TOPIC: FINDING YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE

GOSPEL READING: Mark 7:31-37

31 Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the
district of the Decapolis.
32 And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay
his hand on him.
33 He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and,
spitting, touched his tongue;
34 then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” – that is, “Be
opened!”
35 And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he
spoke plainly.
36 He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
37 They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the
deaf hear and the mute speak.”

BIBLE STUDY: The GOSPEL of MARK

 SYMBOL: LION
For Mark started his gospel with the preaching of John the Baptist in the desert.
 The Gospel of Mark was probably written after the fall of Jerusalem in the year 70 CE.
 OLDEST GOSPEL
 There are still so many doubts regarding the authorship of Mark (Acts 12:12) but it is
quite certain that it was written for the Gentile Christians.
Proofs:
1. The audience of this Gospel does not know the Hebrew at Aramaic language. The
following are always being explained.
Ex. Mk. 3:17: “Boanerges” – “Sons of Thunder”
Mk. 5:41 : “Talitha Koumi” – “Little girl, rise up!
2. Many said that Mark was writing for the Suffering and Persecuted Christians.
(Mk. 13:9-13)
 Principal Division of the Gospel
1. The preparation of the Public Ministry of Jesus (1:1-13)
2. The Mystery of Jesus (1:14-8:26)
3. The Mystery Begins to be Revealed (8:27-9:32)
 4. The Full Revelation of the Mystery (9:33-16:8)
 TRIVIA: Canonical ending of Mark
a. . Mk 16:8 “Shorter Ending”
b. Mk. 16:9-20 is the longer ending. Probably edited by the Jewish scholars or Medieval
translators
 Jesus is portrayed as the Suffering Messiah (Isaiah 53 1-9)
LECTIO DIVINA: and said to him, “Ephphatha!” – that is, “Be opened!”
BUKAS-YAON!
When I was in my fourth year of High School I was undecided what course I would take.
Mom wanted me to take either Dentistry or Education. However, with an unexpected event, God
led me into what God wants.
One day, our guidance counselor summoned all the boys in our section, we thought we
are in trouble again because our class is the lousiest section. We went to the auditorium, lo and
behold, we saw eight men wearing their clericals giving a talk about life in the seminary. At first,
I was not interested but they let us took the entrance exam after the talk so I complied. After that
week was frustrating, letters from universities came saying that I didn’t get the cut-off. I was a
horrible student in high school. I aimed at universities in Manila that are not my level. A week
after that, a letter came saying that I passed the entrance exam. I was about to jump when I read
the letter but to my surprise, it was a letter from the seminary. However, it said I passed and I
was still jubilant. That made me try again to take an entrance exam to the seminary from which I
graduated at.
To cut the long story short, I passed the entrance test and continue the process until I was
accepted. When I was in the seminary, my higher years brothers were bullying me. I can’t stand
it and I was planning to leave. I was just a month in the seminary. I was homesick. One night I
found myself in the chapel crying asking God if he wanted me to stay and if that’s God’s plan for
me. The morning after that crying moment, homesickness was gone and I learn to accept their
bullying. However, series of experiences made me doubt again about my calling to the
priesthood – i.e. girls. Again, I found myself praying in Baclaran Church asking God if the
priesthood was not for me then lead me the way. God heard my prayer, I was not for the
priesthood. I left the seminary after 7 beautiful yet challenging years.
I taught at Holy Family Academy. Had a girlfriend for seven years and met wonderful
people who are still good friends up to now. After 4 years, I transferred to Holy Angel University
where Erik, Kyra, Telle, Marc, and Jek became close friends. After 7 years, I left and continued
my further studies. I stopped working for a year since my scholarship is paying for my living
expense. But something is missing that year. I miss the noisy students, I miss the classroom, and
especially I miss being a teacher. The next year, I started teaching again. There that I have
discovered my mission in life, a teacher. I was dreaming before preaching in the pulpit but God
has other plans, me teaching in the classroom.
 Then I have learned to know the will of God we must be open to other possibilities.
Ephphatha! Magbukas ka! Huwag mong isara ang pinto mo sa gusto ng Diyos sa buhay mo. If
you will be open to God then you will find your purpose in life. Romans 8:28 says “We know
that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose”.
Meaning, if we love God we will respond to what he wants in our lives. He has a purpose for us.
Isaiah 46:10 reminds us that “At the beginning I declare the outcome; from of old, things are not
yet done. I say that my plan shall stand, I accomplish my every desire.” Meaning that the will of
God will prevail no matter what. It is said in Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans of the human
heart, but it is the decision of the Lord that endures.” Also, Job (42:2) reminds us that “I know
that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.” So, whatever we do
God wins in the end. His will be done!
We need to be open, we need to accept God’s will because God’s will prevails. But what
if the plan of God is painful or I don’t want it what am I going to do? God will answer through
the prophet Jeremiah 29:11, “ For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the
Lord—plans for your welfare and not for woe, to give you a future of hope.” God knows what’s
best for us. But it’s still painful, what am I going to do? Let’s continue the following verses 12-
14 “ When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me,
you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me—oracle of the
Lord—and I will change your lot; I will gather you together from all the nations and all the
places to which I have banished you—oracle of the Lord—and bring you back to the place from
which I have exiled you.” Alam ni Lord what’s best for you. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:11
“If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will
your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.” Therefore, PRAY that God will
deliver you from the test (Mt 6:13).
Bukas yaon!Bukas’yon! Kailangan mong magbukas para punan ng biyaya ng Diyos ang
iyong kalulangan. Magbukas! Para malaman mo ang gusto ng Diyos para sayo. Kahit takpan mo
pa ng tenga mo at isara ang puso mo, kahit magtago ka pa makikita ka niya.
Let’s pray PSALM 139
Lord, you have probed me, you know me:
2 you know when I sit and stand;[b]
you understand my thoughts from afar.
3 You sift through my travels and my rest;
with all my ways you are familiar.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
Lord, you know it all.
5 Behind and before you encircle me
and rest your hand upon me.
 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
far too lofty for me to reach.

7 Where can I go from your spirit?

From your presence, where can I flee?
8 If I ascend to the heavens, you are there;
if I lie down in Sheol, there you are.
9 If I take the wings of dawn[c]
and dwell beyond the sea,
10 Even there your hand guides me,
your right hand holds me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me,
and night shall be my light”[d]—
12 Darkness is not dark for you,
and night shines as the day.
Darkness and light are but one.

II
13 You formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, because I am wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works!
My very self you know.
15 My bones are not hidden from you,
When I was being made in secret,
fashioned in the depths of the earth.[e]
16 Your eyes saw me unformed;
in your book all are written down;
 my days were shaped, before one came to be.

III
17 How precious to me are your designs, O God;
how vast the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sands;
when I complete them, still you are with me.
19 When you would destroy the wicked, O God,
the bloodthirsty depart from me!
20 Your foes who conspire a plot against you
are exalted in vain.

IV
21 Do I not hate, Lord, those who hate you?
Those who rise against you, do I not loathe?
22 With fierce hatred I hate them,
enemies I count as my own.

23 Probe me, God, know my heart;

try me, know my thoughts.
24 See if there is a wicked path in me;
lead me along an ancient path.[f] Amen.
SHARING

CLOSING PRAYER

ASSIGNMENT:
Invite people in our Bible Sharing.