Have you found the Pearl of Great Price in your life? How are you taking care that you don’t lose Him? - Daily Reflections July 30,2014

FOR THE PRICELESS REWARD

 

Our First Reading today from the prophet Jeremiah contains that often-quoted verse: “When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart.” The use of the verb “devour” is most interesting. Just like a hungry person who has been graciously treated to a delicious and sumptuous eat-all-you-can dinner, we too should display an equally unabashed and joyful devotion to God’s Word.

       In today’s Gospel reading, there is that joyful and almost reckless eagerness by the man and the merchant who, upon their respective discoveries, immediately sold whatever they had and worked on their investments, just so they could obtain the treasure or the pearl. There may have been risks involved, but they really don’t matter. Nothing will stop the discoverers, and they are even in a hurry lest someone else grab the opportunity from them.

       The object of the pursuit is truly worth it. The Gospel speaks of a treasure and a pearl of great price. In the First Reading, on the other hand, God promises to make of us “a solid wall of brass” to the people. He assures us, “though they fight against you, they shall not prevail.”

       Recklessness does have its rewards, most especially from God who alone is deserving of our trust. He has done everything for us. We don’t even need to travel the seven seas and to search all over the world to find the treasure. We don’t even need to calculate the costs of the investment. The value of everything else has been relativized in favor of the one and only treasure. Against the Kingdom of God, all else is rubbish. It alone is the pièce de résistance worth devouring. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you found the Pearl of Great Price in your life? How are you taking care that you don’t lose Him?

 

Lord, thank You for being in my life. Thank You for allowing me to find You, my greatest treasure, in the midst of all the rubbish in the world.

What is your uniqueness that you can use in serving God? - Daily Reflections July 29,2014

THE EXAMPLE OF ST. MARTHA

 

Today’s commemoration somehow caps a series of memorials this month, commemorations or feasts of several other saints. The common denominator among them is that they all knew, or encountered in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in His lifetime. They were His disciples, contemporaries or relatives: St. Thomas, St. Mary Magdalene, St. James, Sts. Joachim and Anne, and finally today, St. Martha.

       A song by the Filipino Catholic music ministry group, Bukas Palad, extols her: “You, who welcomed Christ into your home, You who must have washed the Savior’s feet, are truly blest....” If only for these deeds of service, which St. Martha performed especially for the Lord Jesus, she deserves our praise, emulation and imitation. Sometimes relegated to second fiddle vis-à-vis her siblings Mary and Lazarus, Martha does have merits of her own. She lived her being the Lord’s disciple through her gracious hospitality and humble service.

       And, of course, there is the beautiful lesson in the Gospel episode today. Even with the untimely death of her brother, Lazarus, Martha showed that tragedy can be turned into an occasion to strengthen faith in Jesus. We join our voices with hers, as we too declare our oath of faithful and faith-filled allegiance and conviction, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is to come into the world.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What is your uniqueness that you can use in serving God?

 

Lord, You have created each of us differently, unique from one another. Help me to use my uniqueness in serving You and in fulfilling my life’s mission.

Do you trust in the power of the small, hidden and humble people to make a difference in the world? Are you one of them? - Daily Reflections July 28,2014

HUMBLE AND HIDDEN

 

How blessed are we to be privy to teachings which otherwise would remain “hidden from the foundation of the world,” as the last verse of today’s Gospel puts it! Thank God for this special privilege, and thank God too for the parables which His Son Jesus often uses in His teachings.

       Interestingly, the images used in the two parables of Jesus are also 

buried in the ground, and the other is yeast (the all-important leavening agent when baking). And the action they bring about are also hidden and quiet — slow but sure growth. Finally, the result upon the execution and fulfillment of their designated action is truly beneficial: shade and shelter for the mustard seed (which is now a large shrub), and then delicious, freshly baked bread.

       We probably take for granted the many quiet and hidden things in our world. If we only knew how we would be without them. They don’t make noise, their action is slow, but you bet they are there, effectively fulfilling that for which they were created.

       There is a lesson there, too, especially for us who are more inclined to go for the flashy and the noisy, the big and the bold. For all we know, these ones are, in reality, more bark than bite. If you talk more of the real thing, it’s deep down there, quietly lurking beneath the surface, ready to sprout one fine day, and then grow, develop and bear fruit.

