Jesus is Life - 5th Sunday of Lent

“You Raise Me Up” is a very popular and powerful song. It was composed by Ralf Loveland in 2002 for his mother’s funeral. When it was released, it had very little success; it almost vanished into obscurity. When David Foster was introduced to the song in 2003, he asked a budding singer Josh Groban to record it. It was an instant hit. For six weeks it stayed as #1 at the Billboard Chart. Ralf offered it for his Mom who raised him up; who loved and cared for him. Relationship like friendship and family can raise us up. In our fear and fright in this time of crisis, God will raise us up.

Our readings have very encouraging lessons. In the First Reading (Ez 37), the prophet points out the power of God’s Word. It can open graves and make people live! Prophet Ezekiel was speaking figuratively referring to the Israelites who were like dry bones. They were feeling homesick, discouraged and depressed because of their exile in Babylon. God, through Ezekiel, gave them hope and strength. He promised them “I will raise you up!”

Our Gospel (Jn 11), the seventh and last sign performed by Jesus, is actually a story of a family from Bethany very close to Jesus. Jesus was immediately informed by the family in Galilee when Lazarus got sick. But strange, he did not panic. He even stayed for two days more saying “this sickness will not end up in death but for God’s glory.” When he finally arrived, Lazarus had been buried for four days. But Jesus brought him back to life! Jesus did something extraordinary. Amazingly, he literally raised up Lazarus!

There are two lessons we can learn from this episode. One, nothing is impossible with God! We just have to believe. Jesus asked Martha: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.. Do you believe me?” An author once wrote: “there is never a moment when God is not in control. So relax! He’s got you covered.”

The second is, God’s Word is powerful. He is the source of our encouragement and strength. But also our words are powerful. It can impact another’s life especially in the context of the family. Thus, we need to find the good in each other. I believe, it is the love of the family that sustains us. One practical way to build up each other is through affirmation. Somebody said: “Affirmation are mental vitamins providing the supplementary positive thoughts we need to balance the barrage of negative events and thoughts we experience daily.”

I have three suggestions for us our families: A. Choose your words wisely because words can either build up or destroy. In the family, we need to pay attention to the words we use. Are they kind? Hurtful? Negative or inspiring words? B. Affirmation is a language of love. It shows how much you care; how much you value that person. Let us be generous in affirming our parents, siblings, friends; our medical frontliners. C. Make it a habit. Choose to build up each other daily. Our words matter. It can give life. 

Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom to choose my words wisely so that I can be generous in affirming those around me. Amen. 

Encountering Jesus - 3rd Sunday of Lent

This Sunday’s gospel reading (Jn 4:5-42) presents to us the story of an unknown Samaritan woman who engaged in a conversation with Jesus. As a consequence, she was drawn to faith in Christ. Today, the Greek and Russian Orthodox Christians venerate her as a saint. They even gave her the name Photeine (Greek) or Svetlana (Russian) which means radiant or shining. She is praised by St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom as “the first apostle to the gentiles” who invited her neighbor to Christ. A legend preserved in Spain says that Photeine eventually went to Rome where she converted Nero’s daughter and a hundred of her servants. She became an indefatigable missionary for Jesus.

We can see in this gospel story a divine encounter which is the root cause of what she will become. In the gospels, Jesus met a lot of people. In meeting Christ, they were changed. We also see this pattern with the Samaritan woman. Jesus had a purpose in passing through Samaria. It was not accidental or circumstantial that he was at the well of Jacob. Jesus intended to encounter this Samaritan woman in order to make a significant contact with her and engage her in a conversation that will transform her. It was Jesus’ way of entering into her life even into her most private and embarrassing situation not to judge or condemn her but to be her Savior. At the start, Jesus begged water from her. But in the end, he gave her the living water that would quench her human thirst.

This encounter with Christ ignited a fire in her heart. At first she was surprised that this stranger had an intimate knowledge of her past. Her dialogue with Jesus revealed her spiritual thirst for something more that can fill her life. But her lifestyle showed that she was spiritually dead. Jesus’ words ignited new life and fervor in her that transformed her from being self-centered towards a slow process of self-emptying and service to the community. She was now ready to leave behind her water jar symbolizing her daily struggle for personal worth to make a shift turning her priorities upside down. The Samaritan woman took responsibility for her life and became Jesus’ disciple. Thus Jesus became the greatest thing to have ever happened in her life.

Prayer: Lord, lead me to a real encounter with you so that I can also initiate a process of self-emptying and inner transformation. Amen. 

Something to Remember - 2nd Sunday of Lent

A young man spent hours watching a butterfly struggling to emerge from its cocoon. It managed to make a small hole, but its body was too large to get through it. It kept struggling for days until the young man decided to help by cutting the cocoon open with a pair of scissors releasing the butterfly. He was hoping that the butterfly would open its wings and fly; but nothing happened. It crawled the rest of its life with a shrunken body and shriveled wings incapable of flight. What the man – out of kindness – had failed to understand was that the tight cocoon and the butterfly’s efforts to squeeze out of that tiny hole was nature’s way of training it for flight by strengthening its wings. There is no short-cut in the butterfly’s complete metamorphosis.

Our gospel reading for the 2^nd Sunday of Lent is about the Transfiguration of Jesus. This episode is one of the most amazing experiences witnessed by only three apostles. The timing of this miracle is even more important. Jesus was in the point of his ministry where he is beginning to make it clear that he will suffer. Though he provides details to his disciples that he would be a suffering Messiah, it did not correlate with their expectations. They absolutely failed to understand. In the midst of this early struggle, Jesus provides them something to remember when he will be totally unrecognizable because of his tremendous sufferings. He gives them something to hold on; something to look back in the dark days ahead.

For the disciples then and now, the Jesus’ transfiguration continues to give significant lessons. Through it, Jesus prepares us to face with trust the big issues of our lives whether its temptations, trials or pain. He invites us to see and focus on the bigger picture of our life. Life is bigger than what our small eyes can see; that pain and glory are intertwined and inseparable. There can be no resurrection without the cross; no pain, no gain. Through Jesus’ transfiguration, he gives us something to remember so that we can be more courageous in our suffering in union with Him. He provides us with something to hold on when times become rough and we are tempted to give up. The transfiguration is a souvenir to keep our optimism in our passage from suffering to glory.

Prayer: Lord, make me realize that your transfiguration is your souvenir to keep my optimism high in times of suffering and pain. Amen. 

Staying on Fire - First Sunday of Lent

A new and potentially lethal coronavirus has brought about a pandemic scare and panic to everyone and anywhere in the world. Since its first reported case in Wuhan last December 2019, it has affected 82,756 globally with China having the most number of cases as well as Korea, Italy and Japan. In a short time, this virus has changed our lifestyle dramatically. Even in the Church our bishops suggested to revise our usual practices in communion or Ash Wednesday. The seismic effect is on tourism negatively impacting the Asian market from currencies to oil and air travel. A wore alarming effect is the remarkable increase of prejudice and xenophobia to Asians in the West. Yet we never got scared when Pope Francis reflected recently that “one of the evils of our day is the loss of a sense of sin.” “Sometimes,” the Pope said, “we need life to slap us.” Perhaps this is how life is slapping us in order to wake us from spiritual slumber.

We began the 40-day Lenten Season with Ash Wednesday. It’s a time of introspection and life-revision. The gospel on this 1^st Sunday of Lent presents to us Jesus being tempted by the devil in the desert. We affirm that Satan and evil are spiritual realities. The “father of lies” thrive better in secrecy and denial. The more he is invisible, the more havoc and destruction he effects to the ruin of souls. Jesus had to confront his cunning ways. The devil tempted Jesus in three major forms: power, prestige and prosperity. The liar swayed him to want more of everything and be in control of his destiny. But Jesus rejected these temptations of relying on material wealth, temporal power and worldly fame in order to firmly trust in his heavenly Father. He overcame temptations by anchoring his heart on God’s sincere promises.

Somebody said: “to keep your heart from growing cold, stay on fire for God.” Jesus went into the desert to ignite a new fire for God and embark on a new mission. He had to confront himself in order to live deliberately. This is something we can learn from Jesus in this Lenten Journey – to live deliberately, consciously and sincerely. We can look at temptation as a detour; it will draw us away from our true goals in life. We need to be in focus with a clear plan of action. It is difficult to break free from bad habits leading us to sin. But St. Francis de Sales teaches if we want to lessen the hold of harmful sins on us, we need to trace the root causes that lead us to sin. Many times it is just a matter of small excess or little hastiness in word or action we need to resist to enjoy true freedom. Let God awaken in us the ugliness of sin and the nobility of virtues. 

Prayer: Lord, awaken in me a great horror for sin that enslaves me; stir my heart to experience true freedom and peace. Amen. 

The Power of Real Love - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ben & Ben is a folk pop band creating waves today in the country’s music scene. One of their hit songs is “Leaves.” The song is almost five minutes with a simple melody but with value-laden lyrics that hit the soul seriously. One line that is constantly repeated goes: “you never really love someone until you learn to forgive.” This ballad expresses an undying optimism that “all will be alright in time.” We just keep holding on because “as leaves will soon grow from the bareness of trees; from waves overgrown come the calmest of seas; wounds of the past will eventually heal.” Towards the last stanza the song explains the reason for its optimism: “cause all of this comes with a love that is real.” In other words, because of true love, all will be alright in time. It’s a song that asserts of the power of love in action.

Today’s gospel reading continues the teachings of Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount. By his own authority, he commands his disciples to go beyond the teachings of Moses. Jesus articulates that love can be a power in our lives. If we use it, we can become invincible. It is real love that enables us to offer no resistance to one who does us evil; to turn the other cheek or to go the extra mile. Love empowers us to abstain from any form of violence; to forgive our enemies and even pray for our persecutors. Love permits us to act in forgiveness and joyfully accept hardship that goes beyond the lex talionis (law of the equivalent) of the past. It is not a love that is sentimental or romantic. This requires on our part a great love for Jesus.

Our love for Jesus makes it possible for us to imitate him. It is a love the world may not understand because it requires great strength, discipline of character and the grace of God. In fact, for Jesus, this is his way of practicing holiness concretely. It is love beyond words that seeks to imitate our heavenly Father who is kind, merciful and forgiving. By seriously choosing to love in this way, we become children of God. We no longer react to our likes or dislikes; we go beyond our sentiments and whims. Love will give us optimism and strength.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to be kind, loving and forgiving like you so that I may be optimistic and invincible. Amen. 

Lighting Up the World - Feast of the Presentation of Jesus

Today marks the first day of Novena in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. On February 11, we shall celebrate our 63^rd Patronal Fiesta recalling the first apparition of Mary to the 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 at Lourdes, France. One of the many activities lined-up for the Fiesta is the Mass Wedding of 22 Couples. As they were prepared spiritually through seminars, the sacraments of confirmation and confession, I reminded them that when they were living together without the sacrament of marriage for years, they were like candles without flame. They were not giving light as they ought to be because our Christian vocation as Jesus said is to be “light of the world.” But now that they are again in the state of grace, Christ is re-kindling their fire. They are glowing once again like lamps on a lampstand.

We celebrate also today the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph. Theirs was an act of thanksgiving for the gift of life; most especially for the gift of Jesus. Moreover, they were stunned by the revelation made by the old Simeon and the aging prophetess Anna. Simeon announced his gratitude that he has finally “seen salvation” because Jesus will be a “light and glory” for Israel. Anna also, led by the Spirit, recognize the future redeeming vocation of the child. Joseph and Mary never expected such epiphany to happen. Every child brought forth into this world has an amazing future waiting to happen. Every life is a gift; every child brings a particular contribution for a better world.

The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus has also been designated as World Day for Consecrated Life. Since this feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world, so the consecrated persons are called to reflect the light of Jesus to everyone. Religious Life reminds every Christian that on the day of our baptism, we have been consecrated to God. We have “put on Jesus Christ” such that we no longer live for ourselves. The aim of our life is to be pleasing to God and to give glory to the Father.

Prayer: Lord, constantly remind me that the aim of my life is to give glory to you as a candle that lights up the world. Amen. 

Total Availability - 3rd Sunday Ordinary Time

Carlo Carreto was an active man of the world. Born in Piedmont, Italy in 1910 he became the charismatic leader of the Italian youth movement known as Catholic Action. At that time Communism was a fatal threat to Italy and the church was desperately seeking to counteract the Red Menace. It was necessary to enter into the political arena directly but this could be done solely by the laity. It was in this context that Carlo emerged. He animated, inspired and mobilized the younger generation for twenty years. But a life-changing moment came in 1954 when he felt God’s call for austerity and contemplation. He set out for the Sahara Desert where he decisively burned his address book containing his contacts and information of thousands of his friends in Italy. He would stay in the desert as a hermit and sit for long hours in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He left everything to follow Jesus.

In today’s gospel reading, Matthew describes the call of the first disciples. Jesus invites ordinary fishermen who immediately responds by “leaving their nets and their boats” in order to follow Jesus. The disciples were simple working people with no great background. Jesus was not looking for impressive background and striking talent from his candidates; he simply needed ordinary people who were generous and willing to give themselves totally to him. Even today, what Christ needs is not our ability but our availability.

Moreover, the call of the disciples was to become “fishers of men.” The disciples fully understood what this metaphor meant. Jesus was referring to hard work! Just as the laborious process of net tossing and slowly dragging it along hoping to trap fish in the net; then the repetitive effort of repairing and cleaning the nets take time, so the process of working for the kingdom would be frustrating. It would often means lack of results yet not allowing the results to dictate our enthusiasm and motivation. It meant relying not on one’s own ability but on God’s generosity for good results. Hence to be fishers of men means to be totally available for God’s work without counting the cost. 

Prayer: Lord, inspire me to be challenged by your call; follow you with total availability without counting the cost. Amen. 

Spiritual Awakening - The Epiphany of the Lord

Vincent Leclercq asked for baptism at 42 years old. Born in Paris, he was indifferent to the faith as he was growing up. But seven years ago, he had a spiritual awakening. A friend opened his eyes to the beauty of the Christian Faith. He confirmed that he had an experienced of being enlightened by Christ such that he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. It was like a “Damascus Experience”. He started a journey of faith by reading scriptures. For a year now, he had been attending catechism classes twice a week in their parish in Oman where he is based. Vincent experienced an epiphany of the Lord!

Today we celebrate the epiphany of the Lord. It is a Greek term which denotes a “visit of a god to earth.” When Jesus was born on Christmas, we contemplated the incarnation of God. The child in the manger is an extraordinary child; the Son of God. His given name is “Jesus” because he will save his people from their sins. A bright star appeared when he was born. Through it, he manifested his divinity to all humanity and all people. The Magi came to adore him and brought symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts manifested his kingship, his priesthood and his vocation as messiah who will redeem humanity through his sacrificial death.

The Magi believed that stars carry messages from God. The presence of a bright light indicated God’s presence in the world. When God called Moses into a closer relationship with him, he used the burning bush to manifest his presence. When the Magi saw the bright star in the firmament, they responded as Moses did. The Star of Bethlehem continues to be a sign that manifest God’s presence in the world today. It challenges us to draw near, to seek more and to discover his fuller message. French philosopher Blaise Pascal once wrote: “there is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ.” He is the star that enlightens and fills up our lives. 

Prayer: Lord, may I constantly be open to your light and courageously step forward to embrace you. Amen. 

God In Every Family - Feast of the Holy Family

When God decided to send his Son into the world, he prepared for him a family. He chose a perfect woman, an immaculate virgin to be his mother. As his dad, he chose a godly, hardworking carpenter who would teach him the value of work, responsibility and fear of the Lord. It took God a long process to prepare Jesus to join the human family. The family is one of God’s instruments in transforming and changing the world. It is still through the human family that God continues to inspire goodness and hope. 

In today’s gospel, we are shown that the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph was not spared from danger and crisis. Early in his life, Jesus had to be protected from a power-hungry king who was jealous of his miraculous birth. Mary had to endure many sleepless nights in order keep Jesus safe and warm. On his part, Joseph had to be a brave leader who has the foresight and ability for strategic planning to protect God’s most important treasures entrusted to him. It was not easy to become parents of the Son of God. It required great love, deep faith and courageous obedience.

Christian families today are threatened by many destructive forces. There are pernicious ideologies who would like to redefine the basic concept of marriage as husband and wife. Couples are afraid of a lifetime commitment and do not accept marriage as a sacrament. Some choose simply to live together or prefer a civil marriage. Our catholic faith reminds us that during weddings, the husband and wife accept a role in God’s plan for humanity. They become ambassadors of God’s love; their love becomes a sign that God is still in the world and wants to be part of every human family.

Prayer: Lord, may we see marriage as a way of inviting God as a family member so that He may bless it and make it fruitful. Amen. 

Discerning God’s Plan - 4th Sunday of Advent

A young mother came to the parish crying. She revealed a sad news that she had a miscarriage! With her husband, they were carrying their two-months old baby in a glass container inside a box. They requested to have their child blessed before bringing “little Angelo” for burial. The young mother was teary-eyed during the short funeral rite. It is traumatic to loose such a little angel. It is like losing an important treasure. The joy of the Christmas season suddenly faded. There was just mourning and great distress.

The gospel reading of this Fourth Sunday of Advent narrates about the birth of Jesus. This baby had been expected for 400 years. All the oracles of the prophets foretold of his coming. Now we are introduced into the drama of Christmas. Life itself is full of dramatic moments. There is a constant cycle of joys and sorrows. The reading ushers us into the secret drama of Joseph. Having loved Mary, he relished the day when she becomes his wife. But things turned out differently. She is with child and he does not understand. He struggles with his confusion. But sweet sleep refreshed him when God, through a dream, explained his divine plan. Moreover, he was part of it.

Like Joseph, God is inviting us to realize that struggles and storms are part of life. When things happen unexpectedly, we are shaken up and shocked. Just man as he is, Joseph shows us the right thing to do, though life throws us off balance. We need to stay on the right course seeking for light and discerning God’s will. Soon we will realize that the shadows and darkness are part of God’s beautiful plan. Like a beautiful painting with light and shadows, God is also doing a work of art in our life. He mixes the different colors of our life to make it beautiful. We simply have to trust the Great Artist and His Divine Plan. He is working at it for our own good. 

Prayer: Lord, give me your light so that I may understand that the struggles I go through are part of your beautiful plan. Amen. 

The Reason We Rejoice - 3rd Sunday of Advent

Isaiah was a Hebrew Prophet who lived about 700 years before the coming of Christ. His writing style revealed a well-educated man, distinguished and privileged. Jewish tradition says he was of royal descent even a cousin to King Uzziah. His mastery of language, rich vocabulary and poetic skills earned him the title the “Shakespeare of the Bible.” Through his encouragement, God stirs up in his exiled people in Babylon the hope of their return to Israel. He explains to them that it was through their unfaithfulness to Him that they had lost their liberty, had been taken captives in Babylon and had lived there in servitude for some sixty years. God now assures them of their return to their homeland, rebuild the Temple and serve their God once more as His Chosen People. So he tells them to rejoice because God will accomplish what he promised. 

In today’s gospel, Matthew describes how Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s vision of the coming of the Promised One. Though Jesus has a poor and humble origin, he assures John who is now in prison, what Isaiah had prophesied that “the blind regained their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” Jesus will slowly reveal himself as the “Emmanuel and the Anointed One of God” who will be the light and salvation for everyone. Through his teachings, he will show himself as “Wonderful Counselor.” As Messiah, he will be shown as “the Servant of Yahweh” who will give his life for the atonement of the sins of humanity. 

Just as Prophet Isaiah exhorted the hopeless Israel to rejoice, this favorable message is also for us. The directive continues to be timely and relevant for us today as we face a depressed and discouraged world. Many do not listen to empty promises anymore. People have become tired of futile assurances. Joy is now absent and they are calling out for help. This existential crisis is real and people are running out of hope and patience. We need to re-echo the thousand-old message: “Be strong. Fear not! Here is your God; He comes to save you!” It is God who will bring joy and hope. 

Prayer: Lord, let me understand that your presence is the real source of gladness and joy in my life. Amen. 

Maranatha - 1st Sunday of Advent

Almost thirty years ago, in November 5, 1991 Typhoon Uring brought down heavy rain over Leyte including Ormoc City. Close to noon, people heard a loud booming sound which residents mistook for thunder. Many breathed a sigh of relief that the typhoon was almost over, when an epic flash flood took place. Water rose instantly as high as seven feet that brought great disaster to the whole city. Those who survived had to climbed on top of two-story roofs watching water rushed along the sides of houses with an unmistakably strong current. It was something sudden and unexpected. As quickly as it came, the flood was gone in three hours and left at least 6,000 casualties with debris and mud all over. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus warns us of the importance of preparation. As in the days of Noah, when people did not bother why he was building an ark while going on with their normal lives only to find out too late that the flood was coming. Jesus reminds us that there is something more important we need to prepare than the usual events of our lives. God will show up without any appointment or sudden death or the end of the world could come at any moment. Hence we must be constantly prepared anytime, anywhere. 

Jesus’ parable cautions us to “stay awake.” The Master is the image for Jesus who will come like a thief in the night. It can be so sudden and swift. Advent teaches us to acquire an attitude of being perpetually prepared. Advent, in fact, is a time for looking both backward and forward. We make a backward look as we prepare for the historical birth of Jesus. But we also make a forward look by preparing our hearts for his Second Coming. Like the early Christians our prayer this season is “Maranatha” – Come, Lord Jesus. We keep alive our hope and keep our gaze on the eternal realities of heaven. 

Prayer: Lord, teach me to stay awake so that I may always keep alive the hope of your Second Coming. Amen. 

Christ the King - 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In November 2010, the people of Swiebodzin, Poland welcomed a new resident: a giant statue of Jesus Christ known as “Christ the King.” At 33 meters tall or 108 ft (one meter for each year of Jesus’ earthly life), it is 3 meters taller than the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Conceived by a retired priest, Fr. Slyvester Sawadski, it took five years to construct costing $1.5 million. According to the Guinness Book of World Record, it is the largest statue of Jesus in the world. It shows the majestic Jesus with a golden crown on his head welcoming everyone with outstretched arm. 

As we end the liturgical year, the Church would like us to imagine the “Parousia” or the end of time when Christ will return as King of the Universe. Our gospel reading (Lk 23:35-43) shows us a paradox. Jesus is crucified on the cross, bloody, beaten and about to die. Above his head is a cruel inscription “this is the king of the Jews” as bystanders’ jeer and laugh at him. But his nobility is shown by his self-composed endurance and rising above the pain. He is in control of the situation such that he promises the good thief “today, you will be with me in paradise.”

Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925 as a response to the growing secularization, atheism and communism affecting the world. While the world was increasingly compelling Christians that they must compartmentalize their religion and give their highest allegiance to the government, the Pope strongly urged: “If to Christ our Lord is given all power in heaven and on earth; if all men, purchased by his precious blood, are by a new right subjected to his dominion; it must be clear that not one of our faculties is exempt from his empire. He must reign in our minds, in our wills and in our hearts.”

Prayer: Lord, let me willingly surrender my heart, my mind and my will to you so that you may reign as king of my life. Amen. 

Looking Beyond - - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Steve Jobs is one of the most well-known names today. He was not an engineer or a designer but he was the most influential innovator of our time. His greatness lies in his ability to maximize the use of technology to be user-friendly for anyone. Despite his iconic character as Apple co-founder, he succumbed to a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2003 which was discovered accidentally on a CT scan of his kidneys. He died almost exactly eight years after, at 56 years old.

In a speech he delivered at Stanford University in 2005, he revealed that since he was 17, he already thought about death to live right. “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectation, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.. Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent.”

Our Sunday Gospel today points to us about the reality of the end. Not only does it remind us that each person dies, but the very earth we live will someday vanish. Luke uses apocalyptic language common during the time of Jesus when speaking about God’s action in the world. The imagery is not literal but symbolic of the hard times the faithful might have to endure before the final victory of good over evil. Luke warms Jesus’ followers not to be distracted but to persevered in the end. Death can truly be a change agent to those who have faith in Jesus for we will have the optimistic hope that the best is yet to come.

Prayer: Lord, teach me that the world and life itself will someday end. Give me the faith and optimism to look beyond what my eyes can’t see. Amen.

Happy Ending – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

In 1981, a devastating flood in China caused an ancient pagoda to collapse at Famen Temple near Xian, Taiwan. Looking through the rubble few years later, archaeologists discovered what they believed to be one of Buddha’s fingers. The relic was sealed in a miniature stone casket and placed there 1,000 years earlier during the Tang Dynasty. So sacred is the finger to Buddhists in Taiwan and elsewhere, that tens of thousands of people have turned out to pay homage to it. This precious relic is even closely guarded by four monks who are martial arts experts. 

If someone claimed to find a finger that belonged to Christ, no Christian would believe him. The Christian faith is founded on the fact that Christ died and rose from the dead. There is no finger to find since he is alive! Instead Christianity’s greatest relic is the empty tomb in Jerusalem or the Shroud used to cover Jesus’s body now found in Turin, Italy. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is in Jerusalem answering the Sadducees trap question. As the Jewish governing class, they rejected the idea of the resurrection because the Torah was silent about it. 

Jesus expertly points out the Sadducees’ ignorance about the existence and nature of life after death with God. He refutes their misconception that eternal life is in this world. First, he provides a biblical proof of the reality of the resurrection with God’s conversation with Moses at the burning bush. Thus he uses their sacred text of the Torah to show that there is, indeed, a resurrection. Secondly, Jesus authoritatively explains that things will be different when we die. Normal human relationships like marriage will also be transformed. As children of God, we shall all be like angels. For now, what we shall be is something we await with excitement and hope. I am convinced that those who persevere in faith, it will be a happy ending.

Prayer: Lord, give me a tenacious faith in your resurrection so that I may persevere in awaiting for it with hopeful excitement. Amen.

Turning Point - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Madonna Louise Ciccone is an American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman. She is referred to as the Queen of Pop since the 1980s. International authors label her as the greatest woman in music, the most influential and iconic female artist of all time. As a global icon, she has sold 300 million records worldwide and is the best-selling female recording artist. Moreover, this “Material Girl” is one of the most influential individuals in the fashion industry even in the age of social media by constantly re-inventing herself. 

But an interview with Oprah Winfrey in January 2004 also revealed a sober side of her. She claimed “I’m so not the Material Girl now. There were many years when I thought fame, fortune and public approval would bring me happiness. But one day you wake up and realize they don’t.” Motherhood was what ultimately inspired her to seek out the more meaningful things in life when she gave birth to her daughter Lourdes in 1996.

In today’s Sunday Gospel, we are presented with an inspiring and instantaneous conversion story of Zacchaeus, the Chief Tax Collector of Jericho. Described as very wealthy, yet his wealth and status did not satisfy him. He felt something more was missing. Public opinion was against him; he was a hated man in the city because of his job. He felt he had no control of his life because he was unhappy with how things were going. One day, Jesus showed up in Jericho. Having climbed a sycamore tree, Jesus called him down because he wanted to dine with him. This really hit him hard. He had such a great need of Jesus in his life. That lunch date changed him.

Zacchaeus understood that he was constantly chasing and prioritizing the lesser things: work, wealth, fame and fortune. Now, he resolved to make things right. He opted to take responsibility and demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to reconcile his relationships. He decided to put Jesus at the center of his life to experience healing and reconciliation. It was the turning point he needed to have a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Thanks to Jesus, Zacchaeus re-invented himself.

 Prayer: Lord, when I chase for the lesser things in life, remind me to keep on the right track so that I can live a more meaningful life. Amen. 

Spiritual Environment

I organized a Marian Pilgrimage this October. Jing Satuita wanted very much to go with her mother as pilgrims. In fact, it is one of her life’s bucket list. She desired so much to visit and pray at the famed Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima at Cova da Iria in Portugal.  It was also her yearning to touch the celebrated Massabielle Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in France where Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous and perhaps bathe of its miraculous waters. 

However, her biggest stumbling block was her application for visa to the Italian Embassy. When she presented all her documents, she was asked to return because they were not convinced that she had sufficient funds for the trip. Having acquired another bank certificate from Land Bank, it was blown away by the wind and lost it when she was about to submit it. But she never lost her patience. Most of all she never lost hope. She kept on praying. With deep trust, she surrendered her case to Our Blessed Mother. A week before the scheduled departure, together with her mom, she finally got her visa. It was an answered prayer!

Jesus teaches us, in today’s gospel reading, to pray unceasingly. Like the poor widow, we should never become weary or discouraged in our prayer. Despite its seeming futility, we must persist with a living faith. To pray without ceasing does not mean that we should have our heads bowed with eyes-closed posture all day long. Rather, it is an attitude of God-consciousness and God-surrender that we must have in our life. It is living with a conviction that God is with us and He is deeply concerned with our well-being. As St. Augustine said: “work as though everything depended on you; pray as though everything depended on God.” We need to enter into this spiritual environment where God’s presence makes a big difference in our life. 

Prayer: Lord, give me a greater awareness of your presence that I may trust myself into your loving and powerful hands. Amen. 

Daghang Salamat – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today is the 24^th death anniversary of Fr. Jose Bosch, SDB. He was Parish Priest of Lourdes in 1964-1966 and again in 1971-1983. When he succeeded Fr. John Peter Clifford as Parish Priest, he immediately set about building a bigger Church to accommodate the expanding parish. This massive structure which we have now took almost 20 years to build and was blest by his Eminence Cardinal Julio Rosales, DD on February 14, 1982. 

Born in Ciutadella, Menorca-Baleares Islands Spain on March 27, 1921, Fr. Jose attended St. Francis de Sales School for his elementary studies where he first encountered the Salesian Fr. Gustavo Mas. “Since that day until now I have been with Don Bosco,” he would recall. Ordained a priest on June 24, 1951 at the Sacred Heart Temple in Tibidabo, Barcelona, he applied for the missions and came to the Philippines on March 2, 1956. One of his qualities was his gratitude. He was always grateful to God for his life and many blessings especially for being a priest. His daily prayer was: “Jesus daily preserve and increase my love for my Salesian vocation.” He was grateful to people and his proverbial words were: Daghang Salamat!

Our Sunday Gospel is about gratitude. Ten lepers implored the mercy of Jesus. They actually did not ask for healing but for “pity” for whatever Jesus can give them; whatever he decides to offer. But Jesus decided to give them the best for them – healing! Yet only the Samaritan came back to thank Jesus. He came back glorifying God in a loud voice. He throws himself at Jesus’ feet showing his humility and credits him for being an instrument of his healing. How often do we loudly clamor for our request but muffled in our thanksgiving? Clearly, Jesus expects us to be grateful. As disciples of Jesus, we won’t be pleasing to Jesus without being thankful. Though we may have a small heart, it can always hold such a large amount of gratitude. It pays so little to say “Daghang Salamat” with great love and sincerity.

Prayer: Lord, make my heart overflow with love so that I may be grateful for what you have done for me. Amen. 

God's Amazing Love

There was once a mother who gave birth to twin boys. As little kids, they were both cute and lively; they were her joy. But as they grew older, they turned to be monsters. They fought with each other and fought with other children. They lied, they stole and broke things deliberately. At home they are so lazy; at school they never study. They tormented all their teachers and they were mean and nasty. When things got alarming, the parents sought help from a counselor who suggested: send them to a boarding school to be reformed. But, no the mother said: “I would miss them so much if they weren’t at home.” When the counselor asked why? “Because I am their mother and I love them.” That’s the way it is with God and us.

In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches us a very powerful and comforting truth: that God is a loving and forgiving Father who wants to save us through His Only Son, Jesus. He is not a cruel and punishing God but like a Good Shepherd, He goes out in search for his lost sheep. He is also like a conscientious woman who painstakingly searches her lost coin recognizing its great value and worth. God delights in the joy of finding sinners back to the fold as much as finding things of great worth that have been lost. Indeed, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. Indeed, God loves the least, the last and the lost.

Moreover, Jesus incarnated this love concretely. The gospel begins by putting us in a context. We are shown that Jesus is in the midst of a celebration; he is partying with tax collectors and sinner. Definitely, the respectable Pharisees complain! In Jesus, we experience a God who is passionately in love with us. Because of such love, he does crazy, even unreasonable things. In order to reclaim our lost inheritance, he made a decision to humble himself and become one of us. God’s love is excessive and unconditional. God’s love is a grace we need to experience deeply. Such love gives us hope. This love, in fact, becomes our daily strength never to give up. 

Prayer: Lord, let me taste your amazing love so that I may be its living reflection to those who are missing it. 

Challenges of Discipleship

In 1952, Harland Sanders was a struggling businessman. At 65, he was living in a small house with an old car. But he decided things had to change. His friends raved about his chicken recipe; he thought this was his best shot to success. Leaving Kentucky, he travelled to the different States to sell his recipe. But he heard NO over 1,000 times. Even with all those rejections he did not give up. He believed his chicken recipe was something special. He finally got his first YES after 1009 attempts. With that one success, Sanders changed the way American eat chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken, popularly known as KFC, was born! Despite the cost, he succeeded, because he never gave up.

In today’s gospel, Jesus admonishes his followers that discipleship is demanding. They need to discern well because it requires a great cost. The cost is as much as a business man planning to build a 50-storey condominium. He should ask himself honestly if he has enough budget to be able to finish what he has started. The cost is as much as a general preparing to fight a war. He needs to calculate if he has enough soldiers and ammunitions to win the battle. The cost of discipleship is expensive. Jesus even points out that no one can become his disciple without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sister; even his own life.

What did Jesus really mean by “hating?” From his Semitic expression, it means “to love less, to turn away from or detach oneself from.” In other words, Jesus was warning the crowd that following him means turning away from the people they love and detach themselves from the life they have known. When I entered the seminary to be a priest, I experienced a most painful sacrifice: leaving my family and my home. I had to learn to disengage myself from them in order to follow Jesus. St. Paul urged Christians “to live for God and to put our old self to death.” This makes Christian discipleship a challenging journey of faith. 

Prayer: Lord, make me courageous to accept the challenges of being your disciple as proof of my love for you.