homilies

Making Through The Storm

2009-06-22T03:41:00.000+09:00

Making it through the storm

(Based on the Sunday Gospel Commentary of Nil Guillemette)

I tried some reading on the geography of the Sea of Galilee, and they say, its geographical make-up is quite unique. The surface of the sea is 685 feet below the level of the Mediterranean Sea, since the Jordan Valley, in which it lies, has there sunk to such a depth. On the other hand, high hills surround it on almost all its sides. This means that there is usually a great difference of temperature between the air on the top of the plateaus surrounding the sea and the air on the low-lying water. When a strong wind blows from the north-eastern high plateau of the Syrian desert, which is some 3000 feet about sea level, the rush of cold air falling on the surface of the sea and the rush of hot air rising under this pressure produce a vertical air flow or convection current of great power. The results of this are sudden, violent storms, which agitate the Sea of Galilee in a most frightful fashion. Thus, terrible squalls hurl themselves, even when the sky is perfectly clear, upon these waters, which are ordinarily so calm. The storms come literally unexpectedly, and the most experienced fishermen cannot predict them. Such storms can produce waves up to 20 feet high or more.

Today’s gospel reading reports such a storm, one that came with shattering and terrifying suddenness. It mentions that Jesus was occupying in Peter’s boat the placed reserved for any distinguished guest. As the Gospel puts it, “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.” (It must be a very comfortable place indeed.) Not only that, exhausted by a day of preaching, Jesus was asleep when the storm broke out and he continued to sleep soundly until the disciples woke him up. And we know that he calmed it down.

A noted bible scholar Nil Guillemette, would say that this story was written or preserved for two obvious reasons (obvious at least for himself). First, it illustrated the power of Jesus over nature and indirectly therefore, hinted his true identity. The Bible often presents God as ruling the storms of the sea (Ps 107:23-30; 89:9; 29:3; 46:3; 93:3-4; Nah 1:4; Hab 3:15; Jb 38:8-11). Now, the fact that Jesus could command the sea showed that he shared the very power of God – in other words, that he somehow belonged to the sphere of the divine.

The second reason is its symbolic value. Peter, let us recall, was a fisherman whom Jesus called to become fisher of men (Mk 1:17). As head of the Church founded by Christ, the boat he steers becomes an image of the Church. And, consequently, the storms he meets become symbols of the various storms and crises of the Church. To complete the picture in this connection, the sleeping Christ represents the apparent absence or non-intervention of God during times of persecutions, schisms, heresies. However, the awakening and storm-calming Christ represents the eventual overcoming of crises by the powerful intervention of God through unforeseen events or through the raising up of great saints and charismatic leaders in the Church.

This scene was highly inspiring to Mark and the readers of his gospel. Mark wrote this gospel between the years 65 to 70 according to the almost unanimous opinion of the experts. Now that was at the time of the first Roman persecution of the Church, the one launched between 64 and 68 by the cruel Emperor Nero. Both the apostles Peter and Paul perished in that persecution, along with many other leaders of the Church. (So, the early Christians were asking): Where was God in all this? Why was he permitting all this bloodshed? Was he asleep amid the storm? Mark, by reporting this episode of the calming of the storm, was reassuring the storm-tossed Church of Rome. He was saying in effect: “Christ might seem to be sleeping now, but do not worry. One of these days he will wake up and calm the storm.” Mark was right. In the year 68 Nero committed suicide and the storm abruptly ended.

In the course history, the Church has experienced many storms such as persecutions, controversies that involve money and sexual scandals. However, it is not only the church as a whole that experiences storms and crises, the church as an individual, we too, ourselves, have and experience a lot of storms and crises in our lives. Very common among them is financial crises, in the form of debts, loss of jobs, bankruptcy among others. In addition, we encounter relationship crises, marriage crises and/or family crises. A lot of my classmates in HS who are married are having difficulties in their marriage, and that’s becomes my problem as well, because, even if I am in Congo, they would call or email me to just to tell me and consult about their marriage problems. Many think that priests are lucky because they have none of these problems. Yes it is true we have none of the many of your concerns like raising children or an unfaithful husband or wife, unless, we keep one. But we too encounter a lot of problems in our work, with our co-priests and even with ourselves, that is why, there are those who are living the priesthood.

My dear brothers and sisters, the fact is, there is no way we can avoid storms in life. There will always be storms coming on us because we are living in a not so perfect world. Given our imperfect situation, it is up to us, it is left on our hands to make the best of out of these limitations. I very well remember what the Chinese often used to say in trying moments: “Crises are not something to be avoided but are opportunities to be exploited.” Simply said, crises, difficult situations are opportunities, opportunities to renew and strengthen relationship, opportunities for us to discover and exploit our hidden talents and skills and opportunities to fully develop ourselves. I believe this is also, how God suggests us to see trying moments in our lives.

It is here that I am reminded of Ray Charles, a renowned Gospel singer in US, a man whose songs are filled with emotions, who collected for himself numerous musical awards counting among them several Grammys. He is considered an icon in the word of music, a genius in fact, so much so that a film is made out of his extraordinary life. Like all of us, he too was knocked down by a storm, a really hard one. At the age of six, he was completely blinded. But that did not stop him from becoming one of the greatest musicians of our time, one that many considers a genius, who inspired others with his songs for God.

We are not blind like Ray Charles, if Charles did make it through the storm, the more it would be so for us. The gospel story should then inspire us during and amidst the storms of life. However violent and frightening they may be, we must trust that God is always at our side. True, he might wait a bit before intervening, for his own good reasons. But if we pray for his help and trust in him, we will always be given the strength and the courage to weather our storms. With him on board our boat, there is nothing to fear.

Simplicity and Sacrifice

2009-06-22T03:19:00.000+09:00

Simplicity and Sacrifice

Kenosis is a familiar yet oftentimes theologically misunderstood Greek word. The word means “emptying,” based on its root, kenos, meaning “empty”. In the Christian-Catholic traditions, kenosis is taken as a theological term to explain the self-emptying act of Jesus as mentioned in Philippians 2:6-7, “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance.” In other words, by becoming man through the Incarnation, God who becomes Jesus subjected himself to human laws of suffering and joy, pain and gladness, etc. Taking in mind that Jesus is God, we understood this gesture of abasement as his self-emptying; the Greek word for it is kenosis. In the words of the (first reading today,) Second Letter of Paul to Corinthians, the poverty of Christ, “For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he become poor although he was rich, that by his poverty you might become rich.”

Complex might be this theological heritage of Paul; it has much to teach us in the way we can best live out our faith in Jesus and our vocation as missionaries. First, in putting into action our being Christians, Jesus’ teachings and life of poverty calls us to nothing but a life of simplicity--as simple as that. Yet we know that we are unable to live as simple as we want to be because we complicate things by being entangled into trends, fashions and the demands of the consumerist society. No wonder, we developed in ourselves such outrageous desire to wear this branded clothes and shoes or to acquire this latest model of cellular phone or that upgraded digital device. As a result, many of us Christians complicate our lives and find ourselves in difficult situation with so much unsatisfied needs and wants.

Second, as to our being a missionary, the call is constantly live in the Spirit of sacrifice. This is manifested in our professions of vows as a form of renunciation of ownership—poverty, of following my personal desires—obedience, and of exclusive relationship—chastity, for the sake of the Kingdom and our mission. Interestingly, the moment we embrace the religious-missionary vocation, we gain as much privileged as we have renounced. This privileged comes to us as people accord us with much respect and high regard in society. However, what happens, we, religious and missionaries claim for ourselves and even shamelessly demand this privilege and respect forgetting that in the first place Christ has called us to constantly live in the spirit of sacrifice. In effect, many lay faithful oftentimes complain of their priest, of nuns and seminarians no longer within their reach and unmindful of their flight and concerns.

Several years ago, I read an open letter addressed to priests, religious and seminarians coming from an African youth. She was complaining of the drastic change in the attitude and lifestyle of his friends who became seminarians. She was asking, “What happened to him? Why does he no longer play with us? Why does he no longer come to eat with us, and why does he become so different from us?” I read of his letter while I was a seminarian. Back then, I already believed the truths of his observations as seminarians becomes different in the sense that they become an elite in the eyes of common and ordinary people. More so now, that I am a priest, in many ways, many ordinary people finds it difficult to identify with their priest, to such a point that they are ashamed, discouraged and unable to approach them. It is because; the life of simplicity and spirit of sacrifice is gone.

The challenge remains the same for all. Be like Christ who humbled himself and has become poor for our sake. It is in simplicity and sacrifice that we become like Christ.

Jesus Sends the Advocate

2009-05-19T22:31:00.000+09:00

Jesus sends the Advocate
(Tuesday 6th Week of Easter)

Let us say one night, a power interruption suddenly occurs and your room is completely wrapped in darkness. Now you find yourself with nothing to do except play with your mobile phone. Unfortunately, you have forgotten where you placed it. So, you reached for the lamp inside your drawer and started looking for your phone. But let me ask you an obvious question, how do you use your flashlight to find something in darkness? Of course, your response would be, point it away from you but to the things in front in order to illumine the things before you and let you see what you are looking for. Interestingly, the light is directed not to ones face; otherwise, it will blind him or her and fail to see properly.

My dear friends, this is also how the Holy Spirit, the Advocate works (more or less) in our lives of faith as Jesus has demonstrated to his disciples in our Gospel today. In the words of Jesus, “when he comes, he will show the world how wrong it was, about sin, and about who was in the right, and about judgment.” (Jn 16, 8) Positively formulated, the work of the Holy Spirit is like a flashlight that illumines, and provides light for us to see the truth of things.

In our Gospel today, this work of the Holy Spirit of illumination is specified in three ways:

(a) that the basic sin was and is refusal to believe in Jesus. Sinning is not how much lies about this thing or that thing have we made this week. Rather it is about how our lives speak of our faith in Jesus. Do our lives speak of our fidelity to Jesus or of our denial of him? I believe your studies in theology have told you that sin is essentially the refusal, that is, denial of God.

(b) that, although Jesus was found guilty and apparently died in disgrace, in reality righteousness has triumphed, for Jesus has returned to his Father. Others would say that the peak moments of Jesus’ life is the Paschal Mystery, that is, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is so, in as much as by his passion, death and resurrection, what Jesus lived and shared to his disciples by his extensive teaching finds not only its validation but its substance as well. Thus, without, the paschal mystery, our faith would make no sense.

(c) finally, that it is the ruler of this world, Satan, who has been condemned through Jesus' death. Satan, the devil, evil, death or whatever its name might be personifies all that is opposed to goodness. Greed, malice, hopelessness, indifference to the needs of others are some of its contemporary forms. Again, through the paschal event, more particularly Jesus’ dying on the cross, the prince of this world lost its power, that is, death no longer has the gripped upon humanity because Jesus has offered life to the full for all. Thus, a person of faith is not tainted by greed, malice but rather shows concern for others.

To end this short reflection, let me share with you a story of the great Norwegian explorer Ronald Amundsen, the first to discover the magnetic meridian of the North Pole and to discover the South Pole. On one of his trips, Amundsen took a homing pigeon with him. When he had finally reached the top of the world, he opened the bird's cage and set it free. Imagine the delight of Amundsen's wife, back in Norway, when she looked up from the doorway of her home and saw the pigeon circling in the sky above. No doubt, she exclaimed, "He's alive! My husband is still alive!"

Brothers and sisters, in the coming Sunday is the feast of the Ascension of Jesus. This feast is a strong reminder that Jesus is no longer with us in person because he is now with the Father. But at the same time he remains and continuous to be with us in the Spirit because he has sent the Advocate, the indication of his presence in our midst. Let us then constantly remind ourselves of Jesus words in today’s Gospel, “it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”(Jn 16, 7)

Love and Sacrifice

2009-05-18T05:03:00.000+09:00

Love and Sacrifice

(6th Sunday of Easter)

In 1961, an Italian woman, by the name of Gianna Molla was expecting her fourth child. During the second month, Gianna developed a fibroma (a cancerous tumor) on her uterus. After examination, the doctors gave her three choices: an abortion, which would save her life and allow her to continue to have children; a complete hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), which would preserve her life, but take the unborn child's life, and prevent further pregnancy; or removal of only the fibroma, with the potential of further complications. Under these circumstances, the Church teaching would have allowed her to obtain a hysterectomy, but would forbid an abortion. Yet, wanting to preserve her child's life, she opted for the removal of the fibroma.

After the operation, complications continued throughout her pregnancy. Nonetheless, Gianna was quite clear about her wishes, and told her husband “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: Choose the child; I insist on it. Save the baby!”

In biographical book co-authored by her husband--Saint Gianna Molla: Wife, Mother, Doctor (by Pietro Molla and Elio Guerriero), the former talks of Gianna knowing she will probably die in childbirth, but of trying to keep from worrying him. He writes, “I watched you silently tidying up every corner of our house, every drawer, every dress, every personal object, day after day as if for a long trip. But I did not dare to ask myself why.”

On April 21, 1962, Good Friday of that year, Gianna went to the hospital, where her fourth child, named Gianna Emanuela as well, was successfully delivered via Caesarean section. However, Gianna continued to have severe pain, and died of septic peritonitis (an infection of the lining of the abdomen--a result of her choice to preserve the life of her child) 7 days after the birth.

In 1997, at a Conference of the Family held in Brazil, Pope John Paul II was visibly touched by then-Blessed Gianna’s family testimonies about her. The Pope began to cry as he listened to young Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla – for whom Blessed Gianna gave her life – address a word of thanks to her beatified mother. “Thank you mother, thank you for having given me life two times: in conception, and when you permitted me to be born, deciding for my life. Intercede and help always all mothers and all families that come to you with confidence.”

The Church does not formally recognize many saints until centuries after their death. But Gianna’s cause for canonization began within three decades after she died. The miracles necessary for the process occurred in a relatively short period of time, so that her husband, three surviving children and siblings were all able to attend her canonization by Pope John Paul II on May 16, 2004.

My dear friends, I am sharing to you this wonderful story of Gianna because it perfectly illustrates the message of our Gospel today: “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13). I truly believe, the life of Saint Gianna and our gospel today are strong messages of contrast, are words against our modern world where the culture of death thrives and the sanctity of life is belittled and given less importance. I find it boldly touching that Gianna is ready and willing to sacrifice and suffer for the sake of her unborn child, for the sake of a nascent life in her womb.

Above all else, her life and story is a testimony that the example of Jesus and his teaching of love and sacrifice can be lived by men and women of all walks of life and that following Jesus is very possible in our modern and digital world. Following Jesus is not only for priest, nuns, and missionaries like us but for all, whether she or he be a teacher, a government or private employee, an accountant, a diplomat, or a doctor and a mother like Saint Gianna.

Finally, in our gospel today, I find it interesting to note the words of Jesus to his disciples: “This I command you: love one another.” (Jn 15:17) So, I asked myself a question: can love, like what we do with paying taxes, be made into a law? Can we command love? My response is in the form of another question, can you refuse love? I believe when Gianna, the mother decided against safer treatment for her in order to save the baby in her womb, the yet to be born Gianna could not refuse the offer of love of her mother. What is true of the effort of Gianna to offer love for her unborn child is also true of Jesus who offered his life for all. I for one will not refuse Jesus gesture of love on the cross. How about you, will you? Now, when great love freely offered and received, I cannot help but respond with the same love, because I am duty bound—commanded by the same love—to share the same love to others as well. Jesus would have likely said as well: in the name God’s greatest love for you, love one another!

Vendredi-2eme Semaine de Paques

2009-05-01T06:45:00.000+09:00

Notre trait d’identité comme Chrétiens

(l’homélie sur Jn 6, 1-15)

Parmi les Européens, comment connaissons-nous immédiatement si ces gens sont anglais ? Nous les connaîtrons comme anglais, s’ils vous offrent à boire du thé. Parmi les Asiatiques, comment connaissons-nous immédiatement si ces gens sont philippins ? Nous les connaîtrons si vous leur sifflez, ils se tourneront la tête vers le son. (P. Alex, c’est vrai ? N’est pas ?) Parmi les africains, comment connaissons-nous immédiatement si ces gens sont congolais ou ghanéens ou zambien? Dites-moi, comment vous pouvez connaître immédiatement la nationalité de ces gens parmi vous ?

Or, parmi les chrétiens comment connaissons-nous qui sont les catholiques ou qui sont les luthériens ou qui sont les anglicans? Les catholiques, nous les connaissons parce qu’ils port les chapelets, font le signe de la croix sur lui-même, etc. (Est-ce que vous avez un chapelet dan la poche ? Montrez moi ? Ceux qui n’ont pas le chapelet ne sont pas catholiques…hehehehe…)

Dans notre Evangile aujourd’hui, l’un de ces traits des catholiques a été présenté. C’est le repas avec le Seigneur Jésus. Quand le Seigneur fait manger les gens très nombreux avec cinq pains d’orge et deux poissons.

Rappelons dans les apparitions du Jésus après sa résurrection, c’est le repas qui fait connaître Jésus à ses disciples faisant route vers d’Emmaüs. Alors que les disciples faisaient route avec l’inconnu, ils ne le reconnaissaient pas comme le Seigneur Jésus parce que leurs yeux ne sont pas ouverts. Mais, quand il était à la table avec eux, il a prit le pain, a dit la bénédiction, l’a rompit et le leur a donné, puis leurs yeux se sont ouvert et ils ont reconnu le Seigneur Jésus. Donc, c’est le moment du repas qui leur a donné la capacité à reconnaitre le Seigneur comme ressuscité.

Pendant sa vie sur la terre, Jésus a fait beaucoup de repas avec ses disciples, avec les autres ou avec les pécheurs quand même. Souvenions que Jésus fasse un repas chez les publicains comme Lévi, chez Lazare, Marthe et Marie, chez Zachée, le chef de publicains, chez Simon, un Pharisien et beaucoup les autres. Tout cela nous a dit que le repas était un trait unique de Jésus très connu parmi ses amis et ses disciples.

Très important de tous les repas que Jésus a fait est le dernier repas avec ses disciples. Ses détails sont connus parmi nous. Mais, c’est très important à souligner qu’il a dit a ses disciples, <> Donc, dans notre temps, en rappelant ces mots du Seigneur Jésus, le repas, c’est-a-dire, l’Eucharistie, reste comme notre meilleur trait d’identité comme catholiques qui vraiment aiment le Seigneur Jésus.

Espérons et prions ardemment toujours que l’Eucharistie se trouve au centre de notre vie comme missionnaires de l’SVD, comme parent responsable, comme fils et filles fiable et comme bonne citoyens de notre pays RDC. Parce que, c’est le Christ, Jésus notre Seigneur que nous a donné lui-même afin que nous ayons le pouvoir à vivre dans la justice, l’amour, l’espérance, et la paix, ou simplement selon la volonté de Dieu. Amen.

Moment of Conversion

2009-02-27T17:45:00.000+08:00

Moment of Conversion

Homily on Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. During this Lenten season, two popular words come to mind: Penitence and Abstinence. We refrain from eating meat as a form of abstinence, and we are encouraged to go to confession for penitence. These and so many other forms of penance and abstinence are meant to bring us into conversion. I believe, at the core of lent is the experience of conversion.

This reminds me of a “touching” experience I have had with my mother as a young boy. One afternoon, I had some quarrels with my siblings and my father. So, in order to express fully my displeasure, I refused to enter our home. In front of our house, there I stage my protest. I kept my post, until it was evening. Then my mother came out of the house and sat beside me and utter these words, “Why are u doing these to us, to me. It hurts me more than the way I almost died giving birth to you. Remember how much I have sacrificed and suffered for you.” What she said hit me deep in the heart. It was all that I need. After that, she took my hand and I followed her inside. That was my moment of conversion.

Conversion in the domain of faith is not simply turning away from sins. It is not only about the experience of sin. Indeed, sin is a reality that should not be ignored. But there is one who came greater than sin, Jesus, who showed us how much the Father has cared and loved us. By Jesus’ obedience, he let us knew of the extent God can suffer and sacrifice for our sake. We have sinned but God comes to sit beside us and tells us, “Remember how much I have sacrificed and suffered for you.” To assure us of his endless love ready to embrace us back. Conversion happens because of God who loves.

Today, ashes will be imposed upon us. Long time ago, as ashes are imposed, these words are said, “Momento homo: Quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.” (Remember Man: you are dust and unto dust you will return). It is frightening. All because, it wants to bring out sorrow in us, that is, sorrow for the sins we have commited. In the Old Testament, the donning of dust or ash is a form of penitence, an expression of sorrow for offenses against God and His people. King David did this, and so the King of Nineveh upon the admonition of the prophet Jonah, and so many others. But this outward marks of are expression of the inner workings of the heart, that is of a contrite heart. Our first reading today, proclaimed the need to translate into action the sorrow of the heart. For this reason, the new words of the imposition of the ashes, “Repent and believe in the Gospel” brings to us more meaning by giving more weight to the need for conversion and the joy that lies beneath, the joy that comes in knowing God who suffers and cares the most for us. In this way we cay say that Lent is a season we celebrate; we celebrate the triumph of love over sin and death.

Baptism of the Lord

2009-01-11T18:58:00.000+08:00

Not what I want but what God wants

Yesterday, we went to the “centre ville” of Kinshasa to buy provisions for the week. Inside one of the commercial centers, I overheard a kid asking his peers: “Quelle ambition avez-vous?” Meaning, what is your ambition? (I said to myself, wow, these kids are great, their French is better than mine!) So I walked slowly to eavesdrop over their conversation to check how is my French. One boy said, “Me, I want to be a doctor.” “I like to be a teacher, like my Father.” Said the other boy, “how about you?” he demanded back: “Oh, me… become like Barack Obama!”

Once in our life, on our younger days we have dreamed of becoming someone we like to be… a doctor, a pilot, a teacher or a JFK perhaps… You might ask: “Was it your constant dream since then P. Arnold to be a priest, a missionary for Afrika?” I do not want to disappoint you but my answer is no, it was not. I was rather dreaming of becoming a soldier then!

Ask me: “What happened, why did you not pursue it?” The answer is in front of you! Look, since second year HS I stopped growing up! How would I be admitted in the military school. (hehehehe..) But, please do not make a follow up question about the school where I want to go… WESTPOINT!

So I said to myself, yes we dream of becoming someone we’d like to be but we become other than our dreams. For oftentimes, something happens that directs us to be somewhere and somebody else!

I believe Jesus like many of us have also dreamed “for he was like us in all things except sin.” As a growing up boy in Nazareth, Jesus might have dreamed of becoming a master carpenter like his Father Joseph. But along the way something happened that changed all this. What would that be?

Bible scholars explained that like many pious Jews, Jesus was attracted and becomes convinced of John’s preaching, so he followed and sought the baptism of John. And it was during this that a life-turning event took place—the heavens opened, the Spirit descended upon Jesus and a voice from heaven says, “You are my beloved Son. With you I am well pleased.” From this time on, everything no longer remains the same for Jesus. He went to spend 40 days and 40 nights fasting and praying in the desert to clarify more the meaning of these. He gathered 12 close friends and given up his life on the cross. With these combined it become clear to us that his baptism inaugurates the mission of Jesus given by the Father.

We too have received our own baptism. I believe it meant the same for us as in Jesus. It is also our event of inauguration into God’s given mission. Not so much about spending 40 days and nights in the desert, not so much about gathering 12 close friends and of being crucified but of becoming what God wants us to be instead of what we want to be. All because what happened in Jesus’ baptism is repeated in the very baptism we received from the Church through its ministers. Such that by our baptism the heavens opened, welcoming us into the communion of the living and the saints. This is the Spirit of God’s saving grace dawning upon us. Thus, through our baptism, we are not merely children of our parents but we become Children of God. In theology we called this, Divine Adoption. Simply said, God owns me as his son or daughter!

All that we say about respect, love, forgiveness, justice, and the dignity of the human person is based on this deep and ever beautiful reality that we or I am God’s son or daughter in baptism. This is what God wants us or me to be: to live in love, show respect, grant forgiveness, uphold justice and dignity of the human person. Is this also what we want to be? But when one destroys the good name of another, or ignores his wife/husband and children, or takes advantage of another, this is very far from doing what God wants. To end our reflection today, let me share with you this story.

There was a couple who went to shop in a beautiful antique store. Seeing an exceptional tea-cup, they asked “May we see that?” As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the tea-cup spoke, “I have not always been a tea-cup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me, pounded and patted me and I yelled out, “Don’t do that. Let me alone,” but he only smiled, and gently said; “Not yet!” Then, Wham! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around. ‘Stop it! I’m getting so dizzy! I’m going to be sick!’

But the master only nodded and said, quietly, ‘Not yet.’ He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape and then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. “Help! Get me out of here!” “When I thought I couldn’t bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. ‘Oh, please; Stop it!’ I cried. He only shook his head and said. ‘Not yet!’ Then suddenly he put me back into the oven. It was twice as hot and I thought I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I was convinced I would never make it. Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and wondered ‘What’s he going to do to me next?’ An hour later he handed me a mirror and said ‘Look at yourself, you’re beautiful.’

Becoming what God’s wants us to be is easier said than done. It is a constant struggle with oneself. I remember Saint Paul saying, “why is it that I do what I do not want to do and not do what I am supposed to?” I believe this struggle is meant to bring us to something beautiful as the tea-cup underwent under the hands of the Master Potter. Becoming what God wants us to be is dying to oneself, but it’s worth it!

So in this mass, let us pray as Jesus taught us, “Your will be done on earth as in heaven.”

Homily for December 25 Christmas Vigil Mass

2008-12-26T00:35:00.000+08:00

Christ our Light!

Christmas Eve Homily

How does it feel to be in the midst of darkness! What are your feelings! Fear (afraid), confused, lost, abandoned, neglected, etc..

When you began to see light, how does it feel? Do you feel the joy coming out from your heart, gladness, gratitude, happiness, bliss, satisfaction etc.

My dear friends, Christ comes to bring light into the darkness that surrounds us. This is what our first reading clearly tells us today. Christ as lights is also the reason why we put Christmas decors with bright colors all around us. It is Christ that we are reminded of when we light candles and adorned out homes and halls with Christmas lights. “People who walked in darkness have seen a great light!” the prophet Isaiah said it very well for us. That is why Saint Paul calls the Christians of his time, “Children of Light”.

Now the light of Jesus Christ is not one that fades, is consumed and eventually dies. For Christ Jesus choose it best to be in flesh and blood, to be one with us at all times in order to effect the salvation promised for his faithful people. As Saint Paul would say to Titus, “the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly disires…”

Now, our waiting is over, we are no longer supposed to be groping in the dark for Christ our light is here with us! So, it has to be Jesus who will light and guide our path.

In a book of compiled sermons, a Welshman described his going home. He says the little children look through the windows and see him coming and with trembling lips cry out, 'Mother, father's coming home" The mother exclaims, "Then bar the windows and shut the doors, for your father is a maniac," and every door is fastened and window shut. Then he describes how they look through the chinks and the windows and say once again, "Mother, it is not father it looks like him, but he is walking up the path and coming quietly toward the house." But the mother exclaims: "Keep perfectly still, for your poor father is not himself." Suddenly there is a hand placed upon the latch of the door, and it does not yield, and then a quiet knocking is heard, and at last a voice which they have not heard for years, "Mary, please open the door and let me come in, for I have seen Jesus of Nazareth, and he has set me free. Let me come in and I will be a good husband to you and a good father to the children," and Christmas Evans says the door was instantly thrown wide open, and when the husband and father came in he brought heaven in with him.

That is the beautiful conversion story of Christian Evans, one of the renowned Christian preachers who himself experienced the transformning power of Christ’ Light in his life.

Finally, Christmas seems not complete if I will not mention Santa Claus. But let me share with you why Jesus as our Light is better than Santa Claus:

Santa lives at the North Pole. JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh. JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year. JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies. JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa. JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap. JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO. JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry". JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys. JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison. Jesus is way up and beyond santa. Yet we need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. Jesus is the reason for the Season. For he comes to be our light! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Homily for December 24

2008-12-26T00:31:00.000+08:00

Remembering!

Homily for December 24

(9^th Simbang Gabi)

It feels good to be remembered! What would you feel, let us say today is your birthday but no one among your friends and in your family members ever greeted you. It looks like they have forgotten that it’s your birthday today? In one way or another, it seems that we all have the need to be remembered.

Yesterday, a classmate of mine whom I have not seen for almost five years called me up from Germany where he is assigned to extend his Christmas greetings in advance. I felt so happy that he gets in touch. So I said to him, “Thank you for remembering me this Christmas!”

The theme of “Remembrance” also constitutes the theme of our Gospel today where Zechariah extolled the greatness of God by a song of praise, the Benedictus in which he said, “He promised to show mercy to our Fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he made to our fathers…” Zechariah praised God for having remembered to fulfill his promises of salvation to God’s people. This is also what the first reading reminds us of, makes us remember as given to David, that is, from his house will come God’s great act of “remembrance”, the birth of the Messiah, what the Scriptures refer to as “the root of Jesse” in order to fulfill his promise of salvation.

Christmas too is part of God’s remembrances for the birth of the Son of God sends us the message that the Father constantly remembers us and will never abandon us. So Jesus is Immanuel, meaning, God is with us!

Very important is the fact that the Holy Mass is God’s daily and constant remembrance. The Euharistic Prayer of Consecration says it well: “Do this in remembrance of me.” In fact, all sacraments consist of or are all about the remembrance of Christ and his salvific act. No sacrament is valid unless it commemorates the Paschal Mystery.

So the Church is a sacrament because by her life she enables the faithful and others to recall Christ’s redemptive act. Each community or family too can be a sacrament of remembrance by the manner it witnesses to Christ gift of redemption.

Now, it is possible for us to remember Christ because God has remembered us first.

Second Sunday of Advent B

2008-12-07T08:56:00.000+08:00

God calls, “Venez!”

By Arnold C. Biago, SVD

The Church tells us that Advent is a time for waiting and longing for a future yet to come that is also at the same time already fulfilled in our midst.

The prophet Isaiah in the first reading provided the first voice of this human longing for the coming of the God-Savior. Isaiah spoke to the exiled Israelites in their trying moments: “Prepare the way of the Lord… Here is your God… He comes with power” coupled with vivid images of abundance, peace and prosperity associated with God’s blissful presence.

Now, our faith clearly and distinctly tells us that this longing for the coming of the Messiah is fulfilled in Jesus. In fact, in our Gospel today, John the Baptist announced the coming of the Messiah, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!” Also, John declared that the Messiah’s work will be far greater than his as he said, “I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Who then are we waiting for, which the season of Advent constantly reminds us of? Recall what we constantly profess with ardent faith: “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again in glory!” The season of Advent then is renewed and intensified invitation to us to “own” and to “live” our faith in Christ who loved us by calling us to share in his glory.

Almost a month ago, I and the rest of the junior SVDs here in Congo went to the Bonobo Park. There I had the chance to watch closely this particular species of primates which happens to be at that time idling lazily under the shades playing, grooming each other or simply just lying on the ground unmindful of us who were at the other side of the fence. After a while, a caretaker came closer to the fence and shouted at the top of his voice, “VENEZ! VENEZ!” an imperative statement in French meaning “come” for he was “inviting” them to proceed to a particular place. Instantly, all the primates rose to their feet running away from us. Surprised by their reactions, Father Noi, wittingly said, “See, how intelligent these primates are, they understand French better than us!”

My dear friends, Advent is not an idle do-nothing kind of waiting and longing for the coming of the Lord but also and most importantly it is an invitation from Jesus to share in his life. Indeed, in this season, God is calling for us, “venez!”

In our lives as faithful followers of the Lord there are many occasions where he is inviting us, moments in which Jesus is calling for us, “venez!”

Sacramentally and liturgically, the Holy Eucharist is one great moment where the Lord invites us to come and share in his life by being nourished by the Word of God and by partaking in the Sacred Meal, i.e. receiving his most precious body and blood.

Also, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a totally obvious reference to God who is constantly waiting for us to be reunited with him by giving his unconditional love and forgiveness.

Among others that I will no longer mention is that Advent is also an invitation from God to recognize too his very presence in others. That is, that each person is a man, a woman saved and loved by God as myself.

To end this reflection, let me share with you a story:

One day, a boy asks permission from his mother, “Mommy, I’d been longing to see and meet God. May I spend this day to search for and meet God.” The very amused mother replied, “Fine with me my dear Son! Just be careful, and take care of yourself well!” The boy then prepared for a long journey, he placed several cans of soda drinks and potato chips inside his bag and left for a journey.

After several hours of walking and looking around for the place of God, the boy passed by a park. Tired, hungry and thirsty, he sat on a long bench beside a woman. He took out some cans of soda and potato chips. He was about to eat when he noticed that the woman seems to be hungry and tired, so he gave him potato chips. The woman smiled back as she was greatly delighted by the kind gestures. Caught by her beautiful smile, the boy shared to her cans of soda drinks as well in order to catch more of her beautiful smile. Again, she smiled back in gratitude. Since the boy liked so much to see the woman’s smile he stayed at the park together with the later, sharing food and smiles until sunset.

The boy decided to leave and go back home. Before leaving he gave the woman a big hug thanking him for her beautiful smiles, and from her face she saw the most beautiful smile he would never forget.

When the boy get back home, her mother was so surprised to see the glowing radiance of his face. She asked, “what happened to you son?” The boy gladly replied, “Mom, I’ve seen and meet God, and she had the most beautiful smile!”

The woman too get back home, her daughter who opened for her the door was also surprised to see the bright face of her mother. “Mother, where have you been? What happened?” She happily replied, “I meet God in the park, I could not believe he was that small and young!”

My dear friends, we too can readily meet God who constantly invites us if we have the eyes of faith, if we begin to recognize God in the small acts of kindness we receive from others. We meet Jesus also even in the smiles of those who have been touched by our kindness. With an eyes of faith, we begin to share in the life of God, and live with God.

The difficult situation that surrounds us (more particularly in Congo) oftentimes makes us think that God has abandoned us. I believe it is in this situation where we will meet God who suffers with the people he loves and died for. Show then to one another the face of God. In this way, we share to make come true our longing for the coming of God.

2008-11-10T06:02:00.001+08:00

Wise Virgins are all we are!

This is a remake of a Sunday (November 8, 2008) homily delivered by Fr. Louie Dailisan, SVD missionary based in Democratique Republique du Congo on a Holy mass in Saint Ann Chapel I concelebrated with in Kinshasa. Fr. Louie is a parish priest of village community in Bandundu province, 400 kms from Kinshasa.—FR. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

In one remote village of Afrika, a man took the responsibility of the construction of a school building through the aid of the foreign funding agency. Since the funding agency is based in Europe and have no way to check the progress of the project, this man thought of diverting some the funds. The funding agency on their part, continuously sent funds to this man, relying only the data they culled from the construction phases report sent to their office quarterly. Finally, the project was completed according to the report sent to the office of the funding agency. Now, calculating the cost of sending a staff to check on project, the foreign funding agency instead requested their embassy in the said country to visit the project and represent them in the inauguration ceremony. The ambassador then sent his staff to notify the project local coordinator of the desire of the funding agency to inaugurate the project. Lo and behold! The ambassador’s staff discovered that there was nothing to be inaugurated other than unfinished foundations of the building standing idle in the site. He also discovered that the project coordinator instead used the funds to buy a big parcel of land and constructed a big house for himself. The pictures he sent to the funding agency where other privately funded construction of buildings. Certainly, no inauguration happened.

What happened in this anecdote is essentially the same as what the Jesus speaks of in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. The five foolish virgins were indeed foolish not because they lack enough oil for their lamp rather they did not use properly the oil given to them for the occasion. We heard it clear from our Gospel that, “the foolish ones, though they took their lamps, took no oil with them, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.” We might ask why they not brought flask of oil like the other five. I believe they want to use it on another occasion of their choose.

Like the ten virgins as well as the man responsible for the construction of a school building, I truly believe that God has given us all something of value of different kinds. Unfortunately, what usually happens is we keep a lot for ourselves and failed to give in to what God desires and wills for us. In this way, disasters, failures, and all kinds of troubles happen in which humanity suffers.
Let us then remind ourselves that what God has given us is not solely for our own rather it is to be spent according to His intention instead of our own. Jesus Christ, who spent his life not for himself but for his Father’s will is the best example of what is to be one among the wise virgins, who brought along with them flask of oil to be spent on the occasion desired by the Master.
Let me share with you another story as an ending to this Gospel reflection:
A renowned engineer of a construction firm is soon to retire. He was so far the best in the company. The company president trusted him so much. One day, he called him to his office and as asked him to do one last and special project before he retires: “You construct the most beautiful house you could ever imagined, get the best people and use whatever resources we have, no budget ceiling, it’s all yours.” said the company president. The engineer gladly accepted the task. The project commenced and he was awed by the grandeur of the project he is directing. Instead of admiration of his team’s talents and the beauty of the house, what he harbors in his heart are grudges and resentment. “Here I am leaving this company after giving 30 precious years of my life empty handed and tired. Whereas, the company has acquired for itself a name and wealth. This project is a waste of my time and talent.” So he slowly distanced from the project and asked his inexperienced staff to supervise the project and cut the cost by using cheap and substandard materials. Finally, the dream house was finished a week before his retirement. By his judgment, the house will not last more that five years and will be toppled by an ordinary storm. The company was very happy to see how beautiful the dream house is. He congratulated the engineer who directed the project, then decided to have the company tribute for him and at the same time inauguration of the house on the coming weekend. The night of the double celebration came, the company president spoke thus, “This is a very special night for all of us because we are blessed to have the best in our company and so our company would also want to give him the best as a token of appreciation. Here I am holding a box of keys to his house, the symbol of its ownership, which I am very proud to give to our very own project engineer who is now retiring!”

In our own little ways we are all project engineer whom God asks to build a dream house. We need to build this house properly and in all honesty by our very own efforts of goodness and love. Because this house is our own, the home we have to build with God.

Sunday Homilies / Reflections

2008-11-10T00:17:00.000+08:00

Wise Virgins are all we are!

This is a remake of a Sunday (November 8, 2008) homily delivered by Fr. Louie Dailisan, SVD missionary based in Democratique Republique du Congo on a Holy mass in Saint Ann Chapel I concelebrated with in Kinshasa. Fr. Louie is a parish priest of village community in Bandundu province, 400 kms from Kinshasa.—FR. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

In one remote village of Afrika, a man took the responsibility of the construction of a school building through the aid of the foreign funding agency. Since the funding agency is based in Europe and have no way to check the progress of the project, this man thought of diverting some the funds. The funding agency on their part, continuously sent funds to this man, relying only the data they culled from the construction phases report sent to their office quarterly. Finally, the project was completed according to the report sent to the office of the funding agency. Now, calculating the cost of sending a staff to check on project, the foreign funding agency instead requested their embassy in the said country to visit the project and represent them in the inauguration ceremony. The ambassador then sent his staff to notify the project local coordinator of the desire of the funding agency to inaugurate the project. Lo and behold! The ambassador’s staff discovered that there was nothing to be inaugurated other than unfinished foundations of the building standing idle in the site. He also discovered that the project coordinator instead used the funds to buy a big parcel of land and constructed a big house for himself. The pictures he sent to the funding agency where other privately funded construction of buildings. Certainly, no inauguration happened.

What happened in this anecdote is essentially the same as what the Jesus speaks of in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. The five foolish virgins were indeed foolish not because they lack enough oil for their lamp rather they did not use properly the oil given to them for the occasion. We heard it clear from our Gospel that, “the foolish ones, though they took their lamps, took no oil with them, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.” We might ask why they not brought flask of oil like the other five. I believe they want to use it on another occasion of their choose.

Like the ten virgins as well as the man responsible for the construction of a school building, I truly believe that God has given us all something of value of different kinds. Unfortunately, what usually happens is we keep a lot for ourselves and failed to give in to what God desires and wills for us. In this way, disasters, failures, and all kinds of troubles happen in which humanity suffers.

Let us then remind ourselves that what God has given us is not solely for our own rather it is to be spent according to His intention instead of our own. Jesus Christ, who spent his life not for himself but for his Father’s will is the best example of what is to be one among the wise virgins, who brought along with them flask of oil to be spent on the occasion desired by the Master.

Let me share with you another story as an ending to this Gospel reflection:

A renowned engineer of a construction firm is soon to retire. He was so far the best in the company. The company president trusted him so much. One day, he called him to his office and as asked him to do one last and special project before he retires: “You construct the most beautiful house you could ever imagined, get the best people and use whatever resources we have, no budget ceiling, it’s all yours.” said the company president. The engineer gladly accepted the task. The project commenced and he was awed by the grandeur of the project he is directing. Instead of admiration of his team’s talents and the beauty of the house, what he harbors in his heart are grudges and resentment. “Here I am leaving this company after giving 30 precious years of my life empty handed and tired. Whereas, the company has acquired for itself a name and wealth. This project is a waste of my time and talent.” So he slowly distanced from the project and asked his inexperienced staff to supervise the project and cut the cost by using cheap and substandard materials. Finally, the dream house was finished a week before his retirement. By his judgment, the house will not last more that five years and will be toppled by an ordinary storm. The company was very happy to see how beautiful the dream house is. He congratulated the engineer who directed the project, then decided to have the company tribute for him and at the same time inauguration of the house on the coming weekend. The night of the double celebration came, the company president spoke thus, “This is a very special night for all of us because we are blessed to have the best in our company and so our company would also want to give him the best as a token of appreciation. Here I am holding a box of keys to his house, the symbol of its ownership, which I am very proud to give to our very own project engineer who is now retiring!”

In our own little ways we are all project engineer whom God asks to build a dream house. We need to build this house properly and in all honesty by our very own efforts of goodness and love. Because this house is our own, the home we have to build with God.

Chanson Francais (French Songs) for YOU

2008-11-07T22:26:00.000+08:00

Lyrics | Carla Bruni - Chanson Triste lyrics

Solemnity of Corpus Christi

2008-05-24T22:32:00.001+09:00

Jesus is the bread of life…

White bread, rye bread, wheat bread, pita bread, zucchini bread, and pumpernickel! Are the kinds of bread more popularly known. Biscuits, Scones, Baguettes, Bagels, Croissants, Tortillas, Pitas, Naan bread, Lavash, Pretzels, Pizza dough, are the kinds of bread listed by Wikipedia. Try to check the nearest bakery and you will see that they have at least 10-15 varieties of bread. Perhaps no food comes in as many varieties as bread. These great varieties of bread tell us very clearly that it is very important in our life. In fact, bread is very essential for our survival, that is why it known as the staff of life.

It is in this context of the great importance and necessity of bread for human survival that we have to understand the words of Jesus when he said, “I am the bread of life…” Jesus wanted to show that what he is, what he offers is as important, essential and vital for our survival as the bread we eat. When Jesus speaks of himself as the bread of life three things need to be considered.

First, it is not about physical satisfaction. When the Jews heard of Jesus telling them of the bread of life they thought of Moses who gave them manna while wandering in the dessert. But Jesus is greater than Moses. Moses fed their ancestors with bread yet they died; but Jesus will feed them with bread that gives eternal live. Jesus said, “Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Second, by eating the bread of life one becomes one with Jesus. As Jesus would say, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” Notice how Jesus eats: Jesus “takes” and “blesses” the bread and wine, these are actions reserved to a host, head, or guest of honor of the meal. Yet Jesus also “breaks” the bread and “gives” the wine—actions supposedly done by and proper to a servant. His intention is very clear, that there are no longer masters and servants, rather all are brothers and sisters. All are equal because they are one as Jesus lives in each and every one.

Third, one receives the bread of life by accepting Jesus himself in ones life. As the Gospel would put it, “Amen, amen I say to you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drinks his blood you will not have life within you.” Jesus’ demand looks impossible and hard to swallow. It even looks unthinkable and unimaginable. Yet he or she who eats the body of Christ and drinks his blood is prepared to live what is unthinkable and unimaginable, that is, that Christ becomes alive in ones person and life.

By receiving Jesus, the bread of life in the Eucharist, a person participates in the bond of communion of Jesus offers to his friends. In the Eucharistic communion, a person shares in the fullness of life Jesus won for us by his death and resurrection, becomes united with Jesus, and commit him/herself to proclaim Jesus to others by the life he or she lives.

To end our reflection let me share with you a story related to us by one of the SVD missionaries who was assigned in Korea in the 80’s. He shared it I one of our recollections in CKMS. One day while he was celebrating a mass, he felt so uneasy in a way that he could not understand why. Nevertheless, he conscientiously proceeded with the celebration of the Holy Mass. The Mass proceeded as usual. While distributing communion, he noticed a woman who was kneeling on the first few becoming restless. She ignored the lady, and finished giving communion. Afterwards she approached the woman to check on her because it looks like she was choking. To his great surprise drops of blood were dripping from her lips. He asked the woman to open her mouth and lo and behold, there was a round shaped white flesh on her mouth. The Sacred Host literally turned into the real flesh of Jesus with blood coming out of it.

This missionary showed us pictures of this event, and there it was, as he told us. The woman was Julia Kim, a visionary, while the missionary who told us this story is Fr. Gerry Orbos, SVD. Miraculous events like these have happened as early as 700 AD and was verified by the Church to be authentic. They help us in our faith in Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist. But more than a proof it is a constant testimony of Jesus, the Son of God who offered his life on the cross for our salvation. Amen.

Friday Week 7 Ordinary Time

2008-05-23T23:19:00.002+09:00

Marriage witnesses to God’s love

A couple was getting married and was very excited about the prospect of spending their honeymoon in Europe. They do not want to spoil their honeymoon and travel abroad so they planned early. Infact, they discussed and listed every detail of it, what are the places they will visit, where will they stay and all the things that they will bring along with them. After spending days preparing everything about their honeymoon now they boarded the plane excited and very happy. While they were buckled up in their seat as the plane takes off the run way, the wife said in desperation to her husband, “Darling, we’ve forgotten something very important.” In reply the husband said, “No we didn’t, we’ve listed it all and done it all?” “Yes we did, we have forgotten something very important darling.” the wife insisted. “And what is it that we have forgotten?” the irritated reply of the man. The wife said, “We have forgotten to get married.”

In our Gospel today Jesus teaches about the great importance of marriage by emphasizing the need to preserve it. He argued that Moses gave the permission to divorce in Deuteronomy 24 because of the stubbornness of their heart; whereas, it was not so in the beginning. Rather, it was the reason man that will leave his father and cling to his wife and the two shall become one, citing the beginning of Genesis. Then Jesus concluded, “What God has put together, let to man separate.”

It is very important and imperative to preserve marriage. We have a popular “kasabihan” in Pinoy that captures it very vividly: “Ang pag-aasawa ay di parang kaning isusubo na iluluwa pag ikaw ay napaso.” True enough because, marriage demands couple to be prepared and ready to embrace the life-long commitment of the sacrament.

Indeed marriage is a sacrament. It is not simply an agreement between two contracting parties who decided to live together and who can also decide to end the contract once they find it inconvenient. But rather the marriage of man and woman is a venue to experience God. The life of fidelity and love shared by the husband and wife is meant to proclaim God who is faithful and love.

The Old Testament is primarily a love story between God and his people Israel. Yahweh is madly in love with Israel, whereas Israel is not. Israel is known for its infidelity who worships idols here and there. That is why the prophet Hosea identifies Israel as a harlot, a prostitute. But even if Israel is a whore, a harlot, Yahweh continues to love her, for his love is HESED… the Hebrew word for the love that endures, a faithful love. As the Psalmist say, “For God’s love endures forever.”

This is the vocation proper to husband and wife, that they be loving and faithful to their partner because God was faithful and loving from the beginning to the end. For if they are faithful in their love they give witness to God whose love endures forever.

Wednesday Week 7 of Ordinary Time

2008-05-21T12:04:00.002+09:00

Face the Evil One

Three years ago I was assigned in one of the universities of the SVD in the southern part of the country. Expectedly, my superiors asked me to teach, so they assigned me to teach ReEd. One of my students in ReEd, claimed that he is an atheist, someone who does not profess belief in God. One day, I got the chance to talk to him. So I asked him, “how come you would not believe in God?” His replied, “Look around you brother, what you see, children starving, people without shelter and dying here and there because of floods, earthquakes, and bombs; if there is God why would he allow these things to happen? See the news, people are summarily executed for petty things and the rich continuously amassing wealth for themselves while the destitute continue to live in misery, if there is God, why would he permit all these evil to abound?”

There is much truth in what my student observed, the truth is evil abounds and we find them in many forms. In fact we can identify two forms of manifestations of evil. First, there are evil situations and events, like the corruption in the government, murder, misery, and all other forms of suffering. Second, evil in itself, like what a well known film claims, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose.” Evil in itself is not only known in films, many of us I believe have personally encountered it or have heard of individuals possessed by the Devil, that is why we heard of priest doing exorcism.

Evil is a truth and reality we face and encounter. What are we going to do then before and in the face of evil? Can we drive them out? The disciples too have encountered evil, as our Gospel today declares. Are we to be envious of those who can drive out evil spirits? Or do we contribute to evil situations and events by our sinful actions.

Allow me to share with you a story that I have read. One day a young woman was walking home from work when she saw a sight a little girl standing on the street corner, begging. The little girl's clothes were paper thin and dirty, her her matted and unclean, and her cheeks red from the cold.

The young woman dropped a few coins in the begging bowl, gave the girl a smile and walked on. As she walked she started to feel guilty. How could she go home to her clean and fresh house with its full pantry and well supplied wardrobe while this little girl shivered on the street in the cold and wet nights?

The young woman also began to feel angry, angry with God. She let her feeling be known in a prayer of protest. "God, how can you let this sort of things happen? Why don't you do something to help this girl?"
And then, to her surprise God answered. He said, "I did do something. I created you."

Truly our vocation is to fight evil and not to blame God for it. God made us to confront it and challenge it whenever we encounter them, lest we become an instrument of it. Let us fight the evil one and situations of evil in order to let God reign.

And let us remember that we are not alone in this crusade, there are many of us who desires peace, goodness and charity to reign and rule our lives. If others contribute to the crusade of eradicating evil in society let no envy separate us from them, for as Jesus said, “For whoever is not against us is for us.”

2008-05-18T08:53:00.001+09:00

An Experience of God as Trinity
Arnold C. Biago, SVD

Sa pelikulang Star Wars ni George Lucas ang sinasabi nilang greetings ay, “May the force be with You!” Ang gandang pakinggan no! Anu kaya kung gamitin natin yan sa Misa at sabihin ko sa inyo, “The force be with you, and may the force bless you in the name of George Lucas, the Jedi group and whoever will they be…” Hindi lang ito nakakatawa at walang kahulugan para sa atin kundi isa rin itong blasphemy—paglalaro sa pangalan ng Dios. Para sa atin mga Kristyano, ang Dios ay higit pa sa isang kathang isip o ideya sa Siyensya na ang nakikita ay walang iba kundi “matter” at “energy”. Kundi ang Diyos ay Maykapal na makapangyarihan sa lahat na may gawa ng langit at lupa. Hindi lang yan, para sa ating ang Diyos ay nagkatawang tao at nakipamuhay sa atin, si Hesus na manunubos. Ang Diyos din ay patuloy na nakikiisa sa atin sa pamamagitan ng kanilang Banal na Espiritu, ang Espiritu na mula sa Ama at Anak. Kaya ang turing natin sa Diyos ay Pag-ibig.

Sa isang International School sa Singapore ay nag didiscuss ang dalawang bata habang nag snacks sa School Canteen. Ang isa ay Anak ng isang Catholic Diplomat na Pinoy at sa naman ay anak ng isang American diplomat na Jew. Tinanong ng batang Jew ang batang Pinoy na Catholic, “What is that words you say before you eat, ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’?” Ang sabi ng batang Pinoy, “I thank God who gives me this food and ask him to bless it, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” “You mean, you have three gods?” Sagot ng batang Pinoy, “We have only one God” Sabi uli ng batang Jew. “No you have three gods, one who is Father, one who is Son and one who is Spirit, this is what we learn in Math, 1 + 1 + 1 = 3.” Ang sagot naman ng batang Pinoy “Your Math has not improved, its not addition that we use here but multiplication, 1 x 1 x 1 = 1, right?”

Ang Banal na Santatlo ay di ganap na maipapaliwanag at maiintindihan kung gagamit lamang ng addition kundi kailangan nito ay multiplication. Ang imumultiply ay hindi ang Diyos kundi ang sarili na ito ay maging bukas na maranasan ang Diyos bilang Ama na may likha ng lahat. Tatlo sa tinatawag na “great world religions” ang nagkakaisa sa paniniwalang ang Dios ang may-likha ng lahat, ang mga Kristyanismo, Islam at Judaismo. Subalit para sa atin mga Kristiyano, dahil sa dakilang pag-ibig ng Diyos Ama sa kanyang mga nilikha ay sinugo niya ang kanyang Nag-iisang Anak para ibalik sa kanyang piling ang kanyang mga nilikha. Kaya ang Diyos ay naging Tao at nakipamuhay sa atin bilang ating manunubos, si Hesus. Sa pamamagitan niya nakilala ng tao ng lubos ang Diyos at ganap niyang naranasan ang kanyang pag-ibig. Saan mo makikita ang isang Amang iniaalay ang kanyang sariling Anak para sa kaligtasan ng lahat? Ito ang tatak ng ating pananampalataya, si Kristo na nag-alay ng kanyang sarili. Hindi pa diyan nagtatapos ang kasaysayan ng pagmamahal ng Diyos sa tao. Ibinigay ng Diyos ang Espiritu ng Ama at ng Anak para manatili sa piling ng Tao. Kaya nang bumalik sa piling ang Ama ang Anak nanatili kasama natin ang Diyos, ang Banal na Espiritu bilang ating gabay. Ang lahat ng ito ay naganap nang dahil sa pag-ibig ng Diyos. Kung magkagayon, ang tatlong persona ng nag-iisang Diyos ang natatanging paraan ng mga Kristiyano na isalarawan ang kanyang karanasan ng pag-ibig ng Diyos bilang Ama, Anak at Banal ng Espiritu.

May nakilala akong isang pamilya, mga sampung taon na ang nakaraan. Ang mag-asawang ito ay taga-Mindanao, sa Surigao at siyam ang kanilang anak. Ang tatay ng pamilyang ito ay napakareligious. Isa sa mga malimit niyang dinadasal sa Diyos ay pasasalamat. Pinasasalamatan niya ang Diyos sa pagkakaloob sa kanilang mag-asawa ng siyam na anak. Ito ay testimonya ng kanyang pagkakilala sa Diyos bilang maylika ng lahat.

Ang siyam na kapatid na ito lahat ay nagsumikap na makapag-aral dahil alam nilang na wala namang maipamanang mga ari-arian ang kanilang magulang. Nang matapos ang kanilang kuya sa high school ito ay nagtrabaho sa Cebu at nag-ipon ng pera para gastusin sa pag-aaral ng sumunod sa kanya na kapatid. Nang matapos siya at nakapag-trabaho ito naman ang tumustos sa pag-aaral ng kanyang kuya. Yung ibang mga kapatid nila ay ganun din ang ginawa, nag-partner partner sila, isa ang nagtatarabaho para makapag-aral ang isa. Ang ginawa nilang pagsasakrispisyo para sa kapatid ay pagsasabuhay ng sariling pag-aalay ni Hesus ng kanyang sarili para sa ating kaligtasan, ang pinakadakilang sakrispisyo.

Anu ngayon ang nangyari sa isa na walang kapartner sa siyam na magkakapatid. Siya po ay naging pari ng SVD at sa kanya namin narinig itong kwento ng kanilang pamilya. Sabi niya, ito ang dahilang kung bakit siya nagpari, nainspire siya sa kanyang mga magulang na ibinigay lahat sa kanila at sa kanyang kapatid na nagbibigayan at handang iaalay ang sarili sa iba. Ganito naman ang Banal na Espiritu, “source of inspiration”, nabibigay lakas at tatag. (one that empowers).

Sa isang bukas na sarili at mulat na puso ang Diyos mararanasan bilang Ama, Anak at Banal na Espiritu na ipinakilala ni Hesus at ating makikita mula sa ating mga sariling karanasan. Ito ang ating idalangin na patuloy nating maranasan ang Diyos na mapagmahal sa ating kapwa.

Saturday Week 6 Ordinary Time

2008-05-16T23:55:00.001+09:00

Going up the Mountain

I have lived in the Tagaytay for five years, in 2002, 2004-2005, 2007-2008 where I finished my studies in Theology. On weekends, I and the rest of the seminarians leave our seminary and Tagaytay to go the different parishes mostly in Metro Manila where we are assigned. On our way, we usually encounter the heavy volume of cars and the heavy traffic going up to Tagaytay even on early morning. These only show that many people are coming to Tagaytay. What is true of Tagaytay is also true of Bagio. Initially, many of us would think that people go to these mountain destinations to rest, relax and recreate. But lately, during the two Saturdays and Sundays I was in Tagaytay I discovered another reason why people go to these mountain destinations particularly in Tagaytay. I found out that in the Pinks Sisters, in their monastery people come to visit the place and join the Sisters in Prayer. As early as Saturday morning until Sunday evening the Pinks Sisters’ Monastery are filled with pilgrims silently moving in and out of the Chapel. This is the very reason why Last year the Pinks Sisters have to double the size of their parking space by cementing an adjacent empty lot. Thus, in the Pink Sisters in Tagaytay there are just so many people coming to pray and spend time with God.

In our Gospel today, which is the account of Transfiguration in Mark tells us about Jesus being transfigured before the sight of Peter and the two other disciples up in the mountains. Obviously, they were there up in the mountain to pray. The Bible oftentimes, associate mountains with events of theophanies, as in the revelation to Moses and Elijah. In Mark as well as in Luke and Matthew, a mountain is a place of prayer. What i see here is a close connection between prayer and the experience of God's glory, as if saying that in prayer one experiences God. And this is inded the very reason why many people go to the mountain, to Tagaytay to pray and experience God.

"Prayer," says an anonymous quote, "is a passport to heaven, our communication to God." The quote underlines and recognizes the exclusive right of access if not at least the means of access of prayer to God. In fact, in prayer, we commune with God, or put simply, we are with God.
I believe, Transfiguration, that moment of experience of God, continuous to happen and be experienced by many individuals and communities in their moments of prayer. It is in this regard that we speak of religious experience.

The challenge for us is to widen the space of prayer to include in its scope our studies, work and our relationships where God is actively involved and waiting to be noticed. Let there be no dichotomy between work and prayer as might be implied and mistakenly construed from the famous Benedictine motto: “ora et labora.” Rather, let our work be done in prayer.

In this way, we become responsive to the Words at Transfiguration: "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." Indeed, listening--being attentive of God's message is an integral part of prayer. In the words of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta, "God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer."

May we then experience the Transfiguration of our Lord in our prayers, work, studies, relationships and in the people we meet.

Friday Week 6 Ordinary Time

2008-05-16T23:49:00.002+09:00

“Take up your cross and follow me”
Noong mga naunang panahon sa America, partikular sa Estado ng Colorado, ang ginto at tellurium ay magkahalo na lumalabas bilang isang “tellurite ore”. Dahil hindi pa moderno ang pagpoprosesso ng metal noon at wala pa silang kakayahang paghiwalayin ang ginto at tellurium ay itinabi na lang nila na parang basura ang mga “tellurite ore”. Isang araw, habang ang isang minero ay nagluluto, napagkamalan niyang “coal” ang isang tipyas ng “tellurite ore” at ito ay kanyang ipinanggatong sa kanyang kalan. Makalipas ang ilang araw, habang tinatanggal niya ang abo mula sa kayang kalan laking gulat niya sapagkat sa ilalim ng abo ay naroon ang ilang butil ng mga purong ginto. Ang pagsusunog sa apoy pala ay naghihiwalay sa purong ginto. Hangang sa ngayon, patuloy na ginagamit ang maiinit na apoy ang mga alahero para ihiwalay ang purong ginto mula sa ibang mga metal kung sila ay gumagawa ng alahas. Ang mga ito ay nagpapatunay na ang nagniningas at mainit na apoy ang siyang tumatanggal sa mga ibang metal para lumabas ang puro at tunay na ginto.

Katulad din ito ng pagsunod kay Kristo. Kinakailangan ng apoy upang makita ang tunay na sumusunod kay Kristo. Ang apoy na ito na tumatanggal sa mga di karapat-dapat na sumunod kay kristo ay walang iba kundi ang Krus. Sa katunayan, ang sabi ni Hesus sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon, “Kung ibig ninumang sumunod sa akin, limutin ang kanyang sarili, pasanin ang kanyang krus at sumunod sa akin.” Kung meron mang layunin at dahilan ang pagpasan ng krus ito ay ang maipakita ang isang tunay na sumusunod kay Kristo. Ang Krus ay apoy na tutunaw sa mga sagabal sa pagsunod kay Kristo.

Noong nakaraang linggo, nakausap ko ang isang kaibigan. May sarili na siyang pamilya at may tatlong anak. Nagrereklamo na siya sa hirap ng buhay hindi dahil sa mga anak niya kundi sa pag-aalaga sa kanyang na-stroke na kapatid! Sabi niya, “Father, sorry po, pero malimit naiinis na po talaga ako sa kapatid ko! Isipin n’yo Father, limang taon ko na siyang inaalagaan, binibihisan, pinapakain, at ang mas nakakainis, kung kailan tapos mu na siyang linisan at bihisan saka naman uli iihi sa salawal.. Grabe talaga father, nagagalit na ako sa kanya!” Tinanong ko siya, “nagsasawa ka na ba sa ginagawa mu?” “Hindi po Father!” ang sagot niya. Tanung ko uli, “Bakit mo ginagawa ang lahat ng ito?” Ang sabi niya, “Syempre Father, kapatid ko yon eh!”

Hindi ko man nasabi sa kanya noong magkausap kami, ang kanyang pag-aalaga sa kanyang kapatid ay isa sa mga krus na kanyang pinapasan. At ang krus na ito ang nagpapatunay na siya ay ganap at tunay na tagasunod ni kristo at ang pagsunod na ito ay hindi peke o pakitang tao-lamang. Dahil hindi siya umiwas o sumuko sa pagpasan ng krus mas lalong nagiging puro at tunay ang kanyang pagsunod kay Kristo. Ang kanyang pagsunod kay Kristo ay katulad ng isang ginto na tinanggalan ng ibang elemento at naging puro gawa ng apoy ng krus na naglilinis sa kanyang puso at sarili. Hindi madali ang sumunod kay Kristo dahil mahirap ang pumasan ng Krus. Ngunit ito ang tangi at nag-iisang paraan para maging tunay ang pagsunod sa kanya.

Hindi naman kailangan na lahat ng tao ay sumailalim sa isang mahirap na karanasan na dapat niyang pagtiisang pasanin para masabing tunay nga ang kanyang pagsunod kay Kristo. Ang krus na pasanin ng bawat Kristyano ay anumang problema, pagsubok, hirap, kabiguan, at pait na kinakaharap sa araw-araw. Ayun sa nga mga mga Chinese, “ang mga problema na dumarating sa buhay ay mga opportunities—crisis are opportunities.” Totoo nga na ang mga di magandang karanasan ay “opportunities” para subukin ang tatag ng isang tao na bumagon at magwagi sa mga pagsubok at crises. (Challengges bring out the best in the person) Ang isang kristiyano ay tulad ng isang gintong nakahalo sa isang “tellurite ore” kailangan siya ay padaanin sa apoy ng krus upang ang pusong gintong nasa kanyang dibdib na sumusunod kay Hesus ay tumambad sa paningin. “Let the treasure of gold in each person come out by the purifying fire of the cross. Take up your cross then, and be the best gold that you are.”

Thursday Week 6 Ordinary Time

2008-05-15T00:44:00.002+09:00

“Who do you say that I am?”

Isa sa mga kababata ko ang kakaiba. Mabait naman ito at masunurin sa magulang, sa katunayan honor student pa ito noong kami ay elementary. Kami ay nagtataka sapagkat ayaw niyang pumasok sa simbahan. Minsan kinulit naming siya kung bakit ayaw niyang pumasok ng simbahan. Sabi niya, “Takot ako sa Dios!” Sabi namin, “Kami din naman ah, may takot sa Diyos. Bakit kami pumapasok sa simbahan?.” “Basta! Ayaw kong papasok ng simbahan. Natatakot ako.” Parang may phobia sa simbahan itong si Nelson. Nang tumagal nalaman namin na ito pala si Nelson ay pinapaluhod sa asin sa harap ng altar na nakadipa ng kanyang Nanay pag may ginagawang masama. Tuloy, pag may mga nakikita siyang santo o mga crucifix nanginginig na siya sa takot. Karaniwan nang nangyayari na kinukulayan ng karanasan ang pagkakakilala sa Diyos. Kaya para kay Nelson, ang Diyos ay mapagparusa.

Katulad ng aming barkada na si Nelson, nakulayan din ng karanasan ang pagkakilala ni Pedro kay Hesus. Noong sabihin ni Pedro na si Hesus ang Messias ay inaasahan niyang si Hesus ay mamumuno sa isang himagsikan para sila ay palayain mula sa kamay ng mga Romano at ng mapang-aping hari ng Israel. Kung kaya’t di niya matanggap ang sinabi ni Hesus na siya ay madurusa at mamamatay bago mabubuhay muli bilang pagganap sa kanyang nakatakdang layunin.

Hindi naging madali para kay Pedro na tanggalin o alisin ang karanasang kumukulay sa kanyang pagkakilala kay Hesus. Hanggang sa hiling sandali ng buhay ni Hesus umaasa siya na ito ay gagawa ng kababalaghan o gagamitin ang kanyang makadiyos na kapangyarihan para ibahin ang takbo ng mga pangyayari. Kaya di nakapagtataka na itanggi niya si Hesus ng makatlong ulit dahil di naganap ang kanyang inaasahang paraan ng pagliligtas ni Hesus.

Marami ang mga katulad ng kaibigan kong si Nelson at ni Pedro na di ganap na nakilala si Hesus sapagkat nakukulayan ito ng kanilang karanasan o hindi sapat ang pagkakilala sa Diyos. Meron akong isang kaibigan ang pagkakilala sa Diyos ay parang isang vending machine. Sa Vending machine, pag maghulog ka ng pera sa slot, kung ano ang gusto mu na naroon ay lalabas sa ilalim. Ganun ang tinging niya sa Diyos. Magsisimba lang ito pag may kailangan. Katulad noong nag-aaply ng US visa ang kanyang anak, araw-araw itong nag nonovena, lahat na ata ng simbahan sa Metro Manila ay pinuntahan. Ganitong pag-iisip din ang umiiral sa mga chain prayers sa kumakalat. Noon, papel lang na iniiwansa simbahan, ngayon e-mail na o di kaya ay text messages na. Ayon sa mga chain prayers na ito, pag ginawa mo ang sinasabi nito ay makakamit mo ang iyong mga kahilingan. Kawawa naman ang Diyos sunod-sunoran sa tao.

Anu nga ba ang isang tunay at maayos na pagkakilala sa Diyos na hindi nakukulayan ng karanasan at sariling pangangailang. Muli nating balikan ang sinabi ni HEsus, “walang nakakakilala sa Ama kundi ang Anak, walang nakakakilala sa Anak kundi ang Ama.” Samakatuwid, si Hesus ang tunay at ganap na nagpakilala sa atin ng Diyos. Ang kanyang mga gawa at aral ay mga pagpapakilala sa Diyos na mapagmahal at mapagpatawad.

2008-05-15T00:40:00.000+09:00

How sacred is your heart?
Homily on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Kaisa-isang anak nina Aling Maria at Mang Juan si Ben. Mabait at matulungin siya. Nagmana siya sa kanyang mga magulang na mababait din naman. Isang araw, isang matandang pulubi ang kinaawaan ni Ben. Inuwi niya ang pulubi sa bahay, ipinagluto at pinakain. Isang araw naman, samantalang nangangahoy, isang matandang gutom na gutom ang nasalubong niya. Pinakain din niya ito at binigyan ng damit.

Makaraan ang ilang panahon, nagkasakit si Ben. Sa kabila ng pagsisikap ng mag-asawa na pagalingin ang anak, lumubha pa rin ang kanyang kalagayan hanggang sa siya’y bawian na ng buhay. Ganoon na lamang ang iyak ng mag-asawa. Kinabukasan, habang nakaburol ang kanilang anak, dumating ang isang diwata. Hiningi nito ang puso ni Ben, Ibinaon ng diwata ang puso sa isang bundok. Ito ay naging punongkahoy na may bungang hugis-puso. Marami ang nakikinabang ngayon sa bungang ito.

Ilang linggo na lang ay ipagdidiriwang natin ang Kapistahan ng isang pusong higit pa sa puso ni Ben, ang Kabanalbanalang puso ni Hesus. Ang Puso ni Hesus ay pusong puno ng pagmamahal at pagkalinga sa sangkataohan. Ito ang puso na pinagbukalan ng ating kaligtasan, ang banal na puso ni Hesus.
Paano nagsimula ang ganitong debosyon sa Banal na Puso ni Hesus? Meron din kayang isang alamat na nakatago sa likod nito.

Sinimulang ang debosyon sa Banal na Puso ni Hesus ng ilang individual at mga pamayanang ng mga mongha noong ika-10 siglo. Ngunit ito ay mas ipinakilala ni Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) na naniniwalang siya ay nakatanggap ng mga pagpapahayag mula sa Diyos. Tatlo sa mga ito ang maganda ang sinasabi tungkol sa Banal na Puso ni Hesus.

Ang una ay naganap December 27, 1673 (?). Sinasabi ni Saint Margaret na siya tinawag ni Hesus para inihimlay ang kanyang ulo sa dibdib ni Hesus upang pakinggan ang tibok ng kanyang puso na puno ng dakilang pagmamahal sa lahat at suguin na ipahayag ang pagmamahal na ito ni Hesus sa lahat.

Ang ikalawa ay naganap noong June/July 1674. Ayon kay Saint Margaret ay hiniling ni Hesus na siya ay parangalan sa larawan ng isang buhay na puso. Nakita ni Saint Margaret si Hesus sa busilak ng pusong nagmamahal at humihiling ng ganting pagmamahal sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap ng komunyon at pagsasagawa ng “holy hour”.

Ang ikatlo ay ang “great apparition” na naganap noong June 16, 1675, ang “octave of the Corpus Christi”. Ayon kay Saint Margaret, sinabi sa kanya ni Hesus: "Behold the Heart that has so loved men ... instead of gratitude I receive from the greater part (of mankind) only ingratitude ...",Pagmasdan mo ang pusong lubos na nagmamahal sa sangkatauhan… sa halip na ganting pasasalamat ang aking natanggap mula sa sangkatauhan ay kasakiman, galit at pagkaghaman. Hiniling ni Hesus sa kanya na ipagdiwang ang Kapistahan ng Banal na Puso sa Biyernes pakatapus ng Linggo ng Corpus Christi at inutusan din siya ni Hesus na sabihing ang lahat ng ito kay Father de la Colombière, pinuno ng isang pamayanang Heswita. Kasama rin sa pahayag na ito ay kilalanin ng hari at ipalaganap sa buong mundo.

Malalim ang mga aral na mapupulot sa kasaysayan at pinagmulan ng debosyon sa banal na puso ni Hesus. Malinaw nitong sinasabi na si Hesus ay tunay na nagmamahal sa sangkatauhan, kaya ang tao tinatawag muli na magmahal din ng lubos. Kaya kung ang HEART ni Hesus ay SACRED, “how sacred then is your own heart?” Hayaan ninyo po akong isalarawan ang isang pusong banal sa pamagitan ng isang acronym: HEART.
H – Humble
E- Endurance in times of difficulties
A- Attentive to God
R- Respectful of Others
T- Trust in God
Ang isang puso ay sacred kung ito ay HEART.

Feast of Saint Matthias the Apostle

2008-05-14T00:28:00.003+09:00

Feast of Saint Matthias the Apostle

Noong ako ay nagtuturo sa isang university ng SVD, isa sa mga pinagawa ko sa mga estudyante ay ang i-dramatize ang “washing of the feet” at ang “last supper.” Sa isang grupo, kung saan napunta ang assignment na ito ay tuwang-tuwa ang mga estudyante habang nag-aasign sila ng mga tao na gaganap. Ang isang estudyante na naassign bilang Jesus ay tuwang-tuwang, pakiramdam niya ang bait bait niya. Yong isa naman na gaganap na Pedro ay nagyayabang at ginagagaya si Pedro na astig ang dating. Maya-maya ay biglang nagkagulo. Isang estudyante ang sumigaw, “Ayoko! Ayoko niyan!” Ako ay nagulat kaya nilapitan ko na sila. “Anu ba ang nangyayari at bakit nagsisigaw yan si Jayson?” tanong ko sa kanila. Dali-daling sumagot si Jayson “Eh kasi po, si Lenny, pinipilit akong maging Hudas”

Sa mga Apostol, karaniwang inaayawan si Hudas dahil sa kanyang pagtataksil kay Hesus. Kaya malimit marami ang ayaw gumanap na ika-12 Apostol, bilang Hudas. Subalit, para sa mga Apostol mahalaga ang bilang na 12, kaya kailangan nilang humanap ng kapalit ni Hudas. At ito ay isang seryosong bagay na pinagukulan ng panahon at malalim na panalangin ng mga Apostol. Sa katunayan, ang unang gawa ng mga Apostol matapos umakyat sa langit si Hesus ay ang maghanap ng kapalit ni Hudas. 121 silang lahat na dumalo at nanalangin para piliin ang ika-12 Apostol. Paano nga ba nila pipiliin ang ika-12 Apostol.

Si Pedro ang tumayo at nagbigay mungkahi ng paraan para piliin ang papalit kay Hudas. Para kay Pedro ang papalit kay Hudas ay kailangang isa sa mga kasama ng 11 mula noong si Hesus ay binyagan sa ilog Jordan hanggang sa si Hesus ay umakyat sa langit. Dalawa mula sa naroon ang kasama nila noon pa man. Si Matthias at si Jose na tinatawag ding Barsabbas. Hindi naging madali sa mga Apostol ang pumuli ng ika-12. Kilala nila pareho sina Matthias at Jose na mabubuti at nagmamahal ng lubos kay Hesus. Di nila malaman kung sino ang pipiliin. Kung sila man ay pipili, ito din kaya ang pipiliin ng Panginoong Hesus? Kaya minabuti nilang magsapalaran. Anu man ang resulta nito, naniniwalang silang ito ang kalooban ng Diyos. Sa kanilang pagsapalaran, si Matthias ang lumabas na ika-12 Apostol. Sa buong Bibliya, ito ang una at huling pagkakataon na si Matthias ay nabanggit.

Anong mga katangian mayroon ang mga Apostol para sila ay piliin? Ayon kay Clement ng Alexandria, si Matthias ay pinili ni Hesus hindi dahil kung anong mayroon siya, kundi kung magiging anu siya. Pinili si Matthias ni Hesus hindi dahil siya karapadat-dapat na mapabilang sa hanay ng mga Apostol kundi binigyan siya ni Hesus ng biyaya upang maging karapat dapat. Ang biyayang ito ay ang lakas ng loob na ipahayag ang mabuting balita ni Hesus sa lahat ng tao buhay man ang maging kapalit nito. Kaya tulad ng iba pang mga Apostol si Matthias din ay nag-alay ng kanyang sariling buhay sa ikalalaganap ng mabuting balita.

Di lamang mga Apostol o mga Pari ang pinili ng Diyos. Sa katunayan lahat ay inaanyayahan ng Diyos. Ikaw, ako, tayo ay pinili ng Diyos. Hindi dahil tayo ay karapat dapat na mapabilang sa kanya, kundi dahil minarapat niya, gusto ng Diyos na tayo ay makapiling niya, kaya gumawa siya ng paraan upang tayo ay mapasakanya. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit naparito at nakipamuhay kasama natin ang Anak ng Diyos, si Hesus.

Para sa mga Apostol ang pagsunod kay Hesus ay hindi naging madali kundi puno ng hirap. Sa katunayan, ibinihos nila ang kanilang dugo, sila ay nag-alay ng buhay. Kaya, sa mga pagkakataong tayo ay sinusubok ng hirap sa pagsunod kay Hesus, nawa ang buhay ng mga Apostol ang mgbigay lakas sa atin ng loob at pag-asa na manatili sa piling ng Diyos.

Tuesday Week 6 Ordinary Time

2008-05-13T17:53:00.000+09:00

Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod

Noong ako ay nasa college seminary diyan sa Christ the King, pag bakasyon kami ay pinauwi din ng mga pari. Kaya nakikita ko uli ang mga dati kong barkada noong high school. Isa sa mga malimit kong pasyalan ay si Mae. Naalala ko noong high school kami, ito si Mae ang “apple of the eye” ng aming mga teachers kasi siya ay magalang, tahimik sa klase, di nalalate, walang bisyo, sempling manamit, malinis, sa medaling sabi, siya ay dalagang Pilipina.
Ako ay enjoy na enjoy na pumunta sa kanila kasi, tuwing bakasyon merong bago sa kanya. Noong unang bakasyon, napansin ko, umikli ang kanyang damit na isinusuot. Nang sumunod na bakasyon, may kulay na ang kanyang buhok. Nang mga sumunod na bakasyon, dumami ang kanyang hikaw. Minsan tinanong ko siya, “bakit ganyan na ang itsura mo? Ang sagot niya, “Tol, ito na ang uso ngayon! Ikaw kasi lagi kang nakakulong sa seminaryo, kaya tuloy di ka na updated.”
Noong huli kong makita si Mae, ito ay buntis. Pinuntahan ko siya sa kanila. Totoo nga na siya ay buntis. Ako ay talagang mausisa kaya tinanong ko siya, “Ang daya mo Mae, nag-asawa ka na pala di ka man lang nag imbita…” Medyo alanganin ang sagot ni Mae, “Di naman ako nag-asawa… Nabuntis lang ako.” Gulat na tinanong ko siya, “Eh, nasaan ang Tatay ng baby mo?” “Di ko nga alam eh…” ang nihihiya niyang tugon sa aking kakulitan. Mula sa may kusina, ang sabi ng kanyang nanay, “Di mo ba alam, yan na ang uso ngayon..”
Ang sagot ng nanay ay gawa-gawa ko na lang yon. Pero si Mae ay tunay, at maraming mga katulad na kabataan sa ngayon na sumasabay sa uso at lakad na panahon na malimit ay naliligaw ng landas. Si Mae at marami pang iba ay pawang mga biktima ng laganap na kulturang ginagatongan ng media. Marami ang nag-iisip na anuman ay ipinapakita ng TV ay tama, maayos at pinakamaganda lalo na kung ito ay sinasabi, ginagawa ng mga sikat at kilalang personalidad sa TV. Kaya kung anu ang nasa TV yan ang nangunguna sa kalsada.
Minsan, ako ay na nasa isang meting ng isang organization. Nagkabiroon ang mga kasapi at ang sigaw, “Burger! Burger! Burger!” Nagtawanan sila lahat, ako lang ang naiwang di nakatawa; di ko pa kasi napanood itong commercial na ito sa TV. Out of date na nga ba talaga ako! O talagang malawak ang impluwensiya ng kulturang binubuhay ng media. Sa tingin ko, maliban kay Pres. GMA, ang media ang isa sa pinakamalawak ang implwensiya sa sa mga Pilipino. Kaya kung wala ang pag-iingat tiyak, marami ang mapapahamak. Marami pang mga katulad ni Mae, ang mag sasabi, “ito ang uso ngayon!” na nakikita at napapanood ng marami sa TV.
Sa ngayon, marami ang naalarma sa lumalawak na kakayahan ng media na bilogin ang isipan ng marami lalong-lalo na ang mga kabataan. Kaya marami lalo na ang mga guro ang nagpapaalala sa mga magulang na bantayan ang mga bata habang sila ay nanonood ng TV. Talagang ang media ang isa sa mga may malawak na implwesiya sa buhay ng nakakarami ngayon.
Noong panahon ni Hesus wala pang TV at ang mga Paresio at si Herodes ang may malawak na kapangyarihan at impluwensiya sa buhay ng mga nakakaraming Hudyo. Alam ni Hesus ang kalagayang ito ng mga tao, kaya pinalalahan niya ang kanyang mga alagad na mag-ingat: “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
Kung narito si Hesus at kasama natin ngayon, ito ang maaring sasabihin niya, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Media.” Katulad ng mga Pariseo at ni Herodes, ang Media din tututulan at lalabanan ni Hesus dahil sa sila ay mapagkunwari at mapaglinlang. Simple lang naman ang nais ni Hesus, at ito ay ang mamayani ang katarungan at manaig ang katotohanan. Kaya, anumang ang sagabal sa katarungan at katotohanan ay kanyang tinututulan. Kung saan umiiral ang katarungan at katotohanan nariyan din si Hesus ang Diyos na buhay.
Ang tunay na sumusunod kay Hesus ay magiging maingat sa pagtanggap sa makabagong kulturang pinapatakbo ng media. Para sa kanya, ang katarungan at katotohan ang batayan ng isang kulturang makadiyos at makatao. Kung hindi, paulit-ulit niyang maririnig ang babala ni Hesus, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Media.”

Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist

2008-04-25T18:20:00.001+09:00

Feast of Saint Mark, Apostle and Evangelist

Among the sacred books used in the liturgy it is only the Book of Gospels that is carried during the processional at the beginning of the Mass and at the Gospel acclamation. The Sacramentary, the book of the prayers of the faithful and the Roman Pontifical are not being given the dignity of being carried in the processional. This liturgical gesture tells us that the Book of Gospels occupied a very significant place in the life and worship of the Church. Now, what makes the Book of Gospel very important for us and the Church? It is simply because it contains the account of the words and deeds of Jesus who made all things possible for our salvation. In this way, this book is indeed a Good News.

Today, we have the privilege of seeing, touching and most of all reading this Good News of our salvation because of some dedicated individuals who made such great efforts of writing them down. We owe it to the evangelists who readily made themselves available to write down their particular witness of Jesus. None of us today, have seen Jesus walk on this earth, yet because of the work of evangelists we came to know much about who Jesus is. For this, we are very much thankful to the evangelist who allowed the Holy Spirit to work in them and bring to us Jesus, the word of God. In particular, we recognize and acknowledge Saint Mark for preserving for us the memory of Jesus. Mark did not only consign to writing the story of Jesus and his work of our redemption but was the first to do so. Thus, what he wrote possesses the authority of being the closest link to Jesus’ lifetime.

On his part, Mark stresses Jesus’ message that the Kingdom of God is now beginning to be realized and its realization in our midst is Jesus himself. That this kingdom is the one of redemption through Jesus who by his suffering and death on the cross make himself a sacrificial offering in order to save us. Because of the redemption accompanying the Kingdom of God, Jesus felt the urgency of for this Good News to be preached by the Apostles as told to us in the last part of the Gospel from Mark which we have read today: “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News. He who believes and is baptized will be saved…”

It is precisely because of this faith and baptism we have received that we too are called to share in the same mission of the Apostles. Like the Apostles, Jesus is also calling us to preach the Good News. Our mission is to share Jesus to others. Without being aware of it, we have already carried out this mission of the Apostles of sharing the story of Jesus to others by our kind words and generous deeds. For the best way to preach the Good News is first and foremost to live it. As Pope Paul VI once powerfully said, “Today the world listens to teachers, not because of what they preach but because they are witnesses.” This is to tell us that one effectively preaches Jesus by becoming first his witness. This is what Mark, an apostle and evangelist wishes to tell us today, to be witnesses of Jesus, the Divine Word.

Hesus

2008-04-13T11:10:00.001+09:00

Hesus, Pinto ng Kaligtasan at Mabuting Pastol
(Sunday IV Easter Jn x, 1-11)

Anu nga ba yong TV drama series sa ABS CBN na pinagbibidahan nina Angel Locsin at Piolo Pascual? LOBO
Alam n’yo po, noong panahon ni Hesus isa pinakakaiwasan ng mga Pastol ay ang mga mababangis na lobo na pumapatay at nangangain ng mga tupang inaalagaan nila. Kaya, sa gabi, dinadala ng mga pastol ang kanilang mga alaga sa isang nababakurang kulungan para ligtas ito mula sa mga lobo na malimit sa dilim ng gabi umaatake.

Ang ating ebanghelyo ngayon ay tungkol sa pintuan ng nabakurang kulungan ng mga tupa at sa mabuting pastol ng mga tupa na nagbibigay ng ligtas ng kanlungan sa mga tupa. Sa dulong bahagi ng ebanghelyo natin ngayon sinasabi nito na ang pintuan at mabuting pastol ay walang iba kundi si Hesus. Si Hesus ang pintuan ng Kanlungan ng mga Tupa at ang Mabuting Pastol.
Una, si Hesus ang Pintuan ng nababakurang kanlungan ng mga Tupa. Sinasabi ng Ebanghelyo na si Hesus bilang pintuan ay daan tungo sa kaligtasan: “Ang sinumang pumapasok sa pamamagitan ko ay maliligtas. Papasok siya at lalabas at makakatagpo ng pastulan”. Tunay ngang si Hesus ay daan tungo sa kaligtasan, sapagkat siya ang bukas na daluyan tungo sa Dios Ama.

Naalala ko ang kwento ng isang kakilalang madre. Sabi niya, nabigla siya nang ang kanyang kaibigan na bago lamang nabyuda ay lumapit sa kanya at nagpasalamat sa kanya. Sabi nito, “Sister maraming salamat at nakilala ko kayo.” Nagtataka siya kung bakit pinasasalamatan siya nito kaya tinanong niya ito: “Lyn, anu ginawa ko sa iyo na ipinapagpasalamat mo?” “Wala naman po Sister!” Sabi nito, “Gumagaan lang ang loob ko pag ako ay pumunta ako sa inyo. Pakiramdam ko karamay ko ang Dios sa sakit at pangungulila ko sa pagkawala ng aking asawa. Di ko pa makakayanan ang pagkawala ng aking asawa kung hindi ako lumalapit sa inyo at nakikipagkwentohan.”

Dahil sa kanyang kakilalang madre, nararanasan ni Lyn ang pagkalinga sa kanya ni Hesus, ng Dios. At sa pamamagitan ni Sr Agnes, naranasan ni Lyn ang Diyos bilang isang ligtas at payaang kanlungan sa panahon ng kanyang pagdurusa at pangungulila. Tunay nga na si Hesus ang pintuan ng kaligtasan.

Pangalawa, si Hesus ang Mabuting Pastol na inilaan ang kanyang sarili para sa kanyang minamahal na kawan. Ang Tunay na pastol, sabi ng ating ebanghelyo ay pinakikinggan ang tinig ng mga tupa. Ang boses ng Tunay na pastol ay kilala at sinusundan ng mga tupa. Sa kabilang dako ang mga tupa ay kilala din ng mabuting pastol: “tinatawag niya ito sa kani-kanilang pangalan.”

Sa Pilipinas bihira ang nag-aalaga ng tupa, ang marami ay baboy. Minsan ng umuwi ako sa amin sa bikol, pinutahan ko sa bahay niya ang isang kababata at inabutan ko siyang nililinis ang kanyang piggery, na may bagong panganak na inahing baboy na ay 12 biik. Tuwang-tuwa siyang sinalubong ako at ipinakita ang mga magkakasinlaking biik, sabi niya, Rev. malaki ang kikitain ko ngayon, yang 12 na book sold out na yan.” Inisa isa niyang itinuro, “ Yong tatlo ay bibilhin ni kapitan, yong dalawa kay Kumaring Lydia, young isa ay kay Rodrigo, etc..” Sa tingin ko ay walang pagkakaiba ang mga biik, pare-pareho ang itsura. Kaya tanong ko sa kanya, “Paano mo natandaan na yan, ang para kay kapitan, at yan ay kay Lydia, ang yun ay kay Rodrigo.” Ang dali-dali niyang sagot ay, “isang buwang at kalahati ko nang araw-araw na nakikita at pinapapakain ang mga iyan. Kaya kilala ko na sila.” Kilala ni Romy ang kanyang mga alaga sapagkat naglaan siya ng panahon sa kanila.

Katulad ni Romy na kilala na ang kanyang mga alagang biik, ang pastol din ay kilala ang kanyang mga tupa sapagkat siya ay naglaan ng panahon sa kanila. Tayo ay kilala ng Diyos sapagkat siya ay naglaan di lamang ng panahon kundi sinugo niya ang kanyang Anak, si Hesus na mamuhay kasama natin.

Tunay nga na si Hesus ay pintuan tungo sa kaligtasan at isang mabuting pastol, tayo’y kanyang kilala at atin siyang sinusundan.
Si Hesus bilang pintuan ng Ligtas na Kanlungan at mabuting Pastol ay nag-aanyaya at tumatawag na siya ay sundan. Magiging mapayapa at madali ang ating pagsunod sa mabuting pastol kung lubos nating siyang kilala. Isa sa mga mabisang paraan upang lalo nating makilala si Hesus, ang mabuting pastol ay alamin ang kanyang buhay (bibliya). Ang buhay na ito ng mabuting pastol ay nasusulat sa Bibliya. Kaya para makilala si Hesus, ang Mabuting Pastol, magbasa ng Bibliya.

Pangalawa, makilala din si Hesus kung magbibigay ng panahon sa kanya (panalangin). Sabi nga, sa panalangin, tayo ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa Dios (communicate with God)
Sa bawat pagdiriwang ng Eukaristiya ay naririnig natin ang Salita ng Dios na nagpapakilala kay Hesus, at tinatanggap natin si HEsus sa Banal na kumonyon.Kaya ang Banal na Misa ay isang pakikipagtagpo sa Dios, isang pagkakataong mapalalim ang ating pagkilala kay Hesus ang mabuting pastol.

Nawa mas lalo nating makilala at mahalin si Hesus upang maging ganap ang ating pagsunod sa Kanya, ang mabuting pastol.

Saturday of First Week of Lent

2008-02-17T11:21:00.000+08:00

Love your Enemies

One thing that many people find difficult to do in this world is to follow what our Gospel today teaches: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
It is easy to love one’s parents, sisters and brothers and close friends because there is something that bids us together. Loving the other becomes easy when we can connect most especially if this connection is blood or significant experiences that bridge the gap between two persons.

But to love one’s enemies is like asking what is impossible. Look at what is happening around us. See how Arab nations and most Muslims countries hate the Americans. See also how the Americans hate the world and could trust no one. We need not look far to see how this hatred had been fueling so much violence in our very own country. The rising number of slain journalists, missing persons and how our politicians quarrel over kickbacks are solid indications of all of these. From all of these, it seems that the command of the Lord: “Love your enemies” could never happen.

Certainly, we cannot love our enemies unless we stop loving only ourselves and give ourselves fully to God. For the love of God is the sole basis of loving our enemies. Unless we love God, we cannot love our enemies. I guess most of us knows that Pope John Paul II was once shot by a Turkish national, Mehmet Ali Agca on May 13, 1981. The Pope survived the assignation but was in serious condition. Soon after his recovery, the Pope visited Agca in his prison cell and spoke privately with him. This meeting caught the world in awe and admiration at the gesture of kindness, of friendship shown by the Pope to his aggressor. The world could only marvel at the greatness and love that made it possible for a victim to talk and extend peace to his killer and offer forgiveness.

As if words of forgiveness were not enough , the Pope requested the Italian President to pardon Agca. The latter then was released on parole in January 12, 2006. No doubt, Pope John Paul II did love his enemy. And it was possible for him to love because he loves God first. It is in loving God with all our heart, all our mind and all our being that we can love our neighbors and even our enemies.

2008-02-16T22:18:00.000+08:00

Transfiguration

Usually, newly wed couples would have the best experience of their lives on their wedding day. They are the most sought after couple as almost all would come to greet them wearing their best smiles. “Congratulations!” This is one wonderful experience that the couple would like to prolong and extend as they want to savor the moment and enjoy the time they are in high spirit.

In the event of the Transfiguration, Peter with James and John was also in the high spirit. He had the best experience of Jesus as the Son of God and he too wanted to prolong it. The feeling was so sweet in there that he wanted Jesus to stay as is, “Lord, it is good that we are here.”But the joy the Peter experienced is connected with his experience of the glorious God in Jesus who is destined to suffer and die on the cross for our sake. For this Peter was to be afraid.

It must be remembered that in the early part of the Gospel Jesus rebuked Peter because he does not want Jesus to undergo suffering, “Never Lord, this will not happen to you.” So when it was revealed to him in the transfiguration that Jesus, the Son of God will have to suffer and die on the cross, Peter tremble in fear not of pain and death but of the great sacrifice and love the Lord has to take because of us. In other words, Peter too experience transfiguration in himself as his view of the Lordship of Jesus changed with his transfiguration experience of the Lord.

Like Peter, we too are privileged to constantly experience a transfiguration of the Lord everytime we celebrate the Eucharist. When we break the bread and receive the body of Christ in Holy Communion we share in the fruits of Christ's great sacrifice on the cross. Hopefully, like Peter, as we behold the body of Christ we will tremble before God’s great act of love, the God who humbled himself to become like us and allowed himself to be broken as bread for us to partake. Let us then tremble not out of fear but out of gratitude for such great privilege to be loved by Jesus, the Son of God.

But our transfiguration experience does not end in the Eucharist. Rather it begins here in our call to live out and practice our faith so that our relationship will itself be transformed and permeated by Christ. Moreover, our transfiguration experience continued as we respond to the call of proclaiming our faith to others, of sharing this great story of God who out of his great love allowed himself to suffer and die for our sake. What we practice and proclaim is our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who love us most. Amen.

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time

2008-02-03T08:49:00.000+08:00

HAPPY IS BLESSED
Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

What we have heard proclaimed in our Gospel today is the famous 8 beatitudes which speaks about those who are blessed. In others versions of the Bible, the word used instead of blessed is happy. I believe there is an equally valid reason for such translation. Since someone who is blessed is one that is significantly happy.

Let me share with you an anecdote of a boy which was interestingly entitled “Secrets of Hapiness” told by a Rabbi: A young man once came to meet me in Jerusalem. He had an unusually happy disposition, so I asked him what's his secret. He told me:

"When I was 11 years old, I received a gift of happiness from God.
"I was riding my bicycle when a strong gust of wind blew me onto the ground into the path of an oncoming truck. The truck ran over me and cut off my leg.

"As I lay there bleeding, I realized that I might have to live the rest of my life without a leg. How depressing! But then I realized that being depressed won't get my leg back. So I decided right then and there not to waste my life despairing.

"When my parents arrived at the hospital they were shocked and grieving. So I told them: 'I've already adapted. Now you also have to get used to this.'
"Ever since then, I see my friends getting upset over little things: their bus came late, they got a bad grade on a test, somebody insulted them. But I just enjoy life.

At age 11, this young man attained the clarity that it is a waste of energy to focus on what you are missing. And that the key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have. Sounds simple, doesn't it? So why are so many people unhappy?

After reading this anecdote, I noticed that the situation of the happy boy is as worse as what is described as blessed in our Gospel today. Yet in both ways, the boy is said to be happy and those in difficult situations in the beatitudes are noted to be blessed.

By our common and worldly standards, having lost a leg is certainly not something we will be very happy about. Yet the boy was happy. In the same way, being poor, persecuted, oppressed and in some other difficult situation is not a cause for rejoicing. What then constitutes happiness? How come we say that a desperate situation is blessed.

What was said in our anecdotes is very enlightening: “The key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have.” In other words, happiness is not all about having this and having that or doing this or that. Rather happiness is being in such a positive disposition in a particular situation no matter what it is. In a very secular outlook, they say, it is a state of mind. Actually, this is not altogether secular for this being is being with God, this state of mind is a life centered or focused on God similar to what the beatitude calls blessed. They are blessed who inspite of the difficult situation remains and clings to God.

Like the situation of the boy, what the beatitudes describes is by no means a cause for rejoicing judging from our human standards. How in the world can we justify that someone tortured, harassed, in desperate need and self-sacrificing is blessed indeed? The world will certainly thinks that we are crazy. What makes their situation blessed is no the poverty itself, nor the pain and suffering inflicted on them by others but the sense of hope, their firm confidence in God in the midst of the troubles that surround them. These people described by the beatitudes might be lacking in material resources like money and power but they are rich of faith, hope and the love of God.

Being blessed is in many ways like happiness. To be blessed is not to have this and to have that but rather it is being… it is being with God, the best that is there for us. If God is at the center of our lives, we got is all, in Pilipino it sounds better: “Sa piling ng Dios wala ka ng hahanapin pa.” Indeed, by being with God we are truly blessed.

Feast of Saint Paul, the Apostle

2008-01-30T08:45:00.000+08:00

Feast of Saint Paul, the Apostle

One skeptic posed a challenge about the resurrection of Christ: “Can you prove that Jesus is alive and is risen from the dead?” A lawyer replied: “Yes, by considering how the lives of others were deeply affected by the fact of his resurrection.”

Here the lawyer is referring to circumstantial evidence. In saying thus, he is telling us that there is resurrection because many people were changed, reformed, that is, they were deeply affected by the resurrection. Eventhough we have not witnessed ourselves the event of the resurrection by looking at those people affected by it, we can say that indeed, the resurrection did happen.

In particular, the conversion of Paul tells us that truly resurrection happened. The converted Paul who preached the Good News of salvation from Jerusalem, to the whole of the Mediterranean world is one convincing testimony of the truths of our faith--that Jesus is alive and have risen from the dead.

Actually, Paul did not meet nor see Jesus in his lifetime. What he had is the vision he experienced on the road to Damascus. Yet his zeal and dedication in spreading the Gospel equals that of the Apostles who were with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry to his death on the cross. That is why, Paul acquired for himself the name, Apostle to the Gentiles.
It is rather awkward to say that the life of Paul is an evidence of the Resurrection because it is like saying that Resurrection could not stand on its own, that it needs Paul to become convincing and be accepted in faith. What is rather proper is to say that the Resurrection was the one that empowers Paul . It is the fact that Jesus is alive and risen, or simply Jesus who puts the fire and all the energy in Paul to be such a great missionary and herald of the Good News to the ends of the world. Without Christ, his works are all in vain.

All of us in a way are like Paul. We too have not seen Jesus alive and walking in the face of the earth. What we have and hold on to is similar to what Paul had, a vision of Jesus alive which today we identify as religious experience. For us, it is the best and most valuable wealth, the best thing that we could ever have. We stubbornly cling to it, telling the rest that we cannot live without it, for Jesus is our HOPE. As we journey through life, it is Jesus who gives us the confidence that in the end we will rest in the Father’s embrace. SPE SALVI. “In hope we were saved” said Paul in his letter to the Romans.

Feast of Sto.Nino

2008-01-20T10:32:00.002+08:00

Feast of Sto. Nino
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)

Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.

Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.

Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.

One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.

From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.

Feast of Sto.Nino

2008-01-20T10:32:00.001+08:00

Feast of Sto.Nino

2008-01-20T10:32:00.000+08:00

Feast of the Holy Family

2007-12-29T21:37:00.000+08:00

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
SUNDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS

REV. ARNOLD C. BIAGO,SVD

Sa kwento ni Fr. Bel San Luis kahapon, may isang teacher daw na nagtanong sa kanyang mga batang estudyante tungkol sa dumadaming mga ipinapanganak na kambal sa ngayon, sabi ng isang bata, “eh kasi po teacher, natatakot po silang lumabas mag-isa.” Nakakatuwa at napakainosente ng sagot ng bata. Ngunit kung ating susuriin, ito ay puno ng katotohanan. Sa panahon natin ngayon, sa tiyan palang ng ina marami ng panganib na pagdadaanan at lulusutan ang isang batang isisilang. Nariyan ang lahat ng uri ng contraceptives na nagbabantang lulusaw sa binhi ng buhay na nasa sinapupunan. Nagkalat din ang mga doctor at mga magulang na handing ipalalag at i-abort ang sanggol na nasa sinapupunan. Contraceptives at abortion, sila ay mga tunay na panganib na kailangang lampasan bago isilang ang isang bata sa mundong ito. Kaya hindi nakapagtataka na ang batang nasa tiyan ng ina ang balot ng takot mula sa mga banta sa kanyang buhay.

Mas marami ang banta at panganib sa buhay ang bata paglabas niya sa tiyan ng kanyang ina. Nariyan ang lahat ng uri ng sakit na kumakalat. Kahit mga pagkain ay kailangan ng pagiingat, kung pababayaan, dilekado ito sa kalusugan. Subalit ang pinakamalaking panganib para sa isang batang isinilang ay ang kanyang pamayanang kalalakihan. Sabi nila, marami sa mga communities ay hindi “child-friendly”. Ang tinutukoy ay ang kawalan ng kaligtasan at proteksyon ng mga bata sa lipunan. Tingnan po natin kung saan malimit maglaro ang mga bata: kalsada. Hindi lang ang lugar ang mapanganid sa mga bata, pati na rin mga tao. Ngayon, malimit nating marinig ang salitang “child abuse”, na walang ibang tinutukoy kundi ang ibat-ibang uri at paraan ng pang-aabuso ng mga matatanda sa mga bata. Kaya masasabi natin na totoo ang sinabi ng bata na, “natatakot ang sanggol lumabas mag-isa.”

Ang kapistahan ng Banal na Mag-Anak na Maria, Jose at Hesus at isang malinaw na pagpapaalala sa ating lahat ng ating makadiyos na tungkulin na pangalagaan ang bawat bata mula sa sinpupunan ng kanyang ina at hanggang sa kanyang pag-laki. Kung si Hesus ay nabuhay sa panahon natin ngayon at sa mga makabagong magulang malamang baka walang nangyaring pasko. Kaya sa pamamagitan ng kanilang matapat na pagganap bilang magulang ni Hesus sa kabila ng lahat ng panganib at banta sa buhay, sina Maria at Jose matatawag nating mga huwarang magulang sa kanilang walang katumbas na pagmamahal kay Hesus. Kaya, sana ang bawat mag-anak ay sumunod sa yapak ng Banal na mag-anak na Maria, Jose at Hesus.
Ang pagkakaroon ng modelo na ating susundan ay isang napakahalagang bahagi ng buhay. Naalala ko ang isang kilalang kwento ng isang tatay at ang kanyang malikot na anak. Isang araw habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo ang Tatay ay ginawa niyang picture puzzle ang isang page ng dyaryo may picture ng mundo at ibinigay nya sa kanyang 4 years old na anak para may pagkabalahan at di maging malikot. Laking gulat niya nang wala pang 5 minutes ito ay lumapit sa kanya para ipakita ang nabuong larawan ng mundo. “Paanu mu nagawa yan?” nagtatakang tanong niya. “Dad, di ko po masundan ang picture ng mundo kaya ang picture na lang po ni Jesus sa likod ang binuo ko. Di ba, pag nabuo si Jesus, buo din ang mundo.”

Sa ating buhay, pag si Hesus ay ating sinundan magiging buo at makahulugan ito. Gayundin sa bawat tahanan, pag ang ating sinundan ang yapak ng Banal na Mag-Anak, tiyak na magiging maayos ang takbo ng ating pamilya. Si Kristo na ating Diyos ay dumating bilang liwanag ang gabay at tanglaw ng isang buo, nagkakaisa at nagmamahalang pamilya. Sina Maria at Jose ay matapat na gumanap na magulang ni Hesus sapagkat nasa piling nila ang Diyos. Ganun din ang bawat mag-anak, ang tapat na pagmamahal sa bawat isa ay magaganap kung nakikilala at nakikita ng bawat isa ang Diyos sa kanilang mga magulang, kapatid at anak. Kung nasa ating piling ang Diyos, kung ang bawat tahanan at puno ng pag-ibig ng Diyos, ang bawat batang isisilang ay di kailangang matakot, sapagkat ang mga magulang ay buong pusong magmamahal at babantayan ang kanilang mga anak katulad nina Maria at Jose sa kanilang pagkalinga kay Hesus.

Sa lahat ng mga magulang na naririto. Mabuhay po kayo at pagpalain kayo ng Dios. Para sa lahat ng mag-anak patuloy tayong manalangin pang kanilang sundan ang Banal na mag-anal sa pagmamahal at pagpapalago ng buhay.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

2007-12-09T19:53:00.001+08:00

SOLEMNITY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
REV. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

Today is the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception

Immaculate conception calls our attention to the special privilege of Mary to be free from all sin from the moment of birth. Mary was exempted from the pain and difficulty of being separated with God. God was always with Mary from the beginning.

Also, Immaculate Conception directs us to that noble role of Mary of being the Mother of God. If Mary was (in all her life) always in the presence of God it was due to this very significant role she has to assume. By being the mother of God, Mary then is rightly our mother too. Indeed, she was the best of all mothers. She was never tired of caring for us all her children. Remember what we say in the prayer, Hail Mary: “Pray for us sinners NOW and at the HOUR of our DEATH.” Mary never gets tired of us, she wants us all to come close to her Son Jesus, that is why, she is always praying for us.

With Mary, we are reminded of who we are and what we shall become. First, Mary personifies what we are supposed to be as followers of the Lord, that is, as Christ’s disciples. Mary was the first to accept the Good News of Salvation by her “fiat”, “yes” to the announcement of Angel Gabriel that she will be the mother of the Son of God. Later, Mary spends all her life faithfully and literally following Jesus up to the Cross. Like Mary, God is offering us the Good News of Salvation and asking us to follow the Son of God in Jesus Christ. And like Mary, God is waiting for our “fiat”, our yes to the Good News of Salvation and hoping that we follow Jesus until and even on the Cross.

Second, Mary provides us the hope of finally coming to be with God at the end. Here I am referring to the Assumption of Mary. Because Mary was free from sin, we strongly believe that at the end of her life on earth, Our Mother did not experience the corruption of death. At the Moment of Mary’s death, God assumed her body into Heaven. That is also what will happen to us. We will be with God when we are freed from sin, when we have faithfully followed the Lord and remained in God.

Mary is especially chosen by the God to be the Mother of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. She is our model in faith and in her we see our future. If God trusted Mary to be the Mother of the Son of God, the more we should trust that she’ll help us get close to God, to her Son.

I have my own reason for entrusting myself to Mary. I remember, as a small kid, I like to accompany my grandmother in her regular house visit to the house of a family of a bereaved to pray the rosary for the repose of the soul of the dead. Initially, I do not understand what it was all about. What I was very much interested was the merienda served after the praying of the rosary. But later, I came to know that it was a prayer… That was my first experience of God, praying the rosary, praying through Mary. Looking back at that experience, I can convincingly say that it was Mother Mary who introduced me to God. Mother Mary awakens in me an awareness of God, an awareness of Jesus, her Son and our Lord. Being our Mother, I am confident and unafraid that Mary will never get tired of interceding for us once we entrust ourselves to her motherly care, because she will pray for us… Now and at the hour of our death…

2nd Sunday of Advent

2007-12-09T19:20:00.000+08:00

Pagsisisi Bilang Paghahanda sa Pagdating ng Dios
REV. ARNOLD BIAGO,SVD

Noong January 1995 dumalaw sa Pilipinas ang Santo Papa, Juan Pablo II para dumalo sa 10th world Youth Day sa Manila. Alam n’yo po ba na ayon sa PNP bumaba daw ang crime rate sa Metro Manila noong mga panahong yon. Naisip ko tuloy, baka natakot ang mga kriminal na gumawa ng kalokohan dahil darating ang pinakapuno ng Simbahan at nakiisa sila sa paghahanda sa pagdating ng Santo Papa.

Ngayong Pasko, isang mas dakila pa sa Santo Papa ang darating sa ating piling, Si Hesu-Kristo na Anak ng Dios at ating tagapagligtas. Darating ang Dios na tagapagligtas, ito ang sigaw ni Juan Bautista sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon. At itong pagdating ng Dios ay kaganapan ng katarungan at puno ng mga di kapanipaniwalang bagay sabi ni propeta Isaias. Sa pagdating ng Dios sabi ni propeta Isaias, “maglalaro ang bata sa tabi ng ahas, sususo ang tupo sa inang lobo, at magsasama ang leon at batang guya.”

Natatakot ba tayo sa kanyang pagdating o nakiisa sa paghahanda sa kanyang pagdating? 16 araw na lang ay pasko na. Handa na ba kayo sa pasko. Anu-anu ang inyong mga ginagawang paghahanda?

Noong nakaraang lingo, napanood ko sa TV ang interbyo kay Fanny Serrano. Tinanong siya ng Host ng Mel and Joey kung paano niya dinedecorate ang kanyang napakalaking bahay pag pasko. Sabi niya, “Eh, karamihan naman sa mga decors ko ay recycled at August pa lang bumibili na ako ng mga Christmas decors para mura at makatipid.”

Marami sa ating na talagang pinaghahandaan ang Pasko. Katunayan, pagdating ng Ber months nagsisinula na silang maglagay ng mga Christmas decors. Ang iba naman ay namimili na agad ng mga pangregalo sa divisoria o 168. Kailangan ba talaga nating ang lahat ng mga paghahandang panlabas na ito. Oo naman, sapagkat ang mga Christmas decors ay mga simbolo, mga tanda na magpapaalala sa atin ng dakilang gawa ng Dios, mga tanda ng pagkakatawang tao, at pakikiisa sa buhay natin ng Dios. Higit sa lahat, ang mga ang mga Christmas decorations natin ay nagsasabing isabay natin ang paghahandang pangsarili, pangkalooban. Kung inihahanda natin ang ating bahay, dapat din nating ihanda ang ating mga sarili para sa okasyon ito.

Paano tayo maghahanda sa pagdating ng Dios? Ang sigaw ni Juan Bautista sa ating Ebanghelyo: “Pagsisishan ninyo at talikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan.” Sapagkat darating na ang kaharian ng Dios. Ito rin ang ating gagawing paghahanda: ang Pagsisisi at pagtalikod sa Kasalanan--sa madaling sabi tanggapin sa ating sarili at buhay ang Dios. Kung ang kasalanan ay pagtatakwil sa Dios, ang pagsisisi at pagtalikod sa kasalanan ay pamumuhay kasama at sa piling ng Dios. Magiging madali ang umiwas sa Dios kung nasa sa atin ang Dios, madaling itakwil ang kasalanan kung tayo ay nakasandal sa Dios, kung nasa atin ang Dios.
May tatlong kabataang lalaki na namasyal sa Katedral ng Notre Dame. Sila ay nagkahamunan, kaya isa ay pumunta sa kumpisalan at doon ay nagkunwaring magkumpisal. Napansin ng pari na siya ay niloloko ng nagkukumpisal kaya ang ibinigay niya ang ganitong penance: “Tumayo ko sa harap ng malaking crucifix sa altar, tingnan mu si Hesus sa mata at tatlong ulit na sabihin mu: Ginawa mo yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.”

Ang batang lalaki at ang kanyang kaibigan at nagtatawan habang sila ay naglalakad palapit sa sanktuwaryo. Tiningnan niya sa mata si Hesus at sinabi niya: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.” Sa pangalawang ulit nanginig na ang kanyang boses: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wa... la akong pakialam.” At sa pangatlong ulit, hindi na niya ito masabi...

Yuko ang kanyang ulo, ang batang lalaki ay bumalik sa kumpisalan at buong-pusong nagsisi at humingi ng pagpapatawad ng Dios. Ang batang lalaking iyong ay naging pari, at kaluunan naging Arsobispo ng Paris, na walang iba kundi ang nagbahagi ng kwentong ito.

Mga kapatid, si Hesus na isinilang sa Pasko ay siya ring Hesus na ipapako sa krus at mamatay para sa atin. Si Hesus ay Dios na nakiisa sa buhay natin at nagalay ng kanyang buhay. Talikdan nating ang kasalanan sapagkat ang Anak ng Dios ay kaisa at kasama natin upang lupigin ito. Pagsisishan natin an gating mga kasalana, sapagkat si Hesus ay nag-alay ng kanyang sarili upang tayo ay magwagi laban sa kasalan.

1 week of Advent A

2007-12-01T21:46:00.000+08:00

Dios na Kapiling at Hinihintay
Si Hesus ay tinatawag natin sa iba-ibang pangalan. Isa na dito ay “Immanuel” ibig sabihin “nasa atin ang Dios”.

Sa simula ng Misa, anu ang sinasabi ng pari pakatapos niyang sabihin, “Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Espiritu Santo:” “Sumainyo ang Panginoon.” Tayo naman, anu ang sagot natin: “At sumainyo rin.”
Ngayon, nasaan nga ang Dios? NASA ATIN ANG DIOS…

Kung nasa atin ang Dios bakit meron tayong ADVENT, na tumutukoy sa “pagdating” ng Dios. Kung nasa atin ang Dios, siya ay narito na. Bakit meron tayong panahon sa SIMBAHAN na ADVENT, bilang paghahanda sa pagdating ng Panginoon. Alin ng ba ang paniniwalaan natin: NARITO na ang DIOS o NAGHIHINTAY TAYO SA KANYANG PAGDATING… Saan tayo maniniwala:
Ang sagot: PAREHO silang tama. Paniniwalaan natin sila pareho.

UNA, naniniwala tayo na ang isinilang si Hesus dalawang libong toon na ang nakaraan naparito at nakasama natin ang DIOS at ito ay ating ipinagdiriwang, inaalala at pinagyayaman, pinahahalagahan sa mga sakramento at sa simbahan, lalo na sa MISA at Sa Panahon ng PASKO.

IKALAWA, naniniwala rin tayo na siya ay muling darating sa Takdang Panahon para tapusin at bigyan ng kaganapan ang lahat. Kailan muling darating si HESUS? Walang sinuman ang nakakaalam, maliban sa Dios. Kaya nga pinaghahandaan natin ito. At ang ADVENT ay panahon para pasidhiin at patibayin ang ating paghihintay sa pagdating ni HEsus sa kasalukuyang panahon noong unag pasko at sa muling pagdating ni Hesus Katapusan ng mundo.

Subalit magkaiba kaya sila. Anu ang kinalaman ng una sa ikalawa. Meron tayong kasabihan sa Inglis: “Charity begins at home” na nagsasabing ang paggawa ng kabutihan sa iba ay nakaugat at nagmumula paggawa ng mabuti sa sariling tahanan at pinakamalapit na pamilya at kaibigan. Sa palagay ko ganito rin ang patakaran pagdating sa ating pakikitungo sa Dios. Walang silbi ang ating gagawing paghahanda sa muling pagdating ni Hesus kung hindi man lamang natin nabibigyan ng halaga at napapansin na si HESUS ay KASAMA NATIN NGAYON. Para saan pa ang paghahanda nating makita si HESUS sa kanyang muling pagdating kung hindi man lang natin siya Makita sa mga sakramento, sa kanyang Banal na Salita, sa Sakramento lalong lalo na sa banal na MISA.

Meron isang bata ang gustong-gusto na makita ang Dios. Dahil alam niyang nasa malayo na tirahan ng Dios, naghanda siya ng maraming potato chips at bottled ice tea na baon sa kanyang malayong paglalakbay. Malayo na rin ang kanyang nalakbay nang may nakita siyang isang nanay. Siya ay nakupo sa isang parke at malumong pinagmamasdan ang mga kalapating naglalaro sa kanyang harap.Naupo siya malapit sa babae. Inilabas niya ang kanyang baon at nang siya kakain na napansin niyang mukhang gutom ang babae kaya inalok niya ito ng kanyang baong potato chips. Isang matamis na ngiti naman ang isinukli ng babae habang tinatanggap niya ng bigay ng bata. Dahil sa tamis at ganda ng kanyang ngiti, ibinigay naman ng bata ng kanyang dalang bottled iced tea para makita pa niya ito. Muli mga matatamis na ngiti ang isinulkli ng babae. Kaya laking tuwa ng bata. At buong hapon silang nanatili sa parke at nagpapalitan ng ngiti at pagkain, nang walang mga salitang lumalabas sa kanilang bibig.

Nang sumapit ang dilim, dahil pagod na rin ang bata ipinagpasya niyang umuwi na, at bago pa siya makalayo nilingon niya ang babae at patakbong bumalik at buong higpit itong niyakap, at ganun din naman ang ginaw ng babae. Sa huling pagkakataon, ibinigay niya ang kanyang pinakamaganda at matamis na ngiti.

Pagdating sa kanilang bahay, napansin ng kanyang ina ang kakaibang sigla ng bata, kaya tinanong niya ito. “Anu ba ang ginawa mo ngayon at kakaiba ang sigla sa iyong mukha?” Ang kanyang tugon: “Kumain po sa pa park, kasama si God, ang Panginoon” At bago makapagsalita ang kanyang ina, dagdag niya: “At alam nyo po, ang ganda-ganda po ng kanyang ngiti, na ngayon ko lang nakita.”
Samantala, ang nanay ay umuwing baon ang bagong sigla at galak. Napansin ito ng kanyang anak at siya ay tinanong, “Nanay, ang saya-saya nyo ngayon, saan po kayo galling?” Sabi niya, “Anak, dun sa park, kumain ng potato chips kasama si Jesus?” At agad niyang dagday, “Hindi ko akalain siya’y isang bata.”
Mga kapatid Si Hesus ay nasa ating piling. Magiging makahulugan ang ating paghahanda sa kanyang unang pagdating sa Pasko at muling pagdating sa Wakas ng Panahon kung makikita natin siya at mararanasan sa ating kapwa. At higit sa lahat kung sa pamamagitan natin, madarama ang iba na ang Diyos ay nasa ating piling. Ihanda nating an gating sariling na makita siya sa ating kapwa. At gawin din nating daan ang ating sarili na maranasan ng iba na ang Dios ay nasa ating piling.

Feast of the Saint Andrew, the Apostle

2007-11-30T22:20:00.001+08:00

Christ lives in you, his mission continuous through you

Like any of the Apostle, Andrew does not have any outstanding qualification that makes him in any way eligible to be an apostle. Yet the Lord called him into his close circle of friends and entrusted him with the noble task of proclaiming the Good News of Salvation. This is the mystery of the Apostolic calling: out of God’s graciousness and kindness he called individuals not because they are the best and most worthy but rather the Lord filled them with his love and blessings. And this is open for all who is ready and willing to entrust themselves to the Lord. The only thing needed is our full cooperation and yes to the Lord for God will do the rest.
Being an apostle of the Lord does not mean doing complicated things like going to some far away place and meeting different kind of people. The Apostle Andrew has shown us that it is simply bringing someone to Jesus. The Scriptures recorded two occasions during which Andrew brought someone to Jesus.

FIRST, in the Gospel of John, hearing from John the Baptist that Jesus is the Lamb of God, Andrew followed Jesus right away and latter brought his brother Simon to Lord. SECOND, later in the same Gospel of John, some Greeks came to Philip looking for Jesus, he told Andrew and they together told and brought them to the Lord.

These two occasions in a very simple incident tells us very strongly what an APOSTLE of Jesus should be, that is, one that brings people to JESUS. To bring someone to Jesus a person need not do complicated things in his life. That person simply needs to be him or herself, to be true to oneself.

When Andrew brought Peter to Jesus, I do not think he did other things than be a brother to Peter. Andrew simply and plainly told Peter that he had seen the Messiah. It was an honest admission of Andrew to his brother Peter, that at last he found the desire of his heart, the Messiah. Today, the call remains the same for us, like Andrew we are called to share our faith, the desire of our heart to our own family, to the people very close to our hearts, to our dear friends.

The Greeks were foreigners, strangers from the point of view of Andrew. They are the people unrelated to him. Yet when they came to him through Philip he showed them his kindness by telling and bringing them to the Lord. This is also our call, to show others the way to Jesus. That in the many strangers we meet who came across our way we are called to show them Jesus. Interestingly, it does not demand anything more from us than to be truly who we are as Christians. By faithfully living out and witnessing to our Faith in Christ, others will recognize in us Jesus and come to believe in Him.

Sisters and brothers, whatever we do in life and wherever we are as long as we live out our faith and we are faithful to Christ we can be an Apostle like Andrew. Let us then be an Apostle who brings our brothers and sisters, friends and family to Christ. Let our witnessing and faithfulness to Christ also lead others to Christ. As one saying goes, “Christ lives in you, his mission continuous through you.”

Feast of Blessed Maria Virgo

2007-11-30T22:18:00.001+08:00

Feast of Blessed Maria Virgo
(Co-foundress of SSpS and SSpSAP)

Good Morning Sisters and Brothers … Let me first greet our beloved Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, both the PINK Sisters and the BLUE Sisters…, HAPPY FEASTDAY…My dear Sisters please allow us to join you in this joyous celebration of the FEAST of your Founder…, BLESSED MARIA VIRGO.
In our reflections today, allow me then to dwell on two significant events in the life of Blessed Maria Virgo which I believe tell us very strongly what Jesus said in the Gospel today: “As the Father loves me, so I love you. Remain in my love.” (Jn 15:9)

FIRST, Blessed Maria Virgo is a person who is totally dependent on God. When Helena was accepted in 1882 by Saint Arnold to come and join the missionary community of the SVD she did not right away become a Missionary Sister. She waited for seven years while working as a maid in the SVD community without any sign of assurance that she’ll ever fulfill her desire of becoming a missionary. Only a person who has entrusted herself totally to God can bear the difficult feeling of uncertainty in waiting. I strongly believe that by her total dependence on God, the different reality she has to embrace must have become for her a test of her faithfulness and love of God. In the end, her long waiting did not end in vain; for it made her be wholeheartedly dedicated to the missionary community she began to build with Saint Arnold and others Sisters.

SECOND, Blessed Maria Virgo is a person fully open to the will of God. Some years after Saint Arnold had opened the contemplative branch of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters; he asked Blessed Maria Virgo who was then the Superior General of the active branch if she is willing and ready to join the contemplative branch to settle the growing animosities between the two missionary communities. After some discernment, she realized in the founder’s request the will of God. Blessed Maria Virgo then exchanged the blue habit for the pink to start again as a novice of the contemplative missionary community. Such openness to the will of God on the part of Blessed Maria Virgo is truly admirable. Indeed, a person who truly loves God is also a person who is fully open to the will of God.
With these two significant events in the life of Blessed Maria Virgo, we can truly say that to remain in the love of God is to be totally dependent on God and to be fully open to the will of God. What sustained Blessed Maria Virgo during those difficult and challenging moments of her life is none other than her remaining in the love of God. For when God truly becomes part of ones life, then one can strongly say, “There is nothing impossible with God.”

Once again, I invite you to look at the life of Blessed Maria Virgo who by her example of total dependence and openness to God has shown us the basic attitude of a missionary. God is the source and agent of mission. By our calling we participate in the mission of God who made us worthy to share in the noble task of proclaiming the message of salvation to others. In our respective mode of life, may we then give ourselves readily and willingly to the mission of the church by witnessing to our faith and through our works of charity. Amen.

Openness and Confidence at the End of Time

2007-11-30T22:16:00.000+08:00

Openness and Confidence at the End of Time

When I was growing up, I often heard that the gesture in many images of Jesus, that is, his raised left hand means that in the year 2000 will be the end of the world. Obviously, it was a mistaken interpretation. Now its 2007 and the end seems to be nowhere in sight. Is it still relevant to discuss and talk about the END of TIME?

In our gospel today, Jesus speaks about the End of Time by means of prophesy of destruction of Jerusalem and he even referred to the some perplexing signs that will precede the end of time. Most often, talks about the End brings out FEAR in us because no one would normally enjoy the sight of death.

Is FEAR the only response and attitude we have in facing the END of TIME. I truly believe Jesus would not even want us to be overwhelmed with fear. Jesus rather tells us “to stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Let me then share with you two positive attitudes we need to have in facing the coming END suggested by Jesus in our Gospel today.

FIRST, the imminent end points not to the coming of God who was absent but to the constant presence of God in our midst. The END is already here, it has already begun, particularly in the moment of our history when the Son of God becomes one like us. Even if Jesus Christ has ascended to be with the Father, he continued to be with us in His Spirit. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist and in every community gathered in prayer God is present there. God is in our midst so we must rather be confident and sensitive of His presence among us. While we are assured of God’s constant presence, we are at the same time being called to be constantly open and to welcome His presence in the ordinary events and persons that come our way. Again, the END strongly tells us to be confident because God is here with us and asks us to be constantly sensitive in recognizing that presence in our midst.

SECOND, faced with the tribulations and perplexing signs preceding the final end that often overwhelm us with fear; the imminent end rather means the finalization of our redemption. What God has promised us in the coming End is not our DEATH and DESTRUCTION but the fullness of life in the presence of God. Then, the END must be a source of our joy and hope amidst the difficult realities of life we constantly experience in this lifetime. Its like taking the comprehensive exams, although it normally draws out the worst fear in us, yet armed with the volumes of books we have read we are joyful and confidently hopeful of passing. Indeed there is real joy and hope in the coming END.

Complemented by the joy and hope of the coming end, our confidence and sensitivity to the presence of God is all the more heightened. The hope and joy of the end of time inspires us more to recognize God in our midst and celebrate His presence. Here we must remember what Jesus emphatically said in the Matthean vision of the Final Judgment: “What ever you do to the least of these you did it to me.” If we have faith, we can even say, his presence among us is more than enough. It is already a joy to love and serve God in our brothers and sisters. Yet God wanted more for us, He wants us to share God’s full friendship and love at the End of Time. Out of His love God come to be with us to inaugurate the coming of the End, and it is also out of the same love that God calls us all back into His embrace for us to enjoy the fullness of life at the End of Time. Again, in with confidence and sensitivity let us be open to God’s presence in our midst while in joyful hope we await His final return in glory. Amen.

Solemnity of Christ the King

2007-11-30T22:07:00.000+08:00

Solemnity of Christ the King

CROWN identifies a King. Jesus is a King and he had a crown but one that is made of thorns. Moreover, he is not seated on a throne but is hanging on the cross. If Jesus is a king, he must be different one. Indeed Christ as King is different from the kings we knew in this world in two ways he exercises his Kingship:

FIRST, Jesus exercises his kingship by dying on the cross. That’s nonsense. No wonder, even the thief crucified along with him mocked him. Now, by dying on the cross, Jesus is saying that his kingship is not about prestige and power but of SERVICE. Jesus said, “I did not come to be served but to serve.” This is why Jesus gives his whole self for others, for sinners and for all of us. His kingship is not only SERVICE but also SACRIFICE.

I remember one of the famous acts of our great and well-loved Pres Magsaysay. When he was elected to the Presidency, the first thing he did was to open the gates of Malacanang t oordinary Filipinos and allowed them to come to him without appointment.

What Pres Magsaysay did is similar to the self-giving and sacrifice for others of Jesus. Like Jesus, he gave all his life in the service of others. What a wonderful country would Philippines be have our leaders been like Magsaysay who spend their life in service and in sacrifice for others as Jesus did.

SECOND, Jesus will exercise his kingship not in this world but in the Kingdom he promised for all of us. Although this Kingdom he inaugurated in this world, its final phase is yet to come. In fact, he died on the cross so for all of us to share in this Kingdom. Jesus’ kingship brings life to the full or eternal life. Look at what he promised to the repentant thief: “today you will be with me in paradise.”

I do not want to constantly compare but I cannot help but ask: Are our leaders providing us ways to enjoy our lives, or at least make it comfortable? I am afraid they are rather making our lives miserable. Just recently, the WB has cancelled a million dollar loan to our government because of irregularities in the bidding of contracts. We have become famous for corruption. Because of this, services are hampered and inefficient.

One person that I really admire is Ninoy. Actually, Ninoy did not have any outstanding accomplishment. But he made a great impact in the lives of many Filipinos. For what we did best was to give hope to our suffering people. No wonder, we remember his words: “Filipinos are worth dying for.” That’s why during his funeral hundreds of thousands and even a million joined the procession of his coffin. Eventually, his memory brought us all to EDSA where we won back our freedom. What Ninoy did for us is the same as how Jesus touched and transformed the lives of his disciples and all Christians. By Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the cross, many were able to regain their life and won back their freedom for such is the grace that flowed from the Christ’s wounded side on the cross.

In effect, if we can say that the Kingship of Christ is built on service and sacrifice and leads to the fullness of life, then Christ our King tells us how God who became like us truly loved us. Christ, is the King who made us valuable in the eyes of God. We honor Christ as our King by the kindness and respect we extend to others. For Jesus emphatically says: “Whatever you do to the least of these, you did it to me.” Moreover, in this community, in the very person you bring in this Church, Christ is honored as King for each of us in the Temple of God. God dwells is when we receive him in the Holy Communion. We recognize His presence in each one of us as our presider greets us: “The Lord be with you!” And as we exchange the peace of Christ.” As followers of Jesus, let us make Christ, the king of our lives. Amen.

32nd Sunday of Odinary Time C

2007-11-17T22:49:00.001+08:00

Sa Takdang Panahon
Rev. ARNOLD BIAGO,SVD

Sa imahen ng Kristong Hari makikita na ang mga mga daliri ng nakataas na kaliwang kamay ni Hesus ay nagtatanda (giving signs). Bata pa ako, lagi kong naririnig na ibig sabihin daw nun ay sa year 2000 ang kataposan ng mundo. Year 2007 na ngunit wala namang nagyari. “False Alarm” pala yun…

Ngayon linggo, sa ating ebanghelyo , si Hesus ay malakas na nagbababala laban sa mga “false alarms” at mga “false messiah” na nagsasabig darating na ng katapusan ng mundo. Malakas ang pagtutul ni Hesus sa mga “false alarms” at “false messiahs” sapagkat, walang sinuman ang nakakaalam kung kelan magaganap itong katapusan. At sa kanyang mga pagtuturo, iniwasan ni Hesus sabihin ang eksaktong panahon ng kaganapan nito. Tanging Dios lamang ang nakakalan kung kelan magaganap ang nakatakdang panahon. Sa halip, ang ibinigay ni Hesus ay pagasa, tulad ni Hesus tayo ay mabubuhay muli at mabubuhay ng walang hanggan sa piling ng Dios. Ito ang pangako ni Hesus sa sinumang mananalig sa kanya.

Karaniwan, pag ang pinag-uusapan ay katapusan ng mundo takot ang umiiral sa atin. Subalit ayon sa ating pananampalataya ang takot ay walang lugar sa katapusan ng mundo. Hindi bagay ang takot sa takdang panahong darating. Totoo, nakakatokot isipin na ikaw, ako ay mamamatay. Sabalit sa nakatakdang panahon hindi tayo muling mamatay kundi tayong lahat ay muling mabuhay kasama ang Dios sa langit magpakailanman. (hindi ito katulad ng horror movies na “day of the dead” o zombies, kundi parang buhay sa Disney Land.. Engkantadya kung sa Pilipinas) Imagine… mag fafamily reunion tayo dun.. mula dun sa kalululohan ng lola mu hanggang sa pinakaapo ng iyong apo… diba ang saya..

Subalit sa pagitan ng ating kasalukuyang panahon at sa di natin alam na nakatakdang panahon ay maraming hirap ng buhay ang ating mararanasan. Sabi nga ni Hesus sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon, “darakpin kayo’t uusigin. Kayo’y dadalhin sa mga sinagoga upang litisin at ipabilanggo” at kung anu-anu pang mga pahirap na mararanasan dahil sa ating pananampalataya kay Kristo. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, marami ang nakakaranas ng pahirap dahil sa pananampalataya kay Kristo. Halimbawa sa Middle East, ang mga Pinoy dun na nahuhulihan ng bibliya at Rosary ay kinukulong. Sa China, hanggang ngayon nagtatago ang mga madre at pari doon. Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin nito na malapit na ang katapusan ng mundo. Ang mga paghihirap na ito ay bahagi ng buhay dito sa mundo. Kaya nga tayo’y binigyan ng Dios ay pag-asa: ang mabuhay na muli sa piling ng Dios para palakasin ang ating loob at malampasan ang kahirapan ng buhay.

Ang muling pagkabuhay ang nagbibigay sa atin ng pag-asa sa kabila ng hirap ng buhay na ating nararanasan sa mundong ibabaw. Ganundin sa ating pagtatakang maging mabuting taga-sunod ni Hesu-Kristo, malakas ang ating loob na hamunin ang kasamaan at katiwalian dahil sa pag-asang mamayani ang kabutihan at katarungan ng Dios balang-araw. At naniniwala rin tayo na sa dito sa mundong ibabaw nagsisimula ang langit. Nagyayari ito kung namamayani ang Dios sa ating buhay, at kung buo ang ating pagtitiwala sa Dios. Mahalaga at puno ng kahulugan ang bawat sandali ng ating buhay, sapagkat ito ang batayan at simula ng buhay na walang hanggan.

2007-11-03T21:26:00.000+08:00

MAKASAMA ANG DIOS
Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

Noong isang taon, marami sa mga kaibigan ko dito sa Metro Manila ang nagrerequest, “Pader, pwedi bang magkumspisal sa iyo?” Ang sabi ko naman, “Naku, di pa ako pwedi kasi di naman ako pari, punta ka na lang mga simbahan, may kumpisalan naman dun.” Pero, gusto nila kakilala ko, “Baka meron kang kakilala na pari na pwedi ako magkumpisal?” Dahil nasa seminaryo ako, talagang meron. “Dito sa Tagaytay marami, puntahan mu nga lang.” Dahil kanilang malalim na paghahangad na lumapit at magbalik loob sa Dios, pumupunta pa sila sa Tagaytay para magkumpisal.

Ang mga kaibigan kong ito ay mga makabagong Zacheus na binanggit din sa ating Ebanghelyo ngayon. Katulad ni Zacheus na naghahangad makita si Hesus sila din ay hangad lumapit at makapagbalik-loob sa Dios sa pamamagitan ng Kumpisal. Kung ating titingnan sa ating Ebanghelyo, ang pakikipagtagpo ni Zacheus sa Dios ay dumaraan sa tatlong level:
Una, nagsimula ito sa isang malalim na paghahangad na makita si Jesus. Di man ito nabanggit sa pagbasa subalit makikita ito sa kanyang pagsusumikap at paghahanap ng paraan na makita si Hesus.

Pangalawa, gumawa si Zacheus ng mga hakbang para matupad ang kanyang hangaring makita si Hesus. Umakyat siya sa puno. Sa kanyang katayuan sa lipunan, pag nakita siya ng kanyang mga kaibigan at kakilala, pagtatawanan siya. Binalewala niya ito matupad lamang ang kanyang hangaring makita si Hesus.

Pangatlo, nagkamit siya ng lubos na kaligayahan sa karangalang makasama si Hesus higit pa sa kanyang hinahangad. Ang makita si Hesus ay sapat na para kaya Zacheus, subalit ang nangyari ay higit pa sa inaasahan niya. Lumapit si Hesus sa kanya at hiniling na siya at tutuloy sa kanyang tahanan. Ito ay isang napakalaking karangalan para kay Zacheus.
Kaya bilang tugon sa dakilang pag-ibig na kanyang naranasan mula kay Hesus, nangako siyang ipapamahagi niya ang kanyang yaman. Inamin niyang meron siyang mga nadaya at ipinangako niya na ibabalik ito ng ng apat na beses.

Ganun din po sa ating pakikipagtagpo sa Dios, nauulit ang nangyaring ito kay Zacheus. Sa simula, napupukaw sa atin ang paghahangad na makasama ang Dios, na magbalik-loob sa Dios. Pangalawa, gumagawa tayo ng paraan para matupad ang paghahangad na ito. Pangatlo, napupuno tayo ng kaligayahan sapagkat ang biyaya at pagmamahal ng Dios ay higit pa sa ating inaasahan. At ito ay nakita kwento ng isang Arsobispo ng Paris.

Sabi niya, may tatlong kabataang lalaki na namasyal sa Katedral ng Notre Dame. Sila ay nagkahamunan, kaya isa ay pumunta sa kumpisalan at doon ay nagkunwaring magkumpisal. Napansin ng pari na siya ay niloloko ng nagkukumpisal kaya ang ibinigay niya ang ganitong penance: “Tumayo ko sa harap ng malaking crucifix sa altar, tingnan mu si Hesus sa mata at tatlong ulit na sabihin mu: Ginawa mo yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.”

Ang batang lalaki at ang kanyang kaibigan at nagtatawan habang sila ay naglalakad palapit sa sanktuwaryo. Tiningnan niya sa mata si Hesus at sinabi niya: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.” Sa pangalawang ulit nanginig na ang kanyang boses: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wa... la akong pakialam.” At sa pangatlong ulit, hindi na niya ito masabi...

Yuko ang kanyang ulo, ang batang lalaki ay bumalik sa kumpisalan at buong-pusong humingi ng pagpapatawad ng Dios. Ang batang lalaking iyong ay naging pari, at kaluunan naging Arsobispo ng Paris, na walang iba kundi ang nagbahagi ng kwentong ito.

Mga kapatid, ang paghahangad na makasama ang Dios ay nakatanim sa ating mga sarili at puso. Buhayin natin ito sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng hakbang na maranasan ang pagpapatawad at dakilang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa ating mga Sakramento, sa pakikinig at pagninilay sa kanyang Salita, at pagbubukas ng ating sarili na makita ang Dios sa ating kapwa. Ang Dios ay mapagpatawad at mapagmahal. Kaligayahan niya na tayo ay makasama.

2007-11-01T11:08:00.000+08:00

Kamatayan at Kabanalan
Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

Sa France ay napabalita na ang isang binitay na kriminal ay sinisimulang gawing santo. Sa katunayan, ipinag-utos ng Arsobispo ng Paris, Cardinal Lustiger na simulan ang “cause for beatification” ni Jacques Fesch noong 1993. Si Jacques Fesch ay binitay sa kasalanag pagnanakaw sa banko at pagpatay sa isang pulis noong October 1, 1957. Isang taon matapos siyang makulang, dumanas siya ng masinsinang pagbabalik-loob sa Dios na nagpabago ng kanyang buhay at pananaw.

Sa unang tingin, mahirap intindihin kung bakit ang isang kriminal ay gawing santo. Anuman ang mangyari, ang isang kriminal ay talagang kriminal. Subalit kung may tunay na pagbabago at pagbabalik loob sa Dios na naganap sa buhay ng isang tao, hindi malayong mangyari na siya ay kabilang sa mga pinagpala at kalugod-lugod sa Dios, ang mga hinirang na banal ng Dios. Katulad ito ng panyayari sa Kalbaryo kung saan si Dimas sa kanyang pagkilala kay Kristo ay kaagad-agad biniyayaang maging kaisa ng Dios sa kanyang Kaharian sa langit.

Nabanggit ko ang balitang ito sapagkat ang ginugunita natin ngayon ay hindi lang ang kamatayan o mga patay, kundi ang ating pakikiisa sa buhay ng na bigay ng Dios na walang hanggang, ang buhay na pinagpala at kalugod-lugod sa Dios, ang buhay ng isang banal, ng isang Santo. Sa pamamagitan ng kwento ni Jacques Fesch, sinasabi sa atin na ang maging Banal ay hindi para lang sa iilang pinili kundi para sa lahat. Maging anuman ang ating katayuan sa buhay, bata man o matanda, may ngipin o wala, mabait o pasaway, lahat ay tinatawag ng Hesus na makiisa at makibahagi sa buhay kaligtasan sa piling ng Dios Ama.

Kaya masasabi natin na sa “All Saints Day” ipinagdiriwang ng Simbahan,natin, ang kaganapan ng ating mga mithiin at hangarin, balang araw tayong lahat at makikisa sa mga Banal, “communion of saints”. Na sana balang araw lahat tayo ay mapupunta sa langit, doon tayo magrereunion sa Kaharian ng Dios Ama. Sabi nga nila, “Heaven is a perfect place”. Sapagkat, pag nakita mo ang Dios wala ka nang hahanapin pa. Di ka magugutom, di ka matatakot, kumbaga walang katapusang saya at ligaya ang langit. “Sinu ang gustong mapunta ng langit, taas ang kamay?” Yan, lahat tayo hanggad na mapunta sa langit. “Ngayon, sinu ang gustong mauna sa langit? Taas ang kamay!”

Nakakatuwang isipin na walang isang tao na matino ang pag-iisip ang aayaw sa langit at gusto doon sa impiyerno. Lahat gustong mapunta sa langit. Ngunit walang gustong mauna. Lahat takot mamatay. Siguro, dahil di natin sigurado kung doon nga tayo mapupunta.

Kung tayo ay hindi sigurado na mapupunta sa langit, tayo naman ay naniniwala na may mga ilan na ang buhay ay naging kalugod-lugod sa Dios kaya sila ay pinagpapala na maging mga Santo. Kaya ganun na lang ang tuwa at galak ng simbahan na ipagdiwang ang “All Saints Day” bilang pakikiisa sa pagsasaya ng langit sa pagkakaroon ng mga bagong kasama. Ang mga santo ay binubuo opisyal na tala ng Simbahang Katolika, ang Roman Martyrology, na may nakalistang humigit sa 7,000 na mga santo; di pa kabilang dito ang mga nabuhay nang banal sa lahat ng panahon na tumugon at sumunod sa kagustuhan ng Dios na hindi natin kilala. Maari na kasama dito ang ating mga mahal sa buhay. Kung hindi man, umaasa tayo sa awa ng Dios na balang araw siya ay mapapabilang dito. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit natin ipinagdarasal ang mga kaluluwa, at kung bakit natin ginugunita ang araw ng mga patay pag “All Souls Day.”

Ipinagdiriwang din nating ang “All Saints Day” bilang pagkilala sa kadakilaan at dangal ng Inang Simbahan na siyang bukal ng kabanalan at nagluwal sa mga taong Banal na huwaran sa kanilang kalugod-lugod na buhay pagtalima sa kalooban ng Dios. Subalit, kailangan ba talagang kilalanin at bigyan ng parangal ang mga Santo? Total patay na naman sila, di na nila malalaman ang ating pagkilala sa kanilang mga kabutihan. Ang katulad na tanong ay nabanggit ni St. Bernard sa simula ng kanyang sermon para din sa “All Saints Day.” Sa kanyang pagpapatuloy ng sermon, sinabi niya, “Hindi kailangan ng mga Santo ang mga binibigay nating parangal sa kanila, maging ang ating mga dasal ay hindi makakadagdag sa biyayang nasa kanila na. Subalit habang sinusuri ko ang kanilang buhay, napupukaw sa aking katauhan ang hangaring matulad sa kanila.”

Mga kapatid, ang ating pagdiriwang para sa lahat ng mga Banal sa Langit ay walang ibang layunin kundi pukawin sa ating puso at buong katauhan ang paghahangad na mapabilang sa hanay ng mga Banal sa piling Dios. Walang silbi ang ating buhay kung hindi ito nakaugat sa Dios. Ang buhay ay puno ng kahulugan sa piling ng Dios. Mabuti na rin na walang gustong mauna sa langit, sapagkat ang kaganapan ng isang buhay sa piling ng Dios ay nagsisimula dito at ngayon. Paanu ang mapabilang sa hanay ng mga Banal, ang mabuhay sa piling ng Dios? Una, di kailangan ng malawak na kakayahan o kakaibang talino. At ikalawa, buong pusong makinig at sumunod kay Kristo na handang harapin ang anumang hirap at pasakit. Katulad ng isang butil, kailangan niyang matuyo at mabulok sa lupa para sumibol ang isang bagong buhay mula sa kanya.

Kaya ngayong panahon ng Undas, sa ating pagunita sa mga pumanaw, nawa makita natin na ang kanilang kamatayan ay daan tungo sa kaganapan ng buhay sa piling ng ating mapagpatawad at mapagmahal na Dios. At patuloy din tayong magdasal para sa lahat na yumao upang sa pagsapit ng takdang panahon, magkasama-sama ang lahat ng mga banal. Para sa ating lahat, kumuha tayo ng lakas ng loob sa mga halimbawa ng buhay ng mga hinirang ng Dios na Banal sa ating pagsunod sa kay Kristo. Marami man tayong mga pagkukulang at mahirap man ang sundan si Kristo umaasa tayo na siya ay kasama natin sa sa lahat ng pagkakataon.

2007-10-28T08:54:00.000+08:00

Ang Kalugod-lugod sa Dios

by Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

Trophy. Ang Trophy ay katibayan ng pagiging champion sa isang kontest: ito man ay sa sports, music, arts at kung anu pa man. Ang trophy din ay pagkilala sa angking kakayahan o galing ng isang tao. Kaya maaari nating sabihing may ibubuga siya kaya nag “champion”. Di magiging kanya ang trophy kung hindi siya magaling.

Kung ang tao ay kumikilala sa angking galing ng iba, gayundin ang Dios. Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang biyaya at pagpapala namamalas natin ang pagkilala ng Dios sa mga ginagawa ng isang tao. Ngunit ang kinilala ng Dios ay hindi ang angking galing, talino o anumang kakayahan ng isang tao. Kundi ang kabutihang loob ng isang tao.

Ang ating Ebanghelyo ngayon ay nagpapaliwanag ng natatanging paraan ng pagkilala ng Dios sa tunay na kabutihang loob ng isang tao.

Una, ang Dios ay hindi nadadala ng pagmamagaling. Kung may ibinibigay mang pagpapalala o mabubuting bagay ang Dios, ito ay bunga ng Kanyang tunay na kabutihang loob at di ng kakayahan ng tao na magwagi at makinabang sa pagpapala ng Dios. Di kailanman masasabi ng tao na siya ay karapat-dapat na tumanggap ng biyaya ng Dios. Ang biyaya ay hindi napagwawagian. Ang pagpapala ng Dios ay hindi katulad ng isang trophy na napapanalonan. Kaya hindi naging kalugod-lugod ang Pariseo na nagdarasal sa sa loob ng Templo, sapagkat siya ay nagmamagaling. Ipinagmamalaki niya sa kanyang pagdarasal ang kanyang pagtupad ng higit pa sa nasasaad sa Utos ng Dios. Lumalabas na ipinapamukha niya sa Dios na may karapatan siya sa mga biyayang ipagkakaloob. Yun ay kanyang napagawagian bilang katumbas na kabayaran mula sa kanyang pagtupad sa mga Kautusan ng Dios.

Naalala ko tuloy ang kwento tungkol sa isang batang nag aaspire maging isang negosyante: Isang araw gumawa siya ng bill of accounts para singilin ang kanyang nanay ng bayad para sa mga gawaing bahay na kanyang ginawa sa loob ng isang linggo:

Name of Customer: Mrs. Erlinda Biago
Services Amount Due Pagwawalis ng bahay P20.00
Paghuhugas ng plato 15.00
Paglabas ng basura sa umaga 10.00
---------
Total P45.00

Kasama ng kanyang mga matamis na nginti, iniabot niya ang ginawang bill of accounts sa kanyang nanay. Kinabukasan, iniabot ng kanyang nanay ang isang sobreng may lamang P45.00 at kasama ang isang papel na may maikling sulat. Inilabas niya agad sa sobre ang pera at tuwang-tuwa siya habang binibilang ang kanyang nasingil sa kanyang nanay. Pakatapos, tiningnan niya at binasa ang nakasulat sa note galing sa kanyang Nanay. Ito rin ay bill of accounts niya:

Name of Costumer: Ronald Biago
Services Amount Due Pag-aalaga, pagpapalaki at Pag-paparal P0.00
Pagluluto ng Pagkain 0.00
Pagbili ng kanyang Damit at Laruan 0.00
---------
Total P0.00

Walang sinisingil ang kanyang nanay. Ganun po talaga ang mga magulang, ang kanilang pagmamahal sa kanilang mga anak ay ibinibigay nila ng walang bayad. Ito ay libre at buong-puso nilang ipinagkakaloob ng walang kondisyon, karapat dapat man o hindi ang kanilang anak. Ganito rin ang biyaya at pagpapala ng Dios, ibinibigay ito kahit hindi karapat-dapat ang tao na tumanggap nito.

Ikalawa, mahalaga sa paningin ng Dios ang taus-pusong pagsisi sa mga pagkakasala. Ito ang katapat ng pagmamagaling. Sa katunayan, ang pagsisi ay kababaang-loob. Ganito ang Publikanong kilalang makasalanan na di man lamang makatingin at nakayuko habang nagdarasal sa loob ng Templo. Ngunit, sa di inaasahang pagkakataon, siya pa ang kinalugdan ng Dios. Hindi dahil sa kanyang mga kasalanan kundi sa kanyang pagpapakababa, at pagsandal at pagtitiwala sa dakilang awa ng Dios. Ipagkakaloob lamang ng Dios ang kanyang pagpapatawad, pagpapala at biyaya sa sinumang bukas ang kalooban na tanggapin ito.

Katulad ito ng tinanggap ni Erap na “executive clemency”. Kung saan inamin rin niya na siya ay mandarambong, magnanakaw sa kaban ng yaman ng bayan. Kaya, pinatawad siya ni Gloria. (Sana taus-puso ng ang pagsisi ni Erap at di pakitang tao ang pagpapatawad ni Gloria.) Kung si Gloria ay nakapagpapatawad, ang Dios pa kaya. Alalahanin natin ang pagsasalarawan sa Dios sa mga kwento sa ebanghelyo tulad ng Alibughong Anak at ng Nawawalang Tupa bilang isang mapagpatawad at maalalahaning Ama, na binaliwala ang mga pagkukulang ng kanyang anak at bukas loob at may kagalakang muling tinanggap ang kanyang suwail na anak.

Mga kapatid, ang kinalulugdan ng Dios ay hindi ang ating galing sa pagsunod sa mga Utos ng Dios kundi ang ating kababaang loob na magsisi sa ating mga pagkakasala at kahandaang tanggapin ang Dios na manguna sa ating buhay. Hindi man natin kayang pagwagian ang biyaya at pagpapala ng Dios, ito naman ay Kanyang buong pusong ibibigay kung tayo ay handang iwanan ang sariling nagmamagaling at bukas na tanggapin ang Dios sa ating puso’t isip at buong katauhan. Sa ganitong paraan kinikilala ng Dios ang ating kabutihang loob.

28th Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

2007-10-21T10:51:00.000+09:00

Salamat sa Kabutihan ng Dios

Isang lalaki ang lumapit at nagdaraing, nagrereklamo sa isang Rabbi: “Guro, ang hirap talaga ng buhay, akalain nu ba naman, siyam kaming magkakasama isang kwarto, ang hirap talaga, anu po ang gagawin ko?” “Isama mo sa kwarto ninyo ang isang kambing!” ang utos sa kanya ng Rabbi. Nagdadalawang isip siyang sundin ang sinabi ng Rabbi, pero seryoso ito, “Gawin mu ang sinabi ko! Bumalik ka pakalipas ng isang linggo.”

Matapos ang isang linggo, bumalik ang lalaki, madilim ang mukha, at reklamo agad sa Rabbi, “Ang baho ng kambing! Di na namin kaya. Ang baho talaga!” “Umuwi ka na, ilabas mu na ang kambing sa kwarto nu. Bumalik ka sa isang linggo!” sabi sa kanya ng Rabbi.

Pakalipas ng isang linggo, isang masayang lalaki ang bumalik sa Rabbi. “Ang sarap ng buhay! Ang saya-saya naming siyam sa loob ng kwarto nang ilabas namin ang kambing. Sarap ng buhay, pag walang kambing.”

Ang kwentong ito, katulad ng unang pagbasa at ng ebanghelyo ay sinasaning tayo ay MAGPASALAMAT sa anumang pangyayari at bagay na dumarating sa ating buhay, na kadalasan ay di nabibigyan ng pansin at halaga na kung tutuusin ay mga biyayang galing sa Dios. Sabi nila sa English, “count your blessings.”

Napapansin ko pa na mahirap ang magpasalamat! Naalala ko noong maliit pa kami, pag may bisita si Mama, ako ang sumasalubong kasi may dalang pasalubong. Kiss ng konti, yon iaabot na nila yong pasalubong. Tatakbo na sana ako: sigaw agad si Mama, “wait.. wait.. Arnold.. anu sasabihin mu kina Tita...” nakasimangot na utos ni Mama. Mga bata kasi kaya mas interesado ako sa pasalubong. Mabait naman ako noon, kaya, “Thank you po Tita.” Sabay takbo... Ngayon.. maliit pa rin ako, di pa rin madali ang magpasalamat. Bakit kaya mahirap ang magpasamalat?

Ang totoo, di lang mahirap magpasalamat, mas madali ang magreklamo at dumaing ng kung anu-anu. Kahit sa bibliya puro din reklamo, halimbawa, ang 150 Psalms, 50 ay tinatawag na lament Psalms, na ang laman ay mga daing at paghihinagpis, sa madaling sabi, reklamo. Ganun din naman ang mga laman ng dasal ng karamihan. Pag may nag text sa kin na kaibigan ng nagpapadasal sigurado problema yan., reklamo na naman.

Four years ago, isang nanay ang lumapit sa aki, “Brother, ibless nyo naman bahay namin.” “Sige ko, kelan po natin ibless.” Tanong ko sa kanya. Mamaya pong 4pm. 4pm pinuntahan namin ang kanilang bahay. Medyo nabigla ako, kasi luma na ang bahay nila at medyo may kalakihan. Nagpaliwanag siya, “Brother, matalagal na po kaming nakatira dito, gusto lang namin ipabless kasi madalas magkasakit ang mga anak ko.” Katulad ng karamihan sa ating mga dasal, si Ate Edna ay nagpabless ng bahay dahil may problema, sila ay nahihirapan.

Wala pong masama sa pagrereklamo, ang dumaing at mahirapan. Parte ito ng buhay. Swerte ka kung nahihirapan ka kaya ka nagrereklamo, ibig sabihin niyan buhay ka pa. Tingnan ninyo yong mga nasa kabaon, hindi sila nagrereklamo, at nakangiti pa all the time.

Napakaganda, sapagkat sa ating pananampalataya ang kahirapan ay hindi sagabal sa ating pakikipag ugnayan sa Dios, malimit ito ay tulay natin patungo sa Dios. Ang sampung ketongin at ang Kommander ng mga sundalo na si Naaman ay pawang mga individual na dahil sa kanilang sakit sila ay inilapit sa kay Hesus at sa Dios. Di lang yan, si Hesus ay nagdanas ng hirap para sa ating kaligtasan. Samakatuwid, dahil sa ating pananampalataya, ang kahirapan ay pakikisa natin kay Hesus na naghirap para sa ikabubuti natin.

Kung ang dumaing ay karaniwan, ang magpasalamat ay sa maykapal. Di pangkaraniwan ang ginawa ng Samaritanong ketongin na isa sa sampung pinagaling ni Hesus, sapagkat bumalik siya para magpuri at magpasalamat sa Dios sa paanan ni Hesus. Kung magkagayun, ang bawat pasasalamat na binibigkas ng ating labi ay alay papuri sa Dios. Na sa bawat pagsasabi natin ng salamat, ito ay nuukol sa Dios.

Naalala ko ang kwento ng isang lalaki na bumili ng tinapay sa isang bakery. Matapos balutin ng tindera sinabi niya, “Brod, salamat sa Tinapay.” Pero sabi niya, wag po kayong magpasalamat, sa akin, nagtitinda lang po ako, dun na lang po sa panadero (baker). Kaya nagpasalamat siya sa panadero, “Manong, salamat po!” Pero itinuro siya nito sa, “Dun na lang po sa mga nagbuhat dito ng arina kayo magpasalamat.” Pinasalamatan niya ang mga nagbuhat, pero katulad ng nauuna itinuro siya nito sa iba, hanggang naabut niya ang magsasaka, kaya sabi niya dito, “Tatay, salamat po sa Tinapay.” Tugon ng magsasaka, “Anak, ako’y nagani lamang ng butil ng panamin. Sila ang iyong pasalamatan.” Kaya sinabi niya sa mga tanim, “Salamat sa tinapay!” Pasalamatan po ninyo ang nagbigay ng tubig, liwanag, hangin at ang may gawa ng lupa, siya ang nagbigay buhay at bunga sa amin, ang Dios na maylikha nag lahat.”

Ang bawat pasasalamat ay pasasalamat sa lahat ng bahagi ng biyaya ng buhay . Ang bawat pasasalamat ay pagkilala sa kabutihan ng Dios, sa kabila ng ating mga nararanasang hirap sa buhay.

Mga kapatid, kung karaniwan sa atin ang dumaing at hindi pangkaraniwan ang magpasalamat, ngayong ay ipinaalala sa atin na ang magpasalamat ay sa Dios, isang pasasalamat sa mga kabutihan ng Dios.

29 th Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

2007-10-21T10:47:00.000+09:00

Prayer and Mission

Today, our Gospel speaks about prayer. And this Sunday is World Mission Sunday. In this mass then, we are invited to reflect on the themes of prayer and mission.

First, on Prayer. A true prayer is one that is done with a PC... What is that? a personal computer? No, its PERSISTENCE and CONFIDENCE, that is, we need to pray with persistence and with confidence.

Prayer essentially is not only storming heaven with our requests and demand, rather prayers is being with God; it is communing and communicating with God. Prayer is primarily Adoring God, Confessing to God, and Thanking God (ACT), and only secondarily is prayer about petitions, requests and "demands" to God. This is the way we pray in the Church, look at the model of all prayers--the our Father--it does not right away say, "Give us this day our daily bread," first it says solemnly: "Our Father in Heaven, holy be your name...". But in prayer we also, confess our sins, hence we say, "forgive us our sins." This is also the way we pray in the Mass, the highest prayer of the Church. We might think that God is very meticulous with our prayer. The truth is, God does not need our prayers; rather we need God that is why we pray.

It is in this context of understanding prayer where we say that we need to have persistence and confidence in prayer.

In prayer we need to be persistent not only because prayers are not immediately heard but also because there is no guarantee, no assurance that they will be granted. Sometimes, people pray only because they are happy, satisfied have so much blessings in life, or simply because they feel good about it. And when life becomes difficult, problems and trouble come in, and finding themselves as if God have abandoned them, they stop praying. I believe, when such desperate moments come into our lives, the more that we have to pray. Personally, many of my intense prayers happened on these desperate situations, such as during exams. Not that I was not prepared and afraid to fail in the exams, but I came to pray more when I study longer and harder. Persistence is to continue praying even if we don't feel like praying, or even if we are tired of it. We have to imitate and be like the persistent widow in our Gospel today who continuously appealed her cause to the unjust judge until such time that the latter handed a fair decision. We need also to be like Moses in our first reading who endured the physical rigor and difficulty of maintaining an outreach arm as he prayed for victory over their enemies, the Amalekites. This is the way to be persistent in prayer, never giving up.

In prayer, we also need to be confident, to be strong in hoping that what is good and best for us will be provided by God, not necessarily what we specifically ask for but what will truly bring us closer to God. Let us remember what Jesus said, "if you who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who asked him." (Luke 11:13) Not only that we trust the goodness of God but our experience tells us that patience is a virtue.. in Filipino we say, "Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga." I believe God is not that cruel to ignore a person's diligence and industry. Once more, our Filipino genuis rings very true in this regard, "Nasa tao ang gawa nasa Dios ang awa." Now, I strongly believe, we have all the reason to be confident in our prayers.

My dear brothers and sisters, we need to have PC in prayer, that is, have persistence and confidence in prayer.

Second, on Mission. Doing mission is always identified exclusively with the work and functions of priests and nun--the sisters as if others have nothing to do with it. This very limited if not wrong understanding of mission is set to be corrected by the Church as she dedicates every third Sunday of October to be the World Mission Sunday, to constantly remind the whole and universal Church that she is and needs to be missionary, that all is a missionary by virtue of his/her baptism. Pope Paul VI in his apostolic exhortation, Evangeli Nuntiandi, beautifully said,

"Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize." Proclaiming Christ to others then is our corporate identity, as Christians we are and must proclaim Christ to others. This is what we are supposed to be as Christians, to proclaim Christ to others.

But there are those who prepared and studied to be missionaries. For instance, the SVDs are one of those religious-missionary priests and brothers who prepare their members for missionary work here in the Philippines and abroad. In fact, many of those who have been ordained in the last two years were already been sent to work outside of the country as missionaries. Fr Nonoi and Dicz who were here in SHP until July are already in Congo, Africa working there as missionaries. On my part, also as an SVD, I will be working also in Africa together with one my classmates who will be sent to Ghana in Africa. Fr. Nonoi, Dicz, me and my classmates and other SVDs are going to work in the missions. But I believe, my going to the foreign mission is not a private and personal affair. Yes, I choose and applied to work in Africa but I believe I am not going on my own. I am going to the missions as a Filipino missionary sent by the Philippine Church. I will be bringing with me the Faith I received and that was nurtured within our faith community.

The life of missionaries in the foreign countries is not heaven like. Most SVDs I knew who returned to the country after years of working in other countries would come back sick and looked old, telling us that the life of a missionary is not easy, and that they need our support. If we are all missionaries as baptized Christians, then we need to help our missionaries. They need our prayers, encouragements and material means of support to sustain them in their work.

All of us might not have the chance of working as missionaries in other countries or in far away places, but by our baptism, we are truly missionaries whose grace and vocation is to evangelize, to proclaim Christ to others, which we can do as effectively as other missionaries in our given situations. In our homes we can be missionaries by becoming loving and provident parents to our children, or by being responsible and dependable sons or daughters. In our work places, we are proclaimers of Christ to others by our honesty and efficiency in work. In our respective local communities, we can also become evangelizers through the kindness and respect we extend to others. But above all, as Christian communities, by practicing our faith, by making alive our act of worship, we easily make others feel the active presence of God. By these and some other ways we become missionaries in our particular life situation.

My sisters and brothers, today, God is telling us to be persistent and confident in our prayers and to participate in the mission of the Church. May we be generous with our time and resources as God is will certainly be generous to listen and to answer our prayers. Amen.

27th Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

2007-10-06T23:11:00.000+09:00

27 Sunday of Ordinary Time

Pananampalataya at Pagtitiwala

Mga tatlong buwan na ang lumipas nang lumapit sa akin ang isang kaibigan. Sabi niya, “Reverend, ipagdasal mo naman ako, na sana maqualify ako for a US visa, may inerview kasi ako sa embassy.” Sabi ko sa kanya, “Sige, kelan ba ang interview mu... “Wednesday, three weeks from now,” sabi niya.

Eksakto, after three weeks nagkita kami. Maasim ang kanyang mukha. Bungad ko sa kanya. “Kumusta ang interview mo?” “Reverend, masama ang loob ko sa Dios, naiinis ako sa kanya, kasi di niya binigay ang hiling ko. Bakit ganun siya, nagdarasal naman ako. Sa katunayan, pag Wednesday, pumupunta ako ng Baclaran Church, pag Miyerkules, Nagnonobena ako kay St. Jude, pag Friday dito ako sa Sacred Heart. Ginawa ko ang lahat Reverend. Nakakainis talaga si Lord.” Ang kanyang mga hinaing.

Ang sabi ko sa kanya, “Irene, Irene, huminga ka nga... Anu ka?” Sabi niya, “babae.” “Oo, alam ko babae ka. Pero anu ka nga,” “Pilipino.” Di yan, Irene. Anu ka?” “Tao.” “Good,” sabi ko, “Tao ka nga Irene, tao ka lamang na nagdarasal sa Dios. Sinu ang dapat na masunod, ang tao na humihingi at nagdarasal o ang Dios?”

Malimit, marami ang nakakalimot sa ating dapat kalagyan bilang tao. Marami ang may akalang parang utusan ang Dios. Iniisip niya na anuman ang kanyang hilingin, ay obligado ang Dios na ibigay ito. Ang Dios po ay hindi isang vending machine, na pag naghulog ka ng P20 bill ay siguradong may sasambutin kang isang lata ng soft drink sa ilalim. Sa katunyan, ang tao ay tagasunod ng Dios... mga lingkod.. (servants).. alila ng Dios.

Sa ating pakikitungo sa Dios, bilang kanyang lingkod, dalawang mahahalagang bagay na ating kailangan ang dapat tandaan:

Una, kailangan natin ng matatag na pananampalataya. Tanggapin na natin ang katotohan na talagang mahirap ang sumunod sa Dios. At di lang mahirap, mukhang imposible pa nga. Kaya nga sa ebanghelyo natin ngayon, ginamit ang larawan ng binunot na puno ng Sikomoro, na di lang mahirap bunutin imposible pa para sabihin ganun din ang pagsunod sa Dios. Kaya ang kasagutan dito ay isang matatag na pananampalataya.

Maraming mga pagkakataon sa ating pangaraw-araw na buhay na tayo ay umaasa sa mga mabubuting bagay. Malimit ay itinataya natin ang ating buhay. Sa mga sumasakay ng dyeep, ipinapakita niya ang kanyang pananalig sa kakayahan ng driver, na ito ay hindi lasing, at dadalhin siya nito sa kanyang pupuntahan. Ganundin, sa ating buhay pananampalataya, itinataya natin ang ating buhay sa salita ng Dios.

Story: Lalaki na naaksidente habang nagdadrive papuntang bikol. Nagpagulong-gulong bago nahulog sa bangin ang kanyang sasakyan, at siya sa kabutihang palad ay nakatalon at nakakapit sa isang sangga ng puno. Madilim ang paligid at walang tanda na may tutulong sa kanya. Kaya sa Dios siya ay nagdasal at humingi ng tulong. Tinig ng Dios, ‘Bumitaw ka!” Di bumitaw, dahil sa takot, di niya kayang ipagkatiwala ang kanyang buhay sa salita ng Dios. Nanatili siya doon. Nang magliwanag ang paligid, nakita niya, isang dipa na lang ang lupa.

Ang aral ng kwento: Sa buhay pananampalataya, kailangan nating itaya ang buong buhay sa salita ng Dios.

Pangalawa, di lang mahirap at mukhang imposible ang sumunod sa Dios, wala pa tayong kasiguraduhan kung saan ito mauuwi. Walang sinuman ang nakakasiguro na siya ay mapupunta sa langit. Lahat ay umaasa lang sa kabutihan at awa ng Dios. Kaya kailangan ng buong pagtitiwala. Ito ang nais ipakita ng kwento sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon. Sa harap ng Dios, lahat ng kanyang tagasunod, tayong lahat, ay katulad ng isang “maliit na lingkod.” Na kailangang tuparin lahat ng kanyang tungkulin at na di umaasa na pupurihin o babayaran o tatanaw ng utang na loob ang kanyang panginoon. Ganun pa man, buo pa rin ang kanyang pagtitiwala, hindi dahil nagawa niya ang gusto ng panginoon, kundi buo ang kanyang pagtitiwala sa kabutihan ng kanyang paanginoon.

Ang buong pagtitiwala ay hindi na bago sa atin. Maraming pagkakataon na ang kabutihan ng isang layunin ay sapat na para tayo ay magtiwala. Katulad na lamang ng ginagawa ng marami na nagbibigay ng donasyon sa mga kumbento ng madre o sa mga simbahan na anonynous. Nagbibigay sila ng donasyon hindi para may tanawing utang na loob ang mga madre o pari kundi dahil sa kanilang buong pagtitiwala sa kabutihan ng layunin ng mga madre at simbahan.

Sa ating buhay pananampalataya, ang paggawa ng kabutihan ay di nababatay sa gantimpala na matanggap natin mula sa Dios kundi sa kanyang awa at kabutihang loob. Pinaniniwalaan natin ng walang kaduda-duda ang kabutihan ng Dios. Ang pagtitiwala natin sa kabutihang loob ng dios ay katulad ng pagtitiwala ng isang bata sa kanyang mga magulang.

Katulad na lamang ng nangyari noong kami ay nag-aantay ng bus pauwi sa amin doon sa probinsya. Padating ang isang bus, nang biglang na lang tumakbo pasalubong ang isang batang lalaki. Nagsigawan ang mga tao, masasagasaan ang bata. Subalit, eksakto di namang tumigil ang bus sa harap ng nakatayong bata na kumakaway pa sa driver. Bumaba ang driver at kinarga ang bata. Tatay niya pala ang driver, kaya malakas ang loob niya na salubungin ito. Buo ang kanyang tiwala sa kanyang Tatay.

Sa harap ang ating Panginoong Dios ay buo ang ating pagtitiwala sa kanyang kabutihan at awa. Umaasa tayong anuman ang makakabuti sa atin ay ipagkakaloob niya hindi sa kadahilang tayo ay karapat-dapat tumanggap nito kundi dahil likas ang kabutihan ng Dios.

Mga kapatid, ngayon ay pinaalalahan tayo na mahalaga at kailangan ang pananampalataya at pagtitiwala sa pagsunod sa kalooban ng Dios.

26th Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

2007-10-06T22:47:00.000+09:00

Kahirapan di Hadlang sa Kabanalan

Tayong mga Pinoy, pagdating sa pagkain iba-iba ang hilig. Kami nga noong nasa Mindoro kami, bilang mga Novices, kung kami ay nag luluto ay depende sa mga hilig. Pag ang grupo namin, siguradong may gata ang ulam, lutong mga paborito ng mga Bikolano. Pag ang kabilang grupo, sigurado, iba-ibang klase ng luto ng isda, sabi nila “sutukil”—sugba, tula at kilaw. Eh minsan, na sila ang naasign sa isang linggo, ang aming pari na naumumuno sa amin, pagkakita ng ulam, kinagalitan kami, “Isda na naman, wala na ba kayong ibang alam na lutuin, kundi isda.” Nahighblood yong aming pari. Kaya ang niluto nila ng sumunod sa araw, pinakbet at papaitan. Ilokano kasi si Pader, paborito niya iyon.

Kung ang tao ay may mga paborito, pagkain, lugar at kung anu pa, parang ganun din ang Dios. May paborito din pala ang Dios. Ito ang mapapansin natin mula sa mga pagbasa ngayon linggo. Halimbawa sa unang pagbasa, tinutuligsa ni propeta Amos ang mga mayayaman sa Israel at binabalaan: “Kahabaghabag kayong namumuhay na maginhawa sa Sion.” Ganun din sa ebanghelyo, itinapon ang mayaman sa empyerno para magdusa, samantalang ang pulubing si Lazaro ay pinagpala at pinarangalan ni Abraham.

Anu ang meron sa kahirapan na nagugustuhan ng Dios? Anu ginagawa ang mga mahihirap na sinasangayunan ng Dios? Ang sagot ay makikita natin sa mga bagay na nakakaligtaan ng mga mayayaman.

Una, dahil sa yaman, nakakalimutan ng tao ang iba, ang kanilang kapwa-tao. Ang pamumuhay sa karangyaan at luho ay nagpapalimot at nagpapamanhid sa tao sa pangangailangan ng iba. Kaya, isang kasakiman sa harap ng Dios ang mamuhay ng sagana na bulag at bingi sa tawag ng saklolo mula sa iba. Kaya, itinakwil ni propeta Amos ang mga mayayamang Israelita, sabi niya, “Kayo ang unang ipapatapon. Matitigil ang inyong pagpipiging at pagsasaya.”

Pangalawa, dahil sa yaman, nakakalimutan ng tao ang Dios. Sa pera at kapangyarihan na siya umaasa at nakasandal sa halip na sa Dios. Mukhang totoo, pag may pera ka, dadalhin ka nito sa lugar na gusto mu, kahit na pangit ka, pag may pera ka, gaganda ka. Ang nangyayari, pinagpapalit ng tao sa pera ang Dios, pero ang mas masaklap, pag sinasamba na niya ang pera, ginagawa na itong dios-diosan. Kaya, sa ebanghelyo, ang sabi ni Abrahan sa mayaman, “kung ayaw nilang pakinggan ang mga sinulat ni Moses at mga propeta, hindi rin nila paniniwalaan kahit ang isang patay ay muling mabuhay.” Ibig sabihin ang mayayaman ay salapi lang ang pinaniniwalaan, maging si Hesus, na muling nabuhay ay hindi kapanipaniwala sa kanila.

Ito ang dalawang bagay na inaayawan ng Dios sa mga mayayaman. Kaya masasabi natin na lumulabas na paborito ng Dios ang mga mahihirap na walang yaman at ipagyayabang ay palagiang umaasa sa kabutihan ng iba at ng Dios. Sa kanilang pagsandal sa iba at sa Dios bukas sila sa pakikinig sa Kanyang Salita at sa pangangailangan ng kanyang kapwa. Hindi ang kahirapan ang pinapanigan ng Dios sa kanila kundi ang kanilang bukas at maluwag na kalooban. Samakatuwid, hindi handlang ang kahirapan, upang makapagsilbi sa Dios.

Ang mga maykaya, pag nagsisimba, kailangang magara ang sasakyan at nasa uso ang damit, kasi para pang display at para di sila masabing kawawa. Samantalang ang mga karaniwang tao, t-shirt ok na, hindi nila binigyan ng malaking atensyon ang kanilang dating, ang mahalaga sa kanila ay makapagsimba at makinig sa misa, makinig sa salita ng Dios. Ito ay patunay lang na ang kahirapan ay di hadlang sa pagsunod sa Dios.

Bukas din sila sa pangangailangan ng iba. Naalala ko yong yumao kong lola. Ayaw niya na magpalagay ng pader. Kaya tinanong ko siya: “Lola, nakit puro kahoy ang nilalagay ninyong bakod?” Sabi niya, “Totoy, di yan kahoy, malunggay iyan.” “Eh, ang dami naman diyan. Kaya ba nating ubusin yan, pag nabuhay na.” Tugon ko sa kanya. Subalit ang balik tugon nya ay, “Di lang naman para sa atin yan, sa mga kapitbahay din natin, para may maigulay sila.” Napabilib naman ako ng aking lola, laging nasa isip niya ang pangangailangan ng iba.

Ang mga ito ay patunay lamang na ang kahirapan ay hindi hadlang sa pagsunod at paglilingkod sa Dios. Bagkus, mas madali pa para sa kanila ang tumugon sa kalooban ng Dios. Ang kahirapan ay di handlang sa kabanalan.

Detachment and Saint Francis of Assisi

2007-10-04T21:10:00.000+09:00

Detachment and Saint Francis of Assisi

The popular story of the origin of the calling of Saint Francis connects it with the ruins of the Church of Saint Damien, an old shrine in Assisi which was apparently neglected and falling into pieces. Here Francis was in the habit of praying before the crucifix during those dark and aimless days of transition which followed the tragic collapse of all his military ambitions, probably made bitter by some loss of social prestige which so terribly affected his sensitive spirit. In one of those occasions, he heard a voice, saying to him: “Francis, did you not see that my house is in ruins? Go and restore it?”

Francis promptly obeyed the voice and set upon himself the task of rebuilding the Church of Saint Damien. What he did first was to sell his own horse and then go off and sell several bundles of his father's cloth that he stole, making the sign of the cross over them to indicate their pious and charitable destination. But his Father, who never identified and agreed with his noble intention made him pay harshly by charging him with a crime. The whole legal process dragged drearily to several stages. At one time, the humiliated Francis had to disappear underground into some cavern or cellar where he hid himself hopelessly in the dark. Here something happened for when Francis came out of this seclusion, he was a changed man.

Then, he and his father were summoned into a court of a bishop. Addressing Francis in all kindness, the bishop requested him to restore the money to his father and reminded him that no matter how noble his intention was it will not correct the wrong he had done. In response, Francis stood before them all and said, “Up to this time I have called Pietro Bernadone father, but now I am the servant of God. Not only the money but everything that can be called his I will restore to my father, even the very clothes he has given me.” And Francis rent off his garment, piled them in a heap on the floor and placed the money on top of them. He turned toward the bishop to receive his blessing, after which he went out half-naked into the winter woods, walking on the frozen ground. He was penniless, he was parentless, and one that by all appearances without hope walking into the frosty tress and who suddenly burst into song.

Francis continued to commit himself to the call he received to rebuild the Church of Saint Damien. But he no longer engaged in the commercial activities of the town of Assisi. He realized that to build a church is not to pay for it, certainly not with someone else’s money nor with ones own money. The way to build a church is simply to build it. That is why Saint Francis went about by himself collecting stones. He begged all the people the met to give him stones, becoming a new sort of beggar, a reversal of the parable: a beggar who asks not for bread but for stones.

Definitely, what Saint Francis did was a literal and faithful obedience to the Gospel’s demand for Christ’s disciples to renounce attachment to material possessions as they preach and build the Kingdom. In this way, Saint Francis, have much to tell us on how to follow and why do we need to follow Jesus Christ in poverty. Three directions are indicated to us:

First, only by divesting oneself of any attachment that one is ready to give him/herself totally to God. For Saint Francis, God is the only one that maters. Look at what he said, “Up to this time I have called Pietro Bernadone father, but now I am the servant of God.”

Second, in poverty one makes him/herself available for the Kingdom. Also destitute and one like them, Francis made himself free to be one with the poor and little ones to serve and care for them from his own generosity.

Third, once the goods are no longer mine, they become available for all. Goods are destined to be shared. This is the reason why Saint Francis had to beg even for his own food—to teach people to share their goods.

The Gospel ideal of detachment from possession and renunciation of material things as practiced by Saint Francis are difficult demands and indeed constitute a hard life to follow. But as one Cardinal in the time of Saint Francis argued: “make what compromises you think wise or humane about that ideal; but do not commit yourselves to saying that men shall not fulfill that ideal if they can.”

25th Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

2007-09-22T23:34:00.000+09:00

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.

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

2007-09-15T23:28:00.000+09:00

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.

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

2007-09-09T20:34:00.000+09:00

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 4^th 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 19^th 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.

The Silence of God

2007-09-03T23:23:00.000+09:00

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.

22nd Sunday of ORDINARY Time C

2007-09-01T22:40:00.000+09:00

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.

THOUGHTFULL

2007-08-28T11:44:00.000+09:00

The Wooden Bowl

(Source: Unknown)

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table.

But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl!

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?'
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work .

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

Transfiguration

2007-08-14T12:13:00.000+09:00

Prayer, a moment of Transfiguration

The account of Transfiguration in Luke ix, 28-36 happened in a mountain and within the context of prayer. The Bible oftentimes, associate mountains with events of theophanies, as in the revelation to Moses and Elijah. In Luke, a mountain is a place of prayer. What i see here is a close connection between prayer and the experience of God's glory.

"Prayer," says an anonymous quote, "is a passport to heaven. your communication to God." The quote underlines and recognizes the exclusive right of access if not at least the means of access of prayer to God. In fact, in prayer, we commune with God, or put simply, we are with God.

I believe, Transfiguration continuous to happen and be experienced by many individuals and communities in their moments of prayer. That is why, in this regard we speak of religious experience.

The challenge for us is to widen the space of prayer to include in its scope our studies, work and apostolate where God is actively involved and waiting to be noticed. Let there be no dichotomy between work and prayer as might be implied and mistakenly construed from the famous Benedictine motto: ora et labora. Rather, let our work be done in prayer.

In this way, we become responsive to the Words at Transfiguration: "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." Indeed, listening--being attentive of God's message is an integral part of prayer. In the words of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta, "God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer."

May we then experience the Transfiguration of our Lord in our prayers, work, studies, apostolate and in the people we meet.

A homily/reflection shared during the Eucharistic Memorial on the Feast of Transfiguration at Divine Word Seminary Chapel, August 2007.