Reflection:
Today we enter into Monday in Holy Week we are reminded of the importance of honoring the Christ who as he enter into his passion demonstrates to us his triple office of King, Prophet and Priest. Yesterday during the Palm Sunday procession, Christ fulfills his Kingly office. As it is customary among Jews to welcome royalty with palm leaves and laying their clothes on the pathway of someone special and of dignified importance. The shouts of Hossana rings through the gates of Jerusalem, which to the simple and believing is a form of adoration and an expression of messianic hope. But the leader of the Jews were envious and from then on conspire to have Jesus arrested and crucified. But before the Passover, we saw Jesus frequenting the temple in Jerusalem, teaching and healing the sick. By his teachings he demonstrates his prophetic office. And on Good Friday the Lord will demonstrates his Priestly ministry, by offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice that will serve as the redemption for many, and the propitiation of the justice of God.
The Lectio
The Lectio
The Lesson for Todays Mass was taken from Isaiah 50:5-10. This passage from the scriptures gives us a glimpse of the faith of the Son of God. He freely gave himself to fulfill the will of the Father and to show His love for mankind. Despite of the pain he expresses his confidence in God. Believing that God is in control and that everything is possible with God. May we have the Hope that Jesus have and we also have his Faith. The faith of the Son of God.
The gospel reading for today is taken from Gospel according to John 12:1-9. This gospel narrative speaks of the events where Jesus visited the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with precious ointment as an expression of devotion, repentance and love. Judas was angry because he thought that the perecious ointment could be sold for a sum of money and that the money could be use for charity, for the poor. There are two important points in this meditation that came to my mind.
(1) First is the importance of Devotion. Personal devotion is an important aspect of Christian life. Expression of religious devotion enhances our faith and provide a temporal image of what is inside our hearts. Filipinos as a people are devout Catholics. We have so many religious practices, some are para liturgical and some simply an expression of folk religiousity. How many times we hear our leaders condemn these practices and dismissed them as superstition. Yesterday I read from the news papers one priest of high stature said that the palms blessed on Palm Sunday, widely believed and accepted by Filipino Catholics as sacramentals, does not posses any special powers. Yes I agree with his statements that it does not have any speacial powers. But I disagree on one part because these palm leaves once blessed and consecrated becomes a powerful symbol of faith. It acquires a special status because it is dedicated to the service of God. Sometimes this is the problem when people intellectualize religion, and we know that too much relianceon our intellect will always lead us to unbelief. Knowing the innate pride of Man and his inteelct, knowing the effects of original sin that pops up our minds against the will of God. Thusfrom the gospel we saw how Judas was rebuked by the Lord. The Lord told him that the poor you have always, but me, she is doing this in preparation of my burial.
(2) The second I want to drive at is the fact that Our Lord exalted devotion over and above social concerns. How sad that in many churches in thirdworld countries, because of the sinister influence of liberation theology, the church has been reduced to a social welfare institution working for justice and equality and yet the worship of God is neglected and there is a dearth in religious devotion. Yes we have to fight for justice, we have to strive for peace and development but this should be done not at the expense of the Worship of God. Let us remember that this world will pass away. But the Word of God will remain forever.
(1) First is the importance of Devotion. Personal devotion is an important aspect of Christian life. Expression of religious devotion enhances our faith and provide a temporal image of what is inside our hearts. Filipinos as a people are devout Catholics. We have so many religious practices, some are para liturgical and some simply an expression of folk religiousity. How many times we hear our leaders condemn these practices and dismissed them as superstition. Yesterday I read from the news papers one priest of high stature said that the palms blessed on Palm Sunday, widely believed and accepted by Filipino Catholics as sacramentals, does not posses any special powers. Yes I agree with his statements that it does not have any speacial powers. But I disagree on one part because these palm leaves once blessed and consecrated becomes a powerful symbol of faith. It acquires a special status because it is dedicated to the service of God. Sometimes this is the problem when people intellectualize religion, and we know that too much relianceon our intellect will always lead us to unbelief. Knowing the innate pride of Man and his inteelct, knowing the effects of original sin that pops up our minds against the will of God. Thusfrom the gospel we saw how Judas was rebuked by the Lord. The Lord told him that the poor you have always, but me, she is doing this in preparation of my burial.
(2) The second I want to drive at is the fact that Our Lord exalted devotion over and above social concerns. How sad that in many churches in thirdworld countries, because of the sinister influence of liberation theology, the church has been reduced to a social welfare institution working for justice and equality and yet the worship of God is neglected and there is a dearth in religious devotion. Yes we have to fight for justice, we have to strive for peace and development but this should be done not at the expense of the Worship of God. Let us remember that this world will pass away. But the Word of God will remain forever.
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