Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Homilies

  • DECISION

    DECISION

    August 27, 2023 – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082723.cfm)

    How are you holding on these days? We are now already almost past behind pandemic times & adjusting with our new normal period. Just recently we had gone through a lot and perhaps others are still coping through a lot these days. Things seem to be getting better. But perhaps at this stage most of us (if not all) have experienced and still grieving over some loss of someone and/or something important in ones life – be it a beloved family and friends, work, opportunities, and/or lifestyle. And we cannot help but ponder about what all these happenings & event now mean and got to do with our Christian life and faith.

    “Your decision today is the statement of who you are and declaration of who you choose to be”, said Neal Donald Walsch in his book Conversation with God. True enough, for experience teaches us that whatever our decisions-made somehow and someway reflect our own identity, our own responsibility and even our faith (of what we believe) as well.

    For instance, whenever a young couple decides to commit into Christian married life through the Sacrament of Matrimony, both of them receive a new identity and responsibility as follower of Christ in life and faith. In their exchange of marital vows before God’s altar they become not anymore just any other couple but now a Christian married couple forever in life. They remain not anymore as children of their parents but now as Christian husband and wife for life. Through their exchange of vows before God and His Church, their love for each other and their following of Jesus now becomes a Sacrament – sign and instruments of God’s continuing love and presence in our own lives. As they decide and resolve to live life in Christian marriage, the couple’s life now is and will never be the same as before but is now of God, and for the sake of God’s grace in life.

    In our gospel today, as he asked his disciple “who do you say I am”, Jesus did not ask just to test them or to probe what others say of Him. Jesus is basically asking: “who am I to you? – inviting them to make a decision for Him – an option in favor of Jesus. He wants them to make a proclamation of their faith in Jesus into their own lives. And as we have heard, Peter professed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. And because of this, Simon receives a new identity and responsibility in life and faith. Before he was just Simon, son of Jonah, but now he is Peter “the rock” as foundation stone of the church and the key bearer of God’s kingdom in heaven. In other words, his decision of who is Jesus for him is a statement of who Peter is & who he chooses to be – reflective of his identity, responsibility & faith in life. Like Eliakim in our first reading, because of his faith in Jesus as Christ, Peter now is entrusted, blessed and given the authority and power in the church by Jesus. Through his witness of his faith in Jesus, the life of Peter and our lives now changed for the better – not anymore as before but now as life in Jesus, with Jesus and for Jesus.

    Until now, perhaps especially now during our New Normal times, Jesus is asking us the same question: “Who am I to you?” Who do you say that I am?

    Again this is not to test us or survey opinions of Jesus or to parrot what others taught us about Him, but a challenge to make a decision – a stance for Him. Meaning: Is Jesus your beloved whom you promise to live life with… OR is He but just your convenient partner who comes handy when needed? Are all things from Him, through Him & for Him to you?

    Our response is our proclamation of our faith, and statement of our identity and a declaration of our responsibility in life. Like Peter then and us today’s Christians, our life-options/ decisions for Jesus Christ, (limited & imperfect it maybe) is our proclamation and witness of our faith that make and build us as Church – a sacrament of God’s continuing blessings and grace.

    Remember then how blessed are you Christian married couples. Blessed are you not only because through your marriage, your heritage and bloodlines lives on, but also through your marriage – lived for the sake of Christ, God continues to make miracles not only in your lives but also in the lives of all today. Forget not what the evangelist John told us, the first miracle-performed by the Lord Jesus happened during the wedding in Cana. Meaning, through marital vows and married life – imperfect or lacking it may be, the Lord began and will continue to produce miracles – continually partaking God’s blessing to all of us.  That’s how blessed and fortunate you are now Christian married couples, since you are God’s blessings to others.

    The faith of Peter as well as of Christian married couples gain them a definite identity and responsibility in life and in God’s glory and graces. Our life-decisions and options for Christ ensure us a definite identity, dignity and responsibility in life as Christian, and offer us a blessed and promising life now and in God’s glory. That is why Your decision today is a statement of your identity, a declaration of your responsibility in life, and a proclamation of faith. In other words, remember always that whatever our decision today reflect who we are now, who we choose to be, and what we believe. While always hoping for the better, holding on as life gets still challenging these days, may  we not lose track, but instead be steadfast of our basic identity, responsibility and faith before God and others, so that we may be guided now with whatever decisions we have to make ahead.

    Amen.

  • Trust without Reservation

    Trust without Reservation

    August 20, 2023 – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082023.cfm)

    We usually associate the word, Faith as accepting something we cannot understand. We say: “since it is strange, mysterious & unexplainable, simply believe”. However, faith is more than our assent to things that does not make sense, and accepting without question.

    The Greek word for faith is “pistis”, which literary means: TRUST. Meaning, when he talks about faith, Jesus means first of all, to trust God without reservation. Whenever he said to people he healed: “Your faith has saved you”, Jesus is saying that they have found new chance in life because they have surrendered in complete trust to God as made known through Jesus.

    This kind of faith is clearly shown to us by the faith of the Canaanite woman in our gospel today

    For her sick child be healed, the Canaanite woman in our gospel today, have to undergo a lot of hindrances, difficulties & challenges. For instance, her cultural background being non-Jewish from Canaan – a migrant foreigner gentile she is, the rude-attitude towards her by the disciples of Jesus, & the seeming cold-reception of Jesus towards her.

    Despite all these hindrances & challenges, however, the Canaanite woman still, as we have heard – longs & hopes only with perseverance to the kindness & mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, and not on the challenges she is in. True enough, she is aware & knows her dire situation; but she gives less importance to her difficult & troublesome life-circumstances & rather rely only on her faith in Jesus. Due to her deep faith & trust in the healing power & mercy Jesus, no hindrances, challenges & problems can overcome her to ask for the help of Jesus.

    Because  of her persistent & persevering faith, her daughter was not only completely cured & brought back to health, but the Canaanite woman also made Jesus aware of His mission is not exclusive only for Jews, but more so, inclusive to all humanity. She made Jesus aware of her great faith & caused Jesus to extend & expand His Good News of God’ Kingdom, not only to the Jews, but above all to the gentiles, foreigners, migrants, pagans, & all people of the world. Such great miracle happened: Good News revealed & expanded to all thru the faith & trust of the Canaanite woman.

    But how about us now? Do we give more importance, faith & trust to our doubts, fears & sufferings in life? Or like the Canaanite woman, do we believe & trust without reserve in the power, mercy & kindness of Jesus despite life-concerns?

    Be reminded that faith is not only about accepting without question, assenting without understanding, but above all, about our complete trust without reservation to God & His will, grace, plans for us. In the same way, we ask God’s mercy & aid in life because we believe & trust in Him, & not only because of we needs & wants His help.

    What is demanded of us then, His believers are our complete trust in Him without reservation. For without faith & with less trust in Him, God’s grace is difficult & limited to flourish, and healing & miracles would rather fail to happen.

    So, whenever we find ourselves sleepless & worried with our life-concerns, “stop counting sheep, talk instead to the Shepherd.” In other words, Trust in the Lord without reservation, and allow Him to make the best & do the rest for us.

    So Be it. Amen.

  • IN HUMILITY

    IN HUMILITY

    August 13, 2023 – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081323.cfm)

    A rabbi was once asked: Rabbi, how come God is not anymore talking to His people? Unlike before when God, who spoke to Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah and the prophets, why is it He no longer speak to His people? As if in pain, the rabbi shook his head and replied: Son, it is not that God is no longer speaking to His people. It is rather that no one these days can stoop down low enough to listen to Him. No one…can stoop down low enough… to listen to Him.

    If we really come to think of this, especially in our moments when the Lord seems absent or distant, perhaps it is not the Lord but ourselves who has the problem. Perhaps we become too preoccupied with our dreams and ambitions that we cannot anymore sense His presence with us. Perhaps we become more worried with our need, plans, and concerns that we cannot anymore listen to Him speaking. Somehow we are standing too high in our towers and skyscrapers or too far in our highways that He cannot anymore reach us, speak to us and being with us.  Somehow we cannot anymore stoop down low enough to listen to Him.

    In our gospel today, we come to hear how Jesus rescued his disciples from their crisis-situation. To save them from the storm and to assure them of His protection and help, Jesus made Himself known to them and said: Get hold of yourself. It is I. Do not be afraid. Clearly Jesus is with them always and will never leave them, even amidst the strong stormy winds and their panic.  However, despite Jesus’ assurance of His presence and assistance, the disciples are more concerned of themselves – their concerns and needs, their hopes and struggles, instead of trusting and having faith in Jesus. They trusted more themselves than in Jesus.

    This is clearly shown by Peter. When Jesus stated His Presence in their midst, Peter tested the Lord first by giving him conditions or requirements to fulfill: Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you across the water. At that time He did not need the Lord’s help or presence. He is more concerned with probing whether it is really the Lord or not, and testing the Lord to make him do the impossible like walking on the water. It was only when he admitted his helplessness and vulnerability that Peter finally recognized the Lord and prayed: Lord, save me.

    In one way or another, we may become like Peter and the disciples. Although we may have claimed to have followed and loved the Lord, normally we are instead more preoccupied with ourselves than believing and trusting more in Him. Usually when the going gets tough in life, when we find ourselves amidst the storms of life, or when we find Jesus seems to be asleep or absent in life, we react with terror and panic as well as doubt and unbelief, instead of deep faith in Him, who never abandons us whatever it takes. In other words, we only need Him when we want Him and we want Him in, not in His but in our own terms. We prefer to be left on our own, not to be disturbed and challenged by the Lord. We rather be far distant and detached from Him, attentive more with our noisy concerns and preoccupations that we cannot anymore hear Him speaking to us and we, listening to His voice.

    Perhaps sometimes we need to humbly experience and admit our weaknesses, limitations and hopelessness in order for us to see and realize the very importance of us being with Christ. Like Peter, for us to hear His voice and listen again to the Lord, and be conscious and realize His steadfast presence and love for us, at times we need to stoop down and find ourselves drowning by our helplessness and vulnerability. Like Peter, we need to realize once in a while that without Jesus, we are no one or nothing at all.

    Yes, the Lord is always with us. He is not watching us from a distance. But rather, we are distant from Him. He is always nearby present ever ready to help us all the time. Even amidst the storms of life, the Lord is involved with everything that happens in our lives. He will never leave us, even if we left Him. He is always there for us, even if we are not always there for Him. But most of all, He is not in the strong winds, or in earthquakes or fires of life, but usually in the ordinary whispering sounds of life.  So be humble enough to stoop down in order to listen to Him speaking again.

  • On Higher Grounds

    On Higher Grounds

    August 6, 2023 – Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080623.cfm)

    Have you ever been lost in the forest? What do you think is the best thing to do if you get lost in the forest?

    Others would say that to do what is practical, which is to find your way back. You may have found a way back, but still you have not arrived to the place where you want to be. Others would suggest to pray and “balihon ang sinina” or incorrectly wear your shirt. Again nothing would happen except you are still lost with incorrectly worn shirt, and never arrive at your destination.

    The best way to do if you are lost in the forest is to first stop your journey, and then look for some higher grounds, so that you will know and see where you are, where have you been, where you want to go and what the best way or road to take. Meaning, you have to stop first then climb a high place – a hill, mountain or a tree, so that from there you get a wider perspective of your journey and travel.

    Being lost in the forest may 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. Thabor 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 Thabor 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 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 today 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 & anew God’s call & challenge, our vocation: “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to Him”. Amen.

  • TO FIND OUR GREATEST JOY IN LIFE

    TO FIND OUR GREATEST JOY IN LIFE

    August 2, 2023 – Wednesday 17th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080223.cfm)

    Why do people work so hard? Is it not because of the dream to be contented and happy? Why do men and women search for true love? Is not also because of the hope of being happy in life? Why do we search for what makes us happy? Is it not because that we are destined to be happy?

    Definitely, we are all in search of something that will make our life happy, joyful and contented. Each of us dreams that kind of life. However, in the process of searching, we also encounter failures and disappointments, discouragements and frustrations. Yet, we always wake up to achieve what we desire for our life and for our loved ones. Our instinct is to search and gain a life of happiness peace and joy not just for ourselves but also for the people we love.

    This brings me to the message of the Gospel today. Our Gospel presents to us two parables that tell us about this desire of finding and possessing something of great value in life. This is something that a person would do everything just to attain this something of great value.

    The first parable tells us of the grace of God that surprises us. The person was actually not conscious in searching for a treasure. Yet, that person just found it out of accident and later on did everything just to possess it because he was convinced that it was of great importance. He was willing to sell everything he had just to gain that treasure. Certainly, God also loves to surprise us. Joy is truly a gift given to us.

    The second parable tells us of a person consciously searching for a pearl of great price. This search comes from that desire to have a blessed life of peace and joy. Indeed, along the way of our search, great difficulty may be experienced. However, God also leads us to discover His gift for us when we persistently ask for that. God would truly bless a heart that desires Him.

    And when a person finally finds his or her joy in life, this transforms the person not just internally but also physically especially in the way the person relates with others and the way the person presents himself or herself before others. This is what we have heard from our first reading in the Book of Exodus.

    Moses who found his greatest comfort and joy in the Lord was transformed. The Book of Exodus described him that the “skin of his face became radiant.” Moses’ intimate friendship with God made him a different person from before. He was God’s close friend. Consequently, this made Moses also ever closer to the people. Moses became more sensitive to the struggles, questions, fears and anxieties of the people.

    This tells us too that when we truly find our greatest joy in life, we become contented and grateful persons. We would begin to look at things and look at life from the perspective of God rather than from our negative and bitter perspective. In a way, this makes our heart radiate, our actions generous and our words kind.

    Certainly, a married person who truly finds contentment, security and joy in his or her married life extends such grace towards the people around him or her. A person who finally finds his or her vocation in life also becomes more generous and life-giving towards others.

    We pray that in our search of that great value, then, we would hopefully also arrive at the realization that God’s desire for us is more than anything that we could imagine for ourselves. And once we find it, may the joy and peace that it brings will transform us to become a person God wants us to be. Hinaut pa.