Homily on Friday, 8th Week in OT; 2 June 2023, Siervas del Plano de Dios Convent, Talamban Cebu City
One of the most memorable highlights of my brief stay in the Holy Land last week was my visit to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. Beyond my expectation I was able to concelebrate in one of the Holy Masses held at Calvary near the very spot where Jesus was crucified. My sincerest thanks go to Fr Phat, SDB, (a confrere from Vietnam and administrator of the Salesian Community in Ratisbonne) who accompanied me as we walked as early as 5:15 am towards the said Basilica.
Surprisingly when we arrived at around 5:45 am we found a good number of pilgrims already there much ahead of us, gathered around the place where Jesus was believed to have risen from the dead. Entering the sacristy we learned that an English Mass was scheduled at 6:30 am at the altar set up on Calvary. After some minutes of prayerful waiting, we went up and began the Mass presided by a priest from Dallas together with a group of students from the University of Dallas.
Although there was really nothing so spectacular about that Mass, since we were told beforehand to finish in twenty-five minutes with no singing at all, I can say, however, that it was truly an awesome experience. I am very thankful to God that after almost thirty years of priestly ministry He granted me the grace of finally being able to celebrate the Eucharistic sacrifice right on the spot where Jesus his Son offered his life on the cross for our salvation.
Today, being the first Friday of the month, we honor the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The gospel passage we have just heard presents to us Jesus’ final visit to Jerusalem. Sad to say, however, while he had been longing all the while to see the Holy City and its majestic temple, what he found when he entered the house of God led to his utter disappointment. Instead of people praying to the Father, he found people engaged in buying and selling. Instead of quietness and peace, he found the noise and confusion of a market place. It was as bad as the fig tree he found earlier along the road. When he looked up hoping to find some figs on its branches he found nothing at all to satisfy his hunger. For that reason the Lord cursed it, and consequently it withered and died.
As we are confronted with this seemingly “bad news” in the Good News proclaimed for us, we are invited to reflect on what God’s Word might be telling us today. Is the Lord truly happy and pleased with us and with all that we are doing at home, at work and in our apostolate?
On a personal note, one thing I was humbled to realize during my guided retreat a month ago was God’s disappointment with me especially in the way I was doing my ministry – probably not so much like the fruitless fig tree found by Jesus in today’s gospel. Rather, I felt more like a branch that, despite being attached to the grapevine, was bearing very few grapes. Had I been more docile to follow God’s will above my own… had I been more faithful in following Jesus and ministering to others in the way he wants me to, I could have yielded good grapes in my ministry much more abundantly for his greater glory and the salvation of souls. Now I thank God that he is giving me another chance of having my branches pruned and eventually bearing fruits more abundantly from here onwards. And I pray the same for all of you.
Dear sisters, we offer this Holy Mass in a very special way for your beloved Papa James who, as a father and a fishpond operator, had become very fruitful in loving his wife according to God’s will and plan. He was able to raise up six kids, send them all to school, and they are now successful in life. He even offered Sr. Giselle, SPD, to the Lord in the religious life, even though at first he found it difficult to let her go. We pray that as we remember the thirteenth anniversary of his death, the Lord may reward him forever in heaven for his fidelity and fruitfulness in his service here on earth. GiGsss!
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