Sincere Seeker or Stubborn Skeptic

“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Matthew 21:27)

In my line of work, I often meet two kinds of people: sincere seekers and stubborn skeptics. Learning from Jesus, my master, I found the best way to deal with them.

Sincere seekers and stubborn skeptics ask basically the same questions. But here lies their difference: The former seeks the truth. The latter picks a fight.

Sincere seekers are those who are truly hungry for the truth about God. Searching for peace. Hungry for enlightenment. Thirsting for wisdom.  

Stubborn skeptics, on the other hand, simply want to pin you down. They do not care about the truth. They only care about shutting you out. They pry. They query. They ask. All for the purpose of making you look bad.

From the Gospel today, we see Jesus showing us how we deal with stubborn skeptics. Jesus loves to answer the queries of sincere seekers. The rich young man got his answer. The woman at the well had her thirst quenched. Nicodemus went home fulfilled. But when it comes to stubborn skeptics, Jesus will not waste his time.

In today’s Gospel, the chief priests and elders came to him not so much to get the truth but to set a trap. They wanted to pin Jesus down. They wanted to corner him. Embarrass him. Shame him. That was probably why Jesus said what he said:

“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Matthew 21:27)

Instead of engaging them in a debate, Jesus simply brushed them aside. Not because he didn’t care about them. But because they didn’t care about the truth.

My friend, I want to ask you on levels:

1. First Level – Are a sincere seeker or a stubborn skeptic? Remember, if you are the former, you will be satisfied. If you are the latter, you will miss the truth.

2. Second Level – When people confront you with your faith, do you answer them right away or do you first see if the person is really sincere in knowing the truth? If the person is not after the truth, then I suggest you do what Jesus did: he refused to engage them in a fight.

Choose your battles. God did. Go and do the same.

I remain, in Christ,

Bobby Q.

What’s with a Rainbow?

“The heavens and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass.” (Luke 21:33).

“Pang, there is a possibility that I will stay in the hospital until I give birth…” 

Those were Jeng’s words the moment I entered the hospital room four weeks ago. Upon hearing them, my knees wobbled, my mind swirled as I slumped weakly on the chair by her bedside. That was the last thing I needed to hear after so many weeks of high stress and intense pressure. This was Jeng’s second hospital confinement in a span of two months due to profuse bleeding brought about by a difficult pregnancy. I was tired. No, exhausted would be a more accurate word. Clearly, I was nearing the end of my rope.

Faced with the prospect of rising hospital expenses with no assurance that my son will be born into this world, I did what I usually do when faced with a mountain of a challenge.

I prayed.

I spoke from my heart and confessed my fears and anxieties to my God. Near tears, I begged God to show me any sign of His presence. I needed to be consoled. To be comforted. To be reminded. I wanted to hear His voice. I longed to feel his embrace. I thirsted for His soothing assurances. And then it happened…

My two daughters, ages 4 and 2, excitedly called my attention as they animatedly pointed to “something” outside the hospital window, “Papang, look! Rainbow!”.

With bated breath and with tears streaming down my cheeks, I watched what they saw: Two beautiful and gigantic rainbows bannered the dusky Manila sky right outside our window.

Yes, you read it right. Not just one, but two rainbows. One for me and one for Jeng.

But what’s with a rainbow anyway?

In the Old Testament, a rainbow symbolized God’s covenant to His people. For instance, after the great flood, God showed Noah a rainbow to remind Him of His promise that He will never destroy the earth again.

Naturally, seeing those rainbows four weeks ago reminded me of God’s promises in my life. That if I take care of His people, He will take care of me. That whatever challenges I go through, He will carry me. That no matter how big the mountain is, He will lift it for me. That’s why the tears flowed.

Reading today’s Gospel reminded me of this incident four weeks ago. Jesus says today: “The heavens and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass.” (Luke 21:33). In a sense, He says that even if the worst tragedy happens in my life, His faithfulness remains and His promises will be fulfilled.

Guess what? His promise to me is also His promise to all those who hold on to Him amidst challenging times.

Including you. So I urge you, whatever you are going through now, trust in God. You will soon see the light of day.

By the way, the day after that “rainbow incident”, Jeng’s bleeding stopped and she was sent home by the doctors.

Truly, when God promises, He fulfills. The rainbow says so.

Humbled by God’s love,

Bobby

Not for Sale

“…You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else…” (Daniel 5:17)

A story was once told about a Christian who was forced to renounce her faith in exchange for a price. Boldly, this woman retorted: “Indeed, I have a price. But it has already been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ, my Savior. I am no longer for sale.”

How many of us are daily tempted to set aside our faith for a price? The price can come in the form of a promotion, or a one-night-stand, or another puff from a marijuana stick, or a promised cash reward.

In today’s first reading, Daniel was also confronted with the same dilemma. King Belshazzar offered him fame and fortune if he would be able to interpret for him the supernatural sign from God which appeared during the king’s banquet. Daniel was quick to respond:

“…You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else…” (Daniel 5:17)

How about us? Do we dialogue with the tempter? Do we pause to think about the proposition? Do we dilly-dally to see if we can get both the reward and retain our self-respect at the same time? Do we give the devil the light of day?

Here is my suggestion: Don’t dialogue with the enemy. Don’t even attempt to haggle. Don’t negotiate. Don’t display any price tag. Rebuke him. Reject him. Walk away. You aren’t cheap. You were bought by blood. You were paid with death. You were ransomed by no less than the King of Kings.

You are no longer for sale.

I remain Christ’s property,

Bobby

All Things Come to an End

“Nations will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, plagues and famines in various places — and in the sky fearful omens and great signs” (Luke 21:11)

            “All things come to an end.”

            That’s what they say about success. Or weekend vacations. Or even crazy love affairs. And for most of us, we try to hold on to these things for as long as we can.

            The same thing when it comes to our very lives.

            We jog. We diet. We go to fitness centers. We have our regular medical check up. We buy the most expensive vitamins. We do everything we can to remain healthy and to live longer. But we all know the inevitable. All of us have a number. And someday, that number will be called whether we like it or not. We will have our last word…our last glance…our last sigh…our last heartbeat. Yes, all things come to an end…

            …Including you and me.

            In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the inevitability of endings. He says that someday this world that we know will come to an end. The sun will set for the last time. The wind will have its final blow. The rain will have its concluding downpour. No more paychecks. No more deadlines. No more cancer. No more heartaches. End. Finish. Done.

            “Nations will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, plagues and famines in various places — and in the sky fearful omens and great signs” (Luke 21:11)

            Where would we be on that day? How will our lives be like when those things happen?

            How about our relationships? Would they be in good order? Would we have forgiven those who hurt us?

            Our money — would they have been used to bless others or would they perish together with the bank vault that holds them?

            How about our hearts? Are our hearts expectantly longing for heaven or desperately clinging on to the world? Are they attached to our eternal mansions or held back by our earthly shacks? Would they be thirsting for never-ending joy or are they settling for time-bound fun?

            And finally, how about our souls? For many, their souls will reflect the kind of lives they led. All bitterness for hurts suffered is plastered on their soul. All hidden sins will cling closely to it. Every deception done and lie told will be reflected on that soul. These people will cringe in shame as their deeds are exposed. They try to hide but they have nowhere to run. Their soul, their sin, their misdeeds — all theirs to keep and for the world to see.

            But not for others.

            There are those who will stand immaculate on that day. Not because of their merits, mind you. They too were sinners. They too were liars and cheats. They too slandered and gossiped. But at some point in their lives, they realized and acknowledged their wretched state. And their guilt led them to turn to Him who is guiltless. They turned to Him for comfort, for forgiveness and for salvation. And in gratitude for the mercy received, they tried their best to live lives fit for heaven.

            On that final day, there shall be a great demarcation line. After the earthquakes and calamities, there shall be an assembly of souls. On one side will stand those who cling on to their earthly rewards. On the other side shall stand those who made heaven their ultimate prize.

            Yes, all things come to an end. But for those who make Jesus their King in this lifetime, that day will only be the beginning of their forever.

For my King, forever,

Bobby

Ready

“…Let your belts be fastened around your waists and your lamps be burning ready…” (Luke 12:35)

Presently, I am in the very posture described in the passage above.

My wife Jeng is six months pregnant with our son Franco. For almost three months now, she has been on complete medical bedrest to prevent a possible premature delivery. Blood spotting kept recurring. Bags are packed. Car keys within reach. Senses always on alert. I am on my toes 24/7 for a possible rush to the hospital. Yes, I am ready. But more than physical readiness, I am also trying to be spiritually and emotionally ready.

Ready for what?

Ready for God.

For God’s lessons.

For God’s miracles.

For God’s surprises.

I don’t know how this chapter of our life will end but one thing I am sure of is this: if we hold on to God, we shall be victorious with Him.

So I say this to life:

Bring it on. We are ready.

I remain firm in faith,

Bobby

God Blesses Bad People Too

“…Then you will see again the distinction between the just and the wicked; between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him…” (Malachi 3:18)

When I spoke before the Catholic Charismatic Convention in Oman last month, I asked the crowd an intriguing question: Does God bless bad people?

Their answer was a resounding “yes!”.

They were correct. Scripture says: “…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous…” (Matthew 5:45)

Conversely, God also allows righteous people to encounter challenges. If God sends blessings and challenges to all people, what then distinguishes the God-fearing people from those who have no regard for God?

The answer is simple: It is in their response.

God-fearing people use both blessings and challenges to become closer to God.

When blessed, they praise God.

When challenged, they turn to God for strength.

For unrighteous people, on the other hand, blessings and challenges are convenient excuses to disregard God.

When blessed, they forget God.

When challenged, they curse God.

Here is where the distinction lies. As the scripture today says:

“…Then you will see again the distinction between the just and the wicked; between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him…” (Malachi 3:18)

How about you? When God distinguishes, on which side would He find you?

Stay blessed!

Bobby Q.

Bigger than the Biggest Storm

“…For he who has brought disaster upon you will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy…” (Baruch 4:29)

Unless you know what it means to be in the flood, you will not know what it means to be rescued from it.

This sums up my learning from the experience of my country the past week. This also sums up one of my greatest learnings about life, in general.

Take for instance the recent storms which hit our country.

Prior to the storms, many people took God for granted. “Stand aside, God” we unknowingly say, “We can manage by ourselves.”

Hence, we busied ourselves with ourselves — our businesses, our careers, our selfish interests. The airwaves were dominated by pre-election campaign ads. Political mudslinging bannered our newspaper headlines. Accusations of corruption rocked the highest levels of our government. Citizens becoming apathetic. A nation becoming callous. A people losing hope.

Then the rains came last Saturday. An unimaginable volume never before witnessed in the history of this country pummeled the metropolis and other nearby provinces. A helpless nation watched as families and properties were swept by the rampaging flood. We reacted, tried our best to cope. To no avail. Nature unleashed its wrath and we, humans, were helpless before it.

And as the rains ceased, our fears eased as well. But not for long…

Just before we can catch our breath as a nation, news of a bigger and a far-stronger oncoming typhoon surprised us once again. With glassy eyes, we gazed at the skies and wondered, “Why is this happening to us all? Has God completely abandoned us?”

 But we are not the only Christian nation in Asia for nothing. For some reason, we were able to dig deep in our hearts and found that one thing which makes us a special nation: our faith.

We switched off our TV sets, went down on our knees and prayed.  And we prayed hard as a nation just like before. Perhaps it was as intense as the prayers of our forefathers in Tirad Pass. Or as heartfelt as the prayers of those who joined the Bataan death march. Or probably reminiscent of our prayers in EDSA in 1987. We knew the storm was big, and we were small. We knew the storm was strong, and we were weak. We knew the storm was coming, and we have no place else to go.

And just like in the biblical days, God cannot resist the faith of His beloved. This morning, I woke up to a very surprising and wonderful news: The supertyphoon has re-directed its course and will no longer hit the country head on.

My heart was bursting with joy and my eyes held back the tears. God indeed is real and near. He hears the faintest prayers of His people. He comes to rescue. He comes to save. Moved by our deepest sighs, it was as if God stood on the path of the supertyphoon and with a wave of his hand, redirected it to move somewhere else and away from His Pearl of the Orient Seas.

This week, we are reminded once again of how much God loves us. We saw His love in the sacrifices of those who launched rescue operations the past week. We saw His love in the form of donations from faceless and nameless individuals here and abroad. We saw His love in the lives of the many heroes who thought less of themselves and more of others. And yes, we saw God’s love, not above the storm, but in it. And because of this, we can’t help but rejoice.

We recovered our passion for our nation. We regained our faith in our heritage. We re-discovered the beauty of our race. Truly, God brought back our joy.

As the scripture today says:

“…For he who has brought disaster upon you will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy…” (Baruch 4:29)

Ondoy and Pepeng combined can flood our homes, but they can never submerge our hope. They can sweep away our cars, but they can never sweep away our dreams. They can topple our tallest trees, but they can never topple our deepest faith. 

And what is true for our nation, is true for our individual lives. What is that storm that threatens to make a landfall into your life?

Marriage annulment. 

Cancer.

Unemployment.

Financial ruin.

Turn off your TV set, go down on your knees and pray like never before. Pray with great trust. Pray with great faith.

Remember, a big storm may be coming. But it is never too big for a bigger God who can valiantly stand in its way for you.

On behalf of my countrymen, thank you God. You deserve all the glory!

Bobby Q.

The Fuel of Faithfulness

“…Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother’. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:27)

“Sir Bob, the boss wants you to accompany him to a meeting in the province this weekend. And he wants you to be the one to handle the official purse of the delegation.”

Those were the words of the secretary of my boss years ago, Atty. Simeon V. Marcelo, the then Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines.

Hearing this, I was closed to hyperventilating. A bit woozy, I perspired heavily. My collar tightened. I felt butterflies in my stomach. Why did I react that way? Well, anybody would, when honored with such a privilege.

I was really humbled by the trust my boss gave me. You see, he had all the reasons not to do what he did.

First, I was young. The last you want to do is to entrust money to a young person. He just might squander it.

Second, I was a member of a rival school fraternity. I can make my boss look bad in public by not taking care of the money he entrusted to me.

Third, I am terrible with numbers. I don’t like them and they don’t like me. So it would be extra challenge for me to keep an accounting of our expenses.

But despite all these, my boss chose to trust me. And when you are given such trust, the only thing you can do is to reward that trust by giving your best in doing your task.  

That’s what I did. And I believe that was what John the Disciple did too.

In today’s gospel, Jesus entrusted to John a very daunting task: the care of His mother.

“…Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother’. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:27)

For why else would Jesus give His most precious mother to someone unless He really trusts that person? Jesus trusted John. And John tried his best to honor Jesus’ trust by living up to his obligation.

Let us, therefore, learn from John.

Look at your hands. What has God placed there? Isn’t it the case that God has entrusted you with so much in this life? 

If you are a parent, you are entrusted by God with that child.

If you are a businessman, you are entrusted by God with that business.

If you are a teacher, you are entrusted by God with those students.

If you are a priest or pastor, you are entrusted by God with that church.

If you are a human being, you are entrusted by God with this planet.

And just like John, we ought to do our best to honor this trust.

Let us be faithful to what God has called us to do. Let His trust drive you to be the best that you can be. Let His trust inspire you to give your all. Let His trust encourage you to fulfill your task day in and day out.

Yes, let His trust fuel your faithfulness, now and until the very end!

Bobby Q.

See What You Say

“…Demonstrate your faith to me without your works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works…” (James 2:18)

“It’s hard being a preacher.” I once complained.

My complaint sprung from the very striking realization that as a preacher, I am obliged to consistenly preach what’s right even if at times I am aware that there are moments when I do what’s wrong.

For instance, I needed to preach patience even if I know that sometimes I am impatient.

I needed to preach commitment even if I know that sometimes I am not committed.

I needed to preach faith even if I know that at times I don’t have much of it myself.

Honestly, sometimes, it is difficult to stand in front of a crowd even if deep within you, you know that you are preaching to yourself.

That’s probably why today’s reading struck a chord in my heart. In the letter of James, he said:

“…Demonstrate your faith to me without your works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works…” (James 2:18)

This serves as an upward call to preachers like me. Words are to us what tools are to a mechanic. The stage is to us what the field is to a football player. The microphone is to us what the hammer is to a carpenter. 

But the major difference is this.

Once the mechanic finishes fixing a car, he stops being a mechanic.

Once the buzzer sounds, a football player can walk out of the field, dress down and cease from being a ball player.

Once the building is built, the carpenter stores away his hammer and pause from being a carpenter (at least until after the next project!).

But preachers cannot do that. You see, our preaching does not end when we go down from the stage. In fact, it will only begin to have meaning when we do. Our words are amplified by our works. In other words, the volume of our voice is only as loud as our lives. Hence the challenge to ”Walk your talk”. When the talking ends, the walking begins. And the latter is more difficult than the former. As the reading says, our constant challenge is how to demonstrate our faith through our works.

Today, I pray for the special grace to walk my talk. And I pray for you, too. That as you strive to live a good life, people may then see what you say in your life.

A blessed weekend to you!

Bobby Q.

The “Yes” that Made All the Difference

“…She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins… (Matthew 1:21)

Many people question why Catholics honor Mary. Why make the big fuss about her? Any jewish girl could have been the mother of the messiah. It just so happens that God chose her from among the ladies at that time. There was really nothing she did to merit such adulation and adoration from millions of Catholics all over the world. Hence, we should not really honor her that much, right?

No. 

Let me share with you my opinion by using an analogy.

Imagine this…

You are waiting for a taxi cab in the middle of the storm. “No cab driver would take me in with this kind of weather.”, you thought to yourself. And true enough, not a single driver cared to even stop for you. Minutes passed. You are hungry and tired. Not to mention the the fact that you are soaking wet. The minutes turned to hours. You are desperate. You gaze at your watch. It’s getting really late. Just as you were about to give up, a cab pulls up in front of you. The driver of the cab motions for you to get in, “Hop in,” he says “I will take you home.”

Now, do you think you would be grateful to that one cab driver? After he brings you home, would you have the guts to say to him “Well, thanks but no thanks. Other cab drivers could have brought me home, anyway. You just happen to be the one who answered my call.” Of course not. Instead, you would be grateful. And you will find ways to show your gratitude, right? 

You might give him a big tip. Or even perhaps offer him dinner. Or for the more generous among us, give him our calling card just in case he might need our future services.

True, other cab drivers could have said “yes”. But it doesn’t change the fact that this one cab driver did. Moreover, the fact that others could have given you a ride doesn’t lessen the impact of what this one cab driver did.

Same thing with Mary.

Other ladies her age could have said “yes” to angel Gabriel during those days. And others may have been ready and willing to become the mother of the messiah. But such possibility does not change the fact that Mary was the one who said “yes”. It does not, in any way, lessen the impact of what she did.

Just like that cab driver in my analogy who gave you the vehicle home, Mary also gave us our vehicle home to heaven. The cab driver gave you a ride. Mary gave us a savior.  

Whether we admit or not, Mary’s “yes” paved the way for our salvation. It made all the difference for all of us!

Thank you for your “yes”, dear Mother.

Thank you, for pulling us out from the cold and giving us a free ride home!

I remain grateful,

Bobby