Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: God

  • FILL US WITH YOUR LOVE        

    FILL US WITH YOUR LOVE        

    August 28, 2025 – Thursday – Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082825.cfm)

    Being constantly aware of God’s presence in our life can be very challenging. With all the many things, issues, and concerns that fill our mind and heart, we may forget, take things for granted or become indifferent.

    This is our reality with our human relationships. We may be living under the same roof, yet, we too could become forgetful of the presence of our loved ones. Husband and wives may become cold towards each other. Parents may become more focused with their work believing it is the only most important at the expense of a quality time with their children. Among friends, personal issues and selfish tendencies may lead us to only make ourselves always at the center without minding the presence of our friends.

    Such forgetfulness, our tendency to take things for granted and indifference may remove us from the grace of God. We become distanced and unmindful of God’s presence and of people around us.

    Hence, the Responsorial Psalm invites us to pray, “Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!” To be filled with love so that we may “gain the wisdom of heart” that is constantly mindful of God’s presence.

    St. Augustine, a famous Saint of the Church, was once forgetful of the presence of God. He took many things for granted and was indifferent to many. He was a lost soul, wandering in life. He tried to fill himself with what the world can offer him, yet, he was not fulfilled. And so his restless heart was in searched of what could give him peace and fill him with constant love.

    Augustine was later found by the Lord and converted to Christ. His study of the Holy Bible made him realize so much about life. It triggered a desire and a deep longing from his heart. Augustine’s famous words from his Confessions remind us, “My heart is restless until it find rests in You.”

    St. Paul in his Letter to the Thessalonians echoed the same call and challenge to the people, “increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” Paul reminded the people that as they wait for the second coming of the Lord, not to forget the presence of each one. Each member of the community will only be more conscious of God’s coming when each one also is mindful and loving towards each other. This is the very life of the Christian community founded in the redeeming love of Christ.

    In fact, Jesus in today’s Gospel calls us too, “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Indeed, the Lord may come in a surprise and in ordinary ways we do not expect. Yet, when our heart is filled with other things rather than our desire and longing of His presence, then, we may forget, take it for granted or become indifferent.

    And so we hope that our heart may indeed be filled with love. In that love, may we be more confident and assured that we have the support and affection of our loved ones, our family members and friends, and of the Lord whose love is constant.

    We pray, “Lord, fill my heart with your love. Make my heart ever mindful of your loving presence. When I become cold, distant and indifferent – disturb, call and challenge me to come closer to you and find peace in your love.” Hinaut pa.

  • GOD AT WORK IN YOU WHO BELIEVE

    GOD AT WORK IN YOU WHO BELIEVE

    August 27, 2025 – Wednesday, Memorial of St. Monica

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082725.cfm)

    Our appearance can be deceiving. What we see could merely be a façade. Facial make-up is used to hide blemishes and enhance our facial appearance. The idiomatic expression “sugar coating” is an attempt to make something better or less unpleasant.

    However, when this becomes an attitude of the heart, a person’s way of relating with others, such attitude leads us to hypocrisy. No matter how one could look so nice and beautiful. One could appear stunning and mesmerizing to the human senses. When appearance only covers the inside, we remain shallow and hollow within.

    This is what Jesus criticized so much about those who loved to appear so well before others, yet, corrupt and evil in their very hearts. Jesus compared them like the “whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.”

    The words of Jesus expressed contempt that also called for change and renewal among these kind of hearts.

    However, this has been contrasted to what Paul showed in all his honesty and kindness as an apostle of the Gospel. Paul who was transformed by the grace of Christ became a father and a mentor of the faith to the Thessalonians.

    Through the apostle Paul and his companions’ toil and drudgery, they have worked hard to earn their living while preaching the Gospel. They have done it in order not to burden the people to support them in their needs. The generosity in their hearts brought so much fruits in the life of the people.

    Indeed, the Thessalonians were converted to Christ and were growing in their faith. And Paul affirmed how God was at work in them who believed in Christ. The life of Paul and his companions was straightforward and honest. Similarly, the Christian Community in Thessalonians displayed no sugar-coating or pretensions in their lives. They were willing to hear the word of God. They sought to be transformed by the grace of the Lord. This made the relationship among them nourishing.

    We realize that when the heart is open, humble, and willing to be touched by the Word of God, the grace of the Lord works in us. The grace of the Lord transforms us. This is manifested in the quality of our relationship with one another. Appearance does not matter anymore because the heart is anchored in Christ. Yet, those hearts that remained pretentious and selfish make their relationship toxic and destructive.

    And so we pray and ask God’s grace, “Lord, make my heart sincere and humble, honest and free from pretensions. Grant me the grace to change from my sinful ways and selfish tendencies.” Hinaut pa.

  • How do you treat others?

    How do you treat others?

    August 26, 2025 – Tuesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082625.cfm)

    How do you treat others? What kind of attitude do you show to your friends and strangers alike? Does your faith influence your ways and attitudes in relating with others?

    St. Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians expressed his gentleness, kindness as well as his thoughtfulness and affection towards the Christian Community in Thessalonica. Paul wrote this letter not to boast himself of what he had done, but an expression of Paul’s faith and conviction as an apostle.

    “God is witness.” This is what Paul declared as he manifested that there was no intention to be praised or to become greedy in their relationship with the people. In fact, Paul expressed the joy and generosity in his heart as he too declared, “With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.”

    This tells us that sharing of the self is an expression of the Christian Faith. When we become a gift to people around us, we too proclaim Christ in us.

    Yet, when the self also turns to be corrupt and self-absorbed, entitled and plunderous, the self becomes toxic and a curse to people around us.

    Jesus pointed this out in our Gospel today. The words of Jesus were quite strong in criticizing such kind of persons. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.” Jesus said this twice in the Gospel verses today showing the severity of the selfishness and greedy hearts of these people.

    “Plunder and self-indulgence” made such persons to be numbed at the realities of suffering of the people around them. They were concerned only on how they will become more comfortable and advance their self-interest. The self turns inward. It does not know how to share and so it is removed from what joy and love truly are.

    Such kind of self and attitudes of the heart make us treat others harshly and sometimes violently. We could treat others indifferently especially when we don’t get or receive anything from them.

    Having such contrasting attitudes of the self, calls us now towards the transformation of ourselves. Like Paul, who at first was also filled with bitterness and hatred was transformed by the grace of Christ.

    We ask today that grace that our heart and person may also be transformed. Knowing that the Lord has searched us and knew us, as the Responsorial Psalm proclaims, may we be more daring and courageous enough to ask the grace of the Lord.

    And so we pray, “Lord, make my heart as well as my words and actions gentle, kind and generous. Through your grace, may I become a gift to my friends and community as an expression of my faith in You.” Hinaut pa.

  • IDKU

    IDKU

    August 24, 2025 – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082425.cfm)

    In her dreams, a lady once found herself at the heaven’s door. She confidently knocks at the door and demands admittance. And she heard God’s loud voice asking, “who are you?” She then replied, “My Gosh, You don’t know me. I am the most influential person in our town. I am the mother of our town’s mayor. I have been known for my generosity, an elder of the church’s lay organization and have sponsored the education of your seminarians and ordination of your priests. I even spearheaded the construction of your church in our town”. God replied, “Sorry, IDKU – I don’t know you”. Angry and disgusted with God, she just stayed outside, grumbling at the doorsteps, while seeing others being admitted inside.

    Coming to her senses, she once again knocks at the door and requests for admittance. She said, “Lord, actually, my life has been a failure. I am separated from my husband. My children have been involved with a lot of questionable activities. I have been an oppressive landlord, abusive lady and known gambler. I am a sinner and have caused other’s to sin. I am sorry, Lord”. God replied, “But still, IDKU, who are you?”

    Confused and ashamed of herself, she again stayed outside and pondered who she really is before God. Then something dawned in her that made her stand, knocks at the door and humbly admits “Now I know who I am, Lord. Despite what happened to me in life, I am still your CHILD.” The door then opened widely and God’s voice joyfully proclaimed “Welcome Home, my daughter. Come in.”

    Along our desire to explore our world & to experience life, there is always a deep longing for us to be at home, and be reunited with God. Even for those who have already settled in foreign lands, there is always the strong desire to come back Home. Same way with those who have settled here in Cebu, there is always a desire to go back homeland – Bohol, Siquijor, Luzon, Mindanao or Europe. Because, for us, home is more than place where you live.

    Home is the place where it feels right to walk around without shoes – where people understand you, who gets you as you are. Home is where when you go there, people have to take you in… regardless. Home is where you are accepted, understood, welcomed, belonged and loved.

    Jesus has always preached to us the Kingdom of God is our heavenly home and the Reign of God’s Kingdom is like homecoming and reunion. Like a fiesta, salvation is the moment where everyone is joyfully welcome and celebrating in God’s kingdom – an occasion where we are at Home and re-united with God.

    Particularly in our gospel today, when asked about who are saved, Jesus emphasizes that salvation is not only for the few but for everyone – everyone then is welcome in God’s kingdom.

    However, in our journey back to our heavenly home, Jesus directs us to strive and be strong enough to enter through the narrow gate. What Jesus meant here is that in life, we must do our best to be more at ease and at Home with our identity as God’s children. For Him, welcomed, saved and redeemed are those who are at Home with their identity as a Child of God. Meaning, it is not what we have done and achieved in life, or even what happened to us in life, but who we are before God, as His children that matters most.

    Welcome and Worthy then are we of eternal life in God’s kingdom when we are strong and discipline enough to accept and be at Home with our identity as God’s Children.

    Remember what Jesus said: “the last will be first, first will be last”. Meaning,  somehow those we consider to be first in life maybe the last one to realize and accept their identity; and those we consider to be last, lost, least in life maybe the first one to realize and accept their identity as Children of God.

    Question is: “who are you now before God?” Does God happens to know you? And do you know yourself before God? Are you hearing Him saying to you, IDKU (I Don’t Know You) or Welcome Home my, child?

    Henri Nouwen, a modern-day spiritual writer said it well, when he reminded us: “We are not what we do… we are not what we have… we are not what others think of us. Coming Home is claiming the Truth (that) You & I (We) are the BELOVED CHILD of God, our Creator.”

  • Dialogue for Peace

    Dialogue for Peace

    A Reflection by Joahna Via Grace Saurez.

    Whenever I went home to my hometown my neighbors would question me where do I study. Their face would be full of shock and horror right after I respond to them. It is because a shy and fragile lady like me would want to stay in a place where danger is imminent. Then, later I would answer, “Public man gud. Tapos, naa pud didto akong program na gusto. (It is a public university, and my wanted program is offered there also)”.

    I am currently studying in Mindanao State University – Marawi Campus. This is located in the only Islamic City in the Philippines where “violence is well-known,” as people outside would say.

    Joahna Via Grace Suarez is an active Youth Leader of the Catholic Student Organization at the Blessed Virgin Mary Chaplaincy, MSU-Marawi.

    Just like them, I also am curious as to why of all universities, I was brought here. Yet, I realized that it was God all along who has called me to be here. God brought me to a Christian community that envisions a reconciling presence among my Muslim brothers and sisters. Without me realizing it, God already sent me a sign a long time ago.

    It was when I was invited to be one of the speakers in a Life and Spirit Seminar in Awao, Monkayo. Before the said event, while I was praying and asking for guidance for my upcoming talk, God answered me by filling me with His love. Considering that that is my first ever experience, I don’t know how can I handle it. It seems new. Later, He sent me an explanation – He wants me to spread His love. I thought that that message is only for that particular moment. Now, I realized, it is for a lifetime.

    Fast forward, last May, our chaplain invited me to this Summer Course on Muslim-Christian Dialogue in Zamboanga City. As a lady who does not want to spend her summer doing the same routine, and does not want to waste the opportunity of acquiring new knowledge, with God’s grace, I was able to join him.

    Honestly speaking, I was not really hopeful of the vision and mission of the course, considering that everyday I am seeing why Muslims and Christians specifically will not have reconciliation. Knowing the recent bombing in Dimaporo Gymnasium in MSU-Marawi last December 3, 2023 where there were a lot of casualties while we were having our Sunday Mass. Other than that, there is always this adjustment in our part as Christians because we are a minority. Furthermore, I often see us doing the effort for interfaith dialogue, while the other party seems indifferent. Witnessing those, made me conclude that it is really impossible. Peace is impossible.

    So, I carry this desire for dialogue to be truly present, not only as a goal in the paper. Thankfully, the Silsilah Dialogue Movement made me see it.

    They made me understand what dialogue truly meant. Dialogue is a two-way process and does not mean compromising, rather, an enrichment of one’s faith. Dialogue does not mean conversion, but growth. And this movement does not meant uniformity, but unity amidst diversity.

    The Summer Course made me understand the religion Islam, because as what Rev. Benson said, “You cannot embrace the other if you are ignorant”. By filling our misconceptions and judgments, I am able to understand them. At the same time, our Muslim brothers and sisters were able to understand our faith through the sessions. It is very wonderful to experience and see the presence of Jesus in them.

    Through the smiles, jokes, and charity, I am able to erase my bad experiences with some of them. It led me to a realization that I should not generalize people based from my experience. Even though, I have more bad experiences with the other party, does not mean all of them are the same. There are still people who’ll welcome you with their smiles, empathize with you when you’re feeling down, joke around to cheer you up, and give you their spare of dessert because they know you wanted it so much.

    I thought that I will be forever surrounded with people that will only pollute the mind of this shy and fragile lady, but thanks be to God because He made me see that there are those who are willing to purify it. Right there and then I realized, I am only looking at a place where the unwanted attitudes are dominant. I forgot to look at the other side, where goodness prevails.

    My encounter with them made me remember the good times with my Muslim classmates. It made me remember that my classmates are also an exception. It made me realize that other’s fault is not their fault because according to them, Islam is a religion of peace, and doing otherwise is not in accordance with their teachings. The tragedy is not due to religion but because of the manipulations of the persons in power to find reasons to their inhumane act which is one that continuously embedding a scar to the humanity. 

    Yes, peace is impossible. But with a willing heart and trust, we can do it. In fact, it is already happening.

    Thanks to Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME who opened the curtains and windows, to let me see hope. Through his experiences and words of encouragement, I was moved with deep courage to do the mission towards human fraternity.

    And if you’ll ask me that from hearsays I am hearing, and from all the bad things I see, why do I still continue? I mean from all the things we undergo, why we in the Prelature of St. Mary in Marawi still continue? Because God loves us so much, and He wants us still to share the love.