Wednesday of the First week of Advent Book of Isaiah 25:6-10a. On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us! For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, but Moab will be trodden down as a straw is trodden down in the mire. Psalms 23(22):1-3a.3b-4.5.6. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 15:29-37. At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way. The disciples said to him, Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd? Jesus said to them, How many loaves do you have? Seven, they replied, and a few fish. He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over--seven baskets full. Commentary of the day Baldwin of Ford (?-c.1190), Cistercian abbot The Sacrament of the altar, PL 204, 690 The bread of eternal life « Jesus said : I am the bread of life ; whoever comes to me will never hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst »… In this way he describes twice over the eternal repletion when nothing will be lacking any more. However, Wisdom says : « He who eats of me will hunger still, he who drinks of me will thirst for more » (Sir 24,20). Christ, who is the Wisdom of God, is not eaten to satisfy our desire in the present moment but to make us long for that satisfaction. And the more we taste his sweetness, the more our desire for it is stimulated. That is why those who eat it hunger still until the satisfaction comes. But when their desire has been filled they will no longer have either hunger or thirst. « Those who eat of me will hunger still. » This saying can also be understood of the world to come since in the eternal satisfaction there is as sort of hunger that comes, not from need but from happiness. There, satisfaction knows no satiety, desire knows no groaning. Christ, who is always wonderful in his beauty, is also always desirable: “he whom angels long to see” (1Pt 1,12). And so, even when possessing him, we desire him; even when holding him, we seek him, as it is written: “Earnestly seek his face” (Ps 104[105],4). Indeed, he is always sought who is loved in order to be possessed for ever. Today’s Gospel begins with the question of Peter: Lord, what about him? Jesus begins to speak with Peter, announcing the destiny or type of death by which Peter will glorify God. And at the end Jesus adds: Follow me. (Jn 21, 19). • John 21, 20-21: Peter’s question concerning John’s destiny. At this moment, Peter turned back and saw the Disciple whom Jesus loved and asks: “Lord, what about him?” Jesus had just indicated the destiny of Peter and now Peter wants to know from Jesus which is the destiny of this other disciple. It is a curiosity which does not deserve an adequate response from Jesus. • John 21, 22: The mysterious response of Jesus. Jesus says: If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.” A mysterious phrase which ends again with the same affirmation as before: Follow me! Jesus seems to want to stop Peter’s curiosity. Just as each one of us has his/her own history, in the same way each one of us has his/her own way of following Jesus. Nobody is the exact copy of another person. Each one of us should be creative in following Jesus. • John 21, 23: The Evangelist clarifies the sense of the response of Jesus. Ancient tradition identifies the Beloved Disciple with the Apostle John and says that he died very old, when he was almost one hundred years old. Putting together the old age of John with the mysterious response of Jesus, the Evangelist clarifies things saying: “The rumour then went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet, Jesus had not said to Peter: He will not die, but: If I want him to stay behind till I come; what does that matter to you?” Perhaps, it is a warning to be very attentive to the interpretation of the words of Jesus and not base oneself in any rumour. • John 21, 24: Witness of the value of the Gospel. Chapter 21 is an added appendix when the final redaction of the Gospel was made. Chapter 20 ends with this phrase: “There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of his disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.” (Jn 20, 30-31). The Book was ready but there were many other facts about Jesus. This is why, on the occasion of the definitive edition of the Gospel, some of these “many facts” about Jesus were chosen and added, very probably to clarify better the new problems of the end of the first century. We do not know who wrote the definitive redaction with the appendix, but we know it was someone of the community who could be trusted, because he writes: “This is the disciple who vouches for these things and has written them down and we know that his testimony is true”. • John 21, 25: The mystery of Jesus is inexhaustible. A beautiful phrase to conclude the Gospel of John: “There was much else that Jesus did; if it were written down in detail, I do not suppose the world itself would hold all the books that would be written”. It seems an exaggeration, but it is the truth. Never will anyone be capable of writing all the things that Jesus has done and continues to do in the life of persons who up until now follow Jesus! Jesus went up on the mountain. Great crowds came to him. The Advent liturgical readings are unlike those in Ordinary Time. This season’s readings are selections; the Gospel and the First Reading are often connected. As we re-read the Matthean story of Jesus preaching on the mountain, healing many, and feeding about 4,000 men, we relate it with the Apocalypse of Isaiah (First Reading) which states: “On this mountain the Lord… will provide for all peoples a feast… The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces…” Jesus whom we welcome is truly the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecies and hopes in Israel! But he comes in the mold of Isaiah’s Servant of God, and not as the political-military Messiah that many in Israel are expecting. He comes with power to nourish minds, spirits, and bodies. What is your image of Jesus as Messiah? How do you often picture him in your prayers and meditations? ASK WITH FULL TRUST Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” – Matthew 9:28 Why did Jesus have to ask this question? Why didn’t He just go about healing the two blind men? He probably wanted to see if the two had faith — a living faith founded on trust. We may say that we believe that Jesus can do this and that for us, but do we act on that belief? Do we trust that He will deliver? Believing does not automatically mean trusting. Think about it. Jesus told St. Maria Faustina in different occasions (as recorded in her diary of her soul’s encounter with Jesus as the Divine Mercy): “The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is — trust. Tell them that no soul that has called upon My mercy has been disappointed or brought to shame. I delight particularly in a soul which has placed its trust in My goodness.” Jesus also mentioned that “sins of distrust wound Me most painfully.” The two blind men cried, “Son of David, have pity on us!” We too can cry out to Jesus and ask for His mercy, which He freely gives to those who ask Him with complete trust. Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo) Reflection: How much do you trust God? Do you let God be God? Lord, have mercy on me. “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). St. Sabas, pray for us. Didache | Companion | Sabbath COMPANION 1ST READING If there are enough Christians who act upon their beliefs then the world will know without doubt that Jesus is the Lord of all. As the scientists would say, “A critical mass has been reached.” One of the biggest scandals facing Christianity is the lukewarm nature of many of those who profess to be Christians. How can we change this? None of us can control what another chooses. All we can do is act upon our own faith and do what God asks us to do, and pray that others will do the same. Isaiah 29: 17-24 17 Thus says the Lord God: But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! 18 On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 20 For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, 21 those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of the house of Jacob, who redeemed Abraham. Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of, nor shall his face grow pale. 23 When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, they shall keep my name holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob, and be in awe of the God of Israel. 24 Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction. P S A L M Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 R: The Lord is my light and my salvation. 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 4 One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R) GOSPEL Having been healed by Jesus, the men were compelled to share their experience with others. This is the nature of the Gospel — something made very evident here by Matthew as he has them disobeying the command of Jesus to remain silent about their healings. Put yourself in the shoes of the healed men. Would you remain silent? I doubt it! I would be shouting about Jesus and what He has done for me from the rooftops! GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants. Matthew 9:27-31 27 As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. think: Let us act upon our own faith and do what God asks us to do, and pray that others will do the same. T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________ ____________________________________ God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________ READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 37-40 Didache | Companion | Sabbath SABBATH TO FEAR OR NOT TO FEAR Last year, a futuristic movie entitled After Earth hit the theaters. The plot of the story is not significant to our story, but I would just like to highlight the trait of the character played by Will Smith. He is a fearless warrior who has totally mastered the art of conquering fear. In one moving scene where he was encouraging his son (through sophisticated communication gadgets), who was left alone in the jungle amidst impending danger, he said, “Danger is real, but fear is a choice.” Today, Jesus heals two blind men. To be blind is to live in darkness, in severe fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the unseen. In the time of Jesus, sickness was considered as a direct consequence of sin. The gravity of one’s malady was seen in direct proportion to the gravity of one’s sins. So, more than their disability, the blind men in the Gospel had to battle the alienation and isolation brought about by social prejudice. But the two blind men desperately approached Jesus and conquered their fear even as they were being prevented from doing so. As we have said, fear has two meanings: F-forget E-everything A-and R-run Or F-face E-everything A-and R-rise The two blind men discovered the latter and so they were no longer blind but witnesses. On that day, the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. Fr. Joel Jason REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you afraid to manifest and share your faith with others? Lord, give me the strength to “Face Everything And Rise.”
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 06:32:39 +0000
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