Gospel Reflection

October 06, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (Mission Society of St. Paul  – Quezon City)

MSSP House Chapel / Mass for the poor)

Reading 1 Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4

How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14

Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Gospel Lk 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."  The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?  Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'?  Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?  So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

HOMILY

When I was in Malta, I used to celebrate mass at an institution (shelter) for battered women. One woman came after mass telling me how she ended there because her son was beating her repeatedly and so harshly (I think he was on drugs and alcohol)... She was asking me, 'Why is this happening to me? I forgive my son, but next time that he beats me again ... I will be a fugitive from my house! Why is it that God does not do anything? I cannot believe anymore in Christ and His words.
 
The words of the First Reading from Habakkuk echo very well with this woman. "How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me”.
 
Sometimes, we say the same or similar words.
Why is this happening to me?
Why do I have such parents? Why I was born in a poor family?
Why these misfortunes? Why all these calamities / bagyo?
There is a whole list of whys!
 
To tell you the truth, I have no quick solutions. When the battered woman asked me why, I looked at the Crucifix and I felt the Lord telling me, “Why am I on the Cross?”
 
Believe... have faith!! The prophet Habakkuk continues: 'the righteous person will live by his faithfulness'.  To have faith does not only mean that you believe in the Trinity, that Jesus is God and our Savior, but to trust in a person. Trust in his presence with me. That even if I don’t understand everything, yet I trust in God.  
 
This relationship with God gives vision and hope in our life especially those who are passing in darkness. One day I was passing through a very difficult time. I felt lonely, useless, very sad inside... I was asking why? I was, at that time, in Pangasinan, in a remote village in the province. There was no electricity, it was very dark at night... I lied down on the ground outside on the grass and looked up... It was dark! But the view of the stars, because walang usok, was so clear, and I was looking at the most magnificent show of beauty in my life... that brought back the smile on my face. There is beauty in darkness... what is important is that we know where to look. If I am in darkness and look only at myself, I will remain in darkness and sadness. If I look at the stars... at God...I will be filled with consolation and hope.
 
Our founder De Piro used to say: “Look with the eyes of faith”.  Either I can see the darkness of my life and panic or I can see the same darkness and find the way out.
 
Faith gives you a new vision. There may be one and the same situation, but the way people look at it, makes the difference.
 
If I am sick, you may see it as a punishment – others see it as time to reflect. Have faith!
Someone dear dies. You may enter into depression or find in it the seed of new possibilities. Have faith!

Conflict in relationship or family – some sees it as a break in the relationship, others as a means to grow. Have faith!

Business fails

, or you lose your job, some see it as a total failure, others see it as an opportunity to try something else. Have faith!

This is what the readings today are inviting us to: to have faith.  When our faith weakens we lose this new perspective in life, and so everything becomes heavy, boring, dull. So let us continue to pray like the apostles “increase our faith”

Let us say together: “Lord increase our faith” AMEN

Gospel Reflection

September 01, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (Mission Society of St. Paul  – Quezon City)

MSSP House Chapel / Mass for the poor)

Reading 1 Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29

My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not. The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise. Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11

R. (cf. 11b) God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
The just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.
R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

Reading 2 Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a

Brothers and sisters: You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them. No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

Gospel Lk 14:1, 7-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor.  A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.  Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.  For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

HOMILY

Today, the main theme of the readings is humility. 

Even to say it is difficult, imagine to live it!

What is humility?

Humility springs from the realization that I am limited and needs others, I am a sinner and that God in his turn is gentle and forgiving.  And so for a humble person it is important to admit the weakness and mistakes

DANTE, one of the classic writers said that the difference between heaven and hell is not that in heaven there are good people and in hell there are the bad people, but in heaven there are sinners who admitted they committed sin while in hell there are sinners who did not admit they have sinned. 

For example our Founder (of the mssp). You know what’s his name? Padre Jose De Piro was aware of his weaknesses and sins, in fact he has once written "Jesus prefers those who wish to remain hidden. When He chose me to be one of his ministers, He found me among sinners.".”

This is humility, to recognize in front of God who I really am.  Like St. Paul who said… if there is something I am proud of is of my weakness. 

Humility is not to put down myself and my talents. It is not low self-esteem.  If a good painter says that he is not good, he will be lying… and if he puts all others down because he thinks he is the best, then he will be proud.      

So humility is when I use my talents not to please myself or to grow in fame, but to praise God with my life and talents.   To make others feel good with my actions.   So a humble person doesn’t do things to impress others or to be praised by others but does it so that God will be praised.  Understood?

Our Founder De Piro is a good example of humility and the words we heard today in the first reading really fits him: “The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you will find favour with the Lord”

In fact De Piro, although he came from a very rich family, wanted to live with the orphan children in an institute and he did not want to have a special treatment. For example, the food he ate was the same as that given to the children, his trousers under the cassock was made from the same material used for the children. He used to travel like ordinary people using public transport, and sometimes although fat, he used to walk because he would have given his money to the poor… He used to help the volunteers in fundraising activities for the poor.  You have to realize, but that he was the Dean of Cathedral, the highest position in the church after the bishop.  He was also a senator in Parliament… nevertheless although a highly esteemed monsignor, he was a very humble person.  So you see how much we can learn from humble people like De Piro.

Let me see who knows what is the opposite of humility?... Pride.

What is pride?

A proud person is one who puts himself at the center instead of God.

The more a person is self-centered, the more he rejects God.  A person who feels he is superior over others, he is the best and no one can go against his word.  The proud person is one who according to Jesus searches always the front seat so that others will praise him…

So how can I overcome pride and increase in humility?

First : have a realistic image of myself.  When I am criticized, do I always blame others or am I open to admit my weakness and try to change my attitudes and behaviors.

Second: to be humble implies love.  Love that does not wait for return.  Like the Gospel says today, to welcome and invite the poor, the outcast and foreigner.

Third: becoming more like Jesus, who was humble of heart.  Let us not forget what Christ is doing just now, today: He is humbling himself, becoming food , simple bread so that he can come in us... The great humility of Christ is an example for us to humble also ourselves to become food for others, ibig sabihin to share our life, our support, our talents with others.

How beautiful it is to befriend a humble person, how difficult it is to live with a proud person.  Hope we will strive to overcome the pride that is within each of us and become more humble people sharing our life with others. 

Gospel Reflection

August 04, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (Mission Society of St. Paul  – Quezon City)

MSSP House Chapel / Mass for the poor)

Reading 1 Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!

Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and yet to another who has not labored over it, he must leave property.  This also is vanity and a great misfortune.  For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?  All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest.  This also is vanity.

 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17

R. (1) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

Reading 2 Col 3:1-5, 9-11

Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.  Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.

 

Gospel Lk 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”  He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”  Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.  “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.  He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.  There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”

HOMILY

I wish to start my reflection with a story written by Leo Tolstoy.  The protagonist of the story is a 60 year old peasant named Pakhom, whose wife was always complaining that they do not own enough land to satisfy them. This Pakhom, a short time later, managed to buy a good piece of land, by working off the extra land is able to repay his debts and live a more comfortable life.

However, Pakhóm became very possessive of his land, and this causes arguments with his neighbors. So he moves to a larger area of land at another place. Here, he can grow even more crops and amass a small fortune, but he has to grow the crops on rented land, which irritates him. Finally he is introduced to the Bashkirs, and is told that they are simple-minded people who own a huge amount of land. Pakhóm goes to them to take as much of their land for as low a price as he can negotiate. Their offer is very unusual: for a sum of Peso 1700, Pakhóm can walk around as large an area as he wants, starting at daybreak, marking his route with a spade along the way. If he reaches his starting point by sunset that day, the entire area of land his route encloses will be his, but if he does not reach his starting point he will lose his money and receive no land. So the next day he went and started to mark his land... the further he went the better the soil seemed to be.  At one point he realized that the sun was setting already and starting running back as fast as he could to the waiting Bashkirs. He finally arrives at the starting point just as the sun sets. The Bashkirs cheered his good fortune, but exhausted from the run, Pakhóm drops dead. His servant buries him in an ordinary grave only six feet long.

It seems ridiculous… but it happens so much… People are not happy with what they have and continue to try to have more and more and more… and this can fool anyone … not only rich but also the poor… you think that the more you have, the happier you will be.  Mali, hindi totoo yan.  

You know how many cars Elvis Presley had: 8 cars , and also 6 motorcycles, 2 airplanes, 16 TV, huge mansion, thick bank accounts... do you know how he died? Drug abuse!

• My question is: with all the possessions he had, was he happy in his life?   He had everything except peace and happiness.
• Did he take anything with him?

When people who have acquired so much money and richness, die, they take nothing with them, and what normally they leave is children fighting for their inheritance.  Another example… a person studies so much to become a professional, for example a lawyer that he has no time to socialize… and will become a very good but strange lonely lawyer.  You spend a whole fortune in building a house, then typhoon comes and wala! Destroyed!

So what’s the best to do and to have? Is Jesus saying that better have nothing? For sure not, but he is telling us to be careful of greed that sometimes enters our life. Greed is when I always want more, never happy with what I have, Greed is when I am possessive and never share the graces with others.

Why the problem of gaming… you wish to be richer… or become rich in one day… Can I ask you how many left from 13^th street and went to live in a mansion because they won lotto?   You think you become rich, and you become poorer.  Instead of buying food for the family, you buy lotto tickets… and you lose everything.  We need to appreciate what we have and what we have, kahit konti, we use it for the good.

So todays’ gospel is a “wake up call”… “You will not take anything with you!  Focus not on money and earthly possessions but the way you live your life. 

The only treasure which is worth to store is the treasure of the heart.  The biggest treasure is a generous and a loving heart.  To have a generous heart means that in front of God you are a rich person.

How beautiful it is to see generous people … parents playing with your children, husband and wife walking and talking with each other! Young people who give their time and energy to help others! Without getting anything back! Give service to the church, help others in need! Comfort the sick! Sharing their food even if it is konti!    The heart is the true treasure that we show God in our last day.

What am I going to leave when I die?  Happy people people because they got rid of me? Or happy people who learned from me how to live and love… people who experienced the treasures of my heart?