Gospel Reflection

October 04, 2012

Thursday

St. Francis of Assisi, Deacon, Religious, Founder of the Three Orders (Solemnity)

by Rev. Fr. Agapito "Aga" Tarog (Immaculate Conception Parish, Las Pinas)

Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Jb 19:21-27

Job said: Pity me, pity me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has struck me! Why do you hound me as though you were divine, and insatiably prey upon me? Oh, would that my words were written down! Would that they were inscribed in a record: That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another's, shall behold him, And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14

R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

Gospel Lk 10:1-12

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.' Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

HOMILY

Today, let us look at the Reading and the Gospel in the context of the fundamental teaching regarding God's plan of salvation, which is found in Genesis Chapter 2, verses 4-6. It says,

"At the time when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens--
while as yet there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the field had sprouted,
for the LORD God had sent no rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the soil,
but a stream was welling up out of the earth and was watering all the surface of the ground."

Did you not notice anything strange? How come walang nabubuhay samantalang may tubig naman? Science believes that if there is water, there is life, hindi po ba? Even experience will tell us lalo na kapag tag-ulan, ang lakas tumubo ng damo, tama po ba? So paanong walang tutubo samantalang nababasa naman ang lupa? Why is it that despite the presence of water, there is no life? And the writer offers us two basic reasons why this is so. Sabi niya - and this is another strange thing - it is because God has not sent rain on the earth. Eh may tubig na nga eh, and yet the writer says, "God has not yet sent rain". Point number two, "there was no man to till the soil".

Ano ang itinuturo sa atin nito - which is the fundamental thing of our salvation history. Number one, in order for life to come about, the first and most important ingredient - if we can call it that way - is the action of God. It is God's action, the grace of God, which we call the "providence of God" - the God who provides. But equally important to the providence of God, which is connected by the linking verb "and" is the "presence of man to till the soil". But the question is - hindi pa ba sapat 'yong providence ng Diyos para magkaroon ng buhay, at idinugtong pa roon ang "man to till the soil"?

Ano ang itinuturo nito sa atin, mga kapatid sa pananampalataya? The fundamental teaching is that ang buhay sa ibabaw ng mundo, is dependent not only on God himself, but also on the cooperation of man himself to the providence of God. Na ang ibig sabihin ay kumikilos ang Diyos, yes, which is the most important thing - the decision of God to provide life for everything, but equally important is the role of the human being, who was created in the image and likeness of God, to work in cooperation with the providence of God.

Thus, it is a wrong notion, contrary to Scripture, na sabihin ng tao, "Bahala na ang Diyos, at ako ay uupo na lang." That is a wrong attitude, because it is explicitly told in Scripture, that "man must till the soil". Another wrong notion is the opposite extreme. And that is when one says that "Ang ikabubuhay ko sa mundo ay nakasalalay lamang sa aking pagsisikap, walang pakialam ang Diyos." That is the other extreme - at marami pong taong ganyan, na ang paniniwala nila ay sila ay nabubuhay dito sa mundo dahil masipag sila, at walang kinalaman ang Diyos.  

Let us all remember that the first thing we need is the providence of God. If God does not provide, papaano ka makakakilos, kung hindi ibibigay ng Diyos ang opportunity for you to be able to till the soil? What if God does not give you the soil to till, hindi po ba?

Therefore, given this, we should understand what Job said in the First Reading, na sa kalagitnaan ng kanyang paghihirap and his trials, at sinusumbatan pa siya ng kanyang tatlong kaibigan, he still relies very much in the end, ultimately, on God, to be his vindicator. Job was confident that despite the trials, God will vindicate his cause. Then we will understand when Jesus told the 72 disciples to go to the places that Jesus intends to visit, to prepare and proclaim the Gospel there. As disciples, they were to rely totally on the providence of God, when Jesus said, "Do not bring a sack, not even an extra tunic." He was teaching them to live on God who provides for them, as they do what they are supposed to do.

Lastly, we will understand the spirituality of the great "poor" man, St. Francis of Assissi, whose Feast we celebrate today, that in the middle of his spiritual journey, he realizes that he is a creature like the birds and other creatures on the earth. He even calls the sun and moon, "brother sun" and "sister moon". And what did he do? Siya ay anak mayaman. But as he realizes God's providence for him, tinalikuran niya ang yaman nila, and lived a life of mendicancy. Namamalimos siya para sa kanyang kakainin. He walks around town barefoot, only clothed with a simple garment. Why? It is because it is clear to him that he lives his life not according to his own ability, but by the grace of God.

And so, mga kapatid sa pananampalataya, pagnilayan po natin ang ating pamumuhay sa kasalukuyang panahon. Kung tayo man ay nabubuhay ngayon, it is because of two things - God's providence, and our effort in cooperation with the providence of God. Let us not fall into the error of thinking na ang lahat ng bagay, sa Diyos na lang, at ako ay hindi na kikilos. We are made in the image and likeness of God, therefore, we share in the creativity of the Divine Lord. Let us not also fall into the error of thinking na ang lahat ng ikinabubuhay ko dito ay bunga lang ng aking abilidad, excluding God. It is very clear that in order for life to come about, there has to be, first and foremost, the providence of God, and the effort of man in cooperation with the providence of God. Maging prinsipyo nawa natin ito sa buhay, nang sa gayon ay magkaroon tayo nang buhay na ganap.

 

St. Francis of Assisi – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - St. Francis of Assisi

Gospel Reflection

October 03, 2012

Wednesday - Weekday
by Rev.  Fr. Nilo Mangussad (Rector Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish)

Mass at EDSA Shrine, Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish

Reading 1 Jb 9:1-12, 14-16

Job answered his friends and said: I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified before God? Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed? He removes the mountains before they know it; he overturns them in his anger. He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble. He commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars.He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea. He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south; He does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning.

Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him; Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?" How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me. If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88:10bc-11, 12-13, 14-15

R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Daily I call upon you, O LORD;
to you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work wonders for the dead?
Will the shades arise to give you thanks?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Do they declare your mercy in the grave,
your faithfulness among those who have perished?
Are your wonders made known in the darkness,
or your justice in the land of oblivion?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
But I, O LORD, cry out to you;
with my morning prayer I wait upon you.
Why, O LORD, do you reject me;
why hide from me your face?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Gospel Lk 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."

HOMILY

Do you still remember the story of the boy who fell over a cliff and was holding on to a branch or a root? That boy who was screaming for help because he did not want to fall, that he called the Lord and said, "Lord, help me!" And he heard a voice saying, "Let go of the root." Then he asks, "Is there anybody else up there?" The boy did not want to let go of the root. But when he felt so tired, he had no choice but to let go. And lo and behold, he was just one foot away from the ground.

Moral lesson: listen and trust in the words of the Lord. See, a lot of us always say we trust God, but when it comes to the problems regarding our life here on earth, we start not trusting Him. We begin to trust ourselves. Quite unfortunate, because we are being assured by God that He will help us definitely - true and through. He only asks us to trust Him definitely - true and through. Unfortunately, we falter because we rely on ourselves here on earth. Just like Job in the First Reading, he faltered. Just like the potential Disciples in the Gospel, they faltered. Why? Because, they trusted other things, rather than trust in the Lord. But Jesus has shown us - He demands our full trust absolutely. Why? It is because He will help us absolutely. Until we realize this truth, we will never put our trust in the Lord.

My brothers and sisters, the Lord says, "Trust Me, that it will not rain this afternoon." (when it has been raining so hard today) Would you believe Him? The true test of faith is - If the Lord says so, it will be so. But if you do not want to believe Him, you have already lost our God.

Gospel Reflection

October 02, 2012

Tuesday
Guardian Angels (Memorial)

by Rev.Fr. Joseph Feng (Spiritual Director and Orientationer, Lorenzo Mission Institute)

Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23

Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. Job spoke out and said: Perish the day on which I was born, the night when they said, "The child is a boy!" Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire? Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth, like babes that have never seen the light? Wherefore did the knees receive me? or why did I suck at the breasts?

For then I should have lain down and been tranquil; had I slept, I should then have been at rest With kings and counselors of the earth who built where now there are ruins Or with princes who had gold and filled their houses with silver. There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest.

Why is light given to the toilers, and life to the bitter in spirit? They wait for death and it comes not; they search for it rather than for hidden treasures, Rejoice in it exultingly, and are glad when they reach the grave: Those whose path is hidden from them, and whom God has hemmed in!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8

R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
For my soul is surfeited with troubles
and my life draws near to the nether world.
I am numbered with those who go down into the pit;
I am a man without strength.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
My couch is among the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom you remember no longer
and who are cut off from your care.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit,
into the dark abyss.
Upon me your wrath lies heavy,
and with all your billows you overwhelm me.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Gospel Mt 18:1-5, 10

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."

HOMILY

In one of the comprehensive exams before a seminarian graduates from college, I was a panelist who gave them an exam. In one panel, I asked one of the seminarians - Do angels have wings ? Can they fly? My student answered "Yes, Father". He said that in our church, they portrayed angels with wings. For children yes, angels have wings, but for us adults, we should understand that angels are pure spirits. They do not have wings, but they can go anywhere they want. Angels are sent by God for a mission; they are ministering spirits. They have a function in the plan of God.

Last September 29, we celebrated the Feast of the three Archangels, - Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. When we talk about angels, they are equal in dignity, but they have different functions and roles, and deliver different messages. The Archangels are considered to deliver messages of greater importance, while those who have roles of a lesser degree are called angels.

Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Compared to the Archangels, our guardian angels were sent to us by God from the moment of our conception in our mother's womb. God already assigned an angel to us - to protect us, to warn and defend us, to guide us to the way of God. God loves us so much that God has given us His presence through the angels. God has given us our conscience, which is the dwelling place of our hearts, and God sent our guardian angel to take care of us, to guard us away from sin.

In the First Reading and the Gospel today, we can see that our angels are always in God's presence, to present us in front of God. Our guardian angel prays on our behalf. That is why even if we find ourselves exposed to dangerous situations or occasions of sin, our angels guard us that we may turn away from sin, and also be protected from the dangers around us.  

Let us be aware of God's presence through our guardian angels. We should invoke the help of our guardian angels to protect us from all dangers, and that we may be less put into temptation. We should invoke their help so that we may rely on God more ardently.

And as we are guided and defended by our guardian angels, we should also remember to be guardian angels to one another. Now, we are also called to be a guardian angel to others - not to be served, but to serve, to protect others, to teach and guide others toward God. I see that all parents are the guardian angels of their children.  

From 2004 to 2008, I took care of an old monsignor priest, who was diabetic and also broke his hip bone. I bought him all his medicines and visited him in his room to administer his medicines. I took him and assisted him in his breakfast, lunch and dinner, and accompanied him for the last six years of his life. He was very devoted to God and to Mama Mary. And you know - every time there is an occasion, Monsignor will always get something - a piece of cake - and will reserve it for me. And when the seminarians asked why, Monsignor will say, "This is for Father Joseph, because he is my angel". On one of my birthdays, even if he was already 80 plus years old, he asked his caretaker to put him on a wheelchair so that he can attend my celebration. He joined the community and he sang a song for me. I was very touched. I realized that if Monsignor saw me as his angel, he was, in fact, my angel in many ways. I love him and will always remember him.

I am sharing this with you to remind you, that you and I should be guardian angels to another - to serve, to care and defend each other. In the Gospel, one quality was mentioned. To be an angel is to be childlike - dependent on God. If I am a sinner, I cannot bring people to God. If I am constantly in the state of sin, I don't know where I am leading people to. The Gospel reminds us to strive to be holy, as our Heavenly Father is Holy. We should have childlike trust in God. Like our guardian angels sent by God, let us love and serve one another, as you and I have been sent to be angels to one another.

Holy Guardian Angels – Guide us and Defend us

Holy Guardian Angels – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - Guardian Angels

A Holy Life

Guardian Angels

Feast day – October 02

God does not abandon to what we call chance, any of His creatures. By His essence and providence He is everywhere present; not a sparrow falls to the ground, nor a hair from our heads, without His consent. He is not content, however, with assisting His creation daily and at every moment, with sustaining His handiwork, which without His continuous support would return to dust. His divine and infinite Love, not only maintaining the existence which He gives and perpetuates in living beings, has charged His Holy Angels with the ministry of watching and safeguarding each one of His rational creatures.

The Angels, divided into nine hierarchies, have varied obligations. Their intelligence and prudence are penetrating like the beam of a lighthouse; so it appears even when we compare it to the best of human intelligences, which are like the light of a little candle in contrast. An Angel, visualizing an end to be attained, sees instantly the means necessary to achieve it, whereas we must pray, study, deliberate, inquire, and choose during many phases of effort, in order to reach our proposed ends.

Kingdoms have their Angels assigned to them; dignitaries of the Church and of the world have more than one Angel to guide them; and every child who enters into the world receives a Guardian Angel. Our Lord says in the Gospel: Beware lest you scandalize any of these little ones, for their Angels in heaven behold the face of My Father. Thus the existence of Guardian Angels is a dogma of the Christian faith, based on Holy Scripture itself.

 

Sources for this article were taken from: Lives of the Saints http://magnificat.ca

 

Prayer

Angel of God, My guardian dear
To Whom His love, Commits me here
Ever this day, Be at my side
To light and guard,To rule and guide

From sinful stain, O keep me free

And at death’s hour, My Helper be.

Amen.

Holy Guardian Angels - pray for us