Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Homilies

  • BEING A TRUE FRIEND

    BEING A TRUE FRIEND

    May 23, 2025 – Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052325.cfm)

    How many friends or followers do you have in your Facebook account? Or in your other social media accounts? Those of us who have Facebook account may have hundreds of friends. Others even have a thousand or more friends. But, do we really consider every person there as our “friend?” Do each of them share closeness and intimacy with us?

    Today, the word “friend” may have other meanings. Our friends in our social media accounts are actually our contacts or connections. However, having those “friends” do not mean that we have intimate and personal relationships with each of them. Perhaps, to some people we really have but most, we don’t, because they are our acquaintances at school, at work, at events or friends of friends.

    It may seem common today to have such tendency to accumulate friends, to make and have friends. It is our desire to be socially connected with others through the internet. We too want to be identified by people to whom we make contacts. Yet, we could become more conscious of having friends and affiliate ourselves with others rather than “being a friend.”

    We realize that to have friends and to be a friend have different natures and intentions. To have friends has the tendency to be self-absorbed, self-conscious and selfish because this attitude looks inward. On the other hand, to be a friend is an action that comes with commitment. Thus, it is self-giving and self-sacrificing. This attitude looks outward and is other-oriented.

    This is the very kind of friendship that Jesus talks about in the Gospel. Jesus calls each of us to be his friends. The friendship that Jesus offers is self-giving and self-sacrificing. Jesus commits himself to us as his friends. His commitment is summed up in his love for you and for me by offering himself on the cross on our behalf.

    Hence, the friendship of Jesus is not about using us or so that he may get something from us. His friendship is not about feeding his ego. Rather, his friendship with us is about giving oneself. Through this friendship he calls us as his friends, not slaves, not mere acquaintances or contacts.

    This is Jesus’ invitation to each of us now, that you and me will grow in that friendship with Him. We are called to develop our personal and intimate friendship with Jesus through our constant “chats” expressed through our prayers and this Eucharist. Friendship grows when we come to know each other both our pains and joys, failures and hopes, frustrations and growth.

    And because this friendship is not inward but rather an outward relationship, our friendship with Jesus should inspire us “to become a true friend.”

    Yes, we, who are friends of Jesus are called to be a friend of everyone. We too are invited to express the same love that we have received from Jesus by sharing ourselves and presence. We are called to “shout out” the goodness that the Lord has revealed to us. We are invited “to post what’s on our mind and heart” so that others may know and grow  in their friendship with Jesus.

    So, friends of Jesus – go and be a true friend to others! Hinaut pa.

  • FREEDOM FROM OUR OWN PRISON CELLS

    FREEDOM FROM OUR OWN PRISON CELLS

    April 30, 2025 – Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/043025.cfm)

    When I was a novice, there would be a day in a week when we would visit the city jail. In our weekly visits, as I have become comfortable making friends with the inmates, now called as, Persons Deprived of Liberty, I asked one of them who have become a close friend of mine. I asked how was he and his life inside the City Jail. Great was his dismay for the crime he did. He violated the law and so deserved to be punished. Because of this, he felt deep longing and loneliness. He had many fears but for him, he said, he had to face them because he had to pay the crime he did. He, together with the others, have been deprived of liberty because of a crime committed or suspected to have done a crime.

    Peter and John, as told to us by the Acts of the Apostles, were also deprived of liberty. This was, in fact, the second time that both were brought to the prison. They were deprived of liberty because of the jealousy of some leaders at that time. They were jealous of the many good things the apostles did. They were jealous because people believed more to Peter and John rather than to them.

    The Apostles preached Jesus and His resurrection from the dead. They too healed the sick. They helped the poor and the needy around them. They responded with generosity to those who needed their help. What the Apostles did were concrete expressions of what they believed and held in their hearts.  Their faith in the person of the Risen Jesus became their way of life.

    As both were imprisoned, surely, they too were afraid and worried on what will happen to them. However, this time, they had enough trust and faith in God. The constant invitation of Jesus, “Do not be afraid! Peace be with you!” has grown in their hearts.

    These are just two kinds of physical imprisonment. One is imprisoned because of a crime committed and the other because those in authorities were just filled with jealousy and malice towards those who did good and preached the Gospel.

    However, there is also another form of imprisonment which is not physical. This was the case of the authorities. The chief priest, Sadducees and Pharisees who continued to persecute the Apostles and felt jealous towards them, were truly imprisoned by their blindness and hardness of heart. They were imprisoned by their greed and envy, by their fear and doubts and by their refusal to believe in the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

    Thus, it was self-imprisoned caused by their own jealousy and unbelief. The Gospel portrays these kinds of people with those who preferred darkness than light, because their works were evil.

    We too examine ourselves today. In what way am I also being imprisoned? Or what is it that imprisons me today? What keeps and prevents me from bring free and to be truly I am? What are those that I consider as my prison cells that suffocate and limit the person I am called to be?

    Let us be more reflective and discerning of these things. Ask the grace from the Risen Christ to enlighten and to free us from our own prison cells.

    Pray, that we may be able to see and recognize areas of our life where we are being imprisoned.

    Pray, that we may be free and become the person and community that we are called to be, and that is to be a “light.”

    Hence, believe in the Risen Christ who brings us light. Jesus was sent by the Father to redeem us and not to condemn us to death. Let us also join our prayers to Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help so that she may help us in recognizing better ourselves and to see the light of the face of her Son, Jesus. Hinaut pa.

  • ONE HEART AND MIND

    ONE HEART AND MIND

    April 29, 2025 –  Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042925.cfm)

    The joy of Easter caught the heart of the disciples of Jesus. The community of faith truly believe in the Risen Jesus and in God’s power that defeated death and darkness, forgiven sin and shame.  This is the liberating power of God’s mercy that gives freedom and peace to many hearts and minds.

    This was the very life of the early Christians. Their fears, guilt and shame were all replaced with joy, concern for one another, and hope. In fact, the joy and wonder of Easter was transformed into concrete resolutions and actions in living as a Christian community.

    The Acts of the Apostles showed to us Christians today how the gift of joy in the Resurrection of Christ could radically change the way we live our life. This is even manifested on how each one treated one another with fraternal concern, trust and charity. We have heard how the disciples of Jesus felt God’s assurance and security that went beyond material wealth. This was the reason why the disciples began to share generously their material wealth with those who have none and who were needy. Each member of the church had enough because each one contributed and shared.

    The apostles, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, distributed what had been shared “to each according to need.” Selfishness and self-interest were gone. Greed and corruption have no more space. Abuse of power vanished. Indeed, as the Acts of Apostles reminded us, “the community of believers was of one heart and mind.”

    This is the spirit of Easter that tells us how the Christians believed in Christ’s presence among them. Faith in the Risen Jesus when truly lived and manifested in our words and actions would transform us, our community inside and out.

    However, this kind of attitude and culture of sharing and letting go of possessions did not last long. We realize that selfishness and insecurities came into the picture again. People began to advance their personal interest over the others and have taken advantage at the expense of the needy and the poor. We are indeed fickle and can be easily tempted and driven away from God and from others. Yet, despite the life that we live now as Christians of the 21st Century we are still called to re-live the way the first Christian lived out their faith.

    Certainly, as a Christian community today, we are still called to live the spirit of Easter by generously sharing what we have to those who are in need. Letting go of all our material wealth at this present age would be next impossible. Yet, to joyfully give and share our resources, talents, our presence and capacities are what the Risen Jesus calls us today.

    And again, we gain the courage to live out such faith in us when we too welcome and embrace the Spirit of God. This is what Jesus expressed to Nicodemus in today’s Gospel. “To be born from above” or “to be born of the Spirit” is to allow the Lord to transform us from within. A heart that is gripped with hatred or resentment, or with selfishness and greed, with shame and guilt – is not hopeless at all. God’s mercy and offer of the fullness of life bring freedom and life to us.

    Let our hearts, then, be filled with the joy and wonder of Easter. Let our hearts be filled with gratitude to God who has been so good to us. And may the peace the Christ brings to us this Easter, make us joyful and generous givers in our community. Hinaut pa.

  • THE KEY TO OUR LOCKED HEARTS

    THE KEY TO OUR LOCKED HEARTS

    April 27, 2025 – Second Sunday of Easter; Sunday of Divine Mercy

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042725.cfm)

    Why do we need to lock our rooms, our doors, our houses and cars? The most obvious reason is for our protection. It is to protect ourselves and our properties. Because of the evil and bad intentions of others, we develop protective measures which are also forms of defense mechanisms for us. Aside from the different locks that we install in our properties, it also common nowadays to have Close-circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras to monitor the movements in our surroundings. We find them in business establishments, residences, vehicles, highways and streets, and public places.

    Indeed, we do have these security measures as our forms of protection, prevention and detection of crimes and other bad activities. Yet, despite these security measures they too reveal our fears, anxieties and insecurities.

    Having a defensive mechanism is a similar situation that may happen to a heart that was hurt and bruised, traumatized and shocked. To experience pain in our relationships makes us defensive the next time we engage in a relationship with others. Moreover, we could also become withdrawn from others, isolating ourselves because we fear of being hurt again. This is how we cope and shield ourselves from any other possible pain or hurts. We too become suspicious of others because we are afraid of what others can do to us.

    The disciples of Jesus were in this very situation. The disciples hid 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.

    The door that was locked was only the physical manifestation of their hearts that were more closed and hardened. Their hearts filled with so much fear and hopeless ness 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 the key of peace to the hearts of these fearful disciples. “Peace be with you!” This is the gift of the Resurrection of Jesus.

    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.

    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.

    The Gospel tells us today, that indeed, 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 peace to our troubled and fearful hearts. This is an assurance that in God’s presence we find peace and without Him we will always be disturbed and insecure.

    The Lord dares to be where we are at the moment. Even when we decide to retreat to our own cocoons of selfishness, to our old bad habits and addictions, to our defensive mechanisms and withdrawal from other people, and into our angry and irritable response to people around us, the Lord meets us there. God meets us there and he wants us to know that He is with us and He brings us peace. Peace is the key to our locked hearts.

    It is when we recognize God in those realities that He will also invite 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.

    We are all invited then, to be aware and recognize those attitudes, beliefs and experiences that 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 ourselves, those that make us withdrawn and indifferent to people around us. Allow the Lord then, to bring us the key to our locked heart, that is peace.

    This is what the Divine Mercy brings us too on this Second Sunday of Easter. The Mercy of God brings peace into our hearts. His mercy will bring us out of our locked and over-protective rooms and to go out and meet people. It is mercy that brings peace in us that we too are moved to share what we have experienced with God, his goodness and generosity, his faithfulness. Hinaut pa.

  • IN-HOUSE GUEST

    IN-HOUSE GUEST

    April 27, 2025 – Second Sunday of Easter; Sunday of Divine Mercy

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042725.cfm)

    Happy Easter to all. Last Sunday we celebrated Easter Sunday. We celebrated and proclaimed our Christian faith that our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed risen into our lives.

    Today we are now on the 2nd Sunday of continuing celebration of Easter season. So, how is life after Easter Sunday?

    After the preparations of Lent and the celebrations of Holy Week – after Easter Sunday surely, we are back to our normal ways – back to our usual routine, schedules, activities, programs, tasks, and responsibilities. But as we go along our normal ways and live our usual lives, we also wonder how is the message of resurrection of the risen Lord make sense and become more real now in our day to day living. Yes, we believe that the Lord has risen. But how and in what ways the risen Lord has resurrected and can be resurrected into our ordinary lives today? Paano Siya naging at maging Buhay’ng-Muli sa buhay ko at natin ngayon? This is the very challenge of Easter to us Christians during this Easter season.

    While reflecting on the revival of Lazarus from the dead, Pope Francis once in his homily said that each one of us has a small tomb inside our hearts – that somehow somewhere in our lives, though still alive and breathing, is dying and dead inside. Yes, somehow, we are still & get used with isolation in our small caves, even after pandemic lockdown & quarantine. Our small tombs are usually our dark secret holes and shadowy caves where we usually hide and bury our anger, hurts, pains, sufferings, failures, frustrations, anxiety, fears and addictions from ourselves and others.

    And inside our small tomb, we do have the choice whether to be alone on our own, miserably struggling and grieving with the “why’s of life”… OR to invite the risen Lord to be part of our search for answers and sense for all these happenings in our lives.

    For Pope Francis, we need to recognize our dying and dead self-inside, and invite the risen Lord to be our Guest inside our small tombs and allow Him to be part of our death and dying within, and be resurrected into our New Life with Him.

    Brothers and sisters, the empty tomb of Easter reveals to us that the risen Lord is not in his tomb. But out here and there revealing Himself into our ordinary normal lives and offering us life and life eternal. The same way as He appeared before His disciples, the risen Lord is showing & will appear Himself to us in our ordinary lives anew with a promise of not only new normal but more so, of Life Eternal.

    The mistake of Thomas in our gospel today is not so much for doubting the Lord’s resurrection but more so for being absent – he was not there when the Lord appeared the first time. Thomas at first did not recognize his own small tombs and invite the risen Lord to be part of his ordinary life. Only when he was with the other’s disciples in locked door room – present in their own tombs and allow the Lord to be part of His Life that Thomas came to recognize and believe in the risen Lord.

    Meaning, the risen Lord only wishes to be invited and partake into our own isolation inside our small tombs and in our ordinary lives so that He can share to us New Life with Him. No more being alone – on your own in your own tombs. Thus, no more hiding, navel-gazing, just looking into oneself – licking wounds, brooding, and sinking in anguish & despair.

    For the Easter message of Lord’s resurrection to be more real and meaningful now in our lives then, we must invite the Lord into our small tombs and allow Him to be part of our usual day to day struggle with life. The Lord is risen and has indeed resurrected again and anew in our lives now – if and when we invite Him to be part of our small tombs and our ordinary lives. He also can only resurrect and bring our death and dying back to life anew nowadays if only and whenever we invite and allow the Lord to be part and be with our normal life’s-struggles and triumphs, especially influencing and guiding us in our day-to-day decisions, as we elect & vote for our political leaders ahead.

    To have a more real and meaningful celebration of Easter Season then, let the risen Lord in and allow Him to be our Guest – to be there and be part of our small tombs and our ordinary lives these days. And perhaps ask ourselves once again: What is the risen Lord offering me now here inside my tomb, inside my isolation? What is His resurrection in to me and what’s in for me? What are benefits and the purpose of letting Him be part of my life now: Healing, Peace, Mercy, Forgiveness, Hope, Mercy, Love, Release, Liberation, New Life, Holy Spirit… A chance to choose & do things right for our country…..?

    Although we are back to our usual normal lives & usual ways after Easter Sunday, we also know and believe that with the risen Lord in our lives now, LIFE will & should never be the same again and as usual, but ours would now be a new normal life and better than before, IF and Whenever we invite and allow our risen Lord to be part of our small tombs and our daily ordinary lives, as our in-house guest.

    Siya Nawa. Hinaut pa unta. Kabay pa. Amen.