God's Word and Daily Life

By Fr. Bernard Holzer, aa

We are in the Holy Week!

Do we follow Jesus in his journey today?

There are so many people who are crucified today… Are we like the crowd who cried out: “Crucify him!”

Cardinal Jose Advincula, reflecting on the Gospel of Palm Sunday, lamented that many people prefer money, power and fame over their faith, truth and justice. According to him, “it is sad to admit that it seems that the shout of people against Jesus is louder than those who accept him”.

Before the Mass, the Cardinal led the blessing and unveiling of the “Homeless Jesus” statue installed at the patio of the cathedral. The sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz illustrates Jesus as a person in need, alternately sick, hungry, naked, a stranger or without a shelter.

Jesus Christ is crucified again! Let us open our eyes and our hearts!

To rise up with him is to show love and concern for the poor and the homeless!

By Father Bernard Holzer, aa

During his Apostolic Journey to Malta, on April 2 and 3, Pope Francis asked us to continue to pray for peace.

« There is the wind coming from the east, which often blows at dawn, which is why Homer called it “Eurus” (Odyssey, V, 349.423). Yet from the east of Europe, from the land of sunrise, the dark shadows of war have now spread. We had thought that invasions of other countries, savage street fighting and atomic threats were grim memories of a distant past. However, the icy winds of war, which bring only death, destruction and hatred in their wake, have swept down powerfully upon the lives of many people and affected us all. Once again, some potentate, sadly caught up in anachronistic claims of nationalist interests, is provoking and fomenting conflicts, whereas ordinary people sense the need to build a future that, will either shared, or not be at all. Now in the night of the war that is fallen upon humanity, please, let us not allow the dream of peace to fade!”

“May the Lord accompany you, and Our Lady keep you. Let us now pray to her for peace, as we think of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in war-torn Ukraine, which continues to be bombarded in the sacrilegious war. May we be tireless in praying and in offering assistance to those who suffer.”

Let us pray with Pope Francis asking the Lord for forgiveness and peace, with a prayer written by an Italian Bishop:

By Mel Jasmin

On April 2, the Universal Church celebrates the feast of the second Filipino saint and martyr, Saint Pedro Calungsod, an altar boy and a companion of Jesuit missionary Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, when the latter went to Guam to spread the Catholic faith. There were only a few accounts on San Pedro Calungsod, for who would have thought that a simple altar boy, and an indio at that, embody the teachings of Christ, deserving him a place in the annals of the Saints. 

Pedro Calungsod is a good example for every Christian youth. He lived a life of holiness and purity. He showed fear and love of the Lord and also Christ-centeredness. At a young age, he already knew how to control himself and to be a good Christian for the love of God. Nowadays, teenagers are wild, uncontrollable and happy go lucky. They do not mind “sin”. The story of Pedro Calungsod would inspire a number of youth to strive to live a pure life. After learning more about Pedro Calungsod’s life, I became more mindful of my doings.

May we be inspired Saint Pedro Calungsod by choosing the path of faith instead of riches. He has chosen mission instead of remaining in the comforts of his home. Saint Pedro Calungsod, inspire us to be modern day missionaries of faith. Pray for us!

By Mel Jasmin

On March 25, the universal Church celebrates the Feast of the Our Lady’s Annunciation. On this occasion, we commemorate the announcement of the Angel Gabriel about Jesus’ incarnation to a humble woman named Mary.

In the middle of the Lenten season, we arrive at this special feast day. In the first chapter of Luke’s gospel, the angel Gabriel appearing to the young virgin, Mary to announce that she will bear a son conceived by the Holy Spirit to be named Jesus who will be called Son of the Most High.

We are so familiar with this story that perhaps we fail to grasp what truly has taken place.  Mary is the first among all human beings to hear of God’s decision to come and dwell among us as one like us.  She is greatly troubled by the angel’s greeting but is told not to be afraid.  Before the angel’s departure she moves from fear to acceptance of God’s Word.  God’s Word has been spoken and is now within her womb.  How wondrous a moment for her and for all humanity.  For, on behalf of all of us, Mary, who has found favor with God, welcomes with faith God incarnate into the world.

The Annunciation, the first of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, should indeed call us to rejoice.  For now, in a world beset by a pandemic, we too might be afraid.  We must hear the voice, not of an angel, but of the Lord himself who continually calls his disciples to not be afraid because he would always be with them- the Son of God.

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with you.  Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus!

By Mel Jasmin

On March 19, Saturday, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph as Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Joseph was declared the Patron of the Universal Church as well as the patron of workers and carpenters.

What can we learn from the life of Saint Joseph, who was not even quoted by the Bible?

Joseph’s life offers us a magnificent portrayal of the grace of God as He came to our rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus. So many come to Him, like Joseph’s guilty brothers, feeling the distance and fearing the worst from God, only to have Him demonstrate incredible generosity and mercy. Instead of being blamed, we are forgiven. Instead of feeling guilty, we are freed. And instead of experiencing punishment, which we certainly deserve, we are seated at His table and served more than we can ever take in.

For some, it’s too unreal. So, we desperately plead our case, only to have Him speak kindly to us—promising us peace in our own language. We then try to fend off His anger by bargaining with Him, thinking our hard work and sincere efforts will pay Him back for all those evil past deeds we’re guilty of. But to our astonishment, He never even considered our attempts important enough to mention. What we had in mind was earning just enough to silence our guilt, but what He had in mind was overwhelming us with such an abundance we’d realize we can never, ever repay.

by Father Bernard Holzer, aa

In this painful Lent, let us keep her words in our hearts and pray with those of the book of Judith: “For the Lord is a God who crushes wars; he sets his encampment among his people; he delivered me from the hands of my pursuers. (Judith 16:2)

By Fr. Bernard Holzer, aa

Lord, God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflict using our own power and the use of arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced? How much blood has been shed? How many lives have been shattered? How many hopes have been buried? But our efforts have been in vain.

Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again to war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarrelling into forgiveness.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen.

By Mel Jasmin 

On February 22, we celebrate the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, the Apostle. Could you believe that one of the feasts in the Catholic Church is dedicated to an actual, physical chair?

Yes! At first, I myself couldn’t believe that we are celebrating a feast over a chair. What is so special about this Chair of Saint Peter that it is included in the holy feasts of the Catholic Church? Well, we do not celebrate the feast of the physical chair but our fidelity to the Church through Christ’s vicar, the prince of the apostles, servants of the servants of God, the Bishop of Rome, the primate of Italy, or we simply called the “pope”.

When we celebrate this feast, we move beyond the physical but to the symbolic representation which is the office or leadership given by Christ to Peter, as the first pope and head of the Catholic Church. We should remember and profess our loyalty over this chair and to the person seated on the same chair.Jya 

Today we remember the words of the Lord Himself, establishing and entrusting the Church to St. Peter, whose name means the ‘Rock’ so that the Church He has established may be built upon the firm foundation of the Rock of faith that is St. Peter, and assisted with the strength of the pillars of the faith of the Apostles. Because of this, the Church is united to the Lord, the Chief Shepherd of all, the Good Shepherd, through the many shepherds whom He had called and appointed to lead and guide His people, His flock, that is the Apostles and their successors.

By Mel Jasmin

This Sunday’s gospel teaches us about forgiveness of our enemies. Some of us find it difficult to forgive without knowing that we have experienced forgiveness by God first. We have been recipient of forgiveness before we are called to forgive! It's an amazing thing to be forgiven by God. Because of his grace poured out through Christ, we can be forgiven for all of our sins, no matter how horrendous they might be. What a wonder!

Yet when we receive God's forgiveness, we do more than rejoice in our blessing. We also become people who pass on forgiveness to others. "Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others". God's forgiveness enables us to forgive others even as it sets the standard for our forgiveness.

Jesus emphasizes the necessary connection between divine and human forgiveness. You can't have one without the other. This means one of the primary marks of the Christian will be a willingness to forgive others generously. People will know we are Christians, not only by our love, but also by our forgiveness.

So, what is the challenge to us this week? Do what is difficult to do. Forgive and have peace.