August 01, 2010

The Deadly Root

Lk 12:13-21

A big store decided to conduct a big sale to bring in more shoppers. It announced huge discounts to early customers. On the day of the sale, people were already lined up at the store’s front door as early as 5:00 in the morning. Just minutes before the opening of the store, an ordinary little guy walked towards the front of the line. The people angrily shouted at him and pushed him back. But the little man went back to the head of the line again. Once again, he was pushed to the back, but this time with a few beatings from the angry and impatient crowd. Shaking his head, the little man walked to one side of the line and said: “If you won’t let me come near the door, I cannot open the store today!”

This scene is too familiar to us, especially in these times of rabid materialism and consumerism. Sadly, it has time and again produced deadly results. Here is a caption of a news item on Saturday, 29^th of November 2008: “A Wal-Mart discount store worker was killed yesterday when “out-of-control” shoppers desperate for bargains broke down the doors at a 5am sale. Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers shouted angrily and kept shopping when store officials said they were closing because of the death, police and witnesses said. Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store. When told to leave, they complained that they had been in line since Thursday morning.”

Here is another one: “A stampede happened at the PhilSports Stadium (also known as the ULTRA) in Pasig City, Metro Manila in the Philippines on February 4, 2006. It killed 78 people and injured about 400. About 30,000 people had been gathered outside the stadium waiting to participate in the first anniversary episode of the television variety show Wowowee hoping to win the promised huge cash prizes.”

Countless examples like these illustrate how deadly greed can be. That is why in the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus gave us a strong and serious warning: “Take care to guard against all greed.” Greed, also known as avarice or covetousness, is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs or deserves, especially pertaining to material wealth. It is a direct violation of the commandment “Thou shall not covet thy neighbors’ goods.” It is one of the capital sins being the cause of many other sins. Like lust and gluttony, greed is a sin of excess. However, greed specifically applies to a very excessive or insatiable desire and pursuit of wealth, status, and power.

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that greed is “a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, inasmuch as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things.” In other words, the greedy person chooses material and temporal things over and above God. It is idolatry, pure and simple – worshipping, not God, but creatures, particularly money. Jesus warned us, “You cannot serve both God and money.” If we are for money, then we will eventually reject the true God. This idolatry has been the cause of so much sufferings and misery in the world. Pope John Paul II wrote: “The greatest misfortune of this age is that people consider money as the highest good.” By hook or by crook, they have to acquire wealth. A person who is greedy can easily fall into the sins of disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, treason or even murder, all for personal gain. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, simony, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, deception, or manipulation of authority are the bitter fruits of greed. So we can definitely say that greed is the root of many evils in society. Everywhere we can see greed ingrained in every fabric of our society.

One dark night, a robber came up from behind a well-dressed man and stuck a gun in his side. “Give me your money,” he demanded. Surprisingly, the man kept his composure and arrogantly sneered at him saying, “You can’t do this! Don’t you know who I am? I’m the congressman of this district!” In that case,” replied the robber, “give me my money!”

In the parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus pointed out that greed is the ultimate kind of foolishness. It was not said that the rich man was bad, or that he used unjust and immoral means to get rich. In fact he was a competent businessman. His decision to tear down his old storage and replace it with a bigger one was a wise business decision. Nevertheless, Jesus called him a fool. Why? In the first place, it was because he thought only of himself. The welfare of his neighbors never crossed his mind. He was only thinking about how he can acquire more wealth, believing this will give him more security in life. Second, the present life was his only concern. It never occurred to him that he would eventually die, or that there is life hereafter. And the worst is, he did not think about God. He has placed his future entirely on his hoarded wealth, not realizing that all these can be wiped out in a second. He has fallen into the trap of idolatry.

Let the Gospel lesson today help us firmly resolve to avoid greed in all its forms. May we realize that greed does not only make us fools; it also puts us in extreme danger of death, physically and spiritually. Instead, let us develop the true sense of security – a security based on our faith and trust in the loving and providential God.

Just as fever is just a symptom of a more serious ailment, so also greed, a feverish desire for more wealth, power and position, is just a symptom of a soul in serious peril – a soul that is spiritually starving and deprived of the grace of God, a soul that is immobilized by the chains of materialism and selfishness, a soul that is blinded by pride and ambition. Jesus now invites us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you.” Jesus is the only answer to all the desires and the deepest longings of our heart. Let us learn from St. Augustine who rightfully realized, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Teresa Church
New York, NY 10002

July 25, 2010

We Are Cordially Invited!

Lk 11:1-13

A man had a minor heart attack, and was rushed to the nearest hospital for immediate coronary surgery. The hospital was run by the Sisters of Charity. The operation was successful, and the next day, the nun visited him in his room. “Mr. Jones, you’re doing just fine,” the nun said with a big smile as she gently patted his hand. “But we have to know who will pay for your medical bills. Do you have a medical insurance?” “No, I don’t have,” the man said in a weak voice. “Are you going to pay in cash, then?” “I don’t think I can, Sister. I have no money.” “Do you have a family or any close relatives around here?” “Yes, I have. But she is an old maid, a spinster nun assigned in Florida,” said the man. The nun’s smile vanished, and quickly corrected him, “I beg to disagree, sir. Nuns are not spinsters. They are married to Jesus.” The man’s face brightened up and said, “Really? Then, you may send the bill to my brother-in-law!”

This story reveals a profound truth. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he started with the word “Abba”, which, in the English language, is equivalent to how a child would call his father, as in “Daddy” or “Papa”. Jesus is telling us that we are closely related to God. He is not just our brother-in-law. He is our loving Father!

In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus is not merely giving us a formula of prayer that is easy to memorize and recite. Rather, in giving us the prayer “Our Father”, Jesus is offering a three-fold invitation to us. In the first place, he is inviting us to enter into an intimate relationship with God. St. John pointed it out in his letter: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God. Yet that is what we are.” Hence, we are reminded that when we pray, our only and best disposition is to be like little children. That is why Jesus insisted, “Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” God wants us to relate to Him as a child relates to his own father – with love, trust, honesty, humility and total dependence.

Many times, when parishioners come to me asking for prayers, they would invariably say, “Father, please pray for my intention. I know you are close to God and you are an expert in praying.” I am not even sure if this is a compliment. Contrary to popular belief, praying is not the monopoly of priests. It is supposed to be the main priority in the life of every follower of Christ. In the Gospel last Sunday, Jesus told Martha: “Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her.”

Prayer is the lifeblood of our soul. Saint Padre Pio calls it the “oxygen of our soul”. We cannot live without it. All of us need and are expected to pray. And if we love God, we will find time to pray. Prayer is an expression of our relationship with God. We pray, not because we are close to God. Rather, we are close to God, and so we pray. A child who does not have close relationship with his father will not talk to him in an intimate way. Prayer is the fruit of our relationship with God. The more we love God, the better our prayer will be. Therefore, there are no experts in prayer, but only true lovers of God. Likewise, seniority has no value in prayer, but only the ability to become like little children.

Secondly, in teaching the “Our Father”, Jesus also invites us to enter into a more meaningful relationship with him and with one another. If we call God “Father”, then Jesus is our Brother. Perhaps, nobody among us here will object to that. But Jesus has identified himself with our fellowmen, especially those considered the least, the lost and the last. In the parable on the Last Judgment, Jesus concluded: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.” He demands that we also accept his brothers and sisters as our own. That is why the prayer starts with the first person pronoun “our”. It is never “My Father”. A selfish person has no right to pray the “Our Father”.

In his book “Jesus of Nazareth”, Pope Benedict XVI said: “Only within the ‘we’ of the disciples can we call God ‘Father’, because only through communion with Jesus do we truly become ‘children of God.’ In this sense, the word our is really demanding: It requires that we step out of the closed circle of our ‘I.’ It requires that we surrender ourselves to communion with the other children of God. It requires that we accept the others – that we open our ears and our hearts to them. When we say the word our, we say Yes to the living Church in which the Lord wanted to gather his new family…The Our Father overcomes all boundaries and makes us one family.”

Finally, in teaching us the “Our Father”, Jesus is inviting us to share his vision of this world. The Lord’s Prayer is not as simple as it looks. It is radical and revolutionary: it is a prayer that demands a fundamental change of the world – from being a world of injustice, selfishness and misery, into a world of justice, peace and happiness. It is a prayer that impels us to obey God’s will so that we can be instruments for the transformation of this world into becoming God’s kingdom on earth: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven.”

In the Our Father, Jesus is offering us his threefold invitation: to become God’s children, to become brothers and sisters of Jesus and of one another, and to become instruments for the coming of God’s kingdom on earth. There is an RSVP attached to this invitation. Our reply is needed and it should be: “Amen!”

Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Teresa Church
New York, NY 10002

July 18, 2010

First Things First

Lk 10:38-42

Three nuns were cleaning the chapel. The topic of their conversation was on how to serve God. The first nun said: “I want to be like these candles so that I can always accompany Jesus with my light.” The second said, “I wish to be like these flowers so that I can give my beauty and fragrance to the Lord.” The third one said, “I want to be the white cloth that covers the altar.” The other two were puzzled. “And what does the cloth have to do with serving the Lord?” With a twinkle in her eyes, the nun said, “So that Father can kiss me everyday before and after Mass!”

Like these nuns, the sisters Martha and Mary had their own ideas about serving the Lord. Martha went directly to the kitchen and hurriedly prepared food for her special guests. She was frantic and nervous because she was doing everything by herself and was running out of time. On the other hand, Mary was not concerned about the work in the kitchen. She sat down at the feet of Jesus and listened to his every word.

Martha represents the active apostolate, while Mary the contemplative apostolate. Which of the two was favored by Jesus? When Martha barged in to complain that her sister was not helping her, Jesus gently reprimanded her: “Martha, Martha, you are so worried and anxious about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Does this mean Jesus regarded contemplative life more important than the active life? Definitely not. Both are important in the life of every Christian. However, Jesus made sure that we set our priorities right: first things first. When asked about what the greatest commandment is, Jesus made it very clear: “Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” God first, neighbors next.

Mary has chosen the better part, not that Martha chose the wrong one. Rather, Mary had the right priority. She sat down and listened to the words of the Lord. Before doing anything, she made sure she had the guidance and inspiration of the Lord. On the other hand, Martha was “anxious and worried about many things” because she rushed right into her work without seeking the wisdom and strength from the Lord.

It was, therefore, not a question of which of the two is more important. Work and prayer are both important. It is more a question of which of the two should come first. The Gospel is telling us that it is prayer that should come first so that our work will have the guidance and inspiration from God. A quotation says, “When man works, it is only man who works. But when man prays, God works.” This reminds us of the Scripture passage, “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain does the workman labor; if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.” Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from me, you can do nothing.” Ultimately, it is God who makes things possible, who makes our work fruitful.

There is a story about two woodcutters. The first woodcutter works eight hours a day. The second works only for five hours. But both of them have equal number of logs cut with their axe. Asked about the secret of his productivity, the second woodcutter said, “It is because take time to rest and recharge my body. And while resting, I sharpen my axe.”

Nowadays, people have to be reminded of this lesson. Too many among us have the disease called STD – stress, tension and depression. We work so hard to make ends meet. We rush to meet deadlines, to catch the train, and to come on time for our appointments. At the end of the day, we are exhausted, wasted, dull and empty. And this happens everyday for years. It is summer time, vacation time. But many consider taking vacation as luxury. It has become too expensive, and we cannot even think of taking some time off from work. Worst of all, many of us say that we have no time even to go to Church or to pray. We are just too busy. The Lord is now telling us: “Martha, Martha, you are so worried and anxious about so many things! Relax. Come to me, and I will give you rest!” We need to come to Jesus to get some rest and lots of sharpening.

Remember: Jesus is the tree; we are the branches. A branch cannot bear fruit if it is not connected to the tree. We are powerless and lifeless if we are not connected to Jesus. We have lots of work to do and many obligations to fulfill. Yes, we have to work hard. But first, let us make sure we find time to sit down at the feet of Jesus and listen to his words, be inspired by his spirit and be strengthened by his grace. Then the work becomes light, the fruits of our labors become sweet and abundant. Let us take home the motto of Saint Benedict: “Ora et labora.” Pray and work. Not vice versa.

Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Teresa Church
New York, NY 10002



Vision-Mission Statement
Lk 10:25-37

Three friends went mountain climbing one winter. While they were up on the mountain, a severe storm broke out. The three friends were in a hurry to go down the slippery slopes. Unfortunately, one of them slipped and broke his leg. He could not walk. One friend, knowing that taking care of the injured would slow down their travel in the icy storm, suggested that they just leave him behind and move fast. But the second one could not even think of abandoning their injured friend. So, while the first friend hastily took off alone, the other friend lagged behind as he patiently carried his friend on his back. The next day, the two friends saw the lifeless body of their companion lying on the ground. He froze to death. The two moved very slowly but their bodies provided heat for each other and that saved them from the deadly cold weather.
This story illustrates that selfishness can be deadly. On the other hand, helping others could mean more burden and trouble on our part, but in reality, it could as well be our saving grace. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite avoided the wounded man on the road. It is not that they did not care about the victim. They had their reasons. They did not want to be rendered defiled or ritually unclean just in case the victim was already dead. They also were in a hurry because of the dangerous area. They did not want to get into any trouble or to disrupt their busy schedule. In other words, their priority was not the welfare of the other person, but their own safety, their job, and their comfort.
On the other hand, the Samaritan did not care about his own welfare. He approached the victim, brought him to an inn and cared for him, promising that he will return to make sure everything was paid for. He went out of his way to help the man. He did not mind that his journey was delayed or that he incurred unexpected expenses for somebody he did not even know. For him, the other person was as important as himself.
Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan, not to embarrass the Jews who hated Samaritans, but to describe his own mission. In modern corporate parlance, this parable is the “Vision-Mission Statement” of Jesus. Some early Christian writers, like Origen, and the Church Fathers, notably St. Augustine, interpreted the parable in this way:
The traveler represents humanity. We are on constant journey in this world. However, the journey is not towards Jerusalem, the holy city, but towards Jericho, representing the enticements of the world. The robbers are the forces of evil in the world that lead us to sin. The wounds are the marks of our sins. When we are in sin, we are left for dead, stripped of all power and dignity. The priest and the Levite represent the Old Covenant. The priest is the Law; the Levite is the Prophets. They would not do anything to save us. Fortunately, the Son of God, Jesus, through his Incarnation, comes into our troubled world. He is the Good Samaritan. Though rejected by his own people, he is the one who rescues sinful humanity. He heals our wounds; he hoists us on the beast, the image of his own body; and brings us to an inn, the Church, his Mystical Body. The manager of the inn is the visible head of the Church to whom its care has been entrusted. He gives the innkeeper two coins, representing the two great commandments: love of God and love of neighbor. Then he promises to return, indicating that the Savior will come again, his Second Coming.
This is the Vision-Mission of Jesus. In a world full of selfishness, hopelessly fragmented, and painfully agonizing in violence and misery, Jesus envisions a world where people fully obey the will of the Father, transforming it into the Kingdom of God – a kingdom of peace, justice and love. The only way to achieve this vision is love of neighbor – by reaching out to others, getting out of our comfort zones, and being ready to be disturbed by the needs of others. Jesus shows us his own example as the Good Samaritan, the perfect image of true compassion and unconditional love. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to share in his mission: “Go, and do likewise.”
The world is severely afflicted with the sickness called selfishness. It is this sickness that makes people callous, indifferent and insensitive to the plight of their neighbors. Have you ever wondered why tyrants and dictators use the symbol of a clenched fist? A closed hand cannot and does not want to give. It wants everything for itself. But since it is closed, it also cannot receive. We may not admit it, but this is true to so many of us nowadays. We assume the closed fist attitude. We imprison ourselves in our own little worlds, and we do not want anyone to disturb our peace and comfort. We do not want to give, so we close our hands. But in effect, we also cannot receive. In a society of closed hands, life is meaningless – everything comes to a standstill. Nothing comes and nothing goes. This is what makes life ugly and miserable.
That is why sometimes something terrible happens in our world – 9/11, earthquakes, Katrina, oil spill, financial meltdown – not because God punishes us, but because we need something to shake us and wake us up from our unperturbed slumber in complacency and self-sufficiency. We need to realize that we cannot remain unaffected by others. No one can be totally independent and self-sufficient. God created us as complementary and interdependent beings. We need each other. It is only in reaching out to others and in being one with them in their times of need that we discover the beautiful meaning of life. It is then that we begin to live life to the full as God wants for all of us.
When are we going to join Jesus in realizing his vision for the world? When do we begin to take part in his mission? Enough of our selfishness and closed-hand policy. It is time to open our hands and reach out to one another. After all, the hand is more beautiful when it is open. Let the words of Jesus continuously ring in our minds and hearts: “Go, and do likewise.”

Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Teresa Church
New York, NY 10002

DI MALAYO; NASA BIBIG, NASA PUSO

Ika-15 Linggo ng Taon(K)
Julio 11, 2010

Mga Pagbasa: Dt 30:1—14 / Col 1:15-20 / Lucas 10:25-37

Noong nakaraang Linggo, nagwika tayo nang kaunti tungkol sa pagbibingi-bingihan. Mahirap tawagin ang taong nagbibingi-bingihan. Mahirap gamutin ang taong nagsasakit-sakitan. Ang tunay na bingi ay may pakiramdam. Ang nagpapanggap na bingi ay manhid, walang pakundangan sa anuman!

Nakakatuwang makita ang mga nahuhuli dahil sa wangwang, blinkers, sirena, o dahil sa “color coding” na wala namang kinalaman sa “color.” Kanya-kanyang palusot, kanya-kanyang dahilan … “bagong dating lang ako sa Pilipinas,” ang sabi ng isang medyo tisoy … “hindi ko alam,” ang sabi naman ng isang matronang con todo colorete sa mukha … “iisa lang ang sasakyan naming,” ang pilit ng isang matabang ale. Ang sabi naman ng isang halos mahimatay sa iyak, “nagmamadali kami dahil sa may hinahabol na apoitnment sa duktor!” Maraming dahilan …maraming sandalan …

Nguni’t tingnan natin saglit … may kawawaan ba talaga ang lahat ng dahilang ito? May saysay ba at kahihinatnan? May kahulugan ba ito at kaugnayan sa mga pagbasa natin ngayon?  Continue reading here.

July 04, 2010

Soup Kitchen of the Lord

Lk 10:1-12, 17-20

Once upon a time, there was a happy village in a distant land. But a great famine came and the villagers, in their need to survive, became selfish. They secretly stored their food supply and nobody was willing to share with neighbors and friends. One day, a stranger arrived in the village. He went around asking for something to eat. As expected, nobody helped him. Finally, a poor woman welcomed him in her small house. She was so poor that she could only offer him water. He gladly accepted the offer and shared with her his secret. He said that he has a magic stone that could turn ordinary water into a nutritious and delicious soup enough to feed the whole village. The old woman hastily spread the news to her neighbors. Before long, the entire village was gathered outside her house. The stranger took out a round shiny stone and threw it into a large pot filled with water. The curious villagers brought firewood and kept an eye on the large cooking pot.

After several minutes, the Stone Soup boiled and the stranger tasted it. “Wow! This Stone Soup is great! But, of course, Stone Soup with a little cabbage would surely taste better.” A villager ran to his house and took out from hiding a cabbage and gave it to the stranger. “Wonderful!” the stranger exclaimed. “But some onions would perk up the taste of the cabbage in my Stone Soup!” Another villager came up with some onions and garlic for the soup. That started the whole thing. Everybody wanted to have the most delicious Stone Soup ever, and each one took out their hidden stock of ingredients – potatoes, carrots, beans, seasoning and all. That day, the villagers shared the most delicious meal ever. They wanted to buy the magic stone, but the stranger refused to sell it because he was still going to visit other villages. When the famine ended, the people of the village were grateful to him, not only for the finest soup they ever had, but also for having learned the beautiful lesson of generosity and sharing, especially in difficult circumstances. (Adapted from Fr. M. Ezeogu).

The stranger is like the disciples of Jesus. He had no traveling bag, no money and no food with him. But he had the magic stone. The stone did not have any magic power, but he used it to lead and encourage the people to share and be more generous. It would be very easy to look at the Gospel this Sunday simply as the sending of the disciples by Jesus. But if we look at his instructions, there is something more.

Jesus instructed his disciples: “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals.” Many people would think that Jesus was teaching them poverty or encouraging them to a life of rigorous asceticism. But this was not the case. Further along, he said: “The laborer deserves his payment.” In other words, he instructed them not to bring anything with them because he expects that those who will accept the Gospel will supply the things that the missionaries need – food, money, sandals, bags and all. This is similar to what happened in our story. The stranger brought nothing with him but the magic stone. The rest – water, firewood, potato, carrots and everything – were provided by the villagers themselves.

In short, the Gospel this Sunday is not only an instruction for the disciples on how to go about in their mission. It also intends to remind all of us of our duties as Christians. The Code of Canon Law states: “Christ’s faithful have the obligation to provide for the needs of the Church, so that the Church has available to it those things which are necessary for divine worship, for works of the apostolate and of charity and for the worthy support of its ministers” (canon 222, par. 1). When Jesus said, “The laborer deserves his wages,” he is also telling us, “Just as you pay the plumbers and carpenters who build your house, so also you must support my messengers who maintain the upkeep of your souls and build my Church.”

Perhaps a few statistical data may help us evaluate ourselves in this area. In a recent study, it was revealed that the average Catholic family donates 1% of its income to the church, while the family in the Presbyterian church gives 2.2% or more. This means Presbyterians give two times more than Catholics. But the Mormons are more generous. They give 10% of their income to the church, and dedicate two years of their lives working as missionaries. The two million Seventh Day Adventists, on the other hand, generate a bigger contribution for their missionary work than the 800 million Catholics all over the world.

The Catholic Church, the one founded by Jesus Christ himself, is in a very difficult situation. Parishes are losing people, the seminaries that are still open are half-empty, parochial schools and Catholic hospitals are rapidly disappearing, and many priests, for various reasons, leave the ministry. This scenario clearly tells us that the Church is losing by default, and it is because she does not get enough support from many of her members. As somebody said, “Catholics are always ready to give God all the credit, but not their cash!” So, to survive, many parishes embark on a whole range of fund raising activities. I know of a Filipino priest in a parish in New Jersey who was assigned by his pastor to personally conduct bingo four times a week.

“The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few.” Jesus sent not only the Twelve apostles; he also sent the seventy-two disciples. This symbolically indicates that he sends not only the priests but also the lay people to proclaim the message of salvation in the world. Let us be generous in supporting the Church, not only with our money, but also with our time, our talents and our energy so that we become active workers in the rich harvest of the Lord. Each one’s contribution, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem, is an additional ingredient to a more nutritious and delightful soup in the kitchen of the Lord.

Fr. Mike Lagrimas

St. Teresa Church

New York, NY 10002

June 27, 2010

No Dual Citizenship

Lk 9:51-62

Two women met again forty years after their high school graduation. The first one shared her story. “I have married the best husband in the world. And now we still live happily together.” “Oh, how boring,” said her friend. “For me, I have fulfilled my wish in life. I married four wonderful men.” She explained, “My first marriage was to a millionaire; my second marriage was to an actor; my third marriage was to a preacher; and now I’m married to an undertaker.” Her friend was confused. “I don’t understand. Why do you have to marry four men?” She replied, “Well, it is just part of my overall plan in life. One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go.” (It looks like she is always wearing her blue suede shoes!)

The entire life of Jesus, from his birth to his death on the cross, is according to the overall plan of God for the salvation of the world. That is why, in the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” He goes to Jerusalem, not as a tourist or visitor. He is going there solely to accomplish the plan of the Father. It is there that that he will undergo sufferings and death and offer his life for the salvation of mankind. His obedience to the heavenly Father is absolute and immutable. No one can change his decision to follow his Father’s will, not the hostility of the Samaritans, and not even the objections of Peter and the pleadings of his disciples.

The action of Jesus was a strong lesson for all his followers. Obedience to the will of God is prompt, absolute and non-negotiable. In the Gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples to imitate his example. He invites everyone to follow him. But following him is not that simple and easy. He clarified three important points in order to avoid any false expectation.

First, there is no guarantee of economic or material reward. He said, “Foxes have dens, birds in the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” For those who want to follow Jesus with economic reward and material comfort in mind, they are bound to be frustrated. The example of Jesus himself shows it. He is the King of kings, the true Son of God. But he was born in a manger, he grew up in a carpenter’s shop, and died on the cross with everything – clothes and dignity – stripped away. Expecting or asking for something that Jesus never even had is rather absurd. Instead, Jesus demands from his followers total dependence and trust in God. That is why when he sent his disciples on mission, he instructed them: “Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts, no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick” (Mt 10:9-10). It is an invitation to withdraw our trust in material things and to fully trust in God.

Second, following Jesus is not an insurance to a safe and risk-free life. “I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves,” he told his disciples. That is why, in the Gospel this Sunday, he said, “Let the dead bury their dead.” This may be a harsh statement, but he does not mean any disrespect for the dead. He may be implying that anybody or anything that hinders or blocks one from following Jesus should be considered dead. In other words, this is what St. Paul declared: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39).

Third, following Jesus is not a walk in the park. It is full of difficulties and challenges, and the follower must focus his full attention and energy on the task and mission on hand. Jesus used an illustration in farming: “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” In another place, he said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough” (Lk 13:24). Following Jesus is a constant struggle and hard work, but it is all worth it. As a quotation says, “God promises, not a calm passage, but a safe landing.”

Let us now ask ourselves: Are we still willing to follow Jesus? What, then, is our overall plan in life? Is following Jesus part of that plan? Many of us are now thinking of a comfortable retirement after many years of labor and sacrifices. There is nothing wrong with that. But is that what God has in mind for us? Jesus revealed God’s plan: “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day” (Jn 6:40).

God’s plan for us, therefore, goes infinitely beyond our retirement plans. He wants us to be with Him in heaven for we are His children. Indeed, we are citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20). But we can become full-pledged citizens of heaven only if we follow Jesus all the way.

A Filipino has lived in the U.S. for many years, but he has not succeeded in legalizing his status. On his 60^th birthday, he announced to his wife and children: “At last, now I’ve got my dual citizenship!” They were surprised and asked, “How come you have dual citizenship and you do not even have a green card yet?” He replied, “I am a Filipino citizen, and now, at 60, I am also senior citizen!”

As Christians, we are reminded that we cannot have dual citizenship. We have only one citizenship, and that is in heaven. St. Paul reminds us: “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God” (Eph 2:19). Let our thoughts, words and behavior be in accordance with this most sublime dignity and calling.

Fr. Mike Lagrimas

St. Teresa Church

New York, NY 10002

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 20, 2010

To Lose is to Gain

Lk 9:18-24

Two neighbors are mortal enemies for years – and they compete all the time. An angel from heaven was sent to one of them and announced, “The Lord saw your bitter quarrels and competition. He wants you both to be happy. Ask for anything you like, and I will grant it to you.” The man was happily surprised. “Now,” he thought, “I can finally outdo my neighbor.” But the angel said, “There is one detail, though. You can ask for anything, and I will give it to you. But your neighbor will receive two times more than what you get.” The man’s face fell. His competitor will receive double than what he will receive. If he will ask for a mansion, it will be given to him, but his neighbor will get two mansions. “That cannot be,” he muttered to himself. After a long thought, he finally said to the angel: “I ask that I lose one eye.”

This story is about the capital sin of envy. St. Thomas Aquinas defines envy as the “sorrow for another’s good.” As shown in the story, the man chose to lose an eye so that his enemy will lose both eyes. This is the classic case of the so-called “crab mentality”: “If I lose, you also lose. I cannot allow you to win.” Jesus said something about it: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the kingdom of heaven before human beings. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter” (Mt 23:13).

In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus acknowledged the revelation about himself by the heavenly Father through Simon Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But he made sure this was taken in the right perspective. He quickly pointed out that his reign is not through domination and a spectacular display of his divine power, but through suffering and death. This is what the prophet Zechariah referred to when he said, “they will look on him whom they have pierced” (Zech 12:11). He is the Messiah who will be pierced, will sacrifice and offer his own life so that others may live. He showed that the way to life is by dying, the way to receive is by giving, the way to gain is by losing: “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Lk 9:24).

The troubles in this world are caused by man’s selfishness and greed. It is the insatiable desire of people to have more, to gain more than the others. This attitude runs counter to the Gospel. While Jesus talked about losing everything, people talk about gaining big. For many of us, losing is not an option. If somebody has something that we do not have, we try to get it also, or we become envious – we are not anymore happy with the good fortune of the other. That is the sin of envy. And if we have something that others do not have, we are unwilling to share it with anybody for fear that we might lose it. This is the sin of jealousy. In both envy and jealousy, greed and selfishness are unmistakably present that make the idea of losing or sharing totally unimaginable.

Following Jesus means following the way of love, the way of self-giving, that makes one ready and willing to lose himself and undergo sacrifices. This is the only way to a meaningful and joyful life. This also leads to peace and unity in the community. We, who confess that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, are expected to bear the fruits of unity and love. Having one faith should bind us together into one community. Incidentally, the word “religion” comes from the Latin word “religare”, which means, “to bind”. This is what St. Paul declared in the second reading: “Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26-28).

Sadly, however, this is not what happens until now. We profess only one faith in Jesus Christ, but we are chronically divided. There are the Roman Catholics, the Oriental Churches, the Lutherans, the Anglicans, and the Born Again Christian sects.

In Liverpool, England, there is an annual ecumenical service named the “Two Cathedrals service”. This tradition was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Anglicans and Roman Catholics would gather together on the same street where the Cathedrals of the Anglicans and the Roman Catholics stand, to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. This year, the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper, spoke during the celebration. He said, “This reality of a divided Christendom is sin and is a scandal. It damages the holy task that is the mission given by the Spirit to spread the Gospel all over the world in order to reconcile peoples and to bring them together. This reality, we must say it without hesitation, is against Christ’s will, is against the testament he left us on the eve of his death, when he prayed that all be one.” He further emphasized: “We cannot preach reconciliation and peace and at the same time be divided and not reconciled among ourselves” (Zenit.org, May 25, 2010).

We can say that the disunity among Christians is rooted in the fact that for many of us, it is selfishness, greed, ambition, envy and jealousy that dominate our lives. We are now challenged by this Sunday’s Gospel to make our faith genuine. If we really profess our faith in Jesus Christ, we have to fully imbibe his spirit of self-giving love and readiness to sacrifice and lose oneself for God and for others. Only then can we say that our faith leads to peace, unity and eternal life and happiness.

Fr. Mike Lagrimas

St. Teresa Church

New York, NY 10002

DIYOS KO, AKO’Y PATAWARIN SA AKING PAGKASUWAIL

Ika-11 Linggo ng Taon (K)
Junio 13, 2010

Mga Pagbasa: 2 Samuel 12:7-10,13 /Galatas 2:16, 19-21 / Lucas 7:36-8:3

Hindi mahirap unawain ang pinagdaanan ni David. Tumanggi siya sa simula. Nagkaila. Nagkubli ng kanyang malaking pagkakamali. Kwento ito nating lahat. Hindi natin matanggap ang pagkasuwail natin. Kung titingnan natin ang takbo ng lipunan natin, lalu na sa politika, bihasa tayong lahat sa pagbubunton ng lahat ng kasamaan sa kapwa. Hindi ba’t lahat ng kamalian sa gobyerno ay tila laging kagagawan ng namumuno? Kung magulo ang trapiko, laging problema ito ng MMDA chairman. Kung bundok ang basura sa mga lansangan natin, laging kagagawan ito ng mga nakaupo.  Continue reading here.

LIBAN O LABAN?