Sabado, Setyembre 22, 2007

25th Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

Yaman, isang bukas na kalooban

Ang isang anim na taong gulang na batang babae ay pumunta sa isang malaking bangko at gustong makipagusap sa bank manager. Buti na lang andun ang isang mabait na clerk, kaya dinala siya nito sa pribadong opisina ng manager ng banko. Sa harap nito sinabi niya ang kanyang sadya: “kami po ng aking mga classmates ay naghahanda para sa isang Christmas party para sa mga batang katulad namin ang edad. Hihilingin po sana namin ang iyong tulong.”

May kabaitan din naman ang manager ng banko kaya, inilabas at ipinatong niya sa kanyang mesa ang isang sanlibong papel at isang sampong pisong barya, sa pag-aakalang di pag-iinteresan ng bata ang papel na pera. Kanyang sinabi, “Iha, pili ka ng isa.”

Dinampot ng bata una ang sampong pisong barya, at sinabi: “Turo po sa akin ng Nanay ko ay laging piliin ang pinakamaliit.” Pero kinuha rin niya ang sanlibong pisong papel at sinabi, “Para hindi ko mawala ang baryang ito ay babalutin ko na lang po siya ng papel.”

Matalino ang batang ito sa ating kwento. Marunong siyang humawak ng pera. Sa ebanghelyo natin ngayon ay pinaaalalahanan tayo ng tamang paggamit ng pera o yaman. Tatlong bagay ang dapat nating tandaan kung tayo ay may hawak na pera o yaman.

Una, hindi atin ang pera o yaman. Iba ang may-ari nito. Tayo ay mga katiwala lamang sabi sa ebanghelyo, na maaring anumang oras ay ilipat ng may ari sa iba. Ito din ay paulit-ulit na ipinapangaral ng mga Obispo at Santo Papa. Katulad na lang ng Solicitudu Rei Socialis, ipinangaral ng Santo Papa na ang anumang bagay na sobra sa iyong pangangailangan ay hindi mo na pag-aari, ito ay laan para sa pangangailangan ng iba lalo na ng mga dukha. Sa Ingles ito ay tinatawag na “universal destination of the material goods” – ibig sabihin ang yaman ay para sa lahat. Ito ay bahagi ng Social Teachings or Doctrines of the Church, sabi nila the best kept secret of the Church. Pero kung tutousin, ito ay hindi naman talaga sekreto, sa katunayan, ito ay aking naranasan noong ako’y tumira ng dalawang linggo sa bundok ng Mindoro kasama ang mga Mangyan. Pauwi kami noon galing sa pagkakaingin at pagtatanim ng luya. Sa daan may nakita kaming puno ng bayabas. Siyempre gutom mula sa pagbubungkal na lupa, ako at ang aking kasama ay nakipag unahan sa mga bata sa pangunguha ng bunga. Di pa namin nakukuha lahat ay bigla na lang tumigil ang mga batang Mangyan: “Sabi namin, kunin natin lahat, sayang.” Pero sabi nila, “Huwag Frater. Magtira po tayo, baka may iba pang daraan. Gutom din po sila.” Napahiya po kaming mga seminarista, sapagkat tinuturuan kami ng mga batang Mangyan ng Social Responsibility. Hindi man sila nag-aaral ay alam at isinasabuhay nila ang turo ng simbahan, na anumang bagay o yaman na higit sa ating pangangailangan ay para sa lahat.

Pangalawa, huwag maging gahaman sa pera o yaman. “Aray ko po Pader... natamaan ako...” “Pader naman, pinaparinggan mu ata kami...” Huwag kayong mag-alala. Hindi kayo nag-iisa. Kahit noon pa man. Marami nang gahaman sa pera o yaman. Sa katunayan, si propeta Amos ay nagkakandailiti sa galit sa mga mayayamang Israelita noong panahon niya. Sa sobrang ganid at sakim sa kanilang kayamanan, akalain n’yo ba namang ipagyabang na tutubusin nila sa pagkaalipin ang isang tao sa halaga ng isang pares na tsinelas. Noon, hanggang ngayon at patuloy ang kasakiman ng tao sa yaman. Kaya, patuloy ding nagiging matalim ang turo ni Hesus na nagtatakwil sa mga gahaman at sakim sa pera at yaman, na walang inaatupag kundi ang magpakasarap. Ito ay siya nating maririning sa ebanghelyo sa darating na linggo.

Pangatlo, gamitin ng tama ang pera at yaman. Huwag waldasin, kundi gamitin ito para magkaroon ng bahagi sa kaharian ng Dios. Ito ang nais ipalaala sa atin ng talinghaga sa ating ebanghelyo tungkol sa matalino at matinik na tagapamahala. Ginamit niya ang ipinagkatiwalang ari-arian para masiguro ang kanyang sariling kinabukasan. Tulad ng tagpamahala, nais ni Hesus na gamitin din ng mga anak ng Dios ang yaman sa paglapit sa Dios. Papaanu?... Ipamahagi ito... Kundi baka ito ay maging pabigat lamang. Sabi nga ni Hesus, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Muli, ipinaaalala sa atin ng mga pagbasa na ang pera at yaman ay 1) hindi natin pag-aari 2) huwag maging gahaman sa pera at 3) ipamahagi ang yaman. Sa English ang tawag dito ay GENEROSITY. Sa Tagalog, pweding sabihing, BUKAS-LOOB... na siya ring diwa ng Pasko, na nakita ko sa isang kilalang kwento ng isang batang gumanap sa isang dula ng Panuluyan sa kanilang iskol. Siya ang gumanap na “innkeeper” na ang sasabihin lamang ay, “Pasensiya na po, wala na hong lugar sa bahay-pahingahan.” Sa gabi ng palabas ito ay kanyang buong pusong ginampanan, sa katunayan ang dula ay parang isang tunay na pangyayari. Kaya, matapos niyang sabihin ang kanyang linya, at makitang nalulumong umalis sina Maria at Jose, siya ay naawa at tinawag niya ito: “Maria, Jose.. Sandali! Doon na lang po kayo sa amin, gamitin n’yo po ang aking kwarto.”

Alalahanin po natin ang turo ni Hesus: “Tuluran ang mga bata...” maging bukas-loob.

Sabado, Setyembre 15, 2007

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

NAGHIHINTAY ANG DIYOS SA IYONG PAGBABALIK

Tayo ay naniniwala na sa mga Sakramento ay makakasama o mararanasan nating ang Dios. Halimbawa sa Banal na Misa, tinatanggap natin si Kristo bilang Salita sa ating pakikinig sa mga pagbasa at sermon, at sa anyo ng tinapay at alak sa Banal na Komunyon. Kaya nga marami ang nagsisimba para makasama at tanggapin and Dios sa kanilang buhay.

Maliban sa Misa, ang sakramento ng Binyag, Kumpil, at Ordinasyon ay mga sakramentong maraming tao ang dumadalo sapagkat pinaniniwalaan natin na ang mga okasyong ito ay hindi lamang masaya kundi puno din ng biyaya ng Dios kung saan mararanasan ang kadakilaan at pag-ibig ng Dios.

Subalit mapapansin natin na sa Sakramento ng Kumpisal, madalang pa sa patak ng ulan ang mga tumatangkilik nito. Ilan sa mga sinasabing dahilan bakit iilan lang ang nangungumpisal ay dahil natatakot ang marami na PAGALITAN NG PARI. Sinu naman ang hindi matatakot sa pari kung simula pagkabata ay sinasabi sayo… “Pssst.. Huwag kang malikot sa simbahan. Papagalitan ka ni Pader…” Kaya ganun na lamang ang takot ng marami na lumapit sa pari sa kumpisalan. Lalong-lalo na ang sabihin ang kanyang mga kasalanan. Para sa kanya ang Dios ay makapangyarihan at malupit sa kanyang pagpaparusa na kailangang iwasan at layuan.

Sa Ebanghelyo natin ngayon, kabaligtaran ang sinasabi ni Hesus. Sa pamamagitan ng dalawang kwento, ang “Nawawalang Tupa” at “Nawawalang Pilak” ipinapakita ni Hesus ang pagsisikap ng Dios na hanapin ang mga naliligaw ng landas at ang laki ng kagalakan ng Dios pag ito ay nagbalik sa kanya.

Sa kwento ng ng “Nawawalang Tupa” masasabi nating napakairresponsable naman ng pastol para iwanan ang 99 para lang sa iisang nawawala. Pwedi namang hayaan na lang niya iyon. Mas higit na mahalaga ang naiwang 99.

Subalit ang binibigyang diin ng kwento ay hindi kung sinu ang mas mahalaga kundi gaano kahalaga ang bawat isang tupa, o tao sa Mabuting Pastol, sa Dios. Sa pamamagitan ng kwento, sinasabi niya sa atin na di niya hahayaang may mawala kahit isa. Gagawin ng Dios ang lahat makita at maibalik lang ito sa kanyang piling. Mahalaga ang bawat isa sa Dios… Maging sinu ka man. Kaya walang dahilan para matakot at iwasan natin ang Dios.

Sa kwento ng “Nawawalang Pilak” ay lumalabas na OA (over acting) ang babae. Gaanu ba kahalaga ang isang pilak para guluhin niya ang kanyang buhay at bahay? Ayun sa mga eksperto sa bibliya ay maaring aras na ginamit sa kanyang kasal ang nasabing o di naman kaya ay katumbas ng isang araw ng sahud ng isang manggagawa. Kaya naman pala ganun na lang ang pagsisikap ng babae na makita ang nawawalang pilak. Ginawa niya ang lahat makita lamang ang pilak.

Para kay Hesus, ang Dios ay katulad ng babae sa kanyang pagsisikap na maibalik sa kanyang piling ang mga nawawala, ang mga naliligaw ng landas. Dahil sa kanyang dakilang pag-ibig, gagawin niya ang lahat para sa atin… (mag mukha man itong OA). Kaya nga ang kanyang kaisa-isa at pinakamamahal na anak ay kanyang sinugo para para sa ating kaligtasan. Napakatindi ng paghahangad ng Dios na ang tao ay bumalik sa kanya. Kaya walang dahilan para layuan at katakotan ang Dios, na tangihan ang kanyang paanyaya na magbalik-loob sa kanya.

At matapos makita at maibalik ang nawawala, katulad sa kwento, magsasaya ang Dios. Ipamamalita niya ito at magaanyaya ng makikipagsaya sa kanya. Napakadakila ng pag-ibig ng Diyos. Paulit-ulit man Siyang sinusuway, nandiyan pa rin siya at naghihintay, at handang magpatawad. Di natin mararanasan ang kanyang pagpapatawad at pag-ibig kundi di rin tayo tutugon sa kanyang paanyaya. Kaya’t iwaksi (alisin na) ang takot sa puso’t sa halip ay tanggapin ang Dios sa ating buhay. Ito lamang ang tanging paraan katulad ng pagmamahal sa kwentong ito:

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me."

Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that your're getting a divorce. That will really hurt him." With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!" And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting "as if." For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing. When she didn't return, Crane called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?"

"Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him." Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds. J. Allan Petersen.

Ganun din ang lumapit at ibigin ang Diyos, di natin mararamdaman ang kanyang pagpapatawad, awa at biyaya kung hindi natin ilalapit ang ating sarili sa kanya.

Linggo, Setyembre 9, 2007

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

TWO MARKS OF A TRUE DISCIPLE

For couples who have been married for at least 20 year, what made you say that your partner is faithful to you? What are the identifiable indicators of his/her commitment?

Some of the answers would be: Since the time we’re married, my husband never failed to kiss me on the forehead before he goes to sleep… She always cooked my favorite kare-kare on my birthday…. He always accompanied me to Mass and to the cemetery on the death anniversary of my mother.

For married couples, these are some of the signs that their partner is committed and faithful to them. In our Gospel today, Jesus identifies two marks of a faithful and committed follower of him, namely, unequalled love (great love) and sacrifice.

1. Unequalled love is referred to when Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, cannot be my disciple.” The text should not be read as anti-family sentiment of Jesus, for Jesus was never against the institution of family. There is no way Jesus would come against the 4th commandment that says, “Honor your father and mother.” Rather, this statement of hate is an exaggerated expression to emphasize the demand for an unequalled love for God. Hence, unequaled love of God is expressed in a disciple’s total commitment to God, one that has no room for compromise and concession. Human experience illustrates this point of unequalled demanded for God.

During the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, sentenced a soldier to be shot for his crimes. The execution was to take place at the ringing of the evening curfew bell. However, the bell did not sound. The soldier's fiancé had climbed into the belfry and clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. When she was summoned by Cromwell to account for her actions, she wept as she showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell's heart was touched and he said, "Your lover shall live because of your sacrifice. Curfew shall not ring tonight!"

*

She was lying on the ground. In her arms she held a tiny baby girl. As I put a cooked sweet potato into her outstretched hand, I wondered if she would live until morning. Her strength was almost gone, but her tired eyes acknowledged my gift. The sweet potato could help so little -- but it was all I had.

Taking a bite she chewed it carefully. Then, placing her mouth over her baby's mouth, she forced the soft warm food into the tiny throat. Although the mother was starving, she used the entire potato to keep her baby alive. Exhausted from her effort, she dropped her head on the ground and closed her eyes. In a few minutes the baby was asleep. I later learned that during the night the mother's heart stopped, but her little girl lived.

How great is that love which is ready to offer all that one has.

Great and unequalled love for God demanded from a disciple is a costly thing. During the infancy stage of Christianity, Christians literally have to give up even their own lives for the faith, and for these we have today martyrs.

2. Sacrifice is behind these words of Jesus, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” To follow Jesus is to take the road less traveled where the terrain is hard and the trails are difficult. There is no easy walk for a Christian. But it must be remembered that, the cross is our salvation. Take the for instance the noted experience of Marcos, nicknamed “The Flea,”

On 19th September 1985 a devastating earthquake struck Mexico City. It killed several thousand people and caused terrible damage. Those who survived dug through the rubble to rescue as many as possible who were trapped beneath the masonry. One man, Marcos, nicknamed ‘The Flea’ because he was so small, less than 1.5m was able to crawl through small openings in the surface and go into cavities in the rubble to rescue people. He helped rescue 27 people.

He had been nicknamed ‘The Flea’ because of his small stature, which must have been hurtful for him, but what was initially a disappointing and disheartening situation for Marcos, a burden he had to carry latter became a source of gratitude for the many people he was able to immediately rescue from the rubbles of the earthquake. Indeed, the cross is our salvation.

The Gospel is strongly and firmly calling us to be committed Christians who love God above all things and are ready to sacrifice their personal convenience. Commitment nowadays is coming to scarcity. The temptation is always to make life easy and convenient at the expense of our valued principles, treasured relationship and faith in Christ.

Nevertheless, it remains that our faithfulness to follow Jesus is measured by our stewardship, mass attendance, fidelity to our husband/wife, honest business practice, accurate tax returns, compassion for the less fortunate, responsible use of our natural resources, advocacy for good governance, fight against corruptions and search for truth and justice in our social affairs. All of these are costly commitments, denying ourselves of the pleasures of the world and a burden on our shoulders that we must carry along. This is the cost of discipleship of which Jesus is asking us to embrace if we want to follow him.

Lunes, Setyembre 3, 2007

The Silence of God

THE SILENCE OF GOD
by Arnold C. Biago, SVD
Homily delivered on the Feast of Our Lady of Consolation, September 4, 2007 for the Sisters of Augustinian Recollects


Have you heard about the SILENCE OF GOD!

The PDI yesterday runs a news item about Mother Theresa with the following heading, “She suffered from the Silence of God” referring to the comment made by Pope Benedict concerning the sentiment the saintly nun identified by a book. The book, about to be released tomorrow, claimed that Mother Theresa “was deeply tormented about her faith and suffered periods of doubt about God”. On this the Pope comments that this is not unusual, “All believers know about the Silence of God.” Thus, “Even Mother Theresa, with all her charity and work of faith suffered from the Silence of God.”

What do we mean really by “the Silence of God.” Non-believers usually argue against faith in God because of the many pains, losses and violence that people are made to suffer and endure in this world. If God is good and loving, how come he allows the school children of Ginsuagon, Leyte to be buried by the landslide, the thousands of people to die of tsunami and earthquake, of many innocent people who die everyday for no reason at all. And God has no reply for all these.

In Auschwitz concentration camps, a rabbi was among those spared from the Gas chamber and one prisoner confronted him: “Rabbi, where is God now that our people are being exterminated, when even our children are led to die of poison gas?” The Rabbi was silent for a while and said, “God is there among those children, God is with those who are led to the gallows of death.”

The point is, if at times we feel abandoned by God, when God is silent, he is with us, also suffering. This is what Jesus did. He live among us, and shared with our pains and suffering. Jesus is God who underwent the scourging; he carried the cross, and was nailed on it. The Silence of God is God’s share and participation in our sufferings. With Jesus Christ’s passion and death, our experiences of pain and suffering are given new meaning. It is in this way that we can also look at Mary, as our Lady of Consolation. At the foot of the cross, the sight of Jesus hanging on the cross, gasping for his last breath, and struggling to say the words, “Woman, behold your son.” “Behold your mother,” is no easy sight to behold. Mother Theresa and many of us would have no other experience but the silence of God. But we have Mary, who has the heart to see at all times God’s hands constantly at work whose mysterious ways she never doubted but rather fully trusted. In Mary’s famous words, “let it be done to me according to your Word.” Certainly, Mary is our lady of consolation who by her undivided trust heard of the divine voice even in the silence of God.

Aside from the Gospel, the other readings too reorient our understanding of suffering. In the book of the prophet Isaiah, the experience of difficulties is seen as the sign of the imminent coming of the Lord whose inauguration brings consolation, relief and new opportunities. While in his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul informs them of his difficult experiences not to sadden them but to let them know how much he love them, meaning, no amount of pain can stop Paul from loving the Corinthian Church.

In our practice of faith, the practical advice we often heard has a grain of truth in it: “we cannot solve a problem by running away it.” In moments we doubt our faith, we are reminded to Trust more and more in God. Doubt is not resolved by abandoning our faith.

Sabado, Setyembre 1, 2007

22nd Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

WISDOM IN HUMILITY, A RECOGNITION OF OUR SHARED HUMANITY

Fr. Bel San Luis tells the story of a Dog and his 2 duck friends. The ducks heard of their dor friend's desire to see the north pole and they invited them to come with them. So they offered him to come along. So the ducks tied a rope on their beak and asked the dog to bite and hung in between of them while they fly. The dog agreed with the idea and they set on a journey. On their way, a man saw the spectacular sight and said, "Wow, what an incredible sight, whose idea is that?" The ducks were elated to hear the complement for their idea but kept the joy for themselves since they could neither smile or comment back without losing their bite on the rope. But the dog who cannot let the opportunity of honor to pass, shouted, "It's MINE." By opening his mouth, the dog released his bite upon the rope and fell 2000 feet from the ground, and end up being an azucena for the man.

Beware of seeking an honor for yourself that is not rightfully yours. You might be the next one to fall 2000 feet from the ground. Rather, know what you are, be humble. "For he who exalts himself will be humbled,” What then is HUMILITY? Today’s readings describe it to us. And let me identify three points to consider in our reflection on HUMILITY.

FIRST, humility is not inferiority complex. A person who is afraid to face other people, who is shy and timid and who cannot be relied upon and trusted with responsibilities is not necessarily humble. Rather, humility is the courage to accept that we are mere God’s creatures, that we are nothing before God, they say, fear of the Lord. In Sirach, “to fear the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” Then, to be humble is to be wise. That is why a humble person accepts responsibility. He is confident and unafraid. Yet does not seek a place of honor for him/herself. Humility with wisdom recognizes one’s capacities, that is, knows ones limitations. The first reading reminds us, “What is sublime for you seek not, into things beyond your strength search not.”

This point is illustrated by a story told of an accident that happened on the street. A woman approached the victims and tried to help them. But suddenly, a nursing student come in and said: “Excuse me Miss! I have had a course on first aid and I am trained in CPR.” The woman stepped aside, and watched the procedures a few moments, then tapped the student on the shoulder and said: “When you’re through, if ever you will need a doctor, NANDITO LANG AKO.” What do you think of the student, was she wise to know where she stands and humble to admit what she can do? The lesson remains, he who exalts him/herself shall be humbled.

SECOND, humility is not a trick, a technique nor a device to get indirectly what we wanted in the first place, as if first we have to humble ourselves in order to be exalted later! Humility is not an instrument of reward when we work for God. Even Jesus who obeyed the Father for our Redemption was not promised with reward rather He did it willingly out of love. If at the end of time, we will be sharing in the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven, it is not because of our efforts but because it is freely given, it is a free gift from God; the technical term is GRACE, libre ang grasya ng Panginoon. So, humility is the recognition that we cannot control God and demand from him honor for ourselves. Rather, humility is being at the mercy of God.

THIRD, our teachers in HS used to explain that humility comes from the Latin word HUMUS, which means EARTH. I believe humility is the recognition that I am essentially like anyone else, that is, I am dust and to dust I shall return. Nonetheless, this earth out of which I am created by God is endowed with dignity which I must respect and recognize in others. If humility is the recognition of our shared humanity endowed with dignity by God, then there is no reason for me to claim superiority over others. Whether, famous or despised, rich or destitute, powerful or a little one, all share in the same HUMUS, earth at death.

If we are essentially HUMUS, richness and power and things are accidents. They are not what makes us human endowed with dignity by God. That is why Jesus discourages the Pharisees from seeking places of honor at meals, by inviting the rich and famous who in turn will honor them by their invitation in return. Instead, Jesus challenges them to invite the nobody in their society who has no means to reciprocate the invitation. It is in their midst that humility as recognition of our shared humanity happens.

At this point, we can say that there is wisdom in humility by being dependent on God and in solidarity with the rest of humanity. HUMILITY as a virtue is meant for a purpose. Otherwise, is becomes false humility, a pretension. Rather it is meant for others. As Saint Paul says in his letter to the Philippians: "Do nothing out of selfishness of out of vainglory. Rather humbly regards others a more important than ourselves, each looking out not for his own interest but for those of others." Jesus more powerfully said it in these words, " I have come not to be served but to serve."

My brothers and sisters, HUMILITY is best expressed in service. Sa paglilingkoD ang kaganapan ng kababaang loob.