Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Weekday Homilies

  • Prayer: A Relationship

    Prayer: A Relationship

    February 23, 2021 – Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

    Fr. Gibo Dandoy, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022321.cfm)

    I often wonder why many Catholics, when asked to lead in prayer, during some social gatherings and family events, would often decline. Even those who are regular mass-goers would do the same. They reason out by saying: “I don’t know how to pray.” Well, the early disciples of Jesus had the same concern. That is why they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Lk. 11:1).

    But what really is prayer? Is prayer simply fulfilling personal devotions and novenas? Not at all! We hear Jesus saying: “When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans did; for they believe that, the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard. Do not be like them.”

    However, by saying this, Jesus did not discourage us from praying. But he was exhorting us to go beyond our usual and routinary approach to prayer.

    Because prayer is more than a verbal exercise; more than litany of petitions. It is basically a relationship we have built with God, and which relationship extends to others.

    And since it’s a relationship, then it consists of: 

    1.) Communication with God which engages us in talking and listening. Prayer is not a one-way traffic where only us who do the talking while God is listening. In prayer, we sharpen our capacity to listen to the voice of God;

    2.) Recognizing and Affirming God’s presence in our lives, in season or out of season, which aids us in cultivating gratitude and cheerfulness;

    3.) Humble acceptance and admission of our human frailties and sins which ushers us in repentance and renewal of our lives; and

    4.) We are also afforded with time and space where we lift our burdens and petitions, believing that God is the only and ultimate source of all that is good.

    Corrie Tin Boom, a Christian writer, wrote something about prayer: “The wonderful thing about praying is that you have a world of not being able to do something and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for his almighty power. Nothing is too small for his love.“

    Brothers and sisters, as we enter and immerse ourselves in Prayer this season of lent, may we be given the grace to grow more in prayer and in the knowledge of God, so that our prayer is not borne out of obligation nor compulsion; but from a grateful heart so desirous to draw deeper into the very heart of God. Amen.

  • VENERATION OF THE CHAIR OF PETER

    VENERATION OF THE CHAIR OF PETER

    February 22, 2021 – Monday, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle

    Fr. Manoling Thomas, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022221.cfm)

    Last February 13th, Saturday, part of the celebration of the Lunar New Year, by the Chinese, was the practice of paying respects to their ancestors. This used to be called the “ancestor worship”. But those Chinese who embraced Christianity re- named it to “veneration of the ancestors”. We Catholics venerate and honor the “saints”, those who have gone ahead of us; and have now entered the Kingdom of God. We set aside November 1st, as a day for them!   

    Today’s feast originated from the ancient Roman practice of remembering departed family members. Part of the celebration was a formal meal. An empty chair was reserved during the meal, to represent the ancestors. This ancient Roman practice was “Christianized” after the spread and legalization of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. This feast originated in the 4th century.

    The “veneration of the chair of Peter” became an occasion for remembering the apostle Peter as “the ancestor in faith” of the Christian community in Rome. Pope Benedict XVI pointed out that this celebration highlights the “privileged sign of the love of God, the eternal Good Shepherd who wanted to gather his whole Church and lead her on the path of salvation.”

    Peter was chosen by Christ to be the “shepherd of Christ’s flock” [Jn. 21: 15-17]. Jesus called Peter to be “the rock” on which Jesus’ church would be built. [Mt. 16: 18-19]. Peter, in the 1st Reading, advised the other Church elders on how to care for the “flock entrusted to their care.” [1 Pet. 5:1-4].

    The chair represents the authority of St. Peter and his successors. The chair represents the unity of the Church founded on the Apostle Peter.

  • FASTING TO BE LIFE-GIVING

    FASTING TO BE LIFE-GIVING

    February 19, 2021 – Friday after Ash Wednesday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021921.cfm)

    We always understand the religious practice of “fasting”  in reducing our food intake. This religious practice which already begun even in the ancient times still takes a central place in today’s Season of Lent. The Church, in fact, asks us to fast as one of our practices in this season.

    Our readings today actually talk about fasting. Isaiah in the first reading, criticized the people who devoutly did the religious practice of fasting. He criticized them because those people were only concerned of the traditional practice of fasting while refusing to respond to the call that fasting entails.

    According to Isaiah, when fasting remains a religious practice or tradition and does not change our heart, then, it is not true fasting. Fasting will lead us into a change of heart. This is shown in what he said,

    “releasing those bound unjustly,
      untying the thongs of the yoke;
    Setting free the oppressed,
        breaking every yoke;
    Sharing your bread with the hungry,
        sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
    Clothing the naked when you see them,
        and not turning your back on your own.”

    From what Isaiah told us, to fast in this Season of Lent is not about making ourselves slimmer or to aim in losing weight. These reasons are not what the Season of Lent is about. The call to fast and consciously choose not to eat our comfort food is a discipline that will bring us into at least four practical and significant reasons.

    First, fasting from our comfort food will allow us to learn the value of giving more importance to what we really need and not just on what we want. Our wants could sometimes lead us into unhealthy habits in our diet, thus, to fast will help us confront those unhealthy habits.

    Second, when we fast, we will surely feel hungry. To feel the emptiness of our stomach, will help us to value every food being prepared on our table. This should help us to be more grateful of people around us and of the grace from God.

    Third, such consciousness in the emptiness of our stomach will also help us to realize the hunger that many people are suffering every day. According to Action Against Hunger, there is more than enough food produced in the world to feed the entire population of our planet, but, despite this over supply, there are 690 million people in the world who sleep without anything in their stomach.[1]

    Fourth, by becoming aware of that, fasting then, leads us to respond to those who are in need. In the words of Isaiah, in fasting, we share our food with the hungry, we set those who are unjustly accused to be unburdened, we set those who oppressed to be free, we give shelter to the homeless, we cloth those who are naked. Meaning, fasting indeed entails practical responses that will allow us to become life-giving to others.

    Thus, as we have just began this Season of Lent, please be more conscious also of this religious practice of fasting by also becoming more aware on how we could be more  life-giving to others. But never forget to bring that consciousness into prayer. Fasting without prayer will not make us life-giving.

    So, a practical example would be keeping aside the budget of your food or meal every day and give what you have kept aside to a neighbor or a friend who is in need of material or financial aid. May way all become life-giving in this season of lent. Hinaut pa.

    [1] See https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/world-hunger-facts-statistics

  • A Genuine Fasting in this Season of Lent

    A Genuine Fasting in this Season of Lent

    February 19, 2021 – Friday after Ash Wednesday

    Fr. Gibo Dandoy, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021921.cfm)

    Today’s readings highlight one of the main  components of the season, which is Fasting. In our Catholic Tradition, we are taught that fasting is a spiritual exercise cum discipline as our way of repentance and penance for our sins which greatly hurt God and others. We practice this spiritual discipline to teach, train and tame not only our physical bodies but more so our interior self.

    St. Paul warns us, saying: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6: 12, NASB).” Through fasting, we arm and ready ourselves when forces of evil attack us day and night.

    However the Lord, in the book of the Prophet Isaiah, had to correct and re-orient his people as to the kind of fast he so required: “Is fasting merely bowing down one’s head, and making use of sackcloth and ashes? Would you call that fasting, a day acceptable to Yahweh? (v. 5, CCB).”

    He questioned their kind of fasting and showed his displeasure with their shallow observance of religious rituals. They acted pious and yet their attitude and lifestyle betrayed their faith in God.

    But what kind of fasting that pleases God?

    “To free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help (vv. 6-7, NLT).”

    These, brothers and sisters, are what pleased God, and is what genuine fasting all about! Lastly, let us however do all of these in secret, and the Father who sees us in secret will recompense us (Mt. 6:4). Amen.

  • Paradox of Discipleship

    Paradox of Discipleship

    February 18, 2020 – Thursday after Ash Wednesday

    Fr. Gibo Dandoy, CSsR

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021821.cfm)

    There are many misconceptions about following the Lord Jesus. Some believers think that it offers a problem-free, challenge-free and stress-free life.

    But to contrary to this myopic view, following the Lord has a lot of demands to consider. It is truly costly:

    “If you WISH to be a follower of mine, DENY yourself and TAKE UP YOUR CROSS each day, and follow me.”

    Deny oneself and taking up cross each day! Wow! Such costly and daunting tasks to carry! Who can bear that? All the more if we are to carry them DAILY?

    We know, by human standards, it is difficult to set aside our selfish desires and to shoulder our burdens each day. It is never a joke.

    That is why, it takes courage and trust to follow the Lord and to be his disciples. Courage, because we are not taking the control of our life. And trust, because we have to surrender and sacrifice a lot for this life. Thus, those who follow Him are truly brave men and women.

    Nevertheless, Jesus did not promise an easy life and smooth journey. He just said:”For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; But if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it.” No assurance of a happy and smooth-sailing life’s journey.

    What we can thread out from these words of Jesus is that our life and its meaning can only be fully achieved by spending one’s life in serving God and others, not from what the world offers. And the loss of eternal life can never be compensated or satisfied by worldly pleasures and material goods put together.

    Finally, in this time of your life, will you be willing to take a leap of faith and to pay a high cost to follow Jesus and to place your relationship with him above all else?