Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday Homily 2023

There is a long weekend, maraming bacasyon for this holy week, Millions of Catholics in the country share faith in their families. It is a great time for the Church to makes at the end of the Lenten season. Finally, Apat na punga araw tapos ngayon. 

Sinisimulan na natin Triduum, tatlong araw na pagdiriwang; three solemn days in the liturgical calendar; ang kapistahan ng Huwebes Santo (tinatawag din na Maundy Huwebes), Biyernes Santo, at ang Easter Vigil-Pasko ng Pagkabuhay. 

It is also called Maundy Thursday; Mandy comes from the Latin word Mandatum which means to command, it refers to the new law given by the Lord during supper, “I give to you today, love one another as I have loved you” binigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa at itoy dapat ninoyng tularan. Today Jesus teaches a Love lesson through the example of washing. 

(1) unang anibersaryo ng Sacramento ng banal na Eucaristiya (Institution of the Holy Eucharist)

2) anibersaryo ng ministerial priesthood, The Church appoints some ministers to convey God’s forgiveness.

Ang Eukaristiya ay hindi invention ng mga disciples ni Jesus: hindi bago sa history. In the first reading we heard the origin of the Paschal meal, the first Paschal meal that the people of Israel celebrated as they awaited their salvation from slavery. 

Kumakain sila sa loob ng bahay ng lilizon, cordero, ang dugo nito, At kukuha sila ng dugo niyan, at ilalagay sa dalawang haligi ng pinto at sa itaas ng pintuan, sa mga bahay. God says Lalampasan ko ang lahat ng bahay na makita kong may pahid na dugo, at walang pinsalang mangyayari sa inyo sa pagpaparusa ko sa buong egipto. 

It is a Passover event from death to life. God is passing over in our life offering life removing death. 

In the second reading we heard the latest account of the Last Supper which is found in the letter of Paul to the Corinthians he clearly said this paschal meal was practiced by the apostles and early church traditions. 

Every time you celebrate the Eucharist, remember we are part of the history of salvation. Since the Israel people celebrated pass over, Since Jesus celebrated the Last Supper, then Paul and peter and all the apostles celebrated the memorial of the Lord of Jesus up to this time. Whenever we celebrate mass, we join with all the billions of people who were ahead of us in the past 2,000 years ago, who will come after us until the Lord comes again, 

Meron isang libro called “the eucharistic miracles in the world”; incredible eucharistic healings in the lives of saints and ordinary people. How many are being healed by the Eucharist? Eucharist is also existing in other churches namely the Orthodox church, Anglicans and Lutherans. Pero Catholics are different because for them Eucharist is the source of the Christian life. It is the heart/center of the church. and it is consumed within the holy mass. 

Hindi na ito isang ala ala, isang souvenir, isang pakikiisa, (It is a memorial, not a pasalubong, or souvenir). Memorial means participation/sacrifice in death. we do this, in obedience to him, what he said, gawin mo ito pag-alala sa akin. do this in memory of me, kaya wag natin isipin bilang misa kulang o misa lang ng servants. Ang bawat misa ay ang misa ni Jesus o ng simbahan. 

May tanong ako para sayio. Ano ang mas mahalaga sa pagdiriwang ng misa? What is important to celebrate the mass? 

Can Catholics celebrate mass without priest? No. Other Churches can do kasama ng mga pastors. You can have Siete Palabras, walang pari, liturgy of the word, meron mga lectors. Pero If you want to celebrate the mass, you should have pari. 

Therefore, the priest must be male because the priest iconically manifests the liturgical presence and action of Jesus, who was and is a male human being. He is acting in persona Christi. Ang Stola at Tuwalya: which symbolizes our services to God and humanity. Love and service are the two sacraments. The Stole represents the Dignity of the Priest, the Towel stands for the Duty of the Priest. The priest is called upon to unite with the Lord in the Eucharist and the people as their servants.

Ngayong umaga ng 7 am, nag celebrate ang mga pari kay diocese of Novalichese, ang Chrism mass. Bakit? Their Priests are invited to renew their priestly promises, before their own Bishop, the promises they made at their priestly Ordination. I just want to read so that you may know the real identity of the priest. 

1. Bishop: Christ our Lord conferred his priesthood…  

Every priest is participating directly in the priesthood of Christ. It’s a new understanding of Vatican II. The understanding before Vatican II was that, a priest was participating in the priesthood of the Bishop. In this new understanding, Christ is the source of all the priests and they act in persona Christi. Priest’s identity lies in his (ontological) bond with Christ himself. 

A priest may be a fool, useless, but through consecration, he received “a sacramental representation of Christ, High Priest”. All the faithful are participating in the common priesthood through Baptism, while the chosen priests are part of the ministerial priesthood with an indelible sacramental character. The priest has received the indelible seal of the Holy Spirit that he is the minister of Christ "forever and ever" (Jn 14:16-17). This every priest should know that he will never lose the presence and the effective power of the Holy Spirit though they are weak and not exemplary, committed sins. 

• Sick priest – Padre Pio, who bore stigmata for many years

• Ugly and Incapable priests – John Maria Vianney won many souls for God. 

Do not dishonor or hate the priest because of his external characteristics. Every priest has a story born in the humanity of Jesus. 

2. Bishop: Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus? 

Priesthood is a journey, it is not a state you reach within a day, every day he should carry on his journey. Journey reserved for Christ. The aim of this journey, to be united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him…  willingly and joyfully pledged, Ang Diocesan Pries serves the particular pastoral needs of his parish, such as visiting the sick and spiritually accompanying parishioners through sacraments. Instead, religious priests work in a religious family called a community, guided by a particular charism, doing a variety of ministries, ministries to the elderly, special children and etc following the three vows. Only one end is unity with the Lord. Prayer, the Word of God and the Eucharist are his daily life.  

In the life of priests, all the time won’t be the feast moments. There will be moments like “Jesus’ prayer of Gethsemane” where even our Lord had the most human and dramatic part of Jesus’ prayers… “My soul is sorrowful even to death, remain watchful and pray for me (Mk 14:33ff.)” not to gossip against them. The bestone

3. Not seeking any personal gain/personal profit, But moved only by zeal for souls? 

Priest is not for himself, but for God and for you. – Said Vianney. A priest is a man of God, he should have a spirit against materialism they do not have a bank balance, at least the religious. because of his identity and his belonging to God and the Church.

• Lorenzo Ruiz, for the young people

• Pedro Calungsod for the catechists, 

It would be unfair not to express our gratitude to all those priests who faithfully and generously spend their lives in the service of others. Then the bishop asks the people to pray for their priests. Ask the Lord to bless them with the fullness of his love, to help them be faithful ministers of Christ the High Priest. 

Please pray for the priests who think that nobody understands, the missionary priests who renounce their nations, and people and work among the people. Elderly, sick, and abandoned priests… many priests died as martyrs for the sake of faith. Vietnamese martyrs, Korean martyrs...

Holy Thursday Homily 2024

Tapos na ngayon, Apat na punga araw, Sinisimulan na natin Triduum, tatlong araw na pagdiriwang; ang kapistahan ng Huwebes Santo, Biyernes Santo, at ang Easter Vigil-Pasko’ ng Pagkabuhay. 

Today also is called as Maundy Thursday; Mandy comes from the Latin word Mandatum which means to command, it refers to the new law given by the Lord during supper, “binigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa at itoy dapat ninoyng tularan”.  Today love celebration day, a Love lesson through the example of washing. 

Today is the last supper day, day of the Eucharistiya. Ano ang Eucharistiya, hindi na ito isang pasalubong or gift pero it is a memorial. It means participation/sacrifice in death. we do this, in obedience to him, what he said, gawin mo ito pag-alala sa akin, kaya wag natin isipin bilang misa kulang o misa lang ng servants/mass of priest…. Ang bawat misa ay ang misa ni Jesus o ng simbahan. 

Every time you participate in the Eucharist, remember we are part of the history of salvation. Since the Israel people celebrated pass over, Since Jesus celebrated the Last Supper, then Paul and Peter and all the apostles celebrated the memorial of the Lord of Jesus up to this time. Whenever we celebrate mass, we join with all the billions of people who were ahead of us in the past 2,000 years ago, who will come after us until the Lord comes again, 

Today Jesus tells Eucharist in action, sabi ng ebanghelyo when Jesus had finished watching their feet of his garment again went back to the table, said, “Tinatawag Ninyo akong guro ang …. 

yung araw na ito, na ipinagdiriwang natin ang pagtatatag ng eukaristiya, ang ebanghelyo ay hindi pa tungkol sa institusyon ng eukaristiya, hindi po ito “ang take this love, you eat it,  hindi po ito yung salita na sinabi ni Hesus sa huling hapunan, kundi ang paghuhu’gas ng paa, dahil malaking reminder sa ating lahat, na huwag limitahan ang yukaristiya  sa isang ritwal at dasal na ginagawa po natin /sa tuwing tayo nagmimisa ang banal na yukaristiya ay nagaganap sa dalawang bahagi na ng buhay natin/ first part is prayer, second part is action,

because Right after ang ikalawang yugto ng yukaristiya ay nagaganap sa labas, kapag tayo ay tulad ni Jesus, lumuluhod ang naglilingkod, naghuhugas ng paa, Hindi po, nararamdaman na tayo ay mataas kaysa iba na tayo ay importante pa kaysa iba, (kneels down..)

Dine in or take out: THE STORY is told about a priest who, in giving communion to the faithful, would sometimes encounter communicants who would approach him with open hands and also with open mouths. How did he deal with the confusion? After saying, “The Body of Christ,” he would tell them: “OK. Make up your mind. Dine-in or take-out?”

In fact, the question “Dine-in or take-out?” underlines a very important point about our reception of the Eucharist, and that is, that the Eucharist should be both a dine-in and a take-out experience. We revere the Eucharist (devotional), and we also live the Eucharist in our daily lives (actual). We must integrate the contemplative and active aspect of the Eucharist in our lives. All our actions should lead to the Eucharist, and all our actions must proceed from our encounter and empowerment from the Lord in the Eucharist. 

Do you Understand What I have done? I was touched by this gospel word today, “Do you understand?” 

after washing the feet of the disciples Jesus said to them Do you understand what I have done to you? It has many meanings to tell us. Lord is asking, Do you really understand ang ginawa ko para sayo… Naintindihan mo na ako ang iyong Panginoon, ngunit lumuhod ako sa iyong harapan, binaba ang iyong sarili ko upang ikaw ay Linisin,  upang ikaw ay mahalin, upang iparamdam sayo, kung gaano ka kahalaga sa aking 

Do you really understand kung gaano kang importante para sa akin, at na hinubad ang aking sariling karangalang para lang maging parang Alipin sa iyong paa, (Do you really understand how important you are to me, and that stripped my own honor just to be like a Slave at your feet)

ito pong ginagawa ng nanay sa kanyang anak ng maliit, lumuluhod Dahil sa pagmamahal, (this is what the mother does to her little child, kneeling because of love,) Do you understand how important you are, do you understand how humble I am, 

We need to pray this during the adoration? Why This feeling na Wala kang kwentang tao feeling na hindi ka mahalaga sa akin bakit yung damdamin at pinabayaan kita o di kaya Bakit yung yung pride mo, (Why This feeling that you are a worthless person feeling that you are not important to me why the feeling and I let you down or maybe Why is it your pride,)

hindi mo kayang ibaba ang sarili mo/ di mo kayang patawarin ang anak mo/ di mo kayang makipagkasundo sa kapitbahay mo, pinakaworst na bagay na ginawa sayinyo, na hindi mo kapatawad. 

Please When you go home, don’t wash the ang pa ani your mother, listen to her, ask pardon, say sorry, I love you, 

Today pray for priests, this morning, in the Good Shepherd, Novalichese Diocese, all the priests renewed the priestly promises, Yung paglilingkod ay walang retirement, country, community, persons will be changing from time to time, God will give them grace to continue the service. 

Pray for priests; new priests, sick priests, priests in mission, priests in loneliness, elderly priests, 

Pray for Seminarians 

The Wicked and the righteous (John 7:25-30)

The first reading is taken from the Wisdom of Solomon, a Deutero-canonical book written in the context of Hellenization (Greek language, culture, religion, and philosophy) propagated by Alexander the Great. The author calls the Jews who left their religion to cling on to the Greek way of life wicked and calls those who clung to Judaism righteous.

Though the righteous were small in number, they were pebbles in the shoes of the wicked, who wanted to get rid of them at any cost. The author encourages the righteous to remain in their righteousness, giving them the message that God is at their side and he will not abandon them.

What are the harms that the wicked do to the righteous? (a) They consider them trouble; (b) They plot against them; and (c) They await their death.

The author concludes that it is not the plot of the wicked that wins, but the plan of God that wins in the end.

In the gospel reading, the first tension between the Jews and Jesus comes to an end. The conflict, which began with the event of Jesus healing a sick man at Bethesda, continues through Jesus multiplying the loaves. The Jews want to arrest Jesus and confine him, but they do not.

Both readings acknowledge the fact that there is a conflict between the wicked and the righteous.

The lessons for us are: Whatever evil befalls us, let us be firm because God is at our side; everything happens not according to the plot of the wicked but according to the plan of God.

Luke 4:24-30

2 Kings 5:1-15. Luke 4:24-30.

1. There was a debate show on Television; Too much familiarity can be a hindrance to family unity or not. Finally, the judgment was given saying Yes. The extended family that lives as neighbors fight very often and they separate themselves very often. That is called 'Familiarity Bias'. Sometimes the more familiar we are with someone the harder it is to actually see their goodness and the presence of God in their lives. (a) Familiarity will be a hindrance in our faith journey. People of Jesus’ hometown were so familiar with Jesus that they were not able to believe in Him. But,  two Gentiles – a widow of Zarephath and Naaman – who were distant became the examples of faith. In our lives as well, familiarity may distance us from God. 

2. Attitude of listening to Servants: Naaman’s attitude of listening to three servants could be appreciated and imitated. He listened to the servant girl of his wife, servant of his army, and servant of the Lord. Naman, an army commander, and soldier, listened to a girl, the Scripture says she is a foreigner, slave and little girl. Yet he listened to her. Prophet Elijah, discouraged and hopeless, was sent by the Lord not anywhere to the house of the poor widow, even though she did not have anything to eat, she was hospitable and gave him food and drink. What is our attitude toward listening to the familiar and small persons around us? sharpen your listening and learning. 

3. Spiritual Healing is greater than physical healing: Physical healing is good, but spiritual healing: Naaman starts his journey to Israel with a lot of gold and silver that he would ‘buy’ the healing. He didn’t know that healing was given free in Israel. The real treasure is self-realization. The miracle happens. His flesh becomes like that of a child. Naaman acknowledges that the God of Israel is the true God. Naaman’s physical healing turns out to be his spiritual healing. A person who was distant from the God of Israel becomes a believer. 

The Temptation of Jesus (Mark 1:12-15)

LECTIO DIVINA, FIRST SUNDAY OF THE LENT 2024

The Temptation of Jesus (Mark 1: 12-15)

12 The Spirit immediately (εὐθὺς) drove (ἐκβάλλει) Jesus out into the wilderness (ἐρήμῳ). 

13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted (πειραζόμενος) by Satan (Σατανᾶ);

 and he was with the wild animals; and the angels ministered (διηκόνουν) him.

14 After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming good news (εὐαγγελίῳ) of God, 

15 and saying, “The time (καιρὸς) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God (βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ) has come near; repent (μετανοεῖτε), and believe (πιστεύετε) in the good news.” 

Basic Questions 

1. Why Gospel of Mark does not speak about three temptations? 
2. The Spirit immediately comes from where? How he is leading Jesus? 
3. Why he was in the wilderness (not the desert), for forty days, (not fifty days)?
4. Was Jesus tempted by Satan? 
5. Angels are present only in Mark, what they are doing? 
6. Where Jesus is using the Word of God? Coming out of the desert! The message is repentance/belief.

Synthesis: 

Understanding Mk 1:12-15: Jesus after Baptism, full of spirit, driven forcefully by the Spirit to the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. He came not to be served but to serve, to give His life as a ransom for many, which means all. The sinless Son of God took my place when He was actually and severely tempted by Satan for forty days. Jesus proclaims good news, time has come, time of salvation, time of the Kingdom of God. Our response is repentance and belief.

CONTEXT

The Gospel reading for the first Sunday of the Lent is always the temptation of Jesus. The parallels to Mark 1:12-13 are Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. Matthew treats the Temptation in 11 verses, Luke in 13 verses, and Mark in only 2. Mark is the basis of the composition (original) of Matthew and Luke. The idea that Mark presents the original tradition, out of which the longer accounts of Matthew and Luke were elaborated. The initial events of the gospel are Baptism, the temptation of Jesus and the proclamation of his ministry and here the journey of Jesus starts. Thus, Lent is a journey of repentance and faith, beginning with Ash Wednesday. 

Immediately: At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, "At once," Immediately, straightway and directly after Jesus' baptism, he was driven by the H. Spirit. There is a close connection between two events Baptism and temptation. The Spirit doesn’t give Jesus time to celebrate his baptism. The Spirit who had descended so gently on Jesus in baptism in the form of dove, now drives him out into the desert wilderness. 

Immediately is a Mark’s favourite word. Because in Mark’s Gospel Jesus was portrayed as Son of Man to serve. God the Father sent Jesus the Son into the world to bring about the defeat of sin and death, and it is time to get on with the job. There will be time for celebration later—after the resurrection—when the job is finally done. 

Drove (ekballei): (Most of the times, in the Gospel, this term was used to refer the exorcism of the devils; Jesus drove out or cast out devils, this stronger verb is not used in other gospels). The Holy Spirit, who had anointed Jesus for His work, is the subject of this experience in the desert. It doesn't mean that Jesus went against His own will. The Father was not tempted, nor the Holy Spirit, Only the incarnate Son was tempted. but it was willed by Father and driven by Spirit. The idea is not that Jesus was forced against His will, or that he was reluctant to go and thus had to be driven. There was a strong urge of the Spirit met the consent of Jesus. Jesus was brought into his by his Father's own Spirit. The divine Spirit is the real initiator/protagonist of the event and not the devil. Here, as elsewhere in the NT and in Judaism, the devil is not simply dualistically God’s equal opponent. It is the plan of the Spirit that Jesus to be tempted by the devil, Spirit allows to be tempted by the devil. 

Wilderness:

Throughout OT and particularly in Israel’s history, the wilderness has been present. The Testing of Jesus in the New Testament and the testing of Israel in the Old Testament has a close link in Mark. Jesus spends forty days in the wilderness, as Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai, where he received the Law. Elijah walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb -with fasting into the desert. (1 Kings 19:8). Israel passed forty years in wilderness to reach the promised land. The wilderness is the testing period for the people of God. Israelites and Jesus have been tested in the wilderness. The difference between the two is in their response, for Jesus succeeds where Israel failed. 

Tempted: Jesus is tempted by Satan. The Greek word peirazo can mean tempt or test. To tempt is to entice a person to do what is wrong; to test is to give a person the opportunity to choose what is right. To tempt is to hope for failure; to test is to hope for success. Testing has precedents in the Old Testament (see Genesis 22:1-19; Deuteronomy 8:2-5).

Satan: it is not diabolos; Satan is a Hebrew word which means adversary or opponent or enemy. In mark’s Gospel, there is a specific Messianic secrecy, nobody knows the truth about Son of God, because it has to be secret. But only one knows better, the evil spirits. They know him. because he conquered them. 

Jesus was with “wild animals” and “the angels were serving (diekonoun) him”. The angels that we expected following Jesus’ baptism finally come to wait on (diekonoun) him. Diekonoun is the word from which we get the word “deacon” and has to do with service. Prophet Elijah was making a journey of forty days and forty night, when he slept, the angel provided the bread and he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

The final clause of Mark 1:13 reads "and the angels were serving Him (Jesus)." This implies that Jesus conquered Satan when He was tempted. These angels were not sent to help Jesus in His temptation. Matthew 26:53-56 rules that idea out. Jesus could have asked the Father for the help of legions of angels. But He did not. He was tempted and suffered alone, all alone, in our stead.  The Temptation of Jesus is a great comfort for us. He was tempted vicariously for all men, though He was sinless. Read Hebrews 2:14-18 and 4:14.15. He was tempted IN ALL THINGS JUST AS WE ARE TEMPTED but He was without sin. What a comfort!

The Son could be tempted, because he became man. . . He alone (of the three persons of the Trinity), by his human nature, was made dependent on His Father. . . Temptation was possible for Jesus only from the side of his human nature. . . The greatness of the strength tested changes nothing about the reality of the test to which it is subjected. The strain applied is just as real when the strength endures it, as when the strength is too weak to endure it. Jesus as the Stronger stood unmoved under all the force that Satan, the strong one, could bring to bear against him. . . The test or temptation was real in every way and no illusion. . . When the test was made, the outcome was not in doubt for a single moment. Yet the agony and the death were real, though Jesus bore them triumphantly.

Proclaiming the good news (εὐαγγελίῳ): Jesus used Word of God is the sole instrument (in Mt 4 and Lk 4) which we must use in our constant fight with Satan. People cannot win in their struggle with their own flesh and Satan unless they hear the Word of God and keep it. For Mark, the Word of God is the good news/mission that you preach through the person of Jesus. 

Period of repentance (metanoia/shub)and belief: believing is not enough, it is a journey of changing one’s mind and heart towards the different direction. It is a spiritual U turn. 

Synthesis: Jesus after Baptism, full of spirit, driven forcefully by the Spirit to the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. He came not to be served but to serve, to give His life as a ransom for many, which means all. The sinless Son of God took my place when He was actually and severely tempted by Satan for forty days. Jesus proclaims good news, time has come, time of salvation, time of the Kingdom of God. Our response is repentance and belief.

Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-9)

LECTIO DIVINA ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF THE LENT

Context of the scene of transfiguration in Mark 9:

• Theophany event; Central page of the Gospel of Mark. 
• The turning point of Jesus’ ministry: Until now, teaching/healing Jesus, after this, he begins his journey to Jerusalem.
• The situation of disciples; misunderstanding the identity of the Master.

LECTIO: Mark 9:2-9 (NRSV), The Transfiguration

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one on earth could brighten them. 

4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 

5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 

7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud, there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 

8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. 

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 

Meaning of some of the Root words:

• Μεταμορφόω – a complete change (not a mere change, but a transformation), a caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly.
• Καλός – beautiful by appearance, uncertain beauty
• Σκηνή – tent or roof (in OT it referred to the Tabernacle, where dwelling presence of God)
• ἐπισκιάζω – overshadow (Mary was overshadowed by the power of the Holy Spirit)

Context: 

• Theophany event: god the father manifestation, Central page of the Gospel of Mark. 
• Immediately before the transfiguration, Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah (8:27-30), and Jesus foretold his death and resurrection which Peter expressed serious objection (8:31-33).
• The Transfiguration is the turning point of Jesus’ ministry: after this, Jesus is faster, Until now, Jesus has been teaching and healing. Now he will begin his journey to Jerusalem, where he will die.
• Situation of disciples; until now they have not understood the identity of Jesus, son of God and son of man, Peter confessed that he was the Messiah, but partially. They forbid that he should not suffer/die. For the disciples, this scene gives hope, encouragement and reason. 

Before and after this section there is a healing of a blind man (8:22-26; 10:46-52)—but the disciples remain blind throughout. They misunderstand throughout the gospel unless undergo the same journey in their life.

During the transfiguration itself (vv. 2-9), Jesus does not speak even one word. The transfiguration reaffirms Jesus’ identity, reveals his glory, and calls the disciples to listen to him. it is an anticipation of his glory, but not real, he starts his journey again going down. Jesus is the messiah—the Son of God.

“After six days” (v. 2a) is another way of saying “on the seventh day.” Sabbath day. God created the world and man for six days and he rested. They go to the mountain on that day. 

“Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves” (v. 2b). Peter, James, and John constitute Jesus’ inner circle. Jesus chose them to accompany him at special occasions, such as the healing of Jairus’ daughter (5:37) Jesus’ apocalyptic prophecies (13:3), and Gethsemane (14:33). Mark double-emphasizes that, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus leads these three “apart, by themselves” (v. 2), their solitude signaling an event of great significance.

“up onto a high mountain” (v. 2b). The high mountain is more significant theologically than geographically. Mount Hermon or Mount Tabor are the possibilities, but Mark does not count it important to tell us its name. mountain is the place of God experience.

Figure of Moses: Is there anyone in OT, who met God face to face? His face was shining? This account closely parallels the story of Moses at Sinai (Ex 24, 34). Three men accompanied Moses (Ex 24:9; Mark 9:2). A cloud covered the mountain for six days, and God spoke from the cloud (Ex 24:16; Mark 9:2, 7). Moses saw, at least in part, God’s glory (Ex 33:17-23; Mark 9:3). When he came down from the mountain, the skin of Moses’ face shone dazzling bright (Ex 34:30; Mark 9:3), The people of Israel were afraid (Ex 34:30). On coming down from the mountain, Moses encountered faithless “disciples” (Ex 32:7-8; Mark 9:14-29).

Changed - “and he was changed into another form in front of them” (v. 2c). On this high mountain, Jesus is transfigured (metemorphothe—changed or transformed) before them. Metemorphothe is the Greek word from which we get our word metamorphosis, which we use to describe the process by which a caterpillar becomes a butterfly—a truly dramatic transformation.

Incarnation gave him another appearance, but now fully transformed, It simply reveals Jesus’ true identity—an identity that he had from the beginning (Luke 1:31-35; John 1:1-4). Suddenly, the disciples are suddenly able to see Jesus’ glory—glory that Jesus always possessed but that has been veiled until this moment.

Jesus’ clothing becomes dazzling white, like the snow-white clothing of the Ancient of days in Daniel 7:9. In that account we read: he saw the vision of four beasts, afterwards there is son of man, who clothed white as snow, dazzling white, it was prophesied by Daniel many years ago, the son of man was wearing white as snow, 

The glimpse of Christ’s glory at the transfiguration speaks more loudly than any words to promise these disciples that Jesus’ prediction of suffering and death is not the whole picture. Jesus will undergo suffering and death, as well his disciples, but their final destination will be glory.

“Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus” (v. 4). The order of the names is the reverse of what we would expect. Moses came first chronologically, and was the more important of the two. It could be that Mark puts Elijah first because he is remembering God’s promise to send Elijah before the coming of the Day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). Matthew and Luke, who both use Mark’s Gospel as one of their key sources, “correct” Mark’s order (Matthew 17:3; Luke 9:30), placing Moses’ name before Elijah’s.

It has oft been noted that Moses was the great lawgiver and Elijah the great prophet, so these two men embody the Law and the Prophets. However, if Mark intended them to embody the Law and Prophets, we would expect Moses’ name to appear first so that we would have the traditional order, Law and Prophets, rather than Prophets and Law.

Tent means tabernacle, such as those in which Jews dwell to observe the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:42-44), which commemorates the Ex and the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness. Peter is suggesting to celebrate the Feast of Booths had taken on an eschatological flavor, promising Israel’s deliverance (Evans 242).

“A cloud came, overshadowing (episkiazousa) them” (v. 7a). Throughout scripture, clouds symbolize the presence of God, beginning with the pillar of cloud that led the Israelites through the wilderness by day (Ex 13:21). The most obvious parallel is the cloud that covered Mount Sinai when Moses ascended it (Ex 24:15ff), but clouds are associated with the presence of the Lord in both testaments (Ex 13:21-22; 16:10; 19:9; Daniel 7:13; Mark 9:7; 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; Revelation 1:7; 14:14-16).

It is the same verb that is used to describe the power of the Most High overshadowing Mary (Luke 1:35), which resulted in her conceiving the child who would be the Son of God/Son of Man.

“This is my beloved Son” (v. 7c). These are very nearly the same words that God spoke at Jesus’ baptism, except that at the baptism God addressed Jesus, while on this mountain God addresses the disciples.

“Listen to him!” The disciples need to hear that. Repetition of theophany at baptism. Jesus has told them that he will suffer and die (8:31-33), but they did not listen. Even after this voice from the cloud says, “Listen to him!” they will fail to hear Jesus when he speaks of suffering and death (9:31; 10:33-34). The path that Jesus will take is so different from their expectations that they cannot accept his words. It is interesting to note that, just before the transfiguration, Jesus healed a blind man (8:22-26). Shortly after the transfiguration, he will heal another blind man (10:46-52). The disciples, however, continue not to see—not to hear—not to listen. Only after the resurrection-Emmaus experience will they begin to understand that the way to glory is through suffering and sacrifice, while breaking bread, their eyes will be opened.

“Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus only” (v. 8). Suddenly Elijah and Moses disappeared. Only Jesus remains because only Jesus is needed. The disciples find themselves, not alone, but in the presence of the Beloved Son of God. Elijah and Moses were no longer needed.

V. 9a: They were coming down from the mountain. It becomes difficult for the disciples to come away from fantasy to reality, It is necessary to descend into the everyday world of work and responsibility and commerce and ordinary people. Transfiguration is a beautiful/overwhelming experience of only some time, spent in contemplation and glory. But it is not a reality. Coming down from the mountain, very soon Jesus will climb another mountain Golgotha, his garments streaming with white light, will be thrown. There will not be the voice of theophany from God, but there will be the silence from god. Disciples were pleased to be near him, they would escape from him. This is the paradox of two realities of life.  

“he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen: In Mark's Gospel, Jesus always kept the messianic secrecy: Earlier, Jesus told the demons not to make him known (3:12). Disciples should not speak about the master until every thing is fulfilled through his death and resurrection. Only after that, the disciples should follow the life of their Master. 

"To be participants in His Mission" Mark 6:7-13

"Who will take their place?" "who will be his successor" "How can we replace him" This is a question that’s frequently asked when someone resigns from a management position or gets transferred. 

This shows the genuine interest of the leaders to show their passion for one's mission. Jesus in the gospel and David in the first reading, delegate their authority to their followers. It is written, “Jesus chose and appointed them to be with him and to be sent out” (cf. Mk 3:14). Jesus, who called his apostles to be with him, sends them out two-by-two on the mission.

Three things are worth noting in the narrative, and they are the challenges to us:

(a) ‘He gave them authority’: Jesus was convinced from the beginning that the apostles or disciples were not mere followers; they were participants in the mission. By giving a share of his authority, Jesus not only empowers the apostles but also equates them to himself. He trusts that they will carry the mission forward. Here the importance is not given to persons (Christ and disciples), but the mission itself, there Jesus identifies himself. And, like Jesus, they must subdue evil, its power, and its actions. Every baptized individual is a partner in the mission, having the authority of Jesus. Are we aware of this privilege? And are we in control of evil in our life situations?

In the first reading, David installs Solomon as his successor to the throne. David embraces life, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth.” David not only accepts the realities of life but also surrenders to them. David makes Solomon a participant in the mission as the king of Israel.

(b) Minimalist living

Jesus teaches his disciples to live not only a minimalist lifestyle but also an essentialist way of life, i.e., to declutter our cupboards, bags, and minds. When it was thought that one who has more is more, Jesus proposed an alternative worldview: ‘I am what I am, not what I have.’ He wants his disciples to imitate him in poverty (cf. Mt 8:20). He makes them realise that “life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (cf. Lk 12:15). Minimalist living is proposed today as a lifestyle. Social media and internet decluttering are the needs of the hour.

(c) Honour from within

Jesus instructs his apostles that the greatest honour that comes to us is that which comes from within us. The criticisms, rejections, and misunderstandings that we face from without must not be taken into heart. How do we handle the negative criticism without?

# In our journey towards the synodal church, we must realise that we are participants in a mission. The Synthesis Report, in fact, underlines this. We are not mere spectators of the church’s celebrations, nor are we mere followers of our church leaders. When we encourage participation, we will tap human resources better and make our Church richer. (Ju

Healing needs suffering

 Mk 5:1-20

For, honestly, no discussion of human life would be complete without addressing suffering. Suffering within our souls, but also suffering in our bodies and within the natural world. David in the first reading, the man who had evil spirits suffered in fullness. 

There are three types of suffering; physical, mental and social suffering. The man in today's gospel experienced all of them. Jesus heals a demon(s)-possessed – about 6000 spirits, 1 Legion. He had bruises in his body, He spent sleepless nights stress, depression, and distance from his friends and relatives. When he was healed, they worried for the 2 thousand pigs rather than his healing (because Gerasenes is the gentile nation). David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. He also experienced this humiliation as Shimei, a kinsman of Saul, abuses David in the presence of his servants. he received the cursings, and the experience of suffering in fullness will give wisdom to them. 

with what attitude do you undergo suffering? Some people want others to see how they suffer. But David is not reactive. Nor does he attempt to take revenge on Shimei. David sees in his faith vision that everything comes from God, and God will repay evil with his good.

For me, the most beautiful thing in the gospel, the man who was healed wants to stay with Jesus as Jesus discourages him from following him. It is very strange! When someone, on his own, chooses to follow Jesus, he discourages him. Here, Jesus teaches the man a new type of discipleship. One type of discipleship is to follow Jesus; another type is to go home to tell our friends what God has done to us and how he has shown mercy to us. 

David is going home, not as the same person he was at the last time. go home, Italian proverb goes like this; L’unica regola del viaggio è: non tornare come sei partito. Torna diverso. the only rule of travel is do not return home the same, return differently. David returns home differently, you will see a new king.