MISA DUEOM SA CAMACA 12-19-2012

In the Philippines, a “hilot” has always something to say about the drama of pregnancy. He would say, “When a husband learns his wife is pregnant he is happy. If it is his querida, it is a problem. If his son brings home a pregnant girl, it is ok but if it is his daughter who gets pregnant, it is a big no –no! If it is the awaited firstborn, he is excited, but if it is the tenth child already, he is disappointed. If it is his first baby boy he cuddles him, but if his children are all boys, then he looks for a daughter.” Then he would continue, “If a wife is naglilihi, the husband should give his attention to her. If she likes balut, it will produce a hairy child. If she likes dinuguan dish, it will cause one’s baby to be dark. If she likes lanzones, it will bring a fair and smooth-skinned baby.” And he would end by saying, “Members of the family also would watch the shape of a woman’s stomach; for a pointed tummy it means it is a boy. But if it is rounded then it is a girl. If the mother is pretty during pregnancy, she will have a daughter. If the mother looks gross and her armpits dark, she will most definitely produce a son. My dear friends in Christ, talking about pregnancy, our Gospel (Luke 1:5-25) speaks about this particularly that of Elizabeth. Angel Gabriel came to announce this to Zechariah but he doubted. For Zechariah it is impossible to be a father to a child because it is impossible for his wife to get pregnant at her age. But the angel declared that everything is according to God’s will including pregnancy. Here the Gospel conveys to us that it is God who wills everything and such does not exclude pregnancy. How many couples are there who are childless even if they are married for some long years already? How many teenagers are there who engage in a pre-marital sex while using contraceptives and yet they get pregnant? People should not forget that getting pregnant might not be part of the plan of the couple but they have to be open to accept that it might be the plan of God. Whether we like it or not, whether people would call the baby legitimate or illegitimate child, every baby in the womb of a mother is a grace from God. Let us not desecrate God’s grace then to us.

MISA DUEOM SA CAMACA 12-18-2012

A husband comes home drunk and breaks some crockery; vomits and falls down on the floor. His wife pulls him up and cleans everything. On the next day when he gets up he expects her to be really angry with him. He prays that they should not have a fight. He finds a note near the table… “Honey, your favorite breakfast is ready on the table, I had to leave early to buy grocery. I’ll come running back to you, my love. I love you. … ” He gets surprised and asks his son, “What happened last night..?” His son told him, “When mom pulled you to bed and tried removing your boots and shirt you were dead drunk and you said ‘Hey Lady! Leave me alone… I am married !!!’” My dear friends in Christ, today on our third day of simbang gabi, we include in our prayers all the fathers of every family. Being a father is not just about fulfilling one’s social or personal role but it is embracing the vocation which God has given him. In our Gospel, (Matthew 1:18-25), Joseph wanted to leave Mary upon knowing that she bears in her womb the son of God. But God himself did not allow Joseph to leave Mary. God through his messenger revealed the vocation of Joseph to be the human father of Jesus. Today, we have to call on all fathers to embrace their vocation like what Joseph did. We pray that they recognize their essential part in loving their families. We pray that they make their house a home where the fathers protect and take care of their household members. We pray that on Christmas day, all fathers would lead their families in praying the prayer before meal as well as after meal. We hope to see all fathers spend their Christmas vacation with their families rather than with anybody else. May all the fathers learn the way of St. Joseph in loving their families.

MISA DUEOM SA CAMACA 12-17-2012

My mother had only one eye, I hated her as I was ashamed of her She was a cook in the school cafeteria where I studied. One day, when I saw still in a primary class, She came to visit me to see for herself that I was all right. I was very upset, how dare she do this to me? After that incident I ignored her & looked on her Only with hateful eyes …. The next day, a fellow-student told me, " oohhh , your mother has only one eye !" At that moment, I wanted to crawl under the floor And that my mother would be out of my life completely . The next day I went to meet her & to tell here: " because of you I am the joke at school, Why don't you die and go away !? But, she did not respond …. I wasn't thinking and did not know what I was saying, I was very angry . I could not imagine How she would react to my remarks. And, I left town . I studied relentlessly and obtained a scholarship to continue my studies abroad. In fact, I completed my studies, got married, bought a house and set up my family. I lived a happy and a peaceful life . One day, my mother comes to visit me. It has been many years since she had disappeared, She had never met here grand-children. She remained at the doorstep While my children were making fun of her I shouted at her: " How date you come all the way here and frighten my kids?! With a calm voice she responded: "I apologize, I am at the wrong address." And she disappeared. One day, I received an invitation from my hometown school to attend a reunion under the "close family ties " topic I lied to my wife and made her believe that I was traveling for business. After the reunion I stopped by the house where I grew up The neighbours informed me that my mother had passed away . I did not shed even one drop of tear!!! The neighbor handed me a letter that my mother had left for me "My Dear son, I always thought of you." I regret having visited you abroad And frightened your kids …I was very pleased when I heard that you would come to attend the reunion …The only thing was that I could not get up from my bed to come and see you…. … I am broken-hearted that I brought shame to you on numerous occasions… … Did you know that when you were a baby you had an accident and lost your one eye?... … and , as any other mother would, I would not let you grow up with only one eye…. So. I gave you my eye…….. I was very proud and happy to know that my son would be able to see the world with my eye … with all my love… …Your mother…. My dear friends in Christ, today as we celebrate our second simbang gabi, we have to remember and include in our prayers our ancestors, grandparents and most especially our parents. In our Gospel, (Matthew 1:1-17), the list of the ancestors, grandparents and parents of Jesus Christ is mentioned. The sacred author could not have inserted this genealogy of Jesus if it would have no significance for us to understand it. Well, the list is just a list and there is no mention of accomplishments or failures made by the ancestors of Jesus. This would tell us that no matter how good or bad our ancestors, grandparents and even parents are, we must not deny them our love because they are our “gin-gikanan”. Even if we have not found them loving or loveable, still we are called to embrace them, forgive their mistakes and failings, and understand that they are instruments of God for our existence. How many grandparents or parents would spend their Christmas this year in loneliness because they were abandoned by their children and grandchildren? How many good grandparents and parents are there whose goodness and kindness are not appreciated or affirmed? How many grandparents and parents are there who are not so good in treating their children and grandchildren but have to be forgiven by the latter? We often spend more times in a year with our friends rather than with our grandparents and parents. But today, the Church reminds us to give more time being with our grandparents and parents and to forgive many times whenever they have hurt us. Merriness in Christmas begins at home.

MISA DUEOM SA CAMACA 12-16-2012

A boy asked his father to pray with him before he would go to sleep. This never happened before because he had no time for his son. Then the boy made the sign of the cross and prayed saying “Dear God let me grow as a good man like my father. Amen.” When his father heard this, he cried and prayed, “Dear God, I know I have been unfaithful to my wife and have no time for my son for so long a time. I pray tonight that you change me to be a good man like what my son thinks I am.” My dear friends in Christ, through his son’s prayer, the father learned to come close to God. He also prayed and promised to change his ways –turning away from sin and leading his way towards God to indicate his conviction. Today is the first day of our simbang gabi. Our simbang gabi is not just a mere religious activity or tradition but a novena mass. It is a novena because we have to wake up early before dawn for nine consecutive days and go to the church to celebrate mass. It is during these days that we pray and reflect on our ways whether we have been far away from God or we have come closer to God. In our Gospel (Luke 3:10-18), people asked John the Baptist, "What then shall we do?" And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." He also said to tax collectors, "Collect no more than is appointed you." Then he said to the soldiers, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages." Here, the message of John the Baptist is clear: there must be a change in one’s ways –to get rid of one’s old self, one’s selfishness and sinfulness. This is the first step to get closer to God. We are made aware by the Church today that on our first day of simbang gabi, we have to start with a strong conviction to turn away from our selfishness and sinfulness. Our prayer, our novena, our simbang gabi would be useless if it would not help us change our wicked ways so as to get closer to God. Moreover, let our prayers also lead others to the path of holiness, praying for them to find their way straight to God.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2012 (Camaligan, Batan, Aklan)

Jessica Cox was born without arms. Born in 1983 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. Jessica’s father has said he never shed a tear about her birth condition. He had full confidence in her potential. With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet. At the age of 14, Jessica earned her first Black Belt in the International Taekwondo Federation. After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During college, Jessica found a club of the American Taekwondo Association and resumed training in the sport. Even though Jessica already had one black belt in a different style, she had to relearn all of the color belt material. The instructors created a curriculum that would be accessible to any future armless students. Jessica then became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the ATA. Jessica’s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, two flight instructors and a discouraging year to find the right aircraft: a 1946 415C Ercoupe Airplane. She received the Guinness World Record for being the first person certified to fly an airplane with only their feet. (http://rightfooted.com/) Jessica Cox shows to all of us that no matter how limited our circumstances in life, they cannot put limit to our chances to do great things for our life. The way one thinks has a greater impact on his/her life than a physical limitation. In our Gospel (Luke 3:1-6), it is said that John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord by preaching about repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This is the same message that we receive today from the Church as we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent with the Holy Sacrifice of the mass. We are called to turn our back from our sins and from our selfishness. This seems difficult if not impossible. How many times did we go to confession and promise not to sin again yet we always find ourselves falling into the same temptations? How many times did we say sorry to someone we hurt yet we continue to hurt them? How difficult it is to put an end to some vices like smoking excessively, drinking liquors which leads to drunkenness, gossiping, etc? We know we are backsliders! We think it is useless to repent and it is better to live in sin. Well, before we totally succumb to our sinfulness, we have to be aware that no matter how limited our circumstances in life, they should not put limit to our chances to do great things for our life. Isn’t it the way we think has a greater impact on our life? So instead of thinking about our limitations and how many times we fail in making our path straight for the Lord, we have to think more of the grace of God to sustain us in our effort to turn away from sins. It is only with God’s grace that we can abandon our sins and all we have to do is make ourselves ready to accept and receive such grace. We still examine our conscience and go to confession. We have to be honest enough making a perfect contrition. It is only then that we say with conviction; I have prepared my life for you Lord, please come and lead my life. Amen.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2012 (Camaligan, Batan, Aklan)

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest. "Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?" "I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same." "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger - while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to be always prepared. In our Gospel (Luke 21:25-36), Jesus said, “Be vigilant at all times…” It means that we have to make ourselves fit every day and be ready to face whatever comes our way. Part of being vigilant, or being fit, we have to see to it that we always find time to do what is essential and necessary in our state of life. This does not mean that we have to work and work only. Rather, we can spend some of our times relaxing or refreshing somewhere somehow but even then it must not lead us to be negligent of what is essential and necessary i.e., to be always fit to face whatever comes our way. It is unwise for one to skip taking care of himself/herself because he/she is on vacation. It is not also good to forget brushing one’s teeth or taking a bath because he/she is too busy with his/her works. Whatever our situation is and in whatever condition we can find ourselves, our Gospel reminds us to stay fit –be vigilant –be prepared for whatever comes along. And the best way to be fit –to be vigilant –is to spend more times in prayers. Amen.

5th Easter Sunday -Year B -John 15:1-8

A man approached his parish priest and volunteered to join the parish team. He said he is a doctor of Philosophy and one of the best professors in one of the best universities in the country. The priest smiled and warmly welcomed him. The man asked what would be his position in the team. He said he could be the president of the team as he is highly qualified for any higher position. The priest smiled and gave him a broom instead. He asked the man to clean the church. The man became mad because of this. “I am a distinguished professor in a well known university and you want me to clean the church”, he said. “No way. I will serve the church no more”, he added. When the man left the church, the priest said to himself, “Oh Jesus, we do not need unchristian workers in the church. My dear friends, we are all Catholics here. But sometimes we do not know the essence of our being catholic. Some of us think that being a Catholic is being a member of one of the many religions. What we somehow overlook is that we are all followers of Christ. This is the truth why we are called Christians –we are nothing but only followers of Christ. And being a Christian, we have nothing to boast against the others. What capacity do we have to build a Christian community? The fact is we are in the church not because we can offer our superior intelligence or mega achievements. Our church is not founded on merely human strength or power. Rather, we are in the church to listen to God. In our first reading, Acts 9:26-31 our church is organized not by the power of men. It is said, “It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.” Our church does not depend on the greatness of man but on the guidance of God. If one is trying to build a community due to his own strength and power, then such community is not built by Christ. For the followers of Karl Marx, their community is known as the Marxist. For the followers of Mao Zedong, they are called the Communist Party of China. Vladimir Lenin called his followers the Bolsheviks while Julius Martov formed the Mensheviks. These are all man-made communities and if communities are founded on human strength, time will come that the human weakness will try to corrupt the said strength. Now, what kind of a community do we suppose to have if we are guided by God? What is the identity of our community when it is founded by Christ? Our second reading says, “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18-24). It means that are community is incorruptible or invincible because our strength is neither our intelligence nor social skills but love. Love and no other is what our community is made up of. Our church is known not because we have great men or intelligent priests but because we can show our love to one another in word and in deed. It is by the power of love that we can do great things. Without love, the community will not last. Our power, our strength is love and this kind of love comes from our faith in Christ. Jesus said, “Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1-8) This means that we do not need great men in the church but only those who can be humble before God and allow God’s love to be their strength and power in serving the church. If there is one requirement for being a priest, a catholic, a lector, commentator, catechist, etc. it must be love. If one does not know how to love in word and in deed, then he/she is deemed disqualified. Love makes a difference in serving and building the church. The absence or presence of love makes a difference in the community. In a little church in a small village in Yugoslavia, an altar boy serving the priest at Sunday Mass accidentally dropped the cruet of wine. The village priest struck the altar boy sharply on the cheek and in a gruff voice shouted, "Leave the sanctuary and don't come back!" That boy became Marshall Tito, the antichristian communist president of Yugoslavia in 1953 till his death in 1980. In the cathedral of Peoria, Illinois another altar boy serving the bishop at Sunday Mass also accidentally dropped the cruet of wine. With a warm twinkle in his eyes, the bishop gently whispered, "Someday you will be a priest." Do you know who that boy was? Archbishop Fulton Sheen. So how do we serve our church? Jesus has the answer in today’s gospel: With humility, abiding in him but most of all, with love. Let us serve the church with love and be great because we excel in the art of loving.

4th Easter Sunday -Year B -John 10:11-18

A Filipino nurse Jonathan Aquino was sentenced to 18 months in jail for mauling his patient Maria Worroll almost a year ago in Kentish Town, North London. Jonathan Aquino’s violent acts were caught in a video when Jane Carroll, Maria’s daughter, hid a camera in the bedroom after suspecting a maltreatment of her mother. The video showed Aquino hitting the 80-year-old Alzheimer’s patient in the face and then slapping her arms several times. He then hit her abdomen four times. Sentencing Aquino to 18 months in jail, Judge Henry Blacksell QC told the nurse he was guilty of a ‘dreadful breach of trust’. ‘It is distressing for anybody to have to watch what’s contained on the footage,’ he said at Blackfriars Crown Court, central London. ‘This poor woman had been transferred to this institution in the hope that she should receive proper care and attention. ‘Quite rightly, society in general is extremely concerned about the treatment of the elderly and vulnerable in institutions such as this. 'They should be able to expect better, and I am afraid those who are caught misusing their responsibility should be held to account.’ This is a sad story of a caregiver. Today's gospel, on the other hand, gives us a very different picture of caregiving. The gospel talks of Jesus as the good shepherd, a caregiver. The life of the shepherd in biblical times was one of personal self-giving and sacrifice –a great caregiver. His work was that of watchful care and closeness to the flock. There were two kinds of shepherds, caregivers. There was the hired hand for whom keeping the sheep was just the available job. He moved from flock to flock depending on the conditions of service and he would not risk his life for them. Jesus said that he is not that kind of shepherd. Then there is the shepherd-owner of the flock who grows up with the flock and stays with the same flock all his life. He calls each one by name and could tell you the personal story of each one of the sheep, when and where it was born, the problems it has had in life, its personal characteristics, etc. He is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Jesus is the good shepherd, a caregiver. He laid down his life for the flock, that is, we the church. In a general way he invites all of us to share in the work of care-giving for the flock in our own little ways. Parents are shepherds or caregivers of their children. A good spouse is a shepherd of his/her prodigal spouse. Doctors are shepherds of the sick. Lawyers are shepherds of the victims of unjust system. Teachers are shepherds of their students. Do we give our all for our sheep even if it is beyond our duty? Do we give care to others just like Jesus has taken care of us? Can we give more than what our job description requires?

Good Friday -Year B

It was a Good Friday in the year 2007, that after a long procession, some of my friends in the parish would like to take pictures with me. It was a significant event because I would be leaving the parish after Easter to go back to our diocese (in Kalibo, Aklan) for good. While we were busy taking some pictures, one of them received an emergency call from a relative. We learned that her son met an accident. But she did not believe it because she knew that before she left home her son stayed there to rest. In order to verify the information, she immediately went home with her friends accompanying her. There they learned that her son was fetched by his cousins. Although he initially refused to join them, he gave in to their persuasion and had a joy ride with them going to Tagaytay. They were along their way to Tagaytay that they met an accident. Among the four in the car, he was the only one who got injured and immediately died. The other three suffered neither injury nor wounds. The following day, I visited her in the funeral home where the body of her son was laid for the wake. I could neither say nor do something for her. I could not even say a mass on that day as it was Black Saturday. I was even dumbfounded when she started asking me, “Why is this happening to us? Where is God? Why this has to happen when I am starting to participate actively in our parish activities?” To be honest, I did not say anything. I was totally silent.
I realized there and then that in life, there are questions which we can answer. There are also some questions which are difficult to answer though we can give a try to answer it. There are questions which we do not need to answer. But most of all, there are really some questions which have no answer. One of these is the question of an innocent man who suffers –Why Lord? Why me?
Jesus Himself had this kind of question while he was hanging on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46). Jesus did no wrong. Rather, he brought glad tidings to the poor. He proclaimed liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, he cured the sick and proclaimed a year acceptable to the Lord (Luke 4: 18-19). And yet he was betrayed by one of his chosen ones –Judas Iscariot. Peter denied him three times. His other disciples hid themselves from him while he was facing the harsh judgment of the people. He was sentenced to death without due process, without even invoking his rights. He alone carried his cross. He was then crucified. What did he do to deserve these? And in the height of intense pain and suffering, he asked “Why?” and there was no answer. As there was no answer, Jesus did not ask again why to God instead he cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46) and then he died. Jesus showed us through his suffering and death that instead of asking “why”, better ask “what can I do now with my suffering”. Jesus himself gave us the answer: to lift up everything to God. Suffering and death must not separate us from God. Suffering and death are not reasons to abandon or blame God. Suffering and death cannot get hold an innocent or good man to die in vain because he can still do something and that is to die in faith.
Today, we are going to venerate, kiss or touch Jesus on the cross. Our veneration is not only on Jesus but Jesus on the cross. Our kiss is an act of resignation to God just like what Jesus did on the cross. It is like saying that even in the worst times of our life, even if everything is beyond our understanding, we leave everything to God. In our suffering, we let God be glorified. Though this is difficult to do so, it is not impossible to do. Allow me to end with a true story. In one of the parishes where I was assigned, there was this woman who would go to the church early in the morning and she would wake us up by shouting outside our convent telling us to open the church. She would even make several calls or use the doorbell to tell us priests that we have to be at the entrance of the church some minutes before the mass. She was a prayerful person. She never missed mass or community prayers until she went to abroad sometime in August. When she arrived on November 18, 2007 she was waiting for her favorite son to fetch her at the international airport. Her son who supposed to fetch her was Melvin, who was newly married and whose wife gave birth to their first baby on October 20, 2007. Unfortunately, Melvin did not show up at the airport. So she decided to go home by riding a taxi. It was already late in the afternoon of the same day when someone called her up on her phone and told her to watch the news on a television. She was terribly shocked to watch on television that her son Melvin was treacherously killed in his car by some unidentified persons. On the next day, I was requested to say mass for Melvin. When I arrived at the funeral home, I heard her say to me, “Father, si Melvin.” Then she cried. She spent the whole week at the wake crying for Melvin until the burial. I thought the event would weaken her faith. I thought after the burial, she would stop praying. I thought she would ask me “why”. But I was wrong. After the burial, she even prayed more than she used to do. She remained strong in her faith despite what happened. Last year, I happened to say mass for Melvin’s death anniversary in the cemetery, I found no signs of anger on her face. She kept her faith. Suffering and death have no power over her. Suffering and death cannot drive her away from God. She kissed Jesus on the cross.

Palm Sunday -Year B -Mark 15:1-39

A ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they have no other recourse but to pray to God for help.
However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they decided to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first man prayed for a ship, so that he could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked on his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since his prayers had not been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven boom-out, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for this," the first man answered. "His prayer was unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received my blessings."
"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"
"He prayed that your prayer would be answered."
In our Gospel, people ridiculed Jesus shouting, “He saved others; He cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” They thought Jesus was unfortunate as he was helpless being crucified on the cross. They thought God never heard the prayers of Jesus who claimed to be the son of God. They never realized that Jesus suffered not because His prayers were not answered by God; rather Jesus suffered to answer God’s call to save all men. He endured everything to teach us what the word “sacrifice” means. It is making one’s suffering an offering to God for the sake of men’s salvation. When he died on the cross, His sacrifice did not end there. It was transformed into a “sacrament” where everybody has an access to meet and receive Him (Jesus) who died for us. Now, all of us have an access to God, our prayers will be answered by God because Jesus Himself is on our side. We can say that through the passion of Christ, God hears our prayer. Today, we are reminded in this Holy Eucharist to offer too all our pains for the purification of mankind, an act of sacrifice on our part and encourage us to help people in their suffering. We are called to be wounded healers in our community. We look after the spiritual needs of others being their intercessors before God that their prayers as well as our prayers for them would be answered. Amen.

5th Sunday of Lent -Year B -John 12:20-33

Archbishop Romero was an Archbishop of San Salvador. His appointment wasn’t exactly welcomed because those aligned with Marxism or with liberation theology felt that he was too much an “establishment” man. He was seen to be supportive of the government simply because he was a safe Bishop; a kind of a “yes” man. However, one of his personal friends, a Jesuit priest, was assassinated and his death had a profound impact on Romero. Whilst looking at his dead friend lying in the coffin, he thought to himself, “If they killed him for doing the right thing, then I must walk the path as well”. He asked the government to investigate the death but they ignored his request and the censored media also remained silent. Because of this, he was like a man coming alive as he found his voice in speaking up against injustice and for irregularity in governance. For that, he was also assassinated. He sacrificed himself for the sake of his flock. His death opened the way to freedom of his people.
In life, sometimes there is a need to sacrifice in order to promote something better. Jesus Himself said something like this in our Gospel, "Truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” To sacrifice in order to bear much fruit is easier said than done. Our instinct has taught us to avoid what is painful. We even prefer to take the chance to get some things done without using more of our time and energy. We would rather clamor when things do not go the way we want it to be than to consider it an occasion for us to sacrifice something. Time will come for us to give up something to gain a better thing.
On this fifth Sunday of Lent, we are being reminded by the church to sacrifice. This is a season for fasting and penance. We have to leave behind our comfort zones so as to achieve something better –our spiritual wellness. Our sacrifice gives way to our freedom from sin. Our sacrifice leads us to a better life –a spiritual being.

4th Sunday of Lent -Year B -John 3:14-21

Old Mcdonald had a farm, and on that farm he had a chicken. He asked the chicken if she loved him. The chicken said yes. Then old Mcdonald said prove it. The chicken said, “Here are my eggs. They are all yours.” Old Mcdonald said, “Indeed you love me.” Old Mcdonald had also a cow. He asked the cow if she loved him. The cow said yes. Then old Mcdonald said prove it. The cow said, “I have milk. It is all yours.”Old Mcdonald said, “Indeed you love me.” Old Mcdonald had also a pig. He asked the pig if she loved him. The pig said yes. Then old Mcdonald said prove it. The pig said, “I neither have eggs nor milk to give you. Let me give you myself, take my life. I am all yours.” Old Mcdonald said, “Indeed you love me the most.”
Human as we are, we usually look for an evidence to prove one’s love. We know how easy it is to say I love you but it takes so much difficulty to show it through our actions. We cannot just simply fake love by using kind words. When we love, we learn to express it by giving up ourselves for the sake of others. In our Gospel, we learn that God is love. But His love is not an abstract thing which is hard to grasp at. He manifests His love not only by giving up Himself but also by sending us His only Son –For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God is willing to go down in order to raise us up. If this is how God has loved us, are we not thankful of Him? God has loved us and if we also love Him we have to show it in our actions. The proof of our love is evidenced by loving others. If God sent His Son not to condemn us, so must we not condemn others. As God has loved us, we too can give up ourselves for others to show what it means to love and being loved.

Feast of St. Joseph -Year B -Matthew 1: 18-21, 24

Little do we know about St. Joseph from the Bible. But we can make use of this little knowledge that we have of him in recovering his character. In the Gospel of Matthew (1:18-24), it is said that Mary and Joseph were engaged. Joseph chose Mary to be his wife. Yet in this same Gospel, it is said that God has chosen Mary to be the mother of His son (Jesus Christ). Joseph then upon realizing that Mary was chosen and called to be the mother of Jesus, he decided to let go of Mary. He would protect Mary even from himself. He could not afford to take Mary as his wife when he knew very well that she was consecrated by God, and dedicated to God. He had a plan but he gave it up because of God’s plan for Mary. It was on this moment that an angel appeared to him in a dream. He was told to take Mary as his wife. St. Joseph’s plan to marry Mary was confirmed that such was also part of God’s plan. And aside from this, he was chosen to give a name to the son of God –Jesus. In the Bible, we can notice that Judaism placed great importance in giving a name. The first mention of naming is in Genesis 2 when God brought the animals to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called each of them would be its name. Here the act of giving names is an exercise of power or dominion. At the same time, God made Eve, and the man said, “This one shall be called woman, for this one has been taken out of “her man”. In giving the woman her name, the man exercises his power or dominion over her. But this power or dominion is not that kind which a master exercises over his slaves. Rather, the woman put herself under her man, to place herself in a lower position to receive the care and protection of her husband. Now, going back to St. Joseph, his act of giving name to Jesus was an exercise of power or dominion. But such power or dominion is not that kind which a master exercises over his slaves. Rather, such power or dominion means to put the other under one’s care and protection. It means St. Joseph has to take care and protect the child Jesus. St. Joseph was not called to protect only Mary but also Jesus –the son of God. In the last scene where Joseph was mentioned in the Bible, particularly in Luke 2: 49-52, St. Joseph fulfilled what was expected of him. Jesus was twelve years old then, when Joseph and Mary brought him to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover. (While Joseph and Mary were returning home, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. After three days of looking for him, Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the temple courts. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Here Jesus revealed his essence.) This particular Bible passage prepared its conclusion with, “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.” This reveals that Jesus was under the care and protection of St. Joseph and Mary. St. Joseph took care and protected Jesus as a real father so much so that Jesus was known in Nazareth as the son of the carpenter, the son of Joseph. St. Joseph took care and protected Mary by making himself available as her husband so as not to leave Mary alone as an unwed mother. St. Joseph took care and protected both Mary and Jesus by living together as a family. If St. Joseph could do this to his family, he could also do it for the good of our own families. And today, we say St. Joseph is the protector of our family.

"St. Joseph, protect our home. Pour forth heaven's blessing on our family. Remain in our midst. Help us to live in love and harmony, in peace and joy. May the wholesome fear of God strengthen us that virtue may adorn what we do and our way may lead to heaven.

"To you this day I give the key to our dwelling place. Lock out all things that could do us harm. Lock my home and my loved ones with me in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. This I beg of you that our days may be like your days in the holy home at Nazareth. Amen."

3rd Sunday of Lent Year B -John 2:13-25

During World War II, the prefect apostolic of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, William Finnemann, SVD, courageously stood up against the Japanese officers who wanted to convert a nun’s convent in Calapan into a house for “japayukis” or comfort women. For this the bishop paid a dear price. The Japanese soldiers arrested and loaded him on a military boat, and threw him overboard in the deep waters between Calapan and Batangas. With hands and feet tied and dragged down by big stones, the bishop had no way of surviving. (A Hero Deserving a Halo authored by Fr. Peter Michael, SVD)
Today our Gospel tells us that Jesus went up to Jerusalem. When he was in the temple there he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. He made a whip of cords and he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. Jesus was angry. But His anger was justified. Why? It was because the Temple was desecrated. The Temple is the house of God on earth. It is where man and God should meet. It is a place where man prays and experiences the presence of God in the world. Yet, many forgot about this. They saw the chance to make some profits out of the many people who would pray and offer gifts to God in the Temple. There is nothing wrong in doing business. But such business must not encroach in the activities of the Temple to the extent that it destroys the solemnity of the place. Jesus himself said, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." People went to the Temple with divided interest. They supposed to be there to worship God but they were also distracted by the worldly or economic affairs. They brought the noise of the world while they prayed in the Temple. So, Jesus had to cleanse the place. Jesus had to restore the sacredness of the Temple making it a place of meeting point between God and man. Jesus had to show how angry he was to remind people that the Temple deserved great respect. People must be disposed to offer themselves to God and no other offering is greater than oneself before God.
My dear friends, today we are reminded that the church is a place for us to talk to God. Though we can pray anytime and anywhere, the church is consecrated, set apart from other places and is dedicated for spiritual purposes. The church is sacred not because we declared it to be sacred. It is sacred because it is the house of God on earth. It is the presence of Jesus that makes the place sacred. However, there are many Catholics who are ignorant of this. They go to the church sometimes to see their dates. They go to the church to sleep or rest. They do not know that Jesus is present at the tabernacle. If they are aware of this, then they would rather spend more time in silence and prayer. People who are aware of God’s presence in the church stay in the church to spend more time in prayer. Even after the mass, there are still some who would stay and make their personal prayer. Catholics who experience the presence of God in the church find serenity and peace. Catholics thereof are encouraged to observe silence and preserve the solemnity in the church. The best offering one can bring before the altar of God is himself/herself –and such oblation meets the demand of the sacredness of the place which we call the church.

2nd Sunday of Lent Year B -Mark 9: 2-10

There was a group of mountaineers which decided to make a historical record being the first group that reached the peak of the highest mountain of the world. When they finally did it, they got the attention of the whole world. All the television networks talked about them and their background. They became instant celebrities. Then they went back home still being famous among other mountaineers of the world. Years later, there was no more news about them. Their fame faded. They just lived their usual ordinary life after their “mountain experience”. Only few could remember their names and what they achieved in life.
My dear friends, in one way or the other, we experience joy, excitement, happiness and beauty of living especially when we achieve our goal or attain some success in life. If we use the imagery of our scripture passage for today, we call it a “mountain experience”. It is an experience of fulfillment, like celebrating a birthday or having a party where one is the focus of all the attentions. It is like passing a board exam, graduating with honors, receiving one’s first salary or bonus, having a honeymoon after the wedding, etc. It is a happy experience wherein one does not want to put an end. It is like saying there is something good in life, and it feels so good to live one’s life. It is a kind of experience similar to the experience of the three disciples who accompanied Jesus on the mountain. The Gospel narrated that Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain. It was a “mountain experience” for them seeing “something good” up there –“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!” They appreciated their life, their existence. This was so because they were blessed to witness the glory of Jesus’ Transfiguration. They had the privilege to see God’s goodness. They were overwhelmed by their happy experience that one among them did not want to put an end on this. Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Their happy experience could be a good reason for them to remain on the mountain rather than in going back to their ordinary life. Peter would somehow want to say, “Let’s stay here. Let us just be happy. I do not want to have problems anymore. I do not want to go down anymore.” But a voice said to them, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" God wanted the disciples to be realistic. As Jesus led them up a high mountain to experience happiness, Jesus would also lead them down to face the ordinariness of life and its adversities. They had to go down and face the real situation they had, but this time with a new perspective. They had been happy and found God in their midst; so too in their suffering, God will be there in their midst. Life is not about a search for happiness but a journey with God.
Today, our Gospel reminds us Catholics who look for enjoying our lives in whatever ways or reasons, that we cannot just escape a hard life. The reality of trials, difficulties, pain, sickness, etc. serves as an admonition to make ourselves accept any transitions in life, like passing from the state of happiness to the state of unhappiness, and vice-versa. And in any state of our life, the best thing we can do is to listen to the voice of God. We have to settle ourselves down with Jesus and confront the difficulties which await us. Our mountain experience, our happy experience gives us the assurance that God knows what is happening to us. What we only need is to listen to Him. Amen.

1st Sunday of Lent Year B -Mark 1: 12-15

There was an old man who was found lying on the street while grasping his breath called for help. Some bystanders responded and rushed him to the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, the attending nurses tried to look for some possible identification cards from the old man’s pocket. They found nothing except a calling card of a lawyer. The nurses called up the lawyer and told him his father is in the hospital. They asked him to come over after they gave him all the details he needed. After some hours, the lawyer arrived. He went to the room of the old man and he saw he was catching his breath. The lawyer held his right hand and said, “It is okay. I am here for you.” Then the old man died peacefully. The attending nurses and the bystanders who brought the man to the hospital tried to console the lawyer regarding the death of his father. But the lawyer said, “I am sorry but I do not know that man. He is not my father. I just stayed with him because I sensed he needed help. I wanted to assure him, that he could count on me especially before he passed away.”
My dear friends, sometimes we experience we are drained emotionally, financially, psychologically, sociologically, intellectually, physically and even spiritually. If we use the imagery of our scripture passage for today, we call it a “desert experience”. It is a kind of experience similar to the experience of Jesus in the desert that we feel we are alone in isolation or desolation with no more energy to go on with our lives. During such hard times, we need to hear from someone saying “It is okay. I am here for you.” Why? It is because on such moments we find ourselves vulnerable and weak. We cannot think clearly and objectively. We are prone to commit sin as well as the greatest blunder of our life. We need someone to give us strength. We can learn about this from the scripture itself. In our Gospel, it says, At once the Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. This suggests that the Spirit allows us to go through a desert experience. With the presence of the Spirit, we are therefore never alone. God is with us along the way to the desert. The Gospel indicates that God allows us to experience a desert in life but not without His help. It is on such very moment that we have to recognize the source of our strength as we go through a desert experience. And in all cases we need God’s strength. If we rely solely on our strength, if we try to do things alone, Satan takes this instance as an opportunity to tempt us. How many are there who commit suicide or kill people when they are depressed, stressed out or tensed? How many people are there who use drugs, engage in illicit sexual activities and drink liquor everyday to find some relief from their problems? These would only happen when we fail to take our strength from God. To emphasize that God allows us to go through a desert experience but with His help, He sends us angels to assist us aside from His Spirit. In our Gospel, it says, Jesus was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. God therefore does not really leave us alone. He sends us someone –an angel at our side. If we try to evaluate our past desert experiences, at first, we asked why some things happened in our life which we never wanted to happen. But at the end, we realize that it was during those moments that we have found our angels in disguise –our family, our true friends and even strangers or people we least expect to help us. This makes us realize that a desert experience is not that bad at all. On this first Sunday of Lent, we have to recognize that in our desert experience, we do not only find temptations, Satan and wild beasts, but also angels and the Spirit of God who give us strength.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

In a Latin narrative poem, Metamorphoses, a man named Daedalus was shut up in a tower to prevent his knowledge of his Labyrinth from spreading to the public. He could not leave Crete by sea, as the king kept strict watch on all vessels, permitting none to sail without being carefully searched. He set to work to fabricate wings for himself and his young son Icarus. He tied feathers together, from smallest to largest so as to form an increasing surface. He secured the feathers at their midpoints with string and at their bases with wax, and gave the whole a gentle curvature like the wings of a bird. When the work was done, the artist, waving his wings, found himself buoyed upward and hung suspended, poising himself on the beaten air. He next equipped his son in the same manner, and taught him how to fly. When both were prepared for flight, Daedalus warned his son Icarus not to fly too high, because the heat of the sun would melt the wax, nor too low, because the sea foam would soak the feathers. But Icarus ignored instructions not to fly too close to the sun, and the melting wax caused him to fall to his death. The blazing sun softened the wax which held the feathers together and they came off. Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.
This story reminds us of the principle of command and obedience. This principle implies that there exists a Superior-Subordinate Relations. The one who gives the command is supposed to be the superior in the relationship while the one who receives the command is in a subordinate position. The former has to have an authority and at the same time credibility in using his authority. The latter then has the duty to obey whether he feels to like it or not. He who receives the command then is responsible for possible consequences whenever he refuses to obey it.
In our Gospel, Mark 1:21-28, it is said that Jesus taught people as one who had authority. Here it is pointed out that Jesus has authority. Moreover, Jesus showed that he is credible in exercising his authority by rebuking a man with an unclean spirit who eventually obeyed him. People affirmed the authority and credibility of Jesus saying: “With authority Jesus commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." Jesus then reveals that he is superior and it is but proper for us to render him our obedience being his subordinates.
Now the question is what is our attitude to the words of Jesus? Do we obey him? The problem lies on how we can obey him. The problem of obedience exists when we forget who we are before Jesus. We forget that we are his subordinates. By doing this, we listen more to our selves and not to Jesus anymore. Then we are easily tempted and fall into sin because we could no longer hear the voice of Jesus. By following ourselves we become our own boss –our superior. We do not listen anymore to authority and thus we end up living in sin. We become disobedient and insubordinate. So today it is but better for us to know where we stand before Jesus and recognize his authority over us. Let us make Jesus our superior and listen to what he is saying so that we can avoid suffering the consequences of our disobedience. Amen.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

In 722 B.C. Assyrians conquered Israel and deported her people to Assyria as captives. The flourishing capital of the Assyrian empire was Nineveh then. So it is but just to say Nineveh was the historical enemy of Israel and Judah. Now in the Book of Jonah, God called Jonah to proclaim judgment to Nineveh. But he resisted and attempted to flee. He went to Joppa and boarded a ship bound for Tarshish. God called up a great storm at sea, and the ship's crew casted Jonah overboard in an attempt to appease God. A great sea creature sent by God, swallowed Jonah. For three days and three nights Jonah languished inside the fish's belly. Then the fish vomited out Jonah safely on dry land. After his rescue, Jonah obeyed the call to prophesy against Nineveh, and they repented.

This story of Jonah reminds us that no matter what our emotion is against one another, it should not prevail over the love that we have for God. Our negative emotions suppose to make us realize how much we need to focus on God’s love for us so that we can truly make sense of our human limitations rather than to think of retaliation. We proceed with the process of finding our life’s meaning in the eyes of God, looking at people we do not like from the humble perspective that we both are in need of God’s love. We then are called to be God’s sign of love for those who hate us or whom we suppose to hate.
In our Gospel, Mark 1:14-20, it says that after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." Here again we are being reminded that though John a relative of Jesus was imprisoned even if he was innocent, this did not give Jesus the occasion to hate and condemn those who imprisoned John. Jesus instead began to preach about the love of God and even called some disciples to teach them how to allow God’s love flow through them and set aside their ill feelings. Jesus taught his disciples to look at sinners as souls to be saved and not people to be condemned.
This too is our mission as a Christian. Though sometimes it is very difficult for us to love the person who has done evil things to us, we have to get rooted in God’s love and preach the love of God against his/her hatred for us. Our mission does not depend on our emotions but on God-given vocation –to be Christ for others.

STO. NIñO de KALIBO

It is more fun in the Philippines! –This is a new brand campaign of the Department of Tourism to attract visitors to the country. It is said that the new slogan not only invites visitors to see what’s in the Philippines but to join in the fun “and it’s the Filipinos that will make the difference,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said.

This is true today as we celebrate the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo. Foreign and local tourists can see what is in Kalibo and they too can join in the fun. People dance on the street with the non-stop rhythmic and mesmerizing drumbeats and lyre. Many wear their colorful costumes and masks. Some paint their bodies with black ash to look like the Aetas. There is drinking and revelry (noise) to the extent that our celebration is even called the “Filipino Mardis Gras”. There is indeed more fun!

But what difference can our celebration make to the tourists? We have given them the fun they are looking for. We have welcomed them. For sure, they will have a good impression of our celebration and encourage others to experience the fun. But the question is –have they welcomed Sr. Sto. Niño in their hearts? Does the image of Sr. Sto. Niño leave a lasting impression on them? Above all, have they seen our expression of faith?

In celebrating our feast of Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo, we Akeanons have to make a difference. This is our religious feast! We do not need to promote that much to attract visitors which only leads to commercialism and consumerism. Rather, we have to attract them because of the testimony of our faith. Look at the feast of the Most Holy Black Nazarene. The devotion to the Black Nazarene has attracted huge following among the public. Many come from all over Manila to throw towels or handkerchiefs to the people guarding the statue and ask them to rub them on the statue. Why? It is because the testimony of faith of those who receive miracles from God makes the devotion popular and not the media. This is at least what we have to understand in celebrating religiously the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño. This is a religious feast. This is our show. This is our time. But this is not show time. This is a show of faith.

To end, I would like to share to you something about a testimony of faith. I remember in 2004 a teacher who was from Iloilo approached me and asked me if I could be one of the godparents of her baby. I said yes. Then she told me that sometime in January of 2003, she heard me saying in my homily that people who want their wishes be granted by Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo, they have to join the “sadsad” or merrymaking in the street and glorify our Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo. She told me that she followed it. She and her husband joined the “sadsad” that year. After some months, she was happy to find out that she got pregnant. Her child is a gift from Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo, she claimed. This shows my dear friends that it is our body that dances, but our spirit rejoices. Our celebration is a religious feast. And so instead of saying –It is more fun in the Philippines, why not say –There is greater faith in the Philippines. Amen.

Feast of Epiphany 2012

A little girl and her mother were looking at the Nativity scene. The mother was explaining that the Wise Men were presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn King. The little girl looked in great adoration at the babe in the manger, then turning to her mother, thoughtfully asked, "Why didn't they bring Him a bed?" (Msgr. Arthur Tonne - Jokes Priests Can Tell)

Why was baby Jesus given Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh?

At best, there are two ways of giving gifts. First, is a gift-giving according to the mode of the giver. The giver thinks of what can make the recipient happy. He buys it and offers it to the recipient. However, there are times that the gift is useless in the sense that the recipient does not need it. The second one is a gift-giving according to the mode of the receiver. The giver asks the recipient of what he wants as a gift. This is difficult to do because it might happen that the giver cannot afford to give a gift that is being asked for. But in this case the gift is useful to the recipient.

In our Gospel according to Matthew 2: 1-12, it states that a star in the East appeared and it revealed that the Son of God was born. This is what Epiphany means –the unveiling of the true identity of Jesus as the Son of God. Now, the three wise men searched where Jesus was and with the guidance of the star, they finally found Him. They fell down and worshiped him. They knew and they believed that Jesus is the Son of God. What then was the gift that befits a Son of God? What did God want the three magi to offer? Well, the wise men recognized Jesus as the Son of God and they gave Him their best. One of the gifts was gold. Gold symbolizes power. When a magus offered it to Jesus, it symbolizes that act of surrendering to Jesus one’s power. Jesus is powerful being Son of God and one is secure under His power. Another gift was frankincense. Frankincense is used in the church or temple while praying. It is believed that a prayer goes up as a sweet odor to heaven like the smoke of incense. It is also used for worshiping God. When a magus offered it to Jesus, it affirms that Jesus is the Son of God as He deserves one’s prayer and worship reserve for God. The last gift was the myrrh. Here comes a problem because myrrh is mostly used to embalm the dead because it had the property to preserve. If one has to give it to someone, it seems it is more of an insult than a gift. Well, when the magus offered it to Jesus, it represents the act of giving up one’s fear of death. A normal person is afraid of death. But because of Jesus, there is now hope for an everlasting life and death has no more power over mankind.

Today as we celebrate the feast of Epiphany, we have to reflect on what we can offer to Jesus. Most of the time, we ask Him to give us something like good health, job money, etc. But this time, we also have to give back to Jesus ourselves as an act of gratitude and recognition that He is the Son of God.