The Gospel for Wednesday of Holy Week, March 31, 2010

The Gospel according to Mathew, 26: 14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples." The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after the other, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?"

He answered, "You have said so."

The Gospel for Tuesday of Holy Week, March 30, 2010

The Gospel according to John, 13:21-33, 36-38

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.

One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it." so he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, "Now is the son of Man glorified, and god is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, "Where I go you cannot come', so now I say it to you."

Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, thought you will follow later." Peter said to him, "Master, why ca I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."

Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times."

Reading for Monday of Holy Week, March 29, 2010

The Gospel according to John, 12: 1-11
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.

Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragance of the oil. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" He said this not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.

So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priest plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

Readings for Sunday March 28, 2010

Palm Sunday - March 28, 2010

Gospel at the Procession according to Luke, 19: 28-40
This reading tells us about Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. It describes how Jesus' mission is now reaching its peak. There is a sense of amazement in the air. The people there at excited as they believe that the man in front of them, the man riding the colt, the one who goes by the name of Jesus, truly is the Messiah, the Son of God.

Everyone present is touched by the Holy Spirit. All the great things they have witnessed fill their hearts with joy; they understand that what is happening around them is a one-in-a-lifetime experience, so they sing out loud, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest"

What a special moment this must have been! To witness Jesus entering Jerusalem, as the king of kings; to be able to see the prophecy turn into a reality!

When I was about 20 years old, Pope John Paul II visited Panama. We all flocked to the streets standing on the sidewalks waiting, just to see the caravan pass by. I can't remember if the sky was cloudy or not, but the one thing that I do remember is that it was very hot. And yet, we all stayed... regardless of the temperature... Seeing the Pope made it worthy... Despite the sticky bodies and despite the sweat, everyone present was wearing a big ear-to-ear smile, and the expectation to see the Pope turned the sacrifice into an opportunity.

I can only imagine, if these were our feelings in the hope to glance at Pope John Paul II, what would have been for the people outside of Jerusalem, the ones who went to see Jesus. Their hearts must have been filled with such great joy and excitement! Like children in front of candy! Back in Panama, when the "Pope-mobile" went by, children and adult threw flowers and waved white and yellow ribbons, screaming to the top of their lungs, "We love you John Paul!"... How was it there in Jerusalem? Well, the Gospel tells us that people removed their cloaks and placed them on the road, loudly honoring Jesus, the Messiah.

Such a great moment this was in Jerusalem, that even "the stones (would) cry out" at the arrival of the Messiah.

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1st Reading, from the Book of Isaiah, 50: 4-7
On this reading Isaiah talks to us about "the obedience of the Lord's servant."

How true his statements are!

The Lord "has taught me what to say, so I can strengthen the weary. Every morning he makes me eager to hear what is going to teach me."

Ain't this the truth! Before really knowing the Lord, I listened because I had been told to do so, and I spoke kindly to the weary because it was "what good girls ought to do". These days, as we educate ourselves better in the ways of the Lord, as we rediscover our faith and the Good News, we are kind, not because we have to, but because it is what comes from inside us. Kindness is now a part of us and we have so much in our heart that we must share it with others... We open our ears to the God's words because the more we know about Him, the more we want to learn from Him...

"The Lord has given me understanding, and I have not rebelled or turned away from him." And in giving us free will, the Lord has ensured that the ones who stay with Him, truly want to be there, near Him. It is not about "having to stay" near the Lord, but instead it is about "wanting to enjoy His company, wanting to be under His light, surrounded by His love."


"I bared my back to those who beat me, I did not stop them when they insulted me, when they pulled out the hairs of my beard and spit in my face. But their insults cannot hurt me because the Sovereign Lord gives me help." And for as long as we have faith in the Lord, no one can harm us. Angry people, enemies, foes, they can all raise their hands against us, they might even be able to cause pain or sadness in us, but their damage is not permanent because the Lord our God is with us, and His protection is much more powerful than all the armies on Earth.

Once we have heard the Good News, and once we have come to understand the veracity of it, we will voluntarily stay to serve God, and we will welcome our enemies with hearts filled of the pardon that can only be obtained from having opened up to the Holy Spirit.

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2nd Reading, from the letter of Paul to the Phillipians, 2: 6-11
This segment of Paul's letter describes Jesus' humility and greatness... For, to be the Son of God and yet accept to take the form of humble carpenter, and accept a faith that includes pain and suffering, just so through His suffering he could bring salvation to the world... all these factors are a true testament of Christ love for humankind.

Jesus had no need to enter our world. He did not need to become a human being or to take the nature of a servant. Jesus could have very well chosen to fulfill the prophecy dressed in garments made of the best silks; he could have chosen to live a long life in the richness of a prosper kingdom, with servants who would cater to him all day long, every day of the week...

And yet... We all know what Jesus chose. He chose to lead by example; he was born in a manger, and from humble origins he became the object of attention of scribes and Pharisees. Jesus chose to live amidst the poor and the sinners, allowing us to understand that we too can be factors of change for all others who are enduring calamities in their lives.

Jesus' experiences, the accusations, the physical pain, the betrayal of a good friend, all of them painful to the heart, the body, and the soul, can only be used as tools to help us improve our own time on this life. We are taught to be non-judgmental of others, as we do not know how or why others are in bad situations.

Jesus' compassionate ways are an example to us, of how to be good Christians. His love for others, his ability to pardon, his wisdom, and his obedient ways, are all elements that help us build a much improved person.

Just like Paul suggested to the Corinthians, he is also suggesting to the Phillipians: to become a better edition of yourselves for the glory of God Almighty.

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The Gospel according to Luke, 22:14 - 23: 56
The events described on Luke's Gospel depict the most important dinner of humankind's history. They reveal to us the events of that faithful Passover meal, and how they occurred. These events happened in order to fulfill God's prophecy about the New Covenant and about life after death.

We encounter a very human, very humble Jesus. True to his character, Jesus recognizes himself as the server of everyone who is present; he sees himself as the less important of them all. In this Gospel we are presented with agony experienced by the twelve, as self-doubt and guilt render them angry towards each other, almost as spies against same-side spies. Not knowing who will be the one betraying Jesus, is reason enough for brother to turn against brother.

Jesus knows that his hour has come and yet he remains trustworthy of his Heavenly Father's plan. He says, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done." A veritable example of faith, Jesus puts himself in God's hands, along with his hope that things could possibly change, but not by his own will but only if it is God's choosing.

The apostles too expose their frail humanity, while offering to Jesus the help that they cannot provide, eager to jump into battle to defend their Messiah, but when confronted, unable to deliver, unable to stand true to their promise of company and protection.

The beloved apostle Simon, vocal, quick in spirit, ready to uphold the fort in order to keep Jesus safe, "Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you."; he becomes the one who later on says the five painful words, "I do not know him", fulfilling Jesus' presage that it is him -Simon- and not a stranger to them, who would deny knowing the Son of Man. Indeed... Defeat, betrayal, pain... all emotions well known to men and women everywhere in the world. We believe that we are ready to face any curved ball thrown at us, and yet, our imperfect nature prevents us from recognizing our inability to stay completely faithful to our promises.

As the hours go by, the events depicted on the Gospel become somber and painful. They are leading us toward the darkest of all dark hours, and while time passes by we remain witnesses to a humble Jesus, the one suffering, who maintains his position as "the one serving" and not the one who is to be served.

The insults against Jesus continue, and a crowd approaches him. One of the twelve -Judas-, kisses Jesus signaling that this is the one that everyone is looking for. Jesus utters the question, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" And as the betrayal takes place and nervousness takes over the ones there, one of the high-priest's servants loses an ear to a sharp sword moved with skill by one of the twelve. Jesus says, "Stop, no more of this!", and touching the servant's ear, he heals it.

So many things happening in so little time. While the previous three years have gone by with relative calm, the events of the Gospel on those last few days, are crammed with emotions that seem impossible to be handled by one man alone.

Jesus is taken before Pilate and the first of three trials take place. Accusations from the crowd (the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders of the people), state that Jesus' preachings incite them to avoid paying taxes to Ceasar; they express being offended at Jesus' suggestion that he is the Christ, a king. And under Pilate's questioning, Jesus answers, "You say so." Unable to place validity to the accusations, Pilate says, "I find this man not guilty."

And from this trial, Jesus -a Galilean-, is sent to Herod, who -for a long time- has been interested in seeing Jesus perform a miracle, a sign. Since Jesus does not perform any magical tricks, Herod and his crowd find enough reason to mock Jesus, and find grounds to insult Jesus, dressing him in a read cloak before sending him back to Pilate.

It is thanks to this exchange of Jesus, from hand to hand, that Pilate and Herod -who have been at odds with each other-, bury their animosity and become friends. So we see that even from the bad, Jesus is able to get good.

With the hours going by, Jesus ordeal, his pain and suffering, the humiliation, and the cause for sadness, all go on. He is returned to Pilate, who finding no foundation to on with Jesus' trial, voices his decision to let the man go free. And it is at this time when an angry crowd puts greater pressure on Pilate, asking for blood, claiming their wish to see Barrabas go free and Jesus be tried.

Jesus emotional state must have been heartbreaking. Only a few days ago he had been preaching the Good News, accomplishing healing miracles that did not only save the sick ones, but that also save the souls of the nearby witnesses. Only a few hours ago he had been sitting around a table celebrating Passover, sharing bread and wine with the twelve, sharing himself, his body and his blood as God's New Covenant, as God's promise of eternal life. So many things in so little time...


The Calvary has started. As the people chooses freedom for Barrabas and crucifixion for Jesus, the road to Golgotha becomes a reality. Jesus is crowned king a symbolic crown made of a wreath with thorns, and the wooden cross upon which he will be crucified is placed on his shoulders. The Son of Man, king of kings, abused, mocked, his body hurting, his mind in turmoil. And amidst all of this, his heart bleeding compassion for his fellow men, regardless of whether they are friend or foe, Jesus exudes pardon and love, mixed with his own tears, sweat, and blood.

He is whipped, he walks and falls, he can no more. His Mother watching from a distance, her heart pierced just like the old wise man has predicted 33 years before. A woman who cleans his face, a migrant who helps him carry the heavy cross. A human body ready to give in, and a strong spirit willingly obeying his Father's will. This is Jesus, the Messiah, who through his suffering, has taken on the responsibility of liberating us from our sins.

Each one of the events is required to happen, each one of the whippings, just so the pact between Jesus and humanity is strengthened.

Luke's Gospel leaves no room to vilify the villains. Even for them, there is a chance for pardon. Jesus has love for everyone and up to his last breath he continues to ask God for forgiveness for his torturers, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

And while "the righteous" divide his garments casting lots, insulting him, mocking him, it is one of the two criminals scheduled for crucifixion along with Jesus, who asks: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." An ever forgiving and loving Jesus answers, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

What a heart! So much love! So much faith! Even as his own end nears, Jesus does not waiver in his conviction that the will of God is being fulfilled. His body, in need of rest, is ready to give in. All the lost blood, the dehydration, the exertion, have rendered his body weak, and his organs can no longer sustain life. He says, "Father, into your hands I command my spirit", and breathe his last breath.

Jesus, the Son of Man, is now dead.

Jewish tradition must be observed. Another stranger, like the one during the Calvary, freely arranges for a tomb and Jesus' body is taken there. They don't know it, but this, is not the end. This is the beginning. The sabbath has arrived and it is time to rest.

Readings for Sunday March 21, 2010

1st Reading from the Book of Isaiah 43: 16-21

They have been prisoners for several decades, and now the time has come for the people of Israel to take a break from the Egyptian shackles and to go somewhere else to seek their well-deserved freedom.

The time has come for the prophecy to become a reality. The Israelites can hear the voice of God saying to focus in the now and not in yesterday's extraordinary miracles. God warns them to be prepared for what is about to come. And He says to them: "Watch for the new thing I am going to do. Is is happening already -you can see it now!"

Can we, now in 2010, see the signs of God's doing around us?

On our journey through life we encounter days when everything seems as if we have not left Egypt, when everything in front of us indicates that our conditions as slaves have not changed... Those days when the weight of the world appears to be resting on our shoulders... And yet our Spiritual Communion with God leads us to believe that things will get better if we put our trust in Him, because all we have to do to be able to hear Him talk to us is just sit still, in silence, letting Him do the hard work for us...

May our souls, our eyes, and our ears open up, just so we too can become witnesses of our Lord's miracles...


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2nd Reading from the letter of Paul to the Phillipians 3: 8-14


The letter to the Phillipians was written while Paul was in prison, troubled by the opposition of other Christian workers and troubled by false teachings happening in the church at Phillipi.

The letter, whose main inspiration can only be explained by Paul's deep faith in the church and by his deep fondness for the church at Phillipi, is a true testament of Paul's unconditional and absolute love for Jesus Christ.

Paul recalls how he was a real Pharisee, with exceptional knowledge and understanding of Moses' Law; an expert on when and how to clean, and an expert on what to eat and what foods to avoid. Paul was a very righteous man, prosecuting the Christian Church with nail and hammer, showing no compassion for anyone who had failed to follow the Law of Moses.

Paul knew when to talk and when to keep his mouth shut, and yet after having seen the True Way, after having heard the Good News, he became focused on what he had to do to stay within God's path, disregarding the company or the situation at hand.

Although we are created mirroring God's image, we remain imperfect, and like so we are bound to make mistakes. Some fortunate folks out there find their way early in their lives, while others hear the call later on in life. In Paul's case, his call came after many years of continued and undeterred harassment of Christians all over the Roman Empire. But despite his age time meant nothing to Paul: when he heard God's call he left his old life behind him and embrace the future side by side with Jesus Christ. Paul, as we all know, received the important task of becoming one of the twelve apostles.

Nothing stops us from following Paul's example, we are as able to follow Jesus as Paul was. And in following Paul's steps we are able to find, up close and personal, the Son of God -who without judgment- received in his realm a sinner like Paul.

May we be able to open our arms to brothers and sisters, regardless of their past, remembering that what matters is the now...

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The Gospel according to John 8: 1-11

So the scribes and the Pharisees bring up a woman who has been caught committing adultery, hoping that Jesus will follow Moses' Law and will condemn her to death. They are prepared to file charges against Jesus, the moment Jesus passes judgment on this woman.

Once again, like on the previous reading, we are facing the topic of judging people for what they have done with their lives.

Jesus is a man with very clear and well established principles, and his response to the scribes and the Pharisees regarding the condemnation of the woman, is the same response given to Paul once Paul decides to abandon his previous life: focus on what this person is ready to do with his life and not on what the person has done with his past. Jesus calls their attention to themselves, asking them to become their own examples of righteousness, providing them with a simple solution: the one who is without sin can be the first one to cast judgment on the sinning woman.

And we all know the rest of the story, not just because we have heard it but because we might have experienced it ourselves. Many of us have found ourselves in the position of the scribes and the Pharisees, ready to pass judgment on others, starting with a simple person like the butcher and criticizing how he chops the meat, and ending with a person living a complicated life like the government's politicians, criticizing they whys and the hows of their poor political decisions.

Yes, because as humans, we are quick to notice our neighbors errors, and we are quick to downplay or to ignore our own.

For those who have found themselves in a situation similar to the woman's situation, caught redhanded committing a reproachable act, being the object of everyone's attention, being judged by folks who pretend to be judge and jury at the same time; for those who at one point or another have found themselves as the victims of social judgment, the situation is demoralizing whether or not the accusations are valid.

Because no one is free from sin, Jesus calls us to be more sensitive about being fast-lane judges. We are in no position to throw stones to our brothers, because their mistakes of today could very well b be our mistakes of yesterday or our mistakes of tomorrow.

Our Heavenly Father calls us to become more sensible towards our brothers and sisters, reminding us that their mistakes are as venial or as mortal as our own.

May our hearts soften up just so we can understand that, like the scribes and the Pharisees, we are in no position to throw the first stone against any other person on Earth...

View Album - Southern California Garden on 03/13/2010

View Album - Southern California Garden on 03/13/2010

Readings for Sunday March 14, 2010

1st Reading from the Book of Joshua 5:9, 10-12

On Sunday's 1st reading as Joshua is leading the people back to the Promised Land, we encounter a grown-up, matured Israel, ready to be on its own. Israel has now reached the age on which she can be by herself, and as evidence of this fact, the Manna from the heavens has stopped.

Joshua has one big task at hand: deal with the circumcision of all males. During their time in Egypt, the Israelites have not observed this ritual, but before entering the Promised Land Joshua has to make sure that everyone is on the right side of this requirement.

So the journey comes to a temporary halt, and while the travelers celebrate the feast of Passover, the effects of wine helps them deal with the physical pain of being circumcised. And so, before crossing the River Jordan the requirement is satisfied and everyone is able to say that they have left the "reproach of Egypt" behind them.

Our ancestors, the Israelites, reached the Promised Land, and their example can be used as a blueprint to almost every project that we engage in... Before doing C, we have to do A and B...
For us, mere humans who hope to one day be able to sit at the right side of our Eternal Father, we need to walk the right path and comply with what is required of us. And like Paul said to the Phillipians (on the Scriptures, two weeks ago), external transformations are not enough. We need to have a change of heart so our reproaches can be separated from us; we need to live a life away from sin in order to make it to our promised land...

May our journey through the season of Lent be for us like the journey back to the Promised Land was for the Israelites; may we follow the example of the Israelites, leaving our "individual reproaches" behind us...

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2ND Reading from the 2ND letter of Paul to the Corinthians 5: 17-21

At the time when Paul wrote his 2ND letter to the people of Corinth, many negative things had happened. Although Paul had been the object of attacks by some members of the church, his longing for peace and reconciliation was ever present.

On this letter Paul tells the Corinthians that "anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being..." He reminds them, and us too, that God grants to all of us the ability of being able to move on, leaving our errors and our sins in the past. Paul says "the old is gone, the new has come."

Paul has deep faith in our Lord's promise of reconciliation, and he asks us to mirror his actions: he left his wicked ways in the past and became a new man, completely dedicated to spread the word of God, embracing new and positive ways.

Like Paul suggests, let us become a better edition of ourselves.


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The Gospel according to Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

The uber famous parable of the prodigal son is our Sunday's Gospel. Who has not heard of it? Who has not heard about it? And how many have felt the different kinds of pain experienced by the three main characters of the story?

On the parable of the prodigal son, we read about the younger of two brothers who - having asked his father for his inheritance-, moves away to lead a life of parties, women, and liquor. Once all the money is used all the "friends" go away too, and the young man finds himself alone, poor, hungry, and without a roof over his shoulders. He knows how immense his father's love is, so the young man goes back to his father's house, hoping to find lodging within the farm animals. And as the news of the return of the young man reach his father's house, a royal welcome, a grand feast is prepared in his honor. Plenty to eat and drink for everyone, the father orders, because the return of his son is reason for celebration.

But wait... what about the older son? He never left, he was always there...

Every so often, kids of families with more than one child experience the pain of being blurred into the back of the picture... If not at home, then in school, when the teacher favors another student... As adults, when the boss recognizes someone else efforts...

The pain experienced by the prodigal son was a direct result of his actions. He misused the treasure of his inheritance and realized that the only way to survive was to ask his father for forgiveness for his ignorance.

But what about the pain experienced by the oldest son, the one who stayed with dad... Let's stop for a minute and think about this unattended person of the story. The one who has always done the right thing, the one who has kept up with Dad's expectations, with the community's expectations... He is like all of us, who constantly try to stay within the right path; like those of us who are always working towards our spiritual improvement... His pain, though not mentioned, is very real and very powerful.

And lastly, the father's pain who witnesses one of his two children go away... It's very likely that this man knew how fast the son's inheritance would disappear, and yet he said yes and complied with his son's request... A father like many other, who kept his pain inside, allowing his son the freedom of deciding what was best...

There are so many different angles to the parable of the prodigal son... To me, more than the hapiness of the returning son, I remain in awe to the father's big heart... This father who not only was ready to welcome the returning son, but who was also ready to offer comfort to the son who felt displaced and taken for granted.

Readings for Sunday March 7, 2010

On this Sunday parishes celebrate RCIA's 1st Scrutiny

1st Reading, from the Book of Exodus 3: 1-8a, 13-15

Since a very early age and regardless of what we call him - Allah, Budah, God-, the vast majority of people around the world become familiar with the concept of a superior being.

On Sunday's 1st reading we encounter an always knowledgeable God, ready to make us feel certain of ourselves and of where we are. God is like our personal GPS, and he has known about special effects way before Star Wars introduced us to travel with the speed of light. On this day he shows Moses a bush that, despite being on fire, is not being consumed by it. And the "special effects" of the bush are not limited to visual but include sound too... Moses hears God's voice directing him "... where you stand is holy ground."

Living things whiter in uncertainty: not knowing whether or not you will have the luxury of the next cooked meal or a warm bed to sleep in, can lead the most healthy person into full blown depression. It won't happen in an instant, but it will happen...

On the other hand, when we know where we are -and I am not just talking about the location but I am also referring to life in general-, we thrive. Just look at basic forms of life... For example, indoor potted plants: once they figure out which way the sunlight comes from, they twist their stalks and leaves towards that one window that offers them the marvelous nourishment of light, and they grow and bloom for everyone enchantment.

We are like the potted plant. We, as in Moses and the rest of the people, thrive in getting direct information from our God. When our Eternal Father uses his GPS and tells us where to go to find sun, and where to turn to find the land where the milk and honey flow, we smile, turn, and go without hesitation.

We are blessed because we have an uncomplicated eternal father... May we learn from his example, so we too can be uncomplicated parents... So we can teach our children, and the children of our children, with simple instructions, about who they are, about where they are and where they are supposed to go, and especially about who their Eternal Father is.

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2ND Reading, from the Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans

If the school principal asked you for a favor, it is very likely that as a parent you would do it. If the president of the country asked for a favor too, one could bet on the same reaction. Now, how about if the one asking for a favor was one of the homeless men who wanders the city central park?

Circumstances make a difference on whether or not a person would respond to someone else's request for a favor.

At the time when Paul wrote his letter, the Romans had barely found their peace with God, thanks to Jesus' sacrifice. Paul text enlightens the readers to the fact that, when Jesus sacrificed his body on the cross (for our salvation), we were not in the same category of the school principal or the country's president. At the time, we were not even on the homeless man category. At that time, we were mere sinners without any credit in our pockets; sinners who had done nothing to deserve such love, dedication, and sacrifice, like the one given by our Lord Jesus.

May we find sustenance in sacrificing for others, even if they are of no meaning to us or to our society.

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The Gospel according to John 4: 5-42

This Gospel presents us a thirsty Jesus, who -while engaging in conversation with a Samaritan woman-, asks her for a drink of water. Jesus not only asks, but he also offers her the waters of life that will calm her thirst forever. She is a believer and she tells the good news of this man, to the rest of the people in town.

Upon returning to Jesus, the disciples question his motives for speaking to the woman, and furthermore, they fail to understand why would he accept goods from her or from the rest of the Samarians who have joined her. She had returned to the water well accompanied by many men and women whom she had told about the stranger who knew "everything" about her.

Do we have to find reasons for good deeds? Do we need justifications for being on the receiving or on the giving end of good deeds?

Jesus did not think twice when he asked the Samaritan woman for water. He simply did. Could it be possible that he had an ulterior motive? In "helping" Jesus, the Samaritan woman was more acceptant to receive from Jesus the waters of life. After having helped Jesus, the Samaritan woman opened up and went for more town people, who just like her, had a whole lot to gain from Jesus' "special waters."

Let us learn from Jesus... May we be open our hearts to share our wealth with others, regardless of their past or their present... May our hearts be filled with God's love, so much, so to the brim, that we become unable to pick and choose who will be the recipients of that love.