this is not all there is to life - 2nd sunday of lent C 2019

Several years ago, I was talking with an old woman, laon, in her house while her things were being given away – chairs, tables, chandeliers, plates, cabinets, tanan.  She was selling the house in the amount just enough to live off with the money for the remainder of her days.  We were seating on the two remaining chairs.  While she was talking I became distracted by the people packing her things, carting them away.  Maintiendihan ko kon patay ka na tapos partidahon imo gamit. Pero buhi pa sia kag makita niya with her eyes nga ginaputos kag ginabit-bit pagguwa literally ang iya kabuhi. Daw nagapin-ot ang akon dughan. Ano ayhan ang pamatyag mo nga buhi ka pa ginapartida na ang imo pagkabutang?  She noticed me and she called my attention telling me, Fr. indi man lang amo sini ang kabuhi, this is not all there is to life.  I was a bit embarrassed then because I should have said that to comfort her.  Now it seemed then nga ako ang gin-comfort niya.

Jesus did not say these words to his disciples but he showed them what he would have wanted to say when he was transfigured before their eyes – his clothes became dazzling white revealing his glory.

Just before this event his disciples were confused and depressed when Jesus told them about the suffering and death he was about to undergo but on the third day he will rise.  Why do you have to suffer, why do you have to die?  Even Peter was scolded because he cannot accept this.  This is the reason why Jesus brought with him Peter, James and John to the mountain to reveal his glory.  Yes he will suffer, he will be whipped, crowned with thorns, shamed, he will be nailed on the cross, his only clothing will be divided as he hang on the cross, his side will be pierced with a lance apang indi man lang amo sini ang kabuhi, this is not all there is to life, and thus the transfiguration where he showed them his glory.  Ginklaro ni Jesus kon ano ang iya padulungan, ginklaro ni Jesus kon ano ang iya pagadangtan. He showed them the real ending, the real goal, the real aim and purpose, kay kon klaro gani ang kaladtu-an mangin klaro man ang dalan nga pagaagyan.  

And this is also true to us.  Kon klaro gani ang kaladtu-an mangin klaro man ang dalan nga pagaagyan; kon indi gani klaro ang kaladtu-an, ang mga dalan magapatalang.  And what is our goal?  The glory of heaven.  Our citizenship is in heaven, St. Paul said.

What will happen for example if heaven is not the goal?  For example what if our reputation becomes the goal? Aba gintsismis ka, ginhimo-himo-an ka istorya.  Ay sus akig-akig ka, matimalos ka, sakit buot mo, indi ka katulog, kada kita mo sa iya nagabukal imo dugo.  Why? Because reputation is the goal.  But if heaven is the goal things can become different. Bahala da sia basta klaro ang akon konsiensiya, ang Dios ang magahusga.

What if getting elected in this election is the goal? Kinahanglan mada-ug gid ako. Pangsipaon ko sa puesto ang tanan nga wala nagasuporta sa akon bisan indi pa sakto, vote or gabot, mamakal ako boto, mamahog ako. Why? because getting elected is the goal.  But if heaven is the goal things become different. I will explain to the people my platform, what I intend to do if elected.  Kon indi sila magboto sa akon ti wala ako may mahimo. Indi pagbuot sang tawo, indi pagbuot sang Dios. 

I will use my priesthood in order that I can enter heaven – that is the goal.  But if my priesthood becomes a obstacle to my going to heaven, then goodbye priesthood, I would rather go to heaven.  The priesthood is not the goal, heaven is.  

As a father your goal is heaven, hopefully together with your children and your wife – mahimakas ikaw, bisan ma-sikad pa ikaw, mabakabaka ikaw. Pero indi ka mangawat para sa ila, no, because heaven is your goal.

In the first Sunday of Lent we focused on the need to recover our identity, who we are, we are children of God.  On the second Sunday of Lent  we focus on where we are going, where is this child of God going, what is his goal?  Heaven is the goal.  Kon klaro gani ang kaladtu-an mangin klaro man ang dalan nga pagaagyan. Tandaan naton, Indi man lang amo sini ang kabuhi.