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Category: Weekday Homilies

  • Where can me meet the Lord face to face?

    Where can me meet the Lord face to face?

    July 30, 2019 – Tuesday 17th Week in Ordinary time  

    From the Book of Exodus (33:7-11;34:5b-9,29)

    The tent, which was called the meeting tent,
    Moses used to pitch at some distance away, outside the camp.
    Anyone who wished to consult the LORD
    would go to this meeting tent outside the camp.
    Whenever Moses went out to the tent, the people would all rise
    and stand at the entrance of their own tents,
    watching Moses until he entered the tent.
    As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down
    and stand at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.
    On seeing the column of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent,
    all the people would rise and worship
    at the entrance of their own tents.
    The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face,
    as one man speaks to another.
    Moses would then return to the camp,
    but his young assistant, Joshua, son of Nun,
    would not move out of the tent.

    Moses stood there with the LORD and proclaimed his name, “LORD.”
    Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,
    “The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,
    slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity,
    continuing his kindness for a thousand generations,
    and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin;
    yet not declaring the guilty guiltless,
    but punishing children and grandchildren
    to the third and fourth generation for their fathers’ wickedness!”
    Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.
    Then he said, “If I find favor with you, O LORD,
    do come along in our company.
    This is indeed a stiff-necked people; 
    yet pardon our wickedness and sins,
    and receive us as your own.”

    So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights,
    without eating any food or drinking any water,
    and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant,
    the ten commandments.

    From the Gospel of Matthew (13:36-43)

    Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.
    His disciples approached him and said,
    “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
    He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
    the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.
    The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
    and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.
    The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
    Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
    so will it be at the end of the age.
    The Son of Man will send his angels,
    and they will collect out of his Kingdom
    all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
    They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
    where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
    Then the righteous will shine like the sun
    in the Kingdom of their Father.
    Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

    Homily

    The first reading from the Book of Exodus tells us about this wonderful encounter of Moses with God. After that disturbing worship of the golden calf, the Lord did not withdrew His presence from the people. Rather, the Lord continued to accompany His people. Indeed, God is faithful.

    The image of this meeting place of Moses captures that affection of God towards his people represented by Moses. The tent where the Lord reveals Himself was the sacred space for Moses to meet God and be overwhelmed by His joyful presence. This is described in Book of Exodus that the Lord spoke to Moses “face to face.” What Moses really experienced was joy in the presence of the Lord because what he proclaimed to the people was not punishment and damnation. Moses delivered to the people how merciful, slow to anger and kind the Lord is.

    However, we may also wonder why this experience was only limited to Moses. Why did God did not also reveal himself to the people? Aside from the reason that Moses was chosen by the Lord at the very the beginning, there was something more in the person of Moses that he was able to encounter the Lord closely and intimately. Moses was more familiar to God’s voice. Moses had developed a deeper relationship with God. Moses can even argue and exchange words with God. Certainly, the heart of Moses was pure, without malice, untainted by guilt and fear but only affection towards the Lord.

    Nevertheless, the people, because of their grave sin towards God were filled with guilt and fear. They can make their own tents and meeting place also with God but then that guilt and fear would prevent them to stand before God as they are. Undeniably, it is very difficult to stand before God as we are, to be honest and truthful about ourselves, to be bare and showing our vulnerability before the Lord. But Moses can do it with God.

    This makes the difference between Moses and the people. Yet, Moses himself did not pass his own judgment towards the people. He did not condemn them for what they did. Moses remained a faithful intercessor and mediator between the Lord and the people.

    This is what we have heard also from the Gospel today. Jesus taught his disciples not to pass quick judgments over other people particularly those who have sinned. It is the Lord who will judge us at the proper time. Jesus wanted his disciples to develop a sense of hope towards everybody because God gives many chances to us.

    This is what Moses also proclaimed to the people. Although God punishes the guilty “from his children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation, but then, God’s kindness and fidelity continues for a thousand generations and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin.” This is also reechoed in our Psalm today, “The Lord is kind and merciful.”

    This tell us now of this God who sees hope in us. We might find ourselves hopeless because of the sins that we have committed or because of the failures we have in life, but then, God sees more in us.

    This is what Moses surely had seen as well, not just for the people but also for himself. That is where he found his redemption because God believed first in him and on what he can do for others.

    Each of us also today is invited to learn from Moses. God has surely seen more in us as his kindness and fidelity surpasses from our failures and sins. Thus, each of us also is invited to meet the Lord in our own tents where we can be with the Lord, presenting our true self without any pretensions and masks, without fear and guilt, but rather, with affection and familiarity with God’s voice. Let us find that sacred space where we can meet the Lord and encounter him and be filled with his joy. This sacred space is not necessarily be limited with physical location or area but also a space where we can be comfortable with who we really are. This space is in fact can also be a state of mind, an attitude towards God’s presence.

    Hopefully, in meeting and encountering God, we may also find and be able to affirm how we are loved by this God, not just us particularly, but also, everyone. And may this realization will change the way we look at and relate with other people no matter who they are. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?

    Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?

    July 23, 2019 – Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Book of Exodus (14:21-15:1)

    Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,
    and the LORD swept the sea
    with a strong east wind throughout the night
    and so turned it into dry land.
    When the water was thus divided,
    the children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land,
    with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.

    The Egyptians followed in pursuit;
    all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and charioteers went after them
    right into the midst of the sea.
    In the night watch just before dawn
    the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud
    upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic;
    and he so clogged their chariot wheels
    that they could hardly drive.
    With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel,
    because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.

    Then the LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea,
    that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians,
    upon their chariots and their charioteers.”
    So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, 
    and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth.
    The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea,
    when the LORD hurled them into its midst.
    As the water flowed back,
    it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army
    that had followed the children of Israel into the sea.
    Not a single one of them escaped.
    But the children of Israel had marched on dry land
    through the midst of the sea,
    with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.
    Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day
    from the power of the Egyptians.
    When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore
    and beheld the great power that the LORD
    had shown against the Egyptians,
    they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.

    Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD:

    I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;
    horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

    From the Gospel of Matthew (12:46-50)

    While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
    his mother and his brothers appeared outside,
    wishing to speak with him.
    Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
    asking to speak with you.”
    But he said in reply to the one who told him,
    “Who is my mother?  Who are my brothers?”
    And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,
    “Here are my mother and my brothers.
    For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
    is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

    Homily on the second day of the Gathering of Youth Ministers from the Conference of Asia-Oceania at Jogjakarta, Indonesia.

    How important really is our family for us? For most of us, our families are the source of our joy, security, identity, confidence and assurance. But for some of us also, our family can be the source of our deepest pain, traumas and bitterness in life. Thus, we cannot deny that it is in the context of our families that we also first experience “being loved” and “being rejected.”

    Moreover, in the growth and development of our Christian faith it is also within the context of our families that we first experience God and we first imagine God. Thus, when I was growing up I was introduced to a God who was rather strict. God was someone that everybody should fear. I was told that this God punishes a naughty boy and rewards a good boy. As a young boy, I tried to be good to avoid God getting angry at me and punish me later on. Unconsciously, I also became fearful to God.

    What motivated me then, to do good was out of fear from being punished rather than out of love. I imagined God like an old man holding a stick who is ready to strike a boy who has been naughty. This image of God definitely haunted me. This was my very experience also at home from my parents who were ready to strike me with a stick whenever I become naughty and disobedient.

    However, later on when I became conscious of my faith-relationship with God, then, I realized that God’s true character is not the one that I first thought of. Experiences would actually tell me that God is kind and generous, loving and forgiving. This again is my experience of God with my family. I came to know and became confident that God loves, and in His kindness, God reveals his gift of presence to us in the most intimate way where we could feel Him. When we allow God to reveal himself to us, then God brings healing and reconciliation, freedom and peace.

    Talking about family, this reminds me of today’s Gospel. Jesus brought out a new idea of being a family where we too shall experience deeper God’s presence and invitations for us.

    Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?” In a way, Jesus expanded the meaning of family relationship by pointing out the members of his family. These were those people listening to him, gathered around him to do the will of his Father. Jesus did not reject his immediate family but expanded its essence.

    Obviously, this family is beyond blood relationship. This is toward a deeper spiritual family relationship. This calls us to identify ourselves and others to be part of a bigger family of God.

    But how do we really belong to this family? Jesus told us that it is by doing the will of his Father. And the first step of doing the Father’s will is to LISTEN to the Son. Indeed, it is in listening that we also realize and become aware of God’s invitation for us.

    It is also clear that Jesus pointed out that his mother, brothers and sisters are those who were gathered around him and together listening to him. Certainly, there is wisdom in listening together, as a community or as family because the process of discernment becomes deeper, more realistic, clearer and empowering when we listen together and discern together on what God wants us to be and what God wants us to do.

    This is what we are basically doing in this gathering of Youth Ministers. As a family, we are called to discern and listen carefully to Jesus and at the same time to the voices of the youth to whom we are sent. This allows us also to have the opportunity of sharing our ideas, reflections and creativity in making ourselves witnesses of God’s peace and joy.

    As we recall also today the story of Exodus and particularly the crossing of the Hebrew people in the midst of the sea. This story tells us that the people crossed the sea not just as individuals but as a family. This calls us also to cross together and to leave behind whatever that enslave us to go forward.

    Our Egyptians today may take the form of our biases and judgments over others, or our unhealthy attitudes such as self-centeredness, self-entitlement, arrogance, bitterness, hatred and anger. Our Egyptians could also be forms of addictions or compulsive behaviors that prevent us from bringing healing, life and peace in our ministry.

    God promises us today that if we trust him, the, he will accompany us to cross over and be liberated from those that enslaved us, preventing us to be free, joyful and alive persons.

    Then, having this experience of liberation as individuals and as a family, we too shall become witnesses of the liberating power of God through the gift of our person and presence.

    To sum up my sharing, there are three invitations that I would like you to dwell.

    First, be in touched with our personal God-experience. This will help us to have grounding in our faith-relationship with the Lord.

    Second, allow ourselves to be part of God’s family by listening to Jesus through the scriptures and experiencing again his presence through the grace of the sacraments and through us and among us.

    Third, allow the Lord to accompany us today to cross over from the sea of our differences, doubts and shyness, fears and biases so that together we will be transformed into living witnesses of God’s joyful presence. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Mary Magdalene’s friendship with Jesus teaches us something today

    Mary Magdalene’s friendship with Jesus teaches us something today

    July 22, 2019 – Feast of Mary Magdalene

    From the Gospel of John (20:1-2,11-18)

    On the first day of the week,
    Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
    while it was still dark,
    and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
    So she ran and went to Simon Peter
    and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
    “They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
    and we don’t know where they put him.” 

    Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
    And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
    and saw two angels in white sitting there,
    one at the head and one at the feet
    where the Body of Jesus had been.
    And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
    She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
    and I don’t know where they laid him.”
    When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
    but did not know it was Jesus.
    Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
    Whom are you looking for?”
    She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
    “Sir, if you carried him away,
    tell me where you laid him,
    and I will take him.”
    Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
    She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
    “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
    Jesus said to her,
    “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
    But go to my brothers and tell them,
    ‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
    to my God and your God.’”
    Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
    “I have seen the Lord,”
    and then reported what he told her.

    HOMILY

    Among the women friends of Jesus, perhaps Mary Magdalene was the closest to him. Mary Magdalene was closely following the Lord wherever he would be. Mary Magdalene was confident that God is in Jesus. She was most sure of it next to Mary, mother of Jesus. Thus, when the disciples fled and hid because of fear. Mary Magdalene together with other women remained. They followed Jesus until his death. Even when Jesus was brought down from the cross, Mary was surely there. Indeed, Mary was filled with grief and sadness when Jesus suffered and died.

                Yet, despite the grief and sadness, Mary returned to that place of pain and darkness. She went to the tomb of Jesus. Why go there when it would only remind her of sadness and grief?

                She went into the tomb at dawn, while it was still dark, the Gospel says. The darkness here means sadness and pain, yet, what is interesting was the dawn was breaking. The sun is soon to come out. Indeed, what Mary will witness is the victory of light over darkness.

    Mary and her friendship with Jesus

                This brings us into the kind of relationship Mary had with Jesus. Despite the grief and sadness, Mary did not just go away and give up even though her friend died. The sadness, disappointment and pain that she felt, urged her more actually to seek Jesus even in times of confusion and darkness in her life.

                This reminds us of our experiences. When we too encounter difficulty and pain, sadness and frustrations, and even boredom in life, we might find ourselves to go away, to step back and become fearful.

                There is something to learn from the friendship Mary Magdalene had with Jesus. It was a friendship that was beyond physical attraction and emotional attachment. It was a friendship built on trust, faith and confidence of being loved.

                Even though Mary was confused and in pain, but, somehow, she knew in her heart that Jesus did not left them, and did not abandon her. She completely believed in Jesus. That is why, even in the seemingly senseless way of going to the tomb; Mary still went to hope against hope.

                Mary recognized the Lord when Jesus said her name, “Mary!” Jesus has her way of calling the name of Mary and when she heard him, Mary opened her eyes from grief and sorrow and recognized that it was Jesus. It is the same as our parents call us. We would always recognize that it is our mother or father calling us. It is the shared intimacy that we have that make us recognize the voice of the person. The Lord also has his own way of calling our names. Discover how God calls us.

                Each of us is invited to develop this kind of friendship that Mary developed with Jesus. How do we develop it? There are fours points to remember.

    1. Be with Jesus always and follow him. Wherever Jesus went, Mary also followed. Thus, always seek the desire of Jesus for you to lead you where he wants you to go. You may ask, “What Jesus wants for me today?” So, as you go to school, or work, at home or to any excursion ask this question so that you may follow him in your heart, in your mind and in your actions. Surely, when we are with Jesus, we will never get tired. We will be filled with joy and satisfaction.
    2. Allow Jesus to come to you and call your name. Like Mary, she allowed the Lord to come into her life and to call her name. Allow also Jesus to occupy your mind and heart. Receive him constantly in the Eucharist, through the Bible and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
    3. Constantly pray. Mary learned from Jesus in praying to the Father in heaven. Through prayer, Mary became more aware also of herself and of God’s presence. Thus, even in few moments during your day, pray. Even if you are at work, at school or at vacation, “tweet” with Jesus, speak “What’s on your mind?” and post to Jesus your “instragamable” feelings and concerns.
    4. Know that you are loved and forgiven. Mary accepted in her life that Jesus loved her and that through him she was forgiven. Despite her sins in the past, Jesus never condemned her, but accepted her because she is being loved.

    All of these led Mary Magdalene to be ever grateful to Jesus. And because she was grateful, she was confident; she was filled with hope and became fearless.

    “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD.” This was Mary’s Easter proclamation to the male disciples of Jesus. Mary have seen the Lord. Going to the tomb was never useless and senseless because even in the midst of pain and confusion, God reveals himself.

                We may also ask ourselves, “Have I also seen the Lord, in those times of difficulties and pain in my life?”

                Mary’s painful experiences had become the ground for God to reveal himself to her. Mary’s relationship with Jesus was also the foundation of Mary’s keenness in recognizing Jesus in her life. And seeing Jesus, empowered Mary to become the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

                By seeing the Lord, Mary was sent to become the first Missionary after the resurrection of Jesus. Mary was sent and so we are. Each of us who have seen the Lord in our life is also called to proclaim to others, “I have seen the Lord.” Hinuat pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Jesus desires that our actions and words are life-giving

    Jesus desires that our actions and words are life-giving

    July 19, 2019 – Friday 15th Week in Ordinary Time

     

    From the Gospel of Matthew (12:1-8) 

    Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
    His disciples were hungry
    and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
    When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
    “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
    He said to them, “Have you not read what David did
    when he and his companions were hungry,
    how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
    which neither he nor his companions
    but only the priests could lawfully eat?
    Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
    the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
    and are innocent?
    I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
    If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
    you would not have condemned these innocent men.
    For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

    HOMILY

    Jesus seemed to be a person that continually scandalized people. He particularly scandalized those who were in the leadership, those who were higher in status in the society. These were the likes of the Pharisees who claimed expertise of the Law of Moses and righteousness for observing every single law.

    This time our Gospel tells on how the Pharisees confronted Jesus for allowing his disciples to pick on the heads of the grain and eat them on a Sabbath day. The Sabbath was considered to be holy by the Jews. Its holiness shall be overserved by not doing any work as God also rested on the Sabbath after the creation.

    Yet, such tradition prevent people from doing anything and even from doing what would be life-giving. A healer was forbidden to heal a sick person as a hungry man was not also allowed do to anything to ease his hunger. The Pharisees complained with this very small thing just to discredit Jesus. Their complain was not out of concern but out of bitterness and malice. They were observing and criticizing Jesus even with trivial things.

    We might also find ourselves in this situation when we also become a person who complains a lot and tends to only see what is wrong and ugly in everything and everyone. We surely are just filled with malice, bitterness and insecurity like the Pharisees.

    Jesus confronted the Pharisees and wanted them to realize that God would not condemn us for doing what is not contrary to God’s desire. God desires to give life to us. That is why, Jesus declared, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

    Thus, if our sacrifice does not give life to others but rather prevent what is life-giving, then, this is not a true sacrifice. God would rather love us to show mercy to others because that will surely give life to those who are in need.

    IMG_0425

    This will also be clear to us once we become aware on what kind of “temple” we worship. The Pharisees merely worship the “letter of the law,” which become their temple. They even worship their own status in the Jewish society which became the reason of their self-righteousness. This too became their own temple which made them condemning.

    Jesus confronted and once again scandalized the Pharisees by telling them that “there is something greater than the temple here.” Jesus is certainly greater that the Temple of Jerusalem and even greater than the temples that the Pharisees worship. Jesus is the new focus of God’s presence.

    This reveals to us that God walks with us and is among us. God is not limited within the walls of a temple or of a church, but God is a person. This is what Jesus means. Our relationship with God is therefore not limited with a structure or a system but founded on a person.

    Jesus invites us today to make our relationship with God, and thus, our faith in Him grounded on the person of Jesus. And Jesus reminds us to discern and see always if our actions and words are life-giving or not. If it gives life, then, it is a true expression of our faith. However, if it prevents life and even suppresses what is life-giving to others, then, our actions and words do not come from the Lord.

    Hopefully, by making ourselves more aware of this and our faith deeply grounded in Jesus, we may become persons who gives and brings life to others. Hinuat pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Re-Learning the welcoming quality of children and un-learning our close-minded adult attitude

    Re-Learning the welcoming quality of children and un-learning our close-minded adult attitude

    July 17, 2019 – Wednesday, 15th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Gospel of Matthew (11:25-27)

    At that time Jesus exclaimed:
    “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
    for although you have hidden these things
    from the wise and the learned
    you have revealed them to the childlike.
    Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
    All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
    No one knows the Son except the Father,
    and no one knows the Father except the Son
    and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

    HOMILY

    Do you know the average questions a child would ask? According to a survey, approximately, a child of about 3 to 5 years old would ask 300 questions a day with an average of 1 question every 2 minutes.

    These questions come from a child’s curiosity. Children would easily marvel at anything and are amazed with everything and everyone. This makes a child welcoming to the many surprises that come.

    The innocence of children, their simplicity and humility make them receptive to the many wonders that surround them. Thus, children easily recognize what is beautiful, good, amazing and surprising even with simple things. They easily get excited in a simple toy. They are delighted in a simple gift. They respond with pleasure to a simple smile.

    In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us how the Father reveals the mystery of salvation, of His gift of healing and peace to the children and the childlike. Of course, God reveals His mystery to all but only the children and the childlike are blessed to receive God’s blessing, simply because of the qualities of being welcoming and humble.

    Jesus warns us adults of our tendency to claim that we already know everything. This is true because when we become adults we also tend to claim our independence. We cease to be curious because we become over confident to what we have achieved.

    IMG_0423

    Jesus criticized the attitude of those people during His time who claimed to be the “masters of the world,” the wise and the learned. The knowledge that they have gained in many years of experiences prevented them to learn new things. They have become arrogant and unwelcoming. These attitudes prevented them to receive God’s revelations and invitations.

    We have to be careful then, when we begin to be arrogant with our own success, when we feel superior of what we have become and over-confident of what we have accumulated. These attitudes might prevent us from recognizing the many wonders that God reveals and to His invitation for us.

    Jesus reminds us today to re-learn our previous qualities when we were children, and to re-learn those qualities through the children around us. However, this also includes un-learning our arrogance and un-learning our tendency to make things under our control and the desire to make ourselves certain of all things. Once we are able to re-learn and un-learn, then, we will also become childlike who are open and welcoming to the many wonders around us and receptive to the many gifts that are being offered to us.

    Take time then to ask questions, to be surprised even with ordinary things, to be delighted even with simple greetings of smiles around you. Take time to stop and say hello to a friend. You may also take time to witness a sunrise or sunset or even while sipping your coffee and eating your meal. You may also take time in giving more attention and presence to a loved one speaking to you and expressing his or her concern and love for you.

    Hopefully, by re-learning the qualities of a child and un-learning our close-minded adult attitudes, we may also discover more and more how God unfolds His presence in us and His blessings for us. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR