Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Homilies

  • When we gather, Jesus also resides in us

    When we gather, Jesus also resides in us

    August 14, 2019 – Wednesday 19th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Gospel of Matthew (18:15-20)

    Jesus said to his disciples:
    “If your brother sins against you,
    go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
    If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
    If he does not listen, 
    take one or two others along with you,
    so that  every fact may be established
    on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
    If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.
    If he refuses to listen even to the Church,
    then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
    Amen, I say to you,
    whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
    and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
    Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
    about anything for which they are to pray,
    it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
    For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
    there am I in the midst of them.”

    Homily

    When someone hurts you, what usually is your automatic response? Do you express angry words and curse the person? Plant hate and grudge over that person? Or retaliate and take your revenge? Or retreat and distance yourself from the person?

    I remember when I was younger, the environment that I was growing up facilitated and promoted an attitude that takes revenge when we are hurt by others. Thus, when a child hurts himself/herself even by accident, the adults around the child would encourage the child to hit back and take revenge.

    I have observed this when my niece was growing up too. Once, when she was running all around the house, she banged herself with a chair. Because of the pain she felt, she made a loud cry. All of us around her rushed towards her. Habitually, we also told her to hit back the chair so that she can take her revenge. We told her that if she hits back then the pain will be gone. And so, she obediently did so and after that stop crying as if there was no more pain.

    However, this seemingly simple attitude taught towards a child was a terrible way of teaching Christian values particularly in confronting pain and sin. What we taught would facilitate later a feeling to the person that it is in taking revenge or causing another pain to others that peace and reconciliation will be achieved. Of course not! What will happen will be the beginning of the cycle of more pain and violence towards the self and towards others.

    This is the reason why Jesus calls us today to treat differently a situation like this. In today’s gospel, Jesus is very clear that when somebody hurts us or sins against us, we are called to confront the person in a friendly manner. This is done with the intention of making the person realize the wrong that was done. A great amount of patience and compassion is needed for us because it is not easy to confront a person who have hurt us.

    What is beautiful in this manner is the attitude being shown towards those who have hurt us. It has no malice or violent intention. Rather, this attitude affirms the presence of God that dwells in us and among us. Consequently, Jesus assures us today that where two or three are gathered in his name, he will be in their midst.

    This is an invitation also to recognize that the Emmanuel, the Lord who us with us, is truly present. When we also recognize the Lord in the presence of others, then, this calls us to show our respect and compassion to the person because it helps to accept that this person is my brother and is my sister.

    So, we may ask ourselves again. How do I react when somebody sins against me? Do I react the way I reacted when I was child? Do I react to take revenge or retreat into indifference? Do I linger on the pain and hatred? Or do I respond maturely following what Jesus calls us to do?

    Hopefully, our devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, may remind us that our gathering today as a community is a manifestation that God is truly present in us. And may it bring us inspiration and movement in making ourselves more open to the invitations of Jesus for us. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • To become attentive of God’s presence

    To become attentive of God’s presence

    August 11, 2019 – 19thSunday in Ordinary Time

    From the Book of Wisdom (18:6-9)

    The night of the Passover was known beforehand to our fathers,
     that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith,
     they might have courage.
     Your people awaited the salvation of the just
     and the destruction of their foes.
     For when you punished our adversaries,
     in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
     For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
     and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.

    From the Letter to the Hebrews (11:1-2,8-12)

    Brothers and sisters:
    Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
    and evidence of things not seen. 
    Because of it the ancients were well attested.

    By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
    that he was to receive as an inheritance;
    he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 
    By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
    dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
    for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
    whose architect and maker is God. 
    By faith he received power to generate,
    even though he was past the normal age
    —and Sarah herself was sterile—
    for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
    trustworthy.
     So it was that there came forth from one man,
    himself as good as dead,
    descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
    and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

    From the Gospel of Luke (12:32-48) 

    Jesus said to his disciples:
    “Gird your loins and light your lamps
    and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
    ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. 
    Blessed are those servants
    whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. 
    Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
    have the servants recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. 
    And should he come in the second or third watch
    and find them prepared in this way,
    blessed are those servants. 
    Be sure of this:
    if the master of the house had known the hour
    when the thief was coming,
    he would not have let his house be broken into. 
    You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
    the Son of Man will come.”

    Homily

    Do you have dogs at home? Are you also aware on how your dogs would react whenever you come home? Once the dogs are left at home they can be anxious without the presence of their humans. Yet, dogs display patience and attention to wait for their humans to return home. Their attentiveness allows them to be more conscious of their surroundings. And when our dogs would sense our coming and smell our presence even at a distance, they begin to get excited. Dogs would wiggle their tails as a sign of excitement. And when they finally see us, they would make terrible sounds as their expression of joy, or lick us, jump on us and run around us. This shows us how our dogs can be intimately connected with us.

    Moreover, the attentiveness of our dogs of our presence has something to teach us this Sunday.

    The first reading from the Book of Wisdom tells us how the people patiently waited and hoped the coming of the Lord. They had been suffering for many years from the Egyptians. Their children were massacred, properties confiscated, and made slaves until their death.

    We could imagine their fears and anxieties and the feeling of being abandoned by God. But through the presence of Moses, the people realized God’s presence among them. God’s promise was to be fulfilled after all. As a result, we were told how the people prepared themselves for the Lord’s coming to free them from that suffering. As a community, they became much more attentive to God’s presence.

    In the same way, the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews allows us to recall the attitude of our grandfathers in the faith particularly of Abraham. Abraham was indeed a man who put his trust and faith completely to God. Abraham left the comfort of his family and friends, to journey to a land that God promised to him. 

    Surely, Abraham also felt anxiety and insecurity as he journeyed with God especially when God gave him Isaac and later demanded that Abraham should sacrifice his son. That was Abraham’s most vulnerable moment in his life. Yet, he realized too that everything he had were all from God. With that, he was grateful to God. That gratefulness made his faith even stronger, despite the pain of sacrificing his son. Indeed, he allowed God to surprise him and to unfold God’s plan by completely trusting the wisdom of God.

    The surprise was to receive Isaac back and to become our father in faith today. His close relationship with God allowed him too to go beyond his fears and anxieties making him more attentive to God’s presence and invitations.

    This is what Jesus taught to his disciples. Jesus reminds us to grow in our attentiveness of his presence. The parable is an affirmation to a person who consciously makes himself/herself attuned to God’s presence. It is when we are attuned to God’s presence that we also become aware of the presence of other people around us. As a result, this makes our faith active and alive by being able to give life.

    However, the parable is also a warning to those who have become mediocre or complacent and procrastinator. These are attitudes of a person who is not attentive of God’s presence and has taken advantage the gifts given by the Lord and therefore, is only concerned of himself/herself. This person would become the most insecure person, most anxious and at the same time most vicious and abusive of others.

    Hence, a mediocre or complacent person is only contented in doing things below his/her potentials. It means that we do not really give the best in us but settle to what is only lesser and comfortable for us.

    Thus, when we become so caught up with our comforts but then refusing to go beyond by giving ourselves for others, by letting go of our grudges and hate, and by actively opposing the evils and unjust systems in the community, then, we have surely grown to become mediocre and complacent. We do not want to be challenged. We do not want to go beyond from ourselves and to give our full potentials for God and for others. We only give what is small and minimal. This is a life that refuses to recognize God’s presence and invitations.

    Moreover, a person who procrastinates loves to delay things like in making decisions and actions. This person does not see the need to respond because he/she is caught up with his/her own mood. Consequently, when we procrastinate towards our faith, we feel bored, empty, and lifeless and so we see no reason at all to become life-giving. 

    What is common with these attitudes is the fear to take risks. Remember, trusting God and believing in Him requires risks. Faith is a risk as what the Hebrew people showed in waiting for God to free them and for Abraham to journey outside his comfort and in sacrificing Isaac. Yet, it is in taking risks that God makes wonder in us. It is in taking risks that we grow in our consciousness of God’ presence in our life. And it is also in taking risks that we grow deeper in our relationships.

    Our dogs who patiently await for our coming every time we leave home, put their trust on us and so have taken the risk to trust us in providing them an emotional assurance. Hopefully, we too in our journey with God will grow in our attentiveness of God’s presence by taking the risk in believing in him and trusting God’s wisdom by avoiding from our tendency to become mediocre and complacent and procrastinator in our faith. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God loves a grateful and cheerful giver

    God loves a grateful and cheerful giver

    August 10, 2019 – Saturday 18th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (9:6-10)

    Brothers and sisters:

    Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

    and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

    Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,

    for God loves a cheerful giver.

    Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,

    so that in all things, always having all you need,

    you may have an abundance for every good work.

    As it is written:

    He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;

    his righteousness endures forever.

    The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food

    will supply and multiply your seed

    and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

    Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9

     

    R.(5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

    Blessed the man who fears the LORD,

    who greatly delights in his commands.

    His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;

    the upright generation shall be blessed.

    Well for the man who is gracious and lends,

    who conducts his affairs with justice;

    He shall never be moved;

    the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.

    An evil report he shall not fear;

    his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.

    His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear

    till he looks down upon his foes.

    Lavishly he gives to the poor,

    his generosity shall endure forever;

    his horn shall be exalted in glory.

    From the Gospel of John (12:24-26)

    Jesus said to his disciples:

    “Amen, amen, I say to you,

    unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,

    it remains just a grain of wheat;

    but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

    Whoever loves his life loses it,

    and whoever hates his life in this world

    will preserve it for eternal life.

    Whoever serves me must follow me,

    and where I am, there also will my servant be.

    The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

    Homily

    The attitudes of gratefulness and cheerfulness in giving are what our readings would like us to reflect today. This calls us to recognize the many gifts that we have received from the Lord and in return, through our gratefulness we are moved to share to others cheerfully what we have received. Our Psalm proclaims to us, “Blessed the person who is gracious and lends those in need.” This calls us now not to become anxious of tomorrow but to be confident of the blessings of today.

    Certainly, God loves a cheerful giver, as St Paul affirms, because it is an expression of our deep understanding of God’s gifts and of our deeper intimacy shared with God. We become Christ-like who in today’s Gospel is the seed that falls to the ground and dies and bears much fruit.

    This is an invitation also for us today. A person who joyfully shares his/her recourses and gifts and even his/her life for others, is a seed who takes the risk of giving oneself for others so that others may have life. This is an expression that our faith and relationship with one another becomes life-giving by becoming grateful and generous.

    Indeed, it is when we realize how blessed we are, that we too grow in our gratitude to the Lord. It is essential for us to accept and appreciate the things that have been given to us. They may include not just the material things that we possessed but also our relationships, the many people who are there to love and support us, the gift of our person, our talents and abilities, our vision and dreams. Thus, when our heart is contented of what we have at this very moment, we will remain assured and secured in our life.

    However, when our heart grows unsatisfied, no matter how much we have, we will surely seek for more. This will happen to us when we keep saying that we don’t have enough.

    Jesus invites us today to recognize the blessings that we have. Counting those things that we don’t have will only make us bitter and complaining. It will only make us seek for more making us greedy; who would always seek for more attention, recognition, praises, and entitlements from others. If we allow ourselves to turn into greedy and bitter persons, then we will make ourselves as the unhappiest person.

    Thus, instead of being anxious on what we can profit, let this day and the days that will come as the right time to be grateful to God. Recognize and count every blessing that you have received. Hopefully, through this, it will mold us to become grateful persons and generous in our actions and words. And may our generosity express the cheerfulness in giving despite the little things that may remain in us or despite the nothingness once we give up something for others and for God. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Be welcoming, God’s grace and mercy is without borders

    Be welcoming, God’s grace and mercy is without borders

    August 7, 2019 – Wednesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Gospel of Matthew (15:21-28)

    At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
    And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
    “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
    My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
    But he did not say a word in answer to her.
    His disciples came and asked him,
    “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
    He said in reply,
    “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
    But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
    He said in reply,
    “It is not right to take the food of the children
    and throw it to the dogs.”
    She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
    that fall from the table of their masters.”
    Then Jesus said to her in reply,
    “O woman, great is your faith!
    Let it be done for you as you wish.”
    And her daughter was healed from that hour.

    HOMILY

    Have you ever been insulted, discriminated and rejected by the people whom you thought would help you and show you mercy?

    Certainly, we would feel hurt, broken-hearted, ashamed or even angered. I expected such feelings also from the Canaanite woman  who approached Jesus. And he seemingly gave a cold and harsh treatment towards her. However, the persistence of the woman and Jesus’ indirect teaching to his disciples make the story more interesting. Let us see a bit deeper, then, the Gospel today.

    This Gospel story tells us that Jesus with his disciples withdrew to Tyre and Sidon, a region of the Gentiles. Gentiles were considered by the Jews at that time to be unclean. However, Jesus went there on purpose to teach something to his disciples.

    That purpose of Jesus culminated in the appearance of the Canaanite woman who sought healing for her daughter. The woman, as a gentile was considered like a dog to the Jews. Even though Jesus reminded her of this discrimination from the Jews, the woman did not lose any courage and faith to approach Jesus. The woman believed that though she was undeserving of God’s mercy, but she asked for it anyway not for herself but for her sick daughter.

    This was what Jesus wanted to teach to his disciples that God’s mercy is beyond race, culture or even religious tradition. By going to that region, Jesus made a statement. By healing the daughter of that woman, Jesus broke down the cultural and religious barriers that prevent people from reaching out. Jesus tore down the walls of indifference and lack of compassion.

     This is what the Lord is inviting us to reflect today. Just like his disciples, we are called to expand our perspective and understanding of God’s mercy. God is no doubt not limited to few people or selected and favored people. Our God is God of everyone regardless of belief, culture, background or history. God’s grace and mercy is without borders.

    Now, you and me who believed in Jesus as Lord and savior are called to be like him. We are, therefore, called to widen our circle of friends, to include those even outside our family, relatives and old friends. We are called to reach out to others, to be more welcoming and accommodating of people in need even if we are different, even if we come from different regions, or religion, or race or dialect, or status and position in life.

    This calls us too to be true to our Catholic identity, and that is to be universal and inclusive in the way we deal and relate with people, showing kindness and mercy.

    Yes, we are called to build bridges rather than walls, to extend our hands rather than closing our doors, to open our eyes rather than pretending not to see.

    Thus, as we would all go home (or go back to your office and workplace, or school), I would like to ask you to recognize those people who need a welcoming presence and accommodating heart. Extend our generosity to them so that we may able to bring the Lord closer to them. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • It is through prayer and listening that we allow God to transform us

    It is through prayer and listening that we allow God to transform us

    August 6, 2019 – Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus

    From the Gospel of Luke (9:28b-36)

    Jesus took Peter, John, and James 
    and went up a mountain to pray.
    While he was praying his face changed in appearance 
    and his clothing became dazzling white.
    And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, 
    who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus 
    that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
    Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, 
    but becoming fully awake, 
    they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
    As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, 
    “Master, it is good that we are here;
    let us make three tents,
    one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
    But he did not know what he was saying.
    While he was still speaking, 
    a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
    and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
    Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 
    “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
    After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
    They fell silent and did not at that time 
    tell anyone what they had seen.

    HOMILY

    In the biblical tradition, mountains were known to be sacred places where one can encounter the divine or feel the presence of the Lord. In the time of Jesus, this belief was very strong and thus, the gospels would tell us how Jesus spent his time despite his hectic schedule in teaching and healing the sick just to go up to the mountain to “pray.” Yes, Jesus would go up to the mountain to pray, to commune with God, to relate with God more intimately. Mountains became a powerful symbol of the divine, of an encounter with God. This is a tradition handed down to us as we would usually find our retreat houses on the mountaintops. Because of our experiences of being there to encounter the divine, we are renewed and refreshed, energized and strengthened in responding to what God is inviting us to do as Christians.

    Indeed, this is the very experience of Jesus and his three disciples – Peter, James and John. That experience on the mountain was in fact an extraordinary experience. What had been revealed to the disciples was the “transfiguration” of Jesus. The face of Jesus was changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. The three of them were more surprised when a cloud, a symbol of a holy presence, covered them. They were more terrified by that event. Only later that realization came, that that experience was a holy and privileged one. It was a glimpse of the true identity of Jesus as true God and a preview of his glorious resurrection.

    But one could wonder, why would Jesus allow the three to see in advance or have a foretaste of the glorious resurrection? The voice that came from the clouds would tell us something. That mysterious voice says, “This is my chosen son; listen to him.”

    That voice tells the three that Jesus is indeed the chosen one, he is the Christ, the Messiah that they have been waiting for – the BELOVED ONE to whom they should LISTEN! The disciples are told to LISTEN to Jesus and to follow him in this life. They are told to listen to the life that Jesus will show them and that life entails struggles, suffering, pain and even death but there will be also joy, happiness, and peace in the glorious resurrection.

    And indeed, as they listened and followed Jesus, these fishermen turned into fishers of men. From being fearful and doubtful followers of Jesus they have become dedicated apostles and preachers of the Gospel. By listening to the Lord, they were transformed and converted into new persons.

    THIS IS NOW THE MESSAGE, THE CALL THAT IS BEING OFFERED TO US – that each of us and as a community we are called to JOURNEY WITH GOD. And by journeying with God, it is very essential that WE LISTEN TO GOD, in listening to his Word. God is telling us now, “Hey, listen to me and be my herald of the good news, be my gossiper of the gospel to others!”

    We are able to do that when we truly learn how to “pray and listen.” Remember, Jesus went up to the mountain to pray and through prayer he was transfigured. The disciples too where praying and it was through their prayer that they were made aware of that mysterious event in their lives. So it means that we too, are called to “pray and to listen,” to commune with God and to relate with God more intimately through our prayer. It is only when we become reflective and prayerful that we also become aware of the people around us. We become more connected with God and with others.

    Transfiguration becomes a reality in us when we see and recognize the face of God in our brothers and sisters, when we learn and take the courage to watch out for those who feel unrecognized, to give a room for the stranger, to listen to those who are troubled and hear the cry of those who are desperate in life, to walk with those who are afraid and those whose hearts are broken and to give a helping hand to those who stumbled. Through these, we become a community centered on the Eucharist that is welcoming, embracing, loving and forgiving that may hopefully move to gradually transform ourselves into the way God wants us to be. Hinaut pa!