Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Weekday Homilies

  • Symptoms of Sins and Signs of Graces

    Symptoms of Sins and Signs of Graces

    October 25, 2019 – Friday 29th Week in Ordinary Time

    A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (7:18-25a)

    Brothers and sisters:
    I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
    The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
    For I do not do the good I want,
    but I do the evil I do not want.
    Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
    but sin that dwells in me.
    So, then, I discover the principle
    that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
    For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
    but I see in my members another principle
    at war with the law of my mind,
    taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
    Miserable one that I am!
    Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
    Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (12:54-59)

    Jesus said to the crowds,
    “When you see a cloud rising in the west
    you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
    and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
    you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
    You hypocrites!
    You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
    why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

    “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
    If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
    make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
    otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
    and the judge hand you over to the constable,
    and the constable throw you into prison.
    I say to you, you will not be released
    until you have paid the last penny.”

    Homily

    A friend came to me because he was so troubled and felt guilty about himself. He kept repeating the same sin again and again. Even though he knew already that it was a sin, but, he felt helpless and fell into the same sin.

    Thus, when it becomes regular, then, certainly, we have developed it into a habit. Once it becomes a habit, it also becomes a cycle. And when this happens, it also becomes part of our unconscious actions.

    St Paul in his letter to the Romans admitted his own weakness. He recognized his human tendency to sin, to go against what God desires and to rather succumb to what he only desired for selfish reasons. His tendency to be selfish was quite strong as he too admitted his struggle on this. However, he realized that this selfish tendencies in him was not the totality of his being. In himself, he recognized the spirit of God in Him.

    This spirit of God delivers him and guides him to let go of his selfish desires and to welcome and consciously aspire God’s desires for him. This spirit of God is not guilt that will only haunt us for the wrong that he have done. No, guilt is not of God. Guilt or guilt feeling is merely a symptom of sin. Guilt does not desire change neither conversion nor recognition of God. Guilt will only haunt us of the evil we have done to condemn us and separate us from God’s mercy.

    Thus, never confused guilt with true sorrow for sin. Lingering into guilt will only make us hopeless and without any resolve into conversion. For that reason, never wonder why in mere feeling guilty, we still fall into sin or into the same sin again and again. 

    In this way, Jesus calls us into true sorrow. Jesus in our Gospel today points this out to us. For us to arrive into true sorrow for sins, we need to be able to understand our present times, our present context, our present struggles. This is the sign of grace that Jesus wants us to realize. 

    Remember, in the same letter of Paul, he also told us that where sin increases, grace abounds all the more. Hence, beginning from our honest and humble recognition of our present reality, we also recognize the moments of grace where God invites us to trust him.

    When sin becomes a habit or a repetitious action, do not dwell so much on guilt but rather recognize also its root. This is an invitation to look deeper into that emptiness that we are trying to fill in through that sin.

    Take for example, “lying.”

    We lie to people even to those who are close to us because we hide something. We lie because of fear or shame. In that way, we become pretentious and become someone we are not. This happens when lying becomes a habit or a lifestyle. The sign of grace is when we become conscious of what we have been doing unconsciously.

    Certainly, there will be people or even events in our life that will help or lead us in making ourselves aware what is wrong with us. This is also a sign of grace because this is an opportunity for us to allow the Lord to forgive us and transform us. St Paul recognized this, that is why he too expressed his gratitude to Jesus for disturbing him.

     Consequently, allow the spirit to make us aware of our own realities and to be able to understand ourselves and the movement of sin and evil within us. Allow also the spirit of God to disturb us, not to merely feel guilty, but to feel sorry and to commit in aspiring God’s desires for us that will make us free and truthful persons. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • To sense everyday of God’s scent

    To sense everyday of God’s scent

    October 22, 2019 – Tuesday 29th Week in Ordinary Time

    A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (5:12,15b,17-19,20b,21)

    Brothers and sisters:
    Through one man sin entered the world,
    and through sin, death,
    and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

    If by that one person’s transgression the many died,
    how much more did the grace of God
    and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
    overflow for the many.
    For if, by the transgression of the one,
    death came to reign through that one,
    how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
    and the gift of justification
    come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
    In conclusion, just as through one transgression
    condemnation came upon all,
    so, through one righteous act
    acquittal and life came to all.
    For just as through the disobedience of one man
    the many were made sinners,
    so, through the obedience of the one
    the many will be made righteous.
    Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more,
    so that, as sin reigned in death,
    grace also might reign through justification
    for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (12:35-38)

    Jesus said to his disciples: 
    “Gird your loins and light your lamps
    and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
    ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
    Blessed are those servants
    whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
    Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
    have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
    And should he come in the second or third watch
    and find them prepared in this way,
    blessed are those servants.”

    Homily

    Do you have any dogs at home? And have you ever noticed your dog when you are about to come home? Dogs wait patiently for their humans to come return. When they sense that you are coming and can smell your scent even from a distance, they begin to wiggle their tails. They would patiently wait for you and when they see you they make terrible sounds but for them it’s their expression of joy. In their joy and excitement, they would jump at you, lick you and go around your feet, running back and forth.

    This is evident on how the dogs become intimately connected with us. They excitedly greet us because we are able to provide an emotional satisfaction to our dogs (according to petsci.co.uk).

    This behavior among the canines reminds me of our Gospel reading today. Jesus emphasized the importance to be vigilant and to stay awake at all times to welcome him when he comes. The attitude of staying awake and be vigilant is also characterized by a joyful manner. Thus, to stay awake for Jesus’ coming does not only require us to sit straight, but also to expect him with joy. And to joyfully expect and wait the Lord’s coming, our dogs have something to teach us. To joyfully wait involves patience and attentiveness. Dogs are indeed patient in waiting for us yet, very attentive by sensing our coming and smelling our scent.

    Remember, God’s unfolding and revelations are done even in silence. That is why, when God reveals himself, it is always simple, humble and even ordinary. 

    That is why, Jesus reminds us in the Gospel “happy are those servant whom the master finds wide-awake when he comes.” Jesus wants us to be always attentive to his many surprises for us and attentive to his simple revelations in us, in our daily life – at home, at work or at school. To be awake and attentive to God is an invitation to have a heightened awareness of God’s presence in our life and in the lives of others.

    However, we cannot deny also the fact that we grow tired at times, or feel bored and discouraged by the events happening in our life. We may fall asleep in the middle of the night because we have become so tired from waiting and expecting for the Lord to come and rescue us. This happens when our prayers remain unanswered, because you have failed several times in your exams despite your reviews and daily devotions, or your partner or family member is still problematic despite the prayer intentions you have offered, or until now you are not yet healed from your illness which gives you suffering despite the many “pamisa” you’ve made, or your loved one was taken away from you because of a sudden death even though you have been a good catholic, etc. 

    These experiences are truly disappointing. They discourage us and so we feel that our faith is weakened. This happens when we lose our desire for God and tend to focus more on our personal wants, personal assurance of comfort and security. That is how we also fall into sin because we make ourselves distant and indifferent from God’s presence. 

    However, let us remind ourselves from what St. Paul told us in his letter to the Romans, “where sin increased, so grace abounded all the more.” This means that God knows when we feel discouraged and disappointed. He knows when we begin to be aloof with Him and yielding into sin. But it is in those low moments of our life also that God makes himself all the more present. This tells us of God’s desire also to be with us.

    It is not just us desiring to be with God. God desires all the more our presence. That is why when we yield into sin, God makes himself known to us. Our sacraments, the people around and all the things that surround us will direct us of God’s desire to forgive us and welcome us.

    Indeed, the emotional connection between dogs and humans, reminds us of our intimate connection with God. We are a people who longs to see the face of God, who longs to feel His loving and comforting presence in our life. Yet, let us also realize that though we long for God, God longs for us all the more. God is more excited to meet us. Jesus would surely come and meet us where we are at this very moment.

    This is the invitation for us today, that is,

    “to sense everyday God’s scent,”

    meaning, to desire Him even in the midst of trials, of discouragements, of boring and dry moments, and even in the most ordinary days of our life. God reveals his abiding and loving presence to us in any moment of our life. Let us keep our hearts then to always desire God through our constant and intimate communication with God through our personal prayer and through this Eucharist. 

    Let us hope that as we are able to meet the Lord in our ordinary life may it become a moment of joy for us and a life-changing experience for us and for our community. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • When Jesus confronts our sins

    October 17, 2019 – Thursday 28th Week in Ordinary Time

    A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (3:21-30)

    Brothers and sisters:
    Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
    though testified to by the law and the prophets,
    the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
    for all who believe.
    For there is no distinction;
    all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
    They are justified freely by his grace
    through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
    whom God set forth as an expiation,
    through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
    because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
    through the forbearance of God–
    to prove his righteousness in the present time,
    that he might be righteous
    and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

    What occasion is there then for boasting?  It is ruled out.
    On what principle, that of works?
    No, rather on the principle of faith.
    For we consider that a person is justified by faith
    apart from works of the law.
    Does God belong to Jews alone?
    Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
    Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
    and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
    and the uncircumcised through faith.

    Psalm 130

    R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
    Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
    LORD, hear my voice!
    Let your ears be attentive
    to my voice in supplication.
    R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
    If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
    Lord, who can stand?
    But with you is forgiveness,
    that you may be revered.
    R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
    I trust in the LORD;
    my soul trusts in his word.
    My soul waits for the LORD
    more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
    R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

    A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (11:47-54)

    The Lord said:
    “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
    whom your fathers killed.
    Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
    to the deeds of your ancestors,
    for they killed them and you do the building.
    Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
    ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
    some of them they will kill and persecute’
    in order that this generation might be charged
    with the blood of all the prophets
    shed since the foundation of the world,
    from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
    who died between the altar and the temple building.
    Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
    Woe to you, scholars of the law!
    You have taken away the key of knowledge.
    You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
    When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
    began to act with hostility toward him
    and to interrogate him about many things,
    for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

    Homily

    It is not easy to be confronted by others because of our failures and sins. People who tend to display a strong image with a sense of self-righteousness will mostly be resistant towards his or her critics. This happens to us when we think highly of ourselves that we forget how to be humble and accepting of negative comments and confrontations.

    Moreover, when we have grown to be arrogant, we display an air of contempt towards those whom we believed are threatening our good image. Thus, we become hostile and aggressive towards those who confront us and friendly only to those who flatter us.

    These are the attitudes that we also find in the Gospel today. As Jesus confronted the failures and sins of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, they were so unfriendly towards Jesus. Jesus even pointed out how their ancestors resulted to killings of the prophets in the Old Testament in order to hide their sins from the people. Those Jews in the Old and the Pharisees and teachers of the law wanted to keep the people away from the truth and from God. That is why, in order to advance their own interest, to preserve their status quo, and their privileges and influence in the community, they have developed ways of slaving the people. These include the many laws they have created, the taxes they imposed upon the people, and the gap they developed among their people.

    And because Jesus confronted them about these, they could not accept it. Hence, as a retaliation they planned to also silence Jesus by killing him.

    They indeed were cursed as Jesus said because God has already come to them but then they still failed to recognize him in Jesus. The Lord has revealed himself to them but still they refused God’s offer of salvation. These people were without faith. They did not worship God but themselves alone.

    Jesus confronts us of our sins and failures not to demean us or to humiliate us but to make us realize of God’s mercy.

    The Psalm proclaims joyfully to us today, “With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.”

    The Lord desires our reconciliation with him and our freedom.

    Peace and freedom are not achieved by being hostile and vicious towards those who confront us of our mistakes and sins. A fulfilled life is not attained by our denial and arrogance but through humility and honesty.

    This is what Jesus wants us to be that we become persons who are not trapped by our mere personal desires. The Lord desires that we become free and truthful to ourselves because it is in this way the we shall also find life meaningful and become life-giving in our relationships may it be in within our family and friends or with our colleagues at work.

    Thus, let us allow Jesus to confront us. His confrontations with us may appear in different forms. This could be through a lingering guilt and shame of the past sins that we have done, or through a friend and colleague who has the nerve to confront us, or through a family member who took the risk of making us aware of our sins and mistakes.

    Expect also that it will not be easy. To be criticized and be confronted by our sins will bring discomfort in us, but do not resist, be accepting rather and humble enough to look ourselves closer so that we too shall find how merciful our God is. We shall discover also how God desires our transformation to become a better and life-giving person. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • A Sincere Person Inspires

    A Sincere Person Inspires

    October 16, 2019 – Wednesday 28th Week in Ordinary Time

    Feast of St. Gerard Majella, CSsR

    (Patron of Mothers, particularly pregnant mothers and their infants)

    A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (12:23-26)***

    ***readings proper to St. Gerard, Redemptorist Supplementary

    Jesus said to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tel you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

    Homily

    When we experience rejections and deprivations in life, is it not that we also experience discouragements and have a sense of hopelessness?

    That is why there would be people who would yield to a very low self-worth and low self-esteem because of such negative experiences. For others, this leads to depression and chronic loneliness. Others too would go to the other side that leads to a life filled with bitterness and then to that desire to always seek recognition, acceptance, and satisfaction. When these desires remain unconscious and become unsatisfiable, the person turns to be selfish, corrupt and abusive in his or her relationships.

    Yet, negative experiences also can be an opportunity for us to grow more as a person into what God desires us to be. Our painful experiences of rejection and deprivations in life are also doors that will lead us into a life filled with confidence and assurance. This is the life that was shown to us by St. Gerard Majella whose feast we celebrate today. Before St Gerard was known to be a patron for mothers and particularly in time of pregnancy and for their infants, the young Gerard experienced hardships.

    At a very young age he was deprived of a father. His father died and being the only boy, he became a father to his sisters. Though he was very young, he was forced by that circumstance to work as a tailor. Consequently, the hard work that he endured caused his health to fail. He had a very poor health as a young man. However, despite these difficult circumstances, Gerard was never bitter towards others who were better and well-off. He never blamed God for the difficulties he experienced. 

    In fact, Gerard desired that he will offer his whole life in the service of God. But then, because of his poor background and poor health he was rejected by a religious congregation that he wanted to join. Despite this rejection, Gerard never wavered in his resolved. When the Redemptorists came in his hometown, he was inspired by them and asked to join in their group. Again, because of his poor health he was rejected. But because of his persistence, he was able to join, but the Redemptorists reluctantly accepted him. He was never accepted fully, actually!

    In terms of intellectual capacity, Gerard was very far from St Alphonsus, yet, what inspired the people around him was his sincerity. In all the things that Gerard did, he was always sincere. The words that he expressed was filled with sincerity. Gerard was not after any recognition or just to satisfy his cravings because of the deprivations in his life.

    Gerard was just sincere because he was very confident with Jesus. His confidence and intimate friendship with the Lord made this poor and sickly Gerard secured and satisfied. Consequently, the very presence of Gerard uplifted and inspired others particularly those who were afflicted with illness, with loneliness, with poverty and other needs. Thus, even in his poverty, Gerard was generous; even in the midst of rejections, Gerard was most compassionate.

    This is what Jesus told us in the Gospel today. The life of Gerard was a concrete example after Jesus of a seed that dies and then bears much fruit. Those painful and negative experiences of Gerard were his experiences of dying, his choice to make others happy and to bring others closer to Jesus was his way of self-denial and denial from his personal cravings. Hence, by his sincere actions and words, Gerard’s life bore much fruit.

    This is the message also for us today. Let us not allow our negative experiences of rejections and deprivations to bring us farther away from ourselves, from others and from God. Let us rather make them as opportunities for us to grow deeper in our relationship with God and others. Let us be sincere in our words and actions so that we too will become God’s instruments in bringing miracles in the world. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR 

  • Why God is essential in life

    Why God is essential in life

    October 15, 2019 – Tuesday 28th Week in Ordinary Time

    Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

    A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (1:16-25)

    Brothers and sisters:
    I am not ashamed of the Gospel.
    It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
    for Jew first, and then Greek.
    For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith;
    as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.”

    The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven
    against every impiety and wickedness
    of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
    For what can be known about God is evident to them,
    because God made it evident to them.
    Ever since the creation of the world,
    his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity
    have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.
    As a result, they have no excuse;
    for although they knew God
    they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks.
    Instead, they became vain in their reasoning,
    and their senseless minds were darkened.
    While claiming to be wise, they became fools
    and exchanged the glory of the immortal God
    for the likeness of an image of mortal man
    or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.

    Therefore, God handed them over to impurity
    through the lusts of their hearts
    for the mutual degradation of their bodies.
    They exchanged the truth of God for a lie
    and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator,
    who is blessed forever. Amen.

    A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (11:37-41)

    After Jesus had spoken,
    a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.
    He entered and reclined at table to eat.
    The Pharisee was amazed to see
    that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.
    The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!
    Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,
    inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
    You fools!
    Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
    But as to what is within, give alms,
    and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

    Homily

    St Paul tells us of the danger of a conscious denial of God. God’s presence can indeed be felt everywhere and by everyone. However, the people of his time denied God’s presence and power through their wicked practices. They knew God but did not adhere God and did not recognize God’s tremendous love.

    These people continued to worship what were only beneficial to them. They worshipped material things that would only feed them with comfort, riches, power and influence.

    As a result, they favored lies rather than the truth. They preferred corruption rather than honesty. They loved to possess rather than to give. However, such life only led them to darkness and to a life that can never be satisfied. They remained hungry and dull. This truly happened as the people put God aside in their life.

    This resonates with the reaction of Jesus towards the Pharisee who tended to put more emphasis on human regulations rather than on what God intended originally. This Pharisee represented those people who elaborated the law of Moses with hundreds of laws. They believed that it was the best way to obey God’s command. 

    Nevertheless, this was not the case. Jesus confronted the Pharisees of their mistake. They, in fact, worshipped more the law rather than the Lord. By putting more emphasis on the law, they also forgot to be compassionate to the poor and to be grateful to the Lord.

    Consequently, the Pharisees became vicious in their treatment with the common people. Since they thought of themselves highly, they looked down at the poor and the sick. Because of their self-righteousness they have become indifferent to the lowly.

    This was evident in the way they presented themselves. They have become people who were merely concerned of the outside, of their physical appearance rather than of their hearts. They looked flawless outside but with a corrupt heart inside. This again was a form of putting God aside.

    With these, Jesus invites us today to rather make God as the most essential in our life because a life that continually denies God will only lead to emptiness and unsatisfied life. Making others things more important in our life other than God will bring us to a deep spiritual hunger and corruption. These things could be our own material possessions, successes and achievements, influence and fame or simply ourselves, our vices and addictions, our selfish actions and intentions. 

    Indeed, St. Teresa of Avila whose feast we celebrate today reminds us of a person who truly found satisfaction, true comfort and riches with God. Through her closeness with Jesus, Teresa would always discern and choose God’s desire for her rather than her personal desires even if that led to personal conflict and difficulty.

    She made God as the most essential in her life which made her offer also herself.  Accordingly, she had become an ‘influencer’ during her lifetime. She radiated and shared God’s presence in her life and through her actions, her works and speech. She, indeed, found what filled her and satisfied her. Teresa is known to have said,

    “God alone is sufficient.”

    Thus, hopefully, we may also discover that indeed God alone is sufficient for us, that nothing can truly satisfy us or fill us but God alone. Like Teresa, we may also grow in our confidence with Jesus despite our feelings of insecurities and anxieties in life. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR