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• Isaiah 50:5-9a
• Psalm 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
• James 2:14-18
• Mark 8:27-35   

Today is the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  I am grateful to be invited by the Filipino Ministry of Reno to be the celebrant and preacher.  The Diocese of Reno celebrates in advance the feast of the first Filipino Saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, who was martyred in Nagasaki, Japan around 1638, along with Dominican Priests and laymen.  The feast of San Lorenzo and his companion martyrs is on September 28th according to the Church Liturgical Calendar.   

In 1980, I was in my first year of college when Pope John Paul II came for the beatification of San Lorenzo in Manila.  I was part of the seminary choir during the pontifical mass of Pope John Paul II, the time San Lorenzo was elevated to the altar of God.   

The first reading from the book of Isaiah gives us a reflection on the virtuous sufferings which the descendants of Abraham experienced and, by their steadfast and unwavering faith, were made strong amid their trials. The prophet Isaiah announces that though he has not been disgraced but he suffered for his role as a prophet. He constantly brought HOPE to the people of Israel and remained true to his calling, faithfully trusting in all he has heard and believed.  He fully believed that God was on his side. 

San Lorenzo and his companion martyrs maybe heard how the Prophet Isaiah persevered from all his challenges.  They too were true witnesses of such Christian virtues of perseverance and profound faith to withstand all their trials when they were arrested and tortured by Japan’s Tokuagawa shogunate.  It was during that period in history when Christians were persecuted.  Even in moments of desperate situations, San Lorenzo and his companions never doubted their faith in God.  They were drawn to Jesus’ promise of eternal life for those who are true followers of the Lord with much conviction. 

The second reading from the passage of St. James complements Isaiah’s approach to be steadfast in faith, that is, the importance of good works in addition to faith.  Our Christian belief recognizes the balance between faith and good works as taught to us on how to love, but then Jesus too showed us what it is to love.  

Today’s gospel taken from St. Mark mentions two important truths we have to be aware of: 

First, Jesus is inviting his disciples and us to answer the question, “Who do you say that I am?” “Do we know Jesus as the Christ?” With the impulse of the Holy Spirit, Peter recognizes Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and more than a Prophet.  Peter’s answer is the highpoint in the gospel of St. Mark revealing Jesus’ life and mission.  No one had publicly said it to all those who have known, seen and heard Jesus.   

Jesus is the “Christ”.  Peter traveled with Jesus and witnessed His various acts of miracles, preaching, and His simplicity of life.  Peter became open to declare his faith.  It is primarily a result of his relationship with Jesus.

Second, Jesus made a prediction of the trials that He would face.  He began to teach them, saying that “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and rise after three days.” Jesus also envisioned His prediction of sufferings and death that His followers would be facing too. 

These martyrs and San Lorenzo were living testimony of Christian virtuous suffering.  I am inspired by the famous words of San Lorenzo Ruiz, “I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for God.  Had I a thousand lives, all these to him shall I offer.  Do with me as you please.”  These words, uttered by San Lorenzo before his death, are a solemn testimony of his strong faith in an ever-present crucified Christ who had been, and still is, resolutely faithful in our relationship.  San Lorenzo gives up his spirit, and he totally abandoned and surrendered his life to face death, looking forward to the moment of the resurrection through martyrdom and faith.   

The power of the Cross will sustain us to persevere in all kinds of persecution.  We can possibly do this in the light of the resurrection and the living moment of God. 

Today, as we gather to celebrate this feast day of San Lorenzo, we offer this eucharist with gratitude, reminding us of the ever presence of the living God, who surrendered His life in Jesus, and who gave us the gift and knowledge of new life, being nourished with His body and blood in communion, so that we can be united to carry the cross!   Let us go forth to love and serve one another which we experience in both faith and good works. 

May San Lorenzo Ruiz and companion martyrs pray for us. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

 ————-

El Dictado del Corazón

Vigésimo Cuarto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B

• Isaías 50:5-9a
• Salmo 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
• Santiago 2:14-18
• Marcos 8:27-35   

Hoy es el vigésimo cuarto domingo del tiempo ordinario.  La Diócesis de Reno celebra por anticipación la fiesta del primer santo filipino, San Lorenzo Ruiz. Quien fue martirizado en Nagasaki, Japón alrededor del año 1638, junto con Sacerdotes Dominicos y laicos. La fiesta de San Lorenzo y sus compañeros mártires es el 28 de septiembre según el Calendario Litúrgico de la Iglesia.

En 1980, el Papa Juan Pablo II vino a Manila para la beatificación de San Lorenzo.  Estaba en mi primer año de universidad. Fui parte del coro del seminario para la misa pontificia del Papa Juan Pablo II cuando San Lorenzo fue elevado al altar de Dios.

La primera lectura del libro del profeta Isaías nos ofrece una reflexión sobre la virtud del sufrimiento. Lo que experimentaron los descendientes de Abraham. Su fe firme e inquebrantable los hizo fuertes en medio de sus pruebas. El profeta Isaías anuncia que incluso él había sido deshonrado y sufrido por ser profeta. Constantemente trajo ESPERANZA al pueblo de Israel y se mantuvo fiel a su llamado. Confiando y creyendo a todo lo que escuchó de Dios.  Creía plenamente que Dios estaba con él.

Es posible que San Lorenzo y sus compañeros mártires hayan escuchado cómo el profeta Isaías perseveró en todas sus pruebas y sufrimientos.  Ellos también fueron verdaderos testigos de las virtudes cristianas de perseverancia y fe profunda para resistir todas las pruebas cuando fueron arrestados y torturados por el shogunato Tokugawa de Japón.  Fue durante ese período de la historia que los cristianos fueron perseguidos.  Incluso en momentos de situaciones desesperadas, San Lorenzo y sus compañeros nunca dudaron de su fe en Dios.  Se sintieron atraídos por la promesa de vida eterna de Jesús para aquellos que fueran verdaderos seguidores del Señor con mucha convicción.

La segunda lectura complementa el enfoque de Isaías sobre la firmeza en la fe, es decir, la importancia de las buenas obras además de la fe del pasaje de Santiago.  Nuestra creencia cristiana reconoce el equilibrio entre la fe y las buenas obras, ya que nos enseña a amar, así como Jesús nos mostró lo que es amar.

El evangelio de hoy tomado de San Marcos menciona dos verdades importantes de las que debemos ser conscientes: 

Primero, Jesús invita a sus discípulos y a nosotros a responder la pregunta: “¿Quién dicen que soy yo?  “¿Conocemos a Jesús como el Cristo?  Con el impulso del Espíritu Santo, Pedro reconoce que Jesús es el Cristo, el Mesías más que a un Profeta.  La respuesta de Pedro es el punto culminante del evangelio de San Marcos que revela la vida y la misión de Jesús.  Nadie lo ha dicho públicamente a todos los que han conocido, visto y oído a Jesús.   

Jesús es el “Cristo”.  Pedro viajó con Jesús y fue testigo de sus diversos actos de milagros, predicaciones y su sencillez de vida.  Pedro se abrió a declarar su fe.  Es principalmente el resultado de su relación con Jesús.

Segundo, Jesús hizo una predicción de las pruebas que enfrentaría.  Comenzó a enseñarles, diciendo que el Hijo del Hombre debía sufrir mucho y ser rechazado por los ancianos, los sacerdotes y los escribas, ser asesinado y resucitar al cabo de tres días.   Jesús también predijo los sufrimientos y la muerte para sus seguidores.

Estos mártires y San Lorenzo fueron testimonios vivos del sufrimiento virtuoso cristiano.  Me inspiran las famosas palabras de San Lorenzo Ruiz: “Soy católico y de todo corazón acepto la muerte por Dios.  Si tuviera mil vidas, todas ellas las ofrecería.  Haz conmigo lo que quieras”.  Estas palabras pronunciadas por San Lorenzo antes de su muerte son un testimonio solemne de su fe en un Cristo crucificado siempre presente que había sido, y sigue siendo, decididamente fiel en nuestra relación.  San Lorenzo entregó su espíritu, abandonó y entregó su vida para afrontar la muerte y esperar el momento de la resurrección por el martirio y la fe.   

El poder de la Cruz nos sostendrá para perseverar a través de todo tipo de persecución.  Podemos hacer esto a la luz de la resurrección y del momento vivo de Dios. 

Hoy, mientras nos reunimos para celebrar esta fiesta de San Lorenzo, ofrezcamos esta eucaristía con gratitud, recordándonos la presencia del Dios vivo que entregó Su vida en Jesús, quien nos dio el don y el conocimiento de una vida nueva, siendo nutridos con Su cuerpo y sangre en comunión para que podamos estar unidos para llevar la cruz!   Salgamos a amarnos y servirnos unos a otros, lo cual experimentamos tanto en la fe como en las buenas obras. 

Que San Lorenzo Ruiz y compañeros mártires, rueguen por nosotros. 

P. Arlón, osa

• Ephesians 4:1-6
• Matthew 22:34-46

I know that most of us are still distressed because of the unfortunate event that happened to our place of worship last Saturday.  The HSM church was our home and a place of worship since 1978, and most of your children were baptized, confirmed, received first communion and, for some, were married in that church.  I would like to remind everyone that when situations like this arise, we need to calm down and to immerse ourselves into silent prayer.  In that way, we would have a better understanding of ”Behold, how good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Ps. 133) 

As we celebrate the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, today is also the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.  The Blessed Mother Mary is united with us in sorrow, in pain and in sadness.  In truth, Mary has been blessed with the profound union of heart that existed between her and Jesus, the Savior.  This commemoration reveals to us her experience of so many interior sorrows because of her Son’s mission, particularly during His Passion and Death. 

By Blessed Mother’s silence, like Mary, God wants us to see our faith—is it the faith that sees God, and not only turning to Him during misfortunes.  We also desire from God an easy life, and if we haven’t received what we want, we manifest dissatisfaction.  If God answers our pleas immediately, and when things are going well, then we start again to disconnect ourselves from Him; we become uninterested in Him.  This shows how frail and weak our faith is.   

We must realize that God allows us to see our faith as it really is in times of crisis, especially if it is a weak and sickly faith. This is not to drive us to despair, but to at least ground us, to be reminded that without Him, we can do nothing.  In this unfortunate incident, we can begin afresh a life of repentance, conversion and turning to God.            

The silence in our hearts reveals our faith in God, because we listen attentively to the whisper of God.  In the same way, Christ’s silence reveals the quality of our faith. 

In the midst of our spiritual struggles, let us look at our faith. Let us cry out in the face of Christ’s silence.  The epistle today, from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, reminds us that we are called by God in “humility, mildness and patience, supporting one another in charity, careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”  The words of St. Paul continue to teach us that, “We are one body, one spirit as you are called in one hope of your calling.” 

The gospel today, taken from St. Matthew 22:34-46, narrates the encounter of Jesus with the Pharisees, and one of them, a doctor of the law. They asked Jesus, “Which is the greatest commandment of the law?”  Jesus’ response was, “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment, and the second is this: Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments is dependent the whole law and the prophets.”

What is meant by loving God with our whole heart, our whole soul, and mind?  It means that we cling to God with true, sincere and heartfelt love by which we desire God’s glory and honor.  We must continually endeavor to have deep knowledge and love of God and direct our actions to Him, employing all faculties to fully serve Him through others. 

Jesus taught us that loving one’s neighbor is part and parcel to loving God.  Therefore, when we love our neighbor, God counts that we are faithful loving Him.  Indeed, it is true love if we love God that way.  When the motive of love is self-love, self-interest and hope of reward, that is not perfect love. We love God through others, and we can do it when we truly believe that He himself is the highest Good. 

May we love God with all the powers of our body and soul so that we may love our neighbors, friends, and enemies as ourselves for Thy sake, and thus we are made worthy to possess Thee as our redeemer and merciful judge. 

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Isaiah 35:4-7a
• Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
• James 2:1-5
• Mark 7:31-37

Today is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.  I believe that our Christian faith is not only to keep the moral truths and ethical norms but more importantly to establish a personal relationship with God.  Hearing the Words from both the Old and New Testament, we are aware of the events which inspire us to live a decisive direction and encounter with God, who heals and saves.  That encounter gives us comfort in knowing that God is always with us no matter what happens in our lives.  

Today, let us reflect on the three readings to guide our understanding about this constant invitation to encounter this merciful God in faith and in all circumstances of life we are in which bring joy, healing, comfort and peace.

The first reading from the book of Isaiah speaks to us about the chosen people succumbing to discouragement and losing hope because they were still in captivity in Babylon.  However, the prophet Isaiah reminds them that they are not alone in their journey; God walks with them.  The Lord says to them, “Say to those frightened: Be strong, fear not!”  When we encounter God’s presence thru listening to His mighty Words, there is that renewed freshness in our faith, because God comes “to save us.”

The second reading warns us not to treat people of lesser financial means in a lesser way.  Our Christian relationship is not based on people’s financial status.  St. James makes us aware that the Church must play no favoritism just as civil society treats people.  In our modern society, we have the tendency to impress people with money because we know we can benefit from their power and influence.  However, this doesn’t work in the Kingdom of God. For St. James, the practice of favoritism excludes and discourages others.  What makes a difference between us, the Church and Society?  I am afraid that we begin to treat the poor as society treats them, that is, poor people are being shamed, neglected and looked down upon.  With this attitude, we are not of God but are evil and vicious.  What God wants is not to take advantage of those with power but let them understand that we act with charity and justice to come to the aid of the poor.  This passage from St. James is not something we should be conscious of only in our Church but in our lives as well.  Let us not focus on something of greater value but of the eternal welfare and justice for everyone, which includes both the rich and the poor.  How often do we treat others by way of looking at their external appearance and treating them well simply because of their wealth? 

Psalm 145 tells us, “The Lord is just in all His ways;” thus, we too must live justly.  To enter the kingdom of God, we will be judged not according to our wealth, but how much kindness and love we have done to others in following our Lord, Jesus Christ.  After all, if Christ loves and embraces both the rich and the poor, should we not do the same?  

The gospel today according to St. Mark reminds me of every baptism I administer.  There is a part when the priest says, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened.”  Every time I utter the same word and touch the ears and mouth of an infant, the parents look at me as if murmuring deep inside themselves, “Let his mouth and eyes be opened but not all night; we need to sleep too.”  This simple ritual reminds us of being open to the ways of God and to see beyond our selfishness and not to resist to speak the truth.  Jesus came to touch and bless us that we may find comfort in being faithful followers.

There are three important guide points for our reflection:

First, early on that day people brought a deaf man to Jesus.  It was thru friends that the deaf man was able to meet Jesus. He did not bring himself for healing.  It is a good thing that happens when thru the good will of those people around us, like our community, they take a big step to extend help to us.  It is amazing love that our friends are willing to get out from their comfort zone to bring us closer to Jesus.

I found it inspiring that healing occurs when others are willing to share our moments of pain and struggles.  There are times that even strangers come to reach out to touch us.  Such love and trust happens when this occurs that we meet and encounter good people.  They are there to manifest God’s presence and healing.  God becomes real to me, instead of just something I was taught to believe.  Perhaps many of us have had a moment like this in our journey of faith.

Second, Jesus takes the deaf man away from the crowd so He can be with him alone.   Maybe this is Jesus’ gesture of knowing well and caring for his personal needs.  Jesus takes us in solitude and in prayer for us to have the chance to experience being with God, similar to the actions of Jesus with the deaf man in today’s gospel.

Being with Jesus in prayer, we can feel deeply our deafness, then gradually hearing that to which Jesus asks us to listen.  Jesus does this frequently to us, as if in silence He is absent; however, in truth, God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts.  Quiet listening implies change, which is a challenge for us to aim to be a better person and to discover who we really are.

Third, Jesus orders the crowd not to tell anyone what they saw there.  The reason why He prohibits media mileage is because He wills these miracle works, not for the spectacle of them, but rather to impact the personal life of the healed man and those who have witnessed the miracle.  The healed man has been restored to be an active member of the community.   He was invited to integrate with his family and community.  Jesus prays, “Be open” meaning the total restoration of both the physical and interior life of the person.   His hearing and speaking improved perfectly, and Jesus offered him the option of faith through his commitment to do his ministry to announce and to share the good news!   

Through this Eucharistic celebration, we pray that our encounter with God is a source of comfort in our total healing, growing and maturing.  

God bless you.

 Fr. Arlon, osa 

————–

El Dictado del Corazón

Vigésimo-Tercer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B

• Isaías 35:4-7a
• Salmo 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
• Santiago 2:1-5
• Marcos 7:31-37

Hoy es el Vigésimo-Tercer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario. Nuestra fe cristiana no se limita únicamente a respetar normas morales y éticas. Lo más importante es establecer una relación personal con Dios. Al escuchar las Palabras tanto del Antiguo y Nuevo Testamento, somos conscientes de los acontecimientos que nos inspiran a vivir en una dirección decisiva y a encontrarnos con Dios, que sana y salva. Ese encuentro nos da el consuelo de saber que Dios está siempre con nosotros, sin importar lo que suceda en nuestra vida.

