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.

PASCHAL TRIDUUM, HOLY SATURDAY

Genesis 1:1-2:2 ; Psalm 104

Exodus 14:15-15-1; Exodus 15

Ezekiel 36: 16-17a, 18-28; Psalm 42

Romans 6:3-11

Mark 16:1-7

THE EASTER VIGIL, THE NIGHT OF ALL NIGHTS

This day is the third day of the Sacred Triduum. The focal point of today’s celebration is the empty tomb. The liturgy of the Easter Vigil is made up of four parts, namely, the service of night, the liturgy of the Word, the liturgy of baptism, and the liturgy of the Eucharist. It is the celebration of the passage from death to life, from darkness to light.

The liturgy of the Word invites us to meditate on the Salvation History, how God has been so close to mankind since creation. The great events that mark this history have been wrought in the night. The first act of creation was the victory of light over darkness: “let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). It was at night that God saved the Israelites from slavery through the Passover meal, liberating them from the power of Pharaoh. It was at night that he led them dry-shod through the red sea (Ex. 14). It was at night that Jesus rose from the dead, breaking the chains of death.

One thing that Holy Saturday teaches us is that no matter how deep and how long the night is the day will surely come. Jesus himself had to go through the terrible experience of being in the tomb for three days. Yes, he was crucified, died and was buried; but now he has risen.

This day therefore invites us to hope against all hope. There is no situation so desperate that God cannot change, for he always makes a way where there is no way. So, do not be afraid.

May the power of the  Resurrection roll away every stone or obstacle that stands on your way. And may the rising of our Lord Jesus Christ dispel every darkness in our life and give us the grace to be true witnesses of the resurrection.
Amen

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR B

Genesis 22:1-2.9-13.15-18
Psalm 115:10.15-19
Romans 8:31-34
Mark 9:2-10

THE WAY TO OUR TRANSFIGURATION

Usually, the transfiguration passage is proclaimed on the second Sunday of Lent. Situating this event in its context may be enlightening. It was preceded by two events. First, the exiting moment of Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the long awaited Messiah (Mark 8:27-30). Second, the shocking prediction of Jesus’ sufferings, death and resurrection (Mark 8:31-33). Then comes the wonderful experience of the Transfiguration: “Rabbi, It is wonderful for us to be here…” said Peter (Mark 9:2-10). This event was to tell the disciples that the cross was not the end, but the way to Jesus' glorification.

The first reading narrates the trying moment of Abraham: God commands him to sacrifice Isaac, his only son. God had promised Abraham he would make him the father of a multitude of nations. He and his wife were beyond child-bearing age. Now they conceived miraculously a child. And behold, God demands this son to be sacrificed. But Abraham still trusts in God, even in the face of this apparently senseless, cruel, painful and terrible request of God (Gen. 22:1-2.9-13.15-18).

Indeed, following God can sometimes be horrible and terrifying. Other times, it may demand of us to make nonsensical and strange moves. But in the awful moments we may have to experience, the crosses we may have to bear, the pains and difficulties we may have to go through, the trying moments we may have to live, one thing is sure: God is leading us to glory. He is present with us. And the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that awaits us (cf Rom 8:18).

Yes, our faces may be disfigured because of pain and tears; but they will surely be transfigured if we encounter Jesus in prayer, in the celebration of the Mass, in the confessional, etc. So, “with God on our side who can be against us?” May he help us to focus on the crown instead of the cross.

Amen

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR B

Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm 24:4-9
1Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:12-15

LENT, AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR CONVERSION

"Repent and believe in the Gospel". This is the exhortation that Jesus addresses to each one of us on this first Sunday of Lent. Lent is essentially a preparation for the celebration of Easter. It is an invitation to change our lifestyles. It is a call to put order into our lives and return to God with all sincerity. Lent is a period of conversion and spiritual discipline: intense prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Lent is forty days journey as Jesus did in the wilderness. This notwithstanding, we must be aware that there will be temptations on the way. Jesus himself was tempted, as it is narrated in today's Gospel (Mark 1:12-15). But if we remember that we serve a faithful God, he who keeps his covenant for ever, we shall stand firm and not fall despite the many snares of the devil.

In effect, the first reading tells us that God made a covenant with Noah and all creation. He promised he would never destroy again the earth with flood. The rainbow became the sign of this covenant (Gen. 9:8-15).

In the second reading, Peter recognizes this event as a prefiguration of Christian baptism. With Noah's ark, only a few people were preserved from the devastating waters of the flood. But for us, many are we who have been saved through the life-giving waters of baptism (1Pet. 3:18-22).

Lent is therefore an opportune time to ask ourselves how faithful we have been to God. Baptism is a pledge of our commitment to God. How have we lived our baptismal promises? How many times have we not giving in to temptations? How many times have we not  denied God and gone our own way?

In any case, we serve a living and forgiving God, a God full of mercy and love. He does not count the many times we have fallen, but the times we have risen after falling. Like the prodigal child, let us come back home. Let us repent and trust in God's mercy and compassion. May he bless and keep all of us.

Amen

SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY FAMILY, YEAR B

Genesis 15:1-6.21:1-3
Psalm 104:1-6.8-9
Hebrews 11:8.11-12.17-19
Luke 2:22-40

THE HOLY FAMILY

Still in the joyful mood of Christmas, we celebrate today the solemnity of the Holy Family. The purpose is to propose the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the model for all families. It was the presence of the child Jesus that changed the identity and dignity of this family. The adjective “holy” may make us think of a family in which all was rosy, all the times happy. But no! Like any human family the holy family had its own time of distress, joys and sorrows, challenges and problems, anxieties and struggles.

Today's readings put the child at the centre of our reflection. Having children or not can be a source of anxiety and struggle in the life of the family. In the gospel reading, at the presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple, his parents were told their child was “destined for the fall and the rising of many in Israel”, “a sign to be rejected”, and a “sword would pierce the soul” of Mary (Luke 2:22-40).

The first reading also presents us with two common struggles in our families: childlessness and the problem of heritage. Abram was anxious because he was without a child, despite the promises made to him by God (Gen. 15:1-6.21:1-3). But there was one thing remarkable about Abram and Sarah: their faith in God. They believed in God's promises (Heb. 11:8.11-12.17-19).

There are some families that are agonizing beneath the problem of childlessness. But one thing is sure. We serve a living and faithful God who is capable of changing our human impossibility into possibility. Trust in him, pray and do not give up.

There are also parents who do not care about their children. They are not concerned about their material welfare, let alone their spiritual welfare. Let us ask ourselves: Do we care about the spiritual growth of our children? Do we offer them in prayer to God? Do we encourage them to go to church? Like Mary and Joseph, let us cultivate the habit of praying, celebrating and worshipping together.

We may face challenges as family members. But always let us look up to the example of the Holy Family. May the Lord bless and keep us all.

Amen