Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Author: A Dose of God Today

  • What should I ask and pray?

    What should I ask and pray?

    June 1, 2019 – Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

    Jn 16: 23-28

    “Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” – Jn 16:24

    What is it that we usually ask and pray? Good health and wealth? Fulfillment of our hopes and dreams? Love life and relationships? For work and business? For achievements and successes? For our personal concerns and problems?

    Jesus told his disciples to “ask anything in my name and you will receive.” What does it really mean? Does Jesus mean that we can just ask anything we want? Does it mean that I can also ask Jesus to give me a lifetime premium subscription on Netflix and unlimited supply of popcorn? Or can I also ask a top managerial position in the company even though I do not have the qualification and expect that it will surely be given to me?

    Some of my friends have told me that there were times in their life that they felt hurt because God did not grant their wishes. They had been praying and attended faithfully masses and novenas so that their prayers will be granted. Yet, at the end, prayers were unanswered. They were hurt and thought that God seemed to be so unfair.

    However, we might not be aware that what we are praying could be filled with selfish reasons. Our prayers might be more on ourselves. Our prayers might be more focused on what “I shall have and on what I can gain.” Then, our prayer remains self-centered.

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    Jesus asks us to ask “in his name.” It means that in our prayer we will not forget Jesus, we will not forget his desire for us and his will for us. Yes, our prayer might be more on “our wants,” rather than on God’s desire for us.

    Jesus did not say to just ask anything because Jesus, then, would merely be a magician or a genie in a bottle, but to ask anything in his name. Our prayer, then, includes a discernment of God’s will for us and of God’s desire for us.

    The disciples had actually already prayed. They had surely asked God many things already. However, their prayers were also filled with their own desires and personal wants. That is why Jesus said, “until now you have not asked anything in my name…” Their selfish prayers and requests to God did not make them joyful and contented. They have remained insecure and lacking in faith because they did not ask in Jesus’ name.

    Instead of praying – “this is what I want and wish Lord,” ask and pray rather first in this way, “what is your desire for me Lord?” Only then that we will be able to get away from our selfish tendencies and intentions because we shift our focus from ourselves to God – from praying that comes only from personal wants to praying in his name.

    Surely, God will never say no to a sincere heart that seeks His desire. Jesus will surely answer our prayers when our hearts and minds too are one with him. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God visits us today

    God visits us today

    May 31, 2019 – Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    Zep 3:14-18a; Lk 1:39-56

    A surprise visit from a friend or a family member, whom we have not met for a long time, would always bring joy. I remember when my maternal grandparents were still alive; sometimes we would pay a visit to them unexpectedly. I would always treasure the happiness that our visit brings to them. That small gesture would always create smiles and warm hospitality to people who are dear to us.

    In today’s feast, Luke told us of the story of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. This seemingly ordinary visit of a cousin reveals to us the wonder of one’s presence being gifted to another.

    Mary who welcomed and received God in her life is also filled with God. This fullness of God in Mary made her more aware of the needs of others. Thus, Mary knew that her cousin needed her presence and assistance as Elizabeth was carrying a child in her old age. This visit of Mary was out of generosity and joy.

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    When Elizabeth heard the voice of Mary, Elizabeth was filled with joy, which also made the child in her womb to leap for joy. The very presence of Mary brought comfort and joy to Elizabeth and to her baby. The reason for this was, Mary brought the Lord closer to Elizabeth.

    The fullness of God in Mary was shared to Elizabeth. Thus, the words of Elizabeth also expressed this fullness, “blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Through the presence of Mary, Elizabeth and her baby in the womb felt that God has visited them.

    Each of us too has that capacity to bring God’s presence to others. On this feast of the Visitation, we are called that through us, others will feel God’s presence. We do not have to do big and great things but simple actions and words to people who need our assistance and help, and our presence and person. A generous action and word to a person next to us would also be enough to let the person feel that God is present.

    Indeed, the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah tells us also that the “Lord is in our midst.” Truly, God is in our midst and we will be able to make that presence felt when we also make ourselves open and welcoming of God’s visit in us.

    Let God and allow him then, to visit us today. And may God’s visit fill our hearts with his presence and love so that we too shall be able to bring that fullness to others. We may make an effort to make ourselves aware of the many needs of the people around us. This will hopefully touch us also to do visits in concrete ways to people, friends or family members, who were not visited for a long time. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Restlessness and Desiring Joy

    Restlessness and Desiring Joy

    The Story of the Rich Young Man

    Mark 10:17-30

    As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

    Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’”

    He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”

    Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

    At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

    Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

    They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?”

    Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

    Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.”

    Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come…”

    Are you lost what to do next?
    Are you restless about yourself, about your job, about your meaning and purpose?

    The story of the rich man is a story of a searching person. The rich man though he is “rich” but was still in search of something that would truly satisfy him and give him true joy.

    He must have surely felt that emptiness within him because despite being materially rich, where he lived a comfortable life, yet, he was restless about his life. This restlessness in him moved him to run up to Jesus, kneel before him and in all honesty asked the Lord, “What must I do to inherit Eternal Life?”

    The comforts that he was enjoying, the influence that he had, the riches that he possessed did not give him the true assurance of joy and confidence. Hence, the man remained insecure in his life despite the many things he had.

    Each of us too, might be also restless in our life. Despite the things that we are enjoying, we, in some way or another are in search of something that will make us truly happy.

    It reveals something to us then that, material possessions, earthly achievements, titles, influence, job promotions etc. are not assurances to us that will give us a life filled with joy.

    Each of us has our own riches. Riches here are not just limited with material possessions but to whatever that possessed us. Yes, what is it that possessed me? What are those that kept me? These could be our relationships, personal issues and needs, experiences traumatic or a happy one – which could prevent us from truly reaching out to what will give us freedom, joy and contentment with Jesus.

    We believe that what gives us true satisfaction, freedom, joy and contentment is a life with God. This is what the rich man was after. He knew it and so he asked what he should do then.

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    The Call of Jesus

    When the rich man asked Jesus, the Lord looked at him with love and affection. Jesus loved this man and wanted the him to experience such freedom and joy with God.

    In the same way, Jesus also looks at us lovingly. Individually, he looks at our eyes, calling us by our name. The gaze of Jesus is an assurance to us that we are not judged and we are not condemned. Even though we consider ourselves as unworthy and useless, yet, Jesus would never point his finger on us condemning us for being sinful and unfaithful. Rather, Jesus looks at us with affection and love, wanting us to be with him.

    Indeed, God desires that we become free by discovering our full potentials, by living our lives to the fullest, and making our lives meaningful with God and with others.

    Thus, we too can ask, what is it that is lacking in my life? The rich man asked the same question, what is it that I must do to inherit eternal life? He had been a good Jew. He followed the commandments, gave alms to the poor, went to the temple to offer sacrifices and showed respect to people. In the eyes of the Jews, he was in fact a righteous man. However, what he was used to do were not enough. There was more that he could do.

    Jesus called him to follow him. He was called to let go of his possessions and to whatever that possessed him and to follow Jesus.

    In the same way, Jesus calls us too, wherever we are and whatever is our situation at the moment. Jesus calls us to follow him. We can only follow him when we also let go of the things that hold us and of those things that possessed us.

    These may include our dreams and hopes, our family and friends, our successes and achievements, our comforts and riches, but also our failures and sins, our weaknesses and painful experiences. These areas in our life may prevent us from following Jesus. The Lord asks us too, to let them go and to follow him.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • An Invitation of Letting Go

    An Invitation of Letting Go

    May 30 – Thursday of the 6th Week of Easter

     Jn. 16:16-20

    Jesus said to his disciples, “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.”

    It is very difficult to let go of people especially of those whom you love so much. Our basic tendency is to keep those people close to us because we do not like them to leave us. That is why, when we are confronted with the reality of a person who is about to leave us, then, we experience pain of loss and separation.

    This is what I have recently experienced when my father passed away. There is so much pain in me. A part of me cannot accept that Papa is no longer with us physically. A deep pain of loss and absence troubles my mind and heart until now.

    Indeed, it is very difficult to think and accept that Papa is dead and now is buried. When my sister called me up on that Saturday evening of May 11 that Papa was being revived by the doctor, I could not accept it that it was happening. I could not cry because I did not know how to react. I prayed but it was as if my prayer was empty. I was afraid to pray and ask the Lord to heal Papa because the Lord might not hear me. I was even more afraid to ask Him to take away the suffering of Papa because of fear of losing him.

    But when I called my sister again, Papa left us around 10pm. I did not cry because I could not. After that, I went down and said the mass for Papa. That evening I could not sleep and I could not cry either.

    By Sunday morning, I have to get up and say the first and second Sunday masses. On my first mass at 6am, I broke down in the middle of my homily. At the Prayers of the Faithful, when I asked the people to pray for the passing of my Father, tears began to fall down from my eyes. I was crying because I was in pain. Yet, I offer honestly everything to God who has been so good and faithful to us. I thought I could not finish that mass.

    As I have pronounced every word in the prayer of consecration and prayed for the eternal rest and joy of Papa, slowly I have also accepted that Papa has died and has joined the Lord. That was my only consolation. Papa is with God where there will be no more suffering, no more pain and sadness but joy and peace.

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    I have to let him go even though it was painful for me. I have to offer him back to God in that sacrifice of the mass and become confident that Papa is in good hands of the Lord.

    With all of this, it reminds me of Jesus’ invitation of letting go. His disciples wanted to keep him close to them. The disciples believed that they were more confident if Jesus was nearby. They were not willing to let him go again. Jesus died and thought that he had abandoned them already. At his resurrection, they wanted Jesus to stay with them.

    However, this is not God wanted. Jesus had to go so that he will be able to join and be one with his Father in heaven. It will only be in this way that Jesus will be able to bring us closer to the Father. By returning to the Father, Jesus will open a way for us to the heart of the Father. By this also, Jesus will become ever close to each one of us, closer than we can imagine because Jesus will be in our hearts and minds.

    I am invited to let go of my Papa and accept that he is no longer with us physically. However, we in our family are being consoled also that Papa is ever more present in our hearts and minds today.

    Thus, each of us too, today, is invited to let go of whatever that may hinder us from encountering the Lord and accepting Him in our hearts and minds. In letting go, we may let God come closer and ever present in us. Hinaut pa.

     

    Jom Baring, CSsR