Love to Give and Give to Love

Generously Loving. Lovingly Generous.

38 In the course of his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”[a] 41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”-Mark12:38-44

Is it wrong, then, to be greeted by people, to be given seats of honor, and places of honor at banquets? No, not at all. Remember, Jesus Himself was like a rockstar during His ministry. For me, Jesus is inviting us all to keep in mind why we are greeted by people, given seats of honor and places of honor. Why do they think highly of us? Because of the power and position that we have. And what is power and position inviting us to do? To serve the people. Yes, we complement the honor and respect given to us by serving the people with love. Elected government officials must serve the people who put them in office. Celebrities must serve the fans who 'follow' them by being a good example to their fans and constantly remembering that their stardom is nothing without a strong fan base. Teachers who are loved by students and parents must complement this love by teaching the students well. From the lowliest to the highest in authority, all of us must bear in mind to be thankful to God and to return always the honor given us through service.

Image courtesy: God's Not Dead

Did you forget something?

Stay humble. Stay focus.

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 [b]saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens[c] [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5 [d]All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 [e]They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ 8 [f]As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.-Matthew23:1-12

This is true, very true. This warning of Jesus against the yeast of hypocrisy is not only for the Pharisees of His time, but also for the present religious, government, community, social and world leaders. A true leader is well-meaning and originally is selfless. However, along the way something happens where the leaders must make a decision about where they want to be. Do they want to be the leader of the people, selfless, dedicated, serving? Or, do they want to be a leader for life, living in a life of luxury, always respected, always honored, willing to take the crooked path for ambition? Sad to say, many go in the second category. Salt has lost its saltiness. Leaders lost the very essence why they are in their position, who they are, and what they are supposed to do.

I remember a story (forgive me if I cannot remember the exact location and details). There is a part of the coasts where shipwrecks are frequent. Some people decided to put up a first-aid camp to help the victims of shipwrecks. Then they decided to make the first-aid camp bigger and better by putting in beds, refreshments and lounging areas for the people. Later still, they decided to make the camp into a clubhouse. Then, no more first-aids, no more 'save the people', no more 'care for the people.' One of the original founders broke from this and decided to put up a first-aid camp to save the shipwrecked victims just like before. Along with some other people, it was a success because they are helping and doing what they really want to do - to care, to give shelter. Then they decided to make the first-aid camp bigger and better by putting in beds, refreshments and lounging areas for the people. Later still, they decided to make the camp into a clubhouse. Then, no more first-aids, no more 'save the people', no more 'care for the people.' Jesus is inviting us to be very careful against the yeast of hypocrisy, of ambition, of losing our 'saltiness,' above all, of losing our purpose. He is calling us to live in humility.

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.

Image courtesy: artist

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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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.

Image courtesy: artist

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.

Image courtesy: artist

Yeast again!

Hypocrisy! That terrible yeast again!

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.-Luke13:10-17

As I read and reflected the Gospel, I was struck by a few points. 1) Importance of Sabbath, 2) Jesus is merciful, 3) Hypocrisy, and 4) Life.

Importance of Sabbath. Sabbath is the Lord's Day, God's Day, a day of rest with God, a day of prayer, Mass and Church services. Because it is Sabbath, any work is forbidden for the Jews. This includes healing, strenuous activities and other strong movements like walking more than a mile. That's why the synagogue leader's reaction is pretty normal. It was clear as water that healing happened on a Sabbath. However, the hypocrisy is too much because each and every person who owned an ox or a donkey would bother to untie the animal and lead it to the water even if it meant disregarding a Sabbath requirement. "My donkey might get thirsty and die." "I just bought this horse. It cost me much. I should take care of my investment. I know it's Sabbath but... my horse might get thirsty and die. I just have to take care of it." Strange isn't it? We can be very concerned with our dogs, cats and other animals. But we can turn our heads away and be oblivious of our neighbor's difficulty. Today, this hypocrisy lives. 

There are many campaigns against preservation of whales, sharks, turtles and other marine life for the future generation. There are movements to preserve big cats like lions, tigers and leopards for the future. There are organizations protecting wildlife like pandas, bears and other almost-extinct species. Yet, the irony of it all - some of us nod on anti-life practices like abortion, death-penalty and euthanasia. These people justify it by saying it helps in depopulation, it saves the mother from unwanted pregnancy, it saves the mother from trauma of having an unwanted child, freedom of choice, removing 'cancers' in the society, saving the family from burden, etc. In short, acts of evil wrapped in a beautiful box. Why are we waging war against our very own race?

Despite being in a bad light, the synagogue leader has a point in preserving the sacredness of the Sabbath by doing no work. It is just so saddening to see many institutions, organizations, people and businesses treating the Sabbath - or Sunday for many of us - as just an ordinary day still. Many still go to work. God has given us 6 days already for work. But why do we still have to use the one day with the Lord for work?

Jesus is merciful. Yes, full of mercy to us all. The woman in the story was just there perhaps quietly asking for healing. Wish granted! Jesus approached her and healed her. God knows all our needs. The truth is, even before we open our mouth and asked for help, God is already on His way taking good care of our immediate needs and those that are still to follow.

Help is there, only waiting to happen at the right time and place. Sabbath or Sunday is about God. God is love. All the acts that we do in the name of love - whether on a Sabbath or in an ordinary day - are known and appreciated by God. If we are merciful and only loving to others, God will not be angered for He is love and mercy.

Image courtesy: H. Copping; Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and Zoo; The End of the Working Day (Brooklyn Museum); various artists