4th Sunday of the Year, Year B

4th Sunday of the Year, Year B

First reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 95
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Gospel reading: Mark 1:21-28

"He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him."

In this Sunday's gospel, we continue reading the beginning
passages of Mark's 1st chapter. In this Sunday's gospel passage
we find Peter and Andrew already following Jesus, as Jesus
entered the synagogue and taught the congregation assembled
there. Those in the synagogue were amazed at the words of Jesus
because they were proclaimed with authority, unlike that of the
Scribes. Then, suddenly, amidst all this, there was a man with
an unclean spirit in the synagogue, who challenged Jesus. Jesus
knew the man was possessed, and so He rebuked the man - causing
the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Again, those at the
synagogue were amazed. For Jesus commands even the unclean
spirits and they obey Him. Therefore, Jesus and His reputation
spread everywhere through the whole region of Galilee.

We all know that though Jesus was God made man, there was no
sin in Him. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove
during His baptism in the river Jordan by John the Baptist.
And as Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert, Jesus was
triumphant against the Evil One and his wiles. Jesus had power
over evil, not only during the tempatation in the desert, but
all along, and everywhere in His ministry with the people.
Wherever He encountered people possessed with unclean spirits
and by demons, He was able to cure them. Just by the power of
His Word, He was able to make the unclean spirits come out of
those whom they were tormenting and abusing. And the man in
the synagogue in our present gospel passage is only one of the
many healing miracles and exorcisms that Jesus had performed.

In our modern times, with all the noise around us, many of us
are not aware anymore of the spiritual forces that are within
us and outside of us. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of
the Jesuits, says in his book "The Spiritual Exercises", that
there are three spirits influencings us: one internal (our
human spirit); and two external (the bad spirit and the good
spirit or angel). If we take on a spiritual discipline of
prayer, silence, solitude, meditation, contemplation, and
sacramental life, we will be made more aware of the spirits
that are influencing us. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit,
we can discern to a certain extent, if the spirit that is
guiding us or influencing us, is good or bad. Our task is
never to rely on our own knowledge or strength alone, but to
depend on the Lord and a confessor or spiritual director -
who will help point us to where the Holy Spirit should be
leading us, and to avoid those occasions where the bad or
evil spirit is tempting us to a direction that is not of
God.

So as we work, pray, and live in the world, even if we are in
the midst of much noise and activity, let us not forget also,
like Jesus, to come away for awhile and to go to a quiet
place (like the adoration chapel), and take moments of
silence and prayer, so that we may discern the way we are
go. Praying for God's help and guidance and seeking those
who can counsel us rightly, will help us hear more the voice
of God and be docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit,
that we may follow a path of simplicity and humility -
avoiding the temptations to covet great riches, honor, and
power.

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle

First reading: Acts 22:3-16
Responsorial Psalm: Ps:117
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Gospel reading: Mark 16:15-18

"Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel..."

For the Feast of St. Paul's conversion this Sunday, we are given
a passage from the last chapter of the gospel of Mark (chapter
16). The context for this passage is the Resurrection
appearances of Jesus: to Mary Magdalene, to two of His followers,
and finally to the Eleven apostles. As Jesus revealed His Risen
presence to the Eleven, He told them this: "Go into the whole
world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." These apostles
are then to drive out demons, speak new languages, pick up
serpents with their hands (miraculously not being harmed), and
lay their hands on the sick so they can recover.

Although St. Paul was not originally part of the inner circle of
Jesus' apostles, Jesus also revealed Himself to St. Paul. This
revelation of Jesus to St. Paul caused Paul's conversion from
destroying Christianity to one that builds the Church. As Paul
was zealous before in taking captive the Christians and
imprisoning them, he now was converted to preach the Gospel of
Jesus and make Christians and Christian communities of the
Gentiles.

The example of St. Paul's missionary zeal is a good example for
us to follow. Just as Paul's Resurrected Master was zealous
for bringing back to the sheepfold, the lost sheep of Israel
(during His earthly ministry), Paul also brought many Gentiles
to the fold of the Church, with the same apostolic commitment
as Jesus.

For many of us lay faithful, we may not have the opportunity
like St. Paul to travel to distant lands and faraway places
to preach the Good News of Jesus. However, in the very
situation of life and work that we are immersed in, we can
live and work for the Gospel in the same missionary ardor and
spirit as that of Jesus and St. Paul. With the Holy Spirit
leading us, and with prayer being very much at the heart of
what we are doing, we can witness to Christ and His Gospel
through words and actions that reveal His healing, teaching,
and shepherding Presence to others.

2nd Sunday of the Year in Ordinary Time, Year B

2nd Sunday of the Year, Year B
"Look! There is the Lamb of God!"

1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20
Gospel: John 1:35-42

After the feast of the Lord's Baptism last Sunday, this coming
Sunday, we will hear the gospel account of how St. John the
Baptist was shepherding his own disciples to the direction of
Jesus. And so, when Jesus was seen walking by among them, John
exclaimed, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" Two of John's
disciples heard this and then followed Jesus. One of the two
of who followed Jesus was Andrew. Andrew then sought out his
brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah!" (for
John had pointed Him out to Andrew). As the two brothers
approached Jesus, Jesus looked upon Simon, and then gave him a
new name: Cephas (which is rendered as Peter).

For many of us seasoned Catholics, we were baptized during our
infancy and learned about the Catholic faith through our parents,
through Catholic schools, or through catechists. But even if
we were initiated already into the Christian life through our
infant baptism, a majority of us have not been really led to
encounter Christ personally and get to know Him in Word,
Sacrament, and through the living of a devout life. What often
happens is we even stray away from the requirements of our
Catholic faith. But usually, God sends persons, significant
people in our life, who help us convert and live a more devout
life in the Church. (Like what St. Ambrose and St. Monica did
for the conversion of St. Augustine of Hippo.)

As we journey on in our Christian life, there will be many
occasions of people (like St. John the Baptist) who will point
out Christ to us and shepherd us to follow Him more devoutly.
These people can be members of our own family, our friends, or
anyone in our social network. When we are given the
opportunity by others to rediscover Christ in our life, we can
then imitate the action done by St. Andrew - who went and
sought out his brother Simon and led him to encounter Jesus
also. We too, like St. Andrew, can shepherd others to Jesus.
And we can do this in many ways - in the very social milieu
in which we live and work. We can shepherd others to Jesus
through: our good example; through charitable advice; through
the giving of moral support; by solving other people's
problems; by visiting the sick; or even by simply radiating
the presence of Christ through random acts of kindness,
goodness, generosity, patience, and peace, wherever we are.

Feast of the Lord's Baptism, Year B

Feast of the Lord's Baptism, Year B
"You are My beloved Son."

1st Reading: Isaiah 55:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 29
2nd Reading: 1 John 5;1-9
Gospel: Mark 1:1-11

This Sunday's gospel is taken from the gospel of Mark. The
brief passage tells the story of Jesus being baptized by John
the Baptist. The description of the baptismal scene is filled
with rich imagery. The account tells us that after Jesus was
baptized by St. John in the river Jordan, immediately after
Jesus came up out of the water, the sky "was rent in two" and
the "Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove". And then a voice
came from the heaven, saying: "You are My beloved Son. On You
My favor rests."

Jesus is the perfect model for our Christian life. Though He
was greater than St. John the Baptist, in obedience to the
Father's will, He underwent John's baptism. His baptism sealed
and confirmed His Sonship before the Father - something meant
for us to know. When we are baptized, we also share in the
Sonship of Jesus and become sons and daughters of the Father.
We are also initiated into a life of following Christ - by
obeying the Father's will, as we work and live as Christian
families witnessing to the Father's love for us. And just as
the Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove, upon our baptism,
we also receive the Holy Spirit, that we may be granted the
grace and the strength to live good and virtuous Christian
lives.

Feast of the Epiphany, Year B

"They prostrated themselves and did Him homage."

1st Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72

2nd Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

The feast of the Ephiphany is the manifestation of the Child
Jesus to the world. It was prophesied that from Bethlehem "shall
come a ruler to shepherd" Israel. Astrologers from the East knew
this and they traveled to Jerusalem. King Herod then became
aware of this news from them, and was greatly disturbed (as this
"ruler" could be a threat to his reign). As the astrologers set
out then from Jerusalem, to follow the star...as they saw the
star come to a standstill over the place where the Child Jesus
was, they entered the house, saw Mary with the Child, prostrated
themselves, and did Jesus homage. They presented gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.

Through the gospel passages that we have heard this season of
Advent and Christmas, we find many people and things leading us
to Jesus: St. John the Baptist, pointing out Jesus to us as the
Lamb of God; Samuel telling us that Jesus would bring the rise
and downfall of many in Israel; and the prophetess Anna, talking
about the Child Jesus as the Deliverer of Jerusalem. Also, now
we have a star from Bethlehem leading us to where we can find
the Child Jesus lying in the lowly manger attended to by His
Mother Mary and His foster father Jesus. We have three prophets
and a star leading to Jesus.

People we encounter in life and the signs of the times, also
lead us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Whenever people lead us
to a greater spirit of charity, generosity, kindness, patience,
joy, peace, goodness, and fidelity, it is for certain that we
are led to re-acknowledge Christ and His Spirit as the center
of our lives. And as the star of Bethlehem led the astrologers
from the East to the Child Jesus, wherever there is light in
our present times - that too, will also lead us to the greater
Light who is Christ. So, as we are led by others to Christ, we
too are called to lead others to Jesus - in the same way that
we have been shown the way (through acts of charity, kindness,
patience, mercy, forgiveness, peace, etc.) Even in these times
when we see patches of darkness in our world, let the Church
show us the way to the Light - Christ, our Prince of Peace.
And when we re-discover Christ as the Light of our life, it is
but fitting to pay homage to Him who is our Savior and our King.