Daily Reflections - September 20, 2012

COMPARING STORIES

 

When studying the parallel of this story in John’s Gospel a couple of years ago, we had to compare it with this Lucan version as well as the versions in Matthew and Mark. It quickly becomes obvious that there is a basic story as told by Mark and Matthew, and to which both John and Luke have added other elements in order to teach a particular lesson. And in Luke’s case, it is about the nature and experience of forgiveness.

Luke adds the material of the parable of the creditor who forgives a small and a large debt, and asks which debtor will be more grateful. Towards the end, this story is somehow combined with an act of anointing. We have the anointing or worship of Jesus as a response to the forgiveness of the sins of the woman in question. Jesus is right — anyone who understands that all their sins have been forgiven will be eternally grateful for the fact. The act of anointing is merely an expression that signifies the depth of feeling in the experience of the woman.

How do we feel about having our sins forgiven? What is our response to this incredible gift that God has given us, and given us freely? I doubt if we even think about this reality much at all. How ungrateful can we be? There should be little more important to us than thanking God for the gift of His forgiveness. This ought to inspire within us a great desire to give back to God in return, not in the sense of paying off our debt to Him but showing Him what a difference His forgiveness has made in our lives. Let us never forget the generosity of love that God demonstrates to us through the forgiveness of our sins.

The anointing of oil in the Old Testament is associated with kingship and ministry. In our passage today, we see what it means to be a minister and a king — always willing to forgive the faults of others and to be of service to them as generously as we can. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: When was the last time you thanked God for the gift of His forgiveness?

 

How can I thank God for the gift of His forgiveness today?

Daily Reflections- September 17, 2012

SURPRISING EXAMPLES OF FAITH

 

Faith, like goodness, can be found in the least expected places. There are times when we are simply stunned at our discovery of virtue in the people we least expect. The centurion in today’s Gospel is not even a Jew but his faith is stronger than most of the people we have met in the Gospel so far. How can this be the case? A Jew’s first reaction to this story would probably have been one of scandal. The faith of a Gentile greater than that of a believer is indeed a disgrace. However, it is not all that unusual when we study history.

Time and time again throughout human history, there are examples of non-believers in whatever religion happens to be of the majority, outdoing the believers in their generosity and goodness to others. This indicates that there is a fundamental core of human goodness within a person, regardless of race, creed or religion. Religious belief builds on what is already there within a person because of the person’s humanity. The reason we expect more from a person of faith is precisely because of the nature of faith. It is our faith that should propel us towards greater expressions of humanity through the grace that it brings to our lives.

The inspiration of faith, the examples of the lives of the saints, should drive us to strive to grow in virtue. Virtue, at least the cardinal virtues of justice, temperance, fortitude and prudence, are fundamentally human virtues that are acquired through constant hard work and diligent application on our part, as well as the aid of grace. They do not come easily and provide the hinges upon which our lives hang. Without virtue our lives would cease to be human, becoming subject to the vagaries of our basic instincts rather than our intellects. This is why Socrates reminds us that the unexamined life is not worth living. It is impossible to grow in virtue without properly reflecting on the choices we make in life. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you consider yourself a virtuous person? How strongly do you exhibit the virtues in your life?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to become a more reflective person. Help me to open my life to Your guidance so that I can grow more in virtue.

Daily Reflections- September 15, 2012

OUR LADY OF SORROWS

 

Today’s Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows follows the Feast of the Triumph (or Exaltation) of the Cross. I do not believe that this is an accident or coincidence. The Church has deliberately chosen to illustrate one of the aspects in which we are all, not just Our Lady, called to meditate upon and embrace the Cross of Jesus in our lives.

None of us can avoid suffering in life. If Jesus suffered, and He was without sin and not in need of redemption, then how do we think we could avoid suffering? The prosperity gospel — every possible version of it — is a lie. In fact, it is more than lie — it is disrespectful to the passion of Jesus. There is nothing wrong with legitimate avoidance of suffering by making wise and prudent choices, but I am sure that it is obvious to us that a lot of suffering that people endure has nothing to do with the personal choices of the sufferer but a result of the unjust and sinful choices of others. This is the reality of sin and while we may be able to minimize the sin in our own lives, we have very little power to do so in the lives of others. That is their responsibility.

Mary is presented to us as Our Lady of Sorrows because she has embraced the truth that living involves suffering. This is not necessarily an evil thing as long as we approach it with faith in God. The suffering of Jesus on the cross gives God the right to be able to say to us, “Everything will be all right in the end if we place our trust in Him.” Jesus underwent suffering to show us the way to faith in God and to make sense of the cross by giving it redemptive value.

Suffering would be totally evil if there is no redemptive value to it. It adds nothing to human character and experience apart from the Cross of Jesus. This may be a matter of faith, or at least a truth that is strongly enlightened by faith. We must pray for the grace to understand it as such and to act upon it. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How do you understand suffering in your life? Do you see anything positive in it?

 

Jesus, thank You for giving meaning to suffering through Your Cross. Help me to join my suffering to Yours so that it can become redemptive for both myself and for those for whom I pray.

Daily Reflections- September 13, 2012

GIFTED, GRACED AND GRATEFUL?

 

We live surrounded by an engulfing sea of self-admiration, self-entitlement, and self-centeredness. So claim two prominent psychologists, Jean Twenge and W. Keith Campbell in their recent book, The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in an Age of Entitlement (2009).

The data the authors present are as compelling as they are appalling. But, in a sense, they are also reassuring. They confirm my personal impressions, having been an educator for almost 34 years. One sign of this malady of self-entitlement is for young people to take everything for granted, to imagine that the world owes them what is given them.

We all can guess what this means. Hardly anyone now gives thanks. Gratefulness that springs from an acknowledgment that something is given gratis et amore, freely and with love, is harder and harder to come by nowadays. Interestingly, being grateful has to do with giving back “grace upon grace.” For something given “gratis,” one “does” graces in return (gratias agere, in Latin). It is related to mirroring, to giving kind for kind, doing like for like, and being exactly like the gracious giver.

There is only one exception to this “tit-for-tat” that the Gospel today reminds us of: never rendering evil for evil, never repaying bad deeds with equally bad behavior. Yes, the Lord tells us to give back, but give nothing in return but love, even for enemies who absolutely do not wish us well.

Being no spring chicken anymore, I must tell my readers that it is mighty difficult to love those who don’t love us and even do harm to us. I know. And I have reported to you at some other reflections in the past a little of what it means to be unfairly treated, courtesy of influential persons who wished me harm. But I must tell you, too, that in this age of self-admiration and overflowing self-conceit, it gets doubly harder.

The Lord’s words today would have us take the proverbial extra mile — and more! He reminds us that we are gifted and graced from above, and all that calls for gratefulness in return! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What motivates your giving?

 

Lord Jesus, teach me to give from the heart — and also to receive with gratefulness in my heart.

Daily Reflections- September 5, 2012

I STRAIN FORWARD!

 

Blessed James Alberione is called Primo Maestro by 10 religious institutionsthat he founded. Among the congregations that he formed are the Society of Saint Paul, the Daughters of Saint Paul, the Pious Disciples of The Divine Master, the Pastorelle Sisters, and Secular Institute. These projects of Blessed Alberione were no easy work.

Before he was ordained a priest, Blessed James went through a vocation crisis. His initial steps to focus on publications as a main ministry were not viewed with kindness by some. He became sickly and this made him anxious about his worthiness to go on with his ideas and ideals for a new form of apostolate in the Church. There were also the pressures from his creditors. But a personal experience of Jesus encouraging him to persevere was what mattered. In a critical moment of his life, he heard Jesus tell him, “Do not be afraid. From here (the Eucharist) I will enlighten. Have a contrite heart.” So he went on, straining forward in the example of the Great Apostle Paul whom he venerated as father, provider and intercessor.

Our Gospel proclamation shows us how Jesus was a picture of one who was consistently on the move. No amount of rejection could stop Him. More significantly, Jesus did not allow success in mission to slow Him down.

In my own experience of apostolate and ministry for over two decades now, I realize that the greater danger to one’s passion for God and zeal for service are not the setbacks but the patronizing acts of persons around us. Like Peter acting before Jesus in the end of today’s Gospel, some people never stop telling us how good we are, or how effective our talks are. It is good to thank them, but we should never let their praises drown our humble ways. We should never be flattered into resting on our laurels. We should move on to new grounds, to new mission areas, to unexplored ways of proclaiming the Gospel. One thing is for sure: When we have become too comfortable with our life and witness, it is time to go to prayer to ask, “Lord, send me Your Spirit, and send me where You will.”Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: In what ways are you still challenged by your ministry or apostolate? Have you settled into a feeling of complacency and contentment?

 

Lord Jesus, keep me always inspired to try new ways of doing my ministry or apostolate. Keep me always humble.

 

Daily Reflections- September 3, 2012

“THE WORD EXPOSED”

 

Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle’s program The Word Exposed has become a Sunday TV habit for many people. It features Bishop Tagle’s engaging way of explaining the three liturgical readings for the Sunday Eucharist. A theologian of international calibre, Bishop Tagle worked with the International Theological Commission under the leadership of then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) during the pontificate of Blessed John Paul II. What I like in his show is his standard extro. He ends his reflections with words to this effect: “The Word has been exposed, so now let us go to celebrate and to live it out.” These words echo the way Jesus punctuated His reading of the scroll of Isaiah: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Every communication is aimed at transmitting the truth. The truth, however, goes on to affect our life, our choices and judgments. The same is more true with God’s Divine Revelation. The Word of God is not simply for prayerful thoughts and good feelings — it must be fulfilled. In fact, the highest fulfillment of the Word of God is the Incarnation of Jesus.

“Living out” the truth of God’s Word involves:

Celebrating One’s Faith. In a world where everyone freely chooses what they believe in, living in the truth of God’s Word means to proclaim what one believes, in all its aspects and in all circumstances. It must be embraced in its totality.

Sincerity and Candor. This means consistency with one’s thoughts, words and actions. There should be no duplicity or hypocrisy. The efforts to apply the teachings of God’s Word should not be motivated by fear or desire for praise and adulation but by authentic faith, hope and love of God.

Truthfulness with Others. The Word of God teaches peace, justice and mercy, among others. Hence, to truly live the Word of God means to practice in our dealings the values and virtues that the teachings and examples of the Gospels underscore.Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is your favorite Gospel verse and Gospel value? In what concrete ways do you live them out?

 

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to live out Your Word in me, notwithstanding the cost.

 

Daily Reflections- September 2, 2012

TRUE HOLINESS IS TRULY HUMAN

 

I had an amusing experience in one of my travels to the Holy Land. Whenever we did a “comfort room stopover,” our Israeli tour guide would ask each one of us as we go back to our bus, “Did you remember to wash your hands?” This routine question was not just for sanitary and hygienic purposes, but one conditioned by his socio-religious upbringing. The Jewish religious tradition has stiff and meticulous pointers on cleanliness.

Muslims also do a lot of ceremonial washings. Entrance to their mosques requires not only the removal of footwear, but also the washing of feet, hands, eyes, ears and mouth. Likewise, during the Catholic celebration of the Eucharist, the priest also does ablutions — that is, the washing of his hands — as he prepares the gifts of bread, wine and water on the altar.

The ceremonial washings practiced by religions flow from our belief that God whom we seek to encounter and approach is All Holy. Therefore, we also need to come before Him clean and worthy.

What we fail to remember at times is that what God really values is the heart, or what is inside us. We often focus on external details of worship — on the right words and actions, right doctrines, and such other points. But what we forget is that we are — with our whole mind, heart, and will — the true glory of God. We are God’s greatest work, the Temple of His Spirit. True worship of God means living up to our dignity in truth, in justice and love. True worship includes seeing to it that we give due respect to other people.

Mystery of the Incarnation underscores the value of humanity before God. This Christian mystery celebrates Jesus’ being True God and True Man. The plan of God does not negate human nature but the renewal of our appreciation of true humanity as made in the image of God. Mother Teresa of Calcutta had this at the heart of her mission. She saw to it that every sick and dying who came under her care was given due respect in treatment, and proper burial according to the dead person’s religious conviction. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How do you offer God true worship? How often do you celebrate the Sacrament of Confession? How do you value this Christian Sacrament?

 

Lord Jesus, help me to always remember to come clean before You — in thought, word and deed.