26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Numbers 11:25-29

Ps 18:8.10.12-14

James 5:1-6

Mark 9:38-43.47-48

“DON’T STOP HIM”

We usually call “outsiders” those who do not belong to us. We tend to exclude them, discriminate against them and try to monopolize everything. In a similar way, we try to cage God and set boundaries to the action of the Holy Spirit. We pretend to be the only privileged or authorized to be used by God. Hence, today’s readings warn against exclusivism and elitism, because the Holy Spirit is free; his action is not limited to any one or to any particular group.

In the first reading, Joshua asked Moses to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying in the camp because they were not in the Tent of Meeting with the rest of elders. Moses rebuked him and expressed his wish that God could give his Spirit to all the people so that they might prophesy (Nbers 11:25-29).

Similarly, John reported to Jesus that they had stopped a man from casting out devils in Jesus’ name, because the man was not one of them. Jesus condemned such attitude and asked them not to stop such a man. He went on to warn them against being a scandal or obstacle to any of the little ones who have faith in him (Mark 9:38-43.47-48).

The temptation of trying to cage God is great among Christians. We tend to look down on those who do not belong to our church; we criticize them; we condemn almost everything they do. This is also true with regard to the various associations and prayer groups within the Church. We claim others are wrong and we are right. We monopolize everything. We are like the rich men to whom St James addresses in the second reading. They claim to have immense wealth after oppressing and cheating the poor. They become obstacle to the growth and well-being of others. But God will not keep silent (James 5:1-6). 

Let us not forget therefore that God is the Father of all. He is free; and his Spirit is like the wind that “blows where it chooses” (John 3:8). We cannot therefore monopolize his grace. Neither can we set boundaries to the action of the Holy Spirit. May our belonging to Christ make us more open to others and distinguish ourselves through our charity towards all. Amen

25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Wisdom 2:12.17-20

Psalm 53

James 3:16 – 4:3

Mark 9:30-37

I WANT TO BE GREAT

Every human being aspires to achieve greatness. In our homes, churches, workplaces, in politics and public institutions, everyone wants to get promotion and be “the boss”, to be in charge, to have power. Unfortunately, we often achieve such greatness through the wrong way. Sometimes, we even destroy the reputation or persecute innocent and good people. For the life of the good person is a threat to our own malicious ambitions and evil living (cf. Wisdom 2:12.17-20). For St James, in the second reading, the root of our fighting, quarrels, wars and shameful actions lies in jealousy and selfish ambitions (cf. James 3:16 – 4:3).

That is why Jesus teaches us the right way to achieve true greatness: being the servant of all. When Jesus announced his Passion and death for the second time, his disciples were busy arguing about who was the greatest among them. So, Jesus told them: “If anyone wishes to be first, he must be the last and slave of all”. For Jesus, therefore, greatness is achieved through humble service to others, especially the most vulnerable in our communities. This is what the symbol of the little child placed in the midst of the disciples implies (Mark 9:30-37).

Here, the little child is a symbol of vulnerability. Thus, the child represents those who have no social status, no power, no influence, no defense on their own; a person who can easily be controlled and abused: the poor, the sick, the prisoner, the physically challenged, the elderly, the immigrant, and so forth. Welcoming these people, caring for them and serving them is the way to true greatness.

Therefore, when we set aside our jealousy and envy, our evil driven desires and selfish concerns and become welcoming, tender, kind, loving, compassionate, and humbly serving others, especially the vulnerable, we will be great. Like St Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa who achieved their greatness through selfless service to the most vulnerable, let us seek the good and welfare of the little ones, for whenever we do good to the little ones, we do it to Jesus. As Pope Francis said in his homily at his inaugural Mass: “Let us not forget that authentic power is service." May God bless and keep all of us. Amen

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Isaiah 50:5-9

Psalm 114

James 2:14-18

Mark 8:27-35

“WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”

Today’s first reading is one of the four songs of the prophet Isaiah that describe the astonishing figure of the Suffering Servant. What characterizes this Suffering Servant in today's passage is his trusting faith in God even in the midst of suffering, opposition and rejection (Is. 50:5-9). According to St James in the second reading, faith without deeds is dead (James 2:14-18).

At the heart of today’s Gospel (Mk 8:27-35) lies the question that permeates the whole Gospel account of Mark: who is Jesus? But this time it is Jesus himself who puts it to his disciples, so as to help them gradually discover his real identity. In effect, after receiving the opinion of the crowds about himself, Jesus asks his disciples: “But who do you say that I am?” Then, Simon Peter answered: “You are the Christ” (that is, the Messiah, God’s Anointed One).

It is noteworthy that when Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, he was probably thinking of a political leader who would free the Jews from Roman domination, just like his contemporary Jews expected. He was thinking of a glorious Messiah-King, not of a Suffering Servant. Hence, he began to rebuke Jesus when he predicted his humiliation, rejection, suffering and death.

Peter's misconception about Jesus is still present with us. It can happen to us that we passionately and enthusiastically affirm that Jesus is the Christ; but at the same time, we may protest and rebel because this contrasts with our expectations. We may want to follow Jesus but be unwilling to embrace the way of Jesus, which is the way of the cross, self-denial and sacrifice. We may be carried away by the prosperity gospel which promises a life full of miracles, a life without suffering and difficulties. However, we must know that a life without suffering is an illusion; and being a Christian without accepting the cross is to follow a caricature of Jesus Christ: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”.

May the Lord help us bear patiently our daily crosses, and follow him with courage and trust even in the midst of trials and challenges. Amen.

23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Isaiah 35:4-7

Psalm 146:7.8-10

James 2:1-5

Mark 7:31-37

EPHPHATHA: BE OPENED

Today’s readings present Jesus Christ as the one who came to liberate man, so as to enable him to live fully his relationship with God and with others. In the gospel, a deaf-mute man was brought to Jesus in the Decapolis, a pagan territory. Jesus took him aside and touched his ears and his tongue and then, looking up to heaven, he said: “Ephphatha” which means “be opened”. The man was healed: thanks to Jesus’ intervention, the deaf-mute “was opened”. He was closed, unable to communicate properly; but now, he can do so. This made great Jesus’ reputation among the people of the area: “He has done all things well” (Mark 7:31-37). 

The healing of this man echoes the prophetic words of Isaiah in the first reading: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed; then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy…” (Isaiah 35:4-7). The future promised by the prophet has now arrived. 

Though we may not be physically deaf and dumb, do we realize that we display deafness and dumbness in many life situations? Whenever we close our ears and hearts to the Word of God, we become spiritually deaf. When we fail to listen to the cries of the poor and the needy around us, or we are indifferent to the groaning of a suffering person, we become deaf. Whenever we fail to share our faith with others, or utter a word of comfort to someone in difficulty, we become spiritually dumb. We become dumb if we cannot proclaim the truth that liberates men, or speak out against the injustices, corruption, inequalities, favouritism and discriminations in society and in our churches, just as St James does in the second reading (James 2:1-5). 

Thus, we need the Ephphatha ritual just as it is exemplified in the Rite of Baptism, when the priest pronounces the same word, praying that the baptized may hear the Word of God and profess the faith in words and deeds. We therefore need to come to Jesus for healing. This way, we will be “opened” and enabled to proclaim the goodness and power of our Lord Jesus Christ, he who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen