Beginning to start the New Year

Compared to Christmas Day , January 1 is an International Public Holiday! Different countries composed of different people with different cultures, beliefs, educational levels, ages and religions all agree and accept that today is the reference point of this year.

That means that  January 1, 0001 was the beginning of the first New Year. But how did it come to be?  How could everyone agree that such was the reference point in history? It must have been difficult considering the different  opinions, beliefs, religions, cultures, languages, educational level among the people in the different countries and governments of the world. These were the questions that puzzled me when I was in high school.

So I asked my science teacher about it and  found his answer fascinating.

He told me that for different countries to agree of the reference point of the calendar, it had to be an event that had the greatest impact in the world, and the only person or event that was able to do this was no other than our savior JESUS CHRIST. 

I really didn't expect that kind of answer from my science teacher, but it did make sense.  This explains why our first year which is "0001" is also referred to as "1 AD" ( Anno Domini ,which is the estimated time that Christ was born) and before it is referred as BC ( Before Christ). Different countries eventually accepted this and re calibrated their timeline with our Christian calendar. China officially  accepted our calendar in 1949 but still celebrate their Chinese New Year for tradition purposes only.

Today, our New Year's day  also happens to be the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Let us begin this new year with CHRIST by hearing mass.

JESUS CHRIST is the center of the universal timeline. History is based before and during his lifetime which extends today and forever. I guess, thats why we call it "HISTORY" because our timeline is based on the story of the life of Jesus Christ, who has unified all countries together and people of different walks of life. This  fact has been undisputed for the last 2011 years and still counting. This only proves that even today, the impact of Jesus Christ is very real even affects our everyday lives.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!




Gospel Lk 2: 16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

Technically Married, but not legally

I just had a small reunion with my friends from highschool. Most of them were married, some of them plan to get married while others had no plans of marrying at all.

One of them even joked to me and said “Di pa ko minyo, pero minyo na ang binuhatan” [I’m not yet married but I am already doing what married guys do ] Relating this to today’s Gospel, St. Joseph could probably say the same, but in a different context.

Joseph was betrothed to Mary. Betrothal is not just a mere engagement but a public ceremony known as the “Kidushin.” Jewish law required Joseph and Mary to conduct themselves as already married to each other even if they not yet sleeping together or have not yet been living together in one house. Technically, they were considered as a married couple, hence they could be convicted of adultery if they engage in sexual relations with other persons. The period of betrothal is also for the husband to look for a home for them to live on.

The Kidushin would more or less last for a year which allows a lot of things that can happen. Although the couple are technically married, it can still be severed by death or divorce. After that would be the stage called the"Nissuin", it is at that time that St. Joseph would finally "take Mary to his house" and they would live together. This is when they become legally married under Jewish law.

In our Gospel story, Mary got pregnant during the Kidushin,  and we all know that Joseph was not the biological father. Who would believe it was the Holy Spirit who was responsible? So Joseph had a real problem at hand because Mary would be convicted of adultery and she would have been stoned to death.

St. Joseph was no lawyer, but his plan of not taking Mary into his house was brilliant enough to spare her from being accused of adultery, which under Jewish law could be proven by mere circumstantial evidence. Mary would appear to be legally married to Joseph even if he is not around. All that St. Joseph wanted was to be the husband of Mary, and he worked very hard for it, but ironically there he was thinking of divorcing her because he could not understand what was happening.

The Gospel story shows us that God did not allow St. Joseph to leave Mary, instead, God revealed to him that he had even a better and a bigger plan for St. Joseph.  He gave St. Joseph the privilege of becoming the father figure of his only begotten son and to name him Jesus. What more could a just man asked when what is given to him is more than what is due. Consequently, St. Joseph was convinced to bring Mary to his house ( Nissuin) and they became legally married to each other. History shows the rest of the story.

We work  very hard for what we want to achieve in our life and we want things to happen exactly the way we want it. Unfortunately, not everything happens according to our plans, leaving us frustrated. This is so when it would appear that everything that we worked hard for would end up for nothing.  When we find this hard to accept, our psychological defense mechanism compels us to give up and blame everything to God. Why didn't things go according to plan? 

The Gospel story urges us to be like St. Joseph, who instead of abandoning his plan, allowed God to be part of the plan. Things turned out to be better than what was planned originally.

So let us continue to plan, and execute it accordingly, but let us always put some space to allow God to be part of the plan. We have to be open to him because he  has a better and bigger plan for us, that is why we have to LET GO and LET GOD work his plan through us.If we succeed in doing so, we will find out that we will not only get what we wanted but even so much more. 

Mt 1:18-24

Gospel

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, 
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

THE RIGHT SOLUTION TO THE WRONG PROBLEM

Have you ever been given the right key but mistakenly used it for the wrong door knob?  Even if you manage to put the key inside, no matter how you twist it, the door will remain locked and closed.This experience is very common especially if your door has several locks.

The same experience likewise applies even in our life. Often than not, we already have solution to the problems that we have yet to encounter. Our common mistake however, is when we apply the right solution to the wrong problem.

God is not the (direct) solution to all our problems. It may sound disturbing, especially for people like me who grew up throwing all my problems to God. But my basis in saying so, is grounded on my realization that most of us share a distorted vision of what our Lord Jesus Christ.


Our vision of Jesus is distorted when we see God as our personal trouble shooter or see him to be like a genie in the bottle who would grant us our wish. As a matter of fact, it is for this reason that most of our prayers remain unanswered.  You cannot expect Jesus to hand you the money you need to pay off your mortgage, nor can you expect him to give you the medicine to cure your sickness. We should stop expecting Jesus to show us the number combinations for the lottery.


Miracles still happen, but If we do not work hard for what we want to achieve, we cannot expect God to do everything for us.  We should still work as if everything depends on us, and pray as if everything depends on God.

Sometimes our frustrations get the best of us that we begin to doubt if Jesus is the  Messiah, or "shall we look for another?"  


Frustrations are perfectly normal and even healthy. But our doubts should only  bring us to the realization to the absolute truth that Jesus is our savior. Doubts should lead us to strengthen our relationship with Jesus even when all the odds are against us.


In the Sunday Gospel, we hear about "the" John the Baptist, who likewise became frustrated because of his distorted vision of Jesus Christ as a political messiah.  It must have been very frustrating for him to remain imprisoned. He is the cousin of Jesus, and a great prophet with several disciples. He devoted his entire life in preparing the way for the Lord and is even mistaken to be the messiah. But despite these, he is imprisoned by King Herod and Jesus doesn't  do anything about it. 


I am sure Jesus likewise felt bad about the incarceration of John, and Jesus might have even thought of getting him out.


Jesus did not rescue John the Baptist from his prison cell, not because that he could not do it, but because it was not what Jesus came for.  Instead Jesus corrects the distorted vision of John the Baptist by telling John's disciples to relay to him what they saw and heard. Jesus assures John that his efforts are not put to waste because he is the Messiah. Through him the blind can see, the lame can walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.


Today, Jesus is also telling us the same thing. Jesus cannot live our lives for us, because that is not the reason why he came. This is aside from the fact that if Jesus would live our lives for us, then there will be no point in giving us free will in the first place.


But Jesus assures us that he is our savior.  Jesus may not directly give us the money we need to pay our debts, but he gives us light to see what we need to do or whom to ask for help when everything seems to be dark; He  may not be present to cure the lame and make him walk, but he has made several persons stand up and  go out of their way to help others.

Jesus may not be physically present to cleanse lepers, but he has brought back several persons who were once outcasts back into society and in their respective communities. He may not be physically present to make the deaf hear, but he has made several persons to hear the Gospel not only with their ears but with their hearts.

In this season of Advent, while we prepare ourselves to welcome Christ, let us remove our distorted vision of Jesus Christ and  prepare to accept him as he truly is- Our Savior. Like the right key, we should learn to  put him in the proper place which is in our hearts.

Matthew 11:2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come,
or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

PROVING BY DOING

Gospel Reflection 

2^nd Sunday of Advent(A)

December 5, 2010

I was a working student when I went into Law School.  I used to teach kids in the elementary level and I teach them to “Tell the Truth.”

Now as a lawyer, I still teach my clients to tell the truth, but there is a difference between simply telling the truth and proving the truth.  So I tell them “This is how you will tell the Truth.”

In this Sunday’s Gospel, St. John the Baptist is not only telling us to Repent, but teaching us how to PROVE REPENTANCE by bringing the fruits thereof. He tells us that a tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.

We have heard it before - REPENTANCE, but what does it exactly mean.

When I was a school boy, there was a time when I found myself crying in the confessional because I felt that I killed Jesus all over again because of my sins. I thought that crying made things better, but then I realized that I was only making a fool of myself since I was committing the same set of sins.

REPENTANCE is not only REMORSE from sin but REFORMATION.

Confession is an act for repentance, but it is not proof of repentance. Neither are the guilt, the tears and remorse considered fruits of repentance.

The fruit of repentance is not for us to become sinless. That’s impossible, and God does not require us to do the impossible. We will always fall to SIN because we are human. God does not expect us to be perfect and sinless.

The Proof of repentance is a changed way of life, a life centered on Christ. If there is no change in behavior, there can be no fruits of repentance, because repentance never happened in the first place.

The Fruit of Repentance does not happen overnight such as a tree does not bear fruit overnight. Repentance requires the Spirit to work on us, for some it may be prevalent, for others it may be subtle.

The only way to accomplish this is through Jesus Christ, because he is THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE.

________________________________________________________________

Matthew 3:1-12 (King James Version)

 ¹In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

 ²And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
 ³For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
 ⁴And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
 ⁵Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
 ⁶And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
 ⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
 ⁸Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
 ⁹And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
 ¹⁰And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 ¹¹I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
 ¹²Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

AWARE to Make Things Happen

Sunday Reflection
1st Sunday of Advent Year A
November 28, 2010

Charles R. Swindoll is an American clergyman who is the author of the quote that says “Life is 10% that happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.” I agree with him on this qoute 100%.

I hope he agrees with me that unless you are aware of the 10% that happens to you, you can never react to it.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to be VIGILANT. It is a message attuned to the season of Advent,  which reminds us to prepare in anticipation of the coming of Jesus Christ.

Vigilance requires us to be aware of certain realities, whether they are physical realities or spiritual realities that are bound to happen or are happening. It affects our decisions and actions. 


People who are vigilant can make the right decisions in their affairs in business, in shopping or even in the choices we have to make everyday because they are based on an informed choice.

But there is another reality where we Christians should put our vigilance. It is on the spiritual reality that there exists a battle of good against evil within us, even while we live placidly our daily lives.

This Vigilance requires us to be aware of the spiritual dangers that can happen even during the days when we are dining out, drinking with friends and merry making. For these events can be either occasions for sin, as they are also occasions to do good.


We should be aware that everyday is a test because lack of awareness prevents us to make the right choices at the time they have to be made. Our fate is determined by the choices that have been made regardless if they were made consciously or recklessly. A vigilant choice will allow us to ordain our destiny.

Vigilance is also an awakening. It is an awakening to the reality that God is always looking over us and that he has sufficiently equipped us with the talent, the people, and the grace that we need to follow his will. Our decisions and actions will be greatly influenced by this realization. This AWARENESS and AWAKENING enables us to welcome Jesus Christ may it be during our time or during his second coming, whenever that will be.

Life is 10% that happens to you and 90% what you intend to do with it. Hence we should be vigilant which is not just a matter of waiting and preparing passively but rather of being proactive that requires doing with what we have in order to make things happen.

Mt 24:37-44

Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

REWARDED after Punishment

Sunday Reflection

Solemnity of Christ the King – Year C

November 21, 2010

This coming Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, it is the last Sunday before the Christmas Season officially starts.

The Sunday Gospel is all about St. Luke's version of the story of the crucifixion of Jesus and the Repentant Thief. It describes some scenes when Jesus and the two thieves received the Capital Punishment from the Roman Soldiers.

It is noteworthy that it is only in St. Luke's version that he speaks about the repentant thief. In the Gospel according to St. Mathew and St. Mark,  there was no mention about the thief repenting as yet.

Unfortunately, St. Luke does not name the repentant thief, but in Christian tradition, he is known as Dismas, and even called St. Dismas even if he was not really canonized as a saint. The name does not appear in the Bible, so it could be any other name such as yours or mine.

My first recollection of this Gospel was when I was a young boy. At that time, I wanted the name of the repentant thief to the same as mine because I wanted to be as lucky as he was. I found him to be very lucky because despite having committed a grave crime that met the Capital Punishment, he gets to be rewarded to be in Paradise with Jesus. I ended up spending more time fantasizing the perfect crime than reflecting in the Gospel reading until I outgrew it and entered the seminary.

In my seminary days, a priest once told me that while the passages in the Gospel remain the same, the message changes as you grew up. It becomes unique because it becomes personal.

Today I am happy to be able to share a different reflection, which affirms that indeed I have grown up (but not grown old). This time, my reflection about the Gospel is about Reward and Punishment.

We sometimes confuse Punishment with Justice. Criminals are punished for the crimes they have committed or for the crimes that were proven to have been committed by them. In some legal systems, it is only the President or the King that can condone or remove the punishment.

Punishment can also happen within us, as it is sometimes self imposed. Sometimes we physically or psychologically punish ourselves  for our failures and shortcomings or for some absurd reason. Some of us take failures so seriously, that we could not forgive ourselves and convince ourselves that we are only getting what we deserve.

But the purpose of punishment is not to express anger or for revenge. The purpose of punishment is to reform the person and to educate the others to do what is right and acceptable.
That is why there is no sense in killing people who kill people, to show people, that killing is wrong.


If the person being punished has reformed, then the punishment should be stopped because it has served its purpose. To continue the punishment would amount to  Torture, that is degrading to humanity. Justice demands restitution but not vengeance.

Sometimes punishment is inevitable and unstoppable, it becomes beyond our control, even when it being self imposed. Sometimes the punishment we receive is not fair, we find ourselves being punished for the things that we have not done or even accused of. Sometimes punishment the punishment we receive is reasonable, just like the case of the punishment that was served by the two thieves.

But God does not look at the reasons behind the Punishment. The Gospel is telling us that in those times when we are being punished, either by others or by ourselves, whether it is just or illegal, WE ARE NOT ALONE. 


Jesus is our King, yet he is with us all the way, he will not abandon us even when we are being punished and at our worst. In fact, we will find him right beside us  and  suffering too. But Jesus is there ready to redeem us back our dignity, he is comforting us and telling us that we do not need to remain punished.  He will not only take our punishment but he is ready to reward us today because we deserve to be with him in Paradise. 

___________________________________________

Lk 23:35-43

Gospel

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God."
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
"If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."
Above him there was an inscription that read,
"This is the King of the Jews."

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
"Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us."
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
"Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal."
Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied to him,
"Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."

Preparing for the KNOCK OUT

Gospel Reflection

I am writing this Gospel reflection while waiting for the fight of Manny Pacquiao against Antonio Margarito. By the time you read this, the fight would have already been over and you would have known the winner.

A lot of people have been saying that Manny has not been preparing well for this fight. Manny counters by saying that he is prepared because he has been able to do what he is suppose to do during practice.

Today’s Gospel strikes me to be all about Preparation. Jesus wants us to prepare not only for the end but even for the events that happen before the end. If you fail to prepare, then you are preparing to fail.

The Gospel begins by telling us how some of the disciples were in awe in seeing the newly renovated temple by Herod. The temple was the most beautiful and well guarded structure in Jerusalem at that time. Some of the disciples even described to be adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God.

Then Jesus tells them that time will come that the temple will be knocked down. Not a stone will be left above another.

Several years later, on 70 AD, the once adorned temple gets knocked down by the Romans on their siege of Jerusalem. None of the stones in the temple remain on top of the other. What remains today is the wall that once surrounded it which is commonly referred to as the “Wailing Wall” or the “Western Wall.”

Jesus may have been using the destruction of the temple as a metaphor. He might have been preparing his disciples to accept the fact that he would need to be crucified and die before he could resurrect.

The destruction of the temple may likewise refer to the end of our life, and the message of the Gospel may be for us to prepare for it as well. After all, we are God’s temple and it is certain that our physical being will be knocked out when it comes to its end, either because of sickness, old age or other reasons.

Since all of these are certain to happen, it was only appropriate for the disciples to ask when will it happen? What would be the signs of the end?

But the answer of Jesus is unresponsive, he did not tell the disciples the exact date of the destruction of the temple. Nor did he tell them the signs that would show that the end is near. Instead, he told them about the deceptive signs and the persecution that awaits all of those who wish to follow him before we reach the end. But why did Jesus answer the disciples this way.

For all of us who want to follow Jesus, he wants us to prepare not only for the end but for the events and things that happen before the end. Following Jesus is a journey and being one with him is the destination.

If our journey would be like a boxing match, then the journey is not just a matter of doing. It would require us to plan, to train- to prepare, because life will hit us hard, so we should hit back harder. We should train to deliver a Knock Out punch, because it’s going to be a twelve (12) round fight. If we fail to prepare, then we prepare to fail.

Everyday is another round, and the daily battles are not easy. If we follow Christ, sometimes it will require us to spend more money, time and effort. Sometimes it will cost us our reputation or our relationship with family and friends. But Jesus tells us not to worry on how to defend ourselves. He tells us also of something that is certain. He will give us the words and the wisdom that none of our adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

We have power in our ringside corner now. Jesus is the undisputed champion. He is the way, the truth and the life. He just wants us to believe in him and what he says. He wants us to stand firm in our faith and not a hair in our head will perish.

Life will strike us hard. Let’s get ready to rumble and prepare for a Knock Out!

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33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

November 14, 2010

Luke 21:5-19
[5] Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, [6] "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
[7] "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
[8] He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. [9] When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
[10] Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [11] There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
[12] "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. [13] This will result in your being witnesses to them. [14] But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. [15] For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. [16] You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. [17] All men will hate you because of me. [18] But not a hair of your head will perish. [19] By standing firm you will gain life.

BEING IN HEAVEN but NOT GOING THERE

Sunday Reflection

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

November 7, 2010

For us to fully understand and appreciate the context of the Gospel, I found it necessary to read materials on Judaism which was the religion of Jesus. Traditional Judaism firmly believes that the death of a person is not the end of his existence. But since the teachings on Judaism is primarily focused on the present  life, the concept of the afterlife has been a gray area which has been left for personal opinion.

Some Jews, like the Pharisees, believe in resurrection. To the others, resurrection means that the soul is incorruptible and goes to a certain place like heaven if the person was righteous. Others believe that the resurrection pertains to the rising of the dead. The Pharisees were traditionalist, who espoused the teachings in scriptures as well as those orally passed on from generation to the next. They did not limit themselves with what was written in the Scriptures but on traditions and rituals that were handed down by their forefathers.

Other Jews, like the Sadducees, who were also aristocratic and learned jews, did not embrace the concept of resurrection since it was not documented in the the Torah (the first five books in the old testament). No one who resurrected was able to document it. They disagreed much with the Pharisees, because they limited themselves with what was written in the Scriptures. But the Pharisees and Sadducees agreed on one thing- Jesus was a threat to them and had to be taken cared of.

The encounter of Jesus with the Sadducees has been documented by St. Luke, St. Mathew and St. Mark. You will find the pertinent passages qouted below.

The Sadducees questioned Jesus not because they wanted to know the truth, but because they wanted to trick Jesus. Since they did not believe in the Resurrection, the formulated a case involving the application of the Levirate law which eventually would support their stand that there is no resurrection. It was a question that was carefully crafted with only one purpose- to ridicule Jesus.

Under the levirate law^[1], polygamy is allowed. A brother is obligated to marry the widow of his childless deceased brother, with the firstborn child treated as that of the deceased brother^[2], which renders the child, the heir of the deceased brother and not the genetic father. The purpose was for the protection for the widow and her children, ensuring that they have a male provider responsible for them. This also maintains the family line of the deceased brother for estate purposes.

The practice was extremely important in ancient societies and remains so today in some parts of the world, such as China, Indonesia, Somalia, Nigeria, and even in practiced in Islamic nations.^[3] This is more of practical purposes rather than religious belief, because it was to assure that the tribe would increase and not be extinguished.

Unfortunately, the purpose of the law would contradict the concept of resurrection considering that there would have been no need for the other brothers to marry the widow if their dead brother would eventually resurrect. Hence, Jesus was put in on the spot and tested on public matters concerning the law vis-à-vis his stand on the concept of Resurrection.

Jesus could have opted not to answer the trick question because for the non-believer, no answer would suffice, and for the believer, no explanation is necessary.

Yet Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels.

At first, I thought that the answer of Jesus was not responsive. But after perusal,  the answer is structured in a deductive manner.

Jesus begins his answer by saying that there are two ages, this age and that age. The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. If the people of this age are worthy, they will join the people of “that age”; The resurrection from the dead is given to the people in “that age”, which is an age where they can no longer die for they are like angels.

In the second part of Jesus's answer, he culminates  by correcting the distorted view of the Sadducees by citing the Torah, and quoted Moses, who had personal knowledge due to his encounter with God (through the burning bush), that there is a resurrection. This is when God introduced himself as the God of the living, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Which means that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are living or have been resurrected. This silenced the Sadducees, since nobody refuted Moses.

The concept of Resurrection is intimately connected with the concept of Heaven.
Contrary to popular belief, it is worthy to note that we belong to the age that embraces the fact that Heaven is not a place but a state of being.

The Catechism of the  Catholic Church teaches us that "heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.[4]"

The is consistently proclaimed by the late Pope John Paul II when he said that

“"The 'heaven' or 'happiness' in which we will find ourselves is neither an abstraction nor a physical place in the clouds, but a living, personal relationship with the Holy Trinity. It is our meeting with the Father which takes place in the risen Christ through the communion of the Holy Spirit.[5]”

Even Pope Benedict XVI gave this explanation of what is meant by heaven when he said that

” We all experience that when people die they continue to exist, in a certain way, in the memory and heart of those who knew and loved them. We might say that a part of the person lives on in them but it resembles a "shadow" because this survival in the heart of their loved ones is destined to end. God, on the contrary, never passes away and we all exist by virtue of his love. We exist because he loves us, because he conceived of us and called us to life. We exist in God's thoughts and in God's love. We exist in the whole of our reality, not only in our "shadow". Our serenity, our hope and our peace are based precisely on this: in God, in his thoughts and in his love, it is not merely a "shadow" of ourselves that survives but rather we are preserved and ushered into eternity with the whole of our being in him, in his creator love. It is his Love that triumphs over death and gives us eternity and it is this love that we call "Heaven": God is so great that he also makes room for us. And Jesus the man, who at the same time is God, is the guarantee for us that the being-man and the being-God can exist and live, the one within the other, for eternity.[6]”

Bearing this in mind, it could be argued that we belong to "the age" of the resurrection, an age where we can resurrect from SIN. When we are resurrected from SIN, we become like the angels, who are in a state of supreme and definitive happiness for being recipients of God’s Love, regardless of whether we are married or not.

BEING IN HEAVEN doesn't have to mean GOING THERE after all.

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Luke 20:27-40 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” 34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels.66 They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” 39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Matthew 22:23-33 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” 29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

Mark 12:18-27 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” 24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

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[1] mandated by Deuteronomy 25:5-6

[2] see also Genesis 38:8

[3] Credits to Wikipedia

[4] http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2M.HTM

[5] http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_21071999_en.html

[6] http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20100815_assunzione_en.html

Condemn the Sin but not the Sinner.

Sunday Reflection on the Liturgy 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Luke 19:1-10

October 31, 2010

Zaccheaus is actually a nickname for Zechariah. It literally means “ righteous one.” But Zaccheaus was not known to be a righteous man. He was known as the Chief Tax Collector of the City of Jericho. His job made it easier for any Jew to condemn him without having to know him personally.

FIRST, nobody wants to pay taxes, especially if the taxes went to the government of Rome and not of Judea. The Romans were oppressors, and the tax collectors were their agents. Tax collectors were considered Traitors.

SECOND. Since taxes were collected to pay tribute to Rome, the Jews saw this as an offense against the law of Moses- that the chosen people are not held bondage to any man. The Jews saw the taxes as a form of subjugation that was made possible because of the tax collectors, who were fellow Jews. For this reason, the tax collectors were considered immoral people who sold their souls to the devil. Tax collectors were banished from the synagogues, and disowned as Jews. They were considered as “outcasts” and publicly branded as “sinners” who can no longer be saved.

THIRD, tax collectors were corrupt and greedy. Because the tax collection was farmed out by the Romans, it was given to the most efficient collector. He would then sub contract other collectors. Tax collectors would often collect more than what was due, and resorted to extortion. Those who would refuse to pay were reported to the Romans. The collection was likewise vested with personal interest considering that the tax collector gets to keep the excess collection. Tax collectors were rich, because they were taking money from their countrymen.

This was the case of Zaccheaus, Chief Tax Collector of the City of Jericho. He had a lot of tax collectors under him, and a lot of taxes were collected because of him. For this reason,  a lot of Jews hated him even if they did not know him personally all because he was the Chief Tax Collector. His reputation preceded him, he was infamous.

Here comes Jesus, whose reputation also precedes him. Jesus was also known to love the poor, that he healed the sick, fed the hungry. He was known as the savior- the one who would deliver the Jews from their oppressors. Jesus was famous and a lot of people loved him.

This meant the end of the career of Zaccheaus. He knew that he was condemned by the Jewish society and didn’t expect Jesus to treat him any better. Despite this, Zaccheaus still desired to personally see Jesus when he heard he was coming. Because he was of small stature, he climbed a Sycamore Tree and was able to see him. To his surprise, Jesus approached him, called him by his nick name and even invited himself to his house.

What may be the reason for this? Jesus does not want us  to immediately judge Zaccheaus just because of what he does for a living. Jesus wants us to get to know the person rather than condemning him immediately even if we have to exert much effort such as inviting ourselves. As Stephen Covey would say it " Seek first to understand, in order to be understood"

It is worthy to note that Jesus did not defend Zaccheaus for what he did, so it can be argued that he obviously was not in favor of his job and what he was doing. The point that Jesus was driving at is that while we can condemn the sin, we should not condemn the sinner. We can only forgive a person that we do not hate.

Zaccheaus did not cry for forgiveness out loud. So why did Jesus save him?
There were a lot of people, and Jesus would not have heard Zaccheaus if he was crying out loud for forgiveness. But the actions of Zaccheaus were louder than his words. This is the compelling evidence proving that he was seeking forgiveness.

Jesus saw what other people did not see. He saw how Zaccheaus found a way to overcome his small stature that prevented him from seeing Jesus he climbed the sycamore tree. Zaccheaus likewise did not allow his reputation to stop him from his desire to change. Zaccheaus did not only find a solution to overcome the physical barrier but likewise climbed over the psychological or social barrier that prevented him from seeing Christ. 

Subsequently, Zaccheaus exhibits true repentance by giving half of what he owns to the poor. At that time,  generosity was quantified such as  giving 20% of what you earn. Obviously Zaccheaus act of giving 50% of what he owned was far more than being generous. But Zaccheaus doesn’t stop there. He pledges Jesus that he will restitute anyone he has wronged by paying them four times. The legal requirement for anyone who has wrong someone was to give back what was taken, or to pay twice, thrice up to four times as much. So Zaccheaus was willing to restitute anyone at the maximum allowed by the law. Historians say that Zaccheaus became a full pledged apostle of Jesus after his death. He was later nicknamed "Matthias" who replaced Judas Iscariot upon Jesus' Ascension. He later and founded a sanctuary in France.

Well, it turns out that the infamous Zaccheaus, Chief Tax Collector of the City of Jericho, exceeded the requirements and practices set by the Rabbis and Pharisees. Jesus made the right choice in approaching Zaccheaus and inviting himself to his house. Zaccheaus was a true repentant sinner, and for this reason, he was saved.

Divine Justice condemns the sin but forgives the repentant sinner.


GOSPEL READING 
Catholic Homily / Sunday Reflection on the Liturgy 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
October 31, 2010

 Luke 19:1-10

[1] Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. [3] He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. [5] When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." [6] So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. [7] All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " [8] But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." [9] Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

PROUD to be HUMBLED

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

October 24, 2010

We have heard about the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector several times, and we all know how the proud Pharisee is humbled for exalting himself while the Tax collector is exalted for being humble.

Allow me to argue the case of the Pharisee.

Pharisees were Religious leaders who encouraged the Jewish people to pursue righteousness by following the Jewish laws and not compromising with the beliefs of the Romans. They were very influential to the common people and were respected by the Romans for this.

They were so serious in following the laws of Moses that they began imposing their conservative interpretation on to it to the point of legislating “implementing rules” on how to follow the Mosaic Law. They called these rules, “the oral law” and by faithfully obeying the oral law, they were assured to have followed the Mosaic Law.

The Oral law is not as simple as the rules that we are required to follow in Church such as genuflecting. Oftentimes, they were even more difficult to follow.  One of those rules was “Tithing” which mandated them to give 1/10 of whatever they own or earn to the poor. So if this Pharisee earned 1,000 talents, he would give up 100 talents to the poor. A talent was 33kg of silver, which today is more or less $13,530 or P 581,790.00[1]. That’s a lot of money.

Another rule was to fast twice a week (every Monday and Thursday) as an intercession for nation building. Hence, the sacrifices of the Pharisee were also for the Jewish nation.

Admittedly, not everyone could follow what the Pharisees practiced. Hence they deserved to be lauded and emulated. Obviously, the Pharisee had something to be proud of.

In stark contrast, the Tax collector was the exact opposite of the Pharisee. He was not a leader of the Jews but a servant of Rome. He did not follow the law of Moses but instead enforced the law of the Roman Oppressors particularly on Taxation.

The Tax Collector was not a nation builder, but considered a Traitor because he was building the Roman Empire.

He was not giving anything that he owned but instead was getting more than what was required through over assessment. He usually extorted people, threatening them to be arrested by the Roman Soldiers if they would not pay the tax he assessed of them.  The Jewish people hated them, and the Romans only saw their worth on the amount of taxes that they could collect.  Obviously, the tax collector had a lot to be ashamed of.

Yet in Luke’s version of the Gospel, Jesus tells us that it was the Tax Collector who was justified and not the Pharisee. This was for the simple reason that the Pharisee look down on the tax collector. If God is happy with penitent sinners, isn’t he also happy with those who strive hard not to avoid sin?

  

This judgment doesn’t seem fair for the Pharisee. He made so much effort to follow the law but in the end it was the Tax Collector who was justified. Had the Pharisee known this, then he wouldn’t have gone through all the trouble of devoting his entire life in taking the law seriously.

  

What went wrong here? He didn’t do anything bad to the tax collector. He just thought that he was better than him for all the things that he was able to make in contrast of the others. What was wrong with that? If the Pharisee committed a sin in looking down at the tax collector, surely it was nothing compared to the sin of the tax collector. He has done so many accomplishments compared to the tax collector.

The accomplishments of the Pharisee are indeed remarkable and extraordinary.  But accomplishments themselves do not gauge our salvation. The Pharisee forgot one important thing- He forgot to ask for God’s mercy. He was too meticulous in following the law, the traditions and rituals to the extent of compromising its real intent and purpose.

He became too self-righteous that he forgot that he was still a sinner who needed God’s mercy to be saved. 

At different points in our lives we have become like the Pharisee and the Tax collector. If we are ahead of others, it is partly because God allowed it to happen.

The purpose of St. Luke in composing the parable this way was not to discourage the people who strive hard to become righteous. Rather, it was meant to remind us that everything that we accomplished was made possible because of God’s love and mercy.

We just have to do what we can and need not take life too seriously just like the Pharisee. No matter how righteous we think we have become, we are still sinners who need to ask for God’s mercy. Hence we should not look down on others.

It is God who saves us, not ourselves. God assures us that even if we have done the exact opposite of what we are suppose to do; we can always repent and change. A penitent sinner is always a recipient of God’s mercy and therefore can still be justified.

In the final analysis, it appears that life even on heaven is not fair.

The thing that saves us is not only Divine Justice but Divine Mercy. 


Lord God, your honor, I rest my case.

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Reading 1

Sir 35:12-14, 16-18

The LORD is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
Though not unduly partial toward the weak,
yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.
The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,
nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.
The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens.
The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;
it does not rest till it reaches its goal,
nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right,
and the Lord will not delay.

Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

Responsorial Psalm

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18

Reading 2

Beloved:
I am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Lk 18:9-14

Gospel

Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
"Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --
greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

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[1] P 43.00 = $1.00