Sunday Gospel Reflections

Gospel Reflection

Blinded

Luke 24:13-35

Like Cleophas and his friend, we talk about our faith openly with one another; we are proud of how it had changed us or how it showed us the right way. We become so engrossed with what is written in the Holy Scriptures and what has been told to us, too engrossed that even when Jesus himself would come and enter our lives we fail to recognize His presence.

At times I too am blinded with my own prejudices. I become conceited and self-assured; I'm like a cup that is too full to accept new water. I would shunt people's criticism and personal understanding of the teachings in defense of my own, when this should have been my line of action.

Each of us became Cleophas and his friend from time to time. It is only natural, but still we should not be compromised by this reason alone, we should act like what Cleophas and his friend did when their eyes had been opened and realize that it was Jesus all along who had been with them: Cleophas and his friend went about and proclaimed what happened to them, what they have witnessed reminding all of us to keep vigil and to keep an open mind.

This morning, as I hear Mass together with my colleagues in work at the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral in Baguio, I realized something.

Sunday Gospel Reflections

Gospel Reflection

Faithful Eyes

Jn 20: 19-31

To see is to believe: This is what Thomas had in his heart when he had heard about the resurrection of Jesus. This is also true with us. We want to see first, we want to be assured through physical appearance, we want proof. But it is not what we want that is always the best. Jesus said, 'Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.' The formula that we have created for faith was: proof = belief = faith. This is why we indulge ourselves so much into signs, though Jesus did not abhor this for He knows how weak a man's faith is. But what he did was to honor those who have not seen and yet believed in Him. Wouldn't it be better if we recreate the formula for our faith so that we may truly see Him? As I reflect, we should believe first that we may have faith, and through faith we will all see His love.

Idealy, it is easy to say but more than difficult to constantly inculcate in ones personality. It is like stabbing yourself with a blunt stick. Personally, I struggle with believing. Believing that what I have faith in is true. In our Catholic belief, our faith is helped with so many things but the same things may also trigger ones confusion. This is true to me, not that I am confused but only that as I observe they do not always help grow ones faith. As I personally see it, all our practices should lead us more closely to God's loving grace. If any of it will move us away from this, then I would suggest stopping it. We should always remember that all of our acts should lead us to Be more like Jesus, to believe so that we may have faith then we may see.

The formula  is also true not only in our faith but also in our relationship with one another. Husbands should believe in their wives that they may have faith in them and so see how much their wives truly care. The same also with the wives; believe in your husbands that you may have faith in them and see their undying loyalty. Not only to husbands and wives but also to those who are at first stage of building a relationship.

It is good to see but it is better to have faith first and through it we will all see; through the eyes of faith.