Monday, March 11, 2024 - Homily

 

Monday, March 11, 2024 - Do you believe in God only when things go the way you plan or do you continue to believe in all circumstances? Is your God only a miracle worker or is he a God with you and for you?

To read the texts click on the texts: Isa 65:17-21; Jn4:43-54

The healing of the royal official’s son (4:46-54) which is part of our text today begins after the dialogue with the Samaritan woman (4:1-42). The first two verses of today’s text (4:43-45) serve as an interlude between the two stories. John uses the saying of the prophet having no honour in his own country, to show why Jesus came to Galilee. In John, Judea is Jesus’ own country and since he was not accepted there, he had to go to others including the Samaritans. Like the Samaritans, the Galileans welcome him.

The first verse of the miracle story that follows is an introduction narrating the case. The son of a royal official is ill in Capernaum. The mention of Cana and a summary of the first miracle of turning water into wine anticipate another miracle. The healing in this miracle, however, is done at a distance. The official makes a request for Jesus to come down and heal his son who is at the point of death. The immediate response of Jesus is directed not to the official alone but to all. That Jesus did heal the official’s son is an indication that his words are not meant merely as a rebuke, but go deeper. Though the people will base their faith in him merely on signs and wonders, Jesus invites them to realize that these are not what will motivate him to act. He will act only in accordance with the will of God. Human expectation cannot determine his action. Even after hearing this seeming rebuke, the official is not deterred. He perseveres in his request. With a word and from a distance, Jesus performs the healing. The official’s faith is Jesus is seen in his obedience to the command to “Go”. He does go on his way.

The attestation of the miracle is provided by the servants of the official who meet him when he is still on his way to his home. The official on further enquiry realizes that Jesus is the one who has performed the healing and is led to faith. The man now believes in Jesus, not only in Jesus’ word.

At the end of the miracle John remarks that this was then second sign that Jesus worked after coming to Galilee. In his Gospel, John always refers to the miracles of Jesus as signs. 

Sickness and brokenness are very much visible in our world today and most are in need of some form of healing or another. At times doctors are not able to diagnose an illness and at other times when they are and perform a complicated operation, ask the patient and family members to pray and have faith. There is only so much that they can do, the rest is in God’s hands. The official in the story had probably gone to Jesus as a last resort (his son was not merely ill but at the point of death) after having explored and exhausted all other avenues. He is single minded in his purpose and will let nothing deter him. He believes and perseveres. His faith gains for him not only his son’s life but also the gift of faith in Jesus.

This means that faith cannot be based on external signs alone and remain at that level. If it is and does, then one will look at Jesus as a mere miracle worker. The focus here would be only on the actions of Jesus and not on his person from which his actions flow. If one is able to go beyond the action to the person of Jesus, then one will also be able to see who God is: God with us, for us and in us.

Sunday, March 10, 2024 - Homily

 

Sunday, March 10, 2024 - He lights our way

To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Chr 36:14-17,19-23; Eph 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21

“God made us in God's image and likeness and we have been repaying the compliment ever since.” This statement of a wit is not far from the truth. We continue to fashion God according to the smallness of our minds. The great mystics of many religions realized this and so when they speak of God, they realize that, even after all is said, there will still be much left to be said. John does the same in his Gospel.

He cautions the readers of his Gospel in 21:25: “But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down…” Yet, he does speak of the revelation that God makes in Jesus, and of the blessing we have received in this revelation, because it gives us insight into who God is.

The text of today begins with what is regarded as the first of the three passion, resurrection, and ascension predictions in the Gospel of John. Jesus will be lifted up / exalted, just as Moses lifted up / exalted the bronze serpent in the wilderness. The term hupsoo can mean ‘lift up’ or ‘exalt’. Although the word might indicate the physical act of ‘lifting up’ the cross beam at the time of his crucifixion, it might also mean his ‘exaltation into glory’. Thus, in his crucifixion, Jesus will also be exalted, yet there is no exaltation apart from the crucifixion. The consequence of believing in Jesus lifted up/exalted is eternal life, which here means a life lived in the constant presence of God. Jesus dies, but only to be raised to life and ascend to the Father.

This unconditional love of God was made visible and tangible in Jesus, God’s Son come into the world. The Son, given as a gift of God, was accepted by some but rejected by others. God sent his Son so that all may have eternal life. The primary purpose of sending the Son was to save, not to condemn. Yet, every person is free to decide whether he/she wants to accept this free gift. Acceptance of the gift of the Son of God means salvation; rejection means that one condemns oneself.

The people of Israel were freed from exile in Babylon, by Cyrus, the Persian king. After being freed, they became bound again, bound by their own desires and selfishness. They have in Jesus salvation in every sense of the word. It is a salvation achieved through the self-sacrifice of Jesus, the only Son of God. Because of this, all people everywhere can have an even better life than the Israelites had under David and Solomon. The Lord’s song can continue to be sung in this new land and this new life. People will not need to remember Zion. There will no longer be exile or captivity. There will no longer be any mourning, weeping, or sorrow. The coming of God’s Son has turned all sorrow into joy and every tear has been wiped away.

This insight is extremely important for our lives as well, because it means that, if we accept it, our lives will never be the same again. God could have, like in the past, sent yet another messenger or even another message. Yet, he opted for the most extreme of measures when he sent a part of himself. It is even more stunning that this Son was sent, not to judge, but to draw people to God through love and forgiveness. The primary task of Jesus, as his name suggests, was to be salvation to all. The all-inclusive nature of this salvation, and its availability to the whole human race, is something that is possible only for God.

But not everyone accepts this salvation offered by the Son. Though the light has come, some preferred the dark. The reason why they preferred the dark is because they did not want either their deeds or their person to be exposed. Fear ruled their hearts. Those who opted for the light opted for freedom

This idea is reiterated in the second reading of today in which the Christians at Ephesus are given an insight into the unconditional love of God which, because it came when they were sinners, proves that God’s love is a gift and not something earned. To show that the gift has been received and not spurned, they are called to live lives worthy of this great gift or God’s love.

Today’s readings give us an insight into who God is in Jesus. They state simply that God is, and will always be, unconditional, magnanimous, and bountiful love. This calls us to a new hope and a new courage. They say to us that, even when we are in extremely difficult situations and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel, God continues to be there with us, walking ahead of us, guiding our path and lighting our way. They say to us that, at moments when we think all is lost and we have no hope, we must not give up or give in. They say to us that, even at those times when we cannot fully understand why things happen the way they do and we are tempted to through in the towel, God continues to offer hope and consolation.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 - Homily

 

Saturday, March 9, 2024 - Does the content of your prayer include despising or condemning others? Has pride prevented you from encountering God? What will you do about it today?

To read the texts click on the texts: Hosea5:15 – 6:6; Lk 18:9-14

The parable that forms the text today is knows as the Parable of the Pharisee and tax Collector but is not so much about these persons as it is about the disposition for prayer in any person. It is exclusive to Luke. The parable is addressed not to the Pharisees, but to those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt”. This could be a description of any self righteous person.

The two men who went up to the temple to pray are introduced as a Pharisee and a tax collector. Pharisee means “separated one” and the Pharisee in the parable takes this prayer position. He stands apart or by himself. Though he begins his prayer with thanksgiving, it is soon clear that it is not genuine thanks, but self centered. He is aware of the presence of the tax collector in the temple and regards him with contempt even as he prays. The Pharisee makes clear that he follows the law perfectly and obeys even the injunctions to fast and give tithes. He asks nothing of God probably because he thinks he is self sufficient.

By contrast the tax collector will not dare to come near but stands “far off”. This indicates his position before God. He does not consider himself worthy. While the commonly accepted posture of prayer was with hands folded and looking up to God, this tax collector stands with his head bowed and “would not even look up to heaven”. Instead he beats his breast in acknowledgement of the fact that he is unworthy and a sinner. His prayer is God centered. He cedes all power to God. He has nothing to boast about.

The comment at the end of the parable makes clear its intent. The Pharisee returned to his home without having been made righteous, but the tax collector was accepted before God.

Those who trust in their own righteousness will regard others with contempt, and those who regard others with contempt cannot then bring themselves to rely on God’s grace. Therefore, persons who exalt themselves over others and boast of their virtue before God will discover that they have cut themselves off from both, and persons who are aware of their need for grace and forgiveness will not be able to despise other people.

The nature of grace is paradoxical: It can be received only by those who have learned empathy for others. In that regard, grace partakes of the nature of mercy and forgiveness. Only the merciful can receive mercy, and only those who forgive will be forgiven. The Pharisee had enough religion to be virtuous, but not enough to be humble. As a result, his religion drove him away from the tax collector rather than toward him.

Friday, March 8, 2024 - Homily

 

Friday, March 8, 2024 - Will your love for God show in your love for at least one person today?

To read the texts click on the texts: Hosea 14:2-10; Mk12:28-34

In Matthew 22:35, the lawyer asks the question about the great commandment in order to test Jesus; in Mark he is not hostile and does not intend to test Jesus. As a matter of fact Mark mentions at the beginning of the incident that the lawyer thought that Jesus had answered the Sadducees well and at the end of that response, he commends Jesus for his answer. Jesus responds to the lawyer’s question in the words of the “Shema”, which speaks of love of God (Deut 6:5-6), but adds also the love of neighbour (Lev 19:18). The scribe’s response to this is to acknowledge Jesus’ answer as correct and to add that following these commandments is greater than sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jesus concludes the dialogue by stating that because the scribe has recognized what his priorities are, he is not far from the kingdom of God.

Love of God cannot really be separated from love of neighbour. The two go together. Our love for God is made manifest and tangible only when we reach out in love to someone else.  While Paul gives a beautiful description of what love is and what it is not in 1 Corinthians 13, my own definition of love is that in love there is no “I”.

Thursday, March 7, 2024 - Homily

 

Thursday, March 7, 2024 - Which is the demon that has possessed you and does not leave you free? Will you attempt to get rid of that demon today?

To read the texts click on the texts: Jer 7:23-28;Lk11:14-23

The onlookers respond to the exorcism of a demon that made a man mute, in different ways. While there are some who are amazed, others attribute Jesus’ power to cast out demons to Beelzebul and still others ask for a sign from heaven. This is an indication that no one doubted Jesus’ power to exorcise and heal. They attributed it to different sources. In his response to this charge and test, Jesus says that since exorcisms represented a direct assault on Satan’ power and kingdom, it is clear that he cannot be on Satan’s side. Also, if Jesus’ exorcisms’ were performed by the power of Satan, the same would have to be said of other exorcists belonging to their community. Instead Jesus’ works indicate that the kingdom of God has indeed arrived. Through his exorcisms, Satan’s power is broken. In the simile of the strong man and his castle, Jesus explicates that he is the stronger one who overpowers Satan who had guarded his kingdom well till this time. Finally Jesus invites his listeners to take a stand for him. The saying here is strong. If one does not positively opt for Jesus, one has opted against him. The time now is for decision and choice.

Once he has answered his critics (11:17-23), Jesus moves on to exhort his listeners to fill their lives with the kingdom of God, because it is possible that despite the exorcism, if a person persists in his old ways, he will be possessed once again and this will be ever worse than before.

While there is no doubt that Jesus did exorcise people who were possessed by demons, we must avoid getting caught up with exorcisms ourselves. Rather, today there are many subtle forms of “possession” which are more dangerous than “external possession”. Some of these are consumerism, selfishness, ignorance and a better than thou attitude. We need to ask the Lord to exorcise these demons from our lives.