Category: Ordinary Time

You are the Light of the World

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5th Sunday of Ordinary Time [A]
February 5, 2023
Matthew 5:13-16

After Jesus opened His sermons in the Mount with the Beatitudes, He proceeded with explaining the identity of His disciples. “You are the light of the world.” Why did Jesus call His disciples as the light of the world? Light is one of the important subjects in the Bible. Going back to the story of creation, one of the first things God created was light. “There will be light! And there was light (Gen..).” Yet again, why light is such essential topic in the Bible?

photocredit: Andrew Bui

It has something to do with human nature itself. Humans are basically the creatures of light. Our lives are dependent of light around us. The most important is the light of the sun, but also lights come from other sources both natural or artificial. We need light to navigate our world. working, moving, reading, using our gadgets are some activities that are dependent of light. Our eyes, are one of the most sophisticated organs in our body, are essentially good receptors of light. Not only light is basic for our navigation and activities, but it is also fundamental for our biological growth and functioning. Proper sun’s light helps in generating some essential chemicals in our body, like vitamin D and hormone dopamine. Some studies show that lack of sun light may cause depression, decrease of cognitive functions and disruption of wake-sleep cycle (circadian rhythm).

God who created us as well as the light, perfectly knew the relation between human beings and light. Thus, Jesus called us light of the world. Like light to our bodies, it is our mission to help others around us to navigate their lives into true happiness (please check my reflection last week on happiness) and grow into genuine maturity and holiness.

But, how do we become a light of the world? Jesus gave the answer, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Mat 5:16).” We are expected to do good works for others, and good works can take many different shapes. In Catholic traditions, we have seven corporeal and spiritual works of mercy. These are feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, instructing others in faith, reminding others to repent from their sins, and praying for the living and dead. We can also start our good works from home and family, like feeding our children with health food, and instructing our children in faith and morality.

However, we must be careful also because being a light, the temptation is to shine and attracted others to ourselves, rather than guide them to Christ. We must be reminded that our light is so that others may ‘give glory to our Father who is in heaven’. The second danger is that we are running out of gas. We felt tired after doing a lot of good works. The solution can be as simple as taking proper rest and sleep, or maybe we need to rearrange our priorities in life. Yet, spirituality, we must remember that the true light is Christ Himself. He said, “I am the light of the world (John 8:12).” We are lights of the world because we are in Christ and participating in and reflecting His light (see Gal 2:20). We shall never forget to unite ourselves in true light through our prayers and the sacraments especially the Eucharist.

Rome
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Sabda Bahagia dan Kebahagian Sejati

On By bayuopIn Bahasa, Ordinary TimeLeave a comment

Minggu ke-4 dalam Masa Biasa [C]
29 Januari 2023
Matius 5:1-12

Yesus memulai pengajaran-Nya di Injil Matius dengan Sabda Bahagia. Gereja telah mengakui bahwa Sabda Bahagia bukanlah sembarang ajaran Yesus, tetapi ‘inti dari khotbah Yesus’ (lihat KGK 1716). Sabda Bahagia menjadi dasar karena menjawab kerinduan yang paling mendasar dari setiap manusia: kerinduan akan kebahagiaan. Jika kita ingin benar-benar bahagia, maka kita perlu menghidupi Sabda bahagia ini.

Namun, jika kita membacanya dengan cermat, kita mungkin menyadari bahwa instruksi dalam Sabda Bahagia bertolak belakang dengan hasrat kita akan kebahagiaan. Selama ini, kita percaya bahwa memiliki lebih banyak harta akan membuat kita bahagia, tetapi Yesus mengatakan bahwa kebahagiaan adalah bagi mereka yang miskin di hadapan Allah. Kita ingin tertawa dan merasa ‘senang’, tetapi kemudian, Yesus mengatakan bahwa kebahagiaan adalah untuk mereka yang berduka. Kita tahu bahwa menjadi berkuasa dan memiliki kemampuan untuk mengendalikan orang lain membuat kita merasa puas dan sebuah kenikmatan, tetapi Yesus berkata bahwa kebahagiaan adalah bagi mereka yang lemah lembut, murah hati dan pembawa damai. Kita ingin dibebaskan dari segala kesulitan dalam hidup kita, tetapi Yesus berkata bahwa kebahagiaan adalah bagi mereka yang dianiaya demi kebenaran. Sabda Bahagia Yesus bertentangan dengan logika manusia!

Jika kita kembali ke Perjanjian Lama, kita menemukan bahwa jika bangsa Israel setia menaati Hukum Taurat, mereka akan diberkati dengan tanah, hasil panen dan ternak yang melimpah, anak-anak yang banyak, dan perlindungan dari para musuh. Begitu juga sebaliknya, jika orang Israel melanggar hukum Taurat, mereka akan dikutuk dan dengan demikian, kehilangan semua berkat ini (lihat Ulangan 28). Jadi, Sabda Bahagia Yesus bahkan tidak sejalan dengan berkat-berkat Perjanjian Lama ini!

Apa yang sebenarnya terjadi? Apakah Yesus kehilangan akal sehat-Nya? Untungnya, Gereja memberikan kita jawabannya, “[Sabda Bahagia] mengangkat janji-janji yang telah diberikan kepada umat pilihan sejak Abraham. Sabda bahagia menyempurnakan janji-janji itu, karena tidak hanya diarahkan kepada pemilikan satu tanah saja, tetapi kepada Kerajaan surga… Sabda Bahagia mengekspresikan panggilan umat beriman yang terkait dengan kemuliaan Sengsara dan Kebangkitan-Nya (KGK 1716-7).”

Melalui Sabda Bahagia, Yesus mengajarkan kepada kita bahwa kebahagiaan sejati tidak berhenti di dunia ini, tetapi harus mencapai tujuan akhirnya di dalam Tuhan. Sebagai pengikut Kristus, terkadang kita menerima berkat duniawi, tetapi terkadang, kita mengalami ‘kutukan’ duniawi. Namun, semua itu hanya bersifat sementara, dan bukan ukuran kebahagian sejati. Bahkan, berkat-berkat materi dapat menjadi kutukan jika kita kecanduan dan melakukan banyak hal jahat untuk mendapatkannya. Dan, kemalangan dan penderitaan kita di dunia ini dapat berubah menjadi berkat rohani, jika kita menanggungnya dengan sabar dan menyatukannya dengan Sengsara Kristus dalam doa-doa kita.

Apakah itu berarti kita tidak boleh bekerja untuk menjadi kaya dan sukses? Kita harus bekerja dan menjadi sukses dalam hidup, tetapi dengan cara-cara yang berkenan kepada Tuhan. Jika kita tidak mencuri atau menipu, maka pekerjaan dan harta benda kita akan menjadi berkat yang sejati.

Apakah ini berarti kita harus menerima penderitaan dan ketidakadilan secara pasrah dan pasif? Sama sekali tidak! Kita harus melakukan yang terbaik juga untuk melawan ketidakadilan di antara kita dan meringankan penderitaan sesama. Bahkan, diam saja dihadapan kejahatan bukan hanya bodoh, tetapi juga membuat kita menjadi peserta dalam kejahatan itu. Namun, kita juga tahu bahwa terkadang, ada kesulitan-kesulitan dalam hidup yang entah apa yang kita lakukan, kesulitan-kesulitan itu akan tetap ada. Inilah salib kita, dan kita harus membawanya kepada Yesus.

Melalui Sabda Bahagia, Yesus mengingatkan kita bahwa hasrat kita akan kebahagiaan berasal dari Allah, dan dengan demikian, hanya Allah yang dapat memenuhinya.

Roma
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

The Beatitudes: True Happiness and Where to Find It

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4th Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
January 29, 2023
Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus began His teaching ministry with the Beatitudes. The Church has recognized that the Beatitudes are not just any teaching of Jesus, but ‘at the heart of Jesus’ preaching’ (see CCC 1716). The Beatitudes are foundational because they answer the most basic longing of any man and woman: desire for happiness. If we want to be genuinely happy, then we need to live the beatitudes.

However, if we read it carefully, we may realize that the instructions in the Beatitudes are counter-intuitive with our desires for happiness. We believe that having more possessions makes happy, but Jesus says that happiness is for the poor in spirit. We want to laugh and feel ‘happy’ but then, Jesus says happiness is for those who mourn. We know that being powerful and having the ability to control others make us feel fulfilled and ‘happy’, but Jesus says happiness is for those are meek, merciful as well as the peacemakers. We desire to be freed from all difficulties in our lives, but Jesus says that happiness is for those are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Beatitudes does not make any sense.

Again, if we go back to the Old Testament, we discover that if the Israelites are faithful to observe the Law, they will be blessed with land, prosperous harvest and cattle, many children, and protection from the enemies. In fact, if the Israelites are breaking the laws, they will be cursed and thus, losing all these blessings (see Deu 28). Jesus’ Beatitudes is not even in line with these Old Testament’s blessings, but Jesus reverses the order!

What really happen? Is Jesus out of His mind? Fortunately, the Church provides us the answer, “[Beatitudes] take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven… They express the vocation of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection (CCC 1716-7).”

Through Beatitudes, Jesus teaches us that the true happiness does not stop here on earth but must reach its destination in God alone. As followers of Christ, sometimes we receive an earthly blessing, but sometimes, we experience earthly ‘curses.’ Yet, these are temporal, and not the most important. In fact, material blessings may become a curse if we become addicted to it and do many evil things to acquire them. And our misfortunes and sufferings here on earth may turn to be a spiritual blessing, if we endure patiently and unite them to the Passion of Christ in our prayers.

Does it mean we cannot work to become rich and successful? Surely, we must work and be successful in life, but in the ways that are pleasing to the Lord. If we neither steal, nor cheat, then our works and material possessions are true blessings.

Does it mean we must passively receive our sufferings and injustice? Not at all! We have to do our best also to fight injustice among us and alleviate sufferings. In fact, just be silent in the face of evil is not only stupid, but also makes us a participant in that evil. Yet, we know also that sometimes, there are certain hardships that no matter we do, they remain. These are our crosses, and we shall bring them to Jesus.

Through Beatitudes, Jesus reminds us that our desire for happiness is coming from God, and thus, only God alone can fulfill it.

Rome
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Yohanes dan Yesus

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Minggu ke-3 dalam Masa Biasa (A)
22 Januari 2023
Matius 4:12-23

Matius, sang Penginjil, menunjukkan bahwa Yesus memulai pewartaan publik-Nya setelah Yohanes Pembaptis ditangkap. Mengapa Yesus mengambil keputusan ini? Ada beberapa alasan. Yang pertama adalah Yesus menggenapi apa yang dinubuatkan oleh Yohanes sendiri, ” Ia harus makin besar, tetapi aku harus makin kecil (Yoh 3:30).” Yohanes sangat populer, dan banyak orang mengikutinya dan menganggapnya sebagai nabi Allah, tetapi pelayanannya terhenti setelah dia dipenjara karena dia menegur Herodes yang menikahi istri saudaranya sendiri (Mat. 14:1-12). Ketika Yohanes tidak lagi dapat berkhotbah, dan meredup, Yesus datang, membawa Kabar Baik dan mulai bersinar.

Alasan lain yang menarik adalah bahwa Yohanes berfungsi sebagai cermin kehidupan dan pelayanan Yesus. Apa yang Yohanes lakukan dan alami, akan dilakukan dan dialami oleh Yesus, tetapi dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar. Pembuahan Yohanes merupakan sebuah mukjizat, karena Zakharia dan Elisabet dianggap sudah terlalu tua untuk memiliki seorang anak. Kehadiran Yesus dalam rahim bahkan tidak ada bandingannya karena Dia dikandung oleh kuasa Roh Kudus dan dilahirkan oleh perawan Maria. Yohanes memiliki banyak pengikut dan murid, dan banyak orang juga yang mengikut Yesus, dan beberapa di antaranya menjadi murid-murid dekat-Nya. Baik Yohanes maupun Yesus sama-sama memberitakan pertobatan, tetapi perbedaannya juga jelas. Yohanes berkhotbah untuk mempersiapkan jalan bagi Tuhan, sementara Yesus berkhotbah untuk membangun Kerajaan Allah dan keselamatan.

Yohanes membaptis sebagai tanda lahiriah dari pertobatan batin, sedangkan Yesus memberikan pengampunan dosa yang sejati. Yohanes membuktikan pewartaannya melalui gaya hidupnya, Yesus membuktikan Injil-Nya melalui mukjizat yang belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya. Baik Yohanes maupun Yesus dianiaya dan dieksekusi karena mereka memberitakan pertobatan dan kebenaran, dan dengan demikian, bertentangan dengan otoritas. Namun, Yesus bangkit dan naik ke surga, sementara Yohanes, yang walaupun sudah berada di surga, masih menunggu kebangkitan badannya.

Ketika saya bertemu dengan Romo Gerard Timoner, Pemimpin tertinggi Ordo Dominikan, di Roma, ia menguraikan sebuah fakta menarik tentang Yohanes dan Yesus. Ulang tahun Yohanes adalah 24 Juni, sedangkan Yesus 25 Desember. Yang menarik bukan hanya karena tanggalnya yang berbeda enam bulan, tetapi juga karena fenomena alam yang terjadi di sekitar tanggal-tanggal tersebut. Ulang tahun Yohanes dekat dengan titik balik matahari musim panas (summer solstice). Hal ini terjadi ketika kemiringan sumbu bumi paling condong ke arah matahari, sehingga menghasilkan periode siang hari terpanjang sepanjang tahun (bagi kita yang hidup di negara tropis seperti Indonesia, hampir tidak terasa perbedaannya). Namun, setelah titik balik matahari ini, hari-hari akan semakin pendek (sinar matahari akan berkurang). Sementara itu, hari kelahiran Kristus berada di dekat titik balik matahari musim dingin (winter solstice), hari terpendek dalam setahun. Namun, setelah titik balik matahari ini, hari-hari semakin panjang. Fenomena ini juga menggenapi apa yang Yohanes katakan, “Dia harus bertambah, tetapi aku harus berkurang”

Apa artinya bagi kita? Ketika kita memulai perjalanan kita melalui Masa Biasa, kita dipanggil untuk menjadi seperti Yohanes Pembaptis. Kita harus menjadi cerminan Kristus dalam hidup kita. Kita mungkin memiliki panggilan yang berbeda di dunia ini, seperti kaum awam, suami-istri, orang tua, imam, atau biarawan/biarawati, tetapi dalam cara hidup kita, kita harus mencerminkan Kristus. Apakah orang lain melihat Yesus ketika mereka melihat kita? Apakah kita membawa kedamaian, pertobatan, dan kebenaran kepada orang lain seperti yang Yesus lakukan? Apakah kita membawa orang lain kepada Yesus dan tidak tergoda untuk menarik orang lain kepada diri kita sendiri?

Roma
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

John and Jesus

On By bayuopIn English, Ordinary TimeLeave a comment

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
January 22, 2023
Matthew 4:12-23

Matthew, our Evangelist, indicated that Jesus began His public ministry after John the Baptist was arrested. Why did Jesus take this decision? There are several reasons. The first one is that Jesus fulfilled what John himself has prophesied, “He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).” John was highly popular, and many people followed him and considered him as a prophet of God, but his ministry came to a halt after he was imprisoned because he reprimanded Herod who married his brother’s wife (Mat 14:1-12). As John was no longer able to preach, Jesus came and bring the Good News.

Another interesting reason is that John serves as a mirror to the life and ministry of Jesus. What John did and experienced, would be done and experienced by Jesus, but with much greater scale. John’s conception was miraculous, because Zacharias and Elizabeth were deemed to be too old to have a child. Jesus’ conception was even unparallel because He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. John had great followers and disciples, and also many people followed Jesus, and some became His close disciples. Both John and Jesus preached repentance, but the distinction is also clear. John preached to prepare the way of the Lord, while Jesus preached to build His Kingdom of God.

John baptized as an outward sign of inner repentance, while Jesus granted true forgiveness of sins. John authenticated his messages through his lifestyle, Jesus proved His Gospel through unprecedented miracles and mastery of the nature force. Both John and Jesus were persecuted and executed because they preached the repentance and truth, and thus, offended the authority. However, Jesus resurrected and ascended into heaven, while John, who is already in heaven, is still waiting for his resurrection of the body.

When I met Fr. Gerard Timoner, our Master of the Order, in Rome, he told me this interesting fact about John and Jesus. John’s birthday is June 24 while Jesus is December 25. What is fascinating is not only the date is six months apart, but also the natural phenomena happening around those dates. John’s birthday is near to summer solstice. It occurs when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined towards the sun, resulting in the longest period of daylight for the year. Yet, after this solstice, the days are growing shorter and shorter. Meanwhile Christ’s birthday is near winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Yet, after this solstice, the days are growing longer and longer. These phenomena also fulfil what John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease”

What is for us? As we begin our journey through the Ordinary Season, we are called to be like St. John the Baptist. We are to mirror Christ in our lives. We may have different vocations in this world, like laity, married persons, priests, or religious women, but in our way of life, we are to reflect Christ. Do other people see Jesus when they see us? Do we bring peace, repentance, and truth to others like Jesus does? Are we leading others to Jesus and not be tempted to draw people to ourselves?

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Mengapa Yohanes tidak mengenal Yesus

On By bayuopIn Bahasa, Ordinary TimeLeave a comment

Minggu ke-2 dalam Masa Biasa [A]
15 Januari 2023
Yohanes 1:29-35

Membaca Injil hari ini, mungkin ada beberapa pertanyaan dalam benak kita, “Mengapa Yohanes Pembaptis menyebut Yesus sebagai Anak Domba Allah yang menghapus dosa dunia?” dan “Mengapa Yohanes mengatakan bahwa dia tidak mengenal Yesus dan Yesus telah ada sebelum Yohanes?” Kita tahu pasti bahwa Yohanes adalah kerabat Yesus dan, pada kenyataannya, dia lahir enam bulan lebih dulu dari Yesus. Dalam refleksi kali ini, saya tidak akan lagi menulis tentang identitas Yesus sebagai ‘Anak Domba Allah’ karena saya sudah pernah membahasnya dua tahun yang lalu [silakan cek refleksi saya tertanggal 17 Januari 2021]. Dengan demikian, kita mencoba menjawab pertanyaan kedua. “Mengapa Yohanes tidak mengenal Yesus?”

Kita tahu dari Injil Lukas bahwa Maria dan Elisabet, ibu Yohanes, adalah kerabat dekat, dan Maria bahkan hidup sekitar tiga bulan di tempat Elisabet dan Zakaria, suaminya [Luk 1:39-56]. Kelahiran Yohanes dan Yesus bahkan terkait erat. Kadang-kadang, saya menemukan benda seni rohani yang menggambarkan Yohanes dan Yesus sedang bermain bersama sebagai anak-anak kecil. Tentunya, ini berasal dari imajinasi dan kreativitas para seniman Kristiani. Lalu, mengapa tiba-tiba Yohanes mengatakan ‘dia tidak mengenal Yesus’?

Jawabannya mungkin ditemukan dalam kehidupan awal Yohanes yang dicatat dalam Injil Lukas. Lukas menulis bahwa Yohanes bertumbuh di dalam Roh, dan ia berada di padang gurun sampai hari Yohanes menampakkan diri di depan umum kepada Israel (lihat Luk 1:80). Jadi, Yohanes mungkin mendengar tentang Yesus dari orang tuanya waktu kecil, tetapi kemungkinan besar mereka tidak pernah bertemu secara pribadi karena Yohanes berada di padang gurun sejak ia masih sangat muda. Mengapa di padang gurun? Bagaimana seorang anak kecil bisa bertahan hidup di padang gurun? Sejumlah ahli berpendapat bahwa Yohanes, sejak kecil, masuk ke dalam salah satu komunitas Eseni. Eseni adalah kelompok keagamaan di dalam bangsa Yahudi yang berkembang pada zaman Yohanes, dan mereka terkenal karena ketaatan mereka yang ketat terhadap Hukum Musa. Mereka juga terkenal karena mereka hidup sebagai komunitas di padang gurun, memisahkan diri dari dunia.

Hal menarik lainnya adalah bahwa Yohanes mengatakan bahwa Yesus ‘sudah ada’ sebelum dia. Namun, kita tahu Yohanes lahir lebih awal daripada Yesus. Di sini, Yohanes tidak mengacu pada tanggal lahir kronologis dan usia biologis. Dengan ilham ilahi, Yohanes bersaksi bahwa Yesus telah ada bahkan sebelum dia, dan bahkan sebelum segala sesuatu yang lain ada. Hal ini sesuai dengan prolog Injil keempat (lihat Yoh 1:1-14). Bahkan sebelum Yesus dilahirkan ke dalam dunia dan mengambil kodrat manusia, Ia sudah ada bersama dengan Bapa dan Roh Kudus dalam kekekalan. Yohanes Pembaptis mengakui identitas keilahian Yesus.

