All Saints Day

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12:

I Reading: Revelation 7:2-4,9-14:

II Reading: 1John 3:1-3:

 

In the year, 609, Pope Boniface IV cleared out the statues of gods and goddesses from the Pantheon (“the house of all the gods) which was propagated by the Roman empire and turned the building into a church which he dedicated to God in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all saints. This church is still standing.

Famous martyrs and saints were venerated in the church on various dates throughout the world. Today we have millions of saints who are known and unknown to humankind but well known to God. The number of saints and martyrs goes on increasing day after day, this led the church to establish a feast in their honor on 1^st November around 800 A.D. In this feast, we praise God for having accomplished his salvation in so many people.

The Holy Spirit moved the church to establish this feast for a double purpose:

1) To praise God for having completed his salvation in so many of our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world.

2) To encourage those still living on earth to persevere faithful to Christ in spite of human weakness, temptation, and persecution.

Their message from heaven today is:

Do not lose discouraged; remember that we were just what you are, weak, and sinful people. Yet we were saved by God’s power and love. Keep up the struggle; we are here to lend you a helping hand with our prayer to God. There is a fabulous reward ready for you too here.

1. Every Christian is a saint in the making.

Paul does not hesitate to call his Christians “saints”:

From Paul…to you all, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints.” (Rom 1, 1.7; 1Cor 1,1.2; 2Cor 13,12).

In today’s second reading, John points out why Christians may rightly be called “saints” while still on earth, inspite of human weakness:

a. We, Christians are truly God’s children at Baptism (1Jn 3:1).

b. We are destined to be with God forever and to be like him (1Jn 3:2-3).

We Christians ought to consider ourselves at all times, “saints in the making” that is, people striving to become holy.

2. Neither human weakness nor suffering nor persecution should discourage Christians from striving after holiness:

The Book of Revelation teaches us about the sacrificial life and witnessing life of the people having faith in Jesus.

a) The first reason why we should not get discouraged is that we have already been chosen to be saved: Ex 39:30- Consecrated to Yahweh. Ez 9:4-T=Greek “Tau”, resemble a cross.

b) Ours is a numerous family; it runs into millions; we should pluck up courage at the thought that so many of our brothers and sisters are ready to give us a helping hand:

The Book of Revelation speaks of 144,000 people assigned by the angel, that is 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

We all form part of the new people of Israel; those who will, shall be saved (Rom 11:30-32).

c) Suffering, persecution, difficulties should spur us on to greater faithfulness, not discourage us:

In the first reading of John’s vision- saw a large crowd dressed in white tunics bearing palms in their hands, a symbol of victory during the time of Nero the Roman emperor. The second Baptism is the shedding of his/her blood for Christ which cleanses a person from all sin.

d) The great reward ready for us in heaven ought to encourage us to be faithful to Christ: Revelation, the last verses of the first reading 7: 15, 17 have been left out. They beautifully show what our reward in heaven will be like:

3. Christians are lucky people: Because the kingdom of God belongs to them by their faith and by their witnessing life for Christ and for his church.

Hence our weaknesses stands in the way of our becoming saints, yet we have every reason to be optimistic that we shall succeed. Suffering, temptation, and persecution should not a hindrance to our salvation. All we have to do is to walk on earth with our eyes fixed on the fabulous reward God has in store for us in heaven.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

 

 

The True Disciple: Who He is and His Reward (The Beatitudes), Mt 5:1-12

The Beatitudes of our Lord are powerful, holding before the world a descriptive picture of the true disciple of God. Seldom people have been spoken with so much meaning in the history of the world.

The Beatitudes cover the glorious hope and reward the believer can expect, now as well as in eternity.

1. Jesus saw crowds (v.1-2)

a. Setting: Mountain

b. Posture: Set-Ready

c. Audience: Disciples

d. Purpose: To teach and prepare

e. Blessed

2. The poor in spirit: Given the kingdom of Heaven (v.3)

3. Those who mourn: Comforted

4. The meek: Inherit the earth (v.5)

5. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Filled (v.6)

6. The merciful: Obtain mercy (v.7)

7. The pure in heart: See God (v. 8)

8. The peacemakers: Called the children of God (v.9)

9. The persecuted: Given the kingdom of Heaven (v.10-12)

a. The persecution

          1) Reviled and insulted

          2) Slandered and lied against

          3) Persecuted and hurt

b. The behavior expected: Joy

c. The reason for joy

          1) Great reward

          2) Great examples: The prophets

Thought: Being filled means “to be filled with the Spirit” or “to be led by the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…”(Gal 5:22-23).

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

 SUNDAY- 30^th WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52: Master, let me see again.

I Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9: I will comfort the blind and the lame as I lead them back.

II Reading: Hebrews 5:1-6: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and forever.

The Steps for Getting Help: Blind Bartimaeus, Mk 10:46-52

Jesus helped the blind man who was desperately in need. The need may be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual; it may be some problem with the mind, some desperate loneliness. This passage spells out the steps for getting help.

1. Jesus in Jericho (v.46)

a. the disciples and the crowd

b. a blind man sat begging

2. Step 1: Believing the reports about Jesus (v.47)

3. Step 2: Acknowledging personal need (v.47)

4. Step 3: Persisting, persevering after Jesus (v.48)

5. Step 4: Eagerly expecting to receive Jesus’ help (v.49-50)

a. Jesus stopped and then he called to the man

b. The man threw aside the impeding cloak

6. Step 5: Requesting precisely what is needed (51-52)

7. Step 6: Following Jesus (v.52)

Thought: A person must go where he/she knows Jesus is, where Jesus “passes by”. A person must go where he/she can hear Jesus, or he/she may miss the chance of eternal life.

Bartimaeus believed in the reports and testimony about Jesus. Perseverance is the answer to desperate need-persevering prayer and persevering faith (Mt 7:7; Lk 11:5-10).

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

  

SUNDAY- 29^th  WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45: The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many.

I Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11: If he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life.

II Reading: Hebrews 4: 14-16: Let us be confident in approaching the throne of grace.

The Problem of Ambition, Mk 10:35-45

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem where his death and resurrection were to take place. We, who live today, know what Jesus meant by his death and resurrection. He was to die for our sins and be raised again to impart new life to us. But the disciples did not know this. James and John were assuring themselves of key positions in Jesus’ government. But Jesus taught them how to be a follower to continue his mission not through power or position but through sacrifice/suffering and service.

1. The deceitful of wrong ambition (v.35)

a. a secret approach

b. un unlimited request

2. The possible motives for ambition (v.36-37)

a. favoritism and wealth

b. power and social status

c. love, faith, loyalty

3. The great price of ambition (v.38-39)

a. the cup: sacrifice and suffering

b. the baptism: immersed and submerged

c. the prophecy: the certainty of paying the price

4. the exclusive right of God regarding ambition (v.40)

5. The potential conflict among men with ambition (v.41)

6. The greatness of good ambition (42-44)

a. not to rule, not to exercise authority

b. to be a servant

c. to be a slave, a bond-slave

7. The supreme example of ambition (v.45)

a. supreme humiliation

b. supreme mission

c. supreme price

Thought: Selfish ambition can cause some terrible things among people. It can cause...jealousy, suffering, sneakiness, bitterness, death, self-centeredness, hatred, envy, divisiveness, conflict, anger, destruction etc.

(Mt 23:12, Prov 17:19).

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

  

SUNDAY- 28^th  WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Mark 10:17-30: Go and sell everything you own and follow me.

I Reading: Wisdom 7:7-11: Compared with wisdom, I held riches as nothing.

II Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13: The word of God can judge secret emotions and thoughts.

The Rich Young Ruler: The Problem of Eternal Life, Mk 10:17-22

This man is known as “the rich young ruler.” He is called because of the combined picture gleaned from all the three gospels.

·       He was rich (Mt 19:22; Mk 10:22; Lk 18:23).

·       He was young (Mt 19:20).

·       He was a ruler (Lk 18:18).

He was a rare young man among the people of his day. He was conscientious, responsible, dependable and placed into a position of leadership. He was eagerly seeking eternal life-a spiritual matter often shunned by young people.

The dominant theme of the young man’s experience is his sincerity, his desperate search for eternal life. Jesus takes the man’s desperation and shocks the world. Desperation, sincerity, eagerness and seeking eternal life are not enough. Man has a problem in seeking eternal life.

1. A rich young man sought Jesus (v.17)

a. Eagerness: ran

b. Humility: fell on knees

c. Respect: good teacher

d. Concern: eternity

2. Fact 1: To praise Jesus Christ is not enough to receive eternal life (v.18)

3. Fact 2: To be respectable is not enough to receive eternal life (v.19-20)

a. Laws of respectability

b. His respectable character

4. Fact 3: To be loved by Jesus is not enough to receive eternal life (v.21)

5. Fact 4: To give everything is required to receive eternal life (v.21-22)

a. The meaning: Total and sacrificial giving: the abandonment of all

b. The result: The requirement is sad news-he goes away

Thought: God expects us to work so that we can have enough to help others (Eph 4:28). We are to help as we are able, but we are, to be honest about our ability to help the needy and poor in society. The young man did not believe heaven was glorious enough to merit the giving up of his possessions (Lk 9:23; 19:8).

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 

 

SUNDAY- 27^th WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Mark 10:2-16: What God has united, must not divide.

I Reading: Genesis 2:18-24: They become one body.

II Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11: The one who sanctifies, and the one who are sanctified, are of the same stock.

The Problem of Divorce, Mk 10:1-12

Marriage and divorce are always burning questions, extremely controversial within societies heavily influenced by Christian teaching. Jesus gave a complete exposition on marriage and divorce; the latter says He gave them guidelines. There is no divorce at all but an annulment of the marriage and separation of the couples are there due to some serious reasons according to the teachings and doctrines of the Church. In Jesus’ day, the two schools of thought were the Shammai School (conservative) and the Hillel School (liberal). (Mt. 19:1-12; 5:31-32; 1Cor 7:1-16; Eph 5:22-33; Dt 24:1).

1. Jesus began to minister in Judea (v.1-4)

a. The crowds gathered and Jesus taught

b. The Pharisees gathered and asked a trick question: Is divorce legal?

          1) Jesus asked what their law said

          2) The Pharisees replied: The law grants divorce

2. Jesus saw divorce as the hardness of heart (v.5)

3. Jesus saw marriage as God’s way since creation (v.6)

4. Jesus saw marriage as the most precious bond that cleaves or unites (v.7)

5. Jesus saw marriage as the closest of human bonds-as two becoming one flesh (v.8)

6. Jesus saw true marriage as a divine, spiritual bond wrought by God (v.9)

7. Jesus saw marriage and remarriage as adultery (v.10-12)

The Problem of Children and the Truth About Children, Mk 10:13-16

Note that this even with children followed right after the matter of divorce (Mt 19:13). The family as a whole is discussed: the husband, wife, and even children.

Children are a joy to the family and world. But tragically sometimes they are neglected, ignored, oppressed, and even abused. In this passage, Jesus became violently angry, filled and moved with indignation. Jesus is the great defender of children and every man and woman must heed His words.

1. The problem with children (v.13)

a. Totally dependent

b. Cause frivolous pride

c. Interference with work

2. The truth about children (v.14-16)

a. They are invited to Jesus

b. They are citizens of God’s kingdom

c. They illustrate how one receives the kingdom

d. They are received and blessed by Jesus

e. They respond to Jesus

Thought: God created the human family out of His love to continue the work of God on this earth.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com