July 24, 2022 – 17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072422.cfm)

When I was young, I was always fascinated to see the elderly in our family praying. Their patience and endurance in kneeling from the beginning to the end was amazing. However, I would feel that the prayers would almost take forever to finish. Few minutes after the prayers like the rosary and novena would begin, I would also fall asleep in the comfort of my mother’s lap.

Remembering the persistence of our elderly and grandparents in praying, reminds us too of this day of the 2^nd World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. And so, with love and concern, we acknowledge the presence of our elderly and grandparents who are here present in this Mass today. We thank them for their presence and in showing us the blessings God offers us even in our old age.

In fact, Pope Francis tells us today, that “elderly is growing in humanity by caring for others. Our elderly and grandparents can be teachers of a way of life that is peaceful and attentive to those in greatest need. And that being an elderly is a recognition that we are not saved alone, that happiness is a bread we break together.[1]” Pope Francis continues, that being an elderly and a grandparent, “you are called to be artisans of the revolution of tenderness in our world.”

Such way of life of caring for others, of peace and being attentive to those in greatest need, is what we have heard in today’s first reading from the Book of Genesis. Abraham who was already an elderly at that time showed this concern and care for others by pleading before God to show mercy. Abraham had this audacity to somehow “bargain” before God in saving the people of Sodom even if there were only few righteous people. Abraham’s concern was in fact, to save the people from damnation. His tenderness was being shown in his intervention or intercession in behalf of the people.

God, certainly, showed compassion to the people because through Abraham’s prayer God also sees and finds the goodness in us. Indeed, this is how prayer is also being transformed into care and into tenderness towards others which gives life, promotes life and heals life.

This way of praying as a sign of care and tenderness for others is also alive in Jesus. Our Gospel today would even tell us that when Jesus finished praying, his disciples came and asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” The disciples must have also felt and witnessed how Jesus’ way of praying created big impact to the people whom Jesus helped and ministered. The very way of life of Jesus that is grounded in prayer became more evident in his actions. Jesus brought healing to the sick, forgave the sinners, and freed those who were possessed by evil spirits.

The life-giving way of praying of Jesus captivated and motivated the disciples to learn the way of Jesus’ praying. And such humility to learn the way of life of Jesus in praying, allowed the Lord to teach them the basics of prayer.

God, as Jesus introduced to us, is our Father. By calling God as our father, this brings us into closeness and intimacy with God. God would surely love being called as our Father, whose only desire is for us to grow in love.

This tells us that our prayers and other forms of devotions are not meant to impress others or to flatter or manipulate the Lord because of our long, wordy and unintelligible prayers. What the Lord wants from us is our sincere and humble heart that recognizes God as our Father, growing in confidence and closeness with God.

The Lord’s Prayer brings us also into sincerity and humility because the prayers acknowledges first God, as our Father whose “divine will” takes priority than our own. We seek and recognize the will of God for us and not our wants. This brings us to be more aware of our needs and the needs of others in this present moment, of today, and not to be burdened by our past or to be anxious of tomorrow.

This is very important to remember that the prayer Jesus taught to us, allows us to be more aware of our present moment, of our needs, the needs of others as well as the graces of the here and now. This will certainly make us more contented and confident in life for we shall see how God provides and works for us in the present moment.

Hence, on this 17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time and 2^nd World Day of Grandparents and Elderly, there are three invitations for us.

First, learn the way of Jesus in praying by becoming confident and intimate with God as our Father. We shall grow in that confidence by allowing ourselves to trust God and His ways for us in our daily life.

Second, make our prayer as a sign of our concern and tenderness for others. Like Abraham who pleaded to God in behalf of the sinful people, let our prayers too not be self-centered by only praying for our personal needs and wants, but also to be able to pray for others and their needs.

Third, let our prayers be translated into our actions. Like Jesus whose prayer brings life, healing and freedom to many, let our actions grounded in our prayers also bring life, healing and freedom in our relationships with other people. Kabay pa.

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[1] Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Second World Day for Gandparents and the Elderly; 24 July 2022

July 10, 2022 – 15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071022.cfm)

I grew up in a community where people know everybody. I have enjoyed playing and fighting with other kids. As kids, we were welcomed to take something to eat and even sleep no matter whose house would that be. I have enjoyed very much my childhood when we have to make our own kites and toy cars, build our small houses, running around and getting hurt and dirty with other kids. Those days that I had were the foundation where I was able to relate and socialize with others. And most importantly, the early years of playtime and growing up as a child are the opportunities also where a child will develop his or her sense of responsibility, creativity and sensitivity to people around him or her.

This kind of development in us is being nurtured within the environment where we are in. In this case also, we understand that our neighbors play a vital role in our everyday life. Our encounter and everyday exchange of gifts, stories and even quarrels and gossips make as animated and alive.

That is why, we also find neighbors helping one another in times of need and sorrow and sharing their joys in times of abundance and blessing. We understand that our neighbor is someone who is close to us, somebody we know and someone we are familiar with. And we consider those outside this circle as strangers to whom we could easily show an indifferent attitude. However, this kind of understanding of neighbor is being challenged today. This is what we have heard from the Gospel of Luke.

And so let us explore now the invitation for us this Sunday through our Gospel.

There was a lawyer who asked Jesus on how he would be able to attain eternal life. What he asked was not just actually about what lies after death but also of the present moment. Eternal life then means eternal joy and this joy can already be found now.

The lawyer knew the answer, that is why, he also answered his own question to Jesus. This joy can be attained by loving God and loving one’s neighbor. This love of God can only become concrete when a person also shows the same love to his or her neighbor. And so it means, that these two are inseparable.

But, the lawyer asked Jesus again and clarified, “who is my neighbor then?” And Jesus’ answer must have left the lawyer speechless. In the parable that Jesus gave, a neighbor is somebody who is in need regardless of the persons’ belief, culture, race or status.

This is the reason why the victim in the story was portrayed to be naked and unable to speak because he was half-dead. The person had no particular culture or race, or language or belief. The person then symbolizes anybody.

Moreover, a neighbor is also a person who responds to those in need. A neighbor is a person who feels the suffering and pain of the other and because of this, a neighbor is moved to extend help and assurance to that person in need. This is done out of generosity and kindness.

Thus, the priest and the Levite in the story who merely showed indifference to the dying person were not neighbors. Their fear of becoming unclean and not being able to enter the Holy Temple or perhaps fear to do something that it might be just a trap of the thieves, prevented them to extend their hands to the person. They must have surely felt pity for the victim but then they remained in the feeling and did not move into action.

That is why, to only feel pity for the person in need without changing anything from us, is empty. True pity leads to mercy which also leads to kindness, a generous action.

This is how we realize that being a believer of God, your faith and my faith does not mean to be static or passive. Faith is not dependent on letters or traditional practices and rituals as shown by the priest and Levite. But faith is dynamic and pro-active because it is about a relationship. This is what the Samaritan showed.

Therefore, true faith builds relationship, friendship. It is sensitive and generates kindness, generosity, mercy and compassion. In other words, action!

Thus, Jesus invites us today that to attain eternal life or eternal joy is also to build relationships. The Samaritan despite the discrimination against him by the Jews as heretic, impure and lowly was able to build relationship by recognizing that victim as his neighbor.  This was how the Samaritan extended his hands for the man who was in pain and suffering. His hands provided comfort and healing to the person. His presence became an assurance and security for the victim of abuse and crime. He did all those not because he was after some recognition or reward. He extended his hands and went beyond what was expected of him because he cognized the man as a person in need of help and healing and because he recognized God in that person.

This is how Paul in his letter to the Colossians reminds us too that Jesus is the very image of the invisible God. As the Good Samaritan recognized God in the person of the victim and the suffering man, we too are called to recognize Jesus, the image of the invisible God among our brothers and sisters.

And so for this Sunday, there are three take-aways that I want you to remember and to bring with you at home.

First, make our faith alive. We have realized that faith is not limited with our memorized prayers, traditional religious practices and Sunday obligations. Faith is a way of life for us Christians that allows us to build relationships with God and with our neighbors. Let us not make our faith become stagnant and passive. Make our Christian faith alive by generating kindness and generosity, love, compassion and mercy.

Second, touch to bring healing. As the Good Samaritan took the risk and the time to touch and bring healing to the man in pain, let our touch bring healing as well to people around us. Let not our touch be a cause of pain and suffering to others like what the robbers did to the man. Their touch was oppressive, cruel and abusive. Rather, let us make our touch become a source of healing and comfort by being gentle and kind.

Third, be a neighbor. This is what Jesus is trying to tell us today that our very presence with one another will also become a source of support and understanding not judgment, be a source of comfort not gossip and intrigue, be a source of solidarity and empathy not indifference and to be a source of life and joy in our community and not of abuse, corruption and death. Kabay pa.