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.