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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
November 7, 2021
Mark 12:38-44

We have two main characters in our Gospel today. The first one is the scribes and then the poor widow. The scribes are the elite class of the ancient Israelite society. They are the learned ones because they know how to read and write, extremely precious skills during those times. Their ability to access the Torah makes them powerful because they read and teach the Law, and ordinary people should listen to them. At the other end of the spectrum, we have the poor widow. Being a woman in the time of Jesus is undoubtedly not the best time. Women generally are not allowed to possess or inherit properties. This causes them to rely heavily on their male family members, like their father, siblings, or husbands. Thus, if a woman loses her husband, she loses her protector and provider, and a widow with no sons is the neediest. But, here comes the surprise.

Jesus praises the poor widow because her poverty and misery do not stop her from becoming generous. Perhaps, she offers to the Lord the last two small coins she has, and she may go hungry for the rest of the day. Yet, her love and faith in God are enormous. She does not hold to her life-saving coins, but she trusts that God will take care of her.

Meanwhile, without a second thought, Jesus condemns the scribes. Jesus reveals His reason: the scribes are at the top of the Israelite society and Jewish religious hierarchy, but they care about their self-interests. They use every opportunity to advance their glories and fame. They desire the best seats, the highest place, and the greatest honor from the people around them. This megalomanic tendency can be tolerated, but there is one thing that is almost unforgivable. By using their knowledge of the Law, they are manipulating and exploiting the poor neighbors. There is a possibility that the poor widow is one of their victims. No wonder that Jesus calls them ‘the devourers of the poor widows. With their privileges and wisdom, they are supposed to aid and improve the lives of the poor Israelites. Yet, they do the opposite and turn to cause greater suffering for these simple people. They are masters of the Law, but they stand in direct opposition to God’s Law, “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan” [Exo 22:22].

Today’s Gospel is a slap on the face for many of us, especially for the people who are entrusted with God’s Word, with positions of authority in the Church, and with the power of the sacraments. Time and again, Jesus reminds His disciples that the first shall be the servant of all. The higher the position is, the greater love and service will be, especially to the poor and the needy. As priests, we must be responsible for using Church’s properties and goods, we are called to serve with dedication, we are to offer our lives for the people, otherwise, we shall commit grave injustice to the people of God. We pray that we will not receive the same condemnation as the scribes.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
October 31, 2021
Mark 12:28-34

A few days ago, I gave a seminar on the rosary, and I received a tricky question, “What if our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary make us love Mary than Jesus?” Honestly, my instinctive reaction was that our love for Jesus should be greatest to anyone or anything. I could not be wrong with that answer. However, the same question bothers me. If to love Jesus is the only thing matters, why should we love His Mother, why we should honor St. Joseph, His foster father, and why should we serve His Church? Then, I realized that with this logic, I could say that a husband does not have to love his wife totally, just Jesus; a mother does not have to take care of her children fully, just Jesus; a priest does not have to serve his people committedly, just Jesus. This logic may be misleading.

Today’s Gospel tells us Jesus, who teaches us the first of all commandments: To love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds, and with all our strength, and secondly, to love our neighbors like ourselves. Interestingly, Jesus does not say only to love God with what we have is enough. He adds the second commandment: love our neighbors, and the Second Law is inseparable from the First Law. The key is that to love our neighbors is part and parcel of loving God.

Our love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, like our love for our family and friends, is not in opposition to Christ. St. Joseph, St. Padre Pio, St. Dominic are not competing with God in winning our loves. Our love for our neighbors is an expression of the love of Jesus. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in his treatise ‘On the Love of God’, wrote that the highest kind of love is to love ourselves and others for God’s sake. To put it simply, the more we love the Blessed Virgin, the more we love our family, and the more we love Jesus. If we go deeper into the Bible, we will discover that God is love [1 John 4:8]. God is not competing with your family and friends and feeling jealous when sometimes you prioritize your kids. God is the love that binds us with our loved ones. The more we authentically love our neighbors, the greater God is our hearts.

