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THE WORD

Ezr 9: 5–9 / Lk 9: 1–6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

 

IN OTHER WORDS

“They set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news.” The first three years of my priestly ministry were spent in the mountains of Mindoro as one of the priest-administrators of the Mangyan Mission of the Vicariate of Calapan. I was assigned in a unique parish because we did not have the “physical structure” of a church; instead, we had the people themselves as the church being a personal parish. We did not have a sort of “central church,” which the priest would go home to after visiting the barrios for masses. Our home was where the mission was. As a confrere said, “Mission is where the Lord is.”

Fr. Ewald Dinter, SVD (whom we call Amang Dinter) always reminded us that the real church resided in the villages where the people did the most ordinary things. So, we literally would run from one village to another, from a community of hundreds of church goers to a community of two or three gathered in His name. Since there were 125 regular villages to visit, we were usually welcomed into the family household, sharing their meals, stories and, usually on evenings, the exchange of wisdom through chants and prayers. Or, if we happened to stay for a longer period, we would usually pitch tent among them, join them in the farms and live according to their traditional lifestyle.

The Lukan narrative makes a strong emphasis on three major themes of the gospel: the journey motif, the universality of the Kingdom and the urgency of mission. Same is true with the agenda of Ezra in the first reading, who, after the rebuilding of the people coming from the Babylonian captivity, committed himself to the expansion of the mission to Jerusalem.

Like in Ezra’s case, mission is called to proclaim the good news and heal the people. Our saint for the day, Pius of Pietrelcina, is a unique and beautiful example of what it means to live out this gospel. Though he did not live an itinerant mission life owing to his poor health, certainly there were many people whom he touched by his availability for spiritual guidance. This turned out to be just as good as physically journeying and setting out to the villages, proclaiming the good news, and healing souls. Let us pray fervently so that many Christians will be willing to offer their lives and place themselves at the disposal of the mission.

  • Antonio Gilberto S. Marqueses, SVD (Tagaytay City)

 

The Word in other words 2015

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

Ezr 6: 7–8.12.14–20 / Lk 8: 19–21

Then his mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join Jesus because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

 

IN OTHER WORDS

After my ordination 41 years ago in Japan, my mother and my brother were standing outside the Seminary Chapel, waiting for me to come out to congratulate me. But there were so many people, especially nuns, who were flocking around us two newly ordained priests, asking for first blessings and kissing our hands, that poor Mom had to stand in the background without being able to greet me. And since she also did not understand Japanese she must have felt lonely and excluded. Yes, I saw it, she looked a bit sad; but how could I ignore these enthusiastic people who had accompanied me with their prayers during the years of preparation for this great day?

Mary must have felt like my Mom when Jesus did not interrupt his preaching, when he did not leave the house to welcome her. It was surely one of those moments the old man Simeon had mentioned when he told Mary that a “sword will pierce your heart.”

This incident then made Jesus say one of the most beautiful words for us his followers. For him we are as close and loved as his beloved mother was,

IF…

Yes, there is an “if”. The praise of Jesus is for those “who hear the word of God and act on it.”

No problem, you may think. Are we not hearing the Word of God every time we attend Mass? That’s right. But what about the second condition – to act on it? Yes, we hear the Word of God so many times - every time the Gospel is proclaimed, every time we open the Bible and read a passage, every time a homily explains a Bible passage. Yet, how often have we forgotten what God told us as soon as we have left the church? How often do we really do in daily life what God tells us to do?

Let’s remember: We are as close to Jesus as his mother is – that is, IF we not only listen to the Word of God but also put it into practice.

  • Rudy Horst, SVD (CKMS, QC)

 

The Word in other words 2015

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

Eph 4: 1–7.11–13 / Mt 9: 9–13

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 

IN OTHER WORDS

A few years ago there was a strong movement in Europe and North America where Christians, young and old and from all denominations, could live together. Rules to live by were reduced to the minimum. The number in each group was somehow limited but workable. In one group of 10 was a girl Linda who was working as a secretary in an office. After being a regular member for a year, she simply disappeared and no one knew where she went; everyone was a bit disturbed. One evening the group huddled together to share about the problem. No one really knew why she left. After agreeing that they found Linda to be a good member of the community, they decided to do two things: 1) that they would all pray for her; and 2) if ever she would come back, no one should inquire about her disappearance. Instead they would greet her and tell her that they missed her. After two weeks Linda came back to the community ready to meet inquiring eyes and words of reprimand, but nothing of the sort happened. So, taken by surprise and struck by the kindness of the community members, she requested for a short meeting of the community. In the meeting she broke down, told everything that happened to her and asked for forgiveness as she thanked everyone. When she came back, she said she was surprised that no one was angry at her. She was doubting if they were concerned about her disappearance and why no one asked questions when she came back. She felt their kindness and concern for her. The feeling of being welcomed back revealed how good it was to be in a community like hers.

In the gospel today we heard the Pharisees complaining about Jesus who was eating and drinking with tax collectors. The newly converted Matthew must have felt uneasy with the remark which was actually an insult to his chief guest, Jesus. When Jesus answered the accusation saying,“I want mercy, not sacrifice,” Matthew must have been relieved. It is always the case that when we hear the words of Jesus, we feel delivered from evil. Like St. Matthew, let us follow where Jesus leads us and find our home in him.

  • Carlos Lariosa, SVD (Radio Veritas Asia, QC)

 

The Word in other words 2015

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 Wis 2:12.17–20

Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us;
he opposes our actions,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him in the end.
For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With violence and torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”

SECOND READING Jas 3:16–4,3

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

GOSPEL READING Mk 9,30–37

They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.”

 

IN OTHER WORDS

There are some gospel scenes that give us a clue to the message of today’s gospel. Central to the teachings of Jesus is that salvation or entrance into God’s Kingdom is given as a gift to all. It is never merited by any effort on our part. It took time for this teaching to sink in because it was diametrically opposed to what was believed during the Jesus’ time. The Jewish religion taught that entrance into God’s Kingdom was a consequence of following every letter of the law; it was thus the consequence of human effort and striving. It is in the light of this that we understand why in the parable about the Pharisee and the Publican, the pharisee felt so good about himself. When he was in the temple, he said to God: I am not like many of my contemporaries, I fast twice a week; I give a portion of my income to the poor. He had all the right to feel good about himself because he was doing everything that the law demanded. He believed he was a sure candidate for God’s Kingdom. The publican, however, would not even dare raise his eyes to heaven. He just beat his breast and said: Be merciful to me, God, because I am a sinner. In that parable, Jesus said: The publican went home justified.

At the heart of Jesus’ good news is that salvation, the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, or God’s love is given to us for free; it is never achieved through human effort and, therefore, no one merits it. To bring this point home, the gospel today contrasts the disciples’ discussion about who among them was great in God’s Kingdom and the image of a little child. In the Jewish culture children were incapable of gaining the Kingdom because they did not as yet know the law and so could not follow what it demands. Thus, they cannot be candidates for God’s Kingdom. However, in another gospel text parallel to what we read today, Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to little children. By promising the Kingdom to children, Jesus challenged contemporary teaching on merit and reward. If salvation, if the Kingdom of Heaven, is given by God as a gift, then to discuss who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is an exercise in futility.

Jesus asks those who want to follow him to abandon false values such as status seeking, power and wealth. These values are barriers to entering the Kingdom of God. Instead of seeking prestige and status, he asks us to humble ourselves, to get rid of our self-imposed importance measured in worldly values. He asks us to find our true vocation in being at the service of God present in our neighbor. In doing so, we become one with Jesus. We become his disciples.

  • Magdaleno Fabiosa, SVD (VCR, CKMS, QC)

 

The Word in other words 2015

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. September 19, 2015 Saturday
  2. September 18, 2015 Friday
  3. September 17, 2015 Thursday
  4. September 16, 2015 Wednesday
  5. September 15, 2015 Tuesday
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