Gospel for

There are two gospels in the Church calendar for Easter Sunday. The to be read in the morning is John 20:1-9, and the one in the evening is Luke 24:13-35. The two Gospels celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are told of two aspects about the Resurrection in both gospels.

The first is that the Resurrection of Jesus is a bodily Resurrection. In John 20:1-9, the author gives a very detailed account on how Jesus’ followers found the tomb empty where Jesus was buried.

In Luke 24:13-35, it explains that Jesus Resurrection is also a spiritual Resurrection. When two of His followers were talking with Jesus Himself on their way to Emmaus, they did not recognize Him; meaning that his Resurrected body is no longer the same as before His death. They only recognized Him when He was already breaking bread with them. How exactly is it different? No one knows.

Jesus died and seized to be with us physically but when He resurrected from the dead, He became alive but not in the same physical form. It is unlike the resuscitation of Lazarus who was brought back to life in his own body and later on died again. Jesus’ resurrection transformed Him in a way that even His disciples could not recognize Him. Resurrection is not just resuscitation of the body, but also a spiritual transformation.

The Resurrection reminds us that Jesus is alive and is with us even to this day. It is the cornerstone of our faith. But every time we proclaim the Resurrection to others, imagine that other person asking you, “How can you prove that?” The best proof we can give that person is by showing him or her that Jesus is alive. How? By living the way Jesus lived. Jesus is alive when we are just, humble, selfless or when we share with the poor just as Jesus did when He was physically with us. When we love and forgive others, then we show that Jesus is alive.

How is Jesus alive in your life? How can you show the people you work with that Jesus is alive?

Gospel for March 16, 2008 - Matthew 26:14 - 27:66 - Passion and Death of Jesus

Matthew narrates in the gospel the events that took place in Christ’s passion and death. One of the important events that happened was Jesus’ agony as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, the three disciples who were allowed to see his glory at the Transfiguration, in order to witness and share his suffering.

Peter, James and John were part of the glorious event of Jesus’ Transfiguration – they were fully transfixed on Jesus as he was transfigured and his full divine glory manifested. This is in stark contrast to their behavior in the garden of Gethsemane where they had trouble keeping awake to watch and pray with Jesus during the lowest point of his life. He pleaded for companionship and comfort from them as the hour of his passion approached. It was at this time that Jesus, full of sorrow and anguish, fell on the ground and prayed three times saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will (v.39).”

It was through the persistence in prayer that Jesus gained a clear knowledge of the Father’s will. He prayed for an escape from the situation, but he also knew that this was not possible. He then counts on God to complete His plan of salvation and in deep surrender accepts the cup of suffering he has to undergo for the sins of the world. Matthew shows Jesus as a model of prayer and obedience by submitting his will in obedience to the divine will. Thus, Jesus reversed the sin of man’s disobedience by obeying the Father in all things.

The passage helps us to reflect on our own prayer life as singles. We may experience difficulty when we pray since we are faced with a lot of distractions (e.g. when we are tired and sleepy, when we are occupied with work, when we have no time, etc.). When things are going well in our lives, sometimes we tend to forget to pray. It is when we encounter problems that we remember God. But when the problems become too great for us, such as death of a loved one, loss of a job, grave sickness, and the like, our tendency is to leave God by blaming Him and asking Him “Why me?” Jesus teaches us the importance of perseverance in prayer so that we do not become weak, fall into temptations, and abandon Him, but rather strengthen our spirits by always recognizing and obeying God’s will especially in times of difficulty.

§ In what ways can we strengthen our prayer life so that we continue to easily recognize and do God’s will especially during the low points in our lives?

§ How can we be a model of prayer and obedience for others?

Gospel for March 9, 2008 - John 11, 1-45 Jesus Raises Lazarus

(By Mike Gan, reviewed by TM)

The raising of Lazarus is the final sign in Jesus’ public ministry which leads to his condemnation and death. It is also the most powerful and important sign because it does not merely involve healing the sick and feeding the hungry, but raising someone from the dead, a power proper only to God.

In the Gospel, when the most powerful sign is about to be performed, Jesus behaves in a shocking manner. John prepares us by first saying that Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters. Jesus loved them and yet, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days. Why would Jesus do that?

John wanted to highlight that Jesus always acts in accordance with his Father's will, not the will of his family or his closest friends. He is concerned first and foremost with God's glory, with doing God's. His love does not feel like love at first, but it is. But as we shall later on see, it is for the best. His seeming delay will lead to a greater blessing.

Today we easily find ourselves in difficult and even painful situations. We cry out for help but there are times when God seemingly delays in answering our prayers.

What is my attitude when I feel that God delays in answering my prayers? How do I find faith and comfort in those trying times?