Gospel Reflection

February 03, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Larry Tan, S.D.B.

6:00PM Anticipated Sunday mass, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Makati

                         

Reading 1 Jer 1:4-5, 17-19

The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. But do you gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them; for it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: against Judah’s kings and princes, against its priests and people. They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17

R. (cf. 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. I will sing of your salvation.

 

Reading 2 1 Cor 12:31—13:13 or 13:4-13

Brothers and sisters: Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, It is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Gospel Lk 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

HOMILY

Today, we celebrate the fourth Sunday in ordinary time, and we find Jesus teaching in the synagogue. You know that the synagogue is the place where the Jewish people would gather on a Sabbath, in order to listen to the Scripture being explained to them by the ministers and also by guests, just like Jesus. It was on that occasion when Jesus was invited in the synagogue, when He explained that the Scripture that He read was being fulfilled in Him. 

As we have heard in the Gospel, the people, of course, were in doubt, and they started to talk to one another and say, "Sino ba 'tong nagsasalita? Bakit Niya sinasabi na natupad ang mga nakasabi sa Banal na Kasulatan sa Kanya, samantalang alam natin kung saan Siya nanggaling? Kilala natin ang Kanyang mga magulang, ang Kanyang mga kamag-anak dito, and so, sino ba Siya?" In other words, they did not believe, they did not have faith in Jesus. And so, because of their lack of faith, Jesus was not able to perform many miracles there. And it was on that occasion when Jesus said that no prophet is accepted in His own land. And then He cited the widow, and then Naaman the Syrian, who was cured of his leprosy because of his faith, samantalang napakaraming lepers sa Israel, pero hindi sila gumaling, dahil sila ay kulang sa pananampalataya. 

In other words, sa ating pakikipagtungo sa Panginoon, at para natin makamtan o makamit, masubukan ang Kanyang mga biyaya at ang Kanyang mga kaloob, isang bagay lamang ang kulang at kailangan, at 'yan ay walang iba kundi ang ating pananampalataya. The measure of our faith, will be the measure of God's graces and blessings for us. And because the people did not believe, they did not experience the power and the blessing of the Lord. 

By the way this year, our Holy Father has declared this year as the Year of Faith. It was declared last year in October....November. December. January. February. Apat na buwan na ang nagdaan. Pero 'yong iba, hanggang ngayon, marami sa mga tao - yes, siguro nakita na nila ang symbol ng Year of Faith - but a lot of us have not gotten deep into finding out what the Year of Faith is all about. 

Faith is something basic and fundamental. Kaya naman napansin ng ating Santo Papa, na sa panahon natin ngayon, marami na ang medyo lumilihis at nalalayo na sa pananampalataya. Maraming simbahan sa ibang bansa ay wala nang laman. At least dito sa atin, puno pa, standing room pa. Pero kahit na SRO dito, marami pa ring mga Katoliko na hindi nagsisimba at di nakakalapit sa simbahan. And so because of the situation around the world, ang mga simbahan, nagsasara at ibinebenta. At kung merong mga nagsisimba, lalong lalo na sa mga Western countries at sa Europe or sa US, 'yong mga lamang loob ng simbahan ay mga matatanda. At least dito, marami pa ring maitim ang buhok, at marami pa ring may buhok, kahit na papa'no. Pero doon sa ibang bansa, talagang wala na. 

And so because of that situation, the Holy Father declared this year as the Year of Faith, upang buhayin muli ang pananampalataya at ang pagtitiwala ng mga tao - ng lahat ng Kristiyano - para sa ating Panginoon. And he declared it on October 11 2012, as I said, four months ago. At ito ay magtatapos sa November 24. Malapit na. Imagine, ang bilis ng panahon. Pebrero na tayo ngayon. 11 months na lang, Pasko na naman ulit. (laughs) Two weeks from now, Ash Wednesday na. Biruin ninyo, napakabilis ng panahon. 

The Year of Faith was declared on October 11, una, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II), called by Pope John 23rd. The Second Vatican Council was a tremendous Council because it brought about many changes in the Church. Ewan ko kung naka-abot kayo noong 1965, 1963. 

Before the Second Vatican Council, just to show you the effect of Vatican II, alam n'yo, the only language used for the mass is Latin. Latin lang. Hindi pwedeng Ingles, walang Tagalog, walang Cebuano. Ilan sa inyo ang inabot pa ang misa na Latin lang ang ginagamit? Taas ang kamay. (No one raises a hand.) Latin. Ibig sabihin, 'yon ang mga matatanda na. Matanda na kayo. Naabutan ko rin 'yon, pero grade school pa 'ko no'n. Talagang noon, Latin lang. But with the Vatican II, sa misa ay pwede nang gamitin ang Ingles. Pwede na ang dialect. Because part of the change ay para maging malapit ang celebration ng misa sa mga tao. 

Before the Vatican II, doon din nagsimula 'yong mga nagsisimba na habang nagmimisa, nagro-rosaryo. Makikita n'yo habang nagmimisa, may mga nagdarasal ng kanilang novenario. Bakit? Kasi dati, hindi nila maintindihan ang misa at ang pinagsasabi ng pari, kaya ang ginawa nila eh nag private prayers na lang sila, nagsari-sarili na lang sila ng kanilang prayers. Pero ngayon bawal 'yan ha. (laughs) Kapag nagmimisa ka, misa ka. Pag nagsisimba ka, ibig sabihin, wala nang ibang novena-novena diyan. Excuse me. Kasi, the mass is the best prayer of all. 

Now just to understand why may mga matatanda na may ganoong kakapal na novenario, it is because they did not understand the priest during the mass. Para sa kanila, bahala ka diyan sa dasal mo pari ka. At hindi lang 'yan, nakatalikod pa 'yong pari. Naabutan n'yo 'yon? Sa mga lumang simbahan, makikita n'yo 'yong altar against the wall. Hindi na nila binalik. With the Second Vatican Council, ngayon kita n'yo, nakaharap na ang pari. Para naman magkaroon na ng interaction, para naman hindi nag-iisa 'yong pari sa pagdarasal sa Diyos. 

The priest, at that time, would just turn around to say, "Dominus vobiscum". Then sasabihin ng mga tao, "et spiritum tuo". Tapos tatalikod na naman at magdadasal siyang mag-isa doon. Kaya wala silang pakialaman. So, those are just some of the changes made at the Second Vatican Council. And so the Second Vatican Council was really a very significant event in the church. 

October 11 is also the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the CCC. Again, ewan ko kung nabasa n'yo na 'yon. The purpose of this was in order to recall the precious gift of faith, para ma-appreciate natin ang ating pananampalataya. Lalong lalo na tayong mga Katoliko dito sa Philippines, we take our faith for granted because we were born to be Catholics. Binyag, kumpil, confession, communion, kasal. But you see, because of that, we become complacent in our faith. And therefore, we don't appreciate the faith that we have received. Kaya kung minsan may mga tao, they don't count their blessings. Kung minsan, kinakailangang alisin mo ang privilege, para malaman mong mahirap pala 'yon. 

Samantalang sa ibang bansa, bago sila mabinyagan, they really have to make a serious decision. Why? Because they will be ostracized by their family. Because they will not be given inheritance, hindi sila bibigyan ng mana, kung halimbawang sila ay nasa ibang relihiyon. So bago sila maging Katoliko, talagang pinag-isipan, talagang pinanindigan nila 'yan. Kaya kung minsan, ang mga Katoliko sa ibang bansa, especially here in Asia, ay mas matibay at mas matatag, dahil pinaglaban, pinag-isipan, at talagang pinanindigan nila ang pananampalataya nila. Hindi katulad sa atin. It is given to us by default. 

During this Year of Faith, we hope to recall the precious gift of faith. Ito ay pasalamatan natin. Ito ay isang napakalaking kaloob at biyaya ng Diyos para sa atin. Hopefully, pag namulat ang ating mga mata sa kagandahan ng ating pananampalataya, ito ay pahalagahan natin. And that is why this year should be a time of reflection, a time of rediscovery.

Ito dapat ang layunin natin sa taon na ito, hanggang November 24, which is the celebration of the Feast of Christ the King. Therefore, it is a summon to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord. Ang ating Panginoong Hesukristo, nararapat na bigyan natin ng halaga ang relationship natin sa Kanya. In the Gospel today, the people did not accept Jesus. They rejected Him. And because of that rejection, they did not experience the power of the Lord. Ganoon din sa atin, we have to accept Him. We have to believe in Him, so that we will be able to benefit from His graces and blessings. So what are we supposed to do? We need to reflect on the act of faith, and to deepen our knowledge and understanding of our faith. 

Now. As I said, four months ago pa 'yan. May ginawa na ba talaga tayo para tupdin ang sinabi ng Santo Papa? Para gawin ang programa ng Simbahan at ng buong Simbahan sa taon na ito? Ano ang dapat na gagawin natin?

Number one. How? Papaano? We have to be familiar with the major documents of the Second Vatican Council. The question is - ilan sa inyo ang nakabasa na, kahit na isang libro ng Second Vatican Council? Taas ang kamay. (No one raises a hand, there is long silence.) Psst.... (laughs) Hindi, gusto ko lang maging aware kayo. Baka naman nahihiya lang kayo. Huwag kayong mahiya, ipagmalaki ninyo kung nabasa n'yo ang kahit isang libro ng Second Vatican Council. Taas ang kamay.....Di ba nakakahiya? Isa. Dalawa. Dalawa lang? So, this is what we are saying. Kayo na ang bahalang mag-conclude. Familiarity with the major documents of the Second Vatican Council. 

What does Pope John Paul II say about the books of the Second Vatican Council? They need to be read correctly, to be widely known - imagine to be widely known, pero dalawa lang ang nakapagbasa ng Second Vatican Council, di ba nakakahiya - and mark this as an important text of the Magisterium within the Church tradition. So papa'no nyo masasabing Katoliko kayo kung hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang dapat nating paniwalaan? Pa'no ninyong masasabi na Katoliko kayo kundi natin alam kung ano ang dapat nating panindigan? 

Sabi nga ni Pope John Paul, it is a sure compass to guide us in our faith. So you see how important it is. Of course, it is a responsibility of each and one of us. And hopefully, gumising tayo at gumawa naman tayo ng paraan para mabasa natin ang important document na ito. Ang document ng Simbahan. The Magisterium of the Church. Dahil 'yan ang magiging compass. 

How many of you here have been to tours? Sino na dito ang nag-tour sa Roma? Taas ang kamay. Ok lang, magmayabang kayo. (laughs) Paminsan-minsan, magmayabang kayo. Halimbawa sa ibang bansa, kapag may tour guide doon, di ba 'yong tour guide, tinataas n'ya 'yong kamay, either meron siyang newspaper, may ballpen o may flag? Tinataas. Bakit? Ano'ng ibig sabihin niyan? Para guide. Na kapag nakikita n'yo 'yon, ibig sabihin, hindi pa kayo naliligaw, ok pa kayo. Tama ba, hindi? Ngayon, pag nawala na 'yon at hindi n'yo na nakikita, nerbiyosin na kayo. (laughs) Mataranta na kayo, dahil ang ibig sabihin ay nawawala na kayo. 

So ang ibig sabihin ng Santo Papa, sa Simbahan, ganyan. Ang Simbahan ang nagtuturo sa atin, ang compass natin. Pero marami ring hindi nakikinig sa sinasabi ng Simbahan. Ang iba sa atin, namimili kung ano'ng pakikinggan natin. Selective hearing and listening tayo. Pag hindi natin gusto ang sinasabi at tinuturo ng Simbahan, ano'ng ginagawa natin? Pinababayaan natin. Example - R...H....Bill. I am sure marami ditong nagsisimba, nagsasabi sila ay Katoliko pero.....Hindi lang 'yan, mga turo ng Simbahan....kasal. Sinasabi nilang Katoliko sila pero hindi nila sinusunod ang tinuturo ng Simbahan. Dahil mahirap, ayaw ho nila. Gusto nila, mas madali.....Bahala kayo. At least, hindi masikip sa itaas. (laughs)

Pero ito ang sinasabi ko. Hanggang nakikita n'yo at sinusunod n'yo ang Simbahan, ok kayo. Ano'ng gusto n'yo? Kahit na sabihin nating mali ang Simbahan. At least, kung kayo'y nagtu-tour, kahit na naligaw 'yong guide, at least mabuti pa...Maligaw ka na kasama ang guide, kaysa maligaw ka na nag-iisa ka. Tama ba o hindi? Kaya whatever it is, ang sabi ng Santo Papa, ang sure guide, ang compass ay ang Simbahan. Kung sinusunod ninyo ang Simbahan, kahit na ito ay mahirap, you are on the right track. Pero kung kahit na maligaw ang guide, sasabihin mo, bahala ka sa buhay mo, mag-iisa ako, magliliwaliw ako, maglalamierda 'ko. O ngayon, sino'ng naligaw? Ikaw. Kaya kita n'yo, mabuti pang sumunod ka sa Simbahan, at kahit na maligaw man (kuno) ang Simbahan, at least magkakasama kayo, kaysa maligaw ka na nag-iisa ka. 

And so, dahil diyan, maraming pagbabagong nangyari, marami ring confusion. Kapag may bago, syempre may confusion. Katulad ng Roman missal, ang Roman rite, hanggang ngayon nag-a-adjust pa tayo. Kahit ang mga pari, nag-a-adjust pa rin. 'Yong Glory to God in the highest, kung walang kodigo diyan, mali-mali tayo, kasi nga may mga changes eh. Kaya ganoon din, maraming confusion. And so the Church ordered that there should be what we call the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). This was promulgated by Pope Benedict XVI. Again, nandiyan na lahat ang tinuturo ng Simbahan. Lahat ng gusto ninyong tanungin, nandiyan na. At ano ang sinabi ng Papa? As one of the most important fruits of the Second Vatican Council, this Catechism will make a very important contribution to the work of renewing the whole life of the Church. All that we need to know about our faith, nasa librong 'yan. 

Kung minsan hindi tayo makaharap sa mga tao, sa ibang mga relihiyon...nabubulol tayo kasi hindi tayo nagbabasa, hindi tayo nag-aaral. Pero ang lahat ng sagot sa lahat ng mga tanong at objections nila, sagot na 'yan ng Simbahan, matagal na. Kaya lang hindi tayo nag-aaral, kaya hindi natin alam. That is why the Holy Father said that each one of us should have the CCC. It should hold a special place in every Catholic home. Parang si Bill Gates, sabi niya, there should be a computer in every home. Kulang na lang sabihin ng Santo Papa, there should be a CCC in every Catholic home. 

Ilan sa inyo ang may CCC - aber? Wala din. (Mammu Chinn raises her hand.) Ayun mayroong isa. Tingnan n'yo lahat kayo wala nito. Wala kayong documents of the Second Vatican Council, wala kayong CCC. Eh Bible? Bible? Bible naman, pa-consuelo de bobo. Sino'ng may Bible? (Everybody raises their hands.) Second question - binabasa n'yo ba? (loud laughs) 'Yan.....'yan ang problema. Anyway, sige. 

Kaya nga sabi ng Santo Papa, the CCC is a sure guide, and a sure reference. Actually, dapat meron tayo niyan sa taon na ito. Bumili tayo. Huwag 'yong kung anu-ano ang pinamimili natin. Bilhin natin kung ano ang dapat, 'yong mga nakakatulong sa pananampalataya natin. 

Ngayon, kung medyo bata ka, merong adapted version niyan para sa kabataan. Ang tawag diyan ay YOUCAT. 'Yan....Para sa mga kabataan 'yan. So kung mahilig kayo sa maraming drawings, mga sketches, o di 'yan na lang, basahin n'yo, pareho di naman. Adapted version 'yan. 

Therefore, my dear friends, in short, the challenge for us is to celebrate the precious gift of faith, to receive it again and to transmit it joyfully. But the question is - hindi natin magagawa 'yan kung wala tayo noong mga binanggit natin kanina lang. Kaya hamon ito - four months na ang nakakaraan. Ano na ba ang ginawa natin sa taong ito ng pananampalataya, para lumago ang ating pananampalataya at hopefully, ay malapitan natin ang ating paniniwala at maibahagi natin ito sa ating kapwa? 

Ito ay kalabit lang na paala-ala sa atin, dahil apat na buwan na ang nakakaraan. Tanungin n'yo ang sarili ninyo. Meron na ba kayong nagawa? At least ito ay tupdin natin, para pag natapos ang Taon ng Pananampalatayang ito, masabi nating may ginawa naman tayo para sa ating sarili, at para sa ating pananampalataya.