Sunday Gospel Reflections

HOMILY: Mass of the Lord’s Supper/Holy Thursday

John 13:1-15

6 April 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

When we want our friends to remember us, we usually give them gifts. Sometimes we give them gifts we know they will like, or give them things that will remind them of us, or sometimes we treat them to experiences like a trip (ang “shala”), a movie, or treat them to a meal.  They are tokens of our friendship.  Gifts need not be expensive among true friends; rather meaningful gifts are more precious and reflective of the depth of the friendship.  

At the Last Supper, Jesus also gives His disciples a special parting gift. It is not just any kind of gift but rather a very special one.  Jesus gave Himself and His constant presence among them in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is His greatest Gift to us; it is the source and summit of our Christian Life. 

Tonight, more than the washing of the feet of the apostles, we celebrate the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. At every mass, we remember Jesus’ gift of Himself for His dear friends. It is not a past event that we worry about. Hindi ito isang nakalipas na pangyayari na ating inaalala. Neither are we watching a reenactment of Jesus’ flogging, passion and crucifixion but rather we witness Christ’s sacrifice on the cross becoming truly present in the celebration of the Eucharist. Tuwing inaalay ang katawan at dugo ni Kristo sa altar ay nangyayari na mag-uli ang Kanyang pagsasakripisyo para sa ating kaligtasan.  Though the Paschal mystery of Christ is not repeated, it is made present by the power of the Holy Spirit at every mass. How is this possible? Sa totoo lang ito ay isang Banal na Misteryo ng simbahan. Hindi natin lubos na maintindihan ang galaw ng ating makapangyarihang Diyos. Pero nanampalataya tayo na totoo ang binitiwang habilin ni Hesus sa Huling Hapunan.  Sa ikalawang pagbasa ng sulat ni San Pablo sa mga Korinto, ikinukuwento muli ang mga sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga kaibigan. Jesus twice told the apostles, “Do this in remembrance of me.” First, after He says over the bread: “This is my body that is for you,” and then again, after He says over the cup: “This covenant is the new covenant in my blood.”  The Church teaches “All that Christ is – all that He did and suffered for all men – participates in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times” (CCC 1085) Dahil sa umaapaw na pagmamahal ni Kristo para sa sangkatauhan, ipinahintulot Niya na ating maranasan sa bawat misa ang Kanyang sakripisyo na siyang ugat ng ating kaligtasan. 

Kamakailan, may isang estudyante na ginawan ng food review ang consecrated host “Ostiya”. Ibinulsa ang ostiyang natanggap sa komunyon at ginawan ng food review na tila ito ay ordinaryong pagkain lamang. Nakakalungkot ito dahil ito ay patunay na tila kulang na ang ating kaalaman at pananampalataya kung kaya’t di natin kinikila ang halaga ng banal na sakramento. Importanteng, nakikita sa atin ng kabataan kung paano dapat respetuhin ang katawan ni Kristo sa ostiya.  Salamat sa Diyos at nang may isang news article na nagsabing “the host symbolises Christ” ay may pari na umalma at itinama ang balita. The host is not a symbol! The host is Christ Himself!” The scriptural basis for this belief can be traced back to the Last Supper, as recounted in the Gospels. In particular, the Gospel of John (6:53-56) highlights Jesus’ command to His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood, an act necessary for eternal life. 

Theologically, this can be explained through what is termed as “Transubstantiation”, which means a change of substance. Sa oras ng “consecration” sa misa nagbabagong anyo ang tinapay at alak ay nagiging katawan at dugo ni Kristo. Kahit pareho lang ang hitsura nito sa atin, nananampaltaya tayo na binago na ng Diyos Ama sa kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo ang inihain sa altar. 

Since it is Jesus Himself we are receiving, we should always approach the Holy Communion with reverence, respect, and devotion! Kaya tayo ay pinapayuhang mag-ayuno ng isang oras bago magkomunyon, magbihis ng maayos bago humarap sa Panginoon, at ihanda ang kalooban (mas mabuti kung nakapagkumpisal) bago tanggapin si Kristo. We must realize that as we approach the altar, we are to receive Jesus, not mere bread and wine symbolic of Jesus, but truly Jesus Christ, the bread come down from heaven, His true Body and Blood. We are receiving the Lord Himself. As Jesus Himself said: “My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” And as St. Paul said: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion in the blood of Christ? The bread we break, is it not a communion in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). 

When we receive Holy Communion and enter into this most intimate union with Christ, we are also most intimately united with one another. The Eucharist is what makes the Church. Ang binubuklod ng Sakramento ay di lang ikaw at si Hesus kundi ang buong sambayanang banal. Through our union with Christ, we are also united deeply with one another as the Body of Christ.  When we receive the Eucharist, our soul is fed: we become what we receive, we become ONE IN CHRIST.  What an amazing gift indeed!

Photo from: Denver Catholic

HOMILY: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Matthew 27:11-54

2 April 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Do you like the feeling of being alone? It’s true that some prefer to be alone. They are at peace — alone but not lonely. But loneliness is far different from being alone. It can be felt even when you are surrounded by so many people.  Loneliness can be a terrible thing. The feeling of having no one to talk to, no one to understand us, no support in times of trouble, no one to share our joys is sad and painful.

In counselling sessions, a very common issue is the feeling of abandonment. There are children who feel abandoned by parents who have other priorities and are always too busy for them. But there are more and more elderly people who feel that their children have already forgotten them. Some are the “empty nesters” whose children have moved on to make their own lives. Others, even when living with their family, feel that they are just a burden and are simply useless.

Whether we admit it or not, we all yearn to be wanted, acknowledged and accepted.   We fear rejection and abandonment because we are by nature, relational beings. Don’t we say, “no man is an island” and we sing, “no one lives for oneself…”? We all struggle with the feeling of not measuring up or not being accepted and loved for who we are.  

Today is Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week. Listening and meditating on today’s account of Jesus’ Passion according to Matthew, we are made to imagine the sense of abandonment Jesus experienced on the cross. Abandoned by friends, betrayed by one and denied by another, mocked by soldiers, taunted and jeered at by the bystanders, Jesus could not have felt more alone at His darkest hour. To highlight this utter abandonment, Matthew’s account does not make mention of the presence of Mary and the Beloved Disciple standing at the foot of the cross. At least in the other Passion narratives, both are described as having accompanied Jesus up unto His crucifixion. Mary Magdalene and the other women are also mentioned but they were supposedly looking on from a distance. 

Jesus cries out in agony and desperation from the cross: “My God, my God why have you abandoned me.” (Psalm 22:1) One Scripture scholar notes that this is the only time in the gospel accounts that Jesus prays to His Father using the formal and distant name — “God” — as compared to other gospel accounts where He consistently calls God, “Abba” (Father). Jesus knew how it felt to be in pain, to cry out for God, and to feel alone. At a very crucial moment of His life, Jesus has a very human response. This is important for us because we can be sure that Christ fully understands what we are going through. There is no pain hidden in his knowledge and experience. Our God is not oblivious to our suffering. Victims of war and natural disasters who struggle to survive in a world that is indifferent to their plight, children of broken families who end up thinking they are to blame, the desolation of those who die alone — these are some of the many faces of Jesus today who cry out to God (and us) for mercy, relief and compassion. 

However, Jesus does not dwell on this painful human experience. His confidence in His Father wins out in the end. We are told that Jesus cries out AGAIN and this time hands over His spirit to the Father. Jesus dies in anguish but still trusts in God’s vindication. Just like the Psalmist’s prayer of lament that ends with a statement of trust in God: “For He has not despised nor scorned the suffering of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.” (Psalm 22:24) Jesus hands over Himself in obedience. He remains faithful to the end — seeking to fulfil God’s will to the very end of His life. Jesus does not lose confidence in His Father. He abandons Himself to the loving arms of the Father because He knows, in the Father’s mercy, everything turns out for the good. This should encourage us to persevere and to have hope. Desperation, loneliness, and abandonment should never be the end of our story. God never abandons His people. He knows each one of us intimately and loves us unconditionally. In Isaiah 49:15-16, God says: “…even if a mother forgets her child, I will never forget you. I have engraved you in the palm of my hand.” 

The call for us this Holy Week and throughout all our lives — is to recognise that Jesus, in His love for us, is one with us, even in our suffering and feelings of abandonment and He shows us by example what it means to have complete confidence in the Father. Let us ask the Lord to deepen our faith so that we can surrender to God all that is troubling our hearts and minds. May we never lose sight of His unwavering promise of new life. “Father, we place ourselves into your hands in our desire to become sharers of your divine life!”

HOMILY: Fifth Sunday of Lent (A)
John 11:1-45
26 March 2023
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA
 
It is crazy and annoying to read or watch “nega” posts and videos on social media. It destroys our peace and mental well-being. Even in text messages, if we are not careful, we might be spreading fake news. As my friend calls it, we, ourselves, have become purveyors of death rather than of life to those around us.
 
Isn’t it better for us that we give life and hope to others? Why do we have to join in so many toxicity and negativity around us? There are so many traces of death, destruction, and chaos in all aspects of life today. Sometimes it may feel like we are living in tombs like Lazarus. We do not have to be locked in our tombs and even more so we shouldn’t put others in that situation.
 
The raising of Lazarus is a PREVIEW into the resurrection.  Although it is proof of the power of God over death, the raising of Lazarus was a resuscitation not a resurrection. Lazarus retained his same mortal body that would have been subject to aging, sickness and death. In due time, Lazarus also died. Easter is our first genuine example of the resurrection. In His resurrection, Jesus’ body is transformed and is eternal, a body that will never die. This resurrection of dead people at the second coming of Jesus is believed and expected by all who believe and accept Christ.
 
