26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

September 29, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Amos 6: 1a, 4-7

Psalm 146 “Praise the Lord, my soul.”

Second Reading: 1Timothy 6: 11-16

Gospel reading according to Luke 16: 19-31

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Homily:  

This time Jesus encountered the Pharisees and talked to them.  

But before we go on and proceed to our homily, it is proper to know first who are these Pharisees, why they are following Jesus wherever he goes, and why they are attacking Jesus with human laws rather than God’s Laws?  In the Bible, there are many groups we can find with their own purposes, functions, duties and responsibilities, and rules and laws; they are the Levites and priests in the Temple, Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, Essence, Maccabean, and the Sanhedrin, and many others to name but a few.  Among these groups, the Pharisees are very often mentioned in the Bible.  Who are these Pharisees?  The Pharisees were members of a religious group or party who frequently clashed with Jesus Christ over his interpretation of the Law. The name Pharisee means “the separated one.”  They separated themselves from society to study and teach the Law of Moses, but they also separated themselves from the common people because they considered them religiously unclean while they themselves were clean, meaning they were not contaminated by pagan religions of their neighboring kingdoms and of the Roman gods and goddesses and teachings, they were pure so to say.  It also made them proud.  They despised others Jews, especially the illiterate, simple and ordinary ones for they do not study and know the Books of Moses (Torah) and the prophets as compared with them that they studied thoroughly the Scriptures.  But the question is, do they apply what they studied and learned in their lives, in dealing with their neighbors, especially the poor and the uneducated ones? Or they used their knowledge to manipulate and rob their unschooled Jewish neighbors? In any case, we can also ask what do the Pharisees believe in and teach? Among the Pharisees' beliefs was life after death, resurrection of the body, angels and demons, heaven and hell and purgatory, keeping of the rituals, and the need to convert pagans and/or gentiles.  The Pharisees, many of them are rich for they owned large and vast vineyards and wheat fields they acquired from the poor through their teachings; they gave loans with high interest rate, and many businesses in the marketplaces and traders; also they controlled the synagogues, the meeting places that served for local worship, reading the Scroll/Scriptures, and education/teaching what is read from the scroll.  They also put great importance on oral tradition, making it equal with the laws written in the Old Testament.  

Jesus gave them a story of the rich man (known today as Dives) and the poor man, Lazarus.  “Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day’.”  (Luke 16: 19).  He started with the daily life of the rich man, named Dives, wearing beautiful dress and eating delicious food every day.  He was always full stomach and satisfied.  Yet, he had no concern with his poor, uneducated neighbors.  He lived his life and wealth to its fullest and luxuriously.  He enjoyed life as if there is no other kind of life that is why he did not care or share what he had to others.   Sometimes, we too are like this rich man (Dives) who enjoys life without thinking of others.  As long as we live we have to spend our life in enjoyable living, eating, drinking, merrymaking, etc. but sometimes we forget our neighbor’s needs.  When we are high up thee we look down others, especially those who are poor.  We did not remember (amnesia) where we came from – down there also.

The other character in the story, named Lazarus, was poor, marginalized, excluded, deprived and sickly.  Nobody took care of him even dressing his wounds and sores in his body.  “’And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table.  Dogs even used to come and lick his sores’.”  (Luke 16: 20-21). .He was hungry, (and if so happens there were other beggars at the door), so every day he was waiting for whatever food the rich man disliked and thrown to him or them.  Although it was like feasting for there are many sumptuous food on the table, but only one person eats them all.  So whatever food he did not like, he threw it away; and the poor at the door were catching and fighting (nag-uunahan at nag-aagawan) to get that piece of meat or bread he used to wipe his hands.  There are many Lazarus’s in our society.  They are poor not because they are lazy but because they are victims of corrupt system of government, and those who make laws.  They are robbed by those “prudent stewards,” (last week gospel), taking their houses and lots, lands, fields, and other properties due to unpaid loans and ongoing interest from loan sharks, like this rich man who stole the properties of his neighbors, na nagkabaon-baon sa utang, no employments created by the government and private sectors for the young people as well as old, high taxation, lower price of wheat (or palay), nobody supports the farmers, fishermen, laborers, the urban poor, migration due to wars and famine, ejected from their ancestral lands and big companies are entering to mine their mountains and forests, the educational system is poor and unintelligent, and many other social cancers of society.  In the above condition and scenario of the underprivileged, truly the dogs licked the wounds of the poor Lazarus’s.

Now, Jesus played with the game the Pharisees knew; what they believed in.  He used death, angels and Father Abraham, the Father of the Faith, the Pharisees inclined.  “’When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham’.” (Luke 16: 22).  Lazarus died and because of his patience, kindness, gentleness and understanding as well as accepting his condition while he was still alive, he was rewarded of new life in heaven.  The angels took his body and spirit and brought it to Father Abraham’s bosom.  Now he is enjoying eternal bliss, where there is no more hunger, sickness, poverty, and corruption, panlalamang at pang-iisa, no more sin and second death.  The Pharisees knew about these teachings – on death, angels, heaven, and Abraham, unfortunately they did not apply them to themselves; they do not have fear also in their future.

Nobody can live longer and stay on earth despite of his wealth and power, nothing is indispensable; nothing remains all dies.  So, to make the story short, the rich man died.  He was not saved of his fancy clothing, sumptuous food, his money and power.  They went to nothing.  “’The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side’.” (Luke 16: 23).  His dead body was buried and his soul went to hell where he is now tormented, suffering, paining, grieving, and we can say punish, the final judgment by the justice of God the merciful and loving Father, for all his sins (of omission, indifference, lukewarmness, selfishness, insensibility) to others he has done while he was still alive.

What is amazing, those in hell can see those in heaven, and those in heaven can see those in hell and they can communicate.  “’And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.  Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames’.” (Luke 16: 24).  Here comes again the attitude and pride of the rich, he can give command to the poor to serve him though he is in hell. He asked Father Abraham to send Lazarus to bring water to him to satisfy his thirst and cool his tongue.  He has no shame to demand despite his condition, being tormented in flames of fire.  These also understood by the Pharisees, they knew about flames of fire, hell, torment, but again they did not change their attitude.  They follow what they believed in.

The reality of heaven and of hell was told by Father Abraham.  There is no way that those in hell can go to heaven like walking in the park, and those in heaven visit hell like walking in mud or filth.  “’Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.  Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours’.” (Luke 16: 25-26).  Again, Dives, the rich man, was reminded by Father Abraham while he was still alive, how he spent his life with good and happy independent life, without care or sharing whatever good he had to his poor neighbors.  While Lazarus, the poor man, still alive he suffered hunger and wants, with lots of sores in his body and dogs licked his wounds. (Side note: Maybe Lazarus died due to rabies).

This time he realizes his condition and now he is worrying about his five other brothers with the same attitudes like his.  “’He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment’.” (Luke 16: 27-28).  Here comes again, his demanding attitude towards the poor whom he thought his servants and slaves.  He cannot escape his attitude as rich and the ways he looks the poor.  He requested Father Abraham to command Lazarus to go to his father’s house for he has five more brothers with the same attitudes, to warn them of what will happen to them if they continue their lifestyle.     

Like the Pharisees who studied the Laws of Moses and the prophets, his brothers can learn from Moses (Torah) and the prophets, as what Father Abraham said to the rich man.  “’But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.  Let them listen to them’.” (Luke 16: 29).  In attending the synagogue services and in listening in the Books read day to day, and in sin offering once in a while in the Temple in Jerusalem, his brothers can change their lifestyle, if they listen and do what is said and required by Moses and the prophets.

He applied to himself what he said with regards to his brothers, they would not listen to Moses and the prophets.  If he did not listen and do what Moses and the prophets said and commanded, how much more his brothers to listen to Moses and the prophets.  “’He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent’.” (Luke 16: 30).  They lived on their own, they enjoyed their wealth, they did not like to be bothered by the poor and the needed, and truly they enjoyed life without God and neighbors’ concern.  The rich man was thinking if someone from the dead would come and appear to them and tell them if they will not change their lifestyle and attitude, they would go where their brother was, in hell.

So, Jesus enlightened the Pharisees of how wrong they were in whatever they read and studied, knew and understood, and taught about the Law of Moses and the prophets to their Jewish neighbors who are poor, innocent but not ignorant, deprived and marginalized.  Because of their wrong teachings they misled others.  “’Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead’.” (Luke 16: 31).  It is not because we read and study the Books of Moses and the prophets we are better than the rest.  We thought we are saved by our own doing.   If we do not apply what we learned for the good of others, we are like the Pharisees who taught Moses and the prophet but did not listen to them, and live honorable life, for even the dead that raise to life it is nothing and cannot do anything.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

September 22, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Amos 8: 4-7

Psalm 113 “Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.”

Second Reading: 1Timothy 2: 1-8

Gospel reading according to Luke 16: 1-13

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Homily:  

Jesus wanted to teach his disciples on how to become prudent and wise servants not only in heavenly things but even in earthly things.  We have to learn on how to deal with human relationship and to adopt (makibagay) in their living, so that when we fail still there is place for us in eternal life.  He taught his disciples/us with this parable.  “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.  He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you?  Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward’.” (Luke 16: 1-2).  He told his disciples about the steward or employee who was entrusted by his master of all his business affairs.  The entire master have, he has a say.  But because of too much confidence to his steward, this employee abused the goodness of his master.  He wasted and spent his property in different vices and sins, and for his personal self-interest and gain.  When the master learned all of his doing, he was called and asked for proper reporting of all the accounts of his businesses for him no longer be working and managing all the businesses of his master.

Naturally the steward became sad and worried about his future for he was no longer young, he was not used to work with his hands and sweat.  He was already in advance of age.  But of his age, he never learned his lesson.  He continued his lewd ad loose life.  Also he never asked forgiveness and be given another chance by his master while he was amending his life and life-style, if he can.   “The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.  I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes’.”  (Luke 16: 3-4).  While spending his master’s property he did not realize that sooner or later his master will discover what he was doing.  And it was too late for him to save his stewardship and the confidence given to him by his master he lost.  To save his face from shame and humility, and while he was still in his master’s house and still have access to the records of the debtors, an idea came to his mind.  He will use them so that whatever happens there are people who will accept him.  He thought earthly solution to his earthly desire.  Instead of amending his life, he will use his capacity and accessibility to manipulate his master’s debtors.

Since he was still doing the inventories of the master’s property, and holding the records of loans and debts, he planned to manipulate the records of the debtors of his master.  “He called in his master’s debtors one by one.  To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’  He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.  Sit down and quickly write one to fifty.’  Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’  He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’  He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty’.” (Luke 16: 5-7).  He knew how to deal with people like him.  He changed the amount of debts of each debtor by instructing each one how much they may deduct from their loan.  It will appear that the debtors have gratitude and high regards (utang na loob) to the steward.  By doing this the employee guaranteed his future life secured and protected.  The debtors who had gratitude to the wise steward might accept him when he transfers his loyalty to them and they might receive him in their homes.

In this gospel parable, Jesus is different.  He praises what the steward did and he even recommends it to his disciples to imitate.  As the master learned, discovered and knew what his steward was doing, and he was amazed with the shrewdness and smartness of this steward for he found ways how to survive without losing his face and better future in the hands of the debtors.  “And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.  ‘For the children of this world are more prudent (tuso, mapamaraan) in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.  I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings’.” (Luke 16: 8-9).  The master of the house extolled and much-admired this dishonest steward for being prudent in dealing with those who likened him, the debtors, who agreed to cheat their loaner to pay less from the actual loan.  They too gained in the actuation of that steward, for they were the children of darkness.  While, the children of light, they were not wise and smart in dealing with this kind of generation.  They were told to make friends with dishonest wealth of this generation of prudent so that they too may become wise, smart and prudent in dealing with this kind of people, so also when they failed still they have eternal dwelling.  When they were driven out because they were prudent they still have eternal dwelling waiting for them.  

This is the truth and the lesson of the story.  “’The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.  If therefore you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?  If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours’?” (Luke 16: 10-12).  Nobody will trust us if we are not trustworthy of small matters, how much more with great matters.  Be trustworthy of small matters and the greatest matters will be entrusted to us.  Even what is already belongs to us will be entrusted for we are trustworthy of our own.

To add flavor to the lesson of the parable, Jesus said to his disciples and to us that, “’No servant can serve two masters.  He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon’.” (Luke 16: 13). We cannot become like a Balimbing fruit; it has many sides with the same face.  We cannot have a good master and at the same time bad or evil master.  When we face the good master, we wear the face of a good servant, and when we face the bad or evil master we wear the face of the bad or evil servant.  We cannot play two faces (doble cara).  We cannot serve good master and at the same time the bad or evil master.  We need to choose, either good master or evil master, and when we have chosen our master, we have to serve him thoroughly.  Only one master we can serve totally, loyally and honestly, and without deceit, whoever he may be.  We can give all to our one true master.  Therefore, choose the best and good master that we can serve, in small responsibility or in great capacity, with all honesty, prudently and wisely, and smartly.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

September 15, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14

Psalm 51 “I will rise and go to my father.”

Second Reading: 1 Timothy 1: 12-17

Gospel reading according to Luke 15: 1-32 (or 15: 1-10)

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Homily:

Many ordinary and simple people came to Jesus; they were called sinners by some of their own because of their functions, roles and works in society.  There were tax collections, Jews collecting money from the Jews on behalf of the Roman governor.  Other sinners were victims of poverty, injustices, corruption of their own Jewish leaders and elders.  They were farmers of wheat, vegetables, fruits, herbs and other agricultural products; some were fishermen, carpenters, kasama and sakada, and all kinds of dirty, perspiring but honest, too goodness jobs.  Most of them were robbed their lands due to high loans for fertilizers and seeds yet low price of their wheat (rice in the case of the Philippines) when they sold them to their loan sharks leaders and elders.  The same with the fishermen, they cannot catch fish in their own seas.  Laborers receive low salary and remain contractual (endo).  That is why, many of them were uneducated, holding onto knife (kaput say fatalism), and they have no time to study the Torah (Books of Moses) and the Books of the Prophets.  In these conditions, they were called sinners.  And in Jesus, they found confidant, companion, leader, kakampi, like them in all things except sin, Jesus the Christ.  “The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’.” (Luke 15: 1-2).  Almost all poor people in Judea and Galilee were coming closer to Jesus.  But the clean outside but rotten inside, rich due to robbing the poor widows and orphans, educated but did not use what they have learned to alleviate the condition of their poor neighbors (people) - the Pharisees and scribes, planting bad things to Jesus who was giving new hope and new life to the desperate countrymen and women.  The scribes and Pharisees saw in Jesus what they are lacking, genuine support and love to the Anawim of Yahweh (the poor people of God).  That’s why they were jealous, because they were losing followers, their income is decreasing and they no longer fool the simple and ordinary Jews whom they called sinners.  So they usually altered unnecessary, trivial, unimportant complaint against Jesus, like welcoming sinners and eating with them.  We too must follow Jesus closely, wherever he goes, if we want to become true disciples of him.   

Jesus perceived as he has heard the scribes and Pharisees underestimated and called name names to the ordinary and simple Jews as “tax collectors and sinners.”   “So to them he addressed this parable . . .” (Luke 15: 3). 

He told a story, a parable to the scribes and Pharisees who think they were righteous, about sinful sons of so good a father.  “Then he said, ‘A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’  So the father divided the property between them.  After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.  So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.  And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. . . .” (Luke 15: 11-16).  The young son asked his inheritance from his father.  This only shows disrespect to his father as well as if he wants the death of his father for only when the father dies the inheritance is divided and given to the rightful heirs.  This brought sadness to the father for his beloved son was asking his part of his estates and leaving and separating from him.  He no longer sees his younger son.  As if he too is dead for he is going away.  So, after collecting his belongings, he left his home and went to a far country to live his new separated and liberated life.  Now he can do what he wants.  Later on, he spent all the inheritance he received to overindulgence, sinful lifestyle – drinking, gambling, womanizing and all sorts of vices ad sins, and he became destitute.  He runs out of money so he looks for work in order that he has something to eat. Yet famine arrived in that place, he cannot found a decent job, and when he found none he accepted taking care of the swine.

While tending the swine, he recalled the conditions of their workers in his father’s house, he realized, and the sin he had done to his father and to God.  “. . . Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.  I shall get up and go to my fatter and I shall say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and aginst you.  I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.’  So he got up and went back to his father. . . .” (Luke 15: 17-20a).  While meditating his situation, he compared his condition to the conditions of their hired workers.  He has nothing to eat, even the food of the pigs was denied in him.  The workers in his father’s house received proper ration of food and in plenty.  They have better food and conditions.  He realized what he did and he was very sorry for what he has done.  So he decided to go home not as a son, for the younger son is already dead when he left home, but as a hired worker so that he will survive from famine, of hunger, of nothingness and of emptiness.

But the good father cannot forget his son.  He is always longing to see one day that his son who died will live again and come back to him.  Every day, he is looking in the road whether his son might passes by; he is hoping that he will see his son again.   “. . . While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.  He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed.  His son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I no longer deserve to be called your son.’  But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.  Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and has come to life; he was lost, and has been found.’  Then the celebration began. . . .” (Luke 15: 20b-24).  A father who knew his son cannot commit mistakes; he can easily identify his own beloved son.  Even though his son was still far away, instead of waiting for his coming closer he was the one who run toward him, he embraced him and kissed him.  He has not given a chance to finish what he practiced to say to his father when he meets him.  The happiness of his father cannot be measured.  When they arrived home he called the servants and gave orders – to dress him up with a finest robe, put ring in his finger, sandals on his feet and slaughter and cook the fatten calf, for they will celebrate for the return of his younger son.  The father said, “Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and has come to life; he was lost, and has been found.”  For truly his son repented sorrowfully what he did against his father and against God.

The other son, the older one, was in the field, working like hired servant of his father.  He was good, he did not violate any rule of his father, and he did what he can to please his father.  There was nothing wrong with him except he treated his father as his employer while he treated himself as slave to his father.  But deep inside of him there is hatred and jealousy which he cannot express or explain to his father with regards to his younger brother and why he allowed dividing his estate, and many other grudges.    “. . . Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.  He called one of the servants and asked what this might be.  The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’  He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.  He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders, yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.  But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitute, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ . . .” (Luke 15: 25-30).  The elder son went home from the field after working the whole day.  When he was near home he heard music, laughter, talking, clapping of hands and stepping of the feet as in a dancing.  There was celebration of which occasion he cannot remember or recalled.  So, instead of entering the house he called one of the servants he spotted and asked the occasion or what is going on.  And the servant explained the return of his younger brother and what their father did.  His father saw him outside, like an outsider or expectator, so as a loving father, he went out and met his elder son lie he did to his younger son and invited him to come in.  But he became stubborn of heart; he cannot accept his brother and he cannot join in the celebration.  His anger inside of himself was released; he has now the freedom to tell at the face of his father all that what he was keeping in his heart and mind since his younger brother left.  He poured out all to his father.  He never stopped telling his father all that he went through throughout those years, even becoming slave for him and not even touch any of their sheep or goat, or calf to have fun with his friends.  He even told to his father, “when your son,” that the son of yours, and not saying “my brother.” When he stopped and running out of breathe, the father starting explaining to him the love and respect and compassion he gave to them both because they were his sons and not his slaves or workers or laborers, or other people and outsider.  Actually both sons committed sins against their father. Despite the elder son did not leave and squandered his shared inheritance but he did not treat his father as his truly father rather an employer.

Although he hurt his father’s heart and feelings of what he had said against him and against his brother, still the father showed his love and understanding to his elder son.  He does not know yet the feelings of a father who lost a younger son and now mistreated by his elder son.  “. . . He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.  But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found’.” (Luke 15: 31-32).  The elder son, though he was with the father’s home but was not able to build a father-son relationship, he was not able to show his love and respect to his father, and maybe he did not claim the fatherhood of his father.  What he built was employer-employee relationship. Maybe now, he realized that he was a son and member in his father’s house and he has a brother who was returning from death (sinful life) to live (forgiven life) who was repenting for the sin he committed against God and against their father.  The elder son was convinced by a merciful, compassionate and loving father to enter the house, welcome his younger brother who was dead and now alive, who was lost and now is found.  “Then the celebration that was began . . . and the celebration continued.”  It is hope that the scribes and Pharisees after hearing this parable of Jesus, learned to accept, opened their hearts and eyes and their hands welcome the tax collectors and sinners who were once dead and is now alive, lost but now is found.  The question is, which among the character in the gospel and in the parable are you? Are you the tax collector and sinner or the scribes and Pharisees? Or are you one of the two brothers, the elder son or the younger son, or the father?