Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Author: A Dose of God Today

  • Repent and Believe in the Gospel

    December 8, 2019 – 2nd Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120819.cfm)

    Homily shared by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR (a Filipino Redemptorist Missionary based in South Korea)

    “Repent and Believe the Gospel”, when was the last time we heard those words? We usually hear those familiar words during Ash Wednesday, when we receive the ashes to mark the beginning of our Lenten observance. This call for repentance and faith is the first challenge Jesus posts us when He preached to us God’s kingdom. All His life has been dedicated to preach to us the Good News that God’s kingdom and Word is upon us. And the first response expected of us is “to repent and believe the Gospel”, i.e. repentance and faith.

    Once again, we hear the same call to repentance and faith as forewarned by John the Baptist in today’s gospel. “Repent for the Kingdom is at hand”. Same message and challenge is presented us: Since the Lord at hand is coming, Repent and Believe in Him then. 

    But what does repentance and faith means? What does it mean to repent and believe in the Gospel? What does it require? What do we have to do?

    To repent and believe, first, we should realize that “there is something wrong here” i.e. something is missing or lacking, or something out of sync or tune “yabag” happening in one’s life. If and when nothing wrong in one’s life, there is nothing to repent, change, and believe in. Second, we realize and admit that “I am the one who is wrong here”, perhaps the main source of it, and that no point of blaming others. Third, we admit that “I need to change and I need help” recognizing God’s mercy and the assistance of others. Fourth, we make a resolution that “I want and choose to be better than before”. And lastly, we commit to someone and something good and better in life, i.e. we declare “I believe in God”. 

    The challenge of repentance and faith requires then the realization that “There is something wrong”, the admission that “I am wrong”, the recognition that “I need help and need to change”, the resolution that “I want and choose to be better”, and the declaration that “I believe in God”. 

    It is like a special person is going to surprise you for a visit you in your house. You realize how messy your house is, and start to worry how to welcome your special guest. Then you admit that it is not only your house but moreso yourself is at mess. Then you try to do something and ask for help. In doing so, you resolve to make your house and yourself better because you now believe that your special guest look up to you and will make your life meaningful and better. 

    Repentance and faith always reminds me of Peter and Judas Iscariot. Both of them are apostles of Jesus, even the most beloved and trusted disciples (leader-treasurer), and have sinned against the Lord (denied-betrayed). What is the difference between them? Judas killed himself. He did not wait for the risen Lord. He did not give the Lord a chance to love and forgive him again. While Peter waited for the risen Lord. And thus gave the Lord a chance to love and forgive him again and anew. To repent and believe in the Gospel, then is our way of giving the Lord the chance to love and forgive us again and anew. It is all about giving God as well as yourself and others another chance in life. 

    The sacrament of reconciliation – popularly known as confession is our Catholic faith and church way of expressing our repentance and faith. During this Advent Season, we are encourage to go to confession as our way of repentance and faith to God so that the Lord have a chance to love and forgive us again and anew. So, go to confession these days.

    Last Sunday, on the first Sunday of Advent, we are challenged to “Stay Awake and Be Prepared for He is coming”, today we are challenged to “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”. 

    As we once again prepare to the Lord’s coming into our lives, may we always “repent and believe in the Gospel” so that His kingdom of love and forgiveness have a chance to be with us always. 

  • Re-Learning the qualities of Children this Advent

    Re-Learning the qualities of Children this Advent

    December 3, 2019 – Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

    Memorial of St Francis Xavier

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120319.cfm)

    Homily

    Do you know the average questions a child asks?

    According to a survey, approximately, a child of about 3 to 5 years old, asks 300 questions a day with with an average of 1 question every 2 minutes. J These questions come from their curiosity. They marvel at everything and are amazed with everything and everyone. This makes a child welcoming to the many surprises that come.

    The innocence of children, their simplicity and humility make them receptive to the many wonders that surround them.

    Thus, children easily recognize what is beautiful, good, amazing and surprising even with simple things. They easily get excited in a simple toy. They are delighted in a simple gift. They respond with pleasure to a simple smile.

    These qualities are without aggression and arrogance but rather filled with humility and openness. It is just interesting how the Book of Isaiah also described the coming of the Messiah. He proclaimed that a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse. He is filled with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. He shall be a just and kind judge and brings peace.

    And as a shoot silently comes out from its branch and so is God. This tells us that God’s unfolding and revelations are done in silence. That is why, when God reveals himself, it is always simple, humble and even ordinary. God does not reveal himself in extravagance and mere popularity that only shows aggression and arrogance.

    In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us how the Father reveals the mystery of salvation, of His gift of healing and peace to the children. 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 and humble. 

    Jesus warned us adults of our tendency to claim that we already know everything. Yes, when we become adults we tend to claim our independence. We ceased to be curious because we become over confident to what we have achieved.

    Jesus criticized the attitude of those people during His time who claimed to be the “masters of the world.” The knowledge that they have gained in many years of experiences prevented them to learn new things. They have become arrogant and unwelcoming. Thus, these attitudes blocked them to receive God’s revelations and invitations.

    We have to be careful then, when we begin to be arrogant with our own success, when we feel superior of what we have become and over-confident of what we have accumulated. These attitudes might prevent us from recognizing the many wonders that God reveals and to His invitations for us. 

    We are reminded today on this first week of Advent, to re-learn our previous qualities when we were children, and to re-learn those qualities through the children around us. These include our openness to the many wonders around us and to be receptive to the many gifts that are being offered to us. 

    Take time then to ask questions, to be surprised even with ordinary things, to be delighted even with simple greetings of smiles around you. Take time to stop and say hello to a friend. You may also take time to witness a sunrise or sunset or even while sipping your coffee and eating your meal. Hopefully, by re-learning the qualities of a child we may also discover more and more how God unfolds His advent, the coming of His presence in us and His blessings for us. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • STAY AWAKE, and BE prepared

    STAY AWAKE, and BE prepared

    December 1, 2019 – First Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120119.cfm)

    Homily shared by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR (a Filipino Redemptorist Missionary in South Korea)

    A mother once knocks at his son’s door and have this following exchange of words. “Son, wake up,” the mother said. The son replied: “Mom, I don’t want to get up.” “Son, Get up now. You have to go to the church today,” mother continued. The son replied, “I don’t want to go to church today”. “Why not?” mom asked. The son snapped, “I will give you three reasons: “I’m too young to go church, it’s dull and boring, and people there don’t like me.” But the mom persisted, “Now, I will give you three reasons you should go to the church. You are already 30 years old, and have to be there today, because it’s your wedding day. So, Wake up and get up now. You are already grown up, enough to just go back to sleep again. 

    Which is more difficult nowadays: to lay down and go asleep in the evening or to get up and stay awake in the morning? Waking up and getting up in the morning, and staying awake the whole day have always been our daily struggle these days. We always want to go back to sleep. All day long there is a longing in us to go back to bed and sleep again. Even when we are up and awake, we still have bouts of daydreams and musings the whole day through. That is why we have a Filipino saying: Mahirap gisingin ang taong gising. “It is not easy to wake up someone who is already awake”. In other words, how can you wake up someone who is already awake?

    We may not only be dealing here about our getting up physically in the morning and the whole day through, but this may also be true about getting up and staying awake in our whole life.  This may also be about how awake and aware are we in living our lives. As we go through our lives, there are many moments that we are more asleep than awake. Habitually we may have found ourselves already physically awake but still actually unaware, out of sync, lukewarm, numb, and out of touch of reality. In life, we find ourselves usually in situations where we are already but still – that is, already awake yet still asleep. It is like, you already realize your mistake, but still doing the same mistake all over again. Same way as that son, who is already awake but still find reasons and excuses not to get up but to go back to sleep. 

    Waking up and staying awake in life may be a struggle but it is also a choice. In other words, “to get up and stay awake OR to go back and remain asleep” in life is perhaps the first decision we have to struggle with and make everyday in life. What is significant here is not only the action and decision taken but moreso on the awareness, realization and choice of the present NOW in facing life. Since now you know your mistake, now you have the choice to continue the same mistake or do something about it. Since you know NOW you are old enough to go to church today because it’s your wedding day or your Lord’s Day, you may get up OR to go back asleep. 

    This is why on the first Sunday of Advent in preparation for the coming Christmas day, the Lord has very simple message to us: STAY AWAKE, and BE prepared.

    Human as we are, the Lord knows that we rather stay asleep than awake in life. He recognizes that we are already awake yet at times mostly asleep in life. He also knows however that we do have the choice NOW whether to stay awake or asleep. That is why He is particularly calling us to Stay awake, be prepared, get up and go forward for He promises that there are more and better in life yet to come.  His words in our gospel today are not His warning but a wake-up call to us. 

    To remain awake and stay aware in life, is indeed a struggle yet a choice. But if we continue to heed and do our part in the Lord’s invitation of staying awake and being aware now in our life, we will see more and eventually become witnesses to fullness of life God can offer us. Or else… we miss again the chance.

    As the Lord reminds us today: Therefore, Stay awake and be prepared… for the Son of Man will come.”  In other words, Hoy Gising … Wake up for I am coming.

    May the Lord shake and disturb us from our spiritual slumber and laziness these weeks of Advent so that we are prepared enough to welcome Him again in our life now and ahead. Amen. 

  • Sensing God’s Presence everyday

    Sensing God’s Presence everyday

    December 1, 2019 – 1st Sunday of Advent

    (Click here for the readings – http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120119.cfm)

    Homily

    According to scholars, about 20,000 to 40,000 years ago, we, humans began domesticating dogs. We have lived with dogs side by side for many years. As a result, humans and dogs have developed relationship which include emotional connection. Because of the familiarity of the dogs to human, dogs have developed ways of recognizing emotional reactions from human. But more than, dogs also as well as humans have established an intimate emotional connection with each other.

    That’s why, if I may ask you, who among you have dogs at home? Have you also noticed your dog when you are about to come home? When dogs are left alone, it creates anxiety to them because they are in need of mental stimulation and social interaction (from https://www.rover.com/blog/dogs-get-lonely-keep-home-alone-dog-happy/). Consequently, dogs long for their humans to come home and keep them company.

    What is more interesting is the behavior among dogs when they can sense that you are coming. This is how dogs show their alertness to welcome their humans. Thus, even from a distance they can sense your coming and when they begin to hear the familiar noise of your car engine or even of your footsteps, they begin to wiggle their tails. They patiently wait for you and when they see you they make terrible sounds but for them it’s their expression of joy. That joy it expressed in excitement by jumping at you, licking you and going around your feet.

    This behavior among our dogs reminds me of this Season of Advent. Advent, which is understood as the coming of the Savior, is a season of joyful waiting.  And to joyfully wait, our dogs have something to teach us. To joyfully wait involves longing and attentiveness or alertness. Indeed, dogs long for our presence and very attentive by sensing our coming and even smelling our scent.

    The readings today wonderfully tell us of that longing for the coming of our Lord. In the first reading from the Book of Isaiah, the prophet expressed that longing when everything will fall into its place. This was written at the times when the people suffered from being exiled in Babylon. They longed for the time when all of them will come home and will be reunited. They longed for that time of peace where there will be no more wars but abundance and harmony. 

    Isaiah expressed this hope for the people and this is meant to uplift the spirit of the people. Indeed, on this first Sunday of Advent, we have lighted the first candle that symbolizes hope. This hope is what the prophets have told us. Thus, the candle is also called as the candle of the prophets.

    This is what the Psalm proclaims to us, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” This is an expression of a longing to be with God. However, let us also not forget of our human tendency to lose hope especially when things are too difficult for us. We too might also feel of losing hope and forgetting our desire for God.

    This is what St Paul in his letter to the Romans reminds us. Paul tells to be awake from sleep because of the discouraging and disappointing events that have happened in our life. Thus, we may fall asleep because we have become so tired from waiting for the Lord, because our prayers remain unanswered, because you have failed several times in your exams despite your reviews and prayers, or your partner or a family member is still problematic despite the prayer intentions you have offered, or until now you are not yet healed from your illness which gives you suffering despite the many “pamisa” you have made, or your loved one was taken away from you because of a sudden death even though you have been a good catholic.

    Because these are discouraging, and so we feel that our faith is weakened. This happens when we lose our desire for God and tend to focus more on our personal wants, personal assurance of comfort and security. That is why, Paul also tells us to let go of these works of darkness and rather put on the armor of light. 

    Putting the armor of light is making ourselves more familiar of God, of his presence in us. This is what Jesus reminds us today “to stay awake and be alert at all times.”

    Jesus wants us to be always attentive to his presence and attentive to his everyday coming in our daily life – at home, at work or at school. Jesus wants us to long for him and to be more attentive to his presence. Thus, this is an invitation to have a heightened awareness of God’s presence in our life and in the lives of others.

    Hence, as St. Paul teaches us in “conducting ourselves properly,” we are called to be more selfless by expressing our love for one another. When we become less self-centered, then, we also begin to recognize others and to recognize God. By showing our concern for one another, we also become more aware of God. When we begin to build intimate connections with our family and friends by opening up ourselves to them, then, we also begin to open up ourselves for God. Our intimacy with others brings us, actually, into the intimacy we have with God. In other words, our closeness with those who are around us brings us into our closeness with God.

    Indeed, the emotional connection between dogs and humans, reminds us of our intimate connection with God. We are a people who longs to see the face of God, who longs to feel His loving and comforting presence in our life. Yet, let us also realize that though we long for God, God longs for us all the more. God is more excited to meet us. Jesus would surely come and meet us where we are at this very moment.

    This is the invitation for us this Sunday – to joyfully wait for God’s everyday coming in our life by being attentive and alert of His presence. In this way, hope becomes more alive in us because we know and we believe that Jesus is truly with you and with me. 

    Remember, God reveals his abiding and loving presence to us in any moment of our life. Let us keep our hearts to always desire God through our constant and intimate communication through our personal prayer and through this Eucharist. 

    Let us hope that as we are able to meet the Lord in our ordinary life may it become a moment of joy for us and a life-changing experience for us and for our community. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • We too are Bearers of the Good News

    We too are Bearers of the Good News

    November 30, 2019 – Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle

    A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (10:9-18)

    Brothers and sisters:
    If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
    and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
    you will be saved.
    For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
    and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
    The Scripture says,
    No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
    There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
    the same Lord is Lord of all,
    enriching all who call upon him.
    For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

    But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
    And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
    And how can they hear without someone to preach?
    And how can people preach unless they are sent?
    As it is written,
    How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
    But not everyone has heeded the good news;
    for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
    Thus faith comes from what is heard,
    and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
    But I ask, did they not hear?
    Certainly they did; for

    Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
    and their words to the ends of the world.

    A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (4:18-22)

    As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
    Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
    casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
    He said to them,
    “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
    At once they left their nets and followed him.
    He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
    James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
    They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
    He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father 
    and followed him.

    Homily

    We celebrate today the Feast of St. Andrew, one of the original 12 apostles. We know very little of him. According to our tradition, Andrew became the first bishop in the community of Constantinople until he was martyred through crucifixion on an X-shape cross. The gospels tell us also that he was the brother of Peter. They were from Bethsaida, a town near the Sea of Galilee. In John’s gospel, we were told that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist at first.

    In the same gospel, we found that Andrew had actually brought Peter to Jesus, telling his brother, “We have found the Messiah!” In the other gospels, it was Andrew who called the attention of Jesus about the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Again, it was Andrew who told Jesus that there were some Greeks who wanted to see Jesus.

    From here, we can sense that Andrew was actually an apostle with a typical role. Unlike Peter, he was not able to witness the transfiguration of Jesus at Mt. Tabor. Andrew was not part of Jesus’ inner circle composed of Peter and the 2 brothers, James and John.

    He was in fact an ordinary guy, an ordinary apostle of Jesus. However, Andrew had a remarkable faith in Jesus.

    Remember, his brother Peter doubted and even denied Jesus three times. But for Andrew, he was the first one to realize that Jesus was truly the Messiah. In his conviction, he joyfully shared what he found to his brother. He himself became an evangelist, a preacher of the good news to his own brother. Moreover, he brought others to Jesus like the boy and those Greeks. He became a bridge between Jesus and other people. 

    This is what St. Paul has told us in the first reading. As there is a need and but also beauty in sharing one’s faith in Jesus to others. His letter to the Romans would help us ponder our own call to be a kind of apostle or bearer of the good news to others like St. Andrew. 

    We usually think that preaching is only proper to bishops, priests, and deacons. Indeed, public preaching of the gospel in liturgical occasions like what I am doing now is proper to me as a priest and not to you as lay persons. But it does not mean that you cannot preach the Gospel or share Jesus anymore to others. As Christians, we share the prophetic role of Jesus by virtue of our baptism. It means that all of us have both the responsibility and the privilege to be God’s messenger to others.

    The Gospel tells us how we are being called individually. To each of us, Jesus is saying, “COME, FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISH FOR PEOPLE! I WILL MAKE YOU MY OWN APOSTLE!” This can surely be materialized when we preach with joy by our own example. 

    Thus, when we are happy with what we are doing and when we are honest in our relationships and dealings with others; and when we are sensitive to others and volunteer to help whenever someone needs a helping hand; when we become joyful givers to those who have less;  when we become more understanding and compassionate with those who are experiencing more difficulty in their life; and when people around us feel the deep expression of our faith as we pray in the church, in our homes or with others…then people will see these things and will recognize that we are Christians. Then like St. Andrew, we will be able to bring other people closer to Jesus, by becoming bearers of the Good News through our very life. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR