One morning, in my conversation with Jesus, the interviewer in me kicked in. I questioned Him: *What was it like for You, fully God, to come into this earth and be fully human? How does Your being human affect us?*

Jesus reminded me that He came from a perfect place into a perfectly messy place (a stable filled with animals). Being fully human, He had lived through mess, brokenness, and want. After all, He was one of us for a time.

Did you lose your job in the pandemic and the only bulalo(beef marrow stew) you can afford now comes in instant noodle cups? Jesus felt hunger too (Matthew 21:18). Are you in constant pain because of your disease? Jesus also agonized as He was scourged and crowned with thorns (John 19:1-2). Were you rejected and betrayed? Or maybe your business partner ran off with the company funds? Jesus had Peter and Judas. 

Being fully human, He assures us He understands what we feel. He won’t be turned off by the mess we’ve made of our lives. So let’s not be ashamed to go to Him. Lella M. Santiago (lellams88@gmail.com)

reflect

Are you ashamed to show your face to Jesus because of your human weaknesses? Remember that He was also fully human. 

Lord Jesus, You know our hunger and our pains. Thank You for being one with us.

St. Paul the Hermit, pray for us.

The humanity of Christ is as real as it can be. Jesus experienced temptation and the effects of sin while living on earth. Jesus knows what it means to be human because He is one of us. This truth is essential for our redemption—what has not been assumed cannot be redeemed. In other words, when Christ embraced our humanity, He was empowered to redeem us.

¹⁴ Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. ¹⁶ Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; ¹⁷ therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

R: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. ² Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. (R) ³ Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! ⁴ Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. (R) ⁶ You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) ⁸ He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)

Gospel | Mark 1:29-39

The reference to Peter’s mother-in-law implies that he was a married man. Celibacy is a discipline that the Church requires of its ordained ministers. It is a discipline that makes a lot of sense when you think about it. I have ministered to the children of many leaders of lay communities who complain that their father was always there for others but not for their family and their lives. How much worse would it be if your father was also a priest on call 24/7? One of the Scriptural reasons for celibacy is availability for ministry—there is no wife or children to be worried about when it comes to ministry. 

Gospel Acclamation

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.

²⁹ On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. ³¹ He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. ³² When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. ³³ The whole town was gathered at the door. ³⁴ He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. ³⁵ Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and those who were with him pursued him ³⁷ and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” ³⁸ He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” ³⁹ So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Reflect:

What way of life has the Lord called you to live: Marriage? Religious life? Or single blessedness? How do you serve Him and His people through your calling?

Read the Bible in one year! Read MATTHEW 13 - 16 today.

I remember a movie about a girl who was born with an immune system so compromised that the slightest speck of dust could trigger a potentially fatal allergic reaction. As a result, her mother kept her like a prisoner in her room, isolated from anything or anyone that could infect her.

One day, she accidentally saw a boy when she stole a quick peek through her window. The boy saw her, too, and they “fell in love” at first sight. Long story short, she risked going out of her isolation to be with the boy. It turned out that her family overreacted to her immunity condition. After an initial reaction, she was fine. She realized how much she missed out on in her growing life, and that the protective insulation actually harmed her more.

The duty of parents is not to shield their children from all harm. They should not and cannot, because we live in a broken world. Their real duty is to prepare their children to be strong in the face of harm.

Today’s Gospel presents a typical day in the ministry of Jesus. He fed the hungry, but not all hungry people. Jesus healed the sick, but not all sick people. Jesus alleviated suffering, but did not eliminate all suffering. Jesus raised the dead, but not all dead people. Jesus is teaching us something here.

Because we live in an imperfect world, sufferings and difficulties are part of life. They are important ingredients to what makes us men and women of strong moral fiber. Jesus does not want us to be wimps. He wants us to be winners. That is why He did not eliminate all sufferings.

Jesus suffered on the cross, but it is not so that we may never suffer again. It is so that we may know how to suffer. Fr. Joel Jason

reflection question

God didn’t remove the Red Sea. He parted it. God doesn’t always remove our problems, but He makes a way to help us get through them. How has this truth revealed in your life?

Lord, I carry my cross, for through that cross, I may cross over to Your Kingdom. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________________