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Category: Ordinary Time

  • God loves a grateful and cheerful giver

    God loves a grateful and cheerful giver

    August 10, 2019 – Saturday 18th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (9:6-10)

    Brothers and sisters:

    Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

    and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

    Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,

    for God loves a cheerful giver.

    Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,

    so that in all things, always having all you need,

    you may have an abundance for every good work.

    As it is written:

    He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;

    his righteousness endures forever.

    The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food

    will supply and multiply your seed

    and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

    Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9

     

    R.(5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

    Blessed the man who fears the LORD,

    who greatly delights in his commands.

    His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;

    the upright generation shall be blessed.

    Well for the man who is gracious and lends,

    who conducts his affairs with justice;

    He shall never be moved;

    the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.

    An evil report he shall not fear;

    his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.

    His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear

    till he looks down upon his foes.

    Lavishly he gives to the poor,

    his generosity shall endure forever;

    his horn shall be exalted in glory.

    From the Gospel of John (12:24-26)

    Jesus said to his disciples:

    “Amen, amen, I say to you,

    unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,

    it remains just a grain of wheat;

    but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

    Whoever loves his life loses it,

    and whoever hates his life in this world

    will preserve it for eternal life.

    Whoever serves me must follow me,

    and where I am, there also will my servant be.

    The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

    Homily

    The attitudes of gratefulness and cheerfulness in giving are what our readings would like us to reflect today. This calls us to recognize the many gifts that we have received from the Lord and in return, through our gratefulness we are moved to share to others cheerfully what we have received. Our Psalm proclaims to us, “Blessed the person who is gracious and lends those in need.” This calls us now not to become anxious of tomorrow but to be confident of the blessings of today.

    Certainly, God loves a cheerful giver, as St Paul affirms, because it is an expression of our deep understanding of God’s gifts and of our deeper intimacy shared with God. We become Christ-like who in today’s Gospel is the seed that falls to the ground and dies and bears much fruit.

    This is an invitation also for us today. A person who joyfully shares his/her recourses and gifts and even his/her life for others, is a seed who takes the risk of giving oneself for others so that others may have life. This is an expression that our faith and relationship with one another becomes life-giving by becoming grateful and generous.

    Indeed, it is when we realize how blessed we are, that we too grow in our gratitude to the Lord. It is essential for us to accept and appreciate the things that have been given to us. They may include not just the material things that we possessed but also our relationships, the many people who are there to love and support us, the gift of our person, our talents and abilities, our vision and dreams. Thus, when our heart is contented of what we have at this very moment, we will remain assured and secured in our life.

    However, when our heart grows unsatisfied, no matter how much we have, we will surely seek for more. This will happen to us when we keep saying that we don’t have enough.

    Jesus invites us today to recognize the blessings that we have. Counting those things that we don’t have will only make us bitter and complaining. It will only make us seek for more making us greedy; who would always seek for more attention, recognition, praises, and entitlements from others. If we allow ourselves to turn into greedy and bitter persons, then we will make ourselves as the unhappiest person.

    Thus, instead of being anxious on what we can profit, let this day and the days that will come as the right time to be grateful to God. Recognize and count every blessing that you have received. Hopefully, through this, it will mold us to become grateful persons and generous in our actions and words. And may our generosity express the cheerfulness in giving despite the little things that may remain in us or despite the nothingness once we give up something for others and for God. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Be welcoming, God’s grace and mercy is without borders

    Be welcoming, God’s grace and mercy is without borders

    August 7, 2019 – Wednesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Gospel of Matthew (15:21-28)

    At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
    And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
    “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
    My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
    But he did not say a word in answer to her.
    His disciples came and asked him,
    “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
    He said in reply,
    “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
    But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
    He said in reply,
    “It is not right to take the food of the children
    and throw it to the dogs.”
    She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
    that fall from the table of their masters.”
    Then Jesus said to her in reply,
    “O woman, great is your faith!
    Let it be done for you as you wish.”
    And her daughter was healed from that hour.

    HOMILY

    Have you ever been insulted, discriminated and rejected by the people whom you thought would help you and show you mercy?

    Certainly, we would feel hurt, broken-hearted, ashamed or even angered. I expected such feelings also from the Canaanite woman  who approached Jesus. And he seemingly gave a cold and harsh treatment towards her. However, the persistence of the woman and Jesus’ indirect teaching to his disciples make the story more interesting. Let us see a bit deeper, then, the Gospel today.

    This Gospel story tells us that Jesus with his disciples withdrew to Tyre and Sidon, a region of the Gentiles. Gentiles were considered by the Jews at that time to be unclean. However, Jesus went there on purpose to teach something to his disciples.

    That purpose of Jesus culminated in the appearance of the Canaanite woman who sought healing for her daughter. The woman, as a gentile was considered like a dog to the Jews. Even though Jesus reminded her of this discrimination from the Jews, the woman did not lose any courage and faith to approach Jesus. The woman believed that though she was undeserving of God’s mercy, but she asked for it anyway not for herself but for her sick daughter.

    This was what Jesus wanted to teach to his disciples that God’s mercy is beyond race, culture or even religious tradition. By going to that region, Jesus made a statement. By healing the daughter of that woman, Jesus broke down the cultural and religious barriers that prevent people from reaching out. Jesus tore down the walls of indifference and lack of compassion.

     This is what the Lord is inviting us to reflect today. Just like his disciples, we are called to expand our perspective and understanding of God’s mercy. God is no doubt not limited to few people or selected and favored people. Our God is God of everyone regardless of belief, culture, background or history. God’s grace and mercy is without borders.

    Now, you and me who believed in Jesus as Lord and savior are called to be like him. We are, therefore, called to widen our circle of friends, to include those even outside our family, relatives and old friends. We are called to reach out to others, to be more welcoming and accommodating of people in need even if we are different, even if we come from different regions, or religion, or race or dialect, or status and position in life.

    This calls us too to be true to our Catholic identity, and that is to be universal and inclusive in the way we deal and relate with people, showing kindness and mercy.

    Yes, we are called to build bridges rather than walls, to extend our hands rather than closing our doors, to open our eyes rather than pretending not to see.

    Thus, as we would all go home (or go back to your office and workplace, or school), I would like to ask you to recognize those people who need a welcoming presence and accommodating heart. Extend our generosity to them so that we may able to bring the Lord closer to them. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Our possessions can possess us

    Our possessions can possess us

    August 4, 2019 – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    From the Book of Ecclesiastes (1:2; 2:21-23)

    Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
    vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!

    Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill,
    and yet to another who has not labored over it,
    he must leave property. 
    This also is vanity and a great misfortune. 
    For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
    with which he has labored under the sun? 
    All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;
    even at night his mind is not at rest. 
    This also is vanity.

    From the Letter of Paul to the Colossians (3:1-5,9-11)

    Brothers and sisters:
    If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
    where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
    Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 
    For you have died,
    and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 
    When Christ your life appears,
    then you too will appear with him in glory.

    Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
    immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
    and the greed that is idolatry. 
    Stop lying to one another,
    since you have taken off the old self with its practices
    and have put on the new self,
    which is being renewed, for knowledge,
    in the image of its creator. 
    Here there is not Greek and Jew,
    circumcision and uncircumcision,
    barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
    but Christ is all and in all.

     From the Gospel of Luke (12:13-21)

    Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
    “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” 
    He replied to him,
    “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” 
    Then he said to the crowd,
    “Take care to guard against all greed,
    for though one may be rich,
    one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

    Then he told them a parable. 
    “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 
    He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
    for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
    And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
    I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. 
    There I shall store all my grain and other goods
    and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
    you have so many good things stored up for many years,
    rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
    But God said to him,
    ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
    and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
    Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves
    but are not rich in what matters to God.”

    HOMILY

    According to the study of OXFAM International, an independent non-governmental organizations, one in three persons lives in poverty[1] and in their 2018 report on the Word’s wealth, Oxfam found that the richest 1% people in the world have 82% of the world’s wealth. Moreover, Oxfam also reported that the 26 wealthiest people in the world possessed 1.4 trillion USD and this is just equivalent to the wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest people in the world.[2]

    The world has so much wealth and resources for all of us but then only few are possessing them. To possess material wealth is 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.

    However, 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 possess 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 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. The Lord invites us to examine our attitudes towards our material wealth, the resources that we have gained and received, and the riches that we possessed. Even though we may not be part of that 1% wealthiest people in the world, but then, the possessions that we have may have already possessed us. This 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 guarantee satisfaction to our 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-containment and 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.

    This is how the cycle of corruption and oppression happen. 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.

    Such attitude will not just appear in our heart out of nowhere. Sometimes, this has something to do from 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 feesl insecure every time he or she gives.  The person would only look at his/herself and never to others. This is now 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.

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

    Jom Baring, CSsR

    [1] https://www.oxfam.org/en/about)

    [2] https://time.com/5508393/global-wealth-inequality-widens-oxfam/

  • Never ignore what is familiar and ordinary because God reveals His grace to us in there

    Never ignore what is familiar and ordinary because God reveals His grace to us in there

    August 2, 2019 – Friday 17th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Gospel according to Matthew (13:54-58)

    Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
    They were astonished and said,
    “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
    Is he not the carpenter’s son?
    Is not his mother named Mary
    and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
    Are not his sisters all with us?
    Where did this man get all this?”
    And they took offense at him.
    But Jesus said to them,
    “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
    and in his own house.”
    And he did not work many mighty deeds there
    because of their lack of faith.

    Homily

    Have you experienced being judged by friends of family members because of your past sins, weaknesses or failures and because you are just too familiar and ordinary for them? Or have you ever judged others too because of their past sins and failures and because they also are very familiar and ordinary to you?

    When I was in high school, I had this classmate who appeared to be always untidy, late and worst would usually fail his exams. Yet, when we moved up to a higher year, there was something that surprised the class about him. Though he still looked untidy and sometimes came late, but, his exams got higher and better results. Every time he passed an exam, we were bitter. Everyone suspected him that he cheated. Most of us couldn’t believe that he had the potential. Others became angry and felt bad whenever he got a higher score than those who usually got high scores.

    Indeed, most of us judged him that he did not have the capacity. We judged him of his past behavior and of his failures. Thus, we have failed to recognize that he had actually that capacity. We refused to believe in him because we felt insecure of his capacities and potentials.

    Though Jesus never failed and sinned, yet, such judgment and bitterness are not far from the experience of Jesus. When Jesus went home to Nazareth, he was treated badly by his own people. The good news that he preached and God’s power that he revealed to his neighbors were treated with cruelty and insecurity.

    When Jesus stood in their midst, the people merely saw a carpenter and an ordinary man who once played and worked with them. The people limited Jesus by what he was used to do, in doing carpentry, nothing more and nothing less. They couldn’t accept that there was actually MORE in Jesus.

    This is very similar with our judgment to that classmate of mine. For many of us, he was just a lazy boy, untidy classmate, not capable of anything except in failing his exams. We too could not accept that there was MORE in him.

    Thus, instead of welcoming the power and wisdom that Jesus shared with grace and faith, the people refused to accept because of their insecurities and bitterness. They rejected Jesus because they could not accept that this ordinary carpenter brings God’s presence to them. They questioned him, “Who is this man? Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?”

    The too-ordinary life of Jesus prevented them to welcome him as God’s revelation to them. Resentment and hate overwhelmed the people which made their hearts, unbelieving. This was the reason why Jesus was not able to perform mighty deeds for them because God’s grace will only work when it is received with faith. Jesus is after all, not a magician who will attract people’s attention for a short span of time. Jesus reveals God’s presence and power through ordinary means.

    And this is not far from our own experiences too. Many times we reject what is ordinary and familiar to us. We ignore God’s grace and invitation to us because we are busy looking for extra-ordinary things, for a magic to appear. That instead of recognizing God’s power in an ordinary sunrise and sunset, we busy ourselves looking for a “dancing sun” or “falling petals from heaven.” Thus, we refuse to believe that there is MORE in the ordinary.

    Miracles happen every day in its most ordinary way. God’s grace is being unfolded even in our everyday experiences. God’s healing power is also revealed to us through our familiar sacraments in the church and through the embrace of people who love us like your parents, siblings, relatives and friends.

    This is the invitation now for us today – that is, to make ourselves more aware of God’s work even in the most ordinary way, to recognize God even among the familiar people, places and events. When we are able to learn this kind of awareness, then, we too shall discover the wonders that God gives us every day, and we shall realize that there is MORE in every ordinary experience, and in every ordinary and familiar person we meet.

    This calls us not to judge quickly to what is familiar and to what is seemingly ordinary, but, to be more welcoming of God’s grace. This reminds us now to be more open to the many potentials of those people who are familiar to us, and not to limit them to their past failures and sins. This calls us too to recognize how God unfolds his grace and his gift of healing through those people who love us. This calls us also to listen to God’s message and invitation through our present situation and through the people who might be God’s prophet today even though they look so familiar and ordinary for us, because there is always more that God offers to us. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Are you also searching something of great value?

    Are you also searching something of great value?

    July 31, 2019 – Wednesday 17th Week in Ordinary Time

    Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola

    From the Book of Exodus (34:29-35)

    As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
    with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
    he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
    while he conversed with the LORD.
    When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
    and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
    they were afraid to come near him.
    Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
    and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
    Moses then spoke to them.
    Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
    and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
    had told him on Mount Sinai.
    When he finished speaking with them,
    he put a veil over his face.
    Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
    he removed the veil until he came out again.
    On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
    all that had been commanded.
    Then the children of Israel would see
    that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant;
    so he would again put the veil over his face
    until he went in to converse with the LORD.

    From the Gospel of Matthew (13:44-46)

    Jesus said to his disciples:
    “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
    which a person finds and hides again,
    and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
    Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
    searching for fine pearls.
    When he finds a pearl of great price,
    he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

    Homily

    Why do people work so hard? Is it not because of the dream to be contented and happy? Why do men and women search for a true love? Is not also because of the hope of being happy in life? Why do we search for what makes us happy? Is it not because that we are designed to be happy?

    Undeniably, we are in search of something that will make our life happy and joyful. Each of us would dream that kind of life. However, in the process of searching, we also encounter failures and disappointments. Yet, we always wake up to achieve what we desire for our life. Our instinct is to search and gain a life of happiness and peace and joy not just for ourselves alone but also for the people whom we love.

    Our Gospel today presents to us two parables that tell us about this desire of finding and possessing something of great value in life. This is something that a person who would do everything just to attain this something of great value.

    The first parable tells us of the grace of God that surprises us. The person was actually not conscious in searching for a treasure. However, the person just found it and later on did everything just to possess it because he was convinced that it was of great importance. He was willing to sell everything he has just to gain that treasure. Certainly, God also loves to surprise us. Joy is truly a gift given to us.

    The second parable tells us of a person consciously searching for a pearl of great price. This search comes from that desire to have a blessed life of peace and joy. Indeed, along the way of our search, great difficulty may be experienced. However, God also leads us to discover His gift for us when we persistently ask for that. God would truly bless a heart that desires Him.

    And when a person finally finds his or her joy in life, this transforms the person not just internally but also physically especially in the way the person relates with others and the way the person presents himself or herself before others. This is what we have heard from our first reading.

    Moses who found his greatest comfort and joy with the Lord was transformed. The Book of Exodus described him that the “skin of his face became radiant.” Moses’ intimate friendship with God made him a different person from before. He was God’s close friend. Consequently, this made Moses also ever closer to the people. Moses became more sensitive to the struggles, questions, fears and anxieties of the people.

    This tells us too that when we truly find our greatest joy in life, we become contented and grateful persons. We would begin to look at things and look at life from the perspective of God rather than from our negative and bitter perspective. In a way, this makes our hearts radiate, our actions generous and words kind.

    Certainly, a married person who truly finds contentment, security and joy in his or her married life extends such grace towards the people around him or her. A person who finally finds his or her vocation in life also becomes more generous and life-giving towards others.

    Such attitude can also be found in the life of St. Ignatius de Loyola, a Spanish soldier and founder of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius was a man in search of great value in life. Along the way of his search, he was confronted by his own sinfulness and failures. He was opposed by others around him who suspected him for being a heretic or a person who desecrated the holiness of God. However, Ignatius persistently search for what will make him joyful until he found his broken and wounded self yet so loved and cherished by the Lord. This was the way also that he realized God working in his life and thus found God’s presence as the greatest value in his life, more than his riches, more than his achievements and successes and more than his sins and guilt. This transformed him to be a generous person.

    We pray that in our search of that great value, then, we would hopefully also arrive at the realization that God’s desire for us is more than anything that we could imagine for ourselves. And once we find it, may the joy and peace that it brings will transform us to become a person God wants us to be like Moses and Ignatius. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR