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.

August 04, 2024. 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

                        Readings: Ex. 16:2-4, 12-15; Eph. 4:17, 20-24; Jn. 6:24-35 

                        Seek first the kingdom of God and his Righteousness 

After Jesus fed the multitude last week, they returned in search of him so that he might give them more food. To them, Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” I can imagine how Jesus felt knowing that most of the people who flocked to him did so for selfish reasons and not because of their love for him.

Many relationships are not built on genuine love and for the right reason but on selfish motives. These relationships are based on mere fantasy, greed, and selfishness. Some people love us not for who we are but for what we can do for them. Hence, Tina Turner asked: “What has love got to do with it?” What’s love but a secondhand emotion? Jesus confronted the people who went to him for the wrong reason and encouraged them to purify their intentions. Let us be inspired by this and strive for genuine love and faith in our relationships and spiritual pursuits. What about us? Why do we go to Church? Why do we pray? What if your prayers are unanswered as and when you expect, would you still pray? Would you still attend Church when and if things do not go your way? Suppose we burn down heaven and quench the fires of hell with water; would you still need God?

In the first reading, the Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron, “Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!” Despite all the Lord had done for them, they were never satisfied. They complained and whined about everything and never gave thanks for the benefits received. They wanted to return to Egypt, in slavery and bondage, so long as they had food to eat. They would willingly sacrifice their freedom at the dinner table rather than work to free themselves from the shackles of the oppressors. “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life?” (Mk. 8:36-37).  According to St Paul: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” (Phil. 3:19). They did not trust the process but were distracted by their needs and wants. Their interest was in feeding their bodies with no consideration of their souls. Most of the time, we are like the Israelites; we complain when things do not go our way. We are disappointed because our needs are not met. We feel entitled to something or position others have, so we feel jealous of their success and fortune. We do not see the bigger picture and fail to trust that God has better plans for us. He wants what is best for us. We must be patient and trust in His plan! Hence, the second reading warns us to “no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. Put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires.”

God provided food for them to show them who was in charge; He gave them bread from heaven and quail for meat. He planned to lead them to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, but they did not get it. And so, it is with us. We complain all the time and fail to give thanks for the blessings we received. We are always dissatisfied with what we have, so we continue accumulating more and more, filling every space in the house with clothes, shoes, and stuff. We hope that material things will fill the void in our hearts. We continue to work for the food that perishes instead of the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give us. Jeremiah the prophet describes us thus, “For my people have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns that can hold no water.” (2:13). Let us take a moment to reflect on our own lives and see if we are truly living in accordance with God's plan and provision.

St. Augustine reminds us that only God can fill our hearts. He prayed, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Nothing and no one can make us happy or fill the yearning of our hearts. If we follow Christ for the wrong reason, we will be disappointed when we don’t instantly receive what we desire: good health, financial blessings, the fruit of the womb, promotion, good job, cars, and all other material things. We must “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to us.” (Mt. 6:33). Material things can never satisfy us no matter how much we accumulate them. Hence, Christ warns, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Lk. 12:15). The Psalmist says it better, “In his riches, man lacks wisdom, he is like the beasts that are destroyed.” (Ps. 49). We must love God for God and worship God because he is our creator, not because we want things from him.

Indeed, this is doing God’s work, believing in the one he has sent – Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the bread of life, and whoever goes to him will never hunger; whoever believes in him will never thirst. “For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power.” (Col. 2:9). To him be glory, honor, wisdom, and power forever and ever. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

July 28, 2024. 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Eph. 4:1-6; Jn. 6:1-15

Give them Something to Eat

In the Translator’s Preface to the Book ‘Child of the Dark’ by Carolina Maria De Jesus, David St. Clair wrote: “Carolina is not really the main personage in her diary. It is a bigger character – Hunger. From the first to the last page, he appears with an unnerving consistency. The other characters are consequences of this Hunger: alcoholism, prostitution, violence, and murder.” A common adage states, “A hungry man is an angry man.” Therefore, it would be correct to say that a hungry person cannot hear the word of God. Preaching the gospel and feeding the poor must always go hand in hand.  To this point, St. James admonished, “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?” (James 2:14-17). Regardless of our position, we must eat and feed those who depend on us. Without food, we have no strength to work; without strength, we cannot be productive.

 

Today’s first and gospel readings address Hunger. Elisha fed 100 people with 20 barley loaves. His servant did not understand how that could be possible. But Elisha relied on and trusted in God and his word; thus, a miracle became possible. We must give what we have to God, trusting that he can work a miracle with it to his greater glory. What we have is a gift from God; he will accept what we give him to better the lives of others. Christ fed five thousand in the gospel with five loaves of bread and two fish. Christ used the contribution of the young man who was willing to give what he had to him so that he could use it to feed others. We see in this the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that describes God’s care for humanity.

 

While the readings depict physical nourishment, we should interpret this as more than just providing food for our bodies. God can use others to nourish his people. He assures us that those who show charity will be rewarded with eternal life, saying, “Come, you whom my Father blesses. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Mt. 25:34-36). The readings actually refer to our spiritual Hunger that only God can satisfy. Only God can fulfill our souls’ desires and quench our thirst. ‘Eat my flesh and drink my blood, and you will live forever.’ Many wealthy individuals have abundant material possessions in this world and yet are not content. There seems to be a void in their hearts that only God can fill. They must seek God, who can ensure their happiness. As the Psalmist says, “The hand of the Lord feeds us, and he answers all our needs. The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season; you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Ps. 145).

 

The fulfillment of our material needs is temporary. As Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, “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). This is not a one-time occurrence but a journey we embark on. This is what the bread of life offers us - everlasting fulfillment of our needs. And so, like the Samaritan woman, we implore Christ, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (Jn. 4:15). The food that Christ gives will strengthen us on our pilgrim journey here on earth. It is not a meal but spiritual food – His Body and Blood. This is what we celebrate at Mass every day. Christ reminds us, “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.” (Jn. 6:51). It does not matter the number of hungry people, the food prepared by Christ, after giving thanks, will be enough for everyone and there will be leftovers.

 

Just as Christ broke the bread of his body and shared it among many, may we, too, become the bread that is broken to feed others. Let us pray that we may live “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-6). And when we receive Christ in the Eucharist, may we recognize that it is his Body, Blood, and Divinity that we receive for our salvation and redemption of the world. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

July 21, 2024; 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Jer. 23:1-6; Eph. 2:13-18; Mk 6:30-34

Christ on Vacation?

In today’s gospel, the apostles returned from their mission last week. They are all excited and want to tell Jesus about their accomplishments. But Christ was more interested in their welfare and told them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” The apostles were happy to have Jesus all to themselves. I can imagine their sadness and disappointment when they got to their planned vacation destination and saw so many uninvited guests. Once again, they discovered that the disciple must take care of his flock before his own.

 

We see Jesus as a restless prophet who always put the needs, comfort, and well-being of others over and above his own. He is like a mother who thinks of herself last but her children first. Christ quickly took charge of the situation and began to teach the people because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He was anointed and sent “To bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Lk. 4:18-19). Our mission is to be available to others in our family, church, city, and workplace. In so doing, however, we must not forget self-care and rest. Christ went on a vacation with his apostles in today’s gospel.

 

The 36th chapter of my book ‘Life’s Lessons’ discussed at length ‘Burnout.’ It can be defined as “A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.” It occurs when we feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. It can cause depression as a direct result of our involvement or overinvolvement with caregiving. It is an experience marked by the progressive loss of idealism, energy, and purpose. It is an ongoing process of energy depletion, increased fatigue, and a general debilitation of one’s functioning. Burnout is commonly felt among doctors, social workers, nurses, counselors, therapists, priests, and teachers. Caregivers cannot afford not to take care of themselves. Henri Nouwen called them wounded healers who must heal their wounds first if they are to heal the wounds of others. Hence, Christ called his apostles to come to a lonely place and rest for a while. He tried to prevent them from being burned out.

 

How do you know that you are burned-out? Let’s go through some checklists together. Have you been working hard at a job you hate? Have you been at the same job for too long and seem to have no more challenges? Do you feel unfulfilled? Have you encountered much trouble and stress concentrating on executing a task or writing a simple report? Are you often bored and want to be left alone? Do you need more motivation? Are you constantly complaining, whining, and nagging about anything and everything and about anybody and everybody? Are you short-tempered, tired, and always having a headache? Have you lost interest in your spouse, children, and social life in general? If you answer yes to these questions, you may exhibit burnout signs and symptoms. Being aware of these signs is the first step in preventing burnout.

 

Once you have these symptoms, you will become irritated and irritable and begin to behave like the world is on your shoulder. This is when you strike at anyone who may dare to cross your path. This is because you feel overworked, unappreciated, isolated, or lack focus and objective. You may lack support from coworkers to the point that you feel all alone. You think this way because you need to remember self-care, like your annual physical, or you need to eat a balanced diet. You may not be sleeping well or exercising regularly, or you must remember to pray, think, and reflect. Maybe you have not taken a day off or gone on a vacation for a long while, or you may have stopped doing the things that give you joy. Maybe you are too busy worrying about life till life has passed you by. Or you are busy pleasing everyone to the point of displeasing yourself. The solution is to come away and rest for a while.

 

Today, we must follow the advice Christ gave to his apostles. Take time out and rest for a while! Going on a retreat will give you time to pray and meditate. Take a walk and admire your environment. Enjoy the songs of nature as you listen to the birds chirping away on the tree. Read a good book every now and then. Do things that will relax your mind. Don’t forget to laugh; it is a powerful remedy and a good medicine for the soul. Always eat properly, rest well, and exercise often. Manage your time well, and don’t be overburdened by trivial things. Avoid hateful and annoying people, they are vexation to the soul. Put a vacation into your schedule and remember to leave your job behind when you pack your bag. Your job and heavy schedule will certainly wait for you when you return; they don’t need to accompany you. Enjoy the company of good friends. Love your family and spend time with your children; appreciate your spouse if you have one; if you don’t fall in love with yourself, no one will fall in love with you. Be at peace with your brothers and sisters and see your coworkers, not as enemies, but as colleagues. Seek spiritual guidance and perspective in your life. I believe that was what Christ wanted for his apostles and that certainly is my wish for you this summer. Be good and let goodness be! Stay blessed.

Fr. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.