Homily shared during the Clergy Retreat, 2 August 2011, 6PM at the Good Shepherd Spiritual Center, Antipolo City.
During Fr. Dexter's thanksgiving mass, there was a SOPA, or the State of the Priesthood Address. But let me share with you my SIGA: the State In God's Grace Address. Or even the State in God's Glory Address (SIGA). Maging Siga!
The gospel tells us about Jesus AND Peter walking on the water. What is most amazing is not that Jesus walked on the water. If He can feed the 5,000, He can walk on water. What is most amazing is Peter, walking on the the stormy waters, even if only for a moment. But Peter did walk on the water. And how did it all begin?
Jesus was walking on the water when the apostles saw him. According to the Gospel, Jesus calmed the disicples' fears, when he said, "Do not be afraid. Take courage. It is I". And Peter answered: Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water». Jesus said to him, «Come». And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus.
For God's Glory
Fr. Jim Ferry reflected with us about the priesthood this morning. He said, "The priesthood is a grace to be lived out in faithful service to Jesus to manifest God's glory".
God's Glory, and the grace of being a priest are so much intertwined: One is forever shining, the other called to manifest it even if sometimes, it clouds it.
When we go to the Barangays, when we travel several kilometers to celebrate the mass, give the sacrament to the sick; when we even facilitate a fund raising campaign, like "mission:143+44", "100 days to 7", "pepe 128", when we preside meetings, or even "Run for LIfe", we need to ask ourselves, as Fr. Ferry asks us to do: who are we manifesting? Whose glory are we showing? Are these for God, really?
When there is a "sick call", instead of asking "saan?", we ask, "malakas pa ba?" or "malapit na ba?" instead of "malapit ba?" Hoping that that the one calling us will change his mind, and we can go on with what we like, and are doing at the moment.
The point is this: in the Gospel, Peter would really LIKE to walk on the water like Jesus. He would really LIKE to experience for once how to walk on the water. Instead, of swimming in the water. Remember, he was a fisherman. But note how he asked the Lord. He did not say, "Lord, let me walk on the water with you." Instead, he said, "Lord, command me." Command me to come to you. Command me to walk on the water like you do. I am not going to jump on the water unless you like me to, unless you command me. Because if Peter jumped on the water without the command of Jesus to do so, he would be glorifying himself, and not Jesus.
We so much like to do so many things. Our ministry has endless possibilities. So many what we want and like to do. But Peter's acceptance of God's command reminds us that we cannot be doers and actors for our own glory. We will be able to proclaim God's glory through endless parish activities and programs and ministerial services, only if these are what God has commanded us to do and live. If this is what Jesus has commanded us, then this is what we will do, not because we like it nor we desire it, not because we are comfortable with it. Beyond this commandment is not God's glory, but our own.
Priesthood is a Grace
Grace. I have always wondered how we continue to be priests with our imperfections and many moments of temptations and sins. There are so many temptations, and so many sins: we are just supposed to collect, but we take a dip and keep. Just supposed to look, but we do more and sing "sometimes when we touch"; just supposed to take a bite, but we chew and swallow; only take a sip, but we gulp; only a nap, but we oversleep. We are intolerable, how can God tolerate us? Grace.
To proclaim God's glory, we need God's grace. And where do we find God's grace? In times of joy and moments of pain. As priests, let us learn that we can also find God's grace in our moments of weakness and sinfulness. The other name of God is MERCY. And his mercy is his grace for us.
Moments of Grace, Moments of God's Mercy
I hope that our sins and our failures would make us open more to God's grace, and not away from Him. The greater the sin, the greater the mercy of God. It is a realization that without God's mercy and his grace, we cannot fully manifest God in his glory in our humanity.
Our fears, like the Apostles, are moments of grace for us to trust in God's mercy: have courage, says the Lord. Then we proclaim God's mercy and He is glorified. Through us.
Our selfishness and lack of availability to our people should be moments of grace for us for God to uplift us. Then we manifest God's compassion, and He is glorified. Through us.
Our lack of honesty should lead us to moments of grace to learn to live simple, contented life of a good steward. Only for the Lord. Then we proclaim God's richness and generosity, and He is glorified. Through us.
In our loneliness, we open ourselves to God and pray. Then we proclaim God's loving presence. He is glorified. Through us.
Barats, Ining, Allan Abuan, Ayong, Father Soc, all of us, with our humanity, can manifest God's glory only when in our weakness, we open ourselves to God's mercy and His grace.
For as St. Paul had said, "It is when I am weak that I am strong. Your grace is sufficient for me", or to that effect.
God's glory is God's grace alive in our humanity. We await only God's command, even in the most unexpected places and moments in our ministry. Be a SIGA in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan or a LIGGA. Living in the Grace of our priesthood for God's glory. Amen.
