Daily Reflections- June 29, 2012

ROCKBILT

 

Part of my growing up years was in San Pedro, Poblacion, Makati, where the Church’s patron saints are Sts. Peter and Paul. During those days in the early 60s, one popular company was named Rockbilt. I don’t know exactly what they specialized in, but I did know that their name stood for something solid, steadfast and sure. To my young mind, the Church of Poblacion, Makati appeared as a solid bastion, both literally and figuratively.

My memories of Sts. Peter and Paul, interestingly enough, were tied up with faint memories of Rockbilt. In retrospect, the two could not havebeen a better match. St. Peter was called no less than a “rock” by Christ. The church in Makati was built literally on solid rock. And the association I made with the church and Rockbilt was, as I see it now, uncanny, at worst, and providential, at best.

I would like to hold on to my childhood images of surety, steadfastness and solidity. By comparison, the postmodern world that we know now is seemingly surrounded by their exact opposites: relativism, weakness and a certain air of instability in many aspects. Just look at our political system. Even names of streets that have solid historical bases are changed left and right by iconoclasts who either do not know history or scoff at it. Years of theology teaching by soft liberals who have a shaky attachment and an even shakier attunement to Holy Mother Church have produced so many cafeteria Catholics, some of whom have become legislators who write the future (or demise) of our traditional and rich culture.

We need to reappropriate what Sts. Peter and Paul stood for: solidity, surety and steadfastness. Petros was “rock” literally and figuratively, and Paul stood steadfast as a rock despite huge challenges. Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do Sts. Peter and Paul’s lives influence yours? Pick out one good quality of each and try to imitate them in your own life.

 

Thank You, Lord, for Sts. Peter and Paul. They showed us how to stand amidst life’s challenges, and to be always attuned and attached to the Church.

 

 

Daily Reflections- June 30, 2012

GET UP AND BEGIN SERVING

 

The First Reading from the Book of Lamentations reminds me of a line of the song, “Cry Me a River.” I googled it out of curiosity and found out that there are at least six contemporary singers who belted out songs that had this very same line from the Book of Lamentations: “Let your tears flow like a torrent!”

Sometimes in life, one really has reasons to cry a river and, as a therapist, I do know that a certain level of emotional catharsis is needed. “Tears,” wrote Henry Ward Beecher, “are often the telescopes by which men see far into heaven.”

The Jews had every reason to be engulfed in tears. Enemies hemmed them in from all sides. It appeared like God had forsaken them. Or so they felt. They were lamenting and complaining. But they did the right thing — lament and complain to God Himself through torrents of tears and prayers.

The centurion could have cried a river himself. A sensitive and compassionate soul, he pleaded on behalf of his servant. He took up his case in a prayer as plaintive as it was faith-filled. “Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in great pain.” Not only did he look for Jesus. He

prayed but he worked for what he prayed for, and was willing to do whatever the Lord would have asked.

Peter’s mother-in-law was in some sort of discomfort, too. Matthew’s account is silent about it, but someone surely whispered something to the Lord, who was on a roll, curing and healing people in Capernaum. She was healed. Pronto.

But there is something about the centurion and Peter’s mother-in-law that should convict us. They got favors from the Lord. And what does one do after getting a singular favor from Him? Surely not what the nine out of 10 lepers did, or did not do! Instead, one gets up, like Peter’s mother-in-law did, and began serving! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you received a favor from the Lord lately? What did you do afterwards?

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for all the blessings You’ve been pouring into my life. May my gratitude flow into service.

Daily Reflections- June 28, 2012

WHAT WISE MEN SAY   That sounds like the beginning line of an old, old song, “Wise men say, only fools rush in...” Wise men utter wise aphorisms and quotable quotes. They keep us hanging on to their lips expecting more when they talk. But one most important thing about wise men is they build on rock, not on sand. In the school where I work, there is an old building that became part of the school two years ago. The first time I saw it, I was dismayed. It was filled with trash from floor to ceiling and electrical wirings jutted out like spaghetti from everywhere. But after we cleared the place, we realized we were wrong. The building was solid. Now, a library, a conference room, five classrooms, a mini-theater and our residence are all housed in what seemed to be a crumbling building just two years ago. It was built on rock. It was built on sound architectural design. It was built by a wise man. Today is a good time to think about getting some of that wisdom for ourselves. What does one do? Where does one begin? I suggest we begin by reflecting on what it is we are building now. Years ago, when I was doing my doctorate, I came across a study done on Grade 4 kids in Manila. When asked what their ambition in life was, an overwhelming majority of the entire cohort answered: “to go abroad.” That was their ambition. We don’t have to do another survey to know what we should already know. Many of our kids now want to make it big in showbiz, as is evident in the growing number of those who join talent shows and auditions. Shows like American Idolor their local Philippine versions hog primetime TV and are assured of millions of youthful devoted viewers. Young people would now go to any lengths just to make a pitch for stardom at so many inane and dehumanizing shows. Politicians are tripping all over themselves to become entertainers, and entertainers are all making a mad dash for “public service.” Could we be building on sand, and not on rock? Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB REFLECTION QUESTION: What is your life built on?   Lord Jesus, help me to build my life with Your Word as the foundation.

Daily Reflections- June 27, 2012

A FRUIT DOES NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

 

I have been doing counseling and therapy for a while now. I was introduced to it as a young seminary formator, just fresh from ordination. Up until now, I enjoy the side task of helping people find their way, in addition to my job as administrator of a school. In family systems-oriented therapy, counselors look not only at the intra-psychic issues of individuals, but at the family systems that may help breed or worsen such issues. And this, I can confidently say: the fruit does not fall too far from the tree.

In today’s Gospel passage, the Lord more or less says the same thing with a different twist. You can tell the tree by the fruit it bears. A good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. My grandparents, parents and many of my relatives were born farmers. Most of them had a green thumb. And they knew a good tree by the fruit it bore. All they did was either taste, smell, touch or see the fruit up close. And when it was good, they would keep the seeds and propagate them, even if they knew they no longer had time to enjoy their fruits. I remember a time in my childhood when papayas got blighted. Once juicy, luscious, sweet, humongous and delicious, they turned into insipid, small, pale and tasteless fruits that were not worth selling. The farmers just cut down the papaya trees and shifted to other crops that bore healthy fruits in plenty.

I know it sounds trite now by dint of repetition, but the thought is always valid. We are like trees. And what we produce, what we do, what we accomplish, all point to how good or how rotten a tree we are. Even good, old Forrest Gump, quoting his mother liberally, understood that “stupid is as stupid does.” Handsome is as handsome does. Forrest sure had a good mother — caring, loving and wise in her own way. For all his simplicity, Forrest became the sort of fruit that did not fall far from the tree. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What kind of fruits do you think would fall from the tree of your life? Will they be good or bad?

 

Lord Jesus, You taught us that a good fruit falls from a good tree. Help us to become good trees.

Daily Reflections- June 26, 2012

BY THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

 

I am old enough to remember what Avenida Rizal meant to many people back then. In the 60s, it was the place to be, where so-called first-run theatres were found, where the first escalator in the Philippines was ever installed, and where the closest thing to the current-day “mall” was found. Back then, everyone would think of going to Avenida to see a movie and have a good time eating siopao and mami. Everybody who was somebody would dutifully trek to Escolta to shop at Berg’s, among the first “department stores” that did not even boast of air-conditioning.

Most people flocked to Quiapo. That was the quintessential downtown for many people. A few brave souls, however, did not join the bandwagon, and passed through the less trodden paths that led to better deals, cheaper goods and surprise discoveries, as in Quezon Boulevard, Echague or Raon. Back when I was principal at a big school in Metro Manila just after the EDSA I revolution, I noticed that the kids didn’t want to bring packed lunches anymore. During field trips or excursions, many of them would rather bring money than lug Tupperwares filled with home-cooked meals. The road more traveled by all is always the popular choice, the “in” thing to do, the way of doing things like all the rest do. You veer off the beaten track and you are an odd ball. Do things differently from what the rest of the world expects, and you are ostracized. The world now pressures us to conform, not to be too different from others, to follow what is fashionable and chic. The culture of our times almost makes it impossible to individuate or to “differentiate” oneself.

But time and again, one gets to see individuals who go by the road less traveled. They are raras aves, rare birds who dare to be different, like John the Baptist. And this is what the Lord reminds us of today. He counsels us not to go by the well-beaten tracks of whatever is faddish or popular. He tells us basically that being a good Christian and a good follower of Christ entails taking the road less traveled by many. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you easily conform to the ways of the majority? Or do you stand by your values and take the less popular road?

 

Lord Jesus, You called us to follow You. May nothing, not even the best enticements of the world and of relationships, distract me from following You.

 

Daily Reflections- June 25, 2012

BELIEVING AND BELONGING

 

I know I have written a reflection on these twin words either in this publication or in one of my blogs. I alluded to it in passing in yesterday’s entry. Today, I’d like to throw in a few more thoughts on the issue. I start by stating what seems obvious in the First Reading. God is displeased, humanly speaking, on account of what the people did. Simply put, they betrayed Him, the true God. They experimented with other gods their tormentor neighbors worshiped. They stopped believing, and their belonging to the true fold was compromised.

We live in a pluralistic world. We move in a world filled with a multiplicity of choices. We are surrounded by so many disparate groupings. Even the legislative branch of government is populated by cause-oriented groups who have been given seats by the Constitution. Each one of those groupings espouses and pushes their own agenda. Nowhere is this fragmentation and polarization made more visible than in last year’s debacle with regard to the superficially sanitized issue on reproductive health.

The issue has definitely divided the nation, at times even bitterly. Years of soft liberal “Catholic” education have watered down doctrine, and has effectively muffled the voice of a living, teaching Church, the only institution left in all the world that really stands for the total good and inviolable dignity of the human person, born or unborn.

It is all too easy for us now who live in a world of infinite choices to choose also what to believe and where to belong. But faith in God entails faith and credence in the Church that is Christ’s mystical body. One cannot call on God as Father unless he or she has the Church as mother. One cannot claim he or she believes and yet at the same time not belong — fully, truly, sincerely. Faith cannot be reduced to shallow oceanic feelings that make no demands whatsoever in our personal and societal lives. We need to have both sound personal and social ethics. We need to be attuned to the same teachings and attached to the same teaching Church. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you believe and belong to the Catholic fold? Or do you believe but do not belong?

 

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to accept and submit to the teachings of the Catholic Church so that I may truly belong to Your Body.

 

Daily Reflections- June 24, 2012

Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist

 

FAITH MORE VALUABLE THAN GOLD

 

John the Baptist clearly had nothing much in terms of earthly possessions. Neither did he have much to eat. No, dieting had nothing to do with it, the kind we pampered postmoderns are wont to do. It was all about doing and behaving as one thought and believed. It had to do with “doing” that followed “being,” as one “appointed before he was born to be prophet to the nations.” The issue of divorce was a big issue last year. So was the divorce between sex and the call to life, and responsibility for unborn life. But there is one more insidious underlying divorce that I want to reflect on today – the divorce between faith and life, the seeping tendency to separate being from doing.

John the Baptist was great, first and foremost, for being the forerunner of the Messiah. He was called and sent to prepare the way of the Lord. But his greatness was heightened and affirmed by a lifestyle and behaviour that befitted his lofty mission. As precursor in the way of the Messiah, he knew whereof he spoke. Leveling roads and filling in potholes were not just figures of speech, good for publications like this. He walked his talk. And how!

This puts preachers like me to shame — the call to consistency, the so-called “unity of life” where faith and life meet at the crossroads of daily existence. But so are the rest of us who claim to be Catholics. One cannot lay claim to belong to the Church if one does not lay claim, too, to believing in the one faith, one Lord, one Baptism, one Church, and one God and Father of all!

The great divorce in our times has led to many disturbing consequences. Cafeteria Catholicism is one of them, or the tendency to choose what one wants to believe, or what one wants to follow and obey. John the Baptist has a lot to teach us today and every day of our lives. He talks about not only the way to follow — he shows us how. And he does so by living what he preached — living simply and frugally, for he deemed his faith more valuable than gold! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Is there a divorce between what you believe in and how you live your life? Bridge that gap now.

 

Lord Jesus, grant me the courage and audacity of John the Baptist. Let me be not afraid, despite contradictions from the world, to live my faith as I should.

Daily Reflections- June 23, 2012

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

 

Today’s Gospel reminds us to seek first the kingdom of God and to trust that everything else, in its own time, will follow. What does this really mean?

For me, it is a call to know and act upon what is important in my life, and there is nothing more important than my relationship with God. It is my relationship with God that helps me to know where I should place my priorities in life. The Gospel clearly states that this is working towards the gift of eternal life. This makes a lot of sense as it is difficult to see how there could be anything more important than eternity. Sure, there are things in this life that can seem very important, and indeed are so, but even these must be sought within the context of eternal life.

It can be helpful to reflect on the lives of saints as they stand as models of integrity and faith. Perhaps St. Maximilian Kolbe is the best example of a saint that depicts the tension between the good things of this world and those of the next. He chooses to offer his life in place of another prisoner picked out for execution because the latter had a wife and children and had more to live for in this life than he, a priest, who had no other real responsibilities of this kind. The miracle is that not only did the other prisoner survive detention in the concentration camp — he was reunited with his family and lived long enough to be present at the beatification, as well as the canonization of Maximilian Kolbe.

Kolbe is an extraordinary response to the call to place our focus on the Kingdom of God over and above everything else in the world. He literally demonstrates and imitates the words of Jesus, that there is no greater love than for a person to lay down one’s life for another (John 15). Kolbe had made the decision that the most important value for him was his relationship with God, and hence, the promise of eternity with God in heaven. Everything else, including life here on earth, paled in significance to this promise. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How strongly do you allow the promise of eternal life to be the guide of the choices you make in this life?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to believe and trust in the promises of God. Help me to build my life and the choices I make within the context of these promises.

 

Daily Reflections- June 22, 2012

WHERE IS YOUR LIFE FOCUSED On?

 

In life, we usually concentrate our commitments and resources to that which we are focused on. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us to be wary of storing up our treasures and wealth in the form of the pleasures of this world as they are all passing away. None of the things of this world will accompany us beyond our grave. Of course, if you do not believe in eternal life, then what I am saying here is irrelevant to you.

The Gospel often reminds us to be wary of the promises of this world as even if they are true, they are true only for as long as we are alive. What happens to us when we die? This is a serious question and one that should cause us to think carefully about our faith, eternity and so on. Jesus exercised a heroic detachment to the things of this world, as did the saints in their attempts to imitate their Lord and Master. What about us? What are we doing in this regard?

It saddens me to see people who are so focused on earthly matters that they have no time for the heavenly ones. Heaven is not just a concept applicable to us when we die. Heaven begins now with the acceptance of the gift of salvation. It is possible to begin living the life of beatitude and goodness now, and this will make heaven an ever more enjoyable reality for us when we die.

We should ask ourselves where our lives are heading once in a while to ensure that we are not straying from the path that leads to heaven. This path follows a different course for each of us, but we can travel together to support one another. Let us commit to being a companion to whoever asks us to help them on their way to eternal life.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is the focal point of your life? Do you need to refocusa little or a lot so that you can return to the right path?

 

Jesus, help me to avoid the distractions the world throws at me as I seek to follow Your will for my life.

 

Daily Reflections- June 19, 2012

THE GOAL OF OUR LIVES

 

The final line of today’s Gospel is, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” How realistic is this exhortation? Is it really possible to attain such a goal? People who take seriously the call to live morally upright lives seem to be in the minority now. When one talks to young people and one examines the media for evidence of a call to be committed to a set of values for a lifetime, it is difficult to find anything. Relativism is the underlying philosophy of today’s generation. It means that there are no “hard and fast” moral rules applicable across all peoples and cultures. Everything is dependent upon cultural conditioning, religious beliefs and so on.

Relativism cannot be logically defended as it is not a consistent ethic. If rules change to accommodate the culture of a group of people, it does not make sense to speak of any law or rule or program of morality that is applicable to all. Such a reality will produce chaos as there is no universal value system upheld by all. We see this challenge when people discuss the morality of abortion. Depending on one’s position on the issue, they ascribe different values to the various stages of life of a human person. The only consistent ethic is the one where all life is considered to be inviolable from conception on. (This is the position of the Catholic Church.)

It is important that humanity has a universal set of values to uphold across national and cultural borders. If we cannot agree on such, then we will never be able to agree on the individual moral questions that arise in life.

The suggestion in today’s Gospel that perfection is a goal of the moral life is a reminder to us that there is a universal set of values that is applicable to all and that we should work hard to discover them — and live by them each day of our lives. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How well informed are you on the teachings of the Catholic Church on moral matters? Do you need to do any study in this area?

 

Holy Spirit, open my mind to the truth of the Gospel and the Church’s teachings on moral matters so that I may live them to the full.

Daily Reflections- June 18, 2012

A RADICAL CALLING

 

There is no doubt that to follow Jesus faithfully requires us to make many radical decisions in our lives. The Sermon on the Mount, of which today’s Gospel is a part, is Matthew’s presentation of the New Law. The Old Law, the Ten Commandments, was received by Moses atop Mount Sinai. Matthew has Jesus climbing a mountain in order to proclaim the Beatitudes and these new understandings of how people are supposed to relate to one another.

In the text we read today, Jesus reminds us that seeking revenge is not an option for Christians. Forgiveness is the way to deal with disagreements and hurts. This teaching is merely an example where we see Jesus shift the focus from one’s self to the other person. It is too easy for morality to reduce itself to a self-focused reality when, if we want to live in the Spirit of the Gospel, we should be teaching ourselves how to live for others and not just ourselves. Generosity is a key foundation stone of the Gospel that Jesus proclaims. This truth is nowhere more evident in His choice to lay down His life on the cross.

To be a disciple of Jesus means that we have to embrace all sorts of painful experiences as we learn to follow His footsteps. Even Jesus is repulsed by this idea and has to struggle to accept that He will endure the cross in obedience to His Father’s will. The reason Jesus has to endure suffering is so that we who suffer would find both comfort and credibility in the promise of eternal life. If God just sat in heaven and told us not to worry about the struggles of life because all will be well in the end, there would be little credibility to His words. However, having endured suffering Himself, the words of Jesus are far more convincing in this respect. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How do you understand suffering in you life? Can you see its redemptive value?

 

Holy Spirit, help me to see the redemptive value of suffering. Strengthen me to endure the trials in my life in order to follow Jesus more faithfully.

 

Daily Reflections- June 17, 2012

SPEAKING OF POTENTIAL

 

To illustrate the Kingdom of God, Jesus uses images that speak to us of our potential to be active members in its mission. It is quite clear that to have faith in God is all about having a personal encounter with Him. Men and women of faith have chosen to allow an encounter with God, giving Him the opportunity to transform their lives.

At the heart of the Church’s understanding of the Kingdom of God is the idea of a relationship — each individual with God. Once this relationship is established, it is possible to work on our relationships with one another within the context of our common faith in God. The image of a growing seed used in today’s Gospel highlights the idea of potential. We all know seeds grow into something much bigger. If we allow our relationship with God to grow and mature, this is what we will experience in our lives — a fulfilling relationship within the bounds of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus focuses His ministry on forming the 12 disciples He has chosen so that they would carry on His mission once He leaves. God continues to work with us on a one-to-one basis so that we can be formed according to our gifts, talents and calling, making us prepared to contribute to the work of the Kingdom of God.

As disciples of Jesus we should seek to learn where our next growth opportunity will be and focus our attention to it. It is up to us to take responsibility for this aspect of our faith and “run with it,” so to speak. Unless we remain pro-active in this regard, we will never grow in our faith. We will forever be looking at people who are growing in discipleship and wondering what they have that we do not have. The answer is simple — the willingness to step out into the unknown and take the risk of trying to discover where God is calling us to serve. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: When was the last time you took a risk in your service for the Kingdom of God? Are you willing to take a risk to move forward in your faith?

 

Jesus, help me to learn Your will for my life and have the courage and strength to take the necessary risks to bring Your vision to fruition.

Daily Reflections- June 16, 2012

HEART TO HEART

 

When I was young, my mother used to dictate to me the answer to the perennial question: What do you want to be when you grow up? At first, it was to be a doctor, then a lawyer. But this childhood fancy would keep changing as I grew up.

High school was entirely different. I started to think independently from my mother. Suddenly, I was fancying journalism, advertising, etc. But whenever I would be asked to sign slambooks, I would jokingly write: to be a priest. For somebody like me, it was meant to be a joke.

But apparently the Lord read my joke and took it seriously.

My mother was frustrated that her easy-go-lucky, youngest son wanted to enter the seminary. But to give in to her longing and obsession, I entered the University of the Philippines for college and became known as the only boy in our part of Tondo to enter U.P. Oh, how proud my mother was! But at 18, I decided to leave U.P. and prepare for my entrance to the seminary. My mother was surprised that I came home in the middle of the week. The statue of the Virgin Mary, which was being brought to different houses in our block, was in our home that week, as if she was there to help explain my predicament to my mother. It pained my mother no end to think that I would enter the seminary. It broke her heart. Yet it was necessary.

In the Gospel, the Lord has come of age quite early. He was 12. Mary’s heart was broken when they could not find Him for three days. Finally, they found Him at the temple in a discussion with the high priests.

Jesus now has a mind of His own, knowing very well the mission He had to undertake later. It broke the heart of Mary. Her Son, in no time, would live a life and mission of His own. Letting go of Him was difficult. It broke the heart of Mary. Yet, it was necessary.

He broke her heart so these broken pieces may be one with His. From then on, Mary understood. She owned the mission and longing of Jesus, in the union of the two hearts! Fr. Erick Y. Santos, SFO

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What heartbreaking experiences did you have which made you a whole and better person?

 

Lord, let the longings of my heart be united to Yours.

Daily Reflections- June 15, 2012

BECAUSE...

 

The Gospel today can very well answer the four Ws: What happened? The crucifixion. Who are involved? Jesus and the two criminals who were crucified with Him. Where did it happen? In the Hill of Golgotha or “The Place of Skull.” Why did it happen?

The answer, which starts with because, is followed by a longer story — a love story. In fact, the greatest love story of all time, spanning 33 years — from Bethlehem to Calvary, from Calvary to the empty tomb.

The Gospel depicts the sufferings that Jesus had to go through because of His immense love for us. The Good Friday spirit is perfectly captured. It speaks of love beyond all telling — of a God who chose to be a man and suffer the scandal of the cross if only to save us and offer the highest form of sacrifice: death on the cross.

The scene took a few hours but to us, it left an indelible mark in the hearts of Christians who feel that we are not even worthy of such a sacrificial love. Jesus was at His most pitiful state. Ironically, the pitiful Jesus pities us: “My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred.” He, who suffered tremendously, offered everything out of His compassion and love for us. As Blessed John Paul II said, “Mercy is the greatest expression of love.”

And on his side, a lance was pierced. “And immediately blood and water flowed.” It is the moment of grace. As the prayer to the Divine Mercy suggests, “From this wounded side flowed an ocean of mercy.” The Wounded Side has become a relevant representation of a heart most pure, a heart most undefiled, a heart most enduring.

May this love story borne out of His Sacred Heart continue to inspire us to love even more, to learn the meaning of sacrifice, to practice selflessness, to endure sufferings with the joy of a Christian, to be compassionate at all times, and to bear witness to the Gospel of Love.

We have all reasons to be happy and to love unconditionally — because He loves us.Fr. Erick Y. Santos, SFO

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are we ready to be rooted and grounded in love, and to make our hearts resemble Jesus’ heart?

 

Jesus, make our hearts like to Thine. Amen.

Daily Reflections - June 14, 2012

ANGER management

 

Jesus devoted a part of His teaching on anger. He saw it as an essential part of the sin of killing. He wanted to attack the problem at its root. Therefore, addressing anger would prevent a lot of killings.

Anger per se is a feeling and therefore not a sin. We feel angry because we disagree with an act that is done. We are angry because we had been offended or violated. A lot of reasons can trigger our anger. If we express our anger without resulting in any harm to ourselves or to others, it is but a natural human reaction. But if it brings harm to anyone, including oneself, it is a totally different matter and in many cases could even lead to killing oneself or another.

Before anger ends in killing or harming anyone, the Lord admonishes us to address our anger by trying to immediately reconcile our differences. He went as far as making one unworthy of making any offering or worship if he is not reconciled with his enemies. This gives us the message that forgiveness of others is a prerequisite to a good relationship with God. In the Lord’s Prayer, it is more explicit: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Meaning, we should not ask forgiveness from God if we are not willing to forgive others.

Jesus also added the process one will go through if we do not let the courts decide on our case. He has nothing against courts of law, but even legal officers at present encourage out-of-court settlements. It not only prevents clogging of cases in the courts but also saves time, effort and  money of the persons involved. Settlement also brings more healing and satisfaction because the persons involved are the ones who agree on the terms.

We must forgive not only seven times but seventy times seven times. Yes, we should be able to express our anger, but it should not control us. And we should not let our anger linger. We must end the day at peace with everyone in anticipation of a good day ahead! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Is there anyone you’re not at peace with? How do you express and handle your anger?

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for forgiving me every time I offend You. May I find the grace, too, to forgive those who have wronged me.

Daily Reflections - June 13, 2012

Still At Work

 

Jesus stresses the importance and strength of the commandments of God in this Gospel. If we want to be great in His Kingdom, we should do what God has commanded us to do. To break them would make us least in the same Kingdom. In Filipino we have a saying, “Itaga mo sa bato!” to signify that nothing and no one can stop us from realizing what we intend to do.

God’s Word has been fulfilled — from the invitation to Mary to become the Mother of the Son of God, to Jesus’ Incarnation, to the gathering of the Twelve Apostles, and subsequently the conversion of Saint Paul and the life of commitment by the saints and martyrs. St. Anthony of Padua, whose memorial we celebrate today, was part of this whole entourage of living witnesses to the realization of God’s Word. He was known for his eloquence, fervor and learning. In Him, the Word of God is fulfilled even just in hearing.

It is embarrassing but I have to admit that before my ordination, I doubted if I would be able to sustain my priesthood. Living a life of obedience, celibacy and simplicity is not easy especially in a very secular world. Priesthood is a life of contradiction in a world obsessed with riches, power and fame. I went through a lot of challenges and trials. There were downs, yes, but not enough for me to call it quits. Now, I am on my 19^th year in the ministry and have so many responsibilities. How did this happen?

I realized it was not I but God. I learned that God, through my cooperation, has guided and supported me all these years. My constant daily “yes” to Him was enough for Him to realize His call to me. Indeed, He was true to His promise that every single word of His will be brought to fulfillment. Though He uttered, “It is finished!” while hanging on the cross, His Spirit continues to inspire everyone to witness to God’s commands. In every Eucharistic celebration, where His death on the cross continues in a bloodless manner, God works to save us — in fulfillment of His promise. Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: How is God working in your life right now? And how are you fulfilling your own commitments to Him?

 

Father in heaven, give me the grace to fulfill my commitments to You as You are faithful in Your promises to me.

 

Daily Reflections - June 12, 2012

USE TO PRODUCE

 

No doubt this teaching was meant to encourage the Apostles to go and persevere in their mission. Jesus knew the challenges they will be facing in practicing their faith. Jesus not only reminded them of what they have but also the responsibility for having them. The analogy on the role of the salt and the light tendered His commissioning of the Apostles to the ministry. After hearing Jesus preach and seeing His deeds for some time, they were now ready to do as Jesus did.

We remember our baptism — our moment of commissioning. Though we were still children, our parents and godparents were given the responsibilities to teach and train us in the faith. We were expected to become followers of Jesus. But we were not to remain passive followers and believers. We have to share our faith. At the proper time, we have to witness to the faith and bear fruit for God. Thus, our membership in the family of God also entails concern for other members of the faith.

We can only do it by using everything God had given us. It is our duty to discover our God-given gifts and then use them for the service of the community. It would be unfortunate if the gifts given by God for a purpose would be left unused or kept to ourselves.

Once I had a friend who possessed a good singing voice. But he preferred not to use it because he did not want fame or recognition. He wanted to be humble. I believed he should use his gift rather than keep it. It was meant to be shared, not kept. But he chose to just keep it to himself. No amount of convincing and invitation could prevail over his decision to just humbly keep it. I do not know if it is a curse or coincidence, but one morning, he just lost his voice. We could not believe what happened. We could only empathize with his condition.

He took his fate painfully and sadly. Maybe, if he used his voice, it would not have happened. Or maybe his voice was meant to be lost. In any case, it was not wise to just have kept it. Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Make an inventory of the gifts God has given you. How are you using each gift? How you use it is your gift to God.

 

Guide me, Lord, and help me discover the gifts You have blessed me with. Lead me as to where and how I should use them.

Daily Reflections - June 11, 2012

WHERE TO?

 

Before we are finally ordained for the priesthood, we need to pass a comprehensive examination that includes all the things that we have learned, with emphasis on clear and correct understanding of the basic doctrines of the Catholic Faith. The common structure of the exam is the Apostle’s Creed because it contains everything that we believe in. Other theologians also consider the Lord’s Prayer. But some see the fullness of faith in the Gospel reading that we have today — the Beatitudes.

The Beatitudes was Jesus’ opening teaching in the so-called Sermon on the Mount. There, He addressed some of the basic questions of His time. But the Beatitudes specifically responded to the need for holiness as means to salvation. Jesus makes clear that He is the reason for everything. Blessedness is not based on one’s status but on why one is in that status. Poverty, imprisonment, rejection and sorrow, for example, are blessings if experienced in faith. They are not curses of life; they can also be sources of holiness. In the same way, riches, laughter, freedom, fame and power are not always a sign of blessing. For them to be blessings, they must have been attained morally and, more importantly, used for God’s purpose.

It is sad how material or earthly things are dominating the lives of people today. Maybe it is because of our humanity. But let us remember that we came from God. We were created in His image and likeness. Human as we are, we have souls, too! We are destined for the Kingdom of God and not for the world and we should give the highest regard to that which will lead us to our destiny. We must not allow ourselves to be used. Rather, the things of the world must be used in accordance with God’s Will.

Holiness is not a luxury for a Christian — it is a must. Either we are holy or evil. It is not an impossible dream. By ourselves, we cannot achieve it. With God, everything is possible! The Beatitudes provide a direction and supply a ”to do” list to achieve our goal of holiness. If not God’s Kingdom, where? Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Check out the Beatitudes. Which applies to your present situation? How can you turn your present situation into a blessing?

 

Lord Jesus, You called us to holiness. May everything that we experience and everything that we do lead us to Your Kingdom.

 

Daily Reflections - June 10, 2012

GOD IS WITH US IN THE EUCHARIST

 

As Catholics, we believe that the bread and wine in the Eucharist becomes the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. This happens during the epiclesis, or the time when the priest lays his hands over the two species while saying, “Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is God through His Spirit who makes it happen, not the priest.

God is present to us in so many ways: in the congregation, in the priest, in the Word of God, in all Creation, and in all events of life. But we further believe that He is really and truly present in the Eucharist. That is why in communion, the priest says, “The Body of Christ!” The priest presents to the communicant not a symbol or a representation of the Lord but Jesus Himself. And we say “Amen” to profess our faith in what we receive.

Jesus Himself instituted the Eucharist and made Himself available in the form of bread and wine. In the Gospel today, Jesus, after taking and blessing the bread, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take it, this is my body.” He did the same to the wine and said, “This is my blood.” According to Dr. Scott Hahn, who made a thorough study of the Bread of Life Discourse (John 6) of Jesus, if He meant it to be a symbol, He would have said so. But He really meant it to be His Body and Blood when He said, “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the light of the world.”

Many claim that they have received communion so many times but nothing seems to be happening to them. The Eucharist is not a magic food that will instantly transform our lives; if we think so, then we are mistaken. Receiving the Lord entails preparation and reparation. We must approach the table of the Lord in humility and purity. Reconciliation is the optimum need. Only then can we be transformed by Him and become more like Him.

When we approach the priest for communion, let us be aware that we are receiving Jesus Himself. Everything we say and do should be a reflection of Him whom we received — and then He becomes real in us! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you keenly aware that you are receiving Jesus Himself in the Eucharist? How has it transformed you?

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us Your Body and Blood. May we receive You always with purity and humility, and thus, be transformed and become more like You.

Daily Reflections - June 9, 2012

GAINING IN AUTHENTIC GIVING

 

“It’s the thought that counts!” We have heard this many times.

In the Gospel scene, we see rich people dropping large sums into the treasury. But Jesus noted that they were giving out of their surplus. They can afford well their contributions even though they are relatively big. Some may argue that the large sum would go a long way in helping the temple. But it is not just about what it could do but what the attitude of the donor is. Besides, not much effort and sacrifice are invested in the giving.

On the other hand, the poor widow who gave two small coins amounting to a few cents, gave from her poverty — all she had and her whole livelihood! In the eyes of Jesus, she gave more. It was a great sacrifice for her. She was more concerned about the welfare and support of the temple which she serves. Therefore, what counts before the Lord is not the amount but the heart you put into what you give.

When we were constructing the burnt parish church of St. Alphonsus Mary De Liguori parish in Magallanes, I came to know about a household help who committed to donate P500 a month for 10 months. I was a bit surprised because her kind does not receive so big a salary (only about P3,000 per month). So, I called her to ask about her generosity. She said, “Maliit po yun kumpara sa grasyang makukuha ko bilang kaparte ng pagpapagawa ng isang simbahan, kung saan maraming mabibinyagan, ikakasal, magsisimba at magkukumpisal. Marami pong maliligtas kapag nagawa na po yung simbahan.”(My donation is really not that big compared to the benefit we would receive once the church had been constructed. Many will be baptized, married, converted and saved.)

She sees the benefit of her giving more than what she would give up. Giving for her is not a loss but an opportunity to help and save others. She may have given much less compared to other donors, but she gave a lot of heart and goodness together with her relatively few hundreds. But we know that as far as God is concerned, she gave more! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: When you give, what thoughts go with your giving?

 

Lord Jesus, teach me to give with a generous heart, unmindful of what I am giving up and more concerned with the benefits of my giving.