In The Body HE Was Put To Death, In The Spirit HE Was Raised To Life

 "Remember how CHRIST died, once, and for all, for our sins.  HE, the just one, died for the unjust, in order to lead us to GOD.  In the body, HE was put to death, in the spirit, HE was raised to life, and it was then, that HE went to preach to the imprisoned spirits.  They were the generation who did not believe, when GOD, in HIS great patience, delayed punishing the world, while Noah was building the ark, in which a small group of eight persons escaped, through water.  That was a type of the baptism that now saves you; this baptism is not a matter of physical cleansing, but of asking GOD to reconcile us, through the resurrection of CHRIST JESUS.  HE has ascended to heaven, and is at the right hand of GOD, having subjected the angels, Dominions and Powers." - 1 Peter 3:18-22 

(Peter, using the expressions of his day, speaks of the sinful people in Noah's time.  For the Jews, they were the example of those who sin by irresponsibility and lack of real concern for the will of GOD.  Yet, CHRIST saved them: HE came for everyone, and not only for those who have been faithful or who had the chance of meeting HIM in HIS Church.

Note the comparison between the deluge and baptism: water washes away the old world, a life of sin: the person who comes to CHRIST begins a new life, striving for "a pure conscience."

In the body HE was put to death, in the spirit HE was raised to life.  [The text says, "HE died according to flesh."]  This means that HE died because HE had accepted and really taken on our mortal condition, but HE had to be repossessed by the Spirit of GOD.  It is a reaffirmation of the double nature of CHRIST.  Compare with Romans 1:4)

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"Healthy People Don't Need A Doctor, But Sick People Do. I Have Not Come To Call The Just, But Sinners, To A Change Of Heart."

 "After this, JESUS went out, and noticing a tax collector named Levi, sitting in the tax-office, HE said to him, 'Follow ME!'  So Levi, leaving everything, got up and followed JESUS.

Levi gave a great feast for JESUS, and many tax collectors came to his house, and took their places at the table with the other people.  Then the Pharisees and their followers complained to JESUS' disciples, 'How is it, that you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?'  But JESUS spoke up, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do.  I have not come to call the just, but sinners, to a change of heart.' - Luke 5:27-32 

(The events related in this chapter show how JESUS situates HIMSELF in society and with what people HE relates: with a small group of fishermen who will be in charge of HIS new movement, with lepers and sick people who seek HIM.  HE calls people who, like Levi, belong to a despised group.)

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A Deep Sense Of Sin Is Already A Step Toward The Sanctity Of GOD

 "Have mercy on me, O GOD, in YOUR love.

In YOUR great compassion blot out my sin.

Wash me thoroughly of my guilt;

cleanse me of evil.

For I acknowledge my wrongdoings

and have my sins ever in mind.

Against YOU alone, have I sinned;

what is evil in  YOUR sight, I have done.

YOU take no pleasure in sacrifice;

were I to give a burnt offering,

YOU would not delight in it.

O GOD, my sacrifice is a broken spirit;

a contrite heart, YOU will not despise."

- Psalm 51:3-4. 5-6. 18-19

(This is the finest of the 'penitential psalms.'  Man stands guilty and unafraid before GOD.  Indeed, he sees his guilt, as a reason for mercy and an excuse for hope.  A deep sense of sin is already a step toward the sanctity of GOD.  It opens the door for HIS eager mercy.

It is good to pray with this psalm, when we feel overwhelmed by our guilt, be it against GOD or against our brothers and sisters, and we seek the goodness of GOD, who justifies us.

When we receive the sacrament of reconciliation, we meet JESUS HIMSELF, the Savior who intercedes, and the FATHER who pardons.  Each of our confessions is a joyful celebration of GOD's mercy and a source of renewal.)

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The Importance Of Our Free Decisions And GOD's Respect For Human Freedom

 "See, I set before you on this day life and good, evil and death.  I command you to love YAHWEH, your GOD and follow HIS ways.  Observe HIS commandments, HIS norms and HIS laws, and you will live and increase, and YAHWEH will give you HIS blessing in the land you are going to possess.  But if your heart turns away and does not listen, if you are drawn away and bow before other gods to serve them, I declare on this day that you shall perish.  You shall not last in the land you are going to occupy on the other side of the Jordan.

Let the heavens and the earth listen, that they may be witnesses against you.  I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.  Therefore, choose life that you and your descendants may live, loving YAHWEH, listening to HIS voice, and being one with HIM.  In this is life for you and length of days in the land which YAHWEH swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." - Deuteronomy 30:15-20 

(This text about the two ways is very famous, reminding us of the importance of our free decisions and GOD's respect for human freedom [see also Sirach 15:11].

Throughout Deuteronomy faithfulness to GOD is spoken of together with the remembrance of HIS promises and rewards here on earth.  This should not surprise us.  In those distant times the people of GOD had no understanding of another life nor of the resurrection and the vision of GOD after death.  They only focused on the present life and their national destiny which, in their view, were more important than the destiny of the individual.  For them, GOD's justice had to be seen on earth in the present.

Later, the Gospel will not promise lands or houses, except in a figurative way [Mark 10:28].  Prosperity will not be mentioned except for the final day when GOD will create the world anew [Acts 3:21 and Revelation 21:3].)

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We Present Ourselves As Ambassadors In The Name Of CHRIST

"So we present ourselves as ambassadors, in the name of CHRIST, as if GOD, HIMSELF, makes an appeal to you, through us.  Let GOD reconcile you; this, we ask you, in the name of CHRIST.  HE had no sin, but GOD made HIM bear our sin, so, that, in HIM, we might share the holiness of GOD.

Being GOD's helpers, we  beg you: let it not be in vain, that you received this grace of GOD.  Scripture says: At the favorable time I listened to you, on the day of salvation I helped you.  This is the favorable time, this is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 

(We present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of CHRIST.  This is not only true of the apostles and Paul.  It is also meant for us when we go to visit the sick or the needy; when, overcoming suspicion, we approach our brother or sister to create an atmosphere of confidence, so that, shortly, we may arrive at fraternal fellowship with others who have the same problems but who, in spite of that, often remain locked in their selfishness.

HE had no sin.  It is difficult to translate Paul's words: "HE made sin HIM who did not know sin," for obviously Paul here speaks according to Hebrew culture where the same word denotes both the sin and the victim who carries the sin.  Paul recalls the mystery of the cross: reconciliation is not achieved without voluntary victims who take on themselves the hatred and the sin of humankind.)

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Have You Eyes That Don't See And Ears That Don't Hear?

 "The disciples had forgotten to bring more bread, and had only one loaf with them in the boat.  Then JESUS warned them, 'Keep your eyes open, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.'  And they said to one another, 'HE saw that we have no bread.'

Aware of this, JESUS asked them, 'Why are you talking about the loaves you are short of?  Do you not see or understand?  Are your minds closed?  Have you eyes that don't see and ears that don't hear?  And do you not remember when I broke the five loaves among five thousand?  How many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?'  They answered, 'Twelve.'  'And having distributed seven loaves to the four thousand, how many wicker baskets of leftovers did you collect?'  They answered, 'Seven.'  Then JESUS said to them, 'Do you still not understand?'" - Mark 8:14-21 

(JESUS tells HIS apostles to beware of the Pharisee's spirit [of becoming like the Pharisees] but they do not listen, being more concerned about the food.

JESUS says: Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, meaning their teaching [Matthew 16:12].  The Pharisees saw JESUS as a popular worker-wonder who threatened their authority as a religious and popular leader of the people.  Since the disciples had forgotten to bring more bread, they missed JESUS' point about the leaven of the Pharisees.  JESUS fears that HIS disciples, because of being common people, would let themselves be impressed by the knowledge and fame of the Pharisees, and HE warns that these people build religion on the wrong basis.

JESUS agreed with the Pharisees on the general way of understanding the Scriptures, but not the spirit of many among them.  As "master" HE chose a way opposed to theirs.  Instead of a teaching that comes from above HE became part of a natural group of quite simple people and formed them through action.  HE made them reflect on what they saw, on what they did, and above all on what GOD was doing among them as they worked with HIM.)

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The Pharisees Wanted To Put JESUS To The Test And Asked HIM For Some Heavenly Sign

 "The Pharisees came and started to argue with JESUS.  Hoping to embarrass HIM, they asked for some heavenly sign.  Then HIS spirit was moved.  HE gave a deep sigh and said, 'Why do the people of this present time ask for a sign?  Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this people.'  Then HE left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side of the lake." - Mark 8:11-13 

(The Pharisees want a miracle that will undoubtedly be the work of GOD.  No sign will be given them.  JESUS refuses to prove HIS authority by multiplying miracles.  People who love truth and seek what is right will recognize the seal of GOD in the deeds of JESUS--and of HIS followers--no matter how many speak ill of them.

The sign of Jonah is the resurrection of JESUS.  Yet this resurrection that is the most decisive sign, will be understandable only to the believers.  Thus people who demand miracles before they will believe, receive no answer.)

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The Power Of Confession

 "Blessed is the one whose sin is forgiven,

whose iniquity is wiped away.

Blessed are those in whom YAHWEH sees no guilt

and in whose spirit is found no deceit.

Then I made known to YOU my sin

and uncovered before YOU my fault,

saying to myself,

'To YAHWEH I will now confess my wrong.'

And YOU, YOU forgave my sin;

YOU removed my guilt.

Rejoice in YAHWEH, and be glad,

you who are upright;

sing and shout for joy,

you who are clean of heart."

- Psalm 32:1-2. 5. 11

(In Christian language, sin signifies that we committed a wrong, not necessarily with a law, but toward someone we love.  Our well being, in the truest meaning of the word, depends on the quality of our relationship with GOD.  What sin has destroyed will only be restored by trust in GOD, who pardons the humble and the repentant.

The psalmist reminds us of the power of confession.  It converts a guilty sinner into a pure and wholesome child of GOD.  JESUS died for the forgiveness of our sins and by HIS blood we are saved.  At the Eucharist, we acknowledge and confess our sins and in the sacrament, we confess individually and privately to convert ourselves into better human beings, to enable us to enter the GOD's kingdom.

This psalm is for those who can say truly: "I confess to GOD...")

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Pondering The Brevity Of Life

 "Before the mountains were formed, before YOU made the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity--YOU are GOD.

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.

- Psalm 90:2. 3-4. 5-6. 12-13

(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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Healing A Deaf And Dumb Man

 "Again, JESUS set out: from the country of Tyre HE passed through Sidon and, skirting the sea of Galilee, HE came to the territory of Decapolis.  There, a deaf man, who also had difficulty in speaking, was brought to HIM.  They asked JESUS to lay HIS hand upon him.

JESUS took him apart from the crowd, put HIS fingers into the man's ears, and touched his tongue with spittle.  Then, looking up to the heaven, HE said with a deep sigh, 'Ephphata!' that is, 'Be opened!'

And immediately, his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly.  JESUS ordered them not to tell anyone about it; but the more HE insisted, the more they proclaimed it.  The people were completely astonished and said, 'HE has done all things well; HE makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.'" - Mark 7:31-37 

(They asked JESUS to lay HIS hand upon him.  This was a way of invoking divine power but JESUS did not have to ask.  By HIS gesture HE showed that HE had within HIMSELF, within HIS human person,  all the health and welfare that we need, and HE communicated this to the sick one.)

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