God's Presence Transforms Us

Homily on the occasion of the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and the 5th Anniversary of the Priestly Ordination of Rev. Fr. Jojo Monis at the Our Lady of Pentecost Parish, March 19, 2012.

In the gospel today, Joseph is described as righteous, which for the Jews technically means, one who adheres to the law, one who lives his life according to the prescriptions of the Law of Moses. That is why when Joseph came to know that Mary was with child and not of him, the gospel tells us that he decided to divorce her. Why? Because in such a situation, it was the just thing to do, it was the right thing to do according to the law. But before doing so, Joseph had a vision – an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream explaining the situation of Mary. This vision transformed Joseph. He did not proceed to divorce Mary. He took her as his wife. He took her into his home. From then on, Joseph was regarded as righteous not only because he adhered to the law but more importantly because he adhered to the Lord, the giver of the Law.

The story of Joseph is a witness to the transforming grace of God. The presence of God does not only inspire us, or strengthen us, or console us. More importantly, the presence of God transforms us. He transforms us into willing agents of his mysterious plan. He transforms us into obliging bearers of faith, hope and love.

Fr. Jojo, during our ordination, God transformed us. God transformed the very essence of our identity; that in every fiber of our being we have become God’s minister. Our every thought, our every action, our every word, our hands, our feet, our heart, they were all made into an unworthy vessel of God’s presence, dedicated to the service of God and his people. If God was able to transform us then, he can transform us now.

Fr. Jojo, your situation now may not be ideal – from being a parish priest to becoming an assistant parish priest; it may not be what you expected or what you have planned for yourself (I may not be the parish priest you would have wished I would be), but we trust in the transforming love of God. Remember, in Calvary, God transformed what was a sign of scandal and punishment into a powerful sign of hope and victory. This may seem incredible but in Calvary, God transformed the cross.

Fr. Jojo, five years ago you promised, among other things, “to maintain and deepen a spirit of prayer.” Renew your commitment to prayer for only in the intimacy of deep and personal prayer life can we remain confident in the face of the mysterious transforming presence of God.

St. Joseph, pray for us and for all priests. Amen.

ITALAGA

Italaga ang sarili sa Diyos. "Walang kahati. Walang kaagaw. Walang kapalit."

- mula sa Homily ni Bishop Nes sa ordination ni Fr. Dodot, ang pinakabagong pari ng diocese ng Cubao, Sept 28, 2007.

Seeing Visions

[Homily delivered by Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco on March 19, 2007, Solemnity of Joseph, Husband of Mary and Priestly Ordination of Fr. Gilbert Dumlao, Fr. Choy Garcia and Fr. Jojo Monis.]

My dear brother bishops, brother priests, religions men and women, Reverends Gilbert, William and Ronald, seminarians, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Good Morning!

Today is truly a day of thanksgiving. We thank the Lord for Saint Joseph, the Husband of Mary. Even though our knowledge of Saint Joseph is very limited his involvement in the life and mission of Jesus Christ has touched our hearts. His righteousness, his faith, his purity and silence continue to call all of us to share in the life and mission of Jesus. Today too, we thank the Lord for the gift of the priesthood; in front of us are three young men to be ordained as priests. Indeed no other offering can appropriate our joy but the offering of gratitude.

My dear people of God, allow me to address these reflection first to the ordinands. My dear Gido, Choy and Jojo, in the Gospel today Joseph has decided to divorce Mary quietly. But that night in his sleep he saw a vision; a vision so powerful that convinced him to change his mind. Joseph no longer divorced Mary and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. Joseph realized the will of Yahweh through that vision. The vision convinced him of what must be done.

My beloved deacons, Gido, Choy and Jojo, in order to be a good and holy priest, like St. Joseph you need to see visions. Not those visions borne out of illusion, hallucination, apparition, or those presented to us in dreams. Not those kinds of vision. The vision that I want you to see is a vision of a priest according to the heart of the Good Shepherd.

First, in order to be a priest according to the heart of Jesus, you must see the vision of service. As the gospel of Mark puts it, you must be able to see yourself capable of denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Jesus, the High Priest [8:34b]. The Vatican II document that deals with the life and ministry of the priest, Presbyterorum Ordinis calls it Pastoral Charity, which should urge every priest “to dedicate their own will by obedience to the service of God and their fellow men.” [no. 15] My dear deacons, yes the priesthood will be good for your soul, but you are not ordained for yourself alone, you are ordained for the people of God, for the building up of the Church. You cannot be a good and holy priest if you do not see yourself capable of selfless love.

Sa kultura natin mga Pilipino, pag-pari ka, paglilingkuran ka ng mga tao, aalamin nila kung ano ang paborito mong kulay para pag-nagregalo sila alam nila kung anong kulay ang ibibigay sa iyo na tuwalya, t-shirt, polo, at sangkatutak na tela; sa handaan hindi ikaw ang lalapit sa pagkain, ang pagkain ang lalapit sa iyo; pagnakita nilang pinagpapawisan ka papaypayan ka nila. Mag-uunahan ang tao na maglingkod sa inyo. Pero huwag na huwag kayong makakalimot, bilang pari – Gido, Choy at Jojo, kayo dapat ang manguna sa paglilingkod.

Second, in order to be a priest according to the heart of Jesus, you must see the vision of holiness. Presbyterorum Ordinis no. 12 states, “Like all other Christians they have received in the sacrament of Baptism the symbol and gift of such a calling and such grace that even in human weakness they can and must seek for perfection, according to the exhortation of Christ: ‘Be you therefore perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect’ (Mt 5:48).” As priests you will administer holy things; the grace of God will be received by the faithful through you. You will be an instrument of the Holy. Do not let the holy things that you dispense pass through you without making you holy. Or else you will become mere machines, an automatic dispenser of grace.

Dahil kayo’y mga bago at batang pari, maraming trabaho ang ipagkakatiwala sa inyo. Pero tandaan ninyo kahit inaasahan kong tatanggapin ninyo anumang trabaho ang ipagkatiwala ko sa inyo, ang kagalakan ng Ama ay magaganap lamang kung ang inyong paglilingkod ay nagiging daan para sa inyong kabanalan. Ayoko namang masisipag ang aking mga pari pero “burned out” naman; marami nga kayong ginagawa pero wala naman kayong oras magdasal. Hindi ito ang ikaliligaya ng aking kalooban, sapagkat hindi ito ang kalooban ng Amang pumili sa inyo. Gido, Choy at Jojo, dalangin ko na kayo’y maging mabuti at banal na mga pari.

Third, in order to be a priest according to the heart of Jesus, you have to have a clear vision of the world. Although the gospel reminds us that we are not of this world [ ] nevertheless, it is to this world that we are sent. The Apostolic Exhortation of the Great Pope John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis on the formation of priests in the circumstances of the present day, states that “God always calls his priests from specific human and ecclesial contexts, which inevitably influence them; and to these same contexts the priest is sent for the service of Christ's Gospel.” [no. 5] You have been set apart from the community for formation, learning and preparation. Now you are being sent back to the same community for the service of Christ’s gospel. Effective and relevant service can only happen if we know the world in which we are to exercise our priestly ministry. In your case, this is the world of the diocese of Cubao. How can we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the millions of families living in poverty without a decent roof above their heads? How can we be priests to the millions of young people who impatiently seek meaning to their existence and satisfaction to their desires? How do you shepherd a flock who desperately needs a true, honest, and selfless leader?

Karahasan. Kahirapan. Kalaswaan. Pandaraya. Kasinungalingan. Pangungurakot. Pagkakanya-kanya. Gido, Choy at Jojo, ito ang mundo kung saan kayo maglilingkod bilang pari. Isang mundong sadlak sa dilim, oo, subalit uhaw sa liwanag, uhaw sa katotohanan, sa kapayapaan, sa direksyon at kahulugan. Kilalanin ang mundong ito upang makapaglingkod ng husto.

Gido, Choy and Jojo, you are young. I look at you and I am overcome with hope for you are the future of the Church. You are the future of Cubao. Never give in to the selfish dictates of the ego that you may never loose the vision of selfless service. Never settle for the satisfaction that comes from achieving deadlines, producing results and accomplishing tasks assigned to you that you may not loose sight of the vision of holiness. Never close your eyes to the context and circumstance of the ever changing world that you may always have an accurate vision of the world. As the vision of Joseph inspired him not to let go of Mary and challenged him to do as the angel commanded, let these visions challenge you. Let these visions inspire you.

My dear families, relatives, friends and benefactors of these three deacons, I am sure that seeing them getting ordained today as priests is like seeing a vision. They cannot be here without your support. And they cannot remain faithful to their ministry without your encouragement. Be there for them with your prayers, appreciation, cooperation, understanding and love.

Finally, last night I had a dream. I had a vision. I saw myself carrying the cross of Jesus. But it did not feel heavy for at my back I saw the clergy, the religious and the lay faithful of Cubao carrying the cross of Jesus with me. And with the priests I saw the three of you, Gido, Choy and Jojo. The best part of the dream is this: we were all smiling while carrying the cross of Jesus. We were carrying the cross of Christ with joy.

Priesthood is not a loner’s ministry. Rather, priesthood is a ministry in relationship. Gido, Choy and Jojo, you do not carry the cross of Christ alone. I carry the cross with you. The clergy, the religious and the lay faithful carry the cross with you. We carry the cross of Christ together. And the most exciting part of carrying the cross is to discover that the cross which was formerly a sign of a shameful death has been transformed by the sacrificial love of Christ as a source of genuine joy for those who accept it. Amen.