Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: AUTHORS

  • 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.

  • THE CHILD IN US

    THE CHILD IN US

    January 21, 2024 – Feast of the Sto. Niño

    Is. 9:1-6; Ps 98; Eph 1:3-6,15-18; Mk 10:13-16

    What kind of a child do we have in our heart? We may not be a child physically, but we may still ack like a child. To act like a child does not necessarily connote negative sides. Recognizing the child in us will surely make us more aware of who we are, the intentions of our heart, the kind of dream and hopes we have as well as the pain, the sadness or the trauma that we have endured.

    Hence, on this feast of the Sto. Niño, I would like to focus on the qualities of the child that may be in us, and to see how the Lord Jesus, born as a child to Mary and Joseph, invites us today.

    Psychologists and Psychiatrists have coined the term “adult children” or adults with unresolved childhood issues. This term tells us that though we may be already an adult or even in advanced age, yet, we still carry issues and problems in us that originated in our childhood. Not being able to reconcile or not able to find resolutions to the issues before may affect us greatly in the way we relate with others and with God, being shown in our patterned behaviors and attitudes.

    Dr. Charles Whitfield an American physician and psychotherapist refers to the inner child in us as the “real self.” This inner child in us may have suffered or wounded by armed conflicts which is common here in our region in Lanao, or caused by natural disasters, family problems, deprivation of basic needs like food and clothing, parental neglect and lack of affection and affirmation or by abuse (physical, verbal, emotional or sexual).

    As adult children or adults with unresolved issues we manifest childish behaviors. Being “childish” reveals our negative and selfish attitudes. A child can throw up tantrums when displeased and does not get what he/she wanted. This attitude of a child is an unconscious form of control and manipulation to get what he/she desired.

    Being childish is being selfish to get what we want no matter how unfair that would be to others. Being childish focuses on what “satisfies me” and on what “I can gain.”  To be childish prevents us to “listen” to what is more important. It also prevents us to believe and to accept other ideas because we are already convinced of our own judgments and beliefs. Thus, being childish is also characterized by being indifferent.

    Thus, because of the unresolved and unreconciled issues we have in the past, we become childish. Our inner child is trapped in that painful past, in that trauma or deprivation, hence, making us in the present to be insecure, fearful, and selfish.

    That is why, there is a need for us to find healing and reconciliation so that our inner child will be free. Only then that we become “childlike,” a quality of a child that expresses confidence, innocence, trust, faith and affection. Being childlike, we see the world through the eyes of a child, non-judgmental and free of prejudices. Being childlike, we express our hopes and dreams without being terrified of what lies ahead of us. Being childlike, we embrace and enjoy the present moment and become more contented of what we have. Being childlike, our heart is always filled with gratitude and faith.

    This is the call and reminded of Jesus to his disciples as proclaimed by the Gospel of Mark. The disciples of Jesus who at first did not like people bringing children to Jesus, as being scolded by the Lord. Jesus made a point and taught a very important lesson and that is in finding the kingdom of God among the presence of the children.

    Children, who at that time, had no legal identity. They less important in the society because they are not adults yet, thus, not fully developed persons. However, the Kingdom of God belongs to the children. This is true because of the very qualities of children, and that is of being trusting, open and dependent.

    Yet, to our hearts that have become cold, indifferent, judgmental, corrupt and selfish, the Kingdom of God becomes too far from us, not because God does not want us, but because we do not want to be with God. That is why, Jesus reminded all of us, “whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child, will not enter it.” Only by having the heart of child that expresses true confidence and faith in the Father, that we shall also be able to embrace Kingdom of God already in us.

    This is the message and the call for us today as we celebrate the feast of the Sto. Niño, Jesus’ image as a child who have shown us what it is to be childlike, how it is to be childlike. Hence, there are three invitations for us today.

    BE RECONCILED WITH THE PAST. Let us not burden ourselves today with our issues when we were children. Let not what happened in the past, control or manipulate us at present. Seek resolution, reconciliation and healing so what we may be able to live in freedom and peace.

    PROTECT THE CHILDREN. Let us nurture a home, a community and a church that protects the rights of children, that nurtures the potentials of our children and encourages growth and maturity of our children. To us adults, be mindful not to cause harm, danger or abuse to children. Rather, express love and affection, affirm and recognize the worth and value of our children.

    LET US ALL BE CHILDLIKE. Let not selfishness limit our heart. Let not insecurities and negativities ruin our relationships. Let us rather re-claim and re-affirm our inner child and become trusting, dependent to God, open and embracing. Hinaut pa.

  • LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND

    LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND

    January 14, 2024- 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

    How do you listen? Just like now, here in this Church, listening to the Word of God and to my homily, what kind of attitude do you show as you listen? On this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, let me share with you the different forms of listening and let us see how each form affect that way the message is communicated to us and how we respond. From here, let us also evaluate ourselves on how we perceive God’s voice and God’s word proclaimed to us.

    There are 5 levels of Listening according to Stephen R. Covey.[1] The first level is called IGNORING. In this level of listening we completely ignore what has been said, that means we do not listen at all. This is shown in our body language, for instance, when someone is talking we are doing some other things like chatting and playing with our phones, or starting a conversation with a person near us.

    The second level is called PRETEND LISTENING. We only show to the person that we listen but actually not. We may show this as well in our body language like regularly nodding our head and making eye contact but then, our mind is somewhere else. This level of listening has no intention to really listen and understand because this is merely a show-off.

    The third level is called SELECTIVE LISTENING. Like the pretend listening, we also show to the one talking that we are listening but not fully. In this level, we only listen to some parts that we want to hear, that we love and expect to hear. However, other parts of what has been said to us, we do not listen anymore especially when what is being said disturbs us or challenges us, or simply does not interest us.

    The fourth level is called ATTENTIVE LISTENING. This means that we pay attention, we concentrate and we respond accordingly to what has been said. This is shown in our body language as we make eye contact, sit properly and respond when we are asked.

    And finally, the fifth level is called ATTENTIVE-EMPATHETIC LISTENING. Comparing this with the fourth level, here we do not only make an effort to listen but we listen to understand. And when we listen to understand, this also means that we see ourselves in the words that are being said to us without judging or filtering the words being said. We become receptive to what has been said, thus, what is being opened is not just our ears, but also our heart and our mind.

    So, at what level are you now? What kind of body language do you show as I communicate with you? How receptive are you with the words that I am saying?

    We may hopefully be able to see ourselves and evaluate our attitudes in listening and then move higher towards the fifth level if we are below it. I am sharing this with you because the readings we have this Sunday speak of people who have shown an ATTENTIVE-EMPATHETIC LISTENING. And so, let us see how God invites us today to respond to him according to our own life situation and context in the community as we called first, to listen.

    In the first reading, the young Samuel had his first encounter with God. Samuel was an altar server, very young but was chosen by God to be his prophet.

    He was called, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel[2] and the young Samuel would get up and go to Eli thinking it was the old man who called him. Being so young, Samuel did not have any knowledge yet about God. This was the reason why Samuel would go to Eli thinking that it was him calling the young boy. But thanks to Eli, to that wisdom from an old one who guided the inexperienced young boy to be able to listen attentively and empathetically to the voice of God.

    The presence of the old prophet Eli, affirms our need of somebody who can guide us, of those who already experienced life. Thus, Samuel was able to listen to God because despite his young age there was a good advice from an adult.

    As Samuel listened empathetically, he responded, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening,” God was allowed to be heard. The conscious action of Samuel made him familiar to God’s voice. That was the beginning of God working in the life of Samuel. As a result of Samuel’s conscious listening to God and of allowing God to speak to him, Samuel also understood what God told him. Thus, God made him a “trustworthy prophet,” to whom everyone listened.

    Samuel spoke with authority and honesty because he allowed the Lord to speak through him, and thanks to that old man who guided him. Samuel stood as God’s representative in a time of political and religious corruption, in a time where people were in desolation and distress.

    Like Samuel, this is also the situation of the two disciples of John the Baptist. These two disciples did not know Jesus but they were already listening to John about Jesus. Hence, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, John said, “Here is the Lamb of God.” The two disciples listened and understood what John said. That was the reason why the two followed the Lord. In their effort to understand Jesus more, they asked, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus responded, “Come and see.” Both listened to the invitation of Jesus and so they came and saw how Jesus lived. Their ears were open as well as their heart and mind.

    This openness of the two, made one of them, Andrew, to become an instrument for his brother Simon to encounter and know Jesus. Through that encounter, Simon paid attention and listened to Jesus. This was how Jesus also called Simon to become Cefas (in Hebrew, in Latin Peter) which means the Rock.

    John the Baptist encountered the Lord, and so recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God. Because of this encounter, he helped his disciples to also encounter Jesus. That encounter prompted them to follow the Lord. Andrew also who encountered the Lord led his brother, Simon to also encounter the Lord. This was all made possible because they first listened and understood the presence and the voice of the Lord. Now, we see the pattern in their stories.

    This is also the very invitation for us this Sunday and that is to learn and to move towards ATTENTIVE-EMPATHETIC LISTENING so that we may be able to listen well to what God is saying to us and understand better God’s invitations for us.

    Through attentive-empathetic listening also, this will help us grow in our awareness of God’s presence and our relationship with God. Moreso, such attitude in our listening, this will greatly help our human relationships. Thus, begin to show this attentive-empathetic listening with your friend, with your colleague, classmate or workmate, or with your student, or with your own child, partner or loved one. Through attentive-empathetic listening, then, we better understand the person, we avoid developing biases, or in making quick judgments against the person. Through attentive-empathetic listening we make dialogue to be possible, we promote understanding and peace in our own homes, communities and institutions. Hinaut pa.

    [1] From Revolution: Listening and Development (revolutionlearning.co.uk)

    [2] Samuel means a person who “heard God.”

  • 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.