Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Easter Season

  • Be captured by the Power of Resurrection

    Be captured by the Power of Resurrection

    April 13, 2020 – Monday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041320.cfm)

    Homily

    The Gospel story from Matthew presents to us how truth can be manipulated by people who desired to advance their personal agenda. The soldiers who were witnesses of the Resurrection were paid not to tell what really happened but to create another story. These soldiers must have been filled with awe and wonder in the event of the resurrection. Light must have pierced into their unbelieving hearts. However, what was sad in their story was when they were presented with the immediate comfort of money.

    They were willing to cover the truth of resurrection and create fake news for the sake of money. They accepted a corrupt offer to spill the untruth to people rather than to tell others of God’s power and mercy.

     

    Why was that? Is money more powerful than God? Certainly not. It is just deceiving.

    Nevertheless, apart from this sad story, we still have the women who showed to us how the resurrection of Jesus changed their life. The Gospel tells us that they were still fearful yet “overjoyed.” This means that despite the seeming darkness they have experienced in the past days and the fear that enveloped them, the presence of Jesus filled them with so much joy.

    The women did not succum to despair and fear unlike the soldier who succumbed to money and corruption. The women continued to believe in Jesus in spite of the confusions and even pain and suffering that they witnessed. They never lost their hope in Jesus.

    This kind of attitude in them was showed in their action as they went to the tomb early in the morning. The tomb surely would remind them of the death of Jesus, meaning, of sadness and failure, of pain and disappointment. However, even in the midst of all of these, they found a reason to find light in the midst of darkness, to find hope in the midst of hopelessness and to find life in the midst of death.

    And true enough, as they desired to see Jesus, they indeed saw and witnessed the glory of resurrection. This was how they also found their mission, and that was to be Jesus’ witnesses to others.

    Now, as Jesus called them to tell other disciples about him, each of us now too is called to tell others of Jesus’ presence in our very life. Galilee, then, is very important here. Galilee, indeed, was a very symbolic place. 

    The people in Galilee were the excluded, the poor, and the marginalized where only bad news were heard and imposed. And Jesus grew up in this environment. He indeed belonged to this marginalized-second-class people who were systematically oppressed by oppressive powers. And Jesus identifies himself with them. With them Jesus shared food, drinks and stories. Moreover, Jesus called his disciples who were mostly Galileans, in the poor and marginalized people. 

    Galilee now represented the world where people continued to suffer, to be marginalized and oppressed. It is in this place where Jesus will be found by the disciples and where the good news of the resurrection will also be preached. 

    As disciples and modern day apostles of Jesus, we are to seek also the marginalized and the oppressed in our society. We are to bring hope and good news to those who are troubled and in despair. It is to be faithful to the mission of Jesus entrusted to us his believers that we shall also meet the risen Christ. This mission is surely radical and demanding, thus, it must always be motivated through the person of Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, only through the person of Jesus and not in money, in benefits or comforts for ourselves. 

    As we respond to the call of the Risen Lord, may we find him more in our efforts in making difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters especially in this difficult times brought by the pandemic Covid-19. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • EASTER VIGIL MESSAGE: DO NOT BE AFRAID!

    EASTER VIGIL MESSAGE: DO NOT BE AFRAID!

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    April 11, 2020 – Easter Vigil Homily

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041120.cfm)

    An Easter message by Fr. Glenn Tito Pascual, CSsR – Prefect of Students, Redemptorist Formation Community, Davao City.

    I am very afraid Lord. We are afraid. I don’t know until when my courage can last, Lord. How long? 

    I dread this night that I will preach before you the Easter message. I dread it because I do not know what to say to all of you about the joy, hope and the life that Easter brings. I am afraid that someone will ask, 

    “Is there joy about our situation? Is there still hope when more than a million across the world are sick because of covid-19? I am afraid if someone will say, what life awaits us when there are 4,428 confirmed cases and 247 death all over the Philippines as of tonight? When we second the highest number of cases in the ASEAN region, next to Malaysia, how long will this last? Until when shall we endure?” 

    These are the questions of many and the same questions that I also have. Honestly I do not know the answer that is why I dread this night to preach before you.

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    I tried to reflect and pray over and over again on the readings for today. It seems nothing inspired me. I caught myself still searching for an answer to the questions that I have and I share with others… “Until when Lord? Until when will this covid-19 last?”

    I am very afraid Lord. We are afraid. I don’t know until when my courage can last, Lord. How long? 

    As I was struggling inside myself there was just nothingness, darkness, emptiness… no answer. I messaged our Community Superior and another brother in the community this morning. I told them “I cannot preach tonight. It seems I have no inspiration from God. What words to console God’s people when I myself feel that we are in darkness.” 

    Empty. Nothing. Darkness… then fear came.

    I started to be afraid when questions came into my consciousness, “What if the lockdown continues, do we have enough food to eat? Or what if a relative, a friend a member of the family or me becomes sick of covid-19? What will happen to us?”

    Again fear came to me. I struggled in my prayer until I glanced back at the Gospel and my eyes immediately caught sight of the words “DO NOT BE AFRAID”. When I read those words there was a seeming energy that moved me closer to read the Gospel again and the words “Do not be afraid” were repeated on the same text twice.

    Click here for the video recording.

    When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb, the angel greeted them “Do not be afraid!” The angel told them that Jesus is not in the tomb. Then the angel invited them to enter the empty tomb. The same words are also spoken to us by the angel today, “Do not be afraid!” Just as the angel invited Mary Magdalene to enter into the empty tomb, we too are invited today to enter into the seeming emptiness of our lives. We are invited to look into our questions of “how long Lord? Until when will this last?” We are invited to enter into the darkness of our fears of ‘what if someone I love is sick? What if I am the next to be sick?” 

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    We are invited to see that we are only people passing by on this earth. We are invited that we are nothing. We came to this world with nothing and we will leave this world with nothing except for our faith in God. This is the beauty of this Easter Vigil celebration that we started with darkness. It was dark but it is only the light of Christ that can show us back to life. “Do not be afraid!”

    The same words “Do not be afraid,” are repeated in the same gospel passage. When Mary Magdalene and the other woman were fearful but overjoyed they went back to tell others. On their way they met Jesus our Lord whose message to them again was “DO NOT BE AFRAID!” Then he added, “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and see me.” 

    In a similar way Jesus gives the same consolation to all of us in the midst of our fears, “do not be afraid.” Although we are mortals, our life on this earth will end but it is the eternal life he promised that must propel us how to live a meaningful life. 

    Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers is also a command for all of us. It is a command that we need to share the life we receive in Christ. We share Christ when we take care of each other in this time of the pandemic. We tell others about Jesus when we don’t hoard our resources but to also share them to those in need. After all, even if we have gathered so much possessions for ourselves, we can’t carry them when we die. We tell others about the Easter message of life when we help each other by staying at home and keeping social distancing. We share the hope of Easter when we act as brothers and sisters to one another and not as master-slave, superior-inferior, rich-poor, or good-sinner. Do not be afraid!

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    Do not be afraid because Easter reminds us that God created the world and is recreating it anew. So let us ask the Spirit of God to give us the gift of courage, faith and hope in the midst of what is happening in our world. 

    In prayer we echo the song “Spirt of God, creation is groaning: Fill the earth, bring it to birth, and blow where you will. Blow, blow, blow till I be. But the breath of the Spirit blowing in me.” Amen.

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  • The Silence of Empty Tomb: An Invitation to seek your own Resurrection Story

    The Silence of Empty Tomb: An Invitation to seek your own Resurrection Story

    April 12, 2020 – Easter Sunday

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041220.cfm)

    Homily

    The Lord is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!

    The word Alleluia is a Hebrew word that expresses rejoicing! 

    It is just right for us now to be joyful because the Lord is risen. Jesus is alive and did not abandon us at all. We might have felt fear and haunted by the anxiety brought by the Covid-19, but God remains truly faithful. He is with us and present among us. 

    Jesus’ resurrection is God’s ultimate declaration of God’s justice and mercy, for those who are oppressed, those who are in pain, for those who suffered and died.

    These past few days, we have been reflecting on the passion, suffering and death of our Lord. The Easter triduum that started on Holy Thursday prepared us to enter into the great suffering of Jesus on Good Friday. On that day, we were deeply touched as we remember the death of Jesus as God’s expression of love for us. 

    By Black Saturday, of which the Great Silence has been observed, we were invited also to continue to reflect on this great mystery of love. Last night, we anticipate the resurrection of the Lord. Today, on this Easter morn, Mary of Magdala brought the news of the empty tomb to Peter and to the beloved disciple. 

    It would be good for us then to look deeper on how these three received the resurrection of Jesus.

    Mary of Magdala was perhaps in great sadness as she came to the tomb of Jesus on that early morning. Perhaps, Mary was not able to sleep thinking that his master died and left her. What did she expect then when she went to the tomb, in that place of sorrow and pain? The Gospel tells us that Mary did not actually see the inner part of the tomb, but, she was sure that the Lord was not there. Mary brought this news to Peter and the beloved disciple that the Lord was taken away – Mary actually thought that Jesus’ body was taken away from them.

    The beloved disciple upon hearing the news ran faster than Peter and arrived first. Yet, he did not enter until Peter arrived. He just bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat.

    When Peter arrived at the tomb, he entered and saw also the linen cloths lying flat. How will he explain this empty tomb now to the other disciples? He who denied the Lord three times might have been really confused and worried.

    There was no word being uttered as they saw the empty tomb and the linen cloths. There was only silence. And silence from the empty tomb. They were perhaps confused of that event. But what was interesting was the napkin that had been rolled up in its place. That napkin was used to wrap the head of Jesus.

    But when the beloved disciple entered also in the tomb, he saw and believed!

    Yes, the beloved disciple who was dear to Jesus saw the signs, the empty tomb, the folded linens and napkin. Those were the signs that indeed the Lord was risen. He is alive. However, to these three, they did not yet fully understand what had happened.

    This event triggered something in them and that is to seek their “own resurrection story.” Jesus did not appear to them immediately. Jesus allowed them to have doubts and to believe in him despite their own confusions and anxieties. Jesus permitted them to have a glimpse of his resurrection – a glimpse of the Easter joy.

    This is now the invitation for us– that is to recognize our own resurrection story with the Lord.

    We might find it difficult to find our own resurrection story because like Mary of Magdala and Peter, our hearts might still be clouded with despair and anxieties. Covid-19 has not yet left us until now despite the many weeks and even months for others of quarantine and lockdown. We have terribly missed by now the company of our friends and colleagues. Everyday the infection is rising and deaths are adding too.

    However, let us look again of that beloved disciple who was personally close to Jesus. It was him who saw and believed! 

    But take note of this, what the beloved disciple saw was beyond “physical.” He did not see Jesus rising. He did not witness that. What he only saw and witnessed was the silence of the empty tomb. And beyond that, the beloved disciple felt and realized that something glorious happened. Seeing that, he believed that God conquered death. God has taken away sadness and fear. Jesus is here and he is alive. This is what he believed.

    Therefore, let us come closer to Jesus because each one of us is dear to him too. In that way, we will be able to truly believe that the Lord has risen and has brought hope to all of us. This will help us to recognize the times where God has let us experience our own resurrection – in those times where we found ourselves in hopeless situation, yet we were given hope; in those times where we thought we were not valued, yet we were loved; in those times where we felt that we were abandoned, yet, after all we realized that we have friends and family members who treasured us.

    Recognizing our own resurrection stories will make us more open to God’s invitation to believe in the joyful resurrection of Jesus where God dared to be at the side of the oppressed and the suffering people.

    Let our faces now, be overwhelmed with our smiles and let it be translated into action by doing good things to others, by being more compassionate to your neighbor, by being considerate to those who are most in need, by being friendly and showing concern to people whom you will meet despite the “physical distancing.” Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Through the Holy Spirit, fear is gone

    Through the Holy Spirit, fear is gone

    June 9, 2019 – Pentecost Sunday

    ACTS 2:1-11

    When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
    they were all in one place together.
    And suddenly there came from the sky
    a noise like a strong driving wind,
    and it filled the entire house in which they were.
    Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
    which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
    And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
    and began to speak in different tongues,
    as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven
    staying in Jerusalem.
    At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
    but they were confused
    because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
    They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
    “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
    Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
    We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
    inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
    Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
    Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
    as well as travelers from Rome,
    both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
    yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
    of the mighty acts of God.”

    Responsorial Psalm PS 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 

    R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
    Bless the LORD, O my soul!
    O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
    How manifold are your works, O LORD!
    the earth is full of your creatures;
    R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
    May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
    may the LORD be glad in his works!
    Pleasing to him be my theme;
    I will be glad in the LORD.
    R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
    If you take away their breath, they perish
    and return to their dust.
    When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
    and you renew the face of the earth.
    R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
    1 COR 12:3B-7, 12-13
    Brothers and sisters:
    No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
    There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
    there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
    there are different workings but the same God
    who produces all of them in everyone.
    To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
    is given for some benefit.As a body is one though it has many parts,
    and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
    so also Christ.
    For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
    whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
    and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

    Gospel JN 20:19-23

    On the evening of that first day of the week,
    when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
    for fear of the Jews,
    Jesus came and stood in their midst
    and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
    When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
    The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
    Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
    As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
    “Receive the Holy Spirit.
    Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
    and whose sins you retain are retained.”

     

    The Gospel of the Lord.

    Homily

    What keep people from truly expressing themselves? Or what prevent us from sharing ourselves to others?

    Fear of being not accepted, of being rejected and thus, of being hurt prevent us from sharing and opening up ourselves for others. However, God desires that we become fully human according to His image.

    Today, as we celebrate the Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit into the Church, we are being reminded today of this desire of God for us to have peace, as individuals and as a Church.

    When we have a very little knowledge of ourselves, we will also tend to either underestimate or overestimate ourselves. We could show a self that is disturbed with low self-esteem or arrogance. It is only when we also become more aware of ourselves, of both weaknesses and strengths, of failures and potentials that we become more conscious too of God’s presence in us.

    This is what we find in today’s readings which tells about the fearful friends of Jesus. The Apostles were in hiding. This was symbolized on how they made sure that doors were locked. Yes, they made sure that no one could enter in the room. They locked themselves because they were filled with fear.

    This tells us that fear can actually paralyze us. Fear can prevent us in making movements and in making decisions. Consequently, when we become fearful we also settle to what is only minimal and comfortable for us, then, this makes us complacent. We wont take risks because we are afraid of rejection and failure, then, this makes us a “sigurista.” We will become persons who want to make things certain, thus, we too will tend to become controlling and demanding in our relationships. Yet, we will be disappointed because we can never control others, not even our life. We can never be certain of all things. There are things that are way beyond us.

    We can only respond to it by taking risks, by conquering our fears through faith. This is the very reason why Jesus appeared in the midst of his fearful disciples. Jesus wants them to get out from the attitude of fear. And what Jesus did was to give them PEACE by giving them the Holy Spirit.

    fear is gone

    The Acts of the Apostles told us what happened on that Pentecost. Aside from the noise that sounded like a violent wind and the tongues of fire that rested on each of them, there was a more interesting expression of the Spirit that happened there. The disciples of the Lord who were mostly Galileans spoke about the goodness and power of God. Though they spoke in their own native language yet strangers and foreigners understood what the disciples were talking about.

    Yes, foreign peoples grasped what the disciples of Jesus had proclaimed because at that moment when they became confident and unafraid. They were able to get out from their fears of being persecuted, from their doubts about Jesus and from their insecurities of the coming days. They realized how good God is. They truly believed that Jesus is Lord, though he died on the cross but was raised to bring salvation to all.

    All of these realizations were fruits of their journey with Jesus. With the Holy Spirit, the disciples found peace in their hearts, meaning, these fearful and doubtful disciples of Jesus had at last found and recognized God in their life, in their human experiences.

    Jesus said, “Peace be with you!” which also means, “I am with you!” because Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The Lord who is with his disciples sends them now. And so, they have become witnesses of Jesus – witnesses who convey God’s offer of salvation and love not just to a particular group of people but to all, to Jews and Greeks, to rich and poor, to you and to me.

    This is how the foreigners understood the disciples of the Lord and in effect were converted to believe in Jesus. Thus, a church was being born, a church that is not fearful of persecutions and a church that joyfully sings God’s goodness and love.

    What is it to you and to me now, as a church gathered here today? Our birthday celebration today is not meant to be a mere remembering of the past. This feast of the Pentecost calls us rather to relive or to re-experience the first Pentecost. Yet, not really to experience again the strong wind or tongues of fire above our heads, but rather to experience again those feelings of being confident with God, being secured by his love, by being courageous and honest enough to share the kindness of God and his love to others. Because you and I, have already received the Holy Spirit.

    For us to be more sensitive of the working of the Holy Spirit in our life it would be good then to be aware of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the effect of the evil one in our life. Be mindful of these…

    1. The Holy Spirit gives us peace, confidence and serenity yet, the evil spirit makes us doubtful, fearful, anxious and having a low self-esteem.
    2. The Holy Spirit encourages us, lifts our spirit but the evil spirit makes us down, depresses us, discourages and upsets us.
    3. The Holy Spirit brings us comfort and joy, humor and laughter but the evil spirit makes us angry and irritable.
    4. The Holy Spirit makes us appreciate things and others, makes us grateful to God. But the evil spirit makes us unsatisfied, ungrateful, complaining, makes us see only the defects/negatives in everything and everyone including ourselves.
    5. The Holy Spirit makes you feel loved, accepted and forgiven. But the evil one makes you feel bad, terrible, horrible, disgustful, unloved and accuses us of our wrongdoings making us guilty always.

    The invitation for us now is to be constantly aware of the Holy Spirit in all of our human experiences. In that way, we may be able to discover a God who loves us truly and to be confident in God. In hope, we shall find peace, peace within us, in our family, country and peace in this troubled world. Hinaut pa.

     

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Stop comparing, God has plans for each of us

    Stop comparing, God has plans for each of us

    June 8, 2019 – Saturday 7th Week of Easter

    Jn 21: 20-25

     

    “Lord, what about him?” – Jn 21: 21

    When we begin to compare ourselves with others. Our insecurities will grow. We will also begin to either belittle others to compensate our incapacities or belittle ourselves that feeds self-pity and low self-esteem.

    This kind of feeling irritates all ages, young and old, students and professional, children and parents. This makes us feel inadequate, unworthy, and lesser being than others. Thus, this could also affect on how we relate with others even among siblings, or friends, classmates or colleagues at work.

    When this happens in us also, we tend to be bitter not just with others but also with ourselves. We will tend to see to what is only negative and wrong. This makes then, ungrateful to others and to God. We also become unhappy of the successes and achievements of people around us. And takes pleasure at the mistakes and failures of others.

    stop comparing

    However, God does not want us to become this kind of person. God desires that each of us will realize our own potentials and capacities, but, most of all, of our very identity before God. We are loved! We are God’s beloveds.

    Today’s Gospel tells us about Peter and the beloved disciple of Jesus. Peter asked Jesus, “What about him Lord?” which means, “Do you also have plans for the beloved disciple? Do you have something in mind for him aside from me?” Peter seemed to be so concerned about the beloved disciple; yet, Jesus told him that it was not his concern.

    Peter was called to a particular mission as the beloved disciple too was called to a particular mission. Jesus wanted Peter not to make it his concern about others and even not to be disturbed by others, but to focus on what Jesus called him to be.

    It was invitation for Peter to be confident with himself and with his gifts, with his capacities and potentials, and with the Lord who called him and also loved him.

    Definitely, each of us is also called by the Lord in different ways and to different tasks as Peter and the beloved disciple and the rest of the group was called each according to God’s desire and according to their gifts and weaknesses, capacities and willingness.

    We knew, then, that the beloved disciple was called to testify to the Lord not through martyrdom. The beloved disciple died out of old age. And through him, the Gospel of John was written to tell the world of the wonders God has done for us. In fact, he himself told us in the Gospel that all those things that Jesus did, if everything will be written, the world will not be able to contain those books.

    Hence, God’s wonder and goodness continue to overflow to each of us today. It is just right to fully trust this God who became human like us, who expressed his love for us in the most concrete way.

    Jesus invites us to also discover his plan for us, to stop comparing ourselves from others, but rather, to become more confident of the gifts that God has given us. When we become confident of our gifts and more accepting of our weaknesses, then, we shall also begin to discover who we are really before God. This identity then, will lead us to that particular vocation that God calls us.

    Hopefully, through our lives, we too shall become Jesus’ witnesses to the world, people who shall share and proclaim how good God is. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR