GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST: COMMITMENT OF EVERYONE

GOSPEL OFJESUS CHRIST: COMMITMENT OF EVERYONE

In the first part of the gospel (Mk 9: 38-43. 45 47-48) the apostle John denounces another person whom he does not know, but who seems to be capable of acting as if he were a disciple of Christ. Jesus responds soon by saying that no one can act in his name if they do not really know him, therefore this unknown other is also building the Kingdom, since the Kingdom is not the property of a few, but it is the commitment of all.

Following this incident, the importance of knowing how to welcome everyone who comes in the name of Christ with the Good News is mentioned. Since being generous and knowing how to treat a messenger of the gospel of Christ obviously has a reward, which will be able to access the kingdom. that is being proclaimed. Likewise, Jesus appears warning those who have the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel to avoid giving cause for scandal, as this would indicate that they do not live what they proclaim, thus betraying Christ himself and the gospel that was entrusted to them.

The last phrases of today's gospel (Mk 9: 38-43. 45 & 47-48) are hard to hear, however, we must also be careful about interpreting them inappropriately. These phrases of Jesus are an invitation to discover in ourselves those things that prevent us from having a true experience of God, understanding that this experience must necessarily involve the exercise of charity and service to our neighbor. What attitudes prevent us from approaching God and our neighbor as Christ has taught us? What should we give up to allow ourselves to be transformed by the gospel of Christ?

Let us keep in mind all those people who have consecrated themselves to the service of the gospel, asking God to grant them his Spirit and the grace to be faithful and consistent with the gospel that has been entrusted to them.

Fr. Carlos Flores, OSA

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"WHAT WERE YOU ARGUING ABOUT ON THE WAY?”

"WHAT WERE YOU ARGUING ABOUT ON THE WAY?”

For the apostles, having the opportunity to be so close to the person of Jesus meant the possibility of knowing him, but it was also the time in which Jesus himself instructed them. The work of illuminating the lives of those men with divine knowledge was not an easy task, nor is it today. Stopping from thinking like men to thinking like God does (Mt 16: 23) is a process of transformation and requires time, requires openness, and requires patience.

On this occasion, the Gospel (Mk 9: 30-37) places Jesus and his disciples crossing Galilee until they reach Capernaum. During the journey Jesus explained to them once again about his passion, death and resurrection, without his disciples really understanding what he was talking about, but out of fear they did not ask for explanations. However, among them they were already distracted by other concerns. Theirs concerns remained very human, and quite selfish. Jesus himself asks the question at the end of that day's journey: “What were you arguing about on the way?” Without knowing how to respond, they remain silent. Jesus knows them quite well, and Jesus surely heard something about what worried them along the way. They continue to wonder who is the most important among them, considering as important the one who has the most prestige, therefore the most authority. Jesus warns them, as he does with us today, that the true greatness of the human being is in humility, in its smallness, in its simplicity.

To understand it even more, Jesus himself will express it this way: "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." This is precisely what Jesus himself has come to this world to do: “Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20: 28)

Occupying the first positions does not seem to be the problem we face today. The problem is forgetting the exercise of humility wherever we are. It doesn't matter what position we have the important thing is to have the attitude of service for whoever needs us.

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Fr. Carlos Flores, OSA

"WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME …, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.”

"WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME …,

TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.”

Every time I have the opportunity to meditate on the story today´s Gospel it describes to me (Mk 8: 27-35), by how in one moment Jesus goes from praising Peter for being able to recognize in Him the mystery of being the expected Messiah. In response to Jesus' explanation of his passion and sacrifice, Peter tries to change Jesus' mind, which is why Jesus pushes him away, even calling him Satan. What has happened to Peter to go from being praised by Jesus to being corrected by him?

Peter was able to know the mystery of Jesus and confess it openly, since the Spirit of God acted in him. For this Peter must be open to the experience of God. However, when Peter hears what Jesus says about himself, it does not please Peter, since what Jesus says contradicts what Peter has in mind regarding the Messiah. Peter has been educated with a vision and expectation of a warrior-political Messiah who comes to change the political-social reality of Israel with respect to the other kingdoms of this world, where Israel would prevail. This is why Peter tries to dissuade Jesus. In Peter, his humanity acted, a selfish humanity in which he himself hopes much like Judas, to achieve some kind of human greatness (riches, fame, power). It is for all this that Jesus will say to Peter: “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Jesus invites us all to take part in the construction of his Kingdom, but it is not a kingdom like those of this world (John 18: 36). The kingdom of Jesus is built on love, service, humility, solidarity, justice, truth, peace. It is a kingdom that must be built with the efforts of everyone, with sacrifices, with decisions. It is a kingdom that requires disciples of Christ willing to carry their own cross, because only by losing one's life for Christ and his gospel can one earn one's life, and be able to help build the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Carlos Flores, OSA

A moment which is precisely called “Effetá”

EFFETA

Within the Rite of Baptism there is a moment which is precisely called “Effetá”, it is the moment in which the person who receives the baptism is prayed over, pointing to the ears and mouth, so that when the time comes the newly baptized listen to the Word of God and proclaim it with his/her lips. This part of the baptism rite has its origin in the approach of the deaf man who had a speech impediment to Jesus as narrated in today's gospel (Mark 7: 31-37). When Jesus grants the deaf man who had a speech impediment the ability to hear and speak, he has granted him the possibility of communicating with his loved ones, establishing links through listening and speaking. Sharing the miracle with others so that they might believe and become healed. But these new links are not only possible with others, it is also about being able to establish links with God, who wants to be heard and with whom we can have a dialogue.

What prevents us today from listening to God and others? Do we want to listen? Who do we listen to today? Who are we talking to today? With whom are we establishing bonds of friendship and brotherhood? How is our communication?

A relationship like the one that Christ offers us (John 15: 15) can be carried out between equals due to our dignity (all created in the image and likeness of the same Creator - (Gen 1:27) God); Therefore, it is enough to discover something of myself in the other to initiate an approach that generates a friendship that is cultivated through dialogue. It is possible for me to know the other and it is possible for the other to know me. I carry something of the other in me, and the other carries something of me in him/her, because we know each other. This wonderful exchange is necessary for all of us, first because we must have an open and real relationship with the Creator; and second, because the opportunity to create a community with others allows us to find the place where we can interact to discover ourselves thanks to the establishment of healthy relationships.

Today Jesus also approaches us and places us before Him to heal any impediment we have that prevents us from communicating adequately with God with each other and our world.

Fr. Carlos Flores, OSA

SIR, GIVE US THIS BREAD ALWAYS

SIR, GIVE US THIS BREAD ALWAYS

Upon hearing the first reading, and after the personal experience of walking the Camino de Santiago, I can understand the temptation to murmur, as the people of Israel did in the desert. Let us keep in mind that “the path” is a metaphor for “life itself.” When walking and exhausting the body's strength, and not having comforts, the idea comes to mind that before we were better off, because we were comfortable. But in comfort there are no challenges. In comfort we already know what there is, everything is routine. It is also true that not all comfort was being well, sometimes we simply live by quietly accepting the circumstances because we have adapted, and we do not even consider the change. This is how the people of Israel were in Egypt: slaves, without waiting for something new.

That murmuring of the people in the desert was because they felt hungry, and saw their existence threatened. And hunger is a very human reality. It is such a basic need that we simply cannot live without food. While in the first reading Moses points out manna as the bread that God provides for the well-being of the body, in the Gospel Jesus calls himself “the bread of life”, the true bread that came down from heaven, and whoever eats this bread will live forever.

Jesus offers himself as food to achieve eternal life. He comes to us to calm human anxieties and fears, to give answers to doubts, to console our broken and sad humanity. He confirms to us once again that "who comes to him will not hunger and who believes in him will never thirst."

Brothers and sisters, following Christ is not an easy task, let us strive to be to his liking, to walk his path, because this path is also full of Truth and Life. Let us not stop asking the Lord as others did in the past: "Sir, give us this bread always” so that He may feed our lives as we advance.

Fr. Carlos Flores, OSA