THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Wisdom 1:13-5.2:23-24
Psalm 29:2.4-6.11-13
2Corinthians 8:7.9.13-15
Mark 5:21-43

MAKING THE STEP OF FAITH

The readings of today teach us that God made us for fullness of life. At first glance, the assertions of the first reading seem contrary to what we experience daily in this life. It tells us that God did not create death. He created all things to subsist for eternity. He made man imperishable. And yet, we experience suffering and death. Thus, the author tells us that these are the doing of the devil (Wisdom 1:13-5.2:23-24).

God being so good, he sent his Son Jesus Christ to restaure this distorted order. Thus, throughout his public ministry, Jesus performed many healing miracles; he raised the dead to life. In today’s gospel, Jairus implored Jesus to heal his daughter who was terminally ill; the woman who was suffering from haemorrhage for twelve years got healed when she touched the garment of Jesus, and Jesus raised the little girl to life by simply saying “Little girl, I tell you to get up” (Mark 5:21-43).

What is common in both Jairus and the suffering woman is their faith in Jesus. Out of this faith, they dared to approach Jesus hoping they would get their needs met. Yes, when we approach Jesus in faith, he comes to us with blessing, healing, wholeness, joy, peace, and fullness of life. For he came that we may have life, life in abundance (John 10:10).

Jesus was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that by his poverty we may become rich, we are told in the second reading. Thus, in giving relief to us, Jesus invites us to do the same to others through sharing.

Therefore, faith in Jesus gives a new meaning to our lives. Therefore, we must strive daily to approach Jesus, touch him and have this transforming and life changing experience with him, especially in prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist.

May he increase our faith so that we may not lose hope in our difficult and terrifying moments.
Amen.

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 138:1-3.13-15
Acts 13:22-26
Luke 1:57-66.80

HIS NAME IS “GOD IS GRACIOUS”

We celebrate today the birth of one of the great men in the history of salvation, St John the Baptist. He was the man specially chosen by God to be the herald of the Messiah and to prepare the people of Israel for his coming. He was the bridge between the old and the new testaments. The birth of John the Baptist inaugurates the crossing over to the new age, the age of grace, as his name indicates “God is gracious”.

In the first reading the vocation of the prophet Isaiah helps understand the vocation of John the Baptist. He was called and chosen by God even from his mother’s womb to be his servant. He sharpened his mouth to make him his spokesperson (Is 49:1-6).

Luke narrates the birth stories of John and of Jesus as parallel accounts. In both stories, there is always something of a miracle and of wonderment in people. Again, in these stories, Luke stresses the identity and mission of both children. For John the Baptist, he was chosen by the Lord to be the herald of the Messiah. He was to go before the Lord so as to prepare his ways. He was not the Word, but the voice that announces the coming of the Incarnate Word. He was not the Christ, but the one who pointed the crowds to the Christ.

That  is why St Paul in a brief survey of the history of salvation speaks of John the Baptist as the one who proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole of Israel so as to herald the coming of Jesus Christ in fulfillment of God’s promise (Acts 13:22-26).

Like John the Baptist, we too have an identity and a mission. By virtue of our baptism, we are children of God. Our mission is to make Christ known, loved and accepted as personal Saviour. May John the Baptist intercede for us so that we may be true witnesses of Christ with courage, humility and confidence. Amen

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 91:1-3.13-16
2Corinthians 5:6-10
Mark 4:26-34

FROM TINY BEGINNINGS...

The readings of today present us with various parables about the Kingdom of God. These parables apply to the Church, which from a tiny beginning amidst persecutions, has grown big and filled all the earth. The Church continues to provide shelter and hope to millions of people. However, these parables may also apply to each one of us. They challenge us to become insiders, that is disciples of Christ, so as to get the privileged explanation of these parables.

Two parables are given by Jesus in the gospel reading. In the first parable, the Kingdom of God expands and bears fruits whether we cooperate or not, for God himself is at work. God himself cares for the seed, from its sowing till harvest time. In the second one, from tiny beginnings, the mustard seed grows so big that it provides shelter to birds.

These are parables of hope and encouragement.  God is actively present in our lives, working for our growth. Like the branch of the cedar in the first reading, God cares for us (Ez. 17:22-24). If we allow him to take charge, we will grow like a Lebanon cedar, flourish and bear fruits even when we are old, because we are always in his presence.

We need therefore to be patient. The slowness of the germination of the seed of greatness planted in us must not discourage us. In this life, we are like exiled, far from home. We are in a journey. And in this journey, St. Paul tells us, we walk by faith and not by sight. We must have the confidence that we are not alone. God is leading us from our nothingness and smallness to greatness. He has great plan for each one of us.

May he open our eyes of faith to wait with patience for the realization of his plans for us.
Amen.

TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Genesis 3:9-15
Psalm 129
2Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 3:20-35

SATAN IS DEFEATED

The gospel of today narrates the negative responses to Jesus in his ministry. For his own relatives, “he is out of his mind”. For the scribes, “he is possessed by Beelzebul”, and he is an agent of Satan because “he casts out demons through the prince of devils”. But Jesus’ response to the scribes makes it clear that his works and exorcisms are proofs that Satan is defeated. So, attributing Jesus’ works to Satan is an unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit. For this attitude closes one’s heart to God’s grace and healing power.

Jesus has come to put an end to Satan’s reign. He has come to crush the serpent’s head as promised by God in the first reading. By deceiving our first parents, the serpent had put disorder in our lives: hiding from God, the blame game and separation from God. Despite this fall, God promised a final victory over the serpent. For with Him, there is forgiveness and fulness of redemption.

Here therefore belies our hope: Jesus had triumphed over the forces of evil and death which are consequences of the disobedience of our first parents. We can therefore hope for a future glory which surpasses the troubles of this present life, as St Paul tells us in the second reading. The victory is ours if we have faith in him and do the will of God.

May the healing love of God turn us from sin and keep us on the way that leads to glory and peace.
Amen.

SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI), YEAR B

Exodus. 24:3-8

Psalm 115:12-13.15-18

Hebrews 9:11-15

Mark 14:12-16.22-26

THE SIGN OF A NEW COVENANT

The solemnity of Corpus Christi is a celebration that invites us to reflect more deeply on the mystery of the Eucharist, which is the Body and Blood of Christ. In the first reading, Moses offered a sacrifice of communion to seal the covenant God made with the people of Israel on Mount Sinai after He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. 

According to the second reading, God has made a new and better convenant with us. This covenant was not sealed with the blood of animals as in the days of Moses, but with the precious blood of Jesus. For Jesus offered himself once for all for us, making us a people ransommed for God.

The gospel reading tells us that on the first day of the Unleavened Bread, Jesus took his last meal with his disciples. As he took the bread, he said: “This is my body, given up for you”. Over the cup of wine, he said: “This is my blood, the blood of the new covenant, which is to be poured out for many.” By this Jesus instituted the Eucharist as the memorial of his sacrificial death, by which he has become the Mediator of the new and eternal covenant.

This means that any time we celebrate the Eucharist, the fruits of redemption Jesus won for us on the cross are made available for us. As he gave his Body and Blood to his disciples on the evening of his betrayal, Jesus continues to offer us his Body and Blood for our nourishment so as to strengthen us to persevere amid the difficulties and troubles of this life. He is really present among us in the form of bread and wine. And his sacrifice on the cross is made present in the Mass.

May we find joy, peace, restoration, deliverance and abundant life in the Body and Blood of Christ.

 Amen.