Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Liturgical Year A

  • 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.

  • Not Remain But Change

    Not Remain But Change

    July 30, 2023 – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/073023.cfm)

    There was once a man suffering from hyper-acidity and severe stomachache. He had already consulted a number of doctors about his sickness, but in vain.  He is still suffering from his hyper-acidity and stomachache. He had also undergone a lot of surgeries, medicines, therapies, and food supplements. But still nothing happens, except he has already consumed his entire budget. He only wished that he be cured from his severe illness.

    One day indulging himself for a new pair of pants at least before he died, he went to see his tailor and ask to make him a pair of pants. When his waist was measured, the tailor announced, “36”. But he insisted, “30, not 36. Ever since, I always have size 30 for my pants”. The tailor asserted, “Well, if you insist, 30 it will be, as long as you don’t blame me if you always experience hyper-acidity and severe stomachache.”

    He could have healed from his hyper-acidity and stomachache, and have saved a lot of money from medicine, if and when he is willing to leave behind and change his lifestyle of size “30” and learn to accept the new reality that he is already size “36”.

    As per our experience, we know we cannot have, own, and possess everything in life. But though not having everything in life, we can still fully benefit and enjoy what life can offer us at the moment, if and when we only change our way of life – if and when we change our lifestyle. In other words, for us to grow and fully enjoy life, we cannot remain what we are and what we have been. We have to let go and move on with a much better & promising life before & ahead of us.

    The same radical lesson we learn from Jesus in our gospel today. While teaching his disciples and us about the Kingdom of God through the parables of the treasure and the pearl, Jesus simply points us that what God offers us is so precious that is worth more than everything we have. And for us to fully receive its blessings and graces, much is required of us, and much has to be done by us – and that is to change our ways, to change our lifestyle.

    All the people in our parable have clearly shown these. When they have found their treasure and pearl, they went and sold everything they have, and bought their precious – their hearts desire. Meaning, for us to fully possess the treasures of God’s kingdom, we need to leave behind, let go our usual lifestyle, and be open & ready to receive changes and new realities in life. In the same way, for us to fully own the treasures of God’s life and salvation, we must let go of what we have, free ourselves of our previous attachments, and change our life in compatible with the better life God is offering us now. In other words, to fully live and own the life God offers us, we cannot remain but change.

    This is very true in life. For that sickly man to live his life fully, he cannot remain size 30 but change his ways and accept that he is now size 36. To be a better family man, one cannot remain a bachelor and waste his and his family’s life, but now change to be a better man for his own family. To build-up one’s own family, one cannot remain dependent on one’s parents but be more responsible and independent for one’s own family. To be a dignified and respected person, one cannot remain a spoiled brat, an addict and a loser but be more responsible for one’s life.

    Perhaps we might ask ourselves now: have we already found the treasure of God’s kingdom in our life? If so, have we gone to sell what we have, have we changed our ways in order for us to fully acquire and own God’s graces? If not, time for us to do the right things – to do what needs to be done so that God’s graces will not be wasted. Remember God offers us a life so precious that we cannot help remain but change.

    So May It Be.

  • Spiritual than Human

    Spiritual than Human

    July 23, 2023 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072323.cfm)

    Life is difficult. These are the first words, the first sentence in M. Scott Peck well-read book entitled: The Road Less Travel. Somehow these words reflect our own experience of life. Life is never been that easy. Though we try our best to make life easy and convenient, we experience life as never been always convenient and easy. Life is indeed hard and difficult.

    This is not only because others have made and are making our life difficult, but also we ourselves are difficult and have made life difficult for others at times – that within us there is a struggle of irony and inconsistency going-on. This is true not only in others but also in you & me. Like, inasmuch as I try my best to make life easy and convenient for me and others, there are still people who find me at times difficult as well as I also find myself difficult. Much as I want to be OK, others and even me find myself not-OK.

    This is why Jesus is wise enough to tell us three parables today (the parable of the wheat and weeds, and its explanation, the parable of the mustard seed, and the parable of the yeast) to teach us that growing in life is difficult and has never been easy. As we grow and live in life, it is unavoidable that we have to go through the painstaking and difficult process of growing up because within us, there exist a creative tension of ironies and inconsistencies, as well as grace and goodness.

    It is indeed hard, for instances, to a teen-ager or a middle-age person to be not anymore young but not yet old, or for an elderly person, to be old in age but still young at heart and mind. Difficult indeed for a married couple, who in their younger age wanting to be independent from their parents, now wants their married children to be dependent on them. Paul must have known how hard life is and the irony within ourselves, when he says: “I do what I don’t want to do and be what I don’t want to be; I don’t do what I want to do, and don’t be, what I want to be.” 

    Human as we are, we recognize that we have to deal and grow up in difficulty with the ironies and inconsistencies within us – both good and bad, the wheat and weeds, sinner and saint, strong yet weak, big but still small, already not-yet, insignificant yet important within us.

    As we struggle and grow up with the difficulties and hardships of life, we might learn something in our gospel today.

    First, God sees and hopes for the best and not the worse in us. He did not only recognize, but also aids our being weeds, in our smallness and weakness. He is indeed good and forgiving who has faith in our basic and potential goodness.

    Second, for us is just to try to grow in His grace, and the rest is God’s business, not our business. Meaning, He, not us is the Lord of harvest. Ours then is to grow and bear fruit, not to reap the harvest.

    And lastly, for God’s grace to grow in us, we must learn how to let go of ourselves, let God and things be, and let new things happen and grow. For God to reap a good harvest in us, somehow we allow Him sow wheat in us, let it grow in us even in difficulty with weeds, and let it bear fruits for the harvest. Yes, it is indeed a struggle, a tension, but it is a CREATIVE tension. Thus, Life though difficult is above all life-giving and life-creating, and basically good always in God’s eye.

    In life’s difficulties and hardships, perhaps we may find consolation with the words of Tielhard de Chardin, a famous Jesuit scientist-theologian of our times: It is not that we are human being having spiritual experiences, but rather we are spiritual beings having human experiences.

    In other words, in life with its difficulties and hardships, we must always not forget that we are more spiritual than human.