October 20, 2024; 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

                                 Readings: Is. 53:10-11; Heb. 4:14-16; Mk. 10:35-45 

Love conquers all things!

The first reading concerns the suffering servant who took the people’s sins upon himself. St. Paul says of Christ, “For our sake, God made him to be sin, and who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21). “Christ died to gather into one the dispersed children of God.” (Jn. 11:52). Christ is the suffering servant who came not to condemn the world but so that the world might be saved through him. He did not conquer the world by might, power, or authority but by serving others with love. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Napoleon once said: “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force! Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love, and millions of men would die for him at this hour. He has won the hearts of men, a task a conqueror cannot do.” Love conquers all things!

Christ’s love for us was not without pain, suffering, and death. “The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him.” (Is. 53:10). Chastisement, punishment, and suffering are part of life. No one enjoys suffering and pain. Christ cried out to his Father on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1-2). The purpose of suffering is always discovered at the end. It was after his crucifixion that Christ enjoyed his resurrection. Mark Link reminds us, “The crucifixion is a dramatic sign of Jesus’ love for us.” It is in suffering that we gain eternal life. As humans, we aspire to a life of greatness while doing everything we can to avoid suffering. But Christ’s suffering shows us that there is hope and transformation even in the darkest moments.

In the gospel, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, are demanding high positions in the kingdom of God. “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask of you for us. Grant that in your glory, we may sit at your right hand and the other at your left.” What would you call these two brothers? Selfish, inconsiderate, ambitious, and egocentric? And you would be correct, but are we different from them? There is something of James and John in all of us. We do not always consider what others think or how they feel so long as we satisfy our ego. We want to lead the parade, be in charge, and give instructions to others. Though we don’t always like to serve, we don’t mind being served. As I have said before, authority in the church means service. We must be available to serve others because we are called to be servant leaders. This struggle with ego is a universal human experience, and it’s important to recognize it in ourselves and others.

Christ exhorted them to be different in answer to James, John, and the apostles. “You know, among the pagans, their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt; this is not to happen among you. Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk. 10:43-45). As disciples of Jesus, we must follow Christ in his love for all God’s children and shun the ways of the world. We must love and serve even the unapproachable managers, the angry teachers, the authoritarian principals, and the power-hungry politicians. Let us learn the true meaning of power and authority - to serve in love and charity.

The followers of Christ are called to avoid the disordered path to greatness. Christ invited the brothers to think of greatness in terms of suffering. “Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” Christ referred them to his imminent death. If they want to be leaders, they must be prepared to suffer martyrdom. The reward of greatness is given by God alone, and the disciples must work hard to deserve it. The James and John in us push us to be lords and kings, while Jesus calls us to be servant leaders. We pray that we may not shy away from suffering that comes from God in our service of love. “For the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” (Prov. 3:11-12). Let us remember our call to be servant leaders, and let it empower and motivate us in our daily lives. 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

From the Pastor’s Desk 

“Go and Invite Everyone to the Banquet.”

Today is World Mission Sunday, a yearly commemoration that underscores the vital role of missionary organizations and mission-oriented individuals in sharing the Good News of God’s kingdom. Our missionary mandate calls us to cooperate with God to make his kingdom more visible in our world today. We remember and support the work of the mission worldwide, enshrined in the Code of Canon Law that supports the Church’s outreach in over 1,150 mission territories. The theme of this year’s celebration, chosen by Pope Francis, is: “Go and invite everyone to the banquet,” inspired by the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:9. This theme calls us to reach out and welcome all to the feast of God’s love, echoing the inclusivity and urgency of the king’s invitation. Our mission is to reflect this divine hospitality, bringing joy, compassion, and hope to everyone we encounter, especially in territories where the Gospel has not yet been received, has been only recently embraced, or is courageously upheld in the face of persecution.

A Catholic can assist the missionary effort in three ways, and missionaries constantly remind us of them. This is within everyone’s capacity.

Prayer is a powerful tool in supporting missionary work. We pray that God may grant the missions His merciful aid, knowing that this kind of prayer cannot fail, especially in this cause. For no cause is dearer or more pleasing to God than this one. Just as Moses implored God’s aid for his people while they fought their battle with Amalek, we, too, must support the teachers of the Gospel in the Lord’s vineyard with our prayers. It is our duty as the faithful to follow the example of Moses and grant them the support of our prayers.

Fostering vocations is a crucial aspect of supporting missionary work. As Jesus reminds us, “The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). This is not a task to be delayed or taken lightly. It is a responsibility that we all share, and we must pray for an increase of vocation in the Church with a sense of urgency and commitment. The mission is now, and we are all called to act.

Economic Help. Every Catholic must give to support mission work.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

October 13, 2024; 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Wis. 7:7-11; Heb. 4:12-13; Mk. 10:17-30 

Go, Sell What You Have, and Give to the Poor!

1.    Solomon encountered the Lord in the first book of Kings, who said, “Ask something of me, and I will give it to you.” Solomon answered and said give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people and to govern this vast people of yours.” (1 Kings 3:5-10). Solomon asked for the gift of wisdom. He recognized that he was a mere youth, not knowing how to act.  He wanted to learn how to govern the people of God, ruling them with equity, justice, and love. He wanted to know the difference between good and evil and what mattered in life. He desired the greater good rather than scanty victories with no proper judgment. His answer pleased God, who then said to him, “Because you have asked for this – not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right – I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you, there will come no one to equal you. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that there is not your like among kings.” (1 Kings 3:10-14).

2.    Today’s first reading praises the significance of wisdom, a transformative force everyone should strive for. It’s not just a gift but a catalyst for spiritual growth. It’s the first and highest gift of the Holy Spirit, the perfection of faith, enabling us to correctly value what we believe in through faith. “Wisdom is a spiritual gift which enables one to know the purpose and plan of God.” (CCC 1831).

3.    Christ is the wisdom of God, the hidden treasure a man finds and sells everything to buy. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He knows the way to the kingdom of God. St James tells us that “Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.” (3:17). Christ, therefore, is what the rich young man in today’s gospel wanted; he is the answer to his yearning and the aspiration of his life. The rich young man is poor indeed, without Christ. He lacks one thing and, therefore, must go, sell “What you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then come, follow me.” This detachment is not a loss but a liberation, freeing us from the shackles of materialism and self-centeredness.

4.    But the rich young man was too blind to see that the answer to his prayer was right before him. His story serves as a cautionary tale for us all. He asked Eternal Life what he was to do to get eternal life. All he needed was to open his eyes and be detached from the clutches and shackles that hindered him. But the young man was comfortably hiding under the cloak of the law. “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” He did nothing wrong by keeping the law; he did not hurt anyone, but what else did he do? Nothing! Apart from keeping the law, Christ wanted him to dirty his hands by helping others. Go and sell what you have and give it to the poor. Christ invited him to be detached from the law to be free to love. But no, he would rather die than seek the wisdom he so badly needed. His love for wealth and riches robbed him of heaven. He loved the law more than people. He did nothing wrong, but he did nothing more. He offended no one, but he sinned against Lady Charity. Give to the poor to gain heaven and eternal life. He would instead go to hell than allow a penny of his to fall into the hands of those immigrants, those poor people, those beggars, those sick people, the displaced and homeless people. After all, he was not responsible for their condition. He worked hard for his money, so why should he help them? So, better die and go to hell than help those people. Better hold on to the law and doctrines than bend down to see the needs of others.

5.    Christianity must be practical, not just a set of rules we follow. We must be Christians in word and in deed, with charity being the cornerstone of our actions. A Christian who is rich in keeping the law but lacking in charity is a dead Christian.  We must listen to the Word and allow ourselves to be affected by it. The second reading reminds us that “The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”  We often leave the church sad because the pastor said something we do not like or agree with. Remember the rich young man? He went away sad because he did not like what Christ asked him to do. The Word and the Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus himself, invites us to dig deep and throw our nets into the deep water for a catch; are we ready to listen to him? You may say you are not rich; you have no wealth or money. You may even say Christ was not talking about you because you do not have those things. But wait a minute. What about your attachment to things, anger, hurt, aggression, and your way of life? If we do not detach from what hinders us from seeing Christ, our way to the Father, we will be sad and miss the kingdom. Let us pray for the gift of wisdom and, most importantly, for the wisdom of God. May we see in our poor the pathway to eternal life. If today, you listen to his voice harden, not your heart! Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

 

October 06, 2024; 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

                                 Readings: Gen. 2:18-24; Heb. 2:9-11; Mk. 10:2-16

Only a Human Being can Solve a Human Problem.

1.    Vima Dasan, SJ, in his book ‘His Word Lives,’ writes, “Questioning the children before Confirmation, the Bishop asked one nervous little girl, “What is matrimony?” She answered, “A place where souls suffer for a time for their sins!” “No, no,” said the parish priest, “that is purgatory.” “Let her alone,” said the Bishop, “She might be right; what do you and I know about it?” It is obvious that priests, apart from what they read and hear during counseling and marriage preparation, do not know much about the actual life of married couples. Some may have some idea, good or bad, based on the married lives of their parents. That is about all they know. Today’s readings present us with, first, the intention of God concerning man and woman, and second, the causes for divorce.

2.    The first reading tells us how God felt about man after creation. God felt pity for man’s loneliness. “It is not good for the man to be alone.” God then worked hard to fix that problem. “I will make a suitable partner for him.” Animals and things could not fix man’s loneliness. Only a human being can solve a human problem. When a woman was brought to a man, his problem was solved. “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called ‘woman’ for out of ‘her man,’ this one has been taken.” Case closed! Right? Not so fast. A woman was taken from a man’s side not to lord it over him but to be his friend, partner, companion, helper, and wife. On the other hand, the man is not to lord it over his wife or be her master. He, too, is to be a friend, a helper, a companion, and a partner to his wife. The marriage bond between a man and a woman will endure if these conditions are met.

3.    The Church sees marriage as “a covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of their whole life and which of its own very nature is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children” (Cannon 1055). Therefore, any person who wants to enter into a marital covenant must be free to consent to a life-long commitment to the other. “If their free consent is missing or seriously flawed, there is no marriage. In such cases, marriage tribunals may issue a declaration of nullity (an annulment). An annulment does not make a marriage invalid; it simply declares that it always was invalid, despite appearances to the contrary.” (Archbishop Terrence Prendergast SJ, ‘Living God’s Word’). Therefore, any marriage validly entered into with consent freely given and accepted cannot be dissolved. It is in perpetuity till death. It is binding and enduring and remains so for the good of the spouses and the well-being of children. Compatibility and communication, finances, trust, commitment, fidelity, patience, and endurance should be painstakingly discussed and stressed during marriage preparation. When these issues are not adequately treated before the celebration of the sacrament of matrimony, spouses may look for an easy way out by way of divorce, with the excuse that they were not well informed before they gave their consent. 

4.    Jesus addresses the question of divorce in today’s gospel. They asked him, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” He asked them, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts, he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.” Married life is not a bed of roses. It is a covenant between two individuals, with their personalities intact, who try to live a life of happiness and bliss together. It can only be possible through tolerance and endurance. St. Paul tells us how marital bliss can be achieved. “Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over to her to sanctify her. So husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church.” (Eph. 4:21-32).

5.    If husbands and wives must live together in love, peace, and harmony and avoid divorce and the resultant harm and hardships on the children, they must create a conducive environment for love and peace to reign in their family. Since marriage is a sacrament, God will always supply the graces needed for them to thrive. But they must ask for it. Only God will make couples feel hopeful and supported in their marriage. Prayer, the sacrament of reconciliation, and the faithful reception of the Eucharist at Mass must be cultivated. The family that prays together stays together. Selfishness must be avoided by all means, and the ‘I’ and ‘me’ must be substituted for ‘us’ and ‘we.’ Husbands and wives must respect themselves and approach their challenges with calmness, trust, and an abiding love for each other. They must avoid external influences that may corrupt peace and harmony in their homes. They must take their problems to God first before their neighbors. This will ensure a lasting and peaceful coexistence between them. St. Peter has a few words for husbands and wives: “Be of one mind, sympathetic, loving towards one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because of this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.” (1Peter 3:8-9).

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

September 29, 2024; 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

                             Readings: Numbers 11:25-29; Jas. 5:1-6; Mk. 9:38-43, 47-48 

They Are Not One of Us

1.     Today is exactly 100 years and a day since the first Mass was celebrated on this ground. On the 28th day of September 1924, the congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, the Redemptorist religious priests, started a mission here in Becknel Street to provide pastoral care to a small Christian community of about 160 people made up of farmers and railroad workers. The chief celebrant at the Mass was Reverend Cornelius Warren, C.Ss.R., rector of St. Mary’s Annapolis. Reverend Augustine Smith, C.Ss.R., delivered the homily. It is humbling to note that none of those who attended or celebrated the Mass on that day is alive today. William Shakespeare was right indeed when he observed: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and the entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” (‘As You Like It.’ Act 11, Scene V11). Our forebears, men, women and children, priests, religious men, and women, deacons, and nuns, worked in St. Joseph parish; they played their parts and left the scene; it is our turn to run the race for the next hundred years. The distance of our journey depends on God. However, we must do our part and leave a legacy of faith, commitment, spirituality, love, mercy, compassion, generosity, and the gift of diversity to the next generation.

2.     In the first reading, we read of Eldad and Medad, two of the 70 elders appointed to assist Moses. They were not at the ceremony but received the spirit and prophesied. Joshua wanted to stop them, but Moses asked, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!” In the gospel, John approached Jesus and reported, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.” This brings a powerful dimension to how we receive people of other faiths. 

3.     We often prevent people from doing good deeds because they are not one of us. We frequently put people in boxes and divide them into groups of those who belong to us and those who do not. We see people as foreigners, strangers, or immigrants. We see their color as brown, black, or white, but of course ours is better. They are Asians, Europeans, Caucasians, or Latin Americans, but we are Americans. They have an accent and do not talk like us. They are Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. They don’t like us, and we don’t want them because we are better than them. This perception and way of thinking is sinful and scandalous. It is wrong! It makes it hard to accept people for who they are: sons and daughters of God, created in the image and likeness of God.

4.     St. James referred to this way of thinking and perception in his epistle. We rely on our self-importance, arrogance, and pride. He said, “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire.” This is because we see ourselves as deserving while others are undeserving. We are the ones who will go to heaven, while others are hell-bound. Or, like our protestant brothers and sisters would see us Catholics as those who worship idols and Mary; therefore, they are convinced that we are heading to hell. Their one mission is to make us born-again Christians so that they may save us from damnation. Christ made it clear that all good deeds come from God. We cannot, on our own, do any good without the grace of God. Therefore, we should avoid scandal by how we live and treat others. 

5.     We sometimes bring this perception and way of thinking to our ministries in the Church. We will not do anything that another person did for fear that we are doing their work. God has endowed us with the gift of talent, time, and treasure; we must invest our gift in building God’s kingdom on earth. No one is better than the other. St. Paul captured it well in his letter to the Ephesians: “And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy one for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-12). We are called, gifted, and equipped for ministry. Our gift is not for us but to be used for others and to build up the kingdom and God’s holy people. Let us look down on no one or think they are not worthy of God’s call.

6.     As we begin the new phase, let us promise and commit ourselves today to contribute our quotas to building St. Joseph’s parish for the next 100 years. May we be humbled enough to accept that many of us will not be around to celebrate the next centennial of our parish. Therefore, the future of the next celebration depends on our contribution today. I pray that our commitment may not be like a hen contributing an egg for the feast but a pig that made a total life commitment by giving ham, the gift of its life, for the celebration. That is the type of legacy we are to leave to children today. Stop no one from participating in ministry, no matter where the person comes from. Our diversity should be our strength. And so, we pray that we may rather die than sin against God and our neighbors and that we may never scandalize the young ones with our way of life and our perception of others. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

September 22, 2024; 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Jas. 3:16-4:3; Mk. 9:30-37 

 Service in Love and Humility

The Book of Wisdom addresses the difference between the just and the wicked. The wicked are tired of the religiosity of the just and their claim of immortality and God’s justice. For them, it is useless to pursue a life of righteousness and justice in a world where both the just and the unjust suffer equally, despite God’s promise of security for the just. Why not live your life today since there is nothing more to it? Based on this reasoning, Christ’s prediction of his death makes no sense. Hence, the apostles had difficulty taking him seriously. Who wants to suffer the agony of the cross? What is the purpose of living for others when we can live for ourselves? Why carry the cross when one can live a comfortable life? While on the road, instead of thinking of Christ’s impending death, the apostles think of who is the greatest among them. They were concerned about their future, their retirement plan, and their place in history.

Even the mother of Zebedee’s sons wanted a piece of the pie for her sons. Approaching Jesus, she requested, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” (Mt. 20:21). They wanted to be sure Jesus made his will before his death. They had to be sure their contribution to Christ’s mission counted for something. While Christ told them, “The Son of man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”, they were busy “Discussing among themselves who was the greatest.” The apostles’ way of thinking was no different from how we think. We are ambitious! We want to be great, respected, and acknowledged as benevolent leaders. The apostles’ concern for their future was palpable, as they were busy securing their place in history and their retirement plan. Sometimes, when struggling for greatness, we overlook the plight of others. Christ shared with them his fear of rejection and crucifixion, but they were concerned about their own selfish ends and ambitions. Like the wicked in the first reading, who cares! How insensitive they were to his feelings!

Christ knew them well. He used their insensitivity to teach them about authority and service and the meaning of real greatness. “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. ” (Mk. 10:43-45). He demonstrated his teaching by washing their feet and told them, “You call Me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (Jn. 13:13-15). Authority in the Church is for service. Hence, the motto of the Holy Father, the Pope: Servant of the servants of God. The pope is the chief servant of us all, called to serve others. Our call is not to lord it over others but to lead them by the power of our example and teach them how to serve others willingly.

Christ gave the apostles another symbol of authority – humility and dependence. He introduced a child into the picture and told them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives not me but him who sent me.” A child does not depend on his importance and greatness but on his parents’. His security and safety come from his parents. Christ wants his apostles to rely on God for greatness and strength. According to St. James in the second reading, if God is not the source of our greatness, we will derail from the right path and seek power by other means, leading to jealousy, selfish ambition, disorder, and every vile practice. Of course, what the disciples were discussing was anything but a path to greatness. Christians must avoid the disordered path to greatness. To be first and have authority, they must walk the path of humility and service.

The second reading points us to the root cause of conflicts in a spiritual life not rooted in humility and service. James asked, “Where do the conflicts among you originate? Is it not your inner craving that makes war within your members?” Pride and petty jealousy stir up hatred in a heart that cries out for vengeance, even against the innocent. “Let us best the just one, let us condemn him to a shameful death.” (Wisdom 2:19-20). We are often blinded by inordinate desires and motives, which makes it difficult to see the needs of others. Instead of relying on God and the wisdom that comes from above, we look down and trust our instinct to earthly wisdom and only think of ourselves and our self-importance. A humble person sees others and not himself.

According to Philip John and Premdas in ‘New Horizons,’ “What motivates my decisions, shapes my style or functioning? In the exercise of authority, what is my primary unexpressed, gut-level concern? To serve or to be served? The number one crisis in the Church at all levels is the crisis in authority. Starting with the wrong question, we end up in a sorry mess. The wrong question is: Who is the greatest among us? The right question is: How can I be a humble servant.” Many church leaders have caused incalculable harm to the body of Christ due to their insatiable desire for power and authority. We allow pride and our sense of importance to control our willingness to serve the Church and others. Let us pray that we may not be ruled by our passion for authority and power but by our willingness to serve like Christ. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

September 15, 2024; 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Is. 50:5-9; Jas. 2:14-18; Mk. 8:27-35 

In the Cross is our Salvation.

1.    The Cross represents pain, suffering, difficulties, sadness, and loneliness. Criminals were hung on the Cross to die a shameful and painful death. According to St. Paul, “‘Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree.’” (Gal. 3:13). Christ removed the curse associated with the Cross and made it an object of salvation for the world; therefore, “In the cross is our salvation.” We cannot go through life without experiencing some form of the Cross. Hence, Christ warns, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

2.    There is a story of a man who wanted to follow in Christ’s footsteps. He got a cross the same size as Christ and went on a pilgrimage. But he felt the Cross was too heavy as he went along, so he cut off some of it. When he came to a river too deep to cross, he had an idea. He threw the Cross across the river, intending to walk on it to the other side. But the Cross was shorter by the piece he cut off, so his journey ended. We cannot claim to know Jesus if we run away from suffering. Christ did not run away from his Cross, but he embraced it, for it was through his Cross that he saved the world. As we say on Good Friday, “We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your Cross, You have redeemed the world.”

3.    Christ asked his disciples, in today’s gospel, who they thought he was. Was he one of the prophets like John the Baptist, Jeremiah, or Elijah? Was he just a miracle worker? A healer? A storyteller? Or a friend and lover of the sick? Yes! Christ was all that and more. Peter got it right. He was the Messiah—the Anointed One. The one sent for the salvation of the world. He answered correctly. But Christ had to explain his messianic role and what his mission in the world was all about. He is the suffering servant in the first reading. He will be beaten, his beard plucked, and he will be spat upon. He will rely on God for protection but will not run away from pain and suffering. Yes, he will suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and finally, he will die a shameful death as they will nail him to the Cross, the object of shame and disgrace. His kingship will be different from that of the world. He will reign supreme on the Cross, and by his Cross, he will save the world. Peter could not imagine this Messiah going through such ignominy. “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” (Mt. 16:22). But Christ stood firm and put Peter in his place, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mt. 16:23). So, how do human beings think? They think of comfort, pleasure, leisure, and how to avoid pains and suffering, especially the Cross, at all costs!

4.    We are ready for the crown without the Cross. We want the glory without work, to pass examinations with flying colors without studying. We shy away from sufferings and pains but yearn for exulted positions. Christianity is not about having a life without pain and suffering; it is about being prepared for both. Christ shared good times with his disciples, but he also had his share of pain, rejection, and crucifixion. Many times, people have wondered why a loving God would allow us to suffer. We often wonder why we should suffer from sickness, hunger, viruses, and death. What is the place for suffering and the Cross in the world created by God? Why should children be born without limbs? What role do fire, earthquake, landslides, tsunami, and many other natural disasters play in the world while thousands are displaced or lose their lives? Why do we have so many gun violence in our nation? Why do we keep silent when so many young people are killed recklessly while our politicians lack the willpower to do anything about it? Why does one religion attack and persecute another in the name of God or Allah? We may not know the answers to these questions, but there are many more questions to ask. But pain and suffering have their place in the world.

5.    Our call to follow Christ, the suffering Messiah, demands that we be prepared to lose our life in order to get it back. Losing our life may not necessarily mean martyrdom, but it means dying to ourselves, our selfishness, and our pride so that we may live for Christ. Christianity is hard work. Hence, James tells us bluntly, “Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead!” Our faith must be alive and active. It means getting up and contributing our gifts of time, talent, and treasure to advance the kingdom of God on earth. If we want the crown of eternal life, we must not shy away from the Cross of our daily life. Let us pray that our crosses may not be too heavy even as we identify our suffering with Christ. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

September 08, 2024; 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Is. 35:4-7; Jas. 2:1-5; Mk. 7:31-37 

He has done all things well.

In the first reading, Isaiah addressed the children of Israel during their captivity in Babylon: “Be strong, fear not! Here is your God he comes to save you.” They felt abandoned by God. They knew their actions brought disaster upon themselves by turning their backs on God. They were not faithful to their covenant with God. But Isaiah assured them that God would revisit them and bring them out of captivity. God would never abandon his people. God’s salvation is expressed in healing the blind and the deaf, the lame and the mute. “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe.”

The gospel took up the theme of the presence of God in a broken world. Christ opened the ears of the man with a speech impediment. “He took him off by himself away from the crowd.” Christ’s compassionate act was a powerful demonstration of God’s transformative presence in the world. He did not want the man to be embarrassed by his defect but to experience the fullness of life. Christ did not just restore his physical deafness; he restored his spiritual deafness as well. According to Eugene H. Maly in ‘The Word Alive,’ “The physical defects are the result of sin, of alienation from God. The restoration of wholeness, then, means not only the physical cure; it also symbolizes the destruction of evil, the renewed presence of the saving God.” This is the hope God’s presence brings: the promise of transformation and renewal.

By opening the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf, Christ opened, not just his eyes but his mind and heart as well. The deaf can hear not only human words but also the Word of God. The lame can walk but also follow in the Lord’s way. A wholeness of the body without a wholeness of the spirit is broken wholeness. The evil that the Lord overcomes is not just the evil of broken limbs, but also of broken hearts. Hence “Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins as he cured his sickness.” (Mk. 2:2-12). This is the new thing that God is doing in our world. “Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Is. 43:19).

Our baptism is a call to proclaim the goodness of the Lord. Though Christ told those who witnessed the opening of the deaf man’s ears to tell no one, they did not obey him. Why? The answer lies in the word “proclaim.” We are told, “But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.” Christ did not want the people to misunderstand the reason for healing the sick and restoring defects. He did not work wonders for applause. Neither was he a political leader. They, on the contrary, especially the deaf and dumb man, were announcing the good news (proclaim). Their ears were opened to hear God’s word, and their tongues were loosened to proclaim it. Something more had happened than just a physical healing. God’s presence was to be felt in and around them. This is a responsibility and a privilege we all share as baptized members of the community to proclaim the goodness of the Lord in our words and actions. 

Our Christian duties call us to open our ears to listen to people around us, to see them as human beings, and to help them as much as we can. This is not just a duty, but a call to missionary discipleship. Therefore, to fully participate in the life of Jesus and experience his goodness, we must open our ears and eyes to the plight of our brothers and sisters in the world. The plight of the deaf and dumb is our plight, too; their incapacities are ours as well. Their disabilities affect us and demonstrate the power of sin in the world.  Many of us are deaf and dumb – not physically, but spiritually. Do we open our ears to hear the stories of woes, sin, division, racism, and hurts around us and in our world? What have we done about it? Do we dismiss the inequalities, injustices, and poverty that are crying for attention around us? Because what affects one person affects the rest of us. We cannot isolate ourselves from the problems around us. If we close our eyes and pretend it does not concern us, we will fail the Lord in his hour of need. For he said: “So long as you did it for the least of my brethren, you did it for me.” If we spend some time in prayer, we will hear Christ calling us to pay attention to the needs of the people around us. St. James tells us to show no partiality as we hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. We must not prefer the rich to the poor. Both should be treated equally.

Let us go to Jesus with our deafness; he will take us aside, touch us, remove our deafness, and loosen our tongues to proclaim his praises. We can spend quality time in prayer during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 12:00 noon. He will also open our eyes to the needs of people around us, and his mercy will direct us to help them. Since the healing of the deaf and dumb demonstrates the compassion of Christ, may it also touch our hearts and allow us to be compassionate. Let us be more attentive to the word of God planted in our tongues and ears on the day of baptism so that we, too, may hear the word of God and proclaim it by our way of life. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

September 01, 2024; 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Deut. 4:1-2,6-8; Jas. 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mk. 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 

What comes out of a person is what defiles. 

Some years ago, I lit a purple instead of the rose candle on the third Sunday of Advent. A parishioner was so upset that it affected her participation at Mass. She confronted me about it after Mass. I told her that the color of the candle we light at Mass does not matter to God so long as our hearts are at peace with God and others. She was even more angry and pointedly told me, ‘Well, if you do not know which candle color to light, you should not have been ordained a priest.’ That was shocking. What does the color of the candle have to do with the worship of God? Lighting a candle is a mere ritual and nothing more.  So, do we worship God with our hearts, or are we simply observing the rituals? Must we always do things as ‘it was in the beginning’ and not question why we do them? Are we paying lip service to God or doing things that will deepen our relationship with God? Let us not be afraid to question traditions and rituals, our beliefs, and challenge our assumptions.

The gospel tells us of the Pharisees and scribes who came from Jerusalem to Galilee to observe Jesus and ensure that he did everything according to their laws. They observed rightly “That some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the traditions of the elders.” To them, Jesus said, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition.” (Mk. 7:5-7)

Jesus would later ask his disciples, “Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine? But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within, and they defile.” (Mk. 7:18-23) It is funny that some Christians focus on the rituals rather than the worship of God. It is easier to think of things and how they are done than of people and how to help them. It is easier to think of how to do things right in the Church than how to be right with God and one another. Little wonder why the Psalmist asked, “Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?” (Ps. 15:1). According to the Psalmist, here are the qualities needed to be admitted into God’s presence: “Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart; Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend; Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the Lord; Who keeps an oath despite the cost, lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.” (Ps. 15:2-5). These are the sons and daughters of the kingdom of heaven. They are the poor in spirit, the peacemakers, the meek, the merciful, and the clean of heart. They seek to please God and their neighbors and worship God in spirit and in truth. They will inherit the kingdom of God. (Mt. 5)  

In the second reading, St. James reminds us, “All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17). We should strive to live by God’s law, being doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding ourselves. Because “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27). Isaiah also stressed this point thus: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them and not turning your back on your own.” (Is. 58:6-7). In summary, faith without good works is dead.

In the first reading, Moses reminded the children of Israel that God’s law was a gift that would give evidence of wisdom and intelligence “To the nations, who will hear of these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God is to us whenever we call upon him”. God is close to us when we keep his law of love. When we worship God in spirit and in truth, we can’t but come to the aid of those in need, and God’s love will be perfected in us. Hearing the word of God is good, but putting it into practice is even better. Going to Church, praying the rosary, fasting, and spending a long time in Church are all good and excellent and worthy on their own. Still, good works should accompany them: helping the poor, forgiving injuries, being compassionate, showing mercy, and helping in ministries of the parish according to our gifts. This is the worship that pleases God. It will purify our hearts against the things that defile us. When we love God in spirit and in truth, we will find joy in genuinely loving others from our hearts because we love God that much.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

August 25, 2024; 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Jos. 24:1-2, 15-17; Eph. 5:21-32; Jn. 6:60-69 

A Teaching Too Hard to Understand

In his album, ‘Mama Africa,’ Peter Tosh, the Jamaican reggae star, sang: “All my life I’ve been a lonely man teaching people who don’t understand. Even though I tried my best, I still can’t find happiness.” How do you teach a lazy person the virtue of hard work? How do you teach a beggar to stop begging and get a job? How do you teach a substance abuser or an alcoholic to be sober? How do you tell a debtor to manage his resources well and stop taking loans? Teaching people to change and pursue a better life can be challenging. They will say your teaching is too hard to understand if you do. They will leave you and go to those enabling their bad habits and behaviors.

Jesus could not, no matter how hard he tried, convince some of his followers to change their way of life. For five weeks, He has been teaching his disciples that unless they ate his body and drank his blood, they would not have life in them. Christ showed the importance of food for their bodies by multiplying five loaves and two fish to feed thousands. He stressed that as bread was important to satisfy their physical hunger, so was his body and blood for their souls. Christ urged them to dig deeper and go for something that will endure. “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” To the woman at the well, he said, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jn. 4:13-14). Jesus is the only one who can guarantee us eternal happiness.

In the first reading, Joshua encourages the children of Israel to choose who to follow. “If it does not, please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” He told them to follow God or the pagan gods. The choice was theirs! The tribes of Israel, now in the Promised Land, are depicted as having at last defeated their enemies. They stand before their new leader, Joshua, who recounted all the adventures of their forefathers from the time of Abraham, some five hundred years down to the present. They were only successful because God led them throughout their exploits. He led their fathers into the land of Canaan and down into Egypt, brought them out of the land of bondage, through the wilderness, and now once again into the land of promise. Having told them their history, Joshua told them to choose the gods they would serve. But that regardless of their choice, he and his household would serve the Lord.

Christ demanded the same choice from his disciples with his discourse on the bread of life. He stressed that his Body and Blood would satisfy their hearts’ yearning. He promised them eternal life and assured them, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.” (Jn. 6:54-56). And yet, Christ did not force them to accept his teaching. He respected their freedom to reject or to take his teaching. Some of his followers thought the teaching was too complicated and could not accept it anymore, so they stopped following him. But Christ did not persuade them to stay back, nor did he try to stop them. He respected the exercise of their freedom. Rather he asked his apostles, “Do you also want to leave?” It was their call. But they chose to stay. “Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

We made the same commitment on the day of Baptism. We promised to follow the Lord and obey his word. We pledged to reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises. But we are not always faithful and committed to God. We have eaten his Body and drank his Blood, but we don’t always believe that he will give us life eternal. We have often said one thing and done the exact opposite. Today, we must make a choice. Let us renew our Baptismal promises to be faithful and committed to Christ, who will satisfy our every need. His teaching may be challenging, but we must follow the path that leads to righteousness. There is only one way to God. And Christ is that way.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

August 11, 2024. 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: 1 Kgs. 19:4-8; Eph. 4:30-5:2; Jn. 6:41-51 

Whoever eats the Bread will live forever

Imagine being told that someone in the nearby city guarantees freedom from pain, sickness, and death and assures you eternal life. Imagine many people, including yourself, rushing to that city to meet that person with great expectations because you want to live forever. When you finally see the person, you discover that you know him, are close to his family, and even go to the same school as his brothers and sisters. You knew the parents well before they relocated. You always saw him working with his father in their family business. This is not just a stranger making grand promises but someone you know intimately. So, this is the man who promises the whole world eternal life? He told people that God sent him and that God was his father. You would be right to assume that he had a mental problem; he is delusional and needs a psychiatric evaluation. You would not want to have anything to do with that man.

That was precisely how some Jews felt about Jesus. They knew him. “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?’” (Jn. 6:42). Jesus had to constantly establish his identity to win the approval of his people. “He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this? And they took offense at him.” (Mat. 13:54-57). Jesus’ language was strange and difficult for them to understand. His way of life was different. His message was mercy, love, forgiveness, and compassion. They got stuck in the ‘here and now’ and missed out on the ‘hereafter.’ Little wonder they murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (Jn. 6:41).

If we dwell on the credentials and experiential knowledge of Jesus and his origin, we miss the essential truth about his teaching. It is an act of faith to believe in the one who sent him: “No one can come to me unless the father, who sent me, draws him, and I will raise him on the last day.” ‘Look beyond the bread you eat and the wine you drink to see the Savior and your Lord, and his love poured out as blood.’ God gave his Son as bread for the salvation of the world. Jesus affirms this when he says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

In the first reading, Elijah, who was hungry, tired, and depressed, had had enough: “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” In his moment of vulnerability, God showed up and commanded him to “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” After eating the food of the angel, Elijah was nourished and strengthened, his energy was restored, his depression lifted, and his faith in God renewed. He was strong again to face the trials of life. He had a reason to live again. With zeal and zest for life, he could now walk 40 days and 40 nights to meet the Lord. The new song in his heart could as well be: ‘Because you live, I can see tomorrow.’ God was carrying him on an eagle’s wings. If we have faith in God and Jesus Christ, his Son, we will want for nothing. Christ assures us, I am the bread of life; whoever eats the bread will live forever, for my body is real food and my blood is real drink; whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise him on the last day. God always provides for his people when they least expect him. He gave them manna from heaven and water from the rock and brought them to the promised land. As the Lord fed Elijah, so does he feed and nourish us with food for our journey. Jesus, the bread of life, will sustain us on our earthly journey till we meet him in the new Jerusalem.

As a community of God’s people, we are fed by his body and blood. This food will nourish and change us into a people of God. His body and blood will prevent sin and make us humble and honest. Hence, St. Paul admonishes us to let our lives be compatible with our participation in the body of Christ. He urges us to live in peace with one another. Therefore, “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” We must satisfy the hunger of one another for truth, justice, and peace. We must provide a meal of brotherhood and companionship to others needing comfort, love, and mercy. Let us create a fraternal community where all are called to build the kingdom of God on earth. May we be renewed on our pilgrim journey to our everlasting kingdom with God. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.