October 19, 2012
Friday
– Year of Faith
Martyrs
and Companions (Memorial)
by Msgr. Bong Lo (Chaplain, Chapel
of Eucharistic Lord)
concelebrated
with Rev. Fr. Ben Calzado, LRMS
Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of
the Eucharistic Lord
Reading 1 Eph 1:11-14
Brothers and sisters: In Christ we were also chosen, destined
in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to
the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of
truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with
the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward
redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13
R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his
own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Gospel Lk 12:1-7
At that time: So many people were crowding together that
they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his
disciples. "Beware of the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the
Pharisees.
"There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows."
"There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows."
HOMILY
What
is the best way to spread a secret? What is the best way to spread news? The
best way to spread it is by telling somebody, "Atin atin lang ito ha. Sikreto ito." (laughs) Kasi pag sinabi mong sikreto ito, talagang
hindi ka mapakali hanggang hindi mo na-share sa iba. (laughs)
My sisters and brothers, in the Gospel reading of today, Jesus tells us, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. You know what is a leaven. In Tagalog, it is called "lebadura". We all know that a leaven is just a small thing, but it makes the whole dough rise up. It is just a small thing, but it affects everything.
There is a saying that the good is self-diffusive. But perhaps we can say that the bad is also self-diffusive. If we do something good or bad, it has its own ripples, it has its own effects. For better or for worse, this is the truth of our situation, this is reality. Whether you do good or bad, may effect 'yan, maybe not immediately, but sooner or later, in the long run, may bunga 'yan.
My sisters and brothers, in the Gospel reading, Jesus wants to tells us, "there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed". In the long run, truth shall prevail. In the long run, the truth shall be known. In the long run, the truth of Jesus Christ, the truth of our life, will be known. Kahit sagarin natin ang pag-manipulate ng ibang tao, the truth will still be known. Maybe not immediately, maybe not in our lifetime, but ultimately, the truth shall prevail. So let us hold on to the truth of God. Let us hold on to the truth of our faith. Sooner or later, in God's perfect time, the truth shall prevail.
And what is the truth? You see, in the Gospel reading of today, Jesus also tells us, "be not afraid". Why? Because even a sparrow, which is an ordinary bird, is loved by God. How much more you and me? Sinabi pa nga ni Jesus dito - even the hair in your head is counted by God. Well, as far as I am concerned, hindi siya mahirapan. (laughs) But you see, at one point in my life, sabi ko, "Of course, God knows the number of my hair, because He is God. He is omniscient, He is omnipotent. But then later on I realized, that's not the point. The point is God takes the trouble to count. It is not because He is omniscient, it is not because He is omnipotent, but because He cares a lot. He cares very much. He wants to know every bit of my being, because He loves every bit of my being. Mahal Niya ang bawat himaymay ng iyong pagkatao. Mahal Niya ang bawat yugto ng iyong buhay. God loves everything about you. Tanggap niya ang lahat tungkol sa iyo - your past, your present and your future. Mahal Niya ikaw, not only when you are doing good, but even when you are doing bad. Not because He tolerates you, no. But because, as the letter of St. Paul to the Romans puts it, "nothing or no one can separate us from the love of God".
In the First Reading of today we have heard, you and I have been chosen, from eternity to eternity, from without beginning to without end. The Father has chosen you and me, in Christ and through Christ, to receive the good life, the life in the Spirit, which is the first beginning. You and I received the gift of the Spirit, sent by the Father through the Son, so that you and I may start the gift of new life, eternal life. So my sisters and brothers, let us spread the Good News, that each of us has been chosen, and each of us is totally loved. Let us hold on to the truth of our faith, no matter what happens. Just like Blessed Pedro Calungsod and all the other martyrs and saints, let us hold on to God's truth and spread His truth around, knowing that in the end, no matter what happens, the truth of God's love will prevail.
My sisters and brothers, in the Gospel reading of today, Jesus tells us, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. You know what is a leaven. In Tagalog, it is called "lebadura". We all know that a leaven is just a small thing, but it makes the whole dough rise up. It is just a small thing, but it affects everything.
There is a saying that the good is self-diffusive. But perhaps we can say that the bad is also self-diffusive. If we do something good or bad, it has its own ripples, it has its own effects. For better or for worse, this is the truth of our situation, this is reality. Whether you do good or bad, may effect 'yan, maybe not immediately, but sooner or later, in the long run, may bunga 'yan.
My sisters and brothers, in the Gospel reading, Jesus wants to tells us, "there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed". In the long run, truth shall prevail. In the long run, the truth shall be known. In the long run, the truth of Jesus Christ, the truth of our life, will be known. Kahit sagarin natin ang pag-manipulate ng ibang tao, the truth will still be known. Maybe not immediately, maybe not in our lifetime, but ultimately, the truth shall prevail. So let us hold on to the truth of God. Let us hold on to the truth of our faith. Sooner or later, in God's perfect time, the truth shall prevail.
And what is the truth? You see, in the Gospel reading of today, Jesus also tells us, "be not afraid". Why? Because even a sparrow, which is an ordinary bird, is loved by God. How much more you and me? Sinabi pa nga ni Jesus dito - even the hair in your head is counted by God. Well, as far as I am concerned, hindi siya mahirapan. (laughs) But you see, at one point in my life, sabi ko, "Of course, God knows the number of my hair, because He is God. He is omniscient, He is omnipotent. But then later on I realized, that's not the point. The point is God takes the trouble to count. It is not because He is omniscient, it is not because He is omnipotent, but because He cares a lot. He cares very much. He wants to know every bit of my being, because He loves every bit of my being. Mahal Niya ang bawat himaymay ng iyong pagkatao. Mahal Niya ang bawat yugto ng iyong buhay. God loves everything about you. Tanggap niya ang lahat tungkol sa iyo - your past, your present and your future. Mahal Niya ikaw, not only when you are doing good, but even when you are doing bad. Not because He tolerates you, no. But because, as the letter of St. Paul to the Romans puts it, "nothing or no one can separate us from the love of God".
In the First Reading of today we have heard, you and I have been chosen, from eternity to eternity, from without beginning to without end. The Father has chosen you and me, in Christ and through Christ, to receive the good life, the life in the Spirit, which is the first beginning. You and I received the gift of the Spirit, sent by the Father through the Son, so that you and I may start the gift of new life, eternal life. So my sisters and brothers, let us spread the Good News, that each of us has been chosen, and each of us is totally loved. Let us hold on to the truth of our faith, no matter what happens. Just like Blessed Pedro Calungsod and all the other martyrs and saints, let us hold on to God's truth and spread His truth around, knowing that in the end, no matter what happens, the truth of God's love will prevail.
Saints John de
Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companion Martyrs
– Pray for us
You may also want to see: A Holy Life - St. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companion Martyrs
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