20th Sunday in OT (C) - Salvation and Rejection

20^th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 

Luke 12:49-53

August 18, 2013

GOSPEL READING: Jesus: A Cause of Division.

"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

REFLECTION: Salvation and Rejection

Honestly, I make reflections on the Gospel and some other readings only for my personal reflection. I never dared write them down until I was asked to do this reflection. In Luke 12:49-53, Jesus said that “He did not come to establish peace but rather division --- the division of a household of five will be divided three against two and two against three; a father against his son and a son against his father; a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother; a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” In my practice of my profession as a lawyer, I have encountered cases involving children against a parent, and among siblings fighting over properties which they cannot even carry with them when they die.

The Gospel speaks about salvation and rejection. The particular question asked is: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” It may be followed by: “Who will be saved?”   “Will I be among those who will be saved?” Of course, our answer will be in the affirmative, but are we worth it?

I remember the parable of the weeds among the wheat. Good seeds were sown, but later as they grew, weeds were discovered among them. When the servants asked the Master if they would pull out the weeds, the Master did not consent to it  but allowed them to grow until harvest time --- wherein the angels will be made to select the weeds and thrown into the fire, and the wheat will be taken into the barn (Mt. 13:24-30). What I remember most is about the “sheep” and the “goats” in Mt. 25:35-46 --- when on judgment day, the Lord will ask what we have done to the least of our brethren. Then, we will be classified whether we are “sheep” and placed on His right and be given eternal life; or “goats” and be placed at His left and go off to eternal punishment.  Could it be that even here on earth the “weeds” are now being separated from the “wheat” or the “sheep” from the “goats”?

When we do the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy for the least of our brothers and sisters, we may be considered as “sheep”,  provided we do them not out of compulsion or for a reward or price, but out of love for God and our neighbors. As Blessed Theresa of Calcutta said, “on the last day we will be judged based on the love we have done to our neighbors”.

Jesus also tells us to “strive to enter through the narrow gate”. We cannot enter through the narrow gate (or through the “eye of a needle”) if we have so many “baggages”.  If we want to enter through it, we have to deny ourselves of our pleasures in life that lead us to sin; carry our cross; and follow Jesus. It may mean performing our responsibilities and living selflessly in love of God and our neighbors.

One time, I overheard a Catholic and a non-Catholic having a discussion while we were in a bus on my way to office. The Catholic claimed that only Catholics, because of faith in Christ, will be saved. The non-Catholic, on the other hand, claimed that even if he belongs to another sect, he and his other members will be saved because they make it a point to study the Bible and that they love one another. During our trip I pondered on the issue they were discussing. I believe faith alone cannot save us. It is faith and good deeds, and not doing evil.  In the 365 Days with the Lord, I read that many non-Christians will be saved if they follow their consciences and do good, while many Christians will be rejected if they do not do good. Our Christian religion is a great help to know what Christ says and what God wills, but our belonging to the Christian religion is not a guarantee that we will be saved. Let us always be thankful to God that we are  Christians, yes, Catholic believers, and witnesses to the Word.

So now, what do I want, salvation or rejection? Of course, SALVATION! Dear Lord, if the good deeds I have done are still lacking,  please give me a chance to do some more for You through my neighbors. I love You, my God, and I want to be with You in Your Kingdom, together with Mama Mary, all the Saints and Your angels.

ABOUT THE SHARER:

MRS. EDNA BUSTAMANTE-ROA, O.P. is a member of the Dominican Laity. She is from Oas, Albay. She finished Bachelor of Laws at Legazpi Colleges (now Aquinas University of Legazpi). She is a member of the Philippine Bar since 1964 and was a former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (Albay Chapter). At present, she is its Chapter Secretary and Chairperson of Chapter’s Bar Discipline. She is a practicing lawyer for almost fifty years now.

She is active in civic organizations as president for Bicol Region of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines Sons & Daughters Association, former Director of Bicolandia of Philippine Amateur Radio Association, former president of Mayon Amateur Radio Club; and likewise active in religious organizations like being the president of St. Martin de Porres Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and president of the Jesus’ Peace Community Foundation. She is the Chapter President of St. Martin de Porres Chapter and President of the Dominican Laity of Bicolandia. She was the former secretary of the Provincial Council of the Dominican Laity, Philippine Province. Now, she is a member of the Provincial Council and Coordinator of the Commission on Medical, Dental, Justice and Peace, and a member of the Commission on Formation.

KEYWORDS:

Ordinary Time, Cycle C, OP Laity, Salvation, Rejection, Faith, Love, Good Works

19th Sunday in OT (C) - Shah el Shah (King of Kings)

19^th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Luke 12: 32-48 or Luke 12:35-40

August 11, 2013

GOSPEL READING: Do not be afraid!

Luke 12: 32-48

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.

  ‘Sell your possessions and give alms. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

  

‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

  Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming,” and sets about beating the menservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.

  The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’

OR:

Luke 12:35-40

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

REFLECTION: Shah el Shah (King of Kings)

“The Kingdom of God is at hand.” The Good News of the Lord would tell us that we are His children and He will give us Heaven. His Kingdom is where emptiness isn’t a reality. On Earth, we are but mortals and as humans, it is in our nature that we constantly desire for more possessions in life. Indeed, we are insatiable beings wanting to satisfy our every need. But the Kingdom is no place for more possessions – no one person is wealthier than the other, no one person has a higher status that the other, and no one person possesses more that the other. Equality, equity, and abundance can all be found in Heaven. Equality of all people - no bias and no discrimination. Equity of all beings, justice and fairness for all the children of God. Abundance of gifts and blessings that will never make us lack of anything whether we want it or we need it. While on Earth, there is no place where we can find all these. A preacher once said, “We are pilgrims. Happiness can never be found here on earth because true happiness is in Heaven.” He added, “Happiness is more than emotion. Happiness is more than feeling. Happiness is more than circumstances. Happiness is first and foremost a decision and we can always choose to be happy.” Indeed, we are travelers and pilgrims of our own destiny and we consider happiness in terms of materiality, but happiness is with God in His Kingdom where we can experience eternal fulfillment and eternal attainment of goals. Moreover, the Kingdom of God is not a place, but an emotion. It is found within ourselves. If we want to experience Heaven, we must first experience His love. Therefore, the Kingdom of God is in our hearts waiting to be found and hopefully never forgotten.

            “Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” Life is simply defined by uncertainty. This is further emphasized in the movie “Forest Gump” when the main character said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You’ll never know what you’re gonna get.” In Christian context, God is telling us that “He will come again to judge the living and the dead” and when this is about to be fulfilled, Christ is expecting us to be ready. Like a thief in the night, He will surprise everyone in this life for He will bring judgment to every single being. Preparation for His coming should be done through faith. Seek the help of the Church in able to understand His message for His children. He is our Master and us His servant. “The Lord is my Shepherd. There is nothing I shall want. There is nothing I shall fear.”

“TO SERVE – This is the reason for our positions. This is our mission in life. This is our promise and our duty.” The Bible speaks of servitude towards our brothers and sisters. Moreover, the Bible speaks of our servitude for Christ. This is the reason for our positions here on earth. “We are created in the image and likeness of God.” In addition, servitude towards the community and responsibility towards our neighbors is manifested not just through the mere implementation of laws, but through abiding the laws. The community should be served first and foremost with pure honesty. It should be served out of willingness and not out of force. Servitude towards our parents should be governed by respect, love, and obedience. Servitude towards God should be manifested through faith, hope, and love. Finally, servitude is our mission in life for we are taught to give love and deserved to be loved.

“Speak to me Lord, I am listening.” Shah el Shah is translated as the King of Kings, which is Jesus Christ. He is the King of Kings of Heaven and Earth. He is the King of Kings in this life and in the afterlife. As His children, we are believers of one faith and we believe that the Kingdom of God is not just in our hands, but also in our hearts from the very beginning. It is like a treasure box needed to be unlocked for us to discover what has been given to us by Christ. This is our inheritance and indeed, it is eternal and everlasting. Prepare for the unknown, expect the unexpected. We only know one truth – Christ will come. It is for this reason that we belong in one community and one hope that we truly are blessed for His coming. Service should be related to transparency, obedience, respect, faith, and willingness. It is in this service that we are called to become like Christ and continue His mission of propagating love for one another. Like Mary our Mother, we are also called to listen and as a response, this should be our answer,”Shah el Shah, you are my Master and I your servant. May it be done to me according to your word.”

ABOUT THE SHARER:

MS. MARIA CELINA CASTRO is a member of the Dominican Network Youth Group. She holds the degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Science from the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas.

KEYWORDS:

Ordinary Time, Cycle C, OP Youth, DomNet, Happiness, Fulfillment, Kingdom of God, Love, Heaven, Mission, Service

18th Sunday in OT (C) - “What is the matter with matter?”

18^th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Luke 12: 13-21

August 4, 2013

GOSPEL READING: Parable of the Rich Fool

A man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.’ ‘My friend,’ he replied, ‘who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.’

  Then he told them a parable: ‘There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, “What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops.” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.” But God said to him, “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?.” So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.’

REFLECTION: “What is the matter with matter?”

This gospel episode has been often and aptly entitled, “The Parable of the Rich Fool.” The focus of the story is not on the adjective “rich,” but on the noun-substantive “fool.” It is not per se a condemnation of material goods, nor of wealthy people as an economic class. Matter and millionaires are also creatures of God. It is really about greed (pleonexia), about excessive, obsessive desire and drive for material possessions, and its inherent insatiability.

In the story, greed has turned the rich person into a soliloquist, someone talking with himself. In the context of Palestinian culture, this self-discourse is highly anomalous, for persons are always persons-with, defined in-relation-to-others, belonging to family, to clan, to tribe, to peoples, to nations.  So, the rich person’s interior monologue betrays sinful selfishness, “I… my… myself.” All his wealth has made him closed upon himself. Rest, eat, drink, be merry!  “It’s more fun when you are only one.” There is no sense of other; there is no sense of God.

But “our lives will be demanded (apaiteo) of us…”  We are to account before God, for every missed opportunity to share, to help, to give what is due to others, to use our wealth and treasure to lift the lot of our fellows and to mirror God’s mercy.

This story offers a tragic lesson that is most relevant in our present times. We have invented a science of productivity and efficiency, with the objective of maximizing yield and profit. Yet, most of our people are still hungry, unemployed, impoverished, disempowered, victimized by unjust social structures. We have hoarded grain and goods, continued to abuse the pork-barrel of largesse and excess, stockpiled on waste and weapons, painted rosy economic pictures of sugary surveys and surface statistics. Yet, there is a persistent, pervading, punishing poverty all around – one that resists doled out palliatives, defies capitalist forecasts, excludes the majority of the poor from the minority of prosperity, renders growth as artificial good news. We have become foolish for treasures for ourselves, but not in what matters to God and to our fellow human beings.

But the parable is open-ended. It does not say whether the rich person died or repented of his ways and began to store up treasures in heaven. So, it invites us to provide the answer, the conclusion to the story, to complete the parable by what we do with our riches, by what we do with our lives.

Let us heed this invitation, this imperative of the Gospel, to be on guard against all greed, against selfishness, against foolishness. What matters is not matter, but its righteous use.

ABOUT THE SHARER:

FR. CLARENCE C. MARQUEZ, OP is a priest of the Order of Preachers. He is the Director of the Institute of Preaching.

KEYWORDS:

Ordinary Time, Cycle C, OP Friars, Greed, Wealth, Parable, Selfishness, Foolishness