Anong Maaring Ipagyabang?

17 August 2010 Martes ng ika-20 Linggo ng Taon
Ezekiel 28, 1-10; RPsalm: Dt 32; Matthew 19, 23-30

Sabi ni Hesus sa Ebanghelio ngayon: “Mahirap pumasok ang isang mayaman sa kaharian ng langit.” Dahil dito, lubhang nagtaka ang mga alagad at nagtanong: “Kung gayon, sino ang makaliligtas?” Sinagot sila ni Hesus, “Sa mga tao, hindi ito maaari; ngunit sa Diyos, ang lahat ay nagagawa.”

Sa Jerusalem, may isang pintuang tao lamang ang makakapasok. Ito ang tinatawag na "People's Gate" at hindi mo madadala ang kahit anong gamit o hayop. Maaaring gamitin natin ito para ipaliwanag ang Ebanghelio. Maraming damit ang nasusuot ng isang mayaman. Matagal nang nauso ang tinatawag na “layering.” Kapag marami kang nakapatong na damit, tumataba kang tingnan. Hindi ka makakapasok sa "narrow gate" o sa "people's gate."

Ang mga halos "nakahubad" lamang ang maaaring makalusot dito. Ngunit mahirap sa atin ang maging "hubo't hubad," matagal na nating ikinahiya ang ating kahubaran. Subalit, sa pinakarurok ng ating puso, ito ang pinakamalalim na hinahangad: ang mahalin sa ating tunay na pagkatao. Maraming nagmamahal sa ating mga "isinusuot" hindi sa ating katotohanan.

Maraming uri at kulay ang damit ng mayayaman. Pinagyayabang nila ang kanilang ari-arian. Hindi sila mapalagay kung hindi mo babanggitin ang kanilang hanap-buhay. Dapat tatawagin mo silang, “Dr.” o “Atty.” o “Engineer” o “Architect” atpb. Dapat alam mo din kung meron silang katungkulan sa lalawigan. Kapag di mo natawag silang “Mayor” o “Chief Engineer” --- iisipin nilang wala kang respeto sa kanila (bagaman ito’y totoo!). Iba naman ang sanhi ng pinagyayabang. Natutuwa sila kapag nalalaman ng lahat ang kanilang kaugnayan sa mga bigatin!

Dahil dito, tunay ngang mahirap iwanan ang mga nasimulan o ang pagtingin ng tao sa kanila. Mahirap hubarin ang mga kasuotan. Nakabatay ang kanilang pagpapahalaga sa sarili sa damit na kanilang sinusuot. Sa gayon, makikipaglaban hanggang kamatayan ang sinumang nagmamay-ari ng kapangyarihan.

Ngunit ang daan ng kaharian ng Diyos ay simple lamang. Walang komplikasyon. Di kailangan ang ating mga “damit” --- ang ating tunay na sarili lamang ang kailangan. At dahil dito kailangang hubarin at iwanan ang anumang pinagyayabang natin. Sa kabilang banda, meron ba tayong maipagyayabang? Lahat ay galing sa Diyos; walang ibang pinanggagalingan ang ating mga kakayahan kundi sa Kanya lamang.

At dahil dito, unti-unti ang ating pagtatanggal ng ating mga pinagyayabangan. Kailangan ang mahabang proseso upang makita ang tunay nating sarili. Tutulungan ka ng sikolohiya na unawain kung bakit hindi natin maiwanan ang ating pinagkakaabalahan.

Ngunit Diyos lamang ang nakakatulong sa pag-huhubad nito. Ang bawat pagtanggal ng ating mga “damit” ay isang gawaing paulit-ulit. Kung alam nating wala tayong maaaring ipagyabang sa Diyos, madali ang paghubad. Kung alam nating lahat ay galing sa Diyos, madaling makita na ang pinakamahalaga at pinakatotoo ay ang ating tunay na sarili. Ano naman ito: ang katotohanang tayo'y mga anak ng Diyos. Ito lamang ang dapat ipakita sa lahat. Ito lamang ang nakikitang mahalaga para sa Diyos.

The Assumption of Mary in Your Words

15 August 2010 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56

Possibilities are fueled by imagination. When we were young, our dreams were patterned from the successful people we encountered. I wanted to become a doctor, because our family doctor was wealthy. His family lived a comfortable life. In second year high school, my Biology grades were among the highest. It encouraged me to pursue the sciences which eventually intensified and confirmed my dream. Having seen many successful doctors and at the same time discovering the abilities needed to become one, I was so sure about the future (until another example replaced it: the priesthood).

This is the same in faith life. The possibility of becoming holy is fired by “the great cloud of witnesses” or the examples of many lives. Hebrews 12, 1-3 says:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.”

We know that it is possible for sinful human beings to become holy because the proofs are the lives of the saints.

History has it that the former knight, St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, has undergone a spiritual conversion while recovering. While wounded from the battle of Pamplona, He has been given only two books available: the Life of Christ (De Vita Christi) by Ludolph of Saxony and the Lives of the Saints. These books has charged his imagination: He would also like to devote his life to God like St. Francis of Assisi and the rest of the saints.

This is the same with the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary. Mary is a human being. As someone like us, she has demonstrated that we can accept the will of God with our whole heart, mind and soul. In the Annunciation of the Nativity of Jesus, she has taken her role to become the mother of Christ. When her time to go has come, God has given her the grace to be assumed, both body and soul, in heaven.

Revelations 12, 1 says in the first reading: “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.”

The same thing is open to us. In the second coming of Jesus, the Assumption of Mary is what awaits those who have lived holy lives. In other words, we will all be assumed into heaven, both body and soul (like Mary) if we have been holy. It is called the “resurrection of the body” in the Creed we recite every Sunday.

The Opening Prayer at mass goes this way: “All powerful and ever-living God, you raised the sinless Virgin Mary, mother of your Son, body and soul to the glory of heaven. May we see heaven as our final goal and come to share her glory.”

Having said that, we have to remember that the Dogma of the Assumption is connected with the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. In the Immaculate Conception, Mary has been freed from the stain of sin in lieu of her role as the mother of Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity. And since she has done her job well, she has been rewarded with the Assumption.

We can explain it with an approximate imagery. Since our food should be clean, we have to put it in a vessel that is also clean. Since Jesus is God, God has to place Him in a womb that is also as immaculate as His Son. And so, the Church logically reasons out that Mary has been clean from her birth. This is the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

But Scripture says that death is caused by sin. Conversely, uncorrupted bodies have not been attributed to holiness. Many saints who lived very holy lives have proven that holiness can leave our bodies uncorrupted. Meaning, their bodies have not decomposed. In the Catholic faith, there are more than 250 incorrupt bodies of saints including Sts. Agatha, Catherine of Laboure, Bernadette Soubirous, John Mary Vianney, to name a few.

And so if Mary’s life has been totally freed from original sin (Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception), then she cannot physically die. This has been the reason why we believe that God had given her the grace to be assumed to heaven, not just her soul but including her body.

The question to be raised on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary can be very simple, but will commit us to the future.

Can you imagine yourself with God? If so, do you want to be united with God in heaven? If yes, then it is pertinent that you begin to walk the steps of holiness.

How? Hebrews will say these: “We shall rid ourselves of our sins that cling to us. We should persevere in running the race with our eyes fixed on Jesus.” If we succeed, we will be a member of the cloud of witnesses who are already united with God. And the state of being with God is called, heaven.

Restoring the Value of Faithfulness

13 August 2010 Friday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Ezekiel 16, 59-63; Isaiah 12, 2-6; Matthew 19, 3-12

The great Filipino hero, Dr. Jose Rizal said, “Whoever does not look back at his origins, will not be able to reach his destiny.” The Lord, particularly, in the first reading today reminds us to look back at our personal history and see how He has dealt with us from the beginning. Using the image of a girl to refer to Jerusalem, He narrates to Ezekiel what he has to “make known” to her. The Lord reminds Jerusalem of her beginnings. In the past, she was from the Land of Promise, but when she was born, she was abandoned and “thrown out on the ground as something loathsome.” The Lord then took pity and adopted her. He gave her the things she needed to restore her dignity. But in the end, she was “captivated by her own beauty” and used it like a “harlot” to be possessed by others, other than the One who actually loves her.

Jesus in the Gospel also looks back at the history of laws to answer the questions of the Pharisees about divorce. During the time of Moses, he allowed divorce because of their hardness of hearts. But now, Jesus restores the original purpose of marriage: in the beginning, the bond between husband and wife, has always been unbreakable because a commitment is sacred. Unless of course, as He qualifies, “when the marriage is unlawful.”

In our Christian faith, our relationships are to be patterned from the relationship of God and His people. In the first reading, God will still say to Jerusalem, the ‘harlot’:

“Yet, I will remember the covenant I made with you, and I will set up an everlasting covenant with you, that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done.”

And thus in the Gospel, Jesus restores faithfulness as a primary value in relationships.

Peter’s remark is our natural remark: “If that is the case, it is better not to marry.” Rephrase it today, “Marriage should be open to divorce, just in case, it wouldn’t work out.” So you have advocates of divorce.

But Jesus said, “Not all can accept this word but only those to whom that is granted.” In other words, marriage is not a vocation for everybody. Those who can’t, should not. Or, those who are not ready, even if the couple has already a child with them, they or their parents should not force then to marry. It is important that those who marry are mature enough to carry out their commitment. Conversely, those who decide not to marry and freely choose celibate life, should do so, but should also keep what he has first of all promised. No one has the right to ridicule such choice.

And why? Because our relationships should mirror the relationship of God and his people. In the marriage rite, the image used is this: “Love your wife/husband, as Christ loves His Church.” In celibate life, the image is the same. Except one’s love is not exclusive but inclusive of all.

Isn’t it that the Jerusalem in the first reading is like us, the Church? Our unfaithfulness to God does not need proof: we know how we have sold ourselves to our inordinate desires. But God continues to love us, hoping that His undying love will make us realize that the most worthy of relationships are from those who remain steadfast and constant to us.

Faithfulness is an appeal to a loftier value or to humanity’s higher ability to determine themselves freely and not be encumbered by our emotions or the desire to escape from pain. Why? Because even God experienced the pain we undergo in relationships. To reach our destiny, as Rizal points out, we have to accept and reconcile with the past, in order to move on.

Faithfulness is sometimes difficult to defend when others appeal to a lower level of value. But ask the people who advocate for divorce: at the very core of their confusion, they actually want someone to stick to them, no matter how opinionated and proud they are. It would be hurting for them to look back, that in the beginning, they were nothing.

Constant Readiness

8 August 2010 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 18, 6-9; Psalm 33; Hebrews 11, 1-19; Luke 12, 35-40 or 32-48

Have you ever experienced being caught unawares because you weren’t prepared? How many of us were surprised by the floods of Ondoy? How many of us failed a surprise quiz because we did not study? If we experienced these, we know what the readings today are talking about.

The Gospel has one point. The challenge of constant readiness for the coming of the Kingdom is at the center of the test of faith.

In parables, Jesus tells us that there is no definite time and no exact date when He will come. In the parable of the return of the Master from a wedding, the coming of the Master is certain, but the time when He does is not.

In the parable of the thief who comes in the night, the coming of the robber is not even certain. The book of Wisdom in the first reading tells us that our forefathers know for certain that there will be a time when they have to leave Egypt, but they do not know when the Lord will summon them to leave immediately. It is the same with Abraham in the second reading. By faith, Abraham do not know where God will lead him, but he has to pack his belongings and journey from Ur to the land of Canaan (see picture).

What these readings demand of us is clear: Be prepared. Be like the one who gird his loins. The long flowing robes of the East is always a hindrance to work. So someone who will be working will gather his robes and tuck them in their girdles so that nothing can encumber them in their work.

When we think about the coming of the Master, we can think of two meanings. It can mean the Second Coming of Jesus (The End of Time) or our own physical deaths. When we contemplate on our own deaths, we can also mean certain events that might happen that threaten our lives. Close to the latter are natural disasters that claimed several lives and devastated huge properties.

What then should be our attitude?

First, do not procrastinate. What we can do today, we should not postpone for tomorrow. We have to accomplish the daily task that has been given to us. No work should be left unfinished. Sometimes it is dangerous to think that we have plenty of time. Usually we find ourselves cramming.

Second, have clear and realistic goals. It is better to have a few things for the day than to have a long list that paralyzes us. When we have so much on our plate, we usually get overwhelmed. And when we are overpowered, it is easy for us to be defeated. We don’t get things done.

Finally, grab every chance you get to be better. We are to blame when opportunities come, and we don’t take them. Usually they don’t return. In other words, gird your loins and work.

Pagbabagong-Anyo at Facebook

6 August 2010 Kapistahan ng Kaliwanagan ng Pagbabagong-Anyo ni Hesus
Dan 7, 9-14; Psalm 97; 2 Peter 1, 16-19; Luke 9, 28-36

Ano ang kahalagahan ng pagbabagong-anyo ni Hesus sa Kanyang buhay? Bago sina Pedro, Santiago at Juan umakyat sa bundok, inikot ni Hesus ang iba’t ibang lugar upang maglingkod at magturo sa mga tao. Ginamot niya ang maysakit. Binigyan niya ng aral ang mga uhaw sa Turo ng Diyos. Pinakain niya ang mga nagugutom. Kung saan-saan nakarating si Kristo at ang kanyang mga alagad.

Ngunit nagkaroon ng panibagong direksyon si Hesus pagkatapos umakyat sina Pedro, Santiago at Juan sa bundok. Nagsimulang binanggit ni Hesus ang kanyang sasapiting pagdurusa at pagkamatay sa Jerusalem. At walang pag-aatubiling sinimulan Niya ang paglalakbay tungo doon.

Dalawang bagay ang matututunan natin ngayon. Unang-una, piling-pili lamang ang pinasama ni Hesus sa bundok. Sina Pedro, Santiago at Juan ang tatlo sa mga magiging haligi ng Simbahan. Napagisipan niyang tatlo lamang ang kailangang makakita ng Kanyang tunay na sarili; at sila na ang magiging saksi nito. Sa pagbabagong-anyo, pinakita ni Kristo ang kanyang pagkatao. Siya ang tinutukoy ng mga turo ni Moises at ng mga propetang kinabibilangan ni Propeta Elias. Siya ay Diyos, ang “pinakamamahal ng Ama” at dahil dito, dapat nating pakinggan at sundin Siya.

Mahalagang may mga taong nakakakilala sa atin. Isang malaking bahagi ng buhay ang matagpuan ang ating tunay na pagkatao. Nagiging panatag ang ating sarili kapag may mga taong tanggap ang lahat lahat sa atin.

Sa panahon ng bagong media, tulad ng mga social networks, nagkakaroon tayo ng bugso ng damdaming ipaskel sa internet ang ating sarili na hindi natin pinag-iisipan kung ano ang epekto nito sa lahat nang nakakakita. At kadalasan, may mga bagay na pribado sa ating buhay at hindi nararapat na makita ng madla. Maaaring gamitin ito laban sa atin. Maaaring gawing ebidensiya ito upang matanggal tayo sa trabaho o sirain ang ating pagkatao sa iba, lalo na sa ating mga pinakamamahal.

Ang pagpapakita ni Hesus ng kanyang sarili ay pinag-isipan Niyang mabuti. Hindi lahat ng tao ang pinasama Niya upang maging saksi sa kanyang tunay na pakay sa mundo. Hindi lahat ng tao ang pinili Niyang ipamalas ang kanyang pagka-Diyos. Ang kanyang mga alagad na lamang ang nagkuwento nito sa atin. At naniniwala tayo sa kanilang kuwento. Mas magandang nangagaling sa iba ang magagandang kuwentong ukol sa atin. Mas magandang may nagsasabing mabait tayo kaysa tayo mismo ang nagsasabi sa lahat na mabait tayo!

Pangalawa, ang pagkakaroon ng malinaw na direksyon sa buhay ang siyang mahalagang aral sa pangyayaring ito. Pagkatapos makipagtalastasan sa Diyos sa bundok, malinaw kay Hesus ang kanyang gagampanan upang mailigtas ang lahat. Kailangan niyang tanggapin ang daanan ng krus. Kailangan niyang harapin ang kanyang Jerusalem kung saan siya ipagkakanulo, pahihirapan at ipapapatay. Kailangan niyang daanan ang mga ito kung tunay ang kanyang hangaring iligtas ang sambayanan (syempre tunay nga ang kanyang pagmamahal!).

Marami sa atin ang may pangarap sa buhay. Alam natin kung ano ang gusto nating makamtan. Malinaw na sa atin ang gusto nating marating. Ngunit laging may pag-aayaw sa kailangang daanang pagpapakasakit. Totoong walang may gusto sa kahirapan. Walang gustong masaktan, mabigo at magdanas ng kalungkutan. Ngunit may mga masasakit na bagay na kailangang gawin, makamtan lamang ang pinakaaasam.

Kung nais natin makatapos sa pag-aaral, gugugulin natin ang ating oras sa pagbabasa. Ipagpapaliban natin ang oras ng paliliwaliw at pagpapakasaya. Kung nais nating umunlad ang ating buhay, hahanap tayo ng trabahong maayos at makakapagbigay ng tamang sahod para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak. Ngunit maaaring katapat nito ang pagsasakabilang bayan. Kasama nito ang labis na pagtitiis ng kalungkutan, gawa ng paghihiwalay sa minamahal. Ang Jerusalem ang simbolo ng ating “necessary pains” --- simbolo ng krus na kailangang pasanin upang makarating sa ating kaluwalhatian.

Sa pagbabagong-anyo ni Hesus, pinamalas niya sa atin ang daan tungo sa kalangitan. Nasa atin ang pagpipiling sundan ang daang ito o hindi.

Gusto mo bang baguhin ang iyong puso?

5 August 2010 Huwebes ng ika-18 Linggo ng Taon
Jeremiah 31, 31-34; Psalm 51; Matthew 16, 13-23

Mahalaga ang unang pagbasa sa ating buhay ngayon. Dito nagsimula ang pag-unawa na ang Diyos ay nananahan sa ating mga puso. Matatagpuan ang Diyos sa bawat isa sa atin. Ito ang ugat at sentro ng turo sa Bagong Tipan. Makikita ito sa teolohiya ni San Pablo (2 Cor 3: 1 - 5:21) at may-akda ng Hebreo (Heb 8:6 - 9:15). Dito din maaaninag ang mga turo ni San Juan Evangelista at ng turo ni Hesus sa Huling Hapunan.

Noong panahong iniligtas ng Panginoon ang mga Israelita sa Ehipto sa pamumuno ni Moises, napagkasunduan nila na ang Diyos lamang ang kanilang sasambahin, at sila nama’y magiging Kanyang sambayanan. Sa pamamagitan ng ganitong kasunduan, nilagda nila ang maraming batas bilang pagkilala sa kasunduang yaon. Ngunit, nilabag nila ang mga batas na ito. Ibig sabihin, hindi pagmamahal sa Diyos ang itinugon ng mga Israelita.

Kaya gumagawa ang Panginoon ng panibagong kasunduan: ilalagay ng Panginoon ang batas sa ating kalooban at isusulat niya ito sa ating mga puso. At dahil dito, makikilala nating lahat ang Diyos, mula sa pinakabata hangga’t sa pinakamatanda. Ibig sabihin, hindi na ganang atin ang pagtugon ng pagmamahal sa Diyos; kundi Diyos mismo ang nagbibigay ng kapangyarihan upang tumugon tayo sa Kanya. Ang kapangyarihang tumugon ng pagmamahal sa Diyos ang tinatawag nating, “grace” o biyaya. Our response of love is also a gift from God.

Dahil dito, maaaring hilingin natin sa Diyos ang isang panibagong puso (Salmo 51). Ang biyaya, ayon sa Ebanghelio ni San Juan, ay may kasamang pagpapatawad ng ating mga kasalanan at sanhi ng ating malalim na pananampalataya kay Kristo.

Dito nakabatay ang ating kahalagahan: nanananahan ang Diyos sa bawat isa. At dahil nasa kalooban natin ang Diyos, banal ang bawat isa. Tunay ngang tayo ang templo ng Espiritu Santo.

Have you ever wished someone would love you forever?

4 August 2010 Wednesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 31, 1-7; Resp Psalm: Jeremiah 31, 10-13; Matthew 15, 21-28

Have you ever been constantly loved; a love that grew and developed from years ago, and continues until today and forever? If you have, or wished to have someone like that, then the readings from Jeremiah will tell you about this kind of love. This is God’s love for Israel. Here is one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture. The Lord says, “With age-old love I have loved you” (Jer 31: 3).

Constancy is one of the most important aspects of true and authentic love. It is not a love “that does not change” --- it is a love that grows, develops and deepens but is not denied or withdrawn when the beloved commits a mistake or says a hurting remark. Love constantly changes because the lover and the beloved grows, both as individuals and as people in a relationship. Love is not static and stale. It is dynamic.

Constancy involves the heart. The dictionary gives us its synonyms: loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, commitment, adherence, allegiance, dedication and devotion. It tells us that constancy is about keeping our gaze on our beloved. No other person can replace whom we love.

To love is to desire. To desire is to have some concrete preference for the beloved, the object of our love. Even God has to have some concrete hopes for every single person He loves. He has to choose Israel among many. Jesus has to choose the life of a simple and ordinary person if He is to love every one of us, regardless of status. He chooses His disciples and His constant companions like Martha, Mary, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene. And they too know Whom they love. That is why it is important to know who we are and how distinct we are from others: our uniqueness illuminates how God personally deals and cares for us.

But loving is not just about having a natural specific preference. It also involves some fondness, admiration, affection, and care. To have some of those, one invests in the relationship. And that involves time. It consists of quality moments spent being and living with the beloved. It’s indeed an “age-old” love.

Today, we remember St. John Mary Vianney, the patron of priests. But let me expand the meaning to all of us who are called to be “priest, prophet and king” in baptism. Being priests means to be in constant worship with the Lord. When we hear, read, reflect and study the Scriptures, we are practicing our priesthood. When we profess our faith and unceasingly pray for those in need, we are doing our priestly vocation. When we sing, respond and actively participate in our liturgies especially at mass, we live our priesthood.

There are times when we think that the Lord does not answer our prayers. Sometimes we feel that we have been abandoned by the Lord when tragedy befalls us. There are moments when we have the impression that we have gone too far from the Lord because of our sinfulness and returning to the Lord is a long way to go. We believe that a return to holiness is a taxing and arduous task because it would demand an overhaul of ourselves.

But then the Gospel tells us otherwise. The Canaanite woman knows what she wants and insists on having her daughter healed. She is not disappointed or discouraged by the crowd, the apostles or even Jesus. The more she faces rejection, the more her desire grows, and the more she focuses on her daughter, the more insistent she becomes. And because of that kind of faith, Jesus grants her request. With insistent and relentless prayer, the Lord purifies and forms in us a genuine faith.

The Lord loves us with an “age-old” love. And when He does, we trust that He will gather ourselves again (as healing), or bring people together again (as reconciliation), or having everyone one else united in love (as one community in worship).

On our part, the Lord trains us to focus on what we desire by intensifying them, until we discover a piece of the Lord’s heart planted in us. At the end of the day, what we most desire is also what the Lord passionately wants for us.

Gusto mong Lumakad sa Dagat?

3 August 2010 Martes ng ika-18 Linggo ng Taon
Jeremiah 30, 1-22; Psalm 102; Matthew 14, 22-36

Pinasakay ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad sa daong at pinauna niya ito sa ibayong dagat upang manalangin sa bundok. Samantala, sinasabukay ng mga alon sa laot ng dagat ang mga alagad, sapagka’t pasalungat sila sa hangin. Nagmamadaling-araw na ng makita nila si Hesus na naglalakad sa tubig. Hiniling ni Pedro na lumakad din siya sa ibabaw tulad ni Hesus, ngunit lumubog siya nang matakot sa tindi ng hangin. Wika ni Hesus, “Kakaunti ng iyong pananampalataya, bakit ka nag-alinlangan?”

Hindi na iba sa ating lahat ang mga unos na sumasabukay sa ating buhay. Tila ba malulunod tayo sa tindi at lakas ng ating mga dinadalang suliranin. Inaakala din natin sa gitna ng laot ng buhay, iniwanan tayo ng Diyos. Nawawalan tayo ng pananampalataya dahil hindi natin makita ang Panginoon sa gitna ng ating problema. Hindi nakapagtataka, sa matinding takot at kawalang-tiwala, nalulunod tayo sa utang, kamalian, at pagkawalang-pag-asa. Ang bagong sakit na “depression” ay isang pagkalubog sa sariling kahinaan at kabiguan tungo sa ating pagkasira.

Ngunit pinakapakita ng Panginoon ang dapat gawin. Kailangang maglakad sa ibabaw ng tubig; huwag magpatangay sa takot. Kadalasan ang problemang dinadala natin ay kaya nating harapin ngunit naduduwag tayo sa tindi ng alon sa ating buhay.

Bakit Di Dapat Dalhin ang Nararamdaman sa Trabaho

2 August 2010 Lunes ng ika-18 Linggo ng Taon
Jer 28, 1-17; Psalm 119; Matthew 14, 13-21

Marami tayong matutunan sa Ebanghelio ngayon. Nabalitaan ni Hesus ang kamatayan ni San Juan Bautista. At nang mabalitaan ito, lumulan sa isang daong si Hesus upang magtungo sa isang ilang na pook upang mag-isa.

Hindi kailangan pang isulat upang malaman natin kung bakit. Si Juan Bautista ay Kanyang pinsan na naghanda ng daan para sa kanyang gawain. Hinimok niya ang mga tao na magbalik-loob sa Diyos at ituwid ang kanilang buhay bilang paghahanda sa darating na Mesias. Kaya alam na natin kung bakit gusto niyang mag-isa. Kailangan niya ng panahon upang magluksa.

Ngunit, ayon sa Ebanghelio, nang malaman ng mga tao kung saan siya pumunta, nagsisunod sila sa Kanya. At nang makita ni Hesus ang makapal na tao, nahabag siya sa kanila. Kahit hindi siya nabigyan ng tamang panahon ng pagluluksa, itinuloy niya ang kanyang gawain. Pinagaling niya ang maysakit. Nagturo siya sa mga taong uhaw sa Salita ng Diyos. Pinakain niya ang mga nagugutom.

Maraming oras na hindi maganda ang ating pakiramdam ngunit kailangan natin pumasok sa trabaho. May mga sandali ng kabiguan ngunit kailangan pa rin nating ipatuloy ang ating dapat na responsibilidad. May mga oras na matindi ang ating galit ngunit kailangang ngumiti at magkunwaring maayos ang ating buhay kapag nasa opisina (kaysa namang sumimangot ka; kawawa ang customers at ka-trabaho).

At bakit hindi kailangang dalhin ang ating matinding pakiramdam sa ating pinagtatrabauhan? Dahil sa malalim na awa’t pagmamahal: hindi dapat apektado ang mga taong hindi kasama at kabilang sa ating pagluluksa.

What Matters

1 August 2010 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ecclesiastes 1: 2; 2:21-23; Psalm 89; Col 3:1-5; 9-11; Luke 12, 13-21

There are many questions we ask repeatedly. What will make me happy? What will give meaning to my life? What direction should I take? How am I going to pursue what I desire? All of these questions will lead us to discern which among our experiences are more valuable than others. Which among our values are vanity and which among them are eternal.

The movie, Inception (2010) brings us into the deeper recesses of our subconscious. Cobbs (Leonardo di Caprio) and his team enter different layers of people’s dreams; into their innermost desires. Two things are important for the purpose of this homily (I will not release a spoiler for those who have not watched it yet). Cobbs’ innermost desire is to return home and to spend time with his children. Mr. Fisher’s innermost dream is the affirmation from his father to be “his own man” (to become who he is). His father’s last words was “disappointed” --- frustrated that his son tried to become like him. The truth is, he would like his son to forge his own path. And thus for both Cobbs and Fischer, what validate their realities are the people they cared the most.

That movie and all other literary genres including our epics, our written and oral histories, affirm what St. Paul has already articulated in his letter to the Corinthians. The answers to our questions of meaning, direction and joy are those that remain when all our achievements are gone and when our possessions have been taken away. For Paul, what remains are faith, hope, and love. What validates our existence is therefore what we believe in, what we hope for and whom we love deeply.

As in the first reading from Ecclesiastes, all things are vanities. The second reading tells us that all things of the earth will be taken away. Our investments are worthless when death comes, as the Gospel affirms. And so we must put all our energies on the most important things: faith, hope and love.

How do we find what is essential to us? We need to discern well. St. Ignatius of Loyola advises people to know what you desire. Technology and the introduction of new products have churned out more desires which we now call, our wishlist. They reconstruct our sub-conscious; they plant into our dreams new ideas that will make us see reality in a different light. The things that are actually vanities have become part of what is important to us today. In the past, we had lived without mobile phones and computers. Today, technology has set the bar for the obsolescence of people. We become passe if we do not know and use technology.

With the rapid shifts of desires, we struggle with what we want and what we need. We continually discern every day so as not to lose focus on what matters to God. The good thing about shifting desires and growing wants is skills-development: we are trained to discern what is more authentic to ourselves, what is deeper from what is shallow, what leads to God from what does not.

We are now challenged to relentlessly decide among a constellation of desires which among them are important; which are more important; and which is the most valuable among them all.

When we discover the most valuable, we discover the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, that which matters to God. If you find what you most desire, you will find what would give meaning, direction and joy in your life.

Paano Masusugpo ang Kasakiman?

ika-1 ng Agosto 2010. Ika-18 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon
St. John Marie Vianney Sunday
Mangangaral 1:2; 2:21-23; Slm 89; Colosas 3:1-5, 9-11; Lc 12,13-21

Note: This article appears in Sambuhay today. Sambuhay is a publication and ministry of the Society of St. Paul in the Philippines.

Kuhang-kuha ni San Lucas ang bahaging ginagampanan ng materyal na bagay sa ating buhay. Sa kasuluk-sulukan ng puso ng isang taong sakim ang isang malaking kahungkagan, na hindi mapupuno ng kahit ano mang ari-arian. Nag-aakala siyang madadala ang kanyang kinamkam sa kabilang-buhay.

Unang-una, makasarili ang isang taong sakim. Walang ibang nakikita ang mayamang hangal sa Ebanghelio kundi ang kanyang sarili. Sa talinghaga, walang ibang ginamit ang may-ari ng ani kundi ang “ako, ko at akin” at wala na siyang ibang inaaalalang kapakanan kundi siya.

Pinupuno niya ng materyal na bagay ang nararamdamang kakulangan sa kanyang buhay. Hindi siya mapanatag sa anong meron, laging hinahanap ang mas labis at mas marami pa. May isang reporter na nagtanong sa isang bilyonaryo: “Magkano ang kailangan upang masiyahan ang isang bilyonaryo?” “Dapat laging meron pa. Walang sapat na,” sagot niya. Para itong isang softdrink: Kung marami kang nainom, mas nauuhaw ka. Walang sapat na makakapagbigay ng kasiyahan sa isang taong malaki ang pangangailangan. Madaling mapawi ang kanyang kaligayahan dahil hindi ito tumatagal.

Pangalawa, nakaikot sa mundong ito ang buhay ng isang makasarili at hindi ito namumuhunan sa bagay na pangmatagalan. Binabalak ng mayamang hangal ang tumayo pa ng mas malaking kamalig para sa kanyang ari-arian at masagang ani. Pinaplano nito ang isang kinabukasan na nagpapakasasa siya sa labis karangyaan.

Wala itong pagmamalasakit sa iba. Hindi ito nababahalang wala siyang kaibigan o kapamilya. Hindi ito namamahagi ng kayamanan upang lumalim at lumago ang kanyang mga pagkakaibigan. Hindi rin ito tumutulong upang magkaroon man lamang ng magandang kinabukasan o pagkakataon umahon ang mahihirap. Higit sa lahat, wala siyang pakialam sa nangyayari sa bansa; hangga’t hindi siya apektado nito.

Ano ang makakapawi sa ating kasakiman o pagkamakasarili? Ayon kay San Pablo kailangang baguhin ang ating pag-iisip. Tingnan ang buhay bilang isang biyayang ipinagkaloob ng Diyos. Lahat ng bagay galing sa Diyos; at lahat na ginagawa natin, bigay din ng Diyos. Wala tayong maaaring ipagyabang na atin lamang. Dahil dito, ang mapagpasalamat ang gamot sa anumang pagkiling nating punuin ang ano man kulang.

Kung makasarili ang kasakiman; mapagbigay naman ang isang nagpapasalamat. Kung malaki ang ating utang na loob, sinusuklian natin ang tumutulong sa atin. Nawawala ang mga salitang, “ako, ko at akin” at napapalitan ng isang malambing sa “ikaw at sa iyo.” Alam natin ang kayang ibigay, kaya hindi tayo naghahanap sa wala. Hindi maaaring magbigay ng bagay na wala tayo; kaya alam natin una ang maaari nating ihandog sa iba.

Pangalawa, kung sa mundong ito namumuhay ang isang sakim; sa kabilang buhay naman nakatuon ang buhay ng nagpapasalamat. Ang nagtatanaw ng utang na loob ang kumikilala sa kagandahang-loob ng Diyos. Samakatuwid, alam niya ang mas mahalaga na hindi napapawi; kilala niya ang walang-hanggang Panginoon, at hindi ang makamundong nagdiyus-diyusan. Alam natin lahat na may mga tao na bagaman nagsisimba, iba ang sinasamba.

Upang turuan natin ang ating sariling hindi makalimot sa Diyos, ang Panalangin sa Hapag-Kainan ang isa sa mga humuhubog sa ating puso at isip upang laging alalahanin na ang pinagmulan ng buhay ang Panginoon lamang. Dinadasal nating Katoliko: “Basbasan mo, Panginoon ang Iyong mga handog mula sa iyong kagandahang-loob, upang pagsaluhan namin, hinihiling namin ito sa pamamagitan ng aming Panginoong Hesukristo, ngayon at magpakailanman, Amen.”

Inihandog ng ating pananampalatayang Kristiyano itong dasal bago at matapos kumain upang baguhin ang ating pagiging makasarili tungo sa pagiging mapagpasalamat. Kaugalian ng ating Hudyo at ng mga sinaunang Kristiyano ang manalanging basbasan ang nakahain. Sinabi ni Tertullian (2 AD) na huwag kumain o maligo hangga’t hindi makapanalangin, sapagka’t ang makapagpapasigla sa ating kaluluwa ang siyang mas mahalaga sa ano mang kasiyahang mararanasan ng ating katawan. Dahil dito, ang mga simpleng dasal tulad ng Panalangin sa Hapag-Kainan ang tumutulong sa pagbabago tungo sa ating banal na pamumuhay.

Ngunit kung sa tingin natin na mahirap mapawi ang ating kasakiman, ito ang payo ni GK Chesterton: Kung nagdadasal ka bago at matapos kumain, ok ka. Ngunit nagdadasal ako bago manood ng konsiyerto at opera, bago ang isang palabas, bago magbasa, maglaro, gumuhit, lumangoy, lumakad, magpinta, sumayaw, at bago ilagay ko sa tinta ang aking pansulat.

Kung nagpapasalamat tayo sa Diyos bago gawin ang anuman, hindi tayo mapapariwara tulad ng mayamang hangal. Ayon sa mga dalubhasa sa espirituwalidad, ang pagpapasalamat ang siyang puso ng panalangin.

Pagpapakabanal sa Pang-araw-araw

29 July 2010 Sta. Martha
1 John 4, 7-16; Psalm 34; John 11,19-27

Hindi natin madalas mapansin ang mga bayani ng pangkaraniwang buhay. Mga nanay na naghahanda ng pagkain araw-araw. Mga tatay na nagbabanat ng buto para may maihain sa hapag-kainan. Mga kapamilyang iginugugol ang buhay para sa mabuting kapakanan ng kanilang mahal sa buhay.

Sila ang mga banal na kabilang sa mga angkan ni Santa Marta. Siya ang nag-alaga sa kanyang mga kapatid na sina Maria at Lazaro. Siya rin ang tumanggap at umasikaso kina Hesus at sa Kanyang mga alagad.

Ang mga banal ang bayani ng pananampalataya. Ngunit hungkag ang pananampalataya kung hindi ito isinasabuhay. Maraming mga banal ang kilala sa kanilang pagkamatay; sila ang ating mga martir. Maraming mga banal ang kilala sa kanilang mga isinulat na nagpapaliwanag sa mga misteryo ng pananampalataya; sila ang mga doktor ng Simbahan.

Ngunit ang pagpapakabanal ay hindi lamang sa iisang bonggang-bonggang kamatayan o kasulatan. Hindi lang ito nangyayari sa iisang pagkakataon lamang. Mas mahirap ang araw-araw na pagpapakabanal lalo na kung nasusubukan ang ating pasensya.

Kumustahin natin ngayon ang ating buhay-espirituwal sa pangkaraniwan.

Find What You Desire

28 July 2010 Wednesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
Jer 15, 10-21; Psalm 59; Matthew 13, 44-46

How important is finding your ultimate treasure or the pearl of great price? To find what we most desire may not be the easiest thing to do.

Our desires multiply and take different shapes and sizes. It is like our blog’s tag clouds. Sometimes one tag becomes more prominent; sometimes another takes the front. Every desire is nourished by the environment around us. Huge billboards create new wants; attractive television ads manufacture new needs.

So what happens to every single merchant who forage for the priceless pearl? What becomes of the person who hunts for the greatest treasure of all? Simple: the search becomes more difficult as we discern what we need from what we want. It becomes more challenging because there are more distractions in this day and age than years ago. Before, commodities were limited. Today, we have more options. Every advertiser compete for our attention. Our desires therefore shift like the waves of the sea.

But every challenge has a value. Our shifting desires would help us distinguish which is best from what is just good, from what is deeper than what is shallow, from what is true and authentic to our selves than what is false and pretentious. As we sieve through all these, we are enabled to see what among our desires and dreams are in tune with God. We hope that as we search our hearts, we find what would make our lives meaningful.

The Gospel today articulates what it is: we are all in a journey to finding God. And when we are able to find God, like discovering a treasure or the precious of all pearls, we will be willing let go of everything, including our own lives, for its sake. Jesus said that that is the way to find the pearl: we are to detach ourselves from our inordinate attachments.

When we find our deepest desire, we find our ultimate happiness. Everything else becomes dispensable.

Find What You Desire

28 July 2010 Wednesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
Jer 15, 10-21; Psalm 59; Matthew 13, 44-46

How important is finding your ultimate treasure or the pearl of great price? To find what we most desire may not be the easiest thing to do.

Our desires multiply and take different shapes and sizes. It is like our blog’s tag clouds. Sometimes one tag becomes more prominent; sometimes another takes the front. Every desire is nourished by the environment around us. Huge billboards create new wants; attractive television ads manufacture new needs.

So what happens to every single merchant who forage for the priceless pearl? What becomes of the person who hunts for the greatest treasure of all? Simple: the search becomes more difficult as we discern what we need from what we want. It becomes more challenging because there are more distractions in this day and age than years ago. Before, commodities were limited. Today, we have more options. Every advertiser compete for our attention. Our desires therefore shift like the waves of the sea.

But every challenge has a value. Our shifting desires would help us distinguish which is best from what is just good, from what is deeper than what is shallow, from what is true and authentic to our selves than what is false and pretentious. As we sieve through all these, we are enabled to see what among our desires and dreams are in tune with God. We hope that as we search our hearts, we find what would make our lives meaningful.

The Gospel today articulates what it is: we are all in a journey to finding God. And when we are able to find God, like discovering a treasure or the precious of all pearls, we will be willing let go of everything, including our own lives, for its sake. Jesus said that that is the way to find the pearl: we are to detach ourselves from our inordinate attachments.

When we find our deepest desire, we find our ultimate happiness. Everything else becomes dispensable.

Relentless Prayer

25 July 2010. 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Genesis 18, 20-32; Psalm 138; Col 2, 12-14; Luke 11, 1-13

Persistence is the name of the game for the first reading and the Gospel today. Upon Abraham’s intercessions, God is willing to spare a sinful city from doom for a handful of good people. Abraham then bargains with God beginning with 50 and eventually ending with ten good people. God will not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of the ten! Abraham’s persistence in his prayer has moved God to retract His plan. After all, He is the God of compassion and mercy!

Moreover, Jesus teaches us to pray in the Gospel. He adds that our prayer should be persevering and tireless. He illustrates it with the story of a friend who suddenly finds himself in a very embarrassing situation. An unexpected visitor has arrived and there is nothing for him to serve. Hospitality in the East is a sacred duty. And late as it is, the householder goes out to borrow from another friend. But his friend’s house is shut; he does not wish to be disturbed. Disturbing someone is legitimate only when the need is imperative. And so the householder is able to get what he needs with determination! The Lord adds in the Gospel that we should knock repetitively on the door of heaven to obtain the fulfillment of our desires.

There are elements that are worth mentioning.

First, persistence presuppose that we know what we need. St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises calls this the id quod vollo: that which we desire. Whenever we pray, we should be clear with the reason why we are at the feet of Jesus. We have to put a finger into our deepest needs. And so we keep on knocking at the door of heaven knowing why we are banging God’s door.

Second, persistence entails that praying should be done repetitively. Knocking at the door of heaven means that we strike it over and over again. We therefore have to pray and pray and pray, but when we pray we know why we’re praying. Interminable repetition aids our hearts to focus on the id quod vollo; the more we thump on the door, the more our emotions intensify. We learn the value of our desires when we ask for it repetitively.

Third, persistence involves hope. Hope means that we believe in the other person to change or to give what we need constantly. We trust that they would keep us company in our life’s journey. We hope when we do things purposefully. When our faith intensifies, our hope grows. We cannot be persistent without hope; you abandon ship if it is hopeless.

Why does God want us to be indefatigable in our prayers? God does not need our unceasing prayer. But repetition makes us yearn for our deepest desires: it is for the good of us! Human experience tells us that the more we insistent in what we want, the more we want it. We can guarantee the reality and sincerity of our desire only by the passion with which we pray.

Sometimes we think that God does not answer our prayers. But a “no” is also an answer. Jesus got a “no” when He prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane. He wanted His Father to take “this cup” from him, but the answer was a negative! Sometimes the answer we want may not be the best that we need. Often, we feel dejected because the answer we desired or expected is not given according to the answer from a heart of God’s love and wisdom. Like parents, we don’t give whatever our children ask of us. Most of the time, a refusal may help them become better. When a child requests for an increase in allowance, to reject that proposal may help them learn how to budget whatever they have.

But the Parable tells us something more. It is a contrast! If the friend opens the door because of his friend’s relentless persistence, how much more will God? How much more will the loving Father supply His children’s needs!

[So with La Salle drawing first blood from Ateneo at this UAAP Season, there is no way for the Blue Eagles to win but through persistent prayer and of course, constant practice!]

Shepherds After His Own Heart

23 July 2010 Friday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 3, 14-17; Psalm: Jeremiah 31:10-13; Matthew 13, 18-23

The Lord says to Jeremiah that the people have been wicked and rebellious. He desires their return to Him. He hopes to gather His children again in His Temple. In order to fulfill this desire, He promises the prophet to send shepherds (note: the plural) “after His own heart.” They will help gather the people in worship and guide them in the ways of the Lord.

I believe we are all “wicked, rebellious and sinners.” We have been unfaithful to the Lord in many ways. Our wickedness and rebelliousness can take different forms. Our sinfulness can be grave or subtle. Jesus says that the children of darkness have been very creative.

The Lord chooses shepherds from the community of sinners. He selects all of us to become shepherds fashioned from His own heart.

Many of our lives are not totally sinful; we are also redeemed by our goodness. Many of us do not hurt people maliciously; we have been trying to please others and avoid causing harm. And thus, we are, as Fr. Horacio de la Costa SJ calls us, “sinners yet called to be a companion of Jesus.”

However, before we become leaders, the minister of the Word has to be formed first. Before we become His shepherds, we are first of all disciples of Jesus. Before we can become shepherds fashioned after the Lord’s heart, we have to listen to His Word first, listen to our hearts, and see how we respond to Him. We have to know Him, so that we can become one with the Lord. And how? We are asked to pray, reflect and live His Word.

What then is our mission? To fulfill the desire of the Lord to gather His people. We are to sow the seeds of His Word, and prepare the spiritual soil to receive the seed of the Gospel. So that when the ground is ready, they will respond accordingly and appropriately to the Lord.

As we are continually configured to the Lord, we gather the people by God’s word.

Are You Young? God needs you to save the world!

21 July 2010 Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 1, 1-10; Psalm 71; Matthew 13, 1-9

For more than 30 years, I have worked with and for the young. In those years, I experienced their potential. I can say with conviction that I have seen more miracles with them than with the aged. They have the unimaginable energy and a wide range of talents and abilities that what is deem to be impossible for the elderly could be made into reality with them. They can enliven worship. They can run sustainable outreach programs. And they can serve the Lord with joy! They say, a parish or a church without the young will soon die.

The readings today tells us that the Lord calls the young to ministry. When the Lord called Jeremiah to be a prophet, he said he was too young for the job. Jeremiah said, “Ah Lord, I know not how to speak; I am too young.” And the Lord answered, “Say not, ‘I am too young.’ To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you.”

And what was Jeremiah’s job? The Lord touched Jeremiah’s mouth, saying, “See, I placed my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms; To root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.” The mission of the young Jeremiah was greater than he thought!

But Jeremiah was not the only one called to such a mission. Timothy was also young when Paul asked him to lead one of their new Christian communities (2 Tim 1, 1-7)

To those who are in the later half of their lifetime, this is an eye opener for us who believe we know the world and the young are not yet ripe to take on the role of evangelization. When we are approaching or have gone beyond the golden years, I believe our mission is to be like God who entrusts the mission to change the world to those who have the superhero energy needed for it. We are asked to give as much opportunity to our children to develop their leadership potential to bring the world into how the Lord envisions it to be. Our mission is the work of encouragement.

Pope Benedict XVI said that the new missionary frontier is the internet. Our young spend more time in cyberspace. At present, they are in social media. They are experts in this new revolution. Perhaps this is the time to see a new application for the Parable of the Sower. We can throw the seeds of the Gospel in the fields of cyberspace. There is great possibility that someone who walks through that universe can stumble on one of our growing seeds.

To the young, you have more potential than you think you have. Like Jeremiah. Who can imagine that a young person will not just affect his generation, but the world as well?

Proof: we are finding his life and his preaching worthy of our attention now.

Sino ang Iyong Kapamilya?

20 July 2010 Martes ng ika-16 Linggo ng Taon
Micah 7, 14-20; Psalm 85; Matthew 12, 46-50

May mga tinatago tayong sikreto sa buhay na hindi alam ng ating mga magulang. Ngunit alam ng ating pinakamatalik na kaibigan. May mga suliranin tayong minabuti na lang natin na ilihim sa ating mga kaibigan, subalit alam ng ating mga spiritual directors. May mga proseso tayong dinadaanan sa ating buhay na kaugnay sa ating mga kasulsulukang pangangailangan na alam lamang ng ating mga counselors. Dahil dito lumalabas ang isang katotohanan: ang pinakamalalim na ugnayan ay hindi nakukuha sa kadugo ngunit sa pakikiisa ng ating isip, puso at kaluluwa sa isang taong nakikiisa din sa atin.

Mahalagang ipakita ni Mateo si Hesus bilang isang Guro. Tinuturo ni Hesus sa Ebanghelio na ang pinakamahalagang ugnayan ay hindi ang ating pagkakapamilya o pagkakaibigan. Higit sa lahat, ang pakikitungo natin sa Diyos ang dapat mamayani sa ating buhay. Kung magkakabanggaan ang ating mga ugnayan, ang Diyos ang dapat manaig. Dahil dito, ang sinumang tumutupad sa kalooban ng Diyos ay ang tunay nating kapamilya.

Ano pa bang Patunay ang Kailangan Mo?

19 July 2010 Lunes ng ika-16 Linggo ng Taon
Micah 6, 1-8; Psalm 50; Matthew 12, 38-42

Bagaman maraming nang himalang ginawa si Hesus, humihingi pa rin ang mga Eskriba at Pariseo ng marami pang kababalaghan. Hindi maitago ni Hesus ang Kanyang lubhang pagkayamot. Kaya sabi ni Hesus na wala na Siyang iba pang ipapakita kundi ang kababalaghan ng propetang Jonas.

Ano ang kababalaghan ni Jonas? Ito ang turo ng propeta ukol sa pagbabalik-loob at pagtanggap ng mga taga-Nineveh sa turong yaon. Nang marinig ng mga taga-Nineveh ang sinasabi ng propeta, agad-agad silang humingi ng tawad sa Panginoon. Ang Reyna ng Sheba’y bumisita kay Haring Solomon upang makinig sa kanya, at lalu siyang humanga sa katalinuhan ng Hari. Ang patunay na kababalaghan ay ang pagtanggap ng mga Hentil sa turo ni Hesus, na mas higit kina Jonas at Solomon.

Nagbibigay ba tayo ng kondisyon sa Diyos para sa pagpapalalim ng pananampalataya? Naniniguro ba tayo sa ating mga pinagdedesisyonan, kaya humihingi tayo ng patunay sa Diyos? Napakarami nang biyayang ipinakita at ibinigay ng Diyos sa atin, ano pa bang patunay ang kailangan upang lalo tayong magpakabanal? Kulang ba ang ating tiwala sa Diyos mismo? O hindi natin nakikita ang mga kababalhang ginagawa ng Diyos noon at sa kasalukuyan?

A Balanced Life

18 July 2010 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Genesis 18, 1-10; Psalm 15; Luke 10, 38-42

Let us do a different reading of the Martha and Mary story in Luke. Sometimes we have to see the previous story in Scripture to find the context of the present Gospel. The story of Martha and Mary comes after the story of the Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan emphasizes the importance of action in our faith. And thus, Martha’s household service is a good illustration of action serving the company of Jesus. However, the story of Martha and Mary makes Mary who sits at the feet of Jesus having the right priority which is to be with Jesus. It seems that the passage sets Martha and Mary against each other. And thus, we usually interpret the Gospel this way: without prayer, doing good for others is empty. However, I believe, the reverse is also true: without active love, our prayers are like clanging cymbals as St. Paul says in his letters. And thus I would say, that Christian living is having both Martha and Mary together, just like themselves: as sisters in the same household.

We can have another interpretation with a particular angle on the importance of women. Martha and Mary are definitely very good friends of Jesus and his disciples. The Gospel of John mentions their brother Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead. During the time of Jesus, the head of the household was the one who welcomed a guest. But this time, it was Martha and Mary who welcomed him, the way other women supported His ministry and avidly followed Him even after His death. And the good thing is this: the love these women have for Jesus as expressed by their actions were also reciprocated. Jesus in turn also loved them.

Moreover, the gesture of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus is significant. Let us imagine ancient teaching classes. The students sat on the grass or the floor, therefore, at the feet of their teachers. In the Gospel, to sit on the floor meant Jesus teaching Mary in a rather “formal” way. At the time of Jesus, the women were relegated to the household and were not allowed to join or to learn because that was not their business. Their business was to tend their household and care for the husbands. “House-making” was exclusively for women. For Jesus to teach and to be welcomed by women affirmed their equal importance.

Just as the first interpretation teaches us to have a balanced life that puts equal importance to doing and being with Jesus, the second interpretation also seeks a balanced recognition on the importance of women. Just as Jesus loved and recognized the distinct and uniqueness of women, we too have to be aware that humanity shares both distinction and equality among persons. There are things that is true to all of us; there are also things that distinguishes us from others.

To achieve a balance is the challenge for people who both love God and love others as they healthily love themselves.

Shawna Atteberry gives a thorough explanation of the second point here.

Tugon sa Tumutuligsa

17 July 2010 Saturday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Micah 2, 1-5; Psalm 10; Matthew 12, 14-21

Nang maraming nagalit na Pariseo kay Hesus at pagtangkaan siyang patayin, umalis na lamang Siya at pinagpatuloy na lamang Niya ang kanyang misyon sa ibang lugar.

May tamang oras at panahon upang harapin ang mga tumutuligsa sa atin. May mga oras din na mas mabuting huwag na lamang komprontahin dahil maaaring walang kahihinatnan ang ating gagawin o mas lalung makakasira ito sa samahan sa bahay, barangay o pinagtatrabauhan. May mga oras din na mas mainam na iwasan na lamang sila, pagbutihan ang ating trabaho, gawin ang ating dapat na responsibilidad, at paghusayin ang ating paglilingkod. Ipagsa-Diyos na lamang ang paghihiganti.

Ang pagtitimpla sa tamang tugon sa isang sitwasyon ay isang hamon sa ating lahat. Hindi sa lahat ng panahon tama ang iisang pagtugon. Hindi puti at itim ang buhay; may iba’t iba itong kulay. May tamang panahon sa iba’t ibang klaseng tugon sa mga tumutuligsa sa atin. Kailangang isipin kung karapatdapat ba silang pag-aksayan ng panahon o hindi.

May kaibigan akong ganito ang kanyang prinsipiyo: The best revenge is to be happy. Sabi ko naman: The best revenge is to be better.

The Place of Rituals

16 July 2010 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Isaiah 38: 1-6, 7-8, 21-22; Isaiah 38; Matthew 12, 1-8

It is a common impression that our Catholic faith is ritualistic. Our faith has revolved around praying the rosary, processions, expositions of the Blessed Sacrament, fiestas and novenas. It is bound by time, practiced regularly especially those with devotions to the Mother of Perpetual Help (Wednesdays), Sacred Heart (Fridays) or the communal worship on Sundays. These are not bad, but routine has compartmentalized our lives: the faith does not permeate all of our lives and has not been a leaven of transformation to the our world.

The concern of the Gospel today is the propriety of healing on a Sabbath. Jesus replies using a counter-question, regarding the case of rescuing an animal, a beast of burden, the source of income (Deut 22, 4). The Pharisees say that it is lawful and right to save an animal, how much more is it right to save another human being (v.12). In other words, why is rescuing our carabaos (our beast of burden) lawful, but feeding the hungry on a Sabbath unlawful?

So Jesus restores to health the withered hand of the man in the synagogue. We remember that God desires mercy much more than sacrifice. Therefore, good deeds override the Sabbath regulations.

Our experiences teaches us that rituals are always part of our lives. Our morning ritual is not just about personal hygiene, but it is also about charity. If we don’t bathe and brush our teeth, other people suffers from our putrid body odor. Our Sunday mass is done on the day where everyone is free to worship the Lord as a community. Proof: in the Middle East, Friday is a national holiday for worship, and thus, Catholics makes Friday their “Sunday.” The Church in these situations recognizes which is more important.

The Gospel puts rituals in its proper place. Jesus summarized moral living as loving God and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. And thus rituals are at the service of these commandments: just as worshipping the Lord on a Sunday intensifies our love for God, it also celebrates our love for each other and teaches us the proper and correct love for ourselves.

The Place of Rituals

16 July 2010 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Isaiah 38: 1-6, 7-8, 21-22; Isaiah 38; Matthew 12, 1-8

It is a common impression that our Catholic faith is ritualistic. Our faith has revolved around praying the rosary, processions, expositions of the Blessed Sacrament, fiestas and novenas. It is bound by time, practiced regularly especially those with devotions to the Mother of Perpetual Help (Wednesdays), Sacred Heart (Fridays) or the communal worship on Sundays. These are not bad, but routine has compartmentalized our lives: the faith does not permeate all of our lives and has not been a leaven of transformation to the our world.

The concern of the Gospel today is the propriety of healing on a Sabbath. Jesus replies using a counter-question, regarding the case of rescuing an animal, a beast of burden, the source of income (Deut 22, 4). The Pharisees say that it is lawful and right to save an animal, how much more is it right to save another human being (v.12). In other words, why is rescuing our carabaos (our beast of burden) lawful, but feeding the hungry on a Sabbath unlawful?

So Jesus restores to health the withered hand of the man in the synagogue. We remember that God desires mercy much more than sacrifice. Therefore, good deeds override the Sabbath regulations.

Our experiences teaches us that rituals are always part of our lives. Our morning ritual is not just about personal hygiene, but it is also about charity. If we don’t bathe and brush our teeth, other people suffers from our putrid body odor. Our Sunday mass is done on the day where everyone is free to worship the Lord as a community. Proof: in the Middle East, Friday is a national holiday for worship, and thus, Catholics makes Friday their “Sunday.” The Church in these situations recognizes which is more important.

The Gospel puts rituals in its proper place. Jesus summarized moral living as loving God and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. And thus rituals are at the service of these commandments: just as worshipping the Lord on a Sunday intensifies our love for God, it also celebrates our love for each other and teaches us the proper and correct love for ourselves.

May Mabigat Ka Bang Dinadala?

15 July 2010 Huwebes ng ika-15 ng Taon
Isaiah 26, 7-19; Psalm 102; Matthew 11, 28-30

Naranasan niyo na ba ang bigat ng dinadalang problema dahil wala kang mabalingan o mapagsabihan? Naramdaman niyo na ba na tila lalung nagiging mahirap ang kinakargang suliranin dahil wala kang kaibigan na mapagpahingaan ng loob? At mas malala kung nasa ibang bansa ka at ikaw lang mag-isa. Mas mahirap kung malayo sa ating piling ang ating mga malalapit na katoto.

At kahit sa loob ng ating bahay ang kapamilya, kapitbahay ang kaibigan, o kasama ang katrabahong nakakausap mo nang mas malalim, hindi sila laging nasa ating tabi kung kailangan natin sila. Maaaring maraming ginagawa sa trabaho, may sariling pamilya, o may ibang pinagkakaabalahan, hindi kaya ng sinumang tao ang ating pangangailangan. Walang maaaring samahan tayo sa lahat ng oras kundi ang Diyos na naririyan saan man tayo mapunta.

Ito ang Ebanghelio sa araw na ito. Wika ni Hesus, “Magsilapit kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na napapagal at nabibigatan, at kayo ay aking pagiginhawain.” Hindi tatanggalin ng Diyos ang ating mga problema; ngunit kaya niyang luwagan ito. At paano? Madilim ang isipan kung mabigat ang kalooban. Sa kabilang banda, madaling nakakahanap ng paraan ang taong maluwag ang kalooban. Kapag meron tayong napagsasabihan ng problema tulad ng kaibigan, tila gumagaan ang ating pakiramdam, naliliwanagan ang ating isip, at nakakahanap tayo ng solusyon sa ating pinapasan.

Ang Diyos ang ating takbuhan. Siya ang ating kaibigang laging makikinig sa ating mga daing. Kapag nababahagi natin sa Diyos ang ating pinapasan sa pamamagitan ng pagdarasal, alam nating sinasabayan tayo ng Diyos sa pakikipagbuno sa buhay. Ang may malalim na tiwala sa Diyos, hindi basta-basta nabubuwal at natatalo sa buhay.

The Truth is a Simple Sentence

14 July 2010 Wednesday of 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 10, 5-16; Psalm 94; Matthew 11, 25-27

The Gospel today tells us that the most important things in life we learn in grade school.

As we grow older, our lives become more complex. We discover worlds and cultures different from our own. We become easily influenced by mass media and now, our lives are affected by social media. Relationships have changed from a committed companionship to complicated situations. We learn to think on our own, having been raised to question reality and to process experiences. Once we enter the jungle of ideas, we lose ourselves among the trees.

But the Lord said that the truth is simple. Grammar teaches us that the most powerful structure is a simple sentence---the blunt and straightforward sentences of children. The truth is uttered simply: I love you; I am hurt; I am afraid; I am jealous; I am angry. Our deepest desires are also structured in the same way: I need you; I want to be loved; I want to be an accomplished professional; I want to help my famly; I need God; I want to feel God’s presence.

When we get older, we are challenged to embark into a journey to the inmost part of our hearts. And often, it is difficult because our past experiences and years of study pose as a distraction and barrier to find the truth of our lives. Holy men and women have discovered them in what the prophets proclaim: God speaks in the gentle wind, in the quiet of our hearts. With God, we are naked. There is no way to beat around the bush; God can see what is in our hearts -- always even before we discover the painful truth.

The truth is indeed painful. We have been accustomed denying it because of shame. An accomplished executive is afraid to accept that beneath the external is a gnawing insecurity. But Jesus tells the disciples, “Do not be afraid.” Do not abandon the mission of finding the truth of ourselves (our inward journey) and the truth of others and the world (our outward journey) and the Truth Himself.

Adults can cover up the truth. Some have made concealing and distorting the truth as their lifetime career. In fact, distorting the truth has become second nature.

But children: they will tell you as blunt as they see it. Blessed indeed are the childlike.

Taga-Chorazin ka ba o Cafarnaum?

12 July 2010 Martes ng ika-15 Linggo ng Taon
Isaiah 7, 1-9; Psalm 48; Matthew 11, 20-24

Kikilatisin natin ang Ebanghelio ngayon. Pinagsabihan ni Hesus ang mga lungsod ng Galilea. Sila ang maraming nakita na himalang ginawa ni Hesus, ngunit hindi pa rin sila nagsisi at nagbalik loob.

May dalawang bagay ang makikita natin sa mga lugar na ito. Una: Sawimpalad ang Chorazin at Betsaida dahil hindi sila nagsisisi bilang tugon sa mga ginawang himala ni Hesus. Kaya mas mabigat pa ang sasapitin ng mga ito kaysa sa mga lungsod ng Tiro at Sidon, mga lungsod ng pagano. Dahil kung tutuusin, kung nakita ng mga pagano ang ginawa niya, magsusuot ng abo at damit balahibo sila kaagad bilang pagtanaw ng pagsisisi.

Pangalawa: Sawimpalad din ang mga taga-Cafarnaum dahil napakataas ang pagtingin nila sa kanilang sarili. At dahil mataas ang kanilang pagtingin, ilulugmok sila sa impiyerno sa mga huling sandali. Mas mabigat ang sasapitin nila kaysa sa Sodom. Para kay Hesus, hindi sapat ang pinapakita nitong tugon sa Kanyang mga ginawa.

Ayon kay San Ignacio de Loyola, ang unang hilingin natin sa Diyos ang pagpapasalamat. Nawa’y makita natin na ang lahat lahat ay biyaya ng Maykapal. Ang lahat ng pag-aari natin, ang lahat ng ating mga abilidad at kakayahan, ang lahat ng ating buhay pawang bigay ng Diyos. Para kay San Ignacio, ang taong taus-puso ang pagpapasalamat, tama din ang kanyang tugon sa Diyos. Ang katotohanan ay simple: hubad-na-hubad ang bawat isa sa atin dahil ni isang katiting galing sa atin. At dahil dito, kahit ang inaalay natin sa Kanya, galing sa Kanya! Marami na ang himalang ginawa ang Diyos sa atin.

Ngunit dalawang uri ang tugon. Una, tayong mga taga-Corozain at Betsaida, kailangang maniwala sa ating halaga. At kapag nakita at naramdaman ang halaga natin, makikita natin na isang kasalanan ang pakiramdam na laging kulang, walang tamang pagmamahal sa sarili. Wika ni Hesus, ibigin mo ang iyong kapwa tulad ng pag-ibig mo sa iyong sarili. Ibig sabihin, may tamang pag-ibig sa sarili, na pagmumulan ng tamang pag-ibig natin sa iba.

Marami tayong hindi naniniwala sa kakayahang ibinigay ng Diyos. Laging ikinukumpara natin ang ating sarili sa iba. Hindi sapat ang biyayang iginagawad na ng Diyos. Mababa ang turing natin sa ating sarili; lagi tayong nakaka-awang tingan. This is the false sense of humility. Magandang ipukpok ito sa ating ulo: pagpapakita ng kahalagahan natin, ang mga himalang ginawa ng Diyos sa buhay. We are precious to a God who does not need us. Proof: He died for us.

Pangalawa, tayong mga taga-Cafarnaum naman, kailangang idilat ang mga mata upang makita ang ating pagka-walang-wala. Upang ang pagpapasalamat sa Diyos ay ganap at lubos; hindi kulang.

Hindi sapat ang tugon ng nagmamayabang dahil labis ang ating pagka-bilib sa sarili. Nag-aakalang pawang galing sa atin ang ating mga abilidad. Nakakalimutan ang mismong pinagmulan at nagbigay ng mga kakayahang yaon. Kaya ano mang tugon sa Diyos ay hindi sapat: laging may bahid ang kanilang pinagkakaabalahan na hangaan sila ng iba, at hindi ang Diyos na tunay na naghihimala.

Pagpipili Sanhi ng Paghahati-hati

12 July 2010 Lunes ng ika-15 ng Linggo
Isaiah 1, 10-17; Psalm 50; Matthew 10: 34 - 11:1

Laging darating ang panahon na kailangan nating mamili ng iisa lamang. Ang panahon ng ligawan bago ang kasalan ay isang panahon ng pag-iisip kung sino ang ating magiging kasama o hindi kasama habang-buhay. Tinatawag itong “socialization process.” Layunin ng prosesong ito ang makita ang magiging kaisa-isahang magmamay-ari ng ating puso magpakailanman. Kasama sa prosesong ito ang iba’t ibang karanasan ng pagkakaroon ng paglilipat, pamamaalam o pagbabago. Natutuklasan ng magkasintahan na hindi sila para sa isa’t isa. Kasama din dito ang iba’t ibang pagkakaibigan. Sari-saring kuwento ng pag-ibig ang maririnig natin. Ngunit lahat ng ito humantong sa isang pagdedesisyon.

Ganoon din sa pananampalataya. Sa unang pasok natin sa Simbahan sa binyag, ang mga magulang, ninong at ninang ang pumipili at nangangakong palalakihin tayo sa pananampalataya, hangga’t may sarili na tayong pag-iisip upang tunay na aakuin natin ito. Ito ang Sakramento ng Kumpil. Ngunit ang pagpipili ay hindi pa nagtatapos. Habang marami tayong naririnig ukol sa Simbahan, maganda man o karumaldumal na balita, laging hinahamon ang ating unang pagpipili: ito pa rin ba o hindi na? Siya pa rin ba o hindi na? Ang Diyos pa rin ba o hindi na? Ang bawat pagsang-ayon na maging tapat sa unang sumpang pinili ay isang pagpanig sa paglalalim at paglalago ng pananampalataya.

Kaya hindi pwedeng ang masama AT mabuti ang pinipili. Hindi pwede ang balimbing. Iisa lamang. Sa Diyos ka ba o hindi? Tunay nga ang sinasabi ni Hesus: ang pagpunta niya sa mundo ang magiging sanhi ng paghahati-hati. Ang tunay na magkakapatid ang siyang isinasabuhay ang hangarin ng Diyos. Wala ito sa pagiging kadugo o kamag-anak. Malapit tayo sa ating kaibigan dahil binabahagi nila ang pare-parehong interes o pinahahalagahan natin.

Kung meron man tayong hindi pagsang-ayon sa mga namumuno sa Simbahan o hindi tayo mapayapa sa nakikita nating paglilingkod na hindi tapat sa Diyos, kailangan nating pagsabihan ang ating mga pari, obispo o relihiyoso. Nagkakamali rin ang mga pinuno sa Simbahan. Matutuklasan natin ito sa pag-aaral ng kasaysayan. At bakit naipagpatuloy ito: dahil hindi natin sila napagsabihan at walang kumontra sa kanila.

Ang pinakarurok na katapatan ang sa Diyos, pangalawa lamang dito ang Simbahan at ang ating mga magulang. Kung dumating sa oras na mahahati ang ating kalooban, ang sa Diyos lamang ang pipiliin. Magalit man ang magulang o kaya ang mga tao sa Simbahan.

Kung labag sa ating konsiyensya na gawin ang kanilang inuutos, lalu na kung mali, ang Diyos ang ating susundin. Nilabag ko ang kagustuhan ng aking mga magulang nang ako’y nagpari. Tama ako: dahil ngayon nakita nila na masaya ako sa buhay. At ngayon, sila na ang nagagalit kapag niloloko ko sila na aalis na ako!

Mahalagang huwag kalimutan na may mahalaga, may mas mahalaga at may pinaka-mahalaga. Ang pagpipili dapat sumang-ayon muna sa pinakamahalaga.

This Parable Challenges. Don't read this.

11 July 2010 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deut 30, 10-14; Psalm 69; Col 1, 15-20; Luke 10: 25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan includes the two greatest commandments. It suggests that our love for our neighbor springs from our basic love for God. The first reading enjoins us to heed the voice of the Lord. The parable is important because it expands the meaning of ‘neighbor’ and illustrates that compassion is for all people.

The story begins with a victim of a robbery attack who was left on the road to die. Three passers-by saw him: a priest, who avoided him in view of purity laws; a Levite, a priestly class, who avoided him; and a Samaritan, considered an enemy of the Jews, who helped him. Today, the popularity of the parable can be found in how people understand the present-day Samaritan. At present, a Samaritan means a generous individual who provides aid to a needy person without hesitation. Thus, a Samaritan is someone who gives a positive response to the call of the Gospel. Their response is non-discriminatory. Their generosity is beyond race or segmentation or classification.

The parable’s message is explosive for many of us whose greatest talent is to categorize, classify, and catalogue people. The parable teaches us that an individual of a social group they disapprove or consider a rival can exhibit a superior moral behavior to their opponent in need. It also means that not sharing the same faith, interest or affiliate is no excuse to behave poorly. It also means that we can rise above our prejudices and let our human heart see the heart of another.

For the priest and the Levite, to touch a dead person means to go through the purity rituals in order to be clean again. To aid the victim was inconvenient. During His ministry, Jesus helped those who were considered outcasts and sinners even to the point of being ridiculed by the “holy men” of the Temple.

Let’s put these all on the ground with questions: Would you like to see a priest in the company of prostitutes or people with different sexual orientations? (Or, if you are a priest, would like other people to see you with them?) How about those with records of crime and corruption? Would you go with people who are regarded by “holy men and women” (yes, in quotation marks because they think they are the standard of Catholic faith) as against some basic Catholic doctrine? How about those who do not believe in God or God-haters in the internet? How about working together with the person you deeply hate? Would you help them?

Have you contributed in the cultivation of a culture that divides than unites? Are you more reconciling with the people who disagrees with you? The Parable points out that sometimes those who are different have more breeding than those who are in the circle.

This is a bitter pill to swallow. But we have ignored this truth for the longest time. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is not about donations; it is about you and I being personally involved in charity. It is easy to dole out; but it is challenging to help that includes some of our time, some amount of sacrifice, some getting out of the box. This is called compassion. Remember God sends the sun and the rain to both the weeds and the wheat.

But like all parables of Jesus, the image of the Samaritan sticks because it asks rather bluntly: Would we help only when it is convenient? Should we go out of our way to show compassion to all --- whether they are within our circle or beyond it? After all, our hearts are cut out to love. The truth is this: it is possible to love even those whom we do not know or we do not like being identified with.

Nakasulat na pero di pa matuto

10 July 2010 Sabado ng ika-14 Linggo ng Taon
Isaiah 6, 1-8; Psalm 93; Matthew 10, 24-33

Naituro na ng Diyos ang lahat na importante para sa isang ganap na buhay. Naisulat na sa Kasulatan ang pag-uugatan ng tunay na kaligayan at kaligtasan. Nakasulat na rin sa ating panitikan ang mga karanasan ng maraming tao sa nakaraan, upang matuto sa kanila ang kasalukuyang henerasyon. Hindi nakapagtataka na laging binabalikan, pinakikinggan at isinasabuhay ang Salita ng Diyos. Kaya laging tinatagurian kauna-unahang Guro ang Diyos, at galing sa Kanya ang lahat ng tinuturo ng mga nagsisipag-ganap bilang guro sa mundo. Walang makahihigit sa Diyos.

Ngunit bakit hindi tayo natututo kahit nakasulat na ito? Maraming dahilan. Gusto nating maranasan mismo ang isang bagay, upang makakuha ng aral dito. Pagkatapos maranasan, tsaka pa natin alalahanin ang sinabi sa Kasulatan: “Ah, kaya pala ganito ang nakasulat sa Bibliya...”

Nais nating maramdaman na sa atin mismo nanggaling ang aral. Gusto natin na tayo ang guro, at ang iba naman, ating mga estudyante. May halong yabang ang ganito. Ilang mga tinaguriang intelektwal nag-akala na alam nila ang lahat? Ilang tao ang naniniwalang alam nila ang mas makakabuti sa buong sangkatauhan? Ilan ang nagsasabing alam nila kung ano ang mahalaga sa buhay, kahit wala silang karanasan? Kaya marami ang walang pananampalataya sa Maykapal: dapat sila ang standard ng tunay na buhay. Sabi ni Hesus, sila ang self-righteous.

Ngunit ilan sa mga intelektual na ito ang magaling makitungo sa kapwa? Ilan talaga ang masaya sa kanilang buhay? Marami akong kilala na walang love life at social life. Magaling sila sa libro at computer, kahit social networking (sila pa ang nag-imbento nito). Pero mahina sila sa one-on-one personal relationship.

Natututo tayo sa isa’t isa. Hindi lang sa iisang tao, kundi sa maraming tao. Sari-sari ang pagtingin ng maraming tao sa iisang katotohanan. Kailangang makinig, maki-pag-usap hindi lamang sa kapwa tao, kundi sa Diyos. Sa balitaktakan, pakikinig sa iba’t ibang kuro-kuro at pagdarasal, marami tayong makikitang iba’t ibang katotohanan o iisang katotohanang mahalaga sa buhay.

Ang Diyos ay tulad ng isang guro na alam na ang aral, ngunit hinahayaang ma-diskubre ito ng maraming estudyante sa isang group work. Naalala ko si Albert Einstein na parang ganito ang sinabi niya: hindi imbento ng isang scientist ang isang theory, kundi dinidiskubre lang niya ang nandiyan na.

Mas hindi natin nakakalimutan kung tayo mismo ang nakakahanap ng aral.

Is it Easy to be Catholic these days?

9 July 2010 Friday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Hosea 14, 2-10; Psalm 51; Matthew 10, 16-23

It is not easy to be a staunch Christian these days. Much more being Catholic. We are sometimes regarded by many as unreasonable and archaic. Some of our doctrines may seem so alien to the modern mind. Our stand on certain issues may be construed to be disconnected to present realities. With the advent of the internet where information and disinformation abounds, we will be like “sheep” in the midst of wolves. And we all know how fascinated our enemies are of us that they prefer to pick on us like bullies, than pick on other religions. If they were vampires, we are like fresh human blood.

We are not entirely faultless. The Church has lost much of its credibility with sins and scandals in history entirely exposed to the world via the internet. But they forget that it is not all of us. Enough said.

But though we are to be sent like sheep; Jesus said that we too have to be shrewd like serpents and simple as doves. That means we should not be unprepared. Cunning is borne out of knowledge and experience. Knowing the style or the ‘way of thinking’ of our detractors will be useful. It is also about knowing the best strategy, like a soldier in battle.

Those who walk into a storm unprepared and claim that “God will protect me” is stupidity. Sometimes these piousness borders on cluelessness. Yes, he said we are like sheep to the slaughter, and He also said that we are to be as shrewd as serpents. Put that together it means that we may not have the strength of a superhero like Superman, but at least we can put up a good fight. Having God as our protector means we cooperate with God who can use much of our brains.

Walang Hinihintay na Kapalit

8 July 2010 Huwebes ng ika-14 Linggo ng Taon
Hosea 11, 1-9; Psalm 80; Matthew 10, 7-15

Isang paglilinaw ang nasa Ebanghelio ngayon. Isang biyaya at karangalan ang tawagin tayo ng Diyos upang isakatuparan ang kanyang kalooban. Nakalaan sa isang partikular na misyon ang ating buhay. Maaaring maging isang mabuting magulang sa mga anak, isang magaling na mamamayan sa ating bansa, o isa sa mga nagsusumikap protektahin ang dignidad ng buong sanlibutan. Ano mang ginagampanan natin sa ating buhay ay iginawad na malaya at galing sa pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin.

Ibig sabihin, kapag ginagampanan natin ang tawag ng Diyos, hindi dapat ito tingnan bilang isang utang-na-loob ng Diyos sa atin. Nasanay tayo na kapag may ginawa tayong mabuti sa isang tao, magkaka-utang-na-loob siya sa atin. Kaya kung panahon na natin na humingi ng tulong, inaasahan natin na ganoon din ang gagawin niya bilang bayad-utang.

Sa Ebanghelio, malinaw na sinabi ng Diyos: galing sa Kanya ang misyon natin. Ang pagtupad ng kalooban ng Diyos ay isang tugon sa Kanyang pag-ibig. Ito ay isang biyaya, kaya, dapat ding gampanan na walang hinihintay na kapalit.

Discipleship is Mission

7 July 2010 Wednesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Hosea 10, 1-12; Psalm 105; Matthew 10, 1-7

Have you ever felt that you have a mission to accomplish in your life? Well, today, Jesus reaffirms that discipleship involves mission. In the first verse of the Gospel, Jesus passes on to his twelve disciples authority over demons and diseases that He received from the Father.

After the list of the Twelve, Jesus tells his disciples that their mission is limited to the people of Israel first by avoiding entering the cities of non-Jews and Samaritans (whose “Judaism” is suspected to be contaminated by Jews and Galileans). However, we know what happens later after the Resurrection. Jesus asked the Twelve to expand their mission to them and to the Gentiles (Matthew 28, 19).

In a way, training for our mission begins with our families or among our peers. We are formed to become good disciples at home and in school. For many religious, they are formed in the seminary. For many professionals, the beginning started in some training center. Going out into greater missionary territory or group may require more skills and training for example, in understanding culture. And thus, to become someone with a greater skill we usually start somewhere local. We are to begin “as Jews” first so to speak.

God has dreams for us, for all of us. Our mission is to fulfill them. The logic I think is simple: we are called to work for the Kingdom in our personal and particular way (since we are all unique and distinct), in whatever vocation we are called to be. But we have to be equipped before we go to battle. Studies, training, and skills-building prepare us to become excellent missionaries. How we prepare ourselves will affect the quality of doing what we were meant to be.

Anong demonyong nagpapa-pipi sa iyo?

6 Hulyo 2010 Martes ng ika-14 ng Taon
Hosea 8, 4-13; Psalm 115; Matthew 9, 32-38

Note: Filipino reflections will be posted on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. English homilies will be published on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. As requested and upon careful discernment. Would appreciate it very much if you retweet using the button at the end of the article and follow me on twitter.Thank you for your support.

Hindi makapagsalita ang piping inaalihan ng demonyo. Nang mapalayas ni Hesus ang demonyo, nagsalita na ang pipi at namangha ang mga nakakita.

Maraming mga “demonyo” ang nasa ating nakaraan at kasalukuyan na napipigilan tayong maging malayang makapagsalita o maging totoo. Ilan ba sa atin ang may sikretong tinatago? Ilan ba sa atin ang hindi makapagsalita ukol sa mga masasamang bagay na nakikita natin? Sinisikmura na lamang ito dahil manganganib ang ating pangalan, trabaho, pamilya’t kaibigan? Halimbawa, maraming empleyadong alam ang mga kaduda-dudang proyekto sa gobyerno. At dahil dinadala natin ito sa habang panahon, laging binabantayan natin ang ating sarili. Nawawala na ang ating pagiging spontaneous or pagiging malayang-malaya maging totoo.

May mga taong nagsalita na. Mga taong hindi na takot ilabas ang kinikimkim. Nais na nilang maging mapayapa ang kanilang konsyensiya. Ikaw, handa ka bang magsalita na?

May Ipapagamot ka ba?

5 Hulyo 2010 Lunes ng Ika-14 Linggo ng Taon
Hosea 2, 16-22; Psalm 145; Matthew 9, 18-26

Note: Filipino reflections will be posted on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. English homilies will be published on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. As requested and upon careful discernment. Would appreciate it very much if you retweet using the button at the end of the article and follow me on twitter. Thank you for your support.

Kapit sa patalim. Wala nang ibang mahingian ng tulong ang babaeng labindalawang taong inaagasan. Walang ibang matakbuhan ang pinuno dahil kamamatay pa lang ng kanyang anak, at naniwala siyang maaaring buhayin pa ni Hesus ang pinakamamahal. Pawang nakasadsad na sa lupa ang kanilang buhay. Sakit na wala nang gamot at katawang wala nang buhay. Si Hesus lamang ang tangi nilang pag-asa; Siya lamang ang nagbigay sa kanila ng panibagong buhay.

May piraso sa ating mga puso na wala nang kulay, tulad ng katawan ng babaeng inaagasan. May mga parte ng ating buhay na nawawalan na ng malay tulad ng anak ng pinuno sa Ebanghelio. Kadalasan, binabaling natin sa iba’t ibang bagay ang ating mga sarili. Akala natin magagamot ito ng iba’t ibang aliw. Ngunit nananatili ang kahungkagan sa ating puso; hindi napapawi ang lumbay sa ating kaluluwa; at nawawalan na ng gana ang ating diwa. Iisa lamang ang tanging gamot sa lahat ng ito. Ang Diyos, si Hesus lamang ang makakabigay lamang ng minimithing buhay. Pinapayagan ba nating hipuin ni Hesus ang ating mga puso?

What To Do If God Calls You

4 July 2010 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 66, 10-14; Psalm 66; Gal 6, 14-18; Luke 10, 1-12, 17-20

Have you ever considered following the Lord consciously and dedicatedly? The Gospel today tells us that Jesus called and sent 36 pairs of disciples and sent them to every town He intended to visit. He said the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so He sent the disciples to find laborers for the harvest.

And so if you feel that God may be calling you to His service in whatever form, here are some tips that might help.

First, be informed. Get to know more about what vocation and ministry you are interested in. Know the way of life of those within the ministry. If you want to be a member of the music ministry in your parish, the best way is to get involved in their apostolate. Does it fit you? Does your talent fit the ministry? Some people would like to join the choir, but cannot pick up a tune. Perhaps the person is called by God to a different type of service.

If you are entertaining a religious vocation, get to know the congregation first and their way of life. You can join their vocation search-ins or seminars and talk to their vocation promoters. It will also give them an opportunity to know you better. Thus, they will be able to help you decide whether you have a vocation to their way of life.

Second, pray. Continue to ask the Lord for the grace of vocation. Receive the sacraments. Get involved in your parish or your school’s religious organizations or activities especially the Eucharist. Regular prayer life and active church involvement are best ways to nourish your vocation. If you wish, you can get someone who can be your spiritual guide and companion, or a spiritual director to accompany you in deepening your relationship with God and your sense of vocation.

Third, clarify. There are different ways to serve the Lord. And there are many motivations that spur us to join a group, an organization, an advocacy or a specific ministry. Sometimes, we are not sure, not just what group to join, but we have too many questions that we have about ourselves, our abilities and even our time. Take time to sort out one’s heart and mind.

The possibility of a vocation to religious life oftentimes come with questions, fears, and even anxieties. It is always helpful to have someone guide you as you go through the twists and turns of vocation discernment. It is good if you have a chance to meet someone in the congregation on a regular basis. Recollections, conversations, conferences are also helpful in discernment.

Fourth, discern. Discernment might mean living out what you think you are called for. It is to check if you can take the lifestyle change it demands. Commitment will always demand of us a regular time and sacrifice. There is no commitment without pain or without asking us what to forego. Sometimes what we like must take a backseat for something that is more noble or honorable. For example, this dilemma: a movie or time to pack for a charity activity?

The Jesuit program for in-depth and full-time discernment process for those considering religious life requires one to live with fellow discerners in one of our pre-novitiate houses. It furnishes you with an opportunity and means to attain and to demonstrate both human and Christian maturity required for entrance into the first formal stage of formation called the novitiate.

In the discernment process, one will be working out within the program four specific areas: spiritual, academic, apostolic and community life. One’s community life will test one’s personality and social life. Every person affects the community whether positively or negatively. In doing the mission Christ has called us to do, we will be working together and helping each other.

No one does the mission of God like a lone ranger. We need people to give us feedback on our performances so that we become better instruments of God. There is a way to become a missionary in a specific community but a different approach is needed in another place. The reason is that every community has a culture that is distinct and unique from others. There are ways of doing things that might not be ours. If we insist on our way, it may hurt the ministry than help it. And thus, we might drive away souls than gather them around the table of the Lord.

My father was an agriculturist. He said, cutting stalks of rice is a skill. There is a way of cutting rice stems that is different when one cuts sugar cane stalks. In harvesting rice, the scythe should slice the stem just a few inches from the root, so that it does not destroy the panicle that bears the spikelets. The spikelets form the seed.

Perhaps today we might consider what Pope Benedict XVI said that the new mission is the internet. As in the Gospel, we can think that Jesus wants to visit cyberspace. And the new method we might consider is social media. When Jesus sent people by pairs, in means that mission is always interactive and social.

When we do the mission of the Lord, we do it excellently. And there is a way of doing it in this present day and age that is different from the methodology of yore.

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Incidentally if you're interested to join the Jesuit Vocation Seminar this July 11, Sunday, here's the link to the poster.