Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Weekday Homilies

  • THERE IS JOY EVEN IN OUR POVERTY

    THERE IS JOY EVEN IN OUR POVERTY

    June 15, 2021 – Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061521.cfm)

    Why do people who tend to complain a lot, find life miserable? Why do people who love to keep things only for themselves always feel unsatisfied?

    When we tend to complain a lot then we only see the ugly, the mistakes, the failures and the not so nice in life . We find life miserable because we believe that life is so unfair to us. Hence, no matter how provided we are by our parents, or no matter how much wealth we have possessed, and no matter how many achievements we have succeeded, when we only see the ugly in us and in others, life will be miserable.

    When we also keep things for ourselves only, then, this tells us how insecure we have become. We shall only recognize what we do not have and do not see what we already have. Thus, we will always feel unsatisfied because our tendency to keep things for ourselves will remove us from the confidence of being graced and being gifted.

    If we have developed one or these two attitudes, then, we are missing many things in life. St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians recounts to us today the grace of God received in the churches of Macedonia.  Macedonia, a Greek territory, had been subjected to many trials and affliction. However, Paul recognized that despite those and their profound poverty, the Christians in Macedonia were filled with abundant joy. Within that joy was an overflowing wealth of generosity on their part.

    Paul happily tells us that through their joy expressed by their generous heart, then, they offered their lives to the Lord and to the Apostles for the sake of the Gospel.

    Such wealth of generosity has been my experience in a small Christian community in Talisay, Balabagan, LdS during our 3-month long mission.

    Such attitude by the first Christians in Macedonia tells us today that we can remain contented, happy and filled with joy in life despite the afflictions, the poverty and the sickness that we are suffering at this moment. This was the spirit behind the Macedonians because they recognized and were fully aware of the grace of God in their life.

    They very presence of the Apostles and the gift of faith were enough reasons of becoming conscious and confident in God’s loving and faithful presence. Consequently, that joy in their heart made them generous. Despite their poverty, there was an overflowing wealth of generosity, an expression of true joy.

    This is God’s invitation for us today. We are called to become more conscious of God’s grace, of God’s loving and faithful presence to us. In that awareness, we may grow in our confidence with God and be filled with joy in our heart even when we are suffering and poor. May it lead us to become generous in our words and actions even to the extent of loving our enemies and praying for those who have hurt us, persecuted us and insulted us for the sake of their conversion and peace. Hinaut pa.

  • TREATING EVIL WITH GOODNESS

    TREATING EVIL WITH GOODNESS

    June 14, 2021 – Monday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061421.cfm)

    Our common response when we are hurt is to react in retaliation. Among animals or even insects, when they are hurt suddenly they bite or attack us. Even when their territories are invaded, animals or insects react to protect themselves from possible threats.

    A similar reaction would also happen with us. Even among children, when they are hit or experience hurt, to hit in return is the usual response. This is most common even among adults. There are even people who naturally fight back when they are hurt. Even in some cultures the principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is still observed.

    However, in today’s Gospel we have heard a different way of responding when we are hurt and when we experience the pain and suffering that evil brings. Indeed, Jesus tells us of a different response towards hatred and evil. Jesus said, “offer no resistance to one who is evil.”

    What Jesus is basically saying to us is not to repay evil with evil or not to respond to violence with violence. As Jesus addressed this to his disciples, and so he does also to us now. Jesus calls us not to allow hatred, anger, violence and evil to control us.

    Thus, not to resist to one who is evil, is not allowing evil to control us. Meaning, once we resist to one who is evil, this may bring us into the same position of the one who is evil. We shall respond to the same violence, then. Hence, responding evil with evil or responding to violence with violence will only bring us into an endless cycle of evil and violence.

    The wisdom of Jesus lies in the offer of peace. To offer the other cheek when someone strikes us on the right cheek, though this sounds ridiculous for many of us, is an opportunity for the one who have hurt us to embrace peace and reconciliation. Peace and reconciliation is truly a difficult path. A very unpopular one. However, this is the way to end the cycle violence and evil.

    But this will not be possible with our own ability to assess a situation. Our wisdom may not be enough to remain calm in a hostile environment. That is why, Paul is his second letter to the Corinthians reminds us, “not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Yes, we have been graced by the presence of God and it is by acknowledging God’s presence that we will be able to embrace peace and also offer peace.

    Moreover, this is not an excuse to remain passive to the abuses and other forms of oppression. It does not mean that when your spouse is physically abusing you, or a family member is sexually abusing you, or a friend or colleague is exploiting your goodness and generosity, that you remain passive and indifferent. The teaching of Jesus is meant to keep violence at the minimum and not to escalate more violence towards others and ourselves. In such situations, we are called to get out from the abusive relationship and to demand justice and show mercy.

    To demand justice then is to make the perpetrator take the responsibility and consequences. To show mercy is to get rid of hatred and anger within our hearts. This is our key to live free by offering peace and reconciliation towards those who have wronged us.

    God invites us today to live freely by not allowing evil to control us or to have an access to our hearts by holding on to grudges, hatred, anger and selfishness. Hinaut pa.

  • Blessing in Disguise

    Blessing in Disguise

    June 5, 2021 – Saturday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060521.cfm)

    A certain village trickster would constantly make fun of his church devotee neighbor. At times he would say: “What’s the point of praying, where and when God is not even helping you.” In response, the poor lady devotee would just smile in silence. Once the trickster overheard his neighbor praying: “Lord, I thank you for this daily bread. I pray that I may have enough provisions for this week, as my son’s family is also needy at this time. But it is not my will, but your will be done. I trust in you. Amen.”

    Trickster as he is, he bought a bagful of grocery, put it outside his neighbor’s door, and waited for lady’s reaction. As his neighbor joyfully found the bag of grocery, he butted in & said: “It’s from me & not from your God. See, how right am I that your God does not care for you?” Nevertheless, the devotee neighbor joyfully praised God saying: “Thank you Lord for all these blessings before me…. & for letting my good neighbor pay for it.”

    The cursed life & misfortunes of Tobit & Sarah in our first reading were now getting better. With their full faith & fidelity to God amidst life-challenges & difficulties, grace upon grace was abound anew in their lives. And all along without knowing it, they got angel Raphael to help & guide them. All along, the one who journeyed with them was their answered prayers – an angel in disguised Raphael, as God’s messages & interventions to their life’s burden & misfortunes. As they cooperated with God’s plan & will, life for them is getting better than before & what it was back then.

    Jesus in our gospel today reminds us that God hears & knows our heart’s desires, and He responds from all that we got and not from our surplus. Even without knowing it, we are worthy of His graces & blessing in our lives, whenever we are whole-heartedly & not half-heartedly believing & trusting in His ways, like that of Tobit, Sarah & the poor widow. Whether pure or superficial, God knows our heart’s intentions & readily respond to our prayers, as long as we cooperate with His ways.

    Remember God listens to our prayers & blesses our present needs. God’s blessings however usually come in disguise. We only have to believe & trust wholeheartedly and purely that things in life will turn out better than what we want & expected to be. Who knows? Perhaps the shrewdness, hypocrisy & stupidity of others might be God’s blessing in disguise for you and others. Perhaps what we are going through nowadays are blessings in disguise for our betterment.

    Here we are before you Lord. You know where, what, how we are now, and need to be. We believe & trust that You love us always & want what is better for us. Make us aware and benefit from your constant Blessings that usually comes to us hidden in disguise. May Your will, not mine & ours, be done.

    So Be it. Amen.

  • Marriage: TO Whom and FOR Whom?

    Marriage: TO Whom and FOR Whom?

    June 3, 2021 – Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060321.cfm)

    Having married to his childhood sweetheart only a year & a half, in fear & anxiety, a man told his father: “Dad, Marriage is not for me.” After few minutes of silence, the father gave this advice: “Son, I make this really simple. You marry not to make yourself happy, but to make someone else happy. Marriage is not for you because you are married for a family & your future child. Marriage is not about you, but about the person you married.”

    Easy for us to think that ordained priests and consecrated religious people are married to God & church. Rightly so, for they dedicate their lives to & for God & the church. It does not mean however that lay Christian couples & family are not married to & for the church. Christian marriage & family life is a discipleship – a way of following Jesus & loving in marriage to God through His people.

    The arranged marriage of Tobiah & Sarah in our first reading may have highlighted the human, social, sexual & cultural dimensions of marriage, but above all it gives importance to the spirituality & sacredness of marriage. What is given value here is that marriage is not about & for oneself but for your beloved whom you love in life, and above all for God.

    Christian couples do have their marriage in the church because they consider their love & marriage to each other as sacred & holy, and they wish to make their life now & always as their sacred offering to God & His church. Their marriage then is not about themselves but about each other living their love-life for God & His Church through their own family & Christian community. Same way with ordained priest & consecrated religious people, Christian married couples are also thus married to the Church.

    Jesus in our gospel today reminds us that it is not enough just to know the commandment to love, but most of all we must live & practice Love. And love is basically not for and about oneself (not for and about you), but Love is all about & for one’s beloved & others. Marriage then is ultimately not for Me and about Me, but for and about An-other than Me. Love lived in Christian discipleship then is not self-centered, self-serving & self-oriented but moreso other-centered, other-serving & other-oriented. If & when we love this way, as Jesus says: “We are not far from God’s kingdom.”

    In this mass, we pray that our love for our beloved & others now in life be our way of following our risen Lord, and be our marriage to God & His Church as our fitting sacrifice & worship to God’s goodness for us.

    So be it. Amen.

  • MIGHT NOT BUT MORE THAN WHAT IT SEEMS

    MIGHT NOT BUT MORE THAN WHAT IT SEEMS

    April 15, 2021 – Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041521.cfm)

    Usually, we see things not as they are, but as we are. Normally we see things as we are, not as they are. The way we see things are always clouded by our own perspective. The way we look at realities is usually limited by our own understanding. That is why we see things by what we only understand and not what it really is. And at times, in seeing things, we do need to suspend judgment & try to be more open to other possibilities because things might not & more than what it seems.

    For instance, to promote consumerism & shopping spree during Christmas holiday season, in a non-Christian Japan, a crucified Santa Claus was placed on the display section thinking Christians buyers would be attracted to buy their lingerie products. For a non-believers, it is just for promotion, but for a believers, there is a reason for the Christmas season; not the crucifixion of Santa Claus but the birth of Jesus Christ. In the same way, sticking chopsticks standing on a bowl of rice means nothing for us, but it is a no-no for Japanese since it is bad luck & for Chinese it reminds of funeral.

    That is why we should be aware of how we see things because we tend to see things not as they are, or not as it is, but as we see things as we are.

    The main issue and at the very heart of our readings today is the question on how people see things & realities differently.

    The birth of Christianity in the Acts of the apostles is a dangerous political movement for the Jewish courts & hierarchy. But for the Apostles & Christian followers, it is the testimony of the risen Lord & the chance for them to bear witness & proclaim to others God’s offer of salvation to all. Here we are reminded as Christians that we see things differently. While others see things differently as they are, we Christians also see things differently since we see what is happening & going on in our lives with the eyes of Faith in the risen Lord. Because we believe in the Risen Lord & of our faith in Jesus Christ, we see life in faith & we look with faith in life.

    This is what Jesus is teaching us in our gospel today. He said to us: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life.” In other words, eternal life for those who believes, damnation for those who don’t believe. Our faith then makes us Christian in life. And He wants us to see things in life with faith in Him. For us Christians believers, a Cross means everything. But for non-believers, a Cross means nothing.

    Perhaps now we ask ourselves: How do we see life as we experience it now? Do we see things – what is happening & going with us now – with the eye of faith, as we believe in the risen Lord? During this Easter season, what is it that the Lord want me to see now in our lives?

    Open wide our eyes Oh Lord that we may see what you want us to see now in life, so that may we believe You deeply & through us, others may also believe You.

    So Help us God. So May it be. Amen.