3rd Sunday of Easter, Year B

"...he opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures."

Lectionary Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year B

When the disciples beheld the Risen Jesus again in their midst in
this Resurrection narrative, they panicked and were frightened.
They did not understand what was happening and thus created
this fear in them. From a plain human perspective, the disciples knew
that the dead do not rise from the grave. Thus, Jesus had to prove
to them that he was no ghost and that he was made of flesh and blood.
And to really prove it to them, he asked for something to eat. And
this, Jesus knew the disciples will surely understand; because
dead people do not eat!

The fear, the panic, the lack of understanding, on the part of the
disciples, was due to the fact that they forgot what was said about
Jesus in the Scriptures. So Jesus then had to open their minds to
understand, that the Messiah was to die, and rise from the dead
after three days, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. Without this
Scriptural basis for understanding the crucifixion and resurrection
event, the disciples will not really understand what is going on.
Only when their experience of seeing their Master crucified and
then raised from the dead, is seen from the context of the
fulfillment of Scripture, can they see that all this is really
of God, and not just an ordinary human event.

Like the disciples, there are times in our life that we shall
experience much pain, suffering, even illness, a loss of a
loved one or a relationship, or even a job or business. We
will surely not understand all these experiences and life
events, if we see them only from our own limited human perspective.
We may panic, be frightened, and be discouraged in all of
these. However, if we open our minds and our hearts to the
person of Jesus, he will help us understand the meaning of
all the negative things that assail and afflict us. We will
especially understand them better when we listen to him as
he speaks to us in the Word of the Scriptures and as he
makes himself present to us in the Eucharist.

So like the disciples in the resurrection narrative of today's
gospel, let us not be disturbed, let us not panic or be
frightened. Let us rather be open to Christ, who will
open our minds to the divine meaning of his resurrection,
so that we may view life from this Christian mystery,
and have a healthy and positive outlook, even despite
the hardships and difficulties we experience in our day
to day living. When we root our Christian living in the
mystery of the Resurrection, we will share in the life
giving spirit that Christ has won for us, by his victory
over sin and death.

Passion Sunday, Year B

"Clearly this man was the Son of God."

Lectionary Readings for Passion Sunday, Year B

The gospel of Mark is dramatic, especially when it depicts Pontius Pilate
interrogating Jesus. Just reading the text of the gospel places in our
mind images of a life that was innocently condemned by a mainline religion
that wishes to save its people from the eyes of a watchful Empire who
does not like anyone of its subjects to "rock the boat" as it were.
Jesus, because of his love for the people, went out of the normal way,
departing from his comfort zone, in order to preach the kingdom of God
in word and deed. His style of mission really just involved healing
people, teaching people and preaching the good News. The reason the
leaders of their mainline religion were against him was because Jesus put
love above the law: healing many people on the Sabbath. This irked the
Pharisees and the scribes because nobody is to act or work on the Sabbath.
Another point they placed against Jesus was the controversial way Jesus
presented himself as God's Son and calling God, "Abba". For the Jewish
religious authorities, this is blasphemous.

The popularity of Jesus rose and many came to him for healing, to be
taught wisdom and to learn of the kingdom of God. Crowds always gathered
around him because they learn of his miracles and many of them have
sick they want to be healed. This large group of people, who probably
regularly followed him, caused fear and anxiety among the Jewish religious
leaders. They fear that Jesus, with his following, may subvert the
peace of the people and cause a revolution. And so, the Jewish leaders
plotted a way to have him arrested. Jesus, knew that his time was to
come, and so prepared himself for this.

The problem with the Jewish religious authorities was their lack of
perception and open-mindedness to the truth that Jesus was the Messiah.
Simple people did not have this problem because they see how Jesus
performed good works with their sick and in their lives. Even the centurion,
who belongs and represented the authority of the Empire, believed in
Jesus because of the manner of death he had underwent. Faith is a gift
not given to all. It is given only to those who open their minds to
the truth about Jesus. The Jewish religious authorities lack the faith
necessary to see the truth because their frame of mind and their mindsets
were dictated by their established law and tradition.

As we enter into Holy Week, let us examine our own frame of mind and our
own mindsets and ask ourselves, "Is my perception of Jesus as the center
of Truth in my life clouded with doubt?" Let us look deep down in our
hearts and reflect with the question, "What is preventing me to truly
believe in Jesus: denying myself, taking up my cross, and following Him?"

5th Sunday of Lent, Year B

"If it dies, it produces much fruit."


Lectionary Readings for the 5th Sunday of Lent, Year B

Jesus knew that his "time" was about to come. This "time" that he
was speaking about to his disciples is known only to him, since his
disciples as yet did not understand that he was to suffer and die
on the cross for the salvation of all. This "time" he was referring
to was not easy for him to accept, as it involved his Father's will
and an act of obedience on his part to be like the wheat that falls
on the ground and die. But, if he were to accept this mission that
is entrusted to him, like the wheat he speaks of, his death will
bear much fruit. In fact, it will save humankind from their sins.

In his ministry, Jesus always calls all people to follow him. We
hear him say: "If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me." This call to discipleship will
find its best example in Jesus himself, who, in obedience to the
Father's will, truly denied himself and carried the cross to
Calvary and died so that all who believe in him may be saved. It
was not easy for him as we will learn when we read the passage
of the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemani. His great act of
humility cost him his life; but it produced such a great impact
on others that it led to the foundation of the Christian faith.

During this season of Lent, let us continue to examine ourselves
and see how we have not followed Jesus in denying ourselves and
"taking up our crosses" in life. Especially now, when many of
us are working, and very much into the many comforts that the
professional lifestyle can offer, we can easily forget that others
are not as easily privileged as we are. By following the regimen
of Lent: abstaining, fasting, praying and practicing mercy, we
can be more sensitive to the suffering of others. Christ and
his sacrifice will take a more central part in our lives, and
our responsibility to others will take its rightful priority
in our decisions and work. And more than the requirement of
Lenten spiritual practices, we can also take extra pains to
be of greater service to those whom we are directly responsible
for.