Category: Weekday Homilies

June 5, 2019 – Wednesday of the 7^th Week of Easter

Acts 20:28-38: Jn 17:11b-19

How do we perceive the truth from the false? Or how do we identify the real from the fake? We might find it difficult to identify what is true from false when false would pretend to be like the truth.

A story was told about the Naked Truth and the Lie. And so, the Truth and the Lie met on the road one day. The Lie said to the Truth: “It’s a marvelous day today!” The Truth looked up to the sky and sighed, for the day was really beautiful.

They walked together for a while, until they reached a beautiful well. Then Lie told the Truth: “The water in the well is very nice, let’s take a swim together!” The Truth, once again suspicious, tested the water and discovered that it, indeed, was very nice.

They undressed and started to swim. Suddenly, the Lie jumped out of the well, put on the clothes of the Truth and ran off towards a nearby village. The furious Truth leaped out of the well and ran to find the Lie and to get her clothes back. The Villagers, seeing the Naked Truth, were horrified and looked away with contempt and rage.

The poor Truth returned to the well and disappeared forever, hiding in her shame. And since that day, the Lie travels the world, clothed as The Truth.

(from https://storytelling.co.za/the-naked-truth-and-the-lie/)

This certainly is very true. We love to listen to gossips and to be entertained by it and as a result even believing to it. This happens even within family members, circles of friends, and neighbors and among colleagues at work. We would even add in defaming others ones a gossip would reach our ears.

In social media platforms too, we seemed to be ignorant at believing to rampant fake news. We easily believe a particular story on Facebook when we see that there are many people liking it or commenting on it without verifying such news.

It seems that we are very dependent upon the dictation of other people in perceiving and believing something. Yet, remember also, not everything that is believed by many is always true. The Lie in the story were perceived and believed by many to be the Truth. But people were disgusted when they saw the Naked Truth.

This is the desire of Jesus for all his followers. We have heard in the Gospel of John how Jesus expressed this desire, “Consecrate them in truth, your word is truth.”

Jesus desired that each of us would be consecrated in him because he is the Truth. Jesus himself also is the living Word of God. The Bible, which contains the Word of God, also contains the Truth.

Thus, we are called to grow in that Truth and to have a personal relationship with the Truth, with Jesus. This will also be possible by making ourselves available and open to God’s word in the Bible.

Jesus desires that each of us will be consecrated to him and be purified through His word. It is a challenge for us then to always discern the inputs that come to us. Be more aware to what we are listening if it is merely a gossip that destroys the image of another person or a good news. Beware also of the fake news that has been spread in social media. Adhere rather to what is Truth by being discerning and intelligent. Develop a love for Word of God and constantly seek God’s wisdom and desire that we may truly be consecrated to Jesus, to the truth. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR

June 4, 2019 – Tuesday of the 7^th Week of Easter

Jn 17: 1-11a

“I pray for them.” – Jn 17:9

We always ask our family members, friends and people we know to remember us in their prayers too. It is such a comfort that we are being remembered in the thoughts and prayers of others. When we celebrate special moments of our life, when we are sick, leaving home for studies or work, when we take challenging endeavours (such as taking board exams), struggling with our problems and concerns, or starting a new chapter of our life, we ask people we know to pray for us that will be given strength and wisdom, courage and faith.

In today’s Gospel, we have been reminded of the intimacy Jesus shared with his Father. This is shown on how Jesus prayed to the Father in heaven. Jesus expressed his confidence and at the same time the unity he has with the Father. What Jesus has is also of the Father’s. The glory of Jesus is also the glory of the Father. Hence, the suffering and pain of Jesus at his passion and even death is also shared by the Father.

All of these have been revealed to Jesus’ friends who were also so dear to the Father. Jesus treasures this friendship. And as a friend, Jesus manifests his concern by expressing his desire to pray for them. Jesus is about to leave physically in the world. But it does not mean that Jesus will abandon them.

Jesus prays for his friends. This means that Jesus remembers his friends in his thoughts. Being in the thought of Jesus also means that Jesus makes his person present in the life of his friends. It is a promise of faithfulness and of constant presence of God.

Today, Jesus reminds us too, that he prays for us and with us. We can say this confidently, Jesus prays with me because he remembers me and he is with me.

Being remembered by Jesus in his prayers, let us make an effort too, to pray for others today. Pray for your friends, for your family members and those who really need our prayers. Prayer will make us more conscious of others as we become one with them in their hopes, joy and suffering. In prayer, we also become more present with God as we grow in our confidence and faith in Him who has called us and loved us. Hinaut pa unta.

Jom Baring, CSsR

June 3, 2019 – Monday 7^th Week of Easter

Jn 16:29-33

“But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.” – Jn 16: 32b-33a

Do you feel alone? People who are severely ill, those who are haunted by their traumatic experiences, and those who suffer chronic depression would mostly agonize the feeling of being alone and loneliness.

To feel alone is a terrible feeling. It makes a day no matter how bright it would be, to be so dark. Even though many people will surround us physically, this feeling detaches us from their presence.

This causes people to be so sad and depressed. How much more if physically people will leave us alone? If someone you love and so dear to you would just go away and leave you? Then, this would be a horrible feeling.

People who work away from their family would also feel being alone. They cannot help it but work a far to give more opportunities for their family and for the children especially. Yet, as a consequence, they have to endure such loneliness for their sake.

In the Gospel today, Jesus reminded us of his conviction of the presence of his Father. Jesus knew that his disciples would abandon him when he will undergo his passion. The disciples will retreat and hide because of fear even though that would mean that Jesus will be left alone to suffer and die.

Yet, Jesus was filled with confidence that his Father will never abandon him. Hence, the Father was there with Jesus even at the cross where Jesus felt being abandoned.

Today, Jesus wants us to have the same conviction. Indeed, we are never alone. The Lord is with us, always with us. This is the promise of Jesus to us today.

Thus, when we feel alone, let it be known that we are never alone. When a terrible sickness hits us, when a traumatic experience haunts us, when depression bothers us, remember, God is with us.

Those of us who are away from home and away from our families, Jesus comforts us that he is always with us.

Today, we can say confidently, “I am not alone.”

Jesus promises us too that with him we shall have our peace. When we allow Jesus to come into our life, surely, we will be at peace. We will be at peace because we will be assured, and we will be satisfied with him.

Today also, be more sensitive of people who feel alone who could just be your friend, sibling, or child, or parent or co-worker. Let them feel that Jesus is with them and you too are with them. Hinaut pa unta.

Jom Baring, CSsR

June 1, 2019 – Saturday of the 6^th Week of Easter

Jn 16: 23-28

“Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” – Jn 16:24

What is it that we usually ask and pray? Good health and wealth? Fulfillment of our hopes and dreams? Love life and relationships? For work and business? For achievements and successes? For our personal concerns and problems?

Jesus told his disciples to “ask anything in my name and you will receive.” What does it really mean? Does Jesus mean that we can just ask anything we want? Does it mean that I can also ask Jesus to give me a lifetime premium subscription on Netflix and unlimited supply of popcorn? Or can I also ask a top managerial position in the company even though I do not have the qualification and expect that it will surely be given to me?

Some of my friends have told me that there were times in their life that they felt hurt because God did not grant their wishes. They had been praying and attended faithfully masses and novenas so that their prayers will be granted. Yet, at the end, prayers were unanswered. They were hurt and thought that God seemed to be so unfair.

However, we might not be aware that what we are praying could be filled with selfish reasons. Our prayers might be more on ourselves. Our prayers might be more focused on what “I shall have and on what I can gain.” Then, our prayer remains self-centered.

Jesus asks us to ask “in his name.” It means that in our prayer we will not forget Jesus, we will not forget his desire for us and his will for us. Yes, our prayer might be more on “our wants,” rather than on God’s desire for us.

Jesus did not say to just ask anything because Jesus, then, would merely be a magician or a genie in a bottle, but to ask anything in his name. Our prayer, then, includes a discernment of God’s will for us and of God’s desire for us.

The disciples had actually already prayed. They had surely asked God many things already. However, their prayers were also filled with their own desires and personal wants. That is why Jesus said, “until now you have not asked anything in my name…” Their selfish prayers and requests to God did not make them joyful and contented. They have remained insecure and lacking in faith because they did not ask in Jesus’ name.

Instead of praying – “this is what I want and wish Lord,” ask and pray rather first in this way, “what is your desire for me Lord?” Only then that we will be able to get away from our selfish tendencies and intentions because we shift our focus from ourselves to God – from praying that comes only from personal wants to praying in his name.

Surely, God will never say no to a sincere heart that seeks His desire. Jesus will surely answer our prayers when our hearts and minds too are one with him. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR