25 February 2007: First Sunday of Lent
Luke 4, 1-13: The Temptations of Jesus
Note: Sorry for the absence the past week until today. We were so busy organizing our rock concert, Paglaum: A united hope for Bicol," for the benefit of the typhoon victims last November 30, 2006. We are contributing to the rehabilitation of the Bicol Region. Last week, most of my homilies have been done in bullet points. I still have to write them in paragraph form.
This sunday, 25 February, I have not prepared anything yet, but I do have homilies about the Temptations of Jesus. Kindly search the blog for the homilies (yes, I have two) last year about temptations. You can search for the "first sunday of Lent" or "Temptations" or "5 March 2006".
Thank you very much for your understanding. Will post the new homilies soon.
Reflecting God, our Father
17 February 2007. The 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 6, 27-38 Going the Extra Mile
In the previous homilies about this passage from Luke’s Gospel, we have talked about what kind of love Jesus is asking us to have for our foes. We have said that Jesus used agape, the Greek word for love; thus it means whatever another person does to us (even if it is painful, hurtful, insulting, etc.), we do not allow ourselves to desire evil against them; but always their good. Agape does not mean we love them as we love our brothers or sisters (philia) or our lovers (eros), because it would be almost impossible for us to have the same affectionate feeling for an enemy. But to desire their good is possible, because love that is agape, involves not only the heart, but the will.
There are two things I want to share today. First, the commandment of Jesus differs from others such as Confucius, the Mahabharata 5, 1517 (Brahmanism), Udana-Varga 5:18 (Buddhism), Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29 (Zoroastrianism) or figures such as Epictetus, Socrates and Seneca. Jesus’ commandment is said in the positive: “Love your enemies;” and “Do unto others what you want them to do unto you.” You see, there is a difference. Christianity is not so much about avoiding bad things, but in actively doing good things. Let me explain. Supposing in an organization, there are two members who are not in speaking terms. Mark said that he does not want to involve himself in the rift between them, so he just avoided getting into their path. Patti wanted to bring both together to talk about their differences, by having both of them talk to each other. Unfortunately in the dialogue, the quarrel between them worsened. Who is the better Christian, Mark or Patti?
The second tells us that Christianity is about going the extra mile. Jesus said that if we love those who love us; if we do good to those who do good to us; if we lend to those whom repayment is expected; what credit is these to us? Even sinners do them. We are therefore no different from anyone at all. Here we see that Jesus is expecting us to be better than the ordinary person. It is not about accumulating a lot of work. It is not about the quantity of activities but quality of action. St. Ignatius of Loyola calls this the magis, the more. St. Francis Xavier said, “Do the little things excellently.” Thus the extra mile, the magis, the more, will make the Christian different from the rest. If the ordinary person loves those who love them, then the Christian will do more than just that: he or she will love his/her enemies. If the ordinary person does what is good to those who are good to them, then the Christian will still desire what is good even to the person who has hurt and insulted them. If the ordinary person lends to the person whom he knows can repay them, then the Christian will lend to those who may not be able to pay them back.
Let us then stretch this lesson. Thus, ideally, we expect more from a Christian. If the ordinary person is asked to clean the dishes, then the Christian would wash the dishes until they are squeaky clean; if the ordinary person is asked to clean the room, then the Christian would clean it better. If we do service to others, we do not therefore do it half-heartedly, but whole-heartedly. The Christian is not at home with mediocrity. The Christian is always on the look-out for the better way to serve God.
Thus, to love one’s enemies is going the extra mile. The Christian acts on it, putting all of his will to treat his or her foe with respect. Moreover, the desire to be better is not about competition especially when we compare our achievements with others. But the key is in the phrases, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” and in the second reading, “we bear the image of the heavenly one.” Thus, we work better because we would like to mirror the love and mercy of God. Just as God sends rain to both the wheat and the weeds, to the good and the bad person, so should we. After all, this is precisely what it means to be children of God. A child reflects one’s parents.
Dios Mabalos!
13 February 2007: Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 8, 14-21: Diyos Mabalos!
Homily at the Ateneo de Manila High School for all their Social Involvement Programs.
Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.
Tingnan muna natin ang ebanghelio. Nangamba ang mga alagad ni Hesus dahil wala silang maibibigay sa mga taong nakikinig sa kanila. Nang sinabi nila kay Hesus, pinapaalalahanan niya sila. Pinakain niya ang limang libong tao (5,000) at labingdalawang (12) kaing ang natira ; nang pinakain niya ang apat na libo, pitong kaing ang natira. Pinapahiwatig ni Hesus sa kanila na huwag dapat silang mangambang magugutom ang mga tao. Ito rin ang sinasabi ni Hesus sa atin. Hindi niya tayo pababayaan ano mang mangyari, matindi man ang ating pangangailangan.
Ngunit, tayo rin ang pinapangako ng Diyos sa lahat ng mga taong nangangailangan.
Magsisimula ako sa isang kuwento. Papauwi na si Mr. Nestor Villanueva nang nasira ang kanyang sasakyan sa daan patungong Legaspi sa Bicol. Narinig niya ang nangyari sa kanyang pamilya sa Albay nang umagos ang lahar galing sa Mayon Volcano, kaya nagmadali siyang umuwi dala ang isang KIA Pride. Umuulan noon dahil kakatapos lang dumaan ng bagyong Reming. Sa kasawing-palad, hindi niya alam kung papaanong aayusin niya ang kanyang sasakyan.
May isang lalaking tumigil at nilapitan siya. Unang sumagi sa kanyang isip na ang hitsura ng lalaki ay mukhang di-mapagkakatiwalaan. Ngunit lumapit sa kanya ang lalaki at tinanong siya kung kailangan niya ng tulong dahil mekaniko siya sa isang talyer. “Ako po si Jayson,” pakilala ng lalaki. Binuksan ni Jayson ang hood ng sasakyan at sinimula na niya ang pag-aayos. Nang umandar na ang KIA Pride ni Mr. Villanueva, nagpaalam na si Jayson.
Sa labis na tuwa ni Mr. Villanueva, inabot niya ang limang daang piso para kay Jayson. Ngunit tinanggihan siya nito. Sabi ni Jayson, ibigay na lang daw niya ang kanyang pera sa nangangailangan. Kusa siyang tumulong na di iniisip na babayaran siya nito. At pagkasabi, umangkas na si Jayson sa kanyang motor at nagpaalam.
Sa di kalayuan, tumigil si Mr. Villanueva sa isang maliit na turo-turo. Nag-order siya ng pagkain at pagkatapos, nahalata niya na buntis ang nagsisilbi sa kanya. Nang matapos siyang kumain, naalala niya ang sinabi ni Jayson. Kaya, nilagay ang limang daan bilang tip sa babaeng buntis.
Nang makita ng babae na sobrang-sobra ang tip na binigay sa kanya, hinabol niya si Mr. Villanueva para ibalik ito. Pero di na niya naabutan. Nilagay niya sa kanyang bulsa ang tip at pagkatapos magsara, umuwi na siya. Naabutan niya ang kanyang asawang nakahiga sa kama. Hinaplos niya ito sa kanyang mukha at ginising. Sabi ng babae, “May pambayad na tayo para sa panganganak ko! May pambayad na tayo, Jayson!”
Ang anumang binibigay natin nang kusa ay napapasa-atin: bumabalik sa iba’t ibang paraan. At kung ano mang tinatago natin ay kusang nawawala din. Marami tayong isinasakripisyo upang tumulong at magmalasakit sa kapwa: mga oras na ginugugol na maaari sanang gamitin sa paglalaro ng Dota o ng basketball; mga bagay na ibinibigay natin para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo o sa mga matindi ang pangangailangan, ay maaari rin sanang mapakinabangan pa natin.
Ngunit ang sukli ng pagiging bukas-palad ay di mababayaran kailanman: ang mga kaibigan natin mula sa mga institusyon, pamayanan at paaralang katuwang natin sa Dungaw Exposure Program, Damay Christian Service Program, Damay Immersion Program, Gawad Kalinga at Tulong Dunong. Sa palagay ko, mas mahalagang nahubog sa ating paglilingkod at pagbibigay ng sarili ang ating karakter: mula sa pagiging makasarili, nagiging tunay tayong maka-Diyos at maka-kapwa. Sabi ng Gawad Kalinga: Pilipino bagong-bayani. Malay natin: ang tinulungan natin ngayon maaaring siya rin tutulong sa atin sa kinabukasan.
Sa kabilang banda, mas mabuti kung isipin natin ang sinasabi ng isang Bikolano bilang pasasalamat: Diyos mabalos (Diyos na ang bahalang sumukli ng kabutihan mo.).
The Extraordinary in the Ordinary
12 February 2007: Monday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 8, 11-13: The extraordinary in the Ordinary
In Jesus’ time, people looked for God in the extraordinary, in strange and unusual events. For example, the people believed that the coming of the Messiah will be pre-empted by events in the heavens and the stars.
In the readings, the Pharisees demanded from Jesus extraordinary signs or miracles to prove his credibility. But, Jesus refused. He knew that whatever signs He makes, they wouldn’t listen anyways because the Pharisees have already shut off their hearts from the Gospel. Thus, when the Pharisees asked for extraordinary signs, it indicated their lack of faith. There is an atheist society in UP that sponsors debates about faith. They used to invite religious organizations, and I was once asked to join them. But I refused. We choose our battles. Like the Pharisees, they were not there with an attitude of openness.
We are no different from the Pharisees who like extraordinary signs: decades ago, we all rushed to Agoo, La Union, because the Virgin has appeared to Judiel, the visionary. During that time, there were more reports of apparitions all over the country. UP is not spared from this penchant for the unusual. There are those who suddenly fall to the ground when the see a cloud shaped like a face of a divinity.
I guess, when Jesus refused to perform extraordinary signs, he is saying that they do not need them. Jesus is right in front of them; they only have to open their hearts to see the Messiah they are seeking. Thus, the challenge for us is to see God in the ordinary and the normal and the routine. You see much of our lives is routine, regular and often repetitive. But Jesus said that we should open our eyes. St. Ignatius said, “See God in all Things” --- the God in the blade of grass, the God in the early morning, the experience of God in the joy of eating with family or cleaning the house.
Only when we see God in the ordinary, that the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
The Valentines Mass in UP
11 February 2007: The 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 6, 17, 20-26: Beatitudes and Love
The Homily for the Student’s Valentines Mass
Let us make some statements. First, the beatitudes were exclamatory sentences: The beatitudes were written in Greek, but spoken in Aramaic. And in Aramaic, they have a common expression, which is exclamatory. For example, Psalm 1, 1: “O the blessedness of the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” There is no verb: no is, no are. Like the exclamations we say to a graduate: Congratulations! Why is this important: because it tells us of a time element, the present moment, the present form. Thus, the beatitudes is not about a future happiness, a pious hope of what shall be. They are a congratulations of what is present, here and now! Thus, the fulfillment of the beatitudes is in the present time. Thus, it is attainable today.
Second, the word blessed is a special word. In Greek, it is makarios, and it is used to describe the gods. Let see how makarios is used. The Greeks called
On the other hand, in English, happiness tells us what it is: it has as its root, hap, which means chance. Thus, human happiness is something that is dependent on chances, the changes in life, something which life may give or destroy.
Thus, the Christian joy is the joy that cannot be touched by our pains, sorrow, loss, grief, disappointments, helplessness, anger. It is the joy that is deeper than the ebbs and tides of life: a change is one’s fortune, a collapse in one’s health, the failure of a plan, the disappointment of an ambition, even the change in weather and of feeling. Sometimes, there is no feeling: we are just settled and sure. The Christian blessedness, there is permanent and unchanging. It is what many of us seek.
It is no wonder that couples in marriage vow to each other: Grant us, O Lord, to be one heart and soul, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death. Christian love and joy are the same. It cannot be touched by chance or change: better or worse, in crisis or not, in sickness or in health. This is the love of Christ for the Church, in which, every couple must emulate and mirror. Christ’s love is faithful to us. It is unchangeable and overflowing. It is not withdrawn when we are unfaithful; when we do not pray; when we sin; when we become terrible. Believe it or not, the worse sinner still has Christ’s love.
Thus, each couple, whether mag-asawa o magkasintahan, reminds all of us --- including those who do not have partners, whether by choice or by chance --- that love is still alive. However, it has with it a responsibility. In the marriage rite, the parents and the principal sponsors primarily and the couple’s friends promise: “We express our support and love, vow to counsel them in times of their need and difficulties, remind them of their responsibility of sharing themselves to others, and to mirror to them through our lives, the virtues of responsible marriage.”
I would like to make this bold statement: we cannot prevent our sons and daughters, even how young, from falling in love. But we can help them maintain their relationships, so that they are able to learn. We do not want them to be learning the primary stages of trust when they are already committed. Often, even as high school campus minister, I find myself giving some counseling sessions when they quarrel or when they break-up. At an early stage, we should help and counsel them, so that when they finally tie the knot, they know how to keep the marriage going. We teach them the permanent character of Christian love. I met this woman in a NISMED mass in UP. She told me, that her husband died and that she disagrees with the vow formula in the marriage rite. She said, “Death has no bearing on my love for my husband. I will continue to love him even after death.”
Was Jesus insulting to the Syrophoenician?
8 February 2007: Thursday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 7, 24-23 Was Jesus insulting of the Syrophoenician woman?
The story must be read with insight. The woman came to Jesus asking help for her daughter. His answer was that it was not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs. This is a little shocking and thus it needs an explanation.
What was the status of dogs in ancient times? If one is called a dog, what does it denote or connote? The dog in ancient times was not a person’s best friend. It was a symbol of dishonor. To the Greek, the dog meant a shameless woman, as bitch is today. To the Jew too, it was equally a word of contempt: “Do not give dogs what is holy.” (Matthew 7,6. Philippians 3,2; Revelation 22, 15).
The word, dog, was in fact the Jewish term of contempt for the Gentiles. Rabbi Joshua ben Levi once gave a parable: A king gave a feast, and placed his guests at the door of his palace. The dogs came out with heads of fatted birds and chickens and calves in their mouths. The guests began to say, “If it is thus with the dogs, how much more luxurious will the meal itself be?” (Kung ganito ang binibigay sa mga Hentil, e di mas marami pang ibibigay sa mga pinili.)
So the dog is a word of insult and contempt. What is the explanation for the passage?
Jesus used the diminutive form of the word dog, that describes the small lap-dogs of the house. In Greek the diminutives are characteristically affectionate. There something like this in Filipino culture: in Bicol, we call our closest friends like this: Hoy, pangit kumusta ka na? (Ugly, how are you?) or “Mga bruha, kumusta na?” In English, the word, rascal, can be an affectionate word to another friend.
Jesus did not refuse the woman. First, he said, the children must be fed (Jews).
So we ask ourselves: When the Gospel is offered to us, what is our reaction? Do you “switch to another channel” when the scriptures are read at mass? How do we accept the Gospel of Jesus --- for example, love your enemies--- do we just shove it aside?
The Evil in our Hearts
7 February 2007 Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 7, 14-23 The evil things that comes from the heart
Have you ever wondered why there is no food restriction at least for Catholics? There is no law in the church that prohibits us from eating pork (of course, the rules on abstinence is a different story), or pork blood, etc. By declaring that nothing from the outside can defile a person and that which comes from the heart is what defiles, Jesus changed the laws on ritual food restrictions (we have to distinguish food restrictions for health reasons).
Jesus lists some things that come from the heart of people and thus making a person unclean.
First, evil designs (dialogismoi). Every outward act of sin is preceded by an inward act of choice. In other words, evil actions come from evil thoughts. Fornication, thefts, murders, malicious gossip are examples of these.
Second, covetous deeds (pleonexiai). Pleonexia comes from two Greek words meaning to have more. It has been defined as “the spirit which snatches at that which it is not right to take” and “the baneful appetite for that which belongs to others.” Thus it is the spirit which snatches at things, the appetite or desire for acquire money and things. This includes our addictions to fame, popularity and power.
Third, evil deeds. The Greek word used is poneros. Poneros is a man in whose heart there is the desire to harm. Poneros --- the Evil One --- is the title of Satan. The worst of people, is the person who is doing Satan’s work. It is the man himself, being bad himself, makes others as bad as himself. In common jargon, we call that person BI (Bad Influence). Those that lead others to sin.
Fourth is envy. Envy is literally the evil eye. The eye that looks on the success and happiness of others, in such a way, that it would cast an evil spell upon it if it could. In other words, envy makes it impossible for a person to be happy for the fortunes of others.
Finally, pride (huperephania). The Greek words literally means, “showing oneself above.” It describes the attitude of someone who has a certain contempt for everyone except himself. The interesting things about this word, as the Greeks used it, is that it describes an attitude that may never become public. Thus, a proud people may look humble and simple, but in their heart compare themselves to others; and gloating on how good they are of others. This is, I think, the challenge of the educated. Often we think that our plans alone, our views alone, are always the best, and should therefore be followed.
The Greeks have a story. The Greek giants, the sons of Tartarus and Ge, in their pride sought to storm heavens and were cast down by Hercules. That is pride. It is setting oneself up against God. But it is not just the Greeks, we also have a story of pride. The story of the
Each of us has a “doctorate degree” on any of these things listed by Jesus. We are experts in one or more of these areas --- including myself. Let us therefore reflect on the times when these things operate in our lives, so that we will be able to handle them when its evil head begins to show. We pray that God help us in purifying ourselves.
Evolution and Creation
5 February 2007. Monday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Genesis 1, 1-19: And it was good
The Genesis story is not to be read as a historical narration, as if it happened exactly as it was written. The Creation story in Genesis and the
But among all of God’s creation, human beings comprise the one species God selected to bear His image, and therefore, each of us bears a divine image. Thus, Christians believe that every human person is basically good. This image, however, has been defaced by sin.
And therefore, we are tasked to restore what is divine in us. The Stoics believed this too. Seneca, the great Stoic, believes that each of us possesses a scintilla, a spark of God. And therefore, it is our work to let everyone see this spark of God. When we become good people, faithful and trusting of God, the sin that defaces and covers our beauty is peeled off from us.
A matter of perspective: God saw that it was good. Every tree, every drop of rain, every river, every person speaks to us of God. Gerard Manley Hopkins said: “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” So, let us reflect on our attitudes: If God saw that all of creation as good, do we see creation the same way? If God Himself has placed His divine image on us, how do we regard people: are we too critical and distrusting of people; are we experts in finding faults in others? If we do, then we are not in the spirit of creation. Christians should see the goodness of others first; if we see the scintilla in others, then we will discover that our sins are just specks compared to the brighter light of God in us.
*my nephews, James and Joshua.
Presentation of the Lord
2 February 2007: Presentation of the Lord
Luke 2, 27-35: The Prophecy of Simeon
The announcement of Simeon came to Mary unexpectedly and it surprised her. Simeon’s announcement was harsh news, like the first time a patient hears that he has cancer. It is the feeling that we will suffer in some way, but though we may feel we don’t deserve it – after all, we fulfill our obligations and we have been good to others – but it comes anyway. These announcements shock, surprise and remove us from our comfort zones and it blazes our lives with sorrow, pain and confusion.
Many of us have somehow experienced this: the diagnosis of a terminal illness, the letter ending a relationship, the memorandum that marks work termination, a family member revealing a dark secret, the child in his teens declaring a decision contrary to a parent’s dream. I have my own: the radio announcement that my father died when I was in the hinterlands of Bukidnon, the phone call that my mom was in the hospital and the exam results that I failed. These experiences come from an external source.
At other times, they come internally too. Our intuition, dreams and consciences are voices that can give us messages of a future sorrow. A friend of mine was uneasy one day, and couldn’t put her mind in the work she was doing. She felt something was wrong and she could not put a finger on it. Later during that day, her boyfriend had an accident. They said that when two people genuinely love each other, they feel what the other is feeling even without a word, even at a distance. In all of these, there is no way for us to prepare.
When we experience these bad news, we become aware that our happiness is fleeting, our security is delicate and fragile, and life can make us vulnerable and weak. We are faced with the truth that life is not within our control, despite the many techniques we employ to get a hold on it. Often, the feeling is a mixture of fear, anger, disbelief, sadness, helplessness and emptiness. Often we are shocked and we could not believe it. When my father died, I did not know what I was feeling. I went through the funeral numb --- as the eldest, I instantly became the “father of the family”. During the entire wake, I was the manager; I was not the “son”. It took me weeks and months, before the reality sank, before I really began to mourn my father’s death.
In the film, Good Will Hunting, the wise therapist says to Bill, the young man who was hurting: “Bad things draw our attention to the good things we’ve overlooked.” When an event predicts future sorrow and confusion to us, suddenly the people who matter to us becomes more precious. An uncle of mine who had a mentally-challenged son once said to me, that it was his son who made the family whole. When we become depressed and empty, we yearn for the joy we have taken for granted. When someone whom we love leaves us, whether in a temporary goodbye, a re-location, a re-assignment or death, we suddenly realize how much we love them, and we regret that we have not spent time with them.
Thus, when an announcement like Simeon’s come to our lives, they are warning calls to attend to it right away. It is a call to appreciate life, because it is fleeting; to affirm and love those who are precious to us, because time passes. Beyond the shocking news and the sorrowful consequence comes the invitation to be grateful and happy for what we already have, and to treasure them. I believe when Mary stood at the foot of the cross sharing in Jesus’ suffering, it is the memory of being together that holds them close, not giving up hope, and standing stronger than ever. Thus the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord is a celebration of the precious things we value: love and life! We give back to the Lord what He himself has given us; but with some improvements on the gift because it contains our contributions to its growth. When we present them to the Lord, we present them with gratitude and surrender. I would like to believe that the candles symbolize the light these gifts offer when we are in darkness; ultimately, the light of these candles are reminders of the greatest Light that could dispel the darkest of all nights.
The Runner in a Race
31 January 2007. Memorial of St. John Bosco
Hebrews 12, 4-7, 11-15
The first reading from the letter to the Hebrews says, “In your struggle against sin, you have not resisted to the point of shedding blood.” Aristotle tells us of an athlete who falls to the ground collapsing after he passes the finish line. The writer also used the same words as Aristotle, and thus he is saying that we can collapse or faint only after we have won the struggle. Therefore, in our struggle against sin, we should not easily give up until we have shed our blood, to the very last drop. Hanggang dumanak ang ating dugo.
The writer gives us the picture of the runner. He wouldn’t win if he slackens and slows down. His challenge is to run as fast as he can, almost as fast as flying. When the race is almost at the end, the runner’s energy is almost exhausted, and it is easy for him to collapse and to faint. The temptation to slow down and to give up becomes stronger.
The Christian is like a runner in a race. There is a verse in the song, Only This I Want, by Dan Schutte, that goes, “I will run the race, I will fight the good fight,” and quoting St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians, “So to win the prize of the kingdom of my Lord.”
We make therefore our first point. In our struggle against sin, how do we know if we can still make it? The letter to the Hebrews tells us that only when we have shed our blood, when we can know that we are at the end of the race. As long as we live, with the aid of God, we can arise victorious over our struggles. Hangga’t buhay ka, kaya mo pa.
Second, this points to our duty as Christians. We are called to be encouragers of our fellow runners. In every congregation and in every Christian society, there are those who are weaker and more likely to go astray and to abandon struggle. There are those who will easily give up. There are those whose vigor suddenly slackens. And when this energy diminishes, the Christian encourages the person.
When the Israelites were in the middle of their journey --- they have left
Let us therefore pray to the Lord that He gives us the strength and vigor needed in the race to His Kingdom.
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