Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: Discernment

  • SIGNS AND MEANINGS

    SIGNS AND MEANINGS

    October 14, 2024 – Monday 28th Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101424.cfm)

    Everywhere we look at, there are many signs around us. Depending on its intended us, a particular sign will tell us what it is about. For example, a red light in an intersection, would tell us that cars should stop and let those other side of the intersection pass through since they have the green light. In a water dispenser, a red colored faucet means hot water while the green or blue means cold water.

    There are also natural signs around us. When we see thick and dark clouds above us, most likely rain will come in few minutes or hours. After an earthquake, when the sea would recede quickly, surely, there will be a tsunami after.

    Aside from these, there are also human emotional signs that we have to be aware of. When a person who withdraws into the recesses of his/her room, feeling sad or anxious and lonely, the person might be already undergoing depression. A person who feels afraid and terrified over particular  another person, event or place, the person might have a traumatic experience associated in those things.

    These are just few examples of different signs around us and of their meanings. And it is also important that we are able to understand them and so respond appropriately to every particular situation.

    In today’s Gospel, we too are reminded of signs. Jesus was asked by the people to give them sign before they believe in him and in what he showed them. The people seemed to believe rather that Jesus was like a magician who would do out of this world signs that would entertain them. Their demand to give them a sign was rather, a sign as well, that they have not able to understand the greatest sign already given to them.

    Jesus was the greatest sign ever revealed by the Father. Yet, their unbelieving and malicious hearts made them close-minded. Even when the sign was in front of them, they refused to see and recognized God’s greatest sign of love and salvation.

    St. Paul in his Letter to the Galatians reminds us that such attitude and way of life is a sign that these people still like with the yoke of slavery. It was slavery of hatred and indifference, the slavery of malice and selfishness. Hence, they were not free.

    However, Jesus desires that we indeed become free. Again St. Paul told us, “for freedom Christ set us free.” The very presence of Jesus in us brings us to freedom!

    Thus, as we come to understand the many signs around us, may we also become more attuned and familiar to the signs the Lord gives us. These signs from the Lord, and his presence revealed to us may not be extra-ordinary or spectacular, but simple and ordinary. Let us be discerning and patient then and make ourselves free from anything that would prevent us from recognizing and embracing God’s many manifestations in our life and relationships. Hinaut pa.

  • SEARCHING AND SETTLING DOWN

    SEARCHING AND SETTLING DOWN

    October 13, 2028 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101324.cfm)

    Have I settled down? Have I found what I am looking for? Do I find fulfillment and contentment with what is happening in my life now? With my work? In my relationships? Or am I restless and still searching, unable to settle down? Do I find emptiness and meaninglessness with what I do and with I have?

    Indeed, when we have reached an age of maturity and finds ourselves still searching and longing for something worthwhile and meaningful for our life, we might find ourselves restless and anxious. As a result, we could be shifting a course one after another, or changing jobs one after another or ending a romantic relationship and starting a new one without any fulfillment in those relationships. Our mind keeps changing. We are confused what we really like and what we don’t like. At times, we would just let others tell us what to do but later on regret because we never wanted it.

    However, such restlessness would also allow us to refine our intentions and see better ourselves. This also means that we need help from others to accompany and guide us in searching and finding what we are meant to be and to do. In fact, St. Irenaeus famously said, “the glory of God is a human being fully alive.” Having our full potentials, expressing and giving fully and freely what we are meant to be and to do would reveal the glory of God in us.

    In today’s readings, this need and reality is revealed to us. And so, let us see how God unfolds his invitations and challenges for us.

    Jesus, in the Gospel of Mark, encountered a man who in his heart knew already what he wanted. He asked the Lord, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This man must have been respected and adored by many. He was a good man, religious and a pious Jew. He followed the commandments of God. He too was rich. Having such kind of character and wealth, people must have looked up to him. However, he too was restless. He was in search of something more meaningful and more worthwhile perhaps, over his routine in life.

    The Gospel told us, that Jesus looking at him, loved him and said, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then, come and follow me.”

    Nevertheless, the words and demands of Jesus were too radical and difficult for him to accept. He must have understood that and knew that that was the way, yet, he couldn’t. This made the man sad. He went away and did not follow Jesus because he had many possessions. The many things he possessed prevented him to be free.

    This makes us realize now that what we have achieved, accumulated, gathered or saved in this life won’t give us the true assurance of contentment in life. We may have the best job and position in our company, but remains unhappy. We may have gained many degrees and have spent a number of years in our profession but we feel empty. We may be so comfortable in life, doing so well with our business, yet, we feel restless when we are alone. Or we may have also been married or committed ourselves to religious life, having spent a number of years, yet, at the end of the day we couldn’t deny that our heart is still longing for something more. And this can be tiring or at times overwhelming.

    When we are in this kind of crossroad in life, this is also an opportunity for us to see clearly ourselves and see God. What we need is a heart that seeks wisdom able to discern and choose what to keep and what to let go.

    This is what the first reading calls us today. The author of the Book of Wisdom says, “I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.” Wisdom is proven to be better than power and wealth, even with health and beauty. With wisdom, it leads us to what is lasting and fulfilling.

    This is what we also discover with the Word of God, filled with wisdom, as revealed in our second reading. The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that “the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”

    Hence, there are three points that we can bring today as our take-aways.

    First, come closer to Jesus. Like the man in the Gospel, take the courage and the boldness to come closer to Jesus, to encounter him, that we too might be able to look at his eyes and realize how much Jesus loves us. This should give us the assurance and confidence above everything else. We can do this as we come closer to the Sacraments of the Church. The Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation would surely bring us closer to Jesus and to ourselves.

    Second, seek for wisdom. Wisdom is a gift and through the Word of God revealed to us this gift is given. There are also people who can help us and seek wisdom for us to be able to see and understand better our heart. This may help us to discern well and choose  what will give us true fulfillment.

    Third, let go of those that are possessing us. As wisdom will help see and discern our heart, let wisdom allow us to take action by letting go whatever is  possessing us, of those that prevent us to be free. Unlike the man in the Gospel, we may not go away feeling sad because we are unable to let go, but rather take the risk of letting go and following Jesus freely and gladly.

    May these challenges bring us closer to Jesus and allow us to create and develop lasting relationships as we tread the path of life God calls us to be, wherever we are now and whatever is our status. Hinaut pa.