Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Fr. Mario Masangcay, CSsR

  • BETTER than…

    BETTER than…

    February 4, 2024 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020424.cfm)

    A naughty boy once told by his mother: “Son, behave. If you behave well, God will grant you whatever you want.” It got into his head that the boy tried his best to behave well. He cleans his room, helps in house chores & becomes kind with elders. Then one day, the boy went to the church & prayed before a crucifix, in this manner: “Jesus, mom said if I behave well, you will grant what I wish for. Know that I have been behaving well lately. Please, give me a playstation”. And the he waited but nothing happens. When he got fed up waiting, he said: “Gaduko-duko dayon, Kay utangan man.” (Trying to elude me, hah, since you owe me one)

    In praying the Lord’s prayer, we say: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. But somehow we don’t really mean those words, because we rather have our will be done than His will be done. In praying, easy for us then to ask, to wish & give thanks for the graces we expect. Meaning, before His presence, we rather express to Him & be heard of our own thinking, plans, will, wants & needs than listen to His. And when our wills & plans are not fulfilled, we resort to sour-gripping, thinking that God (utangan) owes & indebted to us…. 

    When he said in our gospel today that he has to go & proclaim the Good News to other towns & villages, Jesus shows us that He doesn’t only feel for all & willing to address all our needs, but He also wants us to listen & obey Him because there is more & much better ways & plans in store for us than just responding to our urgent wants.

    His offer of salvation for us is much better than what we wish for. If we want the Lord to understand & listen to us, we must also learn how to listen & obey His will & plans for us on earth as it is in heaven.

    Like the people of his time, however sometimes we only recognize Jesus as he heals and responds to our immediate need. So that we may be happy, we only want Jesus to satisfy our urgent needs. We want Jesus to create miracles or magic, to ease our pain and free us from our life’s loads and burdens.

    Sometime  in life, we may have considered Jesus only as our “Kargador” baggage-carrier to lighten our loads, serve our needs and ease our pains. Sometimes in life, we see Jesus as a mere gasoline station – we recognize Him only whenever we need Him, when we run out of gas. Sometimes, we need Jesus to be just our caregiver who should readily respond to our immediate needs – without caring about the message He preached, story to tell, role to play in our lives as well as His life and mission to partake & live with us. And worse, we may consider Jesus as may have indebted to us for not fulfilling our expectations.

    Nevertheless, God do listen & respond to our needs & want, same way the Lord responded to the immediate concerns of the sick people of his time. Surely Jesus will respond hands-on and on-hand to our needs and hope, for He do know what we need & what we are going through in life. But Jesus can offer us better than just carrying our burden. He is the Lord who offers us more than just lightening our loads, cure our sicknesses, free us from our problems or filling-up our gasoline tank.

    Jesus comes to us to renew our lives and offer us God’s kingdom. His mission is to preach the Good News of Salvation. He came not only to respond to our immediate petty needs but to heal and recreate our land and the world now. He comes so that we may have life – life to its fullness, and not just life to our satisfaction.

    But, remember then that in responding to our concerns & in giving us God’s offer of salvation, we must also obey His ways & will, for God’s will happens & be done, if & when we learn how to listen to Jesus in our life.

    Praying before the Lord then is not only about we talking, requesting & even demanding of Him for what we want, but moreso about us listening, considering & in tuning with God’s better will & plans for us.

    It is not about asking for what we want &  what we expect, but all about listening & responding to His message, calling & challenges for us. Simply put, it is not our will, or my will….but His will (Thy will) be done.

    In this Eucharist, we pray that our faith in Jesus moves us not to limit & abuse God’s graces for us, but rather move us to be more open & trusting to God’s plans & will for us now, and thus participate fully in the Mission of Jesus of sharing God’s offer of Life & Salvation to all in our world now & always. Amen.

  • INFLUENCER

    INFLUENCER

    January 28, 2024 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012824.cfm)

    It is once said that “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”

    We do all know something about leadership & authority. Many people have exercised their leadership and authority on us. In many ways, they have influenced us. And we have also exercised leadership & authority on others and in one way or another has influenced them. We do know how to be influenced by others & to influence others, as well.

    Sometimes it is even easy to tell who mostly influences other people’s lives. They will quote their parents or a teacher or someone they grew up with who have greatly influenced & lead their lives for better than worse. Yes, influences can be negative. But as soon as someone says: “As my mother always used to say…” practically what follows is surely something that influenced the life of the speaker in a positive way. We consider these leaders or authorities as the great peoples in our lives – the one who made us feel great about ourselves & helped us grow. They have in one way or another helped us form our values & principles in life, and have greatly impacted our lives to be a much better person.

    That is what real authority does. It is life-giving, growth-giving, affirmative, positive and helpful. The word itself is an indication of this. It comes from a Latin word “augere”, meaning “to make grow”. Authority then is power or influence not to lord over and control others but to help others grow. Leadership lies not on the power or control you have on others but on the influence & impact you have for others to grow. Not power to lord over others but power to influence & form others. Leadership then is all about being an influencer.

    That is why true indeed, “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” It is all about our influence to foster growth on others & help them become much better version of themselves, even with or without our presence.

    In our gospel today we heard that “his teaching made a deep impression on them… because he taught them with authority.” The people who listened to Jesus that day in Capernaum were struck by his authority & leadership.

    That is what happened to the people when they listened to Jesus in their synagogue. Hearing him they (even the demoniacs & possessed) began to open up & understand their own potentials & possibilities for life & growth. He gave them hope. He treated them as friends and equals. He did not talk them down, did not flatter & sweet-talk them as the scribes do. He told them instead to be true & be realistic about themselves than they had ever been before. Through the words of Jesus with authority, they realized that God calls them to greater things than they never had thought possible. They come to experience then God’s leadership in their lives.

    The same thing happens to us whenever we listen to Jesus, as God’s word for us through the Scriptures. Every time we read or listen to the Word of God, especially to the gospels, challenging it might be, we are influenced by the wisdom and message of Jesus. The words of Jesus have greatly influenced our lives that whenever it is proclaimed to us again and anew, it constantly offers us life, faith, and hope. It challenges to grow to be a much better person before God and other, and it also empowers us to do great things for others.

    Being led & influenced by Jesus in our lives do not usually make life easier, but definitely it makes life much more worthwhile! His authority, leadership, & influence do make us now do what all leaders should do: Foster growth and life in oneself & others. In other words, influenced & led by Jesus’ authority, we should also now lead & influence others, by fostering growth & making other people’s lives better.

    In this Eucharist today, may Jesus, the Word of God continue to influence and direct our lives so that we could also be a better influence in fostering growth in our church, society & nation. Amen.

  • AUDIENCE

    AUDIENCE

    January 14, 2023 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011424.cfm)

    Whenever we are interested to know more about a person, we usually ask for their name, address & contact number. Same way, whenever we are interested about a person, we give them our information: name, address & contact number. But rarely we invite them or get invited by them right away home, Diba? We don’t expect invitations right away whenever we want to meet someone. And we don’t readily invite someone interested or interesting into our home.

    However this is not the case with the disciples of John in our gospel today. Somehow they were star-strucked with Jesus when John introduced Him as the Messiah to them. They followed Jesus & got his attention.

    Meeting Jesus, they ask for His usual information. They are  interested to know Him more. And they got more than they hope for. Not only they got his address, they get an invitation “Come & See” – an audience with Jesus, his undivided attention in his own home for the whole day. After their encounter with Jesus, they are not anymore the same but now  changed persons, and moved them to share Jesus with others.

    The same could happen with our Christian faith & life. Whenever we are interested to consider Jesus to be part of our daily life, whenever we want to know Him more personally, be careful with what you ask for, “what you are looking for?”, because Jesus will not only give you an address information but an invitation. Jesus will not only give you advice, solutions & encouragement on your concerns, but moreso would offer you friendship, love, life-changing challenges & spirituality with Him & others.

    As we are just starting the year, perhaps healthy for us as we meet & encounter Him during prayers, to consider  Jesus asking us now: “What are looking for?” Ask ourselves & reflect: “What do we want & need from Him at this juncture of our faith journey? Are we in it with Him for just our petty-concerns, conveniences, & personal interests, OR are we in for the whole-deal of what Jesus can offer us for the better & the best for our life anew? Would we be with Him at a distance, just observing what he is doing OR would we be near & close with Him & be changed by His love & friendship? If now God is with us, are we with Him?

    Lord, take away everything that distance us from You. Grant us everything that bring us closer to you. Detach us from ourselves to give our All to you.

    Amen

  • ALTERNATIVE

    ALTERNATIVE

    January 7, 2024 – Epiphany of the Lord

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010724.cfm)

    During confession, we also make an act of contrition by saying these particular words: “I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance & amend my life. Amen.” In saying these words, we are not only regret our mistakes but we are also making a resolution to change & improve our ways. Meaning, it is not enough just to be sorry of our mistakes, but we have to do something about our mistakes by doing our best because we know that we are much better than our sins, faults & shortcoming, and that God’s mercy is much better than our sins, faults & shortcoming,

    Making an act of contrition then reminds us that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is not only about being sorry for our sins, but moreso giving oneself & God a chance to do things right & do the right things for the better than we usually do. It is useless then to do monthly individual confession if & when we don’t change our ways & resolve to improve, but rather go back to our sinful & corrupt ways. Salvation is all about God’s grace in us rather than our sins. Reconciliation then is allowing God’s mercy & forgiveness work in us, rather than finding & counting our woes, sins, faults, mistakes, shortcoming & others. It is all about receiving God’s grace than accounting our faults.

    Today, we celebrate the feast of Epiphany. This is our celebration of our remembrance of God’s loving act of reaching out to us (God making himself known to us) and our acceptance of Jesus, as God’s self-revelation. We, Christians believe that God has given us His only Son, Jesus Christ, as His first gift to us for our salvation. By sharing us His Sons, we become related to Him and become His adopted sons and daughters, and sharers of His divine life. Indeed, Jesus is God’s greatest gift to us. God’s offer of salvation & our reception of Jesus into our lives give another alternative meaning, directions & ways in our life. Because of Jesus, we are blessed & graced by God

    Here in our gospel today, we are reminded us of what happened when the three kings found the child Jesus lying in the manger in Bethlehem. Guided by the star, in great joy, they saw the child Jesus and they did him homage. Their encounter of Jesus and the Holy Family in Bethlehem brought the three kings great joy for they have finally found what they are searching for. The birth of Jesus brought new promise & purpose, not only to the local Jews, but also  to  the migrant magis & to the whole world. With this, like us now, they are grateful, and offered their gifts in homage and thanksgiving to God’s greatest gift to all.

    But let us not forget that after they have witnessed & accepted the Son of God into our lives, they returned by a different alternative way. This is not because they were afraid of Herod, but because of their encounter with Jesus has also changed their lives. Because of their experience with the baby Jesus, their lives were never the same again. They did not follow the usual path, but they now tread an alternative way, perspective, and attitude to life. After they have recognized God in the child Jesus, the lives of the three kings were never the same again. The child Jesus brought them great joy as well as great changes in their way of life.

    The same with our experience of God’s mercy & forgiveness during confession. After celebrating the Sacrament of confession, we know deep inside that life now & ahead could & should not be the same again. We have to change our ways & paths. Like the three kings, we have to take an-other, an alternative path of life-journey, much better than our usual lifestyle. The usual King Herod-road to Jesus, our sinful corrupt ways are not anymore safe to tread through again. We cannot help but change our normal ways, or else we find ourselves again with our usual unhealthy drama, blame & excuses – away from God’s grace.

    As we are beginning a new year, we make an act of contrition. We give ourselves another chance to grow & do better than last year life. As we again receive Jesus, God’s greatest gift for us, let us diminish our tendency to account& highlight our mistakes & faults, but be more conscious of God’s grace upon at work in us. And above all, let us amend & improve our lives for the better than our usual normal ways, and seek a new – an alternative path, roads, & ways for God’s blessing to be always with us today & our near future.

    In other words: “We firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to confess our sins, to do penance, & amend our life.”

    Amen.

  • BY CHOICE than Adoption

    BY CHOICE than Adoption

    December 31, 2023 – Feast of the Holy Family

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123123.cfm)

    How many of you here have experiences with adopted children? Be might you an adopted child yourself, or have adopted a child in a family as son/daughter, or brother/sister or relatives. Child adoption has never been an easy experience within the family. It entails a lot of adjustments and complications not only to the adopted child but also to the parents and the whole family as well.

    I remember once I counselled a couple who have no child of their own and have decided to adopt a child. As the child grew and eventually learned that she is adopted, they observed that their child becomes problematic and difficult. I advise them to try to take care of the child even more, as well as to acknowledge the child not as adopted- someone taken on, which connotes someone who is “sabit o sakay lang” but as chosen “pinili”, as someone they have chosen as their own among other abandoned children.  The child might not be their own but the child is whom they have personally chosen as their own. Essentially, the child then is chosen – the one they have chosen, not only adopted.

    Either by natural birth or adoption, as a child, we are not only taken and accepted but moreso Chosen “Pinili” by our own parents and family. Thus as parent, your child then might be or not be your own, but basically you choose your child. We are chosen children then, not only of God but also by our own fathers and mothers, and our own family as well.

    Christmas reminds us that God comes into our lives as a Child – not as fully grown man or as superman or as god, but as a poor child on a manger. For a child to live and grow, God’s child needs a human parent and family like any other child. Jesus Christ, God’s son has to be taken, accepted, adopted and above all chosen by human parents and family. He grew up then in, with, through his family who adopted and chosen Him to be their own. And In a Family Jesus was born, loved, lived and have grown as a Person. Not in a Monastery or Convent. Once I receive a Christmas card that say: “A child is born in our midst”. Well that’s okay because that is the core message of Christmas. But what made me suspect then was that card was sent from the sisters’ convent. Imagine sisters’ sending me a message that a child is born in their midst”. Me batang ipinanganak sa kanila. Hmmm??? Yes, God’s son has a family, a foster parents and family who chose Him to be their own.

    Today we honor the Holy Family, the very first family who welcomes and willingly accepts the Immanuel “the God with us” into our lives. Mary and Joseph are the very first parents who adopted and chosen the child of God Jesus to be their very own as member of their family. Our gospel today gives us a description on how Mary and Joseph do their best to parent the child Jesus into their own lives as they observe their own local cultural and religious traditions, while conscious of the mysterious unique experience of adopting and choosing God’s blessing into their lives. Yes, with Mary and Joseph they are and become a normal human family; but with the child Jesus, they are and become a HOLY family – now member of God’s family.

    Honoring the Holy Family on Christmas season posts the on-going ever-present challenge for us, like Mary and Joseph to adopt and parent Jesus, God’s child by choice into our lives now and always. By willingly accepting Jesus into our lives to be our own, part of our own lives as family and community, we come to know also that we also are and becoming God’s adopted and chosen children and people, part of His Holy Family. Sa ating pag-angking kay Hesus na ating kapamilya, tayo ay naging at maging ka-anak rin ng Dios at kamag-anak ng anak ng Dios. As we consider Jesus as our chosen family member, we are and become God’s children and Jesus family.

    With the Holy Family, this Christmas season, and the coming New Year remind us always that God comes to us as a Child, who can brings us a lot of joys as well as uncertainties, but above all another chance to live our lives for the better, as His willing chosen parent and family. Have a Grace-filled Christmas and New Year to all us. Amen.