Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Author: A Dose of God Today

  • Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?

    Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?

    July 23, 2019 – Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Book of Exodus (14:21-15:1)

    Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,
    and the LORD swept the sea
    with a strong east wind throughout the night
    and so turned it into dry land.
    When the water was thus divided,
    the children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land,
    with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.

    The Egyptians followed in pursuit;
    all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and charioteers went after them
    right into the midst of the sea.
    In the night watch just before dawn
    the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud
    upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic;
    and he so clogged their chariot wheels
    that they could hardly drive.
    With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel,
    because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.

    Then the LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea,
    that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians,
    upon their chariots and their charioteers.”
    So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, 
    and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth.
    The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea,
    when the LORD hurled them into its midst.
    As the water flowed back,
    it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army
    that had followed the children of Israel into the sea.
    Not a single one of them escaped.
    But the children of Israel had marched on dry land
    through the midst of the sea,
    with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.
    Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day
    from the power of the Egyptians.
    When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore
    and beheld the great power that the LORD
    had shown against the Egyptians,
    they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.

    Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD:

    I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;
    horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

    From the Gospel of Matthew (12:46-50)

    While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
    his mother and his brothers appeared outside,
    wishing to speak with him.
    Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
    asking to speak with you.”
    But he said in reply to the one who told him,
    “Who is my mother?  Who are my brothers?”
    And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,
    “Here are my mother and my brothers.
    For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
    is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

    Homily on the second day of the Gathering of Youth Ministers from the Conference of Asia-Oceania at Jogjakarta, Indonesia.

    How important really is our family for us? For most of us, our families are the source of our joy, security, identity, confidence and assurance. But for some of us also, our family can be the source of our deepest pain, traumas and bitterness in life. Thus, we cannot deny that it is in the context of our families that we also first experience “being loved” and “being rejected.”

    Moreover, in the growth and development of our Christian faith it is also within the context of our families that we first experience God and we first imagine God. Thus, when I was growing up I was introduced to a God who was rather strict. God was someone that everybody should fear. I was told that this God punishes a naughty boy and rewards a good boy. As a young boy, I tried to be good to avoid God getting angry at me and punish me later on. Unconsciously, I also became fearful to God.

    What motivated me then, to do good was out of fear from being punished rather than out of love. I imagined God like an old man holding a stick who is ready to strike a boy who has been naughty. This image of God definitely haunted me. This was my very experience also at home from my parents who were ready to strike me with a stick whenever I become naughty and disobedient.

    However, later on when I became conscious of my faith-relationship with God, then, I realized that God’s true character is not the one that I first thought of. Experiences would actually tell me that God is kind and generous, loving and forgiving. This again is my experience of God with my family. I came to know and became confident that God loves, and in His kindness, God reveals his gift of presence to us in the most intimate way where we could feel Him. When we allow God to reveal himself to us, then God brings healing and reconciliation, freedom and peace.

    Talking about family, this reminds me of today’s Gospel. Jesus brought out a new idea of being a family where we too shall experience deeper God’s presence and invitations for us.

    Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?” In a way, Jesus expanded the meaning of family relationship by pointing out the members of his family. These were those people listening to him, gathered around him to do the will of his Father. Jesus did not reject his immediate family but expanded its essence.

    Obviously, this family is beyond blood relationship. This is toward a deeper spiritual family relationship. This calls us to identify ourselves and others to be part of a bigger family of God.

    But how do we really belong to this family? Jesus told us that it is by doing the will of his Father. And the first step of doing the Father’s will is to LISTEN to the Son. Indeed, it is in listening that we also realize and become aware of God’s invitation for us.

    It is also clear that Jesus pointed out that his mother, brothers and sisters are those who were gathered around him and together listening to him. Certainly, there is wisdom in listening together, as a community or as family because the process of discernment becomes deeper, more realistic, clearer and empowering when we listen together and discern together on what God wants us to be and what God wants us to do.

    This is what we are basically doing in this gathering of Youth Ministers. As a family, we are called to discern and listen carefully to Jesus and at the same time to the voices of the youth to whom we are sent. This allows us also to have the opportunity of sharing our ideas, reflections and creativity in making ourselves witnesses of God’s peace and joy.

    As we recall also today the story of Exodus and particularly the crossing of the Hebrew people in the midst of the sea. This story tells us that the people crossed the sea not just as individuals but as a family. This calls us also to cross together and to leave behind whatever that enslave us to go forward.

    Our Egyptians today may take the form of our biases and judgments over others, or our unhealthy attitudes such as self-centeredness, self-entitlement, arrogance, bitterness, hatred and anger. Our Egyptians could also be forms of addictions or compulsive behaviors that prevent us from bringing healing, life and peace in our ministry.

    God promises us today that if we trust him, the, he will accompany us to cross over and be liberated from those that enslaved us, preventing us to be free, joyful and alive persons.

    Then, having this experience of liberation as individuals and as a family, we too shall become witnesses of the liberating power of God through the gift of our person and presence.

    To sum up my sharing, there are three invitations that I would like you to dwell.

    First, be in touched with our personal God-experience. This will help us to have grounding in our faith-relationship with the Lord.

    Second, allow ourselves to be part of God’s family by listening to Jesus through the scriptures and experiencing again his presence through the grace of the sacraments and through us and among us.

    Third, allow the Lord to accompany us today to cross over from the sea of our differences, doubts and shyness, fears and biases so that together we will be transformed into living witnesses of God’s joyful presence. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Mary Magdalene’s friendship with Jesus teaches us something today

    Mary Magdalene’s friendship with Jesus teaches us something today

    July 22, 2019 – Feast of Mary Magdalene

    From the Gospel of John (20:1-2,11-18)

    On the first day of the week,
    Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
    while it was still dark,
    and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
    So she ran and went to Simon Peter
    and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
    “They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
    and we don’t know where they put him.” 

    Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
    And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
    and saw two angels in white sitting there,
    one at the head and one at the feet
    where the Body of Jesus had been.
    And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
    She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
    and I don’t know where they laid him.”
    When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
    but did not know it was Jesus.
    Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
    Whom are you looking for?”
    She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
    “Sir, if you carried him away,
    tell me where you laid him,
    and I will take him.”
    Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
    She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
    “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
    Jesus said to her,
    “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
    But go to my brothers and tell them,
    ‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
    to my God and your God.’”
    Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
    “I have seen the Lord,”
    and then reported what he told her.

    HOMILY

    Among the women friends of Jesus, perhaps Mary Magdalene was the closest to him. Mary Magdalene was closely following the Lord wherever he would be. Mary Magdalene was confident that God is in Jesus. She was most sure of it next to Mary, mother of Jesus. Thus, when the disciples fled and hid because of fear. Mary Magdalene together with other women remained. They followed Jesus until his death. Even when Jesus was brought down from the cross, Mary was surely there. Indeed, Mary was filled with grief and sadness when Jesus suffered and died.

                Yet, despite the grief and sadness, Mary returned to that place of pain and darkness. She went to the tomb of Jesus. Why go there when it would only remind her of sadness and grief?

                She went into the tomb at dawn, while it was still dark, the Gospel says. The darkness here means sadness and pain, yet, what is interesting was the dawn was breaking. The sun is soon to come out. Indeed, what Mary will witness is the victory of light over darkness.

    Mary and her friendship with Jesus

                This brings us into the kind of relationship Mary had with Jesus. Despite the grief and sadness, Mary did not just go away and give up even though her friend died. The sadness, disappointment and pain that she felt, urged her more actually to seek Jesus even in times of confusion and darkness in her life.

                This reminds us of our experiences. When we too encounter difficulty and pain, sadness and frustrations, and even boredom in life, we might find ourselves to go away, to step back and become fearful.

                There is something to learn from the friendship Mary Magdalene had with Jesus. It was a friendship that was beyond physical attraction and emotional attachment. It was a friendship built on trust, faith and confidence of being loved.

                Even though Mary was confused and in pain, but, somehow, she knew in her heart that Jesus did not left them, and did not abandon her. She completely believed in Jesus. That is why, even in the seemingly senseless way of going to the tomb; Mary still went to hope against hope.

                Mary recognized the Lord when Jesus said her name, “Mary!” Jesus has her way of calling the name of Mary and when she heard him, Mary opened her eyes from grief and sorrow and recognized that it was Jesus. It is the same as our parents call us. We would always recognize that it is our mother or father calling us. It is the shared intimacy that we have that make us recognize the voice of the person. The Lord also has his own way of calling our names. Discover how God calls us.

                Each of us is invited to develop this kind of friendship that Mary developed with Jesus. How do we develop it? There are fours points to remember.

