Sunday Gospel Reflections

Sharing Our Loaves and Fish

Homily: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

John 6: 1-15

28 July 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

Before anything else, I wanted to say thank you again to all those who donated funds, goods, and their time and effort to the relief operations of the church. Sa pinagsama-sama ninyong donasyon, marami po tayong natulungan sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyong Carina. We may not have been able to help the thousands affected all over Metro Manila but to the hundreds who received hot meals and emergency supplies, it meant the world to them.

The feeding of the crowd of five thousand with five loaves and two fish has a lot to teach us about feeding those who are less fortunate among us, both in the physical and in the spiritual senses. It is very difficult for someone to believe in the good news of Jesus Christ when they do not concretely feel the love and mercy that is being preached. They can reject it as empty words and promises. When we translate into good works, our belief in Christ’s teaching, it proves to others that the gospel is real. When I was a youth volunteer of the Institucion Teresiana, we used to teach children in Sitio Mintapod in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. Some of the children would walk for hours every day just to get to the learning centre. As soon as they arrived, they were first fed and given some toiletries for their basic personal hygiene training. Once their physical hunger was addressed, they were ready for the lessons that would feed their intellectual and spiritual hunger.

Let us go back to the concerns of Jesus’ disciples in the gospel.

When Jesus asks: “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” (John 6:5)

Philip responds: “ Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” (John 6:7)

Andrew, on the other hand is quick to point out what the other has, not what he has. “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” (John 6:9)

These are legitimate problems if we look at the situation from a logical standpoint. The best option would really have been to send the people home to eat but Jesus did not want them to simply dismiss the crowds. He wanted to feed them. This was the perfect moment for Jesus to teach the disciples to trust in God’s providence and to help them realise their role in continuing His saving mission. They are tasked to look after the people entrusted to them, not only to feel sorry for their plight, but more so to show them God’s compassionate love by attending to their concerns and by providing for their needs.

Tomorrow will be the opening of classes in public schools. So many of our children will go to school in a less than perfect situation. I was talking to a family in the evacuation centre and the mother was telling me that they lost everything in the flood including the school supplies of the children for the opening of classes tomorrow. Children who go to private schools will start the year with new shoes, a new school bag filled with new school supplies and their lunch boxes will be filled with their favourite snacks for recess. It is not the same for public school children. Individuals who want to help can sometimes be overwhelmed by the reality of how much is needed to address the needs of these children. Often like the disciples, we, too would rather defer our assistance once we find ourselves thinking that five loaves and two fish are nothing much to the numerous needs of our brothers and sisters; it will not be enough to share with thousands of others. Like Jesus’ disciples we also find ourselves thinking: “We have so little, we have nothing for so many people.” “I have nothing to give because I am a nobody myself.” (“Ano maiaambag ko eh kung ano ang meron ako, kulang pa nga sa pang araw-araw namin.”) The Feeding of the Multitude teaches us that God sees our efforts and He will supply what is needed. All we need to do is to be generous with the graces we have received and believe in God’s providence.

Today’s gospel calls us to witness to the love of God for His people by sharing our loaves and fish to feed those in need. The little that we have when shared in love will go a long way in assuring our less fortunate brothers and sisters of God’s presence in their struggles. This brings to mind what St. Pedro Poveda once said: “One does not need to be rich in order to give, one only needs to be good; when one is good he/she will always find something to give.” We are not looking to make an earth-shattering impact or resolving major problems in society. Let us simply be sensitive to the needs of those around us and be ready to share what we have to help relieve the suffering of others.

Brothers and sisters, in whatever we do, regardless of how menial or negligible the task may seem to us, we have to do this out of love. We would be surprised that the little we have shared was actually the blessing that others needed to assure them of God’s love and compassion for them.

The Loaves and Fish by Janice Cook

A Heart to Serve

Homily: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 6:30-34

21 July 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

Lately, I have been consulting a gastroenterologist for my discomfort. My last conversation with him revealed a lot of traits I find admirable. He was sharing with me how his colleagues often call him “crazy” for having clinic hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday to Saturday. This on top of the numerous procedures and hospital rounds he has to do every day. He is so good at what he does that a lot of patients go to him for treatment of their digestive disorders and diseases. He is also a very religious person and draws inspiration from his faith in fulfilling his duties. He said that he teases his fellow doctors that he would only stop treating and helping people when he drops dead.

In the gospel passage this Sunday, Jesus also has a packed schedule! There is not a single dull moment in His day. Jesus was very much occupied in giving Himself at the service of people — bringing healing and wholeness into their lives, that He hardly had time for Himself. Despite this, Jesus never seems to complain and groan about the task at hand; at times He is even choosing to forego His own temporal needs for the sake of others. The gospel recounts “they did not even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31) so Jesus instructed His disciples to “[go] away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) They had gone off on a boat so they could be by themselves yet the people found out where they had gone and followed. Though Jesus also needed to rest, His heart was moved with pity when He saw the vast crowd desperately seeking Him. He chose instead to attend to others who are in need. This is how Jesus lived every day of His life — an emptying of Himself for others.

There are two things we need to learn from Jesus from His actions in today’s gospel. First, let us be sensitive to the needs of the people who are close to us. Sometimes, we take for granted the needs and feelings of our family, our friends and those who work closest to us. We think they will always understand us and our passion to achieve our goals. Stay at home moms are often the casualties of this. They make sure all the needs of their husband and children are met to the point that they do not have time to rest, have a haircut, or spend time with their own friends. Sometimes we assume our mom is okay doing all these things for us without knowing her mental health is affected or she has been ignoring the symptoms of a developing illness. To some of us who are the heads or team leaders at work, we also have to be compassionate with our subordinates. We have to make sure that they have time to eat and rest and maintain a good work-life balance. We have to remember that we as workers are not machines and what we are tasked to do is only part of the many things that make up our life as human beings.

Second, we must always make ourselves available to our brothers and sisters who need us. Sometimes, we are too focused on achieving our goals or looking after ourselves and our loved ones that we choose to ignore those needing our help. I guess many of us here share my pain of seeing families having a grand time eating out together oblivious of the street children looking longingly at their leftovers through the restaurant window. Yes, these kids should be taken care of by their parents but in these moments, can we not have a heart? We do not become less of a person if we share the blessings we have received from the Lord. I remember the daily prayer of a good friend, a nun who died two years ago. She used to pray: “Lord, you may take me back to you once you think I have already used up all my energy and have given enough of myself for others.” That was precisely how she died. She only got sick a week or two before she passed on.

We draw inspiration from Jesus as we look beyond ourselves, our own needs and our own goals and how unreservedly we have attended to the needs of others. In the end, our service of love for others is what makes our life meaningful and worth living for. Let our prayers, provisions and presence be healing and consoling to those in need; may they be strangers or very close to us.

By Stella Levi

Together in Mission

HOMILY: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 6:7-13

14 July 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

There is a quote that says: “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.” There is wisdom in working in a team. To work alone, we may get things done faster because we have no one to contradict us. On the other hand, it also means we could burn out faster. In a team, everyone’s strengths come into play to help achieve the goal. The journey may take longer but it is more enjoyable and the difficulties are easier to bear. We, Filipinos know that it is more enjoyable to work with others for something worthwhile.

In the gospel passage from Mark, Jesus gives the disciples very specific instructions for their missionary task. He sends them out into the world where they preach repentance, heal the sick and drive out demons. However, what I find most interesting among Jesus’ instructions is the act of sending out his disciples in pairs. The Gospel of Mark states: “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” (Mark 6:7) Moreover, we ask: “Why”? Wouldn’t it be more efficient; wouldn’t they be able to cover more ground if they were sent out individually? Now after some reflection, may I suggest three (3) reasons for this particular instruction — the task was difficult, the task required teamwork and there was a need for witnessing and accountability.

First, Jesus has given the disciples a daunting task; hence, they are not sent alone but with partners (“two by two”). Let us accept that work becomes a lot easier when we have a helper, but it is also important to have someone to support us when we feel weak or discouraged. It is quite easy to be discouraged if we find ourselves alone to bear psychological and emotional burdens. The encouragement and support that another can give is a gift that can sustain anyone especially those tasked with proclaiming the Good News.

Second, the work of spreading the Good News is always collaborative. If one is out healing people by himself/herself, it would be very easy to start taking all the credit. Ministers/missionaries/pastors ought to be cautious since he/she could develop false claims about himself/herself. It is so easy to get drunk on the adulation and praise from others. On the other hand, we also must caution ourselves not to be mindless blind followers to these self-proclaimed messiahs, and anointed ones.

My third and last point is: we need to have someone to hold another accountable. This is important! We have the duty to give an account of our stewardship. We are to be responsible for our given time, talent and treasure not only for ourselves but for others as well. Having someone in the work with us is also important so that we can hold each other accountable.

In my previous parish, I had to do a lot of pep talks to the different parish groups to remind them of the importance of working together in the fulfilment of the parish mission. It is important to remind ourselves that it is not a “we against them” scenario nor it is a competition. Almost always, a more collaborative approach produces better results. Besides, we always have to remember that this is God’s work, not our own. The Gospel primarily teaches us to look to the One whom we are serving and to depend on Him rather than on our own strengths.

Let us pray that God will equip us with everything and everyone we need for a fruitful mission! We are assured that we will never be alone. Let us take heed of Jesus’ instructions. Let us count on Jesus’ word and rely on His promise to be with us every step of the way!

Advocates of Truth

Homily: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 6:1-6

7 July 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

Last Saturday I was received in what they call a very-PLDM festive fashion with matching street dancing, waving of flags, billboard sized welcome tarps and a fun-filled program after the welcome rite. I am deeply honoured but at the same time challenged to live up to everyone’s expectations. Jesus, on the other hand, did not get a similar kind of welcome from his “kababayans” (townmates) in the gospel passage.

Indeed, Jesus receives a hostile reception from those who are supposed to be more supportive and understanding of Him. “Yeah, we know him, that’s just Jesus!” “There’s nothing special about that local boy.” “What makes him think he can preach in the synagogue and tell us how to live our lives?” They think they know Jesus well enough because they observed Him grow up in their town. They are unable to believe that Jesus could be anything more than the carpenter’s son, much less, the Messiah. “Isn’t this [man] the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary… his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? [and] aren’t all his sisters with us?” (Mark 6:3) Having witnessed Jesus as He was growing up prevented them from believing He could amount to something more, especially not the Messiah they were expecting. Thus, Jesus could only respond: “A prophet is not without honour except in his native place and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4) Their prejudice prevented them from recognising the truth about Him. The saddest part for me is that Jesus was unable to do mighty works in his hometown because of their lack of faith in Him. (Mark 6:5) The people’s initial appreciation of His wisdom and miraculous deeds turned out to be shallow because it quickly turned to hostility and their blatant rejection of Him.

In our First Reading, Ezekiel was warned that he would also be experiencing rejection by God’s people. The Lord clearly warned him to brace himself for opposition as He worked to relay God’s message to the people. Ezekiel was warned that he was being sent to people who are rebellious. “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they whom I am sending you.” (Ezekiel 2:3-4) To speak the truth has never been easy. This is the sad reality of being a prophet. A prophetic message will always be met with hostility and often the messenger pays a very high price.

These days, there are a good number of brother-priests who are among the most bashed persons in social media simply because they voice out their political views and opinions or call people out for their inconsistency of beliefs. I have a priest-friend who is quite active on social media and very vocal about his political views. The trolls always have a field day with his posts. They harass him online and even “teach” him what he should be doing as a priest. Some of these people are not even Catholics! At one time he responded to these keyboard warriors saying — “And why should we base our priesthood on what trolls like you say about how we should live out our priestly vocation? You don’t read Church documents on priesthood, you don’t even want the truth. It’s permissible for you to kill, to steal, to lie (those that are against God’s commandment according to the Bible). Where do you draw the audacity and arrogance to tell me how to become a priest? LOL!”

Throughout human history this tragic story of Ezekiel and Jesus, and all the other prophets who were rejected, maligned, and killed thereafter, continues to happen over and over again among the messengers of truth and justice in our time. Even Jesus, Himself, had to preach to some pretty tough crowds. Nevertheless, we should not be discouraged. We should still opt to stand for what is right, true and just despite the challenges we encounter. God assures us, as He assured Ezekiel and all the prophets after him that He would bless them with the necessary strength to carry out His message. In our Second Reading, the Lord encourages St. Paul to be zealous in his missionary work in spite of his limitations. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Eventually, St. Paul would say: “Therefore, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of the Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Brothers and sisters, God cares so much for His people that He sends messengers to call out His people for their wrongdoing and to set them straight. Sometimes, the Lord uses the most unlikely people to serve as His prophets. Sometimes, He might even use you! Let us pray today for discernment to recognise His prophets, and the courage to speak the truth and advocate for what is right in God’s eyes.

Coming to Jesus for Healing

Homily: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 5:21-42

30 June 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

Parish Priest, The Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy

My friend had an aunt who migrated to the US and became a doctor. She was very successful and she became active in many Filipino-American organisations and an avid volunteer at her Church. She had the perfect life for a single woman but she was so insistent on getting married, that she dove into a string of doomed relationships. At fifty (50), she finally married a much younger unemployed man from the province (probinsyano) who did not love her but saw her as his ticket to a better life in the US. He struggled so much with English that he was unemployable. He became fully dependent on her. Nonetheless, she supported him and spoiled him with a full designer wardrobe and lavish trips around the world. She couldn’t retire comfortably since she felt she had to sustain the life her husband had grown accustomed to. Sadly, when she got sick in her old age, he abandoned her. She suffered throughout her married life but refused to admit it to friends and family out of shame. After all, she went all out to find a husband; she could not fail her marriage.

All of us at different moments of our lives must have struggled with a weakness or we have borne a cross that we are afraid to acknowledge to God, let alone to other people. Maybe, we have a secret addiction to alcohol or gambling or pornography or gaming, or even online shopping. Or perhaps, we struggle with a character flaw such as being gullible, or easily angered or being irresponsible. Maybe, we can’t find the words to express our shame, guilt and pain to God even in the silence of our hearts in prayer. We are much less hesitant to share it with others for fear of being judged, misunderstood and ostracised. We are afraid to be cut off from the Lord and separated from family and friends.

If this is the case, we can relate with the woman healed of her bleeding problem by Jesus in today’s gospel. By Jewish law, she had to live apart from society because her bleeding made her unclean and unfit to associate with others. In the passage, we are told that Jesus was on his way to bring life back to the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader, an important man, but Jesus stopped to engage with a woman considered an outcast; someone from completely the opposite end of the social order. He is not in a hurry. He gives her his time. He gives His full attention. Nothing is as important to Jesus as that moment that He is connecting with those in need. He wants to hear their whole story. Jesus wants to bring healing to their souls, to their very being — restoring them to wholeness, calling them as God’s “daughters”, calling them as God’s “sons”.

The woman in our gospel was sick for twelve (12) years. She most likely went to every doctor available to find a cure. Sometimes, we try to solve our problems ourselves and fail. Sometimes we think we are making progress but fall right back into our self-destructive behaviours. Whatever it is that we struggle with, we should follow this woman’s example. She acknowledged that Jesus was the answer. He was the key to healing and wholeness. She took a risk to reach Jesus but only managed to touch the hem of His garment but she believed that would be enough! We too must reach out to Christ for mercy, healing, strength, and forgiveness as best we can. Jesus will not embarrass us or send us away. Instead, He will respond graciously, as He always did to humble, sincere people who came to Him with faith, love, and repentance.

Brothers and sisters, whatever our story, whatever our journey through life has been up to this point, let us reach out and touch Jesus in faith, and let Him minister to us — to bring healing to us, to restore us, to welcome us into God’s family. We have a brother who is always waiting for us to come home to God, our Father.

Howard Lyon/A thread of faith

Unto Safer Shores with Jesus

Homily: Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 4:35-41

23 June 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

For the past two months, the discomfort I have been feeling in my stomach has been giving me sleepless nights. I was so scared as we have a family history of colon cancer. Regular colonoscopies would have ensured early detection of any growths but my last colonoscopy was ten (10) years ago and I feared the worst. I had two procedures yesterday. I was moved to the recovery room at exactly three (3) PM — the Hour of Great Mercy! I feel it was providential. The results of my colonoscopy and EGD revealed I had no serious health issues. You cannot imagine the relief I felt after! At the same time, I was ashamed to have considered that God may have fallen asleep and did not have His eye on me while I had been busy serving Him.

In the Gospel from Mark, we are told that Jesus and His disciples were at sea. At some point Jesus has fallen asleep so he was unaware when their boat suddenly encountered a violent storm. Imagine the waves tossing and turning their ship, crashing against it and filling it with water! While the others around Him were losing their heads from fear that their boat may not be strong enough and they would all drown, Jesus was sleeping peacefully. The disciples wake Him in their distress “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? (Mark 4:38) Jesus is roused from slumber and responds to his disciples’ desperate cries, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Jesus remained sound asleep despite the mounting chaos of the storm. It is almost unbelievable, right? Human instinct would be to panic! And that is precisely what the apostles did. They were so overwhelmed by the threat to their lives that they forgot that the Son of God was with them! The Lord is not upset though that they woke Him up from sleep. He is more concerned by their obvious lack of faith and trust in God. To accuse Jesus that He does not care about His men when they are in a difficult situation is quite the insult, but He does not even scold them. The image of Jesus asleep amidst a storm is rather paradoxical but it successfully exemplifies what is trust, what is faith!

Honestly, can we sleep well if our hearts and minds are filled with worry and doubt? How can we be reassured if we are filled with so much fear and problems? How can we have peace of mind in the midst of the storms of life? I am sure everyone here has had his/her share of seemingly insurmountable problems. What is a problem for Pedro, may not necessarily be a problem for Juan. But Juan has his own problems that are also weighing him down. We all have problems because that’s just how life is, only the dead have no problems. Sometimes we are tempted to think that God doesn’t care about us anymore, right?

There are some of us who are admittedly fast sleepers — they just lean back, and then they sleep right away. That amazes me. Someone will take the bus and then sleep without worrying that he might get robbed or he may miss his stop. He is still sound asleep even though someone is preaching in the bus, or there seems to be a concert of the blowing of horns of cars outside. (May ilan sa atin na aminadong “masa” — masandal lang, tulog na. That amazes me. May sasakay ng bus tapos matutulog. Walang alinlangan na madukutan o malampasan ang bababaan. Mahimbing pa rin ang tulog kahit may nangangaral ng Bibliya sa bus, o nagkokonsiyerto na ng busina sa labas.)

To sleep is to manifest faith. It is an acknowledgment that we don’t have to be in control of everything. It is letting God take care of us and every concern we may have while we close our eyes to rest for a moment. Jesus sleeps soundly in a storm because His soft pillow is His steadfast faith in His Father. In the quiet of His sleep, Jesus shows us how we can stay calm, composed and most trusting especially in the trying moments of our lives. Last May, Fr. Mike Schmitz gave a very inspiring commencement address for the graduating class of 2024 at the Ave Maria University concerning faith. He said: “Your faith doesn’t grow if you feel good,” Father Mike repeats. “Your faith doesn’t grow when you’re in your living room. Your faith doesn’t grow when you’re in a place where there’s no opposition. Your faith grows when you’re in the wilderness. Your faith actually has the opportunity to grow when you’re stumbling.”

Our strong faith in God is our refuge. This is where we draw confidence from when we have great challenges in life. We just have to believe that the Lord will never leave us.

He’s always got our backs. No matter how violent our storms may be. In our First Reading God reminds Job of this. God is the Creator and Lord of the universe. Nothing can be greater or more powerful. In Biblical terms, the wind and sea represent the forces of evil deemed at work in creation. The fact that Jesus calms the storm is an exercise of divine power. When God commands, nature has no choice but to obey.

Brothers and sisters, we are reminded through today’s mass readings that we need to persevere in faith and trust that God is in control. Our faith assures us that Jesus is ever-present and ever-living. We need to trust Him more. We must walk toward Him at all times. We must allow Jesus to take us to safer shores.

The Kingdom Beyond Us

Homily: Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 4:26-34

16 June 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

Early last year I attended our school’s alumni homecoming as we (our batch) were pearl jubilarians. I had the chance to get together with my former colleagues at Assumption Iloilo (most of them are either retired or have gone abroad for other work opportunities). Our conversation centred on a few of our former students who were real “challenges” to most of us teachers but who have grown to be very successful in life and their respective careers. I remember a particular student who was a sure candidate for expulsion. I am glad that we, her teachers, decided to give her one last chance… Fast forward to today, the girl is now a medical doctor. Her classmates told me she helps a lot of people by giving pro-bono services to poor patients. We felt so proud of her. We also marvelled at how God had worked on each one of those “difficult” students through these years. We realised that in most respects we simply have to patiently trust in God’s plan for each one of us and never give up on people because God’s plans are always for our own good.

Today, Jesus continues teaching by way of parables and offers two images for “how it is” in the Kingdom of God. The seed that grows though the farmer “knows not how” (Mark 4:27) magnifies our confidence in the amazing power of God at work, especially where we mistakenly assume that the burden of responsibility in making the Kingdom of God come is in our own hands. Then, Jesus cites the mustard seed, “smallest of all the seeds on the earth,” (Mark 4:31) as a reminder that, with patience, God can bring about great things from what seems to be insignificant. These parables draw out from us the importance of confidence in God, not in ourselves. They invite us to hope for “great things” from God. They point to the need for patience in all our endeavours.

In the passage from Ezekiel, we are reminded that God has a master plan for all His people. The context of the passage is the captivity of God’s people in Babylon. They most likely struggled, as captives of Babylon, to believe in God’s promise of deliverance. Imagine waking up every morning as a captive in a foreign land hoping and praying that would be the day God fulfils His promise of deliverance only for the sun to set with no change in the situation. It was in their desperation that the prophet Ezekiel was sent to speak to them of God’s promised restoration for His people. Ezekiel uses the metaphor of the tender shoot from which their salvation shall come forth. God Himself will cultivate this chosen sprout until it reaches full growth. “It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar.” (Ezekiel 17:23)

Similarly, in the Second Reading, St. Paul advises the Corinthians to take courage and be steadfast in the midst of their struggles in life. As Christians they are to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) Life for them was not easy and Paul could not physically come to their rescue, or give them the solutions to their problems. Paul was not privy to God’s plan of deliverance for them. He could only advise them to develop eyes of faith to perceive the hand of God helping them through all of life’s adversities.

Through the readings we are invited to see with the eyes of faith various situations in our lives that seem to be apparently without God’s presence. We are also invited to discern how God is powerfully at work in each of our lives, especially in those persons and places where our impatience makes “seeing” and “believing” very difficult and almost impossible. Let us remember that it is not we who are responsible for the growth of God’s Kingdom. God is the one working through us, achieving His saving work, if we only cooperate with Him — getting out of His way and allowing Him to work wonders in our lives and those of our brothers and sisters.

There is a homily by Bishop Ken Untener, which he had written as a priest in 1979, for a cardinal presiding over a special mass. It was inspired by Saint Oscar Romero’s reminder for those who work for the coming of God’s Kingdom that “we cannot do everything”. I would like to read an except to close today’s homily: “We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is the Lord’s work…. This enables us to do something and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are the workers, not the master builders, ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future that is not our own. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.”

Art Work from sincovaga.com.br

Standing Up for Jesus

Homily: Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 3:20-35

9 June 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

The Crown is a series on Netflix that I find interesting because it is about the British Royal Family. In one episode they depicted a conversation that allegedly transpired between Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In the scene, the Queen tells the Prime Minister that it is a mistake to assume that privileged people lack strength of character. Her Majesty then adds that to make enemies everywhere is a rather dangerous game. Margaret Thatcher replies that she is quite comfortable with making enemies. Moreover, she recites the lines of a poem by Charles Mackay: “You have no enemies, you say? Alas, my friend, the boast is poor. He who has mingled in the fray of duty that the brave endure, must have made foes. If you have none, small is the work that you have done. You’ve hit no traitor on the hip. You’ve dashed no cup from perjured lip. You’ve never turned the wrong to right. You’ve been a coward in the fight.” (“Walang kuwenta ang pagmamalaki mong wala kang kalaban. Ang taong nangangahas na gumawa ng tama at tahakin ang tuwid na landas ay tiyak na may makakasagupa. Kung walang kumokontra sa iyo, yun ay dahil di ka nangahas na ituwid ang mali, ilantad ang taksil at itama ang kasinungalingan. Wari’y isa kang duwag na di nanindigan para sa katuwiran.”) Simply put, when we do what is right, we will make enemies of those who delight in doing what is wrong.

The gospel this Sunday illustrates how Jesus has made enemies of those who misconstrued the motives of His ministry. Sadly, even His own kin doubted Him and the authenticity of His actions. We are told they came to seize Jesus by force if need be, to subdue Him, perhaps out of concern for His safety, but more likely because they thought He was out of His mind. Then Jesus is challenged by His adversaries who questioned His motivation for the miraculous driving out of demons and evil spirits. They witnessed Jesus’ miracle of healing but “the hardness of their hearts” made them refuse to accept Him. Refusing to recognise the power of God at work in Jesus, they resorted to discrediting Him by accusing Him of being in league with Beelzebul, the prince of demons. After Jesus responds by trying a little bit of logic with them, their argument falls flat and they were exposed for the fools that they were. “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, that is the end of him.”

Today’s gospel passage reminds us that as Christians, we will surely face opposition and conflict in our desire to be faithful to Jesus. There will also be people who will misconstrue our motivations for doing good or question our conviction for upholding what is right and just. They will discredit us especially if our values do not conform to their standards for or models of goodness. In today’s society it is very common that people who fight and expose corruption are the ones who end up persecuted and prosecuted? They make enemies of those who are corrupt and of the people who benefit from such illegal and immoral practices. Their reputations are attacked, stories are made up about them and they are crucified in the media and especially on social media. In the same way, those who work in solidarity with the oppressed to change unjust social structures end up “retagged”. Smear campaigns are launched by those who make their fortunes at the expense of others. The message of our gospel is that we should never allow setbacks such as these to dampen our spirits but rather strengthen our resolve and increase our courage in the pursuit of goodness for in this way we can be assured that we follow in the footsteps of the Lord.

In closing, I would like to share with you a poem claimed by some sources to have been found in an orphanage in India while others attribute it to St. Teresa of Calcutta. It goes…

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and joy, some may be jealous. Be joyful anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Brothers and sisters, let us have courage! Let us not fear making enemies in our attempt to be good and in doing what is right. If we choose to follow in Christ’s footsteps, we should expect to face adversity and endure difficulties. Those who shun Jesus will fight to hold on to the wealth and power that the world has given them. God never forgets those who stand up for Him. May we resolutely live out our faith with compelling conviction and endeavour to share the love of Christ with others at all times.

The EUCHARIST: A Gift and A Challenge

Homily: Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

2 June 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

When I was still a religious in formation, one of my assigned tasks was to work with a community in the Northern Philippines for their relocation because they lived in danger zones — on the banks of the Cagayan River. I remember that in each trip I always found myself carrying more bags on my return compared to one backpack on my way there. [I had calamansi, camote, peanuts, fried dinuguan, etc. as pasalubong/pabaon.] Generosity is one virtue that we experience among people in the province. At times I felt like they literally took whatever they had and gave it all to me. Their acts of kindness and generous sharing exemplify the message of today’s Scripture readings and the significance of today’s celebration.

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, traditionally called in Latin as the feast of Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ). We celebrate with great joy Christ’s total self-giving through the Eucharist — His giving us of His Body and Blood. This is not just a simple sharing of what one has but rather an ultimate act of total self-giving. We often hear people say that we have not truly given of ourselves until it hurts.” When we love, it is painful! We are broken. It entails sacrifices. Sometimes it means swallowing our pride.

Our faith teaches us that every time we come to mass, the bread and wine we offer as a sacrifice, become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. It is not just a symbol or a representation but it IS! To be honest, we do not see the host turn into a living, bleeding human flesh, as Jesus would have appeared as He was sacrificed on the cross. Perhaps this is why some people have a difficulty showing respect and reverence when they receive communion. We have to mentally, emotionally and physically prepare to receive Jesus Christ, our Lord. We dress decently, observe the one-hour fast, attend the mass (we don’t just show up for communion and go), and properly receive the Lord. When the priest or minister says “The Body of Christ”, what do we say? The proper response is “Amen” not “Thank you”, “Okay” nor even “I love you Jesus”. We receive the host with reverence (we can bow if we can) and receive Jesus on our tongue or in clean hands. We make sure to consume the host IMMEDIATELTY. It is not for takeout or to “save for later”. It is very important that we respond to this special experience as though Jesus, Himself were standing in front of us saying, “I have died to save you from your sins, that you may have eternal life!”

In acknowledging and honouring the wonderful gift of the Eucharist, we are also made to reflect on the implication of this gift of spiritual nourishment in our lives. St Augustine once said “If we receive the Eucharist worthily, we become what we receive.” In receiving communion, we receive Jesus and we have this opportunity to become more like Jesus. As we are nourished by Jesus through the Eucharist, we are also challenged to become more and more a source of nourishment for others. We are impelled to live the Christ-life by going out in service to the needs of others. This way our Lord Jesus Christ can continually be present and active among us.

When we receive Holy Communion and enter into this most intimate union with Christ, we are also most intimately united with one another. Being one with Jesus, we cannot simply turn our backs to those in need among us. Being one with Jesus, we cannot hold back forgiveness from people who ask for our forgiveness. Being one with Jesus, we choose to be understanding and encouraging instead of being negative and critical. To be one with Jesus is to be united in His family, the Church. As family, we cannot turn our backs on each other.

Brothers and sisters, as we value this precious gift of the Eucharist in our lives, may we always strive to be a source of nourishment for our brothers and sisters. This our gift and our challenge!

The Triune God and Our Call to Discipleship

Homily: Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Matthew 28:16-20

26 May 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

How many stars do you think there are in the sky? If we check tonight, we will see maybe a hundred of the brightest stars from the constellations. However, have we ever seen the night sky while we were at a beach or in the province — far from the city lights and LED billboards? We will realise that there are so many more stars in the heavens. The universe is one of the greatest mysteries to humankind. Our scientists and astronomers try to learn as much as they can about the cosmos but there is so much more we do not understand. Despite this, we can still appreciate the beauty of a million stars twinkling in the sky.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It is one of the greatest mysteries in Christianity. We believe in One God who reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — three persons of the Holy Trinity. The very notion is difficult to perceive, explain and especially understand without faith. No one has truly seen the Father, even the great people of the Old Testament who were all blessed to have come into His presence and to have spoken to Him. The Bible has no accounts confirming God as a fatherly old man with long white hair and a white beard. Just last week we celebrated Pentecost — the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary. What we read in biblical accounts is a description of the Holy Spirit such as a strong wind and tongues of fire… no human form. It is by humankind’s experience of Jesus and His teachings about the Father and the Holy Spirit that we come across the trinitarian nature of God. Yet, until now, despite centuries of study, no one has come close to unlocking the mystery. Our understanding of the Triune God is limited to how “Father”, “Son” and “Holy Spirit” emerge in scripture in relation to one another. We understand God the Father as CREATOR whose existence and every action is love, and who sends His Son, Jesus, as REDEEMER of the world. In turn, it is Jesus who sends the Holy Spirit, the SANCTIFIER, proceeding from the Father and the Son, to guide and strengthen the followers of Jesus in the work of evangelisation.

I personally feel that our understanding of the Trinity is grounded on our experience of God and our need for God. In the passage from the Book of Deuteronomy, we are told how God has been especially gracious in His dealings with His Chosen People — caring enough for them, providing their needs, which in this case was freedom from Egyptian slavery, an identity as a people, and a land to call their own. Of course, there are accounts of God reprimanding and punishing His people for their obstinacy and hard-heartedness as a father disciplines his children, but these are balanced out by accounts of how God desired that all His children prosper and enjoy the fullness of life He offers. As Moses enjoins the people: “You must keep His statutes and commandments… that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have a long life…” (Deut. 4:40) This God goes even further. He has poured into the hearts of all believers His Spirit that moves us to relate to Him as our Abba (Father). In His Son Jesus, we are not treated like slaves but rather as brothers and sisters, adopted children of The Father, destined to a heavenly inheritance. St. Paul says: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:16) All throughout Scriptures, we encounter a God in the Holy Spirit whose very nature is goodness and is moved by that loving nature to share His goodness with all of us His children.

For all of us believers, the Trinity is not just a dogma but an experience of the presence of three Persons in our faith life as God continually creates, saves and, sustains humanity and all creation. As followers of Jesus, we all share in the very life of the Trinity and we have been commissioned by Jesus to carry forth the saving work of the Trinity. We are called “to the creativity of the Father into a seemingly hopeless predicament.” Have you ever held a position of authority or granted responsibility over others? As a parent of a family or the boss of an office, we will always be faced with challenges that can be overwhelming and almost impossible to address — how to stretch a small budget; how to make time for everything, and having to make sacrifices for the good of the majority. In times like these, let us call on God the Father to guide us and to strengthen our resolve to face such challenges.

-We too, are to extend the forgiveness of the Son to all of us who recognise our guilt and who want to make amends for the wrong we have done. This is one of the more difficult things we have to do. Naturally, because no one is perfect, we are all bound to make mistakes — mistakes that tend to hurt one another. What is important is we ask forgiveness from those we have hurt and forgive those who have hurt us. We pray this every time in the Our Father…. “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” And yet, there are those among us whom we find difficult to forgive. We still feel there are those who don’t deserve our mercy and understanding. Let us call on the Lord Jesus to grant us the grace to forgive — to help us see the face of God in them. It is not about our worthiness for forgiveness but our capacity to be the bigger person. Let us remember that Jesus forgave us and loved us when humanity was unlovable and not even sorry for the sins each and everyone has committed.

Lastly, we are to bring the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to those who are finding their way to the right path. We are all responsible for one another because we are all part of God’s family. We should never say “we are not our brother’s or our sister’s keeper”. We are! We should care about one another and counsel one another when we see that there are those among us losing their way. Two weeks ago, when we celebrated Pentecost, we were reminded that the Holy Spirit gives us seven-fold gifts. We have to use these gifts to guide one another in genuine compassion. Even if people may misunderstand or reject our effort, the important thing is to try. We owe it to one another as we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

In all these ways the God who is love goes forth to “all nations” through us. Yes, we may not know or grasp everything about the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT especially when they are referred to as the Holy Trinity. However, for all times, our TRIUNE GOD has continuously reached out to us in love and with the ardent desire to be known by His people as a loving God. In turn, as messengers of God in the world, we are all commissioned to witness by our lives to the goodness of THE BLESSED TRINITY. Moreover, we draw strength from Jesus’ words: “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)