Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Ordinary Time

  • Building and Making Life-Giving Encounters

    Building and Making Life-Giving Encounters

    June 14, 2024 – Friday 10th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061424.cfm)

    Just like many of you, I was also excited to join and participate in this youth leadership training. This is not the first for me to have such kind of training, but my first in DOPIM. Some might have been surprised when they knew that a Youth Director joined and become a participant in this training. Harlyn, one of my groupmates, whom we fondly also call as Belinda, said, she could not believe that I was a priest. On the first night, she excitedly greeted us and exchanged conversation with us. But when she knew, she became extra respectful to me.

    I actually have my own reasons why I joined and become a participant just like you. And these reasons reveal the priorities that I have now as a youth minister and of what I want to impart to the Young Ministers in particular of the Prelature of Marawi. I canceled parish schedules and told my mother I couldn’t be home for her 60th Birthday last Tuesday because of a youth gathering that I have to attend – just to make way for this event. But more than these reasons, there are more important ones (three reasons) that I want to share with you all and not just for the Youth Ministers of the Prelature of Marawi.

    First, a youth leader is a youth minister. Let us remind ourselves that though we are leaders exercising authority, but our first vocation is to be a minister, in giving service for others so that we may journey together to bring each one closer to Christ. In this ministry, I remind myself that I am called to learn and unlearn with you and from you. It does not diminish the direction of a team or youth leader, or pastor or youth minister but it rather enhances the process of learning and unlearning things. This helps the ministry to slowly discover the gifts and talents of the young, affirm and correct one another so that we bring ourselves closer to Christ. This makes the ministry to be Christ-Centered.

    Second, as a youth minister, I am friend. This calls me that to be a friend I also need to develop a listening ear, to have an understanding heart, and to learn the art of a welcoming embrace. This is also the reason why I want to be identified as a friend rather than as an authority figure. Being a friend is a gift that I can offer to the young, a grace that I ask from the Lord so that my presence will be a non-threatening and non-intimidating presence. I am aware that I am a youth minister and not a police who checks youth activities and would just give a mouthful of curses when something wrong happens in the program. The gift of my presence means my ability to feel what others feel, to accompany and journey those who feel afraid and confused. And a presence that builds life-giving friendships (healthy relationships), not romantic relationships, neither a master-slave relationship with the youth nor a manager-staff relationship. This makes the ministry to be Human-Oriented.

    Third, as a youth director, I am a companion and a mentor by inculcating to you the value of building and creating relationships. We, indeed, need companions, friends and mentors who will assure our co-young people that they are not alone. Today, one of the biggest difficulties of the young is the tendency to be lonely and alone. Let our co-young people know and feel that they are not alone and that God and our community are much bigger than their problems and struggles. Each of us is called to be a companion and a mentor of the young and of one another so that we may be able to go out from our own comfort zones, accompanying the young to be more self-giving, reaching out to others with much love and understanding. Meaning, being a companion and a mentor calls me to journey with you so that we may be able to go out together, to meet and encounter more young people. This makes the ministry to be Mission-Directed.

    This is what we discover in the story of Prophet Elijah. God himself whom he discovered in a “tiny whispering sound,” meaning in a non-threatening and non-intimidating presence, ministered to him, became his friend, companion and mentor in his life as a prophet who was overwhelmed with fear, anxiety and doubts.

    We also remind ourselves that for us to become true, effective and compassionate young leaders and ministers, we also need to cut off anything that is unhealthy in our ministry to the young. This is how Jesus reminds us today in the Gospel, “cut off and throw away” anything that separates us from the grace of God and from one another.

    We may have the tendency to be controlling and manipulating in our ministry, stop and cut off those attitudes. We may be emotionally driven and highly sensitive of comments and suggestions from others, learn to be more objective and rational. We may be self-centered and image-conscious, then, cut them off and bring Jesus to the ministry rather than ourselves. We may also become merely activity-oriented and output-driven to the point that we overwork ourselves and our co-young people with so much programs, but forgetting how to talk with them personally and lovingly.

    Friends, my co-youth ministers, as leaders, we are called to build and make life-giving encounters with our co-young people in this transition of life of the young so that we may be able to encounter Christ in all things and in everything. And it is through these life-giving encounters, no matter how insignificant they can be to others, that we can make significant impact to a struggling young person, in the hope of a transformed-self according to God’s desire for us. Hinaut pa.

  • THE LEPROSY OF THE HEART

    THE LEPROSY OF THE HEART

    February 11, 2024 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021124.cfm)

    Leprosy is such a terrible and horrible illness in Biblical times. People would not dare touching a person who was stricken with leprosy. Because of the foul smell from the rotten flesh of a leper, one would ran away to avoid such person. The illness was gruesome that people in biblical times would separate lepers from the community. There was no cure of such illness except a miracle from heaven. Even in the past recent past, colonies of lepers were founded in order to contain them in one place.

    In fact, I have been into one of the colonies of lepers here in our country. During my college days in the seminary in Cebu, every weekend we would spend time with the lepers in their ward and spend a night in the community.

    Today, leprosy is curable. Lepers would not suffer the same alienation and discrimination as before anymore. The sanitariums especially build for this purpose were now converted to General Hospitals. This means that leprosy is no longer a threat to the population.

    However, what remained terrible and horrible, is not anymore the leprosy of the body, but the leprosy of the heart, that continually discriminates and condemns people, that plants hatred and fosters violence, that perpetrates abuse and corruption, that is unmoved and indifferent towards the sufferings of others, and that advances personal interest at the expense of the weak and the poor.

    Hence, this is what I want to share and expound on this Sunday based on the readings that have been revealed to us. Let us revisit again the readings and discover how the Lord invites us to make our hearts clean and free from the leprosy of the heart.

    In the Book of Leviticus, an instruction was given on how to treat a person with leprosy. And since, leprosy is believed to be also a form of punishment and condemnation, a person shall declare himself, “Unclean! “Unclean!” This will warn the people nearby that there was a leprous in the midst and so they can be away.

    This also means that leper cannot stay with his/her family and friends. They were designated outside the camp, outside the affairs of the community. They were removed from the life of the community. One could imagine then, the loneliness and condemnation they received from the community. No one will touch them not even talk to them.

    There was actually a medical explanation why they were separated from the community, and that was to protect the public from such medical threat. There was no cure for such illness before. However, such treatment fostered the culture of indifference, discrimination and hostility against the sick.

    These are signs of a more terrible illness, the leprosy of the heart. These culture prevailed up to the time Jesus. As the Lord preached the Kingdom of God manifested in his many miracles, Jesus also witnessed the leprosy of the heart of the people. Those who claimed to be upright, religious and clean, where the ones who treated the lepers in the worst manner. This kind of leprosy rejects the presence of God. This kind of heart knows no mercy.

    The indifference of the public and the lack of concern promoted a culture that pushes away the lepers to the fringes of the society. They were on their own, unaided and condemned to misery. These were the reasons why any Jew would not dare talking, being near or worst touching a leper. They were afraid that they might be contaminated and become unclean like the lepers.

    However, there was a turn of events, when Jesus was in their midst. Jesus, who healed many sick people, forgave the sinners, became a glimmer of hope of the lepers. Indeed, through Jesus, lepers found hope, healing and life. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus showed this hope, healing and life through his four life-giving movements.

    First, Jesus was moved with pity. The heart of Jesus belongs to them. His is only filled with love and compassion. No discrimination. No judgment.

    Second, Jesus stretched out his hand. An action that moves out to meet the other, to encounter a person.

    Third, Jesus touched him. Jesus did what was unimaginable and what was impossible, not to impress people but to express love.

    And fourth, Jesus said, “I will do it. Be made clean!” This is what love and compassion can do. After that, the leper was immediately cleaned and healed. He was given hope, healing and a new life. The person was liberated.

    This can only come from a heart that knows how to be moved with pity, love and compassion, a heart that knows how to love and how to bring healing and life.

    However, a heart that is stricken with leprosy, it stays distant from the Lord, rejecting love and compassion. This heart is truly lonely and sad, bitter and sick.

    That is why, let us listen to what Paul reminded us in his first letter to the Corinthians, he said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Let us strive that our heart may become like Jesus, that our heart will be free from the leprosy of indifference and hatred, of violence and bitterness.

    Thus, for this Sunday, let us pray together and ask the Lord to bless our hearts, to clean and heal our hearts. I want you now to place your right hand to your heart, close your eyes and repeat after me.

    “Lord Jesus fill my heart today with love and compassion. Make my heart gentle and humble. Free and heal my heart from the disease of indifference, violence, hatred, anger, resentment and bitterness.

    Renew my heart today and make it like yours that I may be moved with compassion when I am confronted with those in need, that my heart may have the courage to take action and initiative to show kindness and generosity without asking anything in return.

    Make my heart like yours, that I may also give hope and bring healing and life. Amen.”

    Hinaut pa.

  • A GOD WHO HEALS

    A GOD WHO HEALS

    February 4, 2024 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020424.cfm)

    Broken-hearted ka ba? Umasa pero pinaasa? Umibig pero sinaktan? – These questions seemed to be filled with pain in the heart. But, how are you really? How is life going on for you now? Perhaps many would respond, “Ok lang.” Others may say, “life is favorable for me at the moment, or God is good for the graces I received”. Others are indeed happy and contented with life. Indeed, we are blessed having such kind of life.

    Yet, how about those who are overburdened with problems in life? Those who are suffering from broken relationships and broken homes? Those who are terminally ill and desperate to live a bit longer? Those who find life dark, bitter and hopeless trapped in guilt, shame, loneliness, fear and anxiety? Then, we might find life filled with misery.

    This was the life of Job. In the first reading, Job found his life miserable. He lost his family, his wealth as well as his health. Because of so much suffering, he could not find any meaning and significance in all those pain and loneliness he endured.

    Why? Because Job was a good and pious man. He did no wrong to anybody. He was faithful to God. Thus, he felt that he did not deserve such kind of life. This is how he described his life to be “miserable,” “hopeless,” and “devoid of happiness.”

    We could also act like Job. We might also say, “I do not deserve such kind of misery in life, Lord. What have I done? Why do you give me such trial and suffering?” – We could actually say these especially when we are confronted with unspeakable human suffering.

    That is why, in misery, Job concluded, “I shall not see happiness anymore.” Job felt hopeless. He believed that God completely abandoned him. Yet, Job was wrong.  Job failed to realize two important points.

    First, he justified himself for being good. He seemed to demand God and became entitled that he should not be treated in such a way because he was good. For him, he did not deserve such misery but only prosperity and blessing.

    Second, Job misunderstood that God’s grace and favor are not about how good we are, but about God’s goodness and generosity. This means that to be blessed is a sheer grace.

    However, despite this attitude of Job, the Lord remained faithful to him. Later on, the Lord confronted Job and let him realize his failures. The Lord restored Job not because he was justified but because the Lord is good and close to the brokenhearted.

    This is what the Responsorial Psalm proclaimed today, “Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted!” The Lord binds up our wounds because the Lord is good and gracious! This is God’s true character. This tells us that indeed, God actually desires our healing, freedom, our joy and that we may have the fullness of life.

    That is why, Paul would never stop preaching the gospel of Christ. His First Letter to the Corinthians reminds us of Paul’s conviction to share the gospel because the very message brings the presence of Jesus who gives us joy, freedom and life. Paul even said, “to the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.” This means that Paul became a true companion and a friend to people especially the weak. By being able to enter into the life of those who are suffering, Paul understood them better and saw that Christ was as well with the weak and the suffering.

    A God who heals

    A God who desires joy and fullness of life for us is best described in today’s Gospel of Mark. Jesus went inside the house of Simon and Andrew. By being welcomed into that household, Jesus was made aware of the sick mother-in-law of Simon. And Jesus had three wonderful movements in this scenario.

    First, Jesus approached. Jesus did not wait for the sick to come to him. It was God who came near the sick. This manifests an intention to bring God’s presence closer to the sick.

    Second, he grasped her hand. Jesus brought God’s touch to the sick woman. God touching her meant God’s compassion towards her. The touch of Jesus was God’s most abiding presence giving her the strength.

    Third, he helped her up. The strength from God was the gift of healing granted to the sick mother-in-law. Because she was lying down and her fever overpowers her, she needed help from another. This very action of Jesus helping her up tells us that God supplements and journeys with us towards our freedom and healing.

    From these three movement, Jesus showed us how our presence, our touch and our concrete action in helping another will manifest the presence of God that brings comfort, compassion, healing and even life.

    This is the very reason why after the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law, people with various diseases and those who are ill or possessed by demons flocked towards Jesus. Because the power of presence of Jesus is not of force and violence. People, rather, begin to recognize God’s compassion. In Jesus what we see and realize is God’s power who wills our joy and desires our healing to experience the fullness of life.

    For us today, let these three movements of Jesus be our invitations in our relationships. But first, let us welcome the Lord to come to us, to welcome him in our hearts. Not that we become entitled or demanding to God because we are good and pious.

    Then, let us allow the Lord through his instruments to approach us, to hold us, and to help us. They could be our friends or family members, professionals or even strangers who have the intention to love us.

    With that, we may also become God’s instruments who will manifest God’s powerful presence in our homes, workplaces and communities by approaching, holding and helping those who are sick, weak, vulnerable and the brokenhearted. Hinaut pa.

  • BETTER than…

    BETTER than…

    February 4, 2024 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020424.cfm)

    A naughty boy once told by his mother: “Son, behave. If you behave well, God will grant you whatever you want.” It got into his head that the boy tried his best to behave well. He cleans his room, helps in house chores & becomes kind with elders. Then one day, the boy went to the church & prayed before a crucifix, in this manner: “Jesus, mom said if I behave well, you will grant what I wish for. Know that I have been behaving well lately. Please, give me a playstation”. And the he waited but nothing happens. When he got fed up waiting, he said: “Gaduko-duko dayon, Kay utangan man.” (Trying to elude me, hah, since you owe me one)

    In praying the Lord’s prayer, we say: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. But somehow we don’t really mean those words, because we rather have our will be done than His will be done. In praying, easy for us then to ask, to wish & give thanks for the graces we expect. Meaning, before His presence, we rather express to Him & be heard of our own thinking, plans, will, wants & needs than listen to His. And when our wills & plans are not fulfilled, we resort to sour-gripping, thinking that God (utangan) owes & indebted to us…. 

    When he said in our gospel today that he has to go & proclaim the Good News to other towns & villages, Jesus shows us that He doesn’t only feel for all & willing to address all our needs, but He also wants us to listen & obey Him because there is more & much better ways & plans in store for us than just responding to our urgent wants.

    His offer of salvation for us is much better than what we wish for. If we want the Lord to understand & listen to us, we must also learn how to listen & obey His will & plans for us on earth as it is in heaven.

    Like the people of his time, however sometimes we only recognize Jesus as he heals and responds to our immediate need. So that we may be happy, we only want Jesus to satisfy our urgent needs. We want Jesus to create miracles or magic, to ease our pain and free us from our life’s loads and burdens.

    Sometime  in life, we may have considered Jesus only as our “Kargador” baggage-carrier to lighten our loads, serve our needs and ease our pains. Sometimes in life, we see Jesus as a mere gasoline station – we recognize Him only whenever we need Him, when we run out of gas. Sometimes, we need Jesus to be just our caregiver who should readily respond to our immediate needs – without caring about the message He preached, story to tell, role to play in our lives as well as His life and mission to partake & live with us. And worse, we may consider Jesus as may have indebted to us for not fulfilling our expectations.

    Nevertheless, God do listen & respond to our needs & want, same way the Lord responded to the immediate concerns of the sick people of his time. Surely Jesus will respond hands-on and on-hand to our needs and hope, for He do know what we need & what we are going through in life. But Jesus can offer us better than just carrying our burden. He is the Lord who offers us more than just lightening our loads, cure our sicknesses, free us from our problems or filling-up our gasoline tank.

    Jesus comes to us to renew our lives and offer us God’s kingdom. His mission is to preach the Good News of Salvation. He came not only to respond to our immediate petty needs but to heal and recreate our land and the world now. He comes so that we may have life – life to its fullness, and not just life to our satisfaction.

    But, remember then that in responding to our concerns & in giving us God’s offer of salvation, we must also obey His ways & will, for God’s will happens & be done, if & when we learn how to listen to Jesus in our life.

    Praying before the Lord then is not only about we talking, requesting & even demanding of Him for what we want, but moreso about us listening, considering & in tuning with God’s better will & plans for us.

    It is not about asking for what we want &  what we expect, but all about listening & responding to His message, calling & challenges for us. Simply put, it is not our will, or my will….but His will (Thy will) be done.

    In this Eucharist, we pray that our faith in Jesus moves us not to limit & abuse God’s graces for us, but rather move us to be more open & trusting to God’s plans & will for us now, and thus participate fully in the Mission of Jesus of sharing God’s offer of Life & Salvation to all in our world now & always. Amen.

  • Bringing Nothing but Blessing

    Bringing Nothing but Blessing

    February 1, 2024 – Thursday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020124.cfm)

    Ten years ago I was sent abroad for a mission exposure, I was told that I got 30 kilos of baggage allowance for my flight. Few nights before my flight, I had my own inventory on what I should bring for the one year mission experience in Indonesia. I kept looking at my things worried that I might forget something important and something that “I might need.”

    Aside from clothes, I prepared small things, vitamins and preventive medicines against malaria, books, camping and survival kit, treats and sweets for my sweet tooth and many other small things. Unsurprisingly, my luggage was overweight and I had to pay a few thousand pesos for that.

    Indeed, the worries and anxiety that I might need this and that made my luggage heavy and overweight. I was also overburdened as I carried my luggage. After all, when I was in the mission area, there were many things that I brought but I was not able to use them. I realized I had more than enough.

    Such a situation may also be true in other aspects of our life. One may be overburdened in his or her relationship because of the emotional baggage the person brings. An emotional baggage such as trauma from the past, guilt, shame, fear, anger, hatred or other insecurities could make our life more difficult and at times overwhelming and suffocating.

    This is how I find today’s Gospel passage to be so meaningful and significant. Jesus sent out the Twelve, two by two. They were given power to cast out unclean spirits and heal the sick. However, in their journey, Jesus told them “to bring nothing except a walking stick.” They were “allowed to wear sandals but not a second tunic.”

    This journey sounds a bit harsh and difficult. A disciple could feel so vulnerable and insecure for not having other things in the journey. Yet, Jesus “gave them authority.” That authority is power. And that power is to bring blessing.

    Despite the poverty they had, the small things they possessed, the very presence of God among them and the power given to them suffice what they need. Moreover, such attitude to bring nothing but a walking stick was a invitation. There are two invitations here.

    1. First, to trust the generosity of God. The Lord shall provide the needs of His friends. The ever abiding presence of God is with them and to fully trust in God’s Providence is truly an act of faith. This is the realization of David at the end of his life. He learned to let go and entrust everything to God who is good and merciful. He is going the way of all flesh, as he said. God
    2. Second, to trust the generosity of the people. The reason why they were to bring nothing was to allow themselves become companions and friends of the people whom they were to encounter. They may have the power given by God to them, yet, they were not above the people or apart from the people. They were equal in status as companions and friends. They were to live among the people and be immersed in the life of the people. This is where the generosity of the people is welcomed and received with gratitude.

    Indeed, may we also learn and trust more the generosity of God and the generosity of people around us. That generosity may not be always material but also as an expression of support and understanding, warmth and affection, friendship and intimacy, care and compassion, mercy and forgiveness.

    Hence, as we move forward in whatever phase, track, or path we are in this journey of life, may we bring blessing to others. Hinaut pa.