Sunday Gospel Reflections

Restored in Christ Jesus

Homily: Second Sunday of Advent (C)

Luke 3:1-6

8 December 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

We often hear the expression “To straighten things out…” or “To straighten someone out!” Why do we bother to do this? When we use this for objects perhaps the typical translation in Filipino will be ” ayosin” or “i-derecho” which suggests restoring something to order or to what was originally intended. For people and situations, it often means to correct or fix what seemingly is crooked; if not seriously deal with something that has become a mess.

I think this is important for us to understand so we see the value of the images presented to us today both in the First Reading and in the Gospel… “levelling the mountains, filling in the gorges and straightening the paths…” (Baruch 5:7) All of it is done to allow a swifter, safer, and more certain journey back home. In Baruch, it is Jerusalem’s children who were led away by the enemy that will be swiftly returned to her. In the gospel passage it is about God coming to meet His people to save them. There is a presupposition of a painful separation and the promise of a joyful and much awaited reunion. Baruch writes: “Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery…” (Baruch 5: 1) He tells her to stand up and gaze in the distance to watch her beloved children being gathered by God to bring them back to her. And they come resplendent with God’s glory like royalty. What a beautiful image! If we have ever lost a loved one to sickness, old age or tragedy, imagine being able to meet them again as healthy, whole, youthful and happy? This is actually what we look forward to when all of us, God’s children, are reunited with God our Father in heaven for eternity.

Obviously, since we are all still here together at mass (listening to this homily that should not be more than 8 minutes according to Pope Francis, we are not there yet! We are merely looking forward to that day in faith. For now, we must go through this period of waiting and expectation — very similar to what the Church tries to emphasise each Advent Season — waiting for the Lord. However, the Second Reading (Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11) and the Gospel (Luke 3:1-6) this Second Sunday of Advent bring to light the element of HOW we must conduct ourselves as we wait. The gospel starts off enumerating the names and territories of the powers that be in the time of Jesus. It is the same political and religious circumstance wherein John the Baptist began his mission. He preached a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” crying out, “Prepare the way for the Lord and make straight His paths”. (Luke 3:4) John calls the people to straighten out their lives. He is telling them that the requisite for ultimate relief from their suffering and oppression was first and foremost, personal renewal by repenting of their sins and radically changing their perspective on their relationship with God and others.

That message holds true for us today as well. We have to admit that the wrong choices we made have led us down dangerous and difficult paths that endangered our relationship with God and others. There are surely certain valleys in our lives that need to be filled in; a number of mountains and hills that need to be made low; a few rugged lands that shall be made plain and still some rough countries that need to become broad valleys. By our own initiative and by the grace of God, we can pave the way for God to meet His people and for others to find their way back to Christ. Perhaps we have been feeble, weak, or frightened? Perhaps we have allowed ourselves to be in a spiritual dryness long enough to get out of it? Maybe we have been neglectful of how we have been treating our loved ones, or irresponsible of how we spend our time, or how we have maintained such a pessimistic attitude about life. Some of us are simply stonewalling our way through life.

Advent is an opportune time to remind us to pray for the grace to acknowledge our personal sins and our contribution to social sins that we may repent and make amends for. Such a disposition of humility and openness, allows us to enjoy fully the promises of the Lord not only those from of old and those in the future but more so, ‘God’s adventing’ in the here and now.

We all have a journey to make this Advent; we all have a journey to return home to the way of living and being that God desires for us. Whatever our story, whatever our journey through life has been up to this point, let us carry on and strive to make straight our relationship with God and others, strong in the hope of God’s promise of restoration in Him. We are “confident of this, that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1: 6)

Beware, Frequent-flyers!

Homily: First Sunday of Advent (C)

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

1 December 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

Do you remember the first time you rode an airplane? Were you excited? Anxious? Frightened? Perhaps all three? After all, all these are typical of a new experience. Air travel is much more common these days, than when I was a child. Back then, people dressed up for their flights. Today, I see people onboard planes in sando, shorts and slippers! Flying is now such a casual affair. More so, afor frequent flyers! These people travel by air so much that they are rewarded with points they can exchange for discounts and special benefits. Despite all those perks, the actual experience of flying in a plane becomes more of a chore and a necessary inconvenience than a fun and thrilling ride. Gone is the eager anticipation of coming home to some place familiar or the promise of an adventure in a new destination!

Ganun ba talaga? (Is this how things are?) Bored na kasi sanay na? (Have we become so used to it that we are bored?) Most of us have experienced a good number of Advents already in our lifetime. We have become so used to it that it does not hold any significance to us anymore. Because of our “frequent-flyer” attitude towards Advent, we have become bored, unmoved, uninspired that we tend to just go through the motions. The Season of Advent, which we begin today is oftentimes merely a “liturgical” word for us, with not much meaning in our lived experience, if we are not mindful.

Advent, which in Latin is “adventus” translates in English as “arrival” or “coming”. For us Catholic Christians, it is a season comprised of four (4) Sundays after the Feast of Christ the King and just before the 25th of December, Christmas Day. It is an anticipation of Christ making Himself manifest to us. Just as we find ourselves preparing for the arrival of important guests in our home, the church deems it necessary to establish a period of preparation among the faithful that places them in the proper disposition to receive our God made flesh. First, we celebrate the blessed day when our God, sent His Son to be born as one of us, to save us from the miserable consequence of sin. The first Christmas marks the start of thirty-three (33) blessed years of God literally walking among His people. We are also taught that Advent is intended to be a preparation for more than just Jesus’ coming to us as a baby. It is a foreshadowing of the Parousia or the Second Coming of our Lord, which He divulges to His disciples before His Ascension. It is Christ’s return in glory that we look forward to as Christians, filled with hope that we will be reunited with our King. There have also been others who proposed that there is another instance of Jesus’ arrival that we must learn to anticipate. They refer to this as the Third Coming of Christ! This occurs in the day-to-day life of every believer when Christ makes Himself manifest through the ordinary experiences that reveal His love, providence and mercy to us. The Church’s invitation to observe a period of intense preparation is what characterises the Season of Advent.

During this period of preparation, the church encourages us to cultivate an attitude of vigilance. St. Paul is telling us today what he told the Thessalonians, “to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ — the great day of judgment, by living each day as God wants us to live it, namely by living in love and peace with God and our neighbour. (1 Thessalonians 4:1) In the gospel passage from Luke, Jesus speaks of various cataclysmic and apocalyptic signs to indicate the end. The description is not a pleasant one… “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth, nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world…” (Luke 21:25-26) The fundamental exhortation of the readings is: “Beware! Take Heed! Be Alert! Don’t be caught by surprise!” We cannot remain unmoved by these warnings. The intention is not to paralyze us with fright but rather, the coming of the end-time should be an incentive to righteous living. As always, if we know what is coming, it is our responsibility to prepare so we are not taken by surprise.

In the Gospel, we note a very different ending as Jesus enjoins His followers that “when these signs begin to happen, they are “to stand erect and raise their heads because their redemption is at hand.” (Luke 21:28) In other words, Jesus tells His disciples that even if it seems like the sky is falling, they are not to panic; even if all seems chaotic around them, they are to keep their heads and not cower in fear. The Gospel invites all of us followers of Christ to envision the coming of Christ as a time of expectation, rather than of fear and trembling. Let us remember that God cares for and protects His people. If we continue to cling to Jesus, we have nothing to fear!

For all of us disciples of Jesus who have tried to live by the values of the Gospel, the end times is the time of our final liberation. It is a time when there will be no more sorrows, no more tears, no more hardships, no more disappointments. On this day, may each of us stand with courage and hope to face our end. Despite the difficulties in our effort to be faithful to our Christian life, may we stay the course! May we always perceive God’s bigger plan and dare to hope beyond the scope of our reality.

Living A Purposeful Life

Homily: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (B)

John 18:33-37

24 November 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

When I was young and life was much simpler, I considered a man reclining on pillows on a sunny beach surrounded by beautiful girls feeding him with a bunch of grapes to be an image of what it was like to “live like a king.” Of course, these days, it is much different… The image is bound to include expensive suits, luxury cars, an army of bodyguards, unbridled influence and unimaginable wealth. Do you know anyone who lives like a king or a queen for that matter??

Today, is the Solemnity of Christ the King. The Church did not always celebrate this feast. It was after World War I, when Pope Pius XI declared this a feast through his encyclical “Quas primas” in response to the rise in nationalism and secularism observed in societies. Perhaps for us, it is an image of Jesus that is the most difficult to identify with since we have only ever had Presidents and we don’t know what it is to be subjects of a king or a queen. Technically we were under the Spanish crown for 333 years, but it was only the Governor General who acted as the Chief Executive of our country. Hence, it cannot be easy for us to relate to a regal and powerful Jesus in a crown and kingly robes.

What, indeed, does it mean for us to have a king like Our Lord Jesus? Our readings reinterpret for us the concept of Jesus’ kingship. In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” (John 18:36) Jesus overturns the more common notion of a “king” as associated with honour and glory flowing from one’s position of power and authority. We can deduce from Jesus’ words that to be “king”, is to be master of one’s own destiny, to know one’s purpose so as to live a meaningful life. In the gospel, Jesus speaks of His Kingship as one that is purposeful — “for this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). In obedience to God the Father, His priority is to build up God’s Kingdom in the hearts and minds of the people by His ministry and the integrity of His life. He does not boast of His might, His heavenly armies nor the riches He possesses. He is a King faithful to His mission to bear witness to the truth even at the cost of His own life.

In recognising Christ as our King, we automatically acknowledge that “We are not the King of the Universe.” This is something we tend to forget when we think the world revolves around us. Sometimes, by circumstance or our own hard work, we believe we have the power and authority to make things turn out as we want them to, regardless of how it happens or who gets hurt in the process. Let us just look around us. On our way to church, did we encountered the “kings of the road”? Sorry, SARAO, you are no longer the title-holder! Many of us act as though we are kings and queens of the road when we drive recklessly and without consideration for others. In offices, there are bosses who act high and mighty allowing their position to go to their heads. It is worse when those who act out are simply those who feel like they were bosses. Even in malls and restaurants, faux royals tend to look down on service and sales crew and treat them as if they were slaves. Perhaps in our own homes there are kings and queens as well? We are actually very small and very powerless compared to the grandeur and immensity of the universe and the One who created it. If Jesus is our King, then He must be our model of authority and leadership that is characterised by gentleness and service.

Most of the useless worries and anxiety we experience in life spring from our desire to be considered great, to be number one, to be special. In the ‘Love Next Door’ series, there is a scene where Seok-ryu advises her younger brother Dong-jin so that he may take things in stride and enjoy life to the fullest. She tells her younger brother… “To be number one…. It’s all pointless. I’ve lived for 13 months longer than you, so I am speaking from experience. Not everyone can be special. Most people just live ordinary lives. And the same goes for me. So, don’t be too obsessed with becoming someone great. Just find what’s valuable to you in your life. That is more than enough.”

In our lifetime, the Church has also become very sensitive to affording itself undeserved honours. For instance, the Vatican has recently updated the liturgical book regulating the funeral rite for popes, simplifying some of the rituals at Pope Francis’ request. The second edition of the Order of Funerals for Roman Pontiffs revised the version used for the funerals of Pope John Paul II in 2005 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2022. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the master of papal ceremonies, Pope Francis noted the “need to simplify and adapt certain rites so that the celebration of the funeral of the Bishop of Rome may better express the faith of the Church in the risen Christ.” Archbishop Ravelli added that, “the renewed rite emphasises that the funeral of a Pope is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

In the Book of Revelation, we are told that the Kingship of Jesus comes into fullness at the end of time. It is when He returns that He shall present Himself in His true glory to exercise His Kingship, conquer the final battle and save His people. It is something we look forward to in faith as Christians. As his subjects, we devote our lives to preparing ourselves for His return, by striving to live a purposeful life as Christians. If Jesus Christ is our King, we, as His subjects are also called to fidelity to the truth of His teachings. We are called upon to live it out with compelling conviction in the choices we make and how we relate with others.

Brothers and sisters. as we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we are called not simply to pay homage to our Eternal King but to do as He did, devoting His life to others. May we pursue His self-giving way in our reaching out to others so that God’s reign may come among us.

Onward to the Kingdom!

HOMILY: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 13:24-32

17 November 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

How do you feel when people talk about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? Are you excited? Are you afraid? Are you anxious? Generally, people dread the day because of the extraordinary occurrences that surround it — absolute darkness, the stars falling from the sky, the heavens are shaken, Jesus ascends in His full dazzling glory and many angels rushing throughout the earth to gather the elect. If you had a choice, do you want to be alive at the time to witness this? Do you fear that you may not be among the elect?

In the gospel Jesus speaks about the fig tree to show His disciples what it means to read signs. In Palestine, the fig tree is a prominent tree. It often symbolises blessings of the land. When the fig tree is budding, everyone knows what is at hand as it happens regularly along with the cycle of the seasons. The example of the fig tree is a metaphor for the nearness of the “Kingdom of God.” It was a subtle encouragement that they be aware and alert to the signs of the times; the signs of the presence of God!

Visible signs of the Kingdom are everywhere — signs that remind us that God’s Kingdom is at hand. How close is it to us? Will we only see it when Jesus returns? Actually, the Kingdom is already here in our present. Jesus Himself says that “the Kingdom of God is in our midst”! (Luke 17:21) It’s right where we are. Maybe not in its fullness, but we can have a glimpse of it and experience it. We just need to open our eyes, our hearts and our minds to see, to feel the truth of God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is where Jesus reigns as King and everything is subject to His will. Thus, if Jesus is King in our homes, part of God’s Kingdom is inevitably there. If He reigns in our hearts, then we carry around a piece of the Kingdom.

Our readings emphasise, that Jesus has already purchased a place for us in God’s Kingdom by the sacrifice of His body and blood. It is up to us if we want to be a part of it by subjecting ourselves to Christ’s Kingship. Jesus is merely waiting for the fulness of God the Father’s plan for His people. Since only the Father knows the day and the hour, we wait vigilantly with Jesus. The challenge for us is to watch out for the telling signs. What are they? The readings this Sunday speak of calamities and disasters as signs of the passing world and ushering forth of the new world where God will no longer be hidden but among us forever. This time is not something to be feared if we are faithful to Jesus and His teachings. The prophet Daniel speaks of the resurrection of the dead when he says those who are asleep shall awake and some will live forever and the wise shall shine with splendour and be like the stars forever. What a glorious future awaits those who choose to follow Jesus!

On the other hand, the prophet also warns that until that time, it shall be a time of great distress. If we are to look carefully at current events wrought with conflicts, wars and natural disasters, it certainly seems like a time of distress! We witness women and men mourning the loss of spouses, sons and daughters to wars, diseases and famine all over the world. We watch in horror as families are devastated by natural and man-made disasters. We are told that our oceans, air, forests, and lands are polluted, in danger of biological death. These scenes do not come to us simply as visions because we readily see them on television or online. Are these signs? Naturally! Do they tell us specifically how much time we have before then? Not really … But should these signs be simply ignored? Just ignore them? We are in the homestretch. How long this will take place, we do not know. What is important is that we continue to live our lives as God’s people, subjects of His Kingdom. If we have not yet done this, now is the time to start.

The Kingdom is made present wherever the values of the Gospel are being lived even though it will not be fully realised until the very end when all of us are gathered in Him. For the time being, we have to do our part in making God reign in our midst. Our fears of the end times should not paralyse us. We can overcome any fear of the end times by relying on and trusting in God’s fidelity to His promises. One who is prepared need not fear. One who is true and faithful need not worry. One who trusts in God need not fear.

The Lord invites us to respond to the signs around us by a change of heart, of behaviour and of attitude. Today, now… at this very time as we look forward to God’s reign in our midst, let us ask for the grace to respond to the call of belonging to the Lord and His Kingdom for all eternity.

Vasily Kandinsky, All Saints I, 1911, glass painting, 34.5 x 40.5 cm (Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus)

Unworthy Servants that We Are

Homily: Memorial of St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr (13th Sacerdotal Ordination Anniversary)

Luke 17:7-10

12 November 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

I think all of us will agree that our initial impression of the master in our gospel passage is harsh and ungrateful for what his servant has done for him. However, I invite you to consider the deeper perspective. Sometimes, when we are quick to judge and are overcome by emotions, we tend to misinterpret the intentions of people. Thus, let us take some time today to unpack Jesus’ story.

I believe that the lesson Jesus is trying to teach is found in the last verse of the passage: “So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” (Luke 17:10) In other words, if we just meet our obligations and do the bare minimum, we aren’t doing enough. It can be tempting to pat ourselves on the back or even look for acknowledgement from others when we have met our obligations in the context of a very secular society. Just meeting our obligations is nothing extraordinary though; it is the extra-ordinary that we should strive for in our service to God and others.

For those of us from the earlier generations (the boomers and gen-Xers) the Catholic obligations seemed more predominant as we were growing up. These obligations included abstinence from meat on Fridays, Mass on Sundays and holy days, fasting from midnight until the reception of the Eucharist, fasting during Lent, etc. Since the Second Vatican Council, the mandatory obligations have become fewer, with the expectation that each of us has to make our own personal choices for sacrifices and service that express our love for God. Superficially, it seems that things have become more lax, but in reality it has become more challenging because we have to take more personal responsibility. We each have to discern what it is that God is calling us to do to serve Him and those around us. It is not an easy task sometimes because things are not laid out for us in black and white. At other times, it could also be frightening because we may be asked to do something beyond our comfort zones.

We may think, we have to go out of our way to do something impressive and large scale like head the PPC or organize donation drives for the victims of calamities. But really, there is much we can do in our immediate environments. An example of this is when we show respect for God’s creation; it is not enough that we refrain from throwing candy wrappers on the streets. Consider, a lifestyle change of avoiding the patronage of products packaged in single use plastics to lessen the volume of waste. We also do not need to look too far to serve God’s people. We are already living in the digital age and many senior citizens have difficulty navigating their way through all the computerized processes of banks and government offices. For the young — it is not enough that you… that we help our parents or our lolo and lola to figure out the TV remote control, perhaps prepare them a snack and sit with them for a bit and watch shows together. If they need help with the internet or their phone, instead of impatiently shouting out instructions to them; we need to sit with them and show them how to work around the app or the website. It’s all about doing more than the minimum. Again, this is in imitation of our patient and generous God who has no limit on His kindness, generosity and mercy towards His people.

As I commemorate on this day my 13th Sacerdotal Ordination Anniversary, my prayer is that I may always have the resolve to go beyond mere obligations of being a priest — of being a Christian. As a reminder, I always carry with me a dedication from one of the cards I received at my ordination — “You will be ordained many times over in the years to come by the very people you would be called to serve.” Pray with me that I may always seek to serve the Lord and others in all that I am called to do to the best of my abilities. So, help me God!

No Holding Back

Homily: Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 12:38-44

10 November 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

One Sunday morning mass when I was still in San Roque Parish, an elderly woman entered the church at offertory. At first, I thought she was going to sit on the front pew beside the lay ministers but she walked past them and went up the sanctuary! I was rather alarmed and I was tempted to stop what I was doing, but I simply continued. When she was just inches from the altar, she pulled out a plastic bag of coins from the pocket of her “duster”, made the sign of the cross, and then put down the offering of her day’s alms on the altar. Afterwards she just went down and quietly sat in an empty seat in the pews. I was relieved that she posed no threat, and at the same time I was happy I did not stop her. It would have been a shame if I had prevented her from offering her gift.

The giving of oneself totally in love for God and neighbour which was the focus of our readings last Sunday is best exemplified by the two widows in this Sunday’s readings. In the gospel, Jesus notices a poor widow and commends her generosity, her willingness to give out of her poverty… “her whole livelihood”. She only had two (2) small coins but she gave all of it anyway, whereas the rich gave from the surplus of their wealth. Jesus commends her by saying that the large sum of offerings by the rich pale in comparison to the widow’s paltry offering because she had given fully of herself and her resources. Similarly, the widow of Zarephath gives Elijah the last meal intended for her and her son. She had accepted that they were going to die of hunger soon after. Nevertheless, she did not hold back the little she and her son had when Elijah was in need of sustenance. Although in dire straits, both widows sacrificed from their own need and gave without reservation. Their total self-giving shows absolute trust in God. By not holding back and having complete trust in God’s providence, they exemplify for us what it is to be radical followers of the Lord.

I am sure we all have individual stories of unnatural generosity. Maybe some of us chose to give our jeepney fare to someone in need, even if it meant we had to walk home. How many parents have foregone their share of the family meal just so their kids could have a second serving or eat their favourite chicken part? What about the eldest child who works tirelessly to help support the family and send younger siblings to school? As human beings we are not incapable of giving of ourselves but we certainly have the tendency of hanging on to what gives us a sense of security. Do remember what Jesus said: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what does a man profit, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16: 25-28)

The extreme generosity of the widows in the readings is a foreshadowing of the sacrificial giving of Jesus of Himself on the cross. Remember that as the second person of the Trinity, Jesus is also God. He could have limited His sacrifice by choosing to continue His mission on earth until He was fifty, or perhaps, chosen a less humiliating way to die, but He didn’t. Jesus chose to be completely obedient to the will of His Father. He surrendered His mind, heart, will, and entire being to the plan of the Father. Can we leave our entire existence, past, present and future in the hands of the Father as Jesus did? We pray that we may be more and more like Jesus who even in the face of such torment on the cross could still say, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

We are challenged by the gospel not to shy away from discipleship, even if it comes at a great cost to us. Let us remember that regardless of who we are, where we are and what situation we are in, we can in our humble ways manage to address the needs of others. Every gift becomes impactful if done with love, in imitation of Jesus Christ.

Above all, LOVE!

Homily: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 12:28-34

3 November 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

Last month I was interviewed by The Family Rosary Crusade (FRC) Philippines for their feature on priests and their pets. I even brought my corgis — Kian and Snow to their studio. We got to talk about how care for pets has evolved over the years. Before, pets were either caged or chained outside the house, fed table scraps, bathed maybe twice a month and given anti-rabies shots at the very least. However, these days, pets are welcome to sleep indoors, are fed specially formulated dog food, bathed weekly, and as puppies are given 6-in-one vaccines. They have dog carriers and prams so they can be brought to malls and restaurants. Before, we would take “bantay” to the veterinarian only because it was in danger of dying. Now, vets treat pets for simple discomforts like parasites and allergies to serious ones like stones, nutritional imbalances and cancers. The grief of losing a pet is real. Did you know that there are even pet memorial services and pet cremations these days to help ease the owner’s heartbreak? When I was young, a dead pet almost always ended up unceremoniously buried in the backyard or some vacant lot.

Why did I tell you this story? I want you to see just how much we would do for the love of a pet. There is no effort or expense too great to prolong the healthy life of a furbaby. Now, if this is how we deal with pets we love, how much more do we give of ourselves and our resources when it comes to our family members and people we love? True love does not take an account of all the times we forgive our loved ones, help them when they are in need, shower them with tokens or gestures of our affection and appreciation, or simply spend time with them. We move beyond a checklist of do’s and don’ts and instead cultivate a heart transformed by love.

In the gospel passage, a scholar of the law asks Jesus: “Which is the FIRST of all the commandments? In asking this question, the scribe, supposedly an expert on the law, seems to be figuring out whether there is a priority sequence among the 613 commandments that is expanded from the Biblical law. There is no indication that Jesus perceived this as another challenge meant to entrap Him as is frequently the case. Here Jesus gives a straightforward response by giving the scribe not just one, but two related commandments: “love of God and love of neighbour.” Jesus goes to the very heart of the matter. To love God with one’s entire being is a commandment above all others — a commandment lifted from the Book of Deuteronomy 6:5, known as the SHEMA. (To this day, this is committed to heart and recited morning and evening by every devout Jew. They cover their eyes when reciting it so they are not distracted.) In this instance, Jesus proves faithful to His Jewish roots. Then Jesus adds the expression of the love of others as an extension of the self. This is a citation from Leviticus 19:18, which is an injunction to love one’s neighbour as oneself.

In pointing this out, Jesus does not negate the other commandments. Instead, Jesus clearly reminds those listening that everything else that they do shall be measured against the highest ideals of love. To love God and neighbour is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33) Are we all hearing this message? Are we also taking this to heart? To help us understand this concept further, let me tell you of St. Augustine who once said in a sermon: “Love, and do what you will. If you hold your peace, hold your peace out of love. If you cry out, cry out in love. If you correct someone, correct them out of love. If you spare them, spare them out of love. Let the root of love be in you: nothing can spring from it but only good.” St. Augustine invites us to examine the motivations behind all of our actions. Are our actions rooted in authentic love, or are they driven by selfish desires? If we train ourselves to consciously love God above all, we can be assured that we will not do anything in life to offend Him and our neighbour.

All parents here understand that loving their children, does not mean allowing them to do whatever they like especially when they are doing something wrong that is hurtful to themselves or to others. It is the responsibility of parents to discipline their child. When you do so, are you driven by anger, irritation, or shame? Do you embarrass your child in public or take them aside and scold them privately? Of course, the child is likely to cry, sulk, and feel misunderstood either way, but what matters is how a parent deals with the situation. St. Augustine encourages us to assess our motives especially when faced with moral decisions. If love is the impulse behind our choices, there is greater likelihood that we can trust that our actions are in harmony with God’s plan. We have to keep in mind though that love is not self-absorbed but rather other-centred. When someone justifies their mistreatment of others by saying it was out of love, that is not love. They are only looking after themselves and protecting their interests. True love requires looking after the well-being of the other at our own expense, even if it means a sacrifice on our part. Love shuns exclusivity and isolation; it instead promotes communion and solidarity. In short, we just need to love! When love becomes the measure of everything we do, we can never go wrong.

Brothers and sisters, let us all strive to be lovers after our Lord Jesus! Most of the time the simple setting of our loving is at home, at work, at school or on the streets. Let us pray that we may be so taken up by our love for God so as to become more loving not solely to ourselves but more so towards others. When we do so, “we shall not be far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

Knowing… Persisting… Trusting…

Homily: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 10:46-52

27 October 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

I have a friend who is a shopaholic. She loves to walk around the malls and hunt for great deals. When there is a mall wide sale, she spends hours buying all sorts of things she fancies and insists she needs but when she gets home, she tends to have buyer’s remorse. We thought the pandemic would have slowed her down but NO! She got herself into online shopping. Sabi ng sister niya palaging tumutunog daw ang doorbell nila dahil sa delivery. (Her sister said that their doorbell kept on ringing because of the delivery.) However, she behaves differently when she really wants something. When she is buying something, she really wants, she will patiently search for that item until she finds it. She will spend hours combing through the shops in a mall, (now online), to look for it. Her tired companions would chide her to get the next best thing but she would rather come home empty handed than purchase a substitute. When she knows what she wants, she will patiently save up for the item, no matter how expensive, wait for the opportunity to purchase it and will settle for no less.

In the gospel this Sunday, we encounter Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, sitting at the side of the road as Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem. He is ecstatic when he senses Jesus is nearby. He calls out to Him persistently, making such a racket that Jesus stops and asks him what he wanted. “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51) We recall a similar question asked by Jesus in relation to the request of James and John in last Sunday’s gospel passage. Unlike the two brothers who asked for seats of honour and power, Bartimaeus asks Jesus for something more essential — the gift of eyesight. “Master, I want to see.” (Mark 10:51) He does not flinch. He does not stutter. He does not take a moment to think it over. He knows exactly what he wanted from Jesus and he asks with full confidence and boldness. The crowd rebuked him but Bartimaeus continued to call out to Jesus for healing. In his determination, he was not put off easily by those who wanted to silence him and his persistence was rewarded.

There are three things we ought to learn from the gospel story this Sunday. First — We should know what we want. Second — We need to be persistent. Third — We should trust in God’s providence.

Bartimaeus was blind and he knew that he wanted to see more than anything else. He wanted to be whole again! In those days, beggars would spread out their cloaks so they would be able to collect alms. We are told that Bartimaeus threw the only possession he had aside in order to respond to the call of Jesus. He approaches Jesus with nothing, leaving behind the alms he collected for the opportunity to ask what he wanted from the man who could give it. Do you know what you would ask for if Jesus also asked you what you really want? Oftentimes, we want so much, not knowing if these are what we need or if it will be good for us. We even pray for the wrong things and wonder why God does not grant what we ask for. We tend to be overwhelmed by what the material world can offer — riches, fame and power, that we tend to lose sight of what is essential. It is by living mindfully and taking time to reflect on our life that we can determine what it is that we really need. We must know what we want.

Second, we should be persistent. Bartimaeus’ resolve represents our tenacity to pursue what we want even in the face of opposition. Bartimaeus would not have received what he wanted if he simply gave in to the crowd’s pressure and stopped calling out on Jesus. Often when we pray, we expect an immediate answer and we grumble and get discouraged when God doesn’t seem to be listening. The key is to be persistent. Jesus, Himself, says, ask, seek, knock (Matthew 7:7) He does not say do it just once. In his Letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul reminds us to pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

Finally, the passage teaches us to trust in God’s providence. Bartimaeus had faith that Jesus could heal him, so he asks boldly and believed that Jesus would be merciful to him. We ask ourselves, “Do we believe Jesus can answer our prayers? Some of the faithful say that when they pray for something, they “claim it.” We must, however be prepared to wait patiently. Sometimes, our prayers will be granted in minutes, sometimes it will take a week, sometimes it will take years. God sees through space and time. He knows better. His timing is always best. We have to trust in the Giver of the grace!

When Jesus asks us the question, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51), it is not on the same level as a waiter asking our order at a restaurant or a saleslady asking what we are buying. It is an opportunity we should never pass up. It is God asking! God, whose power is unfathomable, whose greatness is immeasurable and whose mercy is endless who asks of us what He can do for us. God’s love for us is so deep and personal that He opens the heavens to rain graces on us. Again, we should know what we want. Let us ask Him persistently and be prepared to wait. May we have faith in God’s providence and His great love for us .

Called to SERVE, not to be SERVED

Homily: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 10:35-45

20 October 2024

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

I came across this post and a comment that both seem very appropriate for our reflection this Sunday. Jai Cabajar posted in X: “Would you consent to a surgery to a person who has never studied to become a surgeon? Would you have your house done by someone who has not built anything at all? Would you ask someone to teach you who has no knowledge of the topic you are studying? So why would you vote for someone who has no platform for you?” Then, someone wrote in the comments section: “Hey Sir Jai. That didn’t work in the last elections what more now? But hopefully, there will be a plot twist and my judgment of Filipinos is proven wrong.

In the gospel this Sunday, James and John approach Jesus with a special request. They would like to be seated on either side of Him when He comes into His glory. (Mark 10:37) Take note that these are very prestigious places that indicate honour, power and authority. Jesus responds to them and the other disciples listening by teaching them what true greatness entails in the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells those closest to Him that if they want to be great in God’s eyes, they must strive to be servants of all. whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:43) They must lead by serving in the manner that Jesus serves others.

We automatically think that these instructions of Jesus on servant-leadership only apply to those of us who hold any civic or church leadership positions. However, that isn’t the case. In the short passage from one of the Servant Songs of the Prophet Isaiah, we are given the example of a servant-leader as one who utterly knows and loves his followers. A servant-leader is one who does not “lord it over” (Mark 10:42) but rather is one who stands under (understands) the other, suffering for them that they may be served, that they may be saved. In the Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told that we have “a high priest who is able to sympathise with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15) Thus, every baptised Christian is called to enter the servant leadership of Jesus. We are invited by the gospel to examine ourselves and acknowledge the subtle ways we place our self-interests over the needs of those we have been entrusted to serve.

Moreover, we need not take for granted Jesus Christ from whom we model our selfless service. He shows us what it means to follow the will of God in humility. He shows us what it means to be selfless in service of others. Sometimes we are tempted to do what we want or what we believe to be what is best for us. James and John initially asked for what they thought was a good deal for them, not realising God had better and more important plans for them. The only way we can be sure is to always be connected to Christ in prayer. In prayer, we get to know our God better and open ourselves to His voice calling out to us and instructing us. It is God also who gives us the strength to carry out the task or the mission He has laid out for us.

With the election fever already on, we are once again being asked to see through the words and actions of those who present themselves for public office. We have to be very discerning of the sincerity and capability of these candidates. We have to assess whether their actions or words are truly motivated by public service and not by self-serving purposes only. In a society that gives premium on appearances, we can easily forget the message of the Gospel. We may even be tempted to make decisions for personal gains, forgetting that we are called to think and to behave “out of service for our neighbour” as described in the Gospel. A friend told me… “We have to choose someone whom we need at this time of our life as a nation rather than whom we simply want/like or someone who is popular. Let us have pity on our country.”

As followers of Jesus, let us pray for humility, a sensitivity to the needs of others, and willingness to serve. Let us value leadership that strives to emulate the example of Jesus who came “not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet by Ford Madox Brown

MARY: Our Warrior-Queen

HOMILY: Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval (Patroness of Quezon City)

Luke 1:26-38

13 October 2024

(A Repost of the Homily on 8 October 2023)

“Gentle Woman,
Quiet Light,
Morning Star,
So Strong and Bright. Gentle Mother,
Peaceful Dove,
Teach Us Wisdom,
Teach Us Love.”

Are you familiar with this church hymn? It creates such a beautiful, conventional image of Our Blessed Mother Mary that is of a a quiet, delicate, self-effacing young woman. But somehow it keeps us from remembering that Mary, like all mothers, could be fiercely protective when it came to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many years ago, I came across this unusual 15th-century image of Mary as a protective mother, as “Madonna del Soccorso” (Our Lady of Help) in Italy. In this image, a mother is asking for Mary’s help as a demon tries to snatch her child. Mary is depicted as holding the child safely in one arm while raising a stick to threaten the demon. Mary with a stick? I was intrigued by this image because we are definitely not used to seeing a tougher side of Our Blessed Mother.

Yes, Mary may not exactly be a warrior with a sword in hand, but she is known to be a protective mother to Jesus and to all of us her children. Recall that as her heart was breaking as she beheld Jesus dying on the cross, she still managed to receive humanity as Jesus entrusted all of us to her protective care. As she protected Jesus, she also looks after all of us her children and protects us from harm and the forces of evil. This is probably the reason why there are several Marian feasts celebrating her triumphant intercession for protection in military circumstances.

One of the most popular Marian feasts is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary which we celebrated on October 7. The feast honours Mary in thanksgiving for the victory at the Battle of Lepanto between the Holy League and the Ottoman Turks. As the battle is being fought on October 7, 1571 in the Ionian Sea, Pope St. Pius V had ordered the people of Rome to pray the rosary on that day. Later, in gratitude for the victory despite overwhelming odds, the pope set up a commemoration feast to be held every First Sunday of October, which was eventually fixed on October 7. Sometimes, Mary is also called as “Our Lady of Victory.”

On September 8, 2023, Bishop Honesto (Nes) Ongtioco declared the Second Sunday of October as the Solemnity of Our Lady of La Naval. It is to be observed in all parishes and chapels starting this year. All communities must observe all norms and guidelines in the exercise of the celebration to encourage the promotion of devotion to the Blessed Mother and put into practice the virtues of Mary that lead us closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. This marks the 51st year of Our Lady of Naval being patronness of Quezon City. Her image which has been canonically crowned can be found in Sto. Domingo Church.

The feast we celebrate today has a similar background to the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary as it also acknowledges Mary’s intercession in helping to successfully repel invading forces of the Dutch Republic during the Battles of La Naval de Manila in 1646. The combined Spanish and Filipino forces that fought are said to have prayed for the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary before the battle. Their win is attributed to the protective intervention of Our Blessed Mother.

Furthermore, if we look closely at the image of Our Blessed Mother as Our Lady of the Rosary, she is depicted as a queen dressed in royal clothing complete with sceptre and crown. In the Jewish culture, a Davidic King would have his mother as Queen rather than his wife, because he rarely had just one wife. In fact, a king was expected to have many wives and sharing power among them would be problematic, so the title and position of Queen was always given to the King’s mother as he is sure to have only one mother. Bishop Robert Barron once commented that the Feast of the Queenship of Mary is actually not a sentimental feast since “whenever Biblical people spoke of kings or queens, they were actually speaking of warriors.” In Genesis 3:15, we believe that Mary is the woman-warrior who crushed the serpent’s head. Mary is a fighter. She fights alongside God’s messengers against the forces of evil in our midst that threaten to snatch us away from God.

Whether we think of Mary as a warrior of many battles or not, what is certain is that she protects us as she did her Son. We entrust ourselves to our Blessed Mother and pray that she will lead us to safety through life’s battles and bring us closer to her Son, Jesus, Our Lord.