PAN DE LA SEMANA

[BREAKING THE BREAD OF GOD’S WORD] Second Sunday of Advent – C December 6, 2015 BY WAY OF THE SIMPLE AND THE HUMBLE Baruch is certainly one prophet we need in our times. We are robed in mourning and misery in our own ways, too. But that is not the part we need to highlight from him. What we need is the assurance the Lord tells us through him: “For God will show your splendor to all under the heavens.” But there is more reassurance coming from a younger prophet, named Paul: “the one who began a good work in [us] will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” But I reserve the best for last – from the Gospel of Luke. You see, Luke had an eye for details because he was a scientist – a doctor. And what details he tells us today! It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. And Pilate was governor and Philip was tetrarch of this and Lysanias was ruler of that … And you thought that it was all about royalty, huh? His story began with bigwigs...

Baptism of the Lord (B) January 11, 2015 A SERVANT WHOM I UPHOLD I remember a well-sought after speaker who was invited once to give a talk on the big and lofty topic called the “personalist philosophy” of Pope St. John Paul II. I am no philosopher and biographer, but I do know what that basically refers to – the importance, dignity, and primacy of the human person above all other external or “accidental” considerations about the human person. It was a brilliant and eloquent talk. The listeners were all impressed and imbued with the great desire of upholding the dignity of everyone they knew – yes … including drivers, “kasambahays” (domestic helpers or caregivers), and gardeners or servants. That is, up until he called for his driver and called him out in the big auditorium: “Driver! Please bring my books over from the car!” So much for upholding the personalist philosophy of someone so admired, delivered by someone so much sought after as a ...

3 rd Sunday of Advent-Year B GAUDETE SUNDAY December 14, 2014 FROM DENIAL TO DECLARATION The Gospel passage of today reminds me of the unfortunate, dysfunctional politics that is in force in my country since time immemorial. Every big fish in government accused of so many things have one common response – deny, deflect, desist, and defame others! This is a far cry from today’s humble approach shown by the focus of today’s gospel reading – St. John the Baptist. He could as well have been someone being interviewed by any of the warring giant networks’ team of overzealous reporters out to be make a scoop.   “Who are you?” … “What are you then?” … “Are you Elijah?” … “Are you the prophet?” “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?” “What do you have to say about yourself?” Hmmm! … the questions sound familiar. They all sound like people who ask not to find out the truth, but to insist on their own brand of prec...

--> Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (A) January 12, 2014 N.B. I will be embarking on a long journey by land to Eastern Samar to do an errand of charity so I am posting this well in advance. Happy new year to everyone! RUMORS? Soren Kierkegaard had an interesting insight about knowing and behaving according to what one might know. If there were people who knew all about where the Messiah was to be born, they had to be the experts, the learned, the scribes … those who knew the law and had it in their finger tips. They knew everything there was to know. But they did not budge a single inch from where they stood, perched on the pinnacle of indifference and unconcern. In contrast, the Magi only heard a rumor. But it was enough to make them go for the journey of a lifetime, in search of the rumored newborn king. They moved. They searched for him with might and main, even risking the ire of a jealous, insecure king, who also searched for the boy, but...

4 th Sunday of Advent (C) December 23, 2012 FESTINA LENTE! An ancient Latin aphorism that sounds like an oxymoron says: Festina Lente! It means “Make haste slowly.” How does one make haste? How does one does so but ever so slowly? How does one stop a rampaging Christmas season now at its climax, with excitement ready to explode any time now, at least for children who have things to look forward to? How does one look forward to Christmas at this time of year (the second in as many years) when thousands still lay desolate, despairing and dying (if not dead) in the typhoon ravaged areas of Mindanao in the Philippines? Yes, I am wondering how on earth we can stop something we have taken for granted all our lives. And no! I am not about to stop you from celebrating Christmas. Please do. Please go along with the news of glad tidings that the angels brought to lowly smelly shepherds of yore. Please walk together with the Magi in honest sear...

2 nd Sunday of Advent (C) December 9, 2012 JOINING IN, INSTEAD OF WHINING! It is hard to write when one’s heart is filled with so many cares and concerns. As I write, 477 people have been confirmed dead and scores, if not hundreds, are yet missing in the aftermath of typhoon Bopha (Pablo) in Southern Philippines. As I tried to begin this reflection, reports say that another powerful earthquake struck Japan some place, with no details yet available. One literally feels a little like clutching at straws, trying to make sense out of so many seemingly non-sensical events that transpire right before our eyes, here, there, and everywhere. But Advent, among other things, has to do with expectation. Advent is about waiting. But Advent is also about anticipating what one is avidly and longingly waiting for. Advent is not about sitting down in a corner to twiddle one’s thumbs, and waiting in resignation for things to unfold, come what may, happen what might. Adve...

THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST June 24, 2007 (vice 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Readings: Is 49:1-6 / Acts 13: 22-26 / Lk 1:57-66, 80 Other than Jesus Christ Himself, the Son of God incarnate, only St. John the Baptist is accorded the highest celebration in Church (we call it a Solemnity) on the occasion of his nativity or birthday. For one who declared in all humility, “he must increase, and I must decrease,” (Jn 3:30) St. John is a veritable towering figure in the firmament of superstars in heaven! But today, we would do well to look at the ways by which, and through which, John the Baptist received that heavenly crown of glory that we, and many other generations, extol him for. As usual, the chosen readings for the day are our primary rich resource and reference. First and foremost, we must acknowledge that he was a man “called and sent.” He is a man raised after the heart of God himself. This much, the first reading indirectly alludes to. Although, it is by no means clear that ...