OUR PARISH PRIEST

KING OF GLORY, KING IN AGONY PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION More than any other occasion in the Christian calendar, this Holy Week gives us a focused and intense gaze on the face of Jesus. Who is Jesus? He is king, our king! JESUS IS THE KING OF GLORY His target place is Jerusalem, the Holy City of God. And Jesus literally “goes up” to Jerusalem since it is a high place. Going up, he is surrounded by his disciples and followers who already accept him as king of their lives. There are elements that show how Jesus wish to reveal himself as king in Jerusalem. First, he comes riding a donkey on which no one has before sat on. It is the right of ancient kings to demand their transport and further to be the first to use an animal for transportation. But Jesus’ choice of animal is not at all grand, but a donkey. In this way, he is the king of peace, king of simplicity and king of the poor. Second, we notice the words of greeting people use: B...

COME AND SERVE THE LORD 5th Sunday of Lent B I recently came from a tiring but beautiful trip to Antique province to attend the ordination of a friend as a new deacon. Actually he is part of a batch of 5 new deacons for the diocese’s celebration of its golden jubilee. What a gift from the Lord - 50 years as church and 5 new deacons who will later this year become priests. What makes this occasion special is that all over the world, there are less and less young men who choose to serve God in total dedication as priests. To see new deacons come forward to express their love for God and their brothers and sisters is indeed an inspiration. We live in a world that, in the midst of constant flux and rapid mobility see people ever more hungry for an encounter with God. The situation of the Greeks in the gospel today is the situation of so many people. They are approaching disciples and asking: Sir, we want to see Jesus! Good enough for them that Philip a...

GOD GOES DOWN… 4th Sunday of Lent B There is only one direction most people want to go in their lives, and that is, upward. People want to be rich and famous and influential. In the rat race of life, people don’t want to go around in circles. We want to go up. There is nothing wrong with this. Ambition is a positive indication of the constant drive for growth. At an early age, we are taught to aspire for higher goals. Society inspires us to dream that our lot may be better. God smiles at our noble dreams and blesses our honest efforts. This Lent, as we slowly discover our human nature, its potentials and its perils, we also steadily take a glimpse of the movements of God’s heart. What direction does God follow? Where does God go? If we humans want to go up, it is surprising to realize that God goes down! His movement takes him on a journey downward. The desires of his heart pull him not to dream high but to dream low. Don’t get ...

ANGER THAT LEADS TO ZEAL 3RD SUNDAY OF LENT Today’s gospel gives us a rare peek into an also rare but very human emotion of Our Lord Jesus Christ - anger. Surrounded by difficult, problematic people, Jesus never showed anger. He was not angry at the adulterous woman nor with the Pharisees who continuously hounded him. Even Judas’ betrayal did not elicit anger from Jesus. On the cross, there was only forgiveness and meekness. But here, look at Jesus angry, and showing it to all. However, his anger does not turn to violence against his neighbors. He forms a cord into a whip but not to attack people but drive away the animals sold at the temple quarters. He overturns tables, but doesn’t lay a hand on any person there. And of all places, Jesus was angry at the Temple area. Why? His emotions were stirred because people should go to the Temple to pray, to worship, to focus on God. Here were people, though, who used the Temple for their own agend...

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...