HOPE IN TRIALS

February 26, 2012

First Sunday of Lent

National Migrants Sunday
Gn 9,8-15 . 1Pt 3,18-22

Mk 1,12-15

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No long reflections. Just a quickie again, like today's Gospel.

Ok, so who is not experiencing trials today? Right now? When you succeed in facing one trial, are we sure it is the end?

In everything we do, we always say, Sige, ako na.Keri ko na ito. Kaya na namin, we don't need the help of anybody else. Especially when the temptation to give up comes in during our most trying times, people come to our comfort, but we shun them saying that I can. I can, though in all actuality, I cannot!

Jesus enters the desert in prayer and fasting for Forty Days. He was tempted by the devil. He faced so much desolation in the barren place.Yet he still saw himself purified by the ever-prevailing hope that His Father will never leave him.

Then he proceeded in starting his Gospel mission throughout Judea, proclaiming the Good News and healing the sick throughout the place. After overcoming the temptations and being filled with grace, he now sets himself forth to performing what the Father wants him to do, to save us from our sins.

We always face trials and temptations of every kind and size everyday. We sometimes say, lagi na lang ba ganito? We doubt the greatness of a God who always provides, though we do not see it. We are always tempted to not place our trust before the God of many wonders, to believe in what our physique can do for us.

Lahat tayo, dumaraan sa hirap. Sino nga ba'ng hindi? But listen to Jesus' words... The Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent and believe in the Gospel! The Gospel Jesus is presenting is not a Gospel of doom; it is a Gospel of Salvation open for all to receive as long as we place all our hopes and beliefs in God. We should never fall to temptation in every day of our lives; God will never fail us!

Hope always comes to people who believe that there is something better coming out of a dark cloud. What we can never do, God does for us. We just need to present ourselves as frail beings in need of a God to sustain us in all our undertakings. Never fear, he is always here for us!

Never say 'I can' only... always say, 'I can with God's help!'

WE ARE CALLED!

February 22, 2012

ASH WEDNESDAY

Jl 2,12-18 . 2Cor 5,20-6,2

Mt 6,1-6.16-18

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QUICK DOSE FOR ASH WEDNESDAY...

As the Church heralds the beginning of the Lenten Season, it listens intently to its Master's words, 'Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.'

Throughout the year, we often encounter people (including ourselves) proclaiming their self-pity in front of the public. We see the 'taong-simbahan' perform his Church duties, and the 'manangs' act as the elders. But we ask ourselves, is this necessary?

WE ARE CALLED ALL THE MORE TO BE CHRISTIANS, not by names and titles, BUT IN WORDS AND DEEDS. Being a true Christian demands our total responsibility, not only as stewards to God's creation, but more as brothers and sisters who care for one another.

WE ARE CALLED TO FAST. Not only from the pleasures of food and drink, but most of all, from the pleasures of this world.

WE ARE CALLED TO GIVE ALMS. Let us show care for one another, let us love our neighbor and never dispute them.

WE ARE CALLED TO PRAY. Every endeavor is nothing without God's grace and guidance. He knows our needs, but we must learn how to be open to His fount of blessings.

Should we do it in public? Not necessary, for what's important is that God knows what sacrifice are we doing. What's important is that we faithfully do our penance, not out of fanaticism, but most of all, because of love, the same love that Jesus exhibited when he died on the Cross for us.

Ang ating Ketong... bow!

Pebrero 12, 2012

Ikaanim na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Lv 13,1-2.44-46 . 1Cor 10,31-11,1

Mc 1,40-45

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Nagmamanhid ang balat. Nagnanana. May singaw. Nagsusugat na hindi naghihilom. Kumakalat sa buong katawan.

Ito ang ketong, at sa mata ng mga Hudyo sila'y marumi at dapat layuan. Gayun din ang pananaw ng karamihan sa atin sa kanila, nakakahawa ang sakit nila kaya dapat na di-lapitan. Nakakapandiri sila, parang mga sinumpa. Iyan ang pananaw natin, aminin man o hindi. 

Sa paningin ng kultura ng Judaismo, kailangang magsuot ng sirang damit ang ketongin at sumigaw araw-gabi ng 'Marumi! Marumi!' (Unang Pagbasa) Matik na iyon, sila ay lalayuan ng mga tao. Di sila pinapayagang manirahan sa piling ng mga malilinis na Judio dahil ito ay mangangahulugang magiging marumi rin ang mga taong lalapitan niya. 

Sa ating panahon, sila ay dinadala sa isang hiwalay na lugar upang doon na manilbihan at paghilumin ang mga sugat. Nga lamang, di pa rin nawawala ang masamang konotasyon sa kanila. Nilalayuan, Pinandidirihan.

Ibig ko... Gumaling ka! Sa ating pagninilay sa Ebanghelyo ngayon, hindi nanlimi si Hesus na pagalingin ang isang ketongin na dumulog sa kanya. Sa oras ng pangangailangan, patuloy na pinakita ni Hesus ang habag at hindi ang pandidiri. Inibig niyang gumaling ang ketongin at siya nga'y napagaling.

Kahit na inutusan siya ni Hesus na magpasuri sa mga saserdote at sundin ang batas na umiiral, hindi nagdalawang-isip ang pinagaling na ipahayag ang ginawa sa kanya ng Panginoong Hesus na biyaya sa kanya. Hindi na nga siya nakapasok sa bayan na iyon dahil sa balita na kumalat tungkol sa kanya.

Taliwas man sa kultura, tinanggap ni Hesus ang taong Ketongin. Niyakap niya ang taong ito, binigyan ng lakas, pinagaling at binigyang muli ng bagong lugar sa lipunan. Sa unang tingin, di talaga ito ang dapat na mangyari; gayunpaman inibig ni Hesus na ipakilala ang  kanyang kapangyarihan sa ganitong paraan, na ang tinatalikdan at iniiwasan ng tao ay iniibig pa rin ng Panginoon.

Nagpapatuloy ito hanggang ngayon, sa pamamagitan ng Simbahang bukas sa pangangailangan ng mahihirap at nagpapahayag ng pagkondena sa mga ketong ng lipunan - kasalanan, pananamantala ng pamahalaan, pagiging ganid ng may-kapangyarihan. Isang ketong na patuloy na humahawa sa bawat tao sa mundo, at kapag dumikit ito sa atin ay mahirap nang alisin sa ating sistema.

Mistulan na nga tayong manhid sa mga ito, sanay na daw kasi tayo. Hindi na natin kailangang sumigaw ng 'marumi, marumi!' dahil kahit ang kapwa natin ay aminadong marumi rin sa ketong na taglay niya sa kanyang sarili. Ngunit hindi nga ito ang dapat mangyari, at patuloy tayong ginigising ng Inang Simbahan sa mga karumihang ito sa lipunan. Tinatawag nga tayo nito at idinudulog sa Panginoong Hesus upang pagalingin ang di gumagaling-galing na ketong ng ating kabihasnan.

Dumarating si Hesus. Taglay natin ang ating sariling mga ketong bilang mga indibidwal at bilang isang bansa. Paano natin binubuksan ang ating sarili sa kanya? Iniibig rin ba nating gumaling tayo?

Ngayong araw ng pamamahinga, buksan nga natin ang ating kamalayan sa ketong ng lipunan na ating kinabubuhayan. Ilapit natin ang ating sarili sa Panginoong Hesus na nagpapagaling sa ating mga nagnanaknak na sugat. Hindi nga ba masarap ang mapagaling mula sa dating kamalayan patungo sa Kristiyanong pananaw sa buhay!

ANG ATING MISYON: Wag tayong magpakamanhid sa pangangailangan ng ating kapwa. Ketongin man sa katawan o kaluluwa, buksan natin ang ating puso at tanggapin sila, tulad ng pagtanggap ng Panginoon sa ketongin sa Ebanghelyo.

HEAL ONE, HEAL ALL!!!

February 05, 2012

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pro-life Sunday

Job 7,1-4.6-7 . 1Cor 9,16-19.22-23

Mk 1,29-39

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We often hear stories of priests with the special gift of healing. They are being visited by people from various walks of life, bearing with them different illnesses and a big faith that they will be surely healed. As  the priest places his hand over the sick, they are granted healing as the people say. 

But in his words the priest makes it clear, is it the work of the priest alone? No! He may grant people healing but it is not actually because of him. They still recognize the imminent power of God who gave them the grace to do such. They still owe everything to the One and same Jesus who, in his days, also preached and healed many people. 

What is their secret, anyway? Through intense prayer and appreciation of the Divine intervention, they can actually do these things. Also, what's important is the belief of the sick who wants healing. It takes spiritual communication between the Creator and his creation for healing to occur, through the priest.

Footnote: The Eucharist heals too!

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We now enter the Gospel episode. Jesus heals ONE and Jesus heals ALL! From Peter's Mother-in-law, to all the Jews who have heard of the news. We see today a working Jesus who heals the sick, drives away demons and preaches the Good News.

Those who wanted healing went to Jesus, and they do not only come from one place but from various parts of Galilee. Word of mouth may be the cause of this great audience, but Jesus does not fail them and granted their wish. Everyone is very hopeful that something good will happen, and indeed they are blessed!

But what is the secret of Jesus?

Rising early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.

Jesus does not have the power to heal by his own! He recognizes the one who gave him the grace, nobody else but the Eternal Father. If he claims the power and the applause as his own, he defeats his saving mission. At early dawn, he prays and seeks the guidance of His Father in everything he shall do; he always prays for the grace to never leave him, for the sake of all.

Jesus prays and communicates to his Father. In everything he does, he always asks for his Father's will. We can never see something wrong in his deeds because he has his Father's favor. The Father is the giver of life, and Jesus, being a co-equal Son of God, can also grant life and healing to those whom he would grant.

We are always seeking for greener pastures. We always want to free ourselves from sickness, not only of the body but most importantly, of the soul. But do we come to recognize the presence of God in our lives? 

We can be healed also. Let us just open ourselves to God's will.

LIGHT FOR THE MISSION

February 02, 2012

FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

World Day for Consecrated Life

Mal 3,1-4 . Heb 2,14-18

Lk 2,22-40

A sequel to last year's post on this same feast: Brownout pa rin? Hindi ko na alam yan. Kung hindi yan dahil sa hindi mo alam kung paano tatawag sa Tunay na Liwanag, ay posibleng dahil yan sa nasisiyahan ka sa dilim. Hindi pa tapos ang lahat! Bakit di mo subukang tumawag ngayon? Oo, ngayon!!!

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If you observe the way I write recently, you can obviously see that my reflections are always inclined to Mission. As the Philippine Church observes the Year of Mission this 2012, Ur Dose would like to express its bond to the always-new Mission of the Church, that is to proclaim the Gospel to all, especially through the Internet. As people always say, this is the least that I could do, but in the Lord's providence nothing is considered least. As long as it is for the Glory of God and the holiness of all, everything is seen as the Best!

In writing or everything we do, we consider the essence of the Light: the Sun, the lamp or the incandescent bulb. We are in total darkness and we certainly cannot do the next step. We need even just a little light from somewhere for us to proceed and work. Essentially, light would lead us to fulfillment, as darkness might lead us to nowhere.

Today we remember the event where Jesus was took by His parents to the temple. He was indeed very young then, but for those who hope and wait, here is coming the fulfillment of every  prophecy told, the glory of Israel and the Light which reveals God to the nations! For some bystanders, as this also goes for the modern tao, this is just an usual sight of parents bringing their child to the temple to be presented to God and be purified of the sin. But for the saved one, this day comes as a sign that the light has already  sparked through our midst!

Though the world is already enjoying the presence of natural light, still their souls are in a total darkness. They kept on alluring on worldly pleasures and fleshy desires, and because of this they are misled. Wars here, faux pas there, death and loss everywhere. To save the damned nation, God deigned to send his Son to preach and heal, to die and rise again. He came not as anybody else, but as a man. He went to understand our failures, forgive us and reinforce us to live a sanctified life.

The Jews waited, though, for the coming of the Messiah, as the prophecies tell of it, but as he dwells among them they did not recognize him. But whatever their loss was became our gain, and now we are sent to continue passing the Light of Life to all who seek and all who do not know him. This is our mission, to proclaim the Good News and never be ashamed of what we profess.

As we proceed we are guided by that mystical light, who is nobody else but Christ the Lord! Through our undertakings, he reveals his power and glory to all those who listen and illuminated. Through us, others see  Christ. We may experience hardships in the future of this life, but we believe that something better is waiting for us in the life to come. No matter how long should we wait, we still believe in God's grace and providence. 

Of this, we remember those who left the pleasures of the world and decided to take the road not taken. They are our priests, religious brothers and sisters and consecrated laity who came from modernity and proceeded to the total possession of the total Christ. They did not fear of the loss of everything they had; what's important is what they have gained, which is nobody else but Jesus!

As for us, do we still proceed with our mission under the guidance of Christ's Light? Do we enlist ourselves among those who go satisfied with the light from the world and continue to dwell into sin? Much better, do we consider ourselves blessed to be illuminated by the Heavenly Light which illumines the world?

We all have our mission to proclaim the Good News everywhere. Let us persevere amid the hardships and rejections of the modern age. Let us not fear, for Christ gives us himself as the Light for the Mission!