REMEMBERING THAT MAKES US STRONG

2nd Sunday of LentB

The Transfiguration - what a showcase! Jesus was at the center stage of everything - resplendent, glorious, pure. Then appeared as supporting actors Moses and Elijah – long dead, but transported back to life to give witness to the greatness of Jesus. Moses was Israel’s lawgiver, but here is the fulfillment of the law. Elijah was Israel’s greatest prophet, but here is the perfection of prophecies.

On top of it all, a booming voice came from heaven, and an encompassing cloud – the Father and the Holy Spirit. Why is this event so dramatic, so star-studded, so magnificent? Simple, so that it will not be easily forgotten.

When the disciples begin to feel the absence of Jesus, and the pain of persecution from their neighbors, they will only need to return to the memory of this day and be strong again and be ready again to confront the future.

Isn’t it true that in our lives, there are moments that cannot compare with any other? These are times that are full of joy, full of peace, full of celebration? And we treasure these moments, reliving them when we enter into the experience of being lost or sad.

And old woman, smiling, leafs through her son’s graduation pictures. An overseas laborer glances at the photo of his wife and children on his barracks wall. A young lady clutches the rosary her boyfriend gave her as a gift. For these things lead to remembrance of special realities that transpired. These things also encourage them to be faithful to the relationships they signify.

As a priest, I gaze on the picture of my ordination day, when my archbishop laid hands on my head, making me servant of Jesus Christ. It is enough to assure me of God’s love and push me on to bear the hardships of ministry. The apostles did not have pictures and albums but what they witnessed was forever etched in their minds and hearts.

Today the Lord wants us to remember the good things that happened to us, the wonderful things that flowed from his gracious hands. We live in trying times and what great temptation there is to focus on the bad, the misfortune, the evil around us. When we do so, the more we are plunged into despair and lack of meaning.

Lent is a time to remember the Lord and his goodness. We remember his pain that saved us. We remember his resurrection that is our inheritance as well. We remember his forgiveness so we can confidently come to confession. We remember only the good, because it gives us hope to transform our lives into what it should really be.

Let us thank the Lord for Transfiguration and the many transfiguration experiences we have had in life. We need them to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Jesus.

TEMPTATIONS IN DAILY LIFE

1st Sunday of LentB

This Sunday’s gospel is very short. Its mission is to start us into thinking about the journey of Lent we just entered into. Mark describes Jesus driven by the Spirit into the desert, where he was to be tempted by the devil. In his baptism, Jesus was filled with the Spirit. But it was no guarantee to a life immune from temptations of daily life.

As human beings, we live our lives in constant battle with many choices. In the Old Testament, Moses presents the people of Israel with only two choices, one for life and the other for death. Today life is much more complicated and the choices are nuanced.

I like this illustration of a conversation in a restaurant. Waiter: Care for drinks, sir? Customer: What are the options? Waiter: Hard drinks and soft drinks. Customer: Get me soft drinks. Waiter: Coke or Pepsi. Customer: Coke, please. Waiter: Regular, light or zero? Customer: Regular, please. Waiter: In bottle or in can? Customer (vexed): Will just give me water! Waiter: Mineral or distilled?

Many choices and most of them seem to be the best, the most beneficial, the most attractive. We are easily tempted because in the face of these choices we are always free, free to select one option over another.

Temptations therefore are part of life. And the temptations that come to us are always connected with our weaknesses. The devil attacks us where we are vulnerable. In the temptations of Jesus, the devil tried to lure him, but Jesus was strong against the deceptions. As for us, the devil plays on our weak points. People who have great need of money are moved to steal. Lonely, stressed people are drawn to impure thoughts and actions. Those whose faith rests on shaky foundation easily doubt God’s love. When people are afraid, they easily lie.

We fall into these attractions when, presented with choices, we agree on the item that pleases us most or saves our face. When we prioritize ourselves above others, we are well on our path to sin. A married man falls into sin when he ingratiates himself, but damages his wife and children. An employee sins when he enriches himself but impoverishes the company. A priest sins when he pursues happiness rather than the spirit of sacrifice.

In our time, temptations abound more than ever. As human beings these are part of life. And the devil knows how to manipulate our weakness so that we see only ourselves and not the good of others.

But there is a solution to temptation. It is prayer. A person close to God can, even with serious struggle, resist temptation and avoid sin. When was the last time we sinned? Wasn’t it also the time we were mindless of our relationship with the Lord. So, like Jesus, take prayer seriously. Pray over the choices of daily life. And if we ever sin again, there is another solution, Confession. Jesus calls us to repent immediately and believe in the Good News. This Good News is the love of God waiting to make us whole again, to make us good again. Believe it!

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Ordinary - 7th Sunday

When a person is so tied up to a particular mode of acting or style of life or attitude, that person loses the capacity to inspire others. It’s what we may call, in jest, in local language – “style mo bulok!” (your style stinks!). But when a person is creative and inventive and adventurous, look at the sparks he creates around him/herself. People notice and appreciate. People are uplifted.

People see traffic policemen each day but they stop to admire a dancing traffic enforcer. People may dine at any restaurant, but they choose the one with the singing waiters and cooks. Students endure any teacher but how they react to an open-minded, thought-provoking teacher. It pays to try something new. You don’t know what great things will flow from it.

In our readings today, God is showing us how to shake off our contentment with our old ways and like him, enter into an adventure of a lifetime. In the Old Testament, people associated the name “God” with a terrifying, angry, punitive Powerful Being. If you sin, then that’s the end of you. But God is telling his people: You have sinned against me, broken the rules, destroyed your commitment. But I am trying something new! I will not succumb to anger or punishment. I will forget your sins. I will forgive you.

Wow! Just feel those words and apply them to yourself. God breaks out of the old image and shows to us his real face – love in spite of sin.

In the gospel, a group of friends are bringing a sick person to Jesus but couldn’t get inside the crowded house. Guess what, if they can’t neter through the door, they’ll get in through the roof. Isn’t that novel? Destroying the roof to present a sick man for healing! Jesus must have laughed at that idea and he was moved by the faith and creativity of the paralyzed man’s friends. And the friends got what they wanted for their sick friend.

Jesus too, tried something new. He did not only heal a sick person. He pronounced the words of forgiveness on him first. Why forgive him when all he needs is a healing touch? But Jesus worked a healing of the body through the prior healing of the soul. That’s new!

How many times our lives are boring because we do the same things day in and day out, year after year. Yes, we plan doing some great things but we are afraid of trying. We feel imprisoned in the old ways. But you see, graces come when we decide to do something good and new. When you do so, you will inspire others and bring them joy.

What new thing do you want to do? Maybe: Break that unhealthy habit. Decide to help someone in need. Expand your circle of friends. Start a satisfying hobby. Try reading the Bible or visiting the adoration chapel this week. Join Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday next week and get serious with your faith. That will be new, and thrilling and inspiring too!

NEW EVANGELIZATION - IN YOUR OWN WAY…

how do you share your faith in Jesus to others?

- by inviting my friends to join me in the various organizations in the parish - Regina Bautista

- by trying to imitate Jesus’ traits, by trying my best to be a good example to other young people. even in a simple manner, if all young people will start following Jesus, the world will be a great place - Michelle Cagomoc

readers of this blog: will you answer the following simple question? in your own little way, how do you share your faith in Jesus to others? please email response to me at ramildrm@yahoo.com i wish to collect and share answers in this blog, in view of the year of faith (2012-13). thanks so much and God bless…

LOVING THE UNLOVABLE

Ordinary Time - 6

Often we meet the “taong grasa” in our streets. These are the poor, homeless people wandering our roads covered in grime and dirt, often naked and ever in search of food in garbage bins. What is your reaction when you meet such a person? Surely it must be a mixture of horror, avoidance, fear and indifference. Most of us never had a conversation with such people.

The Bible’s version of the homeless, dirty beggar of today is none other than the leper. He too, was avoided and despised because his scourge carried the stigma of sin and divine punishment. The Old Testament reading today advised people on how to isolate the leper in society. To be a leper in the Jewish society of Jesus’ time was not a pleasant, but a most dreadful and painful experience.

It must have been a real shock for people to see that their respected prophet and teacher not only conversed with a leper but also, moved by that encounter, “touched” him and healed him. And it must have been the highlight of this poor man’s life to be regarded again as important by a fellow human being. In his ministry, Jesus would repeatedly defy societal restrictions and extend his love to lepers and to other castaways of his milieu.

Here we see the distinction of Jesus’ approach to the marginalized of society. In his heart there was no reservation towards anyone. His heart was truly open, accommodating and compassionate to all who needed him. In doing this, the Lord did not listen to conventions but only to his Father, whose warm, pulsating heart craved to embrace the poor and suffering.

In our lives today, we rarely meet lepers. I don’t even remember being in the presence of one. As for the dirty, homeless poor, the “taong grasa”, we occasionally meet them but our encounters are as fleeting as they come. But surely we have our own version of lepers in our lives. There are people we refuse to acknowledge as our equals, the ones we consciously ignore and whose presence we loath. To us, they are “non-persons.”

Just think of your enemies. How long have you decisively refused to have any contact with the people who hurt you in the past? Then think of the people who do not belong to your “class” - not of the same social circle, intellectual background or moral attitudes that you possess. Isn’t it true that you live your life comfortably without thinking about them? And then there are the truly needy among us whose experiences spark the littlest interest within us, like the victims of various calamities for whom we give some extra coins at the second collection.

The gospel challenges us to adopt the same mind as Christ. Are we willing to be moved by others’ experiences? Are we ready to touch them with our hands and love them in our hearts? This week, let us resolve to love the leper of our lives. And may Jesus help us to boldly take the first step.

ALL WORK AND NO “PRAYER”?

Ordinary Time - 5

We always aim for a balanced life. “All work and no play makes John a dull boy” is a famous proverb. It means that if all we do is work then we become both bored and boring. But if all we do is play and avoid work, we will never be good in what we are supposed to do.

This search for balance is true even in our spiritual life. If we are too absorbed in our good works without spending time to pray then our soul becomes famished. And if we pray all the time without translating it into action, then we become escapists and hypocrites.

The Gospel today presents to us Jesus as the model of real balance in spiritual life. Mark’s gospel is known to show Jesus is almost endless busy-ness, doing things with admirable speed and alacrity. And in today’s reading, Jesus goes from synagogue to Simon Peter’s house to heal his mother-in-law to crowds of waiting sick and afflicted people. Such dedication and hard work for the Kingdom of his Father…

But Jesus knew how to prudently handle life’s important matter. He was always available for others. He was always available when his mission is concerned. But he knew he needed a resource that can put a balance in his life. He withdrew from the crowd early in the morning to pray.

What did prayer do to Jesus’ personal life and ministry? Prayer gave the Lord deep personal contact with his Father. He was guiding people to him and so he must be the first to offer his heart to his Father. Prayer energized the Lord to resume his work with more vigor and determination. Prayer gave balance and credibility to Jesus’ preaching and ministry.

How very far is the attitude of many Christians today from the example of the Lord. We give up on prayer because we claim we are so exhausted after a day’s work. We refuse to go to Sunday Mass because even Sunday is a busy day for us. Or we rest our bodies on Sundays but ignore to provide respite and refreshment for our souls. And yet we have time for television, newspapers, texts and malls!

In the Old Testament, God clearly gave the mandate to keep the Sabbath, to observe a day special to the Lord. In the New Testament, Jesus showed the example of someone who draws close to God even in the midst of frenetic activities. The early Christians understood that God must be honored on Sunday, the new Sabbath, the day of Resurrection and Pentecost.

If you’re hearing this or reading this now, chances are, you go to church or have the intention to do so in obedience to God’s will and in conscious thanksgiving. So let us turn our attention on people we love, people we know, who have given up on prayer or Sunday Mass or devotions because they are “too busy” for God. Let us pray for them and given the chance, remind them that “all work and no PRAYER shatters a person’s soul”.