6th Week: Feb 17-22:
Feb 17 Monday: Seven Founders of the Order of Servites: Mk 8:11-13:
The context: The Pharisees of Jesus’ time
had a long list of fifty extraordinary signs which they expected from the real
Messiah, to distinguish the promised Messiah from false messiahs. Some of the
false messiahs in the past had claimed that they could divide the Jordan River
into two sections or cause the huge stony walls of Jerusalem to fall by a
single word. Hence, the Pharisees demanded that Jesus show some miracles from
their list of Messianic signs. Jesus’ reply: Jesus knew that
the proud, hard-hearted, prejudiced Pharisees were unwilling to accept the
signs he had been working as the Messianic signs foretold by the prophets.
Others of them, he knew were not interested in his message but only in seeing
signs and wonders. Hence, according to Mark, Jesus unequivocally denied the
demand for an additional Messianic sign. But according to Mt 12:38-42 and Lk
11:29-32, Jesus offered them another sign–the miracle of Jonah, the sign of the
death and Resurrection of Christ — knowing well that not even this remarkable
proof would lead the Pharisees to shed their pride. Life message: 1)
It is very sad to see superstitious Christians travelling miles to see a
miraculous statue of a Madonna shedding tears of blood or oil, while at the
same time, they fail to see the presence of Jesus as he promised, in the Bible,
in the Holy Eucharist, in the worshipping community or in one’s fellow
Christians. Let us pray for the grace of increased Faith in the genuine
teachings of Jesus.
Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 18 Tuesday: Mk 8:14-21:
The context: The Jews considered fermentation by
yeast as equivalent to putrefaction and, hence, something evil. That is why
Jesus equated evil influence with leaven. Jesus considered the hypocrisy of the
Pharisees and the immoral life of the king Herod as leaven corrupting the dough
of Israel. Hence, he gave the warning against their evil influence to his
disciples while they were crossing the Lake in a boat.
The misunderstanding and correction: The Apostles in the
boat misunderstood Jesus’ warning as a scolding for their having forgotten to
bring enough bread for all of them. Hence, Jesus reminded them of the leftovers
they had gathered up after his miraculous provision of bread in the feedings of
the five thousand and of the four thousand people as evidence that they did not
have to worry about food they had forgotten to bring for their supper. The
twelve baskets full of leftovers after the miraculous feeding five thousand
people represent the twelve tribes of Israel whom God first established as His
chosen people to preserve the belief in the one true God. The seven baskets
full of leftovers, after the miraculous feeing of the four thousand people,
represent the seven nations of the Gentiles to whom salvation would be
extended. Jesus clarifies by these miracles that while salvation is universal,
the way to salvation is through him, the Messiah. He warns his disciples to
beware of the false ways of salvation offered by the two extreme philosophies
of the Pharisees and the King Herod and the Herodians.
Life messages: 1) With trusting Faith, let us
rely on the miraculous provision God has in store for us in our daily life (in
the word of God and the Holy Eucharist), when we do our share of work
sincerely. 2) Let us take Jesus’ warning against allowing the evil influence of
the society around us to define and defile us (the leaven of hypocrisy,
immorality, pride, and prejudice), but rather let us rely on the power of the
Holy Spirit dwelling within us and guiding, protecting, and enlightening us and
the Church. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 19 Wednesday; Mk 8:22-26:
The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes
Jesus’ healing of a blind man at Bethsaida. Blindness was common in the coastal
areas of Palestine because of the intense glare of the sun on the sandy
beaches, the poor sense of hygiene and cleanliness among the people, and the
presence of swarms of dirty flies on the seacoasts.
The healing: Jesus was moved by the miserable state of the
blind man and the trusting Faith of his friends who had brought the blind man
to him. So Jesus showed him special consideration by first removing him from
the crowd to avoid embarrassment and then healing him by audible signs,
applying saliva to his blind eyes, placing his hands on his head, praying
loudly to God the Father, and enquiring about the progressive gain in sight at
each stage. Thus, before curing the eyes of his body, Jesus gave the man time
to grow in Faith step by step. The more his Faith grew and the more trusting
the man became, the more sight he was able to receive from Jesus.
Life messages: 1) We, too, are often blind to the
presence of Jesus in us and in all others around us, although we believe in his
presence in the Holy Eucharist, in the Bible and in the praying community. 2)
Hence, we, too, need to pray to experience God in our daily lives, in the
events of our lives and in all the people we encounter.
Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 20 Thursday: Mk 8:27-33:
The context: Today’s Gospel passage is the first
of the three times Jesus foretells his passion, death and Resurrection. This
passage consists of two sections, the messianic confession of Peter and Jesus’
prediction of his approaching Passion and death.
Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and Savior: Today’s Gospel
explains the basis of our Faith as the acceptance of Jesus as the Christ, our
Lord and Savior. It also tells us that Christ Jesus became our Savior by his
suffering, death and Resurrection. This famous profession of Faith by Peter
took place at Caesarea Philippi, presently called Banias, twenty-five miles
northeast of the Sea of Galilee in the northeast part of Israel called the
Golan Heights, in the foothills of Mount Hermon.
Jesus realized that if his disciples did not know who he
really was, then his entire ministry, suffering, and death would be useless.
Hence, he decided to ask a question in two parts.
1) “What is the public opinion about me?”
2) “What is your personal opinion?” Their
answer to the first question was: “Some say John the Baptist, others
Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Peter
volunteered to answer the second question, saying: “You are the Christ
(Messiah), the Son of the living God.” Jesus confirmed Peter’s insight
as a special revelation from God. “No mere man has revealed this to
you, but my Heavenly Father.” (Mt 16:17). But Peter found
it difficult to accept Jesus’ prediction that he would become the Savior by his
suffering and death. When he tried to discourage his master from the path of
suffering and death, Jesus promptly corrected Peter telling him that his temptation
was from Satan.
Life messages: Let us experience Jesus as our Lord
and Savior and surrender our lives to him. 1) We experience Jesus as personal
Savior by listening to him through daily, meditative reading of the Bible, by
talking to him through daily, personal and family prayers, by offering to him
our lives on the altar whenever we attend Holy Mass, and by being reconciled
with Him every night by asking his pardon and forgiveness for our sins, and by
doing the same periodically in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 2) The next
step is the surrender of our lives to Jesus by rendering humble and loving
service to others, with the strong conviction that Jesus is present in every
person.
Fr. Kadavil (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 21 Friday; Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and
Doctor of the Church
Mk 8:34–9:1: The context: Immediately
after Jesus foretold his suffering and death for the first time, Peter pleaded
with Jesus not to make heartbreaking statements like that. In response to
Peter’s comment, Jesus challenged his Apostles and would-be disciples by
outlining three conditions for discipleship.
Life messages: The triple conditions for
discipleship:
1) Deny yourself.
2) Take up your cross.
3) Follow Me.
1)”Denying oneself” involves a) the eviction
of self from the heart, cleansing it of all evil tendencies and addictions with
the help of the Holy Spirit; b) the enthronement of Jesus in one’s heart as
Lord and the dedication of oneself to Him; c) the surrender one’s life to the
enthroned God through one’s selfless and loving service done for others to give
glory to God.
2) “Taking up one’s cross” means not only
accepting gracefully from God our pains and suffering, but also accepting the
pain involved in serving others, in sharing our blessings with them, and in
controlling our evil tendencies. Carrying one’s cross becomes easier when we compare
our light crosses with the heavier ones given to terminally-ill patients and to
the millions of exploited people living in subhuman conditions. The realization
that Jesus carries with us the heavier part of our cross also makes our
cross-bearing easier and more salvific for us.
3) “Follow Me” means following Jesus by
obeying the word of God and adjusting one’s life accordingly.
The paradox of saving/losing and losing/saving
life: According to Bible commentators, the word “life” is here used,
clearly, in a double sense: the temporary earthly life of man in flesh and his
eternal life of happiness in Heaven. Hence, what Jesus means is that whoever
wishes to save his (earthly) life will lose his (eternal) life. But whoever
loses his (earthly) life for Jesus and the Gospel by spending it for others,
will save his (eternal) life. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Feb 22 Saturday: (Chair of St. Peter the Apostle)
Mt 16:13-23: By celebrating the Feast of the
Chair of St. Peter we honor the mission of teacher and pastor conferred by
Christ on Peter and continued in an unbroken line down to the present Pope. We
also celebrate today,
the unity of the Church, founded upon the Apostle Peter, and we use this
occasion to renew our submission to the Magisterium or
teaching authority of the Roman Pontiff, extended both to truths which are
solemnly defined ex cathedra, and to all the acts of the
ordinary Magisterium. Like the “committee chair,” this chair refers
to the occupant, not the furniture. This Chair’s first occupant stumbled a bit,
denying Jesus three times and hesitating to welcome Gentiles into the new
Church. Some of its later occupants have also stumbled a bit, and some have
even failed scandalously. So, the feast reminds us that the Vicar of Christ
needs the prayerful support of all Catholics. This feast also gives us occasion
to give thanks to God for the mission He
has entrusted to the Apostle Peter and his successors.
This day is also is the feast of a relic long reputed to be
St. Peter’s actual throne or the Cathedra Petri. On the feast, 110
candles illuminate the reliquary that contains it. This relic has been
venerated by the faithful since the fourth century. Previously reserved in the
Baptismal Chapel of what is referred to as the Old St Peter’s Basilica, built
by the Emperor Constantine around 333AD, today it can be found encased in a
reliquary — the bronze throne built by Bernini and enshrined in the apse of St
Peter’s Basilica. The throne is supported by the statues of four Doctors of the
Church: two from the West, St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, and two from the
East: St. John Chrysostom and St. Athanasius, beneath the well-known
stained-glass image depicting the Holy Spirit as a dove. In medieval liturgical
custom the Pope was enthroned on the relic for part of his coronation ceremony
and used it as his liturgical throne in the Basilica on the feast. Ever since,
Bernini’s art work covering the Chair is considered as the reliquary with the
wooden Chair inside it as the relic. The last time the relic was exposed was in
1867 by Blessed Pius IX on the eighteenth centenary of the martyrdom of Ss.
Peter and Paul. Kings of old sat on thrones and ruled. Peter’s chair is a
symbol of his authority from Jesus to rule the Church. This feast reminds us
that Jesus bestowed on Peter a special place among the Apostles. He was one of
the three who were with Christ on special occasions, such as the raising of
Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration of Christ and Jesus’ Agony in the Garden
of Gethsemane. He was the only Apostle to whom Christ appeared individually on
the first day of the week, the day of the Resurrection. Peter, in turn, often
spoke on behalf of the Apostles. When Jesus asked the Apostles, “Who do you
say that the Son of Man is?” Simon replied, “Thou art Christ, the Son
of the Living God.” (Mt 16:16) And Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood have not revealed it to you, but my Father
who is in heaven. And I say to you: That you are Peter [Cephas, a
rock], and upon this rock [Cephas] I will build my Church [ekklesia], and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:13-20). In saying this,
Jesus made St. Peter the head of the entire community of believers and placed
the spiritual guidance of the faithful in St. Peter’s hands. A symbol of this
authority is the “cathedra,” a bishop’s throne or chair in a
cathedral. Peter delivered the first public sermon after the Pentecost and won
a large number of converts. He also performed many miracles and defended the
freedom of the Apostles to preach the Gospels. He preached in Jerusalem,
Judaea, and as far north as Syria. He was arrested in Jerusalem under Herod
Agrippa I, but miraculously escaped execution. He left Jerusalem and eventually
went to Rome, where he preached during the last portion of his life. He was
crucified there, head downwards, as he had desired to suffer, saying that he
did not deserve to die as Christ had died. The date of St. Peter’s death is not
clear. Historians estimate he was executed between the years 64 and 68. His
remains now rest beneath the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Fr.
Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)