John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 - Jesus Heals the Blind Man (4th Sunday of Lent, March 30, 2014).

The healing of the blind man is a powerful miracle, and there is a more powerful message behind this miracle that the evangelist John wishes to communicate.  It is important to note the following:

- The man was born blind -- people during biblical times believed that congenital defects reflect the sin of parents passed on to the child.  This is why the Pharisees referred to the blind man as someone "totally born in sin."

- The Pharisees -- these were religious leaders and mastered the details and intricacies of the law; they knew that healing was forbidden during sabbath and, according to them, Jesus must be a false prophet as he did not follow the law.

- The pool of Siloam -- this is most important.  As John explains, "Siloam" means "sent," and in John's gospel, Jesus is referred to as "the one sent" more than forty times.  More importantly, the pool of Siloam was part of the liturgical rite during the Feast of Tabernacles (one of the three major Jewish feasts).  During this feast, the priest would draw water from the pool and pour it on the altar while saying prayers.  The Feast of Tabernacles is also regarded as feast of water and feast of light.  

This parallelism between the feast and the healing of the blind plays a major part in the message that John wishes to convey.

John presents Jesus as "light of the world."  This symbolism is connected to the Old Testament which sees salvation as a light for the people plunged in darkness, and its glory shining from Jerusalem to the rest of the world.  In Jesus, the awaited messiah is fulfilled.

But this is not the militaristic messiah, but the "light" that reveals a new way of life based on obedience to the Father's will, love, and forgiveness.  This way of life is revealed as better than a life based simply on a blind obedience to a set of rules set by the Law.

Thus, at the end of the passage, it is the man born blind that not only physically sees, but now has eyes of faith and possesses the insight on the true person of Jesus: that He is the light of the world.  The Pharisees, on the other hand, who possess the knowledge of the Law, are presented as blind and arrogant.

Other Trivia:

- Spittle, or saliva, was believed by the ancients as having medical efficacy and that it was more effective if mixed with earth or clay.

Source:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Makati: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), 116-125.


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Jn 9:1.6-9.13-17.34-38

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” – which means Sent. – So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is!” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord!” And he worshiped him.

John 4:5-15, 10-26, 39-42 - The Samaritan Woman By the Well (3rd Sunday of Lent, March 23, 2014)

Map from www.searchingthescriptures.net

The gospel passage took place in Samaria, through which Jesus and disciples passed on their way back from  Jerusalem to Galilee.  (See map).  

Samaritans and Jews both believed in Yahweh but the latter regard the former as not following mainstream Judaism since Samaritans only believed in the first five books (the Pentateuch) of the Hebrew bible (which is what we consider as the Old Testament).  Note that this is similar to the difference between Catholics and Protestants, with the Protestant bible having seven less books than the Catholic version.

Samaritans were also looked upon as being ritually unclean, particularly women (who menstruated, because blood is regarded by Jews as unclean).  This uncleanness is believed to be transferred through the drinking vessels used.

There are two key verses in understanding the gospel:

1) The first is verse 4:10: "If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

The typical association of the "gift of God" is with the laws of Moses.  But for the evangelist John, the "gift of God" is Jesus himself.  (Recall John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son...")

"Living water" is often associated with baptismal water in contemporary homilies.  Not so for John.  The literal meaning of "living water" is "running water" in contrast to water from a well.  In Old Testament context, "living water" is associated with the flood of wisdom from God.  For John, the living water symbolizes the life-giving doctrine brought by Jesus and the message of love that he proclaims in his own personal life.

2) The second is verses 4:19-21: The woman said to him, "Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem".  Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem."

Due to the difference in their beliefs, the main temple of the Samaritans is in Mt. Gerizim, while the Jews' was in Jerusalem, located at Mt. Zion.  (Both highlighted in the map).

Jesus' reply that when everyone recognizes and worships God as Father of all humanity, then this debate is no longer relevant.  Jesus came to proclaim -- to Jews and Samaritans alike, as well as to all nations -- that God is Father, and one can know the Father through Jesus.

Source:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Makati: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), 64-70.



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John 4:5-15, 19-26, 39-42

Jesus came to a town of Samaria, called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” – For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans. –

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this ‘living water’? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”  Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst. The water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”   The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.

I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ. When he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one speaking with you.”

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in Jesus. When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.

Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

Matthew 17:1-9 - The Transfiguration of Jesus (Gospel for March 16, 2014, 2nd Sunday of Lent)

     The story of Jesus' transfiguration is filled with symbols, such as "the high mountain", "shone like a sun", "white as light", "the appearance of Moses and Elijah", "the bright cloud", and "voice from the cloud".  Matthew also describes the whole scene as a "vision".  

     What can we learn from these symbols?

- Jesus is connected to Moses and Elijah.  The latter are the greatest figures in the Old Testament: Moses is the lawgiver and the greatest of prophets, while Elijah is regarded as the precursor of the Messiah.

- The scene happens in a mountain, often associated with God's presence and where God's revelation takes place; both Moses and Elijah climbed a mountain.

- The "bright cloud" and "white as light" suggest God's presence and heavenly realities.

     Finally, and this provides the clue to the gospel's message, the tents that Peter wishes to build is associated with the Feast of Tabernacles (one of the three most important feasts in the Jewish calendar).  

     During this feast (also referred to as the Feast of Tents or Booths), small tents are built and meals are taken inside.  (See the picture here for a contemporary tent used to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles).   
It recalls the forty years' journey through the desert where they lived in tents and other makeshift shelter.  Importantly, the Ark of the Covenant was kept in the largest tent to remind them of God's presence and protection.

     Peter's plan to build three tents recalls this Old Testament experience and foreshadows the age when all nations will be under God's reign and protection.  This is also Matthew's way of connecting Jesus to the Kingdom of God envisioned in the Old Testament -- that Jesus is not against the Jewish faith, as many thought, but that He focused on the original and pure intent of the Law which is to love and forgive.  Jesus also expands God's reign from the Jews, the chosen people, to all of humanity.

     This may also be the reason why the disciples were "very much afraid," that is, the demand of Jesus is great.

Other Trivia:

- The other two most important Jewish feasts are the Passover (commemorating the day Yahweh freed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery) and the Feast of the Weeks (to remember the day Yahweh gave them the Law at Mount Sinai).

Sources: 
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Makati: St. Paul's Publications), 224-226.
- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), 660.

*See this site for image of a contemporary tent used to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles: 

http://www.wherejesuswalked.org/blog/events/the-feast-of-tabernacles-is-proof-of-god%E2%80%99s-promise-and-love-for-christians 
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Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. 


As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Matthew 4:1-11 - The Temptation of Jesus (Gospel for March 9, 2013, 1st Sunday of Lent). 
*Gospel text below.

Note that this gospel passage immediately follows the account of Jesus' baptism, suggesting that with discipleship comes great temptations.  The Spirit that proclaims Jesus as the "beloved Son" during baptism is the same Spirit that leads Jesus to the desert to be tempted.

There are three temptations:

- to turn stone to bread
- to test God's power if Jesus jumps from the temple
- to worship the devil in exchange for riches

In each of them, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy Chapters 6 to 8.  It is in Chapter 6 where the greatest commandment is written, which I quote here with additional verses to show its importance to Yahweh's people:

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!  Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.  Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.  Drill them into your children.  Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.  Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.  Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.  (Deut. 6:1-9)

It is in these same chapters that the Israelites are warned of the dangers of prosperity, and of their complacency and unfaithfulness when they become victorious, rich and powerful.

The law to love God above all else corresponds to the three temptations:

- "with all your heart" - referring to our affections and desires (corresponding to food when hungry),

- "with all your soul" - "soul" means life, even martyrdom,

- "with all your strength" - referring to wealth, property and possessions.

Matthew highlights the demands of discipleship which requires total love, fidelity and commitment to God.  Be ready therefore to face great temptations.

Other trivia:

- Jesus is addressed as the "son of God" but NOT in the Trinitarian sense; it is a phrase used to refer to the Israelites as God's chosen people. Jesus therefore now represents the "new Israel" or the Israel that is totally faithful to God.  

- The "forty days and nights" is likely not to be taken literally; "forty" is used to refer to a "long time" and connects Jesus to the forty years of Israel's journey in the desert, to the fasting of Moses on Sinai and of Elijah on Horeb.  (By the way, these are the only three people recorded in the Bible as having done a forty day fast).

Sources:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Makati: St. Paul's Publications), 141-144.
- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), 638.

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*Matthew 4:1–11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” 

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written:The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” 

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Matthew 6:24-34 - Do Not Worry* (Gospel for March 2, 2014, 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
*See below for Gospel text

Pelicans in Flight by (c) Jeff Kinsey, Dreamstime Stock Photos 

For the third consecutive Sunday, Jesus tells us the standards that a true disciple should live by.  There are familiar verses in the gospel, and the following trivia may provide a better insight to the message of this gospel.

Note how many times the word "worry" and "anxious" appear in the gospel passage -- a total of five times.

The theme of this passage is not so much God's providence, though indeed it is there, but the attitude of the disciple: not to be anxious and to focus on Kingdom-building.  In the original Aramaic word of "anxious", the nuanced meaning refers to "being absorbed by" or "being preoccupied with." 

The "birds in the air neither sow or reap" is mentioned, but NOT to suggest passivity and idleness (for the birds do work to gather their food), but the absence of anxiety.

The "lilies in the field neither toil nor spin" refers to field labor of men and housework for women, and importantly to strenuous or stressful work.  (Don't we all know what stress can do to one's health?)

This absence of anxiety makes the choice between God and "Mammon" easier for the disciple.  ("Mammon" is derived from an Aramaic term which refers to wealth and possession.)

 Field of Blue and Yellow by (c) Kimberly Vetrano,Dreamstime Stock Photos

The phrase "hate one and love the other" does not refer to feelings, but in the biblical context refers to choices one makes.

Choose and live the Kingdom's values, and a disciple will overcome the challenges that go with it.

Sources:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Makati: St. Paul's Publications), 172.
- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), 646.

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Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”