Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: God

  • Transformed by God’s Care

    Transformed by God’s Care

    April 10, 2025 – Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041025.cfm)

    In a relationship, when we express our care for each other, then, it helps us to grow and become mature. Through mutual care, we are able to give emotional support and understanding, express affection and assurance. In times of difficulties and challenges in our relationships, it is in showing how we care for each one that we too find strength, develop our closeness and intimacy.

    We realize how “care” can significantly transform us as individuals and our relationships. This would express the capacity in us to go beyond our comforts and fears in order to care for others. Such capacity as it grows in us make us life-giving.

    The readings we have today also remind us how care brings and inspires transformation. So, let us discern the readings we have today.

    In the Book of Genesis, we have heard about the transformation of Abram to Abraham. This transformation of name is not just merely by name but it has a deeper transformation in the very person of Abraham. Let us remember the story of Abram who was from the land of Ur. He was called by God to journey to a land God promised to him.

    Abram had to leave behind many things which included the comfort of his home, familiarity of the place, affection from his family and friends. Yet, Abram trusted God despite the many insecurity he felt. He took the risk despite the uncertainties ahead.

    That trust in God must have been founded in his faith that God takes care of him. The Lord who has called him cared so much about him. That divine care desires an abundant life for Abraham.

    Indeed, his relationship with God earned him a transformation of his person. Abraham became the Father of many nations because of his faith. Through God’s care, Abraham was assured of God’s presence and faithfulness. God said to Abraham, “As long as your descendants keep the covenant, I will be their God and they shall be my people.”

    This is an assurance of God’s care and faithfulness in us. This is a promise that God will and shall never abandon us. This is a relationship that does not float in abstract form or a mere product of a “ideological and theological treatise” of the past. Rather, this is something that we experience in concrete ways as people of God.

    This is manifested and fully revealed to us through the historical person of Jesus. In the Gospel of John, Jesus provocatively proclaimed that he is “I AM.”

    What does it mean? “I AM” is YHWH’s sacred name which also means “I am always there for you.” This is God’s name that also expresses that divine care for us.

    Indeed, this is provocative and sounds insulting to the Jews because they could not accept that God is truly with us in flesh. For them, God should only remain in the heavens where nobody can go and no one can touch. God for them is very far, remote and distant from His people. They could not imagine that God cares so much about us to the point of being with us not just in spirit but also in flesh, in human form.

    What are the invitations for us then? And to you, graduates of Caregiving?

    First, like Abraham, God also calls us to take the risk, to trust God despite our uncertainties, insecurities and questions. God sends us to a situation we do not expect or even to places and events we avoid. Do not resist and let God’s desire be your desire too. Like Abraham we may learn to trust God and be confident in Him. Moreover, be comforted also at the words of God, “I am your God and you are my people. I AM will always be there for you.”

    We may surely encounter many discomforts, moments of confusions and times of difficulties in our relationships and in your work and professional life. Yet, never retreat from others and from yourself, but rather, be daring like Abraham, always trusting in God.

    Second, God is truly with us here at the present moment (in the here-and-now). Be confident today because Jesus is “I AM”, he who is there for you and me always. Thus, be conscious always of the present because this present moment is God’s present – gift to us. By being present to people whom you love, you too express in the best way your care.

    Third, be transformed by caring. Express care as your expression of love and affection. In your relationship with your family and friends, express caring and gentle words; make your touch always a form of care. In your professional life as caregivers, let your hands and your very person be an expression of true care that support and understand those who are sick and old. By your care, you will not only be the one who will be transformed but also those who are under your care. Hinaut pa.

    (A homily addressed to the graduated of Caregiver Professionals)

  • RESPONDING TO REJECTION

    RESPONDING TO REJECTION

    April 4, 2025 – Friday Fourth Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040425.cfm)

    Rejection from people can be painful and even traumatic for us. Its emotional impact could trigger sadness, anger, hurts, low self-esteem and anxiety. This could also affect our relationships to the point that we might develop unhealthy ones. We could form trust issues and doubt our self-worth.

    This very kind of human experience was not far from what Jesus received from people around him. The Gospel tells us how Jesus was rejected by his own people. Jesus had to go to Jerusalem in secret in order to protect himself from those who were trying to kill him. What he received was a rejection with malice. Those who rejected him desired to cause harm to Jesus. 

    Yet, even though he knew that he was in danger if seen in public, Jesus still took the risk to be there among his people. Jesus took the risk to speak the truth and make the truth known to all even though it may cause him his life. Indeed, this is God’s way of making himself revealed to us.

    Jesus did not deter from rejection, but he responded with grace. Jesus responded not with hatred towards those who rejected him but with the truth. This tells us that Jesus knew his identity well. His identity was anchored in his intimacy and oneness with the Father in heaven.

    This rejection of the presence of Jesus was a reaction of some powerful figures at that time. They felt threatened to the way of life of Jesus and to the message that he preached and lived. This was how Jesus caused turmoil among the powerful leaders in that Jewish society. Jesus was unconventional who ate and drank with sinners, forgiven them and freed them. He healed the sick and touched the unclean. He preached about a loving and forgiving God the Father.

    And as Jesus gained popularity among the ordinary people, the leaders were threatened at his knowledge and wisdom. Jesus was not a well-known intellectual and did not come from a rich and powerful family. And they felt offended.

    Jesus himself and all that he did threatened the status quo of the powerful people who were contented with their comfort. These “Jews” who in the Gospel of John were referred as the powerful religious leaders of the Jewish society, preferred a strict and vengeful God. By this belief then they could advance their self-interest. They too can use their position to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor.

    Thus, they were against Jesus because he was changing their ways. Their hearts were filled with bitterness, hate, anger and the desire to have more. These were the reasons why they could not accept Jesus or even recognize the presence of God in Jesus.  Their blindness and the hardness of their hearts made them incapable to understand the ways of God. Thus, they wanted to kill him, to silence Jesus.

    As we continue our journey in this season of Lent, may this Gospel reminds us of our tendency to reject others and to only believe our own ideas and perspectives. Let us also make the last week of lent as days of opportunities to humble ourselves. We are called to recognize areas of our lives where we have become complacent, too comfortable and arrogant so that our hearts may become more welcoming. Hinaut pa.

  • A Loving and Caring Parent

    A Loving and Caring Parent

    April 2, 2025 – Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040225.cfm)

    As human beings, each of us is biologically a by-product, born out of a male and female. Hence, we have a father and a mother. As we were born and grew up individually, we too have different experiences with our parents and with our fathers particularly. It is such a blessing of having a good, responsible and loving father.

    Yet, it cannot be argued that not all of us have experienced a very good father. Not all of us have a father who spends enough time to be with us and who supports us constantly as a child.

    Some of us, may even have painful memories particularly when we talk about our fathers. Others might have been abandoned by their fathers. This caused us so much pain. Others might have absentee fathers, always away because of work. This could create a deep longing of our father’s presence. Others might have a father who was abusive and irresponsible. This could give us deep and sometimes lasting emotional wounds.

    Those who have lost or not having their biological fathers around them were sometimes rescued by those who stood as their father. Indeed, in the absence of our fathers, there would be persons who have become our father from whom we still experience having one.

    Well, with our experiences with our own fathers, somehow would affect the way we relate with God whom we believe as a Father to us. Having a very good experience with our biological father, then, it might be easy for us to believe in a loving and merciful Father in heaven. Yet, if we have painful and traumatic experiences with our biological father, it can create doubts. We may hesitate to believe in God the Father who is loving and forgiving.

    Our readings today remind us of these experiences. They too also call us to recognize God’s true character as a parent to us.

    The Book of Isaiah tells us of a God so passionate to us. God is like a parent who brings comfort to us. God is there to flatten the mountains so that life won’t be too difficult for us. In fact, Isaiah uses the image of a mother who carries her baby in the womb. A mother is always connected with her baby. Nevertheless, a mother may forget her baby but God will never forget us. God remembers us because God always carries us.

    This confidence in a loving and passionate God is expressed in today’s Gospel. Jesus tells us about how he loves his Father so much. Jesus shows his affection to the Father who will never leave him alone. This expression of Jesus is an affirmation of that passion of God the Father to Jesus.

    This is where we find the invitation for us today. We might have painful experiences with our own fathers or mothers. Some of us may have similar experiences with those who became our guardians in the absence of our biological parents. However, the readings call us to be confident and assured in God as a loving and caring parent to us.

    Like Jesus, let us take confidence in God who is both a Loving and Caring Father and Mother to us. God assures us to be with us. God shall never leave us and will always be there for us. This is how God is so passionate to you and to me.

    When you become parents yourselves, let your parenting be an image of God’s unconditional love. If you stand as a foster parent to a child, make sure your parenting reflects divine love. Hinaut pa.

  • TO FOLLOW AND OBEY

    TO FOLLOW AND OBEY

    March 26, 2025 – Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032625.cfm)

    When we are told to only “do this” and to “do that” as well as “don’t do this” and “don’t do that,” how do we react? How do we respond? Wherever we are, whether at home, at school at work or in an organization or community, we find rules and regulations being implemented. Our nation and the church is also being guided by laws and decrees that we have to follow. With all of these, are they restricting and limiting us? Do they give us rather more freedom and protection?

    When I was also younger especially in high school and college, I would always look at rules and regulations as something that put limitations to what I can do. These were mostly expressed or stated like, “you shall not,” or “don’t.”

    These rules and regulations were reinforced by my strict parents, siblings and teachers at schools. I was taught indirectly to be fearful. If ever I disobey, then, there will be a consequence, a corresponding punishment whether corporal or verbal.

    This formed me be to obedient. Yet, I was also a very fearful boy. I followed every rule. I was never been late in school and had only one absent in my entire high school. And that was when I was very sick. I was obedient to the rules and regulations, to teachers and other persons of authority. And it was because I fear them. Only later that I realized that I was relating in a very unhealthy way. I felt so unfree because of my fear of being punished. I saw authority figures as merely who executed and deliver painful and shameful punishments.

    Yet, I also realized that this was not the right attitude. Rules and regulations, or even Church laws are originally designed to make us free. As we relate with one another, laws and decrees are meant to protect us rather than harm us. We feel them restrictive to our freedom only when we lack the right attitude. Self-expression suffers if we do not respond properly to laws or rules and regulations.

    Our Gospel today reminded us of the right attitude towards laws. Jesus himself told us that he has come not to abolish the law and the teachings of the prophets. Jesus was to fulfill them.

    Hence, it is in fulfilling the law or commandment of God that we find joy and peace, security and life.

    So how, what kind of attitude then? We find it in Jesus’ relationship with his Father in heaven. Jesus trusts completely the Father. He never doubted his intimacy with the Father and the Father’s love for him. He is indeed secured in the Father’s love. This was manifested and clear when Jesus was on the cross, in pain and was about to die. Despite his confusions and questions in his own suffering, he trusted the Father as he offered his life.

    The invitation for us now is to take confidence in God’s tremendous love and affection for us. It is only by being confident that we also learn to follow God’s commands because we know that we respond in love and not in fear.

    To follow and obey out of love will make us Christians who are free; Christian who live not in the fear of being punished or being limited by many restrictions and “don’ts.” We are rather, Christians who are confident and assured of being loved and cherished by God. Hinaut pa.

  • HOPE? Only If & When….

    HOPE? Only If & When….

    March 23, 2025 – Third Sunday of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032325-YearC.cfm)

    How do we make sense of a lot of things going on with our lives nowadays? Still adjusting from the life-threatening COVID pandemic, we are also now amidst violence, terrorism, disasters, and killings along with the imminent threat of world war, oil price hike, dwindling geo & national politics. On the jubilee year of Hope, as pilgrims of hope amidst challenging life-situations, we also ponder & discern the question: “Is there and can we still HOPE in life?

    As some people reported to Jesus about disasters and killings happened to Galileans in our gospel today, the central issue raised is also about Hope in life. “Can we still hope for God’s salvation? Is there still a hope and meaning in life now & ahead?” Sometimes with a lot of miseries happening in our world today, like calamities, wars, poverty, disasters, exploitation, corruptions, electioneering and injustices, we do find life at times hopeless and meaningless.

    This reminds me of a story about a beggar who had a rice bowl to beg. Every time he asks for some food or money from others, he would just stick out his rice bowl and beg for something. At times, he is too ashamed to beg – he cannot even look at them at the eyes. But many at times, he could be too rude to force others to give him some scraps of food or some coins.

    Like other beggars, he dreams that someday he will become a millionaire. But he knows that such dream is impossible and just a wishful thinking because he got nothing but a mere dirty battered rice bowl he inherited from his family of beggars. Sometimes he would blame God for his life’s misery. He considers himself a hopeless and useless case.

    One day, while begging, a merchant noticed his rice bowl and asked if he could have a look at it. The merchant then examined his rice bowl and concluded, “You must be stupid begging for  scraps. You should not be asking for others help because you are one of the most fortunate persons in the city. This rice bowl of yours is a priceless antique made of pure GOLD. Just wash it clean and it will cost you a fortune. Why don’t you sell it to me? I could give you five million dollars for it.”

    But the beggar just laughed off what he heard from the merchant. He simply could not believe that his useless rice bowl is worth a fortune. He dismissed everything the merchant said and continued to beg for some food or money using his dirty battered but priceless golden antique rice bowl. What a waste. What a shame.

    Sometimes, we are like that beggar. God has already given us a lot of His graces. He almost gave up everything for us – His life, His love, His salvation, His only Son. God has already endowed each and everyone of us enough of His blessings. He has given us not only a chance but a lot of chances to live life, and a golden rice bowl of faith in Him.

    But like that beggar, we rarely recognize God’s precious gifts to us. We rarely recognize our Faith. Sometimes we are not contented with our simple faith. Instead, we look for signs. We look for other substitutes. We beg for other scraps of beliefs. We dream for miracles but in vain. Then, we find life useless, and get hopeless with life.

    Like in our gospel however, as the gardener assured his master that there is always a hope for a dry fig tree to bear fruits again – only if and when given a chance, Jesus also reassures us that there is always hope in life, if & when we change our ways. Jesus in our gospel today reminds us that God has given each and everyone of us a chance to live life to its fullness.

    He calls us to see all life miseries are not signs of a vengeful God, but a constant wake up call & pruning for us to repentance, conversion and Christian life. For Him, there is still hope for those who repent and believe in the Gospel – for those who cleans up their golden bowl of our Christian faith.

    We began the Lenten season last Ash Wednesday, with the words: “Repent and Believe in the Gospel.” It simply means that the season of Lent is the time for us not only to prepare ourselves for the Easter but also to examine and purify our rice bowl of faith, and then to recognize and accept the preciousness, fortune, and chance it brings. In other words, there is hope only if and when we repent, we change our ways and believe in the Gospel – in the good news, in our golden bowl of chance to live God has already given & blessed us. Otherwise, there is no hope and meaning at all.

    Perhaps more than saying that “We are Filipinos for nothing”, more so we should believe & proclaim to ourselves & others that “We are Filipino Christians for nothing.”

    As we struggle with our life-journey nowadays during these trying times, help usO Lord to acknowledge & responsibly accept Your Gift of faith in us, for us to discover meaning, hope, strength, & direction through the life-challenges ahead of us.

    So be it. Amen.