BY FR. BEL R. SAN LUIS, SVD
NICKNAMES are given to people to describe one of their characteristics. We call some people “Shorty,” “Kulot” (curly haired), “Palito” (skinny), and so on. In this 21st Sunday gospel, Jesus called Simon “Rock,” implying that he was solid and firm.
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However, it was an unlikely nickname for Peter who, at the beginning of his life with Jesus, was everything but rock-like. For instance, despite his bravado at the Last Supper that he would never abandon his Master, he was so weak that when Jesus was arrested, he did not only abandon him but even denied ever knowing him not once but three times.
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There’s a joke that the reason why Peter abandoned and denied Jesus was because he had a “grudge” against him – he cured his mother-in-law (biyenan)! Of course, that’s not the reason why he did it.
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Peter’s story illustrates how the Lord entrusted the Church he founded in the hands of imperfect humans. But the history of the Church buffeted by internal dissent, confusion, and scandals from the early centuries right down to our own times, has proven Christ’s assurance: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16,18).
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For all the weaknesses of Peter, we poor mortals can identify with him. We draw inspiration from his spirit of repentance. Instead of giving in to despair like what Judas Iscariot did, he went out full of remorse after realizing his grievous blunder and “wept bitterly.” When he met the Lord after his resurrection, however, Peter knelt down in shame and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
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We have our failings and weaknesses, too, but what’s most important is that we should not give up on the mercy and love of God. Just like Peter, what’s needed is humility in asking forgiveness and the resolve to reform.
When I was assigned in the Divine Word College of Legazpi, I had an accountant-friend who confided, “Father, in my profession I can’t help cutting the tax accounts of my clients so they could pay lower revenues. If I don’t do it, I’d lose my job. I feel remorse of conscience. So, like in accounting, I balance my sins by making up through helping the poor, extra prayers and sacrifices.
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“Something like ‘debit minus credit…” “Equals kupit?” I butted in jokingly. “No,” he replied, “debit minus credit equals zero balance.”
He meant that we need to balance our debits (sins) with our credits (penance, good works), thus making a 0-0 spiritual account.
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The analogy brings home a timely lesson. We’ve been so hounded over past sins like stealing, giving or accepting bribes, sowing intrigues, maintaining illicit relations that we feel remorse and must make reparation.
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Consider, too, some local officials amid this COVID-19 pandemic who pocketed government cash assistance instead of giving the full amount to the poor constituents. In addition, other government officials, who without qualms of conscience, take advantage by jacking up the prices of medical equipment and facilities.
We are all sinners but what’s important is that we must ask forgiveness from God, make reparation, and never repeat our wrongdoings.
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There’s one last thing to remember. If we want God’s forgiveness, then we must forgive our enemies.
This point was so important in Jesus’ teaching that when he taught us the “Lord’s Prayer,” he made it explicit: “Forgive us our sins AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US” – words we pray over and over in the Mass.
Read Jesus’ Parable of the King and the Unforgiving Servant. (Matthew 18,21-35).
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Pope Francis said, “God never gets tired of forgiving us. It is we who get tired of asking forgiveness from Him.”
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THE LIGHTER SIDE. Husband came home from office, cleaned himself, and sat down for dinner. After his first bite, he scolded his wife and said the food had no taste. His wife got up, called the Department of Health and told the doctors that her husband lost his sense of taste. The ambulance came and took him away. Now he is 14 days in quarantine!
LESSON: This is a warning to all men who complain about their wife’s cooking.
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HELP SEMINARIANS. It’s enrollment time again. Share an amount or sponsor a seminarian’s schooling. Seminarians are very important in the Church. Without them, we cannot have priests, bishops, and Popes.
For further inquiry, e-mail me at: [email protected].
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FAMILY TV MASS is aired on 5PLUS Channel 59 at 6-7 a.m. today Sunday and anytime at SVD Family TV Mass on YouTube. Priest presider: FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD.
The FAMILY that prays together stays together.
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For inquiries, e-mail me at: [email protected].
