REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

8^th Sunday A (27 February 2011)

Fr James McTavish, FMVD

Channels of Providence

“Don’t worry, be happy” is a famous slogan easy to say but not so easy to live. Modern life is characterized by excess stress and worry. At times this reflects the demands of our world of today but also perhaps a lack of faith in God’s providence. I remember one young mother with 4 children who I met in Manila who became a widow at aged only 29. She was a woman who trusted in the providence of God and sure enough she was able to send all her children to school to receive their education. Many times in Europe I felt that we have lost that capacity to trust in God. Now of course it is not a type of trust where God has to do everything! We should do our part as many Saints taught “Pray as if everything depends on God but work as if everything depends on you.” The providence of God is that he will provide the grace we need to affront the challenges and difficulties.

I always found the derivation of the word providence very fascinating. It comes from the Latin pro videre which as you can probably guess means to see in advance, to see ahead or anticipate. When we are tuned in to God he will indicate to us what is needed in advance. It reminds us of what Jesus told his disciples in the Last Supper “I tell you these things before they happen so that when they do, you will know that I AM” (John 13, 19). Of course if we are sincerely trying to do God’s will and are serious about receiving the grace to put it into practice we would not even end up in so many dramas that we can find ourselves in.

In the Gospel today (Matthew 6, 24-34), Jesus speaks to us of a God who provides. He reminds us not to worry so much “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? ²⁶ 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?” Jesus does not deny the reality of human needs, but forbids making them the object of anxious care and, in effect, becoming their slave.

Fr Thomas Rosica, OSB, notes that the great Christian author and apologist C.S. Lewis was a devout Christian, but also a great worrier! Lewis frequently wrote to his friends saying: "If God wanted us to live like the birds of the air, it would have be nice for him to have given us a constitution that was more like theirs!" One thing is for sure – unnecessary worry makes one lose valuable mental energy. When we are worried we should examine if it is truly shall we say evangelical worry which even Jesus and Mother Mary in various moments in the gospel were anxious and distressed so we too should expect moments like this in our lives. What is to be avoided however, as much as possible, is useless worries that are the fruit of not trusting in God and his Providence. Usually the problem is putting our trust in other things. On the American dollar it states “In God we trust” but the reality is that in the end we can put more trust in dollars than God. Worrying so much about providing for the future that we don’t respond to the call to be generous today to others who are really in need. Even today some complain that God cannot be provident as some people starve. Just reflect on how much food society throws away and think again why is it that God's providence does not reach the hungry.

It gives much peace to believe in a provident and generous God. Sometimes it is easy to project our limited experience of God onto others. It reminds me of the grandmother who was always telling off the child. One day the child asked “Can I have an apple?” and the granny was outraged. “Of course not!” she screamed, “you know what God would say.” Later the child went to get an apple and as she was about to open the cupboard the grandmother’s stick crashed down on her hand “Stop! You know what God would say.” That night the child was so hungry she decided to get an apple. The cupboard was full and just as she was about to take one she spoke to God “Dearest God, I want to take an apple. What would you say?” “Take two!” the voice from heaven came. The one who is generous with others will really experience the providence and generosity of God. You cannot outdo God in generosity.

Of course we are reminded not merely to be generous materially but also spiritually. To share the blessings we receive such as the great blessing of Scripture, the comfort that comes from having faith in eternal life. As St Paul tells us in the second reading (1 Cor. 4, 1-5) we are “servants of Christ and administrators of the mysteries of God.” Last week I was invited to celebrate a mass for a worker who had died suddenly. He worked in a home for cats and dogs that had been cruelly treated. I was very busy but felt moved to respond generously. In the homily I shared about the beauty if eternity, that it can inspire us with hope even in front of death. Later a kind lady approached with the desire to help out in the mission. Later she contacted our community and made a donation. Generosity begets generosity. Perhaps it is good to ask ourselves – can others experience God’s providence through my life? In what way can we all grow in generosity, materially but also spiritually? As one man, who was always generous, joked “God provides, through us.” Are you a channel for God’s providence or an obstacle?

Let us ask Jesus the grace not to be worriers but rather warriors, soldiers of Christ, who do not lose courage in the middle of the battle. And may we be thankful, sensitive to recognize how our Father is caring for us and to be grateful for his Providence. I pray that we may not be obstacles for God’s loving providence to reach others but instead channels. Amen.

REFLEXION Evangelio Semanal

El corazón del hombre está hecho para el amor y no para las cosas (Mateo 6, 24-34) (Homilía para jóvenes - P. Luis José Tamayo)

Jesús conoce profundamente el corazón del hombre. Jesús sabe que el corazón del hombre está hecho para el amor. Esto ya estaba en la Escritura; el libro del Génesis explica como Dios crea al hombre a su imagen y semejanza (Gn1,26). Si Dios es AMOR, el hombre a imagen de Dios, está creado para el amor, para las relaciones, para la fraternidad, para la amistad, para la unidad, para la familia. No es sólo la Escritura, es que la ciencia también lo dice: hay estudios que confirman que aquellos niños si al nacer se les separan de la madre, quedan desnutridos y tristes; en cambio vemos niños llenos de risas y alegría cuando están rodeados de amor y cariño.

La necesidad de relación, de contacto, de amistad, es vital en el hombre. Si decidimos anteponer la ambición por acumular cosas o la avaricia por no compartir mis juegos a las relaciones, la amistad y el amor a los demás… es aquí cuando nos rompemos.

(Mateo 6, 24-34) Jesús lo dice con las palabras de aquel tiempo: “Nadie puede estar al servicio de dos amos. Porque despreciará a uno y querrá al otro; o, al contrario, se dedicará al primero y no hará caso del segundo. No podéis servir a Dios y al dinero”. Jesús nos invita a escoger que quieres como prioridad en tu vida: ¿el amor, la amistad y el compartir?, o ¿ser dueño de tus cosas, acumular cosas para ti y no compartir? Hay que escoger!!

Recuerdo cuando tenía 17 años, me regalaron un jersey de marca. Estaba feliz, no veas como iba de guapo… una tarde mi hermana me lo cogió para ponérselo. Recuerdo que cuando lo descubrí me enfadé con ella mucho, la grité: “jamás me cojas algo de lo mío.” Esta es una situación en la cual nos vemos todos reflejados.

La pregunta es: ¿dónde estaba poniendo yo mi prioridad? ¿Era mi prioridad el amor, la amistad, el compartir, o el ser dueño de mis cosas, acumular cosas para mi y no compartir? Peleas con el hermano por un video juego, una camisa de marca, una raqueta de tenis… la prioridad está en “mi” cosa y el “no lo cojas que me lo estropeas” o en el deseo de “compartir”. Está claro: el resultado del egoísmo es la discusión, el resultado de compartir es la alegría.

Jesús quiere que nos demos cuenta que el problema no está en el jersey, en la play o en el ordenador. El problema está en el corazón. Por eso es tan importante educar el corazón poniendo la prioridad en el amor, la amistad y el compartir, pues es SOLO aquí donde encontraré la felicidad. Si mi prioridad está puesta en mis cosas, en no compartir, en acumular, en el egoísmo… el resultado será siempre la división y la discusión.

Os voy a contar brevemente la historia de El Rey Midas: Érase una vez un rey muy rico cuyo nombre era Midas. Tenía más oro que nadie en todo el mundo, pero a pesar de eso no le parecía suficiente. Midas tenía una hija llamada Caléndula, a quien mucho amaba. Una tarde se le apareció un mago y le dijo: tienes mucho oro, y parece que no estás satisfecho. Pide un deseo y te lo concederé. Esperando que pidiese un corazón generoso para compartir sus riquezas, sin embargo, movido por su codicia pidió que todo lo que tocara se convirtiese en oro. El mago se lo concedió. A partir de ese momento todo lo que tocaba se convertía en oro… al principio estaba feliz. Acumulaba oro y mas oro… luego tubo hambre. Vio una manzana para comer, y al tomarla se convirtió en oro. Empezó a dares cuenta que algo no funcionaba bien. Empezó a quedarse triste. Su hija entró en la habitación, y el padre al verla, lleno de tristeza por lo que estaba pasando se arrojó a ella… entonces ella se convirtió en oro. La avaricia rompe las relaciones, pues siempre será prioritario mis cosas antes que el otro.

Este invierno uno de mis mejores amigos me contó algo sobre sus hijos que me sorprendió. La hermana mayor estaba en USA, le tocaba regresar a casa por navidades. El padre le encargó comprar una play o video-juego para el hermano pequeño. Ella lo llevaba consigo y no lo facturó en la maleta. Una vez en el avión, se dio cuenta que lo perdió en el aeropuerto. Se pasó todo el viaje preocupada por el disgusto que llevaría su hermano. Al llegar al aeropuerto estaba la familia esperándola. Ella salía acongojada por el disgusto que iba a dar a su hermano y sus padres. Cuando la vieron así, preguntaron que había pasado. Ella les contó que había perdido la play. Entonces, para sorpresa de todos, el hermano se adelantó, la abrazó y le dijo, no quiero que estés triste, lo importante es que tú estas en casa. La play es solo una máquina.

Esta es la lección final del evangelio de hoy: “Sobre todo buscad el reino de Dios y su justicia; lo demás se os dará por añadidura”. Sobre todo poned prioridad en el amor, la amistad, la familia y las relaciones… lo demás es secundario. Pues el corazón del hombre está hecho para el amor y no para las cosas.

Is God Good?

REFLEXION Evangelio Semanal

Amad a vuestros enemigos

La llamada al amor siempre es seductora, a todos nos encanta escuchar este mensaje. Pero par entender bien por qué este mensaje de Jesús fue un escándalo, hay que entrar en el contexto socio-histórico. Aviso: La reflexión de hoy es más histórica desde la Escritura, pero nos ilumina mucho el porque de la novedad del mensaje de Jesús. Al final hago una pequeña implicación para nosotros.

En aquel tiempo, lo que menos se podían esperar era oír hablar de amor a los enemigos. Viviendo la cruel experiencia de la opresión romana y los abusos de los más poderosos, las palabras de Jesús eran un auténtico escándalo. Solo un loco podía decirles con aquella convicción algo tan absurdo: «Amad a vuestros enemigos, orad por los que os persiguen, perdonad setenta veces siete, a quien os hiere en una mejilla, ofrecedle también la otra». Mateo 5, 38-48 ¿Qué quería decir Jesús? ¿Vivir sometidos con resignación a los opresores? Este fue un mensaje que no se podía entender fácilmente.

Para el pueblo judío el Dios de Israel es un Dios que conduce la historia imponiendo su justicia de manera por la que se manifiesta su poder feroz y su fuerza severa contra los enemigos. Por ejemplo: ya en el libro del Éxodo se recuerda como nace el pueblo de Israel. El Señor escuchó los gritos de los hebreos e intervino de forma poderosa sacando a su pueblo de la opresión y esclavitud de los egipcios y destruyendo a los enemigos de Israel en el paso por mar rojo.

A lo largo de la historia aprenden a descubrirlo como el Dios verdadero pues su poder severo contra los enemigos del pueblo elegido era más poderoso que el de los otros dioses. Cuando uno lee la historia de Israel en el A. T. se puede comprobar una y otra vez. Dios protege a su pueblo destruyendo a sus enemigos; y sólo así pudieron entrar en la tierra prometida.



La crisis llegó cuando el pueblo de Israel se vio sometido de nuevo a un enemigo más poderosos que ellos. ¿Qué podían hacer al ver al pueblo elegido desterrado a Babilonia? ¿Abandonar a Yahvé y adorar a los dioses extranjeros de Asiría y Babilonia? ¿Traicionar a su Dios que les había protegido hasta entonces?

Pronto encontraron la solución: El problema no es Dios, Dios no ha cambiado; son ellos mismos que se han alejado de él desobedeciendo sus mandatos.

Ahora es Yahvé quien dirige su fuerza justiciera sobre su propio pueblo desobediente. Dios sigue siendo grande, pero ahora se sirve de los imperios extranjeros para castigar a su propio pueblo por su pecado.

Más adelante, ellos entendían que su pecado había sido ya expiado con creces. Pasaban los años y el pueblo empezó a pensar que su castigo era excesivo, pues al volver del destierro sufrieron otra nueva invasión de Alejandro Magno y la opresión bajo el Imperio de Roma, que las entendían como una injusticia cruel e inmerecida. Algunos visionarios comenzaron entonces a hablar de una actuación apocalíptica de Dios «con su poder violento». Dios intervendrá de nuevo de manera poderosa y violenta para liberar a su pueblo destruyendo a quienes oprimían a Israel y castigando a cuantos rechazaban su Alianza.

En tiempos de Jesús, nadie dudaba de que Dios actuaría en su poder vengador imponiendo su justicia y vengando a su pueblo de sus opresores. Solo se discutía cuándo intervendría, cómo lo haría. Todos esperaban a un Dios que les vengara de la opresión de sus enemigos, un Mesías poderosos y salvador. Si acudimos a los salmos vemos como en muchos se pide la salvación mediante la «destrucción de los enemigos». «¡Levántate, juez de la tierra, y da su merecido a los
soberbios!».


El clima generado llevaba a odiar a los enemigos de Dios y del pueblo. Odiar a los invasores, a los enemigos del Dios único, era incluso un signo de celo por la justicia de Dios: «Señor, ¿cómo no voy a odiar yo a los que te odian, y despreciar a los que se levantan contra ti? Sí, los odio con odio implacable, los considero mis enemigos».

Por ejemplo, se sabe que los esenios de Qumrán alimentaban este odio. Era una especie de principio fundamental para sus miembros: «Amar todo lo que Dios escoge y odiar todo lo que él rechaza». «Amar a todos los hijos de la luz, y odiar a todos los hijos de las tinieblas».

Jesús comienza a hablar un lenguaje nuevo y sorprendente. Dios no es violento, sino compasivo; ama incluso a sus enemigos; no busca la destrucción de nadie. Su grandeza no consiste en vengarse, castigar y controlar la historia por medio de intervenciones destructoras. Dios es grande no por su poder para destruir a sus enemigos, sino porque su compasión es incondicional hacia todos. «Hace salir su sol sobre buenos y malos, y manda la lluvia sobre justos e injustos». No restringe su amor solo hacia los que le son fieles. No reacciona ante los hombres según sea su comportamiento. No responde a la injusticia con injusticia, sino con amor.

Dios es acogedor, compasivo y perdonador. Esta es la experiencia de Jesús.

Por eso el mensaje de Jesús no sintoniza con las expectativas mesiánicas de Israel que hablan de un Dios belicoso o de un Enviado suyo que destruiría a los enemigos de Israel.

Dios no excluye a nadie de su amor y esto nos ha de atraer a actuar como él.

Así Jesús saca una conclusión irrefutable: «Amad a vuestros enemigos para que seáis dignos de vuestro Padre del cielo». Esta llamada de Jesús tuvo que provocar conmoción, pues los salmos invitaban más bien al odio, y la ley, en su conjunto, orientaba a combatir contra los «enemigos de Dios».



El amor de Dios no discrimina, busca el bien de todos. Jesús contempla ese amor al enemigo como el camino a seguir para parecerse a Dios. Un proceso que exige esfuerzo, pues se necesita aprender a deponer el odio, superar el resentimiento, bendecir y hacer el bien. Jesús habla de «orar» por los enemigos, probablemente como un modo concreto de ir despertando en el corazón el amor a quien cuesta amar. Pero al hablar de amor no está pensando en sentimientos de afecto, simpatía o cariño hacia quien nos hace mal. El enemigo sigue siendo enemigo, y difícilmente puede despertar en nosotros tales sentimientos. Amar al enemigo es, más bien, pensar en su bien, «hacer» lo que es bueno para él, lo que puede contribuir a que viva mejor y de manera más digna.


Jesús, rompía con la tradición bíblica, los salmos hablaban de venganza, y éstos alimentaban la oración del pueblo; Jesús se opuso al clima general de odio a los enemigos de Israel, contra los opresores romanos; Jesús pregona a todos: «Amad a vuestros enemigos, haced el bien a los que os odien». El reino de Dios ha de ser el inicio de la destrucción del odio y la enemistad entre sus hijos.

Amar a nuestros enemigos a nosotros nos supone superar la ley de talión, superar la ley del ojo por ojo (Mt.5,38) por la ley del amor. “Así seréis hijos de vuestro Padre que está en el cielo, que hace salir su sol sobre malos y buenos, y manda la lluvia a justos e injustos.”

Amar al prójimo exige descubrir en todo hombre lo que hay en él de amable. Sería injusto solo fijarse en lo negativo.

Hace poco me hablaba una madre, y para educar a su hija que siempre venía con quejas sobre todos, como si todos fueran enemigos… la decía: No vengas sólo diciendo lo negativo de esa persona: “es que la profe, es que mi amiguita...” antes de decirme lo negativo, piensa algo positivo que ha de tener esa persona y me cuentas las dos”. Al escucharlo me pareció genial.

Habéis oído que se dijo: "Amarás a tu prójimo" y aborrecerás a tu enemigo. Yo, en cambio, os digo: Amad a vuestros enemigos, y rezad por los que os persiguen. Porque, si amáis a los que os aman, ¿qué hacéis de extraordinario?

REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

7th Sunday of Year A (20 Feb 2011)

Fr James McTavish, FMVD

Conquer evil with good

Once my younger brother told me what happened to him in a debating competition. He presented his views and afterwards an opponent started to criticize his point of view. All well thus far as this is legitimate and part of debating skills. But then the opposing speaker started to make some slightly rude and derogatory remarks. My brother told me that some in his team were suggesting he should retaliate but he did not. I asked him how come he did not respond? “Because,” he told me, “I knew that what was being said was outside debating etiquette but I also knew that the moderator of the discussion was fair and just. In the end the opposing team were deducted valuable points for misconduct.” It made me reflect that we too are invited to trust in the good Judge, that we have someone who intervenes for us and protects our interests. There is no need to look for revenge.

This leads us to an important theme in our readings today which is not to take revenge. Now sometimes when we hear the word revenge we can think of spectacular examples, maybe like in a Godfather film. But let us keep within the sphere of usual and normal everyday life – have you never experienced being irritated by a comment and then the desire to get even? Or to desire that another ‘gets their just desserts’? These are also desires for revenge. The book of Leviticus gives us sound advice “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge.” It also states “you shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.” It does not mean we should not help to correct each other as it also says “you may have to reprove your fellow citizen, but do not incur sin because of him” (See Lev 19, 1-2, 17-18).

It reminds me of a similar teaching of St Paul when he wrote to the Church in Rome. He said “Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Rather, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.” (Romans 12:19-21) This is a great plan for a healthy spiritual life! Instead of reacting and responding in kind we are exhorted to go beyond.

Jesus expands on this theme in the Gospel today (Matt 5, 38-48). He says “when someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well.” This is not an invite to justify injustices, or to condone violence. Not at all. One day a man was speaking to the village guru because he had been struck on the cheek by his brother. “How many times did he hit you?” asked the guru. “Forty nine times,” responded the man. The guru advised to go back and let his brother strike him once more to make it fifty. When the man asked why the guru replied “well the 50th is for your stupidity, you idiot! Why let your brother hit you 49 times without doing anything about it?” Actually in another moment when Jesus was struck by the temple guard he questioned him “Why do you strike me?” What is the correct answer then – to turn the other cheek or to question the offender? Well that is why God gave us a brain and asks us to try to use it sometimes! Prudence is the name of the virtue which helps us to know how to react in different ways in different situations. Many times in front of petty comments it is a good exercise of humility to ignore them. In other moments it is good to approach the person and confront them in a calm and respectful way.

The capacity for dialogue is important to keep a healthy communion. Silence is golden but not always. Often many things remain unsaid in families and communities. In medicine there is a saying that goes “if there is pus about let it out.” In the early Christian community some were fans of Paul others of Apollos. The apostles reminded the members that they should all favour Christ and follow him alone. Jesus gives another teaching saying “should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles.” In those times a Roman soldier could ask a local citizen to carry his pack and Jesus uses this example to teach us all that at times it is good to go the extra mile, not just to do the minimum. We are invited to moral excellence! If we notice there is a progressive biblical development from 1. Unlimited revenge – Cain’s spilled blood will be avenged 7 times (Gen 4, 15.24) 2. Limited revenge or talion (talion in Latin means same) – an eye for an eye which was actually progress in not taking two eyes as vengeance but only one 3. The silver rule – “Do not do unto others what you would not have them do to you” (Tobit 4,15) 4. The Golden rule – Do unto others as you would have them do to you (Matt 7, 12) – more positive than the silver rule, reaching out, taking the initiative and finally 5. Loving one’s enemies – an invite to moral heroism. To be perfect we have to love our enemies. This can sound far-fetched or not possible and that is why Jesus immediately adds “and pray for those who persecute you.” A great way to begin the process of loving a person we find difficult is to pray for them. If we greet only those people we like then there is nothing impressive about that. As Christians we are called to be perfect as the heavenly father is perfect.

It reminds us to not just conform to the standards of the world. Not to seek or desire revenge. Even the Aunty of Spiderman recognized the danger of those types of desires. She counselled Peter Parker thus “Uncle Ben wouldn't want us living with revenge in our hearts, it's like a poison. It can take you over and turn us into something ugly.” Let us ask for the grace of a big heart, a heart that is generous and forgiving not vengeful. And if we encounter evil let us pray for the grace to conquer it with good. Amen.

REFLEXION Evangelio Semanal

EL CORAZÓN VA MUCHO MÁS ALLÁ QUE LA LEY (P. Luis J. Tamayo)

Mateo 5, 17-37: En aquel tiempo, dijo Jesús a sus discípulos: —«No creáis que he venido a abolir la Ley y los profetas: no he venido a abolir, sino a dar plenitud. (…) Os lo aseguro: Si no sois mejores que los escribas y fariseos, no entraréis en el reino de los cielos. Habéis oído que se dijo a los antiguos: "No matarás", y el que mate será procesado. Pero yo os digo: Todo el que esté peleado con su hermano será procesado. Y si uno llama a su hermano "imbécil", tendrá que comparecer ante el Sanedrín, y si lo llama "renegado", merece la condena del fuego. (…) Habéis oído el mandamiento "no cometerás adulterio". Pues yo os digo: El que mira a una mujer casada deseándola, ya ha sido adúltero con ella en su interior. Si tu ojo derecho te hace caer, sácatelo y tíralo. Más te vale perder un miembro que ser echado entero en el infierno. (…)

El judío consideraba la ley, tanto escrita como oral, como la expresión de la voluntad de Dios sobre su pueblo; por ello, ser fiel a la ley era igual que ser fiel a Dios o, al contrario, ser infiel a la ley era considerado como una infidelidad también a Dios. En el cumplimiento de la ley estaba la vida o la muerte como dice el libro del Deuteronomio: “Mira, yo pongo hoy delante de ti la vida y el bien, la muerte y el mal. Si escuchas los mandamientos de Yahvé tu Dios… guardando sus mandamientos, preceptos y normas, vivirás” (Deut.30,15-16). (Deut.4,1-8;30,15-20). En algunos casos violar la ley suponía hasta el castigo de pena de muerte (Deut.17,2-7; Lev.20, 9-12). Podemos decir que en el tiempo de Jesús el pueblo de Israel era el pueblo de la ley y su religión la religión de la ley, no la religión del amor.

Se le había dado un valor tan absoluto a la ley, que la ley, hecha para el bien del hombre, se había convertido en una esclavitud y en un yugo para el mismo hombre; por eso, Jesús dice a los fariseos: “El sábado ha sido instituido para el hombre y no el hombre para el sábado” (Mc.2,27).

Los fariseos y letrados se preocuparon de observar rigurosamente las leyes, pero descuidaron el amor y la justicia. Jesús se esfuerza por introducir en sus seguidores otro talante y otro espíritu: «si vuestra justicia no es mejor que la de los escribas y fariseos, no entraréis en el reino de Dios». Jesús puso el reto en superar el legalismo que se contenta con el cumplimiento literal de leyes y normas, para ir más allá de lo que dicen las leyes. Por eso Jesús les decía: “Hipócritas, bien profetizó de vosotros Isaías cuando dijo: Este pueblo me honra con los labios, pero su corazón está lejos de mí” (Mt.15,7)

Si observamos Jesús da un paso hacia delante en la comprensión de la ley. Podemos leer en el Evangelio: ‘Habéis oído que se dijo a los antiguos… Pues yo os digo...’ La primera parte de esta perícopa narra los principios generales o conjunto de normas a seguir según la ley y los profetas, que no han de suprimirse, sino perfeccionarse; y en la segunda parte hace una relación de ejemplos prácticos a favor de la vida, de la defensa de la mujer y del cumplimiento de nuestros deberes para con Dios. Hemos de escuchar bien las palabras de Jesús: «No he venido a abolir la Ley y los profetas, sino a dar plenitud». No ha venido a echar por tierra el patrimonio legal y religioso del antiguo testamento. Ha venido a «dar plenitud», a ensanchar el horizonte del comportamiento humano, a liberar la vida de los peligros del legalismo.

EL CORAZÓN VA MUCHO MÁS ALLÁ QUE LA LEY. a) Para Jesús no es cuestión sólo de no matar físicamente (Mt.5,20); el respeto al otro, el respeto a la vida va mucho más allá; se trata de ser todo corazón con los demás hasta el punto de que ese amor nos llegue a evitar todo cuanto nos lleva a maltratar al otro o pisotear de cualquier manera la vida. El otro, la vida del otro, se merece todo nuestro respeto (Mt.5,21-26).
-b) Para Jesús no es cuestión de evitar ser físicamente adúlteros (Mt.5,27-31); es cuestión de tener ojos y corazón limpios que nos lleven a respetar a todo ser humano y no hagamos caer a nadie en el hoyo de la infidelidad al amor porque el amor es sagrado como es sagrada toda persona humana.
-c) Para Jesús no se trata de jurar o no jurar (Mt.5,33-37); se trata de tener la valentía de decir siempre la verdad, aunque los demás no nos crean o la verdad nos moleste o les moleste. La verdad no necesita apoyarse en nada ni en nadie para ser verdad, como dice Jesús: “Sea vuestro lenguaje; “Sí, sí”, “no, no” (Mt.5,37).

El filósofo griego Platón dice: “Donde reina el amor, sobran las leyes.” Y San Agustín lo perfecciona diciendo: “ama y haz lo que quieras”… pues tu querer será siempre poner el bien de tu prójimo por encima de uno mismo. Para esto hace falta mucho amor!

REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

6^th Sunday of Year (Feb 13, 2011)

Fr James McTavish, FMVD

“Freedom!”

“Freedom!” – this is a famous cry in the movie Braveheart. One epic line goes “your heart is free, have the courage to follow it.” Our hearts aspire for this true freedom. In the first reading today, Sirach reminds us that we are free and “if we choose, we can keep the commandments – they will save you.” He mentions choice two more time in a few verses (Sir 15, 15-20). Of course a life of prayer and recourse to the sacraments helps us make good choices and stick to them. It means that we need to live a spiritual life and St Paul talks of the Spirit in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 2, 6-10). The Spirit is God’s wisdom and strength and we need the help of the Spirit in our daily lives – this Spirit that comes to help us in our weaknesses. In today’s reflection I would like to focus on just two areas from the Gospel where the Spirit can help us – in controlling anger and in having a healthy gaze.

Jesus said “whoever is angry with brother will be liable to judgment.” It is a common experience to be angry. Many wonder if anger is always wrong or if it can be justified sometimes. It is not wrong to be angry in front of a wrongdoing. St Thomas Aquinas tells us that anger is not wrong when it is in accord with right reason. If you tell someone off or correct them for an error it may be justified but not if the anger is excessive or disproportionate to the wrongdoing. The anger should be in accordance to right reason. He wrote “if one desire the taking of vengeance in any way whatever contrary to the order of reason, for instance if he desire the punishment of one who has not deserved it, or beyond his deserts, or again contrary to the order prescribed by law, or not for the due end, namely the maintaining of justice and the correction of defaults, then the desire of anger will be sinful, and this is called sinful anger” (Summa theologica II-II, 158, art 2).

The Saints wrote about anger and it may be helpful to summarize some of their teachings – it is better not to let sinful anger enter because when you invite it in, it is a difficult guest to get rid of. Secondly, it is usually useless to correct others when we are angry. Thirdly, sinful anger makes you suffer. That is why Jesus encourages the listeners to reconcile quickly with others. Saint Catherine of Sienna said that there is no sin or wrong that gives a man a foretaste of hell in this life as anger and impatience. When someone becomes angry with us meekness can be a great antidote. I remember recently a person coming to see me and they were in bad mood as they were exhausted from over-work. I was trying to help them yet there manner was reactionary! I asked them if they knew about a certain issue. “Of course I know about that!” he responded strongly. In that moment I was very peaceful and persevered patiently trying to help the person. Later they wrote me an email thanking me for all my help. St John Chrysostom said that as fire is extinguished by water, so anger is put out by meekness.

When Jesus mentioned about anger he was counteracting the lex talonis which allowed an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth – in other words the response should be commensurate with the insult. But often the response went out of hand and retaliation was the norm. Jesus knew that this is not the solution and takes us beyond the letter of the law and strikes at the root of the problem. How many times relationships are strained, broken or even destroyed because of anger and no one has the humility to ask forgiveness or say sorry. Even though we admit we make mistakes, we can say so sincerely that we are not perfect, it is sobering to ask when was the last time we said sorry? For most of us it is hard to remember. Yet we just admitted that we do make many mistakes. Houston we have a problem! We can teach about many things but how great to teach others how to say sorry. I remember my dad saying sorry to my mum. I was only 6 years old but I learned from my parents how to say that word. Those three words can give so much life to a relationship – not only “I love you” but also “I am sorry.”

The second area to reflect on briefly is the phrase of Jesus “You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” One thing is to look at a woman and another is to look with lust. One seminarian said to Fr. Cantalamessa “I like to gaze at women especially beautiful ones. If God did not want us to look at them why did he give us eyes?” Fr. Cantalamesa responded that he also gave us eyelids so we can close them sometimes!

One area of real concern today is the growing increase in use of pornography. Today, the number of people looking at pornography is staggering. Pamela Paul, a TIME Magazine reporter whose 2005 book “Pornified” is among the first general-interest, book-length examinations of this subject, said: “Americans rent upwards of 800 million pornographic videos and DVDs (about one in five of all rented movies is porn), and the 11,000 porn films shot each year far outpaces Hollywood’s yearly slate of 400. Four billion dollars a year is spent on video pornography in the United States, more than on football, baseball, and basketball. Men look at pornography online more than they look at any other subject” (P. Paul, “From Pornography to Porno to Porn: How Porn Became the Norm,” in The Social Costs of Pornography: A Collection of Papers (Princeton, N.J.: Witherspoon Institute, 2010)”

Let us help one another especially to pray for those who struggle with their human weaknesses. May we be more vigilant about what our world is watching on TV, in movies and on the Internet. We pray that the Holy Spirit fill us and make us strong for the good works that God has planned for us. Our freedom has been won at a price. May this be our battle cry too – “freedom!” Amen.

REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

6^th Sunday of Year (Feb 13, 2011)

Fr James McTavish, FMVD

“Freedom!”

“Freedom!” – this is a famous cry in the movie Braveheart. One epic line goes “your heart is free, have the courage to follow it.” Our hearts aspire for this true freedom. In the first reading today, Sirach reminds us that we are free and “if we choose, we can keep the commandments – they will save you.” He mentions choice two more time in a few verses (Sir 15, 15-20). Of course a life of prayer and recourse to the sacraments helps us make good choices and stick to them. It means that we need to live a spiritual life and St Paul talks of the Spirit in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 2, 6-10). The Spirit is God’s wisdom and strength and we need the help of the Spirit in our daily lives – this Spirit that comes to help us in our weaknesses. In today’s reflection I would like to focus on just two areas from the Gospel where the Spirit can help us – in controlling anger and in having a healthy gaze.

Jesus said “whoever is angry with brother will be liable to judgment.” It is a common experience to be angry. Many wonder if anger is always wrong or if it can be justified sometimes. It is not wrong to be angry in front of a wrongdoing. St Thomas Aquinas tells us that anger is not wrong when it is in accord with right reason. If you tell someone off or correct them for an error it may be justified but not if the anger is excessive or disproportionate to the wrongdoing. The anger should be in accordance to right reason. He wrote “if one desire the taking of vengeance in any way whatever contrary to the order of reason, for instance if he desire the punishment of one who has not deserved it, or beyond his deserts, or again contrary to the order prescribed by law, or not for the due end, namely the maintaining of justice and the correction of defaults, then the desire of anger will be sinful, and this is called sinful anger” (Summa theologica II-II, 158, art 2).

The Saints wrote about anger and it may be helpful to summarize some of their teachings – it is better not to let sinful anger enter because when you invite it in, it is a difficult guest to get rid of. Secondly, it is usually useless to correct others when we are angry. Thirdly, sinful anger makes you suffer. That is why Jesus encourages the listeners to reconcile quickly with others. Saint Catherine of Sienna said that there is no sin or wrong that gives a man a foretaste of hell in this life as anger and impatience. When someone becomes angry with us meekness can be a great antidote. I remember recently a person coming to see me and they were in bad mood as they were exhausted from over-work. I was trying to help them yet there manner was reactionary! I asked them if they knew about a certain issue. “Of course I know about that!” he responded strongly. In that moment I was very peaceful and persevered patiently trying to help the person. Later they wrote me an email thanking me for all my help. St John Chrysostom said that as fire is extinguished by water, so anger is put out by meekness.

When Jesus mentioned about anger he was counteracting the lex talonis which allowed an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth – in other words the response should be commensurate with the insult. But often the response went out of hand and retaliation was the norm. Jesus knew that this is not the solution and takes us beyond the letter of the law and strikes at the root of the problem. How many times relationships are strained, broken or even destroyed because of anger and no one has the humility to ask forgiveness or say sorry. Even though we admit we make mistakes, we can say so sincerely that we are not perfect, it is sobering to ask when was the last time we said sorry? For most of us it is hard to remember. Yet we just admitted that we do make many mistakes. Houston we have a problem! We can teach about many things but how great to teach others how to say sorry. I remember my dad saying sorry to my mum. I was only 6 years old but I learned from my parents how to say that word. Those three words can give so much life to a relationship – not only “I love you” but also “I am sorry.”

The second area to reflect on briefly is the phrase of Jesus “You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” One thing is to look at a woman and another is to look with lust. One seminarian said to Fr. Cantalamessa “I like to gaze at women especially beautiful ones. If God did not want us to look at them why did he give us eyes?” Fr. Cantalamesa responded that he also gave us eyelids so we can close them sometimes!

One area of real concern today is the growing increase in use of pornography. Today, the number of people looking at pornography is staggering. Pamela Paul, a TIME Magazine reporter whose 2005 book “Pornified” is among the first general-interest, book-length examinations of this subject, said: “Americans rent upwards of 800 million pornographic videos and DVDs (about one in five of all rented movies is porn), and the 11,000 porn films shot each year far outpaces Hollywood’s yearly slate of 400. Four billion dollars a year is spent on video pornography in the United States, more than on football, baseball, and basketball. Men look at pornography online more than they look at any other subject” (P. Paul, “From Pornography to Porno to Porn: How Porn Became the Norm,” in The Social Costs of Pornography: A Collection of Papers (Princeton, N.J.: Witherspoon Institute, 2010)”

Let us help one another especially to pray for those who struggle with their human weaknesses. May we be more vigilant about what our world is watching on TV, in movies and on the Internet. We pray that the Holy Spirit fill us and make us strong for the good works that God has planned for us. Our freedom has been won at a price. May this be our battle cry too – “freedom!” Amen.

REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

5th Sunday (Year A, 6 February 2011)

Fr James McTavish, FMVD

You are LIGHT! Of the World?

One priest I know had his finger chopped off some years ago while chopping fire wood. Over the years he has been asked many times what actually happened. I am sure I could write a book with the different responses I have heard ranging from having to bite his finger off as a test of his love for a beautiful woman to it being a warning to children as to what happens when you pick your nose too much. At times when the listener realizes that it is a joke they will respond “Exagg! No way!” We can be a little tempted to respond in the same way to the claim of Jesus in the gospel today – “You are light of the world.” Ok perhaps we can agree that on our good days, in our holy moments we are light but what raises some objections is when he tells us that we are light of the world. A bit exaggerated it seems. Let us analyze this phrase of Jesus and see whether it is true or not as if it is true it really will make us think about the way we live. Could your life really have an influence on the world?

I remember sharing to my family about entering missionary life. My first assignment was to be in Cebu, in the beautiful Philippines. I got a globe and was showing my younger brother where Cebu was. I put one finger on our house in Scotland and the other on Cebu. Wow! Diametrically opposite! Exactly on the other side of the world. In the book of the prophet Isaiah it says that God will make us a light to the nations so that his salvation can reach to the ends of the earth. In some ways this fits with the desire of every human heart to reach out, to be universal (the meaning of the word ‘Catholic’). Why do we like to talk to new friends in cyberspace, why do we like to connect to others on the far side of the planet? We desire to go global. Recently a missionary went to give some catechism classes to a group of 8 year olds. Afterwards they wrote him thank you letters. One little girl told him that she would go home and share all she had learnt with her mum and dad. Not only to them but also to her brothers and sisters. Even her cousins and all her relatives. “In fact,” she wrote “I am going to tell the whole world about what I learnt today!” Wow! This is the desire of the human heart to reach out beyond barriers, beyond frontiers. Each Christian is called to be light of the world. St John Chrysostom wrote in the fourth century “You are the light of the world. Once again, "of the world": not of one nation or twenty cities, but of the whole world.”

There is song called “Shine Jesus shine.” For sure Jesus wants to shine in us. He is not afraid at all of our shadows. Remember the old days of photography? What happened in the dark room – the negative was slowly exposed to the light to develop it. The light of Christ can cause all our dark areas to be illumined to help develop us as a person. We must not be afraid of Christ. Do you have enough trust in Jesus to tell him about your shadows? Try it and be surprised. We have a God who is gentle and tender who came to save us and not condemn.

How can we be light if some parts of us seem to be in darkness? One way to understand our darkness is the reality of a so-called ‘black hole’. This is usually a star that has collapsed in on itself. Light cannot escape because the force of gravity pulls it back in. Self-centredness has the same effect as if to say “it is all about me.” That is why it helps to examine our lives. Lord am I becoming a black hole here or light of the world? Even holy concerns can make us more self-obsessed. It is useful to ask what is the effect of this thought? Does it lead me to be only more pre-occupied with myself? Or does it actually lead me to be more concerned with others and lead me to God? The tree is known by its fruits. We are all a mixture of light and shadows but the difference is recognizing that and asking, begging even, Christ THE light of the world to enter into our darkness and shine.

And when Christ enters, he really shines. Look at the Patroness of the foreign missions, St Theresa of Lisieux. She never left her convent in France but today her light shines brightly to the ends of the earth. Even in some non-Catholic countries here in Asia, who do they have a great devotion to? Little St Theresa of Child Jesus! Her example of love shines brightly in many hearts. And all of know people like this, whose life shines. One little girl we know died recently of dengue fever. She was 16 and she was a Saint. She had been assaulted when she was 9 and later as a result became blind. However every time she came to visit us her presence lit up the house. She was always singing and dancing and giving thanks to God. Angelica, rest in peace and intercede for us poor sinners here on earth. Thank you for your life which was really a light for the world today – “With all the sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”

May each one of us have enough faith to believe that as Christians we are called to be light for the world. Lord, shine in us, illumine our darkness and teach us how to be light for the world. Amen