Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Sunday Homlies

  • BY Our Faith & Trust in Him

    BY Our Faith & Trust in Him

    February 16, 2025 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021625.cfm)

    Who do we consider nowadays the fortunate lucky people who seems to be more blessed by God? And who do we consider nowadays the unfortunate, unlucky people who seems to be cursed by God?

    For us nowadays, people who are rich, affluent, and wealthy, who got and has everything they need and want in plenty are the fortunate. Fortunate also are those who are popular, powerful, and influential – who can control and trick people for their own advantage at their beck and call. We also consider fortunate those people who are smart and knowledgeable who knows too much and can outwit and outsmart others by getting the best and extra from the situation like rewards, prizes, money, “pogi” points, power, or media coverage. In other words, maabilidad ug marunong o maru (shrewd) are seemed to be blessed by God.

    And for us today, people who are poor, deprived, and marginalized are unfortunate. Unlucky are those who have less or nothing at all, in terms of food, education, power and influence. Those who are ignorant, innocent, mayukmok (the lesser ones) – easily fooled and deceived by others are seemed to be cursed by God.

    In other words, in the eyes of the world, the rich – the “haves” and “well-to-do” seems to be blessed by God, while the poor – the “have-nots” and “nothing-to-do” seems to be cursed by God. However, the fortunate, lucky, and blessed as well as the unfortunate, unlucky, and cursed people of our world today are the exact opposite of the blessed and cursed people of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Contrary to our popular notion today, the fortunate, lucky, and blessed people, for Jesus is not the rich, affluent, wealthy, popular, powerful, influential, smart, and knowledgeable people of today – but those who are poor, hungry, weeping, hated, rejected, insulted, deprived, deceived, marginalized or ignorant people of today. And for Jesus, those who are rich, full, happy, and praised by others whom we considered today as fortunate, lucky, and blessed are the unfortunate, unlucky, and cursed.

    Well, what does it mean? Does it mean Jesus uphold poverty, starvation, deception, oppression, discrimination and suffering of today? Does it mean that for us to be fortunate and blessed before God we have to be poor, hungry, weeping, suffering – in silence, hated, deprived and discriminated by others? NO. This is not about being fortunate or cursed but about our Faith and trust in God. At the heart of today’s reading is not about being fortunate and cursed but the theme of Faith & Trust in God.

    Our first reading today gave us a contrast of the fate of those who trust in human beings with fate of those who trust in God. Those who trust in human beings are like a barren desert shrub; whereas those who trust in God are like a fruitful tree planted beside a flowing river. Jesus in our gospel today is telling and teaching us that those who trust in God are righteous and finds favor in God, but those who trust only in human beings and in themselves are wicked and unfortunate.

    What makes then a person blessed or cursed, lucky or unlucky, fortunate, or unfortunate is not on the condition where he is in, but in His faith and trust in God. What counts and matters most, then, is our faith and trust in God. And to trust in God is to rely on God as to be the one source of life. This would mean that in life and whatever happens in our life, we must trust and rely not on our way, our will, and our accomplishments but on God’s Way, God’s will, and God’s mercy.

    For Jesus, then, blessed are those who trust in God and cursed are those who trust only in others and in themselves. Blessed are the poor, hungry, weeping, hated, insulted because they trust in God. They have faith in God, they have nothing else but God. Cursed are the rich, full, happy, and praised by others because they have everything else but God. In other words, by our trust in Him we are blessed & by relying only on others & oneself we are cursed. As St. Theresa of Calcuta would remind us, “God does not call us to be successful but to be Faithful in Life”.

    Here, we must also see that God’s blessings are not only “yet to come” but are “here and now”. It is not only a promise but a reality. It is His gift to us now who trust in Him – not as the reward that we expect and need from him, for what we are receiving from Him is more abundant than just what we need and expect from Him. And usually God’s blessings come as a surprised Gift which is beyond our expectation.

    As a text message I once received say, which could be our today’s prayer: “God’s blessings may come as a surprise and how much we receive depends on how much our heart can believe. May we be blessed beyond what we expect, as we believe and trust in Him. God bless.”

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • OUR IMPERFECTIONS ARE OPENINGS OF GOD’S GRACE

    OUR IMPERFECTIONS ARE OPENINGS OF GOD’S GRACE

    February 9, 2025 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020925.cfm)

    There was this story of a cracked pot[1], which you may have already heard. There was once a woman who would fetch water from a nearby river every morning. She would carry a long pole of which two earthen pots hung. One pot was perfectly formed. Meanwhile, the other one has a crack on its side.

    Every day for several years, the one with a crack would only have a half full of water upon arrival at the house. Because of this, the cracked pot pitied itself for being imperfect and defective. The pot felt ashamed and depressed for it could not serve fully the woman. Then, one day at the usual spot at the river, the cracked pot found its voice and expressed to the woman,

    “I am so sorry. Every day for many years you filled me with water, yet, I was always half empty.  It must be tiring and frustrating for you to have me. In contrast, the other pot is perfect and would always deliver water without any single drop. This crack in me pained and shamed me daily. You must have wanted to get rid of me. I only give you difficulty. I would understand when you would replace me with a perfect one.”

    The woman listened to the cracked pot with care and affection. Then, she responded, “On our way home, I want you to look at the side of the path where your water drips off. You seemed to be overwhelmed by your imperfection, but recognize also how the defect in you bring beauty to the world.”

    The cracked pot wondered and was confused. And so, on their way home, the cracked pot looked intently at the side of the path where its water was dripping. There it saw the beautiful flowers on the side of the road.

    The woman, in her wisdom sprinkled seeds of flowers knowing of the crack of the pot. And so every time, after collecting water, the pot with its crack on its side would water those seeds that eventually produced flowers.

    This wonderful story tells us now how our imperfection or the defects in us could also be channels of life, of beauty, of hope and of grace. This is what I want to expound more on this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time as our readings call us now to recognize that indeed, our imperfections can be openings of God’s grace.

    In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah realized his sinfulness in front of the Lord God. He said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips.”

    Yet, the Lord purged the lips of Isaiah of which his wickedness was removed. Isaiah received mercy and from there heard the call, “Whom shall I send?” And so, Isaiah responded, “Here I am. Send me!”

    Similarly, Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians also recognized his past sins and failures. He said, “I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.” But Paul met the Risen Jesus and through that encounter he realized how wrong he was. He was blinded by his own arrogance, hatred and anger. Yet, the Lord remained merciful to him. That became the way for Paul to respond to Jesus’ invitation to change and renewal.

    In the same manner, Peter had an earlier experience when he too realized his own sinfulness. The Gospel of Luke described to us, “Peter fell at the knees of Jesus and said, ‘Depart from me Lord, for I am sinful man.” It was after Peter realized the goodness of the Lord who was in front of him. The abundance of the fish after his failed attempt the night before, taught him that with the Lord there is life. It was in that way as well that Peter received the invitation to follow the Lord.

    All three became aware of their sinfulness, the imperfections in them in front of the Lord. Yet, it was through that awareness that the Lord worked wonders through them. In fact, the Lord called them and did wonderful things in their life not because of their worthiness or the great things they have done in their life.

    The very imperfections in them became openings for God’s grace to transform them and to flow through them. Wonderfully, Isaiah was gifted with prophecy. Paul was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles and was able to build many Christian Communities. And Peter was called to share in the mission of Jesus.

    And again, all these happened not because of their worthiness but because the Lord chooses those who are willing to accept and embrace His grace. It is that grace of forgiveness and mercy that transformed them.

    What makes their stories richer were the common experiences they had. Each of them encountered the Lord. And that very encounter with God led them to transformation and to mission. This tells us that real encounter with God will strip us of our pretentions, insecurities, fears and shame. We become more aware of the cracks in us.

    Yet, in those moments of awareness of our cracks or imperfections that the Lord is more forgiving and merciful to us. The Lord knows our sins. The Lord sees our cracks. But God does not wish to destroy us or to get rid of us. God desires that from our own humanity, with all our imperfections, God shall work wonders for us and for our community just as he transformed men and women in our history.

    These are the two take-aways now that I want you to bring this Sunday.

    First, allow the Lord to change us. This begins in acknowledging our sinfulness and in taking responsibility of our failures. May we not cover our cracks and pretend as if there is nothing wrong with us. Let us not bury ourselves as well in shame and fear for having imperfections just like what happened to the cracked pot. So let us seek forgiveness and reconciliation with the people whom we have hurt and by embracing mercy in the Sacrament of Confession. Indeed, this requires us to be truly humble and honest.

    Second, allow the Lord to empower us. As we become aware that the imperfections in us are openings of God’s grace, then, let us cooperate with that grace so that change will be possible in us. God’s Divine Wisdom shall transform the cracks in us, the imperfections that we have into channels of grace. This is how we are called to become instruments of mercy, love, peace and reconciliation in our communities and homes. This means that we called to bring the grace in our very life as a parent, as a professional, as a leader, as a vendor or worker or simply as a friend, classmate or as a young person. Hinaut pa.

    [1] https://www.integritycoaching.co.uk/blog/authentic-and-ethical-leadership/cracked-pot/ (This story is not in its original version. I have made some changes to fit the message I want to bring out)

  • INTO THE DEEP

    INTO THE DEEP

    February 9, 2025 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020925.cfm)

    Although he was despised by his own people in his own hometown, Jesus continues on to proclaim God’s presence in us. Rejection did not deter and discourage him to move on with His mission of making God known and share Good News of God’s kingdom to all. Instead we hear him now going to other villages and inviting people, calling them to follow and join him in his mission.

    Particularly we hear today how he called Peter. He challenged Peter: “Put out into the deep, and lower your nets for a catch”. Now here is Jesus, an ordinary man – a carpenter himself, who knows God but nothing about fishing, telling Peter – a seasoned fisherman who is having a bad day, to go fishing again.

    Peter may have normally reply: “Naunsa ka? Ano ka, hilo? Been there, done that. Time to pack up and leave.” But still Jesus challenged him, “Go out into the deep”. Surely there is more to Jesus’ words than merely about fishing. It also means: “don’t give up/ sail on/ try anew/ please, give oneself, others and me anew chance/ go deeper”. These words also tell and teach Peter and us now about our life and faith as His followers & believers

    For why “go into the deep”? What is special about the deep? We don’t like deep waters because it is mysterious, dangerous, and risky. We rather go to shallow waters because we are safe, manageable and in our comfort zone. Shallow waters however are usually dirty and unclear, noisy, and loud, and above all, less possible catch, if none at all. Deep waters instead are usually clear and clean, calm, and soft, and above all, more possible catch. In other words, there is more life and faith in our deep than in our shallow fishing journey-expedition of life.

    Somehow Jesus challenges us here to explore three depths in our experience of life.

    First, we are invited to explore the depth of our poverty, hopelessness, and helplessness. Peter was in a crisis situation, “no catch”, and about to give up. But with Jesus’ challenge, he goes beyond his misery and dare to do the unusual and unknown: “go again and deeper”, because of this, he never missed but instead have witnessed another life-opportunity ahead and anew. In the same way, in our hopelessness, helplessness, misery and crisis-situation, we are called to go beyond our comfort zones, and dare to try the unusual and unknown, and see better opportunities and possibilities than before. Again the invitation is, “if and when given another chance, would you do it again or anew, as before or better than before?”

    Second, we are invited to go beyond the depth of our self-centeredness and explore the depth of our feeling and concern for others. Despite the possible threat of failure again and ridicule, Peter became self-less and still gave in to the somehow nonsense request and crazy challenge of Jesus. Along with that, he also selflessly shared his great catch with others as he called his partners to help him and Jesus. In the same way, whenever we consider ourselves less, we become aware of others.

    And third, we are called to go beyond our unworthiness, and discover the depth of our faith in God. After the miracle of great catch, Peter fell down at his knees and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”.

    Although we know how blessed we are, at times we cannot help but feel unworthy and undeserving of God. Even St. Paul and prophets felt the same way – that with God’s grace, we feel that we are weak, wrong, bad, unworthy, not fit or qualified and worthless. We may have felt this way, but we should also realize that all these blessings are not about us, you and me, but all about Him with us and us with Him. It is all about having faith in Him – being in relationship with Him for direction, resource and meaning.

    Yes, we may say: “I am not fit, unworthy, undeserving, and unqualified, BUT STILL I am called, invited, blessed and sent to be His fishing and life partner – “By God’s grace With Us, We are blessed and graced, undeserving we may be,” as St. Paul would say.

    Thus, there is more to our helplessness, self-centeredness, and unworthiness, but better opportunities, more concern for others and deeper faith in God. So now, whenever we hear Jesus’ word “Put out into the deep and lower your nets”, His message, call and challenge to you and us, is to TRY ANEW: go deeper and give faith and life another new chance, for a great catch and better life ahead for you and to all.

    Consider moreso that Jesus meets us half-way. He takes & choose us as we are now in our limits & potentials (not what we were & should be). But he also sees the better & best in us for there is more to us than what it seems. He recognizes Ours Gems deep within us – hidden, sinister, mysterious & obvious it maybe. All He wants from us is to follow Him into our depths within as our mission & contribution for God’s abundance catch of graces to happen before all.

    As we are beginning another New Year: a new chance again to make Life Better for You, for others and Him, may we be trusting and daring enough to heed Jesus’ challenge for us to: “Put out into the deep and lower our nets” to the great catch of blessing offered ahead of us.

    So May It Be. Amen.

  • Our Defining Moment

    Our Defining Moment

    February 2, 2025 – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020225.cfm)

    Usually every Sunday some families gather together in the church not only to celebrate Eucharist but also to attend and witness the baptism of children to become new members of their respective family, parish and of the church. Yes, during Sundays, countless children are also being baptized in the church while being witnessed by their parents and family with relatives and friends. For us priest, Sunday children’s baptism is just part of our duty and extra job besides the hectic Sunday masses schedules. For others, it might be a usual Sunday occurrence, but for the child’s respective parents, godparent and families, the baptism of their child can be, is and should be the defining moments of their own lives as well as of the child.

    Yes, defining moments for all involved with the child. Because during baptism, the child does not only take on the identity and dignity of being Christian, the young parents of the child have suddenly grown up as well from just being two people in love to being parent to the child with a lot of responsibility for the future of the child. Along the parents, the child’s godparents, maninoy and maninay, extended families, relatives and friends also take on the responsibility and mission to help and support in the growth in the Christian faith and life of the child.

    It is indeed, defining moments for everybody, for as the child is being consecrated, the parents, godparents, families and the Christian community and the Church are commissioned to be responsible caretakers and formators-parent of the Christian life and faith-growth of the child.

    Mary and Joseph as well as Simeon and Anna must have experienced and felt the same during the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, same as young parents and families during child baptism. Here they are, presenting and consecrating the child Jesus in the temple as required by their Jewish religious tradition, conscious of the tasks, responsibility as well as the still-unknown and yet-to-be-revealed promise the child Jesus may offer to our lives.

    Joseph and Mary not only became the parent of the child Jesus, but through their testimony, Simeon and Anna also became the caretaker, formator & godparents of God’s light and glory for all. Same way as Joseph and Mary consecrated the child Jesus, Simeon and Anna became not anymore passive-expectators but now active-witnesses of God’s light and glory being revealed before them.

    The Presentation of the Lord in the temple is indeed defining moments for Mary and Joseph as well as Simeon and Anna for they take on the responsibility before God for the child Jesus. In the same manner, the baptism of a child is the defining moments for the young parents, godparents, families and the whole church for we all take responsibility for the formation and growth of the faith and life of the child.

    Simply put, as the saying goes: “When a child is born…. The mother is born” as also the parent, the family & church are also born. In other words, no mother, parent, family, or church, if there is no child.

    Our celebration today of the Presentation of the Lord is more than just about having our candles blessed. It is actually more so about ourselves as Christian especially during our celebration of Sacrament of Baptism. When we were baptized as a child, like the child Jesus, we were presented and consecrated (made holy) to God by our Christian family and the church to be God’s children. And whenever we attend and witness child baptism, we make holy ourselves to be responsible parents and formators-witnesses for the faith-growth of the child.

    Today’s celebration and our celebration of children’s baptism are all a reminder that each and every one of us, baptized Christians are lighted candles, taking on the light of Christ, the Christian dignity and responsibility for the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation in our lives forever in our children now and for the future Christian generation.

    Taking on the dignity and mission to be parents and witnesses of God’s salvation as revealed to us always through Jesus and our today’s Christian children, are and remain to be our defining moments as Christians. God is already doing his part for our salvation by revealing us his glory through his Son.

    Now we have to do our part by making and remaining true to our defining moments of becoming blessed lighted candles – taking part to be active parents and witnesses for the growth of the Christian life and faith of our baptized children.

    Now consider, when was the last time you become a witness to a Child’s baptism? When was the last time you light a candle publicly and privately? Be reminded Jesus said: “You are the light of the world”. May we, as today God’s lighted and blessed candle, be always responsible parents and witnesses of God’s light to our world now and forever. Amen.

  • Parenting Jesus

    Parenting Jesus

    January 19, 2024 – Sunday, Feast of the Sto. Niño de Cebu

    Two brothers went for school enrollment. The school registrar found out that both of them are eight years old. However, one of them was born April 8 & the other was born April 21. When asked to explained about this, the boys just smiled & said: “We also asked our parents about it. And they just replied to us, “We don’t mind anymore who is natural & who is adopted among you. But rest assured, that we love & choose both of you.”

    This story reminds us that parenthood is a choice, and the very first people who acknowledge  us by choice as their own are our parents. Yes, to parent children is a Choice. Parenthood happens when parents choose our children &  they have chosen us as their children. We cannot be children of everybody or anybody, but we are particularly chosen by our parents to be their own. Whether by birth or adoption, our parents choose & have chosen, & is always choosing us to be their very own & not somebody else’s. Because our parents choose us as their own, we are their children because of them. And they cannot be our parents, if they would not choose us to be their own children.

    This is also the story of our salvation. God chooses us to be His own. By sending us His son Jesus into our lives, God chooses to adopt & parent us to be His own, for us to be part of His sacred & eternal family. And so also God’s blessings continues to be with us, because We also adopted Jesus to be our own & choose to parent Jesus into our lives as started by Mary, our mother. Much as salvation is God’s choice to adopt & parent us to be His own, Our salvation then is also our choice to parent & accept responsibility for Jesus as our own.

    Mary choosing to be mother & parent of our Lord Jesus in our lives paved the way for God’s holiness be upon us. And we accepting Jesus as part of our family faith-life perpetuates God’s graces to be with us always into our lives. Because of God’s choice, we are His children. Because of Mary & Joseph choice for Jesus, we are Christian. Because of our Christian faith, Jesus is our Lord & Brother.

    We also know that parenthood & parenting a child is all about persevering faithfulness. From womb to tomb, challenging & demanding it may have been – as our gospel today reminds us, Mary endures the birth, life, mission, suffering & death of our Lord Jesus Christ. From the manger to the cross & tomb, Mary did not abandoned her choice & responsibility for her son Jesus.

    In the same way, by choosing to parent Jesus to be our own, like Mary we are called & challenged to always persevere in our Christian faith for God’s salvation to continue on to happen & flourish into our lives, as we choose to parent our Lord Jesus in our day to day faith & life with our own growing chosen children.

    We take account now that we are now on the 504 years of Filipino Christianity this year. And our Filipino Christianity started when we adopted & took care of the Sto. Nino into our Filipino culture. Even without knowing much about Jesus, we Filipinos accepted to adopt & parent the Sto. Nino into our life as family & community. Because of our choice to parent Sto. Nino to be own very own, we since then, until now, & will always be God’s beloved children & Filipino Catholic Christians here & abroad.

    Daghang Salamat Maria. Thank you Mary, because by your parenting Jesus, God’s blessings thrives in our lives. And through your example & help, we also choose to parent our Sto. Nino into our Filipino life & culture that in effect, we become persevering faithfuls & believers of Jesus Christ now & forever.

    May God continue to bless us to be a blessing of Jesus to ourselves & to others.

    And above all, we invite Jesus again & anew into our lives this year as we ….SangPit Señor. HaPit Señor. Pit Senor.

    So may it be. Amen.