1st Sunday of Lent (A)

Short Reflection for the 1^st Sunday of Lent (A)

Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 3: 1-7; Romans 5: 12-19; Matthew 4: 1-11

Text:  “Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." (Matthew 4: 8-9)

Meditation:  Bread, Wealth and Powers are very strong temptations. We have our own price tag and when the call comes… we, often, find ourselves “sold”! Jesus’ temptations speak to us this season of Lent. We need to re-affirm that we are more than bread, power and wealth!

Visit:  www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.

Seeing in a Deeper Way

SEEING IN A DEEPER WAY

We always assume that it tells us that Paul was struck blind by his vision, but I think, the text implies more. It tells us that Paul got up off the ground with his eyes wide open, seeing nothing.  That doesn’t necessarily equate with physical blindness. He may well have been seeing physically, but he wasn’t seeing the meaning of what he was getting himself into. Someone had to come and open his eyes, not just so that he could see again physically but especially that he could see more deeply into the mystery of Christ. Seeing, truly seeing, implies more than having eyes that are physically healthy and open. We all see the outer surface of things, but what’s beneath isn’t as automatically seen.

We see this most clearly at those times when Jesus heals people who are blind.  He’s giving them more than just physical sight; he’s opening their eyes so that that can see more deeply. But that’s only an image. How might it be unpackaged? How can the grace and teachings of Jesus help us to see in a deeper way? Here are some suggestions:

·        By shifting our eyes from seeing through familiarity to seeing through wonder.

·        By shifting our eyes from seeing through jealousy to seeing through admiration.

·        By shifting our eyes from seeing through bitterness to seeing through eyes purified and softened by grief.

·        By shifting our eyes from seeing through relevance to seeing through contemplation.

·        By shifting our eyes from seeing through anger to seeing through forgiveness.

·        By shifting our eyes from seeing through longing and hunger to seeing through gratitude.

To read more click here or copy this address into your browser http://ronrolheiser.com/seeing-in-a-deeper-way/#.WKsNXRC31E4
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8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Short Reflection for the 8^th Sunday in the ordinary time (A)

Readings: Isaiah 49.14-15; 1 Corinthians 4.1-5; and Matthew 6.24-34.

Gospel Passage: “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

 Meditation:  Jesus invites us to “consider the birds of the air - they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds.” What holds true for food applies also to clothing and other necessities of life … “consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these” (Mt. 6: 28). The challenge for each one is to TRUST and believe that we are indeed GREATER than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field!  Visit:  www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.

New Platform for Muslim - Christian Relations

Muslim-Christian Relations...

There is a contemporary New Charter for Muslim Christian Relations that is contained in the Muslim Letter to the Christian Leaders of the World. The Letter was sent by 138 Muslim Scholars, Mufti, Imams, Theologians and Academicians (by far the widest consensus among the Muslim Scholars and Ulama). Today there are above 500 more doctors, theologians, and jurists and muftis that have joined the original 138 Muslim scholars. The title of the Letter is "Common Word between Us and You..." issued at the end of Ramadan in 2007.

It is the contemporary reading and interpretation of the Qur'an and the Tradition of the Prophet in the contemporary world of multi-culturalism!

The letter is a MUST read for All Muslims and Christians as well...!

The "Custodian" of the Letter is the Bayt Foundation (The House of the Prophet Foundation) under the Royal patronage of the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan.

Friends who need to read a copy may either download it from Google by simply searching for it and type Common Word. An easy way is to give me your email address to my messenger... and I will send you the copy...

Yesterday, I launched the presentation of the Common Word at the Divine Mercy Spiritual Center in Tamontaka, Dinaig, Maguindanao. I posted the 15 slides in the power point presentation for your reflection...

I will organize a special session of people interested in Muslim-Christian Relations to reflect and study more the Letter - the Common Word between Us and You...

Paz y Bien!

Fr. Jun Mercado, OMI

Badaliyya - Philippines

February 14, 2017

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Short Reflection for the 7^th Sunday in the Ordinary Time (A)

Readings: Leviticus 19: 1-2. 17-18, I Corinthians 3: 16-23; Matthew 5: 38-48

Gospel Text: “You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if someone wishes to go to law with you to get your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone requires you to go one mile, go two miles with him. (Mt. 5: 38-41)       

Meditation:  The gospel passage tells the NEWNESS of Jesus’ message: It is NO longer an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth – the Lex Talionis of old! Jesus says NO to vengeance! Jesus is challenging his followers to ‘offer no resistance to the wicked; offer also the other cheek; give our cloak as well; and walk the extra mile.

He speaks of forgiving those who offend or injure us; to love our enemies, as well; and to walk the extra mile. This, indeed, would tell that we are followers of Christ. Walking the extra mile; giving also our coat as well; and loving our enemies is the real meaning of that ‘MORE’ that is required of Jesus’ disciples. This is th newness mof the Jesus’ Message! Visit:  www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Short Reflection for the 6^th Sunday in the Ordinary Time (A)

Readings: Sirach 15: 15-20; 1 Corinthians 2: 6-10; Matthew 5: 17-37

Selected Passage: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5: 20)

Meditation:  The real challenge of the Christian message is not simply to perform what the Law requires but to do MORE.  This echoes what the Lord said of giving not only our shirt but our cloak as well… or walking the extra mile!  The other way of understanding what is BEYOND the virtues of the scribe and the Pharisee is to LOVE not only our friends but also our enemies, as well. And we measure our love not by words and rituals by our concrete deeds!

Visit:  www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Short Reflection for the 5^th Sunday in the ordinary time (A)

Readings: Isaiah 58: 7-10; I Corinthians 2: 1-5; Matthew 5: 13-16

Selected Passage: “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.” (Matthew 5: 13)

Meditation:  Christians are called to give taste to both individual and communal lives. In modern parlance, the taste or flavor to life is the ‘value added’ of Christianity or of following Jesus.  This is translated concretely through our deed - by walking “the extra mile” in helping/assisting our neighbors in need; by “giving also our coat” as well in helping the poor; and by “loving our enemies and praying for them”.  In short, our Christianity lies in our doing and living that ‘MORE’ for others that is required of ALL Jesus’ disciples. Visit:  www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR PRAYER SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.

Badal: Fr. Louis Massignon

Badal: Louis Massignon

1.  Charity.  It is an active and sensitive charity.  Solidarity understood as the ability to suffer with those who suffer injustice.  It is an attempt to liberate … at least to know how to protest with sorrow.  It is to accompany the poor with help and sympathy. Charity is shown with great delicate respect to a person before many and varied religious option.

2. Figure of Abraham.  The figure of Abraham is a mystery of election and exclusion.  Is it also a mystery of acceptance and a mystery of rejection?  Ismael vs. Israel, David and Paul…  Hadith has it: “No one is truly a believer until one prefers not for his brother what one prefers for himself.”

3.  Badal – Substitution.  Louis Massignon had “discovered” the reality of BADAL – Substitution for the reparation of injustices and for witnessing to the poor and victims of injustices.  Substitution demands an offer of the total self – similar to the test of fire.  The witness “par excellence” is the one who does complete or offered as a total ransom that is lacking in truth that God knows… Massignon found this in the life and martyrdom of Husayn at Kerbala in the Shi’a Theology.  Husayn is the vivification of the mystery of redemption.

• The Ram in place of Isaac
• The Paschal Lamb for the first born of Israel
• The tribe of Levi for the nation of Israel
• Jesus for humanity.

       4. Examples used by Fr. Louis Massignon…

• The demand on the part of Christians at Najran
• The offer of St. Francis at Damietta
• The Desire of St. Raymund of Lull
• The acceptance of Fr. Massignon mystically to become Badal…

In their lives, each person is assumed by Christ, ransomed by him and in return they assume and ransom others … assuming unto themselves all others and standing in the place of others notwithstanding their weaknesses before the mystery of God through via dolorosa unto the violent death of the cross.

        5. Values Lived by Badal…

• Hospitality.  He discovered hospitality when wounded in battle and cared for by Muslims.  “I had been saved in the Muslim land by the virtue of the obligation of sanctuary lived heroically by my Muslim hosts notwithstanding the espionage and betrayal that they denounced before me.” He discovered that in Islam the priority of sanctuary is over the obligation of the just war. The praxis of hospitality made Massignon understand the sense of Abrahamic faith – communicated not by logic but by living intuition emerging from a life lived in their midst.  “I share the trust of the Muslims in the God of hospitality.”  The hospitality of Abraham is the sign that announces the final end of gathering all nations. The host is God’s envoy.  He is the person that welcomes strangers, heals the sick, clothes the naked…

• Person is a Shahid (witness). In Islam the person is above all a witness.  The Semitic language is a language of witness.  Spirituality is intimately linked to language – which one speaks.

• The Person in Prayer - Dhikr (through Remembrance of God).

Bapa Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, OMI

                  Badaliyya - Philippines
    
                  Prayer Session - January 26th, 2017