A JOURNEY TO H.E.A.L.

“TEACH US HOW TO BE A PRAYER”

“TEACH US HOW TO BE A PRAYER”

A Biblico-Theological Reflection based on Luke 11:1-13

Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, July 31, 2016

July 21, 2016, it was exactly 7:27 in morning when I received a text message saying, “When a prayer becomes your habit, miracles becomes your lifestyle.” Thus, further led and inspired me to journey with our college seminarians who gather every 5:00 in the morning from Monday to Friday for a Morning Praise and Prayer. They pray every day for SPMCI, for those who are in pain and trouble, for our country, for the world, and for the Church. We are looking forward that when a prayer becomes a habit of SPMCI, miracles becomes the lifestyle.

In our gospel lesson, prayer is the habit of Jesus taught by his parent and part of the Hebrew people tradition. After his prayer, one of the disciple asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). And Jesus did not only teach them how to pray but how to become a prayer.

First, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. He said, when you pray utter this, “Our Father”. The word “Our” signifies that the God we called “Father” is the God for all and not only for individual person and a particular community. The God that we worship is a cosmic God, the God of the universe. The term “Father” for the Hebrew people means “Source”, “Provider”, and “Creator”. In this sense, “Our Father” could also addressed as “Our Provider”. “Hollowed be you name” on the other term is, “May we worship your name”. The term “Worship” means “to give worth” or “to give respect”, or “to give honor” to God of the Universe, or to the Inclusive God.

Jesus taught his disciple the following features of prayer:

1.       Adoration. “Hollowed be thy name…” (Luke 11:2)

2.       Confession. “Our Father (Luke 11:2)…who art in heaven……forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against…

3.       Thanksgiving. “Hollowed be thy name…”(Luke 11:2)

4.       Supplication. Your kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this our daily bread….Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…..”

Second, Jesus taught his disciples how to become a prayer, a blessing to everyone. For Jesus, to become a prayer is to become the visible expression of the inclusive grace of God. How our presence in our family, in the faith community, in the office where we are working, or in our day to day walks of life becomes a prayer or a channel of God’s blessings – a channel of God’s miracle. And being a prayer, a channel of blessings is the purpose of our existence. Jesus taught us to become a prayer – a proactive respondent to the needs of our neighbor beyond friendship or established relationship. Allowing ourselves to become a vehicle or sacramental expression of God’s love, grace, accommodation even during the time we hated because it goes beyond our comfort zones (Luke 11:6-7).

In our Gospel lesson, we are called to be persistent in our prayer life and consistent of being a prayer that gives life and hope for our neighbors (Luke 11:9-10). Consistent to be a prayer means to be relevant, engaging, and liberating (Luke 11:11-12). This is the essence of our prayer after we partake the Holy Communion, “Eternal God, we give you thanks for this Holy Mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world to give ourselves for others (to live in a prayerful life and to be a prayer for others). In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ (who taught us how to pray and to become a prayer). Amen.”

God empowers us to live out a prayerful life and be a prayer to everyone. Persistent and consistent thus, Jesus gave the assurance, “Ask and you will receive, search ad you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you”. Because God knows our intention is not for our own interest and welfare but for the good of God’s creation and community. We are called to be persistent in our prayer life and consistent of being a prayer that gives life and hope for our neighbors. Thus, when a prayer becomes our habit, miracles becomes our lifestyle. Amen.

THE BREAD THAT BEARS AND EMBRACE LIFE

THE BREAD THAT BEARS AND EMBRACE LIFE

Theological Reflection based from John 6:30-40, 47-51

Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, August 4, 2016

The bread is the essential food for the Hebrew people and it came to be a metaphor for life and sustenance. This is the essence in one of the lines in the Lord’s Prayer, “..give us this day our daily bread..”

First, the BREAD function as a COMMUNITY BOND or a tie that binds the community or the people together. In this sense, giving bread to one another is an expression of establishing and strengthening our bond together. It is an expression of respect, concern, and hospitality (Gen. 14:18, 18:3; Deut. 23:4; Ruth 2:14; 1 Sam. 25:18; 28:24; 2 Sam. 16:1-2).

Second, the BREAD for the Hebrew people represent the DIVINE INSTRUCTION provided by God for the people’s nourishment and growth through Jesus (John 6:45). Thus, re-echo the instruction of God through Prophet Isaiah (54:13) that leads the people in prosperity and justice. The bread here which is also called the divine instruction that leads us to possess the divine knowledge. Divine in a sense that it gives us life, enlightens, empowers and organize the people. It gives direction to our life as individual person and as member of the family.

Third, the BREAD which represent the Divine Instruction is embodied by JESUS CHRIST. Jesus said, “I am the BREAD of LIFE” (John 6:48). Monika K. Hellwig pointed out that Jesus becomes the bread of life or the food of life for his people when they come into a new life and discover that it is by living for others that they find fulfillment of their own being. Thus, receiving the BREAD offered by God which represent the God’s Divine Instruction is following Jesus totally concerned for others and give totally to sustain others. This re-echo the divine instruction received, possessed, and lived out by Jesus stipulated in the Gospel of Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and to announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.

Our gospel lesson pointed out that those who follow Jesus has eternal life. Eternal life here is not about a long life, but a life that is always be remembered by those neighbors who touched by the said life. And a life that when it is commemorated will enlighten and inspires individual life. If we believe, we will also become a living bread to everyone that will be remembered and commemorated always. Our acceptance of this BREAD who is Jesus enables us to share our life, being nourished by His presence, wisdom and love. To be nourish by the BREAD of LIFE means receiving God’s grace by sharing for others. Receiving this BREAD leads us to be immersed in a Christic enlightenment and empowered of creating a community of equals among ourselves, forgiving one another and giving life to one another. Amen.

References:

1.         Hellwig, Monika K. (2003) The Eucharist and the Hunger of the World. Philippines: St. Paul Publication.

2.         http://www.biblemeanings.info/Words/Artifact/Bread.htm

3.         http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/bread-bread-of-presence.html

4.         https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/Jesus-Reveals-Himself-Bread

“BE RICH IN WHAT MATTERS TO GOD”

“BE RICH IN WHAT MATTERS TO GOD”

A Biblico-Theological Reflection for the 11^th Sunday After Pentecost – Year C based from Luke 12:13-21

Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, July 31, 2016

Our Gospel Lesson in the 11^th Sunday After Pentecost, once again reminds us about our attitudes should be as followers of Christ. Jesus said, “Don’t be greedy! Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe” (Luke 12:15). In our second reading, the Letter of Paul to the Colossians used also the term “greedy” which refers to “idolatry” (Col 3:5). “Don’t be greedy, which is the same as worshipping idols”. Idolatry is putting our trust in, giving our lives to something, or someone other than God. Putting our trust to our possession and used it exclusively for our own benefit. As describe in the Gospel lesson, eat, drink, and enjoy. In the Greco-Roman world which was then the context of Jesus’ movement and ministry, this was the “trend”, as influenced by one of the philosophy of the empire called individualism. In their present human experience, Jesus gave this as one of the warnings to his followers and to the community they organized, “Don’t be greedy! Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe”. Jesus took this opportunity to expressed his intention to the followers to be rich in what matters to God.

In our gospel lesson, first, Jesus shared his wisdom to those who rich in material possession to see themselves beyond themselves. Life is called a life when it is shared. In the sermon of Rev. Jerry C. Ganal, our SPMCI Chaplain, he shared John Wesley's rule of life was to save all he could and give all he could. When he was at Oxford he had an income of 30 British pounds a year. He lived on 28 pounds and gave 2 pounds away. When his income increased to 60 pounds, 90 pounds and 120 pounds per year, he still lived on 28 pounds and gave the balance away.

And second, Jesus shared his challenge to those who had nothing to do the best and God will do the rest. As advised by Apostle Paul to the Christian community of Colossians, “Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth” (Col. 3:2). Setting our minds to Christ and the Christ message to us, which tamed us from saying words that insults others and doing cruel acts against our neighbor (Col 3:8). Give up our old ways of life and clothe ourselves with new self which is gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient (Col. 3:12).

Our gospel lesson reminds us that happiness is not having and hoarding what we want. It does not depend on the big amount of money we deposited in the bank and the high status in society. What we own does not guarantee our safety and our salvation. Happiness is to find God and to keep God in our hearts. Ang tunay na yaman ay ang makaranas ng kagalakan dahil sa katiyakang kasama natin ang Diyos nang walang hanggan. Be rich what matters to God. Amen.