He was buried

He was buried

“Joseph bought a linen sheet, took the body down, wrapped it in the sheet, and placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of the solid rock.  Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb.”  (Mark 15: 46)
When I reflected on the above scripture ten years ago, I wrote the following:
“We see in the burial of Jesus the completion of his life cycle as a man.  He was born, grew up and became a man.  He died and now he is buried.  He experienced every event of our humble human nature.  

Yesterday at Mass, the genealogy of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of St. Matthew was read.  For the first time, I felt I understood the message of the genealogy.   Christ Jesus descended from ordinary men and women and not from angels.  A good number of his ancestors were rascals.   All the four women mentioned in the genealogy had skeletons in their  cupboard.  David, the man after God’s heart was not perfect.  Solomon fell from grace.  Rehoboam fell into open rebellion.  But these are men and women whom it pleased God to use to prepare for the coming of Christ.  

In Mark 15: 46, we meet Joseph of Arimathea, the man chosen to bury Jesus.  Jesus died like all his ancestors.  He was buried but he rose again on the third day.  Praise God!

Trust love and obedience

Trust, love and obedience

“It was 9 o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. …..At noon the whole country was covered in darkness, which lasted for three hours.  At 3 o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”  (Mark 15: 25, 33)

According to Mark in the above passage, Jesus spent 6 hours on the cross.  I had always thought he spent 3 hours.  For 6 hours, he endured excruciating pain and agony.  On top of this, he was mocked and insulted all the time.  

How is it that I tend to take lightly what happened on the cross?  I think the reason is spiritual darkness.  I remember St. Ignatius Loyola saying that if it is possible for us to gain an insight into what happened on the cross, we will hate sin forever.  Lord Jesus, grant me this insight.  Grant me the grace to see what you did for me on the cross.

What happened on the cross?  Jesus suffered for 6 hours and died.
Who is Jesus?  The Son of God.
Why did he die on the cross?  To save me from sin.  
What should be my response to this truth?  Trust, love and obedience.

Things will Happen

Things will Happen

“The soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus, made a crown out of the branches, and put it on his head.  Then they began to salute him:  ‘Long live the King of the Jews!’   They beat him over the head with a stick, spat on him, fell on their knees, and bowed down to him.  When they had finished mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him.”  (Mark 15:  17 – 20)

Jesus knew what he would go through during his passion.  He predicted it.  He did so in order to strengthen the faith of his disciples and to remove the element of surprise as his passion starts to unravel.  

Jesus speaks to us in Holy Scripture.  He knows already everything that will happen to us in life.  He is saying:  “Look at my word.  Look at what I have said about my disciples.  Believe it.  So do not be surprised when things start happening to you.”

What is certain is that things will happen to us as disciples of Jesus.  What is comforting is that Christ knows about it already.    What is required of us is faith in Jesus.  

Trust Him

Trust Him

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests know to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4: 6 – 7)

“Be still my soul:  the Lord is on thy side; bear patiently the cross of seeking his will.  Leave to thy God to order and to provide.  You are going through a change in your life and life style.  Know that in every change, he faithful will remain.  
Be still my soul:  thy best thy heavenly Friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”

“Have peace!  Be calm!  Relax!  Be assured that God is for you and with you in the Enterprise.  Look right and left, the signs are everywhere.  Wait patiently for God’s time.  He has a time for everything.  Let your firm hope make you joyful and patient.  Have complete trust in God’s disposal of events.  God is faithful.  He will not abandon you nor forsake you.  He is guiding you every step in this project.  And his guidance is peace.  Trust him.”

Do not be afraid!

Do not be afraid!

“Then Peter said, ‘I swear that I am telling the truth!  May God punish me if I am not!  I do not know the man you are talking about.’  Just then a cock crowed a second time, and Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will say three times that you do not know me.’  And he broke down and cried.”  (Mark 14: 71 – 72)

Jesus predicted Peter’s behavior but Peter did not believe him.  As followers of Jesus, we face on daily basis many dangers and temptations.  The New Testament is full of warnings on the need to be vigilant and alert.  The New Testament is also full of remedies to the various dangers and temptations we face in our Christian walk.

What particular door was open in Peter through which the devil walked in unchallenged?  Fear!  Fear of suffering.  What does Jesus say on the subject of fear?  
Don’t fear those who do no more than cause you physical suffering?
You can only retain your life by losing it.
Do not be afraid.
Take up  your cross everyday and follow me.

Lord, grant us the grace to overcome fears in our lives.

The Crowd and Justice

The Crowd and Justice

“Pilate spoke again to the crowd, ‘what, then, do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?’  They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’  Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barnabas free for them.  Then he had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be crucified.”  (Mark 15: 12 – 15)

We meet Jesus again under the control of the powers of darkness.  Can there be true justice in the world?  Pilate knew very well that Jesus was handed over to him out of malice.   The right thing was for him to set him free.  He chose to please the crowd.  

Christ had predicted that in the world his followers will be persecuted.   For any Christian to expect otherwise is to doubt the words of Jesus.  The process of justice has not changed since the time of Pilate.  The people responsible for administering justice are still motivated to pleasing whatever “crowd” they happen to serve at the material time.  

Peace and justice shall reign in full measure in the kingdom of God.

They Slapped Him

They Slapped Him

“They all voted against him:  he was guilty and should be put to death ….  Some of them began to spit on Jesus, and they blindfolded him and hit him.  ‘Guess who hit you?’ they said.  And the guards took him and slapped him.” (Mark 14: 64 – 65)

This is the moment of the reign of darkness and the forces of evil are at their best game:  lies, condemnation, insults, cruelty, torture and death.   Who is the victim in this case?  A man who is absolutely innocent.  Why are they doing this to Jesus?  His Father decreed that he should go through this in order to save us from these same forces of evil.  

Through the passion and death of Christ, we gain strength to overcome the forces of evil in our own lives.  We do not succumb to threats of lies, insults, torture and death.   How did Christ behave as a captive of the forces of darkness?  He behaved with calm dignity and acceptance.  He had prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for strength to endure and now he enjoys that strength.  

As a disciple of Jesus, temptations will surely come.  It could come in many guises.  As a good soldier, I prepare for the worst through faith and prayer.  We draw inspiration from Jesus Christ, our model.  We follow his example.  

Scriptures Must be Fulfilled

Scriptures Must be Fulfilled

“Did you have to come with swords and clubs to capture me, as though I were an outlaw?  Day after day, I was with you teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me.  But the scriptures must come true.” (Mark 14: 48 – 49)

“But the scriptures must come true.”  God’s word is true and must be fulfilled.  Christ’s food is to do the will of his Father.  His Father’s will for his earthly life is spelt out in the scriptures.    Jesus delighted in the will of his Father and embraced his plan for his life.  He never opposed his Father’s will even when it is unfavorable to him.   His Father willed that he came into the world to save it through suffering and humiliation.  Since his Father is all powerful and all wise, his chosen method for saving the world is the best.

The Father also has a plan for my life.  That plan is good.  The Father’s plan for my life can also be found in the scriptures.  Lord Jesus, grant me deep faith and courage to embrace the Father’s plan for my life.

Your Will and Not Mine

Your Will and Not Mine

“The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me.  Stay here and keep watch ……. Father, my Father!  All things are possible for you.  Take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet not what I want, but what you want ……  ‘Simon, are you asleep?  Weren’t you able to keep awake even for one hour? …..  Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14: 32 – 38)

The hour has come for Jesus to suffer.  How did he handle the situation?

• He went to a secluded place, his “closet” and prayed.


• It was a moment when he had to confront reality all alone.  He did not waste time being disappointed that Peter, James and John were sleeping.


• He bared his heart to the Father.  He was afraid of what he saw coming.  But if it is his Father’s will, he will accept it.  


• He drew strength and power from the knowledge that his suffering had been sanctioned by his Father.

Knowing Christ

Knowing Christ

“More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3: 8)

To know Christ intimately, to love him passionately and to follow him everywhere is a goal I work on everyday.  To know Christ  intimately, I must associate with him frequently through:

• Prayer


• Word of God


• Sacraments:  Eucharist & Reconciliation


• Visit to the Blessed Sacrament


• Devotion to his Mother


• Writing


• Teaching


• Spiritual Reading

To know Christ intimately is a major purpose of my life.  It is the 50% of the mission.  It is the learning component of the mission.  The other 50% deals with the communicating part of my ministry:  sharing Christ Jesus.

Lord Jesus, that I may know you and the power of your resurrection.   Amen!

Watch and Pray

Watch and Pray

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will have your faith shaken, for it is written:  ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be dispersed.’ ……’Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.”  (Mark 14: 27 – 30)

Why did Jesus make this prediction?  Was it to intimidate or humiliate the disciples?  No!   It was to make them prepared for what is to come.  He knows his disciples very well.  He knows the future.  The disciples did not believe him.

Jesus who knows us very well says:  “Be sober, be awake, be on your guard.  Be vigilant at all times so that you cannot be surprised.  I warn you.  The enemy is always looking for an opportunity to drag you down.  Do not give him any loop hole.”
But what are we to be watchful over?  This must be our most precious possessions, our treasures.  For the heart will always be where the treasure is.   Our treasures are:  the Holy Spirit living in us, faith, hope, love, the Eucharist, prayer, the word of God.  We watch over them through prayers.  We watch over them through using them everyday.

The Eucharist

The Eucharist

“While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples.  “Take it,” he said, “this is my body.”  
“Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and handed it to them; and they all drank from it.  Jesus said, “This is my blood which is poured out for many, my blood which seals God’s covenant.” (Mark 14: 22 – 24)

As I reflect on the above passage, I come to realize that for us, the Eucharist represents not just a great mystery but also one of the greatest acts of faith we are called upon to make.  I have the great privilege to take part a couple of times a week in the reenactment of this act in obedience to Christ.

In the Eucharist, I receive a piece of white host looking no different from what it looked like before the consecration.  It tastes and feels exactly the same before and after the consecration.  Then I receive the cup of wine, in every material way similar before and after the consecration.   Yet I believe that the host and the wine are the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  

What is the authority for such an amazing confession?  The above passage, Mark 14: 22 – 24 is one.  Similar passages in Matthew and Luke is another.  A very important authority for this belief is the chapter 6 of the Gospel of St. John.  To crown it all, is the constant belief and practice of the Church in the Eucharist in the past 2000 years.   The Tradition with regard to the Eucharist is rock solid.  Is it possible that the Holy Spirit who has been promised to lead and guide the Church into all truth will deceive the Church in such an important matter?   And for so long?   If the faith and practice of the Church in this one act is an error, where do we have a guarantee of truth?

Thank you Jesus for the gift of the Eucharist.

Everything happens Just as Jesus Says

Everything happens Just as Jesus Says

“The disciples left, went to the city, and found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.”  (Mark 14: 16)
“I tell you that one of you will betray me – one who is eating with me.” (Mark 14: 18)

The message today is simple:  Believe and obey the words of Jesus.  In the above passages from Mark, Jesus predicts two events:  
What the disciples will see when they went to make plans for the last supper.
The betrayal of Judas.
The disciples found that  everything happened “just as Jesus had told them.”

Jesus makes so  many promises to me in the Scripture.  If I believe in them and act on them in obedience, will everything not happen “just as Jesus had told me?”

Lord, your word is true.  Grant me more faith and help me to act on your word.

Open Doors

Open Doors

“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them.  They were pleased to hear what he had to say, and promised to give him money.  So Judas started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them.” (Mark 14: 10 – 11)

Love of money was the open door through which Satan tempted Judas to betray Jesus.  Peter also betrayed Jesus.  Fear of the world, fear of suffering and love of security was the open door through which Satan overcame Peter.  

All “alien gods” of whatever nature, be they money, health, family, job, tools, food or love of security and comfort could take “take advantage of us” (Psalm 16) and become open doors for the devil to enter our lives.  Complacency is also an “alien god” and therefore an open door.

What are the open doors in my life today?  O Holy Spirit reveal them to me.
Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.

You will not always have me

You will not always have me.

“Leave her alone!  Why are you bothering her?  She has done a fine and beautiful thing for me.  You will always have the poor people with you, and anytime you want to, you can help them.  But you will not always have me.  She did what she could; she poured perfume on my body to prepare it ahead of time for burial.  Now, I assure that wherever the gospel is preached all over the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”  (Mark 14: 6 – 9)

This woman did “a fine and beautiful thing” for Jesus.  Jesus praised her initiative.  But men blamed her.  The people who blamed the woman appeared on the surface charitable but in fact their motive was suspect.  I see in this incident the conflict between the word of God and the word of man.  The word of God searches the inner motives of men while men tend to look at the appearances.

Man can never outdo God in generosity.  God owns everything and deserves the very best.

What can I do for Jesus today to merit the words:  “You have done a fine and beautiful thing for me.”  Yes, the poor people are always around me.  Lord Jesus, teach me to recognize you this day in the poor.

The Pains of Labor

The Pains of Labor

“When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.” (John 16: 21)

To be victorious implies a struggle.  

When you are able to withstand the pains of the negative cycle in your life, you become mentally and spiritually stronger.  Your convictions are more solid.  You have overcome by faith and your faith is strengthened.  You know that God is reliable and that you can trust him.

What are the pains of the negative cycles or seasons of life?   I call them the pains of the 6 war zones:  family, health, money, job, food and tools.

1. Family:  No peace; no trust; no happiness.


2. Health:  Physical pain, discomfort,; no sleep; plenty of anxiety.


3. Money:  Feeling of lack; inadequacy, humiliation, deprivation, unhappiness.


4. Job:  no work, feeling of helplessness; feeling of inadequacy, rejection, insufficiency and helplessness.


5. Food:  No food; pangs of hunger; discomfort.


6. Tools:  No car, no TV, computer, telephone, etc.

Health and lack of food cause physical pain and discomfort.  Family, money, job and tool problems cause emotional pain, anxiety and unhappiness.  All the war zones produce unhappiness and  disequilibrium in one’s life.

Have I developed effective scripts on the 6 war zones?  Have I fully understood God’s point of view for me in each of the war zones?

In some season, some of the war zones will be more active than others.  On other occasions, there will be peace in all my borders.

The Sufficiency of God's Provision

The Sufficiency of God’s Provision

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.”  (Psalm 23:1)

What I have today is exactly what I need.    The money I have now is sufficient.  The tools I have today are the tools I need.    With regard to money, God tells me:  “Be satisfied with what you have.” (Hebrews 13: 5)

The understanding of the truth of the sufficiency of God’s provision is the foundation of my contentment.  That God is truly providing everything I need moment by moment is a staggering truth that appears to good to be true.  But it is.  To believe this and to submit to God’s most loving and powerful providence is to live in boundless joy, peace and contentment.
The Lord renews my youth as an eagle. (Psalm 103:5)

“He guides me in the right paths, as he promised.”  Today, I am in desperate need for guidance.  What is the next step in the Enterprise?  The Lord has promised me guidance and surely he is leading me step by step.    This is sufficient for me.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In everything you do, acknowledge him and he will direct all your paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5)

When will it happen?

When will it happen?

“No one knows, however, when that day or hour will come – neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son; only the Father knows.  Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the hour will come!  …..If it comes suddenly, he must not find you asleep.  What I say to you, I say to all.  Watch.”  (Mark 13: 32 – 37)

In the above passage, Jesus answers one of the most critical questions we ask God:  Exactly when will it happen?  At what moment will I receive the answer to my prayer?  What is the precise minute of my death?

Answer:   The WHEN is God’s secret.  It is part of his divine arrangement, his government of the world.  The lesson that emerges from the discussion of times and seasons is very clear.  If God has said that something will happen, it must happen.  We are advised to be sober, alert and watchful and not to worry about the precise time.  We prepare for God’s intervention in our lives through prayer, the study of the word of God and through communion with Jesus in the sacraments.

Signs of the Times

Signs of the Times

“Let the fig-tree teach you a lesson.  When its branches become green and tender and it starts putting out leaves, you know that summer is near.  In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to begin ….. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  (Mark 13: 28 – 31)

I am invited to reflect on the signs of the times in  my life.  Are the branches of the fig-tree turning green and tender or are they becoming dry and withering?  About 11 years ago, I experienced the braches of my fig-tree becoming dry and withering.  What were the signs?  Every vital area of my life was getting dry and withering:  family, health, money, tools, job and food.  I thank God that I read correctly the signs of the times and was inspired on what to do.  I sought the Lord and his mercies intensely and he heard my prayer.   Then out of the blues came the idea of the Enterprise.   Then the branches started turning green and tender and putting out leaves.   I saw the new signs and knew that summer was near.

Lord, teach me to read the signs of the times.

The Test

The Test

“Pray to God that those things will not happen in the winter!  For the trouble of those days will be far worse than any the world has ever known from the beginning when God created the world until the present time ….  But the Lord has reduced the number of those days; if he had not, nobody would survive.  For the sake of his chosen people, however, he has reduced those days.”  (Mark 13: 18 – 20)

“Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you safe from the time of trouble which is coming upon the world to test all the people of the earth.”  (Revelation 3: 10)

“The Devil will put you to the test by having some of you thrown into prison, and your troubles will last 10 days.  Be faithful to me even if it means death, and I will give you life as your prize of victory.”  (Revelation 2: 10)

Message:

• Severe test may be coming in the future.


• No one will be spared.


• For the chosen, the test will last for a short time.


• Trust in Jesus Christ and remain faithful.