Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Liturgical Year C

  • TO GUARD AGAINST ALL GREED

    TO GUARD AGAINST ALL GREED

    July 31, 2022 – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time  

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/073122.cfm)

    According to the recent study of OXFAM International, an independent non-governmental organizations, a new billionaire is created during this pandemic in a span of 30 hours only.[1]  There are at least new 573 people who have just become billionaires because of this pandemic. Wow! This sounds so promising and encouraging, isn’t it? However, behind these a few hundred billionaires, OXFAM also said that because of this, there is an expected 263 million people who will crash into extreme poverty, at a rate of 1 million people in every 33 hours[2] because of Covid-19, of rising global inequality and the shock of food prices supercharges by the war in Ukraine.[3] As a result, it is projected that the number of undernourished people in the world could reach to 827 million this year, 2022.[4]

    The world, indeed, has so much wealth and resources even during this pandemic for all of us but then, it seems that only few are possessing and benefitting them in an extravagant and outrageous way. This shows how inequality in our society greatly bring suffering to many and of the vanity that the few elite group enjoy.

    To possess material wealth is, in fact, not in itself evil. Material wealth is God’s gift to us. However, material wealth becomes a problem if we would allow this to possess us. We might believe that to possess so much wealth will give us security and joy. Nevertheless, this is not the case because the more we possess things, the more we also become insecure and anxious. Just observe ourselves. The more a person possesses wealth, the more the person also becomes defensive. High walls are built to protect a rich house, sometimes with electric current running 24/7 on barb wires and with a 24-hour security personnel and CCTV all around the property. And when the person becomes unaware of his/her unquenchable desire to possess more, then the heart turns greedy and insecure, and even corrupt and oppressive.

    Our readings this Sunday have something to tell us about this. The Lord invites us to examine our attitudes towards our material wealth, the resources that we have gained and received, the riches that we possessed vis-à-vis the relationship we have with one another.

    Thus, even though we may not be part of the group of billionaires in the world, but then, the possessions that we have may could also possess us. These may prevent us from being grateful to the source of blessings and generous to those who are in need. Let us explore then, our readings and see how God unfolds his invitations for us today.

    The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us that what we possess now and our worldly achievements could not really guarantee satisfaction to our inner desires. Qohelet says, “Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” Indeed, everything will be in vain when we become too focused on material possessions and when our heart becomes materialistic. With this attitude, we will lose the essential things in life and that include our relationships.

    This is the reason why Jesus warns us of our tendency to be greedy. Greed comes from a heart that believes in self-satisfaction and that desires total independence from God. But then, material things could never quench our greatest desire to be satisfied and fulfilled. Thus, a person will tend to accumulate more and possess more even at the expense of others.

    Hence, the very situation of the man in the Gospel would remind us of a common dispute among siblings even today. Families are being divided and wounds of hatred and resentment would overwhelm them because of wealth or properties left behind by their parents. Sometimes this hatred and resentment would even reach the courts, in legal disputes over inheritance claims and even up to violence and killings among family members.

    This is how the cycle of corruption and oppression happens. When our desire becomes unsatisfiable, we become greedy of many things, who will tend to collect as many material things and wealth us much as possible.

    Well, such attitude will not just appear in our heart out of nowhere. Sometimes, this has something also to do with our childhood memories. A child who has been deprived from many things particularly of essential things in the child’s development such us food, shelter, toys and clothing and even affection and love from parents may become a form of emptiness in the heart of a child. When the child becomes adult, that kind of experience could give the person the anxiety to be deprived again. Hence, in order to gratify such anxiety the person could become a hoarder who accumulate things and possessions.

    When this happens too, a hoarder or a greedy person is blinded to see the needs of others. It will be difficult for the person to open up and be generous to those who are in need around him or her because the person feels insecure every time he or she gives.  The person would only look at his/herself and never to others. This is an attitude of the heart that is truly being possessed by possessions.

    Thus, Jesus said, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Jesus tells us that our life is more than our possessions. Consequently, St. Paul in the second reading calls us “to put to death parts of us that are earthly.” These are attitudes that are driven by greed.

    Be mindful, then, of our possessive attitudes because these may affect and endanger our relationships with our families, friends and colleagues.

    We may ask, what is it that possessed me? What are those that kept me from being free? We do not have to think of millions of pesos because even a single smartphone may possess us. Remember, when we put so much focus and attention to a material thing, it could make us indifferent, ungenerous and unkind towards others. Our attachment to a single smartphone may indeed, prevent us from giving more time, attention and focus towards our studies (for the students), or may prevent us from giving our affection and presence to our loved ones. Or, our obsession and anxiety to succeed in our careers or business may also prevent us from spending quality time and presence with our loved ones, with your children or spouse to the point that you have no more time for them.

    We believe that what gives us true satisfaction, freedom, joy and contentment is a life with God. Jesus calls today to have a life with Him and to slowly let go of whatever that possessed us because this is the way of making ourselves free for Jesus and free for others. Then, by being free for Jesus, we shall be able to let ourselves be satisfied truly by the Lord himself. In response, our self-satisfaction from the Lord will lead us to recognize that everything we have is God’s blessing that must be joyfully and generously shared to others. Kabay pa.

    [1] https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/pandemic-creates-new-billionaire-every-30-hours-now-million-people-could-fall

    [2] Ibid.

    [3] https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/terrifying-prospect-over-quarter-billion-more-people-crashing-extreme-levels-poverty

    [4] https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/terrifying-prospect-over-quarter-billion-more-people-crashing-extreme-levels-poverty

  • Shareware

    Shareware

    July 31, 2022 – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/073122.cfm)

    Somehow, we may discern about two types of leaders and leaderships nowadays: the go-getting and go-giving leadership, or the go-getters and the go-giving leaders. Both share the same passion, but differ in motivations.

    Go-getters are leaders who aspire, work, and strive on things in order to GET – that is, to acquire, accumulate, possess, own, and have things only for themselves; while go-givers are leaders who aspire, work and strive on things in order to GIVE and to share things with others. The big differences here are the motivation, objective, and beneficiaries of leadership. Go-getting leadership is motivated by GREED while Go-giving leadership is motivated by SERVICE. Go-getters are more concerned of themselves, and aiming for hoarding power and wealth, while go-givers are more concerned with others, aiming for sharing power and wealth.  Go-getting promote individualism, selfishness, self-centeredness, consumerism, materialism, and greed, while go-giving promote community, other-centeredness, selflessness, inter-relationship and service. In other words. Go-getters do everything to get what they want, while go-givers do everything to share what they have.

    Our modern high-tech western world today has obviously promoted go-getter leaders. In our schools, government, workplace, business, media world and even in our church, go-getters have been recognized and praised. People nowadays prefer go-getter leaders, who have a lot of everything – money, influence, power, connections, latest gadgets, and cars. We can sense go-getters mentality in the air. Slogans like: “obey your thirst”, “why settle for less”, “satisfy your cravings”, “be an addict”, “go for the best”, “be a millionaire” are just few of its catchwords.  Go-getters are clearly personified by “Gollum”, a character in the Lord of the Rings. He does everything for His precious, even to the point of murder, betrayal, and deception. All his life was directed toward getting back the ring, his precious. 

    Although the go-getter mentality is the promoted in-thing craze nowadays, we cannot deny that we, Filipino by our culture are go-givers. It is our nature to do anything in order to share what we have. Everything that we have is not only for own selves, but for others to share.

    It is only here in the Philippines that have the concept of bring house. We do not only attend parties but we also extend it to others who are not able to attend by bringing them some food – to make them part of the party. It is only here in the Philippines that have the concept of PasaLoad, or Share a Load. Imagine, sharing your telephone bills with others. Same way with Balikbayan box. Until now, foreigners have a hard time understanding Filipinos saving and sending goods to Philippines where you could now get anywhere. For we know that those goodies are not for themselves but for others to share – for lolo, lola, igsoon, utod, barkada, neighbors and others. Best example for this is the “eat-all-you-can” spree in restaurants. Although tempting and reasonable, it did not work well because of its “no sharing, no left-overs, no bring house” policy. Yes, Filipinos like to eat, but we like to eat with others. It’s not the food but the fellowship, agape, salusalo, punsyon in eating, whatever the food there is, that matters most.

    Jesus in our gospel today openly criticized go-getter leadership and mentality in the world.  He reminds us that life and God’s grace are meant to be shared with others and not to be hoarded for oneself. Go-getter, amassing power, and wealth for oneself are all meaningless – vanity of vanities, does not bring lasting happiness in life.

    For Jesus, what God has given us is not only for ourselves but for us to share with others. God’s graces are Shareware, not private property, intended not for your own reign but God’s reign.

    While our world today advocates Go-getting leadership, as Filipino Christians, we must be Go-giving & Go-givers in life and in God’s kingdom. Remember as the Lord once said: ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. And store up for yourself treasures in heaven.”

    Let us then seek what is essential and righteous before God, and go-give & share with others for that gives us life, happiness and meaning. Amen

  • LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

    LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

    July 24, 2022 – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072422.cfm)

    When I was young, I was always fascinated to see the elderly in our family praying. Their patience and endurance in kneeling from the beginning to the end was amazing. However, I would feel that the prayers would almost take forever to finish. Few minutes after the prayers like the rosary and novena would begin, I would also fall asleep in the comfort of my mother’s lap.

    Remembering the persistence of our elderly and grandparents in praying, reminds us too of this day of the 2nd World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. And so, with love and concern, we acknowledge the presence of our elderly and grandparents who are here present in this Mass today. We thank them for their presence and in showing us the blessings God offers us even in our old age.

    In fact, Pope Francis tells us today, that “elderly is growing in humanity by caring for others. Our elderly and grandparents can be teachers of a way of life that is peaceful and attentive to those in greatest need. And that being an elderly is a recognition that we are not saved alone, that happiness is a bread we break together.[1]” Pope Francis continues, that being an elderly and a grandparent, “you are called to be artisans of the revolution of tenderness in our world.”

    Such way of life of caring for others, of peace and being attentive to those in greatest need, is what we have heard in today’s first reading from the Book of Genesis. Abraham who was already an elderly at that time showed this concern and care for others by pleading before God to show mercy. Abraham had this audacity to somehow “bargain” before God in saving the people of Sodom even if there were only few righteous people. Abraham’s concern was in fact, to save the people from damnation. His tenderness was being shown in his intervention or intercession in behalf of the people.

    God, certainly, showed compassion to the people because through Abraham’s prayer God also sees and finds the goodness in us. Indeed, this is how prayer is also being transformed into care and into tenderness towards others which gives life, promotes life and heals life.

    This way of praying as a sign of care and tenderness for others is also alive in Jesus. Our Gospel today would even tell us that when Jesus finished praying, his disciples came and asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” The disciples must have also felt and witnessed how Jesus’ way of praying created big impact to the people whom Jesus helped and ministered. The very way of life of Jesus that is grounded in prayer became more evident in his actions. Jesus brought healing to the sick, forgave the sinners, and freed those who were possessed by evil spirits.

    The life-giving way of praying of Jesus captivated and motivated the disciples to learn the way of Jesus’ praying. And such humility to learn the way of life of Jesus in praying, allowed the Lord to teach them the basics of prayer.

    God, as Jesus introduced to us, is our Father. By calling God as our father, this brings us into closeness and intimacy with God. God would surely love being called as our Father, whose only desire is for us to grow in love.

    This tells us that our prayers and other forms of devotions are not meant to impress others or to flatter or manipulate the Lord because of our long, wordy and unintelligible prayers. What the Lord wants from us is our sincere and humble heart that recognizes God as our Father, growing in confidence and closeness with God.

    The Lord’s Prayer brings us also into sincerity and humility because the prayers acknowledges first God, as our Father whose “divine will” takes priority than our own. We seek and recognize the will of God for us and not our wants. This brings us to be more aware of our needs and the needs of others in this present moment, of today, and not to be burdened by our past or to be anxious of tomorrow.

    This is very important to remember that the prayer Jesus taught to us, allows us to be more aware of our present moment, of our needs, the needs of others as well as the graces of the here and now. This will certainly make us more contented and confident in life for we shall see how God provides and works for us in the present moment.

    Hence, on this 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time and 2nd World Day of Grandparents and Elderly, there are three invitations for us.

    First, learn the way of Jesus in praying by becoming confident and intimate with God as our Father. We shall grow in that confidence by allowing ourselves to trust God and His ways for us in our daily life.

    Second, make our prayer as a sign of our concern and tenderness for others. Like Abraham who pleaded to God in behalf of the sinful people, let our prayers too not be self-centered by only praying for our personal needs and wants, but also to be able to pray for others and their needs.

    Third, let our prayers be translated into our actions. Like Jesus whose prayer brings life, healing and freedom to many, let our actions grounded in our prayers also bring life, healing and freedom in our relationships with other people. Kabay pa.

    [1] Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Second World Day for Gandparents and the Elderly; 24 July 2022

  • LAMBING

    LAMBING

    July 23, 2022 – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072422.cfm)

    A funny story once told about a man who was so envious about the faith & prayer life of his poor neighbor. Whenever he meets this elderly devoted neighbor, he would always test at a point of insulting her faith. Sometimes, he even would say, “your prayers and devotion do not lead you anywhere but more frustrations”. The old neighbor would just smile and keep her silence.

    One day, he overheard his poor neighbor praying this way, “Lord Jesus, you taught us to ask for our daily bread. You know my food supply is just enough for this day. My hard-up son has not yet sent me something for tomorrow. I believe you know what is best for me. If it is your will, Lord, grant me what I need as you have always provided me. May your will be done.” After hearing this, the man went to the grocery and bought some food supply. Then, next day, he went to his neighbor’s house, put a bagful of grocery outside the door, hides behind somewhere and waited for his neighbor’s reaction. When the neighbor found the bag outside, she was happy and all praise to God for the graces before her. Suddenly, the man interfered and said, “Aha, got you. That bag of food is not from your God but from Me. See, your God doesn’t care for you”. In response, The old neighbor just loudly prayed, “Lord, many thanks for these graces you have given me here today… and for letting my good neighbor pay for it”.

    Praying to God has always been part of our life. And in our efforts in praying, there will always a discontent within us with the way we pray – that somehow there is something missing or kulang in the way we pray, and we don’t know what and how. There is always a desire and longing for the best way of praying. Deep inside, we cry: “Lord, teach us how to pray”.

    Our readings today are all about prayer, and teaching us how to pray. In our first reading, we hear Abraham made a persistent appeal to Yahweh in behalf of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah to be spared from His judgment. Jesus in our gospel today did not just teach his disciples what to pray but described them prayer as asking, seeking, and knocking for what we need from God. Meaning, prayer is our humble and trusting but persistent expression of our appeals, requests – of our heart’s desire to God before His presence. In other words, our readings today are teaching us that prayer is basically our LAMBING, paanga  or “Pamaraig” to God, our Father – our Tatay. 

    Here, we are also reminded that God always listens to our prayers. God as our parent wants to listen to our heart’s desire. He knows and understands our needs and concerns, while he also wants us to come near Him and show our lambing – “pamaraig” to Him. Also, God always answer our prayers in His own time and ways. Yes, sometimes we feel frustrated with God for not answering our prayers. But the same way we experience our parents, God seems silent or passive with our prayers but actually he is discerning and planning what is best for us, better than what we prayed for. We are only to express our prayers – our pamaraig persistently, wait patiently and trusting that not long for now we receive more and better than what we expected.  Like what happened with the story, God has His own ways and time to grant our prayers. God always listens and answers our prayer in His own time and ways, (and perhaps allow others to pay for it. 😉)

    For Jesus, it is not our desires, longings, needs, hungers, and cravings but it is LAMBING : our persistency, patient waiting and trust and confidence in God, our Father that matters. Remember in praying to God, it is not what we pray but how we pray it, not what we ask from but how we ask it from Him that matters. It is the manner of prayer, the pamaraig: the asking, seeking, and knocking that is significant, and not the content or outcome what you ask and seek. “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

    Regardless of the what grace & how blessings are given, we now express our lambing/prayer to our Tatay-Father who loves us so dearly.

  • Quality Common Relationships

    Quality Common Relationships

    July 17, 2022 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071722.cfm)

    Once, a mother approached and asked me for advice regarding her growing children. She was so worried about her children who according to her becoming irresponsible. One comes home late at night without any permission. Her teenage daughter doesn’t anymore go to mass with them, but spend more time with her non-Christian boyfriend. One likes to go out often, as if not anymore living with them. She even suspects that her son is involved now with drugs and drinks. All her children now know how to answer back and not so serious with their studies. In her frustration, she asked me “Father, what have I done wrong? We do everything for them to have a better life. My husband and I work seriously to provide them good nourishment, education, and lifestyle. But how come it happened this way?”

    As for my advice, I told her: “yes, it is true, Maam that it is hard to parent growing children. A number of families nowadays are into such difficulty. But may I ask you, do you have common activities as family?” She was so confused with the question, so I asked her: “Do you have meals, pray, and recreation together as family?” She replied, “That’s impossible for us because we are busy with our work. Our children also have their own different schedules and friends that is why usually we cannot be together during meals, prayers, or activities.” Then I told her, “Maam maybe that is what is missing in your family life. You don’t give time to one another. You become so busy with your own individual activities in serving one another that you forget to whom and why are you serving. You have wasted the time and opportunity to intimately experience and know one another as family.”

    If we reflect deeply in our lives today, it could happen that we become so pre-occupied with our concerns FOR our family, that we don’t have anymore time WITH one another. Yes, it is true that whatever we do is for God and others, especially for our family. But it could happen that we hide ourselves with our work and activities, so that our relationship becomes cold and shallow. It could happen, like that mother, because of our own individual concerns and responsibilities in life, our relationships with others becomes cold and shallow, no more bonding and love for one another.

    Just like in our gospel today. Martha and Mary must have felt great joy and privilege when Jesus paid them a home-visit. Martha was right to do what should be done – to do things right in order to welcome and accommodate their honored guest. However, because of her great worry and concern to do things right for Jesus, Martha missed the right thing to do before the Lord’s presence, which is to be with Jesus: to listen to the Good News the Lord is intending to share with them in his visit, and to have a quality and common time with them. Meaning, beyond their hospitality, Jesus expects from them an opportunity for friendship and bonding with them. He needs more than just their humble service and hospitality but to enjoy and celebrate their love and friendship with Jesus. Thus, Jesus rebuked Martha when she complained about Mary, to remind her that what matters is not her lack or excess of service, or her responsibility or Mary’s irresponsibility, but such humble service and responsibility to Him should be born out of their intimate relationship with Jesus and with one another.

    As Christians, in the same way, our humble service to others, our responsibility to one another must grow out of our faith relationship in Jesus, not of our human endeavors. Our salvation then is primarily God’s grace or gift to us that doesn’t only require our response of humble service, but more so gives us the opportunity to experience, unite and be intimate and one with God and one another. Yes, to follow Christ is indeed a responsibility. But responsibilities are built out of and based on our relationships. What matters in life, then are our relationships with God and one another over & above than our responsibilities to each other. And doing the right thing in our relationship is more noble and important than doing things right responsibly.

    In every relationship there is corresponding responsibilities. But fulfilled responsibilities are meaningless if and when it is not grounded on our quality and intimate relationship.

    Perhaps, we ask ourselves: “if and when God pay you a home visit, what would you do? How would you respond? Will you be listening to Him and of His agenda for His visit? Or will you be busy or occupied with responsibilities to do things right than to do the right things with Him?

    Perhaps our life amidst Covid Pandemic nowadays challenge us to improve the Quality of our family, social & faith life as we cope & do our part in rebuilding of our lives during these trying times.

    Brothers and sisters, as we follow Jesus in our lives anew, like Mary, may we build up & strengthen our common relationships with Him and one another by spending quality time to listen, experience and grow intimately with one another, as Filipino Christian family, nation, & church. So May it Be. Amen.