Christian Faith
A power
punch of faith can knock out our fear of change and uncertainty
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you
are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
There
was a big fight between a Filipino boxer and a British boxer that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada. I was not able to watch
that event on television, but my brother in California told me what happened. As I imagined the boxing match that night, I
learned something about the positive attitude we should have when dealing with tough problems in our lives. On one hand, we
should not underestimate our problems. We cannot simply ignore the troubles we are in and its damaging effect to our spiritual
wellbeing and to our relationships with others.
When a crisis comes into our lives, we become vulnerable to unnecessary
anxieties and to the fear of change and uncertainty in life. A change can be overwhelming and confusing to us. Coping with
the unknown can be scary and frustrating. We might feel paralyzed; not wanting to do anything or not having the strength to
face the reality. And if we try to do something about it, we might be at risk of making wrong decisions in life. When
things are not doing well, it is easy to lose hope and our sense of purpose in life. Whether we like or not, we should recognize
our limitations and that we need assistance and guidance from others—people who serve as helping hands and voice of
God.
On the other hand, we should not allow ourselves to be intimidated by our enemies—by our problems and
by the things we have no control in this world. Whatever is happening in our lives, God is in control. With God’s perfect
timing and with His mighty hands, God will take care of everything. We should hold on our faith and surrender all our problems
to Christ Jesus, our Good Shepherd. He will fight for us and we should be confident of his victory. It is comforting
to know that we have a dependable Shepherd who loves us no matter who we are. He will lead us to green pastures and he will
protect us from any harm. In spite of our imperfections and weaknesses, through him we will realize that we are precious children
of God.
-- The Rev. Fr. Jojo Pamatmat
Lent
2009
Those who belong to Christ are counted as children of the promise.
“Do not think
that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)
Remembering the story of Noah after the Great Flood, God made a promise to him that never again
the world will be covered by water to destroy humankind. Full of compassion and mercy, God has changed the fate of humanity.
Through Christ, God has fulfilled His promise that He would
never again destroy human race with flood. The water that was used to destroy the world will be used instead to save
humanity through Baptism. In Baptism, we are united in Christ’s death and resurrection. In Baptism, the sins that
bring guilt, shame, and grief to our souls are washed away.
Remembering
the story of Abraham and Isaac, God did not allow Abraham to kill his son. A ram took the place of Isaac on the altar as sacrificial
offering. What Abraham was asked to do, God has done. God gave his only Son to suffer death on the cross so that everyone
who believes in him will not perish but may have eternal life.
Because
of Abraham’s steadfast faith, God established a covenant with him that he would become the ancestor of a multitude of
nations. Christ brings this promise of God to Abraham to all people in all corners of the world, from generation to generation.
Those who belong to Christ are counted as children of the promise, and therefore descendants of Abraham. We are all children
of God through faith.
We might disagree with one
another. We might hate each other. We might separate ourselves from others. However, what unites us is far greater than what
divides us. There is only one source of life. There is only one Savior who shed his blood on the cross for our redemption.
And at the end of time, there will be only one Judge—the all-knowing Judge who remembers everything we have done and
everything we have failed to do.
Observing God’s
statutes and ordinances can bring us closer to God. But only love has the power to unite us with God. And only though faith
we can fulfill the law according to the will of God. Whatever is lacking in us, faith and love will come up with the
difference.
Life is a journey. Following
the law can keep us focus to our destination. But faith is necessary to give us hope that we can reach our destination. And
to pursue it with love, we will find meaning and purpose in our journey. Faith, hope and love can give us strength to
overcome endless trials in our journey, comfort in spite of those troubles we have to deal with day-by-day, and joy of knowing
that, with God’s help, we will reach our destination no matter what our circumstances are. The Spirit of the Lord will
bring us all to that blissful place prepared for those who are called children of faith.
-- The Rev. Fr. Jojo Pamatmat
Epiphany 2009
Seize
the moment when opportunity knocks
“The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:14)
Many
Christians believe in the “parousia” when the risen Lord will come again in glory, power, and majesty. When that
time comes, sufferings and poverty will cease, justice will reign, and war and conflicts will end. Love will rule in this
new world, where new people clothed with Christ’ righteousness will finally live in abundance, harmony and peace.
In believing that the “parousia” will happen
someday, though only God knows when, we have to be prepared and take every opportunity we have to be transformed in spirit
and to grow in wisdom and grace. Procrastination can be costly. It is a regrettable waste of time, talent and opportunity,
and a disregard of God’s invitation for our participation to the work of the Spirit in human history. We don’t
have to wait for the last day before we change our lives. Life is short. We may not get the chance to do the right thing later.
Let’s live our precious life as if the Lord’s Second Coming will happen
in our lifetime. If we do that, our views and priorities in life will change. We will discover the true worth of the things
we improperly treasured so much and the valuable things we oftentimes have neglected in this world. We will see that life
is sacred, and that our lives are connected to one another. We will realize that we are all citizens of this tiny world, and
that we have duties and responsibilities to one another, protecting the rights and welfare of every human being.
By using our time wisely in a positive way, we will accomplish many good things. By
opening our eyes to all possibilities, God will lead us to adventures and surprises. By seizing those moments when opportunities
knock, God will reveal to us our strengths and potentials. By taking our shares of responsibilities in the work of healing
and redemption of this broken world, we give glory and honor to God Almighty and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And
by living our lives to the fullest in spite of the shortness of time, we become responsible children of God, and productive
workers in Christ’s vineyard, and eventually worthy inheritors of life eternal.
-- The Rev. Fr. Jojo Pamatmat
Christmas 2008
The birth of Christ brings hope and joy to our troubled world.
“I am bringing you good
new of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”(Luke
2:10-11)
The birth of the new king was proclaimed first to the lowly. The shepherds were generally poor and
to some extent outcasts, considered by the “respectable” to be ignorant, dirty, and lawless. Their social status
symbolizes humility. The nature of their work requires patience and hard work. When the appearance of God’s messenger
lights up the sky, the shepherds were terrified. The angel assured them that there is nothing to be afraid of, that they should
rejoice because the angel was bringing good news to them and to all the people. It is through those lowly ones, the shepherds,
that the message of hope and salvation comes to the whole people of Israel.
The angels
announce peace as a gift of God’s favor. True peace is not simply the absence of violence or war. There is no peace
in any relationship if justice is not honored, and if the dignity of every person is not respected. True peace dwells from
within and transcends the whole being of a person. Peace, therefore, brings harmony to that person.
God doesn’t want to impose peace on this world. Instead,
God sent his only begotten Son to be born like us and to live among us. Jesus is the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.
True peace in this world begins in a manger where this child is sleeping.
The birth of the new king was proclaimed first to the shepherds. They were expecting a Messiah
who would bring hope to the poor and to the outcasts. While doing their daily routine, living in the fields, and keeping watch
over their flock, the shepherds were waiting for the Messiah. They did not lose hope and they believed that God will save
them from their troubles and that there are more important things in life than material wealth.
The shepherds went to Bethlehem and they witnessed what the Lord
had made known to them. They found Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus lying in a manger. When they saw the holy child, they offered
their praise and thanksgiving. Then they went out to share the good news to other people, and all who heard it were amazed.
The poor and the outcast became messengers of God to the rest of the world. God showed them that everyone has a purpose in
life, and they should pursue it in spite of the many challenges and uncertainties in this troubled world.
The shepherds didn’t have nice
clothes or expensive gifts to bring when they visited the holy family. But still, it did not stop them from going to Bethlehem.
When we visit our friends and family on Christmas Day, it is not the gifts that we bring or receive that is important. It
is the gift of our selves, with love, hope and joy, that matters most.
And even though the shepherds couldn’t offer the holy family with a better dwelling place—better
place than the stable—they had rooms in their hearts to welcome this child into their lives. They had rooms in their
lives to welcome this child into this world.
May we welcome Jesus into our hearts and lives as the shepherds of old did.
-- The Rev. Fr. Jojo Pamatmat
Advent
2008
Christ is the answer to all our prayers.
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:1)
The coming of the Anointed One is a message of hope to those who are oppressed, abused and exploited in this
world, especially the poor, the women, the children, the elderly, and the foreigners. The Lord God is not blind to their sufferings.
God heard all their prayers.
The coming
of the Messiah is a good news to those who needs to be liberated from their prison cells, especially the disabled, the shut-ins,
and the desolate. The Lord God is not blind to their pain and sorrows. God has compassion on them.
The coming of the Savior is a good news to those who are brokenhearted,
especially those who are unemployed and those who lose their homes from foreclosures. The Lord God is not blind to their troubles.
God listens to their lamentations.
The coming of God’s only begotten Son is a good news to those who are suffering from guilt and shame
from past mistakes. God has forgiven them, and God will lead them into a new life in Christ Jesus. God has the power to wipe
away their bad records in the past. God is a giver of second chance.
All people who are living their lives in the wilderness--their waiting will not last long. They
are not forgotten. The Lord God is not blind to their sufferings. God heard all their prayers. Their journey to the Promise
Land is near its end.
We must
always pray and give thanks to God in all circumstances. Remember how many times God had saved us in the past. If God seems
silent in our prayers maybe it is because God wants to do things behind the scenes. God’s silence is also a sign of
God’s patience and wisdom. God is waiting for the right time, the right place, the right people, and the right reason
to make things happen. And God has many ways to make things happen. His ways are much better than our ways.
-- The Rev. Fr. Jojo Pamatmat
