Sunday Gospel Reflections

Homily: Fourth Sunday of Lent (B)

John 3:14-21

14 March 2021

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez 

One time in London, as I was greeting people on their way out of the parish church after Sunday mass, I overheard a young girl ask her mum as they prayed before the crucifix near the exit door: “Does it have to be this way? Does Jesus’ suffering on the cross have to be overly exaggerated, bloody, agonizing and violent?” I could sense the panic in the mother’s voice as she tried her best to respond to her 8-year-old’s question. She told her in the most general way that this is so, so that we — all of us —- will realise how tremendously loved we are by God through the very sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  It shows how God has been extremely merciful to us sinners that He did not spare His only Son out of His great love for us. 

In our readings this Sunday, we are presented with how our God has consistently reached out to us in mercy, summoning us to return to Him. In the First Reading, the Chronicler recounts Israel’s infidelity to God and their hard-heartedness to heed His call of repentance. Out of compassion for His people, God continuously sent messengers and prophets but they persisted in their evil ways. This obstinacy eventually led to the destruction of the Temple and their exile in Babylon. Nevertheless, God persisted in pouring out His mercy on His Chosen People delivering them through an unlikely agent of His divine mercy in the person of Cyrus, the foreign king who allowed God’s people to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. Paul, in the reading from Ephesians describes God as “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4). This merciful love of God is described so strongly as bringing us to life “when we were dead in our transgressions”  (Ephesians 2:5). We are recipients of this divine favour by no merit of our own, but by the graciousness of God. In the Gospel we find the fascinating dialogue of Jesus and Nicodemus that gives the best summary of the Good News: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This verse stresses what is at the heart of our Christian faith — the profound reality of God’s love, powerfully expressed in the very offering of Jesus’ life on the cross. In Jesus, God holds nothing back. God gives His only begotten Son, whom He loves so much and takes much pleasure in, to give us the chance to be reconciled to Him and be led to fullness of life. The cross of Jesus, is the ultimate sign of how far God will go to embrace us, no matter how sinful we have become. We are blessed beyond any measure by God’s merciful love. 

The Bible holds many accounts of how much God loves humankind. The Old Testament has recurring stories of how the Chosen People betrayed their covenant with God and yet God showed them mercy. Adam and Eve were not destroyed. Noah and his family were promised that never again would the earth be destroyed by flood. The descendants of Israel delivered from slavery in Egypt, were given the Promised Land to prosper and call their own.  Throughout their history of being conquered and led into exile, God always gave them moments of hope and deliverance. In the New Testament we have the story of the Prodigal Son wherein the Father exudes unfathomable love and forgiveness for the wayward boy. In fact, the entire New Testament is the story of the fruition of God’s promise of deliverance and mercy and His plan to be fully reconciled with His people. 

Today, we have many images of God’s love and mercy. There is the Sacred Heart of Jesus that is aflame with love for us. The image of the Divine Mercy that assures us, there is no sin that God cannot forgive, even at the very moment of death, once laid at the feet of His divine mercy. When we receive the sacraments, we benefit from God’s love and mercy. Pope Francis tweeted today that going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation is “abandoning ourself to God’s love.” God loves us so much that there is no place He cannot go to find us and reach us in His mercy. 

Is it enough for us to receive God’s love and mercy and not share it? We are invited to do more than rejoice in God’s infinite mercy for us. We are called to imitate God in His merciful love in our dealings with one another. Last Sunday, we talked about anger as a normal human reaction. This week, we acknowledge how our humanity leads us to take revenge, to hold grudges, to harbour anger toward those who have offended us. Is it easy to forgive? Not all the time. Not when the harm done to us cuts us at our core. I’m sure you’ve heard utterances such as “That is unforgivable.” or “Walang kapatawaran ang nagawa nya.”  These are not just lines in drama specials. These are actual words of real people who have been deeply hurt. There is even a poster on social media that says “a single moment of misunderstanding is so poisonous that it makes us forget the hundreds of lovable moments spent together within a minute.” It’s true. Sometimes it seems so difficult, even impossible to forgive. Yet our Lord Jesus teaches us that we need not be slaves to our human tendencies. There is a higher road. We recall the words of Jesus to Peter that we are to forgive “not only seven times but seventy times seven times” (Matthew 18:22). In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus urges us to ask God to… “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Matthew 6:12) Forgiveness is an act of the Divine. In imitating God’s mercy, we claim our connection with Him, who is our Father. We allow Him to elevate us to beings greater than ourselves. 

There are many stories about unbelievable acts of forgiveness. There is a story of a mother who frequented a prison to visit the hardened killer of her son.  When he asked why she bothered to show him kindness and compassion, she said since he had taken her son from her, she would treat  him as her own child. He would take her  son’s place in her life. The love and concern, meant for her son which she channelled to this man in prison, rehabilitated him. He was released early for good conduct and he did not waste his second chance at life. A few days ago, I came across this article on Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq. He visited the ruins of a church that was bombed by ISIS and was so moved by the testimony of Doha Sabah Abdallah, a mother whose son and nephew were killed in the attack.  She pardoned those who killed her child saying, “We, the survivors, [must] try to forgive the aggressor, because our Master Jesus has forgiven His executioners. By imitating Him in our sufferings, we testify that love is stronger than everything.” 

During these uncertain times, forgiveness seems to be vital. We have never been so aware of the fragility of human life. People can die anytime. Let us not hold grudges then. Be generous with our forgiveness and do not be afraid to seek it from those we may have offended.  Let us be living witnesses of God’s merciful love to a broken humanity.  Let us rejoice on this Laetare Sunday at how greatly loved we are by God whose love is everlasting and pray that we might become the visible sign of God’s mercy and help bring peace and healing in the world.

Artwork by Arcabas

Homily: Third Sunday of Lent (B)

John 2:13-25

7 March 2021

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez

There is an intriguing mural by Alfonso Ossorio in the St. Joseph the Worker Chapel, popularly known to many as the Church of the Angry Jesus in the Victorias Milling Company in Victorias City, Negros Occidental. The image which the artist calls the Christ of the Last Judgment depicts a frowning Christ with a flaming heart. For many of us who have always thought of Jesus as gentle and merciful, a frowning Jesus is hardly appealing.  I showed a photo of the mural to a friend and she commented: “Scary! I wouldn’t want to get on His bad side.” 

This outburst of Jesus in today’s gospel is so out of character for Him who is rarely portrayed as angry by the evangelists. The Jesus we come to know in the Gospels is one who is always welcoming, patient and compassionate towards sinners. As a healer, He attended to those who were sick with special attention and care. He felt pity for the crowd who were like sheep without a shepherd, so He would feed them not only spiritually but physically as well. As a teacher, Jesus rarely lost His patience with His disciples who often disappointed Him by failing to understand what He was trying to teach them. Most of the time, He would respond calmly to His adversaries when He knew that they were trying to trap Him. Even at the cross where He suffered excruciating agony, He still prayed for forgiveness for all those who wanted Him dead.  Jesus’ display of frustration and anger described in today’s Gospel passage disrupts our overly-tamed image of Christ. There is however more than meets the eye. 

First of all, there was a valid reason for His anger. In the Gospel, Jesus makes it quite clear why He was seething with anger at those sellers and money changers in the Temple. “Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” (John 2:16) As one commentator puts it: “The space that was meant to be reserved for being with God, for encountering God, had been repurposed for carrying out the letter of the law (through sacrifice).” As the Son of God, He had the right to drive out the people desecrating the Temple area. The Jews were the Chosen People, but they had forgotten their responsibility to keep the commandment of God. They were given the Law as a gift, described by the Psalm 19:10 as “more precious than a heap of purest gold and sweeter than honey from the comb”. Such a covenantal gift was meant to draw them closer to God. Instead, they repeatedly failed to be faithful to Him and His commands. 

Secondly, you may be asking yourself if it was necessary for Jesus to express this righteous indignation in such a violent manner?  In the Old Testament, such disrespect would easily merit the wrath of God and as we know, that can be devastating…. Recall Sodom and Gomorrah and the Great Flood of Noah’s time. Jesus is God. And He was angry at what they had done but He did not make fire and brimstone rain on them. Instead, He made a bold statement by means of His actions to a people who were calloused and self-absorbed. The last lines of this Sunday’s Gospel passage say it all: “But Jesus would not trust himself to them because He knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.”  (John 2:24-25) We take note that all throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus tried to convince His adversaries that He indeed is the One sent by God. In today’s passage the Jews asked Him: “What sign can you show us for doing this?” (John 2:18) Jesus had performed many signs but His adversaries had remained unbelieving. No amount of arguments or reasonable engagement would have convinced them of Jesus’ divine identity. This display of anger was a dramatic demonstration by Jesus to bring home His point. It was something they could understand. Some of us do learn the hard way! 

What does Jesus’ response teach us about anger? Anger is a human emotion and Jesus being fully human, knew how it was to be angry. This story must however not be used to justify our own outbursts ignited by affronts to our pride or differences in ideologies. We are far from having achieved spiritual perfection like Jesus, so our anger can be motivated by our self-righteousness and bitterness. It is clear from the story that Jesus was so irate at the merchants in the Temple because of His “zeal for the house of the Lord” (Psalm 69:9 / John 2:17) — His desire for true worship among God’s people. It was not an anger borne out of petty or trivial disagreements or differences of opinions but a righteous anger, that is, being angry for the right reasons. By driving out the merchants and the money changers from the Temple, Jesus wanted God’s people to keep in mind what ought to be their priority: a faithful relationship with God and a just relationship with one another. We recall that this is how Jesus summarises the Law of the Lord — love of God and love of neighbour. 

These days, people are easily angered by injustices — perceived and legitimate. Watching the local news, one wonders if people still live in fear of God? (“Parang wala nang sinasanto! Wala na bang takot sa Diyos?”)  In turn, people express and encourage anger through social media.  This arena easily gives one the sense of having power and influence when you are able to rally people to your cause or you find like-minded people online. According to an article I read, “Anger is the most influential emotion online inciting more responses than other sentiments such as joy or sadness.” Some say that online ranting may have cathartic value; others disagree because they have observed that it only worsens a situation. Rants often fail to obtain resolution for the problems (especially in the case of anonymous rants) but venting one’s emotions generates further negativity as hurtful comments affect all those who read them online.   For example, the national election next year is becoming a hot topic on Twitter. Many people have been hurling hurtful words to different opposing groups, possible candidates and supporters. Sadly, mudslinging does not raise the level of discourse needed for our fellow countrymen to be more discerning of their choice of leaders for our country. Rather than participate in this cycle of hate, wouldn’t it be best if we made sure to register and actually vote for worthy candidates in the National Elections in May 2022? 

It is  human to be angry. Life is not perfect. We are not perfect. We won’t always see eye to eye. But there are things, ideals we must uphold and protect. Values such as those taught to us by Jesus that are meant to uplift us and allow us to live harmoniously with God and with each other. When these things are challenged, let our anger lead us to restore things to order and not just seek to destroy people and relationships. The next time you feel anger, ask yourself “Will my anger make the situation better or worse? Am I acting out of love for the other or for myself? Can I be held accountable for the consequences of my actions?” May God fill our hearts with discernment and compassion that we may know how best to channel our anger.

Homily: Second Sunday of Lent (B)

28 February 2021 

Mark 9:2-10

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez, AA

A good friend who likes K-Drama (more than me, of course) avoids watching an ongoing series because she hates waiting for the new episode to be aired each week. I also realised that the other reason why she waits for the series to be completed before watching it is because she has the habit of skipping half-way through the series to the ending when the plot becomes so emotionally-charged for her to handle. This may not be an ideal way of watching a good series but instead of making her lose interest in the show, she says knowing the ending gives her the proper perspective and motivates her to go back and watch the rest of the episodes she skipped. 

In today’s Gospel from Mark relating the Transfiguration of Jesus, three of the disciples (Peter, James and John) are given a glimpse of Jesus’ future glory. We note that prior to this glorious event as narrated in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has told His disciples of the suffering and death that awaited Him in the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law in Jerusalem. (Mark 8:31) This prediction of Jesus about His suffering greatly distressed the disciples. They had been hoping for the Messiah to establish an earthly kingdom, to subdue all their enemies and to set up a triumphant kingdom for God’s chosen people.  It was with this frame of mind that Peter, James and John — Jesus’ innermost circle of friends — were allowed to witness the Transfiguration. This was meant to strengthen, encourage and assure them as they faced the dark days of suffering, beginning with the experience of being with Jesus throughout His Agony in the Garden. It obviously made no sense to them at that time. The dazzling light and the vision of Moses and Elijah, who were practically legendary heroes in early Judaism, overwhelmed and frightened them and they instinctively wanted to build tents to honour them. Some scholars say they were tempted to remain on the mountain hoping the glorious experience would never end or perhaps, if they remained they could experience it again and keep reliving that special moment. Who wouldn’t want to be on a constant natural high, to always feel special, blessed and invincible? Jesus, however, led them back down the mountain to face the days ahead. 

We, too can get discouraged and depressed when our life is making no sense.  Abraham in the First Reading was so broken-hearted when God had asked him to sacrifice the son he loved so much and waited so long for as proof of his love and loyalty. Luckily for Abraham, the story ends well and his son is spared. For some of us, the story does end in tragedy. During these uncertain times, it is easy to question God. Why do we have to lose our jobs? Why must we go hungry? Why must our loved ones get sick?  Why must we suffer?  I think of those who lost their loved ones so suddenly to Covid during the lockdowns. Many of them did not even have the chance to spend time with them in the hospital to care for them personally as they fought a losing battle with the virus in hospital ICUs… Many of them, I am certain, questioned their faith, and pondered the point of these senseless deaths and wondered what will become of their existence. 

Other times we also find ourselves overwhelmed by the reality of the crosses we have to carry in our lives especially when all our suffering seems to be never ending. A friend of mine recounted their family’s experience in caring for her father who was sick a long time. The hospital confinements, the periodic check-ups, the experimental treatments took a toll on their family — physically, emotionally and financially. It also changed the temperament of her father who used to be mild-mannered, funny, and ever optimistic. It turned him into an irate and difficult patient. Just as Jesus allowed his friends to witness his future glory, my friend believes God gave her a way to get through the hardship.  When things got so tough for them, she would think of the fantastic vacations God had blessed them with before her father’s illness got worse. She recounts those trips when her family was happy and her dad seemed strong.  She recalls not wanting to come home at all from the holidays to another round of treatments and hospital confinements. Her father died within a year, and the family was devastated.  It was by far, the heaviest cross their family had to bear.  By God’s grace, they have found healing.

We all have crosses to carry, some heavier than others. Jesus also had to bear a heavy cross and endure sufferings that He did not deserve.  However, He went through them willingly because of love — love for us.  When life presents us with painful and trying moments, we are invited to look to Jesus Christ, who faced His own passion and death serenely with the assurance of the Father’s protection and vindication for Him.   God’s assurance of His love for us is the fact that He gave His only Son for our sake.  Jesus His Son, takes it a step further and completes His mission to save us by His passion and death. John 15:13 says: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” God’s infinite love for us should encourage us to persevere in moments of terrible tests of our faith.  This is how St. Paul encourages the newly-converted Christians of Rome when he asks in today’s Second Reading… “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all, how will He not also give us everything else along with Him?”  This created an unshakable confidence in God’s faithful love which sustained the early Christians through terrible persecutions and emboldened them to face even death for the sake of their faith in Christ. Isn’t this love that is worth dying for, more than enough of a guarantee to prod us on and persevere through our own struggles in life? 

I read somewhere that we must “trust the process”. Life is a process. It is not some static, constant experience of pure joy or continuous suffering. All the wonderful experiences of life coupled with all the trials are meant to make us the best versions of ourselves and allow us to help one another manoeuvre through the complexities and sensitivities of being alive. If anything, the Transfiguration story teaches us, it is not to fear.  We are never alone in life because God is always with us guiding us, protecting us, and lifting us up when we are down. We must recognize all the glorious moments he sends to energize and encourage us. Thereafter, we must endeavour to go back down the mountain and live our life. 

In the face of the many challenges we contend with these days, let us firmly trust that God is always with us. May we hold on to this hope of our future glory so that we may not escape our share in the sufferings of Christ but rather keep on going towards the heavenly inheritance to which we have all become sharers of in Christ Jesus.

Artwork by Bro. Blair Paulus C. Nuyda, AA

Homily: First Sunday of Lent (B)

21 February 2021 

Mark 1:12-15

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez

According to statistical data, roughly a tenth of the country’s population, an estimated 10 million Filipinos, are working abroad for the promise of higher wages.  Although they find better opportunities for themselves and for their families back home, being an overseas worker is never easy. Life has even become more difficult for many of them due to this global health crisis. A good number of them have had pay cuts, lost their jobs altogether or are barely surviving while waiting to be repatriated.  The Covid 19 pandemic has turned our “modern-day heroes” (mga bagong bayani) into “hurting heroes”. 

Among the many challenges that our kababayans (fellow Filipinos) have to deal with include the homesickness and loneliness brought about by being far from one’s family and country of origin.  When overcoming difficulties, the presence and support of loved ones and the familiarity and comfort of one’s environment are huge factors.  Sadly, there are some who fail to cope with the loneliness and this eventually becomes the source of temptation for many of them to enter into complicated extramarital relationships. Hence, it is not surprising to hear a lot of stories involving women finding another man or men finding another woman abroad despite the fact that they are already married in the Philippines. The challenge to remain faithful to one’s spouse is also true to the husband or wife left behind in this country. On this National Migrants’ Sunday, we are reminded of the need to really pray for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)and support them because life is not all easy for them as they constantly have to contend with temptations especially with remaining faithful to their promises. 

For us, too, the battle against evil never stops. It is a constant struggle as we try to remain faithful followers of Jesus. As temptation is a universal human experience for our fallen nature, every person finds himself or herself being lured to turn his or her back on God. In the Gospel, we hear the familiar drama of Jesus being tempted by Satan. Although the temptation account in the Gospel of Mark is quite succinct compared to the accounts of Luke and Matthew, it speaks in brief terms of this spiritual conflict — this all too human struggle between right and wrong, between fidelity and disobedience to our relationship with God. In Luke and Matthew, the specifics of Jesus’ temptation were identified as the temptation to power, domination and possessions. But the text suggests that it was not just a passing temptation at a singular, given moment. They were temptations that Jesus had to overcome all through His earthly life. We note the presence both of the “wild beasts” and “the angels who were ministering to Jesus” in the wilderness in today’s Gospel. That is to say that the challenge to be faithful to the Father’s will was a continuing struggle for Jesus. It would occur again and again at various stages in His life, right up to and especially at those last hours in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross.  In His anguish in the Garden, Jesus cries out to the Father… “Abba!  Father! You can do anything. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.” (Mark 14:36) How did Jesus overcome such temptation? Prayer! Jesus prays intensely and even urges Peter to pray… “Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.” (Mark 38:14) Note also that in the prayer Jesus Himself has taught us, He encourages us to seek the Father’s protection and assistance as we pray: “Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.”  (Matthew 6:13)

In varying forms, this temptation of Jesus can come into our lives too. We are all tempted to comfort, not the comfort that we all need to live a decent life, but those comforts borne out of our selfishness and over-indulgence. How often are we willing to properly queue instead of cutting ahead of the line or going through our “connections”? How many of us grow impatient and arrogant at being told to wait for our turn?  We, too are all tempted to success, to be ahead of the rest? At times we want it so badly, no matter what the cost. We hear of unscrupulous business practices where substandard ingredients or products are still sold to make profits despite dangers they pose to customers? Then we are all tempted to power — to be in control, to be in charge. Why do you think we have political dynasties or candidates killing each other over government positions? These are all tendencies, inclinations, and compulsions that we need to be aware of, that we need to overcome.  

The Lenten season is meant to help us control our propensity for selfishness and self- centeredness. It is a time of reflection and reassessment of the quality and direction of our lives. It is a time to re-examine our priorities. Lent is often described in the context of a struggle, where we are invited to recognize that life is very much a spiritual campaign, wrought with battles, and warfare.  We must learn to arm ourselves with the weapons of prayer and self-restraint. And to resist a basic temptation to believe that prayer is useless and that God is not listening. 

God always equips us with the strength to overcome temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says: “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” God never forsakes His children or those who call on Him in earnest. We shouldn’t doubt that God is always with us. God remains faithful to the covenant of love promised to Noah and all of creation in spite of human neglect and betrayal. Even in the desert, Jesus was not alone.  We are told that He was filled with the Holy Spirit. We trust that the Paraclete is also with us and we are not alone on our journeys. Let us make the most of this Lenten season — a truly sacred time — to nurture our spiritual growth and maturity and remain steadfast in faith despite any of life’s temptations.

Homily: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 1:40-45

14 February 2021

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez 

A good friend of mine had the misfortune of contracting Covid. I had been so worried that when she informed me that she had recovered, I was so grateful to God for sparing her life. As she recounted to me her experience, she said that the fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, and the other physical struggles that Covid patients have to endure were nothing in comparison to the loneliness one feels in isolation.  That proved to be the greatest difficulty for her. She could barely cope with having to live apart from family and friends from whom she needed support and comfort during her Covid 19 journey. Thanks to modern means of communication she, just as many Covid patients, managed to stay in touch with family and friends and survive the desperation of living in complete isolation. Technology has truly played an important role in the lives of those rendered infirm by the  virus.  On one occasion I was even able to talk with a Covid patient and give a blessing through an audio call on Viber a few days before she died peacefully in the hospital.  

Isolation of the afflicted was common in ancient times and resurfaces through history when people are quick to fear what they cannot understand or control. In the 80’s, HIV positive people suffered such a stigma that even their loved ones were afraid to touch them. The late Princess Diana allowed herself to be filmed and photographed hugging children with AIDS in an attempt to correct the misconception that HIV was transmitted through touch. Today, the world knows how to treat HIV positive and AIDS patients with more understanding and compassion. From the Old Testament times well into the New Testament  days, those afflicted with leprosy found themselves in a more miserable lot since no cure was available for all forms of infectious and contagious diseases. They had to live in complete isolation from people and were treated as social outcasts. As you might know, any disease in those days was viewed as punishment for one’s sinfulness.  A leper not only deals with a disease that destroys his appearance, but he becomes a social outcast and is viewed as a sinful person. One suffers a spiritual crisis and a social stigma while bearing the physical and emotional burdens of illness.  To make things worse, one could not simply hide one’s self away to conceal one’s shame and deplorable state because it was a leper’s duty to call attention to himself when others were approaching so they could avoid them. They were practically the walking dead. 

This places into context how the healing of the leprous man by Jesus was truly an astounding miracle to the people of their day.  I read somewhere that rabbis claimed that the healing of leprosy was as difficult as the raising of the dead. This feat, as we know, is not beyond the power of Jesus, who, in some gospel accounts brought the dead back to life. It is no wonder why it was nearly impossible for the man to keep quiet about this extraordinary divine favour given to him by Jesus. He is able to integrate himself back into society as he goes around talking freely to others about what Jesus had miraculously done for him. In his mind, he was restored to his spiritual, physical and social wholeness. 

It is interesting to note that the leper asked Jesus to be made clean, not to be cured. (Mark 1:40) Recall that they must announce their presence shouting “unclean, unclean” (Leviticus 13:45) and not “leper, leper”.  By this act they even enable society that ostracizes them. The fact that he wants to be made clean implies that social and religious acceptability seems to be more important to him than physical healing. In the same way, recovered patients want to be healed from the stigma of having contracted the Covid 19 virus.  I am told they do not want to be identified as “Covid survivors” because the disease becomes the dominant description of their identity. They would rather be called “persons who survived Covid” so as to give more emphasis on who they are as persons and members of society more than being associated with a sickness they got. Nevertheless, with or without the threat of Covid 19 there are many among us who experience alienation and isolation due to the lack of fraternal charity on the part of others. There was a time when there was hardly a need for care homes for the aged. Now the elderly are realizing it is very hard to grow old when there is no one to take care of them, to visit them, or to simply make them feel they are not alone in carrying their personal crosses. I know of a parishioner of ours who was once what we would call a big shot. He was successful in his career, well connected, wealthy, and often the centre of attention in any gathering. When he retired, he got sick, his investments failed, and his wealth was depleted. Gone were the drivers and fancy cars, the personal chefs and numerous househelp. He and his wife had to manage on their own, and his children could not care for them exclusively as they would want to because they have their own families. Now that his wife has passed, he moved out of his big house and is living with relatives who care for him. He misses his old neighbours and friends and being able to come to Christ the King for masses. He is rather lonely and often longs for the good old days. 

In the Gospel, we are told that Jesus was moved with compassion upon seeing the man’s predicament. Jesus is not one to be repelled by human suffering. Jesus does not recoil, but rather embraces and shares the emotional turmoil and consoles those who are in despair. He would welcome and connect with all those who approach Him and with a mere touch could restore them back to wholeness allowing them to reincorporate themselves into the circle of their community. 

In the many battles we are facing at this time, more significantly the fight against Covid 19, we cannot afford to be complacent when we ourselves are safe and healthy,  if at the same time we are leaving the afflicted to feel alone and alienated.  There are many things we can do to offer support to those who are sick and to the families of those who are suffering. Pray for them! Remind them through your emotional presence that God is with them.  We need to have the same trust and confidence in the power and goodness of God that is at work in our everyday lives and constantly remind people of this. We simply have to open our eyes to His presence amidst our helplessness, our pain, our struggles. My friend who survived Covid said that it helped her a lot to know that her family and friends were all united in praying for her recovery. Indeed, the fraternal and prayerful support of the community had emboldened her and eased the burden of her suffering and loneliness such that she was able to endure her Covid 19 ordeal. 

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians challenge us to extend His compassionate hands to those in need. We persist in seeking this grace when we pray the  Oratio Imperata at every mass asking God to “Give us the grace in these trying times to work for the good of all and to help those in need. May our concern and compassion for each other see us through this crisis and lead us to conversion and holiness.”  God has blessed us so much that  we will always have something to contribute, if we only choose to do the work. In many instances, Jesus asks His disciples to pray for “labourers for His harvest” (Luke 10:2/ Matthew 9:38). All of us baptised are similarly called to be labourers in various ways — to be heralds and witnesses of the Good News of Christ in our own unique vocation within our families and communities.  Let us be inspired by St. Teresa of Avila who offers her own understanding of what it is to cooperate with God in His  continuing work of salvation when she said “Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.  Yours are the eyes with which He looks with compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”  May God bless us all with a heart for others, courage to minister to them even in difficult times, and the creativity to work around all the limitations life presents to us because we are all in this together. 

Jesus Heals The Leper Painting from pixels.com

Homily: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 1:29-39

7 February 2021 

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez

I feel time seems to be slipping by so quickly again. Since the easing of the lockdown many months ago, the days fly by surprisingly fast. We are anticipating the Lunar New Year on the 12th February and very soon we will commence the Lenten Season with Ash Wednesday on the 17th February. Now that more establishments are opening, public transport is resuming and people are getting used to pandemic living, we have a bit more freedom to go about our lives in society. Our days have become less routinary and boring than when we were on stricter quarantine restrictions at the start of the lockdown. Many of us have found more ways to keep ourselves busy. Those of us with the means and capacity to travel were even fortunate enough to do domestic travels during the holidays. Everyone is just craving even a little bit of normalcy in life  to get a break from the wearisome grind of life in quarantine. 

In this Sunday’s Gospel passage from Mark, we are shown what a day in the life of Jesus was like. Coming from His regular synagogue attendance, Jesus goes to visit Simon and Andrew’s home where He heals Simon’s ailing mother-in-law. He shares a meal with them but barely has time to enjoy a casual time with them because He resumes attending to the crowd of sick people seeking healing from Him.  Then the gospel recounts that before dawn Jesus goes off to a deserted place to spend some intimate time speaking with His Father in prayer. There seems to be no single dull moment in Jesus’ day. Jesus was very much occupied in giving Himself at the service of  people, bringing healing and wholeness into their lives. In all this, we do not see nor hear Jesus complain and groan about the task at hand despite the need at times to forego His own temporal needs for the sake of others. After His time teaching in the synagogue  where we are told in last week’s gospel, that He even cast out an unclean spirit from  a man, you can imagine that Jesus would have needed to rest. In fact, we can assume that is why He heads over to His friend’s house. If you visit Capernaum today, you can still see the foundations of the synagogue from Jesus’ time and it is just a stone’s throw from what is supposedly the house of Peter. That was the perfect place for Jesus to take a break. He ate there and might have wanted to take a little nap to get refreshed but chose instead to attend to others in need who had lined up outside the house like patients at a doctor’s clinic. 

Contrast this with the life of Job.  Job laments his own miserable life condition. He describes the human life as filled with drudgery. He feels trapped like a slave and is desperately bemoaning the futility of his existence.  He spends restless, sleepless nights thinking about the meaninglessness of the human condition. For Job each day simply drags on with no hope in sight. This is very sad indeed but no surprise considering he lost his wife, his children, his business, his possessions, his friends. He even fell sick and his whole body was covered with boils and sores!  Maybe during those moments of our lives when we suffered simultaneous losses or when none of the various aspects of our life seems to be going well, we would have identified with Job’s frustration with regard to finding meaning in our work, our various responsibilities, and even life, itself. Recall the days when you can’t seem to convince colleagues to be responsible in doing their share of the assigned tasks. Aren’t you tempted to be less motivated to do your work to the best of your abilities, doubting the real value of what you do? It has happened to me. At one point, my own frustrations even led me to consider leaving my vocation and just go back to teaching. I am grateful to the mercy of God and to the prayers of people who were aware of my plight, that I was able to overcome those difficulties. It is even worse when you simply do your work for the sake of money. It is true that many among us do not have the luxury of having our dream jobs or jobs we are passionate about, but we must strive to find meaning in what we do in order for us to do our job well and get some sense of fulfillment. 

In today’s gospel we are shown how much Jesus gives of Himself in a day. Working mothers will relate to such a busy lifestyle. They are busy with their jobs and careers all day, sometimes they must even do some of their work at home. Then they have meals to prepare, the house to maintain and the husband and children’s needs to attend to.  All that, every day through the work week! On the weekends the chores and errands are waiting to be done.  This is how Jesus lived everyday of His life — an emptying of Himself for others. There are two important details we need to draw from this — Jesus took the time to rest briefly and He took the time to pray. Despite His hectic days, Jesus would wake up early and go to a deserted place to pray. He simply didn’t alot the left over minutes of His day to prayer.  He really made time for this. These frequent moments of communion with the Father gave Him the guidance and inspiration to unreservedly attend to the needs of the people who come to Him for healing, wholeness and peace. Then for those of us who are always busy, we are reminded of the  importance of taking a break, of resting from what we are accustomed to do, to step back from the patterns we have set for ourselves. In life, taking a rest is needed not only to recharge ourselves but also to help us do our work well and to have a greater appreciation of what we do, especially when things become too routinary. We also have to always strike a balance between the needs of others and our own. 

When Fr. Jojo was still serving with us here at Christ the King, there was a running joke among the three of us, priests, concerning the long queues I get in the confessional. Actually, this was the reason why there was a bit of delay at the start of one our 6 pm anticipated Sunday masses last month. I jokingly say that I seem to be a magnet for sinners. “Maka-relate kasi sila sa akin na kapwa makasalanan.” Joking aside, hearing Confessions is probably the most taxing and draining of the sacraments for a priest to administer. People with spiritual and emotional burdens approach the confessional seeking healing and reconciliation with God. As the minister of the sacrament, we, priests sit listening to people’s guilt and we cannot help absorb all this negativity.  For this reason, we, priests need to be properly disposed to hear people’s confession. We must be well-rested and we need to have spent much time in prayer in order that we may properly respond to each penitent. The saying remains true that “We cannot give what we do not have.” Jesus took the time to draw strength and guidance from the Father in prayer. Through this constant replenishing of mind and spirit Jesus was able to minister to other nearby villages and to reach out to more people in distress. 

We, too, must take our cue from Jesus who teaches us that we need to replenish our spirit, to rename our priorities in order to keep our spiritual energy from running out. May we like Jesus always find ourselves available to our brothers and sisters who need us. And like Jesus, may we strive to always take the time to renew our minds and spirits through prayer to be able to serve better our brothers and sisters in need.

Homily: Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 1:21-28

31 January 2021

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez 

A friend of mine has been feeling burned out from her job in Makati.  She recently said she was considering quitting to focus on creating content on her own YouTube channel featuring her hilarious life experiences even if the videos would invade her privacy and make her look silly and unflattering.  She joked that she would put her pride up for sale if she could earn enough to retire young. Surprisingly, lots of kids today hardly dream of being engineers or architects or accountants but they aspire to be bloggers and influencers on social media! In 2020, the highest paid influencer on Instagram earned $142,000 per post! On the same list is a guy with 24M followers who earns $82,000 per post!  On YouTube, the highest earner of 2020 is a 9-year-old boy. By opening toys, playing with them and giving his opinion about them he earned almost $30M despite the pandemic. 

Many young people look up to people who are known as influencers. They have gained immense popularity through their vibrant presence in various social media platforms. But who exactly are these people? They are those persons who through blog posts, videos, photos, tweets and so on are able to generate interest in something. By posting something on a wide range of topics to which some of them are truly an authority, some who simply claim to have knowledge, while others are simply touted to be experts by virtue of their followers, they are able to exert influence on people’s decisions and courses of actions. They are so powerful that they can even shape and sway public opinions on a given political issue or party depending on which side they choose to take or which political agenda they want to endorse. Some of them are certainly helpful in disseminating information, acting as witnesses to the effectivity of products or raising awareness on important issues. Others simply do and say things to generate a hype that translates to an increase in their following or more cash for their pockets. 

The prophets in the Old Testament were hardly influencers.  They were very unpopular figures who lived in such dangerous times of political unrest. They often spoke of doom and gloom and were tasked by God to warn His people and their leaders of God’s wrath should they persist in breaking their covenant with God. In the First Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses enjoins the people to heed the words of God’s prophets. He also calls the people’s attention to consider their own calling to be responsible prophets themselves. He warns them of the dire consequences of deviating from the life-giving message of God. He urges them to be humbly reliant on God for direction and courage. A prophet does not speak His own words but He is simply a mouthpiece for God, conveying a message of truth, no matter how unpleasant or unpopular. 

Jesus was very much a great influencer in His time.  He caught the attention of many because of the wonder of His miracles and as He grew popular, people sought Him out and listened when He spoke.  In today’s gospel passage from Mark, the people experience Jesus as an authority figure in terms of His teaching and healing ministry. We are told… “People were astonished at Jesus’ teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22) Again, the people were amazed at Jesus’ power when He casts out the “unclean spirit in the man” (Mark 1:23). People were astounded yet confused as to the source of Jesus’ authority which was evident not only in the power of His word but also in the act of freeing the man from the unclean spirit that tormented him. The words of Jesus yielded so much power that not only did it move people’s hearts to take notice of Him and to follow His lead but it caused the demons to recognise Him and to obey His commands. They know who Jesus is… “the Holy One of God”! (Mark 1:24) They attest to the divine identity of Jesus and His power over them.  

Many of us are readily swayed by the eloquence and charm of powerful speakers or charismatic personalities whom we wish to emulate. This is what makes the so-called influencers so fascinating to many people these days. Never mind if what these people are saying may be what is farthest from the truth. There are some of us who allow ourselves to be duped and manipulated by their powerful words. This brings us to the question of how to be discerning. Who indeed are the true prophets of our day? We take the cue from Jesus Himself. First of all, Jesus was credible to His listeners because His actions were always consistent with His words. Jesus was never pretentious nor did He do things for popularity. Recall Jesus’ scathing rebuke of the Pharisees: “So, practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.” (Matthew 23:3) It is thus no surprise why the Gospel accounts relay how Jesus’ adversaries desperately tried to find some reason to entrap Him since it was not easy to destroy a man who lived with such integrity. It saddens me that there are still many in society today who continue to believe in people who say one thing and choose to do something otherwise. Secondly, one’s credibility increases when it is motivated by goodness.  Jesus’ genuine care and compassion are very much evident in the way He carried out His healing ministry. Jesus’ words of preaching touched their lives and healed their emotional wounds and satiated their hunger. It is quite commendable when some of these influencers use their voice to bring to people’s attention the plight of some of our brothers and sisters that needs to be addressed. From time to time you would see netizens posting photos of people in need to either generate help or to inspire people to help those similarly situated around them. A recent one that went viral featured a Lola (grandmother) who was selling her crocheted items like coin purses, wallets, water bottle holders, etc. under the train station in Manila to make a living. The post went viral because many were moved by her perseverance and hard work and at the same time they felt sorry that working at her age she was placing herself at risk of contracting the virus.  Because of that post, people in the area took notice of her and helped her by buying her crocheted items. Lastly, the indication of a true prophet is shown when the good of others rather than one’s personal interest is the primary concern. To promote the welfare of others should be priority over the need for popularity. Sadly, some of these people looked up to by others to guide them in their decision making would rather tend to compromise the truth to keep their social media status and approval intact. In Jesus, we are challenged to relearn how to recognise authority. The only sure way to recognise authority is to follow those who serve. In Jesus, may we exercise authority through the loving service of others. 

As we continue to discern who we allow to have influence over us, let us also strive to become true prophets in our time. Let us pray that we may have the courage to always speak what is true and the mindfulness to live what we speak. May we manifest the same integrity as Jesus had shown throughout His life on earth. As the psalmist encourages us, let us then keep our hearts open to God’s word at all times so as to become prophets after Jesus’ own heart.

Art Work by Arcabas (Jean-Marie Pirot)

Homily: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 1:14-20

24 January 2021

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez 

Cardinal Chito Tagle was my professor in Theology and he was also the one who ordained me to both the diaconate and the priesthood 10 years ago. I have always known him to be a wise and humble person with a profound influence on people.  A friend of mine once told me that their batch in the seminary had planned an exposure trip to Davao. They were all excited at the prospect of taking a flight to Davao. Upon learning that they wanted to take the plane, Father Chito then intervened saying, “Wait, why take the airplane? Maybe it is better to take the boat.” Heeding Father Chito’s suggestion, the class agreed to take the boat so they started checking out rates for airconditioned ship cabins. Then Father Chito asked again, “Why the airconditioned accommodation? That isn’t the purpose to get to Davao so whatever means to get there is all right. It is always good if we could be in solidarity with the poor.” In the end, they all took the boat on economy class to Davao.  

Have you encountered someone so fascinating and admirable that you tend to hang on their every word and before you know it, they have such an influence on you that you just can’t seem to say no to them? It could be a parent, a teacher, a mentor, a lover, a leader, etc. 

In today’s Gospel Jesus appears to have been such a person with so much magnetism and influence on people. The story is about the call of Jesus’ first disciples — Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John. Simon and Andrew were doing their daily work and casting their nets at sea. Then Jesus shows up. He was just passing by the Sea of Galilee.  He chats with them a little and says “Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17) If you think about it, this is a command, and not a request, coming from a total stranger.  Recall that John the Baptist had just been arrested and Jesus was just starting His ministry.  He had not yet accomplished all those great miracles or amassed such a following for his teachings. He was a nobody to these fishermen who knew little more than their trade as to the events in other towns.  How strange that at Jesus’ invitation these fishermen “abandoned their nets and followed Him”!  (Mark 1:18) To do what, might I add? To be “fishers of people”!  What could that mean for a fisherman? For someone who caught fish to sell for a living, why would he want to catch people? And yet, they immediately responded to Jesus’ invitation left their livelihood and followed Him. The passage continues saying Jesus “walks a little farther” (Mark 1:19) and spots James and John in their boat mending their nets with their father, Zebedee, and a few hired men. As soon as Jesus calls them, James and John leave their father and what we can surmise to be their inheritance — the fishing trade. To those listening today who have established a family business. Imagine yourself, teaching your children the business in the hope that one day they will take over, and then some unknown comes along, chats with your kids and the next thing you know they tell you they are out the door to follow the stranger!  Crazy, right?  Zebedee must have been in shock!  Simon, Andrew, James and John promptly and unquestioningly took a leap of faith and went as they were, leaving their whole life behind, to follow Jesus. 

As we delve into this awesome encounter I would like you to take note of 3 things — the caller, the call itself, and the response. There must have been something so compelling about Jesus that the four of them could not resist or delay.  Mark explains little but I assume that it was Jesus’ divinity and his natural penchant for teaching, coupled with the urgency of His message that convinced the four men.  First — Holiness… The inherent holiness of Jesus was so powerful and alluring in itself. To some extent I have felt this. As I watched the beatification of Carlo Acutis I was so moved by the holy life of this boy whom I never even met or heard of before. But as he was introduced through testimonials, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion that I couldn’t help but cry. Second — Innate Skill… Recall that Jesus was a carpenter.  He did not go to school to become a teacher, but He was so effective in preaching that people came in thousands to listen to Him.  As a teacher, I can tell you that not everyone in that profession is effective. No matter how interesting the topic, if you are boring and speak with no command or mastery of the subject matter, no one will listen to you. It could have been His voice or the manner by which He related to them that captivated their hearts or simply because Jesus spoke with such confidence and authority that Simon and his brother Andrew dropped everything at the words “Come after me.”  Third — Urgency of the Message… Recall that soon after John the Baptist’s arrest, Jesus started proclaiming “The Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15) At hand… meaning it is so near! There is no time to prepare adequately. To do so, one must move NOW. And how is this message so believable? It is powerful because it is the truth. Jesus was credible because He only spoke the truth. 

Jesus calls the four fishermen to a life of casting their nets in a different way and using their talent for fishing to serve God as Jesus’ companions and helpers in establishing God’s Kingdom. We, too are called by God. Jesus presents us with the same challenge: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” [of people]. (Mark 1:17) The Lord often approaches us while we are in the middle of our busy everyday life. He calls us to use our own skills, talents and gifts in new and different ways.  Sometimes the call of God challenges us to go out of our comfort zones, to venture into unchartered waters, to have the boldness of the saints who were willing to be fools for Christ or to give up their very lives to follow Him.  We, priests and religious men and women, live like that. We have to leave our hometowns and our families to go where we are assigned and needed, all in the service of God.  Most of the time, God simply asks us to serve Him where we are, in the particular context we find ourselves in.  A good friend of mine who loves to cook recently started selling a few of his dishes to his friends to help sustain the feeding program he and his family initiated to benefit the poor, the homeless and the hungry in the streets of Metro Manila. How do we know God is calling us? The call of God is always directed towards our own good and those of our brothers and sisters. We must be able to recognize and listen to God’s voice. God’s voice is unmistakable. We may not hear it with our ears but we hear it in our hearts or by inspired ideas. God’s voice makes us contribute to the building up of God’s reign in our midst. It allows us to foster unity and goodwill among people.

Of course, we read in the Bible how the lives of these four (4) plus eight (8) other individuals were transformed by just hanging around Jesus, assisting Him, listening to His teachings, witnessing His miracles, and by simply being His friends.  Because they said “YES” to the call of Jesus they lead such extraordinary lives and accomplished great things beyond their wild imaginings.  Can you imagine what might have happened if they said “NO”? Would God have punished them if they chose otherwise?  I don’t believe so. He does not walk away from us angry and say, “Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo. Kung ayaw niyo, di huwag!” After all it was God who gave humanity free will and He honours our decisions. I think the more important issue here would be the consequence of not conforming to the will of God. God knows everything and is not limited by time or space.  This enables Him to know what is best for us individually and collectively as a people in a society and as participants in the ongoing history of the world.  Simon, Andrew, James and John did not have to follow Jesus’ invitation. Most likely they would have continued to live and eventually die as fishermen, but it is by no means a punishment. For sure they would not have had the privilege of being with Jesus, learning from Him, and living remarkable lives as His disciples. What if Blessed Mary said “NO” to God? She would probably still be married to Joseph and they would lead a holy life together with their family but she would not have become the Mother of God and our salvation may have been delayed or compromised. I repeat, God will honour man’s decision to say no. However, God will continue to call us to what He knows is best for us and humanity. God can be so relentless because He loves us so much that He wants the best for all of us. He will never tire of seeking us out or trying to lead us on the best path.  What better proof can I give you today but the story of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet but then God called him to preach in Nineveh. The passage details Jonah’s obedience but if you read the passages prior you will see that he initially said “No”. He boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction of Nineveh. Then the ship was attacked by a violent storm and Jonah was thrown overboard and was swallowed by a huge fish where he survived in its belly for 3 days and 3 nights. When he finally agrees to God’s plan, Jonah is coughed up on the shores near Nineveh! Despite saying Yes to God, he is still the reluctant prophet.  Nineveh is large enough for a 3-day walk, but Jonah starts preaching only one day in, meaning he has just practically entered the city, near the outskirts. He is nowhere in the heart of the city where all the people are. Yet his message to repent is spread and heeded by the people and their king and they are spared from destruction.  It holds true for us today. God may not send a big fish to swallow us whole but He sends people or opportunities to help us see the wisdom of conforming to His will. It may take seconds or decades but God is patient with us. He waits for our “YES” to His call. Though our “NO” may have dire consequences, God’s love for us always finds a way to make things right or good in the end.   

If we respond unreservedly to Jesus’ persistent call of discipleship, we are assured of an unusual life as well.  Our response to God’s call is not a one-time event but rather a process. It grows and matures and deepens over time.  As we continue to heed Jesus’ call for our own conversion, may we be most attuned. May we be most attentive. May we recognize where Jesus is leading us to help Him establish God’s Kingdom in our midst — right where we are. Yes, this is the time! Let us open ourselves to learn new ways to be Jesus’ disciples in our time.

Art Work by Claudio Pastro

Homily: Feast of the Sto. Niño (Proper Feast in the Philippines)

17 January 2021

Mark 10:13-16

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez

When I was 6, I already loved to sing and I really wanted to be a professional singer. My Lola loved to sing and my Tatay was such a fan of American rockstar Ricky Nelson that he named me after him! Our family did not own a camcorder back then so none of my antics were ever recorded for posterity. These days there is so much online content featuring the misadventures of kids and amusing episodes in their lives. My nieces enjoy watching videos of kids interacting with family pets. Many of my friends love the videos where kids think and act as though they are grown-ups. There are many charming videos online that show toddlers speaking as though they were adults. I particularly love the videos of kids showcasing their talent because they don’t feel the pressure of criticism yet. There is a viral video of a cute little boy who impressively recites Bible verses A to Z without much difficulty at all. (A: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find.” B: “Be kind to one another.” C: “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.” Z: “Zion hears and rejoices.”) My friend jokingly said that this boy puts to shame any Christian adult and perhaps even priests, with his familiarity with the Scriptures.

Today we celebrate the feast of the Sto. Niño (Holy Child). We celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ, as a small defenceless child.  It is indeed strange to perceive the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God as small, weak and defenceless, right? Why do we choose to highlight this stage of our Lord’s earthly life?  In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus teaches that “whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” (Mark 10:15) Jesus presents an unusual model of discipleship — children.  The members of a society who usually take a back seat, are deemed without a voice and whom the world relegates as less important are esteemed by Jesus.   And I am sure, the adults in those days, as well as many among us today, wonder “why”?  Would this be the same reason Jesus is revered today in the image of a child?  Having had the chance to reflect on this matter, I would like to share with you three concepts which I believe we should learn from this story of the importance of children. 

First and foremost, we ought to value the children of today for they are the most beautiful and pristine of God’s creations.  We know that children are fully dependent on their parents and the adults around them for their every need. They lean upon those who care for them for their food, their clothing, their shelter, for assurance, for love, for guidance and protection. Unburdened by the hardships of life and uncorrupted by worldliness and sin, they are fundamentally trusting of those older than them. They do not have the capacity to be judgmental of others.  Their naiveté and innocence leads them to believe people are good, all is well in the world, and that they can be somebody wonderful when they grow up. Children are not concerned with all the roadblocks of life. They only see their dreams and are propelled by hope to reach them. They are not proud. They do not have ulterior motives. They are honest and brave, untainted by social norms and taboos. 

Secondly, as adults, I think we have to rediscover the child in each of us. We too were once innocent children with hopes, dreams and nary a care in the world.  Of course, as we mature, we are overwhelmed with troubles and we learn to rely on ourselves and our own strengths to resolve them. As we grow older and experience more of life and the world, we have the tendency to become too independent; forgetting that we need others, that we are also dependent on others. We think we are fine on our own. We forget that we are interdependent.  Some of us would dare brag and declare that we are self-made — that we have achieved success entirely on our own; that we owe nothing to anyone, completely forgetting the source of all our blessings and gifts.  In terms of our faith relationship with God, we should heed Jesus’ suggestion that we be more child-like. God, after all, is our adoptive Father who loves us dearly and on a very personal level such that He provides all our individual needs and looks after our well-being. In the presence of our loving God, there is no reason to always overthink, overreact, worry too much and struggle to be noticed. God knows each of us His children. He knows our quirks, our weaknesses, our desires and our needs. We do not have to scream to get His attention. He knows, He sees, and He listens to the whispers of our hearts. We simply have to trust, depend and rely upon God. We are invited to adopt this humble stance, this simple and accepting demeanour toward God who shapes and reshapes our hearts in preparation for His Kingdom. 

Thirdly, I think our celebration of this feast reminds us to remember that we have a responsibility to children. As adults, it is within our power to create a world that is safe for children to grow, develop, and reach their potentials.  I am not just speaking to lawmakers who must create policies that protect our minors but to everyone. We can be mindful about protecting our environment so that children of tomorrow can enjoy clean air, the beauty of nature we have had the chance to behold, and to also have the opportunity to benefit from the richness of our natural resources. We also have to protect our culture for our children, to give them a sense of their identity and learn to value it. We have to protect our ethics and our morals so that children grow up learning what is right, and learn to defend it as well. And as a priest, I urge you to teach the faith to the young. Do not allow them to grow up without a strong foundation in Jesus Christ. Jesus is our anchor, our guide and our life’s goal. Share this gift with the young. Do not allow them to grow up not knowing Jesus and His love for them. 

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Sto. Niño, we are given a model of child-like discipleship and complete dependence and trust in God as our Father. As followers of Jesus we have to take heed. We always have to remember that “to be great is to be like a child.” The image of the Child Jesus reminds us what it is to be free, pure, and innocent and to value and protect those characteristics in ourselves and in children around us.  The uncomplicated simplicity of our dear Sto. Niño brings us to see… that simple is enough —- simple and true from the heart is enough. Through the Holy Child’s example, may we at all times recognize our reliance on God and our interdependence on one another. May our devotion to the Sto. Niño teach us to trust in God’s unconditional love for us, to cultivate more child-like attitude within ourselves, and motivate us to safeguard the children in our society. Sto. Niño, bless us.

Illustration: Blair Paulus C. Nuyda, AA

Homily: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (B)

Mark 1:7-11 
10 January 2021

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez

I recently chanced on a friend’s social media posts and I was in awe at how slim and flawless she looked on her Instagram and Facebook photos! When I complimented her on her age-defying looks, she “PM-ed” me and revealed that she had been using an automatic photo retouching feature on her smart phone that alters face and body proportions to achieve a slimmer, younger and radiant image. I couldn’t help but laugh because she had me totally fooled! At the same time, I felt a tinge of sadness that she had fallen into that social media trap. 

I somehow miss the simpler days before the popularity of social media and a fascination for selfies and all these face and body filter apps.  Life was less complicated when we didn’t have to worry about proving anything to strangers on social media, some of whom have really nothing nice to say and who make a habit of putting people down by bullying and harshly criticizing. We struggle with contriving falsified images of ourselves and our circumstances in our desire to create a perfect life that others will admire and envy. We are so obsessed with perfection even if nothing can be farthest from reality.  Life, after all, can be messy and difficult. We can’t endeavour to keep up a perfect image 24/7. Isn’t it too taxing to put that much pressure on ourselves?  I’m sure all of you can give examples of netizens who like to angle and contort themselves into all these poses to hide flaws and appear skinny or long-legged or curvier in the right places. These photos can encourage a skewed perception of body image and make normal girls feel dissatisfied with their appearance. What about those who like to post photos of their travels or eating at all these fun places? Do you think their lives are always exciting and that they never have problems in life?  What about the so called “influencers” who are pressured to always be first to present something new and interesting that will go viral, even at the cost of being sincere and responsible? The truth is, no one is perfect and no one can always be at their best. 

It’s scary when even the persons closest to us do not know us anymore or when we start to believe our own lies of this altered reality that we create.  In a World Youth Day message, Pope Francis called on the youth “to resist the false image of reality portrayed by social media and reality TV and take charge of their own destiny.”  He emphasizes that “To have a past is not the same as to have a history.” He acknowledges that none of us can undo our past. However, we can choose to learn from our mistakes and our suffering, allowing these lessons to form part of our history — moments that contribute to who we are today and teach us to navigate through life in the present.  The Pope even suggested to faithful youngsters that they spend more time with their grandparents, who have lived most of their lives independently of social media pressures, in the hope that their love, concern and the wisdom of their experience will provide them with a foundation of values and a proper guide through the intricacies of life. 

As long as we are alive, we expect to learn continuously and inevitably make mistakes. We cannot discount the importance of having someone in our corner to guide us and affirm our actions. The virtue of humility teaches us that we cannot know everything at once and that we must accept that others have lived and survived certain moments ahead of us, and are better equipped to help us figure life out. We all need people who care about us enough to correct us, guide us, and affirm us — whether it be a parent, a grandparent, an older sibling or relative, or an authority like a teacher or superior at work.  In Mark’s account of the Baptism of Jesus we are given a glimpse of the depth of Jesus’ relationship with His Father. At His baptism, Jesus hears for Himself an affirmation of His identity as God’s Beloved Son, and the pleasure that His Father takes in Him. “And a voice from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11) This is even foretold in the passage from Isaiah where the prophet speaks of God’s Chosen One, a Saviour pleasing to the Lord, who in His meekness guides the people and brings justice. (Isaiah 42:1) The timing of the Father’s loving estimation towards Jesus is perfect because He begins His public ministry after His baptism.  The Father’s message encourages Jesus to accomplish the mission God entrusted to Him and to endure the opposition and rejection He was to face from His adversaries. 

As a teacher I am convinced that everyone needs affirmation, children most especially. We all benefit from being reminded that goodness exists within us, that we are special because we are unique, and that we all have the potential to be exceptional. Our children need to be shown how valuable they are in the eyes of their parents and in the eyes of God.  Don’t we all, at some level, no matter what age we are, still try to be “pleasing” in the eyes of our parents? Isn’t it reassuring to hear from our parents when they take pride in us; or how happy we have made them?  These words not only elicit joy, but also the needed affirmation that sustains every child through the ups and downs of his/her life.  Without affirmation, a child can become distant and insecure. If no one cares enough to give gentle correction, they could grow up thinking what is wrong is right. If no one acknowledges the good in what they say or do, these young impressionable minds can be led to believe that they are never good enough. How easy it would be for them to look at themselves as inferior to others who present themselves with confidence as prettier, smarter, wealthier, more fashionable, or more popular. Sometimes, children even carry these issues with them long into their adulthood.  To go a step further, persons who cannot see the good within themselves will most likely have a hard time seeing the good in others as well. We must always appeal to the beauty of our identity as beloved children of God. All children of God are beautiful, unique, good, and worthy of love.  When we forget this ourselves, or make people feel otherwise, we run the risk of prompting feelings of discontent and unhappiness with who we are. After teaching for eight years, I am completely convinced that it is imperative for all educators to help their students to see the image of God within them and to encourage them to use the God-given potential in each one of them to serve others. 

Through today’s celebration of the Baptism of Jesus culminating the Christmas Season, we are reminded that the identity and the affirmation which Jesus has received from the Father is the same identity and affirmation which we can claim for ourselves by virtue of our Baptism.  We have become beloved daughters and sons of God through Baptism! Through it, we also share in the mission of Jesus. We too, are called to be the anointed of God, serving others quietly and kindly, accomplishing for Him the task He has for each one of us    — tasks vital in establishing His Kingdom here on earth. May the Father be “well pleased” with us as we strive to be true to who we are and to what we are all called to be — God’s beloved children.

Illustration by Blair Paulus C. Nuyda, AA