“But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’”—Genesis 3:9

Think about it: Why was God asking Adam, “Where are you?” What? God didn’t know where Adam was? Isn’t God omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent? No, He wasn’t asking Adam about his location. He was asking about his condition.

In Filipino, “Nasaan ka na?” (Where are you?) is usually a follow-up question to “Kumusta ka?” (How are you?)

I believe God was also asking Adam, “How are you?” — not just as a jovial greeting but as an expression of deep concern. After all, God asked this question while Adam was still hiding, afraid of what he just did.

The story concluded with God punishing Adam and Eve. But know that its ending was rooted in hope and love. It was at this point that God started His plan to save man from sin, guilt, and shame. It was about God who did not give up on man.

Where are you? “Nasaan ka na?” How are you? Kumusta ka na? God continues to ask you, “What’s your condition now?”

Know that if you’re hiding, ashamed, and guilty, God has already started His plan to save you. Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

Reflect: Ask yourself, “Where am I now?” “How am I now?” “What is my present condition?” Then feel God embracing you.

Thank You, Lord, for being concerned with my condition and for meeting me where I am. I rest and trust in Your love. Amen.

Blessed Joachima, pray for us

Today’s reading is about original sin – a reflection on the ingratitude of the human spirit. Sin enters humanity by rejecting God’s authority over us. He created us and gave us free will, but we fail to honor and respect Him. The consequences of sin are death and estrangement from God, from one another, and from the rest of creation, just like what happened to Adam and Eve.

Genesis 3:9-15

9 After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the Lord God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” 12 The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” 13 The Lord God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” 14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”

P S A L M

Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R: With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! 2 Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. (R) 3 If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? 4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. (R) 5 I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. 6 More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord. (R) 7 For with the Lord is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; 8 and he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. (R)

 

2ND READING

Our struggles and sufferings are nothing compared to the glories and joys of heaven. This hope, placed in our hearts through the preaching of the Gospel, strengthens us to persevere when trials come. Let us embrace the difficulties of life as opportunities for God’s grace to triumph.

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

13 Brothers and sisters: Since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. 15 Everythingindeedisforyou,sothatthegracebestowedinabundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to over ow for the glory of God. 16 Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this momentary light af iction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. 5:1 For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

An Islamic theologian once said that after Allah, the one deserving our respect is first our mother, second our mother, and third our mother. If there is a mirror of God’s love on earth, then it is the love of a mother towards her child. For sure, Jesus experienced the love of Mary and this concretized the love of God the Father for Him. This enabled Jesus also to go out and love the people around Him, especially the last, the least, and the lost.

There are people who are a bit scandalized by Jesus’ treatment of His mother in this encounter described in the Gospel today. But actually, all Jesus is doing is taking the opportunity to challenge the people around Him at that time. Jesus has the utmost respect for His mother and would never dream of doing or saying anything that would insult her.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, is talking about a very deep challenge of commitment. He is challenging His audience to examine their desire and commitment to follow Him. And Jesus’ statement is actually a compliment and tribute to His mother in terms of her commitment to Him and to doing the will of God in her life.

Jesus also somehow minimizes the importance of a relationship based on blood alone. He points out that what really counts with Him is the relationship that is brought about by obedience to God’s will. And the model is Mary herself through her obedience and commitment to the will of God.

The purity of Mary’s response to the call to obey God’s will and to follow Jesus, her Son, should always be a great inspiration for us as we seek to be faithful to God’s will and to be committed to our Christian discipleship. May we prove that we are brothers and sisters of Jesus by our obedience and commitment to our Father’s will. Fr. Nelson Orqueta

------ REFLECTION QUESTION -------

How do you demonstrate your commitment and obedience to God’s will in your life?

Dearest Father, grant me the grace to be committed to Your will for me. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________________