The Great Commandment-Love of God & of Neighbour by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

31^st  Sunday in Ordinary Time 3^rd November 2024

(Deut 6: 2-6; Psalm 18; Hebrews 7: 23-28; Mark 12: 28b-34)

Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 Introduction: In this passage, the Pharisees send an expert in their religious law to test Jesus by asking Him a highly debated question of the day. The Pharisees, the religious leaders, observed 613 different commands. They often disagreed as to which one was the greatest. They thought Jesus’s teaching was so radical they wanted to test Him in front of the people. They expected Him to deny the law, but instead He quoted a part of Scripture that the Jews repeated every day. He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And don’t forget… Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you think about it that is a lot of loving. All of your heart. There can be no other before him. Not mother, not father, not wife or husband, not children. No one. All of your mind. All of your waking hours you will keep him in your thoughts. All of your soul. You commit your soul to him in love. All of your strength. You must devote all of your energy in sickness and health to loving Him.

How do I love God with all my heart, mind, soul & strength? In our text Jesus gives us four ways to love God. We call this the Great Commandment.

•           Love the Lord your God with all your heart. To love the Lord with all your heart means to love Him with pure devotion. It’s not enough to give Christ a place in our hearts. We are called to love Him with all of our heart. When you love someone with all of your heart, you think about them almost all of the time. You long to be with them. They’re the priority in your life.

•           Love Him with all your soul. To love God with all our soul means that our love for God ought to be full of passion. And we are all people of passion. Some people are passionate about sports, about their work, about their hobbies etc. People are passionate about all sorts of things, but how many of us have the same passion for God that we have for these other things? Real love is passionate love. To love God with all our soul means that we must be involved with all our emotions in our relationship to Him. And when you’ve really given Jesus all of your heart, then it’s easy to become excited about following Him.

•           Love the Lord your God with all your mind. This is a love that is thoroughly considered. But what happens a lot of times is that we have people coming to church because they like the emotional charge that they get, and because they feel good. But they are never equipped for the working of ministry, they are never built up in their most holy faith, and they are not rooted and grounded in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And then when the storms come, they end up disillusioned and apathetic. Loving God is not an emotional expression that bypasses the mind. It is clear from the Scripture that God fully intends for our minds to be involved in our love for Him. In Romans 12, we are told that our minds need to be renewed. In 1st Peter we are told to prepare our minds for work. And here, we are told to love God with our entire mind. A mind committed to Christ and being transformed by His renewing power is a big part of keeping your passion for God.

•           Love Him with all your strength. Christianity is not just a heart dedicated to God, Christianity must be fully lived out. To love God with all our strength means to love God in all that we do. Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." You see, Christianity that is just in the heart or in the head may be either emotionalism or intellectualism. For Christianity to be alive, it must be lived out. This is what makes the Christian faith the most powerful force in the world. James 1: 22 says, “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” When we look into a mirror we can see if our face needs some work or not. when we are hearers of God’s Word, but not doers of God’s Word, what we’re doing is, ignoring those spiritual pimples, wrinkles, and blemishes in our lives. God’s Word is the cure to all of our faults, and flaws, but when we don’t apply it, we will just continue in them. Corinthians13 is known as the love chapter. We read, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast. It is not proud, it is not rude. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...” John 13:34-35 is a basic instruction for us to follow. It says, “A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another! By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Mother Teresa, when asked how she had accomplished such great things in her life said this, "None of us can do anything great on our own, but we can all do a small thing with great love." “We may WANT God, but we want something else more. And we get what we want most.” -A.W. Tozer

Cultivating Passion for God. Psalm 42:1 “As the deer pants for water so my soul pants for You”. Those who don’t have this passion and fit into one of two categories: Those who need a heart transplant and those who have a new heart, but poor circulation. You can have an interest in God. You can have a desire for spiritual things. But you can’t have a true passion for God until God has given you a new heart. God describes our heart transplant that occurs at salvation in Ezekiel 36:(26-27) “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Bible has some examples of passion, both negative and positive. Negative: Samson and David – Passion led them to lust and sexual immorality, Balam – Passion for money, Pharisees – Passion for religion, Peter – passion for vengeance. Positive: Moses – Passion for the people of Israel, Nehemiah – Passion to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, Paul – Passion to plant new church. Webster Dictionary defines passion as intense driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction, intense emotion compelling action. Passion energizes the Christian life. It gives us additional focus in life. Without the passion of God in our lives we will lead dull and draining existence. Passion is one of the ways that God empowers our lives. Passion makes change in us. It changes our attitude, our behavior and our relationships. Passion is contagious. Passion is caught by other people it cannot be taught. Passion reveals the living witness of Jesus Christ in our lives. Passion works like a magnet – some people will be drawn to you and others will be pushed away.

Conclusion:  A lot of times when people first come to the Lord, when they are a new Christian, that they have a passion and a fire for God, but then it seems after a while, that fire kind of burns out. After a while they kind of loose their desire to serve God, and they just aren’t dedicated to the things of God like they used to be. Well, 9 times out of 10 this happens because of disillusionment. Christians become disillusioned, this comes from either a lack of understanding, a wrong focus, or wrong expectations of God, and eventually disillusionment can lead to apathy. And apathy leads to spiritually unhealthy Christians.

“A Christian without passion for God is like a river without water”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning from Bartimaeus the Blind Beggar by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 27th October 2024

(Jeremiah 31: 7-9; Psalm 126: 1-6; Hebrews 5: 1-6; Mark 10: 46-52)

Introduction: Blindness in the 21st century is bad enough - but it was much worse in Jesus’ day. Today a blind person at least has the hope of living a useful life with proper training. And Braille opens opportunities for education. Some of the most skilled and creative people in our society are blind. But in first century Palestine blindness meant that you would be subject to abject poverty. You would be reduced to begging for a living. You lived at the mercy and the generosity of others. One of the signs of the coming of the Messiah was that the blind should receive their sight. When Jesus announced his ministry, he said: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has sent me to recover sight to the blind."

Types of Blindness:  The story of the healing of blind Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel would suggest to us that there are two kinds of blindness.

1.       The first kind of blindness is the blindness of Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was unable to see and so he was consigned to a life of begging. But he could see that if he came to Jesus, he would be healed. It was a gift of faith.

2.       The second kind of blindness is the blindness of the disciples.

The disciples of course could physically see. But in this case, they could NOT see the will of God. If they been aware of what Jesus intended to do, I am sure they would have eagerly helped Bartimaeus.

Lessons we need to learn from Bartimaeus the blind man.

1. Bartimaeus took responsibility for his own life “When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout.” He had to be responsible for himself. No one could step forward for him.  He casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. This means he made a decision to be different, he made a determination to be different. He made a declaration to be different. Casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. This garment was symbolic of his lifestyle, He had lived in this garment the life of a blind beggar. It represented all the restrictions, and limitations and impossibilities of his life. It symbolizes the mental disposition that held him captive, that defined and determined his actions. The fact of being in a slump is not the problem, staying in that slump is the problem. You need to make the choice and act on it.

2. Believe you can change “Rabbi, I want to see.” Bartimaeus believed there was hope for him. He could have remained a beggar for the rest of his life. He believed in Jesus and that he could be healed. In standing up he was leaving the position that defined him as a beggar, in coming to Jesus he was leaving the condition that defined him as blind. In coming to Jesus: He was stepping into the unknown. Every phase of growth in the spiritual life requires that you step into the unknown go where you have not gone before, leave your comfort zone, The same Jesus that healed Bartimaeus is still doing miracles today. Never lose hope that Christ can change you You must be willing. If you want to be changed you must come into contact with Jesus

3. Clarify what you really need “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks a serious question. The first step in discovering the difference is to recognize YOUR NEED. Jesus makes a difference to those who have a need.  Is there a spiritual need in your life? God promises to pour out His blessings upon those who are thirsty. In Isaiah 44:3 “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty. I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon your offspring.”  Jesus makes the difference to those who know they are in need. Stop waiting for ideal circumstances. “As Jesus and His disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city.” Bartimaeus did not choose great circumstances. This was far from an ideal encounter. There is no such thing as “perfect” circumstances. Don’t wait for some perfect moment to seek God. No one knows when God will take us from this earth. The key is to step out in faith. Act now before the moment slips away. Start doing and stop stewing. Bartimaeus came to Jesus with reckless abandon. You need to get your focus on Christ

Consequences- Focusing on Christ will bring us personal renewal. It will renew our faith, our hope and our passion for Him and His kingdom.

Anecdote: Two men were sitting on a park bench. One was a Communist, the other a Christian. Along walked by a beggar with old, torn and tattered clothes. The Communist said, “Communism will give that man a new suit.” The Christian said, “Christianity will put a new man in that suit.”

 

World Mission Sunday: “God’s only Son became a missionary.”

 

WONDERING GURU

(Isaiah 53: 10-11; Psalm 33: 4-22; Hebrews 4: 14-16; Mark 10: 35-45)

Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

1)       The Mission’s Purpose-The disciples had to know what it was that they were supposed to accomplish. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

1.1)    They were sent to preach- to preach the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. Think of what the disciples could have spent their time preaching out against: The Roman Empire; The Hypocrisy of The Jewish Leaders; The Need for Honest Tax Collectors. The list could go on and on. You know the same is true of us. We are told to preach. There are so many different things in which we could preach out against in our world today: The Hypocrisy of our Political Leaders; The evils of Abortion; The wrongs of Homosexuality; The Issues of Poverty. However, I think that we would be best to concentrate on the one message that we should preach. And that message is Jesus Christ. You see, they preached that the Kingdom of Heaven was near. For us, the Kingdom is here and it is our job to preach that fact. Whenever Paul got a chance to preach, what did He preach? Jesus Christ crucified & buried! Jesus Christ Risen from the Dead. Paul said in Romans 1:16: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

1.2)    They were sent to heal. As they went about preaching the Gospel message, they were to heal those who needed. We may not be able to heal in the same sense that the Apostles were, but we can bring healing to a people that are hurting: Hurting from The Effects of Sin; Hurting from Loneliness; Hurting from Hopelessness et. So, the purpose of the mission was to preach and heal.

     2)  The Mission’s Problems-The disciples were given the mission, but they were told about the problems that they were going to encounter.

     2.1) People would not listen. The disciples were told that there was going to be people who would not listen to the message that they had to preach. The same is true for us today. That doesn’t mean that we are supposed to give up preaching. All that means is that we have to preach somewhere else. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town or home. I know that it can be frustrating to do your best to reach someone for Jesus Christ, and for them to show no interest. There is something that we should all remember though. If people rejected: God in the Old Testament, Jesus in the New Testament, The Apostles who were men full of the Holy Spirit and power. Then people will reject us.

2.2)  People would persecute-Jesus told his disciples that they were going to encounter danger. And He promised them that they were going to be helped by the Spirit. We may not face the same type of persecution that the disciples had to face, but we do face people who are agressive to the message of Jesus Christ. Why is that? Because Satan knows that there is power in the Gospel message. And when we preach lives are changed.

2.3 ) Jesus told us what we should fear- Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

3. The Mission’s Promises-Jesus gave them a mission, told them that they were going to face problems, and then He went on to give them some promises. "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Here in today’s text we read that when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven He had a plan. And this was the plan: I will give you power thru the Holy Spirit. This will give you the power to be my witnesses “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,  and to the ends of the earth."  That was the battle plan. And the battle plan hasn’t changed in the past 2000 years and it is still our call to arms.

Conclusion: William Carey, the great missionary of India, said to a group of supporters once, "I will go down if you will hold the ropes." "I’ll go into the caves. I’ll go into the place where you will never go, but you must hold the ropes. I’ll go down if you’ll hold on." Let’s support the mission of Christ by our prayers and by our generosity.

“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