THE PROPER TIMING FOR THE COMING OF TIME

 

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Catholic Handicapped Day

Jer 33: 14 – 16 / Ps 25 / 1 Thes 3:12 / Lk 21: 25 -28. 34 – 36, Cycle C

Most of us express little concern about the end of time. We would rather show our concern on what to eat and wear for the day rather than think of the end of the world. No one among us here, upon waking up, will say, “I think today is the last day of my life. I think I shall die today.” I guess only Frank Sinatra was sure and certain about his end when he said, “And now, the end is near and so I face the final curtain. My friend, I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.” We show little or even no concern about the end of time.

This is also the case in our Gospel today. When Luke wrote his narrative, he was aware that his audience was no longer concern on the particular time of Jesus’ return. That is why if you read the “eschatological” part of the Gospel of Luke, you will realize that he never gave us any hint of a timetable on the end of the world. However, Luke in our Gospel today which is still part of the “eschatological discourse” of Jesus gave us a very an element when we talk about the end of time. We show little concern on the exact time of Jesus’ return because we do not know when and where. Rather, what should concern us is the timing, the proper timing. And we can see this in our Gospel today. Luke shifts from when these things will happen (21: 7) to the proper disposition of the community (21: 34ff).

Timing is our ability to choose the best moment of our actions. Ika nga, walang labis, walang kulang. For Erik Santos, this is the moment! Timing is about how we give value to the time that we have. And Jesus in our Gospel today taught us to have a proper timing. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness… Be vigilant at all time and pray that you have the strength.” Since we do not know the exact time of the end then let us have the proper timing by staying away from sin, from being vigilant, and by praying. We do this so that when the time will come, we shall stand erect and raise our heads because we are on proper timing.

My dear friends, today we begin a new liturgical calendar. Today, we begin the season of Advent. This is the purpose of Advent – to set the proper timing so that when Christmas comes, we can truly sing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest!” This is therefore our challenge as we enter the season of Advent that we are always on the proper timing. And Jesus has taught us how to do this. First, we turn away from sin. I hope and pray that confessionals in Churches will have long lines of penitents. Second, by being vigilant. I hope and pray that we are always conscious of the reality of evil around us. Finally, by praying for strength. I hope and pray that we never cease in praying to God. When we do all these then we are on the proper timing for the coming end of time.

I once read this quote from Marc Levy:

“If you want to know the value of one year, just ask a student who failed a course.

If you want to know the value of one month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

If you want to know the value of one hour, ask the lovers waiting to meet.

If you want to know the value of one minute, ask the person who just missed the bus.

If you want to know the value of one second, ask the person who just escaped death in a car accident.

And if you want to know the value of one-hundredth of a second, ask the athlete who won a silver medal in the Olympics.”

Indeed, life is not about duration but donation. How much do we give to our time? It is about how we value our time. It is about the proper timing.  Do we spend our time here on earth setting the proper timing? Do we spend our time here on earth by doing well and avoiding evil? When the end of time comes, can you say that you are on the proper timing?

 Photo taken from http://cdn.listaka.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/time.jpg

VIVA CRISTO REY

SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

Dn 7: 13 -14 / Ps 93 / Rv 1: 5 – 8 / Jn 18: 33 – 37

What comes to your mind when you hear the word, “king?” For sure, many of you would associate the word “king” with greatness, honor, fame, and glory. No wonder the word “king” has been used in many of our products in order to connote greatness and superiority from the others like Tapa King, Burger King, Chow King, King Roll, and Aringking King! To be a king means to be great, honorable, powerful, and famous.

Today, holy Mother Church ends her liturgical calendar with the celebration of the solemnity of Christ the King. However, if you notice in our Gospel today, we meet a Jesus who is not kingly. Instead, we meet a Jesus chained, interrogated, and put to a trial. We meet an innocent Jesus accused falsely by the Pharisees and scribes of the law. Simply said, our Gospel today presents to us a suffering Cristo Rey!

Thus, we ask ourselves, what makes Christ the King of heaven and earth? Where does his greatness, power, and fame lie? In our Gospel, Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He was asking on the identity of Jesus. Nevertheless, Jesus responded by saying, “if my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting…But my kingdom is not here… I came into this world to testify to the truth.” Jesus’ kingship lies not here on earth but in heaven. Jesus’ power is not on the number of tanks and armies but on the power of love. Jesus’ greatness lies not on his strength to fight but on his endurance at the cross. My dear friends, if you want to have a graphic picture of Christ the King just look at the Christ crucified on the cross.

Today, we cry out to the whole world that Christ is King, Viva Cristo Rey! However, as we claim his kingship, we are also reminded of our identity – that we are his followers. However, we are not simply blind followers because Christ himself has called us as his friends. Let us therefore be true followers of Christ the King by being “imitators of him.”

Just as Jesus fought evil through his sacrifice on the cross then let us fight our present day evil by learning how to sacrifice. Let us sacrifice our pride by being humble and forgiving to others. Let us sacrifice our greed by being generous and kind. Let us sacrifice our indifference by being loving and lovable.

Last Friday the Thirteenth, November 2015, Paris was under terrorist attack. We heard of many people who were brutally murdered inside the Bataclan Concert Hall. A few days after, Antoine Leiris, whose wife was among those who were killed at the concert hall, posted on his Facebook account a message to the terrorists. “I will not grant you the gift of my hatred. You're asking for it, but responding to hatred with anger is falling victim to the same ignorance that has made you what you are…We are just two, my son and me, but we are stronger than all the armies in the world…and for his whole life this little boy will threaten you by being happy and free.”

Antoine Leiris fought hatred by not hating. He is strong not because of many armies but because of his little boy. He threatened terrorism not by revenge but by living free and happy. For me, Antoine Leiris is a man who truly follows Christ his King. He is a man who amidst terror and anger opted to imitate the life of Christ the King.

How about us? Is Christ really our King? Does he truly rule in our lives? Amen!

Photo taken from www.catholicworldreport.com

A REUNION OF LOVE

33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dn 12: 1 – 3 / Ps 16 / Heb 10: 11 – 14, 18 / Mk 13: 24 – 32

Malls are Christmas ready. Decorations have been placed. Christmas carols are heard on the airwaves. As they eagerly await for their bonuses, people are also busy planning for their parties. Everyone is excited for Christmas.

However our readings today seem to run the contrary. No one is excited in the sun becoming dark, the moon losing light, and stars falling from the sky. Nevertheless, our first and Gospel readings today are examples of apocalyptic literature. The word “apocalyptic” comes from the Greek word, “apokaluptein,” which means “to uncover, to pull back the veil.” Thus, when we read these texts, we do not stick to what is presented before us. Rather, we uncover the veil in order to find something new. Therefore, when Jesus told his disciples our Gospel reading today, he was not making them fearful and worried. Instead, he was pulling back the veil; he was uncovering to them something –  “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” He was telling his disciples and us today that yes, there will be an end, but the end is not about darkness and dryness. It is about a reunion of love; an encounter of the wretched humanity and the gracious God. No wonder the early Christians prayed, Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

My dear friends, this is also our challenge today. I know at the moment that we are all busy. We are all busy doing both good and bad things. And such busy lifestyle can lead us to forgetfulness. Little by little, we place a lot of veils and covers in our lives to the point of forgetting the core of our being who is God.  Thus, our Gospel today is a reminder that at the end of our lives, God will pull back the veils which we have used to cover our lives. St. John of the Cross has said, “at the end of our lives, we will be judged according to love.” And since the end of life is a reunion of love, then, God will use his love to uncover our burdened and heavily covered lives.

And so my dear friends, what therefore concerns us is the present. Since at the end of life, God will meet us again for a reunion of love, then, let us fill our present, our here and now with love! Do not procrastinate in loving. Some of us would simply say, “I forgive you but I’ll never forget what you have done.” Some of us can live even without talking to their husbands or wives. Kung Fu Panda has this to say, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that is why it is called the present.” Starting today, let us give gifts of love by practicing generosity, mercy, kindness, and compassion. We do all these because we are all aware that at the end of the world is not destruction and darkness but a reunion of love.

Last Friday the 13^th, Paris has been attacked. Suicide bombings were heard outside the football stadium. Violence was experienced inside a Camobian restaurant. Many were killed and held hostage at a concert hall in the city. If you were there, you could probably say that it was the end of the world. But a survivor narrated that when he and others went up on the roof of the concert hall, someone opened his apartment window for them to enter and be kept safe. Amidst the darkness, God pulled the veil of violence, and allowed love to triumph. This is also our call today – never procrastinate in loving; give love without counting the cost because in the end it will all be about a reunion of love. Amen.

"ALL OF ME"

Thirty – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kgs 17: 10 – 16 / Ps 146 / Heb 9: 24 – 28 / Mk 12: 38 – 44 or 41 – 44

John Legend in his famous song, All of Me, has this to say: “I’ll give my all to you, you’re my end and my beginning even when I lose I’m winning cause I give you all of me.” However, these words of John Legend seem no longer true today. Why should I give my all to you at baka iiwanan mo lang ako? Why should I give my all to you at baka sasaktan mo lang ako? Why should I give my all to you at baka niloloko mo lang ako? I’d rather give my all for my SSS – Savings, Security, and Safety!

My dear friends, we are now on the 32^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In both first and Gospel readings today, we meet widows who teach us a very important aspect of Christian living – that is generosity. In our first reading, we meet the poor widow of Zarephath who despite of her poverty, gave all that she had in order to bake bread for the prophet Elijah. In our Gospel, we meet the poor widow who went up to the treasury and gave her “two small coins worth a few cents.” In our readings today, we encounter two widows who gave their all thus losing their savings for the future and their security and safety for the present. Yet, their generosity did not go unrewarded. The widow at Zarephath had an unlimited supply of flour and oil while the widow at the treasury was praised by Our Lord Jesus.

From our own human point of view, what the widows did in our readings were disastrous. They sacrificed their savings, security, and safety. Where will they get their provisions, their money? How can they be secured and be safe now that they have given their all? Pope Benedict XVI comments on the generosity of these widows when he said, “their generosity is a consequence of faith; an inner attitude of those who base their lives on God and trust wholly in Him.” The widows were generous all because of faith and confidence in the generosity of the Father in heaven.

My dear friends, this is our lesson for today as we celebrate the 32^nd Sunday in Ordinary – that we give our all without fear of losing our savings, security, and safety all because of our faith and trust in the providence of God.

Today, November 8, we mark the 2^nd anniversary of super typhoon Yolanda. Yes, it has claimed the lives of thousand innocent people. Yet, Yolanda has also awakened the hearts of people to be more generous, to give their all!

“During a relief effort a poor widow donated a powdered milk that was already open, saying “That’s the only help I can give to the people in Leyte. I really have nothing right now, but this can be still given to the children there. They will like it because it’s Bearbrand.”

“Volunteers in a drop-off station reported that Benjie came near to the station and handed to him 1 Peso (about $0.077). Apparently, he was giving his “donation” taken from the proceeds of his begging. That caught everyone by surprise. But the story doesn’t end there. Several minutes later, Benjie came back to the station and again gave another Peso coin (apparently this was after he was given 1 Pesos by begging). Maybe he realized that his first donation was not enough that’s why he came back and gave another peso.”

The widow at Zarephath, the widow at the treasury, the widow who gave her opened powdered milk, and Benjie who donated 2 pesos – they were able to give their all because in the very first place, they have been attracted to Jesus who has given his all for the salvation of all. How about us? How about you? Are we willing to give our all?

And so we pray the prayer taught to us by St. Ignatius:

“Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous;

teach me to serve you as you deserve,

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labor and not to seek reward,

except that of knowing that I do your will.”

Amen.

Photo taken from www.churchleaders.com