How do we apply this truth in our daily lives? Indeed, there are times, we need to choose between God and other things, like the state. St. Thomas More, when he was about to be executed, said, “the king’s good servant, but God’s first.” Yet, these are exceptional cases. Most of the time, to love God and to love our neighbors go together. During Sundays, we can bring our children to the Church and worship together as a family. Every night, couples can spend time together in prayer of thanksgiving. In October, families, and communities can pray together the rosary. We are growing closer to each other, closer to our Mother, and even closer to God.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
October 24, 2021
Mark 10:46-52

The story of Bartimaeus is arguably one of the most compelling and beautiful stories in the Gospel. It speaks of a man crushed by unimaginable hardship who relentlessly seeks redemption and meaning in his life. He has to live with blindness and has been struggling with darkness his entire life. Things get worse as a society, and perhaps his family rejects him as a failure. Instead of getting proper help as a person with disabilities, he must face the cruel reality of discrimination. To survive, he must beg from those people who go in and out of the city of Jericho. I do not think that Bartimaeus is some lazy guy who squanders the government’s social program. He is genuinely a victim of an oppressive system. He is the wrong man in the wrong place and at the wrong time.

When Jesus is passing by, Bartimaeus does what he does best: to beg. He recognizes Jesus as the Son of David, the long-awaited Messiah, and begs for pity. Jesus hears his cry for help and calls him. However, something is interesting takes place. Jesus asks him, “what do you want me to do for you?” at first glance, the question seems silly. Of course, Bartimaeus longs to see! Yet, why does Jesus ask that question despite the apparent fact?

Jesus certainly knows what Bartimaeus needs, yet Jesus, as a good teacher, guides him to articulate his deepest desire. Then the miracle happens on a much deeper level. Bartimaeus no longer calls Jesus, ‘Son of David,’ a royal Messiah, and powerful king, but he addresses Jesus as ‘Rabouni’ [my teacher]. Bartimaeus is not simply longing for a perfect 20/20 vision, but fundamentally an intimate communion with Jesus: from a respectful yet distant relation between king and his subject to a warm and empowering friendship between a master and His disciple.

Thus, Bartimaeus’ second request, ‘I want to see,’ must be understood in this light. When his eyes are opened, the first person he sees will be no other than Jesus, his beloved master. His vision is meaningless unless it is to see Jesus. His deepest desire is to see Jesus and to be with Jesus. No wonder if the story ends with Bartimaeus following Jesus in His way.

The story of Bartimaeus is impactful and classic because his story is ours as well. We are blinded by many things that make our souls destitute and lamentable. We are chasing things that impoverish our spiritual lives. We may have the best the world can offer, but we know that we are missing something.

Beato Carlo Acutis famously said, “We are born original, yet many die as photocopies.” We are all born as God’s beautiful and unique image, but as we grow as ‘photocopies’ of celebrities, we watch on TV. We are looking up to social media influencers who parade their sports cars and wealth. We are imitating ‘charismatic’ public figures who do not live virtuous lives. We are blinded and soon die as ugly ‘photocopies.’ Thus, following the lead of the excellent teacher, we need to articulate what our deepest longing in this life is. Hopefully, like St. Thomas Aquinas, we will be able to say, “Nothing but you, O Lord!”

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
October 17, 2021
Mark 10:35-45

James and John are seeking second-most prized positions in the kingdom. To be seated at the king’s right and left means to co-reign with the king himself. Going back to the Old Testament, one who was seated at the right of King Salomon was no other than his queen-mother, Bathsheba. The king himself highly respected the queen-mother, and she was wielding considerable power [1 Sam 1 – 2].

What makes this episode more intriguing is that James and John attempt to grap this position by the shrewd plot. They go directly to Jesus and seize the opportunity when the rest of the disciples are busy with other things. Indeed, when the other disciples are aware of their plot, they become indignant. Why? They also desire the same spot and the power it brings.

Why is it that the disciples are obsessed with power and position? Why do we want power so badly? Simply put, power is the ability to control oneself and others. When we can do what we need to do and what we want to do, we are powerful. When we can control and influence others, we are even more powerful. When we are powerful, we are in control, and when we are in charge, we feel good about ourselves. No wonder if we want power.

Is power something terrible? Not at all! Like other things in this world, power may serve a good purpose. With power, we can perform things that make us grow and achieve our fullest potential. With power, we can help others, and the community achieves progress, prosperity, and the common good. With power, we can prevent others from harming themselves and others. However, like other earthly things, power is susceptible to abuse. The same power can be used to manipulate and destroy ourselves and others.

Jesus understands well the dynamics of power. He does not teach that power is evil, nor something to be eliminated. Instead, He points out the true purpose of power. Jesus shows that power is not about having military might or economic forces. The genuine use of power is to serve one another. Jesus even goes one step further that the freest and most powerful man is the one who freely gives up his life so that others may have life to the fullest. True power is not about having and accumulating more power and control but giving and empowering others. Power corrupts when inside our hearts are slaved by sins.

What is impressive about power is that practically everyone has it. Now, it is up to us to use this power to serve others or to destroy them. A mother may exercise her power over her baby in her womb by taking care of the baby, but the same mother may use her power to destroy and abort it. A priest can exercise his power to sanctify his people and educate them in the ways of the Lord, or he can use them to gain a more comfortable life and even popularity. Jesus reminds us that there is no greater power than one who freely offers his life so that others may live to the fullest.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP
photocredit: jasmin staab

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
October 10, 2021
Mark 10:17-27

When the rich man begged for eternal life from Jesus, He mentioned the two most fundamental tenets of the Jewish religion: the ‘Shema’ and the Ten Commandments. Shema is the first Hebrew is ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord is God, the Lord alone…” [Deu 6:4]. Shema has become a basic prayer and creedal statement for the Jewish people since Jesus’ time. A good Jew will recite ‘Shema’ at least thrice a day. Jesus slightly modified Shema when He said, “…Only God alone is good.” Jesus also recited the Ten Commandments, at least the second half of it. Jesus emphasized the rich man’s obligations to do good and avoid harm to others.

Jesus seemed to tell the man that living the Shema and doing the Lord’s commandment was what he needed to do to gain eternal life. However, there was an intriguing twist in the story. The rich man said that he had done that since he was young. Now, instead of feeling satisfied with his accomplishment, he felt something remained missing. Despite doing what the Law required and believing in one true God, he did not find what he was honestly longing for. He expected Jesus to give him the answer, the missing link.

Jesus recognized the sincerity of the man and loved him. Jesus offered him the final piece that would solve his life’s puzzle: to follow Jesus. Yet, through His divine wisdom, Jesus was able also to identify one enormous obstacle to follow Jesus and gain eternal life. This man was attached to his wealth. Thus, the solution was to radically detach himself from the wealth, like ‘camel through an eye of a needle.

Is wealth evil? Not at all! Material possessions are good because this too is created by God and God’s blessing. St. Paul reminded us that evil is not the richness itself but the love of money [1 Tim 6:10]. Wealth is good if it serves as a means to an end and not the end itself. Jesus allowed Himself and His ministry to be supported by resourceful men and women.

To follow Jesus means using our wealth to serve God and help others, especially the poor. To follow Jesus means that we recognize that richness is God’s blessing to be shared. To follow Jesus is acknowledging that pursuit of earthly possessions without God is bound to lose God, the source of all wealth.

However, following Jesus and making our other priorities like money, fame, and success as means rather than the end is a radical choice. These earthly possessions often give us an instant pleasure and feeling of security. With a lot of money, we can do what we want and have what we desire. Yet, these pleasures and security are nothing but a mirage. In 2008, the financial crisis hit many countries hard, and many economies collapsed. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminded us, “those who seek success, career or money are building on sand.” True, wealth without God is nothing but a ‘sand’.
We seek first the Kingdom of God, and the rest will follow. We follow Jesus first, and the other things will fall into place.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP
photocredit: vince gx