Gospel Reflection

August 04, 2012

First Saturday

St. John Mary Vianney, Priest (Memorial)

By Rev. Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24

Psalm:                         Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34

Gospel:                        Matthew 14:1-12           

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; 2 and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; 4 because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Hero'di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." 9 And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; 10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

HOMILY

Like Herod, sometimes we make ourselves the priority – the center of our lives. This is the exact opposite of God’s teaching. We should love God’s teaching. We should love God and make Him the center of our lives. And to love God is to offer one’s life for the good of others. 

 

Gospel Reflection

August 03, 2012

First Friday

Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart

by Rev. Fr. Joey Faller (Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center Quezon Province)

Megamall

First Reading:               Jeremiah 26:1-9

Psalm:                         Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14

Gospel:                        Matthew 13:54-58         

54 and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

HOMILY

Father Joey said, just like the Gospel, Jesus cannot perform His miracle on us if we lack faith and a lively trust in Him. Sabi niya nagpunta siya sa US at naawa siya kasi he can see that the people there have lost faith and are depressed. They are losing jobs and their homes, and that now they are hungry for God’s word. It is only through faith in God that we can be healed, not only our bodies, but our heart and soul.

Gospel Reflection

August 02, 2012

Thursday

Our Lady of the Angels of Portiuncula (Solemnity)

First Reading:               Sirach 24:1-4, 16, 22-24

Psalm:                         Psalm 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19

Second Reading           Galatians 4:3-7

Gospel:                        Luke 1:26-33    

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Matthew 13:47-53
Megamall

The Parable of the Dragnet

[Jesus said to his disciples,] 47“The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. 48When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. 49Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
51“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” 52And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” 53When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

HOMILY

As we continue on the series of parables in the Gospel, today talks about the Kingdom of God likened to a net (God’s word) throw into the sea (the Word) to catch all types of fish (good and bad people). In the end (Judgment Day), the net is hauled on the shore and the good fish are separated from the bad.

He said that the good and bad alike exist in the world and even in the Church. Saints and sinners live together. Even the good becomes bad when we fall into sin. But God, as our loving and merciful ‘potter’ will never give up on us and will continue to mold us into the image of His Son, Jesus.

We should then be docile and should not resist God when He forms us into a good Christian and follower. Let us pray that our hearts may be open to His ‘molding’, so that in the final hauling, we may be co-heirs in God’s kingdom and enjoy eternal life and happiness with God.

Gospel Reflection

August 01, 2012

Wednesday

St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

by Rev. Fr. Caloy Reyes

Greenbelt

First Reading:               Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

Psalm:                         Psalm 59:2-4, 10-11, 17-18

Gospel:                        Matthew 13:44-46         

44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

HOMILY

The Gospel today is about the parable of the Kingdom of God likened to a man discovering a treasure that sells everything he has to buy it. "Ano ba ang hinahanap nating treasure?” The greatest treasure is God’s intimate love – knowing that God loves us, no matter who we are this treasure is our source of joy – without God’s love, life is miserable.

You may have all that you have dreamed about – a good job, a car, a big house, a family, but after these, what’s next? Will these things bring you real happiness? Without God’s love, life will always be empty. Let us pray for the grace to feed on God’s love that we may find true and everlasting joy.

Gospel Reflection

July 31, 2012

Tuesday

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest (Memorial)

by Rev. Fr. Paul Marquez

Greenbelt

First Reading:               Jeremiah 14:17-22

Psalm:                         Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13

Gospel:                        Matthew 13:36-43         

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 37 He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. 41 The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

HOMILY

Looking at the Gospel on the parable of the weeds in the field, let us pray for the grace to be ‘good crops’ always, despite the bad crops around us – worldly lures, temptations – and even those that are within us – bad thoughts, anger, ill and negativities – which try to overpower the good crops in us. Let us remember that God is always with us, to guide us, help us and make us triumph against evil.

Let us also pray for sinners, those who have hurt us or caused us harm. We have to be patient with them, as God has been patient with them. Like us, they too are given the chance to change and grow into good crops again before God makes His harvesting.

Gospel Reflection

July 30, 2012

Monday

Weekday

Megamall

First Reading:               Jeremiah 13:1-11

Psalm:                         Deuteronomy 32:18-21

Gospel:                        Matthew 13:31-35         

31 Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." 33 He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." 34 All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."

HOMILY

Jesus uses parables to convey His message to us. Ang buhay din daw natin ay parang parable, kasi God also uses us to convey His message to others. Like the mustard seed that becomes the largest of plants, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant our good deeds are, or our actions to help, let us continue to do so, as it may mean a big difference to others.

So let’s continue to do good and encourage others to do the same. Let’s also pray for those who refuse to be good.

Gospel Reflection

July 28, 2012

Saturday

Anticipated Sunday Mass

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

by  Rev. Fr. Jun Sescon

Greenbelt

First Reading:               2 Kings 4:42-44

Psalm:                         Psalm 145:10-11, 15-18
Second Reading:           Ephesians 4:1-6

Gospel:                         John 6:1-15      

1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber'i-as. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?" 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

HOMILY

Father Jun said that we should be reminded and challenged by our missionary vocation by virtue of our baptism. As missionaries, we should be one with the Church in sharing God’s love and gift of faith to others, thankful that we also received this faith. We should pray for the grace to grow more in trust and in hope, under God’s provident love.

Father Jun asks us to pray for our Filipino missionaries and their families who are sacrificing for the sake of spreading God’s Word. Apart from our financial support, our prayers inspire and strengthen our missionaries in answering the call to sharing God’s faith throughout the world.

Gospel Reflection

  

July 28, 2012

Saturday

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by  Rev. Fr. Allan Dialogo

Megamall

First Reading:               Jeremiah 7:1-11

Psalm:                         Psalm 84:3-6, 8, 11
Gospel:                        Matthew 13:24-30         

24 Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' 28 He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

HOMILY

Gospel about the wheat and the weeds growing together. He said that each of us have our bad side. We are fortunate that God allows us to change and to reform. Let us pray for the grace so that we can remove our ‘weeds’ step by step, and let our ‘wheat’ grow. Every day, God gives us this chance to make ourselves better and to bear much fruit.

Gospel Reflection

July 27, 2012

Friday

Weekday

by  Rev. Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

Megamall

First Reading:               Jeremiah 3:14-17

Psalm:                         Jeremiah 31:10-13
Gospel:                        Matthew 13:18-23

18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

HOMILY

The parable of the sower means we have to bear fruit every day. We have to be consistent in bearing fruit and in leading others to being the same.

Gospel Reflection

July 26, 2012

Thursday

Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)

Megamall

First Reading:                Sirach 44:1, 10-15

Psalm:                          Psalm 132:11, 13-14, 17-18
Gospel:                         Matthew 13:16-17

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

HOMILY

We should always honor our parents, kahit na may maysakit na sila o di na makaalala. Kahit na nasaktan nila tayo, igalang at mahalin natin sila, in the spirit of love, forgiveness and reconciliation.

On the other hand, all parents should teach God’s love to their children and lead them to holiness.