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Category: AUTHORS

  • Trust without Reservation

    Trust without Reservation

    August 20, 2023 – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082023.cfm)

    We usually associate the word, Faith as accepting something we cannot understand. We say: “since it is strange, mysterious & unexplainable, simply believe”. However, faith is more than our assent to things that does not make sense, and accepting without question.

    The Greek word for faith is “pistis”, which literary means: TRUST. Meaning, when he talks about faith, Jesus means first of all, to trust God without reservation. Whenever he said to people he healed: “Your faith has saved you”, Jesus is saying that they have found new chance in life because they have surrendered in complete trust to God as made known through Jesus.

    This kind of faith is clearly shown to us by the faith of the Canaanite woman in our gospel today

    For her sick child be healed, the Canaanite woman in our gospel today, have to undergo a lot of hindrances, difficulties & challenges. For instance, her cultural background being non-Jewish from Canaan – a migrant foreigner gentile she is, the rude-attitude towards her by the disciples of Jesus, & the seeming cold-reception of Jesus towards her.

    Despite all these hindrances & challenges, however, the Canaanite woman still, as we have heard – longs & hopes only with perseverance to the kindness & mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, and not on the challenges she is in. True enough, she is aware & knows her dire situation; but she gives less importance to her difficult & troublesome life-circumstances & rather rely only on her faith in Jesus. Due to her deep faith & trust in the healing power & mercy Jesus, no hindrances, challenges & problems can overcome her to ask for the help of Jesus.

    Because  of her persistent & persevering faith, her daughter was not only completely cured & brought back to health, but the Canaanite woman also made Jesus aware of His mission is not exclusive only for Jews, but more so, inclusive to all humanity. She made Jesus aware of her great faith & caused Jesus to extend & expand His Good News of God’ Kingdom, not only to the Jews, but above all to the gentiles, foreigners, migrants, pagans, & all people of the world. Such great miracle happened: Good News revealed & expanded to all thru the faith & trust of the Canaanite woman.

    But how about us now? Do we give more importance, faith & trust to our doubts, fears & sufferings in life? Or like the Canaanite woman, do we believe & trust without reserve in the power, mercy & kindness of Jesus despite life-concerns?

    Be reminded that faith is not only about accepting without question, assenting without understanding, but above all, about our complete trust without reservation to God & His will, grace, plans for us. In the same way, we ask God’s mercy & aid in life because we believe & trust in Him, & not only because of we needs & wants His help.

    What is demanded of us then, His believers are our complete trust in Him without reservation. For without faith & with less trust in Him, God’s grace is difficult & limited to flourish, and healing & miracles would rather fail to happen.

    So, whenever we find ourselves sleepless & worried with our life-concerns, “stop counting sheep, talk instead to the Shepherd.” In other words, Trust in the Lord without reservation, and allow Him to make the best & do the rest for us.

    So Be it. Amen.

  • KA-BURIT PARI-A

    KA-BURIT PARI-A

    A person sent me a message via Text early in the morning as I woke up at 6 AM, she texted, “Kaburit ninyo magsayo oi, wa man lagi.” (It was a lie that you’ll be early, where are you.)

                I wondered immediately what Parish schedule I forgot that I overslept at 6 in the morning. Yet, I realized that I only have an afternoon Barrio Mass that day. That, I was certain. As I have become fully awake and checked my calendar of activities, slowly, I also realized that I was already pissed off that morning. “What a bad morning greeting I have received today!” I said to myself.

                As I pondered on that word, “ka-burit!” I have to recognize that I have become angry and quite stunned because of her nerves to text me early in the morning with those words. “How dare she!” again I said to myself. For me, it was very impolite and insensitive to send that kind of message. I felt I was attacked and disrespected. But I have to compose myself and at least would go out of my room still having a good morning.

    I began to brew my coffee and slowly sipped its bitterness. It was bitter but was good! The coffee was good. That changed my mood and decided to let my anger and frustration to subside that I may be able to respond compassionately and lovingly. “I am a priest! I am a pastor! I am not an executive! I am not a boss!” I have to remind myself.

                I have to understand then, where she’s coming from and what prompted her to send me a disrespectful message like that. The day before that, I had an afternoon Barrio Mass. I left the convent 30 minutes before time since it was nearby. On my way there, I was informed that the people had been waiting for more than an hour. As I knew, the scheduled mass was at 5 PM. However, they were misinformed that it was at 4 PM. So, people already gathered in the chapel 15 minutes before 4.

                No wonder, people were already bored and could hardly smile when I arrived! Days before that, I told some of the Lay Leaders in the Parish that I would arrive 20 or 30 minutes before time in order to prepare, talk and mingle with people a bit before the mass. But then, such statement was challenged by this event! That gave me a good laugh as I remembered what I said!

     Mia culpa! Mia culpa! That I can only say to myself. She must have said to herself then, KA-BURIT PARI-A!

              

    As I brought myself to the chapel for my morning prayer, I realized three things that I dare to embrace, accept, learn and live.

                First, not to react out of my emotions, but to respond with grace. So, I replied to her text with this message, “Do we have a schedule today?” (Later I got a reply that it was meant for another person and not for me.) Such grace, I can only attain if I would also remain more aware of my own human emotions, to accept as they are and to discern on how to respond better and not bitterly. With grace, as a pastor I am called to respond compassionately and lovingly. It is therefore not my call to condemn her and express my outrage in a toxic manner. Thus, I shared this with some of my close friends to be able to air out what I felt and get hold of myself, that I may be reminded that I am a priest, a pastor and a friend.

                Second, to be humble and not to be arrogant. I could make an excuse of reacting negatively even aggressively using my authority and entitlement of being a priest and Parish Administrator, yet, this is not what I am called to be. My arrogance will do no good to the community. My entitlement is empty and to demand it, is ruthless. My vocation will be meaningless when it has no witnessing. Hence, this is how I find humility to be so damn difficult! And I am still learning to be one.

                Third, Christ at the center of everything! I could just easily forget and ignore what the Gospel is all about in community building. I could just be indifferent and passive about it, preaching without action, teaching without believing. Yet, it is very unbecoming of me, a contradiction of what I have committed. Therefore, Christ should rather be at the center of everything, not myself, not my privileges, not my whims, not my feelings, not my titles. It is a call for me then, to find Christ and make Christ to be at the center of what I do, what I say, what I dream and what I pray for it is him that I follow and in him is the fullness of my joy and peace.

                With all of these, may I not become and be called, KA-BURIT PARI-A! Hinaut pa.

  • IN HUMILITY

    IN HUMILITY

    August 13, 2023 – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081323.cfm)

    A rabbi was once asked: Rabbi, how come God is not anymore talking to His people? Unlike before when God, who spoke to Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah and the prophets, why is it He no longer speak to His people? As if in pain, the rabbi shook his head and replied: Son, it is not that God is no longer speaking to His people. It is rather that no one these days can stoop down low enough to listen to Him. No one…can stoop down low enough… to listen to Him.

    If we really come to think of this, especially in our moments when the Lord seems absent or distant, perhaps it is not the Lord but ourselves who has the problem. Perhaps we become too preoccupied with our dreams and ambitions that we cannot anymore sense His presence with us. Perhaps we become more worried with our need, plans, and concerns that we cannot anymore listen to Him speaking. Somehow we are standing too high in our towers and skyscrapers or too far in our highways that He cannot anymore reach us, speak to us and being with us.  Somehow we cannot anymore stoop down low enough to listen to Him.

    In our gospel today, we come to hear how Jesus rescued his disciples from their crisis-situation. To save them from the storm and to assure them of His protection and help, Jesus made Himself known to them and said: Get hold of yourself. It is I. Do not be afraid. Clearly Jesus is with them always and will never leave them, even amidst the strong stormy winds and their panic.  However, despite Jesus’ assurance of His presence and assistance, the disciples are more concerned of themselves – their concerns and needs, their hopes and struggles, instead of trusting and having faith in Jesus. They trusted more themselves than in Jesus.

    This is clearly shown by Peter. When Jesus stated His Presence in their midst, Peter tested the Lord first by giving him conditions or requirements to fulfill: Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you across the water. At that time He did not need the Lord’s help or presence. He is more concerned with probing whether it is really the Lord or not, and testing the Lord to make him do the impossible like walking on the water. It was only when he admitted his helplessness and vulnerability that Peter finally recognized the Lord and prayed: Lord, save me.

    In one way or another, we may become like Peter and the disciples. Although we may have claimed to have followed and loved the Lord, normally we are instead more preoccupied with ourselves than believing and trusting more in Him. Usually when the going gets tough in life, when we find ourselves amidst the storms of life, or when we find Jesus seems to be asleep or absent in life, we react with terror and panic as well as doubt and unbelief, instead of deep faith in Him, who never abandons us whatever it takes. In other words, we only need Him when we want Him and we want Him in, not in His but in our own terms. We prefer to be left on our own, not to be disturbed and challenged by the Lord. We rather be far distant and detached from Him, attentive more with our noisy concerns and preoccupations that we cannot anymore hear Him speaking to us and we, listening to His voice.

    Perhaps sometimes we need to humbly experience and admit our weaknesses, limitations and hopelessness in order for us to see and realize the very importance of us being with Christ. Like Peter, for us to hear His voice and listen again to the Lord, and be conscious and realize His steadfast presence and love for us, at times we need to stoop down and find ourselves drowning by our helplessness and vulnerability. Like Peter, we need to realize once in a while that without Jesus, we are no one or nothing at all.

    Yes, the Lord is always with us. He is not watching us from a distance. But rather, we are distant from Him. He is always nearby present ever ready to help us all the time. Even amidst the storms of life, the Lord is involved with everything that happens in our lives. He will never leave us, even if we left Him. He is always there for us, even if we are not always there for Him. But most of all, He is not in the strong winds, or in earthquakes or fires of life, but usually in the ordinary whispering sounds of life.  So be humble enough to stoop down in order to listen to Him speaking again.

  • On Higher Grounds

    On Higher Grounds

    August 6, 2023 – Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080623.cfm)

    Have you ever been lost in the forest? What do you think is the best thing to do if you get lost in the forest?

    Others would say that to do what is practical, which is to find your way back. You may have found a way back, but still you have not arrived to the place where you want to be. Others would suggest to pray and “balihon ang sinina” or incorrectly wear your shirt. Again nothing would happen except you are still lost with incorrectly worn shirt, and never arrive at your destination.

    The best way to do if you are lost in the forest is to first stop your journey, and then look for some higher grounds, so that you will know and see where you are, where have you been, where you want to go and what the best way or road to take. Meaning, you have to stop first then climb a high place – a hill, mountain or a tree, so that from there you get a wider perspective of your journey and travel.

    Being lost in the forest may reflect our experience of life. There are times in our lives that we feel lost & confused in all our endeavors and dreams. Because of this, like being and getting lost in the forest, it is easy for us to feel tired, dry, afraid, anxious and hopeless in life to reach and achieve our aspirations, hopes and dreams in life.

    Our gospel today narrates us the Transfiguration of the Lord. We hear Jesus brought his apostles to Mt. Thabor so that they would witness the glory of God revealed before them. After they have followed the Lord in his preaching and ministry in many towns and villages, the apostles have now experienced weariness and exhaustion in their journey, even to the point others have cast doubt in the Lord’s person and authority. For them to be inspired (to be in-spirit) and encourage once again, Jesus brought then to mountain of Thabor to have a preview or prelude of God’s glory so that they themselves taste and witness God’s glory made manifest in Jesus Himself. And then, they hear & encounter themselves the call & challenge from God to listen and have faith in Jesus, his beloved Son.

    Sometimes in life, we need to stop for awhile from all our endeavors and aspirations, and then, climb the Lord’s mountain in order for us to view a much wider perspective in life and our journey. Like in our modern lingo of cellphones, we need a higher ground to get a good signal; sometimes we need to climb the mountain with the Lord for us to get a good and strong signal of God’s presence and love.

    We call this today as RETREAT with the Lord – a time in our life where we stop or slowdown from all our plans, aspirations and activities in life, spend some time to distance from our usual routine and look and climb for a high place in order to get a wider perspective of our life. Time and place to ask ourselves: “where am I now in relation to my life, dreams, aspirations and commitments?  Am I lost or in the right path? What else should be done? What need to be change?” Retreat would also mean to Treat ourselves again & anew to God’s vision of life-glory. In other word, to take care & nourish ourselves anew to the vision & fervor of God’s glory. And above all,  in the Lord’s transfiguration & our retreat moments, we are challenged also to be “transfigured”, i.e in our modern-tech language, to do “system update” for us to be in sync, upgraded, & outfitted with the current plans of God for our redemption

    As we follow the Lord, as Christian, it is healthy then for us to sometimes to retreat & be transfigured, i.e.,  to stop and climb up on a higher ground with the Lord in order to have a wider perspective of life, to witness God’s presence revealed in Christ, and to hear again & anew God’s call & challenge, our vocation: “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to Him”. Amen.

  • TO FIND OUR GREATEST JOY IN LIFE

    TO FIND OUR GREATEST JOY IN LIFE

    August 2, 2023 – Wednesday 17th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080223.cfm)

    Why do people work so hard? Is it not because of the dream to be contented and happy? Why do men and women search for true love? Is not also because of the hope of being happy in life? Why do we search for what makes us happy? Is it not because that we are destined to be happy?

    Definitely, we are all in search of something that will make our life happy, joyful and contented. Each of us dreams that kind of life. However, in the process of searching, we also encounter failures and disappointments, discouragements and frustrations. Yet, we always wake up to achieve what we desire for our life and for our loved ones. Our instinct is to search and gain a life of happiness peace and joy not just for ourselves but also for the people we love.

    This brings me to the message of the Gospel today. Our Gospel presents to us two parables that tell us about this desire of finding and possessing something of great value in life. This is something that a person would do everything just to attain this something of great value.

    The first parable tells us of the grace of God that surprises us. The person was actually not conscious in searching for a treasure. Yet, that person just found it out of accident and later on did everything just to possess it because he was convinced that it was of great importance. He was willing to sell everything he had just to gain that treasure. Certainly, God also loves to surprise us. Joy is truly a gift given to us.

    The second parable tells us of a person consciously searching for a pearl of great price. This search comes from that desire to have a blessed life of peace and joy. Indeed, along the way of our search, great difficulty may be experienced. However, God also leads us to discover His gift for us when we persistently ask for that. God would truly bless a heart that desires Him.

    And when a person finally finds his or her joy in life, this transforms the person not just internally but also physically especially in the way the person relates with others and the way the person presents himself or herself before others. This is what we have heard from our first reading in the Book of Exodus.

    Moses who found his greatest comfort and joy in the Lord was transformed. The Book of Exodus described him that the “skin of his face became radiant.” Moses’ intimate friendship with God made him a different person from before. He was God’s close friend. Consequently, this made Moses also ever closer to the people. Moses became more sensitive to the struggles, questions, fears and anxieties of the people.

    This tells us too that when we truly find our greatest joy in life, we become contented and grateful persons. We would begin to look at things and look at life from the perspective of God rather than from our negative and bitter perspective. In a way, this makes our heart radiate, our actions generous and our words kind.

    Certainly, a married person who truly finds contentment, security and joy in his or her married life extends such grace towards the people around him or her. A person who finally finds his or her vocation in life also becomes more generous and life-giving towards others.

    We pray that in our search of that great value, then, we would hopefully also arrive at the realization that God’s desire for us is more than anything that we could imagine for ourselves. And once we find it, may the joy and peace that it brings will transform us to become a person God wants us to be. Hinaut pa.