Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Year 2

  • GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER

    GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER

    June 16, 2021 – Wednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061621.cfm)

    As the national election is coming, we can even see now of tarpaulins, photos and videos of aspiring candidates posting their best quotes, achievements, and helping-hand photo opts. Are they doing these as sincere actions to serve the country selflessly without any intention to advance their personal agenda? Maybe yes or maybe not.

    However, publishing ones achievements and good works can become self-serving especially if the intention is for our personal interest. In such manner, the object of our good works would only become instruments to seek praise and recognition from people. This is not a true act of generosity and service then, but comes from a heart filled with insecurity and selfishness.

    The action of seeking praise and recognition reminds me of today’s Gospel and on how Jesus brought to our awareness the tendency to be image-conscious but insecure.

    Jesus reminds his disciples not to become hypocrites who merely wanted to win the praise of others. Jesus criticized people who showed such attitude because of their growing indifference to the poor but swelling self-centeredness. By seeking attention from people, their vain and explicit forms of devotion were totally a mere show for people to see. They wanted people to praise them, to recognize how good, religious and respectable they were. They were seeking fame and power over the people yet, they became hungry for attention. It was as if their good and best self-image was all that matters. Hence, they became pompous and arrogant.

    We might not be far from this. We have to be careful when we become anxious and insecure of ourselves. These attitudes will make us image-conscious and we will tend to keep things for ourselves alone. This will make us vain, arrogant, pretentious and selfish who only gives to gain more.

    That is why, St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians, reminds the Christians to be generous enough. St. Paul writes, “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” This attitude of generosity comes from the confidence in God who is first generous to us. God’s generosity abounds  and endures forever.

    Growing in that confidence makes us more secured and assured on what we have today and at this very moment. This is the very spirit that dwell in a cheerful giver that St. Paul tells us in his letter. Indeed, God loves a cheerful giver because God sees Himself in the person. God is the first one who cheerfully gives graces to us. And when we also learn that kind of attitude in God, then, God sees Himself in us.

    Certainly, when we also realize how blessed we are, that we too grow in our gratitude to the Lord. It is essential for us to accept and appreciate the graces  given to us. They may include not just the material things that we possessed but also our relationships, people who are there to love and support us, the gift of our person, our talents and abilities.

    Jesus invites us today that as we recognize truly the good things in us and the blessings that we have, we are called to expressed freely and generously what we have received. No need for boasting the good that we have done because the Father sees everything and is delighted with us.

    In this way, we avoid the tendency to be self-serving and greedy, who would always seek for more attention, recognition, praise, and entitlements from others. This will keep us away from becoming  the unhappiest person for being a hypocrite.

    Hopefully, through this invitation, it will mold us to become grateful persons and cheerful givers, loved by the Lord. May our generosity express the cheerfulness in giving and in sharing our life. Hinaut pa.

  • THERE IS JOY EVEN IN OUR POVERTY

    THERE IS JOY EVEN IN OUR POVERTY

    June 15, 2021 – Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061521.cfm)

    Why do people who tend to complain a lot, find life miserable? Why do people who love to keep things only for themselves always feel unsatisfied?

    When we tend to complain a lot then we only see the ugly, the mistakes, the failures and the not so nice in life . We find life miserable because we believe that life is so unfair to us. Hence, no matter how provided we are by our parents, or no matter how much wealth we have possessed, and no matter how many achievements we have succeeded, when we only see the ugly in us and in others, life will be miserable.

    When we also keep things for ourselves only, then, this tells us how insecure we have become. We shall only recognize what we do not have and do not see what we already have. Thus, we will always feel unsatisfied because our tendency to keep things for ourselves will remove us from the confidence of being graced and being gifted.

    If we have developed one or these two attitudes, then, we are missing many things in life. St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians recounts to us today the grace of God received in the churches of Macedonia.  Macedonia, a Greek territory, had been subjected to many trials and affliction. However, Paul recognized that despite those and their profound poverty, the Christians in Macedonia were filled with abundant joy. Within that joy was an overflowing wealth of generosity on their part.

    Paul happily tells us that through their joy expressed by their generous heart, then, they offered their lives to the Lord and to the Apostles for the sake of the Gospel.

    Such wealth of generosity has been my experience in a small Christian community in Talisay, Balabagan, LdS during our 3-month long mission.

    Such attitude by the first Christians in Macedonia tells us today that we can remain contented, happy and filled with joy in life despite the afflictions, the poverty and the sickness that we are suffering at this moment. This was the spirit behind the Macedonians because they recognized and were fully aware of the grace of God in their life.

    They very presence of the Apostles and the gift of faith were enough reasons of becoming conscious and confident in God’s loving and faithful presence. Consequently, that joy in their heart made them generous. Despite their poverty, there was an overflowing wealth of generosity, an expression of true joy.

    This is God’s invitation for us today. We are called to become more conscious of God’s grace, of God’s loving and faithful presence to us. In that awareness, we may grow in our confidence with God and be filled with joy in our heart even when we are suffering and poor. May it lead us to become generous in our words and actions even to the extent of loving our enemies and praying for those who have hurt us, persecuted us and insulted us for the sake of their conversion and peace. Hinaut pa.

  • TREATING EVIL WITH GOODNESS

    TREATING EVIL WITH GOODNESS

    June 14, 2021 – Monday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061421.cfm)

    Our common response when we are hurt is to react in retaliation. Among animals or even insects, when they are hurt suddenly they bite or attack us. Even when their territories are invaded, animals or insects react to protect themselves from possible threats.

    A similar reaction would also happen with us. Even among children, when they are hit or experience hurt, to hit in return is the usual response. This is most common even among adults. There are even people who naturally fight back when they are hurt. Even in some cultures the principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is still observed.

    However, in today’s Gospel we have heard a different way of responding when we are hurt and when we experience the pain and suffering that evil brings. Indeed, Jesus tells us of a different response towards hatred and evil. Jesus said, “offer no resistance to one who is evil.”

    What Jesus is basically saying to us is not to repay evil with evil or not to respond to violence with violence. As Jesus addressed this to his disciples, and so he does also to us now. Jesus calls us not to allow hatred, anger, violence and evil to control us.

    Thus, not to resist to one who is evil, is not allowing evil to control us. Meaning, once we resist to one who is evil, this may bring us into the same position of the one who is evil. We shall respond to the same violence, then. Hence, responding evil with evil or responding to violence with violence will only bring us into an endless cycle of evil and violence.

    The wisdom of Jesus lies in the offer of peace. To offer the other cheek when someone strikes us on the right cheek, though this sounds ridiculous for many of us, is an opportunity for the one who have hurt us to embrace peace and reconciliation. Peace and reconciliation is truly a difficult path. A very unpopular one. However, this is the way to end the cycle violence and evil.

    But this will not be possible with our own ability to assess a situation. Our wisdom may not be enough to remain calm in a hostile environment. That is why, Paul is his second letter to the Corinthians reminds us, “not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Yes, we have been graced by the presence of God and it is by acknowledging God’s presence that we will be able to embrace peace and also offer peace.

    Moreover, this is not an excuse to remain passive to the abuses and other forms of oppression. It does not mean that when your spouse is physically abusing you, or a family member is sexually abusing you, or a friend or colleague is exploiting your goodness and generosity, that you remain passive and indifferent. The teaching of Jesus is meant to keep violence at the minimum and not to escalate more violence towards others and ourselves. In such situations, we are called to get out from the abusive relationship and to demand justice and show mercy.

    To demand justice then is to make the perpetrator take the responsibility and consequences. To show mercy is to get rid of hatred and anger within our hearts. This is our key to live free by offering peace and reconciliation towards those who have wronged us.

    God invites us today to live freely by not allowing evil to control us or to have an access to our hearts by holding on to grudges, hatred, anger and selfishness. Hinaut pa.

  • Towards New Life and New Hope

    Towards New Life and New Hope

    April 7, 2021 – Wednesday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040721.cfm)

    Painful and traumatic experiences in life bring so much confusion to us. The sudden death of a loved one, losing and failure in your job or business, broken relationships, family feud, etc. are some experiences that can be terrifying and horrifying. Because such experiences are too overwhelming, they make us too sad and depressed. We could blame ourselves, blame others, blame the world or blame God for making us suffer greatly.

    The story of the two disciples who were leaving the painful place of Jerusalem tells us of a reality in our life. Like them who thought that Jerusalem was just a place of horror and death, of failure and pain, we too might want to escape from those painful memories of the past. Like them, we too could be in search of something just to make sense of those unexplainable and terrifying events in our life. Yet, we could not understand everything because the experience was just overwhelming.

    This was how the two disciples found themselves in that situation. The death of Jesus and the failure of their dreams now prevented them to see and recognize the presence of the Risen Jesus among them. They have not recognized immediately that Jesus was actually walking with them, and conversing with them. Their hearts were only filled with sadness and pain. Yet, the Lord continued to accompany them in their difficult moments despite the hardness of their hearts to believe and see the Lord among them.

    However, it was when they invited Jesus whom they thought was merely a stranger and started breaking and sharing to them the bread, that their eyes were opened. At last they have recognized that the Lord was with them all the time. At their lowest moment in life, when things seemed to be so dark and meaningless, the Lord was with them. Despite their many questions, the Lord was with them.

    This was how the two also found themselves and found the meaning of everything and of their life. This was how they immediately left Emmaus and went back to Jerusalem. The place of death and failure has become a place of new life and new hope.

    Thus, those moments of failures in us, those experiences of pain and death, those traumatic and terrifying events in our life can also become place of new life and new hope in us. The Lord indeed works marvels and moves in mysterious ways. God has made Jerusalem, now a life-giving and hope-inspiring place.

    This tells us too, that, as we allow the Lord to accompany us, the Lord shall also make wonders in us and shall make our painful past to be a source of new life and new hope in us.

    These are the invitations for us now.

    First. Allow others to journey and accompany you in your difficulties. Allow your friends and family members to know the struggles within you. The journey towards healing and freedom can only be possible when we are with others. This was how the two disciples also allowed the stranger to be with them.

    Second. Never be afraid to ask questions because the Lord understands us. Jesus was very patient with the two disciples by listening to them. Moreover, allow also the Lord to teach us that we may be able to see another perspective in life. Allow other people to fill your minds and hearts with their wisdom. Allow the Holy Bible to speak to you and reveal God’s invitations.

    Third. Never be afraid of your Jerusalem, of those that you consider as your place of failure and pain, of sadness and trauma. God also will bring wonders in our Jerusalem. As God has raised up His Son from death, God can also bring new hope and new life in our own Jerusalem. Hinaut pa.

  • WHO ARE WE IN THE PASSION OF CHRIST?

    WHO ARE WE IN THE PASSION OF CHRIST?

    March 28, 2021 – Palm Sunday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032821.cfm)

    Four newly-ordained priests were summoned by the bishop for their first assignment. The bishop said, “Now, my sons, after all your theological studies and ordination as well as few months’ vacation, I am sure, you are all ready and excited for your new assignment. But before I give you your parish assignment, I would like to put you into a simple test. Choose one item from this table”. First one chose a pebble, the next, a ball of cotton, the other, a clay, and the last, a cube of sugar. Then the bishop said: “put your item into a glass of water and observe”. The pebble gets wet and making the water increases its volume. The cotton ball absorbs the water thus, lessen the water volume. The clay dissolves but polluted the water. The sugar dissolves in the water.

    The bishop then told them, “this simple exercise is plain illustration of what kind of pastor may you will be in your new assigned parish. You can be like a pebble, except for being a new member; your presence adds nothing to you and the community. Your indifference does not help the faith and growth of the community, as well as yours. You may also become cotton, who joins in the community but your presence absorbs the community. Your selfishness and self-centeredness weaken and lessen the faith life of the community. You may also become clay, where you easily dissolve in the community but you contaminate the community with your negative pessimistic evil and sinful ways. But you may also become a sugar in the community, who easily fits in and with your gentle presence, one could not distinguish you from the community, except when tasted, you make the community sweet and drinkable. So what kind of priest will you be in the community?

    Perhaps, the question is also true with: what kind of church member am I? am I like the indifferent stone, who does not care? Am I the self-absorbing cotton, who sucks all the energy of the community? Am I the dirty-clay who contaminates the community with my negative attitude? Or am I a sugar who makes the community sweet and drinkable.

    Again, in our rather long gospel today, we have heard the drama of the last days of Jesus. We are again reminded of the sufferings Jesus had gone through so that we may live and be saved. Jesus suffered a lot to the point of giving up his life so that we may live and realized God’s great love for each one of us.

    However, the suffering of Jesus did not begin on the cross or in the garden of Gethsemane. More than the thorns and nails were the sufferings of abandonment, rejection and betrayal of his community and his friends. The fact that these are psychological pains & sufferings does not make them any less real.

    In today’s Gospel reading of the passion of the Lord, we have the Lord at table with His closest friends, with His community, His church. There were the ones with whom He shared everything He was and hoped for. Yet even from them, one would rise and leave to betray Him. We cannot help but feel that pangs of sadness, which stabbed the heart of Jesus when He heard the door close and heard the steps of His betrayer hurry on their mission. More than any physical pain, the rejection and refusal of people, his community to accept His love was hurting to the Lord.

    We have no reason to believe that such pain in the Lord is over. He has indeed risen and no thorn or nail can harm His risen and transformed body. But the pains of refusal and rejection of Jesus remain through our own refusal, rejection, sinfulness, indifferences, and insensitivity for other, within our community. Jesus also is still experiencing the suffering we have encountered in our relationship within the community.

    In this sense, the passion of Christ continues in our own day.

    Who are we then in the passion of Christ? Are we the heartless stone who does not care? Or the self-absorbed cotton who cares only about ourselves? Or the contaminated clay who infects virus to others? Or the self-dissolving sugar who contributes to make our life better and meaningful?

    May we have a fruitful and meaningful celebration of Holy Week this year.

    So Help us God. So May it Be. Amen.