"Follow Me"
Today, we witness the call of Jesus to Matthew to follow Him. And Matthew, who may have already heard about Jesus from what he hears about Him from the people, believed in Jesus at that point of encounter and left his post and followed Christ.
When Matthew probably was hearing about Jesus and how he was very kind to all people, even to tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners, he became very interested in Jesus and His teaching. This was probably rolling in Matthew's mind and he was trying to figure out what it was really that Jesus was aiming for and what He stood for. So he went on with his regular duties at his post and continued with his life as usual. However, when Matthew heard Jesus call him to follow, that sudden encounter with the person of Christ, made Matthew finally decide to follow Christ. The mystery of a vocation and a call is always a mystery. We can never fathom nor try to analyze what it was that made Matthew finally decide to follow Christ. It has to do with Matthew's relationship with God, himself and with others whom he has always been working with and living with.
That decision to follow Christ, made Matthew welcome Jesus to his home. And his friends were also there: fellow tax collectors and sinners. This angered the Pharisees and the Scribes because they knew that it was wrong to mingle with tax collectors and sinners. But Jesus went above the law and followed the principle of charity and service to the Kingdom His Father wants Him to found and to build. Jesus did not call righteous people nor "healthy" people because He knew they would never believe Him nor follow Him. But those who were sinners and who were outcasts of society were very happy to be called by this holy rabbi and teacher who welcomed all people, even sinners, to His Kingdom. It was probably the feeling of being accepted by God Himself that made Matthew follow Jesus. Matthew knew he was a sinner. But here then comes Jesus, representing the Father and is Himself God, called him, accepted him and welcomed him to the Kingdom he has founded and will build through the foundation of the apostles.
How are we like Matthew? Are we aware of our sinfulness? Especially our pride, selfish interests and overly ambitious desires? If Christ were to come one more time to our life again; if he once more knocks at the door of our heart and opens our mind to the designs He has for us, would we like Matthew, follow Him and become His apostle and disciple for our time? We need not to anything extraordinary in following Him. It could mean just more charity, more generous service, and more prayer activities in our present lifestyle. How ready are we to "leave our post" and follow Jesus?
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Corpus Christi Sunday, Year A
"If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever"
During the Last Supper, Jesus celebrated a meal together with the apostles to institute the Eucharist - the sacrament of His body and blood. The way that the group celebrated the meal was one of solemnity since Jesus knew that His time has come. His time has come to obey the will of the Father to give His life as a ransom for many. The apostles, not yet knowing fully what the meal meant, soon realized that they too were to celebrate that meal with others so that all may eat of the body and blood of the Savior.
That first Eucharistic meal in the upper room was probably a simple ritual. It is truly devoid of all the many details our present Eucharistic celebration has now. However, the spirit by which Jesus celebrated the meal is passed on to us through that institution of the Eucharist in the Last Supper and continues today as it was passed on by the apostles to those who too would be given the power and the authority to preside over the Eucharistic celebration.
We who are recipients of the Eucharistic species are fortunate that we shall gain the eternal life promised to us by Christ our Savior. It is thus important that we do not take for granted the blessings and the graces that the Eucharist can give us. More than physical food, it is the real food that we need on the journey of life. Bread is easily consumed and can easily be wasted, but the Eucharistic bread is a nourishment that fills our being with light. It brings us out of the darkness of sin and towards following the path trodded by our Lord - a path of sacrifice and service and self-denial - for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
In this feast of Corpus Christi, let us thank the Lord for the gift of the Eucharist, the sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Savior. By this sacrament, we are made into one community moving forward towards our salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us be thankful that we are able to celebrate it in peace. There are many countries in the world were Catholics sometimes cannot be able to celebrate the Eucharist because of the peace and order situation of their country. Let us pray for countries such as this that they may find peace in the knowledge of Christ, the Prince of Peace. And let us also pray for our ministers, that they may preside well over the Eucharist, and be given the strength to be faithful in their ministry and their clerical vocation. Let us also pray for ourselves, that we continue to learn more deeply of the mystery of the person of Christ by continuously immersing ourselves in the celebration, adoration and contemplation of the Eucharist. The more we know Christ, the more we will have faith in Him. And the more we have faith in Him, the more we will be always at His service.
During the Last Supper, Jesus celebrated a meal together with the apostles to institute the Eucharist - the sacrament of His body and blood. The way that the group celebrated the meal was one of solemnity since Jesus knew that His time has come. His time has come to obey the will of the Father to give His life as a ransom for many. The apostles, not yet knowing fully what the meal meant, soon realized that they too were to celebrate that meal with others so that all may eat of the body and blood of the Savior.
That first Eucharistic meal in the upper room was probably a simple ritual. It is truly devoid of all the many details our present Eucharistic celebration has now. However, the spirit by which Jesus celebrated the meal is passed on to us through that institution of the Eucharist in the Last Supper and continues today as it was passed on by the apostles to those who too would be given the power and the authority to preside over the Eucharistic celebration.
We who are recipients of the Eucharistic species are fortunate that we shall gain the eternal life promised to us by Christ our Savior. It is thus important that we do not take for granted the blessings and the graces that the Eucharist can give us. More than physical food, it is the real food that we need on the journey of life. Bread is easily consumed and can easily be wasted, but the Eucharistic bread is a nourishment that fills our being with light. It brings us out of the darkness of sin and towards following the path trodded by our Lord - a path of sacrifice and service and self-denial - for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
In this feast of Corpus Christi, let us thank the Lord for the gift of the Eucharist, the sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Savior. By this sacrament, we are made into one community moving forward towards our salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us be thankful that we are able to celebrate it in peace. There are many countries in the world were Catholics sometimes cannot be able to celebrate the Eucharist because of the peace and order situation of their country. Let us pray for countries such as this that they may find peace in the knowledge of Christ, the Prince of Peace. And let us also pray for our ministers, that they may preside well over the Eucharist, and be given the strength to be faithful in their ministry and their clerical vocation. Let us also pray for ourselves, that we continue to learn more deeply of the mystery of the person of Christ by continuously immersing ourselves in the celebration, adoration and contemplation of the Eucharist. The more we know Christ, the more we will have faith in Him. And the more we have faith in Him, the more we will be always at His service.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Trinity Sunday, Year A
"Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..."
It is Trinity Sunday. And we are called to reflect on God as a mystery of Love in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Yet, God is One. And He is a unity. A unity in Trinity. A mystery we are called to believe in faith.
God as Father, created the world and gave humankind and all living things life that they may live in peace and unity. However, sin continues to enter the hearts of humankind and in so doing, caused man to forget God and to love things rather than the Spirit. It seeks power in the world, riches in the world, and all the pleasures which the world can give. In so doing humankind is pulled into a direction that is not of God. But God does not condemn the world. In reality, He sent His Son, born of a woman. Born of a virgin. That He may save us from our sins.
And through the mystery of the Incarnation, His Son, Jesus, was given to us, so that we may believe in Him and regain the salvation that rightly belong to us as God's children. However, our salvation was regained by the sacrifice of Christ's life on the cross. He Himself taught us that what is important is not the power of this world nor the riches of this world. For the Evil One can use our desire of this to tempt us to go into a direction that is not of God. A direction of sin and darkness, rather than of grace and light.
When Jesus gave His life for us on the Cross, He showed how much God loves us; how much the Father loves us through Him. And He did not leave us orphans when He ascended back to heaven. Rather, He promised to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with us and to guide us so that we may continue to believe in Christ and His teachings. And that Spirit that the Father has sent through Jesus, is now present in the Church.
We are thus called to follow the Spirit of God, through the teaching of Christ in our daily lives. As we frequent more the sacraments and follow the teaching of the Church, we will be assured of a direction that leads us to salvation and to eternal life. Christ is the Way, the Life and the Truth. In Him lies our salvation alone. If we but believe in Jesus, we will not be condemned but receive the forgiveness and mercy of God.
It is Trinity Sunday. And we are called to reflect on God as a mystery of Love in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Yet, God is One. And He is a unity. A unity in Trinity. A mystery we are called to believe in faith.
God as Father, created the world and gave humankind and all living things life that they may live in peace and unity. However, sin continues to enter the hearts of humankind and in so doing, caused man to forget God and to love things rather than the Spirit. It seeks power in the world, riches in the world, and all the pleasures which the world can give. In so doing humankind is pulled into a direction that is not of God. But God does not condemn the world. In reality, He sent His Son, born of a woman. Born of a virgin. That He may save us from our sins.
And through the mystery of the Incarnation, His Son, Jesus, was given to us, so that we may believe in Him and regain the salvation that rightly belong to us as God's children. However, our salvation was regained by the sacrifice of Christ's life on the cross. He Himself taught us that what is important is not the power of this world nor the riches of this world. For the Evil One can use our desire of this to tempt us to go into a direction that is not of God. A direction of sin and darkness, rather than of grace and light.
When Jesus gave His life for us on the Cross, He showed how much God loves us; how much the Father loves us through Him. And He did not leave us orphans when He ascended back to heaven. Rather, He promised to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with us and to guide us so that we may continue to believe in Christ and His teachings. And that Spirit that the Father has sent through Jesus, is now present in the Church.
We are thus called to follow the Spirit of God, through the teaching of Christ in our daily lives. As we frequent more the sacraments and follow the teaching of the Church, we will be assured of a direction that leads us to salvation and to eternal life. Christ is the Way, the Life and the Truth. In Him lies our salvation alone. If we but believe in Jesus, we will not be condemned but receive the forgiveness and mercy of God.
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