Category: English

Understanding the Purity Law

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22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]

September 1, 2024

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

The Pharisees criticized Jesus and His disciples for not washing their hands before meals. This criticism was not from genuine concern for their hygiene but rather to judge Jesus’s observance of the purity law, primarily based on the elders’ interpretations. Yet, what is the purity law? Why is it so important for the Pharisees? Then, why did Jesus choose not to observe it?

Though not strictly about morality, the purity law is integral to the Torah. The purity laws determine whether a Jew is ritually clean or unclean. When Jews are ‘pure,’ they would be allowed to enter the Temple premises in Jerusalem and then to offer sacrifice. When they can offer sacrifice, they worship the Lord God and receive blessings like the forgiveness of sins and communion with God and fellow Jews. A Jew can become impure through physical contact with various things like dead bodies, bodily discharges (menstrual blood, male semen), certain animals (pigs, camels, certain insects, etc) and skin illness (leprosy). If they are impure, they need to perform ritual cleansing, typically by washing themselves with water. Thus, the purity law intends to ensure that they enter the holy place worthily.

However, in the time of Jesus, the purity laws extended beyond the Temple and even governed their daily lives. Purity laws became their identity marker, which made them different from other nations. Thus, the Jews needed to be clean most of the time, even if they were far from the Temple, and the one group that promoted this rigorously was the Pharisees. The purity laws also expanded beyond the Torah as the respected teachers and the rabies added their interpretations. The purity law became a complex and tedious system that strangled simple people rather than help them be worthy of the Temple, the dwelling place of the Lord.

Jesus recognized the true intention of the purity law, and thus, Jesus did not follow the excesses imposed by the Pharisees. However, Jesus did not only challenge the excessive teachings of the Pharisees, He also declared that the purity law has served its purpose. If the purpose of the purity laws is to guard unworthy people entering the Temple because it is the Lord’s holy place, but now Jesus, the Lord made flesh, is walking around. He touched the lepers and made it cleaned. He was touched by the woman with the flow of blood, which made her pure. Finally, Jesus would die on the cross, and His body would be the source of impurity, and yet, He resurrected, and His body became the source of holiness.

Jesus is the Emmanuel, the Lord with us. There is no need for the purity law. Yet, Jesus also teaches us firmly that though we no longer are bound by the purity law, to sin or to be separated from God remains our choice to make. Now, every second of our lives, every place we go, and everything we do is either the opportunity to be with Jesus or to be far from Him.

Surabaya.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Questions for reflection:

Do we recognize God’s presence in our lives? Where and when do we realize God’s presence in our lives? Are we aware that God is with us? Are we aware that every choice is an opportunity to glorify Him? Do we box God only in the Church or in prayer times? Are we aware that sins make us defile and far from God? Do we know that we cannot receive the holy communion when we persist in our grave sins? Do I go to confession regularly?

Be Subordinate to Your Husband(?)

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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]

August 25, 2024

Ephesus 5:21-32

In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul instructed wives to be subordinate to their husbands, not only in matters of economics or raising children but in everything. St. Paul’s teaching seems wrong and even sexist to modern readers. Are not women and men equal? Why did wives have to obey men in everything? Are the women mere slaves of their husbands?

Firstly, we need to know Paul’s historical context. At this time, women were indeed considered not equal to men. Save for some exceptional females, women were treated as the property of men. While men were working outside, women stayed at home. Wives were to take care of the house, give birth to the children, and raise them. Generally, women had no right to inheritance and no political rights. It was just a bad time for women to live.

Paul recognized this situation and challenged it. How? He wrote the letter addressed to wives! Women did not receive letters, and if they did, the letter must be addressed to their husbands. By this simple act alone, Paul not only challenged the cultural mentality of his time but also affirmed God’s original purpose. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Gen 1:27).” Both men and women were created in God’s image and, thus, share the same dignity as God’s children.

Yet, Paul also acknowledged that though men and women are equal in dignity, they have different roles and functions. Biologically, men are physically stronger and, thus, are responsible for protecting and providing. In comparison, women possess the character to give and nurture life. Both men and women are complementary to each other. At the same time, this mutual relationship creates a community, marriage and family. Like other groups or communities, marriage presupposes order and hierarchy to function properly. St. Paul’s word ‘subordinating’ finds its true meaning in this understanding. To be subordinated means to be under the proper order. Thus, St. Paul began with a statement to both husband and wife, “Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ!” because both must be under proper order.

Here comes Paul’s unique contribution. Husband and wife are like a relationship between Jesus and the Church, His bride. Like Jesus, husbands are the heads and figures of authority. Yet, Paul also reminded us that the order that governs Jesus and His Church is love. So also, the authority given to men is to love their women. Men love their wives to the point of dying, and only with dying can they lead their wives in holiness. Without dying, men’s authority turns to a reign of terror, and women are rebelling. Marriage becomes unhappy and even collapses. Only when men and women are subjecting themselves to the order of love will they reach the purpose of marriage, which is a way of holiness.

Surabaya

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Guide questions:

For husbands: how do you love your wife? Will you die for your wife? To what do you die? Pride, anger, selfishness? Do you hurt your wife? Do you apologize to your wife when you do something wrong? Do you lead your wife to holiness? How do you lead your wife into holiness? Are you a good head/leader of the family?

For wives: how do you love your husbands? Do you obey your husband? Do you help him to be a good husband and father? How do you help your husband in living in holiness? Do you hurt your husband (and how)?

Why Mary was Assumed into Heaven?

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The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

August 15, 2024 [B]

Luke 1:39-56

Today, the Church is celebrating the great feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Virgin Mary. Through this celebration, the Church reminds us that Mary, the mother of our Lord, when the course of her life ended, was assumed both her soul and body into the heavenly glory. Yet, a question may arise: why did Mary have to go up into heaven with her soul and body immediately after her death, while the rest of us must wait until the final judgment? Is it unfair?

The reason is love. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that love seeks the union with the beloved (see ST. I.II. q.28 a.1). In a simple way, when we love someone, we wish that we are always close to that person, and we are closer, we can have more opportunity to love. The more we love the more we are united, the more we are united, the more we love. A good example would be loving parents. They always desire to be close to their children because they can love them even more by protecting, providing, and educating them.

So also, those who love God seek to be with and please God. When we initially love God, we begin spending time in prayer and attending the Eucharist every Sunday. We start reading the Bible and learning about our faith. Yet, as we grow in love, we spend more time with the Lord, in prayers, hear the Mass more often, and are involved in ministries and community. However, we realize also that our unity with God is not perfect in this world. We need to work or go to school. We need to take care of our family. We need to attend to endless worldly affairs. Our hearts and love are divided.

However, one person loves God totally and undividedly, even in this world. She is Mary. Her life is wholly dedicated to loving Jesus, even from before His birth to the very end, the cross. She is never separated from Jesus in her life on earth. And thus, when she passed from this earth, her immense love, perfected by God’s grace, drew not only her soul but also her body into that union with God.

Mary’s assumption teaches us that union with God in heaven begins with our love here on earth. The more we love God here on earth, the easier we are drawn to heaven. Yet, how do we love God more if we also must take care of earthly matters? Indeed, we cannot pray all the time, but we can always please God by doing good and avoiding sins in everything we do. Through good moral life, we are united with God even daily. Though we are not always aware of God every second, we know that our lives and actions are oriented to God.

Surabaya

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Guide questions:

What do you have in mind when you hear the Assumption of Mary? What do you understand about this Marian dogma? What are the other three Marian dogmas? Do you have any special relationship with Mary? How do you see her?

How do you love God? How intense is your love for God? How do you improve your love for God? Do you pray often? How do you pray? Do you live a good moral life? Do you please God in your daily actions? Are you aware of God’s laws? Is there any sin that you are struggling with now?

Kenapa Maria Diangkat ke Surga?

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Santa Perawan Maria Diangkat ke Surga

15 Agustus 2024 [B]

Lukas 1:39-56

Hari ini Gereja merayakan hari raya Maria Diangkat ke Surga. Melalui perayaan ini, Gereja mengingatkan kita bahwa Maria, bunda Tuhan kita, ketika perjalanan hidupnya berakhir di bumi, jiwa dan raganya diangkat ke dalam kemuliaan surgawi. Namun, sebuah pertanyaan mungkin muncul: mengapa Maria harus naik ke surga dengan jiwa dan raganya segera setelah kematiannya, sementara kita semua, harus menunggu sampai penghakiman terakhir? Bukankah ini sedikit tidak adil?

Alasannya adalah kasih. Santo Thomas Aquinas mengajarkan bahwa kasih mencari persatuan dengan yang dikasihi (lihat ST. I.II. q.28 a.1). Secara sederhana, ketika kita mengasihi seseorang, kita berharap agar kita selalu dekat dengan orang tersebut, dan dengan menjadi dekat, kita dapat memiliki lebih banyak kesempatan untuk mengasihi. Semakin kita mengasihi, semakin kita dipersatukan, dan semakin kita dipersatukan, semakin kita mengasihi. Contoh yang baik adalah orang tua yang baik. Mereka selalu ingin dekat dengan anak-anak mereka karena dengan dekat, mereka dapat lebih mengasihi anak-anak mereka dengan cara melindungi, menyediakan, dan mendidik anak-anak mereka.

Demikian juga, mereka yang mengasihi Allah berusaha untuk bersama dengan Allah. Ketika kita mulai mengasihi Allah, kita mulai meluangkan waktu untuk berdoa dan menghadiri Ekaristi setiap hari Minggu. Kita mulai membaca Alkitab dan belajar tentang iman kita. Ketika kita bertumbuh dalam kasih, kita menghabiskan lebih banyak waktu dengan Tuhan, lebih banyak waktu dalam doa, lebih sering mendengarkan Misa, terlibat dalam pelayanan dan dalam komunitas. Namun, kita juga menyadari bahwa kesatuan kita dengan Tuhan tidaklah sempurna di dunia ini. Kita perlu bekerja atau bersekolah. Kita perlu mengurus keluarga kita. Kita perlu mengurus urusan duniawi yang tak ada habisnya. Hati dan kasih kita pun terbagi.

Namun, ada satu orang yang mengasihi Allah secara total dan tidak terbagi bahkan di dunia ini. Dia adalah Maria. Hidupnya sepenuhnya didedikasikan untuk mengasihi Yesus, bahkan sejak sebelum kelahiran-Nya hingga akhir hayat-Nya di kayu salib. Dia tidak pernah terpisah dari Yesus dalam kehidupannya di dunia. Dan dengan demikian, ketika ia meninggal dunia, kasihnya yang luar biasa, yang disempurnakan oleh rahmat Allah, tidak hanya menarik jiwanya tetapi juga tubuhnya ke dalam persatuan dengan Allah.

Diangkatnya Maria ke surga mengajarkan kepada kita bahwa persatuan dengan Allah di surga dimulai dengan kasih kita di bumi. Semakin kita mengasihi Allah di bumi ini, semakin mudah kita ditarik ke surga. Namun, bagaimana kita dapat mengasihi Allah lebih dalam jika kita juga harus mengurus hal-hal duniawi? Memang, kita tidak dapat berdoa setiap saat, tetapi kita dapat selalu menyenangkan hati Allah dengan berbuat baik dan menghindari dosa dalam segala hal yang kita lakukan. Kita juga dapat mengasihi Allah melalui kasih terhadap sesama. Melalui kehidupan moral yang baik, kita dipersatukan dengan Tuhan bahkan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Meskipun kita tidak selalu sadar akan Tuhan setiap saat, kita tahu bahwa hidup dan tindakan kita berorientasi pada Tuhan.

Surabaya

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Pertanyaan-pertanyaan panduan:

Apa yang ada di benak Saya ketika Saya mendengar Maria Diangkat ke Surga? Apa yang Saya pahami tentang dogma Maria ini? Apakah tiga dogma Maria yang lain? Apakah Saya memiliki hubungan khusus dengan Maria?

Bagaimanakah Saya mengasihi Allah? Seberapa kuatkah kasih Saya kepada Allah? Bagaimana Saya meningkatkan kasih Saya kepada Allah? Apakah Saya sering berdoa? Bagaimana cara Saya berdoa? Apakah Saya menjalani kehidupan moral yang baik? Apakah Saya menyenangkan hati Allah dalam tindakan Saya sehari-hari? Apakah Saya mengetahui hukum-hukum Allah? Apakah ada dosa yang sedang Saya hadapi sekarang?

Beyond Track Records

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19th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]

August 11, 2024

John 6:41-51

One of the ways to evaluate somebody is by looking at their track records. These records can be positive like their academic achievements, acquired skills, or excellent work experiences, but it can be also negative likes poor performances or engaged in unethical behaviour. Judging someone by their track records are natural and legitimate, but when we treat these tract records as the absolute measure, we may destroy somebody else’s life and future. This what

The reason why many Jews rejected Jesus was not only because His claim that He was the bread of life was outrageous, but also because He was a son of poor carpenter. Certainly, many were struggling with the truth of consuming Jesus’ flesh, some Jews recognized Jesus’ family background and came to believe that it was impossible for a poor carpenter from insignificant village Nazareth to tell the truth.  

However, it is only half of the story. Before Jesus made any stunning claim, Jesus proved Himself to be credible as He performed an extraordinary miracle, feeding more than five thousand people. Yet, some people readily forget that sign because they were not able to abandon their prejudices and surpass their religious preconceptions. Thus, they judged Jesus as either liar or lunatic.

While it is true that track records can speak volumes, it does not mean that a person cannot change. If someone is poor economically, does not mean that he will stay poor forever. We have a lot of stories of billionaires who started from zero, even below zero. J.K. Rowling, Jan Koum, and Steve Jobs to mention few. This truth is even more evident in the life of faith. Sinners and even Christ’s enemies that were touched by the grace and love of God transformed into saints. We have St. Paul who used to persecute early Christians, St. Augustine who used to live sins, and Bl. Bartolo Longo who used to be a satanic priest.

This gives us an important lesson that there is nothing impossible for God, and for those who are open to the grace and love of God. When we deal with difficult persons in our families or communities, do we immediately judge them to be hopeless case, or do we exert more effort to help, listen or at least to pray for them? When we see someone fall into sins, do we condemn them or do we spend more time to correct them, or at least pray for their conversion? When we see ourselves as unworthy of God, do we succumb into despair, or do we pray harder and beg for God’s mercy?

Surabaya

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Two Breads that We Need

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18thSunday in Ordinary Time [B]

August 4, 2024

John 6:24-35

We are created as creatures of body and soul. Thus, to survive and thrive, our body and soul must be nourished. Feeding our bodies is quickly done through bread or other physical foods. Yet, how do we nurture our souls? What kind of ‘food’ do we need to give to our soul so that it will not perish?

For us Catholics, the answer is obvious. The Body of Christ in the Eucharist is the bread of heaven that nourishes our souls. As Jesus Himself declared, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (John 6:53).”  However, the real challenge is that we are often tempted, just like people of Israel, to prioritize only the earthly bread. How many of us choose to skip Sunday Mass for work or leisure?

Another challenge is that we often confuse the true living bread with the worldly things that only satisfy our bodies. We tend to equate spiritual things with emotional things. After all, both come ‘from inside’, forgetting that emotional needs remain part of bodily constitutions. Thus, we thought we were spiritually nourished when we felt emotionally charged through different religious experiences. Admittedly, to attend the Mass and to receive the Holy Communion is not always an emotion-filled experience. Yes, some of us feel incredible sensations during the Eucharist, but many are enduring ‘dryness.’ The Mass does not seem to satisfy our deepest longing.  No wonder some begin looking for other options, places, or activities that give us more sensations. We are treating religious activities as no different from other emotionally satisfying events.

The last challenge is trading our spiritual food for our bodily needs. We seek Jesus so that He may satisfy our physical needs. We go to the Church and ask Jesus to heal our sickness, solve our financial problems, or resolve our family issues. Indeed, it is okay to bring our problems to the Lord. After all, He also takes care of us. But, sometimes, we become preoccupied with our problems and then forget the real purpose of the Eucharist, which is to feed our souls. It is like the Jewish people in the Gospel who wanted to make Jesus king because of their stomach and political needs and not for the divine bread.

So, how do we know that our soul is growing through the bread of life? The answer is charity. We know our grace is working in us when we can love more and sacrifice more. We become more patient with difficult people around us. We anticipate the needs of others. We continue to do good things even without recognition. Our souls can only grow and do great things when the bread of life constantly nourishes us.

Surabaya

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

The True Miracle

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17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 28, 2024

John 6:1-15

The miracle of the multiplication of bread is a special one because this miracle is different from other Jesus’ miracles. Yet, what makes it truly unique from other miracles? How does this miracle shape our faith in Jesus?

The first thing we can observe is that this miracle is emerging from Jesus’ initiative. Jesus saw the people following Him,  He recognized their need and then, He came out with a miraculous solution. From this perspective, we can draw beautiful points about our God. He is not God who is far, aloof and only waiting for the people to approach Him and beg something from Him. Our God is a loving God who unfaillingly recognizes our needs and conditions, and even provides our needs even without us asking. God anticipates our necessities and fulfills them even without our realization. This is true and divine love, that is anticipatory, consistent and often overlooked. Do we thank the Lord for every breath we inhale? Are we grateful for the water we drink? Yet, God provides these for us.

However, the second character of this miracle makes it even more remarkable and unique. Before Jesus performed the miracle, He presented the situation to His disciples, and asked them to solve it. Philip immediately reduced the situation into an economic problem, and answered his Master that it was impossible to feed the people without spending massive amounts of money. Fortunately, Andrew recognized Jesus’ intention to test His disciples. He then brought a little but generous boy who offered his bread and fish to Jesus to be shared. Then, the miracle began to unfold.

If we try to compare with other miracles of Jesus, we discover that Jesus wills His disciples and followers to participate in the miracle. In other miracles like healings and exorcism, Jesus did it by Himself. He had no need for any help or participation from His disciples. Yet, when Jesus performed one of the greatest miracles, He wanted His disciples to generously offer what they have, and let Jesus bless their offerings, and so become a blessing for many people.

This is the true beauty of the miracle of multiplication of bread. Indeed, God can easily work without us, as many times He does, but He also chooses to work and perform His miracles through us. And, as we offer what we have and allow God’s grace to operate in us, God perfects us and makes us His miracles to many people. Through this participation, our dignity as children of God is elevated and further glorified.

As a preacher, I offer to the Lord, my time, my intellectual capacity, and my study of Sacred Scriptures, and often, I feel these are not sufficient. But, I pray that every time I preach, the Lord will multiply these tiny resources I have into the spiritual fruits in those who hear. As good parents, we offer our time, energy, and other resources to the Lord as we raise our children. Often, we feel these are not enough, but God blesses us and our children miraculously grow into mature individuals. How do you participate in God’s works and miracles?

Manila

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Featured

Jesus, Our Peace

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16th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]

July 21, 2024

Eph 2:13-18

In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul called Jesus ‘He is our peace.’ Yet, why did St. Paul apply this strange title to Jesus? What does it really mean? And, how does this title affect our faith?

To understand Paul, we have to understand also the Old Testament. Afterall, Paul was a member of Pharisees, and thus, not only a zelous but also learned Jew. When St. Paul called Jesus as ‘peace’, he referred to the peace offering of the Jerusalem Temple. The peace offering (in Hebrew, Shalom) is one of sacrifices instructed by the Lord to the Israelites through Moses (see Lev 3). The peace offerings together with other with other sacrifices continued being offered in the time of Jesus and Paul. The ritual sacrifices ceased when the Romans burned down the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 AD, around two decades after Paul’s martyrdom.

As its name suggests, the purpose of this sacrifice is the reconciliation between the Lord, the God of Israel, and the Israelites who have offended the Lord. However, unlike other sacrifices that emphasize on satisfactions of sins and transgressions, like sin offering (chatat) and guilt offering (asham), the peace offering focuses on the result of God’s forgiveness, that is peace. When man offends God because of his sins, man becomes far from God, like an stranger and even enemy. There is enmity between God and man because of sin. There is no peace. However, when the man is forgiven, and his sins are removed, his friendship with God is restored, and there is peace between God and men. This peace causes joy and thanksgiving. The peace offering symbolizes the joy of forgiveness, the thanksgiving of peace achieved.

When St. Paul called Jesus as ‘our peace,’ St. Paul recognized Jesus offered Himself as the peace offering in the cross. Jesus did not only remove our sins, but also reconciled us to the Father. Jesus is the peace because He broke our enmity with God, and brought us back to God in friendship. Only in Jesus, we are at peace with God.

However, peace offering is also a special kind of sacrifice because it is not burnt totally (unlike holocaust sacrifice) but rather being shared also with the priest and the offerers. The fatty parts is burnt because it is for the Lord, some other parts of the animal are for the priests to consume and other parts are for those who offer the sacrifice. Thus, the peace sacrifice is like a meal shared by everyone. The sacrifice becomes the symbol of peace because only people who are at peace with each other can share the same table and food.

However, what is even more remarkable is the Catholic Church has this peace offering. Indeed, our peace offering is the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, Jesus is offered to the God the Father, and then, consumed not only by the priest, but also the faithful who participate in the celebration. Jesus Christ is truly our peace because in the Eucharist, we share the same meal with God.

Valentinus  Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

The Authority to Love

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15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 14, 2024

Mark 6:7-13

In today’s Gospel, Jesus entrusted His disciples an authority. This authority is composed of several powers like to to cash out demons, to heal the sick, and to preach the repentance. The question to ponder is that why did Jesus hand down this kind authority to His disciples? Why did not Jesus give more useful tools like the power to control people, or power to produce money?

Firstly, from this story, we recognize that Jesus loves His disciples and as a proof of His love, He dares to entrust His authority to frail and sometimes, unreliable men. Jesus did not hoard everything to Himself, but rather share Himself with His disciples so that His disciples may grow, even through failures and weakness.

Secondly, the authority Jesus gave is not something that ends up manipulating people. Indeed, Jesus can possible give the authority to control people’s mind to His discciples, and this power can be extremely useful to draw more people to Jesus instantly. People will do everything for Jesus or for the disciples, but this is not real authority since it will objectify people and nothing but pure manipulation. Yes, Jesus can create an authority to control economy for His disciples, and this can generate enermous wealth for Jesus and His group. However, in the end, wealth control through manipulation is just corruption and greed.

Thirdly, if we look carefully the authority Jesus entrusted to His disciples is the authority to serve and to love. To heal the sick people without asking rewards, to cash out demons that tormented men and women, and to preach repetance for the salvation of souls are powers to bring holiness to people, to draw them closer to God. However, what even remarkable is that this authority to love requires even more love, a love that is miticulous, persistant, anticipatory but hidden. For example,  to preach the repetance, the disciples must walk miles, endure hunger and the sun’s scorge, and prepare what to say. They also had to face the fear of rejection, and eventually be at peace with unsatisfatory results. These are the small and hidden steps to reach the preaching of repetance, and these steps are also acts of love.

We, the disciples of Christ, are given the authority to love. As husbands, we have the authority to love our spouses. As parents, we posses the authority to educate our children. As priests, we are entrusted the authority to serve the people of God. Yet, these authority is even built on the small, hidden yet persistent acts of love. To love their young child, a couple have to endure lack of sleep, prepare and provide baby’s food on proper times, purchase and change the baby’s diapers, and many other small things. And, when the baby grows up, she will probably not appreciate what the parents did for her. What she is aware of is that she is now healthy, secure girl with bright future.

Love is not always grand and sensational, but oftentimes, little, constant and unappreciated. Yet, this kind of love that empowers us to fulfill our missions of life. This is our authority to love.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Thorn in the Flesh

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14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 7, 2024

2 Cor 12:7-10

St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians reveals to us that he is struggling with ‘a thorn in the flesh’ caused by the devil. Yet, what does it mean for St. Paul to have ‘a thorn’ in his flesh? And, how does St. Paul deal with this situation?

There are at least three possible answers to this thorn in the flesh. The first posibility is that the thorn refers to the spiritual assaults coming from the evil spirits. Either in the forms of physical harassment or constant inner temptations. The second possible answer may refer to his health condition, especially his eye problem. One time St. Paul complained about his difficulty to read. In his letter to the Galatians, he writes, “you know that it was because of a physical illness that I originally preached the gospel to you, and you did not show disdain or contempt because of the trial caused you by my physical condition…Indeed, I can testify to you that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.” (Gal 4:13-15). The third possibility is that the thorn may point to his struggles and hardship he endures as he deals with different communities. He often narrates how he was slandered, backstabbed and unfaithfullness.

Which among the three possibilites is the most probable? St. Paul may in fact deal with these three conditions in the course of his ministries, but in my personal opinion, this ‘thorn’ speaks of Paul’s struggle with Christian communities he serves. Ultimately, we are not really sure, but what is important is how Paul deals with this thorn. Firstly, Paul recognizes that God allows satan to cause this thorn. It is a good theology. A perfect God does not directly cause evil since only goodness comes from Him, but God may allow evil to take place as long as He has a sufficient reason, that is to bring out the even greater goodness. Secondly, Paul asks the thorns to be removed. Yet, his prayer is not granted because God wants that thorn to stay and He will use that for His glory.

St. Paul admits that the thorn is to keep St. Paul away from being arrogant. Paul receives a lot of spiritual gifts from the Lord, and these gifts may lead to spiritual pride as he may compare himself with less mature Christians. Thus, the thorn serves as a constant reminder that he is also struggling just like other Jesus’ disciples.

Furthermore, St. Paul realizes that God allows Paul to suffer the thorn because He supplies Paul with nececssary grace. The Lord says to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” It is precisely God’s grace that sustains Paul in coping with the troublesome sitaution. St. Paul discerns that he is able to survive and even flourish through sufferings and weakness because of God’s grace. Paul cannot boast of himself, of his power, his intellegence, and his eloquence because all these things crumble before the weight of sufferings. Paul only can boast of weakness, his sufferings, his hardships, his thorn because precisely in his weakness, people can see how God’s grace works and sustains Paul.

What are our thorns in our lives? Are we angry because God does not take away our thorns? Do we relly solely on our strenght? Do we ask suffient grace to endure and flourish through sufferings?

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP