“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” (LK 9: 22)
Sometimes, depends on the moment of our spiritual journey, we can listen only one part: be rejected (because we experienced rejection), or be killed (because my spouse left me and I feel like I am killed), or being raised (because we found love, or finally we born a child after so many years of suffering from infertility). Our Lord asks us today to expand our horizon, not focus only on one part, but to see the whole picture. “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end” (John Lennon).
“Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Verse before the Gospel)
“Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.” (MT 6: 2)
We know from our Program that sometimes things we do are not coming from a good intention, but to find a compromise (to harmonize egoisms). It looks similar because the execution is actually the same. But the real difference is in purpose and intention. Instead of being united in three elements (God loves the Trinity): meaning, intention, and execution, we have only performance, which matches us. Like today’s Gospel—execution in praying, almsgiving, and fasting doesn’t have the right purpose and intention (i.e., goal: being recognized as a holy person, intention: I am better than you).
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” ((Verse before the Gospel)
“Jesus enjoined them, ‘Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’ They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread.” (MK 8: 15-16)
In Polish, we have a saying: “me about heaven, they about bread,” which means—not being on the same page or not singing from the same hymn sheet. We know how important it is for a good conversation to protect ourselves from mistaken interpretation patterns; try to understand first, then to be understood, and always defend your spouse, especially when the attack comes from your interpretation.
“Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him.” (Gospel acclamation)
“The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.” (MK 8: 11)
This is every generation’s problem—“seeking from him a sign from heaven.” This is what every one of us probably did in our lives: asking for some proof that He really is present and loves us. And this is the same between those who are in love “seeking a sign” of his/her love. But here we have something different—they were “seeking from him a sign to test him.” Not a sign of love to be assured, confirmed, and to enjoy again and again our relationship (like we probably did yesterday for Valentine’s Day), but to test, to control, to prove that we are right, not the other side.
“I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.” (MK 1: 45)
“He spread the report abroad,” even though he was asked, “tell no one anything.” Maybe it was for him a reward for being for some time rejected from public life, and finally, he became famous—Jesus miraculously healed him. But promoting himself, “it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.” God is coming to our hearts with miracles, and He is always healing, protecting, supporting, leading, and loving us. But it is not about me and my uniqueness but Him and His love.
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst, God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.” (MK 8: 9-10)
Our Lord “dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples”; now its time for them—may be to explain, to reflect, or to answer their questions and show them the bigger perspective (do “not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”). Our time with Jesus, mostly when we just finished the Program or any other mission, is important and beneficial.
“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (that is, ‘Be opened!’) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.” (MK 7: 33-35)
This man had a “speech impediment,” but Our Lord started with “the man’s ears,” and then He “touched his tongue.” When we learn how to listen, with gentleness, respect, and always trying to understand first and second to be understood, then we can speak “plainly.”
“Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“She replied and said to him, ‘Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.’” (MK 7: 28-29)
God in the Old Testament and Our Lord in the New Testament wants us to be a real part of our dialog with Him to show our interest, our motivation, and to present our “why” and purpose. When we know our why, we live more consciously, our relationship is based on something predictable, and it is easier for us to reflect on the results as well as on the lack of them.
“Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and can save your souls.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” (MK 7: 14-15)
The way we think, the way we control our inner dialog, as well as the way we eliminate mistaken patterns of interpretation of our inner dialog (aka ANTs—automatic negative thoughts), can create the right “outside.” The more we are conscious about our relationship, the more we protect our rituals and our time for us, the better will be the quality of “the things that come out from within.”
“Your word, O Lord, is the truth: consecrate us in the truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” (MK 7: 6-8)
“Lips and hearts” can be one or they can be totally separated. We can officially declare one thing, and at the same moment, our hearts will declare another thing. We are going to the church for Sunday Mass, but God doesn’t exist in our daily life. People can say to their spouses “I love you”, yet they are secretly dating somebody else. Our Programs help check the virtues of cohesion and integrity, especially in marriage life, where it is important to regard God’s commandment and God’s vocation to be husband and wife.
“Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; And favor me with your law.” (Gospel Acclamation)
