February 26, 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 26, 2017

8th Sunday in OT

Isaiah 49:14–15; 1 Corinthians 4:1–5; Matthew 6:24–34

I once read an article saying that too much worrying can have a negative effect on our health. Aside from making us feel tired and stressed, too much worrying speeds up the aging process of our body and increases the risk for heart attack. For those of us who have the tendency to worry all the time, Jesus in today’s gospel tells us: “Do not worry about your life what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear…Your Heavenly Father knows what you need.” Some of you might say “That sounds strange. Does Jesus forbid us from thinking what are we to eat, wear or drink? These are essentials for basic human life.” How do we understand in the words of Jesus in the right context?

Let us reflect on this in three points:

JESUS INVITES US TO TRUST IN THE PROVIDENCE OF THE LORD. Jesus is not telling us to stop thinking about the basic necessities of human life. There is a big difference between being concerned and anxiety. We can still be concerned about the basic needs of life without excessive worrying. How? By trusting in the providence of the Lord. Yes our Heavenly Father knows what we need. But it does not mean that we will stop working and just wait for God to provide us with food. What Jesus is telling us is to always couple our human activities with trust in the providence of the Lord.  We need to work hard but after we have done what we could do, we leave the rest to God’s providence. For as the first reading tells us, God never forgets us especially in times of need.

JESUS REMINDS US: SERVE GOD AND NOT MAMMON. Without trust in God, the danger is that we become slaves of mammon – slaves of money. Money is there to serve our needs, support ourselves and our family. But it happens that sometimes money becomes our master and we become its slaves. In the first reading, Israel asked God: “Have you forgotten us? Have you abandoned us?” God should have been the one asking: “Have you forgotten me, have you abandoned me because you now have new masters?” We cannot serve two masters in life. We should be careful: without trust in God we might start serving false gods. What can we do to avoid this tendency?

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD. To seek first the kingdom of God means to serve the real master. When we serve God, we will use mammon or the resources of earth, as a means to serve God. It cannot be the other way around. It cannot be that we worship money and manipulate God to justify ourselves. Loyalty and fidelity to God will give us the right perspective in utilizing the resources and wealth of the earth to serve Him.

Let us pray in this mass for the grace to always trust in the providence of the Lord who never forgets us especially in times of need. May we always strive to seek first God’s kingdom and serve the real master who is God.  Amen.

February 19, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 19, 2017

7th Sunday OT

Leviticus 19:1–2, 17–18; 1 Corinthians 3:16–23; Matthew 5:38–48

One of the popular cartoon series during my childhood days was “Popeye the Sailor Man.”  The story of Popeye varies but the plot is always the same: Popeye and Olive happily living together and then suddenly the villain Brutus comes along and beats up Popeye. Popeye eats spinach to become strong, he flexes his muscles and defeats Brutus with a punch.  It is obvious that the way how Popeye deals with his enemy Brutus is different from the way how Jesus deals with people who hurt him. Jesus tells us in today’s gospel: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  What does he mean by these words?

Let us reflect on this in three points:

JESUS IS TELLING US NOT TO RECIPROCATE EVIL WITH EVIL. The Old testament law “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” is actually meant not to promote revenge but to promote justice. We need to understand that prior to this law, retaliation at that time knows no limit. If someone has wounded me, I can retaliate to the point that I can kill the person. The punishment was not commensurate to the injury done. This OT law was therefore meant to restrain one’s impulse for vengeance and unnecessary bloodshed. But Jesus in today’s gospel goes beyond this law. He tells us not to reciprocate evil with evil. Because if we keep on doing that, the vicious cycle of violence will never end. We conquer evil not by another evil but by goodness. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “If we live by an ‘eye for an eye’ and a ‘tooth for a tooth’ kind of justice, the whole world would be blind and toothless today!” How then should we deal with people who hurt us? Jesus says: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

JESUS ENCOURAGES US TO BE INCLUSIVE IN OUR WAY OF LOVING.  We have just celebrated Valentine’s Day last week. If you look at the list of persons who received gifts from you, I am sure your enemies are not included in the list. How can you give a Valentine gift to your enemy? How can you be good to your enemy? That is absurd. That is foolishness – according to the wisdom of the world that Paul refers to in the second reading. My dear friends, it is really very difficult to love our enemies. The wisdom of the world labels it as foolishness. But in the eyes of God: being good to our enemies, loving them, praying for them is not foolishness. The invitation of Jesus for us then is to be inclusive in our way of loving: loving not only those who are good to us, not only those who belong to our group, but to love even those whom we find it very difficult to love.

BE COMPASSIONATE AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS COMPASSIONATE. When Jesus in gospel says, be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, he is telling us to imitate the inclusive love of God the Father.  God does not exclude from his love those who hurt him. God does not exclude from His love the sinners. God does not exclude from His love his enemies. The gospel affirms this when Jesus said: God created the sun to shine not only for the good people but even for bad ones. Rain comes down not only for just ones but for everyone. The more inclusive we are in our loving, the more we become perfect and compassionate like our Heavenly Father. 

My dear friends, we are not followers of Popeye the Sailorman. We are followers of Christ. Let us beg the Lord in this mass for the grace to be compassionate just as our heavenly Father is compassionate. May this grace strengthen us to reciprocate evil with goodness and to be inclusive in our way of loving.  Amen.

February 12, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 12, 2016

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sirach 15:15–20; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10; Matthew 5:17–37

I remember this conversation between a young boy and his mom. The boy asked a question: “Mom, what are the 10 commandments?” The mother replied, “They are the instructions or commands of God to us.” Her son said, “So you are higher than God then.” The mother said “Why?” The son replied, “Because God has only 10 commandments and you have more commandments than God.”

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the importance of keeping God’s commandments. When we are before a command, we usually feel that our freedom is restricted. We can’t just do what we want to do. But do God’s commandments really restrict our freedom? What do our readings for today tell us about the relationship between God’s commandment and human freedom?

Let us reflect on this in three points:

HUMAN FREEDOM IS A GIFT FROM THE LORD. God created us as free human beings. The sad thing is that sometimes we can use this freedom against God. That is why Sirach in first reading reminds us to obey God’s commandments - to use our freedom to be loyal to God. Why? Because the choice to obey or disobey God’s commandments is a matter of life and death. It is different from simply choosing what color of clothes will I wear today. It is different from simply choosing what kind of food will I eat today. If the choice we have to make is between fidelity and disloyalty to God, it is not just a simple choice. It is a matter of choosing between life and death. If we want to choose life, we will use our freedom to be faithful to God and to be loyal to Him. God will not ask us to do something that will be harmful for us. Choosing to obey God’s commandments will always be for our own good.

TRUE FREEDOM IS NOT THE SAME AS LICENTIOUSNESS.  Licentiousness here means freedom to do anything we want. Isn’t it that if we have a driver’s license, it gives us the permit and right to drive. True freedom is not a license to just do what we want. That is what we call abuse of freedom.  That is what Paul refers to in the second reading as the wisdom of the world. What will help us purify our freedom? Paul also says, the Holy Spirit purifies our use of human freedom. It is not enough that we have freedom. Freedom that has been touched and purified by the HS is what we need to pursue the wisdom of God and be faithful in observing his commandments.

TRUE FREEDOM IS FOUND IN OBEYING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS.  True freedom means freeing our heart from anything that enslaves us to disobey God’s commandments. Jesus in the gospel says external observance of law is not a guarantee that we are free in obeying God’s commandments. For example, the commandment “Thou shall not commit adultery.” Many people will say, “I am a faithful spouse to my partner. I am not guilty of adultery.” But Jesus says: “Wait a minute. Look at what happens in your heart. If a man looks lustfully at a woman, adultery has already begun in one’s heart”.  A heart enslaved by lust is already committing adultery. Another example is about making promises. Many people during oath taking will promise many things. But Jesus says, it is not just the external oath taking. It is about what is in your heart. If you mean yes, say yes If you mean no, say no.  

Are our hearts really free in obeying God’s commandments? Let us pray in this mass for the grace to exercise our freedom responsibly. Human freedom is a gift from the Lord. True freedom is not the same as licentiousness. True freedom is found in obeying God’s commandments.  Amen.

February 5, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 5, 2017

5th Sunday OT

Isaiah 58:7-10; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mat 5:13-16

In light of the recent events that happened in our country, many people have been asking: What is the stand of the Church in the issue about deaths and killings?  Why is the Church silent on this? Does silence mean approval? Recently, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines released a pastoral letter stating its stand on the deaths and killings. The bishop asked us to read the letter in all Sunday masses today. But before that, as way of introduction, let me share with you 3 points for reflection on the invitation of Jesus in today’s gospel to be the salt and light of the world. What does it mean to become salt and light of the world?

TO BE SALT AND LIGHT MEANS OUR PRESENCE AS CATHOLICS MUST BE FELT BY PEOPLE AROUND US. Salt brings out the flavor in food. Without salt, we will not enjoy the food we eat. Light helps us to see the beauty of our surroundings.  Without light, we will be in darkness. In the same way as the presence of salt and light makes a difference, our presence as Catholics must also be felt by people around us.

TO BE SALT AND LIGHT MEANS TO THINK OF OTHER PEOPLE. One characteristic of salt and light is that they are used not for themselves but for others.  We do not eat salt by itself. It is mixed with food to bring out the flavor and to give taste to it. We do not stare at the light. Light is used so to give light to the surroundings. To be salt and light means to think not only of our selves but to think of the welfare of other people: the marginalized, the poor, the victims of injustice, the refugees. To be salt and light means to go to these people to bring the light of Jesus and add flavor to their lives.

TO BE SALT AND LIGHT MEANS WE ARE TO LEAD PEOPLE ONLY TO CHRIST. It is also important to note that one must use the right amount of salt and light. If we put little salt in food, the food will not taste good. If we put excessive amount of salt, the food will still not taste good and we might end up having a high blood or kidney ailment and other diseases. It should be the right amount of salt. If the brightness of the light is lacking, the surroundings will remain dark. If there is excessive light, it can be an irritant to the eye. It should be the right amount of brightness of light. Why? Because if salt is used in the right way, its presence will blend with the food. If light is used in the right way, its presence will blend with the place.

That is precisely what disciples should do – what must dominate in our life as Christians, in our life of service to the marginalized is not our own presence but only the presence of Christ. The spotlight is never ours. The spotlight belongs to Christ. We must lead people only to Christ.

The pastoral letter invites us to be the salt and light of the world. Let us listen to what our dear bishops want to tell us.

 For I find no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies – 
oracle of the Lord God (Ezekiel 18:32)

Beloved People of God:

We, your bishops, are deeply concerned due to many deaths and killings in the campaign against prohibited drugs.  This traffic in illegal drugs needs to be stopped and overcome.  But the solution does not lie in the killing of suspected drug users and pushers.  We are concerned not only for those who have been killed.  The situation of the families of those killed is also cause for concern.  Their lives have only become worse.  An additional cause of concern is the reign of terror in many places of the poor.  Many are killed not because of drugs.  Those who kill them are not brought to account.  An even greater cause of concern is the indifference of many to this kind of wrong.  It is considered as normal, and, even worse, something that (according to them) needs to be done. 

We are one with many of our countrymen who want change.  But change must be guided by truth and justice.  We stand for some basic teachings.  These teachings are rooted in our being human, our being Filipino, and our being Christian.

• The life of every person comes from God.  It is he who gives it, and it is he alone who can take it back.  Not even the government has a right to kill life because it is only God’s steward and not the owner of life.
• The opportunity to change is never lost in every person.  This is because God is merciful, as our Holy Father Pope Francis repeatedly teaches.  We just finished celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy.  These events deepened our awareness that the Lord Jesus Christ offered his own life for sinners, to redeem them and give them a new future.
• To destroy one’s own life and the life of another, is a grave sin and does evil to society.  The use of drugs is a sign that a person no longer values his own life, and endangers the lives of others.  We must all work together to solve the drug problem and work for the rehabilitation of drug addicts.
• Every person has a right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Society has ways and processes to catch, prove guilty and punish perpetrators of crimes.  This process must be followed, especially by agents of the law.
• Any action that harms another (seriously) is a grave sin.  To push drugs is a grave sin as is killing (except in self-defense).  We cannot correct a wrong by doing another wrong.  A good purpose is not a justification for using evil means.  It is good to remove the drug problem, but to kill in order to achieve this is also wrong.
• The deep root of the drug problem and criminality is the poverty of the majority, the destruction of the family and corruption in society.  The step we have to take is to overcome poverty, especially through the giving of permanent work and sufficient wages to workers.  Let us strengthen and carry forward the unity and love of the family members.  Let us not allow any law that destroys the unity of families.  We must also give priority to reforming rogue policemen and corrupt judges.  The excessively slow adjudication of court cases is one big reason for the spread of criminality.  Often it is the poor who suffer from this system.  We also call upon elected politicians to serve the common good of the people and not their own interests.
• To consent and to keep silent in front of evil is to be an accomplice to it.  If we neglect the drug addicts and pushers we have become part of the drug problem.  If we consent or allow the killing of suspected drug addicts, we shall also be responsible for their deaths.

We in the Church will continue to speak against evil even as we acknowledge and repent of our own shortcomings.  We will do this even if it will bring persecution upon us because we are all brothers and sisters responsible for each other.  We will help drug addicts so that they may be healed and start a new life.  We will stand in solidarity and care for those left behind by those who have been killed and for the victims of drug addicts.  Let us renew our efforts to strengthen families.

Those of us who are leaders in the Church should strive to push forward or continue programs that will uplift the poor, like livelihood, education and health programs.  Above all we will live up to — we all will live up to — becoming a Church of the Poor.

Let us not allow fear to reign and keep us silent.  Let us put into practice not only our native inner strength but the strength that comes from our Christian faith.  Our Lord Jesus promised us: “You will have affliction in this world, but take courage, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

“What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?  No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:35,37)  Yes, indeed, “For the Spirit that is in you is more powerful than the spirit in those who belong in the world.” (1 Jn. 4:4)

As we commemorate the 100^th year of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, let us respond to her call for prayer and repentance for the peace of our communities and of our country shrouded in the darkness of vice and death.

Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help, Pray for us.

For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

Abp. Socrates B. Villegas, D.D.

Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan

President, CBCP

January 30, 2017