GOOD FOR TWO

Twenty - First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 66: 18 – 21 / Ps 117 / Heb 12: 5 – 7 / Lk 13: 22 – 30

What is your dream in life?

For students, I’m sure that to graduate with flying colors is a dream to achieve. How about those of you who are married? What is your dream as a husband? Nga unta ma buotan na imong asawa (That the wife becomes  a good wife)? As a wife, what is your dream? Nga unta mo-remit og insakto imong bana (That that the husband will remit the exact amount coming from his salary)? Kamong mga bag-o lang gibuwagan (you who have just lost a relationship), what is your dream in life? Nga unta marunong nang matuto ulit magmahal ang iyong puso (that perhaps the heart will learn to love again)? Yes, we have varied dreams but I hope as Christians, we share this common dream, and that is to go to heaven.

Jesus is reminding us in our Gospel today that to enter heaven, we must pass through the narrow gate. But why is the gate narrow? Why not a wide open gate so that many can enter?

My dear friends, Jesus, in telling us about the narrow gate, teaches us that the invitation to go to heaven is for all, however, not many can enter together because each has to pass through the narrow gate, one by one. To go to heaven is an individual task; to go to heaven is not a package deal nor a group travel.

So we ask another question, what can make us enter through the narrow gate?

Going back to our Gospel, we see that the people were rejected because the master of the house did not know where they are from. Yet, the people insisted that they ate and drank with him and even taught in their streets. But the Master told them, “depart from me all you evildoers!”

From the story, we realize that what can make us enter heaven is not on our race, color, or class but on our integrity which is being whole and undivided. The people in our Gospel today failed in integrity because even if Jesus was dining, drinking, and teaching them, they remained unconvinced to accept him as the Messiah. They failed in loving the Lord in words and works.

This is therefore our challenge: if we want to go to heaven, then, let us not merely express such dream through words. Rather, we must work for it here on earth. If we remember the words of St. Therese of the Child Jesus when she said, “I will spend heaven by doing good on earth!”

Let us make heaven here on earth. Let us make others experience heaven through our words and works. Kana ganing makaingon ang uban kanato, “Langit sa piling mo (It is like when people say, ‘it is heaven by your side)!”Kana ganing malipay ang uban kon naa ta (It is when people are joyful in our presence). Kana ganing molu-ag ilang mga gihunahuna kon naa ta (It is when people become light-minded if we are around).

My dear friends, let us start making our dreams come true by building heaven here on earth. So that at the end of our lives, we can pass through the narrow gate and enter into the presence of the Lord.

There was this widower who at the entrance gate of heaven told St. Peter, “Dro, buotan kaayo to akong asawa. Kada Lunes, mosimba gyud to siya sa menteryo. Martes hangtod Huwebes, mo-volunteer gyud to siya sa orphanage. Every Friday, naa gyud to siya sa Basilica kay kolektora man siya. Kada Sabado, moapil gyud to siya sa aurora kada kadlawon. Ug every Sunday, kaduha gyud to siya mosimba. Usa para iya ang usa para ako.”

And so, St. Peter asked, “what do you want me to do for you?

And the husband replied, Tungod kay minyo man mi Dro, so good for two nato iyang mga gibuhat sa buhi pa siya. Busa pasudla ko sa langit.

But St. Peter replied, “pasensya na Sir kay ang pagsulod sa imong asawa dinhi sa langit good for 2 man to!”

(There was this widower who, at the entrance gate of heaven, told St. Peter, “My wife was a very good wife. Every Monday she goes to Mass at the cemetery. Tuesdays through Thursdays she would volunteer at the orphanage. On Fridays she was always at the Basilica since she was one of the collectors there. On Saturdays she would be participating in the aurora at dawn. She would even hear Mass twice on Sundays, one for me and one for herself.”

And so, St. Peter asked, “what do you want me to do for you?

The husband replied, “Because I was married to her, whatever good she did during her life was good for two, so right now, you can allow me to enter heaven.”

But St. Peter replied, “Excuse me Sir but your wife’s entry here in Heaven was good for 2”)

My dear friends, to go to heaven is an invitation for everyone. But to enter through it means to pass through a narrow gate. And so, do not rely on the goodness of others. Rather, wake up from your sleep and start working hard by spending heaven by doing good here on earth. Amen.

PRINCE OF PEACE OR LORD OF DIVISION

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 38: 4 – 6, 8 – 10 / Ps 40 / Heb 12: 1 – 4 / Luke 12: 49 – 53

We do not like to be divided. We would rather opt for the whole rather than its parts.

Those who love to eat would like a whole chicken than just a drumstick. Those who are into relationships, katong naay mga uyab o mga minyo ba kaha, do not like a partner who has a divided heart. Ka-alkanse nimo no, minahal mo siya ng buong buo pero may mahal pala siyang iba (those who either have sweethearts or married, they do not like partners who have divided hearts; it seem unfair when you loved them completely, and yet, they have their attention one someone else). Now, if you find these to be true, then indeed you will agree with me that we do not like divisions. The whole is always better than its parts.

The prophet Isaiah once proclaimed, “for to us a child is born, a son is given to us, and he shall be called Prince of Peace.” However, the contrary seems to happen in our Gospel today. This Prince of Peace claims that he has not come to establish peace on earth but division.  And so, we ask, “Is Jesus really the Prince of Peace or the Lord of Division?”

My dear friends, in the course of His ministry, Jesus created many divisions because of his words and works. That woman who was due for stoning because of adultery, Jesus reacted with: “If anyone of you has not sin, let him cast the first stone on her.” Jesus’ words did not match the people’s words. Or in the case of the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus cured him even if it was a Sabbath. Again, Jesus’ works did not match people’s works.

If we truly live out the demands of Christian discipleship, we will see that our words and works will surely run contrary to the words and works of the world today. For instance, we are called to choose life, to defend life from birth to death and yet our leaders advocate the return of death penalty. It is sad and this disparity create divisions.

My dear friends, our challenge is not about avoiding divisions because we never cannot run away from divisions. Because of our differences, then, divisions will always be there. Only in heaven will there be no division because we are all fixed on God Almighty.

Our challenge therefore this Sunday is that we choose God. We choose our Lord Jesus Christ. How? By attuning our words and works to the words and works of Jesus. And how do we attune ourselves to Jesus? By following what our second reading is telling us that is to rid ourselves from every sin. I hope we choose Christ! I hope we choose God no matter what happens to us.

I once met a mother who shared with me her story. She was a battered wife. She is aware that her husband has another partner. And so, she has to transfer to another residence. She was left to taking care of her three children. Working hard as a labandera, she managed to send all her children to school. However, her life has been filled with many unfortunate events. Her eldest, after graduation, got impregnated; her second daughter, after finding a job, left home. In the meantime, her third daughter was a special child. And so, aside from washing clothes, she also has to attend to the needs of her special child. One day, she was informed that her husband was on his death bed. What did she do? She rushed to the hospital to forgive him; he who has caused her so much pain.

That mother is an example of someone whose words and works have been attuned to the words and works of Jesus. Despite the many divisions she experienced in her life, she remains to be a disciple of the Lord. Like that mother, may our words and works always re-echo the words and works of Jesus come what may. Amen.

“GIRD YOUR LOINS AND LIGHT YOUR LAMPS”

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney Sunday

Wis 18: 6 – 9 / Ps 33 / Heb 11: 1 – 2. 8 – 19 / Lk 12: 32 – 48 or 35 – 40

What comes into your mind the moment you wake up from sleep?

You might say, “I immediately think about the activities during the day. Imo dayong hunahunaon if imo bang awayon imong bana karon. Maghunahuna dayon ka ug rason nganong dili ka mobayad sa imong utang. Maghunahuna dayon ka unsaon pagpagwapa (You might think how you will ensue a fight with your husband; or what reasons to give so as not to be able to pay a debt; or maybe, how to make yourself pretty the whole day). I am sure no one of you here will think of the last things like the end of the world, the return of Jesus Christ, or even your own death. Upon waking up, I am sure no one among you will say, “Basin karon na matapos ang kalibutan. Basin karon na ‘ko mamatay” (Today might be the end of the world; or, I might die today).

Every time we wake up, we always think of the present and only the present, isn’t it?

That is why my dear friends, Jesus in our Gospel today is reminding us that there is always an end; that despite how busy we are, we must not forget that someday the Lord will return, and his return is like that of the master in our Gospel today whose arrival took place unexpectedly.

“Gird your loins”

During the time of Jesus, people wore long and flowing robes like what I am wearing today. As you can see, with this kind of attire, one cannot move freely; one cannot work well. That is why they needed to gird their loins. Girding one’s loins means fastening the robes with a belt so that one can freely move.

But what does that mean to us?

My dear friends, fastening our robes means, being active in our service to others. Last Sunday, Jesus reminded us not to be greedy with our possessions. Today, he invites us to fasten our robes so that we can serve others actively. We must not busy our lives today by enriching ourselves with fame, power, and money. Remember the words of Mother Teresa, “if you cannot feed a hundred people, then feed just one today.” And so, it is also true, if you cannot serve a hundred people, then serve just one today.

“Light your lamps”

Going back to our Gospel, the servants were asked to light their lamps because the arrival of the master takes place while it was still dark.

My dear friends, as we try to actively serve others today, we also cannot deny the truth that difficulties happen along the way. As you serve your wife, you still cannot run away from her “noisy” attitude. As you serve your husband, he still remains a palahubog (drunk) and a sugarol (gambler). As you serve your children, they still continue to disrespect you. Since we experience difficulties in our service, we must therefore light also our lamps, the lamp of faith. And what is this faith? Pope Francis tells us that it is not a light which scatter all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and enough for the journey.” Faith, therefore, is God’s accompanying presence in our lives. We light our lamps of faith so that when the Lord comes, we will truly see him despite the difficulties of life.

My dear friends, the truth remains to be true – that someday, in a day we do not expect, Jesus will return in glory. And so, as we busy ourselves today with the concerns of the present, I hope and pray that we learn to gird our loins, to fasten our robes, so that we can actively serve others. And as we experience the difficulties of life, we light the lamp of faith – God’s accompanying presence in our lives.

So, what comes into your mind the moment you wake up from sleep? A better question might be: who comes into your mind the moment you wake up from sleep? Whoever that person is, gird your loins and serve that person. If he is your friend, then serve him. If he is your enemy, then maybe you can pray for him. As you serve others, never forget to light your lamp of faith. Never forget to acknowledge God’s accompanying presence in your lives. Amen.