Daniel Daring 2013 articles 2012 articles
Dec
29: The
Feast of the Holy Family
Aside from internal problems that every family is facing, there are
two major “Herods”
that threaten the existence of our families: our
leaders and poverty
Dec
25: Darkness
cannot overcome the light
Christmas proclaims a powerful message of hope: Jesus, the light of the
world, has come to defeat the darkness and set us free from all things
that enslave our lives. Let us experience the power of this message and
share its joy with others.
Dec
22: How
shall we respond to this sign?
Christmas is not about a tree or Santa
Claus. Christmas is about our response to the sign given to us by God
signifying that our salvation is drawing near. Will this sign be enough to
make us trust in God for our salvation?
Dec
15: Is
He the One? - A Report about Jesus
The first Christians gave this report about Him: “The blind
receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised , and the good news is preached to the poor” .
What kind of report would we give about Jesus? My experience teaches me again and again that Jesus
not only gives hope, but also saves from sin, from sickness, and from
death
Dec
8: Fear
of God; Knowledge of God
The Philippine Daily Inquirer on December 5, 2007 carried a front page
news story about a group of farmers who marched 1700 km to request the
Department of Agrarian Reform to stop the conversion of their land by San Miguel
Foods Inc. into an industrial zone. The journey from their homes to Manila took
two months. What is wrong with us. Why have we created a world where people have
to walk a thousand kilometers to beg for something they deserve as their right?
Perhaps the Psalmist is right by assessing that “there is no fear of God
before our eyes” and that our wise do not seek after God (Psalm 14:2).
Yet in the eyes of the prophet Isaiah, fear of God and knowledge of God are the
basis for creating a world where everyone can have a decent place to live.
Dec
1: Holy Living
Our world is in love with mystics and visionaries. We like to listen to their
descriptions of how great God is and what He is going to do in the near future.
However, we have less appreciation for the prophets who plainly state what God
demands from us. How trite and prosaic is a call to repentance compared with a
description of God's majesty or a prediction of the coming end of the world. And
yet, at the beginning of this Advent Season, we hear such a prosaic message from
the prophet Isaiah: “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the
Lord”
Nov
24: Proclaiming Jesus as our Savior - Christ,
the King
When
the Roman Empire Public Relations branch coined a poem about the divinity of
the Emperor, Christians responded with a beautiful hymn sung in praise of
Jesus. The PR poem was designed to spread the cult of Caesar and stated:
He [the Emperor] is the image of God; he is the first
born and he is given the first place; he is equal to the beginnings of all
things; he restores order and is the beginning of life and vitality. Therefore,
he is god manifest. He is the savior who has put the end to war.
The Christians took that poem, did some editing, and totally
changed its message
Nov
17: Dangerous memory Jesus
Even though things look bleak and hope is hard to find, yet the Gospel
continues to hold its spell over us because of its fascinating story about
individuals and small communities of people who found in Jesus strength and
courage to change the course of history. This story will surely encounter
opposition, because of its subversive message. That explains why its bearers
usually end in the same way as their Lord – on the cross. And yet we are
drawn to it, because it promises the fulfillment of our longings for a world
free from injustice and oppression
Nov
10: The God
of the living
What is, then, the truth about life after death? We do not know; we haven't
died yet. Since we cannot figure it out, perhaps
we should faith it out. Our belief in the
resurrection proclaims that salvation is not just about our souls, but about
our bodies as well. Disfigured by unjust sufferings, daily hardships, violence,
sicknesses, decay, and death, they are going to be transfigured by the Spirit
of God. Jesus has begun this process; the rest of us and the whole creation
will follow
Nov
3: Today
salvation has come to this house
It
seems that two thousand year ago it was easy to experience salvation. One
could decide to see Jesus, climb a tree and then the Lord was calling him
by name. How about today? Well. The Good News of the Gospel retains its
power. It is today that
Jesus must enter our house; it is also today that salvation comes
to our lives. But it comes to those who declare that they are lost and
make an effort to meet Jesus
Oct
24: Do not despise them
The earth abounds with Pharisees.
Not only individuals, but entire nations are infected with this spiritual
disease. As in the time of Jesus, the
Pharisees of our time belong to the most influential religious and
political lobbies that dictate the policies of our world.
The earth is also full of tax-collectors, people who are taught to feel guilty because of the way they look, the way they speak or the work they do.
Oct 17: Grant us justice, O Lord
We live in a world where criminals receive state funerals with
laudatory speeches while their victims are reduced to oblivion. Our
history books are written by the ‘secular priests’ working for the
victors. Truth gets lost under the garbage of lies. And yet, as the
parable rightly tells us, we should not give up our cry for justice
Oct
10: Gratitude
“Gratitude may be the
purest measure of one's character and spiritual condition. The absence of
the ability to be grateful reveals self-centeredness or the attitude that
I deserve more than I ever get, so I do not need to be grateful”.
The word Eucharist originates from a Greek noun that means thanksgiving.
Our Mass is ended, but our Eucharist continues
Oct
3: The righteous will live by faith
We may boast of our scientific and technological
achievements, but when it comes to the issue of justice, our world
resembles that of Habakkuk ....and with Habakkuk, even in times of great
distress, we can look forward in faith to a time of help from the Lord
Sep 26: Hear
the Scriptures and repent
The parable of the Rich
Man and Lazarus teaches that there is more to life than amassing a
fortune thanks to unjust economical system or inheritance. It warns that
luxurious living constructs “a great chasm” that prevents the flow of
God’s mercy. However, it also states that there is a possibility of
repentance. We can always turn to the Scriptures and listen to Moses, the
Prophets, and Jesus. Repenting of our insatiable greed, we can bridge the
great chasm of inequality and end up being carried by the angels to
Abraham’s bosom
Sep 19: Let justice flow like water - words from Amos, one of the most disturbing people who have ever lived: the prophets - men whose inspiration brought the Bible into being, men whose image is our refuge in distress, and whose voice and vision sustains our faith
Sep 12: Ersatz god (an explanation of "ersatz" ! ...a new word for me...jw)
The Spirit of Jesus makes God known to you. You can hear Him speaking to you; you can feel His emotions; you can know His plans for your life. And when this encounter takes place you will join me in this conviction: nothing can be compared with the thrill of hearing God speaking directly to us.
Sep
5: How
much does it cost to follow Jesus?
There will be moments, when our hearts are going to be torn between our
commitment to Him and our love for family, friends, and things we like to
have. Let then the Spirit of Jesus enlighten us to make the right choice,
so we may be found worthy of being called the disciples of Jesus
Aug 29: Jesus’ comments on our
table manners
What is the Spirit speaking to you about humility and hospitality? Who is
‘in’ and who is ‘out’? How do you see yourself in the eyes of God?
How do you see and treat others? Is Jesus’ teaching inviting you to make
some changes in your community or at your home?
August
22: Irrelevant
Question
Jesus disregards the question about how many will be saved and directs us
to commit ourselves towards concrete actions: “Make every effort to
enter through the narrow door” ...which means embracing His principles
and putting them into action in the ever changing context of one’s life
August
15: Assumption:
Disobedient Mary!
It seems that the real Hebrew meaning of the name Miriam
is "to be rebellious, disobedient". When we listen attentively
to her Magnificat, we can sense how she rebels against the unjust world she
lived in
August
15: Decision
that leads to division
When my
uncle was slowly drinking himself to death, I kept quiet; when my brother
was drifting away from the faith, I was told to mind my own business; when
the scandal of priests was being exposed, I joined those who tried to
excuse them by saying that ‘they are not angels’; and when my boss was
humiliating people in my presence, I was unable to stand up for their
rights. Such an attitude is strongly encouraged by our contemporary
culture: do not rock the boat; keep your faith for yourself; and excuse
others ‘shortcomings,’ because nobody is perfect
August
8: Do
not be afraid, little flock:
Ask yourself what the topics of your
conversations are, how you allocate your time, what you are passionate
about. Is God’s kingdom somewhere on your list? Jesus says that “where your
treasure is, there your heart will also be” and it is your heart
that reveals the truth about your priorities, concerns, and desires
August
1: Rich
towards God
I am amazed at the amount of books being
published under the section of ‘self-help’ and ‘personal
finances.’ We are told to be tougher, better organized, more
independent, self-sufficient, and profit oriented. I wonder how well this
message goes with Christian values of sharing, community, and trusting God
July
25: The
righteous in the city (Manila, Philippines)
‘Sir! Your backpack is open.’ I thank him, close
my bag, and continue my journey with a sudden realization that it is not
the police that can protect this city, or any other city, from succumbing
to crime and violence. It is the quiet presence of the righteous ones that
make any city habitable, peaceful, and prosperous
July 18: Hospitality
Today this ancient virtue seems to be in decline. Strangers are treated
with rudeness, wanderers and beggars are considered as pests of society,
and the majority of us prefer to meet God in the chapel or church rather
than in our homes by entertaining a stranger.
July
11: Who
is my neighbor?
Many times I have tried to justify my lack of involvement in
helping others with the same question. It never worked, because I knew the
answer. Who is my neighbor? It is anybody who happens to cross the path of
my life and either verbally or silently expresses his/her need for help.
Neither being in a hurry nor compassion fatigue excuse me from getting
involved.
July 4: What counts is a new
creation
What counts in our faith-life? Is it Paul’s new creation or two thousand
years of tradition, codified in rules and norms, equalized with the
message of the Gospel, and making others feel bad about themselves? Are
those who claim that faith with our tradition is what counts any different
from those Jews who claimed that faith with their tradition was what
counted?
June
27: Know the spirit
you
are of
Jesus’ disciples,
enraged by the lack of hospitality shown to Him in a Samaritan village,
were about to call “fire down from heaven” to destroy it. How
childish, how stupid, and yet how common! Since the invention of bombs,
rockets, missiles and planes, fire has begun to fall from heaven bringing
death and destruction. We seem to believe that the only way to settle our
quarrels is to wage war, and this action is always justified by a ‘higher
cause’
June
20: Equal
and one in Christ
The phrase “in Christ” occurs 164 times in Paul's
writings. Those who are “in Christ” do not need “ethical
norms, legal rules, or communal instructions.” In any circumstances of
life, they intuitively discern the cause of action. By clothing themselves
with Christ, they have internalized Christ's values and attitudes of which
the most important is respect for the dignity of others
June
13: "I
have something to tell you"
To the surprise of Simon and all his guests, Jesus disregarded
the concept of purity and its customary laws. He allowed the woman to
‘defile’ him, and instead of advising her to go through the purity rites, he
announced that she was free from her sins. What a challenging action! What a
shock to all religious leaders present at that dinner! What a relief to the
woman!
June
6: The key to a
miracle
The key to every miracle is compassion. When we feel the
pain of others, we begin to think and pray for a solution. Compassion was the
springboard for almost every miracle performed by Jesus
May 30: The Body and
Blood of Christ - Remembering Jesus
It is time that we enlarge our understanding of the Eucharist. It
is not just about the Real Presence.
It is much more than that. The Eucharist is about making Jesus’
vision for humanity real in our communities, by welcoming everyone,
treating each person with dignity of a child of God, and by justly
distributing the resources of the Earth among all. It is my conviction
that's how Jesus would like to be remembered
May 23: Trinity Sunday - a
reflection on the Trinity
A few years before his death, Thomas Aquinas stopped
writing theological treaties. When asked for the reason, he is supposed to
have had answered: ‘Some months ago I experienced something of the
Absolute, so all I have ever written about God seems to me now to be like
straw.’ It is my wish that we experience something of that Absolute, who
reveals Himself as “only one God, the Father, from who all things come,
and only one Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and
only one Spirit, the Gift, in all things” (St. Hilary)
May
19: Flat
tire theology
I am writing this article on the eve of
Pentecost. You will go to your church, hear the powerful testimony
about the disciples of Jesus being transformed by the
"wind" and the "fire", but I am afraid that you
will go back home and live your life without that transforming power
of the Spirit. The truth is that it is easier to celebrate than
live; it is also safer. The first Christians did not celebrate
Pentecost, but they lived a life filled with the power of the Spirit.
I
would love to exchange our celebration for their experience. I am
tired of hearing how the Spirit fell on them; I want Her to fall on
me as well; I am tired of a church that celebrates Pentecost, but it
is not filled with power from above; I want my church to be a
vehicle of transformation, a true witness to the values of the
Gospel
May
16: Pentecost Sunday:
The Spirit of Jesus Christ is in us to teach
us and to remind us of these simple truths: there is no life without love; by
obeying God’s will we record our names in the book
of life; the Holy Spirit makes Jesus’ presence real in our midst
May
9: Between Jesus' absence and the Spirit's presence
- The Ascension (C)
The realization of Jesus’ absence never hit me so
strongly as in Macau. The city has
many old churches, filled with Christian paintings and statues, but empty
of people, save for a few visitors. Yet you can find tens of thousands of people
in nearby casinos
May
2: Do not be afraid to face the future
The words pierced his heart. The fear was gone;
peace began to reign. And with that experience a sudden realization dawned
on him that God was not yet finished with him. God is never finished
with us
April
25: And I
saw a new heaven
and a new earth
The Jewish rabbis have a saying that if only all
the Jews would obey God’s commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, by
spending it on prayer and reading God’s word, instead of doing their
business, then the Messiah would come. We Christians could as well say
that if only all of us would obey Jesus’ commandment, ‘love one
another as I have loved you,’ then heaven would descend upon the earth
April
18: Entrusting
the sheep to Jesus' care
Wendy was one among those other sheep, which Jesus must
also bring to the flock; she heard the voice of the shepherd and her life
has changed: ‘I was always asking myself about the afterlife. It
was so scary to think that there is nothing after this life and we just
disappear. Now I know that there is eternal life and it fills my
heart with peace and joy.’
April
11: Without Jesus,
nothing works.
With Jesus, all is well again
The
tragedy is that for many of us, Jesus continues to be in the grave. So, like
Peter and his friends, we want to go back to our previous life and do business
as usual. We want to forget our failures as Christians and find success in
something else: our work. But what is the outcome of this decision? “So they
went out and got into the boat, but that night caught nothing”
April
4: How can I be
sure? The story of Thomas
We have eyes and yet we may not see the wonders of the Lord in
our lives and
in the lives of others: the eyes of faith are the ones that matter
March
28: He
saw and believed
To believe that Jesus is
alive means to commune with Him, to recall His words recorded in the Gospels,
and to sense His presence when everything tries to tell you that He is absent.
Such faith can only spring out of your personal relationship with Jesus, of your
trust in Him. The beloved disciple saw and believed, because he remembered and
trusted
March
21: The
Story of the Cross
The girl was able to give witness to her faith,
while being tortured, because the crucified Son of God was with her.
This is the wonderful truth of Christianity: the cross gives strength
March
14: Go and sin no more
he story of the woman caught in the act of adultery reminds us about the purpose
God has for each one of us.
It has nothing to do with punishment and death; it has everything to do with
salvation and life
March
7: Coming Home
A beautiful reflection based
on two Prodigal Son paintings,
one by Rembrandt
and the other by Frank Wesley,
an Indian artist
Feb
28: Second Chance
Look around; see the faces of the people you meet everyday. Think of what you
can do for them. It is true that life is fragile and we do not know the day and
the hour. Yet we can turn it into something priceless and live each day
in such a way that, at the end, we will not regret having missed chances of
doing good and losing opportunities of caring for others.
Feb
21: T R A N S F I G U R AT I O N
Transfiguration should
give us sure hope, to trust that
sufferings do not have the last word
Feb
15: What
do you need saving from?
Know your problem and then pray
accordingly. Do not ask for forgiveness if the thing you need is freedom;
do not ask for freedom, if what you need is a pathway to come home. Know
your problem and pray accordingly.
Feb
14: A
lesson from the
desert
The story of Jesus’ temptations is
commonly associated with human addiction to easy life, power, and fame. It
is partly true, but it is not the main lesson of this story. Jesus teaches
us how to make choices in life. He sets in front of us two guiding
principles on which we should base our decisions in every specific
situation: (1) our identity as children of God; (2) our allegiance to God
alone.
Feb 7: Beyond Sin
We should be less preoccupied with sin, and more with Jesus’
amazing grace of provision and invitation to join in His mission. It was not
without reason that the story about Jesus was called good
news. It is all about God’s gracious
love, abundance, and blessing. Let us, then, keep it that way and not change it
into a religion of guilt.
Jan
31: Open your mind; enlarge your heart
Jesus’ countrymen wanted to throw him down the cliff for
exposing their prejudices and lack of faith. But there is a better way
then that. We can face the truth about ourselves, and ask Him to open our minds,
and enlarge our hearts, so we will be able to rejoice at seeing God’s grace
working in and through people of different Christian denominations and different
religions.
Jan
24: Jesus' mission statement
In pursuing their mission statement,
Microsoft and Google have become a great story of success; in pursuing His,
Jesus ended up on the cross.
Perhaps the world was not ready to accept someone
with such a powerful mission.
But are we ready now?
Jan
17: Is it possible?
Faced with the miracle of water
being changed into wine, we have two choices: explain it or embrace it.
Seeing 600 liters of best quality wine, we can sense how
extravagant Jesus is when it comes to gifting us with grace and blessing and new
chances in life.
Jan
10: You
are my beloved daughter
I personally call Baptism the sacrament of freedom, and connect it with the
experience of Israel in Egypt. Egypt represents the power of sin that tries to destroy our lives,
and we need God's mercy to be set free.
Jan
3: A quest for a personal God
Daniel tells the story of 3 modern magi - Einstein, Planck &
Carver - and checks if they made it to Bethlehem
Jan 1: The
blessing for a new year
- Mary, Mother of God
Beautiful Jan 1 reflection
We may be
doubting whether God's blessing bestowed on us on this first day of a new
year would be able to carry us safely throughout the entire year. Yet, a
blessing “is not a casual activity.” It carries with itself a power to
protect from charms, magic spells, and all sorts of bad influence. Each
time my mother was sending us off to school, field trip, or vacation, she
would mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross, firmly believing in
the protecting power of this blessing.