After Peter confessed Jesus to be the Messiah, he got rebuked for objecting to the way Jesus was going to exercise His Messiahship: through suffering and death. Not only that, Peter also heard the Lord declare that even His disciples will have to undergo the same humiliation and pain before experiencing His glory. Six days [...]
Our lenten journey commenced on Ash Wednesday where the readings reminded us of the spirit of our ascetic practices. The first Sunday of Lent focuses on two ideas: our baptism and the Christian struggle against the reign of Satan. The first reading, a selection from the story of Noah and the Flood (Gen. 9:8-15) is paired with the selection from the second reading, 1 Peter 3:18-22.
For the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the Gospel reading presents to us Jesus and His authority to forgive sins. The gospel story also records the first of a series of confrontations that Jesus will have with the authorities of Jewish religion. “Isn’t it that there is only one that can forgive sins — God?” the [...]
Continue reading about (Sunday VII, OT B) The Paralysis of Sin
Mark 1:40-45 continues from the image left us in 1:39 of Jesus’ growing popularity. A leper requests him for cleansing. Implied in the request is the desire of being restored to the life of society (cf. Leviticus 13:45-46). The leper is cut off from the worshipping community; he cannot participate in the blessings given to [...]
Continue reading about (Sunday VI, OT B) The Joy of Being Restored
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