THE MANDATE TO BE A PUBLIC WITNESS!

April 30, 2011 

Saturday in the Octave of Easter

By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

Mark 16: 9 - 15

9          Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

10        She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11        But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

12        After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.

13        And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

14        Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

15        And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED SATURDAY TO ALL!!!

In this time where trickery and pretension abound to victimize the unscrupulous, we are often reminded to be careful in dealing with people especially those we don’t know much about. We have heard stories of our “kababayan” who were misled to bring or carry something going abroad without knowing that what they brought were illegal substances. They would only found out when they were caught in some international airport that detected the illegal substances in their luggage. And so they learned the painful lesson of making sure of checking the CREDIBILITY of anyone asking for favors. In the many congressional and senate proceedings on the investigation of certain corruption in government, the destruction of the credibility of WITNESSES takes the primary defense of the defendants. When the credibility of the witness is clouded by doubt and uncertainty, the testimony of the witness becomes questionable and unreliable.

The Gospel today presented the inability of the disciples to believe in the testimony of Mary Magdalene about the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples could have questioned the credibility of Mary. It is a fact in the Gospel accounts that Jesus did not appear first to his male disciples. Jesus appeared first to a woman. And she was not just any ordinary woman without any personal issues to deal with. She was known to live by a morally questionable “profession.” Even the Gospel today described her to be possessed by seven demons and which Jesus had cast out. Moreover, women at the time of Jesus were not given the right and credibility as a witness in court. Women were considered inferior and under the authority of men and treated as “second class” citizen in the Jewish community. From this status of women in the Jewish community and the personal background of Mary, the disciples could not have taken Mary’s testimony seriously.

But Jesus had taken a different cultural route in dealing with a woman. He appeared first to a woman, Mary Magdalene. He even asked Mary to bring the Good News that he is ALIVE to his male disciples. Jesus mandated Mary to bear WITNESS to them his resurrection. Jesus gives the privilege to a woman to first witness the FULLNESS of LIFE that he achieved for us by his resurrection. This clearly shows how Jesus recognizes the EQUAL DIGNITY and RIGHTS of women with men in participating in the mandate to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world. In fact, the Gospel tells us how Jesus reprimanded the disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart. This episode somehow leads us to assess on how we deal with women. Do we treat them as second to men? Do we regard them less than men in matters of bearing witness to Christ?

Moreover, what are we like in our relationship with Jesus- Mary who eagerly gives testimony to her experience of Jesus or the disciples’ hardness of heart in being open to realities done by God which go beyond physical evidence? The Lord once declared to Thomas and the other disciples how BLESSED are those who BELIEVED in him though had not SEEN him. Can we count ourselves to be among these blessed ones by our FAITH in Jesus though we have not seen him? If yes, then we have also to count ourselves, man or woman, to share with the great mandate and commission of Jesus to his disciples to PREACH the GOSPEL to the whole CREATION! Our CREDIBILITY to do so does not depend on who we are, or what our gender is, but on the BIDDING of the Lord to us! It is the Lord who commanded us to do so, just as he commanded Mary Magdalene. By virtue of our reception of the sacrament of CONFIRMATION, we vow to be a PUBLIC WITNESSES of the Risen Christ to the world empowered by the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit.

LOWERING OUR NETS AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR BOATS!!!

April 29, 2011 

Friday in the Octave of Easter

By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

John 21: 1 - 14

1          After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way.

2          Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together.

3          Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.

4          Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5          Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No."

6          He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish.

7          That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.

8          But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

9          When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.

10        Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."

11        So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

12        Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

13        Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

14        This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED FRIDAY TO ALL!!!

I think it is a common experience to all of us getting FRUSTRATED when we do and exert all our best efforts at anything yet the best we did was not enough to get the kind of result that we desire or expect. How many times I deal with students’ frustrations when they came to me for consultation regarding their failures. They always try to tell me that they had done their best. The Gospel today leads me to picture frustrated fishermen who caught nothing after trying the whole night. Catching fish is the golden treasure for fishermen. Catching nothing is not just a waste of time and energy, but especially having nothing as food for the family.

How many times our frustrations get in the way on how we look at life. Frustrations blinded us to see the good things in life and so stop us from hoping for the best. For that, frustration can easily lead us back to our ordinary lives instead of moving on forward to something greater that we have started. After the bloody and ignominious death of Jesus on the cross, Peter and other disciples went back home to Galilee to resume back to FISHING. They had given up Jesus’ mandate for them to become FISHERS of MEN. This retreat back to their old “profession” would indicate their frustration about the death of Jesus. Jesus’ death had ended their dreams for something bigger. Jesus’ death put the disciples at a loss  at moving on forward according to what Jesus made them to become. The Gospel today, however, will picture to us how Jesus will RE-INTRODUCE and RE-INVIGORATE Peter and the other disciples to move on forward.

When Jesus appeared to Peter and the other disciples, they never recognized him. Probably, their despair and frustration had cut them to any connection with Jesus. Their minds and hearts were no longer attuned to the presence of their Master. To them, the Master is GONE! But Jesus asked them to do something that he commanded them to do before. At the start of Jesus ministry, he had asked Peter to lower his net after he caught nothing in a night of fishing. After a miraculous catch Jesus designated Peter to become a “fisher of men” (confer Luke 5:4-1). In the Gospel today, Jesus commanded them to lower their net gain on the RIGHT SIDE of the boat. When they did what they were told to do, they had a great CATCH of fish. By then they recognized that it was the Lord who was with them. I take this incident as a way of the Risen Lord to RENEW his CALLING and MANDATE for Peter and the other disciples to be “catchers of men” for the kingdom of God.

In moments of despair, frustration and hopelessness, instead of retreating to ourselves we must rather COME NEAR Jesus for he will give us enlightenment and strength to move on. In moments that we feel we have NOTHING, the Lord is reminding us today to LOWER our NETS at the RIGHT SIDE of our BOATS and he will provide us with what we need. We need first, however, to be strong in our FAITH in him. We have to keep our TRUST in the Lord ALWAYS! We need to always declare that “IT IS THE LORD” who will be our refuge and strength.

WHEN CONFUSED AND TROUBLED!

April 28, 2011 

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

Luke 24: 35 - 48

35        Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

36        As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them.

37        But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit.

38        And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts?

39        See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have."

41        And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"

42        They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

43        and he took it and ate before them.

44        Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled."

45        Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,

46        and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

47        and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48        You are witnesses of these things.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED THURSDAY TO ALL!!!

To DOUBT is an inherent vulnerability of the human mind or heart, a natural reaction of a being created to be finite in intellectual capacity for complete comprehension and instant knowledge. Our experience would tell us that our mind, which is the faculty for cognition, has the natural propensity to seek for the concrete, observable, and measurable basis before making any claim for understanding and CERTAINTY. We always seek a basis in believing on something. We are just like the apostles who will not believe unless we can subject certitude with our own eyes.

In the Gospel today, the apostles were having difficulty grappling with the idea of the resurrection of Jesus without seeing him personally. They were even startled and frightened when Jesus stood before them. They could have not expected to see him that they had thought Jesus was a ghost or an illusion. They had difficulty dealing with a NEW REALITY- a DEAD man present in their midst. But it is this RESURRECTION of Jesus that ushered the planting of the seed of Christianity everywhere. It is by the resurrection of Jesus that the doubtful and confused disciples were transformed into ZEALOUS MISSIONARIES proclaiming the good news of a NEW LIFE in CHRIST to all! Without the resurrection Christianity has NOTHING to OFFER to the world. Jesus’ APPEARANCE before his disciples is the assurance of the good news our faith: as the Lord is ALIVE, so must we who will die with him will also arise to NEW LIFE with God. Let our hearts, therefore, not be troubled about the ultimate future of our existence. Jesus’ resurrection has already given us the ultimate answer.

To appease the troubled hearts and confused minds of the disciples, Jesus said “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." 

Jesus made himself more real to them by EATING with them. It was Jesus who made himself REAL to the doubtful and confused disciples. Aside from showing his wounds and eating with them, he EXPLAINED to them the SCRIPTURES. Jesus OPENS the MINDS of his doubtful and confused disciples to BELIEVE in him through the scriptures. This is an invitation for us to open prayerfully the Bible so that the Lord will nourish and strengthen us when we are troubled and confused and in need for enlightenment and guidance.

Let us therefore have time to reflect on the Word of God in the Bible so that our eyes will be opened to see the reality of God ACTIVELY PRESENT and INVOLVED in our lives.

KEEPING OUR HEARTS BURNING!!!

April 27, 2011 

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

Luke 24: 13 - 35

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." 25 And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, 29 but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34 who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED WEDNESDAY TO ALL!

INTROSPECTION is a necessary internal activity of self-assessment that is necessary for a better understanding of oneself. It is an opportunity to evaluate the on-goings of one’s life to make some adjustments, improvements, reformation and restructuring of one’s priorities and concerns.  However, introspection be guarded not to end to self-absorption wherein the only concern and focus is the self. SELF-ABSORPTION is commonly described as preoccupation of oneself to the exclusion of others and the external world.

In the Gospel today it would seem that the two disciples journeying to Emmaus were absorbed within themselves as they discussed the recent happening about Jesus’ crucifixion and death. They were so preoccupied and engrossed with introspection, maybe to the point to self absorption that they failed to recognize Jesus walking with them on the way. Their introspection was so self-consuming that their eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus. How often do we miss the presence of God in our lives too because we are so concerned with ourselves? Our eyes are often kept from recognizing God walking with us each day because we are so preoccupied and absorbed pessimistically with the “many events” happening around, especially the negative and disheartening experiences. The two disciples were terribly disheartened by the death and the disappearance of the body of Jesus in whom they placed their hope for liberation. They were questioning and doubting the credibility of Jesus as the Messiah. They doubted the credibility of the women testifying that Jesus is alive while they saw the tomb empty. As the TOMB was EMPTY with the body of Jesus was also their HEARTS became EMPTIED in recognizing Jesus’ PRESENCE among them. Mary Magdalene, in yesterday’s gospel, also initially failed to recognize Jesus because she was also preoccupied with herself grieving over Jesus’ death and disappearance.

However, Jesus INITIATED something for the two disciples and Mary Magdalene to recognize him. At times, we really need God to poke us up just for us to recognize him when we are so absorbed with ourselves. At times it is hard to get out of our self-absorption that it would take God to awaken us and open our eyes to recognize him. It took for Mary Magdalene to hear the Lord calling her name to recognize Jesus. When Jesus called her, her eyes were opened and ready to be close to Jesus. So also with the two disciples, it took them to HEAR Jesus explaining to them the whole import of his death as the prophet prophesied and the BREAKING of the BREAD to recognize that it is Jesus who was walking all along with them. Their HEARTS were already BURNING when they listened to Jesus conversing with them on the way but have not yet recognized him until Jesus break bread with them. Have we also felt our hearts always burning with the feeling that Jesus is always journeying with us on our way each day?

If ever we come to the point that we become “slow of heart” in recognizing the presence of God, participating in the Liturgical celebration of the BREAKING OF BREAD can be a special opportunity for us to make our heart to burn again. Let us listen to the Lord each day calling us to recognize his presence in our daily undertakings. Let us keep our hearts burning in whatever situation we are in and consider each moment a journeying with the Lord.

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!

April 26, 2011

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

by Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

John 20: 11 - 18
11	But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb;
12	and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13	They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."
14	Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15	Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
16	Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher).
17	Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
18	Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED TUESDAY TO ALL!!!

GRIEVING over the dead is a very human experience of sorrow for the loss of a loved one. I just came back from the province attending to the burial of my younger brother. I did not shed much tears that would fell down my check from my eyes than I shed tears of sorrow in my heart by recollecting happy memories I had with my brother. Grieving over the dead was very real to me during the Holy Week as my brother was buried on Holy Wednesday.

In the Gospel today, Mary Magdalene was weeping as she grieved with utmost sorrow for the loss of her beloved Master and Teacher. She was visiting the Lord in his tomb. She cannot yet grapple with the sorrow and pain of being PHYSICALLY SEPARATED with the Lord. Being in the tomb would provide her a proximate feeling of being near with the Lord. However, she discovered something that would intensify her separation from the Lord. She was weeping outside the TOMB because she was not only missing the presence of the Lord ALIVE, but also concerned that she would also lose the remains of the BODY of the Lord. She thought that the body of the Lord was stolen. I can just surmise why Mary was so attached and devoted to the Lord by the account, according to Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9, that it was her that Jesus cleansed from "seven demons." Whatever such cleansing would mean, may it be forgiveness from sins or physical healing, what Jesus had done to her made her become committed to follow Jesus closely even up to the cross. This is so because Jesus made her experienced the blessing of liberation, the grace of salvation.

This scenario challenges us to examine how much we are longing and committed to be near and close to Jesus. Do we have this sincere desire of Mary Magdalene to be close with Jesus in everything that we do? Do we feel true sorrow and pain when we feel that we are going away from him? Do we truly treasure Jesus’ presence in our lives that we are in deep distress when we find ourselves far from his presence? If we have not yet experienced the liberating presence of Jesus, it would be so hard for us to seek and treasure Jesus’ presence in our lives. Mary Magdalene is the leader of the women who were there at the foot of the cross of Jesus while the male disciples were in hiding. Mary witnessed personally the suffering and death of the Lord. And now she had the privilege to be first to see the Risen Lord. Mary Magdalene knew Jesus PERSONALLY! Do we know Jesus personally? Have we MEET Jesus in our lives?

If we have not known Jesus PERSONALLY and have not MEET him in our lives, then it would be hard for us to accomplish the most basic MISSIONARY-CALLING of our Faith that the Lord Jesus mandated Mary Magdalene to do after seeing him. The Risen Lord Jesus told Mary, and all of us Christians, to go and PROCLAIM him that he is ALIVE, that he has risen from the dead! In turn Mary Magdalene declared, “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” This simple exclamation is the GIST of our CHRISTIAN FAITH. To be a Christian is to claim that one had seen the Lord!

THE JESUS THAT WE KNOW!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

Matthew 27: 11 - 54

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barab'bas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Barab'bas or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream." 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barab'bas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barab'bas." 22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified." 23 And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified." 24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." 25 And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26 Then he released for them Barab'bas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, 29 and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyre'ne, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Gol'gotha (which means the place of a skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; 36 then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews." 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, `I am the Son of God.'" 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 47 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This man is calling Eli'jah." 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Eli'jah will come to save him." 50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; 52 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED PALM SUNDAY TO ALL!!!

Today we celebrate the Palm Sunday which commemorates the entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem where he was acclaimed by the people as a KING. Before Jesus was brought before the governor and the chief priests for interrogation Jesus had a very dramatic or prophetic entrance to Jerusalem riding on a colt. When the people saw him, many spread their garments on the road, while others cut branches from trees and spread them on the road, as an expression of warm welcome.

The crowd went with him shouting “"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9). Jesus was welcomed almost with festivities because the crowd considered him as the FULFILLMENT of the prophecy about the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One who will save them. The people were in high spirit in accepting Jesus because he FITS into their idea of what the Messiah will be. They look at him to be like King David who is their great leader and savior from their enemies. They even PRAISE the Lord for sending to them someone who will be their KING who will FIGHT for them. They might have thought, therefore, that Jesus coming to Jerusalem is the time for their LIBERATION. They could have thought that Jesus was then about to confront the powerful who oppress them. They SUPPORT Jesus because he was what they THOUGHT he should be.

However, Jesus knew too well what awaited him in Jerusalem- betrayal, mockery, torture, crucifixion and death. When Jesus was so QUITE and TIMID before the powerful when he was asked to be the King of the Jews, the people were disappointed. They were full of indignation against Jesus. What they could have thought to be their KING is just but an impostor. Their initial support for Jesus was then transformed into CONDEMNATION! Their shouts of “HOSANNA” were transformed into a violent demand of “CRUCIFY HIM!”  When Jesus was about to be led to his crucifixion, there are those who mocked him saying "Hail, King of the Jews!" Now Jesus was proclaimed a king but not in adoration and respect due to a King but as an insult and mockery to an impostor. Jesus did NOT FIT their idea of a TRUE KING!

Today, let us examine our hearts as to who Jesus really is for us. Is the Jesus we know a Jesus that FITS only our OWN idea as to what and who he should be for us? Is our adoration of Jesus based upon how he FULFILLS our personal EXPECTATIONS from him? If yes is our answer, we should not be surprised to find ourselves at times DISAPPOINTED with Jesus for not “doing” or “giving” or “fulfilling” what we expect from him. We should not “define” who Jesus is according to our own standards. In that case, we will be making a Jesus based on our OWN DESIGNS. We should not invent a Jesus according to our own personal interest and convenience. If this will be the case, in many instances, we will find ourselves BETRAYING, MOCKING, and CRUCIFYING Jesus all over again and again. Instead, let us accept who Jesus is as he reveals himself to us by his WORDS and DEEDS.

I BELONG TO JESUS!!!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Lenten Weekday

By Lorenz S. Cenetino, Jr.

John 11: 45 - 56

45        Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him;

46        but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

47        So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.

48        If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation."

49        But one of them, Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all;

50        you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."

51        He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation,

52        and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

53        So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death.

54        Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called E'phraim; and there he stayed with the disciples.

55        Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

56        They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED SATURDAY TO ALL!!!

It is very common an experience that people can be divided into pro and anti on a certain issue. One side would have a favorable or positive view while the other side would have a negative or disapproving view. We can see this divided view on a particular issue in the Gospel today. The Jews were divided in their assessment on what they had witnessed Jesus had done. There were those who BELIEVE in Jesus because of what they had SEEN, while others went to Jesus’ detractors, the chief priests and Pharisees, as a sign of disapproval of what they had seen. What they witnessed was the RAISING of LAZARUS from DEATH when Jesus commanded him to come out from his tomb.

Jesus’ enemies gathered to discuss what they should do with Jesus so that they can stop people from believing in him. They are concerned with their INTEGRITY as a NATION and their HOLY PLACE against the possible wrath of Rome if the people will become followers of Jesus who is just one of the itinerant preachers that offered different interpretations of their laws and traditions. And so the high priest that time, Caiaphas, made his opinion, which is like a verdict upon Jesus already, “You know nothing at all; you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish." This view, the anti-view against Jesus, was upheld to SAVE their NATION from PERISHING.

In contrast to this anti-view, there were those who come to BELIEVE in Jesus. They come to believe because they see in Jesus the HOPE and the BLESSING of the FULLNESS of LIFE. These believers had seen something opposite to what Jesus’ have seen. Because of what they saw Jesus raising Lazarus from death, they see the GOODNEWS that in Jesus they will NEVER PERISH. Jesus’ enemies saw in him the destruction of their nation and holy places. But those who come to believe in Jesus saw in him the RESTORATION, rather than destruction, of their NATION as to what God has called them to be—a HOLY NATION. And by Jesus’ DEATH their nation becomes a HOLY PLACE that millions of people and pilgrims come to visit.

Because of their failure to know who Jesus is, the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus to end the threat that they considered. But they did not realized the truth that it is Jesus’ DEATH that will reveal the deepest longing of their hearts—FULLNESS of LIFE. By Jesus’ death he will achieve for us the fullness of what he did to Lazarus— our RESURRECTION. This resurrection is the guarantee that those who will BELIEVE in him will NOT PERISH. As we approach the final days of our Lenten season may our FAITH in Jesus is also getting stronger and more mature. As we are about to celebrate the Palm Sunday, that is tomorrow, may we be counted among those who have a PRO-VIEW on Jesus considering him as the TRUE KING of our lives. Let our hearts say: HOSANNA to our KING! Let our whole being be proud in claiming: I BELONG TO JESUS!!!

THE GOD WHO IS FULLY HUMAN!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Lenten Weekday

By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

John 10: 31 - 42

31        The Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32        Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?"

33        The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God."

34        Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, `I said, you are gods'?

35        If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken),

36        do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am the Son of God'?

37        If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;

38        but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."

39        Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

40        He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and there he remained.

41        And many came to him; and they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."

42        And many believed in him there.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED FRIDAY!!!

Words are the most common medium of communication that we human used. By words we express our thoughts and feelings. By words we can share to others our dreams, visions and desires. However, words can also easily misrepresent and mislead. It can cover falsehood with explanations and justifications to make something to appear to be true. Words can easily be used to LIE. Moreover, at times, our words are not enough to capture what we want to communicate. That is why words can easily be misunderstood. There are certain things that we want to impart that our words cannot clearly and fully communicate. At times, only action can best impart what we want to communicate. In fact there is an adage that says ACTION speaks LOUDER than WORDS.

In the Gospel today we find again Jesus in a dangerous situation wherein he could be harmed or killed because the Jews were there ready to stone at him again. But before any stone would be cast at him he asked them if the GOOD WORKS that he did would make him liable to be stoned. Jesus asked, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?" Jesus was not just asking them to recall the good works he performed, but he also wanted them to see that all those good works are from the Father. He was leading the violent people to see that he is working for God. He wanted them to understand that he is doing the WORKS of GOD. But these violent people are really BLIND to understand the prophetic meaning of his good works that made the Kingdom of God present in their midst. They failed to really recognize who Jesus is by the good works that he did. They could have appreciated the good works that Jesus did, but they become worthless because of how Jesus associated himself with God. They said, “It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God." For them Jesus is just an ordinary man.

Indeed, Jesus is a man, a fully human being. And it is this very condition that blinded many to consider his good works as “WORKS of GOD”. By simply recognizing Jesus as an ordinary man they failed to come to the realization that GOD can be HUMAN to bring us to the fullness of life. It is this mystery of the INCARNATION of Jesus that God, in the most HUMBLE way, reveals His LOVE to us. Jesus, who was with God in the beginning and is God himself, took our human nature so that he can RESTORE its GLORY from being tainted and corrupted by SIN. So that by his own BODY he will carry our SINS on the Cross, and by his RESURRECTION he will restore to our humanity the lost destiny to be home with God in his Kingdom.

Despite the blindness of many Jews, there were those who came to recognize and believe in Jesus. Many come to believe, as the Gospel today indicated, because of what John has TESTIFIED about Jesus. They come to faith because they saw how the testimony of John about Jesus was TRUE. Claiming to be Christians, followers of Jesus, we are challenged today to examine how far do we make testimony to Jesus, may it be in WORDS or ACTIONS, so that skeptics may come to BELIEVE and those whose faith are shaken may fully surrender themselves to him. May we, in our own way, become John to others that will make them come to the knowledge and faith in Jesus. In being so, we are doing the WORKS of GOD in our humanity!

UNCONDITIONAL YES TO JESUS!!!

UNCONDITIONAL YES TO JESUS!!!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Lenten Weekday

By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

John 8: 51 - 59
51	Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death."
52	The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, `If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.'
53	Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?"
54	Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God.
55	But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word.
56	Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad."
57	The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
58	Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
59	So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED THURSDAY TO ALL!!!

SALES TALK is very important to any venture of promoting something or persuading someone to do, believe or buy something. It is therefore aimed specifically to convince and sway someone on one’s side and influence someone in making a decision. This is a very important quality in any sales agent marketing a product to prospective buyers or consumers. Sales talk most of the time takes the form of SPECIAL OFFERS.

In the Gospel today Jesus is making his sales talk on something that people don’t have to buy but simply to freely accept and believe. He is promoting something that is for FREE. Jesus was OFFERING something very SPECIAL. But those who heard him were upset rather than being pleased or cheered up. They reacted to Jesus negatively by attempting to throw stones at him. This could have shown how troubled and outraged they were. Jesus had told them the KEY to ultimate CONTENTMENT and BLESSEDNESS. Jesus told them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death."

The people cannot take passively Jesus’ words. They cannot just dismiss it without much reacting strongly for they thought Jesus was possessed by a demon. They compared Jesus to Abraham and the prophets who have tasted death. They must have considered Jesus CRAZY, out of his mind to make such a claim that anyone who will abide by his word will never die. This is not surprising a reaction from the Jews who consider Abraham as the father of their FAITH and the prophets as the guardians and nurturer of their faith. Both Abraham and the prophets were not spared from the power of death. Moreover, Thomas one of the twelve close associates of Jesus did not even believe at once when told that Jesus came back to life from death. He cannot take the news that Jesus is ALIVE without any physical proof!

As we are about to enter the Holy Week, let us examine ourselves. Do we surrender and submit ourselves completely to the WORD of Jesus without any qualms and hesitations? Are we still looking for clear answers to all our questions about Jesus that we have some reservations on our commitment to him? FAITH does not depend on complete comprehension and understanding. Faith thrives not in COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT Jesus. Faith rather thrives in our COMPLETE SUBMISSION to the WORD and TESTIMONY of Jesus. Faith does not thrive on PERCEPTIBLE evidence and APPARENT proof of what is claimed or proposed by Jesus. Faith rather thrives in SURRENDERING ONESELF to the AUTHORITY of Jesus as GOD SPEAKING to us. Faith is then primarily our RESPONSE of UNCONDITIONAL YES to Jesus.