An Invite

Accept or Reject?

25 At that time Jesus said in reply,[a] “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.-Matthew11:25-27

What are the ways of the wise and the learned? Some have become intellectually arrogant and stubborn. Others have closed their mind to new learning. Still others have become proud of the little or much learning they have. Jesus was a breath of fresh air during His time when He did the ministry. Like a sower scattering the seeds, He showered upon all - without partiality - what the kingdom of God is all about. However, just like the seeds that fell on different grounds, our response vary per person. What is our response to His invitation to change? What is our response to new learning?

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What about us?

What about us?

20 Then he began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon,[a] they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 [b]And as for you, Capernaum:
‘Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.’
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”-Matthew11:20-24

What about us? What will Jesus say to us? Did we repent? Is Sodom and Gomorrah, with all its wickedness, a little better than our present world and time? When are we going to repent? Is destruction our lot?

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Free!

Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.

24 No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul,[a] how much more those of his household!
26 “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.[b] 27 What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. 30 Even all the hairs of your head are counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 [c]Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.-Matthew10:24-33

"Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known." So many men and women love to take pictures or video of themselves (selfie). Sometimes they take pictures or videos of too personal instances that should should have remained off the record. And when it leaked or acquired in a malicious way by other individuals, alas, what shame, horror and fear there is! "Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known." Let us live in light and truth! Jesus is inviting us to live a blameless life, a life where our conscience cannot say anything against us. There is nothing wrong in taking pictures or videos, but let us do this with maturity and responsibility. Let us try to keep private what needed to be kept private. Let us share to the world that which is for the betterment of the world - Love.

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Nothing

No extra?

7 He summoned the Twelve[a] and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8 [b]He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 9 They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. 10 [c]He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. 11 Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” 12 So they went off and preached repentance. 13 [d]They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.-Mark6:7-13

Nothing. Jesus instructs His disciples to travel and do their mission without provision. No extras! Actually, it is not such a bad thing especially if mobility is the issue. As a poor traveler and packer, unnecessary things and "extras" are always my problem. To have nothing is a good thing because it makes one humble one's self to God. Last year, I almost have everything and I can buy anything. But I always say, "What good are these things to me if the one thing that I really want cannot be bought for a price?" I realized that accomplishments, money, praise or anything earthly cannot suffice at all. God alone can quench and satisfy all thirst and hunger.

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Division, Condition, Reward

Jesus: A Cause of Division

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. 35 For I have come to set
a man ‘against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and one’s enemies will be those of his household.’
37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up his cross[a] and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 [b]Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 “Whoever receives you receives me,[c] and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 [d]Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
1 When Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples,[e] he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.-Matthew10:34-11:1

Jesus is not saying we should wage war against our loved ones because it will be contrary to the Law (Honor your father and mother) and He comes to fulfill the Law. Rather, at a certain point in our life, we should learn that the ultimate goal is always God, that the ultimate Love is God. Sometimes our family is against us if we make or do things for God i.e. serving the Church. We face tough opposition from our family should we decide to make a sacrifice for God i.e. entering the priesthood or religious life. Today, Jesus is reminding us of the conditions to be His disciple. It is always about God first and foremost.

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Opposing Forces?

"...be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves..."

16 “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. 17 [a]But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. 20 For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 [b]Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end[c] will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.[d]-Matthew10:16-23

"...be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves..." Is it possible? Can we be shrewd as serpents, yet remaining simple as doves? Yes, we can! Jesus is not saying we embrace our wickedness along with goodness at the same time. Shrewdness is not a bad attitude, on the contrary, it can complement and boost goodness to far far places. I actually remembered Harry Potter and Voldemort. Both are great wizards, but each is in a different path. One is great but evil. The other is great and good. If greatness is given to us, which path are we going to choose? Jesus today is inviting us to be strong and firm in times of difficulty especially if our faith is put to the test. And, to appreciate the greatest gift of freely practicing our faith.

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With a Mission

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent!

7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 [a]Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. 9 Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; 10 no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter a house, wish it peace. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.[b] 14 [c]Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. 15 Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.-Matthew10:7-15

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent! Let's mend our ways. It is not such a difficult thing to do when one is open to change. But if one resists, there the problem enters. So many despise religious men and women for doing their jobs. So many blame the missionaries for the spread of HIV-AIDS in Africa because the latter is teaching against the use of condoms. The scientific and medical communities hail themselves as the real helpers in solving the problem by providing condoms and other ways to stop the virus. Really? Just really? But I say, let's not just focus on HIV-AIDS but the deeper root of the problem - lack of self-control and lack of discipline. If one chooses to say No to premarital sex or fornication, then s/he preserves herself/himself. You don't worry about sexually transmitted disease, or malicious videos. You respect your very self as a holy temple. The Church is never against having a happy life. But how do you define happiness?

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The Actors and Actresses

Jesus and the Twelve.

1 [a]Then he summoned his twelve disciples[b] and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 2 The names of the twelve apostles[c] are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; 4 Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
5 Jesus sent out these twelve[d] after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’-Matthew10:1-7

Nowadays, when people demand for freedom of speech and expression, it is easy to judge, accept or reject a person based on what we know about him/her. But Jesus is different. Though God-made-Man, Jesus does not and will never judge people based on looking at certain circumstances only. Perhaps He already knew the past, present and future of His disciples, yet, He did not impede or went against the Father's will. Perhaps He has His own separate preferences, yet, He called those predestined from the beginning by the Father. What is predestined is destined to happen. The 'actors,' 'actresses,' and the 'stage' are all in and must play their role. Some have good roles, others do not like Judas Iscariot. But the play continues and actually evolves, and God - the Director - gives all of us many many chances to be better, to embrace our Resurrection and to exercise our free will according to His plan and will. No one is too old or too young. We are all called to a holy life. We are all called to reach out to the lost sheep. We are all called to help one another. We are all called to be charitable to one another. We are all called to be like Jesus Christ Himself to others - Ipse Christus. We are all called to praise and worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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Why trouble?

United.

32 As they were going out,[a] a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him, 33 and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 [b]But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
35 [c]Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned,[d] like sheep without a shepherd. 37 [e]Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”-Matthew9:32-38

Troubled and abandoned. If the crowds during Jesus' time felt troubled and abandoned, these feelings are still here with us at present. Some think that science and God cannot be united. Some think that philosophy and God cannot be united. Some think that governance and God cannot be united. But the truth is, it can! Where did science come from? From God's creation. Without God's creation, there won't be science anyway. Where did philosophy come from? From a single curiosity and the need for an answer. And this curiosity still came from God who blessed us with a brain packed with knowledge and wisdom far superior than the animals. Where did governance come from? Order! And this came from God who can make crooked lines straight. Can't we see it? Everything and everyone lives, revolves and is rooted in God. Why are we making things complicated? Why do we trouble ourselves when all along the answer is before us?

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Seek Him

Stories of miracle.

18 [a]While he was saying these things to them, an official[b] came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel[c] on his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” 22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.
23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”[d] And they ridiculed him. 25 When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. 26 And news of this spread throughout all that land.-Matthew9:18-26

A daughter just died. When one dies, it is impossible to bring him/her back to life. A woman has a bleeding problem for 12 years. Could this year be any different with the past years? Hopeless cases, right? But it is very true that if we are in a rock bottom or hopeless situation, it is there that we seek God's help and all the more hopeful. The miracle stories are testimonies that Jesus does not leave us when we need Him the most. However, it is not enough that we only seek God just because we need Him to solve our problems. Our experiences should make us seek Him all the more whether it is in joy or in pain. Our experiences should be turning points in our life making us closer to God, making us aware of God.

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50-50? 60-40?

50-50?

14 Then the disciples of John approached him and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.[a] 16 No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth,[b] for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. 17 People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”-Matthew9:14-17

I tried to sew a piece of cotton cloth with a different type of cloth. No matter how good I sew it with a machine, it just won't work. There is reason and logic in the ordinariness of life and in the simple things we do everyday like putting water in a glass. Today, Jesus is teaching us - not only the reason and logic behind patching cloths and putting new wine into new wineskins - but its deeper meaning that can be applied to life as a whole. Jesus is not disregarding the Old - prophets and the Law - just because He teaches differently and with authority. Rather, He fulfills it. We can say a fusion of two worlds - each complementing the other.

The 'New' is not always the answer; the 'Old' does not always have the answer. Sometimes the brand new 'me,' may work out and at other times, it may not. We need the past to help our present, and we need the present to mold the future. We bring to present the lessons of the past to help shape our future.

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Which is better - Success or Failure?

In one's own country...

1 He departed from there and came to his native place,[a] accompanied by his disciples. 2 [b]When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! 3 Is he not the carpenter,[c] the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 [d]Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” 5 So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,[e] apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.-Mark6:1-6

Is it indeed possible that perhaps Jesus' townsfolk wondered where He got His power? "Is it from this place or that place?" "Where did He go and where did He get His powers?" As if it can be bought next door!

We all know that in Jewish tradition, a person can call his cousins, half-siblings, nephews, nieces and kinsman/woman as his/her own brothers and sisters (e.g. Tobias and Sarah). In fact, I call my older cousins and other relatives as brothers and sisters because culture and respect require it.

The Gospel reading is all about the people's lack of faith in Jesus simply because they know Him - "Oh! He's the boy around the corner who happens to be a carpenter." Yes, in there eyes, Jesus is and will always be a carpenter, no more, no less. How sad, isn't it? But it is true that some people would rather see you fail, than be better. Some people would rather see you miserable and sad, than be happy. Some people would rather see you unsuccessful, than be successful. Jesus is inviting us to rejoice in other people's success and betterment. What is better - success or failure? If we want others to rejoice in our success and betterment, we should learn too to rejoice in theirs.

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What to do?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28 [a]Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 [b]Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”-John20:24-29

Some say religion is outdated. Some say religion, with its old teachings and traditions, has no place in the 21st century with all its technology and progress. Some even say that God does not exist at all since He cannot be sensibly perceived - no more parting of the Red Sea, no more triumph over our enemies, no more walking in the water, no more calming of the storm, and so forth. Poor, poor souls. Faith is freely given to all. It is given to you and me. God connected and reached out to us, but what about us? What are we going to do with the gift of faith? Are we going to ignore it or embrace it? Do we really have to sensibly perceive and understand God first before believing? “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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The Key

...know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

1 [a]He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. 2 And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” 3 At that, some of the scribes[b] said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? 5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 [c]But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” 7 He rose and went home. 8 [d]When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.-Matthew9:1-8

The Gospel clearly demonstrates Jesus' power to heal and forgive sins. During His time, it is very rare for somebody to show such kind of authority - healing, driving demons away, teaching with authority, mastery over forces of nature, and so on. Today, it is all the more rare to see somebody in his/her full potential. "When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings." We may not have the same kind of gifts that were once blessed to all followers, believers, apostles and disciples of Jesus in the past, but we do have 'gifts' from God for sure. These gifts await to be unlocked. Perhaps it is not much, but the little that we have is worth putting to use for the greater glory of God. How do we unlock something that we do not know? The key is God, the key is with God. We need only to ask and believe.

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