Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Fr. Jom Baring, CSsR

  • GOING FORWARD AND TAKING RISKS

    GOING FORWARD AND TAKING RISKS

    April 9, 2021 – Friday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040921.cfm)

    Jesus who was thought to be the Messiah and Son of God was crucified and died on Friday. He was buried in a tomb but on Sunday morning Jesus resurrected. However, his disciples like Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael and other disciples did not know yet that the Lord is alive. These disciples only knew that their Lord was buried in a tomb. Because of this, their hearts were filled with pain, disappointment, with fear and doubts.

    When Jesus was there at their side, they were filled with enthusiasm and spirit but when Jesus was arrested they fled and when he was crucified, they hid themselves for fear of the Jews. Because of these negative experiences, they believed that they have failed the Lord, and so they themselves were failures.

    Their immediate response was to go back their old self, to retreat and not to go forward anymore. Because they believed that they were failures, they succumbed to the temptation to go back to their old ways and that was to fish. They have been called from being fishermen to become fishers of people, yet, having a painful and horrible experience on the death of Jesus, they retreated to go back to fishing. This was what Simon Peter and the rest did.

    However, all night they caught nothing. The “night” in the Gospel is very symbolic because it reveals to us that the disciples were in darkness and they couldn’t find light. They felt hopeless and even in a helpless situation. They wanted to give up. But, at dawn a stranger appeared on the shore and asked them if they have caught anything. They all answered, no, they caught nothing. That stranger said, “cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” And they did, they trusted that stranger and to their surprise, when they pulled the net they could barely pull it back because there were plenty of fish.

    Then, the “beloved disciple” recognized that it was the Lord Jesus. Jesus is alive and waiting on the shore. This prompted Peter to jump into the sea in order to meet the Lord with excitement and joy.

    This reminds us that there will be times of sorrow, of disappointment and discouragement, times of fear and failure. We might come into the point of our life where we feel hopeless and helpless because we have failed, because the situation is just too difficult, family problems are just horrifying, our poverty is just overwhelming, or our relationship with others have failed – and then, our immediate reaction is to retreat, to hide in our own failure and pain, to dwell so much on our problems, to go back to our old and bad habits, becoming fearful, anxious and mediocre – which means going into the darkness of depression rather into the light of hope and life.

    Indeed, this happened to the disciples and because they retreated into the night of fear, they caught nothing. They thought that they could catch fish by themselves alone. They believed that they could surpass that difficulty by being alone, but, no! Being alone and separated from God only brought them into a deeper disappointment in life. It is when we are with Jesus that we find meaning and joy even in the midst of pain, of failure and difficulties.

    The Risen Lord invites us today.

    First, when we meet failures and difficulties, do not go back to the old ways and old habits (which could be our addictions and depressive behaviors). This will only bring us into deeper darkness and hopelessness. Rather go forward and take the risk.

    Second, in taking the risk of going forward never take the road alone, or never think that we can do everything by ourselves. The journey is lighter when we are with somebody else whom we can trust, whom we can share our story. Find and build long lasting friendship, build a deeper family relationship, invest in your relationships. When we are told to cast our net, to change the course of our boat and to change our life – go for it and trust the Lord because it might be in that direction that we will find the abundance of love and life.

    Third, be always aware of God’s presence waiting for us on the shore. Just like the beloved disciple let us always be intimate with Jesus. It is only when we become intimate with Jesus in our prayer that we also become aware of his presence in everyone. Hinaut pa.

  • SCARS INTO GRACE

    SCARS INTO GRACE

    April 8, 2021 – Thursday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040821.cfm)

    What scars do you have in your body? And what scars do you have in your heart? We both have physical and emotional scars. Every scar would remind us of pain in the past. Some scars may become insignificant through time. Other scars especially the big ones may remain significant even though the pain has gone. The trauma that we have been through in the past could sometimes still shaken us at present.

    Emotional scars compared to the physical ones carry more weight and longer time to heal. The stories behind our emotional scars can also sometimes bring back old memories of pain and sadness. Yet, it is also possible that those scars we have whether physical and emotional, can become signs of victory, of growth, of wonder, of beauty and even of grace.

    Such possibility of turning our scars into grace is what has been told to us in today’s Gospel. Jesus appeared before his disciples. He greeted them with peace because their hearts were filled with fear and troubles. The very thought of the death of Jesus brought so much sadness and fear into the hearts of the disciples. Because of this, they could not believe that Jesus is alive and was in front of them.

    Jesus rather invited them, to look a hands and feet. Jesus said, “touch me and see.” Jesus wanted the disciples to touch and see that indeed he bore the scars from the wounds he endured at his crucifixion. To touch and see the scars of Jesus, those signs of wounds and of his death is to be able to behold the grace of God.

    This tells us that the resurrection of Jesus has made those scars, now, as signs of victory, of wonder and of grace. Those scars remind us that Jesus went through suffering and he knows very much the feeling of being in pain, being humiliated, being abused and being maltreated. Those scars revealed the cruelty of sin and evil.  Yet, beyond those scars also is the grace of God that brings new life and new hope for all.

    Thus, as the disciples were invited by Jesus to touch and see the scars in his body, the Lord also calls us to look at our own scars. Do not deny or hide in forgetfulness and in shame those scars in us. The very scars we carry can become opportunities where God shall bring graces to us. Through our own scars, we shall find healing and life, transformation and hope.

    Hiding in forgetfulness or in shame and denying that we are scarred will not help us. These attitudes will only bring us into more fear and sadness. Our heart will remain fearful and troubled like the disciples who were in hiding.

    As we allow the Lord to work wonders in us and make his grace be revealed through our own scars, may we also experience today the grace of new life through his resurrection. Hinaut pa.

  • Towards New Life and New Hope

    Towards New Life and New Hope

    April 7, 2021 – Wednesday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040721.cfm)

    Painful and traumatic experiences in life bring so much confusion to us. The sudden death of a loved one, losing and failure in your job or business, broken relationships, family feud, etc. are some experiences that can be terrifying and horrifying. Because such experiences are too overwhelming, they make us too sad and depressed. We could blame ourselves, blame others, blame the world or blame God for making us suffer greatly.

    The story of the two disciples who were leaving the painful place of Jerusalem tells us of a reality in our life. Like them who thought that Jerusalem was just a place of horror and death, of failure and pain, we too might want to escape from those painful memories of the past. Like them, we too could be in search of something just to make sense of those unexplainable and terrifying events in our life. Yet, we could not understand everything because the experience was just overwhelming.

    This was how the two disciples found themselves in that situation. The death of Jesus and the failure of their dreams now prevented them to see and recognize the presence of the Risen Jesus among them. They have not recognized immediately that Jesus was actually walking with them, and conversing with them. Their hearts were only filled with sadness and pain. Yet, the Lord continued to accompany them in their difficult moments despite the hardness of their hearts to believe and see the Lord among them.

    However, it was when they invited Jesus whom they thought was merely a stranger and started breaking and sharing to them the bread, that their eyes were opened. At last they have recognized that the Lord was with them all the time. At their lowest moment in life, when things seemed to be so dark and meaningless, the Lord was with them. Despite their many questions, the Lord was with them.

    This was how the two also found themselves and found the meaning of everything and of their life. This was how they immediately left Emmaus and went back to Jerusalem. The place of death and failure has become a place of new life and new hope.

    Thus, those moments of failures in us, those experiences of pain and death, those traumatic and terrifying events in our life can also become place of new life and new hope in us. The Lord indeed works marvels and moves in mysterious ways. God has made Jerusalem, now a life-giving and hope-inspiring place.

    This tells us too, that, as we allow the Lord to accompany us, the Lord shall also make wonders in us and shall make our painful past to be a source of new life and new hope in us.

    These are the invitations for us now.

    First. Allow others to journey and accompany you in your difficulties. Allow your friends and family members to know the struggles within you. The journey towards healing and freedom can only be possible when we are with others. This was how the two disciples also allowed the stranger to be with them.

    Second. Never be afraid to ask questions because the Lord understands us. Jesus was very patient with the two disciples by listening to them. Moreover, allow also the Lord to teach us that we may be able to see another perspective in life. Allow other people to fill your minds and hearts with their wisdom. Allow the Holy Bible to speak to you and reveal God’s invitations.

    Third. Never be afraid of your Jerusalem, of those that you consider as your place of failure and pain, of sadness and trauma. God also will bring wonders in our Jerusalem. As God has raised up His Son from death, God can also bring new hope and new life in our own Jerusalem. Hinaut pa.

  • Filled with the Goodness of the Lord

    Filled with the Goodness of the Lord

    April 6, 2021 – Tuesday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040621.cfm)

    Mary Magdalene went into the tomb and was weeping, our Gospel tells us today. Mary was filled with sadness and pain. The tomb of Jesus certainly reminded her of that painful and scandalous death of Jesus on the cross. Yet, what is interesting in this scenario was  the movement of time. In the first verses of this Gospel, we were told that Mary “went to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark.” However, at this time, the dawn was breaking. The sun is soon to come out. And what Mary will witness was definitely the glorious victory of light over darkness.

    Mary who developed a close relationship with Jesus, was a faithful disciple. She remained at the side of Jesus thus, the reason of her grief and pain. Nevertheless, despite the grief and sadness, Mary did not just go away and give up. She actually refused to give up.  The sadness, disappointment and pain that she felt, urged her more to seek Jesus even in times of so much confusion and darkness in her life. But, those emotional and spiritual burdens in her also prevented her to immediately recognize the Lord. Jesus has to call her by name to make her realize that it was him.

    Thus, in that desire to seek the Lord even in darkness and seemingly ugly scenario in her life, Mary was filled with the goodness of the Lord. Her friendship with Jesus helped her to seek the Lord and see grace beyond pain and darkness. This is something to learn from the friendship Mary Magdalene had with Jesus. Her friendship was beyond physical attraction and emotional attachment but was built on trust, faith and confidence of being loved by the Lord.

    Such experience of fullness is what the Psalm also proclaimed today. “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” This is what Mary was holding on in her heart. She must be a believer on this that indeed the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Even though there was so much pain and confusion in her heart, she believed in the goodness of the Lord that fills the earth.

    True enough, Mary received this fullness of God’s goodness as Jesus revealed himself to her. This was captured beautifully through her words, “I have seen the Lord.” This is a testimony of a person who believed and experienced fully the goodness of the Lord.

    From here, there are two invitations for us.

    First. When we also encounter moments of darkness and grief, sadness and pain, confusions and frustrations in life, we might find ourselves going away to hide, and stepping back to retreat into fear just as Mary bent over and wept at the tomb of Jesus. However, retreating into fear will only prevent us to recognize the Lord and see his grace. Hence, it is very important that we also develop a close relationship with the Lord. Such relationship will grow and mature through our constant awareness of God’s presence.

    Second, that constant awareness of God’s presence calls us further to see and recognize that indeed the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Thus, never be too pessimistic even if what surrounds us is quite ugly and horrible. Since, the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, be always conscious that each of us is part of that fullness of God’s goodness on earth. Therefore, be an expression of God’s goodness to others, be the presence of God’s goodness to our friends and community. By becoming that expression of the fullness of God’s goodness, then, we shall be able to proclaim to others too that “we have seen the Lord” because we have experienced the fullness of his goodness. Hinaut pa.

  • MERCY, NOT EARNED BUT FREELY GIVEN

    MERCY, NOT EARNED BUT FREELY GIVEN

    March 14, 2021 – Fourth Sunday of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031421-YearB.cfm)

    In the Book of Chronicles, a historical event in the life of the Hebrew people tells us how the Lord showed his mercy. The people who invited destruction and death upon themselves because of their sins and unfaithfulness to God’s covenant, was shown mercy. God did not desire the destruction of His people. It was the people who went towards destruction and death. God, in history, called out again and again His people through the prophets, yet, the people rejected God’s invitation. The time of exile and slavery became a period of purification, not merely as punishment.

    Yet, the mercy that God showed, through the person of Cyrus, was God’s initiative. Though the people were not deserving of God’s mercy but God showed mercy because God is Mercy.

    The Lord indeed does not forget His people. This is what the Psalm proclaimed to us. The Lord remembers and this is embedded in the heart of the people who also longed to see the Lord. The people who were exiled in a foreign land, subjected to misery and slavery longed to be home and to be embraced by God.

    God’s memory is vast. God’s heart is too big. God’s embrace is so wide. This is what the letter of Paul to the Ephesians tells us. Paul reminds us that God grants us the grace not because we are deserving. We will never be deserving, anyway. However, because of God’s great love for us, he showed mercy to us. We are brought to life with Christ. Through this grace, we are saved. However, again, not because of our works, not because we have become deserving. No! God showed mercy to us, because God simply loved us, greatly loved us.

    The Gospel of John tells us more about this, “For 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” Jesus’ presence with us means mercy. The Lord who is with us is grace and mercy made flesh. Jesus will not condemn us but rather save us. Jesus is the grace and the mercy of God being offered to us.

    Now, if we cannot earn God’s mercy, does it mean that we do not have to do anything? Remember, Paul said, through faith, we are saved. The Gospel of John also tells us, whoever believes in him, will have eternal life. Thus, it is through faith that we respond to God. Faith is not a passive attitude of being a Christian. Faith is an active response towards God. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “faith is a human response of love to God who first loved us.”

    Our faith as a response of love is also an expression of gratitude to the Lord. This is what makes our faith alive. Our good works, our expression of piety and charity should not be our way of making God see how good we are that God will become indebted to us for being good. No! However, our honesty and sincerity, our service to others and kindness are our expressions of being grateful to the Lord who showed mercy to us.

    With such grace from the Lord, this only calls us to rejoice, to be deeply joyful. In fact, this Fourth Sunday of Lent is also called as Laetare Sunday, meaning “Rejoice.” We, indeed, rejoice because God is for us. God shows us mercy. God gives us the grace through His Son, Jesus, our Lord.

    To express better our deep joy, there are two concrete invitations for us today that we may work out this week.

    First. Humbly acknowledge our faults, failures and sins, our ways and attitudes that condemn and reject others. As we acknowledge them, this also invites us to become open to God’s offer of mercy and friendship. Thus, seek it through the gift of the sacrament of reconciliation and of the Eucharist.

    Second, show mercy and offer your gift of friendship. God showed mercy to us, and so, we are indeed capable to showing mercy and building friendship with others. By showing mercy, this makes our heart generous and kind to people around us.

    As we commit ourselves into these invitations may our faith truly become a response of love to God. Hinaut pa.

    Paul tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.” Thus, salvation is a gift, a grace freely given by the Lord to us. No one can boast himself/herself that one earned God’s grace because grace can never be earned. Salvation is not earned but given. God’s mercy is not earned but given.

    The Gospel of John tells us more about this, “For 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” Jesus’ presence with us means mercy. The Lord who is with us is grace and mercy made flesh. Jesus will not condemn us but rather save us. Jesus is the grace and the mercy of God being offered to us.

    Now, if we cannot earn God’s mercy, does it mean that we do not have to do anything? Remember, Paul said, through faith, we are saved. The Gospel of John also tells us, whoever believes in him, will have eternal life. Thus, it is through faith that we respond to God. Faith is not a passive attitude of being a Christian. Faith is an active response towards God. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “faith is a human response of love to God who first loved us.”

    Our faith as a response of love is also an expression of gratitude to the Lord. This is what makes our faith alive. Our good works, our expression of piety and charity should not be our way of making God see how good we are that God will become indebted to us for being good. No! However, our honesty and sincerity, our service to others and kindness are our expressions of being grateful to the Lord who showed mercy to us.

    With such grace from the Lord, this only calls us to rejoice, to be deeply joyful. In fact, this Fourth Sunday of Lent is also called as Laetare Sunday, meaning “Rejoice.” We, indeed, rejoice because God is for us. God shows us mercy. God gives us the grace through His Son, Jesus, our Lord.

    To express better our deep joy, there are two concrete invitations for us today that we may work out this week.

    First. Humbly acknowledge our faults, failures and sins, our ways and attitudes that condemn and reject others. As we acknowledge them, this also invites us to become open to God’s offer of mercy and friendship. Thus, seek it through the gift of the sacrament of reconciliation and of the Eucharist.

    Second, show mercy and offer your gift of friendship. God showed mercy to us, and so, we are indeed capable to showing mercy and building friendship with others. By showing mercy, this makes our heart generous and kind to people around us.

    As we commit ourselves into these invitations may our faith truly become a response of love to God. Hinaut pa.