Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Homilies

  • Being consistent with who you are now with what you do

    Being consistent with who you are now with what you do

    February 16, 2020 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021620.cfm)

    Homily

    A number of times I was asked: “Do you believe in chain letters?”

    I said: “Generally I don’t trust anything that offers promises or threats with an IF –(meaning, with conditions) you do or don’t this or that. In my book, deserved gifts are called prizes or salary, but underserved gifts are called Grace and blessings. God’s grace is not something we do to God, but what God does to us. 

    Just be the better Christian person, as you choose and can be, not as what others (in chain letters) want you to be.”

    For the past Sundays, we have been hearing about the public ministry of Jesus where he proclaims to us the Good News of God’s salvation. In his preaching, Jesus basically calls us to change our ways, good or bad we may be, for God is with us (Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand). He then in Beatitudes makes known to us how blessed we who are meek, humble, merciful, righteous and sensitive enough to welcome God’s blessings into our lives (Blessed are you…). He also reminds us that much as we are blessed, we are also a blessings to others (You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world). Wow, what a good news indeed to us. In a nutshell, we need to change our life for we are already and always blessed and a blessing to others, since God is with us and his Kingdom is at hand. This is the very core message of Jesus ever since and until now as being always proclaimed to us and by us, His Church.

    After always hearing, reflecting and knowing Jesus’ good news of God’s salvation for us, what now? Somehow we wonder as to how to gratefully respond to and live out such great blessing into our lives. How can we remain, endure and persevere in living with Jesus’ gospel in our day to day living? Like, Now what are we to do to respond and be converted and practice His gospel into our lives? 

    Definitely for Jesus, it is more than just keeping the Ten Commandments or observing the Torah, the Law of Moses. In our gospel today, we hear the Sermon on the Mount of Jesus wherein he directs us how to live in the good news of God’s salvation. By reviewing and commenting on the Torah, which is the Jewish standard of righteousness, Jesus reorients people that there is far better in His message of God’s salvation than just observing the Law of Moses. He reiterates that God’s kingdom is more than just the practice of not killing, not committing adultery, and not making false promises. God’s kingdom is more so and all about respecting life, reverence for people’s union – making marriage sacred, and living life with integrity. For Jesus then, to live in His message of God’s salvation is not a matter of just practicing and observing but more so fulfilling the Law of Moses. Here Jesus is upgrading the Jewish Law of Moses into His message and mission of teaching, preaching, sharing, and witnessing the values of God’s kingdom in our lives. An Upgrade from Torah to the Spirit of Jesus. 

    Important here is the consistency between our being and our doing now as Christian. In a way, Jesus is teaching us that our actions must reflect our being now as blessed and blessing people. In other words, Be consistent with who you are now with what you do, as Christian.  

    Meaning, far beyond the practice (living out) the values of God’s Kingdom, there must be spirituality. For Spirituality is the “because I am” of the “why”s in life, i.e. “Why I do this or do that?” “Because I am…”. Spirituality is thus the spirit behind the action, the meaning behind the practice. (I work abroad because I am a family person.. I take care of sick people because I am a  nurse/doctor. I attend Eucharist every Sunday because I am Catholic Christian). What matters then is not just about the practice and behavior but also the spirit behind the practice and behavior (not only about what we do but why we do it),  knowing that ours is a grateful response to what God does and doing to us, (and not like chain-letters, what we may do as bribe or payment for His graces, & what others expect us to do).

    Perhaps you may reflect about your spirituality. Why you do what you do? Be in touch with the meaning and spirit behind your actions. Pray that you be a better blessed and blessing Christian you choose and can be, not as others may want you to be. Pray also that our actions be a response to what God does and is doing to us rather than as what we do to Him.  

    And in doing so, may we remain salt of the earth and light of the world, and become His blessed and blessing witnesses to our today’s world. Amen.

    Shared by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR – a Filipino Redemptorist Missionary in South Korea

  • What inspires and fulfills you?

    What inspires and fulfills you?

    February 16, 2020 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021620.cfm)

    Homily

    What brings you to life?

    What drives you and keeps you everyday?

    What fulfills your day?

    Our answers might range from God, family, children, wife or husband, community, or our job and precious career. There is always a reason why we get up in the morning and continue to live on. We get inspirations from people around us, and that keep us going. 

    For most of us, it is very important that at the end of the day we feel fulfilled in our life. However, when we find ourselves unfulfilled, we feel disappointed and depressed.

    That’s is why it is very important too that we are aware of the things that motivate and inspire us. By being able to know the reason why we do things, why we do sacrifices and make decisions, then, we become grounded and mature in our relationships.

    To further help us in today’s reflection let us allow a young person to share with us her faith story. Katrina Joyce Cloma is the Goal Animator of the Committee on Mission that takes care of the Redemptorist Youth Ministry’s effort is sharing the Gospel or the Jesus-experience to more young people. Let us welcome her.

    Katrina’s Sharing

    I was asked once; “What is your greatest inspiration in life as a young person?” And to that I say, my family. My family is my greatest inspiration in my life because without them, I wouldn’t be speaking in front of you all. Without them, I would be lost. Without them, I would literally be nothing. They sacrificed their whole life for me and for that I am grateful. They understood me throughout all of my ups and downs. Not a day has gone by where they didn’t roll with my emotions, with my struggles, and my happiness. They lifted me up in ways no one else can. They supported me with everything I wanted and needed to do. They supported me through all of the activities I enjoyed when I was younger, even encouraged me to do so. But if it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I had. Personally, I believe family is forever. It’s a part of yourself you can’t ever change or get rid of. Scientifically, it’s blood and genes and cells, but I believe it’s all about the bond we have. If you aren’t as bonded or as close to your family as I am, I’m sure you’re missing out. Family is great to be around.

    What I’m most afraid of, though when it comes to them is disappointing them. I’ve done some questionable things in the past, but once I came clean and once I was accepted once more, our bond grew stronger than ever. Ever since though, I fear disappointment. Whether it be through my peers or my family. But familial disappointment hits worst. It almost quite literally tears their heart out. Since that trial I had with my family and with the Lord, I’ve been doing all I can to redeem myself. Even when it’s enough, the things I did to redeem myself became a habit. Good habits. And they built me to become a stronger, more resilient person. It made me become a better person to serve God and my family. Since then, I can say that God hasn’t left me. He hasn’t abandoned me, He has become a guiding hand up until now and forevermore. I fact, I realized that it was the Lord who actually redeemed me for His love that I felt, transformed me.

    If it wasn’t for Him, for the Lord’s enlightenment, not only through His word but through His effect as well on other people, on my peers specifically, I wouldn’t be as involved in the ministry as I am now. His creation amazed me and His teachings blessed me. And I’m glad that my peers in Church feel the same way for they are the reason I thought to join in the first place. The company and the encounters I had with my co-young people give me the inspiration as well as to do better in Church and in the ministry. Not just for the personal gain, like feeling good about doing a good deed, but more about repaying the Lord for all that He has done for me. He never gives up on me, so why should I give up on Him? It is my own grateful response to God. And through my service, I’m learning more and more about my Creator and His story and wisdom, through which He has molded numerous lives with, as He is doing so with mine. The more I learn about my God, the more I also fall in love with Him, and the more I am inspired to inspire those who inspired me.

    In the Gospel, we have heard an argument between the Jewish leaders and Jesus. They thought that Jesus abolished the Law and Prophets, which composed the whole tradition of their people. For them, the Law and the Prophets, and all those teachings were the fundamentals of their faith. The commandments written in the scriptures motivated them to live as faithful Jews.

    However, Jesus himself denied that he abolished the law and the teachings of the prophets and the whole tradition of the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus is actually the fulfillment of the promises in the whole Hebrew Scriptures. The person of Jesus is the very inspiration of the scriptures. 

    But then, the Jewish leaders missed the whole point. They were not able to recognize Jesus, as the true inspiration. They focused more on themselves, on what they can gain and on their privileged status as educated and leaders.

    This will happen also to us when we think that our achievements, awards, and titles are our main inspiration. Or when we believe that pleasing people around us will make us fulfilled. But, these will only make us anxious, fearful and unsatisfied.

    We are rather called to anchor ourselves to the most important part in our life, and that is, our relationships. These include our relationship with God and with one another, with our family and friends.

    This is what has been shared by Katrina to us today. As a young person she claims that her family inspires her in her life. Moreover, through her experiences of love and forgiveness within her family, she too discovered that redeeming presence of God in her life. Despite her weaknesses and failures, she was given a chance and was accepted once more. This allowed her to change and to be transformed into a committed youth minister, her grateful response to God. In this way, she has found her grounding and true inspiration, and that is her family and importantly, her God. 

    Thus, for all of us also, be appreciative and grounded with your relationships, and most  essentially with God. Allow ourselves to be taught, to be molded and to be inspired through our experiences in our relationships may it be in our families, friends, or special someone. Allow those relationships also to be the space of God to reveal his presence in us. With that, we shall surely find true fulfilment in life.

    Moreover, never forget also the Word of God – the Bible, which will help us to have a good foundation of our relationship with Jesus. The Bible is truly alive with Jesus. Now, when we open our bible and pray with it, be aware that Jesus is certainly present in those words. Hopefully, we will be animated by Jesus who will give us life and fulfill our life. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • What matters most is what comes out from our heart

    What matters most is what comes out from our heart

    February 12, 2020 – Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021220.cfm)

    Homily

    How do we understand the human heart?

    From a medical point of view, it is a “hollow muscular organ” that serves as a pump controlling the blood flow into our body.

    From a psychological aspect, the heart refers to the emotion of a person, the “affective aspect” of an individual.

    However, from a biblical point of view, and from the understanding of Jesus, the “heart” is more than a muscular organ and more than the emotion of a person.

    The heart is the person’s individuality and the primary aspect of our personhood – that makes us who we are. It is where we are affected by a relationship with God and with one another.

    This is what Jesus was talking about in the Gospel when he refers to the human heart. There was this law among the Jews that prohibits certain kinds of food that they should not eat. There were also practices that one should observe before eating because they have believed that those food and if those practices are not carefully followed like washing before eating, they will compromise the person. It means that, when a Jew does not follow the prescribed law in eating then he/she commits sin and becomes unclean.

    However, Jesus criticized the people of his time for making those laws more important. Hence, he said that no matter what kind of food or drink we take it would not affect our human heart. What matters most is what comes out from the human heart.

    Today, Jesus is challenging us to discern and see the values that we nurture in our hearts.

    If we are nurturing hate, anger and suspicion then the way we relate with others is motivated by these and so we become persons who always see negative in everything. Hate, anger and suspicion make our relationships bitter and insecure. It is the same when our hearts will only seek self-approval, personal gain and entitlement. Through these deep motivations in our hearts then we become self-serving Christians who will only think of the self even at the expense of other people.

    We are called now to nurture the values of the Gospel in our hearts that will make us confident in God who loves us. Thus, our heart shall only seek truth and honesty, trust and faith. Yes, truth and honesty  – so that our hearts will not remain pretentious and arrogant, and we will not cover ourselves with the façade of a good image; but honest enough to recognize our weaknesses, failures and sins. This will hopefully make us more trustful and faithful to God who promised to show mercy on us, to help us and to redeem us. 

    In order to make our hearts more like Jesus, let us ask the guidance of Our Mother of Perpetual Help that our heart may become always attuned to the Gospel by listening to the Word of God and in welcoming Jesus in our hearts. Hinaut pa.                                                             

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Light of the World and Salt of the Earth

    Light of the World and Salt of the Earth

    February 9, 2020 – 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020920.cfm)

    Homily

    Let me tell you two stories.

    First, ten years ago I met, Nanay Elisabeth, a leprosy infected-old lady. She was confined in a hospital in Cebu that especially takes care of leprosy patients. Due to her illness, she never got married. Life was so difficult because she was poor. Once, she shared with me an experience. In her younger years, she was into scavenging garbage in Cebu City. One morning, as she approached a garbage bin to collect recyclable materials she found something. She found “something” or much better to say “someone” inside the garbage bin that others might have thought, was a trash. Nay Elisabeth found a newly born baby girl in that garbage bin. She named her Nancy. And Nancy, perhaps, a reason why she was thrown away was because Baby Nancy had a cerebral palsy. But what was more heartwarming there, was Nanay Elisabeth’s compassion and unconditional love for the baby.

    As it seemed that nobody wanted that baby and no one would dare to love and care for that baby, but for Nanay Elisabeth, all her love and affection were for Nancy. She brought Nancy home and did all her best to let Nancy feel that she was loved and treasured.

    Second, John was an extra-ordinary youth from Davao del Sur. In the sense that he was deprived of many things that most of us here are enjoying. He is the eldest of five children of a broken family. They were like orphans as they were left alone by their parents. John wanted to continue his studies so that soon he can support his younger siblings. A family friend offered to support his studies as he worked at the same time for that family. He had to take care every day the pigpen as he was asked to do it. Yet, the treatment of that family was not that favorable. When he would commit mistakes he was insulted in front of others. John surely felt insecure from many things, of material things and especially from the comfort and support of his own parents. But, there was something that was surprising in him.

    Despite all these difficulties, John has a big and generous heart not just for his own siblings but also for street children. When he has money in his pocket, he buys bread. He brings the bread with him and calls out some street children at San Pedro. There, he sits with them and shares his bread with them, and shares stories with the street children.

    Amazing aren’t they? But please, let us not stop at the feeling of amazement only. Each of us, is called by Jesus to be “salt of the earth and light of the world.” That identity and responsibility of being salt – in giving flavor to the lives of others, and of being light – in giving brightness to those who are in darkness are in each of us – because we are Christians! 

    In the Book of Prophet Isaiah, the Lord tells us concretely, “share your bread to the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them… remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech.” Can you feel now the weight of being a Christian? The consequence of believing in that man who died on the cross? 

    St Paul reminds us of the light given to us. Jesus’ life is the light that you and I have received and are sharing. 

    There is a need for us to be conscious of that identity and responsibility that we share as a Catholic community. The readings and the Gospel are there to make us aware of our calling. Nanay Elisabeth and John, though they may not be aware of it, have become salt of the earth and light of the world.

    Each of us too, we might have our own dullness in our own relationships and darkness in our own lives, but WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We are capable of becoming salt and light for others. We don’t need to become a Superman or Spiderman, or Cardo Dalisay to do something good and in making difference and adding flavor to the lives others. We don’t have to wear masks and wear strange costumes. But, I just have to be me, and you to be you – because we are Christians and Jesus, the ultimate salt and light of the world, is with us. 

    Like Nanay Elisabeth and John, we can truly become salt of the earth and light of the world in our own simple ways despite our own limitations and insecurities and no matter how insignificant we might be in our society. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. This will start when we become aware of the needs of others, when we begin to see the face of our neighbors, of the one seated at your side, in front of you and at your back. 

    Now, think of people around us who live in darkness and depression. Think of illiterate people, children who never get a chance to go to school – their illiteracy is darkness to them; think of those who are addicted to substances, drugs and alcohol – their life seemed to be in total darkness; think of the poorest of the poor, the old and the dying, the sick and the crippled – sometimes they have to beg for them to survive; think of a friend who is lonely and isolated; think of a neighbor who is losing her or his faith because of a traumatic experience; or those whose marriage is problematic and the family is about to break; think of those who are pushed to the peripheries because of discrimination juts because they are different or a possible threat to many – imagine their loneliness and helplessness of being pushed aside and left alone. They are in need and are looking for some support and consolation, a listening ear and a warm, welcoming hug. 

    Think of those; and as our assignment – DO SOMETHING GOOD, SOMETHING CHARITABLE THIS WEEK. So that as we reach out to others in compassion and love, we become the flavor and light of Christ to others. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Sugar within our Communities

    Sugar within our Communities

    February 9, 2020 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020920.cfm)

    Homily

    Weeks after ordination, four newly-ordained priests were summoned by the bishop for a meeting in his house. As they have settled down in his office, the bishop addressed them: “Young fathers, I have here some piece of stone, cotton, clay and sugar. I want you to choose one of these things and place them on a glass of water before you.” And so they did as asked by the bishop. Then the bishop: “Before I will announce to you your new assignment, I want you to learn something from the little exercise we did. Consider the glass of water as your new assignment and consider the kind of priest will you be in your new assigned parish community… You can be a stone who does nothing except to be a new added member in the community. You don’t influence the community and the community does not influence you… You can be a cotton who easily adjust in the community but eventually reduced and diminished the members because you centralized everything to you. Everything in parish life is now about you, and not them… You can also be a clay who slowly adjust to the community, but eventually create disorder, problems, tensions and a lot of stress in the community, thus becoming a negative influence to them. But… you can also be a sugar who slowly adjust and selflessly dissolve at the background into the community – sharing positive influence and energy to make the community sweet, and change it for the better. 

    In life, we do encounter different kinds of leaders in our community. Like the bishop, we may have categorized our leaders as the Stony heartless leaders who does not care at all, or as the Selfish cotton “Me first” leaders who depletes our energy, or as the Evil clay tormentor leaders who sow chaos in life, or as the Selfless sugar Influencing leaders who encourage and inspire us in life. We prefer and expect our leaders to be selfless sugar influencer leaders who have been a blessing to us for they motivate and empower us to be responsible members and change our lives for the better. We also dislike and avoid the stony-heartless, the selfish cotton “me-first” and the evil claytormentor leaders for they make our community life heavy and miserable.

    We hear Jesus in our gospel today saying: “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” From these words, surely Jesus like us, would also want and expect our leaders to be selfless influencers, who leads us by their words and example. However His words are not only addressed to our leaders but also to ourselves, His followers. When Jesus declares to us today that “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world”, He proclaims to us that with Him, we are not only already blessed but we are also God’s blessings to others. This means that as Christians, we are and we should be a blessing and a selfless influencing leader to others – to be light of the world, salt of the earth, and sugar within the community. Inasmuch as we have been blessed by the inspiration and witness of our selfless influencing leaders, we should also be selfless influencing leaders to others within our community. As we have been blessed by God and others, You and I, We as His followers are also and should be then God’s gift and blessings to others within our Christian community.

    Perhaps consider then this week, the Christians people who have been light and salt in your life, who greatly and selflessly influence your growth and formation as a better person. Consider how they have been a blessing to you. Thank God for these Christian leaders for through them you are blessed. 

    Consider also the people for whom you are trying to be light and salt to – people under your care, direction and leadership. Consider as follower of Christ how you have been and trying to be a blessing to them. Pray to God for guidance and courage to be selfless influencing mentors to these people. 

    As a famous theologian, Hans Urs von Balthazar, once said: “What you are is God’s gift to you. What you become is your gift to God”. So, Be God’s blessing to others, as much as you have been blessed by God and others. Amidst a life that can be dark, broken and tasteless, Be a responsible Christian leader , a witness to be today’s salt of the earth & light of the world. So may it be. Siya Nawa. Kabay pa. Hinaut pa unta. Amen.

    Shared by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR – a Filipino Redemptorist Missionary in South Korea