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.