    1. Be with Jesus always and follow him. Wherever Jesus went, Mary also followed. Thus, always seek the desire of Jesus for you to lead you where he wants you to go. You may ask, “What Jesus wants for me today?” So, as you go to school, or work, at home or to any excursion ask this question so that you may follow him in your heart, in your mind and in your actions. Surely, when we are with Jesus, we will never get tired. We will be filled with joy and satisfaction.
    2. Allow Jesus to come to you and call your name. Like Mary, she allowed the Lord to come into her life and to call her name. Allow also Jesus to occupy your mind and heart. Receive him constantly in the Eucharist, through the Bible and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
    3. Constantly pray. Mary learned from Jesus in praying to the Father in heaven. Through prayer, Mary became more aware also of herself and of God’s presence. Thus, even in few moments during your day, pray. Even if you are at work, at school or at vacation, “tweet” with Jesus, speak “What’s on your mind?” and post to Jesus your “instragamable” feelings and concerns.
    4. Know that you are loved and forgiven. Mary accepted in her life that Jesus loved her and that through him she was forgiven. Despite her sins in the past, Jesus never condemned her, but accepted her because she is being loved.

    All of these led Mary Magdalene to be ever grateful to Jesus. And because she was grateful, she was confident; she was filled with hope and became fearless.

    “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD.” This was Mary’s Easter proclamation to the male disciples of Jesus. Mary have seen the Lord. Going to the tomb was never useless and senseless because even in the midst of pain and confusion, God reveals himself.

                We may also ask ourselves, “Have I also seen the Lord, in those times of difficulties and pain in my life?”

                Mary’s painful experiences had become the ground for God to reveal himself to her. Mary’s relationship with Jesus was also the foundation of Mary’s keenness in recognizing Jesus in her life. And seeing Jesus, empowered Mary to become the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

                By seeing the Lord, Mary was sent to become the first Missionary after the resurrection of Jesus. Mary was sent and so we are. Each of us who have seen the Lord in our life is also called to proclaim to others, “I have seen the Lord.” Hinuat pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God relates in Love and Mercy not in Fear and Violence

    God relates in Love and Mercy not in Fear and Violence

    Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer (Third Sunday of July)

    July 21, 2019

    How did you experience God in your childhood?

    I am sure that each of us has our own experiences of God. Our God experiences and even image of God during our childhood would somehow paint the picture of God’s image as we grow old. Indeed, our early thoughts about God would somehow color also on how we relate with Him.

    To share with you a story, when I was growing up I was introduced to a God who was rather strict. God was someone that everybody should fear. I was told that this God punishes a naughty boy and rewards a good boy. As a young boy, I tried to be good to avoid God getting angry at me and punish me later on.  Unconsciously, I became fearful to God.

    What motivated me then, to do good was out of fear from being punished rather than out of love.  I imagined God like an old man holding a stick who is ready to strike a boy who has been naughty. This image of God definitely haunted me. This was my very experience also at home from my parents who were ready to strike me with a stick whenever I become naughty and disobedient.

    However, later on when I became conscious of my faith-relationhsip with God that I realized that God’s true character is not the one that I first thought of. Experiences would actually tell me that God is kind and generous, loving and forgiving.

    This is the kind of God that our first reading and Psalm proclaim respectively. Our first reading told us how Yahweh made an everlasting covenant with His chosen people. God makes the initiative to relate to us in love. Our Psalm even reminds us about the faithfulness of God that we should rather not fear God but trust Him because God is our strength.

    This kind of revelation tells us that God “relates” to us in the most personal and intimate way. This is what we affirm today as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer.

    The scriptures tell us that the God who created the world is a God who hears the cry of the poor and the entire creation. This God is neither apart nor alien to us but a God who is near and close to us. This God is not “somewhere out there” but rather “here with us” who tirelessly journeys and lives with us from the beginning.

    Thus, despite our sinfulness, stupidity, and unfaithfulness to God and to each other, God never surrenders on us. As St. Paul says, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”

    As I deeply experienced God with my family and friends, I came to know and became confident that God loves, and in His kindness, God reveals his gift of presence to us in the most intimate way where we could feel Him. When we allow God to reveal himself to us, then God brings healing and reconciliation. This is what our Lord Jesus did.

    Our Gospel reminds us that God “so loved” the world that he gave his only Son. In our pains and struggles in life, God stays with us. With Jesus, God walks and speaks to us. God even laughs with us and cries with us and to the point of suffering and dying for us.

    Though God is almighty and all-powerful but God never threatened us with His power of control and dominance. But rather, God builds intimate friendship with us, showing care and compassion, offering healing and salvation. This is basically what this feast of the Holy Redeemer is all about. It is about relationship with a God who desires to be with us and to share life with Him.

    That is why, we who believe and experience God’s loving and redeeming concern in our life, are also called to express that in our life – that we too will also live in friendship with others, by showing concern and love, offering healing and peace.

    We have to be watchful when we gain power over the others and tend to exercise control and dominance over them. Because most of the time, we will tend to abuse the weak and that instead of building bridges, we build walls, instead of developing friendship, we promote fear. As a result, we will be inclined to be indifferent to the struggles of others and intolerant to the mistakes of those who are around us. This is not what God wants us to be.

    God wants us to make friends, to show our affection and concern in the way Jesus makes us his friends, shows his affection and concern to us so that we may have meaning, purpose and joy in this life.

    Now, as God’s own people, we may become God’s instrument of healing and reconciliation in our community amidst suffering from war and killings, hate and indifference, hunger and poverty caused by conflicts, selfishness and greed for power. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God visits us today and He comes to bless us

    God visits us today and He comes to bless us

    July 21, 2019 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    From the Book of Genesis (18:1-10a)

    The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
    as he sat in the entrance of his tent,
    while the day was growing hot. 
    Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. 
    When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;
    and bowing to the ground, he said:
    “Sir, if I may ask you this favor,
    please do not go on past your servant. 
    Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,
    and then rest yourselves under the tree. 
    Now that you have come this close to your servant,
    let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;
    and afterward you may go on your way.” 
    The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.”

    Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,
    “Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.” 
    He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,
    and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. 
    Then Abraham got some curds and milk,
    as well as the steer that had been prepared,
    and set these before the three men;
    and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

    They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?”
    He replied, “There in the tent.” 
    One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,
    and Sarah will then have a son.”

    From the Second Letter of Paul to the Colossians (1:24-28)

    Brothers and sisters:
    Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
    and in my flesh I am filling up
    what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
    on behalf of his body, which is the church,
    of which I am a minister
    in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
    to bring to completion for you the word of God,
    the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
    But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
    to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
    of this mystery among the Gentiles;
    it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. 
    It is he whom we proclaim,
    admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
    that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

    From the Gospel of Luke (10:38-42)

    Jesus entered a village 
    where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
    She had a sister named Mary
    who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 
    Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
    “Lord, do you not care
    that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? 
    Tell her to help me.” 
    The Lord said to her in reply,
    “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 
    There is need of only one thing. 
    Mary has chosen the better part
    and it will not be taken from her.”

    HOMILY

    When a close relative or a close friend would pay us a surprise visit, this makes us feel uneasy. Our things might still be scattered around the house. We do not want a visitor to see how disorderly our place that is why, if a surprise visit happen we would also feel embarrass. However, despite the embarrassment that we would feel, we still welcome the visitor with grace and warm hospitality.

    However, what if strangers will come and visit us? Are we still going to be hospitable and kind?

    In today’s readings we have also heard about such surprise visits which brought blessing to those who were visited. In the Book of Genesis, Abraham was visited by three men. They were strangers to Abraham yet he welcomed them with kindness and openness. Abraham must have felt how tired and hungry those men were. He was sensitive to their needs.

    However, Abraham did not know that these men were angels of the Lord. Through Abraham’s welcoming and kind attitude towards these strangers, the Lord blessed him and his wife. This blessing was the promise of a son.

    This story tells us that even God would visit us also in a surprising way. And God’s visit will bring us blessing. Thus, it is also important that we remain welcoming and accepting of God’s surprises for us.

    But then, God may also may visit us not just through strangers but also though ordinary people or even those to whom we are already familiar with. This is the story that we have heard in the Gospel today.

    Martha and Mary who were sisters of Lazarus were good friends of Jesus. The Lord showed his affection towards them by visiting these women. And it is very interesting on how each of them responded to Jesus’ presence.

    Martha was certainly a very good woman. She related with kindness to people around her. This was shown on how she would make herself busy in providing and making sure that everything was alright. She was indeed, sensitive to the needs of others. With this attitude, she surely welcomed Jesus with great kindness and warmth.

    Nevertheless, there was something that troubled Martha. She was also a woman who easily get anxious and worried. She was caught with so many things that when Jesus visited them, she was overwhelmed with her anxieties on how to make Jesus feel provided and comfortable. Sad to say, her anxieties prevented her to have a deeper encounter with Jesus and making herself closer in the presence of the Lord.

    As a result, she became complaining. She complained to Jesus on why her sister Mary was not helping her in the kitchen. She might have expressed bitterness towards her sister for not being sensitive to her. However, Jesus confronted her of her own anxieties and worries.

    We would surely find ourselves too in this situation. We might find ourselves worrying and becoming anxious of personal struggles such as your failures and unfulfilled dreams and desires, or the overwhelming loads of our work and business, or the issues that our relationships are facing today, or the great demands that your family life is requiring you to do, or the illness of a loved one that pains you.

    When we let these one or more issues to overwhelm us, then, we will certainly become disturbed. We will be out of focus. Like Martha, we might also become complaining. Consequently, our relationship with others and even with God will be affected. We could become negligent of our self-care and inattentive to our other relationships because our worries and anxieties have grabbed us to what are more essential and important.

    Jesus is teaching us today through the person of Mary. Mary though she appeared passive and insensitive to her sister Martha, was praised by Jesus. Mary realized the greatness of the presence of the Lord. Mary realized also that Jesus wanted their presence that is why she chose to be closer to Jesus and sat at his feet. Mary found peace and true confidence with Jesus

    This tells us that the Lord does not want us to keep ourselves busy and filled with worries and anxieties. As Jesus visits us, he desires that we become sensitive to his presence, attentive to his invitations and welcoming to his words.

    This is also the same with our other relationships. We might need more awareness for ourselves, and a quality time to spend with our loved ones. With these, then, we will also see and realize what is more important and essential in our life.

    Jesus invites us today not to allow our worries and anxieties to take us over but rather to allow the Spirit to make our hearts ever welcoming and warm to God’s visits.

    Hopefully, by being able to learn these attitudes of Mary and Abraham, we too shall have a true and deep encounter with the Lord who comes to bless us today. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Jesus desires that our actions and words are life-giving

    Jesus desires that our actions and words are life-giving

    July 19, 2019 – Friday 15th Week in Ordinary Time

     

    From the Gospel of Matthew (12:1-8) 

    Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
    His disciples were hungry
    and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
    When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
    “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
    He said to them, “Have you not read what David did
    when he and his companions were hungry,
    how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
    which neither he nor his companions
    but only the priests could lawfully eat?
    Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
    the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
    and are innocent?
    I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
    If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
    you would not have condemned these innocent men.
    For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

    HOMILY

    Jesus seemed to be a person that continually scandalized people. He particularly scandalized those who were in the leadership, those who were higher in status in the society. These were the likes of the Pharisees who claimed expertise of the Law of Moses and righteousness for observing every single law.

    This time our Gospel tells on how the Pharisees confronted Jesus for allowing his disciples to pick on the heads of the grain and eat them on a Sabbath day. The Sabbath was considered to be holy by the Jews. Its holiness shall be overserved by not doing any work as God also rested on the Sabbath after the creation.

    Yet, such tradition prevent people from doing anything and even from doing what would be life-giving. A healer was forbidden to heal a sick person as a hungry man was not also allowed do to anything to ease his hunger. The Pharisees complained with this very small thing just to discredit Jesus. Their complain was not out of concern but out of bitterness and malice. They were observing and criticizing Jesus even with trivial things.

    We might also find ourselves in this situation when we also become a person who complains a lot and tends to only see what is wrong and ugly in everything and everyone. We surely are just filled with malice, bitterness and insecurity like the Pharisees.

    Jesus confronted the Pharisees and wanted them to realize that God would not condemn us for doing what is not contrary to God’s desire. God desires to give life to us. That is why, Jesus declared, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

    Thus, if our sacrifice does not give life to others but rather prevent what is life-giving, then, this is not a true sacrifice. God would rather love us to show mercy to others because that will surely give life to those who are in need.

    IMG_0425

    This will also be clear to us once we become aware on what kind of “temple” we worship. The Pharisees merely worship the “letter of the law,” which become their temple. They even worship their own status in the Jewish society which became the reason of their self-righteousness. This too became their own temple which made them condemning.

    Jesus confronted and once again scandalized the Pharisees by telling them that “there is something greater than the temple here.” Jesus is certainly greater that the Temple of Jerusalem and even greater than the temples that the Pharisees worship. Jesus is the new focus of God’s presence.

    This reveals to us that God walks with us and is among us. God is not limited within the walls of a temple or of a church, but God is a person. This is what Jesus means. Our relationship with God is therefore not limited with a structure or a system but founded on a person.

    Jesus invites us today to make our relationship with God, and thus, our faith in Him grounded on the person of Jesus. And Jesus reminds us to discern and see always if our actions and words are life-giving or not. If it gives life, then, it is a true expression of our faith. However, if it prevents life and even suppresses what is life-giving to others, then, our actions and words do not come from the Lord.

    Hopefully, by making ourselves more aware of this and our faith deeply grounded in Jesus, we may become persons who gives and brings life to others. Hinuat pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR