Many years ago, I invested P1 million in a business that was being run by my business partner. A few months later, he told me, “Bo, I’m sorry, the business failed.” He said that he didn’t even have milk for his baby. I felt so sorry for him, I gave him P5,000 just so he could buy milk.

       One month later, a friend called me up and said, “Bo, your business partner must be doing very well.” Huh? “Why do you say that?” I asked.

       “Well, he’s driving a brand new car. Your business must be growing…”

       Groan. I’ve lost touch with my business partner. I don’t know what has happened to him. But this is what has happened to me: God returned to me all that I’ve lost — and so much more. God has rewarded my kindness. He doesn’t forget a single act of kindness that you do for others. Yes, He forgets your failures and sins. But He will always remember your acts of love for others.

       This Christmas, instead of just giving gifts to the people around you, do something good for them and don’t expect any reward. If it comes, accept it with gratitude. But don’t look for it. Instead, look for your reward from God Himself. He promised it— and He’ll deliver. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

Reflection: Can you honestly do something good to someone and not expect a reward?

Lord Jesus, help me to look for Your face in every person I meet so that I may love them more.

Blessed John of Vercelli, pray for us.

We live in a world with much violence, inequality, injustice and many other unappealing realities. Is this what we want for ourselves or for our children? One of the staple foods of the spiritual life is the promise that suffering will eventually come to an end and in this sense Judaeo-Christianity is no different. However, none of the promises of future peace make any sense without seeking their application now by trying to live a moral life. How can one expect such a promise of eternal bliss without committing to it by choice when we have an opportunity?

1 This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; 3 many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

1 I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” 2 And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. (R) 3 Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. 4 To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. (R) According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. (R) 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! 7 May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. (R) 8 Because of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” 9 Because of the house of the Lord, our God, I will pray for your good. (R)

By this time, the English-speaking portions of the Catholic Church will probably have become used to the third typical translation of the Roman Missal. One of the changes is the Gospel text recited before receiving Holy Communion. The inclusion of the phrase “under my roof” is an idiom that indicates the faith of the centurion which does not require the actual presence of Jesus for the miracle to occur. The mere spoken words of Jesus are sufficient for him. This profession of faith in the authority of Jesus’ words should be the focus of our reflection as well.

Come and save us, Lord our God; let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

5 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” 7 He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 8 The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

think:  One of the staple foods of the spiritual life is the promise that suffering will eventually come to an end.

THE MASTER WHO CARES

The centurions or the Roman officers were the backbone of the Roman Army. In a Roman legion there were 6,000 men; the legion was divided into 60 centuries, each containing 100 men, and in command of each century there was a centurion. A centurion therefore evokes awe, fear and admiration.

         A gentile centurion takes center stage in today’s Gospel. There is something special about this centurion that is not usually associated with their military and battle-scarred reputation — his gentle attitude toward his servant. This servant would be a slave, but the centurion was grieved that his servant was ill and was determined to do everything in his power to save him. In the Roman Empire, slaves come a dime a dozen. They were easily replaceable. They did not matter. It was not so for this centurion. He cared sincerely for his servant. In other Gospel accounts of the same story, we even see the centurion kneeling before Jesus on behalf of his servant — such humility on the part of the centurion.

         It is the Advent season once more — the time when the Christian world is invited to reflect on the scandalizing humility of God being born for worthless “servants.” Before the Law, slaves during Jesus’ time did not have any legal personality. They did not have rights. Their existence was justified only by the master who adopts them. By pleading before Jesus for a “non-person,” the centurion showed that he saw in his slave more than a domestic assistant. He saw his slave as a brother.

         We should be practically nonexistent before God because of our sins. By our iniquity we have no claim. But Jesus took on our lowly nature and dressed us with the robe of dignity — the dignity of being God’s children. That is what we contemplate in the season of Advent.

         Today’s Responsorial Psalm reads: “I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’” The birth of Jesus opened the path to God’s house and has thrown open the gates of the Kingdom. Don’t trivialize the Advent season by following only the roads that lead to the malls! Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: “I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’”

Pray this psalm in your moments of silence and instill that noble Advent hope.