Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Sunday Homlies

  • If we have Jesus in us, then, we are agents of peace and healing

    If we have Jesus in us, then, we are agents of peace and healing

    July 7, 2019 – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    From the Book of Isaiah (66:10-14C)

    Thus says the LORD:
    Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her,
    all you who love her;
    exult, exult with her,
    all you who were mourning over her!
    Oh, that you may suck fully
    of the milk of her comfort,
    that you may nurse with delight
    at her abundant breasts!
    For thus says the LORD:
    Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river,
    and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.
    As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms,
    and fondled in her lap;
    as a mother comforts her child,
    so will I comfort you;
    in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.When you see this, your heart shall rejoice
    and your bodies flourish like the grass;
    the LORD’s power shall be known to his servants.

     

    Responsorial Psalm        PS 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20

    R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
    Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
    sing praise to the glory of his name;
    proclaim his glorious praise.
    Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”
    “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
    sing praise to your name!”
    Come and see the works of God,
    his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
    He has changed the sea into dry land;
    through the river they passed on foot;
    therefore let us rejoice in him.
    He rules by his might forever.
    Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
    what he has done for me.
    Blessed be God who refused me not
    my prayer or his kindness!

    From the Letter of Paul to the Galatians (6:14-18)

    Brothers and sisters:
    May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    through which the world has been crucified to me,
    and I to the world.
    For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision,
    but only a new creation.
    Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule
    and to the Israel of God.From now on, let no one make troubles for me;
    for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,
    brothers and sisters. Amen.

    From the Gospel of Luke (10:1-9)

    At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others
    whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
    to every town and place he intended to visit.
    He said to them,
    “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
    so ask the master of the harvest
    to send out laborers for his harvest.
    Go on your way;
    behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
    Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
    and greet no one along the way.
    Into whatever house you enter, first say,
    ‘Peace to this household.’
    If a peaceful person lives there,
    your peace will rest on him;
    but if not, it will return to you.
    Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
    for the laborer deserves his payment.
    Do not move about from one house to another.
    Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
    eat what is set before you,
    cure the sick in it and say to them,
    ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

     

    Homily

    Do you also desire peace and prosperity for your family and for our community? I am sure that each of us desire this kind of life. With all the troubles that we experience in life such as personal problems, failures and struggles; family demands, conflicts and grudges; and crimes, disasters and corruption in the community, we want peace. If only we have peace within ourselves, in our families and communities, then, our life would be very different.

    Such promise of peace and abundance had been prophesied by Isaiah. We have heard it from the first reading on how Isaiah had seen the day when Jerusalem will be comforted with peace and prosperity. The people of Israel agonized much from oppression and slavery. Wars had been waged left and right and the people suffered greatly from these devastations.

    Yet, God is not blind of this suffering. In God’s goodness, peace and prosperity will be upon his suffering people. That is why, the message of Isaiah is, “rejoice and be glad.” God will see to it that He will comfort the grieving and suffering people. God’s comfort will surely bring joy, peace and satisfaction.

    Similarly, Paul in his letter to the Galatians also expressed his experience of peace and confidence in Jesus. Despite the many trials that he underwent, Paul found peace and confidence in Jesus. Even the conflicts within Christian communities will never destroy the peace that he received from the cross of Jesus which he was boasting about. Nothing will trouble Paul because he has Jesus with him.

    In that cross of Jesus, Paul experienced tremendous love and forgiveness. Because of this, Paul also found his true self and became a witness of Jesus. This moved Paul to preach the Gospel, and in fact, to preach to others the peace and confidence that he received from Jesus.

    Moreover, Jesus sent 72 people in pairs to bring peace to the homes that they will visit. Jesus is aware that homes are in need of peace. Even though that the 72 went ahead of him to prepare the people of his coming, yet, the peace that they were giving to the people was Jesus himself.

    This is the promise fulfilled in Jesus as what has been prophesied by Isaiah. Jesus is the peace, the comfort and the confidence that God has promised. This peace brings openness to God’s friendship and healing.

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    But notice also, Jesus employed the help of his disciples to bring peace to whatever house they enter. This tells us now that preaching and being a witness of Jesus is not just limited to the close group of the 12 apostles. This means that everyone of us is being sent by the Lord to preach and bring peace and healing to wherever we shall go.

    Indeed, the promise of peace, confidence and prosperity are not fulfilled outside of us but, through us and within us. The confidence and peace that Paul was telling about was not an outside experience, but rather, Paul himself experienced it personally. It is through his personal encounter with the risen Jesus.

    The 72 people were able to bring peace to many homes, not because of an outside influence but coming from their personal relationship with Jesus. The presence of Jesus in their life allowed them to be agents of peace and healing.

    This is the invitation for us this Sunday. Jesus calls us and sends us to be part of that fulfillment of the promise of peace and abundance in our families and communities. The Lord, certainly, fulfills his promise through us and with us. Peace is achieved not outside of us. Confidence is attained not apart from us. This tells us again that God’s wonders are made through us.

    That is why, God desires that we become part in working wonderful things. This involved in bringing peace and healing to our troubled and wounded homes, relationships and communities. Jesus reminds us too that being part of God’s work, let not material things trouble us. Paul also did the same thing. He did not allow anyone and anything to trouble him and remove him from the peace that he experienced from Jesus.

    Let us not allow our complains and anger, hate and bitterness and even our insecurities to steal from us the peace that Jesus has given to us. Let us rather allow the joy of having Jesus in our life to empower us in bringing peace and healing. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Be the Jesus Today: Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

    Be the Jesus Today: Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

    June 23, 2019 – Sunday of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

    GN 14:18-20

    In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine,
    and being a priest of God Most High,
    he blessed Abram with these words:
    “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    the creator of heaven and earth;
    and blessed be God Most High,
    who delivered your foes into your hand.”
    Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

    PS 110:1, 2, 3, 4

    R.(4b) You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
    The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
    till I make your enemies your footstool.”
    The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
    “Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
    “Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
    before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
    The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
    “You are a priest forever, according to the order of  Melchizedek.”

    1 COR 11:23-26

    Brothers and sisters:
    I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
    that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
    took bread, and, after he had given thanks,
    broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you.
    Do this in remembrance of me.”
    In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
    “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
    Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
    For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
    you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

    LK 9:11B-17

    Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God,
    and he healed those who needed to be cured.
    As the day was drawing to a close,
    the Twelve approached him and said,
    “Dismiss the crowd
    so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms
    and find lodging and provisions;
    for we are in a deserted place here.”
    He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.”
    They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have,
    unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.”
    Now the men there numbered about five thousand.
    Then he said to his disciples,
    “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.”
    They did so and made them all sit down.
    Then taking the five loaves and the two fish,
    and looking up to heaven,
    he said the blessing over them, broke them,
    and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
    They all ate and were satisfied.
    And when the leftover fragments were picked up,
    they filled twelve wicker baskets.
    The Gospel of the Lord.

    During reunions of families and friends, we usually recall old stories and past events where we have been together. We cherish those moments as we remember important events. Usually, remembering of the past is done over a shared meal.

    Mostly, it is around the table that we gather to remember our story. During those moments of remembering, we become more alive and present with one another. Thus, during reunions, friendships and family relationships become stronger and more treasured.

    But what is the reason for these gatherings? What compel us to gather and celebrate family relationships and friendships? Is it not because that we are so grateful to God and grateful of the presence of one another that we gather together? Yes, reunions and other family events are organized because we are thankful. These occasions derive from being grateful.

    What we are doing now in this Eucharistic Celebration is a kind of a reunion, but a sacred reunion. And most of all, what we do is an act of thanksgiving. In fact, the word Eucharist means Thanksgiving. As individuals and as community, we recognize how grateful we are to God because of the many blessings that we have received, from our life to the offer of salvation and freedom.

    It is also a remembering of the past but making it alive today with us. What we do in this mass, happened in the past, but we do it again because Jesus told us to, “Do this in memory of me!” That is why, our readings today brought us back into that beautiful memory of God’s action within human history.

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    In the first reading, the Book of Genesis recalls of the victory of Abram against the enemies who kidnapped his nephew Lot. Abram recovered the possessions and his nephew against his enemies. At his return, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, which also means the king of peace and whose name also means the king of justice, brought bread and wine for Abram and his soldiers. Melchizedek who represents God blessed Abram and nourished Abram and his soldiers with the bread and wine that Melchizedek offered to them. Because of this, Abram was so grateful that he gave a tenth of all his possessions. Abram shared them not because he was merely obliged but because he was thankful to God.

    Paul has shared such gratefulness also as recalled in the second reading. Paul reminds the people at Corinth of the command of Jesus, “Do this in memory of me!” This meal is meant to be shared to all and should come from a heart that is grateful. Once this is done out of the context of the community and without gratefulness, then, it ceases to be a memory of Jesus.

    Paul wrote this letter to remind them of the errors they did. The people became neglectful of the true meaning of the Lord’s Supper. It became to be merely an occasion of eating and drinking. The Lord’s Supper is more that than but doing it in the memory of Jesus, making the bread and wine into true body and blood of Christ.

    Moreover, the people lacked an essential aspect of the Supper. Because they were neglectful of its significance, it was not done in the spirit of gratitude. It was not an act of thanksgiving. Thus, there was a tendency of mistreating the needy in the community. The poor, the hungry and the thirsty were not welcomed because the supper had only become an occasion of mere eating and drinking where one gets full and drunk and others go hungry and neglected.

    We also see this in the Gospel. The disciples of Jesus suggested sending the people away because food was not enough if they were to remain. The disciples were anxious of their little food left. Yet, Jesus told them to give the people something to eat from that food that they had. And so the disciples complained that they did not have enough.

    The wonder of this story lies here. Jesus took that little food of the disciples and offered them to all the people. As that little food of five loaves and two fish were shared, people were given enough food. The food was multiplied because there was a change of heart from the people. Most probably also, each of them took out their own food and shared the little that they had to those who were in need. Indeed, it was a miracle!

    The miracle happened because the people became open and generous to others. This has become possible because they had become grateful of their gifts. That gratefulness that was showed first by Jesus infected others and the sharing of food that Jesus did, inspired them too to share.

    Today’s solemnity reminds us of this wonder of being grateful and of sharing. This tells us that when we become grateful of the gifts that we have no matter how small that could be, we also become generous. Thus, the bread and wine turning into true body and blood of Jesus was not out of “magic.” This happened in real because of the act of thanksgiving of Jesus and his willingness to share his very self to us. Jesus is grateful of the love of the Father and so he gives himself to us as his concrete action of loving us. And the Lord does it every time we celebrate the Mass.

    Now, to be able to share the body and blood of Jesus means that we become one with him or that we actually become him, becoming the Jesus of today!

    That’s why he says to you and to me now, “Do this in memory of me!” “To remember me and become part of me.” To know that Jesus is with us and within each of us is to be able to find peace and serenity, satisfaction and contentment despite the troubles, problems, concerns and hungers, wants and other desires that we have. When we become more conscious of the meaning of being one with Jesus and having Jesus in us, we also become, hopefully, Jesus for others.

    This is the implication when we participate in the memory of the Eucharist because the Eucharist is not supposed to stay only inside this building. When we go out from this Church it also means that we carry in us the Eucharist, we carry in us Jesus. The Eucharist continues when we step out from this Church and go back to our homes or to your workplaces and meet people. Thus, we become grateful and generous people, and people who are joyful and life giving.

    This is the challenge for us this Sunday, “be the Jesus today! Consciously, with gratefulness in our hearts and with generosity bring Jesus with us because he is truly in us!” express the Jesus in you, through your words and deeds as you meet people today and tomorrow, as you talk and dine with your friends and family, and as you encounter strangers and the needy on the street and in the places where you go. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • “#Familygoals #Friendshipgoals with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

    “#Familygoals #Friendshipgoals with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

    June 16, 2019 – Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

    PRV 8:22-31

    Thus says the wisdom of God:
    “The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways,
    the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
    from of old I was poured forth,
    at the first, before the earth.
    When there were no depths I was brought forth,
    when there were no fountains or springs of water;
    before the mountains were settled into place,
    before the hills, I was brought forth;
    while as yet the earth and fields were not made,
    nor the first clods of the world.
    “When the Lord established the heavens I was there,
    when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;
    when he made firm the skies above,
    when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;
    when he set for the sea its limit,
    so that the waters should not transgress his command;
    then was I beside him as his craftsman,
    and I was his delight day by day,
    playing before him all the while,
    playing on the surface of his earth;
    and I found delight in the human race.”

    Responsorial Psalm                                                                                      PS 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

    R.  O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
    When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars which you set in place —
    What is man that you should be mindful of him,
    or the son of man that you should care for him?
    You have made him little less than the angels,
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
    You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
    putting all things under his feet:
    All sheep and oxen,
    yes, and the beasts of the field,
    The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
    and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

    ROM 5:1-5

    Brothers and sisters:
    Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
    we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
    through whom we have gained access by faith
    to this grace in which we stand,
    and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
    Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,
    knowing that affliction produces endurance,
    and endurance, proven character,
    and proven character, hope,
    and hope does not disappoint,
    because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
    through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

    JN 16:12-15

    Jesus said to his disciples:
    “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
    But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
    he will guide you to all truth.
    He will not speak on his own,
    but he will speak what he hears,
    and will declare to you the things that are coming.
    He will glorify me,
    because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
    Everything that the Father has is mine;
    for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
    and declare it to you.”

    The Gospel of the Lord.

    Homily

    Last summer, I have noticed the many posts in Instagram and Facebook that used #familygoals or #friendshipgoals. Many families and group of friends spent time together to bond through their summer escapade and vacation. It was just wonderful to see families and friends coming together to celebrate the gift of family and friendship.

    Aside from this, there is another #familygoal and #friendshipgoal that show us a deeper meaning of what family and friendship are really all about. What I am referring about is the feast that we celebrate this Sunday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

    Moreover, today as a parish, we also celebrate in a very special way the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It would be good for us then, to see and discover through our readings the invitations for us today.

    trinity

    The Book of Proverbs tells us how the wisdom of God nurtures life. The wisdom of God creates and recreates, animates and gives life. This tells us of the love of the Father-Creator that overflows to us, to every living and non-living being. This wisdom is manifested in the many wonders that we witness in our world. So, look around you, see and realize how the wisdom of God is revealed to us everyday. This, indeed, is #familygoal #friendshipgoal with the Father-Creator whose wisdom gives and nurtures life.

    Moreover, in the letter of Paul to the Romans, St. Paul expressed his #friendshipgoal with Jesus. Paul personally felt and experienced God’s love and forgiveness for him through the person of Jesus. In fact, Paul was overwhelmed by this love and affection showed by Jesus to him. Paul could not even imagine it on how Jesus would appear to him and forgive him and still love him after all those persecutions and evil that he had done. Thus, Paul also experienced such confidence of being loved as a friend and as a son. This is, certainly, #familygoal for Paul with Jesus.

    In today’s Gospel too, Jesus gave comfort to his friends who felt anxious and worried because he was leaving soon. As a friend and brother to the disciples, Jesus will not leave them alone. Jesus will never abandon them. Consequently, the Holy Spirit comes to give support, guidance, comfort and confidence to us, disciples of the Lord, who are anxious, fearful and doubtful. This is the best expression of God to us because He comes to give us peace and confidence, dispelling our fears and anxieties. Certainly, this is also our own #familygoal and #friendshipgoal with the Holy Spirit.

    Such manifestation of God is also very evident in the life of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Mary was a wonderful creation of the Father-Creator. Mary is a dear and special daughter of God, most favored among all women. Why? Aside from that she was chosen, Mary had an intimate friendship with God. That’s why, through her, the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us, making himself one of us and for us.

    This is the very reason why she became the mother of Perpetual Help because she brought closer to us the giver of life, the source of wisdom, the spring of love and mercy, the Prince of Peace. All of this was made possible by God because Mary was a very close friend of God and a true daughter of the Father.

    Now, we realize how the Blessed Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, manifest in the Bible and in our own lives. There is a need now for us to be constantly aware of God’s presence so that we too will become more grounded in our faith and as well us in our many relationships.

    So, there are three hash tags that I want you to remember and to hold on as we continue to live our Christian life.

    First, #Nurturing. As God the Father nurtures the whole creation, as a person nurture your talents and gifts so that you may be able to develop and realize your every potential in the way God desires it. As a parent, leader or professional nurture the people who are under your care so that they too will be able to realize their potentials.

    Second, #BuildFriendship. As Jesus came and dwelt among us, he encountered people personally by building friendship with them. This is evident on how he gathered and called his disciples. Through a personal encounter, Jesus built lasting and intimate friendships. Thus, as a person, make friends not enemies by showing kindness and generosity towards others.

    Third, #ReachOut. When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, he promised that the Holy Spirit shall come upon us to remind, teach and guide us on our way to God. This is God’s way of reaching out to all of us from one generation to another. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s presence dwells in us. That is why, be daring enough to reach out to others, make your presence felt by those who need a friend. Be bold enough to extend and give yourself for the sake of others, for that brother or sister who may be struggling right now. Be there for that person. Be God’s presence for those who are troubled.

    In this way, then, we will be able to share in the loving and intimate friendship of the Most Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the Trinity also will become truly alive in our lives, not just in our words and gestures but also through our generous and kind actions. Hinaut pa.

     

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Through the Holy Spirit, fear is gone

    Through the Holy Spirit, fear is gone

    June 9, 2019 – Pentecost Sunday

    ACTS 2:1-11

    When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
    they were all in one place together.
    And suddenly there came from the sky
    a noise like a strong driving wind,
    and it filled the entire house in which they were.
    Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
    which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
    And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
    and began to speak in different tongues,
    as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven
    staying in Jerusalem.
    At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
    but they were confused
    because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
    They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
    “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
    Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
    We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
    inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
    Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
    Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
    as well as travelers from Rome,
    both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
    yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
    of the mighty acts of God.”

    Responsorial Psalm PS 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 

    R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
    Bless the LORD, O my soul!
    O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
    How manifold are your works, O LORD!
    the earth is full of your creatures;
    R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
    May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
    may the LORD be glad in his works!
    Pleasing to him be my theme;
    I will be glad in the LORD.
    R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
    If you take away their breath, they perish
    and return to their dust.
    When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
    and you renew the face of the earth.
    R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
    1 COR 12:3B-7, 12-13
    Brothers and sisters:
    No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
    There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
    there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
    there are different workings but the same God
    who produces all of them in everyone.
    To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
    is given for some benefit.As a body is one though it has many parts,
    and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
    so also Christ.
    For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
    whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
    and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

    Gospel JN 20:19-23

    On the evening of that first day of the week,
    when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
    for fear of the Jews,
    Jesus came and stood in their midst
    and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
    When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
    The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
    Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
    As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
    “Receive the Holy Spirit.
    Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
    and whose sins you retain are retained.”

     

    The Gospel of the Lord.

    Homily

    What keep people from truly expressing themselves? Or what prevent us from sharing ourselves to others?

    Fear of being not accepted, of being rejected and thus, of being hurt prevent us from sharing and opening up ourselves for others. However, God desires that we become fully human according to His image.

    Today, as we celebrate the Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit into the Church, we are being reminded today of this desire of God for us to have peace, as individuals and as a Church.

    When we have a very little knowledge of ourselves, we will also tend to either underestimate or overestimate ourselves. We could show a self that is disturbed with low self-esteem or arrogance. It is only when we also become more aware of ourselves, of both weaknesses and strengths, of failures and potentials that we become more conscious too of God’s presence in us.

    This is what we find in today’s readings which tells about the fearful friends of Jesus. The Apostles were in hiding. This was symbolized on how they made sure that doors were locked. Yes, they made sure that no one could enter in the room. They locked themselves because they were filled with fear.

    This tells us that fear can actually paralyze us. Fear can prevent us in making movements and in making decisions. Consequently, when we become fearful we also settle to what is only minimal and comfortable for us, then, this makes us complacent. We wont take risks because we are afraid of rejection and failure, then, this makes us a “sigurista.” We will become persons who want to make things certain, thus, we too will tend to become controlling and demanding in our relationships. Yet, we will be disappointed because we can never control others, not even our life. We can never be certain of all things. There are things that are way beyond us.

    We can only respond to it by taking risks, by conquering our fears through faith. This is the very reason why Jesus appeared in the midst of his fearful disciples. Jesus wants them to get out from the attitude of fear. And what Jesus did was to give them PEACE by giving them the Holy Spirit.

    fear is gone

    The Acts of the Apostles told us what happened on that Pentecost. Aside from the noise that sounded like a violent wind and the tongues of fire that rested on each of them, there was a more interesting expression of the Spirit that happened there. The disciples of the Lord who were mostly Galileans spoke about the goodness and power of God. Though they spoke in their own native language yet strangers and foreigners understood what the disciples were talking about.

    Yes, foreign peoples grasped what the disciples of Jesus had proclaimed because at that moment when they became confident and unafraid. They were able to get out from their fears of being persecuted, from their doubts about Jesus and from their insecurities of the coming days. They realized how good God is. They truly believed that Jesus is Lord, though he died on the cross but was raised to bring salvation to all.

    All of these realizations were fruits of their journey with Jesus. With the Holy Spirit, the disciples found peace in their hearts, meaning, these fearful and doubtful disciples of Jesus had at last found and recognized God in their life, in their human experiences.

    Jesus said, “Peace be with you!” which also means, “I am with you!” because Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The Lord who is with his disciples sends them now. And so, they have become witnesses of Jesus – witnesses who convey God’s offer of salvation and love not just to a particular group of people but to all, to Jews and Greeks, to rich and poor, to you and to me.

    This is how the foreigners understood the disciples of the Lord and in effect were converted to believe in Jesus. Thus, a church was being born, a church that is not fearful of persecutions and a church that joyfully sings God’s goodness and love.

    What is it to you and to me now, as a church gathered here today? Our birthday celebration today is not meant to be a mere remembering of the past. This feast of the Pentecost calls us rather to relive or to re-experience the first Pentecost. Yet, not really to experience again the strong wind or tongues of fire above our heads, but rather to experience again those feelings of being confident with God, being secured by his love, by being courageous and honest enough to share the kindness of God and his love to others. Because you and I, have already received the Holy Spirit.

    For us to be more sensitive of the working of the Holy Spirit in our life it would be good then to be aware of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the effect of the evil one in our life. Be mindful of these…

    1. The Holy Spirit gives us peace, confidence and serenity yet, the evil spirit makes us doubtful, fearful, anxious and having a low self-esteem.
    2. The Holy Spirit encourages us, lifts our spirit but the evil spirit makes us down, depresses us, discourages and upsets us.
    3. The Holy Spirit brings us comfort and joy, humor and laughter but the evil spirit makes us angry and irritable.
    4. The Holy Spirit makes us appreciate things and others, makes us grateful to God. But the evil spirit makes us unsatisfied, ungrateful, complaining, makes us see only the defects/negatives in everything and everyone including ourselves.
    5. The Holy Spirit makes you feel loved, accepted and forgiven. But the evil one makes you feel bad, terrible, horrible, disgustful, unloved and accuses us of our wrongdoings making us guilty always.

    The invitation for us now is to be constantly aware of the Holy Spirit in all of our human experiences. In that way, we may be able to discover a God who loves us truly and to be confident in God. In hope, we shall find peace, peace within us, in our family, country and peace in this troubled world. Hinaut pa.

     

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Spread Jesus today!

    Spread Jesus today!

    June 2, 2019 – Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

     

    ACTS 1:1-11

    In the first book, Theophilus,
    I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
    until the day he was taken up,
    after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
    to the apostles whom he had chosen.
    He presented himself alive to them
    by many proofs after he had suffered,
    appearing to them during forty days
    and speaking about the kingdom of God.
    While meeting with them,
    he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,
    but to wait for “the promise of the Father
    about which you have heard me speak;
    for John baptized with water,
    but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

    When they had gathered together they asked him,
    “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
    He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons
    that the Father has established by his own authority.
    But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
    and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
    throughout Judea and Samaria,
    and to the ends of the earth.”
    When he had said this, as they were looking on,
    he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
    While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
    suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
    They said, “Men of Galilee,
    why are you standing there looking at the sky?
    This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
    will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

    PS 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

    R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

    All you peoples, clap your hands,
    shout to God with cries of gladness,
    For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
    is the great king over all the earth.

    R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
    God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
    the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
    Sing praise to God, sing praise;
    sing praise to our king, sing praise.
    R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
    For king of all the earth is God;
    sing hymns of praise.
    God reigns over the nations,
    God sits upon his holy throne.
    R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

    EPH 1:17-23

    Brothers and sisters:
    May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
    give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation
    resulting in knowledge of him.
    May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
    that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
    what are the riches of glory
    in his inheritance among the holy ones,
    and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
    for us who believe,
    in accord with the exercise of his great might:
    which he worked in Christ,
    raising him from the dead
    and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
    far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
    and every name that is named
    not only in this age but also in the one to come.
    And he put all things beneath his feet
    and gave him as head over all things to the church,
    which is his body,
    the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

    Gospel LK 24:46-53

    Jesus said to his disciples:
    “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
    and rise from the dead on the third day
    and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
    would be preached in his name
    to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
    You are witnesses of these things.
    And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
    but stay in the city
    until you are clothed with power from on high.”

    Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
    raised his hands, and blessed them.
    As he blessed them he parted from them
    and was taken up to heaven.
    They did him homage
    and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
    and they were continually in the temple praising God.

    The Gospel of the Lord.

    Homily

    Have you ever had a religious experience? A religious experience is a deep experience of God. This is a tremendous joy because of something good that we received. It could be a moment of your prayer time where you have deeply felt God’s presence that despite the many problems you have but you were made confident and at peace. It could be in an occasion where you have seen your family or friends being together and the happiness of being with them cannot be contained. This could be the moment your girlfriend said yes to you or the very first time you have seen and carried in your arms your baby.

    This tremendous joy makes God’s presence and love ever more present in us. Because of this, we wanted to get hold of it, to just stay there, in those feelings of joy.

    The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles told us about this kind of experience. The apostles witnessed the ascension of Jesus into heaven. That was surely an event that captivated them so greatly. It was no ordinary event but it was glorious. It was their religious experience where God made himself ever present in them as Jesus was lifted up. Because of that, the apostles even kept looking at the sky. They wanted to behold that moment for a long time, not wanting to disappear from their sight and memory what had just happened.

    web3-ascension-of-christ-jesus-pd

    However, two men appeared in their midst and told them, “Why are you standing there looking at the sky?” The apostles seemed to be stunned with what just happened. But, they were not to remain standing there and gazing at the sky. The apostles were told to come down and share what Jesus shared to them. They were to become his witnesses beginning from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, as the Gospel told us.

    Indeed, the apostles were witnesses of the many wonders God made and did through Jesus. As Jesus ascended back to his Father in heaven, Jesus gave a crucial role to those who believed in him. These believers were being sent and empowered by Jesus through his ascension to heaven.

    Jesus’ ascension then does not mean that the disciples were being left alone or abandoned. His ascension means being more present to each of his friends wherever they would go. His ascension makes him a constant companion to all of them and to each of us now.

    What does it mean to us? This feast reminds us that we, who believe in Jesus, are called to tell others about Jesus – that in our own way, as a student, a son/daughter, husband/wife, laborer, a skilled worker or professional, each of us is sent to bring Jesus into the lives of others through our words and actions.

    Our very experience of the presence of God should move and motivate us to tell others of God’s goodness and generosity in us. Our experience of God is not meant for us alone but it has to be shared to others, to your neighbors even to strangers.

    And yes, when we make a stand of being a witness of Jesus, of our Christian faith, it won’t be easy. It might be quite difficult because many things and people will be against us. Why? Because, it is not easy to be honest, when others are dishonest, it is not easy to be selfless when others are selfish; it is not easy to be faithful when others are unfaithful.

    As we continue to deepen our faith, I would like to ask you to do something and begin becoming a true witness of Jesus.

    Share to someone, to your friends, family members or even to strangers your own experience of God’s goodness and generosity. For the young ones, you may explore the social media as a way of communicating and sharing the goodness of God. It is just timely that on this Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we are also celebrating World Communications Day. Facebook, Instagram and twitter are good media to proclaim the goodness of God to others. Thus, spread Jesus today! Spread the Good News and not fake news; spread the good not the lies and defamation of others. Make viral God’s faithfulness and mercy upon us. But remember that in sharing and proclaiming how good God is – our words are not enough, do something good also through our good deeds and generous actions towards others. Hinaut pa unta.

    Jom Baring, CSsR