Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Liturgical Year C

  • THE CALL TO FREEDOM TO LOVE AND FORGIVE

    THE CALL TO FREEDOM TO LOVE AND FORGIVE

    February 23, 2024 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022325.cfm)

    When I was a newly ordained priest in Iloilo, there was such a time that while waiting for the mass to begin, I sat in a corner of our church. Few pews away from me, were a couple with their daughter who was probably about 3 or 4 years old. As I observed, she was very playful and while playing she accidentally hit her head on the pew. It was quite hard and painful because there was a loud cry after that. She sought the comfort of her parents. The father took her up. But what surprised me were the words of the father which I cannot forget. He said, “the chair hit you, you hit back then.” The little girl did as she was told and after that she was comforted not to cry anymore because she was able to hit back already. The little girl hushed from crying and rested on the shoulder of her father.

    I am sure this is not something surprising to many of us. Some may have done it too to their children or grandchildren and perhaps you yourself experienced this. I have also experienced this at home when I was a little boy – to hit back whenever I am hurt, believing that the pain will fade once I have my revenge.

    Indeed, to take our revenge when we are hurt may have been there in our hearts and sub-conscious because that was how we were brought up or perhaps that was how our environment and culture taught us to do. This sounds actually simple yet this has big implications when we are grown up and interact with one another. With this, we may ask now, is the attitude of taking revenge a Christian way?

    In the First Book of Samuel, King Saul was in search of David. David had become an enemy to Saul because David became a threat to his kingship. Thus, Saul wanted to eliminate the threat by killing David. However, we were told that David slipped through the soldiers of King Saul and managed to get near to Saul while he was asleep. David had all the opportunity to kill Saul, his enemy, yet, when David had the chance to take his revenge, David spared the life of Saul.

    David believed that vengeance and violence against the man that God has chosen was not the answer to a free and good life but rather in showing mercy.

    The Psalm which has been attributed to David expressed such attitude of David too. – “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and the Lord deals with us not according to our sins.”

    This story of David prepares us of Jesus’ absurd and seemingly illogical teaching. Many of those during his time, found it radical and crazy. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus taught his disciples to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray those who mistreat you.” Is it not ridiculous?

    We were taught to be vengeful. We were taught to believe that hitting back takes away the pain that we have endured. Yet, Jesus teaches the other way around.

    How could we love those who have hurt us? Those who have abused us? Those who betrayed us and caused so much pain in our life? How could we not hate and curse them when we are suffering from what they have done to us? How can we give forgiveness when they do not own the responsibility?

    Our immediate response is to retaliate, to take our revenge. Some may result to physical violence which can terrorize the community. And if we cannot express physical violence against them, then, we express it in our words and on how we treat people. But most of all, we linger to hatred, to pain, anger and bitterness.

    However, we do not realize that once we let aggression, violence, hatred and anger to dominate our hearts and minds, we, in fact, become prisoners of our own pain. Then, the pain that we endure leads us to feelings of anger, hatred and bitterness. When we linger to these they will lead us to a heart that seeks only revenge. This will be our tendency from our belief that by hurting the person back, our anger and hatred will be satisfied. But then we are wrong because anger and hatred will never be satisfied by violence. Violence only makes us angrier, more hateful and more bitter. The more we linger to these emotions; they become a cycle of violence that never ends.

    We create our own cycle of violence, revenge, anger and hatred. We become prisoner of our own pain. All of these will control our life, thoughts and actions towards others. This is how our person and our relationships are so affected that we become toxic. We will never be free because we will try to avoid those who have hurt us and avoid occasions of meeting them. We will begin to become suspicious to our other relationships. Yet, we are afraid of trusting others, of loving others again and even ourselves. We are afraid because we linger to that pain thinking that other people might do it again to us. Thus, we become judgmental and condemning to those who are around us and even of ourselves.

    However, it is when we find love and forgiveness in our hearts that we will be free. But remember, this begins in accepting and embracing those painful experiences we have so that we can go on with life. 

    This tells us, that loving one’s enemies or those whom we hate is an expression of mercy and forgiveness that makes us free. It will not erase the scar of betrayal or abuse or pain or any trauma that we endure; but we will be able to stand up, to wipe our tears, to go on with life and to transform our pain into kindness and forgiveness.

    This is what Jesus wants for us. Jesus wants us to be free and not to be prisoners of anger, hatred, bitterness and violence. It is in showing love, kindness and mercy that we actually find peace and reconciliation, justice and freedom.

    Showing love then, is not about telling the person, that what he/she did was okay and we pretend as if nothing happened. No! Love and forgiveness bring healing to our wounded heart that will make us say to the person, “I forgive you not because of who you are but because of who I am.” This is what the Dalai Lama said. This is a gift from the Lord because we deserve peace and freedom. This also means that I choose to be free and at peace. I choose love and not anger and hatred and I choose God and not evil.

    The invitation of Jesus for us now, is an invitation to freedom from hatred, bitterness and violence and freedom to love, to be merciful and forgiving. This the attitude of the heart of a true believer of Christ Jesus. Hinaut pa.

  • For-GIVE

    For-GIVE

    February 23, 2025 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022325.cfm)

    “To err is human. To forgive is divine.” Surely  we have heard & familiar with this quotation before and could easily agree and resonate with it. “To err is human.” This is true for us, especially whenever we have hurt others, whenever we cannot forgive others, or whenever we have failed others. And our usual excuses are: “what can I do, I’m but just human”, or “I’m sorry. I’m not God who forgives. I’m just human and a sinner”.

    True, human as we are, we do wrong and commit sins and mistakes, through which we could easily hurt others. Due to our human weaknesses, we can hurt others, and others could also hurt us. Most of us could attest that it is but human and normal for us to do wrong and commit sin, thus can hurt and be hurt by others. And in the midst of this, we do need ourselves consideration, understanding, forgiveness and love.

    However, based from our own experience, it is difficult to forgive others, especially our enemies who have hurt us. Just like Abisai in our first reading, usually when opportunity comes, it is normal for us to take revenge or even in return hurt our enemies. Usually, it is not easy for us to forgive people who have hurt and wronged us. And we recognize we do need God’s Help and Grace for us to forgive them. For us then, to forgive is a divine or holy or godly behavior and action.

    Jesus said in our gospel today, “Love your Enemy. Do good to all those who persecute and hate you. Forgive them and God will forgive you”. Hearing these words, easy for us reply: “Yes. Easier said than done”. Nice words, good to hear, easy to say but hard to heed. It would be easy for Jesus to say and do those things because He is holy, godly and divine, but for us human, that difficult.

    We must consider that when Jesus said these words, he also experienced and felt the pain, hurt, and suffering caused by his enemies. Like us, Jesus also has his own enemies, who have wronged & hurt him. There were also people who hated him, rejected him and even caused his death. And for Jesus, it is also difficult to love our enemies. He knows and understands how difficult to heed these words – to practice what he preached.

    But still, Jesus challenges us to carry out this command because he knows that human as we are, we can and are capable of forgiving others. Though difficult, it does not mean that we are not capable of loving our enemies. Though difficult, we can and it is possible for us to love and forgive so because we have the ability to forgive and love others. Human as we are, we also have the freedom and potential to forgive others. Though difficult, compared to animals, we human do have the freedom and option to forgive or not to forgive those who have hurt us. Meaning, to forgive and love our enemies is not only divine but also human.

    God indeed is the source of love and forgiveness. It is divine and godly to forgive and love our enemies. But God’s forgiveness and love is revealed through us – in and by our own decision and openness to receive and share God’s love to others. Meaning, though we are weak and slow to forgive others, like David, we can still decide and offer love and forgiveness to them by also accepting their own weakness and limitations, and by giving them the opportunity to repent and change their ways.

    As Christians, we believe Jesus has saved us from our sinfulness. By His birth, death, and resurrection, he redeemed us and has forgiven us of our sins and wrongdoings. We are now then called to also forgive those who have sinned against us, as we have also been forgiven. Human and Christ as he is, Jesus forgives us. Human and Christian as we are, we can also love and forgive our enemies.

    Whenever we are hurt and are suffering from the sins caused by others, it is better for us to reflect and ask ourselves: “If God can grants me His mercy and forgiveness, how come I cannot forgive my enemies? God loved and have forgiven me, a sinner, how can I not love but hate my enemies?

    If of any consolation, consider that forgiveness is not only given to us & what we receive from others, but also forgiveness is something we give to others. Forgiveness then is something more we GIVE For ourselves, and To ourselves than giving to others, for as we ask Our Father to forgive us our sins, we are also to forgive those who sinned against us.

    Remember as our Lord said  “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

    May we forgive others as we are forgiven.

    So May It Be. Amen

  • BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD

    BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD

    February 16, 2025 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021625.cfm)

    How blessed are you today? How do we also measure that experience of being blessed? Do we depend on the material things we enjoy? Or the spiritual graces that we receive? Or the satisfied and contented state of life?

    Well, it really matters on how we understand blessing or being blessed. Commonly, when we think of a life that is blessed we think of material wealth and prosperity. This includes having a good family, a booming business, a successful career, good paying job, or having a good health. Thus, our easy understanding of being blessed has something to do with success and material possessions.

    Yet, as we look at life in a bigger reality, we see that poverty is never a blessing. To live poor and being deprived of many things in life make us insecure with many things. The same goes with being persecuted, being sick, being mistreated or being rejected is never a blessing. If we are experiencing such life now, do you consider yourself being blessed?

    However, there is a twist, a different perspective and understanding of “being blessed.” This is what our readings this Sunday offer us to realize and discern.

    May I invite you then, that we revisit again the readings and see how the Lord guides and calls to understand blessing and our life from God’s perspective rather than from a materialistic point of view.

    In the Book of Jeremiah in the first reading, the prophet reminds us to trust in the Lord and not to rely on human strength and capacity. True enough that we can exercise great power in terms of our intelligence, will, material wealth and influence yet all of these will pass away because we will all die, one day, sooner or later. This means that our dependence on these forms of material satisfactions can be a mere human arrogance and a false sense of security.

    In fact, the author of the Psalm expressed the same message reminding us that the “counsel of the wicked” may appear enticing because it promises an easy way out, instant riches and satisfaction. Nevertheless, it is empty and we shall find no contentment because the “counsel of the wicked” makes us crave for more and gain for more for ourselves. This is actually the promise of addictions, in whatever form that may be, whether addiction to drugs, alcohol, sex, influence and fame, wealth and power (political or economic power).

    In the same way, Jesus warns those who in the standard of the world are blessed such as the satisfied, the rich, the powerful, the popular and the influential.

    The danger and evil now lies in the attitude of the heart that becomes independent from God. This is a heart that rejects God’s offer of friendship, mercy and love. Moreover, Jesus warns us when we tend to accumulate more wealth for ourselves at the expense of the poor, or when we consolidate power and influence at the expense of others, or when we seek to be praised and recognized by others by means of manipulations and abuse of power.

    Such attitude of the heart is filled with arrogance and self-centeredness that has no need of God. Our successes and we, ourselves, have become ‘gods.’

    But then, all of these would corrupt us because we will never be satisfied. We will thirst and hunger for more wealth, recognition and power which will also lead to our own destruction and those who are around us and those blocking our way to gain for more, as any form of addiction will also result in this way. Again, this is what Prophet Jeremiah reminds us, because those who turn away from the Lord are barren and empty.

    However, in God’s perspective those who are poor, sick, persecuted, those who failed and rejected are blessed because it is in our poverty and difficulty that we realize our weakness and of our need of God.

    Such insecurities bring us to understand that we are so small in this world and we are in need of God’s grace. That is why; Jesus addressed these Beatitudes to his disciples, assuring them of his presence. His disciples left everything, their families, jobs and the comfort of home. They went to places where sometimes they have to sleep without roof. Authorities ridiculed them and insulted them for following Jesus.

    This is what Jeremiah affirmed as well as in our Psalm, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.” Thus, the very presence of God in our life is what makes us “blessed.” Since God favors the weak, poor, suffering and struggling in life, they are the ones who are blessed because they understand their need of God. Remember, God comes to us when we are ready to accept God in our life and to let God be our God.

    God invites us then, to recognize our own poverty and anxieties because God blesses us with His presence. St. Paul reminds us, God is faithful. The resurrection of Jesus is our assurance. We might feel his absence at times when we are overwhelmed with difficulties and fears; yet, God remains with us.

    The material wealth that we have gained, the influence and fame that we have received and the successes that we have achieved are signs of God’s grace and generosity. When we have these, may these lead us to humble ourselves and to recognize that these are gifts and we ought to share them to others.

    And so, when we have received much, share the blessings to those who are in need without any expectation of a return of investment. If you are enjoying success in life, share the experience with those who failed. If you have achieved much in life, be humble enough to become an inspiration for others. In this way the Kingdom of God will truly be present among us, because we ourselves will become blessing to each one. Hinaut pa.

  • BY Our Faith & Trust in Him

    BY Our Faith & Trust in Him

    February 16, 2025 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021625.cfm)

    Who do we consider nowadays the fortunate lucky people who seems to be more blessed by God? And who do we consider nowadays the unfortunate, unlucky people who seems to be cursed by God?

    For us nowadays, people who are rich, affluent, and wealthy, who got and has everything they need and want in plenty are the fortunate. Fortunate also are those who are popular, powerful, and influential – who can control and trick people for their own advantage at their beck and call. We also consider fortunate those people who are smart and knowledgeable who knows too much and can outwit and outsmart others by getting the best and extra from the situation like rewards, prizes, money, “pogi” points, power, or media coverage. In other words, maabilidad ug marunong o maru (shrewd) are seemed to be blessed by God.

    And for us today, people who are poor, deprived, and marginalized are unfortunate. Unlucky are those who have less or nothing at all, in terms of food, education, power and influence. Those who are ignorant, innocent, mayukmok (the lesser ones) – easily fooled and deceived by others are seemed to be cursed by God.

    In other words, in the eyes of the world, the rich – the “haves” and “well-to-do” seems to be blessed by God, while the poor – the “have-nots” and “nothing-to-do” seems to be cursed by God. However, the fortunate, lucky, and blessed as well as the unfortunate, unlucky, and cursed people of our world today are the exact opposite of the blessed and cursed people of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Contrary to our popular notion today, the fortunate, lucky, and blessed people, for Jesus is not the rich, affluent, wealthy, popular, powerful, influential, smart, and knowledgeable people of today – but those who are poor, hungry, weeping, hated, rejected, insulted, deprived, deceived, marginalized or ignorant people of today. And for Jesus, those who are rich, full, happy, and praised by others whom we considered today as fortunate, lucky, and blessed are the unfortunate, unlucky, and cursed.

    Well, what does it mean? Does it mean Jesus uphold poverty, starvation, deception, oppression, discrimination and suffering of today? Does it mean that for us to be fortunate and blessed before God we have to be poor, hungry, weeping, suffering – in silence, hated, deprived and discriminated by others? NO. This is not about being fortunate or cursed but about our Faith and trust in God. At the heart of today’s reading is not about being fortunate and cursed but the theme of Faith & Trust in God.

    Our first reading today gave us a contrast of the fate of those who trust in human beings with fate of those who trust in God. Those who trust in human beings are like a barren desert shrub; whereas those who trust in God are like a fruitful tree planted beside a flowing river. Jesus in our gospel today is telling and teaching us that those who trust in God are righteous and finds favor in God, but those who trust only in human beings and in themselves are wicked and unfortunate.

    What makes then a person blessed or cursed, lucky or unlucky, fortunate, or unfortunate is not on the condition where he is in, but in His faith and trust in God. What counts and matters most, then, is our faith and trust in God. And to trust in God is to rely on God as to be the one source of life. This would mean that in life and whatever happens in our life, we must trust and rely not on our way, our will, and our accomplishments but on God’s Way, God’s will, and God’s mercy.

    For Jesus, then, blessed are those who trust in God and cursed are those who trust only in others and in themselves. Blessed are the poor, hungry, weeping, hated, insulted because they trust in God. They have faith in God, they have nothing else but God. Cursed are the rich, full, happy, and praised by others because they have everything else but God. In other words, by our trust in Him we are blessed & by relying only on others & oneself we are cursed. As St. Theresa of Calcuta would remind us, “God does not call us to be successful but to be Faithful in Life”.

    Here, we must also see that God’s blessings are not only “yet to come” but are “here and now”. It is not only a promise but a reality. It is His gift to us now who trust in Him – not as the reward that we expect and need from him, for what we are receiving from Him is more abundant than just what we need and expect from Him. And usually God’s blessings come as a surprised Gift which is beyond our expectation.

    As a text message I once received say, which could be our today’s prayer: “God’s blessings may come as a surprise and how much we receive depends on how much our heart can believe. May we be blessed beyond what we expect, as we believe and trust in Him. God bless.”

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • OUR IMPERFECTIONS ARE OPENINGS OF GOD’S GRACE

    OUR IMPERFECTIONS ARE OPENINGS OF GOD’S GRACE

    February 9, 2025 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020925.cfm)

    There was this story of a cracked pot[1], which you may have already heard. There was once a woman who would fetch water from a nearby river every morning. She would carry a long pole of which two earthen pots hung. One pot was perfectly formed. Meanwhile, the other one has a crack on its side.

