First Sunday of Advent (A)

December 1, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 2: 1-5

Psalm 122 “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”

Second Reading: Romans 13: 11-14

Gospel reading according to Matthew 24: 37-44

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Homily:

This Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, we are encouraged by the Church to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man and the Son of God.  The primary meaning of Advent as the preparation for the coming of the Lord, but in the twofold sense; remembering his nativity so as to contemplate his glorious second coming at the end of time.  The celebration of Advent is as much about watching for the day when Christ will come again in glory as it is about preparing for the annual feast of Jesus' birth (see Bruce T Morrill, Vatican II Weekday Missal, Advent and Christmas, ²Seeking the Spirituality of the Seasons,² 2002, p. 47).  In this Advent season, we remember the love of God the Father to the humanity, especially to the poor, oppressed, marginalized and excluded, as the Son of Man is about to be born in our midst, in a cave of animals, in the manger or stable where the animals eat hay, without any support from the midwife or doctor, in a very poor condition no man ever experienced.  He is about to be born in a place where there is no peace, only injustices from the Romans, the Jewish elites, the leaders and elders in the Temple, etc., and with a tyrant king; while many of the ordinary Jewish people are poor, sick, suffering from different kinds of illness, possessed by demons and nowhere to turn to.  Anong kalunus-lunos na pangitain.  These are the conditions of his people and society when he comes and stays to his own.

Jesus who sees, hears, feels everything can easily learn many things, especially with regards to the circumstances and settings of his people.  Jesus said to his disciples, 'For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man' (Matthew 24: 37).  He compares the time and situations of Noah's surroundings to his coming.  The time of Noah is not different of the time of Jesus, as if nothing has changed, as if people never learned from what had happened during the time of Noah.  Nobody listened to Noah and the coming flood and deluge.  Noah wanted to save lives of his countrymen but instead they laughed at him and called him names, that he was crazy, insane and out of his mind, for the weather is beautiful and there is no rain seeing from the distance, in the horizon.  

During those times, people were enjoying their lives, without any worries, without listening to God's voice and pleading, even to Noah's warnings of the destruction by flood.  What was important for them is to enjoy life.  'In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark' (Matthew 24: 38).  Maybe their motto was, eat and drink and be merry for tomorrow they die.  They did not mine what's going on in their surroundings until such time they were caught unaware.  

 

The heavy rain fell in the beauty of the weather, and the water collected flowed down to all places and the people were drown, all of them, walang natira, including animals, birds and plants.  'They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.  So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man' (Matthew 24: 39). The people did not recognize the deluge that came of which it took their lives. I remember the Tsunami that had happened in 2005 in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, almost all peoples there were washed away and died due to big waves as well as what had happened in 2014 in Samar and Leyte due to typhoon Yolanda.  They were caught unaware until they were carried all away by the flood and giant waves.  The same also for the coming of the Son of Man, he will come unnoticed, nobody knows his coming, and nobody recognize him when he comes.

He also compared the coming of the Son of Man with two men and women.  'Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left' (Matthew 24: 40-41).  There is taking and there is remaining or leaving behind.  So, he reminded us all to stay awake and be ready when he comes.  'Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come’ (Matthew 24: 42). We must continue doing right and good for our brothers and sister in need; let them feel and experience the meaning of the true coming of the Son of God and of Man in their lives in this season of Advent.  They are important and are not abandoned by our generosity and love.

Again Jesus compared the coming of the Son of Man and of God to a thief n the night.  Nobody knows when the thief will attack and ransack the house.  He said, 'Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into' (Matthew 24: 43).  We must stay awake also for we know for sure that Jesus is coming into our lives, as we anticipate this great event in the history of humankind. 

If we bring back the hand of time during the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we too were unaware of his coming, but we can feel the spirit of Advent, there is something unusual in the air as if it brings glad tidings to all humankind, there is a feeling of joy and happiness all over the places, in silence with deep feeling.  It made the night bight as day. Those who were awake were dumbfounded, while those sleeping woke up in a fright, for they sensed the brightness with their hearts as much as with their bodies.  'So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come’ (Matthew 24: 44).  Long have we known his coming, for every year we celebrate this first coming of the Son of Man and of God.  But, every year also we are reminded to prepare ourselves for his second coming, that he may find us waiting and watching, doing service to others by taking care his poor, defenseless, marginalized, and the least brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ, for in them he comes and becomes 'Emmanuel,' God is with us.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (C)

November 24, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: 2 Samuel 5: 1-3

Psalm 122 “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”

Second Reading: Colossians 1: 12-20

Gospel reading according to Luke 23: 35-43

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Homily: 

The rulers of the people, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, the elders, and the whole Sanhedrin, together with king Herod Antipas and the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate, were in one mind to condemn Jesus and put to death by crucifying him on the cross, for he became their greatest fear and enemy that the Jewish religion might be abolished and of the Roman state who were afraid of riots and rebellions.  In this event also, Satan was present in every step of the way even there in crucifixion site at Calvary (Golgotha, also known as the Mountain of Skull), as he promised that he will tempt Jesus for the last moment/hour of his life.  If he did not succeed in his temptation in the desert before Jesus' ministry, this might be his last chance to tempt the Son of God before he dies.  Not in his appearance but Satan used other people to tempt Jesus.  First there were those rulers of the people who followed Jesus to mock, scorn and deride in his crucifixion.  The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, 'He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God' (Luke 23: 35).  They thought that Jesus will give in in such trick, that he might abandon his fate, his destiny as planned by God before the foundation of the world.  Only now the rulers recognized what Jesus did to the Jewish people, He saved others; he performed many miracles, taught and preached the good news of salvation from all kinds of sin, showed loved, compassion and mercy, whom they, the rulers, did not do.  They wanted that Jesus also save himself from this coming death, but Jesus was ready since the moment this event was revealed and shown to him in many occasions; for example, first during his baptism by John in the River Jordan and driving him in the desert by the Holy Spirit, second during his transfiguration in Mount Tabor, and third during his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and many other occasions to name but a few.  Nevertheless, the rulers did not believe him that he was the chosen one, the Christ of God.  If they believed him they would not put him to death and they became his followers, but because they deviated from the true religion and the truth of God and they became used to their false teachings and easy lifestyle they did not want to change the status quo.  Instead of condemning Jesus the rulers were the ones being weighed and they found wanting and lacking.  Satan failed with the rulers of the people to tempt Jesus.

The second group of people used by Satan to deliver his temptation to Jesus was the soldiers.  These soldiers might be the Temple soldiers used by the Sanhedrin to make sure that the execution and death of Jesus be executed and realized.  The soldiers booed and used abusive words (foul language) against Jesus` humanity and divinity.  Even the soldiers jeered at him.  As they approached to offer him wine they called out, 'If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself' (Luke 23: 36-37).  In this instant a flash of the reality and actuality of Jesus was revealed by the soldiers, if you are the King of the Jews, whether they were certain or uncertain to what they said, his being a King was mocked even by the soldiers.  They wanted him also to come down from his crucifixion.  They also wanted that Jesus saved himself from thirst, for he cried out, I am thirst.  The soldiers thought that Jesus was physically thirsty, that was why they brought him wine soaked in cloth so he can sip from it, but his thirst was thirst for justice and peace to all.  The soldiers did not win to send down Jesus from the cross.  Satan again was failed to tempt Jesus by these soldiers, in the second time.

His recognition as a King was inscribed in a piece of wood nailed on the top of the cross above his head.  Above him there was an inscription that read, 'This is the King of the Jews' (Luke 23: 38).  The verdict of his crime was that he claimed according to his accusers that he was the King of the Jews, which the Jews shouted it and Pontius Pilate questioned it. But for in truth and in fact he was truly a King but not on this earth alone, but of the whole universe, these include heaven and earth and the heavenly bodies.

The third and last temptation of Satan was when he used one of the criminals with him crucified; whose name in the Church tradition was Hestas.  Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, 'Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us' ((Luke 23: 39).  This criminal hated and despised, detested and abhorred Jesus Christ for known or unknown reason.  He tested Jesus Christ too by asking him, Are you not the Messiah?  He was thinking that by saying this he might convince Jesus to show his power and might.  That Jesus will do what he was asking for, save yourself and us.  Jesus will never do that, he will not save himself at the caprice of this thief, of the soldiers or the rulers of the people neither of Satan.  He will obey only his God and Father rather than men and demon.  Again, for the last time, Satan was failure in tempting Jesus with this thief.

The other thief, whose name was Dimas, in the Catholic Church tradition, who was also crucified with him, who knew their predicament and fate, yet had fear in the Lord God, was convinced that Jesus was truly a King, the Messiah sent by God as the chosen one.  He reprimanded Hestas by reminding him of the fear of the Lord and that their condemnation was justly given to them.  The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, 'Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?  And indeed, we have been condemned justly; for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.'  Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom' (Luke 23: 40-42).  Instead of tempting Jesus to save himself and them, he asked forgiveness for all the sins he had committed in his life.  He recognized Jesus also as King that is why he was able to say, Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom. Like Dimas, we too, as his disciples, must recognize, acknowledge and accept Jesus as our King and Savior, and at the same time to promote the Reign-Kingdom of God here on earth where justice, peace, and love ruled and governed in our community as well as in ourselves.  We must extend the Kingdom of God to our neighbors and that can be seen also in ourselves this justice, peace and love, mercy and compassion towards others and to all creation. 

Then at last, Jesus showed what kind of kingship he has, which is of compassion and mercy, forgiveness and love.  He replied to him, 'Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise' (Luke 23: 43).  Though Jesus did not directly said to Dimas that he has forgiven him, but the moment he said that, today you will be with me in Paradise, he received forgiveness, love, mercy and compassion plus the Paradise (Kingdom of Heaven).  Truly Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe.  Mabuhay ang Kristong Hari ng Sanlibutan! Long live Christ Jesus, the King of the Universe!

‘Christians and Muslims: Serving Humanity Together’

 Statement by Center for Interreligious & Intercultural Dialogue of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

November 15, 2019 18:21 ZENIT Staff Ecumenism and Interreligious dialogue

 

The following is the Final Statement given at the end of the Eleventh Colloquium between the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Centre for Interreligious & Intercultural Dialogue (C.I.I.D.) of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (I.C.R.O.), Teheran. The Colloquium took place in Teheran, Iran from November 11-12, 2019, on the theme “Christians and Muslims: Serving Humanity Together”:

The Center for Interreligious & Intercultural Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue organized their Eleventh Colloquium on November 11-12, 2019 in Teheran, under the joint chairmanship of His Excellency Dr. Abuzar Ibrahimi Turkaman, President of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, and His Eminence Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

The delegation of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization was comprised of the following:
Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri
Ayatollah Dr. Ahmad Beheshti
Ayatollah Dr. Reza Ramezani
Ayatollah Abolghasem Alidoust Abarghouei
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Taskhiri
Dr. Mahmood Hekmatnia
Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Imanipour
Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Taskhiri
Dr. Mohammad Hossain Mozafari
Ms. Haydeh Ramazan Rostamabadi
Mr. Ali Asghar Ameri Bafghi

The delegation of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was composed of the following:
Msgr. Khaled Akasheh
H.E. Archbishop Leo Boccardi
H.E. Monsignor Sarkis Davidian
Msgr. Patrick Valdrini
Rev. Laurent Basanese
Rev. Diego Sarrio Cucarella
Rev. Dr. David Marshall
Dr. Ghada Shbeir
Sister Nora Ishoui
Sister Rachel Youkhaneh

In the inaugural session, in addition to the opening remarks by Dr. Turkaman and Cardinal Ayuso Guixot, a talk was given by Ayatollah Abolghasem Alidoust Abarghouei, Faculty Member of the Islamic Research Institute for Culture and Thought on “Human Fraternity”.

The participants focused on the theme: “Christians and Muslims: Serving humanity together” from the viewpoints of Shia Islam and Catholicism. Papers were presented on the following subthemes:
1. Promoting individual rights and duties: Muslim and Christian Perspectives
2. Serving together the family and the education of the youth: Christian and Muslim Perspectives
3. Serving together in society: Muslim and Christian Perspectives
4. Serving together in the international community: Christian and Muslim Perspectives.

At the end of the meeting, the participants agreed on the following:
1 – Service to others, especially the sick, the poor and the needy, is of capital importance to Christians and Muslims. In addition, serving others witnesses to the universal love of God for all human beings, because He created everyone and everything, and cares for all His creation with the same love.
2 – Service to humanity requires treatment of all human beings without discrimination across the world. All individuals, all communities and all nations should be treated with a sense of humanity, including in situations of war or under international sanctions.
3 – Muslims and Christians, along with all persons of goodwill who do not profess any particular religion, are called to promote fundamental human rights for everybody, everywhere, at all times. Freedom of conscience and of religion is the cornerstone of the edifice of human rights and therefore should be persevered and promoted.
4 – Duties are inseparable from rights. Therefore, every person and group, while defending their rights, should also do their best to fulfill their duties towards their families, communities, and societies.
5 – The formation of young people as both sincere believers and responsible citizens is of essential importance for religions and states alike. It is on families that the primary responsibility for this formation of young people falls; they thus have the right to be supported in this responsibility by the whole of society.
6 – A particular and urgent service to humanity today is the custody of creation, taking into consideration in particular climate change and the environmental crisis. This endeavor requires the collaboration of all believers and people of goodwill.

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue expressed profound gratitude to the Center for Interreligious & Intercultural Dialogue and to the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.

The participants decided to hold the next colloquium in Rome in 2021, to be preceded by a preparatory meeting in 2020.

November 15, 2019 18:21 Ecumenism and Interreligious dialogue

Parang ngayon ka lang isinilang,

November 21, 2019

Parang ngayon ka lang isinilang,

at wala kang kaalam-alam.

Na para kang mangmang,

sa iyong nakaipas, piinagdaanan.

Pinagdaanan mo na ito,

pero parang bago pa rin sa iyo.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

November 17, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Malachi 3: 19-20a

Psalm 98 “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.”

Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3: 7-12

Gospel reading according to Luke 21: 5-19

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Homily: 

The Temple in Jerusalem was one of the most beautiful temples in the Ancient Near East and of all over the Mediterranean Sea.  Its pillars of the porches and of the cloisters were columns of white marble, forty feet high, each one made of one single block of stone.  Of the ornaments, the most famous was the great vine made of solid gold, each of whose clusters was as tall as a man, as described by William Barclay (The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke, 1985, p. 258).   Josephus, a Jewish historian, described the Temple as it stood in the time of Jesus, wrote, The outward face of the Temple in its front wanted nothing that was likely to surprise either men’s minds or their eyes, for it was covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and, at the first rising of the sun, reflected back a very fiery splendor, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn their eyes away, just as they would have done at the sun's own rays.  But the Temple appeared to strangers, when they were at a distance, like a mountain covered with snow, for, as to those parts of it that were not gilt (gold), they were exceeding white (Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, book 5, section 5; William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke, 1985, p. 259).  While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, 'All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down'. (Luke 21: 5-6).  People were discussing about the beauty and the splendor of the Temple, (outside, façade) for truly it was, since it was covered by gold plated leaves and vines surrounding the pillars made of white marbles.  Jesus commented by prophesying. He said to those people full of awe and wonder that the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.  This meant a total destruction.  His prophesy happened in A.D. 70 when the Roman armies after a desperate siege in which the inhabitants of Jerusalem was reduced to cannibalism and in which the city had to be taken literary stone by stone (Barclay, The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke, p. 258). 

In order to prove a certain saying or prophesy, the Jewish people often ask for a sign.  There is a saying in their idiom or jargon: To see is to believe.   Then they asked him, 'Teacher, when will this happen?  And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?' (Luke 21: 7).  They asked Jesus the exact day it will happen and the sign indicating its happening.  He answered, 'See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.'  Do not follow them!' (Luke 21: 8).  Jesus said that many will come and say I am he, that they are Jesus.  And truly many come saying they are Jesus, they are son of god, they are sent by god; even in our present time, like for example in Davao, the pastor there is saying that he is the son of god, and still many others were claiming that they were he, who came and gone.  Others also were saying the Time has come to their members, that is why many among their members were committing suicide, we called them the Dooms Day cults, the End Time cults, etc., where their leaders are taking advantages of the weaknesses of their members, especially women, girls and rich members ether to give themselves to their leaders or their properties.

In our daily news, we read, see and hear, for example, Seven dead in Iraq as security forces clear protest sites; Hugh Hong Kong rally after student dies and lawmakers arrested; Clashes erupt on anniversary of Arafat's death, Palestinian killed; Turkey begins deporting foreign jihadists, and many other news throughout the world, we cannot imagine life being lost, sacrificed, killed or murdered because of principles, religions, ideologies, etc.  But still Jesus said, 'When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end' (Luke 21: 9). These things must happen first, but it is not yet the end for more calamities, anxieties, wars, destruction will come to cleanse the world from its sinfulness.  Then he said to them, 'Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom' (Luke 21: 10).  Many nations will fight against one another due to political, socio-economic, and cultural motivations. Kings fighting other kings due to territories, sakop, extent of powers, military might, stretching of arms and armaments, and so on and so forth. We are not safe in this time due to human-made disasters or environmental degradation, ruin, and dreadful conditions, ang hagupit ng kalikasan, because of humans.  'There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place, and awesome signs and mighty signs will come from the sky' (Luke 21: 11).  Amazon, California, Indonesia and Australia bush-fires leave three dead, at least 150 home lost; 20 dead as Cyclone Bulbul smashes into India, Bangladesh coasts; Iceland students see chilling reality of melting glacier; Three times earthquakes in Mindanao and another in Batanes; Floods, landslides in Pangasinan and some parts of Cagayan Valley due to typhoons, Africa suffered drought, famine, etc., and many other natural and environmental disasters.  These were predicted by Jesus for us to be always prepared and be ready and alert in times of calamities, disasters, wars, famines, etc., and above all, to have faith in him.

Again, it is not the end time yet for there will be persecution also among us, his followers.  'Before the end happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name' (Luke 21: 12).  Because of our faith, hope, and love to Jesus the world who hates Jesus will also hate us.  It they were able to persecute Jesus body and soul, wounded his sacred heart, rejected his being as Son of God, and even His Lordship and as God by his enemies (Satan and his demons), how much more we who are followers of him will not experience the same experience he suffered and endured. All of us who follow him will experience what he had experience because of his name we proclaim, worship and praise.  We must be ready and prepare to offer ourselves to our persecutors for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.  'It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute' (Luke 21: 13-15).  We are his witnesses by giving testimony of our lives and deeds as Christians.  But, he guarantees us that he is there to help us what to say or what to do for he is the one who will teach us what to say or do.  We will not go wrong in defense, dispute or argument with our enemies and/or persecutors.  They will have no match in our defense, argument and dispute for Jesus is the one defending on us against his enemies.

Even those people whom you do not expect to betray you, whom you know and close to you in the end you will discover that they too are your enemies.  'You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends and they will put some of you to death' (Luke 21: 16).  Our family members, relatives and friends, those people whom we trusted and loved might be the ones who will betray us, destroy us and even put us to death by handing over us to our opponents.  All people will hate us for following Jesus Christ. 'You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed' (Luke 21: 17-18).  But then again, Jesus is always at the rescue, at our side to protect and defend us, body and soul.  He will never allow us to loss, injure and defeat, not a hair on your head will be destroyed.

In all these predicaments we must be persistent in patient endurance, in our faith and perseverance to Jesus Christ.  'By your perseverance you will secure your lives' (Luke 21: 19), and believe that everything will pass away for the betterment of our spiritual and physical lives.  The Temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed, as prophesied by Jesus Christ; there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down,  but it will be restored as our body the new Temple of God; famines, wars, earthquake and other environmental calamities will come and go but our resiliency will prove our strong faith in God's power.  Everything will change for the better; even our family members and friends who persecute us will be changed to Christian family of brothers and sisters in one Lord and God.  By our perseverance we will be secured, guaranteed by Christ Jesus.