As we continue our reflection on the Beatitude of meekness we realize that meek people learn to be quiet and still before the Lord waiting patiently for him to act. They recall the words of the psalm: “Be still and know that I am God.” This doesn’t mean the meek become lazy, rather they become free of anxiety and apprehension as they wait. They know in their hearts from past experiences that God is in complete control. That evil will not be ultimately victorious. Rather God will. Though Jesus was crucified, he rose from the dead. He embraced the will of the Father, he entrusted himself to the Father and waited for his victorious resurrection, the ultimate vindication of his true identity and mission.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." How do we begin to grow in the virtue of meekness? Meek people begin by trusting God. They truly believe that God will work for them and vindicate them when others oppose them. Biblical meekness is rooted in the deep conviction of the words of St Paul “If God is for us, who can be against us.” Next, because meek people trust the Lord, they choose to entrust everything to him—their jobs, their struggles , their relationships, their strengths and weaknesses, their fears, their frustrations. They hand everything to him as the Lord of their lives. They acknowledge that of themselves they can do nothing, but in him all things are possible.

Father Raniero Cantalamessa in one of his reflections on the Beatitude on meekness said the following. “The maximum proof of Christ's meekness is in his passion. There is no wrath, there are no threats: ‘When he was reviled he did not revile in return, when he suffered, he did not threaten’ (1 Peter 2:23). This trait of the person of Christ was so stamped in the memory of his disciples that Paul, wanting to swear by something dear and sacred in his second letter to the Corinthians writes: ‘I entreat you by the meekness and the gentleness of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:1). But Jesus did much more than give us an example of heroic meekness and patience; he made of meekness and nonviolence the true sign of greatness. This will no longer mean holding oneself alone above, above the crowd, but to humble oneself to serve and elevate others. On the cross, St. Augustine says, the true victory does not consist in making victims of others but in making oneself a victim.” Do we seek to have the same attitude as Jesus?

As we continue our reflections on the Beatitudes, we turn our attention to the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the meek, they shall inherit the earth.” What does meekness mean? The Greek word for meek has a twofold meaning: 1) to be as strong as iron, 2) yet as gentle as a feather. Jesus describes meekness as being “wise as serpents and gentle as doves.” St. Francis de Sales further explains meekness by saying “there is nothing as strong as true meekness, there is nothing as gentle as true strength.” In saying this, it should be clear that meekness is not weakness, as many today would think. It takes a strong person to be meek.

The model for us is Jesus himself who said: “I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Mt 11:29) Listen to the words of Pope Francis: “To be meek is a way of being that brings us close to Jesus….This is his spiritual portrait and it reveals the abundance of his love. Meekness is a way of living and acting that draws us close to Jesus and to one another. It enables us to set aside everything that divides and estranges us, and to find ever new ways to advance along the path of unity.”

It is not by accident that Jesus begins his teaching concerning the road to lasting happiness with poverty of Spirit. There is a false assumption in our consumeristic society that material possessions will provide happiness. Jesus counters this assumption with a paradoxical truth. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” When we are possessed by our possession, then how can we be happy? The reality is that we will never be satisfied, because we want more. Such was the case of the rich young man in the Gospel narrative. He came to Jesus seeking ultimate happiness, eternal life. But because he was possessed by his possessions he could not take the first step. We must ask ourselves what possesses us, God or something else? Until God is whom we desire the most, we will fill our life with other than God.

Blessed are poor in spirit. Where does one begin? I must recognize and accept that on my own I am totally dependent on God for everything. I would not exist if God did not create me and sustain me. I am dependent on air to breathe, water so as not to dehydrate, food for nourishment and strength. As Jesus said: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Or as St Paul realized: “In him who strengthens me I can do all things.” I am called to dispossess myself of self importance and self righteousness apart from God. Instead, I am to see myself as God sees me. As someone has said: “I am who I am in the eyes of God, nothing more and nothing less.” This is not false humility, but the basic truth. This is not putting myself down but realistically living fully in my true identity in Christ.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” There is a difference between spiritual poverty and poverty of Spirit. There are many who are spiritually impoverished and either don't know it or are not concerned about it. They may either have the physical necessities of life or lack them. But they lack what is most important: that which will make them truly happy, namely an intimate relationship with God. On the other hand, those who embrace the poverty of spirit humbly recognize that they are dependent on God, whether they have or do not have. Their identity does not rest on material possessions but on their relationship with God. This gift is their true treasure, the pearl of great price. They are rich in what ultimately truly matters. Lent is a time to store the right treasure.

Second Sunday of Lent: Gospel B

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. 

· It is important to know that prior to this in Mk 8:31-33 Jesus made his first prediction of his upcoming          passion and death on the cross and resurrection.  This experience of Jesus’ glory is to help the disciples    to deal with the mystery of Jesus’ death.
· These three disciples were part of Jesus’ inner circle. They also will hold prominent roles in the leadership of the early church. Along with Andrew they were the first four disciples to follow Jesus.
· Many times in biblical understanding the mountain is the place for new revelation.

And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 

· The transfiguration of Jesus is an anticipation of his resurrection and future glory as well as our future glory.
· Why Elijah and Moses? Elijah stands for the prophets and Moses for the Law. Jesus is the fulfillment of both the Law and the prophets. The ultimate fulfillment is through his death and resurrection.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 

· How would you react if you witnessed the glory of God?

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." 

· When was the last time we heard this affirmation of Jesus? At his baptism.
· Here is another Trinitarian revelation: The voice of the Father, the transfigured Son and the cloud, symbolizing the Holy Spirit
· The cloud is reminiscent of the cloud covering the meeting tent during the desert journey of Israel. The cloud also enveloped the Holy of Holies of the Temple at the time of  the dedication. Both symbolize the presence of God.
· The Father tells the disciples to listen to Jesus when he prophesies his own death and resurrection.
· In what area of my life does God want me to listen to Jesus?
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Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. 

· In Mark’s theology the Son of Man could not be fully understood until his death and resurrection. That is why Jesus keeps telling different one, “Don’t tell anyone what you experienced.”
· But we know that Jesus has died and risen. We know that he is the Lord and Messiah. Are we still waiting to tell others about Jesus?
· What do we take from the Gospel passage and apply to our life today?

Here is the conclusion of Pope's Francis' Homily for Ash Wednesday. I shared earlier on Pause and See. Now the final word is Return.

"Pause, see and return. Return to the house of your Father. Return without fear to those outstretched, eager arms of your Father, who is rich in mercy (cf. Eph 2:4), who awaits you. Return without fear, for this is the favorable time to come home, to the home of my Father and your Father (cf. Jn 20:17). It is the time for allowing one’s heart to be touched… Persisting on the path of evil only gives rise to disappointment and sadness. True life is something quite distinct and our heart indeed knows this. God does not tire, nor will he tire, of holding out his hand (cf. Misericordiae Vultus, 19). Return without fear, to join in the celebration of those who are forgiven. Return without fear, to experience the healing and reconciling tenderness of God. Let the Lord heal the wounds of sin and fulfill the prophecy made to our fathers: “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezek 36: 26). Pause, see and return!"

I would like to continue sharing Pope Francis' thoughts for Lent. He spoke about Pause, See, Return. Here are his reflections on See.
"See the gestures that prevent the extinguishing of charity, that keep the flame of faith and hope alive. Look at faces alive with God’s tenderness and goodness working in our midst. See the face of our families who continue striving, day by day, with great effort, in order to move forward in life, and who, despite many concerns and much hardship, are committed to making their homes a school of love. See the faces of our children and young people filled with yearning for the future and hope, filled with 'tomorrows' and opportunities that demand dedication and protection. Living shoots of love and life that always open up a path in the midst of our selfish and meager calculations. See our elderly whose faces are marked by the passage of time, faces that reveal the living memory of our people. Faces that reflect God’s wisdom at work. See the faces of our sick people and the many who take care of them; faces which in their vulnerability and service remind us that the value of each person can never be reduced to a question of calculation or utility. See the remorseful faces of so many who try to repair their errors and mistakes, and who from their misfortune and suffering fight to transform their situations and move forward. See and contemplate the face of Crucified Love, who today from the cross continues to bring us hope, his hand held out to those who feel crucified, who experience in their lives the burden of failure, disappointment and heartbreak. See and contemplate the real face of Christ crucified out of love for everyone, without exception. For everyone? Yes, for everyone. To see his face is an invitation filled with hope for this Lenten time, in order to defeat the demons of distrust, apathy and resignation. The face that invites us to cry out: 'The Kingdom of God is possible!'”

Here is the continuation of Pope Francis' thought on the need to pause during Lent to mine the graces God has for us.

"Pause for a little while, refrain from the deafening noise that weakens and confuses our hearing, that makes us forget the fruitful and creative power of silence. Pause for a little while, refrain from the attitude which promotes sterile and unproductive thoughts that arise from isolation and self-pity, and that cause us to forget going out to encounter others to share their burdens and suffering. Pause for a little while, refrain from the emptiness of everything that is instantaneous, momentary and fleeting, that deprives us of our roots, our ties, of the value of continuity and the awareness of our ongoing journey. Pause in order to look and contemplate!"

Pope Francis in his homily for Ash Wednesday shared some insights about Lent that I think is worth sharing. He talks about the need for pause, for seeing and for returning. In the next few blogs, I will share his insights with the hope that they will be of value to  you this Lent.

"Pause a little, leave behind the unrest and commotion that fill the soul with bitter feelings which never get us anywhere. Pause from this compulsion to a fast-paced life that scatters, divides and ultimately destroys time with family, with friends, with children, with grandparents, and time as a gift… time with God. Pause for a little while, refrain from the need to show off and be seen by all, to continually appear on the “noticeboard” that makes us forget the value of intimacy and recollection. Pause for a little while, refrain from haughty looks, from fleeting and pejorative comments that arise from forgetting tenderness, compassion and reverence for the encounter with others, particularly those who are vulnerable, hurt and even immersed in sin and error. Pause for a little while, refrain from the urge to want to control everything, know everything, destroy everything; this comes from overlooking gratitude for the gift of life and all the good we receive."

Jesus chose to be born to a young woman who was blessed by God but was insignificant in the eyes of the world. She and Joseph were among the “anawim”. They were too poor to offer anything in the Temple but two birds, the offering of the materially lowly ones. Jesus himself was born in poverty in the impoverished surroundings of a cave, with the hay of a manger for his first bed. He became an itinerant preacher dependent upon God for his sustenance. Though he was God, the beginning and end of all things, he embraced the life of the “anawim” in his humanity. His desire was to please the Father by doing the will of his Abba, without counting the cost. This was the foundation of his interior happiness. At the same time it was in this context that he spoke to the poor and the rich, inviting each to have the same attitude. What was that attitude? He was not attached to people or things, only to God, his Father. Does my life reflect his life in this aspect? 

Jesus lived what he taught. In the next few weeks we are going to reflect on the Beatitudes both in Jesus’ life and in ours. When Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit” he was pointing to the “anawim”, those who totally depended upon God for everything. Jesus fully embraced the life of the “anawim”. Reflect on St. Paul’s words. “Have the same attitude which was in Christ Jesus: who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized. Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man.” (Philippians 2:5-7) And again in 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty, you might become rich.” Jesus, the God-man, embraced our humanity in total dependence upon the Father. He was satisfied to share a meager meal with his disciples or a feast with the rich. He had no place to lay his head. Though he could command the angels to protect him, he allowed himself to be handed over for crucifixion. He had power to perform miracles for the benefit of others, but he did not use this gift for himself. The mystery of living as an “anawin”.

"There are two sides to forgiveness: giving and receiving. Although at first sight giving seems to be harder, it often appears that we are not able to offer forgiveness to others because we have not been able fully to receive it. Only as people who have accepted forgiveness can we find the inner freedom to give it. Why is receiving forgiveness so difficult? It is very hard to say, "Without your forgiveness I am still bound to what happened between us. Only you can set me free." That requires not only a confession that we have hurt somebody but also the humility to acknowledge our dependency on others. Only when we can receive forgiveness can we give it." (Henri Nouwen) It is true that many people have a hard time in believing and accepting God's merciful forgiveness. Why? First, they believe that they do not deserve to be forgiven. That is true to an extent, but mercy is not something owed to a person. It is a pure gift from another. Second, they also believe that they have to earn forgiveness by first making up for the wrong done. That is a diabolical lie, because no one but Jesus, could offer what is necessary for the forgiveness of our sins. Third, down deep, they know to accept forgiveness means to extend forgiveness to others and they are not ready.

Jesus reveals the ever ready, unconditional mercy of God in the scene of the adulterous woman about to be stoned. "Jesus' attitude is striking: we do not hear the words of scorn, we do not hear words of condemnation, but only words of love, of mercy, which are an invitation to conversation. 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.' Ah! Brothers and Sisters, God's face is the face of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about God's patience, the patience He has with each one of us? That is His mercy. He always has patience, patience with us, He understands us, He waits for us, He does not tire of forgiving us if we are able to return to Him with a contrite heart. 'Great is God's mercy,'says the Psalm." (Pope Francis) The woman was hopeless and helpless, alone and rejected, exposed and disgraced. Yet, the compassionate mercy of God offers her another chance for a new life. Conversion or condemnation, the choice is her's.

Our relationship to God is rooted in experiencing his mercy for we have sinned in so many ways. "It is not easy to entrust oneself to God's mercy, because it is an abyss beyond our comprehension. But we must! ... "Oh, I am a great sinner!" "All the better! Go to Jesus: He likes you to tell him these things!" He forgets, He has a very special capacity for forgetting. He forgets, He kisses you, He embraces you and He simply says to you: "Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more" (Jn 8:11)." (Pope Francis) Without God's mercy there is alienation and darkness; there is enmity and chaos; there is a world without hope. But in spite of our wretchedness St. Paul reveals the great mystery of God's plan. "Yet still, God, who is rich in mercy, for the sake of his exceedingly great charity with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, has enlivened us together in Christ, by whose grace you have been saved."(Ephesians 2:4-5) Where our fallen nature tends towards sin, God's divine nature is mercy.

(Continuing) To "live in Christ" as a new creation involves not only loving God with our whole heart, mind, strength and will, but loving others with the love of Jesus.  This is not selective love but universal, not socially accepted love  but life-giving, not limited but unconditional, not only when convenient but at all times, not only love of those who do good to us, but love of our enemies, and  those who speak ill of us as well.  "As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Loving others as Christ has loved us is practical and sincere, not theoretical; it is affectionate and demonstrative.. It involves bearing with one another and forgiving whatever grievances one has against another as Christ has forgiven us. Paul even goes so far as to say "Owe no debt to anyone except the debt that binds us to love one another" (Rom 13:8).  It requires us to "defer to one another out of reverence for Christ" going so far as to "anticipate each other in showing respect."

Sixth Sunday of Year: Gospel Reflections B
A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean."


In the Old Testament we find two instances where lepers were cured: Numbers 12:10-15 and 2 Kings 5:1-14.
Leprosy was very contagious. Because of this the Mosaic Law stated that lepers were both physically and ritually impure. Therefore, they were not allowed to be in contact with others less they too would become affected and made ritually unclean.
The man sought to be made clean or healed so that he could live a normal life and worship with others.
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Normally, there is revulsion at the sight of a leper. But Jesus feels a deep compassion for the man.
How often have we experienced the compassion of God over some area of sin or affliction in our lives?
Technically, according to the Mosaic Law, when Jesus touched the leper he himself became ritually unclean. But Jesus knew that the reason for the Law was preventive medicine and had nothing to do with one’s relationship with God.
In a symbolic way in touching the leper Jesus became "sin" for us. He took on our sins. 
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them."

Jesus healed not for his sake but to manifest the love and plan of God.
The only command Jesus gave him was that he be obedient to the Mosaic law—namely be certified as healed—so that he could once more be part of the community.
The reason why Mark has Jesus tell the man not to publicize the healing is that in Mark’s theology to fully understand who Jesus really is one must wait for his death and resurrection. Jesus is more than a healer. He is the Messiah. But this revelation will not become clear until Jesus completes his mission on the cross. The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
What does this event say to you about your relationship to Jesus? What is the "leprosy" –the area of sin--in your life that Jesus wants to free you from?
What is preventing you from coming to Jesus with confidence and trust in his love for you and in his power to restore you?
The man wanted to be made clean. Do we want to be freed from the bondage of sin?

(Continuing) Paul does not say to live only with Jesus, but to live in Christ Jesus. To "live in" is explained by Jesus in the parable of the vine and the branches. It is a statement of the intimate relationship we have with Jesus as a new creation. This intimate relationship is more than an ordinary friendship. It is a unique friendship which is not exclusive but primary and alone essential. Our friendship with Jesus must reflect the attitude and commitment of Paul when he wrote to the Romans: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Trial, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?....For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (8: 35-39).


Paul not only spoke these words he lived them first hand, for he suffered much physically, emotionally and spiritually at the hands of those outside the faith as well as inside the community of believers. But faithfulness to Jesus in response to Jesus' faithfulness to him was more important than life itself and its passing comforts. (To be continued)

(Continuing) Since becoming a new creation involved a radical change in us by the grace of God, what is needed is a radical  response likewise by God's grace.  How radical? "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God's will, what is good, pleasing and perfect" (Rom 12:2). As a new creation, our values, attitudes, behavior patterns, actions, speech, relationships, our way of judging, our life style, the way we use the gifts of creation, our work ethics, our worship and prayer--all become different, not slightly but fundamentally. 

"But those things I used to consider gain I have now reappraised as loss in the light of Christ.  I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ. For his sake I have forfeited everything; I have accounted all else rubbish so that Christ may be my wealth and I may be in him" (Phil 3:7-9).

Truly, the old self has been put to death and the new person in Christ lives. "I live now,  not I, but Christ Jesus in me."

If Christ is the source of our life, then we need to heed the admonition of Paul to the Colossians: "Continue, therefore, to live in Christ Jesus the Lord, in the spirit in which you received him. Be rooted in him and built up in him, growing ever stronger in faith, as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude" (2:6-7). (to be continued)

What does it mean to be a new creation?  To be a new creation is to be reborn in water and the spirit. In our initial creation we were given human life through the human but sacramental love of our father and mother cooperating in the miraculous and mysterious divine love of  God.  We became a human creation of God, like all other creation, except we were made in the image and likeness of God. We were gifted with a mind to know and a will to choose.

But even in this state we were like all earthly creatures, distant from God.  Yet, distant is not quite correct.  We were alienated from God because of the misuse of these special gifts of  knowledge and free will.

St Paul tells us that we are to be ambassadors of reconciliation. "Only when we fully trust that we belong to God and can find in our relationship with God all that we need for our minds, hearts, and souls, can we be truly free in this world and be ministers of reconciliation. This is not easy; we readily fall back into self-doubt and self-rejection. We need to be constantly reminded through God's Word, the sacraments, and the love of our neighbors that we are indeed reconciled." (Henri Nouwen) That we have been reconciled back to the Father is a fact that can be accepted only in faith. We did not earned reconciliation. It is a pure gift from God. But do we fully embrace it with gratitude? The way we show this is to forgive as we have been forgiven. This is what it means for us to be ministers of reconciliation. Jesus did not refrain from forgiving us. We must not refrain from forgiving others from the heart.