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Tag: Ordinary Time

  • Faith is loud and so make it daring

    Faith is loud and so make it daring

    November 16, 2020 – Monday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111620.cfm)

    Homily

    Faith is loud and it echoes into the heart of God and into the hearts of many. Our Gospel today tells us about this, in the beautiful healing story of a blind beggar. Let us explore his story.

    The blind man was sitting by the roadside and by being on the side, this tells us that he did not belong to the privileged people. He was one of the despised and outcast because he was ill. He was blind and so people believed that he was cursed. He was considered unclean and so people would not dare touch him.

    Yet, this blind man believed in the Son of David. His physical blindness did not prevent him to recognize that the Lord was near and that God was in Jesus. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” The Blind man must have heard a lot already about Jesus. The stories he heard made him believe that Jesus too can heal him.

    However, people around him seemed to discourage him. They wanted to keep him silent, yet, he cried louder all the more. This tells us that true faith is neither passive nor indifferent. Faith is always loud. Faith disturbs the arrogant and the powerful, that is why, they would try to keep faith silent, to suppress and kill it.

    He was not afraid to show his faith because he truly believed in Jesus. This is what Jesus wants us, that is, to make our faith daring and loud. Faith leads us to listen to Jesus’ invitation and to respond to his call.

    This is what the blind man showed. Jesus called him and he was brought to Jesus. Indeed, as faith moves us, faith also moves God and moves people around us. Notice the movements then. The loud faith of the Blind Man, caught the attention of Jesus and so was moved by the expression of the man’s faith. This made the people to be also moved and helped the man to move closer to Jesus.

    Moving closer to Jesus also requires us to let go of our habits and attitudes that kept us stagnant, passive and unmoved. Letting go and moving towards God, will help us to listen carefully to Jesus, to his desire for us. The words of Jesus was so moving, he said, “What do you want me to do for you?” The Lord knows what we need. But then, Jesus wanted the man to name what he needed – to recognize his blindness. Healing can only begin when we recognize what is wrong with us. Thus, any medication will not work if we continue to deny our true illness.

    Thus, the response of the blind man to Jesus was an expression of self-awareness. He said, “Lord, please let me see.” Consequently, we are invited by Jesus to name our own blindness, our own illness and the evil that is within us so that Jesus can work in and through us.

    The man began to see when Jesus made him realize that his faith saved him. This was because the man believed in Jesus that he began to see the face of God in Jesus which moved him too to follow the Lord.

    God invites us today, first, to make our faith daring and loud. Second, to let go of whatever that prevents us from going near to Jesus. And third, to name and speak of the blindness, the illness and the evil that is within us.

    Hopefully, by responding to Jesus with our faith we too shall experience healing and begin to see clearly the face of God among ourselves and especially among those who are continually oppressed and abused by the evil structure creeping in our culture today. Hinaut pa.

  • Where your heart is and should be.

    Where your heart is and should be.

    November 15, 2020 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111520.cfm)

    Homily

    As we are about to end the year and prepare for another year ahead, during these coming weeks, it is opportune time for us to review the year has been & about to end – especially as we are forced to deal & adjust with the life-threatening pandemic infection, and consider our life’s endtime or endgame as well. Yes, it is but timely & important for us to be once again in touch & in tune with meaning & purpose of our being and living life then-now-ahead, and above all, for us Christians to  have a closer look & be in sync once again & anew about our views, attitude, & beliefs towards God’s kingdom – our life-eternal with God.

    We have just heard about the all-too familiar Parable of the Talents. The master entrusted some investments to his servants – each according to his ability. As accounting day arrives, those who did well to make the most of his investment were entrusted with more investments & responsibilities, but those who failed to maximize his investments were deprived of further investments & responsibilities. Such a simple business principle. You reap what you sow. Same as in computer language, it is called GIGO (Garbage IN, Garbage Out).

    But somehow life-lessons learned here in our gospel today may also teach us more about the Kingdom of God – our life being and living with God.

    First, God’s kingdom is all about our DYNAMIC and CREATIVE life with God – never should be a static and typical life. Like dance, life with God is the marriage partnership between God and man. For Him to grant us His blessing of Creation and Redemption, God needs a Partner. God needs us to be His partners. He needs our contribution and participation in the dance and marriage of Life and salvation.

    And somehow this is how our partnership with God works: God provides us with the necessary materials or ingredients. He endowed & entrusted each one of us with unique talents, capabilities in attitude, skills and knowledge and opportunities in life (each according to his capacity). But for us to Participate in the Re-Creation, i.e for creating once again our life and our world, and for us to continue God’s work of Redemption, it is up to you – to each and everyone of us to take risk, develop, make the most use of, invest and contribute such GIFTs and talents.

    Second, God’s kingdom also works in a different grading system. Usually using our grading system, we rate the individual student’s capacity against our own standards. Against our accepted standard, we rate them as poor – good – very good – excellent. We grade them with numbers or letters (60 – 75 – 80 – 98 or A – B – F). But in His Kingdom, in His ways or His eyes, God works with a different standard. He sees our basic goodness, our unique potentialities (each according to our capacity). He gives each of us 100%, or excellent or straight A by his own standards & our unique capacity. But like the servants in the Gospel, it is up to us remain at 100%, or settle for less… OR to take risk, strive more to be than 100%. It is not a matter of striving for 100% grade, but a matter of taking a venture to make the most use of our full potentials.

    For instance, making a school project, like -baking a cake or assembling a radio. In school, we are given the opportunity to create those things. Our parents provide us with the necessary materials or ingredients or instruments. Our teachers give us a chance to cook a cake or assemble a radio.  They facilitate and guide us in creating or producing the project. But to the last analysis, it is you who will make the project. It is up to your discretion and creativity to make your cake taste like cake or better than mom’s cake, or to make your radio makes sounds and sounds good. And as we all know; others would settle for less. But others would explore, experiment, and take risks to be more creative and to learn more. Therefore, in doing a project, it is a joint venture, a partnership between your parents, your teacher, and yourself.

    And lastly, our life with God is mirrored in the state of our life here on earth & the state of our life then in heaven later. It is lived on how we make the most of & be responsible for His investments with us in life, & how poor/right & good/bad our marriage partnership with him. In other words, God’s kingdom is how we treasure God in our hearts.

    Marriage, Venture, Treasure – are just but keywords to remind us at this time to consider that God’s kingdom is where our heart is and should be.

    Now consider this….

    In a dream, a rich man found himself at the heaven’s door with two angels. The angels said: “Welcome Home, Sir”. He was brought inside a posh five-starred hotel, where he was also welcomed by his former staff, friends, family & colleagues who have gone before him. Glad to be in heaven meeting again his people, he was then led to his room at 175th floor. Coming down from the elevator, he and the angels passed through several VIP rooms. But eventually, he was led into a storage room near the staircase with only a cushion bed on the floor. Shocked with what he got, he complained: “That’s it?  Only this pathetic room?”. But an angel replied: “Well, that’s only we can do & set up for you from the few materials & resources you have sent here.”

    Remember Jesus advices us: “Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Mt. 6:19-20)

    Set our hearts, Lord towards Your Kingdom at all times so that we may not lost our ways & not lose Your ways but rather live our lives here now on earth more directed and meaningful, and thus fully enjoy our being with You now and forever. Amen.

  • A Paralyzing Fear

    A Paralyzing Fear

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    November 15, 2020 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111520.cfm)

    Homily

    I had a conversation among students and we were talking about self-confidence and talents. There was a good number among them who expressed that they were struggling because of low self-esteem. Most of them too tended to compare themselves a lot with others. They recognized more what was lacking in them and what others have. Such comparison seemed to become a habit that anything can become a subject of comparison and telling the self that he/she lacks and is unfortunate.

    As I let them talk about their experiences, most of them also expressed that it started at home. Their parents tend to compare them with their sibling, or cousin or neighbor or a classmate who seemed to be so much better, brighter and more talented than them. The constant nagging and comparing of their parents have made and molded their consciousness that they were less intelligent and less talented.

    Thus, when we tend to compare more ourselves from others, we also become harsher towards ourselves. By identifying what we don’t have and what others have would only make us more miserable in life. We become more miserable because we will not be contented with what we have. Moreover, we will become indifferent to our own talents and capacities, resources and potentials. This will develop then, into fear, into a paralyzing fear that prevents us to be fruitful, joyful and living life to the fullest.

    Now, this brings me into our Gospel today. Jesus tells us this wonderful story of the parable of the talents. There were three people being given talents from their master. The talents, here were the amount of money gifted to the three. And so the master, gave the talents according to the ability of each one. To the first, he gave five talents. To the second, he gave two talents. And the last one was given one talent.

    However, we were told that the third man was a fearful person. Unlike the two, he did not take the risk of investing the talent given to him because we was afraid of failure. He chose not to do anything because fear seemed to paralyze him.

    He must have pitied himself because he only received one talent unlike the two who had more. He must have compared himself a lot with them. Deep inside, he must be furious and angry why he only received one. It must have been so unfair for him. In his insecurity, he retreated to hide, to low self-esteem, to fear but bitter towards the gifts and blessings of others.

    These thoughts must have occupied his mind and heart to the point that he couldn’t do anything because fear crept it. He feared his master. He was afraid to fail. Yet, that fear in him did not also save him. The talent that he was hiding because of fear, was taken away from him. He lost it and lost the opportunity given to him to be fruitful in his own way. He lost the opportunity to enjoy that talent and to enjoy life.

    Moreover, this attitude is only one possible extreme reaction towards the talents, gifts, and potentials we have. Another possible reaction is its opposite and that is to accumulate what we believe to have been lacking in us and ignoring what we are actually capable of. When we tend to amass things that we were deprived of, we will also tend to be corrupt and abusive. Then, we begin to show arrogance, exercise power and control over others whom we think are lesser than us.

    We can be this person. We can be that man who was anxious and fearful, insecure and bitter. We can also be that person who will become self-entitled and corrupt but deep within, fearful and insecure.

    This is not what God wants us to be. God wants us to trust Him who has blessed us with gifts, talents and people. Trusting God means being faithful to the gifts that we have received which may include our intellectual and physical abilities, our ministry, roles and responsibilities in our community  and even our relationships as a parent, as a spouse, as a sibling or as a child. These are the areas where we are invited by the Lord to invest our heart and our life.

    The Lord gifted us, each according to our abilities. God is confident with our potentials. God knows very much what we are capable of. Yet, let us also remember, that we don’t have to make big and spectacular things to just seek praise and recognition from others. The Book of Proverbs in our first reading today tells us how a simple wife does her duties with grace and kindness. In that way, she developed her gifts as a wife and as a person by also reaching out to others and extending kindness to the needy.

    This is God’s invitation for us – to trust God who trusted us first, to trust his generosity and to be faithful to the many gifts and talents we have received from him. We are called to recognize and embrace what we have, to be grateful for those and invest time and effort. God wants us also to commit ourselves to those things.

    I would like now to leave three reminders for today.

    First, do not compare yourself to others. It will not help you. You will only become more miserable. Rather, begin to acknowledge what you have now – talents or abilities, roles or responsibilities and relationships. Identify also those areas where you think you are still weak and so need more investment from you, perhaps, you need more time, more attention, more practice, more focus, more presence and more confidence. When we are able to accept them and nurture them, then, we shall surely witness God’s wonder in making us productive and flourishing.

    Second, parents, please stop comparing your child to another. It does not help. Instead, discover their gifts and encourage them to develop them. But avoid pampering them to the point that they couldn’t do anything without you.

    Third, never be afraid of failure. If we fail, it could be painful and shameful but go on. It is not the end of your world. Never let fear prevent or paralyze you. Conquer fear by becoming more grateful to God who first loved us and also the first one to have confidence in us. Hinaut pa.

  • Pray without becoming Weary

    Pray without becoming Weary

    November 14, 2020 – Saturday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111420.cfm)

    Homily

    As we are struggling until today with CoVid-19 Pandemic, the past few weeks have been a big disaster particularly with our brothers and sisters in Luzon area. From Super Typhoon Rolly, two more typhoons immediately followed and recently in the last few days, Typhoon Ulysses brought heavy rain that flooded many communities in the North.

    News and Social Media sites were filled with news of the people taking safety on their roof as the water rose and flooded their place. It must have been terrible to be so vulnerable and helpless. Children and old people must have suffered very much from cold. Food becomes scarce. Search and rescue teams were finding it difficult since there were more people to be rescued than the rescuers. Evacuation areas must have been crowded and difficult to manage due to the threat of Corona virus infection.

    These are the realities now that are affecting all of us. We could not just help but think of our brothers and sisters in that part of our country. Thus, today, let us pray with them and remember them. Let us also flood the heaven with our prayers for all those who are affected by the these calamities.

    Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity to pray always without becoming weary. In the same way, we too our invited today to pray like the widow in the parable. Let us bother God with our prayers. Let us pray not just for ourselves but especially for those who are in greatest need today. Pray without becoming weary and let this become an expression of our love for one another. Let our hearts cry out to God to come to our rescue, to aid our helpless and vulnerable brothers and sisters, especially the old, the sick and the children.

    As we pray with them and for them, let our prayer move our heart to extend help to them no matter how small it may be. There are credible and honest organizations who are already operating to respond to their immediate needs. Let us all join and express our love in a concrete way that our actions may become a true testimony of our love for the Church (3 Jn 6). Hinaut pa.

    You may refer to these photos below for those who would like to donate some amount through CARITAS MANILA or the Baclaran Church.

    https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCaritasManila

    https://www.facebook.com/omphbaclaran

  • Walking in the Truth

    Walking in the Truth

    November 13, 2020 – Friday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111320.cfm)

    Homily

    Every day, we do our personal routine and usual daily activities. We wake up. We take a bath and eat. We come to work or study. We take a rest and pause. Then, we sleep and end our day. The next day, we do, most probably, almost the same. Yet, is there anything beyond this in our life? Is there anything beyond to what is ordinary and routine?

    Doing what is routine is not bad. Yet, to be so engrossed with our usual daily affairs may distract us from becoming more aware of ourselves and of God’s daily invitations for us. Indeed, there is also a danger when we just make ourselves occupied with many things. For example, a person who works excessively, a workaholic, may experience fatigue physically and mentally. Moreover, a person who only fills himself or herself with what is only enjoyable and entertaining in life, may become indifferent with his or her personal issues and of people around.

    Certainly, such behaviors may make us ungrounded and indifferent. This will definitely affect our relationships and the way we live our life as Christians today. Jesus’ warning to the people echoes to us today. Jesus reminded us in today’s Gospel not to be so absorbed with our daily activities, with what only gives us comfort, with what only gives amusement and pleasure in life. Just like in the time of Noah, people became indifferent and were only concerned in eating, drinking and marrying, yet, they all perished because unlike Noah, the people rejected God’s call. Just like in the time of Lot also, people continued to do what they wanted in eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, and they too perished because they rejected God’s invitation to change and be renewed by God’s mercy.

    This is not what Jesus wanted for us. The Lord always would desire that we experience the fullness of life with God. And John’s letter gives us an advice on how we should live our lives today.

    John, in his Second Letter, expressed his gladness to a Lady, as he witnessed how her  young children were walking in the truth. These young people were not living out of impulse or did not make themselves occupied with what would just give them pleasure and comfort in life. As John recognized, they were walking in the truth. This means that aside from their daily activities, they too were in touch with Jesus, aware of God’s presence and of God’s invitation for them.

    In this way, John reminded them “to love one another.” This is not a new commandment but the one we have heard from the beginning, as John wrote. In love and in loving, we will never be lost and will never be wrong, “for this is love,” and this is of God’s. In love and in loving, this makes us grounded and fully aware of ourselves, of the presence of people around us, of God who constantly calls us to love. Thus, in everything we do and in everywhere we are, love. This will surely make our daily affairs and days ahead to be brighter and full of life. Hinaut pa.

    (To concretely show our love for each one today, many of our brothers and sisters in Luzon are affected seriously by the typhoons recently. First we had Super-Typhoon Rolly that hit the Bicol Region and followed by three typhoons and with Typhoon Ulysses bringing heavy rain and floods in many cities and communities. Let us remember them in our prayers these days and if we can, extend charitable help to them through the credible organizations working and helping for the affected families and individuals.)