Acts 4:13-21 / Mark 16:9-15
What is said of the Resurrection of Jesus can also be said about the Real Presence in the Eucharist:
For those who believe, no explanation is necessary; for those who don't believe no explanation is possible.
The gospel reported that lastly, Jesus showed Himself to the Eleven and He reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy.
But then, who can fault the apostles for that. For someone to rise from the dead, even though it is Jesus, was something they had not come across and something that is really difficult to believe in.
Others have told them that they had seen the Risen Lord, but until they saw the Risen Jesus for themselves, it would be really difficult for them to believe it.
But the same cannot be said about the rulers, the elders, the scribes and the Sanhedrin of the 1st reading.
They admitted that a miracle had be worked, they saw the man who had been cured, and they could find no answer. Actually it was more like they could not find a reason not to believe. So they were really obstinate and incredulous.
As for us, we have come to the Eucharist and we believe that Jesus is really present in the forms of bread and wine.
Let us truly believe. And if we have doubts, then let us pray - Lord, help me in my unbelief.
Friday, April 6, 2018
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Friday within Easter Octave, 06-04-18
Acts 4:1-12 / John 21:1-14
Just a week ago, we were right in the middle of the Paschal Triduum and there were so many things to prepare for and so many things happening.
Well, Easter has come and gone, and unlike Christmas, there is not much festive mood about it, and there is no talk of having to lose weight after Easter.
Anyway the season of Lent is already sober and sombre enough, with all that emphasis on prayer and penance and abstinence.
So things are back to normal and the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus seems to be quite ordinary although it is often called the greatest celebration of our faith.
Even for the disciples in the gospel, things seemed to have gone back to normal and the ordinary.
Even though Jesus had already appeared to them twice after His Resurrection, life hasn't changed much for them and they went back to fishing.
But then, even what they thought was ordinary and normal wasn't going to be anymore. They went fishing, and they were supposed to catch something but caught nothing.
But it was in that emptiness for the ordinary that the Risen Jesus appeared to them again. And the gospel made it a point to say it was the third appearance of the Risen Jesus, and things are going to change.
So even though the celebration of Easter is over and things seems to be going back to ordinary, let us also prepare to encounter the Risen Jesus in the ordinary.
Especially even when doing ordinary things that don't seem to have much meaning. That's when Jesus will come up with something. That's what His Resurrection does for us - giving meaning to ordinary things.
Just a week ago, we were right in the middle of the Paschal Triduum and there were so many things to prepare for and so many things happening.
Well, Easter has come and gone, and unlike Christmas, there is not much festive mood about it, and there is no talk of having to lose weight after Easter.
Anyway the season of Lent is already sober and sombre enough, with all that emphasis on prayer and penance and abstinence.
So things are back to normal and the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus seems to be quite ordinary although it is often called the greatest celebration of our faith.
Even for the disciples in the gospel, things seemed to have gone back to normal and the ordinary.
Even though Jesus had already appeared to them twice after His Resurrection, life hasn't changed much for them and they went back to fishing.
But then, even what they thought was ordinary and normal wasn't going to be anymore. They went fishing, and they were supposed to catch something but caught nothing.
But it was in that emptiness for the ordinary that the Risen Jesus appeared to them again. And the gospel made it a point to say it was the third appearance of the Risen Jesus, and things are going to change.
So even though the celebration of Easter is over and things seems to be going back to ordinary, let us also prepare to encounter the Risen Jesus in the ordinary.
Especially even when doing ordinary things that don't seem to have much meaning. That's when Jesus will come up with something. That's what His Resurrection does for us - giving meaning to ordinary things.
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Thursday within Easter Octave, 05-04-18
Acts 3:11-26 / Luke 24:35-48
Nobody likes to look at wound, because the sight of wounds give us a squirmish feeling, especially grievous wounds.
We could also feel the pain of the wounds and the suffering that they cause.
When Jesus showed His disciples His hand and feet, they would have certainly seen one thing.
They would have certainly seen the grievous wounds in His hands and feet, wounds that were caused by the nails, wounds that were the signs of His crucifixion.
But after Jesus showed them His wounds, their fear turned to joy!
Indeed by His wounds and by the sight of His wounds, they were healed of their fear and their anguish of having deserted and abandoned Jesus in His darkest and loneliest moment.
As we look at the wounds of the Risen Lord, Jesus in turn also wants to look at the wounds of our hearts.
He wants us to show Him our wounds, to tell Him what is troubling and disturbing us, to tell His our hurts and pains, as well as our anger and resentment.
Because Jesus is the Risen Lord; He is also our Saviour and our Healer.
As the 1st reading puts it: It was for you in the first place that God raised up His servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.
Indeed, by the wounds of the Risen Lord, we are healed and saved.
We only need to turn to Jesus and show Him our wounds for healing and salvation.
Nobody likes to look at wound, because the sight of wounds give us a squirmish feeling, especially grievous wounds.
We could also feel the pain of the wounds and the suffering that they cause.
When Jesus showed His disciples His hand and feet, they would have certainly seen one thing.
They would have certainly seen the grievous wounds in His hands and feet, wounds that were caused by the nails, wounds that were the signs of His crucifixion.
But after Jesus showed them His wounds, their fear turned to joy!
Indeed by His wounds and by the sight of His wounds, they were healed of their fear and their anguish of having deserted and abandoned Jesus in His darkest and loneliest moment.
As we look at the wounds of the Risen Lord, Jesus in turn also wants to look at the wounds of our hearts.
He wants us to show Him our wounds, to tell Him what is troubling and disturbing us, to tell His our hurts and pains, as well as our anger and resentment.
Because Jesus is the Risen Lord; He is also our Saviour and our Healer.
As the 1st reading puts it: It was for you in the first place that God raised up His servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.
Indeed, by the wounds of the Risen Lord, we are healed and saved.
We only need to turn to Jesus and show Him our wounds for healing and salvation.
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Wednesday within Easter Octave, 04-04-18
Acts 3:1-10 / Luke 24:13-35
It is easier to describe what Lent is than to talk about what Easter is.
With Lent, what comes to mind are penance and fasting, Stations of the Cross and meditation on the sufferings of Christ. Dark purple vestments are worn and there are no flowers in the sanctuary and even the music is toned down.
But what can we say about Easter then? Yes, we know it is "Alleluia, Christ is risen" but how are we going to express that joy and all the talk about new life, etc.
Undeniably, it is easier to talk about the bad and the sad, rather than the good and the joyful. Human nature seems to be like that, so much so that we are apprehensive to express joy and happiness.
The two readings begin with a rather sad and unfortunate note. There was a man who was crippled from birth and he could only depend on people's generosity by begging from them. The two disciples on the way to Emmaus were a sad picture of disappointment.
But the situation changed for them. The crippled beggar was healed at the name of Jesus. And Jesus Himself walked the way with the two disciples until they recognized Him at the breaking of bread.
Certainly their sadness was turned to joy. The beggar was walking and jumping and praising the Lord. The two disciples with hearts on fire returned immediately to Jerusalem to announce the good news of the resurrection.
What the readings tells us is that the Risen Jesus will turn our sadness into joy. We don't have to jump around and shout praises.
We just need to have a lively hope and journey with people in their sadness and be with them in their unfortunate situations in life.
The joy and the hope that the Risen Jesus may not be easily articulated, but we will be able to see the good in the bad and the happy in the sad.
It is easier to describe what Lent is than to talk about what Easter is.
With Lent, what comes to mind are penance and fasting, Stations of the Cross and meditation on the sufferings of Christ. Dark purple vestments are worn and there are no flowers in the sanctuary and even the music is toned down.
But what can we say about Easter then? Yes, we know it is "Alleluia, Christ is risen" but how are we going to express that joy and all the talk about new life, etc.
Undeniably, it is easier to talk about the bad and the sad, rather than the good and the joyful. Human nature seems to be like that, so much so that we are apprehensive to express joy and happiness.
The two readings begin with a rather sad and unfortunate note. There was a man who was crippled from birth and he could only depend on people's generosity by begging from them. The two disciples on the way to Emmaus were a sad picture of disappointment.
But the situation changed for them. The crippled beggar was healed at the name of Jesus. And Jesus Himself walked the way with the two disciples until they recognized Him at the breaking of bread.
Certainly their sadness was turned to joy. The beggar was walking and jumping and praising the Lord. The two disciples with hearts on fire returned immediately to Jerusalem to announce the good news of the resurrection.
What the readings tells us is that the Risen Jesus will turn our sadness into joy. We don't have to jump around and shout praises.
We just need to have a lively hope and journey with people in their sadness and be with them in their unfortunate situations in life.
The joy and the hope that the Risen Jesus may not be easily articulated, but we will be able to see the good in the bad and the happy in the sad.
Monday, April 2, 2018
Tuesday within Easter Octave, 03-04-18
Acts 2:36-41 / John 20:11-18
Whatever race or whatever dialect group we belong to, we all
have learnt a language from our earliest days.
That language, we call the mother tongue.
We may have learned other languages along the way, but we
will not forget our mother tongue.
Because the mother tongue creates a very intimate resonance
within us.
It is used to tell us that we are loved; we use it to
express love.
When Mary Magdalene addressed Jesus as "Rabbuni"
the gospel makes it a special note that she said it in Hebrew.
In such an intimate moment, she used Hebrew, which was
probably her mother tongue, to express her love for Jesus.
Because more than just being the mother tongue, it is also
the language of the heart.
In the 1st reading, when Peter spoke to the Jews, he also
spoke from the heart, and that was why they were convinced.
From his heart, Peter addressed Jesus as Lord and Christ.
For us, over and above our devotional practices and beliefs,
we too must have an intimate relationship with Jesus.
We too, like Mary Magdalene and Peter, must address Jesus by
an intimate name with a language which is from the heart.
Because it was God who first called us by a special name,
even when we were in our mother's womb.
God has called out to us in love and called us by name. May
we respond to God with all our love and help others speak the language of love.
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Monday within Easter Octave, 02-04-18
Acts 2:14, 22-33 / Matthew 28:8-15
We must acknowledge that there are no scientific facts about the resurrection.
What we have are the gospel accounts of people who experienced the risen Christ.
Today's gospel account tells of a group of women who had seen and touched the risen Christ, and they were told to report to the disciples.
Yet the gospel account also tells of a group of men who were guarding the grave, reporting about the resurrection of Christ to the chief priests and elders.
The two accounts of the resurrection ended up in different directions, or more precisely, in opposite directions.
So even if there were scientific facts about the resurrection, it may not necessarily lead to the conclusion that Jesus is risen.
Because in the end, facts can also be interpreted differently, and hence ending up with different conclusions.
So if we were to say that Christ is risen, what direction are we going to take?
Are we going to be like the women who were visiting the tomb, or are we going to be like the soldiers who were guarding the tomb?
What the resurrection of Jesus is to people nowadays will depend largely on our decision and direction.
The women and the soldiers made their choice. We too have to make ours.
We must acknowledge that there are no scientific facts about the resurrection.
What we have are the gospel accounts of people who experienced the risen Christ.
Today's gospel account tells of a group of women who had seen and touched the risen Christ, and they were told to report to the disciples.
Yet the gospel account also tells of a group of men who were guarding the grave, reporting about the resurrection of Christ to the chief priests and elders.
The two accounts of the resurrection ended up in different directions, or more precisely, in opposite directions.
So even if there were scientific facts about the resurrection, it may not necessarily lead to the conclusion that Jesus is risen.
Because in the end, facts can also be interpreted differently, and hence ending up with different conclusions.
So if we were to say that Christ is risen, what direction are we going to take?
Are we going to be like the women who were visiting the tomb, or are we going to be like the soldiers who were guarding the tomb?
What the resurrection of Jesus is to people nowadays will depend largely on our decision and direction.
The women and the soldiers made their choice. We too have to make ours.
Easter Sunday, 01-04-18
Acts 10:34, 37-40 / Colossians 3:1-4 / John 20:1-9
There is a simple game that we are familiar with and it is called “scissor-paper-stone”, played often by children.
It is a game that is usually played between two persons, in which each player simultaneously forms one of the three shapes with an outstretched hand, so it is either a scissor-shape, or a paper-shape, or a stone-shape.
It has only two possible outcomes other than a tie – one player wins and the other player loses. As it goes, one shape will win another but will lose to the other.
So scissors will win the paper because it cuts the paper, but scissors will lose to the stone. Though the stone will win the scissors, it will lose to the paper because paper wraps up the stone.
It is a game of chance in that one player will win and the other will lose, unless both come up with the same shape, in which case then it is a draw.
A rather interesting aspect of the game is that although the stone can win the scissors, yet it loses to the paper, in that the paper will wrap up the stone, at least according to the theory of the game.
In the Resurrection story, there is always the empty tomb and the stone that was used to cover its entrance. That stone made its prominence when it was rolled over the tomb in which Jesus was buried to seal the entrance of the tomb.
That stone was something to be reckoned with, at least it was not so easy to overcome it with paper as in that “scissor-paper-stone” game. Weighing about 2 tons and about 2 meters in diameter, it was rolled at a downward incline and over the entrance of the tomb and sits on a deep groove, thus effectively sealing the tomb.
Moving the stone from the entrance of the tomb is not impossible, but that is certainly not an easy task, and there is no need to. Once it is rolled over the entrance of the tomb, it is sealed and it is case-closed, not to be reopened. It can be effectively called a tomb-stone.
In a way, it can be said that it was the final stone that the enemies of Jesus threw at Him to make sure that He was dead and gone.
But from a tomb-stone, Jesus made it into a stepping-stone that revealed the Resurrection. The stone was rolled away to reveal an empty tomb. Jesus is not there, and it is not because we do not know what happened. We believe that He is risen.
The stone that is rolled away, and the empty tomb are just signs, but it is with faith that we believe that Jesus is risen.
It is also with faith that we look at life and think of how to respond to the stones that are thrown at us and that lay before us in the path of life.
Those stones can either be stumbling blocks or stepping-stones. Those stones can force us into the tomb and cover us up, or we can ask Jesus to roll away those stones and bring us to new life.
So with those stones, we can choose to make them into tomb-stones, and that would be a “case-closed” and a dead end. That was what they intended to do with Jesus.
But with those same stones, we can choose to make them into stepping-stones that lead us to understand the Resurrection of Jesus, and stepping-stones to the new life that the Risen Jesus wants to give us so that we become living stones in the hands of Jesus, living stones that He can use as stepping-stones for others to come to know Him and believe in Him.
In that “scissor-paper-stone” game, the stone “loses” to the paper. Now for the stones that are thrown at us and those stumbling blocks of stone that lie in our path, let us wrap them up with paper.
Not just any ordinary paper but with these petition-slips that are always available at the entrance of the church.
Let us write down on these petition-slips those hurting and stumbling blocks of stone in our lives and put these pieces of paper into the petition box to offer them to Jesus.
Every Friday at the evening Mass, we offer up those petitions in the petition-box to Jesus.
And as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, I also want to testify that the Risen Jesus will receive our petitions, He will hear our prayers, and He will answer them.
Simply because He is risen, and He wants us to rise with Him and to be living stones building up His Church.
Jesus also wants us to be stepping-stones for others to come to Him and believe in His Resurrection.
We believe that Jesus is our Risen Saviour. Let us proclaim this Good News to those who are still living in their tombs and waiting for the stone to be removed.
There is a simple game that we are familiar with and it is called “scissor-paper-stone”, played often by children.
It is a game that is usually played between two persons, in which each player simultaneously forms one of the three shapes with an outstretched hand, so it is either a scissor-shape, or a paper-shape, or a stone-shape.
It has only two possible outcomes other than a tie – one player wins and the other player loses. As it goes, one shape will win another but will lose to the other.
So scissors will win the paper because it cuts the paper, but scissors will lose to the stone. Though the stone will win the scissors, it will lose to the paper because paper wraps up the stone.
It is a game of chance in that one player will win and the other will lose, unless both come up with the same shape, in which case then it is a draw.
A rather interesting aspect of the game is that although the stone can win the scissors, yet it loses to the paper, in that the paper will wrap up the stone, at least according to the theory of the game.
In the Resurrection story, there is always the empty tomb and the stone that was used to cover its entrance. That stone made its prominence when it was rolled over the tomb in which Jesus was buried to seal the entrance of the tomb.
That stone was something to be reckoned with, at least it was not so easy to overcome it with paper as in that “scissor-paper-stone” game. Weighing about 2 tons and about 2 meters in diameter, it was rolled at a downward incline and over the entrance of the tomb and sits on a deep groove, thus effectively sealing the tomb.
Moving the stone from the entrance of the tomb is not impossible, but that is certainly not an easy task, and there is no need to. Once it is rolled over the entrance of the tomb, it is sealed and it is case-closed, not to be reopened. It can be effectively called a tomb-stone.
In a way, it can be said that it was the final stone that the enemies of Jesus threw at Him to make sure that He was dead and gone.
But from a tomb-stone, Jesus made it into a stepping-stone that revealed the Resurrection. The stone was rolled away to reveal an empty tomb. Jesus is not there, and it is not because we do not know what happened. We believe that He is risen.
The stone that is rolled away, and the empty tomb are just signs, but it is with faith that we believe that Jesus is risen.
It is also with faith that we look at life and think of how to respond to the stones that are thrown at us and that lay before us in the path of life.
Those stones can either be stumbling blocks or stepping-stones. Those stones can force us into the tomb and cover us up, or we can ask Jesus to roll away those stones and bring us to new life.
So with those stones, we can choose to make them into tomb-stones, and that would be a “case-closed” and a dead end. That was what they intended to do with Jesus.
But with those same stones, we can choose to make them into stepping-stones that lead us to understand the Resurrection of Jesus, and stepping-stones to the new life that the Risen Jesus wants to give us so that we become living stones in the hands of Jesus, living stones that He can use as stepping-stones for others to come to know Him and believe in Him.
In that “scissor-paper-stone” game, the stone “loses” to the paper. Now for the stones that are thrown at us and those stumbling blocks of stone that lie in our path, let us wrap them up with paper.
Not just any ordinary paper but with these petition-slips that are always available at the entrance of the church.
Let us write down on these petition-slips those hurting and stumbling blocks of stone in our lives and put these pieces of paper into the petition box to offer them to Jesus.
Every Friday at the evening Mass, we offer up those petitions in the petition-box to Jesus.
And as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, I also want to testify that the Risen Jesus will receive our petitions, He will hear our prayers, and He will answer them.
Simply because He is risen, and He wants us to rise with Him and to be living stones building up His Church.
Jesus also wants us to be stepping-stones for others to come to Him and believe in His Resurrection.
We believe that Jesus is our Risen Saviour. Let us proclaim this Good News to those who are still living in their tombs and waiting for the stone to be removed.
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