VIGESIMO NOVENO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, las lecturas de este domingo nos invitan reconocer a Jesús como el Mesías esperado, que vino a este mundo para salvarnos mediante su pasión, muerte y resurrección. Ellas nos brindan también la ocasión para reconocer su cercanía a nosotros y su capacidad de comprender nuestra humanidad, porque Él mismo es el Dios encarnado y humanizado. Permítanme que comience esta reflexión compartiendo con ustedes algunas preguntas que me han venido a la mente mientras preparaba esta homilía:

1. ¿Has sufrido alguna vez por tu fe?

2. ¿Tienes miedo de acercarte a Jesús?

3. Crees que todos somos hermanos y hermanas con los mismos derechos?

4. ¿Crees que buscar la posición más alta en nuestra iglesia es algo que Jesús quiere que hagamos?

5. ¿Permites que Jesús te corrija cuando piensas o actúas de manera incorrecta?

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, este domingo aprendemos tres lecciones importantes de las Escrituras: en primer lugar, a veces padecemos algunos sufrimientos no por beneficio propio, sino por el bien de los demás; un ejemplo de ello fue el sufrimiento de Jesús por la salvación del mundo, así como el de muchos mártires alrededor del mundo que han entregado sus vidas por la libertad de otros o por el reconocimiento de sus derechos civiles:

En segundo lugar, podemos acercarnos a Jesús con confianza y amor porque es un Dios capaz de entendernos, porque se hizo hombre y nos conoce, así que no tenemos que tener miedo de acercarnos a él.

En tercer lugar, la importancia en nuestra comunidad cristiana no viene por el lugar que ocupemos sino por la calidad del servicio que brindemos a los demás.

En el Evangelio vemos a Jesús camino de Jerusalén, enseñando a sus discípulos acerca de su pasión, muerte y resurrección. En este contexto aparecen los hijos de Zebedeo, pidiendo a Jesús que les dé un puesto alto en su gloria. Jesús aprovecha esta petición para dejarles claro lo que significa seguirle. No se trata de una posición elevada, sino de una cuestión de servicio. Les dijo: «El que quiera ser grande entre vosotros, que sea vuestro servidor, y el que quiera ser el primero entre vosotros, que sea vuestro esclavo. Por eso el Hijo del hombre no ha venido a ser servido, sino a servir y a dar su vida en rescate por muchos». Jesús les está diciendo que quiere una comunidad de servidores, una comunidad en la que la cualidad más importante sea el servicio.

Según el Evangelio, la comunidad de Jesús debe ser diferente de la sociedad en la que los gobernantes y los poderosos ejercen su autoridad sobre la gente. Sociedad en la que la mayoría de las veces las personas buscan su propio beneficio y conseguir el puesto más alto, sin importar lo que hagan para lograrlo. Tomémonos un momento para pensar en las personas que tienen poder y en cómo lo utilizan con los demás? Y tú ¿Buscas poder o servicio en tu propia vida? Cuando haces algo bueno por los demás, ¿lo haces en nombre de Jesús, en secreto, o sólo para ser famoso por ello o buscar me “gusta” en las redes?

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, es muy importante que nos demos cuenta de que todos somos hermanos y servidores los unos de los otros. Permítanme ser claro al respecto: En nuestra Iglesia no buscamos la posición más alta, sino servirnos los unos a los otros. Los que servimos en la Iglesia somos llamados ministros, lo que significa que somos siervos de Dios y de su pueblo. Pidamos a nuestro Señor que nos dé la humildad para ser sus siervos y no dejarnos confundir por el ejemplo que vemos en la sociedad, donde la mayoría de las veces las personas buscan la posición más alta en su trabajo sin importarles cuanto les cueste o a quien deben pisar para poder escalar. Amén.

                                                  Rev. Luis Segura M.S.C.—Pastor

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TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Dear brothers and sisters, the readings for this Sunday invite us to recognize Jesus as the awaited Messiah, who came to this world to save us through his passion, death and resurrection. They also give us the opportunity to recognize his closeness to us and his ability to understand our humanity, because he himself is the incarnate and humanized God. Allow me to begin this reflection by sharing with you some questions that have come to mind while preparing this homily:

1. Have you ever suffered for your faith?

2. Are you afraid to approach Jesus?

3. Do you believe that we are all brothers and sisters with the same rights?

4. Do you believe that seeking the highest position in our church is something that Jesus wants us to do? 5. Do you allow Jesus to correct you when you think or act incorrectly?

Dear brothers and sisters, this Sunday we learn three important lessons from the Scriptures: First, sometimes we endure some sufferings not for our own benefit, but for the good of others; an example of this was the suffering of Jesus for the salvation of the world, as well as that of many martyrs around the world who have given their lives for the freedom of others or for the recognition of their civil rights:

Second, we can approach Jesus with confidence and love because he is a God capable of understanding us, because he became man and knows us, so we do not have to be afraid to approach him.

Third, importance in our Christian community does not come from the place we occupy but from the quality of the service we provide to others.

In the Gospel we see Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, teaching his disciples about his passion, death and resurrection. In this context, the sons of Zebedee appear, asking Jesus to give them a high place in his glory. Jesus uses this request to make clear to them what it means to follow him. It is not about a high position, but about service. He said to them: “Whoever wants to be great among you, must be your servant; and whoever wants to be first among you, must be your slave. For this reason the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus is telling them that he wants a community of servants, a community in which the most important quality is service. According to the Gospel, Jesus’ community must be different from the society in which rulers and the powerful exercise their authority over people. A society in which most of the time people seek their own benefit and to get the highest position, no matter what they do to achieve it. Let’s take a moment to think about people who have power and how they use it with others? Are you looking for power or service in your own life? When you do something good for others, do you do it in the name of Jesus, in secret, or just to be famous for it or to get likes on social media?

