Reflection

Know thyself, said the Greek philosopher Socrates. Taking lightly his advice can easily have us fall into the trap of self-delusion of grandeur and conceited presumptions. Seeing the truth can easily escape the eyes of those who are blind to their true selves, failing to ask the question who am I? The opposite, though, might become an extreme as well when one’s identity and self-knowledge depends on what others say.

We find Jesus asking his disciples the question who do people say that the Son of man is? He receives different answers from his followers. And they tell him what were the opinions of other people about Jesus: Some say your Elijah, others John the Baptist, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But Jesus was not satisfied with their answers. Why? Jesus, in asking what people thought of him, was not interested in his popularity rating or being on the list of top ten celebrities in upcountry Jerusalem or down country Nazareth. What really mattered for Jesus was his follow-up question: And you who do say that I am? Jesus was not really asking this question because he did not know who he was or had no idea about his own identity. He knew who he was. In other episodes in the Gospels, we hear Jesus say that whoever has seen me has seen the Father and that he and the Father are one. Jesus wanted to find out what their heart told them about him. Jesus was interested in their personal feelings and understanding about who Jesus is for them and not just hearsay or opinions they have heard from others. The second question, therefore, is an invitation personally given by Jesus to his disciples and by extension to us, to establish a personal relationship with him not based only on what you have heard or read about the Lord Jesus but on a personal experience of him in your life. And you, (put in your name), who do you say I am?

Indeed the two questions posed by Jesus challenges us to a deeper faith life. And faith is nothing more than our relationship with God. Listening to a homily, reading about faith in God and who Jesus is (like what you are doing right now) is responding to the first question of Jesus in today’s gospel; who do people say I am? That is a necessary question, but not enough. We need to answer his follow-up question: And you, not your mother or father, not your teacher, not your friends, not your priest, but you, who do you say that I am? When we are able to chew on that very personal and intimate question from Jesus, we can also build an intimate and personal relationship of faith with him.

Response

Remember what St. Bernard said about knowing God and knowing oneself: Knowledge of God without knowledge of self can lead to presumption. Knowledge of self without knowledge of God can lead to despair.

Reflection

There are many big problems plaguing the world today. One of them is the problem of hunger. Most of us have seen the devastating results of lack of food especially in many developing countries. Remember those pictures of malnourished children with their bones almost ready to pierce their skin? Or those starving crowds who would attack convoys of food delivery even killing each other just to have a handful of grain or some pieces of bread? It’s heart-breaking. But does it have to be that way?

Scientists say that the natural resources of the world can feed 10 times over the present population of the world. Technology and scientific research has made it possible to multiply and increase the yields of grain which was unthinkable before. A study showed that the total wealth of the more than 300 richest people in the world is equal to the combined income of the 45 percent poorest people or roughly 2 billion people of the world. More than ever at any point in history, humanity has advance its capacity to invent and produce so many new things and harness the world God has given to him. Indeed, there is enough for everyone in the world to live by. If there is enough resources in the world for everyone, why is it that children and many others in many parts of the world die because they do not have food?

It is a big problem indeed. And when we come face to face with this problem, not something we just saw on television or read in the papers, we can understand the frustration of the disciples of Jesus when He asked them to feed the hungry crowds themselves. Theirs was the mentality of scarcity. Theirs was the idea that there was not enough for everyone. “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here,” they said to Jesus. The disciples had brought food for themselves and they were afraid that they would go hungry. But Jesus had a different thinking. His was an abundance mentality. “Bring them here to me,” Jesus said referring to the five loves and two fish. He blessed the loaves and fish, then, broke them and gave it to his disciples to be shared to everyone. Everyone, more than 5,000 of them, had enough with leftovers besides.

We see here several miracles. There is the miracle of generosity. He challenged his disciples not to be too worried if there will be enough for them. He will provide. There’s the miracle of trust and thanksgiving. Jesus thanked the Father for the resources available and trusted His power. There’s the miracle of sharing, not only of food but of responsibility. Jesus asked his disciples to distribute the loaves and fish. They share in the responsibility of feeding the hungry. The little that we have is enough in the hands of Jesus.

Response

Sometimes we think we can do nothing faced with such an overwhelming problem. Think of this anecdote. Watching the afternoon news one day, a reporter was interviewing a group of kids fishing in Prospect Park, NYC. She asked them what they wanted to catch. One said “a shark”; another said “an Octopus”; One interesting answer came from another kid: “I want to catch a fish big enough to feed the whole world.”

Reflection

The Discovery Channel on cable television is true to its name. It allows you to discover new things whether that be about the world of nature or science, about history or different cultures or just some unknown details or facts about things you never knew before or wanted to learn about. The elements of surprise and fascination are part of the discovery.

The very same idea of discovery runs through the parables we hear from Jesus in our Gospel today. Jesus begins with the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and how a man accidentally finds it and acquires it. The next parable tells about the pearl a man has been diligently searching for. They discover the treasures differently. The former was an accidental discovery while the latter was an intentional discovery. The difference in coming to the treasure ends there. Both the accidental discoverer of the treasure in the field and the intentional discoverer of the pearl made an act of sacrifice to possess what they considered valuable and of great worth. The former had to sell all he owned while the latter had been searching for it for some time, requiring him to make many sacrifices. Not only were they willing to make the needed sacrifices, but there was also great joy at their find. Whether unexpectedly discovered or intentionally searched for, when found, one must do everything to have it and experience the joy it gives. Three elements become clear in these parables: the discovery of the treasure, the joy that accompanies its discovery and the essential action needed to acquire it.

The treasure discovered, whether accidentally or intentionally, is no other than the kingdom of heaven. Simply put, God is the treasure hidden in the field or the pearl of great price. We can discover God’s love in the most unexpected ways or by consciously looking for it both in the simple things or extraordinary events of life. It can be found in the eyes of a little child that looks at you with great love and gratitude. It can be found in the mysterious experience of saying or hearing the words “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you.” We need to open wide our eyes for moments of search and discovery, of sacrifice and joy about God’s kingdom among and in us. When God discovers you or you discover God in your life, the time for compromises, half-heartedness and indecision about living out our faith must end. Discover where you need to place your life investments that no stock market can take away. Discover that great treasure of real faith in God.

Response

Look into the field of your life and rethink about the things you hold as your “treasures”. Do you consider your Christian faith and relationship with God your treasure? Are you willing to take risks for it?

Reflection

I’m a little uneasy with the word “perfection” especially when used to describe growth in the spiritual life. It is true that Jesus himself said that we should be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt.5:48). Many mystics also used the word “perfection” as the goal of the spiritual life. Even the great mystic St. Teresa of Avila wrote a book entitled The Way of Perfection. But when Jesus asked that we be perfect like the heavenly Father, he was referring to the compassionate love of God given to all, both to saints and sinners. By perfect, Jesus did not mean we should be flawless and faultless. The possibility of us becoming such is as real as the sun rising in the west.

Our inability achieving perfection is made more poignant in today’s Gospel. Jesus tells us about the parable of the wheat and the weeds. I find this parable very insightful and inspiring among the many that Jesus told. As a priest, I have been privilege to listen, unworthy as I am, to the deepest thoughts and feelings of people who come to talk to me, whether that be at confession or helping them sort out issues in their life from a spiritual perspective. I have been a spiritual guide to individuals from different cultures. In spite of the cultural differences, one thing remains the same. They all wonder: I’ve tried my best to be good and do the right thing. But the still I fail. How come? This is the very same question asked of the master in the Gospel today: Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?

Our first consciousness of the weeds was with the people around us. We expected them to be good, just and compassionate instead they’re calculating, dishonest, and hard-hearted. We condemn these attitudes and point an accusing finger not realizing that there are three other fingers pointed at us and they’re from the same hand. Hopefully, the grace of God makes us realize that we don’t need to be perfect and demand the same thing from others. We become free from that neurotic and incessant need to be pristine and impeccable. As St. Catherine of Siena said: The port of perfection can only be reached from the port of imperfection.

Our vocation, I believe, is not to be perfect. But to be faithful. And faithfulness to God includes our imperfections. Both the wheat and the weeds grow together in our heart. Like the wise master in the parable when asked should the weeds be pulled out, he said, “No, if you pull the weeds you pull the wheat with them. Let them grow together until harvest.” Such a wise and patient God we have. Our imperfections and sins are essential element s in our spiritual growth.

Response

Reflect on the following from T.S. Elliot: There is only the fight to recover what has been lost and found and lost again and again…. For us, there is only trying. The rest is not our business.

Reflection

The secret is in the soil. That is what my father always would say to me. He worked for the Department of Agriculture back home. He is now retired and works in his own farm. During summer vacations, I would go with him in his fieldwork to check on the different experimental crops and fruit trees that were being tested. I would be amazed at the size of the fruits I saw because they were so big and bountiful. And I would tell my father that we should get the seeds and plant it in our own land because they produce big fruits. He said, The seed is important. But that is not the only reason behind good fruits. The secret is in the soil … and how you care for it.

The meaning of this parable is clear. Jesus explains it himself. He makes it clear that the fecundity, effectiveness, and potency of the seed depend largely on the kind of soil it is planted on. Implicitly, Jesus is handing to us the key to the door of a fruitful and meaningful Christian life. The key is the care we give to the soil, which is nothing more than the human heart. The process of caring is an important aspect of our humanity. For the seed to bear multitudinous fruits, we need, first and foremost, to learn how to care.

And how should we care? Thomas Moore in his book Care for the Soul uses the image of the parish priest to describe succinctly what caring is. He says we use the same term to describe the work and the title of a parish priest: cura. Thus, we have the word curate, one who cares for souls. It is from the Latin cura which means to care. Thus, the work of priests is called cura animarum or the care of souls. Caring is not so much an activity but an attitude. Many times, we mistakenly associate caring with doing things for another. A mechanic fixes a broken machine, a doctor treats the sick, and an analyst solves problems. But the attitude of one who really cares is not immediately to fix, mend, or solve problems but to be like a nurse who observes and attends to the needs of the patient. And is this not what Jesus did in his life? He noticed Philip on the tree, he saw that the crowds were hungry and he looked at Peter with love in spite of his failures. He was an unobtrusive observer. It is only in observing carefully and watching compassionately, can we attend effectively to the real needs of others. One who cares distinguishes the real needs from mere wants. He is deeply concerned with what is beneficial for the other. In doing so, we become the fruitful soil Jesus speaks about. And caring is the attitude that cultivates our whole person to become the soil that yields a hundred-fold.

Response

But why is the high-yielding seed of God’s word not bearing the abundant fruit it should? Because we have cared less about our soil which is nothing more than the human heart. We have not been careful especially with two things. First, our careless attitudes like insensitivity, indifference, and self-righteousness are slowly but effectively destroying the soil of our heart. Secondly, our careless activities like unfaithfulness to our promises, unjust practices and even hurtful treatment of others, do not cultivate our soil. Carelessness has to be replaced by carefulness. We need to care for the soil of our heart before the seed of God’s word can yield numerous fruits.

Reflection

Inscribed on a tablet in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in New York City is a poem entitled The New Colossus. Part of the poem says: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-toss to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door. On that island where Lady Liberty stands, many immigrants passed through. Not only were they tired from their journey across the waters of the Atlantic, they were also weary of the challenges of life. They needed a place of rest and a land of comfort.

We find the words of Jesus more inspiring than the words of the poem mentioned. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light. This loving invitation of Jesus is extended to everyone. We see here the great compassion of Jesus for all those who are ready to give up. Included in this invitation are those who are lost and do not know what to do with their own life, those who want to stop by the wayside and rest from the rat race of competition and accumulation.

We all get tired. We feel weary and burdened by many things in life. Some get tired of their work probably because they don’t find meaning in them. Something is missing in it, maybe a spiritual way of looking at one’s work. Some are burdened with the need to prove themselves all the time; proving they are worthy, better, and, successful in everything. Others are tired of meaningless relationships, fulfilling everyone else’s expectations or just being right and doing the right thing all the time. Some might be weary of taking care of an aging parent or a sick family member. One might be weary of an indifferent spouse, a rebellious child or abusive parents. Others might be too tired of their repeated failures in whatever attempts they do to better themselves and their relationships.

Whether we are only half-weary or almost wiped out or totally tired and burdened, the great invitation of Jesus continues to echo in our heart: Come to me and I will give you rest. In me you will find rest. You don’t need to prove yourselves worthy. I love you in spite of and even in your unworthiness. I have made you worthy. Stay with me even for a short while and I guarantee that you will be renewed and regain your strength.

Response

Come to the heart of Jesus. There you will find love like no other. There you will find rest.

Reflection

Parenthood is a life changing experience. We discover, much to our surprise, we can love more intensely than we thought we could. It would be safe to say that most parents want the best for their children. As parents, think of the times you’ve watched your children while they were sleeping, playing or eating, and you just felt so much love for them in your heart, a love only parents can understand. Or as a son or a daughter, think of those moments that you realized how much you love your parents in spite of their shortcomings and mistakes because you realized they were trying their best. Such is the power and intensity of a loving relationship between parents and children.

The prophet Elisha in the first reading knew the intensity and joy of a parent-child relationship. To the woman who offered him hospitality, Elisha promised that she would have a child. But why is it in today’s gospel, Jesus says that if you love your children or parents more intensely than me, you’re not worthy of me. Is he saying that loving one’s parents or children is incompatible with loving God? What did Jesus mean when he said that we are not worthy of his love if we love our parents or our children more than him?

We know that God is love itself; he is goodness itself; he is beauty itself. St. Thomas Aquinas calls God as the Summum Bonum, the greatest or highest good. If there is anything God cannot be is second fiddle. He cannot be incidental to anyone or anything else. God desires the first place in our life and is only right we give God the most honored place in our heart. Once we set aside God in place of someone or something else, He is not loved above all things anymore. When we place something else above and before God, we neglect the first commandment; I am the Lord your God. You shall not have any strange God before me.

But how can we love those dearest to us without turning it to idolatry and placing God as second fiddle? St. Augustine once said I love other people and other things more fully when I love them for the sake of God. Does this mean that we abandon human love? No. It just means that we place all those we love within the context of the greatest and highest love possible, love for the sake of God. If we don’t, human love becomes manipulative and misdirected. We love for our own purpose, a love that is both selfish and exploitative. In reality, it is not love at all. But when we love those closest to us for the sake of God, our love becomes part of God’s purpose for them. We can also say the same thing about our work and social life. They are good things. But when we love them for their own sake, it becomes self-absorbed and deceitful. If we love those things for God’s sake, and see them as part of our mission from God, we truly love God above all things and still love those dearest and most important to us.

Response

Our hierarchy of values must always be: God first, family and people second, things last.

Fear is such a powerful emotion. It can paralyze even the most action-oriented individual. It can cloud the judgment of the most clear-thinking person. That is why Winston Churchill said to his fellow countrymen during World War II there is nothing to fear but fear itself. The only way to overcome fear is to recognize and face what we are afraid of. Running away or burying our head under the sand might work for a short while but you can’t keep your head underground forever.

Jesus understood what fear can do to his disciples especially the time that he won’t be around to encourage them. When Jesus said in the Gospel fear no one…do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, he was telling his followers that they will undergo persecution, trials and difficulties, all because of their faithfulness to the mission of Jesus. They will be persecuted severely, even unto death, because of the good news they preach. In such moments, the desire to escape and save one’s skin is understandable. But only those who have undergone such a struggle and remained faithful have the right to question those who falter and waver. And though they have the right to question, they will not because they have learned what compassion to the weak of faith and those weary of the struggles of life is all about.

What kept them struggling to be faithful to Jesus and coming out victorious in the end? It is to believe, that, in the eyes of our loving God, we are worth more than many sparrows, and the hairs of out head has been counted. Thus, there is no need to fear. Our response to such reassurance is to reveal, not conceal, what our faith is all about; to proclaim with our lives our faith in God, not to whisper it in the name of political correctness. If our faith is about forgiveness and reconciliation, we have to speak it in the light. If our faith is about the power of God’s grace to change people, let us not keep it a secret. If our faith believes that trusting Jesus turns our fears to courage, we have to acknowledge it with our lives. Remember the warning of Jesus in the gospel: Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.

Response

Think of current issues that challenge your faith. What can you concretely do this week to put into practice the gospel message not to fear and so be able to follow Jesus Christ more fully with courage? How can you make God’s Word this week alive in your home, neighborhood, and school or workplace?