SEEKING AND

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30

“How demanding!” That’s what I would say if someone would ask of me what the verse states above. But it’s another point altogether when it comes from the Lord.

       When I had my personal conversion more than 20 years ago, loving the Lord became part of the fuel in my personal relationship with Him. For a single person, which I was for a long time, that included choosing the TV shows that I watch; the books that I read—it took me a long time to win over my natural affinity to romantic novels, some of which had explicit scenes; the company that I keep (including the men that I would date);  and the emotions that I would allow to hold sway in my heart.

       But I testify that seeking to love the Lord with my all has been worth it, though I have done it imperfectly. And just when I was most at peace with my single state, the Lord allowed me to meet a good man. We’re married now, and the seeking and the searching after the Lord continues. May it always be this way whatever state of life I’m in. Joy Sosoban-Roa (jsosoban@gmail.com)

Reflection: “God is waiting eagerly to respond with new strength to each little act of self-control, small discipline of prayer, feeble searching after Him. And His children shall be filled if they will only hunger and thirst after what He offers.” (Richard Holloway)

You are the Thirst that quenches all other thirsts, oh Lord. I will seek You forever!

St. Hesychius of Jerusalem, pray for us.

God is a forgiving God. However, for forgiveness to have its full effect, the one who has sinned must have the humility to admit his fault and repent of his sins. Humility seems to be naturally abhorrent to the human condition. I believe that this is purely a result of sin. That is, it is in sinning that we develop a perverse sort of pride that blinds us to the nature of sin and our need for repentance.

2 Thus says the Lord; Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. 3 Take with you words, and return to the Lord; Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. 4 Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; we shall say no more, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion.” 5 I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. 6 I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; he shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, 7 and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. 8 Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; they shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 9 Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree” — Because of me you bear fruit! 10 Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the Lord, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

R: I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

5 [6] An unfamiliar speech I hear: 6 [7] “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. 7 [8] In distress you called, and I rescued you.” (R) “Unseen, I answered you in thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. 8 [9] Hear, my people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, will you not hear me?” (R) 9 [10] There shall be no strange god among you nor shall you worship any alien god. 10 [11] I, the Lord, am your God who led you forth from the land of Egypt.” (R) 13 [14] “If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways, 16 [17] I would feed with the best of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would fill them.” (R)

This summary of the Law in two commands — to love God and love our neighbor — demonstrates the relational character of the human person. That is, it is relationships that matter most to us. We are nothing if we stand alone outside any relationship as we would then be unable to either receive or offer love. It is love that gives meaning to our lives and so we must seek to protect our relationships and allow love to develop within us.

Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

28 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

think: We are nothing if we stand alone outside any relationship as we would then be unable to either receive or offer love.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 47-50

LOOK WITHIN

If you are familiar with San Carlos Seminary where I am assigned, you know how noisy it can be. It is right along EDSA, a stone’s throw away from the business center district of Makati. It is right beside Rockwell Center and, right now, new skyscrapers are being built, making construction music a regular evening lullaby. One time I booked myself for some days in a retreat house far from the maddening noise of the city.

       One night I was distracted at prayer and so I went outside the chapel and walked through the halls of the retreat house. I then chanced  upon a poster that read: “Madness, to look at the war without, when the real battle is within.” Then it hit me. I travelled far looking for silence without but I was still noisy within.

       That is true. Sometimes we think the war for silence is waged outside when the battle for real silence is actually won within.

       I have facilitated countless retreats. The number one problem that retreatants usually complain about is not the accommodation, the food or the ambiance of the retreat house. It is about their inability to be still even as they are hauled away to a secluded retreat facility.   It’s all about the heart. It’s all about whether I have opened my heart to the actions of God’s grace or my heart has hardened to the point of being impenetrable.

       In the Gospel, Jesus commends the effort of one of the scribes by declaring, “You are not far from the reign of God.” What does it mean to be near or far from the Kingdom? Jesus was not talking mathematical nearness or “farness.” Yes, retreating to a quiet, distant place is a great aid for a spiritual experience, but God’s reign is not about distance and location.

       Even on the heart of the city, God’s reign can be found. I really must not look far and without. I must first look near and within. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you compartmentalize God’s presence in your life? Do you tend to limit God’s presence in religious times and places, forgetting that God is with you 24/7?

Still my troubled heart, Lord. Help me to silence the noise within me by focusing on You.