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Category: Sunday Homlies

  • GOD of New Chances

    GOD of New Chances

    February 11, 2024 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021124.cfm)

    “How are you? Fine! And you? OK” (Kamusta na? Ok. Ikaw? Ok lang”).

    We usually say these words of greeting to express our concern for the health and well-being of others, and in recognition that all of us are & can be subject to hurts, pains, and sicknesses in life. Even the healthiest of us live with fear of accidents and diseases, which can suddenly place us on the sidelines. Nobody likes to get sick. But nobody can claim that they have never been sick in life before. Sickness cannot be denied. To get & be sick is part of our human nature. Normal for us then to ask about the health and welfare of others whom we have not seen for a while, and meet once again. 

    But what does it mean to be sick? Experience teaches us that to be sick is more than just an experience of physical bodily illnesses but a wide range of emotional, mental, psychological, and spiritual diseases. Whenever we get sick, we become incapacitated and limited. We feel dependent, depressed, irritable, helpless and sometimes isolated and alienated from others, and even feel abandoned by God. We know that it is difficult to get sick, especially when we are used to live our life independently and always in-control. Sickness is indeed a dreadful experience, as what was also described in our readings today.

    In our gospel today, we may realize that our life-experiences of sickness, though dreadful and difficult, could also be opportunities and another new chance for growth and life.

    First, sickness can be the opportunity to be converted. The leper came to Jesus. Coming to Jesus is an experience of conversion – instead of turning away from, it is a turning back and toward Jesus. Whenever we get sick, we usually cease from our usual routine, go home, and take a rest. It is in sickness that we need to have a break and be with ourselves & with our God in Jesus, as our Psalm would say: In time of trouble, I turn to you, Lord.”

    Sickness can also be the opportunity to have faith and trust in God and others. The leper begged to Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean”. It is not normal for us to be helpless and dependent on others. We rather be in-control and not needing others. But to be sick is humbling indeed for we really need to stop being independent and on your own, and have to trust on others’ love and care again. In sickness, we thus surrender ourselves and humbly ask for and rely on God’s mercy and providence through others.  Though we do want to be healed ourselves, but in sickness, we learn to be humble enough to beg & ask the Lord: “If you will…” Amusingly: “Kon maayong lawas: Disco-disco; kon masakit, “Dios Ko-Dios Ko”. PagMalusog- Disco, PagMay-sakit: -Dios ko. In health: Disco, in sickness: My God”

    Nevertheless, sickness can also be the opportunity to be cleansed and be healed. In sickness, we witness and experience God’s mercy, love, goodness, and miracles working in us – happening to us. That through our faith and Jesus’ concern & willing for us to heal, God’s power and love is made known to us and others. In our weakness and sickness, God through Jesus wills our healing & His power and glory are thus revealed in us.

    Sickness can be opportunity to be reconciled – i.e. to makes things right- with others. Jesus asks the leper to show himself to the priest and offer himself to the Church. Through the sacrament of anointing and reconciliation, we offer ourselves back to God’s church and renew our promises & life-commitments before the Lord.

    And lastly sickness can be an opportunity to proclaim our faith – to share our experience of sickness and healing. Just like the cured leper, our healing from sickness makes us express and share our faith to others. 

    To be sick then can be the opportunities for Christian conversion, faith, healing, reconciliation & mission.

    In other words, getting and being sick can be all about “New Chances” – another chance for God through others to love and take care of us again, and another chance for us to make things right and better for us & others again & anew.

    Yes, nobody wants to get sick. And we try not to get sick. But whenever we got sick, take it not as disgrace but rather as “a blessing in disguise” – an opportunity and chance for God’s glory to be revealed in Us and through Us & for us to improve & be better than before in life.

    In this Eucharist, may our hearts & love be with those who are sick and suffering any illnesses at this time in their homes & at the hospitals. With Our Lady of Lourdes, in our sickness & trying times, may our prayers be also with Jesus who prays to our Father, “Take this cup of suffering away from me, However, not my will, but Your will be Done.”

    So Help us God. So May it be. Amen.

  • A GOD WHO HEALS

    A GOD WHO HEALS

    February 4, 2024 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020424.cfm)

    Broken-hearted ka ba? Umasa pero pinaasa? Umibig pero sinaktan? – These questions seemed to be filled with pain in the heart. But, how are you really? How is life going on for you now? Perhaps many would respond, “Ok lang.” Others may say, “life is favorable for me at the moment, or God is good for the graces I received”. Others are indeed happy and contented with life. Indeed, we are blessed having such kind of life.

    Yet, how about those who are overburdened with problems in life? Those who are suffering from broken relationships and broken homes? Those who are terminally ill and desperate to live a bit longer? Those who find life dark, bitter and hopeless trapped in guilt, shame, loneliness, fear and anxiety? Then, we might find life filled with misery.

    This was the life of Job. In the first reading, Job found his life miserable. He lost his family, his wealth as well as his health. Because of so much suffering, he could not find any meaning and significance in all those pain and loneliness he endured.

    Why? Because Job was a good and pious man. He did no wrong to anybody. He was faithful to God. Thus, he felt that he did not deserve such kind of life. This is how he described his life to be “miserable,” “hopeless,” and “devoid of happiness.”

    We could also act like Job. We might also say, “I do not deserve such kind of misery in life, Lord. What have I done? Why do you give me such trial and suffering?” – We could actually say these especially when we are confronted with unspeakable human suffering.

    That is why, in misery, Job concluded, “I shall not see happiness anymore.” Job felt hopeless. He believed that God completely abandoned him. Yet, Job was wrong.  Job failed to realize two important points.

    First, he justified himself for being good. He seemed to demand God and became entitled that he should not be treated in such a way because he was good. For him, he did not deserve such misery but only prosperity and blessing.

    Second, Job misunderstood that God’s grace and favor are not about how good we are, but about God’s goodness and generosity. This means that to be blessed is a sheer grace.

    However, despite this attitude of Job, the Lord remained faithful to him. Later on, the Lord confronted Job and let him realize his failures. The Lord restored Job not because he was justified but because the Lord is good and close to the brokenhearted.

    This is what the Responsorial Psalm proclaimed today, “Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted!” The Lord binds up our wounds because the Lord is good and gracious! This is God’s true character. This tells us that indeed, God actually desires our healing, freedom, our joy and that we may have the fullness of life.

    That is why, Paul would never stop preaching the gospel of Christ. His First Letter to the Corinthians reminds us of Paul’s conviction to share the gospel because the very message brings the presence of Jesus who gives us joy, freedom and life. Paul even said, “to the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.” This means that Paul became a true companion and a friend to people especially the weak. By being able to enter into the life of those who are suffering, Paul understood them better and saw that Christ was as well with the weak and the suffering.

    A God who heals

    A God who desires joy and fullness of life for us is best described in today’s Gospel of Mark. Jesus went inside the house of Simon and Andrew. By being welcomed into that household, Jesus was made aware of the sick mother-in-law of Simon. And Jesus had three wonderful movements in this scenario.

    First, Jesus approached. Jesus did not wait for the sick to come to him. It was God who came near the sick. This manifests an intention to bring God’s presence closer to the sick.

    Second, he grasped her hand. Jesus brought God’s touch to the sick woman. God touching her meant God’s compassion towards her. The touch of Jesus was God’s most abiding presence giving her the strength.

    Third, he helped her up. The strength from God was the gift of healing granted to the sick mother-in-law. Because she was lying down and her fever overpowers her, she needed help from another. This very action of Jesus helping her up tells us that God supplements and journeys with us towards our freedom and healing.

    From these three movement, Jesus showed us how our presence, our touch and our concrete action in helping another will manifest the presence of God that brings comfort, compassion, healing and even life.

    This is the very reason why after the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law, people with various diseases and those who are ill or possessed by demons flocked towards Jesus. Because the power of presence of Jesus is not of force and violence. People, rather, begin to recognize God’s compassion. In Jesus what we see and realize is God’s power who wills our joy and desires our healing to experience the fullness of life.

    For us today, let these three movements of Jesus be our invitations in our relationships. But first, let us welcome the Lord to come to us, to welcome him in our hearts. Not that we become entitled or demanding to God because we are good and pious.

    Then, let us allow the Lord through his instruments to approach us, to hold us, and to help us. They could be our friends or family members, professionals or even strangers who have the intention to love us.

    With that, we may also become God’s instruments who will manifest God’s powerful presence in our homes, workplaces and communities by approaching, holding and helping those who are sick, weak, vulnerable and the brokenhearted. Hinaut pa.

  • INFLUENCER

    INFLUENCER

    January 28, 2024 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012824.cfm)

    It is once said that “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”

    We do all know something about leadership & authority. Many people have exercised their leadership and authority on us. In many ways, they have influenced us. And we have also exercised leadership & authority on others and in one way or another has influenced them. We do know how to be influenced by others & to influence others, as well.

    Sometimes it is even easy to tell who mostly influences other people’s lives. They will quote their parents or a teacher or someone they grew up with who have greatly influenced & lead their lives for better than worse. Yes, influences can be negative. But as soon as someone says: “As my mother always used to say…” practically what follows is surely something that influenced the life of the speaker in a positive way. We consider these leaders or authorities as the great peoples in our lives – the one who made us feel great about ourselves & helped us grow. They have in one way or another helped us form our values & principles in life, and have greatly impacted our lives to be a much better person.

    That is what real authority does. It is life-giving, growth-giving, affirmative, positive and helpful. The word itself is an indication of this. It comes from a Latin word “augere”, meaning “to make grow”. Authority then is power or influence not to lord over and control others but to help others grow. Leadership lies not on the power or control you have on others but on the influence & impact you have for others to grow. Not power to lord over others but power to influence & form others. Leadership then is all about being an influencer.

    That is why true indeed, “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” It is all about our influence to foster growth on others & help them become much better version of themselves, even with or without our presence.

    In our gospel today we heard that “his teaching made a deep impression on them… because he taught them with authority.” The people who listened to Jesus that day in Capernaum were struck by his authority & leadership.

    That is what happened to the people when they listened to Jesus in their synagogue. Hearing him they (even the demoniacs & possessed) began to open up & understand their own potentials & possibilities for life & growth. He gave them hope. He treated them as friends and equals. He did not talk them down, did not flatter & sweet-talk them as the scribes do. He told them instead to be true & be realistic about themselves than they had ever been before. Through the words of Jesus with authority, they realized that God calls them to greater things than they never had thought possible. They come to experience then God’s leadership in their lives.

    The same thing happens to us whenever we listen to Jesus, as God’s word for us through the Scriptures. Every time we read or listen to the Word of God, especially to the gospels, challenging it might be, we are influenced by the wisdom and message of Jesus. The words of Jesus have greatly influenced our lives that whenever it is proclaimed to us again and anew, it constantly offers us life, faith, and hope. It challenges to grow to be a much better person before God and other, and it also empowers us to do great things for others.

    Being led & influenced by Jesus in our lives do not usually make life easier, but definitely it makes life much more worthwhile! His authority, leadership, & influence do make us now do what all leaders should do: Foster growth and life in oneself & others. In other words, influenced & led by Jesus’ authority, we should also now lead & influence others, by fostering growth & making other people’s lives better.

    In this Eucharist today, may Jesus, the Word of God continue to influence and direct our lives so that we could also be a better influence in fostering growth in our church, society & nation. Amen.

  • LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND

    LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND

    January 14, 2024- 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011424.cfm)

    How do you listen? Just like now, here in this Church, listening to the Word of God and to my homily, what kind of attitude do you show as you listen? On this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, let me share with you the different forms of listening and let us see how each form affect that way the message is communicated to us and how we respond. From here, let us also evaluate ourselves on how we perceive God’s voice and God’s word proclaimed to us.

    There are 5 levels of Listening according to Stephen R. Covey.[1] The first level is called IGNORING. In this level of listening we completely ignore what has been said, that means we do not listen at all. This is shown in our body language, for instance, when someone is talking we are doing some other things like chatting and playing with our phones, or starting a conversation with a person near us.

    The second level is called PRETEND LISTENING. We only show to the person that we listen but actually not. We may show this as well in our body language like regularly nodding our head and making eye contact but then, our mind is somewhere else. This level of listening has no intention to really listen and understand because this is merely a show-off.

    The third level is called SELECTIVE LISTENING. Like the pretend listening, we also show to the one talking that we are listening but not fully. In this level, we only listen to some parts that we want to hear, that we love and expect to hear. However, other parts of what has been said to us, we do not listen anymore especially when what is being said disturbs us or challenges us, or simply does not interest us.

    The fourth level is called ATTENTIVE LISTENING. This means that we pay attention, we concentrate and we respond accordingly to what has been said. This is shown in our body language as we make eye contact, sit properly and respond when we are asked.

    And finally, the fifth level is called ATTENTIVE-EMPATHETIC LISTENING. Comparing this with the fourth level, here we do not only make an effort to listen but we listen to understand. And when we listen to understand, this also means that we see ourselves in the words that are being said to us without judging or filtering the words being said. We become receptive to what has been said, thus, what is being opened is not just our ears, but also our heart and our mind.

    So, at what level are you now? What kind of body language do you show as I communicate with you? How receptive are you with the words that I am saying?

    We may hopefully be able to see ourselves and evaluate our attitudes in listening and then move higher towards the fifth level if we are below it. I am sharing this with you because the readings we have this Sunday speak of people who have shown an ATTENTIVE-EMPATHETIC LISTENING. And so, let us see how God invites us today to respond to him according to our own life situation and context in the community as we called first, to listen.

    In the first reading, the young Samuel had his first encounter with God. Samuel was an altar server, very young but was chosen by God to be his prophet.

    He was called, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel[2] and the young Samuel would get up and go to Eli thinking it was the old man who called him. Being so young, Samuel did not have any knowledge yet about God. This was the reason why Samuel would go to Eli thinking that it was him calling the young boy. But thanks to Eli, to that wisdom from an old one who guided the inexperienced young boy to be able to listen attentively and empathetically to the voice of God.

    The presence of the old prophet Eli, affirms our need of somebody who can guide us, of those who already experienced life. Thus, Samuel was able to listen to God because despite his young age there was a good advice from an adult.

    As Samuel listened empathetically, he responded, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening,” God was allowed to be heard. The conscious action of Samuel made him familiar to God’s voice. That was the beginning of God working in the life of Samuel. As a result of Samuel’s conscious listening to God and of allowing God to speak to him, Samuel also understood what God told him. Thus, God made him a “trustworthy prophet,” to whom everyone listened.

    Samuel spoke with authority and honesty because he allowed the Lord to speak through him, and thanks to that old man who guided him. Samuel stood as God’s representative in a time of political and religious corruption, in a time where people were in desolation and distress.

    Like Samuel, this is also the situation of the two disciples of John the Baptist. These two disciples did not know Jesus but they were already listening to John about Jesus. Hence, when John the Baptist saw Jesus, John said, “Here is the Lamb of God.” The two disciples listened and understood what John said. That was the reason why the two followed the Lord. In their effort to understand Jesus more, they asked, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus responded, “Come and see.” Both listened to the invitation of Jesus and so they came and saw how Jesus lived. Their ears were open as well as their heart and mind.

    This openness of the two, made one of them, Andrew, to become an instrument for his brother Simon to encounter and know Jesus. Through that encounter, Simon paid attention and listened to Jesus. This was how Jesus also called Simon to become Cefas (in Hebrew, in Latin Peter) which means the Rock.

    John the Baptist encountered the Lord, and so recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God. Because of this encounter, he helped his disciples to also encounter Jesus. That encounter prompted them to follow the Lord. Andrew also who encountered the Lord led his brother, Simon to also encounter the Lord. This was all made possible because they first listened and understood the presence and the voice of the Lord. Now, we see the pattern in their stories.

    This is also the very invitation for us this Sunday and that is to learn and to move towards ATTENTIVE-EMPATHETIC LISTENING so that we may be able to listen well to what God is saying to us and understand better God’s invitations for us.

    Through attentive-empathetic listening also, this will help us grow in our awareness of God’s presence and our relationship with God. Moreso, such attitude in our listening, this will greatly help our human relationships. Thus, begin to show this attentive-empathetic listening with your friend, with your colleague, classmate or workmate, or with your student, or with your own child, partner or loved one. Through attentive-empathetic listening, then, we better understand the person, we avoid developing biases, or in making quick judgments against the person. Through attentive-empathetic listening we make dialogue to be possible, we promote understanding and peace in our own homes, communities and institutions. Hinaut pa.

    [1] From Revolution: Listening and Development (revolutionlearning.co.uk)

    [2] Samuel means a person who “heard God.”

  • AUDIENCE

    AUDIENCE

    January 14, 2023 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011424.cfm)

    Whenever we are interested to know more about a person, we usually ask for their name, address & contact number. Same way, whenever we are interested about a person, we give them our information: name, address & contact number. But rarely we invite them or get invited by them right away home, Diba? We don’t expect invitations right away whenever we want to meet someone. And we don’t readily invite someone interested or interesting into our home.

    However this is not the case with the disciples of John in our gospel today. Somehow they were star-strucked with Jesus when John introduced Him as the Messiah to them. They followed Jesus & got his attention.

    Meeting Jesus, they ask for His usual information. They are  interested to know Him more. And they got more than they hope for. Not only they got his address, they get an invitation “Come & See” – an audience with Jesus, his undivided attention in his own home for the whole day. After their encounter with Jesus, they are not anymore the same but now  changed persons, and moved them to share Jesus with others.

    The same could happen with our Christian faith & life. Whenever we are interested to consider Jesus to be part of our daily life, whenever we want to know Him more personally, be careful with what you ask for, “what you are looking for?”, because Jesus will not only give you an address information but an invitation. Jesus will not only give you advice, solutions & encouragement on your concerns, but moreso would offer you friendship, love, life-changing challenges & spirituality with Him & others.

    As we are just starting the year, perhaps healthy for us as we meet & encounter Him during prayers, to consider  Jesus asking us now: “What are looking for?” Ask ourselves & reflect: “What do we want & need from Him at this juncture of our faith journey? Are we in it with Him for just our petty-concerns, conveniences, & personal interests, OR are we in for the whole-deal of what Jesus can offer us for the better & the best for our life anew? Would we be with Him at a distance, just observing what he is doing OR would we be near & close with Him & be changed by His love & friendship? If now God is with us, are we with Him?

    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