If You Wish

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Feb. 15, 2009 (Mk 1:40-45)

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

He said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them."

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Lepers are considered as unclean people. In the Old Testament, when they pass the streets, they should shout, "Unclean! Unclean!" In the Gospel today, Jesus is approached by one of these unclean lepers. The leper knelt down before Him and said, "If you wish you, can make me clean."

The leper, more or less, has an idea of who Jesus was. He might not have known that Jesus was the Son of God. But he knew that the one before Him was greater than him, a man of God. He did not demand Jesus' healing as if he had all the right to receive it. Instead, he prayed to Jesus in a way similar to how Mary humbly said yes to God. The leper said, "If you wish..."

This man is suffering from leprosy and he obviously needs healing, yet he went to Jesus saying, "If you wish..."! It is very common for us to pray for things that we need or want. But how often do we start our prayer with "If you wish..."? We must not pray to God, demanding everything that we are praying for. We must surrender our will to His perfect will. We must let Him decide what's best for us. After all, our Father knows best!

After beginning his prayer with a complete surrender to the will of Jesus, the leper asked for cleansing. We might not be all leprous. But the truth is, everyone of us has an uncleanliness. This uncleanliness is due to the fact that all have sinned (Rom 3:23). Whatever personal sins we have committed, however small, they are still sins and are, thus, uncleanliness. We need to acknowledge this uncleanliness so that we might allow God to cleanse us. The proud people who think they have no need of cleansing are not going to be cleansed. God also respects our will. We need to ask for cleansing, and this presupposes that we acknowledge our uncleanliness due to sin.

In comparison, when we ask a doctor to heal us, we admit that there is something wrong with us. In the same way, we need to admit our sinfulness before God and ask for His spiritual healing in order for Him to act.

Jesus probably saw the humility and the great faith of this leper that He granted his prayer immediately. After healing the leper, Jesus warned Him not to tell anyone about it. Instead, He instructed him to do what Moses prescribed for the cleansing rites of a leper. Why doesn't Jesus want His miracles to be broadcasted? It's simple really. Jesus wanted followers who would come to Him because of faith, not because of the longing for a miracle. Jesus wanted not fame, but faith. He was more concerned with the healing of the body and soul of a person.

But, indeed, how can the joyful ex-leper not proclaim the great miracle done to Him? It is but natural for us to spread the great joy we feel. It cannot be controlled, sometimes. Nevertheless, we still need to follow what is proper. In the case of the leper, he should have obeyed Jesus. It was the least he can do to show gratefulness.

Nevertheless, like the leper, we are invited to pray with an "If you wish" attitude before God. We need to submit ourselves to His wisdom. We must also admit our need of God in order for Him to work in our lives. We must invoke His presence. We should acknowledge the fact that we failed as sons and daughters of God and, at the same time, promise to do a better job as a child of God.

Father, if You wish, you can make us clean!

Amplifying the Message of Love with a Touch

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Feb. 8, 2009 (Mk 1:29-39)

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Jesus' public ministry was not only pure preaching about God and His Kingdom. It was characterized by so many great miracles that people couldn't help but seek for Him always. Jesus' fame was indeed spreading. We read in our Gospel today that after Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, the whole town was gathered before the door where He was. He healed many people there and drove out many demons. This cannot happen, of course, without the faith of the people. The people of the town probably had great faith, a prerequisite for any miracle.

Jesus' healing miracles are not for fame. If Jesus wanted to be famous, he would have let the demons speak about who He was before He drove them away. But as was said in the Gospel, He did not permit them to speak because they knew Him. Jesus' healing has a great purpose. It is part of His mission. It accompanied the Word of God which He preached. His healing touch amplifies the message of God's love. Through healing, He made it easier for people to understand that God loves them and cares for them. This is why Jesus went to many synagogues; He wanted to proclaim God's message through healing.

Jesus wants us to know that God loves us very much. So much so that, to save us from our world of sin and suffering, God Himself, in the person of Jesus, shared our humanity and was subjected to suffering. Jesus is not alien to the sufferings we encounter. It is written, "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin (Heb 4:15)." Jesus showed us the value of human weakness and suffering. He showed us that our sufferings can be an offering to God.

In the midst of all the illnesses and sufferings we encounter, let us always remember God who is loving and caring. Many people lose hope and even faith in God just because they experience suffering. The popular question these days goes like this, "If there is a God, why is there so much evil in the world?" Let us remember that all the sufferings and pain we experience today are caused by sin, not by God. God created everything good. We know this very well. It was sin that brought all the miseries and sufferings in this world. The first sin of our parents caused all the evils we face.

Let us remain faithful to our God of Love. Like Job, let us endure sufferings, offer them to God and pray that they be gone instead of cursing God for them. Let us also be sensitive to the sufferings of others. God loves all of us and He will heal all of us physically and spiritually in His time! Let us remind everyone of this Good News. Let us draw the sick towards God and show them that God cares through the Sacraments for the Sick. Let us bring back the sinners to the confessional and let God embrace them. Through our simple touch of love, we amplify the message of Jesus: God loves and cares!

Jesus' Authority of Love and Truth

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Feb. 1, 2009 (Mk 1:21-28)

They came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere through the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus taught the people as one having authority and not as the scribes do. Probably, the scribes always speak about what man should observe in order to please God - the law. And Jesus, as we all know, speaks about God and His great love for man. Jesus doesn't give burdensome laws but tells the people how much God desires their salvation. His mission is to draw mankind back to God's embrace and to be that same loving embrace to mankind. Jesus is not just God's speaker, He is God's love made flesh. He is God visiting His people (Lk 7:16). This is probably the authority that the Israelites felt in Jesus' way of teaching. Jesus' authority is from God.

In the Gospel, we see Jesus casting another evil spirit from a man. It is also noteworthy that this evil spirit acknowledges who Jesus is. The spirit calls Jesus the Holy One of God. He knows this very well. Nevertheless, this spirit is in no way of God, since he is unclean. He just knows God but he still goes against God.

Our parish priest gave us this to reflect on. We believe in God. The Gospel tells us that evil spirits believe in God too. Saint James says, "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder (Jas 2:19)." So how do we differ from the demons who also believe in God? It has to be in the way we live our lives. It is useless to believe in God if we live like demons! Yet, if we live our lives of faith while letting Jesus cast away the evil spirits in us and thereby making room for good works, therein lies our salvation. Faith alone, as Saint James also said, without works, is dead (Jas 2:26).

We should submit ourselves to Jesus' authority which comes from Truth and Love, indeed from God Himself. If we allow ourselves to be His synagogue where He will teach us, He will drive away all the evil spirits in our hearts and lead us back to God. All we have to do is have faith in Him and surrender to His will.

Little Missionaries of the Gospel

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul Jan. 25, 2009 (Mk 16:15-18)

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul is celebrated on a Sunday this year. Usually, the Sunday liturgy takes precedence over the feasts and solemnities. Nevertheless, since we celebrate the bi-millennium of St. Paul's birth this year, we celebrate this feast even on a Sunday.

The Gospel today narrates to us how Jesus commissioned His remaining Eleven Apostles to proclaim the Gospel. Jesus spoke about the importance of faith and baptism in order to be saved. He even added that special "signs" will accompany those who will believe.

Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, becomes a model for us Christians. Paul is someone who "believed and was baptized" and who proclaimed the Gospel to everyone. He was able to spread the Good News of the Kingdom to many nations and the "signs of those who believe" was with him. His zeal for the Gospel was very strong that it led him to face many obstacles and dangers.

Jesus' words were originally addressed to His Apostles. Nevertheless, all of us are called to become little missionaries of Christ. These words are passed on to us. In Baptism, we have received Jesus' mission to proclaim the Gospel. We can be missionaries of Christ even if we do not go house to house to hold Bible studies, even if we have not memorized all the important passages of the Bible nor studied Theology for how many years. Yes, even if we are not priests, we can proclaim the Word of God. As Christians, we must.

Our actions can be a means of spreading God's Word. Loving our neighbors and helping them in their time of need is the best way to tell them that there is a God who cares for them and who loves them. Inserting God in everyday conversations, even if it is not in theological terms, can remind people of the presence of God in their lives and of the importance of spiritual life.

The Gospel today gives us a list of the signs that will accompany the believers of Christ. These supernatural signs are still present in us. We cast out demons when we bring back to God those who have been living in sin, and when we ourselves turn away from sin. We speak different languages if we allow God's Word to inspire our very speech, even if we do not speak odd things. We can heal if we try our best to understand the problems of our neighbor. Our words also have the power to heal those who are ill in spirit.

We will not be harmed even if we drink poison or pick up serpents. This may not necessarily be literally true. What is certain is that God's protection is with us always. Even if we put our lives in danger, God is with us and will not let us be harmed because we are doing His work. He gives us everything we will ever need in order for us to fulfill the mission He gave us. He guides us and never leaves us.

Like Paul, may our zeal for the Gospel be renewed. And may this renewed zeal lead us to proclaim the Good News of salvation as much as our strength allows us. We may not be able to spread God's Word to the furthest ends of the world, but we are asked to proclaim it to the best of our abilities, to the furthest extent of our capacities.

Children of the Father

Feast of the Sto. Niño Jan. 18, 2009 (Mk 10:13-16)

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."

Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

The devotion to the Sto. Niño is very dear to us Filipinos. It is part of our history. The image of the Christ child is probably one of the most usual things we can find in homes, stores and business areas. But often, the only thing people think about this image is that it can bring them good fortune and protection. And so, the message of the Sto. Niño is missed.

In the Gospel today, Jesus tells us that we should be like children in order to enter the Kingdom of God. We cannot enter the Kingdom of God while proudly saying that we have all the right to enter it. We can only enter it if we humbly admit that the Father is the one who made us worthy to enter, that it is in His gracious love that we are given this inheritance.

By asking us to be like children, Jesus is inviting us to return to that time when we were dependent and trusting to the people around us, when we were innocent. These are the childlike values which Jesus wants us to have so we may enter the Kingdom of God.

Sadly, these attitudes begin to disappear as we grow older, because the world around us teaches us to shun these values. We have become exposed to treachery and deception; therefore, we lose our trust. We strive to be independent because we believe that the only one who will not betray us is our self. The world teaches us to that weakness should be done away with. And so we try to grow up as fast as we can. We also become exposed to sin. Soon we also become victims of sin, until such a time when we no longer have a sense of sin, when we can no longer identify what is sinful. Therefore, we lose our innocence.

Perhaps even more tragic is the fact that some children grow too fast. They never even had childlike values. They become exposed to evil so early in their lives. Children today no longer say "Hindi na tayo bati." if they become angry. What they do now is just raise their hands with the middle finger up (the bad sign) or just say nasty words they heard from their surroundings. They also no longer shudder at the thought of sin. They no longer recognize sins as evil. Mass media is one reason for this, also the lack of parental guidance.

Let us try to bring back the child in us. We can be responsible while still remaining like little children. We can be childlike without being childish. This is the message of the Sto. Niño. The Christ child tells us to be meek and humble, to admit our weaknesses before God and our need for Him as our Father.

Let us also help the children around us keep their childlike values. Let us allow them to be children. We must be careful not to let them grow too fast, not to expose them to the evils of this world. We should give time to teach them about God and the values that they need to develop. We must guide them so they won't go astray.

We all grow in years, in wisdom and in responsibility. Nevertheless, we must never grow from being little children of God. He is always there, extending His arms, waiting for us to receive His embrace. We must give Him the chance to be our Father and to guide us towards His Kingdom, our heavenly inheritance where only His "little children" can enter.

Our Christian Mission

Feast of the Lord's Baptism Jan. 11, 2009 (Mk 1:7-11)

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

The baptism proclaimed by John was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, the question we have to reflect on today is this: "Why did Jesus have to be baptized?" True, Jesus became man. But He did not commit sin. He was like us in all things but sin (Heb 4:15). So why did He have to be baptized by John?

The baptism of Jesus is also an Epiphany. It is a manifestation. It is when God the Father introduced Jesus as His beloved Son. If we compare this epiphany to the epiphany which occurred when the baby Jesus was revealed to the magi, there is one noteworthy similarity. Both epiphanies occurred in humble scenarios. Yes, Jesus manifests Himself in simple and humble ways. First, He was manifested to the magi, lying on the humble manger. Now, He is manifested to the peoples, while receiving a baptism that was meant for sinners. Jesus baptism is, therefore, an act of humility. It is a sign of His sharing with our humanity. He identifies Himself with sinful man, yet He Himself remained sinless.

Jesus' baptism is also the beginning of His public ministry. After His baptism, he went to fast in the wilderness where He was tempted. Then, He began His mission - three years of preaching, healing the sick, forgiving sinners and feeding the hungry - which culminated in His passion, death and resurrection.

Today's feast reminds us of our own baptism. We often think of baptism as a ritual that has been done to us before. But it is much more than that. Baptism makes us Christians - followers of Christ and children of the Father. Through it, we receive the Holy Spirit.

Baptism also gives us a mission - a common mission as part of the community and a unique mission which we must discern. Our baptism is something which we must live up to everyday. We must live in the way Christ showed us. Our parents and godparents should be our guide in doing this. Sadly, many ignore this mission.

As children of God, we share in the mission of Christ, We must continue building the Kingdom of God on earth. We must journey towards God and help each other be closer to Him.

Do we give value to our baptism? Do we live up to the mission given to us as baptized Christians? Are we helping to build the Kingdom on here earth? Or are we just living as children of this earth, with worldly values and desires?

Becoming Stars Which Point to Christ

Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jan. 4, 2009 (Mt 2:1-12)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.' "

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage."

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord. We celebrate the day of Jesus' manifestation to the Gentiles, represented by the magi. It has been customary to call these magi the "three kings". Nevertheless, Scripture does not speak of kings or of them being three. The Bible tells us that magi from the east came looking for the newborn king of Israel.

The magi's audience with King Herod must have been a slap in the face for the Israelites and their religious leaders. How could it be that something as awesome as the birth of the Christ was unbeknown to them while these visiting magi who are not from Yahweh's people were, in one way or another, aware of it? This could be why, aside from King Herod who was troubled because of the political threat the news of Jesus' birth brings, Jerusalem was also troubled.

After they obtained information from the prophecies about the Christ, the pagan visitors went their way to continue searching for the child. And, as Yahweh once guided the Israelites through a cloud and a pillar of fire, the star which they saw at its rising guided them towards the house where the baby Jesus was. It is the will of God for these Gentiles to witness His works by seeing the salvation He has planned. Even as early as when Jesus was still a child, it has already been revealed through this epiphany that Jesus is the Savior of the entire human race.

Jesus is the gift of God for all peoples. Whoever you may be, Jesus was born to save you, as He was born to save the person you hate the most, your non-Catholic friend, or even your friendly neighborhood atheist. Yes, Jesus was born to save them too. His redemptive act is for all, because all are in need of redemption. Of course, this doesn't mean that all will be saved; salvation requires our participation. Nevertheless, salvation is offered to all.

We are often quick to judge and condemn people. We look with discrimination upon people whom the Church considers lost - the non-Catholics, the people whose sins are a scandal for the public, and those who are quite indifferent of the faith. But we have to remember that Jesus was born to save them too. Instead of avoiding them or even bringing them down, we should be the star to guide them in their journey towards Jesus. And, on finding Him, they will be converted, just like the magi. This conversion will be followed by an offering of their whole selves to Jesus. Wouldn't it be nice to know that we have brought these people closer to Jesus?

The Church in this modern world calls for dialogue and ecumenism. We, as Christians who have seen the Lord Jesus, ought to be the star above Jesus' house who will guide today's "magi" who are lost and might still be looking for Him. That is what being witnesses of Christ means. And with billions of Catholics and Christians witnessing to Him all over the world, there should be countless stars above Jesus' house by now. And what a lovely sight that is!