The Father’s Embrace (4th Sunday Lent C)

“I don’t want my father to see me like this.” Many of us must have said this to ourselves during those times when we were not doing well in life and we didn't want to offend our father. Especially if our father has high expectations of us, we tend to hide our weaknesses and failures from him. We come to him only when we are fine and strong and at the top of the world. We want to show him how we have mastered ourselves and that we have clear directions in life. We want to please him. We want him to be proud of us. So, when we are not fine and our lives are a mess, we hide from him. We conceal our tears. We bear our suffering alone... because what we cannot bear is to see our father displeased and to experience being rejected by him.

This can be true to our spiritual life. How often we keep God at bay and allow our relationship with him to get colder each day because we have resigned to our feeling of unworthiness! I know, for instance, of someone whose prayer life is most intense when he thinks he has been doing well in life and he has been faithful to the Christian virtues. But when he thinks he has succumbed to his imperfections, he distances himself from God and waits until he has made himself fine again. It’s as if he can overcome his weaknesses apart from God!

Such is a lonely and wearisome life; because when things in life are in shambles, what we really need is a father’s embrace where we can cry our hearts out. In moments of huge failures, what we deeply long for is a father’s reassuring smile and a supportive pat on the back promising another chance.

In today’s gospel reading (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) Jesus introduces such a gentle and loving Father through a parable. In the Parable of the Lost Son, it is striking to realize that when the wayward son comes back, the father does not care about WHY he comes back. He does not scrutinize his son’s motive which is not quite noble but is, in fact, still very selfish. The son returns not because of a perfect contrite heart and a burning desire to love his father this time around. No. He comes back for survival and self-preservation. He has been starving, so he thinks he’ll be better off as one of his father’s servants. But the father does not care whether or not his son comes back with a contrite heart. What he cares about is that his beloved son is back! So the father embraces his son without any conditions... without requirements. He embraces him as a son. The father accepts him not in the son’s conditional terms but in the terms known to the father—the terms of an unconditional love.

This thought is very consoling. The words of the spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen, bring this out well: “God does not require a pure heart before embracing us. Even if we return only because following our desires has failed to bring happiness, God will take us back... Even if we return because our sins did not offer as much satisfaction as we had hoped, God will take us back. Even if we return because we could not make it on our own, God will receive us. God’s love does not require any explanations about why we are returning. God is glad to see us home and wants to give us all we desire, just for being home.”

So why should we listen to the fearful voice that discourages us to come to the Father when we are not in good shape? We ought to listen, instead, to the voice of longing that calls out from the deepest recesses of our hearts for a gentle embrace of acceptance despite our hopeless inadequacies. Only God, our Father, can give us such an embrace. Only our Father embraces us as we truly are, warts and all.

This is why the season of Lent is as beautiful as the spring. It is a season when the Father’s loving embrace is waiting for us, his wayward sons and daughters, who have been chilling from the deadening coldness of our sins. God’s embrace is the warmth we desperately need in order to outgrow our freezing habits of sin.

In this season of Lent, we are invited to take refuge in God’s loving embrace. We come to him not because we are doing fine but especially because our mess is getting out of hand. We return to him not because our spiritual achievement is something that he can be proud of, but precisely because we are empty. We allow his arms to wrap around us not because we are whole but exactly because we are broken.

Father, I come to you in my brokenness repeatedly humiliated by sin. I’m ugly and not pleasing to you. But please... I beg you Father... embrace me just the same. Allow me to rest in the warmth of your love.

Season of Second Chances (3rd Sunday Lent C)

Once more, Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables (1862) comes to mind as I reflect on today’s gospel reading. The encounter between the protagonist, Jean Valjean, and Bishop Myriel is a powerful illustration of the grace of second chances.

Jean Valjean, who has just been freed from prison after long years of serving an unjust sentence for stealing bread for the starving family of his sister, has nowhere to go. He is hurt, filled with hatred, and is vengeful. No one trusts him. One day he comes to the place of Bishop Myriel and asks for shelter. Bishop Myriel is a just man and sympathetic toward the poor. With his characteristic compassion, he readily offers Valjean room and board. Not only that, he counsels Valjean to overcome his hatred with goodwill in order to be worthy of respect.

Valjean listens; but during the night, he robs the good bishop anyway and runs away with the bishop's silverware. Once caught, he is brought back to the bishop. However, the bishop tells the police that the precious objects are his gifts to Valjean. Later Bishop Myriel tells Valjean: "You belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition and I give it to God!" Valjean is stunned. After stealing yet a coin from a little boy, he has an epiphany and since then lives his life anew.

Although Hugo’s novel is primarily a social critique on the oppression and injustices done against the poor, the weak, and the ignorant, it can instruct us spiritually too. The above excerpt illustrates the gospel’s call to repentance and the loving assurance of second chances in life.

In today’s gospel (Lk 13:1-9) two disasters (the killing of the Galileans and the Siloam tower tragedy) are being referred to, in the popular Jewish understanding, as God’s punishment for the sinners—very much like our concept of “gaba.” Jesus corrects this belief and teaches that what destroys is not God’s vengeance but our resistance to repent and change our lives: “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will perish as they did” (v. 3, 5).

This is followed by the parable of the fig tree: For three years of waiting, the owner observes that the fig tree has failed to bear fruits. Even if the owner seems to be at the end of his rope, he nevertheless listens to the appeal of the vinedresser to give the tree one more year to bear fruits. If it does not, then it should be cut so as not to exhaust and put to waste the soil.

The simplicity of the parable expresses very clearly the necessity of repentance from a life lived in vain. God desires that we be fruitful. And not only that, he gives us the grace that we need to lead fruitful lives. He is willing to give us our second chance.

Bishop Myriel has manifested to Valjean such transforming mercy. Valjean, on his part, grabs the opportunity to make a radical change in his life and later in the lives of other people. Valjean has been given his second chance and he takes it. Once he does, he proves to be fruitful.

Lent can be for us a season of God’s mercy, God’s offer of a second chance. In this third week of Lent, we are invited to grab the opportunity to make meaningful changes in our lives. We are asked to examine the areas in our lives that have become stagnant and fruitless—perhaps because of anger and hatred? Or of self-pity and insecurities? Of addiction to pleasure and forms of vices? Of self-centeredness and lack of faith?

Let us ask the grace of repentance, of sorrow, of shame for wasting the beautiful opportunities of Christian life. With God’s grace, may we have a strong resolve to make use of our second chances to grow in Christian virtues thus allowing us to flourish and please God with our fruitful lives.

Lord, I am very sorry for my complacency. In your mercy, enable me to change, to grow, to do more and be more. Amen.

Transfiguration Brings Hope (2nd Sunday Lent C)

The event of the Transfiguration, where Jesus is revealed in His glory on the mountain, has so much to offer us as we journey through the season of Lent. It offers us hope in this year of the Jubilee.

We hear that Jesus went up the mountain to pray, and while He prayed, His face changed in appearance, and His clothes became dazzling white. Then, two great figures of the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah, appeared and spoke with Him. The disciples, Peter, James, and John, who were with Jesus, saw His glory. And then, a voice came from the cloud: “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him” (Lk 9:35).

This experience was not just a moment of glory, but it had a purpose. It came right after Jesus had spoken to His disciples about His coming passion and death. They were about to face a time of great confusion, fear, and uncertainty. So, what does Jesus do? He gives them a glimpse of His divine glory, a promise of what was to come—the glory of the Resurrection after the suffering of the Cross.

And isn't that exactly what we need, too? As we walk through Lent, a season where we are called to reflect on the suffering Christ endured for our sins, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the darkness of the world or even our own failures. The weight of our sins, our struggles, our personal suffering—it can feel heavy. But the Transfiguration, this shining moment of glory, reminds us that the darkness and destructiveness of sin do not have the last word. God's grace, His transformative love, and the hope of Easter have the final say.

We are, in a sense, invited to be pilgrims of hope during this season. Just as Peter, James, and John witnessed the glory of Jesus on the mountain, so we too are called to witness God's glory in our lives.

Three invitations in this Lenten season:

First, Trust in the Promise of Glory.  The Transfiguration is a reminder that suffering and death are not the end of the story. For the disciples, this moment on the mountain was like a foretaste of the joy that would come with Jesus' Resurrection. In the same way, as we journey through Lent and reflect on the suffering of Christ, we are reminded that God's glory will always shine brighter than the darkness of sin.

As we face our own struggles in life—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—we are called to trust in God's ultimate promise. Yes, there will be moments of pain, moments where we feel lost or unsure, but we can hold onto the hope that the story doesn't end in despair. Christ's Resurrection is the ultimate victory, and we are invited to live in that hope.

Second, Listen More Closely to Christ. In the Gospel, God speaks directly to the disciples: "This is my chosen Son; listen to Him." (Luke 9:35). God doesn't just want us to see His glory; He wants us to listen to the words of Jesus, to the way He calls us to live, to the way He leads us into a deeper relationship with the Father.

This Lent, how can we listen more closely to Christ? It's easy to be distracted by the noise around us, by the demands of our daily lives. But God is inviting us into a deeper relationship. Are we making time each day to listen to His voice in Scripture? Are we opening our hearts to the wisdom He offers through prayer? In this season of Lent, let's commit to taking time to listen to Jesus, to hear what He wants to say to us.

Third, Be Witnesses of Hope to Others. The Transfiguration was not just for the disciples to experience in isolation. It was meant to be shared. Peter wanted to build three tents and stay on the mountain, but Jesus led them back down to continue the mission. The glory they witnessed was not for them alone; it was for the world.

Likewise, we are called to be witnesses of the hope we've received. Into the world filled with pain, fear, and confusion, we are called to carry the light of Christ, to be pilgrims of hope . This Lent, how can we share that hope with others? Perhaps through an act of kindness? A listening ear? or sharing the message of Christ's love through our Alay Kapwa?

We are called to let the glory we've experienced shine through our actions.

As we continue this Lenten journey, let us cling to the beautiful memory of the Transfiguration. In the midst of our suffering and our struggles, let's hold onto the hope of the glory of Christ. Let us listen more closely to Him, and let us share that hope with the world. For in Christ, the light of glory will always shine brighter than the darkness of sin. This is, indeed, hope.

Temptation (1st Sunday Lent C)

It's not uncommon to hear unfortunate stories of generous people who later turned sour because they were not given due recognition for their goodness. In parish life for instance, I've heard time and again of what has become a familiar drama of a parishioner who becomes active in community affairs and ministries and who donates generously for the needs of the Church. But when the person's name is not mentioned in the acknowledgment out of sheer oversight, the person is heard making a vow not to become part of any parish activities anymore.

It has become a daunting and sensitive task to do the acknowledgment even in religious functions!

I think the most subtle temptation we wrestle each day is the temptation to do what is good and noble for egoistic reasons. We do things, laudable things, to prove our greatness and to invite praise and admiration. We serve, for instance, in order to impress--- even if unwittingly.

Today's gospel reading (Lk. 4:1-13) allows us to reflect on Jesus' temptations in the desert. His way of handling his own temptations is, needless to say, instructive of how his followers are to face their own. Jesus in the gospel is facing that kind of temptation which compels him to do what seems to be good in order to prove his greatness. The catch in the tempter's proposal is the phrase "If you are the Son of God..." All the three tempting proposals are premised upon this. "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread... make all these kingdoms yours and worship me... throw yourself down from the parapet of the temple and show how the angels will guard you..."

The phrase, "If you are the Son of God," attractively appeals to pride and ego. Jesus' temptations then are but the lure of proving his greatness by showing off that he has in his possession what the world expects of him: "Show us that you're the man! Impress us! Wield your power, display your wealth, and flaunt your fame!”

To these, Jesus' response is self-effacement. Exactly the opposite of what the world demands. Always, he points to the Father in heaven as reference of whatever greatness he has. For Jesus, his greatness and even the meaning of his life are not about what he can show off. His business is all about doing the will of the Father in the Father's terms. These are the terms: not by display of power but by the redemptive capacity of suffering, not by allurement of wealth but by the lasting beauty of simplicity, not by egoistic exhibition of fame but by the self-effacing acceptance of humiliation. Only in these terms that Jesus brings glory, not to himself, but to the Father.

As it were, Jesus is pronouncing, "Yes, I am the Son of God... because I give glory to my Father!" Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus again pronounces, "Not my will but yours be done." So that on the cross, when the last vestige of this temptation comes again in this similar proposal, "If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us," Jesus consistently holds on to the terms of the Father: He embraces his ultimate act of self-effacement and the greatest possible humiliation of the Messiah--death.

Even in this season of Lent, we can quite easily fall into the pharisaic pit of hypocrisy by doing good, pious, charitable practices such as fasting, almsgiving, and prayer for the wrong reasons—selfish reasons—to show off our "holiness." Jesus again reminds us that our business is not to give glory to our names but to the Father's name. This Lent, let us examine the subtle ways in which our egos might influence our actions, even in the guise of doing good.

But this season, this moment in the Church's journey, is not just about awareness and self-examination. It is a call to transformation. The temptation to serve for our own glory, to act for recognition, is not just something to acknowledge—it is something to overcome. Lent invites us into a deeper relationship with Christ, a relationship that calls us to take up the cross, not for display, but as a means of drawing closer to the heart of God.

As we walk through this season, and as we enter into this Jubilee Year 2025, we are reminded that we are pilgrims of hope. We are not journeying to prove our worth to the world or to seek the applause of others. We are pilgrims walking towards the Father, with the hope that He will transform us into His likeness. This Lent, let us be renewed in our commitment to follow Christ—not for our own glory but for the glory of the Father.

In this season of Lent and in this Jubilee Year, let us examine our motives, purify our hearts, and strive to live not for the praise of others but for the honor of God alone. Let us give generously, serve humbly, and pray earnestly—not to impress, but to be drawn closer to the love of God. May we all be pilgrims of hope, setting out not with pride, but with the humility of Christ, so that through our journey, we may bring glory not to ourselves, but to the Father who calls us to new life in Him.

Give me the grace to live each day for the greater glory of Your Name. Amen.

Ash Wednesday and Alay Kapwa @ 50

Today we begin the beautiful and grace-filled season of Lent. We are invited into a period of repentance, renewal, and transformation. Ash Wednesday sets the tone for the 40 days of Lent, a time of deepening our relationship with God and preparing our hearts for the joy of Easter.

This year, as we embark on this sacred journey, we also commemorate a significant milestone in the life of the Church—the 50th anniversary of Alay Kapwa, with the theme "Kapwa Ko, Pananagutan Ko, 50 Taon ng Pag-Asa." This anniversary challenges us to reflect on how we are called to live in solidarity with one another and to become agents of hope in our communities especially in times of hardships.

The Beginning of Lent - Invitation to Repentance, Renewal, and Authenticity

Lent is a season that invites us to reflect deeply on our lives, not simply as individuals but as members of the larger human family. It is a time to repent, to turn away from sin, and to renew our commitment to live more fully according to God’s will. Ash Wednesday, in its simplicity, calls us to remember our mortality and our need for God’s grace. The ashes on our foreheads remind us: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." But the ashes also symbolize something more: the invitation to spiritual renewal. This season of Lent offers us a chance to pause and ask ourselves: How have we lived our faith? Have we been authentic in our relationship with God and with one another?

In today’s Gospel from Matthew (6:1-6, 16-18), Jesus teaches us that our acts of faith—our almsgiving, our prayers, our fasting—should not be for the sake of outward appearances, but rather for the sake of a sincere and humble heart. “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them,” He says. Lent is an invitation to move beyond the superficial and focus on the authenticity of our relationship with God. It is about deepening our personal commitment to live the Gospel through humble acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

As we enter this season, we are called not just to give up things for the sake of sacrifice, but to become more authentically who we are as disciples of Christ.

Alay Kapwa 50 - Call to Hope Amidst Struggle

This year, we celebrate 50 years of Alay Kapwa reminding us of our shared responsibility, our kapwa, and the call to hope amidst struggle. The theme, "Kapwa Ko, Pananagutan Ko, 50 Taon ng Pag-Asa," resonates powerfully with the spirit of Lent. This celebration is not just a reflection on the past, but a challenge for us today: How can we be a people of hope, even in the midst of hardship and difficulty? For five decades, Alay Kapwa has served as a spring of hope, particularly for the marginalized, the poor, and the suffering. Its work has provided practical aid, but it has also offered a deeper, spiritual message: that we are all responsible for one another. Alay Kapwa invites us to see beyond our own needs and recognize the dignity of the other, particularly those in most need of our care and attention.

The Gospel today reminds us that Lent is a time not just for personal renewal, but for a renewal of our communal commitment to those who suffer. When Jesus talks about fasting, He is not just calling us to deny ourselves for the sake of sacrifice but to open our hearts to the needs of others. The ashes remind us that we are dust, but we are also part of a larger family.

The anniversary of Alay Kapwa challenges us to live out that responsibility by becoming agents of hope. This is not just a theoretical hope, but one that is rooted in practical service. It is a hope that refuses to ignore the struggles of others, a hope that sees in every person, not a stranger, but a fellow human being—our kapwa. And this hope is not passive—it is one that demands action.

Lent provides us with an opportunity to embrace this call to hope and to reflect on how we, as individuals and as a community, can continue to serve in the spirit of Alay Kapwa. How can our fasting and prayer this season inspire us to live more intentionally in solidarity with the poor and marginalized? How can we, as a Church, continue to be a source of hope in a world that so often seems filled with despair?

As we begin this Lenten season, let us take to heart the call to authentic repentance and renewal. May the ashes on our foreheads remind us that we are dust, but also that we are capable of transformation through God’s grace. Let this Lent be a time not just of personal renewal, but also of deepened commitment to our shared responsibility for one another. 

Qualities of a Leader (8th Sunday Ordinary C)

“The qualities of a great man are vision, integrity, courage, understanding, the power of articulation, and profundity of character.” These words of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of Allied forces in Western Europe during World War II and later served as the 34th US President for two terms (1953-1961), resonate with the words of Jesus in today’s gospel.

Jesus’ series of short parables in today’s gospel reading (Lk 6:39-45) allow us to discern the qualities of a true disciple and a truly great man for that matter.  I would like to highlight four of these qualities borrowing some words from Eisenhower’s quote. I propose that these qualities can be our goal for personal growth and may also be use as qualifications for choosing our public leaders.

Vision. A great leader must have a vision. A leader without a vision is like a blind man leading another blind. “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Lk 6: 39). A leader without a vision brings his people to nowhere. He is going to squash their hopes and lead them to perdition. But a leader with a vision sees where to go and leads his people to become a people they want to be.

It is important then that this vision be enlightened by Christ and be guided by the Christian values of truth, justice, and love. Otherwise, without truth, a leader may mislead his people with manipulative propaganda and even form their opinion by spreading lies and fake news, for instance. Without the value of justice, a leader may act whimsically disregarding what is due to each and may even trample upon their rights. Without love, the poor will remain uncared for and power will be used solely for personal interest and, worst, for violent subjugation of the people.

Hence, Christians who are called to leadership responsibility must have a vision enlightened by Christ in order to truly lead their people to a better quality of life.

Integrity. Integrity is the antidote to hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is described by our Lord in this parable: “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (v. 42). In saying this, Jesus is teaching his disciples to refrain from making hypocritical judgment on others and, instead, to proactively engage in self-examination in order to correct oneself first and become a credible critic to others.

Integrity is being truthful to oneself as Spencer Johnson has it: “Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” The Lord wants us to take out the log out of our own eye first and see who we really are, warts and all. Acceptance of the truth of one’s own faults and flaws and, consequently, living in consistent uprightness mark a person with integrity. Such a person becomes a credible leader and a brother to those whom he approaches for fraternal correction.

The Lord invites us to become a person of integrity rather than hypocrisy.

Profundity of Character. A person of profound character has inner depth and a treasure of good values and principles in his heart. Whatever goodness is stored in his heart manifests in his deeds. “Agere siquitor esse.” What we do flows from what we are.  As the Lord says in a parable, “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good” (vv. 43-45).

The analogy of the tree and its fruits reminds us that what we do flows from our character. Hence, it is our goal to acquire such profundity of character so as to be able to make a difference and positive impact on the people we serve. For those vying for public leadership, they can be evaluated by their tract record, i.e. what have they done to uplift the lives of the people? The fruits of their lives manifest who they are deep inside.

Power of Articulation. Speech is a powerful tool for good or evil. With our words we can either inspire or insult, bless or curse. Just as our deeds flow from our character, our words flow from whatever is stored in our hearts. “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart” (vv. 45).

Our words reveals the disposition of our hearts; a person with integrity then speaks of the truth and whatever is good and noble but a person of malice speaks with vulgarity, insult, irresponsible accusations and lies. We can have a glimpse of what’s inside a person through the window of his words.

The Lords invites us to store goodness in our hearts that we may speak of what is noble, true, and blessed.

Truly a great man and a great disciple of our Lord nurtures for himself the qualities of vision, integrity, character, and noble speech. A leader without these qualities is dangerous!