Apa yang kita pelajari dari kesaksian Yohanes? Banyak di antara kita yang mungkin hanya tahu sedikit tentang Yesus. Kita mungkin merayakan hari ulang tahun-Nya setiap tahun dan mengenali wajah-Nya (karena kain kafan Turin), dan akrab dengan beberapa kisah dan ajaran-Nya, tetapi kita tidak tahu banyak tentang Dia. Bahkan bagi banyak ahli Kitab Suci dan teolog yang menghabiskan hampir seluruh hidupnya untuk mempelajari kehidupan Yesus, Yesus tetap menjadi misteri. Namun, kita tidak perlu khawatir: bahkan Yohanes, saudara Yesus, tidak tahu banyak tentang Yesus!

Memang benar bahwa Yohanes hanya tahu sedikit sekali tentang Yesus, tetapi apa yang ia kenali adalah hal yang paling penting, yaitu Yesus itu Allah. Tentu saja, saya tidak mengatakan bahwa kita harus berhenti mengenal Yesus, dan cukup percaya bahwa Dia ilahi. Sebaliknya, kita diundang untuk mengenal-Nya dengan lebih baik dan lebih dalam, dan pada saat yang sama, kita tidak boleh melupakan hal yang mendasar: identitas ilahi-Nya. Jika tidak, kita dapat dengan mudah jatuh ke dalam godaan bahwa Yesus adalah segala hal, kecuali ilahi. Dalam studi kita, kita dapat menemukan bahwa Yesus adalah seorang nabi yang hebat, penyembuh yang luar biasa, pengusir setan yang kuat, guru yang benar, tetapi jika kita gagal untuk mengakui keilahian-Nya, semuanya akan sia-sia. Jadikanlah Yohanes teladan kita.

Santo Yohanes Pembaptis, doakanlah kita.

Roma
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Why John did not know Jesus

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2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time [A]
January 15, 2023
John 1:29-35

Reading through today’s Gospel, we may have some questions in our minds, “why did John call Jesus ‘the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?’ and ‘why did John say that he did not know Jesus and Jesus was before him?’ we know for sure that John was a relative of Jesus and, in fact, he was born six months ahead of Jesus. In this reflection, I will no longer write about the identity of Jesus as the Lamb of God because I have talked about it two years ago [kindly check my reflection dated January 17, 2021]. Thus, we try to answer the second question.

We know from the Gospel of Luke that Mary and Elizabeth, the mother of John, were close relatives, and Mary even spent around three months at the place of Elizabeth and Zachariah, her husband [Luk 1:39-56]. The birth of John and Jesus are even closely linked. Sometimes, I stumble upon a religious art depicting John and Jesus were playing together as little children. Surely, this is coming from the imagination and creativity of the Christian artists. Then, why did suddenly John say ‘he did not know Jesus’?

The answer may be discovered in the early life of John recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Luke writes that John grew strong in the Spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel (see Luk 1:80). Thus, John may hear about Jesus from his parents, but it is most likely that they were never personally met because John was in the wilderness since he was very young. Why wilderness? How could a young child survive in the wilderness? A number of scholars suggest that John, as young boy, entered one of the Essences communities. The Essences are the Jewish religious group that flourished in the time of John, and they were well-known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses. They were also famous because they lived as communities in the wilderness.

Another interesting thing is that John said that Jesus was ‘before’ him. Yet, John was born earlier than Jesus. Here, John was not referring to the chronological date of birth and biological age. By divine inspiration, John testified that Jesus has existed even before him, and in fact before everything else. This is consistent with the prologue of the fourth Gospel (see John 1:1-14). Even before Jesus was born into the world, He was already with the Father and the Holy Spirit for all eternity. John the Baptist recognized the divinity identity of Jesus.

What do we learn from John’s testimony? Many of us may know little about Jesus. We may celebrate His birthday every year and recognize His face (because of the shroud of Turin), and be familiar with some His stories and teachings, but we do not know much about Him. Even for many biblical scholars and theologians who spend almost their lives to study Jesus’ life, Jesus remains a mystery. Here is the consolation: even John, Jesus’ relative, does not know much about Jesus!
It is true that John knew very little about Jesus, but what he recognized is the most fundamental, that is, Jesus was before him. In short, Jesus is divine. Surely, I am not saying that we must stop getting to know Jesus, and simply believe that He is divine. In the contrary, we are invited to know Him better and deeper, and at the same time, we must not lose sight of the fundamental: His divine identity. Otherwise, we can easily fall into a temptation that Jesus is anything, but divine. In our study, we can discover that Jesus is a great prophet, a wonderful healer, a powerful exorcist, a righteous teacher, but if we fail to acknowledge His divinity, everything will be in vain.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

Rome
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

How to prepare for the End of Time

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33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
November 13, 2022
2 Thes 3:7-12 (Luk 21:5-19)

As the end of the liturgical is drawing closer, the Church selects readings that related to the end of time. Now, the question that always appears regarding the end of the world is ‘when’. Truly, we do not know the answer because the Lord does not reveal it to us. Many self-proclaimed prophets have attempted to predict the doomsday, but all failed. Another question that is related to the end of the world is ‘how it’s going to end’. Again, we do not know exactly. Some speculate that a meteorite would hit and destroy the earth, others say that there would be nuclear wars that would decimate all lives, and still others believe in a zombie apocalypse, where a deadly virus would globally spread and turn humans into monsters. Again, these are wild speculations.

Fresco from San Mauricio, Milan.

However, the real question is not ‘when’ but ‘how it happens’, but ‘how’ we prepare ourselves for the end time.’ Fortunately, we have St. Paul to help us. St. Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians (our second reading), gives a strong rebuke to those lazy Christians. The reason why they were acting like busybodies but actually doing nothing is interestingly related to the eschatology (fancy word for theology of end time). They believed that Christ would come soon during their lives time, and thus, it would be unnecessary for them to work meaningfully. They just waited, ate and slept. This theology is not acceptable to Paul, and he reminded them, “if a man does not work, he shall not eat (2 Thes 3:10).”

The second coming of Jesus is fundamental to St. Paul’s theology, but it does not make him lazy at all. In fact, he worked tirelessly both as a tent-maker and as an apostle. Even when in prison, he did not cease preaching and proclaiming the good news. These he did are to follow the example of our Lord Jesus. Reading through the four gospels we can easily see that Jesus is a man of action. He worked as a carpenter, taught as a Rabbi, and worked miracles as a Son of God. In His rest and quite time, Jesus spent it in prayer and in union with the Father. Even in His suffering and death, He carried His cross and made sure that the salvation is offered to all of us. Laziness is abnormality in our Christian DNA.

While it is true that our redemption is a free gift from God, it is never cheap. Our faith in Jesus is never passive acceptance, but dynamic and growing response. Yes, we do not earn our salvation, but essential to our faith is the growth in holiness and labours of love. St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that those who do not work meaningfully, shall not eat the bread. We can also apply this to us, “Those who do not work the labour of love, shall not eat the spiritual bread.”

In the celebration of the Eucharist, there is part called the preparation of the gifts. Here, the priest prepares the bread and the wine, and he then says, “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.” The prayer is a simple but profound. It teaches us the bread is coming from God’s goodness. Yet, God wants us and all creations to participate in the forming the bread. Till such point, that the bread is ready to offer back to God in Christ. The bread (and the wine) are the symbol of salvation. It is coming from God, but He wants us actively participate in the process of maturing. To such moment, that we are to offer it back to God.

Thus the best way to prepare the end is not to be lazy.

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Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Why Marriage?

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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
November 6, 2022
Luke 20:27-38

In today’s Gospel, the Sadducees attempt to test Jesus. Sadducees are a religious faction in first-century Judaism like the Pharisees, but unlike the more popular Pharisees, they only hold Torah as the only valid source of Jewish religious teachings and practices, and refuse the writings of the prophets, the wisdom books, and later traditions. One of their main teachings is that they do not believe in the resurrection of the body. Jesus and the Pharisees though always in debate, they share in a common fundamental belief in the bodily resurrection. Later on, the resurrection of the body will be one of the Christian core beliefs.

Thus, to ridicule this kind of belief, the Sadducees are using the practice of the levirate marriage. In the Law of Moses, there is a practice to secure the bloodline and inheritance of a man who does not have any offspring. As a solution, the brothers or relatives of the diseased man will marry the widow and produce offspring in his behalf. Then, the Sadducees move to checkmate position. “In the resurrection, whose husband, this woman be?” There will be confusion in heaven!

Yet, Jesus makes it crystal clear that in the resurrection, men and women are living like angels, and marriage is no longer needed. There will be no confusion in heaven. However, we can go deeper and ask, “If marriage is no longer necessary in heaven, why do we need to have it here on earth?

The first answer is that marriage is a biological necessity, like the need to eat, to rest, and to breath. It is necessary for our survival, especially as a species on earth. Yet, if marriage is just biological need, then why does the Church honor greatly the marriage? Why does the devil and his cohorts try their best to destroy the traditional institution of marriage? Marriage must not be only about biology, but also God’s design for men and women. Marriage is not just biological or cultural motivated, but divinely planned. Yet, if marriage is part of God’s plan, why does it cease in heaven?

The answer lays on the purpose of marriage itself. Marriage is a means for men and women to give themselves totally in love. It empowers us to go beyond ourselves and love radically. It is a way of holiness, a staircase to heaven. Now, if we have reached our goal in heaven, then the marriage, as the means, is no longer necessary. Marriage has served its purpose.

This is the reason that holy marriage is fundamental on earth. The Savior also raises the dignity of marriage to a sacrament because it is truly a means of holiness (see CCC 1601), just like the sacrament of baptism or penance. Before men and women become like angels, we must live fully as human persons on earth, and one of the best ways to make us live fully as men and women of God is marriage.

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Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Zacchaeus and the Tree

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31st Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
October 30,
Luke 19:1-10

In time of Jesus, tax collector is considered a grave sinner because they are colluding with the Roman occupiers, and often, they are involved in various dirty activities to enrich themselves. On the top of that, the tax collectors tend not to observe the laws of Moses as often, they work on Sabbath. Now, Zacchaeus is the chief tax collector of important city Jericho. Indeed, he is one of the richest guys in town, but at the same time, the most hated person.

Luke also describes Zacchaeus as ‘short’ in stature. The Greek word is ‘μικρὸς’ (mikros), that simply means ‘small’. Zacchaeus is a small man. We do not know how small he is, but he is not tall enough for the average Jewish men at that time. Thus, when Jesus passes by, he is not able to overcome the heights of other Jewish people swarming Jesus. He then takes the initiative to climb a tree, and to his surprise, Jesus takes notice of him. It seems that Jesus has been waiting for him. In the end, it is not Zacchaeus that is looking for us, but Jesus is the one searching Zacchaeus, one of His lost sheep.

There are several things to ponder. If Zacchaeus is truly rich and powerful figure, why don’t he hire some bodyguards as to open the way to Jesus? Why don’t he send someone to invite Jesus? He has the power and wealth to facilitate his way to Jesus, but he chooses the more arduous way, that is, to climb the sycamore tree. The real answer remains mystery, but by climbing the tree, he finds his Lord and salvation. Interestingly, what Zacchaeus does, prefigures what Jesus will do in Jerusalem. He will ‘climb’ the tree of the cross, and from there, He brings redemption to whole world.

If Adam and Eve ate the fruits of the forbidden tree because they were tempted to take the shortcut and be like ‘god’, Jesus, the true God, carries the tree of the cross, ‘climbs’ the tree and from the tree, He gives us His life for our redemption. Zacchaeus follows the footsteps of Jesus, and climbs the tree to overcome his smallness and finds his God. Like Zacchaeus who discovers that the Lord has been waiting for him, we are also invited to climb our trees, to see our Lord who has been giving His life for us.

What is our tree? This can be the tree of sufferings and trials. This may be financial instabilities, health problems, difficult relations in the family, or failures in life. These things make us feel that we are small, short, and crammed, and worse, unable to see Jesus. Yet, if we are faithfully carrying the life’s trials, and spiritually unite our sufferings with the suffering of Christ in the cross, we believe that it would not be useless. Jesus is on the tree of the cross, and He is waiting for those, like Zacchaeus, makes humble effort to climb the tree.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP