Crossroads

    

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

25 August 2024

 

First Reading: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

Second Reading: Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32

Gospel: Jn 6:60-69

 

Reflection

By: Theresa B. Manio

 

There may be times where we find ourselves lost in following God’s will, moments when we doubt God’s providential plan, times when we become so unfaithful to Him, moments we feel so alone and fail to recognize God’s presence in our life. The Gospel we have today is a promise of Christ's deeper commitment and faithfulness to us. Jesus has become one of us so that we become like Him.

Jesus is asking us, “Do you also want to leave?” Do you want to quit? Humans that we are, sometimes our faith is also challenged by the problems that we have. Some of us fall short of our personal needs, wants, biases and whims. We also have our defense mechanisms in place.

When we encounter people or situations which are different to our tastes and personal views, we tend to reject them outright without first trying to understand. Today’s Gospel invites us to remain faithful to the Eucharist even when we don’t fully understand the mystery of it. When we take it, Jesus lives in us, thus, we have to try to be like Jesus to the people who judge and hurt us, stay to be kind and respectful no matter our differences in views and ideas, and be with the people who need most of our help and assistance. 

Our regular attendance in the Mass and having a genuine quality time in worshiping, praying, and receiving Jesus' body and blood, really makes a difference in making our heart so strong like Christ’s, able to trust God, and live with the Holy Spirit. For when we allow the Holy Spirit to move within us, we will be drawn to our Father through Jesus. May we devote our full presence and attention each time we attend the Mass. 

Jesus has the words of eternal life. If we want to have eternal life, let us listen to Him wholeheartedly without any hesitation. Let us pray then that our Father in heaven grants us a welcoming and faithful heart and that Jesus may become the King in all aspects of our lives.

“Do you also wish to go away?” When Jesus asks us this question, may our answer be like Peter: “To whom shall we go?” May we remain steadfast in our faith and trust in the Lord. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I stand at this crossroads, I seek Your guidance and wisdom. Strengthen my faith and help me trust in Your plan. May Your light lead me, and Your presence give me peace. Grant me the courage to follow Your path, knowing that Your love and faithfulness will see me through.

Amen.

No Fear

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 21 June 2020
First reading Jeremiah 20:10-13

For I hear many whispering: “Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. “Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him.” But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonour will never be forgotten. O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.

Second reading                                                          Romans 5:12-15

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned- sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 10:26-33

Jesus said to his disciples, “Have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

Reflection

By Carlo Alexis R. Malaluan

No Fear. This is the theme of one of the recollections I have given to members of the police force. Yes, you have read it right – for the policemen and women. Ironically, I know, they knew more about fear and courage than I know. As if it is I who is the one who is in need of lecturing.

We do not want to experience the helpless and catatonic feeling of fear. We don’t want to feel numb and uncertain. We don’t want to experience anxiety and worry. In the First Reading, we can see the Prophet Jeremiah being engulfed with fear. He was anxious and deeply concerned as if fear slowly eats him alive. But amidst the great terror, there is only one thing that kept him going: the thought of God. He knew that God is greater, bigger, and even more powerful than his fear. God came to his rescue. Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans provides for us a very good explanation. Fear is the product of sin. Terror entered into the world and destroyed the security of man. But Christ came down to earth, to restore all things. Fear none, he assures us in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows. True enough, if God could take care of the birds flying in the sky, how much more would he look after the creature fashioned after His own image and likeness? Faith is bigger than fear. Fear none.

When was the last time you have experienced a “mini heart attack”? When was the last time you have been so afraid? Was it because of the dark? Was it because of the uncertainties of the future? Was it because of a bad news? Jesus Christ, assures us. Do not be afraid. I am in control. When fear slowly creeps in, and takes over our life, we know what to do. Christ told us what to do. We are not to be conquered by fear but out of that fear, faith blossoms. When we are afraid of the dark, Christ is our light. When there are uncertainties, Christ is certain. When we received a bad news, Christ is the good news that we proclaim.

One interesting trivia, I have read a few months ago, that “Fear not” was mentioned in the Bible for 365 times. That’s a good number of reminder that you can carry with you in 365 days of the year!

Prayer

O GOD OF FAITH! Rekindle in our hearts the burning faith in You. May we not be afraid as the waves of life toss our boat ever assured that You are the Captain of the Ship. May we place our confidence and trust in Your unfailing love. Amen.

I Do Believe, Lord

Fourth Sunday of Lent 22  March 2020
First reading 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve that I have rejected Saul from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and set out. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel asked, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.”

Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”

Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Second reading                                                  Ephesians 5:8-14

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Gospel                                                                   John 9:1-41

As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, who had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask himself.”

Yet again they called the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” They then asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!  We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he listens to whoever worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshipped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

Reflection

By Fely C. Santiago

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

  

Covid19 is real. It has filled us with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. It has really put people to a STOP. Stop socializing, stop big events, stop parties, stop going to the malls, stop businesses, stop traveling, and even have to stop Masses on Sundays! I will surely miss my daily Mass!

But amidst all these fear, anxiety, and uncertainly, we need to keep the faith. And the word from the Responsorial Psalm gives us hope. “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage.” We may be walking right now in the dark valley. We do not know where we are going. We do not know when the light will shine again. We are afraid. It’s so dark. It’s so scary.  But one thing is for sure, the Lord is our Shepherd. He will take care of us. He will carry us through this. He will never abandon us. He will guide us. He will heal us. He never fails. He is our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. He will provide us with strength, with courage, and yes even provide for our food every day. So there is no need for panic buying! He is always with us and will surely take us out of this darkness we are experiencing right now. We just have to believe. Keep trusting the Lord. Hopefully this experience will bring us closer to God our Father. 

Maybe this is also the time that the Lord is calling everyone to pray, to go back to Him, to put Him again on the Throne, to humble ourselves and submit to the will of our Heavenly Father. His very own Son our Lord Jesus Christ submitted to the will of His Holy Father.  This is really the essence of Lent: to repent and go back to God. Really at the end of the day, we are not in control. This Covid19 does not exempt anyone. Whether you are the president of a country or an ordinary citizen you can get affected. But I truly believe in Romans 8:28 “all things will work for good to those who LOVE the Lord.” So we just have to stay in faith. One day, this too will pass and we can look forward to the Resurrection, Easter Sunday where suffering will end. We will be triumphant because the Lord is our Shepherd!

Prayer

Father God, thank You for allowing us to experience darkness in our lives. To experience suffering so we realize we are not in control. Thank You that You are our God who never fails us, who loves us, and who is very merciful to us. Forgive us our sins and humble ourselves before You. Fill us with Your love and mercy so we can also share this love and mercy to others. Increase our faith and trust in You. All this we pray, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

No Fear

Second Sunday of Lent 08 March 2020
First reading Genesis 12:1-4

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Second reading                                                  2 Timothy 1:8-10

Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Gospel                                                                   Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.

Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Reflection

By Fely C. Santiago

“Rise, and have no fear”

The word “fear” is mentioned in the Bible so many times that you would think it was another name for human being. That’s why in the Bible we also often hear Jesus' greetings of “Peace be with you” and “Do not be afraid”.

Fear is a normal feeling. But when it starts to consume us then it’s something that’s not from God anymore. It’s the weapon of the enemy to keep us away from our focus on God. What is your greatest fear? Is it death? Sickness? Loss of a job? No money? But the most difficult fear to overcome is a free-floating anxiety without known cause. You just worry a lot and always so anxious. I know a lot of people who worry a lot and are always so anxious even with little things. They have a lot of “what-if”.

Pause for now and ask yourself, what are you so anxious about? What are your fears? Why do you fear? Bring that fear to the loving presence of God. Imagine the Lord is sitting beside you. Cry out to him from the depths of your heart for courage. Repeat the words of Jesus “My Father if it is possible, take this cup from me, yet not my will but Yours be done”.

Renew your faith. Recite the Creed to remember that what you fear to lose is less valuable than God himself. God is everything. He is there for you. He never fails you. He never abandons you. And most of all, He loves you unconditionally. His mercy never ends. So rise, have no fear…you are never alone. God is with you always.

Remember the stormy night in Galilee? Jesus manifested a power beyond anything we can comprehend. How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ fearful cries amidst the storm? He told them to have courage. That’s the way Jesus always treats us speaking a word of courage, calming our souls. We may feel that we are alone in the dark, full of our fears but the truth is that God sees us no matter where we are or what we are going through. Just as Jesus walked on the water to come to the disciples, he can come to us and CALM our FEARS.

Prayer

Lord Jesus I am always so afraid. I am full of “what-if”. What if I die, what if I get sick, what if I don’t have money, what if...,what if…Please increase my faith in You. I know You are always there for me to guide me, to protect me, to provide for my needs, to heal me, to love me, to forgive me. You are more than enough for me. That’s all I ask in Your Mighty Name, Amen.

Prepare!

First Sunday of Advent  3 December 2017

First reading

Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1-8

For you are our father,
though Abraham does not know us
and Israel does not acknowledge us;
you, O Lord, are our father;
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
Why, O Lord, do you make us stray from your ways
and harden our heart, so that we do not fear you?
Turn back for the sake of your servants,
for the sake of the tribes that are your heritage.
that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence –
as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil
– to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.

We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
There is no one who calls on your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.

                

Second reading

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge-even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you-so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel

Mark 13:33-37

Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.

Therefore, keep awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Reflection

by Jessa Janelle Padilla

Today is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year, Advent Season.  Advent is from the Latin word advenire, meaning to come to. This is the season where we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Messiah. During this season we prepared an Advent Wreath that has  four candles (three purple and one rose in colors), representing the four weeks of Advent. The Advent Wreath is shaped in a perfect circle to remind us that God is eternal. Today we light one of the purple candles that symbolizes prayer.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples to be watchful and alert. In the driving school, the driving instructor always reminds his students to be watchful and alert every time. The student must be watchful of the road condition, stop lights, road signs, and incoming vehicles. Also, to be alert to step on the break or pull the hand break immediately whenever there is someone or another vehicle that will cross the road unexpectedly. The reminders of the driving instructor are important to keep his student safe when they are no longer under his guidance because no one knows when an accident may happen. 

Also, a security guard or police officer who is in charge to guard an establishment or an area, is instructed by their supervisors to be alert and watchful all the time (24/7) since he/she doesn’t know when a crime might be committed.

These are the circumstances where we can picture out Jesus’ message to us. We must always be watchful and alert all the time, day or night. We must prepare ourselves not just physically but also spiritually because we are not aware when He will come to judge us and grant us our salvation. Oftentimes, we treat the Lord's Coming with fear and worry. The Prophet Isaiah, in the First Reading, acknowledged God as father. Meanwhile, St Paul, in the Second Reading, tells us that God has called into fellowship with Jesus.  If God is our father, if we are in such fellowship with His Only Son, why fear and worry? The best way to prepare is to pray. It alerts the soul to our Father's presence. It keeps it awake on those many moments when He comes when we least expect it.

Prayer

Loving Father, teach us how to become watchful and alert in all circumstances. Teach us to become obedient even when no one sees us. Be our guide all the time and direct our path towards the path You have prepared for us. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Faith, Even When it is Inconvenient

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

25 June 2017

First reading                                                                                               Jeremiah 20:10-13

Jeremiah said:

I hear so many disparaging me,

‘“Terror from every side!”

Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’

All those who used to be my friends

watched for my downfall,

‘Perhaps he will be seduced into error.

Then we will master him

and take our revenge!’

But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero;

my opponents will stumble, mastered,

confounded by their failure;

everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.

But you, O Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice,

who scrutinise the loins and heart,

let me see the vengeance you will take on them,

for I have committed my cause to you.

Sing to the Lord,

praise the Lord,

for he has delivered the soul of the needy

from the hands of evil men.

---

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 68(69):8-10,14,17,33-35

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Second reading                                                                                                          Romans 5:12-15

Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned. Sin existed in the world long before the Law was given. There was no law and so no one could be accused of the sin of ‘law-breaking’, yet death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even though their sin, unlike that of Adam, was not a matter of breaking a law.

  Adam prefigured the One to come, but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift.

Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! The Word was made flesh and lived among us: to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God. Alleluia!

---

Gospel	Matthew 10:26-33

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not be afraid. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.

  ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.

  ‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

Reflection

by Benj Santiago

“Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”

In the early years of Christianity, historical information tells us that a lot of people died because of their Christian faith. In fact all the remaining 11 Apostles except for John, died a martyr’s death. They suffered persecution, and Peter, the leader of the Apostles, even got crucified upside down. Christian martyrs after the apostles abound. The Filipino martyrs Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod were tortured and killed because they were not afraid to die for their faith.

In the present day, there is not so much Christian persecution. We are so blessed that we don’t have to hide in the dark and cower in fear when we attend the Holy Mass and proclaim and celebrate our faith in Christ. We are so fortunate, especially here in the Philippines. But just in case we are to face persecution because of our faith in the present time, can we with boldness and courage proclaim our faith like the martyrs and saints did?  Maybe we could.

However, as I reflect on the Gospel, I am also being challenged in my daily life. Do I proclaim my faith in my work, in my words, in my actions and dealings with other people?  Do I proclaim my faith even when it is inconvenient and disadvantageous for myself?

Prayer

Father in heaven, we thank You for sending us Your Son and all the saints to be our model of faith. We ask You to bless us with the same courage to strongly and boldly proclaim our faith - from the real threat to the littlest things we do in our daily life. This we ask in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Persevere

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 13 November 2016

First reading
Malachi 3:19-20

The day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble. The day that is coming is going to burn them up, says the Lord of Hosts, leaving them neither root nor stalk. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 97(98):5-9

Second reading
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12

You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we ever have our meals at anyone’s table without paying for them; no, we worked night and day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you. This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow.   We gave you a rule when we were with you: do not let anyone have any food if he refuses to do any work. Now we hear that there are some of you who are living in idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else’s. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we order and call on people of this kind to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat.

 

Gospel	Luke 21:5-19

When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.’ And they put to him this question: ‘Master,’ they said ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?’
  ‘Take care not to be deceived,’ he said ‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
  ‘But before all this happens, men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.’

  Reflection
By Carlo Alexis Malaluan  

And so, you will bear testimony to me (Lk 21:13). 

I came across a book entitled “God, Thank You for the Morning”. It was written by a Sister of Charity who helps the ‘nameless, faceless army of forgotten children fighting to survive … in a world where no one loves them’. The true-to-life stories of these children opened my eyes to the bitterness and sufferings endured by people of all ages in this hostile world. Also, it tells the stories of children who are still grateful to God for another morning in their lives. It is true that we are living in a world of pain, of brokenness, of differences and darkness. As we feel trapped in this helpless situation, we can only cry out: God, please stop the pain.

We may find today’s gospel as gloomy and gruesome. Jesus has announced that the Temple, the very center of their religious life would be destroyed. Our Lord warned us of the false prophets, of wars and uprisings, of the upcoming persecutions, of earthquakes, of famines and plagues. But in the midst of all of these, God’s voice constantly reminds us, Do not be terrified. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. 

Our earthly pilgrimage, if I may to compare, is like tilling the soil. God is the farmer, we are but a soil. God breaks the soil in order to plant seeds. God breaks our hearts in order to instil in us the virtues of faith and courage. We may experience difficulties, we may face life’s bitter challenges but in the end, if we persevere, all of these will come to a fruitful finish. 

Now, let us bring this to the extremes, we cannot say that these words of our Lord is just a metaphor rather it is a reality that the world is experiencing. As you are comfortably scrolling through your smartphone or desktop, while reading this reflection, please think of those Christians being killed in Islamic countries. Most of them are children, just like what you have. Most of them are mothers and fathers, just like you are. And they were killed by the sole reason that they are Christians. But Jesus wants his disciples to hold onto their faith and testify to it even to the point of death. He assures them that their enduring fidelity will not go unrewarded. Their testimony for the faith is not forgotten by the God who sees all.

Not all of us need to die in odium fidei (hatred of the faith), life is full of daily martyrdom. The Risen Christ was recognized by His disciples because of His wounds. We can only be recognized as Christians by our wounds, by our wounded hearts who continue to tell the story of Christ. You and I are martyred each day as we face the harsh world, but God tells us, Do not be terrified. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. 

Not of this life, but of the life to come. 

Prayer

Lord, You have told your disciples to bear everything with perseverance. Renew our faith each day, O Lord, as we face the broken world. Remind us constantly that in the face of trials and difficulties, you are there – enduring with us. Our cross is also Yours. Our pain is also Yours. Grant us the grace that by carrying our own crosses, we may testify for You and for Your glory. Amen.

Reassurance and Commissioning

5th Sunday In Ordinary Time 7 February 2016

First reading   Isaiah 6: 1-2, 3-8

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord of Hosts seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary; above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings.
  And they cried out to one another in this way,
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts.
His glory fills the whole earth.’
The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out, and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said:
‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost,
for I am a man of unclean lips
and I live among a people of unclean lips,
and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of Hosts.’
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said:
‘See now, this has touched your lips,
your sin is taken away,
your iniquity is purged.’
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:
‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’
I answered, ‘Here I am, send me.’

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 137:1-5,7-8

               

Second reading                                                          1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.
  Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.
  I am the least of the apostles; in fact, since I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God that is with me, have worked harder than any of the others; but what matters is that I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.

Gospel                                                                       Luke 5:1-11

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
  When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point.
  When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

Sensing the divine in the big catch he had, Simon Peter blurted out to the itinerant preacher, 'Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man' (Lk 5:8).  Surprisingly, Jesus told Peter: 'Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching.' (Lk 5:10). No wagging of fingers. No blaming.  Only reassurance AND commissioning.

Peter did follow Jesus, but there were instances when he failed. On one occasion, Peter stood out as the staunch supporter of the Lord. But in the face of trials, he denied his Master.  We too have those ups and downs in our lives as Christians.

Whenever I think of my sins, I feel so ashamed of myself, so unworthy of serving God and His people. Humbly acknowledging my own sinfulness, I keep on approaching the Lord through prayer, the sacraments, Sacred Scripture, and the community. All alone, I will fail, but with the Merciful Lord I won't! We won't!

In the many moments that we feel inadequate in responding to God's call for us to do a particular vocation or ministry; in the many moments when our sins (or the sins of others) get in the way of our service to the Lord and His people, let us take to heart Jesus' words to Peter: "Do not be afraid". 

Prayer

Merciful Father, You qualify those whom You call.  Thank You for Your trust and confidence in us, poor sinners, unworthy children of Yours. Help us to remain faithful in catching people for You. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen.