Gospel Reflection

December 03, 2012

Monday – Advent – Year of Faith

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

by Rev. Fr. Prudencio 'Jun' T. Solomon (Rector and Parish Priest)

(Archdiocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Sampaloc Manila)Guest Priest, Lunch Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

Reading 1 Is 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come, The mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: "Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths." For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Gospel Mt 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

HOMILY

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, atin pong natunghayan ngayon sa ating Ebanghelyo ang pagpapagaling ni Hesus sa isang taong may karamdaman, kahit na ito ay wala sa kanyang harapan. Pinagaling niya ang alipin ng isang Kapitang Romano.

At bakit gumaling ang alipin? Hindi lamang dahil sa pananalig ng Kapitang Romano. Hindi lang dahil sa kapangyarihan ni Hesus. Mga kapatid, pinagaling ni Hesus ang alipin dahil unang-una sa lahat, dahil ito sa pagmamalasakit ng Kapitan sa kanyang alipin. Dahil sa ipinakitang pagtingin, pag-aalala at paggaling ng Kapitan sa taong iyon. Gumaling ang alipin dahil sa pagbibigay ng kanyang Kapitan ng panahon sa isang simpleng taong nangangailangan ng kanyang tulong.

Alam po ninyo, mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, mga ginigiliw kong mga kaibigan, marami sa atin ang nangangailangan ng kagalingan, hindi lamang ng katawan kundi ng kalooban. At marami sa atin ang gagaling, kung sisimulan nating magpakita ng kaunting malasakit at pagdamay. Pagsisimula po ito sa ipakikita nating pagdamay, sa ipakikita nating concern, sa ipakikita po nating malasakit sa iba. Sa ating paglapit sa kanila sa Panginoon, marami sa kanila ang gagaling sa kanilang dinaramdam. Marami sa kanila ang gagaling sa kanilang pangangailangan.

Sa pagpapatuloy po ng ating banal na pagdiriwang, mga ginigiliw kong mga kaibigan, sana ay hilingin natin sa Panginoon na bigyan tayo ng pagkakataon sa araw na ito, sa maghapong ito, na sana'y makapagbigay tayo ng kaunting malasakit at pagdamay sa mga nangangailangan ng ating oras, ng ating panahon, at presensiya. Amen.

 

 Saint Francis Xavier - Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - Saint Francis Xavier