Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: LiturgIcal Year B

  • OUR DESIRE TO BE SECURED

    OUR DESIRE TO BE SECURED

    October 20, 2024 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102024.cfm)

    What motivates me most these days? What drives me to do my best? What is it that I desire for myself? What is it really that I am looking for? – these few questions bring us into more awareness of where we are at the moment and how our actions and decisions are molded by what we nurture in our heart and mind.

    It is basic and natural to each of us to seek what would give us security and assurance in life. In every stage of our life, since our infancy until towards our older adulthood, having a sense of security and assurance is a must. This is the very reason why we do things and aspire to make our life comfortable, easier, and independent. We want and we need security in terms of material things in life and also security in our relationships. We seek security in our studies and jobs as well as in our friendship, family and marriage. We want a secured future for ourselves and for people whom we love.

    People, because of this nature in us, would also risk to invest their time, talent, treasure and whole person in order to achieve and gain a return of investment. In fact, just this month, political aspirants have just filed their certificate of candidacy. And as early as the first quarter of this year, there were already hundreds or even thousands of big tarpaulins with the over-sized photos of politicians along the streets and highways, in every corner and post. Such move is a way of securing themselves a seat in the political arena. And what drives and motivates our political aspirants? Public service? Political manipulation? Self-giving to the people? Or selfish political agenda?

    These are just few examples of our need and reality of wanting security in life. This reality is what this 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time has also reminded us. And so, allow me to reflect with you how the Lord calls and challenges us to become better Christians.

    James and John, who were close relative of Jesus, cousins actually, dared to ask favor from Jesus. They said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” What they actually wanted was to have a secured seat when Jesus reigns in his kingdom. Each of them asked that each one will be able to sit one at his left and one at his right.

    The two actually imagined that Jesus’ kingship is like of this world filled with political power and manipulation, wealth and influence. Having a seat at his side will make them superior above other disciples. Why not? They were close relatives of Jesus. These two used this closeness with Jesus to secure their future and to advance such a selfish desire of being comfortable and staying in power.

    In our culture today, we call this “Padrino System.” This is value system in our Filipino Culture that gains favor, promotion, or political appointment because of family affiliation (called as nepotism) or through friendship (called us cronyism).[1] And this happens even if the person has no qualifications or not deserving at all.

    Nevertheless, this is motivated by selfishness. That is why, Jesus confronted the two that such selfish desire cannot be possible in the kingdom of God. To be entitled to it is futile because only God knows and only God grants.

    This irked the other disciples of Jesus because of the selfish intentions of the two. They wanted security in their life by securing a seat of power, thus, leaving the others behind. Indeed, it was expected that they must have compared each other as to who was better, brighter and closer to Jesus because each one also wanted security and assurance of what was to come.

    However, this became an opportunity for Jesus to teach the disciples of the value of the kingdom of God. What matters most is not what one can gain, or what we will be able to achieve, not even the influence, power or wealth that we gather and possess. In the Kingdom of God, to be great is to be able to give oneself for others. Greatness then is not measured as to how much people adore or praise us, but with our capacity to serve and to love. It is by being able to give oneself for the sake of others.

    Our security then is found not with the comforts and riches we have in this world, but with our relationship with the Son of Man, with Jesus. The Lord himself is our true security and assurance that above all else, the Lord gives us true comfort and contentment in life who first gave himself to brings to the fullness of life.

    This is what Prophet Isaiah told us in the first reading that through the life of the Suffering Servant (Jesus), we shall see the fullness of light and life. The letter to the Hebrews also reminds us of such security with Jesus as our High Priest for with him and in him we are given “confidence to approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace.”

    Hence, as we celebrate World Mission Sunday today, let Jesus himself be our true security and assurance and our contentment  through our capacity to serve and love others without any selfish intentions to seek praises and favor.

    Let our Christian faith then be a true expression of that capacity in us to serve and love others even when we called to make a sacrifice, for giving and in loving that we are already secured and assured in the kingdom of God. Hinaut pa.

    [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padrino_system#:~:text=The%20padrino%20system%2C%20or%20patronage,as%20opposed%20to%20one’s%20merit.

  • WANTED: Responsible Stewards

    WANTED: Responsible Stewards

    October 20, 2024 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102024.cfm)

    In Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word governance is synonymous to the word “stewardship”. This is to signify that to be involved with governance is to be a steward. Stewardship is a charge and responsibility entrusted to someone, an office appointed to or a mission delegated to a person who is to manage, administer and supervise the affairs of the master or superior individuals or community. A steward then is not the Lord master-owner himself but the OIC- the officer in charge, administrator, piniyalan, sinaligan, inkargado – acting in behalf of the superior Lord, body or institutions.

    St. Paul knew his place. His tasks and charge is not to lord over but to be God’s steward for the gentiles. He is God’s OIC – officer-in-charge for the gentiles with the task of making known to all that the gentiles are our coheirs, co-members of God’s body and co-partners in the promise of God’s salvation.  

    Jesus in our gospel today reminds us also that we are not lords, earls or señoritos/señoritas but just mere stewards-OICs of God’s salvation. Everyone of us who follows Jesus is the servant-in charge of His affairs & mission. In whatever capacity, talents and vocation, we are tasked to manage, entrusted to govern, commissioned to administer and charged to steward God’s concerns & blessings for All. Freed from sin, like Paul, as Christians we are responsible now to become disciple servant-witnesses of our Lord’s righteousness.

    And Jesus is quick to teach us that as God’s steward, more are required and demanded, and much is expected of us for we are not to abuse such charge since great power, blessings & talents come with great responsibility.

    Beyond then our preoccupations with being first in life, be reminded that we are mere servant-stewards task to be able “to drink the cup that has been prepared for us”. Ours then is to be responsible for our special charge to perform & our mission to fulfill what we are & ought to do in this life.

    We pray that we may be always truly and diligently responsible for our charge and mission as God’s stewards of redemption to all and for all.

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • SIGNS AND MEANINGS

    SIGNS AND MEANINGS

    October 14, 2024 – Monday 28th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101424.cfm)

    Everywhere we look at, there are many signs around us. Depending on its intended us, a particular sign will tell us what it is about. For example, a red light in an intersection, would tell us that cars should stop and let those other side of the intersection pass through since they have the green light. In a water dispenser, a red colored faucet means hot water while the green or blue means cold water.

    There are also natural signs around us. When we see thick and dark clouds above us, most likely rain will come in few minutes or hours. After an earthquake, when the sea would recede quickly, surely, there will be a tsunami after.

    Aside from these, there are also human emotional signs that we have to be aware of. When a person who withdraws into the recesses of his/her room, feeling sad or anxious and lonely, the person might be already undergoing depression. A person who feels afraid and terrified over particular  another person, event or place, the person might have a traumatic experience associated in those things.

    These are just few examples of different signs around us and of their meanings. And it is also important that we are able to understand them and so respond appropriately to every particular situation.

    In today’s Gospel, we too are reminded of signs. Jesus was asked by the people to give them sign before they believe in him and in what he showed them. The people seemed to believe rather that Jesus was like a magician who would do out of this world signs that would entertain them. Their demand to give them a sign was rather, a sign as well, that they have not able to understand the greatest sign already given to them.

    Jesus was the greatest sign ever revealed by the Father. Yet, their unbelieving and malicious hearts made them close-minded. Even when the sign was in front of them, they refused to see and recognized God’s greatest sign of love and salvation.

    St. Paul in his Letter to the Galatians reminds us that such attitude and way of life is a sign that these people still like with the yoke of slavery. It was slavery of hatred and indifference, the slavery of malice and selfishness. Hence, they were not free.

    However, Jesus desires that we indeed become free. Again St. Paul told us, “for freedom Christ set us free.” The very presence of Jesus in us brings us to freedom!

    Thus, as we come to understand the many signs around us, may we also become more attuned and familiar to the signs the Lord gives us. These signs from the Lord, and his presence revealed to us may not be extra-ordinary or spectacular, but simple and ordinary. Let us be discerning and patient then and make ourselves free from anything that would prevent us from recognizing and embracing God’s many manifestations in our life and relationships. Hinaut pa.

  • SEARCHING AND SETTLING DOWN

    SEARCHING AND SETTLING DOWN

    October 13, 2028 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101324.cfm)

    Have I settled down? Have I found what I am looking for? Do I find fulfillment and contentment with what is happening in my life now? With my work? In my relationships? Or am I restless and still searching, unable to settle down? Do I find emptiness and meaninglessness with what I do and with I have?

    Indeed, when we have reached an age of maturity and finds ourselves still searching and longing for something worthwhile and meaningful for our life, we might find ourselves restless and anxious. As a result, we could be shifting a course one after another, or changing jobs one after another or ending a romantic relationship and starting a new one without any fulfillment in those relationships. Our mind keeps changing. We are confused what we really like and what we don’t like. At times, we would just let others tell us what to do but later on regret because we never wanted it.

    However, such restlessness would also allow us to refine our intentions and see better ourselves. This also means that we need help from others to accompany and guide us in searching and finding what we are meant to be and to do. In fact, St. Irenaeus famously said, “the glory of God is a human being fully alive.” Having our full potentials, expressing and giving fully and freely what we are meant to be and to do would reveal the glory of God in us.

    In today’s readings, this need and reality is revealed to us. And so, let us see how God unfolds his invitations and challenges for us.

    Jesus, in the Gospel of Mark, encountered a man who in his heart knew already what he wanted. He asked the Lord, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This man must have been respected and adored by many. He was a good man, religious and a pious Jew. He followed the commandments of God. He too was rich. Having such kind of character and wealth, people must have looked up to him. However, he too was restless. He was in search of something more meaningful and more worthwhile perhaps, over his routine in life.

    The Gospel told us, that Jesus looking at him, loved him and said, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then, come and follow me.”

    Nevertheless, the words and demands of Jesus were too radical and difficult for him to accept. He must have understood that and knew that that was the way, yet, he couldn’t. This made the man sad. He went away and did not follow Jesus because he had many possessions. The many things he possessed prevented him to be free.

    This makes us realize now that what we have achieved, accumulated, gathered or saved in this life won’t give us the true assurance of contentment in life. We may have the best job and position in our company, but remains unhappy. We may have gained many degrees and have spent a number of years in our profession but we feel empty. We may be so comfortable in life, doing so well with our business, yet, we feel restless when we are alone. Or we may have also been married or committed ourselves to religious life, having spent a number of years, yet, at the end of the day we couldn’t deny that our heart is still longing for something more. And this can be tiring or at times overwhelming.

    When we are in this kind of crossroad in life, this is also an opportunity for us to see clearly ourselves and see God. What we need is a heart that seeks wisdom able to discern and choose what to keep and what to let go.

    This is what the first reading calls us today. The author of the Book of Wisdom says, “I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.” Wisdom is proven to be better than power and wealth, even with health and beauty. With wisdom, it leads us to what is lasting and fulfilling.

    This is what we also discover with the Word of God, filled with wisdom, as revealed in our second reading. The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that “the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”

    Hence, there are three points that we can bring today as our take-aways.

    First, come closer to Jesus. Like the man in the Gospel, take the courage and the boldness to come closer to Jesus, to encounter him, that we too might be able to look at his eyes and realize how much Jesus loves us. This should give us the assurance and confidence above everything else. We can do this as we come closer to the Sacraments of the Church. The Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation would surely bring us closer to Jesus and to ourselves.

    Second, seek for wisdom. Wisdom is a gift and through the Word of God revealed to us this gift is given. There are also people who can help us and seek wisdom for us to be able to see and understand better our heart. This may help us to discern well and choose  what will give us true fulfillment.

    Third, let go of those that are possessing us. As wisdom will help see and discern our heart, let wisdom allow us to take action by letting go whatever is  possessing us, of those that prevent us to be free. Unlike the man in the Gospel, we may not go away feeling sad because we are unable to let go, but rather take the risk of letting go and following Jesus freely and gladly.

    May these challenges bring us closer to Jesus and allow us to create and develop lasting relationships as we tread the path of life God calls us to be, wherever we are now and whatever is our status. Hinaut pa.

  • US being Married to God

    US being Married to God

    October 13, 2024 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101324.cfm)

    In a recent Facebook post, a young man named Seth Adam Smith who, after being married to his childhood sweetheart for a year and a half, realized, and said: “Marriage is not for me.” Why…? after all these months of marriage, eventually he comes to appreciate his Father’s advice before his wedding. Before wedding, His dad said to him: “Seth, marriage is not for you. You don’t marry to make yourself happy. You marry to make someone else happy. More than that, marriage is not for yourself. You are marrying for a family and for your future children. Marriage is not for you. It is not about you. Marriage is about the person you married.”

    Surely married couples could relate to such realization or advice. For marriage is indeed not really for the sake of oneself but for the sake of your lifetime partner. Eventually married couple has to learn along the way that marriage is not all about “I” or about “Me” or about “You” but all about “US”. And surely such realization is a hard-learned lesson, for such wisdom only happens through trial-and-error experiences.

    To be selfless, i.e. to be not selfish and self-centered then is the very challenge of committed love we called marriage. For love is more than just a feeling or emotion but a commitment and decision to go beyond and give up oneself for the sake of the other. In other words, in marriage – in committed love, couples are to love their own spouse and children as much more than they love themselves and one another. Their love should be other-oriented than self-directed.

    A married life in committed love is thus, not for your own but for the sake of your loved ones and for the sake of loving them, same way as Jesus loved us. Love then should not be a story of “I” nor a story of “me” or “you”, but is & should be a story of US.

    In our gospel today, wanting more than just observing and obeying God’s commandments, the rich man asked Jesus for an advice as to how to inherit eternal life. With and in love, Jesus counselled and challenged him to give up and share everything to the poor and follow Jesus. Instead, the rich man however went away sad for he had many possessions. With this, we hear Jesus’ well-known words, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom” – harder than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

    And sadly, we also unwittingly misquote & misuse these words as our usual excuse for our failures and shortcomings in life-commitment, as well as for thinking and even believing that God’s salvation and eternal life is difficult, impossible, and even exclusive only for the few.

    Nonetheless Jesus teaches us in our gospel today that Eternal life with God’s salvation is more than just our longing for sacredness and holiness in life, and our search for contentment and happiness in life. For Jesus, life with God is all about having and being in covenant & committed relationship with God. In other words, eternal life is all about being married to God, and also requires of us to have marriage with God. No wonder why ordained, consecrated, and married life are sometimes described as: “a life married to God” for it is indeed a marriage – a loving commitment to God.

    And since eternal life is our marriage to God, we may also say that our marriage to God is not FOR us, because committed life with God is not about us, and not for ourselves alone, but moreso for the sake of, and all about God’s glory and salvation for all others than just us.

    Jesus also somehow teaches us today that like any marriages, our life with God involves detachment, charity, and discipleship. Same way as the rich man is asked to give up and share everything to the poor. To live life with God, we must also learn detachment, i.e. how to give up, even deny ourselves, and share what we have to other and for others. As married to-God people, our life: our time, talent, and treasure are not for us alone but for

    God and others than ourselves. Life with God also requires us to be and do everything with and for charity, i.e. not for a prize or reward, but for free and out of love, and in responsibility for others. And above all, life with God is to be a disciple – a follower of Jesus in life.

    As people married to God, we must also then learn to lead our lives same way as Jesus lives, serves, and loves God and others. Detachment, Charity, and Discipleship are somehow key ingredients in our marriage to God, and as to any committed-relationship as well.

    As Jesus forewarned us, difficult and impossible for us it may be, such life in marriage to God is also possible, since “All things are possible For God”. In other words, Life with God is possible and meaningful, if and when we do things and have our being not for ourselves but for God’s sake, and for others than ourselves.

    Lord Jesus, guide us continually in life for us to know God deeply, love Him dearly, and follow Him faithfully especially now & always. Amen.