Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Weekday Homilies

  • 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.

  • GOING FORWARD AND TAKING RISKS

    GOING FORWARD AND TAKING RISKS

    April 9, 2021 – Friday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040921.cfm)

    Jesus who was thought to be the Messiah and Son of God was crucified and died on Friday. He was buried in a tomb but on Sunday morning Jesus resurrected. However, his disciples like Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael and other disciples did not know yet that the Lord is alive. These disciples only knew that their Lord was buried in a tomb. Because of this, their hearts were filled with pain, disappointment, with fear and doubts.

    When Jesus was there at their side, they were filled with enthusiasm and spirit but when Jesus was arrested they fled and when he was crucified, they hid themselves for fear of the Jews. Because of these negative experiences, they believed that they have failed the Lord, and so they themselves were failures.

    Their immediate response was to go back their old self, to retreat and not to go forward anymore. Because they believed that they were failures, they succumbed to the temptation to go back to their old ways and that was to fish. They have been called from being fishermen to become fishers of people, yet, having a painful and horrible experience on the death of Jesus, they retreated to go back to fishing. This was what Simon Peter and the rest did.

    However, all night they caught nothing. The “night” in the Gospel is very symbolic because it reveals to us that the disciples were in darkness and they couldn’t find light. They felt hopeless and even in a helpless situation. They wanted to give up. But, at dawn a stranger appeared on the shore and asked them if they have caught anything. They all answered, no, they caught nothing. That stranger said, “cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” And they did, they trusted that stranger and to their surprise, when they pulled the net they could barely pull it back because there were plenty of fish.

    Then, the “beloved disciple” recognized that it was the Lord Jesus. Jesus is alive and waiting on the shore. This prompted Peter to jump into the sea in order to meet the Lord with excitement and joy.

    This reminds us that there will be times of sorrow, of disappointment and discouragement, times of fear and failure. We might come into the point of our life where we feel hopeless and helpless because we have failed, because the situation is just too difficult, family problems are just horrifying, our poverty is just overwhelming, or our relationship with others have failed – and then, our immediate reaction is to retreat, to hide in our own failure and pain, to dwell so much on our problems, to go back to our old and bad habits, becoming fearful, anxious and mediocre – which means going into the darkness of depression rather into the light of hope and life.

    Indeed, this happened to the disciples and because they retreated into the night of fear, they caught nothing. They thought that they could catch fish by themselves alone. They believed that they could surpass that difficulty by being alone, but, no! Being alone and separated from God only brought them into a deeper disappointment in life. It is when we are with Jesus that we find meaning and joy even in the midst of pain, of failure and difficulties.

    The Risen Lord invites us today.

    First, when we meet failures and difficulties, do not go back to the old ways and old habits (which could be our addictions and depressive behaviors). This will only bring us into deeper darkness and hopelessness. Rather go forward and take the risk.

    Second, in taking the risk of going forward never take the road alone, or never think that we can do everything by ourselves. The journey is lighter when we are with somebody else whom we can trust, whom we can share our story. Find and build long lasting friendship, build a deeper family relationship, invest in your relationships. When we are told to cast our net, to change the course of our boat and to change our life – go for it and trust the Lord because it might be in that direction that we will find the abundance of love and life.

    Third, be always aware of God’s presence waiting for us on the shore. Just like the beloved disciple let us always be intimate with Jesus. It is only when we become intimate with Jesus in our prayer that we also become aware of his presence in everyone. Hinaut pa.

  • SCARS INTO GRACE

    SCARS INTO GRACE

    April 8, 2021 – Thursday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040821.cfm)

    What scars do you have in your body? And what scars do you have in your heart? We both have physical and emotional scars. Every scar would remind us of pain in the past. Some scars may become insignificant through time. Other scars especially the big ones may remain significant even though the pain has gone. The trauma that we have been through in the past could sometimes still shaken us at present.

    Emotional scars compared to the physical ones carry more weight and longer time to heal. The stories behind our emotional scars can also sometimes bring back old memories of pain and sadness. Yet, it is also possible that those scars we have whether physical and emotional, can become signs of victory, of growth, of wonder, of beauty and even of grace.

    Such possibility of turning our scars into grace is what has been told to us in today’s Gospel. Jesus appeared before his disciples. He greeted them with peace because their hearts were filled with fear and troubles. The very thought of the death of Jesus brought so much sadness and fear into the hearts of the disciples. Because of this, they could not believe that Jesus is alive and was in front of them.

    Jesus rather invited them, to look a hands and feet. Jesus said, “touch me and see.” Jesus wanted the disciples to touch and see that indeed he bore the scars from the wounds he endured at his crucifixion. To touch and see the scars of Jesus, those signs of wounds and of his death is to be able to behold the grace of God.

    This tells us that the resurrection of Jesus has made those scars, now, as signs of victory, of wonder and of grace. Those scars remind us that Jesus went through suffering and he knows very much the feeling of being in pain, being humiliated, being abused and being maltreated. Those scars revealed the cruelty of sin and evil.  Yet, beyond those scars also is the grace of God that brings new life and new hope for all.

    Thus, as the disciples were invited by Jesus to touch and see the scars in his body, the Lord also calls us to look at our own scars. Do not deny or hide in forgetfulness and in shame those scars in us. The very scars we carry can become opportunities where God shall bring graces to us. Through our own scars, we shall find healing and life, transformation and hope.

    Hiding in forgetfulness or in shame and denying that we are scarred will not help us. These attitudes will only bring us into more fear and sadness. Our heart will remain fearful and troubled like the disciples who were in hiding.

    As we allow the Lord to work wonders in us and make his grace be revealed through our own scars, may we also experience today the grace of new life through his resurrection. Hinaut pa.

  • Towards New Life and New Hope

    Towards New Life and New Hope

    April 7, 2021 – Wednesday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040721.cfm)

    Painful and traumatic experiences in life bring so much confusion to us. The sudden death of a loved one, losing and failure in your job or business, broken relationships, family feud, etc. are some experiences that can be terrifying and horrifying. Because such experiences are too overwhelming, they make us too sad and depressed. We could blame ourselves, blame others, blame the world or blame God for making us suffer greatly.

    The story of the two disciples who were leaving the painful place of Jerusalem tells us of a reality in our life. Like them who thought that Jerusalem was just a place of horror and death, of failure and pain, we too might want to escape from those painful memories of the past. Like them, we too could be in search of something just to make sense of those unexplainable and terrifying events in our life. Yet, we could not understand everything because the experience was just overwhelming.

    This was how the two disciples found themselves in that situation. The death of Jesus and the failure of their dreams now prevented them to see and recognize the presence of the Risen Jesus among them. They have not recognized immediately that Jesus was actually walking with them, and conversing with them. Their hearts were only filled with sadness and pain. Yet, the Lord continued to accompany them in their difficult moments despite the hardness of their hearts to believe and see the Lord among them.

    However, it was when they invited Jesus whom they thought was merely a stranger and started breaking and sharing to them the bread, that their eyes were opened. At last they have recognized that the Lord was with them all the time. At their lowest moment in life, when things seemed to be so dark and meaningless, the Lord was with them. Despite their many questions, the Lord was with them.

    This was how the two also found themselves and found the meaning of everything and of their life. This was how they immediately left Emmaus and went back to Jerusalem. The place of death and failure has become a place of new life and new hope.

    Thus, those moments of failures in us, those experiences of pain and death, those traumatic and terrifying events in our life can also become place of new life and new hope in us. The Lord indeed works marvels and moves in mysterious ways. God has made Jerusalem, now a life-giving and hope-inspiring place.

    This tells us too, that, as we allow the Lord to accompany us, the Lord shall also make wonders in us and shall make our painful past to be a source of new life and new hope in us.

    These are the invitations for us now.

    First. Allow others to journey and accompany you in your difficulties. Allow your friends and family members to know the struggles within you. The journey towards healing and freedom can only be possible when we are with others. This was how the two disciples also allowed the stranger to be with them.

    Second. Never be afraid to ask questions because the Lord understands us. Jesus was very patient with the two disciples by listening to them. Moreover, allow also the Lord to teach us that we may be able to see another perspective in life. Allow other people to fill your minds and hearts with their wisdom. Allow the Holy Bible to speak to you and reveal God’s invitations.

    Third. Never be afraid of your Jerusalem, of those that you consider as your place of failure and pain, of sadness and trauma. God also will bring wonders in our Jerusalem. As God has raised up His Son from death, God can also bring new hope and new life in our own Jerusalem. Hinaut pa.

  • Filled with the Goodness of the Lord

    Filled with the Goodness of the Lord

    April 6, 2021 – Tuesday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040621.cfm)

    Mary Magdalene went into the tomb and was weeping, our Gospel tells us today. Mary was filled with sadness and pain. The tomb of Jesus certainly reminded her of that painful and scandalous death of Jesus on the cross. Yet, what is interesting in this scenario was  the movement of time. In the first verses of this Gospel, we were told that Mary “went to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark.” However, at this time, the dawn was breaking. The sun is soon to come out. And what Mary will witness was definitely the glorious victory of light over darkness.

    Mary who developed a close relationship with Jesus, was a faithful disciple. She remained at the side of Jesus thus, the reason of her grief and pain. Nevertheless, despite the grief and sadness, Mary did not just go away and give up. She actually refused to give up.  The sadness, disappointment and pain that she felt, urged her more to seek Jesus even in times of so much confusion and darkness in her life. But, those emotional and spiritual burdens in her also prevented her to immediately recognize the Lord. Jesus has to call her by name to make her realize that it was him.

    Thus, in that desire to seek the Lord even in darkness and seemingly ugly scenario in her life, Mary was filled with the goodness of the Lord. Her friendship with Jesus helped her to seek the Lord and see grace beyond pain and darkness. This is something to learn from the friendship Mary Magdalene had with Jesus. Her friendship was beyond physical attraction and emotional attachment but was built on trust, faith and confidence of being loved by the Lord.

    Such experience of fullness is what the Psalm also proclaimed today. “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” This is what Mary was holding on in her heart. She must be a believer on this that indeed the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Even though there was so much pain and confusion in her heart, she believed in the goodness of the Lord that fills the earth.

    True enough, Mary received this fullness of God’s goodness as Jesus revealed himself to her. This was captured beautifully through her words, “I have seen the Lord.” This is a testimony of a person who believed and experienced fully the goodness of the Lord.

    From here, there are two invitations for us.

    First. When we also encounter moments of darkness and grief, sadness and pain, confusions and frustrations in life, we might find ourselves going away to hide, and stepping back to retreat into fear just as Mary bent over and wept at the tomb of Jesus. However, retreating into fear will only prevent us to recognize the Lord and see his grace. Hence, it is very important that we also develop a close relationship with the Lord. Such relationship will grow and mature through our constant awareness of God’s presence.

    Second, that constant awareness of God’s presence calls us further to see and recognize that indeed the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Thus, never be too pessimistic even if what surrounds us is quite ugly and horrible. Since, the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, be always conscious that each of us is part of that fullness of God’s goodness on earth. Therefore, be an expression of God’s goodness to others, be the presence of God’s goodness to our friends and community. By becoming that expression of the fullness of God’s goodness, then, we shall be able to proclaim to others too that “we have seen the Lord” because we have experienced the fullness of his goodness. Hinaut pa.