Gospel Reflection

January 31, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Weekday

Memoriall of Saint John Bosco, Priest

by Rev. Fr. Benjo Fajota (Vice Rector of the EDSA Shrine)

5:30PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Heb 10:19-25

Brothers and sisters: Since through the Blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6)  Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

 

Gospel Mk 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

HOMILY

St. Thomas Aquinas defines faith, simply as "the education of the heart". How do we educate the heart? Educators and psychologists say that people retain only 10% of what they have learned in school. Yes, only 10%. Why is this so? Because it is a passive way of learning. That is why in our Eucharistic celebration, we are encouraged to act quickly, consciously, and truly participate in the celebration - in our responses, in our prayers, in our joining in the singing. That is why we always remember. 

During the time of our grandparents, 'yong mga matatanda pa sa atin, kapag ang isang babae ay nagsabing mag-aasawa na siya, laging mayroong "say" ang kanyang mga magulang. Sasabihin nila, "Pag pinili mo 'yang katipan mo ngayon, hindi gaanong maganda ang iyong kinabukasan. Pero kapag pinili mo itong isang manliligaw mo, meron siyang isang salita, responsable siya, at mayroon siyang galang sa matatanda, magkakaroon ka ng magandang kinabukasan." At ang huling sasabihin sa iyo ng iyong mga magulang ay, "Matututunan mo rin siyang mahalin."

Kaya't ang pag-ibig ay natututunan, kapag ito ay ipinapakita, hindi lamang sinasabi. We show our love, not merely in words, but more so, with our actions. 

In the Eucharist, we always remember the memorial and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That's why we will not forget the Great Sacrifice that He made for all of us. Nang dahil sa pag-ibig. Kaya ang ating Eukaristiya....It is not merely a set of rituals that we do, but the mass enlightens our memory to always remember the Great Sacrifice of God. 

And that is also true in our faith. Kapag ito ay ipinapahayag, ibinabahagi, isinasabuhay, paulit-ulit nating makikita na ang liwanag ng Ebanghelyo ay nakikita sa ating buhay. Hindi natin ito ipinapahayag sa pamamagitan lamang ng ating salita, kung hindi sa ating gawa. And this is an invitation and a challenge for both of us. Let the Word of God transform us, change us, and change others. Amen.