In montem excelsum (Mt. 17:1)

Prayer is a special time to talk with God as well as reflect our journey of life. We realize that when we are praying, we are getting into ourselves, examine our hearts, deeds, and words whether they are appropriate before God and others or not. 

Jesus is known as a man who cannot live without prayer. Prayer is a way for Jesus to talk with God. In the Gospel, we often find some events in which Jesus takes time to talk with God. I assume, one of the good examples is when Jesus climbs a high mountain together with His disciples, Peter, James, and his brother John. In this place, the narrator tells us that these three disciples saw Moses and Elijah who were talking with Jesus and they heard God’s voice: 'This is my Son, the Beloved; He enjoys my favor. Listen to him.”

Jesus is God’s beloved Son because Jesus follows God’s will. Jesus' prayer helps him to know God’s will. As we know, while they were on the mountain, He told them about His suffering for the first time. He said: “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and I must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Jesus must be sure that what He does is what God wants Him to do. Jesus has to overcome His doubts and to ask what God wants Him to do. Is it right to go to Jerusalem, suffer, and die? Is it the way to reach the glory of heaven?

Jesus is praying to know God’s will. Jesus always asks, “What does God want me to do?” On the contrary, our prayers often start with, “What do I wish to do?” We force God to fulfill our requests without knowing God’s will. Perhaps, our prayers are not answered because they are not in accordance with God’s will. Maybe God is waiting for us to change our prayer pattern.

When Jesus has problems, He does not try to solve it by His self-power but spend time alone and pray to God. He hands over his problems to God and He gets a peaceful heart. Let us ask Jesus to help us to know God’s will for ourselves.

By Fr. Aris Mada, SVD.

Mulier Chananaea (Mt. 15:22)

The encounter of Jesus and the Canaanite woman in the Gospel today shows us how Jesus tests the faith of a person who believes in him. The true faith is a guarantee of receiving grace and salvation from God.

The story today seems to be a bit offensive towards that woman, but in fact, it is not. Jesus actually likes the desperate and the humble cry of this gentile woman to be heard even by the disciples who look at her as an unworthy woman, because she comes from the gentile world. Jesus indirectly wants to show those who are present at that time that He comes to save all people. He comes to help those who believe in Him without looking at their background. God loves each and everyone without exception.

And this woman astonishes Jesus with her great faith proclamation. Jesus not only appreciates her amazing faith but also grants her plea. Faith moves mountains; and this woman shows us the truth. Her faith brings healing to her daughter.

True faith and real love do not make people give up easily. If we really believe in Jesus, we will know that there is a way in every difficulty of our lives. God is always present in every situation of our lives. He is there to help us, but we have to have great faith in Him.

The mission of Jesus is to bring salvation to all people. Faith and life in God are the criteria, not someone's origin and background. The Canaanite woman in the Gospel today has shown a good example for us. Let us have great faith in God because He always gives the best for us. Always remember that faith can move mountains.

By Father Risco Batbual, SVD.

Et dimittam (Mt. 18:21)

Forgiveness is not the same thing as reconciliation, restitution, or approval of sin. Forgiving, according to Jesus in his parable of the unforgiving servant, involves a singular decision by which you consider another person no longer indebted to you.

In that same parable, Jesus draws attention to the fact that an unforgiving person lives with a desire for retribution. That desire becomes like an acid that eats a container from the inside out. An unforgiving person cannot live a life of faith because he believes someone other than God holds the key to his joy. An unforgiving person, therefore, lives a life of sin and is unpleasing to God. He is in a prison of uselessness and out of fellowship with the heavenly Father. He has made his own heart into a dungeon in which he has imprisoned those he won’t forgive, and he lives in personal torment as a result.

How liberating it is to practice forgiveness! And believers in Christ, those who have repented of sin and trusted in Him alone for salvation, can forgive others because they themselves are forgiven. In the story of the Gospel, we discover that because of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, we can come to God, receiving both forgiveness and eternal life. That’s good news for us, as well as for others. Having been forgiven ourselves, we can now forgive those who in any way have offended us. Forgiveness always brings a joyfulness. When the heart cannot forgive then ask God to give us a heart that always wants to forgive. Amen

By Marta Kamaludin.