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HOMILIES

AMORSECOS

_MG_9199This reflection is based on Mark 6:7-13.

I remember reading a short story when I was first year high school. Written by C. V. Pedroche, a Filipino writer in English, it was called “Amor Seco.” The only thing I recall about the love story was that its intriguing title referred to a species of wild flower with a peculiar characteristic. If you walked through a field of amorsecos, the flowers would cling to your feet and clothing. I suppose the amorseco was intended to be some kind of metaphor for the protagonists or their love, especially since “amor seco” in Spanish literally means “dry love.”

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HOMILIES

THE PROBLEM WITH MIRACLES

This reflection is based on Mark 6:1-6.

jesus-declares-he-is-the-messiah_Isaiah_3-1800

This gospel account has always baffled me. Our Lord visits the neighborhood where he grew up, and preaches in their synagogue surrounded by relatives and childhood friends. Like everyone who hears him speak, they are amazed at the Lord’s teachings. However, whereas others develop faith in him as a result of hearing Jesus, these ones–people who probably know him best–do not. Instead they question him, unable to accept that someone from among them could become such a prophet.

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HOMILIES

RACHEL AND FREDDIE (04 July 2015)

This homily was delivered on 04 July 2015 on the occasion of the wedding of Freddie Austria and Rachel Consunji (now Austria). This is the unedited (and lengthier) version.

Photo from Jamie Lihan
Photo from Jamie Lihan

You can tell a lot about a wedding as much from the couple who’s getting married as from the reactions of the people around them.

And let me tell you, this wedding of Freddie and Rachel has elicited a whole repertoire of responses—from the expected mixture of surprise and gladness to—I kid you not!—hysterical screaming, the likes of which you probably last saw on the now-defunct Oprah Winfrey Show.When Quito, her brother-in-law, first heard the news, his immediate reaction was: “Ang suwerte naman ng mapapangasawa ni Rachel!” But I’m told that there was also some foot-stomping in certain quarters—and not exactly out of jubilation—but that’s okay: I have promised Rachel’s mom that I would not disclose that person’s identity.

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HOMILIES

BEG, STEAL, OR BORROW

hem-of-his-garmentThis reflection is based on Mark 5:21-43.

Today we witness two healing miracles of Jesus, one properly solicited, the other virtually stolen. The synagogue official, Jairus, worried sick over his dying daughter, pleads with the Lord to come to his home and lay his healing hands upon her that she “may get well and live.” An unnamed woman with a twenty-year hemorrhage quietly pushes her way through the crowd and reaches out to touch Jesus. “If I but touch his clothes!” her simple faith tells her.

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HOMILIES

YOU CAN’T STILL A STORM YOU STIR

This reflection is based on Mark 4:35-41.

The gospel story about Jesus stilling the storm at sea takes on new significance with the recent release of Pope Francis’ much-awaited encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si. The Pope minces no words and spells it out for us. It is not easy to hear. Listen:

“The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.”

Francis braves the wind and rain at open air Mass in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine.
Francis braves wind and rain at open-air Mass in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines.
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