Do you allow yourself to be molded and shaped by God through your sufferings and trials, as well as through your joys and victories? - Daily Reflections November 30,2014

THE CLAY AND THE POTTER

 

I’ve joined some guided tours in various countries. Part of such tours is always a visit to some factory where they produce handcrafted goods. But there were times I enjoyed such a visit somewhere in France, and another one closer to home in Quezon Province, where they do potteries and ceramics.

    I liked their finished products. But I liked more the process that produced everything on display that were all temptingly beautiful. But in this age of limited baggages at airlines all over the world, one’s decision making has become less difficult. Just don’t add more weight. Period.

       This past week, everything we reflected on seemed to gradually build up to today, the first Sunday of Advent. We talked about endings as much as beginnings — the end times, the final judgment, the Second Coming. Yesterday, we even talked about night being no more, fading into the background, where the light of Christ’s coming comes to the fore.

       Watching the potters’ expert hands mold the once-ugly and dirty clay into something beautiful comes to mind as we begin Advent in earnest. We are worse off than clay, according to Isaiah. We are “sinful; all of us have become like unclean people; all our good deeds are like polluted rags.”

       But the Divine Potter chose to lift us up from the muck, selected us from the mire, on no merit of our own, to make of us something beautiful for Him and for others. But unlike sculpture, where the artist takes away by chipping slowly until the desired shape is achieved, we are not chipped off. We are molded and shaped and enriched until we become what the potter envisioned. How about thanking God today, “for the grace God bestowed on [us] in Christ Jesus, that in him [we] were enriched in every way … so that [we] are not lacking in any spiritual gift?”

       Time now to stop being mere clay. Time now to be molded by the Potter. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you allow yourself to be molded and shaped by God through your sufferings and trials, as well as through your joys and victories?

 

Thank You, Lord, that You do not throw me away when I displease You. Thank You for patiently shaping me and molding me according to Your design for my life.

How do you appreciate the light in your life — those times when you can say, “All is well”? And what do you do when you are in the dark? - Daily Reflections November 29,2014

NIGHT WILL BE NO MORE!

 

There was a time in my life when no power lit up our home. It was some kind of an “in-between time” when our family was discerning whether to stay in the city for good or go back to simple life in the boonies. With just one ancient generator to light up our small and sleepy town, getting a connection to erratic and eternally fluctuating current took ages to complete.

       And so we had very long nights and very short days. When darkness set in, we could only get things done by the light of flickering sooty lanterns. There was not much else to do but sleep the night off. With the first crows of the rooster and the barking of the dogs at dawn, we were wide awake, but unable to move up and about until the first streaks of light appeared.

         The first rays were more than just a thrill. They were a call to life — a life that suddenly gets a fresh lease of energy and excitement at the coming of light. Oh, how we pined for that light and how we longed for the night to end. For us, darkness meant rest and respite from more than just toil. It was a time to dream, but not to do; a time to wonder, but not to wander. It was a time to reset one’s journeys, but not to restart one’s engines. It was fallow time that conjured up images of some kind of temporary death — or natural disability.

         This is why the Easter Vigil blessing of the new fire probably means a whole lot more to me than for those who grew up awash in light. In my life, I have experienced other forms of darkness. In my lowest moments, when dark seemed like the endless dark nights of yore, I pined for the dawn, like the watchman waits for daybreak.

       Today, I celebrate one of my favorite passages of Scripture. It consoles me as much as it convinces me that everything has an end, including long nights of desolation and darkness. It is a message of consolation and of hope, for me and for you: “Night will be no more …” “Behold, I am coming soon!” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How do you appreciate the light in your life — those times when you can say, “All is well”? And what do you do when you are in the dark?

 

Teach me, Lord, to appreciate both the dark and the light, for they have reasons for being.

 

What does “a new heaven and a new earth” mean to you in your life right now? - Daily Reflections November 28,2014

A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

 

My childhood memories are full of images of the goodness of Mother Nature. I remember going out at dawn after a stormy night to gather delicious mushrooms. I recall rushing home when cicadas would signal that dusk is nigh. Dragonflies would swarm predictably at certain times of the year, and birds of different colors and shapes would regale us with their songs just outside the window of our wooden house.

       The best though was what elders then called “agua de Mayo,” or the first rains of May. While we were ordinarily discouraged from bathing in the rain, the first rains of May were different. It was believed to be beneficial for both body and soul.

       Heaven and earth, for us then, formed just one simple reality. Graces from above spelled copious blessings, too, from below. Rains from the sky brought new life to the earth below that, in turn, produced crisp fresh greens, and the rhythm of night and day, dark and light, only meant that blessings and graces appeared in different forms at different times. And so it was in our earth-inspired, simple theology and spirituality.

       I long for those simple days of abandon and abundance. We children were carefree, and adults who labored each day in the fields were not unduly worried about anything. Stress was a word that never crossed our minds. But while I still look back with joy at those carefree days, I now look forward to an infinitely better version of our own “heaven and earth” with faith and hope. This is what my Catholic faith tells me. This is what the passage from the Book of Revelation assures me of. Something better is coming for those who believe — something greater and more glorious — something that you and I can work for together.

       I wait for it in hope. I work for it in the same spirit of faith and love, and I know that we, who are engaged in this world but with eyes fixed on heaven, really await the coming of something new — new not in substance, but in quality: a new heaven and a new earth! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What does “a new heaven and a new earth” mean to you in your life right now?

 

Teach me, Lord, to never settle for the things of this world, but to await the fulfillment of Your promises.

How do you regard your unfulfilled dreams? - Daily Reflections November 25,2014

TURN, TURN, TURN

 

The 60’s singing group, The Byrds, popularized something that both the Old and the New Testaments taught, as indeed, taught by the passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “There is a season for everything under heavens.”

       One thing about getting older is that one can look back realistically and see past events for what they were, not for what one wanted them to be. Being young has it advantages definitely, but seeing things in future realistically may not be one of them. One can dream of big things, but what one conjures up in dreams and desires may or may not come true for you and me.

       God knows how many plans I have made, how many projects I started, and how many worthy and unworthy dreams I have conceived, and not everything ended up as what the world calls “success.” In retrospect, not everything was meant to be.

       But Stephen Covey, more than two decades ago, taught us to look realistically at something that is not yet but still to come. “Begin with the end in mind,” he counseled. Start out, not with whimsical dreams, but with a long, hard look at how everything will end up eventually, sooner or later.

       This, in essence, is what today’s readings remind us of — that there is an end to the world and the realm of worldly time as we know them. The readings help us set our sights on the “end” – the reality of the final judgment at the Second Coming of the Lord, at the end of time. This is something that has always been part of the whole teaching of the Church since the beginning (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1040).

       The past is over and done with, and there is not much we can do about it except accept it. The future is yet unfolding, and while we rightfully think we can do a lot about its outcome, the one certainty that we all would do well to remember is what the liturgy throughout this week reminds us of.

       The time to reap will come! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you regard your unfulfilled dreams?

 

Let me trust in Your ways, Lord — now and for always.

How do you keep your “holy longing” for God alive in your heart? - Daily Reflections November 24,2014

A PEOPLE THAT LONGS TO SEE GOD’S FACE

 

Back in the day, people formed fans’ clubs and would organize annual conventions to extol the virtues of their favorite movie star. Nowadays, they form cyber groups, like Facebook fan pages that are no longer for movie stars, but simply showbiz or public personalities. Behind such groups is basically a longing to be identified with the celebrity in question, a desire to belong to his or her company, and definitely a wish to always be within the shadow of whoever it is they adulate.

       It almost sounds like we have a similar fans’ club in the First Reading — a horde of 144,000 (read: countless!) — who, it is said, “follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” This crowd, however, did not sign up, sign in or log on to a dedicated website. They do not belong to an exclusive, private and secret group, who were conscripted against their will, just to belong to some kind of mutual admiration club.

       While the fan clubs we now know have to do with people who might be really focused on their need to belong and to be identified with a celebrity, those who “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” became followers not because they desired to belong, but on account of the fact that they “were washed by the blood of the Lamb.” They were redeemed, saved, “ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb.”

       You and I, by God’s singular grace and gift, can hope to be counted among the innumerable throngs mentioned above. We did not choose God — no, He chose us and saved us, and considered us His very own.

       Our task remains to keep this “holy longing” for God and His promises alive in our hearts. It is easy to lose sight of the goal. We can fall along the way, as we have done repeatedly, and be waylaid by other desires that have nothing to do with God.

       “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.” We are filled with that “holy longing” to one day be counted among them. Never allow us to exchange You for the lesser gods the world offers! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you keep your “holy longing” for God alive in your heart?

 

Enkindle in me the fire of Your love, Lord.

 

Are you shepherding rightly the people God has put under your care? - Daily Reflections November 23,2014

SHEPHERDING RIGHTLY

 

Today’s feast is reminiscent of the first part of the Palm Sunday liturgy. The crowds welcomed the Lord excitedly. Today, we gather to acclaim Him as King of the universe, as Lord of all Lords, and as the fulfillment of the promised Kingdom of our father David.

       But this kingship and His kingdom have nothing to do with pomposity and power, but about humble service and solicitude: seeking out the lost, bringing back the strayed, binding up the injured, healing the sick — what He, too, is calling us to do, to shepherd His people rightly.

       How did He do all this? St. Paul speaks in terms of “destroying every sovereignty and every authority and power,” along with “putting all his enemies under his feet.” The high point of this victorious feat is about destroying the last enemy, which is death.

       The Gospel passage from Matthew offers us a passing glimpse of the glory associated with the Son of Man. But all three readings say precious little of the glories that are due to Him. Instead, they devote many more words to what the glorious Son of Man will do at the end of time. He will “separate the sheep from the goats.” But what criteria will the King use? This is where things get really interesting. We will all be judged on the basis of whether we have shepherded others rightly or not. Right shepherding has to do with loving care and solicitude for others, like what Ezekiel told us: feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting the imprisoned.

       Honoring the King does not end with joining a procession and acclaiming His glories at Mass. They are important, but authentic devotion has to pave the way to humble service and solicitude for others. This, the Lord did, as can be gleaned from the readings.

       Today, let us honor Christ the King by resolving to become exactly like Him who did His Kingly role by shepherding others rightly. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you shepherding rightly the people God has put under your care?

 

Form me into a good shepherd, Lord. May my heart be as compassionate as Yours.

ARE YOU A SADDUCEAN OR A SINCERE SEEKER? - Daily Reflections November 22,2014

ARE YOU A SADDUCEAN OR A SINCERE SEEKER?

 

We ought to give it to the Sadducees for being so creative in conjuring up an imaginary situation that almost surely would never happen in real life. But they had an overwhelming desire to put down someone who was getting too popular for comfort.

       It was a carefully laid out trap. No matter how implausible, it nevertheless drove home their desired point —that such a situation would

render the belief in the resurrection of the dead almost laughable or absurd.

       The Lord knew better than to glorify the question that was meant, not so much to seek for answers, as to embarrass. At the end, the Lord turned the tables against them and even made the teaching about the resurrection sink deeper into everyone’s consciousness. In the afterlife, He says, the conditions will be different from the earthly conditions and relationships will no longer be governed by earthly criteria.

       Nowadays, social media is awash in such Sadducean seekers, not of the truth, but simply their own brand of truth. They tend to saturate cyberspace and they seem more active and engaged than the typical cradle Catholic.

       Whatever the Sadducees wanted to accomplish, they sure remind us all about the need for us so-called “believers” to really know what it is we believe in and, more than just that, to know how to get that “belief system” across to others. Their zeal at getting others to their side is just matched by the “disengaged” attitude of most cradle Catholics who simply take their beliefs for granted or who are at a loss as to how to pass them on to others.

       Last year, the Year of Faith, the issue of disengaged Catholics was  supposed to take center stage. Today, ironically, it is the Sadducees who, once again, take us to task and remind us that the time to be seriously engaged is now, for it is precisely now that the world seriously lacks faith formation — the kind that is strong and stable enough to engage a confused and confusing world. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How well do you know your “belief system”? Can you confidently pass it on to others?

 

Help me to treasure my faith, Lord, and share it with others, especially the people that You bring to my side.

Lord, grant me a heart that includes — not excludes — the unchurched and the disengaged - Daily Reflections November 21,2014

A HOUSE OF PRAYER, NO LESS!

 

Life now is almost like a perpetual balancing act. There is the need to safeguard the sacred nature of the place of worship — the physical church — and the corresponding need to uphold solemnity and proper liturgical decorum of both the clergy and the laity. But at the same time, there is the need for our places of worship to be as welcoming as possible in order to attract those who are not among the so-called “dynamic Catholics” but who are disengaged, not totally unchurched, but not quite involved either.

       The need to make the liturgy alive, appealing and attractive to these “seasonal Catholics” can take the focus away from being “prim and proper” (read: orthodox and solemn) in the way we celebrate liturgy. Move too far toward the popular and the mundane and one offends the sensibilities of those who have decided to stay on the side of the solemn and the sublime.

       Whatever position we are in, there is no doubt that there have been abuses and excesses on both sides. Somewhere in between the two extremes lies the golden mean, that which does not leave a bitter aftertaste and produces rancor even among those who claim to be staunch Catholics.

       The two camps who differ in style and approach, I would like to think, are really one in their aim and goal — the very same goal that led the Lord to take up the cudgels for God and proceed to drive out the sellers in the temple. Those who want the liturgy to be chic and popular, on the one hand, and those who insist on solemnity and seriousness, on the other, really have evangelization in mind, to draw people to the Church, not away from it.

       There is a point, however, when even evangelizers need to draw the line. There is a point, too, when talk about God’s will, that tastes sweet initially, turns out to be sour in the belly when opposition begins to take shape.

       The Lord must have faced stiff opposition from those who turned the temple into a cathedral of commerce. “My house shall be a house of prayer!” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How welcoming are you to the unchurched?

 

Lord, grant me a heart that includes — not excludes — the unchurched and the disengaged.

 

May my life’s witness draw them closer to You.

When did you last cry? What were the tears for? - Daily Reflections November 20,2014

BITTER TEARS, NOT!

 

I am definitely what those who really know me say that I am — a cry baby. My tear ducts are shallow and, when touched, my tears flow readily and copiously. That was what happened when early last year, I saw the cinematic version of the musical Les Miserables. But a similar thing happened when I saw the live coverage of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI taking leave of the Vatican on February 28, 2013. It was pretty much the same when, at 2 a.m., Manila time of March 14 last year, the white smoke almost suddenly changed the mood of the vast throngs that waited patiently for the election of the new pope.

       Today’s Gospel is not exactly my favorite passage, but it is definitely one that resonates with me and one that I feel so at home in. I don’t have to ask why the Lord cried (the word in Greek is even stronger!). I am not bothered by my own tears and definitely not those of other people. I just take them as they are — expressions of deep feelings — and feelings are what make us human to the core. I am consoled that my Lord and my God, being truly human, is one who is like me in all things, except sin.

       But truth to tell, my feelings, though not wrong in themselves, can be shallow. Being a counselor, I know that they can be “projections” onto others of my inner state or my unresolved issues. They stand for me and for my own selfish needs, possibly unmet, which then are tantamount to “losses,” that I feel compelled from within to grieve over.

       There is nothing selfish and self-serving, though, in Jesus’ tears. They all have to do with selfless love — for the city and its people — on account of the impending doom that would befall them. There is nothing there but compassion for a people who would come to grief, all because they missed the “time of their visitation.” They were tears — not of blame, not of bitter disappointment, but of love.

       I feel good not because the Lord cries, too, but because He cries for love of me and you. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: When did you last cry? What were the tears for?

 

Lord, thank You for showing us Your humanity. It gives me hope that I can overcome my sinful tendencies and become more like You.

How are you using your God-given talents in advancing the Kingdom of God? - Daily Reflections November 19,2014

INVESTING OR IGNORING?

 

The Lord was drawing near Jerusalem. The city was abuzz with the quickly spreading news. The King was drawing nigh, and both  excitement and its opposite were on the rise. There were those who welcomed the news, as they showed on the day of his triumphant entry to the holy city by spreading their cloaks and waving their palm fronds.

       But not everyone was happy — then and now. We see the likes of them everywhere. Haters and naysayers abound, and despite the Wonder Worker’s fame and popularity, not everyone was impressed. Even now, there are people who reject Him who came “in the name of the Lord.”

       Those who accept Him put what they receive to work. They invest the capital from the Lord and make it grow and produce more. Matthew Kelly calls them “dynamic Catholics.” They are highly engaged and are deeply involved in advancing the cause of the Church, by investing their time, talent and treasure for God and His dream for the world. They are actively engaged in the work of evangelization, the exact antithesis of those who actively negate what the Church does and see nothing but negativity or accord nothing good to the Church and all She does for the world.

       There are, however, those who may not fit the category of haters and naysayers, but who do not welcome all the same the coming of the King. They do this in a variety of ways, including simply not doing anything, not cooperating, not supporting, or not putting to work the capital given. “Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.”

       Dynamic Catholics are those who are engaged actively in building up the Church. Haters and naysayers are those who are passionately involved in discrediting her. But there, too, are those who quietly and simply do not do anything other than hoard what they have freely been given.

       Which category do you belong to? Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How are you using your God-given talents in advancing the Kingdom of God?

 

Thank You for the gifts You have given me, Lord. May I learn to use them for Your greater glory.

 

When was the last time you did the utmost for His Highest? - Daily Reflections November 18,2014

UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST!

 

The trip to Jericho is still true for today’s tourists and pilgrims in the Holy Land. One feature of that trip is the sight of an old, big sycamore tree.

       Zacchaeus was a small man, but he had huge assets as a chief tax collector. But more than this, Zacchaeus sure knew how to add more than just a few inches to his low stature. He clambered up one of those trees to catch a glimpse of the Lord who was passing by.

       Those of you who have been there would know that it is not easy to climb up a tree with such a massive trunk. Presumably, Zacchaeus was able to do so with a little help from friends. After all, what were a few shekels for, if they could buy you a willing shoulder or two to step on as you move up higher, literally heads and shoulders above the rest of the crowds?

       But I do not intend to bash Zacchaeus today. In fact, I intend to honor him and offer him as an example for you and me. At the very least, Zacchaeus was a man who looked actively for the Lord and did everything to achieve his dream. I really couldn’t care less how he did it, whom he used, and whose shoulders he turned into a makeshift stirrup.

       But I do admire the man’s curiosity and deep interest to see the Lord, even from a distance. His desire was laudable, and his commitment and dedication to do whatever it took to catch a glimpse of the Lord even commendable.

       We all have pious thoughts and desires. We come up with resolutions each time we celebrate Holy Week or Christmas, or even New Year. But often we lack resolve. Resolutions go the way of most political promises during campaign periods. We lose sight of them and we end up exactly the way we were.

       We should give credit to Zacchaeus for showing an efficacious desire that was translated into concrete actions. He did all he could and used whatever he had just to see the Lord. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: When was the last time you did the utmost for His Highest?

 

Grant me a resolute heart, O Lord, to do my best to live as a real Christian every day.

 

Do you have a tendency to twist the arm of God when you pray for something you desire badly? - Daily Reflections November 17,2014

PRAYER OF FAITH

 

Beggars and vendors at times can be annoying, I must confess. Let me explain before you judge and condemn me. They are annoying, not because they are beggars or are ambulant vendors. They can be obnoxious when they demand, when they call your attention by holding your hand, tugging your shirt, or tapping your shoulder, following you wherever you go, and badgering you until you capitulate. Ambulant vendors could also make you feel sorry for yourself, especially when they shove their wares almost at the tip of your nose, forcing you to buy something you don’t want or need.

       Time and again, however, I run into well-mannered kids who move me into buying their goods even if I have no need for them. And I meet up with vendors who almost make me feel guilty for not even noticing them.

       Why is this, you might ask? One simple reason: They have enough self-respect and dignity to treat their potential buyers with the same respect they have for themselves. They know how to treat people with respect, and that attitude simply shows in their overall behavior. They do not refer to you perfunctorily as Mister, Missus, Ma’am, Sir, Kuya or Ate, all uttered with hardly a tone of deference, but done as part of their daily routine.

       Today’s beggar must have caught the attention of the Lord precisely because he was not the typical beggar who would almost twist your arm to get what he wants. His plea was not just a selfish demand. His petition was really, first and foremost, a prayer of faith. He called the Lord by His name and acknowledged Him for who He was, the promised “Son of David.”

       The people, whom the blind man asked upon hearing the commotion of the crowds, were not as personal. The best answer they could come up with was “Jesus of Nazareth.” There was nothing warm and intimate between Jesus of Nazareth and the crowds who probably followed Him only out of curiosity.

       The blind man, however, showed more than just human warmth and esteem for the Lord. His was a prayer of faith, no less! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you have a tendency to twist the arm of God when you pray for something you desire badly?

 

May I learn to trust that You only want what’s best for me, Lord, every time I pray to You.

Help me, Lord, to invest my time and effort in developing the right virtues, the ones that would lead me to You - Daily Reflections November 16,2014

DECEPTIVE CHARM, FLEETING BEAUTY

 

Some years back, one of the popular posts that made the rounds of cyberspace had to do with the 45th anniversary of the movie, The Sound of Music, and the “reunion” of all those who were principally involved in it. I was one of those captivated by the “then-and-now family picture” of the Von Trapp family with their governess. It instantly brought back happy memories, for I come from the same generation.

       How blessed, indeed, was the Von Trapp family for having such a capable governess. How cute and cuddly everyone looked then, and how far different they look now, 45-plus years hence.

       The First Reading today almost sounds like a recipe for charm and beauty, not just for women but for everyone: man, woman or child. The worthy man, woman or child, according to the Book of Proverbs, brings good, not evil. He or she works with loving hands. He or she reaches out to the poor, and extends his or her arms to the needy.

       But the very same passage from Proverbs goes beyond merely enumerating virtues that would make anyone worthy or blessed. It tells us what it all points to — the foundational virtue that stands at the bottom of it all — the fear of the Lord!

       The charm and beauty that once belonged to the governess and the Von Trapp children, obviously, are no longer there. But why did the whole world get so excited about the aging mainstays of The Sound of Music?

       I would like to hazard a guess. They all portrayed something that never wanes, never goes out of fashion, and never dies. They all collectively portrayed human values galore, goodness of character, and greatness of personality associated with simply being the best that one is called to be. Charm may be deceptive and beauty fleeting, but never the fear of the Lord!

       Maybe it’s time for us to invest rightly and in the right stuff. By starting with the fear of the Lord, one can never go far wrong. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Which of the virtues in the First Reading today do you possess or would want to possess?

 

Help me, Lord, to invest my time and effort in developing the right virtues, the ones that would lead me to You

Does the way you live speak of your belief in the resurrection? Or do you embrace and live the saying, “Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die”? - Daily Reflections November 14,2014

WE LIVE AND DIE IN THE TRUTH OF THE

RESURRECTION

 

Jesus talks about the days when the Son of Man is revealed. He was referring to Himself coming back to render judgment. Jesus mentioned two important signs. First, just like during the days of Noah and Lot, the people were busy with worldly and sinful things. The situation was so ripe for redemption and God immediately took action to save them. Second, that day will be so swift that one does not even have the time to go down from the roof or go home from working in the field. That was the mistake of Lot’s wife, who looked back at Sodom, thereby disobeying the strict orders of the angels. Lot’s wife was transformed into a pillar of salt.

       Jesus talked about His Second Coming many times. He also added that no one knows when it will be, but that the day will surely come. The world will end and we, living or dead, will face God and account for our lives. This also affirms our belief in the resurrection. When we die, we will not disappear. We have souls which will continue to live and journey towards our true home in the next life.

       The message is still the same: “Be prepared!” We live on this earth aware of the next life. We do not embrace the saying, “Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die.” We must live not only for this earth but for the next life. Since the day of judgment will come at an unknown time, we are reminded to live each day fully and always in regard to the end time.

       The message is very relevant. Looking around and based on how many of us live, we tend to disregard and, worse, to forget this important aspect of our faith. For those who do not believe in the next life, the responsibility is theirs. But for those who believe in it, it is best that we think, speak and act like one who believes in the resurrection.

       We are Easter people. We live and die in the truth of the resurrection. Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Does the way you live speak of your belief in the resurrection? Or do you embrace and live the saying, “Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die”?

 

Lord, help me to always be mindful of Your Second Coming. May I learn to live with the next life as my reference.

Does the Kingdom of God reign in you? - Daily Reflections November 13,2014

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WHEN GOD REIGNS

 

Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God. We tend to think of it as a place somewhere out there, but in reality, it is more a state or condition. Two important characteristics may be derived from the Gospel about what the Kingdom of God is not. It is neither here nor there and nobody can point to it. It comes when it comes and is very unpredictable. Thus, Jesus warns, if anybody claims where it is and when it will come, that someone is a liar.

       The Kingdom of God, more than place and time, is where God exists. Jesus made this clear when He challenged His listeners who doubt Him and tend to relate Him with the demon, Beelzebul, by saying, “But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God is upon you!” (Luke 11:20). They claim that Jesus ruled over demons because He was one of them. But Jesus proved otherwise. He brought with Him God’s reign. In Him, the Kingdom of God had broken through the world. People who had seen and heard Jesus testified to this. Jesus’ words penetrated their hearts. Jesus’ miracles stunned them. The Kingdom of God brought about by Jesus’ presence was overwhelming.

       The reign of God continues to this day. Have you experienced God’s reign in Jesus? This presumes a relationship with Jesus, hearing His words and appreciating His miracles. It includes an experience of His love, mercy, protection and care. Jesus bears the reign of God in His person. When we relate to Him, such as in the sacrament of penance, we encounter the Kingdom of God. Through the priest, we experience God’s saving action in forgiveness. In all the sacraments, divine grace is present and God reigns.

       We are children of the Kingdom. We belong to God’s family. We have the responsibility to witness to that Kingdom. When we forgive, when we love, when we share, when we do all that Jesus commanded, we experience and share the Kingdom to others. Yes, the Kingdom is neither here nor there; it is in us whenever we live our faith. For when we live our faith, we testify that God rules here and there, now and forever! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Does the Kingdom of God reign in you?

 

Lord Jesus, may I always open myself to Your presence and to Your action in my life so that You may reign in me.

When did you last thank God for your blessings and for every single thing you have in your life? - Daily Reflections November 12,2014

GRATITUDE IS HOLINESS

 

Jesus gives a lesson on thanksgiving here. This is rare. The reason is clear; He does not need our gratitude. He heals unconditionally and not to be recognized. He does it as pure service and love. He does it to save.

       We must never think that God is like us who are aching and waiting for appreciation, praise or thanks. God is God. He is complete. But we wonder why Jesus, in our Gospel today, asked about the other nine when one returned to give thanks. Jesus added drama to the story by recognizing the one who returned as a “foreigner,” meaning not a member of the chosen people. It was an insult to the Jews. The Samaritan leper received the grace of healing better than the other lepers who were Jews.

         Why the seeming need to be thanked and glorified? It is because to make an act of gratitude makes us better children of God. When we thank God, we recognize our dependence on Him. We cannot exist without Him. In the process, we enrich ourselves with God’s grace. Being thankful means emptying ourselves and letting God inebriate us with His Spirit. Gratitude is holiness. The word “gratitude” itself is loosely associated with “grace.”

         Jesus encourages us to be thankful to God — not for any selfish reason on God’s part, but for our continuous spiritual advancement towards the fullness of life. When we give thanks, we open ourselves to more graces. The leper who returned received more graces. Jesus recognized his faith, which facilitated his reception of salvation. Thus, gratitude is not just an act of holiness but an opening for salvation.

       To wake up in the morning and live another day is already a great blessing. We have so many things in life to thank God for. Even our challenging and difficult times are opportunities to give thanks to God if we just think about it. We were made to give thanks. Our being is to give thanks. It was not accidental that the main Christian celebration is the Eucharist which means “thanksgiving.” God meant us to always give thanks. To Him, yes, but for our own salvation! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: When did you last thank God for your blessings and for every single thing you have in your life?

 

Lord Jesus, a whole lifetime is not enough to thank You for all that’s in my life — blessings, graces, trials, people. Thank You for everything, Lord!

Do you give your best without expecting to be rewarded? - Daily Reflections November 11,2014

THE PROFIT OF BEING

AN UNPROFITABLE SERVANT

 

It is customary for government officials to put up billboards of their projects, even indicating that it is “their” project. But in reality, it is not their money but the taxpayers’ money that is being used. However, people tend to be indebted to the official because they are led to believe they owe it to the official. This shouldn’t be so because the official only initiated it. Even then, the question is, “Is the project part of the ‘responsibility’ of the official?” If so, it is only proper that he accomplish the project without expecting indebtedness from the people. It is another story if the official would provide his constituents with houses, cars or businesses using his own money. Only then should the people be indebted to him. Otherwise, just as in the Gospel  today, the official should say, “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.”

       Jesus actually warns us in presuming that just because we did some things for God, He owes us something. If we pray, make sacrifices, do acts of charity, and follow His commands, does God owe us anything? No. God owes us nothing. In fact, He will never owe us anything because everything comes from Him. In the end, we might not even be able to say we have accomplished what He commanded us to do. Rather, that we be found wanting, and so we ask for forgiveness and understanding for our lack. We are less than being unprofitable.

       But it must not discourage us from striving. Jesus does not want us to be disheartened because we will remain “unprofitable” if that is our attitude. His point is that we be humble at all times. He wants us to be completely and always dependent on God. While we give our best, God will be there to do the rest. The goal and purpose of life is not for God to owe us but to be with Him who is the source of all graces. With Him, we will not be in need. With Him, we will always have enough. Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you give your best without expecting to be rewarded?

 

Thank You for the reminder, Lord, that we need to do what we are obliged to do without expecting to be rewarded. Help us to just do our best and trust that You will do the rest.

OUR CHURCH, OUR FAITH, OUR LIFE - Daily Reflections November 9,2014

OUR CHURCH, OUR FAITH, OUR LIFE   Today we celebrate the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. On its facade is written, “Omnium Urbis et Urbis Ecclesiarum Mater et Caput.” It means “The Mother and Head of All Churches of the City and of the World.” It was designated aptly because it is the cathedral of Rome and the pope’s permanent cathedral stands in its apse. Compared to St. Peter’s Basilica, it is more senior in dignity. So many of the Catholic Church’s significant events happened within the walls of this church.        There were no churches during the time of the early Christian communities. Whenever they obeyed the command of Jesus to do the Last Supper in His memory, they would select a house and do it with an ordinary table. Later, they selected a table for that purpose. Places of celebration for the Holy Sacrifice also started to proliferate in communities. Later, realizing the need for a sacred place, dedication rites were started.        Of course we believe that God is everywhere and we can relate with Him at all times. The late Cardinal Sin always loved to relate his experience while on a plane bound for Manila. Seated beside him was a non-Catholic. The man, realizing it was the Archbishop of Manila beside him, asked the Cardinal why Catholics go to church on Sundays when they can worship God anywhere. The Cardinal just smiled and kept silent. Later, the man asked to be excused as he was going to the restroom to pee. The Cardinal then asked why does he bother to go to the restroom. The man said that it was the proper place to pee. Then the cardinal said, “So is our worship. While we believe God is everywhere and we can pray to Him anytime, we still go to church — the proper, designated and accepted place to gather in prayer as a community!”        It is always good to know that there is a place where we can conveniently pray and interact with our God. Let us strive to give it the dignity, respect, solemnity and honor it deserves. Fr. Benny Tuazon   REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you regard the church?   Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as a form of communal prayer and worship. Grant us a deeper appreciation of it.