Today’s first reading from Ezekiel gives us an image of this resurrection of the dead. God opens the graves and makes the dead rise out of them. It is not zombie apocalypse. They are fully alive and not the living dead. They are brought back to life by God’s very spirit that He puts in them. The second reading tells us how precious and powerful the Spirit of God is. It says, “If Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also.” (Romans 8:10-11) Let’s remember that after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were punished with mortality — they grew old and died. In Genesis 3:19 God says to Adam that he shall return to the ground “for dust you are and to dust you shall return.” All of us as descendants of Adam and Eve inherit this punishment. We will all die in time. That is the wages of sin. But the reading says, if Christ is in us, our soul will remain alive and the Lord who resurrected Christ will also resurrect our human body. That’s God’s promise! We can hold on to him because the Lord never lies.
 
What does this mean for us now as we wait for the day of Christ’s return? As followers of Jesus, we need to choose life and what is life-giving. The restoration of life depicted in the readings is very much like the work of Creation. In the beginning, the creature that had been formed from the dust of the ground came into being when God breathed the breath of life into it. (Genesis 2:7). When we choose things that are in accordance with Christ, it is as if we are participating in God’s work of giving life. We participate in God’s work of creation, in Christ’s work of redemption, in the Holy Spirit’s work of recreation!
 
In times of crisis like the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, we witnessed the volunteerism of many good Samaritans, heroes, and saints. They were there to save as many lives as they could — rescuing people, providing treatment to the injured as well as food and shelter to the victims rendered homeless by the catastrophe. Many of us, will not be given the opportunity to join such rescue operations but if we look around us, we will see who needs our help. Sometimes, it is our own companions in the house who need our care the most. 
 
Although we cannot, on our own, raise ourselves out of the many forms of death that afflict us, remember that the author of life never tires of reviving us. Jesus is constantly calling to us, inviting us to follow Him, the same way He called Lazarus out of his grave to restore him to life. Let Jesus be our inspiration to be LIFE-GIVERS to one another. Let us draw from within ourselves what is good, true, and Christ-like to bring people out of their tombs of death and lead them to faith and hope in our God!

HOMILY: Fourth Sunday of Lent (A)

John 9:1-41

19 March 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities…. This is proof that dreams come true.” This is what Michelle Yeoh said in her acceptance speech as best actress in the recently concluded Academy Awards last Sunday. She adds, “And ladies…never let anybody tell you that you are past your prime.” Michelle Yeoh makes history as the first Asian to win an Oscar for best actress for her role as Evelyn Wang in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Her win is ground-breaking because now filmmakers and producers will start seeing Asians, Asian women, and older women as the talented and bankable Hollywood artists that they are. They will no longer be passed up for meaty lead roles in movies. 

The principal theme of the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent centres on seeing. It is not just about physical seeing but rather a much deeper kind of seeing that leads to spiritual insight. Ang kuwento ng ebanghelyo ngayong ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma ay ang pagpapagaling ni Hesus sa isang taong ipinanganak na bulag. If we look closely, there are more here than meets the eye! It wasn’t just the sight of the blind man’s eyes that was restored. He actually gained in-sight into who Jesus was and the impact He made on his life. Unlike the Pharisees who continue to persist in darkness and acknowledge the truth before them, the once-blind-man can really see who Jesus is — the Messiah. 

In the Gospel, ironically everyone who had sight failed to see. Everyone except the blind man. This blindness is prevalent throughout the gospel passage. First the incredulous disciples asked: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) And Jesus responded “Neither he or his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible thru him.” (John 9:3) Right there and then, Jesus wanted them to see that it is through human weakness that the power of God is able to enter through and work in someone’s life. Diyan pa lang sa Kanyang salita, ipinakikita na ni Hesus na sa kahinaan ng tao natin maaaninag ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos Ama. Second, you have some of the blind man’s neighbours who only saw him for his disability: “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg? Some said, “It is,” but others who refused to recognise the healing said, “No, no he just looks like him.” (John 9:8-9) Thirdly, you have the Pharisees who chose to live in the darkness of their prejudice towards Jesus. Ginawa nilang issue ang pagpapagaling ni Hesus sa Sabbath. They discredit Jesus by focusing on the fact that Jesus has failed to observe Jewish law and even condemn the once-blind-man as a fraud saying he was born in sin. “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” (John 9:16) They were adamant despite the presence of dissenting voices who recognise the truth about Jesus: “How can a sinful man do such signs?” (John 9:16) They were easily drowned out by those who shouted the loudest. As they say, “If we are prejudiced against a person, that person can do nothing right in our eyes. If we are prejudiced in favour of a person, that person can do nothing wrong in our eyes.” Lastly, even the parents of the blind man who should have been the most credible witnesses of such a miracle were afraid to open their eyes to the blessing received, abandoning their son to the cynical crowd. Instead of witnessing for him, say their son is of age and can answer their questions himself.

This theme of seeing is further emphasized in the story of the search for a new king and the eventual choice and anointing of David as King of Israel. Nobody saw anything worthwhile in the youngest child, David; he was considered too young and unimportant to be thought of as a viable contender to become king of Israel. Not even the great prophet Samuel saw in him such a potential. The prophet was reminded, however, that “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) God saw David’s heart and was obviously pleased with what is there for him to become God’s anointed one.

The readings this Sunday offer us an opportunity to look carefully at how we perceive others and the situations we find ourselves in. Do we consider some people too insignificant for greatness?  Are we so jaded and biased by society’s judgment of people that we cannot see them for who they are?  Dati, ang mga pulis ay may reputasyon sa pagiging baluktot. Di na halos makita ang mga magigiting na pulis na kahanga-hanga at may integridad. Pag nakakakita tayo ng “Bumbay” na nakamotor, agad iniisip 5/6 ang negosyo nito, samantalang iba-iba na rin ang trabaho nila. Sometimes, we are so hung up on what is going wrong all around us that we fail to see what is gojng right in our life.  Are we too focused on what afflicts us that we fail to see the good God makes out of all of our life’s challenges? Di ba sabi nila “Count your blessings?” There is actually a prayer that goes “Lord, increase my faith that I may see You through my tears.”

St. Paul tells the Ephesians in our Second Reading today: “Live as children of the light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” (Ephesians 5:8-9) Let us pray for a deepening of faith. Let us pray that we may be open to receive the light of Christ that illumines the darkness around us. In moments of blindness and doubt, when we are seemingly asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (John 9:35) we can answer confidently, “Yes, I do believe, Lord!” (John 9:38)

HOMILY: Third Sunday of Lent (A)

John 4:5-15

12 March 2023 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Have you ever made an effort to avoid certain people because you feel judged? That’s exactly what the woman in the gospel does! She went to the well at noon, instead of the usual early morning, probably to avoid the “gossipmongers” (“marites”). It is not surprising that her affairs interest others foremostly because, she is a Samaritan and their kind is not accepted by the Jews. Second, her love life is quite an issue as she has been with a number of men. 

In her conversation with Jesus, we can observe that she has no awareness nor shame over her practice of immorality. Indeed, when we have become so used to a sinful pattern of living, we can become blind to what we need to correct. We continue to sin because we are numb to our sin. At times, we can be as stubborn and stiff-necked as the people in the wilderness whom Moses had a really hard time dealing with. They were saved from slavery in Egypt; Yet, they still had the proclivity to get angry, to demand and grumble the moment they experience thirst. Despite, their ill behaviour, God provides water for them. As Moses strikes his staff on the rock, water flows out fit for them to drink. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we can also be way too stubborn for our own good. Yes, we are invited to listen to people who truly care for us so that we can get out of certain patterns of behaviour that deter us from truly becoming the persons God intended us to be. 

Only the sincere concern of Jesus enlightened the Samaritan woman. He recognises that she has been filling the void in her life with unhealthy relationships. Jesus offers her living water. He says that whoever drinks it will never go thirsty and it will become a spring within them welling up to eternal life. Despite her sins, Jesus offered her a lifelong solution to her thirst. Her decision to acknowledge her shortcomings and eventually open her heart to Jesus brings her a new lease on life. 

The gospel challenges us to think about where we have gone astray. We must find courage to let go of our sinful patterns of behaviour and to choose to be found in the Lord. Let us remember that Christ’s coming into the world made no sense to those who had no need for Him (those who thought they were already righteous). Jesus came for those who knew they had sinned and were aware that they needed to be saved from their own transgressions. The Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus brought about healing and transformation.  

Consequently, the Samaritan woman’s conversion moved her to be a herald of the Good News to her community. She returned to their place and told the story of her encounter with Jesus as the Messiah. They invited Jesus to the town and He stayed there for two days! Her testimony brought the people to a deeper faith in Jesus. The people professed their new-found faith in Him saying, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the saviour of the world.” (John 4:42) Like her, our relationship with the Lord must lead us to a more zealous proclamation and living out of the Good News. 

Brothers and sisters, we are sinners, but Jesus loves us so much despite our unworthiness. This is what St. Paul speaks about in the Second Reading. “God proves his love to us…that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Let us open ourselves to God’s transforming grace so that our lives may be a visible testament of the Good News for others.

Artwork by Blair C. Nuyda, AA

HOMILY: Second Sunday of Lent (A)

Matthew 17:1-9

5 March 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

We are persons of habit. When we like something or have a habit of doing something, we will choose it or do it over and over again. We eat the same food, watch the same TV shows, go to the same barber for haircut, etc. When we are comfortable and are set in our ways, we are not too keen on making changes even if it is for our own good. A smoker for thirty years will not find it easy to quit the habit. Those who are used to taking coffee first thing in the morning are cranky if they must go without their usual cup. We resist and refuse to succumb to what is unfamiliar, uncomfortable and possibly difficult.  We do not want to be inconvenienced.  

In the gospel reading for this Second Sunday of Lent, we hear of the Transfiguration. Peter, James and John caught sight of the true glory of Jesus. Peter’s reaction was a bit strange. He was in awe of Christ. This is the image of the saviour he has been looking and waiting for, not the ordinary person they meet every day who is oppressed and despised by the authorities. “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here…” (Matthew 17:4) While Peter is eager to stay and get settled, the implied message of Jesus’ transfiguration is actually a challenge to those who follow Him. If we are to partake in Jesus’ glory, we cannot simply stay where it is safe.  We cannot stay where we are always winners, where we are always at peace  and where we are always the hero, especially if those around us are suffering and falling into error and evil.

In the passage from the Book of Genesis, we are told of how God’s call demanded a radical change from Abraham. He left the security of his home to travel to another which was completely foreign to him. He had to leave behind what he knew and loved and journeyed into an unknown future. Because Abraham listened to God and believed in His promises, he was greatly blessed throughout the days of his life.     

Similarly, we cannot simply sit back, stay put and be content with the status quo. The one who truly listens to Jesus’ words… the one who takes heed of Jesus’ teachings cannot just stay and remain the same. We who have been blessed to come to know Jesus and have a personal relationship with him are akin to those who have ascended the mountain and encountered God.  But we should not simply stop there. We must come down the mountain to share with others what was learned from Jesus! We have to live out the demands of that Holy Voice that directs and leads us where to go and what to do. This is how we can witness to others the truth that Jesus lives and that He is the only true path to eternal life. 

The Transfiguration of Jesus is meant to encourage us to have hope and to look forward to our own transformation. We all have hope to change for the better even those whom we think are beyond redemption. It will not be easy. We may even have to pay dearly and sacrifice much as followers of Christ. There will be many challenges but we need to be strong.  In the Second Reading, St. Paul encourages Timothy, “Bear your share of the hardship for the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:8) He also gives assurance that God will provide him the strength that is needed to carry out what God wills — not only for Timothy but for us all.  Again, it will not be easy but the outcome will be our spiritual growth and maturity. As disciples of Christ, let us trust in Him and persevere. Let us keep the hope alive that one day, we may share in the glory of Jesus in Heaven.

HOMILY: First Sunday of Lent (A)

Matthew 4:1-11

26 February 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA 

“I’m only human.” This a phrase that we may have heard of and even used at some point in our life. We use it to justify our weaknesses that cause us to fall prey to temptations. However, it is our humanity that should constantly remind us of where we stand before the Lord — how we draw our strength from Him and find refuge in our Creator.

On the First Sunday of Lent we usually hear one of the Synoptic Gospel accounts of the Temptation of Jesus. This year, we hear St. Matthew’s version.

Many Bible scholars have noted that if we look closely at the three (3) temptations of Jesus in the wilderness, they could actually be classified into just one temptation. What  then is this temptation of Jesus? If we take into consideration the First Reading, the temptation to which Adam and Eve succumbed is set within the context of their being creatures. The devil enticed them to abandon their dependence on God by making them believe that they themselves would become “like gods”. In their desire to be equal with their Creator, they denied their reliance on Him as His creations. They, too, wanted the knowledge of good from evil and be independent of God. 

Contrast this with Jesus’ responses to the devil. “One does not live on bread alone…” (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3) “You shall not put your God to the test…” (Matthew 4:7; Deuteronomy 6:16) “The Lord, your God, shall you alone worship and Him alone shall you serve.” (Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:13) Each of these answers illustrates how the created being should relate with God, how a creature is necessarily dependent on the Creator alone. Hence, Jesus’ temptation in the form of food, prestige and power were the devil’s ways to make Him forget His reliance on the Father. Jesus was able to resist the devil’s temptation for satisfaction, power and wealth because He was humble. Although He Himself was God, He always deferred to the will of His Father. According to St. Paul in the 2nd Reading, redemption and new life entered the world through the obedience of Jesus whereas sin and death entered the world through the disobedience of Adam.

In fact, these three tests would recur throughout Jesus’ life. In every instant He would overcome it by choosing to serve God alone. According to a commentary I read on this gospel narrative, here are a few of those trying moments in Jesus’ life:

First, we recall that in two occasions, He multiplied bread for the multitude. He did so not for Himself but rather to feed the hungry crowd. (Matthew 14:13-21) Second, He rejected calls from His opponents to prove Himself by performing some wondrous signs. He insisted that the only sign that would be given them was that of His own death and resurrection. (Matthew 16:4) Third, after one of the feeding of the multitude accounts in John’s gospel, the crowd  wanted to make Him king. Instead, he fled, sought the Father’s guidance in prayer and moved on to other villages where He could also minister to others in need. (John 6:1-14)

Jesus would pass all three tests and would continue to do so during His life right up to the moment of His death. “In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus would ask to be spared the horrors of His Passion, but He would eventually put aside His own fears of suffering and death and voluntarily submit to the Father’s will. (Matthew 26:42) On the cross Jesus would make the despairing cry: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, and soon after, in total surrender He would say as He breathes His last: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.””

We all struggle with the temptation to abandon our loyalty to God for seemingly more attractive and easier paths of life that give us false security.  The temptations of Jesus also come into our lives in varying forms. We are all tempted to desire comfort. This is not the ordinary comfort that God wants us to have through hard work and perseverance, but rather the kind that we achieve through selfishness and indulgence. We are all tempted to desire success, to be somebody. Sometimes, we pursue this no matter the cost. We are all tempted to desire power: to run things, to run people, to be in charge to the point that we neglect the humanity and needs of people involved. Sometimes, we do not make room for God to work in our lives anymore. God’s will becomes secondary to our will. These are basic human desires, desires that we are inclined to want for ourselves no matter what it takes. These are inclinations that we need to be aware of, inclinations that we need to confront.  For us, too, the battle against evil never stops. It is a constant struggle as we try to be faithful followers of Jesus. 

Let our Lenten observance be a grace-filled moment where we can stand utterly naked before God, acknowledging our total dependence on Him who created us. Let us resist the temptation to believe that we can do things on our own without God’s help. Let us always call on God in moments of temptation. With Him at our side, we shall conquer bravely every temptation that comes our way.

HOMILY: Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Matthew 5:38-48

19 February 2023 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Not everyone is easy to love. There are people who disagree with us, people who disrespect us, who hurt us! We perceive these people to be selfish, self-centred, and downright cruel. The funny thing is, we may have just as well described ourselves! Is it not? The negative traits I mentioned are found in all people. I am sure we have acted out of selfishness at some point and our actions may have hurt others either deliberately or indirectly. You may say: “Uy, Father, di naman lagi.” (“Hey, Father, not always.”) Perhaps we are just better at controlling ourselves than others. Does that make us undeserving of love? 

Jesus’ words in today’s gospel passage are probably among the most challenging of His teachings. He says “offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:39-44) Jesus’ command is strange, isn’t it? For real? They say we should not fight against those who do us harm or those who are oppressing us or taking advantage of us. It is very difficult, isn’t it? Maybe, we want to say: “Are you kidding me Lord?” We would rather fight, take revenge or “abuse” others instead. I am sure WE have heard the saying that there are two types of people: the sheep and the wolves. There are the cheaters and those who allow themselves to be cheated. (May manloloko at may naloloko.) Why would we choose to play the victim? Why should we choose to be stupid? 

The answer is also in our reading.  In the Second Reading, we hear: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God.”  (1 Corinthians 3:19) The world teaches us that we protect ourselves and our interests. But God’s knowledge is wider. His knowledge and wisdom encompass all, including, past, present and future. He knows everything we have been through that has influenced who we are, what we are going through that affects how we interact with each other today, and our destiny — there may be hope that we will improve in the future and become instruments of goodness in our community. For this reason, God does not judge us for our isolated mistakes. He knows that we have the capacity for both good and evil and He gives us the chance to make amends while we are alive. God considers all of us as His children and “He makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)

God’s only Son, Jesus was no different. One of His Seven Last Words while He was hanging on the cross tells us that he prayed for His persecutors! He said “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).  In this prayer, Jesus is telling us that we should pray for that which our enemies lack: an awareness and recognition of their fault. Sometimes, when we are struggling or we are the ones who are hurt, we don’t think about the effect of our actions and words on others. What is important to us is to overcome our suffering or our pain. We become unaware of how we are affecting others. That is why when people realise their mistake they say: “I am sorry. No offence intended.” But even if they don’t apologise and say they know what they are doing, as followers of Christ, we should choose to understand them and just pray for them. We have to pray then that their hearts and minds will be opened and that they will realise their faults, their misgivings, their shortcomings, be sorry for them and make serious amends. More often than not, they too have been hurt in the past and we need to pray for their inner healing, for the restoration of peace and their inner security.  

Furthermore, in teaching the disciples to go the extra mile, to turn the other cheek and outdo themselves in generosity, Jesus is not suggesting that they allow themselves to be abused. Instead, He wants them to right the wrong done by overcoming evil with good, not with revenge. The way of Christ is not to beat sense into people but rather to melt the hardest of hearts with kindness and mercy.  “In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:22) By believing in the basic goodness of all human beings, we can tear down the aggression of the oppressor with acts of goodness. Even if we do not see it right away, let us trust that goodness will always prevail because our God who is good is the most powerful of all, and He will conquer evil in due time.

Loving as God loves is not easy. In fact, it may prove too much for us human beings who are bent on resentment, revenge, and minimal giving. On our own, this may prove to be impossible. St. Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians gives us some encouragement saying we “possess the power of the Spirit of God that enables [us] to overcome [our] prejudices and go beyond [our] antagonisms.” (1 Corinthians 3:16) We need the grace of God so that we can even attempt to love our enemies.
 
Today we ask for the grace to pray for our persecutors and to pray for the gift of insight — to see into what blinds those who harm and hurt us, so that we may understand them and be patient with them. We also pray that they may overcome their weakness and avoid becoming instruments of pain, of anger, of division. In this manner, may we grow as Christians who love as generously as God loves.

HOMILY: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:17-37

12 February 2023 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” That is according to Mahatma Gandhi. “The way to change other’s minds is through affection and not anger.” That is according to the Dalai Lama. Both of these men are considered among the wisest men who have ever lived. But there is One whose wisdom is far greater than these two. What is the answer? GOD! The wisdom of God is so vast and great. No creature can ever match the wisdom of God. 

St. Paul tells us that God’s wisdom is not the same as man’s wisdom. It is rather mysterious. It cannot be discerned by us unless God does not reveal it to us. He uses the words “what eye has not seen, ear has not heard, or entered the human heart..” (1 Corinthians 2:9) to emphasize that we are not privy to the details and the entirety of the grand plan that God has predestined for us. Why is Teresa married while Marisol is still single until now? Why did I become a priest while my companions in the seminary did not continue on? Why did you study in UP instead of Ateneo? Why were you born with a disability? Why are your parents poor instead of being rich? We don’t know what God plans for each of us. Nevertheless, we are assured that in God’s infinite wisdom, His plan is for the good of all who love Him. 

Sirach tells us two very important things. First, he reminds us that God’s wisdom is immense — “mighty in power and all-seeing”! (Sirach 15:18) God sees our hearts and knows all our actions. Nothing escapes the eyes of God even our most hidden and secret sins. Second, he reminds us that we are free to choose to trust in God’s wisdom or reject it. The choice is ours — fire or water, death or life, good or evil. (Sirach 15:17) God will never be on the side of evil. So, if we choose to sin and act unjustly, we are essentially saying we do not trust in the wisdom of God’s ways. It’s like telling God that we know better. But as said earlier, we are mere creatures who will never be able to match God’s wisdom.

In our gospel today, Jesus makes clear that He did not come to abolish the law but rather to fulfill it. Why does He not abolish the law? Because there is nothing wrong with the law that the Jews follow. Where do their laws come from in the first place? Is it not contained in God’s Ten Commandments? It was God, Himself, who spoke to Moses and relayed the Ten Commandments! We can be assured that those rules were borne of God’s wisdom, for the good of those who believe in Him. Now out of those 10 rules, the Jewish Law was expanded to 613!!! There are so many! All aspects of their life are covered in detail — food, clothing, rituals, purification, worship and so on. Where is the problem? It was the interpretation and strict adherence to the law mandated by their leaders that caused people to forget the spirit of the law. Recall that Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments into two (2) — Love of God and Love of neighbour! That is the spirit of the law! 

Jesus respected the law, naturally, because its origin was God the Father. He even says “not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law until heaven and earth have passed away and all things have taken place” in accordance to God’s plan. (Matthew 5:18) But why does Jesus seem to expand the interpretation of the laws? It is because Jesus goes one step further and asks us to guard our thoughts and feelings as they translate into actions. He says anger is already tantamount to killing because when someone takes the life of another in anger, it is because he/she has already killed all love and compassion for that person in his/her heart. When a man looks lustfully at a woman who is not his wife, his heart becomes restless with desire for that woman. That’s when he starts thinking that… “Sana dalawa ang puso ko”. (How I wish I have two hearts!) That is already a betrayal of his marriage vow to love his wife wholeheartedly.  Essentially, the law is good because it was based on God’s word. Jesus fulfills the law because He is the WORD made flesh! 

Everywhere Jesus went He demonstrated to all, by His words and actions, the spirit of the law — how people should love God and how they were to love one another. When He goes to the extreme of saying, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off or if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.” (Matthew 5:29) Jesus is cautioning humanity to be aware of what causes them to sin repeatedly.  Jesus seems to be saying that it is very important that we use our freedom to choose obedience to the laws that God has ordained. If we sin and reject God, we lose heaven forever. So, at all costs, do whatever is necessary to live a life pleasing to God — a life of love.

In the readings of the past weeks, we hear of the Pharisees criticising Jesus for feeding His hungry disciples or healing the sick on the Sabbath. Jesus always stands up to them in an attempt to help them see that in their desire to strictly obey the law, they failed to uphold the spirit of mercy and compassion which the law is grounded on. Love. Pag-ibig. That is the be-all and end-all of God’s laws. Hence, the question we have to ask ourselves in everything we do should always be: “Is this a loving thing to do?” For Jesus there is no doubt or confusion about this. Nor should we doubt it.

Brothers and sisters, let us try to live according to God’s will and instructions. Remember that our choices in life reveal our level of confidence in God. As Christians, we must fully trust God and His plan for us, even if we don’t fully understand it. Today, we ask Jesus — the Word of Life, God’s Word made flesh — to help us live our lives as He did — filled with love, compassion and mercy. AMEN.

HOMILY: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:13-16

5 February 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Does someone believe in you? Is it important that others have confidence in your abilities? Sometimes others see our potential and help us discover it. The world-renowned author Stephen King, who published over 65 novels, most of which were turned into movies, may not have succeeded if his wife did not have faith in him! The first one he wrote was rejected 30 times so he threw it away. But his wife had strong confidence in his ability so he persuaded him to persevere. He was able to publish “Carrie” that has sold more than four million copies! It was turned into four movies and a broadway musical. When Stephen King was struggling, he never imagined the impact his novel would make in the world.

Why are we talking about this? It is because our gospel is proof that God also has full confidence in us. Jesus believes that we have the potential to make a huge difference in the world His Father created. The gospel tells us that we are to be like salt and light. No one said, “this only applies to those who are good, or to the intelligent, or to the religious.” What is being referred to here speaks of all of us who recognise and accept Christ. We all have the potential to affect the world in a positive manner. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus uses two metaphors to characterise the essence of discipleship: salt and light. Both metaphors help us understand that our faith finds deepest expression in relation to others. As Pope Francis once said: “Both salt and light are for others, not for oneself: salt does not give flavour to itself; light does not illuminate itself”. Can we eat salt by itself? Salt is bitter when eaten on its own and becomes useful only when used as a flavour enhancer or meat preservative. In the same way our faith is bland when it is not lived out in relation to others! Just as light is not placed under a bushel basket but rather on a pedestal, our faith can only become significant when it serves as light to the darkness of other people’s lives. Just as the light of a city on a high hill becomes the traveler’s guide in a dark night. Our Christian discipleship then is meant to lead us out of ourselves to serve others and continue the saving work of Jesus. The metaphors of salt and light help us understand that our faith finds deepest expression in relation to others. We are salt meant to enhance others; we are light meant to shine for others!

How can we be salt and light? This is answered in our second reading. St. Paul says that “our message and proclamation are not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power…”  It is not through persuasive speech and wisdom that we can reveal the good news but through our actions driven by the Holy Spirit and power from God on high. To become salt and light for the world does not require us to be such great public speakers like Nelson Mandela or John F. Kennedy. The most effective proclamation of the Gospel is the witness of our lives. As Ralph Waldo Emerson was attributed to have said: “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.” 

In the first reading, we heard some concrete examples of good works by which we can make our light shine for others. Good works such as sharing bread/ food with the hungry, sheltering the homeless and oppressed, and clothing the naked, allow us to become the light shining forth God’s presence and salvation to the world. Let us not turn our backs on our neighbours and let us remove oppression from our midst, false accusations and gossiping from our lives. If we do this, God’s glory will always be behind us, protecting and supporting us and whenever we call on God for help, He will answer us. 

What does it mean to be salt and light these days? Being salt for the earth and light for the world can be as simple as teaching our children the Christian way of life by word, and especially by example. How can we teach our children to be respectful if we ourselves are disrespectful when talking to elders, those in authority or people we consider below our status in life? How can we encourage our children to pray and go to church if we ourselves forget and would rather spend time on other things? We need to practice honesty and responsibility in fulfilling our tasks! We have to show moderation by not being wasteful. If we go to a buffet restaurant, let us not take more than we can eat and let us not wrap up the food right away before everyone has eaten! (Kung pupunta sa buffet o sa mga kainan, huwag kukuha ng susobra sa iyong makakain at huwag magbabalot agad ng handa habang di pa lahat nakakakain!) These are only some of the ways we can prove to be true disciples of Christ!

As we conclude, I just want to reiterate that the work and responsibility of being salt and light has been given to all of us. We all have the potential to be good examples to our neighbours, especially to the youth. Aren’t we amazed at how much trust Jesus has in each one if us? Let us not think that we cannot do this or that this work is only for the religious, priests or nuns or for the hardworking, intelligent and talented. The moment we were baptised we signified it that we wish to belong to Him and in turn we are entrusted with a mission to be a light shining in the world and salt that seasons the world with the flavour of the gospel. Yes, we are not perfect and we always stumble and make mistakes but we never lose our potential to do good. Christ has more trust in us than we may have in ourselves. Never lose hope.  Let us trust in His power to transform us. Trust in His power to lead us and to accomplish great things for His glory.