Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Season of Lent

  • Only IF & WHEN

    Only IF & WHEN

    March 20, 2022 – Third Sunday of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032022-YearC.cfm)

    How do we make sense of a lot of things going on with our lives nowadays? Still adjusting with the life-threating Covid pandemic, we are also now amidst violence, terrorism, disasters, and killings along with the imminent threat of world war, oil price hike, dwindling geo & national politics. Is there and can we still hope in life?

    As some people reported to Jesus about disasters and killings happened in Galileans in our gospel today, the central issue raised is also about Hope in life. “Can we still hope for God’s salvation?  Is there still a hope and meaning in life?” Sometimes with a lot of miseries happening in our world today, like calamities, wars, poverty, disasters, exploitations, corruptions, and injustices, we do find life hopeless and meaningless.

    This reminds me of a story about a beggar who had a rice bowl to beg. Every time he asks for some food or money from others, he would just stick out his rice bowl and beg for something. At times, he is too ashamed to beg; he cannot even look at them. But many at times, he becomes too rude to force others to give some scraps of food or some coins. Like other beggars, he dreams that someday he will become a millionaire. But he knows that such dream is impossible and just a wishful thinking because he got nothing but a mere dirty battered rice bowl he inherited from his family of beggars. Sometimes he would blame God for his life’s misery. He considers himself a hopeless and useless case.

    One day, while begging, a merchant noticed his rice bowl and asked if he could have a look at it. The merchant then examined his rice bowl and concluded, “You must be stupid begging for some craps. You should not be asking for others help because you are one of the most fortunate persons in the city. This rice bowl of yours is a priceless antique made of pure GOLD. Just wash it clean and it will cost you a fortune. Why don’t you sell it to me? I could give you five million dollars for it.” But the beggar just laughed off what he heard from the merchant. He simply could not believe that his useless rice bowl is worth a fortune. He dismissed everything the merchant said and continued to beg for some food or money using his dirty battered but priceless golden antique rice bowl. What a waste, what a shame.

    Sometimes, we are like that beggar. God has already given us a lot of His graces. He almost gave up everything for us – His life, His love, His salvation, His only Son. God has already endowed each and everyone of us enough of His blessings. He has given us not only a chance but a lot of chances to live life, and a golden rice bowl of faith in Him. But like that beggar, we rarely recognize God’s precious gifts to us. We rarely recognize our Faith. Sometimes we are not contented with our simple faith. Instead, we look for signs. We look for other substitutes. We beg for other scraps of beliefs. We dream for miracles but in vain. Then, we find life useless, and get hopeless with life.

    Like in our gospel however, as the gardener assured his master that there is always a hope for a dry fig tree to bear fruits again – only if and when given a chance, Jesus also reassured us that there is always hope in life, if & when we change our ways. Jesus in our Gospel today reminds us that God has given each and everyone of us a chance to live life to its fullness. He calls us to see all life miseries are not signs of a vengeful God, but a constant wake up call to repent, to conversion and Christian Living. For Him, there is still hope for those who repent and believe in the Gospel. 

    We began the Lenten season last Ash Wednesday, with the words: “Repent and Believe in the Gospel.” It simply means that the season of Lent is the time for us not only to prepare ourselves for the Easter but also to examine and purify our rice bowl of faith, and then to recognize and accept the preciousness, fortune, and chance it brings. In other words, there is hope only if and when we repent, we change our ways and believe in the Gospel, in the good news, in the golden chance to live God has already given us. Otherwise, there is no hope and meaning at all.

    As we struggle with our life-journey nowadays during these trying times, help us O Lord to acknowledge & responsibly accept your Gift of faith in us, for us to discover meaning, hope, strength, & direction through the challenges ahead.

    So be it. Amen.

  • ENVY DEVOURS US

    ENVY DEVOURS US

    March 18, 2022 – Friday of the Second Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031822.cfm)

    We must be familiar with rivalry among siblings. To us children, there would be some occasions where we felt that we are more loved by our parents than the rest of our siblings. Or it could be the other way around, we could also feel that we are receiving lesser love and attention from our parents. This happens when we are being compared from our sibling who excels in his/her studies, who is more talented and more responsible than us. This can really be a pain. A deep wound could sometimes be created deep within our heart because of constant comparison that we receive at home. This is also how relationships among our siblings are being stretched until a gap of indifference and mutual bitterness arise. Hatred, even, begins to boil within us.

    In the Book of Genesis, we were told that “Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age.” These are the first words from the first reading today. Yet, that love of Israel towards his youngest son, became the reason for deep envy of his other sons.

    That envy deep within the hearts of Joseph’s brothers must have come from their belief that their brother did not deserve such love. In that culture before, the youngest was considered to be the least and the less important. The brothers must have claimed that they deserved more than him. This was how their envy consumed them to the point that their thoughts and actions became violent and vicious against their youngest brother.

    Though Reuben and Judah tried to save the life of their brother, yet, not one of them stoop up and confronted the evil that they were planning. They could not because they were into it already.

    This tells us that when we become envious of others, we will tend to get aggressively what we wanted. Our selfish ambition and intentions will lead us to corrupt and evil practices, such as in deceiving and manipulating others. 

    Such attitude only portrays a self-image that is dominating, powerful and that must be considered a master who is above everybody else. However, this attitude would consider others as lesser and not important. It is in fact a boastful self, arrogant and vain, but deep within, insecure and filled with bitterness.

    This is what we have heard also from the Gospel. The parable was not actually about labor issues but about the bitterness and aggression showed by the tenants in the parable against the servants and to the son of the landowner. The tenants, who were actually the chief priests and Pharisees, have become self-entitled and believed that they were the only deserving people of God’s salvation. Their hearts that have become envious, bitter and ambitious also became unwelcoming, greedy and vicious.

    Like the brothers of Joseph, they too began to plan evil things against Jesus. They wanted to arrest him and kill him. And indeed, this happened to Jesus. But then, their evil thoughts and evil plans cannot and will not defeat God’s power to bring salvation and freedom to all.

    As Joseph also became the savior of his own brothers during the great drought and famine, Jesus also through his resurrection proved that evil has no match with the wonder of what love can do.

    Thus, as we continue to journey in this Season of Lent, let our hearts be overwhelmed, not by our envy towards others, but by our love and affection towards one another. May we be able to repair any gap of indifference and heal any mutual bitterness with our siblings and with our friends. Hinaut pa.

  • TO HOPE AND FIND SECURITY IN THE LORD

    TO HOPE AND FIND SECURITY IN THE LORD

    March 17, 2022 – Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031722.cfm)

    In the first reading, Jeremiah highlights the choices put before each of us – either, to trust only in the goods of this created world OR to hope in the Lord, who is Creator and Provider of all good. A reminder for us in our Psalm.

    Where do we turn now for our inner security, peace, and forgiveness? Remember, the human heart can be devious. Despite our best intentions, self-interest would always immediately come first! Only God can give us a “new heart and new spirit”, cleanse our inner most intentions and being; changing our hardened and stony hearts with hearts of flesh. [Ez. 34:5].[1]

    This is something being elaborated to us in today’s Gospel. The rich man in the Gospel story enjoyed his life and trusted only the goods of this world while the poor Lazarus suffered very much outside his gate. However, there was a turn of events when both of them died. The rich man, who pretended not to see the poor situation of Lazarus ended in hell while Lazarus was carried by the angels.

    The Gospel reminds us that indeed, success and security in life is not about being what we have accumulated or about the material possession that we have amassed. We are only truly successful and secured when we have built lasting and true relationships with people around us and with God.

    Yet, the sin of the rich man was not by being materially rich but by becoming indifferent and blind to the suffering of people around him. He was blinded by his possessions and was not able to see and recognize that Lazarus was suffering. He did not even offer any help to the poor man. The rich man had no relationship whatsoever with Lazarus. He was only being possessed by his possessions. He hoped and trusted only his wealth and himself.

    This was how the rich man had grown ungrateful to God for the gifts he received in his lifetime. He was ungrateful because he felt entitled that only him should enjoy the richness in his life. He did not open his eyes and hands to give others a chance to live a better life through his help.

    Thus, when we become ungrateful we also take for granted the giver of gifts, and thus, the presence of God in our life. Jeremiah puts this in this way, “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD.”

    This happens to us as well when we remain ungrateful and refuse to recognize that everything we have is a gift. Be cursed to us, indeed, when we become ungrateful for we also become self-entitled, demanding in our relationships. Yet, stingy of our time and energy and ungenerous of our resources and presence to those who are asking for our help. And most of all, we become indifferent to people around us and indifferent to God, the source of true hope and security in our life.

    Thus, as Jeremiah reminds us, let us find security and assurance in God’s goodness and faithfulness. This is what it means to hope in the Lord that makes our heart grow and be filled with gratitude. Hinaut pa.

    [1] From the homily of Fr. Manoling Thomas, CSsR

  • GOD IS COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS 

    GOD IS COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS 

    March 14, 2022 – Monday in the Second Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031422.cfm)

    Prophets are servants of God who proclaim God’s message for the people. Yet, because of the radical of the prophets to abusive and corrupt leaders, they were persecuted and killed. This was what happened to the prophets sent by God to Israel. However, the leaders of the people rejected the call to conversion and continued their corrupt practices and worshipping of other gods. This led to the destruction of the nation. The leaders of the people led the whole nation towards death.

    This what Prophet Daniel recognized in our first reading today. He too expressed his intercession on behalf of the people who had been exiled in a foreign land after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The destruction brought people to be dispersed and many of them became slaves. When the Temple was destroyed, the people felt that God abandoned them since the Temple was an assurance of God’s presence.

    However, instead of blaming God for abandoning them and letting that terrible event in their life to happen, Daniel, being shamefaced, realized their unfaithfulness towards their covenant with God. Daniel who prayed on behalf of the people recognized how they have turned their eyes blind and ears deaf towards the prophets whom God sent to their leaders.

    The leaders and the people continued to break their covenant with God by oppressing the weak among them and worshipping other gods. The leaders became cruel and shameless. All they thought and aspired was for their benefit and comfort of their families and close friends. This led them to worship other gods, the gods of other nations whom they thought were more powerful because of the seemingly riches and influence they enjoyed. However, they were indifferent to the plight of the poor, the sick, the orphans and the widows. And such belief and way of life became a culture among the people. Thus, it was them who actually distanced from God.

    And all of these came to the mind of Daniel. He remembered their sins and failures, the reason of the great shame he felt. Moreover, with this recognition of their unfaithfulness and sins, Daniel also saw how God remained faithful to them despite everything. Daniel acknowledge that God is compassion and forgiveness. Indeed, God remains merciful.

    This is the invitation that Jesus also spoke to his disciples in today’s Gospel, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Mercy, as Pope Francis said, is the name of God. God is mercy and it is God’s identity card.

    In this Season of Lent, may we always realize God’s mercy upon us that despite our unfaithfulness and sins, God remains for us, because God is Mercy. This invites us now to become merciful, to express that mercy in the way we relate with one another and in the way we live our very life. And when prophets of today calls us to recognize our failures and sins, may we not resist but heed the call of conversion that leads us to embrace God’s mercy and offer of freedom from sin and death.

    Indeed, mercy shall give us freedom from shame, and life from the death caused by our sins. Let mercy be the very measure to be returned to us. Hinaut pa.

  • TAKING THE RISK THAT LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION

    TAKING THE RISK THAT LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION

    March 13, 2022 – 2nd Sunday of Lent     

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031322.cfm)

    A friend shared to me how she took the risk of entering into a new relationship. She had been hurt in the past and the scar of betrayal still pained her. She became protective of herself by being suspicious of others. Obviously, she did not want another pain and disappointment. But then, another person came who promised to be with her. She was hesitant and fearful because she might experience another heartache. She will not be able to bear another pain and betrayal. At the beginning, she would not give any room for her suitor to occupy a space in her heart. Yet, the determination and patience of that man made her reconsider her position. At the end, she took the risk despite her anxieties and fears for a new relationship. Moreover, she discovered how that taking the risk transformed her, including her attitudes and perspective in life. In the process, as she took the risk, she became positive and grateful. A new person has emerged, a transformed woman ready to love and be loved again.

    Her story reminds me of the stories we have heard in today’s readings, which invite each of us to take the risk and be transformed. Together, let us explore these readings and see how God calls us on this Second Sunday of Lent.

    In the Book of Genesis, God called Abram to journey to a land God has promised. Abram was to leave the comfort of his homeland and people because God prepared something for him. God also promised Abram many children. Despite his uncertainties and anxieties, Abram took the risk of journeying to that strange land, and took the risk of putting his trust and faith in God.

    Indeed, as he took the risk of believing in God, God transformed Abram into a new man through the covenant that God made with Abram. Later, we knew that Abram’s name became Abraham, which means, the “father of many.” Certainly, this is a story of taking risk that led to a transformation of a person.

    We also find this in today’s Gospel. The transfiguration of Jesus is a manifestation of Jesus’ act of taking the risk to be vulnerable and powerless, to be sold and betrayed by a friend, to be deserted by his own disciples, to be persecuted, to suffer and to die. And because Jesus completely trusted his Father despite the uncertainties, “his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.”

    What does it mean? It was a glimpse of the glory of his resurrection, which Peter, John and James witnessed with their own eyes. In that revelation, the Father assured Jesus of His constant presence. It was a covenant made by the Father to His son, telling the Son that he will not be alone.

    Moreover, to Peter, John and James it was also an invitation “to listen to Jesus” – that is to take the risk of following the Lord and be transformed according to the image of Jesus. Indeed, as they listened to Jesus, they took the risk of following the Lord despite their fears and doubts, and of the uncertainties of their life as disciples.

    Thus, these former fishermen became fishers of many people. The doubtful and fearful Peter became a pillar of the Church and a martyr for Christ. The innocent and young John became a respected old man whose wisdom was sought after by his disciples. And James became a devoted preacher of Jesus and was the first apostle to be martyred because of his devotion and faith.

    The invitation for us today is also to take the risk so that we will be transformed to be like Jesus. Remember, we can be very comfortable with our old ways and choosing to stay to what is only familiar to us. We could grow contented the way we live our life now to the point that we do not want to be challenged.

    Yet, God wants us to be renewed. Hence, we are called to get out from the comforts of being passive, complacent and indifferent, to get out from our self-centered ideas and attitudes, to let go of our biases against people, to let go of our fears and doubts that only prevent us from being free, honest and life-giving persons.

    Today, God tells us, “Listen to me!” God speaks in our hearts through the words in the bible and through this celebration that we are not to remain passive, not to remain complacent, not to remain self-centered, fearful and doubtful of ourselves but to become pro-active, to be self-sacrificing, to go out from our usual ways and to be confident in God’s words like Abram and Jesus’ disciples. Hinaut pa.