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Greater call to freedom

21 Saturday Feb 2015

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For three months, Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer had been prisoners of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, accused along with other aid workers of trying to convert Afghans to Christianity.  In October of 2001 their prison cells was shaken by the thunder of U. S. bombs falling on the city of Kabul.  Weeks later, after a cold, sleepless night in a steel shipping container, the girls and their colleagues found themselves in a new prison south of Kabul, with rockets crashing down on the contested town they were in.  Suddenly, men were banging on their prison doors.  They believed that their Taliban captors were returning, and now their fate was really uncertain as the situation around them dissolved into chaos.  Then, to their surprise, an anti-Taliban soldier came in with reams of ammunition around his neck.  And he was just shouting two wonderful words – “You’re free!  You’re free!”

freedom-converted

Jesus gives a much greater call to freedom. The freedom Jesus offers is better than freedom from earthly bondage. “Freedom does not mean I am able to do whatever I want to do. That’s the worst kind of bondage. Freedom means I have been set free to become all that God wants me to be, to achieve all that God wants me to achieve, to enjoy all that God wants me to enjoy.”  Warren W. Wiersbe

Jesus Calls us out of Bondage to Sin. Levi was in Bondage to Sin. We are all in bondage to sin. The quicker we come to realize and admit this reality, the sooner we may find mercy and grace from God through Jesus Christ.

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The call to freedom included a call to leave, (He was called out of sin). We cannot follow Jesus and stay in sin. Jesus did not play, “Let’s make a deal” with Levi. Has your experience with Christ had the leaving element? If it has not, perhaps you are still yet lost. It then includes a call to believe. It is here implied, in that it is the other side of repentance. Much of the problem with our churches is the notion of easy-believism. That is, faith without repentance. Faith that does not lead to action. This is not biblical or saving faith.

ILL: Booker T. Washington describes an ex-slave from Va in Up from Slavery:

“I found that this man had made a contract with his master, two or three years previous to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for himself, he was to be permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased. “Finding that he could secure better wages in Ohio, he went there.  When freedom came, he was still in debt to his master some three hundred dollars. Not withstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to his master, this black man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master lived in Virginia, and placed the last dollar, with interest, in his hands.” Faith that leads us back to bondage or keeps us in bondage is not the faith God demands.

Finally, a call to follow, “A converted man will not wish to go to heaven alone.” J. C. Ryle in Holiness. The founding Fathers believed in the cause of freedom. Their belief led to action. Following is the activity of faith. Faith’s evidence is following.

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, page 37: “Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness.”

The filling of emptiness

20 Friday Feb 2015

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It was inappropriate for groomsmen to fast until after a wedding banquet had ended. Weddings lasted seven days, and participants or ‘guests of the bridegroom’ means either the groomsmen (compare Jn 3:29) or the guests-were expected to participate joyfully. Sages even interrupted their schools to hail passing bridal processions (ARN 4A).

jewish wedding

New cloth had not yet shrunk, and when it began to shrink after being patched onto a garment that had finished its shrinking, the patch would tear loose from the garment, making the tear worse (Mt 9:16). In the same way, old wineskins had been stretched to the limit as wine fermented and expanded in them. Because old wineskins had already been stretched to the limit, if they were filled with new wine it would ultimately burst them when it expanded. Traditional rituals must never become a straitjacket that hinder us from celebrating sinners’ embrace of the good news of God’s kingdom.

The object of fasting is to become closer to God through prayer and the denial of a very worldly pleasure: that of eating. Jesus’ answer to the disciples of John makes clear that there is no need for fasting as long as He is with them because He, Jesus, is God and, therefore, the unity with God that is sought through fasting is already achieved through Christ’s presence.

Jesus’ use of the word “mourning” in the passage is important because it both illustrates the feeling of great loss or emptiness that fasting attempts to remedy, and also prophecies the loss of Jesus in his worldly form upon His death and later Ascension. Jesus also refers to himself as the “bridegroom”, an image important to the expression of the relationship between Christ and the Church, especially in the letters of Paul.

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Prophet Isaiah, in today’s first reading, tells us which is the fasting God appreciates: “Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter —when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear, then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard” (Is 58:7-8). God likes and expects from us whatever is taking us towards a true love for all our brothers.

St. John Paul II, under the motto “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving” (Acts 20:35); helps us to discover the very same charitable dimension of our fasting, which, from the bottom of our heart, allows us to prepare for Easter Time, in an effort to identify ourselves, more and more, with Christ’s love which took him to die in the Cross for us. “What every Christian ought to do all the time, he ought to do it now more carefully and more devotedly” (Saint Leo the Great, pope).

Gain it all in Christ

19 Thursday Feb 2015

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In the beginning, when God created the world, He willed that man have dominion over all of His creation. Here we need to understand that right from the very beginning of his existence, God always desired and ensured to share His richness and kingship with man. But sin snatched away this dominion and man lost the right to be co-heir of God.

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The Lord of creation who became God incarnate, gave His own life, as a ransom to set man free for eternity from what could have been perpetual and indescribably painful bondage. But to be this God incarnate, the ruler of all; lowered Himself as a peasant, and the giver of all; humbled Himself to receive human care. To whom belonged all glory, He chose to dwell in poverty among a nation who by the rulers of the known world (Romans) were made paupers of freedom and peace. By this Lord teaches us the fullness there is in emptiness. The greatness there is in meekness. The sovereignty there is in servitude.

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Renouncing one’s most ardent desire for gratification or fulfilment, faithful willingness to embrace burdens for righteousness sake, and courageously detaching one’s self from this world to be inhabitants of an eternally joyful and holy kingdom, is the ‘call’ to those who seek Truth. Truth whose name is Jesus. Those who follow this King (Jesus) are destined to be rejected, trampled, disowned and persecuted, most often by their own peoples. But just as their King, by His own accord, power and will, rose from the dead into everlasting life, so will each one of those who follow Him and live by His Word.

Many kings, rulers, dictators and commanders, as well as, beggars, indigents, servants and marginalized, all have left (died) with nothing from this world to be carried in to the other world. But those who lose themselves for the sake of Christ Jesus, Christ Himself assures them of the bounty of eternity. Therefore my friends, may we live by the love of Christ, denying our sinful self and embracing the holiness of our Christ, that one day we dwell with Him, His Father, Spirit and all heavenly beings, face-to-face, for all eternity. Amen.

Catholic uprightness is not for parade

18 Wednesday Feb 2015

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Lenten Refection, Gospel of Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Today it begins. Another year, another chance. Ash Wednesday, the start of a time which calls for our lives to be specially clothed in righteousness, so as to experience the piety of Christ in prayer, His humility in moments of honour, His denouncing of self as opposed to craving for pompous attention or indulgence, and above all, a joyful willingness to enter and be part of the ignominious suffering, crucifixion and death of Our Lord. As a sign of anticipation of becoming a whole new creation by His resurrection.

Innocence and kindness is being brutally assaulted by forces of darkness, all around the world. This evil does not distinguish between the vulnerable and strong, child and adult, nor reason and faith. The time in which Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth had not been alien to Evil. Infact Roman brutality and persecution would explicitly boast of stripping off human skin while the victim be alive, or throw the accused in dens of the beasts as their prey. There were Christians, numerous in number, who have embraced this fate with and for the love of their Lord Jesus. Death never sees a more valiant and serene face than that of a martyr of Christ.

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In such a world, the Gospel of Christ is still essentially love. And in today’s Gospel, this love teaches the exceptionality of righteous clandestineness in living the faith in day to day life, especially during the holy season of Lent. Christ in today’s Gospel cautions us to be careful of not losing the coveted reward (eternal life) from our Father in heaven. When there is so much persecution, abuse, taunting and mockery of Christianity and Christians all around, it is natural to expect the faithful to; as Jesus calls it ‘parade’ uprightness in public. It could be in response to anti-social or fanatic religious actions against Christians, a retaliation towards sleaze against Christian convictions, or simply as a means to create a buzz within the powerful social media realm.

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Lent calls for prayer, fasting and alms giving. Jesus teaches us that all of this is to be done with righteous generosity and prayerful disposition which build intimacy with the Holy Trinity, as well as builds a strong interior castle (spirit) of holiness for a lifetime here on earth. Christ emphasises on reflecting or expressing visible joy in fasting, praying and alms giving. Expression of this joy needs to be an experience of the spirit within and in doing good to our neighbour. Putting-on of ashes is not a modern invention of the Catholic Church. Ancient Jews, early Christians and now all Catholics embrace this ritual that signifies deep spirituality and the need of wilful reconciliation with God Almighty. Fasting is not a modern initiative to enthuse faith, it is a righteous deed from the days of old, practiced reverently even by Christ Himself before starting His public ministry; as accounted by the Gospels. Alms giving has encouraged the virtue of humility and charity through numerous generations, across borders and faiths. Jesus never used these acts of love and uprightness as a ‘stunt’ to attract followers or subscribers to His teaching. Nor did he flaunt it as agitated response or boastfulness.

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What is essential, as Christ lovingly teaches, is that these virtuous deeds are primarily essential to break, mould and build our interior spiritual self and to a great extent our physical self as well. It is also meant to renew and reaffirm our individual and personal relationship with God. Finally, it is also to be part of the communion with the Universal Church in experiencing and celebrating the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of this need of holy interiority and clandestineness that Jesus affirms that no other person would know except “your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you”. My friends, I wish you all a personally enriching, holy, peaceful, love-filled Lent 2015. God bless us all and live in us all. Amen.

– John Roger Anthony

The created present the Creator

02 Monday Feb 2015

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The Hebrew word Malachi simply means “My [that is, God’s] messenger.” Malachi was a prophet of God sent to the Jews who had resettled in Judea and to all Israel in general, depicted as “the sons of Jacob” (Malachi 3:6). Toward the close of the book, it becomes clear that God is also speaking to all of humankind. In today’s first reading, the words of this significant prophet of God; “And suddenly The Lord whom you seek will come to His Temple: yes, the angel of the covenant, for whom you long, is on his way, says Yahweh Sabaoth” (Malachi 3:1), draws an illuminating precursor to what unfolds many years later, in the era of the New Covenant.

Like every other day, in ‘the house of The Lord’, amidst worship, sacrifice, reconciliation and fellowship, the people of God; one day found themselves, unaware, in the moment which was prophesied, ordained and anointed by their Yahweh. The evangelist Luke, in today’s Holy Gospel, describes how Malachi 3:1 came to its fulfilment. The day came, the evangelist says, for them to be purified in keeping the Law of Moses. They took him up to Jerusalem to present Him to The Lord (Luke 2:22). Suddenly, the time came upon them (Kairos), when the One whom they seek, was in their Temple. But did they recognize him?

simeon and Anna with Child Jesus

The little infant Jesus of Nazareth; who is God incarnate, omnipotent and majestic, is presented in the ‘house of His Father (John 2:16), by his righteous parents, in accordance to The Law. St. Joseph and Mary testify to being witnesses to God’s command to His people, in dedicating the first-born to Yahweh. How often do parents take joy in offering their children as living sacrifices for the sake of righteousness (Matthew 5:10).

People of God await the coming of The Lord, into their body, heart, mind and spirit, just like how the guests at the wedding await the coming of the bridegroom – with joy (Matthew 25: 1- 13). However, when the groom, The Lord arrives, do our inner eyes of faith recognise Him and our beings approach Him? Today’s Gospel accounts of an elderly man, upright and devout man called Simeon, who looked for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him (Luke 2:25). Pope Francis once said, young people can learn a lot from Simeon; who represents the elderly who are wise, holy and humble. He pointed out that elderly such as Simeon teaches younger generations how to be able to expect and ‘recognize’ the presence of God, Jesus, in our everyday life. Those who age in wisdom have upright humility and deep-rooted understanding of righteousness. Such coming of age ensures the constant and living dwelling of the Holy Spirit within such persons.

light of all nations

Simeon gave thanks to God for letting him see / witness salvation made ready in the sight of the nations; a light of revelation for the gentiles and glory for your people Israel. In Isaiah chapter 49, verse 6, Yahweh assures of giving His son as a light to the Gentiles, that He may be His salvation to the ends of the earth. How does this light reach those who do not believe? The Catholic Church’s Vatican II document Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964, guided by the Holy Spirit; speaks eloquently about Universal call to holiness (Chapter V). Jesus the Lumen Gentium is indeed the ‘Light of all Nations’. The document urges an undeniable truth: every person must walk unhesitatingly according to his own personal gifts and duties in the path of living faith, which arouses hope and works through charity.

Friends, let us always be conscious of the fact that Jesus is in our midst, Jesus is within us, and that Jesus is for every one of us. Let us therefore, present ourselves as a holy sacrifice as well as an instrument of His Father in the Temple (Church), to His people as His light and to ourselves also; as the only source of salvation. By doing so, we too like the prophetess Anna, who served God night and day with fasting and prayer in that temple (Luke 2:37), will find and recognise Christ our redemption, and thus begin to praise God and speak of ‘this child’ (Jesus) to all who look forward to the deliverance of mankind. Amen.

We are His manger

24 Wednesday Dec 2014

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In the beginning there was nothing, not even time. Then The Word was spoken and everything came into being, within time and beyond. This Word was with God (John 1:1), the same Word who affirmed to His people of disbelief that “even before Abraham, I am”. The Word created everything good, seen and unseen. Man, dearest creation of The Word among all He created, let disobedience ruin the sanctity of a covenant that was born from the bosom of eternity. Sin and its master (Satan) seeped-in amidst what was meant to be infinitely blameless. To blot out this offence, so grave that only The Almighty Himself would have to reconcile, The Word became incarnate. The One who was Most Holy – (hágios: means “likeness of nature with the Lord” because “different from the world”), seated on the throne of righteousness, who created everything Holy, now wills by His merciful and everlasting loving heart to be one in flesh among the unrighteous. Because what is His cannot be lost forever. He had to reclaim, rebuild and renew.

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The Word walked in the cool of the day (righteousness and unblemished nature, cf: Genesis 3:8). But now sin caused His immaculate being to walk on the sod of corruption, deceit and everything unclean. He fearfully caused man to be born out of nothing and nurtured him in His sacred paradise, a paradise where the aroma of sanctity wrapped every matter & spirit. But behold, man caused that very ‘I am’ to be born in a cave where the stench of cattle’s waste and dirt repelled any human dwelling. But the Lord of humility, the God of love, the Master of mercy, chose to make an undesirable cave; repudiation of purity, become a sanctuary of The Divine where the humble & poor (Shepherds), the wise & just (Magi) were led to worship. Wrapped in swaddling clothes, in a manger lay ‘Emmanuel’. Guarded on one side by the carpenter; the renowned off-spring of David, whose obedience and faith made him the foster father of ‘The Logos’, and on the other side cared by the virgin whose immaculate nature entitled her to become ‘The Theotokos’.

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My dear friends, in the words of St. Paul, “do you (and I) not know that your (and mine) are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you (and me), whom you (and I) have received from God? (1 Cor 6:19-20). Sin makes us unmindful of this truth. Our body & soul which was meant to be a heavenly abode, has been corrupted into a dungeon of sin. Our body & soul which was created to be a holy temple, by sin is now vulnerable to the fatal danger of becoming a tomb for the dead. This sleaze of iniquity, however, did not have any power to repel The Word to reclaim, rebuild and renew.

So do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. Do not feel rejected. The Word is Jesus. The Babe of Bethlehem who has the earnest desire to be born in the manger of your heart. Even if it is shabby, He sees it worthy. Even if it is unclean, He can make it serene. Even if it is miserable, He will make grace feasible. And even if it is unwanted, for Him it is most wanted. Repent and believe, you are His homeland.

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Glory to the new born King. Merry Christmas, dear friends!

Serving you for God’s glory

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

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From Horn to Halo

01 Saturday Nov 2014

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One of the finest corporal and mystical moments on earth, throughout the history of mankind, has been the conception of a human life in the womb of a woman. This moment is by all means the dawn of the incarnation of God’s impeccable will in that human soul’s life. It is mystical because it is only God who knows all about the mystical initiation of the human soul within the life form. Due to the ingenious of divine creativity and complexity, the womb of the mother can certainly be considered as the first environment for a human life to experience saintly virtues. Such virtues which the pregnant mother is most expected to manifest them towards the child in her precious womb. The interesting fact at this point in time is that whether or not the mother has conceived the child by her consent, or whether or not the child in the womb is the fruit of the sanctity of marriage, the mother is given an abundance of grace by God to care, nourish, protect, love and sustain this helpless form of human life in her womb. What is expected of the woman is to willingly and joyfully cooperate with that Divine and exclusive grace that calls for her to be an embodiment of saintly virtues of being courageous, kind, reverential, wise, sacrificing, charitable and above all, God fearing, in being the instrument of fulfilling God’s Omniscient plan for that soul, which He fearfully and loving created, and chose to bless it with the shelter of that mother’s womb. This is how a human person, each one of us, experiences the call to Sainthood, from the very moment of our conception.

annunciation - Leonardo Da Vinci

The Angel of God Almighty, Gabriel, appeared and announced glad tidings (Luke 1:26-39) from the ‘author of life’ (Genesis 2:7), to the humble and God-fearing Jewish virgin maiden called Mary in Nazareth, the daughter of Joachim and Anne, betrothed to a virtuous and righteous Jewish carpenter called Joseph. Upon receiving divine revelation of becoming the Mediatrix (Luke 1:38) chosen by God to be the instrument of His merciful grace to all mankind, Mary (the woman predestined by God, even before the continuation of the human race, to be the mother of His Son) was courageous to ask the angel of God, “how can this be, since I am a virgin?” This is manifestation of courageous conversation with the divine realm is an outstanding example of how person is called to dialogue with God to understand the call to holiness and obedience to Divine will. What is this if it is not a virtue of a saint? Mary’s ancestors were testimony to such courage for conversing with God, to understand (if possible) and (or) simply obey. Think about the courage of Abraham when he asked God, “shall a child be born unto him…? (Genesis 17:17)”. Moses said to God, “who am I, that I should go…? (Exodus 3:11)”. Jacob wrestled with the angel of God until the divine power obliged to bless him (Genesis 32:24).

Courage is an integral virtue to live joyfully as saint. God, through his loving kindness, grants the grace to be courageous to the simple and the meek, and through their willing cooperation with that grace; fulfills His extraordinary plans, as well as establishes the continuity of His covenant of love and mercy for all. Odoardo Focherini (1907-1944) from Carpi in Italy was an insurance agent, journalist and father of seven children. With the support from his wife and guidance from Cardinal Pietro Boetto of Genoa, he established a rescue network that transported 100 Jews to safety into Switzerland. This hero of God, exemplary Catholic of this century, was arrested and martyred in a concentration camp in Hersbruk, Germany. His last words were, “I declare I am dying in the purest apostolic Roman Catholic faith and in full submission to the will of God, offering my life as holocaust for my diocese, for Catholic Action, for the pope, and for the return of peace to this world.”

saint

Faith and holiness makes a person partaking in the everlasting banquet of love and joy. Saints are beaming instruments of faith. They are like trumpets that the angles play to reverberate God’s glory, authority, fidelity, love and mercy. In the tender age of thirteen, Agnes a Roman girl suffered martyrdom for her impeccable and undeterred love and faithfulness to Christ Jesus. St. Agnes was endowed with scintillating beauty and so many young men queued to marry her. But she kept saying “I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!” The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shone with joy. Next he sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemned to death. Even the pagans cried to see such a young and beautiful girl going to death. Yet, Agnes was as happy as a bride on her wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. “I would offend my Spouse,” she said, “if I were to try to please you. He chose me first and He shall have me!” Then she prayed and bowed her head for the death-stroke of the sword.

pope-and-disfigured-man

Pope Francis, calls the bride of Christ; the Holy Catholic Church, to be a ‘field hospital’. In this world of battlefield Catholicism, men and women of all ages are both ignorant, deprived or rejecting divine love and mercy. Pope St. John Paul II by his saintly testimony of life empowered the world with his words, “Do not be afraid”. Today, God calls each one of us to be His saint. He calls us to be truthful when we smile at a neighbor / stranger, forgive and reconcile with family / acquaintance, share or lend, wish / pray for well being. He calls us to be faithful and bravely rise of being His testimony and voice for the poor and marginalized as well as bearers of the sanctity of sacraments. He demands of us to be instruments of wisdom to the young, humbleness and kindness to the old.

love-man-woman-silhouette-sun-sunset-sea-lake-beachother-768x1024

Whether we are poor or rich, powerful or meek, intellectual or ignorant, beautiful or less endowed, whether we are famous or not yet to be discovered, whether we are struggling to be righteous or humble, we are all called to be truthful in our pursuit of sainthood. To be a saint means to be hopeful, patient, collaborative, child-like, holy and cheerful. The one who desires to be a saint will love God and His Magesterium first, be hungry to serve God in His people, enjoy for unity in diversity, will stand and speak-up for truth and justice, will not be afraid of getting dirty to be cleansed as well as clean, will strive to excel in every walk of life – in all circumstances, will laugh whole-heartedly at simple joys in life, will not shy from crying in times of much happiness or sorrow, nor will fear failure. Will not be ashamed of the crucifix nor the cross that is to be borne, will protect the helpless, strip-off to cloth the naked, abstain to feed the hungry, love unconditionally the one who feels dejected. A saint to be will not endorse arrogance or corruption or deceit, nor will judge by appearances. Will hate sin and its master; the devil. Will forever strive to live holy. We are all called to be saints, now and forever. Let us answer this call, now and forever, and begin to live in the company of saints here on earth.

 

Enter the Kingdom!

29 Wednesday Oct 2014

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Reflection on the Gospel of Luke 13:22-30

Another question led to this teaching. The thematic connection with Jesus’ words implying the small beginning of the kingdom should be obvious. As elsewhere, Luke recorded Jesus teaching lessons and using illustrations and expressions, which the other Gospel writers recorded Him using in other contexts. Jesus’ repetition is understandable in view of His itinerant ministry and His great skill as a teacher. Luke employed similar geographical summary statements in Acts, too, to indicate divisions in his narrative (e.g., 12:25; 14:27-28; 16:4). They give a sense of movement and progress, in material that is essentially didactic. Jesus’ general movement was toward “Jerusalem” and the Cross, though He seems to have proceeded without haste and with many pauses for teaching. The goal is the important feature, not how Jesus reached it. He gave the following teaching on the way.

Luke did not identify the questioner, who could have been a disciple or a member of the ubiquitous crowd. The questioner evidently wanted to know if he or she was correct in concluding, from Jesus’ previous teaching (e.g., Mark 10:23-26), that only “a few” people would experience salvation. For the Jews, and probably for the questioner, salvation meant entering the kingdom as well as entering heaven. The identity of the people to whom Jesus responded is indefinite and unimportant. Jesus did not answer the question directly. Instead of giving an impersonal answer, He explained how a person could enter the kingdom. A “narrow door” pictured an unpopular and difficult entryway (cf. Matt. 7:13). Jesus meant the door was the way He taught, in contrast to the more popular way that the religious leaders taught. Striving referred to believing Jesus despite the intrinsic difficulty of believing and the opposition of others (John 10:9).

heaven's gate

“Many” people would “seek to enter” the kingdom through ways other than the narrow door, but would be unable to enter. One writer argued that the striving in view involves submitting to Christ’s Lordship. But submitting to Christ’s Lordship is nowhere a condition for entrance into the kingdom. Only faith in Jesus is. The revelation that God would soon shut the narrow door of opportunity—to enter heaven and the kingdom—should have moved Jesus’ hearers not to delay believing in Him. In one sense, anyone can believe as long as he or she is alive. In another sense, it becomes more difficult to believe as one procrastinates and as one grows older. However, in view of Jesus’ illustration of the banquet that follows, it is more likely that He was thinking of the beginning of the kingdom. When the kingdom began, it would be impossible for unbelievers to change their minds and be saved. Therefore, in view of the kingdom’s imminence—when Jesus uttered this warning—His hearers needed to believe without delay.

According to Dr. Constable’s Notes on Luke 2014 Edition, when the kingdom began, no amount of appeal—based only on friendship or familiarity with Jesus—would avail. Jesus had extended fellowship to His hearers, and had taught them the way of salvation, but they had rejected His offers. In Matthew, Jesus clearly identified the person who shut the door as Himself (Matt. 7:22-23). He will also be the person who will utterly forsake and pronounce judicial rejection on unbelievers for their lack of righteousness (Ps. 6:8). The phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” elsewhere describes eternal punishment in hell (Matt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30). There is no reason to conclude that it means something else here. “Weeping” expresses sorrow (Acts 20:37; James 4:9; 5:1), and “gnashing” or grinding the “teeth” pictures anger and hatred (Job 16:10; Ps. 35:16; 37:12; 112:10; Lam. 2:16; Acts 7:54). These feelings will arise in people outside the kingdom as they view others within it.

heaven

The judgment at the beginning of the kingdom is in view. Evidently God will raise dead Old Testament saints to life then, to enter the kingdom (Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2). The Old Testament revealed that Gentiles would also participate in the messianic banquet that will inaugurate Messiah’s earthly reign (Isa. 25:6-7; 60; 62:2-9; 65:13-14; Ezek. 34:12-14; 39:17-20). People coming from the four compass points would be Gentiles rather than the Jews, who lived primarily in Palestine. Jesus said that many Jews would not enter the kingdom (Matt. 8:10-12). Many of Jesus’ hearers were undoubtedly trusting in their Jewish blood and heritage to get them into the kingdom, so Jesus’ words would have shocked them. The people who are “last” in this context probably refer to Gentiles, whom the Jews regarded as least likely to enter the kingdom (Matt. 19:30; 20:16; Mark 10:31). The ones who are “first” were the Jews. They considered themselves to be superior to Gentiles in many ways. They were also the first and the foremost objects of Jesus’ ministry.

The Early Church Father St. Cyril of Alexandria in his sermons on Luke says, “For wide is the door, and broad the way that brings down many to destruction.” And what are we to understand by its broadness? It means an unrestrained tendency to carnal lust; a base and pleasure loving life; luxurious feastings, and revelling and banqueting, and un-resisted inclinations unto everything which is condemned by the law, and displeasing to God: a stiff-necked mind that will not bow to the yoke of the law: a life accursed, and relaxed in all dissoluteness, thrusting from it the divine law, and utterly unmindful of the sacred commandments: wealth and the vices that spring from it, scorn and pride, and the vain imagining of transitory boastings. From all such things must those withdraw who would enter in by the strait door, and be with Christ, and keep festival with Him.”

Stay, Watch and Remain with HIM

22 Wednesday Oct 2014

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Reflection on Gospel of Luke 12:39-48

My brothers and sisters, in order to better understand today’s Holy Gospel; let us explore the context of both, the Hebrews of the time in which Jesus was speaking, and, the wisdom of the Gospel for today and forever. The Hebrew term for slave, eved, is a direct derivation from the Hebrew verb, la’avÖd (“to work”), thus, the slave in Jewish law really only a worker or a servant. The eved differs from the hired worker (sakhir) in three respects: he receives no wages for his work, he is a member of his master’s household; and, his master exercises patria potestas over him – for example, the master may choose a wife for the slave and retains ownership of her and he has proprietary rights in him.

Our Lord talks about the servant: the servant who is obedient to his master’s wishes and whom his master will find busy upon his arrival. He also does not mince words while talking about the one who knows the master’s wishes but does not carry them out and that he will be ranked among those undeserving of trust. He is very clearly speaking to each one of us. Many countries around the world have witnessed slavery. It has a very negative connotation to it and rightly so [considering] for example, the way it was carried out in America. But there is another kind of slavery that is a freely chosen slavery. That is, a slavery that we choose to make ourselves obedient to another.

22-10-2014 - image

In today’s Holy Gospel, our good Lord Jesus teaches us that, preparation is very important for so many things. A wise person would not begin to prepare a recipe without making sure that they have all the ingredients at hand. It’s not different when it comes to the spiritual life. Spiritually speaking we prepare ourselves to meet the master by daily prayer, by acts of sacrifice and charity, by reading sacred scripture. Most importantly we prepare ourselves by receiving the Sacraments of the Church, fortified with Sanctifying Grace. So we prepare by going to Confession and receiving the Lord in the Holy Communion as often as possible. Spiritually we need to be prepared to meet our master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus talks about the master of the house possibly arriving at the “second or third watch of the night.” Being faithful isn’t a fling or a flash in the pan. We know that there will be “ups and downs,” moments of two steps forward and one back. Through it all we are called to persevere. Going the distance is not easy, but how beautiful it is! Pope Saint John Paul II gave us an indelible example of perseverance. What treasure does the Lord expect us to vigilantly guard in this present life? It is the treasure of the gifts he has won for us – the gift of salvation purchased by his blood on the cross which has ransomed us from slavery to sin, Satan,and death – and the gift of his Holy Spirit who works in and through us to make us a a new creation refashioned in the image of God. The Father and the Son through the gift of the Holy Spirit come to make their home with us. But we can ignore their presence, close our ears to their voice, or reject them through pride and unfaithfulness.

Satan comes like a thief in the night to rob us of our faith and to draw us away from God. He works with the world (that society which is opposed to God) and with our flesh (our sinful inclinations) to make us believe that we can find treasure and happiness apart from God and his will for our lives. The Lord Jesus calls us to be vigilant in watching for his return and to be ready to meet him when he calls us to himself. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may have the wisdom, help, and strength we need to turn away from sin to embrace God’s way of love, justice, and holiness. The Lord’s warning of judgment causes dismay for those who are unprepared, but it brings joyful hope to those who eagerly wait for his return in glory.  God’s judgment is good news for those who are ready to meet him. Their reward is God himself, the source of all truth, beauty, goodness, love and everlasting life.

Lord Jesus, you have captured my heart for you. Make it strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and generous in love that I may seek to please you in all things and bring you glory.  Keep me ever watchful for the coming of your kingdom.

 

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