Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Category: Year 2

  • Being Lukewarm leads to death

    Being Lukewarm leads to death

    November 15, 2022 – Tuesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111522.cfm)

    When a heart becomes “lukewarm,” it is neither moved nor affected in any way from what is happening around. A lukewarm-heart becomes indifferent, denying or incapable of understanding others and seeing others or worst no compassion towards others. It is equivalent to say that we have become “numbed and insensitive.” This leads to spiritual death and deaths to our relationships with people, disconnected with what surrounds us.

    This is what John confronted in today’s first reading calling out the Christians in Sardis and Laodicea who were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. They seemed to have lost the spirit or denied perhaps the spirit of God among them because of the challenging and difficult circumstances. Moreover, another reason was the affluence they have experienced. The Christians became rich, comfortable and gained influence that they thought they have no need of anything not even God. This was a clear denial of God and made the self to be at the center.

    This what made the first Christians in these cities to be lukewarm for they were neither anymore moved nor challenged by the Gospel and by the needs and sufferings of their neighbors. The SELF has become the most important. Comfort, material riches and influence intoxicated the self to the point that they have become detached.

    Yet, John expressed his love for these people and did not want to lose them. Hence, John said, “For those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.” John called them again because he wanted to gather them and to let the Lord work more wonders with these people.

    This is how we also witnessed the conversion of Zacchaeus in the Gospel. Zacchaeus who were unmoved by the difficulties of his fellow Jews over the high taxes imposed on them, finally found meaning in his life. Though Zacchaeus tried to look for Jesus, but little did he know that the Lord was first looking out for him. Jesus was in search for Zacchaeus because the Lord has a surprise for him.

    We heard that as soon as Jesus saw Zacchaeus from a tree, Jesus called him by name and declared to bring blessings into the home of Zacchaeus. This encounter was not merely a meeting of the two, but it was the Lord’s way of letting Zacchaeus know his own pains and suffering, his own sins and failures, yet, the Lord remains all-embracing and forgiving. This moved Zacchaeus very much and found himself once again, loved and forgiven.

    Such encounter also made Zacchaeus to come closer to the Lord that as a sign of his own conversion, he offered to repay those whom he extorted. The presence of Jesus in his house is God’s presence indwelling. Freedom and life has come to Zacchaeus and to his household.

    The Lord also invites us today to allow him to confront us when we have become lukewarm, unmoved, unmotivated and unenthusiastic. Like Zacchaeus may we find forgiveness and the fullness of life in Jesus and in our true human relationships and not in our personal comforts, not in our affluence and not in our successes. Kabay pa.

  • The Call of Duty

    The Call of Duty

    November 7, 2022 – 32nd Week in ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110722.cfm)

    It must have been difficulty and almost an impossible task to do what Jesus said to his disciples. Not to cause another to sin and to forgive one’s brother or sister many times are reasons why the Apostles of Jesus asked him, “Increase our faith.”

    The weight of the call of duty of being a believer is so great for it requires commitment of oneself to the Lord and to what the Lord asks us to do and to be. Faith is therefore neither an affiliation to some group or organization nor to be partially accepted and practiced in one’s life. This reminds us again, that faith, is basically our relationship with the Lord who has called us. It is our response to the Lord who first loved us, as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said. Thus, faith molds our way of life, our way of thoughts and actions and affects significantly our relationships with each one as a community and those outside of our community.

    What the Apostles asked of Jesus to increase their faith is a prayer to grow deeper, closer and more intimately in their relationship with Jesus that will make them more like him.

    In a way, Paul expressed this in his letter to Titus. He directed Titus on what qualities to look for in appointing presbyters or elders and bishops in those Christian Communities. These people who shall be God’s steward are called to be Christ-centered and faith-oriented for they represent God and lead God’s people closer to the Risen Christ. This is their call of duty as leaders and as Christians. Hence, being a person that causes people to sin and becoming unforgiving is tantamount to being unchristian, being an unbeliever.

    This is the very invitation for us today, that like the Apostles we may also ask the Lord to increase our faith. When we are tempted to give in to our selfish desires that may lead others to also sin, we pray, increase our faith Lord. When we are tempted to resort to violence because of our frustrations, failures and unfulfilled hopes which will affect our relationships with people, we pray, increase our faith Lord. When we are overwhelmed by our anger and hatred that our hearts become unforgiving, we pray, increase our faith Lord. When our heart will also tend to choose to be indifferent, cold and unconcerned of others, not wanting to relate and be involved in the struggles of others, we pray, increase our faith Lord. Kabay pa.

  • Making Friends

    Making Friends

    November 5, 2022 – Saturday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110522.cfm)

    The presence of our friends in our life truly makes difference.  It is usually with our friends that we share our deepest thoughts and dreams, our fears and confusions, our pains and sorrows, our joys and successes. Sometimes, our friends know more about us than our immediate family members. It is because friends allow us to be who we are. Friends give us the space to be fully accepted and embraced. Friends unconditionally support us and understand us because of our shared experiences, shared stories and shared dreams. These are some reasons that connect us intimately with our friends that make our hearts truly grateful.

    Paul in his letter to the Philippians also recalled such gratitude in his heart for the gift of friendship he had developed with the Philippians. Paul who was in prison and was in many difficulties while being there and trying to survive, was comforted by the thought that his friends remembered him and cared about him. His friends sent material resources that he would need. This was not just the first time because even during the travels of Paul to preach in other cities, the Philippians expressed their generosity and support by providing his needs for the journey. Paul said it intimately, “it was kind of you to share in my distress.” The thought of being remembered by friends had given Paul assurance and confidence despite the suffering and persecution he faced.

    More than this friendship, Paul also expressed that what sustained him was his friendship with the Lord.  Paul expressed it in this way, “I have the strength for everything through him (Jesus) who empowers me.” This friendship with Jesus was the very reason of that friendship he had with the Philippians. Hence, Paul wished and prayed that the Lord may also bless his friends in Philippi.

    This gives us a picture of our capacity to give oneself, to be generous and kind in order to express our support and love for our friends. Moreover, this also makes our heart to be truly gracious for the gift of friendship we have

    This is the invitation that Jesus has for us today. The Lord warns the people of the desire to keep things for the self alone and become self-entitled to many things, which leads to corruption and dishonesty. The Lord also invites us to be generous enough to people in need. Being generous expresses in us the attitude of being trustworthy even in small things. This was how Jesus confronted some of the Pharisees who loved money and loved to enrich themselves in dishonest transactions. This kind of attitude does not develop true friendship but abomination in the sight of God.

    Hence, as we make friends, we may truly become generous givers not just in terms of our material resources but also of our presence, understanding and support as our expression of our concern and love for our friends. As friends, we may also become grateful receivers and not “self-entitled-leeches” to our friends who only try the suck out the goodness and kindness of others. Kabay pa.

  • Prudence and Right Attitude

    Prudence and Right Attitude

    November 4, 2022 – Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110422.cfm)

    The master in today’s parable praised his dishonest steward, whom he trusted to manage his material resources. However, the steward was not praised for his dishonesty, of course not, but for “acting prudently.” This steward after hearing that he will be fired, secured his future by dropping out his corrupt practices. Well, not for the benefit of those who owed his paster but for his own benefit. Indeed, it is “prudence” and the “right attitude” at the present moment that Jesus calls us today.

    “Prudence” as defined by Meriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is a skill and good judgment in the use of resources or the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. So, by being prudent, we don’t do things, decide or act out of our impulses and mere capriciousness, or compulsions or feelings but in having a good judgment by using our reason or mind.

    Thus, prudence allows us to be “discerning,” that is, to see and recognize what is God’s and what is not God’s desire.

    “Right attitude of the present” is our way of life. This creates positive impacts in the lives of others. Right attitude is neither manipulative nor deceiving nor oppressive. Rather, it has something to do with gratitude and contentment. Therefore, by being grateful and contented of what we have and don’t have, make our heart generous, fair and honest unlike the dishonest steward. He may be prudent but lacking in right attitude.

    This is what Paul also reminds us in his letter to the Philippians. Paul strongly exhorted the community of the attitude of those who turned corrupt, oppressive and deceptive of others. In his words, he said, “Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their ‘shame.’ Their minds are occupied with earthly things.”

    This is a sign that these people were acting out of impulse and selfish desires as long as they feel satisfied. Yet, their end is destruction, not freedom, not contentment, not life. Certainly, such way of life does not lead to freedom and peace. This attitude also affects others negatively because such desire when translated into action can become vicious, oppressive and corrupt. This causes suffering to others.

    Thus, as children of the light, the Lord has two invitations for us today. First, to be prudent in our decisions and actions, so be discerning. Second, to learn the right attitude in our dealings with people and in using our material resources. May our thoughts and actions and very person inspire others to be truly generous, fair and honest. Kabay pa.

  • God searching for us 

    God searching for us 

    November 3, 2022 – Thursday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110322.cfm)

    While Jesus was trying to bring people to conversion, freedom and closer to God, a group of people grumbled and complained because of Jesus’ intentions and actions. The parables of the lost sheep and of the lost coin are images of God searching for those who have lost their way, who distanced from the community and from God. Yet, God longs and desires the presence of those who lost their way and wants to bring them back to his presence. Thus, these two parables tell us how dear each of us in the heart of God. God does not rest and does not surrender until God wins us back and finds us again.

    However, such image and nature of God, was received with hatred and hostility by those who wanted “to control God.” The Pharisees and scribes complained and grumbled because Jesus was eating with sinners and being friendly with them. For them, Jesus was not following the law that they revered so much. They did not want a God who forgives and redeems sinners and the lost. They wanted a God who condemns as what their law prescribed.

    This was the reason of their grumbling because they wanted a condemning God. Having this kind of God, then, they can easily incite fear among the people and control people according to their agenda and selfish intentions.

    That is why, Jesus’ presence was indeed a threat against these people, because Jesus was turning the table against them. Jesus revealed the true face of God, a loving and forgiving God.

    Hence, while Jesus tells us of God’s embrace and God’s longing for us, we too are reminded of our tendency to reject God. The Pharisees and the scribes represented that tendency in us to reject whatever is God’s. However, just as the shepherd never stopped until he found the lost sheep and just as the woman searched carefully until she found the lost coin, God also continues to call and invite us, to search and to find us until we allow God to embrace us.

    This is what Paul also realized. His letter to the Philippians revealed his past where he thought that he was already in the right path. Yet, Paul was a lost soul believing that righteousness based on the law was enough. However, when Jesus found him, Paul also found himself and gained everything in Christ.

    And so, like the tax collectors and sinners, may we have the courage to draw near to Jesus and listen to him and be changed by him. May these parables always remind us of this God who longs and desires for our presence, for our conversion and for our freedom. Moreover, may it move us too to be more embracing, accepting and welcoming of our brothers and sisters who need a lot of understanding and love because of unfortunate circumstances in their life. Kabay pa.