Easter Sunday
In today's gospel we see Peter and John running to the tomb to verify Mary's message that Jesus wasn't there. We are also told that when John saw the burial cloths in place he believed. And so in his future writings John will say "We witness to what we have seen, to what we have touched." It is the scene of the empty tomb that embeds itself in John's soul.
As we stand before the empty tomb today, let us rejoice and sing our alleluias for we too have risen with the Lord. After forty days of intense focus on conversion we leave the old self behind and rise to newness of life in Christ. This is the gift of the Lenten season. As we go about our lives living the gospel with greater intensity, doing good where ever we go, we give witness to the power of Jesus' resurrection. We are witnesses that Calvary is not the end of the story. There is more, much more. Jesus lives and our ability to grow in goodness, our ability to grow in holiness attest to this fact.
Let us continue growing deeper into the life of Christ each day. Then Jesus' presence will be a reality in our world so that all people can sing and rejoice….Alleluia, Jesus Christ is risen. He who was dead now lives!
Copyright © 2010
Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
Today, Palm Sunday, we are coming to the end of our Lenten journey. We have been challenged to change, to absorb the Word and to live our baptismal consecration at a deeper level.
In the gospel reading we see Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. In ancient Israel, the king went to his people on a mission of peace riding on a donkey. Jesus, the new king of Israel, enters Jerusalem on a donkey amidst shouts of praise from the people. He reiterates to all his mission of peace, love and mercy. It is this very revelation of who God is that would lead the religious leaders to reject him and to seek his life. So today, after we process with palm branches and sing our hosannas, we will journey to the cross with Jesus as we listen to the reading of the passion. The remarkable thing is that even on the cross, Jesus continues the mission. Jesus remains faithful to His Father's mission in every circumstance of life.
As disciples of Jesus we have been empowered for the mission. We, too, must live his message of peace, love and mercy. Many times this will lead us to the cross but in imitation of Jesus we must fulfill the mission at all times.
Today's readings challenge us to continue the mission, to absorb God's word and to let the world know by our lives that Jesus' message is a reality and it is possible to live it faithfully. This is the fulfillment of our baptismal consecration.
Copyright © 2010 Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
In reflecting on the Gospel of today, the thought occurred to me that embedded in this story was the message of the first two readings. An adulterous woman is brought to Jesus. They want his opinion on what to do with her. He bends down and begins writing in the ground. Perhaps this gave him more time to come up with a truth provoking response. He looks at those who would stone the woman and challenges them to change. He challenges them to go beyond the law and to look at themselves. "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone." Willingly or not, one by one they left. In the light of truth, they accepted the challenge to let go of their old way of doing things in that one instance. Jesus challenged them to accept God's new way leading to salvation. Jesus does not condemn the woman but sends her away with the admonition to sin no more. She too has been challenged to turn her life around and live in a new manner.
These readings tell us that we must repent but they also tell us how. We must encounter Christ. When we encounter Christ in the scriptures, the light of God's truth illumines our minds and hearts. We see our good points and our blatant and not so blatant failings. It is these encounters that give us the courage to let go of all that is not God in our lives so that with St. Paul we can say everything is rubbish that does not bring me to Christ and that does not allow Christ to possess my heart. This is the promise of our baptismal consecration. This is the essence of our discipleship.
Copyright © 2010 Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
Today's gospel gives us tremendous hope. Repent and feast. This is one of the messages of the parable of the prodigal son. It is grounded in the Old Testament reading and in St. Paul in the second reading. God bestows good things upon those who live a kingdom life, repent of their sinfulness and acknowledge their need of God.
But I feel there is a greater challenge in the gospel, one that we often overlook. If we call this parable the LOVING FATHER, we are drawn to his exchange with the older son who refuses to enter the feast. We must remember that Jesus came to show us who God is and how we get to God. The father in the story appeals to the son to see the repentant son as his brother; to see him as his Father's son who has returned and removed the sadness burdening his father's heart. The older brother couldn't go there. Neither could some of the scribes and Pharisees. So Jesus is challenging you and me to empty ourselves of all that is not God (repentance) and to see life through the eyes of God. In baptism we are immersed in Christ, immersed in God. If we are to live this consecration every day we must accept this challenge. We do have a choice.
What will it be?
Copyright © 2010
Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
Repent or Perish! Jesus says this twice in today's gospel so we need to take notice. He even tells us to stop looking at others and examine our own lives.
How are we living our baptismal consecration?
Are we giving witness to the truth of who Jesus is by living our discipleship at its deepest level?
Are we living proof that the gospel gives life?
This is what the parable of the fig tree is talking about.
Last winter I decided not to cover the fig trees. I was totally amazed to see figs on leafless branches when spring arrived. For the first time I understood this passage…figs (fruit) come before leaves the first time the tree produces. So it is with us. True repentance bears fruit on seemingly lifeless branches.
In the second reading Moses is called by God to begin the salvation experience and lead the Israelites to freedom. St. Paul notes that many of the Israelites grumbled against Moses and God thereby rendering them unfit for the Promised Land. He warns us that we must not imitate their behavior, taking as Jesus' theme of Repent or Perish! We have a choice. What will it be…life or death…the Kingdom or banishment.
Choose life! Choose the Kingdom! We can't become too comfortable with our own goodness. Repent each day!
Copyright © 2010 Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
Today's readings challenge us to be diligent in our prayer…to stay focused on the Lord
By our baptism we become temples of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity resides in our deepest being. Today's readings challenge us to remember that and to stay connected to the God within. Jesus was extremely active in the ministry of revealing God to the people of Israel but he was always connected to the Father. Periodically he withdrew from activity to commune with God at a deeper level and thereby maintain God connectedness in all activity. This is where we find him in today's gospel. He went up to Mt. Tabor to pray, taking Peter, James and John with him but they could not stay awake. The active ministry may have tired them so much that it was hard for them to stop and go inward. They did awake at some point to see the glory of God filling Jesus. Perhaps the apostles had not learned the art of staying connected to God in the midst of activity. It is this connectedness that sustains us in the times of prayer.
Looking at Abraham in the first reading gives us a clue as to the discipline needed for prayer. Abraham waited in the "terrifying darkness" for God to seal the covenant that was promised. Vultures swooped down trying to get Abraham to abandon his position but he remained in prayer waiting for God to act. Finally the blazing fire consumed the sacrifice and Abraham experienced God's presence. Abraham did what Paul urges us to do in the second reading. Stand firm in the Lord. Live your life as one who has God dwelling deep within.
Take up the challenge of today's readings and stay connected to God in the midst of your daily activity. Then find a quiet place for prayer to sustain your connectedness to God. In this way living your baptismal consecration will be a light shining in your world.
Copyright © 2010
Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
We live in a world that is fixated on physical fitness. We exercise, lift weights, in general we continually tone our bodies. On this first Sunday of Lent the Church urges us to become spiritually fit. In other words, we are being challenged to tone our souls.
In today's gospel, Jesus filled with the spirit after his baptism, enters a spiritual fitness program, prayer and fasting. At the end of that time he is tested by the evil one and emerges faithful to God.
This is the example we too must follow. We were filled with the spirit after our baptism and entered the time of testing, the living out of our Christian life. Sometimes we are faithful and sometimes we are not. It all depends on our spiritual fitness.
In the first two readings we are told that our spiritual strength comes from acknowledging our dependence on God, absorbing the word of God and living from that Word. Accomplishing this is exercise, spiritual exercise. If we are faithful to this program, we will be faithful to God in all things.
This is what lent is about, toning up spiritually and then living faithfully. Perhaps this lent we can focus more diligently on these principles so that on Easter Sunday we will be able to reaffirm our baptismal promises with renewed fervor.
Copyright © 2010
Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
"Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." These words from today's second reading describe Lent perfectly. It is a period of grace and blessed are those who make the journey faithfully.
Today, ashes will be placed on our foreheads and the priest will say; "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." Devour these words. We are being challenged to turn from sin and be faithful to Jesus Christ, for Jesus is the Gospel! Perhaps this lent we can strive to live our baptismal commitment to the fullest, for it was in baptism that we died with Christ in order to rise with him. This means that we died to sin in order to receive new life in Christ. Over time that commitment is eroded by the values of the world which seem to pollute our lives. Lent is an opportunity for us to
immerse ourselves in the scriptures,
feed on the Word of God,
discover anew how Jesus wants us to live our lives as baptized Christians
and embark on a program of change and fidelity.
Let us enter this time of grace with fervor and diligence.
Copyright © 2010
Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF