... tidbit of my personal reflections on the Gospel of the day which is my way of TALKING to myself and to you, so that together we can invite JESUS to WALK with us and ACCOMPANY us unto the PATH he wants us to walk on...
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Daily Talk to Walk On: YOKED WITH/TO JESUS!
Daily Talk to Walk On: YOKED WITH/TO JESUS!: "Friday, July 01, 2011 The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr. Matthew 11: 25 - 30 25 At that..."
KNOWING AND EXPERIENCING GOD THROUGH JESUS’ DEEDS!
Weekday
By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.
Matthew 9: 1 - 8
1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.
2 And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk'?
6 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home."
7 And he rose and went home.
8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:
A BLESSED THURSDAY TO ALL!
Oftentimes our recognition of the “credibility” of the proficiency or expertise of a person will depend on the person’s “record” as to professional degree/s (certificate, baccalaureate, masteral or doctoral) attained. We often consider credible and expert on something those with a doctoral degree than those with a baccalaureate’s degree, or even with those with a masteral’s degree. This kind of recognition is mainly based on the professional and academic attainment of a person. However, this kind of attainment does not always translate to efficiency and competence in the level of performance. At the practical and performance level, there are those who only have attained a masteral’s degree but performed well and show more competence and expertise than those with a doctoral degree.
In the Gospel today, we have a case wherein Jesus’ credibility is belittled, if not totally ignored or nullified, because he is regarded to be ordinary. Their recognition and judgment of Jesus committing a blasphemy is an obvious declaration of their rejection, dismissal and denunciation of what Jesus have done. For the Scribes, Jesus has no authority and credibility to FORGIVE sins. For them God has the sole authority to forgive. For them Jesus does not have the credentials that belong to God alone. They are really blind to see and comprehend the fullness of Jesus’ identity. In fact, in yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus asked his disciples “who do men say that the Son of man is?” and also asked them directly “But who do you say that I am?” The Scribes unfortunately do not know who Jesus is. After yesterday’s Gospel declaration as to who Jesus is by the confession of Peter about Jesus as the CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD, today’s Gospel presents Jesus manifesting or revealing in ACTION who he really is.
Interestingly, Jesus considers what the Scribes have in their minds to be evil. He asked them, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?” This question could mean to indicate that to be UNFORGIVING is an EVIL act to do. This is so because it goes contrary to the very nature of God who is forgiving. When Jesus forgives the sin of the paralytic, Jesus was also manifesting his true nature that the Scribes are blind to recognize. Jesus manifests concretely by his action his IDENTITY and CREDENTIAL so for the witnesses to recognize his full stature as God. Jesus provides substantiation and verification of Peter’s confession by DOING something that belongs to GOD and claims the AUTHORITY that belongs to God. Jesus HEALS the paralytic and FORGIVES his sin. This is a revelation of Jesus’ IDENTITY and MISSION. That he is really the IMMANUEL, the GOD who is WITH US to SAVE us. He is JESUS, which means, the GOD who SAVES! By his deeds, people come to have an experience and knowledge of God in Jesus. In Jesus we have the FULLNESS of God’s revelation of Himself.
Created in the image and likeness of God, however, we too are summoned by Jesus to also FORGIVE those who wronged us. Our being “unforgiving” makes us spiritually crippled in dealing with others with love and compassion. To become unforgiving paralizes us from doing what is good to those who have done wrong against us. May Jesus' HEALING power cure our hearts full of bitterness and hatred for us to become charitable in forgiving others of their misdeeds and transgressions against us. Forgiving others will be our credential in having the confidence to ask God to forgive us from all of our transgressions.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
THE BREAD OF LIFE!
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.
John 6: 51 - 58
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:
A BLESSED CORPUS CHRISTI SUNDAY TO ALL!
EATING TOGETHER (SALO-SALO) is a Filipino way of expressing the Filipino natural tendency for celebration and fellowship. Every gathering and fellowship is always cemented with the “eating-together” that characterize how Filipinos acknowledge, cherish and celebrate the presence of each other. The eating-together is a magnificent cultural symbol of Filipinos on how each one accepts each other.
The Gospel today provides us the original context of our special CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Mass. In the celebration of the Holy Eucharist we have our “spiritual meal” that unites all of us Christians together regardless of race, gender, age, nationality, etc. By sharing the ONE BODY of Christ, we become ONE BODY, ONE FAMILY. In the Gospel, Jesus is exhorting the Jewish people to “eat” his “FLESH” and “drink” his “BLOOD” for them to have LIFE- a life to ETERNITY. However, it was this kind of exhortation that turned-off many away from him, including some of his followers. It was a very hard command for them to take and understand. They could have thought how can one eat Jesus' flesh and drink his blood without becoming a murderer or, at least, a cannibal. However, Jesus was making such command in view of their history wherein their forefathers were fed by God in their long wandering in the desert before they occupied the Promise Land. The MANNA in the wilderness which came down from heaven nourished them to continue with their journey, yet they all have died. But now Jesus is providing them with a new BREAD, a LIVING bread, that comes down from HEAVEN- his own BODY. It is a living bread that will bring them to EVERLASTING LIFE!
The Gospel today gives us a way to understand why the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is the SUMMIT of our Christian Prayer and Worship. Jesus himself gives the whole import why we have to remember him through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. In such celebration, we have our intimate COMMUNION and FELLOWSHIP with him and with ALL of his FOLLOWERS/DISIPLES everywhere. Whenever we receive him in the form of the BREAD and WINE, we are NOURISHING ourselves for ETERNITY.
However, when Jesus exhorts us to eat his flesh and drink his blood, he was asking us too to make him be the CENTER of our LIVES, the FOUNDATION of our DESIRES and DECISIONS. To eat his flesh and to drink his blood is to ACCEPT him in our lives and become ONE with him in MIND, HEART and ACTION. To receive Jesus is to RECEIVE and LIVE by his WORDS. For, as the first reading clearly declares, we do not live by bread alone but also by WORDS of GOD. It is this kind of COMMUNION with Jesus that leads us to ETERNAL LIFE. And such nourishment will inspire and bid us to also break our BODY and shed our BLOOD for others so for them also to find the fullness of life, which is to find Jesus as the BREAD that comes down from heaven.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
WE CAN NEVER BE ALONE!
The Ascension of the Lord (Solemnity)
By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.
Matthew 28: 16 – 20 | |
16 | Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. |
17 | And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. |
18 | And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. |
19 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, |
20 | teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." |
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:
A BLESSED ASCENSION SUNDAY TO ALL!!!
Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord. This solemnity or feast is celebrated on the 40th day after Jesus’ Resurrection, thus falling on the 2nd day of June this year. However, the Church celebrates this feast on the Sunday after the actual 40th day. This celebration commemorates the fulfillment in full glory of Jesus’ exhortation, or prediction, that he will be going back to his Father, and there he will be preparing rooms for us in his Father’s house. In his Father’s house we will also have our share in the glory of his resurrection. Thus, to highlight the significance of this “event” there are those who consider this ascension of our Lord as the completion of his work for our redemption.
In the Gospel today it would appear that Jesus is making his farewell address to his disciples before he will ascend to heaven. It is a powerful address that changes the whole life’s direction of the disciples as he speaks of the grand WORK his disciples’ must take charge after leaving them. Yet, though he will leave them, he makes a clear assurance that he will be WITH THEM ALWAYS. Jesus said categorically, “I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Let us then never DOUBT of the Lord’s presence, as there were those who doubted while others worshipped him. By our faith in him, there should never be any moment that we should feel alone. By our faith, we always feel the presence of our faithful COMPANION—the LORD!
Our Catholic catechism (refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 665-667) provides us with a threefold component of the significance, especially theologically speaking, of the Ascension of our Lord:
First, “Christ's Ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus' humanity into God's heavenly domain, whence he will come again (cf. Acts 1:11); this humanity in the meantime hides him from the eyes of men (cf. Col 3:3) (665).”
Second, “Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father's glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him forever (666).”
Third, “Jesus Christ, having entered the sanctuary of heaven once and for all, intercedes constantly for us as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit (667).”
All these would show to us the full import why God has to become human in Jesus so that in his humanity he brings us all into the full glory of his resurrection (NEW LIFE) and become heir of the glory of heaven. Moreover, by his humanity he is our one and only MEDIATOR in heaven, yet is always with us by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in us. Jesus is indeed our WAY to the Father.
As we continue to await our final union with him in his heavenly Kingdom, the Lord mandated us to be always on the GO in making others his DISCIPLES, teaching them to OBSERVE the COMMANDMENTS of God so that the WILL of God will truly be DONE here on earth. This is our Christian mandate. This is our Christian MISSION that shapes the direction of our lives. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ to make the WORLD consecrated to the FATHER in the SON by the HOLY SPIRIT. In this work, we are NOT ALONE! The Lord is with us.
Friday, June 3, 2011
SUFFERING FOR HAPPINESS!
Friday, June 03, 2011
Sts. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)
By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.
John 16: 20 - 23
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.
22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:
A BLESSED FRIDAY!!!
SUFFERING is a fact of life. To many of us, it would even seem that it is more real than happiness. Our birth is even highlighted with one of the most personal expressions of suffering- crying. A baby normally cries as he/she gasp for his/her first breathe outside the comfort of his/her mother’s womb. No one can really be exempted from suffering’s clasp, though in different degree and circumstance to each one of us. Yet most of us have tried to avoid and be free from suffering's claws for it goes against our basic orientation towards happiness. Suffering is taken always as venom that spoils happiness. Judy Collins said, “It is true that I have had heartache and tragedy in my life. These are things none of us avoids. Suffering is the price of being alive.” This may sound pessimistic, but it is just a matter of recognizing a basic reality in life.
In the Gospel today Jesus recognizes this reality of suffering. He even declared it to happen inevitably to his followers as he says “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful...” To highlight this weeping and lamentation, Jesus has used the pain of a woman in giving birth. However, Jesus does not intend to make a bleak and dreary picture of life. He has spoken about pain, suffering as part of the journey to happiness. He spoke about suffering just to give us the perspective not to be discouraged nor be depressed about the DIFFICULTIES of life, but to see it as a PASSAGE to HAPPINESS. The woman who gives birth has to undergo the pangs of fear and anguish for her life and taste the pain of labor and delivery for the JOY of the coming of a new life. We should not look at happiness then as a station we arrive at, but a CHOICE we have to make always in our journey in life.
Jesus is not like the prophets of doom that sow fear of suffering in peoples’ hearts just for them to return back to God. Jesus was just revealing the stark reality that the HAPPINESS or JOY that the Kingdom of God promises entails carrying one’s Cross daily. In the previous Gospel readings Jesus has already indicated to his disciples that he will leave them because he will be going back to the one who sent him. And such returning back is the way to his cross. But it is a cross that he has to go through so for him to gain for us the fullness of our happiness. Jesus’ way to the cross can analogously be looked as his pain in laboring and giving birth to a new life- our everlasting life! As Christians, we are not considering suffering an illusion but a reality that we have to embrace. But it is not meant to be a passive embrace or a desperate surrender to it, but an embrace that has JOY in one’s heart that will transform suffering into a PATH to LIBERATION from suffering itself towards the fullness of life with God in his Kingdom.
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