MARVEL. To marvel is to look at something that causes feelings of wonder. It is akin to mulling, wondering, being curious, contemplating, ...
MARVEL. To marvel is to look at something that causes feelings of wonder. It is akin to mulling, wondering, being curious, contemplating, dazed, and questioning what is happening. And when we marvel, minsan mapapatulala ka na lang, mapapatingala.
When we marvel at something extraordinary, we come to a stop. We pause, or sometimes, we can’t move because we don’t know what to do. When there is a shocking situation or something we are not familiar with, it’s like we are temporarily paralyzed in time. When we see our favorite artists or idols, as we call them, we marvel; we are dazed, napapatingala tayo sa kanila. And literally we look up to them, kaya nga paminsan kahit ang pangit natin, lagay din tayo ng lagay ng mga kung ano ano sa katawan because we look at what our idol artista use for the hair, for the skin. Wala naming epek paminsan. Pangit pa din.
When problems arise in our lives, especially in the family, we sometimes marvel at what has happened or wonder how to solve our problems. We are frozen. When somebody dies in the family, especially if they are very close and dear to us, our lives sometimes suddenly stop. Nakatingala na lang sa langit na parang wala nang bukas. Have you had that experience in your life? Napatulala ka na lang sa mga pangyayari sa buhay. Napapatingala ka na lang sa langit at napapa isip, “ano na naman to Lord.”
We have heard of the apostles in the first reading, that they were mulling about what they had just seen. They were looking up to heaven. “Natulala” or “nakatingala” according to the Tagalog equivalent of our first reading today. They were like that when He was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. Nakatitig sila sa langit. They were looking intently at the sky. They marveled, mesmerized. Perhaps in their thoughts, they were wondering, “Now what?”
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly, two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” And the Gospel says, “They went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.” They did not stop there. Hindi sila naiwang nakatingala na lang sa langit. Instead, they went on with their mission. And that brings me to the next word: MISSION.
MISSION. Jesus told his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.” They went to proclaim the commands of the Lord, to love God and love one’s neighbor. They continued with their renewed life. Yes, without him physically, but they are assured that the Holy Spirit is with them. The spirit of Jesus was with them. They did not stop na nakatingala lang sa langit. They lowered their eyes to the level of the horizon and realized that there were many things to do, and they had to move on, that Jesus presence is in the people in front of them, in the mission that they were entrusted. The communicated the Gospel to all.
When we are caught up in the realities of our lives, we should not just stop there and titingala na lang sa langit. Yes, we can marvel for a while. But we should not prolong our contemplation, our dazing, our pagtingala at pagkatulala. Baka mapagkamalan kayong baliw na o nasisiraan ng ulo. We have a life to continue. We have to move on with our normal lives.
If something happens to us, stop, reflect, grieve if necessary, fix yourself, and then move on. Madaling sabihin father but not easy to do. Yes, it is true that it is madaling sabihin pero mahirap gawin. Well, maybe you have to remember that if we truly believe, and we have faith in Jesus, things will change for the better. We should be convinced that he is always there, journeying with us in our sorrows and pains, in our joys and trials. He promised and said that he would be with us, always, until the end of time.
Sino ang titingalain natin in this matter? Who could we look up to aside from the apostles in this positive attitude and moving forward? Well, for me, we could look at our MOTHERS!
MOTHERS. When mothers are confronted with family problems, at first, they may be tulala because of shock or because of what had happened. Kayo na magpuno ng examples ng situation. When moms are confronted with something, they stop. Minsan nakatingala lang din sa langit, nakatulala. But most of them pray to God to help them solve their problems. They earnestly ask God’s help to make their family and sons and daughters well. A mother does not just sit and stop. She courageously moves on and communicates God’s presence through her strength, care, and compassion. They know their mission and make sure that their mission as mothers is given not just 100 percent but 101 percent.
The mothers constantly ask their children to move and continue moving. When you are down and don’t know what to do, when you come to your mother, she would advice you to stand and continue with your life. Sila din yung literal na papagalawin ka talaga. Diba nga kung maghapon ka lang naglalaro ng dota o ML o nakahiga ka lang sa sofa dahil tamad ka, diba sisigawan ka na “huy, bumangon ka naman jan, galaw galaw, magtrabaho ka naman, hindi puro tulog inatupag!” Our mothers are like the two angels who appeared to them telling them to stop looking at the sky rather they should continue their mission. Though sa mga anak minsan nagmumukhang demonyo sa kanila si mama sa kakautos at sa kakapush sayo na gumalaw ka naman.
And so, in this Mass, I would like to use the greetings of Saint Paul to the Ephesians in the second reading as my prayer for all the mothers who are present here today: “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation that will lead you to the knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened so that you may know what hope belongs to his call and what riches of glory are in his inheritance among the holy ones.” And I pray that if someone is separated in your homes, whether it’s your sons and daughters marrying and now separating from you, or because of the death of a child, or the separation with your former husband because of cheating, or fell out of love or death, may you be strong to lower down the eyes in the horizon and move on, still with the same amount of love you used to have or the more, the better. And I pray that you will be the communicators of love instead doing bla bla bla bla bla sa kapitbahay. And I pray that every time you look up to heaven to pray, your prayers would be answered. May you be blessed in your mission as mothers and bearers of love.
Homily for the 11AM Mass at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, UP Village, Quezon City and 6PM Mass at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Susana Heights, Quezon City on May 12, 2024. Mother's Day and World Day for Social Communications
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