Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Weekday Homilies

  • In our Capacity to receive and embrace

    In our Capacity to receive and embrace

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    September 28, 2020 – Monday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time (Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz)

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092820.cfm)

    Homily

    Look at how the disciples behaved themselves. This passage of the Gospel of Luke tells us how the disciples argued among themselves on who was the greatest among them. They must have been boasting one another about their closeness with Jesus, their great qualities, their faithfulness, on who was the first to be called and who was the favored one among them. Their argument must have been fierce because it reached the ears of Jesus. Jesus heard not just their words but even realized the intention of their hearts.

    At this point, the disciples thought that Jesus’ kingdom will be like those of kings sitting on a golden throne in the palace with a great army, a political king. They believed that Jesus will inherit political power and vast riches and material wealth. Thus, obtaining a position and having a closer relationship with Jesus will give them the security and assurance of a higher and influential position when Jesus reigns.

    Consequently, the argument of the disciples was based on how they could benefit from their friendship with the Lord. As Jesus heard them, he too realized that this was in the heart of the disciples. Jesus had to teach them and to mold their hearts according to God’s desire.

    That’s why Jesus taught the disciples an important lesson through a child. Jesus took and placed the child by his side and said, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

    Children, at the time of Jesus were considered not important because they were dependent, they have no rights and thus cannot be called as fully man at all. Jesus teaches that in the Kingdom of God, greatness is measured in the capacity to receive God. To receive God is best expressed in welcoming, in embracing and in receiving the least in our community.

    We are called to receive God in the person of those who are the least in our church and society. We are called to aspire to be great but neither in the way that we will be above others, nor to seek a higher position at the expense of others, but in the way of embracing others.

    This capacity to embrace others and embrace God fully was what San Lorenzo Ruiz showed to us. In offering his life, even to the point of death, San Lorenzo was always confident that Jesus was with him. He said, “If I have thousands of lives, all of them, I will offer to God.” This shows us that San Lorenzo had found himself, the kingdom.

    Thus, we shall surely see that when we make ourselves open to receive others, we too shall receive Jesus and Jesus will live in us. This is the reward, Jesus himself. The kingdom of God will be present in us because when we have Jesus, we will be at peace, secured and loved even if we are in the midst of trials and turmoil in life. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Take nothing for the journey. Seriously?

    Take nothing for the journey. Seriously?

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    September 23, 2020 – Wednesday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092320.cfm)

    Homily

    You are going on a journey and it will take you several days. What would you do? Naturally, you will prepare Your personal effects, clothes and some other things that you think will be useful for your journey. One may carry a book oR two and some nitty-gritty stuff that “might be needed” in some surprising situation.

    However, once you are already in the journey, then, you will realize that there are many non-essential things that you brought with you. This has been my experience too. One time, as I prepared myself for a trip, going to a mission area, I brought “things that I thought were important and essentials.” As I packed my things, I kept putting stuff that “might be needed.” As a result, I had a big and heavy bag to carry for the journey.

    Later on, when I was already in the area, I realized that I have brought many non-essential things which only made my bag heavy and full. I realized too that what I did must have come from my anxiety of “what if.” What if this happens, then, I need to bring extra shoes, some extra shirts, extra food supplies etc. There is some kind of anxiety of the future. I wanted to be prepared always, always ready to respond in some surprising or emergency situations. There is nothing wrong with this. However, the problem lies in the heart that is constantly anxious of what lies ahead and so has become “heavy and full.”

    When our heart is heavy and full, then, the heart becomes grumpy and uneasy, unwelcoming and inflexible. This makes us calculating to the point that we do not want surprises anymore. We only want certainty. Nevertheless, in life, there are many things that we find ourselves uncertain. We might get lost at times and meet strangers. The anxiety to be always certain may prevent us from being surprised and enjoying the wonders that surprises may bring.

    This is something that Jesus wanted to avoid for his disciples. Jesus gave them instruction that as they begin their journey, they were to “take nothing.” Seriously? Well, that’s what Jesus said. So, what was the wisdom behind this?

    Jesus knew that the material things that the disciples will carry will only burden them in their journey. Attachment in those things will make their heart restless. Jesus did not want these men to become anxious of their journey, of what lies ahead. Jesus actually invited his disciples to fully trust in the providence of God, and to be surprised with the graces of God.

    When the heart has more room and lighter because it has no attachments to material possessions or emotional issues, then, the heart becomes more welcoming of others, of surprising events and of ordinary graces. Our heart will be more flexible and understanding of others too.

    Thus, the invitation of Jesus is not about the direction in life but about our attitude in the journey, of not being attached to non-essentials in life. Like the disciples, we  are invited to “travel light” by not taking with us those things in life that might only burden us and make our heart full. Our desire to be always certain and ready, our past issues and pains, our bad habits and hurtful attitudes are some of those “stuff” that must be left behind. Do not carry them with us.

    Jesus invites us today to trust God’s providence and to be surprised by His graces prepared along the way as we meet people and embrace events in our life. In this way, we become more welcoming of God’s presence and accepting of God’s graces.

    …we become more welcoming of God’s presence and accepting of God’s graces…

    As a response, like the disciples too, may our words, our actions, and our very presence become channels of God’s blessings, of peace, and of God’s gift of healing to those who are ill and those who are broken. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • When Jesus calls, he brings wonders in our life

    When Jesus calls, he brings wonders in our life

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    September 21, 2020 – Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092120.cfm)

    Homily

    Have you ever come to a point where you felt so unworthy, useless and even felt disgusted with yourself because of something wrong that you have done before? This happens when we have a deep consciousness of our own sinfulness, imperfections and weaknesses. Yet, when we also tend to focus to what is only wrong and ugly in us, we also begin to lose self-confidence, self-worth and self-value.  We also begin to underestimate our capacities and ourselves.

    In relation to this, the way we relate with God is also affected because we would tend to relate with Him as someone who would judge us and punish us for what we have done. Then, we relate with God in fear and guilt rather than in love.

    This kind of attitude was very strong during the time of Jesus. Sinners had no place in the Jewish society. When a person is poor and sickly, they believed that God punished him/her for the sins the person committed or committed by his/her parents in the past. People believed that sinners must be driven away from the community.

    This is the reason why lepers were untouchables, or the paralytics, the lame and the blind were despised by the “normal people,” because they were sinners and were punished by God. The seemingly normal people who were identified as the Pharisees and Scribes maintained a status quo that separated them from the sinners. These people would not touch any known or public sinners. They would not join them in any celebration. They forbid those sinners from entering the synagogue and the Temple. They disowned the sinners, treated them as less-humans, despised them and condemned them.

    Thus, every sinner felt unloved, unwanted and condemned. However, this is not the case with Jesus. Jesus turned the condemning culture upside down. Jesus went away from the rigid, judgmental and unforgiving Pharisees and Scribes. He surprised them with forgiveness, mercy and love.

    This is what has been proclaimed in today’s Gospel as Jesus called Matthew, a tax-collector to follow him. Matthew, since he worked with the Roman rulers and collected tax among his fellow Jews, was considered a public sinner. His fellow Jews despised and prohibited him to enter the synagogue and the temple and even to mingle with his fellow Jews. Matthew, like any other sinner, was condemned and excommunicated by the Jewish society.

    For the Jews, no righteous Jew shall talk to him or touch him. Yet, Jesus did all these things. Jesus talked to Matthew, touched him and even dined with him, made him a friend and called Matthew to be one of the disciples. This tells us how Jesus calls and brings many wonders in the life of a person who responds.

    Jesus proclaimed his message to everyone as he said, “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” This tells us that God is a God of forgiveness, of many chances, of healing and freedom. Jesus understands the struggle of a sinner though he was not a sinner himself.

    The letter of Paul to the Ephesians tells us that each of us has been given the grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. As Matthew, the sinner was given the grace of forgiveness and acceptance, and so we are. The presence of God is the grace that liberates us from whatever burden, shame and guilt that we are suffering from.

    Hence, we should be careful then, when we feel the temptation to appear righteous and superior. Jesus said that he did not come for the righteous but for the sinners because righteous people do not need God. In fact, when we feel too righteous, we become arrogant. Arrogance keeps us away from God and would make us deny God’s mercy.

    This is the invitation for us today. We are called to humble ourselves by acknowledging our sinfulness. This moves us then, to recognise our need for God, need for forgiveness and healing. And when we recognise God in our life, then, we also allow God to transform us, to change our lives, to call us and to touch us like what happened to the public sinner, Matthew. As he allowed Jesus to call him, Matthew’s life was changed forever who became an apostles and an evangelist. Matthew, through his past life, brought many people to know Jesus until today.

    Hopefully, this kind of attitude towards ourselves and towards God, our attitude and treatment to those who failed, committed mistakes and have wronged us, may also become more like Jesus – that we may become welcoming of other sinners like us, by forgiving those offenders like us, and by promoting healing and reconciliation and not condemnation and destruction of sinners and offenders like us. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Working with Jesus

    Working with Jesus

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    September 18, 2020 – Friday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091820.cfm)

    Homily

    In today’s Gospel, we are reminded that in the ministry of Jesus, the 12 men disciples were not the only ones who were part of the mission. There were “many others” who were with the Lord and played important roles. They were the women who were always with Jesus who like the 12 disciples, were also disciples themselves.

    The Gospels did not mention that they too preached, but they played significant contribution in the ministry of Jesus, in his travels and in his preaching and healing. These generous women supported Jesus through the use of their resources.

    Why follow Jesus? Why support him in his ministry? Each of them had their own stories with Jesus, stories of conversion and renewal, stories from brokenness to healing, from death to life. Each of them must have this real encounter with the person of Jesus. That encounter must have brought a total change in their life and in the way they were responding to life.

    The Gospel of Luke itself tells us that some of them were cured from spiritual and/or physical illness. The experience of healing made them recognize God in Jesus. That experience too moved them to follow the Lord to know him more and to become more like him.

    Surely, there are lessons that we can learn from the women who worked with Jesus in his ministry.[1] And they are…

    1. Responding in gratitude. The women responded with gratitude to Jesus because of the life-changing grace they experienced through him. God surely worked miracles in our life too. Recognize those graces of events and experiences when God made manifest in your life and respond in gratitude to the Lord.

    2. Using one’s talents, capacities and resources to continue the work of Jesus. As the women responded in gratitude, they used their own talents and capacities and including their material resources to support Jesus in his ministry. Never shy and never hesitate also to share what you have to the Lord. Share generously to the Church and to the communities where the work of Jesus is being continued. You yourself also can do that by volunteering or making yourself available in the Church’s many apostolate especially in this time of pandemic. Use your expertise where you are good at and offer them to the Lord.

    3. Making the opportunity of giving by being close to Jesus. The women grabbed that opportunity of giving themselves and their resources so that they will be able to stay close to Jesus. Like the men, they walked with Jesus on the road, they gathered around him while eating, they listened with the people. With this, they learned and knew more about Jesus, about his person, his teaching and his ways. Day by day, they became like Jesus. Make every opportunity in serving the Lord to be your way of being close with Jesus too. The sacraments, the Holy Scriptures and your personal prayers are ways to learn more about Jesus and to become more like him.

    4. Staying with Jesus till the end. The women were the faithful companions and friends of Jesus. When Jesus was arrested, carried his cross, died, and buried in the tomb, these women were always with Jesus. While the men disciples were in hiding, the women attended the dead Jesus. In pain and sorrow, they were with the Lord. Thus, they too were the first ones to witness the glory of the resurrection of Jesus. Hence, as we learn to become like Jesus, stay close with him too. Stay close with those who are in sorrow and in pain in many aspects of their life. By doing that, we also become the presence of Jesus in the lives of others who will bring assurance and confidence through our friendship.

    Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

    [1] Inspiration from https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/4-lessons-from-the-women-who-followed-jesus-from-galilee/

  • Power of Asking Forgiveness

    Power of Asking Forgiveness

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    September 17, 2020 – Thursday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091720.cfm)

    Homily

    Why do we come for confession? Why do we seek forgiveness of our sins?

    Many of us today have doubts or have taken for granted the Sacrament of Reconciliation thinking that it does not need for one to confess his or her sins to a priest. Our basic catechism teaches us that the ordained priests are given authority to forgive sins in behalf of the whole church and as God’s representative to his people. It is not the priest that forgives but God. The church listens to the confession of a penitent through the person of the priest. The priest does not give judgement and condemnation but delivers the mercy of God to those who seek for it.

    Indeed, there is wisdom and power behind recognizing one’s imperfections and sins. The recognition of sins is not just be limited within personal realization keep within the self. It only becomes a true realization when sins are confessed to somebody, letting another person know about our sins. The priest in this case represents the church for the person who realizes his or her sins.

    Once we recognize our sinfulness then it is also God’s opportunity to change our lives and to make us new again. “Recognition and confession of sins” is our humble way of acknowledging that we need mercy and forgiveness, thus, we need God.

    The opposite of this is the denial of ones sins and imperfections. Thus, denial of our need of God and denial of our need of mercy and forgiveness. This happens to us when we have grown righteous. When we begin to think that we have committed no sins, then, we think of ourselves highly to the point of making ourselves above others whom we think as lesser than us.

    This is the story that we have heard in today’s Gospel. The woman who knelt before Jesus represented those who recognized their need of forgiveness. On the other hand, the Pharisee who invited Jesus represented those who do not need forgiveness because they believe that they do not need God.

    Let us see these two personalities to clearly discern God’s invitation for us today.

    The woman who was known to be a public sinner was despised by that Pharisee. He would not even dare talking to her because of fear of being contaminated by her sins. That is why, he felt disgusted with Jesus who allowed this woman to wash his feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. The woman’s actions were her humble way of recognizing that she was in need of God’s mercy. Despite her sins and the shame that she was bearing, she took the risk to go in public to ask Jesus forgiveness.

    And because the Pharisee thought of himself so highly, never thought that he too was in need of mercy. This attitude of the Pharisee made him condemning of the woman. He was indifferent towards her and saw no hope in her. This will also happen to us when we become righteous and think that we do not need mercy from God. We become persons who easily condemn others. We become persons who do not see hope with those who have failed in their life. We become angry persons and bitter towards others.

    However, Jesus invites us to learn from her. She who recognized her sinfulness, allowed Jesus to transform her life. Her actions towards Jesus was her expression of her affection and at the same time of her need of forgiveness, Jesus who is the face of the Father’s mercy, willingly granted her forgiveness.

    When we become persons who recognize our failures and sins, we become persons who also see hope and life. We become persons who become positive with life and at the same time positive with others. We become happy persons.

    This is what Jesus wants us because recognition and forgiveness of sins allows us to unburden ourselves from guilt. This will also allow God to work in us.

    Thus, do not be afraid of acknowledging ones failures because God always sees hope in us, God does not condemn but grants his mercy and forgiveness to us so that we shall live in peace, freedom and joy. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR