Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Fr. Jom Baring, CSsR

  • GOD DOES SO MANY WONDERS WITH US

    GOD DOES SO MANY WONDERS WITH US

    June 4, 2022 – Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060422.cfm)

    There would be times in our life that we cannot help but compare negatively ourselves with others. We begin to see more defects, more failings, more pain and more insecurities in our life especially when we are also going through something and when life gets rough for us. That helplessness must have come from our desire to understand our situation and to cope up with the struggle we are going through.

    Thus, we compare our insecurities against the fortunes and blessings of others to justify our situation. This must be our way of coping. Yet, we also know that it does not help us see beyond and move forward. The more we compare ourselves with others, the lesser we see ourselves and belittle our worth. This only brings us into a dead end.

    This is how our relationships and understanding of oneself affect us when we grow in this kind of perspective and attitude. It can be a plague not just among young people but even among professionals, siblings, neighbors and colleagues. The bitterness of comparison and insecurities can poison our relationship with one another.

    However, it is always God’s desire that we discover our full potentials, develop more our capacities and grow maturely in our relationships and become life-giving. This is what Jesus wanted for Peter to realize also.

    In today’s Gospel, Peter expressed his anxiety to Jesus over the beloved disciple. Peter was anxious and perhaps also curious on what would happen to the beloved disciple. Peter asked, “Lord, what about him?” He must have other questions in mind like, “What are your plans for him? Do you have something in mind for him aside from me?” That anxiety of Peter must have come from jealousy because of the fact that the disciple was called “beloved,” meaning, the favorite of Jesus. This was how also word (gossip) spread among the brothers that the beloved disciple would not die.

    Yet, Jesus said, “What concern is it of yours?” Jesus wanted Peter to recognize his potentials, to fully embrace what he was capable of, and to respond generously to Jesus’ call for him and not be distracted by what others have. Jesus wanted Peter to trust him completely because Jesus shall work many wonders with Peter and in each one of them according to their talents and personalities.

    In fact, the Gospel told us today, “there are so many things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.” This, indeed, is a statement how the Lord worked wonders with Peter and in each of the disciples.

    In each of us too, Jesus works many wonders with us if we would allow him to. Hence, these are God’s invitation for us today.

    First, when we begin the cycle of comparing ourselves from others, catch that mentality and attitude then begin to shift our perspective. Let us begin recognizing our own worth, reclaiming our potentials and talents. This will surely help us to become confident with ourselves by becoming more grateful.

    Second, to trust fully the Lord. Trusting the Lord does not mean that we will not be able to feel frustrated and disappointed anymore. The Lord may bring or call us to situations that we personally do not want. The Lord may work wonders with us in the way we do not expect it to be that way. Thus, trusting fully the Lord is allowing ourselves to become confident with ourselves and confident in God’s presence doing many wonders with us and through us. Kabay pa.

  • DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?

    DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?

    June 3, 2022 – Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060322.cfm)

    Peter was asked by the Lord, “Do you love me more than these?” And Peter responded that his love for the Lord was beyond his failings, beyond his fears, beyond his denials, beyond his doubts. His love was a response of a greater love he received from God who despite his human failings, he was blessed and called.

    Such love moved Peter to respond fully and offer completely his whole life and to let go of other things in his life. Those things include his hurts and pains, his personal dreams, career and even family, moved him to be completely available for God and for others.

    This is a story that totally changed a person’s understanding of himself, a person’s perspective of life and relationships, and of a person’s belief in God. Remember, Peter was hopeless after the death of Jesus. He was filled with guilt because of his denial of Jesus. He was in darkness. This was the reason why we went back to fishing, going back again to his old self, old way of life and old ways of coping from problems and trials in life.

    Yet, we also find the presence of Jesus, who never surrendered on Peter. There was the Risen Lord calling again Peter and the other disciples to find and recognize the Lord even at that disappointing night of catching nothing.

    Love then is beyond our human feelings. Love is beyond our light and joyful moments in life even beyond our failings and pains. Love entails our daily commitment and generous response. It calls us to care for others, to look and tend for the welfare of others and to be able to give life for others.

    This was how Peter was asked three times and was told also three times to tend and feed Jesus’ sheep, that is God’s people, God’s Church. Peter in return understood that he was loved by the Lord beyond his failures and inadequacies. Peter saw his potentials and gift to become a loving and a life-giving person to be expressed in his ministry.

    In the same way, the Lord also calls us today, to respond in love that we way also be able to recognize that despite our failures, we are being loved unconditionally. And that despite our other attachments in life, we are asked to make it clear that God is our priority, that the Lord takes the central part of our thoughts and hearts.

    May this allow us to constantly change our selfish and fear-motivated thoughts and actions into a free, caring and life-giving act of love wherever we are at this moment, and whatever is our status today. Kabay pa.

  • TAKE COURAGE

    TAKE COURAGE

    June 2, 2022 – Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060222.cfm)

    In the past few days, we have been following the prayers of Jesus just before his passion and death. Most of these prayers of Jesus speak of oneness and of friendship. Jesus speaks about these because he has most probably felt already the suffering that he will undergo. There will be great feelings of fear, confusion, of loneliness and abandonment.

    In this prayer of Jesus, he expresses his gratitude to the Father for giving him the gift of friendship with his disciples. This friendship gives comfort to Jesus. Yet, he also feels that his friends are afraid, confused and insecure. Thus, Jesus prays that his friends may be one with him, may never leave him but will accompany him in his suffering.

    However, these friends of Jesus turned out to be overwhelmed by their fear and insecurities. They fled and hid themselves for fear of being persecuted. After all, they left Jesus alone.

    But this attitude of the disciples never made Jesus to surrender on them. Jesus remains grateful to the Father because he saw something beyond the imperfection and unfaithfulness of his friends.

    Indeed, Jesus trusts the wisdom of the Father for giving him these kinds of friends. These friends are also the very sign of the Father’s love to him. Beyond the unfaithfulness and fear of the disciples are the image and the presence of God in them.

    The disciples realized this after the resurrection of Jesus. This event gradually changed them completely. Indeed, it was in this way that they have become one with Jesus. And true indeed, they were the Father’s gift to Jesus because each of Jesus’ friends became his witnesses to all the nations.

    This is the experience of Paul, who was a true witness of Jesus, as described to us in the Acts of the Apostles. What sustained Paul from those accusations and persecutions was his friendship with the Lord and the friendship he developed with the other believers of Jesus. This is how the Lord himself assured Paul and told him, “Take courage.” The Lord stood by him. This is friendship!

    We, too, are the Father’s gift to Jesus. As gifts, we are very precious to Jesus because we are his friends. We may also find ourselves weak, fearful and insecure like the disciples, but remember, Jesus will never surrender on us because he sees something beyond our weaknesses and fears. Jesus sees himself in us!

    As Jesus wishes that we may be one with him to see his glory, we are invited to remain firm in our faith and conviction as Christians. But, when we find ourselves going away from Jesus, let us come to him again, to come closer to him. It is only in being with him that we too shall find our true peace and comfort.

    Today, let us be grateful of the friendship we have with Jesus and of the friendship we have developed with other people. Like Jesus, we may also see the person of Jesus in our friends, to see Jesus beyond the imperfection and weaknesses of our friends. Take courage, then, because we have friends. Kabay pa.

  • WHEN GIVING IS A BLESSING

    WHEN GIVING IS A BLESSING

    June 1, 2022 – Seventh Week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060122.cfm)

    How blessed really are those who give than those who merely receive? Most of us actually think that we are more blessed when we receive something. It is wonderful to be a recipient of some goods from others because we don’t have to exert effort but only to open our hands. How nice would that be!

    Yet, there are interesting different attitudes between a constant receiver and a generous giver. People who are constantly receiving gifts, or those who demand to receive may they be material or not would tend to have low self-esteem, or insecure and unsatisfied with what they have already in this life. Thus, if this becomes our attitude, we too grow to become self-entitled and demanding towards others for our own benefit and advantage. Because of these attitudes, when we become people who constantly seek the generosity of others, we also tend to keep things for ourselves alone but ungenerous to others.

    These affect how we see ourselves, believing that we don’t have enough compared to others. We also become negative in our dealings and relationships with other people because we are inclined to see what is only ugly and unpleasant for us. And so, when people like these, initiate to give something to others, their gifts or good deeds have always hidden motives. This means that we only give because we expect something bigger in return. This attitude rather seeks what is only good and comfortable for ourselves because at the very first place, we are motivated by a selfish desire.

    On the other hand, persons who are truly generous of their gifts, of their presence and of their person, are confident. Yet, it does not mean that their confidence comes from the many things that they have acquired in this life. This confidence rather comes from faith because that person truly believes in God’s generosity and providence. That is why, a true generous person is always grateful. Yes, generosity springs forth from a heart that is grateful to God and the act of giving is a response of a grateful heart.

    This is what St. Paul told us in the Acts of the Apostles – “It is better to give than to receive.” Paul was called by Jesus and was given freedom. It led Paul to faith and his faith made him grateful and thus, a generous person expressed in giving himself for the proclamation of the Good News. He was not after silver or gold, to enrich himself but to give generously his presence for the people to whom he was sent as a minister. Indeed, this is an expression that giving is a blessing.

    Such act of giving that grants blessing reminds us too of St. Justin, a martyr and philosopher. It was by giving witness to faith that he too gave himself even if it would cost him his life. He never wavered even when there was a threat to his life. That act of St. Justin was founded on his confidence and faith in the Risen Jesus.

    This has been expressed by Jesus in the Gospel. Jesus showed his gratitude to the Father because of the love that sustained him in his ministry. Jesus’ prayer for his followers was his generous act, asking the Father to protect and bless them. This generous action of Jesus culminated in giving up his life on the cross for our sake while the resurrection is the Father’s generous action for our sake because the Father is grateful for the Son.

    This is God’s invitation for us today.

    We are, first, called to be truly grateful with what we have, to be confident with what we are enjoying which includes material things, people and relationships, talents, skills and our very “person” too.

    Second, let us allow our heart to grow in gratitude and confidence in God’s generosity that will hopefully mold us to become “blessed givers.” Remember, what we can give is not limited to material things, but even our talents, capacities, knowledge and our presence to people who are truly in need.

    Indeed, blessed are the generous givers because they portray God’s character and make God’s presence ever more present. Kabay pa.

  • THE LORD IS IN OUR MIDST

    THE LORD IS IN OUR MIDST

    May 31, 2022 – Feast of the Visitation

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/053122.cfm)

    St. Luke described to us the visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. He included this story in his Gospel to bring a message to a particular Christian community to which Luke was in-charge. What we can learn from this particular passage of the Gospel of Luke is the role of Mary in the Christian Community.

     Even at that early stage of the Christian faith, Mary had already become a mother and a model to every disciple of the Lord. Mary who received the Lord in her womb and in her whole life manifested in her actions the wonders of God done unto her. She became a model of charity and service to others which is an expression of bringing the Lord to others. This is clear enough in Mary’s willing heart to help her cousin, Elizabeth.

    The exchange of greetings between these two women was the amazing thing we find in the Gospel. Luke described to us how the baby in the womb of Elizabeth leaped with joy upon hearing the voice of Mary. Mary, the THEOTOKOS or bearer of God, brought such great joy to Elizabeth and to her baby in the womb.

    Mary’s visit was certainly God’s visitation to Elizabeth, to her baby and to Zechariah.  God visited them through Mary. Definitely, Elizabeth was filled with gratitude not just to Mary but to God especially. This is what we find in her greetings, “blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” This tells us that even the unborn child can feel the presence of God. An unborn child can also give assurance of God’s presence to others. This is wonderful!

    Thus, on this feast of the Visitation, we who are disciples of the Lord are reminded to be like Mary, to be charitable in our words and actions, to be aware of those who are in need of assistance, to be at the service of others especially those who are most in need of our help. In that way, we bring the Lord to them, we let others feel God’s presence through us.

    Each of us has that capacity to bring God’s presence to others. The Lord is with us, he is with you and with me. The Lord is in our midst, as the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah tells us.

    As Christians we are called to make a stand and to be aware of what is happening around us – not just within our small community but also in the wider picture of our society. It means that we are called to be socially aware and not to remain indifferent to the difficulties of our sisters and brothers. That is why, when we are indifferent to the difficulties of others, there is surely something wrong with our Christian life. It is good then to ask ourselves, “how socially aware am I to the plight of others, or am I totally indifferent and unmoved by the sufferings of others?”

    And so, in concrete terms and in small ways, a challenge is given to us. It would be good then to remember those people whom we have not visited for a long time. Visit them if possible. Remember also those people we know who will surely need our help, or recognize the people around us who need help from us in one way or another. In hope, we may be able to let them feel God’s presence through us, through our generous words and service. Kabay pa.