14th Sunday of the Year (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) Years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

July 6, 2014
Liturgical readings
Zechariah 9:9-10
Psalm 145
Romans 8:9, 11-13
Matthew 11:25-30

"Learn from Christ and find rest."

If one observes children, it is easy to recognize their openness to learn. That was one reason Jesus was close to children; they are trusting, and more attentive to Him. Most adults tend to have a set of principles already established in their way of life and work. And it is this that can make many resistant and closed to new ideas. Such were the Pharisees and the scribes of Jesus' time. When Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God to them, they hearts were closed. But the other people around Jesus who were humble and had a childlike trust, listened to what Christ had to say. These were often simple folks: the fishermen, the shepherds, those at the marketplace and all who walk in the public squares.

From that biblical time and along the historical continuum of the Catholic faith, there are Saints in the Church who place great value on humility as a path to Christian maturity. To name a few who were really influential on this spirituality: we have St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Bruno of Cologne, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis of Paola, St. Ephrem of Syria, and St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. These Saints have listened well to the words of Christ and learned how to be open, attentive and trust in His will. This entailed humility, seeing their rightful place in comparison to a God who created everything they saw in the world. It was humility that made them see who they are in both their strengths and weaknesses: the former for works of mercy, and the latter for prayer.

Simplicity and humility are easy to practice once a Christian is accustomed to the discipline of seeking God's will and acting on it. For simplicity and humility will grant the grace to avoid pride and other habits of sin. One has to take care not to let pride insidiously take root in the soul. For this will obscure a path to virtue and deafen one's ears to the voice of Christ. And it could make the Christian less diligent to listen to the Word of God in the Eucharist. The discipline of seeking God's will is in the desire to reform one's life, celebrate God's mercy in the Eucharist, and act on His will in the very circumstances every faithful soul lives and works in. This discipline makes one's life well-ordered and in its rightful place with others. Once the discipline is learned, it ceases to become a sorrow and a burden. For it is in the discipline of Christ's yoke that we attain life and find rest.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"Our souls will find rest in Christ, for His yoke is easy and His burden light." (Matthew 11)

Memorial of Saints (July 3)

St. Thomas the Apostle merited the title of "doubting Thomas" because at first he did not believe in the Lord's resurrection. Once it was proven to him by Christ Himself, tradition reports that he went to India to preach the gospel after the Pentecost event. Stories tell of his many sojourns in India to evangelize the people. There is a story that tells how Thomas was involved in a conflict with a king of India named Mazdaz. The conflict was due to Thomas converting the king's wife to the Christian faith. This situation naturally incurred the wrath of the king. St. Thomas' mission to bring the Christian faith to India led to his martyrdom on top of a hill (died 1st century A.D.).

St. Leo II was elected Pope on January 10, 681 A.D. Because of the unstable political conditions of that time, he was consecrated at a later time - on August 17, 682 A.D. Leo II was a good preacher and knowledgeable in music. He was also known to be very charitable towards the poor. Together with other Church leaders of his time, St. Leo II upheld the decisions of the 6th General Council of Constantinople (680-681 A.D.). This Church council condemned monothelitism and censured those who did not condemn this heresy.

St. Anatolius was a scholar and head of the Aristotelian school in Alexandria. During conflict in Alexandria in 262 A.D., Anatolius helped noncombatants find safety and refuge from the civil disturbance. Anatolius then went to Palestine and became an assistant to the bishop of Caesarea. In 269 A.D., he became bishop of Laodicaea, Syria (died ca. 283 A.D.).

St. Anatolius of Constantinople opposed the heresy of Nestorianism at the Council of Ephesus. Then he became patriarch of Constantinople, succeeding St. Flavian. St. Anatolius was active in the Council of Chalcedon, which unequivocally accepted papal authority. St. Anatolius got involved in controversy on matters related to Church (the see of Constantinople being higher than the sees of Alexandria and Antioch), and matters related to his being made patriarch of Constantinople (died ca. 458 A.D.).

Sts. Julius and Aaron suffered martyrdom at Caerlon, Monmouthshire, England. These two Englishmen were sentenced to be executed during Emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. There are no existing stories of how they were martyred. It can be simply concluded that they were martyred in the same way other Christian martyrs were executed during Emperor Diocletian's reign of the Roman Empire (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Heliodorus was a soldier. He met St. Jerome in ca. 372 A.D. and became Jerome's disciple. Heliodorus followed St. Jerome to the East but did not go further when Jerome went to the desert of Palestine. St. Jerome was upset by St. Heliodorus' decision. But the Lord had a plan for both Heliodorus and Jerome. When Heliodorus returned to his birthplace in Italy, he became bishop of Altino. As bishop, St. Heliodorus helped finance St. Jerome's translation of the Bible (died ca. 390 A.D.).

St. Irenaeus and Mustiola were Christians of Italy in the 3rd century A.D. Irenaeus, a deacon, was arrested by Turcius, the local magistrate, for the crime of burying the martyred body of Felix of Sutri. In prison, St. Mustiola attended to St. Irenaeus as well as other Christians who were in prison for their faith. Out of jealousy, Turcius tortured Irenaeus to death in Mustiola's presence. And when Mustiola resisted Turcius' advances on her person, Turcius had Mustiola beaten to death with clubs (died ca. 273 A.D.).

St. Rumold was an Irish monk who journeyed to Rome. In Rome, he was consecrated a regionary bishop. Together with St. Willibrord, both did missionary work in Brabant and Holland. Their mission received great success. Since Rumold denounced the evil ways of the people in his preaching missions, he was killed in Malines, Flanders, by two of those whom he denounced (died ca. 775 A.D.).

St. Bernardino Realino studied well and became a lawyer. When he was 34 years of age, he joined the Jesuits. He did a lot of pastoral work and also became a rector. His reputation for holiness received attention as he grew older. St. Bernardino had a wound in his leg, the blood from which was collected in vials. Over the next 250 years, many witnessed the blood in these vials to remain in a liquid state. It also bubbled and was seen in a boiling state (died ca. 1616 A.D.).

13th Sunday of the Year (A)

"He who will not take up his cross and come after me is not worthy of me."

Lectionary readings for the 13th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A:
2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16
Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19
Rom 6:3-4, 8-11
Mt 10:37-42

What Jesus asks His followers to do is not simple work. It demands all - one's mind, heart, soul and strength for others - in truth, one's very life. What He asks of every Christian is to make Him the center of his life - number 1 in every priority list. He asks this not once, not twice, but throughout the entire life of every Christian. Every moment He calls Christians to take up the cross of their responsibilities, He asks it to be done in the same intention as He did: to give one's life for God and the building of the Kingdom. This means practicing love, sacrifice, and generosity in the very ordinary circumstances that life opens for each Christian.

Taking up the cross in the same spirit as the Lord can mean several things. It could mean responsibilities and obligations that are not to one's liking, but still has to be corrected or worked on: a rebellious son; a daughter who is in a relationship the parents knows is not good; a spouse who has a vice; a wife who is not responsible with the children; a job that does not bring the profit one needs; a mission to an unfamiliar culture that brings isolation, sorrow and loneliness; a ministry that makes one feel powerless to soothe the pain of the people; a life that is filled with poverty, suffering and pain. The cross is all this and more. But if one were to look up to Christ, He will help carry the crosses of one's life, because the faith, love and hope in God needed is always there.

The help necessary to carry the crosses of life in the same spirit as the Lord is found in prayer and the sacraments, and within a family or community that cares, is responsible and works towards the greater good. If these means are exercised, then God will surely grant the grace and strength to carry one's responsibilities well. And He will grant the strength needed to persevere in one's vocation or state of life till the end. Also, there is one truth that should be remembered: with every "cross" experience, there is always a "resurrection" experience in the journey of life. And it is the knowledge of the Lord's resurrection that gives Christians hope to continue in their following of Jesus until the end.