Dear brothers and sisters, it is very important that we realize that we are all brothers and sisters and servants of one another. Let me be clear about this: In our Church we do not seek the highest position, but to serve one another. Those of us who serve in the Church are called ministers, which means that we are servants of God and of his people. Let us ask our Lord to give us the humility to be his servants and not be confused by the example we see in society, where most of the time people seek the highest position in their work without caring how much it costs them or who they must step on to climb. Amen.                                                    Rev. Luis Segura M.S.C.—Pastor                  

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Learning about True Authority…

Today’s Gospel passage (Mk 10:35-45) describes Jesus who, once again and with great patience, tries to correct his disciples, converting them from the world’s mentality to that of God. The opportunity is given to him by the brothers James and John, two of the very first whom Jesus met and called to follow him. By now they have gone quite a long way with him and in fact belong to the group of the 12 Apostles. Therefore, while they are on their way to Jerusalem — where the disciples anxiously hope that on the occasion of the celebration of Passover, Jesus will at last establish the Kingdom of God — the two brothers take courage, approach the Teacher and make their request: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory”.

Jesus knows that James and John are inspired by great enthusiasm for him and for the cause of the Kingdom, but he also knows that their expectations and their zeal are tarnished by the spirit of the world. Thus he responds: “You do not know what you’re are asking” (v. 38). And as they are speaking of ‘thrones of glory’ on which to sit beside Christ the King, he speaks of a “cup” to be drunk, of a “baptism” to be received, that is, his passion and death. James and John, always aiming at the hoped-for privilege, say in an outburst: yes, “we are able”! (v. 39). But here too, they do not truly understand what they are saying. Jesus forewarns that they will drink his cup and receive his baptism, that is, that they too, like the other Apostles, will take part in his cross, when their time comes. However, Jesus concludes: “to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared” (v. 40). As if to say: now follow me and learn how to love ‘at a loss’, and the heavenly Father will see to our reward. The way of love is always ‘at a loss’, because to love means to set aside egoism, self-referentiality, in order to serve others.

Jesus then realizes that the other 10 Apostles are angry with James and John, and thus show they have the same worldly mentality. And this offers him inspiration for a lesson that applies to Christians of all times, for us too. He says: “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (vv. 42-44). It is the rule of Christians. The Teacher’s message is clear: while the great people of the Earth build themselves ‘thrones’ for their own power, God chooses an uncomfortable throne, the cross, from which to reign by giving his life: “the Son of man”, Jesus says, “also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (v. 45).

The way of service is the most effective antidote against the disease of seeking first place; it is the medicine for status seekers, this seeking first place, which infects many human contexts, and does not even spare Christians, the People of God, nor even the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Therefore, as disciples of Christ, let us receive this Gospel passage as a call to conversion, in order to witness with courage and generosity a Church that bows at the feet of the least, in order to serve them with love and simplicity.

May the Virgin Mary, who fully and humbly adhered to the will of God, help us to joyfully follow Jesus on the way of service, the royal road that leads to Heaven. [Synthesized from Pope Francis, Angelus, 21 X, 2018]

Rev. Jos Rajesh Peter M.S.C.

29th Sunday B

"Teacher, grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." 

This is a very revealing story. It tells us something about the Evangelist Mark – and it tells us something about James and John.

This story tells us something about Mark:

It shows us Mark’s honesty.  Matthew retells this story (Matt.20:20-23) – but in his version the request for the first places was not made by James and John – but by their mother, Salome.  Matthew probably felt that such a request was unworthy of an apostle, saving the reputation of James and John.  So – Matthew attributed it to the natural ambition of their mother.

This story tells us something about James and John:

It shows us that they were ambitious.  They looked forward to Jesus’ victory and their aim was to be Jesus' chief ministers of state.  Perhaps their ambition was increased because Jesus made them part of his inner circle – the chosen three – Peter, James and John.

This story tells us that they completely failed to understand Jesus. The amazing thing is not the fact that this incident happened – but when it happened. Jesus had just told his Apostles for the third time that when they arrived in Jerusalem – he would suffer and be put to death. How little they understood what Jesus was saying to them.  His words were powerless as they only understood that the Messiah meant earthly power and glory.  Only the Cross would help them understand.

But in the end – James and John still believed in Jesus.  They followed and listened to the words of a carpenter –  and not the orthodox religious leaders – who lorded their so-called power and importance over the people...

This story also tells us something about the other 10 Apostles:

They were outraged and this was a serious situation.  They obviously had the same mindset of James and John and were thinking in worldly standards and not the standard which Jesus had been teaching for almost three years.

Jesus immediately called them together as this incident may have divided the twelve so much so that each may have gone his separate way.  

Again – Jesus clearly explained the different standards of greatness between his Kingdom and in the kingdoms of the world. 

In the kingdoms of the world, the standard of greatness is power. 

·         Jesus’ standard was love for each other.

·         All people are created equal.

·         In Jesus’ kingdom serving others is foremost.

From the beginning of time, there are people who desire to be in charge so they use their power over the weak and vulnerable.  This mindset has been the cause of wars; taking advantage of the weak in business – and in every day life.  History has shown that this even happens in Church as well. 

The lesson Jesus teaches to us today is the same as he taught the twelve Apostles:  “It shall not be so among you.” 

My friends – this issue begs the questions:

·         Why do some seek power ?  Is it Ego ?  A feeling of importance ?

·         Why do some desire excessive wealth ? Perhaps greed ?  Luxurious living ?

So – how much do we need for ourselves ?  What did Jesus teach ?

When Jesus was asked how to pray, he said: “Give us this day our daily bread…”