Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (A)

World Communications Day 

May 24, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 1: 1-11

Psalm 47 “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy; a blare  of trumpets for the Lord.”

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17-23

Gospel reading according to Matthew 28: 16-20

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Homily: I am with you always, until the end of the age.

The Eleven disciples, excluding Judas Iscariot who killed himself by hanging on a tree, went back to where they started, in Galilee, where the angels announced to the women in the tomb and proclaimed it to his disciples, “Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‵He has been raised from the dead, and he is gong before you to Galilee, there you will see him′.” (Mt. 28:7).  “The Eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them” (Matthew 28: 16).  Mixed emotions were happenings to the disciples when they came back to Galilee.  They have to expose themselves from the Jews in Jerusalem where they were hiding, and to the people of Galilee who knew them as his disciples.  A mixture of unexplained happiness, of fear, and shame, and courageous strength to what they stand for.  Besides,, they are meeting their Master and Teacher, Jesus the Christ.

When they arrived at the designated place, a mountain in Galilee, they met him.  “When they saw him, they worshipped, but they doubted” (Matthew 28: 17).  All of them worshipped him, yet they were still divided, for some of them could not believe that he resurrected from the dead; while others were totally convinced that he is truly alive resurrected from the dead, and in front of them.  The group was disunited, others were confused and unbelief while the others were totally converted and committed to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.    

Jess, as true Leader, Preacher and Master, can sense there was something wrong among the Apostles.  He sensed and experienced division and disunity with regards to his resurrection.   The first group composed of Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John believed the passion, crucifixion, death and on the third day he resurrected.  Some proofs of the faith of Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John were when Peter said: “You have the word that gives eternal life” and “You are Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”  When Jesus wet up to Mount Tabor he brought with him some of his disciples whom he transfigured and in another occasion, he brought some of his disciples to the synagogue official′s daughter who died but he brought back to life.  The other disciples, like Thomas who sad, “Unless I put my finger on his hands, my hand on his side, and on his feet, I will not believe.” Also Philip who said, “Show to us the Father and that is enough for us.” They have only premonition and speculation with regards the transfiguration of Jesus and the rising of a dead daughter.  They did not witness them, so even when Jesus and his companions came down from the mountain, a father of a possessed son on came to him and said that his disciples where not  able to dispel the demon, and Jeus said, “How little faith you have.”  And many incidents that the disciples did not see only hear what Jesus said but not what he has done, while the other disciples who saw personally many miracles were told not to tell to any one until the Son of Man ascended into heave.  Beside the Holy Spirit does not yet descend to them.   

So Jesus for a short time taught his disciples who until now could not believe that he resurrected. “Then Jesus approached and said to them, ‵All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold I am with you always, until the end of the age′.” (Matthew 28: 18-20).  Afterwards, he commissioned all of them to go to all nations, teach them and let them observe his commandments, make them also disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  He told them also that he will be always with them (with us) when the Father and He send the Holy Spirit to them to guide them, strengthen them and constantly remind them all the things he had said and done.  Then, suddenly, he ascended to heaven amidst the clouds.

Sixth Sunday of Easter (A)

May 17, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17

Psalm 66 “Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.”

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3: 15-18

Gospel reading according to John 14: 15-21

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Homily: The Advocate (The Holy Spirit)

Love can only be shown and felt when we keep what was told us, when we observe what was commanded us to do. Love is the measure of one’s obedience and even beyond to the commandments.  Without love, we cannot follow what was said to us because we do not give any importance to the one who gave the words or the commandments told us to do.  “Jesus said to his disciples: ‵If you love me, you will keep my commandments′” (John 14: 15). Jesus gave his disciples the commandments to “love one another as I love you,” (John 15: 12) and in another gospel, he said: “Love God with all their hearts, with all their minds, and with all their strength, and to love their neighbors as they love themselves.” There is no greater commandments than this.  This also is corresponding to offer or lay down one’s life for one’s friend.  By doing this, we show to Jesus how much we love him when we keep his commandments.  When we obey Jesus’s commandments and keep them by translating them into action, we will do no wrong or commit any mistakes for his commands give us the right way, the truth and the life in relation to one another.

To strengthen the love towards him, Jesus, when  he  goes back to the Father, will ask God the Almighty Father to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, the One who will constantly support, guide, lead and remind the disciples (we also) to do what Jesus had had commanded them (us) to keep and do.  “‵And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it.  But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you′” (John 14: 16-17).  When he comes to the Father, he will ask God to send down another Advocate like him, the Holy Spirit, to be with his disciples all the times.  This Advocate, this Holy Spirit will not be accepted by the world, for the world is full of sins, corruptions, hatred and malevolence, wickedness; that is why also that the world cannot accept the light – Jesus Christ, for it is used to live in darkness.  The world never sees it or knows it.  The disciples knew already the Advocate for many times Jesus taught them about it.  He also gave it (breath) to them after his resurrection and when he appeared himself to them in the cenacle, in the upper room.

Jesus could not settled even when he is in heaven.  (Hindi rin mapapakali si Jesus kahit na nasa Langit na siya.)  “‵I will not leave you orphan; I will come to you′” (John 14: 18).  He cannot forget what he has own and given to his Father what he has own. He also could not tolerate the disciples to miss him or make them orphans.  He promised that he will come back to take them to where he is.  But for the meantime, the Spirit of truth, the Advocate will be their companion in their daily lives.

He has to go back to the Father for he has accomplished what the Father has commanded him to do.  “‵In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live′” (John 14: 19).  After his death and resurrection the “world” will not see him, only the disciples can see him alive, in flesh and bone.  For forty days, he will be accompanying his disciples and will train, teach many more things he did not say or do, while he was not yet undergoing passion and death on the cross, to be done when he leaves them.

The time will come and it is already comes that the disciples understand that Jesus and the Father are one.  He is in the Father and the Father is in him.  “‵On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you′” (John 14: 20).  They will realize also that whatever Jesus has spoken and done came from the Father.  They will know also that Jesus is in them for he taught them all about the things that the Father wanted them to learn. 

Again, Jesus repeated his command to his disciples. “‵Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.  And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father; and I will love him and reveal myself to him′” (John 14: 21).  The true disciple of Jesus is the one who keeps his commandments and put it into practice.  When he does this, the Father will love him also as well as Jesus.  And his commandment is this: love one another as I love you! Love and you will be loved by God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ and your neighbors.

Fifth Sunday of Easter (A)

May 10, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 6: 1-7

Psalm 33 “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2: 4-9

Gospel reading according to John 14: 1-12

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Homily: In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.

We have to believe to Jesus, in his sayings and in his promises, and above all trust him at all times.  Jesus is about to leave his disciples, us, and he will be going back to where he came from, to his Father in Heaven, the Source of all things.  “Jesus said to his disciples, ‵Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You have faith in God; have also faith in me′.” (John 14: 1).  Jesus said in his last farewell to his disciples, he is going back to his Father, and our Father, who sent him to bring the good news to all His creatures – the salvation of all, through his passion, death on the cross and resurrection. He encouraged them to have faith and trust in him as they put their trust in the Lord, God Almighty.  They have to believe in him that he will not leave them totally orphans but with God who is always near them/us.

His promises are true.  He will go back to his Father’s house and there are many places to dwell.   “‵In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.  If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you′?” (John 14: 2).  He cannot tell a lie for he came there and he knew very well his Father’s house and dwelling places.  “‵And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be′.” (John 14: 3).  He has to go so he can prepare a place to dwell of his disciples, otherwise he was telling a lie and there is no really place available to dwell in there.  His leaving fulfills what he promised.  And when everything is ready and prepared, he will go back again to take his disciples to himself, for where he is there also his disciples.

But the way of going back to the Father is cumbersome (masalimuot); Jesus must passed through the narrow gate and the pain and suffering of the cross.  He must passed through Jerusalem to experience passion, crucifixion and death in the hands of his adversaries, and on the third day be resurrected. “‵Where I am going you know the way′.” (John 14: 4).  That is the only way.  Jesus told his disciples the way to the Father through carrying of one′s cross.  He told his disciples many times the life that will happen to him in the near future and that he will endure hardships in the hands of the chief priests and elders.  This is the only way to go back to the Father, to be crucified, experience hardship of life, and die on the cross.

Thomas, who doubted the resurrection of Jesus until it was shown to him by Jesus his wounds on his hands, side and feet, that’s the only time he believed in the risen Lord, asked Jesus the way to follow him.  “Thomas said to him, ‵Master we do not know where are you going; how can we know the way′?” (John 14: 5). Thomas wanted to know the way where Jesus was going, and in what way they can follow him.  “Jesus said to him, ‵I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me′.” (John 14: 6).  When Jesus said that he is “the way,” he meant that he is the model, the pattern, and the exemplar to be followed.  We have to imitate his way of life.  There was no lies found in him, when he said that he is “the truth.”  What he said were all true.  And he offered his life to many, so that many will have life, life to the full, when he said that he is “the life,” his life we follow.  When we imitate and emulate him as our way, truth and life, we can come to the Father.  Jesus leads us to the Father through his way, his truth and his life as our example and pattern to follow.  To live like Jesus in his way, truth and life, God the Father recognizes us as His children, for we obey Him in the manner of Jesus His beloved Son who totally surrendered himself to Him.

By following his examples, and making him as our model and pattern of our lives through his way, his truth and through his life, we can know him and by knowing him we can also know the Father as well.  “‵If you know me, then you will also know my Father.  From now on you do know him and have seen him′.” (John 14: 7).  In living the life he lived, little by little, we will find him as who he truly is.  In Jesus’s way, truth and life we can see also God in himself, for he and the Father are one.  God the Father lives in him and him in God.  So we too when we live in God the Father He lives also in us.

Philip was very interested to see God, the Almighty Father, in his physical appearance.  When he heard Jesus saying that they will know God and they have seen Him, Philip asked Jesus to show to them the Lord God.   “Philip said to him, ‵Master, show to us the Father, and that will be enough for us′.” (John 14: 8).  To see God in his physical appearance was the longing of all creatures since God became far from us after the fall of Adam and Eve.  All of us long to see our Creator.  So, too, Philip.  He wanted to see God in his physical appearance and that is enough for him, and even for us.

Jesus was amazed when Philip said this to hm.  He cannot believe about the request of Philip to show to them God the Fatter whom always and everywhere was with them.  “Jesus said to him, ‵Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?  Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, Show us the Father′?” (John 14: 9).  Everyday God accompanies them through Jesus Christ.  So long a time they did not recognize God in Jesus.  What they saw and heard was Jesus and not God, the compassionate, merciful, forgiving, giver of everything and of love.  Philip saw Jesus as he was – an ordinary man like them with extraordinary power, wisdom and open heart to all sinners, but not with God the Father.  So Jesus told him that God was with him, since the beginning of time. He who saw Jesus, saw also the Lord God. Jesus was and is with the Father and the Father was and is in him.  “‵Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.  The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.  The Father who dwells in me is doing his works′.” (John 14: 10).  God and Jesus are one, for he is in the Father and the Father is in him.  The proof that he is in the Father is the words he has spoken.  When he speaks, he speaks on behalf of the Father.  He does not speak on his own behalf.  Another proof that the Father is in Jesus is the works he do. “‵Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves′.” (John 14: 11).  The works he did, the healing of the sick, giving sight to the blind, lame walked, lepers were cleansed, dead raised up to life, fed thousands of men and women with five loaves of bread and two fish, forgiving sinners, taking care of the sheep like a good shepherd, and many other good deeds he performed in the name of God the Father.  “‵Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father′.” (John 14: 12).  Before leaving his disciples, he guaranteed them that what he did, they too can do and most probably many and greater than he did, for he is going back to his Father, where the sources of all good things come.  We can do what he did and spoken, in the same way, truth and life he underwent with the help of God the loving Father, with the knowledge and wisdom of the Holy Spirit and with the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fourth Sunday of Easter (A)

Good Shepherd Sunday

May 3, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 2: 14a, 36-41

Psalm 16 “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2: 20b-25

Gospel reading according to John 10: 1-10

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Homily: I am the Gate for the sheep

On this day, this Sunday is the Good Shepherd Sunday.  The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.  We also remember and acknowledge our frontliners (e.g., doctors, nurses, attendants, hospital staffs, social workers, those in the streets such as police and military personnel who handle order and peace for the safety of all, volunteers and many other unnamed heroes in this time of pandemic, against corona virus or covid-19) who shepherd our bodies, aside from our secular and religious priests, brothers and nuns, and bishops who shepherd our souls and bodies.    Like the true shepherds, the frontliners, they do not leave their posts just to serve and save lives of many victims of covid-19 virus.  They leave behind their own families just to work for the victims, and even to take the risk of being contaminated and died by this virus.  In the gospel, too, like a true and good shepherd, he sacrifices his self, he wakes up as early in the morning (at dawn) to take his herd of sheep to the green pasture to feed green grass.  He prepares himself and some protective equipment for the sheep in case they will meet along the way of stray wild dogs or robbers who steal the sheep. 

Jesus describes the good shepherd of the sheep through entering the gate of the sheepfold.  “Jesus said, ‵Amen, amen, I say to you whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.  But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep′.” (John 10: 1-2).  In the place where the sheep were gathered in the evening, there is a gatekeeper who watches the different sheep owned by different proprietors; for there are many owners of the sheep kept in that fold.  So the shepherds must recognize their sheep and the sheep recognize their own shepherd. The one who is truly a shepherd can enter at the gate of the sheepfold for he is their true shepherd. While the bogus shepherds use the fence, climbs walls, windows and anywhere else where they can enter, and not at the front door of the gate, for they are robbers and thieves to steal, kill and eat, and dress the sheep.

At the door where the gatekeeper is guarding the sheep, he let the true and right shepherd enters and passes by and leads its own herd out of the gate. “The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.  But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers” (John 10: 3-5).  In bringing out his sheep from the sheepfold, he usually calls their names or by their familiar identity or distinctive marks or other descriptions, and if all the sheep are out, he would be put himself in front to lead the flock.  He would also use his own voice or his inventive instrument so that the sheep could hear and follow him on the journey to find a new place where they could graze. The sheep only recognize the voice or instrument of their shepherd and nothing else.  The sheep also follow their shepherd because of the odor they can smell of their shepherd is like themselves.  As a shepherd, he disregards the heat of the day or the cold of night, even the dangers that posed upon not only to the sheep but to his life.  He needs also to be prepared and alert in case one or more of his herds lose or stray or do not follow the herds.  The sheep do not follow the strangers’ voice, but rather they ran away, for they do not recognize the strangers’ voice.

Jesus wanted to bring to the mind of the Pharisees their true identity and duty during the pristine time – to shepherd the people of Israel and to lead them to God.  “Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them” (John 10: 6).  Jesus was referring to the Pharisees when he described the differences of the two kinds of shepherds – good and bad or fake shepherd. But the Pharisees did not understand what Jesus was saying, for they strayed away from their true functions.  When time passed, they became corrupt and only their self-interest was their priority, they forgot their responsibilities to the sheep, only eat of it.  “What he is talking about,” maybe that was in their mind when they were asking about this figure of speech Jesus uttered.  They became false and bad or no longer shepherds of Israel.  They became what Jesus referred to as robbers and thieves.  

Jesus made more confusion to the Pharisees when he said and used another figure of speech that he is “the door” or “the gate” for the sheep.  “So Jesus said again, ‵Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them′.” (John 10: 7-8).  He used again a figure of speech, as a “gate,” he is the One who is watching and keeping the sheep in the sheepfold in the evening and then One who allows the true, right and good shepherd to go in and out the sheep from the fold in the morning.  Through him only the sheep can pass by, they cannot escape from him in the fold.  Those who came before him were not true, rightful and good shepherds but robbers and thieves.  He was not referring to the prophets of old who laid their lives for their sheep, but rather those marauders, robbers, bandits and thieves who disguised themselves as shepherds and sometimes as sheep but inside they were wild wolves who devoured the sheep. 

He made more stress of being the gate.  “‵I am the gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly′.” (John 10: 9-10).  Through this gate, anyone, any sheep, like us who enter into this gate (we could say the Church) will find safety and security. We can come in the evening to rest and go out in the morning and find green pasture to graze.  But the robbers and thieves, they use the walls, fence or anywhere in the sheepfold but not at the gate only to steal, to slaughter and to destroy.  Jesus the “Good Shepherd” and “the gate” for the sheep came to give life, to save lives and provide complete, joyful and happy life for his own sheep.

The same with our frontliners are true and good shepherds, too, for they do what they can to protect and save lives of those victims of corona virus (covid-19).  They are ready to offer themselves even to surrender their lives for the sake of the sick victims.  Mabuhay kayong mga frontliners!