Gospel Reflection

January 22, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith 

Day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children.

by Rev. Fr. (Major) Harley B. Flores

CHS Chancellor, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines

12:15 PM Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

                         

Reading 1 Heb 6:10-20

Brothers and sisters: God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones. We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.

When God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, and said, I will indeed bless you and multiply you. And so, after patient waiting, Abraham obtained the promise. Now, men swear by someone greater than themselves; for them an oath serves as a guarantee and puts an end to all argument. So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath, so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Responsorial Psalm ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9 and 10c

R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has ratified his covenant forever;
holy and awesome is his name.
His praise endures forever.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Mk 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, there is this book written in 1971, which states that in a survey that was conducted, there are two favorite religious images of the Filipinos. One is the image of the Sto. Nino (child Christ), that is why we celebrated the fiesta of the Sto. Nino last Sunday, and the other favorite image of the Filipinos is the Sto. Entierro (dead Christ). However, there was a comment regarding these two images. The comment was - one reason why most Filipinos have this immature faith, or a child-like attitude on faith, is because of the superficial way we adore our favorite images.

It could really be that most Filipinos have an immature expression of faith. And one example that I can give you is, as a priest for 10 years, kung minsan nga naman ho pag may ni-request po tayo sa pari at hindi napagbigyan, ay nakasimangot na, at kung minsan ay marami tayong sinasabi at ini-intriga ang pari. I tell my parishioners na kung may tao namang mahilig mang-intriga sa pari, minsan ito ay ang mga taong malapit din sa simbahan. And this is true. I hope this is not true here (referring to the Megamall chapel). This is an expression of immature faith, a childish act of faith. 

 

On the other hand, Filipinos also have a passive faith. That is why in trying to interpret the sacrifice of the Santo Entierro, napakaraming Filipino ngayon ang masayang naghihirap. Why? It is because most Filipinos believe that they are closer to God when they suffer, when they sacrifice. Pakiramdam ng ilan sa atin na mas masaya sila kapag naghihirap sila, sapagkat mas malapit sila sa Panginoon. Sinasabi nila na darating din ang araw, may awa rin ang Diyos. Hindi naman nawawala ang awa ng Diyos. Yes, blessed are the poor. Blessed are the poor in spirit. But some Filipinos misinterpret it, as if they just want to remain poor, as if they do not want to move on from their system of life. 

I believe that God does not want His people to suffer. God always wants His people to be happy, to be at his best, to be at his magnanimity. That's why the Gospel tells us that every law of the Church, every law of God was made for man. The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Why? Because of all the creatures of God, in the history of creation, the highest point, the fulfillment, or the masterpiece of God's creation, was the creation of man. Therefore, all creatures were to submit to man, and man must submit himself to God.
At kung ang tao ang pinakadakilang nilalang ng Panginoon, ng Kanyang nilikha, therefore, we expect the best for man. God plans what is best for us. God wants us to be the best and to be happy always.
As we are God's best creation, His masterpiece, what should be our response? The First Reading tells us, 'it is only through faith and goodness'.
Let me share with you a reading regarding the combination of faith and goodness as an expression of our response to God as His masterpiece. This is from a book entitled, "Simple Principles to Enjoy Life and Be Happy".....and I quote:

"Think of the happiest people we know. If we ask the secret of their contentment, they would probably tell you that their happiness stems from faith. Indeed, faith places an integral role in happiness. But why? For one, faith provides answers where there seems to be none. On the contrary, the faithless seems to come up short of answers all the time. For example, many of us spend much of our lives trying to figure out why bad things happen to good people. Why does the young girl with no family history get cancer? Why does the thief live to be 90 years old, while the good-hearted man - a generous man - has his life cut short too soon?"
"....There are so many injustices. But in having faith, everything happens because it fits in the grand plan of God....Believing in a grand plan or something larger than us, will help put life's setbacks and disappointments into perspective, and will even improve your health. In fact....about the healing property of faith, in a study of 232 patients who have undergone open-heart surgery, those who were able to find strength and comfort in their religious outlook had a survival rate, three times higher than those who were found to have no foundation of faith...." 

"....Having a sense of spirituality can also help establish and strengthen one's values, and the right sense of goodness, especially knowing what is right and wrong. By cultivating a self standard of action, such as being a good, generous, decent person, they are more likely to treat family, friends, and even strangers, with respect and kindness. Through religious and spiritual practices, they develop a sense of responsibility and respect for history, fellow humans, and the environment."
"Let us try to use these common principles to reflect our faith, and articulate a set of values, especially goodness...that is an important foundation. These principles will show you that even in the darkest times, faith can help you find your way back to happiness."
Again, my dear friends, God wants us to be happy. God wants us to be the best. On what condition? Faith and goodness.

  

Gospel Reflection

November 26, 2012

Monday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev. Fr. (Major) Harley B. Flores

CHS Chancellor, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines

6pm Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5

I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the first fruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-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 Lk 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

HOMILY

In the mass, what we commonly call as the Offertory is actually called the Presentation of Gifts, where Jesus is offered, as the Offering and the Offerer, the Gift and the Giver. And during this holy part of the mass, I am sure you have something prepared, or an amount to be put in the offertory basket. Is it big? Is it small? Sometimes, it depends on our capabilities, or sometimes on our motivation. Some people give bigger amounts because they receive big amounts, while some people give smaller amounts, because perhaps they receive smaller amounts.

Let us now associate this with God's situation. In the Gospel Reading for today, we see that Jesus was inside the temple, observing two kinds of people giving something to the collection box. The first He observed were the wealthy people, and they gave only what they consider their surplus, kung ano ang sobra sobra sa kanila. And here comes now a widow, giving only two coins. Jesus then told His disciples that the poor widow gave more than the wealthy ones, because she gave all that she had, her entire livelihood.

What then, is the true spirit of giving? I would like to share three points, for our reflection.

 

 

First, when we give something, we leave or create a space for God to fill in again. When I get something out of my pocket and gives it someone, I feel more blessed. Why? The money in my pocket may be limited, but I believe that God, who will fill in my pocket again, is a God of limitless blessings.

Second, giving in itself is an act of thanking. We cannot give what we don't have, and we have heard that so many times. Thus when we give something, it means that we are blessed, and have the capability of giving, and it comes from our God who has all the capacity to give. Masasabi natin na mas mapalad nga na tayo ang nagbibigay, at hindi tayo ang namamalimos o nanghihingi. Therefore, we have all the reason to thank our Lord, our Benefactor, the limitless God, our God who gives to us unconditionally.

Third, the true spirit of giving is selfless. It is giving till it hurts. That what was the widow did, when she gave her two coins. Selfless giving is the act of giving what is most precious to us, without any reservation. The widow gave all of herself unconditionally, because she believed in the generosity of God.

Whenever we give something, particularly to the Church, is it an act of commitment? Is it true generosity or charity from our part? Or is it just for the sake of giving?

 

 

 

Gospel Reflection

September 18, 2012

Tuesday

St. Joseph of Cupertino, Priest and Patron of Aviators (Feast)

by Rev. Fr. (Major) Harley B. Flores

CHS Chancellor, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines

Reading 1 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a

Brothers and sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many.
Now you are Christ's Body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the Church to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

R. (3) We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
For he is good, the LORD,
whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Gospel Lk 7:11-17

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people." This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

HOMILY

I would like to begin my Homily by asking you some questions.

First, if you have limited time to spend in this world, who will you spend it with?
Second, if you have a lot of money to give, to whom will you give it?
Third, if you had to name one most important thing in life, what would it be?
And fourth, if there is an event or experience that you would like to remember, what would it be?

Why am I asking these things? It is because these things give us joy - these make us happy. Joy is defined in different ways. But for Jesus, joy is love.

I would like share five points about love.

First, love is a verb; it is an action word. In the Gospel, Jesus was not allowed to touch the coffin, as this was considered spiritual uncleanliness - it was against the law. But Jesus did it because of His love and compassion. For Jesus, love surpasses all things, including the law. Second, love is not only an emotion. Love begins with the heart, and ends through the hands. Through love, and our loving actions, we redeem others, even the worthless, even the dead. Third, love is embodied by Jesus and fulfilled through others. Jesus showed and expressed His love and mercy to the widow, the helpless and the hopeless. Fourth, from the time of creation, we are already reminded that we are made for others. Fifth and finally, our love and compassion becomes an extension of ourself to others.

When we give love, we give joy. And when we give joy and make others happy, we make others believe.

 

 

St. Joseph of Cupertino – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - St. Joseph of Cupertino