God's constant invitation to enter into an intimate relationship with Him in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit defines and directs our spiritual life. It motivates us to pray, receive the Sacraments, meditate on the Word of God, and lead an authentic Christian life. It keeps us focused on the essential matters of life.
Indeed, God invites us daily to come to him, dwell in his presence, and be who we are genuinely before him. He desires that we sit or kneel before him to contemplate his presence with all our human frailties, concerns, and giftedness. God wants us to relate to him without unhealthy fear and worries about one's unworthiness. Instead, he wants us to be authentic as we enter communion with him. It's what Archbishop Jose Gomez would refer to as "friendship with Jesus."
In last Sunday's Gospel on the Woman at the Well, Jesus reveals God's innermost desire. Jesus reached out to the Samaritan woman in love, compassion, and forgiveness. But as he reached out to this woman, he wanted her to be her authentic self before him, to acknowledge her sinfulness, thirst for the true living water, and her need for forgiveness and conversion.
The Samaritan woman's thirst is for God, who alone can fully enliven her with love, hope, and joy through faith in his Son, Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
In this Sunday's Gospel on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with another truth about God. He brings healing into our lives, including spiritual blindness.
As Jesus was on his way to minister to his people, he saw a man blind from birth. So, to show the works of God to be made visible in the life of this blind man, Jesus spat on the ground, made clay with saliva, and smeared the clay on the blind man's eyes. And then he told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. And so, he went and washed and returned, healed from his blindness.
The Pharisees kept asking the blind man how his eyes were opened, and the blind man kept repeating that Jesus cured him of his blindness. He told the Pharisees:
"This is what is so amazing that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything."
Our friendship must involve complete trust or confidence in him, who can fill our lives with meaning, purpose, joy, and courage. And he can show us the way and grant us his wisdom during dark and confusing moments, especially when we must make difficult decisions.
May we grow in intimate friendship with Jesus and receive his Light to guide us on our road to eternal life.
Indeed, God invites us daily to come to him, dwell in his presence, and be who we are genuinely before him. He desires that we sit or kneel before him to contemplate his presence with all our human frailties, concerns, and giftedness. God wants us to relate to him without unhealthy fear and worries about one's unworthiness. Instead, he wants us to be authentic as we enter communion with him. It's what Archbishop Jose Gomez would refer to as "friendship with Jesus."
In last Sunday's Gospel on the Woman at the Well, Jesus reveals God's innermost desire. Jesus reached out to the Samaritan woman in love, compassion, and forgiveness. But as he reached out to this woman, he wanted her to be her authentic self before him, to acknowledge her sinfulness, thirst for the true living water, and her need for forgiveness and conversion.
The Samaritan woman's thirst is for God, who alone can fully enliven her with love, hope, and joy through faith in his Son, Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
In this Sunday's Gospel on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with another truth about God. He brings healing into our lives, including spiritual blindness.
As Jesus was on his way to minister to his people, he saw a man blind from birth. So, to show the works of God to be made visible in the life of this blind man, Jesus spat on the ground, made clay with saliva, and smeared the clay on the blind man's eyes. And then he told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. And so, he went and washed and returned, healed from his blindness.
The Pharisees kept asking the blind man how his eyes were opened, and the blind man kept repeating that Jesus cured him of his blindness. He told the Pharisees:
"This is what is so amazing that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything."
Our friendship must involve complete trust or confidence in him, who can fill our lives with meaning, purpose, joy, and courage. And he can show us the way and grant us his wisdom during dark and confusing moments, especially when we must make difficult decisions.
May we grow in intimate friendship with Jesus and receive his Light to guide us on our road to eternal life.
Your loving pastor,
Fr. Rodel "Odey" Balagtas