2nd Sunday of Lent - B (February 28, 2021)

 

“Listen to Him”

Mark 9: 2-10

 

Prior to this passage, Jesus told the disciples for the first time of his coming passion and death.  The disciples did not understand.  Nor could they accept it.  Peter was trying to talk Jesus out of it (Mark 8: 31-33) 

 

Jesus then told them that as his disciples, they would have to “deny [themselves], take up [their crosses] and follow him” (Mark 8: 34).  This is his way to eternal life.  The disciples were not ready for that either. 

 

Now, God the Father tells them, in the voice from heaven, to listen to Jesus. 

 

The vision affirms the words of Jesus – his glory that they now see is only possible with the cross.

 

Mark’s Gospel will continue to show us how the disciples were not ready to listen to Jesus. 

 

During this Lenten season, God is giving me the opportunity to ask myself, “How am I at listening to Jesus, particularly when that involves carrying my cross and following him?”  

 

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Lent 1 - B (February 21, 2021)

 

God’s Reset

Mark 1: 12-15

 

Conspiracy theorists have been talking about a “reset.”  [1]

 

Lent is not that kind of reset of conspiracy theorists, but a grace that God gives us. 

 

Out of love for us, God gives us a chance to reset our lives in the areas where our relationships with God, with others and with ourselves are not what they should be.

 

While in the desert, Jesus “was among wild beasts and the angels ministered to him.”  By his incarnation, passion, crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus restored the original harmony that God created.  That was his “reset.” 

 

Thanks to his reset, we are now living in “the time of fulfillment.”  With Jesus, “the kingdom of God is at hand.” 

 

May this season of God’s grace reset in us what God had created.  

 

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 [1]  Disclaimer:  I don’t subscribe to that idea of “reset.”  I simply borrow the word. 

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6th Sunday - B (February 14, 2021)

 

Divine Mercy

Mark 1: 40-45

 

“Moved with pity, [Jesus] stretched out his hand, touched” the man with leprosy.

 

The Savior treated the man with divine compassion.  While Jesus could certainly heal with his words, he “stretched out his hand and touched” the man who was not allowed to even come near people.  And by healing the man, Jesus enabled him to return to the community where he belonged.

 

May we trust in God whose mercy is boundless, and who wants to heal and to bring us back into God’s family.

 

And may we imitate God’s way in our dealing with others.   

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5th Sunday - B (February 7, 2021)

 

One Successful Day

Mark 1: 29-39

 

Last Sunday and today Mark gives us 14 verses that describe one day in Jesus’ public ministry.  It is one eventful and successful day.  Last Sunday, we learned that the day began with Jesus going to a synagogue with his disciples.  There, he cast out an unclean spirit and healed the person possessed by it.  He taught with authority and people were “amazed.”  As a result, “his fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.”

 

Jesus leaves the synagogue, and today’s Gospel recounts the remainder of his eventful and successful day.   

 

But Jesus did not come to be popular.  He came to proclaim God’s salvation by his preaching and his healing.  Thus he said “For this purpose have I come.”

 

Neither was his mission limited to one town.  He came for all people.  So he said, “Let us go on…”

 

And we know Jesus did not have similar success by human standards every day.  He would meet resistance, objections, false accusations, misunderstanding, and even denial by his friends. 

 

Jesus lived his life for the single purpose of fulfilling God’s plan of salvation for all people.  Nothing could stop him.  Thus, he began his day in prayer. 

 

He gave his life to fulfill God’s plan.

 

The moment of fulfillment of God’s plan is not Jesus’ success or popularity.  That moment is the Cross – the moment of ultimate success of God’s love.  

 

 

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4th Sunday - B (January 31, 2021)

 

Why Has Jesus Come?

Mark 1: 21-28

 

“Have you come to destroy us?” cried the unclean spirit.

 

When Jesus comes into my life, I must ask myself whether I see his presence as an interference or an intervention.

 

When I am not ready or willing to change for the better, Jesus’ presence is an interference.

 

When I humbly acknowledge that I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself, then Jesus’ presence is an intervention. 

 

We will then appreciate that Jesus speaks God’s words to us (1^st Reading).   Thus, with his intervention, we will “be free of anxiety” (2^nd Reading).

 

Moreover, with Jesus, we in turn can bring peace to others. 

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3rd Sunday - B (January 24, 2021)

 

This is Sunday of the Word of God

“The Kingdom of God is at Hand”

Mark 1: 14-20

 

This passage in the Gospel According to Mark reports the first meeting between Jesus and his first disciples.

 

The disciples are in the middle of their daily work.  They are with their father, brothers, and hired men. 

 

Jesus has countless ways of meeting us.  Yet so often, and for most of us, Jesus comes to meet us in our daily life.  He is present to us in and through our loved ones, friends, classmates, and coworkers.  May we be mindful of his presence.  And may we be mindful that others meet Jesus in and through us. 

 

 

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2nd Sunday - B (January 17, 2021)

 

Stay With Jesus

John 1: 35-42

 

Having “stayed with Jesus that day,” the two disciples recognized Jesus as the Messiah. 

 

In order to know who Jesus is, we too must stay with him.    

 

And Jesus himself teaches us how we can stay with him.  Later in the Gospel of John, Jesus teaches that if we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we remain in him (John 6:56).  He then tells us to “remain in him” and have his words remain in us (John 15:7).  He also assures us that we remain in his love when we keep his commandment: “love one another as I love you.” (John 15: 10-12)  

 

Therefore, if we want to stay with Jesus in order to know him, we need to receive him in the Eucharist, to spend time with his words, and to love one another.

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[1] “Stay,” “remain” and also “abide” are different English translations of the same verb in the Greek text.  

 

 

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