Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Author: A Dose of God Today

  • Kalilintad. Kalinaw, Kapayapaan. Peace

    Kalilintad. Kalinaw, Kapayapaan. Peace

    A Reflection by Charles James S. Antolan – a College Seminarian of the Prelature of Marawi

    Kalilintad, kalinaw, kapayapaan, these are just some of the many other translations of the word “peace” that most people seek to live in. It is a state which people especially in Mindanao, thirst for over the years, decades, even centuries.

    On June 19-21, 2023, I attended a Peace-Building Seminar held in Midway Minkay Resort, Tubigon, Initao, Misamis Oriental. The said program was actually entitled “Culture of Peace and Peaceful Conviction Workshop for Catholic and Faith-Based Leaders“,  organized intentionally for the Lay Parishioners/Leaders of the Prelature of Marawi, by Pakigdait, Inc., a Non-Government Organization composed of Muslim, Catholic and other Christian-denomination leaders. The workshop aimed to provide a safe space for interfaith conversation and to co-learned on peaceful convictions and connections.

    The three-day peace-building workshop was composed with three inputs and series of team building activities. The first input was given by the Bishop of the Prelature of Marawi and Pakigdait BIL Chairman, Most Rev. Edwin A. dela Peña, MSP, DD. His talk narrated the history and interfaith journey of the Prelature of Marawi where the late Bishop Bienvenido “Tatay Bidu” Tudtud was remembered and paid homage. Bishop Edwin put emphasis and elaborated the Prelature’s Vision, “To offer a reconciling presence among Muslims through dialogue of life and faith“.

    The second input was given by Ma’am Jenny T. Sanguila, the Program Manager with her topic “Introduction to Peaceful Conviction and Culture of Peace“. And the third input was about “Islam and Peacebuilding” given by Ustajdh Abdul Kareem Ambor.

    With all of these three inputs, the common thing that struck me the most is the word “dialogue.” It is through dialogue that we overcome conflicts. I agree that conflict is a normal part of any relationship; people tend to have conflicts because each of us has our own unique history and character, and perspectives in life. But it is dangerous, in the sense that, if not addressed properly, it might lead to violence. Thus, the challenge is to direct this conflict towards a process of positive change.

    Throughout my life, I have experienced several kinds of conflicts in the family, among my friends, and even with myself. Years ago, I remember specific persons where I had conflict with, it just started with a small miscommunication and led to ignoring and avoiding which lasted for several months before becoming friends again. Honestly, I am not proud of saying it because the relationship was restored not through dialogue or any process of reconciliation. It just so happened through a particular situation where there was a need to deliver a word and from then slowly repairing the broken relationship without dealing the problem.

    I recognize that I was driven by my ego to choose not to make an initiative to reconcile. The same situation happened in me four times with different persons. Now, whenever I got conflicts with other persons, I struggle to set aside my pride yet I also strive to manage myself and try to start dialogue with the person I’m having the conflict with. For me, it does not just give peace but makes me more humane and to grow in my humanity.

    Before her input,  Ma’am Jenny Sanguila gave us an activity of drawing our sign of peace. On the blank sheet of paper, I drew three intersecting circles. For me, it shows that despite of our differences, culture, religion, philosophies, personalities, we still have lots of similarities that bind us, that make us united, and that we are all human persons sharing the life and a home entrusted to us.

    So much for that, I enjoyed every team-building activities we had. Teamwork was enhanced and messages were pondered. The “Build that bridge” activity taught me how important communication skill is, the capacity to understand and to be understood, and most especially the capability to connect with others despite differences.

    My most meaningful activity for me was that activity (activity name unidentified) where a representative from a group was blind folded and had to pick up specific emojis as many as possible that were scattered on the ground with the help of team members’ guidance. With that activity, I realized the importance of listening skills. When I was blindfolded, I found myself in need of others’ guidance by listening to their voices. What made the challenge difficult was that there were many shouts, dictations, and directions that even the other team was also giving me false directions.

    For me, one of the significant messages it conveyed was to identify the most reliable and trusted individuals. Today, there are many deceiving voices that we may hear that claim to be right but would only lead us to misfortunes and wrong outcomes. In line with our faith, we have to identify the voice of God constantly calling and talking to us.

    The peace-building seminar was fun, enjoyable and full of takeaways. I am glad to meet some parish leaders and youth in the Prelature and made memories with them. I hope and pray that we may continue to become peace builders in our respective parishes and communities. May God continue to bless all of us. Maayong Good Morning.

  • Jesus’ Advice

    Jesus’ Advice

    June 25, 2023 – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062523.cfm)

    “Life is difficult”. In one of the best-selling books of our times on self-help and psycho-spirituality “The Road Less Travelled”, Dr. M. Scott Peck has devoted the whole first chapter on the reality of life-difficulties. Surely, we don’t need to read his book just for us to realize that life is difficult. Regardless of race, culture, beliefs, and status in life, we do know and learn from experience that life indeed is and can be difficult. Perhaps even most of our life are spent about coping and dealing with our unavoidable experiences of difficulties in life. While amid our struggle with life-difficulties, many times we, as Christians, followers of Jesus, cannot help but wonder about what would Jesus say and do about the reality of our life’s difficulties.

    This is the very spirit of our liturgical season these coming Sundays of our Christian lives now. After celebrating Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter seasons, we are now coming into and going through the Ordinary Time of our liturgical life. And at the very heart of this liturgical period is our Christian Moral life that centers on how we can live out and practice our Christian faith and life while we struggle with the reality of life’s difficulties. In other words, yes, life in general is and can be difficult, but even much so being Christian (Christian life) also is and can be very difficult.

    Perhaps the best way to make the best of our coming Sunday celebrations is to continually ask and ponder the questions: As we live life in faith through life’s difficulties, WWJS (What Would Jesus Say) and WWJD (What Would Jesus Do)? This would mean that as we struggle even in faith with how difficult our life is and can be, by asking these questions WWJS/WWJD, we allow our Lord to coach us in life and give us some tips or guides on how to cope and deal with life’s harsh reality. 

    Jesus in our Gospel today has something clear to say and teach us about difficulties of life in faith. His obvious message to us is “Do Not Be Afraid”. Three times He said this in our gospel today, and we also know that “Fear not, Do not be Afraid” has been one of his recurring message to us all throughout the Gospels and Scriptures. This simply means that Jesus always directs and wants us “Not to be Afraid” as we struggle with, in and through the difficulties of our lives.

    And particularly here in our gospel today, Jesus teaches us three tips on how He (and we could) cope and deal with life-difficulties. First, “not being afraid” would mean being True to ourselves. Here Jesus is telling us: No more secrets, lies, pretenses, by-standing and hiding. Be a person of integrity and fidelity to your tasks, mission, and vocation in this life.  Proclaim your Being and be a witness to others. Magpakatoo ka.

    “Not being Afraid” would mean also Being Strong. Jesus teaches us that Courage is more than just moving on, moving forward, fighting back (still being afraid of others) but more so on holding our ground, facing the odds, standing still, and asking for help. Strength then in the midst of life-difficulties would mean not only “no retreat, no surrender”, but also “don’t fight nor flee but face it and ask for help”. Thus, the struggle is all about Getting Thru and not Getting Rid of life-difficulties. Hindi ang Mawalay kundi Malampasan ang kahirapan, kaya Magpakatatag.

    And lastly, “Not being afraid” would mean to Be Faithful. Jesus reminds us that in life-difficulties, we do have God as our Help to protect and take care of us well. All we have to do is to Have faith and hope in God, that is to allow God to be part of our struggles (God to be with us). Manalig sa Dios.

    Simply put, Jesus is guiding us “Not to be Afraid” in life-difficulties by being true, strong and faithful in life (Huwag tayong matakot, kondi magpakatotoo, magpakatatag at manalig sa Dios. Take this advice, guide, and tips from the words and life of Jesus himself who went through and knew more about how difficult life and Christian life is and can be. Let us allow Him to be our life coach now by considering WWJS and WWJD about how “life is difficult”.

    Consider also that Jesus gives us this advice because He knows we have our tendency to Fear new realities. Whenever Good News (good & new things) are happening to us, Normal for us, indeed to be sorry for our past mistakes, to be afraid of what is in front of us, & to be worried of yet to come. Actually, the opposite of Faith is not doubt but moreso, Fear. By instinct we are afraid, fear is instinctual. By choice we believe; faith is voluntary. Behind the advice of “Fear not” is the challenge of Jesus: “Have Faith in me, instead.”

    We continue to pray and ask, then for His guidance for us not to be afraid of life-difficulties, but to be His true, strong and faithful followers. Amen.  

  • GLOCAL

    GLOCAL

    June 18, 2023 – Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061823.cfm)

    In our gospel today, Jesus summoned his disciples, and gave them authority to heal every disease and sickness. He made his disciples share his authority and mission to preach the good news of salvation to all. He commissioned them and gave them the tasks to be preachers and evangelizers of God’s kingdom. Jesus added however that they should start, not elsewhere, but at home.

    Since then and until now, as followers of Christ, we share the same authority and commission with the disciples to preach and witness the reign of God’s kingdom to all in our world today. And in the same way, we are to establish & begin in our own homes, families, and communities.

    Start locally and then… globally. Or we may say…. Go GLOCAL.

    Considering that in doing our tasks and mission as evangelizers and preachers of God’s kingdom, there is always a tendency or even a temptation for us to blame the evil in the world on others, and to reach out for our poor brothers and sisters in need who are far-away from us. But as Jesus would insist, we start to live our faith and practice what we preach in our own homes, in our own neighborhood and communities. As he said to “go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel…for the Kingdom of heaven IS AT HAND”, Jesus thus requires us to perform our mission to – our people nearby, rather than pagan territory, because the Kingdom – the Good News is up and coming available right here right now. In other words, Charity begins locally at home.

    For who are our neighbors? Our neighbor is the immediate person we live with, who needs our immediate attention and care. We don’t have to go out to help others far from us. We start with our kasambahay, kapamilya, family, relatives, friends & associates. We start to correct and clean the evils and sinfulness in our homes before we deal with our world outside. We try to witness our faith with people nearby by making our lives now better to live in.

    Remember it was only later, during Jesus’ ascension that the disciples were sent to all the nations of the world. Start locally and then globally. Begin in your own homes nearby and then, expand & extend into the world.

    Being called & sent to be His missionaries today, with Our Mother of Perpetual Help, let this be our prayer : “Lord, grant me the grace to be what You want me to be, and to do what You want me to do, not there & later, but here & now at this very moment.” Amen.

  • Banquet

    Banquet

    June 11, 2023 – Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061123.cfm)

    In almost all of Filipino houses there is a picture of Last Supper near their dining table. Have you ever wondered why in all places such picture of the Lord’s last supper is hanged near the dining table?

    This is because we, Filipinos love celebrations. We like to be part of big party or fiesta. Basically, we are meal-oriented people. We like to eat, and mealtimes are important and meaningful activity for us. Yes, we like to eat, but we like to eat together. We eat not only for nourishment but for companionship as well. For us, eating is not only a usual routine of nourishing our own physical body, but also a common activity of strengthening relationship and bonding. That is why we eat together not for the food, but for the companionship and covenant it brings. Mealtime for us is not only the time to eat, but also the opportunity to encounter – to experience one another.  This is why we don’t like to eat alone. We like to eat with companion, because for us, meals, eating, tables would mean celebrations, table-fellowship, sharing, bonding, rituals, and communion.

    The word ‘companion’ is a lovely word. It comes from two Latin words: cum which means “with”, and panis which means bread. So a ‘companion’ literally means someone whom I share bread with. And it is not everyone that you enjoy having meal with. There has to a bonding – a relationship first, which is deepened by the sharing of food and drink. Usually, by inviting a person to a meal, we seal our contracts, we show acceptance and approval. We know that once you are invited to take part in their table – to eat with them, it would mean that you are already accepted.  You become one of them. You belong to them.

    This is why we like the picture of the Last Supper hanging on near our dinner table because we want to be part of Lord’s celebration of life.  Taking our meals in front of the picture of the Last Supper, whatever the food is, whether lechon or bulad or ginamos, would mean we want to be a companion of Jesus and his disciples in their party celebration. Meaning, we like to renew and strength our faith-relationship with him. We want to be accepted and belong to His community. We like to be part of His family-banquet, His party. And All of these are greatly done and signified until now in our table-fellowship in the Lord’s Eucharist, in our celebration of the Holy Mass. 

    Today, we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. Today, we recognize and celebrate Christ’s continuing Presence and His binding promise of love and redemption to us, through His gift of Himself in a form of bread and wine.

    Our readings today remind us that as in life we feed ourselves with food, the Lord also feed us with His food, not only to nourish us but also to strengthen our covenant relationship with Him. Jesus in our gospel today specially has offered us His body and blood, as our inheritance of God’s manna in the Holy Eucharist. By sharing us Himself in body and blood, Jesus sealed us new covenant-relationship with God.

    And because of this, we are continually nourished by God’s graces and we are in communion with Christ’s eternal life. In other words, through His body and blood, Jesus is offering us not only God’s food for our faith-life journey but also a meal-time party (or a food trip) with God. That is why every time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, we are in covenant or in companionship with God, with Jesus, and with one another. Thus, through our table-fellowship as family and community in our celebrations of the Lord’s Eucharist every Sunday and also as Filipino in front of the picture of the Lord’s Supper, we are united with the Lord and we take part with His glory and work of redemption. 

    Perhaps if we say nowadays, “We are what we eat and who we eat with” (Anong kinain at sino ang kasama ay Tayo), in attending Eucharist, we as Christian proclaim that through the body and blood of Jesus we are having party-meal (food trip/ breaking bread) with God now and always.

    Today is a great celebration, a great salu-salo, kainan or fiesta party in the whole Church. This is the day that we, as Church renew and strengthen our covenant-relationship, our companionship with God by breaking and sharing God’s manna, the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ with one another. May we as community of Christ-believers always be nourished by God and remained bonded with God through the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

  • As ONE

    As ONE

    June 4, 2023 – Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060423.cfm)

    A group of mountain climbers found themselves stranded near the highest peak. As the air grew thin and the weather got colder, they started to feel cold and weak. One of them made a fire, that brought them to gather and contribute whatever they have, to sustain the fire. As they began to enjoy its heat & warmth, they pulled out and shared not only all the food that they have, but also their stories and dreams in life with one another. In effect, whatever they shared before the campfire sustain and inspire them anew to move on with their journey after rest. However, one of them decided to be on his own, took a stick with a fire, and isolated himself from the group. Eventually, being away from the group, his fire extinguished, that made him sleepy, cold and weak again.

    With the team, we get strength and inspiration. Away from the team, we get tired, weak, and dispirited in our life-journey. We are in this together. We heal as One.

    As Christians, we praise God in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. We give glory to God Father, Son, & the Holy Spirit. We proclaim our creed of faith: “I believe in God, the Father…in Jesus Christ… in the Holy Spirit.” At its very core, unlike any other religions, our Christian faith is Trinitarian, i.e. we uniquely believe in God, the Father-Son-Holy Spirit. As we honor today the Holy Trinity, perhaps now we consider what it means for us to believe in the Trinitarian God.

    First, the word covenant simply would mean, “coming together”. As God is making covenant with us, God wants to “come together for us/with us/in us”. In God the Father, we come to believe a “God-for us” who chooses us to be His own people. In God the Son, we come to believe Emmanuel Jesus, a “God-with us” who makes known to us God’s love for us, and how to love God in return. In God the Holy Spirit, we come to believe a “God-in us”, who inspires, directs, and sustains us in life of faith. To believe in the Holy Trinity then is to “come together” – to be in COVENANT with God, much as God is in covenant with us. As God is for us/with us/in us, we must also be people for God, with God, and in God.

    Second, in the Lord’s ascension, we are reminded that the risen Lord is not-finished yet. As today’s gospel reminds us, His mission of salvation for us is still a work-in progress, and is now a product of the concerted-effort, team work of the communion of the Holy Trinity. Our salvation is the dynamic actions OF our God, the Father who chooses us to be His own, THROUGH God the Son who is loving us always, and WITH the God the Holy Spirit who inspires, directs, and sustains us in life. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16)

    To believe in the Holy Trinity is thus to be in COMMUNION with God. As God acts and works as one for our salvation, so also we must be in sync, in tune with God’s concerted saving actions for our salvation. Thus, we not only give glory to them but also we are in sync with the works OF the Father, THROUGH the Son, WITH the Holy Spirit for our salvation. Jesus gifted us with such communion with God as our pathways to our redemption.

    Third, as the Lord mandated us to proclaim our faith to all nations, He particularly challenges us to make disciples in the name of the Holy Trinity. Making disciples while proclaiming our faith to all nations would mean helping ourselves and one another to be in constant covenant with God, and in partnership-communion with God’s work of salvation for us. To believe in the Holy Trinity then is to lead our lives and faith as Church, a COMMUNITY of faith. As God is and works as Community, we too must also be and acts as Church, a community of Christian faith, living and witnessing God’s being and acting in our lives.

    The Holy Trinity shows us as Church how to be and act as God’s own People. As much as God be and acts together, to have a Trinitarian faith we too must be and act in Covenant, in Communion and in Community with God and one another. As Church then, we must be faithful people for God, with God, and in God – witnessing our faith in sync with the labor of the Father, through the Son, with the Holy, and living our lives as church community making disciples and proclaiming our faith.

    Remember “the community is the bearer of God’s Salvation”. Salvation thus happens in the context of the church – not of individuals, but of our families & faith-communities – our BECs (Basic Ecclessial communities). We are God’s own chosen People, not chosen individuals. We all are to be in covenant, in communion and in community with Him and His church. With the Holy Trinity & church, we are strong and inspired. Without and apart from the Holy Trinity & church, we are weak and dispirited. Again, we are all in these together. We heal as ONE.

    May we, as God’s own, not be isolated & separated from the Holy Trinity and God’s church, but instead always be connected and involved with God’s life and labors of salvation for all nations and peoples, most especially during these new normal periods.

    So may it be. Hinaut pa unta. Kabay pa. Amen.