22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Deuteronomy 4:1-2.6-8 

Psalm 14 

James 1:17…27 

Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23

TRUE RELIGION

Religion is not to be understood simply as a system of beliefs, rules and practices. It should be a way of life. Thus, Christianity is a way of life, characterized by an intimate and loving relationship with God through his Son Jesus Christ.

In the first reading, Moses presented the immutable character of the Law received from God who is very close to his people. He called on the Israelites to put it into practice. For faithful obedience to this Law would make the people of Israel unique and great in the eyes of the surrounding peoples (Deut. 4,1-2.6-8).

However, obedience to God’s laws does not mean external observance of a set of traditions, but adherence and fidelity to God’s will. This is what justifies Jesus’ criticisms against the Pharisees and scribes in today’s gospel (Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23). They were attached to human traditions on external purity, forgetting what true religion means. In fact, external observance of the ritual purity is good, but when it is divorced from the heart, it leads to hypocrisy and rigidity. And it is this hypocrisy that Jesus denounces.

True religion therefore consists in loving, forgiving, sharing, showing compassion, seeking truth and justice, etc. Such practices come from the heart and make man righteous. But negative thinking and evil deeds (fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly, etc.) come from the heart, and make man unholy. Thus, it is only when we allow the Word of God to purify our heart and transform our way of life that we can become true worshippers of God.  

As such, our salvation does not simply depend on our being baptized, being a member of a church, going to church on Sunday, paying our tithes or even only listening to the Word of God. It does depend on how we put God’s Word into practice, for we are not to be just listeners but doers of the Word (cf. James 1:17…27). It is evident that unless we build an authentic and personal relationship with God in fidelity and care for our fellow human beings with a genuine and sincere heart, all our religious practices will be sterile and lip-service. Let us pray therefore that the Lord may fill our hearts with genuine love for him and for our brothers and sisters.

 Amen

21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Joshua 24:1-2.15-18

Psalm 33:2-3.16-23

Ephesians 5:21-32

John 6:60-69

A TIME TO DECIDE

Faith is a personal adherence to God. It is not by force. To believe in God is therefore a free and conscious act, knowing it leads to freedom and salvation. In fact, how we live our life depends on our choice to believe or not to believe.

In effect, the first reading narrates the unanimous decision of the people of Israel, gathered by Joshua at Shechem, to serve God and remain faithful to him. This was a significant stage in their history. It was a form of a profession of faith, followed by the renewal of the Covenant when the Israelites reached the Promised Land (Jos. 24:1-2.15-18). 

The gospel also presents a decisive stage of Jesus’ public ministry. At the end of his discourse on the Bread of Life, it was time to make a decision: to believe in him or not to believe. Many of his disciples decided to stop following him, because his words were difficult and unacceptable. Jesus did not try to convince them or water down his language, but he asked the Twelve: "And you, do you also want to go away?" Simon Peter replied: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe, and we know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6: 60-69).

Sometimes, we need to make such act of faith, to decide to hold unto Jesus no matter what. When the enthusiasm of our commitment begins to wane, when doubts begin to set in and tiredness weighs us down, when strong winds begin to blow and the world rages around us, when nothing seem clear and despair begins to set in, we need the courage to say: “Lord, to whom shall we go?” No need to quit or to give up: we need to hold unto Jesus, to stand by him. His words are spirit and life. 

However, we must also know that deciding to stay with Christ is to allow him to give a new orientation and meaning to our life. It is to choose the way of trust, selfless love and sacrifice. We no longer live to dominate others but to love them, serve them, and respect them, especially within the family. In doing so, our families and homes will become a source of healing, fulfilment and sanctification (Eph. 5:21-32).  May the Lord bless and keep all of us. Amen.

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Revelation 11:19.12:1-6.10

Psalm 44

1 Corinthians 15:20-27

Luke 1:39-56

Today we celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, as defined by Pope Pius XII in his apostolic constitution "Munuficentissimus Deus" (1950). Initially known as the Dormition of Mary, this solemnity proclaims that the Virgin Mary, at the end of her earthly existence, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. In fact, Sacred Scripture does not tell us what happened, much less how it happened. However, we may understand this solemnity using three words.

First, gratitude. The Gospel narrates Mary’s visitation to Elisabeth. In response to Elisabeth’s greeting, Mary expressed her joy and gratitude to God in the Magnificat: by looking upon her lowliness and making her the Mother of his Son Jesus Christ, God associated Mary in a unique way to the work of our redemption. She was closely associated with the life, Passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Thus, the Assumption is nothing other than Mary's participation in her Son’s glory. The Magnificat is therefore not only the hymn of her election, but also the song of her glorification: “Henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me.”

Second, victory. In John’s vision, we have two signs: a great sign of a pregnant woman and the sign of a dragon. If it is true that this vision does not refer directly to Mary but to the Church, the persecuted Bride of Christ, it is also true that Mary is the perfect image of the Church. So, Mary appears here as the symbol of God’s triumph. This way, Pope Pius XII was right when he wrote that the object of this feast is not only the incorruption of the body of Mary, but also her triumph over death and her heavenly "glorification" in the likeness of her Son. The Assumption is therefore a confirmation of Christ's victory over evil, sin and death, that last enemy to be annihilated, as St Paul says in the second reading. 

Third, hope. As we contemplate Mary’s Assumption into heaven, the certainty is renewed in us that the goal of our life journey on earth is heaven. For it confirms our glorious destiny: if we live well in obedient faith and faithfulness like Mary, we shall share in God’s glory. We shall participate in Christ’s victory; and this is our hope in the resurrection. But now, let us entrust ourselves to God and ask the Blessed Mother to protect and lead us in our life journey. Amen

19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

1Kings 19:4-8 

Psalm 33 

Ephesians 4:30—5,2 

John 6:41-51

NOURISHMENT FROM ABOVE 

In today’s liturgy, we continue our meditation on the mystery of the Eucharist. In the first reading, we are presented with the story of the prophet Elijah. His zeal to fight against the paganism promoted by queen Jezebel had sapped his energies and attracted the wrath of the queen who sought to kill him. So, the prophet flew for his life. On his way, hunger, tiredness and discouragement led him to pray for death: “Lord, I have had enough. Take my life”. But God fed him with a miraculous food; and in the strength of that food, he journeyed to Horeb, the mount of God, where he encountered the Lord. In this nourishment, we see a figure of the Eucharist, the Bread that sustains us in our journey through life. 

In the gospel, Jesus does not water down his words about the Bread of Life despites the murmuring of the Jews. For the Jews could not accept Jesus’ claim that he is the bread from heaven; they knew well his family background. Jesus reiterates his statement by adding that the bread given for the life of the world is his own body. He meant what he said: the manna in the desert was only a material food, unable to lead to eternal life. But whoever eats the Bread Jesus gives will live forever. And that life begins now. For the Eucharist communicates to us the very life of Jesus; it sows in us the seed of eternal life. 

Therefore, the secret of a meaningful life, a life full of hope amidst the crosses and difficulties of this life is in Jesus, really present in the Eucharist. And when we eat of this Eucharistic Bread, we realize that we too can show sincere love and be kind to one another, as Saint Paul tells us. We can share the love and joy we have experienced in the Eucharistic celebration. This way, we cannot approach the Eucharistic Table with hate, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness or revenge in our hearts. That will be a kind of sacrilege. 

Let us pray, therefore, that God may strengthen and renew us through the nourishment we receive in the Eucharist. Thus, we may journey with him and radiate his love in our homes and communities. Amen