Rejoice in the Lord Always!

3rd Sunday of Advent (B)
John 1: 6-8, 19-28 “Tell us who you are, so that we could give some answers to those who sent us.”

The third Sunday of Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday. This Sunday, in the middle of Advent Season, we are called to rejoice in the Lord always. In the second reading, Paul encourages us to wear the spirit of joy at all times: “Rejoice in the Lord always... have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God (Phil 4:4–6).”

The call to rejoice in the Lord at all times is not just a simple exhortation to all Christians; in fact, it’s a command from God in our union with Christ Jesus (1 Thes 5:17). God wants us to shine forth and be the life and joy in the world. If we are intimately united with God, it should transform our hearts, lead us to gratitude, and bring joy to ourselves.

But our experience will tell us otherwise, many of us are unhappy and ungrateful Christians. Too many of us are Christians by name, but not by living. We seldom see Christians gladly proclaiming their deep faith and personal experience of God’s love. Thus Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord, pray without ceasing and render thanks to God always. As children of God, we should actively manifest in our life the joy, love and peace we received from God.

But what stops us from rejoicing joyfully in the Lord? In my years of giving spiritual direction and counseling, I realize that one basic ingredients of unhappiness is our inability to process and transcend our resentments and anger caused by strained relationships. In the end, it drains our spirits and we lost our capacity to get in touch with the joy that God is offering.

In the first reading, Isaiah reminds us of our identity: “The Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the poor, heal the broken-hearted and proclaim liberty to the captives.” But how do we reclaim our identity as bearers of God’s Good News?

In the second reading, Paul gives us some basic ingredients of a happy living: 1) pray without ceasing 2) give constant thanks to God always 3) allow the Holy Spirit to rule your life 4) listen to inspired messages 5) put all things into the test - discernment 6) keep what is good and throw away what is bad 7) and avoid any kind of evil and temptations.

I remember Fr. Albert Alejo,SJ comparing our hearts to the medicine cabinets. He said, check your medicine cabinet at home; and you will be surprised that some expired medicines are still there, occupying space unnecessarily. Throw them away immediately. Then he said our hearts are like the medicine cabinets; in our hearts also, we love to keep those expired, harmful, and unnecessary negative feelings - like anger, frustrations, hopelessness, doubt and worries – in our hearts. Genuine peace, inner joy and gratitude will never come to us until we consciously free our hearts from the bondage of negative feelings.

In our Gospel today, John was asked, “Who are you?” And he immediately answered, “I am the voice in the wilderness, crying out; prepare the way of the Lord.” When Jesus was asked by John’s disciples with the same question, his answer was, “Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing: the blind can see, the lame can walk, and the deaf hear. (Mt. 11:4-6).” Both John and Jesus knew their identity and destiny.

What about you? Who are you? Are you in touch with your Christian identity? We should be happy bearers of God’s good news through our words and actions. God wants us to be joyful always to effectively proclaim His saving power and unconditional love. Paul exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord always, for our cheerful and positive disposition in life is a very powerful means to touch the hearts of the hopeless, lonely and unbelievers.

“Who are you?” The word of Isaiah re-echoes our Christian identity, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. (Isaiah 61:1)” Let’s reclaim and proclaim our identity. Rejoice in the Lord always!

- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ
Pasobolong Chapel

Workers of the Future

2nd Sunday of Advent (B)
Mark 1: 1-8 “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare the way.”

The Christmas spirit is already here. Decorations like Christmas trees, lights and lanterns are everywhere. In spite of our complaints against a heavy commercialized Christmas, I enjoy window shopping and viewing Christmas decors in Ayala. But it dawned on me that these beautiful Christmas decorations are labors of love from ordinary laborers. We did not see them work. It was a thankless job.

Nobody appreciates “silent workers.” They commonly works at night shift, those at the back stage and those whose work is to “prepare something” for others. They are a thankless job. Nobody sees the chef who prepares the delicious meal. Nobody sees the janitors who clean the social hall before and after the party. Nobody sees the tears of our thousands of OFWs who cannot go home this Christmas for the sake of the future of their families. Nobody notices their hard work and sacrifices. They are thankless jobs.

In today’s gospel, John the Baptist did another thankless job. He prepared the way for the arrival of Jesus by exhorting the people to repent. He had a glimpse of success when some repented and ask for his baptism, but he did not see the fullness of humanity’s salvation when Jesus died on the cross. His mission was crystal clear for John – just to prepare the way of the Lord. Nobody appreciated his contribution in the works of salvation. Herod even beheaded John. It was another thankless job.

But our gospel challenges us to be like John the Baptist – to become workers of the future. We are asked to work for peace in Mindanao so that our future generation will live in peace. We are tasked to protect our environment so that our children will have trees to climb and clean rivers to swim. It is our responsibility to teach Christian values to our children, to assure ourselves of good and God-fearing leaders in the future. But to work for peace, environment and formation of children are also thankless job. Nobody seems to care and support us. Why care and work for the future society?

William Barclay commented, "In youth, because I could not be a singer, I did not even write a song. I set no little trees along the roadside because I knew their growth would take so long. But now from the wisdom that the years have brought me, I know that it may be a blessed thing to plant a tree for someone else to water or make a song for someone else to sing."

Let’s ask ourselves this Advent: “Do I consciously work hard for a better future? What are your small and daily contributions? You say, you want peace in our society; but what are you doing about it? You dream of happy family; but how much time you dedicate to your family?

Let’s commit ourselves in building the future we don’t own. We are workers for our children and nation’s future. Our determination to work for a good future is not merely based on our social responsibility, but on the spiritual responsibility. Let’s discover the “John the Baptist” in us. We may not see the fruits of our labors; but that’s the meaning of being a John the Baptist. God calls us to prepare the way so that others may live to the fullest.

In a graduation ceremony, a teary eyed mother commented, “I don’t know what’s ahead of my son, but I’m at peace. I have given him good education to confidently face his future. ”

We are workers for the future generations. We may not see the end result of our hard work, apostolate, and advocacies. People may not recognize our sacrifices. Our work may end up like another thankless job. But don’t fret. Any work done with love will create a ripple effect in our future.

- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ

God is Always Fair

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Matthew 20:1-16 “Are you jealous because I am generous?”

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord in our first reading today (Isaiah 55: 6-9). These words from the prophet Isaiah will guide us to understand our gospel today. God’s way are not our way, God’s mathematics is not our mathematics. He’s logic is not our logic.

Anybody who hears the gospel today may think that the landowner is really unfair especially to those hired early in the morning. In our present world where all work must be compensated, we find the landowner unfair to those hired at 6 AM. They have the right to receive more than to those who worked for just an hour.

But in reality, the landowner was actually fair to all laborers, because they all agreed to be paid the minimum wage. There is no guile here. It was done in good faith. What made the early workers furious were envy - that they were not the lucky recipient of the landowner’s generosity. Jesus explicitly mentioned it, “Are you jealous because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:15).

When I was in Montaban Relocation Site in Rizal, we used to distribute Christmas goodies for the poor, I remember a man who used to complain a lot each time we distribute goods to the people. He always irritated us. But he never complained when he was first on the queue or when he received more than the others. The laborers in our gospel are like that. They are protesting because they felt shortchanged. Envy plays a big role here. We complain when we are at the disadvantage but we care less when we receive the bigger and better portion of the pie.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus instantly promised the reward of heaven to one of the thieves, “I promised you that today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Some of us who are working hard to be good to achieve the reward of heaven might protest, “That’s not fair. He is stealing heaven. He did nothing to merit heaven.” We might even say, “If this is the case, we should eat, drink be merry carelessly and commit sins. Why strive to be good and holy in our younger years when God can easily forgive us later and reward us equally?”

We failed the see the point of the gospel. The gospel gives hope to those who are not working for God’s vineyard for many years. But God does not condone such idling, of course not. The gospel should bring us to a realization that it is never too late for anyone to return to God and work for his vineyard. And yet some would still insist that God is unfair to those who are faithful to Him, and gives favor to the sinners.

A theologian once said, “We sinners and martyrs may find themselves together in the presence of God because God looks at us equally but the degree of happiness might vary. Aside from being in God’s presence, what make people happy in heaven are their thoughts that they did for something for God and for their fellowmen during their earthly life.”

A bench warmer player who did nothing for the team in winning the much coveted championship title will still go to Europe with his teammates as a reward. But when the players start remembering and recalling those momentous plays, crucial breaks and difficulty in winning the championship, the players who played and fought hard for the team will be the happiest. They have stories to tell and be proud of to their friends and families. Bench warmers have nothing to share.

But I am not here to prove that God is just to everybody or to console those who are working in the Lord’s vineyard that they should not envy the late workers or those who are not working for the Lord. The gospel today wants us to purify our motivation in serving God. We don’t serve the Lord to merit material graces or to inherit heaven. We serve the Lord out of love because He has given us a lot and bless us a lot with many graces. As St.Ignatius of Loyola would say, "To give and not to count the cost." I remember Tita Glo, a volunteer in New Bilibid Prison, she said, "When one is genuinely serving God, he or she should not expect anything in return, even the words thank you."

The workers who complain are echoes of the elder son’s complaint in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The sin of the elder was envy. He failed to identify himself with the father’s joy of a returning son. The father reminded the elder son of what love is: To be happy that his younger brother is back home. What made the elder son envious was the thought that his younger brother does not deserve such warm welcome and lavish banquet, while he himself, a very faithful son, did not receive any reward from the father… not even a single goat!

And so the Father said: “My son, you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But we have to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive, he was lost, but now he has been found” (Luke 15:31).

To love is to think of the welfare of others. Those who know how to love are genuinely happy when others are happy.


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

Instant Ginatan

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Matthew 16:21-27


When I was in Hollywood, a Filipina offered an instant “ginatan halo-halo” for merienda. Having been away from the Manila for five months, the thought of ginatan halo-halo thrilled me. But the taste of this instant ginatan was a big disappointment. It was far from the taste of real ginatan. Indeed, instant products are not always good. Unfortunately, our world is turning into the culture of instants, short cuts, quick fix, and convenience stores. Modern technology is giving us a painless, easy and lazy life. Majority would say, why make it difficult and complicated when technology can make it simple and quick? In the process, we lost the value and wisdom of sacrifice and suffering.

In our gospel today, Jesus revealed the secret formula of his future glory: He must go to Jerusalem, suffer greatly, be killed, and on the third day be raised (Mt.16:21). But it was the antithesis of the disciples’ idea of “glory.” So Peter corrected Jesus, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Peter couldn’t accept that suffering and sacrifice are necessary ingredients in Jesus’ assent to glory. Peter couldn’t think a suffering Saviour. And so Jesus rebuked him, “Get behind me Satan, You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” And Jesus gave his triple conditions to discipleship to correct Peter’s wrong notion of sacrifice and suffering, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt.16:24) There is no instant glory in following Christ. We need to take the road to sacrifice and suffering to attain fullness of life and salvation.

Fullness of life and salvation can only be achieved through sacrifice, self-denial and hard work. Not through shortcuts or any instant solution. They are the fruits of our hard labour, perseverance and faithful carrying of our daily cross.

When Jesus scolded Peter with the words, “Get behind me, Satan!”... Jesus’ is directly commanding Peter to resist the devil’s deceiving temptation – take shortcuts, avoid pain and suffering, run away from the cross and self-indulge. But life is not like that. It has its own challenges, failures, misgivings, detours and delays. When these things happen, self denial and sacrifice become our way of engagement. And we gain a lot from them.

One of my friends required his newly graduate son to work as an all-around helper in their bakery. The son resented the idea at the beginning. He felt humiliated but followed his father’s decision. As a worker, the son learned how to relate to people and learned the value of hard work. After six months, his father made him the new manager of the bakery.

In his desire to protect Jesus from suffering, Peter failed to see the importance of sacrifice in God’s plan of salvation. Self-denial is necessary. No sacrifice, no glory.

If you want a happy family, then sacrifice.
Spend more quality time with your family.

If you want to pass the board exam, then sacrifice.
Go to the library and read read read.

If you want good health, then sacrifice.
Avoid your favorite junk food and exercise daily.

If you want beautiful garden, then sacrifice.
Toil under the sun and soil your hands.

If you want fruits in your backyard,
then plant trees now and wait for years patiently.

If you want delicious ginatan, then sacrifice a little.
Prepare your own coco milk. Cook it slowly.
It may take a while but it’s worth all the wait and effort.

Today’s Gospel calls us to take the same road with Jesus: “Whoever wishes to come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24). St. Paul also exhorts us to run hard to win the race: “Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable garland, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).

No to shortcuts and instants.

In heaven, only fruits of hard labor and sacrifice are recognized. And they don’t serve instant ginatan there.


Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ
St. Joseph Parish

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

Is it worth doing it?

16th Sunday of the Year
Matthew 13: 24 – 43


Our gospel for today is a continuation of last Sunday’s gospel, the parable of the sower. In this parable, we have learned that God always provides good seeds. And our main responsibility is to provide good soil so that the good seeds planted by God will have good harvest.

Unfortunately, to provide good soil for the good seeds are not enough. The story of the parable of the weeds warns us of an enemy. The enemy may come without our knowledge and throw weeds in the good soil we have provided for our family and community. These things are beyond our control and could greatly influence our children and destroy the good seeds that God had planted. These weeds are the enemy of the good seeds. They may come to us in the form of worldly values and temptations. Our experience tells us also that even us - parents, teachers, bishops, priests, religious and formators - are not immune from the corruption of the weeds. Our weaknesses, selfishness and sins sometimes stop us from doing what is noble and right. St.Paul even confirmed it, “I cannot understand myself, the things that I should do, and I am not doing. The things that I should not do, I am doing.”

To remove the bad weeds in ourselves is not as simple as deleting a virus from our laptop. Some of these weeds are deeply rooted in our hearts and culture and could influence our behavior and decision making. It would take a lot of self-retrospection and awareness before we can even see, accept and resolve to change ourselves for a better person. Formation is a lifetime process. Forming people takes a lot of time, effort and dedication. But if we care, we don’t mind the difficulty.

How do we sustain our effort to help people? Our gospel challenges us to do three things: 1) Be patient. 2) Keep your calm. 3) And never give up.

To form God fearing, responsible, and loving individuals is not an easy task. The influence of evil is deeply rooted in us. The three parables invite us to be more hopeful rather than hopeless in dealing with those seemingly difficult and problematic people in our lives. But is it worth doing it?

The next two parables - the mustard seed and the yeast - give us reasons why we should not give up in forming and guiding the “prodigal sons and daughters” in our lives. With good soil and personal care, a small mustard seed is capable of becoming a huge tree where birds can come and rest. When used correctly, a small amount of yeast could bring a large quantity of dough to rise. The two parables are invitations to be more positive and hopeful with others. We don’t want their talents and innate goodness to go to waste. Giving up is not an option. With our patience, understanding, and constant love, one day we shall reap a bountiful harvest from our labor.

One of my students from Xavier University ten year ago visited me last week. I was thrilled to know from him that most of my noisy, hard to discipline and problematic students in high school are doing great. Most of them hold key positions in the local government and multi-national companies. They are well loved by their families and peers. Out of sheer joy, I texted one of them and congratulate him. My former student responded, “Because good teachers like you, never gave up on us.”

Sometimes our role is just to plant, plant, and plant. We are just planters. Somebody after us will do the harvest.

That’s more than enough to console me. It’s worth doing it.


- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ
Zamboanga Catedral

The Good Soil

15th Sunday in the Ordinary Time – (A)
Matthew 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

Our gospel for today tells us that good soil is the secret of a bountiful harvest. Even if the seeds are exceptionally good, a good harvest is doubtful if the soil where the seeds are planted is rocky, thorny or dry.

Our Christian values, faith, and goodness are the “good seeds” that God planted in us. We are basically good and talented. Unfortunately to some of us, these potentially powerful “seeds of faith, love, goodness, and intelligence” planted in our hearts, will never have a chance of good harvest for the lack of good soil to grow.

An honest child is influenced by his honest parents. Well-motivated members are inspired by their very supportive leader. Good priests and religious are products of good formation program and good community life. Hardworking students are inspired by their good teachers. Good soil produces good fruits. Bad soil produces bad fruits. Good soil then is crucial for one’s maturity, character and spiritual growth. Who you are now is the product of your own family and community influence.

Therefore, the challenge is how to create “good soil” in our family and community so as to foster the growth of the good seeds in us. We need the following positive basic fertilizers to produce good and fertile soil:

1. Positive Meaning
2. Positive Environment
3. Positive Relationship
4. Positive Communication
5. Positive Stories

Do I consciously provide these fertilizers in my family or community life? It reminds me of this article written by an unknown author:

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to be guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to love the world.
If a children lives with love of God, they learn to be human and discover their happiness.

Values and character are caught and not just learned. Let’s stop blaming the government and the poor for the proliferation of street children and the increase of youth violence and crime. We need to be more pro-active and stop criticizing. What can we do to help them? We need to do something, like assisting poor students in their education.

Good seeds are already planted in ourselves, in our children, students, friends, and members. Let’s not waste them. Let’s start providing good soil in our family and community. This is one of our Christian duties that God expects us to do. And God wants us to do it well, for the future harvest depends on us.

Good ground matters a lot. For The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.


- Willy M. Samson,SJ

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

“Breathe the Holy Spirit”

Pentecost Sunday (C)
May 23, 2010
John 20:19-23 “As the Father sent me, so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Today is Pentecost Sunday – also known as the birthday of the Church. This was the day when the disciples received the Holy Spirit and transformed themselves from simple timid fishermen to energetic charismatic disciples of Jesus. That was the work of the Spirit.

As we celebrate this feast, it is good to stop and reflect for a while the state of the Catholic Church today. The Church is under serious attack from many parts of the world. We are scandalized and discouraged from the news of scandals done by the clergies; even Pope Benedict VI is not spared from the attacks. Although we know that scandals are widespread in many religious and social institutions, we cannot not help but ask ourselves, “What’s happening in the Church? Who are our enemies? What do we do now?”

Since the beginning, the Church enemies – kings, emperors, anti-catholic groups and individuals, atheists, schisms, new ideologies – have tried in vain to destroy the Church. They failed and the Church flourished. In the midst of persecutions and crisis, God intervened and raised Spirit-filled men and women to save the Church. That was the work of the Spirit.

Today is a different story. Our real enemy is more dangerous, cunning and knows us well. The battle fields are no longer the plains and seas, emperors’ courts, lions’ den or coliseums. Our enemy deeply hates us – the devil; and the battle ground is inside us - our hearts. With an increasing incidence of sexual scandals, broken families, hopelessness, hatred, violence, loneliness and other forms of moral, social and spiritual degradation, it’s clear that the devil and its cohorts are gaining grounds. They cunningly sneak themselves in our fears, selfishness and sins; and they control us in the process. They are desperate to take away the Holy Spirit from us; for without the Spirit - the giver of life, light, and hope - we are good as dead.

In our gospel today, Jesus gave his peace to the disciples, commanded them to preach the good news and breathed on them the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gave them new strength, hope and renewal – a rekindling of fire within themselves! When the Spirit of God rules our hearts, peace, transformation, and a sense of mission follows. This is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Through baptism, we received the Holy Spirit and its seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Do you use them in your daily discernment and dealings with others? Do you feel love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23)? They are the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Live and cooperate with the Spirit and you will be renewed and empowered every day. The Spirit’s power is with us; but sad to say, we barely use it.

The Holy Spirit is with us. Now is the time to purify our hearts from all traces of evil. What areas of your life need conversion, rejuvenation or renewal? Pray to the Holy Spirit for courage, guidance, and enlightenment. Then breathe-out all your sins, fears, and doubts and slowly breathe-in God’s peace and forgiveness. Evil may come strong for us, but the power of the Holy Spirit is much greater. Listen to the Spirit and obey his promptings - and you will see wonders in your life.
For those who daily seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, every day – is Pentecost day.

“Come Holy Spirit, rekindle the fire within us, and we shall renew the face of the earth.”

- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ / Blessed Sacrament Parish, Hollywood / May 23, 2010

"Your ID please."

5th Sunday of Easter (C)
May 2, 2010
John 13:31-35 “This is how all will know that you are my disciples …”
Our gospel brings us to the last moments of Jesus where he bids goodbye to his disciples. It is very human that when we leave, we want to be remembered. He wants to give his followers a lasting sign that will distinguish them from the rest of the world – the ability to love one another (John 13:35). A passport allows us to know each others’ nationality; but our love for one another will allow others to recognize us as disciples of Jesus.

Let’ stop for a while and reflect the following paradox of life I recently read:

“We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and divided families. More conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less love; more knowledge, but less good judgment. We have more experts, but fewer solutions; more medicine, but less health. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, but don’t know how to listen. We have learned how to make a living, but not a life; we have added years to life, not life to years. We have been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour. We have higher incomes, but lower morals; we’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. We have cleaned up the air, but polluted our soul.” – Anonymous.

This paradox of life simply tells us that some of us have lost their Christian I.D.

In our gospel today, Jesus wants us to wear our Christian identity: our capacity to love one another. When we know how to love unconditionally, we become effective messengers of God’s love. People remember us not because we did great things for them; but because they felt our presence when they need us most. Anything done with great love – listening to your son, a good evening family meal, serving a cup of coffee to your dad or mom, stroll at the park with grandma, a warm morning greeting to a homeless, a surprise visit to a friend, a phone call just to say hello, a thank you note to your teacher and other small act of kindness – is worth remembering. Love spells T-I-M-E.

Do you still remember your favorite teacher in grade school or high school? I do. Her name is Miss Maria Calica. Her lovely face is still vivid in my memory. She gave me a bar of chocolate and a hug to ease my fear on my first day in school. That small act of kindness left a wonderful memory in my heart; that’s love – the disciples’ I.D.

It’s fun to walk in the famous Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Viewing the names of more than 2,000 movie stars engraved along the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard is interesting and entertaining; but everything ends there. But each time I walk through my own memory lane, it gives me joy and gratitude remembering people who touched my life - their kindness is deeply engraved in my heart. I will never forget them for the rest of my life.

- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ / Blessed Sacrament Parish, Hollywood / May 2, 2010

Cricket in the City

4th Sunday of Easter
April 25, 2010
John 10: 27-30 “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”


On our way out from the Ateneo de Manila Campus, an old Jesuit said, “I hear a cricket.” We just smiled at him. It was impossible to hear a cricket in the middle of the city noise. But he insisted, “Please stop the car and listen.” Respecting an elderly brother, we did stop for a while and we listened; to our surprise, we did hear the cricket as he told us. The Jesuit Father smiled and said, “I spent a lot of time listening to crickets when I was young. I know them well. Their sounds are music to my ears.”

Today is the fourth Sunday of Easter – also known as the Shepherd Sunday. The gospel invites us to stop, dwell in silence and listen to the voice of God - with our inner ears.

Unfortunately, listening with our inner ears is easier said than done. In the midst of other inner and outer noises that compete with God’s voice, it would entail lots of time, patience and sensitivity to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd in our hearts. The first step and the secret of listening begin with the words STOP and LISTEN.

To fully appreciate our Gospel today, we need to understand its context. Earlier in this chapter 10 of the Gospel of John, Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd loves his sheep. He is willing to do sacrifices and hard work to keep his flock safe and secured. When Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me,” it was presumed that his sheep knew him well. Thus, if we don’t have an intimate relationship with God, hearing the voice of God in the midst of other noises would be very difficult.

The call of our gospel is to deepen our prayer life and be intimately connected with Jesus. It is only in prayer that we could know Jesus the Good Shepherd; and there is no other way of knowing the Father but through Jesus. The more I immerse myself in prayer, the more I understand God’s mysterious movement in my life. And the more I listen to God in prayer, the more I understand myself - especially what God wants me to do. I admit that even in my prayer, I may not totally understand everything in my life; but to hear the voice of Jesus is enough to make me serene – I know that in the hands of God, all shall be well.



Do you have an ear for God? What are your distractions? What are three “unhealthy” voices that grab your attention and distract you from listening to God? Is it the voice of anxiety or anger or hopelessness? Is it the voice of wealth or fame or honor? If we are not familiar with the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd, we can be easily distracted and enticed by these ungodly voices that longs for our attention.

During the day, it is good to stop for a few minutes, drop what you are doing and listen to the Good Shepherd. Some of the things we do everyday can wait - net surfing, facebook, laundry, shopping, a friend’s invitation for a cup of coffee – but not God. In this busy, chaotic and seemingly impersonal society, the voice of God is too good to be ignored. Jesus the Good Shepherd is calling us to come and rest in his presence; His voice is not only music to our ears – it is music to our souls.

“The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests
and his own are the same” – Stendhal

- Fr.Willy M. Samson, SJ / Blessed Sacrament Parish, Hollywood / April 25,2010

Elephants Never Forget

3rd Sunday of Easter
April 18. 2010
John 21: 1-19 “Simon, son of John, do you love me? … then feed my sheep”


In 1986, Jerry Murrell and his four sons opened their first Five Guys Burger joint against burger giants like Mcdonalds, Wendy’s, and Burger King. Today, there are 570 stores across the U.S. and Canada, with 2009 sales of $483 million. What’s their secret? They believe that their best salesman is the customer: Provide the customers good food and good service, and they will walk out the door and advertise your products for free. Elephants never forget.

In a multi-cultural society where each one is unique, common table fellowship melts away fear, anxiety and animosity. It strengthens unity, deepens belongingness and lifts everybody’s spirit. When we experience a very personal and satisfying table fellowship, we feel loved and important; we cannot help but share our wonderful experience to others.

Our resurrection story continues today. Unfortunately, even after the two appearances of Jesus to his disciples, they were still at a lost, confused and indifferent because of fear and unbelief. They were supposed to be the bearers or advertisers of the Jesus’ resurrection. The spreading of good news would not gain ground without fired up and motivated salesmen/saleswoman. And so for the third time, Jesus appeared again and hosted a breakfast to console and to encourage the disciples to go out from their closed rooms.

John did not provide a detailed breakfast account. But it was mentioned that Jesus took the bread and fish and gave them to his disciples. It was a re-echo of the last supper account to remind us of the intimate table fellowship where Jesus said, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). In the resurrection stories, the disciples recognized Jesus during the meal twice: The walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-25) and today’s gospel. But what opened their eyes to recognize Jesus? I guess Jesus has a special way of serving meal that allowed the disciples to recognize Him in the breaking of bread. And I guess - Jesus served with love and the disciples felt it.


In our gospel, after Jesus validated Peter’s love for him three times by asking, “Do you love me?” Jesus was confident that Peter was ready to serve others with love. When one serves with love, everybody feels he/she is important. And they will leave grateful and encouraged to share their experience to others. Anything done with love will touch people’s lives.

I smiled when an RGS nun revealed the secret of their famous Good Shepherd Ube (Purple Yam). She said, “We don’t use machine. It’s manually mixed. It is cooked with love.”

Our love of Jesus gives passion and personal touch in all we do. The people whom we serve and meet can feel it. If we have lost the fire, the sensitivity, and the joy in our ministry, it is good to allow Jesus, asking us again, “Do you love me?” We reverently say, “Yes Lord, I love you.” Then we gently hear Jesus say, “Feed my sheep with your love.”

How’s your prayer meeting? How’s the church attendance in your parish? Do you attract young men and women to join your ministry or your congregation? Do you see new faces? Are they curious of your apostolate? Or your dedication and passion in the things you do? Does everybody feel welcomed and loved in your community? Are they excited to see you? Once in a while, it is good to evaluate the way we feed our sheep and the way we relate to them.

Let’s make a difference in every person we meet. Let them feel the love of God through us. Let them feel they are important. They are the next generation of salesmen/saleswomen of good news. Grateful elephants never forget.

- Fr. Willy Samson,SJ / Blessed Sacrament Parish, Hollywood, CA / April 18, 2010

“And God said ...”

2nd Sunday of Easter
April 11, 2010
John 20: 19-31 “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed”

One of the phrases that struck me in the Easter Vigil Mass was “And God said… And so it happened” Genesis (1:1 – 2:2). The twin verse was repeated seven times. In the gospels’ resurrection stories, we have seen how Jesus repeatedly stressed the fulfillment of his Words: He will be killed but raised on the third day (Matthew 16:21). When we look back at our life, the phrase “And God said…And so it happened” is also true to us. God is ever faithful to his Words from Genesis, to the time of Jesus, and to our present time. This reality consoles us much.

In our gospel reading, when Jesus appeared to his disciples and said “Peace be with you” (John 20:19) and showed his nailed hands, it was another “God said… and so it happened” experience. When the disciples realized that Jesus fulfilled his promises, their fear, hopelessness and sadness quickly disappeared; a deep joy and consolation filled their hearts. There was nothing to fear. Peace flooded their hearts and gained courage to face the world.

Unfortunately, to believe in Jesus is not always easy, especially when one is tied-down with his/her “empty tomb” experience. Thomas, in spite of the news that Jesus has risen, wanted to ground his faith on something tangible and verifiable by his senses. He wanted to touch the wounds of Jesus for him to believe. But faith is not based on what we see and hear. It is grounded in remembering “God’s promises and its fulfillment.” And so when Jesus has risen from the dead and appeared to his disciples, the first thing he did was to console his disciples - by helping them to remember His Words and how He fulfilled them.


Each one of us has its own personal experience of “And God said…And so it happened.” Jesus wants us to believe in Him by recalling God’s goodness in our life, and not by asking signs like Thomas. He demanded to see the marks of the nails in Jesus’ hands for him to believe. Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29).

On the other hand, John was the opposite of Thomas. He did not see the body of Jesus in the tomb, yet he believed when he remembered the Words of Jesus and saw its fulfillment in the empty tomb (John 20:1-9). On the way to Emmaus, Jesus helped the two disciples to understand the prophecy about him from the time of Moses and the prophets (Luke 24:27).

The gospel wants us to remember our past and see how God fulfilled his promises - of His divine providence, protection and mercy. Sometimes, pain and sufferings blind us from seeing God’s unwavering presence in our lives. In the midst of trials, we claim that God abandoned us; but in reality, it is us who abandoned God when we start doubting Him.

In the Second Reading, John encourages us to look back and realize that there’s no single moment in our life that God abandoned us: “Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards” (Revelations 1:19).

The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate reason why we should place our lives in God’s hands. In this unsecured and unstable world where nothing is permanent but change, God is our only hope and refuge. “I am with you always, until the end of time.” (Matthew 28:20). He is true to his Words. Be at peace.

Recall one or two of your greatest trials in your life. Open your eyes and see how God had helped you. See and believe. God fulfills his promises. All the time!

- Willy M. Samson,SJ / Blessed Sacrament Parish , Hollywood, CA / April 11, 2010

The Hidden Truth

Easter Sunday
April 4, 2010
John 20: 1-10 “He saw and believed.”

When the disciples learned from Mary Magdala that the stone of the tomb of Jesus was removed and the tomb was empty. Peter and John immediately run to the tomb to verify the story. Stealing bodies of dead were not unusual that time, plus the fact that the Pharisees kept telling that the body of Jesus would be stolen by the disciples and proclaim that Jesus has risen from the dead.

All of them wanted to know the truth. When they arrived, they saw the empty tomb and burial cloth. Peter concluded that the body was stolen and he was disappointed. On the other hand, when John saw the cloth, he believed. Imbedded in that neatly folded cloth was the hidden truth - Jesus is alive and has risen from the dead. An intense joy and hope must have entered John’s heart when he saw the cloth and believed! Resurrection brings new life!

John’s immediate recognition of the hidden truth of the empty tomb was admirable. He was an instant Easter disciple. In the midst of their grief and fear, he recalled the words of Jesus about his dying and resurrection. Many times Jesus had told his destiny – he will die on the cross but will rise again after three days. Unfortunately, nobody listened to Jesus each time he would talk about it. John’s loyalty and faith in Jesus made him stay with Jesus all throughout – from his crucifixion to resurrection. His faith did not waver even in death. He held on to every word of Jesus and bear fruit. He saw the hidden truth in the empty tomb. God blessed him with an inner eye that led him see the risen Christ. Later in the gospel, when the disciples caught a large number of fish, John again was the first to recognize Jesus, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7).


Easter children are like John. They have the ability to see the hidden truth in all things. They have the gift of recognizing God, even in darkness, failures, and hopelessness - a gift given to those who stayed faithful and obedient to the words of God.

Our gospel reveals why the disciples did not see the hidden truth of the empty tomb, “for they did not understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” (John 20:9). They were given equal opportunity to hear Jesus and his prophecy about his rising. Unfortunately, the disciples did not listen. John was a listener from the start that is why he was called “the beloved.” Listening to the words of God is the secret of seeing the risen Christ in all things.

Jesus has already risen and promised that he will be with us until the end of time (Matthew 28:20). Unfortunately, some of us are still grieving in their tombs. Locked and trapped in their miseries, sorrows, and fears. They failed to look around for the “neatly rolled cloth” in their tombs. Like the disciples, they remained in their own closed rooms. They are still dead.

In our modern era where natural calamities, tragedies, war, terrorism, church and family scandals, and personal struggles are our usual morning news, we are all longing for meaning, encouragement and hope. We need Easter Children who will be there to help others see the hope secretly hidden in their darkness, confusion and hopelessness.

You are an Easter child by the merit of Christ’s resurrection. You are bearer of Good news to your family, friends, and to all people. Help them see the hidden truth so that they will see the glory of the Risen Jesus and transform their hearts into a joyful one. Claim it. See, believe and be joyful!

Happy Easter!

- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ / Blessed Sacrament Parish, Hollywood, CA / April 4, 2010

Let Jesus Wash Your Feet

Holy Thursday
April 1, 2010
John 13: 1-15 “Not all of you are clean.”


Today we begin to commemorate the passion and death of our Lord. As we accompany him in his suffering and death, let us be reminded that Jesus is doing everything for the forgiveness of our sins.

In the Jewish culture, washing another’s feet was one that could not be required of the lowliest Jewish slave. It was so humiliating and degrading that even the slaves were spared from doing it. But Jesus did it out of his great love for us. He did not care what others would say. What matters most was to save us and to obey the will of the Father.

Today, as we accompany Jesus in his agony and humiliation, allow him to wash your feet. Be one of the disciples. See, feel, and listen to Peter’s hesitancy and shame while his feet are being washed by Jesus. What do you feel when Jesus started washing your feet? Feel his gentle hands touching your dirty feet. Feel how he loves you in spite of your sins.


Let Jesus love you today. Let him cleanse your soul by washing your feet.
St. John gave us something to reflect as we begin recalling our sinfulness.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness,
we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 1: 5 – 2:1)
_________________________
Let us Pray:

You overlook our sins that we may repent. (Wisdom 11:23b)

You have mercy on all, because you can do all things.
You overlook my sins so that I may repent. Lord, have mercy.

For you love all things that exist and loathe nothing that you have made,
For you would not have fashioned anything if you hated it. Lord, have mercy.

And how could a thing remain in existence unless you willed it?
Or how could it be preserved had it not been called forth by you? Lord, have mercy on me.

But you spare me because I am yours,
O Lord, you come to give me life and have it to the fullest. Amen.

- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ / Blessed Sacrament Parish, Hollywood / April 1, 2010

A Hole in My Soul

4th Sunday of Lent (C)
March 14, 2010
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 “He was lost and has been found”

After thirty three years of unwavering search, Abel Madariaga of Buenos Aires finally found his long lost son Francisco. Trembling before the national news camera in Argentina, Abel said, “I never stopped thinking I would find him. At times I wondered what the hell I was living for. I had to find a way to continue, thinking about everyday things, hoping for this moment of happiness. When he came through the door that night, we recognized each other totally, and the hug that brought us together was spectacular. Hugging him for the first time, it was as if I filled a hole in my soul.”

As we come closer to Holy Week, our gospel brings us to the much-loved story of sin and forgiveness between father and son. We destroy our relationship with God when we live in sin. The parable portrays this truth when the younger son asked his inheritance from his father and went astray to a distant land. Sin is precisely like that – cutting ties and declaring independence from the Father. And when one disconnects with the Father, he disconnects himself with the source of grace. There is no fullness of life outside the Father’s love. Anyone who lives in sin feels that sense of “emptiness” that no worldly pleasures and treasures could fill. It’s a hole in our souls. Ironically, it could lead us back to our senses and walk us back to the Father. Unfortunately, it cost the son all his inheritance to realize this.

The huge wealth he inherited quickly drained as he carelessly indulged in worldly pleasures. And when all his wealth and “party” friends disappeared, and found himself miserable in the company of pigs, he realized his stupidity and repented.


But to repent is not just genuine sorrow and tears. John the Baptist insists on restitution: “Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance.” (Luke 3:8). St.Ignatius of Loyola is not satisfied with “vague and generalized sense” of sorrow and repentance for one’s sins. He wants a more personalized, particular and concrete way of recalling one’s sins. We need to accept the root of our sins (which are self-love, self-will, and self-interests), repent and amend. To name our sins is to tame it. The son, after coming to his senses, humbly said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your servants.” If pride is the first step away from the Father, humility is the first step back home.

Tiger Woods said it well in his public apology for cheating his wife, “For all that I have done, I am so sorry. I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife’s family, my friends…It’s now up to me to make amends, and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I’ve made. As (my wife) Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time…”

When the son finally came to his senses, he made three important acts of genuine repentance: went home, beg for forgiveness and made restitutions.

The rest of the story is for you to digest in prayer. Is our best glimpse of God’s love. Close your eyes. Imagine that you’re the son - stinking like a pig and totally filthy. Then, oblivious of your smell and appearance, the Father lovingly hugs you. Then hear Him say, “I’m glad you’re home.” That’s more than enough to fill that hole in your soul.

-Fr. Willy M. Samson.SJ / Sacred Heart Jesuit Community, Los Gatos / March 14, 2010


read story of father and son :
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/lt_argentina_dirty_war_children;_ylt=At1BxHAlXxhenaFWw6zx7V7lWMcF

My Fig Tree Named "Faith"

3rd Sunday of Lent (C)
March 7, 2010
Luke 13: 1-9 “Sir, leave it for this year, and I shall cultivate the ground around it”


Last Thursday, the Northwest Yeshiva Girls basketball team forfeited their playoff game against St. John in Washington. They walked off the court after their game was scheduled during the Jewish "Fast of Esther," a day when Jewish people go fast for food and water. When their request to change the game time was denied, they decided to forfeit and sacrificed the championship playoff. The school’s head, Rabbi Bernie Fox said, "We didn't think it was safe for the team to play without water. We worked really hard to get here, to qualify for playoff. But we're also very happy to be able to show that our religion is very important to us. And they felt that as important as this basketball tournament was, they couldn't compromise their personal values. I'm very proud of them."

Our gospel shows us a different Jesus. Out of Jesus’ exasperations of dealing with people who see nothing but the sins of others, he blurted out twice, “I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” (Luke 13:3,5) And then told the crowd the parable of the barren fig tree, “For three years now, I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. Cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?” (Luke 3:7).

The call to repent from our sins is one of things we need to seriously consider this season of lent. But in our gospel today, to repent does not only mean to be sorry for our sins and ask forgiveness. In our parable, it is not mentioned that the fig tree is a bad tree, but the fact that it has no fruits for the past three years. Jesus wants it cut. We may not be murderers, adulterers, drug pushers, and the likes. But we may be fig trees without fruits in the making. To be a Christian is not just to be “good” in the sense that we don’t offend, abuse, or harass people. We should go beyond the attitude of “I don’t offend others, I mind my own business, and you mind your own.” This is not the meaning of being a good Christian. Good Christians are expected to bear fruit by labouring with the Lord in his enterprise of saving souls.

St.Ignatius of Loyola, in his Spiritual Exercises, explained the will of God, “Human beings are created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by means of doing this to save their souls.” (Spex 23). For him, to “serve” God includes commitment to God’s work, “to labour with him, so that following him in his suffering, we will also follow him in his glory.” (Spex 95). No pain, no glory. No labor, no fruits. Thus, if we are minimalist Christians who are happy with just attending Sunday Mass, saying our prayers, novenas, and rosaries, fasting and abstinence during lent, and giving alms to beggars once in a while... we may end up like the fig tree without fruits. We may end up like the Pharisees who faithfully do their religious rituals but do nothing for the poor and then claim righteousness.

I do admire the Northwest Yeshiva Girls who gallantly stood for their faith because they know their priority – their faith. But Jesus wants us to do “magis” (more) for God. He wants to see “faith in action” in our lives, for St.Paul said, “Faith without action is dead.”

Our faith is the fig tree and our action is the fruit. To bear fruit is to allow ourselves to be cultivated and fertilized regularly by our Lord, the Gardener. But such cultivation and fertilization of our faith (our fig tree) means doing what God wants: All are called to share in Christ’s ongoing work of establishing the Kingdom of God in the world. Our personal, family and community prayer should disturb us and open our eyes to the needs of others. Here is the flowering of a fig tree, and on its way to bearing fruits!

Repent, amend, and act now! The Lord is giving us another chance. Let your fig tree bears fruit. Let your faith bears action. Reach out. Serve. Forgive.


- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ / Sacred Heart Jesuit Community, Los Gatos / March 7, 2010

read "Team Forfeits Playoffs due to religious fast."
http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1056883