Today’s first reading is a classic example of what we call “blessing in disguise.” It is the story of Joseph. He was his father’s favorite. Because of this he became the object of jealousy by his own brothers, which sadly led him to be sold into slavery to get rid of him.
Because of their ill-feelings toward him, they wanted to get rid of him. Joseph was then considered a thing – an “it” – a commodity – disposable – by his own siblings. Their resentment had completely blinded them from what was right and prevented them from recognizing him as their brother.
Joseph’s plight, in human reasoning, is an utter misfortune and disaster. But in God’s logic, it is a privilege locus for God to reveal his saving power and plan for Joseph and his family. For what we humans consider as a sheer loss and hardship is actually a “blessing in disguise” if we look at it with the eyes of faith.
We thought that it was his slavery and misfortune that brought Joseph to Egypt. But it was actually God’s plan of saving his people from famine by sending him ahead of them. It was God who orchestrated the circumstances. And he chose to intervene in the life of Joseph to bring his plan to fruition.
On the otherhand, Jesus went through a similar fate in the hands of men. He was rejected by own people. Persecuted. Betrayed by friends. Sold for silver coins. Abandoned. Humiliated. Suffered and nailed and died on the cross.
He was considered a stumbling block by the proud, and his death on the cross foolishness and mean defeat by the ignorant. And yet the Father proved them wrong because Jesus is the Messiah. The fulfillment of the law and prophet. The One who is to save the entire of God’s creation. And his death on the cross is God’s wisdom, and the prime expression of God’s victory over sin and death, for which we all are free.
So, when your life is challenging and difficult, remember the story of Joseph and Jesus and be consoled. For thus says the Lord, “For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29: 11, NLT).
Months from now, we will find ourselves preparing for national and local election. Campaign fever will then be on the hype. Candidates will have their own way and gimmicks of selling and advertising themselves. Meaning, they broadcast their own greatness, i.e. how great they are that they should deserve our votes.
But what is greatness? What does the world consider great nowadays? Who do we regard as great people today? Where does greatness rest? How do we measure greatness? Is it in popularity, good looks, eloquence, wealth, family heritage, influence, prestige or power? Do we still fall for the allurement that greatness of leaders lay in guns, gold and goons? Are people great because of their successes, achievements, awards and credentials?
Jesus has indeed a different view and perception of what greatness is. Here, Jesus was warning his disciples of his coming suffering, persecution and resurrection, but his disciples were more pre-occupied and concerned about who is the greatest among them. He then rebuke and warned them: “whoever wishes to be great among you, you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you, you shall be your slave.” In other words, if you want to be great, be servant of all. If you want to be first, be a slave to all. For him, there is greatness in humble service and true greatness resides in humble service. He wants us to be servant-leaders, leaders who lead not by power or greatness but through humble service to others.
Many candidates for government office and leadership today declare that they decide to run because they claim they want to serve the Filipino people. They also advocate that only through their greatness and power they can serve us, Filipino. They promise that if we vote for them, they will serve us more and better than before and others.
If they are really serious with their promise of service, the test is after the election. If they win, would they serve us or serve themselves? If they lose, would they still serve us?
Jesus is telling our would-be leaders today: “If you want to be great, if you want to lead, if you want to be first, be a servant and slave of all. Practice what you preached. Walk the talk.”
For us now who have another chance to practice our right to vote our leaders, may we be wise enough to choose our leaders by their humble service to the nation rather than by their popularity, power and authority-based greatness.
As we pray to have good conscientious leaders, may we also be conscientious and wise enough to elect & vote rightful servant leaders for the future of our country & society. So Help Us God. So May it be. Amen.
There is always hope for sinners. The holy bible testifies as to how God, in the course of time, has been calling and inviting us, his people, to return to him, turn from our wickedness and change our lives. He has been faithfully engaging us in the dialogue of conversion and constantly intervening in our human affairs.
Remember what he said in Ezekiel 18: 23: “Do I want the death of the sinner? Do I not rather want him to turn from his ways and live?” Which means, our well-being, our welfare and our salvation is always at the top of God’s consideration.
In relation to this, Prophet Isaiah has something to tell us which we can get from his words. What is this?
First is that, to come to terms or to be reconciled with God is always God’s initiative. When there’s a desire to change ourselves, it is actually God’s voice speaking to our hearts and urging us to do so. Conversion, then, is ultimately God’s grace at work;
The other one is that, our conversion, which I consider an interior work-in-progress, must be visible in the way we live our lives. Not that we are only good in words, but not in action. But this, as I recognized, is humanly challenging.
Dom John Main, OSB, a meditation guru, said: “The external conversion is of no use unless it is inspired and springs from an inner conversion of the heart.” Conversion, therefore, is best expressed in the silence of action.
Today, we are enjoined to heed to God’s invitation calling us to conversion. And to make use of our time while we are still afforded with enough time and chances to correct ourselves and straighten our ways.
There’s never too late for a repentant sinner. There’s still hope for all of us. Only if we respond and obey.
Prophet Daniel as revealed in our first reading today, expressed his intercession on behalf of the people who had been exiled in a foreign land. The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem also brought people to be dispersed and many of them became slaves. When the Temple was destroyed, people felt that God abandoned them since the Temple was an assurance of God’s presence.
However, instead of blaming God for abandoning them and letting that terrible event in their life to happen, Daniel, being shamefaced, realized their unfaithfulness towards their covenant with God. Daniel who prayed on behalf of the people recognized how they have turned their eyes blind and ears deaf towards the prophets whom God sent to their leaders. The leaders and the people continued to break their covenant with God by oppressing the weak among them and worshipping other gods. It was them who actually distanced from God.
With this recognition of their failures, unfaithfulness and sins, Daniel also saw how God remained faithful to them despite everything. God remains merciful.
This is the invitation that Jesus also spoke to his disciples in today’s Gospel, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Mercy, as Pope Francis said, is the name of God. God is mercy and it is God’s identity card.
In this Season of Lent, may we always realize God’s mercy upon us that despite our own unfaithfulness and sins, God remains for us, because God is Mercy. This invites us now to become merciful, to express that mercy in the way we relate with one another and in the way we live our very life.
Mercy shall give us freedom from shame, and life from the death caused by our sins. Let mercy be the very measure to be returned to us. Hinaut pa.
We are so familiar with the story of Abraham. God called him to go to a foreign land he did not know. Despite his insecurities, he took the risk and trusted God because God promised him that he will have children, land of his own and shall be a blessing to all the people on earth. However, our first reading tells us the opposite. God indeed gave Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac, but God asked Abraham to sacrifice sin only son for God. Abraham was surely confused; he was deeply distressed at this request from God. Yet, Abraham took the risk and completely trusted in God.
God just tested Abraham. And God saw how Abraham remained dedicated and faithful despite the pain that Abraham endured. What was very interesting in him was his ability to listen to God who called him. It was by listening to God that Abraham was able to go beyond and conquer his fears, doubts and confusions in life. Because of that, God blessed him throughout his life. By this attitude of Abraham, he was TRANSFORMED by God making him a blessing to all.
But what is more interesting in our readings today is the TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus as witnessed by the three disciples – Peter, James and John. They have seen in advance the wonderful face of Jesus in the glorious resurrection. However, we would wonder, why would Jesus allow the three to see in advance or have a foretaste of the glorious resurrection? The voice that came from the clouds would tell us something. That mysterious voice says, “This is my beloved son. Listen to him.”
The voice from the cloud tells the three that Jesus is indeed the chosen one, the Messiah that they have been waiting for – the BELOVED ONE to whom they should LISTEN! The disciples are told to LISTEN to Jesus and to follow him in this life. They are told to listen to the life that Jesus will show them. Yet, this life with Jesus entails struggles, suffering and even death but there will be also joy and peace in the glorious resurrection.
Indeed, as they listened and followed Jesus, these fishermen turned into fishers of men. From being fearful and doubtful followers of Jesus they have become dedicated apostles and preachers of the Gospel. By listening to the Lord, they were transformed and converted into new persons.
This is now the message, the call that is being offered to us on this Second Sunday of Lent – that each of us and as a community we are called to JOURNEY WITH GOD. By journeying with God, it is essential that WE LISTEN TO GOD, to His Word. God is telling us now, “Be my herald of the good news, be my gossiper of the Gospel! Be my blessing to others”
As we respond to the call of Jesus, expect that we would feel what Abraham felt at the beginning. We can be fearful and doubtful like the disciples of Jesus. However, let us be confident that we will be transformed into new persons as we continually listen to what the Lord is saying to us. Let us remember, in following the Lord, it entails taking risks and trusting God to transform us and to change our old and destructive ways, habits and mindsets.
These old habits, they could be our passivity – which means that we go to church, sitting on that same area where you are seated now, saying the same prayers, responding your ‘amen’ and then go home. And that’s it! We can be very comfortable with that without confronting what is wrong with us or without recognizing our mistakes and ways of being indifferent towards other. Yes, we can we comfortable with our passivity.
Or this could be our overwhelming self-centered heart – that desires to dominate or manipulate others, to have everything and to be in control of everything and everyone. We can be very comfortable with that! – of having an overwhelming self-centered heart.
Orthiscould be our paralyzing fear, self-doubt and shame – that reject and do not recognize our own giftedness and talents. We may tend to put ourselves down and discredit the possibilities that we are capable of. We can be very comfortable with that! – With our paralyzing fear, self-doubt and shame.
Indeed, we can be very comfortable with those old and destructive ways, habits and mindsets that we have been practicing and doing because we tend to stay to what is only familiar to us. Nevertheless, this is not what God is asking us now and not what God wants us to be.
God tells us, “Listen to me!” God speaks in our hearts through the words in the bible, through this celebration that we are not to remain passive, self-centered, fearful and doubtful of ourselves but to become pro-active, self-sacrificing, life-giving and confident in God’s words like Abraham and the disciples of Jesus.
Thus, for this Second Week of Lent, I would like to ask each of you to find time for the whole week to open your bible, read the Gospel of the day and stay in silence at least for 5 minutes. Let that passage speak to you, let God speak to you through the bible, listen to Him! Hopefully, through this simple exercise, we may be moved to gradually be transformed into the way God wants us to be. Hinaut pa.
A DOSE OF GOD TODAY 