WE ARE PEACE

December 3, 2024 – Tuesday of the First Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120324.cfm)

(A Homily on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Mindanao State University Gym-Marawi Bombing that caused the lives of 4 and wounded many during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2023)

“A growing seed makes no sound but a falling tree creates huge and echoing noise.” This is a quote I got from pinterest.com which expresses the power and miracle of silence and the destruction behind noise.

Indeed, creation is silent while destruction is loud. In the same way, God growing in us is silent. God’s coming and arrival can only be realized when we too learn to listen in God’s silent coming. The noise of our anger, of our bitterness and pain, of our desperation and anxiety, of our fear and trauma may prevent us from listening to God’s silent coming. Those noises will only bring us to destruction and not to growth and to peace.

In fact, as I have listened to the testimonies to some of you who were there present during the bombing exactly a year ago, would describe such event to be very loud. Some have problems with their hearing even until now. Some because of the trauma would become anxious and fearful when you hear again loud noises. Aaron, the youngest of the survivors of the bombing, according to his mother, would even be bothered and afraid even to the noise coming from a dripping faucet.

Yet, despite all this we have come together today not to celebrate what happened a year ago (because it was not something to be celebrated) but to remember it, to remind ourselves how violence could destroy the lives of many. Thus, as we remember that terrifying event in the life of our community, let us listen to the silent revelations of God that brings healing, freedom and peace.

Now, let us explore the readings today and situate ourselves with God’s invitations for us.

The Book of Prophet Isaiah, in the first reading, reminds us that a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. It describes to us how the Messiah will come from the linage of Jesse, who was the father of King David. The coming of Jesus as prophesied by Isaiah will be silent as a shoot sprouts and as a bud blooms.

What makes it more fruitful for us is on how such attentiveness to the silent coming of our God brings grace. The Spirit of the Lord shall also bless us with wisdom and understanding, with counsel and strength, with knowledge and fear of the Lord. As the Lord brings peace to us, so shall we also become peace.

Yes, despite our fears and in the midst of pain and violence that our community has endured, we are called to become peace itself. We are peace. Each of us is PEACE, because Jesus, the Prince of Peace is with us. In fact, the Responsorial Psalm proclaims to us, “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.” For us to become confident of this, I invite you now to touch our hearts with our right hand, and let us say together, “I AM PEACE. WE ARE PEACE.”

Indeed, to become loud, to overwhelm ourselves with distractions whatever that may be, will stop us to see and recognize the Lord.  This is how Jesus criticized the attitude of those people during His time who claimed to be the “masters of the world, the wise and the learned.” They make so much noise by claiming the knowledge that they have gained in many years of experiences. Yet, such arrogance prevented them to learn new things and to be welcoming. These attitudes prevented them to receive God’s revelations and invitations.

Indeed, when we too become so loud in the way we speak, we will not be able to listen to what others are saying. When our minds and hearts are also filled with loud noises of fear, anger, hatred and anxiety, we will not able to listen. In consequence, we become restless and even violent towards ourselves and others.

However, Jesus reminds us how the Father reveals the mystery of salvation, of His gift of healing and peace to the childlike. Of course, God reveals His mystery to all but only the children and the childlike are blessed to receive God’s blessing, simply because of the qualities of being welcoming, humble and receptive.

This is why Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see,” because God revealed Himself to the childlike. To be childlike calls us now to have a heart that is free from any judgments and biases, of any pretensions and entitlements, free from fear and anger.

This is how we are called today both in this Season of Advent and on this day as we remember that dreadful and traumatic day of violence and fear of the MSU Gym Bombing.

Indeed, individually, we may have achieved many things in life, we may have gained many experiences, or we may also be carrying a truck load of fear and anxiety in our hearts and minds, concerns and struggles in our studies, work or family life, yet, let us not allow these things to overwhelm us. Let us not allow our fear to put off the fire of our faith. Let us not allow that terrorism to undermine our hope for healing, reconciliation and peace.  We let go of them so that we will be able to move forward by learning on how to see, listen, observe and be more attentive of God’s silent revelations in us. Hinaut pa.