6th Week: Feb 12-13 and Lent: Feb 14-17
Feb 12 Monday:
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 stony 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 message: 1) It is very sad to see
superstitious Christians travelling miles to see a miraculous statue of a
Madonna shedding tears of blood or oil., while 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. Let us pray for the
grace of increased Faith in the genuine teachings of Jesus.
Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 13 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 the 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 food
they had forgotten to bring for their supper. The twelve baskets full of
leftovers after the miraculous feeding 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 feeing 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 the 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 14 Ash Wednesday: Mt 6:1-6, 16-18:
Introduction: Ash Wednesday (dies cinerum), is
the Church’s Yom Kippur or “Day of Atonement.” The very name
of the day comes from the ancient practice of mourning or doing penance wearing
“sackcloth and ashes” to express penitence, not only by the Chosen
People but by pagans as well. The Old Testament shows us the pagan people of
Nineveh, the pagan King Ben Haddad of Syria, and the Jewish Queen Esther, all
of whom fasted, wearing sackcloth and ashes.In the early Church, Christians who
had committed serious sins did public penance wearing sackcloth and ashes. The
Church instructs us to observe Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as days of full
fast and abstinence. Fasting is prescribed to reinforce our penitential prayer
during the Lenten season.
Scripture lessons summarized:In the first reading,
the prophet Joel, insists that we should experience a complete conversion of
heart (‘metanoia’) and not simply feel regret for our sins. The
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 51) for today, provides us with an excellent prayer of
repentance and a plea for forgiveness. Saint Paul, in the second reading,
advises us “to become reconciled to God.” Today’s Gospel instructs us to
assimilate the true spirit of fasting and prayer, not just to settle for the
legal externals.
The blessing of the ashes and the significance of the
day: The priest, dipping his thumb into ashes (collected
from burnt palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday), marks the forehead of
each with the sign of the cross , saying, “Remember that you are dust
and to dust you will return” or “Repent and believe in the
Gospel.” By doing this, the Church gives her children: 1- a firm conviction that
a) we are mortal beings, b) our bodies will become dust when buried, ashes if
cremated, and c) our life-span is very brief and unpredictable; 2- a
strong warning that we will suffer eternal misery if we do not
repent of our sins, become reconciled with God, asking His pardon and
forgiveness, and do penance; and 3- a loving invitation to
realize and acknowledge our sinful condition and to return to our loving and
forgiving God with true repentance so that we can renew our life as the
prodigal son did.
Ash Wednesday messages: # 1: We
need to purify and renew our lives during the period of
Lent by repentance — expressing sorrow for our sins by turning
away from the near occasions of sins and making a right turn to God. We express
our repentance; by becoming reconciled with God daily; by
asking for forgiveness from those we have offended; by giving unconditional
forgiveness to those who have offended us; and by receiving the sacrament of
Reconciliation.
# 2: We need to do prayerful fasting and acts of
penance for our sins, following the example of Jesus before his public
ministry. Fasting reduces our “spiritual obesity” or the excessive accumulation
of “fat” in our soul — evil tendencies, evil habits, and evil addictions.
It also gives us additional moral and spiritual strength and
encourages us to share our blessings with the needy, offers us more
time to be with God in prayer, and encourages us to share our
food and goods with the needy. Fasting also makes our minds clearer
and more receptive to receiving the sacred nourishment of God’s
Word in Scripture and in Holy Eucharist. (Thomas Merton). We can practice
penance by practicing more self-control and mortification, by
observing Lenten fasting and abstinence, by doing acts of charity, kindness and
mercy and by sacrificially helping the poor and the needy.
Feb 15 Thursday: Lk 9:22-25:
The context: After Peter had
made his famous declaration of Faith in Jesus as God and the Messiah, Jesus
plainly warned his disciples about his suffering death and Resurrection.
But the Apostles were unwilling to accept such a fate for their master.
Hence, Jesus declared the three conditions of discipleship which he expected
from his followers, as given in today’s Gospel.
The Three Conditions: 1) Deny
yourself. 2) Take up your cross. 3) Follow Me. 1) Denying
oneself involves a) cleansing of the heart by the
eviction of self and the removal of all evil tendencies and addictions from the
heart with the help of the Holy Spirit, b) the enthronement of God
in the heart and the dedication of oneself to Him, and c) the surrendering of
one’s life to the enthroned God through loving, selfless service of others for
God’s glory. 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
exploited people living under subhuman conditions. The realization that
Jesus carries with us the heavier part of our cross also makes our
cross-bearing easier and more salvific. 3) Follow Me means
one is to follow Jesus by obeying the word of God and adjusting one’s life
accordingly. One living as Jesus’ disciple should be ever ready to obey as
Jesus directs one –through His words in the Bible and through the teaching
authority He has instituted in the Church.
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 earthly life of man in flesh and time 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 by spending it for Jesus and the Gospel,
will save his (eternal), Life.
Life message: We need to love the cross,
wear the cross, carry the crosses we are given, and transform these God-given
crosses of our life into the instruments of our salvation by working with the
Holy Spirit. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 16 Friday: Mt 9:14-15:
The context: Today’s Gospel passage gives
Jesus’ reply to the question asked by a few disciples of John the Baptist about
fasting and feasting. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving were the
three-cardinal works of Jewish religious life. Hence, John’s disciples
wanted to know why they and the Pharisees fasted, while Jesus’ disciples were
seen feasting with him and never fasting. Jesus’ reply:
Jesus responded to their sincere question using three metaphors: the metaphor
of the “children of the bridal chamber,” the metaphor of patching torn cloth
and the metaphor of wineskins (Mk 2:18-20; Lk 5:33-35). In today’s Gospel
passage taken from Matthew, Jesus compares his disciples with the children of
the bridal chamber. These people were selected friends of the bridegroom
who feasted in the company of the bride and groom during a week of honeymoon.
Nobody expected them to fast. Jesus declares that his disciples will fast
when he, the Bridegroom, is taken away from them. One of the fruits of the
Spirit is joy, and it is mentioned next after love in St Paul’s list, “…love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control” (Gal 5:22). Hence, we are to welcome the joys of
Christian life as well as the crosses it offers us. The Fathers of the Church
interpret the image of the bridegroom and bride as referring to Christ and his
Church. Some explain it topologically: as long as the Spouse is with us, we are
not able to mourn; but when by our sin we turn from Jesus, then
is the time for tears and fasting. Yet others apply the words of Christ to
the Holy
Eucharist. The parable does not condemn the strictness of John nor does it
condemn fasting. The disciples of Christ kept the fasts prescribed by the Law,
but they did ignore those imposed by the Pharisees.
Life messages: 1) Fasting reduces the
excessive accumulation of fat in our soul in the form of evil
tendencies and evil habits (= spiritual obesity). In addition,
fasting gives us additional moral and spiritual strength: it offers us more
time to be with God in prayer and encourages us to share our food and goods
with the needy. We fast so as to share in the sufferings of the Body of
Christ (Col 1:24). 2) We need to be adjustable Christians with
open and elastic minds and hearts: The Holy Spirit, working actively in the
Church and guiding the Magisterium — the teaching authority in the Church —
enables the Church to have new visions, new ideas, new adaptations, and new
ways of worship in the place of old ones. So, we should have the
generosity and good will to follow the teachings of the Church (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 17 Saturday: [The Seven Holy Founders of
the Servite Order]
The context: Today’s Gospel
episode of Matthew’s call to be Jesus’ Apostle reminds us of God’s
love and mercy for sinners and challenges us to practice this same love and mercy
in our relations with others.
The call and the response: Jesus went to
the tax collector’s post to invite Matthew to become his disciple. Since
tax collectors worked for a foreign power, extorted more tax money from the
people than they owed, and thus made themselves rich by extortion, they were
hated and despised as traitors by the Jewish people, and considered public
sinners by the Pharisees. But Jesus could see in Matthew a person who
needed Divine love and grace. While everyone hated Matthew, Jesus was ready to
offer him undeserved love, mercy, and forgiveness. Hence, Matthew
abandoned his lucrative job, because for him, Christ’s call to follow him was a
promise of salvation, fellowship, guidance, and protection.
Scandalous partying with sinners: It was
altogether natural for Matthew to rejoice in his new calling by celebrating
with his friends. Jesus’ dining with outcasts in the house of a traitor
scandalized the Pharisees for whom ritual purity and table fellowship were
important religious practices. Hence, they asked the disciples, “Why does
your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus Himself answered
their question, stressing his ministry as healer: “Those who are well
do not need a physician; the sick do.” Then, in Matthew’s account,
quoting Hosea, Jesus challenged the Pharisees, “Go and learn the meaning of
the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’ (Hos 6:6)” Finally, Jesus
clarified his position, “I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners.”
Life messages: 1) Jesus
calls you and me for a purpose: Jesus has called us, through our Baptism,
has forgiven our sins, and has welcomed us as members of the Kingdom. He calls
us through the Word and through his Church to be his disciples and
to turn away from all the things that distract us and draw us away from God.
2) Just as Jesus did, and Matthew did, we, too, are expected to preach Christ through our lives by reaching out to the unwanted and the marginalized in society with Christ’s love, mercy, and compassion. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
