Prayer In Desolation

 "My eyes have grown dim with grief; spreading out my hands to YOU, I call upon YOU every day, O YAHWEH.

Are YOUR wonders meant for the dead?  Will ghosts rise to give YOU thanks?

Is YOUR love and faithfulness remembered among those gone to the netherworld?

Are YOUR wonders known in the dark; YOUR salvation, in the land of oblivion?

But to YOU, O YAHWEH, I cry for help; every morning I pray to YOU.

O YAHWEH, why do YOU reject me; why do YOU hide YOUR face?

- Psalm 88:10-15

(This psalm ends in an incomparable sad note.  The psalmist seems very dejected, frustrated and helpless.  One is so used to hearing him complain about the 'enemies.'  When he does not, his silence is audible.  The complaint is directed to GOD, but if GOD is an enemy, what hope is there?  In this psalm, there is no ray of light.  It is a cry in the dark.  The inhuman enemy is sickness in a lonely old age: only GOD, whose messenger it is, can make the message bearable.

It would seem that knowing CHRIST, we couldn't sink into despair.  There are, however, days when heaven is closed for us, as it was for JESUS in HIS agony.

The 'why?' of the psalm is heard on the cross [cf. Matthew 27:46].  The answer will come at dawn [cf. 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:54].  This supplication of a dying person can be sung by all those who are dying or live in the silence of GOD.  Let us not forget that, at dawn, our supplication will rise up to meet GOD.)

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War Broke Out In Heaven!

 "War broke out in heaven, with Michael and his angels battling with the dragon.  The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated, and lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon, the ancient serpent, known as the devil, or Satan, seducer of the whole world, was thrown out.  He was hurled down to earth, together with his angels.

Then, I heard a loud voice from Heaven:

Now has salvation come,

with the power and the kingdom of our GOD,

and the rule of HIS anointed.

For our brothers' accuser has been cast out,

who accused them night and day, before GOD.

They conquered him, by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony,

for they gave up their lives, going to death.

Rejoice, therefore, O you heavens,

and you who dwell in them;

but woe to you, earth and sea,

for the devil has come to you, in anger,

knowing that he has but a little time." 

- Revelation 12:7-12

(GOD's plan for the world has just been revealed: the Son of GOD must become a human and rise as the Savior of all people.  This mystery causes a double crisis: in the world of spirits [or angels] and in humankind.

The Jews imagined the angels were a huge army and they called their head Michael.  Similarly, the devil is presented as the head of the army of rebellious angels, the stars fallen from heaven.

The following chapters will reveal the devil at work in history.  He uses disguises and many substitutes.  However, those who are ready to suffer for the truth will recognize him: they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by their courage in proclaiming HIM.)

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Who Is The Greatest?

 "One day, the disciples were arguing about which of them was the most important.  But JESUS knew their thoughts, so HE took a little child and stood him by HIS side.  Then HE said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in MY name, welcomes ME; and whoever welcomes ME, welcomes the one who sent ME.  And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the one who is the greatest.'

Then John spoke up, 'Master, we saw someone who drives out demons by calling upon YOUR name, and we tried to forbid him, because he doesn't follow YOU with us.'  But JESUS said, 'Don't forbid him.  He who is not against you is for you.'" - Luke 9:46-50

(Mark remarks that JESUS took a child in HIS arms: something unusual for people of that time since children did not count, and religious teachers only urged that they be well disciplined.  The model of religion seemed to be a serious man who did not laugh, did not run, did not look at people in lower positions, especially women and children.  Oftentimes, such a mentality is seen in those who criticize child baptism and first communion.

JESUS does not answer the apostles' question: Who is the greatest?  Because what matters is not to become great, but to be close to CHRIST.  In order to receive CHRIST, we must welcome HIM in the person of the little ones.) 

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The Parable Of The Two Sons

 "JESUS went on to say, 'What do you think of this?  A man had two sons.  He went to the first and said to him, 'Son go and work today in my vineyard.'  And the son answered, 'I don't want to.'  But later he thought better of it and went.  Then the father went to his other son and said the same thing to him.  This son replied, 'I will go, sir,' but he did not go.

Which of the two did what the father wanted?'  They answered, 'The first.'  And JESUS said to them, 'Truly, I say to you: the publicans and the prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to kingdom of heaven.  For John came, to show you the way of goodness, and you did not believe him; but the publicans and the prostitutes did.  You were witnesses of this, but you neither repented nor believed him." - Matthew 21:28-32 

(The parable refers to the refusal of the chief priests to recognize John the Baptist as a messenger of GOD.

A good number of sinners were converted by John's preaching and confessed their sins.  Such people were well disposed to receive the message of JESUS that opened for them the kingdom of GOD and showed them the true face of GOD the FATHER.  Because of that, they were ahead of the priests, who were indifferent to John's call, for they felt neither the desire nor the need to change.

Every parish that carries out a mission experiences the same thing: many uncommitted Christians will neither work as missionaries, nor receive them, believing they do not need conversion.)

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Be Mindful Of Your Creator When You Are Young

 "Rejoice, young man, in your youth and direct well your heart when you are young; follow your desires and achieve your ambitions but recall that GOD will take account of all you do.

Drive sorrow from your heart and pain from your flesh, for youth and dark hair will not last.

Be mindful of your Creator when you are young, before the time of sorrow comes when you have to say, 'This gives me no pleasure,'

and before the sun, moon and stars withdraw their light, before the clouds gather again after the rain.

On the day when the guardians of the house tremble, when sturdy men are bowed and those at the mill stop working because they are too few, when it grows dim for those looking through the windows, and the doors are shut and the noise of the mill grows faint, the sparrow stops chirping and the bird-song is silenced, when one fears the slopes and to walk is frightening; yet the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is fat and the caperberry bears fruit that serves no purpose,

because man goes forward to his eternal home and mourners gather in the street,

even before the silver chain is snapped or the golden globe is shattered,

before the pitcher is broken at the fountain or the wheel at the mill,

before the dust returns to the earth from which it came and the spirit returns to GOD who gave it.

Meaningless!  meaningless!  the Teacher says; all is meaningless!" - Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 

(Be mindful of your Creator when you are young.  It will not be the time to turn to GOD when our strength and pleasures are over: "the beautiful woman has no more lovers, she has entered a convent."  Why remember our Creator?  Because this remembering, which little by little will become a presence for us, is one of the conditions of our joy.  The bitterness of old age does not affect those who have chosen GOD in their youth; at the end of their life they can repeat the words of the psalm: I shall go towards GOD, the joy of my youth [cf. Psalm 43:4].)

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Appeal For Victory And Peace

 "Blessed be YAHWEH, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle--my loving GOD, my fortress; my protector and deliverer, my shield; where I take refuge; who conquers nations and subjects them to my rule.

O YAHWEH, what are humans that YOU should be mindful of them, the race of Adam, that YOU should care for them?

They are like a breath; their days pass like a shadow on earth."

- Psalm 144:1-4

(Our LORD, the Son of Man, shared our weakness, shared our struggle; but in doing so, HE showed us that GOD's strength shows itself most clearly in our weakness, bringing us joy and salvation.)

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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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The 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 begins a third stage of HIS ministry by organizing a mission throughout the province.  Before, the apostles accompanied JESUS but now HE sends them ahead of HIM.

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. 

JESUS concern to from communities of believers is already present.  HE sends HIS disciples out two by two so that the message will not be from one person only, but the expression of a group united in one mission.  JESUS tells them to stay under one roof with one family so that this may be a center radiating faith.)

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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 

(If they were true brothers of JESUS, sons of Mary, the Gospel would say: "HIS mother and the sons of HIS mother," for this was the Jewish manner of speaking.

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 custom-house; 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 sinners joined JESUS and HIS disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to HIS disciples, 'Why is it, that your master eats with 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.)

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