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Second Sunday of Lent 

2/22/2016

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PictureDUCCIO di Buoninsegna Transfiguration (scene 8) 1308-11 Tempera on wood, 49 x 51 cm National Gallery, London
When God Speaks…We listen!
by: Bro. Resty Manansala Castillo


     Every second Sunday of Lent, we reflect on the story where Jesus shone like the sun. In this event Jesus went up a high mountain and he was transfigured. In the Bible we frequently read about events that happen on mountains or high places.

The Jews believe that they can encounter God on the highest peak of the mountain. For example, it was on Mount Horeb where Abraham offered his son Isaac as he listened to God’s instruction. On Mount Sinai Moses received the commandments to guide the people. On Mount Carmel Elijah asked God for the sign to make people believe in Him. And so it was on Mount Tabor where the transfiguration happened. However, it was only on Mount Calvary that God fully reveals himself to all in Jesus as redeemer of the world. The Transfiguration is the anticipation of the glory of Jesus’ resurrection after the passion and cross. In the first reading Abraham was asked by God to offer three kinds of offerings to witness that the promise of God is true and, in parallel fashion, in the story of Jesus being transfigured, he took three of the disciples who will witness the shining glory of Jesus.

During this event the two prominent figures of the Old Testament appeared while Jesus shone like a sun. Why Moses and Elijah? These two prophets are very respected by the Jews. Moses was respected because of the Law and Elijah as a great prophet who had ascended to heaven on a chariot of horses. In the tradition of the Jews, in every meal there should be a vacant seat because they are waiting for the return of Elijah. They were expecting Elijah to come again. Unfortunately, the people of Israel did not recognized Jesus as the one sent by God who is greater than Moses and Elijah.
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This a part of God’s ongoing revelation in Jesus. The Transfiguration is the continuation of the Epiphany of Jesus. God revealed who Jesus is in Jordan River and now on Mount Tabor the real identity of Jesus. The three disciples were reminded of this as the voice once again says: “This is my beloved Son…listen to him.” It is interesting to know that Peter, James and John were with Jesus for this great moment of the transfiguration. Why not Philip or other the disciples? Perhaps from these three disciples we can learn the value of listening and understanding God always. Remember that James and John the sons of a mother who is asking for position for them? The mother doesn’t know exactly what it means. Jesus asks them if they can drink the cup that He is to drink or his suffering.  Peter, who is known to be a compulsive person, is always quick to decide or say something without careful listening. That is why during the resurrection, our Lord asks him three times to make sure that he understands what the Lord’s intention is. And in today’s gospel, Peter and other two are almost muted by what they have witnessed.

Peter wants to build three tents; one for Moses, Elijah and Jesus because of his desire to stay in the glorious experience. Building of tents could refer to the annual agricultural feast called Succoth, a commemoration of their journey from Egypt. In this encounter of God’s glory in Jesus at the transfiguration, Peter feels great joy as like at the feast of Succoth. This is the first time Peter experienced contemplation. Contemplation is a deeper kind of praying where we see ourselves in the experience of God. There is an experience of tranquility, joy and silence whenever we are in an encounter with God in contemplation. Perhaps, this is the reason why Peter desired to stay in the experience but he did not yet understand the meaning of this experience.

Like the Jewish belief, we encounter God in the mountain experience of contemplation but we need to go down to the valley of reality where we are to share the experience of God with others. Moses did not stay on the mountain but he was sent to Israel to bring the news of liberation. From Elijah’s contemplation of God’s Divine presence, the people got to experience the Divine presence in a gentle silence.

The experience of Jesus in the transfiguration event was not only for him but also to give his disciples an experience of the presence of God. The effect of the experience of God to Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John is a change of heart or metanoia. Whenever we decide to change our hearts (metanoia), we deeply experience God in our contemplation allowing our hearts to behold and see the Divine presence in us. However, like Peter and the other two, we tend to want to stay in the experience and never go down to the reality. 
There is a story of a man, who was addicted to nicotine. His parents told him at his young age to stop smoking but he did not listen. When he was older already a family-man, his wife also asked him to stop smoking but again he did not listen. Then one of his children was found to have lung cancer caused by a second smoke from his smoking. This was the turning point of his life or a metanoia experience. However this decision would lead to more pressure and challenges on his part. The first weeks and months were a struggle. The more he refused to smoke, the greater the temptation was. He kept on trying to avoid the occasion of smoking; he made himself busy with reading the bible and praying. Then one day he finally noticed that he was no longer graving to smoke even if he would smell it. He was transformed from his old habit.
     Last week on the First Sunday of Lent, we meditated on the story of Jesus being tempted in the desert. And now for the Second Sunday we meditate on the story of the Transfiguration. And what is the implication of these two gospels taken together? Maybe God is reminding us that even after we decided to change our hearts (metanoia), we are being tempted not to continue. However, the transfiguration reminds us that even though there are many obstacles in prayer, in a change of heart and in doing good for others, we will never fall if we listen always to God’s voice. As we strive to live with God, in the end we will experience our transfiguration and the light God will be upon us so that we can shine as the sun. We will have won against the temptation. The saints are good examples of those who strive to pursue a life with God despite of obstacles.
     In every celebration of the Eucharist we draw near to the Holy Mountain of Calvary so that we might experience anew the saving power of God. And like Peter, James and John, we do not stay on the mountain but after the Mass we are being sent to the valley of reality to be living witnesses of the Lord to others.


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First Sunday of Lent 

2/15/2016

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Picture
by Br. Noel Corcino [cjm] 

                                 “…bread alone can’t define the value of a human being…”
 
Peoples do not survive on bread alone! As we gear our 40-day journey of Lent, it is good to be reminded of what we essentially and substantially need as seekers of God’s kingdom. To whom do we ultimately depend for survival in this untold journey towards the fullness of life?  
 
The world has everything to distract us. In fact, we are currently bombarded with politicians selling their “bread”- their platform for government office, divulging it to the public, apparently offering voters the reason to hope that somehow remediates the century’s old rotting problems on poverty. The bread that politicians are offering to the people embodies means and ways that seemingly alleviate the miserable lives of the majority. At the kick off of political campaigns, we can hear them convincing the people to patronize their “baked bread” creamed and sweetened with assurances of clear and honest governance. However this bread is not yet ready for consumption for it is still enveloped in their lofty promises. Tracking back in history, it has been a trend to entomb all promises to forgetfulness after election. This political bread is proven to be not dependable to the fullness of life for it is essentially limited to power and money.
 
In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is telling the devil that man definitely can’t survive by bread alone. He is realistic in affirming implicitly the amplified meaning of bread to the current time. His response to the devil doesn’t mean deprivation of material things. However he was sharp in telling his opponent that bread alone can’t define the value of a human being. Money can be understood as bread nowadays and all kinds of needs that money can procure - gadgets, newly styled clothing, luxury cars, and lavish lifestyles. The bulging pockets one have, the more he feels that life is worth living. There is truth embedding to this, however it undermines the profoundness of life. To stay contented with what we kept materially would defeat the ultimate purpose of our existence. We are not for the world; the world is not our definitive end. There is always an essential part of our being that the world cannot satiate. We have a soul that needs to be rescued from wilting. The more we get entangled with what money could give, the harder our soul would struggle to survive.
 
The world is filled with disputes emanating from selfish desire to dominate and govern. Innocent children are terrorized and abandoned in the middle of chaos. It seems that the world is subscribing the fleeting power and makes it the only defining factor of being. 

It is not bad to have power when it is used to help the poor and the weak. It is not prohibited to have possessions if one would become the channel of God’s grace. It is not a sin to experience pleasure in life if that would attest the liberating grace of God. Jesus is showing us how to resist the tempting offers that the world endows us. The devil has an agenda for all of us to provide temporary pleasures and happiness; but let us remember that Jesus himself is embodiment of a lasting agenda of the Father. He is the everlasting Bread of life that would give us essential and substantial nourishment.

Let us be reminded that in this season of Lent we are encouraged to enter into the dessert to reflect and meditate the saving journey of Christ. We need to delve into the inner core of our being – the deserted place. It is where we experience abandonment to God and hunger for bread that gives nourishment to both body and soul.
 
Saint John Eudes proposes interior prayer in which the soul communes inwardly with God for it satisfies humanity's diverse spiritual hungers.  It is through this that we can fully grasp that “we do not live on bread alone” but to be totally dependent on the love, compassion and the mercy of God embodied in Christ Jesus.
 
Prayer
We thank you Father for all the things you gratuitously given to us to fill in our human needs. Most all we thank you for reminding us that our worth as your Children cannot be exhausted by what we possess in this world but in the saving work of your Son Jesus Christ the Bread of everlasting life. Amen.
 
 

 


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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

2/10/2016

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Picture
by: Br. Josh Fernandez, [cjm] 
 
I vividly remember the last question during my first job interview: “What is your goal as well as your expectation in the company?” I couldn’t help but start imagining pleasurable and wonderful things like a nice house, cars, savings and even a holiday trip to Europe. I was on cloud nine at that moment because it was a dream unfolding before my very eyes. However, six months after taking that job, I felt restless and frustrated thinking that my goal and expectations would never come to pass. In my deep desire to search for “greener pastures,” I quit my first job and transferred to another company which offered me a much better compensation package – with good pay and better perks. After working hard and putting a tremendous effort into my second job, I felt just the same: frustrated and unfulfilled. I had worked with two companies within a span of one year, still feeling that my star was very much unreachable. I asked myself what was wrong.  Was it a matter of contentment or was my expectation in life too big to be attained?  Just like Simon Peter in today’s gospel passage, I caught nothing after fishing all night.
 
In today’s Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the core of discipleship. The net symbolizes the Word of God, and the deep sea water is the world out there, while all of us represent the catch of fish. Down in the sea, no one can see the fathomless bottom and no one knows what kinds of fishes are present. The fisherman does not know what kinds of fishes he would be able to catch. It looked like that night, Simon Peter’s expectation was to have a big catch but he ended up with nothing. In our life, we like to dream big and to aim high. The expectations from family and peers are both challenging and inevitable. Competition is present everywhere: school, job, church, politics, business, etc. Everyone always wants to be the best and be ahead of everyone else. Many times, those expectations become the way we measure our goals rather than just focusing on doing  our best and working hard. Failure has no place in our life.  The harder we try, the bigger our expectations are. But more often than not, failure is inevitable.
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Jesus commanded Simon, “Lower your nets for a catch.” The word of Jesus is direct and clear; no amount of explanation is needed in obeying that simple instruction.  Down in the deep sea water are the different kinds of fishes. When Simon Peter and the disciples obeyed, they caught a great number of fish and their nets almost tore. The catch was abundant but if we try to select only the finest and the biggest ones, perhaps the catch will sometimes end up in failure. Being a fisher of men and women requires hard work and patience and should never be exclusive; that is, choosing only the best and rejecting the ones with impairment, disability or unsuitability to our selective taste. The Word of God must be for all and not only for those people which we would choose. When Jesus said, “Lower your nets for a catch”, he meant that we are to exercise humility and surrender of our lofty expectations in life. Working hard, practicing humility and submitting to God’s expectation of us are worthy of emulation in our ministry.  Through this, we can say that the fulfillment of our goal is spiritual contentment and not material happiness. We might encounter several difficulties at every step of the way in our life but the most important thing is to focus on being faithful stewards of the gifts we have rather than expecting bigger results which sometimes end up in frustration.
 
When Simon Peter saw what Jesus did, he was overwhelmed. He too had been caught up in the net from the deep sea water and was brought into the light of Jesus. However, realizing his own unworthiness, Simon Peter told Jesus to go away as he was a sinful man! Peter is right because he is the kind of fish who chooses to stay at the bottom and far from the light. On the other hand, Jesus is neither exclusive nor selective. His expectation is not based on human ways. Jesus loves and wants Simon Peter to do the same. The story of Isaiah’s being set apart and called is a parallel account.  In our first reading, Isaiah had the same reaction as Peter when he saw the throne of God and the angels flying about. “Woe to me, for I am a man of unclean lips.” God purified Isaiah’s lips so he could speak the prophetic message that God revealed to him. 
 
When we come to the realization that we fall short of the glory of God and that our obedience to God is weak, we are overwhelmed with grief and despair. But God purifies us as we are drawn into his presence. His word to us is forgiveness; it gives us a new life, a new reason for living instead of staying in the bottom of the deep water and lingering in the dark, far from the light. 
 
As we lower our nets, we should also lower ourselves and bow down in humility before the Lord who calls and leads us. The miracle of bringing in the miraculous catch of fish is also the miracle of making the unworthy sinner fit to be an instrument of our holy God.
 
 
 


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    Authors

    The following reflections are courtesy of Eudist Fathers in the Philippines with some Eudist seminarians assigned to give their sharing and reflections on Sunday readings.

    For feedback and comments, please email us, cjm.vocph@gmail.com

    Thanks and God bless you!

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