Author: dotheartfrarlon

• 1 Peter 2:21-25
• John 10:11-16

Today is the 2nd Sunday after Easter. We are invited to make the most of the beautiful readings provided to us today which always lead to nourish and to feed our hungry souls with these Words of God.

Today’s epistle, taken from the first letter of St. Peter, explains to us what is meant by discipleship. Our simple understanding of this word is to follow the Lord. We must prayerfully and thoughtfully develop a simple suggestion from St. Peter. As followers of the Lord, we are open to accept sufferings for doing good, not evil, and we connect with the example of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd. For this, we are called to influence our fellow believers in the community and to pursue others by doing good in allegiance to the Lord. In this epistle, Peter provides his community with an example that, in believing Jesus, they have hope because He suffered for us. Jesus did not retaliate when He was maligned, and He did not respond with revenge. After all, Jesus suffered not only as an example for himself, but also on our behalf. Therefore, we must be converted to turn ourselves “back to the shepherd and bishop of your soul.”

Today’s gospel talks about Jesus as the Good Shepherd, which is one of the most familiar ways of portraying our Lord. This particular gospel is read every 4th Sunday of Easter for the Novus Ordo, but for the Traditional Mass, we jump from post-resurrection stories to a common description about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. I guess we are more advanced in mind thinking about the future. So, let us decipher some of the most important points in this gospel pericope:

First, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (v.1) I am grateful to Jesus for offering Himself to be our Shepherd. It is true that we desire for someone to lead us, to protect us, to guide us, and to care for us always. We are a blessed flock of sheep who can rely on Him. The world, our community, our family, and friends search for someone to rely on. In this period of deception, we must listen to Jesus, who carefully distinguishes false shepherds or hirelings. Many would be coming to deceive us, but the significant character of our Good Shepherd is His commitment and readiness to lay down His life for us, for Jesus has preceded us on this perilous road.

Second, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. (vv. 14,15) In this verse, we agree that His complete knowledge about His sheep refers to us, His flock. He likes us to be together under His care and guidance, as the fact is that He knows each one of us. It is also for our own safety that He tends to spend a lot of time with us for our benefit. In like manner, He spent time with His Father in prayer. In addition, He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Third, the last point of Jesus expresses this, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (v.16) Personally, I believe the sacred intention of our Lord is to gather all people in the world as “one flock and one shepherd.” To rightly interpret these words of Jesus, we need to find its rationale for this scriptural text which refers us to the fact that Jesus of history preached to the fold of God’s chosen people, Israel. While Jesus’ earthly ministry served the Jewish people almost exclusively, His great commission to the Apostles before His ascension was to send them all into the world to preach, baptize, and thus unite His believers in one-fold. (Mt. 27:19) Here the “other sheep” refers to Gentiles willing to obey and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, these righteous Gentiles heard the gospel from the lips of His disciples, sought conversion, and they became followers of Jesus. I believe that we are considered Gentiles, which means outside the fold of the chosen people of Israel. Thus, it is not proper for other denominations and religions claiming to justify their existence as being the “other sheep.” Such interpretation is wrong! Our understanding of the “other sheep” as the Gentiles who would come to believe in Christ is the natural understanding of the passage.

From our own catechism, we have learned that “Salvation History” started from the experience of our Jewish brethren which unfolded God’s love in the Old Testament through to the New Testament. Jesus was born through the cooperation of the Blessed Mother Mary and St. Joseph. Jesus lived in human history, preaching and calling His apostles. Then St. Paul wrote the epistles, and the four evangelists did the same as well. Jesus, after His passion, death, and resurrection, continues to be with us gathering other sheep to be counted among His flock. God shows His overflowing grace to establish the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, and that is the Holy Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is open and welcoming to those people of no faith and those who belong to other faiths as part of the continuous mission of the Church by offering her grace of Salvation through Jesus Christ.

In the midst, of all confusing and competing voices, the sheep would hear their true Shepherd’s voice and follow Him. Let us walk together, listening together, and participating in the mission actively. Let the sheep live in relationships with the Shepherd and others. Let us be positive in a Synodal Church where we are willing to indulge in Communion, Participation, Mission!

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
• Mark 16:1-7

Alleluia, Happy Easter!

Today is the feast of all feasts of the Holy Church, Easter Sunday, remembering Jesus’ victory over death and sin. It is our happiest day of the year because of God’s promise of salvation for us, who believe by doing His divine Will.

Today’s epistle from the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians encourages the people to celebrate by becoming new creations in Christ Jesus, that is, Christ has already died to sanctify and make us holy, and St. Paul is reminding us of our own calling as holy ones of God. When St. Paul says, “purge out of the old leaven,” this old leaven represents sin, and it means that we must get rid of all our sinfulness and return to God.

Sometimes we are skeptical to accept the truth that by the power of Christ’s resurrection, we will never free ourselves completely and totally of sin because cleansing our lives of sin is a lifetime struggle and process. However, we need to cooperate with God’s grace to fully strive to conform to the image of Jesus Christ, which is indeed possible. Many sinners converted to the Lord and became Saints because they were open to take that path to holiness and completely turn themselves to God. Though we are constantly in battle against Satan, we must wage a spiritual warfare by being close and faithful to God throughout our lives. Our weakness and failures can be removed for ourselves to be revived from our old selves by being united in the paschal mystery of Jesus.

The gospel today summarizes the story about Mary Magdalene and other disciples who went to where Jesus was buried with the intention of anointing the body in the morning on the first day of the week. They were surprised that the big stone that covers the tomb, had already been rolled back. Jesus’s body was not found inside the sepulcher. Let us discover other interesting parts of this Easter gospel pericope:

First, there was an appearance of this angel, “who they saw as a young man sitting on the right side” which utterly amazed these women upon entering the tomb. As we would think and believe, the absence of Jesus’ body in the tomb contributed much to their belief in Jesus’ promise that He would rise again, and this first reaction of anxiety and confusion slowly disappeared.

Second, the presumed angel said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; He is not here,” an explanation of what happened to Jesus’ body. They sought Jesus but He was not there. Maybe they were seeking the crucified Jesus, who had been buried a few days before, but they should be seeking the risen Jesus! Since they were slow to believe the promise of His resurrection, which they shouldn’t have, the angel thus stresses that the promise had indeed been fulfilled.

Third, the angel in conclusion told them, “But go and tell his disciples and Peter, He is going before you to Galilee, there you will see Him, as he told you.” And now the angel gives these women a divine commissioning to be the first witnesses to tell others about the resurrection of Christ, something else they surely did not expect! Despite their fear, St. Mark doesn’t in any way indicate that these women themselves were disbelieving. In fact, one can only conclude that it was their faith that overcame their fear and eventually led them to go and tell the others what they had seen and heard.

What can we learn from their example and witnessing? Well, perhaps you have been afraid to tell others about the risen Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps you have even begun to doubt your own faith at times. Just know this, that being afraid doesn’t mean you have no faith, even if it may indicate a weak faith. The real question for you is this: Will you allow your fears to conquer your faith, or will your faith win out in the end? The Risen Jesus calls to us: Do not be afraid. Die with me, so that with me you may have life!

(For those who come to the baptismal waters tonight, Jesus truly makes them one with Him, in His dying and rising. Because Baptism is our participation in not just the death of Jesus Christ, but also His resurrection. Baptism is not just our participation in His burial, into the waters of death, but also our participation in His resurrection from the waters of death through the power of the Holy Spirit.)

For those who renew their baptismal promises, Jesus promises that we can grow deeper still, into union with him. When we were baptized into Christ, we die to our old ways, die to our old selves, to that “leaven life” mentioned by St. Paul in the first epistle today. Then we are blessed to be His new creation becoming adopted sons and daughters of God.

Imagine how differently we would act to believe in the “empty tomb” which we have found in the written gospel of Jesus. Today, the risen Lord is speaking with us! If we remember and live out His words, then we welcome a renewed relationship with Him. How differently we would then treat our parents, our children, our spouse, our classmates, our friends, and our enemies. How differently we would treat the people who sit beside us in the pew, the people we see in the church every week but to whom we never talk, the people who don’t look, act, or think the way we do. How differently we would treat the poor and the homeless. Each time we speak with one another, we “see” Christ, we “hear” Jesus. How different our world would be.

We are all on the journey to Easter Sunday together! We have the promise of our rising again to new life with Christ Jesus! Our new and eternal life with Christ Jesus doesn’t begin after we die our earthly death; it begins the moment we are baptized.

This life-changing encounter with the risen Lord ought not to be thought of as the privilege of the few, but an invitation to all. We are invited to renew our personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter us.

On this Easter Sunday, let us desire to join with the many who have not seen, but have believed, because they have encountered Jesus. Let us be genuine witnesses of the Resurrection! Let us enjoy the celebration of life in faith that is being renewed, celebrated, and shared, with such joy.

Happy Easter!

Fr. Arlon, osa

 

• Romans 6:3-11
• Mark 16:1-7

I pray for wisdom to reflect and contemplate on the readings tonight. I anticipate hearing the joyful news tonight that we will have an everlasting life through our goodness and baptism in Jesus.

We are here for this Easter Vigil celebration which is the feast of all feasts. The Easter Vigil celebration is a full and rich presentation of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as it fits into a grand plan of God. It’s from the moment God called a people to Him (the Israelites), through the main figures of the Jewish Bible (messengers and prophets), to this very moment in history when a New People are formed by their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. For us, we align ourselves with God’s plan in Jesus.

What a blessing! What a gift! How blessed are we in Christ Jesus, both God and man, here on earth for us. Let us rejoice and be glad for such blessings. The Easter season has begun, and we are given this joy and salvation because of a loving and merciful God. Let us respond with gladness and rejoicing hearts for God’s incredible goodness in the person of Jesus, our Savior.

Many of us cannot help but be thrilled in beholding the Easter candle’s flame, spreading from candle to candle, filling and flooding with light the place in which we gather on this holy night. This quiet, but dramatic, gesture reminds us that there are to be no spectators tonight, only participants, all sharing in the blessed Light and the blessed Life, that is Jesus, who has risen from the dead.

St. Paul’s language puts this so boldly and moves us to confess clearly that the Resurrection is not an event “out there,” something which happened merely to someone else. It is meant to be our experience. But how does this happen? The resurrection experience happens only for those who have grown into union with Him, with Jesus, through a death like His. We cannot make this happen; we can only receive it, though, with and in Jesus.

The Liturgy of the Word describes celebrating the story of our salvation. While we wait there this night, we hear the story again – from Genesis to the Exodus story, from the Prophets to the Letter of Paul to the Romans. Each reading has a joyful Psalm of its own and each set, reading and psalm, concludes with a wonderful prayer which gathers what we just heard and sang into a prayer. All this prepares us for the Gospel story of the Resurrection.

The gospel today summarizes the story about Mary Magdalene and other disciples who went to where Jesus was buried with the intention of anointing the body in the morning on the first day of the week. They were surprised that the big stone that covers the tomb, had already been rolled back. Jesus’s body was not found inside the sepulcher. Let us discover other interesting parts of this Easter gospel pericope:

First, there was an appearance of this angel, “who they saw as a young man sitting on the right side” which utterly amazed these women upon entering the tomb. As we would think and believe, the absence of Jesus’ body in the tomb contributed much to their belief in Jesus’ promise that He would rise again, and this first reaction of anxiety and confusion slowly disappeared.

Second, the presumed angel said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; He is not here,” an explanation of what happened to Jesus’ body. They sought Jesus but He was not there. Maybe they were seeking the crucified Jesus, who had been buried a few days before, but they should be seeking the risen Jesus! Since they were slow to believe the promise of His resurrection, which they shouldn’t have, the angel thus stresses that the promise had indeed been fulfilled.

Third, the angel in conclusion told them, “But go and tell his disciples and Peter, He is going before you to Galilee, there you will see Him, as he told you.” And now the angel gives these women a divine commissioning to be the first witnesses to tell others about the resurrection of Christ, something else they surely did not expect! Despite their fear, St. Mark doesn’t in any way indicate that these women themselves were disbelieving. In fact, one can only conclude that it was their faith that overcame their fear and eventually led them to go and tell the others what they had seen and heard.

What can we learn from their example and witnessing? Well, perhaps you have even been afraid to tell others about the risen Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps you have even begun to doubt your own faith at times. Just know this, that being afraid doesn’t mean you have no faith, even if it may indicate a weak faith. The real question for you is this: Will you allow your fears to conquer your faith, or will your faith win out in the end? The Risen Jesus calls to us: Do not be afraid. Die with me, so that with me you may have life!

For those who come to the baptismal waters tonight, Jesus truly makes them one with Him, in His dying and rising. This is because Baptism is our participation in not just the death of Jesus Christ, but also His resurrection. Baptism is not just our participation in His burial into the waters of death, but also our participation in His resurrection from the waters of death through the power of the Holy Spirit.

For those who renew their baptismal promises, Jesus promises that we can grow deeper still, into union with him. When we were baptized into Christ, we die to our old ways, die to our old selves, and then we can become a new creation, becoming adopted sons and daughters of God.

Imagine how differently we would act to believe in the “empty tomb” which we have found in the written gospel of Jesus. He is speaking to us! If we remember and live out His words, then we will have a renewed relationship. How differently we would treat our parents, our children, our spouse, our classmates, our friends and our enemies. How differently we would treat the people who sit beside us in the pew, the people we see in the church every week but to whom we never talk, and the people who don’t look, act, or think the way we do. How differently we would treat the poor and the homeless. If each time we speak with one another, we “see” Christ, we “hear” Jesus, how different our world would be.

We are all on the journey to Easter Sunday together! We have the promise of our rising again to new life with Christ Jesus! Our new and eternal life with Christ Jesus doesn’t begin after our earthly death; it begins the moment we are baptized.

This life-changing encounter with the risen Lord ought not to be thought of as the privilege of the few, but an invitation to all. We are invited to renew our personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least have an openness to letting him encounter us.

On this Easter Vigil night, let us desire to join with the many who have not seen, but have believed, because they have encountered Jesus. Let us be genuine witnesses of the Resurrection! Let us enjoy the celebration of life in faith that is being renewed, celebrated, and shared with such joy.

Happy Easter!

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón Vigilia Pascual, Año B

• Romanos 6:3-11
• Marcos 16:1-7

Pedí sabiduría para reflexionar y contemplar las lecturas de esta noche. Anticipo escuchar la gozosa noticia esta noche de que tendremos vida eterna a través de nuestro bautismo en Jesús.

Estamos aquí para esta celebración de la Vigilia Pascual, que es la fiesta de todas las fiestas. La celebración de la Vigilia Pascual es una presentación completa de la vida, muerte y resurrección de Jesús, tal como encaja en el gran plan de Dios. Es desde el momento en que Dios llamó a su pueblo hacia Él (los israelitas), pasando por las principales figuras de la Biblia judía (mensajeros y profetas), hasta este mismo momento de la historia cuando se forma un Nuevo Pueblo por fe en Jesús como Señor y Salvador. Para nosotros, nos alineamos con el plan de Dios en Jesús.

¡Que bendición! ¡Qué regalo! ¿Cuán benditos somos en Cristo Jesús, Dios y hombre, aquí en la tierra por nosotros? Alegrémonos y estemos contentos por tales bendiciones. El tiempo pascual ha comenzado y recibimos este gozo y salvación gracias a un Dios amoroso y misericordioso. Respondamos con alegría y corazones regocijados por la increíble bondad de Dios en la persona de Jesús, nuestro Salvador.

Muchos de nosotros no podemos evitar sentirnos emocionados al contemplar la llama del cirio pascual, extendiéndose de vela en vela, llenando e inundando de luz el lugar en el que nos reunimos esta noche santa. Este gesto tranquilo, pero dramático, nos recuerda que esta noche no habrá espectadores, sólo participantes, todos compartiendo la Luz bendita y la Vida bendita, que es Jesús, que ha resucitado de entre los muertos.

El lenguaje de San Pablo expresa esto con tanta audacia y nos mueve a confesar que la Resurrección no es un evento “ahí afuera”, algo que le sucedió simplemente a otra persona. Está destinada a ser nuestra experiencia. Pero ¿cómo sucede esto? La resurrección ocurre sólo para aquellos que han crecido en unión con Él, con Jesús. A través de una muerte como la suya. Esto no lo podemos hacer por nosotros mismos, sólo se puede recibir, a través de Él y en Él, Jesús.

La Liturgia describe la celebración de nuestra salvación. Escuchamos la historia nuevamente: desde el Génesis hasta la historia del Éxodo, desde los Profetas hasta la Carta de Pablo a los Romanos. Cada lectura tiene un Salmo gozoso y concluye con una maravillosa oración, que reúne lo que acabamos de escuchar y cantar. Todo esto nos prepara para la historia evangélica de la Resurrección.

El evangelio de hoy resume la historia de María Magdalena y algunos de los discípulos; Muy de madrugada, el primer día de la semana, se dirigían al lugar del sepulcro para ungir el cuerpo de Jesus. Se sorprendieron al ver que la enorme piedra que cubría el sepulcro ya había sido quitada. El cuerpo de Jesús no fue encontrado dentro del sepulcro. Descubramos otras partes interesantes del evangelio pascual:

Primero, hubo la aparición del ángel, “al cual vieron como un joven sentado al lado derecho” lo que asombró a estas mujeres al entrar al sepulcro. La ausencia del cuerpo de Jesús en la tumba contribuyó mucho a su creencia en la promesa de Jesús de que resucitaría, y esta primera reacción de ansiedad y confusión desapareció lentamente.

En segundo lugar, el presunto ángel les dijo: “No se espanten. Buscan a Jesús de Nazaret, el que fue crucificado. No está aquí; ha resucitado.” Tal vez buscaban a Jesús crucificado, que había sido sepultado unos días antes, ¡pero debieron haber buscar a Jesús resucitado! Como tardaron en creer la promesa de Su resurrección, el ángel enfatiza que la promesa efectivamente se había cumplido.

En tercer lugar, el ángel finalmente les dijo: “Ahora vayan a decirles a sus discípulos y a Pedro: ‘Él irá delante de ustedes a Galilea. Allá lo verán, como él les dijo”. Y ahora el ángel les da a estas mujeres la comisión divina de ser los primeros testigos para contarles a otros sobre la resurrección de Cristo, ¡algo más que seguramente no esperaban! A pesar de su miedo, San Marcos no indica de ninguna manera que estas mujeres mismas fueran incrédulas. De hecho, sólo se puede concluir que fue su fe la que venció su miedo y finalmente los llevó a ir y contar a los demás lo que habían visto y oído.

¿Qué podemos aprender de su ejemplo y testimonio? Bueno, tal vez hayas tenido miedo de contarles a otros de la resurrección del Salvador, nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Quizás hayas comenzado a dudar de tu fe en ocasiones. Sólo debes saber esto: tener miedo no significa que no tengas fe, tal vez es porque se tiene una fe débil. La verdadera pregunta es: ¿Permitirá que sus miedos conquisten su fe, o su fe vencerá al final? Jesús resucitado nos llama: no tengas miedo. ¡Muere conmigo, para que conmigo tengas vida!

Para aquellos que vienen a las aguas bautismales esta noche, Jesús verdaderamente nos hace uno con Él, no es sólo una participación en Su sepultura, sino también en Su resurrección por el poder del Espíritu Santo.

Para aquellos que renuevan sus promesas bautismales, Jesús promete que podemos profundizar a un más cuando estamos en unión con él. Cuando somos bautizados en Cristo, mueren nuestras viejas costumbres, nuestro viejo yo, y luego podemos llegar a ser una nueva creación, convirtiéndonos en hijos e hijas de Dios.

Imagínense cuán diferente actuaríamos si creyéramos en la “tumba vacía” que hemos encontrado en el evangelio. ¡Él nos está hablando! Si recordamos y vivimos Sus palabras, entonces tendremos una relación renovada. ¿Cuán diferente trataríamos a nuestros padres, nuestros hijos, nuestro cónyuge, nuestros compañeros de clase, nuestros amigos y nuestros enemigos? Cuán diferente trataríamos a las personas que se sientan a nuestro lado en el banco, a las personas que vemos en la iglesia todas las semanas, pero con las que nunca hablamos, y a las personas que no se ven, no actúan ni piensan como nosotros. ¿Cuán diferente trataríamos a los pobres y a las personas sin hogar? Si cada vez que hablamos unos con otros “vemos” a Cristo, “oímos” a Jesús, qué diferente sería nuestro mundo.

¡Estamos todos juntos en el camino hacia el Domingo de Pascua! ¡Tenemos la promesa de resucitar a una nueva vida con Cristo Jesús! Nuestra vida nueva y eterna con Cristo Jesús no comienza después de nuestra muerte terrenal; comienza en el momento en que somos bautizados.

Este encuentro transformador de vidas con el Señor resucitado no debe considerarse como un privilegio de unos pocos, sino como una invitación a todos. Estamos invitados a renovar nuestro encuentro con Jesucristo, o al menos a estar abiertos a dejar que Él nos encuentre.

En esta noche de Vigilia Pascual, deseemos unirnos a los muchos que no han visto, pero han creído porque han encontrado a Jesús. ¡Seamos auténticos testigos de la Resurrección! Disfrutemos de la celebración de la vida en la fe que se renueva, celebra y comparte con tanta alegría.

¡Felices Pascuas!

P. Arlón, osa

 

• Isaiah 52:13–53:12
• Psalms 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
• Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
• John 18:1–19:42

Today is the second day of our Triduum celebrations which we enter in prayer in the liturgical year. Good Friday draws us close to Christ’s suffering and to the suffering of others as well. Let us try to emerge into the whole liturgy of the Word, praying for the needs of the Church, with veneration and Holy Communion.

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,”are the last words of Jesus on the Cross in the gospel of Luke 23:46. At the darkest moment of fulfilling His mission for the salvation of men, He has chosen to enter into the deepest human uncertainty, and Jesus sharing our humanity cried out with surrender, trust and hope.

We believe that for Jesus, death is not the end. He promised us that He will rise, and indeed His glory comes in the Resurrection!

Brothers and Sisters, what do we want to surrender into God’s hands today?

First, we may find ourselves in a similar spiritual place as Jesus’ disciples on that Good Friday. Some were at the foot of the Cross, but the rest hid themselves out of fear and being anxious about who would be the next to be killed. Their future is uncertain without their master. How did they live as followers of Christ with that reality of death and forgetting His promise? I do believe that these disciples worked hard to re-learn to trust God, to understand every word they heard from Jesus. We are not far from the reality of the reaction of Christ’s disciples. Today we surrender to God our doubts and anxieties and re-discover our utmost love and trust of God.

Second, we may find ourselves lukewarm in our prayer or conversations with God. How often do we take the time to talk to God and ask for his help? How comfortable are we in praying? We need to have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are in need of help. Jesus, even hanging on the Cross, has comforting words for us. I am afraid that many of us neglect our prayer life and stop talking to God. Are we afraid to ask for God’s help? Do we not realize that God wants to hear what is bothering us, to walk with us and bring us joy? God wants to know, so he can bestow His mercy, kindness, and grace on us, ease our burdens and make us better Christians. Let us deepen our prayer life throughout the year. We need to make it a habit to set aside 10, 15, or 20 minutes of quiet moments with God.

Third, today we focus on renewing and strengthening our faith, but we need to continue that effort beyond Easter. Equally as important is to thank Him for His endless love and being at our side, each and every day.

Today, I come to realize that Jesus’ suffering and death are God’s own entry into all that we suffer. Jesus fully understands and is in oneness with us as He continues to save and to change us.

As we “behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the Savior of the world,” we too embrace the whole mystery of love that the cross represents: First, the cross is about my personal infidelity and sins, my own selfishness. Secondly, we are the ones who have been guilty of transgressions and are now forgiven and loved. At the foot of the Cross is the mercy and compassion of God.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón:

Viernes Santo de la Pasión del Señor, Año A

• Isaías 52:13–53:12
• Salmos 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
• Hebreos 4:14-16; 5:7-9
• Juan 18:1–19:42

Hoy es el segundo día de nuestras celebraciones del Triduo al que entramos en oración en el año litúrgico. El Viernes Santo nos acerca al sufrimiento de Cristo y también al sufrimiento de los demás. Procuremos emerger en toda la liturgia de la Palabra, orando por las necesidades de la Iglesia, con veneración y la Sagrada Comunión.

“Padre, en tus manos encomiendo mi espíritu”, son las últimas palabras de Jesús en la Cruz en el evangelio de Lucas 23:46. En el momento más oscuro del cumplimiento de su misión para la salvación de los hombres, ha elegido adentrarse en la más profunda incertidumbre humana, y Jesús compartiendo nuestra humanidad clama con entrega, confianza y esperanza.

Creemos que para Jesús, la muerte no es el final. ¡Él nos prometió que resucitaría y ciertamente Su gloria viene en la Resurrección!
Hermanos y hermanas, ¿qué queremos entregar hoy en las manos de Dios?

Primero, podemos encontrarnos en un lugar espiritual similar al de los discípulos de Jesús en ese Viernes Santo. Algunos estaban al pie de la Cruz, pero otros se escondieron por miedo y por la ansiedad de quién sería el próximo en ser asesinado. Su futuro era incierto sin su Maestro. ¿Cómo vivieron como seguidores de Cristo con esa realidad de muerte y olvido de su promesa? Creo que estos discípulos trabajaron duro para volver a aprender a confiar en Dios y entender cada palabra que escucharon de Jesús. No estamos lejos de la realidad de la reacción de los discípulos de Cristo. Hoy entregamos a Dios nuestras dudas y angustias y redescubrimos nuestro máximo amor y confianza en Dios.

Segundo, podemos encontrarnos tibios en nuestras oraciones o conversaciones con Dios. ¿Con qué frecuencia nos tomamos el tiempo para hablar con Dios y pedir su ayuda? ¿Qué tan cómodos nos sentimos al orar? No debemos tener miedo de acercarnos al trono de la gracia para recibir misericordia y hallar gracia cuando necesitamos ayuda. Jesús, aun colgado en la Cruz, tiene palabras de consuelo para nosotros. Me temo que muchos de nosotros descuidamos nuestra vida de oración y dejamos de hablar con Dios. ¿Tenemos miedo de pedir la ayuda de Dios? ¿No nos damos cuenta de que Dios quiere escuchar lo que nos molesta, caminar con nosotros y traernos alegría? Dios quiere saber, para poder derramar Su misericordia, bondad y gracia sobre nosotros, aliviar nuestras cargas y hacernos mejores cristianos. Profundicemos nuestra vida de oración a lo largo del año. Necesitamos hacer que sea un hábito apartar 10, 15 o 20 minutos de momentos de tranquilidad con Dios.

Tercero, hoy nos enfocamos en renovar y fortalecer nuestra fe, pero necesitamos continuar ese esfuerzo más allá de la Pascua. Igual de importante es agradecerle por su amor infinito y por estar a nuestro lado todos los días.

Hoy me doy cuenta de que el sufrimiento y la muerte de Jesús son la entrada de Dios en todos los que sufrimos. Jesús comprende completamente y está en unidad con nosotros mientras continúa salvándonos y cambiándonos.

Al “contemplar el madero de la cruz, sobre el cual colgaba el Salvador del mundo”, abrazamos también todo el misterio de amor que representa la cruz:

Primero, la cruz se trata de mi infidelidad y mis pecados, mi egoísmo.

En segundo lugar, somos nosotros los que hemos sido culpables de transgresiones y ahora somos perdonados y amados.

Al pie de la Cruz está la misericordia y la compasión de Dios.

Dios los bendiga.

Padre Arlón, osa

• Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
• Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
• John 13:1-15

Today, we begin the “Sacrum Triduum” which means three holy days before the celebration of Easter. All over the world the Church normally celebrates in the morning a solemn mass in all dioceses commonly called the “Chrism Mass” with the local bishop presiding at the Blessing of Sacred Oils and the Renewal of the Priestly Promises. This has been a normal activity for Holy Thursday morning. Some dioceses, because of distance, hold the Chrism Mass a week in advance. What are the significant reasons which liturgically connect this Holy Chrism Mass with the local bishops and with the presence of both the diocesan and religious priests.

The word “Chrism” is an oil with aromatic odor signifying the sweetness and the odor of Christ. The blessing of three oils, namely, the Oil of Catechumen, Oil of the Sick and Oil of Chrism are sacramental signs and symbols for anointing at life’s important events recognizing the presence of God who embraces us when we receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. We need to understand that by virtue of our baptism, we are all anointed to be a Priest, King, and Prophet, for we all share in the same commitment and calling as disciples of the Lord. We were anointed to carry on all that we have been taught as His disciples in whatever path we choose, for the Spirit of the Lord is upon us because we have been anointed. However, in the Church, we have the so called “Ministerial Priesthood” which the Lord has called all those bathed in Him in Baptism to respond to a special ministry of service to give their lives fully to Him and to His Church, but only few are willing to commit to this vocation. We call them priests of the church whose lives are completely shared, broken, and committed to a loving service and sacrifice. This Chrism Mass event is the time of renewal of our Priestly vows and appreciation for the gift of the Priesthood that we, the priests, all receive from Jesus.

In tonight’s’ three readings, the focus is on the Eucharist which is instituted during the “Last Supper” of our Lord. Holy Thursday reminds us of Jesus celebrating with His disciples all about the past. When the chosen people journeyed with Moses, they endured through their struggles because God had been so faithful to be with them in their flight. Passover of the past was a celebration when faithful Jews recalled how Yahweh saved them from slavery and led them through the desert to their promised land. This time, Jesus is setting a scene of a new Passover meal for them, a new covenant of sharing His Body and Blood before He died. That event prefigures what Jesus is about to do for us all in this paschal mystery of salvation we are celebrating. St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, wants us to cherish in our hearts and minds that Jesus’ words, being spoken for the first time during the last supper with the apostles, fill us with gratitude and reverence.
However, I am wondering why in the gospel today from John 13:1-15, our attention is drawn to reflect Jesus washing the feet of His disciples when He formally prepares and celebrates the Passover meal which is the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist? This is something on which we must meditate that by giving Jesus’ Body and Blood for our physical and spiritual nourishment, we also need to value the giving of His very Self to manifest His humility and total service. A teaching moment of washing their feet before the meal is what St. Paul refers to in Philippians 2:5 that we should imitate our messiah who did not depend on his divinity, but came among us as a servant, even to the point of dying on the cross. Jesus, being the host, teaches His disciples and all of us that we need to serve others and not use our power and authority to lord it over them. It was only after this humble service of Jesus before the meal that Jesus then instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist which is the sacrament of life, love and perpetual presence of Jesus with us.
Jesus says, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Jesus must do the washing of their feet because Jesus’ love for his disciples humbles them. Why is Peter so reluctant to have his feet washed? Why does he resist? The other disciples waited, maybe a little awkwardly, while their Master, Jesus, stripped off his outer cloak and knelt on the floor. Jesus took their feet gently into his hands, and after a loving look, he washed them, drying them with the towel at his waist. Then he gets to reluctant Peter who later agrees and wants to include his head and his hands in the washing. Jesus response was “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over, so you are clean, but not all.” It is true not all of us are clean. We are all sinners who need to be washed. Before partaking of His Body and Blood, we must take away our fears, unforgiveness, doubts and weaknesses and accept our willingness to die for all things that separate us from the Lord. Jesus offers life which conquers all death in Him who has promised new life for all eternity. We are invited to eat His flesh and drink His blood, to be cleansed and to be renewed.

What makes any of us pull back our feet when it comes to accepting the responsibility of being a follower of Jesus? Jesus is clear in his message: If I have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.

Tonight, we take part in the memorial ritual of the washing of the feet. A potentially humbling experience for all concerned. Am I called to wash another’s feet or to allow another to wash my feet? Can I allow the presence of Jesus to come in order to touch my life? Yet Jesus insists. Jesus’ love humbles me. Let us share His story and do what He has done with care in service to others. Christ’s way is the only way. We are grateful for God’s loving fidelity.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Philippians 2:5-11
• Matthew 26:36-75; 27:1-66

Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. We gather to recall the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem. The crowd cried out in unison to welcome Jesus, the Son of David, “Hosanna in the highest”. We walk with Jesus today.

Just imagine that Jesus was followed by His disciples, and along the road many people who were touched and healed were there as well. Mary was anxious in the final days of her Son’s ministry because she knows of the impending sufferings her Son would ultimately accept. Her pain causes her heart to beat heavily while the crowd continuously cheers loudly in excitement singing Psalms and Hosannas. As Jesus enters, many people put their cloaks and palm branches along the road with much excitement of this spontaneous parade.

Where are you in this picture of our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem? Have you imagined yourself being in the crowd? As I have said from the beginning, “we walk with Jesus today.” We are joining in, and we go along with Jesus where we become present by our faith and are encouraged to pray fervently as we go through this Holy Week.

The epistle today from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians reminds us of how Jesus was able to take the enthusiastic welcome afforded to Him by the people of Jerusalem; however, He knows that the atmosphere will change after a few days because the religious leaders, pharisees and scribes were trying to find fault with Him. St. Paul declares that as followers of Christ we need “Kenosis,” which means emptying oneself. Jesus taught us a significant lesson as He “emptied Himself.” We must seek to understand that Jesus laid aside His divine riches in becoming human through the mystery of the incarnation. Our own success to follow the Lord is to empty ourselves from all our iniquities and set our goal which would be our “kenosis” calling us to emptying ourselves from all distractions.

We know that the Holy Land is closed now for pilgrims. The Israeli government set restrictions to visit the Holy Land because of the continuous pursuit for extremists and terrorists in the area. It is sad that all the roads leading to the Holy Land are blocked, and there is no way for the pilgrims to spend time in prayer. I guess Jesus is asking His followers around the world to come along the way called “Via Dolorosa” in union with His suffering and dying. I imagine the danger of entering Jerusalem this day has been a true passion for the Jewish Christians which is expectedly different from the previous Holy Week. We pray for the immediate end of the war in Israel.

This Holy Week, the recurring theme is “dying and rising.” We see ourselves dying from sins as the right path to knowing and purifying ourselves better. We are deeply invited to see and evaluate ourselves. In the reading of the Lord’s passion from the gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus wants us to bring our own sufferings along His way, the difficulties in our life, and the challenges now, and to foresee our own victory with Him. It is a dying to oneself that we may attain the rising mystery that Jesus leads us.

I believe that Palm Sunday is not just singing “Hosanna” in Jesus’ Passion, for there is also rising in the gospel we heard, one that leads to Easter, to New Life, Resurrection, and victory over death and sin. Glory is our destination we ponder as we bless these palms and as we walk with Jesus today.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Ezekiel 37:12-14
• Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
• Romans 8:8-11
• John  11:1-45

This weekend, we will be having the 3rd Scrutiny for the Elects, adults preparing themselves for Baptism and entering their final weeks of preparation.  This is a powerful 3rd time scrutiny and exorcism which focuses on theological reflection on the gospel about the raising of Lazarus. We see Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life.  Let us review a little bit. In the first scrutiny, we focus on the water which the Samaritan woman wants to receive in order to quench her thirst from Jesus’ living water.  The second scrutiny is about Jesus restoring the sight of the man who was blind from birth, which focused on Christ the Light of the world. Today’s last scrutiny, Jesus raising Lazarus, reminds us that Jesus is offering eternal life.  I can sense Christ’s power and presence for this community. 

Let us remember that the Scrutiny is a rite of spiritual self-searching and repentance meant to uncover, and then heal, all that is weak, defective or sinful in the hearts of the Elects, who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil.  Additionally, this Scrutiny is intended to bring out and strengthen all that is upright, strong and good in the Elects.  Exorcism is celebrated to deliver the Elects from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  I hope and pray that they will complete their conversion and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all else.  

As we walk with our Elects, we too must recall the power of our own Baptism, our willingness to open our ears, eyes, and hearts to the Word of God, who speaks to us to be strong witnesses and to profess our faith in Jesus, who says to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  Martha said to Him, “Yes, Lord.  I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” (Jn 11:23-27)

From today’s gospel passage lies the power of Jesus as the true Messiah, who restores life.  What does the raising of Lazarus say to us today? 

First, we always cling to Jesus to save our life. Maybe we are like Martha, saying, “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died” and “yes, Lord I have come to believe that you are the Christ…”  In the process of understanding the experience of death, there we struggle between feelings of betrayal and faith – saying “Lord, if only you had been there…” and “Lord, I know you are here…”  This expression and lamentation are an indication that we need God in our life, Who alone can save us.  When we plunge ourselves into committing sin, we literally succumb to death.  Likewise, in an experience of death of loved ones, we cling to the aid of God, the giver of life. 

Second, Martha’s profession of faith with the words, “I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world” is impressively revealing how she accepts Jesus as the Son of God, who has the power to restore life.  We are called to do the same, to profess wholeheartedly, that indeed Jesus is Lord of both the dead and the living. 

Third, Jesus raising Lazarus is a miracle, to manifest “the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  Jesus will also raise us from the dead, and we hope for nothing more for us and our loved ones than the resurrection on the Last Day. We will see each other again in the next life when we are faithful to Him. 

In our own struggle to understand who Jesus is, through this gospel we have seen signs.  It means we have seen Jesus’ works of a miracle.  If we are dealing with a crisis of faith, then please try to consider Martha and Mary, who believe Christ as the resurrection and the life.  Believe in Jesus, as the incarnate Son of God. 

Martha and Mary inspire us and encourage us by the example of their own struggles; however, they cannot struggle for us, and we must decide what we truly believe.  Brothers and Sisters, particularly those who are preparing for their Baptism, you have to decide; do you believe? 

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón

Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma, Año B (3er Escrutinio)

• Ezequiel 37:12-14
• Salmo 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
• Romanos 8:8-11
• Juan 11:1-45

Este fin de semana tendremos el Tercer Escrutinio de los Elegidos, adultos entrando en sus últimas semanas de preparación para ser bautizados. Este es un importante tercer tiempo de escrutinio y exorcismo, que se centra en la reflexión teológica sobre el evangelio sobre la resurrección de Lázaro. Vemos a Cristo que es la Resurrección y la Vida. Repasemos un poco, el primer escrutinio, nos centramos en el agua que la mujer samaritana quiere recibir para saciar su sed del agua viva de Jesús. El segundo escrutinio trata sobre Jesús devolviendo la vista al hombre que era ciego de nacimiento y que se centró en Cristo, quien es, la Luz del mundo. El último escrutinio de hoy, la resurrección de Lázaro, por parte de Jesús nos recuerda que Jesús ofrece vida eterna. Pude sentir el poder y la presencia de Cristo en esta comunidad. 

Recordemos que el Escrutinio es un rito de auto búsqueda espiritual y arrepentimiento. Están destinados a descubrir y luego sanar todo lo que es débil, defectuoso o pecaminoso en los corazones de los elegidos, que serán bautizados en la Vigilia Pascual. Este Escrutinio tiene como objetivo sacar a relucir y luego fortalecer todo lo que hay de recto, fuerte y bueno en los elegidos. Luego, el exorcismo para liberar a los elegidos del poder del pecado y de Satanás, protegiéndolos de la tentación y darles fuerza en Cristo que es el Camino, la Verdad y la Vida. Espero y oro para que completen su conversión, profundicen su determinación de aferrarse a Cristo y llevar a cabo su decisión de amar a Dios por encima de todo. 

Mientras caminamos con nuestros elegidos, nosotros también debemos recordar el poder de nuestro bautismo. Nuestra disposición a abrir nuestros oídos, ojos y corazón a la Palabra de Dios, que nos habla para que seamos testigos firmes, y profesemos nuestra fe en Jesús, quien le dice a Marta: “Yo soy la resurrección y la vida, todo aquel que cree en mí, aunque muera, vivirá, y todo el que vive y cree en mí, no morirá jamás ¿Crees tu esto?” Marta le dijo: “Sí, Señor. He llegado a creer que tú eres el Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, el que viene al mundo. (Juan 11:23-27) 

Del pasaje del evangelio de hoy surge el poder de Jesús como el verdadero mesías, que restaura la vida. ¿Qué nos dice hoy la resurrección de Lázaro? 

Primero, siempre nos aferramos a Jesús para salvar nuestra vida. Quizás nosotros, como Marta diciendo: “Señor, si hubieras estado aquí mi hermano no habría muerto” y “Sí, Señor, he llegado a creer que tú eres el Cristo…” En el proceso de comprensión de la experiencia de la muerte, luchamos entre sentimientos de traición y fe – diciendo “Señor, si tan solo hubieras estado allí…” y “Señor, sé que estás aquí…” Esta expresión y lamento son una indicación de que necesitamos a Dios en nuestra vida, el único que puede salvarnos. Cuando nos sumergimos en el pecado, sucumbimos a la muerte. Asimismo, ante la experiencia de la muerte del ser amado, nos aferramos a la ayuda de Dios, dador de la vida. 

En segundo lugar, la profesión de fe de Marta con las palabras “He llegado a creer que tú eres el Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, el que viene al mundo” es impresionantemente reveladora, de cómo ella acepta a Jesús como el Hijo de Dios, quien tiene el poder de restaurar la vida. Estamos llamados a hacer lo mismo, a profesar de todo corazón que, en efecto, Jesús es Señor tanto de los muertos como de los vivos. 

En tercer lugar, el milagro de Jesús resucitando a Lázaro, para manifestar “La Gloria de Dios, para que por ella sea Glorificado el Hijo de Dios”. Jesús también nos resucitará a nosotros y a nuestros seres queridos, luego la resurrección en el Día Postrero. Nos volveremos a ver en la gloria de Dios cuando seamos fieles a Él. 

En nuestra propia lucha por entender quién es Jesús, a través de este evangelio, hemos visto señales y las obras milagrosas de Jesús. Si estamos ante una crisis de fe, entonces tratemos de considerar a Marta y María, quienes creen en Cristo como la resurrección y la vida. Cree en Jesús, como el Hijo de Dios encarnado. 

Marta y María nos inspiran y alientan con el ejemplo de sus luchas. Sin embargo, no pueden luchar por nosotros, nosotros debemos decidir lo que realmente creemos. Hermanos y hermanas, particularmente aquellos que se están preparando para su Bautismo, tú tienes que decidir y ser honesto al contestar ¿Tú crees? 

Dios los bendiga. 

P. Arlón, osa