A Holy Life

Saint Simon

Apostles,

Feast day – October 28

Simon is mentioned on all four lists of the apostles. On two of them he is called "the Zealot." The Zealots were a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. For them, the messianic promise of the Old Testament meant that the Jews were to be a free and independent nation. God alone was their king, and any payment of taxes to the Romans — the very domination of the Romans — was a blasphemy against God. No doubt some of the Zealots were the spiritual heirs of the Maccabees, carrying on their ideals of religion and independence. But many were the counterparts of modern terrorists. They raided and killed, attacking both foreigners and "collaborating" Jews. They were chiefly responsible for the rebellion against Rome which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. 

 

As in the case of all the apostles except for Peter, James and John, we are faced with men who are really unknown, and we are struck by the fact that their holiness is simply taken to be a gift of Christ. He chose some unlikely people: a former Zealot, a former (crooked) tax collector, an impetuous fisherman, two "sons of thunder" and a man named Judas Iscariot. It is a reminder that we cannot receive too often. Holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality, effort or achievement. It is entirely God's creation and gift. God needs no Zealots to bring about the kingdom by force. Jude, like all the saints, is the saint of the impossible: only God can create his divine life in human beings. And God wills to do so, for all of us.

 

 "Just as Christ was sent by the Father, so also he sent the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit. This he did so that, by preaching the gospel to every creature (cf. Mark 16:15), they might proclaim that the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, had freed us from the power of Satan (cf. Acts 26:18) and from death, and brought us into the kingdom of his Father" (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)

 

Sources for this article were taken from:  www.AmericanCatholic.org

 

Prayer

O almighty God, who has built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head cornerstone; Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Saint Simon – Pray for us

 

Gospel Reflection

October 27, 2012

Saturday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Msgr. Bong Lo (Chaplain, Chapel of Eucharistic Lord)

Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Eph 4:7-16

Brothers and sisters: Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ"s gift. Therefore, it says: He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men. What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the Body's growth and builds itself up in love.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5

R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Gospel Lk 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them? do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!"

And he told them this parable: "There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, 'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'"

HOMILY

In a Catechism class or Religion class, a teacher asks his students, "Since Noah spent 40 days and 40 nights inside the ark, do you think that he spent a lot of time fishing?" Syempre boring din doon ano, and anyway, naikutan sila ng dagat, ng tubig. And one student said, "No." Then the teacher said, "How sure are you that Noah did not spend many days fishing?" Sabi ng bata, "Hindi ho ba Teacher, noong pumasok si Noah sa ark, kasama niya ang lahat ng hayop, pero one pair each lang po? Eh dalawa lang 'yong worm na dala niya eh. So ang ibig sabihin po ay hindi siya pwedeng mag-fishing nang maraming araw kasi dalawa lang ang kanyang worm". Ang galing ng batang ito ano?

Now let me check with you, my sisters and brothers. Did you study your Catechism well? Did you study your religion well? Nowadays, people are fond of saying the word 'karma'. We hear people say "makarma ka sana". My sisters and brothers, 'karma' is not a Christian word. 'Karma' is not a Christian concept. It is not a Christian teaching. As good Christians, as good Catholics, from now on, never, never use the word 'karma' again. It is not biblical; it is not in accord with the teaching of the Bible. It is not in accord with the teaching of Christ. Huwag na huwag nyo nang ulitin ang salitang 'karma'. Pag inulit ninyo 'yan, makarma sana kayo. (laughs)

You see, 'karma' is originally a Hindu teaching. It means kung ano ang itinanim mo, iyon ang aanihin mo. Do good, and you will be blessed; do bad, and you will be cursed. It is also true; nasa teaching din natin 'yan. But there is a big difference. Kasi sa 'karma', it is automatic eh. One plus one equals two. One divided by one is equal to one. It is an impersonal force; an impersonal law of nature. But in the biblical and the Christian teaching, there is something personal, and that is the grace of God. The mercy of God. The love of God.

In the Gospel Reading of today, sabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga contemporaries, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way, they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?....Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them?" Do you think they were more guilty? Kasi usually 'yan ang thinking ng 'karma'. When you see someone suffer, you say, "Ay siguro, pinarusahan 'yan." But one of the most important question in the Bible is this - Why is it that some good people suffer, and some bad people prosper? Read Psalm 1, and then the story of Job. It becomes a very difficult question - why do some good people suffer? Eh kung 'karma' 'yan, dapat good people prosper and bad people suffer. Pero hindi eh. Even very good people sometimes suffer, and very bad people sometimes prosper.

Halimbawa ang baha, hindi porke good ka, hindi ka na malulunod. Hindi porke bad ka, malulunod ka. O pag may lindol, hindi porke good ka, hindi ka mamamatay. Hindi porke bad ka, mamamatay ka. Walang kinikilala ang lindol. Walang kinikilala ang baha, good or bad. If you don't do your part, if you don't do your best, good ka man ay mamamatay ka rin. If you do your part, if you do your best, masama ka man, mabubuhay ka rin.

So you may ask, "Father, what is the use of being good, if that is the case?" My sisters and brothers, let us be good because God is good. Let us be faithful to Him, because He is faithful to us. Let us love Him, because He loves us. Our motivation as Christians, our purpose is not 'karma', but the love of God. Whether we are successful or not, whether we survive or not, is secondary. But we know that ultimately, the love of God will prevail. That is why in the second part of the Gospel reading Jesus said that we all must repent, we all must be converted, we all must bear fruit. Kailangang maging fruitful ang buhay natin kasi sa First Reading, narinig natin, He has blessed all of us. He has blessed each one of us. Just as the body has different parts, we all play different parts in the Church. We have different functions. Tayo ay may kanya-kanyang blessings. Tayo ay may kanya-kanyang gifts. And we have to do our part. We have to develop our blessings, and we have to extend service to one another. But doing this does not mean na walang masamang mangyayari sa atin. Posibleng may masamang mangyari. Pero mayroon tayong paniniwala. We continue doing what we have to do, because of love.

My dear sisters and brothers, it is not 'karma' that will determine our fate. It is God's love that determines our destiny. Let us respond to His love.

Gospel Reflection

October 26, 2012

Friday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Msgr. Bong Lo (Chaplain, Chapel of Eucharistic Lord)

Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Eph 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Gospel Lk 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain--and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot--and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

"Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

HOMILY

Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat.

In order to communicate with one another, we need signs - signs and symbols that, we have agreed upon, stand for something. A sign always points beyond itself. The flowers at the altar is not just a decoration. It's a sign - it's a sign that points beyond itself. It's a sign that reminds us of the beauty of God. Just as these flowers are beautiful, God is much, much more beautiful. The candle is not just a decoration. The candle is a sign that points beyond itself. The light of the candle points to the light of God that keeps you and me, the light that enlightens you and me. The heat of the flame reminds us of the warmth of God's love. You and I must be able to recognize and understand signs.

Halimbawa ito po (makes the V sign with his two fingers), we have used this sign many times to express something. What does this sign stand for? (The people say 'peace'.) Depende po. To understand a sign, we must know the context. In the 1940's and the 1950's, this sign meant 'Victory Joe', after the liberalization of the Philippines, after the liberalization of Manila, after the end of the war, this sign meant 'Victory Joe'. That was the context. In the 1960's and 1970's, during the time of the Hippies, this sign meant 'peace'. In the 1980's, specifically during the 1986 snap elections, this sign meant KBL - Kilusang Bagong Lipunan ni Marcos. But for a kindergarten child, this symbolizes the number 2.

My sisters and brothers, we must be aware of signs, and read them according to their context. In the Gospel reading, Jesus castigated His contemporaries. Because they were good in reading signs, left and right, but they failed or they refused to recognize and appreciate the sign of the present moment. Jesus was the sign. Jesus was the symbol. Jesus was the sacrament of God's presence. But they refused to recognize the presence of God in Jesus. They only saw humanity; they refused to appreciate His Divinity. They refused to listen and respond to His message.

Jesus is calling and inviting you and me to recognize the sign of His presence in our life. If you remember, in one Gospel story, one day, Jesus told His Apostles, "O mauna na kayong sumakay sa bangka". Siya naman pumunta sa bundok at nagdasal the whole night. Then, early in the morning, while the Apostles were in the boat being tossed by the wind and the waves, Jesus walked towards them on the water. At nang makita nila Siyang lumalakad early in the morning on the water, they cried. They thought He was a ghost. But Jesus told them, "Take hold of yourselves. It is I. Be not afraid." The Apostles failed to recognize the presence of Jesus in the midst of the storm, in the midst of the waves. They failed to recognize His presence in the midst of darkness.

Sometimes, ikaw at ako ganyan din. Pag blessed na blessed ka, you recognize His presence. "Ay talagang may Diyos, ay talagang mahal Niya ako. Truly, God is with me." Pero pag may problema, may trials, we fail to recognize His presence. We question His presence. We ask Him, "Lord, where are you?" Tulad ng footprints in the sand, hindi ba. "Lord, I noticed that in good times, there were two sets of footprints in the sand, yours and mine, walking together, hand-in-hand. But I noticed that during the bad times, I noticed that there was only one set of footprints in the sand. Where were you, Lord, during bad times?" And Jesus said, "It was my set of footprints. I was there." My sisters and brothers, let us recognize God's presence, not only in good times, but also in bad times. Let us recognize that sometimes, even trials are blessings in disguise. That even in the midst of storms, even in the midst of darkness, Jesus is present. Let us not cry out, "It's a ghost." Rather, let us cry out, "It's the Lord. It's the Lord."

Jesus, in the Gospel Reading, also tells us to be conscious of what we must do in the present. Many times, we think so much of the past, many times we think so much of the future, that we fail to recognize the call of the moment. Jesus said we must make peace with one another, we must make peace with God in the present, before it is too late. Ganyan din po ang message ng ating First Reading, from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, telling us to live according to our calling, to live humbly, gently, patiently, bearing one another through love.

Let us close our reflection in this mass by recalling a verse that has become popular. The verse says, "Minsan lamang ako daraan sa daigdig na ito. Kaya anumang kabutihan ang kaya kong gawin ngayon, anumang kabutihan ang kaya kong ipadama, hayaan ninyong gawin ko ngayon ang mga bagay na ito. Sapagkat di na ako muli daraan sa daigdig na ito." "I shall pass this world but once, any good that I can do, or any kindness that I can share, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again." The present moment is a gift, the present moment is a sign, calling you and me to do what we can do, and what we should do.

Gospel Reflection

October 25, 2012

Thursday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev. Fr. Bob McConaughey (Resident Formator, Lorenzo Mission Institute)

Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Eph 3:14-21

Brothers and sisters: I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19

R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel Lk 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

HOMILY

This time next week, there will be no mass here because it is a holiday and the mall will be closed. You will be with your departed loved ones, and you'll pray for them.
 
We don't think about death very much. For us, it is normal. But supposing your guardian angel appears to you one night and says, "The Heavenly Father has a message for you. He wants you to know the day of the week that you're gonna die". Would you want to know? He will tell you perhaps the day of the week, but not the year. And supposing He says, "You are going to die on a Tuesday". That might keep your interest a little bit. And you will say "Ok, well it may be years from now. It will be on a Tuesday, so I will be safe for the rest of the week". But supposing your guardian angel appears the next time and says, "The Heavenly Father has more news for you. He wants you to know the month of the year that you're gonna die." Would you want to know? And supposing your angel said to you, "Here is the final bit of information that you must know. You are going to die on a Tuesday, in November, between 7 in the morning and 7 at night. Might be this year, might be six years from now. No more news, you'll never see me again."  

What do you think it would be like - that last Tuesday of November? What would that day be for you? How will it be different than all the other days? I could see that you probably will have trouble sleeping on Monday night. In the morning, probably at five o'clock you will wake up and before you do anything, you will be into deep prayer. Perhaps you would slowly say the Rosary, asking Mama Mary to protect you during those 12 hours, between 7 and 7. You'll probably try to keep busy during the morning, to make the hours go by quickly, but deep inside, you are constantly being distracted by fear, by worry, by anxiety. And because of your fear or anxiety, you drive in here to the chapel, or to your parish church. And when the priest says, "In order to prepare ourselves to celebrate these sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins". Oh - you will really call to mind all your sins. And you will feel deep, deep sorrow and express that sorrow and really mean it - on the last Tuesday of November.  
 
And when you sit down to listen to the Liturgy of the Word, you will not so much seek to interpret the Scriptures, as much as you will look to have the Scripture interpret you. To give you some clue, some sign of the meaning of your life. And when the time of Communion comes, you receive it and pray, as it may be your last day - "This is what I need from you Lord - to give me peace". You may probably ask something else, like "Lord, this is what I am asking of you, what do you want from me?"
 
After the mass, you probably will go shopping. Things will be very important to you - what you own, what you possess. You can also say, "I can be judged today." And I remember what Jesus said how I will be judged. "When I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink. When I was in prison you came to visit me, naked and you clothed me." And straight from the mall, you will go out, and you will go to all the hungry, thirsty, the strangers - and you will give from the heart - to make a difference. You will do that on the last Tuesday of November.
 
And chances are in the evening, you will ask all those who are closest to you - your family, to have dinner with you. And at the dinner you will tell them things that you have not told them before. You will tell them how much you love and care for them. You will tell them how thankful you are to God that they have been part of your life, you will tell them that. You will not assume they know it. You will be totally open to them - on the last Tuesday of November.
 
Then finally, until 7pm, your heart will be beating very very fast, and suddenly the clock will strike past 7, and you will still be alive, free from fear. But as you would look back on that Tuesday, the last Tuesday in November, you would probably find that, that day that began in fear, in worry, in anxiety, turned out to be the most profoundly meaningful day of the year. When you would have lived your life selflessly, sacrificially. And the way you have lived that day, will cast out your fear.
 
Life is here, and it's scripted. Love's a gift, that we've been given. To give it all away, and have it still - that's God's will. Let's live each day - a little bit - as if it were the last Tuesday in November.

Gospel Reflection

October 24, 2012

Wednesday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev.  Fr. Joel Jason (Dean, Graduate School of Theology, San Carlos Seminary)

Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Eph 3:2-12

Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Of this I became a minister by the gift of God's grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.

Responsorial Psalm Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

R. (see 3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Gospel Lk 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: "Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."

HOMILY

Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat.

Sa ating mga pagbasa ngayon, malinaw na malinaw ang paalala sa atin. We are all called to be accountable, we are all called to be responsible. At alam naman natin 'yan na kapag tayo ay may ibinigay, mayroon tayong inaasahang ibabalik. Halimbawa ang mga magulang ano, inaasahan nila ang kanilang mga anak, matapos nilang bigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, ay maibabalik naman sa kanila ito sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral nang mabuti at pagtatapos sa pag-aaral.

Parang 'yong kwento ng isang Tatay, noong mag-iiksamen ang kanyang anak, ang sabi ng Tatay. "Anak ha bukas kailangan titignan ko kung ilan ang nakuha mo sa iyong examinations". Dumating 'yong kinabukasan, at ang sabi noong anak sa kanyang Tatay, "Dad, Dad, naka-100 po ako sa test ko ngayon". Ang sabi ng Tatay "Ay mabuti naman kung ganoon. Saan ka naka-100?" At ang sabi ng anak, "Ayun po - 50 po doon sa Spelling at 50 po sa Math". (laughs) 100 nga naman ano. (laughs)

We want to be held accountable, and we want people to be accountable to what we have given them. Alam po ninyo, noong nakaraang Linggo lang ay ipinagdiwang natin ang canonization ni Saint Pedro Calungsod. At nandirito ang kanyang larawan, ang kanyang imahen. Pero di ko alam kung napapansin ninyo na ngayon ay may nauuso na bagong larawan ni Pedro Calungsod. Ang tawag nila dito ay si Pedrito. Ito ay mga maliliit na dolls na Pedro Calungsod, na mukhang Barbie doll (laughs). Na kapag tiningnan ninyo, naku ang cute cute ni Pedro Calungsod.

You know, I was in a discussion with some of the priests at ang sabi ko, alam nyo, maganda nga 'yang mga image ni Pedrito, but I would not encourage us to be so fond of that doll image of Pedro Calungsod. Bakit? Kasi kay Pedrito, parang nati-trivialize 'yong symbol ni Pedro Calungsod. Kasi 'yong mga doll, kung mayroon kang doll, naku pwede mong paglaruan, ang gandang gawing display, ang gandang ilagay doon sa cabinet, ang gandang ilagay sa kotse, na parang 'yong mga asong gumagalaw galaw ang ulo (laughs), parang ginagawa nating ganoon ang image ni Pedro Calungsod. But when you look at the image of Pedro Calungsod, the real image, ay matatakot ka. Bakit? Anu-ano ba ang sinisimbulo ni Pedro Calungsod?

Unang una, the palm. What is the symbol of the palm? That is the symbol of martyrdom. And Pedro Calungsod became a martyr, because he was ready to die for his faith. Alam naman natin kung paano siya namatay hindi ba? Kasi si Padre Diego na kasama ni Pedro Calungsod ay nagbinyag doon sa anak ng isang chieftain. Nagalit 'yong chieftain and so tatagain niya o sisibatin 'yong pari. Ano ang ginawa ni Pedro Calungsod? Hinarang niya at siya 'yong sumalo ng sibat na dapat para doon sa pari. Ang tanong ko sa inyo - kaya n'yo bang gawin 'yon? Ready ba kayong gawin 'yon na saluhin 'yong sibat na para sa pari? Hindi - kayo pa 'yong sisibat do'n sa pari. (laughs)

What does martyrdom mean? Pedro Calungsod was ready to die for the faith. Kay Pedrito hindi natin nakikita 'yan eh - ay ang cute cute ni Pedrito. Pero pag nakita ninyo ang larawan ni Pedro Calungsod - ah, I will be reminded that I should be ready to die for what my faith teaches.

Ano po ang nakita natin? Si Pedro Calungsod ay may hawak na libro - Doctrina Christiana. Ano'ng ibig sabihin niyan? Ah - dapat kong alamin ang aking pananampalataya. No Christian should become a Christian without even knowing what his faith is telling him. That is also a challenge.

Then mapapansin nyo 'yong kanyang kanang paa ay para bang naka-angat. Naka-forward. Bakit naka-angat o naka-forward ang kanyang kanang paa? That is a symbol na hindi siya nahihiya. He is ready to step forward and be identified that he is a Christian, and that he is ready to die for his faith. He has been given much and that is why it is expected to give much.

Alam po ninyo, tayo sa bansang Pilipinas, we have also been given much. Ano ang ibinigay sa atin? We have the title of being the only Christian nation in Asia. And like Pedro Calungsod, we should be ready to step forward and be known as a Christian nation. Kaya lang ano ang sinasabi ng ating mga mambabatas? 'Naku tayo na lang ang bansang walang diborsiyo, nakakahiya'. Hindi 'yan dapat ikahiya. Dapat 'yan we step forward and tell them 'yes, we are the only Christian nation, where divorce is still illegal'. Sabi ng ating mga mambabatas, 'Naku tayo na lang ang bansang hindi legal ang abortion. Nakakahiya naman'. No. On the contrary, it should be a source of our pride, like Pedro Calungsod. And we should step up and be identified that we are the only Christian nation in Asia, where abortion is still illegal. Kaya atin talagang lalabanan ang RH bill, dahil alam naman natin na diyan na rin papunta 'yan.

Today in this mass, we are being reminded that the Philippines has been given much. And because we have been given much, much will be expected from all of us. Sana po ang ating pagiging Kristiyano ay hindi manatiling sa pangalan lamang. As we celebrate the memory of Saint Pedro Calungsod, let that be a challenge that is given to each and everyone of us. We are called to be Christians, not only by name. We are called to be Christians by faith, by practice, with the lives we live each day. Remember what Jesus said in the Gospel today, to whom much is given, much will also be expected. We have been given much, therefore, the Lord also expects much from each and everyone of us, Amen.

 Saint Pedro Calungsod - Pray for us