Posted by dongdong on June 21, 2009
Our gospel today (Mk. 4:35-41) is a soothing balm to a terrified, anxious spirit.
Jesus and his disciples were on a boat when a violent storm suddenly came. The boat almost sank due to heavy waves. The disciples were terrified. But Jesus was sleeping like a baby. They woke him up and asked him with these words: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” After waking up, the Lord commanded the wind and the sea to be quiet and be still. And so it happened. Then he asked his disciples: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
The Lord’s words are stronger than the wind.
Many times we are like the disciples: terrified and lacking in faith. Why am I having these problems? Why this financial crisis? Why bad things happen to good people? Why this N1H1 virus? Why this illness? Why am I troubled? Why I failed the board exam? Why do the people I trusted turn out to be a disappointment? Why am I poor? Why can’t I get the things I want? Why Lord, it seems you don’t listen to my prayers? Where are you Lord when it hurts? Why, why, why? So many why’s… We may be like the disciples accusing the Lord of not caring that we are perishing. We cry out and blame the Lord when bad things happen to us. We are afraid when the many different storms of life come our way. Then all of a sudden the Lord will just rebuke us: “Quiet! Be still!” Or after such outburst or tantrum, the good Lord will just simply speak to us: “Tumigil ka nga! Tumahimik ka! Just be calm. I am just here. Why be afraid? Have faith.”
When God is with us, who can be against us? Don’t forget this principle in theology that God does not give us problems we cannot solve. God’s grace is sufficient for us. If you have big problems, then rejoice! God loves you that much. Look at Job in our first reading (Job. 38:1, 8-11). It is stated there that God is in control of everything. He is our creator and our master. It is even in our experience that the closer we are to God, the more problems and temptations we have. We have problems because God believes in us. And if we are led into temptations, then rejoice! It only means that we are close to God. The devil no longer tempts those who are one of his kind.
Be not afraid. Have faith! God is with us.
Just last summer I witnessed such a great faith in the midst of a terrible tragedy. One of our seminarians died. His name is Waldemar. He was the magna cum laude of their class. He is supposed to be in Ateneo this semester for his Theological formation. He was once my student. And being the vocation director of our diocese, I even planned of recommending him to pursue his theological studies in Spain. He got nine medals during graduation. He is very brilliant. And not just that, Waldemar was a good man. He was well respected by his fellow seminarians. Every commencement, he is awarded as the seminarian of the year. In short, he is an exceptional seminarian. He is very promising. But how fortune flies. More than a week after graduation, right after Easter Sunday, he died from drowning. There were four who got drowned, but only one died and it was Waldemar. The three who were saved were girls. During summers, our seminarians together with some lay and youth volunteers are immersed in a popular mission to the barrios. It was during that time that Waldemar’s mission team had to take a break and go for a beach outing. But at two in the afternoon, when they were about to leave the beach, Waldemar and the three companions were drowning. The rest of the team managed to rescue the three girls. But Waldermar was nowhere to be found. He was seen only thirty minutes later. He was already dead. Such joy turned out to be tragic. Later in the evening I was there in the hospital before Waldemar’s dead body. It was too painful. It seemed all dreams were vanished. We waited for the parents to arrive. They lived from the other side of Bohol so it would take time to travel. What could be the parents reaction? I could not imagine the pain in their hearts. And so they arrived. The father was very calm but the mother and the sister of Waldemar were terribly crying. And what was amazing about the parents: there was no single word questioning God for what happened. The mother only said, “Anak, God has another plan for you. Maybe better than our plans.” And what a faith. Such a great one.
I also believe that Waldemar is in heaven now. Just last month, I learned that the parents went to the place of the three girls. They wanted to know what really happened. The three survivors said that Kuya Waldemar saved their lives. And what a sacrifice. He died for others to live. Waldemar is a worthy Christian because he comes from a family of deep faith.
God is with us. There is nothing to worry. Be not afraid. Have faith. Just trust him and everything will just be fine. God is in control. Just let go and let God. Don’t forget, as the song goes, that God will find a way when there seems to be no way. And if we believe, like Jesus on that boat, we can sleep like a baby.
Posted by dongdong on June 14, 2009
I. When priests have fallen, what should be our reaction? One of condemnation or one of compassion?
The gospel says, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Mt. 7:1). Henceforth our attitude towards fallen priests should be one of compassion.
On behalf of the fallen priests, maybe we can recite this line from the consecration prayer to the Sacred Heart:
“I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee.”
II. Priests are sinners like all the rest. But what is special about them? God has anointed them. So even if they are fallen, they remain special in God’s eyes.
Remember the story about Cain? God punished him for killing his brother. It was too great a punishment for Cain. But God felt sorry for him. God placed a mark on Cain’s body to signify that he was on God’s protection. Hence no one could harm Cain (see Gen. 4: 1-6).
Whenever there are fallen priests, we don’t have the right to judge them. We should instead pray for them. God’s mark is with them. The priesthood is indelible. Its mark is forever. Let God be the judge of fallen priests.
III. The distinction between ex opere operato and ex opere operantis.
Even with fallen or sinner priests, the sacraments presided over by them are still valid. The grace conferred does not depend on the priest. Grace comes from the sacrament itself. This is the principle ex opere operato, literally means “from the work performed.” Ex opere operantis means that because the priest performing the sacrament is not in the state of grace, he receives a little grace or none at all. One’s good disposition is needed also for the grace to be received. If a person with a contrite heart confesses his sins to a sinful priest, then he gets the grace of forgiveness. But if that person is not in good disposition, even if he confesses to a saintly priest, still he gets little forgiveness or none at all.
We pray for our fallen priests. We pray that God will grant them the grace of repentance. This we ask through the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Posted by dongdong on
I. Introduction:
Three salient points from our theme here: 1) The Sacred Heart, 2) the priestly task in the proclamation of the gospel, and finally 3) bringing God in today’s world.
The following points will be considered below.
II. The Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart as the fountain of love and mercy is and will always be flowing for all generations. The Epistle to the Hebrews goes, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8).
The love of God is always relevant. It is always significant. God is always the Emmanuel- the God who is with us. Constantly through the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we can always avail of the richness of God’s love and mercy. It is only a matter of our openness to Him.
How open are we to the Sacred Heart? Do we unceasingly ask for his forgiveness?
III. The Priestly Task in Proclaiming the Gospel
The First Letter to the Corinthians puts it “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for this obligation has been entrusted to me. How terrible it would be for me if I didn’t preach the gospel!” (9:16)
The proclamation of the gospel is the task of the priests. The core of the gospel is love. The priests then have to proclaim this love. But in proclaiming the heart of the priests should be patterned after the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In a word, they are witnesses of God’s love and mercy. Through their lives they will make others turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
IV. Bringing God in Today’s World
The priests proclaim God in today’s world. There is a kind of urgency in doing this. The world is fast changing. We live in a secularized and globalized world. The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church “Lumen Gentium” (1) declares:
“Christ is the Light of nations. Because this is so, this Sacred Synod gathered together in the Holy Spirit eagerly desires, by proclaiming the Gospel to every creature, to bring the light of Christ to all men, a light brightly visible on the countenance of the Church. Since the Church is in Christ like a sacrament or as a sign and instrument both of a very closely knit union with God and of the unity of the whole human race, it desires now to unfold more fully to the faithful of the Church and to the whole world its own inner nature and universal mission. This it intends to do following faithfully the teaching of previous councils. The present-day conditions of the world add greater urgency to this work of the Church so that all men, joined more closely today by various social, technical and cultural ties, might also attain fuller unity in Christ.”
The priests should bring God to our world today. They must do it with love and mercy, until the day when all people have turned to Christ – to His Sacred Heart.
Pray for your priests! Pray that they will fulfill their mission faithfully until the end.
Posted by dongdong on June 13, 2009
I tell you a story about Richelle. She is an 18-year old girl who comes from my hometown. She is close to our family because my papa is her ”ninong” when she was baptized. Her elder sister was also my classmate way back my elementary years. Papa and Richelle’s father are bestfriends. Usually when there are fiestas, papa and Richelle’s father never miss to attend. They love eating and drinking. Whenever there are occasions they go from one barrio to another. They are like politicians. Until one day Richelle’s father was diagnosed with a Renal Disease. He had to undergo a regular dialysis. And he is doing this treatment to this day.
But how misfortune flies further. A year ago Richelle was diagnosed with an End Stage Renal Disease. Twice a week she undergoes a dialysis. Actually the dialysis is supposed to be three times a week. But as a compromise, since two of them in the family, Richelle has it twice a week and the father thrice. Richelle has to pay P32, 000.00 a month. I don’t know with the father. I presume they have sponsors for that. It’s a pity situation.
But Richelle is a symbol of courage and hope. One day she told me of her wish to pursue a college degree. She wanted to enroll in a University where after graduation she could easily land a job. She thought of the University of San Carlos in Cebu. Since nowhere else to go, she asked me if I could support her financially. Since I am also pursuing my studies without any scholarship, I don’t have the capacity to grant her request. All I could do was to promise her of looking for a grant to support her. On her behalf, just two weeks ago, I humbly asked the president of the University of San Carlos and the German provincial of the SVDs of the possibility of having Richelle as a university scholar. With a little luck, they recommended me to the priest-in-charge of the university scholarship grants. Richelle could enrol while the University would look for sponsor. She is also smart. To make sure that she could be accepted, she already took up the entrance examination of the University. She was accepted for the degree program of BSBA major in Marketing in the first semester of the Academic Year 2009-2010. The German SVD provincial said that he was touched by Richelle’s story.
Now Richelle is in school. I really admire her. Send a Soul to School is giving her one thousand every month for her additional allowance. Her willingness to pursue a college degree despite her situation is worth emulating. She is too young for a dialysis. I asked her doctor if it is okey for her to go to school. The doctor told me that it is alright as long as she is faithful to her dialysis. She even told me that Richelle is too ambitious because she even wanted to be a lawyer someday.
Here is a young girl who is practically prolonging her life through dialysis, but unaffected. She is showing us great strength. She is bringing us hope in the midst of a miserable condition. What a young girl! She is sick, maybe dying. But she lives her life as if it will be a century. God bless her!
Posted by dongdong on May 11, 2009
In today’s gospel our Lord reminds us saying, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).
A branch, apart from the vine, withers and dies. Like us, apart from Christ, we wither and die; we bear no fruit. For without him, we can do nothing. The opposite is true: with Christ, we can do all things. Towards the end of today’s gospel our Lord says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you” (v. 7). It will be done for us in his name. That is why we end our prayers this way: “grant this through Christ our Lord, Amen.”
In Jesus’ name. How does this gospel message affect our daily lives? In Jesus’ name we can do everything. If I am a student, in Jesus’ name, I study hard; then I get good grades and a bright future waiting ahead. If I am a teacher, in Jesus’ name, I prepare my lessons well; then my students become better. If I am a vendor, in Jesus’ name, I do not cheat my customers; and because I am honest I can attract more customers. If I am a policeman, in Jesus’ name, I do not accept any bribe whenever I catch any traffic violators; with that there is more order in the street. If I am an ordinary employee with no big salary, in Jesus’ name, I work hard without any complaints; then I get promoted. If I am an employer, in Jesus’ name, I make sure that I give due salary and benefits to my workers; then I gain their respect and trust. If I am a family man, in Jesus’ name, I do not go to cockpits on Sundays but instead spend my precious time with my wife and children; then my family becomes more loving. If I am a politician, in Jesus’ name, I honestly do my task entrusted to me by the people; then I get reelected without buying their votes. When passing by a street I see a litter, in Jesus’ name, I pick it up and drop it in a garbage can; then I help in saving the environment. If I am a jeepney driver, in Jesus’ name, I give way for other vehicles to pass through; then there is no traffic in the streets.
In Jesus’ name. If in everything we do, we do it in his name, then what a world we have. The small things we do, if done in his name, mean a lot. And all things are possible if done in his name.
How do we know if we are living in Jesus’ name? The first and the second readings of today’s liturgy provide us the answer.
First, we are at peace. The first reading mentions that the early Christians are living in peace (Acts 9:31). With peace there is progress. Accordingly, the early Christian communities grow in numbers (ibid). No peace, no progress. With peace comes prosperity. Now what about us? Are we at peace? If not, then we are not living in Jesus’ name.
Second, we walk in the fear of the Lord. If we are not afraid of God, then we are not living in Jesus’ name. The book of Proverbs goes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (9:10). A person who is wise does what is right. A wise man is indeed a virtuous man.
Third, we are comforted by the Holy Spirit. In our lives there is joy, consolation and satisfaction. If otherwise, then we are not living in Jesus’ name.
Finally, we “love not only in word or speech but in deed and truth” (1 Jn. 3:18). In loving God, we love our neighbors as ourselves. In Jesus’ name, we can love even our enemies. In Jesus’ name, we can easily forgive the faults of others. Only in keeping this commandment of love that we remain in his name.
Then we truly become his disciples. And in Jesus’ name, we glorify the Father. In his name, we bear much fruit.
Posted by dongdong on April 29, 2009
Christian life is a process. It is a journey towards maturity - maturity of faith. Today’s gospel (Lk. 24:35-48) presents to us interrelated steps towards a matured Christian life: believing, understanding, and being converted.
Appearing to his confused and troubled disciples, the risen Lord assures them that he is real - of flesh and bones. He even asks for something to eat, as if to show further that he is truly alive. The Lord wants his disciples to believe that he is alive. Believing is the beginning of a Christian life. That is why in the Apostles’ Creed we say, “I believe in God the Father Almighty… I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord… I believe in the Holy Spirit…” Before the priest baptizes a child, he first has to ask the community for a profession of faith. Indeed believing is a prerequisite for baptism.
We say “I believe” because we don’t know. In the Creed, it is not ”I know God… I know Jesus Christ… I know the Holy Spirit…” but ”I believe…” Believing and knowing are two different things. We believe because we don’t know. We believe because something exceeds our grasp. In seeing the Lord, the disciples were startled and terrified. They thought Jesus was a ghost. The resurrection was beyond their grasp. But the Lord took away their unbelief.
We must believe first that God exists, that Christ really resurrected from the dead. Without belief, Christianity makes no sense to someone. A word of warning: never argue about God with someone who, in the first place, does not believe in God. It is just a waste of time. For someone who believes in God, explanation is not necessary; but for someone who does not believe in God, no explanation is possible. Never argue with an atheist.
Believing, as I have said above, is an important requirement of a Christian life. But the next question follows. Is it enough? The sacrament of baptism makes us Christians. But does it make us matured immediately? After showing that he is truly alive, the Lord explains to his disciples everything that has been written about him in the Scriptures. Then they begin to understand. Their minds become open. Hence the next step after believing is understanding. One must believe in order to understand. In theology we call this “faith seeking understanding.”
For our Christian life to become matured, we must study our faith. We must read the Scriptures. It is so painful that most of us Catholics do not read the Bible. We are not like our Protestant brothers and sisters. The Bible is so dear to them. Many of us Catholics do not even have Bibles in the house. And if we have we just put them in the shelf to become dusty. And if we read the Bible we don’t easily put it’s message into practice. A sort of warning here: reading the Bible is not easy. We must be guided by the teaching authority of the Catholic Church - the Magisterium. We must consult commentaries, like the St. Jerome Biblical Commentary. We cannot interpret it subjectively. Remember that Jesus explains the Scriptures to his disciples. We must listen to the experts. We must read it prayerfully for in the end it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us.
I think in our country, many of us do not understand our faith. We do not even know the basic of our faith. One obvious reason is that in the parishes, we don’t give due priority to educating and evangelizing the faithful. There is less funding for that. Our catechists are not well trained, not to mention the unjust salary they receive. Educating and evangelizing our faithful should be our primary priority. Too bad that many parishes just focus more time and energy on structures - on buildings and on creating beautiful rectories. I am not saying that it is bad. I am only saying that it should only be a secondary priority. Priests do not achieve much if what they build are only convents and Church buildings but never the people of God. If the faithful remain ignorant of their faith then the priests have failed.
The truth of our Christian faith needs explanations. We must labor hard to doing this. The more we explain the more the faith is understood. The more the faithful understand the more they grow in Christian maturity. I am afraid that in our country, though most of us are Catholics, our Christian faith is very shallow due to lack of understanding. Without understanding, there is no conversion [ maybe there is but no depths]. And this is the third step towards Christian maturity - being converted.
The second reading (1 Jn 2:1-5a) mentions that a person who claims to know God but does not keep His commandments is a liar. The Chinese saying is true: to know and not to do is not to know at all. Understanding our faith brings us towards doing it. And again, I am afraid that many of us in this country are liars. Look at most of our leaders, they are liars. We are proud that we are the only Catholic country in Asia, but to our shame, we are considered also as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. What a shame! A slap to our faces. And who are we? Christians. Catholics at that. If Gandhi is only alive then he will tell it straight to our faces: “I like Christ but I hate you Christians.”
But it is not yet too late. We can always change. God’s forgiveness is unconditional. If only we repent. If only we change our ways. If only we become true witnesses of the Gospel.