Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: Sunday

  • Ho me 2 U?

    Ho me 2 U?

    Advertisements

    August 23, 2020 – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082320.cfm)

    Homily

    How are you holding on these days? We are now already almost fast approaching  the sixth month of living life in pandemic times. We already have gone through a lot and still going through a lot these days. Things seem to be getting worse than getting better. Perhaps at this stage most of us (if not all) have experienced and still grieving over some loss of someone and/or something important in ones life – be it a beloved family and friends, work, opportunities, and/or lifestyle. And we cannot help but ponder about what all these happenings now mean and got to do with our life and faith.   

    “Your decision today is the statement of who you are and declaration of who you choose to be”, said  Neal Donald Walsch in his book Conversation with God. True indeed for experience teaches us that whatever our decisions-made somehow and someway reflect our own identity, our own responsibility and even our faith (of what we believe) as well.

    For  instance, whenever a young couple decides to commit into Christian married life through the Sacrament of Matrimony, both of them receives a new identity and responsibility as follower of Christ in life and faith. In their exchange of marital vows before God’s altar they become not anymore just any other couple but now a Christian married couple forever in life. They remain not anymore as children of their parents but now as Christian husband and wife for life. Through their exchange of vows before God and His Church, their love for each other and their following of Jesus now becomes a Sacrament – sign and instruments of God’s continuing love and presence in our own lives. As they decide and resolve to live life in Christian marriage, the couple’s life now is and will never be the same as before but is now of God, and for God’s grace in life.

    In our gospel today, as he asked his disciple “who do you say I am”, Jesus did not ask just to test them or to probe what others say of Him. Jesus is basically asking: “who am I to you? – inviting them to make a decision for Him – an option in favor of Jesus. He wants them to make a proclamation of their faith in Jesus into their own lives. And as we have heard, Peter professed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. And because of this, Simon receives a new identity and responsibility in life and faith. Before he was just Simon, son of Jonah, but now he is Peter “the rock” as foundation stone of the church and the key bearer of God’s kingdom in heaven.

    Like Eliakim in our first reading, because of his faith in Jesus as Christ, Peter now is entrusted, blessed and given the authority and power in the church by Jesus. Through his witness of his faith in Jesus, the life of Peter and our lives now changed for the better – not anymore as before but now as life in Jesus, with Jesus and for Jesus.

    Until now, perhaps especially now during pandemic times, Jesus is asking us the same question: “Who am I to you?” Ho me 2 U?  Again this is not to test us or survey opinions of Him or to parrot what others taught us about Him, but a challenge to make a decision – a stance for Him. Meaning: Is Jesus your beloved whom you promise to live life with OR is He but just your convenient partner who comes handy when needed? Are all things from Him, through Him & for Him to you? Our response is our proclamation of our faith, and statement of our identity and a declaration of our responsibility in life. Like Peter then and us today’s Christians, our life-options/ decisions  for Jesus Christ, (limited & imperfect it maybe) is our proclamation and witness of our faith that make and build us as Church – a sacrament of God’s continuing blessings and grace.

    Remember then how blessed are you Christian married couples. Blessed are you not only because through your marriage, your heritage and bloodlines lives on, but also through your marriage – lived for the sake of Christ, God continues to make miracles in our lives today. Forget not what the evangelist John told us, the first miracle-performed by the Lord Jesus happened during the wedding in Cana. Meaning, through marital vows and married life – imperfect or lacking it may be, the Lord began and will continue to produce miracles – continually partaking God’s blessing to us. That’s how blessed and fortunate  you are now Christian married couples.

    The faith of Peter gains him a new identity and responsibility in life and in  God’s glory and graces. Our life-decisions and options for Christ ensure us a definite identity, dignity and responsibility in life as Christian, and offer us a blessed and promising life now and in God’s glory. That is why Your decision today is a statement of your identity, a declaration of your responsibility in life, and a proclamation of faith. In other words, remember always that whatever our decision today reflect who we are now, who we choose to be, and what we believe.

    While always hoping for the better, holding on as things get worse these days, may we not lose track, but instead be steadfast of our basic identity, responsibility and faith before God and others, so that we may be guided now with whatever decisions we have to make ahead. Amen.

    By  Fr. Aphelie Mario Masangcay, CSsR (a former Filipino Redemptorist Missionary for Filipino Migrants in South Korea who, due to immune compromised diabetic condition, stationed back home  in the Philippines for now).

  • God satisfies our deepest hunger

    God satisfies our deepest hunger

    Advertisements

    August 2, 2020 – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080220.cfm)

    Homily

    Who among us here who have not yet experienced hunger? I am sure each of us have experienced that feeling of being hungry since we were babies. Babies especially would always cry when they are hungry. A parent’s automatic response to a crying baby is to feed the baby with milk. When the baby starts sucking, the baby also stops from crying. When we become adults, we continue such behavior though we do not cry anymore but feed ourselves with food that can satisfy our physical hunger.

    At the beginning of this quarantine and lockdowns, we have also experienced how we have become anxious from running out of food during this pandemic. News reports all over the world told us of panic buying. People were fighting over some supplies, and many essential goods also run out of supply. People bought many things to satisfy not their hunger, but their anxiety of what is to come tomorrow.

    Aside from this, there are also many other forms of hunger in us, such us our hunger for acceptance, for recognition, for friendship, for love and intimacy, for justice, for peace and reconciliation.

    And in our search to satisfy those longings and hungers, we are sometimes led to resort to the promises of “instant satisfaction” and to an “immediate result.”

    Their consequences become destructive, unhelpful and the corruption of life. Addictions such as in alcohol, drugs, sex or food are ways to satisfy our deepest hunger. Yet, because they only promise an instant gratification and so we hold on to those addictions to numb our hunger for love, for attention and intimacy.

    Our obsessive fixations in spending too much time in social media, or online games or with gadgets, can remove us from the true and personal encounter with people. Because of the lack of human connection, we divert our need into what is temporary, virtual and not real.

    Our compulsive behaviors in gossiping, in defaming people and in finding the faults and weaknesses of others seemingly give us the image of a good person, righteous than others. However, these behaviors only blind us of our true longing to be recognized and be appreciated.

    Our obsession to be powerful, to exercise dominance and control over the weak and to resort to violent and aggressive actions apparently make us confident, independent and strong willed. However, they too blind us from that hunger to find our true self and our true potentials.

    That’s why, God in his goodness would always invite us to come to him so that our hunger will be satisfied and our longing will be fulfilled. This is what our first reading told us today. The Book of Isaiah tells us of God’s invitation to come, to eat and be satisfied. God invites his people to come to him, to recognize God as the source and fountain of good and wonderful things in life. This is an assurance of God to the people that indeed, in God they shall be satisfied. Yet, there is something interesting behind this invitation.

    This particular verses in the Book of Isaiah were addressed to the people of Israel who were exiled in a foreign land. And a time has come that they will be restored and will be brought home. However, many of them seemed not to be moved by God’s invitation. People have become comfortable with their life while at exile. They were able to adjust and adopted to a new way of life. Thus, when God’s promise was fulfilled, they have become indifferent, not wanting to be moved by God anymore.

    Thus, this invitation to come to God and be satisfied is also at the same time a challenge and an assurance to us who have become indifferent, complacent but remain anxious of what will happen tomorrow. This is God’s assurance also affirmed in today’s Psalm, “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.”

    This is what we find in today’s Gospel. Jesus became aware of the needs of the people who followed him on foot. This moved the heart of Jesus with pity that prompted him to respond. Jesus cured the sick and also provided them with food for their empty stomach. This is the great miracle of the feeding of thousands of people. This became possible through the participation of people who were close to Jesus. This is where we discover how God gives us the opportunity to be part of the miracle.

    However, we also see how the disciples expressed their anxiety over their food supply. There were more than five thousand people around and Jesus told them to feed the people themselves. All they had were five loaves and two fish, which might not be enough also for 13 adult men. The disciples must have felt that deep anxiety and confusion if they have to share the little that they had for the people. Surely, what they had in mind was, “these are not enough, so we better keep the food for ourselves.”

    Yet, the miracle happened when those five loaves and two fish were brought generously to Jesus so that others may eat. We are invited by Jesus to offer sincerely the little that we have. We might be thinking that the world’s problem on hunger is too big for us to respond and our share will only be insignificant. But let us remember, the five loaves and two fish were actually insignificant compared to the thousands of people. However, the disciples did not hide the little that they had, but offered generously to the Lord.

    Advertisements

    This action tells us of our own vulnerability and weakness and at the same time the power behind a generous action. To give away the little that we have, makes us insecure, yet, it is actually through the little that we possess that the Lord can work wonderfully. When we give something and then we feel vulnerable, because that was all we have, no matter how small, is actually the fruit of our generosity. Remember, true generous people will always feel helpless because what they give to others is not something that is only an excess of their possession.

    Jesus invites us to recognize him, that is, to recognize God, His love and friendship with us as our food that will satisfy our hunger. He is the bread that gives us life. This Eucharist is the gift and our food that should satisfy our deepest human hunger. That is why, this Eucharist is more than what we think. This is not simply prayers and readings, standing and kneeling, singing and saying amen. This Eucharist is our very relationship with God and with one another. This is all about us and God, you and me and Jesus.

    And so, I would like to invite you then, so that we will be able to make this Eucharist truly life-giving.

    First, ask the Lord to help us recognize our different hungers. Be mindful, then, of our compulsive actions, fixations and some forms of addictions because those behaviors in us will tell us of our own hungers and needs. When we become conscious of those, hopefully, it will lead us to seek to what will last, to what is more essential in our relationships and to what will truly satisfy us.

    Second, be moved to open up and to become generous of ourselves to the needs and hungers of others. Remember, we too are being satisfied and become fulfilled when we ourselves become instruments of God’s action in satisfying and fulfilling the life of those in need. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • God growing in us

    God growing in us

    Advertisements

    July 19, 2020 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071920.cfm)

    Homily

    Who among us here have witnessed the actual growing of a seed, or any plant or of a person? We could have claimed that we have witnessed it just as parents looked closely as their child grows, or just as a farmer tends everyday his plants and animals. Yet, because growing is a process, it takes time and very slow. That is why, we don’t usually see with our own eyes how a seed begins to sprout and becomes a tree, or how a flower begins to grow and bloom or how a person develops physically and grows old. We only notice the gradual changes as time also goes by.

    However, thanks to our latest technology because a camera can capture this process of growing particularly of a plant or changes that happen in our nature. Through a photographic technique called “time-lapse” we can witness how a seed begins to sprout, take its roots and come out from the soil and become a full bloom plant. This always amazes me to see that.

    I want you to watch this short time-lapse of a growing seed in silence to bring yourself also into reflection and into calmness in the midst of noise, stress and anxiety that are around us today. (Click the link below)

    With this amazement and wonder of the process of growing, this brings me into reflection for this Sunday’s Gospel. Jesus tells the people about the three parables of the Kingdom of Heaven. These are the parable of weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed and of the yeast.

    In all these three parables, what is common among them is the theme of growing. From here, I would like to invite you that we dwell deeper into these three parables and recognize how God invites us today and how God is growing in us.

    I would like to begin with the parables of the mustard seed and of the yeast. Indeed, these are invitations of God for letting us grow, to be mature and to develop.

    We understand GROWING or GROWTH to be dynamic. It involves changes, adaptations, shedding off of what was old and transforming into something new. Meaning, growing is a form of transformation.

    Both parables, tell us of the process of growth in a non-aggressive way because growth is gradual, silent and calm. Moreover, it is empowering and life-giving.

    This reminds us too of the wonder of creation. Creation is silent and relaxed, yet, destruction is noisy, distressful, aggressive and violent. In destruction, there is no growing because it suppresses and destroys. Surely, this is how we would find life distressful, filled with anxiety and worries, because when we do not grow or when we stop growing then, it leads us to destruction.

    And this is not what God wants us. God’s desire is that we develop into our full potential as what has God desired us to be. Thus, we are called to continue growing no matter how our hair have turned into white or our wrinkles have become more visible.

    Likewise, growing also leads us towards maturity. The first parable of the weeds among the wheat leads us into this invitation, MATURITY. Remember, the owner of the good seeds waited for the wheat to mature before weeding out the weeds, that were sowed by the enemy. To weed out the weeds when the wheat are still young, it will endanger the life of the young wheats. The owner has to wait when the wheat becomes mature and ready for harvesting.

    This means that only when we have grown and become mature that we also gain wisdom to recognize what is bad and good, what is unhealthy and healthy, what is from the evil one and what is from God.

    This tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is already in us because God is with us. The seed has been planted on earth as Jesus was born for us. The Lord is already in our hearts as we are being baptized. Moreover, the Kingdom of Heaven is manifested in us when we also become mature in our faith and relationships with God and with others.

    How do we recognize that we have become mature? It is by being able to recognize the works of God and the works of the evil one, the works of kindness and the works of selfishness and to choose freely God.

    Now, these are the signs as well as the invitations for us to recognize the Kingdom of Heaven and to let God to grow in us.

    First, as the mustard seed grows and the flour reacts with the yeast, the kingdom of Heaven also begins in HUMILITY not in any form of aggression or arrogance. It is humble and simple. Thus, the kingdom of heaven can be very present in a family who makes the effort to pray together, in a couple who expresses their faithfulness despite their differences, in a person who shows true concern and generosity to another who is in need of help.

    Advertisements

    Second, the kingdom of heaven is empowering and life-giving.  The kingdom of heaven is present when our community empowers the weak. A community that discriminates, judges, condemns and indifferent never empowers but it oppresses the weak. However, when our community empowers, then it also gives life. Let us also remember that to be able to give life is to give more chances and opportunities for growth. To give life is to give hope. Therefore, our community is truly a kingdom of heaven when we uphold and protect every life to survive and to mature.

    As we recognize the Kingdom of Heaven in us today, let us also allow the Lord to grow in us, to bring changes and transformation in ourselves, in our attitudes and relationships and in the way we look at things in life. As we continually grow and become mature, we may also become individually, a person for others and also a community for others that gives life, that gives hope and allows chances and growth for the weak and the helpless. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • LISTEN TO HIM

    LISTEN TO HIM

    Advertisements

    July 12, 2020 – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (

    Homily

    As we struggle with the day to day challenges CoVID 19 virus has posted us, perhaps we also wonder what would be the best guidance and advice God is giving us at this time. Life amidst CoVID 19 virus has been constricted and stressful. We find ourselves mostly reactive to the reality that we think about whether our actions are in sync with God’s will and plan. So, what would be the best  way for us to be always online with God?

    Our Scripture and Christian faith tradition have a very simple instruction: LISTEN TO HIM.

    We remember many instances in Jesus life that the challenge of us listening to Him has been clearly given importance. At the beginning of His public ministry to proclaim the good news of salvation, Jesus said: “Today these words come true as you listen.” Also during the Lord’s transfiguration, the disciples heard God instructing them: “This is my beloved Son, whom my favor rests. Listen to Him”. And in our gospel today, in telling and explaining to us the parable of the sower, Jesus challenges us “Whoever has ears ought to hear”.

    Our listening is indeed crucial to our faith-life. By listening to Jesus – God’s word for us, as our first reading suggest, we are part of and in line with God’s work of salvation and can benefit from the fruits of His labor. Paul reminds us that being connected with Christ assures us that “the suffering now are nothing compared with the glory to be revealed.” Jesus in our gospel made known to us how blessed and privilege we are for our faith makes us see and hear what “many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Same way as any loving relationship, good listening and communication are very important to our faith relationship with God.

    Simple as it maybe, but we do have some problems with listening. Experience teaches us that in life it is not always easy to listen. We may have heard what has been said but we may have not listened to it. Or, it could happen that the other have not yet fully said what he wants to say or we may not yet have fully listen to him, we are already thinking of what and how are we going to respond to the other. It could also happen that while we are listening to the other, there are a lot of noisy things and concerns that we are also listening to and hearing with. It is very true that we do have limited listening span and selective hearing. Meaning, we listen only in our limited ways, and listen to what we want to hear from what was being said. That is why selective and limited listening or not enough listening would resort to conflict, tensions and misunderstandings. We heard what has been said but do we listen to it? We may have heard it but are we listening to what has been said?

    For instance, our gospel today is not anymore new to us. We are already familiar and have known about the Parable of the Sower. Surely many times we have already heard this parable. In fact, of all the parables that Jesus have already told us, the parable of the sower is among the few parables which he gave an explanation. True we may already heard this parable before and may have already understood its meaning. But did we listen to it? Are we listening to it? If we don’t see and hear it calling us to listen, then we are not listening and don’t get it.

    Long before it was written and read, God’s words are primarily spoken and proclaimed to us and are meant to be heard and listen by us. The mission of Jesus is to speak, preach and proclaim the God’s Word, the Good News of Salvation. Meaning, our rightful response to God’s Word being preached to us is first to listen to it. Only through our listening that we could understand, and in effect benefit and enjoy the fruits of God’s salvation. Like David, if we want to taste and see God’s glory and salvation, we should learn how to listen intently to God’s Message and Plans through Jesus, His word. For those who listen well, they bear much fruits.

    Jesus has thus already done and doing His part in Proclaiming God’s words. Ours now is to do our part in listening and obeying God’s Word. Let anyone of us then who have ears: Listen, and heed what we hear.

    Amidst our now noisy worrisome and depressing pandemic world, may we be more sensitive to listen God’s message & plans, thus be guided and inspired to rightly respond to its challenges for our trying times. Amen.

    (By: Fr. Aphelie Mario Masangcay CSsR, a Filipino Redemptorist  Missionary stationed in Gwangju South Korea, though now still stranded in Cebu until further notice for available flights.)

  • How welcoming am I?

    How welcoming am I?

    Advertisements

    June 28, 2020 – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062820.cfm)

    Homily

    When I was younger, I used to play, eat and even sleep at my playmates’ house or them in our house. I grew up in this environment being assured that I was welcomed. I also witnessed how the adults at that time would do the same where they also felt welcomed. Indeed, that culture made me realize how a community becomes more compassionate and generous as every house and every person welcomes others.

    This brings me to what our readings this Sunday is reminding us, that is, the call of hospitality or the invitation to be welcoming.

    Our first reading tells us of the story of Prophet Elisha who was welcomed by a rich woman but childless and whose husband was old. Elisha, though a stranger, was welcomed into their home. In their culture at that time, a childless couple would surely suffer shame for having no child. Elisha who was very aware of this feeling of the couple particularly of the woman, prophesied something that would made them truly happy. Elisha promised the couple that by the following year she will certainly have a child.

    Thus, though it seemed that it was only Elisha who was welcomed by them but in fact, Elisha on his part also welcomed the desire and the longing of this couple.

    This tells us now that welcoming others into our homes or into our lives, brings grace. Making ourselves open for others allows the grace of God to also work in our lives. This is what Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans.

    Paul reminds us that baptism is a way of welcoming God into our lives. Moreover, it is also God’s way of welcoming us into God’s divine presence. That is why, Paul told us that as we were baptized we also join in the death of Christ. But how? Christ died for our sins. And in baptism, our sin dies because we are being forgiven. Through that forgiveness then we also rise into a new person just as Christ rose from the dead.

    The grace of baptism lies here because as we welcome God into our life and God welcoming us, this becomes a “mutual welcoming.” When welcoming becomes mutual then true relationship begins to form and develop. Consequently, God is our Father, and we are God’s children.

    This is the same also when we take the risk in welcoming others into our life. True friendship only develops and strengthens when there is a mutual welcoming of each other. This mutual welcoming involves sharing of stories, sharing of pains, sharing of joys as well as sharing of hopes and dreams.

    Recently, a dear friend visited me after months of lockdowns. Since our movements now have been eased for a bit, compared to the situation during the Enhanced Community Quarantine, we had an opportunity to catch up with each other personally even for a short period of time. Such simple encounter was indeed a form of mutual welcoming.

    However, we also know that in welcoming others we may get hurt. This happens when there is no mutual welcoming in our relationship. A relationship that is colored with manipulation or abuse or betrayal or pretensions is such a toxic relationship. This kind of relationship gives us pain and trauma which could lead us to sadness and misery in life.

    Advertisements

    This happened to a friend who welcomed a person in her life. Yet, unknowingly she was not welcomed at all in the life of that person whom she loved. She was just used and abused for the sake of personal pleasure of the other.

    But then, the Gospel of Matthew tells us and assures us the kind of relationship Jesus is offering to us. Jesus offers us a relationship that gives and promotes life and joy. Although the Gospel sounds a bit harsh for it suggests to hate our parents, but it actually means to place our relationship with God as the first or the beginning.

     Making God as the first priority in our every relationship gives us a good foundation to our other human relationships. The more we become in touched with our relationships with the Lord, the more we also become in touched with our human relationships.

    Consequently, Jesus calls us today to be welcoming, to allow ourselves to open up even though that would mean that we become vulnerable. Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes him who sent me.” Meaning, welcoming others with the intention of loving is welcoming God.

     Making ourselves vulnerable to welcome others is a way of losing our life, yet, in welcoming others, we also realize the beauty of loving and finding our life. Therefore, today, Jesus calls us to be welcoming as we are being welcomed, to be loving as we are also being loved.

    Today also, let us seek forgiveness and reconciliation with those whom we have hurt because of our selfishness, dishonesty and indifference. May we truly welcome others in our life too in the way of loving truly and not as a form of manipulating or using others for our own advantage and pleasure. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR