Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Liturgical Year A

  • FORGIVING

    FORGIVING

    September 17, 2023 – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091723.cfm)

    “To err is human, to forgive is divine”. At times easy for us to say these words to make excuses for our wrong-doings and to ask forgiveness for our mistakes. However, same words of excuse we also  use at times to refuse forgiveness to those who have wronged and hurt us. “Pasensya lang, tao lang po.” Words that verily  describe not only our human frailty but also how difficult it is for us to forgive others who have wronged us. Perhaps asking forgiveness is much easier than giving forgiveness, but nevertheless to forgive is indeed difficult, especially whenever it is associated with “forgive and forget”.

    When his disciples asked Jesus how often should we forgive those who have sinned against us, they are just expressing our difficulties in living out and upholding the value of forgiveness in our lives. Yes, like the disciples we see the importance of forgiveness into our lives but we also know how difficult and frustrating forgiveness can be.

    In response to our questions and difficulties with forgiveness, Jesus in our gospel teaches and offers us something more about forgiveness. When he said “not seven times but seventy times seven”, Jesus is telling us to forgive indefinitely. Forgiveness then is not about counting (counting faults, sins, mistakes and forgiveness) but about sharing, giving what you have – without counting the cost or prize. This would also mean that though it is human for us to err and to forgive is divine, nevertheless it also human to forgive. In other words, frail human as we are, we can also forgive and be forgiving of others – how difficult and frustrating it may be. We can still humanely and divinely share forgiveness with one another. 

    And in the parable of “the forgiven but unforgiving servant”, Jesus is teaching us that forgiveness is more than just “forgive and forget”. To forgive for Jesus is all about settling account, paying back, and being patient. Meaning to forgive is not about forgetting but about to evaluate or put value and importance to the action-done, experience-happened and the relationship-build. In other words,  Bigyang halaga at hinidi binabaliwala lamang. So, to forgive is then not to forget but rather to remember (to make and value the experience as part-member of ones life.). It is a decision to give value, importance and responsibility to your action, experience and relationship – and not to get out, get rid, get away from our own mess, but to give God, each others and yourself another chance to grow and live life.  It is also to remember the wrongdoings-done and learn lessons from the mistake. Thus to forgive is perhaps to forget the resentment but moreso, to remember the lessons-learned for the sake of healing & growth. 

    And the message of the parable directs us to “Be forgiving as we are and have been forgiven by God”. Let our reason for forgiving and sharing forgiveness be not ourselves (to feel good) or be not others (to appease) but be God, who forgive and love us first and always. Forgive then not for our’s or other’s sake but for God’s sake. Forgiveness is God’s grace we received and ought to be shared to others. Let our forgiveness be our offering of gratitude for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

    In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to ask our Father to “Forgive us As we forgive those who have sinned against us”. This is our cry to the Father to give us another chance in life as we try our best to give ourselves and other’s another chance also in life, how difficult it might be. Yes, forgiveness is divinely-granted and also humanly-shared, not to be forgotten but be remembered for its value in life.

    Human as we are, yet are blessed and forgiven, may we be and ought to be forgiving for God’s sake to others especially to those who have wronged and hurt us.

    So be it.

  • TOGETHER

    TOGETHER

    September 10, 2023 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091023.cfm)

    How come, Filipinos manage and remain to be resilient and strong in times of crisis and disasters? How come, Filipinos can easily bounce back and rebuild their lives despite worst life-conditions and terrible events in life? 

    During typhoon Ondoy, I happened to be in Belgium finishing my master’s degreesand licentiate in Theology. The above-questions were raised by my professors, colleagues, and classmates even I myself cannot help but also wonder. In response to their questions, I narrated to them a testimony of Ondoy-survivor which was published in PDI few days after the incident.

    During the typhoon, residents of an apartment seek refuge on the rooftop of their building. As they settle-in, while waiting for rescue and/or the flood to subside, they started to pray the rosary together even if without their beads but by just using their fingers to count. After rosary, they pulled-out whatever provisions they were able to recover, and shared it with one another. As they had their fill, they began to share their stories – their experiences and backgrounds, hopes, and dreams, fears and frustrations, as well as jokes and life-dramas.

    In others words, as answer to these questions, it is because we, Filipinos do and share things together especially during times of life-crisis and difficulties. We are not perfect people. We do have our own shortcomings and limitations. Nevertheless, we do have a common life. We usually live life together as family and community. And particularly, we usually pray, eat, and share our stories together in good times and bad times.

    Somehow our Filipino togetherness, our common life as Filipino reflects the values Jesus upholds in our gospel today. For Jesus, Christian life must be lived and witnessed in the spirit of the following morals within our community & family life.

    First, together we pray. Christian life should have and share a common recognition and faith in God. Jesus said, “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.” God’s presence, love and mercy are assured and promised whenever we pray together in His name.

    Second, together we eat. Christian life should also have and share a common concern and regards for others. Ours and the salvation of others is our responsibility. Not the judge or the savior, but we are all our brother’s keepers. They are in our watch and it is our responsibility to correct them when they are at fault, feed them when hungry, take care of them when they need help.

    And lastly, together we share our life-stories. As Christians, we must also have and share common meanings, ideals, and morals in life. Jesus said, “what we declare bound or loosed on earth shall be held bound or loosed in heaven”. Our life as community is the bearer of God’s salvation. God’s grace of redemption reveals itself and happens in and through our community, i.e., in partnership with our life together as community. What we value and give importance in life is sacred before God’s eyes. We also accept what God deems important to our lives.

    While we do have our shortcomings and still struggling, we cannot deny as Filipino we do possess these values and qualities as people. As reflected in our aspired values of maka-Dios, makatao at maka-Pilipino, we do have the basic orientation towards others (Dios, tao at Pilipino) as well as of doing, sharing, and living life together in common.

    It was once said that we, human being as like angels, but angels with only one wing. For us to fly and rise, we need one another, we need each other. Together we do our part so that in partnership with God, we can be with Him always.

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • 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.