Gospel Reflection

August 13, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Lloyd Tiu, Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society (LMI-Makati)
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 Dt 31:1-8

When Moses had finished speaking to all Israel, he said to them, “I am now one hundred and twenty years old and am no longer able to move about freely; besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan. It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you; he will destroy these nations before you, that you may supplant them. It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the LORD promised. The LORD will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites whom he destroyed, and with their country. When, therefore, the LORD delivers them up to you, you must deal with them exactly as I have ordered you. Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you.”

Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, “Be brave and steadfast, for you must bring this people into the land which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them; you must put them in possession of their heritage. It is the LORD who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.”

Responsorial Psalm Dt 32:3-4ab, 7, 8, 9 and 12

R. (9a) The portion of the Lord is his people.
For I will sing the LORD’s renown.
Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock–how faultless are his deeds,
how right all his ways!
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
Think back on the days of old,
reflect on the years of age upon age.
Ask your father and he will inform you,
ask your elders and they will tell you.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage,
when he parceled out the descendants of Adam,
He set up the boundaries of the peoples
after the number of the sons of Israel.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.
While the LORD’s own portion was Jacob,
his hereditary share was Israel.
The LORD alone was their leader,
no strange god was with him.
R. The portion of the Lord is his people.

Gospel Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

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 becomes humble 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. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.  In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

HOMILY

Last time, I had lunch with a Chinese couple. I asked them how their granddaughter was. The Chinese couple's daughter-in-law is a Filipina, and there are still some Chinese families who would, as much as possible, avoid having their son or daughter be married to other than Chinese. The Lola said, "Father, hindi na umaalis ng bahay ang aking asawa kung hindi kasama ang kanyang granddaughter". Nag-e-enjoy na ang Lolo sa kanyang granddaughter. Sabi nga ng mga kaibigang Chinese ng Lolo, wala daw siyang 'vetsin' sa buhay dahil wala siyang bisyo - hindi siya umiinom, hindi siya nagsisigarilyo, hindi siya lumalabas ng bahay. Pero sabi ng Lolo, ngayon may 'vetsin' na ang kanyang buhay, dahil sa kanyang granddaughter.

What is my point in trying to share this to you, my brothers and sisters? If we have small children in our midst, if we have babies in our midst, di po ba ito ay nagbibigay sigla, nagbibigay ilaw sa buhay natin? Minsan nga, kahit hindi natin sariling anak, kung gusto nating hiramin ang kanilang mga babies, hinihiram din natin.

However, my brothers and sisters, nakakalungkot din minsan na....lalo na sa ibang bansa, gusto nilang magpakasal pero ayaw nilang magka-anak. Kung ayaw nilang magka-anak, sana hindi na lang sila nagpakasal. Because to enter the sacrament of marriage is also to be open to the gift of life. That is why two people would ask for the sacrament and blessing of Jesus, so that they, too, can also be given a life, and that is another child or another human being. Oftentimes, it is sad, or too selfish for couples to think only of themselves and their happiness.

Another point in our Gospel today is for us to be humble. Just like in the First Reading, Moses knew that his mission is only up to a certain point. And so he said that it was time to let go and let Joshua lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. Sometimes, we have young ones who would try to correct the older ones. But the older ones will feel insulted, na para bang sinasabi nila na 'sino ba itong nagsasabi sa akin, ako pa itong kinorekt niya eh mas bata pa siya sa akin...wala siyang respeto, ah'. No. Even the young ones can teach the older ones. Because they themselves are intellectuals. They would discover new things, try to inquire about things. But we, older ones, oftentimes say, 'alam ko na 'yan....hindi ko na 'yan kailangang malaman pa'. We stop inquiring, we stop learning. And to stop discovering new things in life is tantamount to saying that one is also about to stop living.

If you will stop learning, exploring new things, discovering new things in life, wala nang silbi ang buhay. Wala nang dapat pang malaman. That is why Moses was ready to let go of his mission and to allow the young ones to continue and pursue the journey to the Promised Land. This is the invitation of Jesus in today's Gospel - to welcome the young ones into our life, to learn from them, and to let go of our mission. If we have already reached the twilight of our lives, then it is time to pass along the key to the younger ones, because they, too, need space to grow, to discover Christ, and to lead other people.

This is my prayer for us today, that more of our young ones will be daily mass goers like you, and really living up the Christian faith. Let us hope and pray that we, the older ones, can continue to be living witnesses of Christ's love to the young, so that they, too, may reflect the image of Jesus in their life. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

August 12, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Remo P. Bati, SDB - Parish Priest, San Ildefonso Parish Church, A. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati
6:30PM Mass, San Ildefonso Parish Church

Reading 1 Dt 10:12-22

Moses said to the people: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD which I enjoin on you today for your own good? Think! The heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the LORD, your God, as well as the earth and everything on it. Yet in his love for your fathers the LORD was so attached to them as to choose you, their descendants, in preference to all other peoples, as indeed he has now done. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked. For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods, the LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes; who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. The LORD, your God, shall you fear, and him shall you serve; hold fast to him and swear by his name. He is your glory, he, your God, who has done for you those great and terrible things which your own eyes have seen. Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy strong, and now the LORD, your God, has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Gospel Mt 17:22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said.  When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up.  Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

HOMILY

Noong panahon ni Hesus, ang mga Hudyo at mga mamamayan ay ipinagbabayad ng buwis. Ngunit ang mga Hudyo ay may karagdagang ibinabayad na buwis, at ito ay ang buwis na ibinabayad para sa templo.

Alam natin na si Hesus ay hindi kailangang magbayad ng buwis, sapagkat Siya ang Anak ng Ama. Ngunit upang sumunod sa batas, ang ginawa ni Hesus ay inutusan niya si Pedro na kunin ang dalawang pilak mula sa bibig ng unang isdang mahuhuli ni Pedro, at ito ang kanilang ipambabayad ng buwis. In other words, it was simply out of good example that Jesus abided by the law of paying the temple tax, to avoid scandal.

We also know that when Jesus was still young, he was presented by his parents, Mary and Joseph, in the temple. They followed tradition at hiningi nila ang bendisyon para kay Hesus.

Yan po ang magandang halimbawa na ipinapakita sa atin ng Panginoon. God is reminding us to follow the law, and to do it, because of love.

Gospel Reflection

August 11, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Leo Nilo C. Mangussad, Rector, Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA (EDSA Shrine)
12:15PM Mass at EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 Wis 18:6-9

The night of the passover was known beforehand to our fathers, that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they might have courage. Your people awaited the salvation of the just and the destruction of their foes. For when you punished our adversaries, in this you glorified us whom you had summoned. For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22

R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Reading 2 Heb 11:1-2, 8-19

Brothers and sisters: Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.  Because of it the ancients were well attested.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go.  By faith he sojourned in the Promised Land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.  By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age —and Sarah herself was sterile— for he thought that the one who had made the promise was  trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

All these died in faith.  They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.  If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return.  But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.  Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”  He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

Gospel Lk 12:32-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms.  Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.  For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.  Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.  And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.  Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.  You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”  And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?  Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.  Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.  That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly.  Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

HOMILY

There is a TV show, the story of which is that there is a CEO or a boss of the company who would disguise himself and go down to the level of the workers, to find out what is happening in his company. He gets to have first-hand experience with his lower-rank staff. So his staff would make him check the jobs and trainings. Throughout his disguise, the CEO found out what was wrong and how the company is being run. In the end, of course, those who showed a good example and tried so hard to work will be rewarded.

If Jesus disguises Himself and suddenly checks on us, what will He find us doing in our lives?

I remember, in one of my former assignments, I was so sad with the state of the place where the staff were residing. I thought of having the place changed, because it was so dirty, smelly and dark, and there were already water droplets coming from the roof whenever it rains. So I had the place fixed. My staff was so happy and they told me, "Father, pwede na kaming matulog sa sahig, ang ganda-ganda na, ang linis-linis". After one year, when I knocked on the door again and checked on the room - lo and behold - the place was again dirty, smelly and dark. There were cobwebs, and one could hardly see the floor because of the dust. So, I scolded the staff. I had the place changed and repaired, and what did they do to it?

My brothers and sisters, how many of us can probably say to the Lord, "Lord, You have given me a chance to rectify my life, and I have done well as Your servant". In the Gospel, we are being reminded to gird up our loins and be prepared. We will never know when the Master of the house will be coming. We have been given a lot of chances by our Lord to make our lives good here on earth. But how many of us would truly make our lives good, and be worthy of being called a servant of the Lord? How many of us would only receive, and whenever the Master is away, would do what we want? It is very difficult to serve the Master when there is no love in our hearts. It will be very hard for us to try to do our job or to convince ourself to love our work if we are just trying to impress, or only because the job pays well.  

But that is not the essence of our faith, my brothers and sisters. We do not pray, we do not come to mass, we do not read the Bible because we want to impress the Lord. No. We come to mass, we read the Bible, we pray, and we do well and good, because we love the Lord. And this is the expression of our wonderful faith. If there is love, serving the Lord becomes a pleasurable experience.

Whatever job we do here on earth is a reflection of our faith in heaven. When we do our job, is it because we love to do our job, and we don't intend to impress somebody? Or are we just doing our job, in spite of the anger that we have, because it pays well, and we like the people around us to think that we are good workers?

My brothers and sisters, let us ask ourselves. Are our hearts faithful to the Lord, and is there love in serving Him, or are we just trying to deceive ourselves and the people around us because we are only doing this to impress them, without a heart that says, 'I love you, Lord'?