31-42
31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. 36 So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. 38 I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.” 39 They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. 41 You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We are not born of fornication. We have one Father, God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

think: In your family tree, who do you look up to as a spiritual matriarch or patriarch?


IF GOD WERE OUR FATHER

Pedigree is a big thing in politics, especially in the Philippines, and especially last year during the run-up to elections day. One’s ancestry counts a lot, either for or against any candidate. One’s father or family name will either catapult or jettison any aspiring position holder in the murky world of Philippine politics.
       Children playing games are fun to watch. Often, when not arguing about who won the game, or squabbling about who among them was the cheat or the honest one, or pointing out the victor or the loser, children talk glowingly about their father. “My dad does this or that… My dad has a real big dog... My dad really plays basketball well…” Boasting about one’s dad is a relatively harmless — if not actually healthy — childish chatter.
       When children talk, it is almost always about dads and what powerful figures they are. When adults converse, it is almost always about what big people have done for them. Singaporeans love to talk about Lee Kwan Yew, for example, while Malaysians still talk glowingly of Mahathir Mohammad.
       Even the proud and mighty Jews who did some kind of an argument with the Lord also boasted: “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone.” They even added: “Our father is Abraham!” But this was when the Lord put them in their place: “If you were Abraham’s children!”
       Greatness comes not from pedigree or place of origin. One does not get it by osmosis, but in and through praxis. Nobility of soul and probity of character are both earned by deeds, not media leads. Handsome is as handsome does.
       Let us turn the tables for once. Let us talk not about how great God is for us, but about how godly and great we are for Him. Simply put, God is, indeed, our Father. So what do you think we ought to do? Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

----------- REFLECTION QUESTION -----------
What “great” thing have you done for God today?
Father, Your greatness I cannot hope to match. But I still pray that You give me the grace to do great things for Your glory. Amen.

Special thanks to Bro Bo Sanchez for these inspiring readings!

STOP COMPLAINING

STOP COMPLAINING

“We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord to take the serpents from us.” – Numbers 21:7

       Two years ago, I decided to eat healthy and exercise regularly. My wife and I joined a gym with like-minded people who had the same goal: to be fitter and stronger.
       I thought it was easy at first, but every time I worked out, I found myself gasping for air. I would complain and ask, “Why am I even here killing myself with this workout?!” Plus, I’d get sore muscles and body aches days after, not to mention the pain of saying no to pizza, ice cream and crispy pata.
       Once, I asked God, “Can’t You just take away the pain and discomfort of working out?” Instead of answering my prayer, He sent people to encourage me to finish every workout. And because of this, I’ve persevered in my fitness journey.
       We can sometimes be like the Israelites who complained to Moses about their situation. They prayed for God to remove the serpents from their midst, but instead, God gave them a bronze serpent on a pole to heal whoever was bitten.
       When God calls you to your Promised Land, you will experience discomfort. Worry not. God may not take away the suffering, but He will surely comfort you in your difficulties until you reach your Promise Land. Velden Lim (veldenlim@gmail.com)

Reflection:If God does not calm your storms, ask for the strength to brave through them.

Jesus, let distress teach me to trust in Your ways.

St. Isidore of Seville, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.


1ST READING

According to the Fathers of the Church, the saraph of Moses symbolizes the healing we experience as we gaze on the Cross of Jesus. Just as the Israelites were healed from snake bites when they looked at the serpent on a pole, we too are healed when we gaze upon the cross of Jesus and receive His forgiveness.

Numbers 21:4-9
4 From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road, to by-pass the land of Edom. But with their patience worn out by the journey, 5 the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” 6 In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, 8 and the Lord said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and whoever looks at it after being bitten will live.” 9 Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

P S A L M

Psalm 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21
R: O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
1 [2] O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. 2 [3] Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily. (R) 15 [16] The nations shall revere your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory, 16 [17] when the Lord has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; 17 [18] when he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer. (R) 18 [19] Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the Lord: 19 [20] “The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, 20 [21] To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.” (R)

GOSPEL

In John’s Gospel, Jesus is shown as someone who knows His mission and what it entails. He uses the image of “being lifted up” to speak to the Jews. This image would remind any Jew of the desert experience where lives were saved by gazing on the saraph raised by Moses. Jesus appeals to the people’s psyche by recalling their heritage. This image is powerful to a believing Jew.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.

John 8:21-30
21 Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come?’” 23 He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. 24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” 30 Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

think: How can you be a light bearer and help people know Jesus more?



WHOEVER LOOKS WILL BE SAVED

Seeing is a much taken-for-granted involuntary act we all do. We see things — both beautiful and ugly, good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. When we don’t like what we see, we tune out, we ignore, or we turn our gaze to something more pleasant.
       Seeing is definitely not the same as looking. We see things and either forget about them or look again, scan or stare to see more. When we look, we intend to drink in more of what meets the eye, for whatever reason or purpose. I remember an inspirational poster back in the day. (Nowadays, they call them memes.) It said: “Two men looked out the window. One saw mud; the other saw stars.”
       Seeing casually versus seeing purposefully, looking lazily versus looking intently — it’s all a matter of intensity, a matter related to emotional affinity. You find what you are looking for. In the first place, you see what you were eyeing for, what your heart pines for, what your mind longs for.
       Two acquaintances can see each other and have some fun together. But two lovers who look for each other, and who have more than just an eye for each other, see each other’s mutual love. They sense that invisible spark that keeps them attached and attuned to one another. And that invisible “more” has to do with an affinity, a relationship. Love makes one see more, not less.
       The Israelites, out in the desert, were both desolate and demanding: “We are disgusted with this wretched food!” They suffered more on account of their sin. But sin occasioned something greater on account of something nobler — God’s love and mercy, for He did what had to be done to make them see more. They were told to look up and see beyond the serpent that caused them suffering. And when they looked up, they were saved.
       Look up to the Lord! See more, not less. See love, not loss. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

----------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------
Do you see beyond the difficulties and pain to gaze at the peace and joy that awaits you?
Lord, help me to see with Your eyes, that I may see more, not less. Amen.

Special thanks to Bro Bo Sanchez for these inspiring readings