Gospel Reflection

September 05, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. David "Dave" T. Concepcion
(Spiritual Director, Holy Apostles Senior Seminary, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Center, Guadalupe, Makati City)
5:30PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

Reading 1 Col 1:9-14

Brothers and sisters: From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (2) The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

Gospel Lk 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.  They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

HOMILY

Maybe you can still remember that experience when your parents asked you to do something, and in the midst of your fear, you did it. Dahil takot na takot ka, dahil sabi ng Tatay mo, sabi ng Nanay mo, ginawa mo. Magandang example diyan 'yong swimming, ano? Sabi ng magulang mo, "Talon!" Takot na takot ka. Either nanlalamig ka o takot kang malunod. Pero tatalon ka rin. Naalala n'yo pa ba 'yon? What made you do it? And perhaps the simple answer that you would say is 'because I trust my parents'.

Trust. Now, looking at the Gospel, what do you think made Simon follow Jesus and move his boat a little deeper into the sea, after working all night long and catching no fish?

My dear friends, my dear brothers and sisters, it's good to ask ourselves. What gave people the authority to tell us what to do? Some of them is because they are in a position. If the policeman will tell you to stop, you will stop. If you go to the doctor or the dentist, and the dentist will ask you to open your mouth, you will open your mouth. Why? Because he is the dentist. It's authority founded on the position.

But Jesus is not a fisherman. He is a carpenter's son. How come a carpenter's son can tell a fisherman to lower their nets? It's not about position. The First Reading tells us that we can only have good works if we have a knowledge of God. There is no relationship without certain knowledge. There must be a certain level of knowledge, in order to have a certain level of trust.

Kung may nanliligaw sa inyo, sasagutin n'yo na ba kaagad? Hindi. Ipagtatanong n'yo muna. 'Yong mga magulang, kapag ang mga anak nila ay nililigawan, ang tanong, 'Taga saan ba 'yan? Sino'ng magulang niyan?' Hindi pwedeng ngayon lang tayo nagkita eh ok na agad tayo. Palagi ko pong sinasabi ito. Your grades or your Transcript of Records maybe can get you a job, but your character can keep you your job. Your good looks can find you a wife or a husband, but only your character can keep your marriage. Alam po ninyo 'yan. Hindi pwedeng puro daldal na lang. 'Yong iba, dinadaan ang tiwala sa salita, sa magandang mukha, magnanakaw pala. Di po ba? Maganda pong suriin 'yan.

There must be knowledge so that we can trust somebody. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hindi mo ibinibigay sa ibang tao, ang tiwalang meron ka sa iyong mga magulang. Trust is something that we have to earn; we cannot demand this from people.

It is good to ask, my dear brothers and sisters. Throwing the pendulum on the other side - what prevents you from trusting God? Magandang tanong 'yan. Ako ba ay talagang nagtitiwala sa Diyos? Kung hindi ako nagtitiwala, ano ang mga dahilan kung bakit hindi ako nagtitiwala sa Diyos? Sa mga pamilya, gaano ba kalaki ang tiwala mo sa iyong asawa, sa iyong anak? Sabi nila, napakadaling sirain ang pagtitiwala, pero napakahirap ibalik. Kung nawala na ang tiwala, paano mo ito ibabalik, hindi po ba?

Maganda pong pagtuunan ng pansin ang ating mga pagbasa, ano po? The Latin word 'audire' is the same word that says 'to hear' or 'to listen', and the same word that says 'to obey'. You cannot obey someone you would not want to listen to. You can only obey someone who you are willing to listen to, di po ba? Paano mo susundin ang isang taong ayaw mong pakinggan? Kahit kailan ay hindi ninyo susundin ang isang taong ayaw ninyong pakinggan. Hindi dahil sa ayaw mong marinig, kundi ayaw mo lang pakinggan, di po ba? Marahil ay pagtuunan din po natin ng pansin - ako po ba ay katiwa-tiwala?

Mga minamahal kong mga kapatid, minsan, parang 'lima singko' na lang ang tiwala ngayon, ano? Sa dinami-dami ng kalokohang nangyayari, naghihinala ka na. Ang nakakatakot ay napakadali nating maloko ng mga taong maayos ang damit, maganda ang mukha, mabango....Dahil hindi natin alam na magkaibang-magkaiba ang laman ng puso, sa hitsura ng mukha. Sabi nila, 'Ayusin mo ang mukha, hindi ibig sabihin na maayos ang puso. Pero ayusin mo ang puso, at ang mukha ay naaayos.'

Simon knew Jesus Christ and trusted Him. That is why Simon listened to Jesus, and followed Him. What Jesus was able to gain from the heart of Simon Peter is not simply the authority to say, "I am God", but He is a man worthy of trust.

As we continue with this celebration, let us ask the Lord's grace and to pray for our own family - that we may be able to live in love and in trust. Sana merong tunay na pagmamahal at pagtitiwala na nagsisimula sa sarili nating tahanan. Huwag ninyong aasahan na merong ibang taong magtitiwala sa inyo, kapag sa sarili ninyong pamilya ay hindi kayo mapagkakatiwalaan.

Gospel Reflection

September 04, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Benjamin “Benjo” Fajota - Vice Rector, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

12:15PM Mass at EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 Col 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,  to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. Of this you have already heard  through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you,  from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm PS 52:10, 11

R. (10) I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.

Gospel Lk 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

HOMILY

In our Gospel, we see an ordinary day in the life of Jesus Christ - preaching, teaching and healing. And it teaches us three important things.

First, when the mother-in-law of Simon was cured of her severe fever, she got up immediately and waited on them. Kapag tayo ay binigyan ng Diyos ng biyaya o pagpapala, ito ay dapat ginagamit sa paglilingkod para sa ating komunidad, para sa ating kapwa. The blessings we receive are not for us alone. Simon's mother-in-law was cured. She was healed and she used this strength, this new energy, this new life, in order to serve other people.

Second, Jesus was so busy, and we know that His energy must have been sapped from all the healings and preachings that He did. But He rested, and His rest came from His constant communication with His Heavenly Father. In order to rest, He goes to a certain place and prays. Tayo, sa maraming pagkakataon, lagi tayong may excuse. Pag pagod na pagod tayo, sobrang busy tayo, sasabihin natin, "Pasensiya na, Lord, pagod na pagod na ako, wala na akong time magdasal. But in the Gospel today, very clearly, Jesus Christ tells us that no matter how busy we are, no matter how tired we are, we must not forget to pray.

Third, Jesus became so popular because of His healings, because of His miracles, because of His teachings. He could have said, "I will just stay here, because I am already popular here." But what did He do? He went out to other towns, to other places, to neighboring countries, because He did not want to fall into the trap of popularity. Kung minsan, gano'n din tayo. Masyado na tayong kampante sa isang lugar, dahil tinanggap na tayo ng tao, dahil tayo ay nagbigay na ng ating paglilingkod doon, kaya ayaw na nating lumipat sa ibang lugar. Sometimes we fall into the trap of feeling so popular and too comfortable. God is telling us that we must use our energy and our talents in order to share and propagate God's Kingdom, no matter where we are assigned. The Word of God will free us from all the maladies and the evil spirits that come to us. We must proclaim the Kingdom of God with love and joy. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

September 03, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

by Rev.  Fr. Joel Jason (Dean of Studies, Graduate School of Theology San Carlos Seminary)

Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (SM Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11

Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,  and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light  and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

Responsorial Psalm PS 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
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 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,  and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

HOMILY

Once there was a man who was held up by a mugger. The mugger said, "Give me my money." Then the man said, "Don't you know who I am? I am a member of the House of Representatives. I am a person of honor." To which the mugger replied, "Well....then, give me my money." (pause and soft laughs) Mukhang hindi yata nakuha ng iba ah...(laughs) Paki-explain na lang....(laughs)

Bakit nakakatawa ang kwentong ito? It is because in the story, there is a demand for honor. The member of the House of Representatives told the mugger that he is a man of honor, that he is an honorable person, therefore, he should be given respect.

But honor is not demanded; it is earned. In the Gospel today, we can see that Jesus was not one who wanted power. He lived simply, but when Jesus taught in the synagogues, people were astonished because He spoke with authority. Even the unclean spirits knew that Jesus is the Son of God. Yet, Jesus did not call attention to Himself, unlike the Scribes and Pharisees during His time who were hungry for power, who liked to adorn themselves with robes and clothes, and demanded that they be given titles like 'teacher' or 'rabbi' to denote honor.

Power engenders fear, but not respect. Honor engenders the respect and admiration of others.

I remember the late Secretary Jesse Robredo. He was mayor of Naga for many years, but he lived a simple life and he was well loved by his people. In fact, when I went to Legazpi, the driver who gave me a tour of the town brought me to the tomb of Secretary Robredo, without me telling him to do so. And when we reached the place, the driver said, "Ito po ang libingan ng aming si Mayor Jesse." That is how they call him - our Mayor Jesse. If you would see a video of Mayor Jesse, as his people fondly call him, he would visit his constituents wearing only T-shirt, shorts, and slippers. Yet, his people admired him, and listened to him; he had authority.  

In the most recent SONA, instead of focusing on the national issues at hand, the occasion became a showbiz event. Why? It is because we focused more on who wore the most beautiful gown, and who was the creator of the gown. That is how we draw power to ourselves, that is how we equate honor - on how we look, what we wear, how much we have.

And I think that is what we should aspire for - that we may live a life of simplicity and honor, and earn the respect of others. As we continue with this mass, let that be the grace that we should pray for - that we may have inner authority and power through moral integrity in our hearts, and the good example that we show to others. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

September 02, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Montecarlo Veloria, Parish Priest, Parokya ng Pagkabuhay, Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (SM Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 1 Thes 4:13-18

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.

Responsorial Psalm PS 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Gospel Lk 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

HOMILY

Our Gospel reading today is an illustration kung ano ang buhay ng ating Panginoong habang Siya ay nangangaral tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos. In the beginning, He was successful, applauded, dinudumog ng tao, hinahanap-hanap. But towards the end, the same people doubted Him and also wanted to kill Him. Sino ba ito? Isn't this man the son of Joseph? Is not Mary an ordinary housewife? That was God's experience.

Why? Why did the people want to harm Jesus? St. Paul has a very graphic answer to this question. He said that it is out of jealousy that the people wanted to kill Jesus. Envy, jealousy. This is what they felt when they were told by Jesus that He could not do to them - to His own town home - what He has done in Capernaum. They could not accept that Jesus did miracles for people from other places, but not for the Jews, given that He is a Jew. Jesus was very kind to other people, but not the Jews.

It is He, Himself, the Lord, who proclaimed that He is a prophet, apart from being true God. And as a prophet, He has three functions. Number one, He has to proclaim to all the world the Good News of God, the power of God. Second, He has to denounce the evil that is going around. And the third one is that He has to challenge the people who listen to Him, to follow the will of God. That is His role, until His death on the Cross.

The Gospel today reminds us that by virtue of our baptism, as Christians, we also share in the priesthood of Christ. We have the kingly function where we should serve, we have the priestly function when we offer the mass, and we have our role as prophets, that is why we have to proclaim the Good News of the Lord in our midst, and at the same time, denounce the evil that is going on around us. This is our duty; we have to obey, not our own wishes, but the will of God, as sharers of the function of Christ.