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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

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 3, 2021
Mark 10:2-16

Some people accuse the Church of being old-fashioned because Catholic marriage is a monogamous and permanent union. We are denounced for being insensitive and inflexible to various marriage problems that rock the spouses and demand divorce. The Catholic Church is blamed for the unhappy marriages because we refuse to hear the demands of post-modern societies.

However, many forget that divorce, adultery, infidelity, and domestic violence are older than Jesus and the Church He founded. These awful things have been taking place since the dawn of humanity. What is old-fashioned and causing unhappiness is nothing but sin. Jesus’ teaching on marriage is radical because He bulldozes various thick walls of sins and returns to the original plan for God.

When the Pharisees tested Jesus and brought up the issue of divorce, they would expect that Jesus would like to take a side either with the conservative view of divorce or the more relaxed one. After all, Moses permitted divorce. Yet, Jesus seized the moment and dropped the bomb. He did not take a side, but He revoked Moses’ permit on divorce. Jesus knew well that Moses had been forced to issue that regulation because of the hardness of hearts.

Jesus reminded the Pharisees of the original plan of God for men and women. By quoting the Book of Genesis, Jesus taught that man and woman could find true happiness neither in ‘animals’ nor things nor manipulate another man or woman. Jesus, as the creator of marriage, reiterated that only by ‘leaving their father and mother’ and ‘be one with his wife’ can a man be one whole body. This is a powerful language that man and woman can find true wholeness by giving themselves totally to each other.

Monogamous marriage is a divine and human institution to protect and encourage spouses to give their lives entirely and love radically. Husbands are invited to become more mature men and assume the role of protector, provider, and leader. Wives are called to be more loving and to become someone who genuinely nurtures and educates. As they give each other more, the more they grow and the more they rediscover themselves, and the more they find greater joy.

With more mature and loving couples, marriage becomes the best place to grow for our children. It is where they are received, protected, and loved. Here, they learn the first best values in their lives: love, fidelity, justice, commitment, and sacrifice.

Some people say that this kind of marriage is too complicated and too beautiful to be true. Yet, it is pure and simply beautiful. What makes things in marriage complicated and challenging is sin. Domestic violence creates deep and traumatic wounds, and our children may grow as violent adults. Adultery destroys fidelity and trust and forms the children into someone who is distrustful. Divorce injures human relations permanently and leads our children into turmoil.

While it is true that marriage life can be extremely tough, husbands and wives are not never alone. God who calls them into communion will provide the necessary grace. And with God’s grace, even the trials and hardship in marriage can turn into an occasion of love and growth.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP