When you see each other, what do you see?
Sunday Homily for April 20, 2008
Fifth Sunday of Easter (A)
By Fr. Romy Seleccion, MS
SUNDAY READINGS
When you see each other, what do you see?
Listen to this story:
The student said, “Master, when I see you, I see a pig!”
Instead of being insulted, the master smiled and said:
“When I look at you, I see Jesus!” The student asked,
“How’s that?” The master replied, “Well, what you see
is what you are in the inside. If you see Jesus, your values
are like Jesus, when you see a pig, you act like a pig.”
In our Second Reading today, this is how Jesus sees us:
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own…”
If that is how Jesus sees us, no wonder that he wanted us
to be with him; not only to an ordinary place but a special one,
called: HEAVEN – his FATHER’S HOUSE.
He said in our gospel today: “In my Father’s house
there are many dwelling places. … I am going
to prepare a place for you… I will come back again
and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be…
I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE!”
In HEAVEN, we are not only considered as guests
but as God’s children embraced by love and life eternal.
God really sees us as the grandeur of his creation.
But to be in his FATHER’S HOUSE, is not a free ride
but loaded with the works of faith; Jesus said, “Believe in me
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me… Amen, amen,
I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do…”
As “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation
and as God’s people” we are then missioned by Jesus
to do the following:
As God’s people, we should be telling words of love
and affirmation to one another, like: “I love you,
I missed you, I prayed for you!”
“Words of love and affirmation are like bread.
We need them each day… they keep us alive…”
They strengthen and deepen our bonds with one another.
As a royal priesthood, we should be serving each other
without strings attach and without counting the cost.
A service that is motivated by love and compassion.
Jesus said, “There is no greater love than this
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends!”
As a “chosen race and a holy nation”,
we should be more hospitable and welcoming.
That we always invite others in the table of the Eucharist
because it is a table of fellowship of brothers and sisters.
Around the table of the Eucharist: a table of love and inclusion,
we really create a place for each one in the heart of God.
That we, the once broken bread, are now transformed
to become family, friends, and community.
We are transformed as ONE BREAD and ONE CUP.
Indeed, we become the BODY OF CHRIST.
Now, the question for all of us is:
When you see each other, what do you see?
Do you see a pig or Jesus?
Be careful of your answer!
It will reveal who you really are in the inside…
God bless you all!
Fr. Romy Seleccion, MS
ParishWorld Homily Editor
