Pondering The Brevity Of Life

 "YOU turn humans back to dust, saying, 'Return, O mortals!'

A thousand years in YOUR sight are like a day that has passed, or like a watch in the night.

YOU sow them in their time; at dawn they peep out.  In the morning they blossom, but the flower fades and withers in the evening.

So, make us know the shortness of our life, that we may gain wisdom of heart.

How long will YOU be angry, O YAHWEH?  Have mercy on YOUR servant.

Fill us at daybreak with YOUR goodness, that we may be glad all our days.

May the sweetness of YAHWEH be upon us; may HE prosper the work of our hands."

- Psalm 90:3-4. 5-6. 12-13. 14. 17

(What is the meaning of our life?  What are our values?  We cannot elaborate a 'tomorrow' for ourselves, without counting on GOD.  This psalm can help us.

Our days pass like a sigh.  Our earthly life is short and frail before the face of the eternal GOD.  HE is our refuge and can give meaning to our existence.  Let us ask HIM to fill it with wisdom, which is to love HIM, praise HIM and serve HIM.)

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Peter's Profession Of Faith

"JESUS set out with HIS disciples for the villages around Caesarea Philippi; and on the way HE asked them, 'Who do people say I AM?  And they told HIM, 'Some say, YOU are John the Baptist; others say, YOU are Elijah or one of the prophets.'

Then JESUS asked them, 'But you, who do you say I AM?'  Peter answered, 'YOU are the Messiah.'  And HE ordered them not to tell anyone about HIM.

JESUS then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  HE would be killed, and after three days rise again.  JESUS said all this quite openly, so that Peter took HIM aside and began to protest strongly.  But JESUS, turning around, and looking at HIS disciples, rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get behind ME, Satan!  You are thinking not as GOD does, but as people do.'" - Mark 8:27-33  

(Here the Gospel already foretells the tragic end.  For the first time, the apostles take account of who their Master is.

YOU are the Messiah.  CHRIST is a Greek word that means the Messiah in Hebrew.  They both mean: the anointed or consecrated one.  This term designated the long-awaited Savior.  The apostles discover that JESUS is the Messiah, the Liberator, but HE teaches them that the Son of Man (the Human One) has to suffer many things.

Why does JESUS call HIMSELF the Son of Man?  For two reasons: first, because one page in Scripture speaks of the Son of Man who gloriously comes from GOD to judge all people and to rule all the nations [Daniel 7:13].  Second, because JESUS is the perfect Human and bears the destiny of humanity.

JESUS had to suffer, because this is the fate of sinners.  HE had to suffer and be rejected by the authorities, because this is the destiny of those who proclaim the truth.  HE had to freely go to HIS death because self-sacrifice is the only means for the salvation of the world.)

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Vanity Of Vanities

"All is meaningless--says the Teacher--meaningless, meaningless!

What profit is there for a man in all his work for which he toils under the sun?

A generation goes, a generation comes, and the earth remains forever.  The sun rises, the sun sets, hastening towards the place where it again rises.  Blowing to the south, turning to the north, the wind goes round and round and after all its rounds it has to blow again.

All rivers go to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers come from, there they return again.

All words become weary, and speech comes to an end, but the eye has never seen enough, nor the ear heard too much.

What has happened before will happen again; what has been done before will be done again:  there is nothing new under the sun.

If they say to you, 'See, it's new!' know that it has already been centuries earlier.

There is no remembrance of ancient people, and those to come will not be remembered by those who follow them." - Ecclesiastes 1:2-11   

(All is meaningless!  Meaningless!  We are used to the ancient translation of this verse: "Vanity of vanities.  All is vanity!"  Actually, the first word of the book designates in Hebrew a wisp of straw.  It is without weight and flies away at the slightest breeze, like vanity, a nothing.  It is also what escapes our grasp: it is a future that is uncertain and illusory, or something which does not satisfy our spirit, on which we can build nothing; it is "disconcerting," it "has no sense."

This expression is repeated in the like a refrain, but with different meanings according to the context: that is why we have recourse to different translations.

There is nothing new under the sun.  The prophets had seen the world led by GOD toward a happy future.  Other cultures, however, had the notion that the world only keeps on repeating the same events, with kingdoms, wars, success and failure.  For them, nothing was happening which could give people the fulfillment of their desires.

With such convictions, a person might try to forget what is taking place in a world where all is illusion, but that is not the case of Ecclesiastes.  Like every good Jew, he is firmly rooted in reality; he lives at a time that is without conflict and also without prophets or great hope.  In such conditions, it is wisdom to ignore the illusions of activism.

Under the sun: these words will come back as a refrain: humans toil and pass as a shadow while the sun remains.  The sun is like an image of GOD who endures and who alone does things "with a view to eternity.") 

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JESUS Sends The Twelve On A Mission

"Then JESUS called HIS Twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases.  And HE sent them to proclaim the kingdom of GOD and to heal the sick.  HE instructed them, 'Don't take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and don't even take a spare tunic.  Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place.  And wherever they don't welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against them.'

So, they set out, and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere." - Luke 9:1-6 

(JESUS has begun HIS mission, HE forms and sends out missionaries.

Apostles mean "sent" and "mission" also means "being sent."  The FATHER has sent HIS Son to earth, and the Son, in turn, sends HIS apostles.  The FATHER sends messengers of HIS word, but HE also sends HIS Spirit to touch the hearts and minds of those who listen.  Through the Spirit they recognize the word of GOD in the poor preaching of these messengers who have received no great instruction.  The Spirit will give signs: healings and astounding graces supporting the witness of the missionaries.)

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JESUS' Mother And Brothers

"Then HIS mother and HIS relatives came to HIM, but they could not get to HIM because of the crowd.  Someone told HIM, 'YOUR mother and YOUR brothers are standing outside and wish to meet YOU.'  Then JESUS answered, 'MY mother and MY brothers are those who hear the word of GOD and do it.'" - Luke 8:19-21  

(JESUS lost HIS relatives but found HIS true brothers and sisters.  When we commit ourselves to GOD's work, we discover new brothers and sisters and a mother, Mary, of whom the Gospel says, "Happy are you for having believed that GOD's promises would be fulfilled."  JESUS does not say, "HE is MY FATHER," for the FATHER is one and HE is in heaven.)

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JESUS Calls Matthew

"As JESUS moved on from there, HE saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the customhouse, and HE said to him, 'Follow me.'  And Matthew got up and followed HIM.  Now it happened, while JESUS was at table in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined JESUS and HIS disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to HIS disciples, 'Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?'

When JESUS heard this, HE said, 'Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do.  Go and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice.  I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.'" - Matthew 9:9-13  

(To enter the family of GOD, we must change some of our values.  This conversion is not as conspicuous as participation in devotional practices but is much more valuable.  First, we must liberate ourselves from prejudices by which we classify people.  Let us stop dividing people into good or bad; those we can greet and those we cannot; those we can love and help and those we cannot.  Let us learn that GOD does not hate the rich or the uneducated, those on the left or those on the right, for GOD's merciful plan sees to the salvation of all.

The Gospel speaks about the publicans or the tax collectors, who served the foreign powers.  JESUS' nation was under the domination of the Roman Empire, and the tax collectors were Jews who worked for foreigners.

Patriots consider them traitors.  The people knew they filled their pockets; even beggars refused to receive from the publicans.  Yet JESUS did not condemn them but chose one of them, Levi, as one of the apostles, of whom the majority were committed patriots.

The teachers of the Law were like catechists or religion teachers.  They were well versed in religion and admired JESUS teachings, but they did not consider as brothers and sisters the publicans and other sinners [that is to say people who did not fulfill the religious precepts].

Levi is probably the apostle Matthew.  In this case, like Simon, named Peter by JESUS, Levi would have been given the name of Matthew; in Hebrew Mattai means gift of GOD.

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The Workers In The Vineyard

"This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven.  A landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.  He agreed to pay the workers a salary of a silver coin for the day and sent them to his vineyard. 

He went out again at about nine in the morning, and seeing others idle in the square, he said to them:  'You, too, go to my vineyard and I will pay you what is just.'  So, they went.

The owner went out at midday and again at three in the afternoon, and he did the same.  Finally, he went out at the last working hour - it was the eleventh - and he saw others standing there.  So, he said to them:  'Why do you stay idle the whole day?'  They answered:  'Because no one has hired us.'  The master said:  'Go and work in my vineyard.'

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager: 'Call the workers and pay them their wage, beginning with the last and ending with the first.'  Those who had come to work at the eleventh hour turned up and given a denarius (a silver coin).  When it was the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more.  But they, too, received a denarius each.  So, on receiving it, they began to grumble against the landowner.

They said:  'These last hardly worked an hour, yet you have treated them the same as us who have endured the day's burden and heat.'  The owner said to one of them:  'Friend, I have not been unjust to you.  Did we not agree on a denarius a day?  So, take what is yours and go.  I want to give to the last the same as I give to you.  Don't I have the right to do as I please with my money?  Why are you envious when I am kind?'

So will it be the last will be first, the first will be last.'" - Matthew 20:1-16   

(Many are surprised at this parable.  They find it unfair to give the same reward to everyone, without taking into account the labor and sacrifices of everyone.

 

Without doubt JESUS wanted to shock us and shatter the idea we obstinately cling to that we have merits that GOD must recognize.  However, we should pay close attention to the story:  JESUS makes a comparison, not of several laborers, but of several groups of laborers.  Each group represents a nation or a social class, and while some of them have long ago received the word of GOD, others have just become believers.

 

All throughout history, GOD has been calling different people to work in his vineyard... The elders never cease to claim their right to receive better treatment than the others.  Actually, the vineyard has not been confided to them exclusively.

Then, with the coming of CHRIST, the Gospel was brought to other nations that were until then pagan.  They came into the Church and shaped Christianity.  They also claimed to be owners of the kingdom of GOD and the Church.

 

To this day, there are also social groups that are amazed when the Church criticizes their demand for privileges and does not assign them the first benches in the temple for, they had always believed that the Church was theirs.

 

In this parable, all are treated on equal terms and receive one silver coin each.  Let them be happy for having been invited to work, as they were unemployed.)

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The Parable Of The Sower

"As a great crowd gathered and people came to HIM from every town, JESUS began teaching them through stories, or parables, 'The Sower went out to sow the seed.  And as he sowed, some of the grain fell along the way, was trodden on and the birds of the sky ate it up.  Some fell on rocky ground, and no sooner had it come up than it withered, because it had no water.  Some fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with the seed and choked it.  But some fell on good soil and grew, producing fruit - a hundred times as much.'  And JESUS cried out, 'Listen then, if you have ears to hear!' 

The disciples asked HIM, 'What does this story mean?'  And JESUS answered, 'You have been granted to know the mystery of the kingdom of GOD.  But to others it is given in the form of stories, or parables, so that, seeing they may not perceive and hearing they may not understand.'

Now, this is the point of the parable:  The seed is the word of GOD.  Those along the wayside are people who hear it, but immediately the devil comes and takes the word from their minds, for he doesn't want them to believe and be saved.  Those on the rocky ground are people who receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe for a while and give way in time of trial.  Among the thorns are people who hear the word but as they go their way, are choked by worries, riches, and the pleasures of life; they bring no fruit to maturity.  The good soil, instead, are people who receive the word and keep it in a gentle and generous mind, and persevering patiently, they bear fruit." - Luke 8:4-15 

(The comparison [or parable] of the Sower helps us to understand what is happening around JESUS.  Many people became very enthusiastic at the beginning, then, after a while they left.  Only a few persevered and the apostles wondered:  How will the kingdom of GOD come if no one is interested?

 

The Gospel records JESUS' explanation about the fields on which the seed fell.  There was a lot more to explain.  First, HIS comparing the kingdom of GOD with something that is sown must have surprised the listeners.  Throughout Sacred History, there had been abundant sowing, and JESUS' contemporaries were expecting a harvest [see Revelation 14:15].

 

We, like JESUS contemporaries, want to reap, that is to enjoy the fruits of the kingdom of GOD, namely, social peace, justice and happiness.  Many wonder how it is possible that people continue to be so evil two thousand years after CHRIST.

 

If the kingdom of GOD has come and it is already in our midst, that does not mean we are going to enjoy its fruits.  The kingdom of GOD is where GOD rules, and GOD rules where people accept HIM for what HE is, where HE can be FATHER and where HIS sons and daughters can accept HIS plan for them.

 

From that moment on, people grow in a thousand ways, and social consciousness also develops.  People become aware of their dignity and their common destiny, in spite of the fact that it seems more impossible every day to reach the goal.)

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The Women Who Followed JESUS

"JESUS walked through towns and countryside, preaching and giving the good news of the kingdom of GOD.  The Twelve followed HIM, and also some women, who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary called Magdalene, who had been freed of seven demons; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Suzanna; and others, who provided for them out of their own funds." - Luke 8:1-3  

(No spiritual master would have spoken to a woman in public: women were not even admitted to the synagogues.  Nevertheless, JESUS did not pay the least attention to such universally accepted prejudices.  Various women took JESUS' words and attitude as a call to freedom.  They even joined the circle of HIS intimate friends while ignoring the gossip.  Here we have a fundamental testimony about the freedom of the Gospel.

JESUS was truly human, and as such HE belonged to a race and a culture: HE was a Jew of HIS time and HIS gospel was attuned to the culture that HE shared.  Yet JESUS did not adopt the inhuman traits of HIS culture; nor did HE accept the prejudices of the Jews of HIS time with regard to women, to public sinners, to pagans and so on, nor did HE share their views in regard to the Sabbath.  HIS gospel is a leaven that changes cultures for the better; in many respects HIS way of life goes against the mainstream of cultures.

Mary of Magdala [Magdala was a village on the shore of Lake Tiberias] will be at the foot of the cross along with Mary, the wife of Cleophas, the mother of James and Joset.  These two women, along with Joanna, will receive the first news of the Resurrection [Luke 24:10].)

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Resurrection Is A Fact

"Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, of the Good News that I preached to you, and which you received, and on which, you stand firm.  By that gospel, you are saved, provided that you hold to it, as I preached it.  Otherwise, you will have believed in vain.

In the first place, I have passed on to you what, I, myself, received: that CHRIST died for our sins, as Scripture says; that HE was buried; that HE was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures; that HE appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.  Afterward, HE appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters together; most of them are still alive, although some have already gone to rest.  Then HE appeared to James, and after that, to all the apostles.  And last of all, HE appeared to the most despicable of them, this is, to me.  For I am the last of the apostles, and I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of GOD.  Nevertheless, by the grace of GOD, I am what I am, and HIS grace toward me has not been without fruit.  Far from it, I have toiled more than all of them, although, not I, rather the grace of GOD, in me.

Now, whether it was I or they, this, we preach, and this, you have believed." - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11  

(Have we here the response to a last question of the Corinthians?  Many Greeks thought that at death the immortal soul leaves the body and remains alone.  Was it admitted to the paradise of souls?  Did it come to the great reservoir of souls already gone or who were to return, forgetting all the past lived on earth?  Others held [as do a good number of Christians today], that all ends with death: see 1 Thessalonians 5:13.  Paul will therefore remind the Corinthians that faith in the Resurrection is at the heart of the Christian message.

I remind you of the Gospel.  Here certainly we may speak of Good News, for death as something unknown is and always has been the great burden of human life [Sirach 40:1].

I have passed on to you.  Paul will not recall a tale, or a "myth," these stories full of wisdom that abounded with the Greeks.  They bared an order in the world, a meaning of life, but were only stories.  Today certain people speak of the Resurrection in the same way.  They say: "It matters little what took place, the Gospels are not directly interested in what happened to JESUS, for them it was important that strange events would give courage to the disciples and the hope of another life."  Paul says precisely the contrary: the Resurrection of JESUS is a fact.)

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