obedience

BEING A DISCIPLE and BECOMING A DISCIPLER

May 26, 2024 by Eddie Leave a Comment

Our passage today is the last passage from the last chapter of the gospel by Matthew. This passage is usually called “The Great Commission”, when Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This passage from Matthew is very similar to the last passage of the last chapter of Mark’s gospel. And in Mark’s version, he adds a little detail saying that after Jesus gave these instructions, He was lifted up into heaven. While that ascension of Jesus is indeed a marvelous spectacle (and how we wish we were there to witness it), we want to relish these words of Jesus because they were the LAST words He ever spoke in person, and I encourage you to continue to reflect on these words in the coming days so that you will appreciate how much importance Jesus wanted to place in these words that He left for His disciples, and for you and me and all mankind.

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OUR OBEDIENCE IS MOST PLEASING TO GOD

April 29, 2024 by Eddie Leave a Comment

In the gospel for today from John 14, 21-26, Jesus teaches His disciples that the way to demonstrate their love for Him is to obey His teachings and commands. Verse 21 says: “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” (NIV)

Other translations would put it this way: “The one who OBEYS me is the one who loves me. ” (TLB) “Those who really love me are the ones who not only know my commands but also OBEY them.” (ERV) “If you love me, you will DO WHAT I HAVE SAID.” (CEV) I think that’s clear, right?

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THE ROAD TO OUR CALVARY IS OUR PATHWAY OF HOPE

March 31, 2024 by Eddie Leave a Comment

I trust that you’ve all been keeping step with the celebration of the Holy Triduum during the past days, and that you’ve spent quality time reflecting on and studying the significance of the passion and death of Jesus. And now this, the resurrection of Jesus. While we read John’s version of the story in chapter 20:1-9, you may also want to read the different nuances of the same story reported by Matthew, Mark and Luke.

For today, rather than focusing on those nuances and details of the resurrection, I invite you to reflect on the significance of Christ’s resurrection from the perspective of the obedience of Jesus in taking up His cross.

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LET’S DO GOOD ANYWAY

January 31, 2024 by Eddie Leave a Comment

Today’s gospel narrates another interesting episode in the life of Jesus. The three gospel writers, Mark, Matthew and Luke wrote about the same incident, some with more details and preceding events than others. Today we reflect on Mark’s version found in the opening verses (1-6) of chapter 6. This is the story when Jesus pays a visit to his hometown in Nazareth, and has a chance to preach in their synagogue on the Sabbath, in his usual eloquent and amazing style. However, his kababayans – though they are amazed at his depth of preaching – are not impressed and cynically put him down saying: “Where did this man get these things? He’s just a carpenter! He’s Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. Who does he think he is?” Apparently, they had judged Him in their minds beforehand, and had already tagged Him as unworthy of their attention.

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ALL THE COMMANDS OF JESUS

May 4, 2021 by Eddie 1 Comment

In an earlier article entitled LISTING DOWN ALL THAT JESUS COMMANDED, I wrote about my desire to have a list of all the commands of Jesus. This was in connection with what Jesus said in Matt 28: “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” So, I went back to all the four gospels and listed all the commands that Jesus gave to his disciples, and which in my mind, I thought He wanted all His disciples then, and now and forever, to follow.

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