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THE WORD

Is 42,1-7 / Jn 12,1-11

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled of the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas, the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.

So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

 

IN OTHER WORDS

The impending death of the Lord is seen in our readings today. In the first reading, we have a song of the Suffering Servant of Yahweh, a clear prefiguration of the passion and death of the Lord.

And in the gospel reading, Jesus Himself spoke about his day of burial, so much so that he allowed his feet to be anointed with the aromatic oil. For some of us, it might be so difficult to think that

God who is supposed to be strong, omniscient and all-powerful is attributed with sacrifice, pain, suffering and even subject Himself to death. But this suffering should not be seen as an end in itself, but as a sacrificial service brought about by the great love of God.

In a seemingly grand idea of sacrificial love and service, we have the examples of Martha and Mary, whose lives are characterized by diverse forms of sacrifice and service. Here we have the Johannine version of the infamous reception of Jesus. And oftentimes, they become subjects of comparison as to who “chose the better part,” Martha being more active while Mary takes more contemplative adoration. The Johannine version is not very much interested in the distinction of the forms of services, rather, we are led to focus on how even our small acts of services are united into the greater idea of the sacrificial love of the Suffering Servant.

We can find beautiful examples of this in the lives of our Filipino migrants here in Rome, who devote all their energies for work, not for their own convenience but for the bene t of their loved ones. Many of them forget about their own concerns, braving loneliness and even deprivation of comforts, just to give a better life for their loved ones. I am not wondering why they still have all the energies to be active in church activities despite their busyness in work. Many of them, fresh from the sweat of working, would literally run on a Thursday afternoon for a Eucharistic adoration, for the block rosary on a Saturday night and most of them are full time pastoral leaders on Sundays, serving more than 50 Filipinos communities here in Rome alone. They, in their experience of sacrifice and love, find no better consolation in the suffering God who out of great love has offered Himself for the salvation of all.

As we continue the celebration of the holy week, let us unite our “little” sacrifices and forms of services, as Martha, Mary and even Lazarus did, in the greater sacrifice of the paschal mystery of God.

  • Fr. Antonio Gilberto S. Marqueses, SVD | Rome, Italy

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

 

THE WORD

FIRST READING: Is 50,4-7

The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue,

That I might know how to answer the weary a word that will waken them.

Morning after morning he wakens my ear to hear as disciples do;

The Lord GOD opened my ear; I did not refuse, did not turn away.

I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard;

My face I did not hide from insults and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; Therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

 

SECOND READING: Phil 2,6-11

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

The Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Lk 22,14-23,56 or Lk 23,1-49 (short form used during the Mass)

 

The whole assembly then rose, and they brought him before Pilate. They began their accusation by saying, “We found this man inciting our people to revolt, opposing paymentof the tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ, a king.”

Pilate put to him this question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied, “It is you who say it.” Pilate then said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no case against this man.” But they persisted, “He is inflaming the people with his teaching all over Judaea; it has come all the way from Galilee, where he started, down to here.”

When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man were a Galilean; and finding that he came under Herod’s jurisdiction he passed him over to Herod who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Herod was delighted to see Jesus; he had heard about him and had been wanting for a long time to set eyes on him, moreover, he was hoping to see some miracle worked by him. So he questioned him at some length; but without getting any reply.

Meanwhile the chief priests and the scribes were there, violently pressing their accusations. Then Herod, together with his guards, treated him with contempt and made fun of him; he put a rich cloak on him and sent him back to Pilate. And though Herod and Pilate had been enemies before, they were reconciled that same day.

Pilate then summoned the chief priests and the leading men and the people. He said, “You brought this man before me as a political agitator. Now I have gone into the matter myself in your presence and found no case against the man in respect of all the charges you bring against him. Nor has Herod either, since he has sent him back to us. As you can see, the man has done nothing that deserves death, so I shall have him flogged and then let him go.”

But as one man they howled, “Away with him! Give us Barabas!” (The man had been thrown into prison for causing a riot in the city and for murder.)

Pilate was anxious to set Jesus free and addressed them again, but they shouted back, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” And for the third time he spoke to them, “Why? What harm has this man done? I have found no case against him that deserves death, so I shall have him punished and let him go.”

But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices, demanding that he should be crucified, and their shouts were growing louder. Pilate then gave his verdict: their demand was to be granted. He released the man they asked for, who had been imprisoned for rioting and murder, and handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they pleased.

As they were leading him away they seized on a man, Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus.

When the centurion saw what had taken place, he gave praise to God and said, “This was a great and good man.”

And when all the people who had gathered for the spectacle saw what had happened, they went home beating their breasts. All his friends stood at a distance; so also did the women who had accompanied him from Galilee, and they saw all this happen.

Large numbers of people followed him, and of women too who mourned and lamented for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children. For the days will surely come when people will say, ‘Happy are those who are barren, the wombs that have never borne, the breasts that have never suckled!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!; to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if men use the green wood like this, what will happen when it is dry?” Now with him they were also leading out two other criminals to be executed. When they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified him there and the criminals also, one on the right, the other on the left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.”

Then they cast lots to share out his clothing. The people stayed there watching him. As for the leaders, they jeered at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked him too, and when they approached to offer him vinegar they said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription: “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals hanging there abused him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.” But the other spoke up and rebuked him, “Have you no fear of God at all? You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.” It was now about the sixth hour and, with the sun eclipsed, a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. The veil of the Temple was torn right down the middle; and when Jesus had cried out in a loud voice, he said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” With these words he breathed his last.

 

IN OTHER WORDS

It is common knowledge that we see and experience life with its twists and turns. The unexpected happens and the expected disappears into oblivion. Our Sunday liturgy today, the celebration of Palm Sunday, also demonstates this well-known reality of life.

The liturgy, in its totality, presents Christ’s mission with constant twists and turns. At the outset, Christ is proclaimed as King, greeted incessantly with swaying palms and the jubilant hymn of Hosanna to the Son of David. Everything around Christ is glory, as he enters triumphantly through the gates of Jerusalem. Then the jubilant hymns of joy and acclaim recede to the background, muted by the tumultuous and violent moods of the passion. Here the reading of the passion trumps the glory of the Palm Sunday celebration. This is a clear indication of “twists and turns”. Through all that follows, from Jesus’ triumphal entry, to his condemnation, to being shamed by the people’s wish to release Barabbas instead of him, to carrying the cross through the streets to Golgotha, to his crucifixion and his death, we have a clear presentation of Jesus’ journey from glory to shame, from shame to suffering and death.

However, these sequential events of glory, shame, suffering, and death do not end here, for as

Jesus’ mission is described with its twists and turns, there comes the final turn, the final glorious twist that is Jesus’ resurrection.

The celebration of Palm Sunday prepares us to make the journey with Jesus in its entirety; his mission, presence, glory, sacrifice and resurrection.

Pope Francis, in his very first celebration of Palm Sunday as Pope and the Bishop of Rome said: “Embracing the Cross leads to joy. Do not be men and women of sadness: A Christian can never be sad!

Ours is not a joy that comes from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person. We accompany, we follow Jesus, but above all we know that he accompanies us and carries us on his shoulders.”

As we enter into the celebration of the Paschal Feast, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of

Christ, we embrace the cross of his sacrifice, and we roll away the stone of his tomb. The cross that we embrace and the stone that we roll away, lead us to joy. This celebration gives us the ability to feel great hope as we proclaim: Dying, you destroyed our death, Rising, you restored our Life, Lord Jesus, come in glory!

  • Fr. Sonny de Rivera, SVD | Rome, Italy

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

 

THE WORD

2 Sm7,4-5.12-14.16 / Rm 4,13.16-18.22/ Mt 1,1 6.18-21.24 (or Lk 2,41-51)

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

 

IN OTHER WORDS.

Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog, encourages its members to write to political detainees. Many of those prisoners, denied contact with the outside world, feel completely isolated and marginalized, but getting a letter would remind them that they do in fact belong and are valued by others. The letters also make their jailors aware that others are interested in their prisoners.

At this time of the year many people come home from faraway places of work or study, back to where they are originally valued. It’s time for family reunions and renewal of friendships. However, people have grown separately during the intervening period and cannot relive exactly the past. People do move on, though they are not forgotten at home.

Our scripture readings tell us that God never forgets us; God is constantly taking care of us. But we need to play our part in moving forward with God. The exiles in the rst reading wanted to go back to where they had been before, but God had plans for them that would go beyond this. Their return to Jerusalem would lead to the founding of the Church and her missionary initiative. Joseph Krempa reminds us that “Spiritual growth should not be interpreted as though at some point in the past we had reached a perfect state, the outer limit of our spiritual growth, then fell away and been trying ever since to return to that moment.” Our relationship with God is ongoing and must grow.

In one Amnesty International cartoon, a dictator complains to his chief interrogator, “You said this fellow was of no account and that we could do what we liked with him. But he must be an important person because so many people are writing to him!”

We are all important persons in God’s eyes, but we should not be content with basking in our “importance;” we must be ready to move on with God and each other.

  • Fr. Alan Meechan, SVD | Naujan, Or. Mindoro

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

 

THE WORD

Jer 20,10-13 / Jn 10,31-42

The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize (and understand) that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power. He went back across the Jordan to the place where John rst baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.

 

IN OTHER WORDS

What would happen if the Lord JESUS were to appear again this time and did all the things that he had used to do like, heal the sick, forgive sinners, raise the dead, call for repentance, and preach in the name of his Father in Heaven? How would we welcome him? What kind of reception would he receive from us?

Hopefully, we would not be treating HIM in the way he was received by the people during his time. In today’s gospel, we read a line that is sad and ugly, and it says: “the Jews again picked up rocks to stone him.” What a cruel way to welcome the Lord in their place.

We must remember however that to stone a person was not something unheard of during that time. We all know the story about the woman who was about to be stoned for her adulterous affair. If not for the intervention of JESUS, she would have died under the mounds of stones.

A civilized society like ours doesn’t resort to stoning to express our anger, hostility or punishment on somebody. We have our laws to take care of that. The few times that we probably remember picking up a rock was to stone unfriendly dogs from approaching us. But surely never have we been so cruel and inhuman to pick up rocks to stone people, especially those who have not done us any wrong.

But why did it happen, of all people, to JESUS our Lord? The story of today’s gospel tells us the reason – JESUS was being accused of blasphemy, of speaking about himself as the Begotten Son of God sent to preach and to bring God’s word to them. Were they right to accuse him?

The people were wrong. They simply refused to recognize and to acknowledge that JESUS was indeed the Lord and Savior. If there were persons who were guilty to be stoned, they should be the same crowd for their “hearts are hardened like stones” incapable of repentance and acceptance of JESUS in their lives. We could be like them too.

We may not be “stoning” JESUS in the real sense, but we can stone him if we are not moved to mercy and compassion to extend our hands and hearts to people who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Our heart is like a stone if we continue to neglect our prayer life and fail to participate in the

Eucharist especially on Sunday.

Today, we are invited to look into the state of our hearts. What kind of hearts do we have today in relation to God and faith? Is it so hard that we cannot move it to welcome our Lord JESUS in our lives? Or is it rather tender and loving that we can easily allow our Lord to enter and stay with it?

Let us remember that if we cannot do something to make our hearts open and available for the Lord, then, sadly, if we are part of the crowd that was picking up rocks to stone JESUS. I hope and pray that this might not be the case.

  • Fr. Gerry Donato, SVD | DWS, Tagaytay City

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

 

More Articles ...

  1. March 17, 2016 Thursday
  2. March 16, 2016 Wednesday
  3. 15 March 2016 Tuesday
  4. March 14, 2016 Monday
  5. March 13, 2016 Sunday
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