Like Naaman, we always look for the “extraordinary” in things. The more mind-blowing, the more miraculous, the better we think something is. That’s why the Israelites couldn’t accept Jesus as their Savior, he wasn’t flashy, wasn’t extraordinary like David’s bravery or Solomon’s wisdom. He was the son of a carpenter, born in a stable; how could He save the world? Personally, I have experienced the Naaman in me many times and continue to struggle with it.
But his servants came up and reasoned with him. “My father,” they said, “if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you, ‘Wash and be clean,’ should you do as he said.” (2 Kgs 5:13)
Like Naaman, we always look for the “extraordinary” in things. The more mind-blowing, the more miraculous, the better we think something is. That’s why the Israelites couldn’t accept Jesus as their Savior, he wasn’t flashy, wasn’t extraordinary like David’s bravery or Solomon’s wisdom. He was the son of a carpenter, born in a stable; how could He save the world? Personally, I have experienced the Naaman in me many times and continue to struggle with it.
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One of the articles in the CN that came out a couple of weeks ago reflected on the sin of gossip and how those who are guilty of it often don’t even realize it. The same thing can be said of the sin of self-righteousness. Saturday’s gospel about the Pharisee and the tax collector (Lk 18:10-14) illustrates this point very clearly. In fact, if asked, most people would usually identify with the humble tax collector. Even after being in BLD for many years, I find it not very difficult to imagine myself in the Pharisee’s shoes. What do you suppose a modern-day Pharisee might be thinking?
While the Holy Spirit exuded its presence throughout the BLD Emergence, it also asserted its spiritual and healing prowess in the Youth ministry during the Youth Life in the Spirit Seminar #20 last weekend. The ministry was blessed with 29 willing candidates (20 from BLD Newark YM, 5 from St. Antoninus and 4 from DMP CCD Formation).
Our Order for this week sounds simple enough: “Listen to him.” But what does this really mean for a disciple of Christ in the BLD community?
We don’t just take the word of anyone, much less accept it. But if it’s someone who speaks with authority, people listen (Mark 1:22-27). Today’s Gospel passage portrays a Voice coming from heaven, from Him Who has supreme authority. Just recently, a phrase from a praise song got stuck in my head, repeated itself over and over: “We’ll see Jesus face to face.” So I started reflecting on what that would be like. I thought of songs like There Will Be a Day by Jeremy Camp and I Can Only Imagine, which I like very much because it anticipates someday being in His presence.
Have you ever wondered whether or not you were truly holy? “‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy’ says God.” (Leviticus19:2). To ask ourselves on whether or not we are holy, we must first understand what is “Holiness”.
Fasting is an ancient spiritual practice wherein people abstain from food and water. It was done mainly to stir up the zeal, renew the dedication, and increase the love for God, by humbling ourselves and realizing our dependence on Him. Among human needs and activities, eating is most fundamental. Thus, when God tested Adam and Eve, it was through abstaining from eating a specific food. Redemption was made appropriately by Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second Adam, by giving us His body as our food and His blood as our drink.
Ash Wednesday is a day of mercy that ushers in the Lenten season. As a holy day proclaiming God’s mercy, we should understand this call to join in His mercy in two senses: first, we ourselves are in need of God’s mercy, and can approach God with hope. Second, we are invited to be people of mercy.
We read in Joel (2:12-28), the proclamation of God’s mercy and the offer of hope that God will relent. Joel tells us that even amidst crises and amidst our infidelity, God invites us to return to Him with our whole heart, to be converted (cf. Jl 2:12-13). We know that God does indeed relent and extend his mercy and forgiveness to all who believe in and receive Jesus. He is true to what the prophets proclaim: He is slow to anger and rich in kindness. “Then God said: Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky…This is the story* of the heavens and the earth at their creation.” (Gen 1:20-2:4a)
The first creation story is a rich narrative. It addresses human dignity, the nuptial mystery (how the creation of man and woman in God’s image and likeness and their fruitful relationship reflects the mystery of God’s relationship with us), and the harmony of creation and our need to “exercise dominion” over it as stewards. But let us focus here on the seventh day of creation as key to the meaning and purpose of creation. I still remember the day when I stood before the Altar of God and solemnly vowed to love the woman I chose to be my partner for the rest of my life. That was more than 25 years ago, and today we remain as one in the presence of the Church and our community as a striking testimony to what God’s grace, conferred in the Sacrament of Matrimony, can accomplish in a husband and wife. Carefully guarding and using the divine treasure that was poured out upon us during that fateful day, we can only humbly look up to God’s goodness, watchfulness, faithfulness and plan for us. That two unique individuals can live this long together is, in itself, a miracle.
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To nurture and promote the love of the Gospel of Christ.
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