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Tag: A Dose of God Today

  • Towards a healthy and holy human relationships

    Towards a healthy and holy human relationships

    November 4, 2020 – Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110420.cfm)

    Homily

    Why do some human relationships cause more pain and harm than joy and peace in us? Why do some human relationships fail and eventually hurt us for the rest of our life? We have seen how broken human relationships bring people towards desperation, loneliness, bitterness, anger and hatred. The jealousy, unfaithfulness, insecurities, betrayal and irresponsibility can cause havoc and damage to our human relationships whether at home, at work, among lovers and couples, among friends and communities.

    But if we would really look at its roots, we will surely find “selfishness” as the active agent that corrupts our human relationships. Our tendency to advance our personal agenda, to prioritize what is only good for ourselves, to secure benefits for ourselves alone and to satisfy our personal desires above others will eventually make us very toxic to our relationships.

    Thus, a selfish lover or spouse will turn out to be abusive and emotionally manipulative. A self-centered parent can become controlling and even violent in words and actions towards the children. A self-centered friend can be constantly seeking recognition and praise from others or could be insisting to always consider his or her comfort but unwilling to compromise for the sake of others. These are just few examples of possible actions and tendencies of selfishness that can certainly destroy and cause damage to our relationships.

    That’s why, we also long for a relationship that will truly help us as persons and mold us to become better persons. The readings today have very important message for us and for our human relationships.

    For our human relationships to have a grounding and a better foundation, our relationships must be rooted in God not to our personal preferences and selfish intentions. This means that becoming a disciple of Jesus leads towards a healthy and holy human relationships. This is what Jesus meant as he said, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, he cannot be my disciple.”

    Though hating one’s family member seems to be so harsh for us today, but Jesus did not mean the English word “hatred.” This is a Jewish idiom that meant for “preferences.” Thus, Jesus meant that when we give more preference or priority to others than God, then, we cannot be his disciple. Our human relationships too will lose a good foundation.

    Hence, Jesus also said, “everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” The possessions, which could be our wealth and material things, self-image and fame, position and influence, achievement and status in the community, may possess us to the point that they become our priority rather than God and loving others through service.

    God asks us today to make Him as our priority over our other priorities. What is more beautiful here is God’s invitation for us to make our relationship with Him as the “life and soul” of our human relationships. It is from our relationship with God that, hopefully, we will become responsible and generous persons especially as we relate with others as a parent, sibling, a child, a friend or as a professional or whatever work, profession and status we have now.

    This is what Paul also expressed in his letter to the Philippians. A community that lives in the presence of God and rejoices in God’s presence “will shine like lights in the world.” Therefore, giving priority to God and making God the very center of our human relationships will transform us like lights in the world.

    Consequently, we will also witness how a couple whose relationship is grounded in God becomes loving and inspiring to others. A family whose relationship prioritizes God becomes a source of comfort, security and joy, becoming a true home. A friendship where the Lord plays the most important part among friends becomes welcoming and discerning.

    This is how the Lord moves us as we make God the very priority of all our human relationships. We may all work on this so that we will also become less and less self-centered and selfish and become more self-giving and life-giving. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God has so much to offer for us

    God has so much to offer for us

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    November 3, 2020 – Tuesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110320.cfm)

    Homily

    God has so much to offer for us. In God’s infinite love for the world and for every creature, God became man and expressed in a loving service the love that redeems and gives the fullness of life. The Letter of Paul to the Philippians contains this early Christian hymn to Jesus, the Lord. In this hymn, God’s desire for us to have the fullness of life, the Son became man and lived a human life. The Lord “emptied himself” to show us how Jesus did not cling to his divinity so that we will be able to see his face.

    God broke the barrier that separated us from him. Because we cannot come near to God, and God came to be with us. This is how the loving service of Jesus became more life-giving. He was most willing to offer his life so that we may have the fullness of life.

    This is what our Gospel also reminds us today. The parable that Jesus gave reinforces this desire of God to offer us the fullness of life. As the master of the house also called the presence of the poor and the crippled, and blind and the lame and of those living in the highways and peripheries, God also invites us the wounded and the brokenhearted, the sinners and guilty. All of us.

    God, certainly, has so much to offer us. However, just as the invited guests found excuses not to go to the banquet, we could also become dismissive and indifferent to God’s daily invitations for us. Our lame excuses of having other affairs, of having fears and anxieties, of having other priorities, in overwhelming our hearts with anger and hatred, in filling up our mind with selfish intentions,  and in clinging to our habitual sins will surely prevent us to joyfully accept God’s invitation.

    God calls us to empty ourselves from all these unnecessary distractions and to fill our hearts and mind with God’s presence so that we may grow in that desire of God to experience the fullness of life in the here and now with our community. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • PRAY. LET GO. LIVE FULLY.

    PRAY. LET GO. LIVE FULLY.

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    November 2, 2020 – Monday, All Souls Day

    Readings from MASSES FOR THE DEAD

    2 Maccabees 12:43-46 (He acted in an excellent and noble way as he had the resurrection of the dead in view.)

    A reading from the second Book of Maccabees

    Judas, the ruler of Israel, took up a collection among all his soldiers amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; or if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

    Psalm 103:8 and 10, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18

    R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.

    Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes.

    As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

    Man’s days are like those of grass; like a flower of the field he blooms; The wind sweeps over him and he is gone, and his place knows him no more.

    John 14:1-6 (In my Father’s house there are many dwellings.)

    + A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

    Jesus said to this disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”

    Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

    Homily

    Since the lockdowns and community quarantine, funeral masses and burial rites have been deprived to many. Even our own Redemptorist Brother (Bro. Dominic Alcover, CSsR who died of heart failure) was deprived to be dressed properly for burial, was also deprived to be given a dignified funeral mass. Bro. Dominic served many years in the missions and in many parts in Visayas and Mindanao. It was just so sad that we couldn’t bid our goodbyes before he was laid to rest.

    Moreover, a friend’s mother died in September but was in the Intensive Care Unit for more than 100 days. She died without a loved on her side. Though, she died uncertain of Covid-19, but she was unceremoniously cremated immediately without the presence of her family. There was no funeral wake as the whole family was locked up in their home though they never had contact with their mother. It was heartbreaking experiencing this kind of grief.

    One could just imagine that while grieving the death of a loved one, we will surely be overwhelmed too with frustrations and disappointments because of the many restrictions. These are just two of the many situations happening today. Many families who lost their loved ones since this Covid-19 time, whether of the virus or not, underwent this kind of difficulty.

    To celebrate properly, with devotion and affection the death of our loved ones reminds us of the sanctity of life. Equally, we also celebrate their memories and the gift of life of our loved ones. This is the reason why frustrations and disappointments will also overwhelm us because of the deprivation of celebrating these rituals, something embedded in our faith and culture.

    Today, on this All Souls’ Day, we remember in a very special way the memories of our beloved dead. Others could have still feel the grief particularly with those whose loved ones just recently died. And today even, we too are prohibited to visit the cemeteries as a measure to contain and not spread any further the Corona Virus. However, all these should not prevent us also from celebrating this day of Commemoration of the All the Faithful Departed.

    As we remember them, how do we celebrate in a simple but wonderful way the All Souls’ Day? There are there invitations for today.

    First. Gather as a family and pray together at home and in the Church. Our readings today from the Second Book of Maccabees tells us of this devotion of praying for the dead. We are told how a sacrifice was made to the Temple for the dead, for the forgiveness of their sins. This is a belief of the resurrection and life beyond death. Indeed, our beloved dead continues to be present in spirit. Thus, as we remember them, pray for them and pray with them.

    Second. Let go of our troubles and guilt. Others are sometimes haunted by their guilt when a loved one died because they have not done enough for them, because they have not loved them enough, because they were not able to ask for forgiveness. Jesus told his disciples not to be troubled anymore but to trust the Father, to trust Jesus. Holding on to our troubles, worries and guilt will do no good to us and to our beloved dead. We give peace to ourselves and peace to our beloved dead, as we embrace God’s mercy and compassion for us. Trust the Lord’s embrace.

    Third. Live life to the fullest and celebrate the fullness of life. As we remember the life of those who have gone before us through the precious memories left in us, we too are invited to live our life and celebrate life to the fullest. Thomas asked Jesus, “We do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” Yet, Jesus also said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus is basically telling us, to live life fully is to follow me, to know me and to live in my life. Indeed, we shall be able to live life fully with joy, with peace and with satisfaction as we learn the way of Jesus, as we embrace the person of Jesus and we live day by day the life of Jesus.

    Thus, living our life today to the fullest is a way of honoring and giving more importance to the our beloved dead who made significant impact in our life. To play dead while still alive, or to become indifferent while being on earth, is certainly a violation of God’s generosity and gift of life. By becoming contented and happy, free from fear and anxiety, then, we give praise to our Creator who shall call us someday to join with Him in eternal life. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Growing in Friendship with God everyday

    Growing in Friendship with God everyday

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    November 1, 2020 – Solemnity of All Saints

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110120.cfm)

    Homily

    There is something I want to ask you now. I want you to close your eyes for few moments and in silence, remember the face of your best-friend, that great friend or friends of yours whom you are most comfortable with, that great friend who is always ready to listen and comfort you, that great friend who knew your deepest secrets and pain in life, who has been with you through thick and think, in joy and sorrow.

    Our friends are indeed, gifts to us. Through them and with them, life becomes more colorful, entertaining as well as comforting. As we discover the person of our friends, we too, through them discover more ourselves. That intimacy and affection shared with our friends become the source of our strength especially when life seemed to be not favorable to us. Though, we may not see every day those close friends of ours, yet, our friendship with them stays.

    With this experience of friendship, this reminds me of the saints, whom we remember today. Saints who are also called as friends of God have this special bond with the Lord. Surely, each saint had their own friends too and through their human experience of friendship, they developed their friendship with God.

    “This friendship with God made each saint to be more familiar with God’s voice, more aware of the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and responsive to the invitations of the Lord.”

    Thus, the presence of the Saints in the Church brings us into an awareness on how God works every day in our life. The life of a saint and all those who have lived a holy and joyful life is a manifestation on how God transforms human life creatively and wonderfully through friendship.

    This means that living a holy life is a constant calling of friendship with God. We may struggle to identify God’s voice in the midst of so many voices. What makes a person holy then, is his/her daily commitment in choosing God and allowing God to transform him/her every day. This tells us that saints also experienced mistakes, failures and sins. They too are haunted by their own insecurities and guilt, unfaithfulness and inconsistencies, selfish desires and demons. Yet, every time they fell down, they rose up and chose God again. Indeed, this makes the saints to become closer to God because they grew in friendship with God by knowing themselves and recognizing God every day.

    This tells us of that desire of the human heart to long for God. Indeed, our very life finds its purpose and meaning with God. This is what our Psalm proclaims to us, “Lord, these are the people who longs to see your face.” Our longing for God also explains our deepest hunger and thirst for intimacy and love. God satisfies our deepest longing which sometimes human connection cannot satisfy. Yet, our human experiences of friendship point and bring us to God.

    This is the invitation for us today, that each of us, like all the saints whom we remember today, will grow in friendship with God by knowing ourselves through our weaknesses and strengths and recognizing God who touches every moment of our life.

    Moreover, the Gospel of Matthew which reminds us of the Beatitudes, are the very attitudes of those who are growing in the friendship of God. We become blessed and discover more graces when we begin to realize that we are not the center of everything, but God. The attitudes of dependence and confidence in God, of gentleness and mercy and the desire to be a person for others are fruits of that friendship with God.

    “Thus, difficult situations are turned into graces. Failures are turned into opportunities and windows for mercy. Friendship is turned into door of conversion and blessing.”

    Again, in the first letter of John, we are reminded that we are God’s children, and this is who we are. We are God’s beloved sons and daughters. It is God who claims that we are His. Hence, we too can confidently say now, “I am God’s beloved and God is my dearest friend!”

    Allow this powerful words and our powerful God to transform us today and the rest of our life just as saints were transformed!

    Whatever difficulty we are experiencing at this moment, never lose hope with yourself or with God because God never loses his hope in us. Believe in your friendship with God.

    Hopefully, by being more aware of our identify as God’s children, we too shall grow every day in our friendship with God and with one another. Remember this too, “a true friend of God recognizes the face of God with others,” with our brothers and sisters and with the rest of God’s creation. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Of Pride and Humility

    Of Pride and Humility

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    November 1, 2020 – Solemnity of All Saints

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110120.cfm)

    Homily

    What makes angels & saints blessed? What makes devils & sinners cursed?

    St. Augustine once said: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” It is a matter of pride & humility then that makes people saints or sinner, angels or saints.

    You see, pride is concerned with WHO is right; humility is concerned with WHAT is right. Though both are concerned about right, pride is more on the authority & power, against humility, which is more on the moral principles of right & good. Pride encourages us to scream, “That’s just the way I am” in the hope that we will not hear the soft whisper of humility, asking us, “Yes, but is that the way you should be?”. “Well, this is Me… but should Me be it?” Ganito kasi ako… pero dapat ba akong ganito? Ani naman gud ko… pero angayan ba nga ani lang ko? Pride is being influenced by Shallow Loud Noisy voice of the evil that makes us artificial/fake/plastic, while humility is being inspired by Gentle yet Deep Soft Sound of the Spirit that makes us real & true, warts & all, broken yet blessed before God and others.

    In the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus in our gospel proclaims us through the Beatitudes how Blessed we are (for the Kingdom of God, comfort, inheritance, satisfaction, mercy, being God’s children & Kingdom of Heaven). We are blessed not because of our actions – of what we have done & doing in our lives but moreso because of God’s graces – of what God gives us & God is doing in our lives. We are more so blessed then because of God grace & action, regardless of our doings. However, God’s gift of blessings for us is fully enjoyed & fulfilled in life if and when we are humble enough to acknowledge, value and share these with others. Our humility makes us more well-disposed and appreciative of the fruits of God’s blessings in our lives, and willing to partake it with others, though our pride could render us insensitive and hinders us to fully benefit from God’s grace, and thus making ours and other people’s lives miserable and cursed.

    Today is All Saint’s Day. We honor ALL saints – both the recognized & unrecognized officially by Church. You see, saints or saintly people are in essence like us Christians who humbly witnesses in their faith and lives God’s blessings to all. They are Christians like us – “the people that longs to see your face, O Lord”, who not only by their words & deeds but also by their faith and life, have struggled and still struggling (along with suffering, mistakes, & success) to be humbly real and true to their chosen vocation in life & to fulfill their special mission in God’s grace and kingdom, and in effect have greatly influenced other people’s faith & life.

    Simply put, saints are fellow-Christians who have greatly infected and influenced now our very person and faith as Christian. Somehow and in someway, because of them & through them, we become Christians now. So, think of all saintly people whom you have crossed paths in life and have made you know, love & follow Christ in your life. Perhaps parents, grandparents, relatives, teachers, neighbors, catechists, friends, priests, sisters – both living and dead. Yes, both living and dead, as long as they have influenced and are still greatly influencing your life then-now and always as Christian, because they are & have been SAINTS to you and others. Remember and include them in your prayers these days. Eternal rest to those who have already gone before us. More blessings & witnessing for those who are still with us now, like you and I are still humbly leading our Christian lives saintly – struggling to be true to our calling, fulfilling our mission to be witnesses of God’s blessings and hoping also to influence other’s faith and life – blessed yet broken we maybe.

    Again, being blessed or being cursed, being saint or sinner is a matter of humility and pride.  Our life nowadays amidst quarantine during pandemic times can be a Curse if and when in pride we are ungrateful, ungracious, and greedy of God’s blessings before us… but can be a Blessing if and when we humbly recognize, value, and share God’s blessing with one another, especially those who are in need at this time. We all do need God’s blessings at this time in history. So Let us be a Blessing than a Curse to one another. Rather than remain to be a proud sinner (a pain in the… neck 😉), try to be a humble saint (a helping hand, a gentle presence, a lending ear) to others. With the examples & witness of the saints, may we joyfully admit How Blessed we are by humbly saying: “This is not mine only but Ours to Share” & not by proudly insisting: “This is Mine alone and not yours”. So may it be. Hinaut pa unta. Amen.

    By  Fr. Aphelie Mario Masangcay, CSsR