Lord, There is NONE like You

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Reflections on Micah 7:14-15, 18-20  /  Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

by Frank Savadera, SJ

     There’s an old Don Moen song that goes:  “I worship you Almighty God.  There is none like you.  I worship you, O Prince of peace.  That is what I want to do.  I give you praise for you are my righteousness.  I worship you almighty God.  There is none like you.”

     Who is there like our God who removes guilt and pardons sins?  Who is there like the God who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency?   Who is there like the God who not only cast into the depths of the sea all our sins but as well shows FAITHFULNESS (to Jacob) and GRACE (to Abraham);  he who have sworn to our fathers from days of old.  LORD, THERE IS INDEED NONE LIKE YOU. 

      I suggest that we continue to reflect on HOW TRULY UNIQUE GOD’S PRESENCE HAS BEEN IN EACH OF OUR LIVES.  I say each of our lives because this we know: God works in each one of us differently.   Can we indeed say that THERE IS NONE LIKE GOD?  He who despite my joys, pains, self-esteem and self-identity issues … kalokohan at ka-weidohan … always chooses to be here with us.   Can we indeed say that THERE IS NONE LIKE GOD.  He who calls us to GREATER LOVING … more so when it is difficult to love others and ourselves.   Can we indeed say that there is none like God because indeed after knowing myself and acknowledging my weaknesses … finally finally there is really really none like his PATIENCE, KINDNESS, FORGIVENESS and LOVE.  And more … there is NONE LIKE THIS GOD who even showers me with GRACES that I’ve never even expected for myself ... that is, ENOUGH GRACES to help sustain me in this journey of life that again unfolds.   THERE IS NONE LIKE GOD in His FAITHFULNESS AND GRACE.    

      We convince ourselves that there is NONE LIKE THE FATHER … because despite us … HE CALLS US BACK and WELCOMES US BACK TO HIS HOME.   Isn’t this the story that we find in our Gospel today?  There’s an image of a Father who parties and rejoices because His son who was once lost had indeed been found.   Can we just get into the STRANGENESS and ODDITY of the story.  We are always on our way back to the Father  ... not that we are to die soon ... BUT because of the strong conviction that we INDEED NEED the FATHER in our LIVES and we cannot spend the rest of our lives SEPARATED from Him ... squandering our God given talents ... and our time away from Him in a far away place.  As the younger son in the Gospel today recognized, we will also hunger and thirst for the presence of God.   We now know that indeed ... it is a source of GREAT CONSOLATION SIMPLY BEING HOME with the Father.    There is REALLY NONE LIKE HIM WHO WELCOMES US BACK TO HIS HOME. 

        I guess our Gospel also tells us that other than being home with the Father, we are also called to BEING MORE AT HOME with the Father ... as the second son himself was made to realize.  At HOMENESS with the Father ... for us means ...  that whatever is of God’s ... had already been shared with us.  “Everything I have,” says the Father, is yours.  Nothing is ever lost.  AT HOMENESS WITH THE FATHER means for us that we BRING HIM WITH US WHEREEVER WE GO. 

      Today, we simply pray and convince ourselves that indeed LORD THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU; NONE LIKE YOUR FAITHFULNESS & GRACE. 

       Lord, indeed THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU because you show us always the way … to find our way back to your home. 

       More important, there is none like you Lord because YOU ARE OUR HOME and whereever we go, we can always FEEL AT HOME in your presence.    

       Nice song there by DON MOEN: "There is really NONE LIKE YOU LORD … and in your presence I WORSHIP."  

The Call of Saul and Levi

First Week of Ordinary Time: January 16, 2016Reflections on 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1/  Mark 2:13-17

My first reflection about the call of both Saul and Levi (Matthew) is this:  In calling us to do His work, God seems to see what is BEST in us.   When we often times get caught up with what is wrong and crazy about me, my pained history, my apparent wronged family background and uncontrolled compulsions, we would like to believe that there is a God who sees the BEST in us.   The Book of Samuel describes Saul as “a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.”  God sees exactly what is BEST in Saul and in us as well.

Similarly, we can get hooked with descriptions of Levi (Matthew) as the corrupt and perhaps even a scheming tax collector and publican.  Much like the scribes and Pharisees, we may find ourselves asking:  “Why does Jesus eat with the unclean … the tax collectors and sinners?”  Jesus may have seen in Levi something beyond the human eyes can see.   The call of both Saul and Levi tells us that the eyes and perspective of God are different.  He sees what is BEST in us … yes … even in the hearts of sinners.  He comes not for the righteous but the sinners … may mean for us … that God sees great potentials in those who had strayed and had returned.  Beneath the filth and dirt … God sees the BEST in us. 

Secondly, God anoints people to serve as commanders over his heritage.  This phrase we encounter in our first reading today … the  LORD had anointed Saul as “commander … governor or protector of and over his heritage.  What a responsibility, isn’t it?  What heritage and ministry are we tasked to commandeer or protect?  The Book of Samuel tells us:  “You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.”  We also allow the Gospel, the work of Jesus to speak to us about what the Father wishes us to continue and propagate:  to ask people to COME and FOLLOW Him.   I realize that in all our dealings with people, we must need to ask ourselves: Will this activity and engagement bring more people to God?  To govern God's people is not about leading them astray but rather and mores strongly showing them the path to following Jesus.   

Lastly, my constant question about the apostle Matthew:  Why is he also called Levi?  The simplest explanation is:  many people in the Bible have two names:  Simon/ Peter; Thomas/ Dydimus, etc.  Nothing wrong having two names.  Another explanation:  Matthew is a Greek name, and Levi is Hebrew name. 

Another question:  Why do the Gospels of Luke and Mark use Levi while Matthew uses “Matthew”?  An explanation, the evangelist Matthew preferred “Matthew” over his own pre-conversion name, Levi.

Both names are useful for us.  We are both Levi and Matthew.  Levi means “to take”  or “taken from” while Matthew or Mattija (Hebrew)  means “the gift of the Lord”.    As we answer the call of the Lord, we think of ourselves as “Levi” the one taken by the Lord out of a crowd of believers and sinner.  In one description:  TAKEN  taken out of the mass of the perishing.  And we are as well MATTHEW … as governor and commander of God’s heritage, we are asked as well to serve as God’s gift and grace to His people and His church.  

In summary, we would like to believe that God sees the BEST in us. He asks us to COME … FOLLOW Him to serve as a commander of His heritage.  We are LEVI: God TAKES us and picks us up from our cycle of compulsions to serve as MATTHEW … God’s gift and grace to His people and His Church.

The Paralyzed and the Paralytic!

Memorial of Saint Ambrose

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Reflections on Isaiah 35:1-10 /  Psalm 85:9AB & 10, 11-12, 13-14 / Luke 5:17-26
by Frank Savadera SJ

We are reading from the FIRST BOOKS of Isaiah;  the Messiahnic prophesies;  Jerusalem was being threatened by its enemies and Isaiah sends out a prophesy:  “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.”  In short, the message for us is … DO NOT BE AFRAID!  All shall be WELL … because someone, a MESSIAH will come to relieve us from all our pains, doubts and fears.  Further, Isaiah says: We will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak. Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God.  This corresponds well to our Psalm today isn’t it:  Our God will come to save us!     In whatever way he may do so … we trust … that He will save us … as He is already saving us.  Just imagine if today … you were SOMEWHERE ELSE and NOT HERE.  You may have remained UNSAVED.  Thus, amid all our anxieties nowadays, the word of God remains for us:   DO NOT BE AFRAID!  All shall be WELL …    Our God will come to save us … yes … even from ourselves.

There are a lot of details in this Gospel that are worth tackling:  First, Jesus was struck not only by the faith of the paralyzed man but as well the faith of the friends who toiled to carry the man to Jesus.  It says:  “Jesus saw their faith.”  There is power of faith expressed as a community.  Second, while the other Gospels talked about opening up the roof (usually made up of straw), LUKE speaks about lowering the paralyzed man through the TILES of the roof.  Luke was talking to a more sophisticated crowd here.  Sosyal na sila … di ba?   

Another striking detail:  While the other Gospel versions talk about the PARALYTIC, Luke … a medical doctor, talks about the “man who was paralyzed.”  What’s the difference?  A “paralytic” is a more medical term, isn’t it?  On the other hand, “a man who is paralyzed” may mean a variety of things, isn’t it?  I can be paralyzed from doing my work and mission yet I need not be a paralytic.  What’s the point? 

Well for one, the Gospel today seems to project an image of Jesus who is overly SHOWING OFF.  Not only is he someone who heals PHYSICAL AILMENTS, HE also FORGIVES SINS … and this is when He gets into trouble.  Only God can forgive sins.  Yet Jesus declares it:  “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”   I say, He must really be showing off because He knew WHO were in His audience.  These were people with TILES on their roofs … Pharisees and teachers of the law were inside the house.   “As for you, your sins are forgiven,” means for all who were present that Jesus was NOT merely a HEALER (albularyo) but He claims equality with the Father as well.  Thus, for some conservative Jews, Jesus blasphemes.  He was being disrespectful of Yahweh.  They made judgments of Him. 

What’s my point?  God through Jesus communicates His DIVINITY to us.  This is happening even now … through His promises that ALL SHALL BE WELL.  DO NOT BE AFRAID!  Your enemies shall never overtake you.  Jesus communicates His divinity to us as a people.  He sees our collective faith.  We all need to pray for one another.  Jesus shows His divinity by showing impartiality for people with roofs that are either STRAW or TILED.   Jesus heals both the paralytic and the paralyzed.  At every opportunity,  God continually SHOWS OFF … communicates His power and divinity for all of us to see and experience.  What then seems to matter most for Jesus?      

In the Gospel, Luke notes that Jesus knew their thoughts.  Jesus asked them what He can be asking us as well:  “What are you thinking in your hearts?  He knows yet He STILL asks:  “What are you thinking in your hearts?   Not so much that He wanted to know … because He already knows … but I guess for us to determine for ourselves:  WHAT REALLY IS IN MY HEART?  What is in our hearts will determine if we will live our lives QUESTIONING always the miracles of Jesus OR decide to be seized continuously by awe and astonishment that “We have seen incredible things today … and everyday.”  

God Calls Us As He Knows US

Reflections on Romans 10:9-18 / Matthew 4:18-22

by Frank Savadera, SJ

I don’t know if you agree … but nowadays, we’ve been introduced to a barrage and variety of new superheroes. When in the past, we only had the likes of Superman, Batman and Robin, Captain America, Mighty Thor, Spider Man, the Incredible Hulk, Wonder Woman, Darna, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, etc. … nowadays … we hear of characters like the POWER RANGERS, the INCREDIBLES, the X-MEN, the SHE-HULK, DRAX THE DESTROYER,  the ANT MAN, MS MARVEL, SQUIRREL GIRL, etc. (Lola Nidora and AlDub had become popular but I don’t know if they are superheroes).  Mind you, I don’t know them all anymore.  Maybe you know better than I.  The common element among these superheroes, if we notice is that they all possess some kind of super powers not available to ordinary creatures like you and me.  Consequently, as encapsulated by Spider Man in his popular line:  With GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY … and not only that … with GREAT POWER comes GREAT POPULARITY as well.   

I call your attention to the statement we read from the Gospel today:  “They were casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Immediately, we may think … Oh, our Lord as bestowing on these simple folks some kind of power that will give these men SUPER HERO and ROCK STAR STATUS.  On one hand … we say … YES … they’ve been handed some form of power.  Saint Andrew came to evangelize parts of Greece and he was martyred there.  Yes … the apostles have in a way become popular … popular enough that we celebrate the feasts of saints every so often.   But how are Jesus’ apostles or how those whom he had called … different from the usual SUPER HEROES?    

They were fishermen and they were asked to be fishers of men.  The CALL comes with an understanding of who and what we are … my IDENTITY as a person.  I think this is where the CALL, the POWER and ROCK STAR and SUPER HERO status lie:  Maybe God will not call us BEYOND our LIMITED CAPACITIES or expect or endow us with EXTRA ORDINARY skills … but HE CALLS US AS HE KNOWS US.  The question is:  do we find time to know more about ourselves.  Minsan kasi … banat lang ng banat.  Suntok lang ng suntok.  Eh madalas … wala tuloy tayong tinatamaan.  Sometimes, we are just so excited to get into a project yet not making an inventory of my capacity to comply with requirements for the said project.  What happens to us?  We can actually end up NOT finishing well, right? Worst, we can get very very frustrated with ourselves.  The apostles were fishermen and they were called to be fishers of men.  The Call is very much hinged on how God knows us and how we had gotten to know more of ourselves.   Kung SINO KA at ANO KA… dyan at ganyan ka tatawagin at gagamitin ng Diyos.  That is where your SUPER HERO and ROCK STAR status lies. 

How are we then to be helped in understanding this person whom God is calling?  Paul in his letter to the Romans asked:  How can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?   FAITH COMES FROM HEARING!  Our ears must be constantly attuned to the sound waves of God … else we get caught up with the bewildering variety of noises around us.  We have to hear and listen to how God speaks even if what we hear may be totally different from what we expect to hear.  Saint Paul again says:  “How can they call on him in whom they have not believed?”   Hearing and listening must bring us to believe.  The are two ways to do so in the first reading:  TO BELIEVE IN OUR HEARTS and BELIEVE WITH OUR HEARTS.  Believe in our hearts more than in our heads:  This asks us how do I feel?  Am I at peace?  What emotions come to me?  Believe with our hearts: a certain FIRMNESS and COURAGE to manifest what I believe against all odds.  Believing with one’s heart.  And lastly, we FOLLOW and PROCLAIM/ CONFESS with our MOUTHS what we believe.   Imagine this line from the 1^st reading:  Their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

We are SUPERHEROES in our own right as we see God’s call as totally hinged on our understanding of who and what we are.  We fortify and nourish such a call by constantly finding time to HEAR & LISTEN to God’s Word; having the courage to risk and believe with passion to proclaim God word to the ends of the earth.  RockStar ka!  

Wicked, Plunderers Who?

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reflections on 1 Maccabees 6:1-13 /  Luke 20:27-40

by Frank Savadera, SJ

Today, as in the Ignatian way, we are asked to reflect on how life will end for us.    Our readings today narrate for us stories of lives ending or moving to the afterlife.  The first reading speaks to us a Greek king named Antiochus.  Himself a historical figure, Antiochus colonized Jerusalem and was known to be very harsh and violent against the Jews (the Jews called him by a name which means “the WICKED”).   Much like the story we pick up from the Book of Maccabees, Antiochus apparently was keen in identifying cities famous for wealth in silver and gold and other treasures.  What a preoccupation (hobby)?     He gathers up his army and ransacks them all, killing and murdering those that come his way.  In history, reportedly … he even ventured southward … to Egypt … to sustain his vicious plunder of other people’s wealth.  Anong problema nya?  What a BULLY?   In our first reading today, Antiochus comes to the end of his days.  Down and defeated,  he says:  “Now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land.”  What a SAD life, isn’t it?  What a way to end one’s life?   Is this how things will end up for us as well? The story of Antiochus must thus make us ask:  How is it like for me at the end of my days?  Or perhaps more appropriately:   How is it like for me to live my life at present?   Am I an Antiochus?  WICKED?  One who SEIZES and PLUNDERS the LIFE out of another? 

I think, wicked is easier to understand.  What about PLUNDER?  Isn’t it that we sometimes meet people who SUCK OUT THE LIFE OUT OF US? Nakakapagod kasama!  We feel PLUNDERED!  When we I beginning my serious discernment in the Jesuit candidacy house, my fellows and I had what we called the VOCATION VAMPIRES!  They seem t be still here with us!  They suck out the VOCATION out of anyone!  BEWARE of PLUNDERERS!  Or better yet … ask … ask … ask … am I turning out to be an Antiochus! Am I a PLUNDERER!   Do I wish to live my life this way?

There’s a part of the mass when the priest washes his hands after the preparation of the gifts.  One time, in the past, I’ve heard a priest saying aloud the prayer:  Lord Jesus, WASH away my sins and cleanse me of all MY WRETCHEDNESS!   We all can STILL pray that we be delivered from our manifest ways of BEING WICKED!  Antiochus!             

The Sadducees in the Gospel, on the other hand, present for us another preoccupation.  Since they do not believe in the resurrection, let me call this preoccupation:  A CYNICISM for HOPE.  People die and there is no resurrection.  The Sadducees believed plainly that when we die, we simply go to this place called the SHEOL … the place of the "partying" DEAD.   In our case however, we … further add … that we are transfigured … we become better versions of ourselves (ie., we become younger, more handsome,  more healthy, etc.).  Isn’t this the resurrection?   We believe that DEATH is not the end of life for us.  As Saint Paul would even say:  DEATH no longer has power over us.  We had been promised RESURRECTION.  This is our HOPE.  This is what we anticipate.  We are no longer DEAD people walking and partying!  We celebrate life.   This is my reflection on the statement:  ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”  Those who have died … Abraham, Isaac, Jacob … my parents and grandparents, your loved ones are NOT DEAD.  Everyone who comes in the presence of the Lord are once again made alive … because God is the God of the living and not the dead.  What a folly indeed for the Sadducees to be too concerned about earthly things:  Whose WIFE will she be?  The Lord is offering us MUCH MUCH more than our earthly preoccupations.  The DEAD is made alive!  And transfigured … of course.  

The Memorial of Mary’s Presentation at the Temple therefore continually encourages us to rededicate our lives for that HOPE.  We cannot allow ourselves to be continually WICKED … to PLUNDER the life and spaces of others.  Death is not the end of life for us!  We are asked to be hopeful of a transfigured life beyond death.  Thus, we continue to rededicate our lives everyday, that we may affirm that the Lord is indeed the God of the living than the dead.

FAITH and PERSISTENCE

FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH PIGNATELLI, SJ
Reflections on Luke 18:1-8

by Frank D. B. Savadera, SJ

A woman ... a WIDOW ... a powerless persona in Palestine; who lost her husband; PESTERS an UNJUST JUDGE to render judgment about her case;  what is the case about?  We are not sure ... but it can be IMPLIED that it may have something to do with her becoming a WIDOW; in the olden days ... a WIDOW is bound to lose everything ... all the properties left by her husband;  and so ... this is not just an ordinary WIDOW ... she was a DESPERATE WIDOW ... she was BATTLING for HER LIFE and SURVIVAL. This explains her PERSISTENCE.

PERSISTENCE IN THE GOSPEL today is LINKED CLOSELY TO FAITH.  At the end of this parable,  Jesus asked:  But when the Son of Man comes, will he find FAITH on earth?  The same FAITH as that of the widow’s?  The same PERSISTENCE as that of the widow’s?  FAITH is related to persistence.  Are we persistent enough that when the Son of Man comes ... today  ... will he find FAITH on EARTH?

I easily associate PERSISTENCE with the little that I know about SAINT JOSEPH PIGNATELLI, known as the protector and restorer of the Society of Jesus during the difficult time of the SUPRESSION.  He was from Zaragossa, Spain where the Jesuits then were very powerful.  He himself was accused of plotting to depose the government administrator in his municipality.  He belonged to a rich and noble family.  He could have lived a comfortable life with his family but instead chose to be in exile with his brothers.  EXILE means moving about … taking the boat or long land trips to friendly territories (AND this means a lot, travelling with the old, sick and infirm … and in the case of Joseph Pignatelli, having perhaps the vision to bring along with him, documents, books and articles of Jesuit heritage that he can save).   Thus, he was moving to places like Corsica, Ferrara (N. Italy), Bologna, Pharma and eventually to Russia.  All throughout the ordeal of the Supression, he kept contact with his brothers exiled all over the world.  He was thus remembered not only for his kindness, humility, gracious manner but more so for his undaunted courage in keeping his exiled companions united in spirit.  He is, in some respects, almost regarded a second founder of the Order.  If that is NOT PERSISTENCE … I don’t know what it is?  FAITH is PERSISTENCE and a quote from Joseph Pignatelli echoes this faith and persistence:  "My God, I do not know what must come to me today. But I am certain that nothing can happen to me that you have not foreseen, decreed, and ordained from all eternity. That is sufficient for me."  If Joseph Pignatelli was not PERSISTENT, the Society of Jesus could have totally been wiped out.  As we read in the parable of the persistent widow ... and remember Joseph Pignatelli,  may we also manifest a certain PERSISTENCE IN OUR FAITH.

PERSISTENCE IN FAITH also means KEEPING THE FAITH BY REMEMBERING OUR FIRST OR HONEYMOON ENCOUNTERS WITH THE LORD.  In one of his homilies at the Papal Residence in Rome, Pope Francis talked about the GRACE OF MEMORY.  He asks us to REMEMBER our “first encounter” with Jesus – the encounter that “changed our lives,” that allowed us to take the LEAP of FAITH, the decisive encounters that prompt everyone to never forget one’s own first encounter with Christ.  If I may paraphrase Pope Francis, he says: God never forgets, but we often tend to forget our encounters with Him. And this would be a good assignment to do at home, to consider: ‘When have I really felt that the Lord was close to me? When have I felt the need to change my life, or to become better, or to forgive someone? When have I felt the Lord asking something of me? “When did He say something to me that changed my life, or invited me to take a step forward in my life?” When have I encountered the Lord?’  Our faith is an encounter with Jesus.  This, says the Pope, is the foundation of our faith: I have encountered Jesus,” as the apostles did.   Friends, there will be a lot of DEBACLES in this life.  We continue to be PERSISTENT with our FAITH as we receive the GIFT OF MEMORY, always remembering our first SIGNIFICANT and MEANINGFUL ENCOUNTERS with the LORD.

PERSITENT IN OUR FAITH also means NOT BEING COMPLACENT in EXPRESSING OUR FAITH. I even would wish to think that God will often times SHAKE US FROM OUR SENSES so we will not be complacent in our FAITH.  In Rio de Jainero Pope Francis even suggests that faith is not genuine unless it is tinged with a trace of doubt. “The great leaders of God’s people, like Moses, always left room for doubt. We must always leave room for the Lord and not for our own certainties. We must be humble. Every true discernment includes an element of uncertainty open to receiving spiritual consolation.”

At the end of the Synod for the Families, Pope Francis talked about ‘scheduled faith.’  I understand this to be a sort of a PRE-PROGRAMMED FAITH, a FORMULAIC type of faith … a ready to eat, ready to be consumed type of faith.  The Pope says:   “We are able to walk with the people of God, but we already have our schedule for the journey, where everything is listed: we know where to go and how long it will take; everyone must respect our rhythm and every problem is a bother.”  I think this is COMPLACENCY, being TOO FIXED and NOT leaving space for new and wondrous works by the Spirit.

Today, we pray to be MORE PERSISTENT in our FAITH;  to continusly BEG for the GRACE of REMEMBERING our FIRST ENCOUNTERS with the LORD;  and AVOID COMPLACENCY by allowing space in our hearts to be AWED by the new and wondrous works of the Spirit.

Meriting Esteem from Our Companions at Table

30th Week of Ordinary time (Saturday 2015)

Memorial of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, SJ

Reflections on Romans 11:1-2A, 11-12, 25-29 / Psalm 94:12-13A, 14-15, 17-18 /  Luke 14:1, 7-11

by Frank D. B. Savadera, SJ

Firstly, something about St. ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ, SJ: He was a Jesuit brother; married with three children; entered the Society at age 40 yrs;  had academic deficiencies; He stayed in the Jesuit House at Majorca and was porter there for 46 years.  What a saintly life?  

The first reading asks:  Has God rejected His people?  For those of us with issues of rejection and abandonment, the thought can be quite disturbing, right?  Sometimes we say:  I’ve been rejected by many already … wala lang …. for many things … maybe because of the way I eat, for not regularly brushing my teeth, for not cleaning my room, for the way I intrude into conversations, for being too functional, overly work-oriented, having no time for friendships, for the way I demand too much affirmation from others, for my DARK past and history, for being poor or for being rich, for being outspoken, for often been too defensive or overly dramatic, nag-iinarte, etc.   People reject us, right? And the thought of being rejected by God Himself can be, for some, the mother of all rejections?    Saint Paul asks this question:  Has God really really rejected His people?  Saint Paul interjects:  OF COURSE NOT!  (said TWICE in today’s first reading).  We will not be rejected by the Lord.  He will not reject us nor allow us to completely fall … though He may allow us to stumble in life a lot.  

There’s a saying:  Sometimes we have faces only our mothers can love!  We have to acknowledge that not everyone will like us or love us.  But even if our own mothers will reject us,  God will never abandon His own people (and that’s our Psalm for today).  How do we know?  Saint Paul himself experienced it.  This is not a mere spiritual thought.  We will, in prayer need to experience God’s DEEP and ABIDING LOVE and ACCEPTANCE of us, no matter what or how we think of ourselves.    

How therefore do we sometimes think  of ourselves?  Jesus talks about a parable, about party guests who thought of themselves in a somewhat over-inflated way.   They wanted the best seats in the room … the places of honor … only to be EMBARRASSED and publicly at that … and REJECTED … when the host asks one to GIVE WAY to a more distinguished guest.  As the story goes, with embarrassment, this guest seeking the best seat had to move and take the lowest place in the room.  He caused EMBARRASSMENT to himself, right?  What we can learn from the Gospel is this, sometimes WE INDEED EMBARRASS OURSELVES!  Nagmumukhang kawawa tayo dahil rin sa ating mga sarili.  We unknowingly embarrass ourselves.  A reflection we can make about the parable is;  Our Lord will not embarrass us.  Let us not also cause embarrassment for ourselves.   Always, I think the call is to learn from our mistakes. 

I specifically like the line from the Gospel today:  the people there (in the party) were observing Jesus carefully.  They were observing Him for a lot of reasons … ie. to listen to him, to entrap him, etc.  In our case, I think it will serve us well … to truly and most attentively OBSERVE JESUS CAREFULLY … how he moves in our lives, how He speaks, how He calls,  how he acts.  In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the host who RAISES UP THE LOWLY:  ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’  This is MOST IDEAL, isn’t it … rather than causing embarrassment for ourselves.  The humble will always be raised.  We ALLOW JESUS TO RAISE US RATHER THAN WE RAISING OURSELVES.   Then, as the Gospel pictures the scene:  You will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.

ENJOYING THE ESTEEM OF COMPANIONS at TABLE … isn’t that what we pick up from the life of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez.  He never occupied a place of honor in any Jesuit House.  A mere PORTER, DOOR KEEPER … he who welcomed guests and ministered to their needs.  He must have suffered a lot of rejections in life also (he almost didn’t make it into the Society).  And yet for 46 years, he must have been simply observing Christ carefully … carefully enough to recognize that it will be Jesus who eventually will raise him up to enjoy the esteem of his companions at table.  We pray that we be delivered from our propensities to seek PLACES of HONOR and EMBARRASSING ourselves in the eyes of God.  We allow Jesus to raise us up rather than us raising ourselves.  And much like the example of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, may our good deeds merit for us the esteem of our companions at table.