Learn from Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text: Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 37 He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. 41 The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 13:36-43

Reflection: Life is a mystery and many things that we hear appear to be like parables, difficult to understand.

Human nature seeks to understand the many things of life and thus deep within we are satisfied after finding an answer to things, even though at times this knowledge could be false. 

Unfortunately, this nature to seek knowledge can even be based on wrong or unwanted desires or seeking unwanted knowledge. 

For example; why do we need to know the personal lives of people always and what they do?

Why do we need to know the hot gossips about celebrities and neighbors, especially those of our enemies?

Do we know our human situation, which by nature generally seeks every kind of useless knowledge of life and which will not benefit us for life?

Yet we do it again and again as if we have lost a sense of our direction and indeed we have! 

We may home correctly and could reach our house from any corner of the globe but when it comes to our eternal home or destination we are generally astray and confused.

Those confident do not know and do not realize what they are confident about; it is the like the confidence of a student who has studied well and knows for sure that success is his, even cent percent but has failed to realize that he has prepared himself to answer another subject.

Christ Jesus assures every individual who comes to him with sincerity of heart that he is the way , the truth and the life. (cfr. Jn. 14:6) He is our visible destination! 

Hence the dedicated disciples do right when they in their moment of confusion to understand the parable approach Jesus the right man: "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." (vs.36)

Prayer:  Lord, explain to us the parables of life; for you are the source of all wisdom and it is only you who can satisfy our desire to know the truth and lead us into eternal glory."

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Mystery of God

Today’s Gospel Text:  After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." John 21:1-19

Reflection: One is often confused with the Christian concept of a Trinitarian God; 3 persons but one nature. 

A concept that has been difficult to comprehend by many a Christians and the word "mystery" further compounds the situation and one begins to look at it as a mystery that will always remain a mystery and not as a mystery which is open to exploration in the true wisdom of God.

This mystery of God is already revealed in Christ Jesus and can be comprehended much by our human senses, enough to help us in the way of our salvation.

Nature which carries the signature of God, gives us much insight into the mystery of the Trinitarian nature of God because God has left his mark in creation.

Hence, from the largest object, the sun, to the smallest atom there exists a Trinitarian model.

Even human beings carry the Trinitarian truth in their whole being, which consists of Body, Soul and Spirit.

No wonder St. Paul, the greatest intellectual we know of had this to say:    

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”  Rom 1:18-19

In the post resurrection we see much more of the revelation of the Trinitarian nature of God; whom Jesus reveals as the supreme Father to his dedicated disciples, who are also his friends.

One such place where we can implicitly arrive at the triune, unified and inseparable nature of God is in the above gospel passage when Jesus addresses his friends and dedicated disciples, in a never before term, as children: "Children, have you any fish?" (vs. 5b) 

So too Isaiah prophesies about him thus:  “…. and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isa 9:6

Prayer: Everlasting Father, help us to enter into the depth of your mystery so that we may ever grow through knowing the depth of your love for us.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

                                                                                                                               -Fr. Conrad Saldanha 

Right Food

Today’s Gospel Text: Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; 5 and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; John 20:1a, 2-8

Reflection: There is a great mystery about the gospel of John and the language too is mysterious because every word supplies a profound meaning to the earnest seeker, who seeks the help of the Holy Spirit.

The mystery is in the various signs and symbolic language used in the gospel, of which some seem very explicit because of the long tradition of the church, which we as Catholics are fortunate to have them as a deposit of our faith, waiting to be re-discovered again and again by the earnest seekers.

One of the mysteries is today’s passage for reflection, particularly the mystery of the 'other disciple', who is sometimes referred to as the 'beloved disciple'.

Could he be the least in the kingdom of heaven, who we are called to imitate? (cfr. Mt. 11:11; Lk. 7:28) Indeed, he is a perfect example of true humility; dead to himself like the grain of wheat and having no ambition to excel in any worldly ways, even though he is capable, except to seek the glory of God revealed in Christ Jesus.

This is the message that strongly comes across in the overall gospel of John, the hour of glory yet to be revealed and revealed completely in the passion and cross of Christ.

If a man of ego wants to be the first to accomplish anything, buy, receive, honored, etc. the other disciple is satisfied in following the leader and yet will not lag behind in any way when it comes to the necessary aspect of discipleship.

He, in and through his refrained action, shows that the vital ingredient of true discipleship is that of faith; “Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.” (Vs. 8)

He is a satisfied disciple, satisfied with the things he has seen, touched and beheld about Christ Jesus (I Jn. 1:1) and his food is to feed himself with believing in what he sees about his master; for in believing his hunger is satisfied and his mind is never hungry again. 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to imitate John, the other disciple, the beloved one and to satisfy myself into believing your actions in this world and especially in the church.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Delve into God

Today’s Gospel Text: Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 37 He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. 41 The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 13:36-43

Reflection: We know what humans are all about and yet they are so mysterious. Each individual is a mystery to be discovered. We could even spend our life time discovering each other and yet find that there are certain aspects which will remain a mystery to us.

The Gospel text of today reveals the mysterious nature of God. He is hidden and yet in his generosity and mercy towards us reveals himself to us.

We can safely say this about Jesus our Lord and God: The more he revealed himself to us the more we threatened his existence when he walked on earth among us, ultimately crucifying him to a most ignoble and miserable death.

In the many parables, he teaches us the mysterious nature of God offered to us and yet it does not completely reveal the complete mystery of God.

We can look at it from a bitter point of view or we can view this from a more positive point of view. A child wanting bread can be either refused by his father or given money to explore the mystery of buying bread, rather than the child having the bread itself .

Likewise God, reveals to us, so that we may explore into that mystery which saves us, because we are now dependent on him and grow in dependency on him who alone can save us from the unseen powers and principalities of wickedness at work in us, which is far removed from our visible eyes.

Blessed are these humble Dedicated Disciples who having not understood these parables of Jesus, could have said to themselves; “if he speaks in such mysterious language then why should we go to him again and beg of him or perhaps he himself doesn’t know the interpretations to these parables.”

Yet they knew that every revelation of God, in a mysterious way, is an invitation to persevere in understanding the mystery further but with his help and wisdom.

Prayer:  Father, you who has chosen to reveal your Son to us, may we understand all those mysteries that are necessary for our salvation.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us