Categories
Articles Pastoral Team

“The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” by Fr. John Muscat, OFM

Our unworthiness should not, and must not, stop us from availing ourselves of this divine love and from doing what we can to prove how we value and sincerely appreciate the love and goodness of the Blessed Trinity for us.

All those who would enter the new kingdom of God, the Church, were to be dedicated in the ceremony of baptism to the Blessed Trinity; they were to enter into a fellowship with the three divine Persons We are aware that we ourselves were dedicated to God in our baptism and destined to have an eternal fellowship with the Trinity in heaven. We are aware, too, of the part played by the three divine Persons in making that eternal happiness and friendship with the Trinity available to us. While the essence of the Trinity, or the way in which there can be three Persons in the one God, is a mystery which our limited minds cannot even begin to solve, we have no hesitation in accepting the existence of this deepest mystery of our religion. It was no less an authority than Jesus Christ himself who revealed it to us. With his guarantee for its truth, we are left in no doubt as to the existence of this mystery. We can safely wait for a greater, if not a complete understanding in heaven.

Today, as we honor the Blessed Trinity, our predominant thought must be one of gratitude to each of the three Persons for all they have done and are still doing for us. First to God the Father, who in his love planned not only our creation as intelligent human beings, the highest and noblest of his creatures on earth but planned to give us adopted sonship as well. Secondly let us show our deepest gratitude to the all-obedient, all-loving Son of God, who carried out to the letter the divine Father’s plan for our adoption, by sharing with us our humanity so that we could share in his divinity. Thirdly, let us be eternally grateful to the Holy Spirit-the fruit of the love of Father and Son-who has come to dwell in the Church and in each member of the Church, in order to fill our hearts with a true love of God, and to direct our faltering steps toward the everlasting happiness which awaits us beyond the grave.

We know only too well how unworthy we are of this love of the Blessed Trinity which has been poured out on us. The greatest saints were unworthy of this infinite love. Our unworthiness should not, and must not, stop us from availing ourselves of this divine love and from doing what we can to prove how we value and sincerely appreciate the love and goodness of the Blessed Trinity for us. In return for this love, Christ asked us, his followers, to keep his commandments. This is the one genuine proof we can give of our gratitude for all that these three Persons have done for us.

We are so weak that we often let the passing things of this world turn our thoughts and actions away from God and from our own eternal interests. We forget Christ and his commandments at times and let the world rule our hearts and minds. However, even for sinners like us there is hope and encouragement in the infinity of God’s love. Let us not forget it: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit know all our weaknesses, they knew them before they arranged to make us sharers in their own eternal happiness. They know, also that those of us who try and try again to rise above our human weakness will finally share with them their heaven.

This possibility is open to all of us. The Blessed Trinity will exclude nobody from heaven. If some fail, the fault will be entirely and completely their own. May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit grant us the courage and strength to overcome our human weaknesses! May they give us the grace to live and die in their love so that we may share their eternal kingdom of happiness!

as published on June 3, 2012, Parish Bulletin
More of Fr. John’s reflections

Categories
Articles Pastoral Team

“The Power of God’s Word” by Fr. Greg Redoblado, OFM

The Church would like us to focus our attention on the Bible, God’s very word, and to examine ourselves and see if we are truly
concerned with fostering an encounter with Christ.

In our Gospel this Sunday, Mark relates that people were astonished at
Jesus’s teaching because he taught them with authority. The rabbis and pharisees at that time needed to quote Moses and other prophets to gain authority for their teaching but Jesus needed no backing up. His words made things happen because “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them”(Lk 7:22). In fact, in the gospel today even the unclean spirits listen to him. Yes, his words are powerful because he is the author himself – he is the very word of God. As John’s Prologue says, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God … and the word became flesh”(John 1:1). The word became incarnate, God-with-us, Emmanuel!

My brothers and sisters, we celebrate today National Bible Sunday. The
Church would like us to focus our attention on the Bible, God’s very word, and to examine ourselves and see if we are truly concerned with fostering an encounter with Christ, who gives himself to us in his word (Verbum Domini,73).

First, let us be reminded of the power of God’s word in Jesus. In the
letter to the Hebrews it says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4: 12) Let us not underestimate the power of God’s word. It is Jesus not only speaking. It is Jesus himself who speaks with authority! For the last two thousand years, God’s word has changed and transformed peoples’
hearts. We know of many great sinners who became saints. We just celebrated this week, the conversion of St. Paul, “who was transformed from being a persecutor of Christ into a vessel of his
grace”. God’s word cuts through our hearts and will surely transform us if we humbly listen to it. Let us then say with the responsorial for this day, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”.

Second, believing in Jesus’s powerful words, let us become instruments
in the proclamation of God’s words to others. Let us announce his words in every way we can but also competently and effectively. Yes, let us pray and support all those who are primarily
entrusted with the proclamation of God’s word especially our Pope, all
the bishops, priests, religious and missionaries. But let us also do our part in growing in the knowledge of the Bible and make God’s word the center of our families and the source of our relationships. Do our families read, study, pray, live, share, and celebrate God’s word?

Finally, the transforming power of God’s word should not only be seen in one’s personal conversion. It confronts not only the evil deep within us but also the ‘demons’ in our society and the
world. We are not only to announce the Good News of the reign of God but also denounce what is evil around us. If one of the missions of Jesus was to cast out unclean spirits, let us also exorcise the
evil of corruption, violence and injustice in our society and the world. The problem with us Catholics is that we express our faith with so much external ritualisms and forget that the goal of
our faith in God’s word is to transform our lives and the evil reality around us.

as published on January 30, 2012, Parish Bulletin
About Fr. Greg and a few of his Reflections

Categories
Articles Pastoral Team

“The Power of “Ouch” To The Power of Touch” by Fr. Joel

If we can only join hands and solidify our efforts, then, we can alleviate hunger, injustices, economic imbalance, and other man-made calamities that threaten human life and all other life-forms.

Can we really blame God for the sufferings and miseries of people?
This is the desperate dirge that Job asks of God. He felt that he was punished for no reason. He was helpless, totally deprived of hope and living in deep difficulty, hard-pressed and shattered. His three friends told him to ask pardon from God for his past transgressions. But Job couldn’t find any! Is God just? The conclusion however of the book of his life tells us of something – a total redemption. Yet,we were offered by Job an opportunity to examine and address the same most difficult situations and questions we too had asked of God. This is the same attitude that God wants us to adopt and fight the evil which is the root of all the sufferings and miseries we experience here on earth. How did Jesus respond to all these human tribulations in our gospel today?

We were told in the gospel that when Jesus was informed that the mother-in-law of Peter was sick, he immediately goes to her, and “takes her hand, helps her up” until she became well. Is our attitude in this case consistent with that of Jesus? Do we have this kind of patience and compassion? Said expression in New Testament’s expression is for “Resurrection”. And Jesus is giving his disciples a preview of what will transpire in the future to a believer like Peter’s mother.

Mark is teaching us a clear lesson in the gospel story. The woman who is ill is representative of a victim herself who is burdened by inhuman conditions but because of Jesus’ grace, she was healed. Notice how the mother-in-law of Peter begins to serve them
afterwards. It is an indication of total healing and liberation. And this should be the same for us. Therefore, if we have been healed by Jesus, then, we have to work for him and serve others as well. We have to give life to others and share our nicest stories of redemption to others. Who from among us has this power to go back to Jesus and say, “Thank You!”.

As we celebrate Pro-life Sunday, let us remind ourselves of the many
situations where Jesus rescued us, consistently giving us life despite our misgivings. Jesus values our life in total commitinent. Can we be life-givers as well?

The second part of the gospel (v. 32-34) tells us how Jesus cured all the inflicted people brought to him. It was not some kind of a cheap miracle that was performed. There was no sensationalism at all. He even told them not to tell anyone about all these. Let us be aware of the possible sensationalism of “healers and healing powers” happening in our times. We have to be very discerning. We have to pray and center, rather, our attention on Jesus, who alone can heal us. Even the Blessed Mother told us about this.

We know for a fact that Jesus did not solve all the problems of his time. He showed us the way on how we can heal others, and be healed ourselves. His curing the sick people is a clear sign that given this faith of ours, we can heal others too. Remember the many times he told the sick people, “Your faith has healed you”?This is the same scenario that was affirmed in Job. His faith in God helped in restoring everything he had lost, and so much more. If we can only join hands and solidify our efforts, then, we can alleviate hunger, injustices, economic imbalance, and other man-made calamities that threaten human life and all other life-forms.

The last part of the gospel tells us of Jesus who is in constant encounter with the Father through prayer. If we want everything in our life to conform to God, then we have to constantly meet God in prayer. Prayer is uttering our highest regard for God and putting into action the desire of His heart for us. It is not simply requesting Him to perform a miracle of healing for us. It is possessing our hearts with the light of his faith in order for us to withstand the demands of our relationship with Him. Prayer is God, who is moving our life to its greater glory. Job possesses his life with prayer, and he found his reward. Likewise, for St. Paul, it is not in monetary rewards but in the joy that he found helping
many to come into salvation. If we experience so many sufferings, let us always remember Jesus’ power of touch. Let us keep the faith in us.

as published on Feb. 5, 2012, Parish Bulletin

Categories
Articles Pastoral Team

“If You Will, You Can Make Me Clean” by Fr. John Muscat, OFM

He died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and to make us clean from all our diseases and He was resurrected so that we will be living His saving victory over death – sin, here on earth and forever in heaven.

This Sunday you are encountering not just the healing power of Christ but also the mercy that goes with it and the justice, which God brings, for the fullness of the human being, whom he created in his perfect image. Healing for Jesus was not a problem as he is the author of life and the healer of all beings but the most interesting part of it is Christ touching the sick person. We are all touched by God through Christ in the holy sacraments of baptism, reconciliation and communion. We all carry in us the plan of salvation and mystical love of Christ to his Church, as we are the parts of this mystical body, which is the Holy Mother Church. The touch of Christ in our lives is to make us whole in body and soul, to bring peace and unity, to build families and societies and to let no one be isolated no matter who you are or what you do. WE ARE ALL THE FRUIT OF GOD’s LOVE.

Man was made to live in the society of his fellowmen. His nature needs the comfort and the sustaining support of his family and neighbours. To be isolated from them, to be compelled to live a life apart must be the hardest lot that could befall a human being. This was the sad lot of lepers at the time of the Old Testament and well into the New Testament days as well. Thanks to the progress of medicine and of Christian charity, there are hardly any cases of complete isolation today. There are cures for all infectious and contagious diseases, including most forms of leprosy, today. There are medical means of protection against infection and contagion which means that patients need not be in strict isolation. They can be visited and consoled by their relatives, friends and charitable neighbours, and their cross of suffering in loneliness is lightened for them.

There are, however, other cases of isolation not caused by any disease but rather resulting from lack of thought or lack of true fraternal charity on the part of men. There are elderly people in hospitals and in homes for the aged whose relatives are all dead and who have no one to visit them or to cheer them and help them to carry their cross. Here is an occasion for the true Christian to put his religion into practice. “I was sick and you visited me,” Christ says to the just on the last day. Yes, if we visit and console a fellowman, a brother of Christ, we are visiting and consoling Christ. There are, thank God, a few who practice this very necessary form of charity, but many more are needed.

There are also individuals and sometimes families in almost every community, who seem to be isolated or left coldly to themselves. It may be partly their own fault – they show no inclination to mix with their neighbours, they may even resent any intrusion on their privacy – but this does not excuse the truly Christian neighbour from trying to make such individuals or families feel at home and welcome in their neighbourhood. The charitable person will find ways and means of integrating such people into their local community, and of making life less solitary and therefore, more bearable for them.

“If you will, you can make me clean” was the prayer in faith of the leper. This is the only purpose for which Jesus was born for us, just to make us clean in HEART, BODY AND SOUL. He died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and to make us clean from all our diseases and He was resurrected so that we will be living His saving victory over death – sin, here on earth and forever in heaven.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for your loving healing touch today.

published on February 11, 2012, Parish Bulletin
More of Fr. John’s reflections

Categories
Articles Pastoral Team

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser” by Fr. John Muscat, OFM

Having the ordinary comforts of life and the possession of some of this world’s goods, is not wrong or anti-Christian, but the natural temptation is to get more and more of these comforts and riches, and the point is soon reached where this becomes the only purpose in life.

The words of consolation and encouragement which our Lord spoke to his Apostles on Holy Thursday night were intended to console and encourage all his followers for all time. They encourage and console us today, and we need encouragement to persevere on the road to heaven. Living a truly Christian life is never easy. We have always the attraction of the world, and the temptations by the agents of evil, to make that life less easy still. But in our own day these difficulties have increased a hundredfold. The attractions of this world have been multiplied by the increased comforts, pleasures and means of self-indulgence which science and technology have put within our reach. Human nature, always inclined to choose the easiest way out, has been given so many means of escape from the strain of self-control that even for a fervent Christian it is frequently very difficult to avoid these worldly allurements.

Having the ordinary comforts of life and the possession of some of this world’s goods, is not wrong or anti- Christian, but the natural temptation is to get more and more of these comforts and riches, and the point is soon reached where this becomes the only purpose in life. When this sad stage is arrived at God and our future life are forgotten; this world becomes our idol and our prison. The temptations which the agents of evil put in Christ’s way are also multiplied today. The communications media are now very technically improved and perfected and can be, and sometimes are, a means for good. Unfortunately more frequently they are the channels of bad example. The evil deeds of humans have more “news value” than their good deeds. And it is so much easier to follow the bad example! Permissiveness, rejection of authority, glorification of unlawful sexual indulgence, drug addiction, and other such crimes are placed before the minds and the eyes of the youth of
today, and are unfortunately copied by far too many.

It is indeed hard to swim against the current; it is so much more pleasant to allow oneself to be carried along without effort by the rushing tide. But when there are rocks and shoals ahead, the thoughtless and ease-seeking swimmer will end in grief. Our Lord has warned us today, as he warned his first followers, to abide in him, to remain closely united with him, as is the branch to the vine, if we hope to bear fruit worthy of heaven. He promises us that if we remain closely united to him, that is, if we strive daily to keep his commandments, he will be ever ready to answer our requests, and to heed all our prayers. The sincere prayer today of everyone who is trying to lead a Christian life is for the grace to overcome the allurements of the world, the flesh and the devil. Let us take courage, then. Christ has promised to remain beside us during life if only we stay close to him. While we remain healthy branches of the vine, Christ, we will be on the road to heaven. Our daily tasks, our work as well as our prayer, our recreations as well as our rest, our joys as well as our sorrows, will give glory to God and prove that we are worthy to be called disciples of Christ.

published on May 6, 2012, Parish Bulletin
More of Fr. John’s reflections

Categories
Articles Pastoral Team

“Wealth or Kingdom?(Mk 10:17-30)” by Fr. Joel

…a disciple who followed him will receive a hundredfold as much; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children, and lands, along with persecutions, and in the age to come, life everlasting (v.30). The rewards mentioned by Jesus are a “great reversal” of the sacrifices and sufferings a disciple will endure for a moment, but which will end in the gratifying life that awaits at the gate.

Is following Jesus an easy one? What should be sacrificed? What reward awaits the follower? This Sunday’s Gospel of Mark is part of the second instructions of Jesus to His disciples on their Way to Jerusalem. His teaching is about riches, reminding the disciples on the importance of discipleship. This final section consists of three parts.

The Story of the Rich Man ( v. 17-22 )

This part of the gospel has generated many interpretations down the centuries. Said interpretations have tried to modify this very difficult teaching, that even the rich man left, very sad. The story revolves on the question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” This paved the way for Jesus to remind him of the tenets of the Decalogue that talks on human relationships. But something is demanded from this reminder – radical discipleship. And this entails giving everything that one possesses, which is not limited to material possessions alone.

I guess, the difficulty lies on the aspect of detachment. After all, I am not in my proper frame of mind if I have given myself all these years working for my keep; then, in a sudden turn of events, I will give away what I valued most in life? But this is really the point. “Am I willing to sacrifice?” For truly, wealth can be a hindrance
in following Jesus, but the rewards of his being a disciple are greater than the sacrifices.

Instructions to the Disciples (v.23-27 )

Can mere renunciation of wealth guarantee our salvation? The personal instructions of Jesus to his disciples, which became public,
emphasize the power of God and faith in Him, being the ways to salvation. These two spiritual elements are very important because they will usher the followers/disciples of Jesus to a more
fulfilling life, as servants of God. Renunciation therefore, with reliance on Him as our ultimate Redeemer, will assure us of eternal rewards. With this assurance given us, we need to follow therefore the spirit of Jesus and his ways. We should make it a point in our
lives to have Him at the very center of our relationship. When we make him our guidepost in achieving spiritual ends, we need to redirect our lives in accord to his direction. Jesus is our salvation, and therefore, we should lead others towards him. By making him our model for living, it will surely be easier for us to pass through the narrow gate, for he will be there to widen the gate
for us. Therefore, with renunciation of material wealth comes the follow up responsibility of how we can really give everything to God, including our own selves. This is the way He showed us, how to become more than less, to be a man for God and for others and not
only for ourselves.

Teaching on Giving up Riches (v.28-31 )

What is now the reward for accepting the invitation of Jesus? Jesus gave the response to this query that both in the present and in
the future, a disciple who followed him will receive a hundredfold as
much; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children, and lands, along with persecutions, and in the age to come, life everlasting (v.30). The rewards mentioned by Jesus are a “great reversal” of the sacrifices and sufferings a disciple will endure for a moment, but which will end in the gratifying life that awaits at the gate.

As our Church launches the Year of the Faith, let us be encouraged by the inspiring words of reminders from Jesus, keeping ourselves focused on how we can journey as a COMMUNITY IN FAITH, willing to undergo persecutions but with hearts open to the gates of HOPE towards HIM. We pray that may our lives continue to witness the FAITH that we have embraced.

published on October 14, 2012 Parish Bulletin

Categories
Photo Gallery Special Events

Francisfest with David Benoit Photo Gallery

Welcome dinner thrown by Francisfest Committee Chairperson, Petrona Lim on October 2, 2012

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

CONCERT NIGHT at Resorts World Manila, Oct. 3, 2012

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

OH, WHAT A NIGHT!
FRANCISFEST with DAVID BENOIT

“Francisfest with David Benoit” Concert was held at the Newport Performance Art Theater in Resorts World Manila, October 3, 2012, where a sumptuous buffet of appetizers, salad, sushi, pasta, pizza, chicken barbecue, cheesecake, welcomed the VIP and Premium ticket holders at the reception hall, before the show.

Retro band, Mulatto, opened the show with some popular 70s and 80s favorites with crooner, Thor, rendering James Ingram’s, “There’s Just No Easy Way” to set the mood for the night. It was followed by PPC President and Producer of the Concert, Mike Limpe, who gave a welcome speech, thanking everyone who came and the generous support of the sponsors. Then, Santuario de San Antonio’s Parish Priest, Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM, gave a short background on the life of St. Francis and to say the opening prayer while Chairperson of the Francisfest 2012 Committee, Petrona Lim, briefly spoke about the beneficiaries of SSAP Foundation, who would gain so much with the help of the Francisfest.

Just when the main show was about to begin, the 1,340 people in the audience were not aware that the star of the show was suddenly pulled out, backstage, to have a meet and greet with the President of the Philippines. President Aquino, who was viewing the show from a private box, above the Theater, was not sure he could stay throughout the show and wanted to make sure he meets David Benoit, personally. Mr. Benoit felt very privileged that he lost track of how much time he was chatting with the President. So Director/Producer, Doy Bitanga, had to get the escorts to bring him back on stage.

The jazz pianist was still abit flustered when he came on stage. Once he started playing the piano, the delay was all forgotten. Benoit made it an intimate evening, humbly confiding to the audience about the tough selection of songs chosen by the Director/Producer, which he hadn’t been asked to play, live, before. Afterall, he has recorded 500 songs in his career of 35 years. Once he got himself warmed up on the piano, the audience can feel his excitement building up with the rest of the songs, jumping from his seat a few times and even dancing while playing the synthesizer.

Saxophone player, Michael Paulo, also wowed the audience. 2 of the 20 songs Benoit performed, “Chichi’s Eyes” and “Rainbows” were accompanied by a ballet dance, performed beautifully by 7 of ACTS Manila’s best dancers, choreographed by their directress, Chelo Gemina. 4 of the songs were performed with the lead vocals of Mulatto, Joey Bautista, Anna Jomeo and Jonathan Tamayo, individually, while 1 was performed with Thor. Migi Domingo lent his voice to do the voice-over for the night. It was a show like no other! It sure was a night to remember.

FRANCISFEST is the annual fund raising event of Santuario de San Antonio Parish. Beneficiaries of this event funds the different programs and projects of the Parish Foundation like PGH and Rizal Medical Hospital Ministry, the educational scholarship program of SSAPF, the poor and elderly amongst the little Friends of St. Francis in the Friendship Home and Friends of St. Anthony in our parish and the Prison Ministry.

Our deepest gratitude to all who supported this event!

Categories
Parish Bulletin Pastoral Team

Hallelujah by Fr. John Muscat, OFM

The greatest joy we can have is to encounter the living Lord and to know him personally.

Early Sunday morning the women went to the tomb to pay their last tribute to a dead body. The disciples thought that everything had ended in tragedy. No one was ready to see an empty tomb and hear the angel’s message, “Why do you seek the living among the dead”?(Luke 24:5) Mary Magdalene is the first to report the startling news of the empty tomb! She assumed that Jesus’ body had been stolen! She was not yet prepared to meet the risen Lord, who would reveal himself to her while she later lingered in the garden near the tomb (John 20:11-18).

What is the significance of the stone being rolled away? It would have taken several people to roll away such a stone. And besides, the sealed tomb had been guarded by soldiers! This is clearly the first sign of the resurrection . Peter Chrysologus, Church father, remarked: “To behold the resurrection, the stone must first be rolled away from our hearts”. It is significant that the disciples had to first deal with the empty tomb before they could come to grips with the fact that scripture had foretold that Jesus would die for our sins and then rise triumphant. They disbelieved until they saw the empty tomb.

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, wrote his gospel as an eye-witness of the Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us, and who died and rose for our salvation. John was the only apostle, along with the women who stood with Jesus at the foot of the cross, who witnessed Jesus’ death on Good Friday. Now John is the first of the apostles, along with Peter, to see the empty tomb on Easter Sunday morning, after the women returned and gave their report. What did John see in the tomb that led him to believe in the resurrection
of Jesus? It was certainly not a dead body. The dead body of Jesus would have disproven the resurrection and made his death a tragic conclusion to a glorious career as a great teacher and miracle worker. When John saw the empty tomb, he must have recalled Jesus’ prophecy that he would rise again after three days. Through the gift of faith John realized that no tomb on earth could contain the Lord and giver of life.

John in his first epistle testifies: What we have seen, heard, and touched we proclaim as the word of life which existed “from the beginning” (l John 1:1-4). John bears witness to what has existed from all eternity. This “word of life” is Jesus the word incarnate, but also Jesus as the word announced by the prophets and Jesus the word now preached throughout the Christian Church for all ages to come. One thing is certain, if Jesus had not risen from the dead and appeared to his disciples, we would never have heard of him. Nothing else could have changed sad and despairing men and women into people radiant with joy and courage. The reality of the resurrection is the central fact of the Christian faith. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Lord gives us “eyes of faith” to know him and the power of his resurrection. The greatest joy we can have is to encounter the living Lord and to know him personally. Do you celebrate the feast of Easter with joy and thanksgiving for the victory which Jesus has won for you over sin and death?

“Lord Jesus Christ, you have triumphed over the grave and you have won new life for us. Give me the eyes of faith to see you in your glory. Help me to draw near to you and to grow in the knowledge of your great love and victory over sin and death.”

published April 8, 2012 Parish Bulletin
More on Fr. John and his reflections

Categories
Parish Bulletin Pastoral Team

“ Child, your sins are forgiven” by Fr. Jesus

Today’s gospel discloses something more about Jesus: he is not only a healer of bodies; he is the “Son of Man, “with power to heal the soul.

If a person who knows nothing about Jesus Christ read the gospels of the last four Sundays, he would most probably think that Jesus was a doctor or a faith healer by profession. For the fourth consecutive Sunday now, we read a gospel story about Jesus’ healing activity. First, it was a possessed man in the synagogue of Capernaum; then, it was Simon’s mother-in-law and many others that he cured; last Sunday it was a leper whom Jesus touched and healed; and today, it is a paralytic that he cures. Today’s gospel discloses something more about Jesus: he is not only a healer of bodies; he is the “SON of Man,” with power to heal the soul.

The Church does not tire telling us that healing was the most important part of Jesus’ ministry, by which he not only showed his love and compassion, but also revealed that God’s kingdom had come and that Satan’s kingdom was on the way out: “The kingdom of God is at hand.”

At first, today’s gospel story elicits a smile of amusement. Try to visualize the scene: Four men carry a paralyzed man on a stretcher. Unable to get near Jesus due to the crowd, but determined to do so, they dismantle the roof and lower the stretcher right in front of Jesus. But then, amusement gives way to admiration for the paralytic and his four friends. We admire, above all, their faith. In fact, that’s the first thing Jesus saw-not the hole on the roof: “When Jesus saw their faith … “ They were fully convinced that Jesus could, and would, do something about their plight, that he would not let them down. And he did not.

Then comes the big surprise. After all the trouble they went through to bring the paralytic right before Jesus, hoping for a cure, Jesus, instead of telling the man, “Take your mat and walk,” he tells him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” We can imagine the expression of surprise and disappointment written on the face of the paralytic and his friends, as if they wanted to say, “Sir, that’s not what we came here for. We want this man to walk again!”

Now, here is a good point for our reflection. Like the paralytic, we very often ask the wrong favors from the Lord: a safe trip, good health, success in business or in exams, and the like–all material concerns. We fail to see our deeper needs, our spiritual paralysis, and our need for spiritual healing. Jesus knows our needs better than we do ourselves. And he offers more than we ask for– complete healing of body and soul.

The Church carries on the healing ministry of Jesus–of both body and soul. Jesus endowed the Church with two sacraments of healing, namely, reconciliation and anointing of the sick. Through the sacrament of reconciliation, the wounds of our soul, inflicted by sin, are cured. Like the paralytic, we hear Jesus telling us, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Through the sacrament of anointing we are strengthened both in body and spirit.

Unfortunately, these two sacraments are now in crisis and are not duly appreciated. As for the sacrament of reconciliation, many Catholics, influenced by fundamentalists or born-again Christians, prefer to confess directly to God, rather than to a priest. Thus they deprive themselves of the great joy of hearing Jesus’ words, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” As for the sacrament of anointing, many Catholics believe that it is meant only for those who are on the brink of death–like a gentle push into eternity; hence they postpone its reception until the sick person slips into unconsciousness, thus rendering the sacrament next to useless.

This coming Wednesday, February 22, the Lenten season will start; it is a time to renew our faith and to strengthen our relationship with the Lord. Hopefully we will come to rediscover and to experience his presence and healing power in these sacraments.

published February 19, 2012 Parish Bulletin

Categories
Parish Bulletin Pastoral Team

“Discipleship is Following Jesus on the Way of the Cross ( Mk 8: 27-35)” by Fr. Joel

The prophet Isaiah tells us that a true follower of God is a servant. A servant is a son or a daughter of God who works in accord to His ways.

The context of the gospel this Sunday is on the thematic teaching of Jesus on his suffering through the way of the cross. It is structured through the Paschal Mystery, that is the Passion, Death and Resurrection that He, Himself will experience. Jesus made the prediction in all these happenings in His life but He was misunderstood by the disciples. In the end, He corrected their misunderstandings by offering them an option for living.

Who do people say that I am? (v. 27) This query of Jesus to his disciples about the impression of people about Him is His way on testing and evaluating their faith in Him. While He is interested on what the beneficiaries of His word will tell about Him, it is a strong reminder and an evaluation too on the part of the disciples as regards their responsibility in assisting Jesus in the missionary task in spreading the Good News. Have we ever thought in reading the bible and sharing His words to others? Other denominations in Christian faith has strong inclinations in this, thus, they continue to immerse themselves in the Word of God.

But who do you say that I am? (v.29) The shift in Jesus’ query is highly noticeable. This time he goes personal, “But who do you say that I am?” He is like saying “How much have you known me? Do you really know my mission? Do you know the reason why I call you? Is your life consistent to the witnessing I show you? Jesus is giving his disciples here a guided retreat in order to help them know Him more and help them understand the true value in following his way of life, that is, the essence of His Paschal Mystery. Peter had the best reflection when he answered “You are the Messiah!”. And Jesus affirmed him in his answer for truly, it is the Father who revealed it to him. And since His time has not yet come, He ordered them not to tell anyone who he is.

Get behind me Satan, for thou dost not mind the things of God, but those of men. (v. 33) A great shift happened in this part of the dialogue. It was a shift from Peter’s affirmation of Jesus as the Messiah which by authority, he was given the keys of heaven BUT after a minute of conversation, he was exorcising the presence of Satan in Peter. Jesus reminds us of the vulnerability of the human person especially those in authority. Thus, constant discernment is very must but the challenge is for all on how we can be mindful of our words and actions.

“If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (v. 34) This verse summarizes on the desire of Jesus on how we can wholeheartedly share on the mission entrusted to Him by the Father. It is through this way of life that a disciple of Jesus can truly embrace and lived with meaning the value in following his footsteps.

St. Francis made this as the rallying point in his life. He humbled himself and accepted in total authenticity the way of life of Jesus. (This became the spiritual vision of Francis-the love of the passion aside from the humility of Incarnation.) Having embraced the same, He received the Stigmata in Mt. Alverna, the holy wounds that Jesus received in the Calvary, imprinted in his body. For Jesus, true discipleship is taking up His cross. And everything in us follows.

So what should be the way of life of an authentic disciple of Jesus?
The prophet Isaiah tells us that a true follower of God is a servant. A servant is a son or a daughter of God who works in accord to His ways. The Letter of James reminded us on the importance of faith in action when he said: “Say to whoever challenges you, “Have faith and I have good deeds; show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act.” (V.18)

In the most recently concluded 12th Franciscan Pastoral Conference in Baguio City H.E. Most Rev. Renato Mayubga,D.D. challenged the Franciscan friars and lay leaders on the importance in knowing Jesus through the Bible, the only source that gives on the ministerial life of Jesus. He said that for us Catholics, we value the Word of God and the Tradition of our Church, taking into consideration as well the saints and the Saints in our Church. He believes and affirms the faithful in their profound experiences of concretizing the Word of God. But he dare say that it will become all the more inspiring and meaningful if we read and study His Word, deepen it in our day to day life through our constant witnessing, and keeping Him in our mind and in our hearts through our faith.”

As we celebrate the National Laity Week this September 23 to 29 with the theme: “Building Up the Body of Christ and Strengthening our Faith through New Evangelization” and honoring San Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calungsod, Patron Saints of the Catholic Laity of the Philippines, let us follow them as they themselves followed Jesus on the Way of the Cross. The mark of the true disciple is on how one finds meaning in the midst of suffering because it is only through the Passion and Death that one will experience the Resurrection.

published on September 16, 2012 Parish Bulletin

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started