Thursday, February 15, 2018
1st Reading: Dt 30:15–20
Gospel: Lk 9:22–25
Jesus said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life.”
Jesus also said to all the people, “If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you destroy or damage yourself?”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
To dissociate Jesus from the concept of a powerful Messiah, some Evangelists used the title “Son of Man”. Luke did not do the same. He used the title in portraying Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5). He did the same in recounting Jesus’ powerful healings and prestigious miracles, such as when he wrote, “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your”. But then Luke also used the same title while describing how Jesus experienced humiliation in the hands of the elders. We find this in today’s Gospel reading.
The other Evangelists did well in dissociating Jesus from the concept of a powerful Messiah. Jesus himself wanted to suspend the disclosure of his identity until it was clear to the minds of people that he was not a Messiah of power and prestige. In one scenario Jesus had asked his disciples who he was. Peter gave the right answer but Jesus enjoined him from telling others about it (Luke 9:21).
Unless we learn to dissociate the concept of Messiah from power and prestige, we will never appreciate the value of suffering. Jesus was categorical in enumerating the requirements of discipleship. He said: “If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me…” Those who nurture in their minds a powerful Messiah will just follow Jesus without taking up their crosses and denying themselves.
The Season of Lent gives us 40 days to reorient ourselves through fast and abstinence. Anyone over the age of 18 but below the age of 60 is required to reduce food intake to only one full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days and on all Fridays of Lent, anyone above age 14 is required to abstain from meat. By depriving our bodies we hope we will finally understand that just as the Messiah denied himself and took up his cross so too we must suffer if we want to become his true followers. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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