    Every day for several years, the one with a crack would only have a half full of water upon arrival at the house. Because of this, the cracked pot pitied itself for being imperfect and defective. The pot felt ashamed and depressed for it could not serve fully the woman. Then, one day at the usual spot at the river, the cracked pot found its voice and expressed to the woman,

    “I am so sorry. Every day for many years you filled me with water, yet, I was always half empty.  It must be tiring and frustrating for you to have me. In contrast, the other pot is perfect and would always deliver water without any single drop. This crack in me pained and shamed me daily. You must have wanted to get rid of me. I only give you difficulty. I would understand when you would replace me with a perfect one.”

    The woman listened to the cracked pot with care and affection. Then, she responded, “On our way home, I want you to look at the side of the path where your water drips off. You seemed to be overwhelmed by your imperfection, but recognize also how the defect in you bring beauty to the world.”

    The cracked pot wondered and was confused. And so, on their way home, the cracked pot looked intently at the side of the path where its water was dripping. There it saw the beautiful flowers on the side of the road.

    The woman, in her wisdom sprinkled seeds of flowers knowing of the crack of the pot. And so every time, after collecting water, the pot with its crack on its side would water those seeds that eventually produced flowers.

    This wonderful story tells us now how our imperfection or the defects in us could also be channels of life, of beauty, of hope and of grace. This is what I want to expound more on this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time as our readings call us now to recognize that indeed, our imperfections can be openings of God’s grace.

    In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah realized his sinfulness in front of the Lord God. He said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips.”

    Yet, the Lord purged the lips of Isaiah of which his wickedness was removed. Isaiah received mercy and from there heard the call, “Whom shall I send?” And so, Isaiah responded, “Here I am. Send me!”

    Similarly, Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians also recognized his past sins and failures. He said, “I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.” But Paul met the Risen Jesus and through that encounter he realized how wrong he was. He was blinded by his own arrogance, hatred and anger. Yet, the Lord remained merciful to him. That became the way for Paul to respond to Jesus’ invitation to change and renewal.

    In the same manner, Peter had an earlier experience when he too realized his own sinfulness. The Gospel of Luke described to us, “Peter fell at the knees of Jesus and said, ‘Depart from me Lord, for I am sinful man.” It was after Peter realized the goodness of the Lord who was in front of him. The abundance of the fish after his failed attempt the night before, taught him that with the Lord there is life. It was in that way as well that Peter received the invitation to follow the Lord.

    All three became aware of their sinfulness, the imperfections in them in front of the Lord. Yet, it was through that awareness that the Lord worked wonders through them. In fact, the Lord called them and did wonderful things in their life not because of their worthiness or the great things they have done in their life.

    The very imperfections in them became openings for God’s grace to transform them and to flow through them. Wonderfully, Isaiah was gifted with prophecy. Paul was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles and was able to build many Christian Communities. And Peter was called to share in the mission of Jesus.

    And again, all these happened not because of their worthiness but because the Lord chooses those who are willing to accept and embrace His grace. It is that grace of forgiveness and mercy that transformed them.

    What makes their stories richer were the common experiences they had. Each of them encountered the Lord. And that very encounter with God led them to transformation and to mission. This tells us that real encounter with God will strip us of our pretentions, insecurities, fears and shame. We become more aware of the cracks in us.

    Yet, in those moments of awareness of our cracks or imperfections that the Lord is more forgiving and merciful to us. The Lord knows our sins. The Lord sees our cracks. But God does not wish to destroy us or to get rid of us. God desires that from our own humanity, with all our imperfections, God shall work wonders for us and for our community just as he transformed men and women in our history.

    These are the two take-aways now that I want you to bring this Sunday.

    First, allow the Lord to change us. This begins in acknowledging our sinfulness and in taking responsibility of our failures. May we not cover our cracks and pretend as if there is nothing wrong with us. Let us not bury ourselves as well in shame and fear for having imperfections just like what happened to the cracked pot. So let us seek forgiveness and reconciliation with the people whom we have hurt and by embracing mercy in the Sacrament of Confession. Indeed, this requires us to be truly humble and honest.

    Second, allow the Lord to empower us. As we become aware that the imperfections in us are openings of God’s grace, then, let us cooperate with that grace so that change will be possible in us. God’s Divine Wisdom shall transform the cracks in us, the imperfections that we have into channels of grace. This is how we are called to become instruments of mercy, love, peace and reconciliation in our communities and homes. This means that we called to bring the grace in our very life as a parent, as a professional, as a leader, as a vendor or worker or simply as a friend, classmate or as a young person. Hinaut pa.

    [1] https://www.integritycoaching.co.uk/blog/authentic-and-ethical-leadership/cracked-pot/ (This story is not in its original version. I have made some changes to fit the message I want to bring out)