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Tag: Wednesday

  • How blessed am I?

    How blessed am I?

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    September 9, 2020 – Wednesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090920.cfm)

    Homily

    How do we understand being blessed?

    Usually, when we think of a life that is blessed we think of material wealth and prosperity – like having a good family, a prosperous business, a successful career or a good paying job, or having a good health. We think that being blessed has something to do with success and material possessions.

    Thus, poverty is never a blessing; being persecuted, being sick and being rejected is never a blessing too. If we are experiencing such life, we consider ourselves to be cursed.

    However, what Jesus told us today is quite opposite of today’s standard. Our human understanding of being blessed is different from God. Indeed, there is a need for us to understand blessing and our life from God’s perspective..

    In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus warns those who in the standard of the world are blessed such as the satisfied, the rich, the powerful, the popular and the influential. The danger lies in the attitude of the heart that becomes independent from God, a heart that rejects God’s mercy and love. In fact, Jesus warns us when we tend to accumulate more wealth for ourselves at the expense of the poor, or when we gather fame and influence at the expense of others.

    Such attitude of the heart is filled with arrogance and self-centeredness that has no need of God. True enough, when we are so filled with ourselves and too satisfied of what we have gained and achieved, we don’t need God anymore. Our successes and we, ourselves, have become ‘gods.’ This leads us to worship our achievements, wealth, our power and ourselves. But then, all of these corrupt us because we will never be satisfied. We will thirst and hunger for more wealth, recognition and fame which will also lead to our own destruction and those who are around us and those blocking our way to gain for more, as any form of addiction will also result in this way.

    Indeed, dependence on these forms of material satisfactions is a mere arrogance and a false sense of security. This is actually the promise of addictions, in whatever form that may be, whether addiction to drugs, alcohol, sex, influence and fame, wealth and power (political or economic power).

    However, in God’s perspective those who are poor, sick, persecuted, those who failed and rejected are blessed because it is in their poverty and difficulty that they also realize their weakness and need of God. Such insecurities bring us to understand that we are so small in this world and we are in need of God’s grace. That is why; Jesus addressed these Beatitudes to his disciples, assuring them of his presence. His disciples left their families and jobs. They went to places where sometimes they have to sleep without roof. Authorities ridiculed them and insulted them for following Jesus.

    Thus, the very presence of God in our life is what makes us “blessed.” Since God favors those who are weak, poor, suffering and struggling in life, they are the ones who are blessed because they understand their need of God. God comes to us when we are ready to accept God in our life and to let God be our God.

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    God invites us then, to recognize our own poverty and anxieties because God blesses us with His presence. This is also the message of St Paul present in his first letter to the Corinthians. Though at that time, they must have believed that the “Parousia” of the second coming of Jesus was about to happen during their lifetime as he said, “for the world in its present form is passing away.” Paul reminded the people of the need to be more attached to God rather than to what was material and temporary. Paul recognized the importance of ones dependence to God and complete trust in God’s providence. Through the presence of God present in their life, they were indeed blessed.

    So, how blessed are you? The material wealth that we have gained, the influence and fame that we have received, the successes that we have achieved, our good health, our talents and abilities, our knowledge, intelligence and competence are signs of God’s grace and generosity. When we have these, these may lead us to humble ourselves and to recognize that these are gifts and we ought to share them to others. Thus, if you have received much, share the blessings to those who are in need, if you are enjoying success in life, share the experience with those who failed especially in these trying times of the pandemic. It is in this way that the Kingdom of God will truly be present among us, and that we ourselves become the blessing. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • On Idols and Obsessions

    On Idols and Obsessions

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    May 20, 2020 : Wednesday – 6th week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052020.cfm)

    The Community Quarantine and Lockdowns caused the closing of malls, shops, small and big businesses. We are all asked to “stay at home” as a preventive and protective measure against the Corona Virus. At the beginning of this “stay at home,” more and more people also found ways to entertain themselves while staying at home. One of the most popular entertainments that one could easily observe now is how people where drawn towards their screens to watch South Korean Drama Series.

    Somehow, the audiences “idolized” South Korean actors and actresses because of their good looks, good acting qualities and the good chemistry that a particular couple show in a movie. With these qualities of South Korean actors and actresses, they captured their audiences internationally. They are truly entertaining that netizens began to post on Facebook mimicking how South Koreans speak, dressing and wearing make-up just like famous South Korean actors and actresses do, posting memes and short clips of the series they have watched. This craze is all over Facebook.

    From https://ramenswag.com/crash-landing-on-you-quotes/5/
    From https://images.app.goo.gl/rSdD1KCATcpoV5Ca9

    This form of idolizing an actor or actress or a culture is a kind of admiration. However, there is another form of having idols that can be pretty serious. This is what St. Paul identified in our first reading today. 

    Paul was in Athens and saw the many idols the Athenians had. The Greeks were known to have many gods and goddesses. Yet, Paul also realized how deeply religious the people were because of that expression. But what touched Paul the most was the shrine dedicated to the “Unknown god.” With this, Paul being a witness and apostle of the Risen Jesus had the responsibility to introduce the Athenians to the one True God.

    Paul preached to them about Jesus, the Son of God, who became like us, and who lived among us. For it is through Jesus that we are saved by dying on the cross and by rising from the dead. However, this is the very reason as well why many of the Athenians did not believe him, only few of them.

    Many could not accept that kind of God who died for us and was being resurrected. This was something beyond their imagination and beyond any human explanation. But what hindered them also to believe was their own absorption of their many idols, of their many gods. This was something, they could not give up.

    This form of “idolizing” was not a mere admiration but rather, obsession.

    Though this happened long time ago, yet, at present this reality is still happening. Idolatry is still creeping in our culture today. We are still somehow captivated by some idols in one way or another that make God a lesser priority, making our Christian life and faith less significant. We may ask, in what way then?

    When a thing or a person is being loved, wanted, desired and even treasured and enjoyed “more” than God to the point that we have become obsessed, then this could be the “idol” that we worship. That could be your boyfriend or girlfriend or even your good looks. It could be the approval of other people, your attractiveness that tend to seek recognition from others. It could also be your successful career or business or work. Or could be your own passion in sports or any hobbies.

    Nonetheless, reflecting on these, they are actually not evil or bad in themselves. These things are good but they become bad when they do not serve the purpose – which is to be closer to God, by knowing him better, by being grateful to him and by being generous to others. 

    In one way or another, these forms of idolatry are also forms of addictions in us. It means that we may tend to be selfish, prioritizing only our own satisfaction – as a result, we will become insecure and not free at all because we are imprisoned by our own obsessions.

    This is not what God wants us to be. God wants us to be free by knowing and loving him more and more. And so, let us remember what Jesus told us in the Gospel. “The spirit of truth will lead us; the spirit will guide us to discover God and know him better.” 

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    What do those words mean to us now? Jesus wants us to pray, to converse with God truly and that is not just to tell God what we “want” but also to ask God what God “wants” for us; not my own “selfish desires”, but to ask what is “God’s desire for me.”

    Today, I would like to ask you to include in your prayers, to ask God to help us identify our actions, attitudes or things that preoccupy us. This may hopefully lead us to recognize our “idols” that hinder us to know God better, to be closer to Him and that continually prevent us to be generous to others.

    Let us ask, then, the guidance and prayers of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, who is a model for all of us. Hinaut pa. 

    Jom Baring, CSsR

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  • Come and be filled today

    Come and be filled today

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    April 29, 2020 – Wednesday Third week of Easter

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/042920.cfm)

    Jesus talked about the human conditions of hunger and thirst. However, Jesus was not just talking about the physical hunger and thirst but more than that. These include our emotional and spiritual hunger and thirst which could be for love and affection, for attention and recognition from others, for relationship and intimacy. These can also be our own desire to have power over others, to be in total control of our lives, or to have influence to people around us. 

    These difficult days brought by COVID-19 Pandemic, we might hunger for company because he have been separated from our loved ones. We might hunger for healing because we are sick. We might hunger for comfort because we are distressed, anxious, afraid and depressed. Thus, our human hunger and thirst could sometimes be unquenchable.

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    When we become not aware of our desires, of these hungers and thirsts we have within us, the danger is to submit to these greedy desires that we have. In fact, these desires can be reason why we become possessive of material things and even of people, not wanting to share what we have because we feel insecure. Our heart will also become corrupt because we will tend to gather things and people for our own enrichment. These attitudes will surely blind us from seeing and recognizing other people and their needs because we tend to only see ourselves while trying to satisfy our own hunger and thirst.

    Today, we are called by the Lord to humbly recognize our own hunger and thirst that keep us away for others and from God. What are those that keep me selfish and self-serving? When we are able to recognize them, Jesus invites us “to come to him.” 

    What Jesus said to the Jews, he is also saying to us today, “come to me and you will never be hungry, believe in me and you will never be thirsty.”

    Jesus promises us that when we come and believe in him in faith and humility, he will be with us. Jesus assures us of his presence and his company. He said this to us, “I will never reject anyone who comes to me.” The friendship that we shall develop with Jesus will surely bring us into the security of being with God, trusting in his providence and generosity. 

    Thus, despite whatever hunger and thirst we have now never allow those to prevent us from coming to Jesus, or to hinder us from letting Jesus to fill and satisfy our hearts with his presence. And so with Mary, let us come with confidence to Jesus, who shall never reject, but will even gladly, welcome us. Hinaut pa. 

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • On the Road towards realizing the Presence of God

    On the Road towards realizing the Presence of God

    April 15, 2020 – Wednesday within the Octave of Easter

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041520.cfm)

    What are the things that we desire most? Wealth? Good health and long life? Stable job? Love? Committed and grounded relationship? Success and meaning in life? 

    All our desires whether material or not are said to be connected to that deepest desire of every man and woman. Our deepest desire is what draws us closer to God and to a meaningful purpose in life. Our deepest desire is God’s way of leading us to discover and affirm who we are and what we are meant to be in this life.

    That deepest desire is what our Gospel portrayed to us today. There were two disciples of Jesus who truly desired God. Yet, in that desire to be with Jesus and to follow Jesus, they experienced their greatest horror when Jesus himself was crucified on the cross. That disappointment and horror of these two disciples were shown in that image of leaving away from Jerusalem and going to Emmaus. They were leaving in order to forget the pain that they endured in Jerusalem. 

    Moreover, even though they wanted to forget Jerusalem, deep in their hearts they still sought the Lord. This was the reason why the two were conversing and debating about what happened to Jesus. In that way, they sought for explanation to understand their own situation and meaning as disciples of the Lord. Deep down in their hearts, they wanted to make sense of those painful events. However, the pain and the horror were just too great. In addition, women were saying that he rose again. Something that was beyond there human understanding. 

    Until, a stranger, who was actually Jesus, joined them on the road. The Lord explained to them the scriptures yet they were not able to recognize the Lord because their hearts were filled with sorrow and pain. This was described in the Gospel, “and their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” They were too fixated of their emotions brought about by that painful and confusing event in their life as disciple. Moreover, their hearts were also clouded because they have not realized that the stranger who explained to them the scripture, was actually the risen Jesus.

    Yet, it was when they have invited the stranger to join them in the supper and when the stranger broke the bread that they have recognized that the stranger was actually Jesus. Their eyes were opened because in that meal, they were reminded of Jesus’ presence saying to them, “Do this in memory of me.”

    When they have recognized the Lord, it was their time too to discover for themselves who they were and what they were meant to do, their mission and purpose in life. 

    Yes, by recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread, they too have affirmed that they were his disciples, that they were not left alone, were not abandoned by God but loved and cherished by this faithful and merciful God. 

    Through this realization they have discovered their purpose at that moment, and that was to “go and tell others” of Jesus’ resurrection.

    This is the invitation for us today – that is to recognize God among the strangers, among the people we encounter, with those we meet every day particularly your own family, your friends– and in recognizing the Lord in them, hopefully, we too will also discover our own mission, God’s invitation for us.

    Today, Wednesday, we ask the intercession of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, that like her, we too shall recognize the Lord in the presence of our brothers and sisters in this time of great crisis, and will discover how God calls us now. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Live free

    Live free

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    April 1, 2020 – Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent

    Click here for the readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040120.cfm)

    Homily

    Do you want to live free?

    I am sure, each of us wants to be free, to be free from worries, free from anxieties, free from illnesses, free from problems, free from stress, free from pain, free from suffering and free from anything that bothers us.

    These days the more we desire such freedom too. We want to live free from the threat of Covid-19. My friends who have been in strict home quarantine and friends who are under monitoring and investigation have expressed their anxiety and fear and their desire to be freed from those. My friends and relatives who are in the medical field also aired the same desire and to be freed from so much stress they have now. Most of our prayers these days also expressed this desire.

    Indeed, God wants us to live free. We recall that In fact, we were made to live free at the beginning which we find in the life of Adam and Eve before the “Fall.” Yet, we, human beings chose not to live free and that was the result of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden, from the grace of God.

    Yet, God never surrendered on us. The bible tells us that whenever God’s people were made captives and slaves, God sends his representatives to set his people free. Thus, Moses was chosen and sent by God to set the Hebrew free from slavery in Egypt. David was sent to bring into fall Goliath and the Philistines and set Israel free from the threat of other nations. There are many more stories like these that we could find in the bible.

    The best story that we have is the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus, in order to make us free once and for all, so that we will be free from our sins, from our evil ways and will live forever in God’s grace and joy.

    The Gospel reminds us now that Jesus has set us free. We, who know Jesus as Savior and Lord, have the knowledge of such freedom from sin and death. However, what we also realize is our tendency to go back again and again to our sinful ways, to our evil tendencies.

    This is indeed true because we have the tendency to succumb to our old and bad habits, ways, thoughts and attitudes. Even though we have realized that we have been repeating the same sin or weakness, we continue to do the same thing precisely because we have not yet fully accepted that we have the capacity to live free from those through Jesus Christ.

    This is also the case when we continue to hold on to our old anger and hate, to our old wound of rejection and failure, to our decade old frustrations, and to our traumatic and painful experiences. When we continue to hold them tight then the more we become imprisoned by our own past. We are rather called now to live in freedom today and not to be captives of our old and habitual sins and destructive attitudes. There are no truths in here just our cover-ups, pretensions and facades.

    Jesus has told us, “If you know me, you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.(Jn 8:32)”  Jesus calls us once again to know him more and better, to get near to him and to let him free us from what bothers us now, whatever that may be. Jesus, who is the truth, assures us that if we decide to be with him, he shall make us free. Let us come to him, then. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR