Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Author: A Dose of God Today

  • OPEN INVITATION

    OPEN INVITATION

    August 18, 2024 – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081824.cfm)

    It was once told that while a grand feast celebration is going on in heaven, our Lord Jesus is found missing. As to account for His whereabouts, the disciples are to search for Him discreetly. Eventually Peter found the Lord at the pearly gates waiting for someone else. So, when Peter asked Him about His seeming absence & distance, the Lord said: “I’m still waiting for Judas to come. I invite Him in & He is always welcome to join us.”

    We all do familiar with Peter & Judas. Both are the Lord’s trusted disciples (Peter as coordinator/Judas as treasurer) & both have failed the Lord (Peter’s denial/Judas’ betrayal). But what makes Peter better than Judas is that Peter allows himself to be forgiven, loved & invited again by the risen Lord. By killing himself, Judas however missed his chance to be forgiven, loved & invited by the risen Lord. But regardless what happened, our Lord still waits & invites us ALL (not only Judas) to be with Him united in God’s glory.

    Simply put, God’s love for us through our risen Lord Jesus Christ is always an Open Invitation to all. We are all welcome then to partake & participate in God’s divine life as His family & children. All we have to do is to come & respond to God’s open invitation & allow Him again to forgiven, love & invite us always.

    Brothers and Sisters, at the very heart of our readings today is the expressions of God’s open invitation for us to be part of His divine life.

    In our first reading, God, as wisdom invites us to celebrate with Him, saying “Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.”

    Paul even advised us in our spiritual divine life with God to watch carefully how we live, try to understand the Lord’s will, & be filled with the Spirit. And in our gospel today, when he said to the crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world,”

    Jesus is inviting us all to accept & consume His person into our very lives so that He may be with us always & we may be welcome into His divine life with God, our Father, explicitly encouraging to “Taste & See the goodness of the Lord” as our Psalm exhorts. Thus, God openly invites & wills for all of us to be one with Him in His divine life with Christ.

    We emphasize here that such open invitation of God is not only available in heaven later at the end of time, but is extended even now here in our earthly life through our Eucharistic celebration. Yes, His open invitation for us to be part of His divine life is celebrated here & now as we partake in the banquet  of the Lord’s Holy Eucharist.

    This means also that by invitation – the Lord’s invitation, and not by our worthiness, we celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Yes, we come to attend the Eucharist not because we are worthy deserving, but because we are invited by God.

    We come to celebrate Eucharist because we are welcomed by God beyond & regardless of our righteousness or sinfulness. Because we are loved & beloved by God, we partake & celebrate in our Lord’s banquet here & now, and so, participate in sacred life, worthy & unworthy we maybe.

    Be reminded then that the Lord’s invitation is ever present & inclusive. All are invited & welcome to partake in the Holy Eucharist in our earthly life here & now, and to be united in the divine life with our God now & always.

    As we grow in our divine life by our Christian faith & witness, may we come, honor & respond accordingly to His open invitation regardless how blessed or broken we may be. Amen.

  • LIFE’S FOOD

    LIFE’S FOOD

    August 11, 2024 – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081124.cfm)

    Surely we are familiar with the expression: “You are what you eat”. But what does it mean?

    It is one way of saying that what  food we intake mirrors what makes up our body. Our diet – what we eat reflects then not only our body but also our person. Properly it means “tell me what you eat & I will tell you what & who you are.” A vegetarian & herbivore eat plants, fruits & vegetables. A carnivore eats meat, fish & fowls. An omnivore & flexitarian eat both plants & meat.

    We should however not take this literally for there is more to our person than our diet. Nevertheless, somehow our diet & food intake mirror the state & health of our whole being. It somehow also saying “You reap what you sow” i.e. good seed bears good fruits, bad seed bears bad fruit. In computer lingo, GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out).

    This is what Jesus trying to convey in our gospel today when He used the image of Himself as Bread of Life. Same as food is essential to Life, Jesus is also saying to the people then & to us now that like food, Jesus is essential to our life with God.

    What makes us alive & healthy then in our faith-relationship with God, our father is our recognition, acceptance & complete trust in Jesus as the Bread of Life. Our intake & communion of Jesus’ life, faith & mission mirror our very person in life & our being before God. A Christian then eats, nourishes & lives on our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Be conscious that nowadays there is an unhealthy tendency to over- emphasize our sins than God’s offer of life. We hear some thinking that in attending mass, we should not take communion if have not gone to confession yet, OR it is a sin to take communion without confession.

    This is unhealthy & a misnomer (wrong & inaccurate) for the Eucharist is God’s offer of life that we should never reject and undervalue over & above our sins & repentance. In other words, there is more to God’s offer Life in Jesus as the Bread of Life than just about the forgiveness of our sins.

    In the Eucharist then, God is not concerned about your Sin or Our sins, but concerned of our Life with Him. And if you attend mass for the sake of your sins & not life with God, you might as well not go to mass, but go to confession instead because you are not well-disposed & not worthy of the life food being given in the Eucharist.

    Remember our Lord Jesus is the Savior & the Bread of life (God’s manna/food for us). He is not the Judge to condemn & punish us of our sins. He offers us life & salvation, not judgment, condemnation & damnation.

    As we try to live what we believe, practice what we preach, may we grow more mature & healthy in our faith as we receive God’s food of life in Jesus; and outgrow our shortcomings to be better & do better as faithful of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

    So be it. Amen.

  • NCYM 2024: In my point of view

    NCYM 2024: In my point of view

    A Reflection by Diovelene Francisco, Youth Coordinator

    It was on the 17th of July, 2024 that we arrived at St. John the Evangelist School of Theology Academic building inside the Seminary Compound. At that moment, the learnings, encounters and opportunities opened up for us and the participant-youth leaders of the National Conference for Youth Ministers hosted by the archdiocese of Palo. NCYM: “Abound in Joy: Christ is our Hope”, is the theme where the whole event surrounded. On the very first day, hope flowed as we met youth ministers from different dioceses all over the Philippines, from Northern Luzon to Sulu, one by one, we got to encounter youth that are as excited as I was; and just like that, our NCYM journey started.


    There are a lot of realizations this event has graced me.

    First; the grace of God through hope and patience. Day two of the NCYM was blessed with a Holy Eucharist where in God touched my heart as the homily gave emphasis on how the Lord carries us in every step of our lives, that revenge, grace, and justice is His, and we only need to be patient and hopeful.

    But how are we really embodying these graces? Are we only hopeful and patient to the ones we love? Do we offer a listening ear to the ones we find hard to even look at, more so, listen to? Do we include everyone, reaching out to the peripheries, especially as a youth leader?

    These are some of the points in the homily, that was also reflected in the talks during the event, making it not just an encounter of our co-youth ministers, but an encounter of ourselves.

    This also challenged me to reflect, re-evaluate, and listen; what can I do? What can I impart in this synodality of the church, in my way of reaching out to everyone, and in offering a safe, hopeful, and including space.

    Second, how do we rejoice in hope despite the personal challenges that we face? How do we practice a joyful attitude, a hopeful attitude, when things do not go as we expect them to be?

    One of the plenary speakers shared, that in times of things going far from what we have planned, we either begin to blame others, the joy is replaced by anxiety, frustration, and anger. Then, we, most of the time become reactive, we react negatively in a negative situation.

    This posted a challenge to us, participants, in being proactive in times of negative circumstances, practicing a good attitude in a not-so-good situation, then, we may see the grace of that certain situation.

    Bishop Rex, in this talk, left us with a saying to ponder, it goes “When we resist and we grasp, we become disturbed, so, we have to accept and let go.” And so, as youth ministers, we face circumstances that frustrate us, draw negative reactions from us. Thus, we are challenged to look for the circles that we have to prioritize; the circle of concerns – which are the things that is beyond our control, beyond our influence. We have to loosen, then, our grip to this circle, and the circle of influence – the things that we can change.

    As youth ministers and servant leaders, we tend to do things as we see best, forgetting this is a ministry and not a one-man team performing in a business market, and so we have to learn how to listen, never stop learning from other ministers, connect with the people, accept the inevitable plot twists in our lives and help ourselves and the people around us find purpose in this synodal journey.

    Third, I was enlightened in a topic: health and wellness – in a more spiritual perspective. An issue-based workshop was part of the event where in participants were grouped in their chosen topics and focused on it for an hour. I was in this group, and to my surprise, we didn’t discuss the topic on a conventional scientific approach, its more of spiritual, and what’s truly surprising was the realization, that when you look at and treat your body, the way you look at Christ, the way you revere and give value to our God, then, taking care and loving yourself is way easier and fulfilling than pressuring yourself to achieve the societal beauty standard.

    The health and wellness should not only talk about the body, physically, but should also include our mental state, and spiritual state. Our speaker for this issue-based talk closed his sharing by saying “Do not be contented with just looking good, be good.”

    He gave an emphasis on “be good”, you as a person, the being, seeing yourself as good is equal to treating yourself good by eating good, doing what makes you feel good physically and mentally, and radiating that goodness to others.

    The being, the self, wholeness of a person reflecting the good, is our new view of health and wellness, a new challenge of relearning what’s traditional “looking good” to the appreciation of different beauty in physical, spiritual, and mental aspect, and that what is inside you, in your heart and mind, shines in your face, outside, physically.

    A spiritual challenge in honoring one’s body as we honor Christ, and creating a beauty that radiates, for true goodness diffuses.

    Lastly, as this event culminates, we are challenged to bring a wider and clearer view of the ministry and the church, the needs of the young people and how we can include them in our synodal journey.

    We are challenged, as youth leaders, to include everyone, to reach out to the peripheries, to invite them and make a space where they will feel safe and welcomed, if not, bring the ministry to them, join them, sit on the ground with them.

    The very essence of the NCYM journey, for me, is to inspire our young people to be someone who’ll be the bridge of the traditional and the modern, to reshape our ministry to be more inclusive, to become a safe space, and to embody Christ as we offer our company in this synodal journey, this all, by starting to be good on ourselves, as the saying goes; “you cannot pour from an empty cup”.

    My NCYM experience summarizes in one of the speakers words saying “We will always carry the weight, but by grace, we are able to carry”. It is in God’s grace that we are able to attend the National Conference for Youth Ministers. It is by God’s grace that we are able to learn, understand, and experience, and it is by God’s grace that we are send off for the mission.

  • The National Conference of Youth Ministers : HOPE IN CHRIST

    The National Conference of Youth Ministers : HOPE IN CHRIST

    A Reflection by Miss Jossivel Rodriguez, PYM Youth Leader

    I can’t get these questions out of my mind, questions that fill me with doubts about serving the church, the youth, and especially God. Why me? What is my purpose? What would my mission be?

    Being able to attend the NCYM was a big opportunity for me, especially since I was facing a significant crisis in my life—self-denial and self-doubts. I thought I couldn’t make it; I was sick, and my body resisted attending the NCYM. But then I prayed, and my prayer went like this: “Lord, just let my fever return after the NCYM, please, it’s only for 5 days.” It may sound strange, but yes, God answered. It was July 16 in the morning that I was able to stand, take a shower, and prepared myself for the journey.

    On July 17, 2024, we arrived safe and sound in Palo, Leyte, where the NCYM was hosted. A warm welcome greeted us as we encountered youth leaders from all over the Philippines, from different dioceses. The opening mass was a great eye-opener for me, making me embrace the beauty of the word “Hope.” It touched me deeply when Archbishop John Du shared their stories on how Typhoon Yolanda brought devastation.

    My first realization on the first day of NCYM was this: everything given by God in your life, whether good or bad, is a grace from God for us to see the beauty of life when God is present, sustaining us and giving us hope to continue living, just as God works in the lives of the victims and survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.

    Before NCYM started, I had many questions about myself that I couldn’t answer because I was planning to step down as a youth minister. However, this became a challenge for me as a leader in our parish. The Day Two talk taught me a lot of realizations about why I should continue serving Christ, the Church, and especially the youth.

    The Gospel for Day Two, Matthew 11:28, where Jesus invites those who labor and are burdened, resonated with me. Bishop’s homily made me realize about my presence in the ministry that I was invited by God to encounter Him through the lives of my fellow young people.

    This invitation made me think, “Ah, this is my purpose—to bring youth to synodality, to accompany them with Christ’s image, and to provide a joyful journey together as we commemorate the beauty of God’s love for us.”

    Each talk by the speakers touched my heart, sharing stories and applying the purpose of the word “hope” given by God to everyone. This is in terms of journeying together and reflecting with those who are in the peripheries and those who needed to be reached out.

    Bishop Rex emphasized on not resisting and grasping, which are the characteristics I sometimes exhibit in my service. He taught me to gradually let go of these traits and open my heart and mind to learn from every life’s difficulty, especially in animating and serving the young ones. He also stressed the importance of being prayerful, connecting with God, and entrusting, hoping, and surrendering all worries and burdens to Him.

    I am one of the luckiest people to have participated the NCYM. This presented me with challenges that I need to face for the benefit of the youth and to discover what more I can contribute to the ministry. As I return home, I carry these reminders of my duties in serving the ministry:

    Hope in Christ: No matter what challenges test my faith in Christ, I will remember that God is present and is the only constant in my life. Though unseen, He gives me the strength to continue facing life’s challenges and to serve Him faithfully.

    Be Joyful in Serving God: Regardless of what I achieve, the problems I face, or the evils of the world, I will always stay connected to God. I will serve with love, embrace small wins, reflect on my purpose, grow with Christ’s image, practice gratitude, trust God, and express joy.

    Patience and Perseverance: In service, patience is essential to continue despite many obstacles. This can be achieved through perseverance in prayer, as God is generous and loving.

    Lastly, NCYM 2024 was a blessing and a way of calling me to address the concerns of our community. It reminded me to abound in joy and that Christ is our hope in continuing to transform the image of the youth into the image of Christ. Being one of the youth leaders means that God sees the goodness in my love for Him, which can bring change to the community, especially to the youth who are still on the fringes. I believe He has chosen me for a brighter future for the youth in the Church.

  • ENOUGH FOR US ALL

    ENOUGH FOR US ALL

    August 4, 2024 – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080424.cfm)

    It could happen that once in a while some wayward beggars would come to us & ask for some “bahaw” or left-over food to eat. Once I gave some food enough for a day to a beggar. As he received the food, he asked: “Walay kape ug saging man lang?” (How about some coffee & fruits for extra?). Though this irritated me, it also made me think: “If I’m going to give, why not give all  – the full package deal with all the extras? Why only give enough for the day? Why not for the whole week?

    But as we all know, human as we are, we are not easily contented. Hard for us to be fully satisfied. We want more. We need more than we already have. Like that wayward beggar, we want some extra: extra rice, sauce, toppings, privileges, discount, bonus, payment and others, with less effort & easily, if possible, quickly. So, when is the limited resources that I have now, enough for me? When is the less that I have, enough for me to share with others who are in need? So, when is enough is enough?Somehow at the very heart of our readings today is the question about ENOUGH.

    In Exodus, we hear that after escaping slavery from Egypt, the people of Israel found themselves free from slavery but hungry in the desert. They needed food for the journey & they grumbly complained about their predicament. To the point of blaming Moses & even preferring to be slave again in Egypt but nourished, rather than free but starving in the wilderness. Yahweh heard their cries & addressed their needs.

    God rained down bread from heaven for them, and they only have to gather enough bread for their daily portion. Great! But they also asked: “What’s this?”. And perhaps may also have asked: “only this, fine flakes?” It might be from heaven, but why only biscuits/flakes? Why not pizza or burger? No extra drinks? And why gather only enough for the day? Why not save & reserve for tomorrow? In the same way in our gospel today, after they were fed and have their fill at the multiplication of loaves, the people followed Jesus because they want more.

    They never had enough. They need more extra from Jesus. In their mind, they would think: “Since you, Jesus have already fed us, what more can You offer us? What shall we do to have what You can give us? Do we need to work for food?

    Over and beyond our human needs for survival & God’s saving act is the question of our Faith and Trust in God. The manna from heaven and the miracle of feeding thousands of people is not about the Gift, but about our faith in the Giver. What matter most then is not having enough or more than enough Food and blessings to receive, but more so about us believing & trusting in God as Giver of the Gifts & in His ways of taking care of us. It is all about having enough faith & trust in God & His work of giving us life to its fullness.

    Through the manna from heaven, Yahweh gave the people enough manna provision for the day – not pizza for the whole week, because as Yahweh said, “I will test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not”. The graces before us now then is a test in our faith with God rather than rescue operation or feeding program to satisfy our immediate & urgent needs.

    In the same way, there is more to the miracle of Jesus than just the feeding of the multitude. It is a challenge for the people-then & us-now, as Jesus said: to “BELIEVE in the one God sent”. In the same way as God sent manna from Heaven, God sent us His son, Jesus not just to satisfy our cravings, our needs & hunger for more, but more so to offer us fullness & meaningful life in faith with God. Here, Jesus clearly proclaiming to us now: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

    Simply put: In life , Jesus is Enough for Us. He is all that we need in life, nothing more, nothing less. Only required of us now is to accept Him, as God-sent bread of Life, and believe His life & witness as God’s work of salvation, is enough and more than enough for us, and for all.

    This is what St. Alphonsus de Liguori, the founder of the Redemptorists believes. For St. Alphonsus, “With Him, there is fullness of redemption”  – With Jesus, we already got & have abundance grace & blessing always. In other words, Jesus is enough & more than enough for us. And Jesus & all His offer of graces are given for all and not only for the few.

    All has a share in God’s blessing of Redemption – and this is what St. Alphonsus and we Redemptorists, & all of us Christian, believe & proclaim to all people in the world, most especially to the poor, neglected & most abandoned: Jesus, the bread of Life is Enough for us all.

    When Jesus taught us to pray “Give us each day our daily bread”, he doesn’t want us just to express our needs, since the Father knows already what we need. But he wants us to express our faith in God that we believe and abide with whatever the Father gifts & wills for us.

    Thus, when all is said and done, it was not the manna that sustained the Israelites in the desert, it was not the bread and fishes in the Jesus’ time, it was not our daily bread that sustains us today. What sustained them and us today is our faith and trust in God.

    No matter how difficult life may be, for those who trust in God, and live a day at a time, rest assured, God’s blessing of manna from heaven falls everyday with Jesus always with us.

    Lord, our bread of life, Your Love & your grace are Enough for us. Continue to nourish & give us life. Teach us to worship more the Giver than the gifts now and always. Amen.