An endless river of mercy, forgiveness and compassion

God's endless mercy!

[53 Then each went to his own house, 1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.[b] 2 But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. 4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.[c] So what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.[d] 7 [e]But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.”]-John8:1-11

One of my favorite acts of mercy of Jesus. The woman was caught in the very act of adultery, no doubt about that. (What about the man involved? Isn't it true that it takes '2 to tango?') The woman was not given a chance to defend herself and was given immediately a death sentence, no doubt about that. But Jesus never said, "It's your fault" or "You brought it upon yourself" or "You're not careful, that's why." Jesus never judged, never condemned even if the woman was more than guilty of adultery. He showed mercy, forgiveness and compassion. Rather than condemning like the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus gave new hope, healing and a brand new beginning to the woman. Jesus believed that there is something good in the woman and is capable of great change for herself.

Jesus, too, believes that we are capable of good and great changes for ourselves. He is here to support us, believe in us and be with us, even if there's no one around.

Image courtesy: The Passion of the Christ

Truly Stubborn

A heart that refuses to believe is hard to convince.

40 Some in the crowd who heard these words said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But others said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he? 42 Does not scripture say that the Messiah will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 43 So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. 44 Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.45 So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this one.” 47 So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, 51 “Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” 52 They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”-John7:40-53

As I read the Gospel reading, I cannot help but be amazed at the stubbornness and hardness of the hearts of some people in the crowd, chief priests and Pharisees. Even if Jesus did or said something great already, still they have a ready excuse to discredit Him. Nicodemus is one of the Pharisees. It is with logic that he asked, 'Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?' Yet, the others still found a way to discredit not only Jesus but Nicodemus' logic too.

Sometimes in life, despite speaking the truth, despite doing good, others will never be convinced of our goodness simply because they know us, where we come from, who our family is, the past sins we committed and regretted. Jesus is teaching us not to be discouraged since He was in the exact situation already. If others are not and will never be convinced of our goodness, Jesus is assuring us that He sees the sincerity in the minds and hearts of each one of us, and, will never leave our side.

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Teacher + Healer

Jesus is the Way.

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything behind,[a] he got up and followed him. 29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”-Luke5:27-32

Looking back at my high school days, there is much emphasis on belonging to a groups. There's the brainy group, the group of beautiful people, the "bad lot" group, the talented ones, the leader types, the simple ones and the wallflowers. Should one dare to cross, the possibility of rejection or to be ignored is there. Perhaps, the Pharisees are wondering why a great Teacher would bother with a group of outcasts considering that these men and women ought to be ignored anyway. But Jesus is a different Teacher and Physician. As a true Physician, He did not and will never judge, nor even condemn, nor even say, "Serves you right." Jesus will simply heal both body and soul with His love, mercy, compassion and acceptance. As a true Teacher, He did not and will never judge, nor even condemn, nor even say, "You are hopeless." or "You will never learn." Jesus will continue teaching patiently until we learn, and He will never scold even if we deserve it.

image courtesy: artist 

Heart like Jesus

Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting

1 “[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites[b] do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you...16 “When you fast,[l] do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.-Matthew6:1-18

"Rend your hearts, not your garments." Almsgiving, prayer and fasting are very ideal. However, if we lose the real reason why we do it, what then is its purpose for? Just like the salt, if it losses its saltiness, with what can it still be used for? Jesus introduced a new way of almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Before, it was done centering and focusing on the self as indicated in today's gospel - trumpeting one's almsgiving, standing out while praying, looking gloomy during fasting. Jesus made almsgiving, fasting and praying focused and centered on God as indicated in the intimacy and privacy while doing it. "Rend your hearts, not your garments." Jesus is inviting us all that when we fast, pray and give, we include our hearts with it - a heart that truly gives, a heart that truly prays, a heart that truly fasts, a heart that knows its sinfulness, a heart that connects to the Lord, a heart that feels another, a heart that truly repents.

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The Leaven

Watch out!

14 They had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 [a]He enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered [him], “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”-Mark8:14-21

What is the leaven of the Pharisees? What is the leaven of Herod? The leaven of the Pharisees are the ways that one should not imitate. Herod represents the world, and so the leaven of Herod are the worldly ways that one should not imitate. The Pharisees are not bad individuals, perhaps, they lack a few virtues to put it mildly. Herod, despite his wickedness, perhaps has a little ounce of goodness in him. Some of the leaven or the ways of the Pharisees that we should watch out for are: hypocrisy, condemning or judging others, separating ourselves from those who are not our "equal," stubbornness of heart which powers narrow-mindedness. While some of the leaven or the ways of Herod that we should watch out for are: injustice, immorality, greed for temporal goods (wealth, power, ambition and fame), disregard for holiness. The leaven of the Pharisees and Herod can be summarized into a few words only - absence or lack of love. Jesus is constantly inviting us to return to Him by shedding away the old self, and putting on the cloak of His love.

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What is necessary to believe?

Are we stubborn?

11 [a]The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.-Mark8:11-13

As in the days of Jesus until now, the world still consists of people with stubborn and hardened hearts. Supposing signs are everywhere pointing to the existence of God, are we ready to accept it as truth and reality, or are we still going to challenge it? What is necessary to believe?

Been Made Perfect

Love and tradition must go hand in hand.

1 Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 2 they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. 3 (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands,[b] keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].) 5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders[c] but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 6 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me;

7 In vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines human precepts.’

8 You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” 9 He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ 11 Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’[d] (meaning, dedicated to God), 12 you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. 13 You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”-Mark7:1-13

Traditions are not wrong. Jesus did not say explicitly that it is wrong. But perhaps the invitation of Jesus for us is to have a self-reflection of why exactly we are doing some of the traditions and practices we have now. "Why are we doing it? What is its purpose? What happens to us when we are doing it? Is it done as an act of love for God? Is it done as an act of love for our neighbors? Is it making us charitable and kind to others?" One example of tradition is Christmas. It was not written in the Bible that we should celebrate it, but we do, because it is the Savior's birthday and the day when Salvation story began. As time goes on, "Merry Christmas" was omitted in favor of "Happy Holiday." As time goes on, so many think that Christmas is a time for bonuses, fat paychecks, winter, snow, sales, bargains, food, drink, party, fashion, charity works. Well, where is Jesus in the list? It's His day, His season, His celebration and yet it seems He was not present on some people's list. Jesus is inviting us to make all our actions - may it be tradition, practice, habit, custom, work, etc. - paired with love of God and neighbor so that it will produce the perfect man and woman according to the will of God.

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What will I do?

There lies a higher need somewhere.

23 As he was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. 24 At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” 25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did[a] when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 26 How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” 27 Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man,[b] not man for the sabbath. 28 [c]That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”-Mark2:23-28

To be a good person is very ideal. To be perfect is very ideal. To be sinless is very ideal. Though these characteristics make a person truly likeable and acceptable anywhere, what is more important is love. Love makes everything complete. Can one truly celebrate Sabbath if a person is extremely hungry or suffering? If there is a reversal of role, and the Pharisees found themselves in extreme hunger, what will they do? Sabbath is not just a day of rest, but also a day of celebration of mind, heart and soul.

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Behind every act

Love should be the heart of everything that we do.

42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.

44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”

45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.-Luke11:42-46

As I read the Gospel, I was greatly struck by the sentence, "You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone."

The truth is, there is nothing wrong in giving tithes, in seats of honor, greetings in the marketplace, strict observance of the law, disassociation with some people, washing of hand, ritual purification and so forth, provided that these acts are complemented by "justice and the love of God (and neighbor)." The heart of 'giving tithes' is to give thanks to God and return something to Him which are small acts of love. The heart behind 'seats of honor and greetings in the marketplace' is to remind religious leaders of humility - hey, they are not given privileges if they are simple folks with simple profession and trade. Humility should make anyone more respectful of others which is a small act of love. The heart of every law should be love. The law is primarily created so that each person has a guide to live his/her life accordingly. It is not a restriction to

freedom, but a guide for us to use freedom in a good way. It is not a list of Dos and Don'ts, but if one "sees" the meaning behind each law, a person can see that it is love. Example, the law about caring for our environment. It is not a simple guideline about proper waste disposal, caring for nature, conservation, etc. because not everything about environment and nature is listed, but the heart of it is responsible stewardship as caretakers of God's creation. Besides, each person has an inner knowledge of what is hygienic, clean and sanitized. [Unfortunately, some use the law or make laws to advance personal gain, perversion and wickedness.]

The heart of 'disassociation with certain people' is not and never because of prejudice and discrimination, but still of respect and love. We may belong to different religions, race, color, class or status, but we are all creations of God and we are all human beings. As such, we should be loving to others and respect is only one act of love. The heart of 'hand washing and ritual purification' is still love of God. It only means we externally and internally clean ourselves before going to the presence of God, and anything about God. And if we cannot externally clean ourselves, God understands for as long as we are clean internally.

The letter of St. Paul to the Galatians speaks of some ways of externally and internally cleaning ourselves, following the law and at the same time loving God and neighbor,

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry

and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.-Galatians5:18-25

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