God's Blessing (2nd Sunday Lent A)

(grabbed from filipinofunfacts.wordpress.com)

One distinctly Filipino cultural practice that is really close to my heart is the “Mano po” tradition. The gesture is performed as a sign of respect to elders and as a way of asking the elders’ blessing. Similar to hand-kissing, the person asking the blessing bows towards the offered hand of the elder and presses his or her forehead on the hand as the elder gives his blessing by saying, “God bless you.” I have enjoyed doing this as a child and still does to my superiors. As a priest, one of my little joys is when children run to me, often after mass, to get my hand that they may have my blessing. It makes me deeply happy to bless each of them, to wish them, as they grow, a life filled with the grace of God and away from the curse of sin.

I hope every Filipino family continues to practice this beautiful tradition. This allows us to participate in God’s desire to bless all of his children. Today’s readings reveal to us the heart of God who only wants to bless all of us; the readings too offer us the opportunity to see God’s blessing both as a gift and a task. How do we attain the blessing of God? Can we be a blessing to others?

God’s blessing as a gift. The blessing of God is freely offered to us. In the history of this fallen world, we have known only of sin and its curse. But God cannot allow us to remain in the darkness and slavery of sin. He has reached out to us starting with the covenant with his chosen people, Israel, from whom the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, will come.

Hence, the first reading (Gn 12:1-4a) recounts the call of Abraham, the beginning of God’s covenant. In this reading, God commands Abraham to leave his homeland and go where the Lord leads him. God explains his plan:  "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you... All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."

In the second reading (2 Tm 1: 8b-10), we have the fulfillment of the blessing promised to Abraham.  St. Paul recognizes the great blessing of salvation and the vocation to holiness as a favor given to us through Christ. This favor is pure gift. St. Paul explains that it is not by our works that we merited God’s blessing of new life.  God offered it as a gift. Christ obtained it for us.

Gratitude, then, must be our constant disposition as we live out the blessing of new life in Christ. Am I grateful for my blessings--meaningful life, abundance, fulfillment and happiness, wisdom, maturity, loving relationships, family?

God’s blessing as a task.  While the blessing of God is a gift, freely offered to us and obtained for us by Christ, today’s readings remind us that it is also a task.  First, this means a blessed life is a journey marked by obedience to the commands of God.  We are assured of the gift of God’s blessing when we follow God’s commands because his commandments are the pathways to blessedness.  Disobedience has led humanity to the slavery of sin and the insecurity of death; only the love of God can take away the curse of sin. Abraham was blessed and his descendants through him because he trusted and obeyed God’s command for him to set off to a land which God would show him. Jesus Christ won for all of humanity and creation the ultimate blessing of salvation and life because he has undone Adam’s disobedience by his own obedience to the Father even to the cross and unto death.

In today’s gospel reading (Mt 17: 1-9), Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John.  In this vision, the voice of the Father is heard saying: “This is my beloved Son, on whom my favor rests; listen to him.” Jesus, the beloved Son, is our way to a truly blessed life; hence, the Father reminds us to listen to him.

Our generation needs this reminder. We have turned into an arrogant people who listen only to our own whims and caprices. We don’t want to obey. We assert what we want.  We need to realize that this arrogance is leading us to destruction. We need to rediscover our trust in God’s commandments which lead us to a blessed life. We need to be reminded to listen to Jesus.

Becoming a blessing to others. The second meaning of God’s blessing being a task is the invitation to become God’s instrument of blessing to others.  Not only did Abraham receive the blessing of God, he was designated to be a blessing to “all the communities of the earth.”  Jesus is identified as the favored Son of God that He may bring salvation to all.

We cannot have the gift of God’s blessing and be selfish.  When we are blessed, we are invited, too, to share the blessing to others. To be a blessing to others can be demanding. This can mean moving out of our comfort zones as Abraham left behind his homeland to a yet unknown destination set by God. This can mean self-denial and self-giving like what Jesus had done for us. This can mean what St. Paul has written to Timothy to “bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God” (2 Tm 1: 8). We can be a blessing to others as we selflessly do the works of mercy.

The Filipino practice of pagmamano is beautiful because it invites the parents and elders to participate in God’s desire to bless his children.  We can all impart blessing to one another. We can be a blessing to others.

Lent is a season of blessing. Let us heed these three invitations as we continue our journey into this grace-filled season: Be grateful for God’s blessing; seek always the will of God by listening to Jesus in humble obedience; be a blessing to others by your self-denial and self-giving. God bless us all!

Sin and Grace (1st Sunday Lent A)

Satan summoned three demons to be sent for a mission with this instruction: "Go to the ends of the earth and deceive as many people as you possibly can, causing them to be lost.”  Before they set off Satan asked them about their plans.  The first demon stepped forward and said, "I’ll tell them there is no God."  Satan disagreed saying, "That would work on a few people, but most wouldn't buy it. There is too much evidence that a Creator God exists.” The second demon confidently laid out his plan: "I will teach everybody that there is no hell." Satan just laughed. "No, that would not work either. People know better than that! They have clear concepts of punishment.”  The third demon rose and said, "I will tell them that there is no sin, they can relax, enjoy and do whatever they feel like doing.” Satan said, "Hmm… I like that. Many people would like that. Go then and deceive them!” 

Our contemporary societies are increasingly losing the sense of sin. What used to be clearly evil and immoral can now become normative and even claimed as rights. People demand respect for doing what feels good and true to them ignoring objective norms that have guided societies for centuries.  The individual person becomes now the reference of what is good and true as manifested in this assertion, “My mind, my body, my choice!”

The season of Lent is a grace-filled opportunity for all of us to face this moral crisis squarely and see the realities of our lives through the perspective of our faith. The light of faith can expose the deception of the evil one just as Christ laid bare the emptiness of Satan’s lure in the desert.

As we enter the first week of Lent, our liturgical readings right away reminds us about what people of today seem to deny—the reality of sin. Yet these same readings point us more importantly to God’s grace overcoming sin and its effect in and through Christ.

The first reading (Gn 2:7-9, 3:1-7), by way of the story of the fall of Adam and Eve, reminds us that sin is a reality.  It is not part of God’s design but finds its source in the human’s disobedience to God. For St. Paul, in the second reading (Rom 5:12-19), the sin of the first parents has become a universal condition which has brought death to all. “Through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all inasmuch as all sinned” (v. 13).

We need not deny, then, the reality of sin. It has entered the world and has become like an ambience around us which our weakened will ratifies by our personal sinfulness. But the season of Lent does not stop at this reminder of the reality of sin. This season is not just about our sinfulness. It is more about our need for forgiveness and the liberating truth of our redemption through Christ.  As St. Paul continues to say, “For if, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ” (v. 17).

Hence, we enter the season of Lent with humility.  We enter with the awareness of being sinners in need of God’s love and mercy.  We enter with hope. And that hope is offered by Jesus Christ.

In the gospel reading (Mt 4:1-11), we find our hope of overcoming the temptation of sin through Christ who has overcome it.  Three lessons we can discern from the narrative of Christ’s temptation:

Proper Ordering of our Values.  We must always value God’s will over and above the natural demands of our physical and sensual appetite. The world insists to “obey your thirst.” Satan tempts Jesus in the gospel reading to “gratify his hunger” by turning stones to bread. Both are invitation to live according to the natural desire of the flesh.  Jesus points out that there is a higher invitation to live a life in the spirit whose source is not the bread but the will of God.  To overcome the temptation of sin, we have to put order to our values. When God is always our top priority, nothing can go wrong.

Acting with Responsibility.  This means doing things with good reasons. Satan tempts Jesus to jump off the cliff. What for? What is good in jumping off the cliff? Nothing.  Perhaps, for the heck of it or just to show off.  This is akin to the just-do-it advertisement.  Jesus, of course, does not jump for there is no good reason to do it. We cannot live by the popular slogan, “Just do it.” We have to live and do things with purpose. To overcome the temptation of sin, we have to act always with responsibility.

Not Justifying Evil Means to a Good End. Just like my reminder to my students during exams: Do not cheat in order to earn more points; it’s not worth it. Jesus, in the gospel reading, is tempted by the devil to possess all the kingdoms of the world by worshiping the devil.  What an empty proposal!  Many times we are tempted to justify evil means to achieve something good.  For instance, we want a good life for our family but we engage in dishonesty and corruption in order to achieve it. The Lord is reminding us not to succumb to this temptation for we will end up with nothing. Never justify evil means to a good end and you’ll be doing fine.

Again, we enter the season of Lent with humility. We are sinners. We participate in the sinful condition of the world.  But, at the same time, we enter this season with hope because we also possess the grace of Christ. And his grace is far more encompassing and penetrating than sin. This season invites us to cooperate more intimately with the grace of Christ who restores whatever sin has destroyed.

What’s in Your Heart? (6th Sunday Ordinary A)

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” St. Teresa of Calcutta, in saying this, was giving us the key to the potential greatness of our human endeavor whatever that is.  The key lies in the interior disposition of the heart. When the heart is totally involved in what you do, no matter what it is, how important or insignificant it is, it naturally acquires meaning.  One of the saddest human predicaments is when one finds his life given to things without one’s heart in them. It is sad as it is meaningless.

The heart is important in whatever we do.  External gestures and actions may be impeccably correct and meticulously perfected but without the heart they are but mechanical or even morally hypocritical. Jesus is sensitively aware of this fact.  His recurring criticism of the scribes and Pharisees is directed towards their splendid following of the letter of the law (the Torah) while missing out on the crucially important interior disposition of a heart that truly loves God.  Jesus sees the bottom line of such form of righteousness:  There may be an admirable external appearance of love of God but beneath what meets the eye is a damning emptiness or, most probably, self-love.

Hence, in today’s gospel (Mt 5:17-37), we hear once again Jesus’ warning:  “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (v. 20).    

Christ looks to the heart. The different lessons that he teaches in the gospel reading are all pointing to the essential place of the heart in Christian morality. Certainly, our exterior behavior must follow God's will. But Jesus is trying to tell us that exterior behavior and appearances are not enough. To truly fulfill the law, the interior motives and the desires of the heart must first be in harmony with what God wills.

It is therefore crucial that as followers of Christ we make sure that our hearts beat for God.  It is important, as Jesus points out, that we safeguard our hearts from corruption.  Jesus identifies in the gospel reading three interior dispositions of which our hearts need to be purified: anger, lust, and dishonesty.

Anger.  The law of Moses clearly forbids killing; and violation to this commandment deserves judgment. But Jesus looks to the heart and warns us of the first instance of the desire for murder—anger:  “But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”  Jesus is telling us not to allow anger to consume our hearts and to destroy our relationship with our brothers and sisters in the faith.  Instead of harboring grudges in our hearts, Jesus teaches us to desire and seek reconciliation so that before we offer gifts to the altar, we make it a point that we first settle peaceably with anyone whom we had some form of conflict.  

Lust.  The law commands thus, “You shall not commit adultery.” Again Jesus perfects the law by looking into our hearts and warning us of lust as the first instance of adultery: “But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Lust destroys our love and respect for others as we begin to desire in our hearts to use them as objects of our pleasure and self-indulgence. Jesus commands us to do what is necessary to avoid succumbing into this temptation as he instructs, “Cut your eyes off if this lead you to sin…” Instead of allowing lust to corrupt our hearts, our invitation is to exercise the virtue of purity of mind and heart and cultivate fidelity in marriage in order to strengthen all the more its unbreakable bond which is presently being challenged by a growing divorce mentality.

Dishonesty.  The law forbids taking a false oath.  Some Jews of Jesus' time had developed the habit of swearing oaths in the name of God if they meant to keep them, and swearing on something else if they meant to break them. Jesus again looks to the heart and warns us of dishonesty.  Jesus instructs us not to swear at all but to be truthful with what we say: Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Simple but clear. In our present social context of rampant corruption, our challenge is to be credible witnesses of truth and models of integrity.

Again, in whatever we do, the interior disposition of the heart matters most. It is incumbent in us then as disciples of Christ to always purify our hearts of sinful desires and malicious motives. Let us beg the grace of God always to fill our hearts with nothing but love of Him. With love in our hearts, we can surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. We may be incapable of doing grandiose things but we can certainly do small things but with great meaning.

Making a Difference (5th Sunday Ordinary A)

The American poet, essayist, and transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that making a difference in life is the essential point of living. “The purpose of life,” according to him, “is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” 

(Photo grabbed from www.actioncoach.com)

As followers of Christ too, making a difference for the world is our essential calling. It is our life-mission. Jesus, in today’s gospel reading (Mt 5: 13-16), explains to his followers what he expects of them.  By way of images, He instructs them about their life-mission: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (v. 13-14). Let us reflect on each of these images—salt and light—and draw the implications each has on our Christian life.

“You are the salt of the earth.” Salt had two important uses in the ancient world: it gave flavor to food, and it also preserved food. They didn’t have “magic sarap” then or any other ready-made seasoning. They didn't have refrigerators either, so they would preserve meat by putting a thin layer of salt over it. So by implication, we understand that “to be the salt of the earth” means two things for us: First, just as salt gives flavor to food, so are we to bring “flavor” or meaning or to point out what brings lasting joy to the lives of people around us.  Second, just as salt preserves food from decay, so Christ’s followers are called to preserve the society from corruption and moral decadence.

Wherever we are, our presence has to make a difference.  We cannot afford to be Christ’s followers and, at the same time, be just among the others living la vida loca, the kind of life this world dictates.  If this absorption into the worldly value system happens, our Christian life becomes a tasteless salt.  Jesus’ warning is loud and clear regarding this possible sad state: “But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Mt 5:13).  Ouch!  A Christian life that does not bring any difference into the world is useless so to speak.

More often than not, the calling to be the salt of the earth demands a Christian living that is counter-cultural.  Serious Christians cannot live by the old political adage that says, “If you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em. “ Christians do not live by what is popular; their lives instead testify to what truly brings joy and moral uprightness which the world oftentimes ignores.  Christians, as salt of the earth, live with joy in simplicity and deep spiritual relationship with others and God amid the dominant materialistic trends. Christians testify by their lives that there is true joy in purity of mind and heart, in self-respect, in fidelity to a committed loving relationship, and in family life despite the pervasive pleasure-seeking sexual revolution that has raised generations who are afraid of responsibility and commitment. Christians uphold the sacred value of life and the dignity of every person against the world’s culture of death that discards as liabilities the poor, the defenseless fetus, the unproductive sick and aged.

Be the salt of the earth: Make a difference in the world by the way you live—as witness to the values of Christ.

“You are the light of the world.”  Light had the same function then as it does now:  to push back the darkness. But in the ancient world, before the advent of electricity, darkness was a much more dramatic reality than it is to us. The ancients, unlike us today, understood how helpless they were without a lamp.  Hence, it was unthinkable to light a lamp and hide it under a bushel basket.  A lamp had to be set on a stand to give light to all.

Darkness has always been equated with sin and the absence of God. It is light that dispels darkness; light represents the saving grace and presence of God.  To be the light of the world means that the disciples are to manifest by their good works the saving grace and presence of God in the world. “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5: 16). Our good works manifest to the world the compassionate and loving God who is within us.  In our good deeds, God is glorified.

The first reading (Is 58:7-10) recounts how Isaiah reminded the people of Israel who just resettled from exile to give primacy to works of charity over the empty religious rituals of fasting.  Isaiah counseled them to share food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, clothes to the naked, and assistance to those in need.  Today, Christians are called to commit to the works of justice, charity, peace, and the integrity of creation.  Again, we cannot afford to hide in the sacristy or in the air-conditioned adoration chapel. While prayer and contemplation is essential to our Christian life, it ought to lead us all the more to the loving service of the needy.  Otherwise, we might end up like a burning lamp hidden under a bushel basket.

Be the light of the world: Make a difference in this world darkened by sin. Let your good deeds proclaim the goodness of God. “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn” (Is. 58: 8).

Roadmap to True Happiness (4th Sunday Ordinary A)

The pursuit of true happiness is every human being's concern. Since time immemorial philosophers have grappled with the question of happiness— what makes the human being happy? There has to be an answer to this quest lest human life would be nothing but a cruel existence. Humanity has tried several roadmaps that are hoped to lead towards the answer: The worldly roadmaps and the Christian roadmap.

Worldly Roadmaps . Several principles have been espoused in relation to this pursuit. To be happy, the Hedonists proposed the pleasure principle: "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you will die." Those who subscribe to this principle have given themselves to indulgence in many and varied forms of pleasure in order to be happy. Many others have tried the materialistic principle: "I shop therefore I am." Their aim in life is to have more and more of the goods of this world. Wealth and comfort become for them the secret to a happy and contented life. Another road taken by some is guided by the power principle: "Might is right." To be happy in this life, one has to make sure of one's control and dominance over other people; even force, violence, and manipulation are necessary to maintain being on top. Still others go by the celebrity principle: "Fame is the name of the game." Happiness is when one is idolized by millions of fans who buy just anything one endorses.  

Apparently these principles or the combination of some of these have become the standard roadmaps to happiness in this world. Yet experience teaches us that these roadmaps fail to truly provide the true happiness our hearts are seeking for. We try any of these principles; live by it religiously; and end up still wanting more... and more. Still unhappy.   Why? What, then, is lacking in all these?

GOD. God is forgotten in these worldly pursuits. In Matthew 16:26, Jesus tells the crowd, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" Here Jesus points out that our worldly pursuit surely does not guarantee our happiness. In earlier chapter, He teaches that God's Kingdom is everything we have to seek: "For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well" (Mt 6:32-33).

Christian Roadmap . In today's gospel (Mt. 5:1-12), Jesus reveals the secret to blessedness or happiness: It is the disposition of an interior freedom for God and his Kingdom. And this disposition is expressed by way of the eight beatitudes that Jesus lays down in this Gospel passage—poverty in spirit, mourning, meekness, hunger for righteousness, being merciful, purity of heart, being peacemaker, being persecuted for righteousness. Each of these inclines a person's heart away from the deceptive glitters of the world and, more importantly, towards God and his Kingdom—the true source of blessedness. And it is important to note that all these are but aspects of Jesus' own life. When He speaks of blessedness, He speaks from experience. He is the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the pure of heart, the persecuted, etc. The beatitudes are not a bunch of abstract principles; they are the concrete manifestation of Jesus' own blessedness and total openness to God the Father. Jesus is the first Blessed One. As such, He reveals to us how to be fully human and truly blessed.

What makes us happy? Jesus provides us with the concrete answer. He is the answer. He is the truly blessed One, our roadmap to true happiness. Our contemplation of the person of Jesus Christ, as a way of searching for the answer, has to lead us to the imitation of him.  We need to change our roadmap and adopt Jesus' roadmap. We need to resolve to adopt the standards that Jesus sets before us. We have to embrace his beatitudes as our very own standards for life, if we are serious about being truly happy like Him.

What roadmap must we choose? The philosopher Nietzsche wrongly accused Christianity of espousing values ​​which are but "consolation prizes" for the unfortunate of this world. No. Christianity invites a person to imitate the most fortunate and blessed man who ever lived: Jesus Christ. Hence, as Jesus has shown us, between the choice of basking in worldly pomp and striving for spiritual poverty, we choose the latter for it ushers us to the greatest treasure, the Kingdom of God. 

Between having control of power and working for justice, between wallowing in insatiable forms of pleasure and being pure of heart, between enjoying our accolade in this world and being persecuted for Christ, we know the latter is the choice of Christ as it is in accordance to the standard of God's kingdom and, therefore, our own choice too. Jesus is the Blessed One; and as we live according to his values, his blessedness is surely ours too.

Which roadmap to happiness would you commit to? That of the world? Or the beatitudes laid out by Jesus Christ? Of course, we are Christ's disciples, our option is clear. We are invited by the Lord to lead a truly blessed life. It is the life He has shown us.  

Wanted: Missionary Disciples (3rd Sunday Ordinary A)

“We are all missionary disciples.” Pope Francis stresses in his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, that by virtue of baptism, “Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: We no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries’, but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples’” (EG, 120).

We are always missionary disciples. We are called so that we might be sent. We are invited to a deeper friendship with the Lord so that we can go forth to share the joy of that fellowship to all. Discipleship is not just following the Lord. It also means being sent just as today’s gospel recounts how the Lord called his first disciples who were fishermen so that they might become fishers of men: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19).

Let us reflect then deeper on the meaning and implications of this calling in the light of today’s gospel (Mt 4:12-23). First, we may ask, “What does it take to be a disciple of Christ?” What does it require of me to follow Christ? And second, how should we understand the missionary nature of discipleship?

Discipleship and its Cost. Spiritual writers and theologians have been using the phrase, “the cost of discipleship,” or “costly discipleship” as opposed to “cheap discipleship.” These refer to the fact that when we decide to follow Christ, such a decision is never easy because there is a high cost to it. Discipleship is demanding. When it does not require something great from us, chances are it is unauthentic discipleship; it is cheap as it is empty. 

In the light of today’s gospel reading, it is discernible that the cost of discipleship is high indeed. When the Lord, walking by the Sea of Galilee, invited some fishermen—Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew—to come after him, “at once they left their nets and followed him” (v. 20).  Walking further along, the Lord saw two other brothers in a boat, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. The Lord called them and “immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him” (v. 22).

If we were fishermen, what would the fishing net and boat mean to us? Of course, these would be very important to us as these could mean more than just things; the net and the boat could well represent our means of living, our very way of life which most probably has been handed down to us by our parents.  Hence, today’s gospel is illustrating to us that to follow the Lord, to be his disciple requires leaving behind a way of life—nets, boats, fathers included! No mean feat indeed.

To turn away from all that we have clung to in life is also a process called conversion, in Greek, metanoia, which means a change of heart.  In today’s gospel, as Jesus begins his public ministry, he calls for metanoia for the sake of God’s Kingdom: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v. 17). As he calls his disciples, he invites them to a change of heart. To be able to follow him in the path of the kingdom of God, those called have to leave behind the life they have gotten used to otherwise they would not be able to embrace the new life offered by the Lord. They have to turn away from an old value system that they may embrace the new values of Christ and the Kingdom.

Discipleship demands conversion. When we don’t take this demand seriously, when we prefer not to be disturbed as we follow the Lord, our discipleship is a sham because, for all we know, we have not actually left our boats and nets.  We may just be fooling ourselves.

What stands as our fishing net or boat? To follow the Lord more truthfully, what do we need to let go of? A meaningless work? A destructive relationship? Attachment to things? Addictions? Materialistic and narcissistic lifestyle?

Missionary Option.  To use the term of Pope Francis, “missionary option” may mean for us as our decision to be always in a state of mission. Discipleship always implies a missionary option.  Whoever the Lord calls to come after him is in not only for friendship with him but precisely for a mission: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” It is not for nothing that we leave behind our nets and boats and fathers. When we courageously choose to follow the Lord, we experience the infinite love and mercy of God; we experience the reign of God in our lives. We experience total salvation. It is this tremendous goodness of God that propels us with joy to become fishers of men. We go forth and share to all people this joy of being loved and saved.

We are always missionary disciples. Discipleship is not only following the Lord and enjoying fellowship with him and with the other disciples; it is also being sent to the lost, the least, and the last that they too may also hear, through us, the good news of the saving love of God, that they too may choose to belong to the kingdom of God.

To whom are we sent? Who are the lost, the least, and the last in our community? An aging parent? A wayward sibling? Uncatechized children? A hungry neighbor?  An unwed couple? A destroyed environment?

All too often we tend to choose to be safe and comfortable with our old fishing nets and boats. Courtesy, perhaps, of our protective parents.  But when we remain always in our safe and comfort zones we do not grow much. We end up bored and unhappy. Life is robbed of joy. Or as disciples, we may just choose to stay in the consoling fellowship of the Lord with the exclusive elect without reaching out to others; such discipleship is narcissistic.   

The true disciples of Christ are daring. Risk-takers. Courageous.  They leave behind their comfort zones--nets, boats, and fathers--to reach out to others and proclaim the saving love of God. Their lives are never boring but are always filled with joy.  Such is the beautiful invitation to become fishers of men, to become missionary disciples.

God is carrying us (Santo Niño)

Today we gather in joy, color, and song. We carry the image of the Santo Niño, we dance, we shout “Pit Señor!”, and we fill our streets and churches with faith. But before anything else, let us pause and ask: Why are we really here?

We are here because we are grateful. As we carry the image of the Santo Niño, we are reminded of a deeper truth: long before we carried Him, God has been carrying us. Through poverty and sickness, through disasters and disappointments, through family struggles and personal failures—we are still here because we are beloved children of God.

Our gathering today is not only a celebration; it is a thanksgiving of survivors, of people who have been held by God even when life was heavy. Like children in the arms of a loving parent, we come before the Santo Niño with grateful hearts.

Three invitations for us in this celebration:

Invitation to Humility: Surrender and Trust in the God Who Cares

In the Gospel, Jesus places a child in the center and says: “Unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3).

A child is humble—not because he is weak, but because he trusts completely. A child knows he depends on another.

Many of our struggles as Filipinos come from carrying burdens alone:
• worrying endlessly about tomorrow, about health, about work...

The Santo Niño teaches us humility, not as shame, but as surrender—the courage to place our lives again in God’s hands.

To be childlike is to say:
“Lord, You know my struggles. I trust You. I surrender.” This fiesta invites us to return to that trust, to kneel again, and to believe that the God who carried us before will carry us still.

Invitation to Responsibility: Caring for Children in Today’s Difficult World

Jesus continues: “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me” (Mt 18:5).

To honor the Santo Niño is not only to honor an image, but to protect real children—especially today, when they face so many dangers:
• hunger and lack of education,
• broken families and absent parents,
• confusion from social media, violence, and false values.

In our devotion, Jesus reminds us: How we treat children reveals how we receive Him.

This is a call to parents, families, communities, and the Church: a call to listen more, to guide patiently, to create safe homes and spaces of faith.

A society that truly loves the Santo Niño must also defend the dignity, innocence, and future of its children.

Invitation to Maturity of Faith: Beyond Sinulog, Toward Daily Witness

Finally, Jesus’ call to become childlike is not a call to remain immature. Our devotion must grow.

The Santo Niño invites us to a faith that matures— from celebration to conversion,.from dance to daily discipleship.

Sinulog is beautiful. Our dances are prayers. But the Santo Niño also asks:

• How do you live after the music stops?
• How do you witness in your workplace, family, and community?
• Do you choose honesty over corruption, forgiveness over anger, love over sin?

A mature faith is seen not only in fiestas, but in faithfulness— when we choose what is right, even when it is hard.

Conclusion: Today, as we carry the image of the Santo Niño, let us remember that we gather in gratitude because God has first carried us. Beyond our sinulog dances we are called to humble trust in His loving care, we are entrusted with the responsibility of caring for the young, and we are invited to a faith that grows and witnesses daily.

May our cry “Pit Señor!” not end today, but echo in the way we live, love, and hope.

Viva Santo Niño! Pit Señor!

Baptized into Communion, Participation, and Mission (Baptism of the Lord A)

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  Let us take this as an opportunity for the appreciation of our own baptism in our call to journey as a synodal Church.

In today's Gospel (Mt 3:13-17), Jesus comes to John at the Jordan. John hesitates, saying he is unworthy. Yet Jesus insists: "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (v. 15 ). Jesus enters the waters not because He needs repentance, but because He chooses to stand with us—sharing our human condition and embracing the Father's saving will.

And then something beautiful happens. "The heavens were opened, the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'" (vv. 16-17 ).

What happens to Jesus at the Jordan reveals what baptism means—for Him and for us. From this flow the three pillars of synodality: communion, participation, and mission .

Baptism draws us into COMMUNION: We are God's beloved sons and daughters

When Jesus rises from the waters, the Father declares: "This is my beloved Son" (v. 17).    Before Jesus performs a miracle or preaches a sermon, He is first affirmed in love.

Have we ever paused to ask: Who am I, really, in the eyes of God? Before our titles, professions, or roles in the Church—do we remember that we are first God's beloved?

In baptism, we are given a new identity. We are no longer strangers or outsiders. We become sons and daughters of God, members of one Body in Christ (cf. Rom 6:3-5). This is the foundation of communion .

Synodality begins here. A Church that walks together is possible only when we truly believe that we belong to one another. There is no "us" and "them" in the Church—only the baptized journeying together.

If we truly live our baptismal communion, then we must ask: Do I see others in the Church as brothers and sisters, or as rivals and outsiders? Communion calls us to overcome division, listen with respect, and build unity—starting in our families, parishes, and communities.

Baptism calls us to PARTICIPATION: All are given a voice and a role

After Jesus' baptism,"the Spirit of God descended upon him"(Mt. 3:16). This moment marks the beginning of His public ministry. The Spirit does not come for decoration—but for mission.

So let us ask: If we have received the same Spirit in baptism and confirmation, why do we sometimes act as if the Church belongs only to a few? Why do some remain silent, while others carry everything?

Through baptism, every believer is anointed by the Spirit and gifted with charisms for the good of all (cf. 1 Cor 12:4-7) Participation is not a privilege; it is a baptismal responsibility.

This is why synodality insists on listening—especially to voices often unheard. The Church walks together when all are allowed to speak, discern, and serve according to the gifts God has given them.

Participation invites us to ask: Where is God calling me to be involved? It may mean offering time, talent, or wisdom—joining parish ministries, engaging in formation, or simply speaking with honesty and love when discernment is needed.

Baptism sends us on MISSION: We are co-responsible for God's saving work

After the Jordan, Jesus does not remain by the river. He goes out—to proclaim the Kingdom, heal the broken, and lay down His life. Baptism always leads outward.

By baptism, all of us share in Christ's priestly, prophetic, and kingly mission (cf. 1 Pet 2:9).  Mission is not reserved for clergy or religious. The laity, too, are missionaries—in homes, workplaces, schools, and society. A synodal Church does not walk together for comfort. It walks together so that together it may be sent.

Mission challenges us to ask: Where am I sent today?  It may be in caring for the poor, witnessing to honesty at work, nurturing faith at home, or standing for truth in society. Living our baptism means allowing our faith to shape how we live and serve.

Conclusion. Today the heavens open once more—not only over the Jordan, but over our lives. At our baptism, God spoke our name and called us beloved.

May we never forget that  synodality begins at the baptismal font —where communion is born, participation is entrusted, and mission is ignited. Renewed by our baptism, may we truly walk together as a Church that listens, serves, and goes forth with joy.

Star of Hope (Epiphany Sunday A)

When did giving hope become wrong?

I recall an episode of the TV series Honesto . In one powerful scene, Lourdes—the adoptive mother—is anxious because her son longs to know his real father. She is disturbed that people around the child are giving him hope. Then her old father, Lemuel, gently but firmly confronts her and asks: "When did it become bad to give hope?" Lourdes answers defensively, "When you know there is no hope!" But Lemuel looks at her and says with wisdom: "There is always hope. Just be afraid of losing the child."

That question echoes in our hearts today: When did hope become something to fear?

The Feast of the Epiphany gives us a clear answer: it is never wrong to give hope. What is wrong is extinguishing hope out of fear, insecurity, or selfishness.

Star of Hope in a Dark World. In today's Gospel (Mt 2:1-12), a star appears—a star of hope . It leads the wise men through darkness, uncertainty, and long journeys until they find the Child, Jesus. This star announces that God has entered history , that light has broken into the night, and that salvation is not only for Israel but for all nations .

Yet not everyone welcomed this hope.

King Herod, the most powerful man in the land, was deeply troubled. Why? Because hope threatens those who cling to power, control, and fear. What was good news for the poor and the searching became a danger for the insecure. So Herod plotted death instead of welcoming life.

Here we see a painful truth: hope can be resisted —especially by those who benefit from darkness.

The Enemies of Hope: Fear, Resignation, and Pessimism. If we are honest, sometimes we are like Herod . Sometimes we are like Lourdes before her awakening. We hesitate to allow others to hope.

What are the enemies of hope today?

Fatalistic resignation : "This is just life." We tell ourselves and others that poverty, corruption, injustice, and violence are unchangeable—that this is our destiny.

Defeatist pessimism : We no longer believe that honesty can triumph, that leaders can be accountable, that peace is possible. Everything is mocked, doubted, and dismissed.

Crab mentality and fear of being left behind : When someone tries to rise, to change, to dream, we pull them down—because their hope exposes our own fear.

These attitudes become especially dangerous amid the current struggles of our country--- corruption that steals from the future of our children;  workers and farmers barely surviving;  families burdened by rising prices and job insecurity;  young people tempted to leave the country—or worse, to give up on life.

When hope is crushed, despair grows. And despair is not from God.

Becoming Missionaries and Stars of Hope. The Epiphany invites us to make a choice: Will we be Herods—or wise men?

The wise men did not stop at darkness. They journeyed . They searched . They trusted the light they were given , even if it was just a star.
Hope is not passive. Hope walks. Hope seeks. Hope believes that God is already at work, even when we do not yet see the full picture.

Pope Francis, in his Bull for the Jubilee of Hope, reminds us: "Hope does not disappoint, because it is born of love and grounded in the love that flows from the pierced heart of Jesus." This is why Christian hope survives corruption, poverty, and suffering—because it is anchored not in politics or power, but in Christ.

To be Christians today is to be missionaries of hope : In our families, by refusing to give up on one another; in our communities, by choosing honesty over convenience; in our nation, by believing that change is possible and working for it; in our Church, by pointing people not to ourselves, but to Christ.

When we carry Christ in our hearts, we ourselves become stars —guiding those who are lost, comforting those who are tired, and reminding those in darkness that God has not abandoned them.

It is never wrong to give hope. Hope is lost only when we surrender to fear and despair. As we celebrate this Epiphany, may we seek the Lord like the wise men and dare to become bearers of hope in a wounded world. To those walking in darkness today, may they find light in us.

When did it become a bad thing to give hope? Never. Because our hope is the Lord.