HIS PRESENCE BREAKS EVERY YOKE

A friend of mine asked me why I chose to name this blog 'La Palabra' which is in English 'The Word'. I have been thinking of an answer to give this friend of mine which would convince him enough. I think it is in his WORD we feel his presence and it is his presence that breaks those chains that has entangled us.The story of creation in the Book of Genesis tells us that God spoke, and great things happened (Gen 1 and 2). John tells us in the Gospel that this Word spoken by God took flesh and became [human] (1, 1 – 5). The Word of God is so powerful that the entire creation came from it, and this power in God’s Word is the Holy Spirit. This Spirit of God is seen in action also in the liberation of God’s people from the land of slavery, injustice, exploitation, disarray and the place of no-future (Ex 13 and 14). It is the same Spirit we saw in the prophets of old like Elijah (IKgs 17 and 18), Elisha, Isaiah,Jeremiah, Amos, Daniel (in defense of Susanna), etc. Today, the universal Church (you and I), need the presence of this Holy Spirit.

The first reading indicates the double witnessing experienced by the early Church. Hence Peter says, “We and the Holy Spirit.” Both the Holy Spirit and the Church bear witness that Jesus Christ is alive and never to die again, and that is why the words of the apostles were powerful. Without the Spirit, the Word we proclaim in the name of God becomes dead formula; no longer speaking meaningfully to our contemporary situations. Also, without the Word of God, the Spirit becomes uncontrolled enthusiasm, devoid of the original witness of the Christ event. It is the Holy Spirit that make us feel the presence of Jesus Christ; it helps us understand God’s will and method of doing things; it gives us the courage to accomplish good deeds, and to direct our thoughts, words and actions for the good of all and for the glory of God.

Wherever the Word is convincingly proclaimed, there is the presence of the Holy Spirit. Shortly after the dead of Jesus, Peter and the other disciples were still stunned by the experience of their Master’s Passion. When he needed them most, Judas betrayed him; Peter denied him three times, and the rest of his friends fled in fear. Confused and saddened, the disciples began to think that the future was hopeless and that their journey to greatness and eternal redemption has ended, so they decided to return to their old profession. It is at this point of discouragement and feeling of failure that Jesus Christ came to them.

After a long night of loneliness and toil, the dawn of glory and breakthrough arrived; his presence radically changes everything for good. The darkness is overcome by light; the fruitless work becomes an easy and abundant catch of fish; the feeling of tiredness and loneliness is transformed into joy and peace.

We all do experience long or short period of darkness, unsuccessful toils, discouragement of all kinds, loneliness and depression. We also do have moment that we think that God has abandoned us, and no longer cares what will happen to us; a time we would want to give up on our dreams in life. But he is never very far away from us. We only need to recognize his presence in whichever form his comes to us and to understand his method.

We always want to succeed in whatever thing we do; God also wants this too. However, it is important for to know that successful life has two wings to fly: human effort and the grace of God or God’s intervention. For some, success comes purely by human effort and there is nothing like divine grace or intervention in the history of success. People like this make themselves slaves to work, and can do anything (no matter how evil it is) to get what they want. Their maxim is ‘The end justifies the means.’ The second kind of people are those “good Churchmen and women” who do not care about work or making honest efforts to succeed in life. They rather move from one prayer program to another searching for miracles and breakthroughs. There is need to let God help us succeed but we must have to combine our efforts with faith and trust in God. Prayer alone is not enough without efforts because the grace of God does not operate in a vacuum. So also human professionalism and efforts may not bring us the success, peace of heart and joy we need without God’s intervention. Peter and his friends were professional fishermen but success does not always depend on our expertise. It is not by power, not by might but by the Spirit of the Lord that we succeed in life (Zech 4, 6). Therefore let us join the psalmist and say “I will praise you Lord for you have rescued me.”

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER: I LOVE YOU LORD; HELP MY LACK OF LOVE

There are very many people who have a special admiration to some of the hymns we sing in our worships that expresses love for Christ; so these group of people would find the gospel of today as being appropriated to their love for Christ not just to Peter alone. Some people refer to the gospel story of today (Third Sunday of Easter), Jesus’ conversation with Peter by the Sea of Tiberias, as Peter’s Conversion. Others call it Peter’s Confession. Peter’s Confession is appropriate whether we understand confession to mean a declaration of faith or an admission of guilt. It is easy to see Jesus triple question to Peter “Do you love me?” and Peter’s triple answer in the affirmative as Peter’s confession of faith in Jesus. What is not so easy to see is how this dialogue represents Peter’s confession of guilt. To see the penitential aspect of what is going on here we need to read the story in the original Greek. Did you ever wonder why Jesus had to ask Peter three good times if he loved him? We can see here a correspondence with Peter’s triple denial of Jesus. But that is not all. In English, when Jesus asks “Do you love me?” and Peter responds, “Yes, I love you,” it all sounds right. But in Greek we find that Peter is not exactly responding to the very question Jesus is asking him.

In the Greek Bible, there are three different words translated by the one English word love. There is eros, which means sensual or erotic love, the kind of love that leads to marriage. Erotic love lies in senses and the emotions that find the object of love attractive. Then there is philia, meaning love of the likeable, the admiration and devotion we have for a worthy person or thing, such as love for a hero, love of parents, and love of art. Likeable love dwells in the mind that judges the object of love worthy of it. Finally there is agape, which means self-sacrificing and unconditional love, even for a person who may not deserve it and when there is nothing tangible to be gained. Agape love is in the will. It is a decision. An everyday example I can think of that reflects agape love is the love for a cat. Dogs have a way of returning affection and being useful to the owner, but cats are something else!

You know the joke about the difference between a dog and a cat. A dog looks at his owner who feeds him, protects him, and cares for him, and says to himself, “He must be a god.” A cat looks at his owner who feeds him, protects him, and cares for him, and says to himself, “I must be a god.” This is not a propaganda against cats. On the contrary, it is a compliment to cat lovers for their selfless and unconditional love for these undeserving creatures. The clearest example of the self-sacrificing and unconditional love we call agape is found, however, not in the cat-human relationship, but in the love that Jesus has for us, which made him give up his life for us undeserving sinners.

Back to the gospel story. Jesus asks Peter, “Agapas me? Do you have agape love for me?” meaning “Do you love me in such a manner as to sacrifice your life for me.” Peter knows that he has not lived up to this standard of love. He knows that he disowned Jesus in order to save his head. So what does Peter answer? He answers, “Philô se. Yes, Lord, I have philia love for you,” meaning, “Yes, Lord, you know how deeply I like and admire you.” You see why it is a confession of failure? Peter is saying to Jesus, “Yes, I like and admire you, but no, I have not been able to love you with a self-sacrificing love as you demand.” So Jesus asks him a second time whether he has agape love for him and Peter again replies that he has only philia love for him. Finally, unwilling to embarrass him any further, Jesus then asks him “Do you have philia love for me?” And Peter answers “Yes, I have philia love for you.” End of the interrogation! Jesus accepts Peter the way he is. Even his philia love is good enough.

The Peter we see here is not the loud-mouthed, boastful man who thought he was better than the other disciples but a wiser, humbler man who would not claim more than he can deliver. Peter’s confession here can be likened to that of the father of the possessed boy who confessed to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). What Peter is saying is “I love you, Lord; help my lack of love.”

In our worship services we often sing hymns that profess our love for Jesus. Think of “O, How I Love Jesus” or “O, the Love of the Lord Is the Essence.” Peter challenges us today to realize that hymns like these only tell half of the story. The other half is that there is a part of us that does not love God, that denies the Lord when our life, our future or our well-being is at stake. Peter’s example invites us to bring this negative side of us to God for healing. So today, let us join Peter in his confession: “I love you, Lord; help my lack of love.”

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER: GOD REVEALING HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST (REVELATION)

The book of Revelation is a difficult book to read. This is because we have a difficulty understanding both what it says and how it says it. More light on these two areas will greatly facilitate our understanding and even enjoyment of the book of Revelation.

What it Says: As the name suggests, Revelation is all about disclosing the mind of God. People sometimes read it as a book of prophecy for our times, finding in Revelation predictions that are fulfilled in our days. The message of Revelation is certainly relevant to our times. But it was even more relevant to the times and situations in which it was written. Any serious attempt to understand Revelation, therefore, will have to start with its message for the Christians of the late 1^st century ad for which it was originally intended, before attempting to apply the message to our own present situation. The reader must adopt a THEN and NOW approach to avoid misinterpretation.

How it Says It: Revelation is an underground, politically subversive literature meant to deliver a message to Christian readers while at the same time confounding non-Christian readers. To achieve this end, the book uses code names and symbolism which would be familiar within the circle of its intended Christian readers but unfamiliar to those outside the circle. These codes and symbolism are sometimes numerical, such as the number seven for fullness, 12 and its multiples for the covenanted people of God, and 666 (or 616) for Caesar Nero(n). Unless we learn to think in terms of early Christian symbolism, we are likely to find Revelation a book that is difficult to read, if not misleading.

Revelation was written to encourage the persecuted Christians under the emperor Domitian. It was not written to reveal new things that are not already found in the teachings of Jesus in the gospels. What Revelation does is restate the teachings of Jesus, drawing out its implications to give hope to the persecuted people of God.

In Revelation 5:1, in the immediate context of today’s 2^nd reading, the visionary John is admitted into the divine presence. He sees at the right hand of the divine majesty a scroll written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. The written scroll symbolizes the deposit of the mind of God. It is written on both sides, which means that there is no more space for anything new. It is a complete revelation. It is sealed with seven seals, meaning that it is so completely locked and not available to everyone to take up and read. Next, John sees an angel proclaiming with a loud voice,

“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals" (Rev 5:2-5).

This means that no one in all creation could break open the seal and reveal the mind of God contained in the scroll — no angel (in heaven), no human being (on earth), and no demonic spirit (under the earth). Only Jesus can break open the seals and reveal the mind of God. This is a graphic way of presenting the same revealed truth we have already in John 1:18: “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.” In other words, Jesus, not Moses, and certainly not the imperial cult with its mediums and soothsayers, is the one and final authority for revealing the mind of God.

Today’s short second reading is a cosmic doxology in which the entire created order gives praise to Jesus as the only one who is worthy to be worshipped as God. This is a subtle repudiation of the claims of the Roman emperor who claims to be divine and worthy of worship. It is because Christians refused to worship Caesar as God that they were being persecuted. This passage reassures the early Christians that they are right in refusing to worship Caesar and worshiping Christ alone.

What message does this hold for us today? It challenges us to let nothing come before us and God as revealed by Jesus Christ. He is the sole authoritative reveler of the mind of God for the world. To him all praise and glory is due for ever and ever. Amen.

JOKE OF THE WEEK: SECRET SERVICE

A young man was coming out of church one day, and the pastor was standing at the
door as always to shake hands.
The pastor grabbed the young man by the hand and pulled him aside. "Young man,"
he said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!"
The young man replied, "I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor."
The pastor questioned, "How come I don't see you except at Christmas and
Easter?"
He whispered back, "I'm in the Secret Service."

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER: MEETING THE RISEN LORD.

Have you ever wondered why we observe Sunday as a holy day rather than the Sabbath (Saturday) even though the Ten Commandment says, "Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8)? The gospel readings of the Sundays after Easter give us the answer.

The gospel writers were not particularly interested in telling us the precise day of the week in which many of the events they recorded took place. With one exception. In the public ministry of Jesus they often told us that many of the healing miracles of Jesus took place on the Sabbath day. And this got Jesus into a lot of trouble with the religious leaders of his day. But as soon as Jesus dies and rises from the dead we do not hear about the Sabbath any more. Instead we begin to hear about the first day of the week which is Sunday.

It all began on Easter Sunday. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday, and appeared on the same day to Mary Magdalene and the other women, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and to the gathering of the apostles. He did not appear to them again until "a week after" (John 20:26), that is, the following Sunday. Without exception, all the recorded appearances of the risen Lord to his followers took place on no other day of the week than Sunday. This made the group of believers set Sunday apart as the day when the risen Lord comes to be with his people gathered in worship to share with them the word of life and to break bread with them. This is how they came to recognize Sunday as the dies Dominica, "the day of the Lord" (Revelation 1:10). After the Lord's ascension into heaven, the disciples continued to gather together in worship on Sundays, in expectation that the Lord Jesus would come to be in their midst and fellowship with them as he had promised.

 

In today's gospel we read about the appearance of the risen Lord in the assembly of the apostles on the day of resurrection and a second appearance a week later. The second appearance focuses on Thomas who was not present with the rest of the apostles when Jesus appeared among them. Where could he have gone? We do not know exactly but as soon as he comes back the other disciples tell him that they have seen the Lord. Could it be that when they heard that Jesus had risen from the dead, that he, Thomas, went out on his own to seek him out? Perhaps he went to the houses of Jesus' friends, to the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary in Bethany, or to the village where they ate the last supper. He was seeking Jesus alone while Jesus was with the assembly of his followers. Could that be the evangelist's way of telling the reader that encounter with the risen Lord is something that happens not so much in the privacy of the individual's religious initiative and practice as much as in fellowship with the community of believers?

So the following Sunday Thomas is there fellowshipping with the rest of the community. Jesus appears as usual and Thomas experiences the desire of his heart and exclaims, "My Lord and my God (v. 28)." Next time around he would not lightly absent himself from the community Sunday assembly.

Do we have to look far to see such Thomases in our society today, men and women who deep down in their hearts seek the risen Lord, but who seek him outside the worshipping and believing community? They try to draw near to God by engaging in all sorts of self-imposed devotional exercises. Religion, they say, is personal, and they are right. But religion is also communitarian,and that is why one person cannot make a Church, so we need to learn just as Thomas did.

Jesus in today's gospel commissions the apostles to forgive sins. This is a function that can be exercised only where there is a believing community, or else each one would be absolving their own personal sins. Today's Thomases often do not appreciate nor have recourse to this avenue of reconciliation with God and with the community that is affected by our sins. May the success story of Thomas help us all to appreciate the important role of the church and the sacraments in our spiritual journey to meet the risen Lord. May the peace the Rise Christ wished his friends reing in our hearts, our homes and in our countries.

A JOKE: WHAT IS EASTER?

Three blondes died and are at the pearly gates of Heaven. St. Peter tells them
that they can enter the gates if they can answer one simple question. St. Peter
asks the first blonde, "What is Easter?"

The first blonde replies, "Oh, that's easy! It's the holiday in November when
everyone gets together, eats turkey, and are thankful."

"Wrong!," replies St. Peter, and proceeds to ask the second blonde the same
question, "What is Easter?"

The second blonde replies, "Easter is the holiday in December when we put up a
nice tree, exchange presents, and celebrate the birth of Jesus."

St. Peter looks at the second blonde, shakes his head in disgust,tells her she's
wrong, and then peers over his glasses at the thirdblonde. He asks, "What is
Easter?"

The third blonde smiles confidently and looks St. Peter in the eyes,"I know what
Easter is."

"Oh?" says St. Peter, incredulously.

"Easter is the Christian holiday that coincides with the Jewish celebration of
Passover. Jesus and his disciples were eating at the last supper and Jesus was
later deceived and turned over to the Romans by one of his disciples. The Romans
took him to be crucified and he was stabbed in the side, made to wear a crown of
thorns, and was hung on a cross with nails through his hands. He was buried in a
nearby cave which was sealed off by a large boulder."

St. Peter smiles broadly with delight.

The third blonde continues, "Every year the boulder is moved aside so that Jesus
can come out... and, if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of
winter.

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May the risen Lord abundantly shower his blessings on you.
May he bless you with peace, joy and health of mind and body.
May the glory of his resurrection illumine your faces and your lives.
May you be richly blessed this Eastertide and forevermore. Amen.