Mga kapatid, let’s be honest: We live in a very noisy country. Our mornings begin not with silence, but with the "tilaok" of the r...
Mga kapatid, let’s be honest: We live in a very noisy country. Our mornings begin not with silence, but with the "tilaok" of the rooster or the roar of the tricycle passing by. Throughout the day, we are surrounded by ingay (noise). There is the sound of the neighbor’s karaoke singing "My Way" at 2 PM. There is the chaotic honking of buses on EDSA. And then, there is the digital noise—the "ting" of Facebook notifications, the endless scrolling of TikTok videos, the group chats buzzing with the latest chika (gossip).
We are so used to noise that silence makes us uncomfortable. Kapag tahimik, parang may mali. (If it's quiet, it feels like something is wrong). We turn on the TV just to have background sound. We put on earphones to drown out the commute.
But deep inside, amid all this noise, our hearts are tired. We are pagod. We are tired of the noise of worrying about the bills. We are tired of the noise of political fighting. We are tired of the noise of our own insecurities telling us, "Hindi mo kaya 'yan" (You can't do it) or "Kulang ka pa" (You are not enough).
In today’s Gospel, Jesus walks into a synagogue in Capernaum. Now, a synagogue was a place of teaching. Every Sabbath, the scribes would stand up and interpret the Law. But they taught like lawyers. They would say, "According to Rabbi Hillel..." or "As Moses wrote..." They always quoted someone else. Their authority was borrowed.
But then Jesus speaks. And the Gospel says the people were "astonished." The Greek word used there implies they were "struck out of their senses." Why? Because Jesus didn't quote anyone. He spoke with Authority.
Think of a time when you were a child, playing outside while a typhoon was approaching—maybe Signal Number 3 or 4. The wind is howling, the galvanized iron sheets (yero) on the roof are rattling violently, and the trees are bending. You are terrified. The noise of the storm is overwhelming.
But then, you hear a voice. It’s not loud, but it is firm. It is your Tatay or your Nanay saying: "Anak, pasok na. Nandito ako. Isasara natin ang pinto."
In that split second, the howling of the wind doesn't matter anymore. Why? Because the voice of the parent has more Authority than the voice of the storm. You know that if Tatay says you are safe, you are safe.
This is the authority of Jesus. It is the voice that doesn't just inform us; it transforms the atmosphere. It is the voice that creates safety in the middle of danger.
Now, here is the scary part. When Jesus speaks with this kind of holiness, it causes an Awakening. But it doesn't just wake up the people; it wakes up the demons.
There was a man in the synagogue with an "unclean spirit." Notice this: the man was inside the church! He wasn't out in a bar or a gambling den; he was a churchgoer. This tells us that we can be religious, we can be serving in the parish, and yet still harbor "unclean spirits" inside us.
What are these spirits in our Filipino context? It is the spirit of Inggit (Envy). We see our cousin’s post about their vacation in Japan, and instead of being happy, we feel bitter. "Bakit siya meron, ako wala?" That is an unclean spirit shrieking inside you. It is the spirit of Samaan ng Loob (Resentment). You are smiling at your sister-in-law during the family reunion, but inside, you are replaying a fight from ten years ago over a piece of land. That grudge is a demon that steals your peace. It is the spirit of Bisyo (Vices)—whether it’s gambling (e-sabong), drinking, or even an addiction to pornography that destroys your marriage.
These spirits scream, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?" They scream because they know that when Jesus enters the room, they cannot stay. Light and darkness cannot coexist.
Jesus looks at the man. And this is the most touching part—He doesn't hate the man. He doesn't drive the man out of the synagogue. He drives the spirit out of the man.
He says two commands: "Quiet! Come out of him!" Tumahimik ka! Lumabas ka!
Jesus silences the lie. The lie that says you are defined by your addiction. The lie that says you are defined by your debt (utang). The lie that says you are unlovable. Jesus separates the "sakit" (sickness) from the "tao" (person).
I remember a story of a father who brought his son to rehab. The son was ashamed, head bowed, shaking. He expected his father to be angry, to shout, to lecture him about all the money wasted. But the father just held him tight and said, "Anak, mahal kita. Haharapin natin ito. Hindi kita iiwan." (Son, I love you. We will face this. I will not leave you.)
That father’s voice silenced the shame. That is what Jesus is doing in the Gospel today. He is silencing the shame that has been screaming in your head.
So, mga kapatid, what is our response? Our response must be Abandonment.
We need to abandon the noise and seek the Voice. We Filipinos are very social; we hate being alone. But we cannot find God if we are always plugged in. We need moments of katahimikan (silence).
Maybe this week, try this: Instead of scrolling through Facebook the moment you wake up, give the first 5 minutes to God. Sit in silence. Instead of listening to the radio on your way to work, turn it off for 10 minutes. Look at the people around you and pray for them. Or pass by the Adoration Chapel. You don't need to say a long rosary. Just sit there. Let the silence of the Eucharist wash over you.
Say to the Lord: "Lord, ang ingay ng mundo. Ang ingay ng problema ko. Ang ingay ng takot ko. Speak to me, Lord. Your servant is listening."
When we allow Jesus to have authority over our lives, the "unclean spirits" lose their power. The anger fades. The envy evaporates. The anxiety calms down.
My brothers and sisters, do not be afraid of the storms in your life. Do not be afraid of the voices that threaten you. There is a Voice that is stronger than the wind, stronger than the typhoon, and stronger than your demons.
It is the Voice that spoke the world into existence, and it is the same Voice that whispers your name today. "Anak, quiet na. Nandito ako."
Listen to Him. And let His peace be the only sound that remains.
Amen.
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