The Quiz

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Matthew 16:13-20 “But who do you say that I am?”


I love History subjects when I was in high school. I enjoyed memorizing famous names, important dates and exotic places. But I struggled a lot when reflection paper would be required with topics such as “If Rizal is alive today, what will he say to the Filipino youth?” To answer it well, we need to know Rizal beyond facts and figures. We need to know his values, aspirations and sentiments in order to know him well.

In our gospel today, Jesus suddenly gave a surprise quiz to the disciples to test their knowledge about him. Much to the disciples’ surprise, Jesus posted two questions to them. The first question was a general knowledge inquiry, but the second was a heart to heart inquiry – a check of personal knowledge.

The first question was a curriculum vitae material: “Who do people say I am?” And they answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Easy! It was just a re-echoing of what others have said about Jesus.

But the second question was a hard one. Only those who were intimately close to Jesus could answer this: “Who do you say I am?” Everybody was caught in surprise. It was a re-echoing of what’s inside their hearts.” Surprisingly, Simon answered it correctly, “You are Christ, the Son of the living God.” I could imagine a smiling Jesus when Peter answered his second question correctly.

In our experience, students who are intellectually motivated spend a great deal of time in reading and researching. They have this unquenchable thirst for deeper knowledge. In the end, they become what they read and contemplated.

On the other hand, Peter was not only intellectually motivated to know Jesus. He was spiritually moved by Jesus. He was captivated by Jesus’ charism, passion and ministry. He wanted to know what keeps Jesus so passionate in everything. Thus, Peter decided to stay close with Jesus and learn more of Him. In the end, he decided to follow the footstep of Jesus. He became what he contemplated. It was Peter’s intimacy with Jesus that led him to say, “You are the son of the living God.” It was also his intimacy with Jesus that led him to say, “If it is you Lord, allow me to walk on water.”

But far more revealing in the story was the reply of Jesus, “Peter, I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” I suddenly realized that the more we know Jesus, the more we know ourselves and our hidden gifts and potentials. Thus, we are challenged to continually fix our eyes on Jesus in our prayer if we want to know ourselves. Our identity is in Jesus.

In our society, educated people benefits a lot. They always win in Quiz Bees, get freebies from the Cebu Pacific in-flight contest, and frequently consulted for bright ideas. Intelligent people are sources of right information and sound opinion of anything under the sun.

On the other hand, prayerful and spiritual people are sources of inspiration and strength. They are emotionally stable, balanced and happy. Such peaceful and cheerful disposition is the fruit of their deeply rooted prayer life and intimacy with God. Spiritual giants like Mary, St.Ignatius of Loyola and St.Francis of Assisi were people of prayer. Like Peter, because of their intimacy with Jesus, they found God and found themselves in the process.

But what about us? How is our intimacy with God? If Jesus will give us a surprise quiz today and ask us the same question, “Who do you say that I am?” What is your answer? Evaluate yourself.

Is your knowledge of Jesus comes from:


Your Rate
Your personal experience of Him in prayer? ----------- 40 % _______
Your personal experience Him in your daily life? ----- 40 % _______
Your Bible Study and Catechism? -=-------------------- 10 % _______
Other people’s experience of Jesus? --------------------- 10% _______

Total ________

What is your score?
Your score will tell you how deeply you know Jesus.

Knowing Jesus through Bible study and Catechism will give us a trophy in a Bible Quiz Bee; but knowing Jesus intimately through our prayer will give us heaven in our hand.


- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ
Sacred Heart Chapel
Ateneo de Zamboanga University

Why Pray?

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Matthew 14: 22 – 33

One of the activities we do in Ateneo is the “Trust Walk.” In this activity, each participant is blind folded and asked to walk under the guidance of a companion. We realized it is easier to walk when guided by someone whom we know well than by a total stranger. The voice of a good friend gives us the confidence that everything will be fine.

Our gospel today is a classic example of trust walk. When Peter learned that it was Jesus walking on the water, he said, “Lord, if it is you, allow me to come to you.” And Jesus said, “Come.” Although Peter could not clearly see Jesus, his voice was enough to encourage Peter to walk on water. Faith is indeed connected to our ability to hear God’s voice. The more we listen to God, the more we gain trust and confidence. Unfortunately, in our present world where noise is part of our life, we are slowly losing our capacity to keep quiet and listen to God.

People nowadays are so busy and distracted with many things. We are multi-task human beings; we do many things at the same time, but lost our focus in the process. Like a machine, we can accomplish many things, but the quality of our relationships suffers greatly, especially our relationship with God. We go home exhausted from daily work, but no sense of fulfillment. We excel in different fields and praised by our colleagues, but no inner joy and satisfaction. Many of us are simply tired, discouraged, or almost dead inside. We have lost our simple joys, spontaneity, and peace. We have lost the depth and breadth of our Christian life. We don't like this feeling of "sinking" but we are. Like Peter, distracted with many worldly concerns, we cry out for help, “Lord, I am sinking! Help me!”

The only way to regain ourselves is to pray again. Prayerful people could hear God in their prayers. The deeper we pray, the more we see God in all things. Our first reading tells us how God revealed Himself to Prophet Elijah. God did not reveal Himself in the strong wind, earthquake and fire, but in the tiny whispering sound. In our present society where everything must be loud, dramatic and grand to win our attention, the God who reveals Himself in silence loses in the competition. If we want to hear God, we need to pause and pray silently.

It is simply absurd to say that we don’t have time to pray. To pray is a decision compelled by our love of God. Even the busiest person can still drop his work and do something urgent and important. Unfortunately, we don’t see the necessity and urgency of daily prayer in our life.

Why pray? When you look at the gospel today, it is Jesus who did the seeking, and not the disciples. When we pray, we create a space and allow God to seek and find us. And when God finds us, He gives us the grace of serenity to face our storms in life. An unknown author defines the meaning of serenity…

To walk when everybody is running
To whisper when everybody is shouting
To sleep when everybody is restless
To smile when everybody is angry
To pause when all are in a hurry
To pray when all are in doubt
To think when all are confused

Fr. Roque Ferriols,SJ shared something about God who constantly looking for him when he celebrated his 70th year as a Jesuit:

“Seventy years ago, I joined the Society of Jesus. I thought I was beginning a lifetime looking for God. But it was given me to know that throughout my lifetime, God has been looking for me. With infinite tenderness, patience, and with great humility, God has been looking for me. God is humble. He waits for me to allow him to find me. Yet in the mystery of his grace, I need his grace to be able to allow him to find me. I have to pray: Lord, grant me the grace to allow you to find me.

As a novice and later as a scholastic, when they sang the Office of Tenebrae during Holy Week, I was always thrilled when they came to the verse: "Bonum est praestolare salutare domini in silentio." "It is good to wait for the saving help of the Lord in silence."


- Fr. Wilfredo M. Samson,SJ
St. Joseph Parish, Zamboanga City

I Believe in You

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 6: 1-6 “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place”



A father and son love to collect rare paintings. Their collections were much sought and envied by art collectors and museums. One day the son volunteered in Vietnam War and died after saving another soldier. A month later, the soldier visited the grieving father and gave him a portrait of his son. It was not a beautiful painting but the father placed it in the middle of his priceless collections. After two years, the father died without anybody to inherit his wealth including the paintings. Millionaires and famous people went to the auction, ready to spend millions of dollars for the rare paintings of Van Gogh, Picasso, and Juan Luna. All were excited but the auctioneer begun with the soldier’s painting of the son. He said, “Any bid? 100 dollars?” Everybody laughed and said, “We want the paintings of Picasso, Klimt, and Pollock! Not that one!” But the auctioneer just continued, “50 dollars? Thirty? Ten? Five? No takers?“ Then an old man shouted, “I will take it! That boy in the painting saved my son in Vietnam.” Everybody said, “Good. Take it. Let’s move to the real things!” Much to their surprise, the auctioneer said, “The auction is over. The father, in his last will, requested that anyone who buys the portrait of his son will get all the paintings for free.”

Our gospel for today is like that. It was tragic that the town mates of Jesus did not believe his authority and failed to see who Jesus was, the Son of God. They questioned Jesus’ teaching and healing authority because they know him well (Mk 6:3-4). He was once one of them! Indeed, familiarity breeds contempt. Familiarity stops us to see the positive in others. He was just an ordinary carpenter and the son of Mary, and so they did not have faith in him. Because of this, “he was not able to perform any mighty deed there…” (Mk 6:5). It’s crystal clear: Without faith, expect no miracle.

First and foremost, our gospel calls us to take the Son. We proclaim with our lips that we believe in Jesus. And yet our action betrays what we proclaim. We proclaim that we trust God, and yet we could not let go of many things. We say I believe and yet you look sad and worry a lot. We say that God is our priority and yet we only give him one hour every Sunday. If you want to see miracles in your life, believe in Jesus. Seek the giver and not the gifts. Prioritize the Son. As Matthew said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt. 6:33) Take the Son and possess everything.

Second, our gospel also calls us to believe with one another. We seldom see miracle or breaks in our families and communities because we always doubt in each other’s potential and talents. Familiarity breeds contempt. We raised our eyebrows when one does something innovative. We seldom encourage and complement people, but we are quick in criticizing and judging. All of us are gifted, for God created us that way, but many of us will die without discovering their full potential. We should be “talent spotters.” When was the last time you say to someone, “I believe in you.” Or tap the shoulder of someone and say, “Kaya mo yan! Ikaw pa!” But the sad part of our story is, when somebody gained little confidence to fly, instead of giving him more wings to fly, somebody from us will shoot the poor guy’s wings with criticism and contempt. Miracle stops when we cease to believe with one another. But
when there is encouragement, there is always miracle to expect.

When I was in college, to speak in public and to write an article were my two greatest waterloos. Today, I still have butterflies each time I give a talk and still grasping for words each time I write a homily. But with friends and God around to encourage me, it gives me some guts to speak and write as well. Miracles do take place, if you believe.


- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ
Carmelite Monastery / July 5, 2009

Fear Factor

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 4: 35-41 "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?"



Three months ago, I visited an alumnus of Ateneo de Zamboanga in Western Mindanao Medical Center. He was diagnosed with cancer, fourth stage. After anointing him with oil, he politely asked me, “Father Willy, answer me. I am 38 years old and dying of cancer. Two years ago, I was a very healthy person. But two years ago, when I started attending the mass and became close to God, it was then that I was diagnosed with cancer. I can’t understand, now that I am close to God; it is also now that I got a cancer. Where is His promise of protection and care?”

I paused for a moment and said, “It is unfair to God to conclude that your closeness to Him has something to do with your cancer. Maybe God knows that you will have cancer that He decided to bring you closer to Him. He knows you will need Him now, more than ever.”

Our gospel today brings us to a realization: Storms (life’s ordeals, hardship, sickness) and fear are parts and parcels of our lives. The setting of our gospel was frightening. Jesus and his disciples were caught in the middle of a perfect storm: “A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up; and it is evening.” (Mark 4:37). Fear ruled the disciples’ hearts. They panicked and sought the help of Jesus. Only to find out that Jesus was sleeping in a cushion. Imagine the frustration of the disciples when they saw Jesus sleeping. They woke him up, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He simply woke up, rebuke the wind and said to the sea, “Quiet, be still.” And there was a great calm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you afraid?” Do you not yet have faith?” (Mark 4:38).

When Jesus said to the sea, “Quiet, be still.” I have this feeling that those words were also intended to the disciples and to us. Each time we are asked to “cross the other side” or each time a storm comes to us, fear will always be there. But this fear is pretty much normal. Fear is a basic survival instinct in response to any danger. Even Jesus, in his humanity, have experienced fear but he learned to conquer it, “Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want.” (Matthew 26:38). In our gospel, Jesus is giving us his secret antidote against fear: 1. Be quiet 2. Be still.

When Jesus said, “Be still….”It means to relax, not to panic and have faith that God will surely help and protect us. God is with us. He said, “Be still and know that I am you God.” (Psalm 46:10). On the other hand, “Be quiet” means go to your room and pray. Allow God to talk to you. Listen to Him and be consoled. A child can sleep soundly in the arms of his mother or father because he knows his protected. Jesus could sleep in the middle of the storm, because He knew that his Father in heaven would protect him.

Storms will always be part and parcel of our lives. Face it and it will make you strong. Fear will always be there every time we are asked to cross to the other side. Take courage. Be not afraid. Not all crossings have storms along the way. But if ever a storm comes to meet you and fear rules your heart, do not forget the antidote, bring God with you and listen to his words, “Quiet, be still.” Then with confidence say, “With God at my side, I can. I will.”

"Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence." – Pope John Paul II

- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ
Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish, Zamboanga City
June 21, 2009

The Three in Me

Feast of the Holy Trinity
Matthew 28: 16 – 20 “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”


Leo Buscaglia was asked to judge in a contest to find the most caring child.
The winner was a four-year-old child, whose next door neighbour was an old man, who recently lost his wife. When the child saw the old man crying, he climbed onto the old man’s lap, and just sat there. The next day, the old man was up and back to his old happy self. When he was asked what he said to the old man, the little boy just said, "Nothing, I just cried with him." Presence is always consoling and empowering.

Today as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity, our gospel shows us how the loving presence of Jesus did two wonderful things to his disciples: they were consoled and empowered; and commissioned them to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

We do believe in the Holy Trinity - three Persons in One God. We have accepted that full understanding of this Trinitarian dogma will elude us for the rest of our lives. It will remain a mystery to reckon until we finally meet God in heaven.

But the best way to understand how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit become one is not through Mathematics (for it will surely fail us) but by how they unitively relate to one another and how they reveal themselves to us in different ways. Three different ways of manifestation yet one loving God: The Son, by becoming like us, shares his eternal presence, “I am with you always, until the end of age.” The Father’s eternal protection and unconditional love provides our daily bread, protects us from all evil and empowers us to face our struggles in life. The Holy Spirit’s eternal light consoles and reminds us of the teachings of Jesus. Three different ways of manifestation but unitive in nature.

In our gospel today, when Jesus met the disciples in Galilee, “they worshipped him but doubted.” Somehow we can relate with the disciples here. We do believe in God. We pray and attend Mass regularly. But a part of us doubts God’s power and presence in our life. We still have some anxiety attacks, pockets of sadness, and unrecognized emptiness.

Today, beg the Holy Trinity to touch our hearts. Let the Holy Spirit consoles us. Believe that “all power in heaven and on earth has been given” to Jesus by God the Father and all your fear will disappear. Then say YES to lend a hand in the Trinity’s Enterprise of saving souls. The Trinitarian love (presence, consolation, empowerment) we have experienced should move us out of our selfishness, sins and comfort zones.

Our Jesuit theology professor in Loyola School of Theology attempted explaining to us the Trinitarian mystery for one semester, but he closed the course with an expected conclusion, “The Trinity is in the realm of mystery. No amount of words or logical explanation can fully grasp the mystery. Faith will do.” But faith is for the believers only.

For the unbelievers, the only way to understand the Trinity is through our examples, by becoming LIVING WITNESSES of the Holy Trinity’s loving presence in their lives. Be like the Son – be the presence of unseen God to others. Be like the Holy Spirit – guide and console people. Be like the Father – love unconditionally and empower people to discover their own giftedness. Witnessing is more convincing than explaining.

I don’t need to understand the Trinitarian mystery in its fullness. My experience of the Father’s unconditional love, the Son’s eternal presence and the Spirit’s consolation, are more than enough to wipe away my tears, move on, and face the day with a smile.


- Fr. Willy M. Samson, SJ
Santa Maria Parish, Iloilo City
June 7, 2009

The Secret Jewel of Joseph

Solemnity of St.Joseph
Matthew 1:16.18-21.24 “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had
commanded him.”


Saint Joseph is one of the least visible characters in the scripture. A friend of mine who is a devotee of Saint Joseph defines him as the hidden jewel of the New Testament. Reading through the first two chapters of Matthew, three common characteristics described Saint Joseph: Dreamer – Frustrated – Obedient.

He was a dreamer, but a frustrated dreamer. He dreamed of having a happy family with his lovely wife Mary. But the angel appeared to him in a dream and proclaimed she was already pregnant by the Holy Spirit. He planned to break off the engagement in private, but the angel told him to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:18-23). When Jesus was born, he dreamed of Jesus growing in Nazareth. But the angel appeared again in a dream and told him to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18). When they were already settled happily in Egypt, the angel of God appeared again and told him to bring his family back to Israel (Matthew 2:19-23). Just imagine the frustrations of Saint Joseph. And yet, in all these events, I am touched how Saint Joseph lovingly obeyed God, “Your wish is my command.”

Looking back, the life of Saint Joseph is more or less similar to our lives. We are also dreamers. We have many plans in our life and for our families: a retreat in Baguio this summer, to migrate in the United States, to pass the board exams, to get married in two years, to win in annulment case, to buy new house, a new Philippine president, and many other plans and dreams. And like Saint Joseph, some of our small and big dreams remain a dream – unfulfilled and unanswered. We are frustrated. We blame God. We stop going to Mass and attending prayer meetings. We question God’s existence. We rebel against Him. Some of us change became a non-believer. Worst of all, we slip through anger, depression, and hopelessness. It pains us because we tried controlling our destiny but to no avail.

God wants us to plan and dream. God is always giving us a hand in our life. But sometimes, when our plans are not working the way we want it to be, or the way we want to see it, let’s open the possibility that God is offering us a better option. In times like this, learn the art of letting go and letting God. Have faith and trust God. He knows better than us. Learn from Saint Joseph. Be obedient.

My Tatay Francisco was a frustrated engineer. In my desire to fulfill the dream of my father, I took the Civil Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas and passed the board exam. But God made a turn-around in my life and I found myself as a Jesuit priest after saying yes to God’s promptings. Like my father, I ended up a frustrated engineer. But looking back, when I decided to follow the will of God and let go of my dreams, I realized that God gave me a better life. A friend of mine told me, “You are still an engineer – and a successful one, because you are helping the church build a spiritual bridge between God and His children.”

Sometimes, we may think that God is unfair for telling us to plan our life only to be told, “Do this and not that one.” But in the end, when we allow ourselves to follow God and cooperate with Him, we discover that God is not thinking of His own capriciousness but our own happiness: A life to the fullest! God has a greater plan for us. Saint Joseph discovered it. This is his most precious jewel!

What happens happen for a reason.


- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ
Carmelites Convent, March 19, 2009

Sweet and Sour

2nd Sunday of Lent (B)
Mark 9:2-10 “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to
him.”


In our gospel today, Jesus knows that he will suffer and die on the cross. But he also knows that three days after, the Father would raise him up. Reading the first half of the Gospel of Mark, we could see that Jesus spoke three times of His suffering, death, and rising after three days; but the disciples failed to understand. They could not accept that the Messiah must suffer and die in humiliation to save humanity. It was scandalous and unacceptable for them to see Jesus suffers. Peter even scolded Jesus when He spoke of his impending death on the cross (Mark 8:32).

It is in this context that Jesus decided to reveal to them what’s life after the cross. He brought Peter, James and John to the mountain to experience a foretaste of what’s ahead of those who faithfully carry their crosses: a glimpse of resurrection via transfiguration. Unfortunately, there is only one and only way to resurrection: the way of the cross.

When they reached the mountain and Jesus started praying to the Father, His clothes became dazzling white! Elijah and Moses appeared. And they heard the words of a proud Father, “This is my beloved Son, LISTEN TO HIM.” The words of the Father are actually the synthesis of the life of Jesus – listening and obeying the Father.

Jesus is like us in all things except sin. He knows fear, anger, being abandoned, betrayed by friends, insulted by many, and misunderstood by his disciples and family. During those moments where Jesus could already sense his impending suffering and death, He needs to come to the Father and listen without any reservation. He knows that the Father is the only one who can give him strength and courage.

Unfortunately, the disciples misunderstood the transfiguration experience. The disciples were thrilled with the transfiguration’s triumphant mood. Peter even said, “Let us make tents here!” They just wanted to stay in the mountain in the company of Moses and Elijah. They did not want to go to Jerusalem. They were reluctant to carry their daily crosses as Jesus commanded them.

During Lent, we love praying the Way of the Cross, but we don’t want to live it. Sometimes we are tempted to say, “Lord, can we skip the Good Friday and go straight to Easter?” But life is not like that. There’s no genuine Easter celebration without faithfully undergoing our Good Fridays. Reality bites. We can’t run away from our daily trials. The more we run away from our cross, it becomes heavier. But when we embrace it, it becomes lighter! That’s the irony of the cross. Stand up for Jesus. Carry your cross. It’s your “grace-filled” opportunity to share in Jesus’ Paschal mystery.

Transfiguration is a glimpse of what’s ahead of us to encourage us to hold on and faithfully carry our daily trials and crosses in life. Follow the footstep of Jesus. Faithfully go to your mountain (prayer time) and LISTEN TO THE FATHER. Those who earnestly seek God in prayer will never be disappointed. God will give them courage, strength, and hope to face their crosses – that’s transfiguration!

This Lenten Season, don’t just pray the Way of the Cross. Live it! There’s victory ahead of us. Life is a sweet and sour experience!

- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ
House of Spirituality, Silsilah
March 8, 2009

Kentucky Fried Chicken

Tuesday – 1st Week of Lent
Matthew 6: 7-17 “Our Father in heaven … give us today our daily bread”



“Go to school on your own. You can do it.” These were the words of my father on my first day to school away from our home. It scared me. I was only ten years old then. Riding the public jeep on my own for the first time without a companion was unimaginable. I took the challenge. But when I reached our school,
I was surprised to see that my father was already there. He smiled and said, “I was watching you all the time from another jeep and kept my eyes on you.”

Beautiful memories do lasts. I still remember those days where my father brings home Kentucky fried chicken every payday in our delight. He was indeed a good provider of all our needs. That’s my father!

Sad to say, he died six years ago after years of struggling against diabetes and stroke. I miss him a lot. I miss his fatherly care.

I am sure you have your own memories of your father’s goodness. This Lenten season, thank him if he is still alive. Unfortunately, not all fathers are good. And I pity those children who suffered a lot of pain from their fathers.

All of us are yearning for a good father. But reality bites. Not all fathers are good. Reading the gospel today, it dawned on me that Jesus wants to share His Loving Father with us. He wants us to experience His Father’s unconditional love, care and protection.

The prayer of Jesus begins with the word “Our” and not “My.” If my father protected me and provided all my needs when he was still alive, how much more of our Heavenly Father who sees and knows us well? The love of my father is just a taste or glimpse of the Heavenly Father’s constant protection and unwavering love for us.

If my father is still alive today and it's payday, I am sure he will go home with a box of Kentucky Fried Chicken to delight us and satisfy our palate. But blessed are those who earnestly pray and believe in God as their Father, God will surely protect them and satisfy their souls.



- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ
Carmelite Monastery
March 3, 2009

Santa Claus, Manny Pacquiao, and Jesus

3rd Sunday of Advent
John 1: 6-8, 19-28 “He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might
believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to
testify to the light.”



I cannot help but smile when the picture of laughing Old Santa Claus welcomes me at the door of the sacristy in Ateneo de Zamboanga chapel. I know that Christmas is just around the bend! Santa Claus is a very prominent character in our Christmas tradition. I have nothing against Santa, for when I was child, Santa brought thrills and joy when Christmas day comes as I eagerly look forward for his gift under the Christmas tree. Now I know Santa is not real, but he symbolizes joy to me. “He was not the light, but he testified to the light.”

I cannot help but smile again when I recall the last victory of the underdog Manny Pacquiao against the heavily favoured Oscar De la Hoya. The whole nation stopped to watch the Pacquiao and cheered for his victory. At that moment, we are proud to be a Filipino. His victory gave joy to the Filipino people. But we know that Manny is not the saviour of our country, but his victory inspires many to persevere and not to lose hope. “He was not the light, but he testified to the light.”

As we move closer to Christmas season, we ask ourselves, where can get that real JOY. Santa Claus and Manny Paquiao can make us happy but not to last for a lifetime. We need more than that. We need real happiness that comes from within us, a joy that comes not from “having things or winning.” We need JOY that will never fade away and will always remain with us.

Rejoice! It’s Gaudete Sunday, a Sunday that exhorts us to rejoice. The lighting of the rose candle reminds us that this is the time of great expectation for we have found the real source of fade-proof JOY – that is JESUS.

In our gospel for today, the priests and the Levites came to John to ask him if he is the Christ, or Elijah, or the Prophet who is to come. John responded that he was none of these. He was the one who is preparing the way for the Lord. They were not sincerely seeking the Messiah – the source of real JOY.

But we are. We are looking for His presence in our lives. We are looking for that JOY that will last for a lifetime. We are looking for his presence in our midst and within us right now. We are looking for Him to heal us, our families and our country. We are grateful to Pacquiao for giving us a little smile in our seemingly hopeless nation. Our “Santa Clauses” may make us jump for the giving us top of the line laptop and other expensive gifts. But the happiness will eventually fade away. What we need is a Joy that will never last. And Jesus is the only one who can give such Joy.

Unfortunately, in our gospel today, John disappointingly said, “There is one among you whom you do not recognize…” We failed to recognize that Jesus is always with us. We are distracted with so many things of lesser value. The lights, smell, taste, and sounds of secular and materialistic Christmas celebration may distract us from seeing the Savior who is always with us. Thus, we lost the JOY!

Our beautiful Filipino Christmas tradition should inspire us to go the Manger Scene. They should lead us to the newly born baby Jesus – our Saviour. Let us not be tempted and be blinded by the beauty of the gift wrappings that we never dare to look what’s inside the box. “There is one among you whom you do not recognize.”

This Christmas Season, let’s remind one another of the Incarnate God who are in our midst – the source of real JOY. We are Christians. Be proud and say, “Merry Christmas”. Don’t just say, “Season’s greetings,” or even “Happy Holidays.” Say “Merry Christmas.” Our greetings should be a statement of our faith – a reminder of the forgotten God. Christmas is the celebration of the greatest birth to ever take place, God becoming man in Jesus Christ. We have a good reason to celebrate and rejoice!

Many of us have already received their Christmas bonuses. Many of us are trooping now to the malls, seeking for something to fill their needs this Christmas. Children are looking for toys; young adults are looking for gifts that express love; my Nanay is thinking of food to fill our table for Noche Buena ; I do need to find a gift for my monita for our Christmas party; the Jesuits are asked to bring five gallons of ice cream for the clergy and religious Christmas party. These are all good. This is how we celebrate Christmas and we love them.

But what is it that we really need? What is it that we are really seeking? Something that will last and stay when Christmas is over.

The late Pope John Paul II said, “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness. He is waiting for you when nothing else ever satisfies you. He is the beauty to which you are so attracted. It is He who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise. It is He that urges you to shed the masks of a false life. It is He who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs up in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.”

Our world will be different when we allow Jesus to control our lives. Our whole values and priorities changes because we found the Messiah – the real treasure and the source of real JOY. Finding Jesus is finding our everything… and finding Him is finding ourselves. And that’s worth REJOICING!


Santa comes but once a year. Jesus is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...Jesus supplies all your needs.
Santa lets you sit on his lap ...Jesus lets you rest in His Arms.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...JESUS has a heart full of love.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...JESUS became our gift and died on the tree, for you and me.

Pacquiao, in the midst of his victory as the new “pound for pound king” humbly bowed to the real KING when he said in one interview, “When you pray, do not just tell God your problem. Tell your problem, you have a great God.”

We need to remember, WHO the real KING is.
JESUS is still the reason for the season.



- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ
Zamboanga Catedral
December 14, 2008

Joystick

2nd Sunday of Advent
Mark 1: 1-8 “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”



A basketball in my hands is worth about 100 pesos
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.

The lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb and many other sick people
In my hands might find comfort.
But the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb and other sick people
In Jesus’ hand will find total healing and consolation.
It depends whose hand they are in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Most of our sins come from our desire to control everything around us - people, environment, events, and most of all the will of God. In our desire to control everything, we put everything in our hands. Pain and frustration come when we failed to control people, events, and fate. God wants us to let go of our compulsion to control, leave the joystick in God’s hand and He will take care of us.

Our advent readings for today remind us to prepare the way for the coming of our Savior Jesus - the Son of God who put his whole life in his Father’s hands and found fulfillment in following the will of God. Jesus knows that life’s fulfillment and meaning depends on whose hand it’s in. He knows it is good to leave everything into the hands of somebody who holds the future.

Unfortunately, we don’t want to put our total trust in God’s hands. We find God slow in answering our prayers. Sometimes we don’t want his way of handling things. We don’t want to wait. Waiting for us may mean delays, uncertainties and labor in different queue of life for a long time. Waiting gives us pain and makes us impatience. We want an instant solution, instant answer, and instant success. Thus, to put our life in God’s hand and allow him to take control of our life’s joystick becomes difficult for us. Trusting God becomes our lifelong struggle and I realize that most of my sins come from my desire to control everything including God.

Advent is a time to STOP and joyfully surrender to God our life’s joystick. Allow God’s hands to show us the way, the truth and the life. When we allow the Lord to run our lives, our waiting becomes a joyful anticipation that something wonderful is about to unfold in our lives. A certain excitement builds up within us and we find ourselves looking forward to something new and life-giving. We need to have an open mind for this kind of waiting - a willingness to accept whatever happens or whoever enters our world. We need a big bag of patience and faith here. Although sometimes, when it seems that God’s answer seems nowhere in sight, we complain that God seems oblivious to our needs. But in our Second Reading, Peter gave us an assurance to let go and let God, “the Lord is not being slow to carry out his promises”. On the contrary, “He is being patient with you all, wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought to change his ways.” ( 2 Peter 3:9).

We may end up of frustrated, sad and hopeless when we place everything in our hands. Fear not. Look at Jesus, Mary, and Joseph who placed their trust in God’s hands - that full trust they rendered to God allowed Him to fully use them. They became His channels of grace and turned their lives into a miracle.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Our happiness and fulfillment depend on whose hands we place our trust.
In this advent season, why not totally trust God and see the difference? Remember, when you jump in faith, God will do two possible things … He will either catch you or give you wings to fly.




-Fr. Willy M. Samson, SJ
Western Mindanao Medical Center
December 7, 2008