Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Homilies

  • Selfish desires?… Cut them off, says Jesus

    Selfish desires?… Cut them off, says Jesus

    June 14, 2019 – Friday 10th Wk in OT

    2 Cor 4:7-15; Mt 5:27-32

    “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away… if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” – Mt. 5: 29-30

    Paul reminds us that each of us is mere earthen vessel or clay jar. Yet, as simple jars made of clay, God blesses us. This reminds us that we are vulnerable and can easily be broken. However, St. Paul also tells us that even though we are suffering, but we are not constrained, we remain free. We might have been persecuted and insulted but we are not abandoned because God remains faithful to us. We may be struck down by our failures and sins but not destroyed because God remains merciful to us.

    Human as we are, we fail and sin. However, this is not an excuse not to desire perfection and holiness before God. In fact, the Gospel reminds us to be more aware of our selfish tendencies so that we will be able to respond to the temptations that may come to us.

    What Jesus told us in the Gospel is not meant to be understood literally. “If your right eye causes you to sin, then, tear it out and throw it away,” or “if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” – if this is to be understood literally, then, each of us here will have no eyes and hands or even more than that.

    cut it off

    Remember, our bodies are also temples of the Holy Spirit, vulnerable like the clay jar but blessed and consecrated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus actually wants us to cut off sin from our system that only separates us from Him and from others.

    Thus, if our thoughts are filled with lust and evil thoughts, then, Jesus wants us to stop that, and instead fill our thoughts with God’s word. Read the bible, then.

    If our heart is filled with anger and hate, fill it with God’s forgiveness and peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

    If our hands remain close to those who need our help, then, open them and express your gratefulness to God by extending help and kindness to people around us.

    If our feet remain tangled with fear of taking risks, then, free your feet from fear and take the risk of building close and intimate relationship with others. Go and come nearer to your loved ones, spend more quality time with them.

    If our eyes will only tend to see what is ugly, negative and imperfect, then, open our eyes wider to see and realize the beauty of others, the wonders of the world and the goodness of our neighbors.

    In this way, then, we lessen our tendency to feed our insatiable desire for self-gratification. We begin to see others rather than ourselves alone. We become more self-giving rather than self-serving.

    This will allow us to deepen our relationships, whether in marriage, or in the context of a family with children, or among friends and colleagues.

    Indeed, Jesus calls us to become persons not driven by selfish desires, but to become persons driven by the desire to love and to give one self for others, like Mary, the mother of our Lord. Mary is a person who truly desires to love give herself for God and for others Hinaut pa.

     

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • What fulfills you?

    What fulfills you?

    June 12, 2019 – Wednesday of the 10th Week in OT

    2 Cor 3:4-11; Mt 5:17-19

    “I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” – Mt 5:17b

    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, do sacrifices and make decisions, we become grounded and mature in our relationships.

    what fulfills you

    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, the true inspiration. They focused more on themselves, on what they can gain and on their privileged status.

    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.

    Be grounded then with your relationship with God. The Bible 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

  • Encouraging others brings self-confidence and growth

    Encouraging others brings self-confidence and growth

    June 11, 2019 – Feast of St. Barnabas, Apostle

    Acts 11:21b-26;13:1-3; Mt. 5:13-16

    “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith (Acts 11:24).”

    People who encourage others would always bring support and growth because encouragement nurtures confidence and hope. Parents who would give generous encouragements to their growing children would find children to be happier and lively. Teachers who would also express words of encouragements to their students would find them animated to perform well in their studies. It is also true among employers or corporate leaders. A leader who is generous in expressing encouragement to his/her workmates or colleagues or employees would surely find people around him or her to work confidently and competitively.

    Moreover, when words of encouragements are expressed whether at home, at school or at work, they lessen unnecessary stress, avoid unnecessary conflicts and rather promote self-confidence, trust and hope.

    This attitude of encouraging others had been shown to us through the person whose feast we celebrate today. St. Barnabas, an apostle, was a man of encouragement. During his lifetime, in his ministry, he never forgot to encourage people around him. In fact, it was through his encouragements, together with St. Paul, that they helped and nurtured the early Church to grow and to mature. It was in the Church of Antioch, through Barnabas too, that the Church is indeed Catholic or universal in its nature. In Antioch, Jews and Gentiles lived together. Despite the differences in culture, language, and history, the Church became one in faith but so dynamic and vibrant in living as Christians.

    Indeed, it was in Antioch that we, believers of Jesus, were first known as “Christians.” Thanks to that attitude of Barnabas, his encouragements to the first Christians made them confident in living together. Actually, the name Barnabas means, “the son of encouragement.”

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    The Acts of the Apostles reminds us of the attitude of Barnabas that he was “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith (Acts 11:24).” This tells us that when we welcome and allow the Holy Spirit to satisfy us, then, we also become discerning on how the Holy Spirit works in the life of those people around us. Certainly, we become familiar to the movements of the Spirit.

    This makes us then, to be become welcoming of others. We shall surely see more opportunities of growth and rooms for developments for ourselves and for those people around us. Accordingly, we see more value in expressing encouragement rather than in blurting out destructive criticisms that may only damage one’s self-confidence and the hope to redeem oneself after a failure.

    Thus, on this feast of Barnabas, each of us is being reminded and called to be more welcoming of the Holy Spirit in our life so that our hearts and minds will be filled with wisdom, understanding and compassion. In this way, then, we too shall become persons of encouragements that promote growth, confidence, trust and hope in our own context; whether at home, at school, at work, or wherever we are called to be. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • We have a Mother

    We have a Mother

    June 10, 2019 – Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

     

    “Behold your mother.” – Jn. 19:27

    Today’s Gospel makes us confident because there on the cross, Jesus assured us that we have a mother. We are not orphaned and alone because Mary is our mother and we, all of us, are her sons and daughters. The presence of Mary becomes the presence of Jesus.

    As Mary stands at the foot of the cross, she becomes a model of faith and discipleship. Her presence and her maternal role keep us and protect us. This is the reason why we, the Church, would always seek guidance and inspiration from Mary because we feel the identity of being her children in faith. The intercession of Mary as a mother, becomes a bridge of faith. It is to lead us to her risen Son, Jesus Christ.

    Through her example of faith and obedience to God, she shows us the direction. By her confidence and prayer, she assures all of us. This is the very reason too why we are celebrating this feast of Mary, Mother of the Church right after the Solemnity of the Pentecost. In the words of Pope Francis, “through the person of Mary, as a mother, the Church learns the langugae of tenderness, knows the language of such wisdom of caresses, of silence, of the gaze that knows compassion, that knows silence,” (Pope Francis, May 21, 2018).

    Personally, Mary as a mother, she cares and loves all the believers of Christ not just in a general sense. Mary cares and loves every believer. And I truly believe in this. She carries and leads every person to gaze and recognize at the true source of light and life, her Lord and God. And by her loving care, no one will be lost. St. Alphonsus would say, “a true child of Mary will never be lost.”

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    This feast that we celebrate today does not point at all to Mary but rather to Jesus who commissioned Mary and gave her the grace to be our mother, and thus, to be my Mother, my own Nanay.

    What is it to you and to me now who are devoted to Mary, our Mother? How do we express now our act of thanksgiving for all the graces that we have received? You and I are called now to become God’s sign of help and compassion. It means that as a Church, our devotion should not only remain a mere devotional practice but must also flow into our actions and words, into our decision and choices.

    Thus, I would like to invite you to extend your help to someone who is most in need, perhaps your friend, co-worker, relative or even a stranger. Console and give comfort to those who are in pain. Support and promote life and oppose those who destroy it because these are the ways that we will truly become a Church that shows compassion and tenderness.

    Mary, our mother, would have a lot to teach us to us. Let us come closer to her, then, belive in her maternal love and tenderness because she will surely brings us closer to her Son, Jesus. 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