When in a state of helplessness

WE should always expect the possibility for us to fall
into some state of helplessness, not only of the transitory type but
also of the permanent one. That’s just being realistic. And upon that
possibility, let’s make the necessary preparation, building up the
appropriate attitude, skills and practices to tackle it.

            There’s always hope even in our worst scenario. And that’s
because God never leaves us, but continues to love and care for us, in
spite of all. He gives us everything we need to handle this situation.

            We should be quick to realize this truth of our faith, and
act accordingly. Let’s avoid aggravating the situation by avoiding
falling into discouragement and depression, a fertile ground for the
devil to tempt us into worse conditions. The devil obviously wants us
to be alienated as much as possible from God. Rather, like the
prodigal son, let’s return to God asking for mercy which he readily
gives.

            God, of course, does not spare us from falling into some
serious, and sometimes insoluble predicaments. That’s because he will
always respect the limitations of our nature that can sometimes lead
us to some trouble, and more so, our own freedom, no matter how much
we misuse and abuse it and lead us to sin, the worst evil.

            And even if personally we have not sinned or do not seem
to deserve a particular burden, we all suffer just the same as an
effect of all the sins of men, ours and those of others. We should not
be surprised by this and waste time complaining about it.

            In fact, it can happen that those who suffer the most are
the saintly ones who are especially chosen by God to bear the
consequences of the sins of all men. Those who are more Christ-like
will certainly share more in the redemptive suffering of Christ. In a
sense, suffering is a blessing, a privilege.

            St. Paul was an example of this reality. Of course, he
suffered not only to atone for his past sins that were very serious,
but also for those of others. Once he described his suffering: “Thrice
was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea.” (2 Cor
11,25)

            In another instance, he talked about the sting of the
flesh that he suffered to check on his possibility to fall into pride
and vanity. “Lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me,
there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet
me. (2 Cor 12,7)

            For sure, the saints are saints precisely because they
have taken the same path of suffering that Christ took. Indeed,
suffering can be a clear sign of God’s predilection for us, as it has
been with Christ who suffered the death on the cross in obedience to
his Father’s will.

            So, if our predicaments and suffering lead us to a state
of helplessness, whether they are physical, financial, or even moral
due to our sin, we need to adopt the mind of Christ and the saints and
the other characters in the gospel who did all they can to get close
to Christ, asking for help. Christ certain listens and knows what to
do. He knows how to convert evil into good, suffering into glory,
death into life.

            We have to have to faith. We should avoid falling into
self-pity, fear, shame, etc. In spite of our helplessness due to our
sin, our being children of God never disappears. God as a father will
always do everything to bring us back to him.

            We need to have the trust of little children to their
parents to whom they can show anything, no matter how ugly or
shameful. They know that their parents will always help them, even if
they, the little children, are totally at fault. There might be some
pain involved, but help and relief will always be on the way, and
fast, without wasting time.

            All we have to do is to make an act of contrition, and if
need be to go to confession, which is actually very much recommended
especially if grave sins are involved. We should not unduly agonize
ourselves over this matter, going through all sorts of heart-wrenching
dramatics.

            God is a father to us all. We are all brothers and
sisters. We may have problems with one another and even with our own
selves, but we will continue to be a family. In fact, the family of an
ever loving and merciful Father!

Preaching today

 PRIESTS have just been told recently by no less than the
president of the bishops’ conference to avoid homily abuse. “Long,
winding, repetitious, irrelevant, unprepared homilies are signs of a
sick spiritual life of the priest,” said he, and this kind of
homilies, he added, certainly harm souls.

            I, of course, immediately examined myself if I could be
accused of such charge. I must say that I have to plead guilty, of
course. No matter how much one prepares for it, there will always be
some imperfections.

            But I also know that the Holy Spirit has a way of
resolving all the snags, big and small, that can take place, both on
the part of the preacher and on the part of the listener. I believe
everyone can be rightly accused of some aspects of homily abuse,
including the Pope and the bishop who said that mouthful.

            I remember the first time Pope-now-Saint John Paul II came
to our country. I was very disappointed to hear him, since I was
expecting a good speaker. What I heard was a droning speaker, contrary
to what I thought was a good stage actor that he was touted to be.

            But, of course, I made up for it by reading what he said
later on, and I got the message quite well. I understood that St. John
Paul was not speaking in his mother tongue, and so I just had to make
the necessary adjustments. What I am trying to say is that preaching
is always a humbling experience, at least for me. There will always be
something that would not go well.

            It’s not a walk in the park to preach at the instance of
the Holy Spirit, which is what a homily is supposed to be. The best
that we can do is to try and try to be faithful to God’s word,
delivering it in the manner Christ himself would have delivered it,
given the kind of listeners and the context of time and place.

            It will always an act of approximation, an expression of
faith that can require nothing less than heroic efforts in humility,
docility and self-abasement, because the temptation for one to shine
out instead of showing Christ to the people would always be there and
would be quite strong.

            It would be hypocritical of any cleric to say that he has
not fallen into some kind of abuse in his preaching. I always get
frightened when an ecclesiastic presents himself as if he has the Holy
Spirit right in his lips.

            Just because one speaks well, or is adept in the art of
rhetoric, or is very theological or pastoral in his training and
exposure, or occupies a high position in the Church hierarchy, etc.,
is no guarantee that no abuse of some form can take place in his
preaching.

            I get bothered when after hearing a homily of a brother
priest, the main impression I get is that he sings well, or he knows
how to make a good show, or he is a good or bad lecturer or manager,
or he has a logical mind, or he is popular and much admired by the
people, or he is just terrible, etc.

            When these things happen instead of getting the feel that
I was listening to Christ or is touched by Christ’s teaching, I need
to make extra effort to draw what the Holy Spirit was trying to tell
me in those instances. Yes, the Holy Spirit can always convey
something regardless of the inadequacies of the instruments.

            Preaching is not so much a matter of techniques as it is a
result of a healthy interior life, marked by fidelity and humility,
and nourished by prayer, sacrifice, a solicitous pastoral charity that
is keenly attentive to the needs of the people.

            Of course, it would involve continuing study and
formation, constant contact with the people and the developments of
the world. The preacher has to be like Christ in that he has to
realize that he has to be the link between God and men.

            Of course, the sacrament of Holy Orders conforms one to
Christ as head of the Church and therefore has the power to preach in
the name of Christ, but that sacramental identity requires all-out
effort to be up to par to that standard.

            It may look tremendous, if not impossible, but when one
has faith, when one has humility, he will always be convinced that in
spite of his limitations and possible personal mistakes, Christ acts
through him, the Holy Spirit speaks through him. Christ has given him
everything that he needs to be a good priest and preacher.

The quest for divine mercy

I HAVE started to read Pope Francis’ document called,
Misericordiae vultus (The face of mercy) that announces the Jubilee
Year of Mercy that will begin on December 8 this year, Solemnity of
the Immaculate Conception, and will end on November 20, 2016,
Solemnity of Christ the King.

            I am going to read and re-read it to savor the many fine
points it contains and that deserve to be given due attention. I am
sure these fine points will trigger more helpful insights and
considerations. I hope more and more people get to read it as well if
only to join in this common quest for divine mercy that sometimes can
be very elusive.

            I believe this pontificate of Pope Francis would like to
be known, more than anything else, as that of mercy and compassion.
It’s a papal thrust that I believe the world today needs most. But
it’s also one that sparks and stirs some controversies that really
need to be resolved.

            Already in paragraph 2 of the document, we are asked to
constantly contemplate the mystery of mercy. With those words, we are
somehow told that there is still much of divine mercy that needs to be
discovered and learned, lived and spread. Each one of us and the whole
Church in general have to be up to par with God’s mercy.

            What is implied is that our current ways of dispensing
divine mercy, whether done individually or collectively, socially or
politically, personally or sacramentally, confidentially or
pastorally, attitudinally or legally, etc., may need some updating, an
“aggiornamento” of sorts that characterized the spirit of Vatican II
and is in fact always an ongoing concern.

            We should never think that what we already have and are
doing insofar as living the spirit of the mercy of God is concerned is
already complete and perfect. This spirit of God’s mercy is a living
thing that, while it is already quite well known and made available to
us in abundance, can still spring new surprises.

            This is, of course, a very delicate matter that has to be
approached, studied and acted on with utmost care and prudence. That’s
why I would strongly suggest a lot of moderation and restraint in
expressing our views on the matter.

            While everyone has the right to express his views, we
should also not forget that many times the discussion is better left
first in the hands of experts who are in a better position to sort out
the issue.

            It cannot be denied that the issue at hand is a very
complex one that has to be approached from different angles. Thus, we
should always presume good intentions in everyone who expresses his
views, no matter how different or opposed his is to ours, or no matter
how convinced we are that his positions are wrong.

            Of course, it is also presumed and strongly suggested that
anyone who wants to participate in the discussion is motivated by the
best of intentions and equipped with all that he can get to support
his claims. We should try to avoid reckless and trivial comments that
can only muddle the discussion.

            We need to pray a lot, asking for enlightenment from the
Holy Spirit, and always making a good grip on our emotions and
passions, lest they flare up unduly. We should be open to the idea
that the Holy Spirit is always guiding us and is pointing us new ways
to tackle new challenges, even if there are permanent and unchangeable
things involved.

            Yes, indeed, we need to re-examine which part of the
current practices with respect to asking and dispensing divine mercy
need to be purified and updated. The temper of the times have changed,
the sensibilities of the people are not as they were even a few years
ago.

            We have to be wary of a new pharisaism, marked by rigid
legalism and traditionalism, that can fall on us without noticing it.
This is always a possibility and can afflict those of us who are quite
sure of ourselves so as to be close-minded instead of always being
open-minded.

            Pope Francis always talks about the God of surprises. We
may already know him a lot, but what we don’t know about him is much
more than what we already know. We should always keep this caveat in
mind. God will always open new ways while retaining the absolute truth
which in the end is his great love and mercy for us.

            Thus, we have to continually embark on a quest for divine mercy.