The Peace of Christ

Our life is a series of beginnings and endings; of welcomes and goodbyes. When we meet someone at the airport after a being away for a long time, it’s a moment of waiting, anticipation and joy. Excitement fills our heart as we welcome back a family member or a friend. But bidding adieu is a melancholic experience. For children seeing a mother or a father leave for abroad, it can even be a tearful parting. Absence leaves a deep pain in the soul. No amount of toy or money can ever quench the thirst of a longing heart.

The pain is much greater if the goodbye becomes permanent. The experience of the demise of a loved one gone so soon can be tragic. When my twenty-four-year-old cousin died of a car accident several years ago, his family was devastated. Life was just beginning for him. His career was about to take off; his potentials were unlimited. In one night, everything was gone. For the family, everyone felt that something precious was suddenly snatched away and gone forever.

In today’s gospel, Jesus was bidding goodbye. The context is at the Last Supper where Jesus makes his farewell discourse because he is going away. The moment is filled with anxiety and fear. The disciples felt sad and scared. The future looks bleak and alarming. But Jesus tells them: “do not be troubled; do not be afraid.” He is offering them his peace. He promises them: “I shall return.”

After twenty centuries, we are still paralyzed by fear. We are still troubled. Peace is still elusive. One of the most prevalent psychological disorders today is depression. Some authors even claim that it is a social ill, not an individual flaw. It is caused by several factors among them interpersonal relationship especially in the family. Society has become indifferent and uncaring. This brings about a lot of insecurities and fears. We need to be convinced that we are not alone. We are loved and we are valued. God’s love and his abiding presence is our strongest antidote depression and indifference. God’s love is the source of peace. 

Prayer: Lord, help me conquer my daily fear; let me look at my future with unwavering hope. Amen. 

Life-giving Love

KC Jones was a former coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team. He guided the Larry Bird-led Celtics to championships in 1984 and 1986. As a coach, he was known for his unique ability to give his players unforgettable words of encouragement when they needed it most. If a player scored 50 points or made the winning-game basket, Jones would simply say: “nice game.” But when a player was really down and struggling, Coach Jones would be there to comfort and inspire him. Once, All-Star forward Kevin McHale asked him about this. Coach Jones replied: “Kevin, after making the winning basket, you’ve got 15,000 people cheering for you.; TV Commentators come rushing towards you and everybody is giving you high fives. You don’t need me then. When you need a friend most, is when nobody is cheering.”

Today’s gospel (Jn 13:31-33,34-35) is Jesus’ way of inspiring his followers when they need it the most. He commands them: Love one another. The context of this episode was at the Last Supper. It was in the context of Judas’ betrayal. By now, Judas was intent to destroy Jesus by selling him for thirty pieces of silver. Though Jesus knew it well, he insisted to teach them a lesson of love. It was a love beyond betrayal; a love that was life-giving and overflowing. Jesus understood that the only way to defeat hate and evil is through love.

This makes love the greatest commandment. The Old Testament teaching places love as the highest obligation. As a great teacher, Jesus summarizes all of God’s commandments into one word – love. Love, then, is the essence of Christianity. A Christian is a great lover. Even St. Paul affirms that in the end, only three things last: faith, hope and love. The greatest is love. Love is the most God-like quality. God does not have faith or hope. But God is love.

Moreover, love will give the greatest meaning of our life. The greatest regret people will have at their death bed is that they have not love enough. Most people, in their final hours will apologize. They will ask for sorry for what they have not done. Most of all, they will say: I love you to their family and friends. At the end of our life, if we have love much, that would be enough. Because if we have not loved, we are nothing.

Prayer: Lord, make me understand that love gives great meaning to my life. Amen.

A Shepherd's Heart

Growing up in Tisa, I entered the Aspirantate of Don Bosco Missionary Seminary after Grade Six. Summer was one of the most exciting times of the year because we were home for vacation. We were encouraged to give a hand in the parish where we belonged. Being a parishioner of Lourdes Parish, then, I volunteered to be a catechist and youth leader. It was there that I met one of the most inspiring persons in my life: Bro. Elmer Rodriguez, SDB. After the daily 6:30 AM Mass, I could hear the familiar voice of Bro. Elmer gathering us, aspirants, around him to share stories and laughter. He was also home for his vacation. Bro. Elmer was a Salesian Brother with a big and kindly heart.

Bro. Elmer was a natural leader. But he was not a good communicator. In fact, he would stutter when he speaks. Yet he had a commanding presence with his friendly and cheerful style that was attractive. He was also a story-teller and his stories were borne from his own life experiences. His insights were enough learning for the day. Most of all, one can discern that he had a compassionate heart for the poor and those less in life. Shy with big crowds, he was not particularly talented. But we loved him in his simplicity and warmth.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. It is also World Day Prayer for Vocations. Today we pray for vocations to the priestly and religious life.  What attracts young people to this vocation are the priests and religious themselves. No doubt, God continues to call today’s youth to this particular way of life. Perhaps their witnessing is not clear enough. Moreover, the role of shepherding may also be extended to those who care for others: parents, teachers, doctors, nurses and public officials. Shepherds are those who lead, nourish, nurture, comfort, care, guide and protect those entrusted to them.

Today’s gospel offers a great challenge in shepherding. Introducing himself as the Good Shepherd of the flock, Jesus makes three claims. First, he knows his sheep and they listen to his voice. Second, he gives eternal life to them. Finally, he protects them by entrusting them to the Father. Hence, real shepherding demands total dedication and selfless consecration to the point of giving up one’s life for the sheep. May God continue to give us shepherds with a Christ-like heart.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to have the heart of a Good Shepherd like the heart of Christ. Amen.

Merciful Love

A well-known speaker began his conference by holding up a P1,000 bill. Looking at the audience, he announced: “who would like to have this P1,000 bill?” Immediately, almost all hands in the room were up. He then said: “I am going to give this P1,000 to you, but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the peso bill with his hands. He then asked: “who still wants it?” The hands remained in the air. “Well,” he added, “what if I do this?” He dropped it to the floor and proceeded to grind it with his shoe. He picked it up, crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?” Still all the hands were raised because the bill had not decreased in value. It is still worth P1,000.

Many times in our lives, we feel crumpled and beaten to the ground because of the choices we make or the circumstances that come our way. We may feel totally lost and worthless. Yet we are still valuable and important in God’s eyes. Our worth comes, not from what we do, but from who we are. We are God’s children; he loves us infinitely. We may fall into sin or does not respond to His grace, yet our value does not change. We are still special in God’s heart. Out of love, Jesus founded the Church by choosing apostles who will continually remind the world of God’s unconditional love.

Today’s gospel narrates how Jesus confirmed Peter as the leader of his Church, though he had denied him three times. It happened in the shore of Galilee in one of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. This proves that Jesus’ appearances were not mere hallucinations or inventions by the disciples. In the first part of the gospel, the risen Jesus gives them a symbol of their mission through a miraculous catch of fish. They were chosen to be “fishers of men.” The second part of the gospel, is a dialogue between Jesus and Peter where he asked him three times whether he loves him. These two metaphors, namely, fishing and shepherding are the duties of the Church entrusted by Christ in order to be a sacrament of salvation.

By forgiving Peter and reinstating him as leader of the Christian community, he is mandated to feed Jesus’ lambs. He is commissioned to be a steward of Jesus’ flock taking care of it willingly, not grudgingly. He is to watch over them not out of greed but out of eagerness. Most of all, he is to nourish them and become a sign of God’s love for them. Through the community’s shepherd, Jesus continues to show his merciful love.

Prayer: Lord, may I also love you with all my heart and accept the challenge to serve with great generosity.