6Th Week: Feb 14-19:
The context: The Pharisees of Jesus’ time had a long list of
fifty extraordinary signs which they expected from the real Messiah, to
distinguish the promised Messiah from false messiahs. Some of the false
messiahs in the past had claimed that they could divide the Jordan River into
two sections or cause the huge stone walls of Jerusalem to fall by a single
word. Hence, the Pharisees demanded that Jesus show some miracles from their
list of Messianic signs.
Jesus’ reply: Jesus knew that the proud, hard-hearted,
prejudiced Pharisees were unwilling to accept the signs he had been working as
the Messianic signs foretold by the prophets. Others of them, he knew were not
interested in his message but only in seeing signs and wonders. Hence,
according to Mark, Jesus unequivocally denied the demand for an additional
Messianic sign. But according to Mt 12:38-42 and Lk 11:29-32, Jesus offered
them another sign–the miracle of Jonah, the sign of the death and Resurrection
of Christ, knowing well that not even this remarkable proof would lead the
Pharisees to shed their pride.
Life messages: 1) It is very sad to see superstitious
Christians traveling miles to see a miraculous statue of Madonna shedding
tears of blood or oil. At the same time, they fail to see the presence of Jesus
as he promised, in the Bible, in the Holy Eucharist, in a worshipping community
or in one’s fellow Christians.
2) Let us pray for the grace of increased Faith in the
genuine teachings of Jesus. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 15 Tuesday:
The context: The Jews considered fermentation by yeast as
equivalent to putrefaction and, hence, something evil. That is why Jesus
equated evil influence with leaven. Jesus considered the hypocrisy of the
Pharisees and the immoral life of king Herod as leaven corrupting the dough
of Israel. Hence, he gave the warning against their evil influence to his
disciples while they were crossing the Lake in a boat.
The misunderstanding and correction: The Apostles in the
boat misunderstood Jesus’ warning as a scolding for their having forgotten to
bring enough bread for all of them. Hence, Jesus reminded them of his
miraculous provision of bread in the feedings of the five thousand and of the
four thousand people as evidence that they did not have to worry about the food
they had forgotten to bring for their supper. The twelve baskets full of
leftovers after the miraculous feeding of five thousand people represent the
twelve tribes of Israel whom God first established as His chosen people to
preserve the belief in the one true God. The seven baskets full of leftovers
after the miraculous feeding of the four thousand people represent the seven
nations of the Gentiles to whom salvation is extended. Jesus clarifies by these
miracles that while salvation is universal, the way to salvation is through him
the Messiah. He warns his disciples to beware of the false ways of salvation
offered by the two extreme philosophies of the Pharisees and King Herod and
the Herodians.
Life messages: 1) With trusting Faith, let us
rely on the miraculous provision God has in store for us in our daily life (in
the word of God and the Holy Eucharist), when we do our share of work
sincerely.
2) Let us take Jesus’ warning against allowing the evil
influence of the society around us to define and defile (the leaven of
hypocrisy, immorality, pride, and prejudice), but let us rely on the power of
the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and guiding, protecting, and enlightening
the Church. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 16 Wednesday:
The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes
Jesus’ healing of a blind man at Bethsaida. Blindness was common in the coastal
areas of Palestine because of the intense glare of the sun on the sandy
beaches, the poor sense of hygiene and cleanliness among the people, and the
presence of a swarm of dirty flies on the seacoasts.
The healing: Jesus was moved by the miserable state of the
blind man and the trusting Faith of his friends who had brought the blind man
to him. So Jesus showed him special consideration by first removing him from
the crowd to avoid embarrassment and then healing him by audible signs,
applying saliva to his blind eyes, placing his hands on his head, praying to
God the Father loudly, and enquiring about the progress gain insight at each
stage. Thus, before curing the eyes of his body, Jesus gave the man time to
grow in Faith step by step. The more his Faith grew and the more trusting the
man became, the more sight he was able to receive from Jesus.
Life messages: 1) We, too, are often blind to the
presence of Jesus in us and in all others around us, although we believe in his
presence in the Holy Eucharist, in the Bible and in the praying community. 2)
Hence, we, too, need to pray to experience God in our daily lives, in the
events of our lives and in all the people we encounter. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 17 Thursday (The Seven Holy Founders of the
Servite Order)
The context: Today’s Gospel passage is the first
of the three times Jesus foretells his passion, death, and Resurrection. The
passage consists of two sections, the messianic confession of Peter and Jesus’
prediction of his approaching passion and death.
Jesus as the Christ, our Lord, and Savior: Today’s Gospel
explains the basis of our Faith as the acceptance of Jesus as the Christ, our
Lord, and Savior. It also tells us that Christ Jesus became our Savior by his
suffering, death, and Resurrection. This famous profession of Faith by Peter
took place at Caesarea Philippi, presently called Banias, twenty-five miles
northeast of the Sea of Galilee in the northeast part of Israel called the
Golan Heights, in the foothills of Mount Hermon. (Caesarea Philippi was a
symbolic reminder of the source of life, as it was known for its water springs.
It would also become the place where Jesus would later tell Peter, “…upon this
rock I will build my Church, Sacraments). Jesus realized that if his disciples
did not know who he really was, then his entire ministry, suffering, and death
would be useless. Hence, he decided to ask a question in two parts. 1) “What is
the public opinion about me?” 2) “What is your personal opinion?” Their answer to
the first question was: “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Peter volunteered to
answer the second question, saying: “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son
of the living God.” Jesus confirmed Peter’s insight as a special
revelation from God. “No mere man has revealed this to you, but my
Heavenly Father.” (Mt 16:17). But Peter found it difficult to accept
Jesus’ prediction that he would become the Savior by his suffering and death.
When he tried to discourage his master from the path of suffering and death,
Jesus promptly corrected Peter telling him that his temptation was from Satan.
Life messages: Let us experience Jesus as our Lord
and Savior and surrender our lives to him. We experience Jesus as personal
Savior by listening to him through daily, meditative reading of the Bible, by
talking to him through daily, personal and family prayers, by offering to him
our lives on the altar whenever we attend Holy Mass and by being reconciled
with Him every night by asking his pardon and forgiveness for our sins, and by
doing the same periodically in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The next step
is the surrender of our lives to Jesus by rendering humble and loving service
to others, with the strong conviction that Jesus is present in every
person. Fr. Kadavil (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 18 Friday:
The context: Immediately after Jesus foretold
his suffering and death for the first time, Peter pleaded with Jesus not to
make heartbreaking statements like that. In response to Peter’s comment, Jesus
challenged his Apostles and would-be disciples by outlining three conditions
for discipleship.
The triple conditions: 1) Deny yourself.
2) Take up your cross. 3) Follow Me. 1) Denying oneself involves
a) the eviction of self from the heart, cleansing it of all evil tendencies and
addictions with the help of the Holy Spirit; b) the enthronement of Jesus in
one’s heart as Lord and the dedicate oneself to Him; c) the surrender one’s
life to the enthroned God through one’s selfless and loving service done for
others to give glory to God.
2) Taking up one’s cross means not only accepting
gracefully from God our pains and suffering, but also accepting the pain
involved in serving others, in sharing our blessings with them, and in
controlling our evil tendencies. Carrying one’s cross becomes easier when we
compare our light crosses with the heavier ones given to terminally-ill
patients and to the millions of exploited people living in subhuman conditions.
The realization that Jesus carries with us the heavier part of our cross also
makes our cross-bearing easier and more salvific for us.
3) Follow Me means following Jesus by
obeying the word of God and adjusting one’s life accordingly.
The paradox of saving/losing and losing/saving life: According
to Bible commentators, the word “life” is here used, clearly, in a double
sense: the temporary earthly life of man in flesh and his eternal life of
happiness in Heaven. Hence, what Jesus means is that whoever wishes to save his
(earthly) life will lose his (eternal) life. But whoever loses his (earthly)
life for Jesus and the Gospel by spending it for others, will save his
(eternal) life. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 19 Saturday: (The Transfiguration of the Lord)
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the Transfiguration
of Jesus, an event which is celebrated as a Feast on August 6. The primary
purpose of this Transfiguration was to enable Jesus to consult his Heavenly
Father in order to ascertain His plan for His Son’s suffering, death and
Resurrection. The secondary aim was to make Jesus’ chosen disciples aware of
his Divine glory, that they might discard their worldly ambitions about a
conquering political Messiah and that they might be strengthened in their time
of trial.
The scene: The Transfiguration took place probably on
Mount Hermon in North Galilee, near Caesarea Philippi. While praying, Jesus was
transfigured into a shining figure, full of Heavenly glory. Moses and Elijah
the representatives of the Law and the Prophets, appeared conversing with him.
Peter, overwhelmed at the scene, exclaimed how good it was for them to
be there. Then a cloud covered them, and a Voice has heard speaking words from
the Cloud: “This is My Son, the Beloved; with Him, I am well pleased;
listen to Him,”
Life messages: (1) The transubstantiation in the
Holy Mass is the source of our transformation and strength: In each Holy Mass,
the bread and wine we offer on the altar become the Body and Blood of Jesus.
Hence, our Holy Communion with Jesus in the Eucharist should be the source of
our daily “transfiguration,” transforming our minds and hearts to do more good,
by humble and selfless service to others.
(2) Each time we receive one of the Sacraments, we are
transformed: For example, Baptism transforms us into sons and daughters of God
and heirs of Heaven. Confirmation transforms us into temples of the Holy Spirit
and warriors of God. By the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God brings back the
sinner to the path of holiness.
(3) A message of encouragement and hope: In moments of doubt and during our dark moments of despair and hopelessness, the thought of our transformation in Heaven will help us to reach out to God and to listen to His consoling words: “This is My beloved son.” (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
