Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Season of Lent

  • THE DESERT. WILD BEASTS. ANGELS.

    THE DESERT. WILD BEASTS. ANGELS.

    February 21, 2021 – First Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Manoling Thomas, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022121.cfm)

    The Gospel evangelists: Matthew, Mark, and Luke mentioned Jesus’ experience of temptation when he spent 40 days in the dessert. Mark has the shortest account, just in two sentences [Mk. 1: 12-13]! Today’s Gospel [Mk. 1: 12-15] has actually two episodes: 1) the temptation story; and b) a “summary statement” regarding Jesus’ preaching in Galilee. I will only focus on the first episode: the temptation story!

    In Mark’s version there are three important words to remember: 1) the desert [wilderness]; 2) the wild beasts [animals]; and 3) the angels.

    For the Jews, the word “desert/wilderness” has many associations.  Moses spent 40 days of fasting in the desert for the sinfulness of the people that Yahweh asked him to bring to the Promised Land [Dt. 9:18]. Elijah made a 40-day journey through the desert of Horeb, after which, he was renewed, re-invigorated and re-energized for his mission to Israel [1 Kgs. 19:8]. The Hebrew people, after leaving Egypt, spent 40 years travelling through the desert, on their way to the Promised Land. During that journey, many times, Israel’s fidelity to the Lord was put to the test! Jesus, in today’s Gospel, spent 40 days in the desert, the battleground between him and Satan! The “desert” then, can be a place of liberation or failure; or a place of joy and a deepening of one’s commitment!

    Both the “wild beasts” and the “angels” were with Jesus in the desert! Jesus had to struggle with the “wild beasts” but in that struggle, the “angels served him” [Mk. 1:3]. The angels’ caring for Jesus reveals God’s presence with Jesus in the desert!

    The “wild beasts” represent the threatening and harmful presence of the evil forces, while the “angels” represent the gentle and protective presence of God and the forces of the Good!

    The idea of “angels” underwent a development in the understanding of the Jews. In Genesis 3: 24, “angels” were portrayed as “prison guards” employed by God at the gate of paradise so that our first parents who were driven out would not be able to enter again! In the Book of Exodus [23:20ff] Yahweh sent an angel to the Israelites to guide, protect and lead them in their journey through the desert. God gave us the Angels to be our mentors and companions in our journey in life. In the Catholic tradition we celebrate the feast of our Guardian Angels [October 2]!

    What do the “desert”, the “wild beasts” and the “angels” signify in our lives? The world outside, and our “inner world” are the battleground of the forces of evil and Satan on the one side; and the forces of goodness and of the Kingdom of God on the other. That battleground is our “desert” We stand between these two opposing forces competing for our attention, our choice; and our loyalty!

    The presence of evil and of good, are both outside and inside of us! Carl Jung, a famous psychologist wrote that some time in our life we have to face and to wrestle with our own inner “demons” or “monsters” or “wild beasts”. Of course Carl Jung used these terms figuratively! Jesus too had to wrestle with his own “demons” or “monsters”. When one succeeds in that wrestling, the “demons” or “monsters” are tamed and actually become our “slaves” or “servants”. Jesus succeeded in taming those “wild beasts” outside and inside of him. Jesus defeated Satan in the desert!

    The “wild beasts” within us can take the form of bitterness, cynicism, depression, hopelessness, mediocrity or compromise with the Evil One!

    The invitation [temptation] of the Evil One can be enticing and tricky! Often Satan does not appear to us like the scary, repulsive, or ugly creature often depicted in horror movies. Satan can disguise himself as “an angel of light” [2 Cor. 11: 14]. These “wild beasts” can appear in sheep’s clothing to entice us to accept their harmful and fatal proposals again subtly presented as good, and gratifying! They promise instant and quick happiness and satisfaction! An example of these is the prohibited drugs!  Accepting these offers in the long run will prove to be harmful, detrimental, fatal; and dehumanizing for us! We end up the real losers!

    The “angels” are also present, ministering to us, as they did to Jesus in the desert. The power of the Kingdom of God is both within [Lk. 17:21] and outside us! The Holy Spirit had been poured within us at our baptism.

    In your life, who or which force has a stronger influence or greater hold on you: the forces of the wild beasts; or the caring and protective power of God’s angels? Which of these forces do you usually listen to and follow?    

  • FASTING TO BE LIFE-GIVING

    FASTING TO BE LIFE-GIVING

    February 19, 2021 – Friday after Ash Wednesday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021921.cfm)

    We always understand the religious practice of “fasting”  in reducing our food intake. This religious practice which already begun even in the ancient times still takes a central place in today’s Season of Lent. The Church, in fact, asks us to fast as one of our practices in this season.

    Our readings today actually talk about fasting. Isaiah in the first reading, criticized the people who devoutly did the religious practice of fasting. He criticized them because those people were only concerned of the traditional practice of fasting while refusing to respond to the call that fasting entails.

    According to Isaiah, when fasting remains a religious practice or tradition and does not change our heart, then, it is not true fasting. Fasting will lead us into a change of heart. This is shown in what he said,

    “releasing those bound unjustly,
      untying the thongs of the yoke;
    Setting free the oppressed,
        breaking every yoke;
    Sharing your bread with the hungry,
        sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
    Clothing the naked when you see them,
        and not turning your back on your own.”

    From what Isaiah told us, to fast in this Season of Lent is not about making ourselves slimmer or to aim in losing weight. These reasons are not what the Season of Lent is about. The call to fast and consciously choose not to eat our comfort food is a discipline that will bring us into at least four practical and significant reasons.

    First, fasting from our comfort food will allow us to learn the value of giving more importance to what we really need and not just on what we want. Our wants could sometimes lead us into unhealthy habits in our diet, thus, to fast will help us confront those unhealthy habits.

    Second, when we fast, we will surely feel hungry. To feel the emptiness of our stomach, will help us to value every food being prepared on our table. This should help us to be more grateful of people around us and of the grace from God.

    Third, such consciousness in the emptiness of our stomach will also help us to realize the hunger that many people are suffering every day. According to Action Against Hunger, there is more than enough food produced in the world to feed the entire population of our planet, but, despite this over supply, there are 690 million people in the world who sleep without anything in their stomach.[1]

    Fourth, by becoming aware of that, fasting then, leads us to respond to those who are in need. In the words of Isaiah, in fasting, we share our food with the hungry, we set those who are unjustly accused to be unburdened, we set those who oppressed to be free, we give shelter to the homeless, we cloth those who are naked. Meaning, fasting indeed entails practical responses that will allow us to become life-giving to others.

    Thus, as we have just began this Season of Lent, please be more conscious also of this religious practice of fasting by also becoming more aware on how we could be more  life-giving to others. But never forget to bring that consciousness into prayer. Fasting without prayer will not make us life-giving.

    So, a practical example would be keeping aside the budget of your food or meal every day and give what you have kept aside to a neighbor or a friend who is in need of material or financial aid. May way all become life-giving in this season of lent. Hinaut pa.

    [1] See https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/world-hunger-facts-statistics

  • A Genuine Fasting in this Season of Lent

    A Genuine Fasting in this Season of Lent

    February 19, 2021 – Friday after Ash Wednesday

    Fr. Gibo Dandoy, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021921.cfm)

    Today’s readings highlight one of the main  components of the season, which is Fasting. In our Catholic Tradition, we are taught that fasting is a spiritual exercise cum discipline as our way of repentance and penance for our sins which greatly hurt God and others. We practice this spiritual discipline to teach, train and tame not only our physical bodies but more so our interior self.

    St. Paul warns us, saying: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6: 12, NASB).” Through fasting, we arm and ready ourselves when forces of evil attack us day and night.

    However the Lord, in the book of the Prophet Isaiah, had to correct and re-orient his people as to the kind of fast he so required: “Is fasting merely bowing down one’s head, and making use of sackcloth and ashes? Would you call that fasting, a day acceptable to Yahweh? (v. 5, CCB).”

    He questioned their kind of fasting and showed his displeasure with their shallow observance of religious rituals. They acted pious and yet their attitude and lifestyle betrayed their faith in God.

    But what kind of fasting that pleases God?

    “To free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help (vv. 6-7, NLT).”

    These, brothers and sisters, are what pleased God, and is what genuine fasting all about! Lastly, let us however do all of these in secret, and the Father who sees us in secret will recompense us (Mt. 6:4). Amen.

  • Paradox of Discipleship

    Paradox of Discipleship

    February 18, 2020 – Thursday after Ash Wednesday

    Fr. Gibo Dandoy, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021821.cfm)

    There are many misconceptions about following the Lord Jesus. Some believers think that it offers a problem-free, challenge-free and stress-free life.

    But to contrary to this myopic view, following the Lord has a lot of demands to consider. It is truly costly:

    “If you WISH to be a follower of mine, DENY yourself and TAKE UP YOUR CROSS each day, and follow me.”

    Deny oneself and taking up cross each day! Wow! Such costly and daunting tasks to carry! Who can bear that? All the more if we are to carry them DAILY?

    We know, by human standards, it is difficult to set aside our selfish desires and to shoulder our burdens each day. It is never a joke.

    That is why, it takes courage and trust to follow the Lord and to be his disciples. Courage, because we are not taking the control of our life. And trust, because we have to surrender and sacrifice a lot for this life. Thus, those who follow Him are truly brave men and women.

    Nevertheless, Jesus did not promise an easy life and smooth journey. He just said:”For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; But if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it.” No assurance of a happy and smooth-sailing life’s journey.

    What we can thread out from these words of Jesus is that our life and its meaning can only be fully achieved by spending one’s life in serving God and others, not from what the world offers. And the loss of eternal life can never be compensated or satisfied by worldly pleasures and material goods put together.

    Finally, in this time of your life, will you be willing to take a leap of faith and to pay a high cost to follow Jesus and to place your relationship with him above all else?

  • THE 40-DAY JOURNEY

    THE 40-DAY JOURNEY

    February 17, 2021 – Ash Wednesday

    Fr. Manoling Thomas, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021721.cfm)

    This day ushers in, the beginning of the Season of Lent in our Catholic Liturgical Calendar. “Lent” comes from an old English word for “spring” one of the four seasons in colder countries. For those of us living in the tropics, we may not appreciate much the noticeable change or transition from “winter to spring”. We can then focus on the practice in the early church before the “infant baptism”. Those preparing for baptism on the Easter vigil, begin their “instructions or catechesis on the faith” today. They were called the “catechumens”.

    How about us, who are already adult, baptized Christian Catholics? How can we creatively envision the Season of Lent? We can liken it to Jesus inviting us to embark on a 40-day journey or pilgrimage with him! We will be with other disciples of Jesus, whom he has also invited! Our destination: Jerusalem. Expected day of arrival: on Palm Sunday, the start of the “holiest week of the year” [Holy Week].

    What possible activities we can engage in during these “40 days”?

    1)  With the help of the Holy Spirit, to discern what “repair work” has to be done in a specific area of our life. Will it entail a repair, or a remodeling, or a cleansing and healing? Discus this matter with Jesus! 

    2)   Select a good book that is simple, readable, and will be helpful for the purpose of your journey with Jesus.

    It will be helpful if during this journey, you will find a fellow Christian also in the journey, with whom you can prayerfully and freely share your realizations. Encourage and help each other as you journey with Jesus!

    The Holy Spirit may suggest to you other nourishing and fruitful ways to do this 40 days journey! Be open to the Holy Sprit!

    If you have decided to accept Jesus’ invitation, then step forward to receive the ashes. This will indicate your willingness to join the 40 days pilgrimage! Although you are doing this with other disciples of the Lord, this journey is “a walk on a very personal road” from where you are at present to where Jesus invites you to go!

    If this invitation is late in reaching you, you can still catch up!

    [source: Daily Homilies vol. 3, Krempa]