Storms of Life

12^th Sunday in O. T. Homily

Whenever we talk about “storms of life” – trials and tribulations of all sort – each of us has a story to tell. Our storms may be external or internal: conflicts in the family, broken relationships, financial crisis, failure in our job or profession, crisis in married life, emotional disturbance, moral disorder through sin, and doubts in our faith. But in whatever storm that we may be experiencing, our readings today remind us that Jesus is present in our boat. He may appear to be asleep, seemingly insensitive to our problems, but He is there, present, and just waiting to be awakened. Let us not hesitate to ask for His help and to tell Him: “Lord, don’t you care that we are drowning?”

Of course, the Lord cares for us! No doubt about that. If He didn’t care for us, would He come down from heaven and become man like us to save us from sin and reconcile us with the Father? Would He give up His life and allow Himself to be nailed to the cross and die if He did not really care for us? What more proof do you require to convince you of God’s love for you?

The storms of life that you are experiencing can be a proof of God’s love. How is that possible? If we try to reflect on the liturgical readings today, we may discover three (3) consoling truths: (1) Storms remind us of God’s presence; (2) Through our storms in life, we discover our limitations and our need for God; and (3) Storms bring out the best in us.

Storms remind us of God’s presence. Let us look at the experience of Job in our First Reading. Job was a good and God-fearing man. But God allowed that he undergo trials: his whole family died of a catastrophe; his possessions were gone; and he was afflicted with painful skin disease. When finally Job complained to God, “God answered Job out of the storm”. It is as if telling us that amidst the storms of life, God is present and is speaking to us.

Therefore, it is not true that whenever we encounter storms in life, God has left us. On the contrary, God is speaking to us out of the storms that we experience. What is God telling you in that family conflict? Or in that broken relationship? Or in that financial crisis? Or even in that committing the same sin again and again? God was telling Job out of the storm: “Hey, I’m just here. I can calm your storm: “Quiet! Be still!” Tell Jesus to calm the storm within you: your emotional disturbance, your wavering faith, your flickering hope. Ask Jesus to quiet the strong winds outside of you. Do not be afraid. In the midst of your trials, God assures you of His presence. God is speaking to you.

Secondly, through our storms of life, we discover our limitations and our need for God. Perhaps, the Lord allows that storm to come. In the Gospel, while strong winds tossed the boat, “Jesus was asleep” – an image suggesting that sometimes God allows us to undergo trials. Why would God do that? In order for us to discover our need for Him. Oftentimes, we feel self-sufficient and complacent. We think that we don’t need God anymore. God is aware of our tendencies to forget Him whenever everything runs so smoothly. So, from time to time, He sends us storms – trials which are not beyond our strength to confront.

Therefore, it is not true that whenever we encounter storms in life, God loves us less. On the contrary, God is telling us through these trials how much He loves us that He cannot afford to lose us. Why will you pray more to God only when you are in crisis? Pray more when everything in life is okay because when life is smooth sailing, you run the risk of feeling self-sufficient. You tend to be mediocre. God cannot allow that to happen. So He tries to disturb the waters.

In the words of St. Paul, in the Second Reading: “The love of Christ impels us”. Christ’s love cannot afford to let us be drowned by self-sufficiency, complacency and mediocrity. To save us from these tendencies, our Lord sends us storms of life. Whenever we have trials, let us wake up from our slumber. Let us acknowledge our own limitations and our need for God’s help.

Lastly, storms bring out the best in us. The movie San Andreas can be a very concrete illustration of my point. A family is experiencing a storm of life: divorce and separation, which is very common today. A catastrophe made them decide to stick together. The same catastrophe made heroes out of some of the characters of the movie. If God has reasons for sending us trials, this could be one of those: to bring out the best in us.

Therefore, it is not true that trials weaken us. On the contrary, they make us stronger. Do not disdain your trials and tribulations. Welcome them as opportunities to grow spiritually. St. Augustine said: “Trials and tribulations offer us a chance to make reparation for our past faults and sins. On such occasions the Lord comes to us like a physician to heal the wounds left by our sins. Tribulation is the divine medicine.” And St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina also commented: “The longer the trial to which God subjects you, the greater the goodness in comforting you during the time of trial and in the exaltation after the combat.” The Second Reading tells us that “the one who is in Christ is a new creature”. As Christians, our storms in life can make us “a new creation”.

My dear friends, whenever storms come into your life, do not be afraid. Know that Jesus is present and is speaking to you “out of the storm”. Let your storms help you discover your need for God. Then, come to Him just like the disciples did and tell Him: “Master, do you not care that I am drowning?” Surely, deep within you, you will hear Him saying to you: “Do not be afraid. Have faith”; and to the storm, “Quiet! Be still!” And you will have peace of mind and heart.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary accompany us as we brave our storms of life. Amen.

Has Jesus really risen in your life?

Easter Vigil Homily 2015

Haven’t you asked why we always start the Easter Vigil Mass at sunset? For the Jews, the setting of the sun signals the end of the day and the start of a new day. For the Jews, the evening of Black Saturday, the Easter Vigil, is already Sunday. “On the third day He rose again”. Exactly, as the “third day” begins after Jesus’ crucifixion, we celebrate His resurrection.

Does the Resurrection of our Lord still have an impact in our lives? What does it mean concretely for me and for you? So that we can answer these questions, let us reflect on two very powerful symbols in our liturgical celebration which is very rich in meaning: the New Fire and the Paschal Candle.

The New Fire. In the first part of our celebration, we have witnessed the Blessing of the New Fire. Fire gives warmth. Sometimes, our Christian life, our life of discipleship, lacks warmth and becomes cold and dry because of our sins and because we are negligent in our relationship with God: we often forget to pray every day because we are so busy, or to go to Mass every Sunday perhaps because of our job or business. Our love for God ceases to burn. Christ’s Resurrection is like fire that gives warmth to our spiritual life. We hope that we shall always feel the warmth of His presence especially in the Holy Eucharist.

Fire also brings renewal and transformation. According to Pope Benedict XVI:“Fire is the power that shapes the world, the force of transformation. Like fire that burns everything it touches, the Spirit of God also transforms every heart that He touches. Christ has already burned your sins on the cross. Now, in His Resurrection, He has purified our hearts with His burning love. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezequiel: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (36: 26).

Do you still believe in this? Do you still believe that Christ can transform you and that He can still change your vices if you just allow Him to do so? Have your sins been burned in the fire of Christ’s love in the Sacrament of Confession? Do you still feel the warmth of Christ’s presence in the Holy Eucharist?

The Paschal Candle. After the Blessing of the New Fire, we lighted the Paschal Candle, the sign of Christ’s Presence. Then, we carry it in procession towards the altar, in the midst of darkness inside the church. The Paschal Candle gives light. We recall the words of Genesis: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (1: 1-3).

This evening, we witness again the same scene as described in the Book of Genesis. In the midst of darkness inside this temple, light appears – the Light of the Paschal Candle, Jesus Christ, who has risen! Christ has entered into our individual life, our individual world – a world that is also “formless and empty, (and) darkness was over the surface of the deep”: formless because of our sins; empty and full of darkness because of the absence of God in our world. And Jesus now said: “Let there be light!”

The lighted candle that we are holding while the Paschal Candle is being carried in procession signifies that we have already shared in Christ’s light: that Jesus has illumined us with His light! In the light of Christ, we see our sinfulness. But Jesus has already died for our sins! Resurrection is a new creation! In Christ’s Resurrection, He has renewed the world; He has renewed our lives. In what way do you wish to change your life? What are your resolutions today towards the renewal of your behavior, after God has enlightened you?

The Paschal Candle is burnt up as much as it gives light. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “On Easter night, the night of the new creation, the Church presents the mystery of light using a unique and very humble symbol: the Paschal candle. This is a light that lives from sacrifice. The candle shines inasmuch as it is burnt up. It gives light, inasmuch as it gives itself.” After we have been illumined and transformed by the light of Christ, we are also called to give light to others. May we become like Paschal candles to our family, our neighbors and friends.

However, like any lighted candle, let us not be surprised if we burn up in as much as we give light, the light of our sacrifices. May we shine in as much as we burn up! May our self-righteousness and our pride melt as we give light. But may our patience towards others never melt, for God’s patience for us is never burnt up!

Brothers and sisters, if you still believe that your sins are already burned in the fire of Christ’s love; that it is still possible for you to change your life for the better by avoiding your vices; that you still feel the warmth of Christ’s presence especially in the Holy Eucharist; and that your life has been illumined by Christ and you are also ready to give light to others despite the fact that you burn up in the process, then, indeed, in your life, Christ is risen!

“Palms”

Palm Sunday 2015

Today is commonly known as Palm Sunday. The celebration of the Paschal Mystery begins with commemorating the triumphal entrance of Jesus into the City of Jerusalem amidst songs and praises by the people who greeted Him shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

Why is it called “Palm Sunday”? What has a “palm” anything to do with Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection? The drama of the Lord’s Paschal Mystery involves a lot of symbolism. “Palm” is one of these symbols. Contemplate on this powerful imagery: from the “palms” of olive branches or palm trees that we hold on Palm Sunday through the “palms” of our sinful hands that symbolize our wicked deeds to the “palms” of Jesus nailed on the cross, -- in all these we experience God’s love for us!

The Palms of Praise. Today, we carry branches of olive or palm trees and we greet Jesus, in the image of the priest, as He enters the sanctuary. The “palms” recall the palm branches that the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. But actually, the palms symbolize the attitude of praising God.

To praise and worship God is our first obligation because it is the reason for our being, the motive behind our existence. Why do we exist in this world? To know and love God. To praise and worship Him all the days of our lives. Our life is heaven is a life without end praising and worshipping God unceasingly. If we want to enter heaven, we have to practice it here on earth by offering continual praise and worship to God.

How do we praise and worship God? Through our good works! More than just bringing palms to the Church today, what pleases God are not the physical “palms” that you carry and wave, but your heart that is full of praise and gratitude to Him. So, let a clean and contrite heart, a repentant and grateful heart, be your “palm branches” today, as you stand before the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Be grateful to God. Be sorry for your sins. In thanking God and in asking pardon, you praise and worship Him. That’s the “Palms of Praise” that is pleasing to God!

The Palms of our Sins. The Prophet Isaiah, in the First Reading, describes the painful experience of the Suffering Servant in these words: “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.” Our attention is focused now on the actions beat, pluck and buffet. What do they have in common? One thing: they are done using the palm of our hands! We beat someone using our palm; we pluck someone’s beard using our palm; we attack someone with buffets using our palm. Our “palm” symbolizes our offenses against God. How many times we have beaten God’s will by following our own will, or plucked the beard of His patience, or attacked with buffets His goodness through our sinful acts?

The people who carried the “Palms of Praise” during the triumphal entry of Jesus are the same people who “beat Him, plucked His beard and buffeted Him” using the “Palms of their Sinfulness” during the Passion! Beware of converting your pious devotion a source of self-righteousness that makes you judgmental of other people’s weakness! Just because you are doing God’s will should not be a reason for you to despise others in their defects! Beware of self-righteousness and vanity!

The Palms of Jesus Nailed on the Cross. In order to avoid self-righteousness and vanity, let us always be aware of the “Palm of our Sinfulness”. But let us look at our palms filled with sinful acts side by side with the “Palms of Jesus nailed on the cross!” When you look at yourself in your sinfulness, you might also cry out, like in the Responsorial Psalm, “My God, why have you abandoned me?”

Sometimes, when we see that our sins are repeated, we think that we are a hopeless case. We say to ourselves: “I won’t go to confession anymore, because I still commit the same favourite sin again and again”. But do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. God does not abandon us in our sinfulness. Instead, when He saw the “palms of our sins”, He placed on the side the bloody “palms of Jesus”, nailed on the cross. Jesus, who, as the Second Reading reminds us, “was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God; rather, He emptied Himself… by becoming obedient even to death on a cross”.

So, do not be ashamed or afraid to confront your “palms of sins” as you carry the “palms of praise” this Palm Sunday, because the “Palms of Jesus nailed on the cross” will wash away your sins through His blood. And you will indeed offer a worthy praise and worship to God, the Father, through Him, in your good works. In order to do that, follow the path of the P-A-L-M-S, that is:

P – Praise God in your charitable works.

A – Allow God to change you this Holy Week.

L – Lower your pride so that His grace can penetrate.

M – Make room for others in your heart.

S – Submit your will to God’s will.

Have a Blessed Palm Sunday to all!

Jesus purifies our hearts through His Cross

3^rd Sunday of Lent: Purification of the Temple

“Jesus did not need anyone to testify about human nature, for he knew what was in man.”

Jesus knows what is in the depth of our hearts. St. Augustine says God knows us better than we know ourselves because He is nearer to us than we to ourselves. He is our creator; that is why He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Jesus comes into our hearts today, especially during the Holy Communion, in the same way that, in the Gospel, He enters the Temple in Jerusalem. St. Paul reminds us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. St. Thomas Aquinas also says that when we are in a state of grace, the Blessed Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – resides in our heart as in a temple.

What will Jesus find in your heart? Will He find “the temple of the Blessed Trinity – the Father’s house – turned into a marketplace”? Will Jesus find “bad business” inside the temple of your heart? When we sin, we exchange God’s gift with things that don’t have value: sensual pleasures, selfish interests, pride. When we exchange the most valuable gem – God’s grace, friendship with God – with things that worth nothing – a passing pleasure, – that is bad business. There is disorder.

St. Josemaria said: “The world, the flesh and the devil are a band of adventurers who take advantage of the weakness of that savage you bear within you, and want you to hand over to them, in exchange for the glittering tinsel of a pleasure — which is worth nothing, — the pure gold and the pearls and the diamonds and rubies drenched in the life— blood of your God Redeemer, which are the price and the treasure of your eternity.” (The Way, 708).

Jesus enters into our hearts. And if He finds disorder there, He will “make a whip of cord” and knock over the tables of our pride, all the animal instincts craving for illicit pleasures and all the bestiality that we carry within. Jesus will purify the temple of our body from all impurities and will restore our hearts as the place of dwelling of the Blessed Trinity. But the question is: Will you allow Jesus to do that? Will you not act like the Jews in the Gospel asking Jesus: “What right have you to do this?” Indeed, on what authority would Jesus intervene in our lives? Jesus has all the rights to do that because He is our creator and redeemer.

Purification of our hearts also means “putting order into chaos”. In the First Reading, when God gave to the Israelites the Ten Commandments through Moses, God was trying to put order into chaos. Our human experience tells us that whenever we see disorder in our things, in our home, in our behavior, we immediately make rules, guidelines and policies. This is also true in our spiritual life: whenever we see disorder in our relationship with God and with our neighbors, let us put order by following God’s commandment of love. St. James in his letter said that one act of charity covers a multitude of sins (Cfr. James 5: 20). One act of love will put order into chaos. Are there lots of disorder and chaos in your life, in your relationships? Put order. Follow the commandment of love.

Lastly, purification of the heart passes through the way of the Cross. Jesus makes “whip of cords” and the Temple was cleansed of defilement. He does the same with us. He allows us to pass through pain and suffering in order to purify us. Sufferings can be a means of purification. “Things that hurt instruct”. We may ask: How can suffering purify our hearts?

St. Paul, in the Second Reading, tells us that the cross is foolishness to the Gentiles, a scandal to the Jews. But “the ‘foolishness’ of God is wiser than humans, and the ‘weakness’ of God is stronger than humans”. The Cross is God’s wisdom and strength – His instrument in purifying us. Suffering and pain “draws us apart from worldly cares and brings us closer to God”. This is God’s wisdom: the only way we can get closer to God is by taking us apart from ourselves, from worldly cares. Pain and suffering – the Cross does this! How do you accept the trials and discomfort of everyday life?

Jesus knows the depths of our hearts better. He knows our defects and impurities and He tries to purify them through the blood of His cross. But He makes us also pass through the way of the cross in order to cleanse us. He knows that we will grow more mature and more intimate with Him if we follow the Via Crucis.

Therefore, let us cooperate with God’s wisdom, with God’s way of purifying our hearts this Lenten season through the practices of sacrifices and self-denial. May the Blessed Virgin Mary accompany us and obtain for us more graces from Her Son. Amen.