1st Sunday of Advent C
Lk.21: 25-28, 34-36
Waiting for Jesus

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man (Lk.21:36).

Linda Eberly has told story about her son. She said, “When my son was two and a half I had sent him to clean his room but each time he went in, he got distracted by all the toys and nothing got put away. Following some principles I had learned at a recent prayer conference I went in and said to him, "Stephen, what did mommy tell you to do?" "Clean my room" "And did you clean your room?" "No." he replied quietly. I disciplined him and then helped him to pray and confess his error to God and ask Jesus to help him get his room cleaned. He seemed to respond really well to all of this and I thought, "Wow, this stuff really works." But Stephen just got down and sat in the middle of the mess, doing nothing. In frustration I asked, "Stephen, what are you doing?” He replied, just as frustrated, "I'm waiting for Jesus to come and help me clean my room!"

Today marks the beginning of advent. This is a time of preparation and a time of waiting for the coming of the Lord. But unlike Stephen, we don’t wait for Jesus doing nothing. We don’t wait for Jesus to do our task. Waiting for Jesus is not passive but active. As we wait for the coming of the Lord we can’t just sit back and relax. We have to be prepared as the Lord Jesus himself warns us, “Be vigilant at all times and pray that we have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man”(v.36). We might be terrified with Jesus using cosmic symbolic images to indicate the final divine action in history at the end of the world. But perhaps we are more terrified by our own experience of tremendous sufferings which sometimes lead us to despair. Jesus however, tells us to pray that we have the strength to escape these tribulations. Thus, we wait for Jesus to inspire us in our life. We wait for Jesus not to clean our mess but to strengthen us as we clean the mess in our life. We wait for Jesus not to do our undertakings but to enlighten us in our undertakings. We wait for Jesus not to solve our problems but to give us courage as we face life’s challenges. We wait for Jesus to give us hope as we journey in our life. We invite Jesus to come because without Him life would be terrible. We wait for Jesus because we are living in a world full of uncertainty and Jesus is our only sure and certain hope.

As we prepare for the coming of the Lord let us demonstrate our sincerity by increasing our love for one another. St. Paul tells us in the second reading “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another…”(Thes.3:12). Let us pray to the Lord to give us mind that will think thoughts that are fair and kind, to give us lips that will speak words that are charitable and true, and to give us hands that will care to those who live in misery.

Solemnity of Christ the King
Jn.18:33-37
Praise Christ by Listening to Him

So Pilate said to Him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (Jn.18: 37).

Long ago, England was ruled by a king named Canute. He was surrounded by people who were always praising him. Every time he walked into a room, the flattery began. “Your highness, there is nothing you cannot do,” someone would say. The king was a man of sense, and he grew tired of hearing such foolish speeches. One day he was walking by the seashore, and his officers and courtiers were with him, praising him as usual. Canute decided to teach them a lesson. “So you say I am the greatest man in the world?” he asked them. “O king,” they cried, “there never has been anyone as mighty as you!” “And you say all things obey me?” Canute asked. “Absolutely!” they said. Canute said, “In that case, bring me my chair, and we will go down to the water.” People scrambled to carry his royal chair over the sands. “Bring it closer to the sea,” Canute called. “Put it right here, right at the water's edge.” He sat down and surveyed the ocean before him. “I notice the tide is coming in. Do you think it will stop if I give the command?” His officers were puzzled, but they did not dare say no. “Give the order, O great king, and it will obey,” one of them assured him. “Very well. Sea,” cried Canute, “I command you to come no further! He waited a moment, quietly, and a tiny wave rushed up the sand and lapped at his feet. “How dare you!” Canute shouted. “Ocean, turn back now! I have ordered you to retreat before me, and now you must obey! Go back!” However, the water rose higher and higher. It came up around the king's chair, and wet not only his feet, but also his robe. “Well, my friends,” Canute said, “It seems I do not have quite so much power as you would have me believe. Perhaps you have learned something today. Perhaps now you will remember there is only one King who is all-powerful, and it is He who rules the sea, and holds the ocean in the hollow of His hand. I suggest you reserve your praises for him.” And some say Canute took off his crown soon afterward, and never wore it again. (James Baldwin, The Book of Virtues).

We claim Christ to be our King and as King Canute taught his subjects, let our praise be on Christ who is the only all-powerful King. How do we give our praise to Him? Perhaps Jesus is tired of flattery and He does not need our lip service. The best way to praise Him as He pointed out during His interrogation with Pilate is to listen to His voice because He came into the world to bear witness to the truth. “Everyone who is on the side of truth hears my voice” If Jesus is our King we must be on the side of truth and we must listen to His voice. Unfortunately truth now no longer means conformity to fact or actuality. It is no longer a statement accepted as truth. It does not mean sincerity and integrity anymore. Truth becomes distorted because the basis is no longer the teaching of Jesus. Truth becomes subjective. What we accept as truth is that which we perceive as good for us, that which will benefit us regardless of its moral value. This is because we only listen to ourselves and to this world but we fail to listen to Jesus. We always fight for our rights but have we ever fight for the right of God? There are some people who advocate the elimination of God’s name in school and public places. Some are working hard to legalize abortion. Some couples live without receiving the sacrament of marriage. While we spend billions of dollars in war, in some part of the globe millions of people are dying because they have nothing to eat. And as Christians what have we done? Let us not be complacent about this. If we accept the Kingship of Jesus let us praise Him by listening to Him because to listen to Him is to know the truth. To know the truth is live and fight for this truth.

33rd Sunday B
Mk.13:24-32
Bringing Jesus Back to Earth
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Mk.13: 30-32).

The driver told the cemetery caretaker to see the lady in the car because she was too weak to walk. The elderly woman in the car then told him, “I am Mrs. Smith. For two years now I’ve been sending $5 every week for flowers for my son’s grave. The doctor told me I don’t have much longer to live; I’ve come to thank you for taking care of the flowers.” The caretaker replied, “I am sorry ma’am that you keep sending money for the flowers.” The old lady was perplexed. The man explained that dead people never see them. The lady was hurt, and she commented, “Do you know what you are saying?” The man said, “I belong to a visiting society. We go to hospital, nursing home, and the like. People in these places love flowers. They can see and smell them. Lady, there are living people in places like that.” The lady remained silent for a moment then she signaled her driver to head on. Some months later, the lady returned to the cemetery but now a much younger and upbeat person. She told the caretaker, “I myself take the flowers to the people. You are right. It makes them happy, and it makes me happy too. Now I know I have something to live for.” (Adapted from Fulton Oursler).

Jesus spoke of the end times when people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. As He spoke of His Second Coming, He meant to give us neither a blue print of eternity nor timeframe of the future. He used language and pictures that were known to many Jews and the things that He prophesied – war, famine, and earthquake were indeed happening. However, the most important part of His message that we cannot disregard was the fact that He would come again, and what mattered most was we would prepare for His coming.
How do we prepare for the coming of the Lord? Is it enough to receive the sacraments, confess our sins, forgive our enemies and make peace with God? These are good but as St. Paul says, “And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing”(1 Cor.13.2). To prepare for the coming of the Lord we must bring Jesus back on earth by living our life in love. Like the message of the cemetery’s caretaker to the Lady, we must focus on the living and not on the dead. Many people need our flower of love and care. To prepare for the coming of Christ is to make Him present in this world with our love, generosity, gentleness, thoughtfulness, understanding, helping hand, kind words, and compassion.
An old lady was stranded on the side of the road because of a flat tire. A man pulled up in front of her car. He did not look safe so the lady was frightened. The man introduced himself as Bryan and offered his help to fix the tire. The woman could not thank him enough and asked how much she owed him. Bryan just smiled and said, “Nothing. But if you really want to pay me back, the next time you see someone who needs help, give that person the assistance that they need.” A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get change for her $100 bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on the napkin under which was 4 $100 bills. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote. It said "You don't owe me anything, I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: ‘Do not let this chain of love end with you.’” Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's going to be all right; I love you, Bryan."

Do you think the way you show your love can bring Jesus back to earth?

32nd Sunday-1st Reading
1 Kings 17:10-16

The Widow of ZarepathElijah left and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread."(1Kgs.17:10-11).

The husband died and his widow was so distraught that she sought out a medium to know if her husband was fine. "Is there anything he needs?" the distraught woman asked, between tears. The medium went into a trance state, then replied, "He says he'd love a pack of cigarettes." "I'll send a carton immediately." The woman said joyfully. "But did he say where I should send them?" "No," replied the medium somberly. "But he didn't ask for matches."

During biblical times, to become a widow was a misfortune. When her husband died, her rights died with him, and basically she lived in poverty. When the time of drought came as a consequence of nation’s self-centered behavior under King Ahab, God sent Elijah to a village of Zarephath, of all people, to a widow. Elijah asked her for a cupful of water to drink, then he also asked her to bring along a bit of bread. The widow told him that what she had was just a handful of flour and a little oil, and she was gathering sticks to bake them and after they ate this meal, they would await their death. Elijah told her, “Do not be afraid.”(v.13). He invited her to trust in God’s providence, and assured her that her generosity would be rewarded with abundance, “For the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rains upon the earth.’”(v.14). She gave the little that she had to Elijah, and as Elijah prophesied, she and her son was able to eat for a year – “the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry…”(v.16).

This widow was poor and in need. She was more in a position of receiving rather than giving. Yet, with her limited resources she became charitable and generous, complying with Elijah’s request for food and drink. Like this widow from Zarephath, we should be ready to make an act of kindness even to those people that we do not know. Even in our own need, we can still give and we can still share. As it is said, “Nobody is too poor that he has no capacity to give, and nobody is to rich that he has no capacity to receive.” The measure of our generosity is not how much we give but how much love is involved in our giving.

Mother Teresa told a story of how one day she was walking down the street when a beggar came up to her and said, “Mother Teresa everybody is giving to you, I also want to give to you. Today for the whole day I got only thirty cents. I want to give it to you.” Mother Teresa thought for a moment: “If I take the thirty cents, he will have nothing to eat tonight, and if I don’t take it I will hurt his feelings. So I put out my hands and took the money. I have never seen such joy on anybody’s face as I saw on the face of that beggar at the thought that he too could give to Mother Teresa.” Mother Teresa went on: “It was a big sacrifice for that poor man, who had sat in the sun the whole day long and received only thirty cents. Thirty cents is such a small amount and I can get nothing with it, but as he gave it up and I took it, it became like thousands because it was given with so much love. God looks not at the greatness of the work, but at the love with which it is performed.”

32nd Sunday B
Mk.12:38-47
Give until it hurts A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.

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. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." (Mk.12:42-44).
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table, and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies - You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

During the time of Jesus there was what they called the Court of Women. In this court there were thirteen collecting boxes each of them was for a special purpose, like to buy corn, wine, or oil for sacrifices. They were for contributions for the daily sacrifices and expenses of the Temple (Barclay). Many people put in considerable contributions. A widow came putting in two small coins. When Jesus observed this, He called His disciples and said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."(v.43-44).

The gesture of the widow teaches us lesson in giving. It reminds us of the phrase “It is the thoughts that count.” Sad to say, however, that this meaningful phrase has just become an excuse for us, which we shyly say when we feel our gifts are not good enough. The advertisements on TV and print media made us believed that the bigger the gift we give the better giver we become. The size and the price of our gifts become the measure of our love and commitment. If this is our idea of giving, we look at it all wrong. Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist and poet, said, “Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is the portion of thyself.” Real giving involves sacrifice. The size and the price of gift never matter so much as its cost to the giver. Our giving only becomes meaningful and noble when it hurts. The tip that the boy left to the waitress was not that much but it made her cry because the boy sacrificed eating ice cream sundae so he can leave her a tip. What is the value of the two small coins that the widow gave compare with others? But since she gave from her poverty, from her whole livelihood, she gave more than everybody else.

True giving happens when we give not from our surplus but from our own poverty. What matters is not how much we give but how much we keep for ourselves after giving. What is left to us is the real measure of our generosity. True giving does not expect something back. We give not because of what we can get in return. We give not because we want to brag or to see our names engraved in the walls of the church. We give because we acknowledge God has been good to us and we just want His blessings to continuously flow.
True giving involves ourselves. It entails sacrifice. It also hurts. As we reflect today let us ask ourselves what are the things are we willing to give and to sacrifice for Christ and His Church?

All Saints Day

Heaven our Ultimate Goal

D.L. Moody, an American evangelist related this incident. There was a man who had great wealth. He was dying. When the doctor told him he would not live long, the lawyer was called to make out his will. The dying man had a little girl who was about four years old. She did not understand what death meant. But when her mother told her that her father was going away, the little child went to the bedside and looked into her father's eyes and asked, “Papa, have you got a home-in that land you are going to?” The question sunk deep into the man’s soul, for he had spent his time and energy accumulating great wealth. In this life he enjoyed a grand home, but now he had to leave it.

We set goals for our personal, academic, social, and occupational or professional life. As much as we want to succeed in our lives, we should bear in mind, however, that God has created us for His purpose and we have our own mission in life. Hence, our ultimate goal should be in harmony with God’s purpose for us and our mission. Our ultimate goal should have something to do with our salvation. Even though we are busy with our worldly affairs, let us not pass the chance to do something that will contribute to our salvation because this is the only thing that lasts. Mark said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his life?”(Mk. 8:36).

Saints give us good examples of how it is to make the Kingdom of God our ultimate goal. Joseph Caryl an English preacher during the 16th century said, “Perfect holiness is the aim of the saints on earth, and it is the reward of the saints in heaven.” St. Lorenzo Ruiz died a martyr’s death. He said, “I am a Catholic and I wholeheartedly accept to die for God. If I have a thousand lives to offer, I will offer them all up to Him.” St. Therese of Lisieux’s goal is, “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.” For Mother Theresa of Calcutta it was, “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” St. Paul in his passion for Christ wanted to “become all things to all.” St. Francis of Assisi prayed, “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace! Where there is hatred let me sow love.”

A man’s boat capsized and he was lucky to get into the island on the South Pacific. He was welcome by the people and made their king. He was informed that he can do what he wants but his tenure only lasts a year. After that he would be sent to the Island of Kings, which is barren, no trees and no food. He will be left there to die and be an offering to their gods. But this man was wise. He asked the native to cut trees and make boats. Then he commanded them to uproot plants and tress and bring them to the island. He asked the carpenter to build a house. Then they transported some of the animals in that island. After a year he has a place to live and he can survive in the king’s island.

The feast of all Saints affirmed that our life does not end here but there is a life in heaven. Saints attest to the existence of heaven. They are like this wise man, they built house in heaven while still here on earth. Today let us not just honor them, but let us be wise like them by making heaven our ultimate goal.

30th Sunday B
Mk. 10:46-52
Three Things to Learn from a Blind man

Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” (Mk.10: 46-47).

While I was reading the book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, I was tickled by this anecdote. There were two storekeepers who were bitter rivals. Their stores were across the street from each other. They would spend each day sitting in the doorway keeping track of each other’s business. If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival. One night, an angel appeared to one of the shop keepers in a dream and said,” God has sent me to teach you a lesson. He will give you anything you ask for but I want you to know that whatever you get your competitor across the street will get twice as much. Would you be wealthy? You can be very wealthy but he would be twice as rich. The man frowned for a moment and said, “All right, my request is, strike me blind in one eye.”

While the man in this story was praying to become blind, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus to be healed of his blindness. As Jesus was passing through Jericho, on his way out of the city, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar was sitting on the roadside. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there he began to shout, “Son of David! Have pity on me!” Though many rebuked him, he shouted all the more to attract Jesus’ attention. Finally he got what he wanted. Jesus asked that he be brought to Him. Jesus said to him, “What to you want me to do for you?” He responded, “Master teacher! My prayer is that I might see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has cured you.” Immediately he saw again and he followed Jesus upon the road.

In this illuminating story there are three things we can learn from Bartimaeus. First is his persistence. Nothing could stop him from seeing Jesus. He was so desperate, but this made him so determined to meet Jesus whom he believed would give him the cure for his blindness. In our life, sometimes we find ourselves in a desperate situation. Perhaps we try hard to exert every effort that we can and do whatever we can do to overcome it, but it seems nothing works well. Then we realize that our power is limited. In moments like this, to whom shall we go? Like Bartimaeus, let us go to Jesus to ask for courage, strength or healing.

Secondly, Bartimaeus knew what he wanted - his sight. When we pray to God like Bartimaeus, we must be very specific in our prayer. We must know what we want. This requires self-examination. In knowing what we want, hopefully we also learn to know what is good for us.

Lastly, Bartimaeus was a man of gratitude. Having received his sight he followed Jesus. God has blessed us with many gifts. He heals us of our many wounds. He strengthens us when we feel weak. How do we show our gratitude to God for His goodness to us?

30th Sunday B-1st Reading
Jer.31: 7-9
Experiencing God’s Grace again

They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born (Jer.31:9).

For thirteen years, Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan of Vietnam suffered imprisonment at the hands of Communist leaders, surviving only through his profound hope in Jesus Christ. He said: "When they imprisoned me in 1975, a terrible question came to my mind: 'Will I be able to celebrate Mass?'" He explained that when he was arrested, he was not permitted to take any of his personal belongings. But the following day he was allowed to write his family to request essentials like clothes and toothpaste. He wrote, "Please send me some wine as medication for my stomach problems." His family understood immediately what he wanted, and they sent him a small bottle labeled "Medicine for Stomach Ache." They also concealed some hosts among his clothes. He said, "I shall never be able to express my joy. Every day I celebrated Mass with three drops of wine and one drop of water in the palm of my hand. Every day I was able to kneel before the cross of Jesus, drink with him his most bitter chalice. Every day, when reciting the Consecration, I confirmed with all my heart and with all my soul a new pact, an eternal pact between Jesus and me, through his blood mixed with mine. They were the most beautiful Masses of my life." Later, he was assigned to a group of 50 prisoners. They slept in a common bunk. Each one had the right to 50 centimeters of space. He said, "We arranged it so that five Catholics were next to me. Lights went out at 21:30 and everyone had to go to sleep. In bed, I celebrated Mass by heart, and distributed Communion by passing my hand under the mosquito net. We made envelopes with cigar paper to conserve the Most Blessed Sacrament. I always carried the Eucharistic Christ in the pocket of my shirt."

With the help of his Catholic companions, the archbishop gradually passed the Eucharist to dozens of other prisoners. "They all knew Jesus was among them, and that He cures all physical and mental sufferings. At night, the prisoners took turns at Adoration. The Eucharistic Christ helped in an unimaginable way with His silent presence: Many Catholics began to believe again enthusiastically. Their testimony of service and love made a greater impact on the other prisoners, and even some Buddhists and non-Christians embraced the faith. Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan was imprisoned unjustly but it had never been a moment of God’s abandonment for him rather it had been an experience of God’s grace as it helped him developed and deepened his faith in God.

Jeremiah lived just before and through the time of Babylon’s conquest of Judah and Jerusalem. His message was usually associated with doom and destruction like the end of the kingdom, and the defeat of the city. Yet, it was not the whole of his message for he was given a two-sided message. He spoke of destruction but also building anew, or plucking up in order to plant. He pleaded with the people to turn away from their sins or they would be punished severely. While he told them to expect a long period of exile, his message was full of hope for the future as he spoke of an end to this dreadful experience. He said that their exile was not just a time of punishment for their sins but also a time to experience God’s grace as He worked with them and restored His covenant relationship with them.

As Jeremiah conveyed a message of hope he called the people to praise God, because the Lord God has delivered them (v.7). He used an imagery to capture the hope that he saw for the future, presenting God as a Father who gathers, consoles, guides and cares for His people. “I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng. They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born” (v.8-9). After the exile when they return to the community, Jeremiah believed that they would be a different people because they experienced the grace of God.

There are times when we feel we are put in a crucible. We may think that
God is punishing us for all the wrongs that we have done or maybe God has abandoned
us, but we should never lose hope rather, like Jeremiah we must look beyond our predicament to a hopeful future. Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, stayed in prison for 13 years but he never lost hope because he believed Jesus was with them, curing their physical and mental suffering. No matter how difficult our situation is we should always believe that God is with us and would never abandon us. Perhaps He just giving us a wake-up call because we become too comfortable in our lives that we turn to be mediocre. Even good people experience sufferings in their lives but remember when God allows us to suffer He is just giving us an opportunity to experience His grace again as we learn to put our trust in Him.

29th Sunday B-1st Reading
Is.53:10-11
He ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother

(But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.)If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him (Is.53:10).

A story was told about two orphans who got nowhere to go during a severe winter storm. Their last resort was The Boys town of Fr. Flanagan. They walked for miles and braved the storm just to get there. Upon reaching the place they knocked at the door and Fr. Flanagan opened it, he saw the two brothers trembling in cold, the elder carrying the younger one at his back. He let them in and offered them hot chocolate. Fr. Flanagan said to the elder brother, “He must be heavy?” The elder one replied, “He ain’t heavy, Father, he is my brother”

Isaiah spoke of a “Suffering Servant” and he described him as someone who suffered, died, and rose again to atone for the sins of the people. The Hebrew word used here is “asham” which is a technical term meaning “sin offering.” Isaiah said, “But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity”(v.10). God was pleased to have the Messiah suffer and die as our sin offering to provide us forgiveness and atonement. He is the sinless sacrificial lamb who takes upon Himself the sin of others so that they might be forgiven. The “Suffering Servant” of Isaiah 53 must be understood as referring to the coming of the Messiah who will suffer and die for our sins. The gospel writers identify Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of this verse. In the profession of faith we say, “He suffered, died and was buried but on the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scripture…” Whenever we think of the suffering of Christ, we must see Him bearing our sins. Our sins are heavy but when Christ carries them, “They ain’t heavy, for He carries them for us, His brothers.”

Though we often hear the phrase that Jesus saves us by dying for us, we should never overlook the fact that it is actually His love for us that saves us, a love that is so sublime that cost Him His life. No matter how horrendous and hideous His sufferings were, they ain’t heavy for Him because we are His brothers and sisters.

Christ bore our sins; in return what can we bear for Him? Each one of us has our own cross to bear and sometimes our crosses are the very people around us. It could be taking care of a sick spouse, dealing with the misbehavior of your children, supporting your extended family, putting up with someone at work, reporting to a mean boss, coping with divorce, grieving the death of a loved one, getting out of an abusive relationship, or simply living in a home where you feel nobody helps you clean, put things in order or at least wash the dishes instead of living it in a sink. These situations may be hard to bear but they become more complicated and difficult because oftentimes we meet them with the feeling that it is not fair to us, we don’t deserve it, or we are just tired of covering the tracks of others. Yet, if we would bear in mind that these people are not different from us, no matter how difficult they are, we can also say, “He ain’t heavy, he is my brother.” Instead of whining or becoming impatient, we should look at our situations as an opportunity for us to practice virtues and purify our love.

Christ bore our sins, the least that we can do is to learn to bear with one another. Some people may be heavier to bear but when we look at them with love and see them as our brother or sister we can also say, “He ain’t heavy, he is my brother/sister.”

29th Sunday B
Mk.10:35-45
Be Hopeful in Jesus

“What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered Him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”(Mk.10: 36-38).


The children had all been photographed and the teacher was trying to convince each to buy a copy of a group picture. “Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, ‘There is Jennifer, she’s a lawyer. There is Michael, he is a doctor.’” Suddenly a small voice at the back rang out, “There’s the teacher, and she’s dead.”

In this anecdote, while the teacher was hopeful about the promising future of her students, the latter were making hostile remark about the teacher, that she would be dead by then. The two disciples were hopeful of a prestigious position with Jesus. As James and John came to Jesus they said to Him, “Master, we want you to grant us what we are going to ask of you.” And Jesus said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left when you come in your glory.” This proposition without a doubt told us how ambitious James and John were. They aimed for a position in Jesus’ kingdom. Their ambition made it obvious how little they understood what Jesus was saying to them. He just made a forecast of His death and here they were making this inappropriate request. At the back of their mind still their idea of a Messiah was of earthly power and glory.

This incident however, was not that bad at all. Unlike the students who had no hope for their teacher except having the thought that she would be dead by then, James and John were hopeful in Jesus. Perhaps they did not understand the words of Jesus but they still believed in Jesus. They never doubted His ultimate triumph. They could still see Jesus in His glory after His excruciating death on the cross. They had confidence in Jesus.

It is always our hope and dream to have a good life. We work hard to realize our dreams. We aspire for positions and for greatness. This is very human but part of being human is also to experience trials and difficulties. During these moments it is important to possess the trait of James and John – being hopeful in Jesus. Our life may be struck with misery. Somebody may be sick in our family. A loved one may die. We may fail in our exams. We may be at the edge of being desperate, but no matter what, let us be hopeful in Jesus. We may not be able to understand what is happening to us but let us believe in Jesus. Let us always be hopeful in Jesus because with Him, we can always triumph over life’s difficult challenges. Since God is in control of our lives, we can always be victors in God.