What do you expect out of personally following Jesus? - Daily Reflections June 27, 2016

A SERIOUS MATTER

 

We are down to the last few days of June. Our Gospel passage for today invites us to take a good look at the cost of following our Lord Jesus in our everyday lives.

       To put it simply, it’s no walk in the park. The two would-be disciples of Jesus in the Gospel reading had the noblest of aspirations, but that was not enough for Jesus. He was radically honest and blunt to lay down His own terms. Jesus is for no pushovers or patsies, or for those who dillydally.

       In a way, we too can say that our Lord was insisting against a wrong attitude when it comes to following Him, which is that of enjoying privileges or expecting entitlements on the basis of being His follower. There are followers of Christ who think that just because they have made sacrifices, like giving up careers or loved ones, expect God to compensate for that. And so they get this false sense of entitlement and expect special privileges or perks on the mere basis of their following Jesus, forgetting that it actually entails sacrifices, perseverance and steadfastness.

       If you will read carefully the circumstances of the Gospel incident, you might see some clues. It is stated that Jesus gave orders to the crowd around Him to cross to the other side of the lake. Perhaps those two who spoke to Jesus attempted to ingratiate themselves with Him, hoping that they can just journey alongside the Lord without the hardship of crossing the lake. Jesus burst their bubble and gave them a good reality check.

       To follow the Lord Jesus is a serious matter. We just cannot make excuses from it or expect rewards for it. With or without perks and fringe benefits, we follow Him all the same, more than ever. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What do you expect out of personally following Jesus?

 

Humble me, O Lord, that I may see where I truly stand as I follow You. Amen.

Are you burdened with a painful or ugly past? Surrender it to God and hold on to His promise to give you a future full of hope - Daily Reflections June 24, 2016

A BIRTH FULL OF PROMISE

 

From the perspective of Zechariah, the birth of his son, John the Baptist, must have been a tremendous, dramatic event. He who was struck dumb for his incredulity and hesitation is now liberated, especially from his muteness. As he proclaimed in his well-known canticle, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and brought redemption to His people.”

       Of all God’s people, Zechariah was the first to be set free. Somehow we can’t blame the poor man for having been struck mute, frail and human as he was.

       We, too, are somehow imprisoned and speechless in our cages of doubt and lack of trust in God. We long for the day when we will be set free, the ghosts of our past finally laid to rest. This means that we will, at last, come to terms with our past hurts, issues and concerns. We will not forget them entirely because unfortunately there’s no delete key for bad memories, but we will come to accept them as part of the greater scheme of things.

       What truly matters, most especially with God, is the future, and not the past anymore. “A future of hope” (Jeremiah 29:11) is what God promises us, if we put our trust in Him.

       People were wondering and speculating on what John the Baptist would be. They were even arguing about his name. But this stands in contrast with God’s holy and majestic will — it is something not subject to petty considerations and deliberations.

       This is the kind of God who always knows and desires what is best for us, like a most loving father who truly cares. Like the frail-but-promising newborn baby John, we humbly and completely entrust ourselves into His hands. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you burdened with a painful or ugly past? Surrender it to God and hold on to His promise to give you a future full of hope.

 

Heal me, Lord, of my painful and ugly past. With You in my life, I trust that my future will be a lot brighter. Amen.

Do your actions reflect what your faith dictate? - Daily Reflections June 23,2016

WORDS OR DEEDS? SCRIBES OR JESUS?

 

Finally we arrive at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. The lesson today has a very clear and unmistakable impact. In the end, it’s all a matter of doing, putting into practice, and living out the teaching.

       If yesterday we were reflecting on the necessary fruits to back up or prove our worth, today’s Gospel lesson is even more concrete. We said, “fruits, not roots.” Today we say, “deeds, not words.”

       It’s the doing that counts more. Doing is what guarantees a strong and solid foundation in our life. Doing sees to it that we are not stuck with mere good intentions and noble aspirations. With doing, everything is translated into reality, capped unto completion, and brought to fruition.

   The opposite is horrible: disaster, catastrophe and calamity. Metaphorically speaking, it’s even worse than earthquakes and typhoons, capsized ferries, and flooded streets. The spoken words have been rendered in vain or have come to naught. What a pity!

       Of course, Jesus is our example and master in this case. He knew perfectly well the value of words, and He did not hesitate to speak and teach. But more importantly, He gave witness to His own words. He backed them up with concrete deeds of love and compassion, forgiveness and healing. We therefore understand and appreciate the last verse much better: “The crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”

       Those of us, especially in the ministry of teaching and preaching, would do well to examine and ask ourselves: Are we mere “scribes” of the people? Or are we like Jesus to them? Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do your actions reflect what your faith dictate?

 

Help me live out the words that I profess, O Lord. Amen.

What fruits does your life bear? Can they be classified as good fruits? - Daily Reflections June 22, 2016

SANCTITY AS SEEN IN THE FRUITS

 

Jesus’ instruction on false prophets in today’s Gospel are strong warnings against the so-called wolves in sheep’s clothing. He gives a sure-fire, foolproof litmus test: “By their fruits you will know them.” Take note that He said, “by their fruits,” not “by their roots.”

       Prophets, genuine or otherwise, can have colorful backgrounds, solid credentials, and credible reputations. But depending on the results they produce, whether their pronouncements and teachings translate into sincere and genuine manifestations in the lives of their listeners and adherents, remains to be seen. “The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” as the saying goes.

       We see this in the lives of our saints for today. We have a choice of three, and we can take our pick as far as our liturgy is concerned. (They’re all optional memorials for today: St. Paulinus of Nola, Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More.) The nice thing is that each one of them will do in exemplifying our point above. Their canonization by the Catholic Church is the official seal of approval. Their lives are worthy of our imitation. The saints are the “poster boys or girls” of living out Jesus’ teachings. But lest we think that the whole thing is just for the likes of them, let us not forget that the call and challenge to sainthood goes out to each of us as well, with equal urgency and seriousness.

       “Small-letter-s” saints — that’s what we can be, and that’s what we strive to be. And even without beatification and  canonization, may we all have the fruits to show for it. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONs: What fruits does your life bear? Can they be classified as good fruits?

 

Help me to bear fruit for Your Kingdom, Lord. May my life shine Your light to the world. Amen.

Today, read about the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga or any of the saints. Pick one trait of that saint that you would like to emulate - Daily Reflections June 21,2016

THE EXAMPLE OF ST. ALOYSIUS

 

Today’s Gospel passage contains three isolated teachings of Jesus. They are simply tied together. As part of our reflection, we may take an illustration for these teachings from the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, whose feast we celebrate today.

       He is the one-time patron saint of the youth, a young man who lived and died in the 16th century. Nevertheless he is still relevant nowadays. He need not be overshadowed by the likes of “newer” young saints like Dominic Savio and Pedro Calungsod, for each of them have their own uniqueness.

       We can learn a lot from St. Aloysius. He chose to “enter the narrow gate,” to use the Gospel imagery today. He may have given in to his noble father’s ambition by training in the art of war and by attending military parades and royal banquets. But disappointed as he was by the vices of the nobility then, he developed an intense desire for religious life. He undertook radical penances and practices of prayer. Eventually in 1585, notwithstanding the furious opposition of his father, Aloysius renounced his inheritance and entered the Society of Jesus in Rome. He would often desire to humble himself, particularly by assuming duties in the kitchen.

       Certainly it wasn’t a case of “throwing pearls before swine.” Aloysius radically lived a life of holiness through the narrow road of renunciation and sacrifice. Enduring the hardships implied therein — including an early death preceded by months of suffering from the plague which he contracted while serving the sick — he eventually found eternal life.

      May both Jesus’ teachings and St. Aloysius’ example inspire and strengthen us. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Today, read about the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga or any of the saints. Pick one trait of that saint that you would like to emulate.

 

Thank You, Lord, for all the saints who have gone before us. May we learn to imitate their godly virtues. Amen.

Are you more prone to judge others or are you most often on the receiving end of judgment? How do you handle both? - Daily Reflections June 20,2016

AN UNPLEASANT BUT BADLY NEEDED TEACHING

 

Chapter 7 of the Gospel according to Matthew is the last installment on the Sermon on the Mount. We read it today, just as we begin a new week. Thank God for this special grace!

       But Jesus’ message today is by no means pleasant. It is His direct injunction against judging one another. And yet the irony of it is that, while we disdain being judged and criticized negatively (passive judgment, when we are on the receiving end of the judgment), we also give in too easily in judging others (active judgment, when we are the ones judging).

       How easy it is to point a finger and put the blame, for example, on our parents, society at large, or the government. How hard it is, on the other hand, to point a finger to our very own selves, own up our faults and take responsibility for them. The funny thing is that for every finger we point towards others, there are at least three other fingers pointing back to ourselves.

       And so, Jesus does have a point, even with His unpleasant teachings today. We do need to wake up and be provoked. And we thank Him for doing that to us today! Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you more prone to judge others or are you most often on the receiving end of judgment? How do you handle both?

 

Heal me, Lord, from my tendency to be quick in judging others. Remind me always that what I dislike most in others is the same thing that I unconsciously do not like in myself. Amen.

How has Pope Francis’s visit last year affected your day-today life today? - Daily Reflections June 17,2016

POPE FRANCIS AS OUR MODEL

 

Jesus used body parts as metaphors in our Gospel passage today. He talks about the heart in the first part of the reading regarding our treasure in life, and also about the eye in the second part as the indicator of our spiritual health.

       Our beloved Pope Francis is a concrete illustration for this. His gentle, smiling face exudes a gospel of joy; his serene countenance is infectious and contagious, and that’s not only for digicams and iPhones, FB posts and Twitter feeds! More than his smiles, glances and facial gestures, his protocol-breaking deeds and actions speak volumes full of gospel values and virtues. Recall those headline-hugging moves of his, like the raffling off of his possessions (the proceeds of which were given to the poor), his choice of vehicles to ride on during his papal travels, and his explicit requests and instructions for simplicity and frugality during his visit to the Philippines last year.

       Jesus’ teaching, after all, is meant to be lived and put into practice; it can’t just be left on desks and shelves to gather dust. Because if it were so, the dust would cause colds and allergies of apathy and indifference. Instead, virtuous deeds of simplicity and joy are healthy viruses, needed for spreading good cheer, peace and tranquility. The urgency for this is even more felt in a dark world of violence, treachery and hatred.

      We have Pope Francis leading the way through his example. It’s already been more than a year and a half since he visited the Philippines. Have we allowed him to “contaminate” our lives? And have we adequately spread the “infection” of his contagious kindness and simplicity? Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How has Pope Francis’s visit last year affected your day-today life today?

 

May I never be blinded by the lures of the world, Lord. Help me to focus on the treasures that will matter in heaven. Amen.

Which part of The Lord’s Prayer has a personal significance for you? - Daily Reflections June 16,2016

THE GREAT VALUE OF THE LORD’S PRAYER   One of the observations on the new English edition of the Roman Missal, which came out some years ago, is regarding the introduction to The Lord’s Prayer. What used to be several options have been reduced to only one, which is for us the best of those former choices. It goes by a literal translation of the original Latin: “At the Savior’s command, and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say...”        It’s true. In front of the greatest Christian prayer of all, we actually have three distinct things: 1) a command of Jesus Himself; 2) a model instructing us what and how to pray to God the Father; and 3) a bold, daring act on our part. The reasons for these are as follows:        1. There is a certain importance and urgency to the matter, such that Jesus commands us to pray. We cannot take lightly the whole business of prayer, nor can we just drag our feet.      2. In our possible weakness and confusion, Jesus comes to our assistance by providing us with a template, an example or model for our prayer. It is not only a sample of what we can pray for (the content), but more importantly a pattern of how we are to pray (the underlying attitudes and outlooks).        3. Come to think of it, we really do not have the right to face up to God and talk to Him head on. And so, in an attitude of humility and at the same time fortitude (a certain cheekiness or pluckiness), we marshall our guts and approach the Lord — yes, even in our weaknesses and needs.       Such then is the great value of the “Our Father.” May we ever treasure it, use it, and allow it to guide us in life. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB   REFLECTION QUESTION: Which part of The Lord’s Prayer has a personal significance for you?   Thank You for teaching us what to pray for and how to pray, dearest Jesus. Amen.

Are you tempted to show off acts of mercy that you do for the needy? Hold it! There’s only one Audience to whom it matters most - Daily Reflections June 15,2016

DEEDS DONE WITHOUT POMP

 

Our Gospel reading today is also the one read every Ash Wednesday. It may seem strange, right? But when you simply consider the threefold Lenten precept of fasting, prayer and almsgiving, then it makes perfect sense.

       In other words, fasting, prayer and almsgiving need not be limited only to the Lenten season. Any time can be a moment for us to act, in terms of sacrificing something — be it time, food and drink, and superfluous material possessions — for the sake of the less fortunate and more needy. Such sacrifice, our Lord tells us, ought to be done without fanfare or ostentatiousness.

    Take note: it isn’t only power-hungry politicians who are epal (flauntingly thick-skinned). We are all often tempted to post “press releases,” trumpet our achievements, brag about our accomplishments. There were unfortunate instances of this during that most memorable visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines on January 15-19, 2015. But there was also an overriding theme which gave guidance and meaning to the whole event: “Mercy and Compassion.”

       It was fittingly so. For with that, myriads of possibilities were available to practice those two virtues, especially by means of corporal and spiritual works of mercy. These are concrete helpful deeds, like feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, burying the dead, praying for the living and dead, and so on. But again, such deeds ought to be done without pomp.

       Jesus teaches us that if we carry out these works, we have the best audience of all — no other than God Himself. And that should be enough. To Him then — and certainly not to our fellow mortals — do we rightfully “show off” our accomplishments. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you tempted to show off acts of mercy that you do for the needy? Hold it! There’s only one Audience to whom it matters most.

 

Dearest Lord, keep me from desiring earthly reward and recognition for any good deed that I do. Help me to always remember that my true reward awaits me in heaven. Amen.

Who do you find most difficult to love? Today, pray for that person and ask God for the grace to love him or her - Daily Reflections June 14,2016

AN INCLUSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE LOVE

 

Jesus is at it again with His new standards of the law, particularly regarding the love of enemies.

       In a sense, the old Jewish law probably had a point. For how does one really come to love his or her enemy? Even just the joining of the two words sounds absurd: “love of enemies.” One’s love will naturally and exclusively gravitate only to his or her “neighbors” or friends. Anyone outside one’s circle of friends, acquaintances, relatives and neighbors might as well be treated an “enemy” — simply understood in the Jewish mind as an outsider or a stranger, with no rights to one’s love and affection.

       But there lies the problem. If one merely follows his or her natural propensities or tendencies, then it’s probably OK. But we must keep in mind that we have a higher possibility available, thanks to God’s bountiful graces and blessings. Thanks to such grace, we can go yonder — to a higher level of love. This higher love is more encompassing (not selective), more inclusive (not for just a fortunate few selected ones), and without conditions (not for those who have special privileges and entitlements to wield).

       And that last point is the context of that often misunderstood last verse. It is not so much perfection that is being demanded of us, for only God is perfect, and we may not even approximate such an exclusive attribute of God. In the context of inclusive and comprehensive love, the challenge that Jesus poses to us is to imitate God in that kind of love.

       Let us not be content with a minimal type of love which barely measures up to the possibilities that God is opening to us. Let that love of His be ours as well. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Who do you find most difficult to love? Today, pray for that person and ask God for the grace to love him or her.

 

Enlarge my heart, O Lord, that I may be able to love like You do. Amen

What is it in St. Anthony of Padua’s life do you want to imitate? Pray to God for that grace - Daily Reflections June 13,2016

THE ADVENTURER SAINT

 

We are back to the series of Gospel readings taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Today we have the wonderful spiritual benefit of celebrating the liturgical memorial of a saint: that of the ever-popular St. Anthony of Padua.

       When a full-length feature film about him was produced some years ago, the many “twists and turns” in his life were highlighted in the narrative. His life was portrayed as exciting and dramatic, even to the extent of having the elements of action and adventure.

       It’s worth recalling a few of such “twists and turns.” Born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195, Anthony at the age of 15 joined the Augustinian Monks of Coimbra, where he was ordained priest. In 1221, when the relics of five Franciscan martyrs were brought from Morocco to Portugal, he had an ardent desire to follow in their footsteps. He then transferred to the Franciscan Order, and after some time was sent to Africa to preach to the Muslims. However, he was soon afflicted with a severe illness, and a few months later he had to return to Portugal. The ship in which he sailed was driven off its course and landed in Sicily. From there, Anthony went to Assisi, where he met St. Francis. Eventually Anthony was discovered for his gift of preaching and teaching theology. He spent the last years of his life in Padua, where he died at 36 years old.

       It all somehow connects with today’s Gospel message. As Jesus revisits and revises the law concerning retaliation (the famous “an eye for an eye”), He raises the bar with an almost completely new teaching on non-violent, passive resistance. Such is the disarming forcefulness, the “violence” of the peace and generosity which Jesus advocates, along with its totally countercultural character.

     St. Anthony of Padua was certainly without the violence of a revolutionary, nor with the bravado of an action star. His was that of a man of God, a follower of Jesus’ radical teaching, a saint. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What is it in St. Anthony of Padua’s life do you want to imitate? Pray to God for that grace.

 

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of St. Anthony of Padua. May his life inspire me to be a non-violent disciple in the world. Amen.

 

When you feel challenged to follow the teachings of the Church, what helps you to face them? - Daily Reflections June 10, 2016

EMBRACING GOD’S CHALLENGES

Now comes a discussion on the burning hot issues of adultery and divorce. Perhaps we are tempted to turn our heads away, close our eyes, and just take refuge in the scenario of the First Reading, away from the turbulence of violent winds and strong earthquakes. Perhaps we’d rather escape the fire and look for God in the tranquil silence of the whispering wind.

       But just as the Lord commanded the terribly discouraged Elijah, we too have to go back, take the desert road to Damascus, and anoint those whom God has chosen. Yes, it’s no other than God who makes the choices, and commands us to follow His counsels. We may also exercise our free will and make our own choices (hopefully the correct ones), but definitely we cannot reduce our faith to a pick-and-eat, mix-and-match smorgasbord of delights.

    We may be stunned and stupefied by God’s challenges, most especially in the areas of marriage and family life, of purity and morality, as given to us through the teachings of the Catholic Church. But in our silent, humble, and faith-filled acceptance of His holy will, God will surely whisper to us His consolations and rewards. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: When you feel challenged to follow the teachings of the Church, what helps you to face them?

Dearest Lord, help me to become Your faithful follower. Amen.