Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Easter Season

  • When the Divine Mercy pierces through LOCKDOWN-HEARTS

    When the Divine Mercy pierces through LOCKDOWN-HEARTS

    April 19, 2020 – Second Sunday Easter and Sunday of Divine Mercy

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041920.cfm)

    The word LOCKDOWN has become popular today given the situation we are in. At the outbreak of the virus that originated in Wuhan, China which has spread to many countries today, “lockdowns” have been imposed. This procedure is imposed to control and to minimize the spread of the virus to the public. As countries, regions, provinces, cities adopted such measure,  now even small sitios or purok (a village) have their own version of lockdown.

    We understand lockdown as a situation in which people are not allowed to enter or even to leave a building, or a property or an area freely because of an emergency (Cambridge Dictionary).

    As this has been highly recommended by medical experts, then, our government leaders have to impose it for the sake of the citizens. Thus, its main reason is not to limit the freedom of the individuals but to control the virus, to slow down the transmission and infection and save lives. It is a defensive mechanism that we have developed today which we also realized as necessary. This, indeed, is a lockdown that protects, saves and even gives life.

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    However, there is another form of lockdown that is different from protecting, saving and giving life. It is the opposite. It is the “lockdown imposed by the disciples upon themselves” that we have heard from the Gospel today.

    This is defensive mechanism of a heart that is hurt and bruised. It is a form of withdrawal from others and from God because of “fear.”

    In a way, experiencing pain in our relationships also makes us more defensive the next time we relate with others. We become defensive and even withdrawn with others because we fear of being hurt again. Thus, we “lockdown” ourselves from any possible pain or hurt, because we are afraid of what others can do to us.

    This happened to the disciples of Jesus. They lockdown themselves in a room because of fear. They locked the door to make sure that no stranger could enter. It was their way of protecting themselves because they were afraid that what happened to Jesus may also happen to them.

    As a consequence, their fear prevented them to believe what Mary Magdalene proclaimed to them, that Jesus has been raised from the dead. They couldn’t believe her because they were too afraid. However, what was more interesting in the Gospel was on how Jesus appeared in their midst even though they made sure that the doors were locked. Jesus appeared to them and brought peace to the hearts of these fearful disciples.

    Yet, we also find Thomas who was not there at that time of Jesus’ appearance, still holding on to his fears and doubts. Although all the other disciples have testified that they have seen the Lord, Thomas couldn’t accept it. He couldn’t believe, and because of that, his heart was more locked than the door. Thomas personally lockdown his heart.

    That is why, Thomas, set a condition before he would believe that Jesus is alive. He said, “unless I will see and touch him, I will not believe.” Because of so much fear and doubts, Thomas insisted that condition in order to protect himself.

    Just as Jesus met the other disciples in their own hiding place and so he did it also to Thomas. Jesus appeared once again and asked Thomas to touch his wounds so that he may believe. Jesus submitted to the condition of Thomas.

    This is what the Gospel is telling us today – the Lord meets us wherever we are and he takes us seriously in all our fears, anxieties and doubts. When God meets us in our own hiding places and closed doors, He brings us peace to our troubled hearts. This is an assurance that in God’s presence we find peace and without Him we will always be disturbed and insecure.

    This is the mystery of the Divine Mercy which we celebrate on this Second Sunday of Easter, the God of Mercy who brings peace into our troubled and fearful hearts, and who pierces through our lockdown-hearts.

    In God’s Mercy, Jesus indeed meets us  where we are at the moment especially when we decide to retreat to our own cocoons of self-centeredness, to our old bad habits and addictions, to our defensive mechanisms and self-imposed lockdowns from other people, and into our angry and irritable response to people around us. God meets us there and he wants us to know that He is with us and He brings us peace.

    It is when we recognize God in those moments that Jesus invites us to touch his wounds just like Thomas. Being aware of the wounds and touching the wounds of Jesus means that Jesus feels our own pain and suffering, our fears and anxieties, questions and doubts. Hopefully, that experience will lead us to proclaim like Thomas, “My Lord and my God.” This is again an assurance to us that our God is alive and at work in our lives.

    I would like to invite you now to be aware and recognize those attitudes, beliefs and experiencesthat continue to lock us away from others and from God. Be aware of those that hold us from fully relating to others and from freely expressing goodness, and those that make us withdrawn and indifferent to people around us.

    Hopefully, our encounter with the risen Christ, the image of the Divine Mercy will make our locked and defensive hearts to open up as He brings us peace and send us to others. This may move us  to go out to touch the lives of those who are in need by sharing what we have experienced with God, his goodness and generosity, faithfulness and mercy. Thus, even during lockdowns we can still show our kindness and generosity to those in need. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Believe the Gospel, believe in Jesus Christ

    Believe the Gospel, believe in Jesus Christ

    April 19, 2020 – Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041920.cfm)

    Homily shared by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR

    A young man once said, “I will never believe until I have an experience of Jesus Christ.” But a Catholic missionary replied, “Unless you believe, you will never experience Jesus in His Church”. 

    Nowadays, it is not easy for us to believe. We ask usually for signs, proofs or evidence in order to trust somebody. We need some credentials in order for us to believe someone. We say: “To see is to believe.” Many times we claim, “We will never believe until we see it”. Others would say, “Show me the money first before I trust you”. Like Thomas in our Gospel today, we say: “Unless there are evidences (see and touch the nail marks on the Lord’s sides), I will not believe”.

    The opposite of Faith is doubt. Doubt has indeed been a great stumbling block or hindrance in the growth of our Christian faith. Even Jesus had difficulty in preaching the Good News because of the people’s doubt and unbelief. And the same doubt and unbelief have caused the Lords’ suffering, crucifixion and death.  

    Usually we doubt by certain truths in our life because they are beyond our comprehension. Because we don’t understand them – they don’t make sense- that we doubt if what is presented before us is really true and sincere. That is why, many at times in life, we struggle to find God in our signs and evidences, in our darkness and loneliness, in our comprehension and understanding that usually leads us nowhere but doubt and unbelief. But actually doubt and unbelief happen whenever and because we are just asleep – not aware or not awake and present enough to recognize what has been presented right before us.

    This is what Jesus is trying to reveal and teach his apostles then and us now in our Gospel today: Be Present in order to Believe. Believe in order to be in His Presence.

    As the community of disciples hid themselves asleep in fear for the authority, in shame for abandoning their master, and in hopelessness and defeat for the death of the Lord, Jesus, now the Risen Lord came and shown Himself to them, saying: “Peace Be with you”. Take note, Jesus appeared and presented Himself – make Himself known to them, in order to tell them: “Do Not be unbelieving, but Believe”, that is to wake them up from doubt, and to wake up their faith in Him again. The Risen Lord thus presents Himself before and in the Church to wake up our Faith in Him anew so that we may experience God’s glory being offered to us once again. 

    And He continues to reveal Himself again and always to us in our Church and whenever we are present in our Christian faith-community. Remember, Thomas doubted the risen Lord because he was absent – not there but somewhere else – when the Lord revealed Himself for the first time. So also whenever we are absent with ourselves and with our community, we don’t experience and don’t believe Easter. But whenever we are present with ourselves and our community, we experience and believe in the Resurrection of our Lord.    

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    “Believe the Gospel, believe in Him, Believe in Jesus Christ” has always been the core message of the Gospel. For us to always experience the Good News of God’s glory in our lives, all we are asked to do is not to look for evidences, signs or proofs but just to believe in Him who reveals Himself right before and in us, our community of faith. Without faith, we cannot comprehend and benefit from the greatness of God’s graces offered and can offer us now by the Risen Lord, as he makes Himself present in our church and community. 

    As Joan Chittister, a known lady-theologian once said: “It takes a lifetime to really understand that God is in what is standing in front of us. Most of our lives are spent looking, straining to see the God in the cloud, behind the mist, beyond the dark. It is when we face God in one another, in creation, in the moment that the real spiritual journey begins”. Very true, indeed. We do tend to look for something else while searching for God who is already right before and in front of us. In other words, Easter – the Lord’s resurrection only happens, makes sense and becomes meaningful to us, if and when we are present enough to acknowledge and believe in the Risen Lord as He reveals to us face to face, in front of us, in our Church, our community of believers.So, Don’t doubt but Believe the Gospel being and yet to appear to us in our community of faith. May we present as the Lord is present in our Christian Church even in the midst of our social distancing world.  So be it. Amen. 

  • It is the Lord

    It is the Lord

    April 17, 2020 – Friday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041720.cfm)

    Jesus who was thought to be the Messiah and Son of God was crucified and died on Friday. He was buried in a tomb but on Sunday morning Jesus resurrected. 

    However, his disciples like Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael and other disciples were not yet fully convinced that the Lord is alive despite the news from the women. These disciples only knew that their Lord was buried in a tomb. Because of this, their hearts were filled with pain, disappointment, with fear and doubts. 

    When Jesus was there at their side, they were filled with enthusiasm and spirit but when Jesus was arrested, they fled and when he was crucified, they hid themselves for fear of the Jews. Because of these negative experiences, they believed that they have failed the Lord, and so, they themselves were failures.

    Their immediate response was to go back their old self, to retreat and not to go forward anymore. Because they believed that they were completely failures, they succumbed to the temptation to go back to their old ways and that was to fish. They have been called from being fishermen to become fishers of people, yet, having a painful and horrible experience on the death of Jesus, they retreated to go back to fishing. This was what Simon Peter and the rest of his gang did.

    However, all night they caught nothing. The “night” in the Gospel is very symbolic because it reveals to us that the disciples were in darkness and they couldn’t find light. They felt hopeless and even in a helpless situation. 

    However, as the story of the Gospel was unfolded, it was during at dawn that a stranger appeared on the shore and asked them if they have caught anything. They all answered, “no,” they caught nothing. That stranger said, “cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” And they did! They trusted that stranger and to their surprise, when they pulled the net they could barely pull it back because there were plenty of fish. 

    It was at that moment, that the “beloved disciple” recognized that “it was the Lord Jesus.” Jesus is alive and there waiting on the shore. I always find this part of the story amazing and wonderful. The disciple whom Jesus loved had surely a closer relationship with the Lord. All of them were in darkness and all of them succumbed to their fear. However, because of the closer relationship with the Lord, the beloved disciple was able to find light in the midst of darkness. The beloved disciple realized the breaking of the dawn and so light has come. He realized that pain and death, sorrow and grief have all ended. Christ is alive. “It is the Lord,” as he said.

    This prompted Peter to jump into the sea in order to meet the Lord with excitement and joy.

    This gospel reminds us now, that as we go forward with life, surely, as we have experienced it now, there are times of sorrow, of disappointment and discouragement, times of fear and failure. We might have come into the point of our life where we feel hopeless and helpless because we have failed, because the situation is just too difficult, family problems are just horrifying, our poverty is just overwhelming, or our relationship with others have failed – and then, our immediate reaction is to retreat, to hide in our own failure and pain, to dwell so much on our problems, to go back to our old and bad habits, becoming fearful, anxious and mediocre – which means going into the darkness of depression rather into the light of hope and life.

    True indeed, this was what happened to the disciples of Jesus and because they retreated into the night of fear, they caught nothing – because they thought that they could catch fish by themselves alone, that they could surpass that difficulty by being alone, but, no! 

    Being alone and separated from God only brought them into a deeper disappointment in life. It is when we are with Jesus that we find meaning and joy even in the midst of pain, of failure and difficulties.

    These are the invitations for all of us. 

    First, when we meet failures and difficulties, do not go back to the old ways and old habits (which could be your addictions and depressive behaviors) that may only bring us into deeper darkness and hopelessness, instead, go forward and take the risk. 

    Second, in taking the risk of going forward never take the road alone, or never think that we can do everything by ourselves. The journey becomes lighter when we are with somebody else whom we can trust, whom we can share our story – so, find and build long lasting friendship, build a deeper family relationship, invest in your relationships. And when we are told to cast our net, to change the course of our boat and to change our life – go for it and trust the Lord because it might be in that direction that we will find the abundance of love and life.

    Third, be always aware of God’s presence waiting for us on the shore. Just like the beloved disciple let us always be intimate with Jesus. It is only when we become intimate with Jesus in our prayer that we also become aware of his presence in everyone. Thus, be always conscious with those strangers you will meet along the way, who could be anybody as God’s image and representative for you. Hinaut pa

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • On the Road towards realizing the Presence of God

    On the Road towards realizing the Presence of God

    April 15, 2020 – Wednesday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041520.cfm)

    What are the things that we desire most? Wealth? Good health and long life? Stable job? Love? Committed and grounded relationship? Success and meaning in life? 

    All our desires whether material or not are said to be connected to that deepest desire of every man and woman. Our deepest desire is what draws us closer to God and to a meaningful purpose in life. Our deepest desire is God’s way of leading us to discover and affirm who we are and what we are meant to be in this life.

    That deepest desire is what our Gospel portrayed to us today. There were two disciples of Jesus who truly desired God. Yet, in that desire to be with Jesus and to follow Jesus, they experienced their greatest horror when Jesus himself was crucified on the cross. That disappointment and horror of these two disciples were shown in that image of leaving away from Jerusalem and going to Emmaus. They were leaving in order to forget the pain that they endured in Jerusalem. 

    Moreover, even though they wanted to forget Jerusalem, deep in their hearts they still sought the Lord. This was the reason why the two were conversing and debating about what happened to Jesus. In that way, they sought for explanation to understand their own situation and meaning as disciples of the Lord. Deep down in their hearts, they wanted to make sense of those painful events. However, the pain and the horror were just too great. In addition, women were saying that he rose again. Something that was beyond there human understanding. 

    Until, a stranger, who was actually Jesus, joined them on the road. The Lord explained to them the scriptures yet they were not able to recognize the Lord because their hearts were filled with sorrow and pain. This was described in the Gospel, “and their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” They were too fixated of their emotions brought about by that painful and confusing event in their life as disciple. Moreover, their hearts were also clouded because they have not realized that the stranger who explained to them the scripture, was actually the risen Jesus.

    Yet, it was when they have invited the stranger to join them in the supper and when the stranger broke the bread that they have recognized that the stranger was actually Jesus. Their eyes were opened because in that meal, they were reminded of Jesus’ presence saying to them, “Do this in memory of me.”

    When they have recognized the Lord, it was their time too to discover for themselves who they were and what they were meant to do, their mission and purpose in life. 

    Yes, by recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread, they too have affirmed that they were his disciples, that they were not left alone, were not abandoned by God but loved and cherished by this faithful and merciful God. 

    Through this realization they have discovered their purpose at that moment, and that was to “go and tell others” of Jesus’ resurrection.

    This is the invitation for us today – that is to recognize God among the strangers, among the people we encounter, with those we meet every day particularly your own family, your friends– and in recognizing the Lord in them, hopefully, we too will also discover our own mission, God’s invitation for us.

    Today, Wednesday, we ask the intercession of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, that like her, we too shall recognize the Lord in the presence of our brothers and sisters in this time of great crisis, and will discover how God calls us now. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • When hoping against hope, brings hope

    When hoping against hope, brings hope

    April 14, 2020 – Tuesday of the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041420.cfm)

    Among the women friends of Jesus, perhaps Mary Magdalene was the closest to him. Mary Magdalene was closely following the Lord wherever he would be. Mary Magdalene was confident that God is in Jesus. She was most sure of it next to Mary, mother of Jesus. Thus, when the disciples fled and hid because of fear. Mary Magdalene together with other women remained. They followed Jesus until his death. Even when Jesus was brought down from the cross, Mary was surely there. Indeed, Mary was filled with grief and sadness when Jesus suffered and died.

    Yet, despite the grief and sadness, Mary returned to that place of pain and darkness. She went to the tomb of Jesus. Why go there when it would only remind her of sadness and grief?

    She went into the tomb at dawn, while it was still dark, the Gospel says. The darkness here means sadness and pain, yet, what is interesting was the dawn was breaking. The sun is soon to come out. Indeed, what Mary will witness is the victory of light over darkness.

    This brings us into the kind of relationship Mary had with Jesus. Despite the grief and sadness, Mary did not just go away and give up even though her friend died. The sadness, disappointment and pain that she felt, urged her more actually to seek Jesus even in times of confusion and darkness in her life.

    This reminds us of our experiences. When we too encounter difficulty and pain, sadness and frustrations, and even boredom in life, we might find ourselves to go away, to step back and become fearful.

    There is something to learn from the friendship Mary Magdalene had with Jesus. It was a friendship that was beyond physical attraction and emotional attachment. It was a friendship built on trust, faith and confidence of being loved.

    Even though Mary was confused and in pain, but, somehow, she knew in her heart that Jesus did not left them, and did not abandon her. She completely believed in Jesus. That is why, even in the seemingly senseless way of going to the tomb; Mary still went to hope against hope.

    Mary recognized the Lord when Jesus said her name, “Mary!” Jesus has her way of calling the name of Mary and when she heard him, Mary opened her eyes from grief and sorrow and recognized that it was Jesus. It is the same when our parents would call us. We would always recognize that it is our mother or father calling us. It is the shared intimacy or the close relationship that we have that make us recognize the voice of the person. The Lord also has his own way of calling our names. Discover how God calls us!

    Each of us is invited to develop this kind of friendship that Mary developed with Jesus. How do we develop it? Four points to remember.

    1. Be with Jesus always and follow him. Wherever Jesus went, Mary also followed. Thus, always seek the desire of Jesus for you to lead you where he wants you to go. You may ask, “What Jesus wants for me today?” So, as we continue to struggle with “community quarantine and physical distancing” ask this question so that you may follow him in your heart, in your mind and in your actions. Surely, when we are with Jesus, we will never get tired. We will be filled with joy and satisfaction.
    2. Allow Jesus to come to you and call your name. Like Mary, she allowed the Lord to come into her life and to call her name. Allow also Jesus to occupy your mind and heart. Receive him constantly through “Spiritual Communion” at this moment of quarantine until things get back to normal and you receive Him physically. Moreover, receive Jesus also through the Bible. You might want to begin to do “Bible sharing” in your family. This might be awkward at the beginning, but it will be enriching.
    3. Constantly pray. Mary learned from Jesus in praying to the Father in heaven. Through prayer, Mary became more aware also of herself and of God’s presence. Thus, since the quarantine has given us more time to be at home, pray. Grab this opportunity to gather as family to pray and reflect. While at home, you may also “tweet” with Jesus, speak “What’s on your mind?” and post to Jesus your “instragamable” feelings and concerns.
    4. Know that you are loved and forgiven. Mary accepted in her life that Jesus loved her and that through him she was forgiven. Despite her sins in the past, Jesus never condemned her, but accepted her because she is being loved.

    All of these led Mary Magdalene to be ever grateful to Jesus. And because she was grateful, she was confident; she was filled with hope and became fearless. This is how Mary showed to us when hoping against hope, brings hope to us. 

    This leads to Mary’s Easter Proclamation, “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD” 

    Mary had seen the Lord. Going to the tomb was never useless and senseless because even in the midst of pain and confusion, God reveals himself.

    We may also ask ourselves, “Have I also seen the Lord, in those times of difficulties and pain in my life?” or “How have I seen the Lord in these times of COVID-19 and Community Quarantine?

    Mary’s painful experiences had become the ground for God to reveal himself to her. Mary’s relationship with Jesus was also the foundation of Mary’s keenness in recognizing Jesus in her life. And seeing Jesus, empowered Mary to become the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

    By seeing the Lord, Mary was sent to become the first Missionary after the resurrection of Jesus. Mary was sent and so we are. Each of us who have seen the Lord in our life is also called to proclaim to others, “I have seen the Lord.” Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR