Category: Weekday Homilies

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

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

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

July 19, 2019 – Friday 15^th 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.

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

July 17, 2019 – Wednesday, 15^th 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.

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

July 16, 2019 – Tuesday 15th Week in Ordinary Time

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

From the Book of Exodus (2:1-15a)

A certain man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman,
who conceived and bore a son.
Seeing that he was a goodly child, she hid him for three months.
When she could hide him no longer, she took a papyrus basket,
daubed it with bitumen and pitch,
and putting the child in it,
placed it among the reeds on the river bank.
His sister stationed herself at a distance
to find out what would happen to him.

Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to bathe,
while her maids walked along the river bank.
Noticing the basket among the reeds, she sent her handmaid to fetch it.
On opening it, she looked, and lo, there was a baby boy, crying!
She was moved with pity for him and said,
“It is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter,
“Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women
to nurse the child for you?”
“Yes, do so,” she answered.
So the maiden went and called the child’s own mother.
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her,
“Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will repay you.”
The woman therefore took the child and nursed it.
When the child grew, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter,
who adopted him as her son and called him Moses;
for she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

On one occasion, after Moses had grown up,
when he visited his kinsmen and witnessed their forced labor,
he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own kinsmen.
Looking about and seeing no one,
he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
The next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting!
So he asked the culprit,
“Why are you striking your fellow Hebrew?”
But the culprit replied,
“Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us?
Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?”
Then Moses became afraid and thought,
“The affair must certainly be known.”

Pharaoh, too, heard of the affair and sought to put Moses to death.
But Moses fled from him and stayed in the land of Midian.

 

From the Gospel of Matthew (11:20-24)

Jesus began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum:

Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

HOMILY

Jesus was very disappointed at the response of the people. Three places were mentioned such as Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum to have been the places where Jesus did many wonderful things. Miracles were performed as God’s sign of blessing and presence. Yet, Jesus found the heart of the people hardened. The people refused God’s offer of friendship.

They did not want to be disturbed from what they were usually doing. They were just satisfied with the kind of life that they were leading. Thus, God’s invitation for them to change became a threat to what was comfortable, advantageous and beneficial for them.

This is the reason why Jesus gave the uncompromising warning to these people because of their refusal of God’s offer of salvation, and that is, damnation.

Many times also we will find ourselves in this kind of situation. We easily take for granted the everyday miracles that happen in our life. As a result, we become ungrateful in the way we live our life, in the way we relate with others and even in the way we relate with God. And from these, there are three reasons that I see on why we would hold back and refuse God.

First, is the refusal to admit and recognize that there is something wrong in us, in the way we live our life, and in the way we relate with people around us. Unacceptance of our faults means distancing ourselves from the responsibility. This attitude will make us self-righteous, thus, making us blind of our own sins.

Second, is the confidence of being self-satisfied. When we are filled with ourselves, filled with our selfish desires and wants, we also become self-satisfied. When this happens, we will not realize that we are also in need of God. This attitude comes from the tendency that tries to accumulate more for the self. The forms of accumulation is not just limited with our desire to enrich ourselves with material things but also, praises and recognitions from others, or even forms of compulsive behaviors and addictions. These forms of accumulation make ourselves busy and filled with many things, consequently, preventing God to occupy a space in our life.

Third, is being ungrateful. A self that refuses to admit sins and self-satisfied also becomes ungrateful. When we become ungrateful, we easily take for granted the giver of gifts and the worker of miracles, and thus, the presence of God in our life. With this attitude, we also become self-entitled. We become demanding in our relationships. We become critical of those people around us and we tend to only see what is wrong in the other person. We will become stingy of our time and energy and ungenerous of our resources and presence to those who are asking for our help. And most of all, we become indifferent to people around us and indifferent to God, the source of all blessings and miracles.

Yet, we learned also today that there was this man who was more attuned to God’s desire rather than his own selfish wants. The story that we have heard in the first reading tells us of this man called Moses.

Moses, even though he had a tragic history in his childhood, he was a man of generosity and justice. He was a grateful person who delighted at the wonders around him. Despite his comfortable upbringing as he was adopted by the daughter of the Pharaoh and was living as a prince, Moses had a deep sense of justice. This made Moses to be sensitive to the cruelty happening around him. He could neither stand the sight an Egyptian oppressing a Hebrew slave nor a slave beating to death another slave. This prepares Moses to become God’s instrument in liberating the people from slavery and oppression.

This is what Jesus desires us to be. The Lord has blessed us and shown us many wonders to invite us to become the person he wants us to be. Thus, the invitation for us today is to be more aware of the many blessings and miracles God is doing for us today.

Hopefully, by recognizing God’s blessings and miracles in our life, it will lead us the three movements. First, to humble ourselves by recognizing our failures and need for mercy and forgiveness. Second, by recognizing our emptiness and so of our need of God to fill our empty hearts. And third, by becoming grateful to the many good things that God has given us making ourselves more aware of his presence and sensitive to the needs around us.

May Mary, the Lady of Mount Carmel be our guide and example in this desire to come closer to her Son, Jesus through our daily and continual conversion. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR