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Category: Fr. Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Walk with Graciousness

    Walk with Graciousness

    June 23, 2022 – Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062322-day.cfm)

    Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist a very important figure in the New Testament. This is the reason why the Church celebrates with great dignity his birth. How significant was he then? The Lord promised to send a Messiah who will come to us in order to save us. But before the Messiah will come, a person shall be sent first to serve as a herald who will prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah. This herald will not only announce the coming of the Messiah but he too will lead the people to recognize who the Messiah is.

    In the prophecy of the Book of Isaiah, this person shall be a light of the nations because he will teach, lead and gather the people to see God.

    We have heard in the first reading how Isaiah described God calling his herald even before his birth. This herald has been named and appointed by God to lead his people. This is God’s promise to be first fulfilled through the participation of humanity, through us.

    Thus, the birth of John was announced to an old couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth who were believed to be barren and cursed. However, to the surprise of this old couple an angel announced that they will have a son.  Elizabeth welcomed the message from God, but her husband, because it was too much to believe could not accept God’s gift. That is why, Zechariah was silenced by God. He only recovered his voice when his son was born. It was when he gave the name John to his son that the Lord opened his mouth again because the Lord is gracious. Yes, the name John or Johannes means the Lord is gracious.

    The birth of John is God’s manifestation that He is indeed gracious and faithful despite our unbelief and doubts. God continues to reveal himself to us even though we refuse to believe.

    This was the role of John and that was to bring people again to believe that God has never abandoned us. God remembers and God is here with us. This brings us now into the theme of this fourth day of our Novena in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Feast to be celebrated on June 29 in Iloilo City): Mary walks! And yes, as Mary walks, God also walks. God walks because God remembers His people.

    Hence, when Mary heard the news from Angel Gabriel that Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary walked the road to the hill country of Judea in order to visit and help Elizabeth. Mary’s participation in the life of John the Baptist tells us how the Lord also walks with us in this life as Mary walks carrying Jesus in her womb.

    What does this tell us now? What is God’s invitation for us now? As John was born, God also reveals his graciousness in us. And as Mary walks to help Elizabeth in giving birth to John, Mary’s presence in the birth of John also tells us of a loving presence that is ready to accompany and to be there for us in times of our needs and sorrows, and also in times of our victory and joys.

    Thus, there are at least two invitations for us now on this Nativity of John the Baptist and 4th day of our Novena in honor Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

    First, to be gracious. As God reveals his graciousness through the birth of John, let us also be gracious and be kind to people around us. Expressing our graciousness or kindness to all reveals our heart that is grounded in love and filled with gratitude because God has truly worked wonders in our life.

    Second, we can also show our graciousness by allowing ourselves to walk with others. Life will surely be more colorful and uplifting despite the challenges we have, when we walk with friends.  When we allow others to walk with us and ourselves by being generous to walk with others too, it expresses not just our concern for one another but to be in solidarity with each one. And this is what Mary showed as she walked with graciousness in her heart. Kabay pa.

  • PRODUCING LIFE-GIVING FRUITS

    PRODUCING LIFE-GIVING FRUITS

    June 22, 2022 – Wednesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062222.cfm)

    The laws and decrees of the Lord are important and essential in the life of the people of God. In fact, the whole Bible talks about this importance that indeed, it is in following the precepts of the Lord that we shall find fullness of life. Hence, every law and decree of the Lord is expressive of the covenant with God that gives life to the people.

    This is what the first reading tries to tell us in the Second Book of Kings. When the King was made aware of the covenant with God and the unfaithfulness done by his ancestors, he realized how far they have gone away from the Lord. This made the king to recognize those sins and to repent which was symbolized by tearing off his garment. From that repentance, the king led the people to renew once more the covenant they had with God by following ordinances, statutes and decrees of the Lord with all their hearts and souls.

    This is an acknowledgement that no matter how affluent or comfortable we can be in life, but when we are far from the presence of God, then we find life empty and full of sadness. Life is being lived fully through the grace of God.

    Meaning to say that the covenant  with God with its laws and decrees are ways of achieving the fullness of life and being fruitful in life. And being fruitful in life means living in peace, in freedom, in inspiring and giving life for others.

    This is what the Gospel reminds us today. Jesus calls us to be fruitful in life and at the same time to be careful of false prophets who seduce us with empty promises of fruitfulness.

    The main intention of false prophets is to bring us away from the covenant with God, and to ultimately keep us away from the fullness of life and leading us instead into the corruption of life.

    False prophets can appear to us as a real or virtual person who may persuade us to believe in false hopes, false alarms, fake news and disinformation especially with what is happening around us today. The intention of persuading us to believe has certainly contained hidden political or religious agenda. But beware of these and be discerning because these will only bring away from reality and from our community.

    Moreover, such false prophets can also take the form of empty promises from various addictions. Gambling, alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, gadgets, or even excessive internet usage may promise to fill our empty and broken hearts that long for attention and care, recognition and acceptance, affection and love. These forms of false prophets may also seduce us to believe that these addictions and unhealthy coping mechanisms can provide relief from the pain that we feel, from the pain of losing a loved one, from a heartbreak, from rejection, or from failure, shame and guilt. However, this is not true at all. Succumbing ourselves into these empty promises will only bring us deeper into ruin and corruption of our life and of life around us.

    When we realize that this kind of person, media site, or attitude and perspective in life does not bring us closer to God but away from Him, away from our true selves and from other people, then, beware because that will only bring us to bad fruits being produced and to corruption of life.

    Thus, as Jesus calls us to live life fully by following his desire for us, may our actions and words, our relationships and encounters with people may truly produce life-giving fruits of love, of understanding, and of peace and reconciliation in our communities. Kabay pa.

  • GIVE THEM SOME FOOD YOURSELVES

    GIVE THEM SOME FOOD YOURSELVES

    June 19, 2022 – Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061922.cfm)

    How often do you go hungry, physically? With people who have easy access to food supply, to feel hungry is a choice, perhaps because of workload, so the meal is being delayed. Others, perhaps because of dieting, in order to lose weight. Yet, to many who do not have an easy access to food supply, being hungry is not a choice, but a struggle they cannot avoid.

    According to World Bank, hunger levels remain alarmingly high, globally, with a number close to 193 million people acutely food insecure.[1]  UNICEF also said that there are 95 Filipino children dying every day because of malnutrition.[2] While the recent SWS result said that there is a total of about 12.2% of Filipinos or an estimated number of 3.1 million Filipino Families who experienced hunger in the first quarter of 2022.[3] Out of this 3.1 million, 2.4 million families have experienced moderate hunger while 744,000 families have to survive as they were having severe hunger.

    Hunger, indeed, is everywhere. Despite the advancement of our technology, food security remains a problem. There is a need for us that we too shall become aware of the hunger that many of our brothers and sisters around us are suffering. We cannot just be blind and indifferent to this need. Our readings this Sunday, on this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ would actually help us to be more conscious of such hunger and other forms of hunger around us. The Lord through this sacrament of the Holy Eucharist nourished us, yet, this also calls us to be able to respond, as individuals and as a church.

    The Gospel reading we have today captures on how we are called to respond. So let us see how we are being called today.

    The disciples upon seeing the crowd of people wanted to dismiss them so that they can look for food. At this moment, the disciples could not see their responsibility to provide food for the crowd since they did not have the resources. This was the reason why the twelve asked Jesus to dismiss the people. Naturally, they were worried because they did not have enough food for themselves.

    However, what was surprising was the response of Jesus. “Give them some food yourselves,” Jesus told them. Such a response was perhaps ridiculous to the minds of the disciple. They were conscious that what they have were only five loaves and two fish. Hence, the anxiety of the disciples came from that scarcity. If they would give the little that they have, what would be left? In the minds of the disciples, there will be nothing for them. They will go hungry. And they were not ready to do such a thing.

    Such attitude and belief of the disciples tell us something about ourselves. Our natural tendency is to keep things for ourselves. We think first of ourselves. We first take care of our needs. Yet, when it becomes our anxiety, this can blind us, not being able to recognize the needs of others and separates us from the difficulties of people around us. This explains why the disciples wanted to dismiss the people. They did not want to take care of their needs. Hence, they too became dismissive and indifferent.

    However, this has become an opportunity for Jesus the teach the disciples and to open their eyes to the needs of others. “Give them some food yourselves,” was Jesus’ invitation for the disciples to look beyond themselves and beyond their anxieties of losing and giving. Certainly, losing something from us and giving out something for others can become an anxiety and insecurity in us especially when we believe that we do not have enough.

    But then, this was how Jesus revealed to the disciples and now to us that it is in generously giving oneself that we find satisfaction and true fulfillment in life. This is the reason why we celebrate the Eucharist and this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, for Jesus himself offered and generously gave his own body and blood, his whole life for our sake.

    The multiplication of bread and fish was the very image of a life being shared to others in which those who have received were also inspired to give and make the sacrifice for others. This will remain powerful in us when the memory of giving oneself is preserved and done out of gratitude.

    This is how Paul reminded us in the second reading. Paul shared his gratitude as he said, “I received from the Lord what I also handed to you.” Paul himself who received Christ in his life, was motivated and inspired to also give his own life for others as his concrete expression of making the memory of Jesus alive. And as he expressed that gratitude, he also reminded the people at Corinth of the command of Jesus, “Do this in memory of me!” The sharing of the meal is meant to be shared to all and should come from a heart that is grateful. Once this is done out of the context of the community and without gratitude, then, it ceases to be a powerful memory of Jesus.

    That is why Paul wrote this letter to remind them of the errors they did.  The people became neglectful of the true meaning of the Lord’s Supper. For the people, it was just an occasion of eating and drinking. But, the Lord’s Supper is more than that but doing it in the memory of Jesus, making the bread and wine into true body and blood of Christ that gives life to others.

    Now, on this solemnity, there are at least three invitations for us in order to make the memory of Jesus more alive and powerful in us.

    First, give without grumbling and give out of generosity. This will only be possible when we also remain grateful no matter how little we have in life.

    Second, as we truly receive Christ in this Eucharist, be always life-giving, as Christ gives us his life. We can only be life-giving when we think less of ourselves and less of our comfort.

    Third, share a meal with the hungry. When you have an opportunity to feed a person who is hungry, please do not close your eyes, do not dismiss or send them away without nothing.

    As we allow these invitations be made concrete in our actions, may our way of life will also truly become a powerful memory of Jesus today. Kabay pa.

    [1] https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-update#:~:text=Globally%2C%20hunger%20levels%20remain%20alarmingly,previous%20high%20reached%20in%202020.

    [2] https://www.unicef.org/philippines/child-survival#:~:text=Every%20day%2C%2095%20children%20in,permanent%2C%20irreversible%20and%20even%20fatal.

    [3] https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1607293/3-1m-filipinos-experienced-hunger-in-q1-of-2022-sws-survey-shows

  • DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW

    DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW

    June 18, 2022 – Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061822.cfm)

    Many of us would certainly find ourselves worrying about tomorrow, about our future especially when we are already experiencing difficulties today. This is how we would make plans for our dreams for ourselves and for our families because we want a future that is secured.

    However, aside from these worries, we could also experience worries at home, at school, at our workplaces and even with our relationships. And when these worries become overwhelming for us, they affect our relationships. In addition, when we experience failures in our dreams or in our relationships that the worries become more intense.

    Yet, in today’s Gospel, Jesus comforts us by reminding us, “do not worry about tomorrow, do not worry about your life.” Jesus first reminded his disciples who at that times became worried on what they would have and on how their future be like by following the Lord. St. Matthew, the author of this Gospel, wrote this story to also remind the early Christian Community during his time, not to worry too much with material things in life.

    This is an invitation to be more trusting in God, in His divine providence. God, indeed, takes care of everything even the smallest creature on earth, how much more to us who are all dear to the Lord. God takes care for us.

    Thus, we embrace today and claim this comfort from the Lord, not to worry too much, but to be more trusting in God and in his ways of doing good and wonderful things for us. This also teaches us to be more trusting with people around us, those who work with us and those who accompany us in this journey of life. Kabay pa.

  • What do you see? 

    What do you see? 

    June 17, 2022 – Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061722.cfm)

    What do you see? What attracts and catches your eye? Beauty and goodness? Or ugliness and failures? Our eyes are usually attracted and caught up by what is already hidden deep within our heart (spiritually speaking), where our emotions and deep thoughts are found. These emotions and thoughts may also be greatly influenced by our longings and inner desires. Thus, we may also ask, what is it that I actually long for, that I desire the most?

    Is it comfort and riches? Is it pleasure? Is it inner peace and confidence? Is it forgiveness? Is it love and affection? Is it contentment in life? etc. Depending on what we really long for and desire the most, that our eyes will also be easily attracted into what we see from outside. When what we long for is peace and love, then, our eyes will shall surely be more attracted to things that shall express and show peace and love. Yet, when what is within us are the desires to be powerful, to be rich and influential, to be violent, to take revenge and hate, then, what we shall see are opportunities on how those desires will also be expressed in our actions.

    Thus, Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel, “The Lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.”

    This is how we understand the cruelty we find in the first reading from the Second Book of Kings. Athaliah whose heart was filled with anger and hatred, upon seeing the death of her son, Ahaziah, became more vicious. What she saw were opportunities on how to take revenge, to take the throne and take control and power. Her eyes were attracted on how to slaughter the whole royal family. Athaliah was actually the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel who murdered the innocent Naboth in order to grab his land. Both, worshipped Baal, a false god and where after the life of Prophet Elijah for reminding them of their sins against the Lord God and against the people.

    This pictures out what Jesus tells in the Gospel, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.” Indeed, these people were after riches and power for themselves which turned them corrupt and evil. They were certainly, in darkness, as the Gospel says.

    However, Jesus calls us today, “to store up treasures in heaven” by looking and by being attracted of the things of heaven. Thus, Jesus invites us to be more conscious of things that will last. Jesus was not talking about material possessions, neither human desires for recognition and power nor human cravings for self-gratification.

    Jesus calls us to treasure the relationship we have with God and our relationship among ourselves as families, friends and community, as a church. This means that it is also an invitation to give priority to these relationships, in nurturing and giving importance through sharing of gifts and of our persons and giving sacrifices for one another and not in destroying each other.

    Therefore, be daring in building intimate and deeper relationships with God and with others by giving what we have – our time and presence, by not fearing to take sacrifices for our loved ones, and by always being grateful of these relationships. This brings us to see more the needs of others, and not just our own needs and to see on how we can be more life-giving. Kabay pa.