Noong
panahong iyon, lumapit si Pedro at nagtanong kay Hesus, “Panginoon, makailan
kong patatawarin ang aking kapatid na paulit-ulit na nagkakasala sa akin?
Makapito po ba?” Sinagot siya ni Hesus, “Hindi ko sinasabing makapito, kundi
pitumpung ulit pa nito.
Sapagkat ang
paghahari ng Diyos ay katulad nito: ipinasiya ng isang hari na pagbayarin ang
kanyang mga lingkod na may utang sa kanya. Unang dinala sa kanya ang isang may
utang na sampung milyung piso. Dahil sa siya’y walang ibayad, iniutos ng hari
na ipagbili siya, ang kanyang asawa, mga anak, at lahat ng ari-arian, upang
makabayad.
Nanikluhod
ang taong ito sa harapan ng hari at nagmakaawa: ‘Bigyan pa ninyo ako ng
panahon, at babayaran ko sa inyo ang lahat.’ Naawa sa kanya ang hari kaya
ipinatawad ang kanyang mga utang at pinayaon siya. “Ngunit pagkaalis niya roon
ay nakatagpo niya ang isa sa kanyang kapwa lingkod na may utang na limandaang
piso sa kanya.
Sinunggaban
niya ito at sinakal, sabay wika: ‘Magbayad ka ng utang mo!’ Naglumuhod iyon at
nagmakaawa sa kanya: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon at babayaran kita.’ Ngunit
hindi siya pumayag; sa halip ipinabilanggo niya ang kanyang kapwa lingkod
hanggang sa ito’y makabayad. Nang makita ng kanyang mga kapwa lingkod ang
nangyari, sila’y labis na nagdamdam; pumunta sila sa hari at isinumbong ang
nangyari.
Kaya’t
ipinatawag siya ng hari. ‘Ikaw – napakasama mo!’ Sabi niya. ‘Pinatawad kita sa
utang mo sapagkat nagmakaawa ka sa akin. Nahabag ako sa iyo; hindi ba dapat ka
ring mahabag sa kapwa mo?’ At sa galit ng hari, siya’y ipinabilanggo hanggang
sa mabayaran niya ang kanyang utang. Gayun din ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking
Amang nasa langit kung hindi ninyo patatawarin ang inyong kapatid.
Jesus said to the people in the synagogue
at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native
place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of
Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine
spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was
sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were
many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of
them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.
When the people in the synagogue heard
this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built to hurl
him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do we expect Jesus to bless us abundantly
because we always pray and do good? How would we feel if our expectation is not
meet by Jesus? Would we now be indifferent to Jesus?
We cannot fathom the mind of God, there
are times that His decisions will not fit our own comprehension. We
nevertheless should continue to be faithful to Him even if His will is often
times not attuned to our own will. In His own time God would eventually give us
what we want, we simply have to be patient.
In our gospel the people of Nazareth is
angry with Jesus for the simple reason that what Jesus said did not fit their
expectation. Their minds were already conditioned to believe their own
expectations. But we cannot read the mind of Jesus and we cannot put Jesus in a
box because His decisions and His answers to our prayers are often times out of
the box.
We simply have to believe and hold on to
our faith in Jesus no matter what happens. Even if sometimes or even often
times His decisions doesn’t fit our own selfish expectations. Who knows one of
these days when we least expect it Jesus will suddenly give us what we want.
Let us continue to have faith in Jesus
even if He is not meeting our expectations for He knows what is best for us. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Nang
dumating si Hesus sa Nazaret, sinabi niya sa mga nasa sinagoga: “Tandaan ninyo:
walang propetang kinikilala sa kanyang sariling bayan. Ngunit sinasabi ko sa
inyo: maraming babaing balo sa Israel noong kapanahunan ni Elias nang hindi
umulan sa loob ng tatlong tao’t kalahati at magkaroon ng matinding taggutom sa
buong lupain.
Subalit
hindi sa kaninuman sa kanila pinapunta si Elias kundi sa isang babaing balo sa
Sarepta, sa lupain ng Sidon. Sa dinami-dami ng mga ketongin sa Israel noong
kapanahunan ni Eliseo, walang pinagaling isa man sa kanila; si Naaman pang
taga-Siria ang pinagaling.”
Galit
na galit ang lahat ng nasa sinagoga nang marinig ito. Nagtindigan sila, at
ipinagtabuyan siyang palabas, sa taluktok ng burol na kinatatayuan ng bayan,
upang ibulid sa bangin. Ngunit dumaan siya sa kalagitnaan nila at umalis.
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 who is speaking with you.”
Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him. 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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Do you want to have an encounter with Jesus?
The gospel is so pregnant with the encounter narrative at Jacob’s well between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Jesus went to the well to rest and the woman went to the well to get water. Was it purely coincidence that the woman met Jesus at Jacob’s well?
I don’t think so, Jesus went to the well because he was expecting the woman to go there. So they met and a conversation ensued, during their conversation the woman felt something that she never felt before in her entire life. Why? Because the woman found out that Jesus knew everything about her life and Jesus spoke to her in a personal and enlightening manner.
At the end of the gospel, the woman was converted simply because of that up close and personal encounter at Jacobs well.
Do you know that the Lord is also wishing for an up close and personal encounter with you this lent? The Lord wants to have a conversation with you also, the Lord wants to know more about you: Your life, your problems, your fears and even your darkest secrets.
But you first have to find your own Jacob’s well or your own quite place where you can be alone with the Lord. And when you find that quite place go there and once there already close your eyes and begin a silent conversation with the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong panahong iyon: Dumating si Hesus sa isang bayan sa Samaria, na tinatawag na Sicar, malapit sa bukid na ibinigay ni Jacob sa kanyang anak na si Jose. Dito matatagpuan ang balon ni Jacob. Umupo si Hesus sa tabi nito, sapagkat siya’y napagod sa paglalakbay. Halos katanghaliang-tapat na noon.
May isang Samaritanang dumating upang umigib. SInabi ni Hesus sa kanya, “Maari bang makiinom?” Wala noon ang kanyang mga alagad sapagkat bumili ng pagkain sa bayan. Sinabi sa kanya ng Samaritana, “Kayo’y Judio at Samaritana ako! Bakit kayo humihingi sa akin ng inumin?” Sapagkat, ‘hindi nakikitungo ang mga Judio sa mga Samaritano. Sumagot si Hesus, “Kung alam lamang ninyo kung ano ang ipinagkakaloob ng Diyos, at kung sino itong humihingi sa inyo ng inumin, marahil ay kayo ang hihingi sa kanya, at kayo nama’y bibigyan niya ng tubig na nagbibigay-buhay.”
“Ginoo,” wika ng babae, “malalim ang balong ito at wala man lamang kayong panalok. Saan kayo kukuha ng tubig na nagbibigay-buhay? Higit pa ba kayo kaysa aming ninunong si Jacob, na nagbigay sa amin ng balong ito? Uminom siya rito, pati ang kanyang mga anak, at ang kanyang mga hayop.” Sumagot si Hesus, “Ang uminom ng tubig na ito’y muling mauuhaw. Ito’y magiging isang bukal sa loob niya, babalong, at magbibigay sa kanya ng buhay na walang hanggan.”
Sinabi ng babae, “Ginoo, kung gayun po’y bigyan ninyo ako ng tubig na sinasabi ninyo, Nang hindi na ako mauhaw, ni pumarito pa upang sumalok. Ginoo, sa wari ko’y propeta kayo. Dito sa bundok na ito sumamba sa Diyos ang aming mga magulang, ngunit sinasabi ninyong mga Judio, na sa Jerusalem lamang dapat sambahin ang Diyos.” Tinugon siya ni Hesus, “Maniwala ka sa akin, Ginang, dumarating na ang panahon na sasambahin ninyo ang Ama, hindi lamang sa bundok na ito o sa Jerusalem.
Hindi ninyo nakikilala ang inyong sinasamba, ngunit nakikilala namin ang aming sinasamba, sapagkat ang kaligtasan ay galing sa mga Judio. Ngunit dumarating na ang panahon – ngayon na nga – na ang mga tunay na sumasamba sa Ama ay sasamba sa kanya sa espiritu at sa katotohanan. Sapagkat ito ang hinahanap ng Ama sa mga sumasamba sa kanya. Ang Diyos ay Espiritu kaya dapat siyang sambahin sa espiritu at sa katotohanan.”
Sinabi ng babae, “Nalalaman ko pong paririto ang Mesiyas, ang tinatawag na Kristo. Pagparito niya, siya ang magpapahayag sa atin ng lahat ng bagay.” “Akong nagsasalita sa iyo ang tinutukoy roon,” sabi ni Hesus. Maraming Samaritano sa bayang yaon ang sumampalataya kay Hesus. Kaya’t paglapit ng mga Samaritano kay Hesus, hiniling nila na tumigil muna siya roon; at nanatili siya roon nang dalawang araw.
At marami pang sumampalataya nang mapakinggan siya. Sinabi nila sa babae, “Nananampalataya kami ngayon, hindi na dahil sa sinabi mo kundi dahil sa narinig namin sa kanya. Nakilala naming siya nga ang Tagapagligtas ng sanlibutan.”
Tax collectors and sinners were all
drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to
complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them
Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to
his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son
collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he
squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent
everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire
need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his
farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods
on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he
thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to
eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I
shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no
longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your
hired workers.”
’So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was
filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son
said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer
deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly
bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals
on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has
come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration
began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he
neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked
what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and
your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and
sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father
came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these
years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never
gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns who swallowed up
your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He
said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has
come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
Can we measure the love of God?
The infinite love of God is showcased in
our gospel today. The loving and infinitely forgiving father is no other than
God. And the repentant younger son who squandered all of his inheritance
through debauchery and sinful living could be anyone of us.
We may think that because of our many sins
we are already beyond reach by God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. No, the Lord
can still reach us no matter how far we have strayed. Why? For the
reason that God’s love is pervading and infinite. It’s like the sun which is
available to all of us no matter the sins that we have committed and no matter
who we are.
But for us to be reached by this infinite
and pervading love of God. We must first be willing to repent from all of our
sins. And we must be willing to humble ourselves before God. We have to humbly
admit and realize that we are all sinners. Thus, just like the younger
son we too are in need of God’s mercy, love and forgiveness.
It’s about time that we return back to our
forgiving, merciful and loving God. It’s about time that we repent and leave
behind us our sinful lives and those people who influence us to commit sin. –
Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, ang mga publikano at ang mga makasalanan ay nagsisilapit upang
makinig kay Hesus. Nagbulung-bulungan ang mga Pariseo at ang mga eskriba. Ang
sabi nila: “Ang taong ito’y nakikisalamuha sa mga makasalanan at nakikisalo sa
kanila.”
Kaya’t sinabi
sa kanila ni Hesus ang talinghagang ito: “Isang tao ang may dalawang anak na
lalaki. Ang wika ng bunso, ‘Ama, ibigay na po ninyo sa akin ang mamanahin ko.’
At binahagi sa kanila ng ama ang kanyang ari-arian. Pagkalipas ng ilang araw,
ipinagbili ng bunso ang kanyang ari-arian at nagtungo sa malayong lupain,
taglay ang buo niyang kayamanan, at doo’y nilustay na lahat sa di wastong
pamumuhay.
Nang malustay
na niya ang kanyang kayamanan, nagkaroon ng matinding taggutom sa lupaing yaon,
at nagdalita siya. Kaya’t namasukan siya sa isang mamamayan ng lupain yaon.
Siya’y pinapunta nito sa bukid upang mag-alaga ng baboy. Ibig sana niyang punan
ang kanyang pagkain kahit ng mga bungang-kahoy na ipinakakain sa mga baboy
ngunit walang magbigay sa kanya.
Nang
mapag-isip-isip niya ang kanyang ginawa, nasabi niya sa sarili, ‘Ang mga alila
ng aking ama ay may sapat na pagkain – at lumalabis pa – samantalang ako’y
namamatay ng gutom dito! Babalik ako sa kanya, at sasabihin ko, “Ama, nagkasala
po ako sa Diyos at sa inyo. Hindi na po ako karapat-dapat na tawagin ninyong
anak; ibilang na lamang ninyo akong isa sa inyong mga alila.”, At tumindig siya
at pumaroon sa kanyang ama.
“Malayo pa’y
natanawan na siya ng ama at ito’y labis na nahabag sa kanya, kaya’t patakbo
siyang sinalubong, niyakap, at hinagkan. Sinabi ng anak, ‘Ama, nagkasala po ako
sa Diyos at sa inyo. Hindi na po ako karapat-dapat na tawagin ninyong anak.’
Ngunit tinawag ng ama ang kanyang mga alila, ‘Madali! Dalhin ninyo rito ang
pinakamahusay na damit at isuot sa kanya.
Suutan siya
ng singsing at panyapak. Kunin ang pinatabang guya at patayain; kumain tayo at
magsaya! Sapagkat namatay na ang anak kong ito; ngunit muling nabuhay; nawala,
ngunit nasumpungan.’ At sila’y nagsaya.
"Nasa
bukid noon ang anak na panganay. Umuwi siya, at nang malapit na sa bahay ay
narinig niya ang tugtugan at sayawan. Tinawag niya ang isa sa mga alila at
tinanong: 'Bakit? May ano sa atin?' Dumating po ang inyong kapatid!' tugon ng
alila. 'Ipinapatay ng iyong ama ang pinatabang guya, sapagkat nagbalik siyang
buhay at walang sakit.'
Nagalit
ang panganay at ayaw itong pumasok sa bahay. Kaya't lumabas ang kanyang ama at
inamu-amo siya. Ngunit sinabi nito, 'Pinaglingkuran ko po kayo sa loob ng
maraming taon, at kailanma'y hindi ko kayo sinuway. Ngunit ni minsa'y hindi
ninyo ako binigyan ng kahit isang bisirong kambing para magkatuwaan kami ng
aking mga kaibigan.
Subalit
nang dumating ang anak ninyong lumustay ng inyong kabuhayan sa masasamang
babae, ipinagpatay pa ninyo ng pinatabang guya!' Sumagot ang ama, 'Anak, lagi
kitang kapiling. Lahat ng ari-arian ko'y sa iyo. Ngunit dapat tayong magsaya at
magalak, sapagkat namatay na ang kapatid mo, ngunit muling nabuhay; nawala,
ngunit nasumpungan.
Jesus said to the chief priests and the
elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted
a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew
near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the
tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third
they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous
than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent
his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw
the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and
acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and
killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to
those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men
to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him
the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the
Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by
the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of
God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its
fruit.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew
that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest
him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
One of the gifts that God gave us is our
Catholic faith, Jesus gave this to us through our baptism. Does this gift of
faith end with our baptism? No, Jesus is also expecting us to share this gift
of our baptism by living and sharing our faith.
We read in our gospel this Friday that
there was a landowner who leased his vineyard to some tenants. After a period
of time the landowner was now demanding his share of their produce. But they
did not give him his share. The tenants were ruled by greed that they kept to
themselves the fruits of the vineyard.
The same is true with the gift of faith
that Jesus gave us, Jesus expects us to share the fruits of our faith. Let us
not be content with the status quo or inaction let us move and do something so
that we could share our faith for this is what Jesus demands from us.
For example, why don’t we share our faith
with the members of our family by inviting them to go to Holy Mass? Why don’t
we share our catholic faith with them by having a regular time for family
reflection about the words of Jesus in the bible? Or perhaps by praying
the Holy Rosary which can certainly strengthen the unity of the family.
What have you done so far with this gift
of faith that Jesus gave you through the Sacrament of Baptism? Have you shared
it already? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Noong
panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa mga punong saserdote at matatanda ng bayan:
"Pakinggan ninyo ang isa pang talinghaga. May isang taong nagtanim ng ubas
sa kanyang bukid, at ito'y binakuran niya. Gumawa siya roon ng pisaan ng ubas,
at nagtayo ng isang mataas na bantayan.
Pagkatapos,
kanyang iniwan sa mga kasama ang ubasan, at siya'y nagtungo sa ibang lupain.
Nang dumating ang panahon ng pitasan, pinapunta ng may-ari ng ubasan ang
kanyang mga alipin upang kunin sa mga kasama ang kanyang kaparte. Ngunit
sinunggaban ng mga kasama ang mga alipin; binugbog nila ang isa, pinatay ang
ikalawa, at binato naman ang ikatlo.
Pinapunta ng
may-ari ang mas maraming alipin, ngunit gayon din ang ginawa ng mga kasama sa
mga ito. Sa kahuli-huliha'y pinapunta niya ang kanyang anak na lalaki.
'Igagalang nila ang aking anak,' wika niya sa sarili. Ngunit ng makita ng mga
kasama ang anak, sila'y nag-usap-usap: 'Ito ang tagapagmana. Halikayo! Patayin
natin ng mapasaatin ang kanyang mamanahin.' Kaya't siya'y sinunggaban nila,
inilabas sa ubasan at pinatay.
"Pagbalik
ng may-ari ng ubasan, ano kaya ang gagawin niya sa mga kasamang iyon?"
sumagot sila, "Lilipulin niya ang mga buhong na iyon, at paaalagaan ang
ubasan sa ibang kasama na magbibigay sa kanya ng kaparte sa panahon ng
pamimitas." Tinanong sila ni Jesus, "Hindi pa ba ninyo nababasa ang
talatang ito sa Kasulatan?
'Ang batong
itinakwil ng mga tagapagtayo ng bahay ang siyang naging batong panulukan.
Ginawa ito ng Panginoon, at ito'y kahanga-hanga!' Kaya nga sinasabi ko sa inyo:
hindi na kayo ang paghaharian ng Diyos kundi ang bansang maglilingkod sa kanya
ng tapat. Narinig ng mga punong saserdote at ng mga Pariseo ang mga talinghaga
ni Jesus, at naunawaan nilang sila ang pinatatamaan niya. Darakpin sana nila
siya, ngunit natakot sila sa mga tao, sapagkat kinikilala ng mga ito na propeta
si Jesus.
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a
rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously
each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered
with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell
from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the
poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of
Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried, and
from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw
Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham,
have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my
tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that
you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received
what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone
from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest
they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses
and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. ’Then Abraham
said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
The story is told about a man who did not
believe in God and in the afterlife. He wantonly wasted his life by living a
life of sinful pleasures. It was always a life of immoral
satisfaction for him: drugs, sex, and other sinful things, in other words he
had no time for God. This became his life because he did not believe in the
existence of the afterlife much less God.
Is there really an afterlife or a life
which will immediately replace our present life after our life in this world is
over and done with already? The answer is a resounding yes! The gospel shows us
that there is an afterlife which is very different from the life that we have
today. There in the afterlife exist two kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the
kingdom of satan where he and his minions dwell.
In the gospel, we see the characters of
the unnamed rich and indifferent man and the poor man named Lazarus. The rich
man perhaps did not believe in the afterlife or was not aware that there is an
afterlife that’s why he did not mind the poor man Lazarus who was in dire need
of his help. He nonchalantly ignored Lazarus as if the poor man did not
exist.
When both of them died there was a
reversal of places: The poor man Lazarus who endured a difficult life when he
was still alive was in the kingdom of God and the rich man who savored earthly
life was in the dark kingdom of the devil.
Why was there a reversal of places?
Because the rich man was indifferent to the crying need of the poor man
Lazarus. If he only knew that Lazarus was very close to God. If he only knew
that Lazarus could have been God in disguise. The lesson for us is very simple,
we should not ignore the crying need of the poor and we should always be
sensitive to their plight. Why? Because the poor is the physical representation
of God in disguise. – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
