Category: Weekday Homilies

November 29, 2019 – 34th Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (21:29-33)

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, 
but my words will not pass away.”

Homily

What kind of future do you imagine for your life? Is it to be materially secured and contended with everything? To have gained awards and be recognized by many? To have a stable relationship and work?

Each of us, hopes for a life that is secured. That is why, we do our best to invest in our studies, professions, business and even relationships. Indeed, we want security. We want to be secured in one way or another.

However, we are also aware that everything here on earth is in constant flux, according to Heraclitus, an ancient philosopher. It means that everything and everyone else is subject to constant change. This change may mean towards development, progress and transformation or to destruction and ruin. These include not just the material things that we possess or our life but even our relationships with one another. 

That is why, one of the common causes of anxiety, depression, pain and stress is our relationship with one another. There is an innate desire in each of us to relate and be with others because that is how we are made. However, because of our human limitations and failures we cause troubles in our relationships. We hurt one another and sometimes cause unrepairable damage towards others. 

Let us accept that we are in search also of a secured and constant relationship. People who committed their life into marriage or into religious life or by being single and remaining fruitful and happy, is an action that hopes and commits to a relationship that is secured. However, such commitment is an everyday battle because even our commitment can change.

Nevertheless, persons who refuse to settle in a committed relationship have greater insecurity for a secured and faithful relationship. Consequently, such insecurity make these people promiscuous or to have many partners without any commitment. But then, such attitude also denies the hope for a healthy and faithful commitment in a relationship. As a result, when we become a person like this then we also become a person who only causes pain and damage to others and to ourselves. But then, despite these, there is still a hope for a constant and secured relationship.

With all of these also, these remind me of the readings we have heard today. Jesus in the Gospel of Luke tells us of the passing of heaven and earth. Hence, everything will pass. This will surely give us pain and confusion. What will change will really be great. What will be destroyed will be many.

However, though many things will change and pass away like for example your marriage that is about to fail because of unfaithfulness, or your family is in trouble because of quarrels over finance and properties, or our dreams and hopes for a better future have become blurred, or our health is weakening due to an aggressive illness, or our studies have become difficult due to financial problems, or our workplace has become horrible due to a toxic relationship with our colleagues… all of these will surely create tensions and anxieties in our hearts and minds. We will certainly feel insecure and confused. We might start believing that everything has become hopeless because of an overwhelming problem.

But then, Jesus tells us in the Gospel, even though everything will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Even if everything will fade and fail, my words and my presence with you will never fade and will never fail. Jesus’ commitment to us, his love and affection will never fade. 

Jesus actually tells us of God’s faithfulness in us that despite our failures and unfaithfulness, God remains for us and with us.

God’s love for you and for me, God’s favor upon us and His affection towards us, remains, because God is faithful.

Being secured with God’s faithfulness, allow God also to fill you and to satisfy your every longing for constancy and security may it be in your relationships, studies, work or business. Despite the uncertainties in life, be secured with God by constantly being with Jesus. 

We who have realized this, make this realization be carried out into our life in building friendships and being faithful to your relationships. Hopefully, with this consciousness in us, we will become instruments of God’s faithfulness. Sana all.

Jom Baring, CSsR

November 27, 2019 – Wednesday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time

#REDWEDNESDAY

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (21:12-19)

Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Homily

Our Gospel today may sound disturbing and discouraging for us especially if we only tend to seek comfort and security in life. In many ways, we usually choose the easiest, the fastest and relaxing ways. Parents would hope and do their best to provide the best security and comfort for their children. I would also rather take what is easy rather than choosing a difficult one. However, Jesus tells us differently.

Jesus tells us, “if you decide to come and follow me, then, you will experience difficulties, conflicts, contradictions and even persecutions from those who deny me and do not believe in me. Friends and family members will hate you, will not understand you and even insult you for choosing me.”

To believe in Jesus is a risk. This was the experience of the first disciples who endured persecutions not just from the Roman soldiers or fellow Jews but even from their own families and close friends.

This reminds us of the many Christians who suffered from persecutions. Obviously, many of them had become confused and afraid because of the difficulties of being a Christian.

Remember, to believe in Jesus is a contradiction; to believe in Him was against the prevailing belief and culture of the people. Because we are supposed to take revenge and hate our enemies but Jesus tells us to love and forgive our enemies. Because we are supposed to aspire wealth and power, to be famous and successful but Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor, the sorrowful and the persecuted for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”

This reminds us of what we celebrate today. Today is called as Red Wednesday as our way of remembering and recognizing the martyrdom of many Christians today. Indeed, Christians are being discriminated, violated, oppressed, tortured and murdered in many countries of which we are not aware.

Thus, this calls us too to become true Christians, no matter what. But remember, a real Christian is always a contradiction to what the world wants us to be.

We are called to be true and honest Christians in our daily and common affairs. That is – to be honest in our dealings with others, to be just to the people we work with, to have the integrity in serving others even in the midst of corrupt practices in our institution, to be dedicated and self-sacrificing despite the indifferent and self-serving environment we are in.

We may have the faith that truly believes and trusts in God as we live our life according to our state of life now. Let us ask then the intercession of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to pray for us and to learn from her in trusting fully her son, Jesus. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR

NOVEMBER 6, 2019 – WEDNESDAY 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 

A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (13:8-10)

Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill;
you shall not steal;
you shall not covet,
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (14:25-33)

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, 
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion? 
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”

Homily

Hating one’s family member, a parent or a sibling, seems so harsh for us today. However, Jesus, in our Gospel today, actually means something deeper.

When our relationship with Jesus becomes more serious and deeper, Jesus also occupies more space in our life. It only means that Jesus has become the center of our relationship. Having this kind of relationship with Jesus, in which each of us is called, is also invited to make our relationship with God as the motivating factor of our other relationships.

This means that God asks us to make Him as our priority over our other priorities. And what is more beautiful here is God’s invitation for us to make our relationship with Him as the “life and soul” of our human relationships. It is from our relationship with God that, hopefully, we will become responsible and generous persons especially as we relate with others as a parent, sibling, a child, a friend or as a professional or whatever work you have or status.

This is what St Paul affirmed in his letter to the Romans,

“owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.”

Having that confidence in God that we are loved, assures us of our other relationships. Being loved then, enables us to love others. Thus, it is also very important to have that confidence with God because our human relationships may fail us sometimes, and our human love may show selfishness and cause us pain and hurts.

Consequently, Jesus invites us to carry the crosses present in the many relationships that we have. It would be very good that we acknowledge and embrace our crosses. It is when we are able to acknowledge and embrace our crosses that we will also be able to befriend our crosses. Befriending our crosses helps us to carry them with gladness and peace because if we are not able to befriend them, then, we will be carrying them with bitterness and anger.

These crosses could be our own emotional limitations, physical disabilities and health issues, family problems and conflicts, and other concerns that may drain and bring us down in our relationships. Yet, in carrying our crosses, whatever that may be, the Lord assures us that we will never be alone. We will not be carrying our crosses alone. The Lord promises us today that He too will be with us and will be carrying too our crosses.

This is the beauty of Christian discipleship because it gives us the confidence of being with God. God, after all, is ever faithful to us. Hence, when we are able to make God as our main priority and the center of our relationships, God transforms us and our relationships according to His wisdom. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR