Category: Sunday Homlies

December 22, 2019 – 4th Sunday of Advent

Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122219.cfm

Homily by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR, a Filipino Redemptorist based in South Korea.

Aside from the sin of disobedience, what is other sin committed by Adam and Eve? Many of us would think that by eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve have just committed the sin of disobedience to God. However, our first parents were also guilty of the sin of irresponsibility – for not taking responsibility for their action. When God asked about eating the fruit, Adam blamed Eve; and then, Eve blamed the serpent. Instead of claiming responsibility for their own actions, they blame each other and others, other than themselves; and because of this, sinfulness bound and begins to exist in their lives and our lives as well.

This is very true with our experiences in life. Whenever we start not to take responsibility for our actions, try to run away from our responsibilities and start to blame others than ourselves, trouble, chaos and suffering is always present. But when we become responsible for ourselves and take full responsibility for one’s action, blessings, chances and mercies prevail.

Today, we hear the annunciation of Jesus as experienced by Joseph. After Mary has taken the responsibility to be the mother of the son of God, Jesus, here now Joseph was invited to be the father of the child. Our gospel tells us how difficult it must be for Joseph to decide to accept the task of becoming a father to the child. Joseph was in a situation where Mary, his girlfriend is pregnant – “before they lived together, she was found with child.” But he knew that the child was not his. Why should he father a child whom is not of his blood? Would he let the child carry his name? Surely a dilemma for Joseph. It would be reasonable for him to deny and leave Mary and the child. But having heard God’s challenge and assurance, like Mary, Joseph accepted the responsibility, and as father to Jesus, he did his task in taking care and bringing up the word of God incarnated – becoming flesh – in our lives.

The story of our Christian life started when God offers us a Present, a Gift of His only begotten son, Jesus. God’s priceless and most important gift to us is Jesus, the word of God made flesh. But Jesus is also our Responsibility. Accepting Him, as God’s gift requires big responsibility. Since God’s gift came as a child, Jesus needs human parents. Jesus needs a mother and father. Mary consented to be his mother and Joseph agreed to be his father. By taking responsibility for the child Jesus, they become parents to God’s gift, which eventually brings change and difference in their lives and our lives as well.

Like, Joseph and Mary, we are also invited to take responsibility for Jesus in our lives. It is only by our acceptance of both the gift and responsibility of God’s gift to us; God’s redemption flourishes and continues to renew our lives. It is only by our being sponsors, benefactors, or poster parent to life and mission of Jesus in our lives, that God’s salvation continue to be present in our life today. Taking this responsibility entails us not only our sacrifice but moreso our total commitment.

Which reminds me of about the hen and the pig. A hen and pig wish to please their caretaker. When the hen suggested that they will treat their caretaker a breakfast of “bacon and egg”, the pig argued: “Bacon and Egg” for you, might be a great sacrifice but for me, it’s a total commitment.

We, Christian should then be committed to our responsibility and mission of making Jesus present and alive in our lives today.

As Christmas draws near, may we become more responsible parent, sponsor, benefactor of Jesus, God’s son, in our lives now and forever. Amen.

December 15, 2019 – 3^rd Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday

Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121519.cfm

Homily

In the past few months, our brothers and sisters in some parts of Davao del Sur and Cotabato Provinces and Sultan Kudarat were struck with series of destructive earthquakes. According to NDRRMC, the earthquakes affected 29,349 families or 146, 745 people. There are also about 20, 635 persons displaced in 27 evacuation sites and about 6, 850 displaced outside evacuation sites.^[1]

This calamity traumatized the people and particularly the children. Many are in sorrow because of the properties they lost and others too are in grief for losing their loved one at the event of the earthquake. Thus, many of them were forced to leave the comforts of their homes and have to wait for the relief operations of the government and non-government organizations.

Moreover, it is a very sad and tragic experience to think as we celebrate this joyful season of advent and the coming season of Christmas. Today is even called Gaudete Sunday which means, Rejoice. I have been reflecting, how can these families celebrate this season now with joy when their hearts are filled with frustration, and grief? Or even to us now present here especially those who are carrying heavy burdens, those of us who are also suffering from grief and sorrow or from anger and hate, are we able to celebrate this season with joy too? It would surely be difficult.

They may ask and all of us too would surely ask, “Is there a reason now to be hopeful and joyful in this season despite the frustrations and grief of losing loved one, properties and homes, despite the painful, disappointing and difficult experiences we have now?”

Such miserable and depressing experiences were also felt by the Hebrew people when they were exiled in Babylon. They were caught in a tension. They were confused and in despair because they were uprooted from their homeland and settled in a land where they were oppressed. They felt insignificant, felt abandoned by Yahweh. They had become hopeless. I am sure, they too have questioned, “Will God come to save us?”

John the Baptist felt the same despair and disappointment while he was in prison. He had been preaching about the coming of the Messiah. He communicated that joyful expectation of the savior who will come to bring justice in the world and uplift the poor and the oppressed. Yet, when he was put into prison, he too had asked the Lord, “Are you really the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Again, we too who are in this church would also ask sometimes, “WILL YOU COME TO SAVE ME LORD? ARE YOU REALLY GOD? ARE YOU THERE AT ALL?” 

Our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah describes to us a wonderful imagery of the coming of God. As this was addressed to the people exiled in Babylon, the prophet proclaimed, “when God comes, we will all rejoice for God brings justice and salvation.” God heals the sick and we will sing with gladness and joy while sorrow and grief flee away.

Through the prophet, God speaks to his people telling them, “I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU! AND I WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU!” The words in the first reading is God’s joyful promise to his people. God will come and the people will surely rejoice.

God, indeed, has come, born into human flesh like us. HIS NAME IS JESUS. God fulfills his promise. This is something that we should be joyful about. Jesus responding indirectly to the question of John said, “Look around you, look at what’s happening – blind people seeing, lame people walking, deaf people hearing, lepers being cleansed, dead people are raised to life, poor people for a change, receiving good news.” This is the true Messiah – the one who comes to alleviate suffering, heal broken hearts, and gives hope to the hopeless. 

Now, we too who are sometimes unhappy in life and in difficult situations, are being told by Jesus, “Look around you! I am here with you!”  

Jesus becomes more present with us also and in our lives when we Christians become more like him. This means that when we ourselves become healers, promoters of reconciliation, generous givers and builders of the kingdom of God in our communities, we become the presence of Jesus in our community.

As Jesus was moved with compassion, he heals the sick and restores life for those who are rejected and abandoned. Each of us and as a community is called to heal the sick, console the afflicted and announce to others that God has come and is our friend! Let us join then in the work of God in building His kingdom now! This is truly a good news! A reason to be joyful! Sana all.

Jom Baring, CSsR

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^[1] From https://www.rappler.com/nation/243972-dead-cotabato-earthquakes-november-2-2019

Third Sunday of Advent – GAUDETE SUNDAY – December 15, 2019

Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121519.cfm

Homily shared by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR (a Redemptorist Missionary based in South Korea)

There was once a man who approached me before the mass and asked for advice. He said, “Father, my daughter is engaged to her boyfriend, but it seems that the guy’s family does not approve of their relationship because they have learned that I am now unemployed. They thought that I am lazy and irresponsible. You see, Father, I am a retired seaman. I subsist from my pension and time-deposit I’ve earned. I just wish to spend the rest of my life with my family after long years of absence from them. I really love my daughter and only wish for her happiness. What must I do, Father? Is it a sin not to work, to be unemployed, and enjoy my family?”

Like that man and John’s disciples in the gospel, sometimes we become restless with life in anticipation for the Lord’s reign that we ask the practical question: “I believe that the Lord will come again, but what must I do, then?” Yes, we believe that God so loves us that he gave his only begotten Son for our salvation. He has been good to us and continually showers us his love and blessings. But as faith necessitates actions, “what is the right thing to do then? What does God requires and demands of us then?”

If we reflect deeper on our readings today,

we see that God desires nothing much from us but our happiness.

He simply wished us happiness in our relationship with him. As what He said to restless disciples’ of John, “Go and report what you see and heard here,” Jesus wants us to see for ourselves and enjoy the great things happening and celebrate what God is doing here and now. As God shares us his life and salvation, he does not ask for our heroic acts or sacrifices but our whole being to enjoy, savor, and share his love and work to others. God does not demand of us “holy” extra-works of doing physical penances, or attending or organizing bible studies, miracle crusades, or prayer meetings but simply requires us to be as best Christian as we can be, that is, to love Him and our neighbor, follow His precepts, celebrate liturgies in worship, share responsibilities with our fellowmen, and make them feel and realize that we are God’s people. For God, then, what matters most are not our sacrifices but obedience, not commandments but faith, a loving relationship with Him, through Jesus Christ.

Basically, God simply invites us not to be heroes, martyrs or saints. But like John the Baptist, and the farmer who joyfully anticipates for the fruits, Jesus wants us to be His living and willing witnesses of the revelation and unfolding of God’s work of salvation. Like a best man in a wedding ceremony, Jesus calls us to be a WITNESS, who first, let God’s work of salvation happen before our eyes, not controlling or programming, but simply experiencing the event. Second, a witness who let that event influence and affect our lives, for God’s work is good news to those who admits it. And a witness, who stand for and share what he experience and believe to others, for “Happy is the man who does not lose faith in me”.

Through our faith-responses to God’s revelation and act of His love, by our encounter and acceptance of His son as Emmanuel “God-with-us”, by being affected and changed by the person of Jesus, by sharing our faith to others, in other words by being His living witnesses, God’s blessings begin and continue to prosper within us today and forever. In reply to that man’s questions, I said to him, “it is not a sin to unemployed. You are not what you have or what you have done. But you are who you are before God now.  Just Be the best and responsible father and husband you can be. Let God do the rest.”

May we heartily rejoice this coming Christmas to witness divine life given us again and anew. Amen. 

December 8, 2019 – Second Sunday of Advent

Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120819.cfm)

Homily

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

Listening to her, I asked her how she handles all of these. Although she feels that she is in darkness and not happy, 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.

However, what helped her more was when she began to recognize her own failures and sins. She herself took for granted the many good things she has in her life and was ungrateful. This was the reason why she was bitter and negative at everything. There was a deep emptiness in her heart that she was trying to satisfy but could not. This was the reason too why she found her life miserable and joyless. But recognizing and owning these attitudes completely changed the way she sees things and relate with herself, with people and with God.

As she repented and came closer to God, there is more hope and more joy that she finds. She begins to see more her God and not herself alone, and to see more brightness rather than misery and darkness.

Herself reminds me of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading and of the Gospel from Matthew that we have heard. Let us explore briefly the scriptures today and discover how God invites us on this second Sunday of Advent.

The prophecy of Isaiah was announced to the people who were both faithful and unfaithful to the covenant with God. This was a message of hope preached to them that despite the suffering brought about by their unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. The promise of the birth of a child will bring order, peace and harmony to their seemingly dark lives under exile.

As this is a message of hope, the prophecy is also a call to repentance, an act of recognizing the coming of the Messiah and coming closer to Him. It is through the recognition of sin that leads to asking forgiveness and turning away from the sinful way of life back to God, that hope becomes alive. This leads to restoration, forgiveness, prosperity, peace, harmony and joy with God. Indeed, Isaiah proclaimed a joyful hope for the people through the birth of a child who will be with us.

Hence, joy is promised to us when we allow God to be with us, to transform us and allow him to be our God. And it begins with repentance and in recognizing that we need God. This 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 as what has been told by Isaiah? 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.

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, this 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, as we make ourselves more available to God and for others. As a shoot will sprout from a stump, we may allow God also to grow in our hearts, allowing him to occupy more space in our life. Ok lang? Sana all. 

Jom Baring, CSsR