Lovely Wine at Cana

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time C

John 2:1-12

January 16-17, 2009

Lovely Wine at Cana

One Sunday night, a police officer signals to a car driver to pull over to the side of the road, due to the fact that he appears to be driving crazy.

He says to the driver, "You appear to have been drinking!"

The driver answers, "No sir, I am just tired. I had a long day."

The policeman looks into the car and notices that the driver is wearing a Roman collar. He is a priest! He also notices that there is an empty bottle on the floor.

He says to the driver, "Father, what is, or should I say was in this bottle?

The driver answers, "Just water!"

The policeman opens the bottle and says, "Father, I am afraid it's not water, it's wine!"

The priest driver looks up to the heavens and says, "I can't believe it. It's a miracle! Oh Lord, you have done it again!"

The Gospel story of the Wedding at Cana where Jesus changed water into wine is a relevant story.

We can only find this story in the Gospel of John. The Synoptic Gospels, namely, Matthew, Mark and Luke, don’t have a record of it. The Gospel of John, also called the Fourth Gospel, compared to the Synoptic Gospels is highly theological and filled with deep symbolism. There are symbolic figures and images used to glorify Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah. And one of the best examples of a story filled with symbolisms is the Wedding at Cana.

First, it is in Cana that Jesus performs his first miracle (“sign”) and reveals his glory. It is here too that his disciples begin to believe in him.

Second, the sign is performed by Jesus upon the intervention of his Mother. This tells us the role of Mary in our Christian life – she is our intercessor or helper because she is mindful and aware of our needs. When we pray to Mary, we can always expect that she is interceding and aiding us in prayer to her Son on our behalf.

Third, Jesus addressed Mary as “Woman” not “Mother”. The word “Woman” in no way shows lack of respect to Mary but in fact Jesus raises the prominent role of Mary as the New Eve.

Fourth, Jesus refers for the first time here to his “hour”. He said, “My hour has not yet come.” The “hour” is a word he will use later on as he approaches his Passion-Death-Resurrection.

There are more other images and symbols we can look up it’s impossible to expound them all in ten minutes.

Human story

I think we can all relate with the human side of the Wedding of Cana. During the party Mary comes to know that the wine has run out. This is a very serious predicament that can lead to a serious disaster. It would be very embarrassing for the newly-wed couple should the wine run short for the guests. If you are hosting a party you have to make sure that there will be enough food and drink for everybody.

I remember three years ago, shortly after my ordination I went back home to the Philippines to celebrate a "Thanksgiving Mass" in my home parish. For a newly-ordained priest first “Thanksgiving Mass” is really a festive celebration. It’s an open invitation to the whole town and parish community.

My mother and sisters planned carefully how much food and drinks needed. We hired a food catering service. There were seven roasted pigs in addition to other menus. While my mother didn’t worry if we ran out of wine, it’s not our tradition, she was rather very concerned if we had enough rice to feed at least 2000 people who turned up! Thankfully we had more than enough food and drinks to satisfy our guests.

Meaning of the Story

Going back to the Gospel Story. Jesus changed water into wine not simply to save the newly-wed couple from embarrassment. Again it is a symbolic story. It has much to tell us as a sign of something deeper.

It is really a story about Jesus and his mission. It tells us that Jesus is the “true God-become human.” When Jesus dwells in us we will be transformed and have life in abundance. When water is changed into the best sparkling wine, more than enough for the guests, Jesus demonstrates a superabundant blessing we can all receive from Him.

Jesus performs signs and miracles not to entertain people but to invite them to faith. Jesus performed hundreds of miracles in his time; he cured the sick, raised the dead, walked on the water, to name a few, but still not everyone believed in him.

Miracles happen in our daily life. Even in this Mass, believe it or not, the greatest miracle will happen, later on the Holy Spirit will change the Bread and Wine into the sacred Body and Blood of Jesus for our nourishment.

People can still refuse to believe in miracle. Jesus respects our freedom. We have a choice either to believe or not to believe. Notice how John ends the Gospel reading today: “..at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.”

If we believe in Jesus' power then we are His new disciples. If we believe in Jesus, trust him with all our hearts and minds then...

• Jesus can change our fear into trust.
• He can change our sorrow into joy.
• He can change our depression into hope.
• He can change our anxiety and fear into peace.
• He can change our weakness into strength.
• He can change our selfishness and hatred into love.

If we have faith in Jesus, if He is welcomed in homes, hundreds of miracles can always happen in our life. Water is change into wine. It means with Jesus, and with Mary in our life, we can be assured, the best is yet to come.

joke from the internet

suggested reading: "Jesus Goes Public" by Bishop Ted Bacani

Let Go, Let God...

Funeral Mass for Kevin Salem

January 14, 2009

Gospel: John 14:1-6

Let Go, Let God...

We celebrate and give thanks for the life of Kevin Salem, for his very special role in our lives, and for the gift God has given to us in him - as the only son to Clem and Cora, a brother to Kathy and Kathleen, and a “smiling-face friend” to all his cousins and family friends.

I only met the Salem family last week at the Royal Children Hospital when I was requested to administer the Sacrament of Anointing the Sick and say the Prayers of Commendation for the Dying for Kevin. Before I anointed Kevin with Holy Oil, I read a scripture reading from the Gospel of John which recounts the final moments of Jesus on the Cross. It was the scene when Jesus uttered his last words before he died, “Into thy hands Father I commend my spirit...”

I can only pray at that moment inside the ICU that these words of Jesus would give some comfort and strength to Kevin’s family as they painfully watched his little body succumbs to death. A few moments later, like Jesus, Kevin finally commended his spirit to God his Creator.

The second time I met Kevin’s family was last Tuesday morning at their home. They showed me Kevin’s room, his wheel chair and his childhood and recent photos, the ones displayed at the foyer of the church. It was a short visit but I got to know more not only about Kevin but also his parents and sisters who provided him the best security and comfort the world could offer him. Clem and Cora, Kathy and Kathleen, were the important people who surrounded Kevin with such enormous love, support and friendship.

Kevin was a gift to his family, as his family was a gift to him. In his lifetime he was a gift to his family in so many ways. They have been lifted up and cheered by his smile. Through Kevin’s fragile condition, the Salem family proved their patience and endurance to make sacrifices for each other no matter what the cost. They never saw Kevin’s disabilities a burden, rather it was for them wonderful opportunity to create their home a haven of friendship, support and unconditional love.

Tito Clem and Tita Cora I can only imagine your enormous pain of letting go Kevin. A child is supposed to outlive his parents, but if he is called home before them, then parents must let go for his eternal home. Letting go is very hard. We never want to let go those who are dear to us. But love is proved in letting go.

We don’t let go as if it’s the end of Kevin’s story. We don’t let go as if death has the final say in fragile life. As Christians, we let go with hope, we let go with sure confidence that one day we shall be reunited with him again. We let go and we let God. We let go and let God, knowing that God who is the author of life, now takes care of Kevin, where there is no room for any pain, sickness and death, rather eternal joy and happiness.

Kevin’s Dependence

Kevin was a dependent person from the day of his birth, he was dependent every single day of his life – he was dependent on something, he was dependent on the doctors and medications, he was dependent on his family to get him out of bed, to give him food, to get him dressed and washed. He was dependent on people to put him to bed at night.

Because Kevin was a dependent person, he was blest. Because Kevin was a dependent person, he was closer to God. As Jesus said lovingly on children, because of their simplicity and dependence, the Kingdom of God belongs to them.

The Gospel reading today gives one of the most comforting words of Jesus: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me…there are many rooms in my Father’s house.” These words bring us comfort knowing that Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, will open wide the gates of heaven for Kevin who depended solely upon him.

If God surrounded Kevin with so much love, through the love and care of his devoted parents and two sisters, during his brief earthly life, we can be sure that God will take good care of him, now that he has gone home to Him.

Thanking Kevin

We are thankful to Kevin for what he taught us and gave us. Blest are we, when we recognise our dependence on God. Blest are we when we accept the limitations we have, and draw our strength from the one who created us and loves us.

As we pray for Kevin today in this Mass, we also pray for ourselves who are still making our journey on earth. Remembering the words of Jesus: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me” we pray that like Kevin, we also may have a child-like heart, humbly recognising our dependence on one another. We pray that like Kevin, we too, may increase our trust in God and find security in His Divine providence.

We also pray that our Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother Mary will enfold Clem and Cora, Kath and Kathleen in their loving arms, and assure them all will be well with Kevin, and that all will be well with them.

Kevin finally rests in God’s secure peace now.

We let him go now but our eternal love goes with him.

Adorable Baby

Epiphany Sunday 2010

January 2-3, 2010

Adorable Baby

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turned to the other and said:

"Jack, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my

age. How do you feel?"

Jack said, "I feel just like a newborn baby."

"Really? Like a newborn baby?"

"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants."

The Church is still in a joyful mode of adoring the newborn baby lying in a manger whom we have waited patiently during advent season. We awaited for four weeks of Advent for the birth of baby Jesus. We lighted four candles in our advent wreath anticipating the newborn Messiah. The Feast of Epiphany is like a second Christmas. The radiance of our little baby Jesus is still with us to adore and worship. We continue celebrating the baby Jesus born to be our Saviour.

According to the Bible the “Three Kings” or “Three Magi” journeyed from the East following the Big Star leading to the place where the child Jesus is born, so they could worship him. Traditionally their names are Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They represent the Gentile world: non-Jewish or pagan people.

They were pagans but they must have felt that like everyone else they too are members of God’s children. They said, “We have come to do him homage.” They did not care if they were foreigners, strangers, pagans from the East.

Paradox

The Gospel story today highlights the paradox: the Jewish leaders who have received the Scriptures and heard about the Messianic prophecy (the coming birth of the Savior), were the ones who rejected it. While the Gentile people, represented by the Three Magi, would be the first ones to witness and adore the newly born Messiah.

King Herod, the Jewish national leader of that time, ended up trying the Child Jesus by massacring all the male children in Bethlehem under of two known as the "massacre of the innocents". He would not accept a newborn King is born. He will do everything for his love for power. He will compete directly with God in order to stay in power.

On the other hand, the Three Wise Men, acted the exact opposite, when they found the baby, they worshipped and humbly offered him gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh. These three precious gifts tell us something about the life and ministry of the Child Jesus: Gold signified his kingship; frankincense signifies his priesthood; a sign his offering/sacrifice to God; and myrrh a symbol Christ’s saving death (myrrh, used in anointing a body).

For All Nations

More than anything else the Adoration of the Three Magi to baby Jesus brings us a theological illustration that Jesus Christ belongs to all. The child Jesus was born not for a particular group of people alone but for the whole human race. Christ is revealed as the Saviour, not of a select group of people, but of all peoples.

The Feast of Epiphany is something equivalent to “United Nations’ Week”. We celebrate the progressive unification of all nations around Christ as our center. St Paul explains this in the Second Reading, “it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.”

The Feast of Epiphany is like a Second Christmas because it brings everybody together. Jesus broke down the great barrier that existed between Jews and Gentiles. Everybody is welcome to receive and adore Jesus, the Universal King.

Our Journey to find the Star

Like the Three Magi we have our own journey to take, some are searching for enlightenment others for success. Like the Three Magi may we all persevere to reach whatever goals or journey we need to undertake in life.

Unfortunately sometimes we see ourselves perhaps like King Herod, who instead of welcoming Christ’s humbly and wholeheartedly, we reject him because we prefer comfort, popularity and power. Our pride closed our eyes, our ears and our hearts before the presence of Jesus. We are afraid to let God control our lives.

New Year’s Resolution

As year 2010 unfolds what gift or New Year’s resolution we could offer to God?

My New Year’s resolution is to eat healthy food. Unfortunately I broke my New Year's resolution on New Year’s day! I celebrated New Year's even with my sisters and cousins. We partied till late, had a few drinks. When I got up in the morning my sister was still asleep. I didn't want to wake up her up just to ask for some breakfast. I went to the town center to find somewhere to eat. As expected most of the shops were closed except for Hungry Jack’s and Mc Donald's. I said to myself, "Burgers are better in Hungry Jacks". So I had “Angus Beef burger” as my first meal for 2010!

Gift for baby Jesus

We don’t have to buy the expensive gifts of the wise men. The most inexpensive gift but the most precious gift we could give to God is a pure and contrite heart. The Feast of Epiphany reminds us that as Christians we are called to like baby Jesus, a small but an effective agent of love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds.

Maybe what we can offer to baby Jesus is the gift of peace and reconciliation. Maybe we missed out forgiving someone last Christmas, it’s never too late. Maybe we missed out saying sorry to someone last Christmas, it’s never too late.

The Feast of Epiphany invites us to be a more welcoming people, humble and peace-loving citizen. It’s a good and wonderful way to start the Year - it really makes us feel like a newborn baby… fresh, cuddly and beautiful.

Prayer

Christ, Help us now to come to you,

We want to walk in your light and rest in your warmth.

Please keep us on the right road,

heading toward your radiance,

bringing our treasures, our assets,

our gold, frankincense and myrrh, of our hearts.

Christ, be born again and again in us.

Be the gift we bear, the treasure in our hearts.

Amen.

Called to be Joyful and Happy!

Third Sunday of Advent 09

(Gaudete Sunday)

“Called to be Joyful & Happy”

Introduction

Don’t panic we have 12 more sleeps to go before Christmas!

The Rose candle in our advent wreath and Rose vestment I am wearing today indicates our deep joy for the coming birth of our Saviour. The liturgical colour Rose we have today, the sign of our joy, also confront us with these questions as we journey through this advent season:

Are you really happy in your life today? Is there joy in your life? Are you still searching for joy and peace? What is the source of your joy? Is the nearness of Christmas causes you some deep joy or it’s the opposite? Or maybe you are too busy that you didn’t have the time to even think about it?

Joy vs Happiness

Have you ever wonder the difference between joy and happiness? At first glance, joy and happiness may seem similar but, really, they are quite different.

HAPPINESS, according to the Oxford English dictionary, is based on luck or good fortune. JOY on the other hand, is described as extreme gladness or a vivid emotion of pleasure.

HAPPINESS depends on circumstance; JOY, on our emotional well-being. We may feel absolutely happy if we win the lottery, but we feel joy when there is peace within us or in our family and loved ones.

HAPPINESS mostly depends on something that is passing. For instance I am happy with my new watch which I just bought the other day; I wear it when I sleep. I wear it when I go for shower. I wear it all the time. But after a while, when I get used to my watch, when it's no longer new, would I still be happy? Maybe I will be a new one.

Happiness is fleeting. More often happiness expires. As soon as the object of what makes us happy is gone then you are no longer happy.

Happiness is most of the time is self-centered. I want this want this. This is mine. I deserved this toy, I want this car, this house and I deserved that. I deserve want to be happy. Nothing wrong with that. But notice the word happiness has “I” is the center. “I am” the center of the universe.

Last year I went to see this great musical called “Miss Saigon.” It’s about a love story between American soldier and a Vietnamese bar girl during the Vietnam War. After the show, I had the chance to talk with the main actress who is a Filipina but based in America. She is very pretty, charming and friendly. Maybe because I forgot to tell her I am a priest.

After that fateful conversation, I was held up by a group of Filipinas who looked very excited, I thought I knew them from the church so I smiled to be friendly. I was surprised they were asking for my autograph and would take picture with me! They thought I was one of the actors from Miss Saigon. I felt really popular. But it wasn’t long before they realised I was only an audience like them. It was my 30 second experience of FAME!

It was a good feeling though, unfortunately I didn’t last long.

JOY as a state of mind that does not depend on worldly things such as popularity, beauty, money, or longer holidays. JOY is always a part of who we are and how we view the world. A JOYFUL person doesn’t need to have a supermodel body to be joyful.

JOY to Discover

Joy is something we discover within us. We feel joy when we appreciate life, when we recognize our freedom, and when we dwell on our successful relationships with other people; ULTIMATELY we feel JOY when we have faith in something larger than ourselves.

There is JOY when we know that there is God who is not distant, but already in our midst. We REJOICE in the presence of God who can bring us peace, harmony and unity despite tension around us, financial or health problem. The JOY we find in God is our ADVENT JOY!

There is nothing wrong to be happy, God wants us to be happy, but we need to balance our priority: Would you search for happiness or would you invest your time in searching for joy?

Scripture message

The Scripture readings invite us all to welcome God in our life if we want to be a JOYFUL person. In the first Reading, Prophet Zephaniah announces, “Shout for joy...sing joyfully...be glad and exult with all your heart.” St. Paul writes to the Philippians, telling them,(us) to “rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!”

In the Gospel, John the Baptist humbly points us to the ONE Person who alone can give us lasting JOY – that is JESUS. JESUS is the Source of our Joy.

The word JOY itself give us the key to find joy in our life. JOY (JESUS, OTHERS, YOU). To love Jesus first, to Love others second, to love Yourself last.

Let us use these remaining days before Christmas as a time of revival and renewal of our faith and love to JESUS, so that Christmas will be a time of DEEP JOY.

They say, there are three levels of Christmas: The commercial level, the survival level, and the spiritual level. May we all be fulfilled on these three! However, let us prioritize. Let us start with the spiritual level.

It can be a real tragedy, with all the glittering Christmas lights around us, to miss the true Light, the source of our JOY – only Jesus, always Jesus, forever Jesus.

Prayer

"Lord Jesus, help us not only to find joy

but also to be a faithful witness of the joy of the gospel

and during this Christmas

help us to point others to you

as John did through his testimony."

Amen.

Humanda sa Pagdating (Prepare for the Coming)

Second Sunday of Advent C

December 5-6, 2009

Prepare the Way of the Lord

Joke 1

A man who thought he was John the Baptist was disturbing the neighbourhood. So for public safety, he was forcefully taken to the psychiatric ward of a hospital.

He was put in a room with another crazy patient. He immediately began his routine, “I am John the Baptist! The Lord has sent me as the forerunner of Christ the Messiah!”

The other guy looked at him and declared, “I am the Lord your God. I did not send you!”

Joke 2 (2nd Try)

What do Winnie the Pooh and John the Baptist have in common?

Answer: They both have the same middle name.(THE)

Introduction

In today’s Liturgy of the Word, the figure that stands out, without any doubt, is John the Baptist, and this message of his, “Prepare the Way of the Lord.” Today this voice of John the Baptist echoes not only in all Masses here at Queen of Peace, but it is proclaimed in all churches all over the world. Because we are now in the period of these weeks of Advent, the time in which we are preparing to celebrate the coming of our Redeemer.

In this Second Sunday of Advent, we ponder John’s words, “Prepare the Way of the Lord.” What does it mean to “Prepare the way of the Lord?” And what kind of preparation we need to do during this Advent season?

Advent is a time of preparation for the past, future and present coming of Jesus.

Past Coming

First we prepare for the ‘past coming’ of Jesus, when the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth to the Redeemer in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago. We prepare to celebrate the ‘past coming’ of Jesus, that is His birthday, when God became flesh, entering the history of humanity. Notice the first part of the Gospel, it gives us some names of political leaders during time of Jesus such as Tiberius Caesar and Pontius Pilate. They were proofs that in a particular era of human history, God, through Jesus, became human like us except sin. We prepare for the ‘past coming’ of Jesus, his birthday on Christmas day. Jesus is what Christmas is all about (period).

I saw a super market TV commercial the other day; it shows a happy family eating together around a big table. It ends with this message: “Christmas is about family, giving and fresh food; that is what Christmas is all about.” I said to myself? What happen to Jesus? How would you feel when your family excluded you on your birthday celebration?

Celebrating Christmas without Jesus is like going to a Christening without a baby.

Future Coming

Secondly advent is time of preparation for the future coming of Jesus on the last day. We always need to be prepared on the Second Coming of Lord. The clamour of John the Baptist “Prepare the way of the Lord” is a call for repentance. Repentance means turning our heart and mind from sin, indifference and skepticism, to trust and obedience to God's word.

Advent is an opportune time to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receive the unconditional love and forgiveness of God. Advent time is the time we reconcile to one another – to restore broken relationship. It’s about time ring up someone and say “sorry”.

Only through our humble repentance and conversion of our heart and mind will make us ready to stand in confidence before the Son of Man, ‘the future coming of Jesus’ either on our death or on the Last Day.

Present Coming

Thirdly, advent is time of preparation for the ‘present coming of Jesus’, when Jesus enters into our hearts today, not tomorrow or yesterday, not later, but here and now, at this point of time.

Last Thursday evening, Maria Forde who is a singer/songwriter conducted an Advent reflection using her music. She said, “advent is a time to be in touch with ourselves.” It’s a time to reflect what really matters in your life or what is it that’s worthwhile for you and your family? She said, for some Christmas will pass be just like another day with no meaning. For some Christmas time only brings financial burden and pressure of buying thing we cannot afford. For some Christmas time is the loneliest part of the year due to deaths or separation in the family

Jesus is coming to our life wherever we are in the present moment whether we in good disposition or not. Part of preparation this Advent is to welcome Jesus in our present moment, that is now. Whatever our condition is in our relation to God, John the Baptist speaks to you and me, "Prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight” so in the end “we shall see the salvation of God.”

Prayer

We pray to you Lord,

to open our mind and heart to see your grace

It is just our sins that prevent us from seeing you.

May we return to your merciful embrace

and accept your loving invitation.

You wanted us to be reunited with You

So help us Lord to prepare your way inside ourself

and made the paths straight

so that we would be there to welcome you.

Amen.

New Year Today!

First Sunday of Advent C

November 28, 2009

(First Weekend at Queen of Peace, Laverton)

Waiting for the Moment

Introduction

Today is like a “new year’s day” not in our civic calendar, but in the Liturgical Calendar of the Church. By celebrating the first week of Advent Season we begin afresh the new Liturgical Year of the Church. Advent comes from the Latin ad venio, “to come” — is the liturgical season anticipating the Adventus Domini, the "coming of the Lord.”

Interestingly as the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, I also begin a new chapter of my priestly journey with you here at Queen of Peace Parish. I was assistant priest at St Andrews in Werribee for 3 years. Although Werribee is just a few kilometres from Altona Meadows but coming here is a new and exciting journey for me – I hope Fr Binh has the same feeling.

Everything is new to me – not only I have a new set of keys to remember but also a few hundreds of new names or at least faces to remember.

Just to give you a brief profile about myself, I’m sure you get to know me later on (hopefully just the good side of me), I was ordained priest in 2006 at St Patrick’s Cathedral by Archbishop Denis Hart. I started my seminary training in the Philippines at the age of 16. I came to Australia in year 2000 and continued my studies at Corpus Christi College.

I have three sisters; two of them live in Sunbury, where I spent most of the time in day off playing with my 3 nieces and 3 nephews. My younger sister lives in the Philippines with my mother and father.

Advent Season

Well, let’s go back to Advent!

Advent Season is a season of waiting for the coming of Christ on Christmas day. The Gospel reading today is about the impending of second coming of Jesus, the Son of Man, at end of the world. St Luke Gospel invites the people then to be ready, be vigilant at all times.

The first Sunday of Advent has the theme of waiting because God is coming! We have to be prepared and ready. Like a pregnant mother we anticipate and wait with full of excitement the birth of our Saviour – in our hearts and in the hearts of everyone – this is indeed the true and sole meaning of Christmas.

We have only 27 days before Christmas!

Everyone is getting ready for Christmas — people at homes and shopping centres are now busy putting up Christmas decorations. They are all beautiful and make the atmosphere colourful and festive but one of the serious temptations we are facing every year is the commercialization of Jesus’ birth.

Sometimes we are so busy with the material preparations that we lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas: the Word made flesh coming to dwell among us. We need to remind ourselves again and again to preserve the spiritual focus of Christmas amidst the hustle and bustle of our consumer-driven society.

Inside Church

Inside the Church we see the beautiful purple colour of Advent, candles, vestments, that reminds us that our four Sundays of preparation and expectation before Christmas must first of all be a spiritual one.

Purple or violet used during Advent and Lent is a penitential colour – it invites us to start afresh our journey with God by being sorry for our sins, ask for His forgiveness and make a resolution to really work hard to be a better person.

The gradual lighting of the four candles, one on each Sunday of the Advent season, help us to symbolize not only our expectation of Our Savior's first coming into the world, but also in his Second Coming as Judge at the end of the world.

Readings

Our readings this Sunday touch our need for strength, determination and perseverance to overcome our weaknesses and sinfulness so that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, may be born in our hearts.

The first reading reminds us of the promise God has made to his people: Righteousness and justice will come to the earth. The day of the Lord will arrive, though long delayed.

In the second reading Paul expresses this need of strength. He writes, May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all,just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts…

And in the Gospel, Jesus tells us to pray that we may have strength, “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”

Conclusion

Let us be cautious about the shortness of time. Too soon enough, it’s Christmas day already.

Again in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, let us strive to keep Advent a season of waiting and longing, of conversion and hope, meditating often on the incredible love and humility of our God in taking on flesh of the Virgin Mary.

In our shopping, let us remember to purchase and prepare something for the poor. When we clean our homes, let us distribute some of our possessions to those who lack many necessities.

While we are decking the halls of our homes, let us not forget to also prepare most of all a peaceful place in our hearts wherein our Savior, the Emmanuel – who is to come to dwell amongst us.

Farewell St Andrews Werribee

Thank You St Andrews!

November 15, 2009

Werribee: A Place of Nourishment

Oppurtunity

There is a strange Greek statue which has disappeared completely. But it could be reconstructed today from a stone inscription which used to be the base on which the statue stood. That inscription is a very unusual one: it makes the statue talk to you while you are reading the text.

Here is what it says:

“What is your name, O statue?”

“I am called OPPORTUNITY.”

“Who made you?”

“Lysippus.”

“Why are you standing on your toes?”

“To show how quickly I pass by.”

“Why is your hair so long on your forehead?”

“So that people may hold onto me when they meet me.”

“Why, then, is your head so bald in the back?”

“To show that when I have once passed, I cannot be caught.”

“And what is your name again?”

“OPPORTUNITY.”

St Andrews

I am very thankful to God that I have been given the OPPORTUNITY to spend the first three years of my priesthood here at St Andrew’s parish Werribee. How quickly those three years have passed? I officially started my role as Assistant Priest here at St Andrew’s on November 29, 2006. I just came back that day from a holiday trip from the Philippines. Fr Frank and Ernie Demate picked me up at Tullamarine airport at 7 o’ clock in the morning. We soon arrived in Werribee 10 minutes before 9, just enough time for me put on my vestments to say morning Mass.

It was the beginning of my beautiful journey at St Andrews – indeed it was a wonderful OPPURTUNITY – to take and to hold.

Bird’s Nest

How can I describe St Andrew’s parish? What is your role to me in the last three years?

When you go to the parish office, you will see a bird nest (like a little tiny cup) on the top left corner near the entrance door. I first noticed it when I came back from my holiday last month. I fondly observed it each day, underneath the parent birds, you can see the unfeathered baby bird peeking her head out of the nest.

Each day and night the parent birds ensured that their baby in the nest is well guarded. When they’re not around I knew that mum and dad were somewhere out there looking for food. While the lucky little bird does nothing but wait for her food supply. The little nest is her world. It’s her home; her comfort zone. It’s a place where she is fed and nourished.

Four weeks have passed, the little bird is now fully feathered in fact it has started learning how to fly. While it takes time for a young bird to become good at flying – not too long from now she has to leave its nest.

Last night, while I’m writing this Farewell Speech, I went out to check the little family, they were sleeping. I took them a picture as souvenir. I hope they didn’t mind the flash of my camera.

While a picture of a bird nest is so simple, I would like to describe St. Andrew’s parish as my “little nest”, my home, my comfort zone. Because St. Andrews is the place where I was nourished and fed for the last three years both literally and figuratively. St Andrews parish, you, built the foundational years of my priesthood. Over the past three years I have grown in experience with your help and support.

I cannot thank Fr Frank enough for his guidance, for sharing his pastoral skills, for his patience and for his friendship. I already thanked our Parish Team and Admin Team last Friday on my Rite of Passage. I thank the Parish Core Group for their vital role in backing up us priests in so many ways.

I thank our school communities – all the staff and students – for the wonderful opportunity to celebrate sacraments and social activities with you.

I thank you all for the love and care and friendship you have shown to me.

Thank you for bringing Christ to me.

Thank you for looking after Christ’s young priest in me.

Thank you for listening to my homily, or at least pretending to be awake during homily. Thank you for opening the doors of homes and doors of your fridge for me.

I learned from the last three years that priesthood is a difficult life, but, as we hear from many priests themselves, it is an intensely rewarding life. I have walked with you at the darkest hours of losing a loved one. I have joined your moments of joy at weddings and celebration of your child’s baptism, confirmation and First Communion.

Priesthood is intensely rewarding because despite our human frailty the light of Christ shines more brightly.

Italian message

I would like to say a few words now in Italian:

GRAZIE PER LE BELLE MEMORIE, SOPPORTO, INCORAGGIAMENTO CHE MI AVETE DATO IN QUESTE POCHI ANNI. IL BUON CIBO, VINO, GRAPPA, E SOPRATUTTO PER LE VOSTRE PREGHIERE AMORE E AFFETTO.

VI CHIEDO DI CONTINUARE DI PREGARE PER ME, E, IL MIO MINISTRO SACERDOTALE IO PREGHERO PER VOI NELLA CELEBRAZIONE DELLA MESSA. GRAZIE!

(Translation: Thank you for the beautiful memories, support and encouragement through the years. I loved your food, wine and grappa. Please remember me in your prayers, as I will remember you all each time I celebrate Mass. Thank you!)

Conclusion

Interestingly the Gospel reading today is about the end of the world. Everything has a beginning and end. So many things come and go in our life, in our world. But the promise given in our Scriptures is that in the end, there will always be Christ.

Like the little bird my days are now numbered, it’s now time for me to take my flight to a place not so far from here. (Maybe the Archbishop thought my wings are not yet that strong).

The wonderful OPPORTUNITY of spending my time St Andrew’s, Werribee is nearly over but wherever I may be it will always remind me of how God blessed me.

In behalf of my parents in the Philippines and myself thank you and I wish for each of you the blessing of Christ’s joy and love.

Quality vs Quantity

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 8, 2009
(1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44)

Trust in God results Generosity

Widow
In biblical times widows were among the poorest of the poor. A woman without a husband, in the ancient world was one who had lost everything - no source of livelihood; no money; no security; no social status; no future.

In the bible a widow stood as an example of powerlessness.

Today we heard from the First Reading and the Gospel Reading two powerless women. They were both in poor situation, yet they were both so generous because they entrusted everything to God.

The widow in the First Reading from the Book of Kings had a son who was totally dependent on her. She was down to her last handful of meal: a flour and little drop of oil. After that she and her child will starve.

Yet, she generously shared their last remaining food to Prophet Elijah, in return to her goodness God blessed her with a never-ending supply of food more than what she and son needed. Amazingly, it was in giving that she gained so much.

A widow's trusting & generous heart
In the Gospel, Jesus praises the widow’s dependence on God for giving all she had. Jesus is so thrilled that he calls his disciples onto the stage and teaches them the immensely important truth: ...this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury. She contributed more than the others, because while they gave from their surplus of wealth, she contributed all she had.

The few coins she placed in the treasury box - represent her very self, an expression of high level of sacrifice and generosity which some wealthy people were unprepared to give. She lets go of every shred of security, and committed herself wholly to God. Hence, the story is as much about trust in God as about generosity.

Message
We shall see in the bible widows also represent those poor people who despite their poverty, helplessness and oppression, place all their trust in God.

We wonder what is the source of their generosity? The answer is their generosity results from their total trust in God. Their generosity results from a deep trust that God will provide. They gave cheerfully without complaining. They gave cheerfully without sight and saying; Now I am left with nothing. They gave quietly and cheerfully.

People can be very generous to the Church. Some give money, a great deal of money. Others give their hands, their strength, their time, their energy and their loyalty. The Lord’s emphasis is not on quantity but quality. Jesus looks not on the amount of what we give but on the depth, honesty and sincerity of our hearts when we are giving.


Story of Chicken and Pig
I remember one of Aesop's fable's abut the story of chicken and a pig.

One day the chicken said to the pig, 'Hey, I've got a brilliant idea. The two of us should go into a business partnership.' 'Great,' said the pig, 'but what sort of business?' 'Oh, I don't know ... how about maybe we could try the bacon and egg business?' 'Well, that seems like a good idea, let me think about that,' said the pig. After a few moments the pig said, 'Wait a minute, though - it's okay for you to produce eggs, but for me to produce bacon I'd have to give up my life.'

There is big difference between involvement and commitment. The chicken might be involved in the partnership by laying eggs, but the pig would be somewhat has to commit his life to produce a bacon, he has to give his all. Commitment is giving your all, and it can be painfully demanding, but the reward is overwhelming!

Self-Giving
Giving is at the heart of our Christian religion. The Gospel of John says, For God so love the world that He gave us His only Son (Jn 3:16). The Second Reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus gave to the Father everything He was; He offered his life the sake of others. In the Eucharist our Lord gives us His all, his divinity and his humanity, not He gives us His Body and Blood for our spiritual and physical nourishment; Jesus also gives us as well his generous mercy, love and forgiveness.

We are called to do the same. To follow Jesus is to learn how to give generously. Let us pray that we may generous in giving with utmost sincerity and honestly.

Let us remember it’s not the quantity but the quality that counts.
The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the cost to the giver. Of course, we are not only talking about material things. Giving is not only about the money we put in the plate. We can live up generosity more than in material things. Such things are when we share our knowledge, our time, talents, love, attention, understanding and forgiveness to others.

Let us give without counting the cost. Because it is possible to give without losing. In fact, the only way of gaining is by giving.


"Lord Jesus, all that I have is yours. Take my life, my possessions, my talents, my time and all that I have. Grant me the grace I need so that I can share them with others for the greater glory of your name. Amen."

New Life Out There!

Easter 2009
April 10, 2009

New Life Out There!

Today we celebrate Easter with great solemnity because we celebrate the bodily resurrection of our Lord from the dead. Today we share the joy of our new brothers and who have been washed (body and soul) in the waters of baptism, and our brothers and sisters who are welcomed today in the Catholic Faith.

With the Psalm reading today, we proclaim with great joy, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.”

What a great moment face Easter dawn/morning, too early for most of us. We all got up early today like Mary Magdala who came to the tomb of Jesus while it was still dark.

Easter fills churches this weekend not just because it’s a happy ending to Jesus’ crucifixion and death but because it also means a new beginning of life for us. Jesus’ Resurrection is not only about Jesus but also about us, it’s about our new life in Christ.

The Resurrection of Jesus is rising to life beyond death and beyond time and space. It transcends our present earthly life – a life of eating, drinking, merry-making, power-tripping, marrying, procreating, etc. The Risen Life is the life which we are being invited to share according to God’s great promise as St Paul says, Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it dawned on the what God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Cor 2:9)

Story of the Unborn Twins
There is a story about unborn Twins in the womb who are having a brother-sister conversation. Let us listen to them.

Sister: Do you think there is life after this?
Brother: No, no. You are imagining things again. This is all there is and this is all we need – this dark and cozy space. We only have to cling to the cord that feeds us, and we’ll be okay.

Sister: But there must be something more than this place. There has to be something else – a place with light where there is freedom to move.

(Brother is not convinced. A moment of silence)

Sister: Hey, I have something more to tell you. I believe you won’t believe that, too, but I think there is a mother.

Brother (furious): A mother? What are you talking about? I haven’t seen a mother. Have you? Who put that silly idea in your head? I told you, this place is all we have. Why do you always want more? This is not a bad place after all. So, let’s be content.

(Sister is quite upset by her brother’s attitude. Silence. Meanwhile, she starts to feel strange spasms and squeezes all over the body.)

Sister: Do you feel what I feel? These squeezes on my body are becoming more frequent and painful.

Brother: Yes, I do. What’s special about that?

Sister: Well I think these spasms are preparing us for another place more beautiful and comfortable than this where we’ll see our mother face to face. Don’t you think that’s exciting?

(Brother is silent. He is fed up with guesses and fantasies of his sister. The best thing for him to do, he says to himself, is to ignore her)

We can imagine at the end of the story the twin Sister was right. There is life outside the womb. There is light outside and there is a place where they can enjoy freedom. And yes, there is a mother. But I guess we cannot blame her twin Brother for his unbelief, after all, no fetus ever moved out of a womb, and returned to tell about the magic of sunset, beauty of creation and a mother’s kiss – outside the womb. He has no idea about life and anything outside the womb.

Struggle for Faith is Conquered by Love
Likewise, on that Easter morning, Mary Magdala and Simon Peter, both had no idea about life after death. They had no idea about Resurrection. As the Gospel says, “For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”

When Mary discovered that the stone covering the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away, she feared that the body had been stolen and taken away. Mary ran to tell Peter and John (the "disciple whom Jesus loved," v 2), and the two disciples raced to the tomb to see for themselves.

Mary and Peter have both surrendered readily that when Jesus suffered, died and was buried, that was the end of him. In their grief, they need to find out where the body of their Lord was.

Only the “disciple whom Jesus loved” believed that Jesus is not dead, not because he saw and touched Jesus but because he loved. John, was the first one to believe that Jesus has Risen because his love to Jesus perhaps is stronger than the others.

Philosopher Gabriel Marcel once said, to say someone “I love you” is to say “You will not die”. To say “I love you” with authentic love, not spoken lightly, but spoken from the depths of one’s being is to write within oneself, “You will not die.” True love mysteriously resists despair at the loss of the love one, face to face with the evidence of death. Love, authentic love, is itself a desire for immortality; it’s a claim for eternity.

On Easter: Jesus Shows Us Newness of Life
Easter Sunday is a celebration of the newness of life, that is eternal life, we received from God, through our Lord’s Resurrection.

Easter Sunday renews our understanding of life in a world that knows so much death, physical death, spiritual and moral death. Jesus has risen from the dead to show us that human life is transformed. Jesus has risen from the dead to prove to us there is loving God, like a mother or father who cares for his or her child. Jesus has risen for the dead to tell us that life has so much to offer, if we believe in His Resurrection.

Today let us make Easter celebration not just a spiritual day trip, but let us make it a renewal of our journey with Christ in His Church, knowing that we are loved, because God loves us that He gifted us with life, and not simply life, but life eternal - not after our death, not tomorrow, but today, here and now.

May the blessing of Easter remain with us and loved ones forever and ever. Amen.




Readings: And They Shall Name Him Emmanuel by Fr C.G. Arevalo SJ; Hello Jubilee by Fr Ruben J. Villote

The Passion of God

Good Friday
April 9, 2009
The Passion of God

Good Friday is a celebration that has two fundamental truths: First of all Jesus really died. God cannot die, but Jesus was also true man and shared the fate of us all. It’s a fact that He entered human history and he died on the cross in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago.

What is the second basic truth of Good Friday? Not only did Jesus die young but He was murdered. Jesus was a good young man in his early thirties (just two years older than me), doing great work, teaching, healing, and forming communities. Jesus was innocently murdered on the Cross during the prime of His life!

We ask why the anniversary of such a sad and terrible event is called “good?” What “good” is there when such an innocent man killed in cold blood? It is as if we are delighted by the death of Jesus to call this day “Good Friday.” Is there really something good we have to celebrate for this grim fate of Jesus?

Pope Benedict said in his Holy Week reflection, “Christ's death recalls the mass of pain and evil weighing upon humanity in every epoch: the crushing weight of our own mortality, the hatred and violence which still bloody the earth today. The Lord's passion continues in the suffering of mankind,"

If there is anything “good” at the brutal death of Jesus, that is He did not die in vain. His death is life-giving. The first reading from the book of Isaiah tells us why of all Fridays today is called “Good Friday:” On him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed.

Pope Benedict continued in his reflection, "If Good Friday is a day full of sadness, it is at the same time the best day on which to reawaken our faith, to strengthen our hope and the courage to carry our cross with humility and trust, abandoning ourselves to God in the certainty of His support and His victory."

Good Friday is Sacred
Today the Churches are stripped and there are no other liturgical celebrations provided until Easter vigil. The Church watches in prayer sharing the feelings of sorrowful Mary at the foot of the cross of her beloved Son.

While some people are grudging for being unable to shop, gamble or play sports today, we see Good Friday as central to our Christian faith. Today we venerate saving Cross of Jesus. We give honor to the Cross of Jesus because it gives people hope in despair, and it gives meaning to our suffering. Let us not allow consumerism to highjack Good Friday as one of the few sacred and reflective days we have remaining on our yearly calendar.

Good Friday is sacred. Today is the opportune time to recall the Passion of Christ. When we speak of the passion of Christ, what immediately come to our mind are the pains He endured, the sufferings He bore and the death that He courageously faced. As far as many of us are concerned, our immediate thought about the passion of Jesus is what was done to Him physically and emotionally – by his closed friends, by the soldiers, by the people in authority, in religion and government.

Jesus’ Passion
Yet, there is another passion we must think of today, it’s the strong “passion” of Jesus to obey the will of the Father. Jesus had a strong passion to give His life for us; He had a strong passion to show the human face of God to us.

The Pope explained in his Holy Week reflection how Jesus did not wish to use the fact of His being God, His glorious dignity and His power, as an instrument of triumph and a sign of distance. Out of love for us, "He wished to 'empty Himself' and become our brother. For love, He shared our condition, the condition of all men and women. On the contrary, 'he emptied himself' assuming our miserable and weak human condition."

Whenever we are tempted to doubt, or when we feel weighed down, or worried that God will be too strict, or wonder whether God will ever forgive us, the image of Jesus on the Cross should remind us God’s passionate love for us.

Questions
As we reflect on Jesus’ passion today, let us ask ourselves these questions: First, do we still have our passion for God? Do we still have our passion for the good, for the holy and for morality? Are we now turning cold? Are we still on fire with love to serve and to live according to the teachings of the Church? Do we still have that passion in our life? If we say yes, do we have enough proof to show this in our parish community?

If today we realise that what cold fools we have become, it is not time to retreat and feel rejected. It is definitely not the time to walk away ashamed of our lukewarm hearts and hard consciences. But Good Friday is the time we humbly bring our nothingness to Jesus. That is why Jesus came. That is why He suffered and died. That is the reason for the Passion.

He is at the Cross with arms outstretched waiting for any of us whose hearts have turned cold, numb, hesitant or afraid to come back. All we need to do is to come back to Him with all our hearts, with no fear of rebuke. Remember, he has a passion for the wounded, he has a passion for the sick in mind and body and yes, the lukewarm.

Let us use this opportunity this Good Friday to rekindle in our hearts our passion of love for the Lord. As we come to venerate the Cross, we will offer to our Lord our secret sufferings, and let us imagine how much we are loved by God, how much God wants to give Himself to us in love.

And finally, if you want to follow Jesus and be like him, and like the Father before him, you too, must have this passion to give yourself away. Remembering his own words, "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”





Reading: Jesus Our Light by Bishop Socrates Villegas pp 124-126