So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. – 2 Corinthians 5:20

A robbery just took place in the neighborhood. Everyone was shouting in anger, ranting at and accusing one another. Nobody knew who did it, but they all had their suspicions. They lost money, watches, frying pans, even cell phones, grocery items, and other small stuff.

       It was as if a “tsunami” swept through the street that day.

       Where were they when the robbery happened?

       On that fateful morning, all eyes and ears were glued to the television in the house of the barangay captain. While Manny Pacquiao was punching away, the robber took advantage of the open doors in the whole street.

       After an hour, the noise died down, and everyone was quiet and sad. One man stood up, gathered the men, women and children and told them that it was good that no one was home when the robbers came. Otherwise, some could have been hurt or even killed. Like an ambassador of peace, he led them to pray and thank God that they were all alive and unhurt and that they had only lost material goods. Chelle S.Crisanto (ellehcmaria@yahoo.com)

Reflection: The world is not safe for us but the arms of Jesus are far-reaching.  And among us, there are people whom God uses to bring love and harmony.

Use me, Lord, that I may share the love You have given me to those in need.

St. John Joseph of the Cross, pray for us.

The Prophet Joel summarizes the message of all of the prophets when he encourages us to make sure that we live the faith we proclaim. He also encourages everyone to take seriously this call to holiness and ensure that we are doing all that we can to live it, and to encourage those close to us to do the same. Let us be faithful to this calling.

12 Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; 13 rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. 14 Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, offerings and libations for the Lord, your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; 16 gather the people, notify the congregation; assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; let the bridegroom quit his room, and the bride her chamber. 17 Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep, and say, “Spare, O Lord, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ” 18 Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)

What does it mean to be an ambassador? It is a role of great responsibility; it is both a privilege and a duty. The greatest message we have to proclaim is that of reconciliation with God and others. We must take this powerful message seriously, and we, Christians, should live it out and become agents of reconciliation.

20 Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 6: 1 Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says: “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

What matters most is that God sees what we do. The world tells us to make sure that we get the proper acclaim for what we do, but it is the opposite when it comes to working in the Kingdom of God. All the glory should be given to the Lord. If we keep it to ourselves, we are in danger of developing a messianic complex, i.e., we think we can save ourselves, or worse, save others.

1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 16 “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 John 1-5

King Mousaka is well-known for his legendary cooking talent. Royalties from neighboring tribes travel far and wide to taste his delicious creations, especially his grilled lamb. Two ministers went to the king’s palace with excitement to sample his cooking. To prepare their palate, he served them a small portion of salad with greens freshly picked from his garden. Minister 1 finished it with delight as he anticipated better things to come. Minister 2 threw it away saying, “I don’t want this. I came here for the real thing, not this measly appetizer!” Shocked and insulted, King Mousaka ordered Minister 2 thrown out, saying, “My appetizer is just as much my creation as is my grilled lamb. To reject it is to reject me as well.”

       It’s Ash Wednesday once more. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, 40 days marked by self-denial and renunciation as preparation for Holy Week, where we commemorate the passion and death of the Lord. Self-denial and renunciation of the world is a legitimate path to holiness.

       Just a word of caution here. The season of Lent calls us to self-denial and renunciation not because the self and the world are bad. They are good, but we are cautioned that they are so good we treat them as God. Genuine self-denial and renunciation should never be done out of an attitude of contempt and disdain for the natural goodness of things. This spirituality creates stoics out of God’s children. That is not God’s joy. The saints know this. St. Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.”

       Genuine self-denial and renunciation is practiced in an attitude of holy detachment, which says, “This world is beautiful. I will rejoice in it, but I will not be possessed by it because more is to come. If creation is good, how much better is the One who created it?” That is the key. Minister 1 enjoyed the appetizer with an awareness that the better part is coming. He rejoiced in it but he knows it is not the be all and end all of his visit to the palace. That is why the King was delighted to give him more. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you enjoy goods of creation with a holy detachment?

Father, I embrace Your plan to make me fully alive, not only in Your kingdom but even now while in this beautiful world You have created for me. Help me to grow in holy detachment, that the goods of creation may always lead me to You. Amen.