18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Exodus 16:2-4.12-15

Psalm 77

Ephesians 4:17.20-24

John 6:24-35

NO MORE AIMLESS LIFE!

Why must we believe in Jesus Christ and follow him? Are we miracles-driven Christians or faith-driven Christians? Why do we go to church? These are few questions we are invited to reflect upon today.

In today’s gospel, which is a continuation of last Sunday’s gospel reading, the crowd whom Jesus fed in the wilderness came back, looking for him, wanting more of the bread he had provided. So, Jesus told them: “I tell you solemnly, you are looking for me not because you have seen signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” He then challenged them to seek for food that does not perish but which endures for eternal life, the bread which the Son of Man will give.

Indeed, this crowd is not much different from many Christians today. For some people go to church because they get emotionally enthused over the singing and preaching during liturgical celebrations. Others go to look for solutions to their problems. Others too attend Mass because they “should be there” to avoid social tagging… All these people go to church, but with a wrong motive. That is why in front of difficulties, they either wander hopelessly looking for miracles or become angry with God like the Israelites in the wilderness.

In effect, the Israelites had just witnessed the wonderful deeds of God who delivered them from slavery in Egypt and how God made them passed through the red sea dry-shod. But they still murmured against Moses and God because they were hungry. They forgot that God could feed them out from nothing. And indeed, God did feed them with the manna.

Similarly, when we are faced with challenges, we often forget God’s power. We go about looking for miracles everywhere: we move from church to church, from one pastor to another, from mallams to fetish priests looking for quick answers to our problems. We forget that the Jesus who fed the people, healed the sick and worked signs is the same Jesus in the Eucharist, that we celebrate every day. 

Thus, St Paul exhorts us saying: “I urge you in the name of the Lord, not to go on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live.” Do not go looking for miracles. You are a miracle yourself. Follow Jesus in faith, he alone can satisfy your deepest hunger and thirst. Be a faith-driven Christian and your life will never be the same. Amen

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

2 Kings 4:42-44

Psalm 145

Ephesians 4:1-6

John 6:1-15

 

 

FEEDING MANY FROM A LITTLE

 

 

With this Sunday, the liturgy interrupts the reading of the Gospel according to Mark. It inserts John’s narration of the story of the multiplication of the loaves and Jesus’ discourse on the bread of life, as a way to deepen our understanding of the Eucharist, which is the Bread of Life. 

 

 

It is important to note that John’s version of the multiplication of loaves has many points of contact with Elisha’s miracle of feeding hundred people with twenty barley loaves, as narrated in the first reading. The two miracle episodes are built around four elements: the presence of a real need (hunger), the disproportion between the loaves of bread available and the number of people to be fed, the intervention of God, and the left-over. For our meditation, we may highlight two important lessons. 

 

 

First, the sign of a bread given in abundance is the sign of the way in which the Lord accompanies our journey towards the fullness of life. As the psalmist expresses it, the eyes of all look hopefully up to God, who provides food to every living being in due season. He opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Ps 145). Indeed, we serve a God of Providence. He does not only take care of us, but he does so in abundance, so much so that there is always some left over.

 

 

Second, God needs our cooperation in order to bring us to fulness of life. It can be observed that Jesus does not make the bread fall from heaven like the manna, but he blesses and multiplies the bread that comes from human hands. Similarly, in the Eucharist, the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood of Christ are the fruits of human hands. Thus, in order to experience the power of God, we need to offer him what we have, for he uses our little to perform great works in our life and in that of others. 

 

 

May the Lord grant us the grace to live a life of peace and harmony with all, as Saint Paul exhorts us, so that his name may be glorified now and for ever. Amen 

 

 

Happy World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly ! 

 

 

16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 22

Ephesians 2:13-18

Mark 6:30-34

JESUS: GOOD SHEPHERD AND MODEL OF LEADERSHIP

Compared to last Sunday, the focus in today's Gospel is shifted from the figure of the missionary to that of the shepherd. Returning from their missionary campaign, the apostles gather together around Jesus. They give account of what they had done; and he asks them to withdraw to a lonely place so as to rest for a while. But before they could reach their place of rest, a large crowd was already waiting for them. The sight of the crowd, like sheep without a shepherd, filled Jesus with compassion; and he began to teach them (Mark 6:30-34). This way, Jesus is the good, loving, caring and tenderhearted shepherd of souls.

These are qualities that were lacking in the leaders of Israel at the time of the prophet Jeremiah. They did not take care of the flock, neither did they seek the lost sheep. Consequently, God denounced their misdeeds, and promised to raise up faithful shepherds for his people. He would raise up a “righteous shoot to David”. In his days, right, justice and security will reign in the land (Jer. 23:1-6). Thus, it can be said that Jesus is the righteous shepherd promised to the people of Israel.

Moreover, St Paul proclaims Jesus as our Peace who broke the dividing wall of enmity and hatred, bringing both Jews and Gentiles into one people (Eph. 2:13-18). By his death on the cross, he has reconciled all of us into one family. He is the shepherd who promotes togetherness, peace and unity.

Jesus is therefore our Shepherd (Ps 23) and our model of leadership. As Pope Francis often says: closeness, tenderness and compassion characterize the style of Jesus. So, each one of us must strive to be like Jesus: caring, compassionate and sensitive to the needs of others. Sometimes, we may need to let go our rights and privileges, our cherished time of rest in order to bring relief and consolation to someone. Other times, we may have to work hard to break the barriers of hostility, hatred and division that are tearing apart our relationships, families, parishes and communities. May the Lord grant us the grace to accept Jesus as our Shepherd, and learn from him the skills of good shepherding. Amen

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Amos 7:12-15

Psalm 84:9-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

Mark 6:7-13

THE GOOD NEWS OF LIBERATION

Today’s readings remind us that we have been chosen and commissioned to go and tell our story, the story of our relationship with God. According to Saint Paul, God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing so as to be holy and blameless before him. Thus, as Christians, we have been called to live in God’s presence as his adopted children. This is an experience we cannot keep for ourselves, but which must be shared.

This is exemplified in the first missionary experience of Jesus’ disciples (Mark 6:7-13). Having spent some time with him, Jesus sends them out to cast out demons, heal the sick and preach repentance. He also instructs them not to take anything for the journey, but to depend on God’s providence. Two things may be highlighted.

First, by sending them two by two, Jesus teaches that the missionary work is a team work which requires collaboration. This has an undeniable pastoral benefit: mutual help and consolation in time of need and difficulties. But most importantly, there is a trace of the Jewish tradition according to which a testimony was only admissible when it was borne by at least two people (cf. Deut. 19:15). Thus, the disciples were sent as witnesses; and the credibility of their testimony depended on the love and care they had for one another.

Second, Jesus instructs his disciples not to take anything for the journey, except sandals and a walking staff. It could be observed that these are similar instructions given by God to the Israelites as they were to begin the Exodus, which marked their freedom from Egyptian slavery. Thus, Jesus sends out his disciples to free and liberate others; but if they were to help people recover their freedom, they too had to be free.

As baptized, we too have been sent to share our experience of God with others. We may face rejection and opposition, just as Amos who was considered as an unwanted prophet (Amos 7:12-15). But this must not stop us from delivering the message of salvation and freedom we carry. We need to put our trust in God and free ourselves from unnecessary worries and anxieties. Therefore, let us pray the Lord to grant us the grace to be credible and joyful witnesses of Christ. Amen

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Ezekiel 2:2- 5

Psalm 122

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Mark 6:1-6

A THORN IN MY FLESH

It can be observed that messages urging conversion, truth, justice, peace, freedom, etc. are often met with resistance, hostility, hatred and rejection. The advocates of these values often suffer threats, persecutions and violent deaths. This reality is more evident in the lives of the prophets and men of God.

In the first reading, Ezekiel is warned in a vision that he would meet with resistance from the rebellious House of Israel, his own people to whom he was sent as a prophet (Ez. 2:2-5). In the Gospel, Jesus comes to Nazareth, his hometown. But while the other towns hailed him for his miracles and powerful preaching, the people of Nazareth took offense at him, because they thought they knew him and his family background. Hence, he said: “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home” (Mark 6:1-6).

St Paul’s words in the second reading are excerpted from the so-called “letter in tears”, in which he defends the authenticity of his ministry and appeals to the Corinthians who had been seduced by eloquent ecstatic speeches of some other apostles. Paul was therefore facing challenges related to his ministry. Nevertheless, he expresses his joy in bearing with his weaknesses, hardships and persecutions for the sake of his mission as a preacher, for God’s grace is sufficient for him (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

Two lessons may therefore be drawn from today’s readings. First, they remind us of the unhappy lots that await us for the fact that we are Christians, called to be prophets. We may be humiliated, ill-treated and ridiculed whenever we stand for the truth, justice and peace. Also, there are times when we may be afraid or feel incompetent, inadequate for the mission entrusted to us. But we are not to be discouraged, for the Lord’s grace is sufficient for us and his power is made perfect in weakness.

Second, we are invited to examine ourselves if we do not act sometimes like the Israelites, the Corinthians or the people of Nazareth: Do we hate people who stand for justice, truth, peace, and freedom? Are we so lacking in faith that Jesus cannot act powerfully in our lives?

May the Lord grant us the sufficient grace so that we may not despair but persevere in face of our own shortcomings and amidst challenges and hostilities. Amen.