Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Season of Advent

  • THE MIRACLE OF HOPE

    THE MIRACLE OF HOPE

    December 2, 2024 – Monday First Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120224.cfm)

    We make prayer requests every now and then for our personal and communal intentions. We believe in the power of prayer because we also believe that the Lord is merciful and good to us. Such ways are already expressions of faith filled with hope which this Season of Advent is all about.

    In fact our readings express such faith filled with hope. This is what I would like emphasize today. The first reading from the Book of Isaiah envisions a future where there will be peace and harmony. Wars and violence shall end, hatred and anger in the hearts of many shall vanish. This is captured by Isaiah in his words where swords and spears that were meant to kill one another will be transformed into agricultural tools. People will begin to come together despite the differences to support and help each other, to nurture and cherish one another. This is how peace and harmony will dwell in our hearts, homes and communities.

    In those times of war and violence, this was proclaimed that expressed faith filled with hope and this is because we all belong to God. This calls us now this Season of Advent to examine our hearts, are we also ready to put down our biases and prejudices against each other?

    This is what the disciples of Jesus were invited to do the same. The Roman centurion (meaning a commander of a hundred soldiers) approached and beg Jesus to heal his servant. This Roman soldier represented the foreign power which dominated Israel at that time. He was an image of an oppressor, an enemy who brought pain and suffering to the people.

    Yet, this very encounter challenged the disciples to recognize the faith of another person different from them. Hence, the humility and faith of this Roman soldier was praised by Jesus because of the concern he showed not for himself but for his sick servant, for another person.

    This is where we find the familiar words of the Roman soldier which we also pronounce almost word for word as we receive the Body of Christ, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you under my roof, but only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

    This is where the miracle of hope was unfolded, the sick servant was healed, biases and prejudices as well as hatred and anger towards one another vanished. This means that when our faith is filled with hope, it heals not just our physically illness but as well as our fearful hearts, bruised hearts, traumatized hearts, hearts filled with anger and hatred. This is how the miracle of hope transforms us into a people invited to live in peace and harmony. Hinaut pa.

  • Faith-Bearing Witness

    Faith-Bearing Witness

    December 1, 2024 – First Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120124.cfm)

    Once a friend of mine shared with me his family problem. Particularly, it was about his sister who decided to change her religion. My friend and the whole family were very sad and hurt about his sister’s decision to change her religion from Catholic to Born-Again Christian. He still cannot understand why her sister, raised in a Catholic family, was educated in a Catholic school and an active youth leader of their parish, could bear herself to change her religion, totally different from their family’s Catholic faith.

    What really happens to my friend’s life only reflects the present crisis in our Christian faith. Though most of us, Filipinos are Catholic, we cannot deny that in our community and our church today, quite a number of our brothers and sisters have been influenced by other religious sects, already changed their beliefs, and even lost their faith in the Church. It is true, not only our nation is going through a political and economic crisis, but it is also alarming that our Catholic Church today is also facing a crisis in faith.

    However, if we reflect on our Gospel today, we realize that this crisis in faith we faced is a direct challenge for us to bear witness to our own Christian Catholic faith. We see that in the midst of this crisis in faith, our Lord Jesus Christ here in our gospel today calls us to make and strengthen our own faith-commitment, accepting Him as the coming Messiah and our Redeemer.

    Yes, it is true that like the apostles, our faith in Jesus was influenced by how our parents witness and our family practices our faith in Christ. But, as the faith of our family influenced and guides our own faith, eventually, one has to deepen and strengthen his own personal faith relationship with Christ, based on one’s recognition and acceptance of the person of Jesus, as our Lord Savior, Christ today, and of his Church.

    Just as Jesus in our Gospel challenged His disciples’ faith, “Stand erect for your liberation is near at hand,” he calls all of us today to a much deeper personal faith in His person and his salvation, and to hold on & remain steadfast in our Christian  faith, with his Church today. Though we sustain our faith with our own family, each and everyone of us need to make our own personal faith-commitment, as one’s own response to the challenge of faith and hope to God’s salvation, in the midst of this crisis of faith. In other words, “Pagmatinud-anon ug barugi ang imong gituohan, ayaw’g pagpalingpaling kay ang Gingharian sa Dios haduol na.”

    Our gospel then is Jesus’ announcement, not of the coming disaster and crisis but of God’s promise of salvation with our faith. Challenging realities of faith crises in our midst is also our very chance to give testimony to what believe & to God whom we believe, thus, our very own faith-bearing witness.  

    Remember, as the saying goes,  “Darkness gives the light of faith a chance to glow brightly.” True enough, in our darkness and life-crises, we start to rely in our faith in the Lord, to begin to believe, to have faith not in what we can see, but in what our hearts see, trying to see things in our eyes of faith. Life seems to be dark, hopeless and discouraging, but our persevering faith in the Lord, in the midst of these darkness can lead us to our complete healing and salvation.

    As we stand erect & raise our heads by our commitment and witnessing of our common & personal faith in Jesus as Christ of our lives, we are worthy to receive the dignity in being called as sons and daughters of God, in his Kingdom. Through God’s grace and our faith-response, we become worthy to receive and nurture our Christian dignity and God’s grace of salvation in our own lives at hand.

    As we celebrate today, the first Sunday of Advent, in the midst of crisis in Catholic faith we faced, the Lord Jesus Christ challenges us today, then to deepen our acceptance and recognition of his person and mission in the Church; and to strengthen our commitment and witnessing of our faith, trust and hope in His saving power in our lives.

    And so… Lord, take away everything that distance us from You. Grant us everything that bring us closer to you. Detach us from ourselves to give our all to you.Amen.

  • MOTHER’S YES

    MOTHER’S YES

    December 20, 2023 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122023.cfm)

    Whenever we reflect on our childhood memories, our dear mother is always there present. Be she young or old, dark or fair, how else would we be here now, if our mother did not make our well-being her life and vocation. The relationship we share with our mother is special and sacred, and is based on a bond of mutual love. It was our mother, who is the first person loved us, took care of us, committed herself for us, assured us that she will always be there whatever happens, and would willing die for us so that we may live. It is our Mother, who first said, “Yes” for you. She is “the Mother of all “Yes”es in favor of you, who first opted and chosen YOU. Through our mother we also heard first God’s Promise, “I will be there for you always”.

    No wonder then that Mary is at the center of today’s gospel, which gives us a simple but moving account of the greatest message ever delivered to us – “the Lord is with us”. In it we are told simply and plainly that there was a young maiden, who knelt down at the angel Gabriel’s mysterious message and, in freedom of her heart, gave the total gift of herself to God, saying: “Yes, let it Be done unto me according to thy Word.”

    The Annunciation was the moment when God first revealed a mystery that he kept secret for endless ages. It is true that his love for us is so great that he wants to become one of us. And in doing so, Mary was needed by God. Mary was asked to co-operate with God, and be the mother of Christ. And the moment she said, “Yes” to the angel, salvation dawned on us all. However, Mary did not say “Yes” to God on only one occasion. She had to confirm that “Yes” many times during her life. The moment she said, “yes” to God’s invitation life was never the same again for her. She became a refugee in Egypt and some thirty years later, a witness her son die the death of a common criminal. And through all these events in her life, she did not abandoned her son, stood by Him, always present and supporting Him whatever it takes.

    Christmas is almost upon us and, our thoughts turn to our mothers who said “yes” for us so that we may live, and to our mother Mary who listened and responded in cooperation with God’s will. Mary’s life shows us that to be a Christian is to be a person who keeps our ears open to what God is calling us to do today, so that we can answer Yes to His call and to cooperate with His will.

    Perhaps we ask ourselves: To what extent are we available to God? Do we see what he wants us to do in and through us? If God asks you for favor now, how would you respond?

    Today we are shown the marvelous example of Mary. Even if she did not see clearly all it implied, she accepted her mission to become the mother of the Savior. Mary’s yes offers us salvation. Our own mother’s yes brings us life. May our Yes, our own response and cooperation with God brings life and salvation to others. We pray then that like Mary, we may have her listening and responding heart to God’s call so that we can be as ready and as willing to cooperate in bringing Christ into others. So May it be done to us according to God’s word. Amen

  • CONSCIENCE

    CONSCIENCE

    December 18, 2023 – Monday of the Third Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121823.cfm)

    Surely most of us are familiar now with the statue of Sleeping Joseph. Nowadays we hear & see of an unusual statue of St. Joseph sleeping & resting. Not the usual Joseph holding the child Jesus, he is depicted here as a simple ordinary man resting in his sleep. Many meanings we can attribute to this image – like Joseph as a tired worker & family man resting from life-challenges. But such image of sleeping Joseph may gives a glimpse of the spirituality & prayer life of St. Joseph. Scripture tells us how

    significant rest, sleep & dreams in the life of Joseph as to his contribution to God’s work salvation for us. Not only in dreams he was warned about the slaughter of children after the birth Jesus that forced them to exile to Egypt, we also hear in our gospel today how in slumber & dreams Joseph is able to experience God’s plan & will for Him & us for the better. We remember in our gospel today after weighing & discernment for the right thing to do in challenging situations (being betrothed to virgin Mary who is now found with a child not His & initially resolve to divorce her quietly), Joseph went to sleep for rest & in dream, encounters the angel of the Lord saying to him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.”

    With Joseph, here we come to know how God may work in us & accompany us through in our faith & life. Yes, in many ways & means, God makes himself known & reveals himself to us. God intervenes into our life now in so many ways, be it through His words, via Jesus story, our Church witnessing, our faith & life experiences, through our sacraments, prayers, devotions, images & statues. Moreover, God guides us personally in our Christian faith & life through our consciences, discernment, decision-making, & even in our dreams & sleeping, like St. Joseph.

    Somehow the sleeping Joseph is teaching us now to listen & honor our conscience in life, because through our conscience we come to get to know consciously & unconsciously God’s better plans & will for us. We are also to trust our conscience, because with our conscience that disturbs & directs us, we become aware of the Emmanuel “God is with us” & hear God’s assurances for us, not to be afraid to take responsibility for Jesus & Mary into our own home.

    As we are nearing Christmas, the birth of Christ, like Joseph, may we have a discerning heart & mind to know deeply God’s plans & will for us this coming years – open to once again & anew take on the responsibility of parenting Jesus & adopting the Holy Family into our lives now & always. So May It Be. Amen.

  • SOCIAL MEDIA

    SOCIAL MEDIA

    December 17, 2023 – Gaudete Sunday, Third Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121723.cfm)

    As the priest was once about to greet the people with the usual “the Lord be with you” (Ang Ginoo Maanaa kaninyo) to which the people were to respond: “And also with you,” (Maanaa usab kanimo) on a Sunday mass, the people were not able to hear such dialogue because the microphone wire was defective. The priest then tapped the microphone which fortunately made contact. But to his regret, while the mic regain contact, he accidentally shouted and broadcasted loudly: “there is something wrong with the microphone”. (Naay daut ang microphone) And worse, the people involuntarily replied: “And also with you.” (Maanaa usab Kanimo).

    During Eucharist, we usually hear the normal greeting of the priest: “The Lord be with you” (Ang Ginoo maanaa Kanimo). And then we usually reply, “and also with you” (Maanaa usab kanimo). But what does it mean? What does “the Lord be with you” mean?

    According to the scripture, the words, “the Lord be with you” is the first good news ever proclaimed to us. Since the annunciation of Maria, the birth of Jesus until His ministry, death and resurrection, these words and message have always been proclaimed and preached to us, and has been a recurring theme of the Good News of Jesus Christ. And even until now, the Spirit of God and the Church, has preached these to us again and anew – that the Lord is WITH you and all of us now.

    If “the Lord is with us”, how should we feel then?

    Our readings today call us to be Joyful and Thankful to God for He has blessed us with His presence and salvation in our lives. Isaiah rejoices over God’s grace bestowed not only on himself but on Us all, proclaiming: “My soul rejoices in my God”. St Paul exhorts that we should always rejoice and give thanks for such great blessing upon us.  John in our gospel today knows himself. He is not the Messiah himself. John is not the message or the Good New, but He is just the microphone- loudspeaker: the SOCIAL MEDIA of the message. He is only the voice and just the precursor to prepare the way of the Lord. But he also aspires to be a worthy friend of the bridegroom. He is not the Groom but the joyful Best man or person for the Groom. This is also what John wishes for us – that We become the Best (worthy, righteous, and joyful) Person before God and others for the Christ, the Messiah, and become a Microphone- Loudspeaker-social media of the message: “the Lord is with us”.

    We are now in the third Sunday of Advent. The whole Church calls this particular Sunday as “Gaudete Sunday”, the Sunday of Joy and Praise. We are encouraged to be always grateful of the Good News that the Lord is with and upon us.

    But are we really now joyful because of the Good News that the Lord is with us? Or are we, like what happened with the priest who said that mass, become accustomed and got used with the message that we are not anymore happy and excited about it? And because we get used to it and have heard it before, we just automatically or mechanically respond without really meaning it: And also with you?” What then, is the difference if when we hear the Message, and we just respond, “OK, fine whatever.”? Or without interest responding “Amen”, whenever presented with “Body of Christ” during communion? Or just saying “So what?” when a special guest arrives in your home for a visit?

    If we have heard the good news that the Lord is with us, what should we do then? If we really recognize that the Lord is with us, it is but right and fitting that we should rejoice and be happy because a great grace has come upon us. And in our joy and gladness, we also need to preach and share this good news to all – that is we should actively witness, preach and proclaim this with all our words and actions. Like St. John the Baptist in our gospel, we who have heard and glad of the good news of salvation must also become the best man – like good microphone or social media blogger that proclaims, “the Lord is with us”. And in this season of advent, we must renew, prepare, and strengthen our faith, so that we may become worthy of His message.

    If the microphone is defective, we must also check if the speaker and receiver are also defective, for we might send a wrong message and get a wrong response. Advent then is Time for Sound Check & Mic Test – for us to review our Social Media account, to ensure we are at our BEST condition to host our beloved Guest Jesus Christ.

    Christmastime proclaims to us the simple message: the Lord is with us. How about us? Are we with Him?

    May we Be with the Lord, as He has always been with Us. Amen.