OUR PARISH PRIEST

IN HEAVEN, JESUS REIGNS FOREVER Once a family approached me for blessing because they will be transferring to another locality.   I blessed them and I said I will miss them, even if I know them only by face and not on a name-basis.   While I blessed them, the family members began to cry.    Why the tears? Because it is always difficult to say goodbye. A temporary separation is tolerable.   But a long and definitive separation is a reality hard to swallow. Life goes on but the pain lingers. Today, we celebrate the farewell of Jesus to his disciples.   The time has come for Jesus to return to his Father.   In the Creed we say: he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. We can just imagine how the disciples must have felt.   At the crucifixion they were crushed.   Then at the resurrection they rejoiced again.   Now, they cannot have Jesus forever with them.   Once again he departs.   But in this farewell, the disciples were no longer filled wi

KASAMA NATIN ANG ESPIRITU NG DIYOS Nakatagpo na ba kayo ng mga taong galit sa Diyos o sa Simbahan? Ang dami nilang tanong, akusasyon at pagpuna sa ating pananampalataya. Minsan hindi tuloy tayo makasagot. Sa ikalawang pagbasa (1 Pedro 3:15), tinuturuan tayo kung paano ang gagawin sa harap ng mga ganitong tao: “Maging handa sa pagpapaliwanag sa sinumang nagtatanong ng dahilang ng inyong pag-asa.”   Paano? “Na may paggalang sa kapwa at pagiging banayad,” patuloy ng pagbasa. Noong una ang ating sagot dito ay mga debate at argumento laban sa mga hindi Katoliko o hindi Kristiyano. Pero wala itong nararating. Ngayon, ang nais natin ay pumasok sa mabungang dialogue sa iba upang marinig natin hindi lamang ang kanilang nais sabihin kundi pati ang hindi nila nais sabihin nang diretso. Marami kasi sa mga galit sa Diyos at sa simbahan ay may mga sugat sa kanilang puso dahil sa mga karanasan nila. Kaya nga sa halip na argumento, mas maigi ang paliwanag. Sa halip n

THE SPIRIT AIDS US IN DIALOGUE Have you ever encountered someone who is angry with God or mad at our Church?   And because of this, he or she tries to weaken the bearings of our faith through a barrage of questions, accusations and criticisms. Sometimes this can be so overwhelming we cannot even reply. There are so many such people today, driven by doubt or disappointment or by other motives to disparage religious faith and to influence religious people to abandon their faith. The second reading (1Pet 3:15) gives us the right perspective to take in our encounter with these people: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope…” How? With gentleness and reverence, continues 1 Peter.   In times past, there were the argumentative debates with non-Catholics and non-Christians.   These only produced an even more hardening of positions and created victors and vanquished. Today, we want to enter into fruitful and e

ANG DAAN Totoo may lugar nga sa langit para sa atin tulad ng sabi ng Panginoong Hesus sa mabuting balita ngayon (Jn 14: 1-12). Totoo din na mismo ang Panginoon ang maghahanda ng lugar na ito para sa ating lahat na sumasampalataya. Kaygandang pangako para sa atin! At eto na naman si Tomas taglay ang kanyang mga praktikal na tanong. Di ba noong isang linggo lang, balisa siya kung paano maniniwala gayong wala namang patunay: Hanggat hindi ko nakikita… hindi ako maniniwala!   Pero nang dumating si Hesus, biglang nabuhay ang likas niyang pagiging praktikal: Panginoon ko at Diyos ko! Ngayon iba naman ang tanong ni Tomas. Hindi siya duda na may mga silid sa buhay na walang hanggan at walang duda rin na si Hesus ang siyang maghahanda nito para sa atin. Pero ang kanyang bagong problema: paano po namin malalaman ang daan?   Parang ito din ang tanong natin at salamat kay Sto. Tomas at inunahan niya tayo. Buong giliw na ginabayan ng Panginoon si Tomas: “A

THE WAY Yes, there is a place waiting for us in heaven, as Jesus assures us in today’s gospel (Jn 14: 1-12). Yes, it is the Lord himself who will prepare this place for us, as he promised also in this gospel. Such an assuring and encouraging promise! And here comes Thomas with the practical question. Remember that last week’s gospel showed Thomas worrying how to believe when in fact he has not seen proof: unless I see… I will not believe! But as soon as he sees the sign, the practical side of him turns into faith: My Lord and my God! Today, Thomas is again asking his practical questions.   He does not doubt the place reserved for him in heaven, nor Jesus’ serious preparation for him to get there.   but his question now is: how to get there.   “How can we know the way?”   that is the hidden question in our hearts too.   And thanks to St. Thomas, he has spoken that in our behalf. The Lord Jesus patiently guides Thomas and the disciples to the wa

ANG PAMILYA NG PASTOL Isang bata ang naka-diskubre na siya pala ay ampon lamang. Subalit sa halip na magtampo siya, inisip niya kung gaano siya minahal ng kanyang mga magulang. Hanggang mamatay ang kanyang ama, hindi niya naramdaman na siya ay kakaiba. At ang kanyang ina din, hanggang ngayon ay patuloy ang pagmamahal sa kanya. Sa halip na magtampo, lalo siyang naging mapagpasalamat sa maganda niyang kapalaran. Ang ikalawang pagbasa (1 Juan 3:1-2) ay nagsasaad na umaapaw ang pag-ibig ng Diyos kaya tayong lahat ay ginawa niyang mga anak: tayo ngayon ay anak ng Diyos…” kahit isinilang tayong malayo sa kanya, inampon niya tayo. Naganap ito dahil sa pagsusugo niya sa Panginoong Hesukristo bilang ating Tagapagligtas: “walang kaligtasan kaninuman maliban sa kanya…” na gumawa sa atin bilang mga kapatid niya at anak ng Ama. Ang Salita ng Diyos ngayon ay nagpapatuloy ng kagalakan ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay. Ang ating Muling Nabuhay na Panginoon ang nagbukas ng taha

THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FAMILY Once a young man told me he discovered something about himself. His relatives revealed to him that he was not a natural son of his parents but an adopted child. After regaining his composure at the shocking news, he began to thank the Lord that his adoptive parents loved him without reserve. His father made him feel that he was the apple of his eye, until his father died some years ago. His mother not for a single moment, showed him he was not her own dear son. He told me that knowing he was adopted made him even more grateful to the Lord and his parents. Today’s second reading (1 John 3:1-2) emphasizes the conviction of the writer that God’s love is overflowing that he even made us his children: “Beloved, we are God’s children now…”   Though born estranged from God, we are now brought close to his heart by adoption. And this happens to us because in his great love, the Father has sent the Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, to save us

ANG DIYOS NA NAKIKISANGKOT Normal lang malungkot kapag may nawalang isang minamahal sa buhay. Ang dalawang disipulo ay malungkot na nagluluksa pabalik sa Emmaus. Normal lang masiphayo kapag ang pag-asa ay bumagsak. Umasa sila sa Panginoon Jesus at ngayong namatay Siya sa krus, sobra ang kanilang pangungulila. Normal lang mailto kapag hindi mo inaasahan o naiintindihan ang mga pangyayari. Sa pagkalito, hindi tuloy nakilala ng dalawa kung sino ang kasabay nila sa lansangan. Pero higit na normal para sa Diyos ang makialam, makiisa, makisangkot kapag ang mga anak Niya ay malungkot, nasiphayo at nalilito.   Sinamahan sila ng Panginoong Jesus dahil kailangan nila ng kasabay sa madilim na daang tinatahak. Humabol Siya sa daan upang maging suporta at inspirasyon nila. Buong tiyagang inakay ng Panginoon Jesus ang dalawa upang makita nilang Siya ay nabuhay ngang muli, makapangyarihan at kapiling nila muli. Matiyaga Niyang ipinaliwanag ang Kasulatan. Matiyaga Niy

OUR GOD INTERVENES It is normal to feel sad specially if you have lost someone special. That was why the two disciples, who have become close to the Lord, were in serious mourning as they trek the road to Emmaus. It is normal to feel disappointed when your hopes are dashed.   These two disciples pinned their hopes on Jesus and knowing that He was now dead, they felt desolate as they traced their way back home. It is normal to be confused when you are faced with events you cannot understand. Our disciples did not know why things happened the way they did and what would happen next. Their confusion blinded them to the real identity of their newfound Companion on the road. But it is even more normal for God to intervene when he sees his people falling into sadness, despair and confusion. The Lord Jesus joined them because He knew they needed a companion on the dark path they were walking.   Jesus caught up with them because He knew they needed someon

KAPAYAPAAN SA GITNA NG AWA NG DIYOS Sabihin mo sa natatakot: Peace!   Sabihin mo sa nalulungkot: Peace! Ibulong mo sa nagdurusa: Peace! Ihatid mo sa pagod at bugbog na: Peace! Ito na ang pinakatamang mga salita, pinaka-nakalulugod na salita sa gitna ng mga pagsubok at kahirapan ng buhay. At ito ang mga pinaka-makapangyarihan at pinaka-banayad na salita ng Panginoong Jesukristo mula sa Kanyang Pagkabuhay. Ito rin ay mga epektibong salita dahil tuwing bibigkasin ni Jesus, nagdudulot ito ng kapahingahan at lakas ng loob. Masdan mo kung paano bumalik ang saya sa mga apostol. Tingnan mo kung paano naliwanagan ang mga disipulo. Hayan si Tomas, na muling sumampalataya pagkatapos magduda. Ang kapayapaan ni Jesus ay epektibo, malakas at makapangyarihan.   Ang kapayapaan ni Jesus ay regalo Niya sa atin ngayong Easter, regalong kailangang kailangan nating marinig at maranasan. Ano ang sikreto ng regalong ito ng kapayapaan? Kasi po, ito ay nagmumula sa puso,

PEACE IN MERCY Say to the fearful: “Peace be with you.”   Say to the sorrowing: “Peace be with you.” Whisper to the suffering: “Peace be with you.”   Tell the battered and fatigued: “Peace be with you.”   These are just the right words, the most comforting words in the midst of life’s trials and difficulties. And these are the powerful, gentle words of Jesus after the Resurrection.   These are also effective words, that once spoken by the Lord, they produce calmness and assurance. Look at how the apostles are filled with joy. Notice how the disciples emerged into the light. See how Thomas himself regains his faith and surrenders his doubts to the winds.   The peace of Jesus is effective, strong and powerful.   The peace of Jesus is His gift at Easter, the gift we need most to hear and experience. Why is the peace of Jesus powerful?   It is because it comes from his heart, his merciful heart. Jesus comes to forgive the apostles for their cowardice. Jesus

ANG ARAW NG SORPRESA NG DIYOS! Tuwang tuwa ang mga anak kapag may surprise ang kanilang magulang. Sigaw nila ay “Wow!”   Sino ba sa atin ang ayaw ng nakakatuwang surprise? Noong Biyernes, isang lalaking walang sala ang nabayubay sa krus.   Ang mga alagad ay nagtakbuhan sa takot sa mga kalaban. Ang kanyang Ina at mahal na alagad ay napilitang masdan ang pagbitiw ng kanyang huling hininga. Ang mga tagasunod niya ay nawalan ng pag-asa at kinabukasan. Sabado, parang tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo, at nabalot ng kalungkutan ang kapaligiran. Pero, biglang lumitaw ang pinamalaking surprise ng Diyos. Si Jesus ay bumangon mula sa libingang kinasisidlan tungo sa bago at walang hanggang buhay. Narinig ng mga alagad ang pinaka-magandang salaysay ng buong kasaysayan – ang Panginoon ay totoo sa kanyang salita at siya ay tunay na makapangyarihan! Lumakas muli ang kanyang Ina at mahal na alagad. Ang mga tagasunod naman ay may pinanghahawakang mensahe na handa nang ipa

THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF ALL When my niece and nephew were still small, I delighted in pulling surprises for them. It made me happy to see their round eyes, gaping faces and their excited shout of “Wow!”   Not only was I satisfied that I made their day.   I’m sure they too loved every playful and generous gesture from their uncle.   What person does not enjoy a good surprise from time to time? On a Friday afternoon, people saw an innocent Man dying on the cross.   His disciples scattered in fear trying to save their skins.   His mother and dear friend were forced to behold him shed the last drop of his blood.   His followers felt their world crashing all around them, their hopes dashed, their future uncertain.   On Saturday, the world stood still, with everyone tired and disappointed. Everywhere was sadness. Then God pulled the biggest surprise of all.   Jesus who lay dead on the sepulcher floor rose triumphantly from death to new and eternal life.   T