Month: February 2025

• Jeremiah 17:5-8
• Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
• 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20
• Luke 6:17, 20-26

Today is the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  I was invited to celebrate the TV Sunday Mass which has been broadcasted on the air weekly by KOLO TV Channel 8, Reno, Nevada.  It is a different feeling while the camera is focused on the celebrant.  When the camera starts rolling, I am a bit under pressure due to the fact that the mass time to finish everything must be within the allotted time.  However, the joy of having the opportunity to celebrate the mass for the homebound, the sick and the elderly becomes a real blessing with this Sunday’s gospel on the Beatitudes, meaning Happiness. 

The first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah emphasizes trust in God over our concerns of this world. The people of Israel were given a warning by Jeremiah because they have forsaken their duty to worship God and are ignoring their temple worship tradition.  Jeremiah denounced it by writing this with an iron pen and a diamond tip to show his deep sorrows. 

In the second reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, the apostle’s letter reminds them that Christ’s death, resurrection and salvation rests only in the Lord.  There is a clear choice between the ways of the Lord or the wicked.  

The gospel today is about the “Beatitudes” which can be found in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The evangelist Luke writes his own version, which is known as the “Sermon on the Plain”.  These words were addressed to Jesus’ hearers and for us to hear this passage for our own good.  I presume that those who are listening will find meaning, true richness and spiritual nourishment. 

St. Luke’s record of the event narrates that Jesus had spent all night “out into a mountain to pray” (6:12).  Then Jesus came down in order for him to address the crowd and His disciples.  This detail matters profoundly that before He speaks, He prayed to commune with His Father in prayer. In this action, Jesus physically and spiritually enacts His urgent mission: He goes down to the people and stands at the same level as they stand. He is teaching them, but He is with them, too and not above them. Whenever we hear Jesus’ words, He is with us and amongst us.  

The word beatitude literally means happiness. The way of happiness that Jesus outlines calls everyone for a transformation from within, a conversion of life and to revisit our interior being.  Believers and followers of Christ are called to do likewise, though hard and challenging.  Let us reflect on the following: 

First, the blessings that Jesus has mentioned in the Beatitudes are not material blessings, like winning a lottery or becoming richer.  Rather it is about being spiritually rich and successful.  In fact, it is a total opposition to all the world offers us.  It almost turns all our notions of blessedness upside down. 

Second, finding ourselves to be “spiritually poor,” we have nothing but God in our lives.  Being poor, we discover God because we become dependent on Him.  We become completely dependent on God, the very source of all things, because everything came into being by His power. 

St. Augustine promoted poverty of spirit and continence of the heart, living in Hippo with his friends and brothers in the community while doing their pastoral duties.  Our Father, St. Augustine, says, ‘the love of neighbor is simply another expression of the love of God,” in the realm of spiritual poverty.  Being poor, we can share much. In our poverty, we open our hands to help and our hearts to pray to our God who provides. 

Third, when we find ourselves mourning, we shall be comforted because in our helplessness, grief and starving for justice, we have nowhere to find true comfort except from our Savior who saves and satisfies us. 

Fourth, we find God’s mercy for our sins and our pains,  and wounds heal.  We receive cleansing of our hearts; therefore, we too experience and see God within us thru a purified heart from all the pains and woundedness.  Thus, we can easily offer forgiveness and mercy to others as well.   We become peacemakers, ready to dispense that special blessedness we have received.  I believe that once God has given us His bountiful grace, His mercy overflows in our hearts.  Now, we become true children of God and see Him face to face. 

I believe that the fulfillment of the promise of salvation has been attached to all kinds of difficulties and challenges in this present world.  This is both a message and a warning to us that we will all succumb to suffering and difficulties here on earth; however, there is an end to suffering when we completely trust and be faithful to Jesus, who sacrificed His own life so that we may live for all eternity.  God has been more faithful than us.  We must not run dry for our continuous desire to be with Him.   

May God bless us. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictamen del Corazón

Sexto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año C.

• Jeremías 17:5-8
• Salmo 1:1-2, 3, 4 y 6
• 1 Corintios 15:12, 16-20
• Lucas 6:17, 20-26

Hoy es el Sexto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario. Fui invitado a celebrar la Misa dominical transmitida por KOLO TV Canal 9 de Reno, Nevada. Es un sentimiento diferente cuando la cámara está enfocada en el celebrante. Al comenzar la grabación, sentí un poco de presión porque el tiempo de la misa debe ajustarse al tiempo asignado para concluir. Sin embargo, la alegría de tener la oportunidad de celebrar la misa para los que están en casa, los enfermos y los ancianos, se convierte en una verdadera bendición en el evangelio de este domingo sobre las Bienaventuranzas, es decir, la Felicidad. 

La primera lectura del Profeta Jeremías enfatiza la confianza en Dios por encima de nuestras preocupaciones de este mundo. El pueblo de Israel recibió una advertencia de parte de Jeremías porque habían abandonado su deber de adorar a Dios e ignoraban la tradición del culto en el templo. Jeremías lo denunció escribiendo esto con un bolígrafo de hierro y una punta de diamante para mostrar su profundo dolor. 

La segunda lectura de la primera carta de San Pablo a los Corintios recuerda a los destinatarios sobre la muerte y resurrección de Cristo, en la que la salvación descansa solo en el Señor. Hay una elección clara entre los caminos del Señor o los del malvado. 

El evangelio de hoy trata sobre las “Bienaventuranzas”, que se encuentran en los evangelios de Mateo y Lucas. El evangelista Lucas escribe su propia versión, que se conoce como el “Sermón en la Llanura”. Estas palabras fueron dirigidas a los oyentes de Jesús y también para nosotros, que escuchamos este pasaje para nuestro propio bien. Presumo que aquellos que escuchen encontrarán significado, verdadera riqueza y alimento espiritual. 

San Lucas relata que Jesús pasó toda la noche “en la montaña para orar” (6:12). Luego, Jesús descendió para dirigirse a la multitud y a sus discípulos. Este detalle es profundamente importante porque antes de hablar, Él oró para comunicarse con Su Padre. En esta acción, Jesús actúa física y espiritualmente en su misión urgente: baja hacia la gente y se pone al mismo nivel que ellos. Él les enseña, pero también está con ellos, no por encima de ellos. Siempre que escuchamos las palabras de Jesús, Él está con nosotros y entre nosotros. 

La palabra “bienaventuranza” significa literalmente “felicidad”. El camino de la felicidad que Jesús describe llama a todos a una transformación interior, una conversión de vida y a revisar nuestro interior. Los creyentes y seguidores de Cristo están llamados a hacer lo mismo, aunque sea difícil y desafiante. Reflexionemos sobre lo siguiente: 

Primero, las bendiciones que Jesús menciona en las Bienaventuranzas no son bendiciones materiales, como ganar la lotería o volverse más rico. Más bien, es de ser espiritualmente ricos y exitosos. De hecho, es una total oposición a todo lo que el mundo nos ofrece. Casi invierte todas nuestras nociones de bendición. 

Segundo, al encontrarnos “espiritualmente pobres”, no tenemos más que a Dios en nuestras vidas. Al ser pobres, descubrimos a Dios porque nos volvemos dependientes de Él. Nos volvemos completamente dependientes de Dios, la fuente de todas las cosas, porque todo vino a la existencia por Su poder. 

San Agustín promovió la pobreza del espíritu y la continencia del corazón, viviendo en Hipona con sus amigos y hermanos en la comunidad mientras cumplían con sus deberes pastorales. Nuestro Padre, San Agustín, dice: “El amor al prójimo es simplemente otra expresión del amor a Dios”, en el ámbito de la pobreza espiritual. Siendo pobres, podemos compartir mucho. En nuestra pobreza, abrimos nuestras manos para ayudar y nuestros corazones para orar a nuestro Dios que provee. 

Tercero, cuando nos encontremos llorando, seremos consolados porque, en nuestra impotencia, dolor y hambre de justicia, no tenemos dónde encontrar consuelo verdadero más que en nuestro Salvador, quien nos salva y nos satisface. 

Cuarto, cuando encontramos la misericordia de Dios por nuestros pecados, nuestros dolores y heridas sanan. Recibimos la limpieza de nuestro corazón; por lo tanto, también experimentamos y vemos a Dios dentro de nosotros a través de un corazón purificado de todo dolor y herida. Así, podemos ofrecer fácilmente perdón y misericordia a los demás también. Nos convertimos en pacificadores, listos para repartir esa especial bendición que hemos recibido. Creo que una vez que Dios nos ha dado Su abundante gracia, Su misericordia se desborda en nuestro corazón. Ahora, nos convertimos en verdaderos hijos de Dios y lo vemos cara a cara. 

Creo que el cumplimiento de la promesa de la salvación ha estado unido a todo tipo de dificultades y desafíos en este mundo presente. Este es tanto un mensaje como una advertencia para nosotros de que todos sucumbiremos al sufrimiento y las dificultades aquí en la tierra; sin embargo, hay un fin para el sufrimiento cuando confiamos completamente y somos fieles a Jesús, quien sacrificó Su propia vida para que vivamos por toda la eternidad. Dios ha sido más fiel que nosotros. No debemos quedarnos secos en nuestro continuo deseo de estar con Él. 

Que Dios los bendiga. 

P. Arlon, osa

• 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5
• Matthew 20:1-16

Today is Septuagesima Sunday.  What is this all about?  The Extraordinary Form follows the 1962 calendar which includes a Pre-Lent season called Septuagesima.   This word in Latin means “seventieth.” It is both the name of the liturgical season and the name of the Sunday. Septuagesima Sunday marks the beginning of the shortest liturgical season. This season is seventeen days long and includes the three Sundays, Septuagesima (seventieth), Sexagesima (sixtieth), and Quinquagesima (fiftieth) before Ash Wednesday. The Septuagesima season is a period of preparation before Lent.  Liturgically, it looks very much like Lent with a tone very penitential.  The Gloria and Alleluia are not allowed temporarily, and the priest vests with purple color vestments.  

Today’s epistle, taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, reminds us that Christian life is just to expose ourselves to rigorous training in order to gain a reward or prize that will last forever, rather than a reward that will not last very long.  We need continuous discipline for spiritual progress.  We need strong determination to avoid sinful things, denying bodily pleasures, involving too much food and idle time instead of dedicating moments in prayer and contemplation.  Opening ourselves to reflect on God’s word involves an action plan to attain our spiritual objectives.  Christian development and growth can lead us to eternal happiness.  When we discipline ourselves, we are like a victor who refuses to lose.  

Following the flow of the parable we heard in today’s gospel from St. Matthew, he is inviting us to manifest our undivided trust and faith to our loving God.  I believe that the landowner in the story, who represents the role of God, acts in fairness and equality and He will do anything for us.  I remember in the teaching of St. Augustine on divine justice, he uncompromisingly challenges that God’s decision and law must always take priority over human law and practice. St. Augustine wrote, “God commands something which conflicts with the customs or rules of any human society, then it is to be done, even if it has never been done there before…”. (Confession 3.8.15.) 

St. Augustine’s teaching is very evident that he left us with a clear understanding that our confidence in God, through His Son Jesus Christ’s proclamation of His Father’s message about the Kingdom of God, is meant to be known and to be lived out as His disciples fully revealed and yet has more to be known, waiting for His definitive and lasting glory.  As Jesus has taught the disciples at every point, we, too, are challenged how this kingdom continuously impacts our lives and the way we live.

This parable is an explanation of the Kingdom of God revealing to us the ways which are sometimes hard to understand by our human mind and logic.  The parable states in verse 16, “for the last shall be first, and the first shall be last”.   Our understanding is that God sees the heart, and He shall reward accordingly.  St. Paul clarifies in his writings to the people of Corinth that “without love, even the greatest sacrifice is worthless.” (1 Cor.13:3)  Our sufficiency of life depends solely on Christ.  Going back to the parable, some laborers complain that others, who did not work as long as they had, were paid an equal amount. In other words, they saw their own labor as worthy of compensation but considered their companions’ labor to be inferior and less worthy of reward.   They never understood that the Landowner’s call for them to work in his vineyard is already a reward itself because I believe if they remain idle, doing nothing, they will never get such generous pay.  The best realization of Jesus’ statement is simply to address all believers that no matter how long or hard they work during this lifetime, they will receive the same basic reward, that is Eternal Life.  The scripture also teaches us that the ultimate reward of eternal life will be given on the basis of our cooperation with God’s grace and our charitable actions towards our neighbor.  Christian life is not only a life of prayer and mass, but a life of good works as well.  Both are necessary to gain eternal reward.  

The Landowner, who represents God, is seeking workers to help tend his vineyard.  He goes to search those who are willing to take part in his invitation.  We have no idea how many workers were hired; however, we know that those workers agreed to the terms of employment that the Landowner would pay them a denarius for their labor.  We have a generous God who never discriminates against persons just like in the parable story.  Many times, we compare ourselves with the people around us, but that kind of thinking should be removed from our hearts. Instead we must be grateful for what we have and share the joy of other’s success.  I pray that we should uplift one another instead of bringing each other down.

Thus, in the parable, the Landowner speaks of fairness towards the first batch of workers reminding them that they had no reason to grumble and to be upset over this. God is kind and abundant.  We have to understand that the acquisition of the Kingdom of God is both how we live out God’s law of love and the lavishness of God’s grace and mercy. 

Today we are called by God to be His instruments by way of our genuine faithful witnessing towards our neighbors. It is clear that there is much work to be done, as our Landowner hands out another opportunity to call all of us to join Him in the task of the vineyard.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8
• Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
• Luke 5:1-11 

Today is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.  American families are excited to watch the 59th American National Football League today.  These two competing teams representing their respective States will have a showdown vying for the Championship trophy.  This is the most awaited American ball game of the year for family bonding.   

Enjoy watching the Super Bowl and perhaps enjoy, even more, watching the commercials. Sponsoring companies spend millions of dollars for a thirty second showing of their creative advertisings, so maybe think how many needs they are trying to convince you of to patronize their products.  We are not supposed to be fooled by those secular advertisements during the game, but to focus on Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  He catches our attention at all times.  Of course, we need sports events to temporarily alleviate us from human problems; however, God intends more than just giving relief but also healing and saving ourselves from miseries of the world’s distractions and tribulations.  By our endless trust in Jesus’ love and mercy, despite our unworthiness, we must believe that according to Jesus’ heart, we are worthy enough because He died for us.  

In the first reading from the Prophet Isaiah, we encounter a narrative of advertisement on behalf of God.  The advertisement is about Isaiah being called to enter the temple and has the vision, of which we hear from the reading, that Isaiah is aware of being in the presence of the Most Holy One of Israel, being closer to hear God’s voice, and responds to being sent to advertise the holiness of God. He was called and touched the lips of the Prophet to be.  He was sanctified and sent to his people, trusting what he has heard and seen. Moreover, he was available and receptive to the vision and the mission.  Though he proclaims, “I am a man of unclean lips,” yet he received such healing of his heart and trustingly responds, “Here I am.  Send me!” 

In the second reading taken from the first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul humbly proclaims, “I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle.”  Yet he said, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective.”  Just like Isaiah, St. Paul humbly acknowledged God’s love and forgiveness and also benefitted from God’s mercy and grace. They both responded to their given mission of preaching God’s word to the people.   

The gospel today narrates to us the story about the miraculous catch of fish by the apostles.  Ordinarily, most of the Apostles of Jesus were fishermen, but the important contemplation was to focus on their challenging work ahead, the mission to catch men for the Lord as they prepare to be Christ’s fishers of men.  

First, the story tells us that all night long they caught nothing.  They were disappointed as experienced fishermen.  They were ashamed of the result because fishing for them was their livelihood and no catch that night is unbearable, with much deeper implication for them and for their families. 

Second, Jesus came onto the scene to rescue them from embarrassment.  He stepped into Simon’s boat and asked him to go out a bit from the shore while He preached to the people from the boat in the shallow waters.  Then, Jesus asked Simon to “go out into the deep water and lower the nets for a catch”. The apostles soon discovered that they had caught a great number of fish so that their nets were bursting. The other boats came near them to help them contain their multitude catch. 

Third, as a result, Simon falls to his knees before Jesus and announces, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  Maybe Simon wholeheartedly realizes his unbelief and inability to recognize the on-going involvement of their master, Jesus Christ, to convince them of His continuous presence and revelation that He is the Lord. 

Fourth, Jesus responds to Simon’s remorse and sincerity to admit being a sinful man, He replies with a promise, “Do not be afraid from now on you will be catching people.” These words from Jesus are not about words of consolation but rather a total acceptance of His chosen friends.  They need not be afraid, for Jesus’ promise would surely transform them.   

Consequently, this gospel taken from St. Luke 5:1-11 is used to illustrate the structure of the synodal process. The Synod on Synodality describes that we are together on the same boat where Simon was and where Jesus was present also preaching to others on the adjacent boats.  We are all together to fulfill our task of the conversion of relationships that build our community and to further dedicate our mission, charism and ministries.   

The Church has always been experiencing an “abundant catch” in which we must participate to cultivate new forms to deal with the increasing challenges to live in unity and share our different gifts as synodal missionaries being sent to proclaim Jesus to the whole world.  Thus, Jesus says, “So I am sending you. Let us go into the “deep,” not into the depth of the sea, but to listen to an invitation from Jesus to be His present day “Fishers of Men.” 

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón

Quinto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año C

• Isaías 6:1-2a, 3-8
• Salmo 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8
• 1 Corintios 15:1-11
• Lucas 5:1-11

Hoy es el QuintoDomingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año C. Las familias estadounidenses están emocionadas por ver el Fifty-ninth Super Bowl de la Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano. Estos dos equipos competidores, que representan a sus respectivos estados, se enfrentarán por el trofeo de Campeones. Este es el juego de fútbol más esperado del año en Estados Unidos para disfrutar en familia.

Disfruten viendo el Super Bowl y tal vez disfruten aún más viendo los comerciales. Las empresas patrocinadoras gastan millones de dólares en un anuncio de treinta segundos para mostrar sus creativas publicidades. Tal vez piensen en cuántas necesidades intentan convencerlos a satisfacer comprando sus productos. No debemos dejarnos engañar por estos anuncios seculares durante el partido, sino enfocarnos en Jesús, nuestro Señor y Salvador. Él atrae nuestra atención en todo momento. Claro, necesitamos los eventos deportivos para alejarnos temporalmente de los problemas humanos; sin embargo, Dios quiere más que solo darnos alivio, sino sanarnos y salvarnos de las miserias de las distracciones y tribulaciones del mundo. Confiando siempre en el amor y la misericordia de Jesús, a pesar de nuestra indignidad, debemos creer que, según el corazón de Jesús, somos dignos, porque Él murió por nosotros.

En la primera lectura del profeta Isaías, encontramos una narrativa que podría considerarse una publicidad a favor de Dios. El anuncio habla de cómo Isaías fue llamado, entró al templo y tuvo la visión que escuchamos en la lectura. Isaías es consciente de que al estar en la presencia del Santo de Israel, más cerca de escuchar la voz de Dios, responde para ser enviado a anunciar la santidad de Dios. Fue llamado y tocado en sus labios para ser el profeta. Fue santificado y enviado a su pueblo, confiando en lo que había oído y visto. Además, estuvo disponible y receptivo a la visión y a la misión. Aunque proclamó: “Soy un hombre de labios impuros”, recibió la sanación de su corazón, respondiendo con confianza: “¡Aquí estoy! ¡Envíame!”

En la segunda lectura, tomada de la primera carta a los Corintios, San Pablo humildemente proclama: “Soy el más pequeño de los apóstoles, no soy digno de ser llamado apóstol”. Sin embargo, él dice: “Por la gracia de Dios soy lo que soy, y su gracia para conmigo no ha sido en vano.” Al igual que Isaías, San Pablo humildemente reconoce el amor y el perdón de Dios. San Pablo también se benefició de la misericordia y la gracia de Dios, y respondió a la misión que se le dio, predicando la palabra de Dios a las personas.

El Evangelio de hoy nos narra la historia de la pesca milagrosa de los apóstoles. Normalmente, la mayoría de los apóstoles de Jesús eran pescadores, pero la reflexión importante se enfoca en el trabajo desafiante que tenían por delante: la misión de “pescar hombres” para el Señor, mientras se preparaban para ser pescadores de hombres de Cristo.

Primero, la historia nos dice que durante toda la noche no pescaron nada. Estaban decepcionados, ya que eran pescadores de oficio. Se sentían avergonzados por el resultado, porque pescar para ellos era su sustento, y no obtener nada esa noche era insoportable, con implicaciones mucho más profundas para ellos y sus familias.

En segundo lugar, Jesús entró en escena para rescatarlos de la vergüenza. Subió al barco de Simón y le pidió que se alejara un poco de la orilla, mientras Él predicaba a la gente desde el barco en las aguas poco profundas. Luego, Jesús le dijo a Simón: “Echa las redes al mar para pescar”. Los apóstoles pronto descubrieron que habían capturado una gran cantidad de peces, tanto que las redes se rompían. Los otros barcos se acercaron para ayudarlos a contener la gran pesca.

En tercer lugar, como resultado, Simón se arrodilló ante Jesús y dijo: “Apártate de mí, Señor, porque soy un hombre pecador”. Tal vez Simón se dio cuenta de corazón de su incredulidad y su incapacidad para reconocer la participación continua de su Maestro, Jesucristo, que los convencía de Su continua presencia y revelación de que Él es el Señor.

En cuarto lugar, Jesús, respondiendo al arrepentimiento de Simón y a su sinceridad al admitir que era un hombre pecador, le respondió con una promesa: “No tengas miedo, desde ahora serás pescador de hombres”. Estas palabras de Jesús no son meras palabras de consuelo, sino una aceptación total de Sus amigos elegidos. No necesitan tener miedo, pues la promesa de Jesús los transformará sin duda alguna.

Consecuentemente, este Evangelio tomado de San Lucas 5:1-11 ilustra la estructura del proceso sinodal. El Sínodo sobre la Sinodalidad describe que estamos todos en el mismo barco en el que estaba Simón y en el que Jesús también estaba presente, predicando a otros desde los barcos adyacentes. Todos estamos juntos para cumplir nuestra tarea de la conversión de relaciones que construyen nuestra comunidad y para seguir dedicados a nuestra misión, carisma y ministerios.

La Iglesia siempre ha experimentado una “pesca abundante”, de la que debemos participar para cultivar nuevas formas de enfrentar los crecientes desafíos de vivir en unidad y compartir nuestros diversos dones como misioneros sinodales enviados a proclamar a Jesús al mundo entero. Así, Jesús dice: “Por lo tanto, los envío”. Adentrémonos en lo “profundo”, no en las profundidades del mar, sino para escuchar la invitación de Jesús a ser Sus “Pescadores de Hombres” en el día de hoy.

Que Dios los bendiga.

Padre Arlon, OSA

• Colossians 3:12-17
• Matthew 13:24-30

Today is the 5th Sunday after Epiphany.  As we follow through the different liturgical readings, we are reminded of our own progress on our spiritual journey as faithful believers and disciples of Christ.  

The epistle from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians is a reminder to us to remember what he said, “Put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him…” (Col. 3:10). Christ has died and has risen from the dead.  Therefore, we consider ourselves dead to sin, so let us put aside our old ways with its pride, self-centeredness and inordinate desires because the holy Lord has made us according to His image. 

Our proper response to God is to live as He wants us to live. Christ has taken our hearts as His heart for us to know that we are chosen of God.  The words of St. Paul are encouraging us to persevere filling our hearts with compassion, kindness, love and forgiveness.  Let the word of Jesus richly dwell within you. Determine in your hearts to respond to God’s choosing as His missionary disciples of our time, and all that we do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 

The gospel taken from St. Matthew narrates to us about the Parable of the Sower.  In the gospel, it has mentioned the word “cockle,” which for Americans means sea clams with edible bivalve mollusks.  What about the cockle according to biblical meaning?  In reference to Job 31:40 and in St. Matthew 13:30, this word refers to some weed, perhaps offensive due to bad or unpleasant smell, or simply noisome weeds.   

Hearing the word of God, we must be rooted and assimilate what we hear from scriptures which is the voice of God.  Our open-minded heart and attentive listening could be best practiced by our willingness to learn and to bear spiritual fruits.  

St. Augustine has in mind that if one of us is negligently and intentionally lukewarm in our preaching, the devil comes and sows in seed those whom the Lord had termed cockle, or weeds, which means those who obstinately deny the truths of the Catholic Faith.  St. Augustine obviously knows about this because of his exposure to different heresies of his time.  We are told of the weeds sown amongst the wheat and “an enemy has done this,” in particular the Manichean heresy. 

St Augustine is reminding us that it is our primary duty to teach sound doctrine of Christ while being aware of so many cockles, or enemies, sowing the seed of deception.  Our profound understanding of the teaching of Christ and ability to acquire good seed of doctrinal clarity is our shared responsibility.  The importance of Christian Religion is crucial at this period in time, when many people turn away from God.  A world without its author of creation is dangerous.  Brothers and sisters, be ever vigilant to protect our flock against heresies and ideologies of our day that grow up all too frequently.  Remember that evil is evil, and it must be identified for what it is.  We must prevent the enemy’s empty words and works from enticing us.  Let us then refute his false promises, not embrace these enemies.  With the good seed sown in our souls by the Sacraments we have received, we can grow to maturity and bear much fruits in order for us to confront them and be safe from the attacks of the enemy.  Let us secure one another and watch each other carefully lest we become infested by diabolic weeds or cockle. All weeds are too quick to root and grow in our own souls whenever we leave or don’t care of our spiritual welfare being unattended, and we lose many souls to our common enemy, Satan. 

Let us hinder the enemy by regularly indulging in the examination of conscience and frequent reception of the Sacraments of Confession and the Holy Eucharist. Forgiveness and healing are available if we ask, and it requires humility, determination and sincerity of the heart. 

We know from the gospel that oftentimes God tolerates the weeds sown by the enemy because the Church is a mixture of good and evil.  We must not be impatient with them because the gospel teaches us that the time of harvest shall come. 

Only by being mindful of our moral choices today and tomorrow will determine where we find ourselves in respect to them. If our past moral choices have been evil, let us repent and do penance while there is still time to do so. God’s grace will be upon you.  Jesus is seeking and waiting patiently once we are ready to surrender completely to Him.   

God’s grace is necessary to persevere in the life of virtue, and may the peace of God be with you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa 

• Malachiah 3:1-4
• Psalms 24:7-10
• Hebrews 2:14-18
• Luke 2:22-40

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the World Day for Consecrated Life.  This World Day for consecrated life is closely tied to the presentation of the Lord in the temple.  It is Mary and Joseph offering the Infant Jesus to fulfill what the law has required of the Holy Family.  Being faithful Jews, they have fulfilled completely their religious tradition.  In the same manner, by professing our religious vows, we are presented to the Almighty God for complete commitment and consecration through our evangelical vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.  Let us offer prayers for those men and women who offered their lives to Christ. I am one of those men who offered my life to the consecrated life by being a religious priest.  

Forty days after Christmas Day, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord has been observed annually.  Mary and Joseph took the Infant Jesus for his first visit to the temple in Jerusalem.  We recall that this observance connects to the fulfillment and obedience to the Law and the guidance to accept Jesus, who is the new temple of God leading everyone to the promise of salvation.  We are all drawn to the words of the Prophet Simeon prophesying that the child will become “a light for the revelation of the Gentiles.” 

This feast has also been known as Candlemas because of the tradition of blessing and distributing candles to remind us that Jesus is the Light and the revelation of His coming in the place in which the law of sacrifice and love come to fulfillment. 

The gospel today from the evangelist St. Luke narrates to us about the Holy family going to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God and to offer a “ransom” or sacrifice for their son, Jesus, as their firstborn child.  We are invited to allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to understand further this particular episode in the life of Jesus. 

First, how do we comprehend the so called “ransom offering” for their son?  Jesus is the Son of God, so why do Mary and Joseph offer a ransom?  The answer can be found in the understanding of the Old Testament record in the Book of Exodus 13:14-15, “And when your son asks you later on, ‘What does this mean?’ you will tell him, ‘With a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, the firstborn of human being and beast alike. That is why I sacrifice to the Lord every male that opens the womb and why I ransom every firstborn of my sons’.” (13:14-15)  These two verses present to us the origin of offering a ransom to remind them of God’s love and salvation for all. Mary and Joseph’s offering corresponds to their status being part of the “Anawim” of God, poor people and yet totally dependent on God, and so according to the law, they could offer a pair of turtledoves to ransom their firstborn.  This kind of animal sacrifice served as a reminder of what God has done for His people under the difficult experience from the Egyptian cruelty, and God protects and saves them all those years.  

Second, this event is not only presenting Jesus with their offering of sacrifice, but after, received the revelation of Jesus’ divine origin.  It was for Mary and Joseph, the presentation of Jesus connects with the continuous action of God’s salvific intentionality, a divine plan of salvation which began in Egypt. 

Third, two elderly people are mentioned in this gospel, Prophet Simeon and Prophetess Anna, both ministering at the temple and patiently waiting for the promised messiah before their holy death.  They find joy in their watchfulness, as they “worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.”  Simeon was touched by the Holy Spirit, and he explicitly identified Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One, through whom God would bring definitive and lasting salvation to His people, while Prophetess Anna offered continued prayers of thanksgiving to God.  

Like Simeon and Anna, let us continuously bring to our attention the very presence of God in our daily adoration, prayers and meditations.  In our ordinary and everyday life, we must listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit with graceful expectation to make us closer to Jesus Christ, our Savior.  We can share Jesus to others just like sharing the light to another candle but not losing and extinguishing our candle’s light.  Such is the power of Christ’s presence to others.   

May the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph share with us the blessing and grace to recognize the wisdom and the saving action of the Almighty God in which salvation indeed manifests through our active cooperation in the mysterious workings of the Holy Spirit.  God is still continuously working in the world through our humility and kindness.  Let us live in freedom, obedience and gratefulness. 

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

——————

El Dictado del Corazón: La Presentación del Señor, Año C

• Malaquías 3:1-4
• Salmos 24:7-10
• Hebreos 2:14-18
• Lucas 2:22-40

Hoy celebramos la Fiesta de la Presentación del Señor y el Día Mundial de la Vida Consagrada. Este Día Mundial de la Vida Consagrada está estrechamente relacionada con la presentación del Señor en el templo. Es María y José ofreciendo al Niño Jesús para cumplir con lo que la ley requería para la Santa Familia. Siendo judíos fieles, han cumplido completamente con su tradición religiosa. De igual manera, profesando nuestros votos religiosos, nos presentamos ante el Dios Todopoderoso para un compromiso y consagración completos a través de nuestros votos evangélicos de pobreza, castidad y obediencia. Oremos por aquellos hombres y mujeres que ofrecieron sus vidas a Cristo. Yo soy uno de esos hombres que ofreció su vida a la vida consagrada, siendo sacerdote religioso.

Cuarenta días después del Día de Navidad, se ha observado anualmente la fiesta de la Presentación del Señor, cuando María y José llevan al Niño Jesús a su primera visita al templo de Jerusalén. Recordamos que esta observancia está vinculada al cumplimiento y la obediencia a la Ley, así como a la aceptación de Jesús, quien es el nuevo templo de Dios, guiando a todos hacia la promesa de la salvación. Todos nos sentimos atraídos por las palabras del Profeta Simeón, quien profetiza que el niño será “luz para revelación de los gentiles.”

Esta fiesta también se conoce como la Fiesta de la Candelaria debido a la tradición de bendecir y distribuir velas, para recordarnos que Jesús es la Luz, la revelación de Su venida en el lugar donde la ley del sacrificio y el amor se cumplen.

El evangelio de hoy, según el evangelista San Lucas, nos narra sobre la Santa Familia y su visita al templo de Jerusalén para adorar a Dios y ofrecer un “rescate” o sacrificio por su hijo, Jesús, como su primogénito. Se nos invita a permitir que el Espíritu Santo nos ilumine para entender más profundamente este episodio particular en la vida de Jesús.

En primer lugar, ¿cómo comprendemos lo que se llama la “ofrenda de rescate” por su hijo? Jesús es el Hijo de Dios, ¿por qué María y José ofrecen un rescate? La respuesta se encuentra en la comprensión del registro del Antiguo Testamento en el Libro del Éxodo 13:14-15: “Y cuando tu hijo te pregunte más tarde, ‘¿Qué significa esto?’, le dirás: ‘Con mano fuerte el Señor nos sacó de Egipto, de la casa de la esclavitud. Cuando el faraón se negó obstinadamente a dejarnos ir, el Señor mató a todo primogénito en la tierra de Egipto, tanto de seres humanos como de animales. Por eso yo sacrifico al Señor todo varón que abre el vientre, y por eso redimo a todo primogénito de mis hijos’” (13:14-15). Estos dos versículos nos presentan el origen de la ofrenda de un rescate, recordando el amor y la salvación de Dios para todos. La ofrenda de María y José corresponde a su condición de ser parte de los “Anawim” de Dios, gente pobre y, sin embargo, completamente dependiente de Dios. Por lo tanto, de acuerdo con la ley, podían ofrecer un par de tórtolas para redimir a su primogénito. Este tipo de sacrificio animal servía para recordar lo que Dios había hecho por Su pueblo, durante la difícil experiencia de la crueldad en Egipto, y cómo Dios los protegió y los salvó durante todos esos años.

En segundo lugar, este evento no solo presenta a Jesús con su ofrenda de sacrificio, sino que después de recibir la revelación del origen divino de Jesús. Para María y José, la presentación de Jesús está conectada con la continua acción de la intención salvífica de Dios, un plan divino de salvación que comenzó en Egipto.

En tercer lugar, hay dos personas mayores mencionadas en este evangelio, el Profeta Simeón y la Profetisa Ana. Ambos ministrando en el templo, esperando pacientemente al Mesías prometido antes de su santa muerte. Encuentran alegría en su vigilancia, ya que “adoraban noche y día con ayunos y oraciones.” Simeón fue tocado por el Espíritu Santo, y explícitamente identificó a Jesús como el Cristo, el Ungido, a través del cual Dios traería una salvación definitiva y perdurable a Su pueblo. Mientras tanto, la Profetisa Ana ofrecía oraciones continuas de acción de gracias a Dios.

Al igual que Simeón y Ana, permitámonos traer continuamente a nuestra atención la presencia misma de Dios en nuestra adoración diaria, oraciones y meditaciones. En nuestra vida ordinaria y diaria, debemos escuchar las inspiraciones del Espíritu Santo con una esperanzada expectativa para acercarnos más a Jesucristo, nuestro Salvador. Podemos compartir a Jesús con los demás, de la misma manera que compartimos la luz de una vela a otra, pero sin perder ni extinguir la luz de nuestra propia vela. Tal es el poder de la presencia de Cristo para los demás.

Que la Santísima Virgen María y San José nos compartan la bendición y la gracia de reconocer la sabiduría y la acción salvadora del Dios Todopoderoso, en la cual la salvación se manifiesta verdaderamente a través de nuestra cooperación activa en los misteriosos trabajos del Espíritu Santo. Dios sigue trabajando continuamente en el mundo a través de nuestra humildad y bondad. Vivamos en libertad, obediencia y gratitud.

Que Dios los bendiga.

P. Arlon, osa

• Malachi 3:1-4
• Luke 2: 22-32

In Traditional Latin Mass, we celebrate the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and also known as Candlemas.  According to Mosaic Law, a mother who had given birth to a son remained unclean for 40 days after birth, in which time she completed her purification in blood.  After the 40 days, the new mother was to “bring to the temple a lamb for a holocaust and a young pigeon or turtle dove for sin” (Leviticus 12), where a priest prayed for her, and she was cleansed.  Mary, though immaculately conceived, humbly complied with this precept of the Mosaic Law, and offer ransom for Jesus in the temple according to the law established by God, “Whatsoever is firstborn of all flesh, which they offer to the Lord, whether it be of men, or of beasts, shall belong to thee: only for the firstborn of man thou shalt take a price, and every beast that is unclean thou shalt cause to be redeemed…” (Exodus 13:14-15). 

The Feast today, the blessed candles are then distributed while the Canticle of Simeon is sung with the antiphon “Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuæ Israel,” “A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”  The blessed Candles is the Christ, the Light of the World, and the glory of Israel. 

Today as we celebrate the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we need to be willing to continue God’s love in the world by our holy way of life, reaching out to others, inviting others, and attracting others into a relationship or encounter with God.  I call on everyone that aside from asking God for our personal needs, we too must “ask forgiveness for our personal sins like destroying the refutation of others or bear false witness against other person. 

The first reading from the Prophet Malachi speaks of the coming of the messenger who will be like a refiner’s fire.  This fiery messenger’s coming is to cleanse the entire community; this implies that the messenger in the book of Malachi 3:1-4 is God’s answer to the community’s decisive resolve to these endless arguments, bickering and fractured relationships which I believe we heed the call for asking forgiveness.  Our primary task is to accomplish effectively this duty being called like Prophet Malachi, as a messenger of the Lord. 

The gospel today from the evangelist St. Luke narrates to us about the Holy family going to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God and to offer a “ransom” or sacrifice for their son, Jesus, as their firstborn child.  

How do we comprehend the so called “ransom offering” for their son?  Jesus is the Son of God, so why do Mary and Joseph offer a ransom?  The answer can be found in the understanding of the Old Testament record in the Book of Exodus 13:14-15, “And when your son asks you later on, ‘What does this mean?’ you will tell him, ‘With a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, the firstborn of human being and beast alike. That is why I sacrifice to the Lord every male that opens the womb and why I ransom every firstborn of my sons’.” (13:14-15) These two verses present to us the origin of offering a ransom to remind them of God’s love and salvation for all. Mary and Joseph’s offering corresponds to their status being part of the “Anawim” of God, poor people and yet totally dependent on God, and so according to the law, they could offer a pair of turtledoves to ransom their firstborn.  This kind of animal sacrifice served as a reminder of what God has done for His people under the difficult experience from the Egyptian cruelty, and God protects and saves them all those years.  

This event is not only presenting Jesus with their offering of sacrifice, but after, received the revelation of Jesus’ divine origin.  It was for Mary and Joseph, the presentation of Jesus connects with the continuous action of God’s salvific intentionality, a divine plan of salvation which began in Egypt. 

There are two elderly people mentioned in this gospel, Prophet Simeon and Prophetess Anna, both ministering at the temple and patiently waiting for the promised messiah before their holy death.  They find joy in their watchfulness, as they “worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.”  Simeon was touched by the Holy Spirit, and he explicitly identified Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One, through whom God would bring definitive and lasting salvation to His people, while Prophetess Anna offered continued prayers of thanksgiving to God.  

Like Simeon and Anna, let us continuously bring to our attention the very presence of God in our daily adoration, prayers and meditations.  In our ordinary and everyday life, we must listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit with graceful expectation to make us closer to Jesus Christ, our Savior.  We can share Jesus to others just like sharing the light to another candle but not losing and extinguishing our candle’s light.  Such is the power of Christ’s presence to others.   

May the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph share with us the grace of wisdom and to recognize  saving action of the Almighty God in which salvation indeed manifests through our active cooperation in the mysterious workings of the Holy Spirit.  God is still continuously working in the world through our humility and kindness.  Let us live in freedom, obedience and gratefulness.     

God bless you.   

Fr. Arlon, osa