Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Weekday Homilies

  • When God was a refugee

    When God was a refugee

    December 28, 2019 – Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122819.cfm

    Homily

    King Herod was hungry for power. When he heard the news that there will be a new-born king, he was threatened. In his hunger for power, he did not want anyone to share in what he enjoyed. In fact, Herod murdered his own children so that no one will take the power and riches from him. Hence, how much more if the one who is to reign is a baby? Herod was indeed frightened and threatened.

    God reveals Himself not to the rich and the powerful, not to politicians and famous personalities of our society, but, to simple and poor people – because the rich and powerful, the famous and the “big shots” do not need God. They believed that they themselves are “gods.” This is the attitude of Herod and the reason why he felt threatened upon hearing the news of the new-born king.

    Sadly, because of so much insecurities and the corrupted heart of Herod, he would do whatever he can in order to eliminate that baby who threatened his power, wealth and comfort. What had been sacrificed were the lives of many innocent baby boys. They were murdered right before the eyes of their mothers and fathers. There was no mercy! It was just evil!

    Today’s feast of the Holy Innocents reminds us of all the innocent people who have died and who are dying because of the cruelty and oppression of others. The Gospel also tells us that Joseph through the instruction of the angel brought baby Jesus and Mary to Egypt. Egypt was a common place for Jewish refugees and people who seek safety. Egypt had become an important place in the life of Jesus as it had become a safe place for him. This tells us, that even God became a refugee because of the people who rejected him.

    Thus, there are two invitations that I would like you to remember today. 

    First, let us be aware of our insecurities and of our tendency to be threatened by the goodness of others. Being aware of these, allows us to come to the light as the first letter of John tells us. It is by coming closer to God that we also come to light, therefore, making ourselves exposed to God. This will lead us to recognize our own insecurities and tendency to be abusive, corrupt and insecure. 

    Second, as Egypt had been a safe haven for Baby Jesus, allow ourselves also to be the “Egypt” for others – that we become a safe haven for people who need help, love, care and protection. This will not be easy as it will be demanding us of our time, presence and resources. However, let us also remember, in some ways, we have taken refuge to others, friends and family members when we needed help. It would also be good to return the goodness that we have received to others.

    In this way, we may be able to make Christmas a memorable and holy day. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • He saw and believed

    He saw and believed

    December 27, 2019 – Friday – Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122719.cfm

    Homily

    It is just fitting for us to celebrate the feast of St. John the Evangelist soon after Christmas Day. The opening lines of his gospel sum up in a few words what we are celebrating at Christmas, he wrote and ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’

    This, the last of the four gospels to be written, is based on the eyewitness testimony of the favoured one described as the Beloved Disciple of Jesus. This could give us the impression that Jesus loved this disciple more than all the other disciples. But other texts in the gospels suggest that Jesus loved and loves all his disciples equally. He said to them all as a group, and indeed says to us also, ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.’ Yes, we are all Jesus’ beloved disciples.

    What distinguishes John from the other disciple is that he received and responded to the love of Jesus more fully than all the others did. As we have heard in the gospels, John, the youngest of them all was the only male disciple who was present at the foot of the cross; he remained faithful when others had shown themselves to be unfaithful; he remained fearless when others ran away and hid because of fear.

    John’s faithful love brought him to the empty tomb faster than Peter; and because of this, it made John to understand the empty tomb and recognize God’s power because, ‘he saw and believed.’  

    Yes, John saw the empty tomb and believed that Jesus was raised from the dead even in the midst of fear, doubts and confusion. He is the disciple who encourages all of us to give ourselves wholeheartedly in love to Jesus as he has given himself fully to us.

    Each of us has seen and experienced God’s love and generosity in our own lives. I would like to invite you to be more aware of those moments, of those experiences so that they may lead us to Jesus. Let us truly believe, then, in Him who has come to us to live with us. Let us also come to him, to come closer to God in this season of Christmas. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • John is his name, because God is Gracious

    John is his name, because God is Gracious

    December 23, 2019 – Monday of the 4th Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122319.cfm

    Homily

    The Lord promised to send a Messiah who will come to us in order to save us. But before the Messiah will come, a person shall be sent first to serve as a herald who will prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah. This herald will not only announce the coming of the Messiah but he too will lead the people to recognize who the Messiah is.

    In the prophecy from the Book of Malachi, this person shall lead and gather the people to see God. He will be like a refiner’s fire who will teach and correct the wrong of the people. In this way, this person will lead the people to repentance to fully welcome the Lord. The birth of this person is not by accident but planned well by God.

    We have heard in the first reading how Malachi described God sending the messenger who is also the message himself of God. This means that the life of this person is the message of God to make the people prepare themselves for God’s coming. This is God’s promise that is  to be first fulfilled through the participation of humanity, through us.

    The Gospel reveals further to us how God planned everything so that we will be able to recognize Him. The birth of John was announced to an old couple, to Zachariah and Elizabeth. For the Jews, if a couple has no child, it means that they are not favored by God and worst they too believed that the couple are cursed. 

    However, to the surprise of this old couple an angel announced that they will have a son.  Elizabeth welcomed the message from God, but her husband, because it was too much to believe could not accept God’s gift. That is why, Zechariah was silenced by God. He only recovered his voice when his son was born. It was when he gave the name John to his son that the Lord opened his mouth again because the Lord is gracious. Yes, the name John or Johannes means the Lord is gracious. Zechariah realized that his son is God’s message to him.

    The birth of John is a divine manifestation that God is indeed gracious and faithful despite our unbelief and doubts. God continues to reveal himself to us even though we refuse to believe.

    This was the role of John and that was to bring people again to believe that God has never abandoned us. God remembers and He is here with us. This made John a great and important prophet because he reminded the people about God, made people recognize God and brought them close to God. He was indeed a refiner’s fire because he challenged the people’s way of life and called them to get out from their comfort zones of power, influence, abuse, sin and corruption.  Yet, because of this role of John, it caused John’s life. He was martyred, beheaded actually, because of this cause to make people recognize that God is gracious

    For all of us, we may ask ourselves, “What is God’s plan for me now? What does God want me to be now? Is there also a divine purpose of my life?” 

    We are called today to be the modern John the Baptist of God. Yes, you and me who have been baptized in the name of God have been called to proclaim God’s graciousness. We are called to lead people back to God and to discover a life filled with peace and love with God and with each other.

    How do we do it then?

    You as parents, you are in the best position to lead your children to God. You are there to prepare the way of the Lord in the hearts of your children. Teachers, educators and persons who are in authority, you too are in the position to influence your students, mentees and subjects to discover God in your authority. As friends, co-workers, and classmates we too are in the position to let those people around us to realize that God is in us. Through us, people around us may discover and be led closer to God.

    Let us include in our prayers today to make John alive in each of us. It also means that we make ever present God’s graciousness in us because we will become a witness to God’s grace. Hopefully, through this vocation of bringing people close to God, we as a community, will also journey closer to God as we struggle to recognize God daily in our life despite our unbelief and refusal to believe in God’s graciousness to us. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God is visiting us. Do you feel His presence?

    God is visiting us. Do you feel His presence?

    December 21, 2019 – Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122119.cfm

    Homily

    A surprise visit from a friend or a family member, whom we have not met for a long time, would always bring joy. I remember when my maternal grandparents were still alive; sometimes we would pay a visit to them unexpectedly. I would always treasure the happiness that our visit would bring to them. It was a delight to be kissed by my grand-mother despite having no teeth at all. That small gesture would always create smiles and warm hospitality to people who are dear to us.

    In today’s Gospel story, Luke tells of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. This seemingly ordinary visit of a cousin reveals to us the wonder of one’s presence being gifted to another. 

    Mary who welcomed and received God in her life is filled with God. This fullness of God in Mary made her more aware of the needs of others. This moved her to respond immediately to her needy cousin Elizabeth. Mary knew well that Elizabeth needed help and so she responded with willingness. This visit of Mary was, indeed, out of love and generosity.

    This tells us too that when we allow God to fill us with His presence, the more we become aware of the presence of other people. This reminds us too that when we are truly filled with love, love makes us more aware of the needs of others. Why?

    Because being filled with God’s presence means love. And love is never selfish. It never goes inward but always outward. Never passive but always active. True love and true concern overflows from us and thus, making us free to share our love to those who are in need. That overflowing love is kindness and generosity. This was how Mary responded to visit Elizabeth.

    When Elizabeth heard the voice of Mary, Elizabeth was filled with joy, which also made the child in her womb to leap for joy. The very presence of Mary brought comfort and joy to Elizabeth and to her baby. The reason for this was, Mary brought the Lord closer to Elizabeth and to the baby. 

    The fullness of God in Mary was shared to Elizabeth and to the baby. The words of Elizabeth expressed this fullness, “blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Through the very presence of Mary, Elizabeth and her baby in the womb felt that God has visited them. Mary’s willingness and openness to God made her the bearer of God’s loving presence to her cousin Elizabeth. Indeed, Mary’s visit, though simple, was a great gift for Elizabeth. This calls us too that, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas and share our materials gifts to our friends and family members, never forget the gift of presence.

    Each of us too has that capacity to bring God’s presence to others. As we are coming closer to the birth of Jesus, we are called that through us, others will also feel God’s presence. We do not have to do big and great things but simple actions and words to people who need our assistance and help, our presence and person. A generous action and word to a person next to us would also be enough to let the person feel that God is present. 

    Allow God today to visit us. And may God’s visit fill our hearts with his presence and love so that we too shall be able to bring that fullness to others. Make an effort to let ourselves be made aware of the many needs of the people around us.

    Thus, never deprive others of your presence because God has never deprived us of his presence. God took the risk of meeting us even though it will cost him pain and suffering and even death, because each of us is a delight to him, so dear to him. Hence, I would like to invite you then, 

    To maximize the greatness of the gift of your presence especially to those family members or friends who are sick, lonely or depressed. Visit them and assure them of your loving presence. 

    And also, as you will be busy this Christmas, never forget to embrace one another, to spend quality time with your loved ones. Put down your smartphones and talk to each other to make real human contacts with those who are physically near you.

    Share also what you have now to those who are most in need. Do not wait for you to be materially rich before you give, because even the poorest of us can give something to others. A gift given out of our insecurity but with gratitude is the best act of generosity. 

     In these ways, hopefully, we shall be able to respond to God’s invitation in by becoming ourselves an extension of God’s presence to others. Hinaut pa. 

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • To believe like Mary

    To believe like Mary

    December 20, 2019 – Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122019.cfm

    Homily

    What does it really mean to believe? 

    Our Gospel today reveals something to us as we are approaching the Birth of Jesus. Today’s Gospel brings into that memory where Mary believed despite the unbelievable circumstances in her life. 

    The Angel Gabriel greeted Mary, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you!” Reflecting upon it, we find that the greeting is so deep. It is a statement from God that Mary is certainly favored and that God is delighted with Mary. Mary is, indeed, filled with GOD!

    In her simplicity and being an ordinary woman, she accepted God’s invitation extra-ordinarily because ‘she believed’. In her simplicity, Mary felt the trouble of being honored as favored by God. I am sure that Mary with her human emotions felt confused and afraid when the angel appeared before her. The revelation of the angel was difficult to understand, thus, she pondered in her heart the meaning of those.

    These troubles, confusion and fear led her to ask in all honesty, “how can it be?” It was neither a question of defiance nor of doubts but of concern on how she would go about it. The answer she got was God’s promise, that God is with her. 

    This promise from God inspired Mary and motivated her to give her consent, her big YES to God. Mary was called by God to be the Mother of Jesus, and Mary responded with joy and confidence. Her response is out of gratitude to God for being good to her and out of love and kindness for that was her experience with God. 

    Indeed, Mary’s whole life knew only love. There is no bitterness in the heart of Mary; no scars of fear or hate, only love. That is why, Mary would always choose to love which she always does. This love of Mary makes her affectionately close to us. Thus, we should neither fear nor hesitate to be close to her.

    The mission of Mary now was to be part of our story of salvation. Mary has a big role here, and that is, to be the Mother of the Redeemer of the World, who will bring peace and mercy. With Mary’s open heart, pure conscience, deep faith and love in God, she accepted the call from God and prompted her to declare, “Behold, I am God’s servant. Let it be done to me according to your word!” She owned this statement and kept it in her heart despite her confusions and anxieties. However, it was Mary’s leap of faith that made her confident before the Lord.

    Everything became possible with God because Mary believed. Remember, God cannot and will not work wonders with us unless we give our consent and believe.

    This is the invitation today for us, TO BELIEVE, because God reveals His presence in the events of our ordinary life. That day for Mary seemed to be just an ordinary day, but the revelation from the Angel just made the day anew.

    TO BELIEVE, then, is to be constantly aware of God’s many revelations in every single moment of our life. 

    TO BELIEVE is to trust in the Lord’s Words despite our troubles and questions, worries and anxieties. Mary pondered in her heart what had been revealed to her.

    TO BELIEVE in the Lord also means to be aware of the needs of others. Mary responded to God because her participation is vital for our salvation.

    TO BELIEVE is to listen to God’s invitation that through our life, God can make wonders, that through Mary’s simplicity, God brings forth creation.

    TO BELIEVE also means being pregnant with God’s presence. Yes, God invites us today that our life, our words and actions, and our relationships with one another will become pregnant with His loving and compassionate presence. 

    With those, let us also welcome Mary and journey with her in our life because it also means to receive Jesus in our lives for she will bring us closer to Jesus. Let us express then our deep gratitude to God because of this wonderful gift given to us through the person of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR