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Category: AUTHORS

  • OVERCONFIDENCE AND ITS TENDENCIES

    OVERCONFIDENCE AND ITS TENDENCIES

    February 24, 2025 – Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022425.cfm)

    What would happen when we become “overconfident”? How would such attitude affect our relationships, work or any endeavors in life? In one way or another, you might have already met a person who was so overconfident or perhaps that has become also our very own attitude. Overconfidence portrays towards others the ability to over-estimate our capacities, knowledge and talents. In fact, it is a kind of “cognitive bias” meaning having “the tendency to act in an irrational way because of our limited ability to process information objectively.[1]” This means that we create and believe a different reality from people around us.

    This would explain why when we become overconfident, we believe that we know more than others even with those who are actually experts. We could easily brag or boast ourselves and the achievements or experiences that we have as if ours were so unique and exemplary. Thus, we focus more on ourselves and putting the spotlight directly at us. It is not new then, that we would usually exaggerate things in the way we talk and we do things. It is a kind of proving others that we are indeed “so capable.”

    However, being an overconfident person, it would also be so difficult for us to accept criticisms or corrections. As a result, it is easy for us to find someone or something to blame for the failure or the mistake that may happen. Moreover, we would tend to make poor decisions because we don’t acknowledge what is really happening. It is also true that we find it hard to adjust or to learn new things and new ways because we have become fixated to what we already have and know.

    This is how an overconfident person could impede team or community building because we don’t listen and accept other perspectives and knowledge. We become annoying to the point that people around us would not really believe in us. In a relationship, an overconfident person can also easily dismiss a partner’s opinion, needs and concerns. This will later create more issues in the relationship.

    These are just few scenarios when we become overconfident. Yet, it is also important that we become grounded and we learn to accept our limitations so that we continue to grow, mature and be more wise.

    And so, let us discover today how such attitude also affected the disciples of Jesus in their ministry and realize how “prayer and wisdom” play significant contributions in our Christian life.

    Some of the disciples of Jesus were arguing with a crowd of people and some scribes. It happened that a man brought his son possessed by a mute spirit. However, the disciples couldn’t do anything.

    Before such event, the disciples were already sent by Jesus to help in the ministry. They have been given the authority to heal the sick and drive out demons. They were successful in their previous interventions. Yet, this time. They were unable to do so.

    It was not surprising at all how Jesus responded to their question, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” Jesus answered, “This kind can only come out of prayer.”

    So, what happened to the disciples then? We can only presume that the disciples, indeed, forgot that the power to heal and give freedom to the possessed come from God alone. They who had been so successful in their previous healing miracles must have thought that those were made possible because of their own abilities and power.

    The disciples somehow over-estimated their human strength and abilities. They became overconfident to the point that they argued with people instead of asking the grace from the Lord in prayer. They must have been trying to heal the boy in their name and forgot Jesus. This was the reason why Jesus blurted out, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?”

    Yet, after giving freedom and healing to the boy, Jesus has to remind his disciples the importance of self-awareness, of being able to accept one’s limitations and to truly recognize God’s powerful presence. Being able to do so will make us wise. The Book of Sirach reminds us of this. “All wisdom comes from the Lord… and prudent understanding from eternity.”

    These are now the invitations for us today.

    First, overconfidence makes us only stupid and truly incapable and not wise. This will rather prevent us to grow as a person and to develop healthy relationships.

    Second, it is in humble acceptance of our limitations and weaknesses that we become truly wise. Indeed, we become open to learn and unlearn things.

    Third, prayer makes acknowledge that true power comes from God. We are able to bring healing, life and freedom because we make ourselves instruments of God’s grace. Hinaut pa.

    [1] Kassiani Nikolopoulou, What Is Cognitive Bias? Definition, Types & Examples, publishes on Nov. 11, 2022 (https://www.scribbr.com/research-bias/cognitive-bias/#:~:text=Cognitive%20bias%20is%20the%20tendency,%2C%20people%2C%20or%20potential%20risks.)

  • THE CALL TO FREEDOM TO LOVE AND FORGIVE

    THE CALL TO FREEDOM TO LOVE AND FORGIVE

    February 23, 2024 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022325.cfm)

    When I was a newly ordained priest in Iloilo, there was such a time that while waiting for the mass to begin, I sat in a corner of our church. Few pews away from me, were a couple with their daughter who was probably about 3 or 4 years old. As I observed, she was very playful and while playing she accidentally hit her head on the pew. It was quite hard and painful because there was a loud cry after that. She sought the comfort of her parents. The father took her up. But what surprised me were the words of the father which I cannot forget. He said, “the chair hit you, you hit back then.” The little girl did as she was told and after that she was comforted not to cry anymore because she was able to hit back already. The little girl hushed from crying and rested on the shoulder of her father.

    I am sure this is not something surprising to many of us. Some may have done it too to their children or grandchildren and perhaps you yourself experienced this. I have also experienced this at home when I was a little boy – to hit back whenever I am hurt, believing that the pain will fade once I have my revenge.

    Indeed, to take our revenge when we are hurt may have been there in our hearts and sub-conscious because that was how we were brought up or perhaps that was how our environment and culture taught us to do. This sounds actually simple yet this has big implications when we are grown up and interact with one another. With this, we may ask now, is the attitude of taking revenge a Christian way?

    In the First Book of Samuel, King Saul was in search of David. David had become an enemy to Saul because David became a threat to his kingship. Thus, Saul wanted to eliminate the threat by killing David. However, we were told that David slipped through the soldiers of King Saul and managed to get near to Saul while he was asleep. David had all the opportunity to kill Saul, his enemy, yet, when David had the chance to take his revenge, David spared the life of Saul.

    David believed that vengeance and violence against the man that God has chosen was not the answer to a free and good life but rather in showing mercy.

    The Psalm which has been attributed to David expressed such attitude of David too. – “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and the Lord deals with us not according to our sins.”

    This story of David prepares us of Jesus’ absurd and seemingly illogical teaching. Many of those during his time, found it radical and crazy. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus taught his disciples to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray those who mistreat you.” Is it not ridiculous?

    We were taught to be vengeful. We were taught to believe that hitting back takes away the pain that we have endured. Yet, Jesus teaches the other way around.

    How could we love those who have hurt us? Those who have abused us? Those who betrayed us and caused so much pain in our life? How could we not hate and curse them when we are suffering from what they have done to us? How can we give forgiveness when they do not own the responsibility?

    Our immediate response is to retaliate, to take our revenge. Some may result to physical violence which can terrorize the community. And if we cannot express physical violence against them, then, we express it in our words and on how we treat people. But most of all, we linger to hatred, to pain, anger and bitterness.

    However, we do not realize that once we let aggression, violence, hatred and anger to dominate our hearts and minds, we, in fact, become prisoners of our own pain. Then, the pain that we endure leads us to feelings of anger, hatred and bitterness. When we linger to these they will lead us to a heart that seeks only revenge. This will be our tendency from our belief that by hurting the person back, our anger and hatred will be satisfied. But then we are wrong because anger and hatred will never be satisfied by violence. Violence only makes us angrier, more hateful and more bitter. The more we linger to these emotions; they become a cycle of violence that never ends.

    We create our own cycle of violence, revenge, anger and hatred. We become prisoner of our own pain. All of these will control our life, thoughts and actions towards others. This is how our person and our relationships are so affected that we become toxic. We will never be free because we will try to avoid those who have hurt us and avoid occasions of meeting them. We will begin to become suspicious to our other relationships. Yet, we are afraid of trusting others, of loving others again and even ourselves. We are afraid because we linger to that pain thinking that other people might do it again to us. Thus, we become judgmental and condemning to those who are around us and even of ourselves.

    However, it is when we find love and forgiveness in our hearts that we will be free. But remember, this begins in accepting and embracing those painful experiences we have so that we can go on with life. 

    This tells us, that loving one’s enemies or those whom we hate is an expression of mercy and forgiveness that makes us free. It will not erase the scar of betrayal or abuse or pain or any trauma that we endure; but we will be able to stand up, to wipe our tears, to go on with life and to transform our pain into kindness and forgiveness.

    This is what Jesus wants for us. Jesus wants us to be free and not to be prisoners of anger, hatred, bitterness and violence. It is in showing love, kindness and mercy that we actually find peace and reconciliation, justice and freedom.

    Showing love then, is not about telling the person, that what he/she did was okay and we pretend as if nothing happened. No! Love and forgiveness bring healing to our wounded heart that will make us say to the person, “I forgive you not because of who you are but because of who I am.” This is what the Dalai Lama said. This is a gift from the Lord because we deserve peace and freedom. This also means that I choose to be free and at peace. I choose love and not anger and hatred and I choose God and not evil.

    The invitation of Jesus for us now, is an invitation to freedom from hatred, bitterness and violence and freedom to love, to be merciful and forgiving. This the attitude of the heart of a true believer of Christ Jesus. Hinaut pa.

  • For-GIVE

    For-GIVE

    February 23, 2025 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022325.cfm)

    “To err is human. To forgive is divine.” Surely  we have heard & familiar with this quotation before and could easily agree and resonate with it. “To err is human.” This is true for us, especially whenever we have hurt others, whenever we cannot forgive others, or whenever we have failed others. And our usual excuses are: “what can I do, I’m but just human”, or “I’m sorry. I’m not God who forgives. I’m just human and a sinner”.

    True, human as we are, we do wrong and commit sins and mistakes, through which we could easily hurt others. Due to our human weaknesses, we can hurt others, and others could also hurt us. Most of us could attest that it is but human and normal for us to do wrong and commit sin, thus can hurt and be hurt by others. And in the midst of this, we do need ourselves consideration, understanding, forgiveness and love.

    However, based from our own experience, it is difficult to forgive others, especially our enemies who have hurt us. Just like Abisai in our first reading, usually when opportunity comes, it is normal for us to take revenge or even in return hurt our enemies. Usually, it is not easy for us to forgive people who have hurt and wronged us. And we recognize we do need God’s Help and Grace for us to forgive them. For us then, to forgive is a divine or holy or godly behavior and action.

    Jesus said in our gospel today, “Love your Enemy. Do good to all those who persecute and hate you. Forgive them and God will forgive you”. Hearing these words, easy for us reply: “Yes. Easier said than done”. Nice words, good to hear, easy to say but hard to heed. It would be easy for Jesus to say and do those things because He is holy, godly and divine, but for us human, that difficult.

    We must consider that when Jesus said these words, he also experienced and felt the pain, hurt, and suffering caused by his enemies. Like us, Jesus also has his own enemies, who have wronged & hurt him. There were also people who hated him, rejected him and even caused his death. And for Jesus, it is also difficult to love our enemies. He knows and understands how difficult to heed these words – to practice what he preached.

    But still, Jesus challenges us to carry out this command because he knows that human as we are, we can and are capable of forgiving others. Though difficult, it does not mean that we are not capable of loving our enemies. Though difficult, we can and it is possible for us to love and forgive so because we have the ability to forgive and love others. Human as we are, we also have the freedom and potential to forgive others. Though difficult, compared to animals, we human do have the freedom and option to forgive or not to forgive those who have hurt us. Meaning, to forgive and love our enemies is not only divine but also human.

    God indeed is the source of love and forgiveness. It is divine and godly to forgive and love our enemies. But God’s forgiveness and love is revealed through us – in and by our own decision and openness to receive and share God’s love to others. Meaning, though we are weak and slow to forgive others, like David, we can still decide and offer love and forgiveness to them by also accepting their own weakness and limitations, and by giving them the opportunity to repent and change their ways.

    As Christians, we believe Jesus has saved us from our sinfulness. By His birth, death, and resurrection, he redeemed us and has forgiven us of our sins and wrongdoings. We are now then called to also forgive those who have sinned against us, as we have also been forgiven. Human and Christ as he is, Jesus forgives us. Human and Christian as we are, we can also love and forgive our enemies.

    Whenever we are hurt and are suffering from the sins caused by others, it is better for us to reflect and ask ourselves: “If God can grants me His mercy and forgiveness, how come I cannot forgive my enemies? God loved and have forgiven me, a sinner, how can I not love but hate my enemies?

    If of any consolation, consider that forgiveness is not only given to us & what we receive from others, but also forgiveness is something we give to others. Forgiveness then is something more we GIVE For ourselves, and To ourselves than giving to others, for as we ask Our Father to forgive us our sins, we are also to forgive those who sinned against us.

    Remember as our Lord said  “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

    May we forgive others as we are forgiven.

    So May It Be. Amen

  • The Cathedra: A Symbol of Service and Self-Giving

    The Cathedra: A Symbol of Service and Self-Giving

    February 22, 2025 – Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022225.cfm)

    Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Yes, what is being revered is the “chair” or the cathedra of our first Pope. This feast reminds us of the importance of our unity with the Bishop of Rome, now under the leadership of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

     

    As Catholics, let us pray for our Pope, to always remember him in our prayer. When he was elected as Pope, the first thing he asked to the people was to pray for him. Let us continue that for he indeed needs our constant prayer so that Christ may always give him the strength and that the Holy Spirit may guide him and bless him with wisdom.

     

    These past few days, Pope Francis has been in difficult times due to his illness. Countless Catholics are praying, and we join this multitude of people, praying for the healing and recovery of Pope Francis. Yet, even in this struggle, the Pope remains a beacon of hope for us. He constantly reminds and shows us that “faith is not about fear but love; that leadership is not about power but service.”[1]

     

    Being true to the mission given to Peter, Pope Francis continues what has been entrusted to the “cathedra of the Pope,” that it is of service and self-giving.

     

    As members of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, let us also support the Pope’s initiatives and his pronouncements in building closer relationships with all our brothers and sisters across the globe that is in showing mercy and compassion. This is very evident in the ministry of Pope Francis and how he expressed his closeness with all the suffering.

    Moreover, for us individually, the story of Simon’s confession to Jesus posts a call and a reminder to us. Let us closely look a bit into the attitude of Simon Peter and his relationship with Jesus.

     

    Simon was quite hesitant, doubtful and sometimes inconsistent. In the scriptures we find him having doubts as he was invited by Jesus to walk on water. He was also called by Jesus to get behind him because he refused to believe that Jesus should undergo suffering. He ran and hid himself when Jesus was arrested and even denied him three times when he was questioned by the people.

     

    However, what was redeeming for Simon was his “openness” to the invitations of God to him. This explains to us why he immediately followed the Lord when his brother Andrew brought him to Jesus. This openness of Simon allowed him to intimately recognize and know Jesus in the most profound way. That is why, when Jesus asked his disciples about their perception of him, it was Simon who was so bold in professing that Jesus is the “Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

     

    Simon did not depend on others perception of Jesus who might have thought that Jesus was merely a teacher or some sort of magician. Simon had a personal encounter with Jesus and recognized the Lord.

    Though Simon was an imperfect disciple but God revealed himself to him because Simon was open to God. And thus, Jesus called him to follow and to serve him in the best way he could serve God. This attitude of Simon earned him to be named by Jesus as Kephas or the Rock, a responsibility given to him by the Lord to lead the Church.

     

    This is the message for us now. God knows that each of us is not perfect, yet, our God calls each of us to accept certain tasks in our community. We don’t have to be perfect to be a youth minister, an animator or coordinator, or lector, server, or religious or priest etc. Remember, God never called perfect people. God choose the wounded, the broken, the weak, the fearful and doubtful, the imperfect ones to become His friends and fellow workers.

     Like Peter, God sustains us, he strengthens us and transforms us into mature, faithful and joyful persons if we are also open to God’s call and invitations. We may learn how to open ourselves to God and to be more accepting of his invitations to each of us. Jesus assures us that when we put our trust and faith in him, he will never leave us and will always be with us. That is his promise. Hinaut pa.

    [1] Niere, Harvey Malmis, (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15hJv2J3VT/).

  • Babel and the Tower of Human Arrogance

    Babel and the Tower of Human Arrogance

    February 21, 2025 – Friday Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022125.cfm)

    A person who excessively seeks self-importance, attention and recognition from people at the expense of others creates a toxic environment at home, at work, at school or in any relationship the person has with others. This behavioral pattern may develop into a disorder such as the Narcissistic Personality Disorder[1] in which a person also lacks the ability to understand or care other people around him or her.

    However, the overwhelming confidence behind this façade is the unsure self-worth and self-value, thus, insecurities when faced even with slightest criticism from others.

    Moreover, it is in fact very important for our own development and growth in self-confidence to seek and receive affirmations from others. Yet, what we need to learn as well in order to find balance is to have the ability to feel for others, the capacity to care and extend ourselves for others or for the sake of others. It is when we become so contained and exclusive that we become toxic in many aspects of our life.

    With this in mind, let us discern how the Lord also makes us remember the dangers of such attitude in our heart and to where God is leading us to learn.

    The story we have in the Book of Genesis today, speaks of the human tendency to be proud and arrogant. The tower of Babel tells us of this human aspiration to be powerful and become like God. The people at that time said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and  tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves.” Yet, this made the people to be exclusive and arrogant.

    They wanted a name for themselves so that they will be looked up and praised. However, this exclusivity made them incapable of following what God wanted. Earlier, God told Noah and his children, “Be fertile, then, and multiply; abound on earth and subdue it.”

    Indeed, the tower of Babel expressed earthly power and riches. Humanity believed that these things were enough for them to make a name for themselves and become powerful like God who created the world. Hence, as those who built the city and the tower, became exclusive, they also refused God’s command to fill the earth.

    The people decided to just stay in that place, in that city and to not anymore share their knowledge, experiences, graces and riches in other parts of the earth. They have become comfortable and well settled to the point that they did not want to go out from their comforts.

    However, it was said that the Lord had seen this and realized as well the evil intentions in the hearts of the people. This was the reason why the Lord scattered them by confusing and dividing them. When they spoke differently, people did not understand and did not care to understand each other.

    From here, we realize that our human efforts and aspirations when they only come from greed, pride and arrogance to become great and powerful are certainly worthless. Our mere human success, wealth and power are not the keys to be great in the eyes of God, but in our capacity to be give and be for others.

    This brings us now into the message of the Gospel today. Jesus expressed a way of life that was different from the people who tried to build a city and the tower of Babel. Jesus tells us that to be a true disciple of him is not about boasting oneself, of our successes in life, of our influence and power over others.

    A true disciple, rather, is a person who denies himself for the sake of others, who carries his own cross and follows Jesus. A true Christian is a person who remains humble before God, who recognizes his/her smallness and dependence, yet, also embraces the presence of God who gives him/her the strength to carry the cross.

    Let us remember, that human effort and strength and our successes in life are not evil. In fact, these are gifts from the Lord and not reasons that we become greedy and self-righteous. What we have received, achieved or accumulated in this life give us the opportunities to be able to share our gifts, talents and ourselves to our community.

    This calls us now that our families, groups, organizations, and communities become inclusive and welcoming. Indeed, to be inclusive and to be hospitable are natural to a Christian home, to a Christian organization or community. May that spirit lead us to give, to share and to reach out even to those who are different from us. Hinaut pa.

    [1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662#:~:text=Narcissistic%20personality%20disorder%20is%20a,want%20people%20to%20admire%20them.