BEING PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Ezk.17: 22-24; Ps.92; 2 Cor.5:6-10; Mk. 4: 26-35

According to the United Nations World Food Program, 21,000 people die every day because of hunger or hunger-related causes. This is one person every four seconds. The Missionaries of Africa also noted that more than one billion people do not have enough clean water to provide for their needs. Thus, 2,500 children die each day due to thirst. With these horrifying figures, we are made to ask ourselves, if Jesus has established the Kingdom of God here on earth, why such a high number of deaths?

Early on in Mark 1: 15, Jesus proclaimed that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand.” Moving forward in our Gospel today, Jesus explained to the people in parables what the Kingdom of God is like. And so, in this 11^th Sunday in Ordinary time, let us reflect on three characteristics on the Kingdom of God and how these qualities challenge our lives today.

In our first reading today which is another parable, we read that the Lord will tear off a tender shoot from the topmost branches of the cedar. In our Gospel, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed which is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. These images therefore teach us that the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth started small. When Jesus announced that the kingdom is at hand, such announcement remained insignificant among the people.

We have to accept the truth that in life, we cannot stop and end problems with a single bang. As an example, look at the apostolate of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa. For quite some time now, they have been trying to uplift people below the poverty line. However, until today, there are still many poor people. Yes, we cannot end problems grandiosely. Yet, we are part of the Kingdom of God. It is a different thing to do a small act and to do nothing at all. As members of the kingdom, we are also called to start small. And this is what Mother Teresa taught us. If we want to help the poor, start from your own backyard. We do not need to begin big because great things start from small beginnings. What is important then is our small and insignificant decision to choose that which sets our human hearts free.

In our first reading, Ezekiel tells us that after tearing off a tender shoot, the Lord will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. Soon it shall grow, put forth branches, bear fruit, and becomes a majestic cedar. In our Gospel, the Kingdom of God is likened to a man who scattered seed on the land. Later on, without him knowing how, the seed would sprout and grow. It will bear fruit and be ready for harvest.  These imageries tell us another quality of the Kingdom of God – that it is in progress. Establishing the kingdom of God here on earth does not happen overnight. It goes through a process of development.

Our fight against the injustices in the world and our own share of human suffering will continue to linger on in our lives. As the saying goes, “if it is not yet a happy ending, then, it is not yet the ending.” As members of the Kingdom of God, we have to remind ourselves of this reality – the ongoing struggle for peace in the world. Along the way, there will be a lot of challenges. But what is important is not success but our faithfulness to such “small and insignificant” decision we once made in our lives.

Finally, Ezekiel tells us that once it has become a majestic cedar, “birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.”  In our Gospel, Jesus tells us that the mustard seed once it becomes the largest of plants, birds of the sky will dwell on its shade. These tells us the final characteristic of the kingdom of God – it is meant to be shared for all.

We cannot put an end to human suffering all by ourselves. As members of the kingdom of God, we are called to share in the mission of Christ here on earth. Poverty, hunger, and the other problems in society cannot end if only a minority works. Everyone must do his part. Family problems cannot be solved if only the mother or the father is working. Everyone must cooperate. All must work so that everyone can truly and freely dwell in this world.

Poverty, hunger, and suffering in this world is only one side of the coin. We must not forget that Christ has long established God’s kingdom here on earth. And so, we are filled with hope to continue with our fight against the darkness of evil and sin. We do not act alone and in greatness for surely it will not last. Rather, let us begin with our “small and insignificant” choice to do better. Let us persevere along the journey and never forget that we have a companion. In the end, we can truly re-echo the words of St. Paul in our second reading today who said, "for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are courageous, and we would rther leave the body and go home to the Lord.” Amen.

THE "IN-Thing" IN MARRIAGE

A Homily on Marriage

John 2: 1 – 11 (The Wedding at Cana)

In the 2007 Marriage Statistics report, NSO has recorded 490, 054 registered marriages in the country. The report also notes that most of these marriages happened during the month of May. The marrying age for women is between 20 – 24 years old while for men between 25 – 29 years old. 41% of these marriages took place in civil courts while only 36% had their marriage solemnized in the Catholic Church.

I am sharing with you these figures because a few moments from now you will become part of this sector in society. After exchanging your vows and promising to hold on to each other before God, you will become one body. You will share one dream, one vision, one direction in life. That is why before I proceed, let me ask you a final question, “ Sure na ba kayo?” “Game na ba kayo?”

Our Gospel today taken from John is about Jesus together with his mother and the disciples being invited to a wedding. Noteworthy in this narrative is that the first miracle of Jesus took place not during his preaching or feeding of the five thousand but in a wedding. Thus, we have the impression on the significance of marriage in the life and ministry of Jesus.

Since marriage is the “IN Thing” these days rather than the priesthood or the religious life, let me then share with you three “IN” terms which we can draw from the Gospel story: INvitation, INtercession, and INspiration.

INVITATION

The Gospel begins with John telling us that Jesus together with his mother and his disciples were invited to a wedding feast in Cana in Galilee. This is probably the reason why the wine ran out because of the Twelve who were in attendance.

I know that months before this wedding day, you have sent a lot of invitations from friends and loved ones here and abroad. You were busy preparing the text, the lay-out, and the design of your invitation. However, I would like to believe that you have chosen to get married in the Church because this is your way of INVITING the Lord to join you in your married life. Let me then thank you for inviting the Lord to be with you at this very moment. However, such invitation does not end after the party and honeymoon. Friends, I ask you to continue inviting the Lord in your family life soon. How? By developing a prayer habit in your life. As Fr. Patrick puts it, “the family that prays together, stays together.” Just as conversations with your loved ones are needed for your relationship to last, you also need to converse with the Lord in prayer so that you can stay together as husband and wife and later on as parents to your children. As the famous lyrics of a song tells us, “in good times, in bad times, I’ll be on your side forevermore, that what friends are for." Please start befriending PRAYER today for the Lord will be on your side forevermore.

INTERCESSION

When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told his Son about the situation. At first, Jesus was hesitant. But in the end, he conceded to the request of his mother. Mary’s intercession worked!

In you married life, you too will experience a “running out of wine.” You will run out of time, talent, and treasure. You will become tired, lonely, worried, and wearied. However, do not forget to ask the intercession of those people close to you. After your wedding party, you try to go over the video of this Mass. Look at those people who joined you in your celebration. These are the people whom you can ask for help when you feel that you are running out of wine. Go to your parents, to your siblings, to your sponsors, to your friends, and to those who love you. Never ask help from “illegal wives or husbands!” But most especially, ask the intercession of Mary and the saints. Ask help from our Lord to give you not just an abundance but the choicest wine in your married life. Since you have invited him today, for sure, he will be most willing to help you soon.

INSPIRATION

After the experience of the first miracle, the narrative concludes with the disciples starting to believe in Jesus. The disciples were inspired by their Master.

Hindi ako naniniwala sa “isang linggong pag-ibig.” Let me tell you straight that marriage has no expiration date. Only death can end your married life. Thus, there is a need for each one of you to draw inspiration from one another. As you grow older in your married life, you will experience a lot of changes. Beauty, glory, and even your treasury will fade away. However, this fading away does not give you the reason to expire. Rather, you must be inspired to move on. The older the wine, the better. Your married life must be like an aged wine. Magkalami, magkadugay ug dili magkadugay, magkagutay-gutay!”

Friends, after this homily, before God and your loved ones, you will promise not to leave each other in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and only death can set you apart. I pray that you will always INVITE the Lord through your prayer life; INTERCEDE help from your loved ones; and INSPIRE one another come what may.

Marriage is an “IN Thing” today! Therefore, INVITE…INTERCEDE…AND INSPIRE!

Ed Sheeran has this to say “How many times do I have to tell you. Even when you’re crying, you’re beautiful too. The world is beating you down; but I’m around through every mood. ‘Cause all of me, loves all of you. Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections. ‘Cause all of me, loves all of you.”

Marriage is a proof that God loves you; that He loves all your curves and all your edges, and all your perfect imperfections. Friends, be like God! Though you are crying, though the world is beating you down, promise not to leave one another ‘cause all of me loves all of you.’ Amen!

Congratulations and best wishes!

Photo taken from http://cliparts.co/cliparts/piq/8Bo/piq8Boj5T.gif

A EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

Ex. 24: 3 – 8; Ps. 116; Heb. 9: 11 – 15; Mk. 14: 12 – 16. 22 – 26

It was in the 8^th century at Lanciano that the greatest Eucharistic miracle took place. After the two – fold consecration, as a response to the doubt of the Basilian monk on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the bread changed into living Flesh and the wine into living Blood. Twelve centuries later, a scientific investigation concluded that the flesh is a human heart with its essential structure while the blood contains the elements of a normal human blood. The preservation of the flesh and blood until today remains to be an extraordinary phenomenon. The miracle at Lanciano is just one of the many stories which we have heard on the Eucharist. However, that Eucharistic celebration which happened in Lanciano is the same Holy Mass celebrated in far – flung barrio chapels. The Eucharist even without those miracles continues to be the “source and summit” of our Christian life. Thus we ask ourselves, what is really the Eucharist? What is its meaning in my life right now?

Today, Holy Mother Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we give honor and praise to the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Let us then take our reflections on the Eucharist from our liturgical readings today.

In our first reading, to ritualize the people’s assent to the covenant of the Lord, “Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar…Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.’” Scholars would interpret the sprinkling of both the altar and the people as the bringing together of the two parties to the covenant – God and man. Thus, a sort of sacramental union is achieved. Indeed, this is the drama of the Chosen People of Israel! Their story is all about the graciousness of God to the covenant and their struggle to remain faithful to the God who has delivered them from slavery.

In the Eucharist, we are not merely sprinkled by blood of animals. Rather, we partake of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, we too establish a union with God. If we try to look into the term, “eucharist,” we can find to Greek words – “eu” (good) and “charis” (gift). The Eucharist is a good gift. And what is this gift? The gift of unity with our Lord Jesus Christ. God is not someone who lives up there. But as the holy bishop Camomot would say, “God is in the heart!” It is our challenge then that as we go home after this Mass, we experience a “Eucharistic joy,” a union with God who has loved us first.

In our second reading, the letter to the Hebrews tells us that “if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.” In the Old Covenant, blood of the animals were used for purification and sanctification. However, in the New Covenant, it was already the blood of Christ himself poured out on the cross which washed away humanity’s sin.

In the Eucharist, when we receive the Lord and give him a dwelling place in our hearts, our lives are also made clean and given direction. We move away from “dead works” to “worship of the living God.” Pope Francis in his address to the priests in Rome has this to say, “ Stopping for a moment before the tabernacle can also lead priests to examine their consciences: “In the silence of prayer Jesus make us see if we are working as good workers, or if we have become a little like ‘employees;’ if we are open, generous ‘channels,’ through which His love, His grace can flow abundantly; or if instead we place ourselves at the center, and so instead of being channels we become screens that do not help the encounter with God, with the light and the strength of the Gospel.” A devotion to the Blessed Sacrament then can help us stay attuned to our vocation – to be channels and not screens of the grace of God.

Finally, in our Gospel taken from the Last Supper narrative of Mark, Jesus after taking, blessing, and giving thanks, shared both his body and blood to his disciples. The story ends with Jesus and his chosen friends going out from the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives. We have to remind ourselves that this narrative finally marked the beginning of Jesus’ passion.

From the story, we learned that the Eucharist is meant to be shared. However, sharing does not only mean giving the Eucharist to others. To share here means to be one in the suffering of others. Pope Francis in his homily during this year’s Corpus Christi celebration in Rome asked everyone who will be joining in the Eucharistic procession “to perceive ourselves in communion with our many brothers and sisters who do have the freedom to express their faith in the Lord Jesus…And we venerate in our hearts those brothers and sisters from whom the sacrifice of their lives has been required for fidelity to Christ: let their blood, united to that of the Lord, be a pledge of peace and reconciliation for the whole world.” To receive the Lord in the Eucharist carries with it a challenge to share in his passion; to be ready to drink from the cup of suffering. We do not worry, however, because we know that it did not end on Calvary but in the empty tomb. The Eucharist is not an “anting – anting” or a magic potion that every time we eat and drink of the body and blood of Jesus, life becomes problem and worry free. Rather, partaking of the Eucharist is accepting suffering with the assurance that we are never alone in the journey.

The late Vietnamese Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan was imprisoned for 13 years, nine of which were spent in solitary confinement. Since, the Mass was not allowed in prison, he asked the guards to provide him with wine as “medicine for his stomach pains.” And every day at three in the afternoon, he would celebrate the Mass with only three drops of wine despite the terror and darkness surrounding him. When asked by reporters what made him survived such ordeal, he exclaimed, “the Eucharist!” We do not need to go to Lanciano in order to experience a Eucharistic miracle. Rather, every time we experience a “Eucharistic joy;” every time our consciences are made clean; and every time we share in Christ’s passion and accept our suffering with hope all because of the Eucharist, then, we experience a miracle! Amen!

P.S. Photo taken from http://www.acfp2000.com/popefranciswithmonstrance2.jpg

“IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

DT 4:32-34, 39-40; PS 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22; ROM 8:14-17; MT 28:16-20

A seminarian after his talk during a catechetical meeting was asked by a catechist, “Brod, we have been teaching little children about the proper way of making the sign of the cross. Now, let me ask you, who invented the sign of the cross?” It was not only a question of curiosity but a very valid one. As Catholics, we have been making the sign of the cross since we were young. A day will not be complete if we do not mark ourselves with the cross. But do we know its origin? Do we know its meaning? The sign of the cross is not just an ordinary act of piety. Rather, it gives us the summary of faith. It teaches us of what we believe. It reminds us of God who is Triune – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We must make it clear that the term, “Trinity,” is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, in the New Testament, we can find the terms, “Father,” “Son,” and “Spirit” like in our Gospel text for today. The term “Trinity” was coined by a Church Father, Tertullian, who wrote extensively about the subject in the third century. The mystery of the Trinity lies in the truth that there is only One God yet Three Divine Persons.

Nevertheless, such mystery is not a reason for us not to celebrate today’s solemnity. It’s true that we cannot fully understand the God whom we truly believe yet the same God has continuously invited us to be always with Him; to “remain in his love.”

Our readings today remind us of who God is; of who the Father, Son, and Spirit is. In our first reading, Deuteronomy tells us that the Father is not like the other gods of other nations. Rather, He is a God who ventures and takes “a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors.” This is the Exodus event! God is not a distant God. He is a God “who hears the cry of the poor.” He is  a God so close to us.

In our second reading, Paul tells us that it is the Spirit who leads us to become sons of God. We are made adopted sons of the Father through the Spirit thus we are able to cry out, “Abba Father!” The Spirit of God is not like the other spirits who lures us with evil. Rather, the Spirit of God is our “Advocate.” He helps us become less worthy sons and daughters of the Father.

Finally, in our Gospel, Matthew tells us that Jesus, God the Son, sends us into a mission to proclaim the goodness of God. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Indeed, believing in a God who journeys with us and who makes us His adopted children, is not meant for ourselves. Our God is a God meant to be shared. Thus, we are all sent to a task of evangelization.

God is a Trinity. God is a mystery. Yet, He is a God who journeys with us. He is a God who adopts us as His children. He is a God who sends us into a mission of evangelization. This is our challenge then, that we become like Him. Like the Father, may we also journey with other people especially those who are left out in society. Like the Spirit, may we never exclude others especially those who are not like us. Like the Son, may we also go to the peripheries and share with them the goodness of the Lord. If God is not distant with us, then, there is no reason for us to distance ourselves with one another.

As Catholics, the sign of the cross has always been part of our lives. As they say, “we become what we eat.” But it is also true that “we become what we do.” Thus, the question is, every time we make the sign of the cross, have we become like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Amen. 

Photo taken from http://www.catholicmannight.com/

NEWNESS OF LIFE AND LOVE

NEWNESS OF LIFE AND LOVE

Pentecost Sunday

ACTS 2:1-11; PS 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34;  1 COR 12:3B-7, 12-13; JN 20:19-23

When something new happens in our lives, we have a lot of reactions. For example, when you learned that your son passed the examinations, you will for sure be jubilant. However, when you learned that your daughter was involved in drug related cases, then, you will be disappointed. When your husband gets promoted, then you will rejoice. But when he no longer goes home, probably, others will flare up while others will celebrate! Newness always shakes our lives because it brings us to something beyond our control. Newness leads us to worries, fears, and anxieties. How about if it is God himself who will bring us to an experience of newness? What would be our reaction?

Today, Holy Mother Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday. For the Jews, Pentecost is the Feast of Weeks. It is the 50^th day after seven weeks. It is the feast of harvests (first fruits, first grain, first crops). Thus, it is a feast of newness! And it is in this context that Acts in our first reading today narrates the event of the sending of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” The event was something new. Those gathered were amazed with what was happening. They were Galileans yet they were speaking in different tongues. Such event then reminds us of the important work of the Spirit in our lives that is he brings us to newness of life. And so, in our responsorial psalm we cry out, “Lord send us your Spirit to renew the face of the earth!”

Now the question is, how open are we to the newness which the Spirit gives us? Are we open to the God of surprises? Or do we control everything in our lives? Sometimes we complain that our faith is boring. We go to Mass every Sunday. Once in a while, we attend Baptisms, Weddings, and Funeral Services. And that’s all! But if this is how we understand and accept our faith, then, we have closed ourselves to the working of the Spirit. This is our first challenge then as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday that we allow once again the Spirit to bring us to new and greater moments in life; to allow the God of surprises to surprise us again with his love.

Second, in our Gospel, the disciples after receiving the Spirit was sent by Jesus on a mission. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We too during our Baptism have received the Holy Spirit. Since, the day of our baptism until now, we are still sent on a mission. And what is this mission? It is nothing else but the mission of Jesus Christ, the mission to love. Thus, let us ask ourselves, How is my loving? Am I until now still in love? Is my heart still burning with love for my husband, my wife, my children, my work, and my community? Have I allowed the Spirit until now to inflame my heart with the fire of God’s love? Or have I fallen out of love? Have I grown cold in my loving? This is our second challenge then that we allow the Spirit not only to bring us to newness of life but to keep our hearts burning with God’s love.

Life and Love. Newness of Life and Love is the gift of the Spirit unto us today. Thus, let us follow the words of Pope Francis, “Do not cage the Holy Spirit! Let the Spirit touch your lives! Let the life giving warmth of the Spirit inflame your heart! Let the life giving breath of the Spirit enter into your soul!” Do not cage the Spirit! Let the Spirit fly and bring you to newness of life and love. Amen!

 P.S. Photo taken from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Holy_Spirit_as_Dove_(detail).jpg

A "GLORIOUS" SEPARATION

SOLEMNITY OF THE LORD’S ASCENSION

Acts 1: 1 – 11; Ps. 47; Eph. 1: 17 – 23 or Eph. 4: 1 – 13; Mk. 16: 15 – 20

Separations are never happy moments in life. For teenagers, “break ups” can lead them to failing grades and shifting moods. For couples, divorce or annulment cases are nightmares in their married life. And so it’s true with each and every one of us here, we do not like to experience a death of a loved one because such separation forever changes our life’s cycle. However, the ascension of Jesus Christ is the second glorious mystery. Thus we ask ourselves, how can such separation between Jesus and his chosen friends be a glorious event?

Both our first and gospel readings today speak to us about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. After three years of being together, seeing the wondrous miracles and hearing the powerful words of their Master, now it’s time for them to say goodbye. Initially, Jesus was separated from them during his passion and death. Nevertheless, such grieving turned into joy with his Resurrection. This time it’s a different story – Jesus finally left his earthly life and went back to the place where he truly belonged – his home with his Father in heaven.

However, if we recall Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John, we realize that such separation of Jesus and his disciples is temporary. In last Friday’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples, “so you also are now in anguish, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” Both our Gospel readings last Monday and Tuesday also reveal to us Jesus’ promise to send an Advocate after he goes back to the Father. Therefore, the ascension of Jesus is not an eternal separation. Rather, it marks the beginning of the age of the Spirit, the Advocate “who will convict the world.”

What then is the meaning of the Lord’s ascension in our lives today? First, it reminds us of our real identity – that we are all children of the one Father and heaven is our final home. Jesus left the earth because his mission to save us is finished. He has to go back to his home. And such mission of Jesus restored our identity as adopted children of the Father. Therefore, we can now reclaim heaven. We can now enter heaven. That is why whatever pain and suffering we may be experiencing at this moment in our lives, let us be reminded that all these are temporary. All these difficulties are not lasting because earth is not our final resting place but heaven, where there is no more wailing and weeping.

Second, the ascension of Jesus highlights the importance of relationships. Yes, Jesus physically left his relationship with his disciples. Nonetheless, he did not leave them orphans. He did not end such relationship which he himself established. Rather, he promised to see them again. And while waiting for his return, he sent them the Advocate. In life, it is a truth that “no man is an island.” Therefore, we need to preserve our genuine and healthy relationships that we have right now. The richest people are not those who own many shopping malls or companies in the world. But those who can still smile despite the poverty because he/she has a family, a brother, a sister, and a friend to lean on. However, there is one relationship in life which we must nurture and preserve so that everything else will take its rightful place – our personal and loving relationship with God. If you have difficulties right now in your human relationships, please check your relationship with God.

And so, in this solemnity of the Lord’s ascension, we are reminded of our real identity – we are children of the one Father and heaven is our home. We are also challenged to preserve our human relationships. But most of all, we must not forget first and foremost our loving relationship with God.

Separations are never happy moments in life. However, there are instances when we need to separate in order for us to grow. A baby has to separate from the womb of her mother after nine months. A child has to leave home in order to gain wisdom in school. A man has to leave his family in order to begin a new one. Thus, separations are necessary. They may not give us happy experiences yet they teach us how to grow and glow in this journey called life. Amen. 

Photo taken from http://whycatholicsdothat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ascension2.jpg

REMAINING IN THE LOVE OF JESUS

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 10: 25 – 26, 34 – 35, 44 – 48; Ps. 98; 1 Jn. 4:7 – 10; Jn. 15: 9 – 17

It has been almost two years since my mother left us in the family. It has been our wish that she would remain forever at home because of many reasons. With her presence, food was abundant, delicious, and fresh. With her presence, there was never a dull moment in the family. With her presence, I could never see a sad face of my father. And I would like to believe that it is also the same in each one of you gathered this morning. Everyone will certainly agree that we all want our loved ones to remain close to us forever because without them life will be dark, dry, and dull.

The event in our Gospel took place on the evening before Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Before leaving his chosen friends, he gathers them together and asks them to remain in his love even if he will be away from them. Remaining in Jesus’ love means to forever stay loyal and ground their lives on him. He gives us three reasons why there is a necessity to remain in his love.

First, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.” Life has always been a constant search for happiness. We play, pray, and get a pay in order to be happy. However, at the end of the day, our souls continue to experience a lack, a gap. We ask and look for more because the happiness that we have achieved is fleeting like a bubble. Thus, Jesus is offering us the gift of himself for only through him can we find lasting joy. As the Great Teresa de Avila puts it, “God alone suffices.” Jesus’ joy is lasting because it is not anchored from the world but from his Father who is in heaven.

Second, “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” We are all into different kinds of relationships. In every relationship that we have, we see to it that it must be preserved from destruction and separation. However, earthly relationships end either because of death or other human circumstances. That is why Jesus is inviting us to remain in him because he has already called us his friends. His Incarnation was the greatest proof of his desire to enter into a relationship with Him. His death on the cross and resurrection were the proofs that even suffering and death cannot extinguish the fire of his love for you and me.

Finally, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” When we have good and pleasant experiences with our loved ones, we certainly do not want to keep them all for our own selves. We share our experiences with others. This is also true in our relationship with Jesus. As we remain in his love, we are also sent on a mission and share our fruits with those who have none. Just as Jesus shared with us the love of the Father, we are also called to share Jesus’ love to the rest of humanity.

Before we celebrate next Sunday the Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension into heaven, today, we are asked by our Savior to remain in his love. To remain in Jesus’ love means receiving his joy; entering into a friendship with him; and being sent to the mission.

It has been almost two years since my mother left us in the family. Yes, she is no longer with us physically. However, I realized that until today, her presence has remained in our hearts. Every time we think and recall our memories with her, she remains alive in our lives. Jesus is also physically away from us today. Yet, every time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, Jesus remains with us. Every time we gather together every Sunday to break bread with each other, we receive His joy, His friendship, and His love. Amen!

 Photo courtesy of http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1151/1295569165_386baf134b_z.jpg?zz=1