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Category: AUTHORS

  • Of Life Beyond

    Of Life Beyond

    November 6, 2022 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110622.cfm)

    Last week and even week before last, we cannot help but find ourselves thinking about our experiences of death & life. Not only we were remembering our dearly beloved departed brothers & sister, we are also praying for the souls in purgatory & souls of those who have recently died of Covid pandemic, victims of natural disasters, & about all the 150 plus youth who died in Itaewon Stampede for a Halloween party in South Korea. Yes, we cannot help but reflect on such a waste of lives of many young people who are supposed to be enjoying & having fun on a costume party Halloween Event, which they don’t even believe, ending in tragedy on harrowing deaths of plenty.

    In such experiences of death, dying & waste of lives nowadays, yes indeed, we do find ourselves questioning about our life as it is & our life yet to come. Somehow, we ask ourselves what is life all about. “Is there a life after death? What happened to those who have died? Was their life sensible before their death? Is our lives now sensible before our death? Is there, are we living or do we have a life before death?”, are just but some questions we are confronted with, as we make sense & find meaning from our recent experiences of loss & grief.

    Somehow our readings today are offering us some perspectives as to how we grapple with these questions.

    By our faith in God, the witness of suffering & martyrdom of the Maccabeans testify to the reality that there is more to life & death than what we have and are experiencing it. For people of deep faith, there is resurrection, eternal life, and life-beyond life & death. Paul exhorts us faithful people to be steadfast & enduring in our faith in God who loves us dearly & in Jesus who journeys with us in life. And in our gospel today, Jesus is telling & teaching us that resurrection, eternal, life-beyond life & death is not all about who are we married to in life, but moreso about it is about how we have been faithful & fruitful to the life we have committed to in life, since our fullness of joy lies in the full glory of our Lord – not ours, as our Psalms proclaims.

    In our life as Christian believers then, we are called not only to be happy and successful, but above all to be faithful & fruitful. Faithfulness & fruitfulness then IS life-all about, and less on our happiness & successes. Our life here & now thus is all about fullness of God glory through the faithful & fruitful witness of all who believes in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Beyond the questions about the meaning of our experiences of life & death while we are still alive here & now, lies the call & challenge for us to be faithful & fruitful in our faith in God. Eternal Life – Life Beyond then is all about God & about how we have been faithful & fruitful in life we are having now.

    As once penned by a modern-day spiritual guru Henri Nouwen: “The real question is: “How can I live so that my death will be fruitful for others?” Our life we have here & now then IS OUR CHANCE to do thing right before God & others.

    Perhaps while we are still now alive here in this life, consider these very words of St. Paul that inspired one of Pilipino church song entitled: “Pag-aalay ng Puso”:

    “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now… for I shall not pass this way again….”

    Minsan lamang ako dadaan sa daigdig na ito, Kaya anumang Mabuti maaring gawin ko ngayon. O anumang kabutihan ang maari kong ipadama, itulot ninyong magawa ko ngayon ang mga bagay na to. Nawa’y hwag ko tong ipagpaliban, O ipagwalang-bahala, sapagkat di na ko muling dadaan sa ganitong mga landas.

  • Making Friends

    Making Friends

    November 5, 2022 – Saturday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110522.cfm)

    The presence of our friends in our life truly makes difference.  It is usually with our friends that we share our deepest thoughts and dreams, our fears and confusions, our pains and sorrows, our joys and successes. Sometimes, our friends know more about us than our immediate family members. It is because friends allow us to be who we are. Friends give us the space to be fully accepted and embraced. Friends unconditionally support us and understand us because of our shared experiences, shared stories and shared dreams. These are some reasons that connect us intimately with our friends that make our hearts truly grateful.

    Paul in his letter to the Philippians also recalled such gratitude in his heart for the gift of friendship he had developed with the Philippians. Paul who was in prison and was in many difficulties while being there and trying to survive, was comforted by the thought that his friends remembered him and cared about him. His friends sent material resources that he would need. This was not just the first time because even during the travels of Paul to preach in other cities, the Philippians expressed their generosity and support by providing his needs for the journey. Paul said it intimately, “it was kind of you to share in my distress.” The thought of being remembered by friends had given Paul assurance and confidence despite the suffering and persecution he faced.

    More than this friendship, Paul also expressed that what sustained him was his friendship with the Lord.  Paul expressed it in this way, “I have the strength for everything through him (Jesus) who empowers me.” This friendship with Jesus was the very reason of that friendship he had with the Philippians. Hence, Paul wished and prayed that the Lord may also bless his friends in Philippi.

    This gives us a picture of our capacity to give oneself, to be generous and kind in order to express our support and love for our friends. Moreover, this also makes our heart to be truly gracious for the gift of friendship we have

    This is the invitation that Jesus has for us today. The Lord warns the people of the desire to keep things for the self alone and become self-entitled to many things, which leads to corruption and dishonesty. The Lord also invites us to be generous enough to people in need. Being generous expresses in us the attitude of being trustworthy even in small things. This was how Jesus confronted some of the Pharisees who loved money and loved to enrich themselves in dishonest transactions. This kind of attitude does not develop true friendship but abomination in the sight of God.

    Hence, as we make friends, we may truly become generous givers not just in terms of our material resources but also of our presence, understanding and support as our expression of our concern and love for our friends. As friends, we may also become grateful receivers and not “self-entitled-leeches” to our friends who only try the suck out the goodness and kindness of others. Kabay pa.

  • Prudence and Right Attitude

    Prudence and Right Attitude

    November 4, 2022 – Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110422.cfm)

    The master in today’s parable praised his dishonest steward, whom he trusted to manage his material resources. However, the steward was not praised for his dishonesty, of course not, but for “acting prudently.” This steward after hearing that he will be fired, secured his future by dropping out his corrupt practices. Well, not for the benefit of those who owed his paster but for his own benefit. Indeed, it is “prudence” and the “right attitude” at the present moment that Jesus calls us today.

    “Prudence” as defined by Meriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is a skill and good judgment in the use of resources or the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. So, by being prudent, we don’t do things, decide or act out of our impulses and mere capriciousness, or compulsions or feelings but in having a good judgment by using our reason or mind.

    Thus, prudence allows us to be “discerning,” that is, to see and recognize what is God’s and what is not God’s desire.

    “Right attitude of the present” is our way of life. This creates positive impacts in the lives of others. Right attitude is neither manipulative nor deceiving nor oppressive. Rather, it has something to do with gratitude and contentment. Therefore, by being grateful and contented of what we have and don’t have, make our heart generous, fair and honest unlike the dishonest steward. He may be prudent but lacking in right attitude.

    This is what Paul also reminds us in his letter to the Philippians. Paul strongly exhorted the community of the attitude of those who turned corrupt, oppressive and deceptive of others. In his words, he said, “Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their ‘shame.’ Their minds are occupied with earthly things.”

    This is a sign that these people were acting out of impulse and selfish desires as long as they feel satisfied. Yet, their end is destruction, not freedom, not contentment, not life. Certainly, such way of life does not lead to freedom and peace. This attitude also affects others negatively because such desire when translated into action can become vicious, oppressive and corrupt. This causes suffering to others.

    Thus, as children of the light, the Lord has two invitations for us today. First, to be prudent in our decisions and actions, so be discerning. Second, to learn the right attitude in our dealings with people and in using our material resources. May our thoughts and actions and very person inspire others to be truly generous, fair and honest. Kabay pa.

  • God searching for us 

    God searching for us 

    November 3, 2022 – Thursday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110322.cfm)

    While Jesus was trying to bring people to conversion, freedom and closer to God, a group of people grumbled and complained because of Jesus’ intentions and actions. The parables of the lost sheep and of the lost coin are images of God searching for those who have lost their way, who distanced from the community and from God. Yet, God longs and desires the presence of those who lost their way and wants to bring them back to his presence. Thus, these two parables tell us how dear each of us in the heart of God. God does not rest and does not surrender until God wins us back and finds us again.

    However, such image and nature of God, was received with hatred and hostility by those who wanted “to control God.” The Pharisees and scribes complained and grumbled because Jesus was eating with sinners and being friendly with them. For them, Jesus was not following the law that they revered so much. They did not want a God who forgives and redeems sinners and the lost. They wanted a God who condemns as what their law prescribed.

    This was the reason of their grumbling because they wanted a condemning God. Having this kind of God, then, they can easily incite fear among the people and control people according to their agenda and selfish intentions.

    That is why, Jesus’ presence was indeed a threat against these people, because Jesus was turning the table against them. Jesus revealed the true face of God, a loving and forgiving God.

    Hence, while Jesus tells us of God’s embrace and God’s longing for us, we too are reminded of our tendency to reject God. The Pharisees and the scribes represented that tendency in us to reject whatever is God’s. However, just as the shepherd never stopped until he found the lost sheep and just as the woman searched carefully until she found the lost coin, God also continues to call and invite us, to search and to find us until we allow God to embrace us.

    This is what Paul also realized. His letter to the Philippians revealed his past where he thought that he was already in the right path. Yet, Paul was a lost soul believing that righteousness based on the law was enough. However, when Jesus found him, Paul also found himself and gained everything in Christ.

    And so, like the tax collectors and sinners, may we have the courage to draw near to Jesus and listen to him and be changed by him. May these parables always remind us of this God who longs and desires for our presence, for our conversion and for our freedom. Moreover, may it move us too to be more embracing, accepting and welcoming of our brothers and sisters who need a lot of understanding and love because of unfortunate circumstances in their life. Kabay pa.

  • They are in peace

    They are in peace

    November 2, 2022 – Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110222.cfm)

    In a public cemetery in my hometown, where my grandparents and relatives were buried, I remember when I was a boy, there was this woman, who would also visit a small grave. It was so small and definitely, a grave for a baby. But every year, during this All Soul’s Day, that lady would not fail to come to the grave, clean it, light a candle on it, like many of us would do. However, what made me remember her was the grief and sorrow that this lady would pour out for that grave. As far as I remember, she would be sobbing that everyone nearby could hear her wailing as if it was newly buried.

    She must be the mother of that baby buried in that grave. As I can remember what the grown-ups would say at that time, that lady lost her baby by miscarriage. She must have longed so much for the baby and perhaps was haunted by guilt for losing her baby while in her womb. Though her baby was buried for several years already, yet, the pain and sorrow in her heart remained.

    As the whole church commemorates today all the faithful departed, we traditionally visit the graves of our departed loved ones. This also becomes an occasion for family gathering and celebrations centered on the memories of our loved ones who have gone ahead of us.

    Indeed, there could be some who like that lady is being torn my sorrow and pain for losing someone so dear to us. Some could also feel the guilt for not doing anything we can while they were still alive. Some could also still find hatred and anger in their hearts for their dead relatives or family members because of the pain and trauma they also experienced while they were still alive. Thus, we hope to find peace and pray for peace for all the dead.

    Yes, this commemoration of all the faithful departed calls us to find peace, to pray for peace and hope for peace. The Book of Wisdom reminds us today that “the souls of the just are in the hand of God… they are in peace.” It is our hope that the souls of the dead may be justified by the mercy of God and be granted with eternal peace. This is the reason why we have the masses for the dead, remembering them on this day and anniversaries of their death to pray for them that they may be able to share the peace of the Risen Christ.

    And we who continue to journey on earth, we know that we are never permanent here and we are destined to share in the newness of life with Christ. While still here on earth, may we come to realize and find contentment in God and desire for nothing else, as the Psalm calls us today, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”

    Indeed, Jesus in John’s Gospel, tells us today that we all belong to him. The Lord desires that we will remain in him and share in his blessed life. Jesus assures us, “I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” This tells us that the Lord God is mercy, Jesus is mercy.

    And so as we visit the graves of our loved ones and relatives today, may we be reminded as well of God’s desire for all of us that we shall live with Him where death has no more power, where grief and sorrow has no more grip on us, but only joy and peace. Kabay pa.