Category: Weekday Homilies

January 4, 2020 – Saturday before Epiphany

Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010420.cfm

Homily

Jesus began to call his first disciples. The first two of them were John (the beloved) and Andrew who later introduced his brother Simon to Jesus. Simon has been called by Jesus as Cephas or Peter, which means the rock.

John and Andrew were disciples of John the Baptist. Hence, because of John, the two have been hearing about John’s prophecy of the Messiah who is to come. They have actually been waiting for him to arrive.  Perhaps, when they finally met Jesus, they too were astonished at the appearance of Jesus. They were surprised not because of the grandiosity of Jesus but because of his simplicity. Jesus was just an ordinary Jew, dressed in an ordinary way as common people did at that time. His physical feature was not that astounding, like a “model or artista,” no! However, there was something in Jesus that they have deeply felt.

Jesus was a man who when he looks at you, you will be captivated by him. Yes, when Jesus looked at them, he did not just look at them in the eyes but through their heart too. When Jesus looks, it is nothing casual because he looks at us with love and concern.

This experience of the two led them to see and recognize the Messiah! And this prompted them to follow Jesus. 

Each of us also is invited to look at Jesus, look at his eyes, and also allow the Lord to look at us so that we may see how he loves us so much. The look of Jesus is neither condemning nor terrifying because of the sins we have committed. Jesus’ look will always be loving and merciful, inviting us to come closer to him. Thus, let Jesus look at us intimately today.

When we are able to do that, surely Jesus will also say to us, “Come!” –that is to follow the Lord in the way we live our lives and perform our duties as parents, as children, as students, as professionals, as workers and as person. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR

January 2, 2020 – Thursday before Epiphany – Memorial of Sts Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzen

Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010220.cfm

Homily

What is easier? To pretend who we are not or to be who we are truly? 

With the phenomenon of social media sites, it has become easier to pretend who we are not and to portray to others a self filled with icing. A person can just create multiple accounts on Facebook or Instagram and portray a different image of himself or herself. Others also can just display an image of himself or herself on social media sites different from what is real. 

Why is that? This comes from a deep longing of fulfilling a person’s desire to be recognized or praised by others. The space provided by the social media allowed such persons to be recognized and praised, that is, in gaining likes or shares and followers. Others would portray happy occasions through their pictures and videos to hide a painful and traumatic background of their life. Others would show how affluent and comfortable they are in life to hide their insecurity due to poverty. However, such attitude can also become problematic. Portraying to others whom we are not, distances us from our real self and thus, from recognizing who we are before God.

In today’s Gospel, John reminded us of the importance of recognizing our true self before God and before others. People were asking John if he was the Messiah or Elijah or some great prophets from the Old Testament. John could just easily pretend that he was someone else of great importance. However, John was honest enough to say that he is not God nor a great prophet. He was just a simple and humble friend of God, whose voice cries out in the dessert to bring people closer to God.

Thus, we are called today to be more accepting of ourselves with all our weaknesses and problems as well as our strengths and potentials. Being honest with ourselves is also being honest with God and with others. In that way, we become an authentic person who is not bothered of any pretension and insecurity. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR

December 31, 2019 – 7^th Day of the Octave of Christmas and last day of 2019

Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/123119.cfm

Homily

Today is the last day of this year 2019. I am sure that each of us here have many stories to tell of what happened the past year. There must be difficulties and sorrows, problems and struggles that you have to wrestle. However, at the same time also, there must be blessings and graces that we have received from the Lord. I am sure too that there were many encounters with other people that made our year 2019 memorable and wonderful.

And so, for all that has been, I would like to invite you now that we observe a minute of silence and close our eyes to thank the Lord for his grace and favor upon us. 

(A minute silence)

Let us remember, that before God spoke to create the world, there was only the silence of God. It was from that silence of God also, that God speaks. In the Gospel of John, we are reminded that “in the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God.” And this Word became flesh who made his dwelling among us.

God invites us that as we are about to close 2019, let us also be more receptive of God’s Word, of allowing God to speak to us through the many experiences we have in this year 2019. We can only be more receptive of God’s word and of his voice when we also choose consciously to be silent.

Thus,  in the few hours before the closing of 2019 and beginning of 2020, stay in silence for a while for 10 minutes or more. You do not have to say your memorized prayers on your mind. No need for words. No need for mental prayers. Just allow yourself to be embraced by silence and allow God to speak to you through your experiences in this past year.

As we allow God to speak to us, we may be assured of His presence as we also welcome a new year. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR

December 30, 2019 – 6^th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/123019.cfm

Homily

The life of the Prophetess Anna in the Gospel of Luke, reminds me of our grandmothers and fathers who come to Church often or even daily. These people are most of the time, the first ones to arrive and to sit in front or at least near the altar. 

It is a contrast that I see between the old and us, young people because the young would usually sit at the back or even stay outside the church. I know, that because of the physical limitations, our grandmothers and fathers would choose to be near the altar so that they can hear well and receive communion easily. The young ones also would choose the back, perhaps so that it would be easier to chat with a friend and make an easy exit after the mass or more comfortable to sit there rather than in front. 🙂

Anna, in the Gospel of Luke, would always go to the Temple because she was desiring of seeing and meeting the Messiah. For many years, she persisted despite the dull and boring days that she had to spend while waiting for the Messiah to come. However, her faith bore fruit when Jesus arrived. At last, Anna met and encountered the Messiah. 

It was not difficult for her to recognize Jesus because her heart was ready and open for his coming. Thus, she immediately recognized the Lord and was delighted for that encounter. That encounter too changed her life completely.

On this sixth day of the Octave of Christmas, let us also make our hearts and minds always open and welcoming to God’s presence. Like Anna, we may also desire in meeting the Lord in ways that could be beyond our expectation. As we meet and encounter Jesus through the presence of our brothers and sisters, we may also praise God by telling others how good God is to us. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR