Opinion

On this Sunday following Christmas, the Church joyfully celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family, and most fittingly so. After all, is not Christmas the most significant and memorable celebration of our family life and relationship, as manifested in our reunions and gatherings for festive meals, and in our exchange of greetings and gifts? In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, Christmas is the feast of the family par excellence.In fact, Christmas is all about family. There is Christmas because there is family. Christmas is about God who wants to be part of the human family by becoming a member of the family of Joseph and Mary. And this is all because he wants us, humans, also to be part of his own family, the Trinity. We are reminded of this tremendous exchange and crisscross between the di...

Last Tuesday, I received a text message from a former student of mine who now lives in the US, saying, “Bishop, need our guidance on the Pope’s recent move… kind of disturbing and disappointing.” I texted back, “What move?” He sent me a post from NBC News with the caption – “Breaking: Pope Francis says priests can bless same-sex couples.”That day was the day when the Vatican had just published “Fiducia Supplicans,” a Declaration on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings. The media was suddenly filled with news and comments on the document. Many of the reports made it sound like the Pope has allowed the blessing of same-sex couples, thus finally approving same-sex union or marriage. I urged my student to read first the document which is very clear and self-explanatory.Nothing has changed. The Ch...

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” Today’s entrance antiphon sets the tone of the Third Sunday of Advent, which is joy. In fact, this Sunday is traditionally called Gaudete (a Latin word, meaning rejoice) Sunday. For this reason, the priest uses the lighter color of rose for vestment instead of the usual grave and penitential purple. Likewise, the third advent wreath candle takes on the same festive color. And the reason for such joy is because “the Lord is near.”This reminds me of the story of the teenage saint, Dominic Savio. Inspired by Don Bosco’s moving sermon on God’s will for everyone to become a saint, Dominic responded promptly. He changed radically from a vivacious and sociable kid to a serious and glum recluse. He started to fast f...

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down.” The Church opens today its new liturgical calendar with the desperate cry of Israel for God to come down and save them from their plight. In the first place, they know that their situation is of their own making. “Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful; all of us have become like unclean people, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; we have all withered like leaves, and our guilt carries us away like the wind.” At the same time, they hold on to a sure hope that God will heed their plea because “You, O Lord, are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands.This situation of Israel (during the time of their captivity in Babylon) somehow reflects our situation today. Like them, we too wish tha...

Forgetfulness is a daily occurrence and a universal experience. It is not a prerogative only of senior citizens. It happens to everyone. It can cause inconvenience, great and small. I should know. How often I had to return to my room just when I thought I was ready to leave. Either l forgot my phone or I left my keys. Forgetfulness can be costly too. Sometimes I could not work or function, as I waste hours trying to remember the digital commands or retrieve my password. One time, I missed my flight because I forgot to bring my ticket. Thank God, we now have e-tickets and screenshots!Worse still, forgetfulness can be fatal. In April 1988, the evening news reported the sad accident of a 35-year-old photojournalist who joined a group of adventurers to video their antics as they dropped, s...

We cannot deny that today’s gospel is somewhat disturbing. We all aim to be on top and be held in high esteem; we work hard to gain power and be in control. Jesus instead tells us, “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”Today’s readings speak of humility, a virtue grossly misunderstood and unappreciated by the secular world. What is humility? We hear it often said that humility is truth. It is the acceptance of the truth primarily about myself in front of God and in front of others. What truth? That in front of God I am nothing, and I have nothing. “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you claim it as yours?” (1 Cor 4:7)Humility comes from the Latin word ...

On two occasions, the religious leaders in Jerusalem try to trap Jesus and find reason to accuse and condemn him. First, they send a group of Pharisees and Herodians (an odd alliance of two opposing groups momentarily united by a common enemy) to question Jesus about taxation. Next, they send a delegation of Sadducees (who do not believe in the resurrection) to question about the resurrection. In both instances, Jesus comes out unscathed as he outwits his adversaries and turns the tables on them.Now they make a third attempt and send a scribe to question Jesus about the law. At first glance, it seems like a mismatch between an expert of the law and a non-accredited preacher and carpenter from an unknown town of Nazareth. “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?" the scribe asks J...

Wanting to trap Jesus on a religious-state issue, the joint forces of the Pharisees and Herodians gang up on him with a question, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” “Show me the coin that pays the census tax… whose image is this and whose inscription?” Jesus replies.Here we see one of the smartest moves of Jesus in confronting his opponents. Someone even says that his response is nothing short of majestic. By his answer Jesus turns the tables on his adversaries and unveils their hypocrisy, without disclosing his own position, thus extricating himself from the dilemma.Jesus answers the question with a dual ‘Render’ call. Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and render to God what belongs to God.To better understand the meaning of the first call (to render ...

This Sunday we are presented with another parable of the kingdom of God.A king prepares a lavish banquet for his son’s wedding and sends messengers to summon those who are invited. When they refuse, he sends other servants to serve the invitation. Again, they refuse; some give excuses while others mistreat and kill the servants. The king is enraged and orders to execute the murderers and burn their city. Seeing the banquet ready but empty of guests, he sends his messengers to the streets to gather everyone they can find until the banquet hall is filled.Like the story of the vineyard (last Sunday’s gospel), today’s parable is an allegorical story of salvation history. The reference is obvious and straightforward. The king is God, the bridegroom is Jesus, and the invitation to the fe...

(For lack of sufficient time to prepare this Sunday’s homily, allow me to repost an old one with a few adjustments.)Today’s readings center around the image of the vineyard. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah sings of his friend who gives all his love and care for his vineyard and looks forward to an abundant harvest. The friend is sorely disappointed, when at harvest time the vineyard yields only sour grapes. The song tragically ends with the owner destroying his vineyard.In the gospel, Jesus takes the song to a higher level and develops it into a parable which reveals a deeper meaning. The parable tells of a landowner who plants a vineyard and provides everything needed for its full operation. He then leases it to tenants. At harvest time, he sends his messengers to collect...