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Category: Sunday Homlies

  • Making a room for God in our Families

    Making a room for God in our Families

    December 29, 2019 – Feast of the Holy Family 

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122919.cfm

    Homily

    We, Filipinos are known to have a culture that values very much our family. Indeed, we have a family-centered culture. Family is always the top priority. This is manifested how a simple celebration becomes crowded and loud. 

    Yet, through the years, as time has changed, our families also face different challenges. It would be good for us, then, to look at the challenges of Filipino families as we also celebrate today the Feast of the Holy Family.

    There are 3 challenges that I want to highlight today. The first two came out when I gave a retreat to grade 6 pupils and divided them into 5 groups. I asked them to portray and dramatize the joys and blessings as well as issues and problems present in their families. Surprisingly, all the 5 groups in that retreat revealed the first two issues that I am going to point out.

    First, the Filipino families are “forced” to separate due to migration. This is because of the current trend of OFW families. Parents would choose to work abroad in order to provide better opportunities for their children. As a result, children are left behind to relatives or to their grandparents. Absentee parents could sometimes create deep longing to their children. This longing sometimes generate emotional distance or indifference between parents and children.

    Second, “Irregular” relationships or extra-marital relationships have left families broken and deeply wounded. Unfaithfulness between spouses brings traumatic experiences to children because it also leads to neglect and abuses. The family especially the young children are exposed to depression, confusion, insecurity and loneliness. Because of this, physical, mental or even sexual abuse happen in this domestic environment

    Third, poverty affects families the most. The third quarter of SWS survey last September found that 42% or an estimated 10.3 million of families considered themselves as Poor. This has already gone down from 45% last June. The survey also found a 35% or about 8.5 million of families rated their FOOD or access to food as POOR. This is as of June 2019. There are also thousands of families who have been affected by the earthquakes here in Mindanao and recently by the typhoon Ursula that left them at the mercy of relief goods from different organizations.

    These are just three of the many challenges that millions of Filipino families are facing today. Our own families might also have particular struggles and difficulties. These concerns are most of the time what consume us.

    Being made aware of our family struggles, we may also ask, what is the Lord inviting us to reflect? It is good then for us to look closely at the life of the Holy Family, of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. 

    This family is not exempted of struggles and problems. The holy family had been a refugee. Joseph has to bring Mary and Jesus out of Israel and went to Egypt to seek for a safer environment for their baby.

    There seemed to be constant threat in the life of the young Jesus, yet, that did not discourage Joseph and Mary to abandon the child. Joseph particularly was always conscious of God’s presence. This was the reason also why Joseph would always receive instructions from God on what to do. The awareness of Joseph that God is with them made him more familiar with God’s voice.

    Joseph has pointed out to us the priority of being with God and of being constantly conscious of God’s presence in our family. Indeed, through Jesus, he made God’s presence ever present in that family of Joseph and Mary. And yes, God dwells in every family too, in our families.

    This is the invitation for us – to make God our priority in the family. Just like the Holy Family, make our families closer to God by praying together, like by going to the Church. 

    But of course, as the Holy Family also faced difficulties, our own families too have experience trials and challenges like financial crisis or poverty, sickness, death, separations and conflicts. But God assures as now, that as long as we remain in Him, and trust Him, God shall always be with us to keep us together, to strengthen us in the midst of trials.

    It means that if we will only allow God to dwell in our family and allow him to be part of our family, God’s favor shall be with us, His blessings shall be with our families.  And so I would like to invite you then with these two simple actions.

    First, spend enough quality time together… what I mean is… let us not be distracted with our latest gadgets. Our smartphones, tablets and ipads are meant to bring us closer together but they can be means also to bring us farther from each other. Remember this, real conversation is what the family keeps together. Do not let our gadgets keep us apart. Do not just allow your children and yourself to be so absorbed with gadgets. Talk with one another and play!

    Second, pray together! Bring what you have received during the mass to your home. Extend your religious expression, your faith in God at your family table by encouraging your children lead the prayer before meals. But at first, they need to have an example, and it is through you, parents. 

    In these ways, we make a room for God to enter and dwell in our families. We are assured that God is with us, that we are not alone in facing the challenges that are to come. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God comes as a child in a family

    God comes as a child in a family

    December 29, 2019 – Feast of the Holy Family

    Click here for the readingshttp://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122919.cfm

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

    How many of you here have experiences with adopted children? Be might you an adopted child yourself, or have adopted a child in a family as son/daughter, or brother/sister or relatives. Child adoption has never been an easy experience within the family. It entails a lot of adjustments and complications not only to the adopted child but also to the parents and the whole family as well. 

    I remember once I counselled a couple who have no child of their own and have decided to adopt a child. As the child grew and eventually learned that she is adopted, they observed that their child becomes problematic and difficult. I advise them to try to take care of the child even more, as well as to acknowledge the child not as adopted- someone taken on, which connotes someone who is “sabit o sakay lang” but as chosen “pinili”, as someone they have chosen as their own among other abandoned children.  The child might not be their own but the child is whom they have personally chosen as their own. Essentially, the child then is chosen – the one they have chosen, not only adopted. 

    Either by natural birth or adoption, as a child, we are not only taken and accepted but more so Chosen “Pinili” by our own parents and family. Thus as parent, your child then might be or not be your own, but basically you choose your child. We are chosen children then, not only of God but also by our own fathers and mothers, and our own family as well. 

    Christmas reminds us that God comes into our lives as a Child – not as fully grown man or as superman or as god, but as a poor child on a manger.

    For a child to live and grow, God’s child needs a human parent and family like any other child. Jesus Christ, God’s son has to be taken, accepted, adopted and above all chosen by human parents and family. He grew up then in, with, through his family who adopted and chosen Him to be their own. And In a Family Jesus was born, loved, lived and have grown as a Person. Not in a Monastery or Convent. 

    Once I receive a Christmas card that say: “A child is born in our midst”. Well that’s okay because that is the core message of Christmas. But what made me suspect then was that card was sent from the sisters’ convent. Imagine sisters’ sending me a message that a child is born in their midst”. Me batang isinilang sa kanila. Hmmm??? Yes, God’s son has a family, a foster parents and family who chose Him to be their own. 

    Today we honor the Holy Family, the very first family who welcomes and willingly accepts the Immanuel “the God with us” into our lives. Mary and Joseph are the very first parents who adopted and chosen the child of God Jesus to be their very own as member of their family. Our gospel today gives us a description on how Mary and Joseph do their best to parent the child Jesus into their own lives as they observe their own local cultural and religious traditions, while conscious of the mysterious unique experience of adopting and choosing God’s blessing into their lives. Yes, with Mary and Joseph they are and become a normal human family; but with the child Jesus, they are and become a HOLY family – now member of God’s family.

    Honoring the Holy Family on Christmas season posts the on-going ever-present challenge for us, like Mary and Joseph to adopt and parent Jesus, God’s child by choice into our lives now and always. By willingly accepting Jesus into our lives to be our own, part of our own lives as family and community, we come to know also that we also are and becoming God’s adopted and chosen children and people, part of His Holy Family. Sa ating pag-angking kay Hesus na ating kapamilya, tayo ay naging at maging ka-anak rin ng Dios at kamag-anak ng anak ng Dios. As we consider Jesus as our chosen family member, we are and become God’s children and Jesus family. 

    With the Holy Family, this Christmas season, and the coming New Year remind us always that God comes to us as a Child, who can brings us a lot of joys as well as uncertainties, but above all another chance to live our lives for the better, as His willing chosen parent and family. Have a Grace-filled Christmas and New Year to all us. Amen.

  • Looking for a sign from God? You are actually the sign.

    Looking for a sign from God? You are actually the sign.

    December 22, 2019 – 4th Sunday of Advent

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

    Homily

    Are you also looking for a sign from God?

    We usually ask a sign from God to confirm our decisions or to make us confident. We seek God’s sign especially in times of trials and when we begin to doubt Him. I have particularly asked God’s sign if I should be a Redemptorist priest. Many of my friends shared also to me that they too have also tried asking a sign from God when they have to make an important decision in life.

    However, what we have heard in the first reading is a different story because it was the Lord who asked a man, Ahaz, the King of Judah to ask a sign so that Ahaz may believe. Ahaz’s story seemed to be very good because he did not ask a sign from God. However, his refusal to ask a sign from God was actually a refusal to believe in God.

    Ahaz sold himself to another god, which was to the King of Assyria. He sold himself because he thought that Assyria will only be the one who can grant immediate protection and salvation for him and his kingdom. The kingdom of Judah was under the threat of two other kingdoms. Instead of trusting the Lord to protect and save him, he went to another god. 

    That is why, it was the Lord himself who offered Ahaz to ask Him a sign so that Ahaz may believe that God will bring salvation. Yet, even though Ahaz refused, God still promised a sign of salvation. This sign is through a virgin who will conceive a son. This son will be called Emmanuel, meaning, God is with us.

    This is the sign, that even in the midst of our own disbelief, doubts and even refusal to believe, God remains with us. Yes, God remains our God and continues to be for us and with us. God’s faithfulness in us despite our unfaithfulness, and God’s generosity despite our ingratitude is what our Gospel is conveying to us today on this 4th Sunday of Advent. 

    We have lighted the 4th candle that symbolizes love. The greatest sign that we have received is the sign of the Emmanuel, the Lord who is with us. This is the very sign that Joseph received in the midst of his confusion, doubts and intrigues surrounding the pregnancy of Mary.

    That is why the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help captures beautifully this great sign from God. The Virgin Mary who is carrying the son, the Emmanuel in her arms, is the great sign that God showed to us.

    Thus, in this image also, Jesus is in fact the true perpetual help, whom the Father sent to be the greatest sign of his love and compassion to us. Mary is instrumental because through her, God’s sign has been brought to us. She allowed herself to be God’s instrument of help and compassion, to be the mother of the Perpetual Help.

    What is it to you and to me now, to us who are about to celebrate the birthday of Jesus, the greatest sign we have received? 

    You and I are called now to become God’s sign of help and compassion. It means that this Christmas should not only remain a mere devotional practice or a commercial event that encourages consumers to buy more things.  However, the spirit of Christmas must flow into our actions and words and into our decisions and choices towards becoming God’s sign of love and compassion for others.

    Thus, I would like to invite you to extend your help to someone who is most in need, perhaps your friend, co-worker, relative or even a stranger. Console and give comfort to those who are in pain. Support and promote life and oppose those who destroy it because these are the ways that we will truly become God’s sign. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God’s gift requires big responsibility

    God’s gift requires big responsibility

    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.

  • Look around, God is with us

    Look around, God is with us

    December 15, 2019 – 3rd 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

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