Ordinary Time Year B

Theme: The Former and the Later Life of Children of the Kingdom. In what is known as Syro-Ephramite war, king Ahaz of Judah recoursed to the Assyrian king, Tiglath-pileser III, to rescue him from the attack of king Rezin of Aram and king Pekahof Israel because he refused to join their coalition against Assyrian government. Tiglath Pileser III came to the rescue of Ahaz, and defeated king Rezin and king Pekah. At this time, Israel and Judah had been divided, having different kings and different places of worship. But Israel remained part of that totality of Jewish people whom God delivered from Egyptian slavery. Zebulun and Naphtali are the northern part of Galilee, the part of Israel that was first humbled by foreign military invasions, and the region most influenced by foreign cultures and religions. In the first reading, therefore, Zebulun and Naphtali are used to represent the area of Israel that was mostly oppressed by foreign military attacks, and mostly influenced by pagans. In the first reading, the prophecy of Israel makes a two division of the life of the people: their past days, which were marked with humiliation and darkness, and then the future days which would bring God’s glory to this humiliated people. What they suffered in the past would not matter again because what they will encounter in the future will be greater. Their darkness will be replaced with light, their gloomy days will be replaced with days full of glorious light, their gladness and joy will be increased, they will generally experience new things and new life because it is the time of their redemption from the yoke of the Assyrian terror. They will be liberated of the burden which were placed on them by their oppressors. In the gospel reading, Matthew brings this picture of Zebulun and Naphtali, to show how the prophecy of Isaiah about their future glory is realized by the coming of Christ. But surprisingly, instead of Jesus saying something like: “Zebulun and Naphtali, rejoice, for the time of your glory and light to shine is here”, he said “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”. Christ therefore shifted the attention from the earthly joy and gladness to a heavenly glory. The emphasis shifts from the kingdom of Israel and Judah to the kingdom of  heaven. The people need to liberate themselves, no longer of the burden of Assyrian but of the burden of sin. Assyrian burden therefore becomes the metaphor of the burden of sin. There is need for the […]

Readings: Lev 13:1-2,44-46; Psa 31:1-2,5,11; 1 Cor 10:31-11:1; Mk 1:40-45 THEME: “IF YOU WISH TO, YOU CAN HEAL ME”. Dearest friends, the readings of today speak about how leprosy renders one unclean, and in order not to pass over such illness, the leper has to isolate himself from others. But there is one person from