igsuon ko, BULAHAN ta!

Today, we celebrate the Feast or Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary into heaven. Just a short summary or catechesis as to what this important dogma is all about. It was on November 1, 1950 that Pope Pius XII proclaimed, declared, and defined as dogma that Mary, after her earthly life, was taken up to heaven body and soul; her body did not go through corruption, but all of her was taken by God to heaven. So, how is this dogma or teaching related to our daily, simple lives? One word: HOPE. This feast gives us hope. Because like Mary, who was also human like us, after experiencing the joys and pains in life, was taken up to heaven to be in the glory of God. Why hope? Because this feast tells us that the pains and sadness of this world that we experience now is passing; is not final; never the end of life; because our true destination is salvation in Heaven. In the Gospel according to John (Chapter 14), Jesus says and assures us “Do not let your hearts be troubled...I am indeed going to prepare a place for you (in my Father’s house), and then I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be. You know the way that leads where I go.” Isn’t it an assurance of hope my dear brothers? But of course, while we are still on this earth, we experience pain; we can’t prevent it; it’s part of our humanity. We may be sad because of what is happening in our family, in our country, in ourselves; but the challenge is: DILI MAGPALABI SA KAGUOL. Let us not be too serious with our pains. Be hopeful and trust in the Lord. And we see that in Mary. For from the very time she said “YES!” to the Lord until she was on the foot of the cross where her Son was nailed and suffering – she endured. Just imagine how worried she was when her Son was lost in the temple; imagine how painful it was for her when Jesus left home and bid goodbye to mama to follow the Father’s will; imagine how very very painful it was for her to gaze at his Son on the cross begging for her help. But she endured all of these! Because, as what Elizabeth said in the Gospel today, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to us by the Lord would be fulfilled.” That is why she is worthy to be called BLESSED; she is our model of a person who endured pain ‘till the end! In our Gospel today, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was so happy upon seeing Mary. Now, how about you? I wish to re-echo this question of Fr. Mike yesterday, “How about you?” Whenever you go home, does your presence make others (your children, your katulongs, etc.) make them happy or make them tremble in fear? Whenever you go to the office, does your presence make your officemates happy or make them sad and angry? Whenever you go to your tindahans, does your presence make your tinderos and tinderas joyful or tremble in fear? Whenever you go to school does your presence make your teacher and classmates feel blessed or cursed? Yes, though we may be good or not-so-good to others, one thing is clear: That when we say YES to the Lord, we also experience the difficulties and pains of being a Christian.
And so let us ask for the grace that we may always long for Heaven; we may always long for the place prepared for us by Jesus in Heaven. And as we live our daily lives, in our joys and pains, let us ask for the grace of endurance, kalahutayan, perseverance, and that we may always bring the truth that the pain we experience is never never permanent; it is passing; God has prepared a place for us. He loves us! And let us ask the intercession of Mama Mary that we may be like her: Milahutay, nahimong kalipay ug panalangin sa uban. Nga unta ang atong presensya makalipay sa uban ug dili makapakurog hinuon nila sa kahadlok. Makaingon unta sila, “Salamat sa imong presensya ha, nalipay kayo ko ug migaan akong pamati.” “Kini maoy tinuod nga Kristyano!”
So, there is cause for rejoicing here my dear brothers and sisters. We must be happy, because the feast today gives us HOPE that in spite of the pains and sufferings we experience, for as long as we trust in the Lord ‘till the end like Mama Mary, we too will be taken up to heaven, to be with God, with Mama Mary nga puno sa kalipay nga walay katapusan! Mama Mary: Pray for us.

WHO IS MY TREASURE? HE IS MY TREASURE!

Please allow me to repeat one of the beautiful themes in our Gospel today: Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Beautiful isn’t it? What is a treasure? A treasure is a person, thing, event or place that is so valuable and important to us. It could be our loved ones, family, job, face, money, alahas, and many others. The nest question is: When can we consider then a person or thing valuable (or important) to us? When? OK, allow me to present a comparison using a necklace as an example in order for us to understand the question. Compare how you value a necklace (kwintas) that was just found on a street as you happen to pass by AND a necklace that was given to you by your loved one. Which one is valuable? Obviously, the one that was given to you by your loved one is the one we consider as a treasure; as valuable. Why? Because the kwintas did not just fall from the sky; but because there is a relationship behind the necklace. It was given to you; and not only that it was given, but there is a relationship between the two of you. That’s why, you can’t just give it away, because there is a sentimental value on it. And every time we look at it, we smile because we are reminded of the giver and the beautiful memories you had with the person who gave you the kwintas. So, in having a treasure, that is the first element: RELATIONSHIP. Every time we look at the cross, why do we smile? Because we are reminded of the gift of life that God has given us. He is our pinaka-treasure. That is what the 1st reading tells us today. Are you familiar with the Exodus event in the lives of the Israelites? Diba that was the time when God chose Moses to lead His people away from slavery in Egypt; how God helpled them by dividing the Red Sea into two and they were able to pass safely through it. Grabe to impact sa ila. That was their treasure! That is why even after thousands of years had past, they still meet every year (Passover festival) to celebrate those glorious events sa ilang mga ninuno. When they gather and remember what God has done for them, their hearts are filled with praise, joy and thanksgiving.
The second element in dealing with our treasure is FAITH. 5 to 15 years after the death of Jesus on year 33 AD, the early Christians were very hopeful that Jesus will return very very soon during their time; they were really waiting for Him to come the 2nd time. They were so full of FAITH. But 30 years had past already…they started to get discouraged and slowly lost their faith in Jesus. That was one of the reasons why St. Luke wrote this Gospel; he wished to revive the faith of his community, because it was as if they had their faith not so much because of love of what Jesus had done but because they had in mind that Jesus will really appear maybe today or tomorrow, murag nagpasikat. So, St. Luke would have said, “Even if the Lord does not return yet, and we don’t even know when, this is what the Lord says: Have faith in me! Remember what the Lord has done for all of us! He died for us yet he rose from the dead because God loves us so much! That is our treasure! If only we always remember how God showed His love, then even though he has not yet returned, our strong faith in Him will never be affected.” Take for example, when I was still a child, it was already late in the afternoon, and still no one fetched me from school. And so my teacher was already worried, “where is your father? When will he fetch you?” Although I was already crying that time, I still managed to answer her, “Mam, I don’t know when he will fetch me. But I am sure that he WILL fetch me, because I know that my father is a good man, he loves me and he has not abandoned me.” There was a relationship, that is why no matter what happens, I will not lose faith. My faith in my father was my treasure, and where my treasure is, there also will my heart be. If God is our treasure, do we give our whole heart to Him? Or basin when problems come our way, we easily get discouraged. We are invited by Jesus today, “Don’t lose your faith no matter what happens!” Hinumdumi ug guniti ang relasyon.
But, it doesn’t end there yet. There is the third and last element. What is it? After having experienced that RELATIONSHIP, after expressing our FAITH in Him because of that relationship, what follows next are ACTIONS DONE OUT OF LOVE, not out of pasikat. Let me share with you a true story from our very own parish priest, Fr. Perseus. While we were having lunch 2 weeks ago, I heard this moving experience from Him; and I would like to integrate the 3 elements here. The laborers who did this beautiful church we have now was with Fr. Perseus for almost 5 years now, they were already with Him during his past 2 parish assignments. So, there is already a RELATIONSHIP, suod na sila, and they know each other well. What is very moving is that Fr. Perseus cares for them very much. He doesn’t only give them money, but also gifts and incentives. There was no sense of a master-servant relationship image here, but mutual friendship. Imagine, one Christmas, without them expecting it, much to their surprise, they received bugas and pang noche Buena that they were so happy and were able to celebrate Christmas with their families. Dili lang si padre ang naghatag sa bugas, kamo ang naghatag nila sa pagkaon. Very moving! Tan-awa unsa ka-lig-on atong simbahan, because of what you have shown to them. This is a manifestation of their STRONG FAITH. And while Fr. Perseus was away for 1 month, you know what, the laborers still worked hard, with their whole heart. They didn’t know when Fr. Perseus will come back from Europe. But even if he was not around, they still performed their job excellently, even going beyond working time, not because magpasikat, but because out of LOVE. Because of the relationship they experienced, they do not just work for salary but they make it strong and safe for you, sakto sa semento ug balas, because they love Carmen parish. Dili na kinahanglan bantayan o sugoon pa para molihok (there’s no need to guard them or command them).
That is the very reason why we go to Mass every Sunday and pray. Because God wants to show to us the Cross; how He would like us to remember always all the things He has done for us. RELATIONSHIP. So at this very moment, remember the experiences before wherein you received God’s blessings, grace and love. Like the kwintas, hold is as your treasure! When problems come, remember those beautiful memories with the Lord. So the second element, have FAITH in Him. Don’t let problems take that relationship away! (Let us continue hoping in faith that corruption in our country will soon end; that in due time, we will attain peace in Mindanao, walay surrenderay). So, it doesn’t end here, we have to go out of this Church. And as we leave this Church after the Mass, if dala-dala na nato ang FAITH from our RELATIONSHIP with the Lord, then it would be easy for us to do simple things out of LOVE. Dili na ta angay suguon o bantayan pa. We can get rid of cheating and corruption sa atong pag-eskwela ug pag-trabaho. We can show peace and love bisan diha pa lang sulod sa pamilya.
May we always say, “Even though I do not see and touch Jesus physically, even though he has not returned yet for His 2nd coming, there’s nothing to worry about, because I do have so many beautiful experiences with Him that I can say: He will never leave me. And so I will always do what is right, what is good, EVERYDAY…He is my pinaka-TREASURE! And where my treasure is, there also will my heart be…everyday…Amen!

I ASKED AND I RECEIVED

Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find…
Please allow me to share with you a personal experience. I am an asthmatic person. It all started when I was still Grade 5; and that was one of the most difficult and trying moments I and my family experienced. You know what, even at the early age of 12, I already questioned God, “Why am I suffering?” I already begged God, “Lord, I could not bear this pain anymore. I don’t want to stay again in the hospital for 2 months. Sakit na kaayo, dili ko ka-ginhawa. I could not bear seeing Mama and Papa cry and suffer because of me. Lord, please remove this pain away from me right now, immediately!” Well, 14 years had past, 2010 na, but I still have the Asthma (hubak) though not that bad anymore. So, maybe, at first glance, you will probably say, “Jun, it seems that God did not give you what you asked for. What kind of God is He?!” But the question is, “What keeps me smiling now in spite of my sickness? What keeps me going on in life without blaming Him anymore?” Because, gradually, through prayer, through silence, slowly I realized that God ACTUALLY answered my prayer; He actually gave me what I really asked from Him. Only that I wasn’t able to realize that because I always kept on blaming and questioning Him; when in fact He was actually there present with me. I realized that God wanted to touch me, gusto niya mohaplas sa akong likod ug tuba-tuba, mosuksok sa towel sa akong likod, mo-embrace. And in order for God to do that, he used the hands of the people who became so instrumental to my recovery. God was present diay through my Mama, God used her hands to comfort me, “Don’t worry Anak, nia ra ko, ako ang tubag sa imong gipangayo..” Kay without God, through my Mama, I would never survive. Igo na kana nga maka-smile ko bisan taliwala niining mga sakit (That would be enough for me to smile now even in the midst of my sickness). It’s the Holy Spirit who makes me smile and who empowers me right now. Ug diha nako na na-klaro sa akong kanunay nga paggahin ug kahilom diha sa pag-ampo: Nga diay, God answers in so many ways; and my experience with my Mama was just one.
Each of us here really wants that our petitions to God be answered immediately, right now. “Lord, maka-daug unta ko sa lotto o swertres. Makakwarta unta ko. Dili unta magutman akong pamilya. Makapasar unta ko sa test. Madawat unta ko sa trabaho. Mamaayo unta akong bana o asawa o ginikanan o anak o igsuon sa iyang gibati nga sakit.” Sometimes we just couldn’t wait; we become impatient. Mao nay makapasaba sa atong panghunahuna ug mahimo na dayong mabaw (shallow) ang atong panglantaw sa kamanggihatagon sa Ginoo. Because, then, when we feel that way, we easily blame and question God, “Ingon ka Lord ‘ask and you shall receive’? Pero, nganong wala man lagi?”
If only we spend time for SILENCE my dear brothers and sisters; then madunggan nato unsa ang buot niyang isulti kabahin sa atong gipangayo. That is why we are here because we are called today in this Mass to listen to Him; because God really wants to tell us something today. He wants to tell us today that he cannot afford not to listen to His children who persistently call to Him for help. Our 1st reading tells us that even if there will only be 10 good people in a very sinful place Sodom, he will forgive the nation. Imagine! Dili siya ka-ako ug punish sa sinful nation because of the 10! Now, in our Gospel today, the man in the story gives bread to his friend not so much because of their friendship but because of His persistence (pagpamugos). Dili siya ka-agwanta ug pa-bungol-bungol. Mangita gyud siya ug paagi. Ug diha gikinahanglan ang KAHILOM, instead of blaming God, “Ngano? Ngano?...” Kay diha sa kahilom atong mahibaw-an nga gitagaan na diay ta sa Espiritu Santo, maong nia pa ta nagpadayon dinhi karon. And how does He answer us? In so many ways! My experience with Mama was just one. Maybe the answer of your prayer, without you conscious about it, is just beside you, or at your home: Your family, imong pamilya or friend nga wala mohunong pag-atiman nimo. Sila diay ang instrumento sa presenya sa Dios. Sila diay ang atong gipangayo; dili nga mamaayo dayon ta sa problema, kundili nga unta dili ta mag-inusara sa atong problema.

(Story of Smoke Signals to God)

In our Gospel today, the Father assures us, “Never will I give you a snake when you ask for a fish. I am just beside you, whatever happens, in sickness and health.” Let us ask from our hearts. When we pray the Amahan Namo, let us pray from our hearts. And may we always remember this assurance from our Tatay in heaven, “Anak, you asked and I give you my very presence now, so you have nothing to worry about ha. Wala na kay angay kabalak-an…”