MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY OVERCOMING INDIFFERENCE

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

World Day of Prayer for Peace

Nm 6: 22 – 27 / Ps 67 / Gal 4: 4 – 7 / Lk 2: 16 – 21

Let me begin with these figures… According to the United Nations, 21,000 people die of hunger or hunger – related causes every year. That is one person every four seconds. From 2006 to 2014, almost 200,000 died because of terrorism. Just this year, more than one million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe. And 3000+ of them died along the journey. Well, in the Philippines, in 2011 alone, there were 600,000 cases of abortion. I am sharing with you these figures not in order to spread “bad vibes” as we meet the new year 2016. Rather, I am sharing with you these figures because most of us including myself are guilty of INDIFFERENCE. As long as we are healthy and wealthy, why care about those hungry people in Africa or the war stricken refugees from Syria. My dear friends, we have to admit that we have become INDIFERRENT to the realities of the wider world. Our hearts have grown cold to those who are in pain and suffering.

However, Pope Francis in his message for the 2016 Celebration of the World Day of Peace begins with the truth that “God is not indifferent! God cares about mankind! God does not abandon us!” Such a truth we can see in our Christmas story. Mary was not indifferent to the message of the angel. Joseph, after his dream, was not indifferent to Mary’s need to have a protector and provider. In our Gospel today, the shepherds too were not indifferent to the news of the angel. They went in haste to see the child. Even the parents of Jesus were not indifferent to Jewish tradition for they submitted their son to circumcision and name – giving.

Well, if we try to reflect on the meaning of Christmas, we realize that it is about God destroying the walls of indifference by becoming one like us except sin. The mystery of the Incarnation is about God making a difference in human history by conquering indifference through the birth of his Son in the little town of Bethlehem.

As we begin the new year of the Lord and not the year of the fire monkey, let us make a difference by overcoming indifference. And how do we concretize this task of overcoming indifference? Pope Francis in the same message tells us that “mercy is the heart of God. It must also be the heart of the members of the one great family of his children.” Mercy, therefore, overcomes indifference. In our families, let us practice mercy. It’s okay to have conflicts and debates in the family. Just make sure that at the end of the day you forgive one another. When problems come in the family, practice mercy by dialogue. Talk to your wife, to your husband, to your children! Don’t talk to strangers!

My dear friends, we can only overcome global indifference by practicing mercy in the most basic unit of society which is the family. Let us invoke the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, to grant us the grace of humility to ask and give forgiveness; to grant us the grace of humility to dialogue with one another.

Just as I began with figures, let me also end again with figures. 2016 is a leap year. Therefore, there are exactly 366 days next year. There will be 52 weeks and 2 days next year. There will be 8,784 hours next year. There will be 527, 040 minutes next year. And there will be 31, 622, 400 seconds next year. Thus, we can say that there is much time next year. There is much time for us to overcome indifference by practicing mercy in our families. Enjoy your time! Amen!

HAWAK KAMAY

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Sir. 3: 2 – 6, 12 – 14 / Ps. 128 / Col. 3: 12 – 21 / Mt. 2: 13 – 15

We have to accept the truth na walang forever! St. Teresa de Avila once said, “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing affright you. All things are passing away.” The gifts which you received last Christmas have been opened. The bonuses and cash incentives have been spent. The sumptuous noche Buena have been digested. Slowly, in malls, there is a shift from hearing the songs of Jose Mari Chan to the beat of the drums with a loud voice, Sinulog, misiyagit og kusog, Pit Senyor, pit senyor, tanan magsaulog! Indeed, ang lahat ay may katapusan, walang forever!

And this is also true in the story of Christmas. After giving birth to Jesus, Mary and Joseph welcomed their guests, the poor and tired shepherds, the magi who brought their gifts, and the angels who sang their Gloria in excelsis Deo. However, all these visitors went back to their lives’ routine. However, something remained after their visitors left – the family of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. In fact, amidst the terror that they have to face and the travel that they have to make t Egypt, the Holy Family of Nazareth remained together.

My dear friends, this is also a truth that we have to accept – kay haba haba man ng prusisyon sa simbahan din ang tuloy. This is also true in the family. No matter where our tadhana would bring us, everything still begins and ends in the family. Even after death, we still belong to a family – the family of God in heaven. And so, let us preserve and protect our families today from greed, desire for power, lust, and most especially from separation.

Thus, we ask ourselves, how do we protect our families? Well, Pope Francis has a lot of practical advices on this matter. And so, let me just share with you three points.

First, practice peace! Pope Francis has this advice for us, “Argue as much as you want. If the plates fly, let them fly! But never end the day without making peace.” And he adds, “we do not need to call the United Nations to come to one’s home to make peace. A small gesture, a caress, a hello is sufficient.” Practicing peace therefore means practicing the virtues of forgiveness, understanding, sensitivity, and many more.

Second, practice prayer! Some people would say, we do not need God in the family. But Pope Francis asks us in humility to accept the truth that we need God. We need his mercy, his love, his compassion in our families. That is why the Church insists on sacramental marriage! It is not for the priest to gain more but to instill in the couple, that all we need is pag-ibig; that all we need is the love of God for our own loves to work. Thus, we need to practice prayer!

Finally, practice your presence! In your family, you learn to dialogue, to communicate with one another. If in the family, you are the father then talk to your wife as a husband and as a father to your children. The same is also true for the wives and children. We need to practice our presence in the family because when problems come then we can easily learn where to go.

My dear friends, what remains in the end is the gift of the family. After all, God is not alone and lonely. God is family. God is a Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, let us protect and preserve our families by practicing peace, practicing prayer, and practicing our presence.

After my graduation last May, a couple invited me for dinner in a restaurant. While we were seated, a big family of 15 members arrived. I was afraid that their voices would overpower our conversation at table. However, I was wrong. When we left, I saw this family on the next table very silent. Why? Because everyone was holding their gadgets. Only the baby was holding his bibiron.

My dear family of God, in order to stay together as a family, let us hold on not to our gadgets, not to our vices, not to our pride. Rather, let us hold on to each other’s hand. And above all, let us hold on to the hand of God so that we can truly sing the song of Yeng Constantino, “Hawak kamay, di kita iiwan sa paglakbay, dito sa mundong walang katiyakan, hawak kamay, Dito sa mundo ng kawalan, hawak kamay!” Amen.

Photo taken from en.wikipedia.org

“FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER”

Mass of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesu Christ

IS 9:1-6 / PS 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 / TI 2:11-14 / LK 2:1-14

There’s a first time for everything says an old proverb. Here in Cebu it will be our first time to host the International Eucharistic Congress next year.

For others, the upcoming national elections next year will be their first time to exercise their right to vote. In the showbiz world, what happened to Steve Harvey in last Monday’s Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas was probably his first time to commit a very horrible mistake. On a personal note, this Mass is also my first time to celebrate the Christmas Mass as a priest. Indeed, there’s a first time for everything.

Our Gospel tonight also tells us a lot of first time events in human history. For the first time, there came an empire that spans across the globe. For the first time, “all the world is to be enrolled for the purpose of determining and collecting taxes.” For the first time, there came a “great expanse of peace in the world.” Indeed, there’s a first time for everything. However, more than human history, our Gospel tonight tells us a very important first time event that affects both heaven and earth. And this first time is called the mystery of the Incarnation. Finally, for the first time, God took on human flesh and became one like us except sin. Finally, for the first time since the Fall of Man, God is once again closest to His creation. Finally, for the first time, using our second reading today from Titus, a God has come “to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse us for himself a people as his own.”

My dear friends of God, this is the real purpose of Christmas 2015 – that we recall that first Christmas more than 2000 years ago; that we reminisce that first time God gave us a second chance, a second chance to love Him again more dearly, more closely, and more sincerely.

That first Christmas is important because it opened for us a new beginning. We who have “walked in darkness, have seen a Great Light.” And such Light has brought us “abundant joy and great rejoicing.” Because of that first Christmas, life has been given a new meaning and a wider horizon.

Thus, we ask ourselves, what is the challenge of that first Christmas in the little town of Bethlehem in our complex and complicated world today? In our Gospel we heard the angels announcing to the shepherds of the great news. This too is our challenge today,that we announce to the world joyfully this Great News of the Incarnation by becoming first hand witnesses to the life and mission of this Jesus, the Word Made Flesh.

If Jesus was the first one who forgave his enemies, then, let us be first in forgiving our enemies. If Jesus was the first one who gave his all, then, let us be first in generosity. If Jesus was the first one who loved both his friends and enemies, then, let us be the first one to love all come what may.

 Anna, in the animation film, Frozen, has this to sing for us: “’Cause for the first time in forever, there’ll be music, there’ll be light…For the first time in forever, I’ll be dancing through the night… ‘Cause for the first time in forever, I won’t be alone.”

My dear friends because of that first Christmas, that first event when God became man, we are no longer walking in darkness and there is dancing through the night. Because of that first time in forever, we won’t be alone because God is with us. The Lord is with us. Amen!

Photo taken from www.catholictradition.org

  

FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS

Ninth Day of the Misa De Gallo

2 Sm. 7: 1- 5, 8b – 12, 14a, 16 / Ps. 89 / Lk. 1: 67 – 79

From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks! That is why when the emcee announced the wrong winner of the recently concluded Miss Universe, one can opine that inside his heart, his bet was Ms. Colombia rather than Ms. Philippines. Indeed, from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!

Such is the case of our Gospel narrative today. When Zechariah sang his praise to the Lord, one can imagine how powerful those words were knowing the fact that he has been mute for the past nine months. If we examine the “lyrics” of Zechariah’s song which is popularly called the Benedictus, we realize that he was speaking well about God because of two things. First, he praised God for giving Israel the promised Savior. “He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David.”  Second, he praised God for giving him John, his son, whose mission was to prepare the coming of the Lord. “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.” What was kept hidden inside the heart of Zechariah finally came out from his mouth. Indeed, from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

As Christians, we are blessed because we have been beneficiaries of the salvific act of the Messiah at the cross. Through his death, we gain life to the fullest. Through his suffering, we gain strength to move on with life amidst its difficulties. Thus, we are also called to become like Zechariah. We too must proclaim our own Benedictus, our praise to God. However, words are not enough. Just as the Word became Flesh, our words must be incarnated. Our praise to God must be seen in our actions.

My dear friends, a few hours from now, we shall welcome into our lives, Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Like Zechariah who said “good words” in our Gospel today, let us also say “good words” today by cleansing ourselves from our sins. And the best disposal venue for the “bad words,” our sins, is the sacrament of Reconciliation. At Confession, we throw away our sins through our mouths. And through our hearing, we receive once again the grace of God in our lives. Only when we set free ourselves from maledictions, from our sins, can we truly sing our Benedictus.

I know after this Mass, you will already start preparing for your noche Buena. You will already be busy for your Christmas parties. Many of you will probably join the Christmas rush in malls and endure the long lines in counters. However, my dear friends, I hope you will also take time to prepare yourself spiritually by freeing yourselves from maledictions in the sacrament of Confession so that tonight before the manger, together with the angels, you will sing your Benedictus. Amen.

Photo taken from steadfastlutherans.org

CLAIMING OUR GIFTS

Eighth Day of the Misa de Gallo

Mal 3: 1 – 4, 23 – 24 / Ps 25 / Lk 1: 5 – 66

Christmas is never the same without gifts. For the children, they are very excited to receive gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas eve. For those who are working, aside from the 13^th month pay, they are also eager to receive other gifts like bonuses and other perks. Christmas parties are never complete without the exchanging of gifts portion. Even in malls these days, there are long lines of people at the gift wrapping areas. All these happen because this season is never complete without gifts.

In our Gospel today, the Zechariah and Elizabeth finally received a very important gift, their son, John the Baptist. After years of waiting for a child, today, Elizabeth gave birth to a baby boy. Indeed, a very precious gift. However, if we try to reflect deeply on the Gospel, we realize that there is something greater than the gift of John that the couple received. And this gift is the gift of God’s grace. Despite their old age, they experienced God’s grace to the maximum. As a response to such graciousness of God, Zechariah and Elizabeth claimed responsibility to their child. No wonder the name “John” means “God is gracious.”

A few weeks ago the Bishops of our country declared that this year until 2016, we shall celebrate the Year of the Family. The family is God’s gift for humanity. Pope Francis even highlighted the truth that “without family, without the warmth of home, life grows empty.” Thus, we have to value this gift of family. We must claim responsibility to the family that we have right now. Thus, for husbands who are here, please claim responsibility to your being a husband. Dili nga sulod sa balay, bana ka pero inig gawas nimo ulitawo ka. To the wives who are here, please claim responsibility to your being a wife. Atimana imong bana ug mga anak. Dili nga sige nalang nimo’g atimanon ang chismis ug libak. And you dear children, please claim responsibility to your being children in the family. Listen to your parents. Study well. Dili nga sige nalang mo’g paminaw anang imong uyab nga walay ayo ug barkada nga walay klaro. The family is a concrete manifestation of God’s graciousness to us. Let us claim responsibility towards such a gift.

Alongside the Year of the Family, our Philippine Bishops also declared this year until next the Year of the Eucharist. We all know that we will be hosting the 51^st International Eucharistic Congress. The Eucharist is another precious gift we have received from the Lord. It is so precious because as the Church tells us, the Eucharist is the “source and summit of our Christian life.” And so, let us claim responsibility towards the Eucharist. Our motivation in attending the Misa de Gallo should be our acceptance that we need God; that without Him we are nothing. Let us not use the Misa de Gallo as a time for us to ask for a wish and God will grant them to us on the last day. Kay kung bati gyud kag nawong, bisag pila pa ka misa de Gallo, dili gyud ka mogwapa o mogwapo. Mao angkona nalang gyud na!

My dear friends, Zechariah and Elizabeth received a very important gift today – God’s graciousness in the birth of John. We too have received gifts today – the family and the Eucharist. May we learn to claim full responsibility in these gifts.  After all, the Lord is always gracious. He will never stop loving us even if we have turned our backs on Him. Amen.

Photo taken from www.stelizcc.org

THE FAITH THAT MADE MARY GREAT

Seventh Day of the Misa de Gallo

1 Sm. 1: 24 – 28 / 1 Sm 2 / Lk. 1: 46 – 56

How does it feel to be great in the world? Yesterday, the universe saw a great horrible mistake – a wrong announcement of the winner of the Miss Universe 2015. Thus, Ms. Columbia experienced a short lived greatness. Well, it was Ms. Philippines who ended up a great woman for it was actually her who won the competition. However, if we move forward the event, time will also come when Ms. Philippines’ greatness will come to an end the moment she hands over her crown to the next winner. Indeed, worldly greatness is passing and temporary. Paasa! Ika nga…

Our Gospel today is Mary’s hymn of praise, the Magnificat. Mary praises the Lord for all the great things the Lord has done to her life. Pope Francis tells us that “in this prayer Mary expresses her joy, because she is fully aware of what all the great works in her life at that point mean, namely that through her the Lord will accomplish the salvation her people have long been waiting for.”

Thus we ask ourselves, what made Mary great? Again our Pope tells us that it was because of faith that led Mary to greatness. “Faith is the heart of Mary’s entire story; she knew – and she said it – that throughout history weighs the violence of the overbearing, the pride of the rich, and the arrogance of the proud. Yet she still believed and proclaimed ‘that God does not leave his children alone, humble and poor, but sustains them with merciful care, casting down the mighty from their thrones, scattering the proud in the conceit of their hearts.’"

This is our challenge today that if we want to be great then we must have the faith of Mary – that amidst the problems and difficulties in life, we are still convinced that God does not leave us orphans; that his love for us is greater than any human problem. However, this conviction must not remain an idea. It must lead to action. And this is what we can see in the life of Mary. This faith proclaimed at her Magnificat was very must alive and active when she stood at the foot of the cross remaining strong despite the darkness, dryness, and dullness of her surroundings.

My dear friends, as we ask for this faith of Mary, let us also learn to act out such faith in our lives. In our families, let us keep this faith burning by being witnesses of patience and perseverance despite the many trials among members. In our workplaces, let us keep this faith burning by practicing humility and honesty despite the strong temptation to steal and gain more. Sa mga nag uyab uyab dinha, practice this faith by observing chastity and purity in your relationship. 

Bishop Lampon of Jolo and Tawi Tawi was once asked, “ Bishop, you and your priests are in great danger here because of insurgents and fundamentalists. Are you not leaving this place?” And the humble Bishop replied, “ No, we will not leave this place. Rather we will continue to extend the hands of forgiveness to those people who hate us even if it will cause our very own lives.”

Bishop Lampon is like Mary. Both have faith! Both believed that despite pain and suffering, God is still there to lift up the lowly and save the outcast. Both simply put into practice the faith they have received from God. How about us? How about you? Is your faith like that of Mary?

Photo taken from www.soulshepherding.org

A JOYFUL ENCOUNTER

SIXTH DAY OF THE MISA DE GALLO

Sg 2: 8 – 14 / Ps 33 / Lk 1: 39 – 45

“Good vibes” – beneficial encounters, moments of grace and protection, and positive energy. We always want to have “good vibes” in life. That is why some wives would rather go with their ka –tropa rather than sleep beside their husband. That is also the reason why some husbands would rather find joy with other women rather than listen to the “noisy” voices of their legal wives. We all want to experience “good vibes” in life.

Such is the experience of Elizabeth in our Gospel today. Mary, after hearing the news about her cousin, went in haste to the hill country in order to help Elizabeth as she prepares for child birth. And such encounter between Mary and Elizabeth was an experience of “good vibes.” The good vibrations came not from themselves but from the child Jesus in the womb of Mary. The vibration was so positive that it even made the child in the womb of Elizabeth to leap for joy.

This is the message of our Gospel today – that an encounter with Jesus would give us joy. Despite the long travel Mary had to undertake and despite the poor condition of Elizabeth, there was joy in both of them for they encountered the Lord in their lives.

Pope Benedict XVI once said that “being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an EVENT, A PERSON, WHICH GIVES LIFE A NEW HORIZON AND A DECISIVE DIRECTION” (Deus Caritas Est 1). The joyful experience of Mary and Elizabeth is also our experience if we meet the Lord in our lives. There is joy in meeting Him because he changes our horizon – our way of seeing things. There is joy in meeting Him because he gives direction to our lost lives because of sin. That is why in this Mass, if you have truly met and encountered the Lord then hindi ka nakasimangot ngayon. You should have “good vibes” today. You rejoice not because after this Mass mababayaran mo na lahat ng utang mo. You rejoice not because after this Mass ang kapangitan mo ay mapapalitan ng kagandahan. No! You rejoice after this Mass because in the Eucharist, you have encountered the Lord.

My dear friends, we are now halfway in our Misa de Gallo. We have been celebrating this tradition for some time now. I hope and pray that we take this Misa de Gallo as a moment for us to encounter the Lord who gives joy to our lives. And the proof that we have encountered God in our lives is that nagkabuotan unta kita samtang nagkatiguwangan. We should become better persons every day and not the other way around.

“Good vibes” - beneficial encounters, moments of grace and protection, and positive energy. When Elizabeth encountered Mary, there was “good vibes” because the Lord was with them. How about us? If people see us after this Mass, will there be “good vibes” because the people saw Christ in us? Liliwanag baa ng buhay ng ibang tao pagnakita nila tayo? O baka naman biglang mag brown out ang buhay nila kasi dumating na tayo? Amen!

Photo taken from blogs.nd.edu

MAY FOREVER BASTA MAY COMMITMENT

Fifth Day of the Misa de Gallo

Is. 7:10 – 14 / Ps 24 / Lk 1: 26 – 38

How do you take care of the gifts that you receive? Three sons agreed to give their mother special gifts on her 90^th birthday. And so, a day before the big day, the three delivered their gifts to their ancestral home – the eldest son gave her mother the key of the new house and lot; the middle son gave a key of a brand new luxurious car; and the youngest son bought a very priceless chicken that can speak all the prayers and novenas. Since her mother can no longer memorize everything, the chicken would be the one that will dictate to her mother all the prayers and novenas. The following day while at table, the sons asked their mother about their gifts. The mother said to the elder son, “Anak, since ikakasal kana next month, I’m giving this house and lot to you because you need it more for your family. I am already happy living inside this house.” The elder son became sad. Then the mother told her second son, “Anak, I do not need a new car. Instead, I would rather sell this car and give the money to the ongoing renovation of the parish.” The second son also became sad. Finally, the youngest son was excited. The mother said to the youngest, “Anak, I was very happy with your gift because the chicken which we are eating right now is your gift to me! Sarap to the bones!” And the youngest son fainted. How do you take care of the gifts that you receive?

My dear friends we are now on the fifth day of our Misa de Gallo. The fifth day is also called the “Golden Mass” because our Gospel today gives us a very precious gold, a priceless gift – our Lord Jesus Christ. At the Annunciation, the mystery of the Incarnation took place. “And the Word became Flesh. And dwelt among us.” Jesus is a very priceless gift because such a gift does not only make us happy but can grant us salvation. Therefore, let us ask ourselves, how do we take care of God’s gifts in our lives?

Let us learn from the example of Mary. After hearing the Good News and clarifying such a reality, Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” These words of Mary teach us a very important attitude we all must have as we receive the gift of Christ – COMMITMENT. The word “commitment” comes the Latin word, “mitto, mittere” which means “to send.” In commitment, a person is sent into the life of the other. And when this happens, a relationships blossoms.

However, the world is very indifferent to commitment right now. We do not want to be sent into the lives of others. We no longer believe na may forever in our relationships. In our families, the lack of commitment is a big factor why we have a lot of problems. Kasi tumaba na si Misis, then, the Mister looks for another sexy Misis. Kasi walang pera na si Mister, then, then the Misis looks for an illegal husband. Couples no longer believe than in marriage there is a “no return, no exchange” policy between the husband and wife. Young people today no longer wait for the “tamang panahon.” Instead, they simply follow their feelings – “hala bira!” Instead of being sent into the life of the other, people today run away when problems come. But the Little Prince is reminding us, “You are responsible for what you have tamed.” Therefore, let us be committed in our relationships today for these are God’s gifts to us.

My dear friends, let us learn from Mary who claim responsibility to the gift which she received. Let us ask the inspiration of Mary who was willing to be sent into the life of God. Jesus has been given to us as a gift, may we be committed to him by being committed in our relationships today.

And so, let us ask ourselves…

Is our commitment to God hanggang sa dulo ng walang hanggan?

May forever ba in your relationships today?

Amen.

Photo taken from totallyhistory.com

REMEMBERING THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD

Fourth Day of the Misa de Gallo

Jgs. 13: 2 – 7, 24 – 25 / Ps. 71 / Lk. 1: 5 – 25

As early as 5 in the morning my Father was very angry speaking to my mother over the phone. He was looking for his pair of sandals. I also helped in finding my father’s sandals. After more than 20 minutes of searching, both of us sat down. And only then when my father realized that he was already wearing his sandals. He forgot. He did not remember.

In this fourth dawn Mass in preparation for Christmas, Luke narrates to us the story of the old couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth. While Zechariah was offering the sacrifice in the Temple, an angel of the Lord announced to him the news that shocked him – his old wife will be having a son. However, the Gospel ended with Zechariah becoming speechless. Thus, we ask, isn’t it unfair for him to become speechless because of his disbelief in so great a news? Scholars would comment that Zechariah became speechless because he forgot that such a news was not something new. As a priest of the Temple, he must have known well the history of Israel. And our first reading today tells us that indeed what happened to Elizabeth was not something new. An angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah whose wife was barren and announced to him that his wife will conceive and bear a son named Samson. Zechariah whose name means, “The Lord has remembered” became speechless because he forgot. He did not remember the goodness of the Lord.

We can also be like Zechariah – we forget; we do not remember. Our many problems and worries in life can lead us to forgetting the presence and generosity of God in our lives. Like Zechariah who was already old, our problems make us old fast thus making us forget the goodness of the Lord. And once we forget the Lord, then we slowly and little by little look for other “lords.” Since I have a lot of utangs to pay before the year ends, then, I will just steal a little of these 13^th month pay of my fellow worker. Once we forget the Lord then we lose our faith in him and our fate begins.

My dear friends, the Holy Eucharist is a means for us to remember the goodness of the Lord in our lives. Every time we celebrate the Mass, we are commanded to “do this in memory of me.” Every time we celebrate the Mass, our memory is brought back to that event in Calvary where Jesus ultimately showed his goodness to us for by his death we were raised back to life.

As we continue with this Mass, as we strive to complete the Misa de Gallo, may we remember every time we gather together for the Eucharist that despite the many problems in life, the goodness of the Lord still has the last and final say.

I once met Nanay Nenita during my hospital exposure a few years ago. Her left leg was amputated because of complications of diabetes. While sitting beside her bed, she narrated to me her life story that was filled with ups and downs. Before leaving her, she left me with these striking and unforgettable words, “ Brod, after all the trials of my life, I do not blame God. Why? Because despite my problems, he was still good to me. That is why my present condition cannot even cause me to blame him, kay kung iya kong giluwas kaniadto, nganong dili man ko niya luwason karon? ( If God saved me before, why will he not save me today?) Nanay Nenita never forgot the Lord. She has always remembered God’s goodness in her life. How about us? How about you? Have you already forgotten the goodness of the Lord? Amen.

 Photo taken from www.wikiart.org

RESTING AND RISING

Third Day of the Misa de Gallo

Jer. 23: 5 – 8 / Ps 72 / Mt. 1: 18 – 25

The love between an ugly husband and a beautiful wife is called, Diskarte

The love between a handsome husband and an ugly wife is called, Swerte

The love between a gwapo husband and a gwapa wife is called, Tadhana

The love between a pangit husband and a pangit wife is called, Sumpa

But what do you call the love between Mary and Joseph? They have been engaged. In a year’s time, Joseph will finally take away Mary from her home and begin a new family. But, God intervened in their love life.

My dear friends, at the start of the Misa de Gallo, we heard about John the Baptist. Yesterday, we heard about the ancestors of Jesus. Today, let us reflect something on the life of Joseph, the just husband of Mary.

When Pope Francis came to the Philippines last January. Inside MOA Arena, he challenged the family to do three things. However, let me just share with you the first two – RESTING and RISING.

Every one of us needs to rest. But I hope you will not make this cold chapel as a venue for you to rest at this very moment. After feeling brokenhearted with what happened to Mary, Joseph rested. While he was resting, God revealed His plan in a dream. As Christians, we also need to rest. And praying is our resting. Through prayer, we will know the “most important thing in life: God’s will for us.” My dear friends, let me invite you to use the remaining days of the Misa de Gallo as moments for you to rest in God. I know that you will be busy with the rest of the day. I hope that before all else, you will know the most important thing in your life today: God’s plan for you! And so, let me ask you this question: When was the last time that you rested well; that you prayed well to God?

After knowing God’s will for his life, Joseph rose from his sleep. He went to Mary and took care of her. This is also our challenge my dear friends – that we move from resting to rising. We need to rise from our sleep! We need to get up and act! We must make our dreams come. That is why to those who are sleeping right now. Rise up! Kay hapit nako mahuman! My dear friends, if God is telling you to give, then give! If he is asking you to forgive, then forgive. If he is asking you to love, then love. Only when we rest and rise can we be truly called – “just” “tawo nga matarong ug dili badlongon.” St. Joseph is a just man because in resting, he learned God’s will for his life and in rising, he carried out such will.

Nonoy Zuniga once sang this song for us:

Doon ay kaya kong ipunin lahat ng bituin

Doon ay kaya kong igapos ihip ng hangin

Doon ay kaya kong pagbawal buhos ng ulan

Sa panaginip lang kita mahahagkan t'wina

Doon lang

However, as Christians, hindi tayo hanggang doon lang. Kaya nating ipunin lahat ng bituin, kaya nating igapos ihip ng hangin, kaya nating ipagbawal ang buhos ng ulan, at kaya nating mahahagkan twina if we rest in the Lord in prayer and rise up from our sleep and make our dreams come true. Amen. 

Photo taken from the Internet olx.com

“MGA KALIWAT SA DIOS”

SECOND DAY OF THE MISA DE GALLO

Gn 49: 2, 8 – 10 / Ps 72 / Mt. 1: 1- 17

“Ang di marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan ay ‘di makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan.” Jose Rizal, our national hero, was right when he said those words. It is very important to know our roots because who we are today is a product of what happened before. That is why if someone is so generous then we say, “kaliwat man gud na silag mga manggihatagon.” If someone is so ugly then we say, “ kaliwat man gud na silag mga impakto ug impakta!”

Unlike Luke’s genealogy which is found before Jesus’ public ministry, Matthew’s version is situated right at the beginning of his Gospel. This he does in order to provide his audience with a correct and proper understanding on Jesus’ origin before anything else. Thus, we ask ourselves: what is the value of this genealogy in our lives today? We’d rather listen to the kilig conversation of Yaya and Alden rather than listen to strange and unfamiliar names like Amminadab, Boaz, Jehoshaphat, and Ahaz.

First, the genealogy reminds us that this Jesus who is our Lord and King is one like us except sin. Indeed, Jesus is 100% fully human. He has his own family tree. And like any other families which are not perfect, Jesus’ family tree is also not perfect. For example, David though a King ordered the death of the husband of the woman he fell in love with. What is important then is the truth that since this Jesus is fully human, then, he can surely relate with us – he can eat what we eat and feel what we feel. My dear friends, let us therefore rejoice today because we have been assured that this Jesus is a Lord who is sensitive to our needs. Hindi pusong bato at manhid si Hesus!

Second, the genealogy of Matthew begins with the formula: “ N. was the father of N.” However, it ends differently with these words: “Of her (referring to Mary) was born Jesus who is called the Christ.” Pope Benedict XVI comments on this by telling us that the “final sentence turns the genealogy around. Mary is a new beginning. Her child does not originate from any man, but is a new creation, conceived through the Spirit. Yes! Jesus is 100% human yet his provenance is divine. Thus, he is also 100% God.

My dear friends, by virtue of our baptism, we continue the genealogy of Jesus because we become adopted sons and daughters of the Father. Yes, we are 100% human yet our adoption also reminds us that we all came from God. No wonder, we refer to this life as a “pilgrim church” because heaven is our eternal home.

This is therefore our challenge, that after having been assured of God’s closeness in our lives for he is 100% human, let us also be like him who traces his source from God. Mahimo untang kitang mga kaliwat sa Dios. And we can do this by imitating Jesus’ life. If Jesus is generous, then, let us be generous. You give more sa feeding program sa parokya. If Jesus was caring, then, you offer your seat to those who have nothing to sit on today. If Jesus was concerned with others, then, be concern today. You wake up those who are sleeping kay basig dili na sila makamata!

If we see a newborn baby, we usually have a lot of different comments. Some would say, “ Ka gwapo sa baby, liwat kaayo sa Papa.” “Hala, ka gwapa sa baby, liwat kaayo sa silingin.” “Hala ka bati og nawong sa baby, liwat kaayos umagad!” As Christians, if people would see us, can they also tell us, “ Hala, kamaayo niya, liwat kaayo siya sa Ginoo!” Amen.

Photo taken from www.familytree.com

SAKSI!

First Day of the Misa de Gallo

Is 56: 1 – 3, 6 – 8 / Ps 67 / Jn 5: 33 – 36

A wife once caught her husband in one of the streets of the city’s red light district. Upon coming home, the wife confronted the husband saying, “Earlier this evening I saw your car parked along the street while you were surrounded by young women.” To avoid his guilt, he insisted that it was not he. The husband replied, “You were wrong. Maling akala lang yun. You do not have any witness.” And so, the following day, the wife made a move in order to catch her husband. She went to the red light district and joined the group of young women. After a while, the car of her husband arrived and saw him coming out from it. While the husband was busy with the young women, his eyes were led to his wife. Approaching his wife, the husband said, “My goodness, you look like my wife. You’re as ugly as her!” Indeed, a witness is very important in society today. A witness can prove someone as either guilty or innocent.

In our Gospel today, we learn that John the Baptist was a witness to Jesus Christ. “But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf if true… He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.” However, Jesus also tells us that all his works on earth are witnesses to the truth that he was sent by the Father. “The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.”

Thus, we ask ourselves, who is the faithful and effective witness? If we try to look at the moon, we observe that the light we see from it comes from the sun. The moon simply reflects to earth the light it receives from the sun. In the life of Jesus, John the Baptist is the moon. The content of his preaching is not about himself but Jesus, the Truth. He simply reflected to the people the Light who is Christ. He was humble enough to accept that he was not the Christ; that even he himself was unworthy to untie the straps of hi sandals.

My dear friends, a faithful and effective Christian witness is someone who is aware of his/her mission on earth– the he /she speaks and acts not about him/herself but Christ. A Christian witness is someone who illuminates the Light of Christ and not his own. A Christian witness is someone who is humble to accept that everything is about Christ and not about him/herself.

However, we have also to remind ourselves that just as the works of Jesus bear witness to the Father, we can also become authentic Christian witnesses if our works reflect the works of Jesus, our Lord. This is therefore our challenge today – that our lives reflect the life of Christ who is merciful and compassionate; that our words and works reflect the words and works of Christ who is true and loving.

Today, we begin our traditional Misa de Gallo – nine Masses before the rooster crows in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Misa de Gallo is not a wish granting factory that after nine days of Masses, your dream will come true. Rather, the Misa de Gallo is a witness to Christmas – that after nine months in Mary’s womb, Jesus, the witness of the Father, has finally become one like us except sin. May this Misa de Gallo 2015 help us become effective witnesses to Christ, our Lord. Amen!

Photo taken from genius.com

LIVING A JOYFUL LIFE

Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

Zep 3: 14 – 18 / Is 12 / Phil. 4: 4 – 7 / Lk 3: 10 – 18

What makes people joyful? To have their Christmas socks filled with gifts by Santa makes children joyful. To have a perfect match before time runs out makes those searching for their true love joyful. To have extra money – 13^th month pay and a bonus this Christmas makes workers joyful. To have paid all your debts and dues before the year ends makes people joyful. How about you? What makes you joyful?

Our liturgy today is inviting us to be joyful, to rejoice! This third Sunday of Advent is also called “Gaudete Sunday,” a Sunday to rejoice! In fact, priests today wear pink or rose vestments to highlight the joyful tone in the liturgy. Even our two readings today invite us to rejoice. In our first reading, the prophet Zephaniah tells Jerusalem to “Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!” Why? Because “the Lord is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.” The same is also true in our second reading today. Paul exhorts the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” Why? Because “the Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all.”

My dear friends, today, we are asked to rejoice not because after this Mass all our problems will be gone; not because after this Mass all will be well in our family and married lives; not because after this Mass we will have no more fears and worries about the future. We are called to rejoice because our readings assured us – that the Lord is in our midst; God is with us. We rejoice because we are assured of God’s accompanying presence in our lives now and forever. We are never alone. You and I are never alone.

However, rejoicing in the presence of the Lord also means sharing this joy to others. And this is what John the Baptist highlights in our Gospel today when he told “those who have two cloaks to share with the person who has none; and to those who have food should do likewise; tax collectors must not exceed in their collection; and soldiers must not practice extortion.” True joy happens when it is shared with others. And this is the rationale of Christmas. The Father wants to share His joy in heaven by sending us his only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

My dear friends, today we are called to rejoice because we have been assured of God’s accompanying presence in our lives. However, today, we are also called to share such joy especially to those who continue to thrive in sorrow and sadness.

Pablo Picasso, a Spanish of the 20^th century, and a famous artist who created an impact on the world of art, once said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” As Christians, we have found the meaning of our lives because we have found our gift – the gift of God’s accompanying presence in our lives. I do not know with regards to the purpose of our lives. Have we given away the joy of having Christ in our lives? Have we given away not just our possessions but our whole selves so that others will rejoice? To be more specific, have we been generous today? If not, then we have not yet lived a life, a joyful life. Amen.