Sunday Gospel Reflections

Homily: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 21:28-32

27 September 2020

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez 

Battling Our Way to Saying “Amen” to God’s Ways

Ang Pinoy ay “pasaway”. Do you agree with this? I am sure every household and every community to a certain extent would say that there is one who fits the mould and who could easily be the ‘pasaway’ among them. This pandemic has truly tested the capacity of the Filipinos to follow guidelines and comply with protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. When Covid 19 cases peaked in the country, many people attributed this to the stubbornness of Filipinos who mischievously insist on behaving contrary to what is expected of them, almost as if purposely baiting authorities to reprimand them. It is no wonder then that considering the strict quarantine measures, we still hear of people being arrested for the simplest reasons like not wearing a face masks/face shields, to the more serious offences of going out for non-essential travel, engaging in illegal cockfighting, drinking sessions, birthday celebrations, etc. “Huwag kang pasaway!” (Don’t be stubborn!) Why do people persist in doing things their way even if it is detrimental for their good and the good of many?  Is it accurate to place blame on the Filipino public, collectively, for the increasing Covid cases in the country? Are we, Filipinos really ‘pasaway’? 

One of the themes of our readings this Sunday has to do with what we all contend with all of our lives — the struggle between obedience and disobedience. Both the First Reading and the Gospel this Sunday point out this all too human propensity to vacillate between saying ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to God throughout various life situations. In the selection from Ezekiel this indecisiveness is illustrated in the change of behaviour of the righteous person who sins and the sinner who repents. In the Gospel this wavering between obedience and disobedience and vice versa is best exemplified by the ways the two sons responded to their father’s command. The first son outrightly rejects what his father required of him but afterwards repents and eventually does what was asked of him. On the other hand, the second son readily acceded to the father’s request, appearing respectful and obedient, but, in truth, failed to accomplish the task. We are confronted with the reality that even the best of us can sometimes falter. There are circumstances when we willingly conform to certain regulations placed before us; while on other opportunities we are unwilling to do so. 

Countless times in the Bible we are also presented with the ambiguity of God’s people. We read about how God’s people pleased Him with their obedience that He deemed it fit to reward them. Recall how Abraham was commended by God saying, “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore… and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:17-18) Scripture also gives numerous accounts of the people’s rebellion against God beginning with the disobedience of Adam and Eve down through the ages to those who continue to refuse to believe in Jesus, God’s Anointed One. Throughout salvation history, mankind has been described as stubborn, stiff-necked, and hard-hearted, yet we are blessed to have a God who never wavers in His merciful love, who cares enough to set us straight until we become His dutiful sons and daughters.   

Are we, as Christians, expected to be obedient to God at times and in all circumstances of our life? Remember that we have been given the gift of FREE WILL and God does not force us into obedience. When we insist on deviating from God’s ways, we are assuming, we know better than Him and we can do better for ourselves, apart from Him. Our conformity to the will of God should be borne out of an understanding of the nature of our relationship with Him — the fact that He is our Creator and we are His creatures; that He is Our Father and we are His children. When we can humbly accept our place in the grand scheme of things and realize that as Father, God, always wants the best for His children, can we see that His ways are meant to save us from harm and lead us to fullness of life. Only then can obedience to God’s will make perfect sense and be the obvious choice.

Jesus, is our model of faithful obedience to the Father. Jesus invites us, by His example, to have a mind and heart for others, applied in the everyday, commonplace experiences of our lives.  Let us take a look at the Second Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. The example of Jesus’ self-emptying is what inspires this change of mind and heart in each one of us. “He emptied Himself… becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) Nothing was too much for Jesus who was obedient unto death. As St. Paul tells the Corinthians: “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me and Silas and Timothy — was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so, through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 19-20) 

We pointed out earlier that being obedient may prove to be extremely difficult for those of us who are programmed to be independent and self-directed individuals. It is also equally difficult to be consistent in our choice to be obedient but we need to try our best to do so because it is the sum of our choices that develops into our propensities and eventually our character. C.S. Lewis said “Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.” I do agree. A person truly obedient to the will of God does what is good, just and true even if no one is watching. Sadly, most people only do what is right when authorities are watching or faced with the threat of punishment.“When you are grocery shopping and accidentally damage merchandise, do you report it and take responsibility or pretend it didn’t happen and say, “That’s someone else’s problem?” For students going through online learning — “Do you honestly do the assignments, projects and exams yourself or do you have your parents, yaya or older siblings work on them for you?”  “Bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan huwag magagalit.”  One article I read says, “These are relatively small things, but it’s with these simple scenarios that we lay the foundation on how we behave in the bigger [scheme of] things in life.” And as they often say… “How we do something is how we do everything.” 

Our lives are governed by many regulations and restrictions, more so now during this pandemic. We trust that they are meant to keep order among us and to ensure everyone’s safety. We have a responsibility to do our part and to make the right choices consistently. By always seeking the common good, we turn our hearts to God. May we be persons of integrity patterned after Our Lord Jesus Christ who was humble and obedient to the Father. Through Him may we come to know and follow the path that leads to life!

Homily: Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 20:1-16

20 September 2020

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez

I found my ruler! I was told I may need it when I take public transportation. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently recommended the implementation of a gradual reduction of seating distance between commuters inside PUVs. The one-meter distance recommended by WHO, would be reduced to 0.75m starting September 14, and 0.50m on September 28 according to DOTr.  Social media memes poked fun saying “Aside from face mask and face shield, commuters are now required to bring a ruler.” Thank goodness the President, heeded the heavy criticisms from medical experts and laid to rest that ludicrous proposal. In any case, I would have been ready. 😉

Today’s gospel parable about the labourers in the vineyard challenges the way we measure ourselves against one another. This manner of relating is often too calculating. We treat others according to how we think they should be treated. We give them what we think they deserve. It is not uncommon to hear ourselves say to one another “That serves you right!”, “You earned it!”, “You got what you deserve!”  We give only what is commensurate to what we can get in return. We demand rewards equivalent to what we believe we have merited for ourselves. That, for us, is just. This is why the first labourers begrudged the generosity of the landowner when he gave all of them the same compensation regardless of the number of work hours rendered. You and I can understand why the first hires felt they should have received more than those who only worked for an hour. I bet if we were there we would have sided with them, too. 

We have a tendency to think that God judges us in the way we judge ourselves. I know of a matron who declares she is surely heaven-bound when she dies because she had donated millions to the church, gone to mass daily and prayed her rosaries nightly. That’s what she believes she deserves. But those around her think otherwise because that same lady estranged her children and she would not forgive them. She is also engaged in unethical business and mistreated her “househelpers”. For that, some believe that God ought to condemn her. 

Fortunately for us, God does not treat us according to what we think we deserve. If he did, where would we find ourselves? As Psalm 130:3 reminds us, “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” “Saan tayo pupulutin?” In the passage from the Prophet Isaiah, the Lord Himself declares this, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8) God sees what is unknown to us. He sees with clarity what is in the heart and mind of a person and God’s response is always of love. This is a love we cannot define completely because of its failure to comply with logic. God’s unconditional love for us is undeserved— something we can never earn nor expect. It comes to fullness in Jesus. Recall John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son and whoever believes in Him will not die.” How else could we be saved if God did not spare His Only Son for us sinners? God’s love is of total giving. It is not possessive. He does not force us to love Him, but should we choose to, then we need to accept His invitation to respond as He does, when we deal with one another. He asks us to try and see what He sees and to look upon one another with eyes of compassion. Let me give you two examples. The example of a conscientious employee and a noble teacher. 

The pandemic has resulted in many businesses closing down and many people losing their jobs.  The companies remaining in operation are barely surviving and some HR managers are recommending to the lucky ones who are still employed: “WORK LIKE YOU OWN THE COMPANY”   What does this mean? Adopted from a social media post, this is what it suggests… If you still have a job, count yourself lucky, and give back. It is not enough that you content yourself with giving the minimum required of you. Don’t count your hours. Don’t feel short-changed even if your salary does not match the hours you put in. Force yourself to look at the big picture and make a meaningful contribution that ensures the business thrives not just for you, but for the other employees and the clients and customers who depend on your products and services. Take care of it like it has taken care of you. Give back. Help it survive beyond this crisis.  It is not easy for business owners to sustain operations now. I know of entrepreneurs who are pulling out all the stops to keep their business from shutting down out of concern for their workers. Business owners can easily cut their losses by reducing their salaried employees but many strive to keep going because they know many families depend on them. So please, if you currently have a job, try not to complain so much and insist on your work-life balance. ‘Walang work-life balance ngayon. Walang balance ngayon.’ So many would willingly give up work life balance just to have the privilege to work. So, work like you own the company. When you save the company, you save yourself and your colleagues.

This October, basic education classes in the public schools are going to resume. The lack of access to gadgets and technology for online learning is reducing the rate of enrolment in the public schools, but it has not eliminated it altogether. Students do want to learn! The government is looking into broadcasting classes and lessons on radio stations for areas without internet. I’ve even heard of students preparing to literally climb mountains to get a better data signal so they can attend class.  In the same way, public school teachers are preparing themselves to go the extra mile for their students. Public school teachers in our country have been undervalued and underpaid for so long and yet they continue to give themselves fully to benefit their students. Just this morning, I saw a photo of teachers in Lanao del Norte traversing a perilous path to distribute learning modules to their students.  If they kept a record of all the sacrifices they made for their profession and demanded remuneration, we could not afford to pay them!  How do you measure kindness and a sense of mission? How do you equate a monetary value with the genuine love and compassion they have for their students? I am a teacher myself, and I know why they do what they do. This love, this selfless love, is what God invites us to practice.   

Finally, St. Paul reminds us as he reminded the Philippians “to conduct (ourselves) in a way worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27) As disciples of the Kingdom, we are called upon to afford our brothers and sisters the same kind of generosity, the same kind of love, the same kind of mercy shown to us by our gracious God— a love without measure.  May we as a people of faith become persons of generous giving to one another!

Homily: Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 18:21-35 

13 September 2020

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez

The other day, the hashtag #SorryToFilipinos became the number two (#2) trending topic among South Koreans on Twitter. This came about after another hashtag #CancelKorea went viral a few days earlier. Are you as puzzled by this online ruckus, as my friends are?  Let me fill you in. A Filipino-American influencer posted a video on TikTok showing her arm tattoo that resembles a Japanese rising sun flag— an offensive symbol for South Koreans—so they lashed out on Twitter, condemning Filipinos in general.  Some alleged that Filipinos are uneducated, short, ugly, poor, etc. Sadly, these insensitive and hateful comments continued even after that Fil-Am influencer apologised for her insensitivity. Filipino Twitter users countered with the hashtag #CancelKorea to mock South Korea’s penchant for surgical enhancements vis a vis the internationally recognized natural beauty of the Filipinas, and to debunk the myth that Filipinos are uneducated by highlighting that our country is a popular destination for South Koreans who want to improve their English skills. Level headed South Koreans, lobbied for an outpouring of apologies via the hashtag #SorryToFilipinos. In the end, Filipinos on Twitter accepted the apology. Lesson learned! Forgiveness wins!

The Sunday’s readings centre on the bountiful mercy of God and our responsibility as believers to extend this same forgiving love to our brothers and sisters. Psalm 103 declares “The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.” (Psalm 103:8) We are all in need of God’s abundant mercy because we are all sinners who have at some point offended others. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples the Parable of the Merciless Servant whose Master is the best example of how God is lenient with our transgressions. The master does far more than what the servant-debtor asks: “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.” (Matthew 18:26) He does not ask the master to wipe out his debt but to remain patient with him. He is then surprised when the master shows him compassion and condones the debt in full. How blessed we are to have a God who looks on His people with eyes of mercy despite our unworthiness and repeated sinfulness.  Psalm 130:3 reminds us “If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord who can stand?”  

Going back to the parable, we see that it continues with a twist. The beneficiary of the master’s mercy refuses to afford the same concession to a fellow servant-debtor. For this, the master hands over the hard-hearted servant to torturers until he pays the whole debt. Sirach in the First Reading elaborates on this divine reckoning by admonishing us to be merciful with other people’s offences if we want God to be merciful towards our own sins. “Forgive your neighbour’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.” (Sirach 28:2) This is in fact no different from the line from the Lord’s Prayer that we so often pray… “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” This is not to be taken lightly!  Someone remarked: “How can we expect God to forgive us our exorbitant debts when we are unwilling to forgive the paltry debts of our neighbour?” Do you realize that whenever we pray this line from the Our Father with unforgiving hearts, we are actually passing judgment on ourselves for withholding mercy? 

The tragic end of the unforgiving servant in the parable is a warning to us. Jesus wants us to forgive one another in the same manner God forgives us.  Fundamental to our mutual forgiveness of one another is our experience of the abundance of God’s mercy and not so much our attempt to be compassionate towards each other.  This realization makes it harder to justify our human tendency to hold grudges against those who have wronged us. St. Paul says “None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die we die for the Lord.” (Romans 4:7-8) 

Admittedly, forgiveness from the heart is not easy for us. This human condition puts into perspective Jesus’ response to Peter’s question on how often we must forgive our erring brother or sister. “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22) As learning is essential to our growth and maturity as persons and followers of Jesus, we continue to allow ourselves to be moulded by God’s grace to keep on forgiving until we have learned to forgive from the heart. As we would often say, practice makes perfect. In the standards of the world, we may look like losers, weaklings and pushovers to those whose hearts are consumed by pride, hatred and vengeance. However, for Jesus we are blessed… “Blest are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) And we should not forget… if our recompense is not in this life, surely it will be in the next.

In my ten (10) years of priesthood, I have never presided over as many masses for the dead as I have done virtually during these past months. For me, this is one of the saddest realities of the pandemic. Many people died not just because of COVID but of other lingering illnesses. Not all of them were able to make amends with those they have hurt or who have hurt them, because of the suddenness of their predicament and the restrictions of their hospital confinement. I myself, lost my Mama two (2) days into the lockdown. There is a part of me that knows we have done all we possibly could to make Mama feel that she was loved and cared for until the very end. However, there will always be a part of me that wishes I had had more time to say what needed to be said, including asking forgiveness for whatever it is that I may have done that caused her pain.  The death of a loved one makes us ask the hard questions in life, inviting us to focus on those things that are truly essential; namely, our relationship with God (God’s centrality in our existence), and the expression of this relationship with God, which translates to love of neighbour. 

Does a preference for forgiveness and mercy diminish justice? Is this to say that God does not uphold justice?  Of course, not… but He is in no rush to mete it out.  The Bible holds countless accounts of how God relents from dealing punishment for offences because the sinner expressed sincere contrition. Think about the story of Nineveh. God had threatened to destroy the city for their godless ways but when the king, his subjects and even their livestock repented, they were spared!  In His mercy, God gives us every opportunity for repentance while we are alive. As Christians, we believe, that it is in death that we get our just desserts. 

We live in very uncertain times.  We are learning so painfully that life is too short.  Let us be generous with our mercy and leave justice to God. Forgive so as not to be a prisoner of one’s anger, resentment and vindictiveness. Forgive to rid ourselves of all that hinder us from experiencing the true freedom and peace of forgiving hearts! Be merciful because God has been merciful to us.

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Homily: Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 18:15-20 

06 September 2020

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez

Have you ever had to call someone’s attention and correct him/her for a mistake committed? This may be typical for parents raising children, but for the rest of us it isn’t easy. How do you admonish a colleague, a stranger or someone of greater stature? Well, no one wants to be corrected. It is a blow to one’s confidence and an embarrassment to be caught in error. On the other hand, few of us would want to be in the position of having to correct other people’s mishaps, wrongdoings, faults, shortcomings, mistakes. We risk fostering animosity and being thought of as self- righteous. Most times, we just ended up ignoring things and letting others persist in their error.  

I have been a loyal subscriber of this TELCO for the past 20 years now. Their service is far from perfect. Their Twitter account is never without complaints and angry rants. On a daily basis, customer service representatives are on the receiving end of gentle reminders, serious threats and uncalled-for profanities. The responses, some of which are pre-recorded, are worded in such a way that encourages dialogue between the agent and client. Here are few examples… “We are sorry to hear that you are dismayed. Please check your inbox as we have sent you a private message. Thanks.” “We don’t want you to feel this kind of frustration. Would it be all right for you to share the details of your concern via Direct Messaging (DM) for proper assistance? Thanks.” I find their approach most impressive. They manage to be polite and open when being told their service sucks. 

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus offers us advice on how to approach an erring member in the community. Christ says… One, do it in private. Two, do it in the presence of a few who matter. Three, if it cannot be helped do it before the whole community. Jesus admonishes that if the one at fault refuses to submit to the correction, this may even lead to his/her exclusion. Does this sound pretty severe and drastic? Well, remember that the correction of an erring brother or sister interestingly enough always begins in the private domain between the erred and the erring one. It offers the one in the wrong an opportunity to rectify and to make up for his/her misdemeanour. This is what we call fraternal correction. Such action is an exercise of love from the one making the correction. We correct others because we care for them and want them to improve and grow. If the matter is of a moral aspect, the endeavour is to lead them to be better persons and disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Isn’t it that when we truly love another person, we desire what is good for that loved one? It is not to shame another, or to make one’s self appear superior. Love. For Jesus, that is the only motivation for offering fraternal correction to another. This is what St. Paul means by the debt of mutual love — the only debt we owe one another. “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” (Romans 13:8)

Ezekiel is appointed by God in the First Reading as a watchman for the House of Israel. As a custodian of the ways of God for the people of Israel, Ezekiel is told, “If you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” (Ezekiel 33:8) Don’t laugh at Ezekiel’s tough luck because the same is expected of us Christians. We cannot afford to be morally indifferent and to simply shut our eyes and remain silent when a brother or sister wanders in ignorance on a path to destruction. In our hands is a grave responsibility for people’s salvation. Yes, we are our brother’s or sister’s keepers! Sometimes we think it best to keep quiet to keep the peace and uphold mutual respect. But if we do so, how can we make the necessary changes within? How can we grow and learn from our mistakes if no one comes to our rescue to gently admonish us? We all have blind spots. We all need to be made aware of them through a brother and a sister’s loving reproach. 

Are we to expect that our efforts will be met with humility? Perhaps more often not. But this should not dissuade us. When you have gone out of your way to confront and to correct an erring brother or sister and he/she chooses not to heed your advice, you can be at peace because you have done all that is required of you! God does not ask us to follow this person around and ensure they follow our counsel. God assures Ezekiel, “But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself.” (Ezekiel 33:9) Now that their attention has been called, it is up to them to make use of their free will—to choose whether they will take your advice or not. If they will shun your guidance or listen…The ball is now in their court, so to speak. 

Our young people these days are in the habit of calling people out in social media. There is a culture of making a mockery of other netizens. For what— to elicit laughs? To be deemed an influencer? To get something to go viral at another’s expense? Shockingly, even adults have followed suit! How often have we come across local celebrity moms berating their popular kids on Twitter and engaging in an all-out Twitter war polarizing fans eager to weigh in on the squabble? Or what about FB and Instagram posts highlighting someone’s fashion faux pas or grammatical errors? These examples may seem superficial but social media is teeming with critical matters, sometimes causing depression and tempting self-harm. Is humiliating the person really the right way to do it? Shaming the person only causes him/her to shy away from owning up to his/her mistake and from doing something to rectify the blunder. In an article I read it said: “Social media is the easiest platform where you can fire bullets that you can’t ever take back.”

On more than one occasion I’ve been told that our “stay at home situation” these days has inevitably caused family members or housemates to be at each other’s throats. Naturally, being in such small confines create countless opportunities to get on each other’s nerves. When I was growing up, my Tatay (Father) was often away at work and we were seldom together and I valued what little time we had before he passed away when I was 10. I recall seeing playmates getting scolded by their folks for playing out late or failing to clean up, for talking back or being remiss in their house chores. To me, it meant their parents cared enough to set them straight. Let this be a time to show concern for one another, to help each other, and to not hesitate to offer charitable advice whenever it is necessary. Remember, it is love that must reign supreme in our homes, especially at this time when the virus endangers our togetherness.  

No one is perfect. Not you. Not me. As we live, we make mistakes, we learn, we grow. Life is tough and sometimes overwhelming such that we fail to see ourselves clearly. The people around us can serve as mirrors reflecting that which we need to improve in ourselves, only if we let them. All of us are finding our way on this earth, together. Let us learn to be responsible for one another and help one another to attain the fullness of life Jesus wants for us all.

Photo from artpetty.com

Homily: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 16:21-27

30 August 2020

The national government recently called on religious leaders to counsel and guide the members of their flock in order to halt the increasing suicide cases in the country during this pandemic. Echoing the national government’s call, a DOH official was quoted as saying: “We are highly religious. We turn to prayers when things go bad. Maaring maibsan ang kanilang nararamdaman dahil tinitingala sila ng ating kababayan.” (They might be able to help ease whatever it is that our fellow Filipinos are going through because they look up to their religious leaders.) People now are so worried, anxious and stressed over a whole range of issues from contracting the virus, losing jobs, failing businesses and the general uncertainty of our situation for the next year or so. One thing is undeniable—we are not okay! 

In today’s First Reading, Jeremiah is seen in his most desperate moment. In misery, he laments to God that people made fun of him and looked upon him with disgust and disappointment because in being faithful to God’s call he had to proclaim unpopular and ridiculous-sounding messages. “You have duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.” (Jeremiah 20:7) Jeremiah is not okay. He further resents the feeling that God is not comforting him and acknowledging the suffering he endures. Dejected, Jeremiah does the unthinkable—he considers refusing the responsibility of delivering the hard message of warning the people of God’s chastisement. I think, now more than ever, we know this feeling of simply wanting to give up.

In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew Jesus exposes His most vulnerable self to His disciples as He predicts His cruel fate in the hands of the religious authorities in Jerusalem. It reads “Jesus began to show his disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” (Matthew 16:21) In obedience to God’s will, Jesus would suffer severely and be killed. Through it all, Jesus would not falter but rather remain resolute in the face of this bitter end. This resignation to fate, did not sit well with Peter who was still expecting that Jesus would still become a kingly, warrior Messiah who would save them all in a glorious display of power. “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22) Not getting it quite yet, Peter reacts (as did Jeremiah who questioned the ways of the Lord) to the idea of a suffering Messiah that Jesus presents. At this instant Jesus rebuffs Peter. He reminds him of the cost of being His disciple, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) This message is the same for all Christians throughout the centuries—-suffering is ultimately part and parcel of every Christian’s life. It is not something that we desire for its own sake. Rather, we deal with it knowing that it is not the end of the story. God’s power transforms suffering.

For both Jeremiah and Peter the prospect of pain and suffering in the life of the faithful servants of God is unacceptable. Isn’t this what our own instincts would tell us? “I have been really trying to be good Lord. So why do I have to suffer this way?” “Why would you allow this pandemic? Do we deserve all this suffering?” Jesus reminds us that we cannot attribute to God our human logic. “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matthew 16:23) Sometimes, the overwhelming difficulties obscure the good that can yet come out of it. Take note that Jesus ends his prediction with His being raised from the dead. It is an invitation to His disciples to see beyond the immediate pain and suffering of this life to a promise of fullness of life with God. 

Our Christian vocation entails a readiness to accept sufferings in this life, perhaps even an untimely death if that is our lot. As Paul says in today’s Epistle, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1) We understand that conforming to the ways of the Lord opens us up to pain and suffering because it is a consequence of going against the ideals of the world and pursuing the ideals of heaven. Instead of shrinking back in the face of trials, we have to try to serenely accept our share in the passion of Christ for the sake of our edification as persons and as Christians. 

Like some of you, I also finished watching this KDrama with a simple but very telling title. “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay!” I realized that this TV series offers quite a number of valuable insights that can help us cope with the mental stress brought about by this pandemic. Allow me to share briefly some of them. 

The first step towards becoming OK always begins in admitting that everyone struggles. We may have different problems or similar ones to varying degrees but no one is exempt, because it is part of being human. To be vulnerable is to be human. To be human is to allow yourself to feel and show emotions when you’re happy, sad, or even angry. Moon Gang Tae may appear to be a strong person, but deep down is full of hurts, resentments and anger that he suppressed through the years. A step further from acknowledging the reality of difficulty is acceptance. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay! It is only through this recognition that we are to some degree all broken people and that we need one another to be able to get through all life’s pains and hurts. If you’re not okay, there is no shame in asking for help. The results may not be immediate but have faith that soon enough you will be okay bit by bit. Only the ones who acknowledge their need to be saved can call for a Saviour. 

In the series, the character of Ko Mun-yeung is an author who pens the book “The Boy Who Fed on Nightmares”. Moon Gang Tae reads it and learns that hurtful & painful memories, such as those of deep regrets, of hurting others and being hurt, of being abandoned — such memories buried in the heart of a person can make one stronger, more passionate and emotionally flexible. And only those with such an experience can attain happiness. No pain is for nothing. Every hurt has a future value. 

Lastly, the character of Nam Ju-Ri declares that “each of us has a set amount of misfortunes and happiness assigned to us. When things are bad now, it will only get better in the future.” No matter how bleak the outlook, we have to believe that we will get through it. 

As Christians, we are taught that God is the ideal of all that is good and perfect and that He wants the same fullness of life for us. He does not create moments of suffering for humanity. It is what we in our weakness and selfishness have caused one another. However, that is not the end for us because God does not condemn us for being human and making mistakes. He is always there to extend a helping hand. In our suffering, we simply have to blink through our tears, take His hand and not let go because eventually our God, in His generous and unconditional love for us, makes everything OK.

Homily: Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 16:13-20 

23 August 2020

The expression on one’s face easily communicates that which remains unsaid. Lately, it is proving to be a challenge to adequately understand each other what with the mandatory wearing of face masks (and now face shields) we are prevented from completely seeing each other’s facial expressions. A simple smile that lights up one’s face to send a firm message of positivity to another now requires extra effort to express the same charm with only one’s eyes. (For those of us with big, beautiful eyes, now is their time to shine! Gollum!) Who would’ve guessed that masks would be an integral part of our life? We have seen all sorts of face masks being sold online from the utilitarian to the more fashionable ones to the downright funny. Though awkward and inconvenient, the wearing of masks has become a must to protect ourselves and others from the deadly virus. 

Masks have always been considered a form of disguise—an attempt to conceal a person’s true identity. It is not just used in theater or in the Mission Impossible movies but it’s pretty common in everyday life. Masks hide our fears and insecurities, give us courage to act boldly, and help us to function in uncomfortable situations. When I trained to conduct recollections, retreats or spiritual encounters on self-awareness, we had to always include a session on the taking off of our masks or the breaking down of our personal defences as an essential point of departure to achieving self-actualisation. The logic there is that we can only become the persons God intended us to be, if we are willing to shed off those masks we put on ourselves in order to look good to other people. In the First Book of Samuel, God directs the prophet , “Do not consider his appearance… The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) 

Jesus was not one to wear masks. In fact He was always true to Himself. However, the nature of His person was too complex to be fully comprehended by those who encountered Him. He did not take it against them, nor did He force them to know Him and accept Him. In His love and compassion for people, He allowed the mystery of His identitiy to be gradually revealed to them by what He taught and in the way He lived. 

In this Sunday’s Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus conducts an assessment of how His words and actions were being understood by the people in relation to His messianic identity. “Who do people say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13) The varying impressions provided by the people about the identity of Jesus reveal the varied messianic expectations existing at that time. “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Matthew 16:14) Then Jesus poses this question to His disciples. “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Speaking on behalf of the others, Peter leads them all into a profession of faith. Peter confesses, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Scholars say, God the Father opened the minds and hearts of the disciples through this declaration of Peter.

I’m sure you are familiar with the sayings…”birds of the same feather flock together” or “great minds think alike”. It presupposes that we gravitate to those we identify with and allow to influence us. To be affiliated and identified with someone means you acknowledge your commonality whether it is pre-existing, like a life experience, or forged such as sharing in that person’s vision, life perspective and values. The accuracy of Peter’s answer is an important element in today’s story because not only did it signify that he was beginning to see Jesus for who He really was but it was an affirmation that Peter was willing to share in Jesus’ identity and mission. This had serious consequences in the life of the disciples and how they identified themselves in their society. They lived closely with Jesus, listened to Him, observed His actions and learned from Him. Their share in His identity was especially manifest when they began their ministry after Jesus had ascended into heaven. 

We as followers of Jesus in this day and age are posed with this very same question and are made to consider the implications of our answer. What does it mean for us to profess with Peter that Jesus is the Anointed One (the Christ), the Son of the Living God today, especially at this time of the pandemic? Are we expected to stand in street corners and preach to thousands, heal the sick and cast out demons? Well, some do…. but for many of us, it is enough to get to know Jesus by reading the Bible, learning about Jesus, praying and participating in online masses, and trying our best to live a life in the service of others. Just last week, Nurse Mary Lorraine Pingol had the opportunity to witness to God’s love and care for the least among us. On her way to work, she encountered a homeless woman in labor on a Makati sidewalk. She stopped without hesitation, and assited in the childbirth. 

It could also mean making an effort to be compassionate, patient and understanding with people and situations beyond our control. A friend of mine who is the manager of a company told me how she was moved by the sense of solidarity of their employees when they announced a day’s closure for lack of deliveries. Sensing my friend’s sadness and frustration, an employee approached her and said: “Huwag na po kayo malungkot Ma’am. Makakayanan po natin itong mga pagsubok na ito basta sama-sama po tayo. Naiintindihan po namin. Di rin po kami bibitaw dahil hindi niyo rin po kami pinababayaan.” (Don’t be sad, Ma’am. We will get through these challenges as long as we are together. We will not give up on you because you have never abandoned us.) 

As a Church, we profess our faith in Jesus the Messiah and Son of God, by allowing God to work through us—to ensure that the poor, the powerless, the marginalized are never abandoned and left to fend for themselves. The Catholic Church through Caritas Manila along with some business groups had provided over 1 billion pesos worth of aid to poor families affected by the lockdown. This fact escaped the radar of those who criticized God’s people asking,  “Where is the Church in this time of crisis?” In imitation of our Lord, the Church has no desire to toot its own horn or “magbuhat ng sariling bangko”. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:16: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” As it identifies to being a Church of the Poor, it is enough that the Church continues to work tirelessly but silently to help those in need. 

We, Christians, are still very much a work in progress. We are far from being “a peg in a sure spot” (Isaiah 22:33) in terms of our faith living. Like Peter, who was not always “the rock” Jesus intended him to be, we, too have our shortcomings and we do many things that are contrary to our identity as Christians. But through “the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God” (Romans 11:33) we have the strength to continue the struggle to be faithful to our shared identity as Christians. May we strive to become authentic witnesses of Jesus, God’s Anointed One, in our homes and in our communities.

Homily: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Matthew 15:21-28
16 August 2020

Have you noticed that over the past months the protocols prescribed to prevent the spread of Covid 19 have gone from the practical to the ridiculous? There is the logical mandatory wearing of masks, proper and frequent handwashing and social distancing to the eyebrow raising motorcycle barriers and the wearing of masks inside homes! I remember seeing this funny viral video of a wife imposing physical distancing between herself and her husband within their own home. As the husband attempts to sit beside her on the sofa to watch TV, she takes out a measuring stick to ensure that they are at the prescribed distance from each other. At bedtime, the husband again attempts to sleep next to his wife on their bed but she promptly props two pillows between them to form a barrier. The exasperated husband gets up, takes out his salary from his wallet and counts it. Upon seeing the thick wad of cash, the wife lunges at her husband and tries to grab the wallet, forgetting all about physical distancing! (Wives, don’t be offended… this is just a joke.)

In Biblical times social distancing was already observed to stop the spread of contagious diseases like leprosy. The Jews were very particular about remaining ritually pure. So, they distanced themselves from all that they deemed unclean or unworthy. In fact, women also had to distance themselves during their monthly period as they were deemed unclean until the bleeding had passed. Another cultural practice that Jesus was born into was the distancing of Jews from the Gentiles, whom they viewed as idolatrous and often intent on persecuting them. This hostile divide is highlighted in the conversation of Jesus with the Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel from Matthew. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24) This response of Jesus to the woman’s request for healing for her daughter expresses a popular belief among Jews that Gentiles could not share in their divine inheritance. Jesus was not being mean. It was not a personal affront. He was merely asserting the fact that the Messiah was initially meant to come to Israel to deliver God’s chosen people. The small-minded disciples considering her a nuisance, said “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” (Matthew 15: 23)

Further in the story, the woman persists and follows them around. Jesus cautions her saying: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” (Matthew 15:26) The food he speaks of is Himself, the Word of God and the Bread of Life that God the Father sends His children, the people of Israel. As we mentioned earlier, Gentiles had the tendency for polytheism and idol worship so it is not unusual for Jesus to compare them with dogs that eat and feed off anything indiscriminately. For the woman to say that “even the dogs feed on the scraps that fall from the master’s table” (Matthew 15:27) is a public declaration that she acknowledges there is truth to Jesus and His teachings. Though an outsider, her sincere faith in God’s boundless love tears a hole in the wall of exclusivity of Jewish claims on God’s beneficence. In recognition, Jesus commends her faith: “O woman, great is your faith!” (Matthew 15:28) and by granting her request, Jesus surprises His disciples with another revelation—- that His message and mission are inclusive of all peoples, for all time. The passage from Isaiah describes a God who desires to be in relationship with all people be they locals or foreigners who sincerely seek him. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” (Isaiah 56:7) This universality of God’s salvation is what St. Paul likewise affirms as he claims to be a Jew and yet commissioned to be an apostle to the Gentiles.

When we started our fight against Covid 19, we sang together in the face of this adversity to “Heal as One”. But since then our society has been considerably fractured by political affiliations, conflicting medical and economic opinions and flawed understanding of what constitutes curtailing personal freedom. There is so much colour-labelling going on that it diminishes our sense of patriotism and magnanimity towards our own countrymen. On the world scale, hate incidents have increased and social media is abuzz with the many forms of discrimination and cruelty toward people of Asian descent. Some journalists even use the racially charged term Wuhan Virus to refer to SARS Cov 2.

As Christians, especially in this time of pandemic, we are called to strive to do away with the divisions that exist among us that prevent us from filling the world with the compassion it desperately needs. We are meant to be instruments of God’s universal blessing to all peoples and reflections of God’s unequivocal and impartial love for humankind. Banded together under the banner of Jesus Christ, we will always be stronger than those that sow division in our midst. By working with each other and allowing the Lord to lead us, we will survive this world crisis and know with confidence that any disaster stemming from this pandemic will be resolved.

The Canaanite woman would not give up until her daughter was cured. When we approach Jesus in prayer, we too must not be discouraged. Jesus is always here for us. We simply have to keep faith. From our end, let us continue to strive for unity among us and enter more deeply into the communion we are called to foster. This is the way we can truly “Heal as one!”

Homily: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Matthew 14:22-33
9 August 2020

Our Faith in the Raging Storm 

In London I lived with an elderly religious (Fr. Andrew) who likes to sit in the park and feed the birds. He would return home with great stories quite useful for homilies. Once he told me about a father and his little boy playing in the park and how impressed he was with the manner by which the father was watching over his little boy play. The father allowed the boy to wander around, roll on the grass (I hope no allergies!), and even attempt, at some point, to climb a tree. The father would approach his son once in a while but only when he had to. The little one appeared confident that his father was watching over him, assured that he would be close by if he needed to call upon him. What Fr. Andrew liked very much was how the father accepted his son for what he is—just a little boy. He allowed him to enjoy being a child who wanders around, experiments on things, makes false moves, and falls from time to time. 

Jesus in today’s gospel is also very much like that father. He takes his disciples as they are, particularly Peter, with all their character flaws and shortcomings and helps them in their time of need. Responding to the invitation of Jesus but challenged more by his own ego, Peter steps out of the boat and dares to walk towards Jesus on the water! Jesus does not dissuade him or give him fair warning but allows him to do his thing (in Filipino, we say, “Hinayaan niyang dumiskarte!”). At first Peter appears to be succeeding but the terrifying storm distracts him and he begins to submerge in the water.

What do you think made Peter sink? Besides his over confidence in himself, he doubted the power of Jesus to calm the storm and keep him skimming the surface of the water. Often times, we can get so carried away by our success and affiliations to power that we begin to think so highly of ourselves, believing we are invincible, and untouchable. We rely so much on our capabilities that we forget to be grateful and subservient to the One who blesses us with all these gifts and opportunities. We become like Peter, thinking ourselves capable of walking on water, and even soaring to the skies! Our security becomes dependent on maintaining the lifestyle we grow accustomed to, even if it must be at the cost of our integrity or at the expense of others. But life always has a way of testing our mettle and humbling us through unexpected troubles and hurts. Sometimes they can be such a devastating threat to the treasures we have amassed, the reputation we have built and the success we have achieved that people literally go crazy, lose faith or sink into depression. 

Another thing we must consider is that Peter sank, not only because he took his eyes off the Lord, but because he forgot that the Lord never took His eyes off of him! Despite the raging storm and the frightening waves, Jesus is undisturbed as He makes His way back to His friends on the boat. He sees them from afar and He walks to them with purpose. The disciples are so afraid and frazzled that they barely recognize Jesus at first. Jesus, on the other hand, sees them clearly and knows exactly who calls out to Him from the distance. The moment Peter steps out of the boat, Jesus is so focused on him that he sees when Peter is sinking, He hears the cry for help, and He comes right over to save him. We too are the same way. Storms in our life can be so strong that they bring us to our knees and we forget that God does not desire our destruction and that He has everything under control. 

You then might ask, why does God allow such storms to happen? Why does he allow us to make all these missteps that could lead to our undoing? The answer lies in the story we talked about in the beginning. GOD is a loving Father who accepts our individualities, peculiarities, strengths, and weaknesses. He gives us the freedom to live as we choose but He also allows us to face difficulty and suffering because through them we learn and we become stronger. We may lose our way and stumble along but through it all He assures us that He is close by if we call upon Him for help. Peter was allowed to have his way in order that Jesus could teach him about faith. He used the occasion to help the apostles gain valuable insights that will make them grow as persons and as his disciples.

In our present situation, we have encountered a combination of storms. We have faced natural calamities from typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and now we have financial recessions, let-downs of government, unemployment, and a health crisis that has led to catastrophic loss of life.  

We are all suffering and reeling from the blows. Many have begun to sink into despair because they either forgot or found it too hard to fix their eyes on Jesus. It is not impossible, though. Looking to the efforts of the faithful in cooperation with the church we see a people who despite their own hardships, have learned to share with those who have less, to pray together, even for people they do not know, and who endeavour to spread some positivity around to uplift both neighbours and strangers.

This time of the pandemic is truly one of the most terrifying storms to ravage the whole world. We have to remember that only people of faith can brave calamitous situations like this with hope and come out of it stronger. May our faith be intensified as we struggle to keep our gaze fixed on Jesus and remember to always call on Him for help. He hears us and consoles us, reminding us constantly to patiently wait for deliverance and to “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid!” (Matthew 14:27)

illustration by Blair Paulus Nuyda, AA

Homily: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 14:13-21

2 August 2020

Go viral! That’s the best way to get the public’s attention these days. When I was younger, people had to make the rounds of TV and radio stations, broadsheets and tabloids to attract attention for personal or societal concerns. Nowadays, if you want to fight for a cause or get help for somebody’s pitiful plight, you must get the issue to explode on social media. It has become a most effective tool in raising awareness, engaging large numbers of people, and getting appropriate action fast.

Back in June, widespread anger was generated online by a post on the death of single mother, Michelle Silvertino, who unknowingly died of Covid on a footbridge after days of being stranded in Manila waiting for the bus to take her back to her home province. Sadly, it was only after her death went viral on Facebook that we even took notice of her case and demanded that government see to the needs of hundreds of others similarly situated. It would be naive of us to ignore the fact that many viral posts have also destroyed the reputations of innocent people due to the propagation of lies and fake news but we can not discount the fact that it is instrumental in getting help for people who truly need it. 

Today’s gospel passage from Matthew, is popularly known as “The Feeding of the Five Thousand” wherein Jesus miraculously multiplies loaves of bread and some fish to feed the multitude. We are told that the disciples were not oblivious to the fact that the people needed to eat so they suggest to Jesus that He “dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy some food for themselves.” (Matthew 14:15) However, Jesus knows that the situation presents a teaching opportunity. By His actions, Jesus emphasizes to His disciples that when it comes to responding to other people’s needs, there is no time to waste. We see here a compassionate God in the person of Jesus whose “heart was moved with pity” for the vast crowd. Jesus wanted His followers to learn that it was imperative that they are to take care of one another as He cares for  them. 

Let us dwell momentarily on the word “compassion.” Almost all the other translations of Matthew 14:14 use the word “compassion” instead of “pity” to describe how Jesus must have felt upon seeing the crowds. “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (NIV) The word compassion signifies more than just a fleeting emotion. It is defined as a “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” (Merriam-Webster) Showing compassion is exhibiting an inner capacity to suffer with those in distress and to act on their behalf. Jesus seems to challenge the disciples to show compassion when He tells them: “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” (Matthew 14:16) It is not enough to simply feel sorry for another’s plight. As Christians, we are called to respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters in distress just as Christ upon seeing the people’s need worked a miracle to fill it. 

In the opening statement of the Gospel passage, we are told that Jesus withdrew to a deserted place to most likely grieve the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. Take note, that in this story, Jesus, Himself is suffering because of the loss of a loved one.  This pandemic has wrought unspeakable misery on the whole world. None among us have been immune to the suffering.  We are all affected, albeit some to a greater degree than others. Just yesterday we had nearly 5,000 new infections and we are on the brink of reaching 100,000 confirmed COVID cases! Our collective woes seem to worsen as the number of cases continue to rise in the country. People cry out in the depths of despair pleading for God’s mercy; wondering if He cares enough about us to listen to our prayers. It is truly tempting to ask “Where is God in all this?”  

We find our consolation in St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans in the Second Reading: “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35) The Bible teaches us that God did not abandon even the unfaithful Israelites of old. He spares no expense. He even sends His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ to save mankind from its pitiful state.  God still continues to come to our aid today through the efforts of various people. As the country went into lockdown, all sorts of problems surfaced, mainly the slow distribition of food and financial assistance from the government, the lack of adequate public transportation for frontliners, the dearth of PPEs in hospitals, etc… All these problems were constantly in the news and on social media… Through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Viber, etc. people at home who could not sit idly by as fellow Filipinos were suffering, organized their own projects, pooling resources with their friends, relatives, and like minded-strangers to provide food, clean drinking water, medical supplies and PPEs, to wards, hospitals and poor communities! We hear of TNVS partners and ordinary citizens offering free rides to medical frontliners. So many people moved with compassion, each contributing according to their capacity to ease the suffering of God’s people. These individuals have followed in the footsteps of Jesus, who despite his own mourning did not turn away the sick and the hungry when they needed Him. It is actions like this that assures us that God, our Father, listens to our prayers and is concerned for our welfare and our needs.

In closing, I pray that all Christians, will have eyes that are keen to the suffering of others, ears that hear the lamentations of the distressed, and hearts consistently moved with compassion for the less fortunate among us. May we respond swiftly with charity and generosity, and become a testament that truly nothing and no one can ever separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Homily: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 13:44-52

26 July 2020

My friend and I share the same birthday. This year she asked me what was my birthday wish. For those of you who know me, I believe it is not very difficult to figure out what I prayed for. When I asked her in return, my friend told me that she prayed that God would put an end to this pandemic with the immediate discovery of a vaccine to stop the spread of Covid 19. We have heard in the news that various human trials have been yielding promising results but actual use and distribution are still a long way off. As my friend and I wait for God to grant our wishes, there is something else I pray for that I believe we all could benefit from—the gift of wisdom. That is, the ability to make the right choices in order to adapt and thrive in this new normal. We need the consciousness to allow our current situation to teach us valuable life lessons. 

In today’s passage from the First Book of Kings, Solomon, who is renowned for being the wisest of men, exhibits this wisdom in asking God for the best gift of all, a gift that God, Himself, was pleased with. Solomon could have asked for anything because there was nothing beyond the power of God to grant but in humility, Solomon asks God: “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge people and to distinguish right from wrong.” (1 Kings 3:9) God was so pleased with Solomon’s choice of putting the good of God’s people over his own personal benefits that God rewarded Solomon immensely. “I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.” (1 Kings 3:12) As an aside I must say I tend to agree. From leaders and monarchs we have studied in history to those presently in power, few have truly come close to Solomon. Many have placed their personal comfort and interests and the pursuit of pleasures before everything else. 

Through parables Jesus has taught us that the greatest priority we ought to pursue in life as His followers is the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus teaches us about its incomparable value as He compares the Kingdom to a buried treasure or the pearl of great price which one endeavours to have at all costs. In the spirit of practicing what you preach, Jesus staked His life on this. He lived and died proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven. He not only invites all His followers to pursue this in his or her lifetime but He also shows us the way by His words and deeds. 

God’s gift of wisdom (or what St. Ignatius of Loyola calls discernment, “the art of discovering how best to respond to God in daily life”) helps us to sort through the many distractions in life that keep us from distinguishing and pursuing this great treasure.  Through this health crisis, we are being taught some uncomfortable lessons in terms of what is truly essential in life. What with many businesses folding up and unemployment rising, we have come to realise that those things we so often relied upon can easily be taken away from us. Even with our sophisticated knowledge and all our scientific and technological advances in this day and age, we are still rendered helpless and inadequate to fully control this virus. This pandemic is continuously offering us countless opportunities to go back to the basics and refocus on what is truly essential. We have come to recognize what is and what is not important in life—things that so often take a back seat when we are preoccupied with getting rich, becoming famous and accumulating our wants. We have learned to appreciate the simple things like taking a deep breath unencumbered by a face mask and without fear of contracting a virus, mobility, being able to sit with good company at a restaurant over a good meal…. to more profound God given treasures such as family, togetherness, good health, and freedom.

It is never always easy to pursue what is just and true in this life. We must be willing to pay the cost of possessing the buried treasure or the pearl of great price. At times it will entail denying ourselves, delaying personal gratifications, and enduring some suffering. And for non-believers we may be taken for fools because the truth is, the Kingdom of Heaven is not yet completely within our grasp. However, as people of faith we trust in the Word made flesh. In Psalm 119 the psalmist declares that “the law of your mouth (God’s Law or God’s instruction) is more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” (Psalm 119:72)

Sometimes it takes a crisis, for us to gain clarity and learn the hard lessons of life. This is not a time to lose hope. Our missteps and miscalculations due to our human shortcomings and tendencies can still be corrected through the power of God’s grace at work within us. This is what St. Paul assures the Romans, “All things work for good for those who love God.” (Romans 8:28) As children of God destined for the heavenly Kingdom, we have all been promised God’s assistance and sustenance in our pilgrimage through this life. We only have to always strive to walk in the presence of the Lord, to gain wisdom of heart so that we may attain our eternal reward!