Second Sunday of Advent B

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.

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

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

Lyrics | Carla Bruni - Chanson Triste lyrics

Solemnity of Corpus Christi

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

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

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.”