Holyween: Be-a-Saint March

“…because God tested them and found them worthy to be with him.”

– Wisdom 3:4-5

 

To counter the pagan influence of Halloween, our church invited children to dress up as their favorite saints. After the children’s mass, they paraded and were given treats along the route. No ghoulish costumes. No glorification of evil. Our parish priest encouraged the children to think about what is admirable in the saints they chose. It is perhaps in the hope that they will emulate these saints’ traits.

Looking at the photos posted by the parish (just check these out in the Our Lady of Fatima Parish’s FB page as I didn’t have time to get permission to repost) there were a lot of children who participated. I hope this catches on, after all, everyone is encouraged to be a saint.

I’m sure a lot of you like me will turn beet red and say, “What? Me, a saint? I sin too much to be one. I’ll never be a saint.” But I came across this quote, actually several variations of them as they were attributed to different people like Robert Louis Stevenson, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Nelson Mandela, and St. Josemaria Escriva:

 

“A saint is a sinner who keeps trying.”

 

So, let’s keep trying, one baby step at a time. Let’s think of it as a marathon march, not a 100-meter dash.

There are some steps we can do when we backslide or stray from the path. Let’s try this together as I’m sure failure to be holy will happen to me and to you:

• Accept that there are days when you can’t be as good as you should be.
• But remember what caused you to be unholy and resolve to do better.
• Try again. If we fail today, there’s always tomorrow.
• When you feel the itch to do wrong, breathe, pause, and think WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).

It’s hard I know! I’ve failed many (x 100) times but, again, let’s keep trying. And if we do make it to sainthood, what do you think you’ll be the patron saint of? I’ll probably be the patron saint of Clueless Solo Moms or Young Once Struggling to be Fit and Wrinkle-free.

Belated Happy Holyween! 

P.U.S.H. – Pray Until Something Happens

 

“…he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.”

– Luke 11:8

You know that proverb “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”? Well, that’s how I am with the Lord sometimes. When I am on frustration overload due to an oft-repeated unanswered prayer, or super-stressed because of a problem that needs an immediate solution or going through a particularly painful episode with some ailment or other, I turn into a squeaky wheel. I picture myself as a terrible toddler throwing a tantrum in front of the Lord. “Thy will be done” gets thrown out of the window. Do you do that sometimes?

In yesterday’s mass, Fr. James Gascon, SJ, had these elements to impart about prayer and persistence:

"The Gospel speaks about the person who prays. The Lord reminds them to be persistent. Sa kakulitan they get what they get. Jesus reminds His disciples to never give up.

It is a reminder to whom we pray – the father is a good father who will give us whatever we ask in persistence. However, the difficult question is: if the father knows everything why do we have to keep asking/repeating?

 The Lord gives not what we ask for but what is best for us. More than that God will give the Holy Spirit – “How much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.” (Luke 11:13) The fruit of prayer is not that we get what we want or need but we are given the power to discern. When we keep praying and praying, we get enlightened and know the difference between a want and a need. That is what God gives us, the gift of discernment – a powerful tool that not only helps us distinguish good from bad but want from need. And most importantly, the Holy Spirit enlightens us that God may have already answered our prayer not the way we want but the way God makes us good. It helps us not to just distinguish but listen. When we do, we ourselves become the instrument to make our prayer a reality. The end of discernment is action."

So, pray until something happens. What “happens” may not always be what we want but what we need. It may be a need for us to act on our problem.

OR, as has happened in my case several times, the Lord gives in to my kakulitan. I remember my LG head Myrna once told me in our chat, “Help me pray. Malakas ka naman kay Lord.” I replied, “Makulit lang.”

So, whatever may be the fruit of our prayers, let’s persist because God will give the best.

BTB (Behind the Blog)

 

“How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?”- 1 Thessalonians 3:9

 

If there’s such a thing as BTS (sorry faneys, not the Korean boy band but Behind the Scene), I have today a BTB (Behind the Blog). Last week, my reflection was “Sharing Crosses”. They were general thoughts based on the homily that struck me that day. Little did I know that the very next day, as I posted it, I would have a specific story to tell of my cross being shared.

 

Last week, covid hit my family, all three of us at home. It would not have been as scary as at the start of the pandemic because as my doctor-cousin said, “It’s more like the flu now. BUT (and there’s the rub) it could still be fatal for people whose health is compromised like Papa.” My 92-year-old father was the last in the family to be hit. My son and I were barely recuperating when he tested positive. It was panic time! We need a prescription for the anti-viral medicine as my cousin is US-based. We need to source the medicine as it is not readily available. Plus none of us could go out to buy it as we were still sick. I shared my cross and asked for prayers.

 

And the Lord moved right away! My prayer group head jumped in to help by finding a doctor to write the prescription. She even tried to find other doctors to monitor Papa. A doctor who serves at The Feast wrote the prescription and even offered a few pieces of the needed medicine she had left over from her own bout with covid. And my kababata/distant cousin found a source for the medicine and delivered it right to our gate.

 

Not only that, but we were also immediately lifted up in prayer by my bff/cousin, my Mother Caring Group/LG, my EBLG, and HIP friends. What an abundance of friends to share my cross!

 

Like I told them, “I thank God for you.”

 

Let me end this BTB by repeating my message last week: Crosses are meant to be shared.

 

Oh and by the way, by God’s grace, Papa had the mildest of symptoms as he was the only one who did not have fever. And our whole household is now negative including Papa’s yaya. That was God working Behind The Scene. 

Sharing Crosses

 

“He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” – Philippians 2:8

 

“Do you envy others because their crosses are lighter than yours?” This was the question asked by the priest in yesterday’s mass celebrating the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. I nodded my head again and again and again in agreement giving those bobble head dashboard dogs a run for their money.

 

Do you also feel that way once in a while, sometimes, most of the time? Here you are a solo parent struggling to raise your kids and there are your friends and relatives with their perfectly complete families. Oh they have some problems too: how to get their visas in time for their vacation abroad, where to hold their milestone birthday bashes, things like that. I’m exaggerating but I have heard this complaint from a couple of sisters in HIP (Hero Independent Parents - our Solo Parent Ministry at Feast Bellevue): “Why is that woman (the one who stole her husband) enjoying a better life than me???? She gets the cars, and the house, and the foreign trips while my ex-husband doesn’t even give enough in child support.” Sounds familiar?

 

Heck, I don’t know why the crosses of others are lighter and that pains me often. But what the priest said struck my tear ducts. “Crosses are meant to be shared. Humanity was on a vicious downward spiral until God decided to share our burden, our suffering, our cross. The cross was ours to bear but Jesus carried it for us. Even Jesus needed Simon of Cyrene to carry His cross…Do you find your cross heavy? Have you asked others or even God to share your burden? Or we can ask, ‘What have you done to lift the burdens of so many people around us overwhelmed by the crosses they bear?’” (Fr. Emmanuel Alfonso)

 

So my dear fellow heavy lifters, do not be afraid to ask for help. The main thing that helped me survive solo parenting was the help of my parents, relatives, and friends especially my Feast brothers and sisters. Even the mere act of asking for prayers is already a major step.

 

On the other hand if you have a lighter cross, it is your duty to help carry the cross of your brethren. Sometimes what you think is the least you can do (praying for them or giving time to listen) is what it will take to lift them.

Emergency Novena to Mother Mary

 

“The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

– Luke 1:49

“I want to know what to pray for.”

 

These words were spoken by Mother Mary in “The Messengers”, the Christmas 2021 with The Chosen special. The scene was set at the time she was already old and probably near death. She was asking Mary Magdalene how the apostles, who were scattered around the world evangelizing, were doing. Mary, hesitant to burden Mother Mary with the difficulties of the disciples, tried to change the topic. But she was insistent. Our Mother wants to know what to pray for. I believe she has the same concern for us, her children.

 

Today, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, I give thanks to God for giving us a mother who intercedes for us constantly to her Divine Son. Every time I go into panic mode because of some crisis in my life, she is the one I cling to because I know Jesus cannot say “No” to her. If He won’t listen to me, He will certainly listen to His Mother.

 

I remember reading about Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s Emergency “Flying Novena” to our Lady. I have prayed it ever since when I fear an impending and IMMEDIATE “disaster”. OK, I admit I’m a panicky person so “disaster” would be relative. It has ranged from my son’s delayed connecting flight, to fears someone in the family got Covid, to not having enough to pay BIR’s ridiculously high estate tax, to many other problems in my hiram na buhay. Believe me, I can’t remember a time when this novena failed. Our Mother must be more makulit than I am with her Son.

 

The emergency novena is simply the “Memore” said ten consecutive times. Mother Teresa prayed this when time was of the essence and trouble would already happen before she could finish a nine-day novena. I read that her Missionaries of Charity still pray the novena to this day. (See the complete prayer below.)

 

Going back to that The Chosen episode, Mother Mary asked to see Mary Magdalene so she could bequeath to her the Magnificat. The Canticle of Mary was written down and sent to Luke. On her birthday, I invite you to reflect:

 

What great things has the Lord done for you that, like Mary, you will be inspired to utter a canticle of praise?

 

Happy Birthday Mama Mary!

 

The Memorare

 

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known 
that anyone who fled to thy protection, 
implored thy help, 
or sought thy intercession, 
was left unaided. 
Inspired by this confidence 
I fly unto thee, 
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. 
To thee do I come, 
before thee I stand, 
sinful and sorrowful. 
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, 
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. 
Amen.

Questioning God

 

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – John 20:29

 

“Why didn’t You heal her when it was in Your power to do so?” This is a heart wrenching question to God from a friend who lost her mother during the pandemic.

 

Do you have questions like that? Do you have questions about your faith? Is it wrong to question God? What do we do when we have doubts? Will God get angry when we doubt?

 

Although Jesus rebuked Thomas for his unbelief, He did not hit him with a lightning bolt in anger. Instead, Jesus appeared to the apostles again that Thomas may see for himself. Jesus accepted Thomas’ humanity to search for answers as He also accepts ours. As the priest said in his homily on the feast of St. Thomas: “Our questions are doors that open to a deeper faith.”

 

When children are small, they ask endless questions. Mine did and it sometimes drove me crazy. It’s a good thing God has all the patience in the world for His children’s questions. He even points us to where we can get answers – the bible, our spiritual leaders, our brothers and sisters in the community, even in His creations. So, ask away. After all, “The ability to ask questions is the greatest resource in learning the truth.” (Carl Jung)

 

On another note, our children accept our answers as Gospel truth even if sometimes they don’t fully comprehend the explanation because they trust us. And this is also the attitude of trust we should take in our questioning. We may not understand what is happening to us. We may not get the answer right away or not even in this lifetime but TRUST in the Lord’s perfect plan.

 

These lines from the song Trust His Heart by Babbie Mason give me assurance when I have questions and doubts: “When you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.”

Spirit Over Mind

 

“…the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues…” – Acts 19:6

In my book The Happy Solo Kit (Tools and Supplies You Need to Survive Solo Parenting without Losing Your Marbles), there’s a section I called “Terrible Teens”. Like I said there, teens are more terrible than twos. It is at this stage when children develop their own minds and start thinking they know better than their parents.

It’s very difficult to give them your opinion about how to live their lives because they would always counter with a different take. Always!

But I remember one time when my elder son, then in high school, was heartbroken, and he asked to meet me in front of our church to talk. I wanted to help him but was already half-expecting his usual kontrapelo (going against the grain) reactions. So, on my way to the church, I sent up a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit for wisdom.

Our conversation was going the usual But-Mom-that’s-not-how-it-is way until he asked a difficult question. I didn’t know how to answer, but as I opened my mouth the words just flowed. Surprisingly, he quietly accepted the wisdom I was spouting. I knew then it was the Holy Spirit at work. Those words did not come from me as I felt clueless before I began.

So, Terrible Teens or Terrible Twos or whatever terrible stage our children are in, it always helps to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in our parenting journey.

Praise Through the Pain

 

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; raise your voices in songs of praise.” – Psalm 98:4

 

It’s easy to sing joyful praise songs when everything is right in your world, isn’t it? When you enjoy good health – Alleluia! When love reigns in your family and relationships are amiable – Glory to God! When abundant blessings flow like ticking a dream destination off your bucket list – Hosanna!

 

But when things go wrong, can you still praise God?

In 2012, I had the privilege of interviewing Connie Velasco, one of our Feast Alabang attendees, for Kerygma Magazine. Three years before she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her husband had died of lung cancer. She had undergone 12 surgeries, 32 radiation sessions and about 30 or so chemotherapy sessions. In a span of 7 years, she almost died 7 times and had been hospitalized more times than she can count. To her, it felt like a thousand already. Her doctors had turned her down for treatment as there was nothing more they could do. She also went through a time when even her finances were drained.

 

But every Sunday at The Feast, we’d see her in her wheelchair front and center praising God. Even if she’s in constant pain, she still strove to look her glamorous best. She even goes to her chemo sessions all made up complete with a fashionable hat, becoming an inspiration to the other cancer patients. And despite her condition, she still served in whatever way she could. For instance, she designed the magnificent stage for the Kerygma Conference 2011 Faith Stream. She praised God with song and service.

 

A lot has been said and written on why we should praise God during difficult times. Personally, praising God through my pain helps me to forget about me. I’m reminded how big my God is, bigger than my troubles. And I remember those other times I was broken, and His Amazing Grace mended me. Praising God is not about what we do for Him but about how it transforms us.

 

Lifequake

 

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” - Psalm 16:8

 

The strongest and scariest earthquake that I have ever experienced was the one on July 16, 1990. I was at the office, and everyone ran out in panic. The girls in our staff cried in fright and even our burly workers had horror etched on their faces. Good thing ours was just a one-story building. But the fear did not stop with the shaking. There was greater dread for those left at home. I rushed to check on our house and my family especially my children who were still small then.

 

Earthquakes are not the only things that shake our world. Dire events in our lives have the same shattering effect. A husband taken away from us too soon. A business failure. Debts piling up. Jobs lost. Relationships broken. A sick parent. Lifequakes.

 

Through all these lifequakes, I clung to Him who cannot be shaken. I must admit there were times when not just my world but also my faith was shaken. But praying and keeping my eyes on the Lord even if I was getting cross-eyed from the dizzying quakes held my world together. He is not just at my right hand, but He goes before me, and He protects my back.  God is my center.

*Keeping the Faith series #1

Word-ability

 

“A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.” - Matthew 9:32-38

 

Today, I would like to thank the Lord for the gift of WORDS. For the ability to speak them and for the facility to write them.

 

Many times, we take this gift for granted. Imagine what it would be like if you become mute. How will you tell people your thoughts? How will you ask for help? How will you go about your daily life without the ability to communicate?

 

And many more times, we forget just how powerful our words are. They can crush dreams or build them. They can break hearts or fill them with joy. OUR WORDS HAVE THE ABILITY TO AFFECT OTHER PEOPLE.

 

So let us reflect on how we use words. Have we expressed love for our family, or have we demeaned them? Have we posted something on social media that spreads hope/knowledge, or have we bashed/spread fake news about someone we don’t even know personally?

 

And to the Marites (me included) and Tolits out there, do we really have to know and spread the latest???!!!

 

Whenever I feel a nasty comment or a gossip itching to escape my tongue, I try to recall the tale of the “Feathers in the Wind”. The story reminds me that once the contents of the feather pillow are scattered to the wind, it will be extremely hard to gather them all back. Such are our words.

Burning Hope

 

Lenten Reflection #17

 

“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” – Psalm 33:20

 

A couple of days ago, I heard the phrase “burned by hope” for the first time. The term was new to me, but the meaning was familiar. You start with so much hope for your plans and your dreams only to be disappointed, frustrated and depressed when they don’t happen or don’t happen when you want them to. You end up not wanting to hope in anything anymore. My heart bled for those who have been burned by hope, me included.

 

Then it bled some more for Little James in my to-watch Jesus story yesterday. In The Chosen, he is portrayed by Jordan Walker Ross who is handicapped in real life. His having a limp was woven into the story including the fact that complete healing cannot happen. When Jesus sent the apostles two by two with the ability to heal the sick and lame, Little James wrestled with his emotions – anger, bitterness, resentment. Jesus had not healed him, but he was being asked to heal others.  

 

Jesus answered: “But think of the story that you have, especially in this journey to come if I don’t heal you, to know how to proclaim that you still praise God in spite of this; to know how to focus on all that matters so much more than the body; to show people that you can be patient with your suffering here on earth because you know you’ll spend eternity with no suffering…So many people need healing in order to believe in me, that doesn’t apply to you. MANY ARE HEALED OR NOT HEALED BECAUSE THE FATHER IN HEAVEN HAS A PLAN FOR THEM WHICH MAY BE A MYSTERY…when you discover yourself finding true strength because of your weakness and when you do great things in my name in spite of this, the impact will last for generations.”

 

That made quite an impact as many viewers who have not been healed and whose prayers have not been answered saw themselves in that scene.  

 

In the Aftershow, Jordan explained how he connected to Little James: “I’m a big believer that if anyone has anything they perceive as a weakness can find a way to use that as a strength and use it to inspire or uplift other people…it helped me to be more loving and accepting of who I am.”

 

But dashed hopes need not burn us. This morning, as I listened to the talks in Rise, The Feast Alabang’s Holy Week Recollection, my hope for the hopeless was rekindled and kept burning by these:

1.   1. The winds of adversity cannot break us if we bend like the palm tree.

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree” – Psalm 92:12

2.   2. Just say “Yes” to Jesus. His grace will be enough to change your situation.

3.   3. We may not be in control of our situation, but we have a God who is.

 

And as we sang “Even Now” during worship, unbidden tears of hope and supplication trickled down to my face mask as I sent a mental hug to all those who have been burned by hope and to the Little Jameses of this world.

 

Even now when my hope is gone
Even now when there seems no way
Lord, I know You can do all things
You can roll the stone away
Raise me even on the fourth day…

 

References:      The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 – “Two by Two”

                        The Chosen Aftershow S3 E2

                        Rise, The Feast Alabang’s Holy Week Recollection

                        “Even Now” by Veia Lim Viñas & Vernon Lim for Feast Worship

Do Not Be Anxious

 

Lenten Reflection #16

 

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…” – Matthew 6:25

 

John the Baptist: “In all that He said to those thousands of people, there was something just for you…for what you are going through. What was it? Something that stuck with you.”

 

Andrew: “Don’t be anxious.”

 

Andrew was me as I faced anxieties brought by our new situation at home. My 92-year old Papa’s yaya had to leave to attend to her own family. My elder son and I have to cope with taking care of Papa and doing the housework. I also have to contend with the expenses, documentation and dealing with government agencies related to some property matters. I was afraid the stress would trigger another amnesia episode like the one I had at the beginning of the pandemic.

 

It was timely that the Jesus story I watched was The Chosen’s “Homecoming” about the Sermon on the Mount. The conversation above happened when Andrew visited John in Herod’s dungeons. And just like Andrew, “Do not be anxious” was a bullseye for me.

 

Timelier still was that the Didache reflection for today was my own. It was about our family’s trials during the Christmas season of 2021. Let me share it here:

 

Many times, what we need to banish our anxieties is a reminder of how God had taken care of us in the past.  I remembered during that time what calmed me down was the vision of Jesus walking before me, beside me and behind me.

 

 

Reference:       The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 – “Homecoming”

Refocus on God with a Capital G

 

Lenten Reflection #15

When Jesus saw him lying there and was aware that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well?” – John 5:6

It’s been several days since I wrote my last reflection because my time has been consumed by other gods. By other gods, I don’t mean they’re all bad just “anything other than God” as Fr. Cris Cellan said in his homily several days ago.  The only god I’d categorize under bad would be the one who only collects estate taxes from small fry like us and leaves 203 billion uncollected (sorry my pocket just had to rant about that). In short, it’s been a hectic week.

Going back to Fr. Cris’ homily, he said, “Many times, though we are Christians, we worship different gods (career, material things, anything other than God). The gospel for that day was about the Pool of Bethesda which bore traces of pagan practices. The man who had been sick for 38 years was invoking a different deity to heal him which was tantamount to idolatry. “The call to repentance for this 40-day penitential journey is to refocus on Jesus who can truly heal us. Jesus alone is the Divine Healer. He alone can restore our relationship with the Father.”

Again, it’s another God-incidence that my self-assigned Jesus story for that day was about the Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 – “The Perfect Opportunity”). In the Bible Roundtable for that episode, the Bible experts were discussing Jesus’ question to the paralytic, “Do you want to be healed?” I was struck by what one of them said, “In our pastoral ministry there are people who enjoy poor health. They identify very much with their own weakness, their own failure. Some people prefer to stay where they are.” Sometimes, “the pool” or our other gods become part of our identity and we don’t want to leave it.

 

Maybe that’s a question we should ask ourselves this Lent. “Do you really want to be healed or are you using that weakness/illness/failure as a crutch, as a sympathy magnet?” If you sincerely want to get healed, refocus on Jesus, on the God with a capital G.

 

 

References:      Mass Homily – Fr. Cris Cellan: Pool of Bethesda

                        The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 – “The Perfect Opportunity”

                        The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 Bible Roundtable

H.A.L.E.

 

Lenten Reflection #14

H – Higher

A – Appreciation

L – Lower

E – Expectation

Compassion and forgiveness. These are two among several things that I’m asking God to help me with especially this Lent. This morning, at mass, the priest gave the HALE formula to enable us to be more sympathetic to the plight of others and have greater patience with their mistakes.

Do you have a makulit aged parent who acts like a child now? HALE. Remember when you were young and the roles were reversed.

Do you have a child who keeps failing in Math? HALE. He might be brilliant in languages or the arts.

Do you have a husband who keeps forgetting important dates? HALE. He likes spending time with you and the kids rather than with his friends.

Do you have a wife who can’t cook if her life depended on it? HALE. She gives the best massages.

Do you have a barkada who forget to call you for group outings? HALE. They do listen to you talk for hours about your problems.

You know who else needed to have HALE? The apostles in The Chosen’s “Matthew 4:24” episode (my self-assigned Jesus story for the day). In the episode, the apostles were discussing what it’s like to follow the Messiah, what their expectations were. They were having difficulties because it didn’t look like what they expected.

Then Mary Magdalene said, “I guess I haven’t had any expectations. It’s probably why it’s easier for me.”

So, appreciate more, expect less. It will make following Jesus easier.

References:      Mass Homily – Fr. Jose Elmer Ilao

                       The Chosen Season 2 Episode 3 – “Matthew 4:24”

                       The Chosen Season 2 Episode 3 Bible Roundtable

Living Water

 

Lenten Reflection #13

“but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4:14

I feel it’s a God-incidence (not coincidence) when the gospel and my self-assigned Lenten video to watch for the day are about the same bible story. Not only do I get visuals to make the gospel come alive but also a confirmation of what my reflection will be about. Today’s story was about the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well. The homily gave me a lot of insights:

There are different kinds of wells that we think will quench our thirst: marriage or a relationship (like the woman who has had 5), addictions, wealth, power and other earthly things. But all these things will not completely satisfy us. We will still be left dry and desolate. We will thirst for more.

We thirst to be saved, known, understood and to be loved without being judged. The woman in the bible was nameless but Jesus knew her and her sins. He still thought her worthy to receive His living water, to reveal Himself as the Messiah. As Timothy Keller said, “To be fully known and truly loved is a lot like being loved by God.” That is how the well of Jesus will satisfy. His love for us will never run dry.

Reflect on this for Lent: “From what well do you drink?”

References:      Mass Homily – Fr. Eric Salazar

                       The Chosen Season 1 Episode 8 – “I Am He”

“Follow Me”

 

Lenten Reflection #12

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may attain eternal life.” – John 3:16

What would you do if today Jesus tells you, “Follow me”?

In “Invitations” (The Chosen Season 1 Episode 7), Jesus invited Nicodemus and Matthew to follow Him.

Nicodemus struggled, “To give up who I am?” Jesus understood that he has a position in the Sanhedrin, a family and was getting advanced in years. But Jesus still hoped he would come. (Spoiler alert: Nicodemus chose to go back to his life in the next episode.)

Matthew, on the other hand, just got up and left everything – money, protection by the Roman praetor, the good life.

For many of us, doing a Matthew would be too drastic but unlike Nicodemus, we would still want to follow Jesus. This Lent how about being an in-between:

·        Be humble, forget your lofty position.

·        Give as you would to your family.

·        Serve as much as your aged bones or restricted schedule will allow.

·        Sacrifice by not indulging in the good life.

In today’s homily, Fr. Dave Concepcion issued another invitation for us this Lent: observe your family and friends. If there is one among them who are in dire need, ask yourself what you have done to help them. Ask them how they are. Do not be too full of yourself that you become insensitive to their situation.

 

References:      Mass Homily – Fr. Dave Concepcion

                        The Chosen Season 1 Episode 7 – “Invitations”

In Secret

 

Lenten Reflection #11

“Your almsgiving must be done in secret. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:4

In yesterday’s mass, Fr. Cris Cellan gave a timely reminder: “As we continue our 40-day penitential journey, we are called to be humble. We must do the spiritual exercises of prayer, fasting and almsgiving without fanfare. The Father sees in secret, and we will be amply rewarded in due time.”

I had always connected the above passage with only the last two spiritual exercises. Fasting and almsgiving must be done in secret to make it sincere. That prayer must share the common denominator of secrecy was an “Oo-nga-ano” moment for me. After all, prayer IS a personal conversation between us and God. It does not need fanfare too.

I had another “Oo-nga-ano” moment while watching my self-assigned story yesterday. In The Chosen’s Season 1 Episode 6 (“Indescribable Compassion”), Jesus said, “It’s better to go into your room, shut the door and pray to your Father who sees you in secret…Give generously without thinking about it. Do not do it for show to impress others. DON’T EVEN CONGRATULATE YOURSELF IN PRIVATE. Give in humility.”

In our country where many donations (using taxpayers’ money) and services (by officials paid by the people to perform that exact same service) are trumpeted by attention-grabbing tarps, DON’T EVEN CONGRATULATE YOURSELF IN PRIVATE is a tall order. This Lent, let us rise above all that and do our penitential journey in secret where only God can see. Maybe you can include as your Lenten sacrifice a prayer for these tarp-loving officials. 😉

References:      Mass Homily 3/7/2023 – Fr. Cris Cellan: Humility

                        The Chosen Season 1 Episode 6 - “Indescribable Compassion”

Practice Mercy

 

Lenten Reflection #10

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” – Luke 6:36

Since I started this Lenten Reflection series, I would ask Jesus every morning what face He wants to show me today. What must people know about Him? Today, through the mass, He showed me the Face of Mercy:

Newton’s Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Viktor Frankl: Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.

Fr. Dave Concepcion: We are not mere atoms, we are human beings and  that gap (between action and reaction) is called the capacity to respond in grace. Grace is enjoying the gifts we do not deserve, and mercy is being spared from the punishment we deserve.

This Lent, Jesus wants us to practice mercy. “Practice mercy” – these words struck me as I typed them. Being merciful does not come to me, and I suppose to many other people, easily. Like anything difficult, or anything we want to be perfect in, we need to practice. Another thing we have to remember is we can’t always get it right in the beginning. But if we keep doing it then it becomes a part of our system. This season is a good time to practice mercy so we can practice mercy as the Father does.

References:      Mass Homily for today – Fr. Dave Concepcion

Glimpse of Glory

 

Lenten Reflection #9

“Beloved: bear your share of the hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” – 2 Timothy 1:8

 “There will be a moment of pain, but only a moment, then we shall be home in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ forever.” This was a line from Paul, Apostle of Christ said by St. Luke to his co-prisoners who were to be fed to the lions.

 The early Christians literally gave their lives for following Christ. What must have given them courage and hope was not just the thought Jesus was waiting for them but the vision of the Resurrection. It was the same for Peter, James and John in today’s gospel. They were given a glimpse of Jesus’ glory at the Transfiguration to sustain them through the Crucifixion until the Resurrection.

Today, most of us are lucky we are not called to die for our faith. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to die a little when we make sacrifices for the people we love and the community we serve. This Lent, when it feels your sacrifices and troubles are too much to bear, let your mind dwell on what’s going to happen on Easter. And pray to be given the courage of the early Christian martyrs. 

Perfect…Pain

 

Lenten Reflection #8

“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48

If Jesus had posted “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” on social media today, I would have commented, “Lord naman! With matching eyeroll hanggang bumbunan emoji)” How can you love a neighbor who regularly plays blaring music and parties till three in the morning disrupting your work and sleep and even gets mad when you complain? How can you love the woman who stole your husband? Or the co-worker who backstabbed you to get a promotion? Or the business partner who left you to deal with a debt in staggering amounts? (Disclaimer for the Marites out there: problems not all mine, for example lang 😉) And the list goes on.

Jesus does ask us to do hard things. Even St. Teresa of Avila was prompted to say, “If this is the way you treat your friends, it’s no wonder You have so few.” But then again, the road to heaven is not easy to trek.

As the priest said in today’s homily, “Perfection cannot be attained without pain. It is only painful in the beginning. Later it will no longer bother you as it becomes part of your system. It is the same with praying for your enemies. And the First Reading gives the key to perfection: ‘Observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.’”

So, this Lent, let aiming for perfection be our sacrifice.

References:      Mass Homily for today – Fr. Danichi Hui

                        Carmelites.org – “Quotes from Teresa of Avila”