Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Homilies

  • FORGIVEN

    FORGIVEN

    April 6, 2025 – Fifth Sunday of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040625-YearC.cfm)

    There was once a priest who was so envious of his wise and holy parishioner. Because of jealousy, he made every effort to test and ridicule this parishioner. One day, he jokingly confronted the parishioner and said, “Manang, you seem to be a pious & religious person. I’ve heard that God is so pleased with you. Will you please ask your God what is my greatest sin committed?” The lady was not able to reply right there and then, and eventually left sadly. Next day, the lady came back, met the priest, and said: “Father, God said, not to worry about your sin. He has already forgiven you your sins and even forgot about it.”

    As we listen to our gospel today, we cannot help but hear loudly what Jesus said, “Let be among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone at her”. Through these words, we can also look at ourselves, examine our own failures and sins committed against God and others. Yes, it is true. It is easy for us to see and be sensitive of the faults and sins of others than ourselves. It is easy for us to judge other, to cast a stone or smear dirt on others, likes the Pharisees and teachers of the Law would do. Because of our self-righteousness and over conscious of other’s faults and sins, many lives and relationships shattered and broken. Through these words of Jesus, we can reflect back on our own lives and see our own failures and sins – our sinfulness. And it is not for us to judge others because we are also sinners, and have also committed mistakes, failures, and sins in life.

    However, if we also reflect deeply, the gospel message today is more than just an instruction for us not to judge other, and to examine ourselves and be sorry for our own sins and failures. We are also challenged today in our gospel to recognize and trust in God’s forgiveness and mercy. Yes, it is easy for us to see the faults of other, and slow for us to look on our own sins, but we also know that in the midst of these faults and failures, God intervenes, forgives, and saves us. We may not be able to forget our past sins, but remember in the Sacrament of reconciliation, God has already forgiven us & forgotten our sins.

    In our gospel today, the scribes and the Pharisees become aware and realize their own faults and sinfulness. But the story does not end there – but in admitting their sins. And above all, it ended when the woman receives the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness. Jesus said, “No one condemns you. Nor do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

    Like the Pharisees and scribes, it is not enough for us just to be sorry for our mistake. We must also receive God’s forgiveness and mercy. Meaning, the good news is not in the realization and admittance of our sins but in receiving God’s mercy and love. Reconciliation is not only about being sorry for our past faults and failures but also receiving again and anew God’s love and mercy in life. God’s forgiveness then is more than just about our repentance but also renewal of our faith in God.

    As Yahweh insists in our first reading, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not. See, I am doing something new!” In other words, stop condemning oneself & others, let go now of our past sins, & allow God do something new & better through you.

    We have started the season of Lent during Ash Wednesday with a call to “Repent and Believe in the gospel”. This does not only mean that we are just to sorry for our sins but also we are to change our ways for the better.  And above all, it means that we must also deepen and strengthen our faith and trust in God, and for us, to recognize and receive the blessings and graces that God has done and accomplished for us, because His promise is more than just about our repentance from sin but our abundant life with Him.

    As St. Paul proclaims: “I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ. For his sake I have forfeited everything, I have accounted all else as rubbish. I wish to know Christ and the power flowing from his Resurrection”, may our repentance leads us back to God and renew our faith in Him, who loves us always, and so dispose us to the abundant life we share with Him now & forever.

    So be it. So may it be. Amen

  • Break the Cycle of Invalidation

    Break the Cycle of Invalidation

    April 5, 2025 – Saturday Fourth Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040525.cfm)

    Have you ever experienced being “invalidated”? This may take in a form of invalidating or discrediting our feelings, thoughts or person. What commonly happens is the emotional invalidation. This happens when we deny, reject or dismiss an emotional expression or feelings of another. It is a way of telling the person that his/her emotions are not important or wrong at all. This may be intentionally or unintentionally because we are not aware of such invalidation of other people’s emotions.

    Some expressions would sound like these. “You better move on. I have a similar experience like yours and I have move on already.” – advising a friend who is experiencing a heartbreak.

    “Don’t be too anxious. Anyway, we are here for you.” – as if comforting a dear friend who have anxiety attack because of pressure at work/family.

    “Don’t get upset and stop overthinking. There are always failures in life.” – an advice to a friend to brush off one’s feeling over a failure.

    “You better not feel that way. It was not the intention of the person, anyway.” – giving comfort and advice to a friend who felt violated, hurt over an action of another person.

    We might believe that by invalidating the feelings of others or the person himself/herself is our way of giving them friend support, comfort and understanding. However, this is not the case. By invalidating the feelings of others whether of a special someone, a family member, a friend or anybody else is not respecting one’s feelings and person. By invalidating others, we tend to focus our gaze on ourselves making our hearts apathetic and filled with prejudice.

    This kind of experience also happened to Jesus. There were people who tried to invalidate and discredit the identity of Jesus not just the thoughts and feelings of Jesus. They questioned his origins, his family background and status.

    People began to make reasons in order not to invalidate and reject him. The officers of the Temple and Nicodemus, a Pharisee were one of the few who were inclined to listen more to Jesus, yet, they too were invalidated and discredited by the chief priests and Pharisees.

    Despite the many signs and wonders that Jesus did, those in power and position continue to invalidate Jesus. In John’s Gospel, those signs were miracles that pointed Jesus as the Christ. Yet, the more the people also created reasons to invalidate Jesus’ person. Instead of looking at Jesus to find the truth, “they all went home,” as the Gospel ended today.

    The people went home and settled with their own beliefs. Their hearts remained unwilling to give up their personal agenda and selfish desires. They were unwilling to allow God to be their God. They too are unwilling to allow Jesus to challenge them and to change them in the way God desires them to be. Thus, instead of going back to the Temple or to the synagogue to pray and dialogue with God, they did not.

    However, the Gospel invites us today to refocus our gaze on the officers of the Temple and with Nicodemus who allowed themselves to be encountered by Jesus. It is through them that we are being asked also today to see Jesus clearly, to recognize him better.

    As there were many signs before that pointed to Jesus, let us also be more aware of the many signs God has given us today. There are many, every day, perhaps we just lack that awareness and keenness to recognize those signs of wonders and everyday miracles that Jesus did for us.

    As we recognize Jesus’s presence better in our life, let that encounter with Jesus to make our hearts more discerning. In this way we can break the cycle of invalidating others. Hinaut pa.

  • RESPONDING TO REJECTION

    RESPONDING TO REJECTION

    April 4, 2025 – Friday Fourth Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040425.cfm)

    Rejection from people can be painful and even traumatic for us. Its emotional impact could trigger sadness, anger, hurts, low self-esteem and anxiety. This could also affect our relationships to the point that we might develop unhealthy ones. We could form trust issues and doubt our self-worth.

    This very kind of human experience was not far from what Jesus received from people around him. The Gospel tells us how Jesus was rejected by his own people. Jesus had to go to Jerusalem in secret in order to protect himself from those who were trying to kill him. What he received was a rejection with malice. Those who rejected him desired to cause harm to Jesus. 

    Yet, even though he knew that he was in danger if seen in public, Jesus still took the risk to be there among his people. Jesus took the risk to speak the truth and make the truth known to all even though it may cause him his life. Indeed, this is God’s way of making himself revealed to us.

    Jesus did not deter from rejection, but he responded with grace. Jesus responded not with hatred towards those who rejected him but with the truth. This tells us that Jesus knew his identity well. His identity was anchored in his intimacy and oneness with the Father in heaven.

    This rejection of the presence of Jesus was a reaction of some powerful figures at that time. They felt threatened to the way of life of Jesus and to the message that he preached and lived. This was how Jesus caused turmoil among the powerful leaders in that Jewish society. Jesus was unconventional who ate and drank with sinners, forgiven them and freed them. He healed the sick and touched the unclean. He preached about a loving and forgiving God the Father.

    And as Jesus gained popularity among the ordinary people, the leaders were threatened at his knowledge and wisdom. Jesus was not a well-known intellectual and did not come from a rich and powerful family. And they felt offended.

    Jesus himself and all that he did threatened the status quo of the powerful people who were contented with their comfort. These “Jews” who in the Gospel of John were referred as the powerful religious leaders of the Jewish society, preferred a strict and vengeful God. By this belief then they could advance their self-interest. They too can use their position to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor.

    Thus, they were against Jesus because he was changing their ways. Their hearts were filled with bitterness, hate, anger and the desire to have more. These were the reasons why they could not accept Jesus or even recognize the presence of God in Jesus.  Their blindness and the hardness of their hearts made them incapable to understand the ways of God. Thus, they wanted to kill him, to silence Jesus.

    As we continue our journey in this season of Lent, may this Gospel reminds us of our tendency to reject others and to only believe our own ideas and perspectives. Let us also make the last week of lent as days of opportunities to humble ourselves. We are called to recognize areas of our lives where we have become complacent, too comfortable and arrogant so that our hearts may become more welcoming. Hinaut pa.

  • A Loving and Caring Parent

    A Loving and Caring Parent

    April 2, 2025 – Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040225.cfm)

    As human beings, each of us is biologically a by-product, born out of a male and female. Hence, we have a father and a mother. As we were born and grew up individually, we too have different experiences with our parents and with our fathers particularly. It is such a blessing of having a good, responsible and loving father.

    Yet, it cannot be argued that not all of us have experienced a very good father. Not all of us have a father who spends enough time to be with us and who supports us constantly as a child.

    Some of us, may even have painful memories particularly when we talk about our fathers. Others might have been abandoned by their fathers. This caused us so much pain. Others might have absentee fathers, always away because of work. This could create a deep longing of our father’s presence. Others might have a father who was abusive and irresponsible. This could give us deep and sometimes lasting emotional wounds.

    Those who have lost or not having their biological fathers around them were sometimes rescued by those who stood as their father. Indeed, in the absence of our fathers, there would be persons who have become our father from whom we still experience having one.

    Well, with our experiences with our own fathers, somehow would affect the way we relate with God whom we believe as a Father to us. Having a very good experience with our biological father, then, it might be easy for us to believe in a loving and merciful Father in heaven. Yet, if we have painful and traumatic experiences with our biological father, it can create doubts. We may hesitate to believe in God the Father who is loving and forgiving.

    Our readings today remind us of these experiences. They too also call us to recognize God’s true character as a parent to us.

    The Book of Isaiah tells us of a God so passionate to us. God is like a parent who brings comfort to us. God is there to flatten the mountains so that life won’t be too difficult for us. In fact, Isaiah uses the image of a mother who carries her baby in the womb. A mother is always connected with her baby. Nevertheless, a mother may forget her baby but God will never forget us. God remembers us because God always carries us.

    This confidence in a loving and passionate God is expressed in today’s Gospel. Jesus tells us about how he loves his Father so much. Jesus shows his affection to the Father who will never leave him alone. This expression of Jesus is an affirmation of that passion of God the Father to Jesus.

    This is where we find the invitation for us today. We might have painful experiences with our own fathers or mothers. Some of us may have similar experiences with those who became our guardians in the absence of our biological parents. However, the readings call us to be confident and assured in God as a loving and caring parent to us.

    Like Jesus, let us take confidence in God who is both a Loving and Caring Father and Mother to us. God assures us to be with us. God shall never leave us and will always be there for us. This is how God is so passionate to you and to me.

    When you become parents yourselves, let your parenting be an image of God’s unconditional love. If you stand as a foster parent to a child, make sure your parenting reflects divine love. Hinaut pa.

  • Life with HIM

    Life with HIM

    March 30, 2025 – Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033025-YearC.cfm

    We hear Jesus proclaims to us, “God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This is to remind us of God’s deep love for us to the point of sacrificing His son, so that we might believe in Him so as we may share sacred lives with Him. Meaning, God suffered a lot for our Faith at the price of His son. He wants us to heed and do those challenging words of believing again & anew in His Son, so that God could always love and forgive us  again & anew. And above all, He challenges us now & always to do this, (why?)… because God wants to share His eternal life with us, His beloved children. God wants us to have Life with Him.

    Consider Judas & Peter, as to how and why the sin of Judas is more serious than Peter’s. We come to realize that Judas’ is more serious than Peter’s sin, because Judas did not give the Lord the chance to love and forgive him again & anew, instead he ended his life by killing himself. Yes, Judas repented but he did not believe anymore. Peter on the other hand, yes, have hidden himself… but repented & stayed on until the Lord’s resurrection and got the chance to be forgiven and loved again & anew by the Lord. Peter repented & still believes in God despite what happened. In other words, Judas’ sin is more serious compared to Peter’s because Judas, by committing suicide, did not give the Lord the opportunity, the chance to forgive and love him again. Both may have repented but unlike Judas, Peter believes and remains to have faith in Jesus’ resurrection, in effect, made him experience life – life eternal with God.

    So also if & when we still believe despite of what happened to us, we could share in God eternal life through the Lord’s resurrection.

    A story also once told that in God’s kingdom when everyone lives blissfully in the everlasting life, Peter finds Jesus standing near the heavenly gate. He goes near Jesus, and said, “Well, everyone is looking for you. How come you are here near the gate?” The Lord replied, “Actually, I’m waiting for someone. I’m waiting for my dear Judas to hopefully come back…. The Lord is thus still & always waiting for our coming home in repentance & faith.

    Remember then that God loves us not because and after we have repented and we are forgiven, but rather God forgives us because we are loved beforehand and eternally. As Paul would say of our Lord: “His death is death to sin once for all, his life is life for God. So also, You must consider yourself dead to sin & alive for God in Jesus Christ.”

    Like the Father in the Prodigal Son in our gospel today, the Lord Jesus is always waiting for us so that He could always love and forgive us again & anew. So, at this time, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate Easter, by our repentance & faith, like Peter & the prodigal son, let us give God now through Jesus a chance to forgive and love as again and anew, so that we experience eternal life with Him.

    With Our Mother of Perpetual Help, may the fruits of our honest repentance, righteous attitude & deeper faith in the Lord be upon us, & so for us to experience & celebrate Easter, as our foretaste of eternal life with God, now & always

    So Help us God. So May it be. Amen.