June 27, 2021. 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; 2 Cor. 8:7,9, 13-15; Mk 5:21-43.

“I Came so that they might have life and have it abundantly.” Jn. 10:10

1.     A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room with net access, so he decided to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, sent the e-mail.

2.     Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband’s funeral. He was a church minister who died following a heart attack. The widow decided to check her e-mail expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widow’s son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read: To: My Loving Wife. Subject: I’ve arrived. Date: 9 July 2010. “I know you’re surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I’ve just arrived and have been checked in. I’ve seen that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. PS: It is sure hot down here!!!” Even the union of husband and wife is till death do us part and no more! Each to his own in death, right?

3.     Last Sunday we read about Job and his ordeal. We noticed that God did not give Job any justification for his suffering. Instead, Job was invited to see that suffering was within the mysterious design of the universe, where losses, setbacks, sickness, brokenness, pains, and disappointments had their place. The book of Job is an attempt to address the problem of evil in the world created by a loving God. In today’s first reading we hear that “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living…For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it.” When we choose to do our will over and above the will of God, the source of our happiness, we choose death rather than life. Death is a way of life without God. The gospel, on the other hand, shows us that Jesus is the Lord of life. He tells us, “I Came so that they might have life and have it abundantly.” (Jn. 10:10).  He told Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” (Jn. 11:25). Jesus is always in the business of saving life. We are told that Jesus “went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38). He restored the sight to the blind, made the lame walk, raised the dead, fed the hungry, and drove away demons from possessed people and preached a new way of life and initiated a kingdom of love, justice, and peace.

4.     The gospel demonstrated Jesus’ generosity to heal the afflicted and the willingness of the sick to go to him for help. God will never do for us what we can do for ourselves. Jairus was a synagogue official, who, despite his exulted position humbled himself and knelt before Jesus pleading on behalf of his sick daughter. He was a man, a leader, influential and rich. In that crowd also was another sick person. A woman, who was socially, economically, and religiously unfit to be in the company of Jesus or in public for that matter. She was financially broke, after spending all her money on the doctors; she was ceremonially unclean because of her flow of blood, and thus unable to enter any synagogue. For her to get healing, she had to come in personal contact with the healer, but by so doing, she would defile the healer and annul his healing power. She could not ask Jesus for help because she was afraid; and so, with much courage and boldness, she touched his garment with the hope that she would be made clean. Her prayer was answered, and her flow of blood dried up instantly.

5.     But then Jesus knew about the healing and demanded who the beneficiary was. With fear and trembling, she confessed what she had done. Jesus did not shame her but praised her courage and extoled her faith. The Psalmist tells us to “call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Ps.50:15). This reminds me of a story about the power of Jesus to save. According to an old legend, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand. Confucius, the Chinese philosopher, saw the man’s predicament and said, “It is evident that men should stay out of places such as these.” Brahma, one of the major gods of Hinduism, came on the scene and said, “You suffer because of your sins.” Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, “Let that man’s plight be a lesson to the rest of the world.” Then Mohammad came by and said to the sinking man, “Alas! It is the will of God.” Finally, Jesus appeared. “Take my hand, brother,” He said, “and I will save you.” The mercy of Jesus is always there for us if we will only take his hand and allow him to heal us. For He has come “to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk. 19:10).

6.     St. Paul reminds us that the generosity of Jesus should urge us to be generous ourselves. He pleaded in the second reading on behalf of the suffering poor in Jerusalem and urged us to be generous to others in imitation of the sovereign liberality of Christ who gave his life for the salvation of all. In urging generosity in support of others, however, Paul always leaves the individual disciple free to give to the extent that he or she feels moved. No one should be constrained ever to give to charity. Jesus is generous to us in every way. He gives us everything including himself; he wants us to reach out to him in all our trouble and distress. As we sing, “Abide with me, fast falls the eventide, the darkness deepens Lord, with me abide, when other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, oh abide with me.” May the Lord meet us at the hour of our needs and reach out and take our hands when we are in trouble and raise us as he did Jairus’ daughter. For with the Lord there is mercy and fulness of redemption. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

June 20, 2021 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Job 38:1,8-11; 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41.

How Violent is Your Storm? Can You See Him Sleeping Through It?

1.     In today’s gospel reading Jesus’s disciples are on the Lake of Galilee when a violent storm occurred. When they felt the raging storm, they were so afraid that they woke Jesus up. Though they knew that the Lord was with them, they still were consumed by fear. And so, Jesus said to them: “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mk 4:41). The storm-tossed boat is an image of the Church universal sailing through the ages. Jesus is present with the Church and concerned for its wellbeing even when his care is not perceived.

2.     The first reading presented us with Job who experienced the storm of his life. “Job was blameless and upright man who feared God and avoided evil.” (Job 1:1). God was proud of him and so pointed him out to Satan: “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil.” (Job 1:8). From there the storm of life turned for the worse until Job lost everything, property, family, and his health. When finally, God answered Job, “out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1) no justification for the problem of suffering was given. Instead, God invited Job to believe that suffering was within the mysterious design of his universe, he “laid the foundation of the earth” (Job 38:4). Within God’s design for the world there is a place for losses, setbacks, storms, brokenness, pains, disappointments, and disasters. From the discussion between God and Job, we are told that it was in God’s hands to set limits to the seas, to say, “Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped.” (Job 38:11). God has control over nature, and everything he has created, as Jesus possesses the divine power over the forces of nature.

3.     In our world today, we find ourselves in a perfect storm politically and emotionally. We experience violent storms and gun storms, election storms and medical storms, covid-19 pandemic storm and moral storm, spiritual storm and vaccination storm, education storm, sickness, and death storm. We have a humanitarian storm and immigration storm. Our world is shaken, sharpened, and shaped by all kinds of unimaginable storms. Through it all, Jesus sleeps and seems not bothered at all. How beautiful does he look in that perfect and baby-like sleep of his while we cry out for help. Why does he not care? Why should he be sleeping while we are in perilous storm?

4.     It was a storm that rocked the world of John Newton, the captain of a slave boat and brought about his conversion. He prayed like the disciples in today’s gospel. “God if you will only save us, I promise to be your slave forever.” Jesus heard his prayer and saved his ship from destruction. From that storm came conversion, a change of heart and a new song. “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see… Through many dangers, toils, and snare, I have already come; Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” The psalmist tells us how to act in a violent storm “In their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them… He calmed the raging storm, and the waves became quiet.” (Ps. 107: 6, 29).

5.     How violent is your storm? Can you see Jesus sleeping through it? How do we get out of our storms? Truth be told, we will never avoid all the storms that threaten us. According to Napoleon Hill, “The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and the rains and the scorching sun.” David was once in a political and moral tsunami. His situation was so bad that he was not allowed to build a temple for the Lord. He found a way out of his storm because of his faith in God. He prayed himself out of it. “Out of the depths I call to you, Lord, Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” (Ps. 130:1-2). A healthy prayer life and faith in God will always get us out of the storm of life. And so, we are told “To be still and know that I am God!” (Ps.46:11). “Because when the just cry out, the Lord hears and rescues them from all distress.” (Ps. 34:18).

6.     The storms in our life ought to make us strong rather than put us down. It is all in the way we handle them. In the journey called life, the question is not “will storms arise? Rather, “When will the next storm arise?” And even more important than that question is, “What type of person will I be when the next storm arises?” During Christ’s time the Lake of Galilee was notorious for its storms. And despite its destructive effects, Christ never attempted to abolish them but just stopped them for a moment. In our storm, we must hold on to Jesus. Though he may seem to be sleeping, he is still very powerful in his sleep. If you have faith, you will see that though Christ may be asleep, he is very active and always at work for your good. For “We know that all things work for good for those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28). The storm of life may seem to overpower us, and we may think we are alone in our struggle, but Christ is there seemingly sleeping. In that sleep, there is power. You may wake him up, and as soon as he is up, the squall will calm down, and there will be peace. But he will question us, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” On this Father’s Day we congratulate and pray for all fathers alive or dead. May God protect and guide them now and always. Let us pray that our faith may be strong, and our confidence may not waver. May God carry us on an eagles’ wings and bring us to himself. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

June 13, 2021 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

Readings: Ex. 17:22-24; 2 Cor. 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34. 

Plant, Be Patient and Wait for the Harvest

1.     In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us parables concerning the kingdom of God. He compares the growth of the kingdom to seeds that are planted in the fields. As we have reflected in the past, parables are short stories taken from everyday life that offer a surprising turn or reversal of expectations. Someone defines parables as earthly teachings with heavenly meaning. The unusual twist in the story provokes reflection, inviting its hearer to make a decision about how he or she might live in light of the truth revealed by the parable. We are told “With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them.” (Mk. 4:33-34). These parables invite us to grasp that God’s kingdom germinates, grows and matures without enhancement from visible external causes. Like a farmer who plants his seeds in a cultivated farm, we must be patient for the seeds to grow to maturity. We may not see the growth of the seed, but God will always give us a bountiful harvest. Because embedded in every seed is an imprint of the creator and, therefore, carries the future of a generation. Every egg carries the future offspring of its kind. Every mango seed carries within itself thousands of mango fruit that will feed thousands and more. In the same way, every baby boy or baby girl born today is a future father and mother, as the saying goes, ‘a child is the father of a man or a mother of a man and woman’, we must raise our children with patience, care and love so that they may become the kind of men and women we will be proud of. These stories invite us to believe in a hidden mystery at work in our midst.   

2.     The parable did not tell us much about the time between seeding and harvest. All the while, however, growth is taking place, and the time of harvest – the consummation of God’s reign – must be near. As St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor. 5:10). The seed of the kingdom was planted in our hearts on the day of Baptism. It was nurtured with the bread of life – the Body of Christ. We are to constantly water that seed with the word of God and with good deeds while we wait patiently on God. Because we received the Word of God and enjoyed a life of grace, we must spread the word and bring others to know God. Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit, but we must do our part and leave the rest to God. Do not be disappointed that you do not see the fruit of your mission immediately, Be patient, courageous and hopeful! It is easy to be disappointed about the attendance at Mass. Do not give up hope for better days. This was the message shared at the parish council meeting on Tuesday. For ‘we walk by faith and not by sight’ and so must keep on doing our best, knowing that Emmanuel is always with us. And so, with the psalmist we pray: “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.”

3.     The readings remind me of the story of the Chinese Bamboo by Joel Weldon. Weldon says that one of the strangest seeds in the world is the seed of the Chinese bamboo tree. It lies buried in the soil for five years before any seeding or sprout appears above ground. Think of it! Five years! During these five years the seed must be cultivated, that is, watered and fertilized regularly. Now comes the big surprise. When the bamboo seedling finally emerges from the ground, it grows to a height of 90 feet in just six weeks. Why does the seedling take so long to emerge? Why does it grow so fast once it emerges? Plant experts say that during its first five years in the soil, the bamboo seed is busy building an elaborate root system. It’s this root system that enables it to grow 90 feet in six weeks. The seed of God’s kingdom is like the seed of the bamboo tree. It too takes a long time to emerge. This story reminds us that the seed of God’s kingdom is building an elaborate root system inside us. And eventually, from this root system, something beautiful will grow.

4.     There are few lessons for us today. We must not be afraid to plant our seeds whatever they may be. Dream big dreams and work towards the actualization of those dreams. Be patient and wait. Be realistic about your dreams. Don’t ever give up and do not ever quit. Do the daily things that will push you towards your dreams. Ignore those who try to discourage you and tell you that you will not succeed. Avoid such people; they are hindrance to your success. Learn to conquer your fears and doubts. Have faith in yourself and have faith in God. Be willing to be a trail blazer and teach others to do the impossible. Keep at your dreams no matter how long it may take. Please do not compare yourself to others and don’t be intimidated by your past mistakes and failures. Know that you are a work in progress, God is not done with you yet. Be thankful for the blessings received and be hopeful for better days. Pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on you. Always believe that your tomorrow will be better than yesterday or today. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

June 06, 2021 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

 

Readings: Ex. 24:3-8; Heb. 9:11-15; Mk 14:12-16, 22-26. 

Examine Yourself and So Eat the Bread and Drink the Cup

1.     A will is a legal declaration of a person’s wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property or estate after death. To avoid tension, hatred, jealousy and rivalry among siblings and family members, it is recommended that people have their will made, notarized and witnessed by a lawyer. This can be reviewed and updated from time to time. Advance directives, on the other hand, are oral and written instructions about future medical decisions (for example, when one is unconscious or too ill to communicate). Everyone should have advance medical directives and inform the medical team when one is hospitalized.

2.     When we take a closer look at the institution of the Holy Eucharist, it seems that Jesus Christ, who knew that his life on earth was coming to an end, decided to communicate his wishes to his apostles. The gospel reading detailed how Jesus prepared his apostles for his death. He gathered them in one place and shared a meal – the Passover - with them. While at table, he told them his last wishes. “While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mk. 14:22-26). He told them, “Do this in memory of me.” (Lk. 22:19). Christ wanted us to remember, always, his love for us.

3.     Dear friends, we gather here today to do what Christ commanded us to do, celebrate his love for us. We know how important it is to obey and carry out the death wishes of our parents. The celebration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Eucharist, reminds us that Christ is with us in the bread and wine that we offer in sacrifice to God to become his body and blood through the process of transubstantiation. This is indeed the food for our spirit and soul. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you.” (Jn. 6:53). From his death on the cross, we know that the covenant Christ entered into was sealed by the shedding of his blood. His is the sacrificial “Lamb who takes away the sin of the world”. (Jn 1:29). He died for our salvation. In the first reading Moses sealed the covenant with the blood of an animal, “Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord had made with you in accordance with all these words of his.” (Ex.24:8). This prefigured Christ’s sacrifice of the new covenant sealed by his own blood. He died that we may have life and left us a memorial of his passion and death and pleaded with us to eat his Body and drink his Blood. “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).

4.     It is like Christ has prepared a meal of his body and blood for us, but we prefer to be on a diet. By not receiving the Eucharist we demonstrate how ungrateful we are to Christ who loves and cares for us so dearly. As Christians and Catholics, I often wonder what would prevent me from partaking in the Eucharist. Could it be because of sins? The sacrament of reconciliation is available to those who are not in a state of grace. Christ is always ready to forgive and reconcile us to God and one another. Therefore St. Paul exhorts us to examine ourselves before we approach the Lord in the Eucharist. It is a sacrilege to receive the Body and Blood of Christ when we know that we have committed a mortal sin. Paul had very strong words for those who disregard the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist. “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgement on himself.” (1Cor. 11:27-29).

5.     We examine ourselves by praying and preparing fittingly to receive the Lord in the Eucharist. We should be in Church on time, examine our conscience and be prepared to receive the Lord Jesus. We must participate conscientiously at Mass. Going through the readings of the Mass a day before will put us in a spiritual readiness for the Eucharist. Remember to spend some time in prayer after the reception of Holy Communion. When you have communion with the Lord, remember that you must also have communion with your brothers and sisters. Forgive those who sinned against you if you want God to forgive your sins. At the end of Mass, we are dismissed to carry Christ to everyone we meet. Do not neglect the poor and those who are in need. During this year of the Eucharist, declared by Archbishop Lori, do not forget to spend some time with the Lord before the Blessed Sacrament on Sundays from 9:00 am before Mass. Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. May he who waits for us and wants us to spend time with him give us the grace to love him in return, now and always. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.