Sunday, August 13, 2023

Mary Magdelene's Confession: The Chosen Reflection Pt.3

 Mary Magdalene is ashamed. She has fallen back into her old life and ways, she has sinned deeply and is ashamed to go back, to meet Jesus. Mary, Jesus' mother accompanies her to the tent where Jesus is. She doesn't say anything, but just listens to the interaction between Mary Magdalene and her Son. I'm sure she sees his gentleness, compassion and mercy shining as he speaks with his beloved apostle.

Jesus looks at her [Mary Magdalene] and says warmly and reassuringly, "It's good to have you back."

"I don't think I can do it." Mary says sadly, emotional to the core, with her head and eyes to the ground and her tears dropping. 

"Do what?" Jesus asks uncertain of her answer. 

Mary says in a vague way, "Live up to it." Her eyes are still downcast.

"I just want your heart.

'The Father wants your heart. Give us that, what you already have. And the rest will come in time.

Do you really think you would never struggle or sin again?

Look at me. I forgive you."

Mary looks up at him and cries, but with tears of gratitude and her and Jesus hug each other warmly.

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Isn't that how it is when we go to confession? We are timid, uncertain, ashamed, guilty of our sins. But Jesus looks at us with tenderness, full of love and mercy, desiring to forgive us and make us new. He admires our humility, and when the priest gives the absolution- Jesus embraces us with his compassion and mercy, just like he did as depicted in The Chosen.

And Our Lady, standing there, accompanying us on the journey, strengthens and comforts us and listens to her Son and helps us do the same.

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Do You Want to Be Healed? - The Chosen Reflection Pt. 2

  Jesus says hello, and then asks, 'Do you want to be healed?' The man who has been unable to walk for decades looks at him with disbelief, and amazement. Finally, what he has been waiting for so long will come into fruition. He will be able to enter into the water, the pool where he has been laying near for years upon years. 

'Will you carry me into the water?' the man anxiously asks. But Jesus has another way in mind. He says that the pool means nothing and will not do anything for him. In a way, it can be seen as an idol. The man is forlorn upon these words and then complains that he has never been able to enter into the water because whenever he tries, he is always stepped over and trampled upon by the others getting to the same place. 

Jesus strictly and plainly says, 'I'm not talking about others, or who's helping you or not. Look at me. I'm asking you if you want to be healed?' Jesus' gaze, his eyes, his tenderness and touch of emotion in his eyes says it all. And we can see clearly that Jesus goes back to the main point- instead of focusing on false idols, attachments, and blaming others, he goes back to the root, the source- which is healing. 

The message I received form this episode, and this scene specifically, is to focus on Him instead of our problems. He knows our deepest and truest desires. We can easily make excuses, or hold on to things that enslave us, attachments, hurts as well as false idols causing us to cloud our vision. But there is life, joy and hope when we go to Him in need of healing, as the man once he was healed was able to stand up, walk and take his mat and Jesus told him to do. 


Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Jesus' Loving Gaze- The Chosen Reflection Pt.1

 'Are you ready to do hard things?' This question reverberated with me and felt like this question was directed me too, with Jesus' direct gaze and loving eyes solely focused on the person He was talking to. Jesus was asking directly to Judas, in the TV series, The Chosen once Judas was interested in joining and following him and his mission. Of course, Jesus already knows the outcome of Judas' betrayal, and his passion towards greed and money that overcomes his loyalty and love for Our Lord. But how are we any different? Without God's tender love and mercy, and the grace to be reconverted and restored, we will be the same.

It's a question that we can see in many facets of our lives. Hard things come up, difficult decisions to make, difficult people to love and forgive, various circumstances, etc..

Can I honestly look at Jesus, and say, 'with your help and your grace, I can'. Judas wanted to as well as his answer. At first, he was a little taken a back. He mentioned some of the things he could contribute and give to Jesus' ministry, as well as his talents. But perhaps we have more to give, which is our love and loyalty, our yes to do hard things in love for him. 



Knocking on the Door: The Chosen Reflection Pt. 6

 I saw the biblical image of Jesus knocking on the door in Santiago's room and immediately felt a sense of comfort. I couldn't also ...