173 total views

Homily for Tuesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time, 02 August 2022, Mat 14:22-36 (Reposted from 2020)

There is a bigger storm building up in the Gospel, bigger than the one that is happening in the Lake of Galilee. We are still in that same chapter of Matthew that began with the story of the execution of John the Baptist by beheading.

If Herod Antipas, the Governor of Galilee, had succeeded in getting rid of the pesky prophet John, he would certainly be going after those who were closely associated with him. And among these, Jesus would surely be next in line.

These are critical times; and word had just been sent to Jesus about it. The most logical thing for Jesus to do in this hot political atmosphere is to chill down a little. Matthew tells us Jesus actually decided to withdraw in a boat to a secluded place but people followed him, bringing the sick to him. He didn’t have the heart to dismiss them because they had come from far away places by foot. So he attended to them. Not only did he pray over them, he even gave them a big banquet from five loaves and two fish.

Our Gospel today is about what happens after that feeding story. It is quiet now. He has sent off his disciples to go ahead of him to the other side of the lake. He has already sent the crowd home; now he can finally be alone. And so instead of getting into the other boat that was prepared for him, he goes up to the mountain to have some solitude in prayer—both to grieve the loss of John, and to confront his fears over the political storm that has led to John’s execution; he is fully aware that he could be next in line.

We have many fears ourselves. When confronted by them we become anxious. It is a normal thing to be worried or anxious, especially when we deal with our uncertainties such as during this time pandemic. But when we are already unable to sleep, when we cannot function normally anymore, when we turn paranoid or fall into depression, then we’re already dealing with a mental health issue called an “anxiety disorder.”

The Gospel tells us Jesus has a unique way of confronting his fears; he does it through prayer. (Remember he would also do it at the Garden of Gethsemane.) They say when we are threatened, we seek the company of others for support. So why does he want to be alone? Jesus, seeks solitude in prayer, not to be alone, but precisely to be in the company of his Father in Heaven. It is through prayer that he is able to CONQUER FEAR. Why is prayer an effective way of dealing with our fears? Let me propose two answers: firstly, it enables us to see things as they are and how God is at work in them. Secondly, prayer enables us to see from God’s perspective.

First: prayer enables us to see things as they are. Fear tends to exaggerate then; it makes us see ghosts. It tends to blow things up beyond proportion. Remember how terrified the Israelites were, with Goliath? Their reaction was, “He is so big, how can we defeat him? There’s one author who suggests that when David saw Goliath, he said to himself, “He is so big; I cannot possibly miss my target.”

Second: prayer nurtures faith, which helps us conquer our fears by changing our perspective. From the mountain experience, we begin to relativize our fears in the context of the larger horizon. Look at human inventions, they are mostly in response to our experiences of limit situations. People conquered their fear of the ocean by inventing boats, galleons and steam ships. We conquered our fear of the wind by inventing airplanes and helicopters. Athletes conquer their fear of danger by developing gymnastic agility. How many performing artists have had to conquer their stage fright before they gained confidence to perform before an audience?

One little traumatic experience with an object or an insect can make a blind impress on our consciousness. We call them phobias, from the Greek word phobos, which means FEAR. Fear makes us unable to see a spider as a spider, or a snake as a hapless reptile that is as afraid of you as you are of it.

In the Gospel, Peter receives a mentoring in conquering his own fear. His companions see a ghost but he hears that it is Jesus. Instead of drawing away, he draws near by walking to his direction, on water, and is actually able to make a few baby steps. And all Jesus said was, Come!

Prayer is a response to Jesus’ invitation to come to him, to learn from him to do as he does. You want to find rest, come and learn to be gentle and humble of heart. You want to conquer your fear of the storms of life, come to me. Stay focused! You are an image and likeness of the Great I AM who has power over creation. You are also a child of God. His assurance is, “if I can carry my cross, so can you; if I can walk on water, so can you. You have to have faith, not in yourself, but in the God who will work through you.”

In prayer, Jesus invites you to think of yourself as a toddler who is being taught by his father to walk, or a little boy to ride on a bicycle or to dive into a swimming pool, or to hold a bird gently in your hand. Sometimes, he tosses you up in the air and like an infant. Instead of reacting in fear, he screams with delight, knowing that his father is down there waiting to catch him in his hands.

Screenshot 2024-04-26 121114
ads
ads
2
3
4
previous arrow
next arrow

Veritas Editorial

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

President of Radio Veritas

Trabaho sa kabila ng init

 14,617 total views

 14,617 total views Mga Kapanalig, kumusta kayo ngayong tag-init? Siguro, iba’t ibang paraan na ang nagawa ninyo upang ibsan ang napakataas na temperatura ngayon. Mayroon siguro sa inyong pumunta na sa beach para mag-swimming at sa mall para magpa-aircon. O kaya naman, panay ang kain ninyo ng halo-halo at ice cream para magpalamig. Samantala, may mga

Read More »

Patuloy ang pagyurak sa dignidad ng tao

 22,841 total views

 22,841 total views Mga Kapanalig, itigil ang patayan! Ito pa rin ang panawagan ng mga human rights groups at mga samahang naniniwala sa halaga ng buhay at diginidad ng tao. Dalawang taon kasi mula nang matapos ang administrasyong Duterte, na kilala sa madugong war on drugs, patuloy pa rin ang patayan sa mga komunidad sa ilalim

Read More »

Permanent interests

 28,687 total views

 28,687 total views Mga Kapanalig, may kasabihang sa pulitika raw, “There are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends, only permanent interests.” Positibong pangungusap ito kung ang tinutukoy na interes ay ang interes ng taumbayan o ng mga taong pinaglilingkuran dapat ng mga namumuno sa pamahalaan. Ngunit dito sa Pilipinas, mas madalas na interes ng iilang

Read More »

Resilient Education

 42,088 total views

 42,088 total views Kapanalig, kailangan maging resilient ng ating education sector. Ang resilient education kapanali, ay matibay at flexible. Sa ating bansa kung saan napakaraming mga sakuna ang dumadalaw taon-taon, napakahalaga na ang konseptong ito ay maging realidad. Kailangan ma-i-apply ito sa buong bansa sa lalong madaling panahon. Ang resilient education ay tumutukoy sa kakayahan ng

Read More »

Financial Inclusion

 45,200 total views

 45,200 total views Napakahalaga ng financial inclusion sa ating bayan. Kapag inclusive ang ating merkado at ekonomiya, mas maraming Pilipino ang maiaangat sa kahirapan. Kaya lamang, sa ating bayan, ang financial inclusion ay hindi nauunawaan ng marami nating kababayan. Ayon sa Bangko Sentral, ang financial inclusion ay isang estado o kalagayan kung saan ang tao ay

Read More »

Watch Live

catholink
Shadow
truthshop
Shadow

Related Story

Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

WALANG PINAPANIGAN?

 10,675 total views

 10,675 total views Homiliya para sa Huwebes sa Ikatlong Linggo ng Kuwaresma, Ika-7 ng Marso, Lk 11:14-23 Pinagaling daw ni Hesus ang isang pipi kaya nakapagsalita ito. Ang dating walang imik ngayon ay nagkaroon ng tinig. Ano ang reaksyon ng iba? Trabaho daw ng dimonyo ang pagpapagaling na ginawa niya. Madalas pa ring mangyari ang ganyan

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

“TEN COMMITMENTS”

 9,507 total views

 9,507 total views Homily for Wed of the Third Week of Lent, 6 March 2024, Mt 5:17-19 May nakilala akong isang app developer. May binabalak daw siyang gawin na kakaibang app, idodonate daw niya sa Catholic Church if we are interested: “Online Confession App”. Gagawin daw niyang user-friendly. Automatic daw, magla-log-in lang ang penitent at may

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

PAY IT FORWARD

 9,493 total views

 9,493 total views Homily for Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent, Mt 18:21-35 Today’s Gospel reminds me of the old version of the Lord’s Prayer. I am referring in particular to that part in the prayer that says “And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” The old version says,

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

YOU ARE THE MAN!

 9,492 total views

 9,492 total views Homily for Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent, 1 March 2024, Mt 21:33-43, 45-46 Today’s Gospel reading reminds me of that story in the 2nd book of Samuel chapter 11 about the sin of David. Remember that passage about David having an affair with Bathsheba, the wife of his soldier Uriah? How

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

BANGUNGOT

 9,495 total views

 9,495 total views Homiliya para sa Huwebes sa Ikalawang Linggo ng Kuwaresma, 29 Pebrero 2024, Lukas 16:19-31 “Bangungot” ang tawag natin sa masamang panaginip. “Nightmare” sa English. Parang bangungot ang dating ng kuwento ng mayaman sa ebanghelyo. Sorry, wala siyang pangalan. Obvious ang “bias” ng awtor—ang may pangalan sa kuwento ay ang mahirap, ang busabos na

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

YOUR WILL BE DONE

 9,497 total views

 9,497 total views Homily for Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent, 28 February 2024, Mt 20:17-28 The two disciples in today’s Gospel remind me of that dancing girl in the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. Remember that scene when the drunken governor of Gailee, Herod Antipas, after being so pleased with the

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

“Ang Pagbabagong-Anyo ng Bayang Filipino”

 9,500 total views

 9,500 total views Naisip na ba ninyo, kung hindi naganap ang EDSA PPR, ano na kaya ang nangyari sa ating bayan mula sa araw na iyon ng Feb 25, 1986? Kung walang mga milyong tao na pumagitna sa mga armadong puwersa ng gubyerno at puwersa ng mga nagrebelde, baka umagos nang husto ang dugo sa EDSA.

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

PANATA

 12,808 total views

 12,808 total views Homiliya para sa Biyernes matapos ang Miyerkoles ng Abo, 16 Pebrero 2024, Mt 9:14-15 Dahil hindi na yata matiis ng parish priest na makita ang isang babaeng lumalakad na paluhod habang nagrorosaryo, nilapitan niya ito at sinabihan, “Hindi ba pwedeng magdasal ka na lang na nakaupo o nakaluhod sa luhuran? Ba’t ba kailangan

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

AKALA KO KASI

 12,802 total views

 12,802 total views Homiliya para sa Huwebes matapos ang Miyerkoles ng Abo, 15 Pebrero 2024, Lk 9:22-25 Tungkol sa pagpili ang mga pagbasa natin ngayon. Parang ang simple simple dahil dalawa lang ang pagpipilian. Sa unang pagbasa—buhay o kamatayan, alin ang pipiliin mo? Sa Salmong Tugunan—mabuti o masama, alin sa dalawa? Sa ebanghelyo, pagkalugi o pakinabang?

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

WHAT I DID FOR LOVE

 12,804 total views

 12,804 total views Homiliya para sa Miyerkoles ng Abo, 14 Pebrero 2024, Mat 6:1-6, 16-18 Tumama sa taóng ito ng 2024 ang Valentines Day sa Ash Wednesday o Miyerkoles ng Abo, ang simula ng Kuwaresma para sa ating mga Katoliko. Sasabihin ko ba sa mga nagbabalak na mag-celebrate ng araw ng mga puso, “Sorry, wala munang

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT

 12,769 total views

 12,769 total views Homily for Tuersday of the 6th Wk in Ordinary Time, 13 Feb 2024, Mk 8:14-21 “Nagmamaaang-maangan” is a Tagalog expression that best describes the disposition of the disciples in today’s Gospel. They did not really forget to bring bread with them. But they were pretending as if they had forgotten. I have a

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

KAPANGYARIHAN NG SALITA

 21,345 total views

 21,345 total views Homiliya para sa Panlimang Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon, Ika-4 ng Pebrero 2024, Mk 1,29-39 Sa dulo ng binasa nating ebanghelyo, sinasabi ni San Markos, “Nangangaral siya sa mga sinagoga at nagpapalayas ng dimonyo.” Hindi ito parang dalawang magkahiwalay na gawain para kay Hesus. Magkaugnay ang dalawa. Ang pumapasok sa isip ko ay ang

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

TRUE LIGHT FROM TRUE LIGHT

 16,478 total views

 16,478 total views Homily for the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation, 02 February 2024, World Day for Consecrated Persons, Lk 2:22-40 Today’s Feast is traditionally called CANDLEMAS, or the Feast of the Holy Encounter. In his story of the presentation of the child Jesus, aside from the Holy Family, St Luke has two other important characters—

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

MI CASA, SU CASA

 16,478 total views

 16,478 total views Homiliya Para sa Huwebes sa Ika-apat na Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon, Pebrero 1, 2024, Mk 6:7-13 Huwag daw magbaon ng pagkain, o magbitbit ng bagahe. Huwag daw magdala ng pera sa bulsa, o ekstrang underwear. Ganoon? Ewan ko lang kung sa panahon natin mayroon pang mapapasunod o maisusugo si Hesus kung ganoon pa

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

PREJUDICE

 16,478 total views

 16,478 total views Homily for Wednesday of the 4th Wk in Ordinary Time, 31 January 2024, Mk 6:1-6 Mark says the people of Nazareth were “amazed” about the way Jesus preached in their synagogue. They seemed to have been actually impressed at the start. But as soon as they started asking questions like “Where did he

Read More »

Latest Blogs

Scroll to Top