WATER IS LIFE

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Alt. Reading Is.55:1-11; Is.12:2-3.4.5-6; 1Jn 5:1-9; Mk.1:7-11

Water is life! 60% of an adult human body is water. About 71% of the Earth surface is water-covered. We cannot live without water! We use it in all our human activities. Even in expressing our feelings, we use water – in tears of joy or sadness. Water is life!

Even in our alternative readings on this solemnity of the Lord’s baptism, there is an abundance of water! Such word, “water,” is repeated ten times in the three readings and psalm for today. And one can imagine how “watery” our Gospel scene. John amidst a large number of crowd was preaching and baptizing using the waters of the River Jordan. He was reminding the people that just as water is needed for them to live, his baptism by water is also necessary as they prepare for the coming of the Lord.

Water is life! However, things take a different meaning when Jesus entered into the scene. Humbly, he submitted himself to John for baptism not for the remission of his sins but to commence his ministry of immersing himself into the lives of the people especially the poor and the marginalized. St. Maximus of Turin in his sermon beautifully proclaims, “Christ is baptized, not to be made holy by the water, but to make the water holy, and by his cleansing to purify the waters which he touched.” At his baptism, Jesus offers us a new life-giving water that quenches not only our temporal thirst but our thirst for meaning and existence.  Jesus gives us his very own life as our source of living water.

How can we avail of such living water? In our first reading from the prophet Isaiah, God is inviting us to “come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” Not through a litany of words or noisy preaching can we avail of the Living Water but through listening. We listen not only with our minds but also with our hearts. Simply said, we allow God to speak to us; to reveal his message of salvation in our lives.

In our second reading from the first letter of John, the Beloved reminds us that “for the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments.” And we all know that God has only one commandment – to love. The Living Water can only satisfy our thirst if we ourselves love that is if we become “living water” to those who are suffering and in pain.

The entire nation is very busy these days as we finally welcome the arrival of Pope Francis on January 15, 2015. Everyone is busy with the details in order to have a safe and successful apostolic visit. Everyone is excited to see and probably to touch “even the tassel of his tunic.” However, may his visit remind us not of the papacy but Jesus the Living Water. May we see in the face of Pope Francis not the “down to earth” Cardinal Bergoglio but Jesus, the Living Water, who gives our lives a different meaning and direction. May the awe-inspiring gestures of Pope Francis remind us of our identity that we are born to love. Let us remind ourselves, that the Pope comes not in his own name but in the name of Jesus, the name above every other name.

Water is life. According to H.H. Mitchell, in the Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, “the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.” Indeed, our human body needs a lot of water in order to survive. Yet our soul needs 100% Living Water in order to survive, to live, and to love. Amen!

N.B. Picture is taken from https://www.google.com.ph/search?kangensui.us%252Fwater%252F%3B1920%3B1200

BEGINNING IN LOVE

THURSDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

1 John 4:19–5:4; Psalm 72; Luke 4:14–22

We are still in the season of beginnings! We are still in the beginning month of the new year 2015. Only four days have passed since we began our second semester. And probably all of us today are beginning to feel excited because exactly a week from now, Pope Francis will finally walk on Philippine soil. And on a more personal note, today, January 8, also marks the beginning of the novena to Sr. Santo Nino.

Our Gospel today also marks the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus according to the version of Luke. Jesus, on a Sabbath day, entered into a synagogue, took the scroll, and borrowing the words of the prophet Isaiah, laid out his mission on earth. After returning the scroll to the attendant, he claimed that “today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And everyone was amazed at what they have heard.

First impressions last. What impression then can we get from this beginning narrative of Jesus’s public ministry? Our first reading gives us the answer when John said, “This is the commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” Thus, Jesus proclaims liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed, all because he loves God. Thus, he must also love his brother.

Indeed, such impression lasted because the last episode in the Lukan version of the public ministry of Jesus is all about Zacchaeus who experienced such love from Jesus when he came down from the tree and welcomed him at home.

This is then our challenge—that we begin our year, our semester, and every day of our lives right by always falling and staying in love with God and neighbors. It is not an ideal or verbose kind of love. But a love, according to Pope Benedict, “that is a light, the only light—that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working.” However, we must persevere in our loving because sometimes when God’s love seems vague and dry, we easily turn ourselves to other “loves” that are fancy and fleeting.

We are still in the season of beginnings. We are now beginning to meet our new set of either lax or demanding professors. We are now beginning to experience once again the “joys and sorrows” of seminary formation. Yet over and above these things, we are now called to persevere in love until the end so that in the beginning of our lives, God will tell us, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in his life,” and at its end, he too will tell us, “Today, salvation has entered into this person for he has loved me more dearly, more sincerely, and more intimately.” Amen.

THE STAR OF THE POOR

EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Is.60:1-6; Ps.72; Eph.3:2-3a,5-6; Mt.2:1-12

It’s only less than three weeks before Pope Francis will visit for the first time the Pearl of the Orient Seas, the Philippines. However, since it was first announced, preparations have been made in order to better dispose the people during his visit. Different activities were done in order to make known the life and ministry of the Holy Father. Recollections and lectures were all geared towards the coming of the Pope.  In order to really reach out to the masses, Pope standees were displayed in churches and other public spaces. All these were done in order to “reveal” to everyone the man behind the name, Pope Francis.

Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this feast, Jesus is made known this time to all peoples. The glory of Jesus is revealed to people outside Israel. The visit of the shepherds marked the revelation of Jesus to Israel. In today’s Gospel, in the visit of the magi, Jesus is revealed to the whole world. In Jesus’ birth in the manger, we came to know of his humanity. In the magi’s adoration before the child inside the house, we came to know of his divinity.

We heard in our Gospel, that it was through the guidance of a star that the wise men from the East were able to locate the “newborn king of the Jews.” “And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star.”

In our lives, we are also like the magi – we search for Jesus. No matter how many times we deny Him, in the end, there is still that desire to look for Him, who gives us life in abundance. Of course, it is not the reading of the stars (horoscope) that leads us to Jesus. The star represents the people who have been sent by God in our lives in order to bring us closer to Jesus. Immediately, we think those who are easy to love and deal with. However, the Lord sometimes allows the unlovable and the difficult people to become “stars” in our lives. And if we seriously deal with these people, then time will come when we will be overjoyed because we have seen the Lord.

The Philippine Church has marked this year as the “Year of the Poor.” The poor forms the majority of Filipinos. We can see the poor anywhere along the streets, under bridges, and even making the dirty and dusty sidewalks as their place to spend the cold night. This is therefore our challenge today – that we too consider the poor as the “stars” who will lead us to Jesus. Jesus was born in a poor family. He remained a poor and died a poor man’s death on the cross. Thus, the face of Jesus remains imprinted on the poor. Let us then try to look and serve the poor because they can surely lead us to Jesus.

After the star brought the magi to Jesus, they went home to their country by another route. When the Pope comes to visit us, may we see him as a “star” who can lead us to Jesus so that we will return to ourselves refreshed and renewed. However, even after his visit, may we too consider the poor as the “star” who can bring us too Jesus so that we will also return home by another and better way. Amen! 

HOW IS YOUR FAMILY TODAY?

HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, JOSEPH, AND MARY SUNDAY

Sir.3:2-6,12-14; Ps.105; Col.3:12-17; Lk.2:22-40

How is your family today? Before, at exactly six in the evening, children are at home to pray the angelus. Today, at 6pm, children leave home for some “la vida noche.” Before, over dinner, parents and children are busy not just eating but also sharing one another’s experiences. Today, during dinner, it’s either the television set or the keypads of cellphones which are very noisy. Before, it’s more fun in the Filipino family because siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews live together. Today, it’s better to be alone than to be with the irresponsible husband or unfaithful wife. How is your family today?

Today, Holy Mother Church is celebrating Holy Family Sunday. We remember that simple and lowly family of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. If we read the Lukan infancy narratives, we see the “nothingness” of such family. They have no horse for travel but a donkey. They have no room to lay down the child but a manger. They have no royal visitors but simple shepherds. However, such “nothingness” continues until today the shining and shimmering model for all families. Thus, being aware of the shifting values and diminishing family virtues, let us learn today from the family at Nazareth!

In our Gospel, we heard Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple to be presented to the Lord “in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.” Jesus was offered back to where he truly belongs – to God, the Most High. This is therefore our first step in order to strengthen our families – to offer them back to God. We become a family not purely because of our own making. God blessed such union in the sacrament of marriage and graced such coming together with the gift of children. Just as Jesus was brought to the Temple, let us bring our families to God through prayer. Sometimes, when family life becomes weary and burdensome, probably, it is because we have forgotten to pray together. Fr. Payton’s words remain true until today, “The family that prays together, stays together.”

The Catholic Church teaches that the family is an “image of the Trinity.” And who is this Trinity? It is a “community of life and love.” Thus, our families, too, are communities of life and love.” The family becomes a mere organization when it ceases to become a haven of life and love. Love is the binding force that gives life in every family. Take away love, then everything else will crumble and shatter into broken pieces of anger, hatred, and indifference. How are we to show such life – giving love? Our first and second readings today give us a rich list of “expressions of family loving.” Sirach reminds children to honor and take care of their fathers and mothers because “he stores up riches who reveres his mother…he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.” St. Paul reminds us to “put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.”

In this Holy Family Sunday, let us remind our own families that we are “Christian” families! Hence, let us offer ourselves back to God through prayer and practice within our families the many “expressions of love.”

After blessing the house of a poor family, the father gave me an envelope for my stipend. Seeing the difficult situation at home, I returned the envelope back to him as my fiesta gift for the family. However, the father told me to keep the envelope. He said, “Rev., please keep the envelope with you. Though it is only a small amount, it is our way of thanking God and San Roque for continuously sending to my family his blessings. Despite our poverty, all my fourteen children are in school. Despite our difficulty, we are still able to eat three times a day.” How about you? How is your family today?

WELCOME HOME!

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

2 Sam.7:1-5,8-12,14,16; Ps.89; Rom.16:25-27; Lk.1:26-38

What is the difference between a “house” and a “home”? Aside from their spelling, a “house” is a mere structure, a building with divisions and partitions inside while a “home” is a place where you are with you loved ones. A “home” goes beyond the limits and boundaries of the house. That is why when you are in another place, the host will always say to you, “This is your second home. Consider us as your new home.”

In our first reading, King David after settling in his palace and enjoying his rest from his enemies realized that the Lord has no place to dwell in. “ Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And so, he decided to build the Lord a house. However, towards the end of the reading, the Lord revealed to David through Nathan “that God will establish a house for you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne stand firm forever.” God did not allow David to build him a house. It was God who build David not just a house but a home where his ancestors can dwell forever.

In our Gospel reading, we heard of God the Father building a home for His only Son in the womb of the Virgin Mary through the annunciation of the angel Gabriel. Like the home of David which shall endure until the end, inside the womb of Mary, dwells Jesus who “will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  

What happened in our Gospel is what Paul in our second reading refers to as the “mystery kept secret for long ages has now been manifested” through the angel’s announcement and Mary’s fiat.

Hence we ask ourselves, what made Mary the chosen home of Jesus, the Son of God?

First, Mary is the chosen home of Jesus because God filled her with grace! “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Being filled with God’s grace also means that she was empty with her own self. Mary was filled to the brim all because of her emptiness. In fact, such fullness of grace was so great that even sin has no place in her life. She was immaculately conceived!

Second, Mary is the chosen home of Jesus not only because she was filled with God’s grace but also because she was humble enough to accept God’s outpouring of grace in her life. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”  Mary was never coerced. It was as Paul mentions in his letter to the Philippians, “the obedience of faith.”

We are now in the fourth Sunday of Advent. Last Sunday, we were called to rejoice for the Lord is near. Today, our liturgical color shifts back to violet from pink. This means that we are now on our final call to repentance, to empty ourselves, so that like Mary, we will also be filled with God’s grace. We empty ourselves so that God can find a home in our hearts where he shall stay forever.

When someone who has left home for quite some time has returned, we usually say, “Welcome Home!” Indeed, it is true that “there is no other place like home!” As we draw near Christmas, may we truly welcome Jesus, our guest, in our empty selves so that He will fill us with his love and mercy and say to him, “Jesus, welcome home!” Amen!

Photo taken from http://fbcocc.com/welcome-home-college-students/

"WITNESS TO THE LIGHT"

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

(GAUDETE SUNDAY)

Is. 61: 1-2a,10-11; Lk 1:46-48,49-50,53-54; 1 Thes.5: 16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

Christmas season is always associated with lights! No wonder, electric bills rise up and fire – related incidents increase every December all because of the many “kumukutikutikap” decorations inside and outside our homes. But have you ever wondered why people put up these multi – colored lights only during Christmas? I have never seen a house decorated with a lantern during Holy Week. I have never been into a birthday party of a friend whose house is adorned with Christmas lights. Why only during this time of the year?

Today, we are now in the Third Sunday of Advent which is also known as Gaudete Sunday! This Sunday invites all of us to rejoice (gaudete) because the long – awaited Messiah is near. In our Gospel, John the Baptist reminds us of the very reason for our rejoicing. We will only come to an experience of the fullness of joy if we become a “witness to the Light.” And who is this Light? Why can he give us the reason to rejoice?

The Prophet Isaiah in our first reading reveals to us the mission of this Light. “He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God.” The same text is quoted by Jesus himself in his inaugural speech at the synagogue before commencing his Galilean ministry. (see Luke 4:18 - 19)  This Light witnessed by John is Jesus Christ. Like the sun which gives light to every living being on earth, Jesus, the primordial Light, gives us life through glad tidings, healing to the ill, liberty to the oppressed, and favor from the Lord. Hence, we rejoice not only for the coming of Jesus but because such coming signals the beginning of new life, new opportunities, new grace.

Since our mission is to become a “witness to the Light” so that we can attain joy, how then are we to carry out such call? The Apostle Paul in our second reading today gives us practical suggestions on how to become a “witness to the Light.” “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks! Do not quench the Spirit. Retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil! “Simply said, to be a witness means to continue the life and mission of Jesus, the Light, here on earth. Isaiah has already revealed to us the task of the Light. Jesus himself claimed such prophecy fulfilled in his person. As witnesses and followers of the Light, it is then our mission to continue what He has begun by rejoicing always, by praying without ceasing, by thanking in all circumstances, by retaining good and refraining from evil because “this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Like light which expels darkness, may our lives brighten those living in the darkness of sin. May our lives lighten the burden of those oppressed by the evil structures of society. May those who are poor because of poverty or sin, look at Jesus, through the light of our lives.

One of the main reasons why people put up Christmas lights and lanterns only during this time of the year is because it has been part of tradition that these decorations are only for Christmas. Thus, these lights while looking at them “singing and blinking” can only give us fleeting joy. When it is out of season, we remove them. However, the Light of Christ is lasting. It cannot be extinguished whether in and out of season because He is eternal. And only when we are able to “witness to the Light” can we re-echo the words of our psalmist today, “My soul rejoices in my God.” Amen!

* PHOTO TAKEN FROM GOOGLE.COM  (DESKTOPWALLPAPERS4.ME)

JOHN, THE FORECASTER

Second Sunday of Advent

Is.40:1-5,9-11; Ps.85; 2Pt.3:8-14; Mk.1:1-8, Cycle B

For the past few days, all our eyes have been brought to the eye of typhoon Ruby. Occupying our television screen is the hourly update of the track and intensity of the typhoon. Thanks to the different weather forecast stations here and abroad for supplying us with the most needed information for us to be better equipped and prepared as we await for Ruby's landfall. Thus, we realize the importance of weather forecasting here in our country which is very vulnerable to occasional typhoons from the great Pacific.

We are now in the Second Sunday of Advent. In our Gospel today, we heard of a "forecaster" in the person of John the Baptist. However, John is not providing us with an hourly update of typhoon Ruby. Rather, he is preaching in the wilderness of the coming of the Messiah, who can calm every storm and banish any fear in life-Jesus the Christ.

Now we ask ourselves, who is John the Baptist? Our readings today provide us with an answer. In our second reading taken from the second letter of Peter, the Apostle admonishes his friends that "while waiting for this (the day of the Lord), make every effort to be found without stain or defilement, and at peace in his sight." This admonition is true in the life of John the Baptist. He was the precursor of Jesus and while waiting for his coming, he spent his life purifying it from stain and consecrating it to the Lord. And this truth is vividly described in our Gospel when Mark said that "John was clothed in camel's hair, and wore a leather belt around his waist. His food was grasshoppers and wild honey." His life was as an anticipation, a preparation for the coming day of the Lord.

In our first reading taken from the book of Isaiah, the Prophet tells us of "a voice crying out in the wilderness, “make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!." This voice is fulfilled in our Gospel when John "appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance which led to the forgiveness of sins." He did not preach about himself but about the Lord who is more powerful than he and who will baptize the people in the Holy Spirit.

From our readings we realize two things about John the Baptist. First, he himself prepared for the coming of the day of the Lord. He consecrated his life to his mission as the precursor of the Messiah. Second, after his preparation, he announced to all peoples about the coming of the Lord. From these realizations, we are then challenged in this second Sunday of Advent to be like John the Baptist!

Yes, we are all waiting for Christmas Day. Yet the season of Advent also reminds us that we are also waiting for the second coming of Christ. Hence, we are in a period of waiting, of preparing for the coming day of the Lord. Thus, like John, we have also to prepare ourselves. We have to consecrate ourselves to the Lord not by wearing a camel's hair or eating grasshoppers and wild honey but by putting on humility and filling ourselves with God's mercy and compassion.

Like John who proclaimed to his people, we, too, are called to proclaim the coming of the Lord not by word of mouth but by life witness. If you notice, disaster preparedness always involves reminding us with the basic preparations like securing our homes, setting aside food and medicine, staying indoors, etc. The same is true in our Christian life, we announce to others the coming of the Lord by reminding them of the basics - to love, to forgive, to give, to share, to help, to pray, etc.

Weather forecasting especially in our country has been known to always fail probably because of our poor equipment and lack of budget. However, John's "forecasting" was effective because he himself practiced what he preached. He himself prepared the way of the Lord. Our preaching too will also be effective if in the very first place we "walk the talk."

May we learn from the man named, John. May we practice what he preached - "Repent and prepare the way of the Lord for he is near!" Amen!