Mark 12:28-34

With understanding

There was an article in the Newspaper about why people believe in fake news. because 

In the parable of the prodigal son, the phrase “he came to his senses” marks the story's turning point. It is the moment of clarity for the younger son who went away from his father. In contrast, though physically close to the father, the elder son acts without understanding.

Today’s First and Gospel Readings affirm that conversion or turning to God is not merely an emotional reaction, but a free choice of decision, taken out of reason/understanding.

How?

We act in life on two levels: emotional and rational. On the emotional level, we are often driven and tossed by our feelings. But on the rational level, we discern what is good and true, and act accordingly. 

In the First Reading (cf. Hosea 14:1–9), the prophet describes how the Israelites, swayed by emotion, turned to foreign gods, made alliances with Assyrians, and trusted in horses and Egypt. Yet the Lord says: “Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is discerning recognize them.”

What must the people of Israel discern? God’s compassion.

Though they were led astray by emotions, the Lord still showed mercy. When they understand this mercy, they begin to act with integrity.

In the Gospel, when a scribe asks Jesus, “Which is the first commandment?”, Jesus presents love of God and love of neighbour as the two greatest commandments. The scribe, making Jesus’ answer his own, says that these two commandments are greater than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Jesus says, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God,” because: The scribe recognizes the wisdom and insight behind the commandments. He realizes that love is not just a feeling, but a deliberate, sacrificial action.

Thus, today’s liturgy calls us to move from an emotional level to a level of understanding. In our relationship with God, when we act emotionally, we often fear, lose faith, feel disheartened, or fail in perseverance.

Moving from the emotional to the rational level is possible. What we need is a little silence. A moment of calm allows our emotions to settle down. 

Only the one with understanding can truly love— Because love is not merely a feeling; it is a choice. Love is a decision, not a feeling, 

Perpetual Profession

(Fr. David Anbu SdC, the delegate Superior, in his homily on Perpetual profession)

My dear friends in Christ, today is a day of great joy! We gather to witness a profound act of faith and love as our dear Brother Harry is going to make his perpetual profession. This is not just a personal achievement — it’s a gift of God’s grace, a sign of His faithfulness, and a brave 'yes' to His call."

In a world where many seek success, wealth, and comfort, power and titles. Our brother has chosen a different path—a radical one. He is saying “yes” to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. To some, this may seem like a waste or foolish. But in the eyes of faith, it is the greatest wisdom.

1. "Sayang" or Sagrado?

Filipinos often say, "Sayang naman!" (What a waste!) when a bright young man enters religious life. “He could have been a doctor, an engineer, a businessman.” But is it truly a waste?

What is truly sayang — a life chasing only Personal success alone, or a life offered to serve God and others? The world measures success by titles, wealth, and achievements. But God measures it by love, sacrifice, and faithfulness. A life given to God, a life lived for others, is never wasted. It is Sagrado — sacred.

Brother Harry, the world may say "Sayang," but today, heaven says "Salamat!" Thank you for giving your life to God. Your vocation is not a loss; it is a sacred gift.

A Life Built on Love

Filipinos are known for utang na loob—a deep sense of gratitude and loyalty. We feel indebted to those who love us. Brother Harry has experienced the overwhelming love of God, and this is his way of responding. He is giving his whole life as an act of utang na loob—not out of obligation, but out of love.

The Vows: A Radical Witness

Dear Bro. N, The vows you are about to make are countercultural, meaning they go against the values of the world. They challenge societal norms and serve as a powerful witness to a different way of living. By embracing them, you become a sign of contradiction-choosing faith over comfort, service over self-interest, and commitment over temporary satisfaction. Your vows are not just personal promises; they are a prophetic message to the world, proclaiming that true fulfillment comes from God, not from material success or fleeting pleasures."

By the vow of poverty, you tell us that God is my treasure. In a materialistic and consumeristic world, you show us that real wealth is not found in money or possessions, but in God alone.

By the vow of chastity, you tell us that God is my deepest love. In a world confused about the meaning of love, you show us that true love is more than romance — it is a total gift of self to God and others.

By the vow of obedience, you tell us that God’s will is my will. In a culture that values personal freedom above all, you show us that real freedom comes from trusting and surrendering to God's loving plan.

That’s a great theme! "Let us be open to God's version and not stick to our own version when God calls us for a ministry."When God calls, He often rewrites our plans. 

1. Peter: From Fisherman to Shepherd of the Church

• Peter’s version: A simple fisherman, casting his nets daily, providing for his family.
• God’s version: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)
• Reality check: Peter had to leave behind his trade, face persecution, and even walk on water in faith (Matthew 14:29). Despite his failures, Christ made him the rock of the Church.

Matthew: From Tax Collector to Gospel Writer

• Matthew’s version: A tax collector, earning wealth, possibly disliked by many but financially secure.
• God’s version: "Follow me." (Matthew 9:9)
• Matthew misused his skill with the pen by making false accounts to gain wealth as a tax collector. However, when he was open to God's plan, he used the same skill to write the Gospel."

Moses: From Shepherd to Leader of a Nation

• Moses’ version: A quiet life in Midian, tending sheep after fleeing Egypt.
• God’s version: "Go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt." (Exodus 3:10)
• Reality check: Moses argued with God ("I am not eloquent!" – Exodus 4:10), but in the end, he led an entire nation to freedom and spoke with God face to face (Exodus 33:11).

Jonah: From Running Away to Preaching Repentance

• Jonah’s version: Serve God, but not in Nineveh!
• God’s version: "Go to Nineveh and preach against it." (Jonah 1:2)
• Reality check: He tried to escape, ended up in a whale’s belly, and eventually obeyed—leading an entire city to repentance!

Mary: From Humble Servant to Mother of God

• Mary’s version: A simple, quiet life in Nazareth.
• God’s version: "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus." (Luke 1:31)
• Reality check: She risked scandal, hardship, and sorrow, but her "Yes" changed history and eternity.

Conclusion: God's Version is Always Greater

• When God calls us, He often asks us to let go of our plans and trust His greater purpose. And when you feel unworthy or uncertain, remember: God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. when you are open to God's plan in your life, he will bless you more than what you could ever imagine.
• Dear bro. Harry, ask yourself this question:Am I willing to trust His plan, even when it challenges my expectations?

4. Be a Blessing Wherever You Are Sent

You may be sent to another country as a missionary or asked to serve here in the Philippines. You may be assigned to work in a big or small community. You may be asked to serve the elderly, special children, or become a formator for seminarians. No matter where God places you, be a blessing.

There will be days when you feel abandoned, when your prayers seem unheard, and when it will be difficult to live out your vows. But remember: your vows were not made in comfort — they were made at the foot of the Cross. You are not going to make your vows in a resto-bar, beach resort, Manila Resort World, or a five-star hotel.

I am reminded of my Jesuit retreat preacher, Fr. Selvaraj, who facilitated our retreat before our perpetual profession. I was the one who asked him a simple question: "What is your greatest joy in religious life?" He immediately replied, "I did not leave."

Religious life is not always easy. The struggles are real — loneliness, misunderstanding, spiritual dryness, and even moments of doubt. You may experience slander, calumny, betrayal, humiliation, and pain. But hold firm, my brother. Remember, the Cross is not a sign of defeat; it is the road to glory.

Brother, today, you say "Yes" to God forever. Let it be a "Yes" that endures — in joy and sorrow, in strength and weakness, in certainty and doubt.

The World Needs Another Christ

• The World Needs Kindness, Not Just Habits
• The world today doesn't need more religious men who just wear a habit on the outside.

It needs men whose hearts are on fire with love for Christ — men who are ready to serve, to love, and to get their hands dirty for others.

• The Good Samaritan: What the World Needs

In the story of the Good Samaritan, the man left beaten on the road did not need:

• Someone to preach to him about God,
• Someone to argue about doctrine,
• Someone to tell him what's right or wrong.

He needed:

• Someone to clean his wounds (even if it was messy!),
• Someone to carry him to safety,
• Someone to pay for his care.

He didn’t need a priest./ He didn’t need a preacher./ He needed a kind person. A servant.

And that’s what the wounded world needs today.

Be Clothed with Compassion

The Bible says:

"You are the people of God; He loved you and chose you for His own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." (Colossians 3:12)

Because this is how the world will see Jesus — through our love and kindness.

Jesus Walked Among the Broken

Jesus didn’t stay inside the synagogue or in comfortable places.

• He walked among sinners,
• He healed the sick,
• He forgave the lost,
• He served the broken.

Your vocation — whether as a priest, a brother, a sister, or a layperson — is not to escape the world,

but to bring Jesus into the world.

6. A Challenge for All of Us

Brother [Name] is giving his life completely to God. But what about us? Are we willing to give God even a part of our lives?

• Parents, do you support your children if they feel called to religious life?
• Young people, do you have the courage to ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Conclusion: The Greatest Yes

Brother [Name], today, you say your final “yes” to God. This yes is forever. It is a yes that will have struggles, but also deep joy. It is a yes that will demand sacrifice, but will also bring fulfillment.

May your life be a witness to all of us—that nothing is wasted when given to God.

Saint Joseph

Sleeping St. Joseph

Saint Joseph had providential dreams twice, which of course happened when he was sleeping:

 First during the announciation to St. Joseph Our Gospel today tells  us how the angel of the Lord announces to st. Joseph through the angel in his dreams that the child conceived in the womb of Mary is the Son of God (Matthew 1:19-25)

the second is during the Flight into Egypt. (Matthew 2:13-15)

We know that in this season of Christmas, the Nativity is never complete without the man God chose to be a foster father to Jesus. With much obedience and humility, Saint Joseph had taken Jesus wholeheartedly, and carried the biggest responsibility of a father the world has ever seen. The Sleeping Saint Joseph teaches us important life lessons that we can reflect on. As an ordinary Catholic, how can we relate with his story and learn from it?

1. When there’s nothing else you can do, it’s not too bad to just sleep! That is, to sleep as you rest in the Lord.

Sometimes, there comes a point in our lives when we are too lonely or burdened with problems, or conflicted with making very important decisions that we almost give up. We feel like there’s nothing we can do anymore and that no resolution awaits our misery. It drains us to think of ways to get through until we find ourselves exhausted and sleep becomes a temporary escape. But perhaps, to sleep is not too bad, if we do so by faithfully resting in God’s merciful embrace. That is, to entrust to God in prayer our fears, pains and struggles just as Saint Joseph restfully did.

Saint Joseph wanted to quietly leave and divorce his wife Mary, as he did not understand beforehand that she conceived her Son through the Holy Spirit. In the Gospels, we find him dreaming. An ordinary man like us, Saint Joseph did sleep with worries in his heart. But as we know, he was also a “righteous man,” so we expect that he did not only sleep, he surely must have had rested in God by prayer. When we are at our lowest or powerless about certain situations, we must humble ourselves and pray.

Let me share with you this simple self-composed prayer I wrote a while ago:

“God Almighty, I come before You faced with many difficulties. I surrender everything to you with faith. As I fall asleep, let me be comforted with Your peace and the Motherly love of the Blessed Virgin. Please give light to my situation and help me through as You bless me once more with another day in You. Amen.”

2. At times, it’s better to sleep, than to talk!

Remember the common saying that arguing couples should not sleep without solving their issue? Probably it isn’t completely true. When we are emotional, our actions and reactions can get carried away. If we discuss things over while we’re in the heat of a tensed moment, we might say something that we don’t mean at all. When hurtful words are blurted out and unwise things are done, it won’t be easy to take those back.

This can also happen when we force ourselves and we force it on God to solve our problems overnight. When we’re up at night and starting to rant at God of our frustrations and cares, then it’s time we sleep, rest and pray, and let God do the talking! It is by resting in the Lord, by listening to Him in prayer, that we feel His loving presence direct us and overcome the noises in our lives. Let us remember the Sleeping Saint Joseph who, in the silence of his restful dream, heard God’s calling for him and understood His Divine plan. Remember though that angels don’t just appear in somebody’s dreams. In the Bible, they only appear to people like Saint Joseph in his dreams, when God sends them from Heaven for a very important message. While we are most likely not to see an angel appear in our dream, if we do earnestly pray before we sleep each day, we might wake up with God’s inner voice in our hearts clearly telling us what we’re supposed to do.

3. Give your faithful confidence and obedience to God as you awaken from your “sleep”!

Our trials can seem as if they are the longest nightmares that we’re trapped in. But one day, we can suddenly feel God calling us to rise and directing our hearts what to do and where to go. It is like waking up from the darkest night of our souls and like Saint Joseph, we must trust in God and never doubt His aid. Saint Joseph had no idea what would happen next after his dreams, but he didn’t complain at all. He did exactly what he’s told to do, which was to take his wife Mary and name the Child “Jesus,” and left Bethlehem, headed to Egypt at once. To all of us, Saint Joseph is an example of holiness, obedience and faithful confidence in God, without the blabbing and questioning that we are so often tempted to do at present.

4. Wake up from your “sleep” and respond to God’s call, quickly and timely!

Many Catholics, including myself, claim that we live a righteous life at peace with God. However, it is only during challenging times that we can ever prove ourselves where we stand in God. “Do I still love God even I have so many sufferings?” “How much am I willing to sacrifice for the sake of God and my faith?” “Am I willing to live a moral life, even my situation makes it hard to do so?” When trials arise, we might be too focused on the hardship and the sadness they bring that we fail to answer swiftly to God’s call. On the other hand, there are times when we’re too happy in life that we only see what’s fleeting, the material things. We act so slow that we miss out on the opportunity to serve God and the chance He is giving us to follow as He leads.

Saint Joseph carried the weight of the Holy Family, right from the very start all the way to the Nativity of Jesus. Waking up from his dreams, he didn’t waste any time and fulfilled what God wanted him to do at the very moment he was told to.

Let us be all-ears to the call of God! He is awakening our faith and renewing our spirit. Let us welcome the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus to our home this Christmas just like Saint Joseph kept them deeply in his heart. We must take on our own special roles in life, say, as a husband and father, or a nun on a mission, and do it as a service to the Lord. As the Sleeping Saint Joseph reminds us, we bear our crosses during the day and before our sleep in the silence of the night, we must intently and restfully be with God in prayer!