“The Young Ruler-he left heaven when he left Jesus!” by Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

WONDERING GURU

28 Sunday in Ordinary Time, 13 Oct 2024

(Wis 7: 7-11 Ps 90: 12-17 Heb 4: 12-13; Mk 10: 17-30)

Introduction-- Jesus loved meeting people. He was always ready to listen to their problems, to answer their questions as he walked in Palestine. Jesus longed to point men and women towards the Kingdom of God, but one thing he never did was to compromise his standards. If they didn’t want to follow His way, that was their choice – and their responsibility. He was very sorry, often visibly grieved, if they couldn’t find it in their hearts to accept his terms for entry into his Kingdom, but inevitably they exclude themselves.

What an attractive candidate he was! “A rich, young ruler”. This was someone not to be missed! You don’t get applicants like this every day! A good bank balance is desirable. To have youth on one’s side is an asset. We don’t know what this wealthy young man ruled, but to be in a position to tell other people what to do was rather satisfying. However, it’s more than likely that as he thoughtfully reviewed his life, he came to the conclusion that he had a problem. Although he enjoyed being rich, being young, and being a influential, he realised that one day, sooner or later, it would all have to end. One day he would die.

Someone may have said to him, “Have you ever heard of Jesus of Nazareth?” “No, who is he?” “He’s this new preacher who goes on about the Kingdom of God and offering eternal life to anyone who follows him.” This struck a chord. “Eternal life? That’s the very thing I need. I’ll go and see him.” And he did. He ran, broke through the crowd, threw himself on his knees before Jesus and said in effect, “I have a need, and you have the answer. What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer that Jesus gave him sent him away as empty as he had come.  Let’s look st the character of this man.

HE HAD SOME FANTASTIC GOOD QUALITIES

1. He was EAGER -He didn’t hesitate. He wanted to know the answer. He wanted to know what to do.  His eagerness led him to Jesus.

2. He was HUMBLE – Even though he was rich and had respectable position in the society he knelt before Jesus. He knew that Jesus commanded respect.

3. He had COURAGE-He ran when no one else ran. It is easy to run with the crowd. It is harder to run alone. Here was a man alone.

4. He had DISCERNMENT- He called Jesus "Good Master". He saw in Jesus what many failed to see. He saw the goodness and holiness of God.

5. He was RELIGIOUS - "What shall I do..." He had a concern for spiritual things. He came with a solemn, urgent, vital, spiritual question. Here is a man concerned about his eternal soul.  He fasted, tithed, went to the synagogue etc.

6. He was MORALLY CLEAN -Here is a morally clean young man. There are no bad habits to stain him. There is no shady past to deal with. He is not a sassy, hippy, free-love, rebel. He would make a good citizen and fine neighbor. Many a mother would like to see her daughter marry a man like this. Many parishes would put this man into a church office.

7. He was RICH -The bible does not condemn money but the love of it. What possibilities this man’s wealth could have done for the Kingdom of God had it been dedicated and put to work for God.

8. He was YOUNG - Mt.19:20 tells us this. This man was young and came to Jesus. He did not want to sow his wild oats first and then turn to God. He came to Jesus with all his youthful energy.

9. He had SOCIAL STATUS - Lk 18:18 says he was a ruler. Many in our day will forsake God for social prestige, power, popularity, name and fame. Here was a ruler willing to fall at the feet of a carpenter’s son.

SOME LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS YOUNG MAN

•         Human being is fundamentally religious and therefore is oriented towards heaven. The basic needs of man cannot be satisfied by the possessions of fame, fortune, or anything in this life. This world cannot satisfy the soul of man. This vacuum of the heart is beautifully expressed by St. Augustine who said “our hearts are made for you Lord.  They are restless until they rest in you”.

•         Opportunities don’t last forever. Many pass away very swiftly. Here this young man stood at the gate to heaven and then left. He came running and went away sad. Every day that we reject God increases the possibility that you will be lost forever. Mk 8:36 - What is a man profited if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul..." Look at what he was offered. He was offered a Savior - that would save his soul. He was offered a Cross - that would lead to a crown. He was offered a home in heaven. Look at what he refused. He refused it all.  He had a hunger in his soul but he was not saved. He is like the average 20th Century modern church member.  Jesus loved this young man. There was something attractive about his earnestness in keeping the law as he saw it. Jesus admired his humble determination to find a conclusion to his search.

Conclusion: Do we see ourselves here. He came but he went away. Do you not see how you can climb to the very door of heaven and yet fall into hell? Do you not see how much you can know and yet be foolish? Do you not see how much you can do and yet do nothing? It is possible to talk to Jesus and into his face and yet go away. You can live with Jesus and not know Him. Judas did it. The Rich Young Ruler: WHERE DID HE GO? Did he go to his friends? He had not found in his friends what satisfied or he would not have sought out Jesus. WHERE DID HE GO? Back to his pleasures? I doubt if he found satisfaction there. WHERE DID HE GO? did he go to heaven? Remember he came to Jesus but he went away.

 

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Questions on Marriage & Divorce by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year B

(Gen 2: 18-24; Ps 128: 1-6; Heb 2: 9-11; Mark 10: 2-16)

Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

Introduction-today’s gospel discusses marriage & divorce. Knofel Staton, in his book ’Check Your Morality’, lists several false ideas about marriage that young people often pick up while growing up (pp. 102–103). Here are several of them: Marriage will solve all my problems: If I get married, I will never be lonely again, by marriage I can escape my parents, marriage is like an eternal date, I will change him/her after we are married, in marriage, our differences won’t cause trouble, marriage is a trap or prison, marriage takes all the fun out of life, marriage is simply a legal piece of paper. Tony Campolo, in his excellent book, "20 Hot Potatoes Christians are Afraid to Touch," has this to say: I personally believe that most married couples inevitably come to a time when they wonder why they ever got married in the first place and think that it would be a relief to be “free” again. There comes that morning when the guy wakes up and looks across the bed to see his wife still asleep, her hair hanging down over her face and her mouth half open, and he asks, “How did I get into this?” Or perhaps she wakes up first to see her unshaven husband with no hair hanging down over his face, and she asks, “Is this what I’m stuck with for the rest of my life?” (p. 196)

Why God hates divorce?  (Malachi 2:10; 13-16) ask someone who has been through one and they will tell you. Ask the woman who is left alone with children and a house payment. Ask the man who cherished his wife, but she has decided that she’d rather be in the arms of some low-life in a bar than in his. Ask the children who have lived through tears, uncertainty, and feelings of being personally rejected when mommy or daddy leaves the family. Ask the grandparents who suffered. Ask them all why God hates divorce and they will tell you why. God hates divorce and it’s no wonder why. Anyone in their right mind hates what divorce does to people! A husband or wife is supposed to be the person who is the refuge against the storms of life. They are to comfort each other, help themselves cope with all the garbage that life just naturally throws at them. When that relationship is part of what’s wrong with one’s life, it can be overwhelming. And that is precisely why we must remember that God does indeed hate divorce, but He does not hate divorced people.

Why God forbids divorce?

God forbids divorce because it is a violation of a covenant, married couples made with him. When they were married it was in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They took an oath before God in the church to stay married till death. An inviolable contract with God was made. When we breach contract with God, we also suffer punishment. God forbids divorce because of its terrible effects on families. The Nicholas Zill study. In 1993, social scientist Nicholas Zill reported that children of divorced parents are, regardless of their economic circumstances, more likely to have poor relationships with their parents, drop out of high school and receive psychological help. Author Maggie Gallagher summed this problem up well in her book The Abolition of Marriage. She writes "The evidence is now overwhelming that the collapse of marriage is creating a whole generation of children less happy, less physically and mentally healthy, less equipped to deal with life or produce at work, and more dangerous to themselves and others." Divorce is a painful thing for an adult to endure. It causes incredible hurt. It is more painful for children who have no choice. God forbids divorce because it ruins a child’s emotional makeup. Divorce hurts children.

What happens when a marriage fails? It is a tragedy. It is a failure; there is some sin involved. Divorce doesn't make children happy. Adults experience great pain in divorce too. Though it is seldom the fault of only one party, one spouse usually ends up feeling abandoned and rejected and bears those scars for years. Sometimes the spouse who initiated the breakup also has regrets as a new marriage doesn't turn out as well as expected, and the children blame him or her for destroying the family. Another place where divorce causes great harm is in the church. When a marriage breaks up, there can be conflict in a church as people inevitably side with one partner or the other. There is controversy within churches on how to deal with people who are divorced.  People who have gone through a divorce sometimes choose not to attend church because they are afraid of how they will be treated. Many churches and individual Christians have a hard time knowing how to respond to divorce.

What was the traditional teachings of the Jewish law during Jesus’ time?

In talking about divorce, Jesus was taking on a very hotly debated issue. At that very time a controversy concerning acceptable grounds for divorce existed between two rival Rabbi-training schools. Rabbi Shammai took the conservative line. He founded his teaching on Deuteronomy 24:1, where Moses allowed for divorce, but Shammai believed the only acceptable reason for getting one was what the Scripture said - some grave marital offense – or an act of absolute indecency – such as adultery. Rabbi Hillel, on the other hand, adopted a much more lax position. And by the way, his was the most widely accepted point of view. He believed the statement of Moses applied to a man “who desires to be divorced from his wife for any cause whatsoever.” We’re talking super liberal here. For example, a man could divorce his wife: If she spoiled his dinner by adding too much salt, If she were seen in public with her head uncovered, If she talked with other men on the street, If she spoke disrespectfully to her husbands parents, If she became plain-looking compared with another woman who seemed more beautiful in her husband’s opinion.

Unbelievable! These are all examples of reasons for divorce that were acceptable in Jesus day. We may laugh, but how different is this from today? Don’t people still divorce for just about any and every reason imaginable? Modern examples: we don’t have enough money. I don’t feel like I’m getting all the emotional support I need. He’s not helping with the kids enough. She’s not building me up like I want to be built up. He’s added a hundred pounds. She’s not attractive as she once was. He wants to go to too many games. She spends too much money. I want to move to a bigger house, he doesn’t. I want more kids, she doesn’t. He doesn’t get along well with my side of the family. She spends too much time on the phone. The house is never clean. I don’t love him like I use to or I don’t love her anymore. Marriage is harder than I thought it would be. I want to be free again. I think I might be in love with somebody else. These things do not qualify as reasons for a divorce. These things are called life. These are the very things that Scriptures promised us among the troubles we would have simply if we choose to get married.

Why did Jesus condem this belief in Matthew?

Jesus said that Moses didn’t imply a man could divorce for no reason. He says that marriage is an inviolable contract that cannot be broken. A man was generally thought to be righteous or good in the matter of divorce if he gave his wife a written statement of divorce. She, at least, then could prove she was unmarried. This allowed her to defend herself against adultery if found with a man, seek marriage to another, or make her living as a prostitute. People in Jesus day saw this issue of giving divorce papers as a command. That’s what they focused on. But Jesus saw the whole issue of divorce as a regrettable concession.

How married couples can avoid divorce?

When Jesus spoke about divorce in Matthew, He gave us a way of avoiding divorce: become one flesh. Jesus reminds us that marriage is intended to make two people into one. One flesh means a total dedication of one to another. It means that person becomes a part of you in every way. You are joined together mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically. We become one person with the same goals, priorities and interests.

What is marriage actually?

Marriage is about building something together. It is about making a family. It is about raising Godly children. It is about contributing to the good of the Christian community. It is about contributing to the growth of God’s kingdom. So, Happiness is something that comes as a result of what we build together over time. It is not the thrill seeking through materialism and sex that our culture portrays in relationships today.

So, is it better to remain single? Upon hearing Jesus talk about how divorce as commonly practiced was unacceptable, in Matthew 19:10 –His disciples say, “If that’s how things are, it’s better not to get married at all!” In other words, “Man, no one wants to be that trapped in a relationship. What if things don’t work out?” You’ve taken divorce so lightly that you’ve missed how beautiful God wants your marriage to be!” What you and I have to do is take our marriage vows more seriously. Become people of our word. If we promised, “Til death do us part,” then a promise is a promise.

What about the possibility of divorce and remarriage?

Possible three situations.

1. When a mate is guilty of sexual immorality and is unwilling to repent and live faithfully with a marriage partner (Mt 5:32 and 19:9).

2. When marriage and divorce occur before (2 Cor 5:17 – new creation)

3. When the mate is an unbeliever and willingly and permanently deserts the believing partner (1 Cor 7:12ff).  But sometimes reconciliation doesn’t come, does it? And divorces happen. Even when one party doesn’t really want the divorce. And in every divorce, regardless of the circumstances there is generally more than enough guilt.

Conclusion- Jesus wants couples to see the real meaning of marriage. God wants couples to stay together, to build together, to give to each other. He wants them to become one flesh; sharing everything, accomplishing things together. We have to remember that divorce is a regrettable concession. It is an option, but it doesn’t have to be exercised. Our laws allow us to sue people and take them to court, yet most of us make through life without going that route. Just because we can doesn’t mean we need to.

Who will be the residents of Hell/Gehenna? by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

WONDERING GURU

26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 29 September 2024

(Num 11: 25-29; Ps 19: 8-14; James 5: 1-6; Mk 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48)

Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

Introduction: It is neither popular nor palatable to preach about hell.  In modern times one hardly hears any sermon about going to hell.  Many don’t even believe in the existence of hell.  No matter what we choose to believe the reality of hell is real as it is stated by Jesus in today’s gospel. The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity.  Hell is the “state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed….” (CCC 1033) Furthermore, the Catechism states, “The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death, the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, ‘eternal fire’” (CCC 1035). Let’s reflect on today’s gospel reading a bit deeper.

How do we cause one of these “little ones” to sin?

The “little ones” Jesus speaks about in the Gospel can refer to those new in faith, new converts or to little children who are growing in faith and love of Christ.  In both cases the good example of the adult Christian is very important.  Many times our unconscious behaviour can lead others away from God.  A few examples of unconscious unchristian behaviour.

·      When we do not pray in crucial moments of our life, we teach the little ones, that God doesn’t answer prayer anymore. A child asked his father. “Dad, is God dead?” “Why of course not. Why would you ask such a question, my child?” said the father. The child responded, “Because you don’t talk to him like before.”

·      When we don’t read God’s Word, we teach the little ones, that His word is no longer relevant.

·      When we don’t tell others about Jesus’ love, we teach the little ones that witnessing is out of fashion.

·      When we sin and don’t repent/no confession, we teach the “little ones” that God’s standards are “optional.”

 How many Christians believe in hell?

Someone said, it’s better for us to literally be without part of our body and have a fire in our spirit than to have all of our body and be dead in our spirit.

In a survey, it was determined that 35% of Baptists; 54% of Presbyterians, 58% of Methodists, and 60% of Episcopalians DO NOT Believe in a literal place called HELL! 71% of the 8 leading seminaries in the United States Do Not Believe in either Heaven or Hell. Dr. A. C. Dixon stated, "If we had more preaching on Hell, then we would have Less of it in our communities!"

Today, Hell is thought of as a Joke! The English word for "Hell" appears in the Bible 54 times. In the New Testament alone, the "eternality of Hell" occurs 126 times; while Jesus spoke of Heaven only once, He spoke of Hell eleven (11) times!

 What is the understanding of Hell?

§  Eternal Association with the Wicked (2 Pet. 2:4; 9; Rev. 21:8). Hell was not created for mankind, but rather for the devil and his angels; as well as the Beast & False Prophet (Rev. 20).

§  Eternal Darkness (2 Pet. 2:4; 17; Jude 13; Mt. 8:12). In Egypt, (Ex. 10:21-23), the Bible says that Darkness was felt by people during the plagues upon the land.

§  Eternal Death (Rev. 20:13-14). It is quite obvious that at that time, There Will Be NO Second Chances! No More Hope of Being Saved! This death does not mean annihilation or extinction; It means Separation from LIGHT!

§  Unspeakable Sorrow-Mk. 9; Matt. 13; Lk. 13; and many other passages speak of the awful sorrows that will be in Hell! Bitter, Biting, Burning Remorse & Memory (Lk. 16)  Dan. 12:2 speaks about shame and everlasting contempt."

§  Unsatisfied desires (Lk. 16) Like the rich man in Hell thirsting for just a drop of water to cool his parched tongue, YOU too will have cravings that will never be satisfied.

§  Despair & Hopelessness (Mt. 25:41; 46; Rev. 14:10-11) One thing that is clearly taught in the Scriptures - Hell is Forever and Ever and Ever!

§  Unquenchable Flame of Fire (Matt. 13:41-42; 49-50).

§  Sounds produced by those in Hell (Mk. 9; Matt. 13). The flesh worms eating at one’s flesh! The Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth!

 If Hell is real, and it is, then who will be there?

Jesus tells us very plainly why Hell was created. It was designed as a place of eternal punishment for Satan and his demonic followers (Mt. 25:41). And, we know that at the end of the Tribulation Period, Satan, along with the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast into Hell (Rev. 20:10). But, there are others in Hell! Jude speaks of certain angels “which kept not their first estate” as being in Hell (Jude 6). Is Hell then just a place for spiritual beings who have rebelled against God? No! In Matthew 25:41, Jesus sends a group of people away into Hell! In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells us the story of a rich man who died and went to Hell. The Bible is clear about who will be in Hell. Psalm 9:17 tells us that the “wicked will be turned into Hell”. The bottom line is this: everyone who rejects God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ will go to Hell (Jn 8:24; 2 Thes. 1:9-10).

What Is the Saddest Thing about Going to Hell?

The Saddest Thing About Going to Hell Is - realizing that you don’t have to go there!

How to avoid the road going to Hell?

1. Recognize the fact that you are a sinner - Rom. 3:10; 23; Rom. 5:12.

2. Understand the penalty that God has placed on sin - Rom. 6:23.

3. Know what God did to save you from your sins - Rom. 5:6-9.

4. Turn from your sins, make confession and place your faith in Jesus alone for your salvation - Rom. 10:9-13.

5. God’s plan of salvation is as simple as pure faith in Jesus: Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 16:31; Jn 3:16; Jn 6:47; Jn 5:25.

To be First be Servant of all by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 22 September 2024

(Wis 2: 12, 17-20; Ps 54: 3-8; James 3: 16 – 4: 3; Mk 9: 30-37)

Why the apostles remained silent?  “They came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, ’What were you arguing about on the road?’ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.” Mark tells us that they didn’t answer Him. They didn’t answer because they were ashamed. As long as they thought that Jesus didn’t know, it seemed reasonable. But when they realized Jesus knew about their intention and discussion, they felt ashamed.  If they had been discussing how to serve God better, they would have been eager to tell Jesus about that.

What could be the reason of their discussion? Peter, James & John after transfiguration episode might have been having very excited discussion among themselves.  Now when the rest of the apostles heard them talking like that, you can imagine their curiosity: “What are you talking about? What did you see?” Then Peter might have replied, “Well, we really can’t say. Maybe someday we can tell you what we saw on top of the mountain, but right now Jesus only wants the 3 of us to know, & we’ve been instructed not to tell anybody else.”

Did Jesus reprimand His apostles? “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve & said, ’If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, & the servant of all.’”  Now notice that Jesus did not condemn them or rebuke them for desiring greatness. He did not say that it is wrong to want to be great. I believe that God has given all of us an inborn trait that makes us want to be great in whatever it is that we do. Jesus doesn’t say that’s wrong. But He defines what “greatness” is. What is “greatness?” “True greatness is to be found in service, in a concern about others, willing even to be last, instead of always putting ourselves first.” This is contrary to everything the world teaches. The world says that greatness is measured by how many people serve us. Greatness, according to the world, is measured by the number of lives that we control.

Why did Jesus use a child as an object lesson? Someone said, “Jesus used a child because a child really can’t do anything for us.” A child can’t enhance our position in society. A child can’t add to our success. On the contrary, a child demands things. Every mother & father knows that when they become parents they begin to learn what “serving” is all about. They quickly learn about sacrificing themselves, their time, their energy and money to meet the needs of their children. The moment they become parents they start giving & giving & giving.  And when children get married parents are still giving. So, Jesus took the child & said, “This is what I’m talking about. A child can’t do anything for you. A child can’t make you more important in the eyes of the world. But a child can teach you what ministry is all about.”

Stories: Dr. Viktor Frankl was an Austrian physician who was imprisoned in one of Hitler’s death camps. He and his fellow Jewish people suffered unbelievable atrocities. Everything about their living and working conditions were deplorable, including their medical care. Dr. Frankl offered what little medical help he could to the sick and dying. Over time, he discovered a unique phenomenon he recorded in his book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’. He said those people who kept their strength and sanity the longest were those who tried to help other prisoners and share what little they had. Their physical and mental condition seemed strengthened by their friendliness, compassion, and focus on something other than themselves. Ministry energizes, contrary to the great fear that resources will be depleted if we help others.

A certain family had two sons. The older said he must make a name for his family, so turned his face towards Parliament and fame. The younger decided to give his life to the service of Christ and turned his face towards China and duty. He was Hudson Taylor, the missionary, who died beloved and known on every continent. “But,” someone wrote, “when I looked in the encyclopedia to see what the other son had done, I found these words, ’the brother of Hudson Taylor.’ “

“Unless our belief in God causes us to help our fellow man, our faith stands condemned.”–Billy Graham

Taking the Road Less Travelled by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

                                                                    WONDERING GURU

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 15 Sept 2024

(Isaiah 50: 5-9a; Ps 116: 1-9; James 2: 14-18; Mark 8: 27-35)

Introduction: What did Jesus mean when He said to take up the cross? What does it mean to “take up” or “bear a cross”? What does the Bible teach about “cross bearing?” When Jesus says take up your cross and follow me, first of all, we see the startling honesty of Jesus. Jesus never tries to bribe us by the offer of an easy life. During the WW2, when Winston Churchill took over the leadership of England, all that he offered his people was “blood, sweat & tears.” Same was offered by Garibaldi to the people of South Italy.  And that is very much like what Jesus is offering to His followers, too. We must remember that Jesus never calls upon us to do anything that He was not prepared to do Himself. What He asks us to face, He has already faced. And when He calls upon us to take up a cross, He, Himself, has already borne one for us.  So, let’s see a few things about cross bearing.

Cross Bearing Was Confusing: Paul wrote: “Jews demand miraculous signs & Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews & foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews & Greeks, Christ the power of God & the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:22 24). We can understand the Jews stumbling over the idea of their Messiah hanging on a cross. They were an oppressed people. They had been oppressed by Assyrians & Babylonians & Greeks, & now by the Romans.  But one thing kept them going through it all, God’s promise of the Messiah.  Fathers would tell their children, “One day the Messiah will come & set us free. He will be a magnificent king with legions of soldiers behind him. They will defeat our enemies & make them bow down before us.”  Then the Messiah came, but not as they had expected. He came as a carpenter, a preacher from Nazareth. Some called Him a madman. His army was made up of twelve men. And instead of great military victories, there was a crucifixion.  So, the cross was a stumbling block to the Jews. It wasn’t what they expected. It wasn’t what they wanted to hear. And neither do we.

JESUS CLARIFIES THE CONCEPT OF CROSS BEARING

1. Cross Bearing is Always Voluntary-Jesus calls us, & challenges us, but it is our decision. Taking up a cross & following Jesus is voluntary.
2. Cross Bearing is an Act of Love– Cross bearing is not an accident that happens to us, or something unavoidable that we must face. Cross bearing is an act of love that we choose to do. It is a task that we undertake, a price that we pay, out of love for Him. For Jesus it meant going to a cross to die because He loved us so much, He could do nothing else.  “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13).  It means reaching out to people who are unlovable & unlovely & who may never return the love. And yet we are to keep on loving because that’s what Jesus did. 1 Cor 13:4 reads (exchange the word “love” with “cross bearer”): “A cross bearer is patient. A cross bearer is kind. A cross bearer does not envy. A cross bearer does not boast. A cross bearer is not arrogant or rude. A cross bearer is not self-seeking.  A cross bearer is not easily angered, nor keeps records of wrongs. He does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. A cross bearer always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” That is what cross bearing means. It means taking the love of God to the very ends of the world. To touch the lives of people who are unlovable. It means denying & sacrificing. It means paying the price regardless of the hardships we must endure.
3. Cross Bearing is Hard– Off course it is hard. Whenever the message of the cross has been preached, people have always objected to it. Jesus talked about His impending death on a cross & His apostles recoiled at that. They tried to keep Him from going to Jerusalem. They said, “We don’t want you to die.” When He did die on the cross, they hid behind locked doors, fearful of what might happen next.

Conclusion: If you really love Jesus, take up the Cross and follow Him.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference”- Robert Frost

Why the Gradual Healing of the Deaf & the Dumb? by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time    8 September 2024

(Isaiah 35: 4-7a; Ps 146: 7-10; James 2: 1-5; Mark 7: 31-37)

Introduction: Hearing and speaking are a very important part of our lives and the reason we have two ears and one mouth. It has been said that we should see and hear more and speak less and that is why we have only one mouth. Deafness and dumbness often go together since you cannot learn to speak what you cannot hear. A person who cannot hear or speak finds it very difficult to communicate with others. Unable to express their thoughts and feelings they become isolated, cut off and shut off from society. Far worse than being cut off from society is being cut off from God and this happens when we are deaf to the voice of God. Hearing and speaking are essential to receiving the gospel and praising God and the ear serves as a direct link to our soul. What we hear with our ears goes deep down into our hearts and into our souls. Whether they are words of love, words of joy, laughter, music, or cries for help we are stirred up within.

Jesus takes him aside away from the crowd--Christ has compassion on the crowd but He imparts his touch on an individual basis (Mark 8:2–23). In the gospel reading of today we see Jesus healing a deaf and dumb man. Anyone who at any time senses the need of being touched by the Master needs to get alone with God.  The crowd has a way of keeping us distracted and preoccupied with various voices. God, on the other hand, has a way of leading us to a place of solitude where He can have our undivided attention. Many biblical characters spent lot of time in isolated settings: Moses, David, John the Baptist, Paul, Elijah, Jonah, Daniel, Joseph, etc. It is safe to say that we must shut out the world’s voice if we would be touched by the Master. The most difficult thing for Christ to do during His time on earth was not to heal people, but to get people to listen to Him!

Jesus Touches him--The Lord who does all things right has healed and restored us. His actions are proof that He is the Messiah because according to the prophesy of Isaiah 35:4-6, the Messiah “will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened. And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer. And the tongue of the dumb sing.” Not only does Christ restore, He becomes involved in restored lives. It is not good enough to minister from a distance. Praying to meet the need of a person is important but equally important is being involved in meeting that need and being involved in the life of that person. Very often our involvement is only through the laying on of hands. Jesus was always involved with the people He ministered to. We cannot simply pray for someone who is cold and hungry to be warm and filled. We have to do something about his or her condition and this is what involvement is about. We are involved because we are Christ’s ambassadors. In a very real way we are His hands, His mouth and His feet, ministering for Him with the same loving concern He had for the world.

Jesus uses Saliva to heal- Jesus spit and touched the man’s tongue with His own saliva. This is a bit unorthodox but Christ never did anything without a reason. Jesus was communicating with His touch. The man’s speech was unclear because of his hearing impairment. He not only needed to hear right, he needed to talk right. Jesus was teaching us that in order to talk right, our speech must be touched by the Master. Sometimes our speech is too starchy filled with harsh words, gossip, vulgarity, pessimistic speech, or unkind words.

Jesus Looks Up--Everything that Christ does serve a purpose and each of His actions are significant. As Christ began to minister to the deaf and dumb man, He looked up to Heaven. This is symbolic of the relationship or communion He had with God. It was as if he was saying to the deaf and dumb man that the source of His power came from God. Communion refers to an intimate relationship and Jesus maintained this communion with God through prayer.

What about us? We're 2000 years removed from this event. What do we find here that is relevant for us? If this is only about the compassion of Jesus in the face of physical necessity, how many proofs do we need?  After all, how many sick people need to be healed, how many dead people need to be raised back to life, how many deaf ears need to be opened before we get the point? If this is only about Jesus' healing physical problems what's special about this miracle?  You and I are also in this text. In some way we are the ‘man’ who are healed. We think of deafness as a physical thing, and it certainly is. But what about spiritual deafness? What about not hearing God; not understanding God? Well, that’s how man is before he is converted. Man is deaf to God. He cannot hear God. He can't understand God. And as a result he cannot speak of God; he cannot confess God. Apart from Jesus man is helplessly deaf and dumb. Apart from Jesus our ears remain closed. Apart from Jesus we have no knowledge of God from which our lips can speak. In our text it was the fingers of Jesus and His spit which became the instruments of a miracle. For us Jesus worked through the hands of a priest and the water of baptism to perform His miracle. Spit certainly seems inconsequential - so does the water which is poured over us at the baptismal font. The fingers of a man placed into the ears of a deaf-mute must have seemed like nothing. So, too, the human hands which cradled you and applied to you the water of life. But in each case the result was the same. Ears that had been closed were opened, able to hear the voice of God. A tongue which had been bound was unloosed and able to confess. 

May we learn to listen to the voice of God that we may give him all the glory with our tongue. Amen!

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Spiritual Heart Attacks by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year B-1 September 2024

(Deut 4: 1-2, 6-8; Ps 15: 2-5; James 1: 17-18, 21b-22, 27; Mk 7: 1-8, 14-15,21-23)

 

The Problem: There is a war being fought in the world today. It’s not a military war rather it’s a supernatural war. A war fought between God and Satan, between heaven and hell. That war is being fought for the hearts of men and women.  One side wants to protect our hearts-the other side wants to attack our hearts. Every heart is vulnerable to attack.

Why this war?

Proverbs 27:19 says “As the water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man”. Proverbs 16:9 says “In his heart a man plans his course”. The course our lives take will be determined by the condition of our hearts. It’s in our hearts that we determine who we will live for, who we will serve, who we will love. Will it be the God of heaven or the God of this world? That’s why the Bible mentions the heart 779 times!

Solution: We need to imitate the man who was close to God’s heart. In Psalm 86:11-12 King David prayed “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart…”. But many of us would struggle and therefore say what the psalmist said in Psalm 25:17 “The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish”. Psalm 40:12 “For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me”.

Why Is an Unhealthy Heart So Dangerous? Mark 7:20-23: ‘‘What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly…’” That’s why Solomon said …..Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  If we are not careful spiritual heart attacks has the power to make people grow spiritually weak and eventually spiritually sick. They become spiritual patients for the rest of their lives-they never become “healthy Christians”. This spiritual sickness is caused by countless little things that slowly eat away at a person’s heart over time. Things like bad attitudes, wrong relationships, poor choice of priorities, little compromises. Too often those things go unnoticed until it’s too late. Then people end up with; Guilty hearts, diseased hearts, hardened hearts, distracted hearts or numb hearts.  When such hearts surface in a Christian life you stop feeling the things you should feel such as love and gratitude for God; care and concern for others, compassion for hurting people; anger over injustice; conviction over your own sin; frustration over other people’s apathy.

What is the treatment?

It’s important to understand that there is no human cure. You can’t fix your own heart. Pure motives and good intentions are not enough. We need God. He does not repair hearts. He does not do heart surgery.  He does transplant and gives you a brand new heart “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; i will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19). But even after transplants, hearts are vulnerable. That’s why there needs to be a change in a person’s lifestyle after surgery. A daily dose of the holy spirit; a steady diet of the scriptures and a regular routine of spiritual activities.