HOLY THURSDAY (MAUNDY THURSDAY)
April 9, 2020 Readings: Exodus 12:1-8,11-14 Psalm 116 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15 I think it is perfectly understandable that God's children have always been deeply moved, as you and I are now, by our Master's insistence on this point. 'The Lord does not say that the proof of his disciples' faithfulness will be the working of wondrous miracles and prodigies, although he gave them the power to perform them, in the Holy Spirit. What does he tell them? "You shall be known as my disciples if you love one another."' -St. Josemaria Escriva (Friends of God, 224) I always live by the motto of “love begets love”. Everywhere I have been and every people I have met throughout the years of my life, I never fail (one way or the other) to show them love. Some of them that I have shown love made them better people, some dared to question my motives and some simply never understood why I love them even if I don’t know them. But I would never forget that one time I organized an outreach program in a village filled with poor people. There I helped the poor, the elderly and the sick, while I was helping a young boy came up to me asked me, “Are you Jesus?” That question struck me and I answered him, “Why? What made you say that?” The boy answered, “Even though you don’t know me you showed me and you showed us what love is.” I answered him, “I showed it you. Now share it with other people as well.” Brothers and sisters in Christ, Today is Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. Maundy from the Latin word, “Mandatum” is in reference from the Gospel of John 13:34 "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" or “A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Jesus did not only command His apostles to love one another by word, but also demonstrated it by washing the feet of His apostles. I have to admit that while I was creating this homily, I cried. Why? Because while creating my homily I was having flashbacks on all the people (friends and strangers that) I have made an impact on their lives all because of my love. But at the same time I was having flashbacks of people who never understood and even to a point making a negative impression out of it. For all the people who dared to question me, allow me to throw you several questions as well: •Can’t I love other people without any motives or hidden agendas? •Can’t I love other people because this is what Jesus commanded us Christians? •Can’t I love other people especially my enemies because I believe that love begets love? •Can’t I love other people so that they too can pass the love to others as well? If you ask me, what drives me to love others (even though not everyone thinks my love is true)? My answer is simple – God. God is love, throughout the history of salvation there is only one message and that is love. In the First Reading, God showed His love for the Israelites by giving them instruction to prevent the angel of death to kill the first born and at the same time through the Passover share the love with their neighbors as well. In our Second Reading, St. Paul reminded us the new covenant, the covenant of love between Jesus and us through partaking of His body and His blood. Yes, we partake of His body and blood, but have we kept our end of the covenant? Have we tried our best to keep God’s message of love? Most of all, have we tried our best to apply the message of love to all people? I believe that all of us have the capacity to love. Yes, that is true. However the problem is we tend to choose certain people or groups of people to love that is why instead of the love spreading all around; love is just a cycle within that person or groups of people. I would like to share this advice with you all. There is still hope for a better country and a better world and it all begins with love. To the Bishops, Priests, and Deacons: As Jesus commanded His apostles, the first priests, to love one another as He has loved them, so must you do the same. The chain of command currently rests in you. This morning you had your renewal of vows, with that let us continue to love every one (friend and/or stranger) as Jesus had love us. May you never grow weary to be the living examples of Jesus Christ here on earth. To our politicians: Love your constituents. Love them and serve them as Christ demonstrated it with His disciples. When you do projects, think of us, especially the poor who have high hopes in you. Do these things without expecting anything in return. Let the God of love be your driving force to love and serve everyone especially those in need. To all families: As the basic church – be living examples of love. Show us that the God of love resides in you through prayer, work and charity. Show us that indeed love is powerful and it can touch the lives of other families as well. To all of us: It is time to expand our love not only limiting it within our families, friends and love ones but also to the poor, the needy and the strangers. Let us show them that Christ’s love is indeed still alive and living in us Christians. Through our love they will experience Christ and pass it on to others as well. If that person (or your critics) tends to question your love for other people, answer the same way as Jesus did, “At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.” I believe in love and I believe that love has power to have an impact on the lives of people just as Jesus made an impact to His disciples. Let us continue to live out Jesus’ commandment of love not only this Holy Week but for the rest of our lives as Christians. Jesus. Thank you for the love we receive and now we shall pass it on to others just like the saying... LOVE BEGETS LOVE.
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HOLY WEDNESDAY (SPY WEDNESDAY)
April 8, 2020 Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9 Psalm 68 Matthew 26:14-25 With our acts of service we can prepare an even greater triumph for the Lord than that of his entry into Jerusalem. For there will be no repetition of the Judas episode, or that of the Garden of Gethsemane, or of that dark night. We will succeed in setting the world alight with the flames of that fire which he came to cast upon the earth! And the light of Truth — which is our Jesus — will enlighten men’s minds in an unending day. -St. Josemaria Escriva (The Forge, 947) Imagine that you are in a situation where you have to choose between your best friend and One Million Pesos? I’m sure all of us will choose the One Million Pesos. But what if that One Million Pesos will cost the life of your best friend in the process, will you still choose the One Million Pesos? This Holy Wednesday we hear from the Gospel the story of how Judas chose thirty pieces of silver over the friendship he had with Jesus. He was willing to betray his friend over money and that is just sad. I want to make an emphasis on the significance of the “THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER”. In those days (in the time of the Old Testament), Thirty pieces of silver was a price of a slave it’s not that much. So imagine this when Judas accepted the thirty pieces of silver, he now had on his mind that Jesus was just a slave to Him and not his friend. It hurts us when people especially who are near and dear to us stabs us in back. Imagine days, months, and/or years of investing in the friendship all wasted because of that moment when your friend betrays you. Well this is the reality of life; no wonder people have trust issues with other people nowadays. But life must go on we should not stop living our lives to the fullest because of betrayal of the people whom we thought is our friends. Learning from Jesus in the Gospel today, He knew Judas was to betray Him and yet there was no drama and no further confrontation between the two regarding the matter. There is this saying, “Some people are willing to betray years of friendship just to get a little bit of the spotlight.” Just like when Judas accepted the money. We, at times, also tend to betray our family, friends and love ones for the sake our own personal ambition. We are willing to stab other people in the back, ruining their reputation and even worst end their lives in the process all because of our worldly desires of fame, success and power. Two lessons for us this Holy Wednesday: •Life must go on for us despite other people whom we thought to be our friends has stabbed us in the back. Everything happens for a reason and in the end everything will be OK for you in the end. Rest assured that our Lord is always by our side and He will never ever leave us. •Let us not be blinded by worldly desires to the things that really matters most in life. God, family, true friends and love ones. For they mean more to us than all the riches of the world. “The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.” -Unknown HOLY TUESDAY
April 7, 2020 Readings: Isaiah 49:1-6 Psalm 70 John 13:21-33,36-38 In Christian life, an important part of maturing in our faith is learning to pay heed only to Jesus' word, and not letting ourselves be brought down by the awareness of our limitations. “Do you see? With Him you could do it. Why are you surprised? Be convinced there is nothing to be surprised about. If you trust in God—really trust—things work out easily. And what is more, you always go further than you imagined you could." It is because God does things “sooner, more and better." -St. Josemaria Escriva (Furrow, 123, 462) It hurts us when the people whom we thought will stick with us through thick and thin eventually abandons you. It is more painful when we seek other people (especially friends, family and love ones) for help and yet they deny us of any help. It is beyond painful if the person whom we thought is our friend eventually betrays us. This is our Gospel this Holy Tuesday. Jesus having foreseen His upcoming Passion gave details that involve His “friends”. “Some people aren’t loyal to you… They are loyal to their need of you… Once their needs change, so does their loyalty.” -Unknown This quote somehow is the best description given to Judas because of 30 pieces of silver His loyalty change from Jesus to 30 pieces of silver. Are we going to allow ourselves to change our loyalty to God because of what the world has to offer? Are we going to allow ourselves to be considered as the “Judas” in our circle of friends, family and love ones? “Don’t deny what’s obvious to see.” -Unknown This quote somehow is the best description given Peter for it is obvious that he is among the chosen 12 and even to the point of Jesus giving Him the “keys of Heaven” and yet he will deny Jesus three times out of fear. Are we going to allow ourselves to deny Christ just because of worldly fear? Are we going to allow ourselves to be considered as the next “Denying Peter” in our circle of friends, family and love ones? How many of us have experience that feeling of being denied and/or being betrayed by our so-called friends? That is why sometimes we put into question or even to the point of doubting the “friendship” that is being offered by other people. There is this famous quote in Filipino “walang forever” (there is no such thing as forever). This has been the battle cry of the new generation hence the reason why friendships, relationships and sadly even marriages don't last a lifetime. Because of betrayals and denials especially coming from the ones we love, we find it difficult to create good and lasting relationships with them. At the same time, let us admit, that as sinner there are times in which we betrayed and denied our Lord especially when we fall into temptation of sin and worldliness. We set side Jesus Christ, and instead cling on wealth, power and fame. We denied Him all in the name of gaining more and more wealth in which the world has to offer. Let this COVID-19 virus, that is plaguing the world and claiming lives be our wake up call, realizing what really matters the most, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the time in which we all repent and come back to Him. Being truly sorry for our sins especially those times in which we betrayed and denied Him in exchange for worldly goods. Let this be a time of true conversion as we stand with Jesus our Lord and Savior, renewing our loyalty and faith in Him as well as praying to Him asking for His divine help in these difficult times. It is time we eliminate the "walang forever" mentality and instead build a good and healthy relationship with God and other people, being good and true to them to the end. This Holy Tuesday, we pray to God for the strength and courage to stand up for our belief and loyalty to Jesus and accept Him in our hearts as Lord and savior. HOLY MONDAY
April 6, 2020 Readings: Isaiah 42:1-7 Psalm 26 John 12:1-11 We cannot pause now to consider the divine marvels of Our Lord's most merciful Heart. Instead let us turn our attention to another aspect of the scene, to the way Jesus notices the omission of the expression of human courtesy and refinement which the Pharisee failed to show him. Christ is perfectus Deus, perfectus homo. He is perfect God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, and perfect man. He comes to save, not to destroy nature. It is from him that we learn that it is unchristian to treat our fellow men badly, for they are creatures of God, made to his image and likeness. -St. Josemaria Escriva (Friends of God, 73) In our Gospel today, Holy Monday, we gave focus on two characters: Mary of Bethany and Judas. First, Mary of Bethany. We heard in our Gospel this humble yet beautiful expression of her love for our Lord when she opened up a bottle of expensive perfume oil, anointed the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ and wiped it off with her hair. Indeed, this aromatic perfume oil was just as genuine as her love for the Lord was genuine. Mary's (of Bethany) act poses a challenge to all of us, especially during this "Community Quarantine Period" to offer ourselves genuinely before our Lord Jesus Christ. What can we offer to our Lord during these difficult times? We are at locked in our homes; hence what can we offer then before Jesus? We can offer to our Lord ourselves, our daily work at home, our families, love ones, and our communities, through prayer. Just as St. Josemaria suggests, "Sanctify yourself, sanctify your work and sanctify others", indeed these things when offered to the Lord with pure and sincere hearts, I assure you our Lord will appreciate these gifts we have given before Him as it would bring Him glory. Second, Judas Iscariot. In the Gospel we read, Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. The way I see this, Judas represents those people who are blinded with worldliness. Money, power, achievements and fame, these things which blinds us from attaining the true wealth and happiness - our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed today, Holy Monday, as we are in our homes let us take time to reflect on what really matters most in life. This plague is an eye opener to all of us. No matter how rich you are, no matter how powerful you are, no matter how famous you are and no matter how many awards you've gained in your life time, once that virus hits on you, indeed we will all suffer and we will all struggle and the only way to fight coronavirus and conquer it (learning from the people who recovered from the said virus) is to call upon the Lord as well as praying and hoping for His saving help. Our quote today from St. Josemaria best express the message of our Gospel today, especially during this time when we are at our homes. Everyday is a day that we are in the presence of God, we cannot pause even a single second just to be away from Him. Everyday is a chance where we can encounter God in our lives and in our homes. Everyday is an opportunity to offer what we can to God in order to bring Him glory. On our part, will grab that opportunity to be in the presence of God and offering what we can to Him? Like Mary of Bethany, let us strive to offer what we can to God, everyday of our live with purity and sincerity of heart. Let the character of Judas in our Gospel today, serve as a guide for all of us especially in these difficult times to see what really matters most in life. After all, life is not only about hoarding riches, achievements, connections and fame but building a good relationship with our family, friends and love ones as well as improving our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, who is always present in our lives, especially in these difficult times. SATURDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
April 4, 2020 Reading: Ezekiel 37:21-28 Jeremiah 31 John 11:45-56 If you cut any hint of envy out at the roots, and if you sincerely rejoice in other people’s success, you will not lose your joy. -St. Josemaria Escriva (Furrow, 93) In these past days we've heard in the news that some members government are being sued by a government agency because they so-called violated the Heal as One Act. But when you notice all of those being sued they have one thing in common, these were the people who did everything they can to serve and help the people, especially in these difficult times. Where they sued out of envy for doing a better job than them, we may never know but that is what some people say. In the same way, our Gospel today has a similarity with the situation that I just mentioned. The chief priests and Pharisees are plotting to kill Jesus. Their motivation? Simple... they envy our Lord. The envied Him because many people began to believe in Him. Many believed that He is the Messiah, sent by God to save them. For the Jews this may spell trouble for them because while our Lord is increasing in followers as well as His credibility, they on the other hand are loosing credibility. That is why out of envy they plot to kill Him so that people will eventually come back to them. Indeed envy is one of the most predominant sin we've seen in this world. Out of insecurity we try our best to become better than the other in terms of wealth, power and fame. Because with wealth, power and fame, we become the center of attention, we become the measuring stick for other people to look up to. However there is danger to this desire we wish to attain. Sometimes you "step on" other people in the sense of abusing them, hurting them, or manipulating them just to get what you want in life. Sometimes out of envy we make stupid and even reckless decisions all in the name of being the center of attention. St. Josemaria in his quote that I just mentioned awhile ago, gave us a reminder not to be envy with other people's success but rather be happy for them. If you believe in God, then you know that when you abandon yourself in His providence, God will lead us to success. Each at his/her own pace and time, but eventually all of us will be successful in the end of our journey. All we have to do is trust in the Lord and have this attitude in order to counter the sin of envy and that is BEING CONTENTED. Be contented with what you have because everything that you have comes from the Lord and with it, is very useful in our day to day living. Why ask more if what you have is more than enough for you to live? This Lenten Season as we are at home due to the "Community Quarantine Period" let us take time to examine ourselves if we are contented with what the Lord has given to us, especially during these difficult times. May we eliminate the sin of envy in our system and be happy for other's blessings and for us who have gained blessings in our lives may we learn to share them especially to the least, the last and the lost. Let me end this Homily with a song entitled "These alone are enough". This song is taken from St. Ignatius of Loyola's Suscipe prayer and with it I wish to share it with you. Take my mind with all its plans and schemes. Give me nothing more than your love and grace. These alone, O God, are enough for me. Take my tears, my joys, my liberty. Give me nothing more than your love and grace. These alone, O God, are enough for me. I return to you your gifts untold. Give me nothing more than your love and grace. These alone, O God, are enough for me. Take the very breath that sang your praise. Give me nothing more than your love and grace. These alone, O God, are enough for me. FRIDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
April 3, 2020 Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13 Psalm 18 John 10:31-42 It is an old stratagem for the persecutor to say that he is being persecuted... Popular wisdom has seen right through this all along. In the words of the old Spanish saying: “They throw the stone and then bandage themselves up.” -St. Josemaria Escriva (Furrow, 641) I used to remember this movie entitled "A Few Good Men", there was this scene where Col. Nathan Jessup was on court trial and Lt. Daniel Kaffee tried to get the truth out of the said Colonel. When Lt. Kaffee was itching to know the truth he demanded the Colonel with these words, "I want the truth!", and the Colonel replied the famous line, "You can't handle the truth!" Indeed in our Gospel today, the Jews couldn't handle the truth knowing that Jesus is the one sent by God and is God as well. Because of this they accuse Jesus of the sin of blasphemy and with it, they wanted to kill Him by stoning Him to death. But as we heard in the end of Gospel some people came to Him and believed in Him. During this situation in which we are experiencing right now, because of the dreaded COVID-19, we find it difficult indeed to handle some truths. That as of today more than 2500+ are confirmed positive, we have reached triple digits when it comes to death rate (107 to be exact) and more people are suffering from hunger and poverty because of this pandemic. Indeed, even for me I could not handle the truth in which I am seeing right now. But despite these truths in which we have great difficulty in handling. There is one truth that all of us can handle and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. He will never let us down and He will never ever abandon us, even during this time of great trial. He is indeed ever close to us and He was to be with us so that He could give us hope, comfort and consolation. All we have to do is believe in Him, hope in Him and love Him with all our whole being. As we continue to be in our homes because of this "Community Quarantine Period", let us take time to examine ourselves and see how our faith and relationship with Jesus is at this present moment. Do we believe that our Lord is bigger and greater than this COVID-19 virus? Do we believe that Jesus is ever present in our lives, comforting us and our love ones amidst this great pandemic? Do we believe that Jesus will deliver us from this plague? If you answer this with full of conviction "YES" indeed you can handle this beautiful truth that is given before us. THURSDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
April 2, 2020 Readings: Genesis 17:3-9 Psalm 105 John 8:51-59 We beg you not to hide away. Live with us. May we see you, may we touch you, may we feel you. May we want to be beside you all the time, and have you as the King of our lives and of our work. -St. Josemaria Escriva (The Forge, 542) In this Homily today, I want to focus on one particular sentence from our Gospel today, "Jesus hid Himself. Jesus autem abscondit se." taken from John 8:59. In the Tridentine Calendar, for those who are attendees of the Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form, this is the Gospel used on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, also known as Passiontide. This Gospel that we have just heard is the main reason why, Last Sunday, some (if not all) holy images in the church are now veiled in purple cloth. Jesus hid Himself. He did not hid out of fear and cowardliness but He did this out of Divine Power. As a matter of fact, according to Saint Augustine, at this moment when “Jesus hid himself,” Christ in fact became invisible by virtue of His divine nature. Saint Augustine writes: He hides not Himself in a corner of the temple, as if afraid, or running into a cottage, or turning aside behind a wall or column: but by His Divine Power making Himself invisible, He passed through their midst. I am sure some you've understood the meaning behind the purple cloths that you see in some churches. But I'm sure you are still curious, "If that signifies the Divinity of our Lord, then why is the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and all the saints are covered in purple cloth as well?" The answer is simple. Because it is befitting that if the glory of the Master is hidden, this His servants should not appear. At this present time, some of us have experienced great difficulty in exercising this pious practice amidst the difficult situation we are experiencing due to the dread COVID-19 virus. By veiling these sacred images, some of us are thinking that may be God has abandoned us nor does he hear our cries of help in these trying times. But no, that is not the message of the purple cloth. What the Church is reminding us that God is Divine and all-powerful. He is not only omnipotent but also OMNIPRESENT (meaning present in all places and all times). In these moments of tears, pain and suffering, He is never far off from us but as the famous Psalm dictates, "He is always close to the broken-hearted," through His divine power He is always with us and offering what He can to console His people. Just like the purple cloth, we may not see God, but we are assured of His presence, especially during this time of great trial. Another reason why sacred images are being veiled during this part of the Lenten Season is for us to have that hunger and longing to see Christ again. Actually looking at our current situation right now, even without the purple cloths covering sacred images, we are now experiencing this spiritual hunger - this spiritual longing, to be with Jesus again by going to church, by going to confession, by receiving Him in Holy Communion, by adoring Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament and other spiritual means. Indeed, we are experiencing at the moment the true spirit of Lent. During this "Community Quarantine Period", let us take time in recognizing the value of Jesus' presence in our lives, in our families, in our homes, in our workplace, in our social gatherings and many more. Though hidden before us now, by this act of veiling of the sacred images, we assured that no one, not even a purple cloth, can stop our Lord to be with us and to comfort us in these times of great difficulty, all we have to do is to open our hearts before Him, allow Him to enter into our lives and to give time and value to our Lord Jesus Christ, our Divine Savior and Redeemer. WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
April 1, 2020 Readings: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 Daniel 3 John 8:31-42 Christ himself gives us the answer: veritas liberabit vos, the truth will set you free. How great a truth is this, which opens the way to freedom and gives it meaning throughout our lives. I will sum it up for you, with the joy and certainty which flow from knowing there is a close relationship between God and his creatures. It is the knowledge that we have come from the hands of God, that the Blessed Trinity looks upon us with predilection, that we are children of so wonderful a Father. I ask my Lord to help us decide to take this truth to heart, to dwell upon it day by day; only then will we be acting as free men. Do not forget: anyone who does not realise that he is a child of God is unaware of the deepest truth about himself. When he acts he lacks the dominion and self-mastery we find in those who love Our Lord above all else. -St. Josemaria Escriva (Friends of God, 26) In our Gospel today, Jesus continues to reveal His divinity before the Jews to the point that He tries to tell them that if they believe in Him and His words, they will know the truth and the truth will set them free. During these difficult times because of the dreaded COVID-19, we always watch the news as well as read posts on Facebook in order to see the progress of the situation brought about by this said virus. Because of this, sometimes we experience difficulty in processing which is the truth and which is not due to inconsistencies when comes to data. Especially now with the rise of fake news here and there, we are indeed challenged on discerning the real truth behind our situation due to COVID-19. I also find it ironic that our Gospel today falls on April 1, which we all know is April fool's day. That is why it is best to prepare ourselves very well in discerning whether what the person says is true or simply just fooling us. However, there is this one truth that will always remain constant and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. And by continuously believing in Him and His words, rest assured we are free. The knowledge of the truth which Christ is offering to us is not just intellectual knowledge; it is rather the maturing in the soul of the seed of divine revelation. This is the only kind of knowledge which really sets us free, because it removes us from a position of alienation from God - the state of sin and puts us on the path of friendship with God, the path of grace, of the Kingdom of God. During this "Community Quarantine Period", let us take time to read the Bible at least for a maximum of half an hour. As a matter of fact, St. Josemaria Escriva encourages everyone to make time in scripture reading when he said these words, "In our own life we must reproduce Christ's life. We need to come to know him by reading and meditating on Scripture, and by praying." Let us exercise this pious devotion of scripture reading not only in ourselves but together with our friends, families and love ones, so that all of us may experience the saving truth that is offered to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to end this Homily with the famous words said by St. John Paul II (Pope John Paul II then) when he gave his speech at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC in 1979. Inspiring us that in this life there is only one thing that can give us happiness and freedom. He said: Materialistic concerns and one-sided values are never sufficient to fill the heart and mind of a human person. A life reduced to the sole dimension of possessions, of consumer goods, of temporal concerns will never let you discover and enjoy the full richness of your humanity. It is only in God—in Jesus, God made man—that you will fully understand what you are. He will unveil to you the true greatness of yourselves: that you are redeemed by him and taken up in his love; that you are made truly free in him who said about himself : "If the son frees you, you will be free indeed" (Jn 8:36). TUESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
March 31, 2020 Readings: Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 102 John 8:21-30 During the next three years, Jesus shared his life with his disciples; he came to know them; he answered their questions and resolved their doubts. He is indeed the rabbi, the Master who speaks with authority, the Messiah sent by God. But he is also accessible; he is close to them. -St. Josemaria Escriva (Christ is Passing By, 108) Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine's National Hero once said, "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan." [In English: He who does not know how to look back at his humble beginnings will never get far to his destination.] Before I proceed with my homily, I have a confession to make. In the past, during the Fifth Week of Lent, I never make reflections or homilies. Why? Because I find it too difficult to create homilies and reflections regarding Jesus' Divine Revelation. For me, it is a challenge as a Catholic to fully grasp as well as to fully understand the Divinity of our Lord. That is why, I humbly ask that you bear with me as I try my best to give you our way of understanding the Gospel during this week. In the Gospel today, Jesus reveal His Divine origin. Jesus said to the Jews, “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” At this point the Jews thinks that our Lord has gone crazy because on their minds, they're that Jesus was going to kill Himself. But Jesus goes on preaching which little by little reveals that He is, "I am he", the one sent by the Father. Thus, when Jesus says of himself, "I am he", he revealing that he is God. One this I admire about Opus Dei is their spirit of Divine Filiation. As a matter of fact St. Josemaria Escriva considered Divine Filiation as one of the key features when it comes to the spirit of Opus Dei. So what is Divine Filiation? “Divine filiation is the basis of the spirit of Opus Dei,” St. Josemaría stated (Christ Is Passing By, no. 64). Baptism makes us children of God in Christ and begins a relationship based on confidence in divine Providence, simplicity in our dealings with God and with other men and women, a deep sense of the dignity of each person and fraternity towards all, true Christian love for the world and all of God’s creatures, serenity and optimism. The formation given in Opus Dei strengthens in the Christian faithful a lively sense of their condition as children of God, which imbues each of their actions and helps them act in accord with the exalted vocation to which they have been called (cf. Eph 4:1). St. Josemaría summarized the sense of divine filiation as an ardent and sincere desire, tender and deep, to imitate Jesus as his brothers and sisters, children of God the Father, and to live always in the presence of God. It fosters a life of faith in Providence and a serene and joyful abandonment to the divine Will. Indeed Divine Filiation is what came into my mind as I read the Gospel today, just as Jesus revealed to the Jews that He is one sent by the Father, so too must be our mission in life. To reveal to all that we are children of the one Father in heaven. How do we do that? St. Josemaria again gives us a suggestion, "By sanctifying ourselves, our work, and others as well." Because the way I see it, by doing these things St. Josemaria suggested, we reveal the beauty and goodness of God's creation by our willingness to follow His will. Let this season of Lent be an opportunity for us to look back and examine ourselves: -Are we proud to be sons and daughters of God, the Father? -Do we recognize the presence of God in our lives? -Do we strive our best to follow His will? Going back to the famous quote of Dr. Jose Rizal, "If we don't look back to our origin, that you and I came from a loving and caring God, who we proudly call our Father, we will not be able to move forward to the destination He has for us." Let us take this opportunity to look back and thank God for everything He has done and given to us as well as we pray that we move forward, may our destination be in tuned to where He wants us to be. Looking at it now, during this COVID-19 season, it is an opportunity for us to reveal our true identity as children of God. How? By exercising a life of prayer and good works to all, especially for our frontline workers, our government and the victims of the said virus. Because I assure you by doing these holy things, little by little we reveal God's goodness to the world amidst the great trials we are facing at this time. You are a child of God as well as those people out there are also the children of God. Let us unite and help one another, so that God's presence may reign in us and on the whole world. MONDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
March 30, 2020 Readings: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or Daniel 13:41-62 Psalm 23 John 8:1-11 The life of Jesus Christ is a summary and compendium of the story of divine mercy: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." And on another occasion our Lord said: "Be merciful, therefore, even as your Father is merciful." Many other scenes of the Gospel have also made a deep impact on us, such as his forgiveness of the adulterous woman, the parable of the prodigal son, that of the lost sheep, that of the pardoned debtor, the resurrection of the son of the widow at Naim. How many reasons based on justice could Christ have found to work this great wonder! The only son of that poor widow had died, he who gave meaning to her life, he who could help her in her old age. But Jesus didn't perform the miracle out of justice, but out of compassion, because his heart was moved by human suffering. -St. Josemaria Escriva (Christ is Passing By, 7) Interviewing Pope Francis in July, Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli asked the pope how he might act as a confessor to a gay person in light of his now famous remarks in a press conference in 2013, when he asked: "Who am I to judge?" Francis' reply appears in a new book The Name of God is Mercy. "On that occasion I said this: If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?" the pope says. "I was paraphrasing by heart the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized." Who am I to judge? Indeed this became one of the Holy Father's trademark which is the best words to use in relation to our Gospel today. We how Jesus saved an adulterous woman from being stoned to death. Yes, by the law during Jesus' time she deserved to die because she committed the sin of adultery. However, Jesus' response to them was different, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her," then Jesus wrote something on the ground and one by one they left. I always say this to people I meet along the way or even when I give spiritual talks to a crowd, "Attaining holiness is one thing; maintaining it is another." Because believe me or not, there is a danger once we attain holiness without maintaining it and that is getting the sin of pride and the attitude of being self-righteous in the process. Being holy, is not about, "that me is better than all of you" mentality. See in our Gospel today how the Pharisees, though we know they're intention of testing our Lord, their self-righteous attitude knowing that they are better than the rest of humanity and condemning them of their sins not giving any ray of hope. However, our Lord Jesus Christ turns the table on them and in the end they left in embarrassment. Being holy is not about us being better than them, it is about our daily growth in relationship with God and other people. Yes, it is not easy for us to love God and love our neighbor. At times we've done wrong things to God and to our neighbor. Hence, that is why we have no right to judge other people as well, because we are all sinners striving to become saints. And we can only achieve that if instead of judging other people for their sins, we help them by repenting for their sins and lead them closer God leaving the person's sinful past behind. As a matter of fact, St. Josemaria Escriva once said, "A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying." Holiness is not about perfection from start to finish, but striving everyday to be better with the love and merciful help of God on our side. During this "Quarantine Period" as we are at home, I'm sure some of us are very active in social media ever since this period of lockdown has started. Instead of blaming the government, instead of blaming this person or that person because of our current situation, lets just help one another and pray for one another especially in this difficult times. Now is not the time for the blame game or finger pointing who's fault is it. But, a time of prayer, reconciliation and to help one another in this great difficult times. Let me end this with a famous quotes oftentimes being said by millennials whenever they're being judged harshly by other people. Let this quote be a reminder for all of us that we don't have the power nor the right to judge other people for theirs sins, because in the end, "Only God can judge me." |