STRIVE

August 21, 2022 Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 13-22-30 In todays gospel Jesus does not give a direct answer to the question, ‘Will only a few be saved?’ Three points I would like to share with you this Sunday. First, salvation is a result of our STRUGGLE. Keep striving and make an effort to enter. The entry is hard and difficult but keep trying. Friends, entry into God’s kingdom is not automatically granted according to our religious activities. Do not presume that going to church can be a perfect visa to be saved. No! Do not be too sure that receiving the sacraments can the password to unlock the gate of heaven. No! Not all who say Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of God. Let us not feel too comfortable in the belief that God is somehow obliged to save us. “We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.Then he will say to you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!” Friends, let our relationship with God be coupled by our acts of mercy and good deeds. Let us be a believers at the same time doers. Secondly, to be saved let us strive to STAY AWAY from evil doings and diabolic lifestyles. Friends, the gate towards heaven is narrow but faith accompanied by our acts of kindness will widen it up. Salvation is not assured by religious uniform or being seen by others as pious. We cannot be saved by faith alone. “Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.” The irony: sometimes we use our mouth to praise God in prayers but likewise it is thesame mouth we use to tell lies, curse and swear. Walk your talk! Finally, when we keep our best we can SHARE the joy of heaven. The narrow gate is a happy gate. Choose that gate! Today, let us be an instrument of salvation to all so that all people will stream towards the city of God “Go out and tell the goodnews.” Let me end my reflection with this joke: An open-air evangelist, preaching on today’s Gospel text was warning his congregation about the eternal damnation. “On the Day of Judgment,” he said, “there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” But an old woman in the crowd asked, “Look preacher, I got no teeth!” “Never mind,” says the evangelist, “teeth will be provided.” Blessings Fr. Jhack

WALK YOUR TALK

Saturday within the Twentienth week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 23:1-12 “Do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” Today’s gospel is reminding us of three things: First, don’t do things in order to be seen. The Lord is not interested showing our performance. Let us avoid an attitude of seeking to impress others. I always tell this: Try to work for a cause not for applause. The desire to impress others is the worst forms of mental imprisonment. If you have plans to win the approval of others try to walk your talk. Teaching is good if the teacher also acts. The life we live is the lesson we teach. Try to be original. Avoid being fake. How? Don’t talk, act! Don’t say, show! Don’t promise, prove! In short, walk your talk. As a priest, today’s Gospel is telling me personally, If I don’t practice what I preach I am nothing more than a hypocrite. It is my prayer that my life may preach loudly than my lips. Friends, never separate the life you live from the words you speak. The best homily I can preach is my life. Moreover, the gospel is telling us to do what we say. Action speaks louder than words. An ounce of practice is better than tons of preaching. Well done is better than well said. Fellow church leaders let us practice what we preach or don’t preach at all. Finally we are reminded that the criterion for true greatness is humility. A great man is always willing to be little. The first step towards greatness is living a life like that of a servant. “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." Brethren, if we wanted to go up, we need to go down! Blessings Fr. Jhack

HOW TO BE PERFECT

Friday of the Twentienth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 22:34-40 God is visible through our neighbour. “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.” Folks, the gospel for today is reminding us that our mission is to love others. Loving our neighbor is the pattern of perfection. Loving our neighbor is our passport to the Kingdom of God. You know what, we cannot love God and then refuse to love our neighbour. Loving God but hating our neighbor is hypocrisy. Friends, we don’t have to be perfect. We just need to move in towards the direction of love. I firmly believed that loving others is the key and password to a fulfilled and happy life. How we treat others paves the way to our own blessedness. Love for God and for others must be full not partial. Let me conclude my reflection with this thought: “Love people not things. Use things not people.” Blessings Fr. Jhack

YOU ARE INVITED

Thursday of the Twentienth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 22:1-14 Heaven is like a wedding banquet. In that banquet everyone is invited. “Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.” Three things I would like to share: First, God has prepared something special for us. Whoever and wherever we are, you are in the mind of God. He wants us to show up and be present. Second, He keeps on inviting because theres an abundance of everything. God is not tired and selective of guest. Everybody is welcome. Friends, you are invited because God wants to fill you with much. Refusing to come is a great loss on our part not with God. God desires to overflow you with His abundance. Finally, that banquet is a festivity so wear your proper appropriate attire. There is a dress code. Friends, dress up yourself with the garment of righteousness and holiness because God’s kingdom is a meal of God’s love and mercy for us. “For the kingdom of God does not mean food and drink [it is not made up of mundane things even enjoyable things such as food and drink] but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit," (Romans 14:17). Conclusion: You are cordially invited. Dont missed it. Blessings Fr. Jhack

BE GRATEFUL! THATS HOW TO CONQUER ENVY!

Wednesday of the Twentienth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 20:1-16 The gospel reading today tells us of the magnitude of God’s mercy and generosity. What counts in the kingdom of God is not seniority or years of service, but the diligence of heart. Our Lord does not look at the amount of our service but the love with which it is given that matters. Friends, we are reminded not to impose our terms on God. We should not make God act like human beings. God does not follow the human system of weights and measurements. God’s ways is better. It is totally different from us. Friends, God transcends human standards. Envy is one our worst problem today. “Are you envious because I am generous?” An envious person constantly compares himself to others, forever worrying that somehow, somewhere, someone is receiving more than he. Perhaps we behave like the first workers in the parable, we feel envious about people who are more good-looking, more talented, and more gifted than we. Envy hinders us from seeing other people’s goodness. Friends, the gospel is asking us to rejoice in the success and good fortune of others. Do not be sad if others are happy and don’t be happy if others are sad. Rejoice with the progress of people around you. Stop complaining and refrain from comparing yourselves. Conquer envy by being grateful. Count your blessings and learn to be satisfied with what you have. Blessings Fr. Jhack

MONEY IS NOT GOD

Tuesday of the Twentienth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 19:23-30 God does not condemn rich people but their attachment to their riches. It is not bad to be wealthy but replacing God for money is. Friends, too much possessions will possess us. Thats the danger! The point is not so much that God will prevent the rich from entering the kingdom, but that their riches will be an obstacle in their path. Wealth may create a sense of false security. Wealth has also the potential to be an obstacle for having the true understanding of where the true riches in our lives lies. If money and material things become the center of our lives, they seize us and make us slaves. I shared it with you before but I wanted to repeat it this time: “If material things are what your talking about when you say ‘I am blessed” you have no idea what blessing is.” Friends, God will never leave us empty. He is a God who always provide. “For God all things are possible.” Guys, do what you love and money will follow. Dreams dont work unless you do. But please finance your life with God. Blessings Fr. Jhack

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 12:49-53 We cannot inspire unless we are not on fire. Friends, fire is the issue in today’s gospel. “I have come to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it was blazing already.” Jesus uses the word “fire” in a symbolic term. In the Old Testament, fire is a symbol of God’s presence. In the New Testament however, present fire as an agent of transformation. In the Pentecost event the apostles were transformed from timid and fearful men into courageous missionaries and preachers of the gospel. Today, my dear friends dont lose your fire! Be hot in your pursuit of Jesus. Reignite the fire in your heart. As Christians we are meant to be ‘on fire’. Folks, let your flame burning. Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames. Be fearless in the pursuit of what set your soul on fire. Moreover, we always associate Jesus with love and peace. But today we heard Him saying: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Indeed, Jesus causes division because not every members of our family express their love for Him. Some goes to church others dont. Some do their prayers but other ignores it. Others were faithful but some were indifferent. Some members of our family were bold in their faith but others dont even care. You know what, not everyone would accept and receive His message and hence it would bring division. Like Jeremiah in our first reading be bold in preaching what the Lord wants. He refused to give in to the king’s desire. Friends, be a sign of contradiction. Refuse to surrender your faith. Today let us fill the world with Jesus so that we may be one. Let me conclude my reflection with 3F: Be on FIRE Be FIRM FILLED the world with Jesus Blessings Fr. Jhack

BE ON FIRE

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 12:49-53 We cannot inspire unless we are not on fire. Friends, fire is the issue in today’s gospel. “I have come to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it was blazing already.” Jesus uses the word “fire” in a symbolic term. In the Old Testament, fire is a symbol of God’s presence. In the New Testament however, present fire as an agent of transformation. In the Pentecost event the apostles were transformed from timid and fearful men into courageous missionaries and preachers of the gospel. Today, my dear friends dont lose your fire! Be hot in your pursuit of Jesus. Reignite the fire in your heart. As Christians we are meant to be ‘on fire’. Folks, let your flame burning. Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames. Be fearless in the pursuit of what set your soul on fire. Moreover, we always associate Jesus with love and peace. But today we heard Him saying: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Indeed, Jesus causes division because not every members of our family express their love for Him. Some goes to church others dont. Some do their prayers but other ignores it. Others were faithful but some were indifferent. Some members of our family were bold in their faith but others dont even care. You know what, not everyone would accept and receive His message and hence it would bring division. Like Jeremiah in our first reading be bold in preaching what the Lord wants. He refused to give in to the king’s desire. Friends, be a sign of contradiction. Refuse to surrender your faith. Today let us fill the world with Jesus so that we may be one. Let me conclude my reflection with 3F: Be on FIRE Be FIRM FILLED the world with Jesus Blessings Fr. Jhack

HOW TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 19:13-15 "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." Children are not disturbance. They are not burdens but blessings. Anything we do to hinder children from coming to Jesus displeases our dear Lord. Sometimes we are like the disciples in today’s gospel. We think that children are disturbance. Many of us we prevent our children to be close to God. Friends, care about what God cares about. Challenge: Raise your children to love God. Bring them to the faith. Don’t keep them at home. Parent’s witnessing is best way to attract kids going to church. You know what, a church without children is dead. If your church is noisy because of children, rejoice because your church is alive. Let your parish be filled with children. Let the church be their safe abode. Blessings Fr. Jhack

MARRIAGE IS FOREVER

Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Mt 19:3-12 The spelling of marriage is FOREVER! “what God has joined together, man must not separate.” My dear friends, in the plan of God, marriage is meant to be for life. It is a permanent union of husband and wife. (For better or for worse.)Today, if you guys are undergoing some storms in your relationships the gospel is reminding us that separation is not always the best solution. Never give up. Choose to love. Today Jesus calls us to take our personal relationships and commitments very seriously. Moreover, not all are called for matrimony. Some choose celibacy for a deeper and greater reason and that is for the propagation of God’s kingdom. Friends, splitting is weakness unity is power. If you wish a happy and successful marriage, fall in love many times with thesame person. Conclusion: Marriage is not a problem. Getting married for the wrong reason is. Blessings Fr. Jhack

WHY TO FORGIVE?

Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 18:21–19:1 Three things I would like to share today. First, forgiveness is not equivalent to forgetfulness. Forgetting is not forgiving. Forgiving means loving. It is an act of genuine love. Friends, forgiving is the highest form of loving. When we have someone whom we are not in good terms with, don’t be sad because enemies are ladder for our holiness. When you have enemies it means God is giving you the chance and opportunity to enter the kingdom of God. Second, forgiveness is unlimited. Jesus points out that forgiveness knows no limit. The limit of mercy is limitless. Its infinite. Friends, forgiveness is a way in which we align our life with God’s life. Never give up to forgive. Dont get tired to apologize. Let go of the thoughts and fantasies of revenge. Finally, forgiveness brings us healing. The secret of a happy, healthy and long life rest in forgiveness. If we want to live long, practice forgiveness everyday. If we want to be heathy, make forgiveness as your daily exercise. If we wish to be happy, dont keep the records of pains and hurts. Release them by forgiving. Challenge: Go and reconcile. Say sorry and be sincere with your apology. Blessings Fr. Jhack

FEAST OF ST. LAWRENCE

Wednesday within the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Feast of St. Lawrence John 12:24–26 “Those who love their life lose it” The purpose of life is not to live but to give life for others. There is something wrong in us if we live just to acquire possessions, attain status, achieve success and experience happiness. Our life is all about loving and serving God. “Whoever serves me, the Father will honour." I remember a famous preacher Rick Warren said: “Without God life has no purpose, and without purpose life has no meaning, without meaning life has no significance.” My friends, today’s gospel teaches us the following: First, don’t forget to live before you die. The best way to live is to be productive. Secondly, love eternal life more than earthly existence. Third, follow Jesus and finally, be a servant. Desire to serve than to be served. Blessings Fr. Jhack

3P’s TO RESOLVE CONFLICT

Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 18:15-20 “If your brother or sister sins against you, you should go and talk with them about the situation.” It is not easy to speak out. It is not that comfortable to correct others. They may hate us because of that. We may have enemies when we do it in a wrong way. Today’s gospel reading teaches us the right christian approach in dealing with internal conflicts with members who erred. The formula is very basic and simple. First, engage in a dialogue. Initiate a personal PRIVATE conversation between the two of you. The offended party must talk directly to the offender and have a private chat. Friends, converse but not confront. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” Guys, if you have problems and issues with your leader; go to your leader. Fix the friction and the tension. Approach and have a private conversation with your leader. If you have problem with the banana, go and talk to the banana not to the apple. You know what I mean? Our problem however is this: we ignore! We keep our distance. We skip rule number one and we proceed to step two without completing first the stage one. Friends, if you have an issues with your boss talk to your boss not to his secretary. If you have disagreement with your parish priest, talk directly to your pastor. Bringing the issue directly to a higher authority is not a healthy and charitable move. That’s unfair! This is following the law of subsidiarity. You know what, the best gift to heal our hurts and pains is a simple dialogue. For me, it is the most effective way of resolving conflict. Second, “if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” It means look for a PARTNER to help you settle the disputes. A partner may represent a friend, an elder, an expert or someone you trusted. Folks, we are responsible for one another. Frank Clark once said: “Critism like rain should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without deatroying his roots.” Finally, if he refuses give him another chance by asking the support of the community. Bring the issue to PUBLIC and ask the wisdom of the group. Our job is to win our erring brethren back. We have to reach out and encourage them back to the faith. If we are going to bring out the best in people, we too need to sow the seeds of encouragement. Friends, train yourself to find a blessing in everything. If the the 3 P’s failed, bring it constantly to your PRAYERS! Don’t stop to win your friend back again! Blessings Fr. Jhack

BE LITTLE

Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14 Whenever we hear the word “great” we ussually attribute it to size, strength, power, ability, achievements, etc. How do we achieve greatness? Friends, greatness is not found in possession, power, position or prestige. Greatness is discovered in humility, goodness, service and character. We come nearest to greatness when we are great in humility. Greatness, in the spiritual sense, is associated with littleness and humility. And humility is the mother of giants. If we wish to be great, be little! If we don’t know how to bent we are not fit to enter God’s kingdom. The gate of heaven of very low, only those who are humble can enter it. Among Jesus' greatest concerns was his care for the weak and the little ones. Friends, the path of humility is the road that leads towards greatness. “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Blessings Fr. Jhack