Reflections from the Heart

By B.J. de Leon

A book of Catholic homilies by Rev. Bryan Jeric de Leon. It is a collection of fruitful reflections on the selected passages from the four Gospels. The subjects contained in this book are from the unfailing love for preaching by the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.J. de Leon
• Release date: May 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311328892

B.J. de Leon

I am young man born and raised in the Philippines. I started reading novels when I was in High school due to home reading reports. I already had the desiree to write when I was in college due to the praises I gained in my Essay and Essay writing course but did not had the guts. I have three degrees under my belt. I am a graduate of Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy (2009), Bachelor of Sacred Theology (2014), and Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry (2011). Currently, I enrolled for the degree of Master of Arts in Preaching at Institute of Preaching.

Book preview

GAUDETE IN DOMINO SEMPER (JOHN 1: 6-8, 19-28)

Rejoice. It is the word most common among the readings that we have this third Sunday of Advent. It is but proper that the key word for this Sunday is Rejoice since the third Sunday of Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday. It means that it is a Sunday of joy. Such celebration is based on Philippians 4:4-5: "Gaudete in Domino semper (Rejoice in the Lord always"). It is so because it signals that the coming of Christ is near. We then are to rejoice this Sunday.

Last week while walking inside the mall, I heard a couple talking. The husband said, Parang hindi pa malapit ang Christmas no? (It is as if Christmas is not yet near). The wife answered, Tama ka! Hindi ko maramdaman ang saya sa mga tao at sa paligid, hindi tulad noon (You are right! I could not feel the happiness in other people and places unlike before).

The question that we need to ask ourselves is can we really rejoice in the situation that we are now into? Wars are happening. Natural disasters are getting wilder every year. People losses their loved ones. Can we really rejoice with all of these things? What is there to rejoice for? It is really worth it to rejoice?

The true value of joy or rejoicing nowadays is being tampered in what is external. Today, most of us see joy in a person if he or she is smiling, if he or she gets what he or she wanted, if he or she receives a gift, or if he or she is has something. This is just the external level of joy. Without all these things, we could still rejoice. There is only one thing that we must hold on to in order for us really to rejoice. It is CHRIST. Hold unto Christ and you will be at peace. Hold unto Jesus and you will be happy. Hold unto the Lord and nothing could take this feeling away from you.

We may lose our loved ones in time, we may lose treasured material belongings but with Christ we will always rejoice. We are being reminded today that the most genuine joy is having Christ in our life. We cannot deny the fact that if we have Christ in our life, we may take challenges and sacrifices. Moreover, is it worth it? DEFINITELY! With Christ, we can be assured of the eternal joy. Rejoice in the Lord always!

JESUS: THE GREATEST SIGN (JOHN 2: 1-11)

Many of us are confronted with difficult circumstances daily. Perhaps, we have already said, It will take a miracle to finish this. We look for a sign and to the extreme a miracle as an answer to our thinking.

Today’s Gospel speaks about a sign that Jesus did to begin His ministry. What is that? Jesus took an ordinary occasion, a wedding, as an opportunity to act. He worked a miracle to provide the wine as requested by His mother, Mary.

Most of the time, we also look for signs and answers to our questions. Many of us look for signs of calling to vocations. For women, they look for signs of forevermore in getting married. To the extreme, we look for miracles as signs to our struggles. Yet, we forget that the signs are just in front of us.

Mary reminds us today of such sign, the greatest sign of all. She said, Do whatever he tells you. Those are beautiful words. They are also the last words that Mary speak in Bible. We can say it is a last will for us to do. They are beautiful and important reminder to all. It is a treasure that many of us seek but forget.

Most of us are taught by our mothers how to walk, at the same time our heavenly Mother Mary is teaching us that all we need is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. He lived a life where we can pattern ours. This is how we are supposed to live as children of God. We need to do what Jesus tells us to do. We should be thinking always about Jesus, reflecting on the images that he left us. We have to listen to His words and follow His example. Jesus Himself is the sign, the greatest sign of all!

There is a story of a man who wants to be the richest and most powerful in the world. However, this man was so lazy. Time passed. He got old and died without achieving anything. After death, the man came across Jesus and asked him, Why did you not give me a sign to become rich and powerful. Jesus smiled at him and answered, I have given you all the talents and resources but you did not utilize them.

As we are faced with struggling situations daily, let us not wait for extreme signs like the man in the story. We should follow what Mother Mary said that is to do whatever Jesus tells us. If only we live by faith, listen, and follow Jesus, surely He will transform our lives. If we strive to always do our best for Jesus, He will do the rest.

PRESENCE OF GOD (JOHN 16: 29-33)

Let me asked you something. Have you ever felt that God has forgotten you due to the many problems and difficulties that you are experiencing in your life? If yes, the next question that you need to ask your self is why do you feel as such?

Today, Jesus reminds us that God is always with us. He said, I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world. Jesus has conquered the world not for his own sake but for our sake. He did not sacrifice himself for his own glory but rather he accepted the pain, the suffering, and the death for us, people whom God loves so tenderly. He accepted those things to show us that we are important and valuable in the eyes of God.

When you have problems, when you are in pain, when you have no one to go to talk, remind your self that God is there. God is at your side. God is waiting for you to tell him your suffering, your pains and your problems.

You may not hear His voice directly like those people close to you, you may not see his reaction on the things that you are telling Him, you may not be able to hold on to Him but you will feel His loving, sweet love for you. He is always there beside you. Believe in Him. Trust in Him. Talk with Him. God is with you!

GOD'S GENEROSITY: A CHALLENGE TO MAN (JOHN 17: 1-11A)

Money, Gadgets, and Cars, these are some of the things that many people today value. Most of us today work to get the things stated above. We rejoice when we get them. We tell ourselves that we did it. Yet we forget one thing that is of great importance. These things that we have, these valuable materials that we keep are not only product of our own effort but are actually given to us by God. This is a truth that most of us forget.

Today, Jesus explains to us that all the things we see around us, all the things that we cherish belong to God. All the things we have belong to God even our very existence belong to God. God gives us life. He gives us time to do the work. He gives us the energy to be productive. Yet, many of us forget this important reality.

I am not saying that we should not be happy when we achieve these material things. Of course, we rejoice when we get what we want. However, if there is one thing that I believe Jesus is reminding us today, it is for us not to forget to thank God for giving us these things.