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Category: Sunday Homlies

  • REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS

    REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS

    December 15, 2024 – Third Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121524.cfm)

    How joyful are you today? Do you find joy in things that you do and with those that you have? Are you joyful too with your relationships now? Do you find joy with what is going on with your life despite the struggles and problems you have?

    Each of us is gifted and blessed despite the problems and trials that we might be facing right now. This should be reasons for us to be joyful and grateful. This should hopefully lead us too in sharing our gratitude to God and joy to others.

    There is a particular gift also that we should be grateful and be more joyful. This is the Gift of God’s Self to us. God’s gift of Himself to us is what we have heard in the readings today on this Third Sunday of Advent, also called as Gaudete Sunday. And so let us explore together the sacred scriptures and discern how God invites us today.

    In the Book of Zephaniah, we were told that God is indeed with us. The prophet proclaimed, “The Lord is in your midst!” God has forgiven us and even blessed us with His presence.  Having this confidence, it calls us to rejoice.

    In the second reading, St. Paul reiterated the message of Zephaniah. Paul reminded the early Christians to rejoice and always be joyful because God is with us. In fact, Paul’s words echoes to us today, “Rejoice in the Lord always!”

    This joy is in fact TRANSFORMATIVE. This means that joy is life-changing and life-giving. John the Baptist told us about this, of the one mightier than him. When we accept the Lord in our life and allow him to be in us and with us, then, God leads us to change our bad old ways from being self-centered to life-giving, from being fearful to having faith, from being bitter to being better and grateful.

    This leads us to share what we have to those who are in need, to share our joy to those who are joyless and to share our life and presence who need friendship and company. These are all emphasized in the Gospel in the way the converts asked John the Baptist on what they should do after their baptism, like the tax collectors and even the soldiers.

    The response of giving and sharing is according to the way they should live their lives, in their daily affairs. Thus, each of us too is called to express joy in our life according to the state of our life now.

    Are you a student? Then, you are called to express joy in your studies and in your school. Are you working? Then, express joy at your workplace and with your co-workers. Are you out-of-school or still looking for a job yet? Then, express your joy in your neighborhood and to your friends. Are you a young parent? Then, express your joy to your child.

    Therefore, on this third Sunday of Advent, God invites us to be joyful because we are gifted and blessed. And because joy empowers us to express it, then, be free to be joyful and let not problems discourage you. Be free to communicate joy and let not fear and shame prevent you. Be free to accept joy from others too and let not bitterness, judgments and biases hold you back. Be free to draw joy from your surroundings and with nature. Be free to make your daily work, daily studies and daily responsibilities as your joyful recreation for yourself, your family and for your friends; let not complaints and ungratefulness hold you from being truly joyful everyday.

    Indeed, let joy make us young and free, alive and life-giving to others. We pray that as we make ourselves joyful, we may also welcome the Lord in our hearts with much joyful anticipation as He comes to us today so that we may “rejoice in the Lord always!” Hinaut pa.

  • BEST Person

    BEST Person

    December 15, 2024 – Third Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121524.cfm)

    In a PTA meeting of the graduating class, the guidance counselor asked the parents: “What do you aspire for your child in life?” Some parents wants their children  to be happy. Others aspire for success. Others would hope for righteousness.

    How about us now? What would we aspire in life? What do we aspire for our children?

    Success, happiness, and righteousness are three great and nice aspirations in life. We all wish to have all these dreams in life, but we do also know that we cannot have always all these in life. That is why it is important for us to recognize our own dreams and aspirations in life, as well as what is proper for us, as Christians.

    To aspire for success in life today is never easy, because there are many options and standards. As a consequence, we are not easily contented with life. In order to succeed, we have to aspire for more and better than others. Thus, making others easily discouraged in life because they are not the dean’s lister, cum laude, boss, or millionaire, and hopeless because they are “not-yet but only a” from what they aspire to be. Others may have been already successful in life but done through corruption, lie and deception, and still not happy and still discontented in life.

    Nowadays, to aspire for happiness is also difficult because there are endless and unsatisfying possibilities. Like, a simple telephone or watch is not enough, it has to be a smartphone or smartwatch. Some would even be willing to lie and exploit others, just to keep up with Jonesses, with the latest and fashionable trends. That is why Gadgets are getting smarter while the people getting stupid. Others even may be enjoying a happy life now but at the expense of others by being a burden and dependent on others.

    Yes there are demands and shortcomings in life, but to aspire to be right and worthy before God and other has always been close and gentle in our hearts. To behave rightly before God and others is not only expected of us but also usually satisfy our hearts-desire.

    Thus, it is not our worldly success or happiness, but our worthiness before God and others is our deepest hearts-desire and God’s wish for us, and what should be proper aspiration for us Christians, as believers and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    When asked how to be and what to do before God’s offer of salvation, John the Baptist in our gospel today teaches the people then and us now to aspire and to be worthy and righteous as we are before God and others.

    What is required of us then in God’s salvation is our worthiness before God and others, and not our successes and happiness in life. He said, “If you are rich, share what you have. If you’re a tax-collector, don’t take advantage of others. If you’re a soldier, be fair and just with others”. In other words, Be worthy and righteous as you really are now before God and others.

    John the Baptist knows himself. He is not the Messiah Himself. 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 Best Man for the Groom. This is also what John wish for us – that We become the Best (worthy and righteous) Person for the groom before God and others.

    We may aspire to have a successful and Happy Christmas this year and Life next year, but may also not be righteous and worthy before the Lord. Or, we may have an unsuccessful and unhappy Christmas and Life ahead but still worthy and righteous before Him, as we behave rightly as we are called & lived to be Christians to others.

    Rejoicing at the Lord’s coming and being into our life now, is not because we being happy and successful in life, but rather because we behave and act rightly and worthily before God and others in life. To be worthy and righteous before God and others then is what we should and are we to do in life,  for us to once again and always openly received God’s continuing blessing of grace to us in life through His son, Jesus Christ.

    And so, healthy for us to perhaps ask ourselves nowadays: “what do we aspire for in life?” “Is our priority in life … happiness, success OR righteousness?

    Lord take away everything that distance us from you. Grant us everything that bring us close to you. Detach us from ourselves to bring our all to you. (Nicholas of Flue’s prayer) So May It Be. Amen

  • OUR PERSISTENCE TO HOPE

    OUR PERSISTENCE TO HOPE

    December 8, 2024 – Second Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120824.cfm)

    A friend came to me and shared how she finds her life in darkness at the moment. She finds failures in everything she did and she has. These failures include her job, her boyfriend, her family, her friends and herself. She felt confused and hopeless. Her life seems miserable and so she feels unhappy and bitter.

    Yet, these situations in her life are spaces for my friend to see life, to experience life and live life where there is always a possibility of failures, of being hurt and of hurting others and also of the certainty of being embraced by a faithful and constant love, by a healing and renewing love of the Lord.

    Listening to her, I asked her how she handles all of these. Although she feels that she is in darkness and not happy, yet, she continues to believe in God. She persisted to hope that God would bring her into a life filled with joy, where everything shall also fall into its place.

    Herself reminds me of the prophecy of Baruch and of Paul as he wrote a letter to the Philippians. Let us explore briefly the scriptures today and discover how God invites us on this second Sunday of Advent.

    The prophecy of Baruch was preached when the Jewish people were exiled in Babylon, where they were maltreated and made into slaves. This exile was a result of their unfaithfulness to God. Their unfaithfulness brought them, consequently, farther from Yahweh. Thus, their life in Babylon was completely a misery. In that land, they were shamed and oppressed. The people were in darkness. Yet, they have realized their sins and unfaithfulness to God. The people began to repent and listened to the prophets.

    The recognition of sin led them to ask forgiveness, to turn from their sinful life back to God. This was how Baruch proclaimed his prophecy that at last, the exile shall end. The people shall reclaim their dignity, as they shall come home to Jerusalem. They will be restored, forgiven and given new life filled with abundance, prosperity and joy with God. Indeed, Baruch proclaimed a joyful hope for the people, that their suffering shall end and that darkness shall be conquered by light, and that their shame and guilt will be taken away through God’s mercy.

    Moreover, Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while he was chained in a prison cell in Ephesus. The life of Paul at this time was in darkness. His ministry to preach the Gospel and commitment to Jesus brought him into prison.

    Paul remembered his friendship with the people and was grateful of that friendship. Even with much difficulty, Paul recognized the gifts and generosity of the Philippians. The Philippians themselves served as hope for Paul that the Gospel shall be shared to all. Yet, what was interesting was the way Paul wrote the letter. There was no trace of bitterness or dismay. His letter, rather, expressed joy and hope. Paul teaches us in his letter that it is possible to remain hopeful and joyful even when life gets very dark.

    Both Baruch and Paul expressed hope and joy in times of so much struggles and darkness. What they have expressed reflected also in today’s Gospel. This is proclaimed to us through the life of John the Baptist.

    Joy is promised to us when we allow God to be with us, to transform us and allow him to be our God. It means that when we begin to be less self-centered, less arrogant and less greedy, the more we come closer to God. And the more we come closer to God, the more we recognize Him too, not just in our life but also in the life of those who are next to us. Thus, what is being “zoomed in” is God and not ourselves; what is being maximized is grace rather than sin, forgiveness rather than guilt, love rather than hate.

    So, how do we allow God to come to us and transform us? John invites today to “prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight.” This is where we can find the preaching of John about “hope.” John proclaimed “hope” as he reminded the people that salvation is possible, that peace and freedom from sin is possible.

    This hope dawns on us when we start recognizing our sinfulness rather than the sins of others. Hope becomes alive when we humble ourselves before God to accept that we are in need of mercy. And this hope brings us to peace, in which the second candle of advent reminds of peace.

    Hence, preparing God’s way to our heart means to take away anything that prevents us from allowing God to come closer to us. We may reflect today, what are my un-confessed sins that need repentance? What are my selfish tendencies that keep me away from others and from God?

    Hopefully, our season of advent may truly become a preparation for us to encounter God daily and to celebrate with joy the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. Hinaut pa.

  • Operation: LINIS

    Operation: LINIS

    December 8, 2024 – Second Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120824.cfm)

    To clean the whole house : a family activity and exercise that should be done regularly but rarely done, because it is demanding & requires a lot of work. To do general house cleaning is difficult indeed, but if & when we do it occasionally, we can learn a lot of good things & may promise some changes in life. Simply because, we know that general house cleaning is not only about cleaning things in our home.

    General house cleaning could be our chance to treasure the treasures-found. As we go through daily lives, eventually we collect a lot of things received, bought, and possessed along the way. As we clean our house then, we got the chance to re-evaluate, i.e. to give value again & anew the treasures we have owned & collected, to declutter the surplus & let go of what we do not really need, & share these now with those who are in need. Through this, we may able to recognize, count and share our blessings, and may able to declog & make our lives easier & lighter from unnecessary burdens & concerns.

    General house cleaning may also be our chance to review our life. As we clean our things in the house, it could happen that we remember our past experiences & memories, become in touch once again with the spirit, values & principles-held in life, recognize our present realities & state of life (like, kids are not anymore kids but now teenagers, & teens are becoming adults), & realize the new changes & challenges required to adjust with our current status of life.

    General house cleaning may also be our change to rearrange our lives (not only our home). By responding & planning for the challenges of the new changing realities in life, we may update, upgrade, reconfigure or reformat our outdated systems & ways within the house that would best suit to our changing & growing family. In other words, Simply put, a chance to review our expectations & realistically align these with the new challenges & conditions.

    To re-evaluate, review & re-arrange may just be some of the good things & benefits of doing general house cleaning. Demanding it may be, but if & when we do it, it offers us ease & direction in living & improving our lives.

    During this 2nd Sunday of Advent, we are challenged to, through the witness of St. John the Baptism, from the words of Prophet Isaiah: “Prepare for the way of the Lord.” But we may ask: “What is more to prepare? What more we should prepare?

    Come to think of it, we are already prepared. As early as before October, we already decorated our house. Christmas trees & decors are already placed. Gifts to be given, food for celebrations are being prepared. Some have their parties & reunions already. Some were already tired & impatient waiting for their gifts & bonuses. What else is & should be prepared?

    The preparation we are challenged to by the Sacred Scripture is not our usual preparation of decorations, gifts, food, parties, bonuses & others. The expected preparation required of us is “to make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain & hill shall made low. The winding road shall be made straight & the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of the Lord.”

    Simply put, To do General House Cleaning – to clean our whole home, to make things right rightly for the Lord. What is asked of us then is – an update, upgrade, reconfiguration & reformatting of lifestyle suited for the Lord, us & others – to be better now & do improve our way of living our life.

    The Lord becoming one of us & being with us is not just a decoration in life where we only use when needed or where we only maximize when we wanted it. Christmas – the birth of the Lord, God’s incarnation into our lives should be the appropriate Center, Way, Guide & Direction of our Christian lives. Meaning, what preparation expected of us is not house decoration but general house cleaning.

    Now, when was the last time you had your general house cleaning? When is your general house cleaning?

    As the year about to end & we are now fast approaching Christmas, why not do your general house cleaning these days? Ask nobody to do it for you, but rather do it yourself, so that, you may have a new perspective, meaning, & purpose in life, and thus, may have carved a new space for God’s Word, Jesus Christ into your life.

    So May It Be. Amen.

    ———-

    n.b. Say a little prayer for me as it also happens I celebrate my birthday today. Much house-cleaning to do here. 😊

  • 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.