04-08-2014, 10:35 AM
CONVERSION AND LIFE THROUGH CONTEMPLATION ON THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST
SCRIPTURE READINGS: NUMBERS 21:4 – 9; PS 102: 2-3, 16-18, 19-21; JOHN 8:21 – 30
http://www.universalis.com/20140408/mass.htm
When God’s chosen people were enslaved in Egypt, they called out to God, and He delivered them through His servant Moses. But even after being delivered, God continued to protect and guide them out of Egypt and through the desert. When they were pursued by Pharaoh and his army, God dried up the river so that they could cross the Red Sea dry-shod. Then when they had no food in the desert, God gave them manna from heaven. When they were tired of bread, God sent them quails. And when they were thirsty, God gave them water from the rock. Yet in spite of God’s marvelous deeds performed for them, we read of how “On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’”
Yes, we are no better than the Hebrews in the desert. Like them, in spite of the wonders the Lord worked for us, we are always complaining and dissatisfied with whatever we have and wherever we are. We do not trust in His Divine Providence. We forget so easily the blessings that God has given to us and which we are already enjoying. Instead, like the Hebrews, we demand one thing after another from the Lord. It is bad enough to grumble. Some of us even go to the extent of accusing God for not caring when we do not get whatever our hearts desire.
Why is it that we are never satisfied about anything for long? A person who is never contented with his life is in that condition because he lacks gratitude. Not only is he ungrateful for all the blessings he has been endowed with, but often, he is filled with envy, greed and pride. He easily forgets the goodness of God to him and does not believe that God knows what is best for him. He wants to have things his own way, relying on his own wisdom instead of the providential plan of God.
When we adopt such an attitude in life, we will ultimately hurt ourselves. Three times in the gospel, Jesus warned the Jews and us, “You will die in your sins”. Truly, ungrateful people can never find peace and happiness in their lives. No matter what they are given, they will always want something more. They cannot fit into the situation but expect other people and the situation to suit them. Sin is more than just doing evil things. Sin is to reject the wisdom and the plan of God for us. It is to be obstinately attached to our views and our judgments of people and life rather than accepting the judgment of God. Yes, Jesus told the Jews they could not go with Him because they were in their sins. But if they believed in Jesus as the One sent by the Father, doing what the Father willed of them as He did, then they would be able to come with Him to the Father where there is fullness of life and love.
Lent is drawing to a close. Ten days from now we will be entering into the most holy days of the Church’s liturgical year, namely, the celebration of the Sacred Triduum when we will recall the events of the last few days and final hours of Jesus. But before we can enter into the Promised Land with Jesus, have we already tamed our will and controlled our desires? Or are we still discontented with our lot in life, be they our bosses, colleagues, loved ones or material wealth and position in life? Now is the final chance for us to renew, re-affirm, and strengthen our commitment to be with Jesus in the desert, the wilderness, so that we can unveil the darkness of our sinfulness and win victory over Satan and all his works.
What then is the remedy for our foolishness? In the time of Moses, God used the bronze serpent to heal them. It is so strange that the serpent that bit them to death was used as the very antidote for healing. Perhaps when they looked at the serpent they were reminded of their ingratitude and their sins and hence moved to repentance. When they recognized themselves in the face of death, they became more aware of the essentials of life, namely, life in itself is more precious than having good food or a comfortable lifestyle. When threatened by the prospect of death, they became grateful for what they had and learnt how to be humble before God who is the author of life, instead of showing utter disrespect for His majesty and power by complaining.
In the days of Jesus, God would raise Him up at the cross and at the resurrection as the means by which He would bring about the conversion of hearts. Yes, God knows that the hardness of heart and the sinfulness of man can only be overcome by the redemptive power of the Cross. But how can His death save us? Just as the Israelites were called to look at the bronze serpent, Christians are now called to do the same. The serpent mounted on the standard was after all a foreshadowing of the cross. By looking at the crucified Christ and pondering over His death and the significance of His death for us, and the heart of God, we would be moved to contrition and repentance. When we come to the realization of the price of God’s love for us and what sin can do to God, we would shudder at the thought of such ingratitude on our part. Jesus on the cross reveals to us what sin had done to Him, innocent though He was; He was made sin for us and suffered the consequences of sin on our behalf.
So as we are about to enter into Holy Week on this 5th week of Lent, the Church invites us to reflect on the passion of Christ, In fact, before the liturgical renewal, this week was called Passion Week, where all the crosses and statues were veiled. Although the Church no longer celebrates this week as Passion Week, she nevertheless invokes the tone of the Passion of Christ. Notably, the Divine Office gives us the option to use the hymns meant for Holy Week to be sung on this week as well. Let us before the Crucified Lord face squarely our sins and the lethal damages caused to innocent people around us, which crucifies anew our Lord Jesus Christ by breaking His heart. Let us nail our sins onto the cross of Jesus. During this week when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is made available in all churches, let us with a thoroughly examined conscience and a contrite heart, with all humility turn to the Lord for forgiveness and healing so that Christ would not have died for us in vain. Let us prayerfully re-commit ourselves to whatever it is we have resolved to do this Lent. Through our penance, works of charity and prayers, may we be drawn closer to the Crucified Christ in His Passion.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: NUMBERS 21:4 – 9; PS 102: 2-3, 16-18, 19-21; JOHN 8:21 – 30
http://www.universalis.com/20140408/mass.htm
When God’s chosen people were enslaved in Egypt, they called out to God, and He delivered them through His servant Moses. But even after being delivered, God continued to protect and guide them out of Egypt and through the desert. When they were pursued by Pharaoh and his army, God dried up the river so that they could cross the Red Sea dry-shod. Then when they had no food in the desert, God gave them manna from heaven. When they were tired of bread, God sent them quails. And when they were thirsty, God gave them water from the rock. Yet in spite of God’s marvelous deeds performed for them, we read of how “On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’”
Yes, we are no better than the Hebrews in the desert. Like them, in spite of the wonders the Lord worked for us, we are always complaining and dissatisfied with whatever we have and wherever we are. We do not trust in His Divine Providence. We forget so easily the blessings that God has given to us and which we are already enjoying. Instead, like the Hebrews, we demand one thing after another from the Lord. It is bad enough to grumble. Some of us even go to the extent of accusing God for not caring when we do not get whatever our hearts desire.
Why is it that we are never satisfied about anything for long? A person who is never contented with his life is in that condition because he lacks gratitude. Not only is he ungrateful for all the blessings he has been endowed with, but often, he is filled with envy, greed and pride. He easily forgets the goodness of God to him and does not believe that God knows what is best for him. He wants to have things his own way, relying on his own wisdom instead of the providential plan of God.
When we adopt such an attitude in life, we will ultimately hurt ourselves. Three times in the gospel, Jesus warned the Jews and us, “You will die in your sins”. Truly, ungrateful people can never find peace and happiness in their lives. No matter what they are given, they will always want something more. They cannot fit into the situation but expect other people and the situation to suit them. Sin is more than just doing evil things. Sin is to reject the wisdom and the plan of God for us. It is to be obstinately attached to our views and our judgments of people and life rather than accepting the judgment of God. Yes, Jesus told the Jews they could not go with Him because they were in their sins. But if they believed in Jesus as the One sent by the Father, doing what the Father willed of them as He did, then they would be able to come with Him to the Father where there is fullness of life and love.
Lent is drawing to a close. Ten days from now we will be entering into the most holy days of the Church’s liturgical year, namely, the celebration of the Sacred Triduum when we will recall the events of the last few days and final hours of Jesus. But before we can enter into the Promised Land with Jesus, have we already tamed our will and controlled our desires? Or are we still discontented with our lot in life, be they our bosses, colleagues, loved ones or material wealth and position in life? Now is the final chance for us to renew, re-affirm, and strengthen our commitment to be with Jesus in the desert, the wilderness, so that we can unveil the darkness of our sinfulness and win victory over Satan and all his works.
What then is the remedy for our foolishness? In the time of Moses, God used the bronze serpent to heal them. It is so strange that the serpent that bit them to death was used as the very antidote for healing. Perhaps when they looked at the serpent they were reminded of their ingratitude and their sins and hence moved to repentance. When they recognized themselves in the face of death, they became more aware of the essentials of life, namely, life in itself is more precious than having good food or a comfortable lifestyle. When threatened by the prospect of death, they became grateful for what they had and learnt how to be humble before God who is the author of life, instead of showing utter disrespect for His majesty and power by complaining.
In the days of Jesus, God would raise Him up at the cross and at the resurrection as the means by which He would bring about the conversion of hearts. Yes, God knows that the hardness of heart and the sinfulness of man can only be overcome by the redemptive power of the Cross. But how can His death save us? Just as the Israelites were called to look at the bronze serpent, Christians are now called to do the same. The serpent mounted on the standard was after all a foreshadowing of the cross. By looking at the crucified Christ and pondering over His death and the significance of His death for us, and the heart of God, we would be moved to contrition and repentance. When we come to the realization of the price of God’s love for us and what sin can do to God, we would shudder at the thought of such ingratitude on our part. Jesus on the cross reveals to us what sin had done to Him, innocent though He was; He was made sin for us and suffered the consequences of sin on our behalf.
So as we are about to enter into Holy Week on this 5th week of Lent, the Church invites us to reflect on the passion of Christ, In fact, before the liturgical renewal, this week was called Passion Week, where all the crosses and statues were veiled. Although the Church no longer celebrates this week as Passion Week, she nevertheless invokes the tone of the Passion of Christ. Notably, the Divine Office gives us the option to use the hymns meant for Holy Week to be sung on this week as well. Let us before the Crucified Lord face squarely our sins and the lethal damages caused to innocent people around us, which crucifies anew our Lord Jesus Christ by breaking His heart. Let us nail our sins onto the cross of Jesus. During this week when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is made available in all churches, let us with a thoroughly examined conscience and a contrite heart, with all humility turn to the Lord for forgiveness and healing so that Christ would not have died for us in vain. Let us prayerfully re-commit ourselves to whatever it is we have resolved to do this Lent. Through our penance, works of charity and prayers, may we be drawn closer to the Crucified Christ in His Passion.