Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Fr. Jom Baring, CSsR

  • GOD IS COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS 

    GOD IS COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS 

    March 14, 2022 – Monday in the Second Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031422.cfm)

    Prophets are servants of God who proclaim God’s message for the people. Yet, because of the radical of the prophets to abusive and corrupt leaders, they were persecuted and killed. This was what happened to the prophets sent by God to Israel. However, the leaders of the people rejected the call to conversion and continued their corrupt practices and worshipping of other gods. This led to the destruction of the nation. The leaders of the people led the whole nation towards death.

    This what Prophet Daniel recognized in our first reading today. He too expressed his intercession on behalf of the people who had been exiled in a foreign land after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The destruction brought people to be dispersed and many of them became slaves. When the Temple was destroyed, the people felt that God abandoned them since the Temple was an assurance of God’s presence.

    However, instead of blaming God for abandoning them and letting that terrible event in their life to happen, Daniel, being shamefaced, realized their unfaithfulness towards their covenant with God. Daniel who prayed on behalf of the people recognized how they have turned their eyes blind and ears deaf towards the prophets whom God sent to their leaders.

    The leaders and the people continued to break their covenant with God by oppressing the weak among them and worshipping other gods. The leaders became cruel and shameless. All they thought and aspired was for their benefit and comfort of their families and close friends. This led them to worship other gods, the gods of other nations whom they thought were more powerful because of the seemingly riches and influence they enjoyed. However, they were indifferent to the plight of the poor, the sick, the orphans and the widows. And such belief and way of life became a culture among the people. Thus, it was them who actually distanced from God.

    And all of these came to the mind of Daniel. He remembered their sins and failures, the reason of the great shame he felt. Moreover, with this recognition of their unfaithfulness and sins, Daniel also saw how God remained faithful to them despite everything. Daniel acknowledge that God is compassion and forgiveness. Indeed, God remains merciful.

    This is the invitation that Jesus also spoke to his disciples in today’s Gospel, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Mercy, as Pope Francis said, is the name of God. God is mercy and it is God’s identity card.

    In this Season of Lent, may we always realize God’s mercy upon us that despite our unfaithfulness and sins, God remains for us, because God is Mercy. This invites us now to become merciful, to express that mercy in the way we relate with one another and in the way we live our very life. And when prophets of today calls us to recognize our failures and sins, may we not resist but heed the call of conversion that leads us to embrace God’s mercy and offer of freedom from sin and death.

    Indeed, mercy shall give us freedom from shame, and life from the death caused by our sins. Let mercy be the very measure to be returned to us. Hinaut pa.

  • TAKING THE RISK THAT LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION

    TAKING THE RISK THAT LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION

    March 13, 2022 – 2nd Sunday of Lent     

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031322.cfm)

    A friend shared to me how she took the risk of entering into a new relationship. She had been hurt in the past and the scar of betrayal still pained her. She became protective of herself by being suspicious of others. Obviously, she did not want another pain and disappointment. But then, another person came who promised to be with her. She was hesitant and fearful because she might experience another heartache. She will not be able to bear another pain and betrayal. At the beginning, she would not give any room for her suitor to occupy a space in her heart. Yet, the determination and patience of that man made her reconsider her position. At the end, she took the risk despite her anxieties and fears for a new relationship. Moreover, she discovered how that taking the risk transformed her, including her attitudes and perspective in life. In the process, as she took the risk, she became positive and grateful. A new person has emerged, a transformed woman ready to love and be loved again.

    Her story reminds me of the stories we have heard in today’s readings, which invite each of us to take the risk and be transformed. Together, let us explore these readings and see how God calls us on this Second Sunday of Lent.

    In the Book of Genesis, God called Abram to journey to a land God has promised. Abram was to leave the comfort of his homeland and people because God prepared something for him. God also promised Abram many children. Despite his uncertainties and anxieties, Abram took the risk of journeying to that strange land, and took the risk of putting his trust and faith in God.

    Indeed, as he took the risk of believing in God, God transformed Abram into a new man through the covenant that God made with Abram. Later, we knew that Abram’s name became Abraham, which means, the “father of many.” Certainly, this is a story of taking risk that led to a transformation of a person.

    We also find this in today’s Gospel. The transfiguration of Jesus is a manifestation of Jesus’ act of taking the risk to be vulnerable and powerless, to be sold and betrayed by a friend, to be deserted by his own disciples, to be persecuted, to suffer and to die. And because Jesus completely trusted his Father despite the uncertainties, “his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.”

    What does it mean? It was a glimpse of the glory of his resurrection, which Peter, John and James witnessed with their own eyes. In that revelation, the Father assured Jesus of His constant presence. It was a covenant made by the Father to His son, telling the Son that he will not be alone.

    Moreover, to Peter, John and James it was also an invitation “to listen to Jesus” – that is to take the risk of following the Lord and be transformed according to the image of Jesus. Indeed, as they listened to Jesus, they took the risk of following the Lord despite their fears and doubts, and of the uncertainties of their life as disciples.

    Thus, these former fishermen became fishers of many people. The doubtful and fearful Peter became a pillar of the Church and a martyr for Christ. The innocent and young John became a respected old man whose wisdom was sought after by his disciples. And James became a devoted preacher of Jesus and was the first apostle to be martyred because of his devotion and faith.

    The invitation for us today is also to take the risk so that we will be transformed to be like Jesus. Remember, we can be very comfortable with our old ways and choosing to stay to what is only familiar to us. We could grow contented the way we live our life now to the point that we do not want to be challenged.

    Yet, God wants us to be renewed. Hence, we are called to get out from the comforts of being passive, complacent and indifferent, to get out from our self-centered ideas and attitudes, to let go of our biases against people, to let go of our fears and doubts that only prevent us from being free, honest and life-giving persons.

    Today, God tells us, “Listen to me!” God speaks in our hearts through the words in the bible and through this celebration that we are not to remain passive, not to remain complacent, not to remain self-centered, fearful and doubtful of ourselves but to become pro-active, to be self-sacrificing, to go out from our usual ways and to be confident in God’s words like Abram and Jesus’ disciples. Hinaut pa.

  • THERE IS NO MINIMALISM IN LOVING

    THERE IS NO MINIMALISM IN LOVING

    March 12, 2022 – Saturday First Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031222.cfm)

    If you love those who love you, what is special about that? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? These questions are not from me, but from Jesus for all of us.

    Loving those who love us or being friendly with those who are only our friends means that we are only doing what is minimum and easy which requires less effort from us.

    Have you met persons who live their life to what is only minimum? There are people who tend to work to what is only expected from them. They won’t be late yet they will never come early. They will be the first person to “time out” and the first person out of the door. They won’t dare going an extra mile yet, we cannot accuse them of not doing their job.

    There are also some of us who fulfill their Sunday obligation or other religious obligations but stop there. Yet, they would also stop from extending themselves to do some volunteer works or from joining solidarity causes of the Church.

    There might be some of us also who would tend to relate with others in a casual and in a minimum encounter with others. This minimum encounter does not require us of building deeper relationship but only superficial. It does not require more energy, effort, extra time and presence of extending oneself for the other. It only stays to what is safe, not risky and self-beneficial.

    Hence, doing what is only minimum can become an attitude of complacency and would developed into indifference. This was what Jesus criticized about. And this is also the very attitude that Jesus wants us to get out and go beyond. When complacency becomes our way of life, we become stagnant and won’t grow. When indifference is our attitude, we become detached and isolated from God and from others.

    Remember, when we truly love somebody, this love does not settle with the minimum, but always at the maximum. In many of us, this kind of loving beyond the minimum is being experienced at home where parents sacrifice and go an extra mile to provide better opportunities for their children. This is also experienced among couples who take the risk of loving each other despite their differences. This is also showed by people who work tirelessly to serve the public such as teachers, nurses, doctors, etc.

    Hence, Jesus calls us now is to go beyond what is minimum. and let it flow into our relationships too and in the expression of our faith. This is done by loving our enemies and by making them our friends, at least in our own perspective. Do not just settle down to what is only self-beneficial but to extend ourselves to others by becoming more generous of ourselves and presence to those who need company, friendship and assurance of love and affection.

    Though there is beauty in minimalism and goodness in it but not in loving. Do not be a minimalist in loving because it won’t be love anymore. Love as much as we can as God has done it for us. Express such love in concrete ways and let our relationships be founded on it, our profession and work be its inspiration, and our faith be its power. Hinuat pa.

  • TO DO MORE AND BE MORE

    TO DO MORE AND BE MORE

    March 11, 2022 – Friday of the First Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031122.cfm)

     Is it enough to only do what is comfortable for me? Is it enough to show to others that I am charitable? Is it enough to do what is required of being good and being pious? Is it enough that I stay neutral on moral issues? Is it enough to stay unconcerned and indifferent as long as I do not hurt others or do bad things to people? Is it really enough to always be and do what is only minimum?

    It won’t be enough at all. It is neither enough to do what is only comfortable for us, nor to do what is only required for us, nor to stay neutral on moral issues, nor to stay unconcerned and indifferent as long as we do not hurt and do bad things to people. Yes, it is not enough to be and to do what is only minimum.

    The Lord calls all of us today, “unless you surpass the righteousness of the Lawyers and the Pharisees, then, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

    Without condemning these people, who were the Jewish Lawyers and Pharisees, Jesus wants us to realize something beyond the usual actions of these people and to become righteous, good and religious beyond what is minimum, beyond what is required by law.

    Indeed, the Jewish lawyers and the Pharisees were more inclined in focusing on the letters of the law. This means that these people were more concerned of following trivial things in the Jewish Law. However, this kind of attitude prevented them to be compassionate to others and to be more expressive of mercy to the sinners, the sick and the poor.

    Jesus gave a practical challenge to his disciples, an action that expresses mercy and compassion. Jesus calls for “Reconciliation” and “Reparation” of the damage that we have caused to others. To be reconciled with the person whom we have hurt and those who have hurt us, expresses the essence of this Season of Lent.

    Lent invites us to look closely at our failures and sins and to recognize them. Yet, we do not stop at the recognition of sin. We do not stop in saying “I am sorry.” However, we step forward by making peace, by reconciling ourselves with others, by doing the right thing, by paying and repairing the damage we have don and doing what God desires us to do.

    God calls us to go beyond from what is only easy and comfortable for us. let us remember, that it is a temptation to settle to what is only minimal and become complacent and indifferent towards others. True enough, it is very easy  for us to continue what we are doing. We could just go to the Church and attend mass, pray our rosary and novena, and go for a regular confession and give our alms to the poor. However, our heart could still remain unmoved by the many social issues that surround us or remain indifferent to the needs of people around us and still does the same sins over and over again.

    Today, Jesus invites us to be more expressive of our faith that does count and does not settle to what is only comfortable, easy and minimum. May our faith, our devotion and our love for God and for others give us the courage to do more and be more. Hinaut pa.

  • MORE AVAILABLE FOR GOD AND FOR OTHERS

    MORE AVAILABLE FOR GOD AND FOR OTHERS

    March 10, 2022 – Thursday of the First Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031022.cfm)

    What are we supposed to ask actually? What is it that we should really seek? Wealth? Long life? Success and achievements in our careers? Happy family life? Peaceful life?

    Jesus told us to ask and to seek. Yet, the invitation of Jesus is grounded on a deep faith and trust in the goodness of the Lord. The Lord does not say that whatever we ask and desire will be given to us immediately and absolutely. Rather, Jesus wants us to realize how important it is to pray and to be able to communicate with God, with all honesty and humility. A prayer that springs forth from intimacy and friendship.

    Prayer, therefore, is not just about asking, seeking and desiring what we want for ourselves alone. This will only make us self-centered. Prayer is allowing ourselves to be more aware of God’s presence in our life, and more aware of the people around us. Prayer, then, builds up our faith and trust in God, but also, it brings us to be deeply in loved.

    The story of Queen Esther in our first reading tells us about this. The Queen, in all humility, pleaded to the Lord God to rescue her people from death. She did not ask the Lord God to just secure her status, her title and wealth as Queen. She, however, became an intercessor on behalf of God’s people, the Israelites.

    Queen Esther asked the Lord for courage and strength that she may be able to become a mediator between the people and her husband the King. She knew that this would be too risky as she might also lose everything she had as Queen. Yet, what she asked and sought from the Lord made her deeply in love with God’s people. Indeed, her prayer was answered because God found delight in her heart that was filled with humility and love.

    This is Jesus’ invitation for us today as well, that our prayer becomes an opportunity for us to grow more in our love and concern for others. As we continue to journey in this Season of Lent may we also develop our friendship with God and with people around us, making our hearts more available for God and for others. Hinaut pa.