Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Liturgical Year A

  • God fully embraces our human family

    God fully embraces our human family

    December 17, 2019 – Tuesday 3rd Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121719.cfm

    Homily

    In one of my vacations at home during Christmas when I was still a student, I found my father meticulously writing names of people I did not recognize. I asked what was that for. I actually thought first that that could have been a list for the “utang” to be collected. J But I was wrong. My father told me that he was re-tracing our family tree. He was remembering and writing down the names of our relatives and of our great-grand fathers and mothers as far as he could remember and keep a record of our family history.

    I am not so fond of doing that. In fact, I am also quite indifferent towards looking and connecting with relatives. However, to my father, knowing and reconnecting with his past and even those people who have been part of who we are today as persons and family, is very important. My father told me funny stories about people whom he remembered as well as painful and shameful stories about some of those to whom we are related.

    This particular encounter I had with my father and with our family tree reminds me of the significance of the Gospel that we have today. We have this long list of ancestors of Jesus all the way from Abraham to him. There are 42 generations divided into three. 14 generations from Abraham to David, and then another 14 generations from David to the Babylonian Exile and another 14 generations from the Babylonian exile to Jesus.

    The numbers here are very important in the Biblical tradition. Fourteen is the equivalent of two “sevens.” Number 7 is believed to be a perfect number for the Hebrews. And having multiple number 7, is indeed, absolutely perfect!

    However, as these generations have been recorded by Matthew in his Gospel, we are also made aware that there were people whose lives were scandalous in the family tree of Jesus. 

    Yes, we have been presented of a family tree that is not so good. Jesus’ lineage is not perfect and not wholesome at all. There was King David who raped Bathsheba and then later ordered to murder her husband. There was Judah who sold his own brother Joseph for money. There was Rahab, who was a prostitute. There was King Ahaz who burned his own son alive as a human sacrifice. There was another King, Joash, who committed idolatry against Yahweh and murdered people in the Temple area. And there was the once revered King Solomon who later on turned to be unfaithful to God by turning to gods and goddesses of his many wives. 

    What is good news about this now, when in fact, Jesus did not come from a “good” family?

    With this kind of sin and imperfection, God is telling us something good about this. The family tree of Jesus is God’s statement to us that God indeed journeyed with us, in all our humanity, in all our sins and unfaithfulness. Jesus tells us that he fully embraces our humanity. God is not rejecting our imperfection but rather he allows our imperfection to be the very space for us to encounter him and to know him.

    This tells us now that despite our sinfulness and weaknesses, our human family is blessed beyond our expectation. God unfolds himself and his graces upon us through our weaknesses and sins so that we too will recognize him fully in our hearts.

    This Season of Advent is indeed a joyful season because it allows us to see once more not just our failures and sins but also to recognize how God unfolds his blessings and reveals his presence in our life.

    Hence, we are called today to be welcoming also of the lights and shadows of our past, to be grateful of the painful and joyful events in our history, to praise the generosity of God for journeying and accompanying us until today.

    May I invite you then, as we have looked into the family tree of Jesus, let us ask also the Lord to bring healing to our own family trees, to bring healing to any pain and shame that are haunting us until now and healing to broken relationships, and to bring freedom to our hearts and memories imprisoned by anger, hatred and indifference. 

    By allowing God to be more present in our individual lives and families, we may come to celebrate Christmas with gratitude and peace. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Misa de Gallo: Encounter with Jesus

    Misa de Gallo: Encounter with Jesus

    December 16, 2019 – First Day of Misa de Gallo

    Homily

    Is 56:1-3a,6-8; John 5:33-36

    Today, on this first day of Misa de Gallo, our Filipino Church also dedicates this day as the National Youth Day. 

    I would like to invite you now that we listen to personal faith story from one of our Youth Missionaries. He has served in our missions in a remote Mission Station in Davao Occidental and in the missions in Bukidnon. Let us welcome, Edgar Vladimir Tecson.

    Good morning everyone! I am going to share with you the journey of my faith. 

    It all started in my elementary days when my father asked me to be an altar boy here in Redemptorist Church. I became an altar boy from grade 5 to grade 6. Every Holy Week, I actively joined the activities conducted by the RYM especially the “Passion Play” on Good Friday.

    I officially joined Redemptorist Youth Ministry in the year 2011. In 2014, I was invited to join the “General Youth Mission” in Maramag,  Bukidnon for two weeks. After that mission, I became an active participant in every youth activity here in our parish.

    And then came 2016! During that year, I was invited by our Youth Coordinator to join the Mission Team and be a full member. I accepted the challenge and became part of the Davao Redemptorist Mission Team that was based in Nuing Mission Station,  Jose Abad Santos,  Davao Occidental for three years.  In that mission experience in Nuing Mission Station, I have known God more. 

    When I arrived at the mission area, I have experienced that God is really alive. I’ve seen it through the locals in that area.  I have encountered different types of people, especially our “lumad” brothers and sisters in the upland areas. Through them, I have really felt the presence of God since they were always calling His name in every situation that they would face in life.  Their faith helped me a lot to strengthen my faith’s foundation because whatever problems they may have, they would always say, ‘Eleg se Ontong te Temenem’ (Thank You Lord!).  Until this very moment I bring that attitude with me, to be always grateful to the Lord, no matter what. 

    As a youth missionary,  I was able to understand deeply the goodness of God. I learned to be thankful in every blessing that comes.

    I want to say thank you to all my co-missionaries in Davao Redemptorist Mission Team and the Redemptorist Youth Ministry because you have taught me so many things to deepen by faith journey as a young person. And also to my family,  thank you for letting me know and experience God’s love from the very beginning. 

    Let me end this with a verse , TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING,  IN ALL YOUR WAYS SUBMIT TO HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATH STRAIGHT ” (from the Book Proverbs 3:5-6)

    Thank you so much and Good morning!  God bless us all.  Amen. 

    We commonly call Edgar Vladimir as Bhady. What we have heard from Bhady’s faith story was the wonder of having people and even recognizing events in life that have directed us towards Jesus. 

    The experiences of Bhady remind us of the readings we have heard today. The Book of Prophet Isaiah tells us of the presence of the foreigners. These foreigners have joined themselves to the Lord. They too have recognized the wonders of the Lord God. This tells us that the Hebrew people who have become their friends created a huge impact in their life because through them, they were led to the one True God. 

    Indeed, it was the joy that they have experienced from the believers of God that they too were assisted to know God. God even promised in the Book of Isaiah that through the presence of the many peoples, there will be joy in the house of prayer, in the community.

    This is what we find also in the Gospel. Jesus recognized the person of John the Baptist, his cousin who became that person for others to know Jesus. John the Baptist led the people to recognize God in the person of Jesus by preparing their hearts and minds. This is how John had become a reflection of the True Light. John never assumed that he was the source of Light. John knew very well who the light was. That is why, through his preaching and way of life, he reflected the light that came from Jesus. John, indeed, is the burning and shining lamp for the people.

    On this first day of Misa de Gallo, we are reminded too of the person of Mary who through her, God entered in our human history physically. Through her, Jesus was born for us. Mary too is the shining lamp that leads us to Jesus. This is the reason why we have this 9-day Misa de Gallo in honor of Mary because she leads us to Jesus.

    With that, today our liturgy is also centered on the theme, “Entering into Dialogue with the World in which we live in.” This means that our encounter with the different people in our life is the dialogue that we have with the world.

    Because in every encounter, we are also presented with a story.

    Bhady’s story tells us of his many encounters with the world through the people who have become significant in his faith-journey. Those foreigners in the Book of Isaiah were able to dialogue with God also through their encounter with the Hebrews. The Jewish people who came to believe Jesus, had a dialogue first with John the Baptist that also paved the way for them to dialogue with others and with Jesus. This dialogue now became the very space of encounter between a person and Jesus.

    This is the invitation for us today. Considering the way of life of the many young people today. The internet has become a space for encounter, though virtual. In fact, our country Philippines has been branded as the Social Media Capital of the World. There are about 76 millions of Filipinos spending as much as 4 hours a day on social media sites.

    With this, let us maximize the gift of technology by bringing people closer to Jesus through the very gadget in our hands and through the media that we are very familiar with. Indeed, the Lord invites us today, especially the young to be “a Social Media Influencer” in our own group of friends in Facebook or Instagram.

    Dialogue and create encounters with your friends and followers by sharing God experiences in your social media sites. This include also sharing on how God shows his goodness and generosity to you and your family. Preach to others how God changed your life. Share with others how you have experienced love and forgiveness. Share with your friends the Word of God that has struck you. Share the good news rather than your hatred and bitterness towards others, rather than fake news and misinformation. 

    Thus, even as young persons, we can be an instrument of hope and love, of transformation and peace by bringing people closer to Jesus. Let us flood the Social Media with love and hope by actively preaching our Christian faith.

    May I also remind you, as we maximize the gift of technology, never forget also the gift of your presence in making physical and personal encounters with people around you, with your family and friends. With that, be present by being the present/gift to people.

    Lastly, I would like to invite all of you who have your phones right now, after this mass, please take a selfie or grofie with your friends in this Church and share to others the good news that you have received and use these hashtags, #encounterwithjesus #nationalyouthday #omphdavao #SANAALL.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Look around, God is with us

    Look around, God is with us

    December 15, 2019 – 3rd Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121519.cfm

    Homily

    In the past few months, our brothers and sisters in some parts of Davao del Sur and Cotabato Provinces and Sultan Kudarat were struck with series of destructive earthquakes. According to NDRRMC, the earthquakes affected 29,349 families or 146, 745 people. There are also about 20, 635 persons displaced in 27 evacuation sites and about 6, 850 displaced outside evacuation sites.[1]

    This calamity traumatized the people and particularly the children. Many are in sorrow because of the properties they lost and others too are in grief for losing their loved one at the event of the earthquake. Thus, many of them were forced to leave the comforts of their homes and have to wait for the relief operations of the government and non-government organizations.

    Moreover, it is a very sad and tragic experience to think as we celebrate this joyful season of advent and the coming season of Christmas. Today is even called Gaudete Sunday which means, Rejoice. I have been reflecting, how can these families celebrate this season now with joy when their hearts are filled with frustration, and grief? Or even to us now present here especially those who are carrying heavy burdens, those of us who are also suffering from grief and sorrow or from anger and hate, are we able to celebrate this season with joy too? It would surely be difficult.

    They may ask and all of us too would surely ask, “Is there a reason now to be hopeful and joyful in this season despite the frustrations and grief of losing loved one, properties and homes, despite the painful, disappointing and difficult experiences we have now?”

    Such miserable and depressing experiences were also felt by the Hebrew people when they were exiled in Babylon. They were caught in a tension. They were confused and in despair because they were uprooted from their homeland and settled in a land where they were oppressed. They felt insignificant, felt abandoned by Yahweh. They had become hopeless. I am sure, they too have questioned, “Will God come to save us?”

    John the Baptist felt the same despair and disappointment while he was in prison. He had been preaching about the coming of the Messiah. He communicated that joyful expectation of the savior who will come to bring justice in the world and uplift the poor and the oppressed. Yet, when he was put into prison, he too had asked the Lord, “Are you really the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

    Again, we too who are in this church would also ask sometimes, “WILL YOU COME TO SAVE ME LORD? ARE YOU REALLY GOD? ARE YOU THERE AT ALL?” 

    Our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah describes to us a wonderful imagery of the coming of God. As this was addressed to the people exiled in Babylon, the prophet proclaimed, “when God comes, we will all rejoice for God brings justice and salvation.” God heals the sick and we will sing with gladness and joy while sorrow and grief flee away. 

    Through the prophet, God speaks to his people telling them, “I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU! AND I WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU!” The words in the first reading is God’s joyful promise to his people. God will come and the people will surely rejoice.

    God, indeed, has come, born into human flesh like us. HIS NAME IS JESUS. God fulfills his promise. This is something that we should be joyful about. Jesus responding indirectly to the question of John said, “Look around you, look at what’s happening – blind people seeing, lame people walking, deaf people hearing, lepers being cleansed, dead people are raised to life, poor people for a change, receiving good news.” This is the true Messiah – the one who comes to alleviate suffering, heal broken hearts, and gives hope to the hopeless. 

    Now, we too who are sometimes unhappy in life and in difficult situations, are being told by Jesus, “Look around you! I am here with you!”  

    Jesus becomes more present with us also and in our lives when we Christians become more like him. This means that when we ourselves become healers, promoters of reconciliation, generous givers and builders of the kingdom of God in our communities, we become the presence of Jesus in our community.

    As Jesus was moved with compassion, he heals the sick and restores life for those who are rejected and abandoned. Each of us and as a community is called to heal the sick, console the afflicted and announce to others that God has come and is our friend! Let us join then in the work of God in building His kingdom now! This is truly a good news! A reason to be joyful! Sana all.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

    [1] From https://www.rappler.com/nation/243972-dead-cotabato-earthquakes-november-2-2019

  • God desires nothing but our happiness

    God desires nothing but our happiness

    Third Sunday of Advent – GAUDETE SUNDAY – December 15, 2019

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121519.cfm

    Homily shared by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR (a Redemptorist Missionary based in South Korea)

    There was once a man who approached me before the mass and asked for advice. He said, “Father, my daughter is engaged to her boyfriend, but it seems that the guy’s family does not approve of their relationship because they have learned that I am now unemployed. They thought that I am lazy and irresponsible. You see, Father, I am a retired seaman. I subsist from my pension and time-deposit I’ve earned. I just wish to spend the rest of my life with my family after long years of absence from them. I really love my daughter and only wish for her happiness. What must I do, Father? Is it a sin not to work, to be unemployed, and enjoy my family?”

    Like that man and John’s disciples in the gospel, sometimes we become restless with life in anticipation for the Lord’s reign that we ask the practical question: “I believe that the Lord will come again, but what must I do, then?” Yes, we believe that God so loves us that he gave his only begotten Son for our salvation. He has been good to us and continually showers us his love and blessings. But as faith necessitates actions, “what is the right thing to do then? What does God requires and demands of us then?”

    If we reflect deeper on our readings today,

    we see that God desires nothing much from us but our happiness.

    He simply wished us happiness in our relationship with him. As what He said to restless disciples’ of John, “Go and report what you see and heard here,” Jesus wants us to see for ourselves and enjoy the great things happening and celebrate what God is doing here and now. As God shares us his life and salvation, he does not ask for our heroic acts or sacrifices but our whole being to enjoy, savor, and share his love and work to others. God does not demand of us “holy” extra-works of doing physical penances, or attending or organizing bible studies, miracle crusades, or prayer meetings but simply requires us to be as best Christian as we can be, that is, to love Him and our neighbor, follow His precepts, celebrate liturgies in worship, share responsibilities with our fellowmen, and make them feel and realize that we are God’s people. For God, then, what matters most are not our sacrifices but obedience, not commandments but faith, a loving relationship with Him, through Jesus Christ.

    Basically, God simply invites us not to be heroes, martyrs or saints. But like John the Baptist, and the farmer who joyfully anticipates for the fruits, Jesus wants us to be His living and willing witnesses of the revelation and unfolding of God’s work of salvation. Like a best man in a wedding ceremony, Jesus calls us to be a WITNESS, who first, let God’s work of salvation happen before our eyes, not controlling or programming, but simply experiencing the event. Second, a witness who let that event influence and affect our lives, for God’s work is good news to those who admits it. And a witness, who stand for and share what he experience and believe to others, for “Happy is the man who does not lose faith in me”.

    Through our faith-responses to God’s revelation and act of His love, by our encounter and acceptance of His son as Emmanuel “God-with-us”, by being affected and changed by the person of Jesus, by sharing our faith to others, in other words by being His living witnesses, God’s blessings begin and continue to prosper within us today and forever. In reply to that man’s questions, I said to him, “it is not a sin to unemployed. You are not what you have or what you have done. But you are who you are before God now.  Just Be the best and responsible father and husband you can be. Let God do the rest.”

    May we heartily rejoice this coming Christmas to witness divine life given us again and anew. Amen. 

  • God’s coming received with great opposition

    God’s coming received with great opposition

    December 14, 2019 – Saturday 2nd Week of Advent / Memorial of St John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121419.cfm

    Homily

    Have you been opposed by others just because you are different? Have you been rejected by people around you just because you do not adhere to the status quo, to what they do and to what they liked to believe?

    The Gospel today tells us that the arrival of Jesus was not received warmly by people around him particularly of those in the leadership, of those in the high position. Despite the call of the prophets from the ancient times from Isaiah, Elijah and up to the person of John the Baptist, God’s coming was received with great opposition. As the prophets called the people to turn away from sin and selfishness, the prophets also received violent condemnation from the powerful. This was what happened to John the Baptist who confronted King Herod for his immoral union with his brother’s wife. As a result, John was silenced by beheading him. In the words of Jesus, he said, “they treated him as they pleased.”

    Indeed, the Lord revealed himself, yet the people refused to recognize him because their hearts were filled with malice and full of themselves. These people who continually rejected and opposed Jesus had become so comfortable with their life but trapped by their own selfishness.

    The Pharisees, scribes, lawyers and priests of the temple were so comfortable with their way of life that they did not want a change and did not want to be challenged. They were afraid of losing what they were enjoying. Herod and his mistress were also contented with their immoral life and did not want to be confronted. Thus, these people did not want God to change their life. What they seek was the preservation of that kind of life they were living. However, this was not what God wanted. Jesus wanted them to be free, that is why, he had to confront them.

    In this Season of Advent, we are reminded to also examine ourselves if we have become too comfortable with what we have been doing, with what we have been thinking and with what we are living for. The problem is not the comfort in itself, the concern is our attitude or way of life in choosing to be indifferent and unmoved with what is happening around us and with God’s self-revelations in our life. This also include our attitudes of not wanting to change, to be challenged, to be criticized and to be corrected.

    Hence, this calls us to confront ourselves with those attitudes that do not lead us closer to others and closer to God. Jesus invites us today to be more welcoming of his presence by also letting go of those comforts that prevent us from coming closer to him, and attitudes that prevent God to enter into our life.

    As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus, may our hearts and our whole life be more ready and more welcoming of God’s coming. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR