Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Homilies

  • HOPE? Only If & When….

    HOPE? Only If & When….

    March 23, 2025 – Third Sunday of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032325-YearC.cfm)

    How do we make sense of a lot of things going on with our lives nowadays? Still adjusting from the life-threatening COVID pandemic, we are also now amidst violence, terrorism, disasters, and killings along with the imminent threat of world war, oil price hike, dwindling geo & national politics. On the jubilee year of Hope, as pilgrims of hope amidst challenging life-situations, we also ponder & discern the question: “Is there and can we still HOPE in life?

    As some people reported to Jesus about disasters and killings happened to Galileans in our gospel today, the central issue raised is also about Hope in life. “Can we still hope for God’s salvation? Is there still a hope and meaning in life now & ahead?” Sometimes with a lot of miseries happening in our world today, like calamities, wars, poverty, disasters, exploitation, corruptions, electioneering and injustices, we do find life at times hopeless and meaningless.

    This reminds me of a story about a beggar who had a rice bowl to beg. Every time he asks for some food or money from others, he would just stick out his rice bowl and beg for something. At times, he is too ashamed to beg – he cannot even look at them at the eyes. But many at times, he could be too rude to force others to give him some scraps of food or some coins.

    Like other beggars, he dreams that someday he will become a millionaire. But he knows that such dream is impossible and just a wishful thinking because he got nothing but a mere dirty battered rice bowl he inherited from his family of beggars. Sometimes he would blame God for his life’s misery. He considers himself a hopeless and useless case.

    One day, while begging, a merchant noticed his rice bowl and asked if he could have a look at it. The merchant then examined his rice bowl and concluded, “You must be stupid begging for  scraps. You should not be asking for others help because you are one of the most fortunate persons in the city. This rice bowl of yours is a priceless antique made of pure GOLD. Just wash it clean and it will cost you a fortune. Why don’t you sell it to me? I could give you five million dollars for it.”

    But the beggar just laughed off what he heard from the merchant. He simply could not believe that his useless rice bowl is worth a fortune. He dismissed everything the merchant said and continued to beg for some food or money using his dirty battered but priceless golden antique rice bowl. What a waste. What a shame.

    Sometimes, we are like that beggar. God has already given us a lot of His graces. He almost gave up everything for us – His life, His love, His salvation, His only Son. God has already endowed each and everyone of us enough of His blessings. He has given us not only a chance but a lot of chances to live life, and a golden rice bowl of faith in Him.

    But like that beggar, we rarely recognize God’s precious gifts to us. We rarely recognize our Faith. Sometimes we are not contented with our simple faith. Instead, we look for signs. We look for other substitutes. We beg for other scraps of beliefs. We dream for miracles but in vain. Then, we find life useless, and get hopeless with life.

    Like in our gospel however, as the gardener assured his master that there is always a hope for a dry fig tree to bear fruits again – only if and when given a chance, Jesus also reassures us that there is always hope in life, if & when we change our ways. Jesus in our gospel today reminds us that God has given each and everyone of us a chance to live life to its fullness.

    He calls us to see all life miseries are not signs of a vengeful God, but a constant wake up call & pruning for us to repentance, conversion and Christian life. For Him, there is still hope for those who repent and believe in the Gospel – for those who cleans up their golden bowl of our Christian faith.

    We began the Lenten season last Ash Wednesday, with the words: “Repent and Believe in the Gospel.” It simply means that the season of Lent is the time for us not only to prepare ourselves for the Easter but also to examine and purify our rice bowl of faith, and then to recognize and accept the preciousness, fortune, and chance it brings. In other words, there is hope only if and when we repent, we change our ways and believe in the Gospel – in the good news, in our golden bowl of chance to live God has already given & blessed us. Otherwise, there is no hope and meaning at all.

    Perhaps more than saying that “We are Filipinos for nothing”, more so we should believe & proclaim to ourselves & others that “We are Filipino Christians for nothing.”

    As we struggle with our life-journey nowadays during these trying times, help usO Lord to acknowledge & responsibly accept Your Gift of faith in us, for us to discover meaning, hope, strength, & direction through the life-challenges ahead of us.

    So be it. Amen.

  • AN ENVIOUS HEART CORRUPTS

    AN ENVIOUS HEART CORRUPTS

    March 21, 2025 – Friday of the Second Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032125.cfm)

    Having siblings makes our home more fun. During our childhood days, our siblings were our first playmates. They too become our protectors at school whenever someone would bully us. Being in any home, we too experience quarrels and tensions with our siblings.

    Moreover, when some kind of competition would arise, it also breeds jealousy and even envy among siblings. To us children, in some occasions we could have felt that we are more loved by our parents than the rest of our siblings. However, it could also be the other way around. We might have felt we are receiving lesser love and attention from our parents.

    When we are being compared to the one who is more responsible than us, or more talented and intelligent, etc., this can be painful. A deep emotional wound is created deep within our heart because of constant comparison and discrimination that we receive at home. Hence, relationships among our siblings are being stretched until a gap of indifference and mutual bitterness and hatred arise.

    In the first reading, Book of Genesis told us that “Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age.” These are the first words from the first reading today. Yet, that love of Israel towards his youngest son, became the reason for deep envy and hatred of his other sons.

    The envious hearts of Joseph’s brothers became cruel and vicious. The older brothers must have believed that their brother did not deserve such love and attention from their father. In that culture before, the youngest was considered to be the least and the less important.

    Thus, the brothers must have claimed that they deserved more than him. This was how their envy consumed them to the point that their thoughts and actions became violent and corrupted. Their youngest brother became the victim of those envious hearts.

    Though Reuben and Judah tried to save the life of their brother, yet, not one of them stoop up and confronted the evil that they were planning. They could not because they were into it already.

    This tells us that when we become envious of others, we will tend to get aggressively what we wanted. Our selfish ambitions and intentions will lead us to corrupt and evil practices, such as in deceiving and manipulating others. 

    Such attitude only portrays a self-image that is dominating, powerful and that must be considered a master who is above everybody else. However, this attitude would consider others as lesser and not important. It is in fact a boastful self, arrogant and vain, but deep within, insecure and filled with bitterness.

    This is what we have heard also from the Gospel. The parable was not actually about labor issues. It was about the bitterness and aggression showed by the tenants against the servants and to the son of the landowner. The tenants, who were actually the chief priests and Pharisees, became self-entitled and believed that they were the only deserving people of God’s grace and favor. Their envious and ambitious hearts also became unwelcoming, greedy and vicious.

    Like the brothers of Joseph, they too began to plan evil things against Jesus. They wanted to arrest and kill him. Indeed, this happened to Jesus. But then, their evil thoughts and plans cannot and will not defeat God’s power to bring salvation and freedom to all.

    As Joseph became the savior of his own brothers during the great drought and famine, Jesus also through his resurrection proved that evil has no match with the wonder of what love can do.

    As we continue to journey in this Season of Lent, let our hearts be overwhelmed, not by our envy towards others, but by our love and affection towards one another. Let us also recall and acknowledge the conflicts, tensions and misunderstanding we have with our siblings. Have the courage and humility to repair any gap of indifference and to heal any mutual bitterness with our siblings and friends. Hinaut pa.       

  • Sharing the Weight of our Burdens

    Sharing the Weight of our Burdens

    March 18, 2025 – Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031825.cfm)

    What burdens do we carry now? We may have different forms of burdens that we carry in life. Some are necessary and can’t be avoided. These could be the burdens of responsibilities in our commitments and relationships at home, at work and in our communities. Some may also be unnecessary and imposed upon us. These are the burdens in our toxic relationships, emotional baggage, unreasonable expectations from others or unresolved issues.  

    Sometimes, these burdens become overwhelming. We seek and want freedom. Yet, we also find difficulty in unloading our burdens. This is because of the cycle of blame, guilt, and fear that gripped us. There are also other reasons only known to us.

    Nevertheless, the Lord desires our freedom, to unload our burdens so that we experience life in its fullness. This is the power of forgiveness is all about. Forgiveness unburdens and unshackles us from sin and guilt. Prophet Isaiah described it this way, “Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool.”

    This begins by acknowledging our sins and correcting the wrong we have done. This also includes avoiding evil, seeking justice and being charitable to the weak ad vulnerable.

    In this way, as we unload our burdens, then, we also help others to unload theirs. Yet, when these burdens are indeed necessary, then, we share together the weight of the burdens. This is the call that Jesus presented to his disciples.

    Jesus first criticized the indifference of those in power at that time. These were the scribes and Pharisees who imposed unnecessary burdens upon the people. Yet, unwilling to share those burdens. They were only concerned of their comfort and privileges. Their bloated ego and self-image became the very burden of the ordinary Jews.

    They were completely unaware of their faults and even refused to acknowledge their sins. No doubt, their hearts were hardened and can’t recognize God in the person of Jesus.

    The antidote to that bloated ego is humility. Thus, Jesus said, “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

    Jesus calls us today that humility becomes our way of life. By being humble, it makes us recognize our faults and failures. By being humble, we acknowledge that we not strong enough when alone. We need the company of others. We need the forgiveness of God to unburden us from sin and guilt. By being humble, we are more sensitive to others’ burdens. By being humble, we share in carrying the weight of the burdens with others. By being humble, we avoid becoming the very burden that others are suffering from. Hinaut pa.

  • SYSTEM UPDATE

    SYSTEM UPDATE

    March 16, 2025 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031625.cfm)

    What is the best thing to do if & when we get lost our way?

    The best way to do if & when we are lost is to first stop our journey, and look for some higher grounds, so that we may know and see where we are, where we have been, where we want to go and the best way or path to take. Meaning, we have to stop first then climb a high place – a hill, mountain or a tree, so that from there we get a much wider perspective of our journey and travel.

    Losing our way may also reflect our experience of life. There are times in our lives that we feel lost & confused in all our endeavors and dreams. Because of this, like being and getting lost in the forest, it is easy for us to feel tired, dry, afraid, anxious and hopeless in life to reach and achieve our aspirations, hopes and dreams in life.

    Our gospel today narrates us the Transfiguration of the Lord. We hear Jesus brought his apostles to Mt. Tabor so that they would witness the glory of God revealed before them. After they have followed the Lord in his preaching and ministry in many towns and villages, the apostles have now experienced weariness and exhaustion in their journey, even to the point others have cast doubt in the Lord’s person and authority.

    For them to be inspired (to be in-spirit) and encourage once again, Jesus brought then to mountain of Tabor to have a preview or prelude of God’s glory so that they themselves taste and witness God’s glory made manifest in Jesus Himself. And then, they hear & encounter anew for themselves the call & challenge from God to listen and have faith in Jesus, his beloved Son.

    Sometimes in life, we need to stop for awhile from all our endeavors and aspirations, and then, climb the Lord’s mountain in order for us to view a much wider perspective in life and our journey. Like in our modern lingo of cellphones, we need a higher ground to get a good signal; sometimes we need to climb the mountain with the Lord for us to get a good and strong signal of God’s presence and love.

    We call this nowadays as RETREAT with the Lord – a time in our life where we stop or slowdown from all our plans, aspirations and activities in life, spend some time to distance from our usual routine and look and climb for a high place in order to get a wider perspective of our life. Time and place to ask ourselves: “where am I now in relation to my life, dreams, aspirations and commitments? Am I lost or in the right path? What else should be done? What need to be change?”

    Retreat would also mean to treat ourselves again & anew to God’s vision of life-glory. In other word, to take care & nourish ourselves anew to the vision & fervor of God’s glory. And above all, in the Lord’s transfiguration & our retreat moments, we are challenged also to be “transfigured”, i.e in our modern-tech language, to do “system update” for us to be in sync, upgraded, & outfitted with the current plans of God for our redemption.

    As we follow the Lord, as Christian, it is healthy then for us to sometimes to retreat & be transfigured, i.e., to stop and climb up on a higher ground with the Lord in order to have a wider perspective of life, to witness God’s presence revealed in Christ, and to  hear again God’s call to us “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to Him”, and so be updated & challenged anew of our vocation to follow Him.

    As our way of doing a retreat with the Lord these days, may our Lenten discipline of prayer, fasting & almsgivings bring us to a much deeper spiritual updating and growth in our Christian faith & journey now & always.

    Amen.

  • Reconciliation and Reparation

    Reconciliation and Reparation

    March 14, 2025 – Friday of the First Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031425.cfm)

    How do we practice our Christian faith in terms of our moral actions?How does our Christian faith manifested in our relationship with one another? Does my faith in Jesus also mold my heart to be truly good, kind and compassionate?

    Or we could also ask this question for our further reflection. Is our Christian faith only limited in the rituals and religious ceremonies that we do?

    Jesus, as he continued to teach and form the hearts of his disciples, expressed the demand of having faith in him and thus, being a disciple. Jesus said, “unless you surpass the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, then, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

    This means that Jesus wanted the disciples to do more and to go beyond the usual. Without condemning the scribes and Pharisees at that time, Jesus wants us to realize something beyond the usual actions of these people.

    The Pharisees and the scribes who are like lawyers today were more inclined to only follow the letters of the law. They tended to be more concerned of trivial things in the Jewish Law.

    Yet, attitude made their hearts rigid and cold towards those who did not belong their circle. Hence, there was a culture of so much indifference and condemnation towards the sinners, the sick and the poor. The people who did not belong to that circle of influence of the scribes and Pharisees. This gives us the picture now, that these people may be meticulous in following the law, but having a very distant relationship with others.

    Jesus saw what were in their hearts. Their hearts were filled with pretensions and insecurities devoid of compassion and love. To avoid such tragedy among his disciples, Jesus gave a practical challenge. The challenge was to take an action that expresses mercy and compassion.

    This was how Jesus called for the two “R.” The first R is “Reconciliation.” To have the courage to own our mistakes and to seek reconciliation with the person whom we have hurt, is a true expression of faith. The second R is “Reparation.” This is to take action in order to pay, compensate or repair the damage that we have caused to others. Indeed, to be reconciled with the person whom we have hurt and those who have hurt us, expresses the essence of this Season of Lent.

    Reconciliation and Reparation shall form our hearts closer to the Lord and with one another. This is what the Prophet Ezekiel reminds us, “if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

    The Lord delights in our return. God rejoices in our conversion towards him. And so, may our faith then, leads us to the Lord manifested in our concrete actions of compassion and mercy. Hinaut pa.