NAME ABOVE ALL

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12

       “Just do it!” is a popular slogan for an equally popular brand name, Nike. Not many know that Nike was a struggling athletic shoe company until it became associated with arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan made Nike so big that they came up with his own line, the Air Jordan. Like Nike, the Chicago Bulls that Michael Jordan played for in his heyday became a household name because of him. They won six championships with Jordan at the helm. It can be said that the name Michael Jordan is synonymous to basketball, the Chicago Bulls and Nike.

       What’s in a name? It is the reference by which an object or person is identified or recognized. Today’s reading reminds us that for us who believe in Jesus, His name is everything! Only through His name are we saved. And Jesus Himself, acknowledging the power that His name possesses, declares that anything we ask in His name, He will do for us!

       In the game of basketball, the name Jordan may be the king, but in the game of life, the name Jesus is the King of kings! In His name. Amen! Erwin Roceles (erwin_roceles@yahoo.com)

Reflection: When you pray, end with Jesus’ name and claim that it will be done just as He promised.

Lord Jesus, I receive the power and grace that comes with Your name. Amen.

St. Mark, evangelist, pray for us.

Today is the feast day of St. Mark, but we do not celebrate it as we continue to celebrate the Solemnity of the Resurrection of Christ. Mark’s Gospel is a work that has come out of a faith community very soon after the death of Jesus. Yes, Mark writes it, but it really expresses the experience of his community of faith. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to write a new gospel in terms of how our faith develops as we follow Jesus.

1 After the crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, 2 disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They laid hands on Peter and John and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word came to believe and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5 On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. 7 They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, 10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. 11 He is the ‘stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-24, 25-27

R: The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. (R) 25 O Lord, grant salvation! O Lord, grant prosperity! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (R)

Jesus continues to appear to His disciples. He knows that these appearances are important to instill the truth of the resurrection in the minds and hearts of the Apostles so that when they meet adversity in proclaiming the resurrection they will not falter in their faith. This is also why we should remember the graces God has given us — so that we will never doubt His goodness to us or His presence in our lives.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

1 Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. 2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” 6 So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. 7 So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. 9 When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

think:  We should always remember the graces God has given us so that we will never doubt His goodness to us or His presence in our lives.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 16-18

“IT IS THE LORD”

The disciples were down, discouraged and incomplete. They numbered seven, instead of Twelve. They went out fishing the whole night and caught nothing. But when Jesus came and directed their efforts and their drooping spirits, John the evangelist writes: “They caught much, and they caught 153 large fish” (v. 11). Amidst the big catch, their net was not torn.

       The exact number of 153 for the catch of large fish is believed to be symbolic. According to St. Jerome, the Greek zoologists catalogued a total of 153 species of fish (cf also Ezekiel 47:10; Psalm 104:24-25). This was believed to be the universal number of the variety of fish available in the earth’s seas.

       1. The mission is universal. The Apostles were to work not just for the salvation of a few, like the Jews as a selected class. They are being sent for the fulfillment of God’s reign among all peoples. To use the parlance of the Gospel, the Apostles were to be fishers of all men.

       2. The success of the mission is Jesus’ gift. Not the number of the disciples, not the passion and hard work of the disciples alone, not that the disciples were deserving. The Spirit of Jesus present and working in the midst of the disciples, and in spite of their limitedness, is the true dynamo. The beloved disciple declared it right: “It is the Lord.” Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

REFLECTION QUESTION: Go through memories of depressing and discouraging events in your life. How did these events reveal the Spirit of God who made things well?

Thank You, Lord, for Your presence during moments of darkness in my life. Thank You for making all things well.