3-D Ticket to Heaven

20th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Luke 13: 22-30 “Do your best to go in through the narrow door”

Wedding is a special occasion for all of us. We do a lot of preparation to make it more memorable and meaningful. When my friend Jenny was asked to be the Maid of Honor of her bestfriend, it was the beginning of her serious preparation, as if she was the one who will get married. Without delay, she immediately rushed to her dressmaker and meticulously chose her DRESS to wear. But the preparation did not end there. A month before the wedding, she begun avoiding her favorite chocolates as part of her DIET program. She wanted a slim beautiful body for her bestfriend’s big day. But as the wedding day came closer, a business offer came up from Singapore. Without having a second thought, she politely turned down the offer. Her DESIRE to attend her bestfriend’s wedding was far more important than any business or personal interests.

There is also a big banquet coming in the Kingdom of God. All are invited; unfortunately not everybody will be able to enter the gate. In our gospel today, someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” His answer was a big surprise, “Do your best to go in through the narrow door; because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able (Lk.13:24).” Jesus even hinted that some of his followers will not be allowed to join the banquet. They will claim, “We ate and drank in your company (Lk.13:26).” But Jesus will simply say, “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evil doers (Lk.13:27).” The blame was on them. They did not prepare themselves for the Big Feast.

The 3-D preparation is a must for the big banquet in heaven. We are expected to dress appropriately, do our regular diet, and have great desire to meet our Savior. How do we do these? Let’s check our own 3-D list:

Dress – Do you wear your dress of righteousness and charity regularly? Don’t forget the guest
who was thrown out from the feast for not wearing the appropriate dress. (Mt. 22:12-13).

Diet – Do you do your spiritual dieting regularly? Cut down your excesses. Trim your pride and
selfishness. Avoid temptations. Turn away from sins. Remember, the gate to the
Big Feast is too narrow. Diet is a must to squeeze ourselves. (Matthew 3:2).

Desire – Do you have a genuine desire to join the Big Feast and meet Jesus? Are we like
the invited guest who says, “Not now, I am busy with my business and other things.”
(Matthew 22:5).

Unlike any earthly wedding, preparing for the Big Feast is quite difficult, challenging and liberating. All are invited to the Big Feast but nobody knows when. The gospel gives us a stern warning - we will falter and fail if we don’t start preparing now. Thus, the challenge is to dress up, do your diet and desire for Jesus every day. If the 3-D prep becomes part of our daily life, the date of the Big Feast is not something to worry about, but something to look forward to.

In our newspaper this morning, it was reported that our Bb.Pilipinas International 2009, Ms.Melody Gersbach, 24, died in a road accident. She is too young to die. We really don’t know when our time is. Suddenly, it reminds me of my friends who are struggling hard with cancer. They are more or less prepared than us. Somehow, this is one of their graces.

So wake up. Do your 3-D preparation. And you will never be disappointed.

- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ / St.Joseph Parish, Zamboanga City / August 22, 2010

Hail Mary, Pray for Us

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Luke 1: 39-56 “Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste”

Last Christmas Eve, while preparing food for our family Noche Buena, Louie my brother in law had a phone call. His mother requested me to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for his cousin Ian who was critically ill with rare viral infection. We went to St.Luke Hospital in haste and anointed Ian with holy oil. To our delight to God, he miraculously recovered from the viral infection and survived from his ordeal. Later, I learned that Ian’s mother had a dream when they were in the hospital: Our Blessed Virgin Mary told her that she will be visiting Ian on Christmas Eve. It was Christmas Eve when I administered the sacrament of healing. It dawned on me that Mary fulfilled her promised. She visited Ian on Christmas Eve and interceded for his healing. She was with us during those trying moments.

Our gospel for today was another story of Mary’s visitation. When Mary learned from Angel Gabriel that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant at her old age, Mary felt the need to support her during those moments of uncertainty and anxiety. She left her home in haste and accompanied Elizabeth during those trying moments.

In 1950, Pope Pius XXII declared the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an official dogma of the Church. Here we proclaim that Mary went up to heaven both body and soul. But the bottom line of this dogma is – Mary gained an everlasting place in heaven. And with that, Mary can intercede for us and console us – the way she consoled Elizabeth.

The numerous Marian shrines all over the world are manifestations that Mary has a special place in our hearts. Jesus asked her to take us as her children (John 19:26-27). Unfortunately, for some of us, they only come to Mary for her intercession. We failed to see that aside from being our mediator to Jesus, she is our model in obeying God. Her life is an inspiration how to accept God’s will, especially in times of trials.

As our Mother, we can seek her presence for refuge and consolation. We can come to Mary to intercede for us and ask God to grant our deepest desires. But in all our prayers, we need to reserve a space for God’s will to work for us; believing that God knows what’s best for us. When our eyes failed to see the wisdom of God, we should turn our hearts to Mary and listen to her words, “Do whatever my Son tells you (John 2:5).” Remembering that her total trust to God led her to say: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38).

Recent study showed that most cancer patients who sought help in Marian Shrines returned home unhealed; but their visit to the Shrines gifted them with an unlikely miracle - they went home with renewed strength, inner peace, and determination to face their daily battle with cancer. They believe that Mary will be with them in their trying moments.

Mary will always remain as our greatest mediator to Jesus. But we should also listen to her life-giving wisdom, “Do whatever my Son tells you.” Her Magnificat is a testimony of the joy that comes from surrendering oneself to the will of God: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. He has done great things for me. Holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-55).”

When Mary ascended to heaven, God gave her a reward that all of us should aspire – an everlasting union with God.

- Fr. Wilfredo M. Samson,SJ / Ateneo de Zamboanga Chapel / August 15, 2010

Money Talks ... Not in Heaven

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Luke 12:13-21 “Though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
August 1, 2010

When I was in college, a friend of mine invited me to accompany her in Megamall. She bought a new refrigerator, television set, gas range, king size bed and jewelries. Knowing that she had a shopping spree recently, I asked her why? She answered, “It’s my money, I deserve to use them freely.” A week later, she slashed her right wrist. When I visited her in the hospital, she said, “Willy, I realized that money could not make me happy.”

Our gospel explicitly tells us that material possessions should not be the reason for living. We already know this truth but sometimes our action betrays our words. Jesus gave us a stern warning on mishandling God’s blessings : “Take care to guard against all greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be (Luke 12:15).” We need to remind ourselves that any blessing we received is bound to be shared; and to share is an act of recognition and gratitude that everything is indeed a gift from God. Anything we possess is not for our own use only. God expects us to be good stewards of His grace.

In our story it was not mentioned that the wealthy man was wicked or immoral. But it was mentioned that his farm produced a bountiful harvest. Unfortunately, he earned God’s anger for being greedy. He “stored up treasures for himself” instead of “becoming rich in the sight of God (Luke 12:31).” His gravest mistake was - hoarding God’s blessings for himself without discovering the joy of sharing.

Be cautious of the devil’s devious trap: When one becomes selfish and forgets to share, he begins to crave for more money, more luxuries, more amenities and more gadgets, until it becomes an unquenchable greed for more. Wealth then becomes his life and happiness. This is tragic. And when greed rules, we can easily drop our Sunday family bonding in exchange of double pay work and bribe our children with an I-Pod. When greed rules, we can easily buy expensive jewelry without qualms and ignore our neighbor borrowing P125 for medicine. When greed rules, we need to remind ourselves of three things to wake us up: First, everything is gift from God. Second, the graces we received – money, health, time, talent and others – come with great responsibility. Third, graces are meant to be shared. God gave us hands for two purposes: to receive graces from God and to release some for the benefit of the needy.

Here is the irony of life: We work hard all our life to secure our future with hefty pension. We plan a lot for our retirement. We buy expensive life insurance for our families. Some of us even went to the details of choosing their coffins and grave sites. But we do little effort to secure our souls after death. We seldom consider our “After Life Insurance Plan.” We need to remind ourselves that there is LIFE after this life. For those who are really wise, they know where to keep their material possessions: in Heaven’s Barn.

A prisoner in New Bilibid Prison came to me with a thought, “Padre, mas masarap palang pakainin ang pamilya ko ng sardinas na galing sa pawis ko, kaysa sa bigyan ko sila ng lechon na galing naman sa pagnanakaw. Sayang huli na ang lahat.” Sometimes, it’s too late to realize that money is not the source of real happiness and security.

In this consumerist society where people love to say “Money talks,” I agree and disagree. Yes, money talks in this world – but not in heaven.

“Life is so tragic for the person who has plenty to live on, but nothing to life for.”

- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ / Carmel Chapel, Zamboanga City / August 1, 2010