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Category: Liturgical Year A

  • Necessary Change

    Necessary Change

    December 7, 2025 – Second Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120725.cfm)

    Now, how is life at Age of New Normal?

    Not so long ago, we come to be familiar with the oxymoronic word “New Normal”. Strange & contradictory as it sounds, “New Normal” simply calls us to adapt & change whether we like it or not to the new realities that we are in. As we all know, life after COVID pandemic have really transformed our lives nowadays.

    Not only our personal immune systems have changed, we cannot help but be exposed to deal & challenge to confront realistically anew our old previous lifestyle & corrupted systems we are used to practice. Yes, we are in the New Normal realities now & it calls us to change not for the worse but for the better versions of ourselves.

    And what does new normal require of us? Albert Einstein is wise enough to remind us that “we cannot solve our problem with the same thinking we used when we created them”.  Meaning, new – (not same old) paradigm for new problem. New (not same old) system & framework for new solution. New (not same old) constants for new contexts.

    Same with new computer & smartphones systems, new normal entails system reformat & lifestyle upgrade or else we find ourselves obsolete & useless to the new realities we are in nowadays. Thus, New Normal necessitates our change towards updated lifestyle, values & thinking in life.

    We have just begun Advent season this new liturgical year that proclaims us that God’s kingdom is near & coming soon. And so we are to prepare & be aware as Jesus reminds us last Sunday, and, as John the Baptist today calls us out also to repent. As God’s reigns anew in our lives nowadays, our awareness & repentance are thus required of us faithful followers of Christ.

    This would clearly mean that constant need for our repentance is part & parcel of our Christian life. Because to repent is first of all to realize that “there is something wrong here” i.e., something is missing or lacking, or something out of sync or tune “yabag” happening in our life.

    Second, is to admit that “we are the one who is wrong here” and that there is no point of blaming others.

    Third is to recognize that “we need to change and we need help” recognizing God’s mercy and the assistance of others.

    Fourth is to resolve that “we want and choose to be better than this”.

    And lastly, to commit to someone and something good and better in life, i.e., we declare “We believe in God”.

    The challenge of repentance requires us then the realization that “There is something wrong”, the admission that “I are wrong”, the recognition that “I need help and need to change”, the resolution that “I want and choose to be better”, and the declaration that “I believe in God”.

    Somehow Advent is akin to our experience of hosting a VIP into our home. In preparation, you realize how messy your house is, and start to worry how to welcome your special guest.

    Then you begin to realize & admit that it is not only your house, but more so yourself is at mess. Then you try to do something and ask for help. In doing so, you resolve to make your house and yourself better because you now believe that your special guest look up to you and you guest’s visit could offer you a chance to make life meaningful and better.

    And here we understand that new normal & change are all interrelated. For we all know that repentance is more than just be sorry of our faults, but more so about the resolve to change our old ways & to do better in our faith & life as followers of Christ. We consider here that necessary change towards new normal is a significant & meaningful part of repentance. Some are unable to repent because they are unwilling to change. Some also are unable to change because they are unwilling to repent.

    But whether we like it or not we have to change & upgrade our life or else we remain obsolete & outdated in our ways.

    May we dispose ourselves during this Advent season to the necessary changes required of us in life as we believe & follow our Lord in our faith journey ahead.

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • CHOICE NOW

    CHOICE NOW

    November 30, 2025 – First Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/113025.cfm)

    A mother once knocks at his son’s door and have this following Convo or exchange of words.

    Mother: “Son, wake up.” But the son said: “Mom, I don’t want to get up.” Mom continued: “Son, Get up now. You have to go to the church today.” Son said, “I don’t want to go to church today”. Mom asked: “Why not?” Son replied, “I will give you three reasons: “I’m too young to go church, it’s dull and boring in the church, and people there don’t like me.” Mom persisted, “Now, I will also give you only three reasons you should go to the church. Today you have to be there, you are already 30 years old and it’s your wedding day. So, Wake up and get up now. You are already grown up – enough to just go back to sleep again.

    Which is more difficult nowadays: to lay down and go asleep in the evening …or to get up and stay awake in the morning? Waking up and getting up in the morning, and staying awake the whole day have always been our daily struggle. We always want to go back to sleep. All day long there is a longing in us to go back to bed and sleep again. Even when we are up and awake, we still have bouts of daydreams and musings the whole day through. That is why we have a Filipino saying: (Mahirap gisingin ang taong gising). “It is not easy to wake up someone who is already awake”. In other words, how can you wake up someone who is already arise & awake?

    We may not only be dealing here about our getting up physically in the morning and the whole day through, but this may also be true about getting up and staying awake in our whole life. This may also be about how awake and aware are we in living our lives.

    As we go through our lives, there are many moments that we are more asleep than awake. Habitually we may have found ourselves already physically awake but still actually unaware, out of sync, lukewarm, numb, and out of touch of reality.

    In life, we find usually ourselves in situations where we are already yet still – already awake yet still asleep. It is like, you already realize your mistake, but still doing the same mistake all over again. Same way as that son, who is already awake but still find reasons and excuses not to get up but to go back to sleep on his wedding day. Or worse, number of people have already died not only cause by natural disasters but also political & government corruption yet still making excuses, blaming & politicking.

    Remember waking up and staying awake in life may be a struggle but it is also a choice. In other words, “to get up and stay awake OR to go back and remain asleep” in life is perhaps the first decision we have to struggle with and make daily in life. What is significant here is not only the action and decision taken but moreso on the awareness, realization, and choice of the present NOW in facing life. Since now you know your mistake, now you have the choice to continue the same mistake, or do something about it. Since you know NOW you are old enough to go to church today because it’s your wedding day as your special Day with your spouse before the Lord, you may get up OR to go back at bed to sleep again. Since now we are aware that corruption causes people’s lives, we rise up & voice our dissent & disgust against crooked ways of our government & leadership; OR remains asleep & silently tolerant about these social realities.

    This is why on the first Sunday of Advent in preparation for the coming Christmas day, the Lord has very simple message to us: STAY AWAKE, and BE prepared.

    Human as we are, the Lord knows that we rather stay asleep than awake in life. He recognizes that we are already awake yet at times mostly asleep in life. He also knows however that we do have the CHOICE NOW whether to stay awake or asleep. That is why He is particularly calling us to stay awake, be prepared, get up and go forward for He promises that there are more and better in life yet to come & happen in life. His words in our gospel today are not His warning but a wake-up call to us to brace ourselves to the New Normal Life Ahead.

    To remain awake and stay aware in life, is indeed a struggle yet a choice in life. But if we continue to heed and do our part in the Lord’s invitation of staying awake and being aware now in our life, we will see more and eventually become witnesses to fullness of the New Normal life God can offer us now & the near future ahead. Same way with smartphones, new system upgrade is to happen soon. It is up to you to remain with the old slow system OR prepare for an upgraded system that make the best of your smartphones.

    By the way, today on the first Sunday of Advent at the occasion of Bonifacio Day (our Philippines national hero day), the Archdiocese of Cebu calls for SUPAK, in English “Against” but a rough acronym of (Sugbuanong Pakigbisog Kontra Kurapsyon) in that would mean – People of Cebu’s struggle against Corruption. This is wake up call & constant reminder among people & faithful of Cebu Province that we choose not to remain asleep but be vigilant & ready for life-upgrade (not downgrade) soon.

    Because as the Lord reminds us today and always: “Therefore, Stay awake and be prepared… for the Son of Man will come.” In other words, Hoy Gising… Wake up for I am on-the-way coming NOW & sooner than you expect.

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • ENOUGH FOR US ALL

    ENOUGH FOR US ALL

    August 4, 2024 – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080424.cfm)

    It could happen that once in a while some wayward beggars would come to us & ask for some “bahaw” or left-over food to eat. Once I gave some food enough for a day to a beggar. As he received the food, he asked: “Walay kape ug saging man lang?” (How about some coffee & fruits for extra?). Though this irritated me, it also made me think: “If I’m going to give, why not give all  – the full package deal with all the extras? Why only give enough for the day? Why not for the whole week?

    But as we all know, human as we are, we are not easily contented. Hard for us to be fully satisfied. We want more. We need more than we already have. Like that wayward beggar, we want some extra: extra rice, sauce, toppings, privileges, discount, bonus, payment and others, with less effort & easily, if possible, quickly. So, when is the limited resources that I have now, enough for me? When is the less that I have, enough for me to share with others who are in need? So, when is enough is enough?Somehow at the very heart of our readings today is the question about ENOUGH.

    In Exodus, we hear that after escaping slavery from Egypt, the people of Israel found themselves free from slavery but hungry in the desert. They needed food for the journey & they grumbly complained about their predicament. To the point of blaming Moses & even preferring to be slave again in Egypt but nourished, rather than free but starving in the wilderness. Yahweh heard their cries & addressed their needs.

    God rained down bread from heaven for them, and they only have to gather enough bread for their daily portion. Great! But they also asked: “What’s this?”. And perhaps may also have asked: “only this, fine flakes?” It might be from heaven, but why only biscuits/flakes? Why not pizza or burger? No extra drinks? And why gather only enough for the day? Why not save & reserve for tomorrow? In the same way in our gospel today, after they were fed and have their fill at the multiplication of loaves, the people followed Jesus because they want more.

    They never had enough. They need more extra from Jesus. In their mind, they would think: “Since you, Jesus have already fed us, what more can You offer us? What shall we do to have what You can give us? Do we need to work for food?

    Over and beyond our human needs for survival & God’s saving act is the question of our Faith and Trust in God. The manna from heaven and the miracle of feeding thousands of people is not about the Gift, but about our faith in the Giver. What matter most then is not having enough or more than enough Food and blessings to receive, but more so about us believing & trusting in God as Giver of the Gifts & in His ways of taking care of us. It is all about having enough faith & trust in God & His work of giving us life to its fullness.

    Through the manna from heaven, Yahweh gave the people enough manna provision for the day – not pizza for the whole week, because as Yahweh said, “I will test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not”. The graces before us now then is a test in our faith with God rather than rescue operation or feeding program to satisfy our immediate & urgent needs.

    In the same way, there is more to the miracle of Jesus than just the feeding of the multitude. It is a challenge for the people-then & us-now, as Jesus said: to “BELIEVE in the one God sent”. In the same way as God sent manna from Heaven, God sent us His son, Jesus not just to satisfy our cravings, our needs & hunger for more, but more so to offer us fullness & meaningful life in faith with God. Here, Jesus clearly proclaiming to us now: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

    Simply put: In life , Jesus is Enough for Us. He is all that we need in life, nothing more, nothing less. Only required of us now is to accept Him, as God-sent bread of Life, and believe His life & witness as God’s work of salvation, is enough and more than enough for us, and for all.

    This is what St. Alphonsus de Liguori, the founder of the Redemptorists believes. For St. Alphonsus, “With Him, there is fullness of redemption”  – With Jesus, we already got & have abundance grace & blessing always. In other words, Jesus is enough & more than enough for us. And Jesus & all His offer of graces are given for all and not only for the few.

    All has a share in God’s blessing of Redemption – and this is what St. Alphonsus and we Redemptorists, & all of us Christian, believe & proclaim to all people in the world, most especially to the poor, neglected & most abandoned: Jesus, the bread of Life is Enough for us all.

    When Jesus taught us to pray “Give us each day our daily bread”, he doesn’t want us just to express our needs, since the Father knows already what we need. But he wants us to express our faith in God that we believe and abide with whatever the Father gifts & wills for us.

    Thus, when all is said and done, it was not the manna that sustained the Israelites in the desert, it was not the bread and fishes in the Jesus’ time, it was not our daily bread that sustains us today. What sustained them and us today is our faith and trust in God.

    No matter how difficult life may be, for those who trust in God, and live a day at a time, rest assured, God’s blessing of manna from heaven falls everyday with Jesus always with us.

    Lord, our bread of life, Your Love & your grace are Enough for us. Continue to nourish & give us life. Teach us to worship more the Giver than the gifts now and always. Amen.

  • WHERE Our Hearts Lie….

    WHERE Our Hearts Lie….

    November 19, 2023 – 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111923.cfm)

    We have just heard about the all-too familiar Parable of the Talents. The master entrusted some investments to his servants – each according to his ability. As accounting day arrives, those who did well to make the most of his investment were entrusted with more investments & responsibilities, but those who failed to maximize his investments were deprived of further investments & responsibilities. Such a simple business principle. You reap what you sow. Same as in computer language, it is called GIGO (Garbage IN, Garbage Out).

    GIGO – reaping what we sow is perhaps one of the many obvious lesson we might from the parable of the sower. And perhaps, the lesson about held-in trust.

    Held-in trust reminds us that all our possessions now are ours only in-trust. Meaning, what we have & own now are given only to us in trust. We are just stewards entrusted with what we have now. How we use, maximize & invest all that we have now are not for you to keep but for you to make life better for all. And what we do with our entrusted treasures now in this life is also reflected in our life with God to come. In other words, God’s kingdom is how we treasure God’s graces & blessings in our hearts. God’s kingdom then is where our heart is and should be.

    Now, to learn more about the lessons of GIGO & Held-in Trust from the parable of the talents, consider also this other modern-day parable….

    In a dream, a rich man found himself at the heaven’s door with two angels. The angels said: “Welcome Home, Sir”. He was brought inside a posh five-starred hotel, where he was also welcomed by his former staff, friends, family & colleagues who have gone before him. Glad to be in heaven meeting again his people, he was then led to his room at 175th floor. Coming down from the elevator, he and the angels passed through several VIP rooms. But eventually, he was led into a storage room near the staircase with only a cushion bed on the floor. Shocked with what he got, he complained: “That’s it? Only this pathetic room?”. But an angel replied: “Well, that’s only we can do & set up for you…. from the few materials & resources you have sent here.”

    Remember Jesus advices us: “Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Mt. 6:19-20)

    Set our hearts, Lord towards Your Kingdom at all times so that we may now lost our ways & not lose Your ways but rather live our lives here now on earth more directed and meaningful, and thus fully enjoy our being with You now and forever. Amen.

  • Are You Ready Now?

    Are You Ready Now?

    November 12, 2023 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111223.cfm)

    “Last two minutes”. Usually in a basketball game, the last two minutes is scheduled as “Time-out” for both teams. At that moment, the game is paused for a minute break to allow both teams to assess their situation in view of the coming end-game. This is the chance for both teams to have a wider look on where they are and how they fair at that period of the game. It is an opportunity for teams to have a reality-check in terms of their strengths and weaknesses as well as of the possible opportunities and threats at this stage of the game, in view of plotting a game-plan strategy for the end-game. The “last two-minutes time-out” of the basketball game is thus an occasion for each team to consider at the last two minutes of the game their resources and limitations in relation to their aspired goal and end-game and their remaining game-plan. 

    Just recently early this month of November, our observance and celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day respectively may have been also “a last two-minutes time out” occasion for us, Christians. As we prayed for the eternal repose of our saintly and beloved dead brothers and sisters, we may have also slowed down, have a pause and break from our busy schedules in order to consider not only the death and lives of those who have gone before us, but also our own lives so-far now as we are still in this life. Yes, as we considered the lives of those who have gone before us these days, we are also confronted with the reality of the mortality of our very lives now as we are still alive living here. Like the last two minutes time-out in a basketball game, the last two months of the year can be a chance for us to consider where and how we are in our lives in relation to our game in life – our dreams and aspirations as well as what we are to do to improve our lives now for the better, and above all in relation to our salvation.    

    Behind the story of the five wise and five foolish virgins in our gospel today is the call for us to be vigilant and ready. Jesus wants us to be Wise enough to be prepared and awake, and not to be foolish enough to be not ready and unaware. When we hear this challenge, many people think that they have to be ready for death so as not to be caught unaware. Rightly so, because when we came into the world, death has become natural to us. We know that no man lives forever in this world. Death is our lot, and reminds us of how limited our life is. We have only one life, lived in a given time. And it is wise enough to be prepared for our coming death.

    However, much more than our coming death are meant in our gospel today. Our gospel today is all about how ready and prepared are we to meet and experience the Lord IN our lives here and now, and not in our coming death later. In other words, the challenge of Jesus for us to be wise enough to be vigilant and ready is for Here and Now while we are still living, and not for There and Later on our death.  Thus, the readiness and vigilance we are to be is not in view of our end – our death, but as to how we have lived and spent our life so-far here and now as we meet and encounter the Lord in our daily lives.

    Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “When you were born you were crying and everyone else was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you are the one who is smiling and everyone else is crying”. True enough, in our death, we wish to be remembered not how we died, but how we live our lives to the fullness with the Lord. It is not the end-game itself – the Winning or Losing but about the GAME itself – How we lived our lives and play our game with the Lord in life, that matters most. 

    As we are still living in this world now after pandemic times – where when we caught ourselves unaware, unprepared & uninformed, we have yet to learn how to be wise & street-smart enough to be aware and ready to meet the Lord now in the many ways he comes to us. He is the “Word of God made flesh”, the God with Us, our companion in the journey of life, who lives with Us. Blessed then are those who are ready and alert to Welcome the Lord in our lives, not in our death. So, Are you ready now? Handa ka na ba?

    On our “last two-minutes time-out” moment, we pray that we may be wisely awake and cleverly prepared enough to welcome Him in our lives now as we meet Him in our church, our brothers & sisters, our fellowmen and others, in our day to day lives. Amen.