Homily: July 28, 2025, Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (Moses Blackmail)

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 If you would only forgive their sin! If you will not, then strike me out of the book that you have written.” 

Wow. Does this sound like emotional blackmail?

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai and saw how the Israelites had turned from God and were worshipping the golden calf, he was furious. In his rage, he broke the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the very tablets written by the hand of God. He even ground them into powder, mixed with water, and made the people drink it.

Moses was super angry with them, because he knew they have committed a grave sin, to worship something else other than God, but he allowed his anger to take over his head. He was chosen by God to lead the people, not to punish them.

Moses believed God would be furious too and feared the worst. What was striking was what happened the next day. Moses returned to God, despite his own anger, he wanted God to forgive the people. He stood before the Lord and pleaded, more like he threatened God with his resignation if God would not forgive:

“If you would only forgive their sin! But if not, then strike me out of the book that you have written.”

This is the real Moses. He was ready to give up his life in eternity in exchange for God’s forgiveness for the Israelites, even though they failed badly.

Moses had a short violent temper but a big loving heart. He cared for their liberation more than his own reward.

Did God know this? I am sure He did. God chose Moses for a task beyond his ability, but not beyond his heart.

Interestingly, at that point when the Israelites worshipped the golden calf, they would not be guilty of breaking the ten commandments because they had not formally received the commandments yet. Still, Moses felt responsible for the full weight of their actions and interceded for them with the heart of a true shepherd.

Do we also lead our family, our community with the same conviction and dedication to bring them successfully to God?

Do we plead and intercede with God on their behalf?

God hears His intercessors’ prayers for others. So let us never turn down other’s request for prayers and may we always plead with God for His mercy on behalf of others, especially those who have no one to pray for them.

Amen.


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Homily: July 25, 2025, Feast of St. James the Apostle (Dying to give life)

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 “So death is at work in us, but life in you.” Profound words from St. Paul. Death was at work in his life, in other words, he was dying. Whatever he was doing at that time, it was causing his death sooner than later. But his dying was giving life to others. I grew up witnessing real models who died to themselves to give life to others. They were my parents. My papa worked hard from very early in the morning till late in the evening on our farm every day. There are no rest days for farmers because the crops need attention daily. My mother cooked all our daily meals, prepared from scratch, used firewood for cooking, there was no running water from taps, water had to be fetched from the river. You can imagine she would be cooking and washing non-stop from the moment she woke till she rested at night. Life wasn’t easy. They worked hard to provide for their seven children; they gave their life for us. They were dying a little each day while we were growing steadily. We, their children,...
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 “She had a sister named Mary, who sat beside the Lord at His feet, listening to Him speak.”  We heard this same Gospel text just two weeks ago at Sunday Mass. Many of us can relate easily to Martha, the busy, action-oriented person, with a clear vision of tasks and responsibilities to accomplish, goals and objectives to achieve. There is work to be done, so we just get on with it. We end the day satisfied with the checklist all ticked. But we often realize there is something more important we have missed, only when we reach the end of our life. Through my growing years and ministry as a priest, I have accompanied many people at the end of their lives: my grandparents, my parents, many elderly parishioners, and some close friends. Consistently, during those final moments, people do not ask for anything else but the presence of their loved ones.  Elderly people often long to see their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Parents wish to be visited by their children. Thei...
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“Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever." This was one of my favorite Bible phrases for some time in the past, and then it was forgotten. While preparing for this homily, it again touched and inspired me. Do you also have a favorite verse or phrase from the Bible? Is there a book of the Bible which you like to read over, and over again? Has any word or phrase in the Bible helped you in life and gave you hope? Did you memorize any verse from the Bible to deepen your faith? Do you feel God speaking to you through the Bible? My last question to you, do you even read the Bible? The Bible, the word of God, contains the truths of this life and the life eternal.  It is an interesting book, in a profound way. God’s word was written by more than 40 different authors, inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, over a period of thirteen centuries.  From a secular point of view, the Bible is a massive compilation of historical, theological, philosop...
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 Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’  St. Mary Magdalene is known in the Church as the “Apostle to the Apostles”, a privileged and beautiful title. Even Peter, the head of the apostles, or John, the beloved disciple, were not entrusted with the first announcement of the Resurrection. Instead, Jesus gave that mission to Mary Magdalene. She was the first to proclaim the central truth of our faith: Christ is risen! He has overcome death, and because of that, we live with hope and our faith is strengthened. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Death has no power over us too, because the One who conquered it, has the power to resurrect us as well. For over 2,000 years, since Mary Magdalene’s first announcement, Christians have continued to proclaim the Good News of Jesus’s resurrection. It is our call, our mission, to echo Mary Magdalene’s joyful ...
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Homilía: Marzo 24, 2022, Jueves de la III semana de Cuaresma.

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