       The humble and the hidden count a lot. Hopefully, we Christians will not settle for false humility, or for a secretive or lazy approach when we carry out our God-given mission to evangelize. Let’s be ready and willing to shout the Good News from the housetops, and to place our gifts and talents at the service of the Church. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you trust in the power of the small, hidden and humble people to make a difference in the world? Are you one of them?

 

Help me to remain hidden and humble in serving You, Lord.

What lessons have you learned in your spiritual journey, particularly in following and obeying God’s will for you and in serving others? - Daily Reflections July 25,2014

A LESSON FOR US   How we look at today’s saint, St. James the Greater — with the appended tag of superiority in his name, his prominence in the Gospel narratives (innermost circle of Jesus’ Apostles, exclusive access to special miracles, and so on), and his preeminence as the first martyr among the Apostles — seems to be an antithesis to the message of the Gospel passage today. “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave,” Jesus insists.        Our Lord’s words can’t be any clearer and more straight to the point. And with His own self as the example (“Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”), the message is made even more emphatic and credible.        Furthermore, St. Paul in the First Reading reminds us that “we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” We cannot claim anything as though it was our own effort.        Notice again Jesus’ words in the Gospel: “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”        We need to exert effort in order to collaborate with and fulfill God’s will for us. But over and above this human effort, there is that certain gratuitousness on the part of God. The mother and sons of Zebedee learned the lesson the hard way. May they, in turn, most especially St. James, accompany us in our learning journey. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB   REFLECTION QUESTION: What lessons have you learned in your spiritual journey, particularly in following and obeying God’s will for you and in serving others?   Thank You, Lord, for the gift of saints in Your Church. I pray that their lives will serve as inspiration to Your people.

Have you used well the opportunities for spiritual growth that have come your way? - Daily Reflections July 24,2014

WASTING AWAY OPPORTUNITIES FROM GOD

 

In the First Reading, the people of God “have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water.” This is directly opposite to how the Responsorial Psalm describes Jesus as “the fountain of life.” There is a similar contraposition between opposite poles in the Gospel today: Jesus warns His disciples, “To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not even what he has will be taken away.”

       Because of this, Jesus justifies His use of parables as His preferred tool for preaching. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, He points out the incapacity or, worse still, the unwillingness of the people to grasp God’s message. Jesus even uses concrete language, in the form of bodily senses (ears for hearing and eyes for seeing) to bring home His point.

       And yet, He praises His disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

       We can do well to apply the above words of Christ to ourselves. We can consider ourselves blessed by God, for example, for the many things we learn in our faith and spiritual life. We are fortunate when it comes to our religious and spiritual formation, for we have so many possibilities not readily available to others, like seminars, conferences, retreats, recollections, courses, pilgrimages and so on.

       But how much of these have we really availed? Or have we been just content with the minimum possibilities for our faith, like limiting ourselves to a few prayers and Sunday Mass? Might God take away from us the many opportunities and privileges He has bestowed on us because we don’t take advantage of them? Have we become broken cisterns, rather than the fountains of life that God has meant us to be? Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you used well the opportunities for spiritual growth that have come your way?

 

Thank You, Lord, for all people and opportunities that You’ve sent my way to help me grow in loving and following You.

 

When will you make yourself available to God? - Daily Reflections July 23,2014

DISPOSED TO RECEIVE GOD’S POWER

 

The dramatic account of the prophet Jeremiah’s call by the Lord in today’s First Reading contains a noteworthy detail. After his protestations regarding his being young, incapable and undeserving, God extended His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth, saying, “See I place my words in your mouth!”

       The Gospel, on the other hand, is the familiar Parable of the Sower. God, the Divine Sower, never fails to scatter the seed of His Word upon our hearts. It all depends on our openness and receptivity, but the important thing in the first place is God’s indefatigable effort plus the seeds’ innate power to overcome every obstacle. The seed may meet with resistance and reversal of all kinds, yet it still yields a rich harvest.

       Our own feelings of unworthiness to join church organizations to be involved and to serve, or our accusations of hypocrisy versus churchgoers in general (a convenient excuse for us to skip our own religious obligation of church attendance) are exactly just that: feelings and excuses. In other words, while they may have a point, they are still not valid. All the more reason there is for the likes of us, sinful and undeserving people, to dedicate ourselves in humble and docile dispositions.

       We would do well not to entertain such feelings and excuses, or much less, to use them to justify our non-commitment. We have to let go of our false pretenses. The Lord will not be moved by them. The inherent potential of both His Word and His action knows no obstacles. The openness and availability we have before the Lord will be enough for Him to empower and commission us as workers in His fold, as He did to Jeremiah: “This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you tend to make excuses when invited to prayer gatherings or other religious events? When will you make yourself available to God?

 

Grant me an open heart, Lord, to get involved in building Your Kingdom on earth.

Have you allowed yourself to be touched by Christ? How did His touch change you or the way you live? - Daily Reflections July 22,2014

TOUCHED BY CHRIST

 

If you consider the background of today’s saint, Mary Magdalene, it is hard to believe or think that she is known (at least in the Byzantine or Eastern Liturgy) as “the apostle to the Apostles.” But that is the truth: as the first witness of the Risen Lord, Jesus assigned her to bring the good news to the Apostles. She may have come from a shady and even sinful past, but thanks to God’s mercy and forgiveness, she repented and became a loyal follower of Jesus. She may have had seven devils cast out of her by the Lord (Mark 16:9), but she ministered to Him in Galilee. Finally, she was one of the few who remained with Christ during His agony on the cross, and together with two other women, she visited His tomb.

       Those facts tell us more about Mary Magdalene. One German author, an expert in scriptural studies, argues that the above-mentioned situations were fraught with danger and threats against Mary Magdalene and the women. Historians back then wrote about persons standing near a cross and showing signs of grief as being killed or arrested. Likewise, it was very risky and perilous for women to be at the grave of Jesus. Had they been found at the grave by His denunciators, it could have cost them their lives.

       These observations make us appreciate Mary Magdalene more. But they also serve as challenges to us, even putting us to shame for our lack of courage. Would we go to such extent to prove our love for Jesus? Would we risk our necks for Him? That, Mary Magdalene did, without even knowing and being assured that Jesus had already risen from the dead.

       Jesus’ resurrection transforms and gives meaning to everything. Life would never be the same again since then — and so with death. And Mary Magdalene, too, would never be the same again, not only since her conversion from a sinful past, but more so since her encounter with the Risen Lord. He, too, won’t allow us to touch Him. Instead we just have to let Christ “touch” us. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you allowed yourself to be touched by Christ? How did His touch change you or the way you live?

 

Lord Jesus, may Mary Magdalene’s life inspire me to break free from my sinful ways and follow You more ardently.

In what ways do you think you are testing Jesus’ patience? - Daily Reflections July 21,2014

TESTING JESUS’ PATIENCE   Most, if not all of us, experience being pushed to our limits, especially when it comes to our patience. At some point in our lives, we reach the boiling point and almost always we end up dismayed and blowing our top. That is the situation expressed by the prophet Micah in our First Reading today. The Lord makes an impassioned plea to Israel: “O my people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Answer me!”        A similar exasperation is also found in Jesus in today’s Gospel. Some scribes and Pharisees ask Him for a sign to validate His preaching. He replies to them, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.”        In an effort to assuage the Lord for the dismay the Israelites have caused Him, they ask, “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”        God’s answer is very compelling. “You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”        Jesus echoes the same thought. By citing examples from Israel’s past, He pleads for a greater faith and acceptance, for more openness and humility, for greater righteousness and moral consistency. People before have responded positively to the preaching of Jonah and to the wisdom of Solomon; why do they now respond negatively to Him who is greater than either Solomon or Jonah?        Hopefully we won’t push Jesus to His limit or make Him blow His top. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB   REFLECTION QUESTION: In what ways do you think you are testing Jesus’ patience?   Lord, forgive me for the times I have tested Your patience — in how I pray, in how I sin again and again, in how I run away from You.

How do you spend your Sundays? - Daily Reflections July 18,2014

THANK GOD, IT’S SUNDAY!

 

Today is actually a Friday. Perhaps we are more accustomed to make the usual exclamation in gratitude for the last day of the workweek. But we are grateful to the Lord most especially for the “sabbath,” for His day (the “Lord’s Day”) — for Sunday.

         In the Philippine context, probably the only thing we don’t hold on Sundays are rallies and demonstrations. The malls and the badminton courts are open for our enjoyment. It’s a great day for family and friends, for visits and hobbies, for worship in church, and recreation in sports.

         Hopefully we are able to maintain, in the midst of all these, the primacy or the supremacy of the human person and, of course, that of God as the “Lord of the sabbath.” This is what Jesus Christ emphasizes, as we see in today’s Gospel episode.

         Laws and directives, do’s and don’ts, rules and regulations, and so on — these are all useful and even essential. (Can you imagine badminton without the rules?) But let us never forget that all these are at the service of the human person, and not the other way around. It’s a good point for self-examination.     For instance, is our Sunday recreation truly a “re-creation,” in the sense that it replenishes our energies and restores our health? Or do we always end up even more tired and unprepared for the following day (no wonder, the “Monday blues”)? Also, are we already so caught up in the office rat race, often working overtime, always rushing to beat deadlines (formula for burnout!) — to the point of sacrificing family life and health?

         Today’s saint, Camillus de Lellis, who turned his back on gambling (he was addicted to it!) to embrace a life of dedication and service to the sick, may serve to prick our consciences. And the Lord Himself, of course, who rested on the seventh day (so to speak). Surely we can use some spare time to praise and thank God, to rest and recreate ourselves, most especially on a Sunday. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you spend your Sundays?

 

Lord Jesus, help me to put order into my days so that I may spend my Sundays more meaningfully with You.

What fears do you have in following the Lord? - Daily Reflections July 17,2014

A SMOOTH RIDE WITH THE LORD

 

Today’s First Reading from the prophet Isaiah opens with the words, “The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level.” The Gospel has a similar thought, even if it uses a different imagery, when it concludes with Jesus’ words, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

       Whether one speaks of smoothness or lightness, or of ease and gentleness, this is assured by Jesus to the just man. It is His declaration that His teachings and demands are not easy, in the sense that it is disposable and automatic, and its fulfillment is unexacting and effortless. Rather, it is easy in the sense that it is manageable for the one who disposes himself in humility and docility before God. It is, in fact, still a burden; but far from weighing us down, it is actually what gives life its true meaning and fulfillment.

       And so, let us cheer up! If our faith and spiritual life only makes us sourfaced, apathetic and grumpy, there’s something wrong. Or, more probably, we have got it all wrong. Most likely, we haven’t grasped yet the Good News of our Lord Jesus.

       Remember: it’s Good News — and it’s supposed to make our paths smooth and level. Even if the ride will have to be bumpy at times, Jesus, our Friend and Brother, is just there on our side. He accompanies us in our journey and, together with Him, there’s nothing that is unbearable. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What fears do you have in following the Lord?

 

Lord Jesus, I believe in Your promise — that You will always be with me. Help me to hang on to that promise always, especially in difficult times.

What persecutions have you encountered in following Jesus? How did you overcome them? - Daily Reflections July 11,2014

MORE SUBTLE PERSECUTIONS

 

Our continuous Gospel passages bring us now to Jesus’ instructions regarding the inevitable persecutions which His disciples were to undergo eventually.

       It is not only the martyrs who underwent persecutions. This last word certainly does not only refer to torments such as being nailed to the cross, being tortured and jailed, being scourged or burned at the stake, and similar ordeals. There are other more subtle and insidious persecutions. Ours is a society built by pride, materialism and maintenance of the status quo: all these spawn trials and difficulties to a genuine follower of Christ. And in a world built on free will instead of God’s will, we are being challenged to be martyrs in the broad sense (the original sense, in fact — that of giving witness).

       Our saint for today is a fine example. Benedict, known as the Patriarch of Western monks, didn’t die a martyr’s death. However, he had to face so many persecutions of different sorts: combatting temptations of the flesh, confronting conflicts from notorious monks, enduring assassination attempts and political intrigues, and overcoming his own selfish tendencies. As for ourselves, there isn’t much difference. While we may not be called to martyr our lives, we must “martyr” our way of life. We must put our selfish ways to death, and march to the beat of a different drummer. There may still be religious persecutions up to now against Christians in certain countries, but we must recognize the newer and more understated forms of persecutions and be ready to face them with the help of God. May St. Benedict be our inspiration, model and strength. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What persecutions have you encountered in following Jesus? How did you overcome them?

 

Strengthen me, Lord, whenever I meet persecutions in following You. Help me not to give up as I fulfill Your mission for me.

At this point in your life, can you honestly say that, without Christ, you are nothing? - Daily Reflections July 9,2014

APOSTLES, MARTYRS, CHRISTIANS:

ALL OF AND IN CHRIST

 

Today’s Gospel episode consists of the calling and choosing of the Twelve Apostles, their names, and the first instructions that Jesus gives them. All these indicate a certain “constitutionality” in the Twelve. They are like a judicially established group, which nevertheless doesn’t mean that they are closed in on themselves. The mission given to them shows that they are not for themselves alone. Although it is true that Jesus’ instruction to them is for them to start their ministry with “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” theirs is an openness which launches them always outward. And the list of the Apostles goes on across the centuries and until the present day.

       The saints are like extensions or successors of the Apostles. They have been raised by God, in response to definite times and situations in history. As a matter of fact, today is the liturgical memorial of a big group of martyrs, led by St. Augustine Zhao Rong. He was a Chinese diocesan priest who was killed, along with 119 of his companions, in the year 1815. Among their number was a teenager, an 18-year-old boy by the name of Chi Zhuzi. This brave young man cried out to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: “Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am a Christian.”

       Such an astonishing conviction proves the underlying tenet which every saint, every apostle, and indeed every Christian holds on to: that we are all of and in Christ Himself (“Christian”). The last three letters seem to form an acronym, should they be separated from the name Christ: i, a, and n. And we take these initials to stand for “I am nothing” — without Christ, that is. Only with and in Jesus do we have our identity, our being, and our courage to bear witness to Him. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: At this point in your life, can you honestly say that, without Christ, you are nothing?

 

Please don’t let go of my hand, Lord, even when I sometimes seem to be trying to break free from You.

How sensitive are you to the needs of the people around you, particularly those in your family, your workplace, your community? - Daily Reflections July 8,2014

BE DISCERNING JUST AS JESUS WAS

 

In today’s First Reading from the prophet Hosea, there seems to be an irony underlying the idolatry of Israel which the prophet strongly condemns. This is when Ephraim “made many altars to expiate sin,” which, however, “became occasions of sin.” How did that happen? Hosea did not condemn the altars as such, but the lack of discernment of the people who used them. Similarly, in the Gospel, the Pharisees’ negative reaction to Jesus’ healing of the mute demoniac suggests a hasty, misplaced judgment — that of wrongly interpreting Jesus’ action and immediately putting a biased view against it.

       How easy is it for us as well to mistake God’s ways in our lives. How readily do we harbor a tampo (ill will or grudge) against Him! If only we can be more discerning and more discreet, in our prayer to Him.

      In the latter part of the Gospel, Jesus commands us to “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (the famous “rogate ergo” for more vocations). Given the sad reality of the dearth of vocations in the Church, especially vocations to the priestly and religious life, we have to heed and obey Christ’s directive. How often have we done this?

       We probably think that all is well anyway, or we indifferently refuse to see and to be involved. But Jesus’ own assessment of the situation should shake us up and make us see the not-so-pleasant truth. Upon the healing of the demoniac, the crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” Jesus Himself didn’t simply gloss over the misery of crowds of sick people. In fact, He was “moved with pity for them for they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” That urged Him to make the prayer-command to His disciples.

       If only we can be compassionate and sensitive just as Jesus was. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How sensitive are you to the needs of the people around you, particularly those in your family, your workplace, your community?

 

Grant me a compassionate heart, Lord, that can listen well to the unspoken pleas for help from the people around me.

Are you hungry for God’s Word? Go to Him who can satisfy all your hunger and thirst - Daily Reflections July 4,2014

HUNGRY AND READY FOR GOD’S WORD

 

There is an intriguing connection between our readings today. It’s a contrast, first of all. The First Reading from the prophet Amos mentions a famine, whereas the Gospel includes a scene at a festive table hosted by the tax collector Matthew after Jesus had called him.

       Secondly, there is also an interplay between the same two readings. The prophet Amos prophesies a famine “for hearing the word of the Lord.” The verses are very ominous: “Then they shall wander from sea to sea, and rove from the north to the east in search of the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.” Whereas in the Gospel passage, we hear Jesus offering a Scripture verse to the self-righteous Pharisees who were complaining against Him, even ordering them to “go and learn the meaning” of these words: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.”

       Between these two readings is the Responsorial Psalm, with its familiar verse: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” It’s true. We might be famished and go hungry for the Word of God, especially when we drift away from Him through apathy, laziness and negligence, but it is consoling to know that the Lord runs after us, offering us precisely His life-giving Word that will satisfy our hunger and thirst.

       In fact, God chases us most especially when we go astray through our faults and failures, through our misdeeds and misdemeanors. Matthew, the tax collector turned Apostle, gives us hope. He is our exemplar. Jesus called him to conversion, and he readily responded.

       For all we know, Matthew had hungered for God’s call ever since. He didn’t even need to wander from sea to sea. God Himself found him and called him, “Follow me.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you hungry for God’s Word? Go to Him who can satisfy all your hunger and thirst.

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us Your Word every day. May we always rely on Your Word to guide our days and satisfy our inner yearnings.

Are there doubts in your mind about following Jesus? Ask St. Thomas to intercede for you - Daily Reflections July 3,2014

LET US GO, TOO, AND DIE WITH ST. THOMAS

 

Today’s saint, the Apostle Thomas, has been known mainly through the Gospel episode we read today. This passage is the origin of the idiomatic expression, “doubting Thomas,” casting, no doubt (pardon the pun!), a negative light on the man.

       Instead, there is another Gospel verse, John 11:16, that is seldom read but worth considering especially today. It is more positive of Thomas. The episode is the resurrection of Lazarus. Though some have pictured Thomas in this verse as someone cynical or sarcastic, we take it instead to be a heroic affirmation of his bravery and his loyalty to Jesus Christ.

       Finally, there is still one more Gospel passage, John 14:1-7, where Thomas again figures prominently. Here, Thomas, in all his simplicity, admits his ignorance and asks Jesus a question, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” To which Jesus replies, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

       Was Thomas simply wanting to be sure, or playing it safe here? We do not know for sure. In any case, what is important for us is that we truly have in Thomas a saint to honor and emulate. His candor, sincerity, simplicity and courage endear him to us. Should we have our fair share of struggles doubts and hesitations, let us not hesitate to call on Thomas. Let us go and die with him — not literally, of course. Rather, let us die to our selfish desires and weak tendencies, and allow Jesus to cast away our doubts and fears, just as He did with Thomas. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are there doubts in your mind about following Jesus? Ask St. Thomas to intercede for you.

 

Thank You, Lord, for giving us St. Thomas to be our model in times of hesitation and doubts. May his faith and bravery be ours, too.

 

Are there some areas in your life that are off limits to Jesus? What are you hiding from Him? - Daily Reflections July 2,2014

THE “PAGAN TERRITORIES” OF OUR LIVES

 

Today’s Gospel episode is a dramatic one, worthy perhaps of being made into a horror movie replete with computer-generated, 3D special effects. And yet, for all the gripping suspense and drama, the narrative ends on a somewhat strange note. When word spread about what had happened (particularly regarding the herd of swine), the entire town came out to meet Jesus — but only to beg Him to go away from their neighborhood.

       Why so? In the first place, this miracle of demonic expulsion took place in pagan territory. Biblical geography indicates that the town of Gadara (the setting of the incident), to the east of the Lake of Galilee, was an area inhabited by pagans or non-Jews. The herd of pigs confirms this fact, since pigs were considered as repulsive animals to Israelites.

       Applying it now into our lives, we ask ourselves: Is it possible that there are certain areas in our lives that are still “pagan territory,” in the sense that we would rather not have Jesus meddling therein? Perhaps He intends to purify and liberate us from the demons of our sinful habits, but we still prefer to bargain with Him. Or also (much like what we have in the First Reading today, when the prophet Amos denounces Israel’s noisy feasts and rituals), He wants to purge us from our proclivity for New Age or neo-pagan beliefs and practices, such as horoscopes, feng shui, tarot cards, palm reading, and so on. But we still do not want to let go of them, unfortunately.

       How then can we call ourselves genuine Catholics or Christians if we are given to such compromises in our faith? For such an authenticity in our beliefs and behaviors, there is no need for cinematic special effects. We just have to welcome Christ into our lives and to give witness to Him in all that we do. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are there some areas in your life that are off limits to Jesus? What are you hiding from Him?

 

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to open and surrender my whole life to You.