Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Sunday Homlies

  • Welcoming Hosts

    Welcoming Hosts

    November 29, 2020 – First Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112920.cfm)

    Homily

    Once in a far-flung village, words came that someone from the diocese would come to visit them on a particular day. So, in excited anticipation for the said visit, the whole village decided to renovate their chapel and prepare a rather lavish banquet to welcome their special guest. However on the very day of the visit, no guest arrived, but instead a big writings message on their chapel wall is posted “BEWARE for HE is here. Babala. Nandito siya. Pagbantay, Ania sya.” Dismayed for the non-appearance of their expected guest, the villagers began to blame and distrust one another for the said fiasco and humiliation. Worse is the insulting words written on their chapel walls warning them to be aware of someone present with them but in fact, absent, no show, not there. Nandito daw pero wala naman. Naa daw, pero wala lagi. Weeks after the fiasco, they started to take seriously the message on the wall: BEWARE of the supposed-guest’s presence in their midst, and they began to consider that perhaps that the guest is already with them but they might have missed & fail to recognize him. So they become alert and aware first of the presence of newcomers and migrants in their midst (mga dili ingon nato, pero naa nato), then they become sensitive of each other’s presence & needs, & thus they grow in their concern & respect for one another within their community as they become conscious of someone with them, other than themselves. BEWARE. Babala. Pagbantay then becomes more than just a word of warning but a Wake-up Call for them to be aware, be awake, and be alert of the Presence of one another and of other than beyond themselves. Hindi lamang Babala, kundi Magmasid, magising at magkamalay. And thus, they become WELCOMING community.

    We Christians believe that there are three comings of the Lord in our lives: His second coming at the end of time to reign & rule the world, His coming in the end of one’s life to fetch & bring us to our Father, & His coming as He & we live in our lives this day. Any one of these comings can take place at any moment in our life. And what is expected of us is to be welcoming hosts of Lord. Our salvation then is all about the Lord coming to us & we welcoming Him into our lives.

    In our gospel today Jesus said: “Beware. Keep alert for you do not know when the time will come. Therefore keep watch for you did not know when the Lord is coming or else he may find you asleep when He comes suddenly. What I say to you, I say to all: Keep awake.” Jesus here is giving us a Wake-up Call to be aware, awake and be alert for coming of the Salvation and Good News that is happening and about to happen in our lives. God has something Better to offer us more in life now and from now on. And behind this promise of salvation in our lives, our Hospitality – welcoming and hosting the Lord as our guest is required.  Salvation thus happens when God comes & we willingly welcome Him into our lives. So also, salvation is wasted because of unrecognized & unwelcomed Lord as our guest, & due to clueless insolent unwelcoming people we are as hosts.

    To be a good worthy host to our guest, all we have to do and to be then is to be alert, awake and aware – magmasid, magising at magkamalay, so that God’s miracles and blessings are to be revealed & enjoyed in us always anew. Jesus does not want us to sleepwalk through our lives. He wants us to whole-heartedly welcome His comings into our lives by being alert, awake and aware – we hosting His work of God’s promise of salvation for all.

    The first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year. Another year of the Lord and with the Lord is upon and ahead of us. Another promise and chance for us to grow in our faith and love of God through Jesus Christ. As we begin and live through our new liturgical year: to be alert, awake, aware: Magmasid, magising, at magkamalay are the very welcoming attitudes Jesus wants us to be and do for another chance to be and grow with Him in God’s grace.

    As Jesus warns us, usually God’s blessings and graces come into our lives as a surprise for we never know when the time will come – when the Lord is coming. Blessed are we then whom the Lord finds not Asleep but Alert, Awake and aware when He comes and arrives into our lives.

    Like people waiting at the arrival area in the airport, as we long for the vaccine for cure & immunization, as we celebrate this year our 500 years of Filipino Catholicism,  may we brace ourselves to welcome Him for His another coming anew into our lives – conscious, alert, sensitive, & aware not to miss His presence in our midst & thus, be forever blessed by the grace of His love & mercy. Amen.

  • The Candle of our Relentless Hope

    The Candle of our Relentless Hope

    November 29, 2020 – First Sunday of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112920.cfm)

    Homily

    Advent is a season of “Joyful Waiting.” It is a joyful hope that lifts our spirits. With this first Sunday of Advent, we also begin the new year in our Church’s (Liturgical) Calendar. However, I cannot help but recall the past year. As the new year Liturgical year started in December 2019, we already have experienced frightening calamities. Earthquakes terrified particularly the Central and Southern Mindanao. Quakes continued for weeks that left thousands of people traumatized and terrified. Then, Taal erupted and brought great damages in its neighboring provinces. Then, Covid-19 came and brought fear to us until now. And just recently, typhoons hit our country that greatly affected our brothers and sisters in the Northern Philippines.

    From all of these, we saw images in the news and in social media sites how millions of people were waiting to be rescued. Until now, all of us are waiting to be rescued. The typhoon Rolly and Ulysses particularly caused people to climb to their roofs because of the floods. Those frightening situations left our brothers and sisters at the mercy of rescuers.

    We could just imagine, that if we too are in their situation, it would be very difficult not to give in to despair. There was so much hopelessness that we have experienced. Is there something to wait joyfully then? Is there something to wait joyfully now?

    On a personal level, many individuals also struggle to live because of personal and deep-seated issues. Many young people have succumbed to depression that led to suicidal attempts and ultimately led to the end of their lives. Many are desperate because of their addictions, because of broken and abusive relationships where they are trapped. Many felt hopeless because of their guilt and shame, believing that they cannot be forgiven.

    In one way or another, we are all waiting to be rescued. What the Psalm has proclaimed today, is echoing into our hearts, “Let us see your face, O Lord, and we shall be saved.” Thus, despite the frightening, terrifying experiences we have, despite our desperation, we long and we cry deep within that God may show His face to us, so that we will be saved from so much despair and suffering. This Psalm really expressed this hope. This was written during the time of destruction and captivity of Israel. People became miserable and desperate because their enemies brought darkness into their lives.

    Yet, their hope for salvation was relentless. In the same way, Prophet Isaiah, in our first reading also expressed this persistent hope for salvation in the midst so much misery. In his desperation, he even sounded to blame God saying, “Why do you let us wander, O Lord? Return for the sake of your servants.” With the people, Isaiah conveyed the feeling of being abandoned by the Lord because of the guilt that they were carrying.

    Isaiah expressed the shame and guilt of the people’s stubborn heart, rejecting and killing God’s prophets. Their leaders and the participation of the people of a systemic corruption of life, made Isaiah to proclaim, “you have hidden your face from us, O LORD, and have delivered us up to our guilt.” Isaiah knew this very well. It was indeed very easy to fall into hopelessness and in total misery.

    However, Isaiah also expressed in behalf of the people, and in behalf of all of us today, he said, “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.” In the midst of hopelessness, Isaiah recognized God and affirmed his confidence to God, our Father, who will never ever abandon us. This, indeed, is a relentless hope.

    In the same way, Paul expressed in his first letter to the Corinthians, his gratitude for the grace of God bestowed on the people, and also reminded them that “God is faithful.” Yes, God is faithful and cannot deny us and will not break the promise to be with us.

    God continues to be present with us in every moment of our life. God blesses us with His presence even in our most difficult and desperate moments. This is what keeps us now to remain hopeful. And the first candle that we lighted on this First Sunday of Advent reminds us of this hope. Indeed, the candle is called a “candle of hope.” However, today this surely has become a “candle of our relentless hope.”

    This relentless hope keeps us alive and keeps us burning in our desire to be rescued by the Lord in whatever difficult and misery we are experiencing today. Hence, as Jesus told his disciples, Jesus also says to us today, “Be watchful! Be alert!” Jesus wants us to be always watchful, alert and attentive to his constant revelations for us and attentive to his silent revelations in us. To be watchful and alert is not a mere warning of the dangers that may come, it is also an invitation to have a heightened awareness of God’s presence in our life and in the lives of others.

    We are a people who long to see the face of God, who long to feel His loving and comforting presence in our life. Yet, let us also realize that though we long for God, God longs for us all the more. Jesus would surely come and rescue us where we are at this very moment.

    Thus, on this first day of Advent, we are all invited to relentlessly hope as we remain watchful of God’s presence in our life and through the life of our brothers and sisters. Hinaut pa.

  • King for us & with us.

    King for us & with us.

    November 22, 2020 – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112220.cfm)

    Homily

    If you google the word: “Cristo Roto or Broken Christ” in the net, you will be led into a place in Aguascalientes, Mexico where there stood a massive 25 meters bronze statue of Christ above the city dam. Considered to be the 10th largest statue of Jesus in the world, what makes it special is that it is broken. An image of Crucified Jesus stand suspended without a cross, with a missing right arm and a snapped off leg. It was based on the story told about Fr. Ramon Cue who found a broken and desecrated crucifix in an antique shop, and bought it in view of restoring it for his parish. Once home however while in prayer before the broken Christ, Christ himself pleads to the priest that it to be left broken & not restored, so that it could stir in the priest & in his parishioners the need to both ‘see’ & ‘serve’ the broken Christ’s in their midst. Known now as Santuario del Cristo Roto (Santuary of the Broken Christ), the massive Broken Christ statue is a famous religious pilgrim and devotion site, and a popular stop for Mexican migrants crossing the US, where faithful considered it as a savior of the lost causes.

    Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King. Consider the image of Christ the King. Usually the image shows us all the symbol & promptings of honor and glory depicted proper & usual for a king (crown, thrown, orb, scepter & robe). But notice, what is most peculiar in the usual image of Cristo Rey are His exposed swelling inflamed heart & His barefoot. These peculiarities somehow highlight the distinction of Christ’s kingship from the usual human kings. Barefooted-king symbolizes Christ as a humble Shepherd king who is on-the-go, in-touch, and grounded in His people’s lives. Exposed swelling inflamed heart symbolizes Christ as the loving Lord King who is hands-on, feel with, empathizing, all-out, compassionate & merciful to us His people. Above all, both His open heart & exposed feet are reminders that our Lord & King Jesus Christ is a Broken, Suffered, Wounded yet Victorious & Glorious Servant King-Shepherd who still needs & longs for our praise & loving service with Him in our Father’s kingdom. A glorious King, indeed yet remains a broken Christ so that we may see & serve Him in our midst, in our day to day lives & thus, continue His work & contact-presence with us in life. A forever kingly yet still broken Christ in our midst.

    The kingship of Christ reminds us that, FOR US, God is our Shepherd king. For our sake, He choose to be our Shepherd King. Through our readings today, we recognize that like a good shepherd, Yahweh HIMSELF tends us His flock: a hands-on God-king who look after, tend, rescue, pasture, give rest, seek, bring back and heal us His people for the sake of  our salvation, fulfilled fully  (no more, no less) through the witness & shepherding of our Lord Jesus Christ. And on the day of Reckoning, Jesus will account & segregate the worthy from the unworthy (sheep among the goats) of eternal life with our Father.

    And the kingship of Christ reminds us as well that ALONG WITH US, God is our family or rather we are His family & His son Jesus is our brother who is mostly with the least of our family. In our gospel today, both the worthy & unworthy ask the Lord “When did we see you…?” His response is Ubi Caritas: loving service to others – “whatsoever you do to the least, that you do unto me”. In other word, Jesus is the “me in the least of our brothers/our family” – the broken Christ in our midst who needs our loving service. And how we treat Him in the least of us is the standard measurement of us to be worthy or unworthy of being & living with Yahweh, our Father.

    Christ’s kingship is thus expressed at its best & should be seen and served as our Lord Jesus, the Shepherd King FOR us, and the broken Christ WITH US, especially in the least of us in our midst.

    The solemnity of Christ the King marks the end of our liturgical year. Like in the airport’s pre-departure area, as we bid farewell to the pandemic year that has been & a prepare for the next year’s promise & challenges in our spiritual travel-journey, perhaps we ask ourselves:

    • How have I experienced God’s shepherding in my life this year? In what ways Jesus have tended, rescued, pastured, protected & healed me this year? How the Lord Jesus is for me & with me this year?
    • How did I participate & contribute in His shepherding of me & us all? What have I have done for Him? How have I been with Him, an obedient & faithful sheep OR a dumb-ass & hard-headed goat? What have I done to the least of my brothers? Have I been His frontliners who do something for those who are need at this time OR have I been a KAREN, a proud entitled jerk who complains a lot & carelessly put others lives at risk for undermining protocols & breaking guidelines? Have I recognized, “see & serve” Him in my life & in our midst?

    As we have a closer look of our life & mission as His flock & people, reimagine our being & living with God, and make some resolutions to do better in life & faith anew, may the lyrics of songs below inspire & guide us to be worthy of Our Christ the King in our midst. Amen.

    I MAY NEVER PASS THIS WAY AGAIN (Perry Como (1958))

    I’ll give my hand to those who cannot see, 
    The sunshine or the fallin’ rain.

    I’ll sing my song to cheer the weary along, 
    For I may never pass this way again!

    I’ll share my faith with every troubled heart, So I shall not have lived in vain.

    I’ll give my hand, I’ll sing my song, 
    I’ll share my faith, because I know, 
    That the time is now to fulfill each vow, 
    For I may never pass this way again!

    PAG-AALAY NG PUSO (Nemy Que, SJ)

    Minsan lamang ako daraan sa daigdig na ito.
    Kaya anuman ang mabuting maa’ring gawin ko ngayon.  O anumang kabutihan ang maari kong ipadama? Itulot ninyong magawa ko ngayon ang mga bagay na ‘to.

    Nawa’y h’wag ko ‘tong ipagliban o ipagwalang-bahala,
    Sapagkat ‘di na ‘ko muling daraan sa ganitong mga landas

  • A King Among Us, Broken and Wounded

    A King Among Us, Broken and Wounded

    November 22, 2020 – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112220.cfm)

    Homily

    How would you imagine a king? Being influenced by fairy tales, anime and movies, I would imagine a king who wears a golden crown, covered in a golden robe, sitting on a golden throne and living in a golden palace. A king is a powerful man who has thousands of armies, who conquered many nations and defeated countless enemies through bloody wars. He is untouchable – commoners, slaves and servants cannot talk to him directly. His throne is too far from the ordinary people.

    This is not far from how we imagine Jesus Christ our King. Influenced by the western culture we also imagine Christ the king who wears a golden crown, wrapped in a golden robe and sits on a golden throne. This image for me, seems to be a very distant king. A king who does not know the daily affairs of his people. A king who merely shows greatness, triumph and wealth.

    However, our readings today portray a different image of Christ the King. There was no mention of wealth, no gold and silver, no armies and weapons. Let us closely look the readings today.

    The first reading from the Book of Prophet Ezekiel has a very interesting background. The political and religious leaders who were supposed to guide and care for the people became irresponsible. They became corrupt and abusive. They were chosen by God to lead his people and uphold justice and promote peace. However, they turned into men who only hungered for power and wealth. The poor were exploited and the needy were abandoned. Hence, God became so upset with what they had done to the people. And so, God promised that he will be the one to personally care for his people as a Good Shepherd would do to his sheep.

    This gives us the image of a God who builds personal connection or relationship with his people. God searches for us when we are lost. God gives us rest and brings us to a safe and abundant place. He looks after us because each of us is so dear to Him.

    This promise of a faithful God gives us the assurance that God indeed is there for us all the time. For this reason, our psalm captured beautifully the feeling of being taken cared by God Himself – “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” Yes, this is an attitude of a person who has become confident in God’s promise. Indeed, in God everything shall be fine, in him, all shall be well.

    This is what St. Paul has told us in his letter to the Corinthians “that God is everything to each of us.” It only means that God is there for us and accompanies us in our brokenness and difficulties. Yes, this Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe reminds us now that our King, our God is not far from us. He is not sitting on a golden throne or wrapped in a golden robe or guarded by a concrete golden palace or protected by security agents and royal guards. Our King is here with us, walking with us in our brokenness and woundedness. Our King has even identified himself to be among us and one of us, wounded and broken.

    The Gospel tells us about this. The King in the parable identifies himself with those people who are hungry and thirsty, who are naked, who are homeless, who are imprisoned, who are sick. Indeed, Jesus identifies himself with those who are broken and wounded.

    Let us not forget that the King-Servant who builds relationship with us, who shows concern and love to us also expects response from us. Jesus wants us to show to others especially to the least of our brothers and sisters the concern, mercy and love that we experienced from God.

    The best way of expressing our gratitude to Christ, of our reverence and love for him is in making our faith concrete through the “corporal works of mercy” by feeding the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, comforting the sick, welcoming the stranger, visiting the imprisoned – the very people to whom our King identifies himself.

    This is the invitation for us on today. It is in our ordinary life, in every day affairs of our life that we are called to respond to Christ the King of the Universe who has called us. The corporal works of mercy can be expressed through our common and ordinary dealings with members of our family, our friends, co-workers and even strangers we meet on the road especially when we are confronted with all their brokenness, wounds and needs.

    Christ the King rather chooses to be identified with a sick old man abandoned by his family, or a rejected and broken-hearted daughter or son who succumbed to drug or alcohol addiction, or to a person physically, mentally and sexually abused, or to a person affected fatally by the financial crisis brought by the pandemic, or to a physically and mentally drained medical front-liner, or to an infected person of Covid-19, a grieving family because of the death of a loved one, or to a family being displaced because of the recent disasters, or a person deprived of voice and freedom or to a friend who suffers depression, or a classmate who is being bullied.

    Christ calls us to see and encounter him through these people. Expand now our image of Christ the King. Rather than imagining him with gold and jewels, let us encounter the Lord among our needy brothers and sisters. Thus, take time to reach out to those who need our help, in ways that we can do. Hopefully, that encounter and the experience of reaching out to the needy, will bring us into the experience of encountering Christ through others. Hinaut pa.

  • Where your heart is and should be.

    Where your heart is and should be.

    November 15, 2020 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111520.cfm)

    Homily

    As we are about to end the year and prepare for another year ahead, during these coming weeks, it is opportune time for us to review the year has been & about to end – especially as we are forced to deal & adjust with the life-threatening pandemic infection, and consider our life’s endtime or endgame as well. Yes, it is but timely & important for us to be once again in touch & in tune with meaning & purpose of our being and living life then-now-ahead, and above all, for us Christians to  have a closer look & be in sync once again & anew about our views, attitude, & beliefs towards God’s kingdom – our life-eternal with God.

    We have just heard about the all-too familiar Parable of the Talents. The master entrusted some investments to his servants – each according to his ability. As accounting day arrives, those who did well to make the most of his investment were entrusted with more investments & responsibilities, but those who failed to maximize his investments were deprived of further investments & responsibilities. Such a simple business principle. You reap what you sow. Same as in computer language, it is called GIGO (Garbage IN, Garbage Out).

    But somehow life-lessons learned here in our gospel today may also teach us more about the Kingdom of God – our life being and living with God.

    First, God’s kingdom is all about our DYNAMIC and CREATIVE life with God – never should be a static and typical life. Like dance, life with God is the marriage partnership between God and man. For Him to grant us His blessing of Creation and Redemption, God needs a Partner. God needs us to be His partners. He needs our contribution and participation in the dance and marriage of Life and salvation.

    And somehow this is how our partnership with God works: God provides us with the necessary materials or ingredients. He endowed & entrusted each one of us with unique talents, capabilities in attitude, skills and knowledge and opportunities in life (each according to his capacity). But for us to Participate in the Re-Creation, i.e for creating once again our life and our world, and for us to continue God’s work of Redemption, it is up to you – to each and everyone of us to take risk, develop, make the most use of, invest and contribute such GIFTs and talents.

    Second, God’s kingdom also works in a different grading system. Usually using our grading system, we rate the individual student’s capacity against our own standards. Against our accepted standard, we rate them as poor – good – very good – excellent. We grade them with numbers or letters (60 – 75 – 80 – 98 or A – B – F). But in His Kingdom, in His ways or His eyes, God works with a different standard. He sees our basic goodness, our unique potentialities (each according to our capacity). He gives each of us 100%, or excellent or straight A by his own standards & our unique capacity. But like the servants in the Gospel, it is up to us remain at 100%, or settle for less… OR to take risk, strive more to be than 100%. It is not a matter of striving for 100% grade, but a matter of taking a venture to make the most use of our full potentials.

    For instance, making a school project, like -baking a cake or assembling a radio. In school, we are given the opportunity to create those things. Our parents provide us with the necessary materials or ingredients or instruments. Our teachers give us a chance to cook a cake or assemble a radio.  They facilitate and guide us in creating or producing the project. But to the last analysis, it is you who will make the project. It is up to your discretion and creativity to make your cake taste like cake or better than mom’s cake, or to make your radio makes sounds and sounds good. And as we all know; others would settle for less. But others would explore, experiment, and take risks to be more creative and to learn more. Therefore, in doing a project, it is a joint venture, a partnership between your parents, your teacher, and yourself.

    And lastly, our life with God is mirrored in the state of our life here on earth & the state of our life then in heaven later. It is lived on how we make the most of & be responsible for His investments with us in life, & how poor/right & good/bad our marriage partnership with him. In other words, God’s kingdom is how we treasure God in our hearts.

    Marriage, Venture, Treasure – are just but keywords to remind us at this time to consider that God’s kingdom is where our heart is and should be.

    Now consider this….

    In a dream, a rich man found himself at the heaven’s door with two angels. The angels said: “Welcome Home, Sir”. He was brought inside a posh five-starred hotel, where he was also welcomed by his former staff, friends, family & colleagues who have gone before him. Glad to be in heaven meeting again his people, he was then led to his room at 175th floor. Coming down from the elevator, he and the angels passed through several VIP rooms. But eventually, he was led into a storage room near the staircase with only a cushion bed on the floor. Shocked with what he got, he complained: “That’s it?  Only this pathetic room?”. But an angel replied: “Well, that’s only we can do & set up for you from the few materials & resources you have sent here.”

    Remember Jesus advices us: “Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Mt. 6:19-20)

    Set our hearts, Lord towards Your Kingdom at all times so that we may not lost our ways & not lose Your ways but rather live our lives here now on earth more directed and meaningful, and thus fully enjoy our being with You now and forever. Amen.