22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A, Year II)

Community Word: The Lord rewards those who believe in Him as the Bread of Life.

Theme:  We believe in the Lord when we are transformed to think and act like Jesus.

Promise: “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct.” (Mt 16:27)

Reflection:
All the readings this Sunday bring to the fore the value of servanthood, which we are exhorted to embrace as disciples of Christ Jesus.  Servanthood is one of the most important values of our BLD Community. In fact, of the 18 listed in our Communitarian Values, it is the most over-arching or all-embracing.

Servanthood covers our openness to love, willingness to serve, readiness to offer, and preparedness to give.  Based on Christ’s example, servanthood involves self-denial and the readiness to bear one’s cross for the sake of, and in service of others.  Matthew’s Gospel depicts Christ teaching His disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,” (Mat 16:24).

The underlying attitude of servanthood is to live our lives according to God’s will and not our own desires.  This is clear in Jesus’ reprimand of Peter, “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do,” (Mat 16:23b).   Only when we are guided and led by the mind and heart of God can we truly live by His example of servanthood.  Only then can we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him unconditionally.

Following Christ’s example of servanthood is never easy.  At times in fact, it may make absolutely no sense at all when viewed from the standpoint of the world’s values.  Jeremiah saw himself in such a situation as he resisted God’s call to be a prophet.  “All the day, I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. … I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more.” (Jer 20:7b, 9a).   At times, we find it challenging to fulfill our Community pledges and live by our Community values as disciples and regular members.  At other times, friends and family taunt us for spending too much time and resources at BLD activities.  Despite all these, the call to serve the Lord is so compelling that we cannot keep away from Community.  Jeremiah articulates the feeling eloquently, “… like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in …” (Jer 20:9b).

In his epistle to the Romans, St. Paul takes a different approach to denying one’s self and taking up one’s cross in Christ-like servanthood.  He exhorts us not to fight it, as Jeremiah attempted to, but rather, to embrace it totally.  “Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind …” (Rom 12:2a).  He recognizes the forgiveness God offers us through Christ Jesus, and encourages us to offer ourselves in return.  And by denying one’s self, taking up one’s cross, and following Jesus, comes the consolation of the Promise this week:  “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct,” (Mt 16:27).

Prayer:
Father God, in those moments when we resist Your call to servant hood in Community, when we hold on to our personal preferences and agendas and when we hesitate to take up our cross for the sake of others, we ask for Your compassion and forgiveness.  Give us, Father God, the loving heart of Your Son Jesus, the courage to embrace Your will completely, and the perseverance to follow You in all circumstances of our life on earth.  All these we ask that we may not forfeit life with You in Your kingdom.  Amen.

Reflection Question:
1.Recall a situation when you took up Christ’s cross for the sake of others, an instance when you followed God’s will for you and for others, rather than your own personal agenda.

2.How where you blessed?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
August 31, 2014 (Sun)       Jer 20:7-9/Ps 63:2,3-4,5-6,8-9/Rom12:1-2/Mt 16:21-27
September 1, 2014 (Mon)   1Cor 2:1-5/Ps 119:97,98,99,100,101,102/Lk 4:16-30
September 2, 2014 (Tues)  1Cor 2:10-16/Ps 145:8-9,10-11,12-13,13-14/Lk 4:31-37
September 3, 2014 (Wed)  1Cor 3:1-9/Ps 33:12-13,14-15,20-21/Lk 4:38-44
September 4, 2014 (Thurs) 1Cor 3:18-23/Ps 24:1-2,3-4,5-6/Lk 5:1-11
September 5, 2014 (Fri)      1Cor 4:1-5/Ps 37:3-4,5-6,55-28,39-40/Lk 5:33-39
September 6, 2014 (Sat)    1Cor 4:9-15/Ps 145:17-18,19-20,21/Lk 6:1-5

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

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