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?

Image courtesy: artist

Pruning

God prunes us that we many grow more.

1 [a]“I am the true vine,[b] and my Father is the vine grower. 2 He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes[c] so that it bears more fruit. 3 You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. 4 Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. 6 [d]Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.-John15:1-8

As I reflected, I asked myself if God truly takes or cuts away a branch - that is, reject us. If it is so, that will be contrary to His image as a Father and a Good Shepherd. I do believe that God never rejects, rather He prunes and prunes and prunes. Nobody is too slow to be overlooked. Nobody bears too little to be rejected. Nobody just suddenly stops bearing fruit or stops doing good. Remember, we are born good right from the start. God prunes us so that virtues will come out, or the good in us will come out. However, since pruning means cutting, sometimes we are pained along the way. Today, Jesus is encouraging us to not be afraid because He means well if He prunes us. When He prunes us, it is expected that we will bear much much fruit - and these fruits will make our lives more fulfilling, beautiful and enriching.

Image courtesy: artist

Credible Witnesses

Believe!

9 When he had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. 13 They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.
14 [But] later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. 15 He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.-Mark16:9-15

There are things that are too good to be true, too good that it cannot be true. And there are things that are too good to be false, too good to be false. In the gospel reading, the disciples have trouble accepting the beautiful testimonies that Jesus is alive. After all, resurrection is something unproven during their time. But in succeeding readings, we can all see their transformation as their minds and hearts are opened to the truth - that Jesus is what the Law and the prophets are talking about, and He rose from the dead. Yes, the first of mankind resurrected and shared with us the promised eternal life. Seeing with their own eyes and experiencing Jesus concretely made the disciples true and credible witnesses to the truth.

Sometimes, we need to believe in something though it may seem impossible and unrealistic at all, for everything is possible with God.

Image courtesy: artist

Freedom from the old ways

“... you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” - Jesus

1 After this, there was a feast[b] of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep [Gate][c] a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. 3 In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.[d] [4 ][e] 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” 9 Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.Now that day was a sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” 11 He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” 13 The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. 14 [f]After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. 16 Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.-John5:1-16

I am still baffled as to why Jesus said to the man, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” As a good reader of minds and hearts, is it possible that Jesus sensed that the just-healed man is plotting something sinful? Is it possible that after being ill for thirty-eight years, the man has not converted or learned from his sickness [sic]? Is it possible that the man plans to return to a 'dissipated life' [sic] despite being healed already?

So many men and women languish and are sorrowful if they are sick, imprisoned, or in suffering. But after being healed, they return to the old ways, unhealthy ways, dissipated way of living. There is a woman who suffered imprisonment for six years for selling and using drugs. A few months after being paroled, there is news circulating that the lady once more took to selling drugs as a way of earning a living. Such a sad life. Jesus has a message for us all - “... you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” Let us not abuse and take for granted so many beautiful things in our life.

Image courtesy: God's Not Dead

Newness

New: New. Old: Old.

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”-Mark2:18-22

Jesus said, "You cannot serve both God and mammon." We cannot wade on two rivers. When we repented and reconciled with God, we have to move onwards to God. Yes, we may stumble along the way, but we must continue walking on the path leading to God. It is so wrong to continue the cycle of sin. We have to be strong in embracing change. The other day, I saw on TV how a lady stole a million-worth of jewelries. She was fortunately caught by the police. She wailed, asked for forgiveness, pleaded for mercy and vowed not to do it again. And yes, it was given to her. The case was withdrawn. Unfortunately, she committed it again and again, same act, same theft, same sin on so many innocent people. I am not judging her nor condemning her, but I do pray she remain true to her words of mercy and vowing not to sin again. Jesus is encouraging us to embrace change in our thoughts, actions, words and in within our hearts. Let not change only in words alone, but in every cell of our body.

Image courtesy: artist

What did he see?

What did he see?

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.' Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.-John20:1a,2-8

It made me wonder, what did he see? what did he believe? Did he believe that "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him?" Whatever the answer may be, it is all now moot. But what do we see? And what do we believe? As the Christmas season continues, along with the upcoming new year, what is Jesus' invitation for us to see in our lives? Nowadays, it is difficult to believe if there is no concrete evidence supporting it. Not only in science, but almost everywhere. Is it enough of a reason to discredit a person just because change is slow? Is it difficult to believe that our world can be better despite its chaos?

Image by: artist

If Only

If only we knew of disasters to come and the many things that could bring peace, we would have listened today.

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”-Luke19:41-44

Jesus wept because He saw what will come ahead. The destruction of Jerusalem, the many men, women and children who will suffer and die, the loss of everything. Many will wish to have died earlier than see all the sufferings left and right. Jesus saw it all and wept for the people of Jerusalem on the day of its destruction.

We have experiences that we regretted. We have many sighs and tears of regret. We wished to go back to the past and change things, but it's just impossible. We have many "If only I have..." moments, but all is gone and lost. We cannot bring back the past. Then the blame game begins. But we can change forever our future by doing the will of God today. Why wait for the future to come if we can shape it as early as now?

Are there things that I need to change today? Are there things or people that I need to let go and sacrifice to avert disaster in the future?

Image courtesy: artist, Francesco Hayez (Destruction of Jerusalem)

The New Renaissance

Renaissance!

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[a]

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.-John2:13-22

The Gospel reading spoke of how Jesus cleared the Temple. Because it was time for the Jewish Passover, it was expected that many people would go to Jerusalem to participate in the feast, make offerings and sacrifices, and to pray. To make things more convenient, cattle, sheep and doves were just around the corner for the people to buy, and money-changers were there, too, to make exchanges easy. Instead of a house of prayer, it became a marketplace where business was the main priority.

How are we inside the Church? Is the Church a house of prayer, or is it a good place to gossip? Is the Church a house of prayer, or is it a good place to meet with friends, boyfriends/girlfriends? Is the Church a house of prayer, or is it a picnic place for the children?

Yes. If Jesus cleared the Temple, the Church is in need of clearing as well. But don't get me wrong because it is not the structure that needed clearing and cleansing but the people on it from the Mass celebrant down to each and every people inside the Church. How is our life? How is our heart? Are there things or sins that needed to be cleared? Jesus is inviting us to join the Renaissance. And it begins in our hearts and minds through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Image courtesy: El Greco (Clearing of the Temple); artist

Unfold in due time

The greatest sinner. Is there such a person?

At that time some people who were present there told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 2 He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? 3 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! 4 Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? 5 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

6 And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. [So] cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”-Luke13:1-9

As I read and reflected the Gospel reading, I cannot help but wonder how the people reported and told the story to Jesus. Is it possible that some of them thought that the killed Galileans deserved their death because of their wickedness? Is it possible that some of them thought that God punished the killed Galileans for their acts? If we look on the culture of the Jews during the time of Jesus, they all believed that any misfortune came from God as punishment. Their infidelity, wickedness and abominable acts earned them an exile to Babylon. Sinful parents will have a deformed or sickly child. A sinful person will have sickness like leprosy. But Jesus said, "By no means!" Every person will have his/her fair share of difficulties, pain and misfortune. Tragedy falls both to the rich and poor, good and bad alike. These trials come and will serve its purpose in our life - change, repentance, strength, realization and so forth. God sends trials to serve His purpose for us, however, it is not only through trials that the purpose can be accomplished. We can change through ways like spiritual healing, spiritual counseling, retreats and recollections.

Jesus is saying, "By no means!" are we punished through misfortune, death, tragedy or sickness. There is a call to repentance for all of us. But repentance does not mean evil and difficulties no longer exist. I'll share one experience of mine. I am not a bad sort of person. I am not doing wicked things to others. I have been honest with my transactions. Yet, just 2 days ago, I was a victim of online fraud. Despite not doing any online purchase, somebody got hold of my debit card number and used it to make a payment online in three separate occasions. I would very much want to curse. Instead, I opted to pray for their conversion and change of heart, for I myself and everybody too, are in need of mercy, forgiveness and conversion. Yes, perhaps we are great sinners too in a different degree. Murder, stealing, killing, adultery, gossiping, lust, greed, backbiting, the list continues. But one thing is certain, no matter how great or small, regardless of quantity, a sin will always be a sin.

For me, the gardener represents Jesus and we are the fig tree. The fig tree never bore a single fruit after 3 years of existence. The owner already said, "Cut it down." but the gardener, ever so patient and understanding, suggests another year of existence with cultivation and much fertilizer on the tree. I like this version better because it used this term "...it may bear fruit in the future." For me, I interpreted it as patiently waiting for the fruit for a long time like a maximum of 3 years more.

Whereas in other versions, it is only a year of waiting only. The gardener truly reminded me of God's patience and understanding. God is ever patient in waiting for our return to Him. If it will take 50 tries, He will patiently wait and help us in our 50 attempts to reach Him, or He will never stop reaching out to us even if it meant 50 attempts in His part. God will never say that He is fed up or He had enough already and that He will punish us. No! God patiently waits for our return home to Him through repentance and reconciliation. It is just so unfortunate that our patience is always short. I am reminded of a story of a religious community. Priest1 always asks his brothers what they want to do, what they want to recreate, where they want to have a vacation. But Priest2 is always the killjoy. He doesn't speak much, he goes to his room always, he doesn't mingle, he doesn't recreate with the others, he doesn't join in the fun. As superior, Priest1 secretly dislikes Priest2. Priest1 would always say to himself, "I find Priest2 so mysterious. It's as if I don't know him at all. He pulls down the community. Oh, when will he be transferred!" It was during the time of Psycho-Spiritual Analysis days where there is much emphasis on processing, journal writing and looking into oneself. Because there is much focus on change and conforming to the norm, one thing was forgotten along the way - Understanding.

One day, Priest2 broke from his shell. He announced to all how thankful he was to belong in that community who understands him. He was thankful that the community did not ask for his transfer to another one. He admitted that he was undergoing depression and so much pain and brokenness, and he needs help and support. Priest1 was so ashamed of himself. Here he was, thinking how much of a killjoy and burden Priest2 is, without bothering to know what's going on with him, demanding for change and not bothering to understand him. That's what we are. We want things done in an instant. We want change in an instant. Sometimes we failed to understand and 'see' the person, his/her pacing, what's his/her story, what's his/her life because all we want is conformity to the norm. It's like saying, "If you can't fit it, then you don't belong here."

Priest1 said, "Never say, 'I find you so mysterious' to another person. Rather, we understand that person, his/her uniqueness, his/her individuality, his/her past because one day that person will unfold at the proper time and place." If Jesus patiently waits for our unfolding, so should we to others.

Image courtesy: E. Burnand (Barren Fig Tree), various artists

Divided World

Together we stand, divided we fall.

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”-Luke12:49-53

As I read and reflected the Gospel reading, I am still wondering why Jesus said, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." But isn't it true that Jesus is the Prince of Peace? We greet one another with glad tidings during Christmas season, and this greeting is sourced from the joy the world felt during Jesus' birth. Division, and not peace, is simply something so baffling.

But there is truth to it. I know of a former police officer who never liked going to church. Always he would say, "I have no sin! So I am not obligated to attend the Mass." or "Others are more sinful that I am. If they don't go to church, neither do I." Sometimes he would disappear until the day is over just to escape the Mass. At times, he would just be quiet and block everybody from his senses. His attitude caused division to his family until finally he changed. John the Baptist caused such a division that displeased some powerful people that led to his death. In the movie "Brother Sun, Sister Moon," Francis of Assisi separated himself from his family when chose a poor life. Claire of Assisi, too, caused a division in her family when she chose to be a nun rather than a bride to a noble lord which caused much displeasure to her father.

To be with Christ sometimes cause division. Christ teaches poverty, simplicity, humility and other values and virtues. But many are not followers of these virtues and values. Some people shun poverty because they prefer a world of materialism and worldly wealth. They would say, "Why deprive myself since I have money to make me happy?" Some people shun simplicity. They would say, "I need expensive and classy bags, shoes, dresses, accessories... I have to be fashionable." Some people shun humility. They would say, "To be powerful is to be accepted." We need not be a divided world if we only open ourselves to Jesus. His way is always the right way. His way always brings contentment and bliss. His way is always love and peace. Let the fire of Jesus' love heal and bring us home to the Father!

Image courtesy: crestock.com; unknown artist; D.Lambert

Responsible Stewards!

"With great power comes great responsibility. - Uncle Ben (Spiderman)

39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.-Luke12:39-48

Jesus is encouraging all of us to be ready. This readiness is a day-to-day process. We do not prepare on the day we are attacked, broken into or when death is near. Rather, we treat each day as if today Jesus will come or death will knock. Jesus is not threatening us, but encouraging us to be prepared. This preparation has nothing to do with settling debts, paying our bills, entrusting our pets to our neighbors, making a will and so forth. This preparation is not even something strenuous at all, because this can be done in whatever acts we do in the name of charity and love.

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." (James4:17). The problem with the servant is that he knows the master's will, but he did not listen at all or did what he had to do. Yes, we all have that kind of experience.

We know in our hearts that what we are doing is wrong, yet we still did it. We know that what we do will ruin us, yet we still did it. Talk about doing what we don't want to do! Because we failed to listen to our hearts - where Jesus dwells - we reap what we have sown. Some go to jail, others lose their loved ones, marriages fail, communities closed their doors on us and so forth. But, Jesus' death and resurrection gave us new life and new hope. We can still change. We can even save what seems to be lost. We can improve our lives. We can be better. Nothing is impossible with God. He pours upon us grace upon grace, and all we need to do is simply to open up and accept it.

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." We are talented individuals, creative, intelligent and so much more. Our giftedness should not be kept hidden within us but ought to be shared to others "like a lamp that throws light in a darkened room." Jesus is encouraging us to be unafraid. He encourages us to share our "gifts" as service to others in the name of love. And Love is God.

Image courtesy: St. Takla Org.; unknown artists

Learn! Change!

We can learn from the sins of the past. We can shape our future by doing what is right now.

47 Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed.

48 So you are witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they killed them, and you build their tombs.

49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, `I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,'

50 that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation,

51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechari'ah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation.

52 Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."

53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard, and to provoke him to speak of many things,

54 lying in wait for him, to catch at something he might say.-Luke11:47-52

The problem with the generation of Jesus was, they believed they learned from the past (i.e. rejection of the prophets) yet they did not believe in Jesus. Ironic isn't it? The manifestation that they learned from their past was the memorial or tomb they built for the prophets. But the last prophet of the Old, but still in Jesus' generation - John the Baptist - still suffered the persecutions, rejection and cold-heartedness of the Pharisees and other leaders. The prophesied-Messiah, Jesus, also suffered the rejection, cold-heartedness and persecution of His generation.

Last night, I was watching a "Stream" segment in Al Jazeera about abortion, and it made me remember a few points. Long ago, families, especially mothers, cry when their babies were selected as offering to the gods.

And if we look back at some of the reports about ISIS, we shed tears for the men who were beheaded without any trial. Going back to the abortion issue, I winced and felt disgusted when I heard pro-abortion women speak of "safe abortion." How can an abortion be safe when there is life being killed? I was really impressed when a pro-life lawyer said that "any being with life has rights" and abortion is not just about the ladies or women only but also "about the baby/fetus in the womb." Come to think of it, if a woman demands the right to abortion, a baby/fetus actually can demand the right to live as well. If a woman has the right to ask a lawyer, a baby/fetus has the right to justice as well by virtue that the baby/fetus has life, has human features, very INNOCENT, and is a yet to come citizen. If a child cries in an alley, it melts our hearts. If a baby can cry and beg inside the womb, asking to be spared from abortion, will it not melt hearts? Why is it that it is easy to be compassionate to a soldier beheaded by the ISIS, and not with innocent babies who cannot cry loud enough inside the womb before and during abortion? Why only feel compassion to the women, and not to the baby/fetus? Abortion is very much the same with child-sacrifice. The barbarism of the past is still the barbarism of today.

They said, "History repeats itself." But we can learn from our past sinfulness, and shape our future by doing what is God's will now. The fault of Jesus' generation is seemingly their lack of comprehension about the mistakes of the past, and their rejection of the Messiah Jesus. Since His time until now, Jesus is constantly inviting us to look back in our past. Not to relish on our sinfulness but to learn from it. The cross is not just a reminder of the atrocities done to Jesus, but it is also a reminder to all of us of our indirect participation in Jesus' sufferings through our sinfulness. The more we sin, the more painful it is for Jesus. Yes, He died for our sins and through the cross, extended eternal salvation to us too. The question is, is it a ticket for us to continuously sin? Do we really have to commit sin over and over again? Can't we choose the better part?

Photo courtesy: Ezekiel's tomb, DavinaFaerie, unknown artist

The coolest party!

Our decisions and choices can make us better, or can ruin us.

22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”-Matthew22:1-14

The original invited guests were the people of Israel. Unfortunately, many did not heed the invitation to the

wedding banquet (kingdom of heaven or reign of God in their hearts). The servants (prophets and judges) were sent to once more invite the guests to the banquet, but they were mistreated and some were killed as in the case of John the Baptist. The king was enraged and destroyed the cities of the guests. Perhaps, this was the exile, the fall of Jerusalem, or a metaphorical way of describing the heavy yoke of the Law that continues to burden those who remained in the old ways. The king invited the unlikely people - pagans, prostitutes, tax collectors and the like to fill the banquet hall. This invitation to the wedding banquet (kingdom of heaven or reign of God in our hearts) is still given out to all of us to this day. Then there was a man who was thrown out because he was not wearing a wedding garment (change) despite being invited and already on the party.

The kingdom of heaven is like a grand party that is freely open to all - the good and the bad alike. We already have passes to it. But, there is a dress code named CHANGE AND REPENTANCE. There were those who gladly wore it, attended the party and had a wonderful time. While there are those who ignored it and still lived in misery and dissipation (and wondering where God is despite fully knowing that God is just waiting for him/her to go to the 'banquet'). Still others attended but are not willing to change at all because they prefer the worldly ways, the ways of the flesh, the ways of perversion and crookedness, the ways of selfishness, the ways of pleasurable destruction, the ways of commercialism, the ways of secularism, and so much more.

Did they really throw out the man? For me, as I reflected, I believe that the man repented. I believe he snapped out of it. I believe there is a change of heart. Upon seeing and realizing what he was about to lose - hey, not all are invited in a king's banquet and given free clothes all the time - I believe it is normal for anybody to find some way to remain. Just saying, "I'm sorry, Lord." is enough to melt the heart of Jesus. God will respond by giving us many chances to change and repent. And for as long as we repented, regretted, stood up and kept trying to be a better person, we are walking in His ways. It is not the many times that we have sinned that matter, but the times that we stand again and change our ways. No one can say, "You are hopeless." to another person simply because s/he sinned, because life is a continuous journey of renewal, resurrection and conversion. Sometimes, this conversion can even happen on one's deathbed only.

Notice that the king instructed his servants to gather anybody and everybody on the streets - the good and

the bad alike. Normally, no one attends a party at such a short notice. "What will I wear?" "I have other priorities." "I have something already for this day." are some thoughts of the surprised invited guests. The king definitely knew that there will be people who were invited, who would like to attend but have no proper outfit for the occasion - such as the poor. And so, he will be the one to dress them. To be given an invitation, admittance to a banquet and garment are privileges. Therefore, it is a great dishonor and lack of respect to not wear the outfit that the king himself has given to the man. Throwing him out in the dark is but just, but if the man repents, then that is a different story.

“For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Sometimes this sentence applies to those who seek religious life. Some are invited, embraced the religious life and happily died in the arms of God. Their invitation can be

 tangible (very visible and known) or "hidden" (unknown to them until one experience changes everything). Others find themselves packing their bags and leaving the religious life. It is not because God changed His mind or the person does not have a vocation, for God never makes a mistake when He decides whom to call. It is the decision and choices that a person makes that sometimes 'destroy' him/her. It might make them turn away from their original vocation for good. However, if the person rises from his/her mistake, repents, changes and would like to return to religious life, God gives them a second and many more chances just like the father to the prodigal son.

Because when He calls a person, s/he is already set apart for Him alone forever.

Thanks for the images!