Let the Light Shine Through

Second Sunday of Lent
March 16, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18 / Ps 27 / Phil 3:17-4:1 / Lk 9:28b-36
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

On this second Sunday of Lent, the Church invites us to journey to the mountaintop with Jesus, Peter, James, and John.  The Transfiguration reveals something profound, not only about Jesus, but also about us.  It speaks to our identity as beloved children of God, and how that identity must shape our mission in this world.

In our first reading, God makes a covenant with Abraham, promising him countless descendants, despite Abraham’s doubts.  How can this be?  God reaffirms His faithfulness by sealing the covenant with a symbolic gesture:  a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, passing through the divided sacrifices.  This powerful moment shows that God’s promises are not based on our merit, but on His unwavering love and faithfulness.

St. Paul, in our second reading, urges the Philippians to remain firm in their faith.  He contrasts those who live for earthly desires with those who place their hope in the Lord.  Paul reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven, calling us to live with our eyes fixed on Christ.  This is a call to identity, not defined by worldly success, but by our relationship with God.

Our gospel today comes after the passage where Jesus had told His disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and on the third day be raised.  (Luke 9:22) This was not good news for the disciples.  They expected Jesus, as the Messiah, to confront and topple the Roman army of occupation and restore the kingdom to Israel.  Many of them would have begun to have second thoughts.  Is Jesus really the expected Messiah?  Is He really the anointed of God who is to come?  Should we go along with Him to the showdown in Jerusalem, or should we back off before it’s too late?

One fine morning a few days after, Jesus invites the leaders of the group of apostles, Peter, James, and John, to go with Him for a prayer session on the mountain.  The mountain is a place of encounter with God.  Moses encountered God on the mountain and so did Elijah.

On the mountain, Jesus goes into prayer, and the eyes of the apostles—their spiritual eyes—were opened, and they caught a glimpse of the true reality of Jesus that their physical eyes never saw.  The Transfiguration is a pivotal moment.  Jesus, radiant in divine glory, stands with Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets.  The Father’s voice declares, “This is my chosen Son.  Listen to Him.”

This event marks a turning point in Jesus’ mission, as He sets His face toward Jerusalem and His coming Passion.  But notice what happens before this:  Jesus reveals His identity first, before He moves toward suffering and sacrifice.  The Father affirms Him as His beloved Son.  This moment highlights that Jesus’ identity comes before His mission.  His worth is not defined by what He will do, but by who He is:  the beloved Son of God.

The readings invite us to reflect on God’s faithfulness and our true identity.  Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s promises.  Like Paul, we are reminded that our true home is in heaven.  And like the disciples on the mountain top, we are invited to listen to Jesus, the one who reveals our true identity as beloved children of God.

Saint Mother Teresa once said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”  This wisdom echoes the message of the Transfiguration:  that our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God must shape everything we do.  Our mission, whether family, work, or ministry, flows from this identity.

Today we are challenged to embrace our identities.  In a world that often defines us by our achievements, we must remember that our worth comes from being a beloved child of God.  Spend time in prayer, reflecting on this truth, so that we can fully embrace our identities as Christians.

There is a story of a young mother with her little 4-year-old son who went into the church.  She was saying her prayers while he was running around, investigating everything inside.  He pointed to a statue and wanted to know who that was.  His mother told him it was the Lord Jesus.  To another such question, the mother said it was the Holy God’s mother, Mama Mary.  Finally, he made his way into the sanctuary, where the light was streaming through the stained-glass windows.  He held out both arms as he moved backward and forward.  Fascinated by the colors as they were reflected on his hands and clothes, he looked up at the windows and asked his mother who they were.  She said they were the saints.

The following day in preschool, the teacher was telling them about the saints.  He got all excited as he interrupted her to tell her that he knew who they were.  When asked who they were, his answer was very simple and given with great confidence.  “They are the ones who let the light shine through.”

Today’s gospel gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ glory.  But it also shows the possibility of every Christian who is called to reflect the face of Christ to others.  Let us remember that, as Christians, we are called to seek transformation.  The disciples encountered Jesus’ glory through prayer.  In this Lenten season, deepen your prayer life to allow God to transform your heart.  Let us live our mission with confidence.  Knowing who we are in God’s eyes gives us the strength to face challenges, whether as parent, student, or professional.  Let your identity as a beloved child of God guide your actions.

As we continue our Lenten journey, may the Transfiguration remind us that our world is not tied to what we do, but to who we are:  beloved children of the Father.  Just as Jesus was strengthened by His identity before facing the cross, may we, too, embrace our identity in Christ, allowing it to shape our mission in the world.

Conquering Temptation

Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 9, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Deut 26:4-10 / Ps 91 / Rom 10:8-13 / Lk 4:1-13
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

As we begin the sacred season of Lent, the Church invites us to reflect on Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, where He faced temptation.  Lent is a time of spiritual renewal, a journey through the desert of our lives, where we are called to turn away from sin and prepare our hearts for Easter.  Today’s readings guide us in understanding the significance of faith, obedience, and trust in God as we confront our own struggles.  

In the first reading, Moses instructs the Israelites to bring their first fruits as an offering to the Lord, remembering how God delivered them from slavery in Egypt.  This emphasizes gratitude and trust in God’s providence.  The Israelites acknowledge that their freedom and blessings are not of their own making but are gifts from God.  This act of remembering and thanksgiving strengthens their relationship with Him.  Similarly, we are called to recognize God’s work in our lives, responding with faith and devotion.  

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, reminds us that salvation is near:  “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”  He teaches that confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection lead to salvation.  This passage highlights that salvation is available to all who call upon the Lord with faith.  Paul emphasizes that righteousness does not come through human effort alone but through belief in Christ.  Our Lenten journey should be one of deepening this faith and surrendering to God’s grace.

There is a story of an exasperated motorist who parked his car in a no-parking zone.  He attached the following message to the windshield:  “I have circled this block twenty times.  I have an appointment to keep.  ‘Forgive us our trespasses.’”  When the owner of this car returned, he found this reply attached to his own note:  “I have circled this block for twenty years.  If I don’t give you a ticket I will lose my job.  ‘Lead us not into temptation.’”

Today’s gospel passage from St. Luke tells us that Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit into the desert, is tempted by the devil.  Our first parents were tempted but they failed.  The Israelites were tested in the desert, and they also failed.  Jesus is tempted, and He wins.  The temptation of Jesus is always read on the first Sunday of Lent.  One of the reasons this passage is read every first Sunday of Lent is because Jesus’ forty days in the desert is paralleled with the forty days of Lent.  The gospel recounts Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.  After fasting for forty days, He is confronted by the devil, who tempts Him with physical comfort, which is turning stones to bread; worldly power, which is authority over kingdoms; and testing God, which is jumping from the temple.  Jesus resists each temptation by relying on the word of God, demonstrating His unwavering obedience to the Father.  His victory over temptation is not just for Himself, but for all humanity.  

Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness serves as a profound revelation of His role as the Messiah, countering worldly expectations of power. Through entering our weaknesses and being tested yet sinless, He vanquished temptation for humanity.  The Church commemorates this mystery annually during Lent, inviting believers to confront their own wilderness experiences with trust in God’s presence and help.  

All three readings highlight faithfulness to God.  In Deuteronomy, the Israelites remember God’s past faithfulness and respond with gratitude.  In Romans, Paul affirms that salvation comes through faith in Christ.  The gospel reveals Jesus as the model of perfect obedience, resisting temptation and remaining faithful to God’s will.  These readings remind us that, like Jesus, we must trust in God’s word and resist the temptations that lead us away from Him.  

The Church teaches that temptation itself is not sin, but a test of our faith and reliance on God.  Christ’s victory over temptation shows us that we are not alone in our struggles.  Through prayer, fasting, and reliance on scripture, we can overcome the temptations that challenge our faith.  Christ’s victory over temptation is achieved through His loving obedience to the Father.  Understanding and following the Father’s will is very essential for our lives.  Neglecting it leads to spiritual loss, while fulfilling it leads to sanctity.  

Emphasizing obedience as the core of our faith, we are called to align our actions with divine guidance.  We face many temptations on a daily basis:  materialism, power, selfishness, and destruction of our spiritual lives.  The season of Lent calls us to turn from these temptations and turn to God.  We can do this through:  first, prayer, deepening our relationship with God and seeking His guidance during moments of temptation; second, by fasting, detaching from worldly distractions to focus on what truly matters; third, through almsgiving, serving others as an expression of our faith and gratitude.

To fully enter into the spirit of Lent, let us reflect:  Do we prioritize our relationship with God?  Are we using the season to grow in faith or are we distracted by the world?  How can we be more generous with our time and resources?  By embracing these Lenten practices, we follow Christ’s example and draw closer to God.  When we face our own wilderness experiences, we must remember that Jesus has already won the victory for us.  With faith and obedience, we too can overcome temptation and grow in holiness.  

As we journey through Lent, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who conquered temptation for our sake.  Let us embrace this season as an opportunity to renew our faith, trust in God, and commit ourselves to His will.  May our Lenten journey lead us to Easter with our hearts transformed and strengthened in Christ.  

Becoming Like God

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
March 2, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Sir 27:4-7 / Ps 92 / 1 Cor 15:54-58 / Lk 6:39-45
by Rev. Mr. Mark De La Hunt, Permanent Deacon

Jesus said, “When fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” (Lk 6:40) Our teacher is Jesus who is God. How can we be like God?  St. Gregory of Nyssa said that to become like God, one must live a virtuous life.  (CCC 1803) Lent begins this coming Wednesday. It is a season for us to replace vices and distractions with prayer and virtuous acts.  In preparation for Lent, in this homily we will reflect on our fallen human nature and on how practicing virtue with Jesus’ grace and the power of the Holy Spirit helps us become like God. 

Fr. Pablo T. Gadenz says, “In asking us to remove the beam in our eye first, Jesus is teaching us the lesson of not judging others’ faults without first addressing our own worst faults.”  Fr. Gadenz, in his commentary on Luke’s gospel, says this is not meant to say we cannot correct someone who is in sin, for Jesus said, “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” (Lk 17:3) But Jesus was saying that “we should not have a critical spirit” like the scribes and the Pharisees who “watched Him closely…so that they might discover a reason to accuse Him.” (Lk 6:7) 

Regarding accusing others with a critical spirit, we would do well to remember that in Revelation, the Apostle John called Satan an accuser. “For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night.” (Rev 12:10) Why do we tend to be accusers of others? 

One reason is because it is easier to try to fix someone else than to battle our own weaknesses.  Another is that our ego is fragile, because we have centered our life too much on self and not enough on Jesus.  In this weakness, we accuse others to make ourselves feel better about our own faults.  We must be careful not to feed this instinct. Could there be a dark reason that streaming reality shows of men and women behaving badly are so popular?  While watching them, could Satan enter our thoughts or dim our spiritual sight so that we become blind to our faults?  Maybe abstaining from those shows would be a good Lenten discipline that frees up time to do those things that help us become more like God. 

How do we know, though, if we are becoming more like God?  Reality TV is not our standard.  Nor are the poorly behaved people at school and at work.  Our standard is Jesus.  But how do we know how far we are from that standard?  The readings for the first three and half weeks of Lent are going to focus on helping us see where we fall short, as does today’s first reading and the gospel.

In Sirach, we are told that what we say helps us see our shortcomings, and in the gospel, Jesus says, “from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”  What words come out of my mouth when I am stressed or upset?  Do I gossip?  Do I brag about myself and belittle others?  Do my words cause others to fall into sin?  For Lent, take to heart St. Paul’s spiritual direction to the Ephesians on how to speak.  “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.” (Eph 4:29) 

Jesus said you can tell if He is your standard by the fruit your life is producing.  Do I produce rotten fruit or good fruit?  What does good fruit look like?  I struggled with this question as there are so many ways to answer it.  So, I asked myself what is good fruit that is common to people of all ages and circumstances?

One answer is that good fruit is those things you do and you say that you would want the most innocent person to imitate.  Another answer is the good fruit listed by St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (5:22) How do we become like that?  This Lent, ask the Holy Spirit for the power to do so. 

When you meet a person who exhibits love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, would you call them a happy person (and a godly person)?  Yes!  How did Jesus describe happiness?  If you recall, He used the word “blessed” for happiness, preaching: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.  Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.  Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.  Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.”  (Lk 6:20-22)

Let’s unpack these beatitudes to see why Jesus ties them to happiness and the good fruit.  The poor who love God are blessed because they trust Him and rely on Him. Their poverty does not allow them to rely on wealth or power.  Those who voluntarily choose poverty are also happy.  Mother Teresa’s smiling face was absolutely radiant, for she relied on God so much.  She would refuse large donations, because she wanted her sisters to experience God’s loving care.  Those who have money and love God find happiness in using their wealth to build up the Church and to help the poor.  

Those who are hungry or weeping and love God are blessed because they share in Jesus’ suffering on the cross.  Through His cross their suffering has the power to help others. Also, in their suffering they more clearly hear God in prayer.  C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” 

Those who are hated, excluded, insulted, and called evil for their love of God are blessed, for they have been found worthy to be treated like Jesus.  Remember the apostles, after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, rejoicing after the Sanhedrin whipped and threatened them?  (Acts 5:40-41) The first pope, Peter, said it this way, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Pt 4:14)

So, we want to follow Jesus so that our life bears good fruit that really describes a happy person (who is like God), and Jesus tied happiness to the beatitudes.  How do we put all of that together so we can live it?  Father Gadenz shows us three steps to living a happy life that we would want the most innocent person to imitate:  Step 1) Practice the Virtues. Step 2) Live the Beatitudes. Step 3) Call upon the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Doing these three things make us like God, filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

What are the virtues? There are seven, and they are theological and moral. The theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity. (1 Cor 13:13) To live the beatitudes, we must have faith in Jesus’ power and hope in His promise of eternal life.  Faith and hope free us so that we can practice charity.  These virtues keep us mindful that we are made for eternal life in heaven. Therefore, we do not need to grasp for all the pleasure and money we can get because our life is NOT short, for our life is eternal in Christ Jesus.

The moral virtues are also called the cardinal virtues. They are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. (Wis 8:7; CCC 1805-1809)  Prudence is knowing and doing the right thing in all circumstances.  Justice is giving God and neighbor their due. Fortitude is dogged determination to resist temptation and to conquer fears that make us turn inward in a selfish manner.  Temperance is keeping our desires within the limits of what is honorable and moderating pleasures.

This Lent, memorize these seven virtues and make daily resolutions to live them so that you may become like God.  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to live these seven virtues.  He does this through seven gifts:  wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.  (Is 11: 1-2 & CCC 1830-1831) The Catechism says that these gifts “perfect and complete your virtue.” 

I recommend you look up the seven virtues and seven gifts in your Catechism or Google “Catechism – moral virtues / cardinal virtues/seven gifts of Holy Spirit.”  Write them down with definitions beside each one, and pray over them daily.  Make a daily resolution to try to live the virtues you most need to practice, and ask the Holy Spirit to increase the gifts you most need to be successful doing so.  Do the same for the beatitudes.  All of these work together to help us be more like God.

If we set a Lenten goal to be more like God, we will more than likely fail one or more times during Lent.  Instead of giving up, though, we should accept that failure as the gift that it is, for it reminds us that we need a savior.  That realization puts us in the perfect frame of mind for Lent, and then we begin again. 

Jesus’ love for us destroyed death and weakness through the cross and resurrection. His perfect love cast out all fear, giving us the courage to cast off our old self this Lent and to put on our new self in Him. (Eph 4:24; 1 Jn 4:18) And here is the good news. Through our baptism we already have been given a new self.  We simply need to remember that “[We] have been crucified with Christ [and] it is no longer [we] who live, but Christ who lives in [us]; and the life [we] now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us.” (Gal 2:20) Practicing virtues and living beatitudes with the help of the Holy Spirit help us reawaken that new self we received when we were baptized. 

Speaking of courage, the Latin word for virtue is virtus. It means: courage, valor, or manliness.  So, do not fear to strive to become like God this Lent!  With the love and grace of Jesus Christ, we can practice the virtues and live the beatitudes with the power of the Holy Spirit’s gifts. In doing so, regardless of our circumstances, we can live a life that inspires others to desire the godliness they see in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  And when others ask you, “How can you be so joyful and loving and peaceful all the time?”  THEN you can share the good news that God loves them and made them for a purpose and gives them gifts to achieve that purpose, filling them with love, joy, peace and patience. Then invite them to come and see Jesus at Mass.  

Holy Spirit, increase your gifts in us that we may practice the virtues and live the beatitudes so that the good fruit from our lives may attract the world to Jesus. Amen.

Citations

Fr. Pablo T. Gadenz. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture – The Gospel of Luke. Baker Academic 2018. 

Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Doubleday publishing 1995. 

The Call to Love and Mercy

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 23, 2025 — Year C
Readings: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 / Ps 103 / 1 Cor 15:45-49 / Lk 6:27-38
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

Today’s readings present us with a powerful and challenging message about mercy, love, and the nature of our identity in Christ.  They teach us that to be truly Christian is to reflect the mercy of God in our relationships with others.  In a world often filled with division, resentment, and revenge, the Word of God calls us to a higher standard—to love our enemies, to be merciful, and to live as children of heaven, bearing the image of Christ.

In our first reading, we see a dramatic moment in the life of David.  Saul, who had been relentlessly pursuing David to kill him, is placed in a vulnerable position.  David finds him sleeping, and he has the opportunity to take his life.  Yet David refrains, saying, “Do not lay your hand on the Lord’s anointed.”  Instead of seeking revenge, David chooses mercy, acknowledging that it is God who will judge this person justly.  This passage reminds us that true strength is found not in retaliation, but in trusting in God’s mercy and responding with mercy.

St. Paul, in the second reading, contrasts Adam, the first man, with Christ, the new Adam.  He reminds us that we are not just earthly beings but are also called to bear the image of the heavenly man, Jesus Christ.  Just as Christ’s life was marked by self-giving love, so too must our lives reflect this image.  Paul’s teaching encourages us to live not according to the nature of the world but to embrace the new life we have received in Christ.

Today’s gospel continues the great sermon of Jesus from where we left off last Sunday.  After speaking about the persecution and violence that will be visited on the disciples, as was done to the prophets of old, Jesus now speaks to the disciples about how they are to respond to the hostility.  He begins, “But I say to you that listen….” (Luke 6:27) Then what follows is not a general code of conduct for all, but a standard of behavior for those who follow Jesus and listen to his teachings.  If Christianity is a superior religion, the way to show it is not by endless arguments and debates about the true religion, but by the superior moral conduct of Christians.

Jesus gives us some of his most radical teachings:  Love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.  This is not the way the world usually operates, where retaliation and self-interest often dominate.  Jesus calls us to a higher way of life, a life of love, forgiveness, and generosity.  He tells us to be merciful just as our Father is merciful.  Mercy is at the heart of the Gospel, and as followers of Christ, we are called to imitate the boundless mercy of God.

In this passage, we also find the Golden Rule:  do to others as you would have them do to you.  This principle encapsulates the essence of Christian love: not just avoiding harm but actively seeking the good of others.  It is a call to treat every person with dignity, kindness, and respect, regardless of how they treat us.

All three readings today emphasize the Christian call to transcend the ways of the world.  David models mercy rather than revenge.  St. Paul reminds us that our true identity is in Christ, not in the fallen nature of Adam.  Jesus challenges us to love as God loves, without limits, without expecting anything in return.  This call to love and mercy connects us to last Sunday’s readings which spoke about trusting in God rather than in worldly power, and prepares us for next Sunday’s gospel, where Jesus continues to teach about living a life that is radically different from the world’s expectations.

There is a story of a certain monk who was praying under a tree beside a river.  As he prayed, the tide was coming and the river was rising.  Then he noticed a scorpion at the foot of the tree, struggling for dear life.  As the surging waves tried to drown it, the monk stretched out his hand to pull the scorpion to safety, but each time his hand came near, the scorpion tried to sting him.  A passerby saw what was going on and said to the monk, “What are you doing?  Don’t you know that it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?”  “Yes,” replied the monk, “And it is my nature to help.  Must I change my nature because the scorpion refuses to change his?”  Today, the gospel urges Christians to remain true to their nature—to love, even when the people around them remain adamant in their nature to hate.

The Church teaches that Christ’s command to love our enemies is rooted in God’s very nature.  It is impossible to keep the Lord’s commandments by imitating the divine model from outside.  There has to be a vital participation, coming from the depths of the heart in the holiness and the mercy and the love of our God.  This means that our ability to love and forgive others comes not from our own strength, but from God’s grace working within us.

Pope Francis, reflecting on today’s gospel, once said, “Loving our enemies is not easy.  It is not an instinctive act.  Grace makes us capable of looking at others with the eyes of Christ.”  His words remind us that to love as Jesus teaches requires openness to God’s grace and a willingness to let our hearts be transformed.

In today’s world, where conflict and division are rampant, Jesus’ words challenge us profoundly.  How often do we hold onto grudges?  How often do we refuse to forgive?  This gospel calls us to break the cycle of hatred and revenge.  We can practice this in our families by being patient with those who hurt us, in our workplaces by showing kindness even when it is not deserved, and in our communities by promoting peace rather than conflict.

As Christians, we are called to go further than the minimum or the average response.  Let us not repay bad for bad.  The word love used by our Lord in this teaching is not the same as the word for family love or love of friends or love of a spouse, but it is the love that wishes the best and only the good for another, irrespective of their actions.  When we choose mercy over vengeance, love over hatred, and generosity over selfishness, we truly reflect the image of Christ in the world.

Let us pray for the grace to live out this radical call to love, knowing that in doing so, we bear the likeness of our heavenly Father.  As we reflect on today’s readings, let us ask:  How I can love more like Christ?  How can I be an instrument of His mercy?  If there is, in our lives, a scorpion of hate that delights in stinging us, let us be like the monk and remain faithful to our commitment to love.  Let us remind ourselves that we are channels of God’s love.  Let us open ourselves more and more to God’s life-giving love.  Let us resolve to love even when we feel unloved, sidetracked, or let down.  Let us decide to forgive from our hearts.  May the Lord give us the grace to love as He loves, so that we may truly be His disciples and witnesses in the world.

Trust in the Lord

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 16, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Jer 17:5-8 / Ps 1 / 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 / Lk 6:17, 20-26
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

As we reflect on today’s readings, we see a striking contrast between those who trust in themselves and those who place their trust in God.  The scriptures challenge us to examine where we have placed our hope and security.  In a world that often measures success by wealth, power and influence, Jesus’ words in today’s gospel are radical and countercultural, but they also lead us to true and lasting joy.

The prophet Jeremiah gives us a clear image of two kinds of people.  First, those who trust in human strength are compared to a barren bush in the desert: dry, lifeless, and unable to bear fruit.  On the other hand, those who trust in the Lord are like a tree planted near water, with deep roots that withstand heat and drought.  The prophet makes a sharp contrast between those who trust in human strength and those who trust in God.  Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings.  Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

Jeremiah’s message is clear:  human strength alone is unreliable.  It is not a warning against human relationships or seeking counsel from others, but rather a call to recognize that our ultimate goals – security and happiness – rest in God alone.  Everything in this world, including wealth, power, and even human approval, passes away.  God alone remains our firm foundation.  When we rely on our own wisdom, wealth, or power, we eventually find ourselves spiritually dry and empty.  But when we root ourselves in God, we can endure trials and bear good fruit even in difficult seasons.

St. Paul, in our second reading from first Corinthians, reminds us of the ultimate reason for our trust in God:  the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  If Christ has not been raised, our faith is vain.  Because He has risen, we, too, have the promise of eternal life.  This truth transforms our understanding of what it means to be truly blessed.  The world may see poverty, suffering, and rejection as curses, but in Christ these trials become paths to holiness, purification, and ultimate joy.  This reading connects beautifully with Jeremiah’s message.  The one who trusts in human ways alone is like a person who believes this life is all there is.  The one who trusts in Christ, however, understands that our lives are not limited to this world.  We are called to something eternal.

Today, and for the next two weeks, our gospel is the teaching of Jesus, which in St. Matthew’s gospel we know as the Sermon on the Mount.  Luke and Matthew present essentially the same material, but there are some notable differences.  While St. Matthew tells us that Jesus went up the mountain to teach, St. Luke depicts Jesus descending the mountain after prayer to teach on level ground.  For this reason, St. Luke’s version of Jesus’ teaching is often called the Sermon on the Plain.  Both evangelists begin with the Beatitudes, in which Jesus proclaims that those who follow His way are blessed, or happy.  St. Matthew records eight Beatitudes, while St. Luke gives us four, followed by four corresponding woes.  Despite these variations, the message remains the same:  True blessedness is not found in worldly success or fleeting pleasures, but in faithfulness to God.

Today’s liturgy provides us with a key to understanding these Beatitudes by giving us the passage from the prophet Jeremiah.  Jesus blesses the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are hated for His sake.  In contrast, he warns those who are rich, full, and comfortable, telling them that their rewards are temporary.  At first glance, this may seem unfair.  Why would Jesus bless those who suffer and warn those who are successful?  The answer is found in where we place our trust.  Those who are poor in spirit recognize their need for God, while those who are self-sufficient may fall into the delusion that they do not need Him.

Fulton Sheen once said, “The world’s greatest tragedy is not suffering, but is suffering wasted.”  The Beatitudes and woes in Luke’s gospel call us to see life through the eyes of faith.  Jesus challenges the values of the world, where wealth, abundance, and human approval are seen as signs of success.  Instead, He teaches that true joy is found in trusting God, even in the midst of suffering.  Those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and rejected in this life are not abandoned but blessed because they are more open to God’s grace and the promise of His kingdom.  Conversely, those who place all their trust in material wealth, comfort, and human praise risk losing sight of what truly matters.

Answering God’s call requires trust and perseverance even though the path is difficult.  It reminds us that true happiness is found in God alone.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1716, says the Beatitudes respond to the natural desire for happiness.  This desire is of divine origin.  God has placed it in the human heart in order to draw man to the One who alone can fulfill it.

The Beatitudes, we are promised, confront us with decisive moral choices.  They invite us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to seek the love of God above all else.  In a world that constantly seeks happiness in temporary things, we are called to root ourselves in the eternal promises of God.  This means trusting God in our struggles, serving the poor, standing firm in our faith, even when it is unpopular, and finding joy in God rather than in the approval of others.  It means seeing suffering, not as a meaningless burden, but as an opportunity to grow in holiness and draw closer to Christ.

Jesus calls us to a different standard, valuing humility, compassion, and faithfulness over riches and power.  We should seek to serve, rather than dominate; give, rather than accumulate; love, rather than compete.  When we experience trials, we must remember that our true hope is in Christ’s victory over death.  The difficulties of this world are temporary.  Our true reward is eternal life with Him.

The world tells us to trust in riches, power, and comfort, but Jesus tells us to trust in Him.  Today, let us reflect where we place our trust.  Are we like the barren bush that relies on itself, or are we like the tree planted by the water, nourished by faith in God?  May we have the courage to place our trust in God alone, living out the Beatitudes, not just as words, but as a way of life.  Let us remember the wisdom of Jeremiah, the hope of the Resurrection proclaimed by St. Paul, and the challenge of Christ in the gospel.  For those who trust in the Lord, there’s no fear; only the promise of eternal life and true joy in Him.

God Qualifies the Called

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 9, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Is 6:1-2a, 3-8 / Ps 138 / 1 Cor 15:1-11 / Lk 5:1-11
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

Have you ever felt unworthy of a task?  Too weak, too sinful to be used by God?  Today’s readings tell us that God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.  He chooses ordinary, flawed individuals and transforms them into instruments of His divine mission.  Isaiah, Paul, and Peter each experience an encounter with God that reveals their inadequacy.  Yet, they respond with faith and willingness.  Today’s readings tell us about answering God’s call in spite of our unworthiness.

In our first reading, Isaiah has a powerful vision of God’s glory, where the angels cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts!”  (Is 6:3) In the presence of God’s holiness, Isaiah immediately feels unworthy.  “Woe is me; I am doomed. For I am a man of unclean lips….” (Is 6:5) God, however, purifies him with a burning coal, symbolizing transformation.  Once purified, Isaiah hears God’s call: “Whom shall I send?”  He responds, “Here I am…send me!”  (Is 6:8) Isaiah’s response teaches us that acknowledging our weakness is the first step to being open to God’s grace.  Despite our imperfections, God purifies us and calls us to serve.

St. Paul, in the second reading, reflects on the core of the gospel: Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.  He humbly acknowledges his past as a persecutor of Christians, calling himself “the least of the apostles.”  (1 Cor 15:9)  Yet he declares, “But by the grace of God I am what I am,” recognizing that his transformation is solely due to God’s mercy.  Paul’s story mirrors Isaiah’s.  He, too, felt unworthy, but God’s grace made him a powerful instrument of evangelization.  His experience reminds us that our past does not define us.  God’s grace does.

In today’s gospel, we witness a profound moment of encounter between Jesus and St. Peter.  After a long and fruitless night of fishing, Peter and his companions are exhausted.  Their efforts have yielded nothing.  Yet when Jesus tells Peter to put out into deep water and lower the nets, Peter obeys, despite his doubts.  The result is astonishing:  a miraculous catch of fish so great that their nets begin to tear.  Overwhelmed, Peter falls to his knees saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  Instead of rejecting him, Jesus reassures Peter and calls him to a greater mission.  “From now on you will be catching men.”  (Lk 5:10)   The disciples leave everything and follow Jesus.  Like Isaiah and Paul, Peter is keenly aware of his unworthiness, but Jesus does not see him as he is.  He sees what he can become.

Peter’s response challenges us.  Do we trust Jesus enough to leave behind our fears and follow Him?  Peter had every reason to doubt.  He was an experienced fisherman and the conditions had not changed.  Yet, despite this human reasoning, he obeyed Jesus’ command.  This act of faith reminds us that when we trust in the Lord, even when His ways seem beyond our understanding, He can accomplish great things in our lives.

How often do we, like Peter, feel exhausted, discouraged, or convinced that our efforts are in vain?  Jesus calls us to deeper faith, to trust Him even when our experience tells us otherwise.

Peter’s reaction to the miraculous catch is striking.  Instead of pride, he is filled with humility and recognizes his unworthiness before the Lord.  This moment mirrors many encounters in scripture:  Isaiah’s vision of God’s glory (Is 6:1-8) and Paul’s conversion (1 Cor 15:1-11).  When we truly encounter Christ, we recognize our own sinfulness, but Jesus does not leave us there.  He calls us forward, not in fear, but in mission.

All three of today’s readings share a common theme:  a personal encounter with God leads to humility, transformation, and mission.  Isaiah, Paul, and Peter all feel unworthy, but God calls them anyway.  Their stories highlight the power of divine grace, showing that when God calls, He also equips.

The Church teaches that every baptized Christian is called to holiness and mission, regardless of personal weakness.  It is grace that enables us to fulfill God’s call.  Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit Who justifies and sanctifies us.  Jesus transforms Peter’s identity.  He’s no longer just a fisherman.  He is now called to bring others to Christ.  This call extends to all of us.  As baptized Christians, we are called to evangelize, to share our faith and lead others to Jesus.  We may feel unworthy, unqualified, or fearful, but Jesus reassures us, “Do not be afraid.”

Peter and his companions leave behind their boat, their nets, and their old way of life.  Following Jesus requires sacrifice, but what we gain is far greater than what we leave behind.  The invitation to discipleship is a call to trust, to let go of attachments, and to surrender our lives to Christ.

St. Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor, once said, “God does not require that we be successful, only that we be faithful.”  This echoes today’s gospel.  Peter did not need to be a perfect fisherman.  He just needed to trust Jesus.  Likewise, we may not always see immediate success in our mission, but God asks us to remain faithful.

Many of us hesitate to serve because we feel unworthy.  Like Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, we must remember that God’s grace is greater than our weaknesses, so that we can overcome those feelings of unworthiness.  Let us also trust in God’s plan.  When Peter obeyed Jesus, he witnessed a miracle.  When we trust in God, even when it seems illogical, He works in ways we cannot imagine.

We may not be aware of it, but in our daily lives, God is always calling us to help the needy, share our faith, or forgive someone.  Instead of saying, “I am not ready,” let’s say, “Here I am, Lord.”  Let’s say yes to God’s call.  The world measures success in achievements.  God measures it in faithfulness.  We are called to serve even if we do not see immediate results.

Today’s readings remind us that God’s call is not based on our worthiness, but on His grace.  Like Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, we are called to trust Him, respond with faith and follow where He leads.  May we too, say with Isaiah, “Here I am Lord.  Send me.”  Let’s go forth knowing that God does not call the perfect.  He perfects those He calls.

The Gift of Piety

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
February 2, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Mal 3:1-4 / Ps 24 / Heb 2:14-18 / Lk 2:22-40
by Rev. Mr. Mark De La Hunt, Permanent Deacon

Today the Holy Mother Church turns our focus to Mary and Joseph presenting Baby Jesus to the Lord in the temple. This is the Fourth Joyful Mystery of the rosary. One fruit of that mystery is obedience to the religious teachings of the Church in emulation of Mary and Joseph who faithfully followed the law God gave to His people. In this homily we will dispel the false teaching that religious practices are empty manmade traditions and ponder ways to awaken in ourselves the Holy Spirit’s gift of piety.

Let’s zoom out for a minute and recap today’s scripture passages. Malachi prophesies about today’s gospel writing, “Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple…behold, He is coming.” (Mal 3:1-2)

King David’s prayer in the psalm also points to the gospel: “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of Glory may come in.” (Ps 24: 9)

In the second reading from Hebrews, we hear temple language about Jesus as both priest and sacrifice: “…He had to be made like His brethren in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest…to make expiation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17)

And as always, the gospel ties it all together in Jesus who is the King of Glory entering the temple “…when His parents brought in the child Jesus to be offered up to God.” (Lk 2: 27)

Did you catch the sacramental language in Malachi’s words about Jesus coming to the temple? “He is like a refiner’s fire and a fuller’s soap…He will purify the sons of Levi…till they present right offerings to the Lord.” (Mal 3: 3) On the cross, from the side of Jesus’ body, which is the new temple, there poured out the waters of baptism and the blood of the Eucharist. These refine us. Baptism takes away our sin and makes us priests like Malachi’s “sons of Levi,” and in the Eucharist our High Priest purifies us.

How often do we forget that when we were baptized, our body too, became a temple in which the Holy Spirit, third person of the Holy Trinity, dwells? That was God’s plan just as Jesus shared it with the Samaritan woman at the well, “…the hour…is now here when true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit.” (Jn 4: 23-24)

What do you need to do in your life to “lift the gates” of your “temple” so that Jesus, the King of Glory, may enter? What must we do to invite the Holy Spirit more fully into our mind, body, and soul? What gate-raising religious practices are we not taking advantage of? Has the weight of our unforgiven sin pulled the gate down? What tangible things can we do to raise the gates to our mind, body, and soul?

In this gospel passage, Luke mentions five times that Mary and Joseph observed the laws God gave His people, so it must be important. Those laws included religious practices, not for God, for He needs nothing. The religious practices are for the people, because God who knows us better than we know ourselves, knows we need religious laws and practices to draw us closer to Him in a unity of mind-body-soul. (All three must be in accord with Christ if we are to live life abundantly as Jesus desires.) Jesus founded the Holy Mother Church, the Catholic religion, to guard and proclaim His teachings through religious practices. Human beings need structure. What religious practices does the Church require us to be obedient to?

The Catechism states that there are five “positive laws decreed” by the Church to “guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor.” (CCC 2041)  These five precepts or laws are:

• “You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from unnecessary labors (and entertainment) that would prevent you from doing so.” (CCC 2042)
• “You shall confess your sins at least once a year. Confession continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.” (2042) (Confession is at Holy Name of Mary in Bedford Wednesdays 5:45 PM and at St. Thomas More in Lynchburg 2:30 PM on Saturdays, St. Andrews in Roanoke Mon/Thur/Sat.) Confession lifts the gates of your heart and mind higher for the next precept.
• “You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.” (2042) When Jesus’ flesh enters our body, it is the King of Glory entering the temple. (Can you imagine if Micah and King David could go to Communion with us?! They prophesied for and prayed for what we receive.)
• “You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.” (2043) In today’s gospel, Anna is described as one who fasted regularly. We can only serve one master. Fasting and abstaining from things we tend to overly desire helps move us from being impulse-centered to being Christ-centered. You can start living this law by observing the one-hour fast before receiving Holy Communion.
• “You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church, each according to their ability.” (2043) Luke doesn’t mention it, but Mary and Joseph would have paid the temple five silver shekels that day for what was called the “redemption price” for the first born. (Num 18:16) Our Sunday offering also raises our temple gate for the Lord

The Church calls these the “very necessary minimum.”  If they are the minimum, what was not listed that, if observed or practiced, will also lift those gates? The right way to answer that question is to begin by asking the Holy Spirit to increase the gift of piety that we received when we were confirmed in the Spirit. (Is 11) (Consider praying in the Spirit with the HNM Holy Spirit Prayer Ministry Tuesdays at 7 PM.)  Piety is the act of showing honor and reverence to God through religious practices. Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna model piety for us.

Piety includes many devotions, the supreme one being the adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist, what the Catechism calls a blend of love and humility. (CCC 2628) Other devotions include praying the Holy Rosary, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and other memorized prayers like the Angelus (usually done at noon, while facing in the direction of the nearest Catholic Church). Other devotions include availing yourself of sacramentals such as dipping your finger in the holy water, blessing yourself in the Holy Trinity, kissing your Bible, or kissing Jesus’ body on a crucifix.

Another form of piety is holy reading of the writings of saints, spiritual masters, and sacred scripture. Fr. Tim Gallagher, a spiritual master, suggests reading one page a day so that you always have something spiritually fresh coming into your life. In addition to the Bible, St. Augustine’s book, Confessions, and Thomas a Kempis’s book, Imitation of Christ, consist of short reflections that make this easier. And, if you pray the Liturgy of the Hours, Night Prayer, you will pray Simeon’s canticle from today’s gospel “so that like Simeon, [you] may end your day and life in God’s peace.”

Here are a couple more thoughts from the faithful on piety. I like this quote: “Piety helps the beauty of God to become manifest in the heart.” Seeing God’s beauty in Adoration and in the goodness of holy people come to mind. Here is another good quote: “The gift of piety is a constant awareness of God’s presence.

The one act of piety that has aided me the most in staying aware of God’s presence is the St. Ignatius Daily Examen.  At the end of our day in the Examen, we look at our day through God’s eyes, the eyes of a Father who loves us more than we can imagine. We seek His help in listing His gifts great and small (a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning, catching all the green lights, good news from the doctor.). We reflect on how our emotions moved us toward or away from Him. We list those actions for which we should rejoice and those for which we should seek forgiveness. Finally, we request His help with the big and small tasks and acts of piety in the upcoming day.

Since I began doing the Daily Examen this past Advent, I have noticed that I am more aware of God’s presence throughout my busy days. I had a work meeting that I knew might cause some anxiety and had asked for His help in it. The next day, during that meeting when I felt a bit anxious, I remembered that in my Daily Examen the night before, I had asked for His help, and that comforted me and made me aware of His presence.  He is always present of course, but acts of piety help us become aware of His presence and care.

Here is a piety story for you. Years ago, my wife and I purchased a St. Joseph prayer kit for selling our home. You may be familiar with this. It has a statue of St. Joseph and a prayer card with instructions. We sought Joseph’s intercession and buried the statue upside down in the yard as prescribed. An hour or two later it was bothering me that we buried the statue in the dirt upside down. I went back out and dug it up, washed it off, and set it on branches of a bush, right side up. Seemed more dignified to me.

Our house, however, wasn’t selling. The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months and doubt crept in. The delay revealed our lack of faith, a realization that is a gift in itself. Once we had that gift, St. Joseph went to work. He revealed to us God’s faithfulness and care. Our house sold in the dead of winter with ten inches of snow on the ground in a bad real estate market. To make God’s love even more evident, the buyer was a person living in the same neighborhood!  That sacramental St. Joseph statue sits prominently on my prayer desk where I worked on this homily.  St. Joseph has become a dear friend, helper, and spiritual father to me. That is a fruit of piety.

Pray over today’s gospel for an increase in the Holy Spirit’s gift of piety that you may better honor and reverence God and grow in love of neighbor.  And when your stomach growls at Mass from your Eucharistic fast, smile and imagine the Holy Spirit raising the gates to your mind, body, and soul.

Let’s close with an act of piety, seeking the help of Jesus’ pious Mom and Dad:  Mary and Joseph, pray for us that we may observe your Son’s laws through His Church to increase our love for You and our neighbors. Amen.

Live God’s Word

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 26, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 / Ps 19 / 1 Cor 12:12-30 / Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

Today’s readings beautifully converge on the theme of God’s Word as the source of life, joy, and unity.  Each reading reminds us of the transformative power of scripture and the mission it inspires.

In our first reading, Ezra the priest reads the law of God to the people of Israel who had just returned from exile.  As they hear the Word, they are deeply moved, weeping in response to its power.  Ezra encourages them, saying, “Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength.”  This moment highlights the communal aspect of encountering God’s Word.  It is proclaimed, understood, and celebrated together.  The Word re-centers their identity as God’s chosen people, offering both correction and hope.

Saint Paul, in the second reading, emphasizes the unity and diversity of the Church, comparing it to the human body.  Each member has a unique role, but all are interconnected, forming one body in Christ.  The spirit binds this body together, empowering each of us to contribute to the mission of the Church.  This teaching complements the first reading by showing how living out God’s Word involves both individual responsibility and communal harmony.

Paul’s beautiful imagery of the Church as the body of Christ reminds us of the profound unity and diversity within our faith community.  Paul likens the Church to a physical body where each member has a unique role and function.  The independence of the body shows that when one member suffers, the whole body suffers, and when one member is honored, all rejoice together.  This reminds us of our call to compassion and solidarity.  We are not isolated individuals, but part of a community where our joys and sorrows are shared.

In the gospel, Jesus begins his public ministry by proclaiming a passage from Isaiah.  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.”  After reading, He declares, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  Jesus positions himself as the fulfillment of God’s promises, bringing liberation, healing, and restoration.  His mission is not abstract but grounded in the needs of the marginalized and broken-hearted.

The Word of God is the central theme, uniting these readings.  In Nehemiah, the Word is rediscovered.  In Corinthians, it calls us to live in unity and purpose.  In Luke, it is fulfilled in Christ.  Together, they remind us that God’s Word is not just to be heard, but to be lived, transforming our communities and the world.

There is a story of the six blind men who set out to discover what the elephant is.  The first blind man feels the elephant’s side and says that the elephant is like a wall.  The second blind man feels the elephant’s tusk and says it is like a spear.  The third feels the trunk and says it is like a snake.  The fourth feels the elephant’s leg and says the elephant is like a tree.  The fifth feels the ear and says it is like a fan.  The sixth blind man feels the elephant’s tail and concludes that the elephant is like a rope.

You can imagine the bitter disagreement that would ensue among them if they got together to discuss the nature of the elephant.  Every one of them would insist that he is right, and the others are wrong.  But the truth of the matter is that yes, he is right, but then so also are all the others.  Each of them has a valid experience of the elephant, but not one of them possesses the full knowledge of the total reality of the elephant.  Even when you put all the six images of the elephant together, it still does not capture the full mosaic of the elephant.

After Vatican II, the Church revised the Sunday readings into a three-year cycle.  Year A focuses on the Gospel of Matthew, Year B on Mark, and Year C on Luke.  The Gospel of John is spread throughout the cycle, particularly on significant Sundays such as those in the Easter season.  Currently, we are in year C, in the year dedicated to Luke.  This prompts an important question:  What aspect of the mystery of Christ does Luke emphasize, and how does it differ from the focus of the other gospels?

One scholar offers a concise way to understand the unique themes of each gospel.  Matthew emphasizes Christ’s majesty, healing by Word alone, never touching people, and demonstrating divine authority, even in His emotions, remaining calm and composed.  Mark highlights Christ’s might, showing His identity as Messiah through acts of power and authority over nature and demons.  Luke, however, presents Christ as the face of mercy, reaching out to the poor, the marginalized, foreigners, and women.  Finally, John reveals the Christ of mystery, eternally with the Father, revealing profound truths that lead to eternal life.

Today we began reading the Gospel of Luke.  In his opening preface, Luke explains that he wrote this gospel to help Theophilus, likely a Roman official, understand the essence of Christianity.  Have you ever tried to explain what Christianity is all about?   Many people mistakenly view it as a system of rules, focusing on sin, judgment, heaven, and hell, a religion where God is seen as a heavenly policeman, constantly tracking our sins and waiting to punish us.

Luke offers a profoundly different perspective.  For him, Christianity is primarily about God’s love and mercy, not condemnation.  This is why Luke includes the account of Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth, a pivotal moment found only in this gospel.  Here, Jesus proclaims his mission which can be described as the “Jesus Manifesto.”  Jesus initiates a revolution of mercy and love by saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”  In this profound declaration, Jesus reveals His mission:  to bring good news to the poor, to set captives free, to heal the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the time of God’s favor.  This is the heart of Jesus’ work in Luke’s gospel, a mission of love, compassion, and transformation.

As Christians, we are therefore called to rediscover the joy of Scripture.  Like the Israelites in Nehemiah’s time, we are called to cherish God’s Word.  Make time this week to prayerfully read Scripture, letting it touch your heart.  We are also invited to reflect on our own unique gifts, on how we can serve our community, whether through teaching, acts of charity, or prayer.  Every contribution matters.

Christ’s mission is now ours.  How can we bring glad tidings to the poor in our daily lives?  We can consider acts of kindness, advocacy for justice, or offering comfort to someone in need.  Pope Francis reminds us that the Bible is not just a beautiful book to keep on the shelf.  It is the Word of Life to be sown, a gift that Jesus asks us to accept in order to have life in His name.  Let us open our hearts to God’s Word, allowing it to transform us and guide our mission as disciples of Christ.  Together, we can build a community rooted in love, united in purpose, and inspired by the Spirit.

The Abundance of God’s Love

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 19, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Is 62:1-5 / Ps 96 / 1 Cor 12:4-11 / Jn 2:1-11
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

Today’s readings beautifully converge to reveal the abundance of God’s love and grace in our lives.  At the center of this message is the story of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performs His first miracle, turning water into wine.  This event not only reveals Jesus’ divine power, but also highlights the tender intercession of Mary, who notices a need and acts to ensure that God’s grace flows abundantly.

In our first reading, Isaiah speaks of God’s deep love for His people, using the imagery of a wedding to describe the relationship between God and Israel.  The prophet declares that God will no longer forsake His people but will delight in them as a bridegroom delights in his bride.  This passage is rich with hope and restoration, reminding us that God’s covenant with His people is rooted in love and joy.  The imagery of a wedding resonates with the gospel in which Jesus’ miracle at Cana prefigures the eternal union between Christ and His Church.  Isaiah’s words remind us that God’s love transforms us, giving us a new name and identity as His beloved.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he speaks of the diversity of spiritual gifts within the Christian community.  He emphasizes that these gifts come from the same Spirit and are given for the common good.  Each gift, whether wisdom, knowledge, faith, or healing, is a manifestation of the Spirit working in and through us.  This reading connects to the gospel as it reminds us that God’s grace is not limited.  Just as Jesus abundantly provides wine at Cana, God generously bestows spiritual gifts on His people. These gifts, when used for others, glorify God and build up the community of faith.

The wedding at Cana is a profound moment in the gospel of John.  Mary, noticing that the wine has run out, approaches Jesus with a simple, yet faith-filled request.  Her words, “They have no wine,” reveal her deep compassion and attentiveness.  Mary’s heart as a mother shines here. She sees a need and intercedes, sparing the couple from embarrassment on their special day.

In the Mediterranean region, wine is a very important part of every meal.  At this wedding feast, the wine has run out.  It is an important moment for Jesus to perform His first miracle, showing His glory and at the same time helping His disciples to grow in faith.  Although this miracle is His first one, it is not a small one.  The jars that the servants fill at the Lord’s command are large, Jewish in style, and made of stone of the type that was used in those days for their purification ceremonies.  The gospel reading tells us that each one held one hundred liters, and they filled several.

Jesus does not content Himself with just pleasing His mother and helping the family and the newlywed couple.  He does all of this by giving them a wine of excellent quality. When the head waiter tests the water that has become wine, he says to the bridegroom, “Everyone serves good wine first, but you have kept the good wine until now.”  In other words, as wondrous and as marvelous as the saving acts of Jesus in our lives have been in the past, more and better is yet in store.  In the words of Isaiah, “For the Lord delights in you, and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you.”

The gospel this Sunday teaches us that, when we pray to the most Holy Virgin Mary, asking her to help us, we will always find her ready to intercede with her Son for us.  If we ask for something that is good for us and we pray with faith, Christ will certainly perform a miracle for us, first to please His mother and then to help us in our need.

We might also be wondering about Jesus’ response when He says, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”  This may seem puzzling.  By calling Mary “woman,” however, Jesus is honoring her as the new Eve.  This title connects back to Genesis 3:15, where God foretells the victory of the woman’s offspring over the serpent.  Mary, as the new Eve, plays a pivotal role in God’s plan of salvation, culminating in Jesus’ victory over sin and death.  At Mary’s prompting, Jesus performs His first miracle, transforming water into wine.  This act reveals His divine power and foreshadows the ultimate abundance of grace that He will pour out through His passion, death, and resurrection.

This event also highlights Mary’s role as an intercessor who leads us to her Son.  Mary’s action at Cana shows the depth of her maternal heart.  She notices the couple’s predicament before anyone else and takes it upon herself to help.  Her sensitivity to her friends’ needs reflects her role as our spiritual mother, always attentive to our struggles and bringing them to Jesus.  Her words to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you,” remain a timeless instruction for all Christians.

Mary launches Jesus into His ministry, knowing that at this moment she’s letting go of her Son.  To think that this beautiful exchange between mother and Son took place prior to all else Jesus would say and do only reaffirms the beautiful love between them and foreshadows the sacrifices both would make for the Kingdom of God.  This mystery is a prophetic foreshadowing, an assurance that indeed the best is yet to come.

We are reminded today, through the message of the gospel, that as Christians, we are called to trust in Mary’s intercession.  Just as Mary interceded for the couple at Cana, she intercedes for us.  We can confidently bring our needs to her, knowing she will lead us to Jesus.  We are called to recognize God’s abundance.  Jesus’ provision of wine reminds us that God’s grace is limitless. In times of need, we are invited to trust in His providence.

Let us also use our gifts for others.  Like the servants who obeyed Jesus, we are called to cooperate with God’s plan and use our gifts to serve others, bringing joy and blessings to our communities.  Most importantly, let us see Christ in our daily lives.  The transformation of water into wine reminds us that Jesus sanctifies the ordinary.  We are invited to encounter Him in the routines and relationships of our lives.  The wedding at Cana reveals the loving heart of our mother, Mary, and the abundant grace of Jesus Christ.  Mary’s intercession and Jesus’ miracle teach us to trust in God’s love and providence.

As we go forth, let us strive to live in accordance with the gospel by being attentive to the needs of others, trusting in God’s abundance, and using our gifts to glorify Him.  May Mary our mother guide us always to her Son, who transforms our lives with His grace.

We Are Beloved Children

The Baptism of the Lord
January 12, 2025 — Year C
Readings: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 / Ps 29 / Acts 10:34-38 / Lk 3:15-16, 21-22
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

The Baptism of the Lord is a profound moment in the life of Christ and the Church.  Today we celebrate not only Jesus’ baptism, but also the revelation of His identity and His mission.  It is a reminder of our own baptism, where we, too, are given a new identity and mission as beloved children of God.  The words of the Father at Jesus’ baptism, “You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased,” resonate deeply as the cornerstone of today’s reflection.

The prophet Isaiah, in our first reading, speaks of comfort, hope, and renewal for the people of Israel.  He proclaims the coming of the Lord, whose glory will be revealed for all to see.  The imagery of valleys being lifted and mountains laid low signifies that nothing will stand in the way of God’s salvation.  This passage sets the stage for the revelation of Jesus as the Messiah, the One who comes to shepherd His people with tenderness and strength.

In the second reading, St. Paul emphasizes the grace of God, who brings salvation to all.  This grace teaches us to live lives of holiness, and points to the mercy of God revealed through Jesus Christ.  Through baptism, we are reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit, becoming heirs of eternal life.  This transformation connects directly to Christ’s baptism, when the Spirit descended upon Him, symbolizing His mission to bring salvation to humanity.

In today’s gospel, John the Baptist prepares the way for the Messiah, emphasizing the greatness of the One who will come after him.  When Jesus is baptized, the heavens open. The Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice proclaims, “You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”  This moment marks the revelation of Jesus’ divine identity, and His mission to redeem humanity.

The readings converge in terms of revelation, transformation, and mission.  Isaiah foretells the coming of the Lord’s glory.  Paul explains how God’s grace transforms us into His children.  Luke recounts the moment when Jesus’ divine identity is revealed at His baptism.  These messages remind us that baptism is not just a ritual, but a profound encounter with God’s grace, revealing our identity as His beloved children, and our mission to live as disciples.

Last Sunday’s Epiphany celebrated the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, through the visit of the Magi, revealing Him as the light of the world.  Today’s feast continues this revelation, focusing on Jesus’ identity as the beloved Son of God, and the start of His public ministry.  Both feasts highlight how Jesus is revealed as the savior for all humanity.

When Jesus stepped into the Jordan River, He didn’t do so for His own sake.  He was sinless and had no need for baptism.  Yet, He chose to be baptized for our sake.  By entering those waters, He sanctified them, transforming baptism as the gateway to grace and salvation.  At His baptism, the Holy Spirit descended, and the Father’s voice declared, “You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.    This moment was not only an affirmation of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, but also the beginning of His mission.  Anointed by the Spirit, He would go on to preach, heal, and ultimately redeem humanity through His death and resurrection.

Anointing isn’t just a holy function; it is a declaration.  It revealed that He was the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ.  One is anointed to be a priest, a prophet, and a king.  That’s exactly who Jesus is forever.  He’s the great high priest, the greatest of all prophets, the eternal king.  From His baptism, He went into the wilderness to battle Satan.  Moved by the power of the Holy Spirit, He fulfilled His mission.  The Father declared over Him, “You are my beloved Son.”  Baptism revealed Jesus’ identity and mission.  His identity is that He’s the beloved Son, the Christ, the Anointed One, the priest, prophet, and king.  His mission was also revealed.

For us, baptism is more than an entry into the Church.  It is a moment when God declares over each of us, “You are my beloved son,” or “You are my beloved daughter.”  Through baptism, we receive a new identity as children of God, and are entrusted with a mission.  As baptized Christians, we are not only given a new identity as beloved children of God, but also entrusted with tasks and responsibilities toward our brothers, sisters, and community.  Baptism calls us to live in service, love, and solidarity, following the example of Christ.  We are called to foster unity and understanding among those around us.  St. Paul reminds, in his letters, that we are one body in Christ.  Our mission, as baptized Christians, is to tear down barriers of division, and build bridges of reconciliation.

Jesus’ mission often focused on the marginalized and downtrodden.  As His followers, we must show compassion and care for those in need, whether through acts of charity, advocacy, or simply offering a listening ear and a loving heart.  Like Jesus, who began His public ministry after His baptism, we are tasked with sharing the good news.  This doesn’t always mean preaching from a pulpit.  It can mean living a life that radiates Christ’s love, joy, and hope in our daily interactions.

St. Maximillian Kolbe, a modern martyr and profound witness to Christ’s love, once said, “Let us remember that love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving.  Without sacrifice, there is no love.”  Our baptism calls us to this sacrificial love; to give ourselves for the good of others.  St. Maximillian Kolbe embodied this love when he gave his life to save a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz.

While most of us will not face such extreme circumstances, we are called to make daily sacrifices for the good of our families, communities, and even strangers.  Our baptism not only affirms our identity as God’s beloved children but also calls us to action.  Just as Christ’s baptism began His mission, ours commissions us to live out our faith in practical, sacrificial love for our brothers and sisters.

Today, let us hear again the words spoken over Jesus and know that they are meant for us: “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”  Let this truth guide us and guide our lives.  In moments of doubt and struggle, remember that we are God’s beloved children.  May this identity inspire us to live out our mission with courage, faith, and love, as Jesus did.