Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Homilies

  • GOD IS COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS 

    GOD IS COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS 

    March 14, 2022 – Monday in the Second Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031422.cfm)

    Prophets are servants of God who proclaim God’s message for the people. Yet, because of the radical of the prophets to abusive and corrupt leaders, they were persecuted and killed. This was what happened to the prophets sent by God to Israel. However, the leaders of the people rejected the call to conversion and continued their corrupt practices and worshipping of other gods. This led to the destruction of the nation. The leaders of the people led the whole nation towards death.

    This what Prophet Daniel recognized in our first reading today. He too expressed his intercession on behalf of the people who had been exiled in a foreign land after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The destruction brought people to be dispersed and many of them became slaves. When the Temple was destroyed, the people felt that God abandoned them since the Temple was an assurance of God’s presence.

    However, instead of blaming God for abandoning them and letting that terrible event in their life to happen, Daniel, being shamefaced, realized their unfaithfulness towards their covenant with God. Daniel who prayed on behalf of the people recognized how they have turned their eyes blind and ears deaf towards the prophets whom God sent to their leaders.

    The leaders and the people continued to break their covenant with God by oppressing the weak among them and worshipping other gods. The leaders became cruel and shameless. All they thought and aspired was for their benefit and comfort of their families and close friends. This led them to worship other gods, the gods of other nations whom they thought were more powerful because of the seemingly riches and influence they enjoyed. However, they were indifferent to the plight of the poor, the sick, the orphans and the widows. And such belief and way of life became a culture among the people. Thus, it was them who actually distanced from God.

    And all of these came to the mind of Daniel. He remembered their sins and failures, the reason of the great shame he felt. Moreover, with this recognition of their unfaithfulness and sins, Daniel also saw how God remained faithful to them despite everything. Daniel acknowledge that God is compassion and forgiveness. Indeed, God remains merciful.

    This is the invitation that Jesus also spoke to his disciples in today’s Gospel, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Mercy, as Pope Francis said, is the name of God. God is mercy and it is God’s identity card.

    In this Season of Lent, may we always realize God’s mercy upon us that despite our unfaithfulness and sins, God remains for us, because God is Mercy. This invites us now to become merciful, to express that mercy in the way we relate with one another and in the way we live our very life. And when prophets of today calls us to recognize our failures and sins, may we not resist but heed the call of conversion that leads us to embrace God’s mercy and offer of freedom from sin and death.

    Indeed, mercy shall give us freedom from shame, and life from the death caused by our sins. Let mercy be the very measure to be returned to us. Hinaut pa.

  • TAKING THE RISK THAT LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION

    TAKING THE RISK THAT LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION

    March 13, 2022 – 2nd Sunday of Lent     

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031322.cfm)

    A friend shared to me how she took the risk of entering into a new relationship. She had been hurt in the past and the scar of betrayal still pained her. She became protective of herself by being suspicious of others. Obviously, she did not want another pain and disappointment. But then, another person came who promised to be with her. She was hesitant and fearful because she might experience another heartache. She will not be able to bear another pain and betrayal. At the beginning, she would not give any room for her suitor to occupy a space in her heart. Yet, the determination and patience of that man made her reconsider her position. At the end, she took the risk despite her anxieties and fears for a new relationship. Moreover, she discovered how that taking the risk transformed her, including her attitudes and perspective in life. In the process, as she took the risk, she became positive and grateful. A new person has emerged, a transformed woman ready to love and be loved again.

    Her story reminds me of the stories we have heard in today’s readings, which invite each of us to take the risk and be transformed. Together, let us explore these readings and see how God calls us on this Second Sunday of Lent.

    In the Book of Genesis, God called Abram to journey to a land God has promised. Abram was to leave the comfort of his homeland and people because God prepared something for him. God also promised Abram many children. Despite his uncertainties and anxieties, Abram took the risk of journeying to that strange land, and took the risk of putting his trust and faith in God.

    Indeed, as he took the risk of believing in God, God transformed Abram into a new man through the covenant that God made with Abram. Later, we knew that Abram’s name became Abraham, which means, the “father of many.” Certainly, this is a story of taking risk that led to a transformation of a person.

    We also find this in today’s Gospel. The transfiguration of Jesus is a manifestation of Jesus’ act of taking the risk to be vulnerable and powerless, to be sold and betrayed by a friend, to be deserted by his own disciples, to be persecuted, to suffer and to die. And because Jesus completely trusted his Father despite the uncertainties, “his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.”

    What does it mean? It was a glimpse of the glory of his resurrection, which Peter, John and James witnessed with their own eyes. In that revelation, the Father assured Jesus of His constant presence. It was a covenant made by the Father to His son, telling the Son that he will not be alone.

    Moreover, to Peter, John and James it was also an invitation “to listen to Jesus” – that is to take the risk of following the Lord and be transformed according to the image of Jesus. Indeed, as they listened to Jesus, they took the risk of following the Lord despite their fears and doubts, and of the uncertainties of their life as disciples.

    Thus, these former fishermen became fishers of many people. The doubtful and fearful Peter became a pillar of the Church and a martyr for Christ. The innocent and young John became a respected old man whose wisdom was sought after by his disciples. And James became a devoted preacher of Jesus and was the first apostle to be martyred because of his devotion and faith.

    The invitation for us today is also to take the risk so that we will be transformed to be like Jesus. Remember, we can be very comfortable with our old ways and choosing to stay to what is only familiar to us. We could grow contented the way we live our life now to the point that we do not want to be challenged.

    Yet, God wants us to be renewed. Hence, we are called to get out from the comforts of being passive, complacent and indifferent, to get out from our self-centered ideas and attitudes, to let go of our biases against people, to let go of our fears and doubts that only prevent us from being free, honest and life-giving persons.

    Today, God tells us, “Listen to me!” God speaks in our hearts through the words in the bible and through this celebration that we are not to remain passive, not to remain complacent, not to remain self-centered, fearful and doubtful of ourselves but to become pro-active, to be self-sacrificing, to go out from our usual ways and to be confident in God’s words like Abram and Jesus’ disciples. Hinaut pa.

  • Into Redemption

    Into Redemption

    March 13, 2022 – Second Sunday of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031322.cfm)

    Coming back from his desert experience, a holy man was once asked to describe his experience of God. People asked him, “Tell us, how does God look like? How do we recognize God?” But the holy man was so confused, for how can he express to them his experience of God from his heart. Is it possible to articulate to them his God experience in few words? So, he decided to teach them a simple prayer to describe his God experience in the desert, knowing also that this prayer is limited and incomplete. He hoped however that through this simple prayer, people may become more open to experience God for themselves. People then accepted such prayer readily, made it sacred and holy, teach and impose it on others, and preach it to other nations. Some even gave up their lives to spread this Prayer to other people.

    The holy man however was so concerned and eventually regretted his actions because many things have been done already to his simple yet incomplete prayer, except to help people experience and encounter God for themselves. He realized eventually that it would have been better if he did not speak at all but stayed silent, than give people a few words of prayer. 

    True enough, we do aspire to know and experience God. Like the people in our story, through prayer, we hope to encounter God’s presence in our lives. Since prayer is all about the meeting between God and man. Prayer is our chance to experience God in our own lives. Meaning, prayer is not only our spoken-words and actions-done to express our needs, wants and desires for God, but more so, prayer is our way & chance for God to reveal, make himself known, and be experienced by us.  

    Our readings today describe to us what Prayer really is. In our first reading, we come to learn that by listening to God’s will, Abram in prayer received God’s promise of salvation. In our gospel, by accompanying Jesus in prayer, the disciples witnessed and experienced God’s presence & glory. Meaning, in prayer we come to experience God, and it is our experience with Him – the meeting/encounter matters most than the methods and words we used. Words and the manner of praying are just then but helps or avenues towards experiencing God in prayer.

    But usually while praying, we become more concerned about the Hows (methods) – on what is the righteous thing to do or say for us to experience God, and like Martha, on what do we have to do or say before the Lord. Remember, however: What God say to us is more important that what we say to Him.” What God wants from us and for us is more important than what we want from Him. What God does to us is more important than what we do to Him. In others words, God’s presence and glory is more important than our presence and glory. Simply put, while praying, God’s agenda and business are more important than our own agenda and business.

    Like for instance, while praying the rosary, we find ourselves tired and sleepy or at sleep. And then we find ourselves guilty for losing track or not completing our rosary. Consider perhaps that God is more concerned with our tired souls than completing our rosary. While praying, God is more concern about taking care of our tired and weary souls than we finishing off our rosary. Or at times, while we are praying the Lord’s prayer, we distracted and bothered with the word: “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sinned against us” because we are reminded of people who have hurt and pained us, as well as of people we have hurt and pained. Consider perhaps that those hurtful memories are the very agenda and business God wants us to address at that very moment to be eventually forgiven and healed.    

    Prayer and praying usually lead us into quiet and silence of our heart, eventually for us to become more open to God’s agenda and business as well as God’s presence. Abram in our first reading and the disciples during the Lord’s transfiguration experienced God’s glory and became sensitive to God’s will because they prayed in silence and open enough to be changed by God’s agenda and business for them.

    This Lenten Season, the Holy Church calls us to pray. And in the many ways and words we pray, be reminded that these prayers are just ways and means, but great help and aid for us to experience for ourselves God’s presence and will for us these days. Through our silent prayerful listening anew to God’s word & agenda for us these days is our sure path into our redemption towards God’s glory. As we respond readily to our Father’s call: to “Listen to His beloved Son” may we be, through our prayer and in praying more open and sensitive to experience God’s presence and revelations – greater and better things God in store for us in life ahead. Amen.

  • Into Temptation

    Into Temptation

    March 6, 2022 – First Sunday of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030622.cfm)

    Three men and an elderly priest had once a discussion. The priest asked: “supposing a corrupt politician approaches you, gives you lots of money and promises to grant you more favors if you vote and support him in the coming election, what would you do?” Replied by the first man, “I will return him the bribe-money”. The priest told him, “You, stupid fool”. Then the second replied, “I will take the bribe-money. I will keep it in my pocket. Surely, I will not waste such fortune”. But the priest replied, “You, shrewd crook”. And the last man said, “I really don’t know what to do? Will I overcome my evil inclinations? Or will my evil inclinations overpower me to claim what is not mine and to do what should not be done? I really don’t know. But if God will bless me and strengthen me to go against all my evil inclinations, I will return the bribe-money back to the corrupt politician.” The priest then said, “You are right, and you are a wise man.”

    Why? The priest called the first man stupid fool because he doesn’t know himself. He believes that he is too strong to resist temptations in life. No men, by himself, have ever overcome temptations in life. Usually, temptations overcome us not because we are weak but because we are too proud to think that we are strong enough to overcome temptations. The second man was a shrewd crook because he is willing to claim what he does not own, and to do wrongdoing, without any qualms whatsoever. For such kind of men, temptations are opportunities for them to take advantage of others for their own benefits. The priest praised the third as good and wise man because he knows that like all of us, we are basically weak people. He hopes that in the midst of temptations, he will be strong enough to do what is right. But he also knows that he can only do this with God’s help and strength, and he is most willing to ask and pray for it. He knows that in dealing with life-temptations, there is always a struggle within as well as reliance and faith in God’s help. 

    We can say the temptations Jesus experienced in our gospel are still very much present and true in own lives today. To live in humanistic and materialistic life, to strive for our own self-glorification and not for God’s glory, and to worship not God, but worldly power and honor are still very present and true in our lives today anywhere, both at home and abroad.

    Surely the migrant workers and their family today can attest to the reality and experience of temptations, struggles and reliance on God within themselves and their own family. They know the better and the worst realities and effects of how to live within the context of a Christian migrant family. Yes, our ability today to live and work abroad either as migrant or worker presents us great opportunities to make and build up our lives. But it also presents us great temptations to break and destroy our lives. Wherever we are, whether we are at home or abroad, we confront the same temptations and struggles as well as we need to rely and trust on God’s strength and power.  

    And how do we act in respond into our experiences of temptations in life? Like the stupid fool, we could resist & reject. Or like the shrewd crook, we could give in to it. Or like the wise man, we could struggle in faith with temptations & evils in life.

    It is easy for us indeed to fall into temptations. The biggest problem in struggling with temptations is our lack of self-knowledge, our lack of recognizing and overcoming the evil within ourselves. We struggle with the evils of others and in our society but the toughest struggle is to acknowledge and overcome the evil within our own selves – the evil within our own hearts. We were born with conflicting goodness and evil within. That is why we can be good and can do good… but not easily, since there are always tensions and struggles within ourselves. Moreover, we can only withstand these difficulties, if we are wise enough to rely and have faith not only in our own strength but in God’s help and power.

    Like the stupid fool, if we think we can overcome these life-temptations and evils only by and through own strength and power, we are surely wrong and are doomed to failure for we don’t have the power and capacity to resist temptations. But like the wise man & Jesus, if we are wise enough to acknowledge and ask for, and have faith on God’s help and strength, we surely can overcome evils and temptations in others as well as within ourselves; – hoping not to be a shrewd crook falling into temptations.

    St. Augustine is wise enough to say, “Through temptations, we come to know ourselves. We cannot receive the crown of salvation if there is no victory. And there is no victory if there is no struggle. And there is no struggle if there are no enemies and the bearers of these temptations.” This means that we can bring about salvation through and as we struggle with life-temptations and we recognize that human as we are, we are weak, but in faith with God, we are strong enough.

    With our Lord in our struggle with life-temptations & trials, we pray most especially during these trying times of pandemic, threats of war & political division: “Lead us not into temptations”

    So be it. Hinaut pa unta. Kabay pa. Siya Nawa. Amen.

    (P.S. Fr. Mario Masangcay, CSsR is a Filipino Redemptorist Missionary who worked with & for our Filipino Migrant Families and Workers in Gwangju Archdiocese in South Korea.)

  • Fasting

    Fasting

    March 4, 2022 – Friday after Ash Wednesday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030422.cfm)

    Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. Though not obliged but encouraged for below 18 & above 60 years old faithful, Catholics during Lent practice abstinence from meat during Fridays of Lent.

    We should understand that fasting is not only our penance – our way to be repentant for our sins and be reconciled with God, but most of all, fasting is our way & chance to help those who are in need and hungry. St. Augustine once said: “Don’t think that fasting is enough. Yes, fasting may be a form of penance but it will not save our neighbors. Righteous is your fasting and abstinence if it helps the needs of others. How many poor hungry people be satisfied by the food you fasted and abstained today?”

    Image from http://www.self.com

    Meaning, fasting is not for our personal gains but for the salvation of others. Our bishops even remind us that it is poverty, not politics is the greatest problem in our country today. Whatever savings, then we have acquired from our fasting during Lent & during Friday abstinence from meat could and should be our contribution and extended help to those who are in need. In this way, Lent would be real sacrifice for it would personally and deeply affect our stomachs and pockets.

    Our Lenten practices of fasting, prayer, and charitable works during this season then are not for our sake but for the sake of other than ourselves.

    We hope and pray then that the food we fast and the things we abstain from having within this season be converted and become rice, clothing, and food for our poor and hungry neighbors, especially during these trying pandemic times.

    So be it.