9th Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

I have been in Roxas City to buy a gift for my self this Christmas at a well-known mall. I have seen their beautiful decorations, light display, Santa Claus’ pictures and some Christmas trees. There was this greeting that was posted about a holiday but nothing about Christmas except for the Christmas sale. I heard some Christmas songs played all over the place. I saw many people spent their day there. They thought that such a place reminds them of Christmas. No way! For me, everything is arranged there to attract buyers and it is purely about commercialism like some other malls or stores owned by non-Christians. (I do not mean to offend our non-Christian friends by stating this.) 

Why do I say this? Well, I have also been in Kalibo, Aklan to buy a portable hard drive in a local Supermarket and I could say it‘s Christmas there! It was the only mall or store or supermarket which could remind people of what Christmas is all about. They had this “belen” where I saw the image of Jesus with Mary and Joseph, the three magi and some animals. Of course, as a Supermarket, they mean business. But what makes them different from others is that with their “belen”, they make their buyers aware that Christmas is about Jesus, the Christ. 

There is no Christmas without Christ Jesus!!! May our Gospel, Luke 1: 26-38 make us aware of this as the angel said to Mary, “The Lord is with you!” It means that Jesus is with Mary, and is also with us. It is because of Him (Jesus) that we have this Christmas. So, those who have something to buy for their “noche buena” or Christmas party, should not forget to thank God first. Could they not go to church or invite a priest to celebrate mass at their place before they start their party? For those who have no money to buy some gifts or to celebrate Christmas in grandiose fashion, they could still pray to thank God or else they should be ashamed of themselves because even the first Christmas was celebrated in a manger, it was a celebration with Jesus. It is important that  during this season, we thank God for His great love for all of us. Amen.  

8th Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

Rommel Jacinto Dantes Silverio is a male transsexual. He is a biological male who feels trapped in a male body. Being that, he sought gender re-assignment in Bangkok, Thailand. This procedure was successful –he now has a female body. Thereafter, in 2002, he filed a petition for the change of his first name (from Rommel to Mely) and his sex (male to female) in his birth certificate. He wanted to make these changes, among others, so that he can marry his American fiancé. The Manila Regional Trial  Court granted his petition stating that Silverio’s misfortune to be trapped in a man’s body is not his own doing and should be in any way taken against him. To grant the petition would bring the much-awaited happiness on the part of Silverio and his fiancé and the realization of their dreams. But this decision of the RTC was reversed by the Court of Appeals, and thus it was submitted before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that the change of such entries finds no support in existing legislation. A change of name is a privilege and not a right. It may be allowed in cases where the name is ridiculous, tainted with dishonor, or difficult to pronounce or write; a nickname is habitually used; or if the change will avoid confusion. The petitioner’s basis of the change of his name is that he intends his first name compatible with the sex he thought he transformed himself thru surgery. The Court says that his true name does not prejudice him at all, and no law allows the change of entry in the birth certificate as to sex on the ground of sex reassignment. Thus, the Court denied the petition.

In the said case, we learn that a name is not just a name. It brings with it some serious legal and public policy consequences. Just like when one asks for an NBI clearance, instead of approaching the Releasing Window with a smile, he or she starts to frown as an NBI personnel tells him or her that he or she has just been HIT! It means he or she has a namesake and probably with a criminal record or he himself or she herself has a criminal record. So a name is important for any person.

In our Gospel (Luke 1: 57-66), the name-giving of the child is important to consider. It also shows how important to choose the name of the child. For others, they wanted to name the child Zechariah, but for both parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah wanted to name the child John. So people asked, “What then will this child be?” They could not understand the reason behind the parents’ decision as they were not privy to the instruction of the angel to Zechariah himself to name the child John. Why the name John? What is in the name? Well, the name of a child is like a title in a story which introduces his or her character, his or her being special and his or her mission in life. In the Talmud–Brachot 7b; Arizal – Sha’ar HaGilgulim 24b, it is said, “For at the beginning of life we give a name, and at the end of life a “good name” is all we take with us.” So if a child is important to both parents, they must give him a name that will have a positive effect to him or her. If ever the child is lost in the journey of life, his or her name may remind him or her of what he or she must become. For example, the name Jude or Judah or Judas comes from the same root as the word “thanks.” In reference to Judas Iscariot, he abandoned his mission in life to give thanks to God by betraying Jesus. He did not live up to the ideals connected to his name, thus his name even until now is tainted with bad reputation affecting also those who carry such a name. Thanks to Judas Thaddeus! Because he lived up to the ideals carried by his name, many people give thanks to God as they receive many miracles through his intercession. Going back to the Gospel, the name John means “God is gracious”. So in naming the child John, the parents expect that their son’s mission is to proclaim the graciousness of God to people. He has to prepare the way for the Lord by creating a welcoming heart among the people. People shall see the graciousness of God as John leads them to the direction towards Jesus. John shall live and die proclaiming that God is gracious.

To end, we have some names to consider implying one’s life mission. We have Joshua (Yehoshu’a) which means “Yahweh saves or God is salvation”. We also have Joseph (Ioseph or Yosef) which means “May God add or increase,” just like a good father who is blessed by God with long life and abundant posterity. The name Andrew means manly while James was derived from Iakobos or Jacob which means “he grasps the heel.” Nowadays, there are names given to children being the result of many combinations such as combining the names of the parents. Usually they produce good sounds once they are pronounced but they do not make any sense at all as they do not convey any meaning to one’s life. For example, if we try to create a name by combining the names of Peter and Malou , we get Petmalu! From the names of Jasmine and Louie, we have Jas-Lo! From the names of Catherine and Terry, we have Cathe-Ter! From the names of Segunda and Benedict, we have Seg-Ben! Well, it is up to the parents how they want to call their children and what names they want to give them. Hopefully, they are fully aware of this: “For at the beginning of life we give a name, and at the end of life a good name”. Amen. 

7th Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

There’s a woman who’s a senior student. She is quiet and doesn’t keep company with anyone in the class. When the class is over, she always rushes back home. Rumor has it, she had a baby since she was 18. Some say she has a child with her sugar daddy. The woman gets a tutor for her kid and she visits her daughter one day. The tutor tells her that her daughter has a drawing of a mother and child referring to them. The woman is happy about it. In fact, she always accompanies her child in school and picks her after she’s done with her class. And when they’re at home, they eat, play, laugh and sleep together. She is an ordinary woman. Not so beautiful nor outstanding but the smile she has for the kid makes me think that she is the most beautiful woman. One day when the tutor visits them, she says to the woman to tell the people about the truth. The woman asks, “What truth?” The tutor answers, “The truth about your kid.” The woman tells her, “It is not necessary.” But the tutor insists, “I’m just concerned because people are talking behind your back.” She remains quiet as she remembers how she got her daughter in a garbage place. Finally she says to the tutor, “I’d rather let them talk about me than talk about my child.” At that time, graduation day of her child in a nursery school, her tears fell for having a loving kid even it’s not her own blood.

My dear friends, the woman in the story welcomed the little child with a big heart. Though the child was considered “nothing” by her biological mother as she threw her in a trash, the woman in the story greatly loved her as if she were her own daughter. She gave her the value which the child as a human being deserves. We can say this is a kind of “magnificat” which literally means magnifies in a sense that what others give some little importance; one gives it an utmost importance for that is what it truly deserves. In our Gospel (Luke 1: 46-56), Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord. The magnificat is not an act of exaggeration on the part of Mary. Though how ordinary it seems for others to see a woman being pregnant, for Mary, being pregnant is so important that she glorifies God. She considers it as a great thing God has done for her. Then she continues to cite some events which others may consider ordinary but she regards them as God’s great works.


“Magnificat” is an expression of people who give importance even to little things given to them. This Christmas, we may receive gifts, some are valuable while others may not be the kind we like to keep. Some of us may only receive a mere Christmas card or greeting. But if we have the heart of Mary, we can express our magnificat, thanking and glorifying God not so much because of the gifts we receive but because of the people who remember us during this season. It is the love behind their gifts that matters, whether the gift is priceless or not. When someone gives us something this Christmas, we have to remember that it is the thought that counts. With this, we have the reason to magnify the Lord. Amen. 

6th Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

There was a son who decided to leave his mother at old age home. He used to visit her there once in a week. One day he came to know his mother was seriously ill and she was left only with few hours of her life. He asked her mother if he could do something in her last time that would make her happy. Upon which his mother replied that, “son, please install some fans in the rooms here, as there isn’t any fan in any of the rooms of this home. And also buy a fridge for the old people living here because I myself had to sleep without food for many days.” The son questioned her why she asked him for all of these when she knew she had only a little time left to live. The mother replied, “Son, I am worried that you will not be able to live here comfortably when your children will one day send you here. So, I want that everything before you come here gets mended.”

This story reminds us how great a mother’s love is for her children. It is called mother’s instinct to love her children. It is in her nature to nurture her children. We can say that any child does not need to earn a mother’s love because being a mother, her power is to love. Her love is unconditional. She can sacrifice her life by giving birth to her children. She can give up her time for herself just to teach her children how to walk and talk. Her happiness is in her children. Still, there is a lot for us to know about a mother. Our Gospel (Luke 1:39-45) tells us about two women who were chosen by God to become mothers; Elizabeth as the mother of John the Baptist and Mary as the mother of Jesus. When Mary visited Elizabeth and greeted her, Elizabeth’s babe leaped in her womb. Here, we may realize that what affects the mother affects her babe. Recent studies also confirm that the state of the mother affects her child. Some researchers even explained that people who are more prone to suffering from stress compared with others shared their mother’s stress while they were still in the womb. As babes, they did not possibly know what was happening to their mother, yet they felt that it was something painful. They could feel the feeling of their mother who was going through a major upheaval.

Therefore, a mother should keep herself calm and her soul joyful as her state affects her child. Just like Mary and Elizabeth, a mother should be grateful to God and ask from Him the gift of the Holy Spirit. Instead of listening only to her favorite music in which the unborn baby responds, she better tries to read the bible or spends more time in prayer. A mother should be aware that her children are gifts from God and there is no greater happiness for a mother than to see her children grow loving God. If every mother does this, we can say, “Blessed are all women and blessed are their fruits.” Amen. 

5th Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

There was this story about a Japanese troop waging war against a fierce enemy which outnumbered them. So their leader made a strategy and he planned it well that they could win the fight. But the troop doubted it. The leader then led them to pray. After praying, he told them that he would toss a coin. If the head would come out, it would mean they shall win. If not, then they will lose. Then he tossed a coin in front of his troop. The heads appeared. The troop gained confidence upon seeing it and were eager to go to war. After they won the war, they said , “No one can change the hand of destiny.” But they were dumbfounded when their leader showed the coin for it was a two headed coin.

My dear friends, this short story reminds us of those who depend their lives on destiny, luck or fate. There are people who believe that an event will surely happen to a particular person in the future and no matter what he or she will do, he or she cannot escape it. They believe that success or failure depends on chances and not on one’s own action. Even if a person does everything in order to succeed, he or she cannot make it unless he or she has given the chance. Thus, everything seemed to be beyond one’s control and everything is already determined by a certain natural power. But this is not how we Christians think. We believe as Christians that everything is grace. But grace builds on nature. Conversely, even if God pours out His graces, man may choose to reject or accept them. He or she is free to choose. We are not robots which are programmed to do something and are left no choice.

In our Gospel according to Luke 1: 26-38, we can learn about how God’s grace and man’s free will interplay. Mary never asked or prayed to be the mother of God. Yet God chose her. Others may say this is called destiny, luck or chance given to Mary. But as Christians we understand it is called God’s grace –“for you have found favor with God.”  To affirm that this is not a matter of destiny, luck or chance, the Gospel tells us that Mary questioned the angel how would it happen for she knew no man. It means that if this is a matter of destiny, luck or chance, then Mary could not question it but would rather be forced to accept it. Yet, she showed she had the freedom to accept it or not. When the angel explained to her how the grace of God shall work in her, Mary expressed her “Fiat.” She said yes to the angel; it was a yes to God’s grace. Here we learn that God never forces anyone just to obey His will. Rather, God sends His graces and it is up for us whether we reject it or accept it, and face the consequences of our choices. Let us therefore recognize every grace God has bestowed on us and do everything for His glory. Amen.

PASAEAMAT by Genevir P. Patron

Sa rayang gabie atong napatunayan

Nga kung kita gali hay hay nagabueuligan

Bisan anong problema pa ro atong mataeopangdan

Ro kada isaea atong saeandigan

Unang pasaeamat hay para sa atong kura paroko

Maaeam, mabuot Rev. Fr. Jude Rebaldo

Sa gintao nimong hangkat kami nagatuo

Owa't imposible basta halin kimu

Saeamat gid ay ro mga Chapel Pres. hay naghiliugyon

Agud rondayang search hay mapatigayon

Programa it parokya o anumang okasyon

Sa kada kapilya abong mabinuligon

Saeamat sa atong mga ginikanan

Sa pagpalangga nga owa it katapusan

Ro andang mga onga tanan ginsuportahan

Ginpagwapo ag ginpagwapa para katon tanan

Saeamat sir Cendrix sa mahabang pasensya

Bisan salikwaot ro siki, sa tunog it sonata

Tanan nag-antiguhan,mga kandidato/kandidata

Owa't gapapirde sa andang kakontra

Sa mga litrato it atong kandidata

Si Ma'am Ronalie, hay masaligan ta

Bisan owa it filter,tanan gwapo ag gwapa

Talented,dedicated,huwarang maestra

Indi ko gid malipatan imaw si Ma'am Maicah

Solicitation letter,certificates ag program,imaw ro nag-obra

Pati sa pag-emcee owa imaw gabalibad ra

Thank you gid Ma'am kabay indi ka mamadla ha

Ro mga intermission numbers sa youth nakatoka

Imaw paeang namon nakita gasaot pati mga KOA

MUG, Youth Ministry, Angels ag Junior CWL hay nag-intra

Sa pagsaot ag pagkanta tanan sanda hay masadya

Mabahoe gid ro among pagpasaeamat

Sa atong sponsors, donors ag table buyers

Sa andang pagsuporta nga indi masukat

Ro inyong gintao kamon hay naamat

Abo ro pagpasaeamat sa rondayang eskuylahan

Tanan nga andang gamit katon hay ginpahueam

Sir Larry J. Justo indi ka gid namon malipatan

DepEd CAMACA saeamat sa inyong pagbueoligan

Indi ko eon tanan pagtigsambilogon

Sayud eon ninyo kung sanday sin-o run

Libreng serbisyo inyong ginabaton

Mabahoe nga pagpasaeamat nagahalin kamon

Rondayang programa bago pa matapos

Sa iba't-ibang isyu kami nanghilam-os

Pero ok lang, owa kami gabaeos

Basta sayud namon,mas abo ro nagpanipueos.

Kennard Jerric and Jonna's Wedding 12-19-17

One of the best quotes on love is found among the decided cases of the Supreme Court particularly in the case of Padilla-Rumbaua v. Rumbaua, G.R. No. 166738, August 14, 2009. The highest court of the land said, "Love happens to everyone. It is dubbed to be boundless as it goes beyond the expectations people tagged with it. In love, “age does matter.” People love in order to be secure that one will share his/her life with another and that he/she will not die alone. Individuals who are in love had the power to let love grow or let love die."

My dear friends, this quotation reminds us that love visits everyone and it comes in surprises. Sometimes we cannot expect that love is possible even between two people when one has not shown any sign of love to the other. Just like what happened to this young couple Jonna and Kennard. Though they were together for their school project, Jonna had many reasons to be uncomfortable with Kennard. I believe she never thought that she would be married to Kennard at that time. It was not even part of her wildest dream to fall in love with Kennard. But as I mentioned earlier, love comes beyond one's expectation. They both learned to love each other and until now they remain in loving each other. After seven years in their relationshop, finally they decided to get married. In love, truly, age does matter. I believe Kennard and Jonna you have learned a lot in your seven years of relationship especially on how you deal with your loneliness, your doubts, your likes and dislike which affect your love towards each other. It is a good reason for you to say you love each other that is why you are getting married. But marriage is not just about love. It is about making each other secure in the relationship. Jonna you are blessed that you have the man who is willing to bring you to the altar of God as his wife. Nowadays, most men hesitate to make a commitment for there are many women compared to men in this world and so it is difficult for any men to choose the right one to marry. Therefore be a good wife. Do not just love Kennard without loving those who love him. You can only be a good wife if you learn how to listen to your husband. Remember, there are wives who have been abandoned by their husbands because they talk too much as they forget to listen. Kennard, plan your future together with your wife. Do not think that love is enough. Love as an emotion may give you a happy feeling but married life is not just about feelings. Be a man! Put direction to your married life. You know as a seaman that a ship without a captain is a lost ship. It brings you anywhere and it ends in nowhere. Be thankful to God that He directs you to have Jonna as your co-journeyer. 

Let me end this homily Kennard and Jonna by saying to you, love each other as God loves you (John 13:34-35). This is the reason why you marry here in this Church: you present yourselves before God. God is love and when God has joined you in love together then no man should put you asunder. God loves you that is why you find each other, so love each other for the glory of God. Separation or divorce is not an option if you remain in the love of God. So both of you must pray. As Fr. Patrick Peyton used to say, "The family that prays together, stays together," I say to you Kennard and Jonna, you better pray together if you want your love to have a forever. Amen.

4th Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

In a small town, there was a meeting at the local church. Their greatest problem was that there had been no rain in their place. The priest invited everyone to pray to the Lord for rain. So, young and old alike prayed to the Lord for rain. At this moment, the priest saw a little girl who brought an open umbrella to the venue. When he asked the girl why she had brought an umbrella there, she replied, “Father, do we not pray to God for rain? It will rain so I bring with me my umbrella.” Then, it indeed rained.

My dear friends, from the said story we can say that prayer is simply defined as a communication with God. It is a communication sent by man to God. God as He is, He hears all our prayers. Yet, God as He is, He can also refuse to hear our prayers (Jeremiah 7:16).  If we try to analyse everything, our prayers to God are answered according to His will. Our prayer does not depend on us thinking that we can change the mind of God. Rather, our prayer depends on God and how He wants us to change. We can understand this when Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13 or/and Luke 11: 2-4) we can observe from the said prayer that before asking God for bread, we are led to dispose ourselves to welcome God’s will first. A similar lesson may be learned by reading the Gospel (Luke 1: 5-25), when an angel appeared to Zechariah. The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard…” But Zechariah refused to believe that God answered his prayer because for him, it was too late for God to answer His prayer. He said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” Zechariah thought that his prayer depended on him. He wanted it to be answered on the time he wanted an answer from God. But this was not how God worked. God willed to answer his prayer in His own time. Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife better understood this as she said, “Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.” Thus, when we pray we need to submit our will to God. Let God answer our prayers according to how He wills it and when He wills it. This is why it is called prayer because we can never impose our own will on God. Rather, we accept whatever He wills for us because God knows best. Amen.

 

3rd Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

The wedding of Charles the Prince of Wales and Diana was dubbed as a “fairytale wedding” and the “wedding of the century”. It was the first time to see it real that a common citizen like Diana married a prince. Thus, millions of people watched on television to see this grand wedding. The United Kingdom had even a national holiday on that day to mark the wedding. However, the couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.

This wedding of the century is far different from the wedding of Mary and Joseph (Matthew 1: 18-25). Joseph and Mary were already betrothed and were already considered as husband and wife by Jewish tradition and customs. Their actual marriage, the taking of the wife by her husband to his home, was what they were both anticipating to happen. It was at this moment that Joseph learned of the situation of Mary. He learned that Mary was pregnant and the child was the Son of God. Joseph was a righteous man and he could not afford to take Mary to his home because he believed she belongs to God alone. But he knew that Mary could be put to death for just being an unwed mother as this was considered immoral. Thanks to the angel Gabriel! He appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained to him that what happened to Mary was about the fulfilment of a prophecy that a virgin would bear a child who was to be the Messiah. The Lord thereof commanded him to take Mary home as his wife. This wedding story of Joseph and Mary is not romantic yet it could be considered as a dream wedding. It was a wedding allowed by God as announced by an angel in a dream. It was a wedding too real to believe in as it revealed to us that even Mary and Joseph had their share of problems, worries and anxiety. Despite what they had been through, they remained faithful to God and God never abandoned them. Thus our Gospel reminds us today that no matter what happens to a righteous person, God has a plan for him or her. Whatever problems, worries and anxiety come to the home of a husband and wife, if they are both faithful to God, God will unfold His plan for them. A wedding is not therefore just a family affair. God wills that a wedding can be a source of His grace. Amen.

2nd Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879. It was said that his team had just completed the fabrication of one bulb and Edison himself gave it to a young boy, who was helping them in the lab. He told the boy to carry it upstairs for safekeeping.  Step by step the boy cautiously watched his hands not to drop the bulb. But he tripped at the top of the stairs and dropped the bulb and it shattered. The team got mad because of this. Yet, Thomas led them to make another bulb for almost 24 hours instead of blaming the boy. When they finished it, Thomas was ready to have his bulb carried up the stairs. Surprisingly, he gave it to the same boy who dropped the first one. He knew that the boy was devastated by the first incident. So he decided to give the boy back his confidence and be welcomed again by his team. This act of Thomas Edison reminds us that it is better to accidentally break a thing because at times it could be fixed or replaced than to break one’s life. He knew that a light bulb is precious but it cannot equate the preciousness of a child’s life. He enlightened his team about this. He did not want them to lose their sight of the preciousness of the child’s life because of their emotions. Truly, Thomas Edison was a light itself to his team as well as to the boy.

My dear friends in Christ, in our Gospel (John 1: 6-28), it is said that God sent John to prepare the way of the Lord. John himself is not the light. Rather, he came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, Jesus Christ. Without a light, there would be no sight while one is in the dark. It is difficult for him or her to make any move. There is therefore the need for him or her to take a light into his or her place to dispel the darkness. So John went ahead of Jesus to tell people about this role of light to sight. He preached to them that they should not stay in darkness because Jesus is there as their light. They should only prepare themselves to give Jesus a warm welcome.

This is what Simbang Gabi is all about for us Catholics; we wake up early to claim that Jesus is the light of our life. We know problems still come even if Christmas is a joyful season. We know that there are others out there who are lonely because they are sick or dying. There are still questions which remained unanswered such as why does an innocent man suffer. Instead of spending one’s time in vices, drugs, liquors, etc., it is better to pray to Jesus for enlightenment. Whenever we feel we are in a deep crisis or trouble, we approach Jesus at the altar. Instead of staying in the dark, we call on Jesus to shine upon us. Jesus knows that no thing can equate the preciousness of our life. He enlightens us about this. He does not want us to lose our sight of the preciousness of our life because of our emotional problems. We may have many friends who can give us a good advice, but it is only Jesus who can show us our way out of darkness if we let Him be the light of our life. Amen.

1st Night of Simbang Gabi 2017

There was a man who amassed his fortune by producing explosives and became more popular when he invented the dynamite. When his brother passed away, it was his name and not of his brother which was listed in the obituary of a newspaper, believing that it was he who died. What he read brought him disturbance because the newspaper described him as “The Merchant of Death”.  At that moment, he realized that this was how he was going to be remembered. Of course, he did not want to be remembered this way. So he decided to dedicate his fortune in rewarding those who have done something good for humanity. The award is known to us as the Nobel Prize, one of the world’s most famous prestigious prizes. The said prize was created to make people forget Alfred Nobel as the Merchant of Death and to remember him for his good works.

My dear friends in Christ, our deeds reveal who we are. Our actions or inactions speak louder than our words. Just like Alfred Nobel, we have the chance to ask ourselves today, how do we want to be remembered when someone mentions our name? It is mostly through our works that we are remembered. Our works may testify for us or against us. Our works may show to others if we are truly good Christians or not. Although, we can fake our actions or make a disguise with ourselves, still our actions can tell us who we are.

In our Gospel (John 5:33-36), Jesus said that the very works He is doing testify that the Father has sent Him. It means that His works reveal that He is the Son of God. His “doing” is connected to His “being”. The works of Jesus is enough to serve as evidence that He is indeed the saviour of the world. Therefore, there is no need for Him to be introduced by somebody so that people might believe in Him. His works are more than enough to make us recognize Him as the Son of God. This is why we celebrate Christmas. This is why we have our Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo: we declare to the whole world that we acknowledge and accept Jesus, the Son of God, as our Saviour. We rejoice because by His birth, Jesus became one of us. In remembering the day He was born make us aware that God is with us and He loves us. Amen.

1st Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

Joe arrives at the boundary of a province on his motorized vehicle with a huge bag over his shoulder. A police officer stops him and asks: “What is in the bag?” “Sir, it is only sand,” he replies. “Sand? We will just see about that –get off the vehicle!” The police takes the bag, rips it open, empties it out and finds nothing in it except sand. Detaining Joe overnight, the sand is analysed only to find that it is simply sand. Joe is released, the sand is put into a new bag and placed on Joe’s shoulders, and he proceeds to his destination riding his motorized vehicle. For almost every day, same thing happens until one day, the police confronts him to tell the truth about smuggling. “I swear that I shall do you no harm, just tell me what you have been smuggling?” the officer asks. Joe smiles and replies: “A motorized vehicle…”

My dear friends in Christ, the officer in the story has messed up because he has missed what he is really trying to search out. It is necessary therefore to recognize what is coming and identify what one expects to find or else he or she will be unable to welcome it. Such happened to John the Baptist. John the Baptist was mistreated if not maltreated because many did not recognize him as Elijah, as a prophet sent to prepare the way of the Lord. In our Gospel, (Matthew 17: 9-13) Jesus said, “I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased.” From these words of Jesus, we are made aware how our knowledge of the person affects our behavior or attitude towards him or her. If only we recognize that every person we meet is sent by God to prepare the way of the Lord for us, then we can treat him or her the way God wants us to treat him or her. If we know the person we meet could bring us closer to God, we cannot ignore him or her. He or she deserves our warm welcome.

To end, I remember in one famous restaurant in Kalibo, Aklan, I was falling in line waiting for my turn to be called by a McDonald’s crew member. It so happened that one of its managers asked the crew to step aside and made himself the one to receive my order. So I ordered a value meal and then I asked him something about their other food menu. I do not know if he had a bad day but twice did he show me an ill-mannered gesture with his pouting face. I was not yet finished with my order but he interrupted by telling me how much should I pay him for the value meal. So I just paid him and grabbed a table where I ate my meal. To be honest, I was angry while eating my value meal. I felt I do not deserve to be treated in an impolite manner by a manager of one of my most favourite fast food restaurant chains. So I called up my friend from Makati who was also a manager in one of the McDonald’s outlets in Metro Manila and told her about the incident. She told me she could help me report it to the restaurant manager because such a bad attitude of a manager could taint McDonald’s goodwill. But I decided not to report the incident and forget everything about it. I did not want the manager to lose his job just because of me. I also realized that I often did the same thing to others. Some people who tried looking for a priest and found me, they saw me as snobbish and arrogant. I acted as if I had a bad day while showing them my pouting face. I failed to think that my actuations could taint the gift of priesthood in me. I caused others to fail to welcome Jesus because of my bad attitude which affects my priestly ministry. If only I have always the knowledge to acknowledge that people who approach a priest like me are sent by God, I can be patient in dealing with them. So today, I pray for the grace of God to be conscious and aware that every person I meet can bring me closer to Jesus and vice-versa. I also ask all of you to remind each one of us here to be careful on how we treat people starting today. Amen. 

In Memory of Victor Emmanuel Sevilla

In 2005, I arrived at the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish and it was my first time to meet Vic. He was an innocent young man then who would play the keyboard/organ during the Sunday afternoon mass for the youth. He really loved to play the keyboard everyday even if he was alone in the church. I even saw him playing piano at Alabang Town Center. He was so silent and reserved during his younger years. This was the Vic I knew until I left the parish.

In 2015, I came back to the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, and I met Vic again. This time Vic was a different man. He could express his own thoughts, ideas, opinions and even his emotion without fear or hesitation. He would give me a hug whenever he would fetch me to meet the group (ROLP Young Professionals). When he learned that I was preparing for the 2015 Bar Exams, he provided me some reviewer and books I needed for my review. He informed me of all the schedules announced by the Supreme Court regarding the Bar. He even brought me his transparent bag because he said other kinds of bag were prohibited due to security reason. There was a night when I needed someone at Starbucks to accompany me in my review, Vic who was tired from work showed up with his book on Civil Law. He joined me in my review that night until the next morning. Vic really made everything easy for me. When the Bar result came out, he was one of those who shared in my happiness. He made himself available up to my signing in the roll of attorney at the Supreme Court. He acted as my personal driver, as my photographer and above all as my guide and mentor as he knew every step and detail of what I should do while we were at the Supreme Court. He even was the first one to suggest that I should apply for Notary Public.

It happened last year, Vic was working in an insurance company when I was invited as a substitite teacher on the subject Insurance by the dean of a Law School. I had to ask Vic to explain to me what is an insurance. He explained it well that he convinced me to take an insurance policy from him. I agreed with him but with the parish that I have at present, I could not raise the right amount for my insurance.

I told you all these tonight to let you know that Vic has been part of my life. Now, that he is gone, then part of me is also gone. Death has stolen him from me and from you who love him. Death wants us to stop loving because if someone we love dies, we get hurt. And if we do not love the person, whether he lives or dies, we do not care and we do not waste our tears for him. Death sends us a message that no love is forever because death puts an end to it. But my dear friends, just as the Scripture says, "Death where is your sting?", I say to you that death cannot take away my love and your love for Vic. I am here to say I love Vic and I will not allow death to triumph over my love for him. I came from Kalibo, Aklan, I have to leave my parish where I am the only priest assigned and I have to cancel all the parish schedules because Vic is important to me. As Vic has been important to me when he was alive, he remains important to me even now that he has gone ahead of us. I am here to say this mass for him to assure him that there is a community that loves him dearly. There is a parish community that loves Vic. Death cannot put an end to this love. Death has no power to end our love because we now entrust Vic to the love of God through this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Vic is totally safe now. Vic can now feel the love which the world cannot give to him, which we cannot give to him. And so tonight we pray that God may grant eternal rest on the soul of our beloved Vic and may he rest in peace. Amen.

Jovy and Maria Fe's Wedding 11-30-2017

This year in NCAA Season 93, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates defeated the San Beda Red Lions in the elimination round en route to an 18-0 card. The Pirates were determined to win the championship with a record of no defeat this season. But they failed. On November 10, the Pirates were defeated by the Red Lions in NCAA 93 Finals, Game 1 of the best-of-three series at the Araneta Coliseum. When the Pirates’ coach Topex Robinson was asked what happened to their team, he owed complete responsibility for the loss. He said, “Just like what I told them, it’s my fault, I made some bad decisions, bad coaching. I’ll try to lead them better come game 2. My players played well, they really did well and I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I’ll be a better coach next game.” When coach Topex said this, I can say it is not the championship title he holds but his character that makes him a good coach. A good coach creates a feeling of safety in his relationship with his players; there is no rash judgment and criticism. The players play the way they are, express themselves in the game, and yet they feel emotionally safe with their coach. They know their coach will never leave them but will rather lead them to improve their being day after day.

Jovy, as a basketball coach, I believe you also possess such character. The said character could make you a good coach and at the same time an ideal husband. On this wedding day, you create a feeling of safety in your relationship with Maria Fe as your wife; there is no rash judgment and criticism. She can act the way she is, expresses herself, and yet she feels emotionally safe with you as her husband. She knows you will never leave her but will rather lead her to improve your relationship as husband and wife day after day. On this day, you make your wife, Maria Fe, feel safe with your plan that your relationship is going somewhere. May you then have the capacity and willingness to establish a deeper commitment with your wife after this wedding. Jovy, be an answered prayer to your wife, Maria Fe. 

Maria Fe, if your husband Jovy is an answered prayer to you, then be always the greatest blessing to him. Trust your husband, Jovy that he is always emotionally available and honest to you. Trust that Jovy is not a man who will bend to the whims of other people but the one who will never hurt you in any way. As a judge, judge him according to your love for him and not according to what he can or cannot do. As a woman of justice, give to him what he truly deserves, give him his due. Yet do not forget as a wife, give him your unconditional love because love is the only good reason for you to stay in a relationship though you might get a million reasons to walk away.

Jovy and Maria Fe, two good people who fall in love with each other do not always mean they become a good couple. It is a reality that some relationships do not last long. In order for your relationship, Jovy and Maria Fe, to last at least for a lifetime if not forever, both of you need to welcome Jesus every day in your midst. I think I do not have to tell you this because by merely looking at your wedding invitation, both of you can find the initial of your names, J for Jovy and M for Maria Fe. But what is the symbol between these two letters? I hope everybody sees the cross. It is the cross which reminds us all of Jesus. Jesus is in your midst Jovy and Maria Fe as you begin your Day One as a married couple. The cross between your initials shall bring you to the reality which the Gospel of John 15: 9-12 presents, i.e, that your joy as a couple may be complete. When your joy is complete, what else shall you ask for? When your joy is complete, you do not want it to end. When both of you do not want your joy to end, then you remain in the love of Jesus. When you remain in the love of Jesus, you stay in your relationship. When you stay in your relationship, then your love may last forever. It is only with Jesus that love has its forever. 

To end this homily, Jovy and Maria Fe, it is a mystery how your hearts come together: for a coach who could be seen in a basketball court and for a judge in a Municipal Trial Court. But today, you do not call it a mystery anymore but a miracle. You do not have to ask why but rather believe in the miracle that God sends the right person for you at the right time and in the right place. God gives you to each other to show you what is real; there is more to life with just how you feel. Jovy and Maria Fe, God made you for each other. You are meant to be for each other that is why you are now both beautiful especially the bride in white. We pray then that from now until your very last breath, this day you will cherish, as the both of you look so beautiful especially the bride in white. Amen. 

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Run Kian Run… a protest led by Fr. Robert Reyes, the running priest was joined by relatives and friends of Kian on August 25, 2017 . Who is Kian Delos Santos by the way? Well, for us who only heard his name from the news, he was a teenager killed by cops on the occasion of the President’s war on drugs. For the former chief of the Northern Police District (Roberto Fajardo), Kian was a drug pusher whose death was just heightened, politicized and sensationalized. But for the family and friends of Kian, they refuted Fajardo’s claims. They knew him for his kindness and goodness. Is Kian’s case then a mistaken identity? Does the good reputation of Kian among his family, relatives, friends and classmates save him from his ill-fated death?

Identity and reputation are two different concepts but when they interplay into one’s life, we seldom see their difference. Identity makes a person who he/she is while reputation is a generally held belief by others about him/her. Knowing and claiming one’s identity is within one’s control while crafting a reputation depends on the ability of other’s to judge. If there is a strong hold of one’s identity, he/she can protect himself/herself from those who hold him/her in low regard. It is an age-old adage, “it does not matter what other people think of you, but only what you think of yourself.” Establishing one’s identity then is more essential for survival than crafting a positive reputation. In trying to create a good reputation, one must remember that no one can control the biases of other people. They may like you today but not tomorrow. They may say good things about you as you face them, but they say nasty things behind your back.

In our Gospel, Matthew 16: 13-20, we know that Jesus has a good reputation when He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” But what is striking in reading this Gospel is how Jesus revealed His identity. He asked the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus’ identity is established in relation and connection with God. We too must do the same. We must establish our identity in relation and connection with God. If we do so, then we learn to live our lives always in accordance to His will. No matter how others look at us, no matter how we suffer a bad reputation, we know that the meaning of our lives is in the hands of God. In whatever situation we may find ourselves, we know that our identity never changes as children of God.  It does not matter therefore what other people think of us, but only how God thinks of us, His children.

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the movie Doctor Strange, a doctor met an accident which made his hands useless. He tried to look for healing yet he failed. It was only when he met the Ancient One in an enclave that he hoped to find his healing. While trying to heal himself in the enclave, he learned that he was with some extraordinary people at the frontline of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. He had to make a choice then whether to return to his great life as a doctor or to leave it all behind to defend the world. He decided to defend the world. At the end, the good triumphs over evil. But if the viewers waited for the final ending of the movie, it ended with Mordo, Doctor Strange’s friend siding with evil. It actually suggests that evil triumphs so often in this world. This seems realistic as we look at what is happening in our world or society these days. Evil is happening everywhere every day. In a Catholic mind like me, a question arises, “Why does God allow evil to triumph in this world? The Gospel of Matthew 13: 24-43 can help us reflect on the answer to this question. Jesus, in His first parable, said something about a man who sowed good seed in his field but his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat in the field. Evil seems to prosper at first. But Jesus finally revealed the triumph of evil is short-lived by saying  these: “Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

To end, we have to accept the fact that as we live here on earth, we can experience the battle between evil and good. Even in each one of us, we sometimes experience difficulty in making choices, to do good and avoid evil. Jesus told us to be steadfast so as not to succumb to evil. We have to fix our eyes on the everlasting reward in heaven for being good and for doing good. Our world is like the field in the parable that as we grow together, good people and evil doers, we must remain good while waiting for the harvest time when good and evil are separated. For those who have done wicked deeds, hell. For those who have good deeds, eternal life in heaven. Amen.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the book, The Paradox of Choice by Barry Scwartz, it has been mentioned that “Autonomy and Freedom of choice are critical to our well being, and choice is critical to freedom and autonomy.” This quote gives us an idea that there is a causal connection between choice and well being. This idea is relevant in explaining the Gospel we have today.

The Gospel of Matthew 13: 1-23 is a very familiar Gospel passage as it talks about the Parable of the Sower. But if we take a closer look at the explanation of Jesus regarding the Parable of the Sower, we realize that it tells us about four different choices on what to do with the Word of God.

First among the four choices, one hears the Word but chooses not to understand It. Then there is the one who hears the Word and immediately chooses to receive It with joy; yet he has no root in himself. Third, there is one who hears the Word but he chooses the delight of riches and the pleasure of the world instead. The last one, he hears the Word, understands It and chooses to bear fruit.

Going back to the idea that there is a causal connection between choice and well being, the result of the four different choices to one’s well being are the following: for the first one, evil snatches away what is sown in his heart. It means he is spiritually poor in his well being as there is no standard of goodness for him to keep. Then for the one who immediately chooses the Word yet he has no root in himself, he is spiritually healthy only during good times, but sick during bad times. For the one who chooses riches and the pleasure of the world, he may be well at the sight of the world but his well being is detached from any form of spirituality. It was only the last one who made a good choice as it brings good result to his well being. This is indicated by being productive in the community.

In saying all these, we now ask ourselves to choose among the four where we wish to commit ourselves. We may have too many choices to make yet we have to decide what is really important for our total well being. It is easy for us to say that we must choose the fourth one yet we know honestly we are far from it in reality. In my personal journey as a parish priest for 5 years, I know I have been in the first three choices and never in the fourth one. My mind says I must choose the fourth one but I often modify my choices along the way. It is indeed difficult to commit to a choice when freedom and autonomy are also at work in us. Hopefully, with the help of God, someday I can say I give up my will, my mind, my memory, my freedom and autonomy and stick only to the choice I have made. Amen.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gospel of Matthew 11: 25-30 tells us that Jesus gave this invitation: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Why did Jesus make such invitation?  Well, we know for a fact that many people even those who believe in God keep complaining and whining when big problems come their way. Some become restless and so they withdraw themselves from God. They think that God must make a decision to answer their prayers or else they would stop believing in Him. In doing so, they do not know that they become more restless and cause restlessness on others. They refuse to understand the meaning of Jesus’ invitation.

When Jesus said “come to me,” these words must be interpreted as an invitation to surrender oneself or to abandon oneself to Him (Jesus). Whatever the content is of our prayer, we have to stop insisting first to Jesus by saying “Lord, it is now all up to You”. When Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,” He was in fact telling us to look at our problems the way He would look at them. We have to seek the will of God just like what Jesus did when He prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane. If it seems that our prayer is not granted, it is time for us to submit ourselves before God. We may not be able to understand why bad things happen to us, let us continue to believe that only God knows the reason why it must happen to us. God will reveal His wisdom to us in His time. In the process, we shall experience pain, anger, disappointment, etc. because we do not get what we want from God. But if we give up everything to God, if we let God decide for us, we act to change our life for the better. Though we can feel the pain of losing the thing or person we are praying for, we decide to move on. We become open to the will of God for us. If then we cannot change the will of God through our prayers, we change ourselves by surrendering everything to His will. 

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The song “Fallin” by Leah Salonga started with these lyrics:

I’m afraid to fly

And I don’t know why

I’m jealous of the people who are not afraid to die.

The word “afraid” immediately appears twice in this phrase. In the first instance, the word “afraid” points out to one’s phobia particularly of flying (aviophobia). This fear is often accompanied or even caused by other types of phobia such as one’s fear of heights, fear of being over water, fear that something may go wrong while flying, etc. Unlikely, however, in this song “Fallin,” what triggers one’s fear is the broken or unfulfilled promise made by another to her. This is expressed in this next phrase,

It’s just that I recall

Back when I was small

Someone promised that they’d catch me

And then they let me fall…

In the second instance, the word “afraid” is connected to a fear of what life or death may bring. It is more on a fear of the unknown.

In both instances, whether what triggers one fear is real or imagined, fear can hold one back to live in the past, thus she cannot live her life fully in the present moment or to face her future. Handling one’s fear then seems a determining factor of one’s greatness or failure in life or in love. When there is fear, one cannot live her life fully. When there is fear, one cannot love to the fullest.

In my experience as I grow older, I become afraid of almost everything. There is this fear of my future, fear to grow old and become sick, fear of dying, fear of sleeping and never wake up anymore, fear of waking up to know that a loved one is lost, fear to have no fear at all and become reckless, etc. Because of this fear, I cannot give my life fully in the ministry. Because of this fear, I cannot love our parish to the fullest. There is a need to have an outlet of this fear, and thanks that though I am not a basketball player, I played basketball to release my fear. Yet this is not enough though it is helpful. Fear comes back to strike again.

Today’s Gospel (Matthew 10: 26-33) talks about handling one’s fear which could cripple us to live and love fully as human. Jesus said, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  With these words, Jesus is telling us that to overcome our greatest fear, we have to seek comfort in the great love of God for us. It is when we know, believe and feel that God loves us then we know, believe and feel that He takes care of everything as everything is under His control. Instead of allowing our fear to paralyze us, we are called to speak about Jesus, speak of Jesus, speak to Jesus to show the world that we can live and love fully because of Him. Jesus added, “So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.” In understanding these words, one who lives and loves fully cannot but acknowledge Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. He therefore who has no fear, praises Jesus the Lord. Him alone he fears and no other. Psalm 34: 4 has this to say, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” In short, only in God’s love we can be at rest, to live and love without fear, to live and love fully in this world.  

Feast of Corpus Christi

In going to Robinson at Roxas City by riding a private vehicle, one could notice the statue of a man and a mule as his vehicle would pass around where it stands. Allow me today to tell you what the statue is all about.  

There was a man in Rimini who refused to believe the doctrine of the Real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. St. Anthony could not convince the man by his words alone. The man made this deal with St. Anthony that he would believe if his mule would. The unbelieving man would starve his mule for three days, he would bring then his mule to the town square, Anthony, would bring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. If the hungry animal would come to Jesus in the monstrance rather than the bucket of food, then the man would accept the Church’s teachings and believe that Jesus was truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

On the third day, the man came into the town square with his very hungry mule. St. Anthony approached from the other side of the square with the Sacred Host. Many people, both believers and unbelievers alike watched to see what would happen. A large bucket of oats and a bundle of fragrant hay were placed before the hungry animal. But all this was ignored by the mule. Instead, the mule approached our Saint and fell on her knees before the Blessed Sacrament to adore Jesus. True to his word, the man made a profession of faith in the Real Presence because his mule had believed first.

My dear friends, the story of St. Anthony and the mule is relevant to today’s feast of Corpus Christi. This feast reminds us about the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The oldest testimony written in the Bible which the Catholic Church finds her basis regarding the doctrine of the Real Presence is 1 Corinthians 11: 24, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” These words of Jesus could also be found in the Gospels of Matthew 26: 26, Mark 14: 22 and Luke 22:19. The words “This is my body” are clear and unequivocal. Those words do not express a simile or analogy as Jesus did not say “This is like my body.” Those words should not also be interpreted as figurative or symbolical because Jesus did not say “This is the symbol of my body.” Therefore we have to take these words of Jesus according to His intention. If we follow the literal interpretation, then we cannot but must believe that in every consecrated host, there is Jesus. If Jesus is there in the consecrated host, His presence is real, for neither it is a simile nor an analogy, nor symbolical, not even figurative. Now, why should we believe that in every celebration of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, there is the Real Presence of Jesus? Well, Jesus Himself commanded His disciples saying, “Do this in remembrance of me.” This means that every time we DO repeat the breaking of bread, Jesus gives us His Body and Blood. He is really present in the Blessed Sacrament. To deny this truth is to accuse Jesus of deceiving us. But we know Jesus neither deceives nor can be deceived. He even said in John 6:54-55, “The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”

My dear friends, in celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi, I remind you of the great value of receiving Jesus during communion. Let us make our conscience clear and our hearts clean first before we let Jesus enters our body. Jesus is real. Jesus is real in every host we receive during communion. In receiving Jesus unworthily, being unprepared in heart and mind is tantamount to a denial of the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus. So let us then celebrate this feast by receiving Jesus in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist worthily. Amen.

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

The Philippines is an archipelagic State. It is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Though there are three island groups, we look at the Philippines in a map as one single unit.

In recognizing the Philippines as an archipelagic State, its archipelago and the waters enclosed by its baseline is considered as one cohesive entity and thus prevents the treatment of its islands as separate islands under UNCLOS III. With this principle, when President Duterte declared Martial Law in the whole of Mindanao due to Marawi crisis, other Nations, States, or countries made a travel advisory to their nationals unfavourable to the Philippines as a whole. They do not say be careful in going to Marawi or Mindanao, but to the Philippines. This means that even other Nations, States or countries view the Philippines as a whole and not as three separated groups of islands.

In today’s feast of the Most Holy Trinity, though we cannot fully explain this mystery of One God in three Divine Persons, let me apply the principle used earlier in explaining the principle governing the Philippines as an archipelagic State to grasp the truth about the said mystery.

First of all, the Bible mentions especially in the New Testament, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 3: 16-17, Mark 1:10-11 and Luke 3:22, it is said that after Jesus was baptized, there was the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on Him while a voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in Him I take great delight.” All these passages reveal to us that indeed there is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity is not just about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is all about one God in three Divine Persons. Here lies the difficulty in explaining then. How come there is one God in three Divine Persons? How come there is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, yet we do not have three gods but one God? As I have said earlier, let me apply the same principle used in explaining the principle governing the Philippines as an archipelagic State to grasp the truth about the said mystery. Though this falls short in explaining exactly the mystery of the Triune God, just like in recognizing the Philippines as an archipelagic State, its archipelago and the waters enclosed by its baseline is considered as one cohesive entity and thus prevents the treatment of its islands as separate islands, we Catholics believe that there is only one God and thus we believe that the three Divine Persons must not be treated as separate gods but one. We enclosed (or as a manner of speaking, put inside a circle) the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit by His essence and thus we see the whole of God and not just the three distinct Divine Persons. We have our Biblical support on this when we read Matthew 28:19, Jesus said “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” In mentioning the three Divine Persons next to each other or side by side, it signifies equality or shall I say equally God. In using the word “name”, it indicates singularity or singleness. It is just like bearing in mind “Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao” as one Nation, one State or one country of the Filipinos and for the Filipinos.

Finally, in explaining as much as I could the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity, is there a word “trinity” in the Bible? It is true that the Bible does not mention the word “trinity” either in the Old Testament or New Testament. But it is also true that the Bible never DENIES the truth about the “trinity” either in the Old Testament or New Testament. Therefore, what the Bible does not mention does not mean it is not true anymore. When the Bible does not mention the word “trinity”, it does not mean the “trinity” is not true. If we are rigorous to follow the opposite conclusion, then we say there is no truth unless the Bible mentions it. So how can we deny the existence of dinosaurs on our planet just because the Bible never mentions anything about dinosaurs? Can we say there is no Philippines just because Philippines is never mentioned in the Bible?

My dear friends, what matters for us as Catholics is the truth which the doctrine conveys to us and that is to live our lives according to the will of God. In giving assent to the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity, we are called to live in unity, in oneness with all the believers of Christ. We are also made aware that our unity, our oneness is not about uniformity but despite our diversities, having different talents and abilities, we can live together and love one another and be worthily called Christians.