Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Mark 9: 2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John,
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them, 
and his clothes became dazzling white, 
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, 
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents: 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; 
from the cloud came a voice, 
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves, 
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Do you have an iPhone?

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If so, suppose I took it and threw it into a lake.

Although you’d be inconvenienced by my antics, you’d have no reason to be angry with me, because you could either go online or straight to an Apple store and by another phone on me.

For your troubles, let’s say I give you an upgrade.

Now all you have to do is upload your photos, contacts, and apps from the iCloud onto your new phone. Everything was conveniently stored there for you.

Not a bad deal, right? 

I take your old phone and, in exchange, give you a new, upgraded one with all of your information intact.

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This Apple “model” was originally a Christian idea.

When we go to heaven, we exchange our earthly bodies for a heavenly one, and all of our good memories remain intact, because God is the original iCloud.

What proof is there, you say?

Just look at today’s Gospel.

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First, Jesus is transfigured before his disciples; he’s glowing like a light bulb. Then, Peter sees Moses and Elijah standing on his left and right, speaking with Jesus. Keep in mind, these were men who lived and died hundreds of years before!

Yet somehow Peter is able to recognize them. Each is a distinct person with his own name, face, and body. Peter recognizes them based upon the good they did in this life; they were prophets.

What has happened to Moses and Elijah?

Much like your iPhone that I tossed into a lake, they’ve exchanged their earthly bodies for heavenly ones, then God – the original iCloud – uploaded all of their memories onto their heavenly bodies.

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This is one of the many incentives for us to live Christian lives.

We believe that all of the good that we do in this life goes with us in the end. As it’s written in the Book of Revelation, the final book in the bible, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Their good works go with them.”

Make some good memories today. 

After all, we’ll have them forever.

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Image credits: (1) Apple iCloud (2) Transfiguration, Raphael (3) Christianity Today

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Gospel: Matthew 14: 22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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This is the first time that the disciples are without Jesus. And what happens?

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Disaster strikes!

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While they’re on a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee, a major storm approaches – one so large it causes these professional fishermen to fear they’re drowning!

Meanwhile, Jesus tries passing them by, walking calmly across the waves. What terrifies the disciples doesn’t disturb him at all.

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Was this a test?

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Perhaps.

Keep in mind, the disciples just watched Jesus feed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. 

If he can perform a miracle like that, then why would they fear for their safety? Shouldn’t they trust him?

We’d casually say, “Of course.”

And yet, “their hearts were hardened.” 

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Like the disciples staggering on a boat, there are times when life causes us to lose our balance, making us feel like we’re drowning.

We get overwhelmed by waves of debt; grief; doubt; COVID fatigue; and so on.

But if the Lord has cared for us throughout our lives, then why would he abandon us now? Even when we must make that final crossing into eternal life, the Lord stands on the waters, saying, “Come.”

We will not sink.

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So, what’s the Gospel saying to us today?

Wherever we are on our journeys of faith – and whatever our life circumstances may be – we will not drown. 

Jesus is with us, standing on the waves at the very edge of our comfort zone, saying, “Follow me.”

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Image credits: (1) St. Catherine of Siena, Orange Park, FL (2) San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish, Quezon City (3) Denison Forum

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Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over–
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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I’m sure some of us have watched the Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

There’s been a developing story about the American gymnast, Simone Biles, considered the greatest gymnast in history, who’s pulled out of nearly every competition, her initial reason being to protect her mental health.

It must be an incredibly difficult decision, but Simone reminds us that sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing to do. 

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Today’s Gospel is similar. 

It begins with terrible news: Jesus is told about the death of his cousin, John the Baptist.

While death is always sad, what makes John’s death harder to accept is the fact that Jesus knows he’s next.

The religious authorities have been after him for some time now; he’s disrupted their way of life and challenged their authority. They know that with the death of John, they can conspire with the Romans to have Jesus executed.

The easy thing for Jesus to do would be to end his ministry and head for the hills. It’s self-preservation 101.

But sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing to do. 

Jesus has come to do his Father’s will, even if it costs him his life.

So, he performs another miracle – the multiplication of the loaves – increasing his following and, effectively, weakening the power of the religious authorities, giving them yet another reason to conspire against him.

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At times we all must make difficult decisions – whether it’s about our health, finances, faith, career, or relationships. And sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing to do.

In those moments, remember the example set by our Lord, who assures us, “Behold, I am with you always until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

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Image credits: (1) The Fray, Pinterest (2) Orthodox Church in America, Beheading of John the Baptist (3) Ever Thine Home