Ahora, reflexionemos sobre las tres lecturas para guiar nuestro entendimiento sobre esta constante invitación al encuentro con este Dios misericordioso. Con fe y en todas las circunstancias de la vida en las que nos trae alegría, sanacion, consuelo y paz.

La primera lectura del libro de Isaías nos habla del pueblo elegido que sucumbe al desánimo y pierde la esperanza porque todavía estaban cautivos en Babilonia. Sin embargo, el profeta Isaías les recuerda que no están solos en su camino, Dios camina con ellos. El Señor les dice: “Digan a los que tienen miedo: ¡Sean fuertes, no temán!”. Cuando encontramos la presencia de Dios al escuchar sus poderosas Palabras, hay esa frescura renovada en nuestra fe, porque Dios viene “a salvarnos”.

La segunda lectura nos advierte que no tratemos a las personas con menos recursos económicos de una manera inferior. Nuestra relación cristiana no se basa en el estado financiero de las personas. Santiago nos hace conscientes de que la Iglesia no debe hacer favoritismo, sino solo lo que la sociedad civil trata a las personas. En nuestra sociedad moderna, tendemos a impresionar a las personas con dinero porque sabemos que nos beneficiamos de su poder e influencia. Sin embargo, esto no funciona en el Reino de Dios. Para Santiago, la práctica del favoritismo excluye y desalienta a los demás. ¿Qué hace la diferencia entre nosotros, la Iglesia y la sociedad? Me temo que empezamos a tratar a los pobres como los trata la sociedad, es decir, los pobres están siendo avergonzados, desatendidos y menospreciados. Con esta actitud, no somos de Dios, sino que somos malvados y viciosos. Lo que Dios quiere no es aprovecharse de los que tienen el poder, sino hacerles entender que actuamos con caridad y justicia para ayudar a los pobres. Este pasaje de Santiago no es solo de lo que debamos ser conscientes en nuestra Iglesia, sino también en nuestra vida. No nos centremos en algo de mayor valor, que es el bienestar eterno y la justicia para todos, que incluye tanto a los ricos como a los pobres. ¿Con qué frecuencia tratamos a los demás por su apariencia externa, tratándolos bien simplemente por su riqueza?

En el Salmo ciento-cuarenta-y-cinco, “El Señor es justo en todos sus caminos”, por lo tanto, también nosotros debemos vivir con justicia. Para entrar en el reino de Dios, seremos juzgados no según nuestras riquezas, sino por cuánta bondad y amor hayamos hecho a los demás al seguir a nuestro Señor, Jesucristo. Después de todo, si Cristo ama y abraza tanto a los ricos como a los pobres, ¿no deberíamos hacer lo mismo nosotros?

El evangelio de hoy según San Marcos me recuerda cada bautismo que administro. Hay una parte en la que el sacerdote dice: “Ephphatha”, que significa “Ábrete”. Cada vez que pronuncio la misma palabra y toco los oídos y la boca de un infante, los padres me miran como si murmuraran en lo más profundo de ellos: “Que se le abran la boca y los ojos, pero no toda la noche, también necesitamos dormir”. Este sencillo ritual nos recuerda que debemos estar abiertos a los caminos de Dios, ver más allá de nuestro egoísmo y no resistirnos a decir la verdad. Jesús vino a tocarnos y bendecirnos para que podamos encontrar consuelo en ser seguidores fieles.

Hay tres puntos importantes para reflexiónar:

Primero, temprano ese día, la gente trajo a un hombre sordo a Jesús. Fue a través de amigos que el hombre sordo pudo conocer a Jesús, no se trajo a sí mismo para sanar. Es bueno que la buena voluntad de las personas que nos rodean, como nuestra comunidad, dé un paso más para ayudarnos. Es un amor asombroso que nuestros amigos estén dispuestos a salir de su zona de confort para acercarnos a Jesús.

Me pareció inspirador que la sanación ocurra cuando otros están dispuestos a compartir nuestros momentos de dolor y luchas. Hay momentos en que incluso extraños vienen a tocarnos. ¿Qué amor y confianza surgen cuando esto ocurre para conocer y encontrarse con buenas personas? Están allí para manifestar la presencia y la sanación de Dios. Dios se vuelve real para mí, en lugar de ser solo algo que me enseñaron a creer. Quizás muchos de nosotros tenemos este momento como en nuestros viajes de fe.

En segundo lugar, Jesús aleja al sordo de la multitud para poder estar a solas con él. Quizás este sea el gesto de Jesús de conocer bien y cuidar de sus necesidades personales. Jesús nos lleva en soledad, en oración para que tengamos la oportunidad de experimentar estar con Dios, acciones similares a las que Jesús hizo con el hombre sordo en el evangelio de hoy.

Al estar con Jesús en oración, podemos sentir profundamente nuestra sordera, para luego revivir gradualmente nuestra audición a la que Jesús nos pide que escuchemos. Jesús nos hizo esto con frecuencia, como si en silencio, Él estuviera ausente, sin embargo, en verdad, Dios nos habla en el silencio de nuestro corazone. Escuchar en silencio implica un cambio, lo cual es un desafío para apuntarnos a ser mejores personas y descubrir quiénes somos.

En tercer lugar, Jesús ordena a la multitud que no le cuente a nadie lo que vieron allí. La razón por la que prohíbe el uso de los medios es porque quiere que este milagro no funcione por el espectáculo sino para impactar la vida personal del hombre sanado y de aquellos que han presenciado el milagro. El hombre sanado ha sido restaurado para ser un miembro activo de la comunidad. Fue invitado a integrarse a su familia y comunidad. Jesús ora: “Sé abierto”, lo que significa la restauración total tanto de la vida física como interior de la persona. Su audición y habla mejoraron perfectamente y Jesús le ofreció la opción de la fe a través de su compromiso de hacer su ministerio de anunciar y compartir la buena nueva.

Que en esta celebración eucarística, oremos para que nuestro encuentro con Dios sea una fuente de consuelo en nuestra sanación total, crecimiento y madurez.

Dios los bendiga,

Padre Arlon, osa

• Ephesians 3:13-21
• Luke 14:1-11

I am again grateful to those who attended the memorial mass yesterday for our former Priest, the late +Fr. Lorenzo Torrente.  Again, may his soul rest in peace.   

Today is the 16th Sunday after Pentecost.  When we are in sorrow, in pain or in a difficult situation, we seek guidance and strength from God.   This is exactly the message of St. Paul from the first epistle, we need to pray.  St. Paul is praying for hearts that can receive God’s grace which is precisely the reason for which we pray. If God gets hold of my heart, your heart and our hearts, then we not only discover the gift of God’s grace, but rather we live differently because of His gift of grace. 

St. Paul says, “He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened by His Holy Spirit with might unto the inward man.”  St. Paul prays for Ephesians to pray for inner strength through the Spirit.  Sometimes we lose our strength so we find God’s strength like King David who was given strength by God to handle worse and difficult situations well.  Maybe God has His wisdom that as we go through all those trials, He might allow us to get weaker before we can get stronger, so that we may understand His given grace, right? Just like a trainer, he exposes us to a rigorous regiment like painful exercises.  Despite all that pain, it is still the first step in getting stronger so that we may see all our weaknesses.  The Holy Spirit helps us see our weakness so that He can fill us with God’s strength.  Therefore, we pray for inner strength to grasp God’s grace. Praying is entrusting everything to God’s disposition. Listening and speaking are necessary in prayer, acknowledging that Christ is dwelling in our hearts. 

Today we heard the gospel according to St. Luke 14:1-11.  It begins with another confrontation between Jesus and some religious leaders on a sabbath.  The pharisees were watching Him closely.  Far from being challenged, Jesus asks them, “Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath or not?”  According to the Law as interpreted by the scribes and pharisees, it was not allowed, but because it involved healing and curing, Jesus made it difficult for them to protest, so they did not give an answer, and they were silent without any further comment. 

So, Jesus took the man, healed him on the spot and sent him off.  Then Jesus asked another question, “If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well will you not immediately pull them out on a Sabbath day?”  They had no answer.   They accused Jesus of doing an unlawful act according to rabbinic interpretations.  However, in truth, Jesus was not going against the Mosaic Law itself.  Jesus is clear that the law was there for the people and not the other way around. It means His miracle shows that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).  Rather, it reveals to us the most important priority of Jesus, that is, the well-being of people.   

Sometimes we fail to help others because we are afraid of what people might say or how they might judge us. No one who acts out of genuine love for others can go wrong.  Our pure intention of loving others can’t be sinful.  It is God’s ultimate desire to always do righteous acts.  

This story about the healing brought to us by Jesus even during the Sabbath means that: 

First, Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.  God made the Sabbath to be observed by the people to give glory, honor and thanksgiving to this loving God who continues to walk with us.  There must always be a day where we truly pause and dedicate our time for Him, but not being legalistic by not doing something good to help others in need.  It is a day to find rest and peace in God’s Word, to communion with God through the Eucharist, and a day to remind us of the eternal rest the Savior would bring. 

Second, Jesus’ miracles are never about the miracle per se.   They are signs pointing to something more important, that is the sign pointing to Jesus being the true Messiah and the unfolding of His Kingdom. 

Third, Jesus wants to reveal to the scribes and pharisees that they have a wrong view about God, but rather, through Jesus, He specifically reveals God’s heart.  Jesus came to have a better understanding of God because we cannot fathom God.  Our thoughts aren’t His thoughts; His ways aren’t our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  

The main reason God invites us to take time each week to come here, to come around the table of the Lord in the celebration of the Holy Mass, is that God invites us for our sake, not for His, for our presence adds nothing to His greatness.  We receive the Word, His Body and Blood in communion, not to get out and do nothing but to serve and glorify God better by healing the sick, feeding the hungry and making this world a better place. 

The fact that you come here, you should view this like stopping at the gasoline station to refill your car with gasoline, because the whole reason God wants you to stop and sit and rest and listen is to refill you with His grace and blessings and to be HEALED. 

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-8
• Psalm 15: 2-3, 3-4, 4-5
• James 1: 17-18, 21b-22, 27
• Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Today is the first day of September.  We are familiar with the song entitled, “September Morn,” sung by American songwriter Neil Diamond and released in 1979.  The song is about a couple who broke-up and eventually met again wondering if the fire of love was still there.  The story applies also to our spiritual life when we are in doubt of our love for God until we give ourselves another chance.  Nevertheless, let us remember that the love of God is always constant and faithful. The readings today revolve around our roller coaster relationship with the Lord which started with the chosen people of Israel.

 In the first reading today taken from the book of Deuteronomy, Moses challenges the chosen people of God to take to heart the Word and act on it by obeying the law and the precepts. The Israelites must walk blamelessly in the presence of the Lord by putting all into action all the days of their lives.  This book, Deuteronomy, simply means the second law which the Israelites believe that all the precepts are not a restriction, but the way to freedom or liberation.  Through centuries, even today, the Jewish people are constantly guided by their pursuit of intimate relationship with their God and their neighbors.  Their first law is the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament.  In today’s passage, Moses clearly asks the chosen people to faithfully observe the Shema, which means above anything and everything is God alone. 

In the second reading from the Letter of James, the writer stresses that we must not only be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word.  The Word of God isn’t only purely mental, but also we need to put it into action and service. Hearing implies more; it encourages us to action or to do something good. 

According to the gospel today, Jesus responds to the criticism against His disciples’ poor practice of the minute details of the human precepts of external cleanliness.  How did Jesus confront those who criticized Him and His disciples?  

First, Jesus emphasizes that what is important is what is going on inside of a person.  The ritual purification of hands and food is not part of the Torah, rather it is an imposed practiced tradition of the elders and the rabbis. 

Second, Jesus responds by critiquing the hypocrisy of religious leaders who pay more attention to external cleansing rather than focusing on the inspired Word, which guides people closer to God, and then putting into practice in their daily lives the gift of faith they received and exercising the assent to the will for a genuine purity of the heart. 

Third, Jesus remarks that failing to perform external acts of purification does not make the person dirty, defiled or filthy, but rather what is in a person’s intention, thoughts, attitudes, etc., are what defile a person.  Whoever is not practicing what his/her heart believes or failing to do good things is considered to be disobedient to God. 

To summarize the message of the gospel today, it stresses that our faith must be made manifest in how one lives one’s life.  It is not enough for one to merely hear God’s Word and intellectualize our faith, but what is important is to be a doer of the Word, which is putting into practice what we hear and believe. 

Let our understanding of the word “obedience” clearly point to the two words from Latin, “to listen and to hear.”  Thus, being obedient to the LORD requires two things: first, to listen to HIS WORD and second, to hear what the Lord is saying to us.   It is, indeed, that God has spoken and given the chosen people ten commandments and other spoken precepts so that keeping them to heart makes us become closer to Him.  Knowing how much God loves us, we should be empowered to go out and love one another as Jesus has loved us. 

This is how we become blameless and able to dwell on God’s holy presence, not just now but forever.   Let us be guided by these words of St. James, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:  to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” 

How do I listen to the Word of God?  How do I encourage others to respond to God’s Word that they too become “doers” of the Word also?   Do I share the transforming Word of God to others? 

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón

Vigésimo-Segundo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B (1 de septiembre)

• Deuteronomio 4: 1-2, 6-8
• Salmo 15: 2-3, 3-4, 4-5
• Santiago 1: 17-18, 21b-22, 27
• Marcos 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Hoy es el primer día de Septiembre. Estamos familiarizados con la canción titulada “September Morn”, cantada por el compositor estadounidense Neil Diamond, lanzada en 1979. La canción trata sobre una pareja que se separó y finalmente se reencontró preguntándose si el fuego del amor todavía estaba allí. La historia se puede aplicar también a nuestra vida espiritual, cuando dudamos de nuestro amor por Dios, hasta que nos damos otra oportunidad. Sin embargo, recordemos que el amor de Dios es siempre constante y fiel. Las lecturas de hoy giran en torno a nuestra relación de montaña rusa con el Señor que comenzó con el pueblo elegido de Israel.

La primera lectura de hoy tomada del libro de Deuteronomio, Moisés desafía al pueblo elegido de Dios a tomar en serio la Palabra y actuar de acuerdo con ella, obedeciendo la ley y los preceptos. Los israelitas deben caminar sin culpa en la presencia del Señor poniendo todo en acción todos los días de sus vidas. Este libro, Deuteronomio simplemente significa la segunda ley que los israelitas creen que todos los preceptos no son una restricción sino el camino hacia la libertad o la liberación. A través de los siglos, incluso hoy, el pueblo judío se ha guiado constantemente por su búsqueda de tener una relación íntima con su Dios y sus vecinos. Su primera ley es la Torá, los primeros cinco libros del Antiguo Testamento. En el pasaje de hoy, Moisés pide al pueblo elegido observar fielmente el Shemá, que significa, por encima de todo y de cualquier cosa está solo Dios.

En la segunda lectura de la Carta de Santiago, el escritor enfatiza que no solo debemos ser oidores de la Palabra sino hacedores de la Palabra. La Palabra de Dios no es solo puramente mental sino que también debemos ponerla en acción y servicio. Escuchar implica más, nos anima a actuar o a hacer algo bueno.

Según el evangelio de hoy, Jesús responde a las críticas contra la mala práctica de sus discípulos de los minuciosos detalles de los preceptos humanos de limpieza externa. ¿Cómo confrontó Jesús a quienes lo criticaron a Él y a sus discípulos?

Primero, Jesús enfatiza que lo importante es lo que sucede dentro de una persona. La purificación ritual de las manos y los alimentos no es parte de la Torá, sino que es una tradición impuesta y practicada por los ancianos y rabinos.

En segundo lugar, Jesús responde criticando la hipocresía de los líderes religiosos que prestan más atención a la limpieza externa en lugar de centrarse en la Palabra inspirada que guía a las personas más cercanas a Dios. Y luego poner en práctica en su vida diaria el don de la fe que recibieron y ejercer el asentimiento a la voluntad para una genuina pureza de corazón.

En tercer lugar, Jesús señala que no realizar actos externos de purificación no hace que la persona sea sucia, contaminada o inmunda, más bien, lo que está en la intención, los pensamientos, las actitudes, etc. de una persona es lo que contamina a una persona. Quien no está practicando lo que su corazón cree o deja de hacer cosas buenas se considera desobediente a Dios.

Para resumir el mensaje del evangelio de hoy, enfatiza que nuestra fe debe manifestarse en cómo uno vive la vida. No basta con que uno simplemente escuche la Palabra de Dios e intelectualice su fe, sino que lo importante es ser hacedores de la Palabra, es decir, poner en práctica lo que escuchamos y creemos.

Dejemos que nuestra comprensión de la palabra “obediencia” apunte claramente a las dos palabras del latín “escuchar y oír”. Por lo tanto, ser obediente al SEÑOR requiere dos cosas: primero, escuchar SU PALABRA. Segundo, escuchar lo que el Señor nos está diciendo. Es, en efecto, Dios quien ha hablado y dado al pueblo escogido los diez mandamientos y otros preceptos, hablados para que guardarlos en el corazón nos acerque más a Él.   Sabiendo cuánto nos ama Dios, debemos estar capacitados para salir y amarnos unos a otros como Jesús nos ha amado.

Así es como nos volvemos irreprensibles y capaces de morar en la santa presencia de Dios, no solo ahora sino para siempre. Dejémonos guiar por estas palabras de Santiago: “La religión pura y sin mancha delante de Dios Padre es ésta: visitar a los huérfanos y a las viudas en sus tribulaciones y guardarse sin mancha del mundo”.

¿Cómo escucho la Palabra de Dios? ¿Cómo animo a otros a responder a la Palabra de Dios para que ellos también se conviertan en “hacedores” de la Palabra? ¿Comparto la Palabra transformadora de Dios con los demás?

Dios los bendiga.

Padre Arlon, osa

• Galatians 5: 25-6:10
• Luke 7: 11-16

I returned from a two-week vacation in Europe on August 28, 2024.  It was short but filled with successful missionary endeavors and meeting old friends and the religious organization called the Society of the Divine Mercy, which branches out to other devotional groups throughout Vienna.  I was able to preach to Filipino devotees of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at the first District under the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Vienna.  It is nice to be back to continue what God wants to be seen in all of us, that is to do things that are truly good for us.  

The epistle today from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians provides us with two important images of Christian maturity. 

First, there are people who tend to be good influencers, and their vision is completely opposite from the action of the Spirit.  Paul reminds them; he writes, “Let us not be made desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another.” (v.26). Vainglory means being conceited with the pursuit of glory for oneself.  This is a pointless attitude which deprives oneself from finding time to glorify God alone because of his/her pride. It is an empty pride because he wants to glorify himself rather than God.  With this attitude, it creates an effect of provoking one another and even to the point of envying other’s works and achievements.  He or she has an attitude of constant bullying, thinking about himself being above others.  They are focused on themselves; thus, they are deeply insecure.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit moves away from them because they are closely tight thinking of themselves and are not open to change. 

Second, the people who are receptive of the Holy Spirit are people who do the opposite, not seeking for any kind of honor and glory and not picking fights to prove themselves, but rather thinking of themselves as less and humble.  This is what St. Paul envisioned in a community, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so you shall fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2)  

The Spirit produces our sense of responsibility for those around us.  We are meant to help one another, for your burdens are mine and my burdens are yours.  We share all the burdens for we identify with our community or family. 

Now the idea isn’t hard to understand, for we become mature when we commit to bearing the weight together.  We try to solve the problem together if we can, and we follow through with action.  All the words of encouragement, support and prayers are felt by us, and we never feel that the burden of one is being carried alone.  So, people with deep humility, truly mature people, see their responsibility for the community around them.  St. Paul says, “For each will have to bear his own load.”  (Gal 6:5) 

In our gospel reading taken from St. Luke 7:11-16, this episode is part of the public ministry of Jesus in which that reign becomes visible.   It is a reminder that God continues to work for the salvation of all, the sick and the oppressed, like the widow whose husband died and is now having the burial of her only son.  

Jesus enters into the city of Naim, and while walking with His chosen disciples, He saw the burial of a dead man, the only son of his mother.  Jesus felt deep compassion and comforted the mother when He said, “Weep not.”  Compassion in this text is closely connected to Jesus’ qualities of being Divine and Lord.  This is a powerful message.  Jesus approached and touched the coffin, and He said, “Young man, I say to thee, Arise!”   The dead man came to life and sat up and began to speak.  Jesus raises the son from the dead, which is a sign that God is “amongst His people” in Jesus. (v.22)  For this miracle, St. Luke provided many witnesses because many local people had witnessed Jesus’ miraculous event. 

This story is unique to Luke.  Jesus knew that being a widow, she would suffer because she would have no means of economic support because of the fact that she lost both her husband and mother.  Restoring the life of her son becomes a way to sustain her own life.

When Jesus accomplishes miracles, He reveals His credibility, continuity and genuine identity.   He comes to heal and save!  Jesus’ establishment of God’s reign is clearly understood when weeping is turned into laughing, and one does good to others constantly showing mercy where the Spirit of Jesus leads to a much different image of community.  God’s purpose continues to be that of healing and saving without discrimination among people.   

Today, we must proclaim, “a great prophet has arisen among us and the Lord has visited his people.”  Let us be clear; we are responsible for one another!   

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

• 1 Kings 19:4-8
• Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
• Ephesians 4:30-5:2
• John 6:41-51

Today is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. For three consecutive Sunday readings, we are given an opportunity to reflect and have a better understanding of the teaching of Jesus Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist, which is further explained by the Holy Catholic Church with her teaching authority. The Eucharist is an eternal offering of the gift of Jesus’ flesh and blood for our provision and nourishment on our journey to eternal life.

The first reading from the first book of Kings narrates to us the empowering of the Prophet Elijah, who was appointed by God to bring order and a clear message to the disobedient people of Israel. Their unfaithfulness is obviously prevailing during their journey as the chosen people. Elijah was so devastated that he asked for death, but instead God reaches him through an angel. He was encouraged to live, eat and continue his mission and journey with the people he ministered. Elijah was touched by him and cared for him so much that he moved on, knowing his life must go on.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a desolate situation where we have given up on our life continuing. Amid difficulties, we give in to frustrations, like Elijah, with no hope and no energy to live because we are lonely and anxious about life. However, we neglect to see around us that the divine presence manifests amongst those who love and care for us. We are not alone, for God journeys with us to feed our troubled spirit. It is encouraging to take our moment to know how God loves us and offers Himself to us.

In the second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, St. Paul warns against the people’s attitude, “bitterness, fury, anger, shouting and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.” This is the mark of being Children of God, bearers of the “fragrant aroma” offered by Jesus’ sacrifice and love. Let us forgive and be compassionate to each other just as “God has forgiven you in Christ Jesus according to St. Paul.

In today’s gospel taken from St. John, Jesus is revealing Himself as the Way to the Father by close affinity, oneness to the Father, and the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him as the Bread of Life. Chapter 6 of John’s gospel centers around Jesus’ words about His being from God and His being nourishment for eternal life. There are three important utterances of His words we need to reflect on.

First, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life that came down from heaven.” This is the beginning of murmuring because they cannot accept His words. They have witnessed the event when they were in the wilderness, and God provided them manna from heaven. God embraced them and showed loving kindness towards them, and yet they have a short memory of the event when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish of which they themselves have partaken.

In the Eucharist which we celebrate today, we are aware of God sustaining, nourishing, teaching and drawing us closer to Him, our great provider. Every day of our life, God reaches out to us..

Second, Jesus says, “Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from Him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God, he has seen the Father.” True knowledge and intimacy with God is an experience of an intimate relationship with Jesus. If we want to learn from Jesus, let us draw near Him through righteousness and purity of hearts. In Proverbs 3:32, “For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.” Jesus is, indeed, the model of intimacy with God because He and the Father are one. (John 10:30) So, Jesus goes on to teach them and by listening to Him, God is teaching them, but unfortunately, some will not see the signs and hear the word for they refuse to eat the bread which comes down from heaven in a similar way.

Third, Jesus says, “Whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life…and that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Obviously, some people can’t accept and believe in Jesus being the “Bread of Life.” More so, Jesus as the Bread comes down from heaven and offers eternal life. There was a great debate when people heard Jesus’ words. However, there is a clearer path to understanding, that is to accept or take into one’s life the person and life of Jesus.

Personally, believing in the Eucharistic Real Presence is an issue within us to believe in Jesus and to come forward to receive Him. Our comfort is more than our receiving the Eucharist, but that we have taken Him into our hearts and allowed ourselves to be touched by His real presence. Elijah moaned, “This is enough, O Lord! Take my life,” Jesus says to us, “I am enough! You take my life, eat it all, live it all and you will be already living the eternal life I came and come to share.”

May God bless us with His Eucharistic presence! Psalm 34 reminds us, “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón

Decimonoveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B

• 1 Reyes 19:4-8
• Salmo 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
• Efesios 4:30-5:2
• Juan 6:41-51

Hoy es el Decimonoveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B. Durante tres lecturas dominicales consecutivas, se nos permite reflexionar y comprender mejor la enseñanza de la presencia real de Jesucristo en la Eucaristía, que la Santa Iglesia Católica explica con más detalle con su autoridad docente. La Eucaristía es una ofrenda eterna del don de la carne y la sangre de Jesús para nuestra provisión y alimento en nuestro viaje hacia la vida eterna.

La primera lectura del primer libro de los Reyes nos narra el empoderamiento del profeta Elías, quien fue designado por Dios para traer orden y un mensaje claro al pueblo desobediente de Israel. Su infidelidad prevalece durante su camino como pueblo elegido. Elías estaba tan devastado que pidió la muerte, pero en cambio, Dios lo alcanzó a través de un ángel. Se le animó a vivir, comer y continuar su misión y su camino con el pueblo al que ministraba. Elías se sintió tocado y se preocupó tanto por él que siguió adelante, sabiendo que su vida debía continuar.

A veces nos encontramos en una situación desoladora en la que hemos renunciado a que nuestra vida continúe. En medio de las dificultades, cedemos a las frustraciones, como Elías, sin esperanza y sin energía para vivir porque estamos solos y ansiosos por la vida. Sin embargo, descuidamos ver a nuestro alrededor que la presencia divina se manifiesta entre quienes nos aman y cuidan. No estamos solos, porque Dios camina con nosotros para alimentar nuestro espíritu atribulado. Es alentador tomarnos un momento para saber cómo Dios nos ama y se ofrece a nosotros.

En la segunda lectura de la carta de San Pablo a los Efesios, San Pablo advierte contra la actitud de la gente: “Apártense de ustedes la amargura, la ira, la furia, los gritos y las injurias, junto con toda malicia”. Esta es la marca de ser hijos de Dios, portadores del “fragante aroma” ofrecido por el sacrificio y el amor de Jesús. Perdonémonos y seamos compasivos unos con otros, así como “Dios los ha perdonado en Cristo Jesús según San Pablo”.

En el evangelio de hoy tomado de San Juan, Jesús se revela como el Camino al Padre por la estrecha afinidad, la unidad con el Padre y la promesa de vida eterna para aquellos que creen en Él como el Pan de Vida. El capítulo seis del evangelio de Juan se centra en las palabras de Jesús acerca de que Él viene de Dios y es alimento para la vida eterna. Hay tres declaraciones importantes de Sus palabras en las que debemos reflexionar.

Primero, Jesús dice: “Yo soy el pan de vida que descendió del cielo”. Este es el comienzo de la murmuración porque no pueden aceptar Sus palabras. Fueron testigos del evento cuando estaban en el desierto, y Dios les proporcionó maná del cielo. Dios los abrazó y les mostró bondad amorosa, y sin embargo tienen un breve recuerdo del evento cuando Jesús multiplicó los panes y los peces de los cuales participaron.

En la Eucaristía que celebramos hoy, somos conscientes de que Dios nos sostiene, nos nutre, nos enseña y nos acerca a Él, nuestro gran proveedor. Todos los días de nuestra vida, Dios se acerca a nosotros.

En segundo lugar, Jesús dice: “Todo el que escucha a mi Padre y aprende de Él viene a mí. No que alguien haya visto al Padre, sino el que viene de Dios, ése ha visto al Padre.” El verdadero conocimiento e intimidad con Dios es una experiencia de una relación íntima con Jesús. Si queremos aprender de Jesús, acerquémonos a Él a través de la rectitud y la pureza de corazón. En Proverbios tres:treinta y dos, “Porque el Señor aborrece a los perversos, pero acoge a los rectos en su confianza.” Jesús es, de hecho, el modelo de intimidad con Dios porque Él y el Padre son uno. (Juan diez:treinta) Entonces, Jesús continúa enseñándoles y al escucharlo, Dios les está enseñando, pero desafortunadamente, algunos no verán las señales ni oirán la palabra porque se niegan a comer el pan que desciende del cielo de manera similar.

En tercer lugar, Jesús dice: “El que cree tiene vida eterna. Yo soy el pan de vida… y lo que daré es mi carne por la vida del mundo.”Algunas personas no pueden aceptar y creer en Jesús como el “Pan de Vida”. Más aún, Jesús como el Pan baja del cielo y ofrece vida eterna. Hubo un gran debate cuando la gente escuchó las palabras de Jesús. Sin embargo, hay un camino más claro para entender, que es aceptar o tomar en la propia vida la persona y vida de Jesús.

Personalmente, creer en la Presencia Real Eucarística es una cuestión dentro de nosotros para creer en Jesús y dar un paso adelante para recibirlo. Nuestro consuelo es más que recibir la Eucaristía, lo hemos tomado en nuestros corazones y nos hemos dejado tocar por Su presencia real. Elías gimió: “¡Esto es suficiente, Señor! Toma mi vida”, nos dice Jesús, “¡Soy suficiente! Toma mi vida, cómela toda, vívela toda y ya estarás viviendo la vida eterna que vine y vengo a compartir”.

¡Que Dios nos bendiga con Su presencia Eucarística! El Salmo treinta y cuatro, nos recuerda: “Prueben y vean la bondad del Señor”. “Alabado sea el Señor.”

Padre Arlon, osa

• 2 Corinthians 3:4-9
• Luke 10:23-37

Today is the 12th Sunday after Pentecost.  St. Augustine always reminds his brothers that as a community living under the law, what is important is to live life under grace.  It is the divine grace from God that truly moves us to conversion, to adhere to God’s will and standards.  God’s grace is a gift, but we absolutely cooperate. In the first epistle today, on the other hand, St. Paul knew so well that the people of Corinth had begun to lose their understanding of the gospel preached by Paul because they began embracing the false message coming from their Jewish influence.  Even though they have received the law, the Torah, they could not transform them because there is nothing that convinces them in order to change their hearts. 

Life is a matter of choice and decision.  It requires us to be truly careful to make choices which we defend solely on wise judgment among good options.  St. Paul says, “Not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God.”  This is to prove that we are imperfect, which I believe leads us to realize that we need Jesus, the perfect Incarnate Son, being conscious that we have no ability to save ourselves, but rather depending on His mercy and grace utterly suffices the longing of our hearts and spirits to give glory to Him.  When we open up to God’s grace, we find ourselves to be slaves of Christ, like St. Paul, so that we find the confidence to honor God in Jesus Christ. 

When God’s grace has been received by us, we need to be equally gracious with each other.  Our exposure to Christ’s grace, through the Holy Spirit, transforms our lives to no longer live under the power of sinful choices.  Christ always is on a rescue to take us from these discouraging, defeating and distracting situations.  I would say, all these imperfections are made right when we are with Jesus, who stands in the view of a perfect God, in whose image we are all created.  

St. Paul is clear on this matter that we are not enough in ourselves; and only God can fill the void in our hearts and souls.  We are forever alive in Christ; therefore, let us walk in triumph, “for the ministration of justice, aboundeth in glory,” which is through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

The gospel taken from St. Luke narrates to us a parable of Jesus.  Jesus told His disciples, “May your eyes and ears be blessed because many prophets and kings desired to see and hear but did not; therefore, be aware of the promptings of the Holy Spirit.” 

In today’s gospel, Jesus is narrating a story to the disciples and to the listeners who cannot accept the act of goodness performed by the Samaritan having a good heart towards the man who was a victim of robbery. Then a certain lawyer asked, “Master, what must I do to possess eternal life?”  Jesus answered him, “What is written in the law?”  The lawyer remembered, “Shema, Oh Israel, Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Dt. 6:4-5)  Jesus responded, “You answered correctly, this do and you shall live.”

Jesus did a follow up by narrating a parable.  Three men saw a man lying half-dead.  The priest, seeing him, passed by and did nothing to rescue the man.  The next, the Levite, did the same without lifting a finger to aid the man.  Lastly, the Samaritan, seeing the same man, was moved by compassion, helped the man, bound up his wounds and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Only the Samaritan was the one who saw a person, a brother and a neighbor in need of help.  His compassion did not make him think twice or rationalize to qualify the man from being rescued and to be attended.  Even for a person who can be considered a stranger, the Samaritan’s heart went out to show love and compassion.

Jesus never hesitates to say, “Go and be like the Samaritan.“ Jesus simply says, “Go do likewise.” It means go and show your love and mercy!  

Brothers and sisters, who is your neighbor?   Whose neighbor will you be?  Do I exclude others by doing the right thing?  Am I eager to love and be merciful?  I know we want to do the right thing, not seeking personal gratification, recognition, and media mileage, however out of our duty to stop, show love and compassion even to the point of facing personal risks. Our first reaction is to be good responders when we see evil has been done and get involved in moments of a person being maligned and humiliated.   It requires great humility to accept the grace from God, who we are called to be willing to extend goodness and grace.   Who knows, someday the one whom you help and rescue will be the same person Jesus has sent into your life to pull you up from the ditch, from the dirt of shame, and gives you an opportunity to be healed and be transformed.  

Many times, God wipes away our pride to accept someone who is willing to walk with us out of misery and indifference.  Everyone must love every person thru the power of God’s efficient and effective words to change us.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
• Psalm 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
• Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
• John 6:24-35

Two weeks ago in the US, more than 50 thousand people attended the 10th Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.  I must admit that I can’t get over it, and I have watched videos uploaded on Youtube.  It is a very dramatic and emotional feeling, during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for adoration and the concluding Mass presided by Cardinal Tagle, the Papal representative, who captured the audience commitment to go and be Eucharistic missionaries by sharing the gift received. Eucharist is the eternal gift of Christ’s body and blood from His eternal sanctuary.  His sacrifice of offering Himself on the Cross in Calvary had been a perfect offering which cannot be duplicated; however, Christ wanted it to be eternally offered as our nourishment in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass.

The readings today allow us to dig deeper into our own consciousness and spirituality.  They help us to focus on what is essential in our journey of faith. 

The first reading from the Book of Exodus narrates this beautiful story of how the Israelites were taken out from slavery in Egypt by Moses, who led them to the promised land.  While they were in exodus, they were hungry in the desert.  They complained and grumbled that it was better for them to go back to Egypt than die of hunger.   Moses listened to their cry and prayed to God to satisfy their hunger and thirst as they moved to the wilderness.  That was an attitude of weak faith for they looked for comfort under the tyranny of slavery and not under the guidance of the living God, who is with them all along their history.  Moses told them, “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”  (Ex 16:15) God answered Moses’ prayer giving them “manna” from heaven, a mysterious bread which the Israelites do not comprehend.  The loving God provides them provisions as they journey daily so as not to worry about the next day.  The provision that God has given today is to remind us of His continuous invitation to trust in Him. The word “provision, has two combined words, pro which means “toward or for” and videre which means “to look.”  We must always look forward to God’s providential care with profound faith.

The second reading taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians reminds them to consider renewing their life in Christ Jesus.  St. Paul is clear to set aside their old ways, not too dependent on what the world offers, like fleeting pleasures, untrustworthiness and the failure to fully satisfy cravings of worldly things, while hindering themselves from progress toward a well-meaningful life and relationship with God and others, which limits the potential of being beloved children of God.

God has designed every person as the “new man created in God’s image.”  It is through our Lord Jesus Christ that we discover that holiness and wholeness which manifests the call of being “Christ” to the world.   What must I do to conform to the Spirit calling you and me to be a new person?

Jesus tells us in today’s gospel reading from St. John about the “Bread Discourse.”  The readings today help me center myself and focus on what is truly important.  Jesus shares the simple but profound message that He is the bread of life and whoever comes to Him will never hunger and whoever believes in Him will never thirst, but it seems that we do not always readily embrace this powerful message.

First, Jesus says, “you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”   From this gospel, we see Jesus in his human form reminding the people about their interest in Him being only to be filled, satisfying their hunger.  Their motivation clearly demonstrates how Jesus was tired after feeding the large crowds of people with loaves and fishes, and yet there are cries from people in the crowd who want proof of who Jesus is by demanding from Him to perform more miracles.  Although frustrated with the demands of the crowd, Jesus continues to support ,guide and teach them. 

Second, Jesus says, “That is the work of God, that you believe in the one He sent.”   Jesus shares that it is important to know and believe in the goodness of God.  He wants them to focus not on working for food that perishes, but for the food that gives eternal life that comes from the one who sent Him.  I think of the times when I am searching for an answer to a challenging situation, so I can imagine the confusion the people in the crowd must have experienced when they heard Jesus saying that the way to accomplish the work of God is to believe in the one He sent.  That teaching is simultaneously so simple and not so complicated.   Jesus wants us to recognize that every event in our life leads us to accept that God always intervenes with us, which usually manifests His love and His presence.

Third, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”  I imagine Jesus talking to His disciples uttering these words.  It seems that Jesus is enjoying the encounter as a great teaching moment, categorically speaking that He is the bread of life, to feed us so we won’t feel hungry again, and to believe in Him so we will never be thirsty again.

I love the Eucharist because it is an invitation to enter the offering of the risen Jesus’ eternal sanctuary, a gift of His very self. This celebration is not only a liturgical celebration but a great mystery of God’s real presence.  

This gospel from St. John chapter 6, is a biblical text proving the Eucharist, the Sacrament which we all cherish.  If we do not believe in the Eucharist and instead merely receive it, it won’t assure salvation for those who receive the Holy Eucharist with no understanding of its value and worth in our Christian life.

I would like to say that the scriptures and the teaching and doctrine of the Church tell us that the true treasure comes from above.  

We seek it just like St. Augustine who never gave up in searching and in finding God.  Thus, we seek it but do not earn it.  Our greatness lies in the very gift of God through faith, for we are gifted to share this precious gift with others.  “Gifted to receive, gifted to share ourselves as Eucharistic missionaries” according to the closing homily of Cardinal Luis Tagle, the papal envoy to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

May we simply receive and believe and then we live. Intimacy and communion with Jesus is always achievable.

God bless you!

Fr. Arlon, osa 

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El Dictado del Corazón

Décimo Octavo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año B

• Éxodo 16:2-4, 12-15
• Salmo 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
• Efesios 4:17, 20-24
• Juan 6:24-35

Hace dos semanas en Estados Unidos, más de 50 mil personas asistieron al décimo Congreso Eucarístico en Indianápolis. Debo admitir que no lo puedo superar, y he visto videos en YouTube. Es un sentimiento muy dramático y emotivo, durante la Exposición del Santísimo Sacramento para la adoración y la Misa de clausura presidida por el Cardenal Tagle, el representante papal, quien captó el compromiso de la audiencia de ir y ser misioneros eucarísticos compartiendo el don recibido. La Eucaristía es el don eterno del cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo a través de su santuario eterno. Su sacrificio de ofrecerse a sí mismo en la cruz del Calvario había sido una ofrenda perfecta que no se puede duplicar; sin embargo, Cristo quería que se ofreciera eternamente como nuestro alimento en el sacrificio eucarístico de la Misa.

Las lecturas de hoy nos permiten profundizar en nuestra conciencia y espiritualidad. Nos ayudan a centrarnos en lo que es esencial en nuestro camino de fe.

La primera lectura del Libro del Éxodo narra esta hermosa historia de cómo los israelitas fueron sacados de la esclavitud en Egipto por Moisés, quien los condujo a la tierra prometida. Mientras estaban en éxodo, tenían hambre en el desierto. Se quejaron y murmuraron de que era mejor para ellos regresar a Egipto que morir de hambre. Moisés escuchó su clamor y oró a Dios para que saciara su hambre y sed mientras se dirigían al desierto. Esa era una actitud de fe débil porque buscaban consuelo bajo la tiranía de la esclavitud y no bajo la guía del Dios vivo, que está con ellos a lo largo de toda su historia. Moisés les dijo: “Este es el pan que el Señor les ha dado para comer” (Éx 16:15). Dios respondió la oración de Moisés dándoles “maná” del cielo, un pan misterioso que los israelitas no comprendían. El Dios amoroso les provee mientras viajan diariamente para que no se preocupen por el día siguiente. La provisión que Dios ha dado hoy es para recordarnos Su invitación continua confiando en Él. La palabra “provisión”, tiene dos palabras combinadas, pro que significa “hacia o para” y videre que significa “mirar”. Siempre debemos esperar el cuidado providencial de Dios con una fe profunda.

La segunda lectura tomada de la carta de San Pablo a los Efesios nos recuerda que consideremos renovar nuestra vida en Cristo Jesús. San Pablo es claro al dejar de lado sus viejas costumbres, demasiado dependientes de lo que el mundo ofrece, como los placeres fugaces, la falta de confianza y el fracaso en satisfacer plenamente los antojos de cosas mundanas, en lugar de obstaculizarse a sí mismos en el progreso hacia una vida y una relación bien intencionada con Dios y los demás, lo que limita el potencial de ser hijos amados de Dios.

Dios ha diseñado a cada persona como el “hombre nuevo creado a imagen de Dios”. Es a través de nuestro Señor Jesucristo que descubrimos esa santidad que manifiesta el llamado a la apertura para que también nosotros podamos ser “Cristo” para el mundo. ¿Qué debo hacer para conformarme al Espíritu que me llama a ser una nueva persona?

Jesús nos habla en la lectura del evangelio de hoy de San Juan sobre el “Discurso del Pan”. Las lecturas de hoy me ayudan a centrarme y enfocarme en lo que es verdaderamente importante. Jesús comparte el mensaje simple pero profundo de que Él es el pan de vida y quien viene a Él nunca tendrá hambre y quien cree en Él nunca tendrá sed, pero parece que no siempre aceptamos fácilmente este poderoso mensaje.

Primero, Jesús dice: “Ustedes me buscan, no porque vieron señales, sino porque comieron panes y se saciaron”. En este evangelio, vemos a Jesús en su forma humana recordándole a la gente que su interés en Él es solo para saciarse, satisfacer su hambre. Su motivación demuestra cómo Jesús estaba cansado después de alimentar a las grandes multitudes de personas con panes y peces, y sin embargo, hay gritos de personas en la multitud que quieren una prueba de quién es Jesús exigiéndole que haga más milagros. Aunque frustrado con las demandas de la multitud, Jesús continúa guiándolos y enseñándoles.

En segundo lugar, Jesús dice: “Esa es la obra de Dios, que crean en el que Él envió”. Jesús comparte que es importante conocer y creer en la bondad de Dios. Él quiere que se enfoquen no en trabajar por el alimento que perece, sino por el alimento que da vida eterna que viene de aquel que lo envió. Pienso en las veces en que estoy buscando una respuesta a una situación desafiante, así que puedo imaginar la confusión que la gente en la multitud debe haber experimentado cuando escucharon a Jesús decir que la manera de realizar la obra de Dios es creer en el que Él envió. Esa enseñanza es a la vez tan simple y no tan complicada. Jesús quiere que reconozcamos que cada evento en nuestra vida nos lleva a aceptar que Dios siempre interviene con nosotros, lo que generalmente manifiesta el amor de Dios y Su presencia.

Tercero, “Yo soy el pan de vida; el que viene a mí, no tendrá nada que perder”. “No tendra hambre, y el que cree en mí no tendrá sed jamás.” Me imagino a Jesús hablando a sus discípulos pronunciando estas palabras. Parece que Jesús está disfrutando el encuentro como un gran momento de enseñanza, hablando categóricamente de que Él es el pan de vida, para alimentarnos para que no tengamos hambre otra vez, y para creer en Él para que nunca más tengamos sed.

Amo la Eucaristía porque es una invitación a entrar en la ofrenda del santuario eterno de Jesús resucitado, un don de Sí mismo. Esta celebración no es sólo una celebración litúrgica sino un gran misterio de la presencia real de Dios. Este evangelio de San Juan capítulo seis, es un texto bíblico que prueba la Eucaristía, el Sacramento que todos apreciamos. Si no creemos en la Eucaristía y en cambio simplemente la recibimos, no asegurará la salvación para aquellos que reciben la Sagrada Eucaristía sin comprender su valor y mérito en nuestra vida cristiana. Me gustaría decir que las Escrituras y la enseñanza y doctrina de la Iglesia nos dicen que el verdadero tesoro viene de arriba. Lo buscamos como San Agustín, que nunca se dio por vencido en la búsqueda y el encuentro con Dios. Por lo tanto, lo buscamos, pero no lo ganamos. Nuestra grandeza reside en el don mismo de Dios a través de la fe, porque estamos dotados para compartir este precioso don con los demás. “Dotados para recibir, dotados para compartirnos como misioneros eucarísticos”, según la homilía de clausura del cardenal Luis Tagle, enviado papal al Décimo Congreso Eucarístico Nacional en Indianápolis.

Que simplemente recibamos y creamos, y luego vivamos. La intimidad y la comunión con Jesús siempre es alcanzable.

¡Dios los bendiga!

Padre Arlon, osa

• 1 Corinthians 15:1-10
• Mark 7:31-37

On August 3, 2024, the first Saturday of August, I had an opportunity to spend time with some of you after the 9 am mass.  I would like to thank you for the potluck we shared together.  Thank you to those who prepared the food.  Certainly, when Catholics gather, there is always food on the table. 

Today is the 11th Sunday after Pentecost.  St. Paul dedicates himself to preaching on the importance of Christ’s resurrection.  If Christ has not been raised, the entire Christian faith falls apart.  If we don’t believe, then we are the most miserable people in the world, the fact that we have no hope.  St. Paul warns the Corinthians against those who denied the resurrection of Christ.  He carefully describes the gospel he preached and what they received in faith, which they need to take a stand on because it is that they have been saved.  Otherwise, if they never hold on to his preaching about the gospel, their belief would be in vain.  For St. Paul, the gospel is everything to him and to the Corinthians.  Therefore, he exhorts them to persevere in the faith they have received and to live what they have been taught.  

St. Paul confronts all heresy during his time by affirming that Christ has been physically raised from the dead and that our belief in the resurrection makes all the difference for us in the present and the future.  

What do you believe as part of your Christian profession of faith?  I do believe that there are many tenets of our faith; however, we must fully accept the totality of our Catholic faith, not just one or some areas of faith.  We cannot be selective on matters we simply adhere to or accept or choose among those we agree with. It is not our own ideas but the very teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ in accordance with the Magisterium of the Holy Catholic Church.  We must understand that Faith is our whole life in God.  St. Augustine says, “Christianity is not just a religion but a way of life.”  More than anything else, what counts most though is faith, which is crucial and essential, but Christianity is at heart about relationship. The expression of our faith always rests in a relationship and communion with each other to manifest the true Body of Christ, the Church. 

Today’s gospel taken from St. Mark really puts things into the right perspective of a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment but is with some faithful friends with an astounding belief in Jesus.  The gospel narrates that “they bring to Him one deaf and dumb, and they besought Him that He would lay His hands upon him.”  This suggests that it was not only faith but having emphasis on their relationship or friendship that made the cure possible.   

In any human relationships, this story reminds us of how much of an impact Jesus Christ can have in our lives.  We are maybe inattentive of so many instances where we do little things or minute acts of goodness to others which to those recipients are little miracles in their lives, and we never realize are works of God Himself through us.  Maybe our simple gesture of greeting a person in the morning can lift their spirits realizing that they are loved.  Sending a simple card or note to a friend or family member with a message of concern and care, or contacting an elderly person who needs to hear from you are all unexpected works of love of God thru you.  Our faith lightens the heart of others by our sincere way of expressing a loving relationship. 

Our Spirit of faith needs to be validated by our right attitudes and faithful living out of our belief in God who made manifest in how we relate to the world.  We must shine that sparks in the midst of our confused society and once healed like the deaf and dumb, we can speak out freely about everything in the light of faith and truth and genuine witnessing. 

Jesus separated the deaf and dumb man apart from the multitude of people, not because he was different, but because He doesn’t want to cause a commotion noticeable to those who were around Him.  Oftentimes, Jesus acts in the most low-key status where He avoids recognition.  He simply wants a kind of relationship that works through the goodness of His heart to help and to cure those who are afflicted by any kind of physical and spiritual malady.  

Brothers and sisters, somehow you may have some physical, emotional, or spiritual issues today.   Perhaps you have been coming to this community for some time now, but many times you have slipped in your walk with God.  Today, God has caught you reflecting on this gospel passage.  Maybe you are not talking to someone, a friend or a family relative, for so many years. Let your lips speak forth His praise to open your heart for reconciliation.  Today Jesus speaks straight to your heart, “Be opened!”   Do not allow yourselves to own that stony heart which you have kept for so long. Please open your heart to God and be healed.  The miracle of healing that will be yours is greater than the miracle received by the deaf man, for today the miracle that is yours is indeed the miracle of your integral salvation. 

“Be opened!”  Be open to God working in your life, be open to the Holy Spirit guiding you and be open to Jesus, His only Son, to His holy will that whatever may be disturbing you, He is here for you.  He has done all things well, and He will do all things well for you. “Be opened to the mighty power of God and His amazing love for you.”  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Fr. Arlon, osa