26-Feb-2012
Dear Friend,
A common experience we all have is facing suffering and pain, in our own lives
or in our loved ones. Confronted by suffering we often ask: "Why does God make
me suffer? Why is God so cruel? Does God delight in torturing us? A sadist God?
There is no easy answer to suffering. It remains a mystery to be lived not a
problem to be solved. Is God doing nothing about it? God's response: letting
His Son be one with us in suffering. Have a surrendering weekend, putting your
life in His hands! Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Second Sunday of Lent "Life makes sense when we trust in
God alone!" 4-Mar-2012
Readings: Genesis 22: 1-2, 9-13, 15-18 Romans 8: 31-35,
37 Mark 9: 2-10
The first reading poses the problem dramatically. Abraham and his wife have
advanced in age and late in life Sarah conceives and has her first-born Isaac,
a name which means 'laughter' for truly he brought joy into their barren lives.
Now God seems to ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son. How can God take away
what he has given? The sacrifice asked of Abraham shocks us. We have to
remember that during the time of Abraham it was customary that human sacrifice
be offered to God. Abraham believed that God was asking this supreme sacrifice
of him. He cannot understand how God can ask this of him yet he is ready and
takes his son to be sacrificed. God does not let Abraham sacrifice his son but
a lamb in his place.
'I have to go! It's my duty!'
Years ago, in a small fishing village in Holland, one night the winds raged,
and a gale force storm capsized a fishing boat at sea. Stranded and in
trouble, the crew sent out the S.O.S. The captain of the rescue rowboat team
sounded the alarm. While the team launched their rowboat and fought their way
through the wild waves, the villagers waited restlessly on the beach. An hour
later, the rescue boat reappeared through the fog and the volunteers reported
that the rescue boat could not hold any more passengers and they had to leave
one man behind. Frantically, the captain called for another volunteer team to
go after the lone survivor. Sixteen-year-old Hans stepped forward. His mother
grabbed his arm, pleading, "Please don't go. Your father died in a shipwreck 10
years ago and your older brother, Paul, has been lost at sea for three weeks.
Hans, you are all I have left." Hans replied, "Mother, I have to go. What if
everyone said, `I can't go, let
someone else do it?' Mother, this time I have to do my duty. Hans kissed his
mother, joined the team and disappeared into the night. Another hour passed,
which seemed to Hans' mother like an eternity. Finally, the rescue boat darted
through the fog with Hans standing up in the bow. Cupping his hands, the
captain called, "Did you find the lost man?" Barely able to contain himself,
Hans excitedly yelled back, "Yes, we found him. Tell my mother it's my older
brother, Paul!"
Author Unknown
In the Gospel we read the incident of the transfiguration of Jesus in the
presence of his disciples, and we know that this experience preceded his
passion and death. The vision of the transfiguration was not given to all but
to a select group of his disciples, the same who would be with him at the agony
in the garden of Gethsemane. The transfiguration of Jesus was more than a mere
external change in appearance. In the Scriptures, final glory is seen in terms
of white garments, here Jesus is revealed in the glory of the final age. The
apostles were deeply impressed by the sight and Peter spoke up: "Rabbi, it is
wonderful to be here, so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses
and one for Elijah." Peter wanted to hold on to the experience, he did not want
to let go. It did not occur to Peter to be silent and to contemplate the scene
as Mary at the Annunciation. Towards the end a cloud came and covered them with
its shadow and there came a voice
from the cloud "This is my son the beloved, listen to him." The cloud was no
ordinary one, it was an Old Testament image to describe God's dwelling among
his people. This was the tension of the apostles, seeing Jesus in his humanity
and at the same time having glimpses of his divinity in moments of insight and
faith. We too become the well beloved sons and daughters of God in our moments
of total surrender to Him.
You are Special!
To be special to somebody is a privilege that meets one of our deepest human
needs. Being aware of this privilege nurtures deep-seated joy even in the midst
of difficulties and suffering. However, this awareness is often blocked by
fears, insecurities resentment, anger, addictions and by the pressures of life.
To be conscious of being loved, one must make space to allow the power of the
loving one to touch and heal one. As we read in today's gospel, Jesus made that
space when he went up the mountain with Peter, James and John to be alone with
the Father in their presence. There he heard the Father assure him. 'You are my
beloved' and that assurance changed him so much that the trio were visibly
shaken but knew it was good to be with him. The Father offers us a similar
option. He wants each of us to know that we are special to him, truly beloved.
Tom Clancy in 'Living the Word'
Facing the Mountain of Death
An old man and an old woman, Abraham and Sarah, stand at the beginning of
Israel's faith. The arithmetic of their ages was impressive, yet they longed
for a son, prayed for a son, waited for a son. When the son arrived, the
ancient parents called him Isaac, which means laughter. So it was that
Abraham's faith in God was rewarded. He was God's original accomplice, the
first to turn his back on civilization for the sake of a promise that had no
place on a map. He is hailed as the father of the Jews and the Arabs, and as
our forefather in faith. He stands as a large presence at the beginning of so
many journeys in faith.
Denis McBride in 'Seasons of the Word'
Transfigured by Jesus
One of the things that impressed me most when I first read the story of Fatima
was that the children went into a trance once Our Lady appeared, and nothing
anybody around them could do was able to distract them. You could stick pins in
their fingers, or hold a burning candle to their hands, and they remained
totally oblivious to it all. It is evident that, once they got in touch with
that other world, it was all absorbing, and it was the centre of their faces,
and a light in their eyes that amazed all those who watched. That expression
was also evident on the face of Blessed Padre Pio as he offered Mass, or prayed
on his own. It is not surprising, then, that the apostles should have been
given this glimpse of Jesus.
Jack McArdle in 'And That the Gospel Truth'.
Pigeon Feathers
John Updike wrote a short story called "Pigeon Feathers." It's about a young
boy, David, who begins to have doubts about his faith. One night in bed David
is thinking about his problem. Suddenly he decides upon a bold experiment. He
takes his hands from under the covers, lifts them above his head, and asks
Jesus to touch them. As David waits breathlessly, he thinks he feels something
touch his hands; not sure if they have been touched or not. We can all relate
to David in this scene. We too experience times when our faith seems to
disappear or go behind a cloud. When this happens, we long desperately for a
sign that God is real and that Jesus is the Son of God. Or to put it in another
way, we long for a sign of Jesus' glory, like the one Peter, James and John
received in today's gospel. May we call upon His power and presence when put to
the test!
Mark Link in 'Sunday Homilies'
Choosing to be transfigured or not!
One of my early memories as a child growing up in the country was the arrival
of electricity. There was great excitement, as we all had visited with
relatives in places where they had electricity, and, to us, the benefits were
enormous. Day after day the reports went around. Someone saw the men yesterday,
and they were just a few miles away, erecting the poles along the road. We were
impatient for the day when they arrived at our house, and each waiting day
seemed forever. The first concrete movement was when a man came to wire the
house, and the houses in the farmyard. There were switches and bulbs which we
kept touching and examining, but there still was no power. The great day
finally arrived. There was a loud shriek of excitement when the lights came on,
as we ran from room to room to ensure that all the lights were functioning. The
excitement lingered for several weeks. It was during that time that I noticed
something that puzzled me greatly. An
elderly brother and sister, living about a half mile from us, did not take the
electricity. I stood in front of their house one night, looking at the wires
and poles just outside their house, and yet it was an oil lamp in the window
that gave them light. This was just beyond my comprehension, because I was
quite unable to understand that they had every right to accept or reject the
electricity. I just couldn't understand why anybody would choose to live in a
sort of twilight zone when they had a choice to live with bright light in every
part of the house. At this stage of my life I can well understand, and I see
that situation as a parable for many situations I have witnessed in my own
life, and in the lives of others. I know now that I will never see Jesus
transfigured if I choose not to. The choice is mine.
Jack McArdle in 'And That the Gospel Truth'.
May we trust God alone and be transformed by His Spirit in us!
Fr. Jude Botelho
judebote...@yahoo.co.in
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site
www.netforlife.net Thank you.
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