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

Remembering the Last Supper

The Lord’s Supper 2008
St. Andrew’s Parish
April 9, 2007, 7:30pm

Welcome to the beginning of the Easter Triduum. On this evening of Holy Thursday we enter into a somber and dramatic atmosphere of the final days of our Lord, filled with the remembrance of his passion, death and his glorious resurrection on Easter Day.

There are three principal mysteries we solemnly commemorate on this evening Mass of Holy Thursday: First is the institution of the Holy Eucharist; Secondly, the institution of the ministerial priesthood; and lastly, the New commandment of Christ to love one another.

The Eucharist
The first reading from the book of Exodus and the second reading from the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians are linked together to illustrate for us how our Lord transformed the Jewish Passover Meal into his own Paschal Sacrifice, (and the Eucharistic celebration as we have today).

The first reading narrates that the blood of the animal marked outside the door post of the houses of the Chosen People saved their first born sons from the plague of death. In the second reading, St Paul shows us that through the coming of Jesus, we were also saved from the plague of death, not through the blood of an animal but through His very own flesh and blood.

Until the Lord comes, St Paul says, therefore, every time you eat this bread of Life and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.

The Eucharist therefore gives us assurance that our Lord will never abandon us. The celebration of the Mass is a celebration of His loving presence and divine security.

Our Lord’s body and blood is our food for the soul, so that as long as we live, his body and blood is the source of our comfort and strength.

So tonight let us deepen our love and devotion to the Eucharist. Let us not take the celebration of the Mass for granted.

The Priesthood
After our Lord instituted the Eucharist, he then followed by the institution of the priesthood with his command, Do this in memory of me.

The priests as ministers of the Sacraments and the Eucharist, are called to represent Christ in the community. They act in persona Christi to keep the command of Jesus fulfilled for you, the people of God, so that the presence of Christ’s paschal mystery pervades in your daily lives today and until the end of time.

Priests are ordinary people, human and weak, chosen to perform extra-ordinary works.

The priesthood is a difficult life. It is no joke to live a good priesthood… Sometimes priests have to hide from people their tears under a whitened made-up face because they do not wish to add to their flock’s burden. They have to dance and jump at their beck and call, even if their legs feel broken and bruised.

After each busy day in the church, the priest goes to his room alone, fondly remembering the children who can’t be his own. He returns to his room, alone, with no one to listen to his happy story, with no one to whom to bare his aching soul.

The priest’s life is way of the cross. It is the duty of the priests to pray for the people and to sacrifice for them. Priests are called to imitate Jesus, to love Jesus and to share Jesus.

So this evening please pray for us priests that we may always be faithful to Jesus, that we may always be faithful messengers of his love, courageous enough to carry our crosses, and joyful enough to bring God’s hope.

Commandment of Love
Lastly this evening we call to mind the new commandment of Christ, to love one another as He loves us. This love is much deeper than feeling or emotion, but it’s a kind of love that can bear trials, endure sacrifices, and face the horror of death.

In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrated a unique picture of love and humility — he stoops down to wash his disciples' feet. His purpose wasn't to clean up their feet; but his purpose was to give us a genuine example what our relationships should be as brothers and sisters.

He washed his disciples’ feet to remind us of his undying affection and a silent plea for us to do the same for each other. We are called to love and take care of one another, as he loves and takes care of us.

If God so humbled himself, how much more us? If really want to welcome Jesus in our life, we are required to imitate him, we must wash one another’s feet, serve one another, and revere His divine presence in every person.

Conclusion
Let us pray tonight as we celebrate the Last Supper, we may not only relive the memory of our Lord’s paschal mystery but sincerely bring its true message in our actions.

We thank the Lord for the Eucharist that sustains us.

We thank the Lord for the priesthood.

We thank the Lord showing us how to love genuinely.

Amen.





Readings: Jesus Our Light by Bishop Socrates Villegas pp 73-74

Forgiveness of God

St Andrew’s Parish Werribee
Penitential Service
April 7, 2009

Forgiveness of God

A missionary priest on one of the Pacific Islands was surprised one day to see a woman enter his hut carrying a handful of sand, which was still dripping water.
“Do you know what this is Father?” she asked.
“It looks like sand,” replied the priest.
“Do you know why I brought it here?” she asked.
“No, I can’t imagine why?” the priest answered.
“Well, Father, these are my sins,” the woman explained, “my sins which are as countless as the sands of the sea. How can I ever obtain forgiveness for all of them?”
“You got that sand down by the shore, did you not?” said the missionary. “Well, take it back there and pile up a heaping mound of sand. Then sit back and watch the waves come in and wash the pile slowly but surely and completely away. That is how God’s forgiveness works. His mercy is as big as the ocean. Be truly sorry and the Lord will forgive.”

Dear brothers and sisters, we are gathered here this evening for two reasons, first we remember our sins. Our sins may be as countless as the sands of the sea, we remember them all; we feel sorry for them all.

{In remembering our sins, we take time to ask ourselves: What have I done for God in my life? And what am I doing the rest of my life? Am I living a life pleasing to God? Am I making a difference?}

Secondly, and most importantly, we are gathered here this evening because we remember that we have a God, who is forgiving and merciful. We remember that the measure of his forgiveness is beyond measure, his forgiveness is far beyond our imagination, greater than the ocean.

And as we remember God’s forgiveness, we desire for it, we must long for it.

The Psalm reading invites us to want God’s forgiveness, to desire for his mercy more than we desire for gold.

Let us now gently lay down our sins and all our guilt feelings, let us allow our Good Lord to completely wash them away, to purify us, and make us a new and holy people.

Take Control of Our Life Lord

Palm Sunday 2009
April 5, 2009
Mass Homily

Today, Palm Sunday, we come together to begin a solemn celebration of Holy Week in union with millions of Christians throughout the world as we commemorate the Entrance of our Lord into his own city, Jerusalem, to finally complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again.

We remember the adoring crowds raising palms and shouting “Hossana” as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem.

We remember before the week is out, the stirring welcome wears off; cheers turn to jeers; the sheltering palms into scourging at the pillar and the hosannas into a heart-piercing “Crucify him!”

A Close encounter
The Mass today is unique compared to all Masses, we have a long narration of the Passion Narrative from St. Mark Gospel.

The Gospel reading is intended not merely to narrate what happened 2,000 years ago but it is being proclaimed in Churches all over the world today for us to remember the good news of salvation in our own present time and the good of salvation in our present situation.

What is the good news of our salvation? It’s no other than God loves us! God loves us more than our imagination.

The Holy week which we begin today is the great time for remembering. We remember how much He loved us. We remember especially on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday that we were saved with much pain, and at a great price.

Yes, more than anything else, we remember we are loved so much.

St. Paul
In the Second Reading, St Paul spells it out very clearly our Lord’s utmost love for us:

….though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave…he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

St Paul is also invites us to bend our knee before Him…to glorify the name of Jesus…to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord… What does he mean? Perhaps it’s another way of telling us to always remember, never forget, how Jesus he loves us so much…

An Altar Server asked me this morning, “Father, why the statues were all covered today?” I said to her, “It’s because Holy Week is a time when we focus to Jesus alone!” To make sure I said the right answer I asked Fr Frank, for the first time I was right! :)

Like fasting we try to discipline our mind and hearts for Jesus alone. Without Jesus everything will be out of control.

There will times in our life when we seem to be out of control!

Philippines
• My mother’s 60th birthday – many invited guests didn't send RSVPs. Those who were invited and attended the party carried along with them some friends who were not invited!
• We went to an Boracay island – 4 kilometers of white sand beach and crystal clear waters. Our joys were out of control! It was great experience!
• My timetable in the Philippines was out of my control, I was invited to give speeches and hand in awards at graduation ceremonies, bless houses...
• Visited the mother of my closest friend who is suffering leukemia.
• Anointed some people who were seriously sick without medication because of poverty...
• Highschool reunion – we started at 6pm we finished at past midnite. We shared our personal stories sad and joysful.. For some broken marriages and relationship were beyond their control.

When it seems what’s happening around us to be out of control, maybe it’s time to give Jesus a chance to control us!

Conclusion
This Holy Week we let Jesus control of us -- our mind, our hearts, our whole being. We remember that whether we are healthy, rich, happy or not, whether we ended up in broken relationships He left us a mission to accomplish.

Our mission is to remind everyone that there is a God, a God who loves us, and that there is hope.

Let us always remember that Jesus knows our own suffering, the burdens we bear, our depression, conflict in our family, health problem and all other conflict we carry within us.

Finally, during this Holy Week we remember that it is not enough to remember.

Our remembering should lead us to transformation, our remembering should lead us to become better persons, to be good Catholics, holy members of the body of Christ.

In other words, we remember and renew our love for God and for us His people.

Remembering is going back from past in order that we can go forward once more, with great love and devotion!

With all this in mind and heart we are ready for Holy Week.

Wedding in Tasmania

Michelle and Toby Wedding Homily

St Canice Church, Sandy Bay, Tasmania
January 3, 2009

Personal delight
Performing this wedding ceremony for Michelle and Toby is not a pastoral duty for me as a priest but a personal delight. It’s my great honour to be invited here to witness the fulfillment of Michelle and Toby’s dreams to become one in marriage before the altar of God and before their loved ones.

Of course, it’s always a delight for me to travel for free! Thanks for paying my airfare!

Thank you for bringing us all here on this beautiful island of Tasmania. This is my second time here in Tassie and until now I’m still hoping to see a Tasmanian Devil whirling around and devouring everything like in cartoons.

Thank you for providing me a nice accommodation through the hospitality of Fr Michael Tate, your parish priest. On my first night at the presbytery I saw the glimpse of heaven because when I looked outside the window I saw McDonald’s just across the road!

Thank you for your warm welcome and friendship when I visited you in two occasions in Sydney.

Could I also take this opportunity to thank you for flying to the Philippines to attend my thanksgiving Mass just after I was ordained priest in 2006.

Design for eternity
So today, dear friends, 3rd day of year 2009, in this beautiful church of St. Canice, today will be marked as the most remembered day in the lives of Michelle and Toby as they enter to a permanent, exclusive and sacred union through the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Today is not only my first wedding for year 2009 but it’s also my first time to celebrate a wedding of two actors. And I already feel like a Hollywood celebrity here!

Michelle and Toby, you are dressed beautifully today, just like those fairytales we learned in school where the next line after the wedding was always, ‘and they lived happily ever after.’ And we hope today you will be just as happy tomorrow as today.

You are dressed so beautifully today for this sacred union and next day like all of us, you will dress more casually, but the wedding vows you are proclaiming publicly in a few moments, will become part of you for the rest of your lives.

Your wedding ceremony lasts only for an hour, but its effect, its sacramental grace is designed by God for you until your last breath.

First Meeting
It was in 2003 when Michelle and Toby first met at “drama school” at NIDA in Sydney. It was in a class where their friendship started which later on flourished into a loving relationship, and this brought us here today.
In Toby’s own words he said, “We spent a lot of time together in class, and I will always remember those moments in Voice where we would all stand in a circle doing vocal exercises and she would catch me looking at her and we would share a smile. By mid way through first year, the situation had become unbearable. I had to tell her how I felt about her or I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

Here’s what Michelle said in my exclusive interview, “At first we were just colleagues and friends, but then we discovered that we shared many interests, had the same sense of humour and I discovered that he was a loving, kind, giving and intelligent person…Toby is my college sweetheart”

The School of Marriage
Michelle and Toby, you first met each other at “drama school” where you learned together the art of acting and singing. Starting today whether you like it or not you are going back to school again together, not at “drama school,” this time to the “school of Marriage.”

At drama school you became familiar to the important role of a Stage Director. Stage Director ensures the quality and completeness of theatre production and to lead the whole team to achieve their artistic vision for it. Stage Director occupies different places of authority and responsibility, but his or her main job as Director is of course to give direction.

Michelle and Toby at the “school of Marriage” you need a Good Director. There will be moments in your lives as husband and wife when you need to seek guidance and advice. The script lines your Good Director asks you to memorize and live out starting today is all about love, unconditional love. The Good Lord, your Good Director, showed His sacrificial love until the last drop of his blood on the Cross. He said to his followers and now to you, “love as I have loved you.” Let His Love, let His Holy Scripture be your constant light and inspiration.

GPS
Michelle and Toby you will begin your journey today as married couple. Every life’s journey has its ups and downs, you will pass winding roads and you will climb high slopes and deep valleys. So you will need to carry with you a GPS. But this GPS doesn’t stand for Global Positioning System, rather this GPS stands for us Christians as God Providing Security.

Allow Jesus to guide you and direct you. Jesus will be your GPS – God Providing Security personified, anytime and anywhere, with Him you will never get lost.

I am sure you are both excited to work hard for the welfare of your marriage and for your future children. But always remember the best security that you can provide to each other is God. Only God and not material things, who can provide you love, joy and peace. Only God and not popularity, who can bring you unity, faithfulness, understanding and all the good things you dream about for each other. Take advantage of the tools the Church gives us: namely the sacraments. Like your own parents, live a good sacramental life, go to Mass every Sunday and set the example for your future children.

Michelle and Toby it is our deepest prayer for you today that through the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, you will fulfill God’s divine plan for every husband and wife according to the beautiful of words of Jesus today: